It's a THIS and THAT kinda day!!

OMGOSH.....I have two cats that are going C R A Z Y!!!!  Running and bouncing all over the place....ducking under furniture and then just freezing in place, huffing and then looking to see if I'm watching them. They are doing their best to make me smile or laugh because they KNOW they are in the dog house. OR would that be cat house?? The reason they are trying to get back into my good graces is because it seems they thought they were cat burglars last night and snuck into one of my desk drawers where I keep some of my string. Yes...these dang cats can open desk drawers and it seems pull the tape off that I have on them that I THOUGHT was keeping them OUT!! They found my brand new big ball of string that I make my Whodoo's with and BOY did they have some fun. That is until they got caught this morning!!!

Just LOOK at my ball of string. OMGOSH...stop laughing would ya...it's not funny. Ok well perhaps it is just a bit. HEHE  I have been working on getting all the tangles out and man oh man what a job. As soon as I do get it untangled then I'm going to be working on some of my Whodoo characters. Don't know what those are? Click HERE to find out!! I made one for the Chazman's best buddy for Christmas this past year (see that one HERE) and Chaz wants me to make him another one. He is suppose to be coming to spend the night either tonight or tomorrow night so I have to get BUSY!!!

In between trying to untangle the string. (HEY..it's still not THAT funny) I decided to make some cookies so the boys would have something to snack on. I made several batches yesterday and it seems that we have a cookie monster in the house. I really suspect that we have more than one actually..hehe!! NOOO, I don't mean me...I'm being very good watching what I eat, although I will confess that I did eat one. Just so I could make sure they tasted good. Yeah yeah...that's why I ate it. ^_^   They are peanut butter cookies and so so good and so so easy to make. YOU should make some....you will like them...I promise. You do like peanut butter, ri iight??  Then you will like them. Here's the recipe:

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup sugar

1 beaten egg

1 cup peanut butter

Mix sugar and egg together until smooth.

Add peanut butter and stir until blended.

Roll dough into balls (about 1 inch)

Place on cookie sheet, press with fork

(dip fork in sugar and criss cross over cookie)

Bake in 350 oven for 12 minutes

Take out..let cool. EAT

Don't those look YUMMY!! Oh and I did NOT forget to mention any flour because you don't use any flour. Use only the three ingredients above...that's all....easy peasy!!

I'm tackling another monster today as well as a cookie monster.....the dreaded laundry monster. Ewww...I so hate that one...well..not really hate. I just wish someone would invent a drier that after it finishes drying the clothes it would automatically fold them too...hehe...wouldn't that be grand!! So as you can see, I am having one of those THIS and THAT kinda days. How's yours going so far?

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

It's Christmas in July here under the old Southern Ooaks tree.

It's Christmas time!!! OH NOOOOO....don't panic...it's not December yet. It is however, Christmas in July here under the old Southern Ooaks tree. I have listed three of my original one of a kind Santa series in my Etsy shop and just for this month I have discounted them $50.00. I also ship FREE in the US...lower 48 and also will ship the least expensive I can internationally. After this month these three pieces will go back up to their original prices. Here are the three that are up for adoption. ^_^

Remember this lil lady....lil Miss LuLu?  If you are new visiting the old ooak tree then just click HERE and you can read all about this lil miss.

Every piece on this one was handmade by me. I so enjoyed stitching up Lulu's blanket and her little matching pillow. For some reason though every time I left the studio and came back she was jumping on the sofa..hehe

I so love to sculpt Santa. So much character in his old wise face. I never use molds for any of my pieces and I try to make sure each piece is a true one of a kind.

Santa is reading a real book to lil Miss Lulu....the Christmas ABC's. Hopefully she will fall asleep soon as Santa still has a very busy night ahead. (He will make sure that Lulu's is the last house he visits next year)

All the pieces are attached to one another and mounted onto a frame (not a frame though..it's now a floor). It would make a great addition to any Santa collectors collection. Santa and lil Miss LuLu!!!

The second ooaks is called Santa and his antique toys. I so love making tiny vintage toys. Tigers and elephant pull toys were very popular back in the early 1800's. I think they would be today too...especially if ya live here in Alabama. (Al the elephant-ALABAMA and Aubie the tiger-Auburn) I'm thinking of making a few Alabama and Auburn Santa's this year. We will see if the muse likes the idea. ^_^   Santa looks funny as just a head and hands, eh? Amazing how our pieces transform as we put them together.

Here is Santa in a WIP (work in progress) stage. I try and use vintage fabrics for all of Santa's clothes. I find them at antique stores, estate sales and sometimes yard sales believe it or not. Love when someone doesn't realize that what they think is old and junk is really a treasure. I even have a few friends that send me little packages with fabric they have and aren't going to use. THANK YOU too by the way and you know who you are. {{{HUGS}}} I know that some might think me a tad bit crazy (you sooo do not have to respond to that either by the way...HA) for making ruffled shirts or collars when most are covered up by Santa's jacket or cloak but I know it's there and so does Santa. I try and make a bit peek out here and there so you will know too.

Santa turned out quite handsome I do think....holding the antique toys going to good little boys and girls.

This would be another great piece to add to that someone special to you collection. Hint Hint!! Everything is permanently attached to Santa and his wooden base.

The last piece I have put in the Christmas in July sale is Santa and the Naughty Nice Book. I so enjoy putting Santa in arrangements that capture him in more than just the Christmas eve delivery theme. If you don't remember the original posting for this one then just click HERE.

I love how this Santa turned out...such a jolly old soul. You can just see the happy face as he his listening to the elf tell his stories of the children.

Here is the dreaded naughty nice ledger...well...I guess it would only be dreaded if ya knew you were going on the naughty list...hehe.

I used a oak base and hand etched the floor design. Had so much fun doing this. I'm thinking of etching more wood in the future.

All the pieces in this group are permanently attached to the floor base. Everything with the exception of the chair Santa is sitting in was handmade by me.

I know it's early for Christmas but it's NEVER to early to shop for those special folks that are collectors of all things Santa. Wouldn't it be great to give them a one of a kind piece?? Oh YES it would. ^_^

Until next time...............Hugs,
Regi

Two sales in a week..WOOT WOOT!!!

I am sooooo freakin excited!! Oh yes I am (doing the chacha dance) I sold TWO (that's 2) of my ooaks last week and am just tickled pink. A friend has been eyeing one of my Teacup faeries for some time now and even asked if I would send her hubbikins a link to it and drop a hint that she sure would like to have it for her birthday. Of course I couldn't disappoint my friend so I did just as she asked. Sent him an email with a link and told him that his wife had this on her birthday wish list and he would so be "THE MAN" if he got it for her. Not sure if telling him he would be "THE MAN" or if he just loves his wife that much but he bought it. Thank you thank you!!

Then....the very next day my sweet friend and Southern Ooaks collector, Jeanne, (she has a great blog herself...YOU should go and check it out...ya'll will LOVE her) bought my mermaid and seahorse piece for her daughter for her birthday. So LOVE birthdays!!! So love that these two thought about my work for birthday gifts. Thank you thank you...AGAIN!!! ^_^

Jeanne was my first collector and will always hold a special place in my heart because of that. (Not to slight any of my other collectors...I love ya'll too) She has adopted several of my ooaks and she makes me feel so special that she keeps coming back to adopt more. I also consider her a friend and for the past several years I have had the joy of watching her Bella grow up through photos and videos. Bella is a one of a kind herself and always makes me giggle or smile. She is a little beauty already and has the most gorgeous head full of hair.....a head full that would look amazing wearing one of my hairbows. I mean...I love making them...and for some reason I can not get the Chazman to wear any...hehe (Just kidding, I would never try that..he is definitely a male...through and through...plus he got his long hair cut short...ROFL...I still wouldn't try it though) Since it seems that Jeanne is partial to my mermaids I thought a ocean theme would be perfect for the bows. Yeppers, I made two of them. I have had this scarf with such amazing colors and sea prints on it that I have been saving and am so glad I did....save it!! I turned it into a pretty bow and then put one of the spiral seashells I found on one of my walks. For the other one, I used a bright teal ribbon....bunched it up and then made a vintage lace center and attached two more shells found on a beach walk (a moon shell and a cockle shell) I also filled one of my lil glass vials with sand from Gulf Shores and attached that to it as well. I so hope Bella likes them and will wear them....and often!!

I so love giving a little something special when someone buys several of my ooaks. I also put some of my regular paper bookmarks, paper corner bookmarks and a little bag of shells in the box too. Along with a little something just for Jeanne. Hope she finds it a purrrrfect little gift. HEHE ^_^

Yesterday was my mailing day it seems too. I mailed both of these purchases off as well as a goodie box to my sweet friend, Johanna, who by the way is writing a very interesting twist on a Dr Who story. If you're a fan of Dr Who, please go and read her version. I'm reading it and so loving it!! Go sit and read for a bit....I promise you will enjoy it!! (Click Here...to be taken on a wonderful adventure) As far as the goodie box goes I can not tell ya what's in it because Johanna is probably reading this post and even though she knows she is getting a goodie box (YES YES I just couldn't keep that a secret from her..dang it) she doesn't know what's in it. I know....I'm baddddd!!!!  :P

I also mailed out three other small packages to three of my artist friends that played the "Pay it forward" game on Facebook back in December. I so hope they like their little gifts and this I am keeping a secret and not saying who the three were and what they are getting. HEY...I told ya I was baddddd...hehe

Until next time...............HUGS,
Regi