NEW GIVEAWAYS PAGE AND WHERE I'VE BEEN

Hi, Primmies ~ 


Here's another wonderful prim doll giveaway going on at
A Primitive Place. Tammy has a new handmade primitive doll 

carrying her own church baby with her. To enter for the giveaway click HERE to visit Tammy at her blog.


You may have noticed that the Giveaways no longer appear on my sidebar. I've created a page for them on my blog instead.
At the top of the page you can see Categories, "Home", 
"Giveaways" and "Items for Sale". These are new pages I've started. To see all of the giveaways I know about click
HERE to go to the Giveaways Page. I am adding as I learn about current giveaways so check the page periodically          after you read a post during your visits with me.


I hope you will all understand that for the past few days,
I have been reading blogs, just haven't been commenting as I usually do. I had another spinal injection a few days ago and I always hurt afterwards for a while. It went better this time,
I had the shot at the new pain center I'm a patient at and they put me to sleep this time. It was such a relief not to go through those needles being injected. I'm still sleepy from the anesthesia
and I have some pain medication now that they've prescribed.
I'm up for little bits of online time and doing plenty of resting so that the medicine in the spine can work. 
So I'll be catching up with all of you when I get back on a regular schedule which will be soon I hope. The medicine seems to have worked, the doctor injected it in the nerves to both of my legs, instead of the nerves in the back. My left leg hasn't been
hurting me with the terrible gnawing pains so I'm hoping that this will be where to inject the pain medicine from now on.
Oh, I'm so grateful for this relief. I must say it's about time that I found some relief!


I have worked in little spurts on the sampler and have been going through my patterns for more dollies and such to sew up for more giveaways. It felt so good to have a giveaway for all of you and I would like to do one as often as I can.


It was actually 82 degrees here on Thursday! I had the windows open Wednesday and Thursday and we've been leaving one open at night. I've slept so much better with the fresh air.
We're watching movies on Netflix and having pizza. Hubba just finished some yard work, now he's going to be suffering tonight. Poor man, I hope gets some relief soon.


Ashley and Tim have been finding all kinds of awesome primitives and some antiques from their jobs. They work for a property management company and also work on houses that are empty due to illness or the owner being deceased, when they have no families to empty the contents people like my daughter and SIL have to do it. I have some beautiful vintage photos to scan and put up on a page for you to use in your crafting. And I was presented with the most awesome prim chair with it's original green paint still clinging to it in large areas. I need to clean it and I'll post a picture of it soon.
Hubba is working on getting my craft room passable so that I can get to my supplies. I'm working in the dining room which is good because I can see and talk to him and watch the telly. 


Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Hugs,
Susan

I Do Like Them Dirty

Hi, Primmies:


On Wednesday I did a post about a wish list I had started. I listed some patterns from Victoria of Kentucky Primitives. Well, in the
post I made a comment about how I like Primitives and of course
my blog has primitives in it's title, but I said how some of them I
didn't make because they looked a bit on the 'dirty' side. WELL,
I take that back!! And this is one of the reasons why:

Photo copyright Create & Decorate All American Crafts Inc.

~Upate: I  found the link for Kim Grasso's patterns. Click
Kim's Whims ~
Can you stand it? Isn't she ADORABLE? Her name is
"Miss Peabody" and she is designed by Kim Grasso. The
pattern and directions are in the March/April 2012 issue
of Create & Decorate. And she's a huge bunny. I don't know
exactly how big of a bunny she is but she's at least two feet
and maybe 8-9 inches, so she's close to one yard in length!
Now here's the fun part and what changed my mind about
being 'dirty'. Kim supplied some grunging instructions to
go along with the finish of Ms. Peabody and there are two
methods that she gives. Now I know everyone that does
extreme prims probably knows about the recipe(s) but I did
not know about this one ingredient: molasses! I had heard
about the coffee and spices and vanilla, and even brown
craft paint to make a nice deep stain, but molasses was
news to me. I think that this rabbit is going to be the sweetest
smelling prim I've ever made. Here is Kim Grasso's method
for grunge:
" add two tablespoons of instant coffee to every two cups
of boiling water in Mason jar; if desired, add 1/4 cup of
vanilla, 1/4 cup of molasses and a tablespoon each of ground
cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cloves. Shake to mix and set aside".
Also, if using a spray bottle to apply she says to only use if
you aren't adding ground spices because they will clog your
spray nozzle. In that case paint the mixture on the rabbit,
undies and dress. Some of you like to paint the grunge on 
anyway as opposed to spraying on. 
So now you know why I changed my mind about dirty, grunge-y
prims. I'm apt to change my mind a lot, so don't mind me!


If you don't have this month's issue of Create & Decorate, it's also got some really nice folk art painting projects, more sew-
ing projects and punch needle, rug hooking a sampler and also
mixed medium projects. There are free projects included on the
website so don't forget to check if you aren't buying the
magazine. Here's the link again: Create & Decorate.


Ms. Peabody will be my next giveaway item after the sampler
I'm working on. Speaking of, I'm coming along with the sampler nicely, I'm starting the dividing band after her name 'Polly
Daggett' and there's the bottom urns and the rest of the borders.
I'm having a harder time with the borders than anything else,
so I'm leaving them for the end. They were supposed to be done
first but I was making too many mistakes! (like Polly)


Hugs to all my Primmies,


Susan

MY GIVEAWAY WIN FROM TRICIA OF HILLCREST HOME PRIMS

Hi again, Primmies:


I got my package today from Tricia of
Hillcrest Home Prims . I only knew that
she was sending some Christmas items
and "surprises". Well, oh boy was I
surprised:

             Snowman Shelf Sitter, his little legs dangle

Adorable Snowman Votive Holder, he's on my cupboard shelf next to my Snowman Crock.

This adorable peppermint stripe candle ornie and      a Grubbied Candle Light       

                        Pretty knitted Mitten Ornie   

This was a total drool fest surprise. Wrought Iron Candle Stick that holds the little skinny tapers.

Finally, this wonderful Snowman in Santa Hat. I love everything, Tricia, and I can't believe how
generous you were to me. You are a wonderful
friend. Thank you so much!
I'm way behind reading blogs and commenting
and also on my stitching. I know, bad primmie but 
this primmie has the nasty habit back of not being
able to sleep at night again. So I'm exhausted and
fall asleep in early morning for a few hours. Not
the same as a restful nights' sleep. I haven't had one of those well I can't remember. I am so looking
forward to that visit with the Pain Center in
Boston. I haven't received my appointment yet. It's supposed to be only a two week wait. Finger's crossed...
I have to go with the Mister tomorrow morning, he's having an EMG and he's been having trouble holding on to things so he might want me to drive.
Can you imagine, I guess a lot of you can because
you craft, your hands failing you? He's a woodworker and finish carpenter so it's reeking havoc with him. I feel so badly for him. I hope the doctor can help him, too. He's got a killer headache.
On a happy note, the kitties are all better. Puffy's rash is gone and Biggie isn't losing his meals
as much, just when  he has a  hairball. The special
food from the vet is really helping. They are due for
next treatment of flea and tick med. They are both
sleeping on the top of the sofa next to Mr. Glen Oaks. So sweet, they always know when one of us
isn't doing well. They watched closely while he
colored my hair last night. I don't know what they
were so interested in, Puffy had a worried look.
I always feel special after the Mister does my hair.
I haven't been able to get Tricia so if you happen to read this girl, THANK YOU!
Hugs,

Susan

GIVEAWAY NEWS

Primmies,
Want to enter another great giveaway?
This one is from Barbara at TO STITCH OR NOT TO STITCH. It's her Christmas giveaway and here is
what she is offering:

Barbara's included the pattern for the sweet
little cross stitch, the floss, chenille braiding, wool the the 28ct. Jobelan.
You have to hurry, though. She's picking the
winner on December 9, 2011. Good Luck!
Susan

Blog Milestones

In honor of her 800th post, Lori from Notforgotten Farm has given us this adorable
cross stitch design called "Remember Me". Here is the chart and floss & stitch legend:

She really appreciates her followers and would love to see your finishes of this design.
Click Notforgotten Farmhouse to visit her site and tell her about your finished piece.
Kimberly from The Red Cupboard has almost reached her 100th follower and will be doing
her giveaway any time now! (see sidebar for Cupboard Tuck Rag Doll)
Enjoy, Primmies...

Warm Regards,
Susan

Woo-Hoo! We've got winners and another Christmas In July

The winner of Samantha's Accessories Gift Basket Giveaway was drawn at midnight last night and Ta-Da! It's Prims and Annies...Maxie
Samantha's New Giveaway item starts today and will be drawn next Thursday at midnight. Here it is, a set of four Snowmen Ornaments:

Samantha also has a new freebie for you, a Star Stitchery on a bobbin that you can make in a weekend, she says. Here it is:

Sandy at The Olde Country Cupboard drew her winner at Midnight: there are two winners, they are Carmen C. and Starr Mountain Primitives. Congratulations to all the winners!
Here is Sandy's Giveaway for this week:

These Reindeer Feedsacks are filled with sawdust and would look adorable on a mantel or under your tree. Keep entering, and Sandy will be giving away one large one at the end of July. Sandy and Samantha want you to know that if you are having issues leaving comments or entering, PLEASE just email them. Here is a new freebie from Sandy:

Aren't they precious? I just love everything these gals create. They are really talented.
Samantha at Samantha's Accessories sells these adorable packages of Reindeer Chow every year at the Craft Shows and they are very popular:

See her blog for the complete tutorial on how to make these and also see her tutorials on making your own Soy Tarts for burning in your warmers.

Tammy from A Primitive Place has let us know that the team from Primitive and Folk Artist at ETSY is having a Christmas In July. To shop and find more info go to ETSY and do a search for PAFACIJ. Tammy says to make sure you check the "all items" category cuz there are vintage Christmas items, too.

I also want to take this opportunity to say a Big Thank You! to all of my followers who've been with me since the start of my blog, and the new friends that continue to join every week. I'm so thrilled that you all think I have something interesting to contribute. I know how busy everyone is, and I hope to have more original things to post and start having some items to showcase that we get made here at the shop.
Until later...(I'll be back cuz I think I forgot something)
Warm Regards,
Susan