Monday Market

Happy Monday Morning Blogging Buddies! Usually on Monday I like to do a feature on a favorite Etsy shop, but today for all my new friends, I would like to introduce them to the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team. If you haven't had a chance to check out this team please take a moment and visit

http://oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com/

This is a gathering of the most talented primitve, cottage, and vintage gals around. If you love any of these categories, you will find it on the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team. This team was started on Etsy almost three years ago. Our goal was to promote primitive handmades on Etsy. In the beginning it was quite the challenge, as Etsy is a very upscale selling venue, and we had to work hard to have primitive arts recognized. We have truly accomplished our goal, and now have a team of some of the finest primitive artisians who have helped make this team what it is today.

The quilt above is just one example of the items you can find if you check out our Artisian page on our blog. This quilt was made by Lucy, of The Farmers Attic .

Lucy is a moderator on the team, and we are so grateful for all the hard work she puts into making our team blog such a success. Thanks again Lucy for all your efforts and the new look is fabulous!

Be sure to check out our Artisan page! Here you can go from shop to shop with a click of a button! More and more shops are added all the time, so take a moment and become a follower! We feature giveaways, tips, tutorials, new shops and products. There is always something going on in the Farmhouse!

Also for those that love recipes.......stop in and visit our Old Farmhouse Cooking Blog!

There are some down home wonderful recipes to be had and many new ones are added all the time!

We are now getting ready for an Autumn Celebration, so stay tuned for some awesome Fall creations. At the present time we have 26 artisans taking part, with 4 creations each, so it is going to be a spectacular display new Fall primitives for your home! I will be announcing the dates very soon so be sure to stop back by!

Happy Monday to All and as always I wish you a day full of blessings!

I Was So Honored.......

You know it is the small things in life, that really make your day special! I received this award this morning, and although I am an award free blog, I really wanted to share this with all of you. This came from a new blogger, who's painting talent is just top notch, and I would love to introduce her to all of you.

I had the pleasure of meeting Barb when I purchased an adorable snowman pattern from her.....since then she has opened a blog and I would love for you to visit to see her excellent work.

Here is just a sample of what she paints, but it is what she paint on that is so neat........her surface is

fiberglass black screening material......and it just makes her art pop!

You can find Barb's work at Barb's Heartstrokes She has a cute little shop on Etsy along with her blog which is located at 

http://barbsheartstrokes.blogspot.com/

Thanks Barb for such a sweet surprise today! I hope you all have a chance to visit Barb, and welcome her to Blogland! Wishing you all a very special day!

What's New Wednesday!

Hey Blogging Friends! Is everyone surviving this incredible heat wave? I have really missed being outside, but it is just a little too hot for me.......so I have been staying cool and creating some new items for my Etsy shop.

I found these small cutting boards at my local Dollar store about three years ago, and every once in awhile I find the perfect design for them. This one features a design by Marie of Marie 's Country Woodcrafts

I have several of Marie's designs as I love the simplicity of them. Please visit Marie's selling blog to see the many designs she has to offer.....such cute and primitive ideas!

These small cutting boards have been wonderful for filling gift baskets during the holidays, or as a quick and easy hostess gift.....make up a batch of cookes, add the cutting board, and you have a wonderful gift for someone.

It wouldn't be Fall without a new pumpkin soap to add to your Fall decorating. I love the way this pops against the black background. I did one in pumpkin, and also a white one, they can both be found at my Etsy shop.....Primgals Primitive Palette

Now this was a true pleasure to paint. This is a new design from Terrye French. All four seasons are represented on this paper mache tissue box. Lots of detail with each scene, and would make a wonderful gift for those hard to buy for folks at holiday time.

I have so many ideas running around in my head today.....and I just can't wait to get started on some of them. It is such a busy time for artists of all kinds this time a year, as we try to spend time with our familys, keep up with the outdoor activities, and start producing for our Fall lineups and shows. I have set so many goals for myself........it is the only way I can stay on track. So a little of this and a little of that, and hopefully it will all get done!

Wishing each and everyone one of you a wonderful day! I can't tell you often enough what your comments, support, and friendship mean to me. I swear I have the best followers anyone could ever want. So stay cool, get creative, and I will see you again soon!

Isn't this Creative?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wvluckygirl?ref=seller_info

We are having a Kitchen Swap on my Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy. Our instructions were to include a vintage kitchen utencil, a handmade piece, and three recipe cards.

Well I was lucky enough for Becky of wvluckygirl's Primitive Store to draw my name!

Not only did I recieve the adorable cheese grater along with the homespun towel....(she even stitched my name on it...:)  but Becky also sent me three wonderful recipes, along with three of her delicicious home made jellies!

Thanks again Becky it was such fun having you as a swap partner!

Please be sure to drop into Becky's shop on Etsy. There you will find pillows,stitcheries,candles,

grungy dolls, and hang tags. Becky also welcomes custom orders, just drop her a note and she would love to work with you!

Here is just a sampling of the many decorative tags Becky has to offer. These are her vintage line, but she has several other sets to choose from. I adore her prim ones!

What a neat little stitchery to remind us of the important things in life. Love this!

Like many of us Becky is preparing her shop for the Fall season. She will be adding more items soon so be sure to pop in and see what she has to offer!

I hope you all have a terrific Monday.........Blessings To All!

Happy Sunday All!

I was so honored to receive a notice the other day, that one of my products would be featured at Great Finds Made for Me by Oaklie !

This kind and generous lady features different shops to help out her fellow artisians, and I am so very gratetful to be chosen along with several other great artisians. If you get a moment today please visit and cast your vote. One of my team mates on the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team, Carol, of Firecrackerkid Primitives was also chosen, so be sure to check out her Etsy shop too!

Thanks again Anne for this wonderful opportunity.........:)

A Productive Weekend!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend! We used most of it to get some of those much needed outside chores done. We are in the process of totally repainting our front porch, so out came the power washer, and the scraper....now to just get started painting!

Of course when you are doing all this sprucing up you want some different things, so I have been working on a few redo's. I have had a couple wicker planters for a couple years now, and always told myself, to get them painted white, so I did get that done along with making a new sign to welcome our guests. My husband Walt, built me some cute planters out of shutters, and we got those painted, and planted with flowers, now to just get them hung back up after all the painting is done.

We did have a very nice Sunday afternoon. Our grandson and his girlfriend were able to come down and spend some time with us......we had a marvelous time, and although it was so hot, it was a welcome break to all the chores!

So with all the outside activity I have done little in the way of painting..........well decorative painting anyway. So stay tuned for some new pictures of our spruced up porch......hope you all have a pleasant week, and as always blessing to each and everyone!

Wow, two posts in one week, I am on a roll.....:) I wanted to share with you some of the things that I have been working on. It is that time of year to begin painting for Fall and Halloween and you can barely walk in my studio for all the projects I have laid out to do! Here is a basket that has the cutest design by Karen Wisner......perfect to hold all those Halloween treats!

I painted this tin plate for a wonderful customer of mine......this is a design from Renee Mullins

I did a set of these last year, and they were so much fun to paint, I wanted to do them again. This is a design by Sandy Holman Sackett.

I just fell in love with this whimsical design from Terrye French. I painted it on a gallon paint bucket with the words Trick or Treat on the lid.

If I don't get back to all of you, I am wishing everyone a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! See you again soon.........and as always Blessings to all my dear blogging buddies!

Good Morning Blogging Friends! It is a gorgeous day here today......a cool breeze, and the sun is shining!

I wanted to share a few of my garden photos with you.......Hope you enjoy!

This is where I start my mornings, with a great cup of coffee, and a little "me" time before the craziness of the day.

It is so peaceful here........I turn on the fountain and as I listen in the quiet to the cascading water, I thank God for each and everyone of my blessings. A wonderful way to start the day!

I have several more photos to share, and I will post those later on this week.

For now though I need to get my day started......

Wishing you all a glorious summer day, and hope you have enjoyed my garden!

Blessings to All!

Monday Market

Good Monday Morning Everyone! Today is Monday, and as always I have a new shop for you to see! Today I am featuring Connie of Ashley's Trinkets ! I hope you enjoy viewing some of the awesome creations made by this talented lady, and you take a moment to visit her shop. Here is just a sampling of what is available at Ashley's Trinkets........

Grab a cup of coffee, or your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy this

interview with Connie!

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?

My Etsy shop name is Ashley's Trinkets. The reason I selected that name is that Ashley is my daughter'¦s name, and I offered a variety of items from primitive stitcheries, ornies, key fob wristlets, and a few vintage items. Thus, the word trinkets came to mind when coming up with the name.



2. How long have you been on Etsy?

I've been on Etsy since January of 2009.



3. What type of items do you offer?

Primitive stitcheries, ornies, key fob wristlets, vintage items.



4. How long have you been crafting?

I'¦ve been crafting practically all my life, but I've been selling online since 2005.



5. Who or What inspires you?

Everything it seems. I love looking through magazines, searching online websites and blogs, and of course browsing through Etsy. I love browsing for fabric! I see a pattern in a fabric, and I think, That would make a great doll dress, or key fob! It just gets me to excited to get a new fabric and make something from it.



6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

I would have to say my favorite item in my shop are my key fobs. You can take a piece of fabric and make as many key fobs as you want from that one piece, and you rarely make any two that are alike. Each key fob is different, but the same too.



7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)

www.ashleystrinkets.com

www.homespunandrust.com

www.ashleystrinkets-connie.blogspot.com

I Have No Excuse.......

Good grief, I just looked at the date of my last post, and I swear I don't know where the time has gone. They say the older you get the faster time flies, well I am a believer! At this time of the year, I wear too many hats, and really struggle with priorities......anyone else out here with that problem? I am an A personality, and we all know that organization is key to us folks, but these past few weeks you would never know it.

Here is excuse No#1......my second passion after decorative painting. I could literally spend hours outside at this time of the year. My mornings are filled with the birds singing, and the powerful scent of the flowers blooming, and I just tell myself......one more minute.

So I can only say that the lazy days of summer have really put me behind my "normal" schedule, and I am loving it. I have been painting though, but it has been to supply my shops, and to fill wholesale orders. So I really need to set aside a day and paint some new things for my Etsy shop and to show you here. In another couple weeks, believe it or not, I will begin painting and designing for Fall and Halloween, so if you are ready to see some new creations, please be sure to stop back by.

For now though I am headed back out into the gardens........to listen to the birds sing, and relish these glorious days of summer. I hope you can take a moment also to just be in the moment for a little while.......there is nothing more peaceful to the soul.

Monday Market....Check out this Etsy Shop!

Happy Monday Blogging Friends! I wanted to share an adorable shop with you today.......these adorable primitives can be found at Rabbit Hollow Prims on Etsy!

Sue love to make dolls, but as you can see she does prim critters too......aren't these just too cute?

I hope you enjoy this brief interview with Sue, and take a moment to visit her shop.......you won't be disappointed.......

So Here's the Questions:

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?

Rabbit Hollow Prims because my mom had the name for her shop when it was open and wanted to carry on the name.



2. How long have you been on Etsy?

About 2 years

3. What type of items do you offer?

primitive dolls. vintage patterns, fabrics and turkey calls

4. How long have you been crafting?

17 years

5. Who or What inspires you?

All the other doll artists out there.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

I couldn't pick just one but I love Halloween the most.



7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)

http://www.rabbithollowprims.blogspot.com

http://www.spookyspells.blogspot.com

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/rabbithollowprims_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5125705

http://www.lemonpoppyseeds.com/shoppes/psrabbithollowprims/

http://www.countrycraftshowonline.com/craftbooth489/

Good Morning Everyone! It is a gorgeous morning here in Illinois and I hope the rest of you are having a great weather day to day too. I wanted to ask all my wonderful followers if you could help out a new blogger? Connie, of AshleysTrinkets on Etsy has just joined us in blogland, and it would be awesome if she could have some new followers.  She also has a wondeful website so if you get a moment hop on over and pay her a visit!

http://www.homespunandrust.com/

http://www.ashleystrinkets.com/

http://ashleystrinkets-connie.blogspot.com/

I have had the pleasure of owning some of Connie's creations and they are just fabulous in quality....you will never be disappointed. Thanks all I really appreciate all your help!

God Bless

Just The Beginning.......

Good Morning All! The time has arrived for me to finally get to play in the garden! After experiencing many late Illinois freezes in the past, I have learned that patience is my friend. This weekend though is my "annual" time of the year, and I just can't wait to add tons of color to the gardens.

I have a couple peony bushes that line the back of the garden, here is one of the gorgeous blooms!

I started this honeysuckle last year, but this was the first time for it to bloom and I just love it. I am hoping that it eventually will fill the entire area behind the fountain. It smells heavenly too!

Here are just a few shots of all the green in the back garden. When we first began this area of the garden it was dense shade, so it was quite the learning experience to figure out just what would work well here. I had no idea of how different "kinds" of shade you can have. I spent hours on the Internet trying to figure it all out......:) I will be adding allot of color to this area, but for now I love its simplicity.

This deep blue is just breath taking.......

The iris this year put on a spectacular show.......very tall and stately, with the small climbing rose in the background. Now to get started on adding all the wonderful color of annuals. I have 10 baskets to make and several pots to fill so we all know what I will be doing this weekend...:) I hope everyone has a great week, and I will return soon with even more garden photos!

Monday Market

Today I want to introduce a relatively new shop that has joined Etsy. These adorable primitive creations are from Brenda of the Rusty Thimble. I am sure many of you know Brenda's work from her selling blog and newsletters, but when I find a shop that is new to Etsy I love to promote it.

All of Brenda's creations are hand sewn and I have had the privilige to own some of her precious treasures and the quality is top notch. Please take a moment and read the brief interview below about Brenda's shop on Etsy.

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?




The Rusty Thimble

I come by the name honestly, I even had store named this in Texas. I ask my husband almost everyday if you find something rusty today please bring it home to me.



2. How long have you been on Etsy?



Just a few months now.



3. What type of items do you offer?



Primtive Handmade items dolls, critters, tucks, makedos



4. How long have you been crafting?



I remember as a child making doll clothes and watching my mother sew. I Made all of my own clothing in high school.I have made my creations and sold them since the age of 18 and I am now in my 50's. So I guess I could say I have crafted almost all of my life.



5. Who or What inspires you?



I get my inspiration from so many places. I live at a lake and love to go to the water and sit. I love color and all things I can get my hands on that are VINTAGE to use in projects. Old quilts are my favorite, my grandmother and mother always quilted. My mom is 88 and she stills quilts that is enough to inspire anyone. I hope I am still doing this if I reach that age.



6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?



Right now that would be my Cone Rabbit. It is an original OOAK no two are ever alike. I often make this using old sheet music for the cones.



7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)



http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/




http://www.simplyprimitives.com/artisans/rustythimble.html


http://rustythimblesalesblog.blogspot.com/


http://shop.ebay.com/therustythimble/m.html?_dmd=1&_in_kw=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1



I hope you have an opportunity to check out these links to even more primitive items that Brenda creates. I know I have really enjoyed sharing her shop with you.....Happy Monday All!

My Heavens It's Hot!

Hey There Blog Buddies!




I hope everyone is having a great Sunday! Wow is it ever hot here in Illinois today. We went from 69 to 90 in 24 hours! Now I love summer, but this was even a little too quick for me. Of course this was the weekend that we set aside to get all our yard work done, so for the past couple days we have been outside as much as possible. We have been laying mulch, transplanting flowers, and getting all the gardens ready for the summer months ahead. I still have so much to do, but I have a plan, so hopefully Memorial Weekend we will be all set. I will be snapping some photos this week to share with you too......just need to get more of my pots planted before I do......:)

So in between yard work, I have gotten a couple things painted up for the Summer Celebration starting Monday for the OFG Etsy Street Team. This door crown is a design by Deb Richey and is just loaded in detail......love this design for the summer months.

Aren't these Salt and Pepper shakers just the cutest? These came to me from a dear friend all the way from South Carolina! They are vintage holders that have tops on them that are actual wood screws. Dovetail detail can be seen through the painting also. So I decided to use a Terrye French pattern of Summer Saltboxes, with a cute sheep and flag.

What summer would be complete without some patriotic chickens.....:) I loved this design and was hoping I would get a chance to paint them up for summer.

So all of these items will be available for sale in my Etsy shop starting tomorrow May 24th for the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team's Summer Celebration. I hope you all can pop in and view our Summer creations. Just go to Etsy and type in SCOFG in the search bar to see all the particapting shops.

Till Next Time Everyone

Blessings to All!