OTHER BLOG GIVE A-WAYS

Stop on over at ANGIES http://simplethymeprimitives.blogspot.com/ and sign up for her wonderful Primitive Snowman plus a couple of adorable Ornaments.

RENAE over at My Little Raggedy Blessings is giving an adorable Penny Rug away....click on her link and go visit and sign up.
http://mylittleraggedyblessings.blogspot.com/

[ Read More ]

Checking Your Herbs for Freshness

Even though we love our homegrown herbs, we all probably have supplemental spices in our cupboard. If you've wondered about the freshness of your dried ginger or nutmeg, you're not alone. Don't pitch those herbs before you check their freshness dates. McCormick, the spice giant, has a nifty site where you can check the freshness code on the bottom of your herb and spice bottles. Give it a try

[ Read More ]

WHAT I DID TODAY

Today was one of those days I got so much done and still have energy to go for more! lol

I finished up 7 orders, packed them up and ready to mail tomorrow....got another order and started sewing on it.

I also made some NEW MINI ORNIES...and posted them on my website...go on over and check them out...they are just the cutest! But I'll show you them here too - it's not nice to tease is it??? lol. These look so cute on a mini Feather tree.

Oh, and I made a new Candle Hugger too - ohhhh and a set of Coasters!

[ Read More ]

EVERYONE LOVES A DRAWING SO...

Lisa from Cranberry Flats http://cranberryflats.blogspot.com/ is having a fabulous Give A-Way...please stop on over and sign up and read her wonderful Blog....

Here's what she posted:
Now the rules. Don't worry. You don't have to send me gas money or your first born. Just kindly leave me a comment to get your name entered into one of the hubby's "lucky" Cardinal hats he failed to wear this season. AND, to get your name into the drawing twice, I grant you permission to borrow my picture above, post it on your blog and link back to my sight. Then you, yes you lucky lady may be the winner of the that savory, luscious candle I can't stop sniffing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AND......Char over at The Pickeled Pepper Patch http://charsethman.blogspot.com/ is having a Give A-Way in honor of her daughter Amy's 21st birthday!

It's the most wonderful wood toaster cover!

Here's what she posted:
All you need to do is leave me a comment here, and if you don't have a blog, please leave me your email addy so I can get in touch with you if your name is chosen. The winners name will be drawn by the birthday girl on November 1st! If you post this to your blog, I will enter your name again....so, that is two chances for you to win!

[ Read More ]

AWARD TIME

Okay girls...I have been COMPLETELY remiss in thanking each and everyone of you for the wonderful Awards you have so sweetly given me.
I am putting them on in a group and sending on the Awards to my wonderful Blog friends.

I have been TAGGED by
JUANITA from
http://itsharvesttime.blogspot.com/

and

KIM from

http://valleyprimitivesgiftshoppe.blogspot.com/
THANK YOU GIRLS!

The rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are the 7 facts about myself!

1. Never had any self confidence to step up and be in front

2. Hate being on the shorter side of height ( 5'1-3/4" - ick!)

3. Cry, even if it's inside, when I see ANY animal that has been injured/killed

4. Always (still do) wanted a B&B with gift shop attached

5. Always wanted just boys not girls....only because I think I'd go crazy with their mood swings....lol Having just me is enough!

6. Always faught for privacy in my home - 3 sons and a husband leaves one with little room to go hide...lol

7. Worked as a nurses aid in our local hospital all through high school - loved it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

JAN from

http://oldeharborsaltbox.blogspot.com/

and

TINA from

http://oldglorysoldiers.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-first-award.html
have awarded me the Fabulous Fall Decor Award

THANK YOU GIRLS.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

JUSTINA from

http://pepercreekgatherings.blogspot.com/
awarded me with the Kreative Blogger Award

Thanks so much!

The Rules Are:
1. List 6 things that make me happy
2. Send to 6 people

Now for the 6 things that make me happy!

1. My family for sure

2. The fact that as of today yet, we still have incomes

3. My children have jobs and are happy (as far as they let us know anyway!)

4. For my wonderful little business

5. That my husband and I have been married 45 years and still going!

6. That the sun comes up everyday!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Well, here's the list of my dear Blogger friends who I think all deserve these awards...if there are repeats and you have already received the award which by now I'm sure all of you have - everyone's sites are so wonderful....then yo don't need to put it on...just let me know you received it.

1. Nancy from
http://primitivethymes.blogspot.com/
have you seen her Blog...it's soooo wonderful and soooo Colonial looking and here articles are most interesting.

2. Dawn from
http://forgottenbarn.blogspot.com/
she has two Blogs and this one she sells her products on...it's so great...go on over and visit.

3. Dawn again for her other Blog
http://dawngunning.blogspot.com/
She posts such wonderful thoughts.

3. Amanda from
http://amandascrafts.blogspot.com/
if you have never been to her Blog THEN GOOOOO! This girl has the art of crafting and ideas down to a science and she is so published for her works...you have to check out her site.

4. http://primitivekountryhappenings.blogspot.com/
Would you all go on over to her Blog and check it out....I go often and she posts regular but no one seems to leave any comments. She also has a wonderful website so please go check her out. Unfortunately I don't know her name! But please, we all want to make it in Blogsville.

Here's her website as well
http://www.primitivekountry.com/index.php

5. Angie from
http://angiesraggedypatch.blogspot.com/
her blog is adorable...photos are too cute and she is so interesting...go on over and say HI!

6. Maurine from
http://stitchinsprims.blogspot.com/
I know Maurine from a few Forums and the websites so go on over and visit her - cute Blog and it's rather new - Let's give her a boost!

Karen

[ Read More ]

MY NEW ITEMS

Yesterday my husband and I filled these adorable pocket hangings...I've had so much fun making them and I like them even better all stuffed. Check them out on my website - link is posted at the bottom

http://www.kmprimitives.com/

[ Read More ]

WEDNESDAY'S PROJECT

Actually I made these yesterday but am posting today...it got too late last night to see! lol

This round mat is one of my newer items for my Penny Rug line. Come check out my website at http://www.kmprimitives.com/ for my newest Christmas Penny Rugs.

[ Read More ]

OCTOBER FREE DRAWING

TIME IS RUNNING OUT - COME ON AND ENTER THE DRAWING

I'm having a FREE DRAWING for the month of OCTOBER - there are three (3) ways to win….

1. Post here and your name will be entered

2. With every order your name will be entered, and with every $40.00 order or more (excluding shipping) your name will be entered twice for our 5 X 7 PUMPKIN PICTURE.

3. And those of you who aren’t placing an order you can send me an e-mail with the word 'DRAWING' in the subject line and it will go into the drawing! Drawing will be November 1st.

[ Read More ]

EASTWARD BOUND Part 4

Well I'm about to wrap it up here with our trip photos so there might be a few more than usual in this post.

We had the most wonderful week in Lancaster ever - I just didn't want to leave this time even though it was Columbus holiday there and the tourists (no us of course...lol) were there by the bus load!

Every hotel had at least one or two busses there nightly and at the different shopping areas they were lined up in the parking lots.....but THAT'S A GOOD THING WITH THIS SLUGGISH ECONOMY...which leads me to this - Where in the world does this theory come from????

People are BUYING! Have you seen them? And this is FUN SHOPPING....not necessary shopping. I think the media hypes things to put a scare into us. Just my opinion.

The Revere Tavern and Hotel....we have had dinner in here a few times - very old and Colonial.





Shops in Bird In Hand, PA







Historical houses in the little town of Strasburg - this town has some of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen and they are so well kept. Here are just a couple. The house at the top of my Blog is one of them.









An old mill just across the street from The Olde Mill House Shoppes posted in another section




A typical Amish schoolhouse




Just a few of MY FAVORITE THINGS - SHEEP!







An amish farm tractor - notice the steel wheels





So anyway, on to the rest of the trip. We headed home on Wednesday morning Oct. 15th....and the colors had peaked during the time we were there. What a difference a week made. The most vibrant colors were between Harrisburg and Pittsburg.

[ Read More ]

TODAYS NEW ITEMS

Got up early and cut out these two dresses for two different customers. Aren't they cute???
I think I will put them on my site as part of my inventory, what do you think?

I have a kitty (LOLA) that absolutely love me and hardly ever leaves my side.....many times she sits next to me and watches what I do.

You have no idea how many times I ask her if she would like to start sewing being she's watched me so much she should know how by now. Doug got a picture of her Sunday watching!

[ Read More ]

NEW PRODUCTS

Thought I'd give you all a break from my trip photos and share with you my two newest items I put on my site yesterday and just some updates.

It has been a busy week here with getting orders out and designing.





When we got home from our shopping trip and unpacked all our goodies, we put it all in the dining room until we could decide what to do with it all so on Friday my husband took all the boxes to the basement, unpacked them and put them on the tables in sections of the same kind of products to make it easiser for me to start pricing them....what a huge help that was! Now comes the hard part - figuring the prices. I am probably cheating myself but I don't do the normal double the amount for retailing.....I double it and then deduct 15-20% for the final price.


I think I do quite well this way in selling most of my products by giving my customers a deal and then I'm not sitting with a huge overstock at the end of the season so it's a win-win situation.


It doesn't look like much but the boxes are several deep - we went to 9 different wholesale shops plus the Wholesale Cash & Carry Show.


I made a 16 inch round mat and Jar Candle Sleeve to match yesterday. I decided to leave off the tabs and pennies this time, why, I don't know....just wanted something different to add to my inventory.


This new design has sheep with a wreath around his neck - a little putsy to work on but it was fun!






I have some new pocket hangings I made yesterday as well and will post them after I get them filled with goodies so check back later.
That's it for now....Karen

[ Read More ]

EASTWARD BOUND Part 3

Welcome again to my travels!
Hope you are still enjoying a trip through our eyes!

Mind you all these pictures were taken going anywheres from 45 to 60 miles an hour...there was no place to stop and there was always a car or cars behind you so all of our photos were all taken on the fly!

White Chimneys

Shop in Strasburg

Hayden Zugs Restaurant in East Petersburgh

Olde Mill House Shoppes in Lancaster, PA

Owners house at Olde Mill House Shoppes

I was very careful not to take a picture straight on of the Amish and this was with my zoom so we weren't close at all. Look at the precious little girl snuggling up to the man....she was bobbling all over the place in the buggy.

Many, many of the Amish ride scooters from place to place.

That's it for today!

[ Read More ]