Something New Off the Worktable & "Ding! Turn the Page!"

Hi there!

It's been a few months since my last post, so I thought I should catch up my blog with what has been happening here at Charmed Confections, and with me in general.  So far, this year has been a "year of change".  Lots of changes in my life and I am trying to deal with them as they come.  It is not always easy to do.  I am a creature of habit.  So, when my apple cart has been upended, I find myself regrouping, re-evaluating and searching for a new direction. When this does get the best of me, I am glad that my art keeps me somewhat sane.

Here is the latest piece of art off my worktable.  It was made for a very sweet customer of mine that I met years ago at a local craft show.  She has always wanted a one of my cats.  I have to nervously laugh, as I am still somewhat shocked people love my art and want in it their collection.  Don't think I will ever get over that.  I was thrilled to meet up with her and hand deliver this piece.  

When they say the gift is in the giving, it really is true.  Her face lit up upon seeing it and it warmed my heart that she was so happy.  As with any customer purchasing something from me, I want them to be truly happy with their purchase.  Making money is hard!  No matter what you do.  If my customers are going to spend it on something from me, I want them to love it for years.  That is probably why it takes me a bit to get anything done.  :)   She was delighted and I was relieved and honored that she wanted to add another piece to her collection.  

Here are the pics!

I will be making new ornaments like this skellie mouse pictured, along with bats and cats!  These are in the works and I am excited about them!  Would be darling hanging from a Halloween tree! 

Such a fun piece to create!  I love the spider and the mouse hanging from the cat's tail!  Hope you do too!

So what's with the apple cart up-ending?  I recently decided to quit my day job.  Yup, I did it!  If you have been following my blog, you know that I have dreamed of doing this ... waiting on my Fairy Godmother to whisk me away.  Well, dream no longer.  It is a reality!  Truly a blessing!  So now I am a full time artist trying to navigate through my day and still be productive.  It is a big adjustment.  After working a day job since the age of 15, I'd say so!  My last job, I was there 22 years working for the same boss.  It was time to leave and I am excited to ... "ding, turn the page" on this new chapter of my life.  

Lately, I have been immersing myself in art.  Art really does soothe the soul and takes your mind off your woes.  I am sure I will find my feet in this new endeavor and excited to do so! 

Exciting News!!!   I will be at Halloween and Vine again this year!!  So thrilled to be going to Petaluma once again to show off my Halloween art.  Go to www.HalloweenandVine.com for the details.   

Now, that I have more time, I am eager to add more shows to my calendar and meet new customers and collectors who share in my love of all things Halloween!  

I'm also, happy to say that my sweet coffin doll, Sophie (see her in the post below this one) will be featured in the August issue of Art Doll Quarterly Magazine!!!  Yup, she will be featured along with an article on the process of her creation.  So thrilled about that!  You can find Art Doll Quarterly Magazine at Barnes and Noble bookstores, Michaels, Joanns or you can order one directly from www.stampington.com 

So, lots of changes going on.  I am confident that they are good ones.  I am going to follow my dream and see how far I get!   I just need to learn to relax and be confident this is where the Lord wants me.  One foot in front of the other, right?

Hope you are well and happy in your world.  Sending out BIG hugs to you all!!

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'll Miss My Family This Year!

Hi All!

Hope you are having the best of days today, enjoying your family and friends. I posted a little poem below, I like to share each Thanksgiving.  It makes me laugh!  I hope you are all laughing too with your families close and making memories!

Twas the Night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep, 

I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned - the dark meat and white,

but I fought the temptation with all of my might!

Tossing and turning with anticipation,

the thought of a snack became infatuation.

So, I raced (me and my little dog, Jake) to the kitchen,
 flung open the door,

and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore!

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,

pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,

'til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky,

with a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie!

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees,

"Happy eating to All, pass the cranberries, please!"

"May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,

may your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump."

"May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,

may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!"

 This year, I am spending Thanksgiving with my in-laws.  I love them dearly and am happy to be going to their house this year.   My family, Mom and Dad, sister and brother-in-law, are all in Monterey celebrating together.  I will miss them.  Below are a couple of pictures of my sister and daughter laughing at last year's Thanksgiving 2013. 

 Love looking at the these pics and remembering the laughter!  I hope you are laughing a lot today and enjoying being in the company of those that love you!

Do you see Jake photobombing!  Too funny.  He is totally food driven!!  A typical man!  

 I also wanted to take a minute to wish Everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!   During this Holiday, take time to count your blessing, thank the Lord above and take comfort that he is always near.  Say a prayer for those in need, those who need love or those who are neglected.  Pray for the sick and those who are hungry.  Pray for our troops and our country too!  

 If you have love to give - give it to Everyone, everywhere ... all the time!   IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.    I am thankful for you!! 

May God bless you and your family!  XOXO LeeAnn, Jake and family

Goblins Gonna Get You If You Don't Watch Out!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!  

This is truly my FAVORITE day of the year!  So, thought I would post a little poem that always fascinated me and scared my older sister to death when she was growing up.  I hope you love it!  It is one of my favorites and will get you in the mood for tonight!



Little Orphan Annie's come to our house to stay,
And wash the cups and saucers up, and brush the crumbs away,
And shoo the chickens off the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,
And make the fire, and bake the bread, and earn her board and keep;
And all us other children, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun
A-listenin' to the witch tales that Annie tells about,
And the Gobble-uns that gits you if you don't watch out!

Once they was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers--
And when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,
And when they turned the kivvers down, he wasn't there at all!
And they seeked him in the rafter room, and cubby hole and press,
And seeked him up the chimney flue, and everywheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was just his pants and round about!
And the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

And one time a little girl would always laugh and grin,
And make fun of everyone, and all her blood and kin;
And once when they was company and old folks was there,
She mocked them and shocked them and said she didn't care!
And just as she kicked her heels, and turnt to run and hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
And they snatched her through the ceiling
'fore she knowed what she's about!
And the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

And little Orphan Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
And the lampwick sputters, and the wind goes woo-oo!
And you hear the crickets quit and the moon is gray,
And the lightning bugs in dew is all squenched away--
You better mind your parents, and your teachers fond and dear,
And cherish them that loves you, and dry the orphan's tear,
And help the poor and needy one that cluster all about,
Or the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

Have a wonderfully, wicked Halloween tonight all my Pretties!  

XOXO LeeAnn

Halloween Preparations and Updates

Hi All!

Hope you are doing well in your part of the world.  We are now in my favorite month of the year ... October!  The witching hour is fast approaching and I couldn't be more in my element!  The pumpkins are ripe, the leaves are falling, and the witches' moon is high and clear.  That means Halloween is very near.  Makes me giggle in delight!  My little doggie (Jake) and I are planning out our costumes ... hmmm, what will we be this year?  Have any ideas?

I can't wait to get down to the local pumpkin patch and pick out my pumpkins for this years' outside decorations.  I am thinking of doing a pumpkin totem poll this year.  (Stacking those wicked babies on top of each other with a rod down the middle for support.)  We live out in the country and our pumpkin display has to be pretty big to see it from the road.  I will definitely have to get my husband involved in the totem stacking.  My daughter is the carver in the family, so I am sure they will turn out wickedly good!  She has a knack with a knife - I dare say.  :)  How will you display your Halloween pumpkins this year?  I would love to hear your wickedly good ideas!  Email me a picture and I will post it here!!

I received the sweetest email from Brenda, the gal who won my Spider Bite, in the Giggleswick Halloween Blog Hop.  What a doll!  It was a pleasure to meet her and I am thrilled she won my piece.  Can't thank her enough for her kind email.  She made me blush with the excitement in it.  Enjoy that Spider Bite, my new Friend!!

Well, Pfatt Marketplace and Spookytime Jingles updates are right around the corner.  I will be posting pictures of my offerings in the next two days to give you a sneak peek of what is coming up.  You will definitely want to keep an "eye" out!  Ha! Ha!  You will see what I mean, when I post some pictures!  Until then friends ... be well, be wonderful, and be a little wicked!!

The Anticipation is Building!!

Hi All!

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!!!  Can't wait to pull the names out of the hat for my 1st Anniversary Blog Giveaway.  Please check back here to see who the winners are!  My family, Jake (my sweet doggie) and I are all so excited, as we celebrate this venture I call Charmed Confections. On my way home from work today, I will be stopping to pick up an anniversary cake for dessert tonight!  YUM!  I'll cut you a piece!

Halloween is right around the corner, and if you are like me, I couldn't be more thrilled!  I love this time of year when the leaves change colors and fall to the ground.  Jake has been happily playing in the leaves already.  There is an awesome pumpkin patch right down the road from my house and I can see the pumpkins in the fields.  EEEEE!!  It makes me happy!

Currently, I have been busy working on new items to share with you all. As I sculpt, it is amazing to me how these character faces come alive through the clay and a new Charmed Confection is born.  I am having so much fun creating these pieces.  I wish I could do it full time.  Someday ... here I go again ... wishing!

Well, stop by here tomorrow and help me celebrate with the lucky winners!   If you entered in the drawing, you never know, it could be YOU!

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Angels Among Us? ... and Last Chance to Sign Up for My Anniversary Giveaway!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!  YAY!!!   (To sign up for the GIVEAWAY - scroll down to the next post.)

All I can say is TGIF!!!  Has it been a hard week or what?  This week has been a struggle for me.  But I tell you, I have angels watching over me.  It has been proven to me time and time again.  Thank you, Lord!  This week's folly was I left my credit card at the gas station.  It must have dropped out of my pocket when I was filling up.  I had a lot of things on my mind (which is never good for me - too many distractions and I tend to go into that preoccupied far away daze).  Anyway, a nice man picked up my card, looked up my name, called me, and told me he had it safe.  (Yes, he took the time to track me down - how incredible is that!).  I met him at a crowed place (safety first) and he gave me my card back.  I gave him a gift card to Starbucks because he was so thoughtful!  So, Bill ... thank you for watching out for me!  If I had the money, I would hire a person to just follow me around and pick up the pieces I keep leaving behind ... like my head for one thing.  LOL!

Anyway, moving along ... Wednesday, August 28th, is the last day to sign up for my 1st Year Blog Anniversary!!!  My little dog, Jake and I can't wait to pull the winning names out of the hat!  Sooo exciting!!!  We need to have a trumpet fanfare!!  My daughter plays the saxophone, so maybe she can play us a tune while we are drawing names.  The response the to the giveaway has been overwhelming and I want to THANK YOU ALL for entering and celebrating with me!  Best of luck to all of you ... wish you could all win!

Well, I am off to get some sculpting done.  New items will be appearing in the Charmed Confections Etsy Shoppe soon!  Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you have an angel or two watching over you!  XOXO

Remembering Memorial Day with Love and Gratitude

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to say hello and wish everyone a nice Memorial Day weekend.  Memorial Day is usually celebrated with get-togethers, pool parties and BBQ's.  Please remember to take time out of your day to honor those who died for our freedom and to pray for our servicemen and women who fight for it today.

I am truly grateful to our servicemen and women (and their families) who have sacraficed so very much on behalf of me, my entire family and our blessed USA.  You are not forgotten, nor will I ever take for granted the price you paid and continue to pay for my freedom.  God bless you and keep you always!

I found this wonderful poem and thought I would share it.  

Freedom Is Not Free

                                                                           By:  Kelly Strong

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Freedom comes at such a high price.  On this Memorial Day, I will lovingly remember you in my heart!

Happy Mother's Day & New Artwork!

Hi out there in BlogLand!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far.  The weather here is beautiful and it is a gorgeous day! Wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all you special Mom's out there ... including my own beautiful Mom. Took her to go see Miranda Lambert in concert last night.  We had a blast!!  I didn't know any of the words, but my Mom did.  It was nice to see her cut loose, having fun and singing along.  Love you, Mom!  XOXO

What's been going on with me?   I have two new pieces of Halloween Folk Art available on Spookytime Jingles this Monday, May 13th.   Here is a sneak peek of what I will be offering on the site!  Lil' Punkin Spice Cake (8" tall) and the Candy Crying Cyclops (9") tall.   These two are in my line called Ghoulie-Cake.  They are made to look like real cupcakes, and they "really do".  Although, I wouldn't take a bite.  They definitely don't taste good.  Each Ghoulie-Cake is made on a 5" round faux cupcake of my own design.  Darling all the way around!  Hope you like them.

Lil' Punkin Spice Cake is SOLD!  Thank you, Pam!!

This cyclops does looks as if he might start crying.  Wahhhh....Someone please give him some candy (but please brush his fangs after).  

Hugs to you all!