2nd Jackpot in 2 Days Won by Starving Florida Artista!

From Sue at Sue's Stampin Daly

I'm never the lucky type, I remember my very first win of anything from a drawing.  It was 1974, I was at an Orlando trade show where cruises, gift certificates, nights-out-on-the- town, jewelry, booze....tons of exciting prizes with hourly name drawings! And "YES" I received the phone call after I got home that day that my name had been drawn from thousands of attendees!!  Was I sitting down....."yes, yes...tell me, tell me!".  A case of 10W-30 Quaker State motor oil!!!   My car took 10W-40.  I had to drive 30 miles to pick it up. 

But, things have gotten much much better!  My luck of the draw last week was so exciting, I found the Create it-Green blog on Facebook and was so fortunate to win twice from different bloggers who sponsored the blog hop!!  The stamps above are so cool, and those who know me know they will be well loved and used in my studio!!  Sue, thank you so much for the stamps and your generous participation........not one set, but two sets!! 

When I create with your and Jan's prizes, I'll share!!

Lookie Lookie Lookie what I won!

From Jan Henning at Papercraft Pleasures

Several days ago, on Facebook, I discovered createitgreen a blog dedicated to upcycling and repurposing.....that just happens to be my latest obsession.  The design team members of  createitgreen were hosting a blog hop with giveaways.  I truly am reserved at entering giveaways, trying to remember the spirit of the donation.  I gave myself permission on this one 'cause I love both Jan's blog, the createitgreen blog and am following several of the members of createitgreen with more to investigate and add to my favs list.

Thank you Jan, I love my K&Co package of paper embellishments....and they won't wait for next year.  Christmas creating here goes right up to 12 AM on Dec. 26th!!  THEN we start for next year!

Scenes from Thanksgiving 2009 breakfast

As the family grows so do the places everyone needs to be. So some past traditions get expanded; but once in awhile there are some MIAs because of the need to be elsewhere.  So we added a new mix this year, (son) Kyle and (daughter-in-law) Natalie had breakfast at their home before everyone spread out for other destinations (interpret big dinner) later in the day.  Everyone brought a dish.....I brought my sis' hashbrown casserole, Rose Mary brought baked french toast, Dana brought cinnamon monkey bread, Emilie brought huge breakfast muffins and a sausage casserole, Nat made baked eggs with artichokes and spinach. Then we topped it off with juices, coffee, tea

and mimosas!  As I edited photos I realized I entirely missed photographing the wonderful food!  Probably because it didn't last too long!!  It was fabulous!  Don't get me wrong, I find no fault in places from Olive Garden to Ruths Chris' but by yumpin yims I adore potlucks.......the best recipes and home cookin' shine at a potluck, and Olive and Ruth can't hold a candle!

The kids always seem to entertain themselves just fine while the Moms are working on the meal.  The holiday Parades were on TV and some kids watched the floats with glee, other kids found joy without joysticks but with things that I never thought imaginable when I was a little tike.  I really was dying to try whatever that was, but couldn't get the real kids to part with it long enough!

We also entertained cheerleaders at breakfast, magnificent dancers who just abhor being the center of attention, very shy, but I did manage to draw her out a bit for one photo op. 

Now I am talking about the child on the left, not the right.  The kids on the right were begging to be the center of attention, in fact had to spend most of breakfast banned to the back room.  But once the food was gone we showered them with hugs and love.  Biggie was even willing to share his bone, Buster just wanted a place to lie down where he could see everyone. Bless Buster, he's right up there with me with aches and pains and tough to just move on some days!

Now, this guy....I put him to work when we got back home.  I actually thought I was going to get out of the entire Thanksgiving turkey, dressing, potato, cranberry scene, but he had such a long face when I discussed the possiblity of actually skipping the work since there was just the two of us later in the afternoon.  So.. you got it, I spent hours cooking but he did offer to help with dessert, this year we just stuck to simple apple pie instead of sweet potato and pecan.  I can always count on him to help!

The newest Melange Team vid

Have Someone who Loves Vintage on your List?

There's something for everyone who loves vintage at QueenBes Altered Needs.  Carol and her family live in Michigan, but across the miles between Michigan and Florida, we have become great pals with many common denominators.  Carol has been one of the most helpful artists I've met through Etsy, the site to purchase and sell handmade.  She's offered tips and techniques to her vintage and mixed media friends and followers.  Check out this tutorial from her blog How to Make Grunge Tags .  I always wondered how she scented her beautiful tags.....when you open your package of delights from Carol, this wonderful aroma of baked Christmas treats will make you smile immediately if some of her tags are among your purchase.

And how about these Victorian cones?  I love the look with tinsel and actual vintage sheet music!  The jewelry added is vintage too!  Perfect for a vintage style Christmas tree or wouldn't the look marvelous hanging from a door handle!

How about this ornament?  Adorable!

And this paperweight!  I don't want to give away all her techniques but since Carol mentions it in her etsy shop, and I'm a Tim Holtz alcohol ink nutty fan, take that as a hint!  This would be great for the guy on your list.  Men are so darn hard to buy for.

Carol has a great selection of themes with her altered bottles, this is one of my favorites but she has Christmas themes too.

And if you are a mixed media artisan and craftsperson, Carol also tempts us with vintage supplies she picks up when on the hunt at antique shops, flea markets and estate sales.  I can think of a few ways to use these vials.

One of my favorite things about buying from artisans on Etsy is that you connect with real people with real stories and families.  So much of what you can find is unique, one of a kind. Buying handmade is just the best way to support local artists and creators right in your backyard.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Copied From a Land Surveyor's Forum - POB)

Posted By Carl B. Correll on 11/23/2004 at 3:42 PM

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING, BUT I JUST COULD'NT SLEEP

I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS, I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED - THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE

BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL MY MIGHT

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION

THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR

AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

I GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,

PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND ROUND

'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY

WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES...

HAPPY EATING TO ALL, PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.

MAY YOUR POTATOES'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS, MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF YOUR THIGHS.

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!!

Carl

Carl B. Correll, LS

Correll Land Surveying

International Shipping

After mucho hours researching and re-aligning yesterday my shop Whyte is offering international shipping on almost all my treasures.  I actually have a wonderful Danish doll-maker and cyber friend, Dorthe to thank for lighting the fire to take the plunge in my own shop.  She patiently waited while I figured out the process to ship her some of my treasures several weeks ago.  I only goofed up the listing 1000 times before I got it right, but in the end it was an easy process and the items arrived in Denmark just fine in about a week.

It's incredibly surprising but almost all international shipping is the same cost USPS first class international rate.  There are separate rates for Canada and Mexico.  And there are 3rd party insurers out there who will insure international first class, which USPS does not, at this time.  Getting into Priority or Express does get very pricey, so stuck with the least expensive way to ship.  However, if I was shipping valuable and/or expensive items, one would surely want to consider those options.

And thanks to angellea on flickr for the use of her vintage image from her photostream!