tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38562043710610506452024-03-12T18:40:31.646-07:00Early America, The 1815 Shoppeearlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-20223121843690206282013-09-18T06:59:00.001-07:002013-09-18T07:01:37.347-07:00UNFORTUNATE Misunderstanding...<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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I am posting this morning to let you all know that I got some unfortunate news from a couple of my customers recently...</div>
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They told me that they had read somewhere...on someone else's web site or blog...that I was not currently or was no longer taking orders for my new book, Christmas of Olde. I was hoping that they could tell me where they saw the post, but like so many of us do, they were going from site to site and couldn't remember where they saw it, so they emailed me to ask if it were true or not.</div>
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I don't know who the person is that posted the news, but they are mistaken and have posted incorrect news and I can assure you that it is simply NOT TRUE.</div>
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<u>I AM currently taking orders and will continue to do so until further notice.</u></div>
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"Christmas of Olde"</div>
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If you haven't placed your order yet and would like to do so, please feel free to email me at either of the following email addresses:</div>
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earlyamerica1815@aol.com or earlyamerica1815@gmail.com</div>
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UPDATE: Books are right on schedule and are currently at the binder. They are due back to me late next week. I will start processing and shipping all orders the next business day after receiving them (in the order that I received payments) and will be sure to post the news here on my blog </div>
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as well as on my PT... <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815">www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815</a> </div>
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I should also tell you that I have received many pre-paid orders, so depending on when you placed your order, it may take a few days or even a couple of weeks for your order to be shipped...again, depending on when you placed your order, but please know that I will ship everything out as quickly as I possibly can so that you all receive your books in a timely manner.</div>
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**Just one more thing...If any of you happen upon a site that has posted anything about me not taking orders, can I ask that you please kindly let them know or email me to let me know so that I can contact them...I am assuming that it is just an unfortunate misunderstanding, but I do want to let them know so that we can clear this whole matter up as quickly as possible.</div>
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Now...on a more happy note...I want to tell you all about a great new Picture Trail site that has just opened up...it is called <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/gatheredgoods" target="_blank">"Gathered Goods"</a> and you can check it out by clicking on the link that I have provided.</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-st-L9Yg3C7E/UjmsVt-AKMI/AAAAAAAAAgI/uOEG8uEaVro/s320/gathered+goods.jpg" width="251" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/gatheredgoods">www.picturetrail.com/gatheredgoods</a></div>
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Well...as always, I thank you all for stopping by! Please enjoy the rest of your week and have a wonderful day!!</div>
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Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-34612333865604753832013-09-09T07:48:00.006-07:002013-09-09T07:50:05.642-07:00September Already??!!??<div align="center">
Hello!!!</div>
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I can't believe it is September already!!</div>
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Where on earth has the Summer gone? I hope that you have all had some fun and were able to take a little time to enjoy things this year. Ours went way too fast! The last time I posted was back in July and for the life of me, I can't seem to figure out where August went!</div>
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Gesh...I can't remember when I (or my husband) have ever been busier...really, I can't! We did manage to spend some time up at our cottage in-between things though...had to in order to keep our sanity...and that is always fun...even though we also had several things to work on around there. Unfortunately, I have been so busy with "book work" that I had to take work with me every time we were up there, so it never really seemed like I had much of a vacation this year....no complaints...any day at the cottage is better than no day at the cottage, so I managed to just enjoy the quiet sights and sounds of nature while I worked...waking up to the calls of the loons in the early morning hours...the two pair of Bald Eagles who perch on one of our trees while they scan the water for a fresh meal of fish...the waves of the lake crashing against the shore on a windy day...early evening boat rides...and some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen...I guess I was wrong...I had a much better vacation than I thought! :)</div>
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Book pre-sales have been booming and I am so thankful to all of you for your emails and for those of you who have pre-ordered your books! The books actually went on press last week and the cover is running this week so they should be arriving to me sometime the last week of this month. I will announce it on here and also my PT when I get a final arrival date. I posted a couple of pictures on my PT of the first form running on press and of the first color check, so <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815" target="_blank">click here</a> if you want to see a small peek of the first few pages in print! </div>
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Also...I am well into October for ship dates at this time...all orders are shipping in the exact order that I receive payments...so if you were planning on ordering a book, please keep that in mind...so it might be a good idea to order sooner than later if you want to receive your copy in a timely manner...especially if you are a shop owner and want them in time for your Christmas Open Houses. </div>
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I have also been busy with our daughter's wedding preparations!! And...right after the wedding, my husband and I are planning a trip to OHIO!!! We haven't been there since we moved back here from Springfield almost three years ago and I am SO looking forward to some heavy duty antiquing!!! Just so much fun and excitement to look forward to this Fall!</div>
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Speaking of FALL...I got a nice email from one of my on-line friends in Minnesota yesterday...she was wondering if I was going to decorate for Fall this year and if I would be posting any pictures of our new house decorated for the season...I wish I could say yes, but in all honestly, I don't know if I will even have time to decorate this year with everything we have going on. I miss the days when I could just pull out my camera and start shooting some pictures to post on my PT, but we have been so busy since moving into this place that I still don't have everything unpacked...in fact, we still have a storage unit up north that is about 3/4's full of stuff that we can't fit down here. </div>
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I will try though...I really do miss decorating and posting pictures of my house for the seasons!! </div>
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CROSS-STITCH PATTERNS...</div>
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I have also had numerous people asking me when I will be re-opening my pattern sales and offering my new designs...</div>
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Again, and I know that I sound like a broken record, but I have been so busy with book work and pre-sales that I haven't had time to even think about my pattern line. I do still plan to sell my patterns, and I have several new designs that will be offered, I just can't promise a specific time or date as to when I will be able to offer them again. I am very sorry for this and I do thank you for your interest and emails...if only there were twice as much time in a day.....</div>
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With Fall in mind...here is a picture that I took a couple of years ago... </div>
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I love the simple peacefulness of this shot and the colors really remind me of the season...</div>
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As always, I thank you for visiting and your thoughtful emails...</div>
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Enjoy your week, Tina </div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-65622969861285007582013-07-18T06:58:00.001-07:002013-07-18T07:02:28.640-07:00Christmas in July...<div align="center">
Greetings Friends...</div>
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I hope this post will find you well and enjoying your summer!!</div>
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Ours has been a pretty good one so far...busy in the beginning with the usual for this time of year...graduations, weddings, Memorial Day picnics and going to the cottage. </div>
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Our little Harper is growing like a sweet little weed and I so wish I could post a few pictures of him so that can all see what your prayers and good thoughts helped in blessing us with! He is doing GREAT and as all of you grandparents out there know, he is truly the love of our lives!! </div>
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Boy, it's a HOT one here today!!! </div>
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Supposed to be in the nineties for the next couple of days and very humid...I don't mind the high temps so much, but you can have the humidity, so.....</div>
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How about we celebrate a little "Christmas" in July?!!</div>
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Before I get started, I want to dedicate this post to a friend of mine who is having a bit of a hard time right now. She is a very dedicated follower and we have become friends via emails. She tells me that reading my blog lifts her spirits and I feel so badly that I have been too busy to post more often, but CANDI...even though my posts are few and far between these days, I do think of you often...so this one's for you!! :) </div>
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I am going to tell you all a little story about when I was a child....it will probably bore you to pieces, but it brings back very fond memories for me and looking back, I wish that all kids these days could experience at least one summer like the ones I did when I was little.</div>
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Growing up in the sixties and seventies meant that things were very different from the way they are now, especially for me because I grew up in the country...we didn't have close neighbor kids to play with, computers or hand-held games, or cell phones...heck, we didn't even have a colored TV until I was in my late teens if I remember correctly!</div>
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For nine months of the year, September through May we had school every day so things weren't so bad, but June through August...let me tell you in a word...B-O-R-I-N-G!!!</div>
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For amusement we had to be creative and let me tell you, there wasn't much to be creative about living in what we called, "The Boondocks"! </div>
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Every summer my siblings and I would venture out into the woods and build forts. We used what ever we could find for building materials. We took small, dead trees that were still sturdy enough to use for bases or foundations and nailed them about shoulder level to four trees and used any old boards we could scrounge up for the floors and walls. </div>
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Some of our forts were three stories high and had hand-made ladders so that we could get from one story to the next. It was just like Swiss Family Robinson! I wish I had a picture of one so that you could all see what they looked like. Crooked and slapped together as best as we could build them and eye sores to most I am sure, but in our minds they were works of art and I can't tell you how much fun we used to have and how many hours and hours we spent playing in them!! </div>
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There was one year though, that I didn't take part in building the "summer fort". It was the year that we moved out of our first home, the old hunters cabin and up into the new house on the hill that my Mom and Dad built. Instead, my younger sisters and I sort of "took over" the old cabin and turned that into our fort. </div>
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I always felt safe and comfortable in that old place when we lived there, so turning it into a fort just seemed to make sense and it just felt right. Now, I can't say for sure what month it was, but we moved out of the cabin sometime after school got out so it had to be close to July if not for sure, so just for today's post, let's say it was July...OK? Anyways...that summer, when we were playing in the cabin I remember us going out into the woods and cutting a small evergreen tree and putting it up on an old table inside. We even made some hand-made paper ornaments for it and pretended that it was Christmas time with our dolls! Can you believe it...even as a child, I had Christmas on my mind all year long!!</div>
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It makes me sort of sad to remember that now because I think that that was the last summer that I actually "played" down there. I was getting a little older by then and that sort of thing was for babies, as we used to say, but thankfully I will always have my memories. Funny how something so insignificant at the time turned out play such an important role in forming my life as I know it today. </div>
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It's obvious that Christmas has always been special and important to me. It was always my favorite time of year when I was little too, and the last Christmas that my family spent living in the cabin has always been my favorite. It is no wonder that I grew up to write Christmas books!! ;)</div>
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Soooo...</div>
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Speaking of Christmas books...I wanted to let you all know that I am finally starting to take pre-orders for my new book, "Christmas of Olde" that is due out in mid to late September. I have posted all of the information on my <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815" target="_blank">Picture Trail</a> so please follow the link if you would like more information on how to place your order.</div>
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I sent out an email to everyone in my AOL contact list, but I did get a few back as undelivered, so if you didn't get my email, that is probably why. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Wholesale information will be provided upon request.</div>
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Here is one of the sneak peek photos that I have posted on my PT....just click on the link above to go to my site and see more Sneak Peeks.</div>
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Well my Friends... the day is slowly slipping away from me so I had better get going. As always, I thank you all so much for stopping by and for hanging in there with me through these busy times. </div>
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Have a wonderful day everyone...and Merry Christmas in July!! ;)</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-18303317706762886382013-06-30T11:37:00.002-07:002013-06-30T11:37:57.623-07:00Follow my blog with BloglovinHere goes...earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-7101012548648124942013-06-04T07:59:00.002-07:002013-06-04T07:59:54.152-07:00"Christmas of Olde"<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends!!</div>
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Did you all have a Safe, Happy and Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend???</div>
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Ours was the perfect start to what we hope will be an awesome SUMMER!! We took a few extra days and drove up to our cottage for a six day weekend. Both of the kids were able to join us and we got to introduce our sweet little Harper to the great outdoors...the north woods of our beautiful state of Wisconsin...and our FAVORITE place to be when we want to just get away from it all!!</div>
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We love going there...it is so peaceful and relaxing. The weather was a little chilly and we had to have a fire going every night and most days...but as much as I miss my "wood burning" fireplaces at our old house, I wasn't going to complain a bit about having to get up in the night a few times to "stoke the fire"!! The fireplace we have here used to burn wood, but the previous owners changed it to gas at some point and we haven't had it lit once since moving in. :( Just doesn't feel the same to either of us. </div>
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When John and I were little, our family homes were both heated with wood furnaces, so being raised with nothing else, I guess it is something neither of us will ever tire of. I remember how when we were little kids we used to play out in the snow until our teeth chattered and our cheeks and noses were a rosy red and we would get soaked right through our snow pants to our clothes and my Mom would help us take off our wet coats and mittens and dry them by the fire. (Once in a while we even had a cup of old-fashioned hot chocolate waiting for us...remember...the kind we used to make with Hershey's cocoa?) There is just something about the warmth of wood heat during these cold Wisconsin winters...especially at Christmastime!!!</div>
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Speaking of CHRISTMAS....</div>
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I am so excited to post this morning!!</div>
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I have revealed the title and photo cover of my new Christmas book!!</div>
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<a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815" target="_blank">"Christmas of Olde"</a> will be available for purchase in September and I will start taking orders very soon!! Please watch for the email with all ordering details to arrive in your in-boxes within the week! :)</div>
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Well my friends...I have to run. As always, I thank you all for stopping by!! I am still playing a little catch-up with emails due to being gone last week, but I am getting there, so if you haven't heard back from me yet...your response is coming!! </div>
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OH...I almost forgot...I am afraid that I won't be posting the new patterns for a while yet, but I will open the album with the new designs as soon as I can. I am afraid that I just don't have the time right now to process any orders...very, very sorry to those who have been waiting. However, due to the inconvenience this has caused for some of you, I will be offering a special deal when I do finally release them!! </div>
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Take care all...have a wonderful day!! Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-37712722961275166852013-05-17T08:38:00.000-07:002013-05-17T08:44:47.747-07:00Hap-Hap-Happiest Mother's Day EVER!!!!!<div align="center">
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!</div>
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I hope that all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend and that you were able to celebrate by spending it with your loved ones!! My Mother's Day was one that I will never forget and it will certainly go down in history as one of the most memorable days of my life!!</div>
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I am so happy to post this morning because I have some really wonderful news to tell you all!!!</div>
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<strong>I AM FINALLY A GRANDMA!!!!!</strong> </div>
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Last Thursday my husband and I decided to take a four day weekend up at our cottage. He had been working 12 to 16 hour days for weeks and I have been pretty busy myself, so it was mutually agreed upon that we both needed a little time off. Since Hannah wasn't able to travel because of her approaching due date, and our son having to work, we thought we would go up early Thursday morning and then stop by the kids on our way home so that I could at least see both of them on my special day.</div>
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BUT...that all changed on Friday after Hannah's DR appointment and our weekend away was cut a little short!!</div>
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She called me to tell me how things went and I could tell by the tone in her voice that it wasn't going to be long before we got "THE CALL". Nothing was happening just yet, but my motherly intuition kicked in and I told her that I had a feeling she would be calling us back that night. I immediately started packing because I just knew that we would have to leave in the middle of the night to go to the hospital. To make a long story a short one, we did get the call later that evening, and at 11:23 p.m. my phone rang and it was Hannah telling me that they were at the hospital and she was definitely in labor!!!!! </div>
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It took us 2 1/2 hours to get to the hospital (2 1/2 of the looooongest hours of my life I might add) and I don't think that I have ever had so much adrenalin running through my veins! I was so pumped up that I probably could have jumped out of the vehicle and gotten there faster by running! ;) Just teasing...but seriously, I am sure that all of you first-time Grandmothers know exactly what I am talking about...we simply couldn't get there fast enough!</div>
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After a 12 1/2 hour and very hard labor, not to mention a delivery with some unforeseen complications, our little Nugget finally came into the world!!!</div>
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Any guesses????</div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><strong>IT'S A BOY!!!</strong></span></div>
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An absolutely beautiful and perfect bouncing baby boy!!!!</div>
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"Harper John" (named after his daddy and grandpa) was born at 12:31 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and you are NEVER going to believe this after all of the troubles Hannah had throughout her entire pregnancy, but he weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21" long!!!</div>
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Can you believe it? After all of the stress and worries of our Nugget being born early Hannah almost carried him to her due date! Our prayers were definitely answered, weren't they? Hannah was released from the hospital on Monday but little Harper isn't getting released until later today and they are both doing very well!</div>
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What a PERFECT Mother's Day...I got to hold Harper for the first time Sunday morning...AND...I got to spend time with both of my kids as well!! Life surly is good!! :)</div>
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I know that you are all going to want to see pictures, but Hannah has asked that I not post any just yet, so you'll all have to wait a little longer before I can officially introduce him to all of you. He is so incredibly beautiful!!! </div>
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OK...what else...as if that isn't enough... ;)</div>
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Oh...I know that many of you are waiting for me to release my new Sampler and Pin-keep patterns, but obviously I have had a lot going on. I wanted to open the new album of patterns on my PT today, but that will have to wait until Monday afternoon. I have two more designs that I have to put into pattern form yet and hopefully will be able to get those done over the weekend and have everything printed up by then as well. Most of the designs are "everyday" but there are also a couple Americana designs as well.</div>
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I also wanted to let you all know that I have posted some "Sneak Peek" photos of my new Christmas book on my PT. AND...because I am already getting so many emails from folks asking to prepay for this book, I will be sending out a mass email to everyone on my contact list very soon with the ordering information, prices, etc. ***Please note that I won't be taking any orders until the first part of JUNE, again, all information will be in the email that I send out in the near future.</div>
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If you are a shop owner and wish to carry my book, or if you are not already on my contact list, please email me so that I can add you to that list...thanks!</div>
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Well, I have to run now...it is pouring down rain today so a good day to work inside...always so much to do. </div>
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As always, I thank you all for stopping by!! </div>
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Tina - A.K.A. Grams!!! :) :) :)</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-32187164070247068762013-04-23T07:28:00.002-07:002013-04-23T10:02:59.225-07:00Collecting Early Cutters<div align="center">
Good Morning All...</div>
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I am finally finding a minute to post!!!</div>
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A "little extra time" is something that I have very little of these days, so much is always going on around here!!</div>
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This morning's post is going to be about "early cookie cutters". I am going to share a little story with you about how I began collecting these fascinating little pieces of cut-and-shaped tin in just a few minutes, but first, I wanted to up-date you all on a couple of things...</div>
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My first and most exciting news...Hannah and baby are still hanging in there! Tomorrow she will be at 36 weeks and at her appointment last week she was FINALLY taken OFF bed rest!!! She has started to dilate a little and Baby could come at any time, but we are still hoping for our little "Nugget" to stay put for another week or two if possible. This certainly has been a trying time for us all these past few months, and I couldn't have gotten through the bad days without all of my good friends and followers from this blog! Thank you all once again for your prayers and friendships...you guys ROCK!!! :)</div>
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Second, I will be having a small up-date on my PT tonight at 7:00 CST. I will have a few cross-stitched items as well as a couple small hookings...AND...if I have time to dig them out, maybe even a few more "gently used" items as well. I have several errands to run today, so time will dictate that, but...if you can find a minute to stop by, I'd love to see you there! :)</div>
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Collecting Early Cutters...</div>
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It was back in the early 80's that I first fell in love with the "country" look. I had purchased a few old things here and there at garage sales or auctions, but I didn't really start "collecting" until the early 90's. My very first collection started with a small, tin-backed cookie cutter in the shape of a dog. I don't remember where we were going, but we were driving through the down town where we were living at the time and I asked my husband if we had time to stop at this little antique shop that was there on the corner. I had driven by it many times, but had never taken the time to stop, so that day we did.</div>
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I remember how fascinated I was as we browsed through the place and looked at all of the things they had for sale and I think that it may have been that very day that I first truly realized my appreciation for all things old. Because we had never collected antiques before and this was all so new to us, we had no idea of the cost of things either, and back then we didn't have a whole lot of extra money, so when we saw what some of the things we were interested in were going for, we were a little surprized....not a lot by today's standards, but for us just starting out, it sure was.</div>
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We were just getting ready to leave the shop when I spotted something in a little back room. It was an old corn dryer hanging from the ceiling and it was filled with old cookie cutters. Not the kind that my mom or grandma used either...these were cookie cutter like I had never seen before. They were all made of hand cut tin with flat backs and in all kinds of shapes! (If I had only known then what I know now about antique cutters!!) I specifically remember an eagle cutter that was just wonderfully detailed and it was priced at $18.00...can you believe it...just $18.00!!! I also remember one shaped like a boot, it was much more expensive than the eagle, but the man told us that it was very rare and so the price was quite high. They were both amazing and I would have loved to buy them both that day, but...</div>
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Then I spotted it...a darling little cutter in the shape of a DOG!!! By now you all know what a dog lover I am, and at that time, we had our first Golden Retriever, his name was Bo. I always say that he was the "love of my life...of dogs" and even though we lost him many years ago, there isn't hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of him, even now...he was "my boy"!! Anyways, that cutter instantly reminded me of Bo, and...it was reasonably priced at just $6.00, so I left that day with what I thought of back then as "the buy of a lifetime"!! </div>
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I don't know about any of you, but when I leave a shop or show with a wonderful new treasure, I love to sit and look at it...all the way home if I'm not the one driving!! I don't know why, but I always take my smaller treasures out of their bags and I look at them...I look at the patina, wonder about every little bump or bruise, think about the hands that crafted it all of those years ago...maybe that sounds silly to some of you, but to me, that is all a part of the thrill of finding a new piece. Needless to say, I held that little cutter all the way to our destination and all the way home as well! :)</div>
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For today's post I want to share a few of my favorite cutters with you...starting with...you guessed it, my very first cutter...the little dog that reminds me of my Bo...here it is...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YA3wjr1EA7A/UXaR3Ja_2II/AAAAAAAAAc8/P2c4PH9TRDM/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YA3wjr1EA7A/UXaR3Ja_2II/AAAAAAAAAc8/P2c4PH9TRDM/s320/7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...the little $6.00 purchase that started my collection all of those years ago!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mH24mfjqRNU/UXaR8VyNfJI/AAAAAAAAAdE/uh0Jo7DxDx4/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mH24mfjqRNU/UXaR8VyNfJI/AAAAAAAAAdE/uh0Jo7DxDx4/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The little lady here is my newest addition, she was purchased by my husband from my friend Darlene Lesicko when we stopped in for a visit on our way home from MO last December. He gave her to me for Christmas this past year. The Colonial man is probably my rarest piece and my second favorite, after "Bo".</div>
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I have bunnies and rabbits...</div>
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...and hearts in all sizes.</div>
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I especially love the little heart on the top right with the flat bottom...I like to imagine that it's maker didn't have a big enough piece of tin for the back, so he had to adjust it's shape to fit, I think that it's just precious!</div>
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Leaves for Fall...</div>
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Another favorite...a sweet little horse!!</div>
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Folky birds...I just love that comb on the head of the top bird...and their sweet little feet...too cute!! </div>
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A whale, cat, bear and lion!!</div>
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Rooster, Chicken and chick...</div>
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I think that the guy on the left is a sailor...though I can't be certain. Another little lady and a Parson!</div>
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A Santa and reindeer...</div>
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Stars, stars, stars...</div>
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And last, but not least...a couple of eggs...or at least that's what I think they are!!!</div>
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Well, my friends...I reeeeeally have to get going. Times a tickin' and I have another busy day ahead of me. I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at some of my early cutter collection...maybe it will inspire you to start collecting them too! ;) </div>
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As always, I thank you so much for stopping by!</div>
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Have a safe and wonderful day!</div>
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Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-36330842446318240722013-04-03T08:22:00.000-07:002013-04-03T08:25:39.177-07:0033 Weeks Today...<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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I hope you all had a terrific Easter!! We spent the weekend up at our cottage...it was our 1 year anniversary of purchasing it and we had hoped to spend it with both of our children, but with Hannah not being able to travel that far, and our son being busy with work, it ended up being just me, John and Cooper.</div>
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We drove up very early on Friday and it was absolutely gorgeous out...sunny and high 40's. John did a little ice fishing since there was still over three feet of ice on the lake!! I stayed inside the cottage with the fire roaring and worked on a couple of new cross stitch designs. It was very relaxing, just what the two of us needed!!</div>
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We had intended on staying until Monday, but it turned pretty cold so we decided to head back home on Sunday. We stopped on the way back to spend a little time with Hannah and (her) John's family and had a wonderful time and a delicious Easter dinner.</div>
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You will be happy to hear that Hannah is doing GREAT!!! She is 33 weeks today and at her appointment last week Friday they finally got some wonderful news!! Her test results came back negative, which means at least two weeks more without delivering...that means that she will be at 34 weeks and 2 days at her next appointment and almost to that crucial 35 week mark!!! YAHOOOOO!!!!! Her DR. also told her that if she were very careful, she could get out on nice days and walk ONCE around the block if she wanted to...and of course she is!!! She is still on bed rest other than her daily walk, but we couldn't be happier with the way things are progressing for her! Thank you again...EVERYONE...for your thoughts and prayers, emails, etc. It has helped us all get through a very difficult time and I am truly grateful to all of you!!</div>
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On the 23rd we had Hannah's baby shower. What a fun time!! Hannah got permission from her DR. to attend and everything turned out beautifully. Baby's other Grandma did most of the work since the shower was up there, but I did what I could in between running back and forth to help Hannah and all of my work here. I did however manage to get a couple of cute projects done for the shower...here are a couple of photos for you...</div>
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This was taken before any guests arrived...we were still decorating...notice they brought down a nice, soft chair for Hannah to sit in.</div>
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We chose a mint green and pale yellow color scheme and I found some great white and green table cloths. See those cute little "diaper" favors??? I got that idea from Pinterest. I am sorry that I don't have a close up for you, but I purchased three pieces of flannel (a pale yellow print, mint green print, and a solid white) and cut them into a shape that when folded, looked like a little diaper. I fused the back side of the fabric with fusible interfacing to make them easier to cut out, and it also gave them a little stiffness so they wouldn't lose their shape and then pinned them together with little one inch long safety pins. I even painted the heads of the pins with yellow and white nail polish to give them the look of actual "old fashioned diaper pins" with the colored plastic heads...I popped one of those paper cupcake cups into each diaper and filled them with pastel mints and they turned out very cute! Thank you again Pinterest!!</div>
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My baby posing in front of the cake. (Just long enough for me to snap a shot) Poor little thing was hesitant to be in any pictures because she is so puffy from bed rest and has dark circles under eyes from lack of any good sleep, but I thought she looked BEAUTIFUL and I am so proud of how she has done everything her DR. has asked of her these past months.</div>
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Grandma Jeanne came up with this idea...she brought in some wonderful old books...some that belonged to John when he was little...some Teddy Bears (old and new) and we did a drawing for $25.00 gift cards. Anyone who brought a pack of diapers to the shower could get in on it. This table was so full by the time everyone arrived that we had to pile the overflow on the floor!</div>
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She found the little buggy at a thrift store... how cute!</div>
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These belonged to John when he was little.</div>
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For the center pieces on the tables, I filled baby bottles with pastel colored candies and tied balloons to them then we placed a teddy by each bottle. I wish I had a better picture of this...they were just darling.</div>
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More ideas from Pinterest on the cake table...I made "Cake Pops" for the first time and even though I was very skeptical while making them as to whether or not they would turn out (I am NOT a baker)...everyone loved them. I also made the "Fruity Pebbles" lolly pop treats (another Pinterest idea) and Jeanne made the white chocolate dipped strawberries.</div>
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Here is the cake that I designed especially for Hannah. It was made by <a href="http://www.manderfieldsbakery.com/" target="_blank">Manderfield's Bakery</a> in Appleton, WI. I chose a lemon cake with raspberry swirl center and white cream frosting...I can honestly say that I have NEVER had a more delicious cake in my entire life!</div>
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Hannah has always loved elephants and she doesn't like a lot of fru-fru, so I wanted the cake to be simple. Isn't it just ADORABLE? Everyone loved it!! I couldn't have been happier with the end result. They made it exactly like I had envisioned it. :) It looks small, but we had almost forty guests show up and everyone had a piece...we even had enough left over for the "guys" when they came back to help us clean up.</div>
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It was a really fun day, but very tiring for Hannah. They got so many wonderful gifts and are now completely set for our little "Nugget" (as they are calling baby) to arrive IN MAY...when baby is actually due. :)</div>
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Well everyone, I have to get going, so as always, thanks so much for stopping by!! Now that Hannah is doing better and I am able to stay home more, I hope to get back into the swing of things around here and will try to post a little more often.</div>
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Before I sign off though...I have had numerous emails from folks asking about my new Christmas book...I will be posting a few "sneak peek" photos late this month, so please be a little more patient with me, OK? I will also be posting ordering info at that time...as of right now, I am not yet taking orders or reserving copies...so very sorry...but I truly appreciate your patience in this matter. :)</div>
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Enjoy your day everyone!! </div>
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Until next time...Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-43021646074674007222013-03-14T10:57:00.000-07:002013-03-14T10:57:05.722-07:00Good Morning Friends...<br />
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I want to begin this post by thanking you all for being so thoughtful and caring!! </div>
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I was overwhelmed by the out-poor of kindness you all showed regarding our daughter Hannah and our little unborn grand baby. Your comments, emails, phone calls, hand written letters and cards...and especially your thoughts and prayers were so much appreciated!! </div>
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I also want to thank those of you who wrote to share with me your own personal stories and experiences about premature deliveries....I read every one of them to Hannah over the phone. Your words gave us hope and as sad as it is to know that so many others out there have gone through (and are currently going through) similar situations it is very comforting to us to know that we are not alone.</div>
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I guess I had better not keep you all wondering any longer...Shortly after my last post, Hannah was admitted to the hospital for a second time due to a decline in her condition. She spent eight days and nights there before things stabilized and they released her to go back home. She is still on complete bed rest, and sadly quite miserable a lot of the time. She has really bad heartburn, back pain and lots of swelling and stiffness due to the bed rest...but...I am happy to report a little good news...yesterday she hit the 30 week mark and she and baby are both doing very well considering everything they have had to go through in the past couple of months. Her DR. says that "when" she gets to 32 weeks we can all breath a BIG sigh of relief, so that is what we are focusing on now....and then...if she makes it to 35 weeks, she can actually go off of bed rest until the baby is born!!! :) :) :) Wouldn't that be WONDERFUL?!!!</div>
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So...what else is going on???</div>
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Quite a lot actually...I have been trying to make a couple of trips up north to help out each week...it's such a helpless feeling to be a parent and so far away from your children in times like this...it is a two hour drive from here one-way...soooo...quite a bit of my time lately has been spent away from home and driving back and forth. Worth every minute of my time though! </div>
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I am also working on my next book (a sneak peek coming sometime in April) and trying to squeeze in a little time in the early mornings and evenings to work on a few things for another up-date, as well as some new cross-stitch designs for Summer and Fall that I "hope" to put into pattern form by sometime next month or early May. What is it they say..."No rest for the Weary"!!!</div>
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Hannah's baby shower is in a couple of weeks also...so I have been busy with that as well. Thankfully "Baby's" other grandma is doing a lot of the work for it because I don't think I could do it all by myself! I just got home this morning from spending a couple of days with both of our kids and I ordered the cutest cake for the shower. I designed it myself, and can't wait to see how it looks when I go to pick it up from the bakery....I hope it looks in person how it looks in my mind, it is so hard to get another person to envision what we see sometimes, but knowing this bakery, it will probably look even better than I am hoping for!!</div>
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Well, the day is starting to get away from me, so I have to get going for now. I will be sure to let you all know how Hannah's next appointment goes...hopefully ALL good news this time!! :)</div>
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I'll leave you now with a little touch of SPRING...wondering if it will ever get here this year...it was nice and sunny early this morning, but overcast now and still pretty cold!!! BRRRRRR!</div>
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Take care and enjoy your day,</div>
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Tina</div>
earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-31751784856891830032013-02-07T09:23:00.003-08:002013-02-07T09:26:34.324-08:00Where Do I Begin...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello Friends!!!!!!!</div>
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I have missed you all so much!</div>
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I know that it has been forever since my last post, but so much has been going on that I don't even know where to begin!!!</div>
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Hmmmm, how about if I just start at the beginning...the beginning of December that is! :)</div>
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As you all know, we sold our saltbox home and moved closer to my husband's company. It was a very sad departure for us but we did it and now we are starting a new chapter of our lives here in southeastern WI. After many disappointments and several months of searching, we finally found and purchased a house. It isn't anything like what we were hoping to find, but we purchased it anyways because we very badly wanted (and needed) to be in a house by Christmas. We settled on a nice, but somewhat smaller Colonial home with a big back yard in a very nice country neighborhood. We absolutely love the area and so far have met some very nice neighbors. I really think we are going to like living here. :)</div>
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The house itself is nice, but not early looking at all, and it needs some up-dating both inside and out. I am, however, having a really hard time liking it without always comparing it to our saltbox. All of the trim and woodwork is solid OAK...a very pretty wood in it's own right, but very orange in color and...JUST NOT ME!!! The flooring is a combination of oak hardwood, carpet and tile...again, all beautiful, just NOT ME! The exterior is also very dated in color and appearance, so we are going to be up-dating that for sure...as well as the overgrown landscaping.</div>
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I was hoping to be able to paint the trim and cabinetry, pull up and replace some of the flooring, etc...but...my husband is fighting me every step of the way. You see...this is only a temporary home for us and he keeps thinking "resale-resale-resale" so to him, putting a ton of money into this place would be a big mistake...I guess I agree with him to a point, but decorating is sort of "my thing"
if you know what I mean, and it sure would make little old me a lot happier if I could "early things up a little" and at least take the home's appearance back a couple of hundred years!</div>
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Maybe if I whine enough he will get sick of listening to me and give in...notice I said MAYBE...time will tell, but I am going to be making a few changes, so I will be sure to take you all with me as I make those changes in the months to come.</div>
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December was not only busy with the moving, but I also did most of my traveling for the new Christmas book I have coming out this Fall. I actually finished up my travels in mid January, so with moving, traveling, and Christmas thrown in the mix...not to mention tax time...I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY!!!</div>
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I have also been working on a few new cross stitch patterns and I just released the new ones on Tuesday. If interested, you can click on the link in the top left corner of this page to go to my PT to check them out. I have had a wonderful response to my pattern line and there are so many of you who have contributed in making this such a successful venture for me that I have decided to give you all a little thank-you for all of your orders and the kindness you have all showed over the past several months. </div>
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I have had numerous requests for this design, so I thought that it would be a good choice for my first give-a-way.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">©</span><span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">2013</span><span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tina
Woltman </span></div>
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The wonderful dolly in the picture was made by my friend Lori Rippey of <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/homespunprimsbylori" target="_blank">www.picturetrail.com/homespunprimsbylori</a> and she is holding a little pin-keep that I designed for her called "For My Friend". ...because Lori is such a good one...friend that is...but now that I think about it, she is real doll too! :)</div>
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Here is the chart...I have never posted a pattern before, so I hope that you will all be able to save and/or copy it.</div>
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Now on to some very sad news....</div>
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Back in October I announced some WONDERFUL news about our daughter Hannah expecting our first little grand baby. About a month ago we got the news that she was having some trouble with her pregnancy and we recently got more bad news. I won't go into all of the details of her complications, but she is only 25 weeks along, which is far too early to deliver. She is on complete bed rest due to these complications and there will most likely be a premature delivery. She has already been hospitalized once and we are all doing everything we can to help her both physically and emotionally, and her doctor has been amazing, but I think that prayers are what we need most right now, so can I ask that you all please take a moment to say a prayer for both Hannah and our sweet little baby? As anxious as we all are to meet this little darling, baby needs to be patient and stay put for several more weeks!!</div>
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Well my friends, on that note I think that I need to sign off before I start crying all over again :(</div>
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Thank you all so much for stopping by...your visits, emails and kind words are always so much appreciated!!</div>
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Enjoy Your Day...Tina</div>
earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-19277253901588806392012-11-28T06:55:00.001-08:002012-11-28T11:11:31.721-08:00Temporarily Closing...<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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I wanted to post a quick note to let you all know that I am temporarily closing down for about a week, possibly up to two weeks due to moving.</div>
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If you happen to email me during that time, and don't get a response, I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. I have a VERY busy December, with moving and some traveling, but I will do my best to check emails as often as time allows. </div>
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Also...I will not be taking any more "Early Workings" cross stitch pattern orders until <u>after</u> January 1st. And...for those of you who have been inquiring about more new designs...I will be offering a few new patterns for "Everyday", "Valentine's Day" and "Spring" sometime in January!!</div>
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Oh, just one more thing before I forget, I wanted to tell you all that I thoroughly enjoyed your comments and emails about my last post...Christmas Classics.</div>
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Hearing about your favorite Christmas movies, (and your Christmas memories in general) were so much fun to read!!! Your stories were both funny and endearing to me and reading how much you enjoyed that post made my entire week and I appreciate you taking the time to contact me!! </div>
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Thank you all so much!!!</div>
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Well, my Friends...I have a lot to do in the next few days, so I really do have to run...wishing you all a wonderful day! :) </div>
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Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-16616446795024979282012-11-26T07:38:00.002-08:002012-11-26T07:38:15.084-08:00Christmas Classics...<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!! </div>
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Ours was such fun! We spent the day at my Mom's house and I got to see two of my siblings, a few nieces and nephews, and our son...we missed those who weren't there, but thoroughly enjoyed spending time with those who were able to make the trip. We feasted and laughed and relived some old childhood and family memories...feasted some more, and...well, I think you get the picture! :)</div>
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Now that we have all made it through the "season's" first big weekend...some of us a little "plumper" than others...I think that it's time to start talking "CHRISTMAS"!!!</div>
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One of the first things I do each year as the holidays approach us is to get out all of my Christmas movies!! For me, it just doesn't feel like Christmas without them!</div>
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If you are like me, and love watching holiday movies, then you might also have a collection of favorites. I have been collecting for many years and try to purchase at least one or two new ones every year. I usually start watching them in early November, and I try to watch every single one of them at least once. I watch some of my favorites over and over again...some of them up to a dozen times or more, and I never tire of them!</div>
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For today's post, I thought that I might share some of my favorites with you. Maybe you'll see one or two that you don't already have, or maybe it will start you collecting some for yourself...or maybe, just maybe, one very special movie that I share with you today will bring back a fond Christmas memory from your past.</div>
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Here are some of my favorites.....</div>
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I love to find these "Collector Sets". You get four movies for the price of one! I just found the set on the left last week. I purchased it because it had "Young Pioneers' Christmas" included. I have an old version of it that I taped off of the TV back in the 80's, but that old VHS tape was really starting to get worn. I was so excited to have found this one!! Two of my other favorites here are "Silent Night" and "A Christmas Visitor". </div>
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The three shown here may be geared towards a little younger viewing audience, but I just love them all!! "Prancer" will steal your heart...I know it did mine! "Samantha" and "Felicity" are both adapted from the "American Girl" doll book series and are simply fun, fun, fun!</div>
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Here are three of my "TV" favorites from the 70's and 80's. Of course we all love anything from the "Little House on the Prairie" series. This one features "Christmas at Plum Creek" and "A Christmas They Never Forgot". I also have "BLIZZARD", which is my favorite of all the Little House episodes. "The House Without a Christmas Tree" came out in 1972 and I can still remember watching this one with my oldest sister when we were young girls. And...one of my very favorites, "Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" starring Richard Thomas...I just LOVE this one!!!</div>
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Ahhhh, who could forget these?!!!!! Great old TV Classics from the 50's and early 60's. All but one were made before I was born, but I remember watching the re-runs of the "Lassie" episodes when I was a child. How about you...do you remember any of these? </div>
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More of the "Old Classics" I have to say, I just love the old ones!! And I especially love them if they are black-and-white...you can find many of these great old movies in the color versions...but like I said, I love them color or not! :)</div>
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"Little Women"!!! Who doesn't have at least one of these in their collection? I have three of the four versions that I know of. I think that the latest version, starring Winona Ryder, is my favorite of the three, but I have to say that the 1949 version starring June Allyson as Jo and Elizabeth Taylor as fussy little Amy is a close second for me. The version on the left came out in 1933 and the one that I am missing is one that came out sometime in the 70's and starred Susan Dey (Laurie from The Partridge Family) as Jo and Eve Plumb (Jan from The Brady Bunch) as Beth. Do any of you remember that one??? No one that I have ever mentioned it to seems to remember it...but I do!!</div>
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More "oldies, but goodies"!!! I love anything with Bing Crosby...Here he stars in "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye...so much fun...and how about "Christmas in Connecticut" starring the late, GREAT Barbara Stanwyck?!!! This one is absolutely FAN-TAS-TIC!!!!!</div>
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And last, but not least..."HOLIDAY INN"...my favorite Bing Crosby movie. I just watched this one this morning. (For the fifth time now since Nov. 1st) and I will never tire of it!! I always watch the B&W version first, then I watch the color version...over and over again! I just love that it takes place in New England and the scenes when it is snowing, are simply magical!!! My favorite scenes are in the beginning and the end, when Bing Crosby and Marjore Reynolds sing "White Christmas"...one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs!!! </div>
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Here you go folks...click on the link and you will see one of the reasons that I love this wonderful old movie so much!!</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fWfyaLESG84" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fWfyaLESG84</a></div>
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Well Friends, I have many more that I would love to share with you, but I am running out of time and I have a very busy day ahead of me. Before I go though, I have to ask..."What's your favorite Christmas movie?" </div>
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Have a wonderful day everyone! </div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-18148130113769386712012-11-21T12:47:00.001-08:002012-11-22T04:26:15.675-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!!!<div align="center">
Greetings Friends...</div>
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From Our Home...</div>
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To Yours...</div>
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A Very Safe, Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!!</div>
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I am so thankful to you all for your kindness, support and friendship!!</div>
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Your Friend...Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-74006750241754882912012-11-14T05:40:00.003-08:002012-11-14T05:40:57.301-08:00Holy Cow!!!!!<div align="center">
Hello Everyone!!!</div>
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It's a good thing you are sitting at your computer as you see this post or you'd probably faint from disbelief...the second one it a little over a week...what's going on here????</div>
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Well, I have been awake since about 2:45 this morning and I couldn't fall back to sleep so I thought I would do a little more catching up on emails...we were out of town on Thursday and Friday last week, then 2 1/2 days of Internet problems, so needless to say, I am a little behind on things. If you have emailed me in the past few days and have not received a response from me yet, either your email didn't come through or I haven't gotten to it yet. I still have a few from yesterday to answer but if you don't hear back from me, please email me again because it obviously never came through...and my apologies for the inconvenience!!</div>
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Also, for those of you who were planning on stopping by my up-date that was supposed to be on Monday, I have postponed it until "TONIGHT", so if all goes well with my Internet (so far no problems since late yesterday afternoon...fingers crossed!!) I will be opening the album up at 8:00 PM, CST. :) Just a smaller up-date...I wanted to finish a few things that I didn't get done in time for last week's up-date.</div>
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Since I was awake so early today, I decided to take a few minutes to snap a couple shots of some cute little pieces that I have recently acquired...</div>
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...I think you're gonna like this...</div>
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About three years ago, my son and daughter each got me some cute little antique cows as part of their Christmas gifts to me. I was amazed that they even thought to go to the antique mall to look for something for me, and even more amazed that they each did it without the other knowing (and neither told the other what they got), BUT...they did it, and "HOLY COW" look what they found for me....</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9s-w1_ji-yg/UKOPhuD_ZpI/AAAAAAAAAX8/qRl7rccm7es/s1600/cow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9s-w1_ji-yg/UKOPhuD_ZpI/AAAAAAAAAX8/qRl7rccm7es/s320/cow1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My son found the little one on the right and my daughter found the other two. Can you imagine what fun it was to find these under the wrappings?!!! (Since they are still packed away, I took this picture from last year's album of Christmas photos.)</div>
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Well...that was all it took...an instant collection was started and now when ever I see an antique cow for sale, I think of my kids and how happy I was to receive those three little cows that Christmas. As you can see here, I have since added to the collection and I just purchased this big pull toy this past Saturday. She is a real BEAUTY and measures 14 inches long...I just love her to pieces!! </div>
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She has a little wear, but all-in-all she is in really nice shape and to me, a little wear only means that she was very well loved and handled by many sweet little fingers and hands!! Her platform base has wonderful metal wheels and her head moves from side-to-side. She has carved wooden horns and utters with a worn black collar and her little glass eyes are missing, but they still look pretty to me...and just look at that sweet little nose of hers!! Other than a few little bumps and bruises, she has aged pretty well, don't you think? We purchased her from Mike at the <a href="http://www.agatheringontheprairie.com/" target="_blank">"A Gathering on the Prairie"</a> antique show in Arthur, IL and was thrilled to know that she had been a part of his own personal collection for quite some time. (Happy "early" Birthday to me from my Hubby) I haven't named her yet, but I'm thinking she looks like a "Bessy"! </div>
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I call this little girl "Blondie" after a cow that my grandparents had when I was a young child growing up in Northern WI. She was purchased about two months or so ago...I got her from <a href="http://www.penelopesantiques.com/" target="_blank">Penelope's Past Antiques</a> . She is flocked and has her original eyes, horns and utters...just a tiny little chip on her one front foot...Hmmm, wonder how she got that??? :)</div>
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It has been so much fun collecting them, only now I have to be careful not to grow the heard too much, too soon or I just may end up with a cupboard full of cows to go with my cupboard full of sheep! :)</div>
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Well, Friends, I think I will close for now...THANK YOU SO MUCH for stopping by...and I also want to thank you all for your kind comments, cards, and emails concerning our wonderful old boy Riley. It meant so much to know that so many of you out there care and even though most of your correspondence brought me to tears, they were happy tears and you really did make me feel better about things...you guys and gals are the BEST!!!</div>
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Have a WONDERFUL day everyone...Until next time,</div>
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Tina</div>
earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-10066521423230741922012-11-06T07:58:00.000-08:002012-11-07T09:36:32.778-08:00Yes, I am still here!!<div align="center">
Hello Friends...</div>
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YES, I am still here!<br />
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Before I get started, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to all of those who have lost so much or have in any way been affected by Sandy......there just aren't words to express how we all feel about this life altering and devastating ordeal that you have all been faced with.<br />
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I know that it has been a while since my last post, and I do apologize for that. The past couple of months have been a bit of a roller coaster ride for us as well...many ups and downs, though nothing in comparison to those on the East coast, again, my thoughts and prayers are with you!!</div>
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:) :( :) :( :)</div>
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Worst of all, we lost our poor old boy Riley last month. After many months of doing everything we could to keep him going, we sadly had to say our last good-byes...he was the BEST dog and we miss him so very much!! The house feels so empty now and his "little brother" Cooper, our Chow Chow is absolutely lost without him. It is still so sad to see him wandering around the house looking for Riley. :(</div>
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The BEST news is that we found out...here is is...drum roll please...</div>
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WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR FIRST GRAND BABY!!!!</div>
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YUP, by this time next year, I am going to have a SPOILED ROTTEN little baby to love and smooch on and buy all kinds of cute little clothes for and...and...and...I think you get the picture!!!</div>
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Do you see what I mean??? A total roller coaster ride!!!</div>
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Last night I had my first Christmas Up-date on my PT and I want to thank everyone who stopped by for a peek at my offerings!! I am so sorry that so many of you missed out...things sold so quickly that I had a really hard time keeping up with the emails, but I am planning on doing another up-date next week Monday, on the 12th for those of you who are interested. I had several items that I didn't get finished, so there will be some new fun things on this up-date as well.</div>
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I also got a lot of emails requesting that I offer some of the samplers from the up-date in pattern form...well... I already have most of them in my program, so I will try to have them listed as soon as possible. Many thanks to all of those who inquired about it!!</div>
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Well, not much else to talk about this morning. I have a busy day of boxing up orders and I also have to run a few errands, so I will let you go with a picture of two fun items that I recently purchased...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1W_27rMb4B8/UJkx4kxRkyI/AAAAAAAAAXk/jm_-Y1MlUjk/s1600/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1W_27rMb4B8/UJkx4kxRkyI/AAAAAAAAAXk/jm_-Y1MlUjk/s320/new.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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A wonderful green bail handled pantry and a darling little treen bowl.</div>
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If any of you are going to the shows in ARTHUR IL this coming weekend, maybe I will see you there!!! Sounds like the shows are all going to be FABULOUS so have fun and good luck hunting...and please be safe during your travels!!!</div>
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Before I go, I want to once again extend my thoughts and prayers to all of those who have lost so much or have in any way been affected by Sandy.</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-89234418250169677382012-09-25T07:39:00.002-07:002012-09-25T08:17:20.789-07:00New Pattern Line...<div align="center">
Hello Friends...</div>
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I wanted to post a quick note to thank you all for the wonderful response I have been getting since launching my <u>New Cross Stitch Pattern Line</u> yesterday afternoon!!</div>
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I have gotten so many emails and orders already and I really do appreciate you all very much!!</div>
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I have been getting a few questions that I will try to answer right now...</div>
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Lots of you are asking for Fall and Halloween designs...I will be adding a few later this week, though I won't be adding many, just the most requested ones for now.</div>
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I have also been getting many requests for my pin-keep designs. Those are coming as well, so please watch for them in the next couple of weeks. I need time to work on getting the patterns made and that takes a little time.</div>
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I will also be adding other designs periodically, so just please feel free to check back from time to time. I'll try to post a little something whenever I add the new designs. :)</div>
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I thought that you might like to see what the finished patterns will look like, so here is a little peek at what you will be getting...</div>
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I had a little trouble with glare on this one...</div>
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A "simple" cover design, but I have never been one for alot of "fru fru"!! (did I spell that right???)</div>
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This little sheep wants to get in on the action!! :)</div>
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Thanks again for your emails and continued support...I really appreciate you all very much!</div>
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***Also, before I sign off, some of you may have noticed that I deleted yesterday's post about "Pattern Pirates". I deliberately didn't list the person's name or the name of the site she was on and now I am getting emails with concerned folks who are "wrongfully" accusing people and pointing fingers at sellers who have an item for sale that even slightly resembles the pattern I posted a picture of yesterday. I know how touchy this subject has become, and I feel for all of those who have had their designs stolen, but as I stated yesterday, it was NOT my intent to slam anyone, just to let it be known that I don't appreciate having my "original" designs copied...so please, although I TRULY appreciate your concern...PLEASE don't assume that you know who I was referring to and take it upon yourselves to spread the word and accuse an <u>innocent</u> person...THANK YOU!!</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-34350769131029913802012-08-20T05:19:00.002-07:002012-08-20T05:33:01.393-07:00My Kind of Mornin' ...<div align="center">
Don't you just love it when you wake up to these cooler, late Summer mornings?</div>
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I don't know about any of you, but to me it can only mean one thing...</div>
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FALL is just around the corner!!!!</div>
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I'm not sure what the exact temperature is out there, but it is wonderfully cool, and it seems like FOREVER since I have experienced anything so refreshing! </div>
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Like so many of you, the area that we live in has been devastated by the dry, hot weather. It is so sad to see in person and witness on TV how bad some of our farmers and ranchers have been hit by this drought and my thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one of them. </div>
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I know that many of you won't want to hear this, but I am hoping for a nice WET Fall and very SNOW covered Winter...remember...every little bit of precipitation we get from here on out, will help immensely for next year!</div>
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OK...with all of that being said...a nice wet Fall would mean only one thing for me...plenty of time to stay indoors and work on some pretty BIG projects that I have in the works right now. You all know how I just love to sit by a fire, the wind, rain or snow hitting the windows and blowing around outside while we are all safe and snuggled inside with something fun to work on...</div>
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Well, that is what I intend to do...I will fill you all in on the "happenings" as they progress, so please stay tuned!!!</div>
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Today, however, I am trying to finish up a couple of items for my Harvest Up-date. It is scheduled for tomorrow night at 8:00 PM, CST, so if you have a minute, I would love it if you could stop by my Picturetrail and check things out. ( <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815">www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815</a> )<br />
Not a whole lot being offered (due to my busy schedule) but a nice little selection for you to consider none-the-less.</div>
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I have been up since 4:30 this morning working on this little sampler (this was my second cup of coffee and I think I see a third in the very near future). I pictured it in my head on Friday night when I was lying in bed trying to sleep...not sure if it is coming out like I imagined, but if all goes well, it will make a nice little Fall piece to add to someone's sampler collection...</div>
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Here is a little closer shot...the colors are going to be soft grey, brown and pumpkin...I think!!! :) You know me...when I am stitching my creations, they change all of the time...I guess that is what comes from making them up as I stitch!! </div>
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I also wanted to show you the latest piece of Stone Fruit that I have added to my collection. It is a darling little cluster of three plums that are wired to a small grapevine twig. </div>
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By-the-way...I want to thank you all for the wonderful comments, emails, and pictures that I received after my last post on stone fruit. I was amazed to see how many of you gals are interested in collecting it...and I was also happy to see that I am not the only one out there who is addicted to it now...what a fun thing to collect!</div>
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Isn't it darling? I fell in love with it the minute I saw it...the size, color, EVERYTHING about it is just FABULOUS!!!</div>
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I purchased it through an on-line antique sale...the sale is no longer going on, but here is the link to their site...it is a group of dealers that sell at some pretty wonderful shows and their site is full of info about up-coming shows that they participate in...please check it out...you'll be glad you did!!!</div>
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<a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/countryspirit">http://www.picturetrail.com/countryspirit</a></div>
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Well, the day is slipping away from me, so I better get going...OH...still no house, but we are hoping every day will be THE day we find one...I'll be glad when we do and can put this house-hunting behind us...I am so anxious to do some decorating!!! I miss that SO much!!! :(</div>
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Happy Day All...</div>
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Tina</div>
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earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-54200770095369992962012-07-25T15:53:00.002-07:002012-07-25T15:53:24.983-07:00Stone Fruit<div align="center">
Greetings Friends...</div>
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My goodness, I have been away for so long that I feel like I am a stranger on my own blog!!</div>
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My apologies for neglecting all of you. It's been almost a month since my last entry...far too long to be away I know, but I hope that once we find a house and get moved in, I will have a little more to write about and to share with you. Unfortunately, for now...I am afraid that my posts will have to be a little more "few and far between" since I am finding it harder and harder to find anything worth while to talk about. :( </div>
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I do have something fun though for today...at least I hope you will think it is fun...let's talk about</div>
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"STONE FRUIT"!!!</div>
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I had seen stone fruit in pictures, books, magazines, and on line, but never really took an interest or a good look at it, and I certainly never thought about collecting it...not until I had the opportunity to see it in person. Most of the homes that I photographed for my book "An Early Christmas" had collections...REALLY nice collections, and I very quickly developed a fondness for it...actually, I fell in love with it, and it wasn't long before I started to collect some of my own.</div>
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Before I show you my "meager" collection...there are lots and lots of sources out there on the history of stone fruit, but here is a very brief overview on the subject...</div>
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Stone Fruit is made from Italian marble and was made in Italy approximately 60 to 100 years ago. Although there are newer pieces out there, the most sought after pieces are the earlier examples. Each piece was hand carved and then hand painted in beautiful life-like colors and have stems that were cut from real grapevine. There were fruit pieces made true to size, in miniature and over-sized, and there were also nuts and vegetables made.</div>
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Here are a few shots of the pieces I have collected so far...Notice I said "so far"...collecting stone fruit is very addicting!!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ao2_gPlL5dk/UBBqWOgsZ1I/AAAAAAAAAUI/bZx7JuDqRvk/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ao2_gPlL5dk/UBBqWOgsZ1I/AAAAAAAAAUI/bZx7JuDqRvk/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are the latest pieces I have acquired...a persimmon and a cute little tangerine. I actually found these yesterday while out and about with my Mom.</div>
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Here are some of my favorite pieces...I love the warm, worn reds and oranges. Shown here are an orange, tangerine, two persimmons, a peach, purple fig, several plums, cherries and one of my favorites...a beautiful cluster of red grapes.</div>
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Here are several pieces in pretty shades of yellow. A banana, a couple of apples, a plum, a peach and two different pears...the one on the top left has a wooden stem and the the one on the right has a plastic stem...obviously the one with the plastic stem isn't as old as the other, but it came in a "lot" that I purchased on eBay, so until I get my collection built up more, I will keep it and use it as a "filler". The brightly colored peach on the bottom right is also newer...this piece is "sprayed or air brushed" and not hand painted like the older pieces...another filler that came with the lot from eBay.</div>
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Here is a large bunch of green grapes. I found these on eBay also, and I really misjudged the size of them...loved the color, but...</div>
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...just look how big they are compared to the smaller red bunch!!! Both of the grape clusters have grapevine stems and the grapes themselves are attached with wire.</div>
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Two more of my favorites...the persimmons. The one one the left is the one I got yesterday.</div>
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Four darling little plums...maybe the peach colored ones are kumquats...if anyone knows for sure, please feel free to advise me, OK?</div>
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An orange and the little tangerine that I also found yesterday. Can you imagine carving that orange by hand??? Just look at that detail!!</div>
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Again...I just LOVE the colors!!</div>
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Here are all of the pieces I have collected so far. It's just a start, but not so bad since I have only been collecting them for a little over a year. Eventually I will weed out my least favorites and replace them with better ones...and I would also like to add a couple of the half pieces...which are very rare and fetch a VERY pretty penny, but I am determined to own at least a couple of them some day! :) </div>
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Well, My Friends...it is time to get dinner started, so off I go...I hope that you have all enjoyed seeing my collection of stone fruit. Maybe it will inspire you to start a collection of your own some day!! </div>
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As always, I thank you all for stopping by!! </div>
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Enjoy your day...Tina :)</div>
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</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-49974524614893352942012-06-28T07:30:00.000-07:002012-06-28T07:30:53.674-07:00Sneak Peek and a Couple of Talented Friends!<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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Thank you all so much for stopping by yesterday and wishing us a Happy Anniversary!! We didn't do anything to outrageous, just dinner out, but it was perfect, and we had fun and how funny...now that it's over, we can say that we are "going on 33 years"!! :)</div>
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I told you all how I was already gearing up for Fall and starting to work on my next up-date and I've been having some real fun designing a few new pieces! </div>
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I have started several items...a couple of samplers, some pin-keeps and a cool Autumn pocket to name a few...all in the best Fall colors...wonderful, muted shades of black, brown, pumpkin, gold...and, you know how I can't just start one thing, finish it, and then move on the the next, right? </div>
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Well, out of the seven pieces I have started, I only have one of them completely finished, so I don't have much to show you...just a "wee peek" like I said...plus, I don't want to give too much away before the up-date, I just want to tease you a little, so I am only going to show you bits and pieces of six of the items.</div>
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These are all my own original designs, inspired by antique samplers and antique needlework.</div>
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I just love the Fall colors, don't you?</div>
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Also...yesterday I received a darling little punched needle mat in the mail, so I thought it might be fun to show you all a small sampling of some of the "little" PN and hooked pieces that I have collected ovder the years from three of my VERY talened friends...First...</div>
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These three pieces were designed and punched by my good friend Joan. She used to sell her designs in pattern form, but sadly no longer... :( They were all gifts and I treasure them. I have several others that she has made also, but if I had to pick, I think that these three are my favorites...aren't they wonderful?</div>
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These were all made by my friend Lori of <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/homespunprimsbylori" target="_blank">Home Spun Prims by Lori</a> and I just love them!! The top piece is a design by Barb Carroll and was a gift from Lori when she visited me once. They are all replicas of antique hooked rugs. I love Lori's use of color in every one of them and her work is absolutely outstanding!!</div>
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This darling little sheep mat is the one that I just got in the mail yesterday. I can't wait to get settled again so I can see how it looks in the arms of one of my rag dolls...don't you just love this?!!!</div>
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This is a wonderful little hooked mat that was made by my friend Stephanie of <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/oldecolonyprimitives" target="_blank">Olde Colony Primitives</a> and it is one of my all time favorite little rugs. Stephanie also does outstanding work and her colors are so warm and worn looking. I also have several of her cross-stitched items, but couldn't find the box they are packed away in right now. Steph and her husband Art make some pretty amazing things, so please be sure to check out their site...Lori's too...like I said, I have some really talented friends!!!</div>
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Well, Friends...I have to run, so enjoy your day and hopefully I will be back sometime before the 4th, but we are leaving for the cottage for a few days next week so if I can't find the time, I want to wish you all a SAFE and Happy 4th of July!!</div>
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Until next time...Tina</div>
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</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-1678662176100741312012-06-27T04:59:00.000-07:002012-06-27T05:08:31.760-07:00<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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I hope that you are all having a wonderful week so far...I know that many of you are either feeling the devastation of the wild fires, the dry, HOT weather in the midwest, or being rained out in other parts of the country and my heart aches for you all! It is really dry here too in SE Wisconsin, but so many of you have it far worse...I am praying for relief for all!!</div>
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I know that I left a hint in my last post about showing you a wee little peek at some of the Fall items I am currently workling on, but I am going to save that for tomorrow...today I have a little story for you...</div>
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...I hope you like it!!</div>
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Back in the summer of '79 there were two sisters...one of them, the older one, was 18 and had just graduted from high school...the other was 17 and just starting to enjoy her last summer vacation before entering her final year of school.</div>
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The two sisters were very close. The older one was engaged to be married and planning her November wedding. The younger sister was to be a bridesmaid. All of the attendants pretty much knew each other...the girls were all from the same school and the boys from a different school, but most of them had met at some time or another over the years...all except for the younger sister and the guy she would be standing up with in the upcoming wedding.</div>
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The older sister was hesitant to introduce the two...she kept telling her younger sister that she knew if she introduced them that they would fall in love and get married and if they ever had a fight or got divorced, she didn't want her sister to blame her for their troubles and risk loosing her because of it!</div>
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Well, it had to happen sooner or later...the younger sister finally met the guy, they did in fact fall in love, and almost one year later, on June 27th of 1980, the couple got married.</div>
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Over the years, the couple had their ups and downs...both good and hard times, but as the years went by their love grew and grew, and GREW...they had their share of petty squabbles and even a few...let's say... "dissagreements" from time to time, but they never blamed the older sister...</div>
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...she had worried for nothing because it wasn't ever the sister's fault when they had their differences...it was the guy's fault!! :)</div>
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Today is the 32nd Anniversary of the younger sister and the guy she stood up with in that wedding all of those years ago, and I am sure that by now you have all figured out that "I" am the younger sister, and this little story was about me and my WONDERFUL husband John...</div>
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...but this story is also about a sister, one that I love very much, and I thank her every day for introducing me to my one-and-only...my Johnny!!</div>
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Yesterday John came home from work and surprised me a day early with my flowers...EVERY year now, he has gotten me a dozen red roses for our anniversary, but this year he told the girl at the flower shop to "mix it up a little" and put in a little somthing of the prettiest flowers she had...how special is that!!! </div>
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Except for a dozen light pink tulips that I got delivered to me at work one day about 15 years ago..."just because"...I think that these are my favorites! </div>
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The card simply said...I was looking for LOVE...and I found YOU!!</div>
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I am going to show you a few pictures of those flowers now...I had to take several because every time I turned the vase, I saw something new and prettier than I did before...I hope you enjoy...</div>
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Everything from Red, Yellow, Pink, Coral and Lavender colored Roses...</div>
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...to Carnations and Lilies...</div>
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...Irises and more Roses...</div>
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...I don't know what this pale pink flower is at the lower left, but it is so soft and pretty..</div>
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...beautiful, bold color everywhere you look...</div>
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...I think that this one is my favorite...</div>
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...what a GREAT guy!!!</div>
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Well, my Friends...I have to get started with my day. As always, I want to thank you all for stopping by, for your lovely comments, and all of the wonderful emails...I cherrish you all!!</div>
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Enjoy your day and I will be back tomorrow with a few small "peeks"...</div>
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Take care, Tina</div>
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</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-45916133096947320432012-06-15T07:40:00.003-07:002012-06-15T07:40:55.323-07:00T.G.I.F!!!!!<div align="center">
Hello Friends...</div>
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I hope that you all had a wonderful week and that you are really enjoying your summer!!</div>
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We are still searching for a house...that seems to have become my full-time job these days...I hope we find something soon because I imagine you are all getting tired of hearing me grumble about it...and I for one, am really getting tired of doing all that grumbling!!</div>
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Yesterday afternoon my husband called from work and told me he got a call about a house that just went on the market and that he had already set up a showing for tonight. We were pretty excited about it because it was in a neighborhood that we knew we liked...there were no pictures posted of it yet, but the description said "colonial" so we couldn't wait to see it, so we took a ride over to do a drive-by. UGHHH, even thought the house was very pretty from the outside, it was NOT a colonial, and I didn't like the windows, where it was located in the development, etc, so I told my husband to cancel the showing. Needless to say, he wasn't very happy with me...poor guy, I think that he is more anxious to get settled than I am now...but OH WELL...</div>
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I don't know why I am being so picky!!! Our plan is to find a "suitable" house to live in for a couple of years...work a little magic on it... and then, when we decide exactly where we want to retire...gosh that word scares me...we are going to look for a lot or small piece of land and build our dream house. I think that we are both getting pretty frustrated though because so far we have found SIX houses that we have liked enough to want to put an offer on and every single one of them had already had accepted offers! What are the odds???!!!???</div>
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I have to try to stay positive and keep telling myself that the reason we haven't found anything yet is because the right one just hasn't come along, right?</div>
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Maybe we'll find something this weekend. :)</div>
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I told you all in my last post that we had a "Tacky Hawaiian" party for our daughter's 27th birthday last weekend...well, here are a couple of pictures for you...</div>
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Here is our pretty Birthday Girl!!!</div>
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Our son is on the left with the "tacky" orange shirt, Hannah's boyfriend is the tall guy in the middle, and the others kids are their WONDERFUL friends...we just loved every single one of them!!</div>
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Everyone being goofy!</div>
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One of our favorite things about being at our cottage are the views of the beautiful sunsets we can see right out the front of the cottage and off the dock.</div>
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Amazing isn't it? </div>
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Well, my friends...I have to get back on the realty websites and try to find some new listings, so I will say "Aloha" for now!!</div>
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Wishing you all a safe and fun weekend,</div>
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Tina</div>
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Psssst...For my next post, I will give you all a wee little "peek" at some great new FALL things that I have already been working on for my next up-date ...it will be sometime next month. I know that summer has just begun, but I am really excited about working on some "pumpkin" colored things this year since I didn't get to have a Fall up-date last year. :)</div>
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</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-34472690695227612152012-06-12T06:03:00.001-07:002012-06-12T06:03:54.371-07:00Up-Date Tonight!!<div style="text-align: center;">
Good Morning Friends!!</div>
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I feel like I have been neglecting you all so much these past few months...the move and this never ending house hunt have really thrown us for a loop and one day just seems to run into the next...I can't believe it has been almost three months now and we are still renting. We have also been spending as much time as John's job allows up at our new cottage. We love it there and the minute we leave, we find ourselves already looking forward to going back!</div>
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This past weekend we had our daughter's 27th birthday party up there and she and our son were both there...they also invited some of their friends to help us celebrate. I can't tell you how GOOD it was to see both of my kids, together for the first time since we moved.</div>
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The theme for her party was "Tacky Hawaiian" and I will post a couple of pictures later this week...I still have to downsize and edit them, so it may take me a couple of days to get them all finished. </div>
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You all know the old saying..."A woman's work is never done"...and for the better part of two days, all I did up there was cook and clean...and clean and cook, but I don't remember when I have laughed so hard...or so much, in years and years!!! </div>
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WHAT A FUN TIME WE ALL HAD!!!</div>
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I also wanted to pop in and remind you all that I am having a small up-date tonight, June 12th at 8:00 PM, CST on my <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815" target="_blank">Picturetrail</a>.</div>
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Like last week's up-date, this one is another smaller one and it will consist of Samplers (both framed and unframed) and Pin-Keeps. There is a little bit of Americana mixed in with a few everyday type items. </div>
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This year I have decided to make the Americana themed pieces a little more versatile by not doing the traditional Red, White, and Blue that we see so much of this time of year. A little different, and maybe not to every one's liking, but I thought that perhaps the items could be used a little longer than just during the couple of weeks that we typically decorate for the 4th of July.</div>
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I hope that you will all be able to stop by for a peek...and once again...THANK YOU ALL so much for making my last little up-date such an overwhelming success!!! </div>
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I truly appreciate you all!!</div>
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These items are NOT for sale in my up-date, only hand-made items will be offered, but I couldn't help but snap a shot of little Everette holding his flag...he is ready for the 4th of July...are you???</div>
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Enjoy your day everyone!!!</div>
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Tina :)</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-1777496447151414972012-05-30T03:20:00.002-07:002012-05-30T03:20:17.937-07:00June Up-Date Tonight!!<div align="center">
Good Morning Friends...</div>
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I just wanted to post a quick note to remind you all that I am having my June Up-Date tonight at 8:00 PM, CST. </div>
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I will be offering handmade Samplers, both framed and unframed, Pin-Keeps, and one Hooking in this up-date.</div>
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Originally I had planned a slightly bigger offering, but due to several requests for me to change the date of this up-date, I have decided to hold back a few of the items for a "second up-date" rather than reschedule this one...that way I can at least try to accomodate everyone the best that I can.</div>
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I value all of you so much, and I totally understand how busy you all are this week with graduations, weddings, etc. to plan for, so I hope that by doing a second up-date it will help out those of you who won't be able to stop by tonight.</div>
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The date and time of my second up-date will be posted on my PT tonight when I open the album of offerings so that everyone who visits can take note.</div>
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I will also be adding a couple of "sneek peeks" to this post a little later today so that you will be able to get an idea of what I will be offering in tonight's up-date.</div>
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Gotta run and get my hubby off to work.</div>
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Until Later...</div>
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Many Thanks, Tina</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-89907143944348517232012-05-21T07:42:00.000-07:002012-05-21T07:42:30.668-07:00A GREAT Shop to visit, and some catching up...<div align="center">
Hello Friends...</div>
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Boy, do I have some catching up to do!!!</div>
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If you read my last post, I was having some computer issues and had to take it in for service...four days later, I got it back and apparently it wasn't as bad as we thought, so that was good, but we still have problems with our Internet "cutting out" and we have been told that that is a problem with our provider, so unfortunately it is just something we are going to have to live with.</div>
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The day we got our computer back, our 12 year old Golden Retriever, Riley, who is a "BIT" overweight...fell down the stairs going out to the back yard and hurt his back leg. We thought for sure it was broken because the poor old guy couldn't even stand and he was in so much pain!!! :( We rushed him to the vet, and the first thing she did...before she even fully examined him...was to start trying to convince us to put him down!!</div>
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My husband and I were pretty much put out by this, but I kept my composure, and once she was done talking, I told her that that wasn't an option for us, so she THEN decided to do ex rays and we found that his leg wasn't broken, just a bad sprain. THANK GOODNESS!!!</div>
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Next, she did a full exam and now she wants to do surgery to remove a non-cancerous tumor in his mouth (one that we were already aware of) and all sorts of other tests. When I voiced my concern about Riley's age and going under anesthesia, I think she got a little annoyed, because there is always risk during surgery, but her attitude really rubbed us the wrong way, and since she seemed to think that he should be put down to begin with, we have decided to think things through further...I guess that maybe a second opinion is in order. Oh how I miss our old vets, Dr. Bruce and Dr. Pape!!!</div>
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Today Riley is doing much better. His meds are working beautifully and he is a completely different dog...happy and full of tail-waggin' love and energy!!</div>
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I see that I have missed out on a lot of great posts by my blogging friends!! I'll try my best to catch up on some reading. From a quick glance, I could see that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!!! </div>
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So did I...I didn't get to see either of my own sweet kids, but my husband and I drove up to see my Mom the Saturday before...that's when my computer took a poop! We went back to Lodi to <a href="http://www.cottagehouseprimitives.com/" target="_blank">Cottage House Primitives</a> ...and this time, I remembered to take my camera along!!</div>
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Here are a few pics of Carol and her shop...</div>
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Carol is so sweet and friendly...it is always such fun going there!!</div>
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Cottage House Primitives is full of great quality reproductions, early style lighting, and so much more...with a few antiques mixed in.</div>
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This is the Rug Hooking and Punch-Needle area of Carol's shop. She has top quality bolted wool...</div>
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...and all kinds of beautiful over-dyed wools as well...just look at those wonderful, yummy colors!!!</div>
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At Cottage House Primitives, you will also find some great upholstered pieces, as well as some terrific reproduction Colonial pieces.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CCcnm1K1qiA/T7pMUaqM_OI/AAAAAAAAAQk/qlYHJRiURKg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CCcnm1K1qiA/T7pMUaqM_OI/AAAAAAAAAQk/qlYHJRiURKg/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Carol also provides her customers with a terrific assortment of textiles and bedding. Everything from window treatments to coverlets and even a fabric selection to make your own custom curtains and accessories!!</div>
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If you are ever in the Madison, WI area, be sure to look up Carol and her shop, she is located in Lodi, about a 30 minute drive from the capitol.</div>
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Before I sign off for the day, I wanted to let you all know that I have rescheduled my May Update for Wednesday, May 30th. </div>
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I will be away from my home office for a few days during the holiday weekend, so I thought it best to set the date for after we return...now that Riley doesn't require my constant care and watchful eye, I might just be able to find a little time to get a few more items finished for the up-date...we'll see...I sure can use a few days off!!! </div>
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OK...the day's-a-wastin'...so off I go. </div>
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Have a safe, happy, and just plain WONDERFUL week!!</div>
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Tina :)</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856204371061050645.post-40967052628539431032012-05-15T04:20:00.000-07:002012-05-15T04:20:11.459-07:00A Quick and Important Note...<div align="center">
Good morning everyone...</div>
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I only have a minute because I am at my husband's office to post this and to hurry me along, he is looking over my shoulder as I write.</div>
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I wanted to let you all know that my MAY UP-DATE is going to be postponed until further notice. </div>
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Over the weekend our computer started to give us fits and we had to take it in yesterday morning...as of right now, we still haven't heard anything so I decided to just go ahead and cancel tonight's up-date this morning while I was able to get the use of a computer for a few minutes. Please watch either here or go to my <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/earlyamerica1815" target="_blank">PT</a> to see when the new date and time are going to be.</div>
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I am very sorry about this...I have some neat new pin-keep and sampler designs for this up-date along with a couple of small hookings!!</div>
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OK, Hubby needs to get to work, and I need to get back home. Thanks so much for your patience and understanding!! Hope to be back soon!!</div>
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Have a wonderful day, Tina</div>earlyamerica 1815http://www.blogger.com/profile/15680606875146136464noreply@blogger.com2