Graduation 2009

WOW MY youngest graduated today and I sure did cry a tear or two. I am so proud of her! Actually proud of both girls. When you have severe dyslexia and you graduate cum laude I think you deserve a HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE and MORE!

Kassy is not only my baby, she is also the brains behind Sassy Soaps N Such and the one who listens to me babble about dolls and designs all day long. She gets to listen to mom more than anyone other than Chico I guess. I think that Kassy has been effected the most with mom's health issues and lossing my hearing and she is the one who has adjusted the best. She is never embrassed about me and is always telling her friends how she loves doing things with me. I have to tell you I think I am a better mom and friend than mine was and that was my goal.

Both Keelee and Kassy have made me proud and we wanted to share some snaps from today's special day.

Our NEW Family Photo

Kassy with her young man Jose

Kassy and her Grandma Sue and Godmother Linda

Kassy with Olivia a future WT White graduate in 2021...Her grandma, mom and cousins all went through the hollowed halls of White!


Last but not least THIS Is how I see my precious daughter
Sassy and

Studious!


Today my heart bleed Orange and White and my tears were full of JOY!
I can't wait to see what the future holds for my baby and I know her list is long and full and she will accomplish each and ever item on that list!

Today we were blessed to have both Grandpa Frank and Grandma Martha there in spirit. MOre on those special blessings later in the week.

Shweet Potato Dolls Blog come follow me....

Hello everyone I have a brand new blog and I sure could use some followers.

My new blog is Shweet Potato Dolls! Just click on the names and way you go....

I am going to be running a contest for the next 3 weeks. If you sign up to follow my Shweet Potato Dolls Blog you get your name into a hat. If you add me to your blog and let me know you get your name in a second time. IF you talk about my new blog on YOUR Blog you can get your name in the hat again. That is a total of 3 times you can get your name in the hat and more if you have more than one blog like some of us. What will you win?????Well YOU will win your choice of one of my Shweet Potato Doll e-Patterns. I am working on adding patterns everyday so there should be a few more to pick from at the end of 3 weeks.So love to have you follow me and I would love to add YOU to my new blog roll too.

You can check out some of the patterns on Always Crafty 2, e-Patternshoppes, The Pattern Cupboard, and of course in our Sassy Soaps N Such Shoppe on Etsy.

Shweet times from Sandi and Shweet Potato Dolls

Memories of a Hero

Both my grandpa's as well as my father in law where vets. My dad could not serve because he was deaf in one ear. BUT all 5 of my brothers have served in one branch or another...1 marine, 1 navy, 3 Army one is still Very active duty.

We went to the cementary yesterday to place some flags by Marty's Dad's crypt and we took our little Chico with us. (MY hearing ear dog who is 6 pound chi).

Kassy commented that she wondered how Chico would react as dogs are known to see spirits. WEll when we walked thru the first crypt area he was softly talking.. not a whimper or cry but like he was talking. Kassy decided to walk him outside the area were grandpa is.

When Marty and I came out Chico walked up to the glass door and refused to move. So we opened the door and away he went (on his lease of course). He walked passed the asile where dad is intombed and kassy said that he stoped half way down the next asile, turned around and belted to right in front on dad's place on the wall. Chico who doesn't jump high, bounded up onto the bench and sat staring at Dad's marker. HE layed down, flipped over on his belly like he always did for dad to rub him and then started his "talking".
After about 5 minutes (We stood in amazement) Chico got down and quitely walked to the door to go to grandma's house.
When we got to grandma's house (Marty's mom we were visiting his dad's tomb), Chico walked up to her and did not jump on her he layed at her feet and rubbed her ankles with his head. Softly talking to her also just like at the tomb.
Kassy told grandma what had happened when we went to visit grandpa and she silently cried. Hugged chico and us and told Chico thanks for letting her know that dad was still with us. I have chills right now thinking about how speical it was yesterday. AND to top it off... the time was 3pm when this happened. The time that we asked everyone to STOP and silently thank those who went before us so we could be free. WOW

This is one of my favorite picture of Dad with my hubby and one of his brothers

I love it so much because i can easily replace the boys with my 2 girls sitting on grandpa's knees listening to him talk about WWII and life on the farm and growing up in Dallas. I miss him every day as he became my Dad when I had his granddaughter Keelee then later married his son. He always accepted me as one of his kids even before we married.
I miss talking about gardening and his flowers. I miss our funny little slow walks in the block but mainly I just miss Dad,
Kassy took pictures yesterday of some of the flowers she planted with her grandpa. They are amazingly beautiful just like Kassy. Several years ago Kassy helped grandpa plant some of their favorite flowers Lilies. These lilies have always bloomed in yellow with a touch of orange at the base. Yesterday Kassy walked to the back garden area and looked to see if they had bloomed this Spring and to her amazement they had bloomed but NOT in YELLOW as every year before ... they are the color of her high school orange


She told everyone " Grandpa was showing me he will be with me next Saturday at my graduation, just like he promised he would be."

Yesterday as everyday was special for my family. I truely believe that our family and friends who have passed do come and visit with us and YESTERDAY showed everyone else what we knew in our hearts. OH there are the lights flickering "Morning Dad happy to see you are here with me"........

Shweet Gothic

As many of you know I am so in love with the graphic style of Carm with Shweet Potato Designs.

http://www.shweetpotatodesigns.com/

This weekend I decided to take her graphic style to heart and designed a new doll that I hope she will create into a graphic soon. This is based on one of my favorite tv shows from my teens..."THE ADAM'S FAMILY".

On Wednesday's for the past 2 years my daughers and I have done something little in our community to bring a smile to someone's face. We called it out Pay It Forward Wednesdays. So this is out little mascot for our PIF Wednesdays. You will be able to see ideas on how you can PIF in your community every Wednesday at our Shweet Potato Dolls Blog. Just look for the Wednesday Doll where we will offer some ideas. http://www.shweetpotatodolls.com/
Wednesday will be up for adoption on our Shweet Potato Dolls blog soon as well as an e-pattern for you to create your own little Shweet Gothic Raggedy.

Everyone have a great Memorial Day and please take a moment out of your day to say "Thanks" to those who gave their lives so we CAN live free!

I'm Proud to Be An American

Thanks to Carm of Shweet Potato Designs for the awesome Annie Graphic.
http://www.shweetpotatodesigns.com/

On this Memorial Day weekend please take some time out of your busy day to stop and reflect on what Memorial Day really is. It is not a day for us to take off of work and school...go hunting or fishing... it IS a Day for us to remember those brave men and women who have fought battles and lost their limbs and lives for us to be free.

I would wager a bet that most of the youngers out there have no idea why we observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. This day was recognized as far back as 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. While reading up on this day I found a poem that touched my heart and I think it will touch yours too.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

By Moina Michael

So when you get up out of bed on Monday morning, and you head to the lake, to shop or even some of us have to work, why not wear RED to show the world that you are remembering those who lost their lives world wide for freedom.

I am a very proud sister of several soldiers who have served our country in many different places. Korea, Iraq -several times and wars and many other places to many to mention. Whenever I see a man or women in any uniform I take a moment and Thank them for their service for OUR Freedoms. My kids think it is hooky and the soldiers will usually blush and say "Oh it's nothing...Just doing our job". But you know what IF THEY DID NOT DO THEIR JOB SO WILLINGLY, SO FREELY, GIVING UP SO MUCH FOR US, then we would not be able to walk around this country free from hate, free from fear and FREE JUST TO BE!

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

SO ON MONDAY MAY 25, WEAR YOUR RED AND PLEASE STOP AT 3PM AND REMEMBER OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SO THAT YOU CAN DO AND SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
THANK YOU TO MY BROTHERS WHO HAVE MADE ME SO PROUD AND THANKS TO ALL OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD!
GOD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU ...KEEP YOU SAFE IN HIS LOVING ARMS!

This is my Hero
WE Love you dearly!

Shweet Potato Dolls Blog

I am so excited and so proud to announce we have a brand new blog where you will be able to find all things Shweet! Our Shweet Potato Dolls Blog will be were we will showcase our newest ©shweet potato dolls and patterns. You will be able to go directly from our blog to our pattern pages and also adopt your very own ©Shweet Potato Doll from our blog.

We also want everyone to get to know our Muse Carm with Shweet Potato Designs so you will have a direct link to her little bit of Shweet Heaven too.

We'd love to have you come by and follow us. Very soon we will be holding a Grand Opening Drawing for an Original ©Shweet Potato Doll.

Each Wednesday you will get special tips on how to PIF.... or as Oprah says Pay IT Forward. This is something our family has been doing every Wednesday for over a year and we are now taking it national and international.

We hope you will come by and visit all our blogs and shoppes and just have fun.
You can find our Shweet Potato Dolls Blog at http://www.shweetpotatodolls.com/

Now I am off to take Sassy Kassy to graduation practice........ oh my youngest is out of high school....

To the Class of 2009

To the Class of 2009


As we dive into our future
We are as fish in a large blue ocean.
As young students we swam within our school,
We dare not venture out into the deep
For fear of being eaten or lost.

As we grew into our fins
We learned that we could indeed
Swim along the edges of the reef
Where we learned many life lessons;
From our parents and experienced adults.

The more we grew,
The more we learned,
And bigger the chances we took.
We now swim freely
Out in the big blue ocean,
Looking for our future,
And remembering our past.

We search for our soul mate
While gaining knowledge
That will keep us safe and
Allow us to grow old with time.

One day we will too have our own
School of fish to teach and lead.
They will follow our examples and
Learn from our experiences.
We will keep them safe as
Our memories kept us safe.

So do not fear the big blue ocean,
It is just there for us to swim and learn
To move forward always remembering
That knowledge from our past will keep us safe.

Kassandra Ramirez
W.T. White High School
Dallas, TX
May 2009

Pay it Forward Wednesday

Good Morning from Dallas, TX. Woke up this morning to a beautiful sunny day and so excited that I have been walking this week and lost 2 pounds! YEAH! Every little big helps this olde heart!

Today I decided I to declare it PAY IT FORWARD DAY. To those of you who have no idea what I am talking about PAY IT FORWARD or PIF is something I became aware of from the Oprah Show. How this works is you do something for another person without expecting anything in return. Simply tell them to enjoy and Pay it Forward.

This morning I decided to have a Starbucks Moca Frappichano with a shot of expresso and of course the whip topping. There was a young gal in the car behind me in the drive through and you could tell she was looking for change for her starbuck's. So when i got to the window I paid for mine and asked the gal to cover the car behind me too. Just tell her to "Have a Nice Day and Pay It Forward"


YOU know it was a nice fuzzy feeling to do something sneaky but good to someone you don't even know.

There are so many ways you can pay it forward without spending a dime. I think for the next month I would love to make Wednesday's PIF Day. Love to hear how you celebreated Pay It Forward Day Right in here. Love Bug is the new Official PIF Mascot so when you see him remember to do a little something nice for anyone out there stranger or friend. It could be a simple as putting a note in your kids lunch bag that says you love them. Sweeping the neighbor's sidewalk, going through the fast food window...cover the car behind you'd order.
Last night I dropped off a small bar of spa soap at the shoe store we were looking for graduation shoes for Kassy at. I just handed it to the gal at the checkout as we walked out and told her THANKS for making our shopping experiece wonderful...and we didn't even find any shoes. BUT the gal was just so nice and giving.

Right now I know of a PIF that runs through the end of Friday the 22. DJ Doodles is GIVING away FREE coupons for you to use to advertise YOUR business in the Rusty Tin Roof Ezine. All you need to do is
Offer your customers a COUPON for any items you sell. (We do ask that you give us a $Dollar$ value, as opposed to a percentage off. In other words, your coupon must read display the SALE Price of the item, or the Dollar amount of the COUPON to be taken off the regular price of the item.)

You can email your info for the FREE Coupon to Angie at angie@djdoodle.com with the following info
Your name:
Business name:
website/ blog URL:
Email addy:
coupon offer:
Expiration Date:
Keep it short and sweet so folks will come to you to find out more and check out all your offerings.

As a PIF you could add a RTR banner or button on your blog, website or store so more folks will be able to read the ezine and find your coupons when the new issue comes out in June. You can download all the back copies of this jammed packed ezine at http://www.rustytinroof.com/. There are wonderful articles and a whole lot of FREE Patterns too. You can find the banners/buttons at http://www.rustytinroof.com/banners.html
Can't wait to see how you are going to PAY IT FORWARD THIS WEDNESDAY!

TODAY - Friday are the Days for FREE FREE FREE

What special way to start off your summer sales than with a Coupon in one of the largest jammed packed ezines on the market. FREE Is the word for MAY 19! Free ezine where you can get a FREE Coupon to drive folks to your businesses for FREE!




The deadline is extended until FRIDAY MAY 22! Still time to get your free coupon to advertise your business!
This is how it works.
For 1 DAY ONLY on TUESDAY, MAY 19th - you can take part in a COMPLETLY FREE, money saving, summer sizzlin' show down at Rusty Tin Roof! This offer is open to all crafters from far and wide!

Offer your customers a COUPON for any items you sell. (We do ask that you give us a $Dollar$ value, as opposed to a percentage off. In other words, your coupon must read display the SALE Price of the item, or the Dollar amount of the COUPON to be taken off the regular price of the item.)

For example, if you have a line of Patriotic ornies this summer, why not offer a $5 coupon on the purchase of $25 or more? Another example, do you sell candles and have a new line of tarts? How about offering free tart with the purchase of a candle? Just make sure to let us know the value.


Your COUPON will be added to the SIZZLIN SUMMER Issue of Rusty Tin Roof ezine at NO CHARGE! Rusty Tin Roof is a Free downloadable Country~Prim Online Magzine, chock full of recipes, articles, free patterns, kids crafts, games and more, and we have Thousands of downloads each release! Think of the added exposure to your website, or blog!
Your coupon will be featured in the SPECIAL SUMMER SIZZLE COUPON PAGE and will be LINKED your website or blog AND you would also be listed in the ADVERTISERS directory -- and all for FREE!

But Wait - There's MORE LOL! IN ADDITION to this FREE COUPON AD and listing in the Advertiser's Directory of the Summer issue of Rusty Tin Roof, for taking part in this offer, you will ALSO receive a coupon for YOU to use!
All djDoodle clients will receive a $20 coupon for any of our ONLINE MARKETPLACES or our craftshow, Country Craft Show Online, and anyone Outside of our Community who is not yet a Doodle will receive a $20 coupon for any of our ONLINE MARKETPLACES (http://www.djdoodlejunction.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=90),
Country Craft Show Online (http://www.countrycraftshowonline.com/) OR their choice of 1 month FREE of DIY website builder (http://www.diywebsitebuilder.com/) with their signup!!!

So that's a FREE COUPON for your customers, which means FREE advertising for your business and a FREE coupon for you to also PROMOTE your business with djDoodle!

What's the Catch, you ask?
This is a 1-DAY-ONLY EVENT ~ on Tuesday, May 19th ~ First come, First Served ~
Maximum of 100 Coupons will be given out, so be sure to tell all your country and prim friends, post about it on your blogs, add it to your newsletters, and just make sure to be there!
We'll be looking forward to seeing you at djdoodle JUNCTION, Craft Community Forum!!!

****Hey there crafters!If youre interested in this free offer, please email Angie at angie@djdoodle.com with the following info
Your name:
Business name:
website/ blog URL:
Email addy:
coupon offer:
You must email Angie Tuesday the 19th to recieve this freebie! make sure to tell your friends!

The best thing is you can do this for all your websites, marketplacesm etsy and ebay! YOU are not stuck with only being able to take advantage of this awesome special for one place you list. COME ON OVER AND GET YOUR BUISNESS LISTED AND DID I MENTION IT IS FREE************

NEW updates at the Marketplaces

It is so hard to believe that my baby will be graduating high school in under two weeks! How does the time fly by so fast????

Well it is that time again updates in Lemon Poppy Seeds and Country Fried Primitives Marketplaces.
We invite you to come by Lemon Poppy Seeds and see our newest additions...Love of Our Country and Angel ornies.


In Country Fried Primitives Marketplace you will find out newst Shweet Potato Dolls Americana Duo

http://www.countryfriedprimitives.com/shoppes/cfpalwayscrafty2/
Or if you want to create your own you can find the pattern in Always Crafty 2...both the e-pattern which is instant download or paper pattern which we will mail to you free shipping.
http://www.alwayscrafty2.com/patterns.html

IF you like extreme prims and folks art check out the Marketplace of Lemon Poppy Seeds. This Marketplace updates on the 1st and 15th of each month and has no only poppy shoppes but also pattern shoppe as well as scented shoppes.
Here is one of my Newest Poppy offereings...
Americana Angel Ornaments


You can find the Lemon Poppy Seeds Marketplace at http://www.lemonpoppyseeds.com/shoppes/psalwayscrafty2/

One last wonderful thing before we head off to bed this Sunday Evening. Mark your calenders for May 19 and you will be in for a surprise. DJ Doodles is giving away FREE space in the Rusty Tin Roof Ezine. You can find out all the info on The Summer Sizzler Special at http://www.kissmycrafts.blogspot.com/
ONE DAY ONLY SUMMER SIZZLER SPECIAL


Don't wait this is ONE DAY ONLY and it will help your business ALL SUMMER LONG!

WOW May is zipping right along there.....

WOW where has been gone too??? It seems like just yesterday it was May 1 and here we are almost the middle of the month!
This has been a very busy month in my house. Between the last month of high school for my baby girl and visiting colleges and trade schools we have no time to take it all in. Exams are next week and then the week after comes Senior Activities leading up to GRADUATION!

In Family news we were hit with not one but two health crisis. My older Sister Debbie was diagnosed with skin cancer and just Tuesday I received new from one of my younger brothers that he was diagnosed with ALS. So time to hit the knees.

We are also asking all our family and friends out there to offer a small prayer for those of us who are sick at 12 Noon every day. Just take a moment to stop and say a little prayer for healing and faith. For comfort and calming.
I know there are others of us who need a little extra prayer said for us so we thought that it was time we all brought in the power of prayer.

We released a brand new Shweet Potato Doll pattern on Wednesday. This pattern is the largest pattern we have created and it will make up an Americana Raggedy Annie AND Andy. Included in the pattern are instructions for BOTH dolls as well as a tutorial for making Andy's Paper Sailor Hat. ***17*** PAGES big this pattern is easy to understand and would make great dolls for Craft Shows this summer. You can go directly to our e-Pattern page by clicking on the picture to the right----------->

One last thing before I hit the road....... Special thanks to all of you for all your wonderful Birthday wishes. You are the reason I do what I do and I just want to thank each and every one of YOU!

Til Later...

NEW AWARENESS ORNIE E-PATTERN

Wow not sure where the energy came from but I wrote up two new patterns today.

The Awareness Ornie/Bowl Filler e-Pattern is now ready to download in our shoppe Always Crafty 2 http://www.alwayscrafty2.com/patterns.html.
This pattern is packed with all kinds of tips and methods to make your ornies unique to you.

Two Sizes of Ribbons and many different ideas on how to use them.

TWO different methods of staining to make them nice and prim or you can just leave them as is for a country feel.

Say a special thank you to that doctor or nurse who treats you. Give them an Awareness Ribbon Sachets.


These are easy to create and make great products for your next craft show.

If you want some already made up check out the Americana Awareness Ribbons in our Country Fried Primitves Shoppe http://www.countryfriedprimitives.com/shoppes/cfpalwayscrafty2/

Remember we LOVE Custom orders! Just email us if you would like us to make some up for you.
alwayscrafty2@yahoo.com

Check in tomorrow for our newest Shweet Potato American Dolls Pattern.
TWO Raggedy Dolls in One pattern and a Sailor Hat Tutorial all for one low price!

Happy Mother's Day

We want to take a moment to wish all the mom's out there a wonderful and blessed day. Remember whether your mom is earth bound or in Heaven you can always tell her how much you love her. Remember to thank her for making you the wonderful person you are today!

I want to personally wish all my sisters a Happy Mother's Day. You are all very special to me and are wonderful examples of how a mom should be.





This is a very special Mother's Day for me. 50 years ago I was born on Mother's Day in Memphis Tn. I was so looking forward to spending my 5oth birthday with my mom but she went to be with the angels in October of 2007. While she is not earth bound with me, I still feel her presence in my life every single day.

Mom I know you are listening and visiting me each day. I wanted to say Thanks for all you taught me and the other kids in our lifetime. We love you and miss you a whole lot.

Special thanks to my very best friend Cecilia. We met on the first day of Kassy and Krystal's kinder and have became fast and true friends just like the girls did. Kassy thinks of you as her second mom and even though the girls are going their seperate way after High School, know that you will always be a part of our family.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS, GRANDMAS, MOMS OF 4-LEGGED BABIES AND MOM'S TO BE.

Wonderful Wednesday

It's a wonderful Wednesday...Only 4 days left til I hit 50!

Yesterday I created a couple Shweet Potato Dolls that I am making into a double pattern today.
They will be for sale as a set in my Country Fried Primitives shoppe soon.
http://www.countryfriedprimitives.com/shoppes/cfpalwayscrafty2/






I just have to share with you the most awesome Room Spray I received from Hunny Bunny Primitives. The room spray is wonderfully full scented and stays in the room for hours! It is a dry spray so it goes on dry feeling and does NOT leave a wet mark on dolls or clothing.
You can find Ro's Spray on eBay at http://tiny.cc/HunnyBunnyPrimitives
Check out her ABOUT ME page for her scent list. I have Grandma's Pie Crust and Madagascar Spice and they are both wonderful!

Well off to work on the patterns... See ya soon!

Come post a comment a WIN

WOW! Come by the Beauties4Bloggin blog (Age*Before*Beauty eBay group) and check out your new listings for May. May Flowers was the theme this month and you have a chance to win this Doll!

All you need to do is post a comment on the blog telling them which of the creations most fits the theme for May Flowers! If you tell others on your blog about it you can get your name in the hat a second time. Just make sure to post on the blog you did it!
Come on over and check out all the May Flowers Creations!
http://www.beauties4bloggin.blogspot.com/

And of course head over to eBay and get your order in
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_dmptZFolkQ5fArt?_nkw=ab4b+&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=ab4b+mf&_osacat=0

She has a NAME!

Please come over to eBay and check out my NEW NAME and see if you are the winner of a prize from my Momma. If my new name was suggested by you please email my momma at sandi_0510@msn.com with your mailing address. Make sure to put Winner in the subject line so she knows it is not spam.

You can find me here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270383729348

If you like Flower items please check all my momma's listings. She has also up for adoption several of my sisters. Also, her eBay group Age*Before*Beauty is holding their Monthly Launch and May Flowers is the theme. To find all the Age*Before*Beauty Listings type in AB4B MF in the eBay search box or look here http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=ab4b+mf&_sacat=See-All-Categories

More creations will be listed on May 2 too.

Til tomorrow....