Pay It Forward

O.K. ~~~ Here's what happened~~ I was cruzin' the blogs
and came across ~~"The Painted Nest"
who had this wonderful idea~~
"Pay It Forward"~~~~well come to find out, it was Karen at~Extroverted Introspection that started this! Here's how it works: If you are one of the first three people to leave a comment on this post, sometime in the next few months you will receive, via. snail mail, something cool that I've hand made~Just For You !!! There is no obligation, no worries. The only request is that you include this logo on your blog and the next three people do the same. And on it goes!!! This should be fun ! Leave your comment below and start watching the mail!!! Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you and get your address or you can email me ~~just go to my profile~ I'll need your mailing address to get your gift to you.......Let's see how far we can "Pay It Forward"~~~~~

Have a grand Monday,
Kathi

A Touch Of Winter

Remember the pretty little daffodils I posted about yesterday and said I wanted to get a picture of them because It was getting colder. Well this Is what I woke up to this morning In central Illinois. three inches of snow....yikes ! That Mother Nature sure likes to keep us on our toes. Although very pretty I would like my flowers back, please.



"Savannah Playing In The Snow"
She loves the snow and was very excited to go out and play In It this morning. This Is good exercises for her. We have her on a diet, shhh, we don't talk about It. as you can see by the photo she hasn't missed to many meals or treat's. She Is a very spoiled girl.

I'm hoping to get to my studio and work on some new pieces today. I wish you all a restful Sunday,
Kathi

A Touch Of Spring

I took these photos yesterday. It has been pretty chilly here the last couple of days and I was afraid I would wake up one morning and they would be droopy from the cold night temperatures. I haven't even cleared off the winters blanket of leaves from my bed's yet. I have lots of thing's coming up In my garden and can hardly wait until It Is full bloom. Have a grand Saturday,
Kathi

Moss Terrarium

I could hardly wait to show you my latest purchase from WarmCountryMeadows Isn't It just the neatest thing. I've been wanting one of these for sometime now and am so happy with this one.

Hoping to get some new pieces listed over the week end In my Etsy shop. Wishing you all a fabulous week end,
Kathi

Meet Elric

I wanted to Introduce my newest little fellow. His name Is Elric made by twolefthands Isn't he handsome. Liz, twolefthands does an Incredible job of designing these little folk. She had the cutest little card In the box that read, I'm staving Is It time to eat. Elric did have a long journey so I'm sure he was famished. Enjoy my little guy. Have a grand Thursday,
Kathi

Redecorating

I spent sometime this week end redecorating a little. By that I mean hanging a few pictures. I've had these two pictures In different walls of my home and decided to move them. The first picture of the berries In the basket hung In my bedroom. Now I've moved It on the wall leading up to my studio right off my kitchen. So If I'm standing in the kitchen you can see this picture. It Is one of my favorites. Over the year's I've collected and framed many of the Holland Tulip Time prints. My sister lives In Holland Michigan and that Is how I originally started collecting them. This one Is done with a matte In buttercup that really looks nice with the tulip combination and the white frame. It use to hang In my enclosed front porch but I moved It In one of the rooms upstairs. I did move a few more thing's that I will share later this week.

Today I will be listing some new antique button ring's In my Etsy shop. I'm also working on a giveaway that will start this Thursday. Have a grand Monday,
Kathi

Vintage Dragonfly Filigree Bracelet

I wanted to share with you today one of my new listings In my Etsy shop. Every part of this bracelet Is designed with vintage pieces except for the diamond shaped filigree piece the Dragonfly Is resting on. This piece Is by Vintaj. The detail on this dragonfly Is just beautiful.
Hope you like It.

Hope your having a grand Saturday,
Kathi

The Rhinestone Swallow

I wanted to share with you today two new listing In my shop.
Beautiful 10X5mm Rhinestones In hand aged patina setting's along with antique brass petite Swallows. I really love these earrings giving that vintage Inspired look that I love and we can't forget my tiny little bird friend's. These earrings are about an inch In length.

I have some new pieces I am going to list sometime today. Mr.K's computer Is on the blink so I really need to get that up and running again for him. Have a grand Thursday,
Kathi

I LOVE

Today I thought I would share two thing's that I really love. My antique button collection and my pretty vintage seam binding. I've been collecting buttons for a couple of year's now. I've purchased them from all around the world. If only these buttons could talk. What stories would they share with us. My vintage seam binding I've just recently started collecting but I just can't seem to get enough. It comes In so many beautiful color's and I love to use It In my packaging for my Etsy shop.

I have a few new goodies that I will be listing later on today In my shop. Hope you like the new look of the blog. I felt It needed a little touch up. Have a grand Wednesday,
Kathi

Happy St.Patrick's Day

Today I wanted to share with you a couple of thing's that I love for St. Patrick's day. I've had this little three leaf clover dish for about ten year's and every year I always put It out a couple of week's before the big day.

I cherish this little Leprechaun pin. My mom purchased this pin for me when I was a little girl and every St. Patrick's day I would wear this pin to school. I still continue to wear this pin every year.

Today I have some new pieces I will be listing In my Etsy shop Including a antique brass chrysanthemum filigree pin. Have a wonderful Tuesday,
Kathi

New Listing's

I've been listing a few new pieces In my Etsy shop today that I wanted to share with you. My garden is coming Into full bloom. Hope your enjoying your Sunday,
Kathi

Cleaning House

As a general rule I like to keep my studio nice, neat and organized but In all honesty It looks like a cyclone hit It. I've got bead's and components everywhere. So guess what I will be doing today, yes, you guessed It. Strangely enough I really love cleaning my studio, I say that because when I get new bead's In and set them on my work table they get lost In the sea of bead's If I don't put them In their proper spot's right away. It Is amazing what I find that I didn't know I purchased. Because I use a lot of vintage bead's In my pieces If I see something I like I will go ahead and purchase them because next time they won't be there, their sold....rats ! I've learned my lesson on that one. I still have several new spring pieces to list In my Etsy shop and I will be doing that over the week end as well as creating new ones In my nice, neat and organized studio. Have a wonderful Saturday,
Kathi

Look Whats Blooming

I've been very busy In my studio the last few day's planting my garden. Here are just a few of the many pieces I've created and will be listing In my shop. Have a fabulous week end,
Kathi

Whats Inside

Lately It seems that I am fascinated with whimsical, mystery and secret thing's. Here are just a few of my favorites In the last couple of week's. This one of a kind drawer pull from revampboutique wouldn't this look neat on an old wooden filing cabinet of such. Have any travel plan's In the future. How about this Travel Hanger Safe from susanskeepsake you could hide all kinds of secrets In here and no one would ever know...clever. Think of the secrets I could put In My Secret Garden Box from funwallart All of these pieces caught my eye and I wanted to share them with you. I wonder what my next fascination might be ? Have a fabulous Wednesday,
Kathi

You Gotta See This...Amazing !

Money Tree

Mr.K and I attended his Father's 85th surprise birthday party yesterday. Here Is a picture of his Father with the gift that we made for him. Yes, you guessed It right, It Is a money tree. Don't ever let anyone tell you that there Is no such thing as a money tree ever again. I attached 85 one dollar bill's with pipe cleaners on branches you can find In your own back yard. Then we found this beautiful black vase and there you have It. He loved It ! but was wondering how he would get all those dollar bill's off. We had a wonderful celebration and Mr.K had a great time. Have a fabulous Monday,
Kathi

¸.·´*¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)Cast your Vote

Step on over to the voting booth at,
http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=34 and cast your vote for your favorite St. Patrick's day Item. The winner will be featured on the Etsy blog and In the Gift Guide. One of Liz's Items from Twolefthands was chosen by Etsy administration to be an entry In the "Luck Of The Irish" contest, how exciting for you Liz ! I have purchased several Of Liz's pieces and each and everyone Is fabulous. Her attention to detail Is out of this world and as a matter of fact I have my eye on this little Leprechaun. So hurry on over, the poll's are only open for two more day's. Have a wonderful Week end,
Kathi

Spring forward: Daylight Savings time begins Sunday

It's time to spring forward this weekend and set your clocks one hour ahead when you go to sleep on Saturday night. This is the third year of the extended Daylight Savings, which falls on the second Sunday in March, three weeks earlier than the traditional start. I really love this time of year. One, It stays lighter longer and two, I seem to get a lot more accomplished. This Sunday Mr.K and I will be attending his father's 85th surprise birthday party. His father Is one of the kindest men that you could ever meet, I'm sure that's where Mr.K gets his wonderful disposition.

I am hoping to get several new pieces listed In my Etsy shop over the week end. It's a bright sunny day today, perfect for photographing. Have a wonderful Friday,
Kathi

Spring Is Coming

I know because I woke up to the bird's singing today, there Is just something about singing bird's that makes you happy. I had purchased a few thing's a couple months ago for spring that I put out yesterday so I thought I would share them with you today. One of the thing's I purchased are these felted acorn's, these two color's came from two different Etsy seller's the blue ones I purchased from Lisa at lilfishstudios and the lime green I purchased from Terri at truLuxe aren't they adorable. I have placed them In a palomasnest dish.
The green egg wreath I purchased from one of our local shop's and hung It on this wrought iron stand. I don't think I can go full blown spring yet so I will slowing be adding some more Spring thing's over the next month but I just love the change of season's. Enjoy your Wednesday,
Kathi

"Planning"

I thought I would share today with you something that I am very passionate about and that Is the "Walk To Defeat ALS". As some of you already know Mr.K was diagnosed with ALS, better known as Lou Gerhig's Disease In 1999. He lives only by the help of a ventilator. He can not eat, swallow, walk or breath on his own. You are probably saying right now, oh poor me. Please don't feel sorry for me. Since Dennis's diagnoses I have done so many thing's, thing's that I would of never done. I've started my own business, have a blog, twitter, face book, lollishops, numerous group's and teams and the best part of all I've met so many wonderful people.

I feel so blessed to be able to stay home and care for Mr.K. He has such an amazing attitude and Is a absolute joy to be around. Of course I wish this terrible disease had never entered our lives but It has and so I will continue to walk through my journey with dignity and grace.

The Walk To Defeat ALS will be held on Saturday, June 13th 2009. For four years I've chaired this event. This year I've passed It to someone else, although I am still very much Involved. To learn more about ALS go to ALSA.org
Have a wonderful Monday,
Kathi