My Project is Done

I told you I wasn't sure if I'd be coffee/tea staining my newest quilt.  Well, after many of you commented on the picture on Facebook saying that I needed to do it I went ahead and did it.  I have to tell you it was very hard to make the decision.  I have no problem staining someone else's quilt, but when I make it I just can't do it. lol.  I'm just weird that way.  But because of the peer pressure I gave in.  Get this I even had to redip it because after the first dip it wasn't dark enough.  And to think I didn't want to stain it at all.

Before I forget I received a wonderful comment and great idea from a reader Jan from Life on Buttermilk Hill about my quilt.  I hope you don't mind me posting this Jan.  I sure would have LOVED to email you back, but I couldn't get your email address.  This is what she wrote:

Hi Mary, You always find the best goodies at thrift stores!! Love your americana pennies--you could also do fabric yo yo's and flip them over--they would be easy to make and look like regular pennies. Next time you are in Mansfield, go a bit farther and go to The Picket Fence in Hartville (on east side of Akron ),the Hartville flea market (HUGE on nice days in summer), and the BIG antique mall on Rt. 76 east of Akron. Steve might enjoy the new Hartville True Value store in Hartville--they are just now opening their newly built HUGE HUGE store--I can't wait to get there because the old store was fabulous!! Have a great day and I hope your headache stays away.-blessings, Jan

Thank you so much Jan I would have never thought of using yo-yo's upside down!!!  Great idea!!!  I LOVE when you all comment and email me with your awesome ideas.  AND of course thank you for the head's up of some great shopping places.

OK here it is with my newly painted Americana boxes.  (The boxes are for sale $30.00 including shipping) 

This is my long week between both jobs,  but I managed to get my special order bonnet and aprons done.  (BTW my sets are $18 including shipping.)  I still need to coffee stain them this afternoon after the clouds move out.

Today I am finishing up odds and ends of projects that of course have been sitting here for some time.  My tax paperwork was done incorrectly, so I got it corrected and had to send out the corrected version today. I painted a frame for my fraktur bird I painted awhile back.  I am staining my resin trencher in hopes of selling it.  I also stained a sign to get ready to sell. I straightened up the sewing room to get ready for the next project.  I have an idea that I want to try, but might need Steve's help.  If it works I'll be doing a tutorial on it.  :-) 

I hope you are having a great week so far.  Mine is looking better.  The bankruptcy paperwork is signed and filed.  In 4-6 weeks I will have to go to court to finalize it then wait for it to be discharged.  This is the last step in severing all ties with my ex-husband with the exception of our son.  I can finally move forward and not keep looking over my shoulder and waiting for the next lawsuit for unpaid bills that aren't my fault. I don't like the fact that I had to this, but I had to protect myself and kids and our financial future by doing it.  If you are considering doing this please look at all your options first.  This was a last resort for me.  OK enough of this let's move forward. :-)

Have a great day weekend everyone.  It is my weekend to work so I'll see you next week :-)

My Newest Project

So what did I do during my time off?  Almost finished up my newest project.  I need to finish sewing the binding on, but this is what I've been working on.  Nothing like almost getting it done at 8pm Sunday night.  I'll take it with me to work this week in hopes of finishing it. 

Don't look too closely because I have batting fuzz everywhere on the blue. lol 

I think I'm going to tea stain MAYBE coffee stain for the full effect on this quilt.

Other than that I went and got some material for one of the bonnet and apron sets I will be making for a customer.  I know I'm a pretty boring gal. lol.  I'm content to sit in my house and craft when the weather is cold and snowy.  It keeps me out of trouble of going to the thrift stores and now the flea market.  There is now another prim booth in the flea market with us.  I bought some goodies from her because they were awesome prices.  Now I better get busy and create some things to sell to finance what I bought. lol.

I better get moving and finish up some laundry since I go back to work tomorrow.  I really need to win the lottery.  This work thing is really cutting into my crafting time. lol

PictureTrail Update, Great Deals, and A Project

I apologize for not posting yesterday like I promised.  My lack of sleep from work and a trip to the attorney's office made for a horrible headache, nausea, and chills.  All I did was come home and sit on the couch.  No headache so far today so I will hopefully get things done.

First, I just wanted to let you know I did manage to get some new pictures up on my PictureTrail.  You can either click HERE or go to my right side bar and click the picture at the top.  Enjoy!!!!

OK, in my last post I said I thought about going to one of my favorite shops because they were having a sale. Sooooo.... because of these.... (my son's shoes lol)  I can't stand things between my toes so I don't own real flip flops.  Do you like my fashion statement socks? lol  There is no way I'm going without socks yet. lol

I got 40% off of these :-)

LOVE this... and if you look close at my PictureTrail update you'll see that it already has a home.

AND...

It will stand on it's end and I'll use it that way.  I need to paint or get different dividers.  They look like a fiberglass component and I'm not too keen on green either.  I believe this is going to be used in my bedroom.  For now it's still in the basement though.

You all know I'm addicted to Pinterest.  I have found some of the best ideas on there believe it or not.  If you are a follower you know I have a board totally for Great Ideas and another one for Craft Ideas.  The project I started on last week I am doing from an idea I got from one of those boards.  I'm kind of in a Americana mode lately so I decided I wanted to make a mini quilt using red, white, and blue.  I also LOVE penny rugs and wanted to incorporate them.  HOWEVER, wool fabric I don't have, so I'm going to try using regular fabric.  These pennies will need to appliqued to the quilt.  Well, due to my inexperience in quilting I've been looking  around for articles on how to do it.  I came across a great idea...

Here is what the penny will look like...

Well fabric alone is very flimsy obviously and I am not going to fold under all those edges and press them so you can't see them.  I am using my used dry sheets.  Yes you heard me... my old dryer sheets that just sit in the trash.  It stiffens them a bit and when sewn on the fabric you are able to turn them right side out and the edges are already turned under :-)  So I am recycling and reusing.

I know it's hard to tell in the picture... but see the edges? 

I'm still working on the design layout of the quilt.  I have an idea, but I know me I'll change my mind a thousand times before it's done. lol.

I realized that after I posted the other day I left a few things out that I got at the thrift store.  So I thought I'd share again before I forget again. lol

I'm always afraid to try new candles since I never know how they will smell when burned.  Of course I don't want to waste my money to find out either.  So I found this Paula Deen candle at the thrift store and thought I'd give it a try.  It is Creme Brulee and this is as long as someone else burnt it for.  I haven't lit it yet, but I think I will today.

I also found this beautiful blackwork stitchery... Can you imagine the time that went into this??? I just can't believe someone didn't want it. :-/

As I said I had to go to the attorney's office yesterday.  I had to turn in all my bankruptcy stuff and will be signing the papers next Wednesday.  I will NEVER do this again!!!! ugggghhh.  Anyway, I had to go to his office in Mansfield OH which is about an hour away from my home.  I decided since I was down there I'd visit a few prim shops.  I went to The Added Touch and Jilly Junction.  Let me tell you I was in heaven at  The Added Touch!!!!  I bought a few things at 75% off.  The brown and blue fabric is a remnant and I haven't opened it yet, but I got it for $4.00!!!! The other red is upholstery fabric I got for $5.00.   I now know if I make more make do chairs I can get upholstery fabric from them in any style I choose.

Then I happened to see a store called Amish Crafts and Antiques.  I had a little time so I went in and found these lovlies...  I know I paid way too much for the mold, BUT I love it!!!  I can't wait to pour some wax in it.  I've also been looking for a folk art eagle to make into a quilt pattern.  I think this will be my inspiration.

I am going to try to work on my quilt this weekend, but I received an order for 2 sets of my apron and bonnets and will do those as well.  Thank you for visiting and I will see you soon my friends.

Year Round Tree and Recent Finds

Things didn't go as planned so I didn't make it to Columbus this weekend to visit some awesome blogger friends.  I was a little disappointed, but since Steve started this new job he has been working 6 days a week.  He forgot he told me he'd take me and when his boss asked if he could work he said yes.  grrrr....  I am planning on going to these awesome prim shops though sometime soon.  All I can say is I saved some money and got to start a new project. :-)  I'm not going to show you yet until I get a little further on it.  However, I'm becoming a tight wad with my money for this project.  Let's just say I'm recycling and reusing :-) I know you're scratching your head right now trying to think of what it could be. lol

First, I thought I'd show you my progress on my year round tree.  I know how to make silicone lights, but I just didn't have time so I bought some from one of my good friends Patti.  She is the owner of Brickhouse Craft Shop in Pa.  I wanted just a glow from my lights so I ordered Antique gold.  Patti mixes in spices and even scents the lights too.  She makes all colors of lights.  She even had some really cute Easter colors.  Anyway, then I added some of my faux redware and yellowware ornies, wood bead garland, pewter ornies, some candles and this is what it looks like so far.  Yes, I know the tree is leaning a little in the picture. lol.  Your eyes aren't going bad. lol.  I have a few more things I want to make for it.

The small redware ornie and star is a reproduction not made by me.

I worked just Friday and Sunday and well you know what I did Saturday, so I didn't get much around the house done.  I'm going to try and finish decorating today and get some more Spring pictures for you to see :-) I realized though that I haven't showed you some goodies I got recently at the flea market and thrift store.

My most recent finds...

The grey box with drawers I found last week at the flea market.  I haven't had a chance to go through it, but it is full of sewing goods and for some weird reason a container of reptile food. lol  It looks so worn and I actually like the glass knobs.

I got these the same day at the flea market.  I already have a huge wood spoon collection, but what is a few more. lol  I think the thing that has a $2.00 sticker on it is a masher and I have a few of them too. :-)  I think the last pottery thing is some kind of wine carafe because on the other side is an old label that leads me to believe it.

Anyway, it blends nicely with my yellowware.

 
I also went to the Goodwill and found quite a few things.  I found this sign and have already prim'd it up a little.  This is the before shot lol.  I will be selling this.

Don't you just LOVE the cantaloupe painting.  I think it'll match well with my kitchen decor. LOLOLOL NOT!!!!  Don't worry I'm going to sand it off.  There are initials on it and it says 1979.

Yep just $1.99.  I just need to take the hanger off.  

LOVE this pineapple mold!!!  Of course some candles to grunge up.  The mustard color is awesome so I may not change the color on them.

Last but not least I found some pewter.  Woohoo!!!! I even got it at 35% off because this particular Goodwill was having a sale the day I went!

They even found a home already... 

I got some more fabric, but it's in the dryer as we speak.  I only got one piece but I think it's about 3-4 yards.  It is pink, BUT it is very colonial looking.  Remember I'm planning a brown and pink quilt sometime... yeah probably in the next decade. LOL.  I am such a fabricaholic!!! I need to get laundry done and a visit to see my friends at the prim shop is in order since it's 40% off day if you wear flip flops.  Like I need more stuff... lol I'm trying really hard to watch my spending for this bankruptcy thing.  I'm still waiting on my tax refund, but as soon as I get it I can file. :-) 

I hope to be back on Thursday with progress on my new project. 

Projects

OK let's try this again.  I already had half of my post typed then I somehow stupidly deleted it. grrrr... This better not be any indication of how the rest of my day will go.  So let's try this again.

I told you the other day that I was working on some new projects.  I only completed one of them, but the other two aren't far behind.  This first project are some painted boxes I finished.  I can't tell you how long I've had these paper mache boxes.  I just thought about something.  This counts toward finishing another UFO. Woohoo!!!  Anyway, I just couldn't decide how I wanted to do them.  Well, after looking at Pinterest (I'm so addicted) I got some ideas.  So here's my first projects...  I have an issue with that top box's lid.  It doesn't want to flatten out.  I need to deal with that yet.

My unfinished projects.

My next project that I worked on while the above one was drying was this one.  I took a piece of scrap linen like material and coffee/paint stained it.  Then I used one of my new stencils from Folk Art From the Harbor. This one was actually a three step stencil, but I only used two.  I'm thinking I'm going to put this in a frame, but then I've also considered making a pillow out of it.  I just can't decide.  This right here is why I have so many UFO's.  I get to a point where I don't know how I want to finish it and set it aside.  grrrr...  I'm so addicted to redware and yellow ware can you tell? lol

Third project I stitched yesterday while at work.  This here I have a ton of ideas for.  I'd like to make a drum pinkeep, but I can't find directions on how to cut the circles for each end.  I'm guessing it's the width of the roll plus 1/4" allowance??? I'm still thinking on that one.  Of course then I thought what about a needle roll/kit, or a pillow tuck, or..... see what I mean I can't make a decision to save my life. lol  I'm also deciding if I need a border around it.  sheesh!!!!

This last picture is for Margie of Hungry Hook Primitives.   She posted a  picture of her old/new chandelier she redid.  She asked if I would post a picture of mine because I told her I had done the same thing.  Many of you will remember how ugly and shiny gold this once was.  Then Steve roughed it up and re sprayed painted it.  I just LOVE it!!!  The flowers below are ones Steve bought me for Valentine's Day.

I have a few things I have to do this morning, but I'm hoping to work on the two projects and maybe get them finished up.  I hope you have a great day!!!

Hey Columbus OH Area Friends!!!

Yeah, you :-)  Steve and I along with some other prim friends Carmen read her post about it are coming to the Columbus area to SHOP!!!!  I have heard there are some fabulous stores in your area, so Steve so kindly agreed to take me down on Saturday Feb. 18th.  I will be getting off of a 24 hour shift, but I promise I will try not to be grumpy :-)  If you'd like to meet up with all of us click on Carmen's name above to read the post and to get a hold of her.  She is setting everything up.  Hope to see some of you there!!!!

In other news...

I told you I'd show you my redo's.  So, I thought I'd share today.

My first project was my grater light.  I just LOVE it!!!!  I bought the grater at the thrift store, had Steve cut a block of wood to shove up from the bottom.  Then I had him drill out a circle in the block of wood.  I already had the light so I shoved it up in the hole and there you go.  This light was one of those single bulb and has a clip type thing at the bottom so the light won't fall out. See that I used some of my fake redware on my pegs? The two of them in the middle are actual reproduction ones from Ragon House.

OK Since we are on the above picture want to see what I used for my textile racks???

The top thing is a yarn winder... I believe not really sure.  Bought at the thrift store awhile back and couldn't figure out how to use it.  The thing below I'm not sure what it is, but it's wood and I thought either a handle for a tool or a yoke of some sorts.  Bought that at the flea market.

And the other side... excuse the wrinkles lol  Did you know you can buy fabric that looks like coverlets??? That's what the blue piece is :-)

This my friends came off of an Amish buggy.  It's the piece right behind the horse I think.  I know I've seen them on there some where. lol.  Anyway, another flea market find.

And this... the wood box FREEEEEEE trash find!!!!  I had to wash it out and man oh man did I get the worst splinter from this thing!!! But I LOVE it!!!!!  hehe see my new year round tree on the right?  I'm waiting on some lights to arrive then I'm going to decorate it.  Steve couldn't wait he grabbed a couple ornaments and asked if he could put them on the tree.  He looked a bit disappointed when I told him no.

I'm working on taking more pictures of my Spring decorating, but I have some empty "props" I need to fill first and right now I'm not sure what I want to use yet.  It may have to wait til this weekend in case I find some goodies!!!  I'm working on a couple projects today, so maybe I'll be able to show you Thursday.  Yep, I work tomorrow so no post.  But until then have a wonderful day.

Sneak Peak Spring 2012

Here's a sneak peak :-)  ENJOY!!!!!!