Sunday, November 29, 2009

I am participating in the Etsy Holiday Sale

Check out my Etsy shop and see my new deals for the Holidays. Currently I am working on making woven polarfleece coasters plus a small bag for cell phone or I-Pod.
My husband finished the new looms for me just in time for the holidays. I will be adding my new items to My etsy shop soon.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Me driving the loader

Here I am playing in the loader

I play with the Big Boys!

Once in awhile, my husband lets me play with the big toys! Here I am in one of the Ely Mn. gravel pits, just playing. I feel really big and important!!! This is really fun, loading the bucket, emptying it again and just driving around the pit!

Participating in the Etsy Holiday Sale

My daughter just told me that her friends were going out shopping by 4 a.m. and then going to be at work by 8 a.m.! Oh to be young again!!!! I guess going out that early and shopping on Black Friday just isn't that important to me anymore. My Body says No and my mind thinks well, maybe, but in the end the decision is Be smart, don't abuse yourself!!!

I will be participating in the Etsy Holiday Sale by offering one free single mat with the purchase of a 3 or 6 square rug.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Today was a full day of cooking, avoiding the rush in the morning to get everything done for a noon meal.Trying a new dish, made in the slow cooker. Amongst all the usual, steamed rutabega that is mashed with butter and sugar and then put in the oven to bake for 1/2 hour, mashed spuds with top the tater sourcream added when mixing, cooked carrots/butter/ brussell sprouts roasted in olive oil and garlic cloves in the oven, homemade stuffing, I think that is it. We all like ham better than turkey so that is what we serve. In a few minutes, my husband and I are making prizzeli a crumb cookie that is rolled into a cone. Then tomorrow before serving,I squirt in the creamcheese mixture. SOOOO good! I think I just gained 10 lbs talking about it! Oh my!
Diet starts Friday, I send most the left overs home with the kids!!!
Wishing everyone well !

Thursday, November 19, 2009

what happens to docks up north in the winter?

pike river dam

Pike river dam

pictures of our Pike River Dam

This past weekend finally was a sunny enough day to get some clear pictures of the dam by Lake Vermilion. This was a favorite place of mine, as growing up we would hike, picnic and watch the suckers run in the spring.

Advertise, networking, and more advertising!

Good morning all from foggy northern Mn. Everyday I start out the same, thinking how to get my etsy shop more visibility and traffic. I blog, I follow other blogs, read the forums and join in on chats on etsy, and twitter. I did make some business cards, and some small flyers to spread in a 400 miles radious, here to the cities. Lets see if that does anything to get more exposure. I keep hearing here on etsy from other crafters, have patience, times are really tough, others who sold big before xmas last year have near to nothing in sales. So, all I can do, and advice, is, we have to have patience, and continue doing our craft that we love.
Today, however, on the etsy forums, one states that try other outside blogs, not etsy sellers. She wants to let you know and not forget, it is a big world out there, try to get the word out to everyone. So now I will search related blogs to my craft and see if it is something that will help.
Have a great day everyone!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Wine-berry cro hook shawl

shades of blue placemats 16"x16"

Where shall I start?

Woke up to a dreary Friday, oh well, best just get busy and I will not even notice the sun isn't shining! I am currently working on so many projects that one is bound to get finished today!I have my fleece waiting for me on my cutting table, my cro-hook shawl project sitting by easy chair waiting for me, my suede yarn coat project on my other table in my craft room, and now I decided to start my crocheted snowflakes since they take awhile to dry. Like I said, there is not enough time in a day!
Our near-by river dam is running fast and just gorgeous, have to try and get some pictures of it this weekend.
Tomorrow is our daughter's 33rd b-day. How can that be,where does time go? Since she got her diabetes,age 11, I have made her , her favorite desert. I take a block of cream cheese, powder sugar, cool whip, mix all together, and then put it in a grahamcracker crust. I then put some remaining graham cracket crust, crumble, lightly on top of entire pie. I ran this recipe by our local diabetes clinic, and they said it was the perfect desert for her. It has gotten to be the entire families favorite, plus now her new family since she got married 2 years ago.

Monday, November 9, 2009

I should just go to sleep!

Another busy day, got most everything accomplished that I set out to do! Our grand-daughter came to play with her mammam for a little while today, she helped me clean house! I got the prayer shawl done, listed my blue polar fleece placemats on etsy, made supper and watched some tv. Tonight we had one of our favorites, oven roasted sweet potatoes. I slice a sweet potato very thin, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper them, and put on cookie sheet, bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Now my eyes are telling me it is time to wrap this up and just give in and go to bed.

Friday, November 6, 2009

TGIF

Well the weekend is almost here and the weather forecast promises to be a nice warm one at that! In the 50's for the opening deer season is not welcomed by the hunters but people like me could have this weather year around! In the distance I hear gun shots, must be someone target practicing over in the gravel pit. That I like to do, target practice, but when it comes to hunting, I don't care for that.
My xmas cactus plant is blooming, looks so pretty with the deep pink flowers. Looks like it is a cascading fall of flowers. I will have to get a good picture of it.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

One side of the road is blacktopped

Still Blacktopping!

We have beautiful sunshine here today in northern Mn. Temps are back up into the 40's and 50's and supposed to hang around until next week. This nice weather now allows my husband's summer work to keep on going on until the weather gets really nasty. They are blacktopping a bike trail and streets yet. Also we have some last minute yard work to do, grind up the leaves and put out the bases for the steel xmas trees my husband makes. He being the electrician and computer whiz made up the brains for the trees to flash the LED lights to music. He makes his own little computers, puts them in a secure box, puts it on a timer so the lights come on and go off every night the same time. Very pretty when they are all lined up around the yard. I hope he decides to make more, wouldn't mind having them go right around the outside of our property. Well I best get to my weaving. I am very happy with the progress and outcome of my shades of Blues in my soon to be finished rug.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Busy Day!

Well, so far I have listed 2 of my woven polar fleece bags on my etsy shop, listed on yaami, now writing in my blog and next take a break from weaving and go make some chili.
It is that kind of day, chili day! Gloomy and cool, feels like I should go cook something that will warm us up plus smells up the house good! I have been using baby butterbeans in my chili for awhile. Instead of putting the traditional kidney beans I thought since this is a favorite bean of ours, I would try it. Plus I will make some mashed potatoes to serve the chili on! I know, no cal eating tonight! Gotta cheat sometimes!

Going over bridge to Lake Superior

Loading grain on Boat

Lake Superior

Moose

This big Boy was walking the tracks by my cousin's house. Imagine how surprised my cousin was to have this walk in front of him!

Moose

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Dluth Minnesota, Superior Wisc.

It was mostly gloomy out this past weekend but I finally had my camera with me so thought it was a good time to get some pictures of areas that I have been asked about.

Tamarrack trees

This weekend we took a ride in the wilderness so I could get some pictures of the golden, and rusty colored tamarrack trees. They are loosing their needles fast, as you can see in the pictures the rusty needle path on the highway.

SunShine all around!

November already, where on earth did October go to? Goodness, before we know it, xmas will be here and I have so much to do!! I hope I can keep saying that for a long time to come! I love being busy,but never too busy to take time out for my family.
I was very happy to get going on with my new design for my Shades of Blue polar fleece rug yesterday. There is lots of prep work but it is all fun. My 3 yr.old granddaughter came to visit yesterday and saw all my polar fleece strips waiting to be put on the loom and announces....Mammam's making her putting rugs again! If that doesn't just make one's day!
Today we have sunshine, at least for awhile, rain in forecast for later today. Temps are very nice, in low 40's, so no complaints here!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Birthday Girl!

Sun is shining today!

Well our dreary weather has left us for awhile, hopefully. The leaves are flying everywhere, making a thick carpet in many areas. Our granddaughter had her 3rd birthday party this past weekend, what an exciting time! She came to my house to get her bangs cut yesterday, too bad we didn't get that done before all the birthday pictures! Today I am measuring , cutting and sewing polar fleece strips. I need to get more pink and also blue strips ready for the loom. I still have a little to go on the fringe for my suede stole. I am liking it!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

blue fleece headband

Finished new items for my etsy shop

Get the Shovels out!

Well, looks like the weather forecasters may be right this time. Rain today, steadily falling temps and snow starting this afternoon. They say to expect 2 to 4 inches! Oh well, I guess it has to come sometime. The birds have been going just crazy the last couple weeks, picking the red berries off my mountain ash trees, and getting Drunk!!
They fly just wild,then splashing in our bird baths, quite a site to see. I should be sneeky and record them.
I usually am not a complainer, but this has been on my mind a long time, actually since my first knee replacement 14 yrs ago. Anyone getting older, any type of physical handicap surely appreciates a public bathroom with a tall toilet! Yes, toilet, the ones that are usually out there except for the one and only handicap stall, are ones that you practically sit on the floor! Why not just install the tall ones so everyone is happy! I have 2 at home, they are not that much more expensive than the regular! Anyone else feel this way?
Well today would be my Mom's 81st b-day. She passed away when I was just 21. I still can hear her voice, smell her Wind Song perfume and remember her laugh. I am fortunate although to have her 2 sister's, my aunties which I love dearly.Through the years I have tried to compare them to her, wondering if she would be like them
and look like they have as we have grown older. Happy birthday Mom!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Monday already?

I don't know, the older I get the faster time goes by. My parents used to say this and I wondered always, what on earth do they mean by this? But, it is true! Saturday we took a back highway to go to Duluth, leaves were flying everywhere, leaving a carpet on the ground. Then, we spotted 2 large bald eagles sitting in a pine tree. Many big crows were circling them, diving at them and making a big racket. We stopped to watch a while, of course, no camera! The eagles acted like they could have cared less about these crows.
We did our usual shopping and heaven for bid, I got into the yarn shop again! Bought some more wonderful colors and types of yarn! Oh and of course I couldn't go without buying polar fleece too. This time was for our granddaughter. She is so into Dora the Explorer, so I had to buy this fleece when I bought it.

I added another woven polar fleece mat today to my etsy site. It is so much fun to see your crafts up on the net. Makes one proud!

Thursday, October 15, 2009


What happened to Fall?

Goodness, we saw the beautiful fall colors for just a short time and we are now going into winter? We have snow and rain here in northern Mn. today. At least the temps. are staying above zero. I have 2 many projects on the burner once again. Today I determined to get the fringe on my new design, crohook scarf. Also still cutting and sewing that polar fleece for rugs , mats and bags.
I listed a couple of my new items on etsy the last couple of days. Oh yea, I did join Twitter. Now that is interesting, love looking at the posts and meeting new people.
Loretta Lynn is performing here at one of the local casinos next week. Shoot, I was not on time and missed out on getting tickets. She has been one my favorites, since I was a little girl. Guess you could say I was raised up listening to her and all the country western stars on my radio.

Exciting News

I have had two wonderful emails, one telling me that my mini etsy is on posted on their blog, and also that I am on featured on FoundHandmade.com How wonderful to get this exposure and the fact that people out there have found me and like my items enough to post them.

AudreysCountryCrafts is a beautiful blog. Take time to check it out.
FoundHandmade is also a site full of info and posts many artists and their shops. Both a great place to brouse and shop. Be sure to have time to get it all in.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

More Snow Coming!

Well here it is Sunday evening, most of the new snow we got early saturday morn, is gone. BUT....
more coming tomorrow! They are now forecasting a 70% chance for it with highs only in the low 30's. Goodness, certainly hope this does not mean winter is really going to stick around!
I went to Joanne's fabrics to day and purchased some "princess" fabric for a dress for our youngest granddaughter. She said she wants to be a princess, so I found the perfect fabric for it. When finished I will take a picture and post it on here. Hopefully it won't be a blur, this little one does not sit long!
Tomorrow I hope to get some pictures of the new items I have finished. I have 4 new mats, a scarf and 3 bags. I need to get a polar fleece bag done for myself too. I am thinking I want blue, red and green. That will go with my wintergreen coat that I have from Ely WinterGreen store.

Friday, October 9, 2009

What Snow?

Oh goodness, On the weather channel this morning they forecast for our area, tomorrow, up to 2 iches of snow may come! Better go and dig the boots out! I have heard that it will be a mild and much warmer winter for us , let's keep our fingers and toes crossed!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Southwest Vase


Here is one of my best sellers when I was in my ceramic business. I used acrylics plus chalk. I create layers by spraying and chalking over the paint.

Paper Roses


Coffee filter flowers

I have had many requests to post pictures of my coffe filter roses. I was watching Martha Stewart one day and saw a gal making these wonderful coffee filter roses. I went the Martha Stewart site and here they had a video, showing step by step how to make them. Well, our daughter was getting married soon and when she saw my attempt at these roses, she naturally wanted at least 100 of them! Yes , 100 roses in various colors. I got all my supplies and spent a month , off and on making them. I changed the pattern some plus how I applied the water color to the petals. I m a painter also so a lot of us just have to do things our own way! Hope you enjoy seeing these paper roses!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Yaami Handmade

Yaami Handmade

Shared via AddThis

Minnesota Fall colors



Great hostess gift for the holidays


Here we are into October already, the weatherman was talking about our area seeing some snow showers this weekend!I hope we get to see fall a little bit here before that white stuff starts to cover the ground! I have been busy making my woven rugs, crocheting washcloths/dishcloths and also fleece headbands. Time just flies when I get in that craft room of mine, should take time to organize again so my I can find stuff. One of these days my husband is going to tell me that I should open up a store in there! Oh well, I am never bored, that is for sure.
Tonight comes one of my favorite tv shows, NCIS. I like the Mentalist, Castle and of course all the CSI shows. I get my cro hook work done while sitting in front of the tv. Better to have these fingers busy creating than shoving snacks into my mouth!
Well gotta go and sew strips for my rugs, then cut them before I can weave. I m leaning towards fall colors right now but who knows what I choose when I get into that room!

Friday, October 2, 2009


My New Fall Colored Washcloths?Dishcloths

Here are 3 of my Fall colored cro hook designs for washcloths /Dishcloths
I use all cotton yarn
8x8 in size
machine wash and dry

I love creating with this cro hook, allows me to use many colors

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Get the winter clothes out!

Well it is time to get tough! The cold weather has come to stay I think. Yesterday was rainy, wind bursts up to 40 miles an hour and just plain nasty! Our fall colors are getting very pretty in some areas, but , with this wind, the leaves will all soon be on the ground.
Now I am more in the mood to stay in the house, work on my crafts and drink tea!

Thursday, September 24, 2009


Rocks that I inherited


Thunder egg and amethyst

picture of the mystery rock or?



Mystery Rock

This morning while chatting with my etsy friends, one in particular, Heartsabustin, was very helpful in giving me some insight to what this strange rock that I inherited might be. I was impressed by all the jewelry makers on this morning's chat , very talented crafters in the etsy shops. This piece was given to me by my Dad who got it from His father .He had no info on it either, just puzzled to what it was. Anyone that has some insight or may know what this is, drop me a comment. I inherited allot of Brazilion agates, some polished some not, thunder eggs, and too many to even start to list. I have to find someone that can tell me for sure what they are. I do know that my grandfather and his 4 brothers were all rock hunters and made crafts with them. They were all from the state of Washington.
It has floating quartz balls floating in it, and is very heavy.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Camoflage fleece headbands


This is the size large fleece headband, come in sizes lge, med and small.

new fleecehead bands


Here is my granddaughter wearing her new fleece headband, she is now ready for winter! She is so captivated by this faceless styrofoam head I use for modeling!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Inspirtation and exposure

This morning, as usual I check out my etsy shop to see if any action has arrived, check out the forums, and chats. This morning on the chats, talked to a few shop owners that were very helpful once again. Not only do they give you exposure by posting pictures of your items but they give helpful hints too. I get inspired to get to work on my crafts ever day with excitement.
Today, I am finishing up on my new design for fleece headbands. Can't wait to see the reaction I get from them. Once again it is an idea that came to me to try. Also have all my strips ready to start my next 3 section rug. I have been told they go very well in a Motor home and also semi truck. Why step on cold floors when you can have these soft thick rugs to step on. They are so easy to clean so this makes them perfect when you are on the go too. Also will be adding my other new line of belts. Also excited to see how these are accepted. I like to take ideas and run with them, achieving that something that no one thought to do because directions tell you otherwise.

Well the Fall Colors are getting here already! We have allot of bright garnet red maple trees heading towards International Falls. Also mixed in them are the golden and orange maple leaves, looks like a post card every few miles down the highway.

I did it, thanks to Christen

I finally was able to add my "mini etsy". I went on the etsy chat yesterday and found a new "helpful friend", Christen. She emailed me and walked me through step by step on how to add to my blog. If you are interested in a new banner or want your twitter or blogger sites customized
check out Christen1285. She is a seller on etsy also. My many thanks to you Christen!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Lake Superior


This is along the north shore of lake superior

lift bridge


Here the lift bridge is just about to up. This is at canal park in Duluth

boat going under the lift bridge


This is our granddaughter running on the pier at Canal Park in Duluth

Lake Superior

Today is another beautiful day, in the high 70's. The weatherman said this morning that we best enjoy it because the rest of the week looks like thunderstorms and rain with seasonable temps returning. Oh well, at least we had a weeks worth of summer like weather!!
This past labor Day weekend was a busy and fast one. We did take a ride up the North Shore of Lake Superior. We started in Ely Mn. and traveled up #1. It is a back road all the way through the woods, all tar no gravel, and very curvy and narrow. This is a trip I have enjoyed since I was a little girl when my Dad and Mom used to take us. I had my camera all ready but saw no wild life. In the past we have seen Wolves, and Moose and lots of deer. The route to the lake and up to Two Harbors was very busy, I think allot of people had the same idea. It can be so cold by the lake that normally we always go on a really nice warm day. We stopped at a neat little craft mall in Beaver Bay. I went into a small quilt shop. Really neat, and of course, couldn't come out empty handed. I bought some suede like cloth to make a pillow cover. I will take a picture when I am done. We walked a little on some trails by the lake, and went to the break wall in two harbors. No ships were docked at this time. My husband in the past has gone scuba diving here many times. We ate in Duluth Mn. finishing up our day.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Real Sauna


Here is what a real sauna looks like. My uncle made this a few years back. I just love a hot sauna!

Fall colors


This is what we will be seeing soon. This is last years maple tree by us.

summer or fall?

Good grief, here it is end of August and we had to turn the heat on in our house! What a summer, maybe 3 nice days we could call summer. Well, I think I will get out the fall clothing, put away the shorts!
Good thing I didn't rush out and buy a new summer wardrobe!
Our youngest granddaughter is now a "True Finlander". Her parents took her the Embarrass Fair, sauna and had boiled dinner later that night. Now she is really following in my footsteps. This is how I was brought up, country fair, sauna's and finish stew we call Moyaca. Don't know the correct spelling, not a good finlander! :)
Today I hope to continue working on a new crocheted bag, again using my cro-hook. I am lining it and putting a zipper with 2 separate pockets. I want to add pockets on the outside too so will have some experimenting to do.
Friday I had the nices surprise, an old friend called and dropped by for a visit. I had not seen her in 5 years. She just never ages, this gal. We had a great visit, talking about grandchildren, aches and pains and yes, dreaming about getting away for the winters.
Also what a pleasent surprise to come on my blog and find all the new followers and a comment too. I am having a great time with Etsy shop of mine and making new, talented and interesting friends. Check out who I am following and see all the many beautiful crafts that they have on Etsy.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Shades of turquoise


Here are 3 washcloth/dishcloth's I just finished using the cro-hook method.

Finished Camoflauge mats

I feel good about getting these mats finished and also adding the crocheted items. Now just to finish the bags and I can post those too. Today is nice sunny day, not very warm for August though, Only in the low 70's. We are supposed to be going back into the 60's again for next week with even some temps in the 50's over the weekend! What a cruddy summer. Better toughen up. winter will soon be here! I am ready to go traveling, trucking, by car , anything! My husband still has to work until the first week of Dec. then we can have the winter free.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Fall colors


Here is the Fall dishcloth/washcloth

Fall colors


Hand towels 13 1/2 by 10 1/2

Fall colors

Before we know it the leaves will be turning. Here is my version of minnesota's fall colors.
My hand towel is 13 1/2 by 101/2 inches the washcloth or dishcloth is 8 by 8
All cotton, keep their size when washing and drying. Notice the difference on sides. These are done with a cro-hook. I use two different yarns at once.

2 more mats



Here I have made 2 camolauge mats. I think they would make nice boat seats, or any sportsman would like them in his truck, cabin or chair. Could also be used as a large hot pad. Different lighting made one apear lighter.