These are always a sure sign that spring is here.



My MIL knows a riddle about the bleeding heart she used to tell my girls as she opened it and took them apart. The only part I remember is the slipper at the end. Sadly dementia has robbed us of her. If anyone knows this riddle I would love to have it.

This was last weeks' project. I had started them last summer when I was in Texas. I put them away when I got home and they have sat in a box on my dryer (don't ask me why there..... IDK). It was time to get them out and finished. I love how they turned out. They are firecracker bowl fillers form a tutorial form Char.


They will look great in my "redo" bowl.



I have a hard time working with blue. I always imagine it a certain shade of blue and it never works out that way. This time it worked. I wish I had a before pic. This was a wooden salad bowl with ball feet and flowers on the inside. Love how it turned out. Won't pass on another one of this type again.

This is how we spend spring at our house. Girls fast pitch softball. Tori's been in softball for about 9 years now.

Notice the number Uncle Ron??????? It's a traditional number for my brothers when they played sports.

Have a great Wednesday.
Blessings,


Rhonda

Treasures

I went to my first garage sales of the 2010 season. It was freezing this past Sat but I braved the weather looking for that elusive treasure.I did find a couple of treasures (at least I think they are)

Here's for you Lisa

I found a yard of plaid wool for 50 cents that will felt up nicely. It's blue and cream and I already can see something patriotic in a penny rug for summer.

The thread is a find because I always prefer to use old for a couple reasons.....First it's Made in the USA, second the colors and quality are better,and when making reproductions I think the older looking the better.


The little red book has great patina but I will probably recover it in fabric and prim it up. It's the perfect size for the shelf in my living room.


Do you have traditions that can't be broken?? My youngest daughter Emily is a stickler for tradition. I love that memories we built while they were little stay with her. For instance i didn't have the time or the energy to decorate for Easter this year. I got the Easter bin down and she did it all by herself. She wanted it decorated for our company.

These are the traditional napkin rings I made years ago. Not very prim are they?? But she loves them and insisted we use them. They are made from a piece of miniature fence I cut apart and just wired to the size I wanted. I then hot glued on miniature Easter characters. They were so quick and so fun.




Of course we have 2 traditional tablecloths I made also. We use the larger egg one for everyday and the jelly bean one for Easter Sunday. No real rhyme or reason except that we have 12 purple napkins that look better with the jelly bean tablecloth.


I know the Easter pictures are a little late but I was fixing some of the miniatures tonight to finish packing it away for next year and I couldn't resist sharing them. It was neat for me to think about all Emily did to get ready for Easter this year and reflect on the person my "little" girl is becoming. Tradition will always play a big part in her life I'm sure. I will treasure these times.

Blessings,
Rhonda

Primitive Candle Holder

This tutorial was posted by Kris the Project Coordinator on " A Primitive Place" Prim forum. I started it a few weeks ago and finally finished them today. Her instructions were very user friendly. I couldn't decide which color I wanted to make so I made two. The first one is a mustard over black.

The second one is barn red over black.




It was one of my first projects in wood. I can't wait to do some more. There is something rewarding about conquering power tools. Or maybe it's just the feeling of working with "power" tools... LOL.

I have lots of pictures to post of some new things around The Olde Stone House. One is in the pictures above underneath the tray of fruit. It is an honest to goodness antique Penny Rug. My friend Lisa and I went to an antique show a few weekends ago and found it. We made instant friends with the dealers and the rest is history. They were both great to deal with. I gave the rug owner all the cash I had with me and he gave me the rug with the understanding I would send the rest "within a week or 2". We couldn't believe it. I have become used to the feel and look of vintage penny rugs. The old wool feels different than the felted wool of today. This one is backed in burlap too which is also traditional. It is on a foundation piece of a muslin like fabric. i just love it!!!!


Isn't it wonderful. Even though I love to make my own I consider myself lucky to have an antique one.

On Saturday the girls and I went to a wedding shower for a close family friend. We had a wonderful time reconnecting with family and friends. I hated to leave. But we'll see everyone again at the wedding next month. I had picked my mom up for the shower and when we returned to her house she told me to take the "old crock" sitting on the patio if I wanted. "If I wanted??" I couldn't get it in the car fat enough. I wanted a big one for a garbage can in the kitchen. Can't wait to find someone to make me a lid for it. And for FREE no less.



Better go finish some "chores" now. It can't be all fun.

Blessings,
Rhonda

Shopping in Lancaster

I have returned from a much needed R&R with my DH. It was our anniversary so we ditched the kids and ran for Lancaster. Yep!! Lancaster Pa. DH and I have been going there since before we were married. We are never at a loss for things to do there.

Of course a trip to Lancaster wouldn't be complete without shopping. Fabric shopping that is. I love to shop there because their prices are at least $3.00 a yard cheaper than other shops.( I do frequent the local shops as well but what DH doesn't know won't hurt him.)

So be prepared this is a photo intensive fabric post. I am working on a Civil War reproduction quilt so it MUST be scrappy. So here goes...................

I have so much trouble with backgrounds for reproductions. These are called "shirt prints" and will work great. I always buy these up whenever I find them.

Always a need for creams

Patriotics.......great for placemats and napkins for our July Civil War dinner



Greens,browns,reds and purples..notice the "cheddar"????




Starting a collection of blues for an all blue and white quilt.


And lastly a shamrock piece for a new smock top and placemats for next St Patty's day.

So I'd better get off the computer for now and get this stuff put away.

Really disappointed that I found no wool anywhere though.

Had a wonderful time away but unfortunately it's back to reality.

Dishes meals kids......................

Happy Monday.
Blessings,Rhonda

Wool

I've had so much fun the last few days.

I have been trying my hand at dyeing some wool.

I tried some new wool and Cushings dye.

And the results were.........

Buttercup Yellow in 3 shades ..........

Copenhagen Blue

And Bronze Green

Not done yet.
I tried Kool Aid dyeing.

And you thought Kool Aid was just for drinking.


Look at these colors. What fun this was and it only took about 10 min each color.

now I'm not sure how long the color stays. It says not to put them in direct sunlight. I was thinking Easter eggs and spring flowers as I was looking at them.
They are not the colors I normally work in for my Penny Rugs but they are cute and I loved the technique and learning something new.

This is the project my SIL and I are working on.

It ran in Quiltmaker Magazine starting in Jan 2005 for 6 issues.

It is all in wool.

My SIL is recovering from Bypass surgery so she's looking for something to work on when she feels up to it.
Not sure these colors go for this project either but we'll see.

Happy St Patty's Day.

I'm off to get my corned beef in the oven and frost my cake.

Rhonda

The mailman cometh

I was so excited yesterday when I got home. This was in my mailbox

And this is who it was from.

I placed an order on Friday morning and I got it yesterday.
What great service!!!
This is what was inside........2 yards of luscious soft wool and 6 new colors to try. Thanks for the suggestions Cathy.

I was so excited to get these.
Friday is my day off so I will be bringing out the dye pots. Most of the fun is in the experimenting.

I just never know what I'll come up with.

Some wool I already have I will over dye with new colors. Others I will try from scratch.

I must remember to write down my recipes this time.

Yes recipes with measurements of amounts used. So in case I need more for a project later on I can reproduce it. (Nothing worse than starting a project and running out of a color. )

Thinking new penny rugs.

Copenhagen blue, doesn't that sound rich... Olive green for a background penny..... Buttercup yellow toned down with some black or tan for mustard.....

the projects are swirling .

I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it.

What a way to get those creative juices flowing. Just the winter break I needed.

Enjoy your day.
Blessings,
Rhonda

Whatca Workin on Wed

I'm trying to use up and clear out. This week it's old quilt blocks.

There is a warning though. I got a little carried away with the bags. I think my OCD kicked in a little. I started out just trying to cover up the writing on the bags I use for groceries.

The bag before I did anything to them.

This is the same bag back and front with a stray quilt block attached to cover up the writing.

Then I talked to a friend (HI Cheryl) and she suggested making pockets out of the quilt blocks.

These old quilt blocks are some that people give me. They really aren't square and can't be used for much but I like them just the same. They were hidden in a box on the shelf so This to me is a better way to enjoy them and give my shopping excursion a boost.

Plus it gives me extra pockets. And who can't use those???

And........the more boxes I get rid of the more wool I can bring in. I have been having such a good time making penny rugs.
I call this one Cheerios. It reminds me of the cereal now that it's done.

I have always liked miniatures and this is no exception. The pennies were small to work with. The army blanket wool I used is one of my favorite prim colors. I dyed some green wool too and it turned out good for my first try at dyeing.

The colors are more accurate in the first picture under the candle. This one is washed out. For some reason I can't see to get good pictures with nice color of my rugs.

My next rug will be a cream and tan one. I noticed that everything up until now is pretty dark in coloring. I need something a little lighter for some of my darker furniture.

Many more projects..........
so little time.
Until the next ones are finished......

Be sure and visit My Country Home for more Projects.

Blessings,
Rhonda