Summertime Swap

I joined a "summertime swap" with Char at .The Pickled Pepper Patch I decided to go with a red,white and blue, since it was a summer themed swap. Here are the items I sent Vicki:

These are the items I recieved from My summertime swap partner, Vicki Hardcastle.Vicki is an artist .If you want to check out Vicki's blog, it is:http://www.thehogscaldholler.blogspot.com/

Thanks for swapping with me Vicki!!!

Have you heard of Church's Chicken? And you have to see my muppet chickens!!

In answer to your question about where to keep the animals.( This is the inner pasture)

Have you heard of Church's Chicken? Well, I call this my "chicken church"--yep, that is my chicken coop!!

I have to reveal to you what has happened to my chickens---- Some of them are muppets!

haha--look like muppets, huh? Check out the weird yellow chickens with feathers all down their legs.freaks, i tell ya!!

I was asked where to house the ducks.

This is our duck house/yard.(still not complete). There are 3 stalls underneath, and the kids and I made this by ourselves. Yes, seriously, it was simple.We also added a kiddie pool pond, but we took it back out to make a drain(from pvc pipe).If you think you can't do it, trust me, you can_If you want further instructions, let me know!!!!

Country Life?

I bought quite a treasure today, this coffee pot is so large, it holds over 2 gallons!! They charged me a whoppin $2!! I love it!!

My husband decided to buy ducklings and chicks. These little chicks are so tiny, and adorable!!1

This is our second batch of chickens and ducks. The others have grown quite large, and are different breeds. We are not even sure what the other chickens are called.  They remind me of muppets(no kidding)-- I'll post pics of them another day!

Aren't they precious?

Stove board

He has totally outdone himself!!! Yes, my husband again... Check out my new stove board. He recruited Rev's help and this came out so much better than I could have imagined. I LOVE IT!!! How sweet of them, huh?

Cabinet Transformation=$4

Look at this cabinet I picked up for $3. It may not look right, but is perfect height and width for this corner. So how am I going to fit this in my primtive decor?Watch:

You know the drill: sanding, painting,staining, and sanding some more:

Not bad for $3 and $1 worth of paint, huh?

I tucked this in the corner of the dining area. I put my new pegboard and new sign from Pam here as well.

I used to have a dish hutch and a desk here, but I didn't feel like it was a pleasant dining experience to ask someone to move if you needed to get around the table.-- so they are going to find new homes.

To be honest, looking back, I can't believe that things were so crowded before. While I loved the peices, I really need to listen to my friends who are willing to remind me that "less is more" hahaha

Then I put a few things on the other wall of the dining area:

I am still considering if I should stain these giant boards or not.

Now I have to remove everything from the kitchen and dining area and start scraping linoleum so we can get some tile laid. We also bought a refrigerator that all of our groceries can fit it....lol...( I know, I spend so much time trying to make a decision that I make NO decision-- so we finally just went with a great deal). so I can't wait until this is all finished!! In the meantime, I hope nobody comes to visit.... the stove and fridge will be parked in the front room, and things will be crazy!!! How do you deal with that? Dear friends.... you can't come in? lol!!

Incredible finds and an incredibly talented friend Pam Henry

I thought these large boards were amazing!!(this water bottle is for size reference) ----
I got all of this for less than $20!

When i went to another store, i found all of these cute signs for less than $4 each. Wow.

The longest one is about 2 1/2 feet long.

I also recieved the following from Pam Henry. This has got to be my most favorite sign EVER!!!

She is so sweet, huh?

Thank You So Much Pam!!!!

Just take a look at these goodies!!!

You can find Pam's treasures here: http://oldehomesteadprimitives.blogspot.com/      

 go pick  yourself up some neat prims!!

Sherry Marrero-- How does so much inspiration, creativity, brilliance,talent and personality fit into one person?

Wow!!! I want to share with you my beautiful new Raggedy Ann. I got her from Sherry Marrero-- you can check out her blog ANNIES CUPBOARD herehttp://anniescupboard.blogspot.com/2010/03/suitcase-full-of-it.html. But have plenty of time before you do. This girl has more spunk and life and creativity in her than you can believe. She is my sister in Christ,It warms my heart to know that we get to spend eternity together in heaven.... I know there will not be a dull moment!!  She is so super talented.....Just look at my new dollie:

THANK YOU SO MUCH SHERRY!!!

Marriage takes Three

Marriage Takes Three

I once thought marriage took

Just Two to make a go,

But now I am convinced

It takes the Lord also.

And not one marriage fails

Where Christ is asked to enter

As lovers come together

With Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives,

And homes are incomplete,

till He is welcomed there

To help avoid defeat.

In homes where Christ is first

It's obvious to see,

Those unions really work,

For marriage still takes three.

Perry Tanksley 1984

Trashy swap goodies

I am a happy girl today. I recently signed up for another swap with Char at The Pickled Pepper Patch(super talented and I have become a PPP groupie--thanks, Char) My swap partner was Jan from http://oldeharborsaltbox.blogspot.com/. After you check out my goodies, go visit my new friend Jan. She has an awesome personality and Don't tell her, but I think she may have missed her calling as a writer. haha.Her personality is amazing and She's the type of girl that you want to come for  coffee and never leave. What a blessing to have met her. And, on top of all of that, she sent me all of this really super awesome cool stuff!!! How can you beat that? I feel speechless about how appreciative I am. The rules of this swap, which was a PRIMITIVE swap, were to find 3 items that some might consider trash and turn it in to treasure for your partner. Well, Jan's items and talent in transforming them were perfect for me. I love them and Jan, Thank You So Much!!!!  First, I have really, really wanted a gameboard with a crow, but well..... I was too cheap to buy a stencil to only use once( ya, well at least i am being honest). So I was super happy to find Jan had made this board for me. This is what it looks like on one side:

and here is the other: Awesome, huh? Just look at all these goodies!!!

Jan created this rolling pin out of one that looked new. Awesome. I love this!!! (Please tell max that)wink, wink.

I discovered recently that I had too much red, white, and blue in my front room. I was making a serious effort to watch for green items and wished I had green paint. I know, me without green paint, weird, huh?

So when Jan sent me this perfect green candle hutch, It is very possible that I may have been doing a little jig, maybe. If I was, it is not likely I would want to tell everyone. ok, I was... Happy Dance going on round here!!! Ha Ha!!!It is cool, huh? This candle is called "Olde Hearth"-- and I can't wait to try it.The card is so wonderful, as well and I am going to frame it. The whole package smelled heavenly,thanks to this wonderful potpourri of fixins:

i put it with a candle under my food screen in the kitchen right where I can enjoy the scent throughout the day.

Thank You Jan!!I am busy now finding places for my new treasures.and Thanking God for you and for them.

oops I almost forgot: Here are the items I transformed for Jan:

Some people just don't understand (primitive decor)

I am so thankful for friends who love and appreciate primitive decor. It is a great blessing to me to have others share their ideas and talents and appreciation. I wanted to share a bit about why we "show off" what we have found or what we have discovered or the ideas we have in primitive decor. Some who just don't understand not only do not understand why you would tote a paint chipped bench INSIDE your house, let alone why you would blog about it and tell the whole world.( I'd like to buy the world an issue of Country Sampler Magazine).Oftentimes, people think that you are bragging about what you made or bought or were given, when it is simply NOT the case. You see, primitive decor is like a treasure hunt for ancient treasures. When you accomplish finding or creating that treasure, you share the idea or the accomplishment with your prim friends, but generally, people do not mean to say "I have a new tote and you don't na_na_na_na_na!! Ha Ha. Finding or creating these items does NOT make you materialistic. If you took the time to KNOW me, you would know that is not the case.As a matter of fact, My husband has to force me to buy new things most of the time. My car just recently went to the shop, and they gave us a list of things that needed fixed, and when my husband said "you just need a new car!", I teared up, and so he gave in and I get to keep my old car. ( of course I will have to wait a couple of weeks until my car is fixed). Now, if someone makes a primitive item, and shares their work or idea with you, that is a GOOD THING, and it is great that people appreciate their talent. Primitive decor includes putting items together to form a "gathering". So when people share their things, it is showing what treasures you made or found, and how you put them together. If I tell you my husband bought me an item that matches my decor, it is not to brag, but to say......."can you believe a husband actually understands?".

 Now with that being said, You just cannot imagine how much it means to have friends that have the same decorating style as you. Friends that understand what happens when people are talking about you like you are not there saying things like
"is she lazy, or does she just not know how to refinish a table... we should stain it for her"
"she actually means for it to look like that, She WANTS it like that"
"now I know for a fact that you can afford to buy a decent table, I don't know why you have that crap in here"
"looks like you gave up polishing many years ago"
"how much work are you going to have to do to that to make it usable?"
"I guess, if that's your thing"
"You could at least paint that"
Oh my. Those people are not invited over anymore. Ha Ha

So, HEY, Do you want to see my new tote?What should i put in it?

Another great reason to homeschool_Not for kids!!!!

Teachers at a pep rally.


oh, and a teacher forcing middle school kids to buy condoms http://karenrayne.com/2009/04/01/buying-condoms-in-middle-school/

oh, but there is so much more!!http://www.101reasons.org/

my own idea of treasure

I saw these beauties at the bottom of a stack on the bottom shelf at GW, Under a bunch of pots and pans. When I saw them and rushed over and knelt down, A lady  noticed my excitement and was clearly ready to try and get some of what I was after. When she saw that this is what I was after, she gave me the weirdest look. If she understood, they would not have still been there for me to find, now would they? It was my very own treasure.

GW Finds, sweet prim gifts, and some new homes for my treasures

Sorry for not posting for a while. I have been super busy with some projects around the house and with a new curriculum. I have a ton on my mind, but I know that there is too much there for it to come out in proper English today, So I will just share some pics with you-- Ya I know that is what you like!! God Bless You!!

Look at the candle dipper in the above post, Don't ya love it? I do!!! My husband is such a sweetheart!! He ordered it for me with some other really nice things__ I mixed my pictures up but you can see the rest on the last picture.

So as requested... the new homes of the wonderful things Lisa sent me( until I rearrange again, you know how that goes)-- I know I said it before but I can't help saying Thanks so much Lisa!!!

A few GW finds.:

My sweet husband decided to find me some prim gifts on his own!!! The scales, the cans(one says paprika)-- This gives me an indication of what he thinks primitive is. He also bought me the crock: what an absolute doll!! Thank You Baby!!

My husband ordered these for me. Cute stuff huh?

I won Lisa's giveaway!!!

Look at my primitive goodies from Lisa Robinson. This lady does incredible work--- If you are thinking of a dolly-- These are wonderful!!!Check out her blog.http://blacksheepsmercantile.blogspot.com/

Salt dough ornies and a thrift store makeover

I love salt dough ornies, so I made some for Valentines Day. Simple and easy recipe--- 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water---- roll out and cut like cookies. Bake at 300 for 45-60 minutes(varies depending on the thickness)-- You can also paint words, polka dots, etc if you want.Make great bowl fillers.

I figured I would make some for St.Patty's while I was at it: Fun huh? If you decide to make some, show me!!!

I bought this collection of items for about 50 cents each:

Here is the first makeover ( the heart that used to say forever)

Dollar Tree Makeover-- gotta love finding treasure for one dollar.

I found this pear soap dispenser at the Dollar Tree. (It comes with soap... and they had an assortment of fruit shapes).

So I decided to grunge it: (mod podge/cinnamon mixture painted right on):

Are you ready to see how to get this much fabric for $5?

That is right!!! $5 per bag at the thrift shop!!! You are going to stain and grungy and cut and rip and tear anyway... this way it doesn't feel so bad.

I love Black Sheep Lisa!!

Yes, I do.I love Black Sheep Lisa!! I love her talent, her determination, her inspiring story..... and I love her primitive treasures!!!

Guess what else? I have won her giveaway!!! Yes I did and I am so happy!!! This is my new Amelia doll and beautiful blessings pinkeep!! I am so happy. Thanks again, Lisa!!
You can visit Lisa's home at:http://blacksheepprims.blogspot.com/
and her shop at:http://blacksheepsmercantile.blogspot.com/