TGIF!

I was starting to think Friday was never going to get here. I thought the high heat temps had maybe melted Fridays for all eternity. On the news last evening the weatherman said with the humidity levels and dew point, at times the temperature was close to 106! When I got home from Mom's yesterday, I looked like an overcooked, limp noodle. My hair had lost it's bounce, my mascara had turned to a muddy substance that had smudged under my eyes and I had sweat trails starting at the temples and running down the sides of my face. I looked pretty rough, worn out and just overall blech! I gave my car's air-conditioning a run for it's money yesterday and I still came home looking like something the cat had dragged home (half-eaten lizard, hind quarters of a mole, and once a dead koi fish that the neighbor always wondered what had happened to it, need I say more?).

Enough complaining. I'm looking at a somewhat fruitful day. Got things to do in the house for the weekend. i.e. mopping the kitchen and bathrooms, emptying trash cans, changing the sheets, normal house-cleaning stuff. And tomorrow it's "Pool Party" with our bestest friends in the whole wide world. Gotta come up with some finger foods that won't spoil in the heat to eat poolside. Do 50+ people eat PB&J? Just asking. Also gotta shimmy into a bathing suit, may God help me and my friends. Got two new ones, both black, after all black is supposed to be slimming, just got to figure out which one doesn't show the excess belly fat and cellulite. But you know what? At this age, who cares! We don't stay young forever, fat happens, cellulite happens, just like menopause, it's one of those things that, once it's there, you never get rid of it.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers about hubby getting the contract with the furniture manufacturer. He got the contract and materials are being ordered as I write this.

Well, it's that time again. It's time for me to get a start on my day and hopefully it will be a productive one for you and me.

Till våra vägar kors igen, (till our paths cross again)

Alisa

NEW PATTERNS JUST ADDED ON ETSY

I've been busier than a beaver since my post this morning. I just uploaded/added 16 new patterns on my Etsy site. If you get the chance, go over there and take a look. Gonna work on another new pattern today and hopefully get it completed tomorrow.

The address of my site is: www.primmerchant.etsy.com

Go take a quick peak!

Alisa

Good Morning, Ya'll.

Heavens, I'm late this morning. I slept in till almost 8:00. Don't know what's wrong with me, unless I was just simply pooped last night. Hubby woke me up two different times, said I was snoring and would I please roll over. LOL. I don't snore often, but when I do, apparently, I can shake the rafters.

Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for hubby today. He is meeting with a potential new client today, a custom furniture manufacturer, about making custom stainless steel furniture for a new Atlanta showroom. If all goes well, this will be a long term contract. Hubby will essentially make the original piece, showroom perfect of course, then the following pieces will be made on a "designer order" basis on a production line. The furniture itself isn't very attractive to me, it's neo-modern, very upscale. But I like old chipped furniture, flaking paint, missing knobs, etc. Yeah, my house is an eclectic mix of antiques passed down through the family and modern pieces I have repainted and beat with a hammer so they look as old as the antiques. But what do I know?! Some people like it, some people don't.

I completed another pattern yesterday, and just as I was beginning to list it on Etsy, a storm came up out of nowhere, severe thunder and lightning, so I shut down the computer and pretty much prepared for the worst. As hubby's brother-in-law says, "the sky looks like it's gonna clabber up and buttermilk". Good thing we were having hamburgers for dinner last night because we did lose power for a while. The natural gas grill on the patio did a fine job of cooking those fat, juicy burgers. Yum.

Anyway, here's the picture of the completed pattern. Please meet Pumpkin Head and Raven.

BTW, I won't be posting until later tomorrow, if at all. My mom's transmission bit the dust in her Buick. She needs to go a few places, grocery store, pharmacy, etc., and since my Stepdad has a doctor's appointment in Charlotte, I volunteered to drive up (1 hour drive) and take her where she needs to go. She absolutely hates the feeling of being stranded. The good thing is, she and "Pop" are car hunting. Pop is the ultimate man - he will pick out which car they buy, he will decide how much to pay, and he'll tell her exactly how she's supposed to drive it. I love the old guy, but he would drive me nuts.

Well, I guess it's time for me to get moving and my fanny in gear this morning. I hope everyone has a beautiful, wonderful day and that you accomplish what you set out to do.

Дано ви ден е изпълнен с хубави неща , (hope your day is filled with good things)

Alisa

Good Tuesday Morning

Hello all, hope you are having a pleasant and productive day. It's a little before seven and I've already been up nearly an hour. Yeah, I know, I'm a morning person. Hubby is definitely not. He says my feet hit the floor and a smile just automatically registers across my face. He's lived with me all these years and has survived it and I'm not planning on leaving this old earth anytime real soon. He's generally not good till around 9:00 am and even then, sometimes, it's a stretch.

I have a lot of things on my plate this week. I'm working on another pattern for a Halloween make-do, have a new quilt class coming up on Thursday, trying to get things listed on Etsy, need to weed the flower garden (just a little too hot for that), going to a pool party at a neighbor's this Saturday, whew! It's no wonder I fall into bed at night. Oh, I failed to mention catching up on laundry, cleaning the house, a veterinarian appointment.... My life never stops. But would I trade it? Heck no.

I hate rude people. A woman broke in the check-out line in front of me at Harris Teeter yesterday. She actually had the nerve to turn around and smile at me and shrug. The appropriate thing to do would have been to say "I'm sorry, were you here first?" But no, she turned around and actually smiled, like everything was perfectly okay and normal. I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything, but I was steaming. The cashier, Dawn, apologized profusely like it was her fault. I reassured her it was none of her doing, just the rudeness of others and a total lack of respect. People!

Okay, I'm done complaining. It's time to get in gear and get my day going for real. So many treats in store today.

Mag die son skyn van die lewe op julle, (may the sunshine of life shine upon you)

Alisa

Hello All!

Good morning. It's not quite 8:00 am here, and believe it or not, it's not too steamy outside just yet. It's in the upper 70's but tolerable. The temp yesterday reached 101. This heat wave has to break sometime!

I worked on my Etsy site just a little while last night, and uploaded 3 patterns and 2 paper clay sculptures. Go check it out at www.primmerchant.etsy.com. I really need to get all my Halloween stuff listed, but I have so much it may take a while. The only reason I stopped last night was because I was tired, sleepy and really needed to go to bed. Not sure if I'm going to work on patterns today or the Etsy site. I'll just wait and see which way the wind blows.

I know this is a short post, but the cat is meowing. Princess Puss suffers from EDS, empty dish syndrome, and she definitely lets me know when the food gets stale or her dish is empty. She has now moved from meowing to yowling, a pretty good sign she's getting ticked off at being ignored. And people wonder why her nickname is Princess.

Okay fine folks, it's time to go out into the world and prosper. Considering I'm still in my pajamas, the back patio is the extent of my world.

直到我們再次談話， (til we chat again)

Alisa

Blessed Sunday is Here!

Good morning all. Hope this day brings all the joy and happiness your hearts can stand. As for me, I'm up early, ready and raring to go. Already on coffee #2, been out with the dog, let the cats in, checked my tomatoes and blooey! Deer have come in the night and munched. About half the tomatoes on the upper vines have those perfect teeth marks, bitten through the middle of those succulent tomatoes. I'm a little disgusted. But, I guess deer gotta eat too, but why they have to dine on MY tomatoes is a mystery. There's a perfectly good cornfield right next door to our property, its stalks high and loaded with juicy, sweet corn. I think I'll put a sign on my tomatoes that says, "free corn buffet, turn now".

It was 100 degrees here yesterday with a heat index of 105. It was absolutely miserable. I made the mistake of deciding to walk down to the mailbox for a little break and exercise yesterday. By the time I made it back and opened the kitchen door, the cold air conditioning hit my glasses and I had instant fog, my hair was damp, and overall, I felt drained. I don't see how hubby works in that barn all day, welding and grinding, and bending metal. I would absolutely suffocate. Machine shops aren't meant to be cool, classy or even clean for that matter, or so hubby says. But he enjoys it, makes a pretty decent living at it, and hey, it keeps him out of the house and my hair 8-10 hours a day. I'll upload some of the old classic cars he's restored sometime. It's amazing how they come in here looking like a rusty bucket and leave out of here looking showroom shiny

and brand spanking new.

Ah well, gonna work on some patterns today. The pic is the new doll I was working on earlier this week. I finally got her finished, I just forgot to upload the pic. Darn, my coffee cup is empty again. Time for a refill, for me to get my fanny in gear and hit the ground running. My life never slows down.

Auf Wiedersehen und einen schönen Tag ,

(goodbye and have a great day)

Alisa

I FINISHED IT!

The Primitive Doll Maker is finished! I have been working since 6:30 this morning, and just put that baby to bed. Whew. It has been sent to be proofread and double checked and then it's on to publication. As soon as I get it back from proof, I'll post an email to contact me if you're interested. Not sure on the pricing yet, but it will be affordable. Us doll makers do have dry spells and with this economy, everybody needs a break.

The book has four sized patterns for dolls and clothing, instructions, including rusting, staining, and a small tutorial on pinch stitching. I have included photos of my dolls and critters also. Now I can go back to my other patterns and prims and get geared up for the fall.

Okay, hubby has been patient, so I need to get started on dinner. And I won't cut any fingers tonight.

Adios Amigos,

Alisa

It's Friday!

Good morning everyone. Hope this will be a great start to a weekend of fun, sun and relaxation. Heaven knows it's going to be a hot one. The old thermometer on the patio said 98 degrees yesterday. I took the dog out this morning and it was already steamy. I guess that's the price we pay for living in the South - mild winters (which we love) and super, hot, humid summers.

The doll above is one that I made last year - Mavis and Kitty Kat. She is truly one of my favorites. Hope you like her!

I'm typing a little slowly today, nearly cut the tip of my finger off last night making dinner. We had fajitas with guacamole on the side with some fantastic chips. Anyway, I cut around the avocado, twisted it apart, jabbed the knife in the pit and wham! The knife slipped and sliced the end of my left index finger. Hubby ran and got a bandage, said something about being careful, and then looked at it and said, "ah, that's not too bad". The concern just touched me. (sarcastic) I asked what would he do if I had cut off the tip of my finger. He answered, "starve".

Ah well, I am very busy working on my book, The Primitive Doll Maker, and got all the patterns completed yesterday. Thank goodness I've been working on the text for several months and it's nearly finished. I was hoping to have it completed and available for purchase by October, but that may not happen. I'll either have to give up on dolls and make-do's for a while, or crack the whip and work double-time until it's completed.

I'm working on restocking my Etsy site. Will let you know as soon as I get my pictures uploaded and everything in place there again. Several people have asked why my Etsy site has been empty for a little over a year. The answer is: I had heart and aortic surgery in the late spring of 2009, went through about a year and a half of intensive rehab and as of my last check-up, I'm doing very well. I'll have to have another battery of tests done this November, but I don't anticipate any problems.

Okay, my finger is now throbbing, I'm getting hungry, and my coffee cup is empty. I'm going to go get started on my day. Hope yours is as fruitful and pleasant as you need it to be!

Have a fantastic weekend,

Alisa

Happy Wednesday Everyone. I'm a little late posting today because I've been busy working on finishing up the doll. And hubby is sick, yuck. Doc gave him some meds for a serious sinus infection and they're making him feel worse. Guess it's true - sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.

Waiting on a friend to come by, and she's late, she's late, for a half-way important date. LOL Just kidding. She has a family to take care of and of course family always comes first. If she doesn't make it to me, I'll go to her. Wish you could have seen my kitty Catfish and Buford Hound Dog last night. They were hilarious rolling around the floor, playing with one another. Catfish would bite Buford's ear and Buford would bite Catfish's hind legs. They don't hurt each, just the opposite, they're best friends and get along like two peas in a pod, but every once in a while the play gets a little rough and tumble, but they both love it. Hubby tells everybody that we bought the dog a cat, and I guess it's true.

Tomorrow I will be at my quilt guild so I won't be posting until much later, if at all. So, take care and if not tomorrow, I will see you all on Friday.

Caio for now,

Alisa

Good Tuesday Morning. Don't know what's in store yet for the day, hoping to finish up the clothes for my dollie, and probably get into a few other things like picking tomatoes and jalapenos. My garden has taken off big time. I hope hubby can eat lots of tomato sandwiches and salsa! Sorry this post is so short, but I've got to get my fanny in gear this morning, still in my jammies drinking coffee. I was lazy and slept in this morning. Have a great day and I'll check back in later, that is if I get my butt up and get moving.

Alisa

Oops.. Almost forgot! I wanted to show you the adorable jack-o-lanterns I have been working on. Just completely overlook the mess around them. My fabric and doll storage room (son's old bedroom - and he ain't moving back in) is in total chaos right now. After the fall selling season has died down, I'll do what I always do, shut the door and forget it till January! Anyway, check out the JOL's! See Ya!

Happy Monday Everyone! And what a Monday it has been. Had a Dr.'s appointment this morning, along with my hubby, got new prescriptions, we got checked out, said we were going to live. We take off, go get lunch, go to Lowe's Home Imp. for a few things hubby needed, back to the grocery store then on to the pharmacy to drop off prescriptions. Well... Dr. didn't give us the two prescriptions we needed most! So..... turned around, went back to the Dr.'s (they love it when I show my smiling face twice in one day), got the prescriptions, returned to the pharmacy, and then FINALLY home to the air conditioning.

It is hot in South Carolina today, the old thermometer outside says 92 degrees and it feels like 100% humidity. Ah, summer in the south. Anyway, worked on a new doll yesterday, haven't gotten her clothes figured out just yet, but I have a good idea of what I want to do, just got to pick out the fabric. I'll try to post a picture of her as soon as I finish. I've got to start thinking about dinner. Hmmm. I'll come up with some fantastic as always. Anyway, have a great Monday!

Free Stitchery!

It is a beautiful Sunday here in SC, the sun is trying to break through the clouds, it's not too hot just yet and so far, it's been a great day! This is my first blog post and, hopefully, will not be my last for many moons to come! If you love primitives as much as I do, or if you're into the Handmade Lifestyle, just like I am, then you'll want to visit often. For my first post I am offering a free stitchery pattern for your enjoyment. This is just a small sample of what's to come! Enjoy and please come back and visit often!

Just right click and choose Save As.

Have a beautiful day,

Alisa