A Forever Friend

Have you ever had a lifelong forever friend and didn't appreciate it until you were grown? I have one of those friends.

I have lived in my neighborhood almost all my life. I had a friend, Betty Jo, all through my childhood. We played together and could talk to each other about anything and trust that it would go no further. As a teenager, I was really distraught with things that had happened and Betty Jo was always there to put me back together again. She listened to all my problems and tried her best to ease my pain.

Then we grew up, got married and went our separate way. We have seen each other because her Mom still lives in my neighborhood. But it's one of those things where the normal daily routines of life make you forget some things that you shouldn't forget.

It wasn't until my Mom died in 2003 that I realized how important Betty Jo's friendship was to me. A week after Mom died Betty Jo left a card in my mailbox that told me how sorry she was and had she known, she would have been there for me. And that's when I realized that she has always been there for me.

When my brother, Buster, died in October of last year, she came to visit and once again tried to comfort me. And I did tell her how much she meant to me and thanked her for being my friend. I think sometimes we take people for granted and don't remember to tell them how much they mean to us. We talked for a long time and it fealt good to be with a true friend.

A few months ago Betty Jo called and asked if she could come down. She had a gift for me. Well never in my wildest thoughts could I have imagined what she made me. She made me a beautiful stained glass window picture in remembrance of Buster. I didn't even know she worked with this but she does beautiful work. It's an angel looking down and when put in the light it glistens.

My family has tried to help me with my losses but somehow Betty Jo brought a sense of peace that no one has been able to. Maybe it's because she is my forever friend. I only hope that I have in return been as good a friend to her as she has been to me.

So if you have a forever friend that has been there to help you through troubled times, be sure and let them know because you never know when it will be to late to tell them.

I would like to share with you a picture of the awesome stained glass picture that she made me and I hope you all have a forever friend that can help you through your troubled times. Until next time...

Another Goodie

I thought I would show you a pic of the second item in my giveaway. Faith is a corncob doll on a pillow. She has corn silk hair. She's only 4' wide X 9'tall but I thik she is one of my favorite creations.

I'm still deciding if I will show anything else that I am including but this box is going to be filled with goodies both handmade and items to craft with. So if you haven't entered yet, you should sign up. Hope you love Faith as much as I do. Until next time...

OK Here it is

I am sorry it has taken me so long to post my giveaway today but everything has been chaos around here. I want to take this time to thank everyone for following me. I planned on having a giveaway for 100 followers but I didn't want to advertise it because I wanted the followers to follow me because they like my blog.

So girls this giveaway is going to have several items in it. I will have at least one wooden item and one cloth item and some items for crafting and some cloth swatches for Halloween and Christmas.

I am posting one item tonight and will be posting more items in the next couple of days. And a few items will be a surprise. HeeHee.

Now all you have to do to enter is leave a message on my blog. If you do not have a blog just email me at valerie999@comcast.net and I will be glad to enter your name. You can advertise on your blog if you want but it is not necessary.

The first item in my giveaway is my wood candle board with a yummy smelling candle. This one is painted black, then barn red and distressed to make it look worn. I love these candle boards.

Come back tommorrow to see what else I have posted. I hope this is a fun giveaway for everyone.

I will take names until Aug. 31 and the name will be posted on here on Sept 1st. Good luck...

WOW! It Snuck Up On Me

WOW! I have 100 followers!! This is a reasone to celebrate so now I am having a giveaway!! I will decide what I want to give away and post pictures tommorrow. Thanks everyone for following my blog!! Until tommorrow...

MMP

I belong to OFG in etsy. This is a group of women who work together to help each other promote their etsy shops. Each Monday we promote one shop of this group and today I am going to tell you a little about Laura from Cave Creek Studio.
Laura has been on Etsy since 2008. She has a long background of crafting due to her parents owning a fabric store as she grew up. She offers primitive and folk art dolls, witches, make-do's and ornies, as well as hand made bags and wristlets.
Laura has some awesome items in her shop that she designs herself. The first doll I noticed was Acorn . It amazed me that someone would think to use botanicals to accent a doll and that they would look this great. This doll definitely makes a statement all her own.

She has some great Halloween items as well. Just take a peek at some of these. Here I am showing Lily and her flopcat and Salem, a serious witchy cat.

For a closer look at more of Laura's items, just go to Cave Creek Studio and you won't be dissappointed. You can also find her http://www.cavecreekprimitives.com/ and http://www.cavecreekstudio.blogspot.com/ Until next time...

Look what I Made

I belong to a group in etsy called Old Farmhouse Gathering. And one of the women, Laura, from Cave Creek Studio was kind enough to share a pattern that she designed for our fall celebration.

I absolutely love this doll and her creation was AWESOME!! I am always amazed with the ideas other artists come up with for their dolls. I have never seen one like this before. When you get a chance, drop by her etsy shop and see some of the wonderful items she has created.

Well this my version of her doll pattern and I love it. See what you think. Until next time...

Look at these!

For today's feature artists I am starting with Teresa's Prim Treasures She designed this adorable doll for the fall treasure and isn't she just precious!Next is this pumpkin from Cat's Designs that displays the beauty of fall. I love this pumpkin with the sunflower in it. This would be adorable sitting on an old farm table or in an old farm cupboard.Last but not least is this heart felt sign from Primitive Hodge Podge She has blocks and signs for sale but this is my favorite. This sign portrays the most important thing in life. We should always, always be thankful for the blessings we receive!
To see all the items that these girls have made to help decorate for fall, just click on the ACOFG button on the side of my blog. But there are tons of items at ofg that were not included in the celebration. Just go into etsy and enter ofg in the search engine and you will not be dissappointed. Until next time...

OFG Rocks!

Here's three more artist's awesome items they have for sale on the OFG Autum Celebration.

First we have Natalies Notions with a georgeous fall colored scarf. This would be adorable with many fall outfits.

Next we have Ilene from Happy Valley Primitives with this awesome sunflower penny rug/table mat. I love sunflowers and she has done a marvelous job portraying their beauty.

Finally, I would like for you to see this adorable doll made by Susan from Keepsake Korner She is all dressed up for fall in her candy corn dress. And she is wearing a real buckeye necklace ! This doll is a real beauty!
I am so honored to be a member of this talented group on etsy. We have so many talented artists with such a huge variety of items available, that you should be able to find almost anything you want. To view all the items available just click on the OFG link on the right hand side of my blog. There is a special link for the OFG Fall Celebration there too. Until next time...

Monday's Feature

The first artist I am featuring today is Pioneer Loft She does great painting on items plus so much more. Wouldn't this little pumpkin garland be adorable hanging on a peg rack for Fall?
Here's another painter that shows how you can spruce up an old paint can. Jody from Primgal shows how you can decorate a paint can and at the same time help save our landfills from being filled up. This would be adorable inside or out to decorate for fall. My last feature today is Regina from The Country Crock I love the way she took a paper mache box and turned it into a pantry box with a personality all it's own. This would be awesome sitting on an old cabinet or put with other decorations to create a vignette.

There are so many talented ladies in OFG that you should go take a peek at all they have to offer. Just click on the button on the right side of my blog to take you there. Until next time...

Today's ACOFG Featured Artists

Today I would like to share three more artists from the Old Farmhouse Gathering's Autumn Celebration.

First I would like to share this adorable sifter that Martha from Apple Tree Cottage has painted and decorated for fall. This would be georgeous in any kitchen or anywhere else in the house.

Next what is fall without acorns. I love acorns and PrimGirl 62 has this set of acorns that would be adorable in an old bowl, used in a wreath or placed in a fall arrangement. The possibilities are endless for ways to display them this fall.

Finally just look at this stitchery that Valley Primitives offers. He is so excited that fall has arrived and he says what we at OFG want to wish all of you. Happy Fall Y'ALL.
These are just a few of the many items that you will find at the OFG Autumn Celebration. So if you haven't been there yet, mosey on over and take a peek. You won't be dissappointed. Until next time...

OFG Celebration's Treasures

I would like to share some of the items that can be found in our OFG Autumn Celebration.

Sue at Rabbit Hollow Prims has these adorable Pilgrams up for grabs. I love these.Next I have a doll from Laura from Cave Creek Studio that is just toooo cute. She has put a lot of detail in this doll.

Last but not least is this really neat set of fall tags from Deena at EwenMePrintables. Won't these make the most adorable pillows, collages or other altered art projects for fall?

These are just a few of the items available this year during our Autumn Celebration. To view more items, just click on the OFG Autumn Celebration link on the right side of my blog. Until next time...

It's A Party!

Sue from Rabbit Hollow Prims is having a show off your items this Saturday on her blog. If you have an etsy shop, you should go join in the fun. Just click on her blog name and it will take you there. Until next time...

A Great Giveaway

Wow! Head over to www.crowscreekprimitivesgatheringforum.blogspot.com and enter for their awesome giveaway. Until next time...

OFG Autumn Celebration

Wow! We launched our fall celebration yesterday on etsy and these ladies have made some fabulous items to decorate for fall. Head over and take a peek at some of these treasuries featuring the OFG Celebration.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c56c6328fca6d916d0bd6c9/fall-into-fall?index=4

OFG Autumn Celebration

WOW!! Head over to OFG Autumn Celebration to see all the fabulous items the ladies of this team have for sale for fall. Just click on the Autumn Celebration button to the right. You won't be dissappointed. Until next time...