HOW IN THE SAM HILL DID THAT HAPPEN???

You see that blog post right below this one??? The one about the personal signature???
I totally did NOT post that!
How did that get there?
No one has my password.
I'm freaking out that someone had/has the ability to put that on my blog.
Can anyone tell me how that happened?
Or who do I go to to find out?
I feel like someone has broken into my house.
euwww.

Hurry! He may still be here hiding in the bathtub!

***thank you, everyone, for all of your suggestions and attempts to stop me from looking in the bathtub everytime i came to blog!
i have followed all of your suggestions and did a little research on my account page and saw that quite a while ago i had given flickr permission to post pics on my blog, meaning that i could post photos directly from flickr without going through my software program or whatever first.
i am going to live the rest of my life "knowing" that flickr posted that wee post about personalizing your signature - i've stopped looking in the bathtub.
i've also revoked flickr's blog permission though i'm not sure that is what it was. . .
and since i cannot find a link to bloggers customer service, i'm going on with my life like everything is right in the world! LOL

SOMETIMES I'M JUST IN THE MOOD TO CREATE "SWEET AND PRETTY"

Hi, you sweet girls!
When my middle child, Blake, who is 21 now, was 5 years old, he wanted a kitty for his birthday present.
I took him to the local humane society and followed that darling child around the cat and kitten pens two times while he studiously made his decision.
When he had finally decided which kitty he wanted, I asked him what he wanted to name her.
After several moments of quiet contemplation he said in his soft little voice, "I think Sweet and Pretty Kitty".

You know, sometimes you look at something and you can't help but think "sweet and pretty".
That's what I thought when I looked at these cards I finished this evening.
Fabulous papers, beautiful tags, precious girls, rub-on swirls, ribbon, lace and flowers, rick-rack and tiny seed beads {on the card below}.
I wish you could see the detail in the cards better, but, you know what?
I don't have the time nor do I have the inclination to take more photos and all that entails to show you the detail.....just look closer at the pictures. LOL

That's my hint that I'm exhausted and am going to bed.

I am reading a fabulous book *Tiger's Child by Torey Hayden* and my Mary mag is waiting for me to devour it!

So, goodnight, my sweet friends.

Thank you for reading my blog post!

And, if you're a regular reader, thank you for your support.

Nightie-night!

XOXO,

Jan

Pumpkins, Turkeys, Santas .....and the MAYO CLINIC

Hi, girls!
It's funny, I just posted a few days ago but had gone so long before that post that I now feel like I need to play catch up so here I am posting again - though for good reasons!

***I just posted this thing and was reading it and decided it was like a novel - it was entirely too long so I'm cuttin' the heck out of it! I don't want to lose you on the first paragraph! ***

First, I wanted to show you just a couple of the cards and tags I've designed for the holiday season. I know, I know, you live to see my work! LOL. But, really, these are just so cute that I just have to share them with y'all!

And, I just had a thought. I should list my favorite online stores - we all should - on the right side of my blog so that others can enjoy some of these shops I've found. I shouldn't be the only one paying their light bills. LOL. {I'll try to remember to do that before I hang up.}

This first card is just a cute "happy fall" card - something a little different for those that don't celebrate Halloween. It has the orange and black colors but I think that the precious pumpkin stamp along with the vintage Bingo card "tag", millinery flowers, hat pin, glitter and pom-poms make it simply precious!
This Thanksgiving tag made out of a vintage postcard is not only perfect for sending to someone you want to thank for being so special to you, but it's also fabulous set on top of the dinner plates at the Thanksgiving meal with a short note written on the back telling your family and dinner guests how much you appreciate them. What a wonderful keepsake!
This line of Christmas cards has different girls on each card but the rest, from the rick-rack to the Santa hat {and red pom-pom), are all the same. They're so stinkin' cute - I just love them!
I suppose I'm showing you this card just to show you that, yes, I do custom orders.
This card was ordered by a good customer for her daughter so, of course, the colors and other bits all have special meaning - and that tag? It comes out of the pocket! The background paper is vintage flocked wallpaper that I bought from Under The Red Roof, an Etsy store. The girl on the far left is from Shabby Cottage Studio and, one more thing, the little girl on the tag is from Paper Whimsy.

That's it for show and tell! Did y'all totally love that? Though most aren't yet listed in my Etsy store, if you would like to order any of the above, just email me at thomranch@hctc.net and I'll take care of you!

Please remember, and respect,
that the art you see on this blog are the property of Jan Thomason -
Please don't copy.

.

.

MAYO CLINIC

If you know anything about the Mayo Clinic (Phoenix) that you can share with me, please email me at thomranch@hctc.net.

Or, if you know about any other clinic, especially ones dealing with auto-immune diseases {and more}, please email me. And, please send a link to this post if you have a friend or family member that has information.

I really appreciate your help in my research. I have been gifted some money that would hopefully cover my expenses assuming my insurance would apply {haven't checked yet}, some free frequent flyer miles, and a house to live in (in Phoenix where there is a Mayo Clinic) so am now starting my research and continuing my prayers that I am able to get the kind of health care a place like the Mayo can offer.

Thanks, y'all!

Have a fabulous day and don't forget to leave a comment - I've been feelin' a bit lonely as about 95% of you are lurking and not commenting! LOL "Lurking" - isn't that the greatest? Makes me laugh out loud.

XOXO,

I MAY HAVE TURNED 55, BUT FRANK THE TANK PLANTED A GARDEN

You know I turned 55 this week. But, that doesn't compare to Frank the Tank's gardening attempts. You may wonder how the two are even related. Well, let me tell you, girlfriends, they're related because my birthday doesn't begin to compare to the Tank's gardening adventure and since I really didn't want to focus on my birthday, I kept remembering our, excuse me, Frank's, gardening exploits. I thought y'all would enjoy the best story.....so, in honor of my 55th and in honor of the most precious and wonderful husband on God's green earth, I give you, "Squash is Not Just a Vegetable Anymore"

I actually tried to forget my birthday this year even though I was way past grateful for being here to even have a birthday - but God knew all of that and I had a lot of work to do to get orders filled, make new art, TRY to catch up on some blog reading (that still hasn't happened), attempt to find some balance in my life, and I just didn't want to make a big deal out of my birthday.
"Hi, my name is Jan and I have guilt issues, you know, non-deserving issues, when people show me that they love me." The day didn't go quite as I had wanted - I got cards, gifts, way too many phone calls (those of you that know me, know that talking on the phone is not one of my favorite things, like ice cream), dinner made for me, a birthday cake and help in my studio by my best friend who totally doesn't get what I do. It was a nice day, a day full of tears (lots of sobbing - I am a big baby, I know that), but when I thought about my "big" day and how to blog about it, what I really wanted to talk about was Frank the Tank and his garden.
Frank, my husband for the uninformed, planted his first garden this year. Hard to believe, I know, seeing how we're ranchers.....maybe that's because planting the garden is woman's work? Forget it.
He took over the exercise yard next to the chicken house (we have no chickens a the moment - now THAT'S a funny story) Anyway, he tilled *with a shovel*, he got rid of the weeds, pulled up all of the old marijuana plants (just checkin'), did all the stuff you do when you plant a garden, and gently, ever so lovingly (I'm guessing) planted his wee baby plants. Then he started his daily ritual of watering and weeding and fertilizing (do you fertilize?).
Fast forward to crops producing................................. I'm in the master and he walks in with something behind his back, pulls it out like it's tickets to Ireland and shows me his first squash.
The man is puh-roud, let me tell ya.
Well, this goes on for days; seems like there's a new squash ready for pickin' every morning and well, he's so proud, that he must show it to me.........every morning of every day for weeks. Now, this is great. He's proud, I'm proud of him, but hey, he planted more than squash and all I'm seein' is squash.............and I can only come up with so many different and enthusiastic responses to his morning kill.......... "oh, honey, I think that's the best one yet".............."oh, Frank, beautiful!"............."wow."........

Then comes the day that makes it all worthwhile. The day that makes it okay that we've been eating squash every day, all summer, every day................. he comes in with a handful of (if you guess correctly here, I will send you 5# of squash and pay the postage)........... squash and says to me, holding it out in front of him like it's the Holy Grail and just as serious as can be, this big ol' rancher asks (kind of condensendingly) (that a word?)...............

"Did you know that squash is a fruit?"

(oh, please) "Re-e-e-ah-lly?"

"Yes. It is."

***that question from Frank the Tank............ you've got to know that he is a rancher. He's not a dietician nor has he ever shown a leaning towards knowing the gene make-up of food*** oh, and he's got a laptop now - for about six months. hasn't learned how to empty his deleted folder in email but has recently discovered...........GOOGLE.....

"Hmmm. Tell me, Frankie............how did you know that??? I always thought squash was a vegetable."

***here comes his response...........and when you say the second word in his response, use your Texas accent but put your lips together (as you say the second word) like you are whistling and give that word a little bit of a German accent - this will all make sense in a minute. Oh, and say it outloud (you can practice until you get it right)***

Frank's response:

"I Googled it."

"You Googled it?", I ask mimicking him.

"Yes, I Googled it. Google has a lot of information about squash."

Oh...........My.............Gosh!!!............. ROTF!!! I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD I COULDN'T BREATHE. But, it's okay because he started laughing, too, and we were both laid out! ................."I Googled it."

Oh, my gosh. "I Googled it."...................

The End and I love you all *especially if you tried to say, "I Googled it.".................outloud.

XOXO,

Jan

I NORMALLY WOULDN'T MENTION MY BIRTHDAY...

My birthday is this Monday.
Yes, I know, I know, they made it a holiday - but I won't talk about that lest I sound like a braggart.

I'll be 55.
Years.
Years old.
55 years old.
You still can't believe it, can you?
I KNOW!
Because I think I'm really 24.
Barbie and I have always been the same age and I'm totally sure that Barbie's 24 again this year.
Do the math.

The only reason I mention my birthday is because today, five days before the holiday, I received a package in the mail from one of the dearest women I have ever met.
And, that's about the extent of our relationship, but, in reality, it's more than that.

I met Sammy Stafney at the Art and Soul Retreat in Portland last fall.
I know we shared at least one meal together but the rest of that weekend is pretty much a blur.
And, I know that we have exchanged charms that we made for the retreat and we may have had a class together.
(Those of you that know me really well know that I can't remember anything.)

We've kept in touch through emails now and then and planned on seeing each other at this year's retreat in October.
Sammy found out that I had to back out of this year's retreat at the last minute and that I had a birthday coming up.
That dear, sweet woman sent me a box full of presents which I received today.

That's the reason for telling you that I have a birthday coming up - it is so that I can tell you how blessed I was today by an art friend - and isn't that the way it usually is?
That we, as friends joined through our art, bless each other???

I cried throughout the opening of each gift that she had filled the box with - mostly I think, because it was SO unexpected.

She got me!
She totally blessed me with her thoughtfulness and I wanted to share with you what a dear, sweet woman she is and to show you what she put together to bless me.

Below you will see pictures I took of all of the wonderful surprises that Sammy sent me.
Thank you, Sammy, for being such a darling friend and for making me feel so special.

Above is a precious necklace that she made for me!



Gorgeous silk material w/ black velvet roses!

Lots and lots of fibers!!

Fibers, ribbons and lots more!

And a sweet handmade card.




XOXO to Sammy and to all of my other precious art friends who bless me daily,

SUZAN STARTED IT!.......IT'S ALL SO EMBARRASSING!

Hi, y'all! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted! I am so sorry - I know you live for my fascinating posts about my, well, my fascinating life. I feel like I've let you down...
So, okay, I'm reading Suzan's last blog post instead of working {blogs - my life hasn't been the same since I discovered them} and she's showing her studio *mess* and I'm checkin' it all out. Oh, my.
Her studio looked worse than mine - swear!
I mean, mine looks bad, really, really bad, but this week, Suzan wins! LOL
So, I get this idea that we should all come clean and post our studios/work areas without straightening or picking up! Quite the dare, huh.
I'll go first.
I don't think any words are necessary.
Unfortunately. This last picture is Ben, my studio guard dog, always attached to me which means that every time I need to roll my chair to reach something..........oh, and he was shaved last week but they didn't do his tail OR his head *look right above his collar - spook*. And add two more dogs and two cats. They love me. It's because I rescued them {they're all rescue animals}. You'd think I'd learn.

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of my life with you! Oh, an after you post pics of your studio/workspace be sure and let me know so I can come look!

XOXO,

THE LORD IS NEAR.....

I wanted to show y'all my newest card design before I listed it in my Etsy store.
My dear friend, Deena Warner, had this picture of this most sweet girl tenderly holding a beautiful dove close to her heart. I fell in love with it and asked her if I could use it in a piece of art and she graciously agreed to share with me.

The scripture at the bottom of the front of the card that I created is from Psalms and I think it goes perfectly with the sweet picture.

I added soft glitter to the dress and cut the pretty blue paper with the scripture on it with decorative scissors.

Twelve of the cards I made are on this soft pink floral patterned paper.

And there are three cards with the green floral. I'm sure you can see that both the picture and the scripture are a bit larger.
It's called a mistake but as we all know, in art there are no mistakes. Thus, three cards that are just a wee bit different - LOL!

And, as always, a coordinating envelope to complete the package. I love this card. I love the picture and I love the scripture with the picture.
As I said before, it's going to be listed in my Etsy store, hopefully tonight.

Thanks for taking the time to read yet another fascinating post!

XOXO dear ones,

TRUE STORY

True story or not, I thought this was funny, but you know that sometimes the true stories may be objectionable to some because sometimes that's how life is. But, knowing my readers, I don't think anyone is going to be offended - this is one of those true stories that is funny.
A modern day cowboy has spent many days crossing the Texas plains without water.
His horse has already died of thirst.

He's crawling through the sand, certain that he has breathed his last breath - when all of a sudden he sees an object sticking out of the sand several yards ahead of him.

He crawls to the object, pulls it out of the sand, and discovers what looks to be an old brief case. He opens it and out pops a genie.
But this is no ordinary genie.
She is wearing an IRS ID badge and a dull gray dress.
There's a calculator in her pocketbook.
She has a pencil tucked behind one ear.

'Well, cowboy,' says the genie... 'You know how I work. You have three wishes.'

'I'm not falling for this', said the cowboy. 'I'm not going to trust an IRS genie.'

She smiled and said, 'What do you have to lose?? You've got no transportation, and it looks like you're a goner anyway!'

The cowboy thinks about this for a minute, and decides that the genie is right.

He said, 'OK, I wish I were in a lush oasis with plenty of food and drink.'

***POOF*** The cowboy finds himself in the most beautiful oasis he has ever seen.
And he is surrounded with jugs of wine and platters of delicacies.

The genie said, 'OK, cowpoke, what's your second wish ? '

'My second wish is that I was rich beyond my wildest dreams.'

***POOF*** The cowboy finds himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare gold coins and precious gems.

The genie said, 'OK, cowpunch, you have just one more wish. Better make it a good one!'

After thinking for a few minutes, the cowboy says, 'I wish that no matter where I go, beautiful women will want and need me.'

***POOF*** He turned into a tampon. True story.



The moral of the story: If the government offers you anything, there's going to be a string attached.



Now tell me, did I make any of you darlings smile?

xoxo,

ESTATE SALE FINDS AND OTHER FASCINATING THINGS

Hi, all you sweet things!
You know what? I have noticed that I'm not getting as many comments or emails in response to my last four blog posts.
Is anyone out there??? LOL
Are my posts getting boring???

Well, whatever the case, this one should perk y'all up! I'll warn you though, it's long. I've put two posts together to make one. I could have just left out the story about kitty but, well, I couldn't do it! Read on...

See this vintage globe? I bought it at an estate sale in Center Point this last Friday. I bought it because I needed something on this red table to take the place of a bowl that got broken.
An $80.00 bowl.
Oh, don't get excited - I would never spend $80.00 on a bowl - I had bought it for my father's Christmas present several years ago and decided that until I had to mail it I would put it in our living room where we could enjoy it because it was perfect for our Hill Country look.
In fact, it looked so good that I kept it and bought him something else.
Oh, don't try to make me think I'm the only one that's ever done that! LOL

Back to the globe! You can see how old it is by the fact that it says, "UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS"! How about that! And it only cost me FIVE DOLLARS. Oh, yeah, baby, it was a deal!
Is anyone wondering how the bowl got broken???
Look at the next picture.
That's how it got broken.
Psycho Kitty.

P-S-Y-C-H-O KITTY.
I was so "disappointed" in Psycho Kitty that I decided it was time to get him declawed.
I asked for no anesthesia.
They said no.
Okay, that was the "other things". Let's get to the really good stuff - the estate sale bargins.
This unopened roll of vintage wallpaper was free because the checker girl couldn't find a price. Oh, yeah, baby! My favorite part of it is the bird! Isn't it great?
You'll be seeing some of it for sale in my Etsy store.

Check out the huge domed glass I picked up at the estate sale for ten dollars! I then ran down to the antique store in Center Point and bought the beautiful platter to go with it. Now I just need to figure out what to put in it - I have a smaller one filled with doll heads so I can't do that - got any ideas??? Remember, it's really BIG.
At the antique store I hurried over to their wide selection of vintage postcards hoping that they might have some new ones.......obviously they did! And then I found two vintage bottles at the right price - they'll be beautified and put in my Etsy store, too. And, the vintage millinery on the hat - free. She couldn't find a price. heeheehee
Check out how pretty the single rose is that is on the hat - isn't it grand?
This pile was bought for the pictures and oh, the pattern tissue - all at a bargain!
And, look at this beautiful quilt! I bought it with someone dear to me in mind that I am going to gift it to. I'm excited!
This is a fuller view. Isn't it wonderful? It's handmade and was a steal at $35.00!
Last, but not least, this hat box full of lace for two dollars.
I declare, you just don't know when you go to an estate sale or garage sale. Sometimes you walk away with nothing and sometimes you walk away with your arms full and your wallet not that much lighter!

Okay, that's two posts in one day. I sure hope some of my dear readers will be reading them - let me know if you are with a comment or email, 'k?
I'm lonely! LOL


God bless you until next time, sweet friends.
xoxo,

TREASURES COME IN ALL FORMS

Hi, sweetheart(s)! "Sweetheart" - that's what I call someone when I can't remember their name. All of the teenagers in my life have figured that out and they've made it a big joke because most of the people I know are named "Sweetheart" - get it? LOL

My precious sister, Joan, sent me a most fabulous present in the mail.
A box, a big box, of broken watches, watch parts, watch faces, bands, just the most wonderful box full of watches!
I would call that a treasure, wouldn't you???
I haven't done anything with any of the watches yet - I plan on taking most of the faces apart - just haven't had the time. But, oh, am I ever looking forward to it!
She knows a watch repairman in her town and had the idea to ask him for watches he was going to throw away.
The best part of the story is that this is box #1 of an estimated SIX boxes that she said I could expect.
Treasures.

Another treasure that I have is one that is very special to me. It's an original painting of Jesus done by an artist in Granberry, Texas, whose first name is Sweetheart. Her last name is Quest. I gave a lot of thought before I bought this painting because it was not really in my budget. But I figured out a way to get it.
As I was on a weekend shopping trip in Granberry, I bought it and brought it home and told Frank the Tank that I bought it for him.

Another treasure of a special kind.

Treasures are like presents every time I look at them!

Have a fabulous, restful Sunday!

xoxo,

WHAT CANCER CAN'T DO - A VERY SPECIAL CARD

It saddens me.

The number of friends that have recently told me that they or a family member have cancer.

The number of friends that have been living with cancer.

The number of friends that are sick from the poisons that are pumped into their body in an effort to kill their cancer.

The number of friends struggling with the loss of hair, energy and appetite.

The number of friends struggling with their faith.

That's why this card is so important.

Please read what it says.
(It's typed below the photograph of the card - easier to read)
And please remember that all of my work is copyrighted.

IT SAYS:

WHAT CANCER CAN'T DO

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot erode faith

It cannot eat away peace

It cannot destroy confidence

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot shut out memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot reduce eternal life

It cannot quench the spirit

It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection

The butterfly is free-standing and is attached to the card at it's center so that the wings can stand up.
The photo of this card totally does not relate the beauty of the card - it is gorgeous in it's presentation and loving in it's written words.

You can see this card and others in different colors and patterns in my Etsy shop.

I love each and every one of you,

PROCRASTINATION - IT'S WHO I AM

Hi, y'all! I've missed you! I have been working so hard on different pieces to fill up my Etsy shop that I have hardly looked up this last week. Two weeks? I don't remember!

I wanted to show you a few of the things I've listed in my Etsy store. I have been having so much fun making vintage postcards just a wee bit "more" than they already are! And, I've made some regular tags - so cute!
I have become a huge advocate of gifting through the mail!
Email has become way too big in our lives - we seem to have forgotten snail mail!

That's why I've been working so hard on these tags and some new card designs - wouldn't you love to get a short sweet note on a darling tag or a precious card in the mail between the bills and flyers?
I have had such a good time but have come to realize that I've also been using the creating of these tags to put off some things that I don't want to do! LOL
I have 50 charms to make for a charm exchange for the Art and Soul retreat in October, kits to make to teach two classes at retreats the end of September, ATC's to make, hmmmm, oh, yes, groceries to buy to make meals................yuck. Why is it that Frank the Tank doesn't consider cold cereal, dinner??

I think I'll make a few more *cough*PROCRASTINATION tags. . . .

Some of you have probably already seen the Shoe Shrine below. I've put it in my Etsy store after taking it out for a while. Hurry up - somebody's going to slip in under you and grab it!
I have to tell you one more thing before I go to bed.
You can buy my ATC's, cards and tags in my Etsy shop and I don't charge you postage. That's my gift to you (especially since postage has gone up yet again!).
However, and I say this with a smile on my face while shaking my head, some of my tags are like a dollar, a dollar and a half, and some customers order one tag.
When I do the math I realize that I'm losing money on my tags! What a hoot! When you count the cost of materials for the tags, envelopes, plastic sleeves, the treats I put in with your order, the bubble mailer (bought in bulk), postage (never under a dollar),presentation and my time - cracks me up. Who orders ONE tag?

(Am I the only one that orders tags and cards in bulk? The only one that has a "card" cigar box full of tags and cards I love so I'm always ready for everyone's needs? LOL)

But, let me tell you (back to the one tag customer). It's okay. My art is my ministry and if a customer just wants a single tag and that tag blesses her, praise God. And she'll get the same treats, presentation and attention to detail as the customer that spends $100.00.
God gave me my gift of art and I am simply thrilled to be able to use that gift to bless others.

I love my customers! Precious women; precious, sweet women.

Hmmmmm, I'm tired. I'm going to bed.

Oh, sweet friends, just remember this one wee little thing as you shop at the Polka Dot Barn on Etsy.............
We have two boys in college.

XOXO,