~*Twilight*~

I'm telling ya . . . the movie was great!! I snuck out for a girls day out to the movie this past Saturday with a couple of friends, while Taylor and Abbie babysat their baby brother for me and while Michael was out deer hunting. I just couldn't wait, as I have read the entire series and was absorbed with every word as I read the books.

If you saw the movie and liked it, pick up the books and read! If you didn't see the movie yet, what are you waiting for? LOL.

I will say, the books are much more detailed than the movie. The movie just wasn't long enough nor did it have all the details, i.e.: why Edward always had his standoffish looking stare, as many of those who didn't read the book were not quite sure of why he acted as he did.

I have previously posted here about this book series, but now with the movie being out and all the hype, I can't help but blog once again about Stephenie Meyer's great books! If you haven't yet read them, go ahead and take a look. They are seriously great reading!! I'm now looking forward to the second movie that's now in the works!! Yay!!

Glass Glitter Vintage Little Girl Photo Hang Tags

These are currently available on my website. I really haven't had much time lately for my arts and crafts, but am hoping to devote some time to doing so this upcoming weekend.

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Last night we had parent teacher conferences. The conferences went very well. However, I am sad to say we had a little accident when leaving home. I was driving. The kids never noticed, but I said to Mike as we were driving away that I think I may have just hit one of the cats, as I felt the vehicle seem to bump over something. He told me to just keep going, no reason to let the kids be upset before conferences. We returned home and I was relieved for a minute as I did not see anything laying in the driveway. I was just starting to say oh good, I thought I had hit one of the cats when we left. That's when I saw him . . . poor Tiger. He had been hit, but managed to move from the driveway and died beside the front of the house. Taylor saw him before I did and was a crying mess. He couldn't have suffered much and it's amazing he made it that far with the head injury he had. I feel so terrible. :(

But, not only that. This morning I awoke around 3:45 a.m. to another of our cats (we had only 3 total), crying/howling/moaning outside my bedroom window. I warmed a dish of milk to give to the two cats and tried to call them in to drink in the warmth of our back porch. It was a very cold night, so I thought perhaps they weren't able to keep warm enough, now being just the two of them together in the insulated doghouse which I filled with straw. The "runt" of the litter, Shiloh, came up into the porch and drank. But Midnight was the one who was howling and wouldn't move. I put on my shoes and ventured out to find out what was wrong, bringing the milk dish with. I put the dish beside and she slowly drank a tiny bit, yet continued to cry. I moved the dish away to see if she would come towards me. Finally she hobbled towards the dish, ever so slowly and apparantly in pain. Something had happened to her too. Oh no! I didn't hit her with the vehicle last night when leaving too?!? I now think perhaps the cats had all hovered around the truck when I got home as it was warm and then I, not realizing they were there, hit not only Tiger but perhaps Midnight as well. Normally since Tiger was especially friendly and liked to jump into the truck as I buckled Jacob into his carseat, I would make sure I had him in my sight before leaving. However, for whatever reason, I didn't realize they were anywhere near the vehicle when we went to leave last night, nor did anyone else. I told Taylor this morning there was something wrong with Midnight, but I wasn't sure what and reminded her to feed and water the cats before school. Just as I was walking into work, I received her call. Midnight had died within the hour of my having left home. The kids will attempt to bury them after school tonight, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to dig through the ground as it's started to freeze up. Abbie isn't aware of this yet as she went to spend the night with her dad after conferences last night. She'll be a crying mess I know. She still cries often over the loss of her favorite cat "Pumpkin". We now need to either get some more cats from my parents farm or take Shiloh there for the winter so she stays warm with the other barn cats. I don't think she's able to stay warm enough on her own. I feel so bad about it, but I know it was no one's fault. I just happened to be the driver. :(

Free Vintage Thanksgiving Postcard Images

More Glass Glitter Vintage Tags

Reflecting . . .

I took this peaceful photo a couple of mornings ago on my drive in to work. I cross a lake I live nearby daily, and had to stop as the sunrise was beautiful with the clouds and slight bit of fog atop the water.

Looking at this peaceful photo I now reflect upon how fragile life is. A child I know has just lost his brother to suicide at a very young age. Not only has he lost his brother, but his mother also passed a couple of years ago due to the same reason. His family is broken and he has gone through so many hardships in his short life. My heart breaks as my thoughts and prayers are with him, that he may overcome his grief and deal with all he's had to endure in a positive way.

Please keep your loved ones close and let them know just how much you love them. Live your life to the fullest each and every day, and let your love shine upon those those close you.

Snowman Candlemat Giveaway

Take a peek for your chance to win this awesome snowman candlemat! http://mylittleraggedyblessings.blogspot.com/2008/10/snowman-candle-mat-giveaway.html

Trick or Treat

We had the perfect weather for Trick or Treating and we all had a great time! :) Happy Halloween everyone!!

And The Winner Is . . . . Comment on Your Spooky Experiences!!

Lizziebusy!!! Lizzie you have won my first blog giveaway!! :) Email your address to me so I can get your prize in the mail. My email addy is: staceybarrett @ netscape dot net (no spaces).

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my blog and all those who had entered. I hope to have some more fun giveaways soon, so visit often for your chance to win.

And, since it's Halloween, how about anyone who stops by my blog, leave a comment on something "spooky" you might have encountered or heard. I'll start with a "haunted" happening that occurs to me from time to time . . . and yes, I do believe in ghosts, I do, I do, I do!! Just as the cowardly lion believes in spooks.

Every so often I am visited by my friendly ghost or whatever he/she may be. Oftentimes I see a flash out of the corner of my eye and wonder if he/she is around at those times as well. Who knows. The thing that oftentimes happens in my home is this friendly invisible being will turn on the water in my bathroom sink ~ full blast. I spoke with a plumber to see if there is any way the water could come on by itself, as I have handles you have to physically turn for the water to come on. The plumber knows of no possible way other than physically turning them on and looked at me oddly as I told him what happens from time to time. This usually happens during early mornings while I'm in the shower. No, it's not a family member sneaking in either. Not only has this happened at my present home, but has also occurred in my condo that I previously had lived in and the home I lived in prior to that, so the little invisible being is following me with my moves. Weird, huh?

Snowman Giveaway

Take a peek at Simple Thyme Primitives blog for your chance to win this wonderful prim snowman!!! I love it! http://simplethymeprimitives.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-first-give-away-in-honor-of-my.html

~*Cute Vintage Little Girls in Mason Jar*~

These cute little girls weren't bothering anyone, sitting in a wicker basket playing with their teddy bear. But lo and behold, someone grabbed them wicker basket and all and shut them away in a mason jar!! Meanies!

I had fun making these sweet hang tags, using a sweet vintage photograph image and these awesome mason jar graphics from Krista of http://www.countrycharmgraphics.com/.

I'll be adding these to my website if you wish to purchase for your gift giving.

Fractal Art!

I recently discovered fractal art. How very interesting! Thought I'd share a couple of my fav fractal art pieces.

If you'd like to view more intriguing works, take a look here: http://www.enchgallery.com/index.htm

Christmas Giveaway

Take a look here for your chance to win a snowman ornie my friend Dawn is giving away: http://abusymommyonthego.blogspot.com/2008/10/on-first-day-of-christmas_22.html

Blog Award! :)

Creations from Sew Practical Patterns has given me the "I Love Your Blog Award!" You must take a peek at her wonderful blog!

Here are the rules and my picks for accepting this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

My picks for this award:

http://monicazuniga.blogspot.com/

http://cedarhillrustics.blogspot.com/

http://oakleafhollow.blogspot.com/

http://shweetdoodlings.blogspot.com/

http://pywackitprimitives.blogspot.com/

http://gollywobbles.blogspot.com/

http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/

Glass Glitter Hang Tags

I decided to get my glass glitter out and make some Christmas hang tag ornies. These and more are now for sale on eBay.

My First Blog Giveaway!!

Here's your chance to win two (2) of my OOAK vintage altered hang tags. Leave a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing which will be held this Halloween, October 31st. Post about this giveaway on your blog and you'll receive three (3) entries in the drawing. :) If your name is drawn, here's what you'll receive:

Altered Vintage Halloween Hang Tags

I stayed up late a couple of nights this past week to make some more vintage Halloween altered hang tags. I LOVE making them. Here's a few of them, though they do appear a bit fuzzy, as my scanner isn't picking them up the best due to the gem clips making a gap so they don't lay flat on the scanner. These are listed on eBay now :)

Vintage Image Freebies

Here's a few more vintage images for use in your arts & crafts projects. :)

Tag - You're It!!

I've been tagged by The Spotted Sparrow. Check out her blog; she has wonderful ACEO's and altered art, and excellent tutorials.

Before I forget, the rules are:
Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Okay, so here's my 7 "about me" facts:

1. I work full-time as Secretary of Construction/Engineering/Facility Services at an area healthcare center, while dreaming of having my own art studio and time to work on my art projects.
2. Mice FREAK me out!!! I'd rather walk barefoot in cow poop than to stumble upon a mouse (and I have - hey, I grew up on a farm!)
3. Not only have I walked in cow poop barefoot, but I've wrestled a hog at a local fest with my sister and her girlfriend. LOL ~ You can see it here: Hog Wresting Video.
4. My favorite bands are Nickelback, Pink Floyd, Metallica, & Queen.
5. I LOVE PrisonBreak and make sure to never miss an episode (it's the only TV show I watch faithfully).
6. I LOVE thunderstorms.
7. I'm a night owl. :)

Tag, you're it:

Renae, My Little Raggedy Blessings
Dawn, Prairie Girl Boutique
Julie, My Raggedy Dolls
Pea, Pea Pickers Primitives
Janell, Pumpkinseeds Originals
Jenny, Wonders of Whimsy
Tina, Black Crow Hollow

Fall Photos of the Kids

Jacob has about the same expression on his face in both these photos! LOL. He was tired and not in the mood for a photo shoot. Abbie and Taylor enjoyed posing for the photographer this past weekend when we had family photos taken. I took these shots with my camera, but can't wait to see the photographer's photos :)

Jacob's First Haircut!!

It was hard to do, but I finally broke down and had Jacob's curls cut off this past Saturday. He was starting to be mistaken for a little girl and we had family pictures taken yesterday; therefore, the main reason I went ahead with the cut. What a difference - he doesn't appear quite so much like a baby anymore. Awww, my baby's growing up so fast!

Altered Hang Tag Ornie

Now on eBay (along with several others!):

Another Wonderful Prim Giveaway!!

Take a peek at Renae's cute pin tag giveaway! http://mylittleraggedyblessings.blogspot.com/2008/10/pumpkin-pin-ornie-giveaway.html

Prim Giveaway

Take a peek at MaryBeth's giveaway! You can enter here: http://ragggedyangel.blogspot.com/2008/10/here-i-am.html

Sign of the Times - Happy Halloween!

My Newest ACEO/ATC's!

I had a lot of fun making these this weekend! Note: These are actually much clearer in person. They are Artist Trading Cards, made using vintage images, papers, and colored pencils.

New Altered Art Hang Tags

I decided to make a few of my altered paint chips into hang tags. These are currently for sale on eBay.

I can't wait to show you the new ACEO/ATC cards I made this weekend, as I think they turned out even "cooler" than these paint chips. I hope to find time to upload the images this week.

Prim Vintage Halloween Hang Tags

I began making prim vintage style hang tags several years ago and truly love making them. Here is a picture of some I have now for sale on eBay. Some are made using Halloween photos that I own myself, as I also love collecting vintage/antique photos of children.

Vintage Children Image Freebies