Still Thankful

"Cornucopia Wool Applique Mat"

design by Maggie Bonanomi

One final autumn finish before I turn my sights towards Christmas...

I wish that autumn lasted longer! I have at least three other autumn designs that were waiting in the wings.

I just have to share my good luck/blessings!

I was oh so fortunate to win not just one, but two giveaways recently!

First, I won this fabulous collection of vintage postage stamps from Joan at "Anything Goes Here" - you can see her blog here and her awesome etsy shop here. I just love her photographs! Thanks Joan! I'm thinking these will be perfect for some type of Valentine crafting...

Next I won a half yard of the most wonderful wool from Wendy at Simple Folk. Stop by her blog here. Wendy has a great online shop for your wool & crafting needs here. I'm a happy customer and won her giveaway by suggesting that she kit Maggie Bonanomi's Tropicals Under Glass from her book, "Nature's Offerings". I'll be watching for it ;)

Well, now that I am moving on to the Christmas holiday season, I've started decorating and had to share the new home I found for the Angel Wings that we made with Maggie Bonanomi at Boxwood & Berries:

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I garbage picked this incredible window from an old Victorian house down the street. I love the monochrome look :) I'll be sharing more decorations, just as soon as we get a little sunshine ~ the better for picture taking!

"Mary said, `I am the Lord's servant. Let it be as you have said.' Then the angel left her."

~Luke 1:38

Blessings, Patti

Ever Thankful

"Let Us Be Truly Thankful"

Heartstring Samplery

I have so much to be thankful for...

God has blessed me with a life more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

I'd love to make a list, but wouldn't even know where to begin and where to end.

"Bountiful Blessings"

Country Rustic Primitives

I'm thankful for all the kindred spirits that I have met through this blog and TDIPT Mercantile.

Life is so much more fun when you are sharing it!

Tuesday night was our United Methodist Women's Circle meeting. Lois served these sweet little acorns with her other treats. I was mesmerized! At 10:30 pm on my way home, I stopped at the grocery store picked up some Nutter Butter Bites, Hershey Kisses (milk & dark) and mini chocolate chips and whipped up a batch to take to Thanksgiving Dinner :)

Wishing you a Heartfelt Thanksgiving with an abundance of blessings!

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."

~Psalm 100

Blessings, Patti

We interrupt Thanksgiving for...

A little holiday magic!

I firmly believe in enjoying each holiday as it comes. I relish Thanksgiving for its calm family time when we truly give thanks. But I did make an exception on Saturday. It began with my sister-in-law's annual Open House Craft Show and Bake Sale.
I love to go early and help her set-up because then I get the first peek at all of her lovely creations!

She empties our her living room & dining room and creates a lovely Holiday Gift Shop.

I think it really helps give ideas on how to display her lovely work in your own home.

Of course, I came home with some lovely items that I can't quite share yet... but maybe one or two might show up in next month's giveaway :)

I couldn't stay all the way til the end, but her home was quickly emptying out with lots of happy customers leaving with bulging bags. It was on to my next festive event...

The 20th Annual Michigan Avenue Festival of Lights Parade!

Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse officially light all of the twinkling white lights that Michigan Avenue has become famous for.

You can watch the lights being turned on block by block.

I enjoy it because it is from the comfort and quiet of the offices where I work. I wouldn't be there if we had to stand in the throngs on the streets as I don't do very well in large crowds. Although it is fascinating to watch all the people from afar.

My youngest son and I took some friends along to share in the fun.

The local television station broadcasts from across the street (see the bright lights & white roof?)so we get to see all of the musical numbers from the back :) This is Mary Mary (in the middle) - the gospel choir and dancers were fantastic.

We now resume our Thanksgiving celebrations and will delay any further mention of Christmas until Friday :)

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Colossians 3:15-16

Blessings, Patti

A Winner & more treasures

Thank you so much to the 43 people who responded to my giveaway and question as to a fair price for my original milk painted trunk! The answers ranged from $45 to $425 with an average of $200. It's rare to find a trunk like this in the Chicago area, but if/when you do I think they are going for about $300. So now would you like to know how much I spent???

Well, when I looked at the price tag I almost hyperventilated when I saw it was $35! I was trying to keep my cool, when the owner approached. She said that she really needed to find a new home for it, so she would let me have it for $10! It was all I could do not to faint on the spot!!! And my husband still thinks that I spent too much! LOL! He really doesn't get it... he loves antiques, but says it just looks like someone took some old wood in the garage and hammered it together to create a box to hold tools. And I say, Exactly! A make do!

Well, the winner of this month's give away is...

Penny of the blog, Little Pen Pen. I just love the dachshund in her blog banner :)

Be sure and check back early next month for my Christmas Give Away! I have plans for it already :)

Recently I picked up another treasure at a local Estate Sale:

Isn't this old wool tongue rug just awesome? I love the four rosebuds on either end - each stitched in a different technique. I wonder if the wools are from men's suits? And the red trim is in wonderful shape. I treasure it knowing all the hours that someone put into it. It was the last day of the estate sale, so instead of the $45 on the price tag, I purchased it for $20 :) Oh how I love a good deal!

And I'll leave you with a picture of my Thanksgiving mantle:

I made a little maple leaf garland and more candle rings. They are about a week old and starting to curl and dry... The best part is they don't need to be packed away, just mulched and recreated next year. The beautiful paper cutting on the left is by Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery. She mentioned on her blog that she is papercutting again and I just can't wait to see!

If you will be in the Bartlett, Illinois area this weekend, my sister-in-law is having her annual craft show and bake sale. (I'm baking my mom's famous melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies as we speak.) Just drop me a note at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com and I will send you the address and directions. The show will be on Saturday, November 19th from 12 - 3, but come early ~ she usually sells out!

"I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving."

~Psalm 69:30

Blessings, Patti

A weekend well spent...

This weekend my sister and I traveled to central Illinois to visit our parents and attend not one, but four fantastic primitive shows!

First we attended Homesteaders on the Prairie where I was so fortunate to meet Ben Ashby & Heath Stiltner of FOLK magazine. I can't say enough about this exciting and innovative new magazine! They are both as kind and patient in person as they appear in the magazine. They had a sweet little booth selling the new Christmas issue (with a 2 page TDIPT Mercantile feature of which I am a part) and items from their new FOLK label private collection.
At Homesteaders, I also had the sweet pleasure of meeting Roberta of Cottonwood Lane Primitives. We've followed each others blogs and it was so special to meet such a lovely person inside and out :) I only wish that we had more time to visit. Be sure to stop by her blog to see lovely photos of the booths at the shows. I was too busy shopping and being overwhelmed with the selection to take photos lol.

It was so fun to see another familiar face! Marsha Albrecht of Kindred Spirits was a roomie of ours in the Second Story at Boxwood & Berries 2010. What a surprise to see her with a stunning booth!

We also attended the Country Spirit show, A Gathering on the Prairie show and A Rural Life show! WoW! It is amazing what you can pack in to 36 hours!

I came home with lots of goodies:

a piece of ticking, 3 pieces of coverlet, the latest issue of FOLK, a Distelfink (bird) by Woodland Primitives (FOLK private label), a framed spencerian calligraphy of two birds and a nest, 5 wonderful engraved sleigh bells, a treen ware needlecase, a notecard of Adam & Eve by Anne Childs, and do you see my treasure next to the needlecase? A lovely leather acorn by Marsha!

I also added to my collection of primitive wood boxes:

A wonderful bluish green box with original paint. The natural wooden box had it's treasure inside...

Covered in early wallpaper, it's a lap desk with lots of compartments, some hidden under panels covered in black silk. The paper is stored in the lid behind a silk covered panel.

The bottom compartment features a flowered label that I think might have been added later...

The green box also has compartments inside.

It was a weekend well spent and even more enjoyable since I spent it with my sister and parents.

Please be sure to stop by TDIPT Mercantile tonight! The 15th of the month artists are updating their offerings and the Open House giveaways are continuing...

And it isn't too late to enter my giveaway on the post below...

Blessings, Patti

A treasure & a giveaway

Earlier this fall, my sister and I went to an antique sale where we both found a treasure.

When I saw this antique trunk with original blue milk paint my heart skipped a beat!

I was in love :)

I brought it home, scrubbed it inside and out and knew just where I wanted to put it.

I love the trim details and the old wrought iron handles.

My husband is an antique collector, but just doesn't get primitives. My boys really don't get it either. But they all relented and let me put it in my place of choice - in front of the couch in the family room. After a day or so they realized it needed a pad on top so they could put their feet up on it. I just happened to have a wonderful patched feedsack gifted from my sister-in-law. So I stuffed it and sewed it up. Voila!

It matches the couch and I am just loving it.

Now I have a question for you...

My husband thinks I over paid for it, so I am wondering what you think is a fair price for my trunk? Please post a comment on this post or send me an email at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Trunk" in the subject line.

Next Wednesday, November 16th, I'll pick a random winner for:

This angel on antique ticking pillow.

On Friday, my sister and I are heading to central Illinois for the primitives shows! I can't wait! If I find lots of goodies, maybe I'll throw in a treasure or two with the pillow ;)

Is anyone else heading to Arthur & Arcola?

Blessings, Patti

You're invited!

This month TDIPT Mercantile is celebrating our annual Holiday Open House & Giveaway!

Click here to see all of the lovely offerings this month.

And click here to see the fabulous giveaways. There are so many ways to get your name in the hat to win one of the lovely handmade prizes.


Our theme this year is "Peace on Earth"
I thought of the most peaceful images that I could to inspire my creations...

... and am sharing a few of my antique textiles in these creations.

And I didn't forget Thanksgiving... there's one final offering to celebrate my favorite holiday!

Wishing you a November filled with thankfulness.

Blessings, Patti Gagliardi