Fairy Crowns for Princesses

 

 

 

 

I've put these in the shop. They really are fun to make. I got a custom order from a Red Hat Society lady who wanted one. She was thrilled with the result.

Today, I will work on stocking http://allskate.etsy.com, which is my etsy shop full of vintage and destash. Its going to be a lot of working having two shops, but I am hoping it will pay off.

Dawson Forest Hike*-

 

 

 

 

We are looking forward to hiking with the girls, and this was a very tiny taste for them. This is a new trail at Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in Dawson County, Georgia. Scott was in charge of building this ADA-compatible path. It was a perfect hike for the girls. We saw wildflowers, a water snake, loads of butterflies, some neat bugs, and a frog nursery. We found a pool in the rocks where a frog had laid her eggs. We all laid on our tummies at the edge trying to catch a glipse of her. (We did.)

We tried to pick strawberries but the place I found online in Dahlonega didn't open until Monday. Ugh.

The Best Yard Sale Find EVAH!

I found these this morning for ONE DOLLAR at a yard sale!

The World's Best Hamburger

This is the best hamburger in the world. Its the Messy Burger from Brad's Grill in Gainesville, Georgia. It has two beef patties, cheese, bacon, slaw, onions, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup. It is truly divine. Its so good that I can only eat one a year, and I rely on the memories to carry me for the next 364 days.

All Hail The Queen (Snake)

Yesterday, Scott was at Dawson Forest at the ribbon cutting for a new trail. He happened to see a little tiny head poking out of the river. Now, you must know that Scott cannot resist picking up a snake. (He has even relocated copperheads, albeit with his snake pole and a trash can.)

So, he managed to get this one which was a bit lethargic as the river is quite cold. Its a queen snake.

We have two snakes that live in the creek here at home. Lulu named one Crack Hole (it lives in the cracks and holes of the rip rap at the bridge - duh) and one Bethany. Both are brown water snakes.

Stabby McCatfish and Other Fun Stuff

The girls and I spent the weekend with my parents at Lake Oconee. The weather was wonderful. We managed to get in a boat ride, a Jet Ski ride for Lulu, and canoe ride for Fern and I. We came home in one piece but just barely. Fern fell at the park and got a big fat lip. I fell out of the hammock while snuggling with Lulu.

I suffered several jabs to the hand from the 15 catfish I caught with the girls. That was a lot of fun. The girls were very impressed with their mother. (To her credit, Lulu landed about 5 of them.) Oh, and I managed not to gut hook a single one. All were released safely!

Yesterday we took the girls up to the river at Lula Bridge. We thought we would be able to cross at a low spot since the water has been down so we could look for pottery pieces on the less-traveled shore. However, it was just too deep. But we found a nice sandy beach and the girls had their sand toys. We saw deer and turkey tracks, but no pottery this trip. It was quite a nice quiet spot. Next time we will bring a picnic and our fishing gear.

So Scott enjoyed his 2 days of bachelorhood. I came home to a nice and tidy house that was destroyed within about 4 hours, and a husband who enjoyed his break from us. I have to admit that I am looking forward to some 'me time' when Fern finally weans.

I've marked all of my hats down to $15 or less in my shop. I sold a slip and a hat today too!

Its Planting Time!

Well, it looks as if the last frost of the season is gone. Talk about late! Looks like this weekend Scott will till the garden one last time and them start planting. Last year, we grew tomatoes, green beans, okra, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, Swiss chard, zucchini, squash, watermelon, and corn.

This year, we will grow pretty much the same except that I have asked to cut the okra and add more Swiss chard. The girls loved it and no one ate the okra. He mentioned garlic and asparagus as well.

Scott also planted three apple trees recently. The grapes are looking good as well. And the 9 blueberry bushes are thriving. The fig - meh. Its slow going. I hav also asked Scott if we can plant some gourds for me to paint.

We've been talking about having chickens again too. I think it would be fun for the girls. Lulu remembers them from the last house in Covington.

So funny how Scott had to drag me kicking and screaming from my funky little intown apartment further and further away from 'civilization' and now I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, if I could have a cool loft in an old building in the country, that would be ideal.

Pretty Dresses

 

 

 

 

Just some of the vintage slips I've been working on. They are so pretty in person but I am having such a hard time taking pictures of them. I really need a dress form.

I am really getting discouraged with my shop. I think my lack of good pictures is really hurting my shop. I haven't made a sale in a while. I am bummed. I am hoping to get a better response at the Farmer's Market.

Owl Release

 

 

 

 

As happens from time to time, Scott brings home something wild as part of his job as a wildlife biologist. We've had a liger cub (tiger/lion cross), cayman alligators, degus, and more. Today, he was called to remove a pair of sibling owls from a local man's workshop. These were barn owls and they are gorgeous. We just released them a few minutes ago, just before dark. They are silent flyers, so stealth. What an honor to see these gorgeous animals up close. I think the girls enjoyed it too.

Noooooooooooo!

I have lost the memory card to my camera! I can't take any pictures of new stuff and I can't upload and list the stuff I did have pictures of. This is DISASTER.

I am in the process of making a few Monster Eye hats to list. I have had a few requests for them so I thought I would toss a few up. Its good to have the old hooks out again.

The Hall County Farmer's Market starts in early May. I am looking forward to having a book there this summer. I am hoping to encourage other local etsy folks to come once a month for an "Etsy Row" or to do an artist's market once a month.

Some pictures of our kitchen. It was so nasty before we redid it. Very country. I had always wanted a bright color for the kitchen and Japanese Fern by Behr was perfect. We also added the beadboard. The mirrors were my idea. They reflect gorgeous light. My next task will be to stain the parquet floors dark.

We went trout fishing this afternoon. FUN. FUN. FUN. It rained and we didn't care. We caught 4 nice trout. They are fixing to get grilled. We all got super muddy and wet. I had forgotten how much I miss fishing. We were using crickets and a ultralight pole in addtion to the Barbie poll. I love that my husband is confident enough in his manhood to fish with the Barbie pole in among the snooty fly fishermen.

The trout were clean and placed in tin foil. I add herbs, onions, Mrs. Dash, a little butter and lemon juice. We will also have baked potatoes, Silver Queen corn and broccoli. It would be so nice to share photos, and while I did take my camera, I left my card at home. Oh well.

But I did first in etsy style! I wore my red panda chainmaille earrings, my tina seamonster t-shirt, my own brimmed newsboy in hot pink and some mandarin bergamot body butter from ficklefaerie.

It was a great family day!!

Makeover and Chickens

Two new chicken paintings in the shop, both painted on old cookie sheets.

Gave my blog a bit of a makeover. It was time for a change. Mostly I just like playing with the color thingy.

Methcrack

I coined a new term today. I had to. I had to find the word to describe Scramble on Facebook. Its like Boggle. I can hardly tear myself off the freaking computer. My neck and arms hurt. In a sentence?

"Scramble on Facebook is methcrack - its that addictive."

In other news, I am about to lose it with trying to get my new slips photographed. Its been too windy or wet for a week now. I need a dress form or manny in the worst way. Its really the only way I am going to get the best pictures.

I actually dragged out the hooks and I am making a new hat. I can only describe this new yarn as bloody intestines. Its really soft, but it does look like bloody veiny intestines. Monster Crochet would love it.

And I have actually lost 10 lbs. according to the scale at the gym. I think giving up alcohol during the week, working out almost daily (sometimes 2x a day) and watching my food has paid off. I had to ask and make sure they didn't mess with the scale as part of some cruel April Fool's joke.

Brrrrrrr...

 

So here is the least fugly picture of me I could find. It was taken yesterday on the way back from running errands. I am wearing my Shredlocks, which is a new product I am working on for the shop. They are hair falls made of vintage items. I still have a few kinks to work out...

Its freezing here today. We are going to attempt to go to a sheep shearing at Wauka Valley Farm. Its been raining too so its muddy. Doesn't look favorable for a day of outdoor family fun.

Last night, we participated in the one hour no-light deal. We built a HUGE bonfire down by the creek and had a nice time. The creek was a big reason we picked this house. Its fun for the kids and fun for us too.

Got my mammogram results back and it was positive for boobies. lol Seriously, I got the all clear. That was a big relief. Still waiting on cholesterol and thyroid.

I am hoping to get some vintage stuff listed today. Ugh.

Forget the Calgon, Jack Daniels - please take me away!

Good grief, I am not sure if its the full moon or what but my kids are insane. And they are driving me insane. They can't seem to go more than 5 minutes without one whining or screaming or complaining or being sassy. When they play well together, its like the angels are singing but that is so rare.

I scored big today with the vintage slips. I managed to buy 17 total. Now, I just have to buy some more dye. I definitely want to do more green and orange, maybe some purple too. The Tart slip sold, as did the brownie one.

I have a few chicken paintings that I did on old cookie sheets. Those will go up soon on electricbluebird. With any luck, I can get my vintage stuff photographed and get http://allskate.etsy.com up and running with vintage and destash.

I really, really need a vacation. We haven't had one as a family ever. A long weekend at the beach would be soooo nice.

Ah, Daddy is home. The girls are watching a Care Bears movie. I need to rustle up the grub - egg salad sammies and apple slices and herbal iced tea. Easy cheesy.



Did I mention I married a clown? lol

I think I set a record...

I listed this altered vintage slip dress tonight and it sold in less than 5 minutes. Holy crap! I have another one done in light turquoise with yellow and seafoam trims and vintage fabric dots. I have several more ready to embellish. I am doing all of the sewing by hand so its tedious but oh, so FUN!

Spring has sprung?

I had fun yesterday with Fern. The day before, all four of us went to a local school and picked up tennis balls around the tennis courts. We do this every few months, and we take them to the Humane Society for the dogs.

So Fern and I got to give the balls to the dogs ourselves. She loved it. I think I saw about 8 dogs that could just take home right now! I especially love to visit the older dogs. I mean, puppies are cute and all but the older dogs need love too. We also held a couple of the cats.

I would love to have another cat. I really miss having one around. I don't miss the litter box and the vomit and the hair. Scott is dead set against it and he is right. Unless we got one that was mostly an outdoor cat....maybe?

We are making plans for the vegetable garden. Last year, we had tomatoes, okra, squash, zucchini, hot peppers, bell peppers, green beans, eggplant, potatoes, Swiss chard and corn. I am hoping that we do less (none) okra since no one eats it and more Swiss chard. Scott also planted some apple trees and the grapes are coming back.

We had a nice time yesterday afternoon with my BBF Christine. We went to the park with our girls and played on the 'beach', which is the really just the shoreline exposed by the drought. The girls got thoroughly dirty and muddy and we had a blast.

Brand Spanking New!

I found some hair combs at Hobby Lobby today for 15 cents and thought I would give them a try. I love them! I made Lolligoth and then a second one but it walked off on the head of a child and has not been seen since. I am having so much fun making these things. Its a nice change from the hats. I am sure between now and the fall, I will be inspired to bring the yarn out again.

I spent tonight making violet and lilac colored polymer clay flowers. I would love to try and make some other things with the clay, expand my horizons a bit. I poked around etsy today and was just blown away at all of the things folks do with this stuff.

I have absolutely nothing to read right now. I must have started 5 books and cannot get into any of them. I think I might head to the library tomorrow. Its actually painful not to have something to read.

What a night!

We went out for Xine's birthday last night. She picked me up in her pimped out 300 and we met some other friends at Wild Wing Cafe. It was a BLAST. I think we need to do that more often for our sanity. The wings were tasty, the beer was cold, the conversation was outrageous!

As spring approaches, its time to clear out the winter hats in the shop. I think I will start moving them all to the clearance section and marking them down to move them out. I will list a few headbands today. I can't wait to get my beads!

Shhhh......

I've been buying beads. Not for making jewelry, but to add to my crowns. I need more shiny, sparkling stuff. A little Paypal money is a dangerous thing....

I sold my first crown yesterday, and I have 2-3 custom requests. I am very excited! I think these will do well.

My friend Christine came over yesterday to get some pull tags. She is making the cutest shamrock pins! Check them out here: http://xinedurkin.blogspot.com. She is heading up a group at ravelry.com for extreme fiber. I am still waiting on my registration to go through so I can join.

I had this big idea that I was going to talk her into trying to crochet with chitlins. I mean, they are pig intestines right? Long strings = yarn-like? We could film and be youtube stars, drive traffic to our shops and get on Oprah. Me and my chitlin scarf would be famous!

Well, it turns out that chitlins aren't perfect long strings and Christine was not feeling the chitlin love. I will have to come up with something else.