PIF Wednesday (Pay It Forward)

Well yesterday was WEDNESDAY so it was Pay it Forward Day. For those of you who don't know Oprah started the PIF phase and my family took this one on to heart. Every Wednesday we each try to do something special to others without expecting to get anything back. It just comes from our heart. When I have money on my RED Starbucks card (which gives back itself when I use it) I will swing by one of my 2 local Starbucks for my special headache reducing drink. The folks there know me and know on Wednesdays I usually pay for the car behind me. Yesterday was no different as I pulled up to the window by favorite Mohawk Starbucks Dude asked PIF today? "Why Yes of Course" as I handed him my red starbucks card..."the Car behind you has order $17.00 worth of drinks is that okay". Yep go right ahead I just will cut back on my own drinks this week. Well today as I drove up Mohawk Dude let me know that my simple act of PIF went on for 16 cars yesterday! FIRST time he saw a difference and PIF working. He in turn started telling others as they drove up that it was a PIF Wednesday and he had 10 other folks Pay It Forward as they picked up their order.

Warms the heart to know that one simple act of kindness can spread like a rock hitting the surface of a lake.

So I know it is not Wednesday but we can make an exception... PIF Thursday.... What have you done today to PIF?
It can be something as easy as a free pdf pattern,picking up the tab at the drivein window when you grab lunch, send out Hello and have a great day text to everyone on your phone list.

This week we celebrated the 22nd birthday of my oldest chick Keelee. Several online artists and ebayers did some extra special kindess to make sure she had a wonderful birthday. Of course I ordered late but they worked hard to make sure she has gifts for her birthday.

If you like to read books on your computer check out this ebayer.
payless4more She wanted to make sure Keelee had something to open so she emailed us not only the ebooks we won on ebay but 3 more sets of books for her.


Now I have to tell you about a very special artisian on Etsy, themiscellany or Dianna Walsh. Keelee was crusing on Etsy and she fell in love with this themiscellany work. She showed me and of course I ordered her favorite piece for her birthday hopeing it would get here for our birthday cause the artist lives a few little towns away. Well it DID make it for her birthday along with both a sweet note to me and an inspiring note to Keelee. Along with the necklace we ordered, she sent Keelee a beautiful hand drawn 8x11 original work of her art. If you want to see the print created from this masterpiece click HERE
Dianna is a school teacher in one of our local school districts and she teaches ESL or English is a Second Lauguage students. She is an angle in her own rights and I truely feel God has blessed her with her amazing artistic talent. (I thought surely she was an art teacher). I will be back for more of your original artwork for my home. I sure would love a Our Lady of Guadalupe Painting or Original Drawing... Believe me we will be by often and you are on my short list for the holidays.


Thanks to you both and your big hearts My baby had a wonderful 22nd Birthday! YOU both PIF in your own way and you will be rewarded!

SHAME ON YOU Kanye West!!

Last night this Raggedy Annie Momma was busy finishing up the touches on 16 Mini Raggedy Annies, 12 of which were sent out to new homes today. I watch Big Brother 11 with Keelee and then my level headed one comes running into the living room, grabbed the remote and turned on the VMA (Video Music Awards) where it was dvr'd. Now Kassy likes all kinds of music I guess that comes from having a dad who is a DJ on the weekends. From POP to Rock...Country to Techno she listens and likes it all.

Taylor Swift is a year older than Kassy and Kassy likes and respects her work. We were all appalled to see Kanye West jump up on stage and say the things he did. NOT only was he disrespectful to Taylor Swift, he was disrespectful to all the viewers. I am hearing from Kassy, Keelee and their friends that they will no longer be listening to Mr. Kanye West or buying his CDs. This is not his first drunken rage but it SHOULD be his last one.
Hats off and kudos to Beyonce for the way she handled it all. I have always thought she was one classy gal and this just shows HOW classy she is. What should have been a special night for Taylor Swift and her fans turned into a nightmare we all want to forget.

I know alot of you know that I am deaf but that does not stop me or my big sis from "listening" to music in our own way. Videos and TV has made it possible for the deaf and hearing imparied community to take part in what the hearing folks just take for granted. You can bet that this Raggedy Momma will be turning stations when Mr West has a video on or he is on a show. Maybe if a whole mess of us do this he will understand that he can't act the way he did and just issue a blanket "I'm sorry". It's time that WE as consumers let these out of hand artists know that we won't stand for the disrespect they show others.

Taylor Swift and Beyonce BOTH of you deserve your own special awards!
Classy Gals in Music!

This Raggedy Momma will show off the newest addition on our Shweet Potato Dolls Blog http://www.shweetpotatodolls.com in a bit.

Raggedy Loves her BOYS and a good Chocolate Margaritas

Well Raggedy is out celebrating her Birthday at the Dallas Cowboy Game!
They won YA! But she is not done yet.



She decided to celebrate by having a Chocolate Margaritas.. Soap that is and voting in the SafeTEAM Challenge Poll. The way to vote is to comment on your favorite of the soaps based on our theme BON BONS N BOOZE. Now Raggedy hopes you like her favorite but you can vote your own choice.
Here is a little hint so you remember which one Raggedy Ann endorses.


The SafeTeam Blog http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/
Hope you get your vote in!

From Hoppy Bunnies to Reindeer Raggedy Ann Can Found

This week we are celebrating Raggedy Ann's Birthday. To check out what a whole mess of folks say about this lovable gal ---------> click on the Annie graphic to the right and visit the blogs listed.
Today Annie decided she wanted to play dress up as some of her favorite critters and I could not stop her.
She wanted to remember spring so she dug out her Bunny outfits... some were very traditional....

Now this gal likes to play with her friends and doesn't care if they are all dressed in satin...Andy even came along for the play date.

Annie know that the prim world loves Homespun fabric so she hopped into this little outfit for all the prim lovers out there.


I told her to stay out of the dirt but she was just having to much fun rolling around so she said she was a little extreme prim and you all would love her anyways.


Now time for Christmas......


Annie wanted me to tell you that she will be showcasing her new Holiday line later today so make sure you come back OH and she invited Andy to come too.

So Happy Birthday Raggedy Ann and "YES" you can birthday cake for breakfast!

Raggedy Ann says God Bless American

Today is 09-11-09.
Eight years since our country was attacked and ALL our lives changed.



Annie and Andy both told me this morning that they wanted to say something to everyone.

Please never forget those that lost their lives and their families. Please remember all our men and women in service worldwide not just the Americans.


Andy said he would serve our country but he is a bit too short.
So he plans to fly his flag not just today but everyday.


Annie is not to be out done she flys her flag proudly but she decided that her mom and sisters (Sandi, Keelee and Kassy) need to go worldwide with their Shweet Letters From Home. So look for our announcement soon on how you can help Annie make the days and nights of our military men and women and their families better. Kassy did this in high school and now she is out so time to let others help out too.

Raggedy Annie and Andy want to thank all our men and women in service everywhere and they both said to tell you that today instead of celebrating Raggedy Ann's Birthday can you all take a moment and just STOP and think about 8 Years ago and those special Angels and their families.



We want to share our special hero with everyone today.
He leaves for the Middle East soon.
Jamie is our Hero and we would like everyone to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

Lady Bird. Lady Bird...Or Was it a FlutterBy

Raggedy Ann had a Birthday this week and we are celebrating "Raggedy" all week long!
Join us in our Happy Birthday Raggedy Ann celebrations by clicking on the Raggedy Ann Button to the right--------->>

By now you know that Raggedy Ann has been a lifeline in my life. From my first memory to the new ones I am making each day Annie is showcased front and centered. One of the first poems I remember learning when I was a little girl went
"Lady Bird,Lady Bird
Fly Away Home.
Your House is on Fire
And your Children all Gone."
Now while i never quite understood the poem it did inspire me to create one of my first Shweet Potato Dolls... Meet LadyBird


She would love for you to meet her first cousin KRISTAL the Lady Bug

Kristal lives at Texas A&M with my BFF's daughter who happens to my daughter's BFF.
Now both of these Raggedy Bugs have a distant cousin Love Bug. She loves to hug and hug and has even been known to deliver "Starbucks".


While on a walk one day in the Spring Chico and I happened upon some odd looking long white objects in the bushes (No not George and Laura although they do live not to far from us) and brought them home. We were amazed when leaving them for a few days in the same room with our other Shweet Bugs we discovered.........
©Shweet Raggedy Annie FlutterBys

Wow Raggedy Ann sure likes to change shapes and sizes.
Tomorrow we'll expore her furry past....

Happy Birthday Raggedy Ann and thanks for the memories old and new!

Wicked Raggedies

Okay I know wicked is NOT how you would describe the Raggedy Ann styled dolls I create but wicked can be a good term too. Well Kassy's girlfriends ALL call my Halloween styled Annie's Wicked so we will too.


Last year I was granted permission by Carm with Shweet Potato Designs to use her graphics as inspiration for a line of Shweet Potato Dolls and Patterns. To me Carm has captured the essence of Raggedy Ann without infringing on her Copyrighted Image. Her graphics are Annies from her heart!

As doll creators and artists we use Raggedy Ann as our mentor and guide and we create from there. There are many styles and sizes of our Shweet Potato Dolls and at this point to me Shweet Potato Dolls are a Raggedy style all their own.
From Flying Witches

To My Little Wednesday Raggedy

And even This Little Halloween Raggedy Riding a Kitty


Raggedy Ann has been a huge influence in many of our lives, from childhood to adulthood, she has been there to dry our tears and ease us through the pain of heartbreak and illness.

Happy Bithday Raggedy Ann! You are my inspiration!

Come by tomorrow to see how Raggedy Ann has morphed into critters and bugs.