thebagglady

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

2012-02-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

I HOPE YOU"RE HAVING A PRIM AND GRUBBY KIND OF VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

LOVE AND HUGS FROM ME TO YOU!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXO

FRAN.

I love me some Estate sales!!!

2012-02-09T19:13:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness today Sim took me to an estate sale! Just thought I'd share with you what I got!! I love these three bottles and they were only 50 cents each!!! The two red cap ones will be going in my kitchen and the fancy shaker in my studio. I love old bottles!!!!

This sweet embroidery cloth and baby shoe was in a 50 cent box!!!

This recipe box I picked up to replace a black plastic one I have that I use. I love the color of it. And this fruit bag I will diffently find something to do with. It will go in my kitchen. The box in my craft studio.

I got these two pieces of vintage material to make more of my Raggedy Dolls. I have been drawing new ones out. I can't wait til I get my muse back so I can start them!!!

And I got these two small muffin pans to use either for myself for baking or for sorting my projects I am working on. I got all of these goodies for $9.50. It was a great day of thrifting!! The house was really old and was actually three houses put together through out the years. Lot's of old barn wood. It use to be an operating apple orchard. I could have looked more but there were alot of people there. Everyone was having fun and kinda overwhelmed I think. Sim did get me a black typewriting table that he is gonna fix up for me to go with the vintage typewriter he just got me as a surprise!!! I can't wait to use that typewriter!!! Like I said I just gotta get my muse back!!

XO Love, Fran.

How do you mend a broken heart!!!!

2012-02-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

It has been a really hard and long week for me. I have been so blessed by my family and friends. I love to create and it is very healing for me. So I've picked back up where I had left off on my sewing and creating. My Mom was one of my biggest fans!

This is my newest Crow Doll. Once again I hand stitched the entire thing. I baked her up real good in my special coffee spice mixture. She smells so yummy!!! I made her a slip out of real grubby muslin and her dress is real prim with vintage buttons. I love this Crow Doll!!! She will be listed in my Etsy Shoppe soon!

I loved making these little shamrocks by hand from grubby green homespun. These will be listed in my shoppe too.

This is a tag I made for St. Patrick's Day from a manila folder and a Beer advertisement I picked up at Sim's store from the beer display. And a flower out of grubby green homespun and a button from my jar.

I signed up for a winter stick pin swap over at Tee's at www.thealteredpaper.blogspot.com. I loved doing this swap! I tried to make mine as prim as I could. My partner Oliva likes snowmen and prim.

These are the pins made to go in the little snowman pocket. I really loved making these pins.

Here are the pins I received from Oliva. They are so pretty.

I have so many ideals in my head to make. LOL I am drawing out patterns for more Raggedy Fran's. So I guess I am mending my broken heart by sewing and creating and going through my Mothers things and photos. I am falling in love with my Mom more everyday.

Thank you so much for all your prayers. XO Love, Fran.

My heart is broken.

2012-01-29T09:32:00.000-08:00

(Nana and Kaitlin)

My sweet Mama went to be with the Lord yesterday. I am trying to cope. I haven't blogged as it has been a rough week. She got very sick in just one short weeks time and passed away unexpectly. I was with her when she went home to Jesus. I realized my last post I did was on her birthday the 17th. My Mom is very much in my livingroom. I will be back soon as I love to blog and be with you guys. I am asking for prayer for my family and I. The support we are receiving is just amzing! God is good and so is family! Thanks guys.

Love, XO Fran.

Oh how I love Vintage!!

2012-01-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO MY VINTAGE LIVING ROOM!!!!

I have been working really hard to clean my living room for the last few days. This is my most favorite room to clean. It has so many family and vintage items that I display in it. This is the most fru fru room I have in my house. Kaitlin calls it my museum. LOL But when her friends come over they love it and think it's cool!! Sim and I put this room together when we were getting ready to get married. We had alot of dates at Antique Shops and Estate Sales. We have old family photos in here from both of our families. And some that are not in our family! LOL But I loved the picture!! I have the hardest time at sales not buying old pictures!! But I do control myself!! LOL This is a vintage dresser that we got and I have family jewelry boxes on it with alot of jewelry. I just bought the old jar that says 50 years together on it at the Goodwill for a $1.00. I put alot of my brown and gold jewelry in it. I do wear some of the jewelry in here. And I also use some of the purses.

I love old fur anything! I rescue it all the time from sales or people give it to me. This fur cape here was just given to me from a lady who passed who was cool lady!! She was so pretty and and very hip for her age!! I feel very blessed. I got some jewelry and a few other things too. See my mink teddy bears? I love them in my old train case!!

This is an old dresser vanity I reused from the Salvation Army a long time ago. I have these old pictures of guess who on there!! Me!! My grandma always took me to get my picture taken up in town. I remember those days real good!! LOL My favorite is the one with me on the phone. My Dad and Mom met at the telephone Company. They were divorced when I was two. I have alot of my rhinestone jewelry displayed on here. Sim made me the lamp out of old books.

I am just taking you around the room. This is my end table out of suitcases. I love leopard print too and have added alittle of bit of it here and there. I got the 50's lamp from a church sale. I have an old fur collar from a coat in the window with gold frame family modern pictures. And I won the silver creamer from a giveaway from the Tin Rabbit Blog.

I wanted to share this pic to show you three items I bought from local Esty Artist at Shows this past December. The old book page ball is really cool! I got the base from my Mom who was getting rid of it cuz the lid was broken!!! And the old Michelob bottle behind it, I found in the dirt a few months ago while out hunting just for junk like that!! The tag is from one artist and the paper and button flowers are from another artist!! I love it!! That tile there I will soon be upcycling with a old black and white photo I have and some old book pages. I will be using it for a coaster.

This corner is really cool with a screeen Sim made for us out of two vintage rockin doors. He put vintage knobs on there to hold my old purses. These fur cape is very special to me. It was bought for my Mom from my Step-Dad when I was growing up. She wore it alot!!!! I have a few of my smaller items displayed on this three teir 50's table. The coat is vintage and on one of my old manniquins.

This little display next to here is old vintage cupboard doors Sim made in to a screen for me also. I have old fur collars on it once again I rescued from sales. I was given the telephone and old camera on the little end table. This table use to be my Grandmas. She refinished it. I put the black knobs on. My Uncle Billy is in the picture. He was killed inan auto accident when he was 11 years old. I never him.

This is an old 50's vintage mirror we got at an estate sale and I display jewerly and my little shoe collection on.

This is Sim Dad's Marine uniform. We have it displayed with a few other things. We have all the letters he wrote home to his Mother.

We just seprated the flag, hat and a few other things over to this old TV cabinet. We had to use the trunk we had it on for our new TV. Trying to use what we have and save money. We put my Grandmas picture inside where the TV picture use to be. We had our other TV on top. We love this TV cabinet. We got it at an estate sale for $8.00. Well, that's it. I hope you're not to bored! LOL But thought I 'd share a part of me and what I love with you. Thanks!!

XOXO Fran.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO "CROW" ABOUT!!!

2012-01-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!

I sure have missed blogging!! I started getting better from my surgery and then I got a really bad headache which actually made me lay low for a few days. And then I had to catch up!! LOL But in the mean time I wanted you to see what I have been working on for awhile!! This little beauty is going in my Etsy Shoppe today!! I have been designing this Crow Doll in my head for awhile. And I wanted to make a Raggedy Fran all sewed by hand! And here she is!! What do you think?

This is her head and shoulders and you see the floss I used to sew her whole body. This is my own pattern. I grubbied everything up really good with my special coffee/spice mixture!! She smells yummy!!

I handmade her bagg out of a piece of white chenille bedspread that is really grubby. The rusty pop top is the only thing I used glue on. The strap and bagg part are all hand sewed in a blanket stitch.

I made her a grungey grubby Pin Apron. I pinned it on with big rusty safety pins. Her dress material I thrifted from a church sale. I love how she turned out. It was so funny when I was outside taking her pic there was a Crow in my Pine Tree Cawing!! I couldn't help but laugh!!!

I wanted to share with you a little Woolie Love gift I received from Trace at http://www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com/. She is such a sweetheart and just so full of love and fun!! I feel so blessed to have received one of her love gifts!! She has the best personality! She loves to create. She posted on her blog about crocheting. BUT she calls it CROW-HOOKY! I love it!! Since I love Crows I picked right up on what she calls it!! LOL

So, I thought I would share with you what I am going to CROW-HOOKY!! I realized that I don't share what I get thrifting alot with you. On Friday Sim and I went to the Salvation Army store. I found this really cool hat in the picture. Brand new and all made for me!! Yay!! I remembered I had seen that color yarn at the store a few weeks ago. So I went and got it and I am going to CROW-HOOKY a scarf for me!! I'm not the best at crocheting but I can do scarves.

I also wanted to show you what you can do with upcycling!! This is the end of our porch and it is a weathered pallet Sim brought home from work. Pallets are so available and used so much. We have a pallet on each end of our porch.

And this is another pallet Sim got from shipping from the store. He cut it up to the lengths he needed and made this shelf unit for his garage. It was a bigger pallet and not as weathered as the one on the porch. Amazing isn't it for a little bit of time Sim has a new shelf for the garage with no money spent!! I thank God for the little things He provides us with. We are so blessed and live a good life. Watch out you may never look at a pallet the same again!! LOL I am so glad to be blogging and seeing what everyone has been up to. Happy New Year a week late!!

XO Fran.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY BBF's!!!!!!!

2011-12-25T16:01:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY BEST BLOGGING FRIENDS!!!!

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to my best blog friends and share my front porch with you. We got alittle bit of a White Christmas here in Michigan. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We did and tomorrow we have one more party with Sim's boys and family! And Caylee Roxanne!!! Looking forward to catching up with everyone this week!! Thanks for all your love and prayers!!!

XO Fran.

While I was sleeping!!!!

2011-12-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, I had surgery on my bladder and while I was sleeping on the couch, Sim put up our tree!! We have a faux tree and this year had bought new colored bulbs to put on it. In colors I love that match the living room. Brown and gold. Usually we have all the traditional colors but for a change decided to try this. I love it!

He even put up the stockings with green garland and gold beads. Our stockings are very important to us. And as we blended our family together we found out that the stockings are the most important to us and something that has stayed consistent with our kids no matter how old they are. We go from the top down Sim and I and then each one by their age. I am so blessed that I have a husband who knows how important this to us and that he is willing to help out!! Sims boys will be up for Christmas the day after Christmas. I can't wait as Caylee Roxanne will be here too. She is 20 months old now and so cute! She didn't like Santa she was so scared of him. Poor Santa he makes alot of little kids cry!! LOL

And here is a rare moment with my girls!! I needed their picture together for a gift for my Mom. The girls of course had to be funny! I love it! I know everyone is busy getting ready for the holidays. I am trying not to stress about it cuz the real meaning of it is Jesus birthday. And the most important too is gathering together as families. I am so looking forward to that. And also thankful. I have been loving looking at all of the decorations that are being posted. I love reading all the family traditions and seeing all the talent that goes in to many of the gifts and decorations. I think we all needed a break from the stress we have each day. And Christmas is the perfect time for that!!

XO Fran.

My newest little cuties and some more Christmas Baking!!

2011-12-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

Here is my newest little cutie I've been making! I just love how these turned out!! I used old wooden spools from my jar. These only measure 2 1/2'. I even made the stick pins that I put in them. I still like the red and green colors. I have these two listed in my Etsy shoppe. I will be making one of these for myself. Maybe it's the 70's girl in me but I just love the mushroom!!

I thought they looked so sweet with my grubby Snowman ornaments.

Here is my latest baking project! This is another pumpkin bread recipe and I got the bread baker from Etsy. I love it and it turns out so cute!! I splurged and bought this for me! Oops! But I have also wanted one of these for awhile! I plan on making regular bread in it all winter. We finally got a new furnace last night! YAY!! We were without heat for six days! Oh my goodness so cold in this Michigan weather! That is why I have been doing alot of baking and cooking in the oven! LOL But God blessed us with a family member who did everything he could for us. And in the end he had to change the whole big brain part! No duct work though!!! And he only charged us a very small amount but we know that he paid for the rest. Yes I have been praising God and thanking Him for the Angels He puts in our lives!!

I'm off to see my son at his group home, somehow he sprained his foot. I need to go and hug him, and Kaitlin is taking him some Mickey D's, his favorite!!! The rush is on!! But I am still loving it!!

XO Frannie

Can I get a Woot Woot!!

2011-12-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today I was at a craft show. This one was so much better than the last one! I met some new people and really enjoyed it. It is such hard work. I love it when God gives you surprises. I met another Etsy artist and of course I did alittle shopping. I took some pics to share with you of my table and some of my goodies I've been making and selling.

These are just a few of my pin cushions I had left and my prim needful clothespins, and spools. In the background more of my Hot Chocolate Mix. I am selling that pretty good and my chocolate Nut Clusters were a big hit along with my chocolate cherry and orange slices.

Here is what is left of my prim grubby ornies. I love making these and I have them displayed in an old desk divided drawer with some faux greens. The bigger snowman faces are my ones made out of upcycled blankets. These are all hand sewed by me. My most favorite way to sew!! I sewed a couple of Snowman ornaments while I was there. I can't just sit there! LOL Anyways I guess this lady was watching and I didn't know it, and when I was done I put the first one done on the table for sale and she came over and bought it from me. She loved it! I sure got a hoot out that!! But was very flattered!!

Here are my Tomato Pin Cushions I put into an old canning funnel. These are so cute and I have listed these in my Etsy before and will be listing these little beauty's too this week. They are only five inches across. They look so cute and prim in this fruit basket and shredding. I added one of my handmade tags that says "Homemade".

This is also one of my upcycled "Nest" spoons I had left over from my Fall crafts. They turned out so cute. I had little battery operated tea lights sitting around on my table with my grubby coffee dyed doilies. And a couple of bigger red battery operated candles too. They look so sweet on there and are safe.

This is a pic of me being happy!! LOL Brooke took this of me after we got home from getting some supper. We were having fun and laughing cuz some of the pics were pretty funny!! I got a new headband that is so cool. It has fur on it and is a rosette. I just love it!! You can kinda see it in the picture. I love wearing these vests for the winter. You can wear them for dress up or just casual which is what I love about them. I so want a faux fur one!

This is the pic I took of Brooke. Funny story the craft show I was at just happened to be the same one that Brooke's Workshop was at also!! She volunteered to work on Saturday. So we hung out all day together. Well sorta she was at their table and I was at mine. I was so proud of her!! And we had a good day. We are both tired and were really hungry so went out to the Classic Coney Island up in town. Now we are both in our PJ's!! Our furnace broke down yesterday and needs a part but won't be able to get it until Monday. So we are both in our rooms cuddled up in our blankeys too!! Our house is pretty cold right now! Kaitlin left and went to her Aunts for the night! I guess we are troopers and will just stay bundled up!! LOL

XO Frannie.

How cool is this!!!

2011-11-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you guys are on Pinterest but you should be!! Oh my goodness the ideals are abundant and amazing!! Warning you will get hooked!! LOL

Kaitlin pinned this awesome ideal from Pinterest for our annual Christmas Cookie Exchange and Bingo party we have with our cuzins every year!! They turned out so cute and adorable!! Kaitlin actully named them "Reindeer got run over by Grandma" because on our way to the party we had a car accident BUT we are ok. It was a hit and run. My poor orange car is broken in the back!! Kaitlin has whiplash pretty bad and is on pain meds. But my Mom was with us and Brooke too. That is why Kaitlin named them that!! Now that it is over we can laugh about it. I know for sure that we have Gaurdian Angels watching over us. Now back to more good stuff!! LOL

Thanksgiving night I went to Walmart and waited in line for over two hours for this little cutey!! I have wanted one so bad for the last five years! So this year I dived in on all the sales!! Oh mylanta I can't believe all the fighting that goes on!! And grown women!! I was only at the 8:00 pm and 12:00 sale!!! I got this for less than $20.00!! It is a Hamilton Beach!! I am keeping it out on my counter til after Christmas. This is my pumpkin bread I make every year for the Cookie Exchange! I make banana too!! Everyone makes such cute things!! And we just wrap them up real cute and exchange that way!! There is three generations of us!! We all bring about 3-4 Dollar Store gifts and play Bingo for a few hours and that is our prizes!! We get real cute stuff and have a blast!!! I got the cutest snow globe this year and some other cute ornaments. One is a snowman that I am gonna coffee dye. We bring food and draw names for Christmas Eve. I am excited next year Kaitlin and I will be hosting at our house!! We love to have parties! So we can use things like what we pin on Pinterest!!

Here is another ideal we got from pinning!! This was a recipe for Tortilla Soup made in a crock pot!! I have been wanting to cook in my crock pot for awhile now. Kaitlin found this one too and I just went for it!! It was so easy!!! I was so proud of myself!!! LOL

This is the pot after Sim, Kaitlin and I had it for dinner last night!! It is super easy and I will share the recipe if you want!! We added tortilla chips, grated cheese, and sour cream to it like it called for!! Yummo!! I am so taking this to gatherings!!! LOL and I am going to for sure try more recipes in the crock pot!!! So that's what I've been up to besides working on more crafts for a show this weekend and trying to keep my Etsy up!! I also found out on Monday that I will be having surgery again for my bladder on December 16th. So I've got to get all my stuff done by then and all my fun in!! LOL Hey at least I can shop early and get some rest after that so I'll be able to go to our Christmas Eve family party. I haven't missed one since I was born a long time ago!! LOL We got some snow last night and it has really put me in the Christmas mood!! The sun is shining and the trees look so pretty!! I'm off to make some more goodies!! XO Frannie

The Bagg Ladies Day Out!!!!

2011-11-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

Hello!!

Well our day out at the craft show was sorta a bust!! But still we had a good day out together!! This show was more of an Business Expo than a craft show. I believe this was probably the problem. Not enough traffic in the craft areas. I find this happens sometimes I try not to let it discourage me!!!

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is starting!! We are going in many different directions around here! That's what happens with blended families!! LOL We will be seeing our little Caylee Roxanne tomorrow!! Can't wait for that! My sister-in-law is having dinner. My girls are off to spend time with their Dads. Danny will be coming home to see both of us and eating turkey at his Dads. I'm off to be a helper!! I am helping a lady I know get ready for out of town guests. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!! Love ya!!

XO Frannie

Here's what I am busy making and doing!!!

2011-11-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

I have been busy making gift baskets and just thought I'd pop in and show you!! I have this little gift basket listed in my Etsy shoppe but wrapped it up pretty to take to the craft show with me tomorrow! Once again Sim will be there with me. I am happy about that! We have had one rough week here! Sim had 2 Aunts die within 9 hours of each other. And then on Monday Brooke found out her Grandma had died. So we had three relatives from this house up at our funeral home. The funerals were on Wednesday, Thursday, and today Friday was Brooke's Grandmas. We also found out that they are closing Sim's Kroger store he is Grocery Manager at this week too. He will be transferred to another store but does not know where yet. It is closing the first of the year. So crafting and getting ready for the craft show sure has been a blessing!! There are alot of blessings in life and I am holding on to them.

Here are a few more gift baskets I made up. I have more done and more to pack up. I will share pics of the show, we are going tonight to set up. It's in a town about a half hour from here. Kinda a cool town. Like I said I am excited to re-focus and spend some time with Sim and Kindred Spirits.

Thanks for looking I'm off to make some candies and do some packing!!

XO Fran.

Today is this Beautiful Girls Birthday!!

2011-11-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

This is my daughter Brooke and today is her 31st birthday!! In case you haven't noticed she does not look like me!! BUT she is my daughter!! LOL None of my kids look like me! Why is that I wonder? She is a ray of sunshine at times and I love the sound of her laughter. She works at a Workshop called Freedom Works and they help her to get jobs. She makes jewelry and right now she is making the coolest bracelets out of the pull tabs from pop cans and ribbon. They are so awesome. She also loves dogs and was working at a dog grooming place here in Mt. Morris but the job ended, so she is hoping to get one somewhere else.The workshop is helping her to look. She is also working towards Independent Living in an Apartment. As you can see she loves to talk on the phone all the time!! LOL Brooke had seizures as a little girl at the age of 2 1/2 and it damaged her brain. She can't drive a car but loves to go bye bye with me alot!! LOL She is a blessing and pretty much a rock star at the workshop and loves to help others. Just thought on this special day I'd introduce her to you!!! Brooke and Kaitlin are half sisters and that is why they don't look to much like each other either!! LOL We will be celebrating her special day with a baked potato bar here at the house and some special cupcakes!! God gives the best gifts and that is why I am sharing Brooke with you today!!

XO Fran.

Meet my Friend Amy!!!

2011-11-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

Amy from www.lifeinpinkhitops.blogspot.com is so talented!! She can sew cook and remake just about everything!!! She is married with three children and she loves the Lord!! I have been blessed to be friends with Amy. We live in different states but I know she is always there! This is one of her new aprons! She upcycled this from a mans oxford shirt. She can crochet anything you can think of!!! Amy does wear high tops all the time and they are pink!!! She doesn't like to have her picture taken but this is her in the picture!!! LOL I just love this picture!!

Here is another one of her new aprons! This and other items she makes are listed in her etsy shop www.lifeinpinkhitops.etsy.com.

Amy is also very giving. She is having a giveaway for this apron on her blog. Stop by and say Hi and sign up to win this beautiful apron. Check out her recipes she shares too. I feel very blessed to know Amy and I just wanted you to meet her too.

XO Fran.

Birdhouses, Snowmen, Tramp Art, Hot Chocolate and more!!!!!

2011-11-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

Our Craft Show was on Saturday. These are some of the birdhouses Sim made. I couldn't get pictures til after almost all of his birdhouses were sold!! He was the man of the hour!! LOL These are his church birdhouses! I didn't get a picture of it but his Bluebird church has a communion glass insulator on the side of it. You can kinda see it if you click on the picture. Too cute!! He sold out of almost everything! and he is hooked now!! This is true barn wood he got from a 1800's barn.

This is a sample of his Tramp Art. This one is mine but he sold quite a few of these too. Also he made wind chimes from old vintage kitchen utensils and sold out of those too. He calls them wind clankers!!

Here are a few of my vintage chenille bedspreads. These smell so good I line dried them in the sun.

They would be great on a bed or used for crafts.

This is one of my new items this year. I made Hot Chocolate from scratch. I used to make "Spice Mocha Mix" all the time and everyone loved it and have asked me to make more!! I love putting them in recycled jars and fixing them up cute. I had to keep a jar of this for myself!! I almost sold out of it!!

This was a popular item also. My pumpkins are made from a upcycled vintage white chenille bedspread. I have one listed in my Etsy shoppe along with the two spoons I had left. I loved making these spoons!!

Some of my prim dress ornies!!

Here are some of my Snow People I made from my own designs. The two dolls are listed on my Etsy and the other ones I am listing soon. I love love making these kind of things!!

I sold Sweet Annie bunches and these were the stems I had left and I thought they looked so cute. So I made them in to some Prim Neeedfuls!! I used Christmas colors as I thought they might look sweet on the mantel or sitting on a shelf or table with other Prims. Oh the "Sweet Annie" smells so good. It helps with spiders they don't like it!! I also have a few of my small dried sunflowers.

I love doing these shows and have a few more coming up. I praise God for giving me the gift to create. And also the gift of a husband who is evenly yoked with me. Thanks for looking at my goodies!!

XO Fran.

Some Pumpkin love!!!!

2011-10-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

I love how this pumpkin turned out!! I made it from an old vintage chenille bedspread I got at an auction this summer! It was damaged so I decided to upcycle it!! I used my special treasures I picked up from our trip to Lake Huron. I have this listed in my Etsy Shoppe and wanted to share what I have been doing lately! I am getting ready for a craft show like I said at my church! I realized how much I miss blogging and checking in with you guys!! The show is next Sat. so maybe I can get back to reality soon! But I love being in the craft show show too! It is great fellowship and good food!!

I'll be sure and take pictures to share. Sim is going to be in the craft show too. It is his first one and he is making Tramp Art, Barn wood Bird Houses and Wind chimes made from Vintage Kitchen items!! They are pretty cool. It's cold and gloomy here a good day to work on creating!!

Love ya, XO Fran.

This is my Town!!!

2011-10-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share alittle bit of my hometown with you guys!! Lately as I've been riding through it I have noticed how beautiful it is. The trees are in full Fall Beauty and it looks like God has painted a masterpiece! This wishing well above is from my church. I am the co-chair of our craft show coming up and I wanted the church to be inviting and fixed up for Fall. On Saturday another lady and I went to the woods behind her place and clipped all kinds of natures beauty. First of all this was so much fun! We were riding in a golf cart!! As you can see God provided alot of nature for us!!! This wishing well is quite big and was empty!!

This is the Historical Marker outside our church and is the only Historical Marker in our town. Mt. Morris use to be different back when GM was thriving in Flint. There were alot of employees of GM living here and the houses were so cute and kept up. But as GM closed down our little town started to struggle. I have stayed in my town since I was 4 years old. Even the new house we want is still in Mt. Morris. Sim and I both love our town. His family history is here. We both study and know the town history. It's funny cuz the church and the City Hall will refer people to us when they are asked history questions!!!

I am the Church Historian and this cabinet in our West Room is filled with alot of history. In two years will be our 175th year anniversary. Kaitlin and I are starting to work on it now and plan on involving the community with alot events going on in church! I am so excited. I love how the top of the cabinet is decorated for Fall.

Our craft show is coming up the 29th of this month. I love co-chairing this event. I always have a table and I am working hard right now to fill it up. It's hard to get in Christmas making mood when the weather is so awesome and warm. I will share pictures of the craft show after we have it.

XO Fran.

This is why I love Bartering, Swaping and Trading!!!

2011-10-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome Match Box that Victoria at www.thingsIlearnfromBear.blogspot.com

made for me. I bartered with her for this awesome box! I had a new digital camera and she needed one and I wanted a matchbox with pumpkins and crows. Well Victoria out did herself. This is so beautiful for Fall. I love this saying it reminds me of the kids craving pumpkins when they were little and how much fun we always had.

Look how cute the ends are. She put little fruits as the pulls. She filled this up with so many sweet goodies!!

She also gave me this cool crow stamp and some orange pumpkin paper doilies also.

We were also partners in Tee's Halloween ATC Swap. This is the ATC I made for Victoria. I think it turned out pretty cute. The EEK is a vase I made and put little purple wild flowers in it. I love all the Fall and Halloween items that are everywhere!

This is the awesome ATC Victoria made for me!! Victoria has made me feel so blessed! Check out her blog for her other awesome things she makes. She is a rock star at making cards too! And her dog Bear is so adorable!!!

Here is what else I have been up to making my Bird Nests from my treasures from Lake Huron! I used an old chenille bedspread for the pumpkin part, a twig for the stem and lot's of natures gifts from the beach and a cute little black and orange bird. I love making these and will be listing this one and more in my Etsy Shoppe!! Thanks for looking at my goodies and blessings!!

XO Fran.

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

2011-09-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FALL!!!

Here is one of my Sunflowers I grew! Funny thing about this is I planted a whole package of seeds and I only got these two big ones!! It was either the birds or the squirrels or chipmunks!! Or better yet probably all of them!!

I plant these so I can dry them out!! They are so cool after they dry but the birds usually get them before I can bring them in! I have to dry them outside first darn it!!

But I am dreaming of drying them here at this place!!

And of drying apples too!!

And maybe churning some butter too!

I am also dreaming of living in this house!! This house was built by my husband Sim's Great-Great Grandfather named Simon!! There is a chance this house may go on the market!! We are praying and if it does we would love to buy it!! It is in Gods hands. I would appreciate prayers!! This house is in the same town we live in!! I have always wanted to live in a farm house! This would be the first house Sim and I bought together!! I could grow so many Sunflowers on this land and even if the birds did get to them I would still have some!! LOL There is the cutest little out building just for selling veges and whatever you want!! And a big barn and other out buildings! This dream is so much more of a reality than the Antique Shoppe I was dreaming of!! I looked back at those pics and realized this house and barn and outbuildings match that shoppe alot!! This property has more outbuildings than you can imagine! Wonder if God might have other plans!!

And this cute little outbuilding will be perfect for my Etsy items and projects!!

And these Mums are in my yard now reminding me of the beauty of Fall and telling me once again it's ok to dream. But when you give everything to God He can surprise you!! His beauty is everywhere!!

XO Fran.

It was a day filled with Love and Fun!!!

2011-09-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

~This is how love looks like 12 years later~~

This is Sim and I at Ryan and Christines Wedding! Still in love after all these years!! Sim and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary on Sunday!! Sim surprised me and took the day off!

Our most favorite place is Lake Huron in Forsester, Michigan this is where we take our vacation!

So Sim planned a day trip for us!! I have been upcycling bird's nest in different forms and on upcycled items for my Etsy shoppe. I haven't listed them yet but Sim knew I wanted more supplies from Lake Huron! I am so blessed that Sim understands me and appreciates what I do. It was a beautiful Fall day yesterday and so relaxing listening to the waves and looking for my goodies!!

This is me having an awesome time looking for God's amazing supplies to make art!

I dediced when I got home I would organize them into my vintage train cases. I thought they looked so cool I'd show you too!!

I will be listing my new Art Birds Nest this week! I can't wait to show you!! I have had so much to catch up on!! Having had my surgery just three weeks ago I am behind and I seem to be getting tired so easy! Hoping this little get away helped out!! I know I am very blessed to be married to Sim!

XO Fran.

Today is my Baby Girl Kaitlin's Birthday!!!

2011-09-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

Today this silly beautiful girl turned 21!! Oh my goodness I can't believe it!!! She is such a blessing to me and our whole family!!! This is her this summer as a camp counselor at church camp. She has been a counselor to 12 and 13 year old girls for the last five years!!! She is very active in many areas of church. She will be starting her Bachelors Degree next week in Family Development. She is the head of the Young Adults in our Flint District and she also is very active in the United Methodist Women. She traveled to Birmingham Alabama this summer for a National Conference representing the Young Adults for Methodist Women.

She is a big Detroit Tigers Fan!! And they won today on her birthday!! GO TIGERS!!!

She was the Maid of Honor in her step sisters wedding last month!!!

She is silly and goofy!!!

She has a smile that lights up the world!!

She makes me smile everyday!! This is her sister Brooke and I celebrating her day with her!! We had a big dinner for her which she also cooked!! We had pulled pork sandwiches, garlic fries, homemade cole slaw and for dessert I made root beer floats and we also had brownies. She loves to cook and I love to bake so it works out pretty good!! Today she made the pulled pork sandwiches in the crockpot .She used a Pork Roast and Faygo Root Beer and cooked it on slow all day. Then pulled it and put Barbecue Sauce on it. It was very good. I am so blessed!! XO Fran.

American Pickers were in Flint, Michigan tonight!!

2011-09-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

So we all have been waiting for this episode to air!! The buzz last spring was that Mike and Frank came to Flint to one of our Auction Houses and did the show and bought stuff!! It aired tonight! It was so funny cuz a couple people called to tell us the show was on!! We watch it every Monday night anyways!! It is a great show and we always learn alot!! The other day I went by that building when I was in Flint and it has been painted all blue now and fixed up alittle bit!! It use to be a Lumber store. It is quite big. Now I want to go there!! LOL Flint use to be the Auto City and it is so sad to see all of the closed GM Plants torn down and just vacant lots. But Flint still has a lot to offer in other areas. It was pretty flipping cool to have American Pickers in our state and so close to us!! Next time they'll be in the Motor City and that should be pretty interesting. Just thought I'd share something good about our city of Flint, Michigan.

XO Fran.

Check out this cool Etsy Treasury I was featured in!!!

2011-09-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Just click on the link below to view the entire treasury!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTc0ODA3NXw2NjQwNTQ1MjY/peter-peter-pumpkin-eater?index=0

I LOVE THIS TREASURY AND FEEL BLESSED TO BE LISTED IN IT!!

I am linking up to the Sunday Blog Party
@

http://byyourhands.blogspot.com/

THANKS FOR LOOKING!!

XO FRAN.

A few things to share with you!!

2011-09-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

AUGUST BLISSFULL ATC SWAP!!

Theme: Food

This is my awesome ATC Misty sent me. I love that she made it so personal. I love coffee and she loves donuts!! She made the sprinkles in orange my favorite color and used orange ribbon for when you open up the donut to revile the cup of coffee. She is destashing some of her stuff and sent me some of the most delish orange colored goodies! Misty has promised me that if we are ever close to each at some time we will have coffee and donuts together!

This is the ATC I sent to her. I loved making this one and it is my favorite that I have made so far. I recycled a tomato packaged and tab closer, filled it with red and green shredding and put a radish label on it with a jewel. Misty loved it and said it is her first 3-D one she has gotten.

I got my #4 envelope from Tee and this is what I came up with for some of it. I still have more to play with and plans to make a gift with some of it. Thank you Tee!!

I had gotten this cool pencil in a box of goodies from my friend Jackie. I thought the pencil was pretty unique on it's own but then I saw this picture of this bird in Tee's envelope. I added some of Misty's stuff and Tee's together and pimped out this pencil. Sorry about the pic I'm still learning my new digital and I haven't figured out how to turn the picture yet. LOL I'll get it one of these days soon. I don't like reading those manuels!!! LOL

There was this big pink flower so I attached it to this coffee filter to use as a holder for an ATC.

Then I made this ATC to put in to it and have ready for when I need it. It turned out cute. Can you see my blankey in the background? LOL I am still hanging out on the couch but am getting up more and even went out for awhile today!! Yay!! It is hot here again in Mich. and humid. Darn it I was kinda getting use to the Fall like weather and thinking about pumpkins and other Fall goodies! I can't wait til I can bake bread and some other new recipes I've gotten I want to try. Guess maybe I'll make No Bakes this weekend!!! They sound so good. We are going to have a cookout this weekend. How about you guys what are you doing for Labor Day? Whatever you are doing have fun!!

XO Fran.

Wedding, Computers and Storms Oh My!!!!

2011-08-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

BOO!!!!!!!!!!

Hi I sure have missed blogging!! We had my step-sons wedding on August 19th and we were out of town for a few days. It was a beautiful wedding and everything went great!! I will be posting pics real soon. But when we got home from the wedding there had been a bad storm and it hit our computer ,and one of our cable TVs and a remote. So we lost everything on our main computer and had to get new equipment for the TV. Our computer was at the computer store for a week!! EWWW!

Right now I am resting on the couch from having my surgery for my bladder on Friday. I am feeling alittle better today and looking forward to getting out real soon!! Thanks to everyone for your concerns. I didn't realize I was so attached or maybe addicted to the computer!! LOL But I guess when you blog you make so many friends and it is the only way really we can communicate!!! I feel so bad for the people that have been affected by Irene. I have been praying so much for everyone. One little small storm did that to our computer, etc. I can't imagine the damage that Irene has done.

I am sharing this pic of one of my new listings I am putting in my Etsy shoppe for Fall. Practicing with my new camera and new laptop!! LOL I have so much to catch up on but I wanted to stop in and say hi!! I have a few ATC's to finish and start. I am so looking forward to Fall and all the great things that come with it!! Take care, XO Fran.

It's ok to dream!!

2011-08-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

We found the cutest little Antique Shoppe for sale in the little town of Applegate, Michigan. I fell in love with it. I think about it all the time and how awesome it would be to have my own little shoppe. Oh I would have a coffee shoppe in it and sell my friends creations also. This shoppe is decorated so cute on the outside.

Oh how I love that rusty stuff!! LOL I guess I'll just keep on dreaming and know that someday if it is God's will I'll be able to have that dream come true!!

XO Fran.

Do you Barter, Swap or Trade? You should!!!

2011-08-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I went to the door to open it to let some air in and a big yellow envelope fell at my feet! It was from my adopted niece Jill at http://www.buckscountyfolkart.blogspot.com/ . She had made this little cutey for a surprise and a thank you. I sure love it!! I love Jill too. She has adopted me as her Aunt Frannie and I feel blessed. This little girl is a magnet and Jill knows I love cherries!! Jill is an amazing artist. Check out her post on the Halloween Mixed Media House she rocked out!! Oh my goodness it is amazing!! I went outside to take this pic and I put it on one of my rusty shovels on the side of the barn. It looked so cute!! A big hug and kiss to Jill!!

Here is what I altered with my Mystery Swap Envelope #2 I got from Vickie at http://www.thingsilearnfrombear.blogspot.com/. I always forget to take pics of the stuff in the envelope before I start making them! I think I get excited. The Souvenir paper was half of another one that had a postcard on it. I had been wanting to make a jar for my beach glass and stones Sim and I always get on our vacations. I fancied this one up with some of the beach glass, some feathers, shells, etc. The ribbon and the button are from Vickie. I love the way this turned out and I even had more stuff left over to make this cool tag!!

I just LOVE it and the way it turned out!! I had the little black bird and couldn't help but put him on the bike. She knew my favorite color is orange. Right now Vickie and I are bartering. When it gets finished I'll share it with you. I am still working on my book from before gluing pages together to make pockets. I have enough stuff left from Vickie to make an ATC card. I really like this Mystery Swap thing. And I really like the bartering. Trading, Bartering and swapping are alot alike. With the way things are in our country right now, doing these things can lift our spirits. Kinda put us back to the way America use to be maybe!! My other good friend Lori at http://www.Perfectisboring.blogspot.com/ home schools her girls and gets together with other homeschoolers. Lori is teaching these young girls about bartering through American Girl books and other things. That is what kinda got me to thinking about it. I am praying for our country. So if any of you are interested in Bartering, Swapping, or Trading there are probably alot of people out there who will. Let me know if you want to. I know Vickie and I are really enjoying it!! Thanks! and Love ya XO Fran.

Feeling groovy, a Mystery Swap, and Sale in my Esty Shoppe!!!!!

2011-07-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE

IN MY ETSY SHOPPE ON ALL MY HANDMADES

SALE ENDS JULY 31st!!!

I signed up for a Mystery Swap with Tee at http://www.thealteredpaper.blogspot.com/ . I can't refuse a mystery!! LOL We were to send our partners a regular size envelope with stuff to create a tag, atc, or whatever we wanted with at least 75% of what was in the envelope. Donna at http://www.redapplejunction.blogspot.com/. was my partner. Donna is so giving and I was so blessed to receive a larger envelope filled with great goodies! I thought and thought about it and I finally came up with the ideal of trying mixed media on this vintage book. I have been wanting to do mixed media so this was the perfect time. This book has been in my garage for quite awhile as my husband use to make lamps out of vintage books. This is a copy of a picture of this little child, but I fell in love with it. Not knowing if it is a girl or boy I decided to make her a girl and give her the name of Bree. These letters were in the envelope. Actually the only things I used of mine were some vintage lace , green jewels, the paper crown and the book of course. What I am going to do is use the inside of this book to put my other swaps for ATC's, etc. in pockets. Tee has decided this is so much fun she is gonna do it once a month. Sign up it is alot of fun! I know I want to! Go over to Donnas blog and see what she did with my stuff I sent her. It is so cool! I think I sent her way out of her comfort zone!! But she rocked it!!

So I am feeling pretty groovy I just got back from a couple days away with Sim again. This one was not planned and that made it even more special! While we were gone we went to an Auction and oh boy did we have fun! I did alot of cherry picking for the Vintage part of my Etsy Shoppe! Stop by my Shoppe up at the top and check out my "Christmas in July" sale on my handmade items!

XO Fran.

WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE PARTY!!

2011-07-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

WHERE THE BAGGLADY CREATES!!!!

Well I thought I'd join in on the fun this year for the "Where Bloggers Create Party" that Karen is hosting from http://www.mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/ This is my mannequin and I don't have a name for her, but I love her!! The fur coat was given to me when Sim's aunt passed away. It is a burnt orange color and I love it. The hat we found on one of our outings and it matches the room perfect.

These suitcases are on one side of the manniquin and the top suitcase was my Grandma's. She used it all the time. I keep supplies in it and put a tag on it that says "needful things". The second holds my yarn and I put a tag that says "winter thyme" on it. The last one I just got on my vacation and I love it. It holds treasures from our trip.

On top of the suitcases is an old rusty canning rack that holds jars of my supplies. And also some of my new tomato pin keeps I am getting ready to put on Etsy. Also an upcycled jar of vintage strawberries.

This is the closet on the other side and as you can see I use it to hold plastic shoe box size containers for alot of my supplies. I put curtains over the doorway.

Right outside that closet is my "bagglady cart". I really have used this as a bagg lady that I played at church and for Halloweens. I also use it for big outside sales and flea markets. But in my room I use it for all my mailing supplies. I use alot of recycled boxes, papers, etc. So I have to keep it out in the open. But that's ok I can easily get to it.

I love this old cupboard I keep my Etsy items I have listed in there and some more of my supplies. On top I keep old jars with different supplies and some vintage items too.

This a shelf I have over in the corner. I put some of my favorites on the top. A few of them have come from other bloggers from swaps and some are just friendship gifts and a couple of things I have made. My crochet hooks are in the wine holder and magazines are in the burlap container. On the shelves are my books to sell and papers for the computer and some more of my supplies.

This is a very cool primitive pouting chair that Sim got me for my birthday along with my inspiration gate. I put my "nest purse" on it that I upcycled from an old hat box.

This is parts of my inspiration gate hanging over my desk. It was hard to get one big picture of it so I broke it down. You can see I have some special things hanging on it from swaps, tags I've made, pictures, old hats, and a vintage baby dress a friend gave to me. The dried flowers Sim bought for me for my birthday too. I won the really cool purse from Debbie and Nicole over at http://www.maisonstgermain.com/. Stop by, their stuff is really awesome!! I still have room to grow on my gate!! I'm sure I'll have it filled up soon!!

I love using jars and these are my amber vintage jars. Most of these were my Mom's. She wasn't using them anymore so I asked if I could have them. They hold alot of supplies in them!! I love them. I use jars all over the place. LOL

This is my desk where I make things and look at books like this for new ideals. Notice I have to have my glasses everywhere!! LOL

I got these metal file drawers at an estate where one of our very popular jewelers lived. There are still repair orders in there. I am using it to file things too. The vintage pattern on top I want to make me a shirt like with some of my vintage material. I think that is a winter project though!!

And this is where I do my blogging!! I have to have a TV and always have my cup of coffee with me. That is our little granddaughter Caylee on our screen saver!! I got the kitchen farm table from some money I made from a craft show and Sim painted it green for me. It is perfect for our computer. I have to share this computer with Sim and Kaitlin but that is all they do in here. I love this room that Sim helped me to be able to have a place to create in. I love it and spend quite a bit of time in here. Thanks for stopping by. XO Fran.

It's Grannie Frannie Thyme!!!!!

2011-07-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

We had the greatest surprise on Friday! We got to watch Caylee Roxanne while Ryan and Christine went to a wedding class. Boy did we have lot's of fun with her!! She showed off for us and played. We have this old vintage swing out front and I have been wanting her picture on it ever since I got the swing!! We got some great shots of her and I. She is such a girly girly and I love it! Her most favorite blanket shown here in the pic is faux fur!! I asked her if that was cuz Grannie Frannie loves that! She came running to me and hugged me real hard!! My heart melted!!!

This is Aunt Kate (my baby girl) helping Caylee to eat her pizza! She loves to eat pizza!!

Sim put one of my vintage hats on her and she kept it on for the longest time!! That is Aunt Brooke (my oldest daughter) with her in the picture. The wedding is in August and she is gonna be the cutest little bride like her pretty momma!! You know I'll have lot's of pics of the wedding to share!!! XO Fran.

Wedding ATC SWAP!!

2011-07-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Our ATC swap for the month of June for Wendy's Blissful ATC Swap was a wedding theme. Patti (Electra) and I were partners. But Patti lives in Canada and they have been having a postal strike!! We did mail these out to each other back in June and both just received them this week!! Hey at least we got them!!! LOL This is the one I did for her. I did Jacqueline Kennedy from the day she married John F. Kennedy. I love and admire this strong woman. Patti told me that they were married three days before her birthday and this made it even more special to her.

And this is the one Patti made me!! It is so pretty and she put beautiful little details on it. It also came in a handmade envelope made from a bridal magazine with a bride on it. But the best part was that she put a William and Kate postage stamp on it!! I just love them and was so thrilled to have that on there!! They have been in Canada and Patti said they are such an awesome couple and William is alot like his Mother and the Queen. They are in America now I am excited to see where they go and what they do here!!

XO Fran.

Mother Nature's Beauty!!

2011-06-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

JUNE ARTFUL BAG CHALLENGE

For our June challenge we were to recycle something in to a bag/purse.

I had this old Sears hat box that was damaged. I kept looking at it and thinking I could make it into a "nest purse"!! When we were on our vacation we walked alot on the beach. I always pick up things. With this ideal in mind I picked up things I knew would make a cool nest. The only thing I added was some Spanish moss and a little egg that can removed. And I got some black trim from JoAnn's that kinda reminded me of feathers.

I love how this turned out and I am calling it my "nest purse" as I can carry it and pick up more treasures!!

XO Fran.

New items posted in my Etsy Shoppe!!

2011-06-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

I added a new section to my Etsy shoppe! Vintage jewerly! These vintage earrings are so pretty and shabby chic looking. I added some brooches and earrings from the 1960's also. There are more in my shoppe.

I also added a Farmer's Market section with my new Mushroom pin keeps. These little cuties are only 3inches tall and are made of old wooden thread spools and scraps of quilting material. I hand crafted these from a pattern in an old craft book I have. I have some new tomatoe pin keeps too that I will be listing in this section. Just click on my shoppe to see my other items. I will be adding more items very soon. Thanks for looking! XO Fran.

We found the cutest creek!!

2011-06-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

It's called CHERRY CREEK!!!

I found it on the map and asked Sim to take me to find it!! It winds down and around the farmers field and road. I fell in love with the name cuz I love cherries! We had this free little map we got at the gas station with the back roads on it. He gave in and we went on an adventure!

It's a little muddy looking but it winds through the farmers field and the cows drink from it!

This is Sim coming up from checking it out! I am so blessed that he will take me on the simplest adventures just because!! We realized it is only about a mile from where we stayed!! and it flows out to Lake Huron with the blue water!!

Thinking back on our vacation today and kinda wishing I go could back and see Cherry Creek again!!

God's world is so beautiful you can see it everywhere even in the simple things!!

XO Fran.

HEY THERE GIRLFRIENDS!! I'M BACK!!!!!

2011-06-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

I thought this picture was so perfect for the friendship I share here on my computer blogging. I have made some of the best friends and know you will be here for me for a lifetime!!

I have been gone on vacation with Sim for nine days! We went to Lake Huron here in Michigan. It is so beautiful!! Canada is just across the water somewhere!! LOL We stayed in this rustic cabin! I love it! Even though the bathroom is a little ways from it! LOL The weather stayed really awesome for us, only alittle bit of cold and one rainy day. We got up one morning at 5:30 am to watch the sunrise! I tell you it is beautiful coming up over the lake. I'll share pics later. We had no TV and no computer. We rode our bikes and did alot of walking!! We found beach glass and lot's of pretty nature things. Seen alot of deer and farm life.

This is the view I had from my chaise lawn!! I layed in it and read my Nancy Drew book!! You can hear the waves coming in and the sound was so beautiful!! All in all this was a great vacation and now that I am home, I feel refreshed and ready to create and get my inspiration/creating room organized. I love looking at every ones creative spaces. So I thought I'd join in on the fun over at Karen's http://www.mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/ "Where Bloggers Create Party"!! It's great discipline!! LOL I will be kicking out alot more items for my Etsy Shoppe. Guess I better get rocking!!

Love ya, Fran. XO

Just some random things!!

2011-06-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd show alittle bit of how my gardens look in the spring and early summer time. This is one of my favorite things to do making the gardens come alive after along dormant winter!!

Here is one of my very favorite spring flowers my clematis vining on a roll of rusty fencing I found in the garbage!! I love this!! I give God the credit for the flowers in my Garden though!

This is a very old vintage and rusty sewing machine I keep in my garden that use to be my babysitters I had when I was a little girl. She was like a grandma to me and I resuced this from her barn. I have the base inside my house and use it as a desk in my kitchen area.

This pic is of my garden that I say God plants every year for me, I just pull out the weeds. My lilies come up on their own and there are also marigolds that come up on their own that I first planted 23 years ago when I moved here. They are just so beautiful in the Fall. And that is a picture of my car in the background I didn't plan that but there it is! I love my car and call it Cheetah, Sim and Kaitlin think I'm crazy and laugh at me! I don't care though!! LOL

Welcome to my porch!! I have a few bikes here and there in my gardens but I put this cutey on the porch this year. Yes those are real roller skates. Aren't they cool? They are red, white and blue and go so well! The squirrel knocked it off already and broke the one flower but I can't get mad at him!! LOL We have alot of funny things that happen here cuz of the birds and animals. We just say we live in happy tat!! I love it!

So I've been working on my gardens and trying to get them done. I also have been working on a few swaps and ATC's. And getting ready to go on vacation with Sim for a week!! We are headed off to Lake Huron! I can't wait!! Here is a cute little swap I did. We took a 3 1/2'" piece of paper towel roll and decorated it in any theme we wanted and made it into Whimsy Pocket. I made mine red, white, and blue for my partner Gail!

XO Fran.

Nest Sweet Nest!!

2011-05-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is a robins nest out in my back yard. You would not believe where they built their home!!! We had three big trees cut down in our backyard a few weeks ago. We are building a raised garden bed and we have not had time to put things back or in new places yet. I pulled down one of their nest from the kids old fort and they sure were upset. Then the next thing we know everytime we went out the back door, there was a robin flying. This is on my potting table and the rusty container is an old paint can!! I mean very rusty!! The funny thing is I rusted that paint can out on a dirt road in the winter time. They had started to rust and just needed some help! LOL I have a couple of them! Sim and I would go out there every so often so I could turn them!! This is one of the most rusty ones!! LOL Gotta love it though!!

Here are a few more of the pictures! Isn't Gods world so beautiful and amazing!!!

XO Fran.

May Blissfull ATC Swap!!

2011-05-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well I went and did it I got hooked on ATC's! Wendy over at http://www.blissfullatcswap.blogspot.com/ has a swap every month with a different theme. She ask me if I wanted to join! And of course I said yes. My friend and adopted niece over at http://www.buckscountyfolkart.blogspot.com/ tried to tell me how addicting they are!! LOL I was paired up with the sweetest gal Debbie at http://www.iamsimplydebbie.blogspot.com/ . The theme for May was the movies! Debbie found out that I love Nancy Drew and she made this for me!! I love it!

Isn't this so cute, it is alittle booklet with the theme of the swap on the front. It is tied with the coolest ribbon in my favorite color orange. Debbie said the ribbon is from West Germany.

The booklet opens up and has different pages on it. On the last page is a little pocket where she put the ATC!

And this is a cute little note card she made me and tied it around some microwave popcorn!! Her presentation was so great! Thanks so much Debbie I love it all!

And this is the ATC I made Debbie. It is from the movie "Some Where In Time". This movie was made in Michigan up at Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour. It is an awesome movie. The movie was made in 1979 and kinda revolves around a 1979 penny and their love story. So I put a penny on it with a picture of them and used a vintage flower with some tulle and jewels and steam punk paper. I also sent her some Mackinac Island Fudge coffee with it. I really liked doing this swap and I am already signed up for next months swap!! LOL You were right Jill!!

XO Fran.

May Artful bag challenge!!

2011-05-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

For our May challenge we are making paper purses again. I couldn't help it I just kept looking at the kleenex box in my bedroom thinking I know I can make a little purse out of that. The pattern is a real pretty green with white designs. I took the sides and cut them off and glued them together. Then I took some old lace I had and trimmed the bottom and up at the top by the handle. I made the handle out of some silver wire that I strung an old white necklace on I bought back last summer that was broken. I glued a shiny white button for the clasp. I love how this little purse turned out. It measures 3 inches tall x 4 inches wide. I decided to get some pictures of it outside with the only flowers I have in bloom!!

This little purse reminds me of Spring and I will be putting it in my bedroom! Look around, you never know what you will find!! XO Fran.

Caylee Roxanne is one years old already!!!

2011-05-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went down and celebrated Caylee's birthday!! She is so adorable!! There was alot of family there to love and embrace her!! In this pic she is looking at one of her presents!! To cute!!

Here is a picture of Papa Sim with Caylee and his son Ryan, Caylee's Daddy. By this time she was getting pretty tired. We had alot of fun and good food.

And this is my baby girl Kaitlin Louisa! She just finished her last year at Mott Community College with high honors!! She will be attending another college in the Fall and still be at home. I am so proud of her!! Seems like just yesterday she was a baby!! God has blessed me with such an awesome family!! XO Fran.

Sending Love and Prayers and Angels to the people effected by the storms!!

2011-04-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today as I was watching out my window and praying, this little sparrow kept coming up to the feeder to eat. It reminded me that GOD keeps His eyes on the sparrows and feeds them, so how much more will HE do for us? I have had a heavy heart for the people of the south and been praying alot. So many of you are from the south. I love all of you so much. And I will continue to pray and know God is there for you.

Thought I'd also give you a laugh for the day. I heard this noise outside by the window and when I looked, it was my squirrel! I had my camera and said through the window to him, "Hey baby it's me, your Momma"!! This is how he looked at me!! LOL He is so cute!! And I call him "Cutie-Pie"!!! God's world is so amazing!!! XO Love, Fran.

Here's what happens when I'm suppose to be resting!!

2011-04-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

I had this jar I got and it has a crown on it and the word crown. I have a crown paper punch and decided I would punch crowns and make confetti and put it into this cool jar. I love the way it turned out!

I took this vintage book about "LOVE" written by Leo Buscaglia in 1972 and punched out 178 pages of crowns. I am estimating that there is well over a 1000 of them. I am on the couch resting from surgery and this was easy for me to do. I tied some coffee dyed cream seam binding on to it and put a crown charm on a grubby shipping tag. I have listed this in my Etsy for sale. I think this would be great for a wedding or shower. XO Fran.

" ATC Swap" for our April Artful Bag Challenge!!

2011-04-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Our challenge for April was making an ATC . We could swap if we wanted to. So I was partnered up with Wendy. This is the ATC I made her. Our ATC had to have some sorta bag or purse on it. I loved this picture of Audrey Hepburn I found. She is at the airport so I put "come fly with me" on it. I also used rhinestones from the bridal department for her earrings, necklace, and on her purse. I used black netting for the bottom with a black flower in the corner. I stamped a black heart with wings up in the top corner. This was my first ATC card I made. And yes now I am hooked!!!

This is the ATC that Wendy sent me. It is so pretty. I love the little chain on the purse for the handle.

She titled this card "The Lady's Purse. She has a really cool blog: http://www.blissangels.blogspot.com/. Thank you for swapping with me Wendy!!

I am thinking about making a Royal Wedding ATC this week! haha It's all that's on TV. I am on the couch for the week as I had my surgery for my bladder to have my medicine put in again on "Good Friday". I am getting bored! LOL But thank God for the TV, pain medication, and being creative!!

XO Fran.

Raggedy Fran's "RABBITS FOR SALE"!!

2011-04-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

HAPPY SPRING!!!! I AM HAVING A PRE- SALE OF MY RAGGEDY FRAN PRIMITIVE RABBITS FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF MY ETSY SHOPPE!!

THIS IS MARIGOLD!!!!

MARIGOLD IS MADE FROM TWO MEN'S SHIRTS I THRIFTED AND GRUBBIED UP WITH MY SPECIAL COFFEE DYE AND BAKED. SHE HAS A PRIM TAG WITH HER NAME ON IT, AND BUTTON EYES FROM MY AUNT MARY'S BUTTON TIN, AND A BIG VINTAGE BUTTON ON HER DRESS. SHE HAS A POUCH THAT SHE CAN CARRY HER GARDEN TOOLS IN OR PUT THE FLOWERS SHE PICKS FROM THE GARDEN. MARIGOLD LOVES TO SPEND THYME IN THE GARDEN!

($24.95 includes s/h)

THIS IS MRS O'HARA!!!!

MRS O'HARA IS MADE FROM VERY GRUBBY FLANNEL FROM MY SPECIAL COFFEE DYE AND BAKED. HER DRESS IS MADE FROM VINTAGE MATERIAL, AND BUTTONS FROM MY AUNT MARY'S BUTTON TIN. SHE HAS A PRIM TAG WITH HER NAME ON IT. MRS O'HARA IS LOOKING FOR A LOVING HOME!

($24.95 includes s/h)

My Raggedy Fran's measure 17 1/2 inches long. They do have a small loop on the back for hanging or they can just sit. I will be having my Grand Opening soon for my Etsy Shoppe! I am so excited! Wish you could come over for a cup of coffee and some of my homemade banana bread for it. If you are interested in my Primitive Raggedy Fran Rabbits just email me.(thebagglady@comcast.net) Thanks so much!!!

XO Fran.

What I did for my birthday!!!

2011-04-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday it was my birthday and Sim took me out for the day. We went to Holly Michigan. This is an old town that still keeps it's history. It has alot of Antique shops. But one of my favorite shops was "Holly Hills Primitives". The shop owner is Dawn and she is a blogger too. http://www.hollyhillsprimitive.blogspot.com/ She took my picture while I was there and has it posted on her blog. You can see more of the inside of her adorable prim shop on her blog. This cute picture of her front window with the clothesline was one of the first things I noticed when we drove through town. So cute! It was pretty cool to meet my first blogger in person!! Dawn was so sweet!!

Sim and I have been looking for a garden gate for the longest time for me to use for my inspiration board in my new studio. Sim was so sweet he found one on Craiglist! and surprised me with a road trip on Friday night. This is the first time we have ever bought anything on Craigslist. He hooked up his trailer and we drove Friday night down to the town of Saline Michigan. The lady was also very sweet and she had the most awesome primitive house I've ever seen!! She took us inside to see a few things!! It was like walking into a prim shop!! Every room was prim. She even took us out back and showed us her guest house and greenhouse, and backyard. It all was very cool.

Sim and I have been very sick lately with this darn cold we keep passing back and forth. But we both sucked it up for my birthday and spent the weekend together. I love our dates!! I'll show pics of my gate soon, it's already up on the wall over my desk and is perfect!! XO Fran.

Getting my March Artful Bag Challenge just in time!!!

2011-03-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Our challenge this month was to take any kind of bag we had around the house and embellish it. I remembered that we had gotten this canvas bag at a yard sale when we filled a bag. It actually had been in Sim's trunk since then. I am not a horse person but just kept thinking about it. I also knew we had a photo of Sim's Dad when he was a little boy on a pony in the front yard of his house. We are out of ink on the computer so I took the old photo up to Rite-Aid and had a copy made. It is alittle yellow but I think it gives it the old look still. I put it on one of my handmade coffee dyed tags I make. I also took the bag itself and grubbied it up with alot of coffee dye and cinnamon. The bag had been washed before. I had the burlap webbing for another project I never got around to. The gold star in the corner is covering up an ink stain. The black netting and pearl rosette was a bobby pin I bought from the store on clearance. I just cut off the bobby pin. I really like the way the bag turned out.

We saw Caylee Roxanne over my Mother-in-laws this weekend. Sim put her hat on Caylee and I took a picture of them!! I thought the hat goes really well with the bag!! And it is a picture of Caylee's great Grandpa on the pony. He died before Sim and I were married. So the bag means alot with the picture on it.

I still can not wait til this yucky winter weather leaves!! I have been so sick the last few days with a sore throat and even a fever!! I just want to get some spring cleaning done and the house all cleaned so I can create more!!

XO Fran.

Hello and Happy Spring!!!

2011-03-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

I was pretty sure Spring was here. I saw my first Bluebird!! and my first Robin last week. In the first pic there is a bluebird on top of the feeder and down in the right corner a Robin!! BUT I do live in Michigan and there is a Winter Storm watch for tomorrow with snow, sleet, and freezing rain. I hope it stays up north of here!! I am dreaming of gardening and being outside!!!!

I thought I'd share with you what Kaitlin and I have been doing. I know so many people are having tough times right now and we are no different. So as one of our ways to cut back and try to get ahead we are couponing!! We work together. Cutting and sorting, and matching sales is a job. But we figure we are making money by doing this. We are planning meals too and eating much more healthier. Here is a picture of the last two receipts from when we did our shopping.

We call this our extreme couponing!! On March 4th we saved a total of $105.49 with a savings of 50%, and on March 18th we saved a total $104.57 with a savings of 53%. That makes a total savings of $210.06 in two weeks!! We shop at Kroger's, Sim is a grocery manager for them. It helps with our gas too. Now that our family and friends know we are doing this, we are getting alot of coupons given to us. I appreciate it so much! I have also been using coupons for eating out. It's kinda funny cuz I'll say, wait I think I have a coupon for there! Sometimes it makes the decision alot easier as where we are going!

With having more stuff in the house we were able to make this really good Greek pizza last night! Our church ladies make soup-to-go once a month and yesterday at church they realized the refrigerator wasn't working.So the bread dough started thawing. They were selling little baggies of it for a donation so they didn't have to throw it out. So for a $1.00 donation we made this yummy pizza! We had everything we needed and this kind of pizza doesn't need sauce. Kaitlin is a very good cook, and does alot of our cooking. I'm pretty good at washing the dishes!! LOL I love to bake more than cook. I am really looking forward to more couponing and saving. I am also looking forward to being able to get out and garden and ride my bike.

XO Fran.

This is the Stuff!!!!

2011-03-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd share a picture of Caylee Roxanne with you!! She is getting so big and will be turning one next month!! She has the most beautiful blue eyes like her Papa Sim!!!

I wanted to share this video with you. It is my favorite song right now! It reminds me of myself so much! I did lose my keys for two days and I never know where my phone is!!! So I guess it's ok to laugh at yourself and then remember just how blessed you really are!! Cuz I know I am!! I have been adjusting to some new medicine. I think it's gonna work for me it's just gonna take some time. I am resting alot with it. I have been creating but would like to do more. I am working on the curtains for my craft room and messed them up! That's what made me think of this song!! So I keep telling myself "even in the middle of my little mess, I am very blessed!!

XO Fran.

Here is my February Artful Bag Challenge!!!!

2011-02-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

For February's challenge we were to recyle something we had around the house into a purse. I decided to use this little box that I got a Kashi bar sample I had sent away for. The box was a really cool triangle shape. This little purse measures about 7 inches by 4 inches to the top of the handle.

This is how the box looked before I made the purse.

I also made the purse so that it opened up and used some of my leftover leopard paper from last challenge on the inside. I knew I wanted to make it so that it matched my livingroom again. I had this fur material piece that was just enough to cover it with a little left over. The handle was a challenge for me. I knew I wanted it to stand up. I found the cool trim with the tulle ruffle and chain at JoAnn's for 40% off with my coupon.This is from "The Project Runway" trim line. Sim told me about this black electric wire I could use. So off I went to Rockwell's Hardware and the guy who helped me looked at me kinda funny when I told him I was making a little purse handle out of it!! LOL It worked out perfect and only cost me 27 cents!! I also used a vintage button on the front that matched perfect too. I decided to keep it kinda simple as I liked the look. I had alot of fun making this. I am looking forward to next months challenge!! We got some more snow and had a snow day on Monday!! I will be so glad when Spring does finally get here! Hope everyone is staying warm and safe.

XO Fran.

PS That Kashi bar was really delicious!!!

Last night was date night!!!

2011-02-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

Last night was Friday and it is open mic night at Borders. This is one of our favorite places to go for alot of reasons. It was very sad this week to hear that they might be closing a few of their stores and are filing for bankrupt. I am saying my prayers they won't close the one in Flint. I am also praying for all the others in the US, because I know alot of Home School Moms get their resources there, and buy the bargain books for their children. I always get my hot Chai Tea Latte, and a warm cookie, and sit and look at the magazines! I have been taking my Borders cloth bag with my notebook and pen in it!! And yes I do take alot of notes!

These were my two favorites I looked at last night! I made a promise to myself that if I get the things done that I need too, I can go back and get the Altered Couture one!! Oh my gosh there are such cool clothes in there that are altered, I want to try to do!!

And the other reason we go is that this young man on the right works for my husband at Kroger's. Brian and his brother Gerard play so awesome and put alot of work into their music. Brian can sing really good. Gerard can really jam out on his guitar also!!

We have had a really tough week around here. Sim's Uncle passed away and it just seemed like alot of things were happening. A very special lady in our life gave us a gift card a while back for us to go on a date to Borders. I have stretched that card out!! LOL So that we could go on a few of them! I praise God for her being in our lives.

Today I went to JoAnn's with my coupon and got my thread I need for the curtains!! Now I am so excited to get them done!! One of the things I have to get done before I get that magazine!! And I also now have all the stuff I need to finish my Artful Bag Challenge for Febuary!! So it looks like I better get busy! LOL

Tomorrow we are suppose to be having another winter storm! For the last few days it's been sunny and in the 50's!! I have been loving it!! But I do live in Michigan so I guess you just never know what the weather is gonna be like!! My vote is on the 50's and sunshine!!!

XO Love ya, Fran.

Where Women Create!! and the caring hearts that go with it!!!

2011-02-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog friends!! Anna from www.frostedpetunias.blogspot.com had a giveaway back in January. The giveaway was for a "Where Women Create" magazine. She realized that she had bought two of the same one. I signed up and I won!! I actually found out I had won on my Mom's birthday!!! Anna didn't have any power on the day she was having her drawing, but she did it anyway!! Anna is pretty cool and very talented! I am doing her Artful Bag Challenge for the year! I am working on February's right now and we have to recycle something into a purse! I am having alot of fun!!

This is the magazine I got!! I love these magazines! Anna is so sweet she made me this heart for my craft studio!! Right now I am trying to find a gate to put above my desk area for my inspiration board. Of course it has to be just the right one!!

My room is almost done, we are just putting the finishing touches on it and I have to get the thread to make the curtains! I keep forgetting to take my swatch with me when I go to JoAnn's in Flint!! Darn it!!

Every Monday night Kaitlin and I have to watch this show!!

"Pretty Little Liars"

Does anyone else watch it? I think it's the Nancy Drew in me, cuz it's a mystery and you really have to keep up with it!! I love it!! Plus I get to watch it with Kaitlin!! while Sim watches his Pawn Stars show. Then I go and watch American Pickers with him after that!! I really like that show too!! Oh what would we do with out TV? Umm maybe I'd get more cleaning, laundry and creating done!! Laughing at myself, but that's okay!! At least that's what I keep telling myself!! Take care.

XO Fran.

Once Upon A Fairyland!! Far Far Away!!!

2011-02-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share with you my new adventure I told you about in my last post!! I am now a vendor in this cute little consignment shop out in Lynden, Washington!! It is called "Once Upon A Fairyland" Jackie from http://www.jacquelines-land.blogspot.com/ is the store keeper!! She is a very awesome person and her life has been so blessed! She actually grew up in a place her parents created called, "Once Upon A Fairyland"!! Her story will fill you with laughter and tears! But it is always magical!! I am now vendor#7!! This is my first consignment gig. I have had my stuff in my friends Antique shoppe, but it wasn't on consignment! I am learning something new!!! And I am having alot of fun!! She is very helpful and sweet as honey!!! I want to share some things I have sent to her cute little shop!!

I sent out some of my little prim dresses and prim stockings and little pin cushions! I am excited and have a few more things I am making and going to send on it's way!! Jackie loves cute stuff! Check out her blog for all the cuteness you can stand to see!! I am going to share a few of her consignment items she already has set up in such cute displays!!

This is one of my favorites!! The aprons are so adorable! But my favorite are the little tiny ones she makes!!

Jackie herself is selling Watkins products! If you're interested just get a hold of her and she can send out a catolog to you! Isn't this just the cutest display cabinet!! Her husband is such a big support to her and makes alot of the displays for her!!

She has jewelery too! I love the look of the vintage cabinet and the different little displays on it!!

Of course I had to show you this vintage Nancy Drew book! She has lot's of vintage and retro items! Lot's of dolls, gnome items, minatures, etc. etc.!! If you get a chance go to her blog, she updates dailey all of the cuteness that is coming in!! Her Grand Opening will be in March!! She can ship!! Jackie gives God the glory for her new adventure and I do too for I get to be a part of it!! God has shown me once again that "I CAN"!
XO Fran.

My paper art challenge!!!!

2011-01-26T22:39:00.000-08:00

So I decided to join The Artful Bag Challenge over at Anna's http://www.frostedpetunias.blogspot.com/ . It is a year long challenge and each month we will be doing something different. Anna is so sweet and very helpful! This is part of my "I CAN" challenge for myself!! At first I was alittle hesitate but realized it is exactly what I love and like to do!! I won a giveaway from Anna a few days ago. I won a copy of "Where Women Create" and she made me a very cool heart shaped Valentine. This little paper purse looks bigger than it is. It is only 2 1/2 inches high by 5 1/2 inches wide. I made it to match my livingroom. I pinned it to one of my mannequins that has a vintage fur collar on it. And my other one has my collection of fur jewelry and gold dog jewelry pins on it.

I love the way this looks on my coat so I think I'll keep it there for awhile. I can't wait til next months challenge, it's gonna be so much fun! And I already know what I'm gonna do!! I am also doing another new adventure, one I've been praying about for awhile and will be posting on that as it happens!! And of course I am still geting my new studio (I like that word!) organized and ready! It's a work in progress still, but I'm taking one day at a time!! Take care, XO Love, Fran.

Hello and yes "I CAN"!!!

2011-01-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

I have decided that my words for the New Year are "I CAN" becuz I always think I can't when I know I can!! For example I was so scared to start my blog, do a swap, and even sign up for a giveaway! Well I've conquered all of these and more! I have made so many wonderful friends through this! I also know that "I CAN" open an etsy shoppe like I've been wanting to. I just have a few things I need to finish before "I CAN"!! I have been organizing and of course at the same time I keep distracting myself with wanting to be creative!

BUT I couldn't help myself and wanted to show you just alittle something I did! LOL I know this isn't the first one made like this and I can't remember which blog or blogs I've seen them on, sorry! I love brown as you probably know it's one of my favorite colors. In the first pic this is Hull USA pottery cup and sandwich plate that are alittle bit older dishes. I found the cup on my vacation in the summer for 25 cents and the plate at Salvation Army here in Flint for 45 cents!!I also got the wine bottle for 25 cents on my vacation and just got the cute snowman hat and scarf 75% off after Christmas this year!! I just took E-6000 and glued the cup upside down to the bottom of the plate. The cute ceramic cupcake on top of it, Kaitlin got me for Christmas

from Kohls. The second one I picked up the cup and saucer at Salvo also and they just happened to be half off and the whole thing cost me 30 cents!!! The ceramic cupcake on that one I got at an estate sale for a dollar! And of course my doilies are thrifted!!

Just before the holidays came around I had signed up for a giveaway from my good friend Amy at http://www.lifeinpinkhitops.blogspot.com/ , she was giving away an apron! I was so excited when I found out I had won! Cuz that girl can sew and makes the coolest stuff! Sometimes upcycling things into new things that are amazing! I am wearing the apron in the above picture and I wanted to share with you and Amy what I already had when I opened up the package I couldn't believe how perfect they matched! It is a salsa bowl and tortilla warmer!! Check out her http://www.lifeinpinkhitops.etsy.com/ ! She rocks!!

I also have been making these dishrags! I use to make them just awful! LOL to small and crooked! So I had Sim go onYou.Tube for me and found out I was using the wrong size crochet hook!! The guy who was showing how to do it said make them big, so I did!! LOL I picked this color to match these cool napkins I got for a gift!! Right now I am making a pink one for Valentine's Day!

The bible says that all things are possible with God! and that is why I also know "I CAN"!!

Take care, Love ya, Fran. XO

The best gifts from God!!

2010-12-30T09:20:00.000-08:00

Kaitlin got her car stuck in our ditch! The boys came to her rescue!(with alittle help from Sim!)

Ok, so I put myself on sick leave from the 17th to the 3rd of January. Telling myself not to do anything! Just rest! But the holidays came and it was so great! I get tired easy, but I loved being with our families! We are a blended family so lot's of gatherings and eating! This year I got the best presents, I love the way family knows what you love! (besides them!) I got to see my son Danny for Christmas Eve. Great present! I got a new printer, so now I can learn and get my Etsy going and kick out some creations. Sim got me lot's of organizing tubs, shelves, etc. I've been working on using them! My new years resolution! Kaitlin got me new cookie sheets, cuz when she went to use mine for her Pumpkin rolls she makes, she found out I've been using them to coffee dye my tags! Opps!! My step-son Ryan, Christine, and Caylee got me a New York and Company gift card! OMG my favorite place to shop! I wear their clothes all the time! But I decided after yesterday going to this big mall called Great Lake Crossings with Sim and Kaitlin, I'll be going by myself for that one! They shop really fast and they're done! Me I have to look at everything!! So here are some random pics of my best gifts!!!

This is my oldest daughter Brooke on Christmas Eve!! and below is Danny and Kaitlin!!

The day after Christmas we celebrated with Sim's family! It was Caylee's first Christmas! We were so excited!! Lot's of love and fun!!!

This is Caylee-Bugg eating the DVD we got her!

Christine is Ryan's fiance' and Caylee-Buggs mommy! We love her alot!!

My step-son Nick and his new girlfriend Tara!!

Papa Sim and Caylee-Bugg!

This is Ryan, you can't see much of his face, but he's showing "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to Caylee-Bugg. Great Grandma, Sim and I read it to her and it's the one from Hallmark that records it!

Well, "Happy New Year" to my blog friends and family! I am so excited to see what 2011 will bring to us here on the land of blog!! I know lot's of fun, swaps, and friendships! Thanks to everyone who has been holding me up in prayer! God is awesome!! Love ya, XO Fran.

It's Christmas time!!!

2010-12-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

This is my morning coffee break friend! This squirrel is so darn cute! It will look right at me, when I talk to it. I don't think that makes me crazy, does it? But if you ask my family they would probably say I am! LOL We are having a winter storm right now here in Michigan. All of our schools in our county are already closed for tomorrow!! It's the first big real snow of the season for us! But that means we'll be having a White Christmas! Yay!!

I haven't blogged in a super long time, but I thought I'd show why! I've been doing Santa Workshops and Craft shows and working like a little elf!! Here are a few pics from my last craft show of the season, I did yesterday. It was my best one I did as far as selling! I had a few people come back from last year hoping I was there!

This is a cute little gift bagg I made up with bubble bath, etc. the bagg it's self is so adorable!

These candies were a hit! Most people got them for stocking stuffers, and some got them for themselves to eat! They are very good. I sold quite a few of my little shoe pin cushions!

These are little baggs I made up for people to give their dogs. I sold out of these. I made a few cat goodies too. A couple of ladies were buying them for their grand-dogs!! Too cute!!

This is the end with my gift baskets. Can you see the berry baskets I put teapots, teas and candy in? I just love how they turned out! You can't see it, but I have them on Sim's old sled, he had as a kid. I like the way it gives height to the table.

I realize that people like the unique little things I make, like my gift tags, and little gift baggs too. They also like my display pieces! I usually just go out in my yard or potting shed and get something to use. These two are my favorites. The one in the back is an old berry picking crate. I got it at an estate sale. The one with the greenery and ornies, I found in the trash. It is part of an old desk drawer.

Now the rush is on for Christmas. I really have to kick it out and have pretty much everything done by this Thursday. I have been having problems with my bladder and alot of pain. So, I will be having surgery on Friday again. I am praying I will be feeling good by Christmas Eve. I'll be spending that with my son Danny, and the rest of my family and cuzins! I've done that ever since the year I was born! We have alot of fun, and food!! We stay home for Christmas day. But the day after Christmas we will be spending it with our little cutie pie Caylee Roxanne!

It is her first Christmas and I can't wait!!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas. It probably won't be til after the holiday that I blog again. I have missed you guys, but have been checking in.

Love ya, Fran. XOXO

Wow it's been a long time!!!

2010-11-21T20:47:00.000-08:00

I guess I've kinda been in a funk lately. I kicked my own butt physically but I am getting better. I lost a good friend to cancer very fast and his funeral was this week. His nic name was "The Harmonica Man" and his wife had one of the bands he played with do the music at his funeral. Our church was packed and the house was a rocking! What a tribute to a great man who will be missed greatly.

I thought I would show you the little owl candy holders I made out of toilet paper rolls a while back. They turned out so cute!!

I want to show you guys the Halloween Shaker I won from Jill http://www.buckscountyfolkart.blogspot.com/. Her daughter Mary picked my name. There are better pictures on her blog.

She has opened a new etsy shop, http://www.buckscountyfolkart.etsy.com/, where she sells these wooden sewing thread spool ornaments and much more. Jill is self taught and very talented .

I feel so blessed and thankful to all of my blog friends. Such giving and caring talented ladies. Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and I count each and every one of you as a part of my blessings this year!

I am working like an elf getting ready to do more craft shows and a couple of Santa workshops at the schools. I will try to post more pictures of them as I do them. I am also trying to get to the cool sales the stores are already having!! I've been using alot of coupons I've gotten in the mail. Kaitlin and I have been doing our grocery shopping using coupons too. Our last trip to Krogers we saved $76.00. It is a great feeling to do it. It takes a little more time but well worth it. I hope you all are getting in on the savings too. But I don't think I will be getting up real early on Black Friday! LOL How about you?

XO Fran.

thebagglady's day out!!

2010-11-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share a few pictures of some of my other things I make. Saturday was our Craft Show at the church. It was not as good as the one last year. But I did alright and plus I love the fellowship. These are all that is left of my "Raggedy Fran's" I make. I sold one, her name was Vivian Viola. And I know the lady who bought her, so she went to a good home! The very grubby prim bunny on the left side is made from two men's shirts I thrifted! I named her "Marigold". I put a few marigolds from my yard in her little pouch. The bunny on the right side is the first ever "Raggedy Fran" I made!! She is from vintage material.

As you know me by now I love the primitive, grubby, and grungey look. Here are my "Barn Kats". I sold one of them. They are really cute and have a little hand sewn vase on their cheek with sweet annie in them! The two faces I call "olde raggedy" and they are very prim!!

These are my Christmas ornies. As you can see they are very grubby too. The Santa faces are about 6x3 inches, and are made out of grubbied up flannel. The little Santa hats are 4 inches long by 3 inches at the bottom. The love material I made some of them out of is retro and I got it at an estate sale. Oh how I love the estate and church sales to find unique material.

Here are my primitive hand-sewn candy canes. They are sewn out of red ticking like material and tyed with strips of Kaitlin's old prom dress! By now you probably know I use anything and everything!! LOL They are 7 inches long.

Below are my prim stockings. I have more of these. The cream colored ones are made out of grubby flannel with cutter quilt pieces around the top, and the other one is from grubby camo flannel. They are 18 inches long. This one has fuzzy fur like trim. I have one I made with black trim from my friends jacket sleeve she cut off! She got a laugh out of it. But that's why she gives it to me. She knows I'll eventually use it!!

And I wanted to show you how that same friend of mine who was running our cafe' presented her home-made from scratch carrot cakecups! The little grubby doily under the vintage glass tea cup is one I primmed up.

One of my favorite things I did at the show was bartering!! This lady who makes really cool hand made soaps that comes every year, came over and asked if I ever bartered and if I wanted to! Of course I did!! Alot of my things are one of a kind. She got two of my prim jars I recycled into sewing pin cushions on the top, and had prim clothes pins and smaller flowers I hand sewed in them. I found these cool jars in my barn and the rims were all rusty for me!! Maybe now you know why I call myself the bagglady! LOL You never know what I'll find or I'll come up with next!! So if anyone sees something here they would like to barter with me for, just let me know!! Or something you want to buy! Oh I have more goodies in the making! AND the room is all painted "macaroni"!! It's sunny and yellow and I love it!!! The computer is back in place and sitting on my husbands old desk from his Navy days. Now the fun begins!!! Decorating, but I also have to organize!! Both fun things to do!!! XO Fran.

It's me again!!!

2010-10-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought I'd share a few pics of another swap I was in this summer! It was Lori's from http://www.perfectisboring.blogspot.com/ "Polka Dot Swap" she has the neatest swaps and I always look forward to them!! My partner was my friend Jessica from http://www.jessicarodarte.blogspot.com/. She herself loves polka dots, and she is so talented. I did hers in colors she loves, aqua, pink and yellow. Let me tell you I had a blast thrifting and antique shopping for her!! She has more pictures on her blog. She loves images of little children so I got her a few books. The dotted swiss material I got from one of my favorite catholic church sales I look forward to every year. I got alot of the vintage items at one of my favorite antique shops in alittle town not to far from here. I had alot of fun putting this together for Jessica. I wanted it to be special, as she is pretty great herself.

Now check out what she sent me and made me!! Can you understand why now I love these colors!! Orange and brown!! She made this awesome pretty pocket organizer with brown dotted fabric and cool orange flowers! She did a swap for these organizers, I was alittle scared to try to make one, but now I know I can and will! I was so excited to get one!! and she makes the covered matchboxes too and put a coffee tag distressing kit together in it! Love it! There was a button jar with orange and brown buttons in it, with a large orange flower on top. One of her empherma kits, and a bingo card wrapped in trims! and can you believe even my favorite candy matches!! I borrowed these pics from Jessica. She posted about our swap on her blog. Check it out, she has more great pics on there. I love Jessica she is a rockstar.

Sim and I went to my nephews wedding on Saturday night. Ok I hate to have my picture taken. Sim's cuzin Denise took this from across the table with her cell phone. It's not to bad. I am my own worse critic, I needed to fix my bangs!! I noticed I am hanging onto his tie. In our wedding picture I am hanging on to his sleeve! lol I don't know why!! It was a beautiful wedding all done in fall colors and decorations. We got to see Caylee our grandaughter!! We even danced alot!!

I am crafting away as much as I can. My first craft show is in two weeks! Oh boy! I am co-chairing it again at my church. I said I wasn't going to but they needed the help! I'll show ya some pictures of my goodies soon! XO Fran.

My Vintage Vacation Swap goodies!!!

2010-10-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

This summer I joined the Vintage Vacation Swap that Jenny from Everyday is a Holiday hosted. I knew I'd love this one!! My swap partner was Carola from BoxwoodCottage. She is from Germany and is so sweet and talented!! Her blog has lot's of eyecandy!! She took me on a trip to the North Sea. She unselfishly painted this adorable wicker child's suitcase white, which was hers as a child!!! She soldier's charms and made the cool charm with the Eiffel Tower on the front and an Eiffel Tower lemonade advertisement on the other side. The wicker suitcase has greenish millinery flowers, a silver "F" attached , paper tag, and lacy heart attached. Inside were these very cool vintage binoculars in the original case she got at the flea market and a pretty black tin with big flowers on it. Inside the tin were some German candies. Also included was a vintage fan, old black and white photo postcards, a small envelope that was sent in the mail and postmarked in Germany, the writing is also German. A small paper umbrella for a drink, some millinery flowers, a very pretty bookmark and some Sea Shells form the North Sea!! This is so cool and goes in my bedroom just perfect. The funny thing about the binoculars is that I knew as soon as Sim seen them he was gonna love them! Well guess what he has them displayed on an old vintage book of his in our room!! I knew it!! LOL You can go to my flicker badge and see what I sent her. I took her on a vintage vacation to Mackinaw Island with the story of the movie "Somewhere In Time" that was filmed there. Carola loves creams and white. I sent her alot of vintage goodies. She has great pics on her blog, http://www.carolsgarden.blogspot.com/ . I think doing swaps is so great, because I have met some of the coolest ladies this way, and now consider my friends. I am very blessed. It's funny cuz there was a time I hated the computer and didn't want anything to do with it. Now Sim and Kaitlin laugh at me and say I am on it more than them. I don't think so!!!! But I am still learning this computer stuff. Alot of it goes out into cyberspace!! For real!! XO Fran.

Getting back on my feet!!! and a few more creations!!

2010-10-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

It feels so good to be getting back to reality after a week pretty much spent on my couch!! Here are some of my little prim and grubby dresses I make. They vary in sizes, from 5-6 inches, to 6-7 inches. I have put little grubby tags on them, labeling them for different things the little girls might to do. I put a pin apron on the chore dress. They have twig hangers tied with jute to hang them on pegs or wherever you like. I have a few more of these made up and ready to be grubbied up! I am geting in the crafting/sewing mood! On my first outing yesterday with Sim, we went and got the paint for my craft room! I am so excited!! The color is called Macaroni!! I wanted the color to be like the color of burlap. I am making little candy holders out of toilet paper rolls right now. They are turning out so cute!! I'll show them when I get them all done. The trees are so pretty here right now. I just love Fall. XO Fran.

Are ya ready for another one of my creations?

2010-09-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

Here are three very grubby and prim dresses I made. These are probably one of the grubbiest things I have made, or maybe not! The dress part is sleeveless, and I used a linen type fabric. I gruubied it up with coffee and spices and let them dry on clothesline outside in the sun. The little jackets are ragripped and sewn. The sleeves go out straight, because I put a small branch from one of our trees through them like a hanger. I tied a loop on the twig in the same material as the dress. I have alittle tag that says prim dress on it with a little safety pin. These dresses are 18 inches long, and a little close to 17 inches across the sleeves.

There two with ticking material jackets, one is alittle lighter blue, and the other one is more navy. And one has little hearts that are mauve with a lighter blue print. I loved making these. There is just something about prim dresses I love. I also have some smaller ones made from calicos and homespun I will show you next. I wanted to get my etsy started, but due to me having to have surgery on this Friday, it has put me behind. Any of my creations you see you are interested in just let me know. I'll be back soon with the little dresses!!

My gift from God twenty years ago today!!!

2010-09-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

My daughter Kaitlin was born 20 years ago today! So hard to believe!! She's already in her third year of college!! She is a hard worker and high achiever. She is very involved with our United Methodist Flint District and is the head of the Young Adults for all of the Flint District. She is putting together a Breast Cancer Walk through the United Methodist Women for the Flint District in October. She is designing the shirts, and they are green and pink, and say "Walk by Faith". Which is what she does.

She is a special sister to her brother Danny who is autistic.

She is a best friend and a big Detroit Tigers fan!!

She is a beautiful young lady and a blessing to our life.

Happy Birthday Kaitlin!!

Thought I'd show you our little Caylee Bug!!

2010-09-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Caylee is four in a half months old now. She's smiles alot and always seems to have this cute serious look on her face!! We went down and had a cookout with the boys and their girls. It was a beautiful day. Caylee is so cute, of course!!

Here is Grannie Frannie and Caylee just chilling in my lawn chair. I got two of them at an estate sale. You can see part of my daughter Brooke in the yellow one. Note that mine has brown and orange! I love them. This is Labor Day weekend and I can't believe summer is almost over!! Today our weather was really chilly and windy!! I loved it, I made a pork roast in the oven, and was loving the heat in the house!! No humidity!! I even canned tomatoes!! I got 2 quarts and 3 pints!! It's gonna be so awesome to have them for chili this winter! and the best part is the tomatoes were given to me, free!! Sim and I went to a bomb fire tonight, very chilly and alittle rainy, but it was nice to wear jeans and sweatshirts!! Kaitlin and I did alot of cleaning and getting stuff for a benefit rummage sale for a family in need. It feels good to be able to pay it forward and still get some things done here. Suppose to be warm again tomorrow. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. XO Fran.

Sharing some love, friendship, and a little nesting!!!

2010-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Back in June my friend Lori did a bird swap! I was on vacation and tried to sign up through email stealing wifi from behind a coffee house. Well, me and computers, mainly me do not work well together, so I sent it to cyberspace, one again. When I got back I resent an email to Lori that she actually got. The swap was already assigned, but Lori has the biggest loving, caring heart, and said she would swap with me. I really love crows. She does not!! But she sent me some cool things. I wanted to share them with you. One I am saving to show with my Fall decorations. Lori knows I am planning a new craft/studio. So, she sent me this awesome burlap holder with black birds on it and she tied all of these ribbons on it. I have decided on these colors for the room. And of course my favorite brown and orange.

I've put my Where Women Create magazines in it. They fit perfect and I only get them with my 40% off coupon from Joann's. Most of the time I go to Borders, have my chai tea, warmed chocolate chip cookie, and look at all the magazines!! I am always writing things down. One of my favorite dates with Sim.

Lori made this awesome sign for my new room!! I put some of my favorite things with it!! The birds nest is a real Robins nest that Sim's Mom gave him for his birthday if he came over and got it!! He got two of them!! Those robins build some awesome nest!! I love my coffee and this coffee cup! This special sign will be going right over my desk area where I can see it!! The weather is finally starting to break alittle here in Michigan and that means we can start painting real soon!! I can't wait!! Thank you my friend Lori for letting me put alittle bit of our friendship in a room that will mean so much to me.

A few pictures and memories of our vacation!!!

2010-08-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

This is Lake Huron, a small beach in Forestville we found. We love this beach as it is usually not very busy. These were in the water from a family that was resting on the beach. We just thought that was an awesome picture.

On our first weekend, we spent the day at a Civil War Re-enactment. It was amazing! The people really act like that time period. One of my favorites was the cemetery walk we did of the Civil War veterans of the town of Port Sanilac. There were quite alot of men who were in the Civil War. This is the guy who led us around to all of their graves and gave a brief history of them. Of course my love of history made this such a special thing for us to do.

These guys did a gun salute for the memory of the Civil War veterans, and taps was being played in the distance from a bugle. We all had our hands on our hearts and looking at the flag. I couldn't help but cry.

This man here who served for us, had a farm he and his wife raised their kids on, and farmed their land until he died. We were going down the road M-25 that follows Lake Huron. And I saw a road sign that said Basler. There are alot of farms and dirt roads around this area. I said to Sim, I know that name is one of the Civil War veterans. So we went down it to see if the farm was still standing. Couldn't tell, but this is what we saw on this very special road!!

The beauty of God's World.

I loved this movie!!!

2010-08-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

I went to see this movie with one of my best friends!! Before the show we had lunch at Applebee's with a gift card she received for helping out at a wedding a few weeks ago. We went to the noon showing and the tickets were cheap!! So not only did I see an awesome movie, and spent time with a friend, we were very frugal too!! Which made it even more fun!! I didn't read the book, but I believe everyone who sees this movie will get something different out of it. You laugh, cry, and do alot of thinking!! At least my friend and I did!! It is so easy to relate to this story of Liz, in many ways. I hope you all get a chance to see this one, and my advice is go see it with a girlfriend!! Have some chick time and laugh and cry together!! XO Fran.

It's nice to get away, but it's good to be home too!!

2010-08-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is The Raymond House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Port Sanilac, where we stayed on most of our vacation! It is an old beautiful house restored. It has nine bedrooms!! That also includes the Inn Keepers. We had the most wonderful breakfasts!! Christy is the owner along with her husband Gary. Christy and I bonded over creating!! She has a gallery in the back of the Inn. She makes the most awesome things! She is making china plate pins, earrings, and bracelets. She cuts the plates herself and puts the jewerly parts on. Every year Sim and I go to Port Sanilac, Michigan this time of year for the annual Antique and Yard Sale around the Thumb. It is almost 200 miles long! Sim and I only make it to a couple of cities. It takes all day, and it's three days long. We like to go on Friday. The first day. I was on the hunt of course for cool vintage items. Especially sewing, black and white photos, etc. I did find quite a bit. I save up dimes all year for this, and had a yard sale of my own. I also had something new to look for!! Christy showed me everything there is to know about china!! LOL So I found a few items for her too! She said as a thank you, she is going to send me a pin!! There was a plate I fell in love with!! It was gold,orange, and black!! Just my colors!! Sim has even got in on the creative bug now!! She told him he should start making and selling with me! That's what her and her hubby do!! So, he is starting to make very prim wind chimes!! He got the coolest rusty and other type things to start making them with!! I'll show a pic when he gets one done!! After the weather gets better I'll be kicking out some items too! I am so excited about the cool things I got!! My mind is creating but my laundry and house are calling me!! Shucks! Hope everyone is staying cool. It's good to be home!! XO Fran.

Just alittle something else I made!!!

2010-08-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is one of my grubby prim stockings I make. I am sending this one out in a swap I am doing!! I just love making things grubby! Sometimes I think I get a little to grubby!! But, people seem to like it!! I think I finally feel like I am geting my mojo back!! I wasn't going to co-chair our Church craft show I do every year, but they talked me in to it!! I am excited to set a table up and sign up for some more shows in the area. I will be also opening that etsy around September! Right now it is way to hot and humid!! I am so looking forward to the Fall!! These stockings can be used all year round and look pretty hanging anywhere!! I guess even on my rusty gate by my door!! This seems to be my prop for my grubby things!! I think rust and grubby go hand in hand!!! At least it does for me!!! XO Fran.

Thought I'd show you another one of my creations!!

2010-07-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

These are my Knob Heads that I made out of door knobs!! I designed these myself and I have a snowman head drawn out too!! Ready to make!! I made them with very grubby muslin that I coffee dyed. I used old buttons and hand sewed the eyes on with floss. I sewed on yarn for the hair that I grubbied up. I also used one of my grubby tags and pinned them on with rusty pins. I LOVED making these. I can't wait to make more!! I will be putting these in my esty shoppe!! XO

God's beauty is everywhere!!

2010-07-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

This is an old windmill in the thumb of Michigan. We were just driving down a back road on our vacation and seen this!! I love it! The first picture looks like a sunflower to me. It is an abandon windmill in a farmers field, just standing there by its self! It amazes me how God's beauty can be found in some of the most unsuspecting places! It's things like this that keep reminding me, that if I look around me I can see God, even in an old run down rusty windmill in a farmers field!! XO Fran.

Some days you just want to climb the walls!!

2010-07-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

This is a picture from our vacation that we took in June! Of course I was goofing around. This is a historical chimney in Port Hope, Michigan. You can see beautiful Lake Huron in the background. Today I do feel like I am climbing the walls! Our dryer broke, so I am washing and hanging clothes out on our clothes line, but it is 94 degrees out!! Because of the holiday our new dryer won't be here until Thursday!! You know I think I really do appreciate modern technology, even though I love vintage and old!!! Hope everyone is having a great Monday. XO

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!! to my awesome blog friends!!!

2010-07-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

I was reflecting back to one year ago and realized I didn't even have a blog yet!!! This is the first tag swap I ever did and no blog!! The support and help you get on the blogs is just amazing!! I love to make tags so I jumped right in!! I had to make 17 tags!! Jessica who hosted the swap was so fun and helpful!! I remember my first swap was a Nancy Drew swap and Lori who hosted it was so supportive and I made a friend who loves God and life!!! She still helps me out to this day when I need it!! I finally got my blog and I am so thankful!! Now I am trying to take that leap and start an esty shoppe!! Still praying! but I've learned if God wants me to do it and I hang on tight, He's there to guide me!! I've had some cheering on from some of my blog friends, and also my family and friends, to do it, and that really encourages me!! So, I'm gonna kiss it up to God and hang on tight!! and also give praise to God for the women who are encouraging me and have shared their stories!! HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!! to my awesome blog friends!! XOXO

Just some things I love to recycle!!

2010-06-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Just thought I show you something I love to make!!! I've been making these little pin cushions for awhile now. People just love them at the sales I sell them at. It was kinda funny how I got the ideal for them. I kept seeing a little girls dress shoe on the side of the expressway I always travel on. I kept thinking I can do something with that. But knowing it's to dangerous to stop on that part of the e-way. I didn't get it. Then one day I was looking at my cutter quilt pieces and thought I know, I can make pin cushions combining them both! Plus I love to make the tags too. I always buy any cutter quilt pieces I see as it breaks my heart to see people cut them like that. I also use vintage materials. Right now is the time of year I pick up the sweet shoes, and look for more cutter quilts at the sales. These are the ones I have left right now. My next adventure of using something to recycle from the expressway is the brown liquor bottles I see!! This time I did stop and get one as it is a safer place to stop. I told my friend and she just kept saying" you really stopped and got the bottle?" She couldn't believe!! But I did!! LOL and my daughters friend came in and saw it drying on my dish drainer and said "Fran. you don't drink"!! I told her and Kati what I was doing with it, both just shook their heads and understood!! I'll show ya that when I finish up with it!! Here is another cute one I did alittle country/prim style. The scuffs are from the little girl who wore them!! Love it!!

Some shabby love for White Wednesday!!

2010-06-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is my first time hooking up with Kathleen over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday. This is our bedroom which is shabby and a bit girly. But my husband is ok with it, he has his TV, flicker, cable and sports channels!! Most of the items are from our dates antiquing, yard sailing, treasure hunting or from the curbside!! I just love our room!!! Here are a few of our vignettes.

This is part of our alter where we pray together.

This is an old window from Sims childhood house. We got it when his mother put in new ones. The black and white photos are not family members, just kindred spirits! (we have alot of them in our room!)

These are a couple of my old hats, and lily of the valley flowers in frames. The big frame was found in our neighbors trash!!

The top picture is a shelf out of old architechtual salvage, with some of our treasures we have gotten along the way. The bottom picture is the top of my dresser with more special treasures.

This is the drawers with an old vintage bed jacket from my Aunt Mary and a beaded purse. The handles are old door latches, hooks, pulls, and handles.

This is a memo board with more of my treasures on it!

This is another dresser in my room with vintage finds. The pictures are of my son Danny and daughter Brooke. That is old grates on the wall. Old frame, glass block, vintage hat on the lamp, and some more goodies.

This is an old chippy door we use as a wall by our bed. The photos we got an estate sale here in town. It is a picture of a brother and sister. The candle holder is an old lamp part.

This is our window, I use old vintage slips for curtains with pull down shades. The picture is hand painted and found at the Goodwill painted by one of Sims family members who died. He had painted it for his friend and when his friend died the family donated it! and we found it by chance as it is signed!! We knew the name from studying Sims family history! We have a couple of other items we got this way too!!!

This area is not pink! But the glare from the sun made it look that way. This is in one of the corners. The sign is the front of an old drawer, and my friend painted it for us.

Caylee Roxanne and our Father's Day Cookout!!!!

2010-06-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

Papa holding Caylee Roxanne!!!!!

Aunt Kate holding Caylee outside at the cookout!!!

Proud Papa with his sons!!!

We had a Father's Day cookout in our backyard!! The weather was so great and sunny!! We had a blast and loved on Caylee, of course she was the center of attention!! Ryan is the proud Daddy holding Caylee, and Nick is the one trying to be cool!! LOL It was so good to have them here and made Father's Day so special!!!! Can't wait to see her again!! She'll be 8 weeks tomorrow!! XO Fran.

Back from vacation!!!!

2010-06-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

My husaband and I went on vacation last week to the beautiful Lake Huron in the thumb of Michigan!! This is our first day there. I just love sack lunches! I packed lunches and off we went to explore the area. Where I am sitting on this rock, is in Forester MI. There is an old ghost story that goes with this area. Behind me is the old dock that was blown away in the strom of 1913. I will share more of that story soon. This was the coldest day we had. We did ALOT of walking on the beach. We found alot of beach glass and I brought home rocks and driftwood. It was just so good to get away and enjoy Gods world. We didn't go swimming as this big lake is still very cold!!! We stayed in Forester park in a cabin. Everyday was so great! I will share more stories and pictures soon. We did a lot of thrifting and got some great stuff! Bad Axe was having their Hatchet Festival, and a city wide rummage sale. That was alot of fun. The thumb of Michigan is a big farming area and the people are such hard workers and very down to earth people. We saw alot of deer and lot's of wildlife. I love this area and I am looking forward to going back in August. But it's always good to get back home too. XO Fran.

"The House That Built Me"

2010-06-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

"I know they say you can't go home again. I just had to come back one last time. I thought if I could touch this place or feel it, this brokenness inside me might start healing. Out here it's like I'm someone else, I thought that maybe I could find myself, if I could just come in, I swear I'll leave. Won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me."

I love this Miranda Lambert song. The words are so perfect for something that just happened to me. This is my Grandma's house I grew up in most of my childhood. This is the front and back porch where I played all the time. Over the years my Grandma's house became very run down and neglected. But recently it was totally remodled on the inside and out and is for sale by a realtor. I don't live in this town where the house is but I was going by there one day on my way to somewhere else when I saw what they were doing! As I went by I noticed that the old windows were leaning against the garage. I told my husband (my hero) that night what I saw. He said on the weekend we would go and try to get them. So we did! But it wasn't that easy! Sim called the realtor on the for sale sign and talked to him and offered to buy two of the 9 pane windows. The realtor said that he didn't know what the workers were gonna do with them but he'd let us know. Well, we thought for sure we'd never hear from him. The very next day Sim was at work and he called!! The workers had taken the windows and some other materials up to the dumpster in town and they laid the windows on top for us so they wouldn't break and we could have them for free! Sim called me and said he had good and bad news!! The bad news was the windows were in that dumpster! and he was at work!!! Well, I grabbed my daughter Brooke jumped in the car and drove to Davison a thirty minute ride, praying all the while that they would still be there!! Brooke and I looked at every dumpster up in town and we couldn't find them!! But she looked over by the railroad tracks and said Mom there's one more over there!! Guess what that's where they were!!! So I climbed up in to that dumpster and Brooke and I got both of the windows and a few pieces of wood trim!! I told Brooke I wanted to stop by the house one more time. She took these pics for me with my cell phone! I just keep thinking of that song. And this is the house that built me!! Thank you Grandma for the memories!!! XO Fran.