Change Of Pace





I guess I'm starting out the New Year in a new way aleast for a little while ! My husband has been 

working in Florida for the last 2 months & said he didn't want  to be apart like this anymore since he was going to be here for a couple of months longer. So we bought a fifth wheel camper to live in & he drove to Tennessee Christmas weekend & picked up me & our youngest son Chace & of course our dog Kaiden & on Christmas day took off & drove to Florida ! Yes it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL here & yes the temptures have been in the low 80's & yes it's GREAT to be able to be here with my husband ! He said he wasn't bringing us back until he was transfered back to Tennessee so he told me to quit my regular daytime job & here we are !

Junipter Beach

There is water everywhere, you have to go across bridge after bridge to go to may places here . But it is absolutely Beautiful to go across the bridges and look out & see the water for miles ! Lots of boats and just about every license plate you look at is from a totally different state , most from Northern states, I guess thats why they call this snowbird season durning the winter months !

Lifeguards are on duty 24/7 cuz the beach's are full ! Some of the beach's here are dog friendly, that is of course if you grab your pooper scooper & clean up after them ! No problem ! Took my dog Kaiden a minute to get used to the water & he made a few doggy friends himself ! My son Chace just LOVES it here !

The road leading to the beach is lined with the most beautiful old trees, it's like driving through a tunnel of wonder to see what's at the other end, but at the end is the Atlantic Ocean ! The beach is about 2 to 3 miles away from the R.V. park that we are staying at so I think tomorrow we are going to go by some bikes so that my son and I can just bike to the beach, GREAT for meso maybe I can getin shape ! Been awhile since I had a bike to ride so there will probablly be a few stops on the way, but there are alot of neat little tourist shops along the way !

Surfs Up !!  Well kinda but there were a few guy's on surf boards not much luck yet I think they need a little /alot more wave ! But  watching and listening to the waves roll in is so soothing ! I would LOVE to have a house next to the ocean so I could listen all day  night I think it would be so relaxing and calming !

This is the view from the bridge crossing over to Jenson Island along the shoreline are some gorgeous high rise condos ( with a price tag to match I'm sure ) and they have the most amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean !

my son Chace & Kaiden

of course Kaiden & Me with pockets full of shells that we collected ! Hmmmm what to make with these ? I have some ideas ! Some future gift items for my Etsy Shop to sell !

I could stay here ALL day just watching, listening & DREAMING !

some beach goes & swimmers late in the day enjoying the beach and water & YES I did bring alond alot of my gourds for painting and items to do my jewelry along with my sewing machine to sew some items to sell in my Etsy Shop..I put my Etsy Shop on vacation mode for a short while because I didn't bring all my items that I have for sale with me, so I have to go back through my shop & remove the items that I don't have with me to ship & add new items although I do have all my little ornament gourds with me to paint so if you would like to request anything painted from an ornament gourd (which they can be displayed on a stand) I can fill orders for any little guys you may want just email me at inmypaintedgarden@yahoo.com.

Of course I guess  I needed to paint a Florida Gators birdhouse Gourd to hang outside at my camper it just wouldn't seem like I was being a true Floridian Gators Fan ! Any Gators or Dolphin Fans out there ? Tell me what your doing for your  New Year ?
I hope ya'll have a SAFE & Great New Years Eve & A Fantastic 2012 New Year !!

Cheryl

Charles Dickens Christmas Franklin Tennessee !!



My sister Sandy & one of the venders dressed up in the Charles Dickens Era.

Don't know if you've ever been to the Charles Dickens Christmas Festival in Franklin Tennessee, but it's quite an event ! They shut down the middle of town & in the town square they have craft booths & a stage with singers ( just happened to be a chours of children singing Beautiful Christmas songs ! )



elbow to elbow visitors !

 For 26  years Franklin has been putting on the Charles Dickens Christmas Festival. This is the first year I have ever been to the Festival. So since my sister & I wanted something holiday theamed to do & we had both heard of the Charles Dickens Festival , which we heard was really good , we decided we would check it out. Yes they were right it was like stepping back in time to that era !


Dickens Characters



alot of  era dress

There were alot of people walking the streets in the dress of the Charles Dickens Era ! The dresses were absolutely BEAUTIFUl ! There were so many who were dressed I wasn't able to get alot of pictures But just look at the ones I did ! I would have just loved to live in that era ! And the men they were just so handsome in there suits and top hats !

My sister  & I have gone to Franklin the last two weekends in a row. We just decided to go to Franklin the weekend before just to walk around on main street. They have alot of real cool shops don main street ,you'll find alot of craft gift stores along with a few really neat clothing stores. Theres a Starbucks &  the Historic Franklin Theatre.. Then we saw that the Charles Dickens Festival Was last weekend so yep we decided to go & were glad we did we had a great time !!

Crafters in the town square

Lots of crafters were lined up around the round about on the square and lined up on a few of the side streets, Some of the venders were dressed up in the Dickens era clothing !  The weather was a little on the chilly side but if you were able to stay walking in the sun you were just cumfhy. It was really hard to get into the stores cuz they were so crowded.

the stage in town square

They had children singing christmas songs on a stage that was set up on one side of the square and there beautiful voices sure put you in the holiday mood ! Made you want to sing along and yes there were some folks in the crowd were doing just that along with alot of picture taking !

two ladies dressed up for the times









A character dressed up



As your walking along you see alot of Dickens characters filling  the streets and stopping to talk to you and snap a few pictures of them.or they will pose with you for pictures.

Down off the square on main street is the Franklins Famous Theatre which has gone through a few transformations in the 5 years we've been here. Infact my husband ,my son & myself went to the red carpet premier of Tim Magraws movie Friday Night Lights,  It was GREAT ! Red carpet lined the Main street up to the theatre, limos were dropping off stars like Kennt Chesney, Martina Mcbride, Tim & Faith  & many more we were right there in front of Ben & Jerry's in front & got to see everyone of them.

Ahhh  she played beautiful music !

Yes of course they had  horse and carriage rides through town. I'm not sure exactly where they took the tour around the town but I'm sure it was worth it ! Well I hope you"ve enjoyed my & my sisters trip to the Charles Dickens Christmas Festival in Franklin Tennessee ! So if you ever get to Tennessee  around this time of year maybe this gives you an idea for a nice time & oh yea if your in that aera this time off year and after the sun goes down the christmas ligfhts over down HWY 100 & by Leapers Fork the lights on those houses & property going up to the houses are SPECTACULAR  !!  Theres a house around the corner from me that has the lights that flash along with the music   could sit there for hours watching it !
Hope All have there shopping done & find some time to relax before the Holidays !! If you don't & you need some last minute handmade gifts PLEASE check out my ETSY Shop ! Just click on the Etsy Shop on the right side of my blog .
Thanks,
CHERYL





Oh Christmas Tree !! & A GIVEAWAY !!!!

OH Christmas Tree ! OH Christmas Tree ! This is our Team Player Christmas Tree ! It's very Unique & what a conversation piece. Just look how kool it would look in your Team room ! Of course to have a tree like mine you'd have to like all the Teams. But just take a look at how great they do look hanging on a tree I'm talking Team Gift Giving  what Great Gifts !!

 Infact I think I'm going to have a GIVEAWAY ! I'm going to have a random drawing from those who post a comment for the giveaway. Answer this question correctly : list 5 Teams from the player ornaments hanging on my Player Tree

I will then pick at random the correct  from the comments . If you are the winner I will post your name then you will need to email me with your address along with the ornament you would like & the ornament & shipping is on me !

 Giveaway ends Friday December 9th, 2011

I posted a few close ups of the tree so maybe you could see the ornaments closer !

Now take a Real good look at the ornaments , wouldn't one or two or maybe three of these look good hanging on your tree ?

Heres an Apple I just did for a customer, I  sell alot of apples ! Great Teacher Gifts. I can also paint teacher character ornaments.

Please have fun with the GIVEAWAY and feel free to email me or leave a comment and I will do my best to answer your questions ! Remember Giveaway ends Friday December 9th, 2011

HAPPY HOLIDAYS  !!!

Cheryl

Shop Til Your Mouse Breaks ! !

 


Just thought I'd let you in on a little SECRET ! Were having a cyber monday sale at my ETSY shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/inmypaintedgarden?ref=si_shop  15 % OFF ! So come on over & check it out for some uniquely handpainted gifts , handmade & satisfaction guaranteed ! I'll even gift wrap complete with a bow & small card.
 Just use the coupon code # CYBMO28  when prompted.

Thank You & Have Fun !!!

Cheryl

Tis The Season FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA !

Santa Ornaments $ 12 each

 Tis the season for some really really serious painting!! Yes of course we all like snowmen don't we ? When I grew up in Michigan that first snow we were hoping for enough snow for sledding and if there  was enough snow for sledding then there was usually enough snow to make your first snowman of the winter season I remember one winter when I as about 10 my 2 sisters & I got up to go to school &  my mom was still sleeping , Anyhow we had gotten dressed & we opened the front door & OH MY ! the snow was way over our heads ! We ran & woke up my mom & said we can't go to school because there was to much snow she rolled over & said then put your snow boots on , well we dragged her down to the door & yep snow boots just wouldn't do it !
 

snowmen $ 6 each

Well now that I live in Middle Tennessee there is really not alot of snow ! I think in the past almost 5 years that I have lived here the most snow we got at one time was 8 inchs a total disaster here ! They are just not prepared for snow & drivers ?  Back when I grew up in Michigan we went to school in 2 feet of snow & school wasn't canceled unless the wind chill was 20 below ! Here they seem to cancel school if there is a threat but I really suppose it's do to the fact that there are alot of winding mountainous roads besides not having the equipment for snow removal , when it does snow it doesn't last but a day or two. It is Beautiful here ! Well anyhow I have been building my own  ( well painting ) my own! Between all the gourd ornaments as you know are my football players, the santa claus & my snowman . I've been very busy & I love it ! I really enjoy when I sell my craft because I do LOVE it & I hope customers do also & thats why they are buying !

light bulb teddy bear  can be personialized  $ 10

I like to paint on all kinds of  surfaces and light bulbs are great to paint on !  I really like to paint on the

snowmen  $ 10

vanity lightbulbs they are larger in size and they are great to paint snowmen faces and animals. Ya know I have to bathrooms and both have vanity lights . one has 6 lights and one has 4 and I just can't wait for those bulbs blow so I can paint on them ! Sure I can paint on them without them being blown but I like to recycle & it's a Great way to recycle ! I have friends  at work that save light bulbs for me of all kinds !

These are another kind of painting surface to work on they are antique insulators These are painted from a painting pattern, I've painted the pumpkin with the cat peeking out and the mr & mrs claus. It's so cool to see how they turn out when your done. I'm comming up with some different ones to paint. 



Here is Santa and his helper the toy maker . These are good to give as gifts for the person who loves Christmas! I just Love how they all seem to have there own personalitys ! These guys are nice to decorate with ! I'm thinking of starting my own collectors series of  Gourd Santas Ornaments one for every year , of course this being the first. After he is painted I will post him & give the first one away in a contest.



Large Snowman & Large Santa  We also  have these Large Snoman and Santa in luminary style the whites of the eyes are cut out and the stars on the snowman and on the Santa the whites of the eyes and we put the streamer of HO HO HO between his hand and the HO HO HO is cut out.



handpainted soaps



Hand painted soaps great gifts for giving or just for decoration ,can be painted with any design on them they come wrapped with a cello wrap & bow also wash cloth can be added

These are small cannon ball  gourds that I have made into oil lamps . The wick sits in a tube that you fill with lamp oil, comes with a stand .

 Well I hope this gives you a few ideas for gift giving. Please stop by my Etsy shop & check out all my gifts ! Leave me some comments I would LOVE to hear some of your childhood winter snow memories !Hope all of you have a GREAT Thanksgiving & a Safe Family Gathering. Please share your memories !!

Cheryl