...no excuse..

well, there is no excuse to the fact that it is now almost Thanksgiving and I have not posted on my blog since JUNE!!! wow...time really does fly when you are having fun! Let's see, summer was great! we enjoyed a family vacation to a Minnesota lake! the girls got back in school we now have a 6th grader and a sophomore! whew... fall? fall was busy, between Melanie's cheerleading & musical and field work we were meeting ourselves coming and going. and so now we find ourselves in November...Amanda is in basketball, Melanie still cheerleading and back to her job at the grocery store, Brad putting on those truck driving miles and myself cramming in some Holiday craft/art shows for Recycks! life is good, no, life is GRAND!

moral of the story: Be good to yourself, don't let time rush by without having FUN!

WOW! it's been awhile...

i apologize...

it has been so long since i've updated my blog...i know there are no excuses but we have been over-loaded here! the girls have been out of school for almost 2 weeks already...amanda is playing softball...baby kitties have been born...the calves are now weaned from their bottles...we have a guinea pig...recycks has began her season of craft shows...corn and beans have been planted...corn is sprayed...chickens are laying eggs...gardens have been planted...and unfortunately we've had 2 deaths in the past few months.

now, like i said, there are no excuses to leave you hanging in the blogging world, but geez...we've been over-loaded!!! but now i'm back...life is somewhat normal and we've settled into the relaxing summer lifestyle!

recycks is excited to announce her acceptence into market day in downtown des moines ( a monthly indie fair). she is also offering home trunk shows for 2011~ first one was just last night and it was AWESOME!!! 2 miles from home with a great group of ladies feasting, visiting and shopping! can't beat that!

today is an extremly warm day in central iowa...92* and 100% humidity!!! maybe 150* humidity!!! i spent my morning baking sheet cakes for our adorable niece, isabella. her #4 birthday party is this afternoon. should be a wonderful day as long as the frosting does not melt off the cakes at the park!!! *ughhhhh* pray for me and the cakes!!!

school spirit

our school district hosts a carnival each spring...tons of fun for the kids and adults alike! so, recycks decided she needed to donate something this year to the silent auction! i had a pile of school sweatshirts and t-shirts that either were just plain worn out of had met the bleach bottle! so i went to work and created a fun school spirit pillow. along with it will be a bag made from the bottom of the t-shirt filled with candies and a homemade bunny!

it feels good to donate. to give back to organizations that have been good for you. it makes me feel bad that schools are on such financial cut backs when the future of our kids is in that building! we need to all donate time, materials whatever to help the youth. whether it's a school or an organization...

i hope the pillow sells...wouldn't it be embarassing if there was not even a bid on it!!! ughhhh..... i guess i'll have to buy it back!!! :)

wish me luck!

...cool new stuff...

recycks came up with this cool new idea...wrapping paper! i keep everything, including the smallest pieces of paper, damaged books...etc! finally, an idea to use some of them up!

our daughter's last birthday party we found it cool that both grandma's had bought the exact same wrapping paper...one even stated, "there just was not much to choose from!" hmmmmmm......

now, our packages can stand out from all the rest! measuring 18"x28" they will wrap up a good sized gift!

i even fashioned bows to match out of magazine pages! sure to be the talk of the party - and it's upcycling what you already have! *genious*

..and then there were backpacks!..

my parents, rollie & connie, have worked hard all their lives...business owners, farmers, parents and grandparents. they have earned the priviledge of spending their winters in the warm sunshine of arizona. so how does this pertain to the above owl backpack? well, dad is always 'shopping' for me - thanks to him i have a wonderful cookie cutter collection!!! but, he phoned me and said, "i found a great idea for recycks!' - that night the first owl backpack was designed! it's amazing when you have a passion, whether it's a business or a hobby, how it wears off onto those people around you! friends of mine are always sharing wonderful new ideas...and most of these will be made and travel with me to my 2011 shows! i hope to see you and share my recycled, usable, eco-friendly, repurposed, using what you have ideas!!!

...scrapmarks...

all those little pieces of left-over fabrics & papers get tossed into a basket...some make it into the bird nesting balls and others just sit there waiting patiently for their upcycling purpose. i keep looking at them, seeing their beauty and promising them i will use them. yup, i speak to my 'materials'! and shhhhhhh, sometimes they speak back!

this bookmark was dreamed up on an afternoon when i was upstairs 'piddling' in my sewing room! the tassel is made from t-shirts made into 'yarn'. they are purposeful, beautiful, unique and certainly one of a kind!

they will make their 'de-bout' showing at prarieland herbs sample sunday on march 13th. you really should make the journey to woodward, iowa for this event! truly wonderful! you will not regret it!

and then there were workshirts...

workshirts...an iowa staple! every farm house closet has many stashed into the corners. every farm family has memories of great grandpa - and every generation to follow - wearing their workshirts to do chores, to go to town for coffee & even to wear to church! flannel workshirts - a feel good thing!

so, when i got a call from a cedar falls shop named "Barn Happy" workshirts popped into my head! i offered 2 new items for her - the 'barn owls' whooooo even have the pocket on the back of them! and the 'iowa' mats crocheted from all the parts of the shirt i don't use when making the owls! she loved them both so i added them to the list of orders!

iowa workshirts....a good thing. an iowa icon.

sugar-free?

super-bowl sunday - and i didn't want to fall completely off the 'diet-wagon'! so here was my attempt...and a good one it was! brad's most favorite quick dessert is jello instant cheesecake! i thought i had a box mix in the house but as it was i did not! so research on the computer and i found a recipe for an 'instant' recipe! when i looked at it i thought - hey, that would work as 'sugar-free'! better for all of us! they were amazingly good ... super light and creamy. you could dollap sugar free jam on top instead of the light sugar pie filling. so i have to share the recipe! you will not be sorry...and they are super easy to create!

Crust:

1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers

2 T. melted REAL butter

2 T. splenda

mix this together. i used small cupcake liners (2 biters!) or you can do a pie plate!

Filling:

(yes, really there are only 3 ingredients!!!)

1 8 oz. container sugar free whipped topping

1 8 oz. block light cream cheese

2 T. splenda

let all warm up a bit. Mix with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Fill your 2 biters or pie plate. I made a little 'dip' in the middle to hold the filling.

Cool in fridge...ENJOY!!!

time out!

time out of our busy schedules to wish my grandpa joe a happy 88th birthday.

this is the man who:

*taught me how to fish

*gave me a lesson (or two) on hunting morel mushrooms

*built me the most awesome dollhouse for my 9th birthday

*taught us animal respect

*played cards with us

*picked us strawberries and dug us potatoes

*sat on the porch swing and shared wonderful memories

*babysat my girls one summer while i cleaned houses

*worked on math with amanda

*combed my long hair 100 strokes when i spent the night

*played us the harmonica

*owned a rockin' red mercury!

*taught brad how to clean fish

*still gives me 'chicken raising' pointers

*showed me love & taught me respect

~loves to you grandpa~

...miss sophie...

i know i introduced you earlier to our sophie. she is now 8 months old and the love of our lives. she has made it her life goal to please us ... and please us she does! she loves to be right next to us and i truly think if she had thumbs she could crochet! :)


can't wait until the weather warms up for many reasons, but one is to take her on the boat again and introduce her to the water! she loves her baths...just sits down, once even laid down! so i'm thinking she'll be a good swimmer! but for now, the temps are cold (today -3*) so we'll just cuddle on the couch, eat treats and talk!!!

angie meets crochet...

anyone who knows me well enough knows that when angie gets the notion to 'learn' she goes all out. no holds bars! so 2 weeks ago i decided that i needed to learn how to crochet! grandma babe taught me how to 'chain' but after that i was lost!!! my sister.in.law (sandy) got me going and I WAS OFF!!! crocheting everything in sight! what fun and a true addiction! and i truly believe grandma would be proud!

so, long story short, recycks has some new items in her line! the above picture is a dish scrubber. soft on one side and scrubby on the other! soft side is 100% cotton yarn and the scrubby is - you guessed it - plastic grocery bags!!! totally machine washable & dryable and they do their job...WELL!!!

2011 shows will have some new items along with the good ole stand-bys. i'll keep ya posted!

moral of the story ... don't be afraid to try something new...keep your mind young. the internet is the host to many wonderful instructionals to help you along. youtube is an amazing tool. think about what you want to learn to do! AND GO FOR IT!!!

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!