UNCLE! UNCLE! UNCLE!

Greetings, dear readers!

And a big THANK YOU to each of you for your comments and willingness to help me out of the impenetrable web of confusion that was the Dolly Dingle Valentine Swap! lol  I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard at my own ineptitude!  (a fine word coined by my son Paul) Elizabeth, you are always good for a thousand laughs...I am finally crying "Uncle" on this one and retiring it to the archives of Swaps of Valentines Past. May the jillion little cowboy and cowgirl valentines  rest in peace in their new homes. Amen. 

Meanwhile, back at the valentine sweat shop that has become my craft room, (a "sweat shop" while weather outside is two degrees is quite a feat...) I have completed the little fabric collage quilt, finished a valentine candy box album, and am in the process of creating a sweet treat valentine surprise for hubby dear.

Our wedding anniversary is Feb. 17th...we will have been married 30 years! Can you imagine!? Someone putting up with the likes of ME for that length of time? Holy moly! The man is either a saint or a glutton for punishment! lol

This is a very young "us" ... it's a Silver Dollar City "tintype" photo...which meant the clothing,  (tie and Velcro applied) the cabin...all props. So no, it's not an authentic wedding picture...we actually got married in the living room of a dear little preacher and his wife (with the smell of fried chicken wafting in the air.) The little lady came out of the kitchen with her hands covered in flour, wiped them on her apron, sang a rousing rendition of "I Love You Truly" (I kid you not) and then disappeared to tend once again to their dinner.

The ceremony lasted perhaps 15 minutes. We paid the man his customary "honorarium" for the ceremony, and then flitted off to begin our luxurious honeymoon...a trip to K-Mart. :-)  (Would this man spare no expense?!) We were young, broke, and newly transplanted in Oklahoma (during the oil boom)...we made a mad dash across the Texas state line to Gainesville, TX for the brief nuptials.

Anyway, 30 years later, we are more in love and have more fun than we'd have ever imagined...we are SO looking forward to more days/weeks of travel in the canned ham!

More soon! Paula Clare

CLUELESS IN MT VERNON...(aka Valentines Up For Grabs!)

Greetings, dear readers!

Don't you just love the old Ann Landers column that started with the salutation of the would be advisee?

 

Dear Heart Broken in Hoboken...

Dear Miserable in Minneapolis...

and yes, such a column today would include:  Dear Clueless in Mt. Vernon! 

 Clueless? Why clueless you ask? Because I have been completely and utterly CLUELESS as to how the Dolly  Dingle Valentine Swap was meant to work. After relentlessly grilling poor "E", and after several emails that afforded her quite a good chuckle, I have discovered that I was to host my OWN exchange and include valentines to whomever I may choose. The list on E's blog was for "E", not all of the rest of us! ARGH! I am STILL confused, but I think I've figured out a way out of this debacle...

After setting aside my "always" exchange partners:

 

1. Elizabeth – Bluebird Papercrafts

2.Sandy – 521 LakeStreet

3.Joyce – Scrap for Joy

4.Sharon -My Vintage Studio

5.Julie Campbell - A Vintage Chic

6.Nan – Retired in Alaska

7.Tamera – The Stone Fence Cottage

8.Betty – She's Sew Pretty

9.Meri – Imagimeri

10. Diane - Saturday Finds

 

 

and family and friends, I have  10 valentines to exchange to the first who sign up here on comments. I will need your snail mail addy via email as well. 

Needless to say, much time and love have gone into each of these little paper hearts...I hope you find them to be a fun addition to your Valentines Day!

More soon! Huggles!

Paula Clare

SIMPLE AND SWEET MINI FABRIC COLLAGE SNEAK PEEKS!

Greetings, dear reader!

Well the miserable weather here in the Vern has afforded me the opportunity to get caught up on my Valentines (all 28 finished! HOORAY!) and to get finished my little 5x7 art quilt for the Simple and Sweet Winter Swap over at A Swap for All Seasons.

My swap partner (Michelle Cummings) said that she likes reds, purples and turquoise...gypsy colors! Her palette faves and mine are remarkably close (red and aqua for me...I detest purple of any sort) However I found some FAB batik fabric that was deep purple...and since it was splotchy and kind of "tie dyed" I liked it. Here are a few peeks of the little quilt made specifically with Michelle in mind:

I used beading, fabric adhesive, sewing, ink jet printing on fabric, vintage laces, mother of pearl buttons, vintage velvet and ribbons, and more!

I made a fabric pinwheel out of some of the batik fabrics and other jewel-toned scraps I had in my stash...

I found some of the most beautiful vintage earrings while walking Webster at the park last June...one of these gorgeous finds, in the form of a sparkling angel wing was added to the gypsy image. I was given beautifully faceted beads in purple, lavender and red...I wondered what I would do with them...voila! Beaded trim for the little quilt!

Must get this and my long overdue New Years prizes and Valentines in the mail Monday! I hope Michelle likes her quilt...and I am grateful for the patience the rest of you have shown me! More soon! Hugs!

Paula Clare

VALENTINES UPDATE: 22 DONE, 6 TO GO!

Greetings, dear reader!

Here are the next dozen or so of the valentines I've been creating for E's Dolly Dingle Valentines Day Swap...I've been having so much fun making each of them a bit different! However, they ALL have a signature something (okay, TWO somethings) that are common to each valentine. Can you find the signature item (s) in these 12 valentines?

 

I hope to finish them up today...I'll be back with more soon! 

Hugs,

Paula Clare

GUEST HOSTESS: FEBRUARY HAPPY HOMEMAKER TAG ALONG!

Greetings, dear readers!

I am writing a quick note to let you know that I will be the "guest hostess" for the February Happy Homemaker Tag Along...usually hosted over at E's Bluebird Papercrafts! How exciting!

Same rules apply...and I will show you my February tag, perhaps with a tutorial on Feb. 10! Meanwhile, be thinking and preparing to add a McLinky to my page to show off your tag! Also, I get to "tag" next month's hostess! How fun! I am so grateful E is giving me the opportunity!

I'll be back later to show off a fun Valentine gift from "E"...meanwhile, let's get crack-a-lackin!

Hugs,
Paula Clare