The Pickled Pepper Patch: February 2011

2/25/11

New Swap!

Well, I have been thinking again about Swapping..."OH NO!" my hubby said! But, this time I wanted to do a Swap that was very different than any other Swap I have done before.

So, I thought let's do a 'SECRET SISTER" SWAP!!!

I know that most of you are familiar with what a "Secret Sister" is...but, for any of you that is not...then you WILL need to read the Rules below very carefully, actually anyone who is considering this Swap MUST read the rules carefully because this is going to take ALOT of commitment from you!

So, here are the Rules:

"SECRET SISTER SWAP'

~This WILL be a "Secret" Swap between Swapping Sisters! This means, I (and only I) will know who is swapping with who! That is the fun of having a "Secret" Sister!

~THIS WILL TAKE COMMITMENT!!! Let me repeat this....THIS WILL TAKE COMMITMENT!!! Because, this is going to take place until the end of this year! Yes, that means it will be NINE months for this Swap!!! (Now, pick yourself off the floor and please read on so I can finish explaining!!!)

~You MUST send out atleast ONE PACKAGE WITH ATLEAST ONE ITEM (I did say ONE) to your Secret Sister ONCE A MONTH! Now, you can include more than one item in your package each month...but, I am asking you atleast send out a package for each month!

~Your package MUST be mailed each month by the due date I have specified for each month. I will have the LAST friday of each month as everyones mailing date! I WILL SEND AN EMAIL EACH MONTH REMINDING EVERYONE ABOUT THIS! But, it will be the last Friday of Each Month!

~Each Month will have a "theme", in which I will also send out in the Email, that we will be using for our Secret Sister Packages! That way...we are ALL kinda doing the same with this Swap! I WILL send out the full list of each months "theme", that way if you see something when it is a good price and you know it will fit into a future theme...you can pick it up!

~Your package does NOT have to always be handmade! That's right!...I don't expect you to be working your fingers to the bone all year long! LOL. I want this to be fun & exciting for everyone! So, if you are running short on time one month and see something at your local craft shop you wanna purchase for your Secret Sister...go right ahead! However, we ALL love Handmade items...so, please try and make some time to incorporate some handmade items this year in your packages!

~I am NOT asking anyone to 'break the bank' or 'go for broke' doing this Swap!!! I am asking you to commit to sending out a small package each month, that's it!!! We ALL love getting goodies in the mail! So, think packages like: a nice card with a homespun towel, or a seasonal prim room spray, or a small stitchery or a cute little pillow tuck or penny mat?! These could easily fit right into a bubble wrap mailer and shipped very inexpensively!

~I do NOT want Dollar Tree items for this Swap! Not meaning you can't take a glass and handpaint it, or buy a card there...but, this is not a Dollar Store Swap! We can all go and pick up Dollar items if we want them! GIVE LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECIEVE!

LASTLY....

~You MUST have participated in atleast 2 of my Swaps already...and BOTH of them being completed! This just helps me to make sure you are a "commited" swapper and you play nicely! (I do keep a record of those who don't play nicely with others!)

~You MUST have a blog of your own WITH posts! I don't want just a "empty" blog or something that you haven't posted from in the last month, please. This is blog land and I know that some of you like to just leave comments from your email accounts, but I prefer you have a blog for swapping. That just shows commitment to blogging.

~You MUST be on time with your packages! Sorry, I HATE late packages! Just a pet peeve of mine! Nothing like anxiously awaiting a package to find it shows up 2 months late! I know all you swappers will agree with me if you ever had to wait! So, don't wait til the last minute to start your swap!

~You MUST thank your partner when you receive your goodies! Since this is a "SECRET" Swap that might be kinda hard...so, I am going to set up a link on my blog, for everyone to link back to their blog, to show off their monthly goodies!!! I know we are all busy, but we all make time to check our emails & read them Blogs-don't we?! So, thank your partner by showing off your package! I don't care if everything was NOT to your liking..a "thanks" will never hurt anyone!

~You MUST get a Delivery Confirmation # when your package has been sent out! You MUST email me that number too! That if there is any lost packages, we can hopefully track them done, and know for sure that you sent it & on time too!

Now, if you wanna play along, you MUST have your Info to me by midnite (EST), March 4th!. I will be sending a reply to you with a small questonaire for you to fill and return back to me. That way I can send it along to your Secret Sister. I will get the Swap names then out to everyone by March 7th!

I will let you know that we WILL be sending out our first package in March....the theme will be "SPRING"!!! So, put on your thinking caps...cuz you will only have a few weeks this month to get your package together!

2/24/11

More Pictures....

around the Pickled Pepper Patch! Thought I would share a few pictures of my Living Room. I am still working on getting all them Prim boxes slowly unpacked...LOL. I have gotten a few more things put up on the walls and thought I would share pictures of what my Livingroom looks like.

First, I wanted to share with you what my Livingroom looked like BEFORE! This is when everything was still entact and before Demo! This was the front door, as you see you just "fell" into the Livingroom!

Here is standing by the front door. The Livingroom was quite small, as you can see. The doorway there led to what was once the Diningroom. Look how gross that carpet was!!!

Another view, standing in the front doorway.

Here I am standing right in the doorway to the Diningroom. That door to the right leads into the Kitchen.

DEMO!!!

Out comes that divider wall between the Livingroom & Diningroom!

All Demo'd and ready to build!

Here it is today! As you seen in a previous post, we moved the front door and added a Foyer area! There is a 1/2 bath to the left and a coat closet to the right. We then made a big Livingroom out of the old livingroom & diningroom by taking down that wall that divided the two!

Another view, this time looking into the new Diningroom. We added that large doorway, because that was once a bedroom!

Standing just outside my front Foyer looking into my Livingroom!

Another view.

Other side. I am STILL working on my Faux Fireplace display. I seem to have a HUGE TV that needs incorporated into that! LOL

Some of my Prims! I actually got that Picture at one of my favorite Primitive Shoppes for $5.00!!! Everyone that comes here wants to know who he is? I tell him that is Uncle Bob! LOL

This actually started out as separate pieces... you can see the "marriage" here.... http://charsethman.blogspot.com/2009/08/makeover-monday_23.html. It is one of my favorite wall cupboards now!

Another view, looking in from the Kitchen Hall.

This is where I do all my blogging from...LOL

Sitting at my computer desk, I spy my kitchen just around the corner!

Well, that is some pictures I took of my Livingroom. I will post some more as I get each room "finished". But really....Do we EVER get our homes "finished"?! I know for me...as soon as I think I like the way the room looks...I change it around again! LOL

2/23/11

"Whatcha Cooking?!" Wednesday

Thought I would start up a new posting every other Wednesday here at the Patch! I figured I would do this every other Wednesday, so I can keep some Wednesdays open for my "Wood'n it Be Nice?!" Wednesdays. I still plan on bringing that back here, just waiting for the weather to break so I can get back into my garage and get my workspace organized....It is a DISASTER since we moved here! But, for now...I leave you with a recipe that my whole family LOVES!

This is a very simple, easy to make soup, that has just the right amount of flavor! Hope you enjoy!

"TACO SOUP"

INGREDIENTS:

*2 lbs. of Ground Beef or Turkey

*1-1/2 Envelopes of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing Mix (not dip)

*1-1/2 Envelopes of Taco Seasoning

*1 Can of tomatoes w/ chiles (I use Walmart brand)

*1 Can of Stewed Tomatoes

*1 Can of Corn (drained)

*1 Can of Beef Broth

*Small Onion

*1 lb. Box of Elbow Macoroni

*Shredded Cheddar Cheese (optional)

*Sour Cream (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Brown Beef or Turkey in skillet with Onion. Drain fat. In a large Saucepan transfer your Beef or Turkey. Add Envelopes of Hidden Valley & Taco Seasoning mix; mix well. Add your Cans of Corn, Stewed Tomatoes, Tomatoes w/ chiles & Beef Broth. Cover and simmer for an hour. About 30 minutes before your soup is done simmering cook your Elbow Macoroni in another saucepan. Add to your Elbow Mac now to your Soup and Simmer for the last 15 minutes. Top with Shredded Cheddar & a dollap of Sour Cream! Enjoy!

****You can choose to substitute the Elbow Macaroni with 2 Cans of Kidney Beans! We are NOT a Bean eating family here...so, I use Macaroni. You also can choose NOT to add Beans or Macaroni and just scoop this with Tortilla's...however you choose...this is a Great Dish!

2/22/11

Painting Glass Requests

Well, my Email has been flooded with requests on a "how to paint glass" tutorial! So, for all you interested...I will be doing a tutorial on this very soon! Keep checking back!

2/20/11

A Quick & Easy Gift

Not really Prim, but my neices first birthday was this past weekend...so I painted her a cute little plate just for that special occasion! This was just an inexpensive $2.97 plate from Walmart, that she will have each year for her "special day"!

Well, now EVERYONE of my neices wants one! Guess I will be busy this year making a few more plates!

Here are a few Glasses that I painted for this past Superbowl. These were ALL glasses that I bought from the Dollar Tree! Of course I live in Pittsburgh, so we are BIG Steelers fans here! Well, I made everyone a glass to drink from during the Superbowl this year! Everyone got their "initials" painted on them so no one lost their drink! Here they are all grouped together.

My sisters got Wine glasses, since they love their wine! This is the backs of them...I put crystals on them too for them. We love the Steelers, Pirates, & Penguins here...so, now they can use their glasses for any of the sporting season!

The "underside" of the wine glasses had The Pittsburgh cocktail recipe!

The Guys got Pilsners for their beer!

The backs of them!

The bottoms!

Here is mine and my hubby's...we like our "Sweet Tea"...so, this is what we drank from! Simple and plain...and something ANYONE can paint! Just some lines and a few dots can dress up any glass!

Their Bottoms!

Next time you don't know what to get someone as a gift...how about a painted plate or a set of Dollar Tree Glasses?!

2/19/11

Easter Decor

Decided to put up a little Easter Decor this week. We have had some really nice weather here (in the 60's) and I couldn't wait to freshen up the house with some Spring Goodies.

I LOVE this window box! It is one of my favorite pieces in my home, because I can change it out with each Season! Here it is with some Spring Flowers.

After I took that first picture, I decided that it needed a little more greenery and a few crows!

Close-up!

Another one of my favorite things is this Bunny! He is almost 18" tall! I have him setting on a few of my antique baskets. He stays out almost all year long in different groupings cuz' he actually has Sunflowers in his backpack and watering can!

This actually sits on top of my trash can cupboard.

Another one of my favorite places to decorate...My Dry Sink! I got this dry sink almost 2 years ago at a yard sale and refinished it.....you can see it here http://charsethman.blogspot.com/2009/07/makeover-monday.html . This is actually my header picture right now.

As you see it doesn't have doors below, it did when I bought it, but they were badly warped from water damage...so I removed them and refinished without them. Well.....

I really wanted to use the bottom for some extra storage, so yesterday I got out some greenish ticking...and just stitched the edges and strung it from some twine, just like the Settlers would have done to any of their cupboards! Much better, now I have some added storage!

So, has the weather inspired you to get out any of your Spring/Easter Decor yet?!

2/18/11

Fabric Carrots

Thought I would bring these back for all of you, since Easter will be here before we all know it!

"FABRIC CARROTS"

Supplies:
*Osnaburg Muslin (you can use regular Muslin, but I like the texture of this for carrots)
*Orange Embroidery Floss
*Strong Coffee
*Orange Craft Paint
*Sand Paper (100 grit)
*Sweet Annie (if you dont have this on hand, you can use....green ribbon, small twigs painted green, crimped green paper, etc.)
*Hot Glue Gun
*Carrot Pattern (in my freebie box to the right)

Directions:

First, you will need to take and download my carrot pattern to your computer. Then you will need to print it out. Cut out the carrot patterns now.
Next, take them to your Osnaburg fabric and trace them onto it. These are true to size when sewn together.

Now, take and put your fabric (right side) together. Meaning you will need to flip one of them over so they match up. Sew them together now, leaving the tops of the open.

Now, turn them right-side out. I do use hemostats to do this with. You can find them at any medical supply store. If you don't have a pair of them, just use a wooden spoon handle.

Now, with your polyfill, stuff them to almost the top.

Next, take your Embroidery Floss and do a "Running Stitch" all the way around the top. Leave long threads at each side, and do NOT close it yet.

Now, take and start adding little "indents" all around your carrot. I did this just by simply taking my thread down thru the center of the carrot, and just stitching up and out the top then moving over a little and stitching back down and pulling it taught. Do this all around the carrot randomly and then knot it off.

Take your strong coffee now and add some craft paint to it. I add, stir, then add some more till I have a nice Orange colored stain.

Now, stain your carrots all over with it. Place them in your oven (on 300 degrees) to dry now. I put them on some aluminum foil and watch them. They will take about 10 minutes to dry, and you will need to flip them halfways thru.

Once dry, take and sand them lightly with your sandpaper.
I then restain mine with just some strong coffee (without paint in it) and dry them again in the oven for a couple of minutes.

Add a few sprigs of your Sweet Annie (or whatever else you are going to use) to the top with a dab of hot glue. Pull your running stitch together tightly and tie off...Done!

Here is what they look like all finished! I have mine displayed in a bunny basket (pictured in my header), but these will great everywhere for Easter!

2/17/11

More Swap Goodies!

Look at all these wonderful goodies I got from Anne at http://seasonsofthepast.blogspot.com/ !!! I love everything! Anne was my 2nd partner in my "5 Favorite Things" Swap. Thanks so much Anne...everything has already found a home!

Here is the first of two (YES, I said 2!) canvas floorclothes that she sent me!!! I love them both! This one is in now in my full bath in front of my vanity. I took this picture as soon as they came out of their packages, but they lay VERY flat as soon as they warm to room temperature. GREAT JOB ANNE ON THESE!

Here is the 2nd one. She informed me that this was one of her "irregular" ones and I could do what I wished with it! Well, I needed the 'right' rug to walk across from my tiled entry, across my living room carpet, to my tiled dining room....PERFECT!!!

Anne, if you are reading this, "irregular" is what Prim is all about...This is Prim Perfect!

This came in another box....Wool Rag Balls, a beautiful bobbin, Wonderful smelling tarts, a Pillow Tuck, and a sachet that smells glorious!

Lastly, this cute little picture frame with an antique print!

Thank you Anne! I love every bit of it!!!

2/14/11

"Red" the color of LOVE

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Since the color Red seems to be the univeral symbol of "Love"...I thought I would share some of the "Reds" I have around my home! I "LOVE" them all! lol

An little red cupboard that sits on my kitchen countertop.