Even though they are called wall decals, you can get really creative with them for other things. They will stick to any clean, flat surface; indoors or out. Car windows, ceramic tile, mailboxes, and mirrors are just a few suggestions.

We just love what Joan, of NicholsforPennies, did with the monogram decal. She used it for her business name to advertise her shop at The Memorial Art Gallery’s annual Clothesline Arts Festival.

Joan wanted to apply the monogram decal onto an antique door that had a whitewash finish. Once we got the colors and the size down, the decal was sent off to it’s wonderful new home to be put to good use. Joan chose sliver for the initial and black for her business name and slogan.

Once the decals arrived, the fun began. Joan cut them apart and temporarily taped them to the door to get the spacing just right.

With that completed, the decals were peeled and applied to the door.  Now Joan’s very artsy and attractive, mobile business sign was ready for the world to see and remember!

Joan told us that the people at the show “loved” her sign .. and we do too! We think it looks fabulous!!!!  Thank you so much for sharing it with us. 

You can read more about Joan’s craft show on her blog and check out her fabulous jewelry on Etsy, NicholsforPennies

A tribute to the Red, White & Blue from the Personally Yours market at 1000 markets.

Artist / Product
PangaeaDesigns ~ Little Initial Tags – Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Necklace

Pink Lilly Press ~ Simplicity Personalized Folded Notecards (Set of 10)

New Hope Beading ~ Crystal and Sterling Mother’s Name Bracelet

Artful Beginnings ~ Personalized wedding hankie

SooBoo Designs ~ Hand Painted Wood Children’sStool

Babypop ~ Super Superior Custom Superhero Set Cape, Tee, Mask and gloves

Bohtieque Design ~ On Cloud 9 label

Alaiyna B Designs ~ Personalized Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Vertical 2 Charm Necklace with Swarovski Crystal Accents

Pasaii Design Studio ~ Wedding Invitation – Cardinals in Love

The Hound would like to say “Thank You” to all of our troops, who fight for our freedom and keep us safe.
God Bless the USA!!!

Today the Hound went sniffing out beautiful Fall and Autumn-related items to decorate your walls. He hit the jackpot in the Walls Market at 1000 Markets.

Check out these fall dandies …

Artist / Product
Elinor Sethman ~ Sweet Persimmons

SooBoo Designs ~ Handmade Autumn Wreath

TwoCoolTexans ~ Serenity

Artwork by Kristen Stein – StudioArtworks.com ~ Sunset Glow

Village River Arts ~ Celestial Surface – Original Encaustic Painting

For Quilts Sake ~ Threaded Feather Art Quilt

The Creators Palette ~ Original watercolor Swan impressionistic

Lucie Wicker Photography ~ Sepia Weather Vane- Fine Art Print

Impressions Gallery ~ Autumn–Original Landscape Oil Painting\

Woot Woot!!  Freckled Hound is One-Year-Old on Etsy tomorrow. It has been a wonderful year that has exceeded our wildest dreams. We owe it all to you, our Fabulous Customers!! Thank you!

To celebrate, we’re having a HUGE sale on everything in the shop, now through September 8, 2009.

You can choose either Free Shipping (applies to orders over $20.00) or 20% off, whichever benefits you the most.

In the “message to seller” box at checkout, put either “Free Shipping” or “20% off”. We will refund your savings via paypal.

Thank you ALL again .. the Hound’s customers are the BEST!!    Let’s Party!!!!

Unfortunately, California is on fire again! We have eight major fires burning in the state right now. The “Station Fire”, which is the largest, is the closest one to me. It has doubled in size in one day and has consumed over 120,000 acres to date. Containment is not expected until September 15th.

Station Fire - 08/29/09; view from the racetrack, Irwindale, Ca

Tragically, this year, two firemen have lost their lives fighting the ” Station Fire” in Acton, California, which is about 5 minutes from my house. They were trying to out run the fire, when their truck became overcome with flames, and they drove off the side of the mountain. Our prayers and deepest sympathy goes out to their families, friends, and fellow firefighters.

Blanket of smoke coming over the house, 08/30/09

I have had the fortune (or misfortune) of watching the firemen at work. They are amazingly BRAVE, risking their own lives to protect us and our homes.

While I don’t live in a canyon anymore, I did for about 6 years .. and yes, there were fires every year. The firemen stand in your front and backyard, armed with only a fire hose, going toe-to-toe with the 50-foot flames .. it is incredible!

Imagine wearing a full fire-suit and carrying all that equipment in 105 degree weather, plus the heat of the fire, and doing hard, exhaustive manual labor for 20 hours at a time. Heroes!

After their shift is over, they would collapse on the front yard grass and sleep, extremely grateful for the mere bottle of water, cup of coffee or McDonald’s hamburger offered to them. “Sleep” is a huge understatement here, it’s about 2-3 hours of shut-eye and then back on the front lines. When you tell them you can’t express in words how grateful and thankful you are to them .. you receive a very humble reply of “You’re welcome, mam … just doing my job”. True Heroes!

This is Mt. Wilson, where the communication towers are.

Then there are the pilots, who fly the water-dropping helicopters, the Super Scooper, and the planes that drop the Phos-check. The planes come swooping out of no where, so dangerously low you think they’re going to take the roof off the house or fly into the side of the mountain. It’s scary. They make the drop and then return to the lake to fill up and do it again and again and again.
Fearless Heroes!

To all the firefighters out there, who risk their lives .. Thank you! You are MY HERO! Stay safe.

Take a peek at AlaiynaBDesigns .. you’ll be glad you did.  Shop for beautifully handcrafted art jewelry, personalized hand-stamped jewelry and lampwork beads for all occasions. So pretty!

You would think that living in California all of my life AND in the desert to boot, that I’d be used to hot weather … NOT!  The 110+ days of this summer have gone to my head. I really need a break. Won’t you come on in and relax, virtual-poolside, with me.

I’ll have a Pina Colada with one of those fancy umbrellas in it. What would you like?

….  psssssssssstt  - check out that cutie right on the edge of the pool .. Woot! Woot!

 ok, ok .. here’s one for you humans, but can I go down your slide????

This was a custom monogram that we did. The customer wanted and elegant,
Egyptian-style monogram in sliver and black for her daughter, Sarah.

We think it looks great on her wall! What do y’all think?

Thank you very much for the photo!

My granddaughter just lost her first tooth and asked me .. “Is the Tooth Fairy for real”? I immediately told her that she is, but then I got that look .. oh, you know the look .. eyebrows down, eyes tilted up ..the “Are you joshin’ me” .. kinda look!

So, to prove to her, we went a walkin’ and boy-oh-boy, did we find the Tooth Fairy – alive and well! Take a peek …

 The ewws and ahhhs were flowing on this adorable Maddie-Pattie ToothFairy Pillow for Little Girls. It is handpainted and even comes with a “special gift” from the Tooth Fairy herself … a “Tooth Fairy Certificate” that you can place your child’s name on and save in her scrapbook. Plus it comes in an adorable bag, topped with a pink ribbon. Too cute!!!

handcrafted by: Maddie-Pattie Greetings

… she’s still wasn’t convinced … so we kept on looking

Pewter Princess Tooth Fairy Box
This little Tooth Box is approximately 1 1/8″ tall & opens to reveal a hidden compartment just the right size for a tiny lost tooth. It comes boxed with a Tooth Fairy treasure pouch & a poem to tell you how to use your tooth fairy box so the Tooth Fairy doesn’t pass you by!

Handcrafted by On a Whim Pewter

I was getting closer, but we were still looking for additional proof and then, all of the sudden, we found it. It was HER, the Tooth Fairy herself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “Ja, I am a Tooth Fairy” Tooth Pillow

 We love this darling little pillow that we found on 1000 Markets and the story she told .. that the tooth fairy is very small and has a hard time with “big pillows”. This little pillow is just Tooth Fairy size and has a pocket on the back to put your tooth! Adorable!

handcrafted by alyson2

Whew!!! Sweet Dreams everyone.

Now that it’s back to school time, a brand new cozy beanbag chair is the perfect functional decor for a small dorm room or to make a little “homework zone” in your child’s room.  While it does require a sewing machine, it’s about the simplest thing to sew .. and that’s coming from a non-sewer, whose sewing machine is nothing but a huge dust collector.  If I can make one, anyone can!

Photo courtesy of paperdollsforboys.wordpress.com

Things you’ll need:

1. Sewing Machine (in a pinch you could do this by hand, with needle and thread, but it would not be as sturdy)
2. Fabric
3. Thread
4. Scissors
5. Measuring Tape
6. Pencil
7. Stuffing material; bean bag beans, Styrofoam peanuts or even blown-up grocery bags (remember, recycle!)

Here is some fun and colorful fabric we found, while browsing on Etsy, that would be great for a bean bag. Whoo hoo … look at that Florida Gators fabric!

A Fabric Outlet	Carolina Fabric Girl

Step 1:  Lay your fabric out on the floor folded in half.  Measure out a 3-foot diameter circle on the top layer.

Step 2: Cut out the circle through both layers of fabric.

Step 3:  With wrong sides together, stitch the two pieces of fabric together, stitching in about 3/4″ from the edge.  Leave about a 12″ opening so you can stuff the beans inside.  You can then repeat this step to re-inforce the seams.

Step 4:  Turn the fabric right-side out.  Stuff the beans (or whatever stuffing material you chose) in carefully until it is about 75% full.

Step 5:  Take your needle and thread and stitch the top opening closed.

Step 6:  That’s it.  Sit down, relax and enjoy your new cozy bean bag chair.