goodbye 2010...

as we prepare for the closing of one year and a fresh start with a new year...i sit and think. think about what an incrediable 2010 i had. recycks just continued to amaze me, i amazed myself with attending shows, meeting new people and making life-long friends. i can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for my little business!

personally - i made some awesome friends this year...you know who you are!! too many to mention ... but kia you are at the top of that list! when you find that one friend that you just click with it's amazing! my girls, well - what can i say? i am so proud of our children ... they continue to surprise me with their beauty and knowledge. they are incrediable. my husband? he's top notch - he supports me with whatever crazy whim i have~at least we survived fall harvest together! love you brad. i am blessed with wonderful parents, grandpa, my brother and his family - and a lovable dog. oh yes, and don't forget the ladies! what more could i ask for?

but every calander year comes with trials and upsets. i wish those times could just be contained to 'honey, the alternator is out of the pick up' or 'my burners on the stove are not working' moments but unfortunately accidents happen, friends are lost, feelings are hurt or money is tight. as we close 2010 we are faced with the fact that this is not a perfect world ... things don't always go as planned...but, we come out the other end stronger. that's what we do when we ... love.

so, hold the ones you love close ... grow in 2011. learn something new! be daring! have fun. smile and enjoy each day.

blessings....
angie

well, it's been awhile!

it has been awhile since i've been here. i apologize...the craziness of Christmas caught up with me! so many shows for recycks...orders coming out my ears...and preparing for Christmas! but don't get me wrong i loved the running, preparing, sewing into the early morning hours. yet, on the other hand i'm sort of thrilled it's over and we are one week for my favorite holiday!

snow has hit ... brad got out the new tractor and snowblower and did his thing! the farmstead looks beautiful with a white covering! the cows love it! the puppy loves it! the chickens...well, not so much. let's just say they will not come out of the coop!!!!!

there are still some sewing projects to finish up for christmas presents. then i suppose in the middle of winter i will begin my spring line! hmmm.....wonder what that will involve! guess you'll have to look me up and find out! i am hoping to get my etsy site up and running again after the holidays. right now...well, it's empty!!! :)

until then....
have yourself a cozy little christmas! love your family & friends. slow down, take in the moments. enjoy each day and don't take any for granted. thank you for an amazing 2010 ... can't wait to see what 2011 holds for us!

...holidays are upon us...

recycks is in full swing for the holidays! the beaverdale holiday boutique was very good to me! i had a wonderful weekend...great venue, great vendors & they even delivered our lunch! :)

what's next you ask? well, a pretty full couple of weeks:

sunday, november 21st (noon-4) you will find me set up at prairieland herbs (woodward, ia) for sample sunday! a truly wonderful event ... 3 farms included, great gift ideas ... and praireland has i think they said 10-15 guest vendors invited to set up! a do not miss event!

friday, november 26th (9a-3p) you'll find me at the pappajohn center in downtown des moines for market day's black friday event! over 60 vendors in this beautiful building showcasing thier hard work. another great event to come and find those one of a kind holiday gifts!

and finally - thursday, december 2nd - i will be at the santa maria winery in carroll, iowa. 20 vendors in this beautiful winery for your shopping pleasure!

so, make it out - visit these wonderful local events, buy handmade! you'll never regret it!

...recycks holiday...

ok...i promised myself i would sit down at blog this morning! so here i am....wool fibers have not gotten the best of me YET! recycks is in full swing for the holiday season...

this weekend i will be vending in beaverdale (iowa) at the beaverdale holiday boutique! me along with over 100 other vendors and from what i hear a very large shopping crowd! I CAN'T WAIT!!!

2 weeks ago i was set up at market day in des moines, a gal picked up one of my business cards and by the time i got home i had an email inviting me to come set up at her show that she coordinates in beaverdale! love it when that happens...the shows come to me! what a nice feeling...someone likes my work! a true compliment in my book! i accepted then realized i had 2 short weeks to get ready...and get ready i did....my inventory rocks!

i love doing these shows. you meet fantastically talented people and my girls go along and it turns into a really fun day! and they are extremely good help ~ they'll do anything for money these days.

so i'll hope to see you in beaverdale & around. black friday market day is quickly approaching so guess after this weekend i'll be sewing for that! life is grand...

...BOO...

Halloween 2010...the lambert's found themselves with a very colorful clown and a dark teenager! i guess when you hit 14 it's no fun anymore to 'dress up'...we should have made her a bag with a big $ on it and called her a bank robber! :) amanda's costume was great fun...she had a giant spider on her head and her face was covered in sparkly white eye shadow! they both looked great and had a fun night!










i remember being a kid
and dressing up. 'way back then' our small town would do 'trick or treat for unicef' - with a great party afterwards! what happened to that? we need to bring that back for todays youth! anyway, one year i went as pippy longstocking! i had long hair that mom braided wire into so we could turn them up! the outfit was great - and i won the big snickers candy bar that year! the coveted top prize! now, 42, and i still remember that night...making memories with your kids like these are important...kids these days are forced to grow up so much faster than their parents & grandparents were...it's good to remind them of the simple pleasures & how to just have fun...and be a KID!

iowa farm girl...

late september in iowa...

the boys of harvest start getting the 'itch'! this year the itch was irritated by the fact that they were one person shy of a 'team'. who was going to run the chase wagon? one night brad asked me if i would want to learn. i hesitated at first, then said, "sure, why not!" i can do it, and the challange would be good for me. so, free minutes i drove that tractor around the farm and just got comfortable! then the day came for me to head to the field! I THINK I COULD HAVE THROWN UP! i was so nervous, scared to death, afraid i would run over something or someone. i survived day one and i must admit day two was much easier!

we had a picture perfect fall...no rain...no 'major' break downs...2 1/2 weeks of long days and finally the crops were all hauled to town! what a great feeling of accomplishment! we did it! we worked together & succeeded! mom's great meals kept us nourished to keep going!

i have always had a high respect for my dad & husband and the work they do, but that respect is through the roof now. they are hard workers...working around the clock to provide for their families & the world! farm life can be 'romantisized' by many, it's a life most could not handle but it's a good life, a great way to raise children and the only life i want. i hope to be out there doing my part again next year! we'll see....

until then i have alot of 'catching up' to do! all those duties of mine that got put on the back burner for the past 2 weeks!

...42...

yesterday was my birthday...

i celebrated last week with my mom, figuring we would be doing field work by now! then the rains came. no field work. so....

woke up to the girls with a package! that was fun. amanda was so excited! got them off to school....then i enjoyed a 20 minute shower, did chores & then made homemade noodles! being grandpa joe's most favorite i phoned mom and invited her to meet me at the care center...we had chicken & noodles, garden tomoatoes & apple pie with grandpa. this was wonderful. followed by an afternoon of piddling around the farm - picking pumpkins, gathering eggs, my husband coming home with a beautiful card & delicious cake! i decided life at 42 is going to be nothing short of splendid! the kids came home from school and were still all giddy about mom's day - then mel was off to a powder puff football game...teenagers!!! ended my day with a wine cooler & just sitting alone...my life has been blessed with a storybook childhood, parents who still love eachother and me (despite all my shortcomings), an adoring husband, 2 beautiful daughters who continue to amaze me and make me proud, an immediate family that is beyond wonderful, a life on a farm that many dream about, chickens, a puppy named sophie, a kitty named lulu, cows, barn cats, the abilities to appreciate what God has given us, self-employment and the best friends a girl could wish for. i don't know how i did it, but i DID! i accomplished the life i dreamed of...happy birthday to me!

...fall's splendor...

some people pay 'big money' for the view of the bay, or the downtown sky-line or even a glimpse of the beach. me? i'd rather have this! this being the view from my west facing bedroom window...fall's spendor in all her glory. soybeans turning the vibrant golden hue saying 'we're ready,come & get us'! :)

this does not hold a candle to their multi-million dollar 'views'. at least that's how i feel. God's glory with the changing of the seasons is a miracle. living off the land, feeding america.

now i know, farm-life is certainly not for everyone. but everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life. we're not simple, we're not hicks, we're not under-educated...we know how to grow miracles that feed america in iowa's black dirt.

give the farmer's a break when their tractors are going slow down the road this fall...don't get upset - take the time to thank them!

and to think i was nervous!?!

well, it's monday morning! the kids are on the big yellow bus and here i sit - lots to do! most of my weekend chores didn't get done! saturday and sunday were filled to the brim ~ but it was ALL GOOD!


i taught my very first class at prairieland herbs in woodward on saturday afternoon...i was so nervous...BUT WHY? i knew the craft i was teaching - papermaking - and all the friends of maggie & donna's rock! so why was i nervous? well, i was! i woke up at 5 am and baked my danishes! i figured if they didn't like me they would like my food! :) they turned out perfectly! i topped them with my violet jelly and raspberries from a local farm - they were a bite of heaven!

but you know, us women are too hard on ourselves. i worried and worried and really did not need to! 8 lovely ladies arrived for my class. i was humbled that they would spend their hard earned money to listen to and spend the afternoon with me! **see there i go again, so hard on myself** i talked, and talked and talked some more. we made a sample run of paper....then i cut them loose! they were fantastic! some brought flowers, grasses, tree branches, fibers....all to add into their paper to make it their own! i learned more from them then they from me! i have 8 new friends that i cannot wait to see again! and i've heard they've requested a christmas ornament class & would love to learn how to bake those danishes!



so ladies, strap those belts on. angie's on a roll! let me get through fall harvest...and we'll try to get that recycled ornament class fit in! and you know i'll bring the treats! it'll be great....



thank you with my heart wide open....
it was one of the best afternoons this gal has had in a very long time!

...love at first sight...

MEET SOPHIE!

we made a new addition to our family! sophie is a 7 week old yellow lab. she is perfect, hysterical, sweet, calm, loving, attentive, sleepy....i could go on and on.

the girls love her and them being 10 & 14 they will be the perfect ages to take on the 'molding' of sophie's personality! i have a feeling she will become our dream doggie!

today she spent the afternoon with us on the pontoon!

she loved it!

she slept...

the girls were worried she was too warm so they gave her an ice pack from the cooler to lay upon...she loved that! she also enjoyed licking ice cubes!

we love her...

we don't know what we did without her...

and, my family is happy that i now have something new to photograph ...

other than the chickens!

which...by the way...left us 14 beautiful eggs today!!!

....life is sooooo good....

...my head is spinning...

so many new ideas my head is spinning. let's just say i sat at the machine so much today that i broke my last needle. so spent the rest of my time cutting and preparing for when i have that new package of needles! :)

"reuseable snack baggies" - fashioned like the 'flap top' baggies. perfect for dry snacks ... nuts, dried fruit, cookies, cherrios, candy treats ... also great for organize your bag or anywhere for that matter! i think (and hope) they will be a hit at this weekends des moines market day!!!

then, owls...who doesn't love owls???

big owls, little owls...they're all so adorable!

then our afternoon was finished with hay baling! usually done on the hottest day of the summer. not today! it was a beautiful afternoon. now we have lots of good winter feed for the 3 calves that reside in our barn!

...fabric scraps...

***new item***

i have all these fabric scraps...what to do with them? so i sat in my work studio & came up with these super adorable fabric rosettes. attached 3 together and added a large pinback and 'voila'! darling added to a scraf, fall sweater or jacket or the front of a pillow! these will be available at the next des moines market day on august 28th! moral of the story...never, never throw anything away! it has the opportunity to be something beautiful!

how exciting...do it yourself magazine!!!

now, this is truly exciting! iowa crafter, angie lambert, hey, that's me!!! got her cupcake pincushion & name in the do it yourself better homes and gardens magazine! WOW! i was shocked, amazed, humbled and honored!

whoda' thunk???

it's been awhile!

it has been quite some time since my last post. the end of summer school break has been busy for the lambert's! we're trying to squeeze everything into the last few weeks. including vacation! which, it's also been awhile for that! 4 years since we've gone away for more than 2 days! we loaded up the boat and headed to central minnesota - planted ourselves in a very comfortable little cabin on a beautiful lake - we un-wound, reconnected and just plain enjoyed ourselves. an old drive-in movie theatre, wonderful fish suppers, shopping, sleeping, a box of twinkies, a pool, no mosquitoes, lovely resort hosts & neighbors and the best dock-boys around!

now? well, now it's time to organize the school supplies for a 5th grader and high school freshman! time to practice the clarinet & get up before lunch! we're ready...i'm ready! i will get so much work done once the girls are back at school! and i need to!

tonight i am vending at the farmer's market in valley junction (west des moines). i'm looking forward to it, but wishing the heat would, well, go away! i'm all packed up and ready to leave the house at 1! i have not done a show for awhile now and am anticipating a fun evening! i'm ready for fall tho, i'm itchin to sew up pumpkins and christmas stockings! :)

...sewing room...

so, angie's sewing room (aka..the landing at the top of the stairs) got a new wardrobe! well, new to that space! it came out of our master bedroom...thanks to my parents shopping skills!

mom and dad recently visited a fantastic fabric store in way northeren minnesota. this shop specializes in custom pieces and has beautiful heavier weight fabrics which is what i really love! well, when mom ventured down to the basement she discovered that they sell 'scrap bags'. all the pieces left over from custom drapes, comforters, slip-covers, etc! pieces that the normal establishment would sadly throw out! they shove as much as they can into see-through huge garbage bags. needless to say - my parents came home with 14 bags!!! plus 2 huge bags full of way discounted remenents! i was so tickled.

so now i am in the process of going through some of these bags...hence the need for the big beautiful wardrobe! which in our bedroom just held photos that collected way too much dust! :)

there are little pieces, big pieces, pieces in strange shapes and some small enough for my bird nesting balls. it is a prize poccession for recycks! still, recycled materials...saved from the land fill! can't wait to start sewing

------> remember i said i now have 14 bags!!!! **WOW**
thanks mom and dad....you rock!

...project bag...

when maggie at prairieland herbs messaged me and asked for a knitting/project bag using my fused plastic i immediately accepted the challange! i tossed around a few ideas for a few days and then decided to incorporate vintage fabric & plastic. i cool combination i think!

i stopped by with 3 in hand and she loved 'em! i sold some at the last market day in des moines and fully intend to make more!

i'm thinkin' they would be great for marbles, legos, toting around barbie and all her accessories, the 'needs' for a day trip, knitting project....it's endless really! take it to the park, plop it down in dewey grass and don't worry~the plastic on the bottom will protect it all!

i love it when a friend sends me an idea and i can accomplish it! it's good all the way around!

so this bags official name.....the maggie bag!!! :)

whoa! market day is quickly approaching...

http://www.marketdayiowa.com/

check it out!
i am so excited to be a part of market day in des moines on june 26th. even if it means i need to hit the road at 5 am to get there in time to set up! yikes! i had better make certain i pack plenty of caffeine!

i visited market day last month...WOW! talk about a fun experience packed full of awesome vendors! walking distance from the farmers market. if little ole me from rural iowa can find it in the big city then i expect to see YOU there! no admission charge - just come and purchase vintage & local handmade QUALITY items!

i will have my new 'becky belt bags' available. these without an attached belt so they slip over the one you already love! $15- or 2/$25! come snag one up - will easily hold everything you need for a day out - or a night at the concert - or a walk - or shopping - or a bike ride...it's endless!

come see me...mention the blog and perhaps i will have a little something to thank you with!

C U there!

'becky bag'

happy tuesday! i apologize for not blogging for awhile! super busy creating & now that the girls are home for summer break from school, seems like i don't get done as much as i need to! :)

a great friend of mine, rebecca (willow avenue pottery), was in need of a cool little hip bag to carry her change in at shows that she vends at. after poking around on etsy she found one, but it was all brown and $50! so she sent me a message & this is what i came up with! a very functional little bag created from a piece of heavy fabric i had laying around and an old belt! fully lined and features a snap ... all contents are certain to be safe!

i'm always happy to help someone out if i am able! and bartering for a cool piece of her pottery is A+!

check out becky's blog at: http://willowavenuepottery.blogspot.com

and i may even have some 'becky bags' available at my next 'gig'!!! :)

t-shirt yarn!!!

whoda' guessed!?!

55 yards of beautiful blue t-shirt yarn created from an XXL old shirt! one continous cut, no breaks, ties or seams! perfect for knitting, crocheting or weaving! be certain i will have many balls of this for sale at my next outing ~ dallas center's art in the park on saturday june 5th!

queen elizabeth...

what more can i say...but ... she is beautiful! the girls named her 'queen elizabeth' becuase she is the queen bee of the coop! the chicks are already 5 weeks old and growing very quickly! it has been fun watching them change & feather. no wonder they eat so much...they grow in an afternoon! their little bodies are constantly changing!

on the farm...

i just realized i have not formally introduced you to 'ralphie'. he has been with us for almost a week now. bottle fed, and spoiled! i had a red/white face calf as a young girl - named, ralph. so i am bit partial to this little guy!

he is a good boy, and gets along well with the other 2 bottle calves!

and the chicks? well, they are growing FAST!!! they have moved into 'hen haven' now and just think they are hot stuff! i love them! i love sitting on my bench and watching them. they are entertaining little devils that is for sure!

farm life....nothing compares!

make, make, make --- sell, sell, sell

busy weekend ahead! i've been at the sewing machine working with my felted wool sweaters! and love some of the new designs i've come up with! i am vending on may 1st at the living room coffeehouse in valley junction! great group of people, awesome place (i know i will get a fantastic lunch!!) and sunday may 2nd at prairieland herbs in woodward. another group of folks that just seem like family to me! my life is blessed with many positive influences...people who encourage eachother to be themselves....it really does not get any better than that!

these are my new 'recycled' cards! they feature homemade paper that is embedded with flower seeds! yeppers, you can plant the card! i decorate them with upcycled greeting cards from my overflowing stash! cards are just to pretty to throw away, they are a gift in themselves...now i've found a pretty awesome purpose for them ~ a new life! and then back to the earth they go!

as far as the farm goes.... the calves are doing wonderful! the chickens are growing. and my 13 year old daughter has her first official boyfriend. oh my.....

WOW! it's been awhile!

blogger...i've missed you! been busy around the farm and honestly have not been inside much!

amanda and i tried our hands at wild violet jelly! beautiful, sweet, delicious and a great mother/daughter project ta-boot! we cannot wait to try it out on our morning toast! the recipe can be found on my friend maggie howe's 'prairieland herb' blog...link to the right! this week we will be trying the dandelion jelly also! finally a good use for those little guys!

the chickens are officially in the coop! after much decision and talking with friends we decided it was time. and the girls are so much happier....and that makes me happier! they are growing and changing into their adolecent stage ~ gauky!

we also welcomed a new baby onto the farm. a red-white face calf! named him 'ralphie'. i had a red-white calf as a young girl...i loved ralph so much. i'll never forget the day we had to sell him. but in my heart he still lives in a beautiful green pasture with his bib-overall'ed master! so ralphie jr. holds a special spot in my heart. and at 40 'somethin' i will probably cry the day we sell him too! isn't it crazy how we attach ourselves to animals...even those birds of mine that live in 'hen haven' are wonderful to me.

i have 2 shows to prepare for this coming weekend. perhaps i will see you at the living room coffeehouse on saturday the 24th or prairieland herbs on sunday the 25th? i'm praying for rain to keep me indoors to sew at the machine! we'll see....

homemade paper for 'recycks'

OK - i love this picture! i have been saving shredded junk mail to make homemade paper with! and decided it was too windy outside this afternoon so came in and 'played'! i have been offered the honor by 'prairieland herbs' to teach a class in the fall on making homemade paper! so thought i had better start working on freshening up my skills! or lack of!!! i had so much fun i think i may add some items to my 'recycks' line with paper! it is incrediably cool....

i have so many little found objects to add to the paper for embellishments including flower seeds. what a great concept...plant your note! then when the flowers bloom you will once again remember that special someone who took the time to send you a handwritten note...remember those??? :) watch for the announcement for the class...then say a little prayer for me! a new adventure...but with friends so nervous i am NOT!

springtime on the farm...

it was a wonderful day on the farm today! i got amanda early from school and we went to the local feed supply store and came home with 9 totally adorable baby chicks! hopefully all pullets! so hen haven is offically occupied by actual chickens...not just the ceramic one that sits on the work bench! honestly, amanda was holding one and i looked at her and said, "mom is so happy i think she could cry!" i have waited and longed for chickens for so long now i am still in shock we actually own them now!

life is great!

then brad phones....

"i'm at the sale barn.....i just bought 2 baby calves....each one week old, their mama's would/could not feed them....are you up for bottle calves? well, i guess so! bring it on! we actually had been talking about this for quite some time. each of our daughters used some of their savings money, each bought a calf and are hoping to earn some college funds! hey, it gets them out of bed in the morning to do chores if they actually own them!!! well, we have a boy and a girl...both so darn sweet...125 pounds of total cuteness! they already follow melanie and amanda around and LOVE their bottles!

so life on the farm is wonderful...

the promise of spring has arrived...

the chicken house is not vacant...

the hard work of fencing is worth it for the calves...

new friendships are made...

and once again brad and i are so proud that our girls have such a strong sense of animal appreciation!

a good days work i think!

fresh black dirt

i have a problem...

you see the gentleman who does my tilling came today! now this lovely vegetable garden of warm black iowa dirt is calling to my bare feet! it is probably the one thing i love most about spring!!! and there is some stiff competition out there! sink my toes into a freshly tilled piece of earth!

my problem??? i need to be sewing!!! i am doing 2 shows next week - the living room coffeehouse on april 10th and prairieland herbs on april 11th! oh, i have quite a good inventory but i have some new ideas i would like to get finished before i go! ya know, new excitements to show off! but rain is coming...so maybe i should take one more day - sink the toes and rejuvinate myself to get the work done that pays for the seeds that grows the garden!!!

had myself talked into it...

then i found this little yellow joy growing so happily along the south side of one of the front gardens....

i buy johnney jump-ups in the spring because they just make me happy...i plant them...and now i have them growing everywhere! their little seeds scatter and come up along edgings, in the cracks of the sidewalk, along trees...wherever! such a pleasant surprise!

now....sewing!!!

'hen haven' progress...

whewww...we (mostly my brother, mike) have been working dilegently on 'hen haven'....up to myself & brad to finish it up! i can't wait! maybe next week little peeps can be ordered!!! :)we now have: a new "old" door, new windows that OPEN!!!, a recycled latch off of the origional chicken house, a partial wall inside waiting for that roll of chicken wire!, a new 'old' screen door inside and posts set for the run. still need to: wire the run, wire the inside room, mix up some new cement for the girls and MOVE IN! will keep you updated!!!

...hen haven...

for almost 2 years now i have begged and pleaded with brad to help me get this little building out by our barn converted to house 10 hens....i promised him he would love the fresh eggs! and for 2 years now he has put me off....

until now....
we are finally working on the building! and i am beyond excited! see even the kitties love the new windows! the view is supurb.....won't these be happy girls???

it is taking some work,but fortunately i have an extremely talented brother who is assisting with the carpentry work...what would i do without mike??? i really do not know.


i see the potential in this little abode...new windows, a new door, some work inside and a run for them to get some fresh air and we are set!!!






the bulk of the hard work should be finished tomorrow...i will post you new pictures! perhaps by the end of the week we will be the proud adoptive parents to about 10 little pullets...those pictures will follow also! there is nothing more satisfying than growing our own vegetables in our back garden...i think fresh eggs will be the same feeling. plus we get the added bonus of 10 new friends & a great learning experiece for our daughters, melanie & amanda.