Blessing Box

I found this unfinished box of course at a thrift store. I have been wanting to make some so I bought it for the pattern. I painted it black, added the "blessing" saying and sanded it. Now I just need to add some fillers.

Before

After

The little bench I have it on came from my parents. They had it sitting outside with a board on top and used it to set their coffee on while sitting on the glider. It is actually an old sewing machine stand. I dry brushed barn red on the board that I got my brother. The board was a piece that he had made from trees that my dad had planted when he was a teenager. They did a huge remodel of the old farmhouse and had trees off the farm rough sawn for the ceiling and kitchen cabinets. Pine on the ceiling and oak for the cabinets. Their kitchen and dining area walls were stripped down to the original log cabin (what a process) that my great-grandparents built. Well over a hundred years old. This project has been a very long one. My sister in law has a great deal of patience!! She waited a long time to have a real kitchen. Besides having six children growing up.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway.

Prim OOAK Bag Giveaway

HERE IT IS!..................

This handmade bag measures approximately 15X15. Tea stained with cinnamon and vanilla added. Then baked of course. This is just something I whipped up this morning. I thought it needed a good home. So I am giving it away. To enter leave a comment about what your favorite relaxing thing to do is . Mine is sewing and just crafting in general. I will pick the winner on Sunday, March 1st. Check back on Monday to see if you are the lucky winner!

Thrift Store Find

I love when you find great deals at the thrift stores. I came across some tab top curtains a few weeks ago. I did plan on using them for sewing projects but they were a perfect fit for my kitchen window. I knew I wanted some kind of top for them or maybe a different way to hang them. Well, on my trifty excursions on Tuesday I found some black and white check fabric. It is heavy fabric almost like canvas. There was at least five yards so I got it. The curtains were $4 and the material was $3. I washed it up and of course I had the frayed edge. I used that for my hem and made a valance to go over the curtains. I had enough left for a table cloth to match.

Plain tab top curtains

Checked fabric. Loved the frayed edge.

Finished look!

The runner on the table is one my mother had. And the big star on the left my dad had made to put up at Christmas.

Now I am on my way to Andy's to "kid sit"!! Jabin said they don't need a "baby sitter" because they are not babies. How cute is that.

Old drying rack gets a new life!

I found this great old drying rack for $1 at our local flea market barn. It really needed some "TLC"! I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it. There were a few loose rungs. I had a "light bulb" moment this morning. I do get them once in awhile. Wouldn't those prim towels from my valentine swap make it come to life. I tied it on the top with some scrap homespun to keep it closed. Hung it on my kitchen wall under the cabinets now it looks like it was ment to be there.


This poor thing was just waiting for a good home!

Now it has feelings!

Will post more good finds later. I have the before shots just need to do something with all my great finds.

First on my agenda for today is shovel. We had some snow over night. Looks like just a couple inches or so. Forecast is for below zero windchills. I thought we were done with that. Sure am glad I ran errands yesterday.

Secret Valentine is revealed!!!!

And my Secret Valentine is.............

Much to my surprise I had this big package by my door when I arrived home today. I got such a wonderful array of goodies! I could hardly believe my eyes. I love everything. It was from Raggedy Angel.

Thank you, Beth so much for everything. I'm glad you liked everything I made for you. That was alot of fun.

Upholstery Fabric Handbags

Looking through the assortment of upholstery samples I envisioned some two tone handbags. Well, being I was home alone today while Ted was working I got right to it. I really love the way they turned out. They take about an hour, by time I get everything cut out, straps made and lining put in. Gee a serger sure would be nice (one can only dream).

Like the display!

The other side is opposite. Solid on the bottom.

I made chicken stir fry with rice for supper. Of course all my veggies I got yesterday. I got everything chopped up and in the freezer.

Just think February is half over. Spring is on it's way.

Got bitten by the love bug???

This morning I went to Amery they have a food share there once a month. Anyone can go. It is $10 and I got potatoes, onions, a Walmart size bag of tomatoes , green peppers & fresh green beans, two bags of mini bagels, a dozen little zucchini, the meat was a package of hot dogs, two bags of salad, and a case of yogurt smoothie drinks. You get to go through the line twice. Bring your laundry basket and fill it up. My step-daughter Tanya goes alot and said I should try it. I think there was close to 300 people there. From there I went to the Save-A-Lot store to get the rest of my groceries. It is similar to an Aldie's. I also went to the second hand store didn't find anything I really need there. It is fun to go and look.

My next stop was Andy's on the way home. Evan gave me this "Love Bug". He said he didn't like it. She sent some valentine cookies and cupcakes home with me for us. Yesterday she dropped off a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's for us. That will be our dinner tonight.

I made the to go cup sleeves yesterday.

I used the fabric samples for these also.

I also made this handbag for Tanya. She liked the look and it felt like leather. I gave it to her today and of course she loved it.

Well I should go and get something done. Hope you have a great day.

Valentine Surprise

The postman delivered this adorable "Annie" today. I absolutely love it. Still no name on the return address. Mystery to me.

I have been sewing some hand bags this week

will post a picture when I am done doing the finishing touches.

Not much else new around here. I did get some new wood patterns today, I order the from The Winfield Collection. Now if it would only warm up so I could work in the garage without dressing like I was going ice fishing!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

(Happy Valentine's Day)

Upholstery Fabric Gets a New Look

I have been busy sewing the last week. I came across some upholstery samples and my brain was on overload. What could I possibly do with them. Well after giving it some thought here is what I did with them.

I made coasters, eye cases, checkbook covers, makeup bags, camera cases, and can wraps.

I also found a new hand bag pattern I have been wanting so I tried that out. I did a little variation from the pattern just to make it quicker.

This was my trial & error bag. I made a little bag to put goodies in also. The fabric was just some remnant I had in my stash.

I also received a package from my Valentine Swap. LOVE IT!!!!!

Too bad we don't have smell-a-blog! They smell just like red hots! YUM YUM

On Saturday I tagged along with Justina. First we went to "the barn". They were open for the day. I picked up about twenty five yards of fabric for ten dollars. What a deal! We then went to Andy's for the Stampin' Up open house. From there we went to Stillwater and checked out Justina's things she has at the Primitive store there. They were so wonderful looking on display. She comes up with some pretty awesome ideas. On to Eagan for my great niece's birthday party. Elsie is five now. It was fun for Amaya to get to go to her cousin's party. I was busy in the kitchen helping Grandma Sue (my sister & Elsie's grandma) bake pizza's for the bunch.

What a group. I think there must have been twenty kids plus all the adults. Not very quiet there! It was fun anyway.

Sunday was quiet for me. Ted had to work so I tackled my taxes. I got that done. E-file is great. That's all I got for now. Have a great week.

Ice Races made for Saturday fun!!!

Last Saturday we went to Lake Magnor to see Dave ice race. It was a beautiful sunny day with warm temps. Our friends Wayne and Diane went with us. Diane had never seen anything like that before. She would get so excited when they went spinning around on the corners. I managed to get a few pictures. Tina is always too busy counting laps to get action shots.

The race is on! The black truck is Dave.

Coming around the far corner.

Dave going by us.
Limo on the ice. Of course they were not in the race! Just someone out for a ride.

Tina is inside counting the laps. Can you see her in the grey sweatshirt? Last summer we hauled our crafts around in that camper.

This guy spun around in front of us. The race was over for him. Stuck in the snow bank.

We stayed there for awhile then took a drive to the campground. We had a fun day.

One of these Saturday's we will bring the little kids. They love to go. I bring hot dogs, chips, and hot chocolate for them. We have a cheap round grill and make hot dogs on that. For some reason they taste really good. It makes for a great winter picnic.