Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Old World Primitives Giveaway


Stephanie of Old World Primitives is having a blog-o-versary giveaway. Look at all the goodies she's giving away! To enter, click here: http://www.primitive-folk-art.com/2009/02/25/one-year-blogiversary-giveaway/

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Primitive Sampler


Here is one of the samplers in my collection . . I especially love this one. Sorry for the flash glare.

Found the Right Size Frames



I really need to find a better way to photograph these though . . they do look better in person.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Time Worn Interiors Giveaway!


Theresa of Time Worn Interiors is having a wonderful 100th post giveaway. Take a peek! I love it! You can enter here if you'd like: http://cottagegardens-theresa-smith.blogspot.com/2009/02/100-post-giveaway.html

I too have recently reached my 100th post! WOW! I'm hoping to get something together and will hold a giveaway soon as well, so check back for your chance to win some goodies.

Children Playing





I've been so busy between work and my family, that I haven't had time lately to create anything new. Hopefully I can dedicate some time to doing so this weekend. In the meantime, here are some more cute vintage images I'd like to share.

Monday, February 16, 2009

A Strange Match Up

It was not your usual Friday night football game. In November 2008, Grapevine Faith Christian School, a 9-time state championship team, was playing Gainesville State School, a maximum security correctional facility for boys 12 to 19.

At Gainesville, the boys who are juniors and seniors in the facility have to earn the right to play football. Their ability to play is based on the fact that they have served half their sentence, they have no behavioral incidents and they have good grades. They have no cheerleaders and zero fans sit in the stands each game.

“We discovered when we were reassigned to a new district, that our week 10 game was Gainesville State School. Immediately, we looked at this as a ministry opportunity as soon as we saw it,” said Coach Kris Hogan, athletic director for Grapevine Faith Christian School.

Grapevine Faith has a reputation in the community for winning numerous state championships in the last four years. They have a big following and lots of parental involvement. Kris decided to send an email to all of the parents in the school.

“I told them that we had was an opportunity. I wanted to send a message to these Gainesville kids that they are just as important and valuable as any other kid on planet earth. We wanted to show them that Jesus loves them and we loved them,” Coach Hogan said. “And I wanted to affirm their good choices for them having earned the right to play football.”

It would be the first time the two teams played each other. Gainesville State played other high school football teams in other districts, but no one ever cheered for them. So Coach Hogan asked the Grapevine parents to sit on the opposing side so the Gainesville team would have fans.

“In the case of the Gainesville kids, some don’t even know their parents,” Coach Hogan said. “And if they did, they couldn’t come because technically they are incarcerated. These kids have never had anyone cheer for them.”

Coach Hogan printed off a roster.

“We cheered for them by name,” he said. “We divided our cheerleaders in half and formed a 40-yard ‘spirit’ line. We treated them like it was their home game.”

Normally, people look at the Gainesville kids as criminals. This time, the Gainesville kids saw love, and were filled with gratitude.

“They had no idea what to do. They sprinted through the spirit line and were pumped up. They acted like they just played in the Super Bowl because people were loving on them,” Coach Hogan said. Even though Faith beat Gainesville 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave their head coach, Mark Williams, a sideline squirt of Gatorade, just as if he had won the state championship.

After the game, each boy was escorted back to their bus under the watch of 12 uniformed police officers. Each were handed a bag for the ride home: a burger, some fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player. The Gainesville coach grabbed Coach Hogan by the shoulders.

“You’ll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You’ll never, ever know,” he said.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!


Wishing everyone a beautiful, loving, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Sweet Cupcakes

I found a wonderful tutorial on how to make "fake" cupcakes! So sweet! I hope to try it myself soon. You can check it out here: http://web.me.com/em_reiman/sugarandmeringue/how_to_fake_cupcakes.html#10

Friday, February 13, 2009

~Cherished Friends~




"Cherished Friends" . . . . . Author Unknown

God must have know there would be times we'd need a word of cheer,
Someone to praise a triumph or brush away a tear.
He must have known we'd need to share the joy of "little things"
In order to appreciate the happiness life brings.
I think He knew our troubled hearts would sometimes throb with pain,
At trials and misfortunes, or goals we can't attain.
He knew we'd need the comfort of an understanding heart
To give us strength and courage to make a fresh, new start.
He knew we'd need companionship, unselfish....lasting....true,
And so God answered the heart's great need
With Cherished Friends....like you!!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

OWOH Winner!


My OWOH Giveaway is now closed and we have a winner! Thank you to EVERYONE who commented and entered in this fun giveaway. I hope to visit everyone's blogs when I get the chance . . as I have tried to visit most, but haven't made it to all yet. I really enjoy seeing everyone's beautiful creations and blogs.

So . . . drumroll . . . . the True Random Number Generator Result is: Comment #167! Comment # 167 was posted by: BonnieLeeFontaine Congrats Bonnie! I'll be sending you an email to get your address and will be sending these altered art cards your way in tomorrow's mail! Yay! Hope you like them :)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

*More Sweet Vintage Images*





Just a Couple of Weeks Ago . . we Had a Ton of Snow . . .

.... and Jacob loves getting outside to play in it! Wisconsin has quite the variety of weather throughout the seasons. Sometimes you just never know what to expect. We had record low temperatures about a month ago hitting temps. close to -40 below zero and then yesterday had a record high for this time of year, in the mid-50's, making it seem like a nice spring day (had it not been for the wind - the wind about blew ya over)! Needless to say, most of the snow other than shady areas and where snow piled had been, is now melted (and we had a lot of it this winter with a couple of feet on the ground just a couple of days ago). We now have mud puddles in our long driveway. If it's going to be cold, and the temps. are slowly dropping again, I like to have snow on the ground so things don't look quite so drab. If it's going to be warm . . . then I want spring to get here so things start to green up!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Some of My Primitive Things




Thought I'd share some photos of a few items from my prim/folk art collection.

The folk art slave girl on the bottom is the work of Krista of Painted Heart Designs. I just love it! My kids do too - several times I caught Abbie when younger taking the veggies off her lap and grabbing ahold of the doll to dance with! When I first got her, Abbie was about 3 years old and loved to sit on her lap. Jacob would rather pull her off the chair and steal the chair away to rock in. LOL You can check out Krista's blog to see more of her AWESOME work: http://paintedheartdesigns.blogspot.com/

**The Cre8orstouch Giveaway!!**


Take a look at this WONDERFUL giveaway! Love it! http://thecre8orstouch.blogspot.com/

Friday, February 6, 2009

* Hands and Heart Blogoversary Giveaway! *

Monica at Hands and Heart is giving away one of her WONDERFUL paintings for her blogoversary! Please take a look at her blog showcasing her wonderful works of art: http://monicazuniga.blogspot.com/

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Cute Vintage Photos




Feel free to right click and save to your PC to use in your artwork. I do ask that you please not reproduce to sell in image sheets. Thank You!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Giveaway


Barb at Treasures from The Heart is having her 100th Post Giveaway on her blog and is creating her signature handmade nests as the prizes ~ they're beautiful!! Just CLICK HERE to enter.

Vintage Little Girls & Dolls Images








Feel free to right click and save to your PC to use in your artwork. I do ask that you please not reproduce to sell in image sheets. Thank You!