OMG has it really been that long, since February..I'm embarrassed, but please know that I have been extremely busy.

Have I mentioned that we are preparing for a move from California to Arizona in about 2 weeks?? So it's been crazy around here. It's just me and my husband because all of our children already reside there, so we are packing and packing some more. It seems it's never going to end. Not to mention that we are moving from a 2670 sft home down to an appx 1500 sft home!! So that's a big downsize. I'll tell you if you ever need to purge that's the way to do it! It works everytime. In 1999 we moved from California to Pennsylvania in a same type of situation from an 2000 appx sft home to a 3 bedroom apartment!! YIKES That was major!! and each time I tell myself I will never accumulate (collect or hoard) this much stuff again, but how soon we forget those words!!!!

Anyways we have been giving good stuff away..do you know how hard it is to donate stuff, and I mean good stuff, not junk, to Salvation Army??? I swear every week we have them here to give our good things away and the guy is so lazy to take it he knocks on my door to tell me what they can't take and what I didn't have on my list when I read it to the lady!!!What's up with this???

After 3 times of donating within 6 months, I have decided to donate to another charity that might appreciate my stuff!geesch!! and worse yet, try complaining..the person who's in charge is just as lazy as the one that picks the stuff up!!!

I have alot of people asking if I'm retiring from designing as I have been listing loads of fabric on ebay lately and selling my dolls for alot lower than normal..Well the answer is yes, I'm sort of retiring from my business in a sense..There's a slight chance I might be seeking a job..part time or full time, if I can handle it with my medical problems. There's alot of job opportunities where we are moving (now everyone don't move to Arizona cuz I said that!!! hehe).

With the economy the way it is, dolls of course are not selling like they did a few years ago, so with that in mind, I am thinking about perhaps altering my designs to some other mediums..kinda getting tired of the primitive sort of things..please comment and let me know what you think. When I see prim decor it doesn't excite me the way it did years ago. I mean my bears/dolls will always have an old fashioned air about them. Oh well I guess I'm rambling..

On another note, I love having the opportunity to just pick up and go if hubby is available on a whim. But then again he will be looking for some sort of job over there. He is retiring from this job he has here in California but doesn't intend to really retire..he would go nuts and as much as I thoroughly enjoy his company and love it when he's off on every one 3 day weekend, I wonder if he would drive me crazy like alot of women say. I don't think he would. I'm hoping he takes up some hobby or something. He loves to golf but golfing is expensive. We'll see, but our son lives in AZ and they enjoy going camping, hiking etc which will be nice.

I'll have my 4 daughters there and we have alot of catching up to do and then there's the 12 almost 13 grands..my youngest daughter is pregnant and she'll find out which sex it is next week. I'm hoping for a little boy! Please Lord I beg you!!! I love boys and only had one.

Okay..back to my business..while I was restricted to my recliner for my broken leg, which btw is doing much better..not perfect but better every week. I still wear my boot when I'm going to have to walk alot or an ankle brace, anyhow I designed several needlepunch patterns to be released soon. I actually really enjoy needlepunch. Have you ever delved into this medium? It actually goes very fast, just be careful of the pointy needle.Have a great Memorial Day holiday weekend. I have to shout out to all the troops now and ones that preceeded these...Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your bravery and for serving your country and protecting even the least deserving of us. Lord protect them.

I promise to not be so long in posting next time...it will be from Arizona!!!

Need Some Prayer Here

I know we could all use a little prayer but tonight I'm asking for specific prayer for my dad, Ken Rabenold, who is going in the hospital on Monday morning to have a biopsy taken via endoscopy of his lungs.

He had a PET Scan several weeks ago which didn't tell the doctors for sure if he has cancer, so they say, even tho it lite up~which was my understanding that if it does, it means it's cancer. Plus there are some black spots on inside his chest or in his lungs that they don't know what it is. So they are doing the biopsy to find out what it is.

If they discover it's cancer or something they can remove, they will be staffed to remove it and he will be in the hospital for awhile.

I worry since his lungs are in very bad shape that he might contact pneumonia which would be very bad for him. This is all so hard for him too because at 82, last month he thought he was fine, except a little dizzy when he stood up. Then to go into the ER for that and be admitted and hospitalized for over a week with all kinds of tubes in you and medications and then being sent home with 8 medications and an oxygen system and breathing treatments etc. is quite scarey!!! His life as it was will probably never be again. He wasn't taking any prescribed medications before this and the doctors say that he is in excellent shape except for his bad lungs.

This place of employment is still open..sad, I wonder how many people that have worked in places like this, have problems with their bodies because no one knew that the chemicals they were dealing with was poisonous to them.

So if you belong to a Church group, or prayer group or just pray period, please remember my father this Sunday or when you pray. I appreciate it.

On another note, have you seen my newest designs on Etsy? If not here's a look at some of my newest offerings

These are great for hanging on your Easter/Spring trees or as package tie ons for a gift. They are really popular sellers. Another great addition is this adorable rabbit

Isn't she adorable? Told you she was. You can reach them by clicking HERE

Then I have several Valentine ladies on ebay which go off tomorrow. There are two heart shaped head one and a great primitive angel cherub angel too. Here's a sampling:

To reach my Ebay items click HERE

All are at starting bids which are a great deal for these designs. Be sure to check them out while there's still time.

I'm working on lots of new Spring designs. If there's something you'd like to see me design, just let me know and we'll see what I can do.

Today my daughter and I were in Michael's looking for some feathers for the new earrings and hair clips she's going to make for Etsy, anyways, there was a Somerset Life magazine there and I was browsing to see if there was anything I liked in it. Lo and behold on page 11 is a photo of my frog and dolls!! Do you know how that makes you feel?? Words can't describe when you aren't aware that you are published. Reason why I didn't know was because Jenny Doh and a photographer from the magazine attended the last Glitterfest show that I sold at in October in Santa Ana, California. I acknowledged them and never thought anything of it. Well in this issue they did a cool article on Glitterfest and featured my frog and dolls as part of the show. How cool!!!! Great photo too ladies!!! yahoo! Thanks girls!!!

This same frog will be featured in the Spring PRIMS magazine too. I am one lucky girl!!!! So today was a good day! Thanks for sharing it with me.

Happy March 1st

Can you believe it's already March? Time is flying by! Happy St. Patrick's Day~a wee bit early.

It's also that time again for new issues of several online websites chuck full of great new Spring designs for your purchase consideration.

However, this month is a very special month for us TDIPT designers...the Mercantile is officially 2 years old!! We are so excited about this and are having a big ole birthday bash on TDIPT Mercantile this month that you won't want to miss!! Among the fun, we are having all kinds of prize giveaways. Not just your ordinary stuff you can find or purchase anywhere, but folks, this is quality, top notch, from the heart ..ART! and it's FREE. Be sure to check it out HERE

Be sure to check out all the newest March designs offered by the first of the monthers on TDIPT Merc. as well. This month I am offering 3 great Spring Rabbits! I just love designing these and boy, oh boy, do they steal your heart! Be sure to stop by my personal selling page of TDIPT HERE . Be sure to refresh your page if you are not viewing the current issue.

Then moving right along, I have 3 more great new designs on Humble Arts HERE . If you've seen my newest "mini rabbettes"..well these are "hares" and "more hares". Wee little rabbits (5-7" tall) at very affordable prices. It's first come, first served folks so hurry and go look. Also another adorable rabbit named "Flopsy" is in need of adoption. Have fun looking..be sure to peek at all the other great designs by the other artists as well.

and then lastly, as far as offerings this month..is Simply Primitives. There's more rabbits hiding out there..I swear these rabbits are multiplying faster than I can keep track of! hehe Oh yeah and you've got to see my sooo ecentric Patrick..a unique shamrock doll just too cool HERE Again, be sure to check out all the first of the month offerings there as well. Us starving artists appreciate it!hehe might sound funny, but true for some.

Phew, that was a mouthful...now onto some other news. Gosh it's been so long since I blogged this might be a long post.

I have alot of new happenings going on for Mustard Seed Originals. Watch for a new selling blog! YEP..it's coming this month. There will be auctions; items for sale (early bird gets the worm kind) which are all one of a kind only; and GIVEAWAYS too!! Too much fun! Stay tuned for more.

Also if you haven't joined Facebook, Linked In or Ryze, you need to! It's a must for all business owners. Besides, they're fun too! I've also got something else up my sleeve, but have to research more on it. A tutorial site for primitive designs..whatcha think? I might not be able to teach many of you great primitive designers but there are some folks that I think would love it! A group limited of course that would be walked through a process...sorta like taking a class at your favorite quilt shop or what have you. Too much more fun huh? Lemme hear from you about what you'd like to see in a class, ie..needlepunch, rug hooking, dolly designing...

Please remember that I DO accept Layaway on my designs. Email me if you are interested. I know how tough it is for everyone in this current economy so please don't be shy. Everyone needs a "pick me up" and I'm glad to help out.

Have a great March 1st