A WEDDING IN PHOTOS

Wow. I had no idea how long it would take to upload a mere percentage of the photos taken of Blake and Heather's wedding by my sister, Joan, a professional photographer (and home chef). Add to those the ones taken by the semi-neverwillbeprofessional photographer, me, of the reception. I gave up two days to post this blog. But, oh, it's so worth it.

I want you to feel like you were there with me or if you were there with me, I want you to re-live July 25th, 2014. What an amazing day of love, of marriage, of wonderful new family, of friends dear to my heart, of #family. Having my precious family, the people I love the most in the world, all together - absolutely priceless! My amazing U.B.,  my precious PAJ, my most wonderful sister, my heart - my cousin, Melinda, my sweetest little cousin, Marti LJ & precious Vince, my Annette, Uncle John, the boys, Frank, my most wonderful SIL, Eileen & my darling niece, Meghan, my nephew, Tyler, and his sweet family. And everyone else that I've forgotten to list. (I'm sorry) The entire day was such a blessing. My son, Blake, married the love of his life, Heather, my new daughter. She is such a great DIL - I knew she would be before they even got married.

I have Jana, my first DIL whom I adore and Clay, Craig & Morgan, Clay's precious girlfriend. Adding Frank to that equation and I would call myself the most blessed person I know. Ya know what I mean? So, here's the day in photos. Just a small number considering over 1,000 were taken by Joan (999) and myself (not 999).

Our new family, David and Barbara Hosler, Heather's folks. Precious people.

Oh, and the second row, our Craig and Sammy, our "new son".

I want to show you some of the decorations at the reception...

The Couple's Table

 What a big smile! A Michigan groom's cake.

Happy, happy Michigan fan!

Heather and Blake invited guests to highlight their favorite

passage in their Bible. Lovely!

 First Dance

 Father Daughter Dance

Mother Son Dance

That family #I LOVE.

Meghan, Marti, Melinda, me, Frank, PAJ, Eileen

and Joan!

I learned something new during the reception.

My precious son, Clay, breaks it out whenever The Wobble

is played. Evidently our new Sam does, too!

 Seriously?? What a hoot! I had no idea!!

 Line dancing took over.

 A selfie of Blake and two of the women with whom he teaches. 

So many of the staff at his school came to the wedding - they really love

this sweet boy and he loves them. It was a lot of fun visiting with them all!

Heather with Clay's girlfriend, Morgan, a bridesmaid.

A re-inactment of a photo taken at Blake, Hannah (Jones Brown) and Brat's 

8th grade graduation.

I just love this picture. Brittany (Stone Ishmael) was a bridesmaid 

and Blake's best friend since elementary school.

The End to a wonderful experience

and the beginning of a God centered marriage.

I hope you enjoyed the photos

and I want to thank you for reading my blog!
Sweet comments always welcome!!

A GIVEAWAY AND A BLOG PARTY!

Hi, y'all! I am way behind in taking part in 

Vicki's amazing blog party and I apologize. 

Life has been full.

But, I'm here now, with my giveaway and ready to tell you about me and blogging.

Jan Vermillion Thomason of

the Polka Dot Barn

and the blog, polkadotbarn.blogspot.com.

I started blogging several years ago thinking that I would use it as my personal diary. 

And, I have used it that way.

I don't get every event covered

(I've been known to go weeks.......   without hittin' the blog)

but when something funny, fabulous or rusty passes by me

I have to blog about it.

I let you see me at my worst,

I will entertain you with humorous stories,

I will show you amazing junk and antiques

(some I buy, some I simply photograph).

All the while hoping that you accept me,

and that you come to love me as I share my life with you.

I love Jesus Christ.

I adore my husband and three grown boys;

hoping that my sweet boys will always need

their mom.

I adore my brothers and sister.

Nieces, nephews, sister in laws, cousins, 

my dad and Ursula, 

all very important to me.

I try to find joy in every situation,

sometimes after I throw a fit or cry in despair.

I love spending time in my studio, The Crack House.

(I'll be doing a blog post about it in the near future.

If you want to make sure you don't miss it, 

sign up to receive my posts via email at the top of 

the right hand column)

Creating and spending time with 

my friends that create,

reading every single page of my art zines,

and being an mixed media hoarder

make me who I am.

Okay, that's enough, let's talk about THE GIVEAWAY!!

I am parting with two of my favorite vintage hats that I've been saving,

waiting for those perfect projects that will show off those beautiful 

flowers and leaves!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!

To enter, simply leave a comment.

And if you want to have a second entry,

let me know if you're following me on Pinterest,

Twitter or my blog emails.

I'm supposed to close out my contest and draw for

winners on February 1st, but I'm extending my giveaway

to February 2nd and I'll draw for the winners

that following week.

I'm right in the middle of getting my house in order

and planning supper for fifty

as I get ready for my mom's memorial that will be held here.

After that I'll be able to get back to my blog. *happy feet*

I sincerely thank you for reading this post

and for entering the giveaway.

I hope that you come back often to see what I'm up to.

And, if you do, remember that leaving a comment

makes me do the happy dance!

Warmly,

        Jan

If, for whatever reason, you don't know how to get to the other (over 400) blogs participating

in the Grow Your Blog party, leave me a note in your comment and I'll get you there. :)

CLEANING UP THE CRACK HOUSE

I WONDER IF THERE WILL EVER BE

A MAGAZINE FOR MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS

WHOSE STUDIO'S LOOK LIKE CRACK HOUSES?

YOU KNOW, LIKE CRACK HOUSE STUDIOS

WHERE ARTIST'S CREATE.

the main isle runs through,

well, I can't really call it the major storage area...

but, L@@K, you can see THE FLOOR!

I DID *YET ANOTHER* MASSIVE OVERHAUL

OF THE CRACK HOUSE THIS WINTER.

IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD IN THESE PHOTOS

BUT I WOULD BE LESS THAN HONEST IF I TOLD YOU

THAT IT STILL LOOKED QUITE THIS GOOD.

I keep my sewing machine close - at the top of my work area.
I MEAN, IF I DIDN'T EVER WORK IN MY STUDIO

IT COULD ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THESE PHOTOS.

BUT, THE MINUTE I START A PROJECT,
COME ON, THE ARTIST IN ME DOESN'T HAVE TIME
TO BE NELLIE NEAT.I HAD A BRILLIANT IDEA AND TOOK THE DOORS

OFF OF THE FRONT OF THE THREE LOCKER STYLE

SHELVING AREAS IN THE STUDIO.

MY STUDIO MAY LOOK EVEN MESSIER,

BUT NOTHING CAN HIDE FROM ME!OH, THIS IS JUST PERFECT!

SEE WHAT I MEAN?? LOOKS LIKE NO ONE PLAYS IN HERE!

I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE SOME OF THOSE STUDIOS

IN "THE" MAGAZINE BEFORE THEY'RE BOXED UP, PAINTED UP AND SPRUCED UP.

(OH, HUSH, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR STUDIO)

I WANTED YOU TO SEE MY OLD YELLOW CHILDREN'S CHAIR
AND THE VINTAGE PINK WORK LAMP ON TOP.

I JUST LOVE THIS!
IT SITS BETWEEN THE SIZZIX AND SOLDERING SIDES OF THE 2ND WORK TABLE.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU ENJOY THE REST OF THE PHOTOS
WITHOUT ME YAPPIN' AT 'CHA.
YOU CAN PROBABLY FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
OH, I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD IN DISBELIEF....

I MAY GIVE YOU A WORD OR TWO OF EXPLANATION IF NECESSARY.

OOPS! STILL WORKIN' ON THE 'LOOK'!
JEWELRY AREA
JEWELRY WORK AREA

WHICH, TRUTH BE TOLD,
YOU REALLY CAN'T EVER SEE THE TABLE TOP IN REAL LIFE.
MORE UNFINISHED WORK...PUTTIN' UP EMBELLISHMENTS...

I ADORE CABINET CARDS

STAMPS....ONE OF MY DRUGS.

LOTS AND LOTS

AND LOTS

AND HUNDREDS

AND LOTS MORE STAMPS.

PAPER, OH, PRETTY, PRETTY PAPER,

GOTTA HAVE MORE.
IT'S NOT ME, IT'S THE DRUG - PATTERNED PAPER.

VINTAGE LACE.

SO MUCH LACE IS NEVER ENOUGH.

I DISCOVERED VINTAGE SUITCASES THIS YEAR

FOR STORAGE.

VINTAGE BOOKS

AND LEDGERS

AND MUSIC, OH, MY.

I FEEL FAINT.

I HAVE MY PRETTY LITTLE AREAS

THROUGHOUT THE STUDIO

THAT MAKE ME SMILE.

I'M EMBARRASSED TO TELL YOU HOW MANY

VINTAGE BABY SHOES I HAVE.

BUT, IT'S NOT MY FAULT!

PAPER RIBBON - SO STINKIN' CUTE.

ORGANIZATION FINDS IT'S WAY TO THE GARAGE...

OR, STUDIO OVERFLOW.

I DELIGHT IN DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE AND

SEEING MY LARGER FRAMES HANGING IN FRONT OF ME.

DON'T FLIP OUT!

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE ORGANIZING

WHAT HAS BEEN COVERING MY GARAGE FLOOR.

HEY! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!

I CAN SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT.

AND, I FOUND A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

AND MOST OF EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE

SOLD IN MY ETSY SHOP

JUST AS SOON AS YOU GET OVER HERE

AND HELP ME TAKE THE PICTURES,

FIX THE PICTURES,

UPLOAD THE PICTURES,

DESCRIBE THE PICTURES

PRICE THE ITEMS,

AND DETERMINE THE POSTAGE.

I HAVE A CRACK STUDIO.

I OBVIOUSLY NEED HELP.

UNTIL LATER,

I LOVE YOU AND

I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR CAR

DRIVIN' UP THE LANE,

Jan