"Santa's Coming to Town"

Are you ready for the jolly old man to visit you yet? I'm not. Actually it's kinda hard to get into Christmas when there's no little ones around your home anymore.I hate the way it's so commercialized anymore.

I've moved on from designing for Christmas to thinking of Valentine's Day and Spring. However, I do have several new Winter offerings on Ebay currently that I know you'll love. First is Daddy and Patty, a Winter Snow design of daddy pulling Patty on her sled through the winter storm. Here's a peek of them.

Aren't they an adorable couple? Too darn cute.

Then there's a primitive Winter Snow Queen with a hand hooked snowman magic wand.

Isn't she adorable? She's primmed but whimsical all in one! Don't miss out on her.

Then lastly on Ebay I have my newest design just off the line called "1802 Winter". A winter scene of a snow momma holding little Junior and pulling her antique wood sled with a tree through the winter snowstorm.

This is my absolute favorite design. All at great low starting bids! Check them all out HERE

Then I have to tell you about my newest designs just listed on Etsy HERE that you are going to love!

There are new angels called "Bedpost Angels"; Herman the rabbit; Valentines day items, great miniature perfectly aged and primmed bears wearing vintage quilt style dresses and more!

Watch for more stuff to be listed tomorrow, December 15th.

Also I have a Valentine's Day Doll offering on PFATT Marketplace this month as well HERE called Valentina. She can also be put on layaway>email me for info.

I really wish it would snow. They were calling for snow the other day but it didn't happen. We rarely get it here in the high desert region of California, but when we do, it's awesome. I know alot of you are sick and tired of snow already..just blow it out here, we'd love to have some. There's just something calming about being outside during a snowstorm. I recall as a child going outside at night to play in the snow and looking up at the sky and the snow falling gently down, all was calm just like the silent night song. I used to stick my tongue out and let the snowflakes fall on it and eat um hehe but I do recall there wasn't a sound and how peaceful it was. That has stuck with me all these years.

I grew up in Pennsylvania where we used to get lots of snowstorms and snow drifts way high. I took that for granted when I moved away in 1972 and now would love to visit in Winter again. Maybe someday.

Well gotta run and head back to work. Thanks for stopping to read

Christmas is Coming!

Yep! It's right around the corner and will be here before we know it. I will only be listing items on ebay till probably the week of the 12th, that's Christmas items. There might be some Valentine and more snowy items tho, so stay tuned.

Wanted to share with you all my latest ebay listings that have LOW starting bids. First is Santa Claus with is decorated tree in a wooden sled and a peaceful white dove in a nest of greenery.

Now isn't he a cutie? Be sure to check out the slideshow below for great closeups of the uniqueness of these designs.

Then comes Sunbright Snowball who is dressed in a blue winter scened dress with lots of snow and german glass glitter and glitz and mica flakes. She holds a great star ornament which could be used separately or hung on your Winter tree till Spring.

I would really appreciate you taking a look at my auctions. Please remember to support your favorite Artist of Handmade in USA designs. This helps to create jobs for Americans when they otherwise wouldn't be able to find any jobs for one reason or another.

On another note, I am requesting prayer for our family. If you are a follower of my blog, then you know the headaches we've had with my dd's exhusband and custody of our grandson. Well he did not return him from his weekend custody yesterday (as he had a plane ticket) and is causing all kinds of headaches for our family now, once again. So looks like we will be heading back to Court once again. Please pray for wisedom, empathy from the Judge who has always been on her ex's side to truly see how manipulating he is once and for all and bring some punishment so he gets the message that he can't treat my dd with name calling, cursing and swearing constantly to and about her and make him responsible for the bills that he is supposed to pay. He has not followed the Court order at all but expects us to bring our grandson back (350 miles) 2 times a month to see him at our expense! And my daughter isn't even making as much as he is. Furthermore, the wage garnishment is a joke! He has a way of working around it with his boss so that she only gets a small portion of what he should be paying, yet he has a new car..it just goes on and on and my nerves are shattered.

He even got in my face at the airport the other day when I simply said something to him that I didn't like the way he talked to my dd. He was lucky my dh wasn't there or he would have gotten decked for sure. He has totally changed. Nothing like he used to be and I think that is in part because he married a hot headed witch who hates my daughter, even though she doesn't even know her and is acting like a loon. Please pray they both grow up!
Anyways I will continue to pray that he goes away somewhere..maybe his job can transfer him overseas or something. But something has to give! And my poor grandson is probably wondering why he hasn't gone back to Arizona with my dd. Who knows what his dad is telling him. I hate to think that.

Oh well didn't mean to get on that subject but it's close to my heart and we really need prayer to bind all this anger and resentment etc he has for us up.

Thanks for listening

Heading to a New Year

As this year comes to an end, it's time for me to sit down and map out the direction I want my business to take. I also take this time to access my advertising funds.

My business has several exciting things happening in 2011. Looking forward to a new year.

I'd like to try my designing in other forms of art. Quilting is one and painting is another. We'll see. What does the new year offer you? Of all things, health is my wish for all.

Not quite sure how our country or world is going to go. I'm hoping the economy makes somewhat of a comeback. California will be one of the last to recover, if we ever do. I'm sure our taxes will go up.

One decision I made midmonth December, was to start selling on Ebay again. One reason is I want to find some new customers, fresh faces. Also that will keep me designing on a full time basis too. Let's hope it's successful.

I love selling on Etsy too but it's not an auction type site. I think there's alot of people that like the idea of bidding. I recall as a young child my parents going to auctions and coming home with big boxes of stuff. I guess you can bid on a box. Us kids loved it because we'd find ice skates and all sorts of toys inside. And with there being 6 kids in our family, we didn't get much toys except on Christmas.

On another note, the east coast is getting all kinds of snow!! I miss the big snowstorms we had living in PA. Lucky them!!

Us Californians got a huge rainstorm that lasted for days, which is unheard of out here. There was flooding everywhere!! Crazy cuz the city is not equipped with the proper drainage and, of course, we don't have the $$ to fix it. We are one broke state for sure!!

Whatcha got planned for New Year's Eve? We will probably stay home--as a matter of fact, I might even be asleep when the ball falls, after I make all my New Year's resolutions, of course. But that's okay..we (dh and I) love our simple life. There will be all kinds of intoxicated folks driving for sure. I hope if you're driving be very careful.

Well I have a few patterns that I'm going to design. Keep an eye out on my blog for their new release soon. Take Care

I made an awful mistake of not backing up my email addresses; and consequently when my new (Aug 09)computer (Gateway) crashed I lost all of my mailing list addresses. So if you're one of my customers who were on my mailing list, please email me so I can add you to my new mailing list.

I had heard that Gateway were not that great brand of computer, however, after dealing with Hewlett Packard, I decided that Gateway was probably better than HP. HA!! 1 week after my purchase my new computer crashed...and now again this last week. This time it is sent away for a new hard drive. From what the geeksquad guy says..this happens all the time with computers!! Thank goodness I paid for the blacktie service, because I should expect to get my computer back in 3-4 weeks...without any data being saved because I didn't pay the extra $100.00...money, money, money..didn't I pay enough already???

Onto better news...Did you hear about the giveaway we are having over at TDIPT Mercantile? Check it out HERE Lots of great items to win. I even contributed one of my primitive santie makedos. Also check out our "Fall Into Christmas" booklets filled with all sorts of recipes, tips, and several patterns including one from me of my scarecrows. It is well worth the $6.95. Would make great gifts for the upcoming holidays. All funds go to charities - Miracle Network and ASPCA for animals. So be sure to check it out.

I also have several santie makedos for sale over at Humblearts. Watch for some new holiday designs on Pfatt Marketplace on the 10th and The Primitive Gathering on the 15th.

Tomorrow's going to be a FUN day for me. My dd and I are going to a sewing, craft festival in Pomona, California. It happens 2 times a year and I missed it the last few years. We always go to some thrift shops around that area too. We recently lost our biggest thrift shop last month and are down to just a few littler ones. Bummer!

I'm having a sale off all my Fall, Halloween designs on my website....25% off..with this password "autumn".Click HEREHope to hear from you,till later, keep safe.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Summer is in full force here at the Stevens household. I have been trying to update my website with alot of fall and Christmas designs while it's slow.

Between that, I have been making homemade laundry detergent. If you haven't made any, or tried it, you are missing out! It cleans so much better than storebought and costs so little. It makes everything very soft too. Here's a big ole batch I made the other day. I tripled the recipe so I don't have to make it so often. I store mine in plastic Hawaiian Punch bottles that we go through like water. They hold 1 gallon. In this particular batch I used Zote soap, that's why it's a pretty pink. However, I used Ivory Soap last time and I think I'll stick w/the Ivory. Just personal preference.

How's your pocketbook holding up in all this crazieness with gas prices, food increases, etc etc etc..Alot of folks are losing their homes here in California. Thank goodness we are not one of them. We have alot of taxes on everything here and our gas tax is crazy. However, hubs said that the price is going down. Duh yeah, when people aren't purchasing it. I heard on the news that the gasoline companies made another HUGE profit. I can't believe those jerks actually have the gall to broadcast what profits they are making, all the while taking from the middle class and poor. It's a crime!!

Okay, I'm off my soapbox about that. Can't control it, why worry about it.

On another note, wanted to let you all know that Eric is now on a 30 day leave and is back home in Phoenix visiting with my grandson and his parents. He will then report back to his home base in New York, and await arrival of the rest of his unit and be discharged in November. My daughter said his hand looks pretty bad but that's to be expected. Oh by the way..found out he had a staph infection in the bone of his wrist. Don't know how he got it. So thanks for the prayers and expressions of concern. Please remember to keep all the servicemen and women in your prayers.

Sometimes in my "spare" (which is rare) time on the computer, I like to find new blogs that I wouldn't really search for. Back in November of 2007 I found this blog of a Christian Love Story author named Kristy Dykes. She was a beautiful women inside and out. And although I never knew her personally, I kept up with her blog as best I could. She was diagnosed with brain cancer (the kind that Sen. Kennedy has, I believe)around that time.

Her faith in Jesus Christ was nothing more than simply amazing!! She was such a perfect example of what Christ is like!!! If you ever get a chance, check out her blog. Her husband, Milton, is a pastor at their local church, of course, Kristy was a pastor's wife. He is continuing the blog with memories of their life together. It is a perfect love story in itself.Click Here to readI tried to reduce her picture but it wouldn't take. Sorry so big. But isn't she beautiful?

Now for some upbeat, positive stuff..I have been creating alot of new fall designs like I stated above. Plus all the many primitive co-op websites that I'm on have some awesome designs for sale. Be sure to check them out.

To help ya out click on these links PFATT MARKETPLACE; TDIPT MERCANTILE; THE PRIMITIVE GATHERING; HUMBLE ARTS; and SIMPLY PRIMITIVES Some good eye candy for ya on those places. Be sure to check em all out. Also, like I said, I added some great fall/christmas items on my website, here's a few up for adoption, Let me know if you see anything in the slideshow or on my website you can't resist.

One last thing that I want to share w/you is my trip last Saturday to the Quilt Festival in Long Beach, California. We were so happy to finally have a place to come together and be able to purchase some awesome stuff. Course, being a fabriholic, this was a bad place on my pocketbook to say the least, but I tried to contain myself and promised myself that "I WILL USE THIS FABRIC OR KIT". I am determined, and I have to say that I have successfully completed a kit that I purchased about 2 years ago hehe. That's because I received some injections from my pain management doctor and had to take it easy, so I handstitched the woolen pincushions (applique). The design was by Lisa Bongean from Primitive Gatherings which used to be "Backyard Quilts".

WOOO HOOO YOU FOUND IT>>NOW JUST EMAIL ME AND TELL ME THE TITLE OF THE POST IT'S IN to get another entry in the box. GOOD LUCK-- She has so many awesome designs and they are much better looking that on her website. Check out her site. Awesome stuff!! It's okay to Drool hehe

With that I leave you the task of reading this post. Sorry it's so long. I really have to work on disciplining myself more. Maybe tomorrow :-)

Time Flys

Gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I've written. Shame on me. I'll try to keep up better.

It's great weather here in Southern California! The monsoons coming from the east cooled us down at least 20 degrees. It's nice as long as the sun doesn't shine and bring out the humidity more. We're loving it while it's here.

I've been really busy designing to supply all the different sites I'm a part of. I've also listed some fall, Christmas, and winter items on my site, so check it out.

Time sure does get away from me. It seems winter, Christmas, and the holiday seasons were just here. It's going to be slim pickins around here at Christmas time. I'm sure it will be that way everywhere with the current ecomony etc the way it is.

Our 4th of July was nice. The fireworks here were the best I've seen yet and it was our grandson's (Jayden's) first year of really understanding and being able to comment on them. What a delight he is. Thank God for grandchildren! They keep us young.

Well I better get back to work. Wishing you ice cream with your cake!

Ready for Halloween?

It seems these seasons just fly by anymore. Why even put away the decorations? We'll need them in what seems like a month. Sometimes it hard to keep up with it all.

Well to join the crowd, I've just listed an adorably ugly witch, Witch Twilight and her friend, Henry the mouse/rat, whatever you call them. Twilight is like me, just not ready for Halloween already. Isn't she cute as can be? Well then rush right over to my ebay, read all about her and bid. You won't be sorry you did!
She's got lots of cuzzins and sistas and such that are coming to visit.So stay tuned!

Next month on PFATT Marketplace we are having our Holly Jolly July..which means we are celebrating Christmas in July!! Isn't that great? Gives you plenty of time to start shopping and finish early. If you spread it out it's not so bad. There will also be door prizes, so make sure that you visit in July. No purchase necessary.


And Next month on TDIPT we are celebrating Christmas as well!! Hearing jingle bells all the way this month. Don't forget to view the new designs offered on July 1st~
So I've been busier than a bee, trying to keep up with the seasons and all my going ons.
Lemme hear whatcha think about Witch Twilight and Henry, will ya?