I just love this thread!! Jeanne you must come to the holiday forum. It's been a little slow lately but Spring and Easter tables will be wonderful!! I do not have as many inside collections as I used too but have some new things I'm looking for. Number one collection CHRISTMAS decorations. It's the first thing that brought me to the Holiday forum. I love vintage decorations. Shiney bright orniments, nativities and angels. And thanks to the folks over there have started a snow village... small scale because of space. Number two love is depression glass. I do not have alot.. Started collecting sugar and creamers too many years ago!! Havn't bought many lately. I will have to wash them all and take a picture. Number three is charm braclets... I have been looking on ebay and antique shops for vintage ones....and buttons. I need to learn more about vintage buttons. There are several projects I want to do as well as make a bracelet from buttons. And of course anything JUNK!!! Lots of pretty colored glass and things to break... and rusty too!!

Well, we didn't go with an insert, since a) I couldn't find one in Dec. in CA, and b) I think this planter is much smaller than a true half whiskey barrel. DH rigged up a liner patch along the whole bottom, and it's been holding water since Dec. 26th. Yippee! LOL When we got there, I had to bribe Mom to sit still inside the house while we set up the surprise gift. Mom doesn't sit still, so I threatened her with Duct Tape. :D As soon as we were done, I set her loose, and she quickly scampered outside to find her "treasure". Thank god, she loved it. :) Dad, ever energy conscious, unplugged it the first night after everyone else went to bed. Mom basically told him, "Homey don't play that!" Mom reports that he doesn't mess with it now. LOL It's not what I had planned (wanted it pondless & in-ground...or with the hand pump behind the barrel, not on it...etc.), but it worked out well. It's set up so that when they go onto the back patio to light a fire in the pit (off to the left in the pic), they can hear the fountain across the fence in the front. My brother also got Mom some neat little bamboo shade lights to hang in the Pyracantha above the bench! It looks very pretty at night. Ok, I'm done with my novella. :D Brenda

I typed a long response and then my electricity went down for about two minutes. grrrr Barb, your cutting board is gorgeous! HUGE pic. But gorgeous. A furniture making course -- wow, good for you! I hope you do it. Amity, getting your clay pots at Goodwill was a great idea. You can paint them with house paint, decorate them with craft paint, and seal them inside and out with spar varnish. If you saw my thread about curb appeal projects, that's how I did mine. You can use stencils, and make polka dots with a q-tip, and checks with a flat brush. I'll put a link in for you. Nan, loved the Furoshiki bags video. I'll bet your DS was so proud of himself! Hats off to those of you crocheting and embroidering. We want pictures, please. Mari, thanks for that link! $200 for the basket? You've got a great 'Plan B' there. Tell us more about how you filled the baskets, please. I was wondering if there is a way to make slippers with rice-filled or whatever soles that can be stuck in the micro for cold tired winter feet. A super gift for a baby or toddler is buy a Raggedy (Ann or Andy) and enhance all the features and the heart by embroidering over them with red and black floss. This makes the features just pop. Then embroider the baby's name and b-date on the tummy. Very appreciated. I think some of them have music boxes in them. The Best Present Ever for grandparents is a calendar you make yourself. Use 8.5x11 card stock and get it comb bound by your local cheapie print shop. Put a 5x8 glossy photo of your kid(s) for each month. Dec on Santa's lap, Jan playing in the snow, Aug at the beach and so on. Leave a blank page between each month so if grandma writes appointments on her calendar it won't go through and damage the photo. At the end of the year she'll have a record of the kids growth. Make one for you too! You gals making the jam, are you doing the parafin seal on it? Or is this freezer jam? Please be super careful when pouring a big heavy pot of that hot, hot stuff! Here is a link that might be useful: painting pots

I have a doll that was knit with that pattern, and I think this one is very close...http://www.gailsdollpatterns.com/PatternFree_4.html if you found the original let me know I am also looking.