MY WIN FROM OLD FARMHOUSE GATHERING AND RANDOM PHOTOS OF GREENS

Hi, Primmies ~

Good Morning!

I got a box delivered yesterday and it contained the most adorable and beautifully made Shamrock Bowl Fillers. I was the winner of Old Farmhouse Gathering Luck O' The Irish Challenge. You can read the original post HERE Luck O' The Irish Challenge and see the artists that participated in the challenge. The artist with the most votes on their challenge piece won, and I was the random number winner from among everyone who left a comment on that post.  The winner of the challenge was Robyn of Motherlode Toad Factory for her Megan the Mouse Angel. There are six Shamrock Bowl Fillers  all together in the group, they are made from a pretty shade of green muslin, and hand embroidered on the front are six famous Irish sayings:

Here they are together while I'm trying to decide how to display them so that you can read each one. I didn't have a bowl that was shallow enough. I'm using my trencher for the Rag Wrapped Easter Eggs from Sheila Seasons of Thy Heart and my Chocolate Rabbits from Brenda of The Rusty Thimble

Here's the first one. See the pretty green shamrock and each one is hand stitched with the cinnamon rubbed muslin hand embroidered Irish sayings

Here's where I decided home would be for the shamrocks, in my green cutlery carrier with my rolling pin from Williamsburg and my Mother's first rolling pin:

I thought about leaving one in my green and pink pedestal bird dish but I didn't want to separate the set. Besides, I can see them when I'm in the kitchen and making my coffee.
I snapped a few more pictures since the camera was cooperating and I try to find all of the items we have that are green. There are just a few:

This is the flower pot Angel that Ashley gave me many years ago and I have it indoors right now in my Rooster Topiary (Trace, do you like my Ollie Rooster??)

Antique Kerosene Banquet Lamp, passed on to me by my Mom

Guardian Angel portrait that my mom hung in my room when I was born

I thought you might like to see a portrait that my mom had me sit for when I was five. She made the lavender dress with the white rick rack which went on everything in the fifties and sixties. I'm holding a tussie mussie of violets.

For those of you that were in the path of yesterday's weather system I pray that you are all safe. There are more tornadoes expected today. Please pray for those that are in the target zones.


Back to stitching for me. I'll be here tomorrow morning. We're still anxiously awaiting news from Tricia until she speaks to her doctors. No news yet. Please keep praying for her to have good news...

Hugs to all of you,
Susan 

written March 1st 2012 

I'M A BIRD BRAIN + PICTURES OF SAMPLER, SEWING and SNOW

Good Morning Primmies ~


As if watching an Eagle sitting on her nest isn't obsessive enough:
I now watch the skies for Turkey Vultures. Yes, I need an
intervention. No wonder I don't get as much done as my bloggy
friends do. But for me I did get a lot done. I'm working through
the pain and I'm using biofeedback to fight it. Mr. Glen Oaks
even asked me what had me bright and chipper when everyone
else would be winding down for the early evening.  I'm not
quite sure why, I think it's because I'm doing what I used to do
and I have so much enthusiasm. I think they used to call it
"giddy"! A Southern phrase, when I was very young my dad
used to tell my mother, "Rose, why is she so giddy-headed?"
It means frivolous, lighthearted, (lightheaded). The synonyms are not quite as kind. "Without prudence or judgement", and
unbalanced. Well that's me alright! I think it's Spring fever.
Here is the pair of turkey vultures, they migrate farther north
to breed. Well, they got here early. They were so cute. I think
there was some courting going on there and I captured it. This is the view from one of our living room windows:

As John Dillinger said to his girlfriend 'Billie',                 "Where have you been all my life?"              

"Hey, I don't kiss on the first date"

"How about dinner later? My tree or yours?"

If you have birds on the brain, here's a link called

All About Birds. They have a little information on the turkey

and other raptors and birds. There are all sorts of new birds

coming to our yard. We put out fresh water several times a day because it freezes, and the blue jays especially love their water.

There were two baby blue jays here today. And I think the ones

I love are called Snow Buntings? Maybe someone could help

me with that one.

I have three things going on right now in the craft zone: the

Polly Daggett sampler, Safrona Ager sampler, oh wait, more

than 3, Miss Peabody, a large grunge prim rabbit, pear and crow make-do and the 3 dog coats. I have everything in various

stages except for the dog coats. Sorry dogs.

Polly Daggett as of tonight. I wish I could go faster but between her mistakes and mine I'm confused (remember I'm giddy).

Close up of the border and Polly's boo boo's. I should be in the pretty colors tomorrow.

All rolled up for the night and going in my needlework bag. My sewing project is from the March/April 2012 Issue of 

Create and Decorate. She's a rabbit called 'Miss Peabody' and

she's designed by Kim Grasso. I'm thrilled with this pattern

because the rabbit is a HUGE doll.  It doesn't indicate what size it is but the torso and the legs are soooo long. And it's grunged

pretty well, so you will adore her, I'm sure.

This is as far as I got tonight after putting the sampler down.
Biggie was tired of me ignoring him, so patterns and transfer

pen kept mysteriously ending up on the floor:

I don't use pins when I have pets underfoot. I traced the shapes and I'll sew along the traced lines and cut a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I have the prettiest fabric for her dress. It's a medium weight homespun, red and mustard check with :0) you'll have

to wait to see her wear it. I'm a stinker.

 

Speaking of stinkers, there go the Noah's Ark figures. Biggie does this when we try to work or use the printer. They are both good about not sprawling across the keyboards, they just like to sprawl across things in high places.

So far the 30- hour snow storm turned into not enough to shovel.
Maybe we missed the worst. We only have about 3 inches.

I snapped these while it was really starting to snow:

I don't know if you can see them, but those are mountains in the background. That's my across-the-street neighbor's yard.

My view from the kitchen. Here's our poor little neglected shed:

More of those gorgeous oak trees that like to fall on houses and power lines. Lastly, my view from my sewing chair:

Our Cypress trees outside the living room windows. The turkeys

were across this street in a huge Maple tree.

I hope you have a happy day whatever you do.

Hugs,

Susan

written Wednesday February 29, 2012 post Thursday March 1st

IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR BLOG PHOTOS ON PINTEREST READ THIS

Hi, Primmies ~


Don't forget to keep Tricia in your thoughts as she awaits the news from her biopsy. She is in a good deal of pain and won't be online for a while.
She knows that we are praying and posting for her and she feels the love from all of us. It means the
world to her.
 
Cheri of Quilts By Cheri posted tonight about the controversy over pinning photos to Pinterest. Many
people don't mark them or label them with the
designer's name.
If you don't want your blog photos to be pinned to
Pinterest read HERE How to prevent your Blogger images from being pinned .

This link is to the Making A Mark blog.  You have to be able to access the HTML code on your Template.
You should always back up your Template and then go into Edit HTML. The blog has easy to follow instructions that I was able to do easily.

The reason for me adding the code is because I have so many of you on my blog for either a feature or your work is on my sidebar for giveaways. I don't want anyone to be able to access your pictures on my blog. 


Hugs,


Susan

TUESDAY TUTORIALS FROM FELLOW BLOGGERS

Hi, Primmies ~ 

While reading blogs from my Reading List I came across Teri's tutorial:  White Sheep Farm Primitive Make Do Pussy Willow Branches.
Teri was so sweet to give me the go ahead to use her photos. I was so amazed at how lifelike these branches look, and it couldn't be an easier to do tutorial. Teri was pruning a plum tree, I think, and she used those branches for the pussy willows. Talk about
multitasking !

Here are the "buds" made with brown paper and wool

Here a bud is attached to a real branch with rusty wire

Please be sure to visit Teri if you can, click HERE for Pussy Willow Tutorial . There are step-by-step photos and instructions for you to follow.

Here's a tutorial from Jennie Lynn of Appleseed Prim for sampler stitchers that like to "age" their work. 
She also made up a free chart for us, a sweet little marking sampler with a few simple lines and a lovely border. You can download the free Betty 1709 by clicking HERE. 
You can click HERE to see photos showing her stitched sampler after applying the extreme aging techniques.

And more creative tutorials using techniques you are all familiar with but different graphics and items made it seem like I was seeing them for the first time. The first one is from The Vintage Polka Dot using clear decal film sheets and vintage graphic images. You can pick up old bottles and jars at thrift stores and use this transfer method.
It's truly amazingly fast and easy. You can also use plain white canisters, platters, etc. Here is a link to the Clear and White Inkjet Decal Film. 
Here is another source Experts Choice Decal Film.
You can also do a search for it, they are also called water slide decals. You don't need all of the suggested items that they sell to go along with the film. Just read the tutorial from The Vintage Polka Dot on how easy her way is.

The vintage images that are available for free are plentiful.
I have several links on my blog sidebar. Be sure to visit the individual blogs where you will read the full tutorials.

Kristie of MARKET NINE home  made these vintage looking garden pots with the Modge Podge transfer technique. She was inspired by Laurie of Heaven's Walk. 
They both used graphics from The Graphics Fairy blog.
And there is a product called Outdoor Modge Podge for items being used outside.  Awesome.
 
It's been a while since I've hunted for new projects. I like to try other methods besides primitive, but these methods all work on wood and other surfaces and you can make prim boxes, rusty cans, blank milk bottles, signs and all kinds of things using the same transfers just making the items primitive in your favorite
aging or grunging technique. All of the great primitive labels and graphics that we've come across are so quick and easy to apply with the Modge Podge. Another blogger used washable Elmer's glue; she spread it on the paper and printed her image, and then did the MP transfer technique. She said it makes the image stick even better. I could not confirm this with anyone but it would be easy to try a practice transfer with it.


I've been stitching two other projects while working on the Polly Daggett sampler. I'm also working on a very large, very prim rabbit. I'll show you the finishes if you're good little primmies.


Also, everyone say a little prayer for our friend Tricia of  Hillcrest Home Primitives.
She's having her surgery this morning at 8 a.m.  And send her your love & well wishes for a quick recovery.

Have a happy day creating whatever you are working on.

Susan

MORE SWEET GIFTS FROM BLOGGER FRIENDS

Good Morning, Primmies ~

A few days ago Sheila of Seasons Of Thy Heart blog 
had an impromptu giveaway. She gave away three
Gooseberry Patch books to the first three bloggers 
who left comments on her post. I was number two.
I won "Gooseberry Patch Christmas" copyright
from 1999 (great year). It's a beautiful Leisure Arts
Publication hardcover book.  It's chock full of Winter and Christmas crafts, ideas, decorating tips, handmade cards and ideas for gift wrapping. There's a section for handmade gifts, gifts from the kitchen and gift baskets.
There is a large section devoted to Festive Foods &
Glorious Feasts.  There are recipes for candies and
sweets, cakes and pies. Grand feasts for Christmas
morning, a Holiday Open House, Pork Crown Roast, and much more. I'd like to share some photos:

  Puffy making his debut on Glen Oaks Primitives

 

There is so much more, beautiful photos abound.

Thank you, Sheila. It was very generous of you to

think of your blogger friends and to mail these

three hardcover books out to us.  

I'll be back later today with some stitching progress on the Polly Daggett sampler and also a sampler I finished for Ashley, the Safrona Ager sampler.

Hugs,

Susan