Snowman and Angel clothespin patterns

Hi,

I managed to get the pattern for the little clothespin Snowman done today. Also did a little Angel clothespin angel ornament. Both are in the share box. Be sure to get all the pieces.

I had been wanting to make this guy again. I sold the original model last year at a show and forgot how much I liked him until I got him made. He is #414 Merry Christmas in Our Olde Country Cupboard Line. There is a lot to him. but only had one last year and he sold right away at the first show I did. I always say I am not going to sell my models, but always do. I live in a small house and it does get crowded.

Next I used a pattern by Aunt Manny's. I had to make up the ( To: Santa Claus and North Pole) and a "child's name on the computer, in the original pattern you were supposed to use rubber stamps. But this is much easier using the iron on paper. I got quite a few of these made. I have a whole stack yet to iron the transfers on. I am putting different names in from place on the envelopes. This way they can be used together stuck in a bowl or mail bag with different names on. I am thinking of making a santa's mailbag and using some letters in the bag with a electric candle light and lots of greenery.

This is the little Clothespin Angel I made. I like the way she turned out. She is good for using up some of those scraps we all have laying around. I used some feedsack towels my mom had purchased a long time. When she passed away, I was given all her fabric scraps.

Well, this is the last day of my Christmas in July. I will still to try post about every day, with what I got done and some more freebies. I will be changing my Christmas logo above with a fall one made by Deb's lost treasures for the fall season, then a Halloween one. I am ready to get working on fall items now. I have gotten a ton of orders for the Hank the Scarecrow already finished, so this weekend, I guess I know what I will be doing. Please keep checking back with us. I plan on doing another giveaway with all the models of the freebies, such as the Mouse in stocking, mouse in matchbox. Clothespin Angel and Snowman next. So check in tomorrow night to see when to sign up.

Unfinished projects and Free Patterns

Hi,

A very nice lady named Cathi sent me a link to make up pdf files, so I have attached another free pattern of one of my You are Special patterns. I think I must be doing something wrong though, when I print it out it looks smaller than the original, so if it prints out smaller, just enlarge to desired size. I also got the prairie doll clothespin pattern printed up. Both are in the share box on the side. So be sure to get all the pieces. I will have the other snowman clothespin ornie ready tomorrow to download. Ran out of time today, don't know where it all went.

This Free pattern I am offering is called Gingerbread Annie. I know I have a lot of people have been emailing me wanting finished dolls lately. So I think dolls are going to be real popular this year.

Finally got my Simple Santa's finished today, here is the finished picture of this Santa. He is from our You are Special line also.




These are some of the gingerbread men I have gotten ready to go with the I love gingerbread Annie I was working on last week. Some are still kind of wet, but when they dry, they have a baked look to them.



Now, here I have a pile of unfinished snowman heads, I will try to get these finished this upcoming weekend. I have the rusty springs and everything, just need to do the noses, faces and hats and they will be finished.

This is a picture of the completed snowman heads I had at the show last year. They always sell out for me. One of my favorite items that I make. They are from a pattern by Sassafras Hills.

Picture of my display with the snowman on. Time to start working on updating my display. Shows will start in about 2 1/2 months, running out of time.

The Winners of this weeks giveaways are....

HI,
so sorry I didn't get to post last night, but orders from the Country Sampler have been coming in. Had to work on more Scarecrows and do pattern orders. I had my husband draw the 5 names for the winners of this weeks giveaways and they are:

1st giveaway is: Wendystq@hotmail.com
2nd giveaway is: Gayle at dyeing2hook@msn.com
3rd giveaway is: Barnyard Country Crafaters
4th giveaway is: KKL Primitives
5th giveaway is: Taylors Farmhouse

So if you all would email your address, I will get your goodies on their way to you. thanks to all that entered, I wish everyone could win. Had a great response to this giveaway. But more giveaways are coming.

I have been working on one of my Snowman patterns. Managed to get 3 finished today. I cheated though, used wooden candy canes instead of the painted muslin ones. Started raining and had to bring all my painted items in. I still need to add some moss and patches here and there on the bag, then they will be finished. These are made on the large spool bobbins. They are fairly heavy.

I purchased a lot of clothespins last year, and finally got something made with them. I had purchased some little prairie clothespin dolls last year on ebay and loved them. I made up my own version on them yesterday. It is a great way to use up scraps. I think a little tree made up with a bunch of them would look great.

Next, I finally finished these clothespin snowman, I actually had started them last year and finally picked them up again to finish. My goal is to use up alot of those supplies I have bought over the years and declutter my craft room a little, at least so I can walk around in it, without tripping over something.

When I went to the Goodwill store last week with Carmen, I found a bag full of Christmas craft stuff and these plastic canes were in there. So I wrapped them with muslin and red fabric. I think they turned pretty cute. They were easy to make, still want to use a little glass glitter on them and a vintage tag and then they will be done. I also buy the plastic candy cane ornaments at Christmas and wrap them also. I have been told you can take aluminum foil and crinkle up into a candy cane shape and wrap the same way as the plastic canes.

While browsing the internet, I found this cute poem. I am going to attach it some green striped candy canes this year. I am thinking of making some of the big ones that I usually attach the candy cane poem to and do them in green striped with the grinch tag. I have added the Grinch poem in the share box if you are interested in it.

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If any of you are interested in the clothespin patterns let me know, mostly they are just little bits and pieces glued together. Quick and inexpensive to make.

Working on orders today

HI,

I had to work on the Scarecrow dolls for my Country Sampler ad today. Got them done. Now I can get back to Christmas tomorrow. I am offering 2 of my bestselling patterns in the sharebox on the side. I hope to have 2 new ideas to share with you, one a little clothespin Snowman and Santa face tin can.

The first one is the Candy Cane Annie Pattern. This one has 4 pattern piece pages, directions and picture. So you will have to download several pages on this one. But this doll sold at every show I did last year and people keep asking if I had any more made. Use the the little Candy Cane Graphic for a prim tag, Tammy Sherman did this little graphic for me.

The Next pattern is one of my earlier stitchery patterns. #01 Christmas Tags: this is in the sharebox on the side also. It has the pattern piece page, picture and instructions, you will have to download several pages of these als0o. Hope to one day figure out this pdf file thing, be so much easier.

well, hope to bring you more ideas and tips tomorrow. Shouldn't hav to work on Fall items tomorrow, Tomorrow is for Christmas, will post tomorrow night, what I managed to get done.

Playing with dolls and unfinished Santas

HI,

Today was one of those days, didn't get half what I wanted to get done. I did manage to get into my shed and rearrange slightly, so at least I have a walkway in there and room to fit a few more crates of finished crafts. My daughter was home today, for a change, wasn't out on a date or working. My husband worked the night shift , so it was just me and her for a change. She put on a movie she downloaded off the computer and we just sat together, watched the movie and she stitched some more pillows for me while I finished a scarecrow for a customer.

I also, got out some of Christmas Santa's and dolls while I was rearranging and wanted to share some the ones I have collected through the past few years. My favorite by far are the Alta santas, hard to find around here. But one shop does have them around Christmas, the quality has gone down in the workmanship since I bought the first one. But I really like their faces. So if any one knows where to I can get some of the older ones, please let me know.

This next set of dolls, I purchased from other crafters on ebay. I love my snowman dolls. I think they were made from a Sweet Meadows farm pattern, I want to tackle one of those patterns with the eyes painted on like that. But not sure I can do a good job on the painting.The Annie dolls is one I purchased from Primitives in the Attic on ebay. I really got a good price on that one.

Next is my pile of unfinished Santas, they are still being dressed. I did almost get one completed. But have to spray him down tomorrow with coffee stain and get him primmed up. Hope to have all of them completed tomorrow. This is my Simple Santa Pattern #283 from You are Special patterns.

The free pattern I am offering tonight is the little mouse in stocking ornaments. I sold so many of these last year at the shows. I handstitch mine together, but they can be done on a sewing machine. To me they are just easier to handstitch, I can take them with and stitch them in the car. Quick and easy to do and a proven bestseller. I have put the pattern in the sharebox. Remeber there will be 3 parts to it, picture, instructions and pattern pieces.

New Giveaways this week and free patterns

I have had such a good response from my beeswax ornaments and sprays, that I am having 5 giveaways this week with the sprays and beeswax ornaments. So there will 5 winners this week. I will pick the winners on Wednesday. So please be sure to leave me a comment. Remember you must be a member to leave a comment.

In the first giveaway, I am giving away 3 bottles of Sprays, 1 little black doll, 3 beeswax Santas, assortment of tarts and 3 of our little brown bags, all in a basket.

In the second giveaway, this is for an assortment of tarts, a Jack Frost room spray, 2 beeswax Santa ornaments and 3 Angel beeswax ornaments.




In the third giveaway , I am giving away a Chestnuts and brown sugar room spray, 5 little beeswax prairie doll ornaments, and 1 little pair of beeswax shoes, plus an assortment of tarts in a little basket.



In the fourth giveaway, I am giving away another Jack frost room spray, a little cupboard santa light with flicker light on rusty plate with rosehips and pinecones.

In the fifth giveaway, are some our beeswax jingle bells on a little rusty plate, a little Merry Christmas tag and a bottle of our Jack Frost room spray. This spray smells so good. Just like Peppermint, very strong and yummy.

The first freebie pattern is something that I had been wanting to try. I used an old light bulb and made a Santa ornament out of it. I have put the pattern in the share box in the side box. There are 3 different parts to it, so be sure to get the instructions, picture and pattern pieces.




Last is our Mouse in a matchbox freebie pattern. This was made in large kitchen matchbox. He is so quick and easy to make. You will find the pattern in the share box on the side. Again 3 different sections to it, so make sure you get them all. If you have any problems downloading them, please let me know.

Well, this is our last week of Christmas in July, we will be bringing another free ornament pattern to you tomorrow. And we will have one more big giveaway at the end of the week.

Hope everyone has enjoyed our Christmas in July blog and thanks for all your nice comments and emails.

the winner of this weeks giveaway is.....

The Winner of this weeks giveaway is Peggy lee Baker, if you read this please email me, so I can get your address. I will be having a couple of giveaways next week. I managed to get another crow shutter made and will be having it in the giveaway along with bunches of tarts and sprays. so keep reading for the details. Only about a week left of my Christmas in July.

I finished 2 of my Prim Santa Wreaths today, I have a couple of more heads made, just had to go to Walmart to buy more wreaths. Why is it that I can never can out of Walmart for under $100.00 at a time. They don't even sell fabric anymore and I still find too much too buy. this Santa wreath I offered finished last year and sold so many, I didn't think I would willingly make another wreath this year, but I had a customer call from Canada and say she was interested in one. So guess what I made more and plan on having several for my shows, they are really good sellers, just got tired of making them last year.

Next is something I made up, I had one of those old sugar cone molds, I think that is what they are called. I printed up a label on the computer and burned around the edges with a match, then glued it to the front of the mold. Tied some homespun and cedar and berries on it. One of my candles wouldn't stay lighted as I took the picture.

I got some more candles grunged up and made another sheet of labels on the computer and cut them to the size that would fit the front of the candles. Tied a piece of jute around the candles and these turned out so prim looking with vintage Santa graphics.

I am trying something new, I poured some soy candles in little tins today, here is a pic of a few of them. I have made up a label to go on the front of them. I am going to tie some grungy cheesecloth or homespun around each with they are ready. I sprinkled a little cinnamon on top of each candle. So far, I have made hazelnut coffee, macintosh apple and cinnabuns. I am going to be anxious to try them. But guess I have to wait a few days .

Well, I almost got my Annie's dolls finished. I still have to make the Gingerbread Men to go with them. Hope to get them done tonight. This is a pattern from my You are Special line #248 I love Gingerbread. I had an order for the finished doll, so made a couple of extra ones. If I get the gingerbread men done tonight , I will add that picture to this post.



The days just are not long enough, seems like I get up, do orders, time for lunch. Start on finished items, time to cook dinner for my dad. I have to cook a different dinner for him each night as he can't have salt or sugar. That gets a little difficult at times. But luckily for me, my husband wanted Sonny's Barbeque for dinner and I only had to cook once today.

My daughter has been busy working on stitchery pillows. she was able to get 2 more finished. She really does a good job on them.



I have had several emails asking for the Santa images from the books last night. I have posted the 2 I used. They were Freebies I downloaded off the internet. I also added one of my favorite Santa images. I use this one on a lot of my items. You should be able to right click on these and save them to your computer. If you have any problems just let me know and I can email them to you directly.

I think this is one of the recipes I am going to use at the shows this year, here is a copy of it. I think I am going to use this reindeer graphic on the recipe card.

Reindeer Fodder

2-1/2 lb. white almond bark

3 cups Cap'n Crunch cereal
3 cups Rice Krispies

3 cups colored miniature marshmallows

3 cups roasted pecans

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Roast pecans 10 minutes. Melt almond bark in double boiler. Mix other ingredients together; pour melted almond bark over all and mix. Spoon out on waxed paper.

Well, the new Issue of Country Sampler seem like it is going to be a good issue for me, I have had quite a few orders for the Finished Scarecrow Hank I have in there. so i need to get busy working on those.

Easy Ideas for Christmas

Hi,

today, my friend Carmen, from Little Country Blessings came to visit me, while her husband was at his doctors appointment. So we got to go out to eat at the Chinese Restuarant. We ate way too much as usual. Being that this is Starke, we don't have much do in this small town. We did get to goodwill. Carmen found about $40.00 of Christmas Stuff, she is planning on doing a makeover on most of it. I did find a whole $6.00 worth of items to purchase, baskets, books, a few Christmas ornaments and some reindeer candle holders.

I will hopefully be posting pictures of my finished Gingerbread Annie dolls tomorrow. Hope to get them done tonight.

Below is a super quick idea, I bought some old books at Goodwill, took off the book jacket and painted the book with acrylic black paint. Let dry, then sanded down the edges. I made up a cover label for the front. I used a vintage looking Santa and typed the words Santa's Naughty or Nice list. I cut it down to size to fit the book, took a match and burned around the edges of the label to make it look a little more prim. Rubbed shoe polish on the label and make it grungy. Glue the label on real good. Took some spray adhesive and sprayed the front of the book and sprinkled mica flakes on the front. Added a sprig of cedar and red berries with a hot glue gun.

Then I tied a piece of jute around the whole book and knotted off. I really like the way they look.

Thought about buying a little antique looking lock and placing on the book with a tiny key, but of course, I couldn't find any locks around here.

This next idea is so simple. Using an empty tin can, be sure your edges are smooth, so you won't cut yourself. Either drill a small hole in each side for a hanger or glue a piece of jute or heavy twine in place for a handle. Take desired fabric and tear in about 1/2" strips and wind around the can, gluing here and there to secure. Continue to overlap the fabric until you get to the bottom, cut off excess and glue to secure. I put a jute bow and large jingle bell and rusty pin on one can, and the other jute a rusty pin and sprig of cedar, redberries and jingle bell. Fill these with whatever you want. I think they would look great with a tea light, can filled with moss and light nestled in moss. I added a prim tag. Another quick idea.

Well, my free time is over, my daughter and my husband just walked in the door. They went and bought her a new lap top, so I guess she will hidden in her room the rest of the night. But she did tell me, I could have her other desktop. It is a newer one than the one I am using right now.
So guess I better get back to the dolls and get them finished. I got my copy of the new Country Sampler and have orders for scarecrows to get done also.

HI everyone,
I managed to finished up these black dolls, from a pattern from Threadbare Primitives, they are not very Christmasy looking. But I always sell out of the black dolls at my shows. I am trying to do a lot these in everyday colors that can be used all year round.

Next, I dug out some old patterns from Sarrah Sporrer, she designs for Indygo Junction and got this small wall quilt done, I have quite a few of her patterns. I am pleased with the way it turned out. I am trying to think of items a little different to make this year. I want to do a booth makeover.

My friend Deb from Crows in the Cupola, gave me a teriffic idea, she gives away recipe cards of Christmas snacks to the first 40 customers in her booth. I am thinking of trying it also this year. I usually have a big bowl of peppermint candies sitting on the counter and that goes over very well, doesn't even last half a day. I buy those bags that have the handles on them and use them to package everything when a customer buys something from me. I know I hear comments like, they are the ones that have those neat bags every year. I just think in this time, and everyone trying to sell, you have to do the little things that make people want to purchase from you and come back time and time.

My friend Carmen is supposed to be coming again tomorrow for a few hours. Hopefully sometime soon, we will get to spend more than a couple of hours Her husband is going to the VA hospital, so rather that sit there, she is going to drive anotoher 30 minutes to come and see me.

HI,

I really wanted to post last night, but woke up with a bad headache, which lasted all day and night, nothing would get rid of it. So it was a wasted day for me. So trying to make up for lost time today.

I have had several people email me and ask where I purchased my beeswax and scents from. I purchase them from Peak candle supplies and Candlescience. I buy most of my beeswax off ebay, just look for ever has the better price with shipping.

I am doing another giveaway this week, this is a Santa I made from a pattern by Chestnut Junction, http://www.chestnutjunction.com/ just love her patterns. Also included is a little Christmas window to go with him that says warm welcome. Just leave me a comment and I will draw a name on Friday.

Next, I did get some more of my simple Angels made, this pattern will be available in a few days, still writing it up. I am able to use up some of cutter quilts this way. I hate to throw away any of my scraps, and this is working out perfectly.

Next, I have added the little Santa ornament to the share box on the side. It is in 3 different download boxes, for some reason I had to do the graphic, instructions and pattern pieces separate, so be sure to get all three parts. Please let me know if you have any trouble downloading it. I also added some free Christmas graphics I found, that you might be interested in, so scroll down until you find something hopefully you can use.

This next doll is by Raven's Haven. She is called Stella the Ugly dream Angel. She is so ugly, I love her, she always sells out at the my shows. I managed to get one of her finished today to share with you all. I plan on making several of these this year.

I just realized that the new Country Sampler is out, and already get orders for the finished scarecrow I have in there. Just wish I would get my copy. I keep checking their website to see if they have the new issue up yet and of course they don't. So hard to believe it is almost Fall. I guess I will have to do a Fall blog next.

Reindeers everywhere today

Well, today was a productive day, I worked on reindeers. I hope these sell good for me this year, this is such a simple and easy pattern to do. I made the largest reindeer head in the pattern and put it on a 14" wreath. I use wire and wire everything to the wreath, I hate using hot glue unless I have to. I had an old Christmas sign that works perfectly on this wreath, some wooden candy canes I purchased from Michaels last year marked way down. I also added some stained cheesecloth, rusty bells and pine cones.I sprayed the whole thing with the spray snow in the can. Oh, did I mention the wreath was a markdown from last Christmas sales, so this didn't cost much to make.

Next, I worked on the little reindeer head ornaments, these turned out so cute. I got quite a few of them made. My friend Carmen, brought me a bunch of sticks last time she came down to visit and so had plenty of reindeer antlers. Carmen is coming to visit me again on Wednesday, (so please bring some more antlers please, hint, hint). I still have to add the little primitive Merry Christmas tag on these and price them, then I just stick them in a cello bag and they are ready to go. I think I am going to ask 6.95 for these at the show.

This is a closeup of one of the little reindeer. They are about 8" high with the stick, I just purchased some precut dowels, paipnted them black and used, instead of trying to find enough sticks to insert in the body. No trees in my neighborhood.

I think I might be going to tackle my supply shed tomorrow, it looks like a couple of tornados went through, if I open up the door, I had better be ready to catch something. when I work, I have a tendency to pile, and this is piled to brim and can't even get in there anymore to find anything.

Hope you all enjoyed looking my little reindeers and thanks again for reading my blog and your nice comments.