Enid Collins Vintage Box Purse

I found this awesome little purse at a shop yesterday! It is just too cute! I started researching Enid Collins and she has a cool story! Check out these pics!

She was a rancher's wife and started making purses to help make ends meet, but they became so popular that she even landed a deal with Neiman Marcus! She had several different themes and this is from the Money Tree III collection. She hand painted and designed each purse. This one is made of mahogany and has gold coins and amber colored rhinestones as embellishments.

The inside of e lid is signed and shows that is was made in 1965. The mirror is a little foggy in places, but the rest of the box is in great condition

The original tag is even still with the box!

Our little oasis

So far our flowers are growing like crazy! With highs in the upper 90s to 100 each day lately We do have to water them a lot because the liners in the hanging baskets let the water run right through, but so far...so good!

I loved planting flowers growing up, but it just never failed that as soon as they started looking really nice....a big hail storm would come and wipe them out! Or the sun would just scorch them to death!

Even on these hot days, sitting in the shade with the little fan going isn't too bad at all. The flowers are cheery and the colors are lovely. We love sittin out there and watching the hummingbirds battle it out :) we have at least six right now, but as fast as they're starting to drain the feeders I think we might even have a few more than that! (that's another thing we don't see in the panhandle)

Ring bearer pillow

It is definitely the season of weddings...summertime!

Being off work has been great! I am getting work on projects I've had going :) our friend Colleen is getting married and this is for her ceremony. I finished this ring bearer pillow last night. It turned out so great!

This is my first monochromatic pillow and I love it! With more time off, I am looking forward to making more pillows and seeing what else I can come up with...

Toby

This little guy rolled into our lives and stole our hearts! He is just too cute!!

Mom has wanted a Yorkie for at least the past ten years....it was a spur of the moment decision, I bought him for my mom--then I ended up falling in love with him myself!

He is now is the Panhandle with mom and dad enjoying the great planes....but not the Great Dane, lol....since arriving in west Texas Toby has had to be a survivor, but he's hanging in there with help from the fam!
I'm on the hunt for a Yorkie of my own now, hehe, I figured out they eat a little less than Domino....

Mom & Dad now have two extremes, lol, and love each of them! Hopefully Domino and Toby can be friends one day.... :)

Dad had to save Toby from the jaws and paws of Domino one night...after a dropped phone and beer, much screaming from Toby (and mom) Toby escaped unharmed, only shaking and scared....everyone is on full alert now!

Sterling Silver Necklaces

These pieces from sterling silver turned out so beautifully!! Remember mother's day and graduation is right around the corner so let me know if there's anything I can make for you!  :)

One of the mom's at the school I work at told me she says this to her son a lot and expresses her love for him



The Beginning of Spring 2011

So far this Spring has already been full of fun and beauty! We have been able to go fishin a few times and everything is in full bloom. This is my first Spring to really experience the Azaleas of Tyler and they are gorgeous!

With the sun being out longer, we have more time to enjoy the outdoors! We've been walking most afternoons and can even go to the park and run afer work now (when we want to avoid the hills!)

Here's my little bass I caught the other day while actually fishing for crappy under the bridge!

A friend of Wade's Grandaddy's spray painted his name on one of the columns under the bridge where they would always fish together before he went to be with the Lord.

Here's a few pictures from around where we live.

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting on the balcony reading when I heard a buzzing noise that I hadn't heard in a while...I looked up and there was the most beautiful ruby throated hummingbird!! He was staring right at me but as soon as I looked at him, off he zoomed. I hurried and got our feeder ready and put it outside, but with all these flowers in bloom...I doubt I'll see him again for a while! He's got the real stuff right now!

This was our first fish to catch from the bank at Lake Bellwood by our apartments. Usually we just end up casting, but I broke the streak!!

I got to see a couple of my cousinsm, Steph & Sarah, when we went to Olton this last time. They were all in planning mode for the big family reunion that's coming up in June!

John 3:16

I heard on KLOVE radio this morning that today is John 3:16 day (March 16th= 3/16).

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16



God loves you so much he sent his own Son to die for you (and me) that you (and I) would never have to face the death of our soul and be spared God's wrath. Jesus made a way for us to have a relationship with the Father. If you don't have a relationship with him and wonder what the meaning of your life is, please leave a comment or contact KLOVE for someone to talk to.

No matter what you face today, I hope this message brings you hope and life.

Spread the GOOD NEWS!! JESUS SAVES!

Spring Break!!

This week I'm off of work for Spring Break! I am already having such a wonderful time. I'm resting and finishing up projects that I've had going. Yesterday I stamped most of the day. Today I'm finishing up a pillow and working on adding length to my curtains!! It's cloudy and cool outside...the way I like it!

This is a locket style necklace I made for my friend Kathy. It has all her grandchildren's names on the inside.

I moved the birthstone crystals for the picture, but there's one for each of them as well.

This is a necklace I have been wanting to make for a while. It is a great reminder that Jesus said He will make us fishers of men in Mark 1:7. Are we fishing for men to bring into the Kingdom of our Lord?

A lot of people really like this set up and I can see why!

As you can see from the date below, a new baby was just added to this family. A lady ordered it for her friend to give to the Mom. What a great gift!

Mom wanted this verse on a keychain. I remember us singing a song that goes with this verse. I still sing this song...we learned it when we were probably 7 years old...a great reminder and promise....to TRUST in the LORD and HE will make our paths straight.

Here's another washer necklace for a Jr. High guy! I'm not great a photographing, especially copper...the color always comes out a little funny no matter what I try! But, it looks really good in person!



Daffodils!!

Does anyone remember watching a movie called Big Fish? I really like that movie, it's very creative. There is a girl in the movie that Edward Bloom is in love with and her favorite flowers are Daffodils!  At one point he brings her a whole field of them....hehe...I couldn't help

but think of that movie when we pulled up to Mrs. Lee's Daffodil farm outside of Tyler.

Mrs. Lee used to come out to this land to escape the business of town life. Originally she thought she had ordered a box of daffodils, but it turns out that she bought a BOXCAR of daffodils! It took 40 men 4 years to plant all of the bulbs throughout her property.

After she passed away, she wanted her property to be opened up to the publice to be able to enjoy the beauty of the place. Now there is a couple of people that take care of the property and every year it is opened up free of charge to anyone who wants to drive through and look or stop and take a few pictures.

Spring--fresh, new, alive....after winter it is so refreshing to see alive things! The cool thing about bulbs is they grow so silently...in the cold even...you hardly notice them and then one day you look up and they have taken every ounce of warmth and sunrays and have sprung up...then...they bloom!

My pictures just don't do this place justice, it is so beautiful. There are lots of rolling hills as you drive along and daffodils blanket the sides of them.

Kathy and I had a wonderful time taking in the fresh air, blue skies and beautiful scenery. I'm so thankful there are places in the world that exist like this. It's hard to imagine that at the same time, there are so many in our world that are suffering. May we remember them, pray for them and do what we can to help them.

I hope you are able to enjoy the beauty of Spring soon wherever you are too!!

Mom's Pillow

This is the pillow I made for Mom for Christmas. I didn't post it earlier because I wanted it to be a surprise but then I forgot to post it. This is my favorite door hanger I have made yet.

The monogrammed S is done in a stem stitch. The S is framed by the herringbone stitch and french knots.

Scroll work is done along the top and bottom with a stem stitch as well.

This pillow coordinates great with Mom's bedroom.

I love you Mom!!