Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

This year we find ourselves in Washoe Valley for Thanksgiving with Timm's brother and his family.  This is the first time I can ever remember traveling to spend this holiday with family.  Most of Timm's family and almost all of my family are located in Las Vegas.  Just a few of the immediate family are living elsewhere.   So it is a treat to spend time with John and his gang for Turkey Day.  My family is spread out this holiday.  Mom, Dad and my brother are in Chino Valley at my cousin's harvest celebration along with her sister and family.  Both my sisters are home in Vegas but with other sides of their families.  I'm thinking next year we'll have Thanksgiving at my house for eveyone that would like to attend.

We all have so much to be thankful for each and every day but it is this day that really brings it all into focus for us all.  In today's world, we all lead such busy lives that it is difficult to spend time with loved ones that live in our own town, let alone across the state and beyond.  It's nice to slow down (if that's what you call the holiday season) and spend time with family and friends, enjoy a meal together, share in some much needed bonding moments, and more.

I am so thankful for my health, even though I don't take care of myself the way I should.  I appreciate the doctors that follow up and ask what I can do better without beating me up over it.  Timm hasn't gotten bronchitus in the last year or two, for that I am most thankful.  The kids were both lost their jobs this year, Scott has found a new job (although it is considered temporary), Chris is still looking for work.  I am thankful they have been able to make ends meet with a little side work now and then along with unemployment.  I am thankful we have been able to help out when needed and still manage a couple of weekend camping trips this year.  Although Timm has been with Martin Harris 32 years, he still is concerned about his job.  We are thankful he has been busy enough to not lose any hours.  Lifestyles for everyone have changed...and maybe that is what we all needed to some degree.  I know we all take much less for granted these days. 

I wish each of my friends, family, and you a Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you spend it with family and friends blessed with a bountiful meal and a good heaping portion of kindness and love.  Share you blessings with others, give of yourself, your time, and your bounty.  So many need a little extra help this season and the littlest things can mean so much.   Lord, bless us all, keep us in your care.

 

 

Show and Tell Friday

For the last several years I've been asked to come in and draw on the whiteboards for the Thanksgiving potluck at my hubby's office.  While it all turns out nice, there is only so much you can do before you inhale too many fumes...lol  Timm fries up the turkeys each year...there are 7 in the fridge right now,  so I'm there to lend a hand anyway. 

This year I got a wild hair and decided to do something more...so off to the store to get some paper.  I drew up some pieces, redrew them on large paper, painted some details on each piece, cut them out, taped them together and wa-la...6 hours later...4 holiday pieces to tape to the whiteboards for the potluck. I'll be filling in with some extra leaves, drawing with the markers, etc. 

I love the pilgrims...they look so happy.  Before you say it...I know the lady has a little 'dutch' thing going on with her hat...but I like it.

Of course, you gotta have a turkey at Thanksgiving and this guy is thankful he'll be on the wall instead of the table.  Again, he's pretty big...not going to fit in the turkey fryer anyway.

And last but not least...I thought a cornicopia would make a great addition to the mix.  This piece ended up about 5ft wide and has a billion pieces to it.  Every leaf, grape, husk is a seperate piece, and all have been painted with some shadows like all the other pieces along with some linework for detailing.  Lots of tape holding all these pieces together, I tried not to place any on the fronts but a few were needed. 

Chris (my son) gave an insightful statement..."Mom, why didn't you just paint them on wood so you could take them to one of your craft shows and sell them?"  Okay, that is a fabulous idea...but at the time I didn't think of it.  Besides, it was a last minute idea to make them anyway.  Although, he's right...it's a great idea and my patterns are right here in front of me.  I plan to use them for our Thanksgiving as well.

My next craft show

Hey everyone, if you haven't been to http://behindthepicketfencecraftboutique.blogspot.com/ you are really missing out.  This show is full of great crafters with great product....including me. (I don't mean to brag or anything...there are just lots of ladies that have a genuine passion for creating with their own two hands.)

Take some time out of your day to really enjoy yourself and lots of great gift and holiday shopping...you won't regret it.   I'll see you there!

I'll have some of my metal apple buckets, ornies, stocking stuffers, cupboard doors and more.

Show and Tell Friday

Another week has flown by around here.  Where does the time go?  Craft show season is in full swing and I'm just over half done with my scheduled shows.  I'll be at Reedom ES craft show this Saturday...see previous post for all the information.

I completed a batch of snowmen ornies, sewed up the hats for my Santa ornies, and made 2 baby blankets for an order.  The snowmen were

quick and easy...but then again they've been setting on my table for a month or so now....only had to add the face and scraves.

I have to admit the blankets turned out pretty cool...with texutres including flannel, minky, cotton, cordaruy, and some super cool furry fabric on each of them.

Brochures for goodie baskets are going out at this point and a few orders are starting to trickle in.  The mixer has taken up permanent residence on the island, cello bags have been purchased and I've been stocking up on basics for baking.  Very soon pumpkin rolls, cookies, and candies will be running amuck as they await their turn for baskets full of homemade goodness.  I'm thankful for a second freezer...I must say.

Oh yeah...last Saturday we went to the PBR!  What a great time that was.  I love cowboys.  Looking forward to NFR!

Reedom School Craft Fair

Saturday, November 14 I'll be selling at the following event.  Please come out and support all the crafters!


Reedom Elementary School Craft Fair and Cook-Off
Saturday, November 14th 10am-2pm. 

10025 Rumrill Street, Las Vegas, NV 89178

Free Admission

Join us at Reedom Elementary School in Mountain’s Edge
for our 2nd Annual Craft Fair & Cook-Off.


Jewelry, Candles, Skincare Products, Wood Crafts,
Pottery, Adult & Kids’ Clothing, Accessories,
Home Decor, Gift Items, Scrapbooking Supplies,
Card-Making Supplies, Handmade Dolls, Holiday
Crafts, Baked Goods and More

Christmas Tree Displays

I've not posted tips for craft shows in a while so here is a short one since craft show season is in full swing.  I know many of us make ornaments, they are a staple of many booths and for good reason...they sell well.  Displaying them can often be difficult though.  A tree gets the most attention but can take up too much space in a booth.  Consider a smaller, narrow tree that can sit on a table or display kinda up at eyesight.  You can use the tree to highlight you ornaments by placing one or two of each kind on the tree and fill small baskets with your ornament stock under the tree. You could also hang extras on hooks next to the tree.  If you have electricity, lights on your tree will always attract customers but that is not always available.

I just recently purchased a vintage looking tinsel tree to display my ornies.  It's not something I was looking for but it just really spoke to me that day.  What I do like about is that the branches are very few and they are really stiff.  Ornaments will be easily seen on the tree, the branches won't sag and it catches the light since it's 'tinsel'.  They had them in several colors but I went with the pale green one.  I think the silver one would have been great also.  For me...not the red tinsel...but it was I catching, the teal blue one was kinda cool too.

Alpine trees are great for displays as well.  They are narrow and spindily and some have the trunk showing, giving room for lots of ornaments to really stand out.  You can get them from 2 foot to 7 foot + yet they only take a small amount of floor space.  They also look great when several of them are grouped together.  Now, like many trees...you can get them pre-lit.

I have always loved the Charlie Brown tree.  How great would this look in a booth display...awesome!  It would also be a great topic of conversation because the memories it would bring back for many customers.  Add a few ornaments, a little blanket and....'ta-da'!

Also consider putting other items in/on your trees.  Dolls, Snowmen and Santas look great tucked into the branches of a tree.  I've also displayed signs and other painted items on my trees as well.  Hey, jewelry would look great on one of the tinsel trees...just saying.

Don't have lots of room?  Attach your tree to the wall.  Push all the branches to the front and ziptie or bungy your tree to the wall display you use.  Don't have walls?  Just do the same thing but with attaching it.

I've spray painted a tree black and used it for Halloween ornies and decorations as well.  A dead tree branch in a bucket is great for this as well. Just put some plaster paris or quick drying cement in a bucket to stablize the branch and weight it down. Spray paint it in your color choice for a cool, eye-catching display. 

Always try to bring your displays off the ground.  Even if using a tall tree, consider setting it on a crate or box.  Customers don't want to bend over to the floor and they oftem miss seeing items that are on the floor.  Remenber, most customers only really see things that are 2ft to 6ft off the floor.

Show and Tell Friday

Wow, this week went by fast.  I've not painted, sewn or glued anything...but I have been in the kitchen baking up a storm.  Cookies galore have been baked...it was National Cookie Day this week...Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cranberry to be exact.  I've also baked up 8 batches of Lemon Bread.  Yummo!   Our yellow lab also thought they were yummy since she stole 2 of them off the counter and devoured them on the living room carpet. 

Free Ornaments

That's right, a free handmade ornament with every purchase this holiday season.  I have lots of one's or two's left from other events and they are now your gift with every order placed on my Etsy site or my website.  Ornaments are totally random so it's just like Christmas when you open the box.  Happy shopping!

http://www.twiddlebugz.etsy.com/
http://www.twiddlebugzdesignz.com/

Las Vegas Mesquite Club Stencils Turkey

I was asked to present a project for the ladies at the Las Vegas Mesquite Club.  A stenciled turkey was decided upon, kits were assembled and packed up for a fun-filled evening of crafting.  None of these gals had ever stenciled before and what a great job they all did.  I'm so proud of them.  Twenty-three ladies completed their turkeys with giggles and squeals of joy...and one terrific gobble call as well.  Everyone had a wonderful time.  I look forward to teaching these gals again.