We made the local Paper

The local paper The Herald decided to do an article on us in the paper.

Here is the link.

The Herald

Sorry if this will not let you access the page. 

Busy Christmas Tree Lot

We have been enjoying meeting the people of Sierra Vista and surrounding area's as they browse the wonderful Christmas Trees on our lot. It is a lot of hard work but fun. We have a great crew working with us to keep this lot running. Without them we couldn't be doing this. We have sold over 800 trees this year.

The wind did get bad on the 7th and our tent once more could not withstand the winds. We closed the gate early around 5:00 P.M. as the tent was really taking a beating from the wind. Very unsafe. Part of the tent was off the frame by 9:35 P.M. The winds lasted a very long time and well into the next day. Due to this we were shut down for one day as we once more set the lot up. This time around we had help cleaning up the mess. We were very thankful for this. Winds were clocked at 80 miles per hour here in Sierra Vista. And one weather station an outlying area clocked a wind gust of 100 MPH. We spent a sleepless night rocking back and forth in our fifth wheel trailer. At one point I thought about going to a local hotel for the night.

I do miss creating and plan to get back to this soon in January. Sorry I have had no Christmas creations this year. But we will meet once more in the New Year with new Creations.

JoEllen

Christmas Tree Lot Sierra Vista

We have changed out pumpkin lot into a Christmas Tree lot.

We have had many wonderful customers come by to get that perfect Christmas Tree for their home.

Here are a few pictures. We know have 5 varieties to choose from. This has been a fun but exhausting job. 

Rug Hooked Windy Santa

Rug hooked Free Standing Windy Santa.

 This wonderful One of a Kind Rug Hooked Santa Doll stands almost 15" tall and is 8" wide at the widest point. He is hooked using wool strips that are One Eighth inch wide. This #6 cut of wool has given me the wonderful array of color in this Santa. All the wool used is quality 100% wool much of it hand dyed by me. Windy Santa is hooked in rich earth tone reds and greens in his toy sack. The snow at his feet is wonderful wool from Rebbeca Erb of the wool studio. This wool makes a great base color for this Santa. Windy Santa's beard and mustache are hooked with mohair. Did you notice the handle bars of his mustache? I have weighted the bottom of this Santa so it can stand well on it's own.

JoEllen

Christmas Trees

Soon this lot we are living at will host many different types of Christmas Trees.

Once again we will smell that wonderful smell that on a forest of trees can bring.

I do not like the thought that the trees are in a process of dying but I feel better knowing how the Christmas Tree growers in Oregon run there Christmas tree businesses.

Due to the idea climate for green things to grow it takes about 12 years for a tree to grow from seedling to a large Christmas tree. It is a crop like any other crop and replanted over and over again. I think you will find the below information enlightening like I did.

Q. Why should people buy real Christmas trees?
A. Basically if you buy a real Christmas tree you are going to save the planet, not harm it. The trees that are cut are specially grown to sell as Christmas trees. These trees come from Oregon and Washington. People don't think about how many people work to get this Christmas tree. Millions of people are employed by people buying real Christmas trees. It starts with people looking for the best trees with the best cones in the forest. Then there's the guy in the nursery who plants the seed for the cone to grow into a seedling. Millions of seedlings are grown every year. Every time a person buys a real Christmas tree, two or three more are planted, and they produce more oxygen, which helps the planet. If they're not buying real trees, and buying a fake tree, they're burning more crude oil to make those trees. That's where plastic comes from.
Q. How long does it take to grow a Christmas tree?
A. It takes about a year for a tree to grow six inches tall, that's a seedling. Then it grows about 8-12 inches per year. They will grow faster but they have to hold the tree back so it can fill in and get nice and full. They cut off the tops so that instead of growing up, they grow out.
Q. How long does the season run?
A. We're open from the day before Thanksgiving to two days before Christmas. I try to stay away from those last minute shoppers. They feel the tree should be free by then.
Q. How should you care for a real Christmas tree?
A. Basically what you should do is keep it as cool as you can and as moist as you can. In the first couple of days, you should check it twice a day. When it's really fresh a tree can drink a bowl and a half a day. Trees are like people, they're not all the same. After a certain amount of time, it won't take as much water. You're basically nursing the tree to its death. Once it's cut off from the roots, it's done. It's dead. Trees like a lot of sugar and vitamins, but they require a lot of tap water as well. You've got to watch out for some of these places. See how we keep them in water? We water three to four times a day. When you go to (some other tree places) and just see the trees piled up with no water, after a certain amount of time that becomes a fire hazard. When the needles dry up, the tree will light up like a matchstick.

Here is my source for this article. 

Gingerbread Doll Set

These adorable dolls are excited to be heading to a new home in
Florida.

JoEllen

Pumpkin Lot Sierra Vista

This is me with my Witch and Scarecrow.

We unboxed 20 tons of pumpkins and just look at all this orange.

This is my scarecrow and the tall witch doll I made.
Many people sit by these and take photos. Which is what we had in mind when we decided to create them.

We have enjoyed watching all the little ones come in to find pumpkins. The excitement on their faces is priceless.

JoEllen

Busy Holiday Season

This year we decided to run a Pumpkin Lot and then a Christmas Tree lot in Sierra Vista Arizona. Think it will be a busy time but I sure hope I get to create some dollies and seasonal items to offer for sale. May your Holiday Season be blessed.

JoEllen

Shrewenna & Slither

What a fun doll set this is!

What a fun doll this is!!!
Shreweena is a free standing beauty with her side kick snake Slither.

This doll set is
SOLD
and has found a new home in
Pennsylvania

New Dolls

This is Pumpwella the Headless Pumpkin doll
This wonderful doll set is heading to Zebulon, NC to her new home.
Sold

This is my newest Witch Batty Crow
She has found a new home and will be living in Klamath Falls Oregon
Sold

MoMMa Ginrose Babies Ginger Sue and Ginger Annie
This auction is still going.

Click Here to go to my Ebay Auctions

Look for Some New Creations

In the works this week.
Another Witch with Cauldron
A Headless Pumpkin doll
A new style of Witch with Cauldron

I hope to have at least one of these listed early this week.

We are going to be in traveling mode this week.
Our Camp Hosting summer job is over early this week.
We still are undecided what direction we will be headed.
During our move I still plan on having at least one doll or creation made per week.
Remember that I am willing to do special orders on many of my creations.

I would love to hear from you so do drop me a comment.

JoEllen

Latest Witch Doll Darkwena Bats

Look for my latest witch doll " Darkwena Batts "
She is listed on Ebay this week.

Click here to go to Darkwena Batts Auction

Darkwena Batts has found a new home in California.
Sold

Rug Hooked Bee Skep

For sale on my website


Thanks JoEllen

Matilda Shrew & Cauldron Doll

SOLD

Matilda Shrew just loves to create her wicked treats each year to give to the unlucky kids that come by her witchy lair. Right now her cauldron is empty but just you wait and see come All Hallows Eve it will be filled to the brim.

This is a large doll almost 3 feet tall.

Wicked Witch Cauldron Candy Holder

This cauldron is made from paint stained osnaburg fabric. It has a rustic grungy appearance. This Cauldron is free standing. I have added a fun black bow with
jack-o-lantern face on it. This cauldron will hold about a bag of little wrapped candies. It stands almost 7" tall and is almost 6" across the top.
Circumference around the widest part of the Cauldron is 22".

Special orders are welcome for this wonderful candy holder. Allow me 5 days to make and ship after payment is received.
Order through my web site.
Halloween Fabric Bows will vary.

Haunted Witches House Wall Hanging

Sold

What a fun creation to display this Halloween. This is a dimensional fabric Witch House with lots of detail. The house roof, bat, witch and cats are added pieces. German glitter glass enhances the roof and the house. The bat has embroidery stitches and black glitter embellishments. The awesome witch has orange raffia hair and a stick broom. The two black cats are painted and blanket stitched to the house with rust dmc thread. There is a ghost and skeleton looking out the windows. They are outline stitched with black to make them show up well. The other window has a candle. This Witch House is 11" by 17" and has a picture hanger sewn to the back for easy hanging.

One of my Doll Sets

Photo was taken right from the book so not the best.

One of my Black Doll sets is listed in the book by
Debbie Garrett called Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion by the same author. My doll set is located on page 96 of this book. The names of the dolls are Elizajo and Maybeth this set was created in 2006. What an honor to be in this book.


JoEllen

Another Witch Doll

Just started working on another Witch Doll. Plus some Cauldron Candy Holders.
Look for these to be offered soon.

The Witch Doll And Cauldron will be a similar set to the one I sold a couple of months ago.

Really busy Summer

The campers are in full swing here in the Willamette Forest of Oregon. For the most part there are very friendly fun people here. But I must say there are the few as we all know. You know the few you would like to .......

Friday through Sunday finds us putting in many hours as we work in our 8 campgrounds that we are attending this summer. Usually our Monday and Tuesday runs are much shorter. Not in distance but in time spent.

Sorry i haven't been able to create more this summer to offer you and also haven't been able to get to posting photos of this gorgeous part of God's country.

On our days off we have been sight seeing. Last week found us doing a 900' climb in a mile to Carpenter Lookout. Wheww. That was a climb. We enjoy going to Eugene usually once a week to the farmers market and doing our shopping. Last week found us going to the newest Harry Potter Movie The Half Blood Prince.

Fall is just around the corner and I am still in hopes that I will be able to create some Halloween items. It is my favorite season to create for.

Lately my craft time has been spent on rug hooking the donkeys for the Noah's Ark Project. But those should be finished this week.

JoEllen

Update on Dimensional Santa

Happy Independence Day.

I started assembling my North woods style Santa Yesterday.

This Santa is going to be awesome. Look for some pictures after July Fourth.

JoEllen

The Noahs Ark Project

I am so excited to be a part of this fun Project. You really must take a peek at the Noak's Ark that was designed by Leonard Feenan. Many people have and are contributing to the project.

If you are at the Welcome Mat look up Leonard as there are some terrific photos of the animals and pieces of the ark.

I am going to be hooking a donkey and a donkey's head that will go in a window. This will be hooked with a #3. This should be so much fun to do.

There may still be some animals left if any one else is interested. They have to be hooked by the end of next month.

Just click below to learn a little more and to see the great photos.

Noahs Ark Project

Dimensional Rug Hooked Santa

I am working on a Rug Hooked 3-d Santa right now. It will have a front and back side. And I hope to make it free standing. The front is all hooked with deep earthy tones of reds and blues.

So look for this to be posted soon.

JoEllen

New Rug Hooked Fairy Tale Purse

This wonderful purse has found a new home in Delaware.

* Rug Hooked Little Red Riding Hood Purse *

The Big Bad Wolf is peeking around the tree stalking poor Little Red Riding Hood. She has been to grandma's house and is on her way down
the path that leads to the forest. She has her basket in hand with her red and white cloth covering laid over it.

What a unique one of a kind Hand Hooked Purse. This would look loving in any decor. You could also use this for a light duty purse.
The front of this purse is hand hooked with hand dyed wool strips in gorgeous colors. One Eighth inch wool strips have given
great detail to this Little Red Riding Hood purse.
This was inspired from a Bobbie Takashima Painting.

Witch Doll

This Awesome Witch has found a new home in Tennessee.

This Witch Doll is a big gal and her cauldron is a candy holder. If you would like a similar doll please email me for special order details.


BeFRuiTFuL KReaTioNS
Artist
JoEllen Laurita

Tamolitch Pool

We decided to go for a hike along a portion of the McKenzie Trail in Oregon. Our destination was Tamolitch Pool. This is almost a five mile round trip hike from the trail head we started from. You hike right by the roaring river all the way. But about half way there you begin to see the lava rocks all around you and the river drops below you. A gorgeous hike.

The pool at the top of this picture is Tamolitch Pool. The river goes underground and resurfaces here at this gorgeous blue pool.

We are maybe 30 feet above this pool. In this photo you can see the type of rock cliffs we are on and see the McKenzie river as it begins it begins it's descent from the pool.

The pool is crystal clear and I would say a deep turquoise color. Just stunning and the color is rich.

We really enjoyed the hike and if you are ever along 126 in Oregon take this hike. You can ask at the forest ranger station for directions. You will be glad you stopped.

Oregon Flowers

This fern has a black stem.Plus the shape is so different.

Just some of the very pretty flowers we have seen in our Oregon travels.

Our day starts early at our own campground Delta. We travel about 85 miles a day taking care of 8 campgrounds. We drive up forest road 19 into the mountains along a windy road. Did I say windy. This is a snake road all the way up. This road takes you right next to the dam of Cougar Reservoir and along the whole west side of the Reservoir. Then we travel even further about 10 more miles along forest road 19 to Frissell Campground. This is our farthest campground.

We have seen vultures, robins, grouse, deer, squirrels, ravens, hawks, a garter snake, frogs, lizards, scorpions and some of the gorgeous country you will ever see.

I hope to add more photos soon.