HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MADISON!!!

Our sweet granddaughter, Madison, turns TWO today!!! Being born on Valentine's Day has made her even more of a sweetheart!! I hope your day is special, Maddie, and I've heard that Mommy and Daddy are taking you out to your favorite, Red Robin, for dinner tonight!! Saturday will be her BIG BASH birthday party!! Have fun!!! Love, Gram

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!! May it be your best ever!! Here's hoping that love is in the air all over our world, and that no one eats toooo much chocolate!! It's a beautiful snowy morning here in the mountains, with temps in the low 20's....unlike yesterday that was just like Spring!! The afternoon temp here at our castle was 64!! YES!!!

I want to share pictures of my card that I received from Cathy of Hazelruthe in her wonderful handmade card exchange!!! Isn't it lovely??? This exchange was just so much fun!! I want to do this again!! It was great to push myself into a world that isn't my most comfortable one, and create a handmade card.

My best to everyone for a fun filled, love filled day!! Hugs, Trudy

MORNING VISITOR.....LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST????

As Mike was leaving for work this morning, and I was grabbing the newspaper, I saw a shadow on the house next door......and look who was in the tree!! I'm sure he was looking for a quick snack or a yummy breakfast. Perhaps he had his eye on Precious the Cat who had accompanied us out the door!! He remained in the tree, proudly perched, awaiting my return with the camera. I was able to stand right there in the front yard looking up at him, and he never flew away!! In my amateur bird knowledge, I believe he is either a Merlin Falcon or a Prairie Falcon, both of which inhabit this area. Enjoy the pictures!!

MY NEW FRIEND!!!

I want to share these photos of my new friend.........and I named her Snow Queen!! Not knowing much at all about horses, except that they are bigger than me, and I don't feel really comfortable around them, I was totally mesmerized by this beautiful animal!! She and her friend were rummaging in the snow for nibbles of this and that, but as I approached the fence, Snow Queen seemed to be quite interested in me. I spoke to her, talked to her about her day, and I'm certain that she was attempting to share conversation with me. Is this what horse whispering is all about???!!!!! I watched her and talked with her for a long time, until I guess she became bored, and chose to lie down for a little snooze!! I can't wait to go back and visit again...and maybe take her a carrot or an apple???? Isn't she gorgeous????!!!!

THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAINS...........

I just never tire of the beauty of these gorgeous Rocky Mountains here in Colorado, and am soooo blessed to have these views nearly every day!! Lucky me!! The mountains mean so much to me, that I love sharing their beauty with you, too!! Here are some shots from yesterday, with a good one of Pikes Peak, too!! These were taken just a short distance from home, in one of my favorites....Daniels Park.

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!! :)

Just look at the wonderful package full of goodies that I got in the mail!!! WHOOOO!!! WHOOOOOOO!!!!! Nicole of Raggedy Old Annies and I did a swap of fabrics, and here's what I received!!! I am soooooo excited, and can't wait to use, or hoard(!!!!), these wonderful fabric pieces!! They are charmers!!! I love all the old 30's reproduction prints, and these are some excellent choices!! THANKS, NICOLE!!!!! We need to work on Nicole's counting skills, though. We agreed to exchange SIX pieces......and I got SEVEN!!! You are a doll, Nicole, and one super raggedy friend and doll maker, too!!! Thank you so much for the super duper fabric pieces, and the extra one, too!! Hugs, Trudy

SSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Babies are sleeping!!!! Still not dressed.......

A SNEEK PEEK!!!!!!

I am by NO means anything but a VERY amateur card maker. Sometimes I must push myself to step "out of the box" and do different things. So....I signed up for the Valentine's Day card swap at Hazelruthe's, telling myself, "I Can Do THIS!!!!" It was great fun!!! I got out all my card making stuff....printed out some cool vintage images....and went to work!! I won't tell you how LONG I spent on this...but I sure had fun!!! That's what is important, anyway!! ENJOY!!! HAVE FUN!!! STRETCH YOURSELF!! TRY SOMETHING NEW!!! I hope that Cathy enjoys my card, and won't she have fun opening all the cards that she will be receiving!! What a great idea!!! I might have to try organizing a swap like this myself sometime!!! And by the way....don't forget to send Valentine cards to all those that you love!! Hugs, Trudy

MAKING PROGRESS...........

I will be the first to admit that I have the terrible habit of starting, but not quickly finishing my creations.....and I love the beginning stages of the dolly process -- the creating, the sewing, cutting, stuffing, doing the faces....and then.................not sure what happens!!!

I think what happens is that by then I am on to more new ideas, or trying out someone else's newest design, or something else has popped into my life to cause a distraction!! But....I have been working on getting some of these many, many gals dressed!!! YES!!! DRESSED!!!! There are several getting close to completion, but two have actually been finished, and I would like to introduce them to you!!

The tiniest one is a design of my own, and is an itsy bitsy girl of 9"!! Zenobia Rosebud is made from muslin, has been stained, baked, and sanded for the primitive, time worn look!! She is dressed in her 100% cotton rosebud print dress, trimmed in vintage rick rack and a teensy button, and wears red and white floral print 'loons!! You will love her wild crochet cotton hair!! Her face is all stitched, with tiny black button eyes. She has painted raggedy stockings, and black shoes, too!! If you would like to give this little gal a warm and cozy home, she will be shipped off to you by Priority Mail to USA homes for just $22.00!!!!

The bigger raggedy is made from a design by De of Bowls-n-Annies, but she doesn't look at all like the doll on De's pattern cover!! She's made from the Fun Girl pattern, and although De says this is a 17" dollie....mine is just under 16" big!! I really LOVE how she turned out, and almost can't part with her!! She is also made from muslin and processed for the primitive look. She's wearing her cool 100% cotton dress and matching 'loons, has her painted raggedy stockings and shoes, and looks ready to have a fun day!! Her face is stitched, her eyes are black buttons, and wonderful wool hair is stitched onto her great raggedy noggin!! She, too, is looking for a home, and could become quite comfy in yours for just $38, shipped to you in the USA by Priority Mail!!

Thank you so much for stopping by!! I promise...more of those babies awaiting their day for being blessed with a wardrobe is closer than you think!!! heheheheheeeee!!!! Prim Hugs, Trudy

4TH AND GOAL FOR THE RAGGEDIES!!!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!! Here in Mountain Time, it's less than an hour 'til kick off, but the battle between the raggedies of Annabelle's Attic and the primitive dolls of Crows in the Attic Primitives is already underway!! OH NO!!! Looks like I see some stripes are in the pile up, too....referee down!!

What a better way to celebrate this day in American history than to decide it's time to get busy and dress some of these poor naked gals!! You WOULD NOT want to know how many of them are awaiting my attention....so many to the point that I have forgotten who they all are!!! HA!!

My best to Eli and the GIANTS....but Tom Brady is awfully cute!! heheheheheee!!! And caution......from what I heard this week on the news....beware of double dipping in the chip dip and salsa!! Enjoy the game!! May the best team win!!! GO GIANTS!!!!

STRENGTHEN JOY AND HAPPINESS EVERY DAY!!

As I zipped through the grocery store one day this week, hoping to get in and out quickly, I found myself waiting for awhile in the checkout lane. Of course, there are many magazines and other items appropriately placed there in the "holding area" to grab our attention!! So.....my impulse buy was promising to tell me how to flatten my tummy in just four short days, how to turn off my cravings forever, and other amazing acts of obvious magic!! After scanning the magazine for some truth, I came upon an article of particular interest about how what we think and what we do affects our lives. The findings of a social psychologist, Fred Bryant, PhD, are shared as strategies that anyone can use to bring satisfaction and happiness to everyday moments!! So....I thought it would be fun to share them with you, somewhat paraphrased, and somewhat my interpretation!!

Strategy 1 -- Share positive feelings! Tell others about the wonderful things you are thinking, memories you have, or experiences you have enjoyed.

Strategy 2 -- Build memories! Take a mental note of things that have brought joy into your life, so you can draw on these memories later.

Strategy 3 -- Congratulate yourself! Take pride in the things you have accomplished.

Strategy 4 -- Fine tune your senses! For example, close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you.

Strategy 5 -- Compare downward! Sort of like thinking of what you do have, instead of what you don't have.

Strategy 6 -- Get absorbed! Instead of just grazing the surface, immerse yourself in your experiences.

Strategy 7 -- Fake it 'til you make it! By appearing happy even when you might not be, you can actually change your own mood, and positively affect the moods of others around you.

Strategy 8 -- Seize the moment! Enjoy the positive while it's there.

Strategy 9 -- Avoid killjoy thinking! Don't spend time on the negative, and enjoy the positive.

Strategy 10 -- Say thank you!! Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

Something to think about.............................................Enjoy!! Trudy

CHECK OUT THESE SITES!!!

As with every FIRST DAY of the month, the wonderful collection of new work is available for viewing and purchasing on GLITTER AND GRUNGE!!! You will find me there with some dollies and birdies for you purchasing pleasure!! I am also pleased to announce that starting on the 15th of February, I will be joining the many talented artists on a site that just opened today, Lemon Poppy Seeds!!!! I know that there are many of these group gathering available these days, but I hope that you will take a moment to check out Glitter and Grunge and Lemon Poppy Seeds!!

LOOK WHO CAME TO VISIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once upon a time, long before winter, we had ROBINS!!!! And now look!!! Mr. Robin came to visit me!! I know he was saying "hello", and "welcome February", too!! According to a lady I chatted with while buying bird food, there is a large flock of robins that DO NOT fly South, but instead winter over in nearby Waterton Canyon. I have not verified that, but it makes for a good story!!

At any rate, as always, this Colorado weather is very strange and ever-changing. Today was 28 when we arose, and is now 42 degrees and sunny, of course!! Lovely day for us, and for the birds!! But two nights ago we had a blizzard and about 6" of fresh snow, and temps well into the single digits, approaching the zero mark!!

I hope you enjoy the bird pics, although the dirty windows caused some fogginess in these!! You can see that Mr. Robin had a little chat with Mr. Woodpecker!! As they were chatting, Mr. Bunny went hopping across the yard, too! Happy February to all!! Hugs, Trudy

Weekend Get-away!!! YEA!!!!

What a pleasant and relaxing weekend we had, and how much I wish the weekend had not ended!!! We were given, as a part of Christmas, a night at a wonderful B&B by son Bryan. We chose to add a second night, and make it a nice long weekend to celebrate our anniversary!! We had a grand time, and the accommodations were fantastic!! As well as spending lots of time just hanging out in our wonderful suite, we did some shopping in Manitou Springs and Woodland Park. We also took a nice drive through the mining country, stopping in the towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. I, of course, took tons of pictures, and had a great time!! I highly recommend Victoria's Keep to anyone that is looking for a wonderful Victorian get-away!! The inn keepers, Karen and Jay, were a delight, and the bottomless cookie jar that they provide, along with endless amounts of tea and hot chocolate, made our stay even more wonderful!!

RICK RACK RESOURCE!!! YEA!!!!!!

I LOVE rick rack....especially vintage cotton rick rack!! However, since finding that at a good price is not always a simple task, I ventured out to try what I found offered by Amy of The Main Collection!!! WHOOOO!!! WHOOO!!!!! Great stuff!! And....look how cute she packages it!!! YEA!! It's a holiday!!! Whooooo!! Whooooooo!!!

SIMPLE PLEASURES!! SPECIAL JOYS!!

What a special pleasure to spend time with young children!! I have been kept busy over the last several days with the daughter and granddaughter coming from Austin for a visit, and the local granddaughter joining us for a couple days of fun with her cousin!! The girls had a grand time together, and it was a joy to watch them play and have fun. I'll share a couple pictures of these very special little princesses!!

DOORS CLOSE.......NEW ONES OPEN......

I am saddened that Crow Soup has come to an end. The doors have closed. Crow Soup is gone.......forever. I must find a new home to sell my wares. I enjoyed my time as a Crow Soup artist, and had many good customers during my time there. I'm sad. But.....I must move on. Glitter and Grunge is thriving, however!! Hopefully my Crow Soup customers will follow me, and find my listing on G&G!! YES!!

Nature Walk Winter Landscape...I Love Winter!!!

YUMMY YARN!!!

Just look at this very yummy, wonderful, fabulous yarn that I have found....the perfect stuff for dollie hair!! I love working with the handspun, thick and thin stuff!! I found this wonderful seller on Ebay, Caroline, Ebay ID: carolinesdesigns and wanted to share this source with all of you!! She also has a website featuring her wonderful yarns for knitting, crocheting, weaving...and in my case....dollie hair!! I have purchased several large hunks of yarn from Caroline, and they are all just the best!! So far I have a great raspberry for the pink, Spring dollies; a bright Christmas red for some raggedies; and a nice warm brown, and some black, for both raggedies and primitive dolls!! If you are lucky, I might sell some in small quantities in my Ebay store, My Annabelle's Attic, where I sell mostly supplies for doll making, etc. I list lots of raw, washed wool there, too!!

MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS!!

I'm in love with the mountains!! I truly love these majestic Rocky Mountains, and the views from my studio are THE BEST!!! I spend a great amount of time just gazing at these huge rock structures, examining the various angles, shapes, sizes, textures, etc. The way the light at different times of the day plays off the mountains is intriguing, too. We are fortunate to have mountain views from every room in our house, and I take full advantage of that!! I might get more accomplished if I lived in a cave, instead of in a house with plenty of windows and gorgeous views!! Today I have shared a couple of shots from my studio windows, taken early this morning, with the snow clouds hiding the taller peaks, and the rising sun playing on the mountain sides. Enjoy!!

FAT QUARTER FUN!!!!

What fun to pull out a BUNCH of my fat quarter stash, and dream of how these wonderful pieces could become cool little raggedy dresses!!! YES!!! I know that winter has hardly begun, but I am definitely thinking "Spring"!! I am envious of the major production mode that Nicole over at Raggedy Old Annies has been in, with her HUGE pile of raggedies all finished, dressed, and probably now all sold, too!! So....this morning has found me creating a new little annie design, just an itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny gal..well maybe not THAT small.....and playing in the fabric to get ready to build a little annie wardrobe for MY pile of naked annies!! If I am successful at breaking my usual habit of "starting something new before finishing what I have begun", you will be able to view these cool little Spring girls right here on my blog before long!! Won't that be fun??!?!?!!!!! Hugs, and have a super day!!

JUST HANGIN' OUT................

Precious the Cat has her own idea of how to start the new year!! Rest and relaxation are her first priorities!! As a cat that is 18 1/2 years old, she does her fair share of resting!! We can often detect which of her several beds she has chosen for her nap by where the snoring sounds are coming from!!

I Love a GREAT Stash!!

One can never have TOO MUCH of a fabric stash!! I love having a vast array of fabrics to choose from when creating!! Although I keep changing my mind on how I want to store my stash....by color.....by style......by size of fabric piece...I do know that I LOVE having the possibility of pulling out a bunch of different colors, prints, etc., and putting together the combinations that I will use on my next primitive creation. For years now I have purchased wonderful 100% cotton, quilt shop quality, gorgeous fabrics from my friend Kerrie of Simple Pleasures from Maine. You can find her wonderful selections in her Ebay store, by clicking on the link I have provided for you!! She also offers patterns and finished goods, as well!! Thank you, Kerrie, for being a great internet source for all of us that are fabric addicts!!