I never met a Santa I didn't like ~

 

Well, that's not quite true, but lately I have been meeting too many I like!!!

Remember the hand carved Santa I bought a couple weeks ago?  I knew he needed something in his hands and friend Laura had the perfect suggestion.  Now I just need to find the real feather sprig I forgot I had (that was buried in the attic!!!) . . . that I now can't find . . . to replace the cheesy plastic one.  Santa has the sweetest face.

From the same dealer, I also purchased this guy.  I thought maybe he would be a gift, but I just may keep him 😄

So the same Laura and I went on a "play date" yesterday and she really is a bad influence.  If you have seen my Christmas decor in years past ~ or have seen the You Tube video of my house ~ you know I don't need another Christmas item.  Plus in sorting thru things in the attic, I found Christmas items that had not seen the light of day in 20+ years that I want to display this year.  I think I need a bigger house!!! 

Here's "stuff" that came home with me yesterday.  I guess the reason I am purging items not used is so I can buy more stuff that I don't need 😁😁😁.  The lower branches on the feather tree need a little TLC (they are loose and wobbly), but for the price I could not leave it behind.  

I have started my Christmas decorating early this year, something I normally don't do.  Turkeys and Santas are co-existing for another week.  Today I really need to get my act together and get the house in a half way decent shape.  My Las Vegas son will arrive Tuesday.  Not that he cares what the house looks like, but I would like for him to be able to walk through and not trip over boxes!

Nothing to update on my heart hook along rug.  Hopefully soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Hook-y Stuff ~

I finally made it to the new hooking group about an hour and a half from home.  Sue had the idea of starting a new group and another hooker got the ball rolling.

Four members of the group (in addition to me) are participating in the heart hook-along that Saundra started.  She will be updating you soon, I'm sure, but here is my progress so far.  I still haven't decided how I will finish the heart on the right.  I am getting close to a finish!!!

I took a little break to hook another Christmas tree, this one attached to an old cutting board.  A gift for a friend.

Before heading to hooking, I stopped at a so-called antique and collectible flea market.  I just cannot believe the junk people offer . . . but they must sell enough to make it worth their while.  I did find this little putz sheep at a great price, so I was a happy camper.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

What a Crock ~

 

I have shared some of my crocks before, but here they are again with my newest additions.

With the crock bought a couple weeks ago (second from the top) I now have a great variety leading to the first little landing.  All are two gallon except for the one at the very top which is a three.

The stairs leading to my second floor has a 90* turn and now I have 3 little Donaghho crocks.

Under a little table on the upstairs landing along with a sweet little chalkware kitty.

In the kitchen.

A variety in the living room.

Cracked crocks don't bother me.  Many of my crocks would have been unaffordable if they were not damaged.

One of my favorites.

And finally in the dining room.  I refer to this grouping as my cracked crock collection.  It took me many years to find what I considered an affordable bird crock.  This one had been completely broken in half (luckily not thru the front).  Whoever glued it back together did an excellent job.

That's it for the trip down crock lane.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

God Bless our Military ~

 Past and present.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.  It became a legal federal holiday in 1938, honoring WW I veterans and celebrating peace.  After World War II and the Korean War, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all U.S. Military veterans past and present.

Freedom isn't free.  May God bless our military.  
May God bless America.

Lauren

The Fat Lady Sang ~

 

The show is but a memory ~ a very fond memory!!!  I still am doing a happy dance.  I cannot believe how well I did and how much I sold.  It exceeded my wildest expectations.  Of course I brought lots home with me, but much less than I took.  I even sold a few hooked pieces!!!

My booth ended up being about five feet wider than I was told, so the morning of the show I added a table.  MUCH better.

Thankfully my sil came to the show and stayed to help me pack up.  I just threw items in boxes and now need to sort thru it and semi organize.  She also had to take a few boxes home that would not fit in my little SUV so that will need to be dealt with, too.

There were a few things I considered buying, but "she who hesitates is lost" and were gone when I went back to look for them.

I did get this wonderful hand carved Santa (for only $12!!!).  I couldn't believe the dealer wasn't asking more.  He is beautifully carved.

My other big purchase ($20) 😁 was this youth chair.  There seems to be little demand for these pieces and I occasionally see them very reasonably priced in antique shops.  I am sure this one is not a true antique but definitely vintage.

I absolutely love the wear on the footrest.

Now I need to figure out what to do with the chair that was sitting in this space, but isn't this just perfect?

I purchased the redwork sampler years ago because it has my initials on it.  Melinda of Merry Wind Farm has reproduced it.  You can find it in her Etsy shop for only $1.00.  She was going to list it at no charge but Etsy would not allow her to do that.

So I rarely go to Marketplace and have only ever purchased a few items.  For whatever reason (karma?) a crock popped up today that was being sold in my hometown for what I considered a good deal.  Upon contacting the seller found out it was still for sale and he would deal.  To top it off he lived less than a mile from me.  I am now the proud owner of another Donaghho crock.  (My gift to me for all the hard work and stress getting ready for the show!!!)

Time to sort through another box of show stuff.  

Thanks for all your good wishes that I would have a great show.  I really love you guys.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

My Booth ~

 

My booth space ended up being larger than anticipated, so I have this huge "dead" space in the middle.  I did set some things aside and am taking an additional table tomorrow that I will put in the booth.

Some closer ups . . . 

Those white pegboards belong to the vendor behind me.
I should have asked him if I could use them for display!

I am hoping I will sell, sell, sell, but realistically I know I will have plenty to pack up and bring home.  Two vehicle loads are in my booth and my sister-in-law will come to the show and take what won't fit in my Rogue.  The show is very primitive and my items for the most part are not, so hoping there are buyers who are looking for other things.  I took a number of hooked pieces, priced lower than the "going rate", and will be surprised if any of them sell.  One just never knows what buyers are looking for . . . sigh.

Wish me luck!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Almost Ready ~

 

I am almost ready for vending at the Gathered Treasures show in Mansfield, OH, on Saturday..  Just need to pack the Rogue and head out tomorrow to set up, about an hour and a half from home.  One load had already been left at Sue's who lives nearby.

I will be so happy to finally have this mess out of the living room area.

I have absolutely no idea what may or may not sell.  I am taking a few of my hooked pieces, priced lower than the "going rate", and will be very surprised if any of them sell.

At the last minute I decided to make some wall pouches from antique coverlet pieces.  A few of them I dyed to tone down the colors a bit.  I also wanted to make a few Christmas stockings, but just ran out of time 😧

I hope everyone (at least in my neck of the woods) is enjoying the beautiful weather.  I am trying to talk myself in to going out and mowing one more time.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Getting Stuff Done ~

Jacks are all back in the attic and the turkeys have come down to roost for a few weeks.

My primitive hooked tree is done and I absolutely love how it turned out.  The tree is 21" tall and the skinning board is 28 1/2" tall and 8 1/2" at the widest point.

A close up showing more of the true grungy colors.  I used 6-8 greens of all shades.

Brenda . . . so sorry our paths didn't cross.  I hope you can make it to Gathered Treasures on Saturday.  Please send me your email address so I can respond directly to you.

This just made me smile.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

I really Don't Like ~

I hate, despise, really dislike the time change!  Is our government finally going to abolish it?  I haven't read anything about it in ages.  The early darkness is just depressing.  The only thing I wish is that we could gain an hour of sleep every week 😁 (but not need to change the clocks!).

Halloween is being boxed and hauled back to the attic.  (Have I ever mentioned that an attic is both a blessing and a curse?)  Turkeys will be brought down, but thankfully I don't have nearly as many turkeys as I do Jack-o-Lanterns.  

I am living in more chaos than usual.  Halloween totes everywhere.  A pile in the living room that will be taken to the show next weekend.  Still a few items to price and of course trying to make a few things.  One just never knows what will sell.  I found a great old skinning board that I thought would be perfect for a primitive tree.  I like the added piece at the bottom, but I think that is actually the backside.

Hooking is done.

(Sorry, Saundra . . . no time to hook on the hook-along rug.)

I am looking for an antique cupboard of sorts to turn in to a bathroom vanity.  I only have a 36" space to work with which makes it difficult.  I went to a Christmas open house at one of the best antique malls in northern Ohio.  No luck there, but did find this slightly wonky 2 gallon crock for my stairs . . . 

. . .  and these hearts that came from an antique welcome mat.   

On Saturday I headed to one of the primitive antique shows featuring premier dealers.  (There was another one about another half hours' drive that I decided to skip.)  My house is antique filled but I do not consider it primitive.  You know the "grungy" primitive that is so popular now and crazy expensive.  No luck finding my "vanity" there either, but I did get a couple coverlet pieces and a tiny glass Santa ornament.  

This afternoon we went and saw the Tamburitzens, the longest-running multicultural song and dance company in the United States.  Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, the company's members are full time students who receive scholarships for their activities.  Read more about them here. 

So many wonderful ethnic costumes.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren