Who am I? Where is my car?

Last week was crazy.  While wrapping up from the art fair (who uses that many tablecloths???), we had two rent-house closings--one was a refinance on the first, and the second was the purchase closing on the second rent house.  Lots of signatures and bank paperwork.

But the second one dominos over into this week, because as soon as we close, it's time to get the rehab started so we can get it rented!  Utilities on, paint colors picked, contractors who need codes the lockbox, oh--and a new For Rent sign for the yard, because I painted the last one w/ permanent black paint and now my phone is dead.  Sooooo a new one w/ HIS number on it.  Yeah, boring details, but it's one way to build up a retirement fund that won't go down the toilet every time the stock market wobbles.

For now, I have pictures of roses.  The Peggy Martin rose I'd posted earlier hit her prime for the season...she'll bloom a little more on and off over the summer, but will likely wait to really re-bloom this fall.

If you're ever shopping for roses/landscaping/plants and find this rose, get it.  It'll climb twenty to thirty feet (doesn't "climb" but when tied, it grows loooooong ramblies) and it seems impervious to bugs, mildew, etc.  Rose growers call this one "The Katrina Rose": Peggy Martin was a rose grower in New Orleans, LA.  When Hurricane Katrina hit, she had over 300 varieties of roses on her place.  Everything was flooded and covered in salt water and debris.  This was the only rose that came back.  Proceeds from the sale of this one go to continued hurricane restoration in New Orleans...

And now, back to my regularly scheduled madness.  Time to run errands.  (How many switch-plates and towel bars was I supposed to buy?...)

Hermits' Garden at King William Fair

Like I promised, pictures of our booth.  It was windy at first, so we had to hold the booth down w/ sand bags and small water tanks.  I lost two dolls to the wind...note to self: make them with reeeeelly solid bases, or put them at the back of the booth.

Another lesson learned: never assume people understand they can come IN if they just go around the corner of the booth.  Nevertheless, the wind died down, the temperatures stayed perfect, and it was a good day.
(Click twice to enlarge pictures.)

Belt Buckles, "Good Bones", and other oddities

Our space was 10 x 15, so we had room for the Schutlz in his playpen at the back.

Keyfobs on a screen, lots of dolls, and calico birds.

We usually do two booths, so the two signs go across the front...

Not real busy until after the parade was over...then it got crazy!

We're baaaack.

I am literally on my way out the door for groceries, leather supplies for the hubs, and various other errands, but I wanted to say Hi and Thank You for the good luck wishes.  Pictures of our booth tomorrow.  That's all I have, pics of our booth, because things were so busy I didn't have time to go see other vendors.  We sold enough to enter this event again next year, but not enough that we can retire.  ;~)  Got tons of leads on custom leather work for the hubs, and some interest in custom art dolls as well. 

Hope you are enjoying a gorgeous April (as we are having temps in the mid-nineties already.)

King William Fair!

Today I've washed all our tablecloths, re-rigged some of our displays to make better use of our space, and printed new little price signs.  Along with finishing up some rabbit dolls I designed last week.  Just in time--I have two more days of prep time to go...and it always seems like I spin around in circles getting ready for an event.

Phil's job is to step on one of my feet so I have to be still for a minute.  (My hyper-detail-oriented Virgo nature never seems to come out until NOW, of all times.)  Sooooo, while it seems I've got everything done, I can list tons of things that need checking and sorting, and oooh, a couple more lists to make, and...

Sorry.  Here's a picture and a link if you wanna go check out this terrific one-day event that takes place April 16th here in San Antonio.  Held in the historic district w/ tours of the old homes, a parade, bands, kids' games, carnival food, and hand-made only art vendors--hundreds of them!  And Hermits' Garden is among them this year--Hooyah!  :~) 

If you're here in San Antonio, come see us--we'll be at the corner of Washington and Turner streets, across from the park and stage.

King William Fair--part of San Antonio's Spring Fiesta!

Lookie lookie!!!

I haven't been to the Traveling Doll Project blog for a few days, and what do I discover this morning?  Wren has had her baby!  Oh my goodness.  We were all wrong about the due date, apparently.  :~) 

Go see the momma and baby here, and browse around the other doll projects here...this is SO fun.  I can't believe how cool this concept is and how much I'm enjoying it.

The garden in April.

This won't be a long post...just lots of pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures.
(click to zoom.)

The veggie garden gate, w/ asparagus growing 5 ft tall to the left...

Honeysuckle vine in her third year.  Even with so few blooms, you can smell this one from ten feet away.

Lady Banks Rose, almost finished for the spring.

The Schultz, lounging by the back deck.

Veggies!

"Romer's Hip-Happy"...I grow this one for the huge rose hips.  The roses are just a benny.  :~)

This is a six-foot chain link fence, and only the second spring for this climber--"Peggy Martin", the Katrina Rose.

See all the buds yet to bloom?  She's very happy here. 

We have little green lizards alllll over the place.  I give them places to hide from the cat.

This Chaste-berry tree (vitex) is in her third spring.  She was only two feet tall in '09.

Burr Oak just leafing out, w/ a huge cocoon of some sort...measures over two inches long.  Waiting, watching...

A poppy, and my feet.

Larkspur self-seeded--EVERYWHERE.

A red "Knock-Out" rose.  Very young, but going strong.  Lemon-grass behind, agave in front in the pot.

The Schultz is ready to go in, Mom...

Good Bones

I must suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder...half the time I'm researching Civil War era rag dolls, trying to understand the period costumes and fabric patterns, and the other half, I'm dreaming up bizarre stuff like this.

The basket was a thrift shop find--a cornucopia with a handle and three stubby legs.  Of course it had to be a doll, but other than that, who knew?  I had no idea in mind, no preconceived notion of what I was making, even as I rolled the first wad of clay in my hands. 

I call her "Good Bones" because she reminds me of those bored high-fashion models...

Gotta run, but....

I'm on my way out--lots of gardening to do today.  (And if I run out of gardening chores, I'll make some up!)

But I figured a "family photo" of the finished gourd dolls is in order.  Jester Pete is missing, since he's currently at the headquarters of Art Doll Quarterly, awaiting his turn in the autumn issue, but the rest of the gang is here.  Bad photo, I know, but it's what i had at the time.

Be well and have a FABULOUS weekend, everybody!