For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Through Christ we have received the greatest gift of all! I am so thankful to know the true meaning of Christmas. I hope that each of you and your families have a blessed Christmas filled with joy and laughter.

I'm so thankful to all of you who take time out of your day to visit me and for all of your comments. It really means so much and I'm very grateful to have made so many friends. I hope to post something of interest, whether it's a craft or who knows what, very soon. I'm getting there slowly. In the meantime I posted some verses from Luke in celebration of this wondrous gift that mankind has received.

I'm picturing all of you enjoying Christmas to the fullest with all your family and friends. If you are alone today but don't want to feel alone I'll be checking in and you're welcome to share your feelings with me. May God bless you all.

With Love ....Tracy


Luke 1:14

"And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luke 2:11

for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:14

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;

Creamy Chocolate Fudge Giveaway ~ YUM!

I know ~ Another giveaway. I'm on a roll tonight but I can't resist sharing this one with you. If you win just be sure to save a bite for me. LOL! This looks so much like the scrumptious fudge my Mama used to make. And most of you know what a sweet freak I am, especially chocolate. Well Sweet Maggie over at Grandma Yellow Hair is having a sweet (pun intended) giveaway and the prize .......ta-dah is the famous Ms Rubys Fudge. This giveway will end on December 28, 2009 midnight central standard time. So click here or the picture on my sidebar if you want your chance at this yummy prize.

Do You See What I See?

Hi Dear Friends. I haven't been able to buy or even create all I would like to this year. I wish I could have personally sent each of you a gift or at least an honest to goodness USPS mailed card. But I can offer to share the lucky finds that I have stumbled on. Just look at Robin's Egg Blues Crystal Winter Giveaway. I have to warn you, I've got my fingers crossed on this one. If you'd like to visit her beautiful site and enter just click here or on her picture on my side bar. Hurry the giveaway ends at midnight on Friday December 25th.

I'm so grateful for all of you who take the time out of your busy days and visit me here. You each add a smile to my face and are a bright spot in my day!

I'm wishing each of you the Very Merriest of Christmas' and a Happy New Year too.
Hugs....Tracy

Rebecca for Vintage Living: Birthday Giveaway

Just in case you haven't heard already let me fill you in. Rebecca for Vintage Living is having a giveaway to celebrate her birthday. Not only is she sweetly giving presents away, she's giving away 7 to celebrate the 7 days between her birthday and Jesus'. Just look at the this beautiful star she created. I just found out about her blog and I'm so glad I did because I know it's one that I will be visiting often. Just click here or on the star button on my sideboard to stop by and wish her Happy Birthday and enter her giveaway. Even without a giveaway you'll be glad you did!

Good luck. Hugs....Tracy :)

The Feathered Nest has a giveaway!!!

Most of you have already found out about this goodie but just in case you haven't then let me let you in on the NEWS! One of the Sweetest gals I know, Dawn over at The Feathered Nest, who just so happens to be awesomely (okay, I made that word up ~ awesome's just not enough) creative, smart and so very giving is hosting a giveaway to celebrate her 1200 post & 400 followers. If you're familiar with her, you will jump at the chance to win anything she could dream up. If you're not familiar with her just plan on spending some extra (alot) time when you stop in to enter her giveaway. You just can't stop in there and pop right back out. There's just to much to read and look at. I go back again and again to look! Please stop in and congratulate her on her 1200 post ~ Wow! and 400 followers (no surprise there). To check out Dawn and her giveaway just click here.

Hugs and Happy Holidays Ya'll.....Tracy :)

BIG, BIG GIVEAWAY TO SHARE

Hey everybody.

I know I've been sort of missing in action lately. I'll try to post on that later. I would like to thank all my sweet wonderful friends and followers for leaving such touching comments and checking in on me from time to time. I only wish I could adequately express how much it's meant to me. I love you guys!!!

TodaysMama is having a fantastic giveaway ~ Mama’s Holiday Wish List Giveaway, that I just have to share since ya'll have been so sweet to me. I know I keep gushing but right now your caring means much more than you can know. Anyway, this is a hugh one!!!! Be sure to go check it out by clicking here.

The holiday season is wonderful. Full of joy, wonder...and work. Especially if you have a handmade holiday in mind. We want to make the season a bit easier on you by giving away a sleighful of gifts that only a mother could love.

Our “sleigh” is a Madsen Bike filled with gifts and goodies from Provo Craft to help you create those handmade projects including a Yudu screen-printing machine, a Cuttlebug, a Cricut Expression Machine, a Your Story thermal book binder, and a Knifty Knitter loom set. That’s not all - we’ve got treasures galore - a Dyson Blueprint, an Easy Walker Sky stroller from MamaBargains.com, two Sidekick baby carrier bags from Kemby and an Amber Alert GPS unit and a full year of service.That’s over $3,800 in gifts!Entering this contest is easy and fun. Just answer and post the meme below on your blog and send us the link. (Don’t have a blog, no problem! You can post this as a note in Facebook and send us the link too.)To participate you must include all of the text, including the links, in bold below:Mama’s Holiday Wish List MemeTodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

#1 A super-duper craft supply bundle for paper crafts.

#2 A craft weekend get-away (Hugh dream - but dreams can come true)

#3 A clothes shopping trip or gift card

#4 My son, his wife and 3 grandkids home for Christmas

#5 Digital camera and new computer system set up (do you think that covers it all)

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

I have never received a handmade gift except for winning a giveaway or doing a swap. I would like to have a homemade only Christmas (except for all the stuff above that Santa would bring me).

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I have always wanted to learn to crochet an Afghan or baby blanket or make be able to paint simple ornaments

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

One Christmas I wanted all the extras for my baby doll. I couldn't believe my Grandma, Aunt and of course Santa provided a baby bath/changing table, a high chair, cradle & extras. I will never forget all the time I spent playing with these items.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? My son is now grown with children of his own and they want everything!

6. What is your favorite holiday food? Baked ham with a pineapple brown sugar glaze and of course home made fudge.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? Lots of ornaments, a few winter scarfs and hats. And who knows what else.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? The Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation and of course It's A Wonderful Life.

9. Favorite holiday song? Mary, Did You Know (I think that's the name) and Nat King Coles Christmas Song (the Chestnuts Roasting one).

10. Favorite holiday pastime? We don't get to do it very often anymore but we used to have the family all come together for a Christmas Eve Party where the relatives exchange gifts that evening.

So there you go, my answers to this seasons most pressing questions. LOL. I tried to be a good girl and keep my wish list somewhat possible (but I'm pretty sure it would take a miracle to get any of it), I did leave off the swimming pool, outdoor entertaining area, new car/suv, luxury vacation, you get the idea.

If I could add something it would be to be able to share this holiday in some form with all my blogging friends. You've given me strength and love when I felt I had none this year. I received so much joy from reading about your happy times or your wonderful sweet comments to me, I cried so many times for the joys in your blogs or with empathy for your touching or heartbreaking circumstances, as well as my heart just bursting from the fullness of the love you've shared and shown me. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a season of joy and fun.

I'd love to have the mailing address of my followers. If you'd like to share yours, you can email it to me at cottonpickincute@hotmail.com .

God Bless you all. Hugs....Tracy :)

HURRY, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS HUGH GIVEAWAY

Hi ya'll! I just found this giveaway and wanted to hurry and let you all know before time runs out. All Scrapbook Steals - The Blog: November Giveaway is loaded with over $150.00 worth of scrapbooking items from companies like BasicGray, Fancy Pants, Making Memories and more.

Here's the important part: Entries will be accepted until Dec 4th and a winner will be drawn on Dec 5th.

As much as I want to win this, it's always fun sharing the news with my friends. If I don't win, maybe one of you will. And there's always the bonus of the extra entry for blogging about it. (blush).

Hugs to you all....Tracy :)

I'm Back and Have Some New Giveaways To Share

First I want to thank all my friends for there kind comments and well wishes. Ya'll make me feel so loved and I love you too!

UPDATE: I thought I was back last night when I wrote this post but now I'm second thinking that. Feeling sicky still but different, sore throat, tired and yada, yada, yada. I won't bore you all with that. Just know I'm thinking of you all and will be back with some decent post as soon as I feel up to it. I'm working on some tags little by little and almost done. I hope to mail them tomorrow and will post pics after that.

Hugs and back to the original post.......



I listed a couple of new giveaways that I found for ya'll to take a look at.



The first one is:

Linda over at Robin Egg Blues. She's giving away 3 Inspirations kits celebrating her 100th post. You read right ~ there will be 3 winners. Make sure you click here or click her blue swan on my sidebar and go by Linda's blog and congratulate her on her 100th post and then maybe I'll be congratulating you on winning.



The second giveaway is:

Donna over at Brynwood Needleworks. She's got a fabulous giveaway as well. Just tons of great items to celebrate her 200th post. I hope you'll all stop in and see her lovely creations and enter her contest too. You can click here or go to the button on my side bar.

Just a quick update

Hi all.

I just wanted to let you know that I'm not ignoring anyone but I've been not feeling so well the last couple of days. So if you've emailed me, I'm sorry I haven't been able to get back to you yet. When I get a chance I read them but hate writing back when I'm not feeling pleasant. You deserve better than that. You're emails mean so much. I love you all. Right now I'm going to have to take a pain pill (which I never do) and will probably be in bed the rest of the day. I hate to take it knowing it's going to cost me a whole day. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know - NOT IGNORING and I will be back soon.

Love, Tracy

And The Winner Is.........

Hey Ya'll.

First I'd like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for the sweet comments. They brighten my day so much. I just love meeting all the wonderful people I've met and consider so many dear friends. I hope you'll all continue to come back and visit often and keep me up to date on all the fun things in your lives and if you need a friend to share any sadness. I'm here for that too.

Now back to the winner. The winner is:

**************Deb from Dragonfly Treasures***************

Congratulations Deb. Please contact me by email at cottonpickincute@hotmail.com and share your address and I will get you Fall Giveaway package in the mail.

Hugs to you all....Tracy :)

Fall Giveaway ends at midnight

The end is almost here. And this we be shipped out to the winner so they can enjoy it the last 2 weeks before Thanksgiving.

I want to thank all those who have already ended. I've enjoyed reading your comments so much. You have given me many smiles and lots of joy. If you haven't entered time is running out so hurry and enter now!

I hope it helps ready your house for the gathering of friends and family. The giveaway is opened through Wednesday midnight November 11, 2009. I will draw the winner on Thursday November 12th.

Hugs and love to all my sweet friends and followers....Tracy :)

A Heartfelt Thank You To All Who Have Served

Dear friends, on this Veterans Day I am at a loss after losing our own soldiers on a base here at home before even heading to the war. My son also served in Iraq a few years ago and my father and Uncles in WWII. I feel deeply indebted to those who have served and fought for our country. Also for those loved ones who stayed home to await their children's return, the wives who fought to keep their families together and took on the extra duties of their spouses, and for all the children who cried tears missing their parent who chose to leave to serve and protect Americas freedom instead of staying in the comfort of their own homes secure with their own families.

I could never say enough or repay you and your families for all that you have done for me, my family and my country. You have my undying respect and appreciation. God bless each and everyone of you!

A few new November Blog Give Aways To Share

We all like giveaways so when I find one I try to share with you, not to mention an extra entry for my goodness, ha-Ha, so here are a few new ones.

Number 1 is Sharon at My Vintage Studio has a Ewe-Too-Cute giveaway you should check out, just click here.


Number 2 is from Kerryanne at Shabby Art Boutique.
In celebration of all that is good right now: new business, new lifestyle, great health and wonderful friends, she is having a Blog Giveaway. On the 20th November she will draw a winner who will receive this 10" x 10" mixed media cupcake painting, plus a selection of 4 cuppies from my new range of Faux cakes at Woodberry Designs. You can see the beautiful painting in the button on my sidebar.

God Bless You All!!!!

Hugs...Tracy

One Day Left To Enter Fall Giveaway & Craft A Day Is Back

Hello. Do you remember me and my big mouth. Well I haven't exactly kept my word but I didn't stop crafting. Somehow I'd start one craft need something or someone here would need something and so on and so one. So in the middle of one craft I would start another one. I have been crafting everyday. Ya'll just haven't been able to see it. There is a very special friend that I'm sending something I made to but I wanted to be able to include the tags for a tag swap that I owe her and I also wanted to make a few things to show my gratitude for some past sweetness she has done for me. I'll show you the pics after I think she received everything.

On top of that this camera has me so frustrated it's like why did I commit to do something when my pictures don't even show what they look like. (Sorry, I'm frustrated). A sweet new friend Pam has been so kind and tried to give me some help but so far I haven't been able to find it on this camera.

So now after all my whining are the pictures of one craft. I decoupaged these bird house ornaments. (Believe me, they look prettier than the photos show).

*****Also, I wanted to remind you if you have not entered my fall giveaway do it now. The deadline to enter is Wednesday at midnight. That gives you one more day.****

I made 3 of them.

I bought these houses already built at the Dollar Tree. Guess how much I paid for them. Ya'll are so smart, yep $1.00 apiece. First I painted all of them white where it might show. Then I covered this one with a pretty white scrapbook paper with blue violets. I cut some other flowers, butterflies & dragon flies from some more paper and decoupaged them on top. I trimmed the eves and base with some more paper. I replaced the twine hanger with ribbon and added a banner that I cut from a box of tea and some satin roses.

Here's the back side.

More of the same steps. You get the idea.

Here's the back side. I used some heart shaped paper clips placed in a circle with a little flower and button on top.

This one's a little different. I used a really pretty paper in warmer colors. It would be great on my country tree. (I have a formal pink decorated tree and a country one, if I have the energy to put both up). For the roof I used acorn caps that are plentiful in my yard right now. Then I glue reindeer moss in between. I added some jeweled fall leaves and the hanger off with a raffia bow. Easy as came be. Would be much easier if you have all your colors picked out and gathered up when you start. Once you get started on a project like this you suddenly remember what you could use all those cute little odds and ends they sale for. I wish the mailman would bring me a ton of old lace, toy pieces and craft items. Oh' did you say that's what everybody wishes for? Hee-Hee.

Well, that's it for today. But I promise you'll see more crafts everyday I hope. Actually I'm hoping that you get more than one a day to make of for the ones I missed. They're in the works.

Thanks for visiting ya'll. I know I'm repeating myself but your comments do mean so much to me and knowing you visit warms my heart.

Have a warm sweet night. Hug....Tracy :)

Please Join Me For A Cookie

Hey Ya'll.

I just hate showing you the pictures with this camera but it's all I've got. I spent a little time baking this morning. And no this is not the craft of the day. I hope to get that on before midnight tonight.

If you like something really sweet then you will love these Cream Cheese Cookies. They're really easy too.

How do you like my early Camellia flowers. These scrubs are so pretty but the flowers are very hard to arrange (as if my arrange would look any different if they weren't). They are usually displayed floating in a bowl, especially the hugh multi-bloom ones that bloom after the cold. I wish you could see how delicate the color is. Such a soft white and pink with a touch of bright yellow in side.

I've listed the recipe below if you'd like to try it. They're yummy and you store them in the fridge, that is if they last that long. Honestly I have a major sweet tooth but I couldn't eat more than two of these at the time.

Cream Cheese Cookies

1 package yellow cake mix

1 stick butter (soften to room temp)

1 egg

1 package pecans chopped (optional)

In large deep bowl blend above 4 ingredients with a pastry blender. ( I used my kitchen aid mixer on low and it worked fine). In a greased 9 x 3 cake pan (with greased hands) lightly press dough in pan bottom. Layer will be stiff and thin.

1 box 10x confectioners sugar

2 eggs

8 oz package cream cheese (softened to room temp) and pour over 1st layer. Bake at 350 till medium golden brown, approximately 40-50 minutes. Checking often toward end. Cookies are easier to cut when completely cool. If possible refrigerate several hours.

I hope you try it. If you do let me know what you think.

I'll be back later with a craft for day 4 (I hope).

Have a fun filled weekend. Hugs...Tracy :)

Still Making A Craft A Day Sorta ~ Day #3

Hi Ya'll.

Well every night I seem to post later and later. I am trying my best not to skip a day. I sorta cheated with this one. I really needed to finish a surprise that I'm sending someone but I don't want to show it until they get it. So instead I'm posting something I made sometime ago. Three prim country Christmas stockings. One for a girl and two for guys. I made this from a pattern but I can't actually remember which one. They were really simple and pretty quick to make.




I don't intend for the entire 30 days to be on Christmas but so far it's looking that way. I have no definite plan but lots of ideas.

After seeing the terrible pictures my camera is taking, I'm afraid ya'll won't come back. LOL

That's it tonight folks. I'm going to try to go to bed earlier tonight so I can accomplish a little more tomorrow.

I want to thank you all for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments. You don't know how they make my day. I read everyone and smile. I love you guys!

Have a fun Friday. Hugs....Tracy

Here we go Craft Day #2

Well I promised a craft a day. I didn't promise what time of day. Okay, yeah I did say I'd try to get them up earlier but well, you know.

Ya'll will have to excuse my horrible pictures. I need a new camera so bad. Anyone out there want to be my Secret Santa? LOL

Back to craft day #2. I decided to make ornaments out of jewelry boxes. This is a great way to use up all those little scraps of paper and ribbon and lace. I had so much fun on the first one that I ended up making 5! Very easy, this is a great craft project for anyone to do. So easy that I didn't think anyone needed a tutorial on this one. Kinda like follow by pictures sorta thing.


I used scrapbook paper, some Christmas magazine pages and some even some music sheets and glued them on the back of the inside and around the inside edges as well as all of the outside. I added cut outs and used pop up dots to give them a dimensional look. I also used some raffia in the bottom of one. I used a lime green metallic wreath (like 11-13") to make the Christmas tree. Boy that poor wreath has been through it. I've cut it up for quite a few projects. After trimming around the top (and sometimes the bottom or even all around) with paper and lace borders I cut the back of a few decorative buttons off and glued them on as well.

Oh', I guess I should mention that it's easiest to poke the two holes in the top for the ribbon after you cover it with paper but before you add decorative elements. I made that mistake too many times and remembered at the end when I would realise I didn't have a hanger attached.

Darn this camera....Darn it, Darn it, Darn it!

Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by. I just love reading them. They are a required necessity to keep me encouraged. Thanks friends. I love you all.

I hope you enjoyed day #2. I can't take complete credit for this because I saw the idea in a magazine but can't remember which one. This would be a fun keepsake Christmas craft to do with a child. But they're not necessary. LOL.

Have a blessed and fun day and be sure to come back tomorrow and lets see what I come up with. Hugs.....Tracy :)

This is a BIG one ~ Like 30 days BIG

Oh my, oh my. I'm not sure but I might have lost all sense and sensibilities. Either that or the one day of fresh chilly air has invigorated me (at least for a little while). That's where ya'll come in but I'm skipping ahead, let me go back to the beginning so you'll know what I'm talking about. Okay are you ready? Has the suspense and excitement built up yet? I can't hear you. Hello are you still awake? Okay here goes.

********** I'm planning on doing 30 crafts in 30 days!!! **********

Stop laughing, enough already. It's not totally impossible. Is it? Oh', I'm already starting to doubt myself. Nope, not going there. No negative thoughts. Breath, Breath, Breath.

Okay, all better. I'm such a procrastinator. I know that's a nasty little habit. It's not like I just picked it up. I got it passed down to me, topped with my own little quirk of daydreaming a lot ~ well, that's just not a good combination. I know what your thinking, you can change anything you want to. But to be honest it's just not that easy, especially after so many years. It's kind of like an addiction. I'm just grateful that's the only addiction I've got well besides sweets and chocolate, which is a whole nother post.

There I go digressing again.

So that is where ya'll come in. I'm going to need some encouragement. Your encourage in everyday life means so much but for 30 days of crafts - whew - just let me reiterate - I need you and your encouragement.

Now these won't be a build an addition type crafts, I can't cram a week into a day, obviously. Come on, get real. This will be simple and fun crafts, up-cycle projects, holiday ideas ~ who knows really ~ a hodgepodge of projects ~ a potpourri of crafts and ideas.

If I wasn't such a procrastinator this would have begun all proper like on November 1st and ended on November 30th. Alas, not my 30 days. This one starts at the end of the first day which is today November 3rd.

So come on ya'll make a commitment to me, promise to come by and encourage me. Share some ideas. I love you guys and can't do it alone.

I'm going to try and create tutorials for some of these as a I go, as if ya'll probably couldn't figure it out on your own. Ha-ha. The first few will be of things I've just recently done, hence no tutorial.

So here we go, let the party start!

Blessing to you all.....Tracy :)

Project Day #1

Actually I did this scarecrow a few years ago. I just thought it was an appropriate time to show it. He was made with muslin and a few other fabric scraps and a little raffia. Easy to do face with magic markers. When I hung him up last year I added couple of extra nails in and hung the raffia on his wrist and ankle so it looked like he was waving and jumping. He had a little more raffia hair coming out from under his hat but I guess the stress of being boxed up in the attic made his hair fall out. Ha-Ha.

Here's a close up of his happy face. As you can tell by the crow on his shoulder he didn't take his job of being a scarecrow too seriously.

*****Don't forget to come back tomorrow, (Earlier I hope) and see what's next for day #2!

Please leave comments. I love reading them and it lets me know you cared enought to stop by.

Hugs and blessings....Tracy

Gingerbread Man Giveaway Alert

I've just stumbled across another fun giveaway. This one comes from Michelle at Sweet Something Design. In honor of her 100th post she has made these adorable Gingerbread Men Decorations which can be used on the tree or to clip on your curtains or just about anywhere. Aren't they cute and happy!! Boy, it really makes you want to get creative for the holidays.

So click here to stop in an show her some love for her 100th post and enter her cute giveaway. Be sure to tell her I sent you.

Hugs...Tracy

Fall Chill Brings Out Warm Hearted Giveaways

It sounds like a news headline doesn't it? Don't you just love giveaways? And it seems like everyone (including me) is having one now. During my blog hopping tonight to check in on all my wonderful friends, Traci over at Beneath My Heart , she's such a sweetheart if you don't know already, blogged about a new giveaway that I just had to checkout. Sure enough it was a wonderful fall packed giveaway from a sweet person named Melissa at Heart and Home. I not only entered but hope to have found a new blog friend too. That's what makes this all so fun. I just love people and you meet the best here. Anyway just click here to stop by and tell Melissa Happy One Year Blogiversary and enter her giveaway while your there. You might be like me and stay awhile. Just tell her I sent you.

Don't forget to enter my fall giveaway too if you haven't yet.

Meet my new friend and see her first time giveaway

Hey my fetching Ghosts and Goblins. The bewitching hour is almost upon us and I hope you'll all had a treat filled night of fun and trickery! This post is to introduce you to someone a lot of you might not know yet. I just found her. Her name is Debbie and her blog is Love the Decor. She has lots of decorating ideas and is now hosting her first giveaway. And who wouldn't want three new candles, which are great anytime of the year but they really make everything so cozy in the fall and winter. These are beautiful unscented candles - great for those with allergies. The best part they have beautiful embedded designs that glow when illuminated. Please stop by and see Debbie and be sure to tell her I sent you. You could be her first winner! Just click here. Hurry the winner will be chosen on November the 3rd!

While your at it be to sure to enter my Fall giveaway by clicking here.

Have a Sweet Sunday Ya'll.....Tracy

Have A Cup Of Tea Or Cider And Reminicse With Me

When fall comes it always brings warm memories of time spent with my mother. That's probably because for those few years before starting school it was just Mama and me time. My Daddy was at work and my sister was in school. I spent my day mostly following mom around, staying underfoot and in general getting in the way. I was a very clingy child ~ sometimes I don't know how she made it.

We had the most wonderful set of books called My Book House. I believe there were 12 volumes. The first book was nursery rhymes, the second was a little longer stories and so on and so on. I just loved the books, I mean truly loved them. They were originally purchased after my sister Joni was born in 1955 and they were kept in our bedroom and these were the ones our bedtime stories came from. I so wish I had a set now, at least the first two.

Back to those days at home with Mama.

I can clearly remember some of those days. Like the day she found me sitting on the bathroom sink covered in her beautiful red lipstick. Oh the shock on her face.

Then there was the time I remember walking around with my head stuck up her dress as she tried to move from room to room to clean the house. It was one of those wonderful June Cleaver cotton shirt dresses all pleated at the bottom and cinched at the waist with a matching belt in a soft blue green. Mama seemed so tall to a little kid like me. Well she was tall. Mom was 5 ft 9 inches tall and very thin. I was always a little thing taking more after my fathers side of the family. I'm only 5'3 now and seem to be shrinking. I'm sure by 70 if I live that long, I will be a whopping munchkin at 4'8".

Oh and how could I forget Mama just having finished mopping the kitchen floor and me being the helpful little girl I was taking out the brand new FULL GLASS jug of milk, which in my defense I might say was very heavy, and immediately dropping it on the floor where it promptly shattered. Ewe-wee she was not smiling and I received a nice reprimand for that one. To tell you the truth I can still remember feeling so sorry for her after having just mopped the kitchen.

But there's also lots of memories of picking up pecans outside and going to the our small little country county fair only a few miles from home. When the fair came, which was every October they actually had a kids day where school closed and students got in free that day. My Mom was a wonderful seamstress. She made beautiful tailored clothes for herself and little dresses for us. She had a very classic style. The clothes she bought or made for herself were never extremely trendy but so stylish that you could look at it twenty years later and still love it. I remember her entering a couple of her creations in the fair and receiving blue ribbons. She also entered crochet and knitting projects with the results producing more blue ribbons. I loved going to the fair grounds before it opened while Mama set up displays or helped with the band booth or work at the front office. Then a couple of weeks later Mom would be back at the fairgrounds again helping to set up the Halloween carnival for the school. A few days before halloween they would have a carnival inside one of the buildings were they had all the little booths that you could win all those little plastic toy spiders and such at. There was always the fortune telling booth with the gypsy where they would put the little cellophane fish in you hand that would move because of the heat of you hand ~ ewe spooky. What a wonderful time that was. By the time I was about 9 or 10 all this stopped and she spent more time at home and didn't socialize to much anymore.

I guess I got a little sidetracked because this post on Mama all got started because I was thinking about the book story set. There was this other set of books, that I always associate with the book story set because they were always with them. They were black and white pictures or drawings of crafts to do with children. I can remember pulling those down every week countless times and asking can we make this? What about that? The answer was always the same - Not today. Mom never had cared for crafting and my desire to make silly little crafts never left. I'm so grateful to my Mom for teaching me how to sew. My sister never wanted to learn and never did. It was a real bond for Mama and me one that I cherish to this day. Unfortunately between her being left handed and me being right handed and also a little klutzy and impatient I never could learn to do more than a chain stitch when crocheting. Oh how I wish she were here to make me a Afghan now. The yarns are so soft and so beautiful. I'd even be willing to try her patience and attempt to learn again.

I hope on these last two days of October you're enjoying fond memories of your childhood too.

Love and hugs to you all...Tracy

Family Holidays and Great Giveaways

Well it took me a while but I'm back with a new give away for you. This time I'm hosting. I know I was going to post this a week or so ago but well you know how life gets in the way, it's demanding like that.

With fall and Thanksgiving in mind I put together a few items for you. It includes 3 fabric pumpkins that I made (which was fun and easy), there is also an adorable scarecrow box, a Give Thanks door banner with hanger and a couple of fall kitchen towels. I hope it helps ready your house for the gathering of friends and family. The giveaway is opened through Wednesday midnight November 11, 2009. I will draw the winner on Thursday November 12th. Because of the size and weight I will only be able to ship this inside the continental United States. If you live outside the United States and would still like to enter, I could ship you the banner and kitchen towels since they would fit in an envelope.

I have to tell you this giveaway is a little self serving (okay, a lot). I've had a store in ebay for quite sometime and it's mostly vintage items. Ebay has gotten so expensive that I'm just ready to get rid of it. I have a lot of stuff there. I've recently marked things down and could use some help clearing this place out. So if you can take a peek. You never know you might find something you like. In return I will be happy to give you an extra "6" entries into this fall giveaway.

Hopefully this will be the first step to opening an etsy store. Yeah!! But please make sure you enter whether you check ebay out or not. Thank you all for indulging me and my self promoting ways.

This time I'm offering you 4 ways to enter. Here are the simple rules:

1 entry- for each comment left throughout the event.
2 (extra) entries - for signing up as a follower.
4 (extra) entries - post to your sidebar... the giveaway, picture, with a link, to Cotton Pickin Cute(let me know with a comment).
6 (extra) entries - for any purchase made from my ebay store north-florida. Just click here to go to my store. (Be sure to post a comment and let me know if you purchase so you can get the extra entries)

GOOD LUCK MY FRIENDS!!!

Best of luck and Happy Thanksgiving to all....Tracy

I'm Sharing A New Giveaway For You To Enter

Hi everyone. I found another giveaway to share with ya'll. I really do need to get busy and finish some of my own projects but you know how it is. You want to check out every ones latest post and then you click on something else and find a whole new post and well there you go. So much time lost but what a fun way to lose it. There's just so many creative people and ideas out there and here is another one. Don't ask how I got there ~ I oh' so simply started out at Elizabeth's Creative Living and well who knows where I went next.

Anyway back to the adorable giveaway. Are you ready? I know you are. Here it is.......

It's an adorable creation from Andrea over at Vintage Bella Studio. She's giving away a cute Audrey Hepburn inspired bag. Don't you just love it. I know I do. So be sure to stop by and enter. I'm sure your going to end up sticking around like I did.

Sara's Sweet Surprise Give Away

Have you ever checked out Sara's Sweet Surprise. Shes got a cute blog with lots of cute ideas. And you will really love this give away. It's a gorgeous 2 gallon cut glass Apothecary Spigot Jar. I have wanted one of these for so long for the simple reason of they are so pretty. What other reason do I need. So I don't give to many teas or showers. I want it, I want it, I want it! Gosh, I learned to say that about 2 and never stopped. Tee-hee. So why am I posting this and asking for more competition in the give away? Well because I'm just so dang nice, well, um that's not quite the truth, I get 10 extra entries for posting. But I do like to share information when I find a really good blog site or give away. So I hope you take a peek, just click here.

Cheryl's having a October goodie give away

There's a new give away in town. If you haven't already checked out Cheryl's blog Zany Mayd you will be glad you did. She's hosting a Vintage October ~ Giveaway #2. Such cute goodies. She must love making people smile, what a sweetie! Just click here to leave Cheryl a comment and be entered into her give away.

A Day In The Life...of a woman after God's heart

Hi Ya'll. I thought tonight I might share with you the new blog that I'm following. Actually it's really much more than a blog ~ it's an online bible study. Debra from Common Ground has begun a new bible study blog and I'm really excited about it. It's called a day in the life ...of a woman after God's heart.

As Debra has said this is sort of opening up her quite time that she spends with God. Quoting Debra "It should be interactive. Questions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, they are all valuable to me. I'm not going to get into any doctrinal or theological debates here." She shares passages with us to read so that we can discuss (or just read if you would like).

For me it gives me some direction and reminds me to take that quite time and spend with God. And then I love going back and sharing ideas with the others. This is open to anyone who would like to be a part of this. If you haven't visited Debra at Common Ground please take a moment to you will find her to be just as sweet & loving as can be. I also hope you take a peek at a day in the life, I believe you'll feel as blessed as I do.

The Garden Bell: THE WINNER IS............

IT'S ME....IT'S ME....CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S ME!!!!


I just love all the bright cheery colors. Sweet Kate from The Garden Bell created this on the way home from Door County - hence the name door bell. She is so creative and witty, what a winning combination.

If you've never visited her blog you can click here and boy will you be glad you did. She has beautiful pictures and creates the most beautiful blankets, Afghans and more. Something I admire that I most definitely cannot do. Thank you Kate for making my day.

Welcome To My Grave Yard

**** I'm sorry about the photos. I spent hours trying to correct this post by reloading the pics and checking small but it came out the same as the first time. I'm so disappointed you can't even see my son Ty. If anybody else has had trouble with loading photos please give me you tips. I never can move photos around once I send them here. I either don't know something (which is very possible) or there is an easier way. TIA....Tracy

Hey Ya'll. It's officially fall for me, seeing as how we have actually had 2 days of weather in the sixties. Sadly though it will be back in the 80's in the next few days. But while I'm feelin' the cool and feelin' the mood, I thought I'd share last years Halloween pictures with you.

So I'm warning you now this is a proud Grandma's picture post sooooo it may take awhile.

Just a little background. My son Ty, daughter-in-law Christal, and their two children Zack and Ki'a lived in Nebraska last year (they are now in up state NY). Zack has cystic fibrosis and the make a wish foundation granted his wish to go to Disney World. So the family came last October and had a week of fun. They then headed to our house about 2 1/2 hours North on Nov 1st the day after halloween. I went crazy knowing they would be here and put ALL the decorations out.

Ki'a had just turned 6 a week earlier and Zack was 7 (soon to be 8 on New Years Eve).

I usually pick up the decorations when they go on sale for 75-90% off after Halloween.


Please ignore all my nasty cords. I promise to do better next time. There are actually 3 of these ghost. I made them from black and white flannel with white buttons a few years ago. You hang them on some up side down metal tomato cages with white holiday lights wrapped around the cage. So sew easy. I did have a pattern but it's simple straight stitches (I have a fear of drawing anything without a pattern - trying to gutsy up and get over that).


Here's one of Neil and Zack. He adores his Granddaddy and vice-versa. Zack hasn't lived here since he was about 2.

Zack and Ki'a waiting on Zelda the Gypsy to tell them they stay at Disney World forever.


Here's a picture of the ghost I made lit up. Don't they look fun, who could be scared of those faces?


Dead Harry here, well he's a little more frightening.



Here's Kia saying "I ain't afraid of no ghost" and playing ring around the rosies with our singing ghost group. She fits right in with them except for the tan.



Ki'a's holding Esmeralda the witches hand. What a freaking tiny hand that witch has. She moves her hand and arms back and forth and hers eyes glow green. She looks like she's stirring the pot I added.


I think they're singing a belated Happy Birthday to Ki'a.


This girl is Fearless with a capital F. Of couse it might have been a little cooler if they had seen it before they had gone to Disney - the land of realistic pirates. The cauldron looks a lot cooler at night too. I took a couple of grape vine wreaths and put some white Christmas tree lights around them (orange ones would work great). Then I took an orange disposable table cloth and cut it up and weave it around the wreaths cutting it like little flames. I've got bricks holding the Caldron up above the grape wreaths More bricks in the Calderon hold the LED light changing skull up enough to see it. Then I just took pillow fillers and pulled it all bubbly looking and overflowing to look like a boiling cauldron. You can see Esmeralda's just waiting to drop another head into the pot. The black cat had changing LED colors too. It's very hard to imagine how much different the scene looks after dark.

I found this light up skeleton at the thrift store for a couple of dollars. It really looks neat at night because you don't see the cords. You only notice the head and hands lit up. I told you she was brave.

Can you see Frankenstein peeking around the post?





Here's a great picture of Zack holding my faux pumpkins. He's alot harder to get a picture of since he's got Granddaddy to play with. These pumpkins were the best purchase ever. I found these at Michael's about 10 years ago when they first came out. They were a lot more expensive than now but I used 40% coupons and I knew that I was saving a bundle over the long run because I always bought so many real pumpkins (which I still love). I never liked the orange plastic pumpkins growing up because they were so fake and these are so amazingly life like. Now that I'm oldish I love the kitsch of the old stuff too.


That witch makes the coolest cackling sounds as she moves up and down and is lit up.

Here we all are. As most of you know Neils mother now lives with us. She turned 89 this last August. Sorry for all the squinting and eye rubbing but the sun was directly in our eyes. Ki'a's holding the baby doll I made for her birthday which we celebrated while she was here even though it was late.




Here we are again. I love this picture with Ty and Christal smiling and laughing. Zack's holding our baby Mattie. She'll be 10 next month.

There's my sweet boy Zack flying his airplane with Granddad.


I know Ty is tall. I'm only 5'3" but my mom was 5'9" and his dad was close to 6 ft - he just passed them a little. His best friend from school is like 6 ft 7".

Ki'a is all girl and so dainty.


It's so funny. You call Zack's name and he turns automatically with a smile as if cued for his shot and Ki'a is always so introspective & dreamy looking. I miss them all so much.


Well - whew - that's my long butt post. I warned you. Hope you had fun. Show me yours now.

Have a blessed night....Tracy :)