Country Sampler Heart Pinkeep Finish

When this Country Sampler Girls Club Kit arrived in the mail, I was so excited to get started.  

But being me, I just couldn't leave things alone :) I envisioned it in a softer, muted pallete.

I tweaked a color here and a color there and this appeared:

I think it is the winding vine on this design that really got me ;)

The dog somehow morphed into a dachshund (I wonder how that happened? lol)

And a lock and key seemed appropriate and appeared.

I planned to age my piece using Stacy's lovely technique, when I remembered some linen rickrack that I had picked up. I was thrilled when I realized that it matched the linen perfectly!

Then I remembered this love letter fabric that I picked up along the way and thought it would look so sweet on the back.

A hand dyed textured pink wool covers the seam where I turned my heart right side out.

I hope that Stacy doesn't  mind my little tweaks. Her incredible designs always inspire me to stretch my wings just a bit :)

"Respect everyone. Love the community of believers. Reverence God. Honor your ruler."
~1 Peter 2:17

Blessings, Patti 

March Mantle and More...

March is more than half over and I forgot to show you my mantle...

Two of my antique lanterns atop a favorite antique teal green box

A favorite Maggie Bonanomi Country Sampler Club project complete with antique paper

Two Maggie Bonanomi topiaries with my favorite folk art box and a great little mercury glass votive holder

And a Stacy Nash Country Sampler Club project

When March rolls around, I often think of sheep - I think it is the old saying 

"In like a lion and out like a lamb"

(let's hope that it holds true!)

The glare on the glass detracts from the beauty of a piece that I am so blessed to own

Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm created this wonderful paper cutting that she then painted with watercolors. The shading in the sunflowers is gorgeous. 

Maggie Bonanomi daffodils made in a class years ago.

(Can you tell that I am a big fan ;)

Well, I have a question that I am hoping that some of you might be able to help me with...

Our oldest son has decided to change majors and universities.

And so, he and I are off on a whirlwind trip to another part of the country.

We will be visiting Portland, Oregon; Corvallis, Oregon; Denver, Colorado and Fort Collins, Colorado.

We won't have much time, but if you have a favorite place to eat, see or visit, I would love to hear!

( I might be able to squeeze in one quilt, wool, stitchery or antique store if it is really worth the trip ;)

Please do share!

I am trying not to think about this too much as these places are so very far from Chicago, but more than anything, I want my son to be happy :) We leave this weekend and it should be very interesting as I have never been to Oregon or Colorado.

When we get back, it will be time to take March down and decorate for April. Time sure does fly!

Stacy Nash original creations.

The treasure that lies within.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

~Romans 15:13

Blessings, Patti

Perfectly Prim Purchases

I'm so excited to share my purchases from the central Illinois primitive antique shows that I attended.

I may be sick of winter and snow, but I simply couldn't pass up this wonderful single ice skate :)

I will happily pack it away to discover again next winter :)

At one point it was painted silver, which has mostly faded away, but I loved how it adds to the patina.

And who can resist a few pieces of reasonably priced ticking! You can never have too much ticking!

I was so thrilled to find this wonderful tin quilt template!

It was a dangerous weapon to carry through the show as it kept poking holes through the bag. 

My plan is to hang it in a window, but I haven't quite gotten that far yet.

It is a nice size - about a foot across or so. 

This autograph book is not in the best shape as the covers are falling off, but the treasures were inside...

"Carrie" had friends and family sign this book from 1870 - 1890.

She added poignant notes as time passed.

(Note the addition of "deceased" near the binding.)

The hand writing and sentiments are lovely. She also included a few newspaper birth and wedding announcements as well as obituaries next to the applicable signatures.

I'm sure I will share more as I spend some time reading through it... 

And I simply can't attend a show without looking for sewing necessities...

Do you recall the photos from Jacque Bradford's booth?

Well, I found this wonderful velvet carrot emery in her lovely booth.

I also couldn't resist another well aged and used velvet pincushion along with the best patriotic needle case.

Inside is an advertisement for C. D. Kenny Co., a coffee and tea proprietor who arrived in Baltimore in 1872. 

I also couldn't resist this tiny German bunny.

I had to photograph him with the pincushions and emery so that you can see how tiny he is :)

I love his fragile little wooden legs.

I also added two new pieces of folk art to my collection:

An original painting from the phenomenal Anne Child and a tiny pin box by the talented Steve Shelton.

I fell in love with a few of Anne's paintings (actually all of them), but Adam & Eve in Sunflowers won out for the wonderful antique frame. Especially when I realized the frame was from Florence, Italy where my husband and I vacationed many years ago...

You can see photos of Anne's lovely home in Jill Peterson's wonderful book, The Settlement.

 

I was thrilled to see Steve Shelton at the show again as I love the painting that I bought from him at the last show. This tiny little pin box spoke to me - the painting and drawings could pass for an old wallpaper box.

Well, thank you for letting me share my new treasures,

I am enjoying them so!

Is it wrong to say that I can't wait for the November shows? lol!

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness."

~Lamentations 3:21-23

Blessings, Patti

Trying to Believe...

 

On Monday we hit 50 degrees and I was certain that spring was finally on its way.

This morning I woke up to this:

 

Yet another winter storm and now I'm not so sure....

Temps significantly below freezing and another 5 inches of snow.

That brings us to a total of 79 inches for this winter season.

 

 

I will keep repeating my new mantra and then maybe I will begin to believe it again...

"No Winter lasts forever

No Spring skips its turn..."

 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"

~Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

Blessings, Patti

A Bit of Primitive Heaven...

Where does the time go?! I have been back a week and haven't had time to blog about my trip. 

(The 12 hour days at work this week haven't helped ;)

The shows were phenomenal as always. The spring shows are smaller, but I still manage to spend more than my budget lol.  I took a few photos of a few booths to share:

This grouping of needlepoint pictures really caught my eye. The four small pictures represent the four seasons. But alas, none of them went home with me.

I was happy, as always, to see one of my favorite folk artists in Tuscola at "A Rural Life" - Ginny Henson. She has wonderful antiques and most of her creations are made with antique materials. 

I am thrilled to tell you that Ginny has a new website:

ginnyhensonblog.wordpress.com

You can also click here to see some of my past purchases from Ginny.

Although now that I look at it myself, I realize that it isn't pulling up all the blog posts as I didn't label them correctly. You can also click here to see if Ginny has any upcoming shows in your neighborhood.

I get to see Ginny again next month! 

She will be at the Spring Country Folk Art Festival at the Kane County Fairgrounds March 21 - 23, 2014.

I can't wait :)

I also spent a lot of time in the wonderful booth of Jacque Bradford.

Jacque had some truly wonderful antique sewing necessities.

I could have spent my entire budget in this little corner of her booth!

And look at these wonderful silhouettes - be still my heart!

Jacque has a Facebook page and will be at several more shows this year:

Art & Antiques at Osage Farm April 26, 2014 in Charleston, Illinois

Country Antique Market July 12, 2014 in Bishop Hill, Illinois

A Gathering on the Prairie November 8, 2014 in Arthur, Illinois (I will definitely be there!)

So many beautiful treasures and never enough money lol.

Although the photo didn't turn out well due to the glare on the glass, I just had to share :)

Two of my favorite places at once.

I will post again soon with the treasures that I found.

"Listen closely, you who diligently work for justice
and look for the Eternal One, for what is fair and true.
It would be good for you to look back, look to the place from where you came,
the rock out of which you were shaped and the quarry from where you were mined."

~Isaiah 51:1

Blessings, Patti

March Offerings

 

I am sorry for the delay in my offerings this month. My niece and I made a quick trip down to my parents/her grandparents and had a wonderful time! I will be blogging about the great primitive shows that we attended in the coming week. We almost beat a winter storm back and just had to drive through it the last 20 minutes or so… And so winter continues. We received another 4 inches of snow yesterday and today are heading to a high of 18 degrees. My offerings, however, are definitely focused on spring!

 

 

My first offering this month is A Tisket A Tasket Pillow ~ based on a sweet design by Primitive Stitchin’ by Shelly Auen. This cross-stitched piece is backed with an orange and tan checked flannel similar to the green and tan on the front. As with all of my creations, it is completely hand stitched. It measures approximately 5 ½ by 8 1/2 inches and is accented with my favorite rick rack.

~*Sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

 

 

Rabbits and Carrot Pillow is also based on a design by Primitive Stitchin’ by Shelly Auen. I have finished it exactly the same as the Tisket A Tasket pillow and think that they make such sweet companions. As with all of my creations, it is completely hand stitched. It measures approximately 3 ½ by 6 1/2 inches and is accented with a wonderful green rick rack.

~*Sale pending. Thank you ever so much!*~

 

 

My final offering this month are Velvety Carrot Pinkeeps. Made from a selection of hand-dyed and solid velvets, they vary in size from 8 inches to 10 inches in length including the greenery carrot tops. I found some perfect faux greenery for carrot tops on a trip to Ohio a while back. Stuffed with crushed walnut shells, you can manipulate their shapes a bit and it is great for keeping your pins sharp and clean.

~*Sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

 

Here's hoping that milder days are headed our way!

Blessings, Patti

On our way!

In the morning, my niece and I are headed to central Illinois to visit my parents / her grandparents.

In addition, it is primitive show weekend!

I'm not sure if we will make it to all six locations. (I think I might run out of money first.) But tonight I can daydream. What might I find? A neat antique pincushion or a pair of old sewing scissors?

Maybe a piece of stone fruit to add to my collection.

Whatever I find, you know that I will be sharing it here with you.

For those of you that receive my monthly newsletter, it will be a bit late this month. Hopefully it will be ready Sunday or Monday. All of my offerings are started, but not one of them is finished... I simply ran out of time.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

~1 John 3:18

Blessings, Patti