Boxwood & Berries Gathering

What an incredible, wonderful weekend! Spring Green, Wisconsin is located in Central Southern Wisconsin in a lovely valley. The Wisconsin River runs through it. Spring Green is home to Taliesin, home of Frank Lloyd Wright and his school. The autumn colors were at their peak and it was lovely to behold.

Spring Green is also home to my absolute favorite quilt/cross stitch/wool/home decor shop - Country Sampler. The Second Story is where our classes were held and where I stayed with five other kindred spirits. Four days and three nights spent working on fantastic projects created by two extremely talented designers. What more could a person ask for? Great food and shopping? we had that too :) Jeanne, owner of Country Sampler, thinks of every detail including an inspiring trunk show.

It was delightful to hear Maggie describe the inspiration for her projects.

Our projects for the gathering were just incredible. We started with Maggie Bonanomi's 1835 Bed cover - the largest project that I have ever attempted. It will definitely take me quite some time to complete. This is in Maggie's stellar first book - "With these hands". Maggie's second project was also from her book - a reproduction puzzle ball. (It's on the far right.) I have always wanted an antique one, but couldn't afford the ones that I found. I'm so thrilled to create my own. This is also in progress, but not completed... yet.

Stacy Nash also brought phenomenal projects - an exclusive Country Sampler 1883 Sewing Roll, matching peacock pinkeep and a surprise companion peacock scissor pouch. (Isn't her little sewing box sweet as well?) It was so fun to see her aging and distressing techniques in person. We all learned so much!The best surprise was Stacy's debut book - A Simply Early Christmas.

Wow! I'm going to be busy trying to make all my favorite pieces from Maggie and Stacys' books!

Each and every person at the gathering was so caring and fun. The fellowship of kindred spirits from across the states was uplifting. Thank you Jeanne, Maggie, Stacy and all the ladies for such an inspirational gathering.

All I can say is WOW! Can you tell that I am still on cloud nine?

"Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." -Romans 14:19

"Trust in the Lord forever, for in Lord God you have an everlasting rock." - Isaiah 26:4

Blessings, Patti

I'm ready! (well, almost...)

It's time for my favorite creative function of the year!

The Boxwood & Berries Gathering at my absolute favorite store Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

I am literally running out the door as soon as I post this. I feel a little guilty and selfish as this is all for me. (I'm sure my husband and the boys will be fine without me, but still...) I go alone and do what I want to do when I want to do it. I enjoy my trips with my family and girlfriends, but here since I am alone I get to meet new friends.

The teachers this year are Maggie Bonanomi of Butternut House and Stacy Nash of Stacy Nash Primitives. It's going to be awesome!

I finished this make-do from Maggie's newest pattern so I can use it in class:

And I finished this pinkeep from a Stacy Nash pattern:

I had hoped to finish this scissor fob from The Prairie Schooler, but it didn't quite happen. Too bad someone else isn't driving, then I could finish it!

I'll be sharing lots of stories and pictures when I return!

Blessings, Patti

A TDIPT Swap

I just participated in my very first swap ever. The TDIPT artists had a secret swap. You are assigned another artist to make a hand-crafted item for and to put together a little gift box. This was a trick-or-treat swap with an autumn theme. It was so much fun. No one knew who anyone else had except for the organizer. I was a little nervous since I had never done this before, but it was a lot of fun.

I received my swap box from Carol Roll of Nostalgic Folk Art. Wow! I hit the jackpot! When I saw Carol's return address on the box, I started to hyperventilate! I've wanted one of her pieces for a long time and stroll through her website on a regular basis. Carol was so generous - and each and every item is so special. Did you see the antique wooden blocks that spell out my name and the wonderful antique tin?! You don't see the delicious dark chocolate candy that I ate before I could take a photo. When I saw the piece that she had made, I couldn't believe it. If I could have had my choice of any item on her website, this is the one that I would have chosen! And now she is all mine! (Carol even inscribed the piece to me on the bottom, making it even more special!) You must see a close-up of her sweet face: I'm so lucky that I didn't receive just one handmade, but two! Did you notice the great primitive ornament in the photo too? Be sure to see Carol's "Moonlight Outing" on TDIPT - isn't it something?!

My package was for Diane of Tallowberry Primitives.

I had so much fun putting her package together. Here's what it looked like when she opened the shipping box: And this is what was inside:

Wishing each of you a week filled with unexpected blessings, Patti

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