A little of this and that

I had this posted last night and for some reason when I
made a correction on something and tried to re-post it,
it said there was an error…blogger is giving me fits lately.

I added the LINKY widget on my sidebar if you care to
start following me from there…no telling when
Blogger will delete my followers…please add your name!

I won some wonderful treasures from Kathi from
http://rusticheartramblings.blogspot.com/ 

Not only did Kathi send the Sheep and Hearts
but she included Two adorable Sheep Note Cards…
now how did she know I like Sheep!

Thanks so much Kathi

We have also had a couple of very pretty but heavy snowfalls…one of them came on Friday.
Not a ton of snow but it was wet and heavy and came in a very short time.

I can’t think of anything real interesting
OR fun so I will share some of my old treasures
from my husbands grandparents.
We were gifted with these a few years ago at a reunion of cousins…
being I’m the only one in the family who researches our family history they
thought we would enjoy them and take care of them.
Doug’s aunt placed notes on each piece when she got them so whoever did receive
them would have the history of the item…thanks goodness!

This little teacup set was a Christmas gift to
Doug’s grandmother when she was a little girl.
She was born in 1889

Cut glass dessert dishes as a wedding gift to
Netti and Martin – they were married in 1908

Green Candy dish….given to Doug’s grandmother
by her uncle when she was a small child
.

Creamer/Sugar set, Toothpick holder
These belonged to Doug’s grandmother’s mother.
These have a dark gold ring around the top
edges that has worn off over the years

Hand crocheted doily given to his
grandmother, made by her grandmother

Two platters of his grandmother’s – the
large one was given to us by his cousin.
The small one was from Doug’s mother when she passed
away…they were from the same set of his grandmother’s
 

Information on the dishes

Spooner jar…these were used on the tables to hold teaspoons
This design is the Turkey Foot

And lastly…a silverware caddy that Doug’s grandfather
made for Doug’s grandmother when they got married in 1908.
It has the original green paint on it – I love the wear marks.

Martin and Nettie Martinsen – their wedding day
December 23, 1908

Taken in 1926
 
Netti 1950

Hope you enjoyed this step back in time with me.

Oh, I forgot…my gorgeous sheep from
Teresa’s Primitive Treasures arrived last week
It’s even better than the picture…
http://www.ezshoppes.com/shoppe/?sid=teresasprimitivetreasures

THANK YOU TERESA

Before I forget…our new granddaughter will be named
MIRANDA PAIGE MARTINSEN…I love it!
She’s expected to arrive July 7th

One of my customers requested a special order
Candle Hugger…a Rooster – to go in her
Yellow and Red kitchen, well I didn’t have a
good pattern for one so I combined Two to get this
I think she’ll like it. It is to fit one of the Mason Jar
candles but I’m showing it on a tin I had

SHOWS I WILL BE DOING
Come visit me if you are coming to the shows
Lititz, PA, August 11, 2012
My space is the very first one located on Rt. 501
Lititz, PA, October 12-13, 2012  Artisan’s Porch Walk

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MY PRODUCTS
KM Primitives
http://www.kmprimitives.com/pages/home.php

You can also purchase patterns from my site

OR…

The Pattern Cupboard
http://www.thepatterncupboard.com/shop/km-primitives/aff_144.html

Prim Pattern
http://www.theprimpattern.com/index.php?_a=viewAff&affId=75

I updated my Lancaster, PA and the Amish Books tabs at the top of my blog

Thanks so much for visiting me today…

Karen

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Feeling Spring-y

March is coming in like a lion here in Utah, but I decided it was time for a little springtime in the house!

Last time I showed you how I dressed up my little map dresser with a “new” lathe sign, so the next stop was to spring-i-fy my buffet.

Several things have made an appearance before…my candlesticks hold nests made of moss and tiny grapevine wreaths.  A chubby bird perches on one, and twine and sheet music eggs fill the other.

I was delighted to find some decent-looking faux hydrangeas at the store Tuesday morning a couple of weeks ago.  I like them in my IKEA enamelware pitcher from last year.

My new acquisition is this vintage egg scale.  I had been admiring it on the classified ads for a month or more—but when the seller finally dropped the price by $10, I sent my sweet sister after it for me!

My book page birdhouses have survived a whole year now! 

I briefly toyed with the idea of NOT using my beloved chalkboard—obviously, I got over THAT idea!  The quote may not have anything to do with spring, but I love it: 

“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”  (Thomas Monson)

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Linking up here:

Domestically Speaking’s Countdown to Spring	Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Perfectly Imperfect	{Primp}
From My Front Porch to Yours	It’s So Very Cheri
Common Ground

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A green tree in my heart

My sister is coming to my house later this afternoon, so that gave me some motivation to bring some “spring” into my home.  The Valentine’s stuff went down probably 10 days ago, but nothing had replaced it.  I’m sure that never happens to you!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I came across this wall hanging in a store:

(You can find it online at Chez Renee.)

The quote is a Chinese proverb:  “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.”

It spoke to me!

The problem? On sale it was about $170.  <cough, cough>

So I decided to make my own!

I bought a great big bundle of wood lathe at Home Depot.  You could buy individual pieces for 55 cents/each, or the bundle for about $12.  The funny thing was—the lathe isn’t by the other wood; it’s over by the concrete stuff. Obviously I don’t know what wood lathe is SUPPOSED to be used for!

I used pieces of lathe to make a frame with a support bar running through the middle, and then used my pneumatic stapler to attach 20” pieces across the front.

I stained the whole thing, and then used my Silhouette to cut letters out of vinyl and apply them to the wood.  Then I painted over the whole thing—first with Heirloom white spray paint, but then with touches of acrylic paint in cream and green.  I removed the vinyl, so the letters are actually in stained wood.  Finally I distressed and glazed the whole thing.

I don’t know exactly what my version cost—but it was a LOT less than $100!

I dressed up my vintage European canning jars with some moss, eggs, and flowers, and added a little bird to the display for fun.  It seems to bring a little sunshine into the house!

Do you have a green tree in your heart?

*********************************

Linking up here:

Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday	Elizabeth & Co.
Domestically Speaking’s Countdown to Spring	Censational Girl
	No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday	Mod Vintage Life
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Primitive & Proper	I Heart Naptime
Beyond the Picket Fence’s Under $100 Party	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect	{Primp}
Simply Klassic Sundays	My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours	It’s So Very Cheri
Common Ground	{aka} design

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Want to get away? ENGLAND 2012

It is that time again.......

Can you come?

As mentioned space is very limited, inclusion is on a first come, first serve basis
                                                   BUT............
Two other tours are on the calendar and those itinerary's are to follow;

ENGLAND 'The Decorative Arts of Britain'  September 12th through September 19th

FRANCE 'Antiquing, Gardens, Culture'   September 26th through October 3rd
           (Paris and Dordogne in south west France)

Cheers!
Debra

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