THANKS GRAMPS

Today, I'm not going to post any photos, but instead I am joining WHAT'S IN A NAME hosted by Sares of Loveleigh Treasures.. When I first read a few of the gal's blogs that are participating, I thought, I can't do this, who cares about why my name is my name.


This morning when I awoke and read more about another and another blogger that is participating in this, I have changed my mind...Now... I am going to speak about my name. While I may not be the most eloquent writer, please know that this does come from my heart...so bare with me here gals.


While I was sitting and reading all these wonderful gals talking about there given names, as I said, I was having self doubt...Well, my Dad (who has passed) and I have this very special bond, even today..whew this is difficult. Anyway, I felt his presence, slapping me and saying "shame on you".


As a child I never much liked my name. Why did my parents name me such an odd name...why couldn't they name me something cute like Susie, Patty, or even my Mom's name Catherine? I think I struggled my entire childhood with my name.

Oddly enough, it wasn't until my Mom passed that I started to get it. For 30 years my Mom passionately studied and documented our family history. She wrote snail mail letters and patiently awaited answers. She and my Dad traveled numerous time all across the United States, so she could traipse through graveyards looking for our ancestors. They would go for hours to courthouses and libraries looking for clues on my family's genealogy.


When she passed as I was going through her affairs, I thought, "what am I going to do with all this "Stuff" that was her research, her life, her passion". Once again my Dad "slapped" me (he had already passed) telling me of course I would continue this in my Mom's honor.


Then came the how,... where,..ME? As I sorted through the piles and piles (like I said everything was snail mail and hand written...little computer usage here gals)of papers, court records, names dates....THERE IT WAS...my answer...I had been named GALE after two of my grandfathers, Kenneth Gale Quade and William Gale Quade...

In all of my pity partying, I realized that I had forgotten that years ago Mom and Dad did tell me I was named after them, but they never made a big deal out if it, as I am sure that they thought I would just carry it proudly...But these are men names...not cut little girl's names....

Both Kenneth Gale and his father William Gale, as I have found, were very strong men, beating all kinds of odds. I won't get into that now, as I tend to get very passionate and carried away with my genealogy...YES, my genealogy in honor of my Mom and my family! And that's what my name means to me...family and the carrying on, proudly of my ancestry.

I know this is long and laborious, so stay with me just a little longer... Through all this genealogy research (a researching of me) I now have a sense of pride for my name (only took about 50 years!!).


My middle name is LEE...named for my Mom's surname and our direct connection to Robert E. Lee! My maiden name is Quade, derived from McQuade. The Mc was dropped with the McQuades came to the United States from Ireland in 1818. They lived amongst the Italian community in New York and there was much discrimination against the Irish in those days, so the Mc was dropped to blend into the community better. Now I know why they're called the "Fighting Irish"!!

My married name is Payne. Here again my genealogy has been quite the blessing. My husband's family never knew anything about his family's history. One day I googled his mother's surname...and what do you know, it took me to places I never dreamed...In short, I now have his family history on both of his parent's side and even traced ,and now documented, back to Revolutionary times....

Where does this get me and what does it all mean to me...



Well, first and foremost, I carried on my Mother's dream, secondly I have now a legacy to pass on to my children and their children, and lastly I am finally proud of each and every name I have GALE LEE QUADE PAYNE.

As for my blog...my daughters came up with this name "Wizard of Once Was" They told me they were always amazed at what I could create, literally out of nothing...hence the name...thank you girls it's been a wonderful journey,.. this blogging world.

Well, there you have it ME...just me. Have a great day and do go over and visit Sares blog as you also my find that you do love your name after all!

SO, THANKS, GRAMPS!

My Very best to you all,
Gale

A VERY SPECIAL WHITE WEDNESDAY!

Happy white Wednesday to all of you!! This great blog party is hosted by Kathleen of Faded Charm. You can see all the other gals participating in the party here .

Well, ya all wanted me to show you some of the items I purchased at the Rose Bowl Carnival Brocante, hosted by Heather Bullard. The unfortunate thing is this...everything I purchased sold (that's good), but the pictures of everything I purchased, either I forgot or didn't take a pic of (that's bad...slap my hands)

NOW for the really really good news. For those of you who don't know who Heather Bullard is (you can go to her site here)...she is the contributing editor for the new FLEA MARKET STYLE magazine and also a host of a number of other magazines. When we met her at ROSE BOWL Sunday the 7th, she asked about the barn sale at Matildas. On Friday, Heather arrived, camera in hand and took lots and lots of pictures! You can view some on her blog (here). What a wonderful person she is! Absolutely as genuine and friendly as they come!! We had a great morning with her in spite of the craziness! She took pictures before the barn opened and then that girl got to shop,shop, shop!!

This is the entrance to my space at Matildas and this is the Victorian bed that I showed in a post about two weeks ago. It is 7 feet high, and from 1860! (Yep, it sold). Believe me, there were some of those 1:00 a.m. nights that this bed looked mighty good!! It was quite the task to paint as I had to ladder it most of the time. In the back you can see some of my pillows and bedding.

Here is a picture of some of my "Tattered Elegance by the Wizard" pillows that I made for this show. I also made bedding, duvet, dust ruffles, and stockings...It's a sell out folks!! thanks to all of you who purchased my new line...They'll be more next month! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your overwhelming response!!

Sweet little French chair along with a silver fur throw for those long winter nights. That picture is of my Mom when she was eight....I added the glitter crown.

I even made some home-made crumb topped apple pies...Hey, I gal has to eat every so often!! Coffee right next to it...yum!

This is that Wolfe dress form that I also purchased a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't going to put it in, but then thought, heck, I'll just price it high...that didn't work...it sold! I little sad, but oh well..I'll just be on the hunt for another one!

Here is another view in my space. The chairs are the one I showed a couple of weeks ago. I actually got eight! Four were in perfect condition and the other had to be repaired and painted...white of course. they all sold...yippee! I purchased them from a gentleman who used to own a very exclusive rest home for wealthy women. In the early 1960's he commissioned a gentleman in the East to hand make this chairs...no nail, screws in any way. He paid $6,000. for 8 chairs!!! Needless to say I didn't even come close to paying that...not even!!

I love this cross against the open book, the lace and the bottle. Well that's it for today folks...hope you all enjoyed! Don't forget to check out all the other gals that are participating in White Wednesday. You can find the list over at Kathleen's blog here . Happy White Wednesday!! ( so sorry about this crazy formatting!! It's about to drive me crazy...way too tired to figure it out tonight, but you all will forgive me, right?...sides you just want the pics anywhoo...ha ha)

CARNIVAL BROCANTE AT THE ROSE BOWL

A week ago today, Sandra and I headed once again to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena,CA. It's about a 2 hour drive...but oh,so worth it! It was extra special day as Heather Bullard was hosting Carnival Brocante. She invited gals to shop, share, eat, laugh for the day at the Rose Bowl. What an absolute fabulous time we had.

We arrived earlier (cause we're cheaters..he he) and shopped for about 2 hours first. Then we met Heather Bullard, Jennie Doh, Pam Garrison, and Amy Hanna,along with about 40 other women at the front gate. After we introduced ourselves, chatted..we were off like crazy women to shop. The front half alone will take about three hours to go through!!

Then we met back at the food court for lunch and show and tell. After lunch we went back in for more shopping of course. By three vendors start taking down...so we had to hurry and pick up all of our heavy and I do mean heavy purchases!!

What a great day...thank you Heather, Jen, Pam and Amy for hosting such a wonderful day to network with so many great and talented women!




Me junkin' bud Sandra





Ladies, start your engines!!

Here we all are ready to go through those gates and get to shopping!!

I won ,I won! I won best decorated cart! Can you all guess which one is mine? The other is Sandra's.



Heather, Jen, Pam and Amy made these cute bags for the prizes! This is mine!! Ye haw!


This was the cutest bag made by Karen...but sorry my picture is the worst!! Trust me it was the cutest red and white bag and she made it the night before the Rose Bowl...We're all such die-hards!


Karen won the prize for the cutest bag!


Getting ready to go back for more shopping at the Rose Bowl!!




















Heather and Amy...humm I wonder what they're laughing about...Hey, I didn't get that dirty trying to get that table!!

YAHOO, I'M BACK IN THE GAME!

Hi everyone! Finally I' am going to participate again in White Wednesday, hosted by Kathleen.....I'm just a little back from all my insanity.... I was working at the barn getting ready for this week's Christmas show until 1:00 a.m. last night. Not hardly finished, but thought I would show just a sample of some areas I am working on. A little white, pink, gold and silver for this November Christmas show. You can go on my side bar and click on the picture for driving directions and hours for the barn sale....(it's this Friday, Sat, and Sunday). Be sure and check out Kathleen's blog for more wonderful gals participating in this White Wednesday! Have a great day and I'll post more on the vignettes as they get finished.

THE REASON IS THE SEASON.

Hidy-ho everyone! Soooooo very sorry for not being around lately! I miss you all and thanks for not only the comments, but the wonderful emails! I AM FINE......There are so many wonderful things going on in my life right now and with two of the biggest shows at the barn coming up...like I said before...I'm freakin' here...but all good!! I'll be posting some of my good things soon, I promise...But the next few days will be hectic...So here's to WW!
To All, My Very Best,
Gale