Old Farmhouse Giveaway links

Below are the two treasury that four people will win.  Each winner will get half of the item in the treasury.  Come alone and enjoy the fun.

Halloween fun this weekend in Farmington and Ann Arbor, Michigan

Halloween Fun can be found all weekend, in and around Michigan.  First at the Farmington Farmers and Artisan Market on Saturday, located on Grand River between Farmington Rd and Grove St.  The market is open from 9 am till 2 pm.  Starting at 10 there will be face painting, decorate a pumpkin.  At 11 am there will be gourd tossing!  Music will be Larry Arbour and cider will be from the RB Miller Farm.  Great day to spend with family, have some fun, while shopping with your local farmer and artisan.  Start or continue your holiday shopping with some wonderful hand made goodies you will find at the market. 

Then on Sunday The Sunday Artisan Market in Ann Arbor, located in the Kerrytown Area, will also have some Halloween Fun.  Come down and decorate a pumpkin, scavenger hunt, a custom parade with trick and treating.  Great time to meet the artist and their work.  Bring your Christmas listing and get some ideas, or start your shopping.  

Both areas will be a lot of fun, plus you are supporting your local artist, and farmers. See you this weekend at one of the markets.

Please note Farmington Farmer and Artisan Market will be open till the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  The Sunday Artisan Market is open till the Sunday before Christmas.  Both are outside, so dress warm and enjoy the day.

Giveaway with The Old Farmhouse Group

Starting tomorrow and  you can click on a special treasury (like two) and have a chance to win one of them.  There will be two winners pick from all the comments.   The Old Farmhouse Group had 32 shops donate something to hang on a Christmas Tree, yes that is 32 shops.  Please as you look around at all the wonderful goodies that have been hand made, visit the shops of those who have donated something to this give away.  It is never to early to shop for Christmas.

I will be back sometime tomorrow with a link to the treasury you can pop over and visit, leave a comment and have a chance to win all the goodies from one of the treasury.

Monday Made in Michigan with Sew Enchanted and The Grand Crayonyon

Welcome friends as October slips away from us.  For those of us in Michigan we have had some wonderful fall weather, ok not all weekends have been wonderful.  Please sit back and visit some great shops and artist from the great state of Michigan.  The first shop is Sew Enchanted.  Mercedes is a wonderful clay artist who has a love for mushrooms and fairy's.  You will find whimsical fairy house, robots and some beaded bell earrings.  A delight for young and old.  Do you have someone on your list this holiday season who is into fairy's, then this is the shop for you to visit.








The next shop is Grand Crayonyon. Matt and Colleen are new to Etsy, but have a very unique art form. They work with crayons and stencils. By melting the crayons and letting them run down the stencil they have a one of kind art form. This would make a wonderful gift for both male and females, from young to old. Very different, and very affordable. I can see this hanging in a child's room, or a art studio. Who does not love to play with crayons and make art? You will enjoy your visit with them and there art.






You can shop all the shops from Michigan on Etsy, by shopping local. Many shops do custom work and will love to work with you. Just remember to leave enough time for them to make you something and for it to be shipped by Christmas.

How did Jefferson Know? Something to think about........

This is amazingly true....           HOW DID JEFFERSON  KNOW??????     Especially read the last quote from 1802.   When we get piled  Upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,  We shall become as corrupt as Europe . Thomas Jefferson    The democracy will cease to exist  When you take away from those  Who are willing to work and give to those who would not.  Thomas Jefferson    It is incumbent on every  Generation to pay its own debts as it goes.  A principle which if acted on would save  One-half the wars of the world.  Thomas Jefferson    I predict future happiness for  Americans if they can prevent the government  From wasting the labors of the people under the  Pretense of taking care of them.  Thomas Jefferson      My reading of history convinces me  That most bad government results from too much  Government.  Thomas Jefferson    No free man shall ever be debarred  The use of arms.  Thomas Jefferson    The strongest reason for the  People to retain the right to keep and bear arms  Is, as a last resort, to protect themselves  Against tyranny in government.  Thomas Jefferson    The tree of liberty must be  ; Refreshed from time to time with the blood of  Patriots and tyrants.  Thomas Jefferson    To compel a man to subsidize with  His taxes the propagation of ideas which he  Disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.  Thomas Jefferson    Thomas  Jefferson said in 1802:'I believe that  Banking institutions are more dangerous to  Our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow  Private banks to control the issue of their  Currency, first by inflation, then by  Deflation, the banks and corporations that will  Grow up around the banks will deprive the people  Of all property - until their children  Wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers  Conquered.' I WISH WE COULD GET THIS OUT TO EVERYONE!!!

Dragonfly Ridge

Please join me in a visit with Lynell from Dragonfly Ridge.  Living in North Saskatchwan, Canada on a small farm where they make their own power.  Her love of nature and mother earth has her learning something new everyday.  Lynell is part Blackfoot Indian and she does have some Blackfoot Jewelry in her shop.  Check out the turtle rosette that she has made.  Today I learned that turtles are mothers to all creatures.  Below are link to her Etsy and Artfire shops.  Enjoy your visit.





DragonflyRidge - ArtFire Seller Shop

Dirtroad Team - Scorpion Moon Design and Shawnz

Welcome friends.  Can you believe we are in the middle of October.  I'm still working in August!  Please take a minute to visit two more great shops from the Dirtroad Team.  The first shop is Scorpion Moon Design.  JoAnn comes to us from Easter Connecticut, and her love of metals and precious, semi precious stones make for one of kind pieces of jewelry.  JoAnn does custom work either for something for you, or a up coming wedding.  Great way to make that special day go over the top.






The next shop Shawnz comes from Tennessee. Shawn loves to sew plus loves to be with her daughter. So her two loves come together to make some wonderful quilts, fairy pillows, crayon bags and much much more. Shawn is also going to have a new baby in her life very soon. Her daughter is going to be a big sister and I can see some new work coming from this great next chapter in their lives. We wish them all the happiness in the world.









Remember you can type in Drat Dirtroadteam into the search bar on Etsy for more amazing art from small towns around the world. If you live is a small town come and join us.

Farmington Farmers & Artisans Marker 10-8-2011

Hope to see everyone tomorrow at the Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market, located on Grand River Avenue, between Farmington Road and Powers Road, in Downtown Farmington, Michigan.   The market will be open from 9 till 2:00Pm.  The weather is going to be great this weekend so plan on coming out for your pumpkin, apple cider, plus your other fresh vegetables, and fruit.  Remember you can get fresh meat, eggs, and milk.  This is the weekend to drop off your scarecrow, judging will be next weekend, and the winner will be announced on October 22.  This week Chef Michael Christy from the Huron River Hunting and Fishing Club will be cooking Mozzerella Brushetta.  Music will be by Bob Monteleone.  Enjoy some great fall weather with your family and friends.

Some upcoming events on Saturday October 15, 2011 bring in your best apple pie and enter to win a prize. Watching the judging on the scarecrows, and enjoy the day with your family and friends.

On Saturday 10-22 Oakland Community College Culinary Studies  will be doing pumping carving demo.  Stop over,  watch and pick up some tips on carving your pumpkin.  

See you all tomorrow for great fall weather and good times.

Dirtroad Team with North to Alaska and PW Originals

Please come and check the two shops that I'm featuring today from the Dirtroad Team. Both come from a small town and are very far a part not only in where they live but in their art. The first shop is North to Alaska, where Debra and her husband live on a boat, in Kodiak, Alaska. Debra has gone from being a conductor in a large church to bus driver, and from stain glass to beads. Some things have to change when you decide to live on a boat. Because her stain glass would not fit on the boat, she has found the world of beading. Her wonderful bead work can be found in bookmakers, match box covers, key fobs, cuffs and more. You will also find some patterns if you would like to try the art of beading yourself. How fun would it be just to spend a little time living on a boat up in Alaska! The next shop is in Woodstock, Virginia, called PW Originals. Pam has turn her life love of sewing and fabric into making some wonderful, and one of kind items. She has the knowledge of knowing which fabric will drape or can be pleated correctly. You will find wonderful pillows to add to your sofa, couch, bed, wristlet, scarves, and shoulder bags. I have one of her wristlets and love it. Her bright and cheerful pincushions will make a wonderful addition to your sewing or craft room. When you are done visiting these two wonderful shops, type "drat dirtroadteam" into the search bar and find more amazing artist living in small towns around the world. Each has their own style and art form. Something for everyone is offered in this team. Do you live in a small town somewhere, please pay this team a visit. We meet in the morning for coffee (very informal), or sometimes we share a glass of wine in the evening. Come and join in the fun, and the stories from around the world.

Michigan Mondays

Grab something to drink and come with me to  visit two wonderful shops here in Michigan.  The first shop is Hip To Piece Square.  Share the shop owner calls her sewing machine her best friend.  Once you step into her on line shop you will see why.  It is filled with beautiful Kimono House shoes, pouches for art and sewing supplies.  Plus mini quilts and journals for quilting.





The next shop is BarbaraPortraits, Barb is a self taught artist who has 15 years drawing people, pets and homes.  Her Etsy shop not only carries some of her drawings, but is fill with ornaments for each holiday.  She has hand painted each one and added just the right amount of glitter.  You will also find some unpainted so you can add your owe artist touch to them.  They are all handmade with gypsum stone for many years of use.





There are many more amazing and talented artist on Etsy and many from Michigan. Have fun shopping in the mitten state.

Saying Good Bye

Late last night I received my last phone from them in the US.  The next phone call will be from Afghanistan.  Where  they will be station is still unknown to me.  This is my 5th and 6th deployment and it is still not easy to say good bye.  You understand the process of what is going on, but not the why.  Please keep them in your prayers for a safe return sometime next October.