Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Nineteen Days and Counting……………..by Pam Todd

Tis only 19 days before Christmas,

emhgraphcis

www.emhgraphics.etsy.com

circle in the sand

www.circleinthesand.etsy.com

and through houses of all kinds

sixsisters

www.sixsistersart.etsy.com

No creatures are stirring, not even the cats and dogs

bethpeardonprods

www.bethpeardonprods.etsy.com

scottieacres two

www.scottieacres.etsy.com

fantasycreations

www.fantasycreatins.etsy.com

theslipstitch

www.theslipstitch.etsy.com

The stockings are hung or laid everywhere in hopes that you know who soon will be there

jillstreasurechest

www.jillstreasurechest.etsy.com

When outside the door, oh my, what a clatter

That I leaped from my recliner to see what was the matter

My eyes opened wide at the sight drawing near

What?  A sleigh and a bunch of gorgeous reindeer

mysticsilks

www.mysticsilks.etsy.com

The little old driver, he surely was quick

I knew who he was – it was St. Nick

six sisters

www.sixsistersart.etcy.com

What’s happening, dude, I asked with a grin

You’re really early, but come right on in

He put his finger next to his nose and nodding his head right down my chimney he came

Leaving gifts and more gifts – did I see my name?

artmixter

www.artmixter.etsy.com

yankee girl

www.yankeegirl.etsy.com

Boxes and boxes under the tree

I couldn’t wait to see which ones were for me

chris1

www.chris1.etsy.com

He had places to go and more things to do

His reindeer were waiting, and away they all flew

bigislandrosedesigns

www.bigislandrose.etsy.com

But he left us this message to which we delight

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

paintingsbykateladd

www.paintingsbykateladd.etsy.com

To everyone everywhere and for whatever reason you celebrate, may your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and love.

thecreatorspalette

www.thecratorspalette.etsy.com

For special handmade gifts, enter bbest team next to handmade on the Etsy home page.  You will find treasures beyond measures for those you know and love.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Choose Handmade! by Pam Todd

I checked out a website where lots and lots of people posted their reasons for why they believe buying handmade items is a good thing. Many had to do with the love and care that goes into creating handmade items.  Others had to do with supporting small businesses and local economies.  Still other reasons included giving or getting unique gifts, helping the environment through recycling, up cycling, and individual production as opposed to mass production in terms of energy expenditure.  Most echoed the theme that when people buy handmade, they are  supporting artists in following their passion to create. One I really liked was that the love that goes into creating handmade items spreads positive energy. 

You can find a myriad of handmade creations among the members of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team (BBest team).  Just enter bbest team and your favorite color, and see what you can find.  I chose orange, and here are some of the wonderful handmade creations found in that search.

jnoriginals scarflette

www.jnoriginals.etsy.com

clinging images 

www.clingingimages.etsy.com

meadowmuffin2010

www.meadowmuffin2010.etsy.com

six sisters painting

www.sixsisters.etsy.com

fantasycreations1

www.fantasycreations1.etsy.com

saromasa

www.saromasa.etsy.com

jstinson

www.jstinson.etsy.com

paintinsbykateladd

www.paintingsbykateladd.etsy.com

turtletreasures

www.turtletreasures.etsy.com

zudagay

www.zudagay.etsy.com

poseypatch

www.poseypatch.etsy.com

vanfleetstreetdesign

www.vanfleetstreetdesign.etsy.com

Do a search and enjoy the many wonderful handmade creations offered by the Bbest Team. 

Monday, October 10, 2011

October – Dogs – Halloween! by Pam Todd

October has traditionally been a month of a number of recognitions:  Fire Prevention Day (in elementary school, we always wrote essays on Fire Prevention – did you?) is one of them.  Then there is Oktober Fest with lots of food and festivities.  October has also been designated as Adopt a Shelter Dog month.  And, of course there is Halloween.  Some of the other special days include pharmacists day, clergy appreciation day, cookie month, eat country ham day, pizza day, vegetarian day, popcorn popping day, sarcastic day, and seafood day.  Two of these are meaningful to me, one because I am a dog lover, and the other because I enjoyed it so much as a kid!  Bet you know which one that is. 

I’ve loved every dog we had.  The closest we came to adopting a shelter dog was when we stopped by the animal shelter one night, and there was a puppy sitting outside the fenced-in area.  We decided that because we found her there when we stopped by that she was meant to be ours, and so we took her home, and made her part of our family.  I mean, something could have happened to her had we left her there……she could have wandered off and been run over, an animal could have gotten her, or who knows what might have happened.  We just knew she was meant to be ours.  But, today, there are thousands of dogs across the country waiting for their forever home.  And, they are waiting in shelters for families to come and get them.  If you are considering getting a dog, please stop by your local animal shelter and take a look.  You may find the perfect dog for you!  I found some cute doggy items among the shops of the Bbest team.  No real dogs, just cute stuff.  Here are some of them.

theslipstitch

www.theslipstitch.etsy.com

sixsisters

www.sixsisters.etsy.com

scottieacres

www.scottieacres.etsy.com

yarrow1

www.yarrow1.etsy.com

fantastycreations1

www.fantastcreations1.etsy.com

emhgraphics

www.emhgraphics.etsy.com

chris1

www.chris1.etsy.com

clingingimages

www.clingingimages.etsy.com

buttondivas

www.buttondivas.etsy.com

And, no doubt you have guessed that my other favorite topic for October is Halloween.  In the olden days (mid 1940s to mid 1950s) trick or treating was one of the highlights of the year.  My sister and I and other kids from the neighborhood would walk about six blocks in all four directions and feel safe knocking on the doors of people we knew as well as complete strangers.  We got apples, candy, gum, popcorn balls, and sometimes nickels or dimes!  We never worried that anyone would do us any harm.  Of course, our folks always looked at everything we brought home.  But, it was fun, dressing up as ghosts (with sheets from the closet) or as a grandpa or grandma with our grandparents clothes with pillows under them.  Sometimes we had store bought masks.  We always carved a pumpkin and set it on the front porch.  And, we loved it when the kids came to our house, too.  Halloween is still a fun celebration for many.  And our Bbest team has lots of fun items with a Halloween theme.

vanfleetstreetdesign

www.vanfleetstreetdesign.etsy.com

pfdoriginalartworks

www.pfdoriginalsartworks.etsy.com

magdaleneknits

www.magdaleneknits.etsy.com

jstinson

www.jstinson.etsy.com

heronkate

www.heronkate.etsy.com

glitzhglass

www.glitznglass.etsy.com

birose

www.birose.etsy.com

backroomtreasures

www.backroomtreasures.etcy.com

foref;ug;assdesogm

www.fireflyglassdesign.etsy.com

circleinthesand

www.circleinthesand.etsy.com

ccvalenzo

www.ccvalenzo.etsy.com

Enjoy October – drink cider – eat doughnuts and popcorn – love your dog if you have one – leave your porch light on for trick or treaters – carve a pumpkin and set it out – and maybe even dress up and go to a Halloween party!  Whatever, just have fun!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

An Indian Summer!

Normal temperatures appear to be topsy turvy everywhere at the moment and the UK is no exception!  Starting at a 10 degree hike on temperatures normal for this time of year we are thoroughly enjoying an ‘Indian’ summer.

So, what is this term, Indian summer?  Here it is described as period of unseasonably dry, warm and calm weather which follows colder weather in late Autumn.

“The term Indian summer reached England in the 19th century, during the heyday of the British Raj in India. This lead to the mistaken belief that the term referred to the Indian subcontinent. In fact, the Indians in question were the Native Americans, and the term began use there in the late 18th century.  The English already had names for the phenomenon - St. Luke’s Summer, St. Martin’s Summer or All-Hallown Summer, but these have now all but disappeared and, like the rest of the world, the term Indian summer has been used in the UK for at least a century.

Why Indian? Well, no one knows but, as is commonplace when no one knows, many people have guessed. Here are a few of the more commonly repeated guesses:

  • When European settlers first came across the phenomenon in America it became known as the Indian's Summer.
  • The haziness of the Indian Summer weather was caused by prairie fires deliberately set by Native American tribes.
  • It was the period when First Nations/Native American peoples harvested their crops.
  • The phenomenon was more common in what were then North American Indian territories.
  • It relates to the marine shipping trade in the Indian Ocean (this is highly dubious as it is entirely remote from the early US citations).
  • It originated from raids on European settlements by Indian war parties, which usually ended in autumn.
  • In a parallel with other 'Indian' terms it implied a belief in Indian falsity and untrustworthiness and that an Indian summer was an ersatz copy of the real thing.”

“…” quoted from The Phrase Finder http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/indian-summer.html

Anyway, since I am staying with my husband at our bolt hole in Devon we were told about a small cove that would warrant a visit and it is called Blackpool Sands.  This is not to be confused with Blackpool in the north of England!

We have been told there are restaurant facilities and the crab salad is to die for!  Oh joy, food again!!!!

Some things we might see at the beach!

Sea Spray original watercolour by Yankeegirl

image

Mousepad – under the sea by Scottieacres

image

Almost there … an original painting by Heronkate

image

Aye there matey by VanFleetStreetDesign

image

Follow the Leader black and white print by BethPeardonProds

image

and cheekily … Under the Sea Caves by Onawhimsey

image

Check out further wonderful items from the BBEST team, ENJOY!!!

ENJOY!!!!