Easter Bunny, Painting, and TS shopping again!

I woke up early this morning with thoughts of what I would accomplish today. I have so many projects to complete, I didn't really know where to begin. As you can see, my first unfinished project was this bunny. I finished it and listed it on eBay. It is my own design, made in a Raggedy Ann style.

Yesterday I bought the latest edition of Create & Decorate. There are lots of ideas in there that I definitely want to make. I think I will start with the prim carrots, since Easter is right around the corner.

My daughter Jenn just called me and asked me to join her today for a painting get-together. She wants to refinish her coffee table. Can you guess what color? Black of course. It seems like such a popular color for all of us primitive bloggers doesn't it? So I will be working on some of my thrift store buys at the same time. I promise, you will see the before and after pictures as soon as I complete my first do-over. She wants me to go to some thrift stores with her afterward. Hope they have added something new that I didn't see the other day.

Thrift Store Fever

I have to admit that I have become addicted to shopping at thrift stores. After all, how can I resist when I see so many ideas on all of the crafty blogs I follow. Due to the poor economy, my full-time job has been cut to 32 hours a week so I am now able to dedicate every Thursday to crafting. Of course I always seem to find the time to leave the house and hit the thrift shops. Today I managed to visit a Goodwill, 2 Kiwanis, and a hospital auxillary TS. I didn't go home empty handed. I found a 5-piece wooden bowl set for 75cents, and a firkin planter that will hang on the wall for $1.00. I'll take photos later.

This morning I refinished the spoon rack planter that I picked up a couple of weeks ago. See the before and after photos. I refinished it in black paint and added a walnut stain. The two spoons are souvenirs of Venice and Rome, Italy where we visited last year. I'll need to find more on eBay to fill the four remaining slots. I can't put it on my wall empty, can I? I still need to get a smaller artificial plant to add to it. The African violet in the photo is borrowed from the firkin planter I picked up today and is too large. I found the perfect spot to hang it - between my pantry and fridge.

I need to finish working on the bunny I started this morning also. I'll post a photo when I finish.

My first TS renovation project

I wish I had a before picture of this ugly foot stool that I purchased from a thrift store for $3.00. The wood base was finished with a maple stain and it was "upholstered" (if that is what you want to call it) with a dirty pink kettlecloth cotton fabric. I just knew this would be the perfect beginner project for me. After sanding down the wood base, I painted it black and distressed it lightly. I then applied a walnut stain followed by a coat of waterbased polycrylic satin finish. I found a salesman sample of upholstery fabric in my favorite colors - ivory, cranberry, sage, and mustard gold for 99 cents at another thrift store. I am so pleased with the outcome. Now I'm ready to start my next do-over. Maybe I'll tackle the old blue chair next.

Thrift Store Buys

I visited quite a few of the area thrift stores this week in search of some hidden treasures. I found quite a few as you can see by the photo.

I will be painting all of my treasures with black paint. This will be my first attempt at prim painting on wooden furniture and accessories. Can anyone recommend the type of paint I should use, such as flat, satin, or gloss? I bought a black semi-gloss but I'm not sure that is the effect I want on items like the cutting board. My purchases include the chair, picture frames, spoon rack, cutting board, magazine rack, wooden trays, and a shelf.

The theme of my kitchen and great room are saltbox houses, so I want to try to paint some saltboxes and sheep on the wooden trays. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Easter is on the way

While I was surfing my favorite blogs this past week I came across this adorable Easter bunny in a pot pattern that was just released by Teresa's Prim Treasures. I purchased the pattern through a link on her blog. Her pattern is available on Etsy. I worked diligently all weekend and finally finished it. I am thrilled with the results. Thank you Teresa.

Valentine's Day is almost here

I've been hurrying to get any last minute Valentine themed projects completed. When I was surfing other blogs yesterday I found a free pattern for this little stitchery pillow. I just had to make it. I had already pre-stained some of my muslin fabric with a mixture of coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon. It was perfectly stained for the prim look I wanted to achieve. After I transferred my "free pattern" onto the fabric I started stitching the pillow. I just finished the two coordinating hearts and listed the three-piece grouping on eBay this morning. I love the way it turned out. It looks great displayed with greenery and berries in the background.

My Four-Day Weekend

Well here it is, Saturday, the third day of my four-day weekend. I have been quite busy working on various projects. I had finished the heart make-do which is listed on eBay, then made two sheep ornies to put aside for the Christmas season for our "Trim a Limb" Ornie Club. I made a Raggedy Annie doll yesterday, listed it on eBay, and it sold this morning. It is a "Bowls n Annies" pattern. Since it sold so quickly I need to get busy making more.


Today I bought a pattern for a primitive bunny so I can start to prepare for Easter sales, plus assorted stitchery patterns.

Valentine Heart Make-Do

Today I decided I wanted to make a primitive make-do suitable for Valentine's Day. Yesterday I went rummaging through the local Salvation Army thrift store looking for the perfect stand to include in my project. What I found was a black metal stand that is 8 inches high. I have no idea what it was in it's past life, but it was suitable for my project. It was missing a price sticker but I'm thinking how expensive could this thing cost? When I got to the register, the clerk noticed the tag was missing and asked if 75 cents was OK with me. I agreed and couldn't wait to get home to make my make-do.
This is my finished project. I made it from a cranberry colored toile print and blanket-stitched a cream colored calico heart trimmed with a button to the front. It was left open on the top so I could insert a spray of Sweet Annie and red and white pip berries, a cinnamon stick, and a vintage Valentine graphic (thanks to Laurie at Down River Primitives). The entire piece is primtiively stained with my coffee and vanilla mixture. A prim hang tag which reads "Primitive at heart" is attached to the make-do with a rusty pin and bell. You can see how it fits perfectly in my thrift store treasure. This morning I listed it on eBay.

DONATING TO A GOOD CAUSE

My mother Janet has been an inspiration in my life. She has always been involved in sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cross stitch. I learned most of my creative "talents" from her. She is still keeping her hands busy, using her talents to help others.

Today I decided to highlight my mother's latest project. She is the chairperson for a volunteer mission at her church, Jamaica Bay Worship Service in Fort Myers, FL. This group of approximately ten women in her community use their free time to crochet lap robes which are donated to terminally ill cancer patients at the local chapter of Hope Hospice.

All of the lap robes are made of knitting worsted weight yarn. The group is always accepting yarn donations. If you would like to donate yarn, please e-mail me at [email protected].