Daytripping in Historic LeClaire Iowa

Aren't these yard stakes made out of old metal items so funny?

Love the one made with an old blue mason jar!

This was the most charming shop, "Grasshoppers".


This is the mosaic Welcome in front of the store "Artworks". Also a very neat place to shop!

This was a very colorful window as shot from the inside of "Artworks". It was really different with all the patterns and materials.

This is Buffalo Bill Cody's hometown and it is so charming on the beautiful banks of the Mississippi! My Mom, Sister and Cousin visited this town a couple of weeks ago and we absolutely loved spending the day together. There is also a riverboat museum and Buffalo Bill exhibit and of course antique stores and home furnishing stores.

Make me one and Pics of the new kitty!

My sister found this in a boutique on our little trip to LeClaire, Iowa and wants me to make her one. I know I can do one but not sure if it would be that pretty when I'm done. Isn't it just the cutest banner, tho?

Introducing Jazzpurr (Jasper) our new little bundle of teeth and claws. He only drew blood on two of us today:)

Here he is trying to sleep on my husband's hand as he moves the "mouse" on the mousepad.

I'll try to post pictures of out daytrip to Leclaire tomorrow I'm getting SLEEPY and the cat keeps stepping on the keyboard.

Fun with buttons and a new addition!

I'm going through my sister's things. She had an antique shop that was closed after 20 years in the business. Everything has sat in a trailer in my parents yard for a very long time now so I am grabbing stuff out and listing it on ebay. I figure to use the money to fund a vacation for all of us (my parents, sister and her girls and the boys and I). So far I've made enough money to go to the Amana Colonies about an hour and half from here and buy everyone a lunch:)

I helped my Mom and Dad list some more of my Dad's buttons. He must've been feeling American or Pepsi with this design.

More fun with my Dad's buttons. He did very well on his last set so we just put more on ebay. I had to share with you this tray that my Dad designed. Can you make out the smiley face?

In other non-ebaying news, my husband forbid my mother from bringing home a kitten from a flea market for my 7 year old son. Of course it was "free" and he turned on the water works for Grandma. So we got a new kitten. He is so cute with smokey grey fur and blue eyes! I will post a picture of him when my camera battery gets recharged. Oh and by the way who does the kitty like best? If you guessed my husband you'd be right! Hee Hee!

Just playing around with Arts & Crafts

This is an auction on eBay I put on for my parents. This is an auction for 1000 vintage buttons.

I love experimenting with Fridas. The Frida on the left is painted on a piece of scrap muslin and the one on the right is on a piece of canvas. I figure while I'm practicing why use up canvases. I had fun making my version of this cute little dollie. There is a free template for her at Martha Stewart's website. She is from the Etsy powerhouse seller Black Apple. http://www.marthastewart.com/article/black-apple-doll?lnc=38f9cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=showmain_tv_the-martha-stewart-show

I sat down a couple days ago and had an art day with the kids and I was trying to do an Uncle Sam. This is my first attempt since grade school of doing a whole body so I know I need more practice to get the porportions right but overall I kinda like his folk art look.

Today I am going to the little town of LeClaire, Iowa with my Mom, Sis and cousin Merideth. My incredibly smart cousin is going to be in Moscow, Russia for the next 10 months working for a fellowship. We feel lucky that we get to spend the day with her in a charming Mississippi River town. I'll take some pictures and report back with any goodies that I find there.

Mom's Birthday and the Red Oak Inn Dining Room

Can you picture yourself here?
This is the area by the front counter. The refrigerators covered in red gingham are full of pies for diners to take home! We took a blueberry crumb home for the kiddies!


The outside of this charming place. They also have a shaded back patio with a pergola to sit under and dine in the summertime.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! My parents and I enjoyed having lunch at the Red Oak Inn Dining Room. If you ever get the chance to visit the historic village of Bishop Hill, Illinois take it! For lunch we had delicious Swedish Meatballs in a cream sauce served over noodles, a side salad, and served with a slice of light Swedish Rye bread. Of course they had ligonberry iced tea and homemade desserts to choose from. My Mom got a slice of their fabulous coconut cream pie, Dad got Swedish cream served with a raspberry sauce and I got quadberrry pie a la mode. Is your mouth watering yet?

I won a Polkadot Pixie Giveaway & New styles to try!

This is the one that I painted in the style of Jane De Rosier for my Mom for one of her birthday gifts. Jane does such a super job on her angels but I wish she would do more trees. Jenny from Wonders of Whimsy has the one that I wish I had. It is so pretty in pinks. My Mom loves it so much she is going to hang it in the not-often-seen guest bedroom. HeeHee!

This one is going to hang in my living room. I painted this in the Noodle and Lou style. The number three is the house number of my home and I have THREE boys! The boys have told me that the house closest to us is Grammy's house.

I painted this on fancy scrap booking paper and stitched the edge. This is dedicated to my son's first communion that took place last Saturday. I wrote the date and the occasion on the back for him to have as a keepsake of his special day.

This one is all my own design. I didn't try to copy from anything. Not sure what to do with her yet but I like her and may keep her on the fridge for awhile.

Wow! I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that I had won! Jenny (aka Polkadot Pixie) has chosen my number to receive one of her oh so sweet creations. http://thepolkadotpixie.blogspot.com/ She does absolutely fabulous work and I wished she lived closer to me so I could take a class and learn how she does what she does. Speaking of trying to emulate others, I have been trying my hand at some styles of artists' work that inspire me. They are too close (or maybe too far) to the original to sell but I created them for me and my Mom.

BTW today is my Mom's birthday so I want to wish her a very Happy Birthday. We will be going to Bishop Hill, Illinois to have lunch at the extremely charming Red Oak Inn Restaurant. Their speciality is handmade swedish food, particularly homemade pie with freshly churned ice cream. Super cool place to visit!

Tomorrow is the start of one of my favorite weekends of the year! The Beaux Arts fair will be taking place in the downtown area of Davenport, Iowa. I always buy something. I've bought art, jewelery, clothing and furniture. This year I am going in search of something sculptural for my yard. They usually have some pretty awesome stuff at this Fair. If you are an artist or a buyer than this is a destination to come to. People come from all over the region to do business here and I think they do pretty well as you see a lot of the same vendors year after year. I will take my camera with me and try to post about it soon.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you! Thanks again to Jenny of the Polkadot Pixie for the giveaway. Have a GREAT weekend!

My New Frida ~ Mi Frida Nuevo

Last Sunday I attended the Artists' Reception at the Art Center and was encouraged by some very nice compliments of my Frida. It was a blind buy so I don't know if the recipient of my Frida liked her or not. I feel like calling her and offering her the twenty dollars back if she doesn't want it. When I say this people often say well just paint another one. It isn't in my nature to be repetitive. I am always looking for new challenges. Anyway I decided to do a new Frida and this is what I came up with. the last picture is of my first Frida. This was a mosaic project and it was really a cool exhibit.

I feel bad I haven't been blogging. I guess I like reading better than I like writing. I've got to run to the school and help my fifth graders with math. Happy day to all!