Why I need coffee cake...

     Okay, so first, I am leaving for school with my brand new book bag laden with, well, books.  Apparently, during the summer, I have lost the ability to walk correctly while carrying a backpack.  So, I tripped on the stairs and sprained my ankle. Um, sounds to me like Anne Shirley walking the ridge of a building.  Well, except no one dared me.  And it wasn't the top of a house.  And there wasn't a bush to break my fall.  Or Diana to help me walk home.  Okay, okay.  The only thing the same is the ankle.   But, praise the Lord, it could have been much worse!  

     This is the disaster area that is my room right now.  It's worse around the corner, but I couldn't bring myself to share such a disheveled mess.  So, I will try to update you on my classroom later in the week.

But!  Some goodies came in the mail!  The pumpkin is from Natalie at Tins and Treasures! It has all different textured materials and perfectly prim! I bought it off of her etsy. The adorable cow is from Wendy at Ravenwood Whimzies!  Check out her blog for great stuff, but she is requesting prayer for a friend.  I posted it on the Prayer Board as well.  There are some new requests, so check it out!

 Oh, my other "Anne" moment- I have a ton of eBay things ending tonight.  I didn't think it through that it may not be the best idea to have 20 THINGS ENDING ON THE SAME DAY!  Ugh.  I think my hair is turning red.  I think I also hear Marilla calling me... HOWEVER!  I think she has coffee cake in a cup for me!

Goodnight and blessings, Friends!

Heather

Coffee Talk for Today:  How was your day?  What can we pray for?

Flip It!

     Here it is! Tada!  My second pin cushion!  The reasoning behind calling this post "Flip It" is because there are people out there who take broken down houses, fix them up, and "flip them" for a profit.  The part I like is taking junk and making it useful.  Not necessarily for a profit, although that would be nice.  I guess it is the pioneer spirit of "make-do's" that inspire me.  (Oooh, note to self: During my fifth grade pioneer unit have students create their own "make-do's".)

     So here's how it is a "make-do"/flipped sort of thingy.  First, I got it from Goodwill.  I have the picture to prove it.  It even shows what I paid for it!  It looks, to me, to be a punched metal votive holder.  It does seem to be plated with copper, as there is a nice verdigris patina in some areas.  But, if you look at the spot above the price tag, it appears to be just dark metal.  I was thinking (Danger!) if it was solid copper, it would be a golden color inside too.  But, anyway, it is super cute.  Back to the story...  

     I made the little "muffin top" cushion like last time.  I sewed a little cheese cloth on it to look like a frayed patch.  I also sewed some of your normal stitches to make it look repaired. I stitched a little tiny "1776" on it.  I don't know why.  I don't know why I kept putting "1807" on the other stuff.  Sounds like a good date.  I just hope it wasn't the year of a plague or epidemic.  "Here buy my primitive remembrances of a cholera epidemic."  Nice.  

     I coffee stained and baked my fabric. Drank a little coffee too  Oh! I did do something a little differently.  While it was damp, I sprinkled some instant coffee on it.  Instead of "bleeding out" like it normally does, it left little brown spots.  Love it!  

     Finally, when it was dry and stuffed, I shoved it into the tin.  Well, I looked at it, and the edges needed something.  I didn't want to use the lace like the other one because it would cover up the punched work on the base.  What to do?  So I decided to wrap some jute string around it and tie it.  I then thought about it, "Now, if I sell this, you KNOW that string is going to pop right off."  I decided to whip-stitch it on.  

     Okay, I have to be honest.  My decision to do the whip-stitching was out of pure laziness.  I was going to hot glue it.  HOWEVER, I did not feel like searching for my glue gun, which was probably out of glue sticks, and  I soooo did NOT feel like burning my fingers.  I hate that.  So, stitching it was!  It is funny, but I am glad I didn't use the glue.  I like the contrast of the black thread. And, well, since I am sharing, I am terrible at hot gluing.  Remember, I told you about my patience issue.  Wellll, I have a hard time waiting for the glue gun to properly heat up.  So, ok, I try to use it too soon and, rather than realizing the glue gun is not ready, I go ahead and use it, and it makes gloops and spider-webby things and, good grief, what a mess! Phew!  I am glad I got that off my chest. Again, another tool I just need to say "no" to. 

     So, here is my product.  I am going to try to sell it on eBay.  It is a scary thing to sell something you have created.  It is a different kind of critiquing that goes on when you sell something.  I have only really sold one thing I made in my entire life. When you sell something, you put yourself out there.  If it doesn't sell, you think to yourself, "Is it really ugly?"  Or, "Is it not really worth that much?" Oh, and here's my biggest fear- the eBay buyer gets it home and leaves a comment like "Not as pictured" or some other negative comment.  Ugh.  Well, here it goes... I am "flipping it"...

Coffee Talk for Today:

• What is the first thing that you ever sold? How did you feel?
• Bonus Question (Gold stars for answering)- If I were to have my students create their own make-do's from the pioneer times, what are some ideas that you have so I can make the activity "authentic".  I would like them to be able to design something totally new, but limit them to materials or items that would be useful to that time period.  Some of you are really experts in this area.  What do you think?
  

A Little Somethin'

     So, here are the fruits of my "labor".  And by labor, I mean sitting on the couch stitching while watching "North & South" based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell.  It is not the miniseries with Patrick Swayze about the U.S. Civil War.  If you have not read the book by Gaskell or seen the miniseries based on her book, you must (And don't argue with me)!  Wives and Daughters is another of her books and also has a miniseries based on it.  Both television productions are just lovely and are pretty true to the books.  I find when a book is made into a miniseries, it is more accurate because the film makers have more time to devote to accuracy.  Movies have to be 80 minutes or so.  You know someone's favorite is going to be cut for that.  My other favorite movies are Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley one- even though it does not support my previous argument about miniseries) and the BBC series "Emma".  Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell are my favorite authors.  I have read all of the books by each author, some multiple times, and I am always saddened that both authors are deceased.  That means I can't look forward to any more new books by them. *SNIFF!*

     Ok, back to our stitchery story after that nice little detour.  Wow, I blazed right off the beaten path with that "squirrel" moment.  Sorry!

     Well, the star is finished and at the top of my tree.  Then, I made a pin cushion out of some osnaburg fabric and lace.  I coffee stained it, baked it, and put it in a tin cup (That sounded like a nursery rhyme!).  It looks a bit like a muffin that got too much baking powder, but it was fun to make.  So, now I am hooked.  I made another one that I will put in another post.  That one I may try to sell. MAYbe... This may turn out to be another If You Give a Moose a Muffin moment.

    I actually got this idea from a couple different places.  One, is from my husband's grandmother.  She was known for taking scraps and buttons and making beautiful things.  She made crazy quilt pincushions, pincushions in tiny ceramic containers, sleeves that were bedeckled with buttons to hold rulers.  I will have to show you some of her things in another post. Her things are so beautiful, she needs her own page.  God blessed her with such creativity and a passion to use it!

      I have also seen some great ideas on Pinterest and Our Pioneer Homestead . "Our Pioneer Homestead" has great patterns and tutorials you can use.  She also creates beautiful prim goodies. The link above takes you to the page where she made a pincushion with an old pewter cup.  It makes me want to find interesting old cups! I think that pewter cups would look especially sweet with some cross-stitch work in them. It would be a little more refined.  More work, but cute! I can't do it.  I can't sew in a straight line (LOOK AT THEM!).  I love the work by my new friend, Christine, at Preferably Prim. Ugh!  I think I would need a second job from looking at and buying the beautiful things people make and sell on their blogs! Such talent out there!

So there we have it.  Shortish and sweet.  Shocking, I know!

Coffee Talk for Today:

Today, you can choose your "flavor"-

• What is a make-do that you especially liked making?
• What are your favorite movies and/or books?
• Go on a "rabbit trail" of your own.

Blessings,

Heather

Twinkle, Twinkle, Prim Little Star...

     So, here is a primitive stitchery I just finished.  It is a star (in case you can't tell). It was one of those "I need a tree topper, but I don't feel like driving to the store and wasting gas because I live in the boondocks" moments.  It is the origin of the modern day "make-do's".  'Gas prices are so high that I will make it myself and "make-do" '.  It is not about hitching up the horse anymore.

     The impetus for said star?  I redid one of my trees that I keep up year-round.  And by "redid", I mean I took everything off, stripped it bare, nothing on it, nada, zilch... Oh, wait.  Everything except the country garland. And the lights.  Okay, so semi-bare. I thought the tree looked busy and cluttered.  I had a bunch of little home-made stitcheries of mine on it.  The rest of the hodge-podge was a few sewn birds and those tree ornaments that look like old kitchen utensils (the tree is near my kitchen). There was no theme.  It was "put country cute stuff on the tree" kind-of look.  As I take pictures for this blog, the pictures help me to see areas of my decor that are too busy, don't fit in, aren't balanced- you name it.  I highly recommend taking pictures of different areas of your home from different angles to see how they may appear to others.  

     Anyway, back to the story.  My old Singer sewing machine needs repair (Disclaimer:  The following may or may not be considered a "squirrel" moment).  My mother gave it to me, and it is the old metal kind that would sit in a console.  You flip open the top of the console, bring up the sewing machine, and WALAH! You have your machine and a work table.  The problems are: it isn't portable, and it takes up room.  So, I removed the machine from the console.  Since it is metal, it weighs like a "bagillion" pounds.  Seriously, if a Mack truck ran over it, the truck should worry... But it is a classic pistachio green, it is well-made, and not made of plastic.  But right now, it needs a Singer repair person give it some TLC.  

     So, all of that to say- I do a lot of hand-stitching.  Which isn't bad.  It certainly is portable.  I sew on the porch, on the couch, in the house, with a mouse... Ooops, how did Dr, Seuss get in this discussion? Ugh.  ANYWHOOO, so I decided my tree needed a new topper. 

     I  had a medium-sized prim angel at the top. The angel, although cute, dwarfed the tree.  So, to the prim star: I used black and beige embroidery thread, two strands at a time, a piece of antique crochet-work that came from an old bedspread, osnasburg fabric, a piece of backing fabric for the inside, and instant coffee.  Lots of instant coffee.  

• After I had sewn the star (which is obviously not precisely sewn, as you can see), I put it into a bowl of dark instant coffee.  I let it sit there for hours (not too long or it will rot or look like a science experiment gone wrong).  
• Two things that I like to do to give it that really "grungy look" is to sprinkle some of the coffee crystals right on any pieces of the project that are close to the surface of the staining liquid or sprinkle it on the project while it is damp and sitting in my dish drain.  If the spots are too dark, I just rub the fabric together to blur the stain a bit.  
• After it has drained a while, I put it in my oven on low heat to dry. You need to really supervise this.  Starting a fire in your stove trying to "grunge" something and having to explain this to the fire department or a spouse may not be understood by non-primitive crafters and decorators.  It would be frowned upon. But, doing it this way gives it a hard, starchy feel and a darker color.  
• When it feels dry, I let it sit in the oven (after it has been turned off), and I crack the door a bit.  I just leave it that way for a while.  And then- tadaa! It is ready to put on the tree!  

     WELL, that was so much fun!  My next project is to use a similar technique and create some grungy pincushions. Do I need pincushions? No.  Do I want an excuse to coffee-dye things and put them in the oven. Yes.  If they turn out well, I may try to sell them on eBay.  We'll see.  Maybe ya'll can give me some feedback on them when I am done.  My stitching is primitive.  But it may appear to others as "Cool, this looks primitive.  It is like it was made in the good old days" or, how embarrassing, "Woah, this looks primitive.  Like a five-year old made it.  Yikes."  

Coffee Talk for Today: What are some grunging techniques that you use? What are some unique items that you use to create "make-do's"?

Wednesday Whats & What-Nots...

What to do, what to do...

     I got this egg gathering basket on eBay.  I have always been drawn to them because of their wire look and my prim imagining of their use.  I know farmers and homesteaders may not romanticize the gathering of eggs, but these baskets remind me of a time gone by and a simpler life.  Eggs in Styrofoam?  Not so much. However, I broke my purchasing rule- I must have a spot or use for it.  Ooops, I failed this time. I bought it because I liked it.  So, I need some help.  I want to do something prim with it, but I do not want to just put plastic prim-looking eggs in it.  I want to do something different.  So, what do you think?

Whatcha' Doin'

    Well, I am going to visit a local coffee shop (owned by the sister of Aimee of "My *Pink* Life").  I love their vanilla lattes!  I want to also check out the new decor.  I am showing some artwork there in September.  They have changed their "local art wall" a bit, so I want to "scope" it out before finalizing what I want to put on it.  I am also going to check out some of the local thrift stores to see if there are any bargains or things I can remake and sell.  I do sell some things on eBay, but I am still trying to figure out what sells well.  I am new to the eBay selling and blogging world, so this summer has been an adventure.

What I am NOT Doing...

     Yard work.  I have an electric trimmer now.  My dad gave me one that he was not using.  I fell in love with it just like my other love, Mr. Powerwasher.  I know.  Weird.  But there is great satisfaction is making something neat and clean quickly.  I went to TOWN on the bushes on the one side of our house.  We dug out pathetic looking ornamental grasses and planted hostas.  Now, it just needs edging and mulch.  Why I am not doing any more yard work today?  Allergies..  Allergies to everything.  Last week, within 15 minutes of working outside, I had two huge mosqito bites and a rash from the hedges.  This week I was smart- I wore a long-sleeved shirt.  No rashes, but last night I spent most of the night coughing and sneezing.  My other friend, Sir Benadryl, helped me out.  Only problem- I didn't wake up until 10 am.  I am not a person who sleeps in... Ugh.  So much for the early start! So, I will slice and dice the bushes on the other side of the house another day.  Aaaaachooo!

Coffee Talk for Today: So, what are your "Whats and What-Nots" for today?

 Blessings!

Heather

Making a House a Home...

Each person has a different style to add "flavor" to their home. Mine is country primitives. Why? Because the worn, grungy look reminds me of something that has been well-loved or used for many years. It's liked the cherished teddy bear that has been passed down through the family for years until stuffing is coming out of the seams and an eyeball is missing.


I love things that are dented, a little cracked, and are well-patinated. "Patinated" is a word I learned from "Antiques Roadshow". I was sure they made the word up until Mr. Webster and I met up. It's a real word. ANYHOW, I love patina and a little dirt. Now, mind you, I am not hard-core primitive. My refrigerator and other appliances still look like their modern selves.

I love pouring over books, websites, my new addiction, Pinterest, and magazines such as Country Sampler and Country Living. My house is never a finished thing. Many times I sit on the couch in the evening and think,'I wonder how that would look over there?' Sometimes I love the idea, and sometimes it just turns out to be an opportunity to dust that piece of furniture.


However, I do sincerely believe that decorating is not only an artistic form of expression, but also a desire of our creative heavenly Father. It is not the only thing a homemaker should do. But certainly, creating a comfortable home is something precious and valuable. Even the creatures of the earth, beavers, birds, you name it (except squirrels. Yikes!) put creativity into the design and comfort of their homes. The most beloved compliment someone can make is that they,"feel at home" here. They can sprawl out, put their feet up (That is where worn and cracked works out great!).

Now, here's my problem (one of many)- I love these time-worn treasures that I have to display them all. I know some of you can relate to that. So, I am looking for this blog, amongst other fabulous blogs, to be one of inspiration. Inspiration from both successes and failures. Truth-telling in that we can tell each other, "Woah. Too much!" or "How about moving it to the right or painting it a different color?" And, please, not inspiration from just me, but all of you. Discuss what went right but also what didn't work. Share your fun finds and creative ways for repurposing items- even if your inspiration started somewhere else.

Now, I will offer another caveat. Peppered in-between our "coffee talk" about decorating, I may have to share stories from home and school, meaningful quotes and scripture, and other odds-n-ends. Feel free to do the same. After all, isn't that what friends do over coffee?