FREEBIE Halloween Doodle and some re-purposing pics from our new home...

I am trying to get into the Fall Fun...not that I am not excited about Fall and then Winter around the corner, but still so busy re-modeling and repairing, cleanup etc....So, since I haven't had much time to sit and doodle , I want to offer a doodle from  2010 that was offered as a pattern on weavers cloth at one time, as a freebie for you...
here it is:

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Now...onto my re-purposed cabinets...We didn't expect to have to purchse a new countertop ad cabinets, but old water damage and mold was overwhelming, so we did, but didn't quite have enough to do the kitchen in its entirety...well, just for now, I;m easy to please, I am re-purposing some old cabinets from the garage that hubby was going to throw away...He is getting his garage all tidy and organized and has come across sopme wonderful filing cabinets, black sleek shiny huge and sturdyso he said out with the cabinets...
I am working on 3 seperate pieces for now and maybe more for bottom, but we'll see....
Here are pics of how the conversation progressed with hubby...
"Hey, these arent too bad, maybe I can use these in te kitchen for now " He says..What ? These??

After much grumbling about why I'd want the junk, then the idea hitting him, hey dont need to go out and spend money for now...okay !!!
So we took the top ones down and started with te small double on over what would be the stove area....
but I'm showing the larger double one in the befores because I forgot to get a before pic of the small double one..
scrubbed, bleached and dried out:

Now...my great idea to add trim around the front panels to add character and almost make them look like raised panels...doesnt look like much here but wait for it:

Now...painted with a thin layer of white over the entire cabinets...., then sanded edges. etc with a palm sander:

Now...here is the smaller double door piece all finished, hung over mu stove for spices,etc:

I still need to get my display spices on to and fill it, but so far not bad...I hate staining, I am horrible at it....
So I'll post pics of the other completed and some outside next time...still working on that, but it coming to gether so nicely !!!
Hopefull tomorrow I will sit and do some drawing and punching or hooking !!!
Hugs to you all!
Robin

Ahhhh...finally some time to pop in....

Not finished at all, but just wanted to show the color I painted the walls....

I have missed you all like crazy !!!!!!! I have been only a teeny bit of a lurker, visiting some blogs here and there, but mostly staying off the computer trying to get things finished...
This move has proven to be the hardest physical task I've had to do in such a very long time, but let me say, I've lost 12lbs. just getting around and bustin a move in this new ..."new to me" home.
Why we didn't snap photos of all the before, is beyond me, because if I could show you, most would probably say, why didn't someone just burn it down ???
We saw the potential....it still has a long way to go, but with  alot of hard work, elbow grease, mostly cleaning and tossing years of hoarding junk, it is feeling like the home I imagined it could be !!
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Here is a pic of my kitchen cabinets...we didn't realize we would need to be replacing the wall behind them and so many other "surprises", so we could only afford this small section for now....I have a few free standing cabinets in there for now holding food items, dishes, etc...
                                                                            BEFORE

                                                                         AFTER

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Here is a little of the bathroom before and after....
                                
                                                                 BEFORE

                                                                   AFTER

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 I also have my craft room / studio almost finished ...This room I have no pictures of before, only videos...If I can figure out exactly how to do it, I will upload those to my blog...OH my gosh, you will not believe what you see people !!! It was horrific !! But like I said...it was a super deal and we saw potential....God must have closed my eyes to alot of it, because now when I watch the videos and see what we've done, I can't believe we ...I....agreed to buy this home !! It was meant to be...I had been praying for such a long time and crying out to the Lord for a home that I could be at peace in and make my own...We found this place the day before my Birthday and signed the sales agreement on my Birthday, July 1st... How's that for a Birthday gift ??!!
Ok, a few pics of my craft area, and I'm back to work....

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OHHHHH...forgot to tell you about the newest member of our family !!
I couldn't have a nice big doggy where we lived before, so of course, I HAD to look for one as soon as we were moved in !! We were still painting and doing repairs, lots of commotion and chaos, but I figured if I found a dog that could fall right into the not so smooth groove and be somewhat calm and obey orders etc, with all the chaos and confusion going on, it would be a perfect fit...
Well, let me tell you, I couldn't have been more blessed !!
I found my baby on Craigslist...Her foster Mom had rescued her from a home where the Dad was mean and threatened to kill her ...She took her in , but already had numerous pets and couldn't keep her....
Her name is HAYDEN...not my choice for a doggy's name, but she comes to it....lol
She is pit,boxer,lab mix....I question the pit, only because she is tall, and resembles boxer the most, but has the otter tail of a lab, the slightly visible bump on the top of her head of a lab, and the sweetest, most gentle, well behaved and submissive but fun loving and playful personality of a lab....she is an angel pooch !!We all love her and she loves us !! The kids are her best friends and she adores the youngest Grandson, Keegan , who at 15 months can be quite the pest, if you know what I mean...
When she isn't doing this....lol

In my studio right behind me and my computer...she is doing this...

her second most favorite thing to do ....
Well, it's raining and I'm enjoying that, along with some peaceful time with my four legged baby in my forever home...but lots more work to do.....
I luv you all and am just about ready to jump back into designing some new patterns and Fall goodies !!!
Robin

I Disappeared !!!

Hello friends !! I feel like I went missing for real !! What a crazy time it's been.... We have a new home !!!!!
Let me be a little more specific...we bought a DIFFERENT home...but definately not NEW !!!
Such alot of work to do...and we had literally 2 weeks to be out of the old home, so as not to have to pay 2 mortgage payments for Aug. ....
My kids , my grandkids and a dear friend were all here to help !! and we did it !!!
I so wish I could share pics, but there is soooo much work to do yet, and I'm practically living out of rubbermaid totes, I don't have anything I'm willing to share right now...I have before pics, but oh no !! Noone is seeing those until it's finished....lol
i have a HUGE lot, well, for me it is....almost 1 acre and alot of beautiful plants and flowers....but, along with all of this comes the bad part...the elderly folks that lived here grew beautiful flowers and plants to sell around the area flea markets and such....We even have a Greenhouse !!!...but oh dear friends...these sweet old souls were HOARDERS !!!
The wife passed away awhile ago and the husband is in a nursing home. The son was so overwhelmed he wanted to just sell quickly.... wow what a mess...we rented a HUGE dumpster !! and had it filled to the rim and need to rent one again to finish the outside....
I'm a little overwhelmed still , but I will say this...i've probably lost at least 25 pounds from all the work and not much appetite in this un godly heat !!
This house has sooo much potential and it is starting to shine through !!! I can't wait to have a garden next year and do a little canning like in the good old days when we were farming...oh how I've missed that !!
I am going through my creative withdrawls, but I guess it won't be too long before I'm set up with my studio and back to designing again !!!
Hugs to you all !!!
Robin

Freebie for fall.....

Hi everyone. I've been on the crazy train here a little, but most of it is for good reasons...I'm trying to discipline myself to finish up some goodies to add to Teresa's Booth ( Teresa'a Primitive Treasures) for the show she is doing right here in Erie , Pa. !!! It's called "Discover Presque Isle" days....We are blessed to have an awesome penninsula that juts out from our shores into Lake Erie, and it has 12 beautiful beaches on it. There are so many other great things, bike trails, nature watching.....
This is a great show and I'm so excited to be able to spend some time with Teresa !! I met her at Discover Presque Isle about 5 or 6 years ago, after being prim pals on PrimMart....She is the nicest, sweetest gal and her work and her goodies are out of this world !!
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Here is just a little freebie I drew up for a kind of Preview to fall .....Enjoy !!

First Halloween Doodle Booklet of the year....

Ahhhhh....nothing like thinking of Fall when the temps are in the 90's ...Have I said it ENOUGH, how much I DESPISE summer !!???? God forgive me....All seasons of the year are wonderful and it's part of living here instead of Antarctica , so just bear with me....I have central A/C, but I hate feeling like I am a shut in... I don't get out alot any other time of the year...but in the Summer, I almost have no choice....The heat kills me...It might have something to do with the ^&%^#%$$ extra pounds I carry around...it's like wearing a fur coat....
I just HAD to start designing Halloween doodles to keep myself occupied ....
Here is a sample of the doodles that are inside :

Thanks for peeking !!

October Nights Halloween Doodle Booklet


This booklet contains 5 Halloween Doodles, perfect for stitchery, punch needle, rug hooking or wool ...

Price: US$6.00

Happy Independence Day !! and please vote for my fabric ???

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday... I always enjoyed any and every holiday simply for the fact that Hubby had a day off....He's kinda like my best friend...I know sappy...yada yada....lol

I just wanted to remind some and inform any tohers of the Fabric Of The Week Contest over at Spoonflower ...This week is " Stars and Stripes...The Design I entered is my "Liberty and Freedom" Design

Here is a closer clook...

This is hand drawn and painted in watercolors....
you can vote HERE
 you must go through all 21 pages....you click on your choice and a green square comes up around the image, then continue looking at the rest...At the end it shows you your selection and gives you the option to cast your vote.....
Now....I am not just asking you to go and vote for me...If you like my design then yes please vote !!
You can vote for others as well....
Laurie of Wooly Red Rug has a design in the competition also, so please cast your vote for her as well...
Her design is called " Indigo Stars"....
Thank you in advance...and have a fun and happy day !!
Robin

Birthday Game Giveaway Winners .....

Hi Everyone !! Busy morning, so I apologize for not getting to this sooner !
But first...
I wanted to show you a pic of Ashley's ( my oldest daughter) first rug hooking project. she did some practice circles and a square before doing this Bird Design I traced from one of last years  simple summer doodles.. The colors are not what she would normally have chosen...way too bright, but she wanted to use wools that I'm not using alot of ......Mistakes....yes...but she thoroughly enjoyed doing it, and I noticed alot of improvement and relaxation as she went on...She is excited to try something else, and so am I !!
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I had a great Birthday yesterday !! It was just easy going and a quick trip to a yard sale where hubby got a scroll saw , blades and a booklet of tons of patterns for $10 !! Can't wait to see some neat things he does with it !!
Then a cookout at my son Josh and DIL's Hannah's house for dinner ... Nice and relaxing ...
I have some super excitiing news, that is to me, like a Birthday present from my heavenly father ! hard to divulge info yet, but I will soon, promise...Let's just say, it has to do with our living situation..lol
So.... I took the count from the comments ( 25) and ran it through Random Generator 3 times...here are the numbers :

15
9
3
So that means that :  Jacqueline
                               Wooly Red Rug ( Laurie)
                               Wendy @ Ravenwood Whimzies
                               
ARE THE WINNERS !!!! Congratulations Ladies !!!
 Jacqueline will be receiving the Liberty Doll ( Sweet Pea Primitive's Pattern) and some of my New fabric design swatches.

Wooly Red Rug ( Laurie) will be receiving some nice sized pieces of wool in Halloween colors !!
And, Wendy @ Ravenwood Whimzies will be receiving 2 fat quarters of my new fabric designs and small bag of Cinnamon Scented Rose Hips and cinnamon sticks !!

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Some of the guesses were really sweet and ...wait...toooo sweet !!!
I enjoyed reading all of the comments of course but here are some facts about lil 'ol me :
I was born in 1958 ..... 2 months early. I only weighed 3 lbs when I was born, and was hospitalized in an incubator for 6 weeks after my birth. I  feel very blessed when my Birthday comes around, just thinking that premature babies didn't have a very good survival rate 54 years ago ... My Dad always says I was actually very healthy and no problems , even my breathing, just too small to come home..
 I almost was born in the car on the way to the hospital...I was born in the exam room in the ER ...
I almost had to wear leg braces like Forrest Gumps, as my feet were turned inward and I walked on the insides of my feet, but 2 years of Orthopedic shoes ( ugly huge heavy oxfords) cured it ?? I remember when I was finally able to wear my first pair of Red Ball Jets sneakers like the other kids !!!!! too funny ...
I played the lead in Oklahoma( Laurie) in our School Musical and my hubby played the male lead (Curly)
We were actually going together before the tryouts...oh it was a fun time !!!

I wanted to learn to play the trumpet like my Father...He thought it was too masculine...He tried to get my brother to, but he hated it !!
In 10th Grade, I snuck my Dad's trumpet to school, went to the band director and asked him, if I learned how to play the trumpet, would he let me in the band ?? He said ok ( thinking it wasn't going to happen )...
I talked one of the trumpet players in the band allready, to teach me the scale and the proper finger placemement ..... 2 weeks later I was playing 3rd string trumpet in the school band...In my Senior year I went to District Band for French Horn .... Simple determination ...
Someone said their guess was I've never flown on a plane...I have quite a few times actually...Sadly first time was when I was pregnant with my second child...It was to fly back home to Erie,Pa. from Anaheim, Ca. for my brother's funeral...He had been killed in a car accident drinking and driving ..... I was grieving, pregnant, scared by myself, but had to do it .....
Someone else's guess was that I was an artistic child...Oh so wrong !!! My  Mother was an artist...Sold her paintings all over the area...She also was a substitute art teacher at the Catholic Grade School I attended...
I HATED ART !!!!!!!  no...I  LOATHED it !! I sucked at it !! I couldn't draw a straight line or an even circle to save my life...Nuns yelled at me for my sloppy art projects ...My Mom just laughed...she figured I  had other talents and art just wasn't one of them...That is why to this day..I cringe when I call myself an artist...no joke ! it just doesn't feel right.....something almost un-natural about it !!!....lol
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That's enough about me !!! I've got stories to tell !! but that's another day....lol... Ladies who won I will be emailing you to get your addresses to send out your prizes..
Thank you for playing along with me !!!
Robin