Valentine's Day

My little Valentine creations!

Six Nice Kids by The Vintage Sister

My Mom and Dad

The Six Of Us...Steffie, Mikie, Me, Mark, Shannon, David

As long as I can remember, whenever we asked my Dad what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas all he ever said was "Six nice kids"! He still says it, even though the six of us are now middle-aged, grandparents that have turned into half way decent adults! Not knowing what to get him, I was browsing in The Vintage Sisters shop on Etsy and was happy to see she does custom paintings of your family! Haha, I thought, so Tracy was employed to do me and my siblings! Tracy is fabulous to work with, after several conversations she went to work. I was so happy with the results I just had to share it with you! Tracy is amazing, and tries very hard to make sure you are happy! I'm telling you if you ever want a sweet piece of art or a custom portrait, she is the lady to see!

Traditions

These little snowmen were a gift from Natalie and represent my nine precious grandkids!


My favorite day is Christmas with my kids and grandkids, we always do it a couple days before or after Christmas, this year I forgot my camera so I didn't get my traditional "nine grandkids" picture!

One of our other traditions is going to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This year it was on Dec. 23rd. The weather was perfect, snowy and blustery and it was fun wandering around downtown Grand Rapids!

I am always a little sad when I have to take the tree down. Every single ornament is special to me. They have been given as gifts from friends and family and I cherish them all.

Christmas

My family is huge and nobody in their right mind wants the whole clan at their house so we rent a restaurant on Christmas Day. There are 57 of us, Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers, in-laws, neices, nephews, and grandkids. It's always chaotic and loud, but a great way to spend time with the whole group! Unfortunately Natalie got the bug, and I missed her and her family!

My Mom and Dad still in love after 60 years!

Merry Christmas everyone!

This is the first time in my entire life that I will be happy when it's all over! All the shopping, wrapping, and cooking is wearing me out!
But I know it will all be appreciated, and then I will be anxious for Christmas again!

I just found this interesting....

I just so happen to look at my hearts on 10-27-08 and they were at 2222! If I were in the casino, I think that would be a Jackpot!

Wow!!!!

Today was just a perfect fall day here in Michigan. We are having our "Indian Summer" and the temperature is in the mid 70's. The leaves are finally turning color and it's just one of the most beautiful time of the year! And look at that sky, is that gorgeous or what?!?

The kindness of friends

Last week I recieved a convo from my friend Lori, who has two shops on Etsy, (fisheye, is a shop of incredible recycled items and fishlegs which is packed with vintage finds!) I always enjoy browsing through both shops! Anyway Lori asked for my address because she wanted to send me something. I was so excited wondering what it could be. So today I was sitting out on the deck drinking coffee with my daughter Natalie, (humblebea) enjoying a beautiful fall day and hubby brings me a little envelope that just arrived in the mail! Tucked neatly inside was a little box packed with these delicate little baskets and a little pottery pitcher and four mugs. Lori had been doing some cleaning and thought I might like to use them for my Mossies. She had found them in Mexico about twenty years ago! Wow! Natalie and I both were amazed at the items, but even more amazed at the kindness of friends that we have met on Etsy. There are so many people that we have never met, but feel like we have known for a lifetime. We seemed to be linked with a common thread, we like to create and enjoy other peoples creations. All of my Etsy friends are as addicted to treasury making as I am. In fact, it is the treasuries that has allowed me to meet so many fantastic people from around the world. Etsy is an amazing place and I wake up grateful every single day! So this afternoon I made Lori a little Mossie pin, using one of her little mugs, my way of saying thank-you!

Prince Charming and Cinderella

Who doesn't love a fairytale? Especially one where they live happily ever after!

Oh Chistmas Tree

Coming soon!

I have been working on my Christmas fairies for the past month! I can hardly wait to start listing them!

I must have been feeling grey!

Maybe I better buy some hair dye, what's with all the grey! Actually I fell in love with this fabric, and still have enough to make something else, hmmmm, I'll have to think on that!

What I did this week-end!

I had a very prosperous week-end. I have quite a few unfinished projects, I was able to finish a few of them this week-end! What a feeling of accomplishment!

Labor Day

Today I was happy that all nine of the grandkids (Sean, Rianne, Peyton, Noah, Nathan, Mackenzie, Tommy, Reese and Caden) were able to come for the last swim before school starts. I always say "You better get wet, it's the last swim of the summer"! But of course tomorrow is going to be 90 degrees here in Michigan and some of them will probably show up after school! It was really nice that Mackenzie made an appearance today! She has been very busy this summer volunteering at the library and at the York Creek kids program, not to mention taking drivers education! I made a huge pot of goulash, Rianne baked a cake and my Mom brought some of her homemade bread. Reese threw buckets of water at Muffie and she was having a ball chasing the water. It was a nice afternoon, and I am always very grateful for a day spent with my family!

My Sunflower girls

My newest Mossies are little Sunflower girls. I just love sunflowers, and although I have never grown one, I think one of the prettiest things I have ever seen was a field of sunflowers!

Kimiko's beautiful necklace!

Those of you who know Etsy would know Kimiko! Her treasuries constantly grace the front page! She is also quite the shopper and has possibly purchased something from you! I "met" Kimiko a little over a year ago. She was 9 months pregnant for her first baby, Kailyn. She ordered a few things to put in the nursery from my shop. We became friends and she is just a sweetheart! Last week I was working on my Poster Sketch, getting a new treasury made and I browsed in Kimiko's shop to see what she had new. She had recently started making her sweet little jars of origami Magic Stars again. Much to my surprise Kimiko had started making pendants! I was thrilled, so of course I bought one and it is so beautiful! It came in the mail today, and it is so much prettier in real life. Tucked very neatly inside the box was one of Kimiko's little jars of stars. What a sweet surprise!

Noah and Andrew

My newest Mossie creations!

Congratulations WaterRose!

I was just nosing around some of my friends blogs today and came across my friend Rose's blog. She has a shop on Etsy, http://www.waterrose.etsy.com. If you get a chance you should check out her incredible, beautiful, hand embroidered cuffs! Well, Rose had a huge announcement. She is going to be featured in the Quiltings Arts Magazine, available in newsstands on September 16th! I know I will be buying a copy! Congratulations Rose!

Peyton in her new dress made by Humblebea!

This sweet little dress was made especially for Little Miss Peyton by Aunt Natalie! (humblebea) Isn't it and Peyton precious?

I Used Up All My Sick Days So I Called In Dead!

I found this quote some time ago and being I have a sick sense of humor I thought I would create something using the quote! I had a lot of fun with the hair, it kind of has that 70's look!

Sunset

Tonight I was sitting outside watching the kids swim and the sun started to go down. My favorite time of day, there is such a peaceful feeling about it!

Five Mossie Garland

This is my latest creation! I have made the Three Mossie Garlands and I thought why not try five! It was pretty difficult joining all the little bodies. My floss would get tangled in the legs and the arms, but finally they were all joined. Then came the task of making the little tops. I tried very hard to make them all different! Then I attach the heads, the hair and voila! They would be so cute hanging over a little girl's bed, or a mirror, or picture!

Making a dress for Peyton

I learned how to smock when my two daughters were little girls. Actually Natalie was in the 6th grade and she was probably too old to wear a smocked frock, but she was always more than happy to please her Mama! Sarah was only in the 4th grade, but she hated wearing dresses! So I had to wait patiently until I had granddaughters. Rianne, who is now 16, and Mackenzie who is now 14, had several of my smocked creations. Pinafores, bonnets, booties, I even made the boys smocked nighties. But as they all grew older there was no use for my obsession! Then along comes Peyton! I had actually forgotten about smocking until my daughter Sarah asked if I could make Peyton a sundress, duh! So I got out the old pleater and went to work!

Peyton and her Mama, my daughter Sarah.


Peyton strikes a pose!

macraMe

Just the other day I opened my mailbox and there is an envelope from Argentina! Hmmmm,what could it be! Wrapped in a pretty red box were two red, white, and blue owl necklaces, one for me and one for my daughter, Natalie, also known as missbeahaven/humblebea. They were from our friends, Paula and Mariana whom we have gotten to know and love on Etsy. They have so much talent! They have four different shops, macraMe, ciaffi, branda, and diasyflores. diasyflores makes awesome stained glass ,I have one of their dragonflies hanging in my window. Marianna and Paula are so thoughtful and kind, and I am blessed to have them as my dear friends!

Summer

This summer is flying by and though we have no plans for a vacation we are enjoying the days on the lake. On most days I get at least 5 or 6 out of 9 grandkids at my house. They come and cool off in the lake, clean out my Cookie jar, fill up on Pizza Rolls and drink gallons of pop! Their parents will probably send me the dentist bill. The kids are great, and I will be very sad when school starts up again. I love hearing them running around in the yard playing Hide 'n' Seek or tossing a ball around!

This is Noah, Sean, and Nathan. They are the oldest boys and the best of friends!

Poker and Muffie join in the fun with Reese, Tommy, Sean and Noah!

Little Peyton is the baby of our family at 2 years old! Isn't she precious!


And then there is Caden, he is one amazing 5 year old. It's a rare day you see this kid without his bug cage or a fishing pole!

Caden caught a fish!

Noah, Sean, Rianne (the oldest at 16) and Reese.