The Bartlett Pair Shop on Etsy

It has been quite some time since I shared an Etsy shop here. I like to pick a random shop to share simply because I think sharing is good for the soul. I do hope any readers stumbling by this blog will take the time to check out some of the links I have listed for you at the bottom of this post.

I first came across the work of Jimmie and Carolyn Bartlett on twitter. They followed me and I followed back. Carolyn does art pieces made from old jewelry and other found objects. Isn't this bouquet simple glorious?

Jimmie is a painter. In the Etsy shop I have admired paintings of Texas scenes, floral including beautiful roses which is my favorite flower and sea side scenes. Can't you hear the sound of moving water, feel the warmth of the sun and smell the scent of salt air when looking at these boats?

To introduce this very talented pair to you I will use their own words from their Etsy shop. Take a minute to read it. It is worth your time, I promise.

I thank God for the gift and my family for their support which enabled me to become a fulltime artist. My work has been sold in shops, festivals, and shows in Texas and Nationally over the internet. I paint every day and demonstrate at shows when possible. You can also read more about my art on my blog jimmiesart.

Carolyn, my beautiful wife for 45 years, is my guiding light and made my dream to paint possible. She is a very talented decorative artist repurposing beautiful objects and things from the past into visual art pieces is one of her specialties. Carolyn also contributes much to my painting by giving me honest critiques of my work to make it better. We combine our efforts to design and make many of our products.

The two of us make up The Bartlett Pair, established since 1993, and soul mates forever.

Be sure to check our announcements on our Esty Shop header for coupon discounts and information. Thankyou for visting our shop,

Jimmie & Carolyn Bartlett

To know more about what is new about the Bartletts and their art use the links below.

Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBartlettPairShop

Website with shopping, more info and a blog https://bartlettpairart.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bartlettpair/

Twitter https://twitter.com/jimmiesart

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Too Early?

You know I am just ready for 2020 to be over. It has all been to intense and too much. 

With that in mind moving on to the holiday season brightens my mood. I look forward to the traditions of Thanksgiving and Christmas even if they are modified depending on the conditions at that time. I will happily accept whatever jingles and joy the coming season brings even if it is socially distanced and online.

One of the things we always did when the kids were small was open one gift on Christmas Eve and then send them to bed so Santa can visit while "visions of sugarplums danced in their heads". My children have continued this tradition with their own families. Some years if the Christmas Eve gift was pajamas which does not excite kids as much as moms looking forward to Christmas morning pictures we ended up making an exception and let the kids open two so they got something to make them smile. 

Is it just moms that love the idea of Christmas morning pictures of the family in matching pjs?

My daughter is the best at this (She is the family super shopper!) with the family matching Christmas pajamas she does every year. At least one year she sewed everyone in her family, all four of them, pajama pants. She now has a full time job so sewing is out and shopping is in. 

One place you can find coordinated family matching pajamas is at LazyOne.com. If you are like many families these days that include mom, dad, kids, infants and the dog, this site has your family covered from head to toe.

Hey if you're in the mood, let me know in comments what you do to "Have you elf a Merry Christmas". 

Maybe it can help all of us to look forward to some days that are "Merry and Bright"?

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

This is a sponsored post but the story and opinions are mine.

National Dog Day!

Today is National Dog Day! I love dogs but is has been many years since we had one in our house. I am at the point in my life where I don't want to be responsible for keeping anything alive but me so I visit people who have dogs and love theirs. Our last dog was named Patches and I referred to him as a demented mutt. He was mostly friendly and loyal and loved to play. His biggest issue was he loved to run away and it was not fun at all to get him back home before he was done exploring. 

I've dug up some old pictures of him to share with you today.

Like most dogs he always wanted to keep an eye on his world. Hanging out on the porch with me he could do that.

He was always under foot when I was cooking too. I didn't give him scraps but he was hopeful.

Smiling? Maybe but check out the ears. Rarely the same.

Once he moved with us to Arizona he loved having a dog door so he could get out to the backyard whenever he wanted.

My favorite picture of Patches. Like all dogs you spend your day with, he listened.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Thinking Ahead

As I may have mentioned before, maybe more than once, I have a husband who will be retiring soon. The current absolutely set in stone maybe date for this grand transition to his next act could happen in June 2021. He is starting to imagine his day to day life without a job to go to or being tethered to a phone that gets answered anytime day or night.

He keeps mentioning two activities to keep him busy (and let's just admit it, out of my hair) are woodworking and restoring old Volkswagen Bugs. Woodworking is something he did as a kid and has fond memories of. Rebuilding Volkswagens is something he did in the early years of our marriage. I have lost count of how many Bugs we have owned over the years starting with one as our first car. Both of these hobbies will mean buying more tools. He has some but you know how this works, right?

A foundational piece of  equipment would be an air compressor for use in either his woodshop or for automotive work as basic as filling tires. Best Buy Auto Equipment would be a place to start the search for a shop air compressor. If I had any say in this at all when it comes to buying air compressors I would start with the ones that claim to be quiet and if possible made in the US. Portable shop air compressors like the ones below might be good choices as well. Getting older like we are the one with wheels could be more practical. He, on the other hand, and I've known this man for 44 years now, will want the most powerful one available, no matter the noise or the cost or where it is from. With so many models to choose from what ends up at our house will most likely be some kind of compromise.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

This post is sponsored and opinions are my own.

A Grandson's Birthday

He's all grown up now. 18 years old today in fact. He still has a cute smile too!

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!