WAITING FOR SANTA...

Look who is waiting for Santa...little Bandit. Or is she guarding the gifts under the tree? Nope I think she is taking a "cat nap" under the tree. Bandit has been a very good kitty. She has not tried to play with any ornaments or even tried to climb the tree. In the past years there was always an ornament or two laying on the carpeting but that might have been Trax the cat doing that. It's hard to point fingers when all 3 cats look at you with those eyes, "who me?"  We awoke to ice covered roads this morning, no snow.  It was been a warm holiday season this year.  Saving cities and towns $$$'s.

 Gas in Wales, WI was $3.22 per gallon.

 Have fun & safe New Years. 

 warm regards,   Debby

Cheers 2011

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and CHEERS to the New Year 2012 I like to take my days one at a time..Time flies by so fast I want to be in the moment as they say. Time goes by so fast for me if I keep saying I can't wait until this or that happens.....time s-l-o-w d-o-w-n, please. Relax, breathe, smile,and maybe do a little dance for fun. I made these little door hangers for everyone last year. I had sore fingers but I enjoyed every minute of my time hand sewing.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

Are we ready for the creatures of the night? ... Our little trick or treaters were out and about last night. BOO ! It was a cold, windy, and raining night. I think most of the witches and goblins might have stayed closer to home. I bet it would be fun to have a party with friends in some one's basement. Bob for apples, do the old fashion kind of party like the "olden days". Every year the home owners put this pumpkin on their street sign. I just love it. Wish I lived on this street. *wink*

Where did August and October go? Zoom, the months flew by in a flash. I enjoyed them, a lot. I traveled to 4 basket conventions-retreats. Wonderful and talented weavers and teachers. Beautiful hand woven baskets.

My nephew was married this past weekend, all the relatives from out of town came, it was wonderful. All of the cousins and their spouses sat at one table. They asked, "why are we sitting at the little kids table?" That was so cute, loved it.

And the event this week is a baby shower for my niece, yippee. I made the baby a light weight quilt in yellow and green 6 inch squares with little ducks and dots, all cotton. Then for the backing is a darker pink with dots flannel. No batting between the layers. This can be used as a utility quilt. Just lay it down to be crawled on in the grass or to sleep on. The uses are for the imagination. Now I'm making 2 bibs for next year out of hand towels. I'll take a pic when their finished.

Enjoy your week. ;-) bee-hugs, Debby

TOMATOES FOR JUICE

The tomatoes are rippening by the basket full.

Every day I core them and cut them into wedges so

I can then freeze in plastic bags until we're ready to make homemade tomato juice.

It is so good and we have to use control so the juice lasts until the next Fall .

Tomatoes are my favorite thing to eat.

I call them a dessert, yummers.

Cutting up tomatoes and weaving baskets, it's a nice way to enjoy the day. ;-)


bee-hugs, Debby

CELL PHONE CHARGER BASKET...

CELL PHONE CHARGER BASKET... to bead or not to bead? I'm a little further along in lashing this basket with beads and copper craft wire.

I'm thinking about changing the lashing to Hamburg cane for the other half and maybe follow that with the copper wire and a coppery

colored bead to sit on top of the rim....just thinking out loud. What do you think?

I think I'll just go for it and take another picture when the basket is complete.


A very nice Basket Convention in Bloomington, IL is coming, Sept. 9-11, 2011 Camp Tuck.

Let me tell you these weavers are so talented and all of their baskets turn out just beautifully.

They all share their knowledge of weaving should you need a little help with something.

A lot of weaving fun with many friends. ;-P I love to vend here with Basket Bees.

Just drive my car into the building unload it and drive back out. Easy-peasy. *wink*

The bases are still heavy, but they don't have to be carried.

You can see my Basket Bees' base on the bottom of this basket.

I'll take a picture of our vending booth at Camp Tuck so you can see our product.


It is time to get back to lashing this basket.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Weave a little basket or stitch something nice, r-e-l-a-x.


with bee-hugs, Debby

Just rollin' along...

singin' my song... side by side......

I bought this wagon wheel off of Craig's List. It turned out the seller just lived about 2 miles from me. It barely fit in my car.

It is peeling but, I love the shabby chic look. I need to put a wood sealer on it, the insects have been chewing on it

plus the weather has taken it's toll on the wheel.

I have wanted a wagon wheel for at least 30 years.

You can imagine how much I love..love...love my wheel.

I have the perfect place for it with the olde milk can and a rusty flower

I bought at a craft sale. I also love rusty garden sculptures.

I'll show you those on a later post.

Wisconsin's weather was beautiful this past weekend and today also.

I'm enjoying my day and this moment of time. ;-)

bee-hugs, Debby

"Garden Sculpture"

Cute? Not so cute? That is my question.

Yes, I made this " garden sculpture" and you can make one too...in your own style of coarse.

One day while I was looking around at St. Vinnie's another shopper was stacking these platters with vases in between.

I asked her, "what are you trying to make?" She told me that she makes "garden sculptures" this would be her 7th.

Copy-cat me, I started looking around at platters and vases and this is what I designed with what they had on their shelves.

The plate is smaller at the top and add a little whimsy on the top plate.

All of the dishes cost me $7.50. A great deal and I was recycling!

I washed everything and used an adhesive for glass for outside.

You can buy this at a hardware store like Home Depot, ask someone in the paint dept. just to get the correct stuff.

I put it into my garden and I always give it water for butterflies and other thirsty creatures.

My bottom platter is labeled, not food safe but the other 2 are safe.

Have a creative weekend, with bee-hugs, Debby ;-o

Bandit- She's a sweetheart ;-)

Let me introduce you to our 3rd. cat, Bandit. She is 13 years old and another daughter of Trax the Cat.

We think Callie and Bandit have the same father, just different litters and one year apart. She is a lap cat that loves to have her

tummy scratched gentley. Bandit is the friendliest cat of the 3 cats. She is in and out side over and over and over again.

She knows how to make us jump if it is nice outside and we're using only the patio screen door.

Bandit ever so gentely puts out one of her nails and plucks the screen. JUMP!!!

She is a button-pusher, that's for sure. But she is soooo sweet you don't mind, unless it's the 3rd or 4th time you have let her in or outside. ;-o

We have to open the screen door and close the glass patio door if we leave the room. Then she will sit there and wait for awhile.

With all of the watering of my new bushes I'm getting a tan. Laying in the sun for a tan is something I just don't do.

As a teenager I rarely did it.

Well, Bandit is tapping the screen............gotta goooooo......JUMP!!!


jack-in-the-box, meeee

Debby

Callie...cat # 2

Callie is the daughter of Trax, she is 14 years old. Callie thinks she is "the boss" of the cats.

She is always the 1st of everything. If Trax or Bandit (her mom and younger sister) walk by she'll take a

swipe at them. She has a hard time to " just let it go".

All and all she is a sweetheart if you're not a cat.

Another thing about Callie she is a "scaredy-cat". Did you ever wonder where expressions come from?

She will only go outside a short time and will run to door if she hears an odd noise.... Zoom!

The weather is a perfect summer's day in Wisconsin. I'm enjoying the humming birds this year.

I've never paid attention to them before this year. On Brenda's blog (Country Stitches) she wrote about the

Eagles in Decorah, Iowa and the 3 eaglets on U Stream. On the right column were sites to go to and there were

tiny humming birds in CA. So, I popped in on them once in awhile. I got to see them fledge (leave the nest).

I misses seeing the eaglets fledge. This summer I put up feeders for the hummers and they come often.

My windows are open and the fresh air is once again in the house. It feels like winter when the air is on and the windows are closed tight.

Now I'm going to take a little time to stitch outside.

Enjoy your day. ;-o

bee-hugs, Debby

TRAX the cat

Let me introduce you to one of our cats....Trax the cat.....Trax for short.

She was the cutest little ball of fur when she was a kitten, that was April, 15 years ago.

She has slowed way down. No more hunting mice or chipmunks for her, she is retired, I think.

She is napping the afternoon away on the sofa in a cool box. It was her idea not mine.

My DH named her Trax, he thought it was kooler than Mittens, the name I wanted.

A vote was taken, 4 to 1....TRAX the cat won. It is a kool name for her.

I hope you're finding a relaxing way to stay cool.

Trax has her spot picked out. ;-)

with bee-hugs, Debby

Stitiching Butler

One of my favorite blogs is "Ivory Spring". Wendy had this tortorial on a Stitiching Butler, and a friend's

b-day was coming . I love to give a gift from my heart and this idea would be perfect for her.

I found this creamy yellow sugar bowl w/top, creamer, and matching tray. It's as cute-as-can-bee. ;-)

I also found the perfect material for the pinkeep and added a little yellow flowered scissors.

You can see it in the lip of the creamer.

I'm lovin' being able to add pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Enjoy your day.

with bee-hugs, Debby

p.s. Please check out "Ivory Spring" Wendy has very beautiful quilts that she has free-motion quilted. ;-)

Peter Rabbit

This is our new addition to my family. I think he is the cutest.

 I'm learning how to add pics to my blog, yay!!!!

How Hot Is It???

About 122 degrees in the sun and 92 degrees in the shade.  Best of all 78 degrees inside in the air conditioning.  One of the great inventions that makes life bareable. (Wales, WI)

I have so many pictures that I want to post I just don't know how to do that yet.  I'm sure it's not hard.  So many blogs that I love have wonderful picutres of quilts, stitchery, gardens, and so many other interesting things. I need someone to hold my hand through the process.

Great wool applique class ;-)

Greeting,
 On Tuesday July 12th, I attended a great wool applique class at Primitive Gatherings in Menasha, WI.   Lisa, the owner and teacher of our class was great!  She gave us as much info as she could to make our experience working with wool a great one.  I feel I could go on to make her monthly blocks (BOM) with out having any troubles.  Lisa was very hands on and answered every question we had.  I finished my wool candle matt a day later.  No I didn't put it away to work on it at another time.  I want to complete all of my projects before moving on to my next creative adventure.  I just need to practice what I write.  ;-) 

Enjoy the summer.  

 with little bee-hugs,
 Debby

Great new free-motion quilting blog (new to me)

Greetings,   Summer has arrived in Wisconsin. yippy!  The flowers and gardens are looking more beautiful everyday.  I am lovin' it.

 So, I found this new to me free-motion quilting blog, ivoryspring.wordpress.com. Wendy is so talented and she shares with everyone. On the right side colunm of her blog she has many tortorials. I think I've read all of them.  I'm such a newbie to any kind of quilting.  *wink*  One of Wendy's tortorials was a "stitching butler" so beautiful.  A friend's b-day is coming so I found at an antique store an oh-so-cute creamy yellow cream pitcher, a covered sugar dish w/ red apple & 2 leaves handle, and a matching tray.  I bought creamy yellow material w/ tiny flowers to make a pin keep to stuff into the creamer. And a small scissors that fits into lip of the c pitcher.  The "stitching butler" was fun & very easy to make.  It was the perfect gift from my heart to a special friend.   ;-)              gas $3.58 in Wales   

 Have a good week.  Debby 
p.s. I know I need to learn how to add pics to my blog!

Book $ale

I went to a book $ale this morning at this historical church in Dousman on the corner of Highways 67 & 18.  All of the books were donated.  I bought a large book on Positive Quotations, Christmas music, Digital Scrapbooking, String Games, and Sing Along.  A small  song booklet from Reader's Digest 1977.  WOW! how great is that!!!  Would you like to know how much this was?  $2.60 that's it, what a deal.  *wink* 

 On the way to the book sale I passed a gas station $4.09, whoa.  On my way home I stopped for gas in Wales.  It was $3.95, another deal.  All but cheap.  ;-(  Later this afternoon they had raised their price to  $4.05  

The flower gardens are so beautiful.  I have finally bought all of the bushes, lillies roses, and mulch.  We added some rock garden rocks for the finishing touches.  My son did a great job planting everything.  He works so hard around here.   All in time for a wonderful summer.  ;-)       smiles,  deb-bee

Just thinking

I'm thinking about you, Grant.  It would have been your 59th b-day today.

Blooms so lovely ;-D

My tulips are so pretty all different shades of pink with a splash of white here and there.  No deer in sight to eat them so far.  Lucky bloomers!  The hydrangea bushes are all leafing out.  I can't wait to see what the 3 different kinds will look like.  This is going to be such a beautiful summer.  There are also 3 new lilies purple, 'white gloves', and 'cardnial red'.  They are re-bloomers too!  I just have to dead head them through the summer.  I've added to my hosta collection, one is called 'blue mouse ears', how cute is that???  I bought it just for the name, really.  *wink*   Another hosta is 'Captain Kirk', I bought that one for DH., he watched all of the "Star Trek".  Over and over.

  Before I say byeeee for now,  gas is $3.89 in Wales.

Soak in the day. ;-)

This is a picture perfect Spring day.  I wish I could take a picture to capture the feeling of the day.  It's the kind of day that you can only save in your mind's eye or in your heart. 

Basket Fest was great!  They had a big turn out, about 90 weavers, all coming to learn the latest and greatest weaving techniques from talented teachers.  Great group of venders all offering a varity of items, that making some happy shopping.  ;-)

 And for some gas pricing,  Wales, $4.19  and North Prairie, $4.26 !!!  It almost knocked my socks off!!!  Oil went down $10.00 a barrel yesterday ($98.80).

 Have a wonderful day!

Trying to think $3 dollar gas is cheap.

Here I am trying to think $3 dollar gas is cheap, NOT!  Gas is at $4.05 now and that still doesn't do the trick.  Just what are "they" thinking?   I wish I would have bought oil stocks years ago.  Limit my driving is all I can do to control this expence on my end. 

Have you looked at the Decorah, Iowa eaglets lately?  They sure do have huge feet to grow into.  I love this eagle family and feel so sorry for them in the snow and rain storms they have gone through.  Such amazing eagle parents.

 Basket Fest starts tomorrow, hope to see you there!  Stop by and say HI!

Where is SPRING?

April showers bring May flowers.  That's how the saying goes.  and we certainly have had our share of rain, lots of rain.  No tornadoes in our area.  I wouldn't wish them on anyone.  There are so many storms and twisters down south.  Everyone in harm's way are in my thoughts. 

Have you taken a peek at the Decorah, Iowa eaglets lately.  The three of them are growing in leeps and bounds.  Not the tiny fuzz balls anymore.  Follow them on  ustreamdecoraheagles.com  watching pure nature such wonderful parent eagles.  They protect them in rain and snow storms.  This has been a hard week for them

Gas is still $3.99 in Wales,WI.  How long can they keep it just below the 4 dollar mark?  Enjoy your time with family and friends this Easter gathering.

 with warm little bee-hugs,  Debby

It sunny and cold

The gas in my area is $3.99!!!  Here we go again, remember a few years ago it was around $4.50 per gallon.  I think it was in the summer.

Families weren't taking vacations, they were taking stay-cations.
It's great to get to know the interesting things to do in your area.  A place where you might take someone new to your area that you want to showcase, except you take YOU.  Impress yourself, maybe.  I might go to Old World Wisconsin this summer.  I haven't been there since my sons were in grade school.

Three fuzzy eaglets

All three eaglets have hatched and the family is doing well.  I'm enjoying watching them grow on  ustreamdecoraheagles.com  so cute and interesting. 

 I have finished another basket that I think is neat and practical.   I named it "Olde Crow Basket".  To finish it, I got it all wet.  Then I deluted black craft paint with water.  With a paint brush just "touch painted" it lightly with the watered down paint.  It spreads like "wild fire".  I was glad I did a test weaving and tried this technique first.   I found that the "light touch" was best.  I would have had a much darker basket.  Any way, I then stained it when the basket was dry.  With the stain still wet I sprinkled the basket with cinnanon. Finally I wiped it down.  Yes, the cinnanon is in the nooks and crannies of the basket and I'm lovin' it.  Infact, I sprayed it with a sealer to keep the cinnanon from falling off. ;-)  wink* It is the look of olde, finding it in my grandma's attic, a family treasure for sure. (oh, for sure a treasure).

By the way gas is $3.87 in Wales, WI 

 with warm regards,  deb-bee

Eagle's nest in Decorah, Iowa

Have you seen the 1 1/2 ton nest these beautiful eagles have shared since 2006 (I think)?  They have 2 eaglets and with 130,000 viewers waiting for the 3rd egg to hatch. This is so interesting how they share all the parenting.  If you haven't seen this family nesting go to ustream.tv/decoraheagles.

 So the trees are budding but they're waiting for warmer weather. 48degrees.  And gas $3.79.9 in Wales,WI.  Oh well, what are you going to do???  Take more walks and keep a warm coat handy if the sun isn't shinning.     

Take alittle time to watch the eagles and enjoy the day.  

with little bee-hugs,  Debby

Robins are finally here!

I saw my first robin and it snowed that night.  Everything was snowy white again and by mid-day it was all melted from the sun even thou it is 30 degrees, burrrr!    

 Well, I finished all of my baskets for "Spring Fling" in Rockton, IL this weekend.  I can't wait to see my weaving friends and meet new ones.  I think they will like some of my new baskets.  I wove around a Crystal Light container, cut a slot in it's top, covered it with felt and now it is a coin bank.  Another basket that is so sweet and simple, I wove around a glass flower frogg.  Perfect for pens and sicissor collecters.  I also made another pinkeep, that I think stitcher's would like to add to their pinkeep collection.  Check out BASKET BEES.BIZ  then look under Patterns.

My friend Ann made some beautiful basket tie-ons.  She painted on some deer antlers and some wooden discs. Beautiful mini paintings of different flowers on her tie-ons. And she also made 2 double walled baskets.  Ann is a very talented basket weaver.  

So, Spring and the robins are here, we only have to wait for the warm weather to get here. Enjoy the weekend.   with little bee-hugs,   Debby

Spring is coming, Spring is coming!

No, I haven't seen a robin yet, but I have alot of squirrels at my "Pandora's box" a squirrel feeder.  Does that count?  I guess not.  Squirrels are here all winter.  I know the robins are in Iowa.  They are on their way.  

Gas is $3.47 just savin' 2 cents per gallon.

After seeing what is happening in Japan with their nuclear power, I am in love with windmills.  Free power,very few birds are killed, birds aren't dummies.  I think this will wake up America.

Winter Wonderland

It is breath taking outside with the beauty of the snow clinging to the trees. It's a winter wonderland.    ;-)  You would think I would or should be tired of this Wisconsin snow, but this snow fall is the kind that I wish I could capture in a picture and soak it in.  With out being cold ofcoarse.  I hate being cold or toooo warm, ick! 
We have a small opossum that is wondering our yard looking for food.  We have a plastic bucket that we keep just outside the patio door for potato peelings and other veggie scraps that we take out to the mulch pile when the snow piles are low.  Well, this opossum which my DH calls a "mole " loves to forage through this bucket tipping it over making a mess on deck.  The "mole" also checks out the mulch pile for veggie goodies.  I think he would rather have a hot dog or something with meat.  He is ugly but in a cute way, if that's possible.
Gas is $3.49, and has been this price for about a week now. 
I finished my basket for Basket Bees that will be the free base and pattern for 2011.  It's  Salt & Pepper Basket with a wrapped handle and I added charm.  I found a crystal salt and pepper shaker set at an antique store for a great price.  I thought they should be in a small basket to give them alittle more character than just standing on the dining table kind of looking "naked".   I hope everyone at the basket conventions and workshops will like this cutie.

Gas prices...eeeeek!

What is the price of gas in your area?  I'm sure it's on the way UP!   Today it is $3.35, that was the price for the whole weekend.  We will all have to plan our driving trips with more efficiency.  

 It is a beautiful day to take a walk.  The sun is shinning and the birds are singing.   Spring is around the corner somewhere.   ;-p      

 with little bee-hugs,   deb-bee

Just me and my car.

15,000 miles maintance check-up and all is well, (knock on wood).  I had 2 stops, a x-stitch shop and a quilt shop in Elm Grove.  Everything was either cute or beautiful.  I bought a pattern at each store.

But there are punch needle designs that I need to order on line.  Check Country Stitches, Brenda Gervias' designs are the "I have to have kind".  I need to save for abit. 
   
 I hope the sun is shinning where ever you are.  ;-)

 with little bee-hugs,  deb-bee

Love is all a buzzz

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY  ;-)   To my DH,  you make my world go round. I love you with all my heart!!!  with little bee-hugs,   deb-bee

Wonderful....45 degrees

Who could ask for a better day???  45 degrees and all of the icicles are GONE!!!  The snow is almost gone from the roof.   The sun is shinning and the car needs a trip to the carwash.  My world is simple today.  Yes, simple and sunny at least for today.  Enjoy the day.  ;-)

with little bee-hugs,  deb-bee

36 degrees, but no sun

Spring is in the air!!  We just need to see some robins.  No, it's to early unless the had their winter jackets on.  And we all know birds can't fly with jackets or even sweaters on.  ;-)   
   Well, I haven't started my salt & pepper basket yet.  It was such a nice day, I had to be out and about.  My mind was not into weaving.  The pattern is in my mind, I just have to get it into my fingers.

                        Have a good night.    with little bee-hugs,  deb-bee 

Basket thoughts ;-)

It's 9 degrees outside with a windchill -19 degrees.  This coming weekend the weather is going to be great about 30 degrees.  That sounds warm these days.    Every year I make a basket pattern for Basket Bees that is given away at basket conventions or workshops with a wooden base.  We'd like all the weavers we meet at least to try a B.B. base.  They don't need glue to keep the spokes in.  So, I'm thinking of a small basket to hold  salt & pepper shakers with a woven handle.  Today I stained my base and I'm letting it dry overnight.  So now I'll seriously have to think about it's design.   Until tomorrow, the weaving will begin.  ;-)   with warm little bee-hugs,  deb-bee

GO PACKERS!!!

WOW, FEB. 6th  What an exciting game between the PACKERS & STEELERS!!!  I think all of Wisconsin will be celebrating for a long time.  It was great to see the players on the field holding their sons or daughters, such proud dads.  ;-)   Maybe I need to buy a Super Bowl shirt.  I do feel bad for the Steelers no one likes to go home without the prize, sad for them.  Tomorrow is the big rally, Return to Title Town at Lambeau Field,  $5.00 per ticket/limit 20.  Today they asked for people to bring their shovels to remove the snow.  Weather tomorrow is only 4 degrees, burrrrrrrrrrrrr to be outside.  I'll watch it on tv. where it's cozy warm.  Enjoy the day.  with warm little bee-hugs,  deb-bee

Back to the antique store

My mom fell in love with a little glass topped end table that would display her glass paper weights.  I managed to talk her out of buying it, $36.  Now, I'm going back to buy it for her birthday next month.  She will be so surprised!  I'm always trying to buy ahead if I can. Enjoy the day.  :-)  with little warm bee-hugs,  deb-bee

Antique Lover

It was a shop 'til you drop day.  I love antiques!  Today I bought a picture that has a design made with folded 1 dollar bills!  The dollar picture is about 12"x12" matted and framed.  I bought it for a birthday gift.  I think it will look great in his office.  Then I couldn't pass up 2 crystal sets of salt & pepper shakers  that might be made into snowmen.  Yes, I said snowmen for this coming Christmas.  I have to start early, I have at least 10 sets to buy.  They're going to be so cute, trust me.  Then I also bought a set of clip-on earring that I plan to use with the snowmen as rinestones wreaths.  Are they sounding cute yet?  stay warm.  with little bee-hugs,  deb-bee

Burrrrrrrrr-r

Baby it's cold outside!   15 degrees and looking forward to Spring just like everyone else.  It nice to sit this winter out, if you can.  Suround with beautiful things that give you joy.  It could be a good book, a picture to punch needle or a basket to weave.  There could be a Basket Guild in your area.  They're very welcoming and looking to teach beginners.  It does take practice, just like learning to play an instrumment. And yes, you do use water to keep everything pliable.  So, check out basketguild.com see if there's one near you.     with little bee-hugs,    deb-bee

My first blog! Feb 2, 2011

Hi and welcome to my first blog.  I hope this will be as much fun writting as it is reading the other very talented bloggers out there.  I feel like they're friends that don't know me, yet. ;-)  I enjoy many crafts,

but my favorite right now is punch needle and working with felt and wool applique.  oops! you can see I have a lot to learn ;-(      Any way, if you enjoy quilting,  Moda is having a blog hop.  It started Feb. 1st.  Everyday there will be a different designer showing the material they designed for Moda.  Enjoy!  I know that everyone is talking about the weather and how much snow their area had, well we had 15.6 inches.  Schools are closed as well as many businesses.  Just stay home and be safe.  with little bee-hugs,  deb-bee