Notes from A Cottage Industry

Guest post today over at 4 Reluctant Entertainers...

You must know Sandy, right? If not, you will now. She's been my blogworld friend for...gosh, how long? Maybe two years? Maybe longer, now that I think about it.
We met (obviously) through our blogs and we have grown a wonderful friendship over the past couple of years. I love her style, her hospitality, and dedication to raising her family. I am guessing we'll get to finally meet in person at some point once I get moved to the Portland area next month!

Anyway.

Sandy graciously invited me to be a guest blogger on her blog, sharing a hospitality idea and I was happy to participate!As you can tell from her blog's title, she shares many, many wonderful ideas for entertaining, with the focus on what is really important...In short, she inspires me!

What are you waiting for? Hop on over and check my post out, and tell Sandy I sent you.

A few practice shots....

I'm up in the Portland Stars Hollow  Camas Washington area visiting and doing a little business research. I am thrilled to share a couple of photos... from my new camera! (my favorite little man now has two teeth!)

     Yes, thanks to the many, many friends online and otherwise, I was able to make quite a dent in the price of a replacement camera. I decided I'd better buy it while I was up in Portland (where they have no sales tax!!) Thank you seems like such an understatement, but it's fom the bottom of my heart.

My very own personal Geek Squad...my Mom. (Who knew?!)

Oh ya, baby. (And I do mean that in the fondest of terms.)

I wanted to share this poster the other day with all of you, but my computer was acting up something awful. So awful in fact that I thought it was done.

Dead.

I spent more than five hours dinking around with it, trying to get at my precious Tumbleweed Cotillion files with no luck. Then, just as I was about to throw myself on the floor of my office and scream and cry, the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada (my Mom) called. I was holding back tears as I told her of my problems, and she began asking me computer questions.

Her: Have you done a recovery?

Me: A what? (Was this my Mom, who I had introduced to my cheesey little Printshop Program just a  couple of years back?)

 Her: A recovery. A system recovery...um...is that what it's called? Oh, you know what I mean.

Me:(Letting out a looooooong, loud frustrated sigh.) Yes, I know what you mean, and no, I don't want to lose what I have and start over clean, I want what I already had!

Her: Not that kind of recovery. Oh gosh, what's it called? Listen. Go to...hmmmm...let me think now....Control Panel. Is that right? No, no wait. Programs..was that right? Let me see here...

Me: Mom...(very dramatically, with an eye roll she didn't see on the phone or she would have smacked me.)

Her: Yes, yes. Hmmm, yes. I think that's right. Yes! Go there.

Me: Where?!

Her: Programs. Accessories, system tools..see, it's there! System Restore.

Step by step she walked me through and ...she restored my files and saved my day!

You know, it's pretty darned cool when your Mom, one and half months shy of 76 can give you techie support! (I guess what they say really is true,in pretty much any situation, just "ask your Mother." Thanks Mom!)

So, anyway.

The poster for our big faire is up above in this post (thanks to the sewing Queen!) and here's the scoop:

We're working overtime to make this upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion our very best to date. Lots of fabulous vendors with great merchandise and inspiration galore! (We've got some out-of-towners participating as well! If you're interested in being a vendor at the show, click here.) Mark your calendars, we'd love to see you there!!!!

A boycott and chair numbers two AND three of ten...er..eleven.

Well.

   Thanks for all of your great feedback on thrift store price gouging, as alarming as it is. I had no idea that I would spark such a lively vent-fest about Thrift Store prices with yesterday's post!(And you had me laughing out loud with phrases like "the ladies in the back on crack" and "BadWill"!) I am truly shocked (and more than a little saddened) to realize it's a nationwide epidemic, and I think I can feel the rumblings of a major revolution here.
     As for me, I plan to boycott of the high priced Thrift Shops for as long as I possibly can,(starting yesterday!) and that should be quite a good little while since it's summertime. They need a reality check, not so much for folks like me that are re-purposing items to earn a living, but, more importantly, for people that need essentials at a price they can pay so they can get by in these tough times. I must admit I will miss chatting with Warren, our favorite Sally employee, but, so it must be. I can hit garage sales each and every weekend until the end of September. Maybe I can stockpile enough goodies to carry me through winter!
     Speaking of stockpiling, remember my collection of chairs? Well, two more completed, thank-you-very-much. (Please excuse the garage door backdrop- I couldn't get the chair through the tight doorway from my laundryroom to the kitchen. Oh! Special thanks to the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada for making the most incredible cushions!) That should have left me with seven to go, but...I discovered yet another chair ( a really, really cute Frenchie looking folding chair!) in the basement at 41 Taylor yesterday that I had forgotten all about.

Oh my. I really may need to find some kind of 12 step program for this. It's nearly as out of control as my "thing" for shoes.

Someone's having a birthday!

    I'm a busy little bee this week, with my painted vintage furniture class going on tonight after work at the bank, over at Pickled Tink ...

...but I wanted to stop a moment to let you all know that today is the other Tracey's birthday! Please, pop on over to her lil' blog and wish her the best!

Nearly ready for our big debut....

  

 .....and so, here's another sneak peek at one of the partially set up vignettes. Remember, we're hosting two Open House parties instead of just one, and we hope everyone can make it! One in the evening, one in the daytime. There will be lots of yummy treats.(Mmm, did someone ask for cupcakes?) We'll be sharing some table-scapes for party theme ideas, and there will be a sampling of our products for the Tumbleweed Cotillion booth as well. If you live in the area, please, do join us!

41 Taylor
41 East Taylor Street
Reno, NV 89503

Friday, July 10, 2009
4:00-7:00 pm

Or, if you prefer...

Saturday, July 11, 2009
10:00 am-2:00 pm

Of course I'll be sharing pictures of everything later, but for now, it's back to work!

My cup runneth over....

    Oh, how I love this blog world! Truly, so many kindred spirits.
    Seriously, where else can a girl ask for opinions and advice on how to paint a sign and get so many great ideas,(Thank you all!) or share her deepest fears about being suddenly single at the mid century mark, or, brag on her grand babies (relentlessly!) without anyone complaining?! Only here, in our fabulous blogland.
    Yesterday in the mail, this wonderful present arrived from the amazingly talented Becky!(Yes, I got all teary eyed and weepy just opening the package and reading her sweet, sweet note.) Her fabulous note cards (such a talented artist!) and her 2009 calendar are just the most inspirational eye candy. Becky and I have never met in person, and yet, I feel like we know each other. We have so much in common, and a friendship has formed. Thank you so much Becky!

Only through the incredible internet is all of this possible, and I am so grateful for all of my friends, both in person, and out here in the blogasphere. Knowing that you read my blog just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and really makes my day. I treasure your comments and notes more than you can know.

A tour of the loo with Elmer, Harlan and Roger.

       Meet Elmer Huss. He's three years old in this portrait. (His name and age were on the back of his picture when we bought it from a fellow vendor at Junkee) Isn't he just about the dearest little guy?! Well, I mean next to these two doll babies. That's my own Dad, Harlan, on the left and my uncle Roger on the right. Couldn't you just eat them up?
They are all residing in my most favorite room of the new place-yes, many of you guessed it! The bathroom. The restroom, the loo, the water closet, the library..whatever you call it, it's a room full of charm in the little cottage on East Taylor. I could hang out in there all day. (*note* It is very hard to get good pictures in a tiny place like a bathroom, so bear with me.)Oh, but wait. Let's go back to the beginning, about a month ago. (Wow! Is that all it is? We do work fast!) Here was the fabulous little room a few weeks ago....

Lots of mismatched tiles. And some rather interesting....modifications, like this one here...

Ummm...hmmm....I guess someone wanted to recess their toilet into the wall..? (Who does that?!)

    We had the challenge of how to make this little bathroom work for us, on a shoestring budget. We decided we loved the floor, which is all original and in perfect condition. And we loved the original-to-the-house medicine cabinet.

 Everything else? Notsomuch. The patchwork-y tile was bad enough, but that hole in the wall. Augh! We were just not sure what we could do about that. Luckily, Juan, our incredibly-inexpensive-and-reliable-painter guy looked at it and said he knew how to do tile repair, and..get this..he could "bondo" the cut out wood area to look like new. We said "go for it, Juan." And he did. Our first plan was to cover the tile over with bead board. Too pricey for us, and it would be quite a challenge. then, we decided to paint the tile. I researched it, and yes, it can be done, with a lot of sanding and oil based primer and paint. Then, we hit upon another idea. Our signature look! Book pages! we have done it on bookcases and dressers, why not the walls? The added benefit is that it can easily be removed if someone else were to take over the home and need to actually shower in here. Three bottles of liquid starch later, and a whole lot of books and here is the finished product... The sewing Queen set up her machine in the bedroom and bless her heart, sewed so much burlap her machine may never be the same. (I had no idea burlap was so fiber-y and lint-y. What a mess!) She made us a skirt and a matching shower curtain (and the table skirt in the parlor in a lighter shade of burlap!)

   There is still a little bit of tweaking to be done (replacing the shower head for a smaller one and seeing if the Sewing Queen is up for monogramming the towels with our name...thanks for the idea, Betsy!!!!)

*sigh* so there you have it- a tour of my favorite room in the new place. A bathroom with enough reading material (and charm) for anyone.

How's about a little tour of the completed Parlor in the new place?

    Whew! We're very nearly done renovating the new place on East Taylor Street, and we'll be hosting our first event there this Friday! Let's begin today with a tour of the now completed parlor, shall we?
    Oh! Before I begin, I want to share a little story. Last Saturday, the other Tracey and I were yard saling, hoping to score more wooden dining chairs for the new place. We arrived at this one sale and found some of the most unusual things. (Okay, we didn't buy these things, but we both saw them as some sort of oddball confirmation from God that we are on the right track with our business venture. Are you like that??)

Our first amazing find- We spotted this crest. (or is it called a shield?) Now, we aren't really into crests, but the fireplace at our new place has a kind of knight's helmet thing-y in the center of it, as well as a shield ( or is it called a crest?) on either side of the mantle. And just take a peek at what is on this crest.(...shield?) Mmm hmmm. A "T". A coincidence? I think not.

So, then, upon entering the actual garage, the other Tracey spotted this.Oh ya, who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?!

Anyway.

Like I said, we didn't buy those things, but, I ended up finding and buying an incredible silver tea and coffee service (I am a nut for vintage tea services, especially if they have ornate foofy silver footed trays.) And then...we found not one, but two of the most darling, charming vintage newly upholstered fan back chairs. Well, we assumed they'd be too pricey, but when I asked the price,we were stunned to find they were in our price range! I then offered the woman even less and she said yes, so we grabbed them right up and hauled them to the new place. See the charming chairs? Pretty fabulous, don'tcha think? We just love them. And did you notice the wood floors? (Remember this room before?)

We stained over the old light oak with a deep dark mahogany colored finish, and we used a water based stain. No stinky smell, and it went on (we brushed a fairly thick coat and then sealed it a day later) like a dream.I highly recommend it.

   Here is one last before and after picture of the parlor. It's the front window area.......the warm chestnut colored walls, coffee dyed lace curtains and bright white trim with those new dark floors look so rich, and it cost us next to nothing, if you don't count elbow grease.Tomorrow I'll show you my very most favorite room in the sweet little cottage on East Taylor Street, complete with before and after pictures!

I betcha can't guess what room it will be.

Leap of faith

I did it. I am stepping out of my comfort zone and I am taking a giant leap of faith.

    We made Pro Con lists and crunched numbers. We asked advice from our families and friends. We prayed and looked for signs. Then, we took that leap of faith, and the other Tracey and I rented the fabulous diamond-in-the-rough little cottage!
    Can you see the potential, there in the living room? The magnificent fireplace, the warm, worn, hardwood floors, and the wonderful windows? Oh! We are so excited, and yes, still a little scared, as we begin working on all of our plans.
   Let me back up a bit. To give you the entire picture- I'm still going to be at the bank, and plan to stay there,( I'll be doing what I can around my grown up girl job hours!) unless I end up at the non profit job, if and when it could be offered. But..
   In the meantime, we decided that there could be a nice have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too set up with the house business idea. The plan is to host frequent Tumbleweed Cotillion vintage faires at the cottage, possibly monthly, with our vendor friends and even some out-of-town guest vendors. In between the vintage faires we will sell our own products during regularly set up business hours (and we will, for the time being, still keep one small booth at Junkee, just around the block) and..(here's the really fun and exciting part!) we plan on using the cottage to host intimate events, like bridal and baby showers, rehearsal dinners, anything you'd like, for up to about 50 people! (oh! Imagine the cupcake towers I'll be creating!)
     The events may be as simple or elaborate as you wish, with all of the details attended to in a charming setting. Now can you imagine the wonderful events that might be held in the spacious living room with the beautiful fireplace? (Just wait until you see how the room will look after we paint and polish and foofify things!) Here's another peek into the living room. It's the most incredible radiator cover I have ever seen...

Anyway.

That's the plan.

One more thing. We're struggling right now trying to decide on the name for our new place. Do we stick with the Tumbleweed Cotillion, since that's what our faires and our booth space is called? (You know, just build on our brand?) Or..do we use a new name to identify what the business will be....(Maybe one word, like "Cottage" or "Tumbleweed". Maybe something more hip, like "41 Taylor", which is the address of the house? Maybe something to do with our names? Or...something else entirely?) Please, we'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions!!!

Thursday night surprise.

First, let me say thank you to everyone that commented yesterday. It warms my heart and reaffirms my own faith to see so many of us feel the burden to pray.
     The other Tracey and I have been working like crazy women to be ready for our booth at the 1st Roseville Antique Market, and it's nearly here, whether we're ready or not. 
      I would paint and create little treasures everyday, all day if I could. (And someday I will!) I love doing it so much that I lose track of time, but this week I had a change in my schedule at the bank and it meant that I wasn't home parts of the week to paint as I had planned. (there are only so many hours in the day, no matter how I try to stretch them) I was pretty stressed that I wasn't going to have all of my pieces completed and my dining room, kitchen and living room were looking like some kind of furniture refinishing warehouse.

Anyway.

     Imagine my sheer amazement when I arrived home last night to hear Jack Johnson serenading me on my stereo and to find that all of the pieces of furniture that I had left half painted had been completed and ready to be antiqued or foofy-fied, along with the added surprise of a primed dressform I didn't think I would even have time to tackle for this show! (And she cleaned my kitchen!) It took me a minute to process all of this and then I burst into tears of disbelief as I walked through the dining room and living room. (Honestly, I felt like one of those folks on that Extreme Home Makeover show and I would hear Ty Pennington shout out at any minute, "Move! That! Bus!")
   The other Tracey, the little fairy God-friend that she is, had spent the entire morning at my cottage while I was at work, painting away, hanging out with my pups. I have typed and erased for 15 minutes now, and I simply cannot put into words how touched I am that she would do this for me.

It boggles my mind to think of just how blessed I truly am.

Meant to be.

It's thrifted. It's vintage. It's recycled and reinvented. It's perfect.

It's the official new Tumbleweed Cotillion Cash wrap station and it sports a fabulous vintage credit card sign.
     The other Tracey and I actually found the sign in Sacramento at the booth next to us at the Antique faire. We loved it from the moment we spotted it and decided we could find the perfect piece of furniture to attach it to. We didn't know when, but we knew that somehow, someway..someday, we'd find just the right piece of furniture to create the best darned cashwrap station anyone ever had.
    Less than two weeks later, we happened upon this three drawer dresser at our local GoodWill. The three drawers were perfect for holding tissue paper, bags, our cash box, scissors...you name it. (click on the after photo to see enlarged version of the rustic antiquing...)
 
The odd, yet amazing part was that it was missing the entire back, which we didn't need, because we wanted to mount our credit card sign there. (I swear, it was as if it was just waiting for us!) It was oh, so cute, and just happened to be the exact size we were searching for to hang our antique credit card sign. (notice it reads All "Valid" credit cards accepted!)

We ran home to my cottage, and, after measuring the sign, went back, snatched up the dresser and got busy painting and antiquing. (Special thanks to Mr. Tracey, who was given the task of mounting the heavy metal sign to the dresser for us.)

*sigh* See what I mean? Meant to be.
Man, you've gotta love it when that happens.

Meet the cute new couple from Portland.

     She's a blonde! I think she's adorable, and so is he. They're a perfect pair. And they'll be right at home with the rest of my collection. Lisa (Oh, you must know Lisa, she's one of my BFF's in PTown, who also happens to be a blonde!) surprised me with them in the mail, (be still my heart!) along with the vintage wedding cake bells, which I also adore. I'm guessing they're from the early 1960's...anyone else care to guess?
Thank you Lisa. (You know what I love!) I will think of you each time I look at this sweet little golden haired bride and her beau.

Tracey and Tracey's excellent adventures

..er...mis-adventures in thrifting.

Let me start by saying that I never seem to have my camera when I need it.

I don't work at the bank until noon on Friday's usually and so the other Tracey and I had this idiotic creative idea to go make the rounds thrifting in those couple of hours on Friday before I go to work. Turns out it's not the smartest plan, as this means I am dressed for banking, in business attire, which makes it challenging when schlepping sometimes dirty, dusty items out of a thrift shop or yard sale.

Anyway.

Last Friday we went to an early morning estate sale that a friend had told us about. It was on a ranch property (Looking back, I even think I remember the ad mentioned mud and to wear appropriate shoes...wish I had remembered that sooner) and the sale sounded good. (something about vintage iron cemetery fencing, and a barn full of old doors and tools)

We arrived and discovered that in order to get to the house and the barn where the sale was, you had to walk across a cattle guard. Do you know what a cattle guard is? If you don't, then click here for a visual. OK, now using that visual, picture the cattle guard being a good 12-15 feet long and it being over a creek that is about four to five feet below it. A bridge basically, with spacers. (I so wished I had taken my camera.) Now, picture if you will, a woman in black suede stiletto heeled boots and a skirt (...that woman would be me.I told you I had to go to work) trying to cross the bridge with the spacers. Um..ya, it's a no-go, people.

The other Tracey was not to be deterred from making her way to the estate sale. She crossed the cattle guard in record time (Of course she did. She was wearing faux patent leather flat loafers.) and then turned to cheer me on as (she assumed) I would follow her across. Realizing that it was an impossibility, she decided (apparently without too terribly much thought) to "toss" her shoes to me for me to then put on and  boot-scoot-and-boogy across the cattle guard. She lobbed the first shoe, which she overshot, and it nearly nailed me in the head. I then prepared to intercept the second shoe, but, unfortunately this time, she underestimated the distance and it hit the last wrung of the cattle guard bridge, bounced...and, as if in slow motion, the shiny black loafer tumbled, ricocheted, and finally, plummeted onto the creek bed rocks far below the bridge.

For a moment, we both stared down at the shoe in silent horror, me with my mouth open and eyes bugging out. Then, we tried to figure out where to go from here...

Me: Oh, nice. That was great. Now what do we do?

Her: ( A sigh and shoulder shrug) I'll just have to get another pair of shoes at WalMart.

Me: What?

Her: I said, I'll just have to get another pair of shoes at WalMart.

Me: I heard you. I meant, you'll go into WalMart with one shoe and one bare foot? (Realizing as I said this that she would most certainly not be the first person to ever do that at a WalMart)

Her: Ya. We just need to get to this sale first.

Me: You don't get it! I can't come across the bridge in my boots!

At this point, she sighed a big long sigh and scurried back across the cattle guard barefoot to my side and we both studied the situation for another moment in silence, peering down at her shoe, then looking off in the distance at the barn and house full of potential treasures that awaited us.(so very close and yet, so very far.) After a few quiet moments she spoke in her matter of fact tone.

Her: I think I can just climb down there on the rocks and get to it.

Me: With only one shoe on?

Her: Yes.

Me: (eye roll and a long sigh, followed by a shoulder shrug of my own) Okay then. Go for it.

 Just as she prepared to climb over the wagon wheel that was cemented into a rock (A sad attempt at decorating the entrance of the bridge we guessed. Oh, I how wish I had taken my camera!) and climb down to rescue her faux patent leather loafer, two men came walking up. We shared our sad little tale of woe with them and then one of the guys climbed down and rescued her shoe.(they didn't say it, but it was fairly clear that they thought we were a couple of dipsy-doodles) I then put on the loafers and carried my boots, while the other Tracey went barefoot (either she is more coordinated, or was more determined to shop than me...or both) and we made it across to the other side at last.

 In the end it was all worth it. We found oodles and toodles of great stuff in the barn and before too long we had a good sized pile of good junk to purchase. The other Tracey was allowed to drive her car across the cattle guard to load up our pile of treasures and I silently thanked God that we didn't have to deal with walking across the bridge a second time.

(We have since decided that thrifting the two hours before I head off to the bank to work most likely isn't the best plan of action, although you can bet we'll do it again.)

Finally... the other Tracey

 
*sigh* The little framed artwork above says it all. The other Tracey got it for me on an out-of-town thrifting adventure. (Of course I cried when I read it, and so did she.)

     Have you had someone that weaved in and out of your life repeatedly at different points in time, almost as though it were planned? Someone that seems to appear just when you needed that particular friend the most, even if you didn't know it? (It's a "God thing" for sure.)

I first met the other Tracey way back in my stay-at-home-mommy days, carpooling fourth graders and being room mothers. Time passed, and my little family moved across town. I began selling Creative Memories scrapbook supplies and it turned out that Tracey was my up-line-manager-person, and our friendship was rekindled. More time passed and once again, I ran into the other Tracey, where she was working, at a local cafe, Voila'. Each time our paths crossed, it was like no time had passed and we could talk for an hour without even realizing it.
      It still kind of surprises me at how close we are, after so many times where we have drifted apart , not due to any friendship issue, but simply life getting in the way. We have very similar thought processes and our values are the same. We both roll our eyes at the same kinds of things and laugh at ourselves out loud and often. We both know the precise time we've worked too long and need a Peanut Buster Parfait break. It's exactly the kind of thing I see when I watch my two girls interact with one another. We are like sisters.

     I have talked about the other Tracey here on my blog quite a bit lately. She's full of the most incredible stories. Stories like how she and her then fiance (Mr. Tracey!) invited John Denver to their wedding in the 80's and how she and her hubbs had three months notice that they were expecting their third baby. (Um, yes, you read that correctly. She's got some fascinating stories, really.)

     She has a great sense of humor and is filled with wonderful quotes and quips and words of wisdom. (My personal favorite one that she uses all the time is "Everything's okay until it isn't) While her life has hills and valleys just like the rest of us, she chooses to look on the sunny side most days, with a warm, joyful smile and usually a plate full of something seriously delicious and homemade.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because, she's starting her very own blog.

Today.

Please pop over and take a moment to read her first post and welcome her to our fabulous blog world!

A good time was had by all!

Yes! The Sacramento Antique Faire was everything we had hoped for and then some. Other than over sleeping and not having time to shower (yikes!) before the event, (we did make time to brush our teeth, but it was definitely not a good hair day for me.) everything, from start to finish was fabulous.
We arrived at the venue about 30 minutes late for set up and, along with the other 299 vendors, began unloading the trailer and setting things up by lantern light. The weather at 5:00 a.m. in Sacramento this time of year is perfect, with no heavy coats, mittens or long underwear needed as we would have here in the biggest little city.

We decorated our booth with our version of her coffee filter streamers, along with thrifted mosquito netting and canvas drop cloths for a backdrop. Our new cash wrap table is made from a thrifted Jenny Lind style changing table and it worked out perfectly. I kept telling the other Tracey that this was truly a dream job.(All day long) We had so much fun planning, setting up, working, and even tearing it down and driving home. Pure bliss.

We were busy from opening (at 6:30 a.m.) to close, and we got to meet so many blog friends!( Jenny shared some wonderful pictures of our booth on her blog today!!) I will admit I cringed more than a little bit each time we had to take a picture with my blog friends (Remember- bad hair day going on here, people, not mention, about four hours sleep) but it was thrilling to meet so many kindred spirits. It was a bit like meeting a long lost pen pal because we all feel like we all already know one another. To those of you that made it-Thank you all so much for planning us into your Sunday!!!!!!

 

Ready or not, here we come.

  

     It's almost here. The big day for the Tumbleweed Cotillion gals. That's right, we're takin' it to the streets, baby. Our first big out of town fair. (out of state for that matter!)Tonight we'll make the trip over the hill from the biggest little city to the capitol of California, then rise before dawn to follow our bliss...
     I think we're ready. Well, I mean more ready than we've ever been one day out from a fair. My garage is so full that is truly looks like I am packed to move. (I am sure my curious neighbors will be wondering what that crazy woman that fills and empties her garage on a somewhat regular basis is doing this time, with a giant trailer no less.) Besides my garage, the other Tracey's dining room is crammed full of furniture and boxes of smalls. (and she has a huge dining room) Then there are the items we're taking from the booth at Junkee.
   We attempted to set up a practice booth on Friday afternoon in my driveway but it was kind of snow flurry-ing and windy and we were freezing, so we agreed that we'd wing it when it's time for the real set up, Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m. (I'll let you know how that turns out....)   
   In case you need more info, the Sacramento Antiques Faire is located under the Capitol City Freeway (50) between W and X Streets on 21st Street.  Click on here for directions:  www.sacantiquefaire.com.  There are about 300 dealers and it is held the second Sunday of every month. We are scheduled to be in booth space M-13. (For those of you too far away, you know I will be sharing pictures!)

     I am so beyond excited about this latest endeavor that it's not even funny. (and without sounding too dramatic, possibly a defining moment in both of our careers)

*sigh* I am quite sure I won't sleep a wink tonight.

Six days and counting until the Sacramento Antique Fair!

Can you believe it?!

If you're planning to be there and you email me to let me know you're coming by, there will be a sweet little treat waiting for you at the Tumbleweed Cotillion booth! You should be able to find us under the huge overpass in booth space M-13.We'll be the double tent booth all done up in vintage style, with shades of whites, creams, and Robins egg blue (just wait until you see the charming little dining table I finished late last night!)...with a splash of black here and there (Oh! So French!) for good measure.
We've got so many darling things that it's impossible to list them all, but rest assured, there will be plenty of eye candy!  

Northern California's storm blew into town yesterday afternoon, making it the perfect weather for me to work on pricing and packing small items for the booth next to a roaring fire in my cottage fireplace. I am having so much fun planning and creating that I get lost in each new project and I have to make myself stop to get to bed these days.

*sigh* So this is following your bliss.

Never underestimate the power of a woman

...ehem...make that two women. Remember a few days ago, when I said "Bigger isn't always better"? Um, ya. I stand corrected. I now believe bigger is the best, even if it ain't the easiest. (and I am sure you will agree) You see, when I told you the story about the bookcase-hutch thing-y not being able to fit in the room...well, that is still true, however, when I was telling the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada my dilemma,and how there wasn't a more perfect piece for my workroom anywhere on the planet, and oh-woe is me, yada yada yada, she simply said, "Well, why can't you just switch your workroom with your guest room?". Of course I replied with a very long can't-you-see-that's-impossible sigh and a double eye roll over the phone, pointing out that I was way too busy for anything that drastic. Sheesh.

But then........

I couldn't quit thinking about what she said. What if I...could it be...maybe it could...could it really be as easy as that? (After all, isn't that one of the perks of living alone? Being able to do anything you feel like doing, without worrying about what someone else might think?)

Hmmmm.

I proceeded to ask all of my friends opinions on this. (Just so you know-that's what I do whenever I have a dilemma- I obsess and annoy practically every one I know until I figure things out.)

Anyway.

Wouldn't you know that the other Tracey was out of town during this crisis, and so, of course, I called and left her several pitiful depressed messages about my situation. (I know. You're thinking "Dear God! She is a whack job and a half. It's just not that big of a deal!" Oh, yes you were. But it was that big of a deal. See how fabulous the giant piece is in the photo above?)

When at last the other Tracey returned to town she came over and we both studied and circled the bookcase hutch-y thing in my garage and, as expected, she once again said, "It sure is huge." (I know. Profound.) Then she looked at me and said something I never expected. "Okay. We need to paint it up and we're going to swap the rooms. Let's get on it. Now."

Really?!

Yes, really.

 So...we emptied the guest room of all the furniture. (Here is the part where I should let you know that I am a nutty perfectionist methodical thinker, and I pointed out that I really thought the entire new workroom should be painted a warm-chestnut-y-kind-of-soft-mocha rather than the drab antique white walls and if I tried to paint it after moving the ginormous piece in it could spell disaster, or a hernia at the very least.) We ran to Home Depot for paint for the walls and the new bookcase piece. We painted the room and called it a day...er..night actually, because by then it was 8:30 p.m.

The next morning we primed and painted the perfect piece for the new workroom. Once dry, we maneuvered the bottom part down the 1960's hallway. We made the turn in the hallway without too much trouble. Before we knew it, we had the bottom part in the room. Yes! Success. (Here is where I made my first mistake.) I got all cocky, dancing and shouting "We don't need no stinking men! We can do this! Why was I ever worried? It's a cakewalk!"

Um, ya. Notsomuch.

The trouble with the engineering on the piece of furniture was that the top of the bottom piece was open. That is, there was no top to it. Nope. Instead, the top was actually the bottom of the top piece. (did that make any sense at all?)

Anyway.

As we tried to get the top piece into the hallway....we hit a bit of a snag. (Did I mention at any point that the fabulous piece, when fully assembled, measures 7 feet by 7 feet? To give you some perspective, that's the size of a small bathroom, people. The photo doesn't really give you the impression it's that large.In fact, you'll need to click on the top photo to view the piece in it's entirety.) We couldn't get it around the corner in the hallway. I was pinned in the doorway to the old workroom, holding up the heavy bookcase top while the other Tracey was trapped in the guest bathroom. She was finally able to escape by doing a Rambo-esque style crawl under the wedged piece, which being held in place in mid air by the bathroom doorway frame (oh, her Mama would have been so proud!) and then pulling and tugging until we got the thing dislodged.

The other Tracey had had enough by this point. She suddenly (and with great gusto I might add) announced that "It's coming off!", meaning that we were going to dismantle the top piece. (Just go with me here. it was the counter top part, but it was part of the top piece to the bookcase..) I just stared back at her and said, "Okay". (I was just happy that one of us was taking the initiative here and I wasn't going to have to replace any walls in the hallway,, at least not at this point)

We managed to get the five million pound rather heavy top piece back down the hall, and the two steps, to the living room where we laid it on it's side. (..er...it's back?) I ran to the garage and got two hammers and then grabbed two towels (Kids, please don't try this at home.) Using the towels to buffer the whacks with the hammers and to protect the wood, we went to town and in about 5 minutes we were laughing (and sweating) as the top came off of the bottom.(Here, maybe these photos will help...the first one is the top part before paint, the second is the bottom part with the newly removed-from-the-top-part counter)   We then moved the newly freed counter top to the workroom and put it on top of the bottom. (Are you still with me here?) and then we tackled, quite literally, the top part. It was still a tight fit around the corner, but we angled it and pretty much found some inner-super-human-girl-strength and ...we made it around the corner by lifting and angling. (all the while holding our breath). We slid it into the room. We focused, and took a deep breath. Then, on the count of three, we hoisted the top part onto the bottom part and it. was. fabulous. (Thanks Mom. You were so right!)

We stood back and marveled at what we had just accomplished.

Aaah, life is good.

 After a little touch up paint, I was filling every nook and cranny with my supplies, and feeling oh, so thankful that the other Tracey was confident enough to make a snap decision. (I told you she was a visionary.)

As for the other guy that was supposedly going to buy the fabulous piece from me...well, he did finally call on Tuesday at 2:55 p.m. and I told him the piece was already gone to a good home.

And it was.

My little collection of cake toppers

Remember this recent post?

After that post, I had a lot of people email me wanting to see my wedding cake top collection, so here it is. I have only been collecting cake top couples for about a year. Although my collection isn't all that big, I do cherish each and every one of the sweet little couples that I have.

I became inspired to start a scouting for cake toppers after I saw Lisa's collection on her blog one day. ( sorry, I could't find the exact post to share it today!) Well,anyway, I thought it was about the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and I had been wanting to start a collection ever since.

My first cake topper couple came from a yard sale a short while later, and I was thrilled to find it. (they aren't all that easy to find, and now that so many of us collect them, it is even harder) Some of the others are from thrift shops and two were separate gifts from the other Tracey. As I shared in my previous post about Jackie and John joining my collection, I am both fascinated and charmed by these little treasures and I would love to know the history behind each little couple.

I know that many of you collect wedding cake toppers as well, and I'd love to see them and hear how long you've been collecting. Oh, please, do share!

Bigger isn't always better

Oh. My. Ga.

Why, oh why, do I always have to learn everything the hard way?

   The space that I make a huge mess in create in has been driving me nuts. I need more shelf space for organizing.( Anyway, I think I do, and I have thought so for quite a while now.)

   You see, a few months back while thrifting with the other Tracey, I spotted this wonderful hutch-bookcase-y thing at one of the thrift shops in town. It was pricey..well, maybe not as pricey as something from a furniture store, but..let's remember just how cheap frugal I am. I thought it was an amazing piece, and the other Tracey thought it was very...large.
      Every couple of weeks we returned to this particular thrift shop and the piece was still there (Kind of like it was waiting for me...right?) After about three visits to this shop I told the other Tracey that we simply must buy this grand display piece for the small side of our booth at Junkee. After all, it would create a  wall, a backdrop. She pondered this a moment and said she thought it could work...but it was just so...very...large.   
      Weeks went by. We returned, time and again, and finally, we bargained the folks down to a more acceptable price.(Yes, I do know that the money from the sales at this thrift shop goes to the Gospel Mission, but I'm on a budget, people.) Once this was done, we suddenly panicked and decided we still needed to think some more about it. It was a large investment after all, in more ways than one.
      Another two weeks went by. The other Tracey announced, after I brought up the grand piece one more time, that she was quite sure it would be perfect in my workroom.

Huh?

     I thought about this for a moment. Hmmm....brilliant! (Why hadn't I thought of this before?!) Yes, it would be fabulous in there, and, as the other Tracey pointed out, the size of this hutch-bookcase-y thing would add a real presence to the space, because it is so very...large. (She's smart like that...a visionary.)

Anyway.

     We went to the above mentioned thrift shop last Tuesday morning and I purchased the wonderful piece. The thrift shop said they would even deliver it (because even though it came apart into two pieces, it was still too large for any car or SUV) on Friday morning before I went to work at the bank, for a small delivery fee.

(See what I mean? Meant to be, right?)

     Ummm....Notsomuch. You see, after I spent an entire evening after work emptying the old bookcases and moving things out of the room, (along with a few other items that I took to Junkee to sell since I no longer had a use for them) I made a discovery.

It turns out that my cottage isn't all that large, and the hallway is a bit narrow (were people smaller in the 1960's and I just don't remember that part?) and the hallway turns to the left, just after the workroom doorway on the right. Once inside the workroom doorway, there is a bit of an entry to the room due to a closet (about two and a half feet maybe) and, anyway...because of this configuration, you cannot get large or long items into this particular room. (If I have confused you, just trust me on this one, nothing that is taller than a door frame is ever gonna make it's way into this room.)The two delivery guys arrived, and oh how they tried...and tried...and tried, every which way they could imagine, but in the end, it was a no-go. Saddened and frustrated I had them put the oh-so-incredibly-ginormous (Oh my. Why didn't I see how very large it was before?!) hutch-bookcase-y thing in the garage with the rest of the inventory for the booth.

      I then spent last night putting my old book cases back in the work room (after I ran to Junkee and picked up my bench and mirror that I had removed from the room the day before and put up for sale in our booth.) and hopefully by Sunday morning I will have my workroom back together. ( This was one of those moments when I so wished I had a crystal ball.)

     The really good news is that another shopper wanted the same bookcase piece just as I purchased it, and so I called him. (he gave the shop his phone number as a back up in case I had any reason to not buy it) He says he is willing to buy it from me for what I paid, so it looks like the charming (all be it very large) treasure will have a home and I can keep looking for the right storage addition for my space.(He is supposed to call me back and pick it up Tuesday..we'll see.) If he flakes and doesn't take it, it will have a perfect home down at Junkee, creating a fabulous wall for the booth space and it will be for sale there.(I will paint it white with a Robin's eggs blue back...)

I guess the moral to this story is that if a piece looks very large in a warehouse thrift shop with 15 foot ceilings...it most likely is.

 

These chicks are taking a leap of faith....

Yes! we are thrilled...overjoyed...ecstatic..and honored to share our big news. It's a real leap of faith...and it involves a road trip! Call it following our Bliss, going for the gold, taking a leap of faith, whatever you like.

The Tumbleweed Cotillion Gals ("the Tracey's" as we have become known around town!) have been accepted into the the Farm Chick's show coming up June 6 & 7 in Spokane, Washington.

Not only is the show itself a dream come true, but so many of my Blog friends will be there as both vendors and shoppers!!!! (I am not sure which I am more excited about, the show or my friends!) This has been a dream of mine for a while now, and I recently found out that the other Tracey had the same dream.

*sigh* Now, it's going to be a reality and we are both so excited we probably won't sleep until at least mid April.

Look what the mailman brought!

    I got a package today from Patti over at Delighted Heart blog! When I opened the shipping box this is what I pulled out. The wrap job was so danged cute that I couldn't bare to open it until I had shared it with a friend. The other Tracey was coming over to go to the booth at Junkee with me, so I waited to show it to her. (Patti had even covered the wired french ribbon bow with a cool whip container so it wouldn't be crushed. Now, that's clever!)

Don'tcha just love the shred all around the edges?! We ooh'd and aaaah'd over the beautifully wrapped box for a solid ten minutes before I finally opened it up. Patti's sweet note made it all the more special. Inside, I found not one, but two of the most darling (dare I say...delightful...!) glittered ornaments. A stork, with a precious baby boy, and another with a precious baby girl! Oh!!! We both squealed and marveled at the detail work.(click on the top picture to enlarge it to really see the details!)

They are truly the sweetest things! I'm going to find a very special spot in my workroom so that I can enjoy these little treasures each and every day.

Thank you so very much Patti!

A day for me

     Life has been busy of late. Okay, my life always seems to be busy, so maybe busy isn't exactly the right word. There have been many life changes in my little world the past couple of months. Some anticipated (new babies arriving!) and some not expected. (being laid off without a severance package)
      I didn't think I was stressed, but I haven't been sleeping great. I mean, I don't sleep a lot anyway, but I have been waking up at all hours and tossing and turning and not getting any real rest the past few weeks.
     While chatting with one of my good friends last week, she insisted it was most likely stress, and said I wasn't making time for myself. (Actually, she's been saying this for the past couple of months to me, but for some reason I heard her this past week.) She's all about down time and regrouping for the new week and such. (She's a teacher for gosh sakes. I should have listened to her much sooner.)
     "Oh pul-eeeease, I have plenty of time for myself," I told her. (I do have my nightly bubble baths after all. Had she forgotten that?)
     Anyway, early last week, the other Tracey suggested we head over the hill to Sacramento for the big antique fair under the freeway over pass, to scope things out and get booth ideas and maybe even some goodies. We'd leave early, early, early in the morning and be gone most of the day.
    I said it sounded fabulous, but secretly I fretted a whole lot bit about being gone all day long on a Sunday, and totally "missing" one of my two short days off. (I have stuff to catch up on you know, every minute of every day, and if I missed a day, well, God knows what might happen.)
     Sunday morning came, and at five a.m. I was at the other Tracey's door, ready to make the two hour drive to the fair. My favorite teacher friend was dialed in to let the pups out after church. The other Tracey's perfect husband, Mr. Tracey, decided to come along and played chauffeur for the day.
     We talked non stop all the way to the fair. Brainstorming about our booth, talking about our kids (does that ever stop? Will I still be talking about my kids when I'm 80?) laughing, and sharing our plans for the future of the Tumbleweed Cotillion and where we both see things going.
      We arrived at the fair at about 7:00 and it was fffffffffffrigidly cold. And foggy. Mr. Tracey left us, with our shopping carts and we hit the pavement running. And laughing. (Why hadn't we brought gloves? Or heavy coats?) Luckily the other Tracey's sister lived nearby. She came to our rescue with gloves and jackets. We felt warmer. We had hot dogs at 9:00 (We'd been up since 4:00, so technically it was sort of kind of like lunch time. Somewhere.)

    The shopping was fabulous. The vendors, even more fabulous. Oh, so much fun. The second booth we went to from the gate was Marilyn's. Oh my. This Oregon woman (I knew I liked her!) had such style. So many wonderful things. We chatted and chatted with her and I really could have stayed there all day, but there was so much more to see!
     In the end, we had plenty of treasures and ideas, and when the sun burned through the freezing cold fog, it warmed up and was beautiful.
     After lunch with family and a short pit stop to search out a thrift shop or two, (as well as an ice cream cone) we headed back over the hill, laughing and chatting all the way. We rehashed what we bought,(The trophy! The vintage bassinet with the chipp-ied robin's egg blue border!) what we decided not to buy (the three dollar seventies wedding cake topper with the groom that looked remarkably like Bobby Sherman) and what we would be doing with our treasures when we got them home.

     When I finally arrived home I was tired. It was that good kind of tired that can only come from a day spent well. The kind of day you always look back on and remember the sights and sounds and the warm feeling of friendship. I took my bubble bath, and worked on a few things for the booth. (I was inspired by all we saw!)Then, much earlier than usual, I went to bed and I slept. Like a log.
     I woke Monday morning to see that I had actually slept seven and a half hours. (for me, that is unheard of!) I was refreshed. Happy. No, not just happy, but...content. I had taken a day just for me (without really realizing it) and life was okay. I could take time for myself and life would still be there, waiting. It was just what my teacher friend had recommended. I called her to share and she, ever so  kindly told me, "I told you so."

Thanks so much Anne. You were so right.

Progress! (and a whole lotta fun!)

Oh, yesterday was such a Bliss filled day!The other Tracey arrived at my cottage a bit after 7:00 a.m. and we had a nice little breakfast and then jumped right in to working on our booth items. By noon we were on our way to Junkee, in two vehicles filled up with furniture and little bits of our Valentine's treasures.

We had people looking at our new merchandise as we were unpacking (that always makes me feel so good!) and I before I knew it, I had sold a couple of sets of my hugs and kisses. We have a lot more Valentine's day goodies in the works, and plan to have it all in the booth by this Saturday.

We worked in the booth for a couple of hours and then hit some thrift shops. We shopped. We laughed. We people watched. (More on this later...)  And, oh! The treasures we discovered! (you'll be seeing them soon...very soon.)

Then, back to Junkee to work a little bit more on our booth spaces. Once we were through there, we headed to the cottage again and wrapped up a little bit of painting. Twelve hours after we began we decided we had done enough for today and we both felt incredibly satisfied with what we had accomplished.

After the other Tracey headed for home, I put on some Norah Jones and slipped into a bubble bath to wind down and reflect on the wonderful day I had. These are the kinds of days that remind me just how blessed I am.

It's cookie time!

We're all ready to start the 2008 Virtual Cookie Exchange!!! First, let's pop on over and look at the delightful goodies Sonya has to share with us!(Did she send us an incredible photo, or what?!) Then, Jackie is baking up a batch of something amazing over in her kitchen....And, then on to Cindy's sweet cottage. Of course, Cindy has done up some delightfully pastel snowflake cookies for all of us to enjoy!(This is so my kind of winter-y cookies!)

Next, it's Catherine's home for some Ginger Crunch Slices!

Alicia's kitchen will be our next stop...Mmmmmm, how yummy do these look?

Donna doesn't have a blog, but sent this picture I thought I'd share since there was a bit of room in the post. (Sorry, no recipe) Hey! I see that Donna uses the tag line I use on my cupcakes!

Next, let's got to Suzanne's home for a little treat.....then to Amber's cottage....

Finally, we're here at my home for some snowball cookies. I had to use a picture from last year, because I forgot to charge my camera battery! (I may get time tonight to update the post with a fresh photo)

Snowball Cookies

These are so easy, and they are great because you can make them way ahead and freeze them, and whether bagged up as a favor, or all decked out in a martini glass, these little cookies fill the bill.

1 cup softened butter (room temp)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 chopped nuts if desired
extra powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients with mixer, roll into little balls. Bake at 400' for 10-13 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while hot, and again when cool.

Second option: roll in powdered sugar while hot, then in sparkle sugar when cool for a more elegant effect.

Well, that's the end of the tour, and I don't know about you, but I am completely in the baking mood now!

Slumber party

Not sure if it's the cold weather or the holiday season (or maybe the fact that Moose is so intuitive that he realizes Mr. Bear is now in his twilight years, and he kind of worries about him and feels the need to look after him a bit) that has sparked Moose to want to be closer to Bear, literally, but he has taken to squeezing himself into bed with Bear the past few weeks. Now, for those of you who are not "dog people", let me just explain...little dogs will share beds. All the time. They like to do that. Big dogs..notsomuch. They are big after all, and it's just not as easy. Or comfortable.

My big boys each have their own beds, on either side of my bed and when the lights go out, they both are in their respective beds, snoring peacefully, dreaming of Cesar Millan...That is, until about three weeks ago.

That's when I noticed one morning as I was getting ready for my grown up girl job, that he had managed to join Bear in his bed for a little after-breakfast-but-before-we-have-to-go-outside-for-the-day nap. I thought it looked so uncomfortable,(and he changed positions repeatedly, just trying to get comfortable, each time waking Bear) and yet it was so sweet to see (well, as sweet as any two 100 pound dogs can look, squished into a single dog bed) how he clearly loves ol' Bear and wanted to be near him. Or maybe he was just trying to warm his toes on an exceptionally cold morning.

Either way, it was sweet.

To me at least.

The 2008 Holiday Home Tour continues....

Isn't this little fellow just the cutest thing you've ever seen? He's at Jackie's home, and we're going to take a peek at the rest of her decorations also!! (Now, remember, all you need to do is click on the colored links to go tour the homes!)

I am truly amazed at all of the wonderful decorating going on around the country (the world!) that we got to look at yesterday, and today we have even more spots to visit. Let's go to Andrea's home next....

Adorable! Cami is waiting for us at her cottage! Oh! Lidy wants us to stop by too!Her little French Gardenhouse is full of Christmas spirit!

Then it's on to Mandi's home! So many cute ideas...then Karen's cottage is next...

and then we'll be off to Julie's charming little piece of heaven! How fun is this?

I am beyond inspired, I tell you! We'll go to Nancy's home for tea next, and take a look at her fabulous tree!

Once we finish there, Jeanette will be waiting for us at her cottage!

All things vintage, and wonderfully charming!

Brenda wants us to stop by as well, and then...

 it's on to Judy's, and we'll wrap up our tour right there.

Thanks everyone, for joining in the fun and festivities. This has been terrific!I will be sharing my home shortly...

...and don't forget that next Wednesday is the Virtual Cookie Exchange! Send me your links and pictures for that!!!!!

Let the virtual holiday home tour begin!

Oh, the weather outside may be frightful, but we'll be having a delightful time touring some of the most amazing homes today! We will begin the tour at Barb's cottage!(that's her oh-so-charming photo above!)
Second stop...Leigh's fabulous home. Of course, a stop by Sher's home is a must. Look at her tree!

Simply magnificent, don't you think? After that, let's make sure we go to Lorrie's home. She'll have candles burning and it will be fabulous.

So many wonderful ideas and homes to see....I think we need a little blue in our holiday tour (and we all know how I love blue!!) so we simply must pop over to the most romantic home on the tour..yup, Cindy's charming cottage!

Oh. My. Ga. That was spectacular, wasn't it. I am in a holly jolly mood for sure now. Let's head on over to Debra's for some cider and a look at her beautiful decor next....

Just incredible, I swear. Now, on to Cherry's charming home, all full of glitter and creativity! Donna's sweet cottage is next, with angels and bottle brush trees and all things shimmery.

Wonderful!Wonderful! Yvette has invited us to come by her snowy cottage too, so let's go there next..don't you just love her snow banner, with the snowflakes and pompoms?!

This is so fun. Alicia's house is just up the way, and we can stop in for some tea there...

Oh my! Next on the route will be Nancy's place. This is so fun, and it just inspires me to get in the Christmas spirit!On to Charlotte's lovely home next to take a peek!

Oh my goodness gracious, it's fabulous too! Now we must get on the road to Donna's decorated house!

It appears that Mr. Beau will be on hand to greet us there! From Donna's we will go to Jill's home to take a peek!

Then, Sonia has invited us to stop by and look at all of her Christmas decor!

Angela's home will be next, and I can't wait to see it!Next, on to another Sonya's home!

This is just so fun!

Next, Leigh Ann has some cute things to show us!Look at the little frosted house! Sharlene's cottage will be our next stop.

Jen has got the cutest garland, don't you think?

I just love it! Let's go see what else she has!

Well, we have been touring for hours now and I think we'll have to wrap this up tomorrow...yes, there are many more to see!!! Oh, I can't wait for tomorrow to come!

Calling all bakers! Virtual Christmas cookie exchange

Okay, so this year apparently I am all about living virtually....first the holiday home tour and now a cookie exchange. (What can I say? It keeps me off the streets) I am looking for new recipes and ideas for holiday baking this year, and I know you people have the best ideas on the entire planet.

Anyway.

I thought it would be a great idea to swap a favorite recipe...share a baking tip...a cute packaging idea for baked goods...whatever you'd like to do, related to holiday baking. It will work exactly like the holiday home tour, except we'll be sharing baking stuff on our blog post for that day.(With a yummy picture!) I thought we could do it on Wednesday, December 17th, exactly one week after the holiday home tour...still far enough away from Christmas to try out some of these ideas and recipes, but not too close to the last tour...does that make sense? I hope so.

Here is some food (sort of) for thought, to get you thinking of what you might like to share on the 17th: Here is one of the ideas that I do pretty much every year (actually, I shared this idea in my cupcakes and cookies DVD kit)...

Yes, they are exactly what they look like. Mmm hmm. MIlk-bones. But, not just Milk-bones. Milk-bones tied with a ribbon (Milk-bone logo inward, so they look more "homemade") to coordinate with all of the other baked goods in your gift basket for friends and neighbors. (Now, I ask you, how cute and thoughtful is that?!) I usually hang a tag with the friend's pup's name on it for an added nice touch (and so the people don't attempt to eat them...)

Don't forget man's best friend when giving out your holiday baked goods!

Okay, that idea should have started you thinking..I'll be sharing something special this year as well...I'll give you a clue...I'm planning on sharing some snow themed baked goodies on the bake swap...how 'bout you?

*Email me a photo (if you have one) and a link for the 2008 bake swap and add the logo to your blog! **

(In case baking isn't your thing, consider taking part in an online MBA program. Ha!)

Oh my.

For the first time in..my life (I think) I am speechless.

     When I asked for your favorite posts, I was thinking I might be able to see a pattern of what you people liked reading the most, so I could write more on that single topic. That didn't happen. What did happen was that you wrote such heartfelt, wonderful, sweet comments about all of it that I went through an entire box of Kleenex trying to choose a winner. My heart overflowed. Truly.
    The card designer was at a complete loss as well. She tried narrowing it down to the people that only named specific posts, but that was still a long list. I then called the other Tracey and read a random comment to her. She cried with me over the phone at the kind words.
    Finally the card designer and I had to do something so we took the top entries and I drew a name out of a hat. I know it's not the most showy, glamorous way to choose, but it's the truth. In the end, Barbra won. (She had picked the toastmaster speech one) By the way, Barbra is such a phenominal writer herself that she should seriously consider having a blog all her own. (hint, hint Barbra!)
    I so wish I could send everyone a fabulous thank you gift. I don't really know if anyone can understand what this little blog with 12,000+ comments has done for my sanity and my life these past couple of years, because I cannot seem to put it into words big enough to describe it. All I can say, over and over, is thank you all so much for reading, for commenting, for emailing.

We are all kindred spirits if there ever were some.