Kathy's Humann Touch

Two Months Passed?? Really??

2011-10-19T08:51:00.003-05:00

More than two months have passed and we have transitioned from the hot days of summer to the cool and crisp days of autumn. I love autumn! The only problem with it is, is that it doesn't last long enough for me. With the fall weather, comes football! Our grandson Kaden is playing on a team called the Mustangs and its very fun to go watch him play. This is his first year and one never knows if he will continue or not, but he is having a great time with the uniform and the kids, so its worth taking time to go watch each week.

Another transition for us is that we have moved from being a 3 cat family to a 4 cat family! This Is Gibbs, who has stolen my heart! He was left by his owner and ended up on my front porch. Long story short, he is where he needs to be. Now, if we can just convince the other 3 that he belongs here too!

We have also added a new building to our property! Finally! A 2 car garage! Its been over 8 years since we've been able to put our cars inside. A little more landscaping and maybe some pavement, and we are good to go!

Our TNR program is going hog wild! THE biggest reason, Ive slacked off on my blogging here. We have had much success so far and you can follow that activity on our facebook page atWalnut Iowa's Feral Cat Program

Last, but not least is a pic of me and a new friend in the kitty loving field, Dawn. We held a fundraising garage sale last weekend which netted nearly $500!!! EXCITING!!! Thanks for hanging with me as I continue to be the crazy cat lady!

Things are Crazy!!

2011-08-18T00:33:00.001-05:00

Things are totally crazy in my life right now. I'm trying to keep my Etsy shops active and growing, but life has been interrupted by the Walnut Iowa's Feral Cat Program.

Some of you will remember my feral cat, Toby that lived around my house for nearly five years. I loved him dearly and miss him just as much! He was the inspiration for this feral cat program. Finally we have decided to jump in and start. Things have been exploding and now I feel that if I was busy before, I am ten times busier now.

Although the cats have been my 1st priority of late, my family and ETsy are still close 2nd and 3rd! Stay tuned for news on both!

This cute little ashtray is part of a set of 3 and you can see it at VintageKats!!!

Windows...

2011-07-24T07:39:00.000-05:00

Having the tree taken down in the backyard to make room for our garage resulted in a super hot back porch...Yes, that's Ricky...looking out the back. Our whole back porch is windows..and the heat of the sun this summer has created a very uncomfortable situation for anyone and anything that needs to be out there. Ive seen the temp there get to 130degrees!

Yesterday I made some window treatments and if I do say so myself, they are pretty cool (pun intended)!

I swear, you can find anything on the Internet! I took afew minutes to google "porch curtains" and took a hint from a lady that used painters tarps to make hers. So off to Home Depot I went.

Of course I had LOTS of help while cutting and sewing. But within 3 hours I was done!

Here are the results of my labors! I love that they are light and airy, but will hold out some heat and cold. Easy to "raise" them when I want to open windows.

Best part is, the kitties approve!

Follow up on Vanity Sizing...

2011-07-22T18:40:00.001-05:00

Wow..I was spending way too much time documenting size differences in the decades past. I was getting a little loopy with it all and decided there are much more important things to occupy my mind with.

Suffice to say...in the 1960's I thought I was fat when I wore a size 9/10....I'm still wearing 8/10....so proud of myself. But looking back at the 1960's patterns and using my current measurements...I would be in a 14/16. So crap. And that's all I/m going to say about that!

Uh-Oh...

2011-07-05T19:37:00.000-05:00

Being a "woman of age" Ive been patting myself on the back for wearing the same size or smaller than the size I wore in High School...Whew! Im doing goooood!...Maybe not so much...

I've been listing patterns of all decades lately on Katsfabricsnmore...and what Ive realized is, that...hard to say....IVE BEEN LIVING IN LA-LA LAND!!!

More info coming! After wiping tears and attempting to boost back my self esteem. What the heck???? I hate our society sometimes!

New at KatsFabricsnmore!

2011-07-04T17:33:00.000-05:00

Fun Upcycled Blank Greeting Cards!

One of my fun ladies that stays with us during the walk, sent me a thank you card that was made by her daughter, using old trims, buttons and pattern pieces. Its a sort of collage. I liked em and decided to make some for sale. I did, of course put my own "spin" on them, so they are a little different than what she does. I have tons of old tissue patterns that I cant sell because they aren't complete and of course I have buttons and trims coming out of my ears!

These are so fun to make! Ive made quite a mess in my work rooms and my fingers still have Modge Podge peeling off of them, but creativity was flying!!! I will be putting them in Charyl's shop too. Hope you like them too!

PS....the tissue from patterns makes great "tissue" for gift wrap...I wrap all my patterns and books in it now, before I send them off to my customers.

2011-07-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Its been a week now since we've been home from DC. It's taken me that long to get caught up and feeling any form of normal! Ha.

Im sparing you all my photos and only posting two that were my favorite parts of our trip.

Of course being able to watch Dalton graduate was the highlight of the trip. It's so hard to believe that he will be going off to college in just a little over a month! Time has flown by, but he has grown into such a nice young man, I know he is going to do well in life.

The other highlight was Arlington National Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Breathtaking!

I'm back into my Etsy shop and ready to list a ton of new things...stay tuned!

I'm also working on a new project making home made greeting cards to list in Katsfabricsnmore...so be on the lookout for that.

I'll be blogging more too...lots to catch you up on!

Washinton DC!

2011-06-22T09:40:00.001-05:00

Posting no pics...no pics to post! Tried uploading a pic of the Capital Building from the web, but I couldnt get it to work... and I dont have a cord to upload from my camera.... Oh crud!

In DC for my grandson's graduation. What a fun event! Pics to be posted when I get home.

Going to Occoquan today... Walnut, Iowa on the Water...type place!

Father's Day Again!

2011-06-17T14:19:00.001-05:00

Every year, over Father's day weekend for 29 years now, the AmVet's Antique Walk graces the main streets of Walnut~ This is the view from my workroom. LOTS of people, antiques, fun, food and a bit of heat this year!

Should you visit, you will find Miss Kitty and her rider ready to help you find a place to park. Miss Kitty is very friendly (oh, how I love those velvet noses!) and she graciously posed for this photo!

Vendors come from all over the country! These two are staying at my house for their 18th year! Theresa (left) is from Kansas City and Karin (right) comes from St. Paul Mn. Area. They are a delight and I love them both!

Grayson and her mom, Heather are downtown helping in Heather's mom's booth. The girls are selling pretty flower hair clips...see Grayson's???

I always find a bargain! This is a gorgeous chenille bedspread that I found right outside my front door. Its in great shape! My BFF Kathy in P-cola has been looking for one like this and hopefully she likes it...otherwise, it will show up in my Etsy shop!

And, oh yeah, FOOD! One can find everything literally from soup to nuts! I chose Tony's BBQ Bistro for lunch....bbq'd chicken sandwich, chips and an ice cold pop....delish!

Too cute Not to Share!

2011-06-14T21:43:00.001-05:00

Well, he's done it! Gibbs has wormed his warm little heart into ours and whined long enough to gain entrance to the house. He is the best cat ever! A big baby who just wants to be loved and live inside! Im giving him short visits for now. Soon he will be a regular and maybe spend the night in the house even. I still havent seen him use a box and until I see that, I harbor some distrust. MUST USE BOX...but like my bff Pam says, he is a smart boy...He wants to fit in and he will. The other 3 are getting used to him. Lucy is the most resistant, but her nature is to not like any change AT ALL, even if it involves her brother and sister. Possum seems to like him the best. They lay close by each other and just hang. I think soon they will be touching.

I guess if you are going to live in the country in a big old house, one might as well have multiple cats! :)

Always Fun to See the Finished Product

2011-06-03T07:43:00.001-05:00

Every once in a while I get the chance to see the finished product that has resulted from the sale of fabric in my shop. I got this pic from Alijackclothing who bouught the final bit of this Little Golden Book Fabric that I purchased while in California visiting my sister. Be sure to check out Ali's shop.

Share the news of Etsy with everyone you know. Buying handmade, homemade and finding wonderful vintage items from home is the "in" thing to do! Thanks for sharing your creativity with me, Ali!

My Life as A Cat Lover...

2011-05-28T19:02:00.001-05:00

never comes complete circle. Having 3 cats has had its challenges, but the love and comfort and humor they bring to our lives makes the expense and the sharing of the bed well worth it.

I have set my limit at 3. Ive been tempted during the past 3 years to take in another one. But I have respected the limit I have set for myself. I found homes for 2 very tempting felines and have seen a few be taken to a shelter in hopes of finding a fur-ever home or to a friendly farmer's barn for mousing...It truly has not been an issue...until Gibbs.

This little guy blended right in to our feline "family". I was seeing glimpses of him, thinking he was one of my 3, until one day I realized there was actually a 4th out there. He was very frightened and hid beneath the porch. When I saw him sitting out in the rain, I knew he was stray and most likely hungry. I began leaving a bowl of water and food out for him and each morning the bowl was licked clean.

After several days of putting a full dish of food at his hiding place entrance, he decided to emerge and say hello. Still a bit skittish, but very thankful for the food I was bringing..it was the beginning of my new love affair with Leroy Jethro Gibbs, my gray haired - blue eyed, handsome man. This kitty must have belonged to a family. He is so tame and loves people once he knows he can trust them. He's a lap cat and has the most comforting purr.

He's had his "visit" to the vet, so he cant become a daddy and he has had his shots, worming and flea medication, so he's set!

He isn't allowed in the house, but he has a cozy bed on the front porch. He loves to be held, brushed and follows me around the yard like a shadow!

The hardest part for me is NOT letting him in. The other 3 aren't sure yet if they like him. Our limit is 3. Seeing him outside, wanting in, breaks my heart. We have months of warm weather ahead and I'm sure he is safe out there. But when colder weather comes around I don't know what we are going to do. Limits...ick.
For now, I will make frequent "dates" with my buddy. I take a cup of tea and a book and sit with him. A good excuse to take time out of my day and relax with a cat. You should try it. Proof positive that a cat brings down your blood pressure!

Vintage Market A'ffaire at Zimm's!

2011-05-26T08:28:00.002-05:00

Zimms turned out to be a great spot for our "A'ffaire"!

We had everything from furniture to knick-knacks!

Quilt tops, embroidered hand work and upcycled pillow case aprons!

Fun figures!

The day was perfect. After much rain and dreariness, Saturday ended up to be a very sunny and nice day. Thanks to everyone who came out to make our day complete!

Crunch Time!

2011-05-17T10:17:00.002-05:00

I guess I finally have to focus on getting the last minutes issued dealt with for the Vintage Market A'ffaire on Saturday.

I designed some signage this morning and sent it off to the printer for enlarging and copying . These will be posted in the windows at Zimms and at my house, in case anyone didnt get the message of the moved location.

I'm looking at a project that I want to offer and am not sure how to package it for selling. But that NEEDS to happen today.

The rest can wait til Friday, when we can begin to haul items to Zimm's and begin our staging. Im so happy we can be inside for this event. Today is beautiful outside, but there is rain in the forecast for later this week, so that issue is mute! YAY!!! So grateful to Susan at Zimm's.

Please dont forget the locations is now at

Zimms Antiques,

210 Antique City Drive

Walnut IA...

Saturday May 21

10am-5pm

Located in downtown Walnut
Middle of the block
West Side

Hope to see you there!

Auctions are the greatest!

2011-05-13T16:21:00.001-05:00

Many, many years ago, my sister and my step mom got this type Noritake china, although each has a different pattern. I went to an auction a few weeks back and picked up a huge box of this "Sunny Side" pattern for $15! Enough to serve 12 and included serving pieces! SCORE!!!! Im so happy with it. You can put it in the oven, the freezer and the microwave. So usable! I've cleaned out my old every day dishes and replaced it with these.

Only Two Weeks til Vintage Market A'ffaire

2011-05-06T11:27:00.000-05:00

Yep! Only Two weeks from tomorrow will be our 3rd Vintage Market Affaire. Cheryl and I traveled to DesMoines fairgrounds a few weeks back to attend a Junk Jamorie. Yes, it was fun and we gleened some fun ideas! Here I am in the midst of it!

Then last week we went to an auction in Atlantic. Very fun! We were NOT going to buy anything, but you know how that turns out. We left with a pickup load!

Thankfully my brother, Mikey was there and he and his buddy Mike did all the heavy lifting. Thanks Mikes!!

Please note the change of address for our May 21st A'ffaire!!

Will be held from 10am-5pm at:

Zimms Antiques

210 Antique City Drive

Walnut Iowa

Zimms is located on the west side of our main street right in the middle of our downtown block!
See you there!

Meet Gibbs!

2011-05-03T09:08:00.000-05:00

Ah...no this is NOT one of my gatosx3! This is "Gibbs" named in loving honor of Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. I love Mark Harmon's gray hair and blue eyes...so, its a perfect name for this big guy. He has been a stealth shadow of a kitty for weeks. I kept thinking I was seeing one of my cats slinking off the porch when I walked out the door. One morning I thought it was Lucy sunning herself on the other side of the railing but when he jumped down and hid under the porch and I turned around an nearly stepped on Lucy, I knew we had another 'lurker". I would see him under the bushes, across the street hiding under an evergreen, but when I would try to approach he would run. Another feral cat....oh well, I'll just leave him alone and he will probably go away. He hasn't. He is living under my porch. While he is a big, unaltered male, he is skin and bones. So I finally succumbed to feeding him. He would stay under the porch until I left and within minutes, the food would be gone and so would he. THEN...yesterday when I took the food out to put it in it's spot, his blue-eyed little head popped out from under the steps and he came right out and ate while I was there. I sat down and talked to him while he ate. (big mistake). Last night when I went out, he came right up to me, purring and rubbing against my legs. Same thing this morning, only now he tries to come in the house with me. The other cats don't seem to mind him, so there has been no fighting. Maybe its because he looks like he belongs in their family. Now I'm trying to figure out when I can take him to Omaha to get him neutered and rabies shot. If anyone knows of anyone who would like a really beautiful male cat with Jethro Gibb's handsome-ness. Let me know.

Easter Fun!

2011-04-27T11:48:00.001-05:00

How cute is this outfit????

See other pics at http://tiedemanntribe.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-outfits.html

I had these sweet gloves for sale at VintageKats and the nice lady who purchased them sent me a link to her blog, showing her wearing them for Easter! What fun and so very cool!

Thank you so much for sharing Victoria!!!

Am I a Wanna Be Hippie???

2011-04-21T14:31:00.001-05:00

So one of my new adventures in holistic-ness (is that a word?) has been homemade cat foot for my 3 fur-babies...

After experiencing a horrible urinary tract infection, I began looking around on the net to see if I could help to avoid the same thing happening again to Possum and avoiding it all together for Lucy and Ricky.

My first step was to buy premium cat food and add one meal a day of "wet" food. Hopefully this "good" food would provide more moisture and better ingredients that would pass thru and be better used by the cat's bodies. It actually was working quite well. With 3 cats, however, the expense was pretty high. One day I decided to "google" home made foods and there I gained a huge education! My favorite site was http://www.catinfo.org/?link=makingcatfood Catinfo.org is written by a vet who uses this recipe and who lovingly (or not) describes dry cat food of any kind, "kitty crack".. She continuously updates info on the blog, so anything she learns, I can learn too. Its a ton of reading, but interesting and helpful in making the decision to make cat food at home.

So here it is!

I took Dr. Lisa's advise and par-boil the chicken thighs before grinding them.

The grinder was fun to find. One of the many reasons I like living in "Iowa's Antique City". Spending $125 or more on an electric grinder seemed to defeat half of the purpose of making home made food. I was able to find this vintage beauty at Heart of Country for $10! The grinding is a bit strange. To give the cats all the nutrients they need, it is a must to grind the bones right along with the meat! After the first time of preparing the food, the bone grinding has become Larry's job!

Another must for the ultimate cat food is to add eggs. Good source of protein and the fats they need. Rather than risk salmonella, Dr. Lisa advises hard boiling, chopping fine in the food processor and then adding to the ground meat.

This is a huge bread dough bowl I also purchased in downtown Walnut. LOVE it for this purpose because it so big and looks awesome on my kitchen counter! Supplements are added to the mix (see recipe). I'm pretty sure the cats are getting better nutrition now than ever!

The last step is to put it all together and prepare it to store in the freezer! It's much like making a meat loaf. All the supplements, the meat, the eggs...water...Smooch it all together and put it in containers. All done.

One thing Ive learned is to make a LOT at once, so that the process only has to be done occasionally. It isn't hard at all. A little time consuming and not a lot of fun (especially the grinder).

Lucy posed with the Easter Eggs

Possum and Ricky "try" to share a basket!

So now, its been six weeks since Ive started this diet for my 3. How is it going? They are still hesitant to eat the food as well as I think they should. I'm putting just a teaspoon of other wet food on the top to entice them, but I feel it's going very well. Ive decided that my cats are now eating for nourishment, and not for the love or addiction to the taste. They no longer wake me at 6am ravenous for their first meal. They eat twice a day and are satisfied. Their coats look amazing and even tho its spring, their shedding is minimal. They have lost weight (which, honestly, they needed to do). They are happy and seemingly healthy. The litter box has lots of p-balls, and very little b.m. Which means to me, their bodies are actually using the food they are consuming and that there is lots of moisture in the food. I have a water fountain available to them at all times, but I can tell they are only drinking about half of what they used to drink, as they are getting the moisture from the food.

So for now, I will continue to feed this home made food to my babies...Thanks Dr. Lisa!

Should you want to try this for your kitties...be sure to follow the directions at Dr. Lisa's website exactly...dont leave anything out or try to cut corners! Please! Your cat's health depends on it!

I Love Vintage Glassware!

2011-04-20T11:30:00.001-05:00

These orange and green beauties turn out to be quite rare! Royal Hickman was a potter from the 30's to the 60's and did only a minimum amount of glassware. I was fortunate to find these!

Honestly, its getting harder and harder to find vintage items that I can afford to purchase and resell! And when I do, I scoop it up! I'm amazed that there are many like me. My glassware sets don't last long once listed! These black and white tumblers are the bomb!

These little green juice glasses are perfect for their intended use, but why not wine?

I'm planning to list some more today on VintageKats...so be sure to check them out! I have a category for glassware so they will be easy to find!

Spur of the Moment Fun!

2011-04-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhh Friday! The end of the week and thinking there is nothing fun to do! But Wait!!! What did I see on the internet? JUNK Jamboree in DesMoines??? Woot! We're outta here!

Cheryl and I decided to take a spur of the moment jaunt to the DesMoines Fair grounds for the first ever junk jamboree. It turned out to be a really fun event. We saw lots of junky "stuff" and gained some inspiration. Of course you will have to come to our Vintage Market A'ffaire in order to see if we actually come through with any creations.

We were happy to find the Old Crow Farm booth and say hi to Casey and JoJo.

And of course lunch was the ultimate....BEBops!!! Oh my how I love that place!

Living Beyond Yourself!

2011-04-07T22:35:00.000-05:00

Been doing a bible study for the last five weeks called Living Beyond Yourself. I love it. Beth Moore is a very annointed bible teacher. This is the 3rd Beth Moore study Ive done and I always learn so much from them. As you can see, there is LOTS of homework and Possum is finding the need to "help". God is so good...I get wonderful studies to occupy my time and a warm fuzzy kitty to stand by me along the way!

Save the Date!

2011-04-06T13:28:00.000-05:00

This is the corrected flyer with the date of MAY 21st! Sorry for any confusion!

One for the Road.... I hope!!

2011-03-29T08:40:00.000-05:00

This is my backyard this morning! Im so hoping this is the last snowfall of the winter season.

Getting Ready for our Spring Occasional Sale

2011-03-23T21:11:00.000-05:00

Mark THY Calendar!!!

A Bittersweet Time

2011-03-19T08:32:00.000-05:00

Bittersweet by definition: both pleasant and painful or regretful...

I found that definition on the web. The word bittersweet is not used in the bible, although there are many bittersweet moments there. I am experiencing one of those moments now.

The horror and devastation in Japan has cut most of us to the quick. We watch our televisions constantly and in a state of near shock. We see thousands upon thousand of homeless, displaced people who have lost everything they own and most or all of their family. The beautiful coastline of Japan is in shreds, literally and figuratively. As overwhelming and daunting a task of clean up and recovery 911 was, this seems worse. More than a week after the massive earthquake and tsunami thousands are still without shelter, heat, water, or food. We hear of tons of relief supplies being sent, but where are they? Our heart breaks to see even the animal who used to be beloved pets that are now wandering in the rubble with no where to go. How painful.

And we feel grateful once again the the Almighty God has spared our country from so much devastation. Our lives go on pretty much as normal. Or do they?

Having a Navy son who is stationed in Japan has made this past week even more painful for me. The initial news came to me directly from him by phone. Probably a good thing...had I seen the news first, I'm sure I would have panicked.. This picture was taken just weeks ago while he snowboarded in the Japanese mountains. Who would think that this pleasant and sweet time would turn into such a nightmare.

I have been and am praising God constantly for the grace he has shown Jeff thru this whole situation. His base was not hit with any destruction. Some shaking and creaking and power outages but no damage and the tsunami was nowhere near where he or is ship is.

The earthquake hit one week before Jeff was to leave to come home for 30 days. We honestly thought things would be cleaned up and he would still be able to make his trip as planned. That wont happen. Because of the extreme destruction and the damage done to Nuclear Power plants across Japan, all dependants are being voluntarily evacuated from Japan, and the GW is also leaving, with my Jeff on it! They should be pulling out in the next couple days to an undisclosed destination. At this point, no one knows when or if they will return to Japan...and of course we don't know when he will get to come home.

Bittersweet...yes. So thankful that my boy is safe. So thankful he will be away from Japan and any fallout. Pained that they have to leave so many hurting people behind. Pained that my selfish need to hold my son in my arms will not be met at this time. Confident in the fact that God is still on the throne and that He will bring Jeff home at just the right time...

And we will laugh!

Let's Drink to the Good Old USA!

2011-03-05T15:57:00.002-06:00

Seems the current tread, because of our unstable economy is to "buy American". People are challenging themselves to only buy products made in the USA. How fun! I got to thinking that while that might be difficult in the electronics area, not so much in the area of kitchen and home products. And that, people would not only be fun, but very affordable too.

Today, I'm thinking "glassware"! The piece above is perfect to serve your juices. Unfortunately, I don't have the lid to this one, so I'm thinking maybe a flower vase???

These tumblers are the Wheat Pattern from FireKing (1960's) They are perfect! Decorated in gold and made of crystal! They are a perfect size with a capacity of 11 oz.

These little tulip juice glasses are most likely from the 60's as well and probably made by Anchor Hocking. I have a customer that buys these to server her friends wine in. What a fun and novel way to serve your guests! Or juice! :)

OK, so these aren't really beverage glasses, but they could be! And I like the picture! These are USA made Indiana Glass American Whitehall Sherbet dishes(1970's). But aren't they pretty? Go to Vintagekats and you will find more of these and some amber drinking glasses too! Check out the Vintage Glassware Category!

Nothing beats a good cup of coffee! Unless of course its having coffee served in a vintage milk glass mug. Again, these are made by Fire king..USA all the way!

Americans can keep their money in our country if we open our eyes and try. There are website directories that will guide you to all American made products. Watch Etsy for sure! Buying from Etsy supports cottage industries, American and otherwise. And don't forget Thrift shops and garage sales. We all are looking for ways to save money...

Should you decide to click here to enter my shop at VINTAGEKATS and you buy something as a result of this blog, use the coupon code BLOGSAVER at checkout and I will give you a 15% discount!

Hey! Follow me here and on twitter @ vintagekats !!

Giveaway....

2011-03-01T22:36:00.001-06:00

This is my first offering as a free give-a-way... Details to come. As I learn, as will you...
And no, it is NOT the cat. Lucy stays, the bell goes!

Oh How I Love Milk Glass!

2011-02-21T07:22:00.000-06:00

Ive been featured in this Milk Glass Treasury!!!

I Tell Myself...No more...

2011-02-19T16:28:00.002-06:00

But it doesn't work. I fully intended to get all my inventory listed in my etsy shop BEFORE purchasing any more, but I just cant seem to stay out of the shops and away from the sales. When there's a bargain, I'm in! So now I have another &$^%load of stuff to put in VintageKats and even afew items for KatsFabricsNmore..here's a peek!

My friend and partner in crime, Pam, led me to this wonderful crystal clear glass set of vintage plates with cups and saucers. While vintage and retro, they still have a great contemporary style that will fit any one's personality and show off your luncheon or dessert items with flair!

Can you even believe I bought some patterns? I have nearly 1000 in the cottage that I haven't even photographed yet, but I could not pass up some very vintage stamping patterns. I know you will love them just like I do. I even got some Disney ones, with Donald, Micky and Bambi! Watch for them in VintageKats very soon!

Yes, that perfect little set of white gloves...ahhhhh EASTER memories!

I have my work cut out for me this next week...so stay tuned!

Valentines Day is History! On To St. Pat's Day!

2011-02-18T16:38:00.003-06:00

Honored to be featured in this treasury!

My Item is the Retro Green Stemware on the bottom right corner!

Click on any pic for details!

While I do my Taxes YOU can enjoy my treasurys!!

2011-02-17T07:48:00.001-06:00

So blessed to be in another Etsy Treasury! This one is all about soap dishes!

Click on any picture to see details on that item...my item is the yellow Shell!

Extreme Extremities! Another Treasury!

2011-02-10T07:15:00.000-06:00

My item is the the brass hand - note holder! Enjoy this creative and fun treasury.

Cant Wait til my Next Photo Shoot!

2011-02-07T20:13:00.000-06:00

So I took an unexpected trip to the cities today to one of my favorite spots to find fun treasures...honestly, I wasn't too sure I would find anything. Prices are sky rocketing for my vintage treasures...what the heck??? I'm having to do a LOT more searching for items that I can afford to buy and actually resell to make some money. The name of MY game is buy really low and sell pretty low..so you and I BOTH get a good deal. I'm sorry to say, because of increased postage, increased prices on my packaging material, and increased cost in the item, I'm having to increase my prices some. . SHOOT...

My surprise was that while I did find many pieces I wanted to buy but they were priced HIGHER than my normal prices, I also found some pieces that were DY-NO- MITE! Think GREEN....not Eco-friendly green, but "Irish Eyes are Smiling"" green. I hit the jackpot on glassware, music boxes and even a piece of milk glass I've never had before... I found a framed wall print with two kitties...so do I keep it, or do I offer it for sale..???? Keep watching!

PS...Dear Thrift Shop, Who the heck hired the person who is pricing your vintage items HIGHER than the Walnut Iowa Antique shops would price them? Really? I would so be dropping mega bucks in your store if you went back to your reasonable prices...duh!

Go Packers!!! And while you're at it Shop this Etsy Treasury!

2011-02-06T17:06:00.001-06:00

Honored to see my little cheese dish included in this treasury, appropriate for the day! Click any pic for more details!

Wow! Im in this Treasury too!!

2011-02-04T16:12:00.001-06:00

Happy my Milk Glass Pedestal Mugs are featured in this treasury too! Click any pic to go to etsy for more details!

Kitschy Kritters Salt and Pepper Treasury!

2011-02-03T07:52:00.001-06:00

So please to be part of this little treasury featuring my little cows, just listed two days ago! Click on any picture to see details! Thanks!

When the Going Gets Tough...the tough figure it out!

2011-01-28T16:56:00.005-06:00

Because the economy is in the "tank" so to speak, I think we are all trying to figure out ways to save money these days.

I found some wonderful recipes online to make home made laundry soap and I tried several. With a few tweeks of my own, I have found this one to be the very best so I wanted to share it with anyone interested in a wonderfully natural, great smelling, safe for all washers (even the front loaders and low sudsing ones) soap!

So quick and easy to make!

Enjoy!

Home made Laundry Soap the Humann Way!

3 cups Borax
2 cups Baking Soda
2 cups Super Washing Soda (this is made by Arm and Hammer just like the Soda...)
1/2 Bar Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Bar Ivory Soap
(all of the these items are pictured above)

Put the 3 powders in a very large bowl. Run your hands or a slotted spoon through it to break up any lumps.
Using a small sized grater (shown in picture) grate both bars of soap. Mix together very well...I just use the slotted spatula shown in the picture.

Voila!!! The soap is ready to use. I put it in pretty glass jars only because I like the way it looks in there. You can put it in a plastic bucket or where ever is most convenient.

Use 2 tablespoons only for each load!

Please don't be tempted to use more than this, even on dirtier loads...2 T should be sufficient for all loads..
This recipe should make about 8 cups and should yield 64 loads of laundry. If you have a large enough bowl, go ahead and double the recipe!

The washing soda and the Fels Naptha are found in the laundry aisle, close to the stain removing items.

I chose the Fels Naptha soap because it has a great lemony aroma and color to add to the powder. The Ivory is pure and natural too and smells so good...So I chose the combo.

Enjoy and please be sure to let me know what you think!

Im currently trying for liquid dishwashing soap too. Will let you know when I perfect my recipe!

Back to the Frozen Tundra of Iowa!

2011-01-26T15:28:00.000-06:00

Such fun to spend a whole week with my very best friend, Kathy, in Pensacola, Florida. A wonderful get - a -way from the cold, snow and ice here. The weather was wonderful...60's and sunny the whole time. We ate, drank and laughed! Cherish your friendships, they are so worth it...maybe I should say cherish the friendships that ARE worth it!

It is good to be home though. I feel the need to put myself on a healthy eating plan for a few weeks. Way too much "bad" going in and I can feel it! Started this morning and already feel better this afternoon!

Taking a few days off!

2011-01-17T08:28:00.001-06:00

Im off tomorrow to spend a few days with my best friend ever! I feel so fortunate to have a friend that I can still count on after 45 years! We were trouble in 1965 but now we are pretty serene and harmless!! So its off to Pensacola for me. Hubby will be guarding the house and feeding the cats!

I really hope its warmer there! We are expecting a high of 35 today (warm) and tomorrow the high will be 13!!! Time to leave!

I already have a hugh stack of items all photo'd and ready to list in my shops, so stay tuned! This time next week I should be listing away again! Cant wait to offer up some new things!

Snow and Bitter Cold!

2011-01-13T07:28:00.000-06:00

As you can see, we had a bit of a snow storm last week! Now the bitter cold has rested upon our little town. Does that stop us though?? Nope! We've been out and about and getting ready to do more today. Must make a trip to the cities (thats how we little Walnut people refer to Omaha/Council Bluffs). I need bubble wrap, run some errands and see my sweet daughter for a while.

I also have a whole box of items ready to list in VintageKats! This little baby with a stork is one of them. LOVE HIM!!! I've been working on getting my things ready for our tax accountant, so it may be a few days til I get these new things listed, so stay tuned!

Some of my Favorite New Listings!

2011-01-06T08:17:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of my new listings. I love both of these items! The little light I found at LeMarche in Omaha and fell in love with it! I dont think its ever been used. The box is beat up and beginning to fall apart, but the lamp it beautiful and as you can see works! The newspaper it was wrapped in (still in the box) is dated 1951 from Long Island. You can see the listing here! Also this Steer planter is unique and beautiful! Check him out here... Enjoy!

I'm in this Treasury! Click on any item to see detail in Etsy!

2011-01-03T16:48:00.005-06:00

If you like any of these items, click on it and you will be taken to the etsy listing! Mine is the kitty on piano!

My End of the Year Bonanza Sale was a Success!

2011-01-03T15:44:00.000-06:00

The little sale I ran last weekend was a success! Here is a pic of the pile I took to the post office today. Thank you to all who partook! I will have another soon, I promise! Ricky supervises!

End of Year Bonanza Sale at KatsFabricsNmore !!

2010-12-29T10:05:00.000-06:00

KatsFabricsNmore is on the end of the year clearance bandwagon too! Check out the shop for 50% off more than 50 items! Gearing up to list a TON of new things. After this sale, all items in this shop will be fabric, or fabric/sewing related. You will need to go to VintageKats for all vintage items. Im looking forward to a new and exciting year for my etsy shops, so I hope you will come along with me!

30% OFF EVERYTHING IN MY VintageKats SHOP!!!

2010-12-28T07:33:00.000-06:00

It's the end of the year and there are sales and clearances EVERYWHERE!!! Including my VintageKats shop on etsy... All items in my shop are priced at 30% off! Trying to clean house so I can list a ton of new things.... This is the time to pick up that piece you have had your eye on...Also please share with your friends by posting this site on your facebook page!

A Wonderful Christmas!

2010-12-27T21:07:00.000-06:00

Larry and I spent ten days in LasVegas with my sister Kris, and her husband, John. It was wonderful to get away for a few days, escape our normal routine and spend time with family! But now Im back home and ready to start working again!

I revamped my sewing/ etsy/ computer room today, so Im ready to go!

Just checking....

2010-12-20T18:02:00.000-06:00

Just checking to see how this new tool works on blogger...These are my sweet kitties who I am right now missing very much, since I am NOT HOME! BTW..they would never fit in this basket now, this is an old pic!

Nothing Where A House Once Stood...

2010-12-08T07:11:00.004-06:00

This is the site where my cousin and her husband's house stood on Monday and actually stood for decades before they moved there seven years ago. A cute little farm house that Susan had made her own. Complete with the vintage look she loves and the many cats that make it home.

Here it is today...I don't think Ive ever seen a house so consumed by fire. It brings a new vision to my mind when people use the phrase "burned to the ground". It truly was burned to the ground.

There is nothing left. They have lost everything, including 7 beautiful, wonderful kitties. Susan has been able to retrieve one of her outdoor cats, Spooky. He is resting comfortably at the Avoca Medical Clinic until Susan and Rich decide their next step.

There is a donation savings account started for Rich and Susan Prince at Rolling Hills Bank in Walnut Iowa...at this point, the only way to help is to give them a shoulder to cry on, or donate. They are currently in a motel room, so food and clothing would be a storage problem. I personally thank anyone and everyone that will pray for them. Pray for direction and comfort.

Its amazing to me how a small community comes together during times like this. Total strangers have given money to help, and many, many are offering assistance in any form. When the trees began burning and they had to come down, people just appeared with tractors and equipment to get the job done.

An interesting bit of information: This upturned block, is located within the foundation of the house, under where the front porch was...this is the block where my kitty, Possum was trapped for days...only a few weeks old, she could not get out and we found her right there! What a memory! We had to saw apart the porch and remove foundation blocks to get to this piece of concrete! Why it was inside the foundation, under the porch , in the corner, upturned, I will never know! A trap waiting for a small kitty to fall in! I will ask if I can have that block!

Its Coming in 4 days!!

2010-11-30T09:34:00.003-06:00

This is Teddy! He is one of the owners and operators of LeMarche in Countryside Village.

He will be at our next Occasional Sale Event to be held there this coming Saturday

10-5pm...be there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-30T09:25:00.003-06:00

Ha! Yummy food and fun was had by all at our Thanksgiving feast on Sunday. Nice faces, huh?
You would think they didnt like having their pictures taken. Whatever! We missed Jeff but he was there in our hearts and ofcourse we missed Brian and his family as well. We are grateful for so many things!

Nice to take a Day off...

2010-11-25T11:49:00.005-06:00

Looking at these faces make me remember the joy of childhood. The wonder of new friendships and how thankful I am that I can witness the simple things in life, like Grandparent's Day at school!

Such fun to join Kaden at his 2nd grade class to spend a couple hours watching what he does during his day and to meet his friends and his teacher. It is so clear to me how important family is to little ones. Not only did Kaden have me there, but he had his "Ga-ga" too. Thankful today to be a big part of this little boys life!

Getting Prepared for our Next Sale!

2010-11-17T10:43:00.001-06:00

First Snow of the Season!

2010-11-14T07:02:00.004-06:00

We got the first dusting of snow for the winter of 2010. Just a little wet stuff that mostly made the pretty colored leaves fall off all the trees. Not a particularly pretty snow, nor anything that stayed around any longer than a day. But it forced me into accepting that winter is indeed here. I spent Saturday doing my annual switch-a-roo in my closet. Taking out summer light weights and adding winter heavy gear. Sad, but true, the days of wearing a light blouse and capris are over for a while.

Pam, Cheryl and I are getting ready for our next Ocassional Sale which will be Dec 4th in Omaha at LeMarche' (countryside village) I have 30 more tie baggage tags ready to sew and a shoebox full of tie cuffs to complete. Ive packed up boxes of many "smalls" to cart to Omaha on Tuesday morning. We get st start setting up! Im so excited. We are praying this location will work out for more sales, but for now we will concentrate on this one!

Le Marche' and Vintage Market A'ffaire Combine Resources!

2010-10-28T09:21:00.004-05:00

Cheryl, Pam and I had the opportunity to visit with the gals from Le Marche' in Omaha on Tuesday morning. What a unique and beautiful shop in Countryside Village, Omaha, NE. They have given us the opportunity to use their lower level for our occasional sale! We visited at length and hammered out the details and as of today, it looks like we will be having our next sale there on December 4th!!! Mark your calendars now...the last "flea market" they had the ladies were standing in line waiting to get in! We are very excited to be able to bring this sale to you and hope we can now offer our Vintage Market A'ffaire four times a year! You can visit their website by clicking here.... LE MARCHE'

Love my New Rag Rug and Lauren's New kitty!

2010-10-23T10:49:00.005-05:00

There is nothing like a little kitten to melt your heart and make you happy!

This is Jax! Lauren and Kaden's new baby. He is a rescue cat and is going to make the best pet ever! He is cuddly and lovable and exactly what Kaden needs. Jax will allow Kaden to haul him around and loves to be snuggled!

This is Possum approving my newly completed rag rug. How fun! I ordered the pattern from my sister's website, Fabric ala Carte and couldnt wait to see one done. Im working on getting strips ready now so that I can watch the NE game this afternoon and work on another one! If you have lots of extra fabric and some sheets that you no longer use, get started on these! This project got me going through my fabric again and you will see some new pieces listed at katsfabricsnmore!

Now that our ocassional sale is over for a few months, its time to focus on my shops again. Look for LOTS of new listings next week.

Today I finally got Jeff's birthday gift ordered. He bought himself a kindle and so I got a gift card that will be delivered on his birthday. Amazon.com is an awesome place. He will be able to download some reading material! So hard to send something to a kid on a ship that has no storage space. I did get a box sent with a few goodies and a card. I will be so happy when he is home for a birthday. This marks the 4th birthday he has been away.

No Cat in the Hat, but every where ELSE!!

2010-10-19T09:21:00.004-05:00

Lucy kitty was in the center of ALL set up! She "posed" all day...

Our First A'ffaire was a True Success!

2010-10-18T09:42:00.009-05:00

Our very first Ocassional Sale "Vintage Market A'ffaire" was a huge success!

Kaden was able to spend the day "helping" !

He had a great time and really was a help to us.

There were times sales were very "brisk"! We had a perfect day!

Im having trouble with blogspot's download of pics but will load more when they work out their bug!

Preparing for the A'ffaire!

2010-10-09T08:04:00.006-05:00

Eyeglass cases!

Get Ready Get Set ... GO!

To The VINTAGE MARKET A'FFAIRE!

There will be something for everyone! Kitchen Items!

Re purposed old ties...into baggage tags!....

Wristlets!
and vintage gloves....

There will be furniture and milk glass and oh so much more...

even fabric for our quilting friends!

Outdoor items and if the weather permits, even some flowers!

One week from today will be our very first Vintage Market A'ffaire! I'm so excited about it. It's one of those things where you wonder "will anyone show up?" I think we have done our homework though, so it wont be for not trying.

We've done our homework...

advertising

outdoor banner to draw your attention

much "picking" so you have a lot to choose from

Hours are 10am-5pm

No early shopping.

A Short Trip to Colorado!

2010-09-29T09:23:00.002-05:00

Taking a couple days to go to the Rockies to see the aspens in their golden splendor was just the ticket for Larry and I. The weather was beautiful and we had an awesome time.

This is a very big week for me! Our Quilt show is on Saturday, so unless this cold thing gets me down, I will be very busy Friday and Saturday.

Im Sad Today and a little Scared!

2010-09-16T12:14:00.004-05:00

This is my beloved Lucy Cat. She is the sweetest and softest fur-baby ever! Quiet and serene, most of the time. The only thing that gets her going is the vet! I have to trick her into the crate for her annual visit and heaven forbid you have to be around her anytime soon after said visit. She displays the true definition of a "hissy-fit"to people and her kitty siblings alike! But I love her and I'm praying today that she will be OK.

About two months ago, I noticed an area right by her right ear...you know the part that has a little less hair and the hair it does have isnt near as soft as the rest? It looked as if she had been scratching it. I checked for ear mites and gave a new dose of Frontline for fleas..hoping this would remedy the situation. The area did not heal though. Actually it has gotten worse, not better. I've had her to the vet twice already and have had several more conversations with the Dr as well. She has been treated with topical cortisone cream, antibiotic ointment, injectable steroids and is now an an oral antibiotic. We've even just left it totally alone for a couple weeks to see if it would heal itself. To no avail. Now the Vet is wondering if it could be Pemphigus Vulgaris. What? Some kind of nasty skin immune disease that doesn't have the greatest outcome. For now I will keep treating with the antibiotic and pray this disappears...truth is its getting bigger and worse. :( I'm feeling a bit paralyzed today.

2010-09-14T20:04:00.003-05:00

So excited for our very first "Occasional Sale"! I spent the whole day going through items purchased over the last months that I haven't had time to put on etsy. If you are able to come you will most certainly see the "Spirited Blend of the Olde the New and the uniqely interesting'! And yes, the kitty is real! That's Tara, Sow-a-Seed's Courtyard's little stray mama cat. :)

PC and Laptop Horrors!

2010-09-12T21:39:00.005-05:00

Sorry Ive been so lax in getting a new blog post up! Its been a terrible few weeks.

First my laptop burned up! I have no idea what happened, but its deader than a doornail! So Ive been using my old PC, which is slower than molasses in January...and guess what? Yesterday it died too!

Im down to my ipod, which I cannot access my etsy shops with for some dumb reason and borrowing a laptop from my friend or from my hubby when he doesnt need his to work on. I hate it!

So now, its going to be lap top shopping and that is nearly as bad to me as trying to untangle a skein of yarn. So many choices and things to ponder. Ive talked my hubby into doing all the research and choosing one for me. It makes me clausterphobic! Is that possible?

There is lots going on in my little world of Walnut, Iowa...I will try to update you in the next few days if I have a computer to use!

Day Trippin'

2010-08-29T08:24:00.004-05:00

Kathy and Julie!
My Favorite, Bryce Canyon!

Ok, so maybe not DAY trippin' but tripping halfway across the country in very few days! A whirlwind trip it was too! Some very special friends of mine were moving from Californina to Colorado Springs. Put all their 2 stuff in a "POD", stuffed their cars with the leftovers and planned the drive. I was blessed to be asked and able to fly out there to help them drive back. What a job! Driving through the California Mohave Desert, eating yummy Mexican Food in LasVegas, getting to have a short visit with my sister and brother in law, experiencing Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, eating Dairy Queen, In and Out and tasting my first Chick Filet Sandwich. Tough stuff, Im telling you! Oh! then once we got to Colorado Springs...seeing the mountains and experience the most lovely hidden gardens at the home of the couple we stayed with. Its so hidden even Bambi lives there. :) He stayed hidden and I didnt get to see him, but I sure tried!

All this in four days! Ha! It was so fun that Larry and I are going back to Colorado the end of September to see the aspens!

Back to work now. Tomorrow I will be posting many new things in my Etsy shop! Til then...

Foxes Find a New Home...

2010-08-06T17:42:00.006-05:00

Totally in Love with this !!!

Once in a while you enter the thrift shop and you hear yourself let out an audible gasp...one that makes others take a look over at you and wonder if you are OK. This happened to my friend Cheryl this week. She entered one of our thrift shops and saw this beautiful piece of artwork. Knowing how I love foxes, she grabbed it up and purchased it and then presented to me as a gift! It's signed and dated and appears to be colored pencil sketching. I am so happy with it and I love it dearly. I didn't wait even a day to yank down a different picture from my living room wall and put this one up in its place. I don't know what it is about it, other than there is so much "life: in the faces of these animals. Is it a mama fox with her baby? Maybe sisters? Brothers? I'm going to build my own fairy tale around this one and say its a daddy "fox" loving and protecting his little girl "kidlet". My picture...my fairy tale. Thank you soooo much Cheryl! I'm sorry, but you wont be seeing this one for sale in my shops.

Legacies are More or Less What Someone is Rememberd For

2010-08-03T06:53:00.006-05:00

I've been think a lot lately about Legacies. About what it is. Today I looked it up and this is what I found:

"In historical terms, a legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. A historical legacy can be a positive thing or a negative thing. For example, the invention of the wheel (for carts, as a pottery wheel, as a grinding wheel to help turn grain into flour, and as an early water wheel) in Mesopotamia can be seen as something positive. The development of slavery was a negative legacy.
Sometimes countries or civilizations can leave a legacy. In Athens, in Ancient Greece, people voted on their leaders. They created an early form of democracy. Greece, and later, Ancient Rome voted for their leaders for many generations.
Some families pass objects and ideas down from generation to generation. These objects and ideas can also be called legacies. It may have to do with a person or many people. Individuals can leave a historical legacy. More than 2000 years ago the Greek Mathematician, Euclid of Alexandria, collected and wrote down ideas about geometry and measurement in a text called Elements. Students still use these ideas when they learn about mathematics.
Legacies are more or less what someone is remembered for."

Over the last couple of years Ive contemplated making a Baltimore Album quilt as my "legacy". Ive pondered the blocks I would make. Something about cats, something about my love for Jesus, my family, flowers...I ran out of ideas before I ran out of blocks that I would need to make an album quilt. I also ran out of energy just thinking about all the work involved and the fact that I would most likely have to design my own quilt blocks to get what I really wanted. The other factor was, who would I leave it to without hurting feelings? Worse yet, maybe no one would even want it and it would end up in a garage sale. I ditched the Baltimore Album Quilt idea.

But the idea of a legacy has been simmering in my brain. The last ten days though, have brought it to the top of the "stew" and here I am looking it right in the face.

My revelation is that we don't "make' a legacy...our life is a legacy. Positive or Negative, what we do, what we think and how we live is leaving behind a legacy that will affect those around us and behind us. We don't choose to leave something we slaved over and created behind and call it a legacy...

I'm sure this isn't a new concept for most people. Not even for me. Its something I know, but it never hit home, so to speak. Maybe its because Ive turned 60 in February and in two days my hubby will turn the same age. Maybe its because in the last ten days, I have watched two families who are very dear to me loss their mothers. Maybe its because I'm looking around myself and realizing that to put up with unnecessary drama in life is stupid and a waste of time. For whatever the reason, I'm examining my life and hoping that the legacy I leave will have nothing to do with fabric and thread, but everything to do with my Faith in Jesus, my love for my family and friends, and the pursuit of helping other people.

My dear friend Kathy S. lost her mother, Jan last week to a short but brutal battle with cancer. Yesterday was the beautiful and loving celebration of her life. Kathy's 11 year old niece wrote a tribute to her grandmother that included a bible verse that she said reminded her of who her grandmother was. " Duet 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This little girl is Eleven...and this verse is the legacy that Mrs. S left for her grandchild. It's what she will be remembered for.

Its worth thinking about. Its worth pondering. Its worth wondering. What is the legacy I am leaving for mine? Will it be worth cherishing or will it be garage sale material?

Feeling a Bit like a Cartoon Character...

2010-07-28T07:38:00.004-05:00

The group of first cousins that attended the funeral of my Aunt Martha Matilda Staben! We were only missing 3!
My grandson Kaden turned 7 on July 2nd, we attended a fun party to celebrate on Sunday!

Yep! My life lately has been feeling a bit like a cartoon..you know the kind...where the feet don't touch the ground and all you see is a cloud of dust as the character races by! And because of the heat and humidity lately, a lot of sweat flying off. Getting the picture? The roadrunner comes to mind. Ha!

That's sort of the way Ive been feeling lately. Running from one event or task to another in a whirlwind of activity and energy.

Today, other than finishing the two never-ending barn quilts (that I feel like Ive been working on forEVER), I am going to stay home and work in my etsy shops. It might sound strange but that relaxes me.

I Now Know Im Addicted!

2010-07-22T06:16:00.006-05:00

Got to take a trip to a secret little "source" for my inventory on Tuesday. Got a good box full of goodies only to return yesterday. A good friend came out for day visit and we decided we should go back out for another little look-see. Yep, I ended up with another TWO boxes full. I see the treasures and I cannot leave them on the shelf. I have to bring them home so that I can offer them up to my wonderful customers. So its off the the kitchen sink this morning to get them all shined up for listing. Keep watching for the fun!

Jam or Syrup???

2010-07-18T12:45:00.005-05:00

I actually dusted off (and washed out) my old canning kettle and made some sour cherry jam today! I'm looking at it and wondering if I really made jam, or maybe its syrup...whichever, it will be yummy. I know cuz I licked the pan when they were done cooking. YUM! It took both me and Larry to get the jars out of the water. I cant find my tongs....I keep wondering if maybe I pitched them thinking I never do any canning anymore (never say never) and I'm done with hot dogs...ya think??? I'm always nervous about if it will gel or not. The jars did all seal though. I love the "ping" "ping" "ping" sound of the lids sealing themselves after their boiling hot water bath. I only have the six jars, so why am I making such a big deal out of this?. There was a day that I spent days in the kitchen about this time of year, canning pickles, tomatoes, and jams...wow..that was a hot job! Maybe I did throw away my tongs!

You can find the recipe for my cherry jam here http://www.foodinjars.com/2009/07/07/sour-cherry-jam-recipe/ this is a fun blog I found and will follow.

Thanks to some local farmers I got half of my cherries. The other half came from our wonderful neighbor, Jo. Thanks so much!

Row, Row, Row your Boat...

2010-07-12T22:26:00.003-05:00

Wednesday morning I will be heading to eastern Iowa with my mother in law for a two day cruise up and down the Mississippi...(do you sing it too when you write it? m-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i, it's engraved on our brain!)

Those of you who know me well, know this is the trip that was supposed to be last September, but we ended up arriving a day late! Not one of my prettier moments. I think that as I stood at the Holiday Inn check in counter and was informed that the boat had left that morning, that all the blood in the upper half of my body pooled in my feet waiting for the rest of my self to join it. The worst part was having to call my hubby and tell him of my frau paux. He actually was very good about the whole thing. "Mom" and I made the best of a bad situation. We enjoyed the hotel room, and made a leisurely drive back home the next day, stopping at fun roadside shops and sites.

So wish me well as I spend Wednesday through Friday on the Twilight River Boat Cruise with little Clara...my goal is to convince her to make an appointment to get her hearing checked (huh?) and of course to have a great time eagle watching and shopping!

Etsy is Busy!

2010-07-08T09:30:00.005-05:00

Royal Sealy Coffee Set which includes Server, 2 mugs, cream and covered sugar! $15.00

I spotted this vintage Milk Glass Lamp on the dusty top shelf of an Omaha Thrift Shop!
$18.00

Here are a couple of what will be my newest listings in VintageKats Etsy Shop. Etsy has been busy and I need to get some new things in to replace the holes caused by sales! Thanks to all of my customers, I'm having a ball finding and listing fun things for you.

A busy day planned! I will be working each Thursday now at Cheryl's shop, Sow-a-Seed/Prior Attire.
She needs time off to pick, clean and run errands. Since she is good enough to allow me to sell items in her shop, the least I can do is give her four hours a week. The frosting on the cake is that she now has wireless in her shop and I can work on her etsy shop while Im there.

Here we go Again!

2010-07-01T07:28:00.004-05:00

My Newest obsession is a little cuff made from the skinny end of a man's necktie. Cheryl and I purchased one while at "Market" in Desmoines and have fashioned our own "spin" on the idea. We are using ribbon, old clothing and vintge buttons on some. I wore the one we bought over the Father's Day AmVets Antique Walk and got so many requests for one, we decided to make them and put them in the shop! Here are the ones I have in process right now.... Its been fun finding the ties and the fabrics to use for the flowers. Please note the pink and peach colored rose on the right. These were the roses from the original cuff. I cannot figure out how she made them. I took one apart, check online patterns and youtube tutorials and cant find the method. I like the roses I make almost better, but her's are a bit different and I would like the variety. If you know how, would you share?

Miss Dolly is my tie holder. We are using the fat end of the tie to make eyeglass cases...(a blog for another day!) My workspace has grown to consume the whole house right now. Today (after an early morning run to the thrift store) my goal is to herd it all back to where it belongs!

I wanted multiple colors of tulle for my tie cuffs, but only had white... So....

I dyed some! Just used hot water with food coloring and vinegar! It worked great and now I don't have to buy any. I may try the same thing with organza.

Possum just says..."OH NO...here we go again!"

Antique Walk is Over for another Year!

2010-06-22T21:42:00.002-05:00

These are my lovely ladies that come to see me every year during the walk. We have become very good friends. They have been in my house every year for at least 14! Thats twice as long as Ive lived here! Theresa, Flo and Karin...We were missing Robyn...but hopefuly she will return next year.

This is Theresa at her "booth". Sales were good...when it wasnt raining!

Hats! ha! I just thought this was funny!

So! its all over for another year. I cannot believe how quickly these years go by. Im already planning for next years walk.

Now on to heavy-duty attention to my etsy shops!

Another Cat Story!

2010-06-20T07:12:00.004-05:00

This little baby should be named MIRACLE or LUCKY. I don't know what her name will end up being, but she is really one fortunate kitty. Maybe her name should be Cookie..like fortune cookie...LOL! For the purposes of this blog and until she is properly named by her new owner, that is what I will call her.

The stray little one got up into the undercarriage (frame) of a pick up truck that came into Walnut last Thursday morning. She was crying her little head off but in the hoop-la of the day, no one could hear her. ANOTHER stray cat that hangs downtown and is a new mama with babies hidden in places unknown, literally took us to "Cookie". The mama kitty fretted and cried and ran back and forth from the shop to the truck until someone finally got down low enough to hear the baby.

They got her out and who do you suppose they called with their kitty crisis? Yep! me. I was working all day, so I took her home, sequestered my kitties to the basement and made a nice little nest for Cookie in my butler's pantry. She was so frightened, crying and shaking...poor baby. Since I had to work all day, she had a good chance to relax and feel safe in a darkened, quiet space. When I got home, this pictures shows how and where she was!

She has found a new home with my nephew, David and will be going to her new home on Saturday.

I really think "Cookie" fits her...She is sweet and certainly she and anyone who comes in contact with her is fortunate!

Getting Ready for the Walk!

2010-06-14T16:16:00.002-05:00

Arent these Planters pretty? Cheryl True and I planted them this year. Cheryl knew exactly what they needed and I think they will be the prettiest they have ever been. Its only 4 days until thousands come to Walnut for our Annual Antique Walk and sale. Its called a walk, because you cant drive thru Walnut. One must walk to see the over 300 antique vendors that come for this annual event. Hope some of you can make it!

The Newest Quilt Block in the Alley!

2010-06-10T20:46:00.002-05:00

This is Bob and Linda Hilligas, owners and managers of The Victorian Rose in Walnut. They are the most recent to add a Back Alley Quilt Block to their building. You can check out their site at www.victorianrose-walnut.blogspot.com Our alleys are sparkling and ready for "The Walk"!

Whats With Me and Cats?

2010-06-08T14:44:00.004-05:00

Look what showed up on my porch yesterday! Yep, a little male black kitty that is as adorable as all 3 that I already own. The "gene pool" on this little one matches that of all the ferals around here. He is friendly tho and perhaps we can find him a home...Im hoping...I made an appointment next week for him to be fixed, so he doesnt make more ferals for our little town. In the meantime, I will try to find a place for him. He wants to be a house cat, I can tell!

Its a Small World After All!

2010-06-01T21:08:00.003-05:00

Ive had this little cockatoo listed for months now. I got a convo from a nice young lady today asking for it and it's partner planter. Turns out not only is she from Omaha, but she lives about 3 blocks from our little apartment! Have you any idea how many vendors there are on Etsy? I think more than a million. What chance that she would find an item from someone who is within 3 blocks of where she lives? It was fun to be able to save her postage by delivering to her and it saves me packing! Thanks Jill, nice to meet ya!

Honor the Families of the Fallen Warriors

2010-05-31T16:03:00.002-05:00

Today is Memorial Day. The day to remember those who have fallen during wartime, serving our country and keeping us safe.

To the families of those fallen Warriors, I say "Thank you"!!! They are NOT forgotten.

While we are on the subject...our military men and women do NOT have the day off today. Enjoy your day off...your picnics... your family gatherings...but remember those in active duty today. They are working, so you can be safe to enjoy the day!

Thank you Jeff, Nick, Andrew, Cody, John, Colin and all the others out there in the sand, on the sea and in the air...We love you, we miss you and we are praying for you!

Just Listed...More Milk Glass

2010-05-25T22:13:00.004-05:00

Vintage Milk Glass Footed Bowl - Listed 5/25/10
Vintage Milk Glass Hobnail Cream and Sugar Set Listed 5/25/10

Vintage Milk Glass Pedestal Dish Listed 5/25/10

For those who know me, know that I have a real "thing" for milk glass. I can hardly resist any piece I find! The cool part is that my weakness is your advantage....I buy it and then list it for you to reap the benefits! If you could see my house, milk glass graces tabletops, bathrooms and even the top of my fridge....You buy it, I pack it up...say goodbye and buy some more!

Here are a few pieces listed just today...looking forward to sending them out to their new forever homes!

Oh! And dont worry...I have lots more to come!

See it all at www.vintagekats.etsy.com or www.katsfabricsnmore.etsy.com

click on Vintage Milk Glass under categories!

Recent Etsy Sales!

2010-05-20T20:25:00.004-05:00

Sold!!!

Sold!

Sold!

The past month has been a little slow on Etsy, but I've been workin' it yesterday and today and am already seeing more activity! Im sitting here tonight looking at a literal pile of things to be photographd and listed. Hopefully I will get some more new things in VintageKats this week. Please let me know what you think of my new items!

Market Day Iowa May 29th - Des Moines

2010-05-16T19:27:00.008-05:00

Cheryl and I are pleased to announce that we will be particiapating at the Market Day Iowa this year. This is an event held the last Saturday of every month from May thru November from 9am-2pm. Vendors come with handcrafted items, original art and vintage items in all price ranges. Come for a fun day! DesMoines famous Farmers Market is very near by so you can hit both places on the same day...with the same parking place! We look forward to seeing you there.

Our First Two Back Alley Barn Quilts go UP!

2010-05-12T07:47:00.005-05:00

Josh and Tom attach the "Flower Basket" Block to Sow a Seed-Prior Attire

So cute!

Finished "Swinging on a Star" on Heart of Country

Neil and son...working on attaching the block!

Its so fun to be part of a project and then see it come to reality. We are no way done, but seeing the first fruits is exciting and motivating.

Would Someone Please Just Commit Me NOW?

2010-05-08T20:55:00.003-05:00

Ok, yes I am just sick. These pictures are of my attic workspace that has gotten so unorganized and over stuffed with things Ive forgotten I even had. I finally decided its time to get up there and go thru everything. Today is the 2nd full day of working here and these pictures are what it currently looks like. I guess it gets worse before it gets better, but this is ridiculous! So far I have 2 drawers FULL thread, a full drawer of pens, pencils and markers, at least 18 pairs of scissors, 34 crochet hooks, and boxes full of needles, notions, and buttons. I feel almost sick to my stomach.

I had no idea I had accumulated so much. I havent even begun to work on the fabric yet. So far, Im just piling up the fabric, to be delt with later. I also have ton of unfinished projects that I will organize and document and then try to complete. My sister Kris has been an inspiration there.

This is my bed in the attic, filled with empty bins and unfinished projects.

Unfinished projects and fabric.

Someday this will be the fabric section of my workroom. Keep watching for progress! And watch my online shops, as I will be selling a ton of stuff too! wwwkatsfabricsnmore.etsy.com will have most of it!

Midweek Girl Day!

2010-05-05T22:26:00.003-05:00

Lucy relaxed today on the front porch. This is my little old shabby chic wooden potty chair. Look how she is sitting on the pot and her tummy is hanging down the hole. I cracked up!

Ive been so busy the last few days working on the committee to recommend a company to work with to build our little town a new website. Also working on our Back Alley Barn Quilt Project has taken tons of time.

Got a chance to have some girlfriend time today. Went to a thrift shop

and found a wholebox of goodies that I cant wait to share with you.

Also got a dozen bags of our new Saspa Sink Soak ready to sell in the shop or at market. More on that tomorrow!

Nearly time for bed, but first...my favorite snack!

1 c plain yogert

1 c sliced strawberries

1 pkt sweetener

1/4 c semi sweet choco chips

Good NIGHT!

Speaking of tomorrow, I will be working on home made laundry detergent to sell at the Market.. Stay tuned for details

The Difference

2010-05-03T07:37:00.003-05:00

I got up early one morning and rushed into my day;

I had so much to accomplish that I didnt have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled before me, and heavier became each task.

"Why doesnt God help me?" I wondered. He answered " You didnt ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didnt show me. He said " You didnt seek."

I tried to come into God's presence; I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didnt knock."

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering my day;

I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

Grace L. Naessess

Two Almost Ready to Hang!

2010-05-01T08:57:00.005-05:00

Even though these are NOT completely finished yet I could not wait to post the progress...the top block is called "Swinging on a Star" the only thing to do is take the tape off our two boo-boos and its ready to hang! You can see this one behind "Heart of Country" owned and operated by Dorine Knop and Pam Schirm.

This block is called Flower Basket (who knew?) and still needs it's inner black band part of the border. This one will be hung behind Cheryl's shop, Sow-a-Seed/Prior Attire.

We have two more "in the hole". Watch for "Squash Blossom" and "Bird of Paradise"!!!

We also have plans to make some smaller 2'x2' blocks for yards and smaller areas.

And So Begins the Back Alley Barn Quilt Project!

2010-04-29T15:17:00.005-05:00

Here we go, folks! Many of the shoppers here in our little Antique City must drive through the back alleys to pick up their items. Larger pieces that need to be loaded will be done behind the building. In an effort to beautify this area of our town, and create a little surprise, we decided on "Back Alley Barn Quilts"! The craze of putting quilt block patterns, painted on wood and attached to the sides of barns is a big craze these days. We are taking it a step "inside" and bringing them inside the city limits of our town!

Several of our shops are involved in this project and our City has been very kind about budgeting some funds to pay for materials. Not only will we be doing the quilt blocks, but also a major clean up effort and landscaping to include flowers, shrubs and such!

Here are me and Cheryl taping and getting ready to paint our first block ever! A little nerve wracking but tons of fun.

Primer on, base coat on, taped and ready to paint the basket for Sow-a-Seed!

Keep watching for final results.

And yes this is putting a damper on my Internet business work, but I'm having blast!

Getting Ready for the Walk!

2010-04-23T11:14:00.004-05:00

Ive pretty much taken a few days off from listing items in my etsy and zibbet shops. Its been a busy week. We had our guild meeting on Tuesday night. We learned to make fabric pansys and to "rusch" It looks like fun. Pictured here is a sample that Luanne brought to show us what can be done with fabric and thread.

I've spent the week at the sewing machine. I made six pillow case satchel bags...and a couple dozen little fabric 'envelopes made from vintage hankies. These things will be sold at Sow-a-Seed/Prior Attire over the Father's Day weekend in June. Our little town has a huge antique sale that whole weekend. Everyone is working hard to have lots of fun things for folks to purchase! Hope to get back into my internet shops next week..I have a whole pile of things to list.

My Texas Pictures

2010-04-19T20:50:00.002-05:00

There is absolutely nothing more beautiful!

I thank God for allowing me to see His Glory in these sights!

Home Again, Home Again Jiggidy Jog...

2010-04-15T20:04:00.007-05:00

and jog it should be. I ATE TOO MUCH! I say that every time Ive been to Texas to see my step mom. I seriously need to get back on my flat belly diet! Lets see Red Velvet Cake, sugar cookies, Ham and beans, chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, and it goes on and on and it ain't pretty folks! Southern cooking is murder on this body! I'm actually craving fresh fruits and vegetables and as soon as we hit the home front, I will be hitting the farmers market and stocking up on whatever fresh organic thing I can find. I'm serious!

Our trip however, was wonderful. We still have 12 hours to drive tomorrow, but all in all the time away was a blessing. We were able to drive thru the Texas Hill country of Wild Flowers...it is a stellar year for the flowers. Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, Mexican poppies, and many others I don't know the name for. It was as if the Lord had painted the landscape with a rainbow of blue, red, pink, yellow and orange...my mouth hung open nearly the whole 300 miles...if it took a rest, it was only to say " Oh my gosh!"

Spending time with my step mom was good too. Being nearly 87 and alone, I'm sure she enjoyed our company even if it takes a week for her to recover! This is the 3rd visit Ive made since my dad passed away, and I think it was the hardest visit so far. I miss him. Going there, where he should be and isn't, was far more difficult than I thought it would be. I made a visit to his grave site at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, was glad I did it, but felt more grief than I expected. One is never too mature to want their daddy back.

Looking forward to getting home, snuggling with my kitties and getting back into my routine(with a few diet and excercise adjustments)!

Texas Hill Country Here I Come!

2010-04-09T13:41:00.001-05:00

Found this pic in PhotoBucket! Tomorrow we will be heading south for a few days. The wild flower trail is right on the way. So will be seeing these live and in person!

Yes, People, Twitter Works!

2010-04-08T16:15:00.005-05:00

Ho-Hum Is all that Tweeting Worth It?
Just this morning I got a direct message from a lovely lady from the UK. She follows me on twitter and reads my blog...she saw the patterns I talked about two days ago and had yet to list on Zibbet. The direct message was to tell me she wanted to buy! Of course I got on the stick and got them listed and she bought them both today. Fun! I was kind of wondering if Twitter really works for business, but now I have proof positive that it does! My first Zibbet sales! All that tweeting is not only fun, but beneficial. A great way to increase customer base and make new friends from all over the world!

Zibbit to Win It!

2010-04-06T21:02:00.004-05:00

As stated in my previous post, Ive just joined the new online market place called Zibbet! I have entered a contest to "spread the word" about this new up and coming marketplace...

People, if you've ever wanted to sell online, either Vintage items, supplies or handcrafted items, now is the time. You can sign up while there are still premium memberships available at $8 per month for life! But you must hurry. These will be used up quickly!

Go to http://www.zibbet.com/VintageKats/sell and check it out...sign up now and join the fun!

Have ya ever???

2010-04-05T11:30:00.008-05:00

SOLD!!!

SOLD!!

One of my favorite things to look for and find are vintage patterns. Before listing them, however, I always like to check to be sure all pieces are there. I know the retro look is so "in" right now and these fashions are being recreated.

Yesterday was my day to go through my newest finds so that I could get them listed. Its quite a job. Have ya ever taken a wedding dress pattern out of the envelope and then tried to put it back in? It reminded me of Dick Van Dyke trying to push all those walnuts back into the closet! If you know what I'm talking about, you know about old I am! ha!

Anyway, I "got er done" and thankfully I only found one pattern (doll clothes) that was missing a piece.

My dilemma, do I put all those piece of the bride dress back in and potentially ruin the envelope? Or do I leave pieces outside the envelope, nicely fold and mail them that way...hmm.. What do you think?

Must get to listing these, so watch for more patterns in my zibbet shop soon!

What the Heck is Zibbet???

2010-04-02T15:30:00.005-05:00

Ransburg Canister Listed on Zibbet!

Thanks to my sister, Kris I found a new on-line marketplace to sell my vintage items. Zibbet comes from the word Exhibit...so kinda clever,huh? Go check it out at www.zibbet.com!

The price was right so I thought I would give it a try. For now I will be listing exclusively there. Etsy has been slow lately so Im wondering if people are moving to something else ? I hope you will visit my new shop. Please let me know what you think.

If you are interested in selling on Zibbet, please use this link so I can get referral credit.

http://www.zibbet.com/VintageKats/sell

Thank you!!

Puttin' on the Green!

2010-03-26T20:25:00.006-05:00

Just have had a ball this week with thrift store and auctions. So much fun, it has been hard to get on here and add a new blog...not much to say but, YEEE HAWWW! I got some really good things. I found some pretty pink trays (3), listed them and sold one within 30 minutes! But a really fun find was all the green glassware I found! Fostoria Ice Tea Glasses just sparkle! And the vintage wine glasses are clear and heavy...the Harvest Green Mugs made in Japan are so retro and so fun! I have so many new things to share...

I had told myself that I wasnt going to do any more shopping this month, but one stop at a thrift store got my juices flowing and I couldnt stop.

Today I went all the way to Audobon Iowa with a friend and found several good pieces to list. So, coming soon in my Etsy shop will be another unique metal tral (cinnamon colored with roses) and a darling little deer figure...keep watching!

An Apple a Day!

2010-03-17T00:37:00.004-05:00

I absolutely fell in love with this little apple that I found in a big bin of "apple" items at the thrift store last week. I grabbed it up without the lid, lamenting the fact that it was missing. But voila! There it was hanging out at the bottom of the bin...no chips at all. There is one hairline crack on the yellow part, but it just proves its age and doesn't matter at all to me! Look at me! I'm old and a bit cracked, but still useful and beautiful!

I'm not at all sure what it was used for...so if anyone out there knows I would appreciate a comment to inform us! Thanks for looking!

Feelin' a Bit Squirrelly!

2010-03-13T11:00:00.004-06:00

SOLD!!

Gray Squirrel~

Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel
Swish your bushy tail

Wrinkle up your funny nose
Put a nut between your toes

Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel
Swish your bushy tail!

Whisky frisky
Hippity hop
Up he goes
To the tree top.

Whirly Twirly
Round and round
Down he scampers
to the ground.

Curly furly
What a tail
Tall as a feather
Broad as a sail

Where's his supper?
In the shell.
Snappity Crackity
Out it fell.

~Sources Unknown~

Just a fun little post today to let you know that I'm way ready for Spring! Saw this little vintage Squirrel Planter at the thrift last week and couldn't pass it up.
What a fun addition to any baby's room. Use in the traditional way, or have fun with it and use it for q-tips, ointments, lotions... What a fun baby shower gift...maybe add the ointments and creams and even a stuffed squirrel!

Glass Gives my Tummy the Warm and Fuzzies

2010-03-11T16:51:00.005-06:00

Sweet Fenton Milk Glass Slipper and Kitty...

SOLD!!
I LOVE this double sided vase! The colors are fantastic in pink and green with gold trim. This really did make my tummy do flips!

Listen, you know you are getting old when your idea of a fun evening is to sit and look thru Gene Florence's Books on Fire King and Kitchen Glassware. I can hardly wait, and Im not kidding!

I went to a thrift shop last night and found some really cool bowls in 3 different Fire King Patterns, and Im anxious to identify them. Keep watching my etsy shop, they will be listed for sale soon!