In groups of THREE

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but November is nearly over.  I cannot believe it has gone by so quickly.  Pretty soon , I will say this very quietly  SANTA  will be coming.  Now if you are under 10 years or so please don't read this next part.  OK?   One Christmas eve our wonderful grands were all tucked into bed waiting for Santa to come and what did they hear?   We always went outside the window and shook some Santa bells and said Ho ho ho.  Well our sweet Santa went out there in the colder than a frozen tundra weather and shook the bells but forgot to disguise his voice.  The grands looked at each other and said Grandad!!!!!   We quickly said no Grandad is in the living room watching TV.   Whew we slipped by that one, maybe.  We would not trade for the memories of when they were small and Christmas.  Now they are grown up and don't think they would fall for our jingle bells.  BUT when we play cards we still have to listen/watch Christmas Vacation.  Not that we don't know every word by heart and when Uncle Eddie comes up in his RV.   That is just part of our Christmas card playing.  

OK, I sort of wandered but it is getting to the end of the year.  This post may be a tad long but making up for lost time. 

When you see decorating shows and read all the rules and not rules they say to do things in odd numbers---1, 3, 5 and those little numbers.  I have been doing Crazy Quilting and right now have two pillows and a purse in the putting together and finishing part.   Sort of 3 but somewhere in cyber land I lost one of the pillows, it is gone where no pillow has gone before I suppose.     ( Kind of Star Trekish)      AND I have been sketching some of my favorite stars, well 2 and 1/2 of them maybe the half of him is with the pillow.   So maybe 2 parts of 3's. 

OK enough of this teasing  I think I will show you the sketches first.     Ladies first, I don't know how many of you watch NCIS but we love it and even the reruns which we have seen a million times we watch them.  In fact a restaurant we went to before they closed knew we had to be finished with our meal and home by 4 PM to watch the reruns.  We usually eat a late lunch and the waitresses would sit down with us and visit because it would be a slow time when we came in and they had time. 

So here are two of my favorite ladies from the great show.   Now I won't make you guess these

This beautiful lady from Chile is Cote de Pable in the show is Ziva David ( not David- Da- vid)   Oh she is beautiful but don't let that fool you in the show, she will take care of herself and whip 4 or 5 guys into shape before you know what happened.     I hope if she accidental looks at it she likes it.  Well you know it could happen --maybe.  

 

The next wonderful and cute and Miz Personality is Pauley Perrette who plays Abby Scuito in the series,  Miz Goth herself and a wiz at finding things out and drinks a lot of her drink  CowPow.   Wears these giant shoes to make her taller and just so cute.

 

 

OK the next is partly done,  I know I have an eye right but just had to show him   Part of my 2 and 1/2  sketches.   I think I have his nose also but I have erased his mouth so many times but will get it.   Maybe.

 

 

 

Christopher Lambert I love his different looks and voice.  Mainly in the Highlander, Connor Mac Leod with that handsome Sean Connery.  Still work to be done here but needed an odd number so I can be so so correct in the rule of odd numbers. 

 

Now for the CQ, remember I create these while Baseball and now action shows are on.  Lots of action the better in my book, no girly shows for me.  : )

 

 

 

This sweet purse is trying to decide if it wants a handle and fringe or what is wants to be when it grows up to be a purse.  Of course I love these colors. 

 

 

The 75% finished pillow, I branched out and did different colors than I usually work with for my personal use.   I don't have a clue what I am going to do with it, finish it and put up or sell it?   I did have to challenge myself though and work with these soft and yummy colors. 

 

Had to show some of the "critter's " on here a little closer.  Now my spider almost looks like it could be something giant and growing but nope just some little beads and thread.  I do love putting these little additions on the CQ work.

 

 

Now some little love birds were added, so sweet I did add some beads on their neck and thought better about putting red beadie eyes on them.   They do have mean looking eyes.  

 

 

Now this next pillow is in sections, don't have a clue what happened to the whole pic and thought maybe with Christopher's lips perhaps? 

 

 

Just had to share this part with you.    I am working on something fun at the moment but am afraid that someone special will read this and know what it is so nope won't share but that could be part of my trio you know in odd numbers.   I am fixin to do a witch on Lifebook one of the big eyed girls again and I will share that with you in a few days. 

 

See I told you it was a tad lengthy but thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world . 

 

XOXOXO

Annette

 

 

Pins and Pearls

 

I just couldn't stand it, I had to show you what I am working on. Well some of what I am working on at the moment. Now that baseball is over I just Crazy Quilt and sketch at night while watching our TV shows, hubby and I.

I had made one fantabulous pillow, in my opinion for our bed. So I was thinking our little love seat in our bedroom is drab so why not spiffy it up with a go with pillow? I am fixin to start doing the fun fun part----BEADS- but had to show one or two parts of it.

Don't know if you remember about the jackpost estate sales we went to hear a while back, where I found the beautiful earrings for $2. I had to have a long talk with myself and say ~ Annette you promised the daughters of the lady you purchased the earrings from that you would make something pretty using them. So I finally gave in to my promise and added it here to the hat of the ciggie on my pillow.

 

 

So here we go, the pin I thought makes a wonderful addition to my victorian gal. I know those hats were probably heavy any way so might as well add some more BLING !!! I am not through adding goodies to her or the pillow, oh no the pillow needs to weigh what 100 pounds before I finish one. I know I get carried away with the stuff but it is just so pretty.

Now also remembering back when Hubby found a beaded dress for $5 at another estate sale that same day, I thought about selling it on ebay or some such place and thought no I want to use it and every bit of it. So I cut, oh I did hate to do it, but the dress was a size nothing and I knew I would never need it so my pillow is now sporting some pearls and pretty from the dress. I had promised the dress that I would make it happy.

Here you go part of a sleeve. Already beaded and sequined, I think it goes perfect with my pillow and have given it a good home.

I have another pillow I just started for grandaughter, she changes colors so often but I went ahead and started one for her, but you can see it later. I have sewn the lace on it and fixing to get it to the point of where this one is and then I can BEAD to my hearts content.

There you go just couldn't wait to show yall what is going on in my world this week.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

XOXO
Annette

It is Good to not Plan

Today we got up, well that is a given I am here visiting with y'all.   Hubby said what are you doing today?  We are kind of staying close to home until we get all the things that were messed up in the bad hail storm.  The last part is the fence , as I type, is getting the second part of a three part spiffy up.  Yea it will look pretty again.   Then we will have everything back to square one.  

OK back to what I was going to do.  I thought today would be a good day to do some messy art, which is the art journal or painting or something fun like that.  So I thought OK that is what I am going to do.   So in my art room I pranced, not like Santa's reindeer but pranced all the way.     Now I was given some beautiful  fabric.  My colors, oh my goodness my colors.  There it was like a shining star shining on it, it seem to glow.  Calling my name-Annette you need to create with me today.   I have hesitated to cut into it but did use a tiny part of it to create a purse for my friend's granddaughter.   I kept it young for her and did have a good time with creating it. 

 

I thought this was whimsy enough for an artsy little 9 or 10 year old to carry.  

I opened the fabric up and thought hummmmmm why can't I use it to make a new seat and back for the director chair in here?  It is my colors, there is some yellow in here, not the vibrant yellow on the fabric but all yellows should keep each other company.  So I have the sewing machine out for the Crazy Quilting and I made the new seat and back for the director chair.  

 

There it is all finished and waiting to be used in the art room.  AKA the office but I am trying to convert it slowly into an art room.  I just had to share this beauty with you. 

 

I have been sketching at night while watching TV and these are a couple of sketches of what I did.  Still working on sketching,  I started thinking if I did these digitally it would be easier but I just wanted to do them the old fashioned way---paper and pencil and sharpen my skills of sketching. 

 

Jim Caviezel right now in Person of Interest a great TV show this fall.   Just incase yall are not familar with him. 

 

Cameron Diaz, found this is a magazine ad.  

 

 

I am not 100 % pleased with them but getting there.  Hope you can tell who they are.    

 

I just wandered today in subject matter.  Hey a lot of things go on in a day and thank goodness not the same thing everyday.   Gotta have variety.   Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world for today.

 

 

XOXOXO

Annette

Welcome November and some Bling

Well welcome November, my goodness you came around fast this year.  I have heard the saying that time flys when you are having a good time.  But didn't know time would fly at warp speed.  November always reminds me of the last of fall leaves, the crispness of the air and pies.  Yummy, no calorie pies.   What does it remind you of?  I know some it means CHRISTMAS IS COMING !!!!!!  That also but sometimes Thanksgiving gets lost in the shuffle of Halloween and Christmas.  So I am taking this time to say Happy November.

What is my favorite pie you might ask? Well I guess it is either Pecan Pie or German Chocolate Pie either one is good with me and what is yours I will ask back?   Not a running list on these but do wonder what every one's favorites are.  There are so many in the book of pies and none to be forgotten.

Now I do want to celebrate also that my PURSE is finished.  Not one I just started but probably started it in June or so.   Don't ask me why I am just finishing it but got it done now.   This was the second piece of Crazy Quilt projects I did and love love the colors and of course all the bling on it.  I wasn't sure what kind of strap I wanted but settled on the chain but took the ribbon off,  I didn't want anything to take away from the purse .  Here it is with some view of the purse.  Just had to share this treasure with you.  Again thanks Pat Winter for teaching us how to do this.    

 

The finished purse and right now I am actually lugging a purse.   I usually only carry my drivers license, medical cards that Hubbysays I have to carry  ( you know after a certain age there are some cards you have to carry )and a credit card.  What else should a girl carry besides her lipstick? 

Now y'all have a good weekend and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. 

                                                                  XOXOXO
                                                                  Annette

The Scarecrow of the Wizard of Oz

Farewell October we will see you next year and enjoy your fall colors you bring to us.  OK got that out of the way or should I say I have that little farewell speech to October said?

I know now how the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz felt, being covered in hay and the dirt that comes with it while he was hunting for a brain along with his fellow companions.    Yesterday  we mowed for maybe one last time of the season.  Maybe.   Well I thought ----Annette why don't you lower the mower to like 2 1/2 inches and then when it snows maybe Jewel won't rub her tummy so much in the grass and then in the spring we won't have so much more to cut off to get the yard ready for the 2013 season.   Sure Annette, why not?  So in my yard attire, long sleeves, gloves, hat, goggles and a mask off I go on my green lawn mower.  No this was not my Halloween costume just what I wear when doing the nasty mowing in the back yard.  I usually though wear all of it but the mask when doing the regular mowing. .   I was covered in dried grass clippings, dirt that was in the grass and who knows what else.  The whole time I thought poor Scarecrow how he must have felt.  OK you have a lot of time to think and dream while mowing.  

I had trimmed the patio plants for Eldon  or DH to put in the back garage with their little heaters to keep them warm.   Now we use to have and I kid you not, over 50 or more plants but now have culled them down to 15 or so.  


OK, now I did get carried away with some pictures but one last hooray for the flowers.

Some of the blooms I cut off of the bougainvilleas, I hate to cut them off but if you don't they will take over the garage and become space hogs and stab you when you are not looking.  They have some thorns on them and will get ya.  They will never know the difference that I gave them a winter hair cut.  In fact they are back to blooming their little heads off in the garage, good job they have  a short memory.

 

A close up of their beautiful blooms.  They are a true delight to look at.

 

The Hibiscus is still blooming in the garage also.  The hummers are gone for the season so they won't miss these not being outside.  We do try to plant something for them to feast on.

Something, I forget what it is but the hummers love it, it stays basically green all winter and stinks to high heaven.   BUT it blooms and stays outside to add some life to the patio.

Angel Wing Begonias, now we treat this as an annual and let it freeze,  I know you can call us a plant killer but we have trimmed them back and they do not winter well in the back garage.  Usually get those awful little mealy bugs and it is a cheap plant.  So say good bye to it when it freezes really bad.

Some wild geraniums, I do think these little things would take over the world if we let it but they are pretty and grow in the flowerbeds.

 

 

One of the last roses of the summer/fall, I think roses just like it better when it is cooler and not 100 plus weather. 

                          


I had to include the rose hips, funny little things but they have such pretty colors in them.

Sedum is a wonderful desert flower  and you can break off a stem, remove some of the leaves and stick this little stem in the ground and you will have more of these.  The blooms are really pretty. 

The purple jew, love this stuff and again break off a piece stick it in the ground and you have more.  It freezes back but pops it's little head up in the spring and goes at it again.  It never lets you down at all.

 

The day lillies are still blooming but not for long.  Just had to let it be seen also.

 

There you go, I did get carried away with these and like I said we just don't have as many plants here as we did in our fairy land of a yard that we did have at our old house. 

 

Have a great day and Happy Halloween

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.  

 

Like Arnold says~~~~ I'll be back.

 

XOXOXO

Annette

One Man's trash is another Man's treasure

You know that saying----"One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure?  Well another version could be one man's trash is another man's trash.  Guess it could be true.   And isn't it funny that things I threw away years ago I am now thinking oh I wish I had that.  Probably was pure junk but today I am a junk collector to create pretties.  Sounds like a good thing doesn't it?   Now I am not a hoarder but well maybe a hoarder of art supplies.  A friend, Nelda, once said who ever has the most china, painting supplies, fabric ( rats I donated all of my fabric years ago) or whatever you create with wins.  So OK I am not going to win that race but it is fun to play.

Since we have moved here Hubby has picked out of the newspaper Estate sales, so every once in a while we do this little past time.  The only difference between an Estate sale and a garage sale to me is Estate sales can charge more for the very same thing than an garage sale.  But to Estate sales we wander.  Sometimes we even spend $20 for the day and come home with a lot of treasures or not.   Funny what you do when you go to another town isn't it?  We have never really done anything like this, just seems like the thing to do. 

A couple of weeks ago we did the Estate sale jaunt and went to one house and the daughters were there and so sweet and of course we had to talk baseball just a tad.  Don't have a clue how we got on that subject but we did.   We did discuss the 4 homer game that Josh Hamilton did back in April or May.   They had put their sweet mother into a home, we are pretty sure, and selling her treasures.  So for $5 we got a big box of lace and linens I can use for the journals I am fixin to make for my friend Ginger and her beautiful wedding "home".  What a fantastic place to have a wedding.    Lytle Cove Cottage is the name of it.  So the linens were purchased and found some earrings.   Oh not just any earring but some EARRINGS!!!!! With Bling.   $2 a pair now that is a deal of the century, well almost after reading further down you will see what is. 

 

 

$2 a pair these were and just begging to be purchased and used on one of pillows or throw I am fixin to make for our bedroom.  Don't you know this sweet lady was stylin' wearing these?   I promised the daughters I would make something pretty with them and they said they would tell their mother. 

 

After this sale we went to another, it was suppose to be an Estate sale but I think, being in the garage it was a garage sale.  Just a guess, we looked and really saw nothing.  Then as we were leaving Hubby of all Hubbys said oh look at this.  I came over and lo and behold was the again a mother load of pearls.  I knew when I saw it OMG I have to have it.  I could cut this up and make so many things out of it but then after the excitement brought me down to the concrete floor , I thought wonder how much they want for this?   $5  only  $5 , I snatched that up in a New York second and that my friends is fast.  I have only been to New York City once but a second there is pretty quick. 

 

Here you go, I do believe in this Estate Sale hunting ladies opinion it is well worth $5.  I have a fortune in pearls and trim alone not even including the  lace and it is decorated also. 

 

 

 

 

OK now you can quit drooling .   It was, we found out a second marriage dress and then that didn't work out.  So we will make this pretty dress happy and can proudly be shown off like it is suppose to be.  

 

There you go our exciting adventure of ,  I think a week or so ago. 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. 

 

XOXOX

Annette

What a Day for the Mother Load

The Mother Load, now when I think of this I think when they were panning for gold and they would find the Mother Load of all Mother Loads of Gold.  Yep there is gold in them thar hills.  Anyway that is what comes to mind when I hear that.

Hubby came in yesterday and said "You have hit the Mother Load of mail today".  I thought what? What?   What came in?  I had not been expecting anything YET !!!!  Well, Tisha in Tisha's needlework shop had sent the Red and Purple goodies I needed to make a Red Hat Day purse for a lady that ordered one of my purses.    The Red and Purple fabric, ribbon and beads.  All enough to make a Red Hat Lady love it .  I mean who wouldn't love Red and Purple together?   Some beautiful Victorian looking clasps, with enough fufu on them to choke a horse, they had come in from China that they said may take 3 months and only took 10 days.  A beautiful Calendar I had order featuring Pat Winter's beautiful work.  Will I write in it like I do to keep up with events that I write down and don' t look at again.  Don't you touch it.   Some chains for the purses, AND a letter from Uncle Jim and Auntie Thelma in England.  Please remember that I didn't even know I had an Uncle Jim and Auntie Thelma until what a year ago?  A found treasure indeed  was finding them.   Now I consider all of this together to be the mother load of all mail hauls.  Each one by it's self would be a treasure but all together?  WHEW my heart was pounding.   Now you do have to agree this was the mother load of a mail haul.  Well a few bills but that is a given.  Even our Long Term care quarterly bill, now that will choke a horse.  But it is an important expense. 

I felt like it was Christmas morning.  I guess I should have taken pics of it all but Miz laziness here just took of what came in the mail from England.  A wonderful letter and some lumpy bits in the letter. What was it you ask?   I certainly didn't know, so uncarefully I ripped the envelope open.  I did not open it gracefully let me tell you.  Just ripped and tore the envelope open.   I felt like the little boy opening his presents in Christmas Story before he found out he got a Red Rider B B gun that he might shoot his eye out with.   Wonderful movie by the way if you haven't seen it a million times like we have. 

I then read the letter after looking in awe at what they had sent me. 

WHAT Annette?  Show us!!!!

Some of Uncle Jim's patches.  Oh what a treasure and I am going to frame them with a picture of him in his  white competition suit and his black belt with some of his grandchildren.  Is that not the coolest thing?  I will always treasure these and that they thought enough of me to send these to me.  It looks like he was a Referee also and the bottom patch looks pretty important and older in my eyes.  


I did another portrait of Zinnia and this one looks more like a what I had intended to do the first time.   Of course I still see things I could fix but i think that is part of learning. At least for me, so next time and onward and upward.

 

I hope I captured her love of life and spunkieness.  

 

So there you go  this is what has been happening in my world and no telling what the mail will bring today or what will happen in my art world. 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. 

 

XOXOXO

Annette