I Figured It Out!!

My mom years ago gave me a whole bunch of silver plated silverware, trays and a creamer and sugar set that she didn't want. For years I've been hanging onto the stuff not knowing what to do with all of it. Some of it is tarnished beyond polishing. Went through the box of it about a month ago trying to figure out for the umpteenth time what to do with this so called treasure. I took out the creamer and sugar and set them on my sewing table, everyday looking at them, trying to think of something. So yesterday I FINALLY thought of something to make!! I made nesting rabbits!!!

Their nests are made out of pages that I torn out of a very very old french grammar book that I got at a library in NC that was in the free for taking shelf. And I added a little bit of natural wood excelsior too. It was hard to get a picture to show the real size of them. The bunnies are only about 4" tall. I plan on listing them in my ebay Sunday night. Please stop by and see what I have for sale right now, by clicking on "my ebay" link in the last sentence. I have a wonderful Goose doll that has no bids. So that is what I have been up to lately. So until next time... have a wonderful weekend! Happy Spring!

Yay! It's Spring!

Our first day of spring was a little wet with thunder. Then it was mostly to partly sunny later on in the afternoon with a high of 72º! This then brought the idea to grill out tonight, which we did. Nothing like the first grilled chicken of the season. We also had yummy sauteed mushrooms and a salad!

I spent a little time out on the back deck today with my camera in hand to capture some of my famous bird pictures. Didn't seem like there was much action, probably because I was sitting out there. The birds are going to have to get used to me all over again being outside instead of inside taking pictures through the window.

So this is what I capture today out on my deck...........

Little Junco's are still here.

Nuthatch being a acrobat

Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Looks like it's time to make some more suet. These guys are out there on the suet feeder all the time. They can't go inside the cage, but do get their heads all the way in and get big chunks of suet with that long beak.

Chick a dee dee dee

And....... This morning got on the Eagle Nest Cam to see how the eagles were doing in the rain. They looked misreable sitting there all wet. But I guess that is something they are used to. I took a few screen captures when the camera was doing some zooming in on the eagle.

Decorah, Iowa Eagle Nest Cam <------------- Link to the Nest Cam

Spring is so Close!!

Was a little lazy today. Didn't do any sewing. I think I deserved a break. I did take the car in for a oil change. I don't mind going there because they have WiFi. I take my ipod with me and I have something to do. And they have a nice big flat screen to watch too, at the Toyota dealership.

Seeing some small signs of Spring coming. I'm seeing more and more robins everyday. And today got a shot of the American Goldfinches on my thistle feeder today. As you can see their feathers are changing over to the bright yellow. Sure sign that spring is almost here!

Tonight on the 6 o'clock news they had info about the Eagle Nest Cam that is not to far from where I live in North West Illinois. They have a web cam set up in the tree where there is an eagle sitting on a nest with 3 eggs in it. They are expected to hatch the April 1. Here is a link to the live feed of mama eagle. It just switch over to night vision camera now. Be sure to check it out in the morning. Just amazing to watch her get up every 10 minutes or so and turn the eggs and then sit back down.

Click on this link to view-------> Decorah, Iowa Eagles Nest Cam

Here is one of the screen shots they took today.

Please check it out especially during the day!

I added a few more items to ebay last night. I just love this little elephant which I made with a pattern by Betty of Square Nails Primitives. She has a picture trail website from where she sells her patterns but it doesn't seem to be working right now without having to put in a password. If you want to contact her let me know.

Have a wonderful weekend Everyone!!!!!

Spring is Right Around the Corner!

One more week to go!! As you can see from my new header picture, I'm ready for Spring! That picture was taken last Spring while we were in North Carolina at the Biltmore House. If you are ever in Asheville, NC you really need to stop there for a tour of the gorgeous house, and gardens which are breath taking especially in the spring.

Hope you all remembered to turn your clocks ahead. I'm so ready for more daylight. Never ready to change all the clocks in the house though.

So here are a few things I'v been working on lately. They are currently listed in my ebay.
Click on this link----> ebay

Have a wonderful Sunday!

New Critters!

I've got a brand new pattern!! You can download my piggie as an instand download from Pattern Mart right now! Just click on the link over there to the right. He will also be available in my etsy shop and on my website.

And I made this sweet little doggie a couple of days ago with a pattern from Betty of Square Nails Primitives. She sells her patterns from only her Picture Trail site. Wonderful patterns and so easy to follow too! I'll be listing this doggie in my etsy shop tonight.

Everyone have a wonderful Sunday evening! I've got to get back to sewing!

Sweet Bunnies!

I have some more new items that I'll be listing tonight in my etsy shop!! I'm so excited about these bunnies. Just love the expressions on their faces! These guys were made with a pattern by Chestnut Junction. Check her out when you have a chance. Wonderful primitive and stitchery patterns!!

We had another beautiful sunny day, only today was a little cooler. Sure a big difference from the weather we had a couple of days ago with freezing rain. Here's a pic I captured the next morning. Love how the sun sparkles on the frozen drops on the branch! If you look close you can see bubbles frozen in the bottom drop. Pretty cool huh! Click on the picture to make it bigger.

This is short post for tonight. Have to finish up supper! Have a great evening!

New Pattern!

Busy, busy that is what I've been lately!! I have to many projects going at once!! I usually don't do that. I like to work on one thing, finish it and then move on to another. My sewing table is a mess. I just don't want to take time to clean up before starting another project. Just aren't enough hours in a day for me that's for sure.

So..........I made a new pattern!! woo hoo! Meet Lucky!!!

It's always good luck when a elephants trunk is up! The pattern for this sweet guy is now for sale in my etsy shop, Pattern Mart and my website.

My friend Angie from Love The Prim Look requested a elephant pattern that had his trunk up. She has been making all kinds of prim animals and someone asked about a elephant with a up trunk. So here he is! After I made this little guy my 26 year old daughter almost ran away with him. She says she wants a pink one with silver sparkles. Will have to work on that. I'm sure it would be very cute for sure!

And....Here is another thing that I finished up today!!!

This sweet little Easter Chick, which will be listed in my etsy shop tonight, is made with a pattern by Victoria Lynn of Kentucky Primitives 

Ok that is all for tonight. Just have to keep my fingers crossed that we don't get that 3 to 5 inches of snow they are predicting tonight!! At least that is what they said this morning. I don't know what it is now, been to busy to turn on the tv today! :)

Vintage Reproduction Feedsack Easter Eggs

Happy President's Day, on another dreary gray day. I'm so ready for warmer, sunnier days. I've been seeing the robins the last couple of weeks. So spring can't be to far away. After all, Puxatony Phil said it was going to be a early spring and March is almost here!! I always get excited for spring to see everything come back to life.

So thinking about Spring has gotten me thinking about Easter. And I just love making these eggs with the feather stitching. This year I decided to make them a little different, with vintage reproduction feedsack fabric. I searched through my fabric stash from my days of quilting and found some great scraps to make these eggs. After I stained them, I thought they sure do look like have been around for awhile. This set of 5 eggs (minus my wooden bowl) will be for sale in my etsy shop beginning tonight.

 

That’s about it for this Monday. Everyone have a wonderful night!

Primitive Rocking Horse

Since I made this little rocking horse and the pattern about a year ago I haven't made another since this last weekend for a special order. Now I am missing the little guy because I mailed him today. So I will be making a few more and listing them in my etsy shop. If anyone is interested in me making them one, let me know and I can cut out several at once. tambo331@mchsi.com I am asking $30.00 plus $5.00 shipping. He measures 8 1/2" tall by 9 1/2" wide. Glad I took pictures of him before I sent him away today. I almost didn't.

                    

Ready for some Spring!

I think the weather is going to try to warm up a bit this weekend. Maybe close to 40º on Sunday!!

This week I worked on a couple new projects! Both were great fun to make! They are up for sale in my etsy shop right now.

This is such a sweet gal that I made with a pattern from my very good friend Doreen Frost of Vermont Harvest Folk Art

And....

This guy is made with a pattern by Stacey Mead of The Goode Wife of Washington County

These two ladies are some of the most talented around. Stop by their sites to see what they are up to. You won't be disappointed!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Hope it warms up in your neck of the woods. :)

Home Again

Hubby and I got home early last night from our trip to North Carolina. We drove straight through, which is a 12 hour drive from there to where we live in northern Illinois. We missed the BIG snowstorm while we were gone. I guess we got around 16 - 18 inches of snow. We had some pretty nice weather while we were in NC. The first couple of days it was in the 60's and the rest of the week in the 40's. That was heaven compared to the temps in the 20's and below here. So it's time to get back to normal life once again. I need to get working on my Easter items to list in my etsy shop and Bucktown.

Here are a few pics I took with my digital camera while I was in NC with my daughters family.

That's me and my brand new sweet grandson! Max is such a good baby. He did a lot of sleeping while we were there. He is so much calmer then his sister was.

And here is Cora and little brother. Cora is 2 years old and has lost her top front tooth already. A couple months ago while she was at daycare she was riding a little bike and flipped over the front of the it and chipped off part of the tooth. Then a couple of weeks later it got infected like they thought it would and had to have it pulled out.

Cora holding her day old baby brother. I love, love this picture!

And here is my daughter Tara with Cora and Max. I'm so proud of my daughter, she had a home birth and did wonderfully!!

And my hubby (Grandpa) holding little Max for the first time.

That's all for now. Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!!!

New Arrival!

Maxwell Pierce finally made into the world last night, after being 8 days late. He weighs 7 lbs. 9 oz. , 20 1/2" long. He is my first grandson. He has a older sister who is now 2 years old, Cora. Mom and baby are doing just wonderfully! Little Max is just perfect!

When Cora first saw Max all she wanted to do was hold him. He was just a couple hours old here in this picture.

Here's my daughter, Cora and little Max!

Well that's about all for now. Will try to get more pics up this weekend!!!

Baby Watch 2011

Well my daughters due date has come and gone. She was due on Monday the 24th. I jump every time the phone rings. She had an appointment with her midwife this morning and was told the baby is all lined up in great position. If there is no baby by this weekend she is going to have a non stress test to see if the baby's heart rate and movements are normal on Monday. We don't know what the baby is so I am super excited to see if it's a boy or a girl.

I haven't been working on to much lately. Went to a estate sale today and didn't get anything. Most of the stuff was priced to high. Then went to the Goodwill and nothing there either. Oh well. I was out running around in the snow and just came home and noticed all the birds at my bird feeders. So took a few pics and captured this Red-Bellied Woodpecker. He loves my homemade suet.

Homemade Suet

1 C. crunchy peanut butter

1 C. Lard

2 C. Oatmeal

2 C. Cornmeal

raisins, berries, birdseed

I keep those plastic forms that the store bought suet come in and pour the cooled done mixture in those. Pop into freezer. Works perfectly!

Well that's all for now folks!

New Primitive Mini Valentine Heart Wall Hanger

Just a short post tonight. Just listed this little mini in my etsy shop. This mini hanger measures 6" tall from the top of the wire hanger to the tip of the heart. The heart itself measures 3 1/2" tall by 2 1/2" wide. The stick from which the heart is hanging from measures 4 1/2" wide. I plan on making a few more of these little hearts.

Have a wonderful evening!!!

Primitive Valentine Heart Make Do

Was another very busy day today. Finished up this Make Do today. It will be listed in my etsy shop shortly.

Took this pic the other day of a Carolina Wren. He looks so cute upside down. He was looking for a way into my caged suet feeder.

Ok that's all for tonight!!