Sunday, July 31, 2011

~*Early Work Mercantile*~



Hello Dear Friends! My Early Work Mercantile page is now updated for August 2011! Please swing by for a visit.

As you can see from the picture above... I am ready for Autumn, Fall... or just October. This HOT weather has to be gone soon... or at least I hope it does. I was having a good time playing with my oranges... and, in a way, I did feel a little cooler doing it.

Thanks for letting me share... wishing you warm smiles...
Betty

Friday, July 29, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~

TGIF Dear Friends! Oh there are some most wonderful ~*Friday Finishes*~ to share with you... and I'm going to get right to it! I wish some were my own finishes too... but I will have a few new things to post by the end of the weekend. For now... I'm sure you will enjoy drooling over these goodies...

Lots of dandy finishes for the latest freebie... ~*Sunflowers N' Crows*~...

From Connie...

Connie has included her finish in a GIVEAWAY on here blog... be sure to pop over for a chance to win!! :) Just click on her name to get there.

From Cathi...


From Marjorie...


Heidi's version of my ~*Simplify*~ freebie... lovely stitching for sure... but check out this frame!


From Laura... ~*Black Cat & Jack*~ freebie...
She punched with three strands floss... and added the tongues to make a darling penny rug...


And from my bud, Ronda...stitched from my pattern ~*Hallows Eve*~... (available in my Etsy shoppe)...

The back is a warm, wonderful wool...


and...~*JOL 'N Keys*~ freebie doodle...

They are all just so wonderful! I so LOVE to see & share finishes. Thank you so much for stitching and sharing. Keep 'em coming!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

~*Oranges*~

Hello Dear Friends! Well... today I'm thinking ORANGES! I woke up early and the thought of pumpkins & the Headless Horseman were heavy on my mind. You have probably read before, I am NOT a morning person... but what is a girl to do?



Well, gather up flosses and woolies of course! And roll with the idea!!

The update for Early Work Mercantile is looming... so I need to get hopping & whip up those visions!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

~*A New Project...*~

for my DH!

Hello Dear Friends! Well, it seems the boat restoration from last week has spurred another idea for my darling... a minimax hydroplane! So, while I spent most of the weekend in the basement printing, sorting, and packing pattern orders... he spent his time in the garage.

He bought a couple old motors from a guy down the road...



He hopes to get them both working, but ~ so far ~ is only building one boat. Hmmmm... wonder what that means?

This is what he has after a weekend of work...






I get to get something from all his hard work too! I always seem to have a use for sawdust ya know!


Ima and Katie were in the studio, but decided early this summer to go outside. Katie prefers to be in the barn during the day and the garage at night, but Ima has set up home permanently here in the garage. She is such a cute lil' thing!


Tony said he will have this project done in 3 weeks. I'm praying he is safe about taking it out on the water. He has been showing me YouTube videos... and some of them really do look quite dangerous! Oh my darling hubby... he will always have a 'need for speed'!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Monday, July 25, 2011

~*A Stitchers Challenge*~

Good Monday Dear Friends! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Most of mine was spent in the basement printing, sorting, and packing charts to send off to the distributors. Yes, market releases! I will have two patterns to offer you as of August 13th! Spending all the time downstairs didn't really bother me... it was a nice place to escape the dreadful heat! But... I am itchin' to stitch again! And itchin' to enjoy the sunlight gleaming through the studio windows!

Here is something fun I read about this morning...

I have been a member of Samplermakers for awhile now, but shamelessly have not been an active member. I'm making it a personal goal to become more active because I do so LOVE stitchin' and sharing with other stitchers! Here is a fun way for you TOO to be involved...

Jennie Lynn of Appleseedprim is proposing an Autumn Stitcher's Challenge for the members of Samplermakers. It sounds exciting, but you must be a Samplermakers member to be a part of the fun.

Samplermakers is a wonderful group created by Lori Brechlin from Notforgotten Farm. If you're not a member yet but are interested in joining contact Lori at not4got@aol.com. It's a remarkable community of stitchers.

Pop on over to Jennie Lynn's blog to read more about the challenge... or email Lori to become a member. You will be happy you did!

Wishing you warm sunny smiles...

Betty

Friday, July 22, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~... and a recipe

Hello Dear Friends! Oh what a day it has been! I've been trying to water the gardens in the morning to beat the heat and prepare the plants well for the hot days. I also try my best to post ~*Friday Finishes*~ in the morning. Today, however, we had to put things on hold for an unexpected doctor's appointment. It seems the kiddo has swimmers ear. Thankfully we were able to get into see the doctor and get some ear drops... so we could get on with our plans for the day... to see Great Grandma, Grandma & Grandpa, and dear Aunt LaVon. After arriving home... I spent a good 45 minutes trying to get the wilted blooms watered... and now I can gladly share these wonderful stitches with you...

These girls are quick & have taken full advantage of the comforting AC... to stay in and STITCH! These two girls have done a most beautiful job stitching up the latest freebie...~*Sunflowers N' Crows*~

From Ranae

Ranae stitched with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads
Brandy, Mulberry, Burnt Orange, Avocado, Apple Cider, Garden Gate and Black Crow
on scrap piece 40ct linen that she coffee dyed before making the pin pillow filled with walnut chips. Oh so lovely!

Pat's is just as equally lovely!

Pat used a piece of fabric that she ordered from a cross stitch magazine. It is 14 count marble Aida. She chose Weeks Chestnut and Curry threads, Gentle Arts Endive, and DMC 3021 and 310... and also used a few black seed beads and a large button from an old button jar.

There has been an incredible response of "Thanks" for this freebie... and I would like to tell you all..."You are most welcome!"

I would like to share something else with you today...


I did some baking last night... even though we have been suffering with triple digit temperatures for over a week now... at least! This was well worth heating up the kitchen for!

This is Zucchini Pie! Have you ever heard of it? I hadn't... and guess I should tell you now that I only ate one small bite. I know it is good though because my DH Tony, Mom, StepDad, and Sister have all told me so. Well, that one small bite I had was really good & I only didn't have more because I try very VERY VERY hard to stick to my diet. Well, that and I also made Zucchini Bread last night that I had a few more nibbles of.

This recipe if from a church cookbook my dear friend, Marianne, gifted me with a few years ago. Our zucchini is doing very well & the kitchen counter was getting full up... so I was intrigued & wanted to give this a try. The title of the recipe does read...(tastes like apple)... so why not?

It really does taste like apple pie! I didn't share with my taste testers that is was zucchini until after they had their helpings & they were all amazed.

Zucchini Pie (tastes like apple)

1 double crust 9 inch pastry
4 c. zucchini, cut into 1/8 inch slices
3/4 c. sugar
2 Tbsp.Minute tapioca
4 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line pie pan with pastry. Combine remaining ingredients except butter. Pour into pie shell and dot with butter. Put on top crust and cut slits in it. Brush with milk and sprinkle a little sugar on top. Bake at 400 degree oven for 55 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 10 minutes longer. (I didn't bake mine quite this long... just watch for when your crust is golden brown.)

Trust me... you will LOVE it! The crusts of the two I baked had a nice caramel bottom. I even cheated & used store bought crust.

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Monday, July 18, 2011

~*It Is TOO Hot To Do Anything!*~

But STITCH!

Hello Dear Friends! Because it is too hot outside... stay inside & stitch! Here is a little freebie to get you started!

~*Sunflowers N' Crows*~ Freebie

©primitivebettys 2011

Stitch count ~ 65 x 42

Feel free to use fibers of your choice. Please remember too that I love to see & share those finishes. Send them to me via email & I will post them here for ~*Friday Finishes*~.

Enjoy~

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Sunday, July 17, 2011

~*Fulfilling A Promise*~

Hello Dear Friends! I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! We have been having a most wonderful one... HOT, but truly wonderful... with a family gathering & BBQ last night... and today... making good and fulfilling a promise to my dear Dad.

Dad passed away almost three years ago. I miss him every day, but always feel him close... today especially. Dad had this old boat in his pasture. It is actually a boat that I had purchased about 15 years ago for only $200... which actually may have been more than it was worth. I gave it to him... hoping he would fix it & have fun with it. Dad tinkered with the motor some and he did take it out a couple of times on Lake Tenkiller ~ a beautiful lake near where he lived in Oklahoma. But... the boat didn't have any seats. They were long, rotted and removed... only having been replaced by a flimsy, plywood bench from an earlier owner. The floor was also rotting. At least it would stay dry inside ~ it would float.... but needed a lot of repair. He was able to get the motor started, but it wouldn't stay running. He didn't have time to work on it much before he became ill.

It is a 1962 Starcraft... I always thought it was CUTE... and could be fun if it worked and was cleaned up.

Before he passed...Dad gave the boat back... but requested that my husband fix it up and take his lil' Tom (what Dad called Trinity) fishing. Tony promised he would.

A little while ago, Tony thought it was time to make good on that promise... so he began restoration. The boat had just been sitting out in our backyard... and the kids did enjoy it by playing 'pirates' and catching sharks from it... but a promise is a promise. Tony pulled it into the garage & set out on the restoration. He struggled with the motor and cleaned and cleaned. The motor that was with the boat turned into a challenge because he was unable to find parts. So... at the recent city~wide garage sale, he bought a second boat for just a little money. This second boat had a motor that the seller said worked... but after Tony brought it home, he found it was almost dangerous to ever try to take it out on the water. It too had a lot of rotting wood, but this rot was on the body of the boat. So... he salvaged the 'good' from the second boat & used it on the first boat.

Today, we took it for a short 'test'... and and what fun it was!!!

See... isn't it CUTE?
Trinity helped by being the shipmate...
The inside, while nothing fancy... is now clean & usable...
Trinity was a good listener & even got drive when it was out on the water...
The motor from the second boat was made in 1967... and worked like a charm today! Tony did take it all apart & made some repairs on it too.
My Dad has to be looking down from Heaven right about now... and I'll bet he is smiling as big as Trinity is!


We weren't out for too long today because it is brutally hot... but the kiddo & I did throw our poles in the water. He won the fishing awards for the day... with the First Fish, Biggest Fish, and Most Fish.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Friday, July 15, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~... growing garden blooms

Well... they are garden finishes... kinda sorta...

Hello Dear Friends! I hope you are staying cool & comfortable in your neck of the woods. We are HOT & HUMID here. Right now, as I type it is 101 fuming degrees. I did manage to water today, but had to drop in the pool afterward to cool off. I also managed to take the camera out to snap a few photos... since I don't have any ~*Friday Finishes*~ to share with you.

Now... I haven't had a lot of time to pull weeds... so don't look at the weedy parts... okay? :) Promise you won't?

Some pretty lilies...

4 O'clocks with some Morning Glory vining around... it isn't late enough in the day for them to open just yet...
some Zinnia...
Marigolds that reseeded themselves from last year...
This old thing is fully reseeded from years past. It is such a mix of blooms too. Maybe it isn't the most appealing... but it is free to bloom how it wishes... with Marigolds, Snapdragons, Delphinium, 4 O'clocks, and Verbena...
A stray Morning Glory popped up inside the greenhouse/potting shed (which is still in the process of repair. When Tony has it finished, I will share it.)
YIKES! Another snake hole! The garden snakes & black snakes really don't bother me too much. I don't plan on ever picking one up, but they are free to munch on the mice & keep their population down. When I see them slithering in the yard, I just turn & walk the other way... and expect them to do the same.
Tommy is loafing under the studio porch...
O.C. (Oreo Cookie) is chilling in the air conditioned garage...
So is Ima...
Trinity & a friend were swimming earlier... but are now playing tennis in the cool basement. (The painting on the wall was here when we moved in. I just don't have the heart to paint over it. It is a piece of Folk Art.

Because I need to be near the boys as they play, I have a work station set up in the living room. Guess I'll head there now for some stitching... I have lots to get done to meet those market deadlines!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

~*My Frame Is Here*~

Hello Dear Friends! I was so happy when the frame shop called me this afternoon! I rushed right in to pick up my frame. This one is for the first school girl sampler. I wanted something simple, rustic, primitive, and old looking... so I went with old barn-wood. Now to get the sampler popped in place!

Sarah had to check it out when I set it on the floor to snap a picture. ... please don't look too close at my carpet... it desperately needs a good vacuuming.

The first sampler in the school girl series will have three models... all slightly different... if all goes well. Two are stitched... and one is about 1/2 stitched. The stitch I shared with you yesterday is also almost ready for finishing. Hopefully these call all get done in time to send market info to my distributors... and then mailed to one to display at market.

I'm going to keep chugging away... and do my best to meet the deadlines!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

(guess I should pull the vacuum out tomorrow too)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

~*What Do I Do During ... *~


What do I do during basketball camp and Tae Kwon Do class?

Stitch - of course!

I am working on a design charted last night. This SHOULD be one of two patterns released at Market next month. Sadly, I stopped by the frame shop to pick up the frame for the school girl sampler... and it wasn't in yet. I stressed the urgency of it. So hopefully they listened.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Monday, July 11, 2011

~*Inspirations For Stitchin'*~

Hello Dear Friends! After getting home from basket ball camp with the kiddo today... and before fixing something for supper... I dared the sweltering heat for a few minutes looking for inspirations for stitchin'...


I have many blooms popping... but my Black~Eyed Susan's are so cheery!

Maybe they will inspire an idea?

Or maybe stepping into the air conditioned studio to look through pieces of linen will do it?


Or maybe picking a piece of linen, some pretty flosses, and a fat quarter of calico will do it?


So... will I begin stitchin' and make up the pattern as I go? Or hang out at the computer to work something up before beginning? Time will tell. But I do know for sure... that it is too hot to be outside for very long.

I hope you are all staying cool, comfortable, and safe. Our part of the Midwest is under an excessive heat warning. It isn't safe to be out there for long.


Wishing you warm... maybe I should say COOL... smiles...

Betty

Friday, July 8, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~... sort of

Hello Dear Friends! Happy Friday!

I do not have any new finishes to share with you. The only piece I was able to get done this week was the box for Marianne... that you can see in an earlier post. However, today I have been working like a crazy woman taking photographs and listing ditties in my Etsy shoppe... at very LOW prices! This is something I have been meaning to do for ages... but am just now finally getting around to it.

So far, I have cross stitch and needlepunches pieces listed. Hooked and Oxford punched rugs are sitting next to me still awaiting the listings... it is time for me to take a quick lunch break before they get done.

Here are groups of what I have to offer...




Please keep checking my shoppe too... I will be listing and listing! And, like I said, at LOW prices!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty