Tuesday, January 31, 2012

~*Early Work Mercantile*~

Hello Dear Friends! My page on Early Work Mercantile is now updated! :-)

Let me just say... I wasn't sure (once again) that I was going to make it on time. Life just seems to take so many different directions... and is so ever changing! For example... my boss asked me Saturday to work on Sunday. That wasn't a problem at all, I was happy to do it... but it wasn't planned. Crafting was planned! Monday was errand day with my dear husband. We don't always have 'date time'... but spending time with him running errands is enough sometimes. Well, our errand time somehow lead us to truck shopping... and then truck buying. Yes, I have a new truck! Well... new to me anyway. It is a 10 year old F150... but I am more than thrilled to have it! Anyway... all the interruptions to my crafty time meant I had to really focus this evening to get things done. And... I'm happy to report... I met the deadline.

Here are the offerings for this month...

...a couple of prim, pillow tucks...
... Eliza Doyle (prairie bottle doll)...
... and my hickety~pickety heart rug...

I would be honored if you would visit my update page... and while you are there, be sure to see the other offerings from the fine artisans. You will be delighted, I'm sure!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Friday, January 27, 2012

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends! TGIF! It seems like it has been so long since I last was able to share some ~*Friday Finishes*~ with you... and for that I apologize. However, today I do have some wonderful creations to share!

Enjoy!

Stitched by Theresa... ~*Young Girl Sampler*~ freebie pattern

She used 28 count linen with variegated DMC threads... then gave it a nice coffee wash. She made this as a gift for a friend... and used her friend's name. She also added the heart. Lovely!

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Stitched by Lori... ~*Friend Freebie*~

Lori has updated her picture trail this past week with many delightfully prim goodies offered for sale. This sampler is one of her latest offerings. CLICK HERE to go see all her beautiful offerings.

Lori added a little to the design... which is always great with me. I just love it!

Both pieces are beauties and I am so happy to be able to share them with you. Friends, please send me your finishes too so I may post them up on ~*Friday Finishes*~ for all to see!

Thesesa & Lori, thank you for stitching and sharing!

Wishing you all warm smiles... and a great weekend...

Betty

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

~*More Fun News... and dolly progress...*~

Hello Dear Friends! Today is my final day off before beginning my work week (if three days of work is considered a week). I have been crafting like a mad woman during my days off... and so happy to be doing it!

Before I share my dolly progress... I have more fun news for you! I will be an artist at Primitive Handmades Mercantile! I'm so excited about all the recent crafty news/changes/opportunities... and this is no exception! I'm thrilled to be offered a spot with the artists on this site. Each and every one of them is top~notch!

The updates for this site are held on the 3rd Friday of each month. I haven't had a chance to set~up my page just yet, but will be personalizing it soon. I will be updating with the rest of the girls on Febrary 17th... swing by now though and take a look around. You will be delighted with the works up for offering.

A special thank you to Robin for asking me! <3

Early Work Mercanitle updates next week... February 1st to be exact. These dollies are still works in progress... but will be available when finished for my update... along with a few other things I hope to get finished...

Please meet Eliza Doyle... she may be putting some earrings on before she visits the Mercantile...
and please also have the pleasure of meeting Mabel Ann Suffolk. She may have to rethink her exceptionally large broach. It seems a little much... don't ya think?
Here is Eliza's purse. It and Mabel Ann are currently sitting out by the wood stove to dry.
Mabel Ann may also have her purse with her when she goes to the Mercantile. After all, how can a girl shop without her purse to carry her coins?

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

~*Following My Muse... and something exciting!*~

Hello My Dear Friends! I'm still in the middle of my four days off... and have been finding lots to enjoy... and have been following my muse...

still hooking... and using up (or trying to anyway) all those scrappy worms...
There are two patterns drawn on one piece of linen. I hook on these in the evenings when I'm not able to work next door in the studio... comfortably plopped on the sofa.
I haven't bound the two rugs from the previous post yet. I get sidetracked easily with my crafting. The other night I was suffering from insomnia AGAIN... and could not get this doll idea crafted up quickly enough! The body of the doll is a recycled soda pop bottle. I've been working on her more since I snapped the photograph... and she is almost complete now... and will probably be an offering on Early Work Mercantile for the February 1st update...

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Now for the EXCITING new!

I wasn't sure I could share this yet... but I see it has already been announce... so I wanna tell ya
here too!

There is a new Girl's Club... “PRIM SISTERS“!

I am so honored to be a part of this along with Notforgotten Farm and Pineberry Lane! We will be offering up six designs over the next year exclusive for the club. Each designer will have 2 patterns for the club... and they will be released to the Girl's Club members only. This is all being put together by Jeanne of Country Sampler. I can barely contain my excitement over this new opportunity!!!

Thank you , Jeanne, for including me! I am so looking forward to working with you. <3

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Well... I better get back to 'work'... so much crafting to be done!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Sunday, January 22, 2012

~*Hooking*~

Hello Dear Friends! I know... I have been so quiet & not posting as often as I should (or as often as I would like to anyway). I'm so sorry for that.

This past week I did manage to do some hooking though... wanna see?
These rugs are both on one piece of linen... and I am sticking to my goal of using ONLY the worms from my shoe boxes (see earlier post). These worms are all different cut sizes... and all different kinds of wool (the good, the bad, and the ugly!)... but I am using them and them only. I figure the rugs are scrappy ~ so why not use it up!?! Plus... the more olde, primitive, and grungy... the better!
I hooked the "Wool" rug keeping the loops all pretty close to the same height & direction... but the "Two Hearts" rug is hickety~pickety... all different heights & directions. Why, you may be asking? Well... simply 'cause I wanted to. I like hickety~pickety! I like that it is not the 'norm'... and I love the olde, unskilled look of it.
Tomorrow I hope to press both rugs and bind the edges. I'm thinking of trying a crochet edging on them. I've never attempted it before... but am looking forward my attempt. Have any of you done it?

My next rug project... or one of my next... is this challenge rug...
This challenge rug is from the online group An American Primitive Gathering (AAPG)... lead by Kelley. It is a quarterly challenge ~ so I have 3 months to get it done. Here is the antique version of the rug...
So far I have only gotten the pattern drawn on linen... and gathered up a pile of wools. I have more darks, but am thinking the others could be used for the design elements.
Work has been slowing down... and my boss decided to only have me come in three days a week for now until things pick back up. I have so many crafty things I want to get done ~ I am looking at the cut back as a positive. Now I have more time to create!

And right now... I'm going to go do just that!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

~*A Little Bit of Everything*~

Hello Dear Friends! Yup... this post is a little bit of everything... and I'm going to start by sharing my new FAVORITE song with you...
"A Little Bit of Everything" by Dawes

Oh my goodness... I love this song so much I had to buy the CD! And... if you know me very well, you know that I'm not one to buy music for myself. My husband on the other hand... has what seems like millions of CDs & albums. Well... I guess I will admit, I did buy myself a couple of Peter Frampton CDs after seeing him in concert last summer (I love him!)... so now my music collection consists of those 3 CDs. ha ha ha... I have come a long way from my Madonna years... back in high school! And... because my husband has so much music, I have figured out how to put it on my MP3 player... and I do have a large collection stored there for my walking. So, I guess I am getting more musical! Anyway... listen to the song if you get a chance... it is truly a goodie!

Today is Day 3 of my weekend... tomorrow is back to work. I wish I could tell you or show you more crafty goodies... but I don't have too many to share. Although I have been stitching and hooking...

using up some of my red worms...
and have plans to get more hooked...
my latest freebie is almost stitched up... just the center of the flowers left... then some finishing...

Tomorrow is my dear husband's 50th birthday. We had a semi~surprise (because it is tough to pull one over on him... he kind of knew what was going on) birthday party on Saturday night. Much of our family met up at our local FAVORITE burger joint...Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers... for supper & cake. Afterwards, many of us went to the bowling alley to knock down a few pins... or try to anyway. It was a fun night! Doesn't he look like one handsome, happy fella?

The manager at Freddy's hung black balloons and wrote 'Happy Birthday' on his cake. There was a large crowd of us there... and we got lots of looks from the other diners. Too cute! Oh, and before we left Freddy's, we gathered up all the balloons, trimmed the ribbons short, and had a balloon launch in the parking lot! This was my MILs idea... and it was so memorable!

Happy Birthday to you Tony! I love you!

For his birthday present, I bought him an rc car and another CD for his huge collection. :-)

Well... the day is passing by... I better get back to that needle & hook before it is too late.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Friday, January 13, 2012

~*Friday... no finishes, but...*~

How about a new freebie?

Hello Dear Friends! I don't have any finishes to share today... mine or from others... but I did chart up a simple freebie to give...

~*Friend Freebie*~

©primitivebettys 2012

70 by 38 stitches

This one is a simple & quick one! Don't you think it would be charming to work this one up for a dear friend? Say for maybe a Valentine's treat?

Enjoy! And remember... I love to see & share finishes! Email them to me... won't ya please?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend full of warm smiles...

Betty

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

~*And The Winner Is....*~

Good Evening my Dear Friends!

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the tremendous turnout with my recent giveaway. It has been such a pleasure to see so many comments and to read the praise so many have given. Thank you!

Now without further delay... the giveaway winner is... DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

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Victoria M! :-)

Victoria, I have tried to email you... without any success. Please contact me so I can get your mailing address and pattern choices. You get to pick three!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

~*Today's Chore*~

*** To organize my wormy mess! ***
Hello Dear Friends! I hope your day has been pleasant. I thought I would share some of my 'bad side' with you. This pile of worms has been growing for the past several years (about six years actually). The worms multiply quickly when not looking! I have taken the time to sort them by color groups in the past... only to throw them all in a vintage, wooden laundry basket... and let them continue to pile up again.

Today though... I have a goal & am striving to "make do or do without"!

I went down in the basement to gather up my growing assortment of shoe boxes (apparently they multiply when not looking too!)... and sort them again. I'm not being too picky about being 'exact'... but neutrals with neutrals, reds with reds, oranges with oranges, etc. etc. etc. After about an hour and a half... I have about half of the pile sorted...
My shoe boxes are getting full! I need more boxes... or should have bought boots so the boxes are bigger... or maybe I need bigger feet... those would be bigger boxes! Oh well...

I'm nearing the end of my chore and I have a plan. I drew up a couple simple rugs... and am only going to work from these worms to hook them. I'm not allowed to cut any wool for these two rugs... and probably about a dozen others - an estimate I see from looking at the piles!

Yes, I still have wool piled on the table in my studio (I showed you that in an earlier post)... but it remains uncut and is waiting patiently to be used on the challenge rug... that is also drawn out.

Oh heck... I have 4 rugs (maybe more?) on my list, at least 4 cross stitches begun... and who knows what else!!! And... tomorrow starts my work week again. **sigh**

Well, I am feeling better and I do hope to work on my '15 minutes of crafting a day' goal... so my projects are ready for me when I am!!!

On that note... I have crafting to do!

*** Don't forget! The Giveaway ends tomorrow evening at 8pm CST! ***

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Monday, January 9, 2012

~*New Pattern TEASE*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Yes, this is a TEASE and I'm sorry for being so ornery... but sometimes I just can't help it. (I took the picture while still in the works... and then played around with the alteration tools in my photo program.)

Here it is... (ya, I know you can just barely see it... but I can't show it all just yet.)

With any luck... I will have this one finished and worked into a pattern for the February needlework market... TNNA.

Can you see what it is?

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How about a primitive bell pull?

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Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

P.S. Don't forget to sign up on my Giveaway if you haven't done so already. SMILES!!


Sunday, January 8, 2012

~*My New Old Rug*~

Hello Dear Friends! I want to first of all say THANK YOU for the huge response to my giveaway! It is still going on & if you have not signed up, you still have time. Be sure to do so on the Giveaway post before Wednesday, January 11th by 8pm CST.

I've had a tough week... suffering with a stinky cold. Because of that, I have not kept up with my goal of crafting on something for 15 minutes a day. Hopefully this will change as I begin to feel better. My cold didn't keep me from working... I refused to call in sick to work. I just felt extremely sluggish by days end... and completely worn out. However, I didn't let it stop me from visiting the First Friday Art Walk in downtown North Topeka with my dear mom on Friday evening!

The NOTO district of downtown North Topeka is marvelous! It is growing in popularity and is so much fun to visit for the monthly event! If you are ever in the area, I urge you to visit.

There is an antique shop there that is only open for the art walk and the Saturday following. It is appropriately named Two Days. The vendors in the shop keep their prices low... and if an item hasn't sold for the first showing... it is marked down at the next month... and even at the following month if it is still there. Well, I have eyeballed this rug for 3 months in a row... and broke down Friday evening and bought it. I picked it up for only $38. No, it isn't a perfect rug by any shape or means... but I love it. I love the raveling edges and the sorta bright & oddly placed colors. Plus, I think the shape is very interesting. It is a large rug too... about 3 by 5 feet.

I wanted it to put in my studio... and that is where it now is...








Maybe I'm silly... but I love the rug!

Today it the first day of my weekend... the house has been cleaned... and the projects are brewing. I have a new cross stitch pattern charted, my blackwork sampler has been stitched and now needs framed or sewn into something... and I have a new rug for a challenge drawn up... with wool gathered waiting to be cut...



What to do... what to do?

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

~*Giveaway Time*~

Hello & Happy New Year! I'm so excited that this is my first post of the new year! It is ~*Giveaway Time*~!!!

This is what I have created... and I am going to give it to one of you!
A simple, prim... pin box.
Recently on a visit to a near by antique store, I found this small wooden box. I immediately picked it up & knew I had to do something to it! Yes, I have several 'had to have' boxes in my collection... but this one seemed extra special.
The box is about 4 by 4 by 2 inches... a dark wood... and simple in construction.
I lined the inside of the box with a padded cotton~linen bottom... and sewed up a simple, removable pin pillow. The material used for the pillow is a reproduction, Civil War fabric. I filled the pillow lightly with sawdust... and trimmed the pillow edge with chenille. and for extra measure... poked a few vintage straight pins in it.
I have singed, lightly, my name on the underside of the box... with the year x2012. Hmmm... my very first finish of the New Year!
The box has a nice construction. It is sturdy and stylish.

The cross stitch on the box top has been stitched by me... and is an original, one of a kind stitch. I used cotton floss on linen... and created the design as I worked. I am not going to offer this as a pattern. It is a one time creation... just for one of you.

And there is more... the Giveaway also includes your choice of THREE of my ~*primitivebettys*~ cross stitch patterns! The winner will get to choose from my pattern offerings... you can see them all in my Etsy shoppe... Click Here

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All you need to do to enter for your chance to win... is leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY... before Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by 8pm CST. Everyone is eligible to enter... friends in the US or other countries. I will mail international if the lucky winner lives outside the US. You do not have to be a follower of my blog... but are more than welcome to be. I will use a random number generator to select the winner. Simple? Yes, I hope it is.

I do want to thank all of you for reading, following, and commenting on my blog. Lately I have noticed an increase in the number of visitors... and I'm overwhelmed with joy. You may find it funny too, but I almost have stage~fright when I see so many swing by.

My sincere thank you to you all! Now... sign up... and I will select a winner next Wednesday!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty