Valentine Swap

From Viv

 Happy February everyone! I have enjoyed this month so far. It has included a fun swap that Viv from Viv out on a Whim had this year! What a fun swap this was and a fun challenge for me, too!

We were to make a Valentine card and a decoration, and include lots of goodies or joy!

From Viv

 As, you can see, Viv really did a great job of spoiling me! I sure had fun opening each little present that she individually wrapped for me! I had an empty spot on my old Singer sewing machine which made a great place to put all her wonderful Valentines! She made a cute decorated Valentine box, a beautiful deer Valentine on a spool, a sweet girl on a swing, and the sweetest heart ornament with a key! She also included plenty of chocolate to keep me smiling, and some pretty towels for my kitchen! Do you see those cute paper globes? I have never had any of these before! I am excited to use them in my decorating throughout Spring!

From Viv

 I am really amazed by Viv's talent. I am thankful for her swap and the challenge it provided for me to flex my creative muscles. Bloggers are the most talented people and doing a little something outside of my comfort zone is fun in a challenging and learning way!

I sent Viv a package of Valentine fun as well, which she kindly has posted about on her blog.

So I hope you go give her a visit and take a look at those as well!

But here is a peek at a few things that I made for her!

Paper craft Valentine

I am so happy to be part of a fun online community where I have met some of the sweetest people on earth.

Felt Heart

I have made friends with gals that I share more interests with than the people most of the people I interact with every day. Thank you so much for your friendships!

Cupcake on my vintage music box cake stand

Thank you again Viv! This was a fun swap to be included in! And I hope everyone has a sweet Valentine's Day!

God bless you,

Little Susie Home Maker

Christmas in the Kitchen Exchange with Erica

 Merry Christmas everyone! Swaps are a lot of fun and Erica decided to do a Christmas swap this year that was kitchen themed! "Christmas in the Kitchen" Exchange 2014, Her blog, Golden Egg Vintage, is so much fun and she is such a delightful young woman! If you haven't already been visiting and following her, I urge you to do so! Thank you, Erica, for having such a fun swap!

All my sweet swap gift from Patti!

I was partnered up with, Patti , her sweet blog is called, Pattin-Patti. Yes! She is another fun and super talented sweet lady! These swaps are so much fun for so any reasons. But getting to know another blogger a little better is always the best part! Patti, was also very understanding that it would take me a little longer for getting her gifts made, as I have been suffering so many frequent migraines. I think I will call her Patient-Pattin-Patti! Thank you Patti for understanding.

Adorable measuring spoon snowman tag!

Now on with the swap! Her are photos that I took of all the, "Oh, so awesome" Christmas crafts and items that she sent me! Just look at this tag! Isn't it so cute and smart! Measuring spoons make the snowman! This really makes me smile every time I look at it!

Christmas cookie cutter ornament!

Here is such an adorable cookie cutter ornament! I was really excited to see this one! It is a combination of some of my favorite Christmas vintage thingies! The glass balss, The Christmas tree cutter and the cute little wooden bead Santa! Wow! Can you say, Cute!!!

Snowman Vintage Nut-grinder snow globe!

Now on to the bigger and very awesome kitchen ornament! Yes, you guessed it! It is a vintage nut grinder! All decked out in Christmas Winter wonderland! Isn't this just an amazing snow globe! Cute, cute, cute!! 

Here is a different angle so you can see the outside decorations better!

So, now I have some really fun items to decorate my kitchen with!

And of course Patti didn't stop there! She included a wonderful travel coffee mug that I have already been using like crazy! Candy which you know didn't last long! lol

Look at this adorable Mrs. Clause! Oh, my! I have just the perfect Santa to pair her up with! I will save that for another post!

All the wonderful swap items from Patti!

Did I mention the kitchen towel and pot holder, cookie cutters, match box Santa and craft stickers?

Isn't this candy filled boot so sweet!

 I really was happy and I had fun making the fun kitchen crafts that I came up with! So I am sure you can see those over at Patti's blog. I will post some of my own pictures later.

 Thank you both, Patti and Erica! And thank you for visiting my blog today! I sure pray that everyone has a safe and happy Christmas. Be blessed and keep a smile on your face!

God Bless You!

Little Susie Home Maker

My Vintage Booth and Crafting

This vintage lamb nursery planter is just the cutest kisth baby welcoming gift! I found it while out thrifting recently.
Hello! I am glad you decided to come for a visit!

 I have spent a lot of time this year working on my Booth #B112 at the American Classics Market Place, in Colorado Springs. I sell vintage home items like the antique depression glass cooky jar picture. and also some of my own crafting and sewing. So I am hopefully going to be even busier between now and Christmas with making a lot of fun things for my booth. Here are some cloth stuffed pumpkins that I made. Wish me luck!

I tend to be the slowest person in the world when I craft or sew or crochet, etc. It is a wonder I ever finish anything! As a matter of fact, I have plenty of unfinished projects that I will be working on again right after the New Year! Do you do that? Stop before a project is finished?

I can not believe how fast this year is flying by. My brain is not accepting that summer is over, let alone that we are coming up on winter. Oh yes, the leaves have changed and most have dropped. It was a wonderful display! I am blessed to live in Colorado where we have such long Indian Summers. It might get cold, but warms right back up!

Here is my dachshund, Hunter.

 

I get up early and take my son to the bus stop before the sun comes up. And it is getting colder and colder! But it sure is a pretty view!

Well, I guess I better get back to business. Hope you are all doing great!

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

Happy 5th Birthday to Retro Revival and I won!

Have you ever felt so happy because you won a giveaway! Well, multiply that times a whole bunch and that is how I feel!

A few weeks ago while roaming around on Facebook, I seen a post come up from one of my favorite bloggers, Cindy, at Retro Revival Biz.

Her blog just so happened to be celebrating its 5th birthday!  To celebrate, she was giving away an apron, sleep mask, shower cap, and insulated travel flat iron case with a chance to win on her Retro Revival Facebook Page!

Being excited for her, I knew that I should share her post and I never expected to win! Then on the announcement date of the winner, I was strolling through my feed and there to my eyes surprise was my name listed as her winner! "Yahoo!"

Opening this package up was so much fun! It all looked so pretty, I almost hated to open it! Almost! lol!

God bless you and your business, Retro Revival Biz!

May you have many more years of success and fun! Thank you so much!!

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Make

New Booth Little Susie Home Maker

HI friends! Hope this finds you all happy and healthy.

I just had shoulder surgery about three weeks ago and have been trying to heal from that. Makes it almost impossible for me to do any crafts very well! Haha!

Have you been making crafts and doing hobbies?  I opened up my own booth in March. Selling vintage and some sewing, crochet,  etc.

It's fun to finally get to do this. I am located in Booth B112 at The American Classics Marketplace,  in Colorado Springs, CO

The end of the school year is almost here, so looking forward to more time with my children! I don't really have anything certain planned for the summer. But hoping to fit some road trips and vintage hunting into some family time and sight seeing!

Wishing you all the best Mother's Day! God bless you!

Little Susie Home Maker

Spring has Sprung

Spring time in the Rockies. Seems to be a happy dance between sunshine and snow!
But I am thrilled that winter is over. The grass is starting to turn green and the bushes are begining to bud.
The first thing I hear in the morning is the sound of birds chirping and scattering about just outside my bedroom window.
On the porch, our vacant birdhouses have new tenants!  Little sparrows have moved in! The bird feeders and bird bath are full of activity!
Out in the yard we have several families of bunnies that play and tumble! They never cease to make me smile.
I am so happy to see the new life come to my yard in the Spring! HalleluYah!

How are you enjoying the Spring?

Blessings

Little Susie Home Maker

Merry Blessed Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season! What ever you do whether it be crafting, shopping, decorating, baking, etc... May you be so very blessed and enjoy it!

Spend time with the people that you love. Let them know that you love them. Be a blessing in someone elses life. Let yourself be the gift. Giving of a smile a hello is sometimes enough for a stranger to be very touched.

I know this has been such an emotionally tough year for me. I haven't been blogging like I used to. Sometimes, I think that I have nothing to offer here. But what I do know, is that this has opened up a whole different world of blessings to me.

I really started my blogging journey with the thought that I hoped to be a blessing to someone. Even if it was in the smallest way. And of course, to bless my heavenly Savior.

The thing I didn't expect was all the blessed people I would come across and be a blessing in my life as well!

Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to come visit my blog. Thank you for the kind comments. Thank you to the ones that have reached out to me when I am hurting. You are all wonderful. I am thankful for you.

May you have a blessed Christmas! May your lives be filled with joy and love.

Thank you God for all you do! Thank you for your son.

Merry Christmas, 

Little Susie Home Maker

Are You Ready for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I hope you are all staying warm, having fun with your crafts or sewing and cooking. I know I don't blog much anymore and I am sorry for that. The time involved has been tough for me to blog weekly recently. I have so many duties at this time to attend.

I have been keeping active in my Facebook page

 

Little Susie Home Maker on facebook

 I would love for you to visit me there!

I am having Thanksgiving at my house this year. I been going through my vintage linens and dishes. Many of these will be in use this year. I am so excited to use them. Do you ever use vintage dishes or family heirlooms?

Hall's Jewel Tea Autumn Leaf

 I will be making the turkey and doing a lot of the cooking. Thankfully my family is pitching in with the help and even bringing some of their own delicious side dishes. My favorite dishes are all the traditional foods: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, veggie, cranberries with a few changes to flair things up a bit. 

For dessert my Favorite Pumpkin Pie recipe is sure to be served, because I don't feel like it is Thanksgiving without it! I still am thinking on what other pies to make. Maybe pecan or apple? Both? Haha!! Lets face it, Thanksgiving is also about the food! What a wonderful time to enjoy our bounty that God has blessed us with!

 I know you will all be busy this week as well, so enjoy yourselves and feel the warmth of your loved ones whether they are near or far. Know that you are in my thoughts.

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.

Depressing Lesson and it is So Cold

Have you ever just had one of those times where you weren't sure if it was meant to be? That is how I felt with my whole sewing machine experience, lately.

My sewing machine was more expensive to repair than it was worth. Perfect time to think about buying a new one, right? Well, I did think I had found a really nice machine and even at a good price. I ordered it and finally got it all set up. Boy was I ever excited!!
I tried to use it, and it would mess up. Then I would retry, check, and try again. I had to use a phone assistance since I bought it online. (Bad plan)

Finally, they agreed that the machine indeed, not functioning correctly. The weeks of going through this, really put a damper on the fun of getting a new sewing machine.

You may have remembered that I was excited to start my first quilt? Still, no quilt, and I decided to return the machine, while I could still get my money back. 

I learned through this process that buying something online or on tv or over the phone, is probably not a very good idea for me. The closest warranty service center was an entire state away. Any support on learning how to use this new machine, which happened to be a sewing, quilting, embroidery combo was, at best, difficult to say the least.

So now I have no sewing machine again and was left feeling a bit depressed over the entire situation. But we have decided to add a little more money in and go shopping locally to find not only a machine that is more reliable and user friendly, but one with a nice helpful support team.

I think I have narrowed down my choice on the machine I want to get. I am waiting for this next week or two for the local dealer to get a new product line in, then I will decide between the older and the newer.

So patience is something I am really having to deal with, but it will be worth it this time!

Then maybe I can start using my creative skills again! I can't wait. Hoping everything goes a lot smoother this time!

Have you had any bad experiences like this? I sure hope not.

But you know, even with all this that has happened, I know my end experience will be much better. So for that I am so truly thankful!

I pray you are all having a great week! We are freezing here in Colorado! High today is 35*F, bhrrrrr!!!

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

Hello! Are you there?

Hello!

It's been awhile since I talked to you! How are you? I been pretty good. Summer has been busy and lots of crazy weather. The kids are back in school and it is time for me to start thinking about Fall projects.

What are you doing? Have you had a good summer? Went anywhere fun?

I am thinking about some fun new sewing and embroidery projects. I am so blessed to get an new combo sewing embroidery machine! Yay!! I am even thinking about starting my very own first time quilt!!

I been thrifting. That has brought me a few great finds. I will be back to share some of those with you all real soon.

Have a blessed day. Tell me what you are getting ready to do.

Blessings,
Little Susie Home Maker

Spring Time Joy

Hello there! Have you been enjoying Spring time this year? I am so happy that we are finally having some nice weather and haven't had any snow for a few weeks!! Yay!! 

I have had some time spent with some of my favorite people and enjoying a conversational cup of tea. A tea party can be just the thing one needs to stir up some smiles and fun conversation.

We are getting ready for my daughters Graduation Party, so having fun with my mom and sisters deciding what kind of goodies to make. It will be here in two weeks! She already had one Graduation for her Associates Degree from college last week. It was so exciting. Next week, she will have her Graduation from High School. She is Summa Cum Laude. A very amazing feat and all of 17 years old. 

Please pardon me a moment while I brag, because I am a very proud Momma. My whole family are all so proud of her hard work and accomplishments, too. We are just so excited to celebrate her achievements!!

I sure been busy keeping up with all of life's demands. I been working hard to adjust to my dads absence from our daily lives. Trying hard to handle all that life throws my ways. All the while, I stop to notice and be thankful for every blessing. It can be hard to sometimes find that silver lining, but I must insist that we all should try real hard to always look for it.

Grief is a very difficult thing to get through, as many of you surely already know. But we are so blessed and know that Daddy would want us all to be our very best.

Hopefully, I will have more time to blog more often again, really soon. I miss my blogging buddies!

Here is my wish: That you all are happy, healthy and blessed!!

Little Susie Home Maker