Happy New Year Everyone! 
Below is a sweet little card can be a Valentine's card or Everyday card. "Tilda" is swinging on a swing which was fun to make for her. As she is stamped with nothing to sit on, so I thought a swing would be a likable object for "Tilda". The inside verse says "May sunshine fill your every moment" The card measures 6.25" tall x 4.25 wide. Will come with an envelope and clear plastic sleeve for protection. Cost of this card is $3.50. Tilda is not yet in my Etsy store, probably in a couple of days she will show up.......stay tuned.
Well, going to make this a short blog for today. Be sure to check out my Etsy store for other cards that I have in my inventory. I have some new ideas brewing in my brain. One of my gifts for Christmas was a gift card for Micheals........what a happy surprise that was!!! Anyways I got a Martha Stewart punch half price along with a postage border punch (that was on clearance), a few (1.00) stamps and liquid pearls. A fun spree indeed.....Thanks Sandi!!!
With all the shopping and making of cards, decorating, baking and all that is involved in Christmas.....JESUS sure can get lost in the midst of the business. Now, take a breath, take a moment to reflect, what are we doing to ourselves, why all this busy running to and fro, for what???? I know, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus but yet there stands Jesus watching us running here and there and around about him, never stopping to say what would you like me to do for you Jesus??? No, we are too busy getting everything all ready for the big day....gathering with family and friends, opening presents, eating big fancy meals, watching football, playing in the snow, playing with the new gifts.........oh yeah, some of us will still be going to church Sunday Morning. But alot of churchs have opted to not have church on Sunday - Christmas morning.....what is that all about anyways????
The above picture is 3 loaves of Chocolate Chip Zucchini bread and Diabetic Pineapple Upside Down Cake and a little piece of cake with whip cream on top.
The above picture is of the diabetic pineapple upside down cake just before I put it in the oven. The recipe consists of flour, egg whites, honey, salt, margarine, pineapple juice, pineapple, blueberries and brown sugar. If you would like the recipe, let me know via comments and your email and I will send it to you. Same with the Zucchini bread recipe.
This above picture consists of the upside down cake and my totally un-organized kitchen mess. No one around to clean up the mess. but, me, myself and I. (hahahaha)
Another angle to the messy kitchen. Yikes, I have literally torn my kitchen apart. Either I need a bigger kitchen ooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrr less stuff!!! Shhhhhhhh don't tell my husband that!!!
More of the messy kitchen. Dishes are always in the sink, because I tend to cook alot. The banana box to the right on the floor is filled with cans of pineapple (49 cans to start with) now there is 33 cans left. Need to find another pineapple recipe for diabetics. Got the cans of pineapple from the local grocery store, they sell dented and scratched food in boxes for $7. So I usually get 2 boxes, what I don't use, usually give to friends.
Have a great day today!! I was glad when they said, "Let us go up unto the House of the Lord" Keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh!!! Cheers ~ Louise
So, I just put these cards in my Etsy store today. A special deal if I have to say so myself. A set of 12 cards priced at $21.00 + postage and shipping will bring the price to $24.50. I usually sell my cards for $3 a piece so I am selling these cards in this set for $1.75 a piece. My inventory has gotten so large, thought I could do this as a special for December. Maybe this will be "Special" for every month in 2012.....just to keep the Post Office busy with cards and letters in the mail.
Been busy making Christmas ornaments for my tree and for Etsy. Going to put a few up in my Etsy store today just as soon as I finish this here blog. Which won't be very long. Also need to get my regular Christmas ornaments up for the season. Got my cards all done and they are ready to be mailed on Monday. As I sit writing this blog, am watching my favorite Christmas DVD " The Christmas Card" such a neat story. In the midst of war in Afganistan, Cody Cullen is touched by a card sent by Faith Spelman from a small and picturesque town of Nevada City, California. As months pass, the card never leaves his side, giving him the strength to survive and setting him on a mission to find her. I'd encourage you to find it either on Netflex, the Library or buy it. It's a great movie, puts ya in the Christmas Spirit and might put a tear in your eye just as it puts a tear in my eye everytime I watch it.
Well..............I debated with myself, was I going to put up Christmas decorations this year or not......yes, no maybe so........well here it is, the start of the decorating. Usually I decorate the dinningroom table, so this was the first thing I did tonight. Had started addressing my Christmas cards last night, now that is a first (so early in the season). Won't be buying alot of gifts this year. Depends on who was naughty or nice this year.....hahahahaha.
Tomorrow I go to see the Doctor for information about diabetes. Guess he will tell me what I can eat, or what my options are, not really sure what he will do. I sure don't want to take shots, hopefully this is something that can be controlled with diet and exercise. Of which I am not doing so good with at this point. I do ride my stationary bike 5 miles a day, sometimes 10 miles. Guess that is good, but maybe I should be doing more for this body!!! I have been so busy taking care of JP and his body, I forgot mine. We have been doing pretty good at controlling his gout. Feeding him the things that do not produce purines that cause him to get pain in his joints. Guess I need to watch what I put in my mouth. When we were young we just did not take care and ate anything, now we are paying for those wrong choices.
Have a great Thanksgiving and keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh!!!
Next picture is my steak and fries, oh yum it was delicious as usual. Along with this came a salad and bread with honey butter and coffee.
JP's dinner consisted of fried perch and american fries and salad.
This was my dessert, chocolate ice cream with a sparkler on top.............we shared!
Below is a picture of my birthday cake..........I chose pumpkin pie with whip cream. In the background is a portable DVD player, which I have been wanting for a couple of years......finally got one with the money my stepfather sent me for my birthday. The DVD player in my computer has not been working very well lately so this gift came just in time.
All in all I had a good day, full of blessings galore, thank you Jesus for 65 years, that's more then I ever thought I would have.......my, my 65 hard to believe!!!!
Well, I shall close this blog for today, hope to get some cards up in the next few days and into my Etsy store. Been slacking there for sure. Guess, no sales, no motivation is my problem. Well you have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh!!!
Cheers ~ Louise
Well, here is a picture of how I am feeling today..........yep, that's me. Found out yesterday, I am diabetic AND to make matters worse, the brakes went out on my car to the tune of $600, also the car is leaking antifreeze $700 to fix that and to top that off the exhaust is bad and needs to be replaced $500. Not exactly sure where the money is coming from, sooooooooooooo like the above puppy dog, I will just continue to lay down and sleep through all of this. We have had this Ford Tarus for a year now and it has cost us more money then it is worth.............Oh how I wish I could have a NEW CAR!!!!
See my little tatting shuttle to the right, now if I can just learn to use it. Been going on Youtube for tutorials, but I have found that in each tutorial, each woman does it different, guess I just have to find the one that suites me. Stay tuned, someday I may be tatting, though it may take awhile.
Well, I shall cut this blog short, have to go make the husband his lunch and dinner before he leaves for work. Cheers ~ Louise
Today I am going to show off some more of Elena's works of art from her Etsy Store. If you would like to visit her Etsy store and maybe even buy something from her store go to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopGift?ref=si_shop. Hope you have enjoyed this featured interview with Elena on my blog, sure was alot of fun to do. The above picture is a white tatted doily.
The above picture here are some lovely tatted book marks. Below is a beautiful tatted red box.
In the next picture below is a beautiful tatted white collar.
In this picture below a lovely tatted table runner........so pretty!
Last, but not least a lovely tatted floral runner, must have taken many, many hours to make this one.
So there you have it..........hope you enjoyed looking at Elena's tatting projects, all of them are so very pretty. Each piece worthy of a royal place in someone's home. Keepsakes to hand down to the next generation. One of my favorite things to do, is going to antique stores.....I always check out the doilies, and just looking at all the lovely stitches of each handmade doily. Wondering, who was this woman or even child that made this, what was her life like, when and where did she live........you know, questions that probably will never be answered.
Now on to the rest of my interview with Elena from Crimea Ukraine. It's been fun getting to know Elena and I just love her beautiful works of art. I've been doing a little bit of crocheting, actually making a doily right now, but in no way does my doily look like Elena's beautiful tatting work. Went into Hobby Lobby yesterday and picked up a magazine showing directions on Tatting??????? I was completely confused????? It is nice to know, there are people like Elena that can carry on the art of Tatting and pass it on to others.
Above is a beautiful white doily, below are a pair of earrings and a necklace ~ lovely, lovely work!
8. How do we find you on Etsy?
In this picture are Christmas ornaments, wouldn't these look lovely on a Christmas tree?
1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and how did you got started on Etsy?
Went to the Library yesterday.......FINALLY found this cookbook I have been wanting to see before I bought it at Barns and Noble. My husband has Gout, so I have wanted to see some of the recipes from this cookbook. They are very simple and basic, like "eggs parmasian" sounds good, think I will try it in the next week or so. Another cookbook I got was "Just 1oo Calories" looked like a good one for Louise to try, as I am always on a diet of some sort.....lol! The third book is on stamping. "Making Cards with Rubber Stamps" thought there might be some new ideas I could try.
The three books
Eight DVD's, this shall keep me busy for the week. 1 Cardmaking Dvd and 2 Crocheting Dvd's (as I am into making doily's fof a season), 2 diet Dvd's "You on a Diet Workout" and "You on a Diet" (two different authors, should be interesting, hopfully not boring) the other 3 movies, "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock. "Gifted Hands" The Ben Carson Story and "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. That all should keep me busy and out of trouble for the week at least. Will let you know if I try any new recipes from the cookbooks.
Well, I think I shall shut down this blog for now, the medication is starting to work, doesn't take much. Be sure to stop by on Monday to see my blog as I will be doing an interview with Elena from the Ukraine, if all works out well and I didn't overwhelm her with questions.
Take care and keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise
Sounds like the New England States, NY and PA got hit with snow, in some places they are getting 13".... uge! Will have to check with my Blog friend in Maine and see if she talks about the snow. Tis the season, not ready for this, but living WI it is bound to happen.
Eiffel Tower Christmas Cards "Joyeux Noel". This stamp caught my eye last week, only because someone from France bought a Christmas card from me......I was so thrilled I had a sale and also that she was my 1st international sale.....so this card is dedicated to "Marinette" Thank you Marinette for your order.
This card is a new stamp and folder I bought at a Stamping Rummage Sale. Paid $13.00 for it, at Archivers it is going for $20. There were alot of techniques that went into this card. First it was stamped in black, then colored in with copic markers, then run through the cuttle bug to emboss it. Then I distressed the edges then sponged with white linen distress ink, then sprayed with gold mist, oh and used a gel pen to pop the words, and butterflies. Guess this card should go for about $4.00 cause I used so many different mediums. It is a lovely card though.
I got this idea from an ornament I saw at Shopko and thought, I could make that. Ended up buying the ornament for $6, hopefully I can sell a few to make up the difference. All there is to this is 2.5 circles or scalloped circles folded over, glued and then glued together to form a circle, used speckels to decorate and a strip of cardstock layed across. Calligraphed "Peace" across the strip. Sprayed the ornament with gold spray mist. The following ornament was done the same way only using the word "Love".
"Love"
This card was made back in 2009. Thought I would add it to my Etsy Store and see how it does. The tree can be taken off the card and used as a Christmas tree ornament.
This card was made in 2009 also. Ran the green cardstock through the cuttlebug then colored the trees with sharpie pens, then layered on gold and white cardstock.....very simple.
The card below is a Halloween card...........not much into making halloween cards as it is so against what I believe. If people really knew what goes on and the many living creatures including babies, children and adults that are sacrificed to SATAN there would be less celebrating and worshipping of the EVIL ONE. It's a pagan holiday that does not belong.........sorry, that is the way I feel.
Well, time to close this blog for today, need to go pay the electric bill, get some dishes done and do some work outside, time to winterize before the first snow fall...............it's not far away, just peeking around the corner. Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Cheers ~ Louise
Our new-used machine is a white Maytag, hopefully this one should last awhile. Our Speedqueen came with the house and we have been here 20 years, so I guess that was a good machine too, to have lasted so long. We still have the Speedqueen dryer, so when that konks out, we will go to Hoarshs for a used dryer. They will deliver, hook-up and take away the old one.....hooray!! don't have to worry about getting rid of it ourselves.
The roof was done last Tuesday and Wednesday during that wonderful weather we have been having. We had to get a loan for the roof to the tune of $1200, I guess that is not bad, but there was alot of damage after leaking 8 years. Joe said if we had not gotten the roof done before winter, the snow and ice surely would have collapsed the roof. Hopefully this will fix the problem for awhile. Now we have to figure out where the money is coming for the kitchen ceiling, guess I can live with that for awhile cause now it won't be leaking like as if someone turned on the faucet. 
The money for the washing machine came from our selling some gold and silver jewelery that was laying around, stuff I had from my mother and grandmother. I won't miss it, may as well put it to use.........we needed a washing machine, now we have one.
