A real post this time....LOL

I wanted to give some plugs to a few of my TLOFA sisters which is long overdue! Sorry girls! :0) Of course I have blogged many times about my friend Chris of The Antique Pallet and her mad painting skills. I have more than a few of the things she has painted and I will treasure them always! Well, not only can the woman paint, but she also makes some beautiful bottlecap jewelry and keychains! She surprised me this last year with a handmade keychain that had a pic of each of my two kids on each side of the bottlecap. I was so touched! There I was crying in the parking lot at the post office-seriously! You should be able to click on the banner above and it will take you to her online shoppe.....

Another TLOFA sister, Pat of Ahl Cooped Up has a website!You should be able to click on the logo above and it will take you to her site and all that eye candy! I was fortunate to receive a handmade ornie from Pat during our TLOFA Christmas ornie swap this past year and it was the perfect little stocking with faux fur and chenille canes.....I still have it up on my year-round tree in our den. So go peek at what she has to offer- you won't be disappointed! :0)

This spring pinkeep/cupboard tuck is what I am donating for the PFATT Spring giveaway. You will need to click ~HERE~ to go to the PFATT blog to sign up and see what else is being donated. Hurry it only lasts from May 1st~May 7th. :0) I added the ladybug in remembrance of our dear PFATT sister Penny McAllister who lost her battle with Leukemia barely a month ago. I didn't get to join in on the balloon release for her birthday- both kids woke up with fevers that morning and wouldn't you know after a trip to our little clinic- they both had strep. Eeew! So glad they didn't share the bug with me!

I had to share some more things I have been getting done and a few lucky finds....

This black cabinet I got at Michaels when we made a quick trip to Cheyenne a few weeks ago. I had a 50% coupon and only paid $19 for it. I painted it plain black and distressed and stained the heck out of it. I love it! This was the only one they had that day- otherwise I would have bought two.....I had another spare 50% coupon and sent Craig through first to pay for the cabinet and I went into the other line to check out with the rest of my loot and the other coupon. Hey, if I'm gonna save money on something, might as well make it a family affair! LOL.

I bought this wood flag probably about 5 years ago out of a Terrys Village catalog. It hung outside every year and I finally decided it was looking pretty sad and faded so I gave it a new paint job- voila! Now it looks so good I don't want to put it back out there, so I think I'll enjoy it inside for a bit. :0)

I had been looking for one of these wall mount flag holders for a long time and had come to the conclusion that nobody carried them anymore. Then by chance I found the Primitives Fore Ewe website and they have them! Oh happy day! I've had it for nearly a month now and just got it up the other day. Whatcha think?

Sage won't let me take her paper "snowflake" down even though spring is (hopefully) just around the corner. Goofy kid! I hate our front door or should I say "doors". Both doors are functional and can open as french doors if you are moving a big piece of furniture in, etc but since the one on the right is always locked in place and we use the other to come and go I consider it to be part of the wall. lol.

Now I have to share my ReStore finds....

Last month I was with my mom at the Habitat for Humanity Restore looking for a replacement exterior door for her house. While 90% of the store is donated building materials, there are other household goods that are donated...I found this lamp for $3- can you believe it? It doesn't have a shade, but I'll get one for it-an easy fix for a bargain. Then in another section of the store they had some porch posts....lots of them.

I nabbed this one...can you believe it was only $30? These are normally about $100. It was the chunkiest of them all. In my pic it doesn't look like it, but it is indeed very thick- 6"x 6" square and 8 feet tall. Most porch posts are more on the "spindley" side. Ever since I had seen one in Country Sampler a few years ago, I have always wanted one to prim up and put an old birdhouse on top since we have vaulted ceilings. Another thing to add to my list of "to-dos"...lol. :0)

Well, I should scoot and get some things done. We are going to visit my dad in Riverton this weekend so I have some last minute packing to finish. Later! ~Jody

Just a Quick Post To Say.......

....that I will be donating a handmade on the PFATT blog for the giveaway starting May 1st. I'll also have a better post then, too! See ya in a few days! :0)

Unfinished business....

Thats where I've been....taking care of unfinished handmades for the most part.....that and Farmville on facebook...OMG-let me kill the person who started me on that stupid game (hehehehe...she knows who she is...) Don't ever started playing that game- it is addictive and sucks you right in. lol. It's even sucked Craig in....does Facebook have Farmers Anonymous meetings?? Hello...my name is Jody and I'm a Farmville addict......lol. Ok, back to business.... I had started these stitcheries from one of Jenny's designs a while back for myself and decided I needed to get them finished now or I never would. Feels kinda good to keep some of the things I make now and then... :0)

I made these for me, too. I bought the stencils a while back from Stencil Me In and Homestead Stencil Co., I just love them- not sure where I'll be putting them yet, but they'll look good anywhere....

I've had this old paned window for quite a while and it's been hanging out in storage waiting for me to do something with it. I'm always looking through my old copies of Country Sampler for ideas- I saw something similar in an old issue (except theirs was done with an old quilt piece) and since I already had a flag I think it turned out pretty neat. It's a 3x5 flag- I just folded it to fit and tacked it to the back of the frame. It hangs above the peg rack in the entryway....

Another unfinished project done! I started this wool felt penny rug over a year ago and it sat 10% finished until now. It sits under the lamp on my nightstand now... I used a tutorial Colleen has on her blog and one of her patterns to put it together. I know my stitches aren't perfect but hey, I thought I did good for my first rug. It has three pennies per circle on the front and a fourth penny per circle to finish the backing....so what's that...170-some pennies? I knew there was a reason I kept putting off finishing it...lol.

Remember this guy? He is sure growing.....I mean he's still a shrimp, but he is outgrowing the puppy look and heading into adolescence now. He's my little sidekick and follows me everywhere. He lays at my feet when I sew and stitch. :0)

Me and Craig have also been helping my mom out- helping her with some work on her property and such which has kept us busy on Craigs days off. I haven't made anything to sell, but if you see something you like, give me a shout- I could make you one just like it. (Except for the penny rug- I don't see myself making another one for while...lol). I should get going- Craig just came home off graveyards and I want to see him before he goes to bed. Until next time.....~Jody

Thinking spring....and a new addition to our family...

Though I'm still working on Christmas stuff for next year, I can't help but be thinking (and wishing a little..hee hee) for spring. I am ready for warmer weather. And less wind....anyone that has lived in Casper or around here can totally relate...LOL. I've been working on a few springy things I will be adding to my site tonight. Primitive black doll and ditty bag......

Spring Pinkeep/Cupboard tuck...

Valentine pinkeep/Cupboard tuck...

I know what you were probably thinking about our new addition and no, I'm not pregnant. LOL. We got a PUPPY........

Awwwww.........he looks so innocent when he sleeps. He is a chihuahua puppy- 9 wks old- the kids named him Popeye. He is so sweet and very, very affectionate- he just can't hold his licker! And the best part is he absolutely LOVES the kids......he follows them around everywhere and climbs into Sage's lap to nap. I have forgotten what it's like to have a puppy and how much they sleep! Actually our 8yr old Mastiff sleeps as much as he does so never mind. (Anyone that has a mastiff knows what I mean about how much they "nap" .LOL) We went from one extreme to the other- we have a giant breed and a toy breed now. Funny! I'll have to try and get a picture of them together.

On another note after a lot repeated prodding, poking, nudging and elbowing from friends and family, I finally joined facebook a few days ago. I have my facebook badge there on my sidebar... I dragged my feet about joining before because I didn't really feel like I needed one more thing to keep up with that would take away from my time with family and everything else I have going but I have found (and been found) by classmates and friends I haven't talked to in years, so I'm glad I finally did it. So everyone that kept after me about it ~thanks!~

That's about all I have to share for now. I'll try and post as I get more handmades finished. ~Jody

Staying Busy........

I haven't been up to very much lately- at least not a lot to post about anyway. I have been doing some spring cleaning here and there around the house (I know it's early, but we have a big house and by the time I get all my deep cleaning done spring will be here, LOL). It feels good to get it done, though. There were some boxes in our attic that haven't been gone through since we moved into this house 5 years ago. But it does feel good to de-clutter the closets and things and have a little more organization....if only my craft room would stay that way. LOL. I have also taken some of my money from Twelve Days and invested in some sign stencils and I have to say I LOVE them! So much easier than the way I was doing them before. I bought quite a few Christmas ones for this next year and a few everyday ones. I've added these two and another one to my picturetrail site for sale. I have also decided to get an early start for next year so I am working on Christmas things too. I would like to have more inventory for Twelve Days and also lots to put on my picturetrail for this next holiday season. Since this is a one-woman-show I just never have enough time to get it all done in the fall and I want this next year to be different. Well, that's pretty much it. Also to let you know I will be ending my leftover Christmas sale in the next few days. Later! :0)
Jody

20-25% off ALL leftover Christmas show items, limited time...

SALE IS OVER

~THANKS!~

Well, this is all I have left from Twelve Days...I just got them back the other day, otherwise I would have posted them sooner for you...they are in no particular order and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. It would be nice to not have to store anything for next year, so I will have these for sale for about a week or two or until most everything is gone whichever comes first....... If you are interested in anything or have a question, etc. just leave a comment on this post and blogger will send me an email.

All can be mailed or if you are local you can pick up or I can take to you if I'm in town. Most everything can be shipped together, except the reindeer may have to be shipped on their own, depending on what else is going in the box. So here's what I've got left.....You should be able to click on the pics for a better look...

Two snowman star ornies. Made using a pattern from Sew Primitive Shoppe. Both lightly tea dyed, wool felt hats with berries and sprigs of greenery. Each 8 1/2 inches tall and have rusty wire hanger.

Was $14 each, Now $10 each or both for $18, plus shipping.

Five assorted stitchery star ornies. Made using the star from a Nanny Goat Primitives pattern. 5 1/2 inches tall. All sewn from muslin, I've stitched a different saying onto the front of each. Aged and glittered. Decorative rusty wire in the top to hang.

~ALL SOLD~

Wynter Wishes Star Ornie (SOLD)
Simplify Star Ornie (SOLD)
Friends Star Ornie (SOLD)
Let it Snow Star Ornie (SOLD)
Laugh Star Ornie (SOLD)
Little "Baby" Bear Ornies. Made using a pattern from Crows Roost Prims. Each is 8 inches tall with a chenille candy cane, sprig of greenery and rusty bell attatched to the front. Each has rusty wire to hang.
Was $12 each, Now $8 each, or $15 for both plus shipping.
Two BIG Santa's.....made using a pattern from Angel and the Crow.
They are nearly 3 feet tall (32 inches). Sculpted nose and eyebrows, button eyes. Beard is ultra soft dirty blonde mohair felted in place. The aged fleece trim on their jackets and hats are all stitched in place by hand.
Was $62 each, Now $48, plus shipping.
Large Reindeer made from a Hand Made with Love pattern. They stand 10 inches tall, not including their antlers. They are made from painted and stiffened Warm & Natural with real twig antlers, glass bead eyes and wood dowel legs. The one on the right has a pine wreath with rusty bell and the one on the left has a holly wreath with rusty bell. Their little antlers are very fragile, so I will use a bigger box than usual so I can pack them safely for their journey.
~BOTH SOLD~
Small Reindeer using same pattern as above. These stand 6 inches tall not including their antlers. Made in the exact same fashion as the large ones except on a smaller scale of course. The one in the middle has a pine wreath with rusty bell and the other two have a holly wreath with rusty bell.
~ALL SOLD~
Free-standing Prim Santa. Made from painted muslin using a pattern from The Old Country Cupboard. Sculpted nose and stitched eyes. His beard, mustache and hat and sleeve trim is stained Warm & Natural. He stands 17 inches tall. His hangtag reads Old St. Nick.
Was $35, Now $25, plus shipping
Medium "Mama" Bear Ornies. Made using a Crows Roost Prims pattern. These stand 10 inches tall. I did not put hangers on these- they are sized more for shelf sitters. Made in the same fashion as the little bears above.
Was $15, Now $ 10 each or $ 18 for both, plus shipping.
Large "Papa" Bear Santa Shelf sitter/ornie. He stands 11 1/2 inches tall. Made the same as the other bears above. He does have a loop in his back to hang or you can display him as a shelf sitter as shown. His hangtag has a mini chenille candy cane with a sprig of greenery and rusty bell attatched and reads "Beary Christmas to You...".
Was $18, Now $13, plus shipping.

This girl was the only raggedy I had left. I made her using a pattern from Chestnut Junction. Prim stitched face, rusty star necklace and wool yarn hair tied into pigtails. She has painted shoes and stockings underneath and wears aged muslin pantaloons. Her bottom is boxed and weighted to sit nicely. Was $35, Now $28, plus shipping.

A little behind......and an after Christmas SALE coming very soon...

Yes I am running behind, yet again...LOL. I had started this post on the 23rd and had every intention to get it posted then, but we still had so much last minute stuff to get done- you know- cooking, cleaning, even some shopping....then it was Christmas Day and the next thing I know a week has already gone by and the New Year will be upon us tonight....it sure has zipped right by!I mentioned in my last post about my TLOFA secret ornie swap and I can finally share them with you! There are 11 total......
The gingerbread and angel on the top are from my friend Joleen aka theprimitivebucket, the penguin is from Lisa aka brush*strokesn*stitches, the two snowmen are from Chris aka theantiquepallet......

The hammered copper heart ornie is from Tanya aka pollyscissors, the snowman is from Barb aka barbscountryprims, the stocking is from Pat aka ahlcoopedup, the angel is from Mary aka polkadothill, the heart is from Norrine aka grungegoddesprimitives, and the peppermint sticks label ornie is from Susie aka yankeelaneprimitives.....

And these were a few pics I had taken back on the 23rd of my drysink with some Christmas decor in the dining room......that piece of homespun hides our air conditioner...I need to make some kind of wall hanging to go there or something...

What's funny is the pie safe I got a few weeks ago and this dry sink- I just realized their crackled paint color and texture match exactly.....I've had this dry sink for about 4 years now and the two pieces were bought from two totally different places....isn't that great? :0) It's like I was meant to have them hee hee!

I did end up having a box of Christmas leftovers from Twelve Days and I have decided I am going to post them here for sale at a discount. I finished taking pictures, just need to have time to sit down and edit them and then get them loaded on here. That's what I'll be working on tonight while I ring in the new year. LOL. Craig is working tonight so it's just me and the kids. I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Wonderful surprises in the mail!!

Believe it or not, the post office has been my favorite place lately. LOL. Seriously!
First off, I won one of Sandy's giveaways on her blog~ The Olde Country Cupboard and was lucky enough to get this wonderful black doll! I just LOVE her and my picture does not do her justice- she is so prim in person and fits in great with everything else! She is my first black doll and I just love her to pieces!!
Sandy also threw in 6 packages of her soy wax tarts. (there are only 5 pictured cuz I already had some in my warmer...hee hee...) I could smell them even before I got the box open and they are wonderful. Thank you so much Sandy for having such a great giveaway and being soooo generous with your goodies!! :0)

I participated in all the ornie swaps we had in my ebay groups. The first was our PLOA ornie swap and I was the lucky recipient of one of Chris's (theantiquepallet) painted books! It is sooo gorgeous! I have it on top if my pie safe and it may stay there for a while! :0) You can't really see in the pic, but glass glitter is all over the front and it has the most beautiful sparkle. Thank you Chris! I treasure all the wonderful things you've made me!

Next was our PFATT swap. Aren't these ornies beautiful? The cross-stitch Santa is from Kathy~Kathy's Prims, the Green Cone ornie is from Nancy~Nancy Malay, The Angel painting is from Karen~Lovella Ranch, and the little matchbox ornie is from Zinnia~Zinnia's Art. I put them on my 4 foot tree I have specifically for my swap ornies and they look great with all the others from swaps past....

I did also get my ornies from my TLOFA swap, but we have to wait for everyone to get their box before we post pics so we don't ruin the surprise. We make an ornie for each person in the swap, then when we get our box back, we get an ornie from each person, too. It was a great turnout and I got some really wonderful ornies! Hopefully in the next few days I can share some more pics with you. :0) I might also have a few more Christmas pics, too.

Christmas pics to share and link to my Santa and Snowgirl dolls....

I'll try to leave this post longer on pictures (there are LOTS!) and shorter on words if I can... :0) Enjoy!
My Santa and an old quilt bear.....

I realized I never shared finished pics of the entryway after we did all the work on the front room this spring. The flooring is still the old vinyl, but this winter we are going to carry the wood flooring through the entryway and also replace it with the carpet on the stairs. We will also be replacing the dated railing, too. We're waiting to do the base trim against the wall until the floor is finished....

In case you were wondering- the spots on the rug in the entry are just melted snow....LOL.

I love my redware crock! I got it back in October from the Primitive Corner. I got the last one they had and they said it was backordered until next spring. I was a lucky girl.... :0)

The view into the front room from the entry...

Santa came early and gave me an early Christmas/birthday gift (My b-day is on the 27th..)......this GORGEOUS pie safe! I LOVE it!! And its the perfect fit here in this little corner...

I love how the punched tin panels have rusted and only a bit of the silver finish remains...

That's another one of Kathy's bears.....I have three of them and they are wonderful. I even have a teeny mini one that she made from old quilt just like the others I have...

The snowgirl hanging on the cabinet where I took her pictures.......LOL

Our tree......we have had such crappy, cold weather here lately we never made it up on the mountain. The kids would have been miserable and cold, which would have defeated the whole point of going to cut our own tree...so we went to the tree lot and Sage picked out this white pine.

One thing we didn't realize until we started to decorate it was that while it is a beautiful tree with ultra soft needles, you can't hang heavy ornies on it. I had to omit my 4 inch jingle bells because it looked like a weeping willow and all the branches are slender and droop very easily. LOL. We hung only lightweight ornies on the outside and buried the heavier ones inside the tree.

Our fireplace and mantel......I love those stockings hanging there. I got them back in September from Olde Farm Creek and I'm glad I did- I heard from a friend she has sold out of them now....

I did end up getting a chance to edit the auctions and got my snowgirl and Santa on eBay finally....click HERE to see them...

I have a few Christmas decorations in my kitchen and such, but I'll save those for another post- this one's long enough. I should get going.....I have some signs I have to finish for the shop in town, then get Sage from school in a bit. Hope you liked my pics! :0)