Owl! oWl! owL!

HANK YOU to bruxa1977 for featuring PROUD OWL Scrabble Tile Pendant in her curated treasury titled Owl! oWl! owL! a wonderfully whimsical collection of everything owls! Now, whoooooo doesn't love owls??

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Perfectly Peridot

HANK YOU to decbee for featuring PLUM BLOSSOM SPRIG Scrabble Tile Pendant in her curated treasury titled Perfectly Peridot a wonderful collection of creations in beautiful shades of peridot green. Peridot is the birthstone for August!

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Black and White!

HANK YOU to CodysCloset for featuring KOBE the LAB DALMATIAN in her curated treasury titled Black and White! a wonderful collection of dogs and doggie related items all in black and white! Can you say . . . PUPPY LOVE?! How could anyone resist??

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Indy Goes to the OC Fair!

otton candy, roasted corn on the cob and deep fried Twinkies! Today is opening day at the 2010 Orange County Fair, and this year's theme is The Beat Goes On! There are many things to see and do at the fair, one of my all time favorites (besides tasting different foods) is to visit the many exhibits and various competitions. This particular year, Indiana Jones is going to the fair, and he is bringing Big Island Sea Turtle with him! Yes, you guessed right, both original oil paintings created by John Hopkins (my hubs) are entered in the Fine Arts competition. You will find them displayed together in the Professional Fine Arts Gallery, so be sure to stop in for a peek! Limited Edition Fine Art Giclees may be found and purchased from my Etsy shop.

INDIANA JONES the CAVALIER Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee 

BIG ISLAND SEA TURTLE Limited Edition Fine Art GicleeINDIANA JONES  and BIG ISLAND SEA TURTLE are on display in the OILS PROFESSIONAL category.Neither painting received a ribbon, however, just like the Oscars, just being nominated- or in this case, accepted into the juried show is an accomplishment in itself! Congrats John!

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Cool Down, It's Hot Outside!

HANK YOU to decbee for featuring HEART SUNDAE Scrabble Tile Pendant in her curated treasury titled Cool Down, It's Hot Outside! a wonderful collection of sweet & beautiful treats to keep you thinking cool! It IS really, really hot outside! Stay cool!

Pretty, interesting, and a blinking bunny

HANK YOU to BrookeJewelry for featuring BIG ISLAND Sea Turtle in her curated treasury titled Pretty, interesting, and a blinking bunny a wonderful collection of fantastic finds, in shades of chocolate brown, turquoise and sea greens! Beautiful!

Lovin' Purple!

HANK YOU to SesameBijoux for featuring BLING Angora Sock Monkey in her curated treasury titled Lovin' Purple a wonderful collection of fantastic finds, all purple - her favorite color!

Sock it to me Monkey

HANK YOU to The Soap Goat Soap Shop for featuring TACO the SOCK MONKEY Scrabble Tile Pendant in her curated treasury titled Sock it to me Monkey a wonderful collection of sock monkey goodness!

Vintage Taco!

would like to introduce you to a most beloved childhood treasure of mine. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing . . . *drumroll please* Taco!

Taco is a sock monkey that was handmade and given to me by our next door neighbor Mrs. Kerr. The year was probably 1966 or 1967, and I was about five or six, so that makes Taco around 43 - 44 years old! He's vintage!

The name Taco was entirely my idea, although now I am not sure why I decided on that particular name. Was it my favorite food? Did I have it for dinner the night before? Or, was it the very first word that popped into my head when someone first asked "Does your sock monkey have a name?" Whatever the reason, as far as I was concerned, Taco was the perfect name.

I do remember taking Taco with me everywhere I went. Mostly, I remember going to sleep at night and placing Taco on the outer-most edge of my bed. I always felt safe as long as Taco was there. I always thought Taco would be my friend for life, however, as I grew older, Taco and I were separated after I became "too old" to play.

Many decades later, my mother surprised me and reunited Taco and I. She had tucked him away for many years of safe-keeping in the cedar chest. I was thrilled, and happily took Taco home. Now, my beloved childhood friend sits, still smiling and proudly displayed in my lighted curio cabinet. I am reminded every day of all the fun and smiles we shared together.

My love of sock monkeys continues, as I have been completely inspired to create my own lovable and quite huggable sock monkeys, which can be found in my Etsy shop, IndyAndCleo. Here's hoping they will give someone else a lifetime of hugs and happiness!

~ Mishele

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Thank You and Congrats!

HANK YOU to tmpenrose for featuring TURQUOISE SCRIPT Scrabble Tile Pendant in her curated treasury titled Thank you for your support! a wonderful collection of turquoise and blues, all created by members of the CCCOE Team! Tmpenrose recently celebrated her 2nd Etsy-versary! Congrats!