Sweet Summer

Happy summer to everyone! Well shame on me for not keeping my resolution to post more….it’s been what, only five months? Same old things happening around here really. I’ve been keeping very busy making woodcrafts and primitives and also working in my yard and garden now that the weather is nice. Today I’m going to do one of my favorite summer activities, and that is strawberry picking. Of course I’m going to make some jam–it beats anything you can get at the store hands down. I also love to try new dessert recipes with my bounty. Pinterest is a treasure trove of recipe ideas and here is one that I found that looks good that I’ll share…

Until next time, wishing everyone a wonderful, safe summer and a Happy 4th of July!

 

New Year’s Resolution

Happy New Year to all of you! As with a lot of people, I make up resolutions each New Year only to leave them forgotten by the wayside as we get into January. This year I hope to keep one of my resolutions, and that is to be more active on this blog. Sadly, months pass between my postings. I am going to try to be more active in posting this year, as well as adding a little more spark by including more recipes, helpful hints, maybe some tutorials, more giveaways….

I will begin here by sharing a recipe I came across that I am looking forward to trying…it looks so warm and comforting! Perfect for a cold winters day or maybe as part of a Superbowl spread perhaps….I will let you know how it turns out and would love to hear from you if you’ve tried it..

Mexican Lasagna

 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend! Until next time, sending primitive hugs and blessings to you!

 

Snowman Giveaway

It’s hard to believe that we are well on our way to Thanksgiving and the holidays already….I am doing another Facebook giveaway for this adorable snowman. He would make a great gift or a wonderful addition to your own holiday décor. A Kat’s Country Prims pattern, he was made from Warm and Natural Batting…

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You can enter the giveaway here:

https://www.facebook.com/MondaysChildPrimitives

A winner will be chosen on November 17th….Good luck!

 

Primitive Bat Halloween Hanger Giveaway

Happy Friday everyone! Can’t believe another week has passed us by already…

I am happy to announce my first ever giveaway for this awesome little bat hanger, a Chesnut Junction pattern and a favorite with customers….very simple to enter. Just follow this link to my facebook page, like my page, comment, and share. The winner will be chosen on Monday September 15th.

Hope that everyone has a blessed weekend!

 

Blog Hop Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to all of The Rusty Thimble’s Blog Hop Giveaway Winners and to Missy George who won my pumpkin man! Thank you so much to all who have participated! You can see the winners here:

http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/2014/09/13-lucky-winners-of-blog-hop-giveaway.html

I have been busy working on fall and Halloween creations. I just love this time of year and decorating with the beautiful russet, orange, and gold colors…I have also started a new adventure…In keeping with my love of the old days and old ways, I have begun incorporating essential oils into my cleaning, beauty, and health regimens and using less toxic chemicals. I am excited to share some of the things I am learning with you along with my usual primitives and recipes. If you would like to see my FB page where I have lots of tips and ideas, you can find me here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Living-Essential-Oils-With-Michelle/1489703437953345

Happy fall to all of my friends and followers, old and new. Wishing you many primitive blessings!

 

Fall Preview and Giveaway

Well, it is hard to believe that it is already August again. And yes, it has been many months since I’ve last posted. It seems that the blog always gets put onto the back burner while other things in life take precedence. I have been keeping busy in the shop and at the sewing machine and have many new fall and Halloween creations that I’ve been adding every week.

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year for crafting and decorating. To kick off the season, I am offering a discount in my shop for the entire month of August. Use coupon code FALL2014 at checkout to receive 10% off of all orders…We are also proud to be a paid advertiser in the latest Fall edition of Country Sampler magazine which should be just hitting the news stands.

I am proud to be a part of The Rusty Thimble’s Blog Hop as well…it begins today and will run the entire month of August. Sign up for a chance to win one of 13 beautiful prizes from the Folk Art and Primitives Team. You can check out the giveaway with this link:

http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/2014/08/blog-hop-giveaway.html

 

I hope that everyone enjoys the last remaining days of summer! Until next time, I wish you many blessings!

 

Ahead Of The Times

Well, here in Michigan we are still waiting on some real spring weather to visit us. It has been pretty cold and gloomy here despite the calendar telling us we are already well into April. Despite the weather, I have been busy getting some summer and Americana prims done. As many crafters know, you always have to stay a season ahead. That way people can buy and decorate with the items for the upcoming holidays. I always have to laugh that I paint Easter bunnies while I’ll humming jingle bells and am making Christmas ornaments on Labor day…

Thought I’d share a couple of things I’ve been working on with you. Haven’t had a chance to list them on Etsy or my website yet.

I just love how these stacked stars turned out! They were a pattern by Thymeless Treasures. The preserved Sweet Annie smells so good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is a new Americana door hanger that I designed…It can be hung or propped up in a display.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a blessed Sunday!

 

Spring Sheep

Good Morning!

Just wanted to share a sweet little sheep spindle bobbin I’ve recently finished. Like a lot of my creations, it is very sweet and simple. He is about 14″ tall and would be a wonderful piece to display all year round.

Still waiting for it to warm up here in Michigan…it seems like spring has forgotten us this year! My little nephew and I are going to do Easter eggs today so it will be a lot of fun. Hope everyone has a blessed Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!

 

Easter Treats

It’s hard to believe, but Easter is just around the corner already…Along with anxiously waiting to work in the yard, I am really looking forward to trying out some new Easter and Spring recipes. I found this cookie recipe today that I wanted to share. They are simple really but their spring colors are soooo pretty!

Source: myrecipes.com via Michelle on Pinterest

 

One great idea that one of my many wonderful sisters-in-laws came up with was an Easter cookie decorating party. We got all of the nieces and nephews together the day before Easter and she hosted an Easter Egg and Cookie Decorating party. We did this for several years and it was so much fun. We also all had lunch together and we all had Easter eggs and cookies to take home. And it was a wonderful way to spend time with our growing family as well!

And of course I want to share with you some calorie-free Easter treats as well…if you click on the photos you can view them in my Etsy shop:

Until next time, hope everyone has a wonderful, blessed day!

 

Waiting For Spring…

As the days grow longer and the sun shines just a bit stronger, gardeners everywhere anticipate spring and being able to work in their gardens yet again. And I’m no exception. The daffodils’ first leaves are beginning to peek at me from amidst the lingering patches of snow, telling me spring is on its way. As a lifelong Michigander, I know that I still have to wait patiently. April ice storms and blizzards are not uncommon around here. But my thoughts are still turning to the garden…

Source: southernliving.com via Michelle on Pinterest

 

One thing I like to think about is what type of annuals I’m going to plant in my containers…I always say I’m going to shake it up a bit and try something different, but it seems I always go back to my favorite purple and lavender color schemes. There is something about those colors that are just so soothing to me.

And I have also found some really awesome solar lights for my garden this year too…What I love about them is that they repurpose old mason jars, which I have dozens of, and that they also have a quaint and rustic charm. I liked them so much that I even got extra to offer on my website. I got solar lids that screw onto any quart size Mason jar. And then I also got wire Mason jar hangers. You can use them to hang the Mason jars from shepherd’s hooks throughout the garden. And with these caddies, you can put votives in the Mason jars as another option instead of the solar lids…

You can find them here:  http://www.mondayschildprimitives.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=Garden

What are your plans for your garden this year? Hope everyone has a beautiful almost-spring day!