Where is Spring?!

That is the question I ask myself each morning when I wake and look out my window! Only 3 days ago, the temp's here was hitting in the lower 40's and starting to melt some of our massive mounds of snow (I actually awoke both them days to hear the birds chirping too)! However, since yesterday, we have had temps in the low 20's with gusty winds...and MORE SNOW! The local weather station says we are actually 40" ABOVE the average snowfall for the month of February!!!! Now, that is INSANE! And it got me wondering.....WHERE IS SPRING?!


So, since I can't see any signs of Spring outside...I will make my own Spring inside! And with that...I AM HAVING A GIVEAWAY! This will be a Spring Giveaway! Something that can bring a little cheer into my home & one lucky winners home as well.



What am I giving away?! Hmmmm, I don't know yet....LOL! But, this will encourage me to get back into my craft room and get some crafting done! Besides, I have a few designs that I have been thinking about so this will get me to finally make them! I have been so lazy (winter blues) with my crafting that I need something to motivate me....and what better way then to have a giveaway?!

"Where is Spring?!" Giveaway Rules:

1. You MUST be a follower of my blog! This means you must actually "sign up" to be a follower, not just check in daily. You can do so by clicking on the "follow" button on my right side bar. It will then prompt you from there.

2. You MUST have a blog of your own OR leave me your email addy in your post so I can email you if you are my Winner! I will NOT come looking for you (I will send you an email though), if you do not claim your prize with me within one week, I will also forfeit your name and draw another winner.

3. You MUST comment ONLY HERE on this post! I will not enter you any other way. Sorry, I draw my lucky number by random number generator and I do that with the number you have from this post only. This just makes it alot easier for me as I usually have atleast 150 entries or more.

4. Do NOT post about this Giveaway on your Blog!!! This is for my followers ONLY (that is why I do NOT put the word "giveaway" in my titles anymore)! Sorry, I hate for people to show up on Blogs just to enter giveaways! And believe me, there are a bunch of people who just scout out giveaways in Blogland! So, if I do see this posted about on your blog...I will remove your comment and entry.

5. Lastly, I will be pulling one lucky winner on Saturday, March 13th!!! So, Good Luck everyone and Hopefully we will be seeing signs of Spring shortly!

"Feast On!" Amish-Dish Friday

Here is a twist to those plain ole' green beans!

Barbecued Green Beans

Ingredients:

*10 slices of bacon

*1/4 cup chopped onions

*3/4 cup ketchup

*1/2 cup brown sugar

*3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

*3/4 Tbl. salt

*4 cups Green Beans

Directions:

Fry bacon, then break into pieces. Saute' onions in bacon drippings. Combine ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Add onions and bacon pieces. Pour over Green Beans and mix lightly. Bake in a 1 quart covered casserole dish at 300 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until heated through. Makes 4-6 servings.

"Sew, you think you can't?"

Todays project is just a very simple Penny Candle Mat. Sometimes in the evening I just gather up some of my circles and start stitching them together and just make a bunch of Pennies, not knowing exactly what I am going to do with them! LoL But, they are always ready and good to have on hand when I want to throw together a quick Candlemat!

There is nothing fancy or complicated about this Candlemat. Just something fun that I put together so I can use it during the Summer with some of my Americana displays. Yes, it is snowing here again in Pennsylvania....so, I have Summertime on the brain! LOL

Simple Penny Candlemat

Supplies:

*10" Round Plate

*Your choice of Wool Felts and/or 100% Wool (washed in hot water, then dried in dryer, & ironed)

*Wool Pennies

*Embroidery Floss of your color choice

*Gluestick

Directions:

First, I started by choosing which colors I wanted to work with. I wanted to do an Americana candlemat in the Red, White & Blues. So, I went straight to my stash of already stitched Pennies and grabbed a good color combination of them.

Next, I needed to cut out the round circle for this. I took a 10" dinner plate and just used this as my template. You will need to cut 2 of them out.

Then, I took my and started to arrange my Pennies onto my circle.

After I had the design I liked, I then took and glued them down with my gluestick. Stitched them on with a simple blanket stitch. (You can google "blanket or whip stitch" if you are not sure how to do this stitch. The web has many good directions out there!)

Once the Pennies have all been stitched, I am ready to stitch on my backing.

Again, just use your gluestick to adhere the back to this. Then do the blanket stitch all the way around. Now, you could leave it just as is and be finished.

But, I wanted to handstitch a few little stars onto mine! I just simply did some freehand stars to add to the Americana theme!

NEXT MONTH... WE WILL BE DOING A HOMESPUN TOWEL WITH A POCKET!!!

My Trashy Swap #2

Here is my other swap pictures, as promised! My partner for this swap was Mary from http://gettysburghomestead.blogspot.com/ . She also sent me the most AWESOME items! I love each one of them and can't wait to display them!

Paper Mache' Boxes!!! I can NEVER have enough of these! She did the most wonderful job in making these Primitive too! I just love these boxes!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE PRAIRIE DOLLS!!!!! They are made from real corn cobs! Aren't those just totally adorable or what?! I can't wait to display them on one of my peg racks!

Lastly, but surely not leastly!!! Don't you just love this Rag Bag?! She made this from homespun and old jeans!!! Let me tell you....here sewing skills are perfect! This bag is just beautiful! I already have it loaded with some of my small stiticheries, that I am working on, so I can take them with me when I head out to appointment and such with my kiddos!

I have to say...I HAD TWO AWESOME PARTNERS! Hope everyone else is enjoying their goodies as much as I am!

My Trashy Swaps have arrived!

My Trashy Swaps have arrived! Again, I had two partners because we had an uneven amount that signed up for this swap. And, let me tell you...I HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PARTNERS!!!

I will be sharing pictures today and tomorrow of my wonderful swap packages! Here is todays goodies!

This swap is from Debra over at Black Creek Colonial Blog ( http://blackcreekcolonial.blogspot.com/ ). All I got to say is WOOHOO!!!! Here is what she sent me:

First, these are two (that's right 2!) pillow that will gracing my new couch in my new home soon. She found a blue ticking curtain at a Thrift Shoppe, and decided to turn them into pillows for me. Who doesn't love blue ticking?!

Next, is this wonderful wooden corner candle holder! You all know how I love my Wooden Items!! She repainted and primmed it up for me, added a candle ring and grubby candle, and a perfect little corner candle piece. Love this!

Take a lookie at this Prairie Bonnet! LOVE THIS! This was the lining of the blue ticking curtain she found. She sure did get double her money for one curtain panel....pillows and a bonnet! Woohoo!!! I have only two other bonnets, but they are smaller and not the long bonnets. I have wanted one of these forever! Let me tell you, here sewing skills are perfect!

Lastly, included in my package was a small box. I open it up to find these wonderful pieces that she had included. She once had alot of blue pieces in her home but, has since steered away from that pallette. So, she has handed them to me! OMG, Blue Transferware!!! This was her Aunts who has passed away! Yep, made me shed some tears over that! So, these are definately going on display with some of my pewter pieces! Also, lookie at that wonderful BLUE candlestick holder, and that darling little cupboard print! Can't wait to get to display everything!

Monday Blues!

Enjoy the Monday Blues!

I just love this kitchen!!! Love how bright it is, and of course I love that blue island and those blue windsor chairs! Do "I spy" me some blue transferware in the left cupboard?!

A blue house...need I say more?!

Love this table!

Don't you just love this bedroom?! Check out the wonderful blue cabinet in the corner!

Love that gameboard and that GIGANTIC firkin!!!

Friendly Reminder!

To all those who participated in my "You are SO trashy!" Swap, you have one week from today to get your packages out to your partner! Hoping everyone is having fun with this one! I know I usually find TONS of goodies at my Local Thrift Shoppes....UNTIL....I host a swap and can't find anything good! LOL Isn't that the way it always goes?! Hope you all did alot better than I did!

"Wood'n it be nice?!"

Yep, two posts in one day!



Sorry, this is a little late. Didn't get to finish this one up until today. I have been working 2 jobs this week, midnite shift with my usual job, and I also substitute drive for our school district. So, when I get off work in the morning, I head straight to picking up kids for school. Then sleep for about 2 hours and off to get them again to bring them home! So, I have been a little on the tired side and just couldn't seem to get enough energy gathered to head to my craft room. But, here it is all finished and ready for you! Hope you enjoy this one as I love it!

This is a reproduction of the old Pipe Boxes that men would store their tobacco and Pipes in.

Wooden Pipe Box

Supplies:

(I bought thinner "craft" wood at Lowes for this project as I felt the 1" was to bulky)

*1/2"x 4" piece of wood (cut 14" long)

*1/2"x4" piece of wood (cut 11" long)

*1/2"x4" piece of wood (cut 4" long)

*1/2"x3" piece of wood (cut 2 pieces 11" long)

*3/8" x2" piece of wood (cut 2 1/2" long)

*1/2" wood button (these are used for covering over screws in wood)

*1/2" drill bit for hole (optional)

*Wood Stain or Paint of your Choice

*Jig Saw
*Hot Glue Gun

Directions:

First, you will need to have all your wood cut to size.

Now, we are going to start by just adding an arch to the top so it doesn't look so boxy. You could actually do many different designs to your top, but I am just doing an arch for this one. We need to take our finest most precise tool to do this....A BOWL FROM YOUR CUPBOARD...LOL! Take your bowl and lay it on top of your 1/2"x14" board and make the arch; as shown. Mark your arch.

You will need to take and cut this out now with your Jig Saw.

Next, just take and mark in the center where you would like to drill your hole. Now, take and drill the hole. This will be your back piece to your pipe box.

Time to add your sides. We are going to take one of your 1/2"x3"x11" pieces and nail it to one your back piece on one side.

Now, take and repeat this to the other side. You will now have both your sides on your box.

Next, we are going to put the front of the box on. Take your last piece of 11" board and nail this to the front of your box. (I would advice to stain or paint the inside of your box now, as it is VERY hard to get down inside once you put the bottom on.)

Now, lets put the bottom on. Take your 1/2"x 4"x4" and nail this onto your bottom. I did nail the back of this "flush" or even with the back of the box. That way if you wanna hang this, it is even with the box and wall.

Now, this is ALMOST done! Take and sand down your piece now. Concentrate on all the edges and corners. This is where a piece will have aged over the years.

Now, this is the finishing touch! Take your 3/8"x2" piece and with hot glue adhere it to the bottom front of your piece, as shown. Now, take your wooden button and also adhere it to your new "faux" drawer, as this will be the drawer knob. Stain or paint your piece and enjoy!

"Feast On!" Amish-Dish Friday

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

*1 cup sugar

*2 eggs

*1/2 cup shortening

*3 ripe bananas

*1/2 tsp. salt

*1 tsp. baking soda

*2 c. flour

Directions:

Cream shortening, eggs, and sugar together. Stir in mashed bananas, then the remaining ingredients. Mix together well. Pour into greased loaf pans and Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.

Monday Blues!

Hope you enjoy the Blues!

Love this Wing Back Chair!...I would love to have one sitting in my Bathroom for when I get out of the tub! I could sit here Brush & Towel Dry my hair, and put on my socks and slippers...LOL!

I just love this Blue Open Staircase!

Could you imagine how the women looked wearing these with their long gowns and shade umbrellas?!

I just wanna dive into this bed!


I need this for a bed side table!

Happy Valentine's Day!

DON'T FORGET TO KISS THE ONE YOU LOVE TODAY!

We are making progress!

We had groundbreaking today on our house! Yippee! I just posted pictures over on my homestead blog...you can find the link on the right side column if you wanna check them out!

"Feast On!" Amish-Dish Friday

Here is an Amish Recipe just in time for all the "Sweet Ones" in your life!

Love Bars

Ingredients:

*1 cup raisins or dates

*1 cup sugar

*1 cup water

*2 tsp. cinnamon

*7 Tbsp. margarine

*1 tsp. baking soda

*3 Tbsp. boiling water

*2 cups flour

*1 tsp. salt

*1 tsp. baking powder

Glaze ingredients:

*2 cups Powdered Sugar

*dash salt

*1/4 tsp. vanilla

*3-4 Tbsp. boiling water

Directions (for Bars):

In medium saucepan cook raisins, sugar, water, cinnamon, and margarine slowly for 5 minutes; stirring continuously til melted. Remove from heat.

Mix baking soda with boiling water and add to raisin mixture. Cool. Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix and spread thinly on a greased Cookie Sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

Glaze:

Mix all glaze ingredients together and drizzle over bars. Cut when cooled.

Makeover Monday...on Thursday!

As promised, here is my "Makeover Monday!"...just a few days late (thanks to a Huge Snowstorm)!!!

Here is a really nice large wooden box that I found recently at my local Goodwill. Don't know what it was originally intended for? But, it did have a price tag on it from the 1980's! But, the Goose & that Heart on it would have given that one away!!! Do you all remember the Geese & Heart Decor from the 80's?! YUCK! But, I knew this box had great potential!

Here is the large inside!

Let's start the Makeover process! First, OFF WITH THAT GOOSE! This was rather easy because it was just lightly glued on, so all I did was take a pair of needlenose pliers and popped it off!

Next, I needed to sand off that glue and get it ready to paint!

Now, to deal with that 80's Heart! This was also an easy fix! Let's just cover it up! So, I went an purchased a 3/8" thick piece of Pine from Lowes and cut it to 10" in length. Do you have any idea yet how I am going to cover that Heart?!

THIS IS HOW! I am going to make it a Faux Drawer! Like I said, Easy fix!!! So, I just nailed it right over that heart!

Next, I took off the lid. I am getting ready to paint!





I painted everything on the outside of the box in black first. I do like to use Black as my basecoat most of the time. As it gives a great depth to my color and always sands out nicely to reveal the black underneath.

Lastly, I painted it out with my chosen color, which was a Sage Green (I am trying to add some of the "other" primitive colors in my home that I don't have alot of...and antique green is one of them!). Once dry, I lightly sanded it all over and then applied my Dark Walnut Stain all over it. Then, I wiped all the Stain off with an old rag.

Added 2 wooden knobs that I just stained with my Dark Walnut. Then, added an old Candle Cup on the top right hand corner for some added Primitive Lighting and displayed a Primitive Candle Snuffer on top as well! Don't know what I will use it for? But, it will make a great hideaway for something!