I AM GLAD HALLOWEEN IS OVER ~ BRING ON THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS!!

I am glad Halloween is over.  I used to enjoy Halloween. It was a fun holiday where folks (adults and kids) would dress up in costumes and just have fun.  Now it seems to be soooo violent and gory.  I have to admit that I skipped a lot, no all of the challenges that I was beginning to have fun with because I just don't like the dark, bloody, gory violent themes.  I have gone back to visit some of the blogs that I really like only to find that 2 weeks after Halloween is over they are still decorated with the dark gory stuff. Some of these are some of my favorites that most of the year have really pretty romantic cottage chic decorations and themes. I am not into witches and goth punk looking pics and themes.  I was disappointed to find that they still have not moved on to Thanksgiving and Christmas themes.  If I want to see blood, gore and violence all I have to do is go to any news site.  There is plenty there for everyone.  I realize everyone has the freedom to decorate their blog anyway they want to, but if you wonder why I haven't be by lately it just might be the witches and gore.
I will now step down from my soap box and go back to making Christmas decorations and planning my Thanksgiving dinner for my darling hubby.

As far as I know these 2 pics are public domaine. I got them from a free vintage clip art site. Enjoy.
May you have a blessed week.
Mary

LYNN @ TEACUPSTITCHES IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY

Lynn at Teacupstitches is have a 'Just Because' giveaway of one of the beautiful decorated bottles.  The drawing is June 30,2011.  'Just Because' is because it is summer, vacations, sea shores, fun at the lake, all the good stuff of summer. Here is a link: http://lynn-teacupstitches.blogspot.com/2011/06/just-because-giveaway-for-you.html#comment-form  and here is a picture. 

Y'all hop on over and check out her site and the giveaway.  She is worth the time just look at all the beautiful pretties she makes.
Y'all have a Blessed day and happy crafting.
Also good luck in the giveaway.
Mary

SUCESS ~ OLIVIA IS FOUND

The lost is found.  I want to thank Mariette, Gloria, and Tammy. You all helped to find my missing blogger.  As soon as I hit her site I knew I was on the right one.  I also saved pics of the beautiful lace wreath she had on there.  I can't wait to show it to a friend that doesn't blog, or cruise the internet.  She is a cottage chic fanatic.  I will have to make some new pics of her house for all of you to see. She is an inspiration to me, especially since she lives in a double wide mobile home like I do.  They are hard to 'go cottage' than a regular house, especially when trying to hang pics and shelves. But I am getting side tracked here.  Thank you all so much for taking the time to find her and to leave a comment on my blog.  I put a link to her blog in a button on the right 'Olivia's Romantic Home'. Check her out, she has some great crafts and recipes on her blog.
Thank all of you again.  It never ceases to amaze me how friendly and helpful all of you are, and that you take time out of your busy lives to read (and comment) on my blog. I feel closer to you all than I do some of my family.
  May God shed His Blessings on each of you.
Mary
PS: Today the sun shines, you can walk around in shirt sleeves and NOT slip and slide on ICE.  Thank you Lord.

MORE SACHETS AND IS TIME FLYING OR WHAT??

I have been trying to get some work done this week.  I have made some progress. Here and there. Some shows and some does not.  I have found some things and lost some things. It seems to be a hopeless cycle.  I can have something IN MY HAND !! and NOT be able to find it 10 minutes later.  I have managed to get a few things finally posted to my THIRD ETSY shop. http://www.marysfabricnstuff.etsy.com/  I put some Christmas ornaments out here.  They are regular Christmas fabrics, my Mother and i made them when we were doing craft shows under Mary's Country Crafts.  Since we haven't done shows together since 1999, they almost are vintage now.  I will have some angel ornaments soon as I can get some angel hair ready and get my glue gun fired up. If I didn't have to do things like feed the hubby, wash clothes, run the dishwasher (I know ALL I have to do is load and unload it) all these LITTLE things do take time out of my day. I am getting old and while the energizer bunny is cottage pink, I ain't the bunny, not anymore.  Apparently I don't have the get up and go I used to have. It got up and went. Far away and didn't leave a forwarding address, a trail of breadcrumbs NOTHING!! So now all I can do "try to remember" (humhum remember the song). I remember when I would cut out 200 country aprons ( thats skirts, 4 ties, 2 pockets with matching lining, and a quilted bib for EACH APRON) all in ONE DAY.  And we quilted the bib, too ( was NOT purchased quilted fabric). I really used to be able to churn the sewing out, feed horses, exercise same horses, feed other animals, haul feed. etc,etc.
Wow makes me tired to think about it.  I still say that energy (like 3 yr olds have) is wasted on the young.  It is this old folk that needs it. All of it.  Any way here some pics of some of the Christmas ornaments and then some lavender sachets that I listed on my http://marysrosecottage.etsy.com/ .

You all have a nice weekend, and I am going to try to get some more things listed and REST.
God bless all of you.

Mary

FINALLY FIRST LAVENDER SACHETS FINISHED

Well, I finally finished a project today. I have spent 2 weeks trying to find fabrics, embellishments, stuffing, etc, etc, sewing machine, etc, etc.  My stuff is so disorganized til I could pull my hair out.  Part, no most of the problem is me - I am totally unorganized. Part of the problem is my husband helped me move stuff around after we got married.  He has NO clue about crafters, crafting, sewing etc., etc.  For my birthday Don gave me a huge sack of fresh lavender we ordered off EBAY.  It was just what I wanted, so I could go back to sewing and making pretties with lavender in them.  I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and one of these days will take pictures of my craft room and sewing room.  It has been a journey trying to get organized where it is easier to craft and not work so hard to start crafting.  I will keep you posted on the organizing part. 

 I am pleased with the results so far.  I am happy to back at the sewing machine again. Don worries I am working too much, housecleaning, moving boxes and furniture. He does not realize yet that sitting at the sewing machine is very relaxing to me.  Making the roses, ruffling lace and eyelet, stuffing the pillows - all of it is relaxation to me. For me the listing of the items is the hard work.  Trying to decide what to say, etc., etc.
These three are just the tip of the iceburg. I have atleast a dozen more layed out ready to match up the embellishments.  That's the fun part. I have tons of vintage images I have bought on cd and collected from lots of sources.  My mother got me started on that part. I found a little journal that she had pasted Christmas cards in. It was in the cedar chest. My mother has been gone 5 yrs and she was 87 when she died.  She put her age in the book as 9 years old when she made up her little scrapbook.  I will try to photograph it one of these days.  That book started me on my collection of Christmas cards and greeting cards, pictures etc.  I would not trade any of them for anything.    Oh yes, the sisters image on the pink sachet is from Gail Schmidt at Shabby Cottage Studios. Thank you for such a pretty picture.  Want to make sure she gets credit for such a pretty picture/           

Mother instilled an appreciation of fancy things. She loved frilly, lacey things with roses and flowers on it. I am just carrying one the tradition. Both of my grandmothers felt the same love for fancy things.
Well, our weather has really cooled off and I am enjoying every bit of it. I know summer  and hot weather will come again next year, but, I am going to enjoy this cool weather no matter what the heating bills are later on.  I guess this is all for today. I hope all of you have a nice end of the month. I don't really celebrate halloween any more, it has gotten too witchy and dark.  I love fall decorations, the leaves and fall colors. Not long and the holidays will be upon us. I look forward to that.  It is my favorite time of the year.
May God Bless each and every one of you.
Mary