Working hard on second book

I'm done with the first draft of the second chapter book. I love it. I would like to have several done before I do anything with them. My sister suggested ebooks and I have been reading up on it and I think I agree with her.

I have a new blog with the first chapter of each book - click on the right under the construction zone for the link.

Pizza with the Family

We had so much fun at the Bavarian Inn arcade. We had pizza and all the kids played the games.

It was a nice time to visit.

Altered Book

I was looking at the pictures of the altered book I made my friend, Amy. I don't think I ever posted any of them. I really would like to do another one. It does take over the computer room - so I would have to really, really want to do another one.

There is so much drying time when making one that you have to leave it open on the page you are working on for a bit.

Amy and I both love hummingbirds - I searched for just the right book to use for months before I found this one. I wanted to make memories about her Mom who had passed away. Her husband, Bill, helped me by providing many pictures that I scanned in and printed out - I didn't want to use her originals. We also found some of Amy's hair her mother had saved.

This was so beautiful when it was done - I still love it.

Here is the outside of the book:

This is the section that I used the locket and hair:

I used old wallpaper books for many of the backgrounds. One picture was her Mom outside with Amy on the grass next to her, another one her Mom sitting in a chair outside, and one with her friends. I put the backgrounds of the beach and a lighthouse and a library in France and a gazebo.

Vintage Birdcage

When visiting friends over the holidays, I couldn't resist taking this picture - I love the birdcage - and this one looks as if it holds a Christmas Tree!

Merry Christmas!

We spent the day going to visit friends. It was a very nice morning. Then stopped at Harvey's for lunch. Tonight we are going to church at 5:00 to be with Bill and Amy and at 9:00 to be with Jim and Jan. Pat also is singing at 9:00.

I hope you enjoy the pictures we took at church the other night. Merry Christmas to all!

Inspired

We finished the decorating last night at SS Peter and Paul Church. It was a fun night. The evening started with the traditional hot dog dinner. Then everyone just gets to work.

The colors are gold and white and the tree turned out so pretty. I won't post the pictures until Christmas. But I will tell you that I used the picture I found on Pinterest as inspiration and it really turned out sweet!

If Mary and Joseph Used Facebook

ISO Setting

Since the Pinterest pin about taking pictures in the dark with the lights on the Christmas Tree I decided to just play around with the ISO settings this morning. I had to adjust the color after I took them - so I have a long way to go. But this is fun.

Pinterest

My new fun pastime is so much fun I had to turn off my Galaxy Tablet for the first time because I have three more days left for this billing cycle and I have used 2.95 of 3.00 GB for the month!!!!

It is called Pinterest - a site where people "Pin" and "Repin" things they want to try or pictures they like on to "Boards" So I have Great Photos, Food with multiple categories, 1st Serving, Crafts, Holidays, and whenever I see something I would like to try or a site I want to revisit - I put it into a Pin on a Board.

It is addicting - and works great on the PC - but there are drawbacks when using the Galaxy. It took me a bit to figure out there are some glitches. When saving to a board not all of my boards show up only the top 7 or so and it won't scroll down - so - I made my first board be an I Need to Move Board. I put anything in there that I can't get to the board it needs to be in - so when I go into my own space I can edit each one to the board it needs to be in - for some reason when I am in my own Pinterest Home where my boards are the correct way to choose a board kicks in.

I also cannot pin - only repin - that is a major glitch - but one I am sure they will fix - it is just a minor problem because I can go on my PC - which all of a sudden I am doing a lot more because of Pinterest! There are so many good things to repin I am happy with using my Galaxy 75% of the time with Pinterest.

I love my Pinterest - thank you Heather for getting me addicted to something that is so much fun.

Christmas Has Finally Arrived at the Cliffords

My favorite heirloom from my Mom. I probably already blogged this but - here goes again. My Mom had an ongoing tradition that started before she moved out of her Jefferson Street home (which by the way looks awful). She made a list of her most treasured possessions and asked us to put down in numerical order what we wanted to inherit from her. It was often heard, "When you die....." Sounds morbid I know but my kids do it now, too! We have fun with it.

This is the Nativity Set that I put as NUMBER 1 on my list of things I wanted from my Mom's house. I asked her, "Mom, if something is not on the list can I still put it as Number 1?" My brothers and sisters were not happy that I wanted something that was not on the list!!!! What was it??? Did they want it??? Because it was something that only came out of the attic at Christmas time it never made it onto the list - but - I used to stand in front of the Nativity scene on Hoyt Street just looking at the beautiful statues. I think her Uncle Mario made the stable and her Uncle Ray painted it. I just called my cousin, Mary Lynn and she is going to double check the Uncle Mario part!

Anyway - when Mom moved to the condo she gave me the nativity set - I still love it to pieces.

Beef and Polenta Crockpot Dinner

I was inspired by a pinterest recipe. Use leftover pulled roast beef and slice a tube of prepared polenta.

In a crockpot layer:

Fire roasted tomatoes (I used Hunts)
Polenta slices
Leftover shredded roast beef
Black beans (rinsed and drained)
Sprinkle with Taco Seasoning
Slices of Colby Jack Cheese

Put a second layer on top. Cook on high 4 hours. Turn off and let sit for 15 minutes.

It was delicious and so easy. The polenta was so creamy. The original recipe was called a tamale casserole. This really did not taste like a tamale but it was so good.

The Best Day Ever

The Jacklin and Martinez families came for dinner. Then we made Aunt Betty's Sugar Cookies. We frosted them and put sprinkles on them. Javier said, This was the best day ever!" Nana said, "I think so, too!"

Click to read the Webber House article

Saginaw Images - Essay - Webber House

My First Chapter Book

I've been playing around writing a story. I've been using lots of good lines from my life. It sure has been fun. I'm using several different decades of memories to make Saginaw come alive. So in my world Berties Bakery, the Webber house, cell phones and texting all are in the present. It's fun.

Stop by for my last show

Don't forget my last show for 2011 - Today from 10-4 at Andersen Enrichment Center on Ezra Rust in Saginaw. There is a holly sale and a great lunch. See you there!

All Set to Go

We just finished setting up at Andersen Enrichment Center for the Hollydays Fair from 10-4 Wednesday (tomorrow). It was fun watching the vendors set up. Many people walked over to say they read the article in the Saginaw News on Sunday. Can't wait for tomorrow.

A Great Show

Clarkston was another great show. We sold like there was no tomorrow - then today was quite slow. But there was a rally at the end to make today a good day, too. Joanna was sweet enough to go to Grandy Farm to pick up our inventory after that show closed at 5:00 again this year.

In Clarkston we were next to Linda and Ron Harris who sell sculptures of fish bones. They are great. (The sculptures and Ron and Linda!)

We had so much fun. It seemed that every plate Ron touched sold in the next hour. Every time it happened we laughed. So he came into the booth and touched lots of plates. Then a couple women walked up and bought 12 sets!

Pat was looking at their sculptures and walked over to their booth and saw the Parrothead and he had to have it. He thought it was just too cool.

They talked us into checking out the Glenn Arbor show in July so we look forward to seeing them again. A link to their website is below.

Spirit Fish artwork created by Ronald Harris

Sue White - Saginaw News

Last week Sue White called to ask about my hostess gifts. She heard from Marsha Braun at the Andersen Enrichment Center that I would be at the Hollyday Art Fair this Wednesday.

After a short phonecall where she talked to me like she was a dear friend she wrote an article for today's Saginaw News that perfectly describes how much I love making and selling my hostess sets. Click below to read the article.

MLive.com: Bay City : Old becomes new again at Saginaw's Hollyday Art Fair

Last Shows for the Year

Sunday - Grandy Farm 9-5
Sunday - Clarkston High School 11-4
Wednesday - Andersen Enrichment Center 10-4

This has been a very good year. Thank you to all my new and repeat customers. It is so much fun watching people choose the hostess gifts. I love working the craft shows. 

Bluebirds

We saw five beautiful bluebirds at the entrance of Chippewa Nature Center. It surprised us because it has been years since we saw one.

Grandy Farm

We set up this morning at the Grandy Farm. It is the 25th year for the holiday open house. Everything looks so festive. Deb is pondering this being the last year! I would really miss this show. It is Friday-Sunday and I will be working all day Friday. Stop on by and tell Deb to have another show next year!