I am off...

...like dirty socks!!!

Silver Bella

here I come!

The excitement that started at the beginning

of the summer for this wonderful

event has finally come to

fruition.

I leave tomorrow for 5 whole days!

All alone in this sea of glitter and glue.

Technically I am not alone but I am doing this

trip solo.

 I am walking into a

different world...one that I have longed to be a part of.

Creative souls learning together and

sharing pieces of their lives

with each other as they create and relax.

With my bags packed, my crafting supplies sent off via postal service and

my heart pounding, I bid you farewell for a few days.

I leave you with my inspirtation for this years Doherty Christmas.

PLAID

lots and lots of plaid!!!

Ruffled

Foret LA

Fun and Sassy Design

Borrowed and Blue

Ralph Lauren

My Hero

My next phone...

For the love of J Crew

and finally...a sweet party dress.

So with that being said...as I sit in the airport and relax in my hotel room

I will be visiting all of you my friends in blog land.

My time away has left me feeling empty and I look forward to

getting back in touch.

All my best to you!

Janet

Another birthday...

...for my little girl.

Today my Hannah Mary

turns 9 years old.

I never thought I would ever see

such a wonderful time in my life.

The joy that our children bring to me and The Accountant

is overwhelming and immense.

There are days when life is handing me a blow and all

I need to do is look into their eyes.

All problems seem to melt away!

These past few weeks have been a little trying for me.

I suffer from depression and an autoimmune disorder which

after much testing, we still can not define.

So in trying to balance my mental heatlh and my physical health

I am hitting many bumps along the way.

It is nothing I can't handle...because I know what I need to do and

I have the courage to confront it.

Our kids are nothing short of a miracle, as all children are.

It's worth the fight to battle forth and fight for the

right to enjoy each moment we have

together.

What I thought was going to be a sad and mysterious post about depression has taken a turn.

Looking through these pictures from Friday at the Zoo I no longer

feel down or confused.

I know what is important again...I am brought to center by the love

I have from my children and my husband.

 

What is important in life?

LOVE!

ENJOY IT TO ITS FULLEST

It is finally...

...over.

I think my friend Gina and I can finally relax and say with confindence

"A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL"

The party was amazing and all the hard work paid off.

Our friends and family could not

believe how it all came together. 

To our friends...you are amazing...you really brought

your A game!  The costumes were amazing and as promised

I will not post any of your pictures

I am going to just comment below each picture briefly as I think my brain

is done with Halloween and ready to move on to Christmas.

Some pictures are not that clear but I think you will understand the as you go along.

Front Entry in the day light.

Front Entry by the moon light.

Last minute adjustments with 

Gina and Janet.

( Gina is Tippy Hedron from the Birds and I am Hell on Wheels)

Family Room pictures by daylight...

I made curtains to look old and tattered.

Can you see the moth man hidden in the webs on the ceiling?

Dining Room Scene shrouded by curtains.

Front Entry by night.

Amber lights were used throughout the house.

I just loved the glow of the fire...

Christmas Lights with colored tissue.

.

Kitchen all ready for guests.

Now onto my favorite part of the party...the garage transformation!

Yes, this is the garage...

We painted tarps or drop cloths to look like graveyard scenes.

The stumps came from my friend Mary's house...she is a true

pioneer, she used a chain saw to cut them all for us.

They acted as tables and chairs...notice the nice table cloths and

custom cushions for each stump...

All the tree brances we used came from her yard as well.

I don't know what we would have done

without the free material...the other choice was hay bales.

The transformation and development of this table in the garage is my favorite.

We used the square kitchen table and put a round glass coffee table on

top of the square.

It worked perfectly because the torso (which was purchase on Etsy and is a true work of art) was our signature piece.  It fit the occasion and acted as inspiration for the garage.

This last picture is blurry but you get the effect of up lighting under the table

to cause everything to glow.  It made me so happy to see it all come together.

The Accountant and I had a great time... I was

able to roller skate around the house and

serve food and beverages to all.

Can you guess what The Accountant was?

Bucket full of money!

Still thinking....

Hannah was Vlad the Cookie Bunny from

Horton Hears a Who.

Maggie was a french maid...for two reasons.

She cleans up the floor for us but she also loves

to visit all the neighborhood dogs as well.

She is a tease.

Still trying to figure out the Accountant???

TARP

BAILOUT

Witchie Poo...

...I love you!

Just a short one today, as I must get to my

last swap and finish organizing my craft room.

Cindy Ellison

Plus, I think we finally, have the

Halloween House all decorated

and ready for next weekend's party.

I will post after the party as I don't want to

ruin the surprise for the guests.

Mantagni

My style has been going through an evolution as I told you in the past but, 

there are certain things that I collect on a continual basis.

One of them is Witchie Poos.

I love their faces, full of mystery and haggard good looks.

Surrender Dorothy

 

Kind of like me when I get up too early.

Enchanted Gypsy

I am not into today's wicken movement or anything magical.

I just like the iconic image and enjoy the folk lure behind them.

My Grandma Corky (Corcoran) was often referred to as a

good witch, because she had this

amazing talent of knowing something was amiss

before anyone would even tell her...

(not posting a picture of Grandma this time, I have to scan in some of the images since

she has been in heaven for some time now.)

Plus, she had this hysterical laugh...it was kind of a cackle but filled

with so much joy and happiness, you couldn't help

but laugh along and feel good in the moment.

This witch did not make me smile...she gave me more

nightmares than anything.

Yet, I have her in my collection to prove that

I have grown up ... but in the all truth, she still freaks me out.

Enjoy the bewitching spirit of Halloween and just have fun

with it.  It's evolved into a holiday of fun and frivality

for kids and adults who want to relive their

childhood love of candy.

The Peak of...

...perfection!

Well, this week in Sugar Grove, Illinois the colors

of fall have reached pure perfection!

The trees and bushes are at their brightest and most vibrant moments.

We have a newer home, our little trees have

big tree envy.  This one is at the entrance to our

neighborhood...

...as small as they may be, they have lived up to our

expectations and provided us with some

outstanding hues of red, crimson and gold.

As I drive to school each morning, I can't help but

be thankful for all that God has created.

I am going to enjoy this brief art show that God has provided us with...

Because I know...

... we will soon have a big,

driving, rain storm that will

take all the leaves

to the ground and end this spectacular display of nature.

It seems to happen every year.

By the way....

How many of you have these Japenese Beetles invading your home?

Did you know when you feel them pinch or bite you, they are actually peeing on you..

Thus, the terrible, horrible smell right afterwards, the one that you just can't get rid of.

Grossed out aren't you??

It's the weekend....

...what are you going to do?

I don't know about you but, I really look forward to the weekend.

It's a time when you can relax a little or get some long needed

projects done...with some assistance. (Hint, hint Accountant)

It's a time the family spends together without the contraints of

timelables or deadlines.

It's a time to breathe in and just take things as they come.

In the past week, I have read a number of blogs where we seem to be

focusing on dreams and finding what it is

that makes us really happy.

What makes me really happy ... WATER

I need to live on WATER.

I want my family to have the tranquility and serentiy that only

water can provide their souls.

For years I have dreamed about owning a cottage home on a lake

somewhere, anywhere, just take me there!

I have dreamed of what the exterior would look like, how many beds we can fit in

so that friends and family can visit us frequently.

I dreamed the kitchen would be big enough to accomidate a large crowd with

sandy feet and dripping wet swimsuits. 

It would have a large fireplace so that in the winter months we could

warm up by a roaring fire after ice skating and sledding on the lake. 

Big comfy couches and chairs would be covered in washable

slip covers and soft rugs would be underfoot when it came time to relax after

an exhausting day fishing, skiing, swimming, and just plain

breathing in all the fresh air that mother nature would allow us.

Life would be a little slower paced and relaxation would be the rule.

Yes, there would be projects and upkeep but, hey... your on a lake with a beautiful view,

you are blessed to have this kind of peace in your life...how bad could it be.

One day I know my dream will come true.

"The Accountant" has come around to understand

the magic that is WATER.

I only wish it would happen sooner than later.

I am kind of impatient when it comes this things like this,

but I also know that the right time

will present itself...this is an event not to be rushed.

God if you can hear me...I am really trying :)

Enjoy every moment of your weekend and if you are fortunate enough to live on a lake...

as you look out over the water and have one for me!

Wand's...

....here there and everywhere!

I have been busy in my "oh so messy" workroom lately.

(NO I WILL NOT POST WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE)

I am always happiest when my hands are busy creating.

So, let me share my latest with you.

First of all I had the pleasure of making a

gift for a very dear and talented

young lady.

Most of you already know

Kasey

of

Lola B's

Well...

Friends that she had recently spent time with

thought a wand suited her "Twinkle Toes" persona, and

sent one as a gift to Kasey.

Lucky for me, Kasey was having an open house and

I was able to hand deliver the special wand.

The wand came complete with charms of a shoe, the Eiffel Tower, a statue of Mary,

vintage laces and papers.

I hope you are enjoying the "Magic" Kasey.

Next order up...

Courtney

A mother who was looking for some extra inspiration

in her busy life of being a mother of three.

While talking she decided she wanted a bouquet of wands

to display on her bedroom dresser.

Each of the wands has a specific source of magic.

Faith, Family, Strength, Peace, Love

Personally, I couldn't think of something more fitting...

when you need a little extra bit of magic, you can pick the wand that

suits the occasion!

Then to my surprise... The ILash Girls

featured me not once but twice!!!!!

On Sunday they did a Surprise Feature

and a Giveaway

for one of my wands!!

Just for the occasion....

Fall Beauties

Thank you so much

Leigh Anne and Sherra!!!

I am honored that you enjoy the wands!

These will be listed in my Etsy Shop

or just contact me if you would like

specially created for you.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone...