IT CAME! NEW ITEM! 46th ANNIVERSARY

My wonderful gift arrived today from Evelyn of LEE HILL PRIMITIVES and it’s even better than the pictures show.

I absolutely love everything and it smells sooooo good. The sweet Annie and Coffee scented Pantry Cake and Corn are wonderful.
THANK YOU EVELYN!

I have to now get them in their place but that will have to be tomorrow.

I whipped up a cute little runner for Christmas last night. I had a couple hours free (yeah, right!) so I came up with this….I made it as a 10 x 22 trying to keep the sizes and the prices down and more affordable.

Today is our 46th Wedding Anniversary and I guess it was like any other day of the week/year.
Doug had a delivery to make in WI and IL and just got back a bit ago while I sewed up orders and now he just went out to bring us back some Burgers/Fries/Onion Rings from one of the bars downtown…there’s nothing better than a bar burger….all juicy and grilled.

Well, better go eat my wonderful Anniversary Dinner….LOL

Karen

ANYONE HEARD FROM……

I have had Lea from Farmhouse Blessings on my mind for some time now. I was wondering if anyone has personally heard from her.
http://farmhouseblessings.blogspot.com/

On her May 16th post she said she decided to stop posting on her blog and put her time and love into her family and home and I commend her but I miss her. She left her blog open for all those who enjoyed her recipes and suggestions -

After reading her posts on A SIMPLE WOMAN’S DAYBOOK it always left me with a feeling of peace. Her outlook on life is so positive and complete and she is just is the sweetest.

I also wonder how Colton is doing. He is always a huge part of her posts.

Anyway…if anyone has heard from her just leave a post her.

Karen

UPDATED MY LAST POST

I just updated the post I put on this morning…
I added pictures of the Bittersweet we found.

It’s really embarrassing looking but I wanted to know
if I got the right stuff and woe and behold….when I went
to take a picture of it I noticed they started to open…
so I guess I got Bittersweet!

YIPPPEEEE I WON!

Oh you must see what I won from Evelyn from
Lee Hill Primitives
Give A-Way!

I am am so excited and now I’m anxious to receive it.
It’s awesome….just look at all those goodies.
You must visit Evelyn over at here blog….she’s just the dearest and she makes some of the most beautiful offerings and decorates beautifully.
http://leehillprimitives.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU EVELYN…I’ll post pictures when
they arrive and get settled in their new home.

 

I was looking for Bittersweet this weekend and only found this one little vine….and the berries
were such a deep, deep orange red.
There were no splits in the berries, no shell popped open.

Questions:  When they are ready to pick?
What should they look like?
All the one’s I see on the blogs,
there are the 4 little pod leaves behind the berry.
Here are a couple pictures of what I found….
Very measley. Just a couple branches off one vine.
And today when i went out to take a picture
THEY WERE OPENING UP!!!!!

 
See, not much there on each stem! 
 
And this is the vine they came from. 

 

How many of you out there have this wonderful book?
I am so wanting one – they are quite expensive but
I’ve seen it in a store we go to in Lancaster, PA
and I think when we go again in October
I will pick one up for myself this time.

 

I forgot to add a couple pictures the other day of our trip up north over the weekend – it’s my favorite place to go when we are up there – it’s the Crafter’s Mall at the Dells – Oh so many goodies all under one roof. I loose myself in there, thank goodness there’s always someone with me…lol

Doug and my brother usually head out for the third
building – the Antiques, while Gail and I are in the Crafts. Oh, I didn’t notice till now…that’s my brother by his truck!

That’s it for today – enjoy!
Karen

WHOLESALE & FUN

Morning everyone…well I’m glad to be home again!

Seems the older I get the more effort I have to put into going away for a few days. I guess I make it that way on myself though because even though it’s for 2 and a half days I take everything I own with me! You understand that I’m sure….just can’t survive if I don’t have this or that and usually come back home and haven’t touched nearly any of it!

No computer or internet service up there so it was a long couple days.

We headed out very early Sunday morning for Madison, WI for the Market Square Wholesale Cash & Carry show and had a bit of success there finding some things.

I did get a 4 ft. snowman cutout of plywood and painted all cute – he will go on our front porch for our Home Show the end of November.

And the same vendor had these cute wall plaques.

Plus I found the shoo-fly screens I’ve been wanting. I bought 4 of them because I have 3 here already.

More battery candles in stock now too! These are selling fast on our site. I wasn’t sure how they would sell at the beginning but wow people love them. I had a lady from Paris France purchase 6 of them 2 weeks ago. Cool!!!!

We headed on up I-90 to my Brother and Sister In-Laws place right after the show and got there around noon. And from there all I can say is it was an ‘EATING FEST’ – seems when we get together that’s all we do…but I’m not complaining because the places we went to were delicious.

 

My brother has been working on his pond for a few years now and re-did the entire thing this past Spring. The water is low at the moment but you can still see how pretty is is – earlier this season the flowers were just so full and gorgeous – so go take a peek. They live in Adams, WI on 5 acres in the woods and I just love going up there…very peaceful.

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Look at this great Copula – it’s really huge and he wants to put it on his pole barn after restoring it.
I thought the detail on the ring was absolutely beautiful.

 

We also went into the Wisconsin Dells to my favorite Crafter’s Mall and I bought another Prairie Apron and Bonnet from the same girl I got my Aqua one from – this one is a gold flower and period fabric.

close-up:

I took a few pictures of the Dells area – it’s just a huge town of water parks, roller coasters and junk stores and the ever popular ‘Duck Boats’ that tour up and down the Wisconsin River.

Tommy Bartlett Show is the biggie in the Dells – it was shut down all of last year because of the flooding and the lake that they performed on ran dry from areas breached and the water just left! Now it has been restored and the show is up and running again.

Here’s something I didn’t know the Windows Live Writer did….it does an Album…wow, the things this doesn’t do!

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We got home yesterday afternoon very tired and stressed – the three hour ride from their house was totally in a downpour of rain…sometimes you couldn’t see the next lane of traffic and the water was standing deep in spots – very stressful. Normally one would drive out of something like that but it continued till way after we arrived home. It was a much need rain though. Been over 3 weeks!

Guess this turned into a book today…sorry!

P.S. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN FINDING THE CANDLE HOLDER CUPS….MY BROTHER FOUND SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE THEM FOR US.  Yeahhhhh!!!
WE’RE HOPING WE CAN GET HIM TO CONTINUE MAKING THEM FOR US AND THEN I CAN OFFER THEM TO THOSE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR THEM….KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.

Karen

I WANT/NEED THESE…HELP

We are making wood candle sconces and are in dire need of these tin inserts that hold the candle and can’t find them anywhere on the web.

ANYONE, ANYONE out there….do you know or do you make them.

I will buy several if I can find them. HELP ME PLEASE…I’m not begging am I???  lol

Here is what they are

I’m hoping someone out there has knowledge of these thingys!

Thanks in advance.

Karen

SHEEP - PROJECTS

I guess I have to start being better about posting here…I seem to have so many irons in the fire right now!

Doug has been working on some candle sconces for my website and In-Home-Show the end of November and he’s doing a terrific job on them….he’s out there sawing away as I type. Today he painted 2 sample ones – I like the combinations but the blue one needs more work.

We need to refine the blue so you don’t see the grain of the wood. Not sure. Here’s what he has done so far. He will keep trying till he gets it perfect that’s for sure. Funny how some colors texture different than others.

The piece that looks like a piece of toast fits into the groove. There will be a hole for a candle and there will be a hole near the tip to hang on a nail….of which WILL BE DONE FIRST before painting. These are tests.

 

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And….my wonderful little flock of sheep are starting to get their blankets. I just love these fellas.

I want you to meet WILLOW….the first to be blanketed!
I now have them on my website.

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I also had a request to make my Hanging Pockets Un-Grungy….lol so here’s what the Willow one looks like Un-Grungied.

And here’s my original one all Grungied up.

This week has been a busy one with getting orders finished and starting new ones.

THANK YOU TO ALL MY LOYAL CUSTOMERS…YOU ARE MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP GOING ON A VENTURE THAT’S SO DEAR TO ME.

It’s isn’t the money because it takes time to be in the ‘black’ in this business instead of in the ‘red’…so that being said you all know it’s because this is from my heart that I keep going and the joy my products bring to those who purchase them and proof of that are the repeat customers and their wonderful comments.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN ALL MY BLOGGING FRIENDS FOR COMING

P.S. Go on over to Cozy Coops Corner http://coopriders.blogspot.com/ and read all about her wonderful article in the newest Country Sampler.
Congratulations Janae!

HUGS,
Karen

MY FLOCK HAS ARRIVED

Remember way back when….I was having some Sheep made and couldn’t find the person making them…well, she found me and after a bit my ‘Flock Came Home’….we sure are good Sheepherder’s!  lol

They arrived all tucked neatly in a box delivered by my favorite package carrier…UPS.

I received 6 of these beauties and now I need to get them photographed with a blanket and get them on my website.

I’m selling them for $42 Total…that’s one sheep and one blanket and then the extra seasonal/designed blankets are $15.00 additional.

Inside this wonderful box of sheep was this adorable hand made Pumpkin from Justina…isn’t she just the sweetest person?

You must visit Justina’s blog:  http://pepercreekgatherings.blogspot.com/

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I know I have posted photos of my dining room before but last week I changed a couple of the cupboards around and I really like it now.

I angled the tall red one this time and now I can see it better anywhere in the room – it was flat against the wall before.

And I switched the bench with the red pie safe – like this much better too.

Guess this post got a tad long but I think I feel chatty today.

Doug left for Texas on a delivery so I’ve had a few days alone to think and sew and mope and whatever one does when they are alone…EAT!

 
Picked myself up a Subway sandwich for dinner tonight – didn’t want a greasy McDonalds and besides when I go there I can’t resist a Chocolate Shake…so best to stay away.

Have a good one and thanks for visiting me again.
Hugs to all my wonderful followers and all the new faces and even the anonymous guests.

Karen

GORGEOUS SATURDAY

Happy Saturday everyone…..it’s just beautiful here today.
This morning we bought groceries and then did some around the house things and then went out to a shop in the country that we have never been to before.
Not sure if any of you are familiar with the Prim/Country artist Dan DiPaolo….he’s a designer for Lang Co., Primitives By Kathy and Blossom Bucket to name a few.
I don’t even know where to start here….we drove out to the farm and the home is absolutely gorgeous!
As we were in the barn shopping and talking to Dan’s partner, Jamey – we saw a magazine open on the counter – Country Living – well there’s their home as big as life on the pages….what an honor! It’s in the August issue so if you have it read all about it…if not, here’s the link to it:  http://www.countryliving.com/homes/house-tours/wisconsin-farm-0809

We took a few photos but most of them are in the article so it was easier that way…but I did get a cute picture of their goats – the one the left looks like she’s smiling…soooo cute.

We had a wonderful visit with Jamey but Dan was on a conference call so couldn’t make it out to chat.
I was so surprised last year to find out he lives right here in Burlington.
I did buy an adorable Witches dress and some greeting cards but am waiting for later to get my ‘original’ items from Dan – hopefully before my Home Show so I can sell them…..keeping one for myself though.
Yesterday (Friday) I had to go to JoAnn’s for something and went on over to Hobby Lobby with a 40% coupon to buy some Mache boxes but didn’t need it because they were on sale for 30% off….great deal so look see what I bought! Does that remind you of the glue spree I went on….lol 

I have been fortunate to receive a couple of the sets from a dear friend, Karen, from "Just Simply Prim Friends" forum...she has been on the watch for them and was so wonderful and sent me my purchases of two small sets last week....THANK YOU KAREN.

I took more pictures of my dining room after changing a cupboard around and the bench but they were blurry so don’t have any so this has to be it for today.
Have a wonderful Holiday weekend and stay safe.
Karen

SPECIAL PROJECT FINISHED/TEXTURES #2

You all remember me working on a Special Order for a customer….it was a window hanging/valance….well she wanted me to make a larger one for her double doors and I just finished it today and shipped it out to her…let’s pray she likes it…I DO AND WISH I HAD ONE NOW.

Here’s the Original she sent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is my creation….pretty close don’t you think? I added an extra sheep to use up some of the space on the width.

The only color I didn’t have was the color around the windows. It looks bright here in the picture but it’s not that bright.

  

 

SO ARE YOU READY FOR PART 2 OF MY TEXTURES.
I posted one last week but wasn’t happy with it so I deleted it.
I’m doing all of this in Windows Live Write and now that I know how it works I really love it.

 

I have more but this will do for now. I thought I was going to stop doing this but it really gets into your heart doesn’t it?

Well we really have Fall here right now. All our bushes are turning and there are leaves everywhere. Very early but the entire Spring and Summer was crazy mixed up.

Our son sent us a couple pictures of Aidan a few weeks ago when Darren was at home on vacation…they spent everyday in their pool and here’s one of Aidan…he is a little man of hats…he has so many of them and this one is my favorite.

 

Check out my September Sale over at my website…I put the sale information on the right in my sidebar…this month we’re putting some of our Pumpkin items on sale.

Have a great week everybody
Karen