I went on a cruise for the first time. It was so much fun. The first night I could tell that I was on a moving ship. After the first day my tummy got used to the movement of the ship. We went to Nassau Bahamas on the first day. Saw some good sights. Our tour guide was very informative. We got to see the hospital where Anna Nichole smith gave birth and at the same hospital her son died there as well. So sad but he said that was the biggest commotion that had happened in a while. The food was great. Guess I need to start working out now to lose what I gained. We then we're supposed to go to Cococay the next day but because of the ocean swells being so high, the captain did not want to tender the boats along side the ship. So off to Key West we went. We had a good farewell dinner and musical to end our week. Would love to do it again.

It's coming up faster than I think; the Got To Be NC Festival.  I'm so excited about this festival.  This is the biggest festival that I've done thus far.  It attracts a lot of visitors each year with all the many events.  I've had some feedback on Facebook as well as starting to do a few craft shows here.  This one is sure to be big and I'm hoping that this will be my chance to show a lot of people what I like to do.  Thanks to my dad, I have a beautiful way to display my wreaths.  He took an idea I had and made it into something that I could never have dreamed up or been able to re-create myself.  He's so talented and I love that he has been supportive of me throughout anything I do. 
Guess I better get busy. 

December has come and gone and it has been busy around here with preparations for Christmas, Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating and all things Christmas. 
We went to see my husband's family in VA for the weekend, then we came back to NC to get ready for my parents to visit.  Spending time with family is the greatest part that I love about holidays.  This was the first time that we have spent Christmas at our house.  Usually we are traveling.  It was extra special for me to see the girls (age 13 and 5) opening their presents in our home Christmas morning.  My 5 year old has been excited since the moment I put the stockings up by the fireplace and we started decorating the tree. 
Last night, we drove around looking at the Christmas lights.  I think our favorite place to go is Pipers Lights.  We've started making that a Holiday tradition for our little family.  Mr. Piper decorates his entire yard with Christmas lights, and decorations.  He even has a little train that he takes people on rides around his yard.  He has a little "Country Store" where he sells hot chocolate, popcorn and old fashioned candy.  Can't beat the hot chocolate.  If you've never been to Pipers Lights and you're ever in Raleigh, NC during the Christmas season, come by Fix It Shop Road and take a tour of Pipers Lights.  Merry Christmas everyone and hope you have a very Happy New Year.
P.S.  Now I've got to get busy making some new creations for the new year.  Always check back to see what's new.

I have always enjoyed doing crafts.  I remember sitting around when I was younger working on either a latch hook rug kit, a crosstich kit or even the plastic canvas crafts.  I made 2 porcelain dolls with my mom and have painted quite a few ceramic items when I was younger.

When I got married, I got the prettiest wreath made from material.  It matched my new living room and was something I wanted to learn to make.  So, a few years ago, I started making them for my sisters and family.  It was so fun to create something new and different and they loved them.  It has only been within the past few months, that I thought maybe it would be fun to do them and sell them.  This way I could stay at home with my girls, be a true "stay at home" mom and make some money on the side to help out. 

So, I did a couple of them, opened up a FB page and put the few that I had made on the site.  Low, and behold, I got a request to make 2 of them for a lady in NC.  She has become a friend of mine through this and I was able to sell 2 of them to her.  She sells Partylite Candles and wanted 2 of them to display around her candles.  She fell in love with them and has them displayed in her home.  So, when she does "Open Houses' with her Partylite business, she has them on display for all to see.

I was also contacted by Ed Sims (who I call my adopted "Uncle".  He's been my parents' friends since the day me and my oldest sister were born) and he wanted 4 of them for his sister and sister-n-law for Christmas.  Since he is a missionary in Australia, this was a way he could get something nice for them and I told him I didn't mind delivering them to the ladies since they live around VA where my parents live. 
I have enjoyed coming up with new designs and have branched out from candle centerpieces to door size wreaths.  I'm really hoping that this little business of mine takes off and I can make money creating wreaths. 

I've already had a lot of friends "like" my FB page and have quite a few visitors to my website.  Thanks to some neighboring NC crafting women, I have a nice FREE website where I can display the ones I make.