Santa Gourds

Just wanted to share a photo of the gourds that I painted for gifts for our co-workers...and friends. I painted 36 total this month...T.Joe put a wire up in our kitchen so I could hang them while they were drying....I painted them in a production line....a little on each one...took 20 to work...and T.Joe took several to friends...and we still have a few to give before Christmas!

I have been busy making clothes for gifts for the grandkids....It's fun to make 'little' clothes...and decorate them with embroidery and maybe some rhinestones! Got to get back to work...Christmas is almost here! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

These Nativity rocks were painted by Lin Wellford...she painted 5 sets of Nativities at Silver Dollar City and they were all sold before she finished painting them! Doesn't she do a GREAT job!?

Here are some photos of painted rocks that I have done and that Lin Wellford has done. I painted this 'cat' rock while sitting at Silver Dollar City with Lin in September. I also painted this eagle and flag while we were there.

December, 2009

Well...I have not posted in a long time so thought I should add a note. We made 2 trips to Natchez in July and August and another trip again the first of November. We visited with both our families and attended a special wedding reception and helped with small projects with my mom and dad.

Usually when we go to Mississippi, we have quilts to take that I have quilted...or pick up more to do. This blue Fan quilt was pieced by my mom for my niece. I love stitching someone else's quilt tops...it's fun to see all the different patterns!

This yellow fan quilt was made from muumuus that our sister-in-law's mother wore when she lived in Hawaii. They saved them for years and asked me to make some quilts for them as a memory. This is the 3rd one I made.

This Dresden Plate pattern is the first muumuu quilt that I made for them. Each 'plate' is a different muumuu.

This pinwheel is the 2nd quilt that I made for them. They chose the pattern and I used the muumuus to make their quilt.

I have the 4th quilt finished but have not made the photo yet. I will post it when I get it made. We will be making another trip to Mississippi to deliver it within the next few weeks.

Silver Dollar City - 2nd week - Harvest

Good Thursday morning, October 1st. I've been back to my regular job since Monday morning and may be caught up enough that I can give you an idea of how much fun I had painting rocks with Lin Wellford at Silver Dollar City. I will post more photos soon to go along with this.

This past week, we were at Silver Dollar City from Wednesday thru Sunday. We had really nice weather this 2nd week...which was great! The 1st week was not so much fun...especially Saturday when it rained all day long.

Work for 2 days (today and tomorrow) and then we play again at Silver Dollar City! T.Joe and I spent Saturday and Sunday with Lin Wellford at Silver Dollar City painting rocks and enjoying the park! We got up at 4:00 am so we could be there early enough to move our rocks and paints into the booth and get costumes and go to orientation before the park opened to the public. T.Joe helped us set up and then he wandered around the park and enjoyed the blacksmiths booths and rode the train and took us both out to lunch .. at different times so we would have someone at the booth at all times. He was also a very good public relations person....he would be on the train and suggest to those around him that they should check out the Rock Painting Booth! We had one couple come to our booth and tell us that they met this guy (they showed us his business card) and he had told them to come check us out! Pretty neat!

We folded up at 6 pm and found the camping spot down the road from the park. Very nice. We had our shower right next to the site and were under the trees so it should be nice and cool during the day. Lin treated us to supper at the Golden Coral...very nice! Lin and I are provided with 4 different outfits to wear while we are at Silver Dollar City. T.Joe decided he did not want to be in costume....but he is our big time helper for sure!

I will post more photos as the week goes by! We are so thankful that the rain held off (just a few sprinkles yesterday) until today.

We are packing our bags and rocks....going to Silver Dollar City tomorrow morning...have to be there early to unload our rocks and paints and get our costumes and go to orientation...to be with Lin Wellford for 2 weeks painting and demonstrating how to paint on rocks! I am so excited! I hope the weather cooperates a little....not too much rain. I can handle some. But, hope it won't be so bad that they have to close the park for the day!

This will be a fun adventure for sure! Lin is taking her camper so we will not have to drive back and forth each day. The park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays because of the season so I will be able to work 2 days for the next 2 weeks and still be able to paint with Lin!

I hope to get some good photos and will post them when I get back...maybe Monday or Tuesday! That is if I have time! LOL!

Rock Painting

Rock Painting! T.Joe is posing behind his welding table that he made with brush in hand and a landscaping stone that I painted a basket of flowers on. His brother, D.D. is looking on as his granddaughter is learning to paint rocks.

T.Joe and I are going to join Lin Wellford at Silver Dollar City, an amusement park in Branson, Missouri September 12th thru the 27th (except for Mondays and Tuesdays) to demonstrate painting rocks. (Lin Wellford has 8 or 9 'How to Paint Rocks' books published.) Well...T.Joe is actually going to be 'toting the rocks' and seeing the sights in the park while Lin and I paint the rocks. What fun! They have actually approved my time off at work to do this - Wednesday thru Friday both weeks. I have no idea what part of the park we will be set up in. They will fit us with costumes Saturday morning, the 12th and we will have orientation at 8:30 that morning. The park opens at 9 am on Saturdays and 10 am on the other days. I plan to take lots of unpainted rocks to work on...and some painted ones to sell. Lin suggested I take some painted Fish rocks...so, I do have few painted. Come see us if you are in the area.

T.Joe's Welding Art

I thought that I had posted a little about T.Joe's welding art but cannot find it...I'm still learning on this blogspot! Here are a few pictures of his welding art. This is a little sampling of his work. I will post more later. I've spent way too much time on this site for now! Check back again...and see what else I have to show you! Wandra Ann

T.Joe's Welding

Welding Art by T.Joe Dees

Since I think I have learned how to do this, I am adding T.Joe's welding art pictures....I hope. I added pictures to the Rock Painting but added the same picture twice. I have not figured out how to delete one yet? Anyway, T.Joe has his Dad's welding machine and tools and more that he has added along the way and loves to make neat things with it. He even paints them...something he really does not like to do...and I help him paint some, too!

Well...I thought I had lost this post, too, but stumbled back on it...this is T.Joe and his special little minature Eskimo Spitz posing with his 'Beer Cart' that he made for his favorite doctor. I sketched off his Rainbow Trout and he cut them out of sheet metal and we painted them after he welded them to the cart.

Rock Picking/Rock Party/Update with more photos

Largest Rock Pickin' Group

I finally learned how to save most of my web pages so I can post them here. I need to make new business cards to give to friends and new acquaintenances but need to add more to this blog for them to visit! I'm still learning all about blogs. I had almost mastered making the web pages with Geocities and now the free web sites are no longer available after the end of October. So...I am going to post the general notes that I put on all of the Rock Party sites so that everyone has a general idea of what to expect at one of our Rock Parties! We have had 10 years of Rock Parties....just one a year at DeesDream...and one at Springdale one year. I have traveled with Lin Wellford to Portland, Oregon in 2001 for a Rock Party there and then to Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania one year....can't remember the year (maybe 2004)?? Anyway, we almost have it down as a science now. We have had as many as 30 people once or twice but started out with just 12 rock painters the first year. We have new rock painters each year and love to include anyone who is interested! Below is the general idea of what to expect as well as the places to stay around here....which definitely does NOT include all ... there are many, many more resorts all around! SO...make plans to join us next June...usually around the 2nd weekend in June, depending on Lin's schedule. That is between holidays and before it gets too hot!

Places to Stay

1) Fisherman's Haven (417) 271-3599 Golden, Missouri

2) Lazy Eagle Resort (417) 271-3390 Eagle Rock, Missouri

3) Roaring River Inn (417) 847-2330 Cassville, Missouri

4) Roaring River Resort (417) 847-3235 Cassville, Missouri

5) Viney Creek Campground (417) 271-3860 Golden, Missouri

6) Mike's Hideaway Roaring River Campground (417-271-4215) Eagle Rock, Missouri

Agenda (pretty much the same each year)

Friday

1) Meet at Dees' Dream 7 am (Golden)

2) Meet at Tom's Place 8 am (Green Forest)

3) Follow Lin to her Rock Pickin' Place (Jasper)

4) Light lunch at Jasper Cafe (optional)

5) Meet at Dees' Dream 5 pm to visit, share, nibble, and paint rocks

Saturday

1) Meet at Dees' Dream 8 am to paint, share, eat, and just have fun all day.

2) Lunch around noon (compliments of T.Joe & John Dees)

When preparing to attend a Rock Party at DeesDream-

1) Send $10 fee for each rock painter to Dees Dream, 22325 W Mockingbird

Drive, Golden, Missouri 65658.

2) Send $5 fee for those who plan to come but not paint.

3) Bring paints and brushes well marked. I usually end up with some one's

favorite brush. Don't worry if you do not have paints or brushes. We have

extra.

4) Bring snacks (finger foods) and soft drinks or water to nibble on, sip, and

share. We will have lunch provided for Saturday lunch.

5) If you have painted rocks, bring them to show and tell. If you don't have the

rocks anymore, bring your photos to show.

6) If you cannot find us, call us. (417) 271-4281. We will have signs up in the

Eagle Rock/Golden area....sometimes even as far as Seligman, Missouri.

8) There are maps on the 2006 Rock Party Web site. (Link on this page.)

Rock Pickin' Tips (for when we go on Friday morning of the Rock Party)

1) Wear comfortable Shoes for walking on rocks.

2) Bring water, energy snacks, etc. to stay well hydrated. (It could be hot)

3) Bring a small bucket or basket to tote your rocks.

4) Bring a chair so you can take a break if needed.

5) We will only spend about 1 to 1 1/2 hours pickin' rocks.

6) Bring a camera if you want to get some pictures of the awesome landscape.

T.Joe's welding Projects

I thought that I had lost this post....but stumbled on it tonight. This is T.Joe at work making a large sunflower yard ornament and an antique bicycle flower planter. This is what he has been wanting to do since he learned to weld with his dad years ago. Now that he is retired, he has time to do such.

I'm just adding a few photos and another comment. I have not made the time yet to add more information about the Rock Parties that we have. I really need to get that done because October 2009 will be here before I can turn around and I don't want to lose all the information that I have already collected.

I am trying to add a photo of T.Joe (my husband) and his welding art. Please check back in and post a comment if you have the time. Thanks, Wandra Ann

New Blog to replace old web sites

Hello, My name is Wandra Ann and I have just created this new blog. I have been posting to several web sites with Geocities and Yahoo for the last few years and now they tell me it will no longer be available after Octorber 2009. I hope to be able to transfer most of the information that I have posted all these years here along with photos of our creative works that T.Joe (my husband) and I have made. We have a Rock Party (rock painting) each year in June in Golden, Missouri, and have had for the last 10 years. I used the web sites to post all the information and that is mainly what I want to do here. I also make quilts and do embroidery and sew clothes. T.Joe does art welding, so I will be posting our creative works occasionally, also.

Thanks for checking us out...I hope to be adding more to this blog very soon.