Preparing for a show!

Good morning this last day of June!

I wish I could say summer was here but again the weather just doesn't cooperate - 

hot then cold and 'repeat'.  

Summer decorating here has been sparse - didn't put out as many geraniums this year as 

I usually do. I lost my mojo for some reason but that's not a bad thing...

less to take to the basement in the Fall.

We didn't do much for outside potted plants either and the few we did buy are getting pelted with downpours - I like rain for the flowers but it really beats them down.

I may change out some of my 'placement'of geraniums each Spring/Summer season but this one will always be in our long wood trencher on the dining room table - 

it is my favorite grouping.

Normally I would put real geraniums on this bench along with the birdhouses but couldn't find a potted one that looked nice - may have to assemble one myself.

I love this arrangement of flowers that we bought at the Mukwonago flea market a few weeks back.  When the sun is out it is gorgeous but the rain pushes it right down!!

Last week a very dear friend and I had a wonderful lunch and visit in our screen room -

I love this lady with all my heart.  We worked together for 20+ years and she's part of our 'former' co-workers  'luncheon' but this time I wanted it to be a

one on one with her and so did she.

She lost her 16 year old grandson on Memorial weekend in a horrible car crash that claimed his life and 2 of his friends.  The car hit a tree and exploded and they literally burned to beyond recognition.  Her heart is so broken and she needed to talk, so we did.

This community was so awesome - it pulled together for these 3 families - the high school held the visitation and funerals and the local food market donated the meals.....you have no idea what this community did for these families...it was beyond amazing.

I love you sweet Darlene Lemmon!!

Last month we went to the huge flea market near us and for some reason I was taken in by this beautiful pine box....it is actually a fruit crate

and I loved the patina on it and will use it at the show we are doing

in September as a display prop....isn't it great!!

For now I have it sitting in the dining room next to a cupboard and I'm putting my 'finished' penny rugs and other smalls in it for safe keeping for the show.

It does have one crazy screw in the handle that Doug will most likely take out and try and replace with something not so ugly....but I still love it anyway even if he doesn't get it fixed.

And this past Sunday we went to the same flea market and FINALLY bought a weather vane for our now, 10 year old screen room cupola - it's a weathered copper...

isn't she a beauty and just in time for the 4th...she flies high!!!

It was worth the wait.

All of this month I have been making canvas board prints for the September show.

These are two of them that we tried over our fireplace...a tad small for the space (16" x 20") so I am in the process of making two larger ones with an older looking couple (20" x 30").

So far I have made 14 different people.

Here are some of the ones that I have finished

These are the two I am making for us for over the fireplace as a 20 x 30 -

plus there is a pair in the 16 x 20 size for the show.

Even though their backgrounds aren't the same I still like them together.

Last week we celebrated our grandson Aidan's 9th birthday and tomorrow we will be celebrating our granddaughter  (his sister) Miranda's 4th birthday.

(Darren and MaryAnn's children) 

Here's the show we will be vending at.
I will post updates every now and then and when it gets closer
I'll hopefully have a list of vendors.

I can't think of anything else to chat about today so I'll say good bye for now and hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!!!

A little road trip

But first here's the few items I found on the road trip at the Longest Yard Sale.

I need to clean the paddles up and I think I will stain the basket.

These items will have punch needle mounted on them at some point.

And I found a couple old ornaments as well

This past Sunday I went to our local Antique and Flea Market in Elkhorn, WI.

We don't like missing this one because it's such fun
and you see so much and always see friends there.

I went alone this time because Doug was on a jaunt with our son Brett.

Not sure if it was a great show that I found lots or that I was alone.....
anyway I found quite a few items.

The red boxes and the tin I will put some winter or Christmas designs in and the others will have punch needle mounted on them but they all need to be cleaned up yet.

The basket I don't know if it's old - the guy said the 20's - not sure but it was $18
so it really didn't matter - it was mine!

I also want to let you know that I put several new items on my selling blog:  http://kmprimitives.blogspot.com/

And I will be taking orders for my Sweet Potato garlands and also the Bell Hangers.

The garlands shown are 'examples' only

As soon as I can I am also going to start my Gourd Garlands
and taking orders for those as well.

Supplies are very limited so if you want one - order now!!!

~~~~~~~~

So on to the road trip - A little over a week ago we took off on a short
spur of the moment road trip.

It took us through Ohio and down into KY, TN...we stopped along the way at the Longest Yard Sale...yuk for the most part...just junk!  Until we got into TN - there were several places that had some nice vintage and a few antique things.

But oh was it hot!!!  90+ temps and most of the time 70% humidity!!!
And the sun beating down, 

I got a nice tan out of it though lol

I never was so miserable but I did it!!!

Lots of water and cool wipes to my neck.

I did find a few things to work my punch needle designs on so it was kind of a bonus for the road trip...the best part though was stopping for an overnight at dear Betty Crowe's house. 

http://bettyjcrowe-throughmybackdoor.blogspot.com/

 We can't get that close to her and not stop.  She's just a dear sweet lady
(with lots of energy I might add lol).

We had a wonderful visit, great supper and comfy beds.

The morning we left there we stopped at the

MUSEUM of APPALACHIA

It's in Clinton, TN - just a half hour from Betty Crowe!!!

http://www.museumofappalachia.org/

If you get a chance you must visit this place.

We didn't expect to be awed as much as we were.

The history and the lives these people lived and basically on NOTHING
and the things they did have,
came from their own two hands and hard work.

Very inspiring and heartwarming.

The Hall of Fame was most interesting and almost made tears reading the
hard lives they lead - but they were a very happy people too
and CHERISHED what they had - so UNLIKE us of today!

I took lots more pictures than are here but can put only
so many on before you get tired of it, right?

Such an amazing step back in time.

(click pictures to view larger

if you want to read the captions)

Hard to believe this is a woman!!!

Her face tells it all.

In the Hall of Fame there were all these wonderful baskets made by hand of course by such talented people.

Gorgeous pie safe - love the punched tin design

For all of the woven fabric people out there I thought this display was intersting

On with pictures of the ground and cabins/structures.

I don't remember some of the names of the cabins but did remember a few.

This exhibit impressed us the most (besides the hall of fame)

This corn crib is from Betty Crowe's

great-great aunt Caroline Cox.

Peter's Homestead

They used a 'dogtrot' style entry for the lofts in the cabins

I loved that there were two living sides.

General Bunch House

Loom House

Can't remember what exhibits these were

Underground Dairy

Very beautiful grounds

Saw several Peacocks on the grounds

And we're on our way out - headed for home!

Thanks for visiting and see you again soon!

Karen