Networking Link Party...Come Join the Fun

Tools Are For Women Too is sponsoring a "Times are Tough Thursday Link Party".  It's not too late to join the fun.  Come show off your handmade items and shop at some new sites that also feature handmade products.   Just click on the link and let the fun begin.  http://toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com/.

Here Comes Santa Claus

I managed to get four more Santas painted this week in between babysitting a couple of my grandchildren. 
These are some of the cypress knees I had pushed to the back last year because I didn't have time to get the creative juices flowing.
They have a lot of lumps and bumps that I call "personality".  I have to look at them from every angle to decide how to paint them.

Santa and His Christmas Tree

Back View

Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Back View Showing Doll in Toy Bag

Santa's List of Good Girls & Boys

Elf & Toy Bag

Santa, Snowball & Puppy

Santa Claus Is Coming ...To My House

The first of my 2010 Cypress Knee Santas have been added to my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/! 

Here's a sneak peek!

Santa even has some gifts for his feathered friends...
a bag of  bird seed and a new home!

Time out to build a snowman!

Can you see the tiny red circles on Santa's robe?  I was experimenting with a straw as my "paintbrush".

This is Santa and the Mrs. out for a stroll in co-ordinating outfits.

Santas from Recycled Table Legs

These table legs were slanted at what was the top, so I had to get a friend to cut them off flat to get them to stand freely.

Now the top...is the bottom!

I've also added them to my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/.

Finally!!! I Finished Some Santas

They've been a while in the making,  but finally I have finished my first batch of Santas for my 2010.  I've also listed them on my website, http://www.wood-n-stitches.com/.

Usually I work on 5 or 6 at the time, but for some unknown reason I started a group of 18 all at once.  I guess panic has set in since I'm so late starting my painting this year.  I'm not doing that again.  I need to see something finished soon to keep me fired up.

Even Snowmen Look Better Clothed

If you saw my last post,  you  too probably agree that even these snowmen look better with their "clothes" on!!! 

My "test market" (friends, sisters and grandchildren) , immediately spotted the new designs and started claiming them.  They are not shown in any of the photos because I have yet to make their caps.  One of my granddaughters wanted to take hers home with her even though it wasn't finished.

Even my grandson, who is 3 years old,  got excited when he saw all the snowmen ornaments.  Despite the 100 degree temps outside, he just knew it was time to go home and put up the Christmas tree and get ready for Santa to come!!!   Sorry, you'll have to wait a while longer, Baz.

Snowmen??? It's in the mid 90's!!!

Snowmen when the temperature is in the mid to upper 90's outside?.

I've still got to paint something in their hands and add their knit caps.

These little fellows may melt before I'm finished!

Click on the title of this post to go to my website to see the completed products shown in the Ornaments category.

It feels good to be getting back to my painting following surgery for a torn rotator cuff.

Since I can't lift anything heavier than 3 pounds, I thought I'd start with these

snowmen lightbulb ornaments.  I've got 50 of them going at once. 

Another 200 and I should have enough to get me through the Christmas season.

To good cooks, staples are sugar, flour, etc.

To a crafter such as me, staples are what sells the best at shows.

In my case, it's...lightbulb ornaments...snowmen, Santas and gingerbread men.

They usually cover the booth fee and everything esle is "icing on the cake".

Friends and family members save me their burned out bulbs all the time,

 but some are switching to those spiral energy saving bulbs.  

I have to come up with a new design for those. 

Any ideas, anyone???

One More "Bucket List" Item Crossed Off

Since I retired from teaching, I've started my "bucket list".  You know...things I want to do before I kick the bucket.  Last summer I finally climbed a rock wall !!!  That was something I always thought looked like a fun thing to tackle.  Sure wish they had had those when I was younger...much younger.  Anyway, I was the oldest one to make it to the top at our church's "friends day" last year.  Think I'll sit it out this year, however.  Once was enough to cure that itch.

Yesterday, I marked off another item from the list.  I sent off my ad to be run in Country Sampler.  It will be in the Oct./Nov edition, which is the Christmas issue.  That is something else I've been wanting to do for sometime .  Now that I've ventured down this path, I'd better get to work painting.  Hope I'm not too over optimistic!  How about it ladies?  Let me hear from some of you who have placed ads in Country Sampler.  Was it worth it to you?

North Louisiana Spring Bluegrass Festival

Hey all you bluegrass fans out there, I just thought I'd let you know about our local upcoming festival in Oak Grove, LA to be held March 25-27, 2010.  It will be held inside the Thomas Jason Lingo Community Center.   In the ariel view, you can see all the campers off to the right of the center and the motel in the lower left corner.  Both fill up quickly, but there are more campgrounds and motels within easy driving distance.

The event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on Wed., March 24th with a pre-festival Covered Dish Supper and music by Southern Flavor.

Here's the rest of the schedule.

Thursday, March 25th

6:30 p.m. Link Family

7:15 p.m. Southern Flavor

8:00 p.m. Break

8:15 p.m. Gary Waldrop Band                                      

Friday, March 26th
1:30 p.m. Gary Waldrop Band
2:15 p.m. Jason Boone Band
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Link Family
4:00 p.m. Audy Blaylock

6:30 p.m. Link Family
7:15 p.m. Audy Blaylock
8:00 p.m. Break
8:15 p.m. Gary Waldrop Band
9:00 Jason Boone Band

Saturday, March 27th
1:30 p.m. Audy Blaylock
2:15 p.m. Jason Boone Band
3: 00 p.m. Gary Waldrop Band
4:00 p.m. Gary Penny with Blue River

6:30 p.m. Jason Boone Band
7:15 p.m. Gary Penny with Blue River
8:00 p.m. Break
8:15 p.m. Audy Blaylock
9:00 p.m. Gary Waldrop Band

For more info, just click on the title of this post.  It will take you to the website of the show's sponsor, the  N.E.E.D. Foundation.  You may also call (318) 428-5282.

Southern Gospel Music Weekend

Just thought some of you gospel music fans might be interested in our community's upcoming event this weekend, March 4-6, to be held at the Thomas Jason Lingo Community Center in Oak Grove, Louisiana each evening at 6:30 p.m.

The following is a lineup of the featured groups:

Thurs.     Eleventh Hour, The Franklin Family, Mark Trammell Trio and the Whisnants

Fri.         The Joe Cook Family, The Proclaimers Quartet, The Crist Family and The Perrys

Sat.        Sanctuary Quartet, Priority, Palmetto State Quartet, and Dixie Melody Boys.

Tickets are $15 a day or $40 for a three day pass.  For more information call (318) 428-5282.

This is the same community center where we hold our annual Holiday Boutique Christmas craft show.  You can see pictures of the inside of the building in my previous post, It's Almost Time for the Fat Lady to Sing!!!

Just imagine up to 1,000 comfortable padded chairs filling the room instead of the craft booths .  With a state of the art sound system there is not a bad seat in the house.

Click on the link to also see information about the Bluegrass Festival to be held March 25-27.