The Primitive Gathering

The Primitive Gathering is a wonderful website that I have been actively shopping on for over a year. All the talented folk artists there are so inspiring and have lovely blogs as well. I am so blessed to be the guest artist on Primitive Gatherings for the month of October. To be honest, I'm a little nervous to show my creations next to such talented artists, but they all are so kind. Sweet Annee, aka Deena Warner, did a lovely job on my page and I just can't thank her enough. Click here to take a peek.

I also need to credit folk artist, Maggie Bonanomi. She created the incredible patterns that these pumpkins and acorns are based on.

Maggie has an incredible new book out called "With these hands".

TDIPT Mercantile has also updated today with lots of lovely fall follies.

Take a peek as you might find something that you can't live without.

I'm so happy to share my TDIPT space with my sister-in-law, Joy of Joyfully Yours this month.

I love her wooden pumpkins. Last year I filled my old dry sink with them and sprinkled orange led lights and brown craft paper around them. (I had to recreate the sweet vignette that I saw at Joy's house ;-) I don't think that she minded.) As soon as I put out my fall decorations, I will share a photo with you.

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." -George Eliot

Wishing you crisp sunny autumn days.

Blessings, Patti

Wonderful Weekend

Joy and I had a wonderful time at the Folk Art Show. It is always so inspiring and makes we want to go right home and create! I did manage to make a few purchases:

Do you ever see someone carrying a purchase at a show and think, "I absolutely must have that!" That's what I thought when I saw this great Halloween box with bone handles. I was delighted to see that the artist had more so I could purchase my own. The Great Northwoods Trading Company always comes up with great new items at every show.

I love tramp art, but can't afford the vintage pieces. Lucky for me, Chris Robinson created this great tramp art box.

I've been thinking about this piece since the last show and was so happy that Ginny Henson still had this Distlefink mounted on an antique English pork pie ink well.

As if the day wasn't already perfect, Joy and I took a ride further into the country to Genoa for a little shopping and a scrumptious lunch at Crumpet's Tea Room. Then we stopped at Donna's lovely farm to purchase some raw sheep fleece. When Donna calls, "Sheepy Girls!" they all come running. Each of the "Sheepy Girls" was so unique with great colors and sweet faces. Aren't they sweet?

She had some darling chickens, too.

What a wonderful weekend we had! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend as well!

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day." Ezekiel 34:11-12

Blessings, Patti

Weekend plans

This weekend my sister in law, Joy, and I are going to our favorite folk art show - Country Folk Art Festival in St. Charles, Illinois. Someday we hope to participate in this show, but for now we are going to shop! I know that some of my favorite artists will be there - I just love anticipating what lovely work of art I might find this year...

Some of my past favorite purchases:Angel on church spire by Anthony Costanza

Autumn Thereom painting by Carole Behrer

Velveteen Rabbit by Ginny Henson

Adam & Eve by Chris RobinsonFolk Art Angel by Chris Robinson

I can't wait to share my new purchases with you!

"Put your hands to work, and your hearts to God." -Mother Ann Lee, Shaker sect founder

Shakers believed that making something well was in itself, "an act of prayer." I think all these works are beautiful "acts of prayer".

Wishing you a joyful weekend!
Blessings, Patti

The Party

While our family was camping at Turkey Run, there was an unapproved, unauthorized party at our home.

When we returned, the revelers were still there amid the chaos and mess.

They didn't even bother to look up when we found them trespassing and voilating our home...

We've never had this problem before.

The neighborhood squirrels ate every single kernel of indian corn and every single sunflower seed from our garden - in one single weekend!!! When we left the corn and sunflowers looked wonderful and I was anticipating harvesting it soon. How could they have eaten so much in such a short time?! The squirrels were going to get the indian corn at the end of November after I had enjoyed using it for decorations in my home. The sunflower seeds were to feed the birds for the winter.

If you have any suggestions for next year, I would truly appreciate it. They have never bothered my garden before. Now I'm worried what will happen to my strawberries next June, now that they know I have a smorgasbord in our garden...Last week we began a wonderful new series both in our church service and in our bible study. It's called Three Simple Rules by Reuben P. Job. The three rules are:

1. Do no harm.

2. Do good.

3. Stay in love with God.

So simple, yet so powerful!

"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" -Abe Lincoln

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." -Matthew 5:43-48

Blessings, Patti

Last glimpses of summer

The weekend before last we went camping for the last time this summer. Our youngest son said that this was the way he really wanted to spend his birthday. Unbeknownst to us, my loving husband secretly rented an RV. Our youngest always wanted to do that, but we always tent camped instead. How fun!We traveled to Turkey Run State Park in central Indiana - one of our favorites. We hiked on Trail #3 (another favorite), a very rugged 2 mile trail.We crossed a suspension bridge over Sugar Creek, then wound along the water's edge. We traveled through the beautiful Bear Hollow.It reminded us of hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park in Utah. At the end, you need to climb three ladders to get out of the gorge.After that you climb 144 stairs.I told the boys that I had to get a photo from the top. Actually I needed to catch my breath :)

We also went on a long canoe trip down Sugar Creek. Stopping at beaches along the way.Turkey Run State Park is in Parke County - home of 30 covered bridges.During our canoe trip, we were able to travel under several of them.
It was a wonderful way to spend one last relaxing summer weekend. "Then I will be able to come to you with a happy heart by the will of God, and we can refresh each other. And now may our God, who gives peace, be with you all. Amen." -Romans 15:32-33
Blessings, Patti

News and more news!

I have only been blogging since the beginning of June. I'm technologically challenged and was not even sure if I would be able to do it, but thought I should at least give it a try. Imagine, a mere three weeks later and I received my first award!

Sweet Cookie of Curds & Whey, who creates dolls as sweet as she is, was so kind to honor me with my very first award - The Arte Y Pico Award! Thank you so much Cookie - it means so much to me!

Betty, the talented artist of primitivebettys sent me this Kreativ Blogger award:

LaDonna, who creates incredible papercuttings at http://ladonnawelter.blogspot.com/ honored me with the Primitive Excellence Award:

Jane, the talented rug hooker of Liberty Homestead Rugs awarded me the Primitive Excellence Award as well:I can't tell you how much each of these awards mean to me! Especially when I look at the source. Each of these women are talented folk artists whom I admire. To think that they believe I am award-worthy in such a short time... WoW! It's overwhelming. Thank you so very much! And when I have a few moments, and can figure out the process, I will pass the awards on to other more deserving bloggers.

Now, my other BIG news! I am very excited to announce that I have been invited to appear as a guest artist for the month of October at...

The Primitive Gathering!

Click here to see more http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/

This gathering of some extremely talented primitive folk artists post their creations for sale on the 1st and 15th of every month! I can't (and won't :-) ) tell you how much money I have spent purchasing their incredible works of art! I treasure each and every one of those pieces!I am so very blessed to have an opportunity to appear with them! I better get stitching in order to create some items that can share the stage with their art!

As I mentioned in my first post:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Phillipians 4:13

Blessings, Patti

9/11 Patriot Day

The anniversary of this day always has such an impact on me. The memories come flooding back…
The confusing first reports.
The horror as we heard more.
The rush of people in the train station from the evacuation of the Sears Tower. All trying to leave the city as I was trying to get in.
The evacuation of the Wrigley Building where I work.
The eerie silence of the city, when I finally felt brave enough to leave.
Listening late at night with my husband to the incredible silence. All planes were grounded. Living close to O’Hare all our lives we had never heard such silence at home.
Even more scary, the occasional loud rush of a military jet shrieking by.

Even now, when I see a very low plane or hear an extra loud one, I gasp. During our visit to NYC a few months ago, we visited ground zero. With all the construction, the impact isn’t the same. It was the little things that had the big impact on me, especially visiting St. Paul’s. The memorials there are incredibly moving. http://www.saintpaulschapel.org/The tree that saved St. Paul's:

For our generation, this day will never be the same.

“Deep in my heart I do believe that we shall live in peace someday.” -Anonymous

Blessings, Patti