I have learned a valuable lesson today, one which I already knew but ignored. Back up your computer stuff. Sat down today to send some things and my address book was gone "poof". After an hour with Apple Care,  (40 minutes with a language barrier) we discovered yep, it's gone!

I have managed to piece back together from saved emails everyone's address...I hope. 

The reason I mention it is this.....if you don't hear from me via email for a while, well, whoops, I may have missed adding you back in. If you check here regularly you won't miss any events. I always send out email alerts first..so if you don't receive one and then see something listed here, please email me so I can add you back on. Again, sorry for the blip. As the Apple Guy says " this almost never happens to Macs." After 4 Macs  and no problems, I guess I was due.

Now, just this second, I discovered my one sprinkler station has been running for over an hour, because I was on the phone with India and forgot! Holy cow! . Maybe I should duck and cover, this has not been a good afternoon. Hope you all are faring a wee bit better. 

Thanks to all who stopped by last evening for previews and this morning for the garage sale. Special thanks to Pam who ALWAYS makes the garage sales easier for me by sharing her laughter and good spirits, because you know some of those Garage Sale people ("Would you take two dollars for this item marked $50.00?"...I mean, seriously people!) can get me to being cranky, OK, rude. Sorry.

To those of you kind and lovely people that I met today at the sale, I hope you will join us at one of our get-togethers. The next event is Finish it Night in November. Watch for email for date.

I am a tired buckaroo and off for a nap. There are a few Halloween pieces left after the sale. I have 2 Large Skeleton couples remaining, some heart make do's just like in the photo here in blog and several smaller pieces. Call if interested and they will be available at Boo to You!

I am trying to post at least once a week. You will receive an e-mail notice also if it is an announcement of, or change to an event, so that it is fair to all who wish to participate.

To the few who have inquired: Yes, there will be a December Gathering. It is called Bliss. No dates yet. 10 spaces only. Because it will be extra special, payment in full will be required to reserve your space.

Don't forget about the garage sale this Saturday. I'm opening up at 7:30, and will close by 1:00. The weather should be nice in the morning. I do have some Halloween items in the sale. I have 2 Queens of the Skeleton Ball and maybe 2 escorts will be done by Saturday also. I also have some heart make do's completed that we'll be making in the Gathering and some mini skeletons and glitter crows from the Halloween countdown. I have some Easter collectibles and some quilts, reproduction and two vintage. There are great yarns and general household stuff like always. If you are coming Friday night to preview, please call first. Have a great weekend!

Fall is coming

Pictures as promised. Halloween has invaded the porch. My beach themed bowls have become fall collections. My Cricket helped with this Trick or Treat Banner for the kitchen. After many shots and many puddles on the floor ( those of you who have met Howie, understand that part) this is the best shot I managed to get of Master Howie in his Halloween hat. My daughter forbid me from doing this fearing I will become one of those old women who dresses her pets up for holidays. But damn the hat was cute.

New pictures coming this week, I promise. I have been too busy creating new surprises and making Gathering VI Boo to You! kits to take any photos this weekend.
I will spend this week getting ready for the garage sale this Saturday the 20th. Friday night previews are permitted, but please call ahead to be sure. Our friend Kathy is having one at her house the same day with her family. They have lots of great stuff too, so check that one out. They are right down the corner from Warm Springs/Valle Verde. There will be lots of signs to follow.
I'm hoping we might finally get some cool weather this weekend. I am ready. I'm hoping to buy a screen door with my sale proceeds, so please come shop....and buy!!!!

Skeleton Ball Queen and Her Escort

This elegant couple in their formal attire have just attended the Skeleton Ball where she was crowned Queen. He boasts a crepe paper bow tie, and rhinestone studded vest while her skirt is adorned with glittered moon and stars and a creepy old tree. He gently cradles a precious pumpkin as his gift to her. I kept giggling while I was creating, because as odd as they are, they make me smile, and keep me company while I am working on more Halloween surprises. I will have some of my Halloween creations for sale at the garage sale September 20th and at Boo to You!

I begin putting together all the kits for Gathering VI the end of this week, so registration is closed, unless you call quick-quick-quick.

Enlarge pictures

To view details of the photos in this blog, simply click on the photo and you will be able to see the projects more clearly. So clearly in fact, you may end up with glitter on you too!
Registration for Boo to You! will be open for one more week. $15.00 off your fee with each new student you bring to class. $25.00 deposit required to hold your space.
Please let me know if you are interested in attending a finish it night in November. I'm considering the 7th or 8th, from 5-10 pm or.....Please email me with your preferred date. It is free to my former students, $15.00 to any "newbies". Everyone is required to bring something for the potluck. If you have not yet finished your advent this would be a good time to do so.

Glitters, Glues and Grubbies

Halloweenie Village at Suzan's this weekend. I'm only going to show you two of my weekend projects. They will both be in Boo to You! There are still more surprises, so join us!

Countdown to Halloween

Here is the first look at my Countdown to Halloween for the October issue of polished. BOO!
13 is the "lucky" number for this salute to all things wicked that this way come. Full of tricks and treats and ghouls and sweets.

Coming this weekend: more sneak peeks of the Boo to You! Gathering.

Good Things

Here are some of my favorite things. First a photo of dear friends, Pam, Kathy and Sarah at the last Gathering in July. The rain had forced us into the garage to paint. No one seemed to mind one bit. The laughter was just as sweet. Next is just one of the dozens of beautiful vignettes Penny has in her home in Franklin, TN. Angela is on the front porch of her friend Neena's shop in Leipers Fork TN. Angela and Penny both sell their primitives in Neena's shop. They have found a wonderful new friend who shares their love for all things primitive. Check out their creations at www.theprimitivegathering.com. Look for Olde Raggs USA, and Henny Penny Prims.

Check back later in the week for more info on Boo to You! and some surprises.

Here are just two of the smaller projects we will be making in Boo to You! Remember supplies are included in all Gathering classes. The other big news is this Gathering is scheduled to be featured in a wonderful local magazine. More details about that later on.
I will be showing some more sneak peeks in the next week, but I do want to leave some surprises. There are seven scheduled projects so far in Boo To You!, what a great value.
If the weather is good, we will be dining out in the garden, and the soups and artisan breads will set the mood for fall.
Hope you will join me. Because of the magazine shoot, I will be closing registration earlier. I will give you at least two days notice of closing.

Sneak Peek

My son is a genius

In a little under one hour, my son Benjamin changed my life and removed the frustrations of Gathering e-mails. Now all new info on Gatherings and Oldgreymare updates will be found here. I knew that was going to be my plan for this blog but as soon as I told him what I planned to do he said "here you go Mom" and easy peasy it's done! Check back soon for sneak peeks at projects and all the latest info at Oldgreymare.

GATHERING EVENT VI

October 11, 2008

Boo To You! Halloween is our theme of course, and there are witch hats and spider webs, “Jacks” and many other surprises waiting for you in this Gathering. Steaming cauldrons of soups and artisan breads await your mid day repast.

GATHERING VI
October 11 11am-6:00pm
$100.00 Deposit $25.00

The concept of each gathering will be a collection of projects. Some of the projects you will complete at this gathering, others you will finish at home.

A groaning board of homemade soups and breads will be our meal. All supplies are included, except for a few sewing notions you may wish to have on hand. Some gatherings will require your sewing machine.*

Space is limited to ten students and on a first come, first serve basis. Deposits will be required to secure your space and are non-refundable. At my discretion and depending on circumstances, deposits may be applied to future gatherings. 48 hours notice of no-show will be required.

Come join me as we share good food, great company and create wonderful folk art. It is a day of rejuvenation. It is a day away from the job, the family, and the chores. It is a day dedicated to you and your imagination and creativity. Reconnect with friends and make new ones.

* RELAX * LAUGH * CREATE * LEARN * SHARE *

Old Grey Mare
SUZAN STODDARD
702.897.1303
sstoddard3@cox.net

*Upon registration you will receive a supply list if needed. Gatherings VI will require a
sewing machine. This is very simple sewing, but you must know how to thread and use
your own machine. Friends can share a machine if they like, and that always saves space.

I am having a Finish it Day some weekend in November. It will be potluck with everyone required to bring their own beverage and one pot luck dish. If you are interested in attending please let me know. This is free to anyone who has taken a class from me. $15.00 per person to all other attendees,

Benjamin and Hannah will be proud

The kids will not believe that I did this on my own without nagging them for help. Tonight was another sleepless night, so why not give it a try? Please bear with me as I learn to navigate these treacherous waters of the internet and blogging. I will attempt to learn quickly and try to be if not entertaining, then informative.

Oldgreymare will make information about Gathering classes and folk art and primitives that I am showing or selling more assessable. I hope to include some free patterns from time to time and also share ideas, maybe recipes, who knows? I'm going to just wait and see where this takes me.

I want to include some photos from my recent trip to see Penny and Angela in TN, but first I will have to learn how to do that! We did a very small section of the 127 corridor sale while I was there. That is the 400 mile garage sale through five states. I quite simply, adore my visits to TN. You couldn't ask for better friends, kinder hospitality and Franklin is, to me, heaven.

Someday, hopefully, please dear Lord, get me to TN! For now, I'll be getting to bed where I will be reading the second book from the Twilight series. Hannah and her friends are just crazy for them and I had to see what all the fuss was about. The five girls spent days curled up on my couch reading the books in early August. Ok, a little embarrassing, but I did enjoy the first one. shhh Please don't tell anyone.