Who's Ready for Fall?!

 Can you believe it is almost September? Where did the Summer go! We have finally cooled off here in the midwest with temps in the low 80's. We sure could use some rain. It's been probably close to 3 weeks since our last rainfall. 

So I've been busy sewing these adorable giant Acorns! Made from recycled wool and cotton canvas. 

 These are perfect for shelf decor or on a tiered tray!

You can find these in my Etsy Shop here ---> Rock River Stitches

 Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Happy Labor Day!

We are finally getting our Summer heat. It seems Summer is way behind this year. Been mostly in the 90's all week. Had a record breaking temp the other day of 97º. 

Finally things have slowed down a little with the phone case whirlwind! I've been so busy with orders and such that I haven't had time to work on Halloween. The Blue Ball Jar phone case has been a HUGE hit! I have also added photo pillow cases to my Red Oak Images etsy shop. I don't have as many pillow cases as the phone case, so if you see a image on a phone case you like that you would like in a pillow case, just let me know. 

Pillow Cases come in 3 different sizes....16" X 16", 18" X 18" and 20" X 20"

 I'm getting requests for a few old primitive items that I had made years. Need to get cracking on those things. I picked up a old wool blanket at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago and thinking that would make some pretty cool primitive pumpkins. So Have that idea in my head right now. 

So that is what is been going on with me lately and trying to keep all my flowers alive with the awful heat we have been having. Every morning I'm outside watering! We need rain really bad. I think it's been about 3 weeks!!

Almost forgot to tell about my experience with growing potatoes!! Last fall I bought what is called a potato bag. You grow potatoes in a bag that is made of a porous fabric. I had never grown potatoes of any kind before. It was super easy! 

In the Spring I bought Red Pontiac seed potatoes. You cut potatoes up in cubes and make sure you have at least one eye on each. Fill your bag with about 4 inches of soil and place you seed potatoes in the bottom. Cover with a couple inches of soil. As the potatoes grow add more soil to the bag. They say every 8 inches of growth add soil. I had a little trouble with the deer eating the plants in the end of the growing season. We harvested the potatoes last Sunday and had about 5 pounds of taters!! Not bad I think for a beginner in a bag! LOL

Purchased my bag at Gardener's Supply Company  

Have a safe Labor Day Weekend my blogging friends!!!

Spring is more like Summer!

Wow....Looks like it's been awhile since my last post. Not a whole lot going on. Just been doing Spring clean up in the yard. Today I believe is the warmest day we have had so far this year!! I'm loving it! As I type my weather bug on my computer says 85º! Things are really growing within the last couple of days! Hosta's are really popping up. They seem to grow overnight.

Today I finished up a brand new design for my coin purse's! I have it listed in my etsy shop now!

 

This sweet little coin purse is upcycled with different types of wool.

 

Today I was lucky enough to see one of the migratory birds that comes through here in the Spring.

 

 

This is the male Rose - breasted Grosbeak. He is just gorgeous compared to the female that is all brown. I didn't see her around when I saw this guy. You usually do. This guy was just singing up a storm when I took the picture.

 

I put out my hummingbird feeders today. I'm a bit late this year as it has been so cold. I think the hummers will be making an appearance any day now!! Can't wait to take some photos of them with my new lens!

Happy April!

Hello my blogging friends! Yes...April is here...but sure don't feel like it. We've been running 10 to 20 degrees below normal this time of the year. Will be warming up a little the end of the week.

I have a few new goodies for you all to see! I've restocked my popular bunny and owl coin purses in my etsy shop! Go HERE to visit my Rock River Stitches primitive shop!

And....I have a new glass photo pendant necklace as well! Go HERE to see my Crow in Tree pendant. Or you can use my sidebar link over to the right to visit either of my shops!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!! I know I did! Great to be with family again. Had a small group, but that is OK with me. Less chaotic! 

Today I noticed that the American Goldfinch's have just about gotten all there bright yellow feathers! Took this shot this afternoon.

I just find this totally amazing how they change color in the Spring and Fall. 

And the little comical chipmunks are now out and about!!

This little guy was on the clean up crew after the squirrels had their breakfast of corn and peanuts. He stuffed his little pouches with the leftover corn.

I plan to have a couple more of my coin purses finished by the end of the week!

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

*New* Mr. Jack O'Lantern Doll

Finished up this awesome Halloween Doll today! He is now listed on ebay!

You can visit him here--> EBAY

I've also relisted a few more of my primitive photo pendants! 

Find them here Red Oak Images 

Sorry I don't have any new nature photos, been so busy with sewing!! 

Ghosts A Plenty

I think I'm on a roll! I've gotten orders finished and other things listed on etsy and ebay! I have one of my favorite Ghost Door Doll's newly listed on ebay along with a Pumpkin Ghost Shelf Sitter. The pattern for this guy is very popular right now!

Click here --> EBAY for my current items for sale! I plan to get started on Christmas items very soon.

And these guys will be listed tonight on ebay.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday evening! Time to get back to sewing!

New Prim Mama Bunny Dolls

I finished up a couple more bunnies yesterday after our little trip to Starved Rock State Park. They are now listed in my etsy shop!!!

http://rockriverstitches.etsy.com

It was a gorgeous day yesterday, so we decided to make our way to Starved Rock State Park. I had never been there and hubby said he'd been there when he was a boy. Tons of hiking trails! So my legs are a bit sore today. Starved Rock is a huge park and there seemed to be many people like us that had the same idea that Sunday was a perfect day for hiking! Man was it crowded for such a big park! I did manage to get a few pics!

A beautiful shot of the Illinois River. Over on the sand bank were some geese honking away!

Gorgeous Bluebells in bloom!

A bunch more Bluebells!

There were many fishermen out on the Illinois River

Loved these! Dutchman's Breeches

Dutchman's Breeches

Was hoping to get some shots of the waterfalls there, but it was pretty dry. We didn't get that much snow this winter and not much rain either this spring.

These were my favorite! Spring Beauty

There were a lot of these! Yellow Bellwort

So that was my day yesterday! Today it's back to being very cold. Barely made 50º today, but will be close to 70º tomorrow. That's spring for ya!



Primitive Vintage Feedsack Birds!

You are probably wondering where I have been again. If I'm not sewing....I'm a traveling...a traveling to North Carolina! We went back again to be there for my grandson's first birthday. Can't miss that! Was there for four days and had the best time. I will be posting pics from the trip in a couple of days.

So for now I just want to let you know that I've been listing things today on my ebay and my etsy shop!!! <------Just click on the highlighted links.

Here are a few of the birds I have listed! They are all made from a hand stitched feedsack quilt top.

I'm totally exhausted and need to get my legs up! Have a wonderful evening!

Thinking of Spring while the Snow is Flying!

I started thinking a couple of days ago about Spring, with this warmer then usual Winter. So I listed this sweet goose doll last night.

She is made with a pattern by Doreen Frost who is a most talented artist!

Click here to view her on ebay-----> My Ebay

This morning woke up to a blanket of ice and snow. Now it's all snow as the temp has been dropping since this morning.

Captured some more shots of the snowflakes!!

These two pics were from this morning when it was more ice then snow that was falling.

And.....then a few hours later when the temperature begin to drop

I took these shots! You can see that they are a more formed snowflake now!

I'm having so much fun with my camera! OK...time to get back to my sewing!

New Items on Early Work Mercantile tonight!

I've been so busy this week!! I have my goodies for Early Work Mercantile ready to list later tonight!!! Here are a few items! Click this link to be taken to my page-------> "Early Work Mercantile"

We finally got a good amount of snow this week!! Had great fun taking pics of the birds and snowflakes!

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Nuthatch

A few days ago when we were getting a few snow flurries I thought I would try to take a picture of some snowflakes! I was amazed when they somewhat turned out!

Isn't this amazing!!

The first pic is my favorite!!!

Today I captured some winter shots by the Mississippi river.

Right along the Mississippi River. Casino is in the background.

On the Iowa side looking at Illinois on the other side.

Mr. Sea Gull

Well that's it folks for this Saturday night! Have a great wonderful rest of your weekend!!