Step Into My World

Altered Vase and USArtQuest

2012-01-29T16:19:00.000-05:00

It seems like I have a new interest in taking something old and adding a little magic to it…which makes it all new again. And, it is fun at the same time!

Here is a quick weekend project and I know you all have vases sitting around just screaming for some attention….right!?!

First off I took a standard glass vase and pulled together a few items…Window Etch Paint, PPA, Studio Cloth, Perfect Glaze, #4 Paintbrush, Sizzix Big Shot die, Gildenglitz and some tape.

Step 1: tape around the vase where you would like the etching paint to be. I originally started with two stripes on the vase but later changed it to the whole bottom half being etched.

Step 2: Once your etching paint is dry, remove the tape. At this point I took some PPA and used my finger to add a thin layer around the border of the etching paint and the regular part of the vase. This needs to sit aside for a little while and let it get to the tacky stage.

Step 3: Once the PPA is tacky…take some of the Gildenglitz and gently add it to the layer of PPA. Don’t worry about have extra on there. Once it is dry you just simply take a paint brush and brush off the extra to have for another project.

Step 4: Now I cut off a small section of my Studio Cloth and ran it thru my Sizzix Big Shot using the flower die cut. With a little hot glue and some felt…I then began to roll up the flower and let it sit. Trim off any extra felt. Now I used the #4 paintbrush and added some Perfect Glaze to the outside edges of the flower. Glued a button into each center and then glued the entire flower onto a orange felt flower.

Step 5: Now you can add the flowers to the vase. I used just a dab of glue and held it there until it set and would not slide. With all three flowers in place and dry..I added some pinecones I found on clearance. Then cut some limbs from our oak tree for some added decoration.

I love Sketches

2012-01-26T06:48:00.000-05:00

One thing about Scrapbooking is there is an unlimited amount of sketches out there. To be honest with you....I have always wanted to put together a sketch book to have published...but with so many sketch books out there...who would buy mine..really..lol. But one of my favorite sketch artists is Becky Fleck. I have been a sketch follower of hers for years.

Here is one of her latest sketches. When I first saw this I just knew RIGHT away what I was going to make.

Add several different products....some fun Butterbean pictures and one awesome sketch....and here you have my take....

I hope you like it too.

Today I am off from work...got a 2 mile walk in this morning. Now I need to shower and get ready to have 5 inches cut off my hair...I hope. I have said I will not chicken out so I need to be a big girl today...lol.

Short week

2012-01-25T05:48:00.000-05:00

I love short weeks. Especially when Wednesday's are my Friday! woohooo!
I decided to take a little time off for myself. Not to many things going on. Maybe I can catch up on some crafty time. ....well....who am I kidding. With butterbean attached to my leg....I'm sure I will not get much done.

But I AM getting my hair done tomorrow. Nothing like a little personal primp time. Hoping to cut about 6 inches off and some highlights. Friday is my "Now I've turned 40" mamogram! Gotta take care of the girls! But other than that I don't have much planned. Might get some things together and take them to Helping Hands of Paulding. That always makes me feel good and useful. Hopefully some more cleaning and organizing will get done too.

I just have to share this wonderful cabinet my dad...owner of JD Yard Trinkets...made me. I gave him a design and measurements and in 4 hours...this is what he made.....isn't it wonderful! and it really is bigger than it looks in this picture. I was trying to capture my new sewing corner. Well...minus the shipping boxes. Trying to sell a few items on ebay. But I have organized all my fabric into the iris carts. Not my original plans but it will have to do for now. My dad used to teach at a technical school. Sadly they closed their doors around Thanksgiving. So now he has lots of extra time working in the shop. Which for us is GREAT because there is nothing more special to me than something my dad has handmade just for me. I'm hoping he will get some more business going and before too long...JD Yard Trinkets will be a nice little side business for him.

I haven't had much time for crafting. I really wanted to get the computer room reorganized and now that it is done I hope that the crafting will begin. The treadmill is taking up a lot of room but I have been using it!!! No luck with any weight loss yet but I can't give up right? Oh and I DID scrap a page last night. It only took me 2 days to do it...sigh....between butterbean at my feet and just trying to find the groove again. But I love how it turned out and I will share it in the next day. Just need to get a good picture of it. I plan on submitting this one just for fun. And I have a few blankets pinned and ready for me to sew. Project number 2 hopefully will be completed and then on to project number 3.....10.....65.....lol

And don't forget...I am trying to book up some catalog parties for February. I really want to make this month a good one (plus I need to save up money for convention and my hotel I just booked) so drop me an email if you would like to have a catalog party. They are simple, easy and on your time!

See you in a few days!

Thirty One Gives and fun kits

2012-01-21T14:51:00.000-05:00

Check out http://www.thirtyonegives.org/ to learn how 31 will be giving back in 2012 and for many years to come! You can be part of this blessing by purchasing the pink parisian pop thermal tote - $1 from every purchase will be donated!

I think this is an awesome thing! And what a way to give back to young girls and women! My favorite part of this tote...along the inside it says U R U, U R Strong, U R True, U R Bold. What a wonderful message to see everyday!

And just for fun...if you have thought about being a consultant with Thirty-One...now is the time. Look at this AWESOME enrollment kit for just $99! I think I am totally in love with the Lotsa Dots patterna and the Awesome Blossom pattern. What do you think?

Ask me for more details or if you would like to have a catalog for the new Spring line which starts February 1st!

Project 52

2012-01-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

Book 2 of the new year completed. and already I am behind...lol.

I just finished Kim Harrison White Witch, Black Curse...a part of the Hollows series. It was so far my favorite book. It was nice to see a softer side of Rachel. A Rachel in love. And it was nice to see some characters from previous books step back in. I really feel bad for Rachel at times. All she really wants to do is help others. And every time she tries to do good....it back fires on her.

Next in the series...Black Magic Sanction...so off I go.
Lets see if I can catch back up and get this one read pretty quickly. I have a growing list of books on my Kindle waiting on me. You know...like 5 pages worth!

Weight....treadmill and Bod-E

2012-01-16T17:35:00.000-05:00

Today was my first day on the new treadmill. 5:00 am this morning I drug myself out of bed, put on my shoes, pulled my hair back and went to town on the treadmill. It took me 18 minutes to finish a mile. YUCK. I tried to jog some but just to early in the morning....lol.
But it felt good and I sure did have a lot of energy...well that was until about 2 this afternoon. Then it was ALL sucked away.

But that is where Bod-E came into the picture. I've been drinking this new product for a few weeks now and it sure does give me a spurt of energy and help with the metabolism! Bod-e also contains Vemma which is slap full of vitamins! Love it!
Check out the video http://www.meetmarla.com/ and then come back and let me know what you think. If you are interested and would like more information or just have general questions...I can hook you up!

I'm hoping my new routine...a little Bod-e....and some eating healthy will get me back on the track that I need to be on. and if all goes as planned...I would really like to run a 5K this summer/fall! We shall see.

Now I'm off to go sort fabric and figure out what my first project of the year will be. Wish me luck...if you don't hear from me in a few days...someone come looking for me. I might be under a pile of fabric.

Altered Canvas and USArtQuest

2012-01-14T00:00:00.004-05:00

I love to take something totally simple and make it into something that will be loved and remembered. My life revolves around making others happy and smiling. It is what makes me tick. So I was super excited when my first project with USArtQuest hit me head on. I decided to alter a canvas for a dear close friend of mine at work. She just recently got married in September. I was so upset that I couldn't attend her wedding as we had a large family outing that day also. But even if I couldn't be there...I wanted to make her something so that she new I was there in heart.

This is a fun and easy project that you can make for yourself or as a gift for that special someone.

To start off - find the size canvas you would like to use. For this project I used a 12x12 stretched canvas. I also have a few pages from a book I picked up at the GoodWill, a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper and some Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA) in Matte.

Step 2: Tear the pages into strips and cut down the scrapbook paper to about a 10.5x10.5 size. With a sponged brush I spread around the PPA around the edges of the canvas and then began layering the paper. Layer a good thick coat of the PPA on top of the pages also.

Step 3: Now layer the scrapbook page onto the canvas with the PPA.

Step 4: While the paper is still lighlty damp...I added some PPA to the back of the photo and adhered it down where I wanted it to be. I lightly brushed the PPA around the edges of the picture. Because this is a matte finish adhesive it left a light matte finish around the pictures edges. I then took some cream paint and just brushed around the edges of the canvas so that it would have an aged feel. Let the canvas totally dry before proceeding.

Step 5: Once the canvas is dry...take a black pen (I love using the Pilot Permaball) and go around the edges with some doodling. You will find that doodling is one of my favorite things to do on projects :)

Step 6: Now it is time to start layering the embellishments. I used the PPA to adhere the sticker letters.

This project took approx 30 minutes to complete, including drying time.

and don't forget.... Sue and USArtQuest will be on in the US, Jan. 17th - 6 am and 12 pm est!!! Come watch Sue's demos with fabulous techniques - and products you have to see.

Today I want to talk about Thirty One

2012-01-11T07:16:00.001-05:00

I haven't really talked much about Thirty-One on my blog. But I just want to share my excitement!

I was able to attend the Spring Premier on Saturday. This was my first catalog swap over with Thirty One and I am so excited. It really brought back to me the excitement that I had when ever I would attend a Stampin Up event. The theatres were packed with women who were there with me and the movie/video was funny, sad and inspirational.

There are so many fun new patterns and products this spring. I simply can not WAIT to get some of the products and carry them with me every day! I am really beginning to think that I am becoming a purse junky...lol! I just can't have enough totes or purses these days. If you are as excited about the new catalog, which debuts February 1st, then leave me your email addy in the comment section or just drop me an email at kay_bear52@yahoo.com and I will add you to my Newsletter list. Each month Thirty One sends out newsletters with the current month promotions. You can also view the new catalog at www.mythirtyone.com/beckythackston. Have you thought about having a party but just don't have the time to get the house in order or have a free weekend. That's okay too...we can do a catalog party or a party on the go. Each one is on your own time and you just show the catalog to your coworkers, family and friends. Then we can submit your order and you will receive the same hostess benefits if your orders reach $200 and over. Live in a different state...that's okay too :)

One of the things I am excited about this year is I really want to make Thirty One work for me. Not just an extra income but I want to share the excitement with everyone else. Although the extra money is good too. Especially now that we are focusing on trying to reduce our debt these days. And with the addition of Butterbean our expenses have increased so any extra money is a blessing.

Have you thought about getting involved in Direct Sales? I would love to talk to you more about Thirty One and what they offer. I've been a consultant since July 2011 and I have loved every moment of it.

New Art work

2012-01-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

I finally got my newest painting hanging up in the computer room. Whatcha think?

This is considered Mixed Media. I used book pages, paint, wood lettering, Mod Podge and Black markers. I really love how it turned out and it matches the wall perfectly. Each canvas is 18x20. I will sell these for $80.00 and can put any word you would like on the painting.

Here is a closer up of the letters. Sorry it is blurry but its raining here and my natural light is pretty much gone :( so not a very good day for picture taking.

Now I just need to finish up selling some items on ebay, buy a few more Thirty-One baskets for storage and get a few picture frames that are all the same for the top of the computer desk. And then the final addition to the room will be my sewing cabinet that my dad is making me! Now at some point or another I will have to reorganize my fabrics but I think that will be a spring time job.

And of course you know we can't complete the day with out a wonderful picture of Danie aka Butterbean and her favorite Papa. Both sporting their new overalls! Two peas in a pod I say!

Project 52 and Thirty-One

2012-01-07T19:26:00.000-05:00

Today was the Spring Premier for Thirty-One consultants. They will be having another one tomorrow also. So I can't really reveal anything to you today because well...I don't want to spoil it for those that are waiting on tomorrows Premier. But I will say...WOOHOO....I am stoked! I went thru and made a wish list of items I MUST have and well...we will say my list is already up to $400. seriously! Just fantastic patterns...love the new products....and I am really ready to get this business kicking off the ground and have some parties. I joined back in July and really haven't had the time to devote to Thirty-One like you should with a direct sell company. I've had 2 catalog shows and a Thermal Tote fundraiser and that is about it. So I really want to get this going and have more shows. And catalog shows are okay with me too.....I know everyone is so busy these days. And I don't mind doing them far away either :) So I am hoping when the new catalogs kick off February 1st...that I will get some bookings, some shows...and just share my excitement. Plus I can't wait to share with you what is yet to come!

The Premier today did take much of my saturday so I did not get a whole lot accomplished today. Finished up the kitchen (I've been decluttering). Oh my yard sale box I started....yeah my hubby took it in the dump...he didn't look in it first. Darn it. Got all the pictures and nails down in the computer room. Tomorrow I hope to put up my paintings and see what you think. It's going to take a little bit to get it the way I want it but we will try. I need a few extra Thirty One baskets for my fabric stash!

And my latest book...the first of the year...well I "should" be finished with it tonight. The book is - The Outlaw Demon Wails - by Kim Harrison. This is I believe the 5th in the series of The Hollows. I was a little hesitant when I started this series but pretty soon Rachel (the main character who is a witch) and her side kicks Ivy (vampire) and Jenks (Pixy) took over my heart and I really enjoyed these characters. I would try and start with book one if at all possible so that you can get a feel for all the characters - Al, Kisten, Trent, Ceri, Keasley..etc...they are all really good, strong characters. This particular book has really made some things fall into place. You know...when you have one of those...something is not right here moments...yeah this book will fix those for you. It shapes Rachel even more. I like that. I can't wait to finish up the series. I believe there are about 3 more books. This series is a huge leap from Laurel K Hamilton...no crazy sex and not a lot of violence. Just a good fantasty story. So if you like reading about vamps, witches and all those other fantasy creatures...give the Hollows series a try.

Alrighty....just wanted to pop in and let you know what today was all about. Stay tuned because I hope to share my painting with you in a few days.

Well into the New Year we go

2012-01-03T19:36:00.001-05:00

Well day three is complete. Almost.
And so far this year is kicking my tush!
I've been slowly rearranging the computer room. currently the walls are bare from all the trophies being packed up. And for those that have seen this room...there were a lot. And now there are piles of STUFF on the counters that I am trying to list and sell on ebay. You know...out with the old, in with the new..kinda thing.

BUT...I have my painting finished for the large wall in there. Here is a sneak peak. I know...the lighting is horrible but at least you get an idea right?

It's a three section canvas and they are each 18x24 in size. I did a lot of mixed media with book pages, black pen, mod podge and lots of paint. I'm loving it more and more each time I look at it. I think I might make a few smaller versions of this to sell. Well...that is if I can find smaller wooden letters.

I still need to do some cleaning and moving around in there and then I can hang these up on the wall. Hopefully this weekend I can share a picture of the completed area. I am making a few other items for the room but I can't share them with you just yet. Those will come later as USArtQuest projects :)

I've also decided to declutter the house. Okay so I have to admit that my house isn't that bad but to me...it is cluttered. And well....old stuff just needs to move on out. So also this week I am working on the kitchen counter top. moving stuff...rearranging stuff...cleaning. I just need to find somewhere to store my cookbooks for easy access. Or just combine them all into one book. Gessh there are just not enough hours in the day. I could probably get some of this done if I wasn't spending hours on end on Pinterest or reading!

Which brings me to Project 52. I am about 24% done with my first book of the year. Man do I love this Kindle. I like knowing my % of completion...lol! And I've already downloaded 15 other free books to really get the year going.

Haven't done any sewing just yet but I think I have plenty of time.

Sadly we lost one of our chickens Sunday. I am not sure what happened to her but of course I had to find her. We have a bunch of chickens...19 hens and 2 roosters. But it was still sad to lose one. I have raised them since they were a day old :( I guess we are pretty lucky that they have all survived as long as they have with all the other wild life we have around the house. I'm hoping they will do find over this winter.

Okay signing off. butterbean wants my attention right now. Don't forget that in 11 days I will have a fun tutorial up! You will not wont to miss this one.

Happy 2012

2012-01-01T07:45:00.000-05:00

Let the year begin!!!

Since my husband was gone for the weekend hunting...I really did not do anything New Years Eve...except cuddle in the bed and finish my last book of the year. Then I snuggled down in the covers at 11:30 to fall asleep only to be woken by huge fireworks that sounded like cannons....that continued until 1:00! seriously!
The baby didn't sleep either. sigh.
and what time do you think I woke up this morning. 5:30! to the sound of my phone - text message - my son leaving to go to the New Years Day Mud Bog with his friends. So with only 4 or so hours of sleep...I welcome 2012 in with a bang! lol

well...and a pot of coffee.

Did some cleaning yesterday in the computer room. I started packing up my kids trophies and awards. It was bitter sweet and more emotional than I thought it would be. Some of these trophies have been hanging up there for 14 years. But its time for a change. With the kids being 21 and 18 I just think it is time to close that chapter and move on to the next. So....I got one tote full. Packed up my step sons trophies too. One wall done. Now to move to Kayla's. Which will be harder since she has pageant trophies that are 4.5 feet tall...lol.

Brought out some old mason jars I had in the attic and did some decorating. Today I will be heading to Michael's for some paint and a few other items to make some more decorations. Don't worry....I will share them with you soon. Project tutorials on the way :) I promise.

Put up some stuff up on ebay. Again..time to move out the old stuff. Books, scanner, scrappy stuff and some baby clothes. Make a little extra money I say :)

Project 52....lets get started shall we. The goal is to read 52 books for the year. I think I can do it this year since last year I read 43. I have already downloaded about 10 books to the Kindle and ready to get started today. If your interested in what I am reading a some book reviews...stop on by here and there and I will do my best to review each book I read this year.

And finally.....reshaping me. That is my goal for this year. Heck who am I kidding that is my goal every year....lol. This last year I stunk at it but this year we will see. I am going to go buy a treadmill today so that I have no excuses not to get up and walk every morning. Gotta get these 30 lbs off. I need a healthier me.

OH AND I AM SO EXCITED to report that for 2012 we will be going into the year credit card debt FREE!!!! That feels so good. We took out a debt consolidation loan...and just paid off all the cards. It was cheaper and wiser to do it that way than to keep paying on the cards a little extra each month. Some of those interest rates are just crazy. So if my plans work out they way I want them too we will have that loan paid of in 3.5-4 years! So yeah! Now I can coupon and REALLY save money.

Happy New Year.

Happy New Years Eve

2011-12-31T08:03:00.000-05:00

Happy New Years Eve everyone!
As we go into 2012 I do not really have any resolutions this year. I think for 2012 I just want to enjoy what it brings me...do my best at everything...and just be ME. I plan on posting lots of fun tutorials this year. I plan on lots of sewing, scrapping and painting. So stay tuned. I wont let you down ;)

And Project 52??? Well I plan on continuing that this year too. I finished off the year with 43 books read. You can see what I was reading in the above "My Library" tab. I will complete my 43 book this evening. I tried to last night but was just too tired. Now that I have my Kindle...it is so much easier to just pick it up and read. Plus with all the free books out there....it is making me read books I wouldn't normally consider. Which is nice. I promise to do better and book reviews this year.

Have fun today. Drive safe if your out and about. Kiss those loved ones. I pray for those that are not home this evening with family and wish them a speedy recovery.

Are you ready?? Let's ROCK 2012!

Ringing in the New Year - Welcome 2012

2011-12-30T20:53:00.000-05:00

With the coming of a New Year....comes changes....good or bad. Leaving a year that has held memories, obstacles, joys and more. 2011 was a pretty wonderful year. We welcomed into the world our granddaughter Tensley Danielle Thackston (aka Butterbean) who has been the ultimate joy of our lives. She has brought laughter, wonder and so much more love into our house. We have watched our kids turn into adults...Kayla becoming legal at the wonderful age of 21 and Shawn rolling on into adulthood at the age of 18. Shawn is halfway thru his Senior year. We had a beautiful wedding for Steven and Stephanie. Lots and lots of family fishing days at the lake which brings back so many memories of my youth. How we can't forget I turned 40 and was pleasently surprised by my friends with a surprise party. So many great crafty experiences. It's just been an awesome year.

So let me now reflect back to my 2011 "resolutions"
Focus more on my art

Continue to work hard in the scrappy world and hopefully make a few more Design Teams
Continue to submit my work for possible publication
Lose these last 15 lbs
Reopen my etsy store
Finish MY quilt and then really get envolved in more quilting
Hand make ALL my christmas for 2011
Make more time for me and my husband (We deserve it)
Take my first cruise
Go to the Moonshine Festival
Sign up for Paulding Meadows again and maybe work in another art fair
cut my hair SHORT
Take more weekend camping trips

Well lets see how I did.....I actually took a scrappy break! And with that break I took a break from Design Teams. Although I did get the opportunity to be a Guest Designer for Creative Imaginations which was AWESOME. I did continue to submit my work but sadly this year was not a great year on any publications. I DID NOT lose 15lbs. If anything I gained them! lol. I "tried" to reopen my etsy store but yeah...that didn't work. Quilting. Boy did I quilt this year. 7 completed quilts and 2 that need to be completed. For a first year quilter...I think that was pretty darn good. and my Christmas was about 75% handmade! yeah to me.
We did not get a chance to make more time for us...we did take a little weekend trip to the mountains which was nice but I was hoping we could of fit a few more trips in. Time and money were not on our side. I did not get to go to the Moonshine Festival either. Whomever planned that sucker around deer season needs a long talking too! No cruise either. Hmmmmm...it's not looking like I did much of my resolutions at all. Did not cut my hair short and did not take any camping trips (minus vacation). So well...the only other thing I accomplished was having a booth at Paulding Meadows again this year. We did awesome. I sold 11 paintings!! seriously.

So what does 2012 hold?

Well I am already starting off on the right foot with a 6 month Design Team term with USArtQuest. This is really going to challenge me in altered arts which I think will be a nice change. I do plan on continuing to paint. I have lots of ideas in my head but just need to get them out on canvas. Lots of quilting ideas. Oh heck....just tons of crafty ideas period! A big goal for me this year is to work on getting an online crafty business going. I just want to be able to sell my paintings/crafts a little easier. I also plan on quilting more.

I'm excited to start the new year off with NO credit card debt. This has been a long journey but one I think will benefit us in the long run. Now lets hope we can keep it that way. I have super large goals to sell more artwork. Why you ask....because mama wants a super duper new sewing machine so I need some cash! lol.
Because it is NOT going on a credit card.

February Danie will be a year old.
May Shawn will graduate high school.
Going to get busy on the weight loss. I have too! No excuses.
We might shoot for year three at Paulding Meadows.
And finally I really hope to get my Thirty-One business up and off the ground. It has been slow going for me since July but hopefully this new year will bring in some new customers, new orders and maybe a few shows.

So what do you hope the new year will bring for you? New Changes? New Goals? A New You?
I hope 2012 brings you everything you have been looking for.
I hope it brings you love and happiness.

New Christmas Tradition

2011-12-26T19:54:00.000-05:00

Of course this year....we had several new traditions with little Danie being here. One will be her christmas pj's each year. Or as long as I have a small say so in it :) This year she had her little rudolph Pj's and they were sooo cute with the matching slipper socks.

Another new tradition will be our Christmas Breakfast Crockpot Casserole...more of it below.

And of course I want to start buying butterbean a Christmas ornament every year. So that when she is grown...she will have bunches and bunches of ornaments that will hopefully mean something to her. This years was a 1st Christmas ornament, of course. I'm hoping by next Christmas I will be able to get handmade stockings made for everyone. That is on my list to do along with a handmade quilted tree skirt.

We had a blessed Christmas that is for sure. We woke up bright and early at 5:30 in the morning with little butterbean making her way into our room. One of my most favorite traditions, since Billy and I have been married, is the kids running into our room with their stockings. It always makes the morning fun and just wonderful. Butterbean is no acception so she made her way into our room and opened her stocking in bed with Nana and Papa. She got so excited and it really made my heart so warm and bright. The Casserole was smelling all thru the house. coffee brewing. And it is Santa time :) It took that little girl a while to get thru her presents from Santa and then from Nana/Papa but she did and she had a fun time. The kids enjoyed their surprise gifts and even those that were not surprises. Now....the deal this year was that NO ONE was to get me anything. Nothing. I wanted this to be all about Danie this year but a few people broke that rule. Kayla had went earlier in the fall and had pictures made of her and Danie together. She bought an 11x14 and had it framed. It was beautiful. And touched my heart that she would think of something so precious for me. I WILL be buying more of this prints. and then the family gave me our first ever Family Bible. I can't wait to have some quiet time and sit down and document our growing family. Something I can treasure and pass down thru the generations.

Grandmama, Grandaddy and Rachel came over a little later in the morning. We exchanged gifts and everyone loved their handmade items. I was once again surprised with a very special gift. This bracelet from Brighton. I've been wanting one for several years and just have not had the chance or money to get one. My sister bought me a necklace for my 40th birthday and this was the matching bracelet.

But wait...the part that just about made my heart cry for days....little Danie comes walking up to me with a small box. I opened it and it was her birthstone. One of the above heart pendant charms. Hers was purple. And then Shawn handed me a little box...I was trying not to cry big time at this point...and his was the pink one...for October. And finally Kayla gave me hers....the green one for May. This....this was the most precious gift. My sister had added a charm B and one that says sister. This gift means more to me than I can express. I plan on finding one that will be in memory of my Nanny Waters and Nanny Thomas.

Christmas was special this year. Not only because of butterbean but just because our family was together for another year. Family is so important to me and I would not have it any other way than spending the holidays with each of them .

We finished off Christmas evening up at Randy and Robin's. With Rachael, Josh, Landon and Lauren. Playing with a train track, taking the cutest rudolph nose pictures, eating some yummy white chicken chili and cornbread....and just enjoying each others company. THAT is what Christmas is about. Family...love...and the birth of Jesus.

Okay on to the Casserole. This was yummmmmmmy and so easy!

I took a picture of before but I can't find it this evening so here is the after...lol.

1 large bag of frozen hashbrowns ( I bought shredded but will try the diced next time)

1 onion

1 green bell pepper

1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb of bacon

a dozen eggs

1 cup of milk

salt and pepper to taste

Layer the crockpot with hashbrowns, then add diced onion, bell pepper and finish the layer with cheese. Keep layering. When finished layering the potatoes....whip the eggs, milk, salt and pepper really good in a bowl. Then pour over the top of the potatoes. Set on low for 10-12 hours.

I fixed this up before we went to bed so that it cooked all night long. Next year I will try sausage instead of bacon and used diced potatoes instead of shredded. Might make a few adjustments here and there just for fun.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe final week of the year.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from the Thackston Family

What's happening around here today....

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Well let me just say.....I am SUPER DUPER excited to share with you some news...I've been holding a little secret for a few days and it is just busting out :)

I've been trying to get back on the Design Team wagon the last few months so I was over joyed when I received the email from USArtQuest! I have made their 2012 Design Team for January - June! I am really excited about this opportunity. Please check out their website...they have goodies from adhesive...paints...brushes...mica...alterable boxes....so much yummy stuff. I can't wait to share with you the projects I will be making! So please do come back and visit...subscribe to my blog so that you don't miss my tutorials.

I'm so ready to start 2012 off with a bang!!!

On the family home front...Danie is 10 months old today! Seriously! I am not sure where the time has went! Shawn is on winter break from school. He has finally made a decision on the college home front. He wants to go to Chattahoochee Tech and study Automotive Technology to start off with and then hopefully after his first year or diploma, transfer to Souther Poly Tech. At least we have an answer from him on his plans.

Very excited that we are almost to Christmas! and very excited to start some new project ideas I have in my little ole head....and a few painting ideas. Stay tuned!

Oh and Thirty-One.....slowing getting orders here and there which is better than nothing...but I really want this business to grow. I'm hoping 2012 will have some great opportunities also with this side business. And if you really love Thirty-One or have had your eye on that favorite bag....send me an email and I will let you know what will be retiring this upcoming year. The deadline to order these will be January 31st but keep in mind that once a retired list has been made public.....items go fast. I hope there is something you would like to get before it is gone.

Tally Scrapper December kit - Altered Frame

2011-12-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

I love altering items and making them work for what I need. It's a great way to use product, use up items around the house or just a great way to make a gift for others. Take for instance this black frame. If you read my prior blog post you saw what I did to another frame...this is the same technique. I took a standard frame and painted it white. Once the paint was dry I was able to sand away areas so that the black peaked thru.

Now the fun part begins! Using some of the awesome paper from the Tallyscrapper December kit, I cut out strips so that I could start layering them on the frame. Cut the corners so that the two strips will fit nicely together. Once these are cut I pulled out my wonderful Mod Podge and started adhering the strips down. While it is still wet, take some hemp rope and fill in areas around the paper.

when your finished and it is dry...it will look something like this. Now the center...what is that exactly you ask? The frame was originally made with a hard center in the middle with a picture. So I took the picture, painted the front of it brown and then instead of putting back INSIDE the frame...I glued it to the outside. This way it has a nice 3-D look to it. Now you can start adding your embellishments.

I made some felt flowers and hot glued them to a glitter snowflake that I found at Target. Originally I put pins on the back so that you could wear these on your favorite jacket, etc...but as I was working on this frame...well the frame spoke to me and really loved the flowers sooooooo that is where they ended up :)

I surprised my wonderful friend Emily with this altered frame. She LOVES Christmas and you should really see her house decorated...it ROCKS I tell you. I envy her decorating talent. So this little edition will hang up at least a little bit in the year with all her wonderful holiday decorations. That makes me happy.

Don't forget to pick up a kit at the Tally Store. I am seriously telling you...you will not be dissapointed!

Altered Frames are the best

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love taking ordinary items and turning them into something I will treasure or I can get someone else. Take this simple black frame. I found it at the Pottery Barn for only $2.88. It called out to me....literally...lol. along with about 3 more. As soon as I got home it was pretty simple what I wanted to do with it so I started pulling out papers and embellishments to see what route I wanted to go.

My first plan of action: Paint the frame. My entire house is antique items or old looking furniture...so I really wanted to distress this frame up. I took some white acrylic paint and my 3/4 flat Stroke brush from USArtQuest and began painting the frame white. Once it was dry I went over the edges and front with some light sandpaper...just enough to let some of the black peak thru.

For the next step I dug around in my stash of stuff...and found some old green burlap bags. Perfect. I cut the bags and then glued a section, using my Duo Adhesive from USArtQuest, to the original board backing of the frame. There was never a glass front to this frame but if there would have been....I would discard it so that you can easily get to the burlap for altering. Here is a picture of the frame with the burlap attached and all ready for a little glue and embellishments.

I took the scrapbook paper I had pulled out and cut some circles out of it so that I could make some paper rosettes. I also did the same with small pieces of felt that I had laying around. The sign is from Magistical Memories and I painted the actual sign part white and then distressed it with ink. The remaining part of the sign I left naked chipboard. Now the fun begins. I glued down the sign post and then started layering the flowers. all of which were handmade or from my stash. The butterflies I picked up at Target months ago on clearance. They stand on wire so I bent the wire to the height I wanted and glued it down, hiding it inbetween the flowers.

To finish off the frame I found a rub on that was bright and went perfect with the theme of the frame. Added it to the sign and there you have....an altered frame that cost me less than $5.00. This not only makes a great addition to your craft room but would be a great gift for a friend or a family member. The possibilities are endless. So make sure to take a second look at those clearance isles or just look at products differently. You never know what a little bit of paint, embellishments or some added love will do for a project :)

Visit the USArtQuest blog at http://usartquestblog.com/ and thier website at http://www.usartquest.com for more fun embellishments, paints and products that will help you alter up some special items.

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TallyScrapper December Kit

2011-12-11T17:01:00.001-05:00

I love a great scrapbook kit. There is just something about having all the work done for you and all the elements match. This months kit at TallyScrapper is perfect. With just the right mix of Christmas/holiday goodies. when I was pulling out all the papers and taking a glance at everything...I knew right away that I wanted to make this little tree to go with my other handmade trees this year. This paper was perfect. It has a white core so I was able to cut and distress each piece to add some umph to the tree.

To start off with I wrapped a cone along the bottom with some thick hemp string. Once I got the desired amount around the cone...I then started adding the strips with hot glue. Each one was distressed on the edges and I would add one row at a time.

Once I was finished with all the rows then I added the shiny border along the bottom. This was one of the goodies in the kit. LOVE. For the top of the tree I added a gold pinecone that was left over from decorating the tree you see in the background. That was my first decorated tree this year. It was a lot of fun. Not really cost effective as it was about $30 for all the materials...but I do love it. a lot. Then the last tree in the back is my white yard tree. I just simply wrapped white yarn around the cone. It did not take long at all. To finish it off I wrapped a single string around like garland...added some white push pins and then buttons for the top.

I'm proud of my Christmas tree collection this year. I can't wait to add to it for next year and have the entire house decorated with trees. So take another look at the paper you get in the kit and think about something other than a scrapbook page. Run over to Tally and scoop up this kit before it is gone. I promise you will not be sorry.

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How are you coming along?

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post to see how everyone is coming along with their New Years Resolutions or if you decided to do a Project 52?

I tried to tackle as many of my New Year Resolutions as I could. I will post my final list of course the closer we get to the end of the year. What about Project 52? I tallied up my books last night....my original goal was to read 52 books this year. I have completed 40! ugh. so close. I might....big might....get 2 more in before the end of the year. We will see. But man so close. But I don't think 40 books is too shabby considering everything else I have managed to squeeze in this year.

Can you believe it....we are so close to 2012 already! sigh..

Okay...lots if projects coming up in the next week. Stay tuned :)

My last quilt for the year

2011-12-03T18:10:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my last quilt for the year. I am proud to say that I completed 7 quilts this year. And several bags and other misc items. But 7 quilts!!!!! I am super proud. So here is the final one....

I love the colors of this one. I used Moda Basic Grey Sketches. Love love! I hope the one this is going to loves it too. And now that I think about I forgot to add my label....drat it. Hmmmmm might have to open it back up and sew that on.

I can't wait to start sewing again next year. I have several bags I would like to make and of course a bunch of new fabrics for more quilts.

Pinterest.....gosh almighty

2011-11-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

Now I know why I have stayed away from this site for so long. Just 10 minutes into it and I was totally hooked last night. So far 56 pins! That is less than 2 hours worth....lol.

But let me just tell you the amount of inspiration that it has hit me with. Here are a few paintings that I did last night after playing around on Pinterest for an hour.

This one was made using a Heidi Swapp mask. I loved how it turned out....on 12x12 canvas.

I think this is my favorite. I painted the canvases white and then used shirt paint to make the design on top of the paint. Once that was dry I repainted it with white and black. Then filled in the circles. I love the subtle effect this gives Both are using 12x12 canvases.

Now I am totally redoing my scraproom. Took down some pictures, repainted the frames, and will get busy making some cool adjustments thanks to Pinterest! Stay tuned :)

I also have an altered frame to show you. A great gift idea that was less than $5.00 to make!

See you soon

Happy Gobble Day

2011-11-25T17:22:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours....

Chipboard chipboard! My 10 Favorite Layouts

2011-11-22T07:20:00.000-05:00

Here we are the Tuesday before Thanksgiving...I am enjoying having a few days off from work...so I thought I would share with you my 10 most favorite chipboard layouts. Actually I can't think of a layout that I don't use chipboard is some shape or form. There is just something about the added dimension, shape, color. I just love it. I hope you enjoy looking thru a few pages over the last couple of years. I have enjoyed making them and sharing them with you.

Stay tuned for some sneak peaks of Danie's first Christmas pictures. We had som much fun with these!

Oh please forgive me

2011-11-21T06:07:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize my last post was a week ago! WOW. sorry.
It's been a crazy week. But with some fun points. Would you like to hear about my week?

Danie started walking! YES! walking. She takes about 4-5 steps by herself now. Like from the coffee table to you or something like that. It is just precious but she looks too little to be doing things like that.
We are getting a dozen eggs a day from the chickens. I am being over run with eggs.
I scrapped two layouts! Can you believe it. And I love them too boot.
Finished my last quilt for the year. The sewing is now put up and the Christmas tree is up so I will pick back up next year. As soon as the binding is complete I will share the quilt with you.
I had an AWESOME surprise 40th birthday party with my wonderful friends Saturday night. It was great! I was totally surprised too. They got me good. And I had a King-Rita for dinner. WOW that drink was like HUGE.
We bought the baby a high chair. She is really a big girl now.
I started wrapping ribbon around 320 boxes. I completed 80 last night. long way still to go.

I worked on some more tutu's to get read for an upcoming craft fair. Hoping I can sell them because I am over run with tutu's. Thirty one is going well. Still have not had a home show but I submitted a proposal for a fundraiser and it was approved. Just got to get that kicked off on December 1st. Hoping it will be a good one.

Today is Danies 9 month shots and then I am also taking her to get some Christmas pictures made. I have most of this week off so it will be great to finish up some projects and get the tree decorated.

I promise not take as long between posts. As soon as blogger will work with me I will show you the layouts :)

Altered Wreath

2011-11-13T16:20:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity this weekend to finally get some crafty time in. The hubby is gone hunting and the kids have their things they are doing so it worked out perfectly. Although I am sure my house was screaming that it needed to be cleaned but you know....crafting is more important :)

I started off the weekend by trying a painting that I have had stuck in my head for a week now. I never could find what I really wanted to make it out of so I just used what I could manage to find. And now that I have seen it in person and not in my head...I like it :) Please tell me what you think about it!

And my final project for the weekend was this altered wreath. I bought the straw wreath in the two different sizes and spent most of today working on it. I will say it takes a pretty long time to wrap that wreath with yarn! Time...and sore fingers! but it is done. I wanted to add some of this Modo fabric that I bought for a quilt last month. So to help with the time frame issue...I wrapped the smaller wreath with the fabric and then just covered up the rest with the yard. Perfect!

and I love me some felt flowers so I just had to make a few of these. While searching for the twig that I knew I had stashed away somewhere in my craft room...I found the jingle bells...PERFECT! Just what I needed for that small, added touch. Now it will jingle a little bit when we open the door. I think it turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. and I love more than anything to have homemade wreaths to share for the holidays.

Happy Birthday to Me....

2011-11-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

Well it is finally here......

the 40's!

It has been an amazing trip in my 30's. Of course Billy and I have been married all of my 30's. Steven graduated and got married. Kayla graduated and made me a grandmother. My baby turned 18. I began drawing again. Picked up painting and quilting. was published in scrapbook magazines. Really worked hard at a scrapbook career. Bought my favorite car. We reopened the lake and have spent wonderful time with my family. We've see sad....I lost my Nanny Thomas, Nanny Waters, Aunt Vera, Dixie Rose...and several other loved ones. It's been a time of growth and learning. It's been a great 10 years.

Now we set off on a new venture. A new chapter in my life. A new set of 10 years. Well....from what I have been told...it is only going to get better (if I minus out the aches and pains that I know will follow...lol) I do believe I can rock me some 40's!

and hey...if I can really get this weight off like I have been trying to do....well then we can have a rockin hot 40 year old grandmother :)!

Thank you to everyone who has made this day special for me.

Doozy of a week...

2011-11-09T21:39:00.000-05:00

Well this week has been one doozy that is for sure. The weekend started off okay but ended pretty badly. Lots of hurt feelings...things said that shouldn't have been...So I guess you could say this week has been about walking on egg shells and mending broken hearts....sigh.

This picture I took the other day pretty much sums up my mood this week....dark, clouded and grey. What a funk! and to top it all off....40 will be here in just a few short days. So I am pretty sure that is looming over my head too and just making things so depressing.

To add to the yuck...Kayla did not get the job we were hoping for. Back to square one for the umptenth time. I'm not sure how to get this week to turn around.

But I did go shopping with my sister this afternoon. I came home early to watch the baby so Kayla could go to a Nutrition class at the school board in hopes to become a lunchroom sub. So my sister asked me to go shopping. We hit up Kohl's where she bought LOTS of clothes for the baby...lol...and I managed to find a toy for Danie and a shirt for me and all for just $10! wootwoot! Then we headed to Target where I dropped the most money...lol...but I am done with one more person's Christmas so all was good. Did some good coupon shopping while I was there too. So it was really nice to just get out and do something out of the norm.

I wanted to share with you an unedited picture of Shawn. This is one of 3 of the "Senior Pictures" I was able to take of him Sunday. That whole thing was a total bust. But....all in all...I love this picture. Even if I can't see his face...this is how he is...no front face pictures! EVER! NEVER! So I might edit this a little and use it anyway....everyone who knows Shawn knows this is how his pictures will turn out...lol.

A little chicken action for you. They are doing so good right now. We are getting about a dozen eggs a day now. Today was the most....14 eggs total. Go girls go! I'm not really making a lot of money off these eggs but I'm putting half away in our cruise jug and the other half in a piggy bank for Danie :)

Lastely...my new friend. I found him Sunday while I was working in the flower gardens. I haven't seen one of these little guys in a LONG time but let me just say...he wasn't exactly little at all. He was a good 6 inches long. And would watch every move I made. Kinda weird.

Well....on the crafty front....I am almost done with my last quilt for the year. I have one more to do to be honest but with Thanksgiving almost here...I just don't have time. When the tree goes up the sewing machine gets put away. So I will finish this last one up in the next week and then put all the sewing stuff up until next year. I think I have done pretty well this year! I'm proud of myself. I haven't scrapped anything in a few weeks but I do believe once the sewing is put up I can really enjoy some of my other crafts such as scrapping and painting. I have a few ideas floating around in my head that I hope will become unique to me and a great seller :) We shall see. And I am even tossing the idea around of handstamped jewelry. Again...we will see.

Alrighty...signing off....I just finished my 38th book for the year. I am terribly behind considering I was suppose to read like 52 or 64 books. I can't remember now. Either one...I am not going to make that total. But maybe I can get 40 or so done ;) okay okay really this time...signing off...come back Friday and join me for my birthday bash...the last days of my 30's!

Fun, Fun Projects

2011-11-07T05:50:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to finally be able to share this with you. I made this altered frame using an acrylic frame from ClearScraps. First I painted the acrylic on the backside and then distressed it with sandpaper. Once that was complete then I painted the edges with brown paint. the fun then begins.....start layering your frame with papers and embellishments. I even used some Prima packaging that I had been saving for a while as a frame border behind the pictures. I used some K&C diecuts and a few other embellishments that I had laying around. Tied the acrylic together with ribbon and wala....a cute frame to show of our granddaughter.

Just a few pictures of each one of the sides....

Isn't she a cutie :) I entered this into the ClearScraps craft contest. I was very happy to end up in second :)

Over the weekend I decided to have a somewhat crafty day. I painted up this picture below....and added some red fabric on some of the flowers as an added dimension. It's fun and different that is for sure.

And to finish off the weekend I drew these dolphins for a coworker. I decided to add some paint to the drawing. That was a first. I've used ink and pencil, charcoal and pencil, colored pencil and pencil but never paint. I kinda like the effect!

Well, here's hoping you have a wonderful week planned....

I introduce you to Teal Delight

2011-11-05T14:42:00.000-04:00

First off I do believe Blogger does not like me.....or else my computer has updated to another yucky version of IE that just stinks! I can't seem to upload pictures...and I don't know about you but sometimes I can't even post comments on other blogspot blogs. Very frustrating! But that is not why we are here today :)

I wanted to introduce you to Teal Delight. I am super proud of this quilt. Not only because it is the 6th or so quilt I have finished this year but mainly because I designed this puppy myself. And I LOVE it! I have a whole new admiration for those that design quilt patterns. I don't know how you do it because let me just say....it can be stressful! But...I did it and it is complete.

The patterned fabric I saw about a month or so ago on my friend Julie's blog. She was showing a picture of the quilt she made her daughter. Well I immediately fell in love. Blue is so my favorite color so I just had to have it. Little did I know that fabric discontinues quickly! But after a good search I found some fat quarters....all the way in the UK! So we want discuss how much it was...our secret..OK!

Then while I was taking a stroll in our local fabric store I ran across this white fabric. Which has white butterflies all over it. They are hard to pick up in pictures but believe me...they are there. Thousands of them. There is a little story that goes along with my grandparents and butterflies so the meaning to this fabric was more than just the appearance. I knew this had to be a part of this quilt.

The back of the quilt came along much more quickly than the front. I knew I wanted it to be darker and this grey was perfect. I just think all the fabric came together nicely. And of course I learned alot along the way. I learned that I still have a ways to go when it comes to doing fancy stitching and that when you need to rip out seams....it can take a long time when you tried to do a few zigzags! Maybe for the next one I will try to be a little more adventurous. But for now...I will stick with my little "Teal Delight" and all the meaning that goes behind this quilt.

I also dabbled with making a few hair bows the other day. I thought they turned out pretty cute.

The weekend

2011-11-03T05:44:00.000-04:00

We took Danie to the Paulding Meadows Trunk or Treat on Saturday. She seemed to have a pretty fun time. Especially when I let her have a Dum Dum sucker! she stayed in costume and we just pushed her around everywhere. This was the only day she got to Trick or Treat because she has been pretty sick lately. Monday Kayal took her to the dr and it was confirmed that she had her first ear infection :(

So 1 round of antibotics here we come.

She is still coughing pretty good but for the most part the meds are working.

We didn't have any trick or treaters monday night...as usual...just the wrong area for kids I guess. Now it is hard to believe it is November. Wow this year has just flown by so quickly. Before we know it Danie will be a year old!!!

I've been working hard and heavy on two quilts and still one more to make! And I only have until the 24th to get them done. Once Thanksgiving is here....the sewing machine will be put up for the year. Just too much going on with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lets hope I can get the sewing gods on my side.

Had a great Thirty-One month. I hope this month will be even better with the holidays around the corner. Don't forget about my sale on the 11th!

40th Birthday Black Friday Sale

2011-10-28T21:13:00.000-04:00

So just a little less than 2 weeks and I will be celebrating my 40th birthday. WOW is all I can say. I remember being in my 20's and here I am double that...eeek! I'm not so sure I am liking the idea even though I know ALL my friends are 40 or turning 40 already. But anyway....I feel the need to have a sale the day before dooms day! Will you join me?

No crowds, you can wear your PJ's and have a nice hot cup of coffee while shopping Thirty-One for all your holiday needs or if you just want something for yourself. From Midnight to 11:59 pm on Friday, November 11th, there will be discounts, specials and FREE stuff all day long! why....I just want to celebrate my Birthday with everyone :)

So here is the deal....

Midnight - 3am: 20% off entire order
3:01 - 6:00: 15% off entire order
6:01 - 9:00 am: 10% off entire order
9:01 - noon: FREE Shipping
12:01 - 3:00 pm: FREE tax
3:01 - 6:00 pm: FREE Embroidery (one item only)
6:01 - 9:00 pm: FREE Mini Zipper Pouch (50% min. order, one per order)
9:00 - 11:59 pm: 10% off entire order

ALL Day SPECIALS

With every $31 spent, you get a Littles Carry All Caddy for only $1
Pick a Date to book a party TODAY, and you'll get a gift certificate for $20 to be used at your party. (This includes a catalog show but all shows must total $200 min)

Ship my online catalog at mythirtyone.com/beckythackston and then email me your order at bthackston@bellsouth.net. The time stamp on your email will determine what special you will receive.

What a great way to shop for Christmas without leaving the comfort of your home!

Bonus: everyone who orders during this 24 hour period will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive a Large Utility Tote in Winter Wonderland.

Don't live locally?? That is okay....let me know what you would like to order and we will work out something on shipping it out to you.

How is that for a Celebration. And all because I am having a birthday! Will you join me and help me celebrate!

Hump Day

2011-10-26T05:56:00.000-04:00

Well my plan was to share some pictures with you today but blogger is being a little on the "pain" side and will not let me upload. So many tomorrow.

Have some great pictures of Danie with her cookie monster pumpkin she carved with her mama!
A sneak peak of my blue/white quilt. It's coming along very nicely. I hit up Joann's this past Monday and bought the rest of the fabric I needed to finish off the last bit of my Christmas gifts. Now I just need the time to work on them. The baby has been sick since Sunday and we have just not had the extra time in the evenings to do much except love on her!

I sold my first dozen eggs! YEAH. Should have a dozen more by tonight. They are just coming along.

On a super hard job hunt for Kayla. things aren't going so well with her current job and she just needs something stable that will help her take care of her baby...if your local and hear of anything, please let us know :)

Okay off to work....and hopefully I will have some pictures for you tomorrow

I'm in a crafty, creative mood - and a Giveaway

2011-10-21T23:58:00.000-04:00

Today began gun (hunting) season for our family. Today is the time of the year I become a hunters wife and the weekends are devoted to deer hunting. I ship the boys out on Friday and cross fingers that they will be lucky over the weekend and bring home some much needed winter supplies :)

We will just say that we have not been lucky the last few years...lol! Hunting season usually costs us a bookoo of money. $600 for dues, $50 for license, and all the food and gas. That part I don't like BUT...the part I do like.....FREE WEEKENDS TO CRAFT! Yep you heard me...I have an entire weekend that I can devote to crafting and not have all other kinds of projects going on along with a hubby following me all over the house asking what I am doing :)

So tonight I worked on a tutu....this one was for a lady at work who is due in December. I took the picture at 11 pm at night so the coloring is a little off but this is a burgundy and a green with white ribbon. I think it will be precious for some Christmas newborn pictures!

Once that project was complete....I drug out some canvases and began an abstract painting. It is pretty bright right now...yellows, blues, greens....But I am going to try and tone it down with some coffee staining tomorrow morning :) I simply love abstracts because you can just let the creativity flow. Sadly they aren't for everyone and sometimes can be hard to fit into a room BUT....they are what I love to do. NOW for the giveaway...I am in a crafty giveaway mood too....so.....I have a project for you....I want to hit 150 followers! I'm at 103 right now...I know I can get to that magic 150 mark with your help. So....if your not already please click follow --------> over there on the right....and then you will be entered into my little ole giveaway (don't forget to leave me a comment)...and for every friend you refer and they follow me (if they will leave a comment and let me know you referred them) I will add your name in again! Now what is the prize you ask....well I would like to give you one of my paintings or drawings...a $30 value. And if there is something of mine you really like but is over $30....we can deduct the $30 from the cost of the painting.

all the pictures can be seen at Art From the Heart. I hope you will enjoy this giveaway and help me get some followers. I plan on getting my craft on in the next few days and getting this blog rocking and rolling.

Tomorrows plans: finish up this abstract and then off to the sewing machine for a little quilt action! pictures to follow I promise!

Thackston Farm news....we got 5 eggs Thursday! And today we got 5 more. So we are almost up to 2 dozen eggs in a weeks time! WOOHOOO! I think we only have 3 hens laying right now and I have 19 so yeah...more eggs to come I'm sure. If your local....I plan on selling the eggs $1.50 a dozen if you supply the carton. If you want me to supply the carton then they will be $2.00 a dozen. They will be on a first come first serve basis!

And we have some Pumpkin Carving action going on at the Thackston Farm the other day. Now we have not had a pumpkin carved in FOR.E.VER! Shawn went and purchased a pumpkin and brought it home for his girlfriend and little brother to carve. I'm not allowed to take head shot pictures...lol...so that would be Shawn on the left and Annie in the top corner with her little brother. More Halloween pumpkin pictures to come I promise....Maybe some butterbean and pumpkin :)

Alright that is all for now. Stay tuned and don't forget the giveaway :)
Happy Crafting

October Layout for Tally

2011-10-19T19:21:00.000-04:00

Playing around with the October Tallyscrapper kit the other day and fell in love with the colors. I mean Black, Orange, Green...yum yum! And a little color wheel action here.....matching some blue with the orange. I really loved this pciture of my niece Lauren. She turned 2 the other day so I thought it would be great to scrap her and give it to her mom.

Around the edges of the layout I did some zig zag stitching...we want tell anyone that I forgot to change my presser foot before I started and broke my needle. Nope...our little secret...shhhhhhhh

And of course you know I can't finish a layout with out some doodling, some embellishments and a flower or two. this mesh was in the kit so I drug out my handy dandy hot glue gun and started putting it together. Along with my fingers! ouch!

But after all was said and done...wahhla!

a really cute, and quick, layout using some wonderful Halloween/fall colors but a non traditional fall picture! Got to love it!

On the sewing home front...well...I'm in stall mode. I have my squares stitched and cut out...now to just stitch my blocks together. I am in decision mode...do I finish sewing and cutting the last 38 squares or do I make a center with what I have and then some cream borders for the edge of the center block???? decisions decisions. But this weekend I will be home while the hubby is deer hunting so I plan on getting LOTS of sewing done. Well that is if butterbean will give me some moments of peace :)

Stay tuned. I might just show a few sneak peaks in the next day or so!

anyone???

2011-10-18T05:52:00.000-04:00

Thirty-One anyone? pretty please :)
I would really like to get this business up and off the ground but having a pretty hard time doing it. Not sure if it is because there are so many consultants out there? Not sure if it is because of the economy?
We are having some hard times and this is the only way I can think of to help us out but I just can't get the bookings/catalog parties/or orders :(

Maybe they will come....

On a brighter note we are up to 8 eggs now. One broken. We picked up 3 eggs yesterday :)

And we have eggs

2011-10-14T06:12:00.000-04:00

Well first I just can't help but share Danie sporting her new monogramed hat her mother made. It has a T on the side right next to the flower. So super cute. Now if she just had hair to fill it out...lol

but I am so excited to share we had our first EGG!!! Can you believe it. The chickens are almost 25 weeks old. And finally.....after lots of talking and fixing up the nest boxes...we have an egg!! It's so cute and small. I was so excited. I really didn't know how this adventure would end when I asked for chickens so many months ago. But here we are. Hopefully we will get enough eggs that I will not have to buy them at the grocery store again :)

Gooooood Wednesday Morning

2011-10-12T05:39:00.000-04:00

Hope all is well in blog land.
LOVING the fall weather right now. Our windows have been up for a week and the weather is just fantastic. Nice chilly mornings and wonderful afternoons. I love this time of year (plus I love the light bill when it is a lot lower).

Along with the cool weather my painting mojo has been sneaking back in. Over the weekend I was able to get these two paintings done. The top one actually is a 3D painting. I have one canvas glued/nailed on top of the others. I think it turned out pretty cool if I do say so myself. The one below did not start off this way but as I was taking pictures of it to share...I had an ah-ha moment and changed the whole picture.

I finished buying up the fabric for my quilt I am designing. All I need now is the batting for the middle. I'm hoping I can work on that one a little next weekend since hunting season begins and I can devoke all weekend to it. I think it will turn out pretty cool. And of course I have yet another quilt I started. I decided on ONE more Christmas gift! I swear this is it for this year...lol!

Bought a few gifts yesterday....slowing getting Christmas finished which feels good.

I just ordered my Tally kit yesterday. If your looking for a GREAT sale on some kits....head on over there. All kits are $21 or less! TallyScrapper.com Kits are limited!

Have a great Wednesday folks!

...

2011-10-10T05:46:00.000-04:00

This says it all don't ya think :)

TGIF

2011-10-07T06:05:00.000-04:00

That is what I am screaming today....TIGF!

It's been one long week.

And yesterday didn't end to well indeed.

We will get to that later.

First I want to share a little project I made. I can't show you all of it but this is a little sneak peak...I entered this in the Clear Scraps Contest. It was so much fun to make. I used a lot of different products....some items from the Front Porch Kits Club, some from a few goodies I got from K&Company...and then a little bit of this and that from my own stash. I love it.

Made a few more tutu's. This is the candy corn tutu. it is precious! Seriously. Little Lauren will be sporting this one for Halloween. I think I will have a booth at the local school and have some tutu's for sale there. Just easy ones. Maybe add some flowers. I think I will take about 10 of them.

and on to the roosters and hens. They are growing so quickly. this is mr know it all. He is pretty much the king of the roost. We don't have eggs yet. Billy got the nesting boxes up last weekend and they are checking them out but nothing just yet. Not sure if they will lay anything this winter or not. I think they are just wanting to be stubborn. But they best watch it...I can sell them in a heartbeat!

Little Danie LOVES the chickens. She loves to sit out there watching them all. She is so stinkin cute. I love this little girl so much. This weekend it will be just me and her. The kids will be working so me and her will be chilling spending some lovin time together.

I was hoping to be productive this weekend but now I am thinking that might not be the case. I might make some tutu's and store them away just to have something to do. I ran out of fabric for my latest quilt and can't get anymore until next week. So really nothing to work on. I have some fabric on order for my last Christmas gift. Yes I know...I added just one more to the list. Maybe this weekend will be a great time to clean and organize a little....maybe ....we will see. Hey I might even get a painting done or a scrapbook page or two :)

So on to the blah.....Shawn hit a car yesterday. :(

It was only in a gas station parking lot but still. I am thankful no one was hurt. With that said....AARRRGGHHHHHH. There goes our discounts. there goes our insurance sky high even more than what it is. and I can't afford it now. I just don't know what we will do if it gets much higher. I told that boy...that's it...enough lounging around...job time. Serious job time. So he is to get to looking for a REAL job. I can't carry these kids anymore....I mean they are 21 and 18 now...time to help out youngins! Before mama goes and jumps off a bridge because she can't figure out how to pay the bills :(

Anyone want to buy a tutu :) lol!

On a serious note.....well artsy note....check out my art website...there are still a few paintings left. Be sure to click on the painting to see if it has been sold or not.

http://www.beckythackston.weebly.com/

TallyScrapper October kit

2011-10-03T15:07:00.000-04:00

I am a kit addict! Seriously! Kits make it so easy to scrapbook...just grab a kit and add pictures! I love how everything is put together for you...the papers...the embellishments. Gotta love it.

So of course when I find an awesome kit I have to share.

Tallyscrapper just released the October kit! Don't you love the colors in this. that top green patterned paper is screaming my name.

but with kits....they are limited so if this kit grabs you too....run on over to Tally and pick one up before they are all gone! What a super price they are this month too!

My sons birthday and fun stuff

2011-10-02T18:53:00.001-04:00

wow I can't believe my son turned 18 today! It is just amazing how quickly time goes by. 18 years ago I was living at home with my parents and I remember waking my mom up early in the morning....it is time to go mom! and off we went. 6 hours later my buddy was gracing this world. It wasn't an easy delivery and he was in a lot of distress. He was born blue. But.....he bounced right back and became one handsome, smart young man. I love that fella with all my heart. Now he is a Senior in high school....18 years old....and getting the urge to embark out into the world. sigh.

Do I feel old....you bet. a 21 year old and an 18 year old. Yep the 40's are around the corner and I feel OLD...lol!

With that said...several family members have asked me what I want for my birthday! Well here it is....
If I can't have my sewing machine.... I would love to have....This bracelet...along with some starter beads that have to do with my kids, my granddaughter..my husband. I have wanted one of these for YEARS.

I also would LOVE some Perle thread so that I can start embroidering on my quilts Perle #8. I just don't know where to get it except at craft stores :)

Okay that is seriously all I wish for. Hope that helps...lol.

I can't wait to share with you an altered frame I made this weekend. Boy I can't wait to share it. but it will be a little while...can you wait for it?

Ugh...blogger is not being nice so I can't share the tutu's I made this weekend. Stay tuned.

This week is dragging....

2011-09-29T05:45:00.000-04:00

Don't you think. Gosh it has been a long week.
But it has been a week of accomplishments!
I finally got back into the acrylic this week and painted this picture. The photograph was taken by my friend Heidi and I just had to paint it. She loved it :) yeah. Now I think I might do more paintings like this of silhouettes. I really love the look of it. Tell me what you think? Love...Hate...would you buy it?

Just a small picture of Butterbean. She was taking a hamper ride from the laundry room to her room courtesy of her mother. She was just a laughing. It was too funny. This week she has began eating Gerber Graduates cheetoes. Yeah she loves them!

Okay for my first real PILLOW!!!! This was made for a Pillow Talk Swap that I joined. My first real sewing swap. I had a blast making this and I really hope the lady it is going to loves it too.

It has been a busy week. Between work and just trying to finish up loose ends at the house. I have my scrap desk almost cleaned off and actually started a scrappy project which is moving right along. It's an altered frame and so far is turning out just as I want it to. Gotta love that.

Submitted to a few Scrappy DT's this week. One manufacturer and one kit club.

Worked on getting some hostess or at least some orderes lined up for October with Thirty-One. I really would like this to get up off the ground.

Ready for this weekend to get here. My son turns 18 on Sunday. He is having some friends over Saturday night for his birthday. I hope to get some things done around the house since we don't really have anything pressing to get finished. I want to hang my craft cabinet and just finish some things. It will be nice to open the windows and just be with the family chilling this weekend.

What I've been up to.....

2011-09-25T15:44:00.000-04:00

TUTU's....I have been up to my neck in tulle....lol

They have become so fun and addictive to make. There was a booth across from us at the Arts Festival that was selling these....All the little girls were just googoo over them so you know me...I had to figure out how to make them and try my hand at it. I just had too so that I would have some photo props for Danie this fall. And boy have we had fun with them. So far I have made her 3, sold 3 and made an extra just for kicks. But we want mention how much tulle I have laying around the house now...lol.

I even took this pink one with us to the beach and got a picture of Danie in the ocean with it. This has turned into one of my most favorite pictures. She is a perfect model. Here are a few more that I have made. I am selling them for $20-25 (depending on the age and how much tulle). I decided to make an orange and black one for Danie for Halloween. Along with some orange and black leggings, onsie and some bat antlers...she is all set to go trick or treating at Paulding Meadows this year. Don't tell anyone but I can't wait :)

I also finished my last Christmas present quilt. This one I got a little creative with and made swirly lines all the way down it. I LOVED how it turned out. I hope she likes it too. I have now started another quilt for me and also working on a pillow swap cover. I am almost done with it and can't wait to share it. I am might proud of this one.

As far as scrapping...haven't pulled out any paper...BUT....I am saving up my pictures because I feel the urge coming along anytime now. As soon as I am done with a few quilting commitments I am dragging back out the paper and paint. It's time for scrapping and some new paintings.

I think my mojo is finally getting back and that makes me very happy.

As far as the family...

Everyone is doing well. Shawn turns 18 in just a week. I can't believe that. Kayla is in week three of her new waitressing job. I am totally exhausted from watching the baby. Had to get a cortisone shot in my shoulder last week due to .....birthdays...lol. Not sure it really helped. Billy just finished the nesting boxes for the chickens. I promise to get a picture of them sometime soon. They should start laying soon. I hope. Baby is doing great. She is crawling and standing up everywhere. Talking to you. Just growing like a weed.

More to come...

A quick peak

2011-09-20T06:24:00.000-04:00

at how my resolutions for the year are coming along....will be back later with some quilting stuff....tutu's....and more goodies. Just need a few minutes of computer time.

with September almost gone I thought it would be a great time to check and see how I am coming along with my resolutions

~~Focus more on my art~~ been working on this one pretty hard

Continue to work hard in the scrappy world and hopefully make a few more Design Teams (sadly...a no go)

Continue to submit my work for possible publication (been trying)

Lose these last 15 lbs (um---hasn't happened)

Reopen my etsy store (nope....this one either)

~~Finish MY quilt and then really get envolved in more quilting~~ YES...finally something I have completed plus some

~~Hand make ALL my christmas for 2011~~ YES I did it!!! woohoooooo

~~Make more time for me and my husband (We deserve it)~~ We took a weekend trip which was nice

Take my first cruise (nope didn't happen)

Go to the Moonshine Festival (still hoping I can do this one)

~~Sign up for Paulding Meadows again and maybe work in another art fair~~ I did and sold 14 paintings

~~cut my hair SHORT~~ (well I cut it to my shoulders does that count)

Take more weekend camping trips (really didn't have time for this one either)

So how have you been doing knocking off those resolutions???

Stay tuned for more goodness to come. Can't wait to share a few pictures with you.

Crochet.....

2011-09-13T19:06:00.000-04:00

My daughter does not have a blog yet so I told her she could use mine so that she could show off and participate in the Celebrate Color Challenge at Stitched in Color. So.....welcome Kayla....

Hi....my name is Kayla....
Thank you for letting me share with you my new found addiction.
For Christmas this past year, my mom bought me a "Learn How to Crochet" book. Before I knew it I was totally hooked to crocheting. By February I had completed a baby blanket for my new daughter.

Pretty soon after that I started making crochet hats. Ladybugs, frogs, piggies and more. Just last week I completed this Giraffe hat for my daughter. It was perfect!

She wore it this weekend to the arts and crafts fair and was so warm. Lots of compliments too. AND an order for another one. I can't wait to try my hand at some more different animals. And to share them with you too :)

Kayla Thackston

Thank you for letting Kayla share just a little bit.

I survived....

2011-09-12T19:46:00.000-04:00

I survived Paulding Meadows! One more completed arts and crafts festival under my belt. It was GREAT weather...not to hot...a little chilly in the mornings but that was okay. I sold 10 paintings Saturday and 4 on Sunday. WAY more than I planned too so that was just perfect in my books!

My husband says we will do it again next year....I say...I don't know. We will see I guess. I still have a lot of paintings to find new homes for so if I make more....well....we will be over run with artwork..lol.

Right now I am switching gears and going to make a tutu since those were pretty popular this weekend. And I have a few more projects to finish. First on my list is to get my stuff together for the Pillow Talk Swap 6. I have my partner...now time to create :)

pictures to come. I may be AWOL for a little bit. Heading to the beach this Thursday so if you don't see me....I'm playing in the ocean with butterbean :)

Celebrating Color

2011-09-08T19:54:00.000-04:00

Quilting.....I remember when I asked my best friend Emily a few years ago if she would quilt a few tops that my grandmother passed down to me....she had recently passed away and I really wanted these completed. But I had no idea what to do so Emily took them on for me. I was totally amazed when she brought them back. I was asking her all kinds of questions about quilting. I just knew I could never do it. I'm a scrapbooker and a painter. I just could not wrap my brain around quilting.

Little did I know that would begin my path down collecting fabrics. And FINALLY getting up enough nerve to put together a quilt. Now.....5 quilts completed...I LOVE this journey. It is so totally different than anything else I have ever done. It's a little bit more pricey of a craft but that is okay....I love the end results.

Just being a new quilter I decided to take on a huge project....Christmas presents. Yep I decided to give quilts as gifts. 5 lucky recepients will be getting a Becky loved quilt. I sure hope they like them. I know I have learned a lot in this last year and so much more to learn.

One of the quilting blogs that I immediately became addicted too was Stitched in Color. I have fell in love with everything she has posted and have a few quilt alongs that I promised myself I would complete. It's just a matter of getting up the courage to do them. When I saw this challenge, Celebrate Color, I knew I wanted to give it a try so I worked as hard as I could on this quilt, my final Christmas gift. I found this pattern online. I really wish I could remember where I found it.....so I could share it with you too. Once I had all the squares completed I added the beige border and the outside border on my own :) I was proud of that addition. I'm still pretty new to the "quilting" part and really only know how to do straight lines but for this one I decided to add my own little touch with some squiggly lines. I LOVE how that turned out and just gives it an added punch.

I found this backing at The Intrepid Thread. This is another wonderful online quilter that I found while blog searching. She has just recently opened up an online fabric store. I knew this backing would be perfect. And it was. A coworker went with me to a local fabric store last week and we picked up the binding material.

Even though sometimes sewing is frustrating to me....mainly because I need to learn so much more....it is very rewarding. Looking at the finished product just simply puts a smile on my face. And now that this one is complete....I'm ready for the next one. It.....is going to be a Becky original so stay tuned. Lets see just how brave I can be.

a few paintings this weekend

2011-09-05T20:38:00.000-04:00

Of course I can't start a blog post off without a little butterbean action! The fun thing about this picture is that I have NOT altered it in anyway. Some how or another the background turned a perfect black while I was taking these pictures. LOVE that. She loves to chew on her wet rags. Love that little girl.

We have been babysitting her in the evenings while Kayla works. It has been a lot of fun. Nothing like Nana, Papa and Butterbean time.

In between bad weather, rain, tornadoes, carpet cleaning, storage unit cleaning, babysitting, erands and much much more....I was able to get a few projects completed!

These are a few paintings that I made for a few special people out there. Hoping to get them out in the mail this Friday. I used nothing but K&C paper and embellishments along wtih some pen work and paint. I really love all the butterflies.

And lots of 3D action!

I am about finished with my last Christmas quilt. I am glad to get these done and out of the way. Now I can begin working on my own quilt. I am designing this one and trying to take notes along the way. Maybe a few pictures to boot. We will see. Hopefully it will turn out like I have it in my mind. I am using some fabric that my online quilting friend Julie posted. Of course it was discontinued...anything I really like is...but I was able to find 5 fat quarters in the UK and bought them up! I got the beginning of the cutting going on now. Lots of 2 inch sashing! And of course butterflies in the fabric :)

Today was some messy weather with lots of rain and tornadoes. We had one touch down in between our road and the next road red light down. Not good. I don't like them close like that. Prayers for all the people that had to deal with the aftermath of these storms. I am very happy they are done and over with. just too many tornado warnings for my taste. Hoping this will bring in some colder weather for the art fair this weekend. I "think" I have all my paintings ready. Will have some sewn items and Kayla will have some crochet hats. not a lot of planning went in to it this year which I am ashamed about but you can only do what you can do right? If you don't have plans this weekend...come on out to Paulding Meadows. I will be in booth 165 and 166. ALL day...both days. It's a long and exhausting weekend but then I can enjoy a few days out of town with my sister to relax...hopefully....maybe.

Stay tuned...pictures of the quilt to come as soon as I can get a good day of light to photograph it :)

and...book review coming of a must read book for all the ladies out there.

Stay tuned

2011-09-01T20:43:00.002-04:00

crafty goodness on the way I promise.
Just finished quilting a quilt for the Celebrate Color challenge. Just have to bind it now. Will share soon. And I finished another purse.

Started to work on a few paintings but I ran out of Mod Podge. HOW do you run out of Mod Podge???? I guess the same way I run out of adhesive....lol!

So as soon as I can get my busy butt to the store and buy up a few things...crafty goodness will be posted. I promise :)

Go Red for Women and Thirty-One

2011-08-29T17:20:00.000-04:00

I try every year to support the American Heart Association.

As some of you may know....I was born with an ASD...Atrial Septal Defect. I didn't find out that I had this ASD until about 13 years ago. And even by then it was by chance that I found it out. It's crazy to think of all the stupid, crazy stuff I done my teenage years that could of really impacted my health since I did not know I had this defect. Most ASD's close up in small children...I was born a premmie so we think mine just never closed. So...every year...I am a good girl and go to the cardiologist and just make sure the pressures are good and there is no enlarging of the hole. So far.....13 years of good reports.

In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

This year I would like to combine Go Red for Women with my Thirty-One.

From today until September 12th....all my proceeds will be donated to the Go Red campaign. Would you help me meet my goal of a $150.00 donation? You can contact me directly at bthackston@bellsouth.net or go directly to the my thirty-One page at http://www.mythirtyone.com/BeckyThackston/ where you can place an order.

Some of the September specials you don't want to miss.....for every $31 you spend, you will get to order a celebrate card set, zipper pouch or select wallets for 50% off (wallets included in this special are Organizing wallet, soft wallet, coin purse wallet, essentials zip wallet and the hard case wallet). This special begins September 1st.

I hope you can help me reach my goal and to help us become more aware of heart disease in women.

Great end to a long week

2011-08-26T20:38:00.001-04:00

I don't know about you guys but this week has been LONG and dragging! I am so glad it is Friday night.
We have a busy weekend with most of Saturday at the family lake for our monthly fishing day and our never ending yard sale. Please come out if you can. We need to get rid of all this yard sale stuff! I am NOT packing it back up. Nope. not going to do it. Some come get it and make and offer :)

Sunday I plan on working on my last Christmas present quilt and maybe slip in a few more purses for the Arts fair. I'm really hoping to sell a good bit of my paintings while I am there this year. We hope at least. Positive thoughts right :)

So I got this beautiful fabric in the mail this week. My online quilting friend Julie posted a quilt she made her daughter. I fell in LOVE with this fabric. And don't you know it was discontinued! Of course it would be. Anything I love is...lol. BUT....a little google searching here and there and I was able to find these 5 fat quarters in the UK! So I snatched them up. And we will just say that the US $ does NOT go over well in other countries :( so it was not cheap but it is okay. This is MY quilt. And I will be using these precious pieces in a Becky own design so stay tuned on that one.

Danie became the model for a few more of Kayla's hats. Mr. Duckie. AND she sold 4 adult hats this week. Her largest order yet. So proud of her and these little hats. By the way Danie got a great bill of health at the dr Thursday. She weighs in at 14.7 lbs at 6 months of age. 25 inches long. Great health. Received 4 shots and was not a happy gal. But all in all a great appointment.

And I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. I posted a relatively personal blog post earlier in the week. Some people had no idea that I battled some of the things that I did. I guess that makes it good to speak about because you can share with others and you may never know who all out there reads your blog posts...you might just be helping them battle their own demons just by them knowing someone else out there deals with the same problem. I received several sweet posts (you know who you are) and I also received several emails ;). One email in particular was from a someone who went as far as giving me the name of a book that she thought I should read. I honestly went out right then and bought it. Now to wait for Amazon to deliver it....but I can't wait to begin on it. And something she said in a message to me....really made a difference. She said..."today...I will love something about me and today I love my hair"....and she is RIGHT. Each day you should stop a moment and tell yourself what you love about YOU that day. Maybe it is something small...for me...coming up with something I love about myself is hard because I am so critical of every ounce of me....but today...because of her sweet comment and unexpected email....I will choose something that I love about me. Today I love my eyes. They see the world wide open...soaking in everything they possibly can. Today they were a lovely shade of blue....a calming blue. Today I loved my eyes because they were seeing ME from head to toe in a new light. (I think that was a pretty good start...don't you!)
Pick something that you love about yourself. Just one thing....and love it. Love that it is a part of who you are.

alrighty.....off to finish packing the car with my old stuff in hopes that will become someone elses new stuff. Have a great weekend! Quilt picks to come and who knows...I might even get a scrap page in this weekend!

A Touch of Reality

2011-08-24T17:37:00.001-04:00

So how am I doing on my Project 52? 32 books down and only 16 more weeks to go so I only need to read 20 more books....sigh....well I HAD a jump in the lead for a while but I guess I took a long slide somewhere. Maybe I missed a book here and there? Not sure I will get 52 books in this year but I have given it a good try at least. and read some books that I don't think I noramlly would of read. such as...

I happened to come home early one afternoon and caught the end of the Ellen Show while she was interviewing Portia de Rossi and her book. I am assuming it was a rerun since this book has been out for a year. As I began reading this book I found it was extremely hard to put down. I finished the book today and have realized that there was a lot of ME in this book. Enough of ME that I wrote Portia a letter. I wont mail it of course but it was good to just write and explain how I was feeling and know that if she did read it...she would understand. This book is about Portia's battle with anorexia and bulimia. So many things she would say would hit me square in the face. Now....let me explain...and to be honest I will not go into full detail but I did want to share a little of how I have felt.....I have never been a size 2 or 110 lbs. I have always been, as my mother would say, big boned. When I graduated high school I am sure I was about 124 lbs or so. I am only 5'2 and believe me....I didn't like one bit how I looked or how much I weighed. Not to long after I graduated I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I really gained a lot of weight and then a few years later I had my last child. In between that I had to deal with a husband that would tell me I was fat, over weight and even that no one else would ever want me. Roll that along with drs putting you are obese on your chart....not great for the self esteem. At my highest I weighed 200 lbs. I really don't know when that was. I just know I hated myself...how I looked...me in general. I tried Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Cabbage diet...you name it...I tried it. And even when I lost all the way to 132....I still wasn't happy. I didn't like the extra "fat" I had from having children....my legs were too big....nothing was right about my body. And at 132 when I was actually proud at how much I lost...my family is telling me I looked "sick". I never lost down to 100 or 82 lbs like Portia....but I counted calories. I limited my intake to 800 or less so much that it was hard for me to eat over that. And if I did....I would have major anxiety because I just knew I would gain weight. My body was in starvation mode so much I don't think it knew WHAT to do. I even met with an eating disorder counselor....and she said I had an eating disorder and then wouldn't see me again. Um okay...that helped. Guess I wasn't skinny enough for help.

I weighed/and still weigh....3 times a day. I get up, go to the bathroom, strip out of my night clothes, get on the scale....and that tells me if I am going to have a good day or not. When I get home from work...I weigh. When I go to bed at night...I weigh. I know exactly how much I will weigh in the morning by what the scale tells me at night. I've tried to throw out the scale but that just causes anxiety. That number has become who I am. If it is lower...I feel prettier. But yet I can still pick myself apart and make myself feel horrible and ugly.

It's a vicious cycle. and one I am not sure how I got on and why. The hurdle....loving myself for who I am. I have a wonderful husband who has seen me at 200 lbs and has seen me at 124 and he has loved me the entire time. He is always telling me....you are perfect just as you are...but for some reason I still battle with myself. It's hard. But I'm trying.

After reading this book....I know that the key is in myself. It is loving what I was put on this earth with. I may not always be comfortable the size I am but in all seriousness....I am a size 10...and should be comfortable with that. I will NEVER be a size 6. I will never be a size 4. Maybe an 8 but is it something that is worth punishing my body for. No. I have a beautiful BFF that I would LOVE to be her size. She is beautiful inside and out and can stay so thin. But I can never be her. and I have to learn that...realize that. I need to love the extra wrinkles that are popping up all over my face...love the age spots (but I think I might fight them as long as I can)...love that I am short....just love me as I am...Yes that is the hardest thing....learning to love yourself as you are. But I will and can.

Thank you Portia...even though I will not mail my letter to you....nor will you ever read it....I still thank you for sharing your life....your story....your heart....because it WILL touch others and help others do what they need to get thru things.

Read this book. If you have ever felt like I have...read it. It's worth it.

More butterbean

2011-08-21T13:32:00.000-04:00

Just a few more shots of butterbean :)

welll......I THOUGHT I would share more pictures of butterbean but the darn things will not rotate correctly...grrrrr.....

It's been a long week. Crazy week.
Saturday we spent the entire day at the lake working on the store. pressure washing, cleaning, getting it ready to paint. I repainted the old Lake Ramona sign and will work on the Coco-Cola signs over the next week. I can't wait to see them back up there again. Next Saturday is our monthly fishing day and family yard sale. I've been digging around the house again for anything and everything we can put in the yard sale.

Butterbean is getting all over the place. She is now pulling up on stuff and standing but of course you have to be right there to catch her when she falls. We bought her a walker today but her little feet don't touch the bottom...lol.

Trying to get ready for Paulding Meadows. bought another tent today and now I need to start getting my plans together on how I want to decorate the booth. Still need to get my Square Up working so that I can take credit cards! woohoooo.

I also got my first Thirty-One order in on Friday. I was so excited and really loved looking at what everyone got. I even had me a few yummies that I LOVE. I ordered my business cards this weekend and can't wait to really get this going. I hope it does well. I know I really love the stuff and can't wait to get some of these organizers here and there thru out the house. If you are not sure what Thirty-One is...please take a look at my website and look around www.mythirtyone.com/BeckyThackston

Okay off to be a little crafty I think. Already wasted a good bit of today so maybe I can salvage a little and work on some sewing

My week recap

2011-08-15T20:27:00.000-04:00

Oh I am such a horrible blogger! A whole WEEK! Sorry about that!
But......

this little girl is keeping me on my toes :)! She is growing sooooo fast. Not only is she getting around the house where ever she wants to go, sitting up and rolling over everywhere...but now she is playing peek-a-boo and copying sounds that you make. Oh and today....she tried her best to climb up my legs and almost got there. I just can't believe it all. She turns 6 months in just 4 more days. She has been such a joy and brightens my every afternoon. The negative side.....I don't get ANYTHING done because I am always loving on her! But I'm not complaining one bit!

Let's see...the weekend....lawnmower broke so of course hubby had to have a new one. We want discuss how further in debt this thing put us in...sigh...
Put in my first Thirty-One order. It was a $300 catalog show. Not to bad. Now if I could just have one of those a month I would be happy, happy.
Spent Sunday sewing little bags for girls. I will sell them at Paulding Meadows for $5. A little extra money is always good and I made them all from scraps I had laying around so that is even better.
I pinned my last Christmas gift quilt and it's sitting at the sewing machine waiting on me to get started on it.
Took Benji to the vet. Thought we would have to put him down again but a little antibotics and hopefully he will be back to Benji again. This dog is like the energizer bunny.
chickens are doing well. All 21 of them. anyone want some? Going to sell some of these suckers for $5 a piece.

Haven't been on the internet much so I am way behind on my message boards and blogs. Maybe soon I can catch back up. We shall see....

Dorothy...one of my best friends....left our work and moved on to somewhere else. that really put a damper on last week and made me kinda withdrawl a little. But I'm hoping she enjoys her new job and I know we will see each other again. Maybe not as much as we would like but I know we will.

Countdown to Paulding Meadows...so are you going to be there and visit :)

A great weekend...hate to see it end

2011-08-07T18:19:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend. I put up 10 jars of fig preserves. Man they are yummy too. Broke open one of the jars this morning. I think I will have more figs to pick this week since my parents are going out of town. Gotta keep the tree picked :)

Butterbean was a joy this weekend too. She laughed. Laughed and laughed. She is scooting ALL over the house. Has hit her head several times in the process and I give her a week and she will be sitting up on her own. She is already rolling over everywhere but now she is sitting on her leg and pushing her self up. it want be long at all.

Here is my latest sewing project. This one will be $25 and is a Becky original design. It is about 12 inches tall and about 12 wide. I even added a few buttons on the bottom. I think it turned out pretty cute and I had ZERO sewing injuries with this one.

I wanted to share with you my last layouts for Scrap-Tastic. This is using the August kit. After this month...I have stepped down from the Scrap-Tastic DT. I have had a wonderful time working with Becky and the other DT members. I hope you enjoy this kit as much as I did.

The chicken coop is complete. Billy worked all weekend on that puppy. I will have to get some pictures up soon of the chickens. They are growing so fast and we have managed to still keep all 21. Shawn is trying to talk us into more farm animals....ummmm no...not happening. And looks like ole Benji will have to head to the vet this saturday. His arthritis is getting pretty bad and his back hips are giving him a hard time. Not to mention the huge sore on his back end from crawling under the dog house. It's hard trying to decide when is the right time to let your doggies go....I am sure it is getting pretty close to that time for good ole Benji. I just don't want him getting to the point he can't get around anymore. And the last episode he had...what ever it was, stroke, heart attack...it has taken its toll on that good ole hunting dog. We will see....time will tell I guess.

i've been trying to get this Thirty-One off the ground. It's slow....but I'm trying. Just give me a buzz if you want to be a part of the newsletter :) or if you think you would like to see the catalog.

Okay..signing off for now. I need to get up off this computer and finish supper. I have been addicted all weekend to the "You know you went to Paulding County High if" facebook page and have laughed until I cried. It is so fun to think back to the good ole days. When we didn't have a care in the world.

night all...

Class of 2012

2011-08-03T05:49:00.000-04:00

WOW!
That is about all I can say this morning.
I have my very last senior in the house.
It's hard to believe my baby boy is now all grown up. Heck....he turns 18 in just a few short months. I just don't know where the time goes....and why it has to go so quickly.

Today my son walks into those halls at school for the last year. In just 180 school days I will be balling my eyes out in the bleachers watching him claim that diploma. WOW.

And then I am DONE! WOHOOOOOO. I know little Danie is here but I'm not doing the school stuff...that is her mama's job ;)

I took a few pictures of Danie yesterday but they are on the other camera. Sorry...forgot to upload it this morning. She is scooting around all over the floor now. Again...why does time have to move so fast. Before we know it she will be starting Pre-K....sigh. But I guess we have to get her walking first...right? LOL.

It's been a busy week so far. Monday was spent at the dentist office and lots of errands. Yesterday I had another massage for my back. I am not nearly as sore today as I was the first time a few weeks ago. Thank goodness. Today I have to run to my parents house after work and pick some figs. Looks like I will be making Fig Preserves this weekend :)

Took a little time to rummage thru all my patterns yesterday. I am in the mood to start another quilt. I know I know...I haven't even finished the last two I have but you know me....or at least you should by now...I am not happy without 5 projects going at the same time. I have one more purse to finish and then I am going to start on something else...maybe a Kindle holder or who knows what. As long as I am busy I am happy.

Stay tuned to see a few layouts I created using the Scrap-tastic August kit. Those should be posted in a few days. Happy Wednesday!

The weekend....

2011-08-01T06:38:00.000-04:00

The boys left this weekend and went to the deer camp to work. They are trying to get it ready for hunting season in a few months. Saturday I spent the day working at the lake and having a yard sale. I never can make any money because I spend it all. This time I bought an old roll top desk from my Aunt Elaine. I love it. Have no where to put it. But....that is why I pay for a storage unit every month right...lol.

Also worked on my bags. Here are the three that I got completed. I sold the green and yellow one. Will be giving the purple one to someone and then that leaves the brown one for sale. I also sold another black and yellow one this weekend. I originally had that one to give to my mom for Christmas but I think I am going to make her one a different color. I only had one sewing injury this weekend. While sewing the last back Saturday night, I forgot about a safety pin holding the handles on and when the needle hit it...well....it shattered into 3 peices. One of which flew up and hit me right below my eye lid. I have a nice little bruise there now. I'm so lucky it didn't hit my eye. Only 1/2 inch more and it would have. that would of been bad.

Also got a good bit of scrapping done too. 3 layouts and 2 cards finished Sunday. Started sewing on a few more purses and bagged up as much of my paintings as I could so that they are ready for Paulding Meadows. That is just a month away and I have done nothing to get ready. Lord I don't even know where my banner is or any of that stuff. Here's hoping it is all in the storage unit.

Sunday was our wedding anniversary. 13 years. He got home at about lunch time from the deer camp and then we went out to eat Sunday night to Longhorn's. I was hoping for an anniversary surprise or flowers but yeah....nothing :( Oh well...I should be used to that by now.

I'm off work today. Kayla is getting her crown put back on today and I have a dentist appt this afternoon. Then Shawn has open house at school. He doesn't want me to go. I can't believe he is a senior! I ordered his formal pictures over the weekend. We will ACTUALLY get a picture in the yearbook this year. GASP! Since he has conveniently forgot to have them made every year. But not this year because I ordered the picture myself...lol. He didn't like any of them but I did. Now as soon as fall gets here we will do the casual pictures. Have I mentioned I can't believe he is a senior. My baby.

I'll leave you with Butterbean....doing what she is doing best right now...trying to crawl and teething.

Missing that special someone

2011-07-27T01:00:00.000-04:00

Your always told time heals all wounds...and it does. For the most part. But sometimes it leaves an empty spot. One that just can't be filled. Losing a loved one hurts. In more ways than can be explained. And in time...it does get easier. But sometimes....you just miss them. A lot. This would be one of those times.

Sometimes this week goes by perfectly and quietly...sometimes not so much. The last week of July is just an emotional rollercoaster for me every few years. We lost my Nanny...we lost Vera...and I married the man I love. So it is a happy/sad time for me.

Right now...it is sad. I just spent the entire ride home from work a blubbering idiot. Talking to my Nanny. My gosh how I miss her so. I would just about do anything to have one more day with her. One more day to tell her how much I appreciate her never giving up on me. One more day to tell her I love her. One more day to share MY little butterbean with her. Oh goodness she would of loved Danie so much. I'm not sure why this year is harder than the last several...maybe it is because we are doing more and more at the lake and I find myself in the store "remembering". Remembering when I was 10 years old, barefoot and running around the store. Rememering when I was 12 years old and helping with the tackle and bait...selling fishing license and tickets like I am selling passes now. Remembering the recliner set up in the corner with Nanny's little living area. I want to talk to her. I want to share things with her. I just miss her. I wish I had a little something of her to keep with me all the time. I have my memories but memories begin to fade.

This is a picture of my Nanny and Grandaddy. He died when I was really young. I yearn for the memories of him. I am told I was his sunshine. I wish I could remember that.

This is the Nanny I remember. So happy. So fun. And the other lady in the picture...well that is my MawMaw. Nanny's mother. This is the wonderful lady butterbean is named after...Tensley.

My 13th wedding anniversary will be here in just 5 short days. My Nanny...who could barely walk because of her stroke...would not miss my wedding. My first wedding she came too...her and my Aunt Ramona...this wedding...well lets just say this is the happiest picture I could ever have. My family with me. And she would not miss it at all. I tear up every time billy tells me I have my Nanny's hair or I have this trait and that trait. I am proud of my Waters traits. I am proud that she was my Nanny. This time several years ago we were spending every day in ICU...just waiting for her to open her eyes. To let us know she could hear us. I would sit there and sing "I Fly Away" to her...waiting for some sign that she knew I was there. She died the day after my anniversary. It was like she didn't want to mark that day with sadness. But I am still sad...because she is not here to enjoy my anniversary with me.

This time many years ago....Actually just a few more days from now....Vera passed away. Billy's aunt. Who took me under her wing when we got married and treated me like I had been apart of the family forever. She showed me how to sew curtains, taught me some really good recipes...sat with me and showed me old pictures and told about life. I admired her. Her determination. Her spunk. Her colorful clothes. I miss this lady terribly too. I wish I could show her how I have been quilting. I know she would be so proud of me.

I'm trying to stay positive. To smile and go on with my day. But I just have to stop a minute and reflect...and tell these wonderful ladies how much they mean to me...how much they have my heart...how much I truly miss them. <3

My newest Project

2011-07-26T06:12:00.000-04:00

Loulouthi Tiles Quilt.

I found this Quilt-A-Long on Stitched in Color....and just knew right away this was the pattern I wanted to use for my new fabric that I purchased at Intrepid Thread. I am so bad with fabric names or else I would list the name of it...sorry about that.

This fabric reminds me of my Nanny Waters so that is why I bought it. To make me a quilt to remember her by that is cheerful and fun. And boy did it turn out HUGE too. It took Shawn and Billy both to hold it for me. Now the hard part. What to do with it next. The quilt-a-long calls for pearl thread hand stitching but I don't have any pearl thread and can't afford to go buy the boxes of it. And this puppy might take a while to hand quilt...lol. But....we will see. I might just fold it up for now and come back to it later on this fall. But I have to say...I love it. This was my first try at sashing which is a bugger let me just say...but I ALMOST got all the lines straight!

Head on over to Intrepid Thread and pick up some cool fabric and make your own Loulouthi Tiles Quilt. You want be sorry...I promise...

Now on to making some quilted bags. 4 in the works as we speak....

Altered Art with Glue Dots

2011-07-25T17:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Glue dotting my friends.

Today I want to share with you a really cute and simple altered art piece using some of my favorite Glue Dots....Craft Dots®.

I found this tray at my local scrapbook store and knew right away how I wanted to alter it. There are so many options for you....gifts for the holidays, new baby, birthday or just because.

I cut out each rectangle out of coordinating patterned paper. Once I had the edges ink I adhered it down with Craft Dots. so simple. Add a few pictures. And then the fun part for me is adding the bling and the flowers. The bling already has adhesive on the back so I layered it where I wanted it to be. The flowers are handmade out of coordinating paper and adhered down by more Craft Dots.

This project took all of 25 minutes to put together and will be a great Altered piece to hang in my scraproom.

I hope you will give this project a try too. And don't forget to grab that box of Glue Dots :)

(this blog post was created while serving on the Glue Dots Design Team)

It's official

2011-07-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

I am now an official Thirty-One Consultant! I am super excited to get this venture up and off the ground. you can check out my website at Becky Thackston, Independent Consultant where you can view the catalog or place an order. And if you would like to be on my newsletter list, please send me an email at kay_bear52@yahoo.com and I will add you to the list. My kit has shipped and should be here this week which is even more exciting. The Fall catalog kicks of Monday the 25th. YEAH.

on to other things around the Thackston house.....

I had my Scentsy party yesterday and it was so much fun. can't wait to get my goodies and get the house smelling so yummy.
The Roosters are trying to crow. It's kinda sad sounding. They don't have it down pat yet but hey...he was trying at least. they are growing so fast. Hopefully we can get the nesting boxes built soon.
Billy wants me to put quilted purses in at my booth at Paulding Meadows...eeek...there is only like 40 days left. That is a lot of sewing to do! But hey...I'm game for anything.
Little Danie is teething. The 101 fevers are kicking all our butts but Tylenol is our best friend right now....and cold teething rings.
Shawn FINALLY had his formal Graduation pictures made last week. Wow I can't believe it. a Senior. School starts in about 8 days. And then only 180 days left of my kids in school. Then I am done. can you believe that.
My sister booked our room in Panama city Beach the other day. Looks like I am going on a girls trip to PCB. My house is going to be a wreck when we get back. This is our September trip. Should be fun. I haven't been to PCB in a LONG time.
Still on an ebay rampage...lol. Trying to sell all the things I can and get the house cleaned up of un-neccesary stuff. It's going slowly but it's going.

Well....off I go. Today is going to be a crafting day. My house is clean. Everything I need to do is done. So I want to enjoy the day with fun, crafty stuff. Have a great Sunday!

Sewing has taken over

2011-07-21T06:09:00.001-04:00

so I do believe that sewing has taken over my life. But I love that. I grew up with my mom making our clothes....handmade baby clothes...her teaching me how to make Barbie Doll clothes. My Nanny Waters would sew quilts, pot holders and the like....then when I married Billy...i was introduced to Vera who LOVED to sew. Quilts. They were so loud, proud and wonderful. My friend Emily is also a quilter. Amazing. She took two of my Nanny's quilt tops and finished them up for me. I have to say those are the most treasured items I have. I love those two quilts. I have always been scared of sewing. I mean I know how to sew...a little bit. And I bought a sewing machine so that I could do stuff on my scrapbook pages.....but I am not an experienced sewer by no means. BUT...the last few years I have to admit I have been inspired. I have 4 quilts under my belt now and working on a few more. I have a few purses that I have done and love them. So I am learning...and I love it. One of the greatest challenges is choosing patterns. It's kinda like scrapbooking...putting that right patterned papers together. Although on a much larger scale. Here is my latest project. I actually JUST finished cutting all the sashing out for this puppy. That in its self was a job. All these blocks are pretty large. The fabric....all but a few patterns, I purchased at Intrepid Thread. That is my online friend Julie's store. LOVE her store. Go check it out.

I bought this frabic because it reminded me of my Nanny. So this project will be for me. And you can guarantee this winter...I will be curled up under it with Little Danie...thinking about my Nanny. I can't wait to get it done. I just hope it comes together. Right now...it's pretty loud...lol. Just like Vera would like.

We will take a brief moment to share my supper Sunday night. YUM YUM! These are Thrive approved steak kabobs. And let me just say...YUM!

And we added this yummy side...Baked Brussell Sprouts...that by wonderful cook of a neice made. You can check out her blog here...The FarmHouse. She does some amazing cooking that is for sure.

Oh wait....I can't go with out a Danie picture. Right. Me and her and just had our day together and she was whooped. I left her in her carseat and she just snoozed for a while. Isn't she getting so big. She turned 5 months yesterday. WOW. The time is just flying by. Too quickly. She is getting carpet burns on her knees from trying to crawl. It's so cute. Boy Christmas this year is going to be the best every. I love this girl. Gosh do I love her.

Okay back to sewing....here is my latest bag. I found this pattern online. Sorry I dont' have the link at the moment but I will try to find it for you. And then I adapted it to work for me. This fabric line is Moda Bliss which I am also using in a quilt for Danie that I hope to finish this winter. It's the Birdie Stitches Quilt A-Long. You should check it out. Very cute. I think I will try selling bags for about $20. They are not to hard to make and gives me a quick project to do. I love that.

Well I guess that is all for now. I have a painting in the works. Hopefully I can get it posted in the next day or two. I need to add some Becky touches to it first. Trying to get ready for Paulding Meadows which is getting closer and closer.

We let the Chickens out into the new pen. They are so scaredy cats. geesh. Only a few will get out. But I was able to hold one yesterday. They are so cute and soft. Well...not so sure about the cute part but you get the idea. I also had a canvas picked up for Ready Set Create. That was sooooo cool. They contacted me for it too....nothing I submitted so that was even more excited. It was a canvas from my She Art series.

Oh and before I forget....I am about to be a new Thirty One Gifts consultant. Tomorrow I sign up. I am so excited to start on this so if you like Thirty one or even if you have no idea what it is...check them out. Thirty one Gifts....and let me know if you need anything. :)

Scrap-Tastic July kit

2011-07-18T17:49:00.000-04:00

Today I am sharing with you a few of the layouts I made using the July Scrap-Tastic kit which contained Creative Imaginations, Chatterbox and My Mind's Eye.

Of course they are of butterbean! did you think they would be of someone else....lol!

Hope all is going well with all the bloggers out there. It's been a busy week. Working on the chicken coop....sewing....watching the baby...working...busy busy. I will share my latest sewing project with you in a few days. So stay tuned.

Oh and working on a painting! Can't wait to share that with you.

Reading - I'm currently on Steven Tylers autobiography. Man that fella is crazy :)

Imaginisce Monthly Challenge

2011-07-12T05:54:00.000-04:00

I was flipping thru some blogs and stopped by the Imaginisce Blog. Little did I know they had just posted the Monthly Challenge and this month it was a sketch. Instant need to scrap. I ran to the scraproom and within about 25 minutes.....I made another page for the babies book. It felt good to scrap a little. And for it to come so freely. Here is the sketch that is to be used for this Challenge.....

And here is what I came up with. I used all Imaginisce products except for the American Craft Thickers and some pink and white cardstock. I think the favorite thing is the flower. It is a flower diecut by Imaginisce that you can roll into a Posie. I decided to take all three sizes, white wash them with paint and then layer them for dimension. I love how it turned out. And of course I had to add some bling here and there.

We had a great weekend trip meeting some of Billy's family from his mom's side. One person he had never met before which I think is always cool. It makes me happy that I tried to work on his family tree when I get to see him meeting new people. We did some antique store hopping and lots of riding around. Just spend some good quality time together. It was much needed. I think we should do that once a month! Before we left on Friday I chopped my hair off. Here is a before. I am still working on getting a good shot of the after but I can say in some places she cut 7 inches off! It is so much lighter now. I love long hair but boy was it a hassle.

And of course I will leave you today with the funny picture of the month. Little Danie and her planks! She is so cute and will be crawling in a few weeks I am sure.

Happy Weekend

2011-07-08T20:20:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to let you know I am still here...lol.
Crazy, busy week at work.
Now I am away for the weekend. Billy and I are taking a weekend trip to Big Canoe for a family reunion. We decided to do this trip with just us so that we could have some time away. It was hard leaving that little grandbaby at home!

I have so many pictures to share with you! Little Danie is working on crawling. Got some cute pictures of that! I got my hair cut today. 7 inches in some places. It is short for me and layered...along with bangs. Also some highlights. As soon as I get some good pictures I will share a before and after with you.

Started working on a handbag for my mom for Christmas. So far I like it. And if it continues to turn out pretty good...I might add this to my list of items to make and sell...because you know I am always looking for something to make...lol!

Finished a layout for the Imaginisce monthly challenge. I meant to upload it today but my home computer got a virus yesterday that took 2 days to fix so yeah...I am behind.

Missing my Little Danie right now :( hope she is missing me too.

So stay tuned...hopefully Sunday I will have to some xtra time to share pictures with you.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-05T06:03:00.000-04:00

We had a fantastic 4th of July weekend. I hope you did too.

Here are a few highlights from the weekend.

Danie got her first taste of homemade icecream at her great grandparents house. We will just say she LOVED it and even learned to put her whole hand in a cup and suck it off her fingers. Yeah she was on a sugar high that is for sure. But it was some mighty good ice cream. Peach and Strawberry! YUM

We decided to do a photo shoot of her in the yard. I took about 130 pictures of her and got a few good ones. This one was my favorite of them all.

She pretty much crashed after all of the excitement!

I threw this one in there just because it was super cute. Looks like she is waiting for someone to come home! lol.

Monday Billy and I pulled my cousins float for the Delta Credit Union. The float won an award too.And boy was it hot and boy was it a load of fun. I felt so patriotic....so excited....it was just super fun. And I have not been in a huge parade like that in a long time. I would love to do that again and I can't wait to take Little Danie to her first parade.

Little Danie has learned to suck her toes.It is pretty funny. Wish I could bend like that.

On the craft home front I made two pair of pants that look like this. It was kinda hard at first but I think I have the hang of it. Maybe I can sell a few of them here and there. We will see. I also finished sewing all the blocks for the Birdies Stitches Quilt Along, finished sewing the binding on Danie's flannel quilt and I finished this one below. I am mighty proud of this one if I do say so myself. It took a lot of cutting and a lot of patience!

Well off to work I go. Only a three day week since I am taking off Friday to run away for the weekend with my husband!

A little cuteness coming your way....

2011-07-02T17:07:00.000-04:00

And here are Kayla's latest hates.....wonderfully modeled by the adorable Miss Tensley...this is Miss Duck...she will be $15 for a child and $20 for an adult.

And don't let this one scare you...lol! Oh my I think this one is adorable. And she moved so you can't see the ears on the top but this is the Lion....aka...Nala...lol. Super cute. This one will run $25 for a child. It takes a little time to make that is for sure. But...on a side note..isn't that model PRECIOUS!!!

I finally completed one quilt. Yeah. As in I'm done...folded up and packed away for christmas. On to quilt #2. It's drying. So once it is dry and I have inspected it for mistakes...then it is done too! shewwww.

Just a few more quilts to go and then a purse. Remind me not to think so big for Christmas next year.

I really enjoyed playing with Creative Imagination goodies this month....here is another layout I finished, and a card, using the products I was sent.

Hopefully I can share with you my layouts with Scrap-Tastic using the July kit pretty soon..so stay tuned.

On to the books....thank you so much to my friend Julie for sending me the Highlander books. I just finished the last one and really loved them. Now I am on into the latest Sookie book.

Wishing everyone a wonderful 4th of July!

Creative Imaginations Guest Designer

2011-06-29T17:11:00.000-04:00

Okay I am pretty excited to share with you that I was given the chance to make some projects using Creative Imaginations as a Guest Designer. I have always been a CI fan and how could you not be! They have so many amazing lines...AND...I got to try my hand at Twinkling H2O's and WOW O WOW. I super love them. I actually can't wait to use them on some canvases. Yep love them, love them.

You can check out CI here ----> Creative Imaginations Blog

and here are just a few layouts that I made using the Harry Potter line and the IOD Loolah line.

I will post a few more projects in a few days....Thank you for letting me share my excitement and a great big thank you to Creative Imaginations!

On the home front....been working on a few quilts. Working on the binding of one...kinda messed that up last night so I need to back up and try again. I also received my application approval for my booth at Paulding Meadows this year. Super stoked about that. I'm hoping I can sell more pictures this year. Last year I sold 5. I need to double that this year to make my booth money back at least. We are renting two booths this time so that we will have a little more space. and only 2 full months to get ready.....eeeek! Baby Danie is doing great. She enjoyed vacation but is having a hard time adjusting back to schedule. We started her on rice cereal too and she loves it. Took her off for a few days because of a rash but will try it again and see if the rice is what is causing the rash. She is really going to love eating real food. She is already trying to get into your plate when we eat. tooo funny.

Chickens are doing great. I know...I need to post another picture so stay tuned. I promise to do that some time this week.

Hugs to all....and Happy Wednesday!

Glue Dots and Party ideas

2011-06-26T12:48:00.000-04:00

Recently I tried my hand at a diaper cake for my daughters baby shower. I don't know what I would of done without Glue Dots Craft ® Dots! They were a life saver while trying to hold this thing together. Once I had all the diapers rolled up I was able to hold them together with a rubber band, but the wonderful dots then held the ribbon so that you could not make out the rubber band. To finish off the project I used the Glue Dots to hold the flowers that are attached to the ribbon. It really turned out to be a cute cake and everyone loved it. Give this project a try when you get a chance. It's fun, super quick, and a great gift for the hostess to take home.

My favorite layout using Glue Dots

2011-06-25T12:45:00.001-04:00

We all have that one favorite layout don't you agree. Well, this is mine. This cutie is my neice's daughter, Lauren. I just HAD to scrap this picture of her. And at the time I was on a super flower kick. I have found that the best adhesive for me to use when dealing with flowers is the Glue Dots Craft ® dots. These dots hold so well. I also used Glue dots along the inside of the circle to hold it down on top of the bottom patterned paper.

This layout was also featured in Scrapbooking & Beyond.

I hope you will give Glue Dots a try on your next scrapbooking project.

Back from Vacation

2011-06-23T19:53:00.000-04:00

Well hello blog world! We are finally back. Those few days went by pretty quickly that is for sure.
I took Friday off and did so much running around it was crazy! I had my yearly Echo which turned out good YEAH. I go back to the cardiologist next month. Lets hope I can get a few of these lbs gone before I go. Also went in for my blood work...haven't heard back from that yet. Blood pressure is good and medicine is doing the job.

We left on Sunday and got up to Townsend about 1:00 in the afternoon....got the camper set up and just chilled around the site. It actually started raining later that evening. Some good blow the camper away storms. I did NOT sleep at all that first night. Up every hour making sure that we were still sitting in the campsite! This is butterbean on her first day there....

...we were not sure how she would do on this trip but she was a trooper and had a great time.

Monday was our usual day of Cades Cove and tubing. We can not go to Gatlinburg without a trip thru Cades Cove. Just as we went into the park we saw our first deer. Butterbean so enjoyed hanging out the window looking around. It was so cute. I got this great picture of her and her mom.

It is just so pretty up there. We got there early so there was not a lot of cars so I was able to get a few pictures of just us on the roads. I love this one above....it is just peaceful to me. We did not see any bears this trip but did see these beautiful bucks. there was three of them and I think my boys were drooling and wishing they would see them during hunting season. And so close to the car. Not even afraid of us.

It was a beautiful day and the sun stayed out all day. We cook steaks and backyard potatoes...OMG it was so good. We stopped at the Apple Barn and I bought some canned stuff and butterbean a fish. Drooled over the beautiful handmade quilts. Then we went to the BackCountry store and bought $70 worth of tubes. Yes folks....$70 and that was for TWO...let me repeat...TWO tubes! We spend $20-40 each vacation on tube rentals so we finally figured we would just buy them. Gosh I didn't know they would be THAT much. But...the kids played and played out in the river so I guess it was worth it. and would you believe I didn't get the first tubing picture. Nope not a one.

We finished off Monday by taking Butterbean on her first swimming pool experience. all I will say is she did NOT like it one bit. Nope. Lasted all of 10 minutes and we were back in the camper. But she sure was cute wasn't she...lol.

Tuesday we headed on out to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for the day. We started off with a little excitement. We parked and got ourself on the walkways hitting our favorite stores. Billy had to stop at the MoonShine store and of course I had to go to the little mall on the corner for some good ole candy and a bathroom stop. We decided to walk back to the car because it was hot and the baby didn't have a hat and the stroller was steaming hot. When this lady starts screaming (she was Korean we believe so very hard to understand at first) that someone had stole her purse, call the police. It took us a minute or two to understand what she was saying. We all look up and see this older man, about 60's, jogging away with a purse. When it registered what was going on...my son...takes off running after the man. Billy hands butterbean to Kayla and he takes off with him. Of course neither one is dressed for running. shawn is wearing his cowboy boots and Billy is wearing his loafers. I'm trying to push the stroller as fast as I can thru a crowd of people and Kayla with the baby to the intersection the boys went down. They were walking back up. Another guy was calling 911 and several people were patting Shawn on the back and telling him brave he was and how good he was. He wasn't able to catch the guy but he punched him in the jaw and tackled him into the car that he was getting away in. The driver, a younger woman, gassed the car and Shawn backed off as they sped away. We don't know if he was ever caught. Shawn felt back for not being able to get the purse and then felt bad for hitting the guy but I told him he did a very awesome good deed. I was so proud of him. For trying to do the right thing and at the same time very happy that he was not hurt. Billy was so worried the car was going to drag him. It couldn't of been worse but overall...we are still so proud of our boy. We finally got back to the car, cooled off and headed to Pigeon Forge for some lunch and much needed drinks. A few stops at some leather stores...a T-shirt store where yet again I spent $75 on T-shirts!!! Billy HAD TO HAVE a Papa's butterbean airbrushed shirt and an airbrushed tag. Okay so I know where I need to focus on a business...geesh these are expensive these days! We finally went to Parrot Mountain which my Aunt had recommended. It was very nice and relaxing. But a storm was coming thru and we had to cut it short. Headed on to an EXCELLENT show at the Dixie Stampede. The baby did wonderfully!

Wednesday was another day at Cades Cove. This time we saw two bears. One is in this field...wayyyyy out there....on her back legs. She was pretty big because that grass was TALL. I can zoom in on it and see her much better but it pixelates pretty bad. The second we saw was a cub and I didn't get a good picture of her but we saw the baby run away from the car.

We headed back to camp and ran across this above ground yellow jacket nest. Neither one of us had seen such a thing. They are always underground around here. The kids went tubing and the storms rolled in some more. The boys went trout fishing for a few hours. And of course Thursday was packing up day...more rain...again.

But finally home. Camper unpacked. Groceries put up. Clothes washed (although they are all laying on my bed right now) and the baby is dead to the world asleep. I'm ready for a nice hot shower and to get back to my crafting table. I started painting a picture inbetween unpacking and have a few layouts sitting out for me to work on. I'm hoping the creative spark will come back now that I am rested and relaxed.

Tomorrow Kayla has some oral surgery and we are taking the baby for her 4 month shots. Lots to do still but glad I am still on vacation. Billy and I might try a getaway in July...depends...I haven't looked at all the credit card receipts yet from this trip. I might be selling all my belongings on ebay this weekend to pay for this vacation...lol. But sanity is priceless :)

Long day - lots to do - thinking and reading

2011-06-17T06:39:00.000-04:00

Good morning blog land!

Hope every one is doing well! I'm going to start today sharing with you my finished Farm House Quilt. Now a little background on this quilt....it is my first ever design. And let me just say that for a beginner quilter....don't go trying to design something...lol. Nothing and I do repeat, nothing, turned out like it should on this puppy! But...I spent the whole weekend sewing it and putting the binding on and now I have to say...I'm pretty pleased. I had to make some adjustments at the end and I surely do learn as I go. I really hope the new owner of this baby will love it and know how much time was put into trying to make it just right. Oh...and owning the first ever and last designed Becky Quilt :)

Now off to the second one. I'm in the process of quilting it now....coming along nicely. I'm learning.

I have lots of appointments and running around to do today. I have an Echo this morning and then a Blood Pressure check and blood work at about 10. then off to my 500 different stops I need to make today. We are getting ready to go camping and there is just so much to do and get finished before we go. Trying to package all my ebay sells and get them out the door. Cleaning up the house. Getting bills paid. who decided that vacations have to be so busy?

So I decided to give a try to being a Thirty-One Gifts consultant. I have done several home based sales in the past, Stampin Up, Tastefully Simple and Avon. and they all work great. But as I am getting older I notice I LOVE bags. Handbags, storage bags, etc. and I really do like these products. Sadly there is a waiting list to join and so far I have not made the first 6200 invites. There appears to be 15,000 ladies waiting to join this company. Knowing my luck I am #14,999! but anyway...I decided to give it a go and we will see what happens. And with that said I feel, deep in my soul, that it is time I make some changes. Crafty changes. I haven't totally decided yet but it's there....it's nagging at me....and I can't ignore it. More to come on that later. Right now I am waiting on a few submissions that I have put out there and that will ultimately help me decide what I am doing in my crafty future. It's funny how when we get older...things change...priorities change...people change...everything changes. And as I embark on the glorious age of 40...I'm changing...and when I thought I had finally found myself...found who I am....my self decides to throw a monkey wrench in things. One of my most hardest changes....accepting me for me. I have always battled loving myself as I am...thanks to a not so nice ex husband...who took a toll on my self worth....but here at almost 40 I have come to realize. I am who I am going to be. If I am 25 lbs overweight...well so be it. I have worked hard to lose weight here and there and where I am is where I am going to be. Why not love myself as I am. My husband does. Loves me just as I am. My family does. Why can't I? Why do I have to be so hard on myself. And maybe...if I love myself a little more...other things will fall into place. Don'tcha think? So here is to embarking out to the unknown. and changing.

Okay enough of that....on to reading. I just finished The Immortal Highlander and The Dark Highlander. hubba hubba. Someone whisk me away to Scotland in the 1500's please! Oh my word these books leave you wanting that strong, husky, beautiful Highlander man to come take you away and love you like you should always be loved. yum. I'm reading the last one of the series right now. Then on to other books. So far I am 26 books into my Project 52. I think I am ahead of the game right now and doing pretty good. Hard to believe I have read 26 books so far this year. Now that I have my Kindle I do believe I will read thru more pretty quickly.

No pictures of butterbean to share today. No scrapbook pages. No paintings. Just me sharing me today. And me wishing all you in blog land a wonderful day and stop just a moment....and look deep inside...and know that YOU are SPECIAL. And you are perfect JUST. AS. YOU. ARE!

Weekend Happenings

2011-06-13T05:55:00.000-04:00

First....Happy 4 months to Butterbean! It's so hard to believe that she is 4 months old already...(16 weeks). She is growing way, super fast. She is sitting up (still with some support), rolling over here and there, laughing, smiling and even holding her bottle now. Just to fast! Sunday she wore Nana's Jeff Gordon onsie and guess who won the race! YEP Jeffy did! wooho my lucky charm!

It was a great weekend spent at home with my family. Steven and Stephanie came over Saturday. It was so great to see them. Lots of hugs.

Billy and I spent WAY TOO much money on little things for this baby and our upcoming camping trip! Found a cute dress. somewhere along the line this tomboy is turning into a girl. Not sure I am liking that. I prefer my tomboy self more.

I did get some crafting done. Yeah. I am ALMOST done with my first ever designed quilt. It's coming right along. I need to finish the rest of the binding and then I am going to add some hand stitching and some different looking stitching to it just for fun. Maybe I will be done by midweek. I hope so...and then I will share it with out. Also got some painting done. Here is the end result. Kinda different :)

These will sell for $55. Each canvas is 12x12. My whole family thought I messed up while painting them and didn't know I meant to make them off kilter...lol. silly family.

Kayla was busy too with her crocheting and made these two cute hats.

Miss Piggy (aint she cute) will sell for $15.00

And the Jamacian hat will sell for $17.00

Chickens are doing great. Even hop along is still hanging in there. We actually have one chicken that is NOT going to be a Road Island Red. She is all spotted and a light brown/cream color. I will for sure be keeping her :)

Signing off....lots to do today and I still need to get ready for work. Hugs to all.

And if you don't mind...a few prayers for our family today. Can't really say why right now but just know they will be greatly appreciated.

Scrap-Tastic June Kit

2011-06-07T05:39:00.000-04:00

oh I am about to give you some Danie overload here :) using the June kit for Scrap-Tastic....enjoy

For those that know me....I was just about to post and say WHAT NO JOURNALING STRIPS when I saw some in the first layout...lol! It appears my latest addiction is flowers!

Happy Scrapping

What I've been up to

2011-06-05T20:50:00.000-04:00

A bunch of craziness I tell ya! I just don't know how or when to slow down!

We have so much going on these days that I don't really get much computer time like I had. You would think that in the summer months things would slow up but nooooooo...not here at the Thackston house.

I've been steadily working on quilts. I really wanted to get these sandwiched together, pinned and ready to quilt. I was REALLY hoping for some quilting time this weekend but instead I cleaned the house and threw up a bunch of stuff on ebay. Which by the way I KNOW you want to check out my ebay auctions and I KNOW you will find something you really want....I need to move this stuff OUT. Forget spring cleaning...I am summer cleaning! Here is a link to just one of my auctions if your interested. And if your local...I will take off the shipping. Basic Grey Paper and yes I am parting with my Basic Grey Paper. I have more than I will ever know what to do with. And this is just 160 something sheets! I still have TONS more...lol. But anyway...back to quilting...below are a few of the pinned quilts. Ready for me to get some sewing time and start working. the top one is the newest....fabric I picked up last weekend to work on a quilt for the baby...yep another one. Except I will hand stitch this one. Yep I am crazy. This will be my camping project when I am not relaxing or reading.

and this would be what my craft table looks like when I am in the middle of way to many projects...lol!

the chickie babies are doing well. They are growing so quickly.....getting their new feathers....tail feathers and even the combs are growing fast. We took out a section of the pen and they can now fly around on the wire and have more room. and they are getting brave and will step up to the edge now with us. We had to finally put the covers on the feeding troughs because they were scratching out all the feed. That can get expensive let me just say. I tell them they are in their teenage years.....

Because they are in that inbetween stage and look kinda funny half feathers and half fuzz. this here is one of the Roosters...see the green on his head. The man we bought them from painted the two Roosters head. But I can still tell them apart because the Roosters have a pretty white front as the hens do not.

Getting ready for some camping. I can't wait although I am not thrilled about the money we will spend. The most expensive will be rooming the dog at the doggie daycare and then of course the campground site. Oh and the night at Dixie Stampede...sigh...but that will be the only night we go out into town and actually eat out. It will be an experience having the baby with us that is for sure. Oh and she was gone for 4 hours today and I will just say her papa and nana were about to go crazy without her here! Yep we missed her big time!

And speaking of butterbean...here are her latest pictures. Today....she is now 15 weeks old.

Isn't she just the cutest :)

Glad it is Friday

2011-06-03T05:52:00.000-04:00

For it being a short work week....it sure has been a LONG week! So I am super glad it is Friday. Now to just get thru this day.

It has been too hot to do anything these days in the afternoon. I've been coming home and chilling, reading and pinning quilts. I have 2 done so far and are ready for quilting. Got a few more scrap pages completed and will share those with you in a few days.

Just 2 more weeks until vacation. wooohoooooo! I so need it.

chickens are growing.
Butterbean is growing and laughing.
Garden is growing and we have baby squash already.

Happy Friday

4th of July project using Glue Dots

2011-05-30T16:58:00.000-04:00

Remember the Memorial Day wreath that I made using flowers and Glue Dots? I was so proud of my wreath hanging on the door this Memorial Day. And with the 4th of July just around the corner I decided I would spruce up my wreath even more with a few extra decorations.

Using my Glue Dots Craft ® Dots I added a few flags and some stars. For the stars I took some blue cardstock by Creative Imaginations and adhered it to some random chipboard stars. Cut with my Fiskars Xacto Knife, added some string and then tied the stars to the bottom of the wreath.

A perfect addition for the 4th of July.

Becky Thackston

"this blog post was written while participating on the Glue Dots Design Team"

A Beautiful day after a long week

2011-05-28T18:34:00.000-04:00

Today was a beautiful day spent with family and friends at the family lake. I so wish my Nanny was still here to be apart of these get togethers. She would of been so happy. We had some FANTASTIC fried fish filets and some catfish. Some YUMMY turtle. Gosh I love that stuff. Hush puppies and all the sides you could imagine. It was HOT but great. After lunch a nice stroll around the lake (about a mile and a quarter) with my BFF Kim and my Sister N Law Robin. I wish I could have days like this every week.

It's been a long week...hence the no blog posts. We had some storms roll thru on Thursday that snapped an old Pecan tree in our yard in half. Took out the whole grid in power. We had firetrucks and rescue units out here due to live wires hanging over the street. We finally got that back on Friday morning and our phones/internet Friday afternoon late. And let me just say....after your used to electric everything...it is hard to figure out how to heat up a baby bottle when you have a total electric house. Thank goodness for a camper equiped with a coleman stove :)

I finally decided to upload my quilt in the making. This was my first ever quilt design that really didn't turn out the way I wanted it to but it is almost done. I just need to put the backing on and bind it BUT I have 4 more ahead of it. Just ordered my fabric for a couple of them from the Intrepid Thread! Now to just get all of these done and I will feel as though I have accomplished something.

As of today...I have an official Senior...Class of 2012! I can't believe my baby is a Senior now. Time is just flying by to quickly and doesn't want to slow down one ounce.

Scrappy world...I'm working on a few projects that I can't wait to share with you ;) So hang tight for those.
Other than that I haven't had the chance to be too creative this week. I hope that will change this weekend and I can get some things done. Thankfully it is a long weekend.

And of course you know I can't have a blog post without a cute picture of my grandbaby! She was getting ready for the cookout today. She is just too precious and I love her sooooo much.

PS..chickens are doing Great. They are 1 week and 4 days old. Already gaining wing feathers and trying to fly.

Catch up big time.....

2011-05-22T17:56:00.000-04:00

I know I have been bad this week in blog land. Just so much going on I guess.

See....Sylvester is so ashamed of me for my laziness....sigh

But seriously....just been super busy. It was a long week at work. And lots to do when I get home. But I have managed to throw in some scrapping and some quilting in the mix so all is good :)

Oh and you know...smiling time with my granddaughter is a MUST. So yeah....there went all my free time. How can you resist this cute face!

Okay on to our new members of the family. A few weeks ago we ordered some chickens. I was so excited for them to finally get here. All 21 of them. They finally came in on Friday....my Road Island Red Hens and Roosters. All snuggled up in their new home. And of course I had to go pet them and talk to them as much as I could when I got home. they made it thru the first night with no heat lamp and seem to be doing pretty good on Day 3 at their new home. And soooo cute :)

Had a great mail day too on Friday. I got my House Party kit full of Fresh Wave candles. I love free stuff. So worth it. Also my package from The Intrepid Thread came in. This is a Ty Pennington designed fabric and I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Not sure what I will make with it just yet but I have it in my little ole hands in case the time arises.

Worked at the Lake all day Saturday. Got a little sun. Didn't do to great with my yard sale stuff but oh well. Win some...lose some. Sunday was a day of rest and crafting. Finished my first designed quilt. Well at least the top is done. Not sure I will try to design another one or not...that is hard. Finished up some secret scrapbook pages. And played with this cutie. Yep had to share another smiling photo. Gosh I love her.

well......really

2011-05-16T21:41:00.000-04:00

How can I top this :)......This cutie just says it all!

Everyday is a fantastic day when I look into those beautiful blue eyes.

shame on me....its been a while

2011-05-15T09:02:00.000-04:00

I so didn't mean to be so long in postings. Life has just been a whirl wind lately.

I've been trying to finish up selling some old stuff on ebay. The good on ebay....its a great way to move out old stuff and make a little cash. The bad on ebay....sometimes if you don't mark things just right you lose money big time! sigh! such as selling a $12.00 stamp set for a $1.00 or getting eat up on shipping charges that you miscalculated. Oh and the ebay fees. So NOW I am trying to push some stuff to sell just so I can pay for the ebay mess ups I made. double sigh.

But on the plus side...my scrap room is getting a little cleaner. (well...that is if you don't look BEHIND the counter where I have a ton of stuff piled up).

I had some spare time yesterday to work on some paintings. I hope that I can sell them. I am a little worried about Paulding Meadows this year. Not sure why. I even asked Billy that now I have been doing this for 2 years...if I am really doing well or if I should just let it go. I thought he was going to lose it...lol. Well he thought I was crazy for just mentioning it. Said that next year I need to consider even more shows. Yeah well...the paintings have to sell and right now....they just aren't selling so unless he wants a storage unit full of paintings.....lol....I need to move them out. So....I am trying a few different spins on paintings to see what people like and don't like. Here are the two I made yesterday. I thought they turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Tree of Hope...Dreams...and Love 11x14 each $40.00 for the set

Rustic Abstract 11x14 end canvases - $60.00

Kayla has been doing well with her hats. Here is the latest...Mr Purple Owl. She has a few orders lined up which is good and her business cards are on the way.

Butterbean is doing great. She has some wheezing going on at the moment so if that isn't gone in a day or so I think we will be having Kayla take her to the dr. She spent a lot of time outside yesterday so I hope that isn't the cause. We will see. She is one precious little girl that is for sure.

Other happenings: Kayla will have to have her tooth implant removed. Her body is not accepting it and it is coming out. So the Friday we get back from vacation in June she will be going in for a small surgery to have that removed. We decided to not have a bone graft done and the implant replaced. I hate that for her but she will have to use a partial for now. Shawn is two weeks away from being a Senior. It's so hard to believe that I have almost raised both my kids all the way thru school. I am so glad when that chapter will be complete because I have NOT been happy with our school system for many years and I am just ready to have it come to an end. I've got a few fun things in the works. I can't wait to share them. Still working hard on my Project 52....I am reading the Highlander series right now so hopefully I will have something to tell you about when I get further into the series. I need to do a quick count to see if I am even close to my goal of 52 books this year. Okay off......gotta get the baby and clean up a bit. Have a great sunday

Project 52- I've lost count

2011-05-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

I know, I know...I could just go look on my Library page but I am tired and just don't want to flip thru the pages...lol.

I finally got my Kindle and my hubby gave me $25 to Amazon.com so I can't wait to load it full of books and read away. At the moment...my dear online friend Julie...has been suppling me with The Highlander series so I have several more paperbacks to go thru before I can start using the Kindle.

I JUST finished reading another Nicholas Sparks book. I just have to say if you love a true romance novel he is the writer for you. I have loved each of the books I have read so far. This latest one, The Wedding, is a sequel to The Notebook. And again....just fab writing skills. This is about Jane and Wilson. Jane is the daughter of Noah and Allie from The Notebook. They are later on in life....about to have their 30th wedding anniversary....as Wilson tries to rekindle their relationship after a major forgetful moment (forgot the 29th anniversary). And does he ever become the romantic. awwhhhhhh....if only my husband could think of things like thist. WOW.

A must read. Great chick book. Great weekend romance.

Enjoy

Scrap-Tastic May Kit

2011-05-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you the layouts I made with this months kit at Scrap-Tastic. It was all Prima which worked wonderfully for the pictures I had been wanting to use. As you can imagine I have LOTS of wedding pictures and baby pictures to go thru.

I loved this picture of our new daughter-n-law and her first dance with her dad!

this little project started out as fun pinwheels but as you can see....it ended up with flowers. But I think it is really cute and was able to pull out my Sizzix for a few of the smaller flowers. LOTS of glue dots and Smooch spritz!

And well one of my favorites, Little Danie in her Papa's hands. I love the difference in size of his hands and her little foot. And I love that I caught his wedding ring in this picture too. Just priceless. These little butterflies are just darling too. I cut them out from the patterned paper, inked them with some Colorbox inks and there ya go...cute 3D butterflies.

And who doesn't love the first kiss as Husband and Wife! I just love some of the moments that I was able to catch. If it wouldn't stress me out so much I think being a wedding photographer would be so much fun. But yet.....stressful!

So there is my layout uploads for the day :) I hope you enjoyed them. I was able to catch a few minutes on the computer while Shawn was at work and just had to share my latest layouts. More to come in the near future! and I can't wait to share them with you!!!!

Have a blessed Tuesday...and all my giveaway folks...I haven't forgotten you...I think I will just make up a little something for the two of you that added me as a favorite the other day just because your special and I appreciate the following!

Monday Monday

2011-05-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Boy I have a huge post for you today :)

We had a wonderful weekend. Complete with Kayla's 21st birthday. As you can see we got her a chocolate chip cookie cake complete with 21 candles. As she was blowing them out....

butterbean was watching and singing happy birthday too. Well....it sounded like she was at least..lol

Of course sunday was Mother's Day. Butterbean and I took a walk around the backyard taking pictures. I couldn't pass up these lovely ~~weeds~~ white flowers growing in the horse pasture. But then again I love to just take pictures of anything nature related so it was a nice, sunny day for picture taking.

As we were walking around we came across some of our trusty beavers handy work. They have managed to cut down two pretty good sized pine trees in the back yard. It always amazes me how cleanly they can cut down a tree. Now that they have completed the dam...we have a great place for mosquitos to make a home...just were we happened to put up the new back yard swing...hmmmm....wonder how we will get rid of all the bugs so that we can enjoy the swing this summer!

And I wanted to take a quick picture of our current chicken coop. Which has been empty now for several, several years. I call it the chicken Hilton. That sucker is TALL. Billy plans to expand it out and build some laying boxes. Our shipment of chickens (20 to be exact) will be here around the 20th so we have a few weeks to continue working on getting the coop ready for our new family additions.

Finally some artsy stuff for you. I was asked to draw a cabin the other day. Man I so would love to live in this cabin. With my crafty/sewing room in the top. I was pleased that he liked the drawing. I had to rush to get this one done and of course there are some things I don't like but for the most part it is okay. But hopefully they will enjoy it. I used pen and ink with a touch of charcoal pencil.

And finally my layout for Tally Scrapper. We had to scrap about ourselves, use flowers, stamps and buttons. Oh and use metal of some sort. So.....I scrapped about my first art fair using the clippings from the newspaper. This one was a quicky since I didn't have a lot of time to work on scrappy stuff this week. I did manage to clean a lot in my scrap room but you really couldn't tell if you looked around...lol. I still have a bunch of stuff up on ebay and I hope it all sells. Mama needs some extra cash! Plus it is all piled up here in the computer room.

My goals this next week.....I want to get back to sewing on this quilt I started a few months ago. I will need some time to cut the fabric so I need to clean off more of my scrap table. I want to scrap some more too. The kids have appts this week at the dentist and the baby has to go to the Health Dept for some sort of appt. I have a few meetings at work that I hope goes well. Just a busy week in general. School is winding down with just 3 weeks left. awhhhhh the summer will be here before you know it. And when it gets here....I will have a Senior, senior pictures, all that comes with that, vacation....and tons of other stuff to begin preparing for. Yep the busy season is on the way....

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T16:22:00.000-04:00

I wanted to wish each of you a very Happy Mother's Day!

Today was a wonderful day. From a surprise card and Amazon.com gift card from my hubby....to a wonderful homemade card from Kayla and Tensley to a soooo funny card picked out just for me from Shawn. A trip over to my moms for a few hours....just a wonderful, blessed day.

and something that made today even brighter.....

Having this little one in my life!

Happy Mother's day to all my friends out there.....

Here we are....

2011-05-07T00:00:00.007-04:00

And here we are....

My baby girl is 21! WOW. Can you believe that. Please tell me I look to young to have a 21 year old! It has been a long and bumpy 21 years I do have to admit. And she would too. This time last year a lot happened between us that left her birthday a sad day for me. But a year has passed....she has grown....she has given us a beautiful grandaughter...and she has told me how sorry she was for last year many times. 21 years.....I was a young mother...only 18 when I had her....whisked away from home to live 5 hours away...only seeing my family a few times a year and trying to learn how to be a young, new mother. But I did it. somehow I made it happen. I never knew how much you could love another person until I had Kayla. Now granted...over the years she has pushed that love and made me wonder why I haven't strangled her yet or given her away to the first takers :) she was a little baby...only 6 lbs and 7 ozs. But long. She slept good thru the nights. I still can remember she used Similac with Iron formula :) We used to love to play fashion dress up with her so that she could wear every outfit given to us. My grandmother was so set that she would be a boy that for the first few months she wore blue diapers since back then they made blue and pink ones. Her delivery was easy and quick. only 6 hours. Born at 1:36 in the afternoon at Ft Stewart in Hinesville, GA.

Here she is on her first birthday. We were visiting grandmama and grandaddy. Her great grandmother was there also. Oh my how I see Tensley Danielle in those eyes. Yep Kayla will have her hand full in about 9 more months.

She has grown into a lovely lady. She has accomplished a lot. Perfect attendance from K-12. Graduated High School in 2009. She has found her love of art in ways that I am proud of her in grasping. She has become a mother. Even at 21 she still has a long way to go and still so much to learn, but I think she is closer to that adulthood where things make senses. But again...still a little ways to go. If only she will listen to me mother her for a little while longer.

Happy Birthday my daughter! I hope that you have a wonderful day. and in case I haven't told you....I am happy your home.

Glue Dots and PinWheels

2011-05-05T18:48:00.000-04:00

Looking for that fun Summer project to do with your kids...how about making flowers to fill a couple vases around the house. I used Glue Dots Craft® dots to adhere all the petals together. I started off making a round pinwheel but it soon adapted it into a flower. After making several flowers, I inserted skewer sticks and sprayed the flowers with Smooch spritz.

I also used Glue Dots Lines ® to attach the label around this old coke bottle that I have had laying around for years. The kids will love making all kinds of flowers for your vases thru out the summer.

This blog post was written while participating with the Glue Dots Design Team

Time is flying by

2011-05-04T05:40:00.000-04:00

Can you seriously believe it is MAY already! I mean really!
Just a few more days and my baby girl turns 21! geesh!

You know I can't make a blog post without a picture or two of butterbean. The other day Kayla had her on bellytime snapping pictures. I love this one because of her smile and those bright, blue eyes. she is just a cutie patootie. I didn't get to spend as much time with her yesterday as I would of liked because I was working in my scraproom. Cleaning, purging, posting things on ebay....I sold all my Stampin Up ink pads which I have had for ages and never used. Now I need to find a new organizer to go on my table to hold a few things that were on the ink pad stand. Purging all my old scrapbook paper. Seriously...I had tons. I need to go thru my picture drawer now and purge and clean that sucker. Looks like I will be making a run to Michael's this weekend for some boxes and organizers.

See....just precious. And yes that hair has a red tint to it. I'm telling you guys...she is going to be a strawberry blonde but not many others notice the red in her hair like I do I guess. just precious. love it.

A little something I put together Monday night. I later on added musical notes along the top but I can't get that picture to upload right for me this morning. This is Billy and I last year during our boat ride at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville Tennessee. We had a great time that weekend. I picked up some Yellow Bicycle at Archivers a while back and this is a few of the items. It was just a quicky layout for a challenge at TallyScrapper.

I have lots more to show you. A tutorial for Scrap-Tastic, the May kit layouts for Scrap-Tastic, a Glue Dots blog post....still so much coming. Just need to find the few minutes to get the posts written up for you...so stay tuned :)

Haven't been quilting much these days. But I hope to find the time soon.

Happy sunday....

2011-05-01T20:30:00.000-04:00

Boy I let this weekend just snatch me up and run away. I can't believe here we are Sunday already.
Saturday I spent the entire day....and that was from 7 am to 8 pm at the family lake helping with the Fishing Day and Yard Sale. It was a long day....and I was watching butterbean too. I was so exhausted by the time I got home.

Today was about the same. We got up and headed to the grocery store and then to Marietta to pick up a dresser that we bought for Butterbean. I don't think I have slowed down yet.

I did treat myself to a new purchase today. a Kindle. I have been saving up for it and selling my paperback books on ebay. Finally got up enough to buy it and a cover. I have to get it registered and then I can play with it for a while. Also started hanging my first bit of clothes out on the clothes line. In hopes to keep the electric bill down some. Any bit of money we can save on bills would be great right now. I am running out of things to sell on ebay...lol. Well...at least ebay money is my play money. Now to just save up enough to buy some fabric at one of my favorite shops...the Intrepid Thread :)

I have a few little pictures of Danie sporting some new hats....check them out and if your interested in any please contact my daughter at http://www.littledaniesdesigns.weebly.com/. We don't have all the hats listed yet but I'm trying to get them all up there as quickly as I can.

This is Misses Sock Monkey

Butterbean the Bee

and yes...Butterbean the bee with a diaper cover including a stinger :)

More on Project 52 and storms

2011-04-28T05:54:00.000-04:00

Well it was one doozy of a night. The storms began at about 8 pm or so and didn't let up all night. Polk and Floyd counties...my heart goes out to you. For those not familiar with the area...these counties are just above the county I live in. They were ravished last night with tornados. So much damage. So much heartbreak. So much loss. 11 people killed so far in Georgia alone from these storms last night.

We went to bed at about 10:30. I mean what are we to do. The TV said that our county would just (so far) get severe thunderstorms with 60-70 miles Straight line winds. I have to get up and work the next day so off to bed we went. Where I layed there listening for hours. Listening for the Powder Springs Tornado siren. Listening to the hail and winds. Restless night indeed. But our county was spared....this time. I would have to say this is one of the reasons I dislike living here....the Spring tornados. They scare the bejeezus out of me.

A little behind because I had to shut the computers down but I managed to get Little Danie two pillowcase dresses sewn last night....well before the storms started. I also wanted to tell you about the book I read yesterday. Yep....all of it yesterday. Recoving Charles by Jason F Wright. this is a must read. It is totally different than anything I have read before. It is based on the time frame of the Hurrican Katrina in LA. A man, Luke, is trying to find his alcoholic father in the aftermath. It will bring tears to your eyes but will give you the opportunity to think about second chances in life. Yep...good book.

Okay....gotta get going to work. Long day. Major meeting today. But the weekend is in sight.

Oh and I can't wait to share with you Kayla's new hat...a sock monkey!

Project 52, summer garden and butterbean

2011-04-26T05:46:00.001-04:00

First off I will just share with you butterbean on Easter morning :) with one of her bunny rabbits. I can't believe how much she is growing. Today she goes for her first round of shots. I know she will be super sad today. She had a great Easter. we spent time at my parents house on sunday where her great grandaddy surprised her with a renewed toy chest with some toys that he purchased on his own! It is the cutest thing ever.

I had all intentions of sharing with you our summer garden. I guess I will get to that later in the week. By the time I got home it was raining and just yuck so I never made it out there to get pictures. I am hoping to do well this year with the garden and really put up a bunch of items. We are planting tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, okra, squash, bell peppers, banana peppers, herbs and I still need to get some jalapeno peppers. I wish we had room for corn and a few other squash but I don't have enough raised beds. Oh and we have strawberries too but the birds are currently eating all my strawberries :(

Shawn had a drs appt yesterday to remove the stitches from his back. We will just say that didn't heal good at all so now we are doing a weeks worth of antibiotics...sigh.

Okay on to Project 52, which I will just say I am totally behind on. I went thru my book case and found this tiny book that I thought...okay I can read this quickly. UM NOT. I hated it. Every ounce of the book. It was Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Now here is the kicker...my daughter had to read this book in the 9th grade. HOW I have no idea. I am an avid reader.....but this book....it was soooo difficult to read, I was lost by the sentences half the time and why do you give 9th graders a book about kids killing kids? just weird is all I can say but thankfully I am done with that one! I still haven't purchased my Kindle yet. I have been waiting to either find it on sale at Target or to get a good deal somewhere but it just isn't happening yet...sigh.

Since I finished the book last night I started making this cute mug rug last night. It's stitched and cut...all pinned to the batting...just waiting for me to sew it today and then work on the binding. this is for a super cool friend that I have met online that has been so kind to me. It's not much but I just wanted to show her my appreciation somehow. Can't wait to get it done this evening. I haven't sewn in a while so it was nice to piddle with that.

And I need to work on my email to ClearSnaps....I am going to give their DT call a try. I have all my layouts finished, just need to get all the details complete. wish me luck. I LOVE their chalk inks and smooch paint so I think I would have so much fun with this company and doing Design Team work.

Well.....off I go....slacking in the picture taking..sorry about that. But time to get ready for work.

PS....I started back on Thrive again. Lets see if I can do this and lose this weight I so easily gained back.
And Benji is improving each day. I am so happy about that! I love that dog!!!

Happy Tuesday!

I am so behind

2011-04-23T16:07:00.000-04:00

I am so behind in blogging...sorry about that. It's been a crazy week. Wednesday we took Benji to the vet. There was nothing visible that the vet could see to cause his problems. Benji was so sad while we were there and barely moved and didn't bark once. They gave us antibiotics to give him. We finally got him to eat a few bites that night and take his medicine. Slowly each day he has improved. He is eating more and barking/walking around. He still walks like he is drunk and his depth perception is way off. We have been testing out his vision too which seems to be "off". The vet was so nice and called Friday so Billy stopped by there today. The vet came out and talked with him and was generally concerned about Benji which makes me feel great about this place. He said that it is highly possible, given the symptoms that he is showing still, that he could have had a stroke like we first expected. We can't tell without xrays and things like that. We will still monitor him and see how he does. If the wobbly/blindness/and miss stepping doesn't get better....we may still lean towards putting him down only because we can't continue to hand feed him every day and his quality of life is not what it should be. But we will see. He is our miracle dog right now and we are just enjoying seeing him bouncing around even if he does fall over with his wacky balance.

We had our first annual Lake Ramona Easter Egg hunt today. It was Danie's first of course and I had to get what pictures I could. It is still hard to take really good pictures of her since she can't sit up but we did pretty good I think. Now to sit down and do a little photo editing and then I have some yummy pictures to scrap.

Of course I can't wait to play Easter Bunny again tonight and bring her a little something for in the morning :)

Well....the baby is sleeping....Kayla is chilling....Shawn is working....Billy is cutting grass and I am way behind on some projects so I am hitting my craft room while I have some time and get some work done.

I hope everyone has a Blessed Easter Sunday.

A Little Wedding Wonder

2011-04-20T19:07:00.000-04:00

Today I wanted to share with you one of my last Magistical Memories layouts. I have one more week and then my DT term will be over. I have really enjoyed working with this great company and their products. I hate that it is over but I hope you have enjoyed the layouts and projects I have been able to show you over the last 6 months.

This layout was made using soem Echo Park paper and Bella Blvd paper. Along with Prima flowers and some buttons. 90% of this layout was made using the March kit from Front Porch Kits. And adding this wonderful Butterfly Swirl from Magistical Memories. I spritzed it down with some gold and silver smooch paint for some added color. This is my new daughter n law and my step son. The wedding was beautiful and if you haven't seen the pictures...please check out my last few blog posts.

I really wanted to scrap yesterday so this layout came together just at the right time. I'm hoping for things to slow down a little and scrapping to get back into full swing so stay tuned :)

A Mans Best Friend

2011-04-19T05:46:00.001-04:00

Meet Benji. He is our 13 inch Saddle Back Beagle. We have had him for a little over 10 years. He didn't use to be so white around his nose but age has turned him grey.

He is a good dog. We never could let him out to run around because once he got a wiff of a rabbit or deer...he was gone. Or he LOVED to run into the horse pasture and roll in horse poop. Not a good thing I will just say.

Sadly we are afraid that Benji is getting ready to pass on. We are hoping that we are wrong but the last two days he hasn't ate anything and just lays in the same spot. When he gets up to walk he fumbles around and can't really maintain a good balance. I sat with him yesterday for a while and just talked with him. He never once wagged his tail or barked. It breaks my heart.

If my husband can get off work early today then it looks like we will be taking him to the vet for a quick check up. Our only option if there is something wrong will be to put him to sleep. I know it will be the hardest thing in the world to do but I don't want him suffering and not being his happy self.

It's amazing how close animals get into our hearts. How much they love us and how much we love them back.

Yesterday afternoon as I was sitting down with him....our other dog which is a Black Lab and huge was just bouncing around all over. He came up to me and ever so gently sat his big black paw on my hand and just sat there....for 10 minutes...like he was holding my hand and telling me it would be okay. That was when I lost it. We don't realize how much these animals do understand and love us. They are truly amazing.