Just A North Dakota Girl Living in An Illinois World

   I love to decorate, doesn't matter if it's for holidays, birthdays, or just my little attic apartment. It's just something I have always had a passion for and loved to do. Above is Fall Decorations on Momma's coffee table. Below are photos of my attic apartment and of my gems. Here are some of my party decorations I have done for various people. Baby shower for a fellow employee Above are photos of a hot coca bar I set up with a photo backdrop and props Above are Work Thanksgiving party I set up for the employees Above is a Valentine Party for a group of ladies who call themselves Soul Sisters Above is Halloween at my folk's house I love this stuff so much!!!  

     When I live in Bismarck, N.D. I always wanted to be a part of the Craft Fair circuit, but it cost too much. You have to join their club, and the fee was hundreds of dollars.   After moving to Illinois, I ran into a mother and daughter who ran craft fairs. It was affordable and Voila, there I was buying a tent and tables and selling my reversible bags, with my momma helping. We have had so much fun and these are memories I will have to hang on to when she is no longer here. So precious. I named my business, Gwen's Boutique & Party Planning.                            I now have two tents We are taking this year off as we did not make much money toward the end of last year and frankly, I am beat, I made two hundred bags for Burgoo and I didn't make one sale and the spot was expensive. The year before I made about $600. People just aren't buying like they were and I now trends happen, but it ...

   One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was leave my beloved hometown. Bismarck, ND had been my home for thirty some years from 1979 to 2018.    I packed up a U-Haul and towed my car, with my cat Wulfric on my lap I made that sixteen hour drive straight through to Peru, IL. Destination, my parents house, To help them as they are aging and will need me.    I left my four daughters and my ten grandchildren behind. I cried the entire trip and for a year I cried myself to sleep. I never knew homesickness, but I was getting a large dose of it now.    My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer the first few months after my arrival, I knew I made the right decision, but I still missed my family. My dad was diagnosed with dementia and has had several strokes and is now in a nursing home.     I have been here almost seven years, I hate it. I have no friends. The women here have their cliches and will not let you in. Something I ne...