Tattered and Torn

I'm working on purse and wanted a little something to put on the front and after searching for many ideas and not finding anything I like I created my own flower using ripped fabric and some yarn. I then took a wooden button added a little color to it using my ink pads and attached it the flower and now I have a lovely little tattered flower for the purse, which I will show you once it's done.

I just love how this flower turned out.

A Little Makeover

The other day I was blog surfing and happened upon a blog called Frosted Petunias. She was having an Artful Bag Challange  and I loved the idea. I had the perfect little bag for such a challenge.

My little doily bag. I made this bag from a doily (my great grandmother made) back in 2007 for a civil war ball my husband and I attended.

I added a lining and some black ribbon to match the dress I wore. But added nothing else to it just left it plain and simple on the outside.

When I happened upon the bag challenge, I took the doily apart and gave it a tiny makeover.

Made a little tattered flower brooch and changed the straps too.

Now I  have a doily bag with a bit of character. It's not fancy but I love how it turned out. I'm thinking of making some more brooches in different colors so I can change them out when I feel I need a change.

Just stopped by to say hello

Just thought I'd stop by to say hello. I'm very busy right now working on several swap items. Hope my partners will like what I am making. no hints sorry ladies I want it to be a surprise.
Just ordered my very first folk art patterns from Jenn @Bittersweet Prims. I ordered Wynn and Luna. and now I have to buy printer ink so I can get started on them. Good thing tomorrow is payday. Jenn is having a contest and I am gonna give it a try. Stop by and visit her tell her I sent ya.
well I gotta go get ready for work. It's so very hot here today 95 degrees with a heat index of 105. Very humid and I have to work out side in the Garden Center today. YUK!
Have a wonderful Prim day my friends.

Birds nest

Last year I came across this blog.  She creates the most gorgeous nests. I have wanted one ever since I saw them. well I decided to try making one.Here is what I came up with.

Not as great as her's but still not bad for a first try.

Happy 4th of July

Just wanted to wish all my blog friends a Happy and Safe 4th of July

Swap any one?

I've been searching for a few swaps to participate in but am really having no luck so I've tried hosting my own and no one seems interested. So I'm asking you-my prim friends if you are up for a one on one swap? I am in the mood to make a doll or some other prim goodie for someone in blogland but having am having a hard time finding a good prim swap. If ya know of any please let me know?

Berry Sweet.

Last year I discovered we had a black raspberry patch in the woods behind our house.

However I didn't get to them in time and the neighbor guy (also friend) got them all and didn't share any with us. Shame on him.  LOL. This year I kept my eye on them and

as soon as I saw they were ready I went berry pickin.
Little did I know that what I thought was a small patch is actually quite a lot of berries and it take up a good bit of the woods. So I asked Mr W. to make me a path so I could get to them and sweet guy that he is and because he loves me, he did just that.

I managed to pick 3lbs of berries

and I baked some muffins

to have as a yummy breakfast treat.

I might think about sharing some baked goodies using my berries with the neighbor since I'm such a good neighbor. HEE HEE.

Summer Fun Apron Swap

I am hosting a Summer Fun Apron swap over on my new swap blog.Please check it out and tell all your blogging friends. I hope you join. Stop on over for all the details. Hope to see ya there.

Sorry for being MIA.

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. I just haven't had much to post about lately. I've been lazy and haven't done much in the way of sewing. I even fell behind on a few swaps I joined and that is so not like me at all. I figured I needed to take a break when I couldn't keep up with swaps and it was only 2 of them so it was nothing overwhelming even.

I have been outside more since all the rain has eased up. Most of April and May we had lots and lots of rain. I planted my very first herb garden

and my hubby made a nice little seating area for me.

And he even added another little flower bed.

So this is where I have been spending most of my time lately and no crafting has been happening.
But I'm feeling the need to create again and I've been thinking of hosting an apron swap. However I'm not sure if there would be any interest. I there is I'll be more than happy to get one started. Let me know.

Swap Goodies

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Finally had time to post the swap goodies Sheila sent me. I love everything. We only agreed to send three things but she really out did herself and spoiled me. Thanks so much Sheila. I am still working on yours and will be sending it out soon.

My apologies

Sorry for disappearing. I sorta went into a depression and did absolutely nothing for about 10 days. And of course it has now put me very far behind on getting things done. I have swaps that I must get mailed out this week and I have nothing. Someone told me sometimes we need to make a change no matter how small and she was right- she knows who she is.
And I guess my mind needed a break, some time to recharge and refresh because I feel so much better now. I have actually started exercising and eating better and while I haven't lost any weight this past week I have lost 2 inches off my waist. Hey it's a start and we have to start somewhere right?

Now I gotta get my lazy butt in high gear and get stuff created.

BTW Sheila I received you wonderful goodies and will post them soon.

Grr!

My day didn't start of to well this morning. I get my 12 year old up a 6:30  every morning to get ready for school.Well when the alarm went of  I thought I hit the snooze button but I actually turned it of and it was 7:03 when I got him up. He leaves for the bus stop at 7:10. Talk about a mad rush to get ready this morning. He made it though, Thank goodness.
And now it seems I've got a cause of  I don't wanna. I've got a million things that need done and I just don't wanna do any of it.There are 3 dolls that I need to make for an order, several swap items for a couple of swaps I'm in, some cleaning that needs done and all I feel like doing is going back to bed and staying there all day. Of course that can't happen because my kiddos will be here in an hour and a half. And once they arrive I'll get no rest because they keep me hoppin.
The temperature is supposed  to be around 70 but stormy today here in my part of Ohio. Just when we get nice temps there is a 90% chance of rain. Go figure, guess it fits my mood today.

My latest creation.

I've been working some crazy hours the last couple of days so I haven't had much time for crafting. I have a couple of doll orders I need to work on  and some swap items. But since I haven't had time for big things I managed to make this little birdie. It's for a swap but I wont tell ya what one. I'm in 3 swaps right now and since one of my partners might be reading,  it will still be a surprise as to who it's going to.

Well that's all I've got for now. I have to head to work. Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Shelf Re-do

Earlier today I posted a pic of my shelf after I redecorated.I thought it needed something more. Lisa of The Moonlit Stitch suggested I frame some fabric and put up above the pic. I thought it was a great idea but didn't really like any fabric I had. But I did happen to find this bird nest picture on the internet and thought it would look great. It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I love how it looks now.

What do you think?

It's missing something.

I'm not very good a decorating and I don't have a lot of prim decor in my house but I'm adding it a little at a time. This is my before pic of a shelf in my craft/computer room.

And this is the after pic. I think it looks better but still seems like it's missing something.

It needs a little splash of color against the stark white wall(that I've been after the hub to paint for awhile now). Some kind of Stitchery, a small quilt or a prim sign? I'm sure I could create one but that's not really my thing. I'll keep looking and maybe something will jump out at me. Any suggestions?

I could kick myself.

Back in 2009 I acquired the wooden bowl shown here in this picture. At the time I received it I was not decorating my house in the prim style. So I gave it to my friend to put in her shop. It never sold so she gave it back to me when she had to close the  shop last year for health reasons. It sat for a long time in my attic cause I didn't have a place for it. Well last year at my family reunion we had a Chinese auction and I needed an item to put in the auction well guess what I put up for auction. Yep you guessed it the wooden bowl. Of course at the time I didn't think I'd need it but now I could kick myself because I could use that bowl. I've done some redecorating and have the perfect spot for this bowl. Oh Why Oh Why did I ever get rid of it?  So now I am on a mission to find another one. Guess that means I'll be visiting several Good Wills and Thrift stores.

Lesson: Don't get rid of a perfectly good wooden bowl you never know when you might need it!

I'm not used to this.

Every Monday I watch my cousins two children. I really enjoy them. There Liliana who is 3 and Kolby(not shown)who is 10 months. They are such sweet children. Today Liliana decided she was spending the night. Both my children are boys and now teenagers so I haven't had a little one at my house during the night in a long time. I don't know that I'll get much sleep.
Liliana wanted to cook something and I wanted something easy,so we decided on peanut butter fudge. See here we are in our purty aprons. As you can see by her smile she was having fun and I enjoyed it too.

She is such a sweet and funny child and says things that me make laugh so hard. But I love her and enjoy our time together.

Spring Chick 2.0

Ok I think I've got my spring chick make do to my liking. Took me a couple of tries but this one is a keeper. Again it is my own design.

Here is a close up view.

It is made from wool felt and tea dyed not coffee dyed, simply because I was out of coffee. But I've found that if you use 6 tea bags ad 2 cups of water and then let it sit overnight it works just as well as the coffee.
So what do you think?

HMM what to post?

I had a whole other post planed about how my car needed fixed due to a bad wheel bearing and it was gonna be a two day job because the hub told me it was. But he managed to have it done in a few hours with the help of our neighbor and also friend Kevin. And then I was gonna tell you about the snow we were getting because the weather man said we were. Well that didn't happen either. So then I had to figure out what to write about since things changed.

I figured I might as well show you what I've been working even though I'm sure I've bored you with enough of my creations.
I happened upon a new blog the other day and she had posted her decor. Well I saw a prim chick make do that I just loved. I set about creating one I hoped would look similar.

I failed of course because mine looks more like a bird than a chick but still it is cute and I like it. I drew up the bird myself. I'm working on one that looks more like a chick rather than a bird and I'll post it soon I hope.
 the baskets you see hanging above the bird are ones I made with cotton twine and a very complicated tool(LOL)

as you can see. I'll post a tutorial soon.
Anyway I have to head to work now so I must go. Have a safe and warm day friends.

A Spring Giveaway

In honor of the arrival of Spring, and a new blog  A Primitive Place Magazine, aka APP is having a very special blog giveaway! 

The winner will receive a wonderful tobacco basket made  by Pam from BasketsNPrims. The basket is based on the larger style once used to carry tobacco to market.

For all the details head on over to their blog.

I have a confession

In all the years that I've been creating primitives and raggedies I have never bought an online pattern. Oh yes it's true. I have always acquired free ones or found them in magazine. Don't get me wrong there are lots of great prim patterns out there but buying online patterns wasn't in my budget for so long. But now I have been given a $25 MasterCard and I thought it would be great to spend it on a few patterns. But now my problem is trying to find one I want to buy. I've looked at so many lately and want to buy them all but I don't have THAT much money. So I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the patterns I've seen.

I know that I want to buy a pin keep pattern since I've joined Wendy's pin keep swap(link on sidebar) but I've seen so many that I just can't decide what one. There are some really cute ones out there. Oh so many choices, how will I ever decide?

P.S. the bunny above is my own design. I call him Butternut.

An Easter giveawy

 Karen at Cedar Creek Primitives is having a FABULOUS Spring/Easter giveaway! The giveaway includes 12 prim rag eggs,and 5 prim carrots in a basket. Isn't that great? She's created a whole display ready for you- if you win that is...SO head on over to her blog and follow it then leave her comment .She will being drawing the winner April 9th so you've got a bit of time to enter!! Good luck everyone!

Raggedy Rabbits

My  friend Kathie asked me to make her a couple of prim rabbits. And here they are. I think they are lovely and I really had fun creating them. Now I've had a couple of requests for a few more. So I guess I'm gonna be busy sewing but that's ok cause I enjoy it.

Oh How I wished.

As I surf blog land each morning for my daily reading I see lots of ladies that are stay at home moms. This has always been my dream. I would have loved to be able to stay home and take care of my family and work on creating my prim dolls and polymer clay creations but it is not meant to be. But ya know I am ok with this somewhere along the way my wish changed. I work retail-not my dream job still good enough for. Why do I say this well it has still allowed me to create and take care of my family. Sure the hours are not always to my liking and my weekends may not always be free like others in my family but I have finally realized I do like my job. It only took me 13 years to come to this realization.

When I started to write this post it was to say how envious I was of those ladies who get to stay home but as I got to thinking about what I was wishing and writing my thoughts changed and the words above are what poured out. My life is not perfect but it makes me happy and ya know that is what matters the most.

Prim swap?

I've been searching for a few swaps to participate in but am really having no luck. Does anyone know of any going on? I am in the mood to make a doll or some other prim goodie for someone in blogland but it s no one is holding swaps right now or I'm just not looking in the right places.

Till I find one I do have many a doll that needs made for a few friends  to tide me over.

Hanging out

i don't have a lot of time lately for blogging so
http://www.facebook.com/purtygirlboutique
You can find me over on Facebook. I have added lots of my dolls and even my newest creation Butternut Bunny.
Hope to see you there.

Miss Delila Rabbit

My newest creation. The pattern is one I got from the April 2008 Create & Decorate magazine. It is a Prindle Mountain Primitives pattern. i made this for my friend Kathie. I have one more to make because she wants one for her daughter also. This is my first critter doll. I really enjoyed making her now I want to make other critters.