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

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

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

Bone Head Studios Giveaway

I am very late in posting about this lovely giveaway that Flora is doing over at Bone Head Studios.  Please go to her blog now http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/  to sign up for the chance to win one of these sweet ornaments....the giveaway ends August 31st.

A Happy 50th Anniversary Party

Well I'm sure some of you have been wondering what I have been up to....well I can safely say up to no good...LOL.  :0)  Back in February of this year my sisters (Joann & Barb) and I conspired to have a 50th anniversary surprise party for our folks.   Well last weekend the waiting and planning was over.  We started it all off by making our journey north to upstate NY to meet up with my sisters.  Then we made like taking them out to the Texas Road House was it (on their actual anniversary August 4th). We did have my uncle and aunt surprise them by showing up at the restaurant to share in their special day.  It was a fun dinner with lots of laughter.  In fact when the waitress brought out the saddle for my Dad to get on I was laughing so hard because I wasn't sure if he could lift his leg that high....and then I wondered if he could make it off the saddle too...but by George he made it (he's 70 folks so you can imagine the old joints groaning in protest).  We also made them kiss a lot because I was laughing to hard to get a good shot....LOL.  It still makes me smile every time I think about it. :0)  Then at the end of the dinner the waitress brought us all our bills and instead of a bill my parents received their invitation to their surprise party the next day (August 5th).  We decided that they needed a little bit of a heads up....plus we couldn't think of a really good excuse to give my Dad to be at the park @ 2pm.  My Mother is always game to go do something but my Dad sometimes plays donkey....LOL.  :0)

Anyway the next morning was filled with picking up flowers, cakes, and table linens. Packing up two cars full of decorations and other goodies. Then we were off to Havana Glen park to decorate.  We planned to take a lot of photos  before and after we decorated but I'm sure some of you know how it is....we were short on time and something had to give.  We manage just a few photos before the caterer showed up.  Once the caterer had things set up guests started to arrive.  We had 45 guests that attended the party....so it was a nice size....not too big not too small. 

My older sister Joann went and picked up our folks for their party.  When they first got there I went over to grab my Dad and Mother because they had a very special guest that came all the way from Florida.   My Dad's aunt is 91 years old and he hadn't seen her in over 20 years so the look on his face was priceless.   Everyone was crying and hugging.  It was the highlight of the party for me.   I have to send out a BIG THANKS to my Dad's cousin Sadie for driving Aunt Lillian all the way to NY.... you're the best girl!!!! I also want to thank everyone else for coming....you all made my parents day happy and special....we couldn't have done it with out you all!!!

I'm sure you're thinking that the party couldn't get any better right...good food, wine, surrounded by family and friends that love you.  Well my folks are the best...they've always been there for us girls.  They've given us good guidance and tools to have happy and fruitful lives.  If we hit some bumps along the way they are always there to help us up....in one way or another.  So us girls and a bunch of their family/ friends decided they needed a second honeymoon since their first one didn't go so well.    We all pitched in and they're going on a Bahama cruise this fall..... you should have seen their faces.... Mom was shocked....and Dad was speechless....LOL. :0)   We have never thrown a surprise party for them before but I think this is one they will remember.   Happy 50th Mom & Dad you're the best and we love you very very much!!!


I hope all of you have enjoyed seeing such a special day for all of us....it was a joy to share it with you all. 
Hugs,
Theresa

Prim Ditty Swap With Becky From Primitives N Stitchin

 I'm so happy to show you all my second box of lovely goodies from the very talented  Becky from Primitives N Stitchin.  Just click on the link in blue to see her lovely blog and to see what I created for her.  Now for those new goodies she so thoughtfully made for me.

 Isn't this ditty bag beautiful and the rug hooked sunflowers are fantastic.  I know Becky said she hadn't picked up her rug hook in a long time but you'd never know it.  They are beautiful!!!

Next is the beautiful quilt table runner she made me ....I just love all the fabrics she picked for it...they're perfect.  The wool table runner is so cute with the two little sheep....speaking of sheep do you see the sweet woolly sheep she made too. :0)  I also love the candle and the little breadboard it sits on....so cute and prim.

 

 I also have a thing for these vintage cookie cutters.  I was just telling Becky that they make me think of my childhood and how my Grandmother had this style of cookie cutters.  I love the fact that they remind me of those special moments in my Grandmother's kitchen.   THANK YOU BECKY!!!! It has been a wonderful swap and I'm so glad I've gotten to know you. :0)

I also would like to say thank you to Amy from Bumble Bee Lane Cottage for hosting this lovely swap. 

I hope this post finds you all well and hopefully I'll have something exciting to tell you again soon.  I hope to start working on some fall goodies for my shop or to even post here on my blog.  We'll have to see how much time the little one gives me.  Plus I know there will be more swap projects in my future too...LOL. :0)

Hugs,

Theresa

Christmas In July swap with Carol from Buttermilk Creek Farm

I'm so excited to share photos of my new Christmas goodies that Carol from Buttermilk Creek Farm made.  The swap theme this time was "Christmas In July".  Don't you just love the Santa...and his clothes are made out of a gorgeous Burgundy wool.  I loved it so much I had to ask Carol where she found the fabric (I went and purchased some...LOL).  The gingerbread men are the sweetest.... perfect for the wooden bowl that sits on our dining room table.  Plus the candy canes will look great on our tree. Did I ever tell you all that one of the tree's (we usually have two)  has almost all handmade ornaments (that's my goal....to one day have nothing but handmade ornaments on it).   Our other Christmas tree I put all sorts of goodies on that one....there are just some ornaments that you can't get rid of....to much family history. :0)

Here is a close-up of the Santa.....isn't he great!!! Anyway as you can see there where even more goodies.... a sweet stocking with peppermint candies, wonderful smelling bowl filler mix, and a lovely Christmas fridge note pad.   Thank you Carol... you really made it feel like Christmas! :0) I can only hope you are as happy as I am with the goodies I sent you. THANK YOU!!!  I also would like to thank Wendy over at Ravenwood Whimzies for hosting this fantastic swap. 

On other news I've also been busy make this sweet baby quilt for our friends first grandchild.  Her name is Delaney and I felt that this new little girl needed something special.  I wish the photo of the baby quilt turned out better....I took a dozen photos and finally gave up trying to get a perfect shot.  It was such a sweet pink color...it made me think of pink lemonade. :0) 

Next is my new Christmas pincushion I made from a Stacy Nash pattern.  I guess you could say I got myself ready for the Christmas in July swap by making this first.  I actually was working on it before Wendy posted the swap....LOL.  I think we both were thinking cool weather thoughts. ;0)

As you can see my hands are never idle for long.  I basically finish one project then pick up another right away.   More often then not I also have a half dozen projects going at one time.  This means things don't always get done in a timely manner but at least it gives me a variety of things to do which keeps me happy. :0)

Thank you for taking the time to stop in and I hope to see you soon. I'll have another swap to share with you in a few weeks.  

Hugs,

Theresa