~ A Little Summer Stitchin' ~

It certainly feels like summer anyway! I know it's still technically spring but boy has been hot here in Central Virginia. Last week we had temps in the upper 90's most of the week with a couple days hitting and even exceeding 100. This week we are expected to be in the mid 80's which is still WAY too hot for me! Such is summertime though and I shall just continue to count the days until December when my favorite season returns. I am so thankful for central air conditioning! We have lived in this house for 9 years this month, it is the first house I've ever lived in that has central A/C, and let me tell you, it is a modern comfort that I hope to never have to live without again! I've been staying inside enjoying the A/C and doing some cross-stitching. I'm into making the little pinkeep/sampler pillows mostly...I've made a couple for myself and a couple to offer up for sale if anyone is interested! Both are Stacy Nash designs!

Here is the 1776 Flowers with Flag design...it is stitched on osnaburg that has been aged with walnut crystals:...and backed with a reproduction Civil War fabric:
...it measures 4 3/4" x 4 1/2" and is stuffed with pieces of clean unbleached muslin fabric...I am asking $35.00 for it which will include First Class Mail within the USA...just leave a message here on my blog or you can go to my web site and use the Contact link to reach me...Paypal only please.


Here is the Peace and Plenty design...SOLD...THANK YOU!...also stitched on osnaburg that has been aged with walnut crystals:
...and backed with a reproduction Civil War fabric with a wool heart primitively stitched on:
...it measures 6 1/4" x 4 1/2" and is stuffed with pieces of clean unbleached muslin fabric...IT HAS BEEN SPOKEN FOR...THANK YOU!


Well I think that's going to be it for me today...it's Sunday which for me means watching a NASCAR race! Go 88!! Have a most joyous Sunday all!

~ Humpty Dumpty ~

Humpty Dumpty, that's sort of what it feels like! Some of you may recall that on October 27, 2010 we had an EF1 tornado come through and damage our house. The repairs have been nothing short of a NIGHTMARE! I won't bore you with more of the gory details but FINALLY it seems we are back to normal!
This is what it looked like before. I had a tree expert come out the next day to see if there was any way our pear tree could be saved and was told that the root damage was too extensive so we sadly had to chop up our poor tree which made me so sad.
A couple weeks later we planted this little oak tree and he shed his leaves in the winter and got all new ones in the spring just like he's supposed to!
We had a new roof put on, siding and trim replaced, removed the damaged plants in the garden, and planted new.
So just like Humpty Dumpty, we are put back together again!
My heart goes out to all those who have gone through the recent tornadoes. I know there are so many who lost EVERYTHING with not even a house to come home to! That makes the issues I've been dealing with minimal in comparison!

Well that's going to be it for this time. Remember to do something each day that makes you happy!

Your Mother Is Always With You...

Your mother is always with you...
She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.
She's the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks.
She's the cool hand on your brow
when you're not well.
Your mother lives inside your laughter.
She's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place you came from,
your first home...
She's the map you follow
with every step that you take.
She's your first love
and your first heart break...
and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, Not space...
Not even death...
will ever separate you
from your mother...
You carry her inside of you...

Author Unknown

I miss you Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to all.

~ New Goodies to Share ~

Happy Friday Friends!...well it's April 15th and just yesterday I got our income taxes finished and mailed...come to find out that this year the deadline is Monday the 18th and I had a whole 'nother weekend!...LOL...it's just as well...I am always glad to get that humungous chore outta the way!

After all that number crunching and paper sorting, I have treated myself, fairly well I might add, to some new goodies that I'd like to share. As you know, I love collecting handmades and I have added some wonderful treasures to my collections!...lookie here, I purchased not one but two new Schneeman bunnies made by Norma!...aren't they precious?...I've got one on each end table that are on either side of the sofa.
Also, I was fortunate enough to purchase this adorable bunny made by Lori of Homespun Prims by Lori along with this beautiful fabric covered box that came with the adorable little pinkeep...isn't this just as cute as can be?
And lookie at the cupboard hanger I purchased from Ronda of Simple Thyme Prims!

And this cute bear made by Jenn of Rabbit Hollow Prims...I love the lavender flower she crocheted!
Then there's these adorable bunnies that I purchased from Maureen of Buckbrush Farm...the standing one dressed in the brown coat and the wee chalkware one that I've placed in a pewter dish with an olde wooden egg...I just love 'em!
If all of that wasn't enough...the other day I went out and about to a few places that I don't get to very often...and I purchased this sweet little pot of faux daffodils at Pottery Barn...I love Pottery Barn...so many of their things blend with so many decorating styles!
Last but not least, there's this absolutely gorgeous pot of faux flame tulips...a good customer of mine had requested that I find her some potted tulips so I ordered these for her...I had to order a minimum of three so after shipping her's off and keeping one for myself, there's one left and I've placed it for sale in my shoppe!
There's only one though cuz I'm keeping mine! LOL!...oh and that cute little candleholder is new in my shoppe as well...it's the Teacup Candle Holder with a Blackened Grubby Nubbie which is also new, they are fabulous candles!...the prim herb rabbits you see there in the cheese box were handmade by my dear friend Karen of Olde Cottage Primitives and given to me as a gift!

I've been mighty darn good to myself haven't I?...I almost feel guilty!...notice I said "almost"...LOL!

Have a most joyous weekend all!

~ Spring Decorating and other Stuff ~

Whew!...it's Saturday afternoon and I can relax for just a bit...my shoppe keeps me so busy most of the time and since the Post Office closes at noon here on Saturday, I feel like I can breathe just a bit because no orders can be mailed again until Monday...so I feel like the pressure is off for awhile once I've been to the Post Office on Saturday morning!

Alot has been going on here under the willow tree...we are still working on resolving the damage on our house that was caused by the roofers...had much of the siding replaced about a week ago and it's looking better...still not sure if there's anything that can be done about all of the tar scrapes they left on the brick portion...and we are going to make a trip to the nursery to replace the plants they trampled and ruined as well as replace the yard nicknacks they broke...whatta nightmare this has all been!

Also, it looks like our little family is going to get a bit smaller...daughter-in-law has decided she doesn't want to be married to our oldest son anymore and she has moved out of their home...isn't it just the worst thing seeing the kids hurting?...it's almost unbearable!

On a MUCH brighter note, I wanted to share with you some new things I've acquired recently. First there's my new make-do chair, isn't it lovely? It was made by Pat of Olde Bittersweet Farm. Yes the bedroom still has the mauve carpeting, we must not forget its awesomeness! LOL I had an olde ladderback chair there filled with these dolls and I like the make-do chair better! I put the ladderback back in the family room where it originally was. While snapping pics, I thought I would add this one of our bed...I updated the bedding last year and never took a pic!I've also added a couple new bears to my prim bear collection. The two newest are the smallest bear, made by Dru of Cinnamon Creek Cabin, seated on the lap of the larger bear she also made...and the bear on the left, his name is William, he was made by my friend Karen...he's quite lovely and she even knitted his scarf!...she's having an update on her selling blog on Sunday...here's the link, Olde Cottage Primitives ...be sure to check it out!
I've also purchased a few new baskets from Pam. First I ordered one of her twelve inch cheese baskets to hang above my antique pie safe. Then I ordered one of her fourteen inch tobacco baskets and I think I like it better here but which do you think looks better? They are both beautiful baskets, I just am not sure which one looks better in this spot, maybe the answer is they both look good, who knows!
I also wanted to mention that cute little wax standing rabbit to the left of the spring pinkeep I made (pattern by Country Rustic Primitives)...the rabbit that is wearing the cloth tie is from Dana of Homespun Treasures ...I purchased it and a tart from her but you should have seen all of the wonderful extras she included in my package!...oh my what a generous gal she is!...Thank You Dana!...everything she sent me is wonderful so I know you will not be disappointed with any purchase you make from her site!

Now back to Pam...when I ordered the cheese basket, she surprised me with a very special gift!...knowing how I love hearts and heart shaped things, she sent me a heart shaped basket that she made some time ago and I found a nice spot for it in the laundry room...doesn't it look cute there? (the camera flash created some strange glare/shadow off the dryer and onto the wall, there's not really a big white smear there, LOL)
I spend a fair share of my time in here and it brings a smile to my face every time I look at it, Thank You Pam!...oh and I also purchased this sweet little buttermilk painted basket, which I just love, from her!
As much as I dislike spring with all of its cootie bugs, stinging, flying, and otherwise, I must say that I find it a fun season to decorate for...I don't know why, but I've always had a "thing" for artificial flowers and greenery...is that weird?...does anyone else have this fetish?...I have uploaded all of my spring decorating pics to my Picture Trail in an album titled "Spring Decorating 2011" so go on over and have a look and let me know what you think!

Thanks for visiting and have a joyous weekend!