~*Mother Son Re~Do Project*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Last weekend we had the joy of attending a local auction.  Oh... they are always SO MUCH FUN!!!  We won several items and enjoyed spending the day together... my husband, son, and I. 

My husband was wanting (and very much needing) a log splitter.  He won the bid for one Saturday and has already used it to cut bundles of firewood.  He wanted a garden tractor that was there too, but the winning bid for it was more than he wanted to go.  So... back to another auction later to try for another.

I found a few small vintage dishes, and some re~do furniture that I hope to paint up by next weekend... (wish me luck with the clock working to my advantage there!)

My son wanted an old, kinda ugly landscape picture that was in the living room of this home... but, the winning bid for it was more than I told him I would go.  However, he also wanted a bed for his room.  He has only had a mattress set on a metal frame.  Having a headboard & foot-board is much more 'home' looking.  Well... he wanted this one...

 The bed is simple, plain, and probably right out of the 1950s or 1960s... but it only cost us $1!!!!

One brush is mine and one is his... we worked on it together with paint already on hand.  It was fun to spend some quality time together with the kiddo... and work on something just for him!  Something he really wanted and was into!

Once we finished... we didn't waist any time moving it into his room.  We already had the bed coverings and pillows.  My Mom bought these for him when he was only 2 years old.  He has kept them and loved them over the years.  Oh... and we have to have the Minecraft poster over the bed!  Well... I guess it was either that or try again to win another ugly landscape picture as I mentioned earlier in the post.  Ha Ha

What matters most... he loves his room and his space.  I'm sure tonight when he comes home from school, he will fill up the shelves on the headboard with more of his treasures and make it even more 'his' bed.

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My pinkeep that was listed on Ebay didn't sell.  This morning... I did move it over to Etsy if you are interested.

I'm still working to get back in the swing of things... punching, hooking, stitching, painting... and whatever else I can do to keep me out of trouble.  :-)

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*LISTED!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Hold on to your hats!  You won't believe your eyes!  

I have listed on Ebay and Etsy!!!  Yes, it is true!  Please Go Check it out!!!

~*Cat & Mouse*~ Pinkeep is on Ebay CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LISTING!

~*Bluebird*~ Pinkeep is on Etsy  CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY ETSY SHOPPE!

 ~*Bloom*~ Project Pocket Book is on Etsy

 ~*Sheep*~ Pinkeep is on Etsy

 and a few other wares can also be found in my Etsy shoppe!

It feels so good to be back in the swing of things... and I'm hoping/praying this is just a new beginning!  You all know I love to create and share!  

I hope you can pop over to see the finished wares that I have listed.  Thank you for letting me share with you!

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I do hope you all had a loving & blessed Valentine's Day.  Tony gave me a beautiful azalea plant, a box of chocolates, and a heartfelt card.  Then, to my surprise... bought this amazing, antique cupboard on a whim when we visited one of my favorite antique shops... that is sadly, closing its doors next weekend.  We carefully brought it home yesterday and heaved it from the truck into the living room... then I spent the evening loading it with all my white dishes.  Some of my white dishes are Ironstone... some are not... but I love my collection and I love our new cupboard... and you all know I love my dear, sweet Tony!

 I didn't leave the store with only one new piece of furniture yesterday though.  I also nabbed this little pine desk.  It is well used, worn, and primitive... but it will soon be put in my sewing/craft room/studio to hold my sewing machine.  Isn't is just the sweetest little thing?

I love the lines!

It is Sunday evening... and time to fix the family supper... but afterwards... I think I'll grab my Cameo Needlepunch... and punch the night away!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

~*Progress*~

Hello Dear Friends!

It seems I am making progress and getting a few things done!  We are snowbound right now... and that helps!

Lately, I have been spending lots of time just mindlessly crocheting.  I do it in the evenings while watching TV... I do it during basketball practice... I do it during piano lessons.  Honestly, I am getting bored with it... but I still keep doing it.  Who knows why?

Here are another Baker's Dozen of dishcloths/Spa cloths... and another Spa Glove...

 I'm not really sure what I will do with all of these... but I'm thinking they will make GREAT gifts!

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Recently, my dear friend Ginger hosted a giveaway on her blog.  She gave away this wonderful needlepunch kit... that she designed... and sells on her website ~ Prairie Moon Primitives... along with oodles of other great patterns, kits, and yarns!  (She sells on Etsy too... here is her shoppe.)  

Friends... working this kit up was JUST WHAT I NEEDED!  Last night when I punched this piece... and I did it ALL IN ONE EVENING! ... I felt like I was on CLOUD NINE!!!  Ginger, thank you for sharing the kit.  Thank you for the wonderful gift!  I loved working it... and I know I will be punching away this evening too!

 Ginger dyes some awesome threads.  She includes them in her kits.  They are they same thickness as DMC floss... but they are a soft, spiral of wool  (or something that feels like wool).  You should give them a try if you haven't already.

Before I draw up another pattern though... I have a work space set up in our storeroom to slap some paint on my recently aquired junk finds.  *GRIN* 

It is a little cramped in here...

And a little chilly too...

But I'm going to make it work... and make some more finishes.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Friday Finishes & Fun*~

Hello Dear Friends!  I have received a few more finishes... that I am delighted to share with you!  Thank you to AnaCristina and Marie for stitching and sharing your lovely works!  You both did a super fine job!

This one is done by AnaCristina... from one of my freebie patterns.  (Remember, my freebie patterns can be found by clicking the link on the sidebar to the left.)

This one was stitched by Marie.  You may remember from the earlier post that she had done another Jack from the same freebie pattern, but without the word "Halloween".  Both are beautiful finishes!

I have decided I have an ADDICTION to JUNK!  Yes, I have always loved visiting antique stores, auctions, garage sales and the like.  However, I noticed lately that I have been visiting more and more THRIFT STORES.  And YES!  I do work in a consignment shop part time!  It is FUN to get old stuff and clean it up, maybe change it a bit, or just enjoy the THRILL of getting GREAT stuff!  Oh, and I am also guilty of picking up TRASH furniture on the side of the road on trash day.  It isn't a bad thing though!  This addiction is wonderful!

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This morning my Mom and I visited an estate sale.  The photo below is of some of my finds from there... and from other spots this week.  This is only SOME of them though.  I have a bunch that I already found a new home for around the house or in our both.  I just LOVE it!  I love it ALL!

A few old (but not real old) cheese graters

an interesting glass jar

a couple of hyacinth vases

a pretty teapot with yellow blooms

a sweet little ceramic jar made in Italy

a clothes line bag full of old, wood clothes pins

a pottery casserole dish

a metal thing that I think might be the top of and old cake carrier... (I have some re~do plans for that.  I'll try to share it soon.)

and lastly, in this photo... YES, that is a jungle LION picture.  It is actually a puzzle.  I didn't buy it for the cats... I bought it for the frame.  Can you see the pretty corners?  This is a large frame ~ 2 ft. x 3 ft.  I'm going to make it into a chalkboard.  *GRIN*

(One of my stepSon's has put a claim on the puzzle.  He really likes it!)

And these I am sooooo in love with!  I found these organ petal frames recently at a antique store.  They have some beautiful designs in the metal.  I'm trying to decide if I will fill them with a hooked rug or a needlepunch... but am struggling with a design for them.  I don't want anything cutesy.  The piece needs to look like a tradition antique... maybe?  Or... maybe I can get the needle and linen out... and make a couple of samplers for them?

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends!  Oh goodness... it has been ages since I have posted a ~*Friday Finishes*~ post!!!  Well, I'm very happy to share these with you...

This one was lovingly stitched by Terry!  The pattern she used was from my ~*Winter Journal Cover*~ pattern... one of the patterns I did for the Country Sampler Prim Sister Club.  This pattern is not available at this time.  I'm sorry about that.  All my patterns are in a 'Retired' state at this time... except for my Freebie Patterns that I'll discuss later in this post.  Some of my patterns may be taken out of 'Retirement' at some point... but until I can get some things figured out, sorted, planned, cleaned, or whatever... they are unavailable.  

Terry did a beautiful job.  She made a few changes to the design to personalize it... and I think it is just GREAT!  Thank you, Terry, for stitching and sharing!

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This finish is from Marie.  She used my ~*Halloween Freebie 2012*~... part of it anyway.  GRIN She stitched the Jack and he looks just AWESOME!  This finish was done for an exchange she was part of.  Another wonderful finish!  Thank you, Marie, for stitching and sharing!

My Freebie Patterns are available by clicking the link on the left sidebar.  Thank you to all of you for stitching and sharing!

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I have been trying to move some new things into the booth I share with my sweet SIL at ReRun Consignments in Council Grove... this is also where I work two days a week.  It is a great shop!  If you are ever in Council Grove, you should check it out... and have a YUMMY meal at the historic Hays House that is right next door!

I finished this table... and the gobs of Spa Cloths (dish cloths if you prefer!)... and two Spa Gloves to fill our booth...

I like to crochet during basketball practice.  There isn't a lot to tote around... and if I drop a needle, the boys aren't going to get it jabbed into their foot when they are changing shoes.  The pattern I use for my Spa Gloves is a freebie found online.  It is actually for an oven mitt, but I think it sounds better to call it a Spa Glove.  Chuckle Chuckle, huh?  Here is one that is finished...

We sell some Bath & Body products at the store too... so together they do make a nice gift!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Getting In The Grove*~

 Hello Dear Friends!  I'm hooking... but struggling with it.  The bunny head and the wool colors are not working out.  It seems I have reverse~hooked a dozen times!  The wool is too fat, my hooking isn't fitting, or there isn't enough contrast in the wool colors.  Well... I'm not a professional hooker... and I don't 'color plan' before I start.  I just fly by the seat of my pants!  Maybe after giving it some time... and a good night's sleep... it will pull together today!

If you didn't catch it in my earlier post... this bunny pattern is a freebie given by the most~awesome Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.  If you are interested in getting it, it may still be on her blog... or maybe she can hook ya up.  Easter & Spring are getting nearer and nearer!

I have a wonderful work space partially set up in our basement at the new home... but, as you can see, I still can accumulate a huge mess of clutter in the living room!  Oh... the comforts of home...

 I did decide yesterday afternoon to pull out the dyes.  This pile of wool is all a cool, gray.  I wanted it warmer and dirtier~looking.  The two pieces on the left are from Thrift Store finds... a skirt and blazer that I purchased for only $1 each!  The piece on the right is some wool yardage purchased at a hook~in last year.

 I tried to remember how to do this... it has been A LONG TIME SINCE MY DYE POTS HAVE BEEN ON THE STOVE!

 

 Here is the finished wool... much warmer AND DIRTY LOOKING!  I used a Pro~Chem recipe called Knapsack.  (The top two pieces are the Thrift Store wools.)

 I was thinking of using this wool in the bunny rug... and still might use a small amount of it... but now I'm thinking it is too dark for what I already have hooked.  Urrgghhh.... back to the wool stash maybe?

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We are sharing our time with basketball this time of year.  Two practices a week... and now a game every Saturday.  This past Saturday was Trinity's first game of the year.  He hasn't played basketball since the third grade... he is now in sixth.  I was happy to hear he wanted to sign up this year with his new friends at his new school.  The team and coaches are really working well together.  Trinity feels right at home. 

The boys won 32-3.  Goodness!  Way to go!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty