Saturday, September 22, 2012

Harvest Gathering Swap with Amy From Bumble Bee Lane

Hello gals... I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted you all to see the lovely things that I received from Amy over at Bumble Bee Lane for our Harvest Gathering Swap. 
 I did manage to find all these new treasures a place in our home.  The lovely gourds and wool rug that Amy made look lovely in my trencher on our dining room table.  Now I just need to find a few more fall goodies to put in the trencher.... maybe some flint corn or something.
Here is my attempt at hiding our phone and answering machine.  My sweet pumpkin doll is from Kimberly at The Red Cupboard and the pumpkin it's holding is the one Amy made.  It's like the pumpkin and the pumpkin doll were made for each other.  Also you'll notice the book Amy created as well with it's willow branch "T" on it.  :0)   The little cupboard that everything is sitting on is one my Grandfather made.  He passed away when I was four and I only have a few memories of him...so having something he created with his own hands makes it feel like he's always with us.
As you can see Halloween/Fall has made it's way here...this is our buffet cabinet in our dining room.  I've put the wickedly good smelling witch Amy made me next to my dried flower arrangement.  Below is a close-up of her....isn't she great. :0)
Lastly here is a little sneak peek of what's going to be in my giveaway. There will be a few other things added once I finish them but I wanted to tease you all just a little bit. :0)

I want to thank Amy for the sweet box of goodies and for hosting the swap as well.  As always it's a pleasure to participate in Amy's swaps. I've truly met some lovely gals and received some fantastic treasures.  Okay....I should go I've got things to make. :0)

As always I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy my dear friends.
Hugs,
Theresa

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Harvest Gathering Swap With Marsha From Tattered Chick

 I know it's been sometime since I put a post up on my blog...but I'm sure most of you know how the fall season is.  It's the last push to get things done around the house before winter and it's the start of a crazy crafting season as well.    With that said I hope you'll sit back and enjoy the photos of my latest swap with the very sweet Marsha Mees from Tattered Chick http://www.tatteredchick.net/
  As you can see she sent me some wonderful goodies....starting with this lovely witch hat box.  It was packed with so many sweet little goodies.  Just take a look.....
Inside I found two sweet crows and a moon for my Halloween tree.  A black star that quickly found it's home on one of our dining room door knobs.  A vintage quilt square that I adore along with some lovely antique buttons.  She even sent a sweet acorn face pendant that her friend made.  I should also mention the wonderful smelling soap too. :0) 
Here is a close-up of the crows, moon, buttons, and acorn pendant.

Here are the goodies I made and sent Marsha.   I must tell you that the photos are ones that Marsha took...she took pity on me and my failing mind....LOL. :0) I remembered that I needed to take pictures after everything was boxed up and ready for the post office.  I not only forgot to take pictures of the things I made her but for my swap with Amy as well (I'll be posting that swap in the next week or so).  I thought NUTS I'm not going to unwrap everything just to get photos.   Thank you Marsha for helping me out....LOL. :0)  If your wondering the Bewitchin' Belle kitty was created using a "Soft in the Head" pattern.  The wool crow rug was a pattern from Need'l Love,  The crow/witch hat pinkeep (photo below) was a Threadwork Primitives pattern.  The grubby candles that I made were a first for me and boy did I have fun!!! :0)   I can see more grubby candles in my future...LOL. :0)
As always I'd like to thank our sweet hostess Amy Smith over at Bumble Bee Lane Cottage  http://bumblebeelanecottage.blogspot.com/ for hosting yet another wonderful swap. If you've never been in a swap and you'd like to join in she's hosting a Homespun Ornie swap that's open to everyone that would like to join.    Just click the red link to hop on over to her blog to see the rules. :0)
 
Okay one last thing before I go....I will be hosting my first giveaway here on my blog.  As most of you know Fall/ Halloween is my favorite time of year (outside of Christmas)... so with that said please come back around Oct. 1st to see what you could win.   
I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy my friends until next time.
Hugs,
Theresa

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Top Hat Jack Challenge Piece

 Greetings everyone I wanted to show you all my "Top Hat Jack" challenge piece I made for Lori's contest over at Notforgotten Farm http://farmhousenotforgotten.blogspot.com/ .  Please click on the link to check out the other entries and vote for who ever you like.  There are so many great pieces and such a fun challenge to take part in.  Lori asked us to use her  "Top Hat Jack" cross-stitch and to creatively use it in anyway we wished....she only asked us not to frame it, make a pin keep, or a pillow with it.  I decided a lovely bag to use this Fall was a perfect idea...especially for all those Fall craft show I go to...LOL.  :0) 
 
 A photo of the wooden skeleton key I put on the side (purchase your own at The Cheswick company website).   I also wanted you to see the hand stitched strap....I'll also tell you a secret..... I used my husbands old belt and covered it with homespun fabric to make a lovely comfy strap that sits perfectly on my shoulder.

 I took a lot of close-up photos so you could all see the crazy quilt stitches I did.  I also added some buttons and bead work to the front.
 This is the back of the bag....with the lovely fabric Misi from 1890 Gable House gave me a few swaps back.  I was wondering how I would use this lovely fabric.  I wanted to make sure I could use it in a way that I wouldn't waste a single sweet witch.  :0)     If you're wondering the fabric is from Lori's fabric collection at spoonflower  http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/notforgottenfarm ....just click the link if you'd like to go see her other fabrics and to buy yourself a little something. :0)


As always I hope this post finds you all well.  I have enjoyed sharing this project with you and please go see the other entries they really are great....so much talent out there.  As for other goodies I've been working on...well those have to be a secret for now.  :0)
Hugs,
Theresa