Where have I been all this time?

I can not believe it has been 5 months since my last post! SO much has happened over the summer!
Over the summer, I changed the color of the shutters and front door on the house. It was tan siding with burgundy shutters and doors but it looked too stark for me. Way too much of a contrast so this time I went with a olive green and I really am pleased with the way it turned out. I actually just painted the garden shed with the same olive green so it would look nice beside the house. I will have to get some good pics to show you.

My kids also had their big birthdays this summer. My daughter, Miranda, turned the big 16. Planning a girls Sweet 16 party literally took me months for it all to come together. This is Miranda with a group of her friends. The place was so big I couldn't get them all together at one time!Miranda is the one is the front (with the Zebra print top) and that is me back there in the brown shirt (yeah, the oldest one in the picture). We are doing a line dance just goofing off. The DJ played it so we danced to it!

My son also had his 13th birthday this summer. His was a little easier. Invite a bunch of teenage boys, take them to a skate park, load them up on Gatorade and Water. Pick them up a few hours later, feed them hot dogs, they go home, SIMPLE!

I went to the beach a few times over the summer, twice with family and once was a well needed girls only trip. Needless to say, plenty of fun was had that weekend!

I am so lucky to have such amazing friends! We only went down for the weekend but I don't think we could have lasted much longer anyway!

Well, that explains why I left blogland for a few months! But I think I am back! Hopefully it won't me another 5 months until my next post!

Nicole

Unique Handmade Pendants!

I have been a lover of all things handmade for many years. When I get the opportunity to meet a talented crafter or designer, I feel very blessed. I firmly believe in the "Buy Handmade" campaign because there are so many talented folks in this world who deserve to be successful!

I first met Janna, when I had my store here in town. She came in one Saturday and bought a few items. After a few minutes of chit-chat, we realized that we both love Primitives and the love of junking. We also shared a mutual friend who has a WONDERFUL prim store, Beth at Old Tyme Marketplace in Marshville, NC.
Janna had mentioned that she made jewelry. Now I am not what you call a jewelry buff - I usually only wear my wedding ring and my earrings so I didn't think too much about it. She actually was wearing one of her pendants and when she showed it to me, I fell in love with it! She uses old vintage buttons as the base for her pendants. This particular one had an old vintage key attached! I was hooked!

She has a booth at Curious Cat as well as one at the Waxhaw Antique Mart which is close by my house. I would stop in there often to see her newest designs. These pendants are gorgeous! They have a unique vintage look to them and I have not seen anything like them. On my last trip to Curious Cat, my daughter and I stopped by Janna's booth. Believe it or not, my daughter also fell in love with her pendants! Normally my daughter and I do not agree on jewelry so this was a first. It is very rare for the mother and teenager to agree on fashion. I couldn't believe it! She is now saving her money so she can buy more! She loves the fact that they are unique and they have been a hit at her school.

Janna's company, Artsy Fartsy, also accepts custom orders for her pendants.

Can you see the vintage keys on some of these pendants?

You can find her work by checking out her website, Artsy Fartsy Finds. She, also, has her items available at several retail locations throughout North Carolina. Be sure to check her out! I think I may get her to make something for my daughter's upcoming Sweet 16! When I get it, I will definitely post a pic and share it with all of you!