Primitive Life In An English Cottage

Reindeer Addiction, Christmas Concerts & Festive Rollerskating

2011-12-17T18:57:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago whilst going through my blog list, Pamela @ Our Pioneer Homestead did a post on a fabulous Reindeer she had made, you can see the post HERE. Well I hurried on over to Etsy and bought the epattern from Kathy Kriebel as I just loved how Pamela's had turned. Looking back I think I got slightly addicted to them.

I made two for the back room

one to go with the standing Reindeer for the front room

one to sit on the pegboard at the bottom of the ground floor stairs

two to sit on top of the apothecary drawers on the first floor landing (yup have tweaked this area from when I first did it a couple of weeks ago, us prim folk, well we just aren't happy unless we tweak something!)

and the snuffer is a new addition that new that it only arrived yesterday, I was going to wait and not put it out until after Christmas, but I thought it looked good stood with the Reindeer, especially as they have black wool blankets to keep them warm. (snuffer from Winter Willow Primitives). I rag stuffed my reindeer, I think rag stuffing gives prims a real old look to them. I also added a few lines of stitching to the chest area and I took inspiration from Pamela and used sticks for legs, trying very hard to find ones where the ends looked like "knuckles".

And I did make one of the small sized Reindeer for my mum just because she is my mum! (forgot to take a pic of it, well actually I didn't forget, mum had it in her bag before you could say White Christmas!).

I think I am now over my Reindeer addiction, so I gave the workroom a good old tidy round, thinking that would be it for sewing until well into the New Year. THINK AGAIN . . . today I decided to re-vamp the make do shelf in the bathroom and of course, it can't wait until after Christmas, it needs to be done before, when I get an idea into my head I can't sleep until I have acted on it, good job I only need to make a couple of ditty bags or I would be sleep deprived for some considerable time!! Once I have made them tomorrow afternoon that really will be it for sewing until the spring as I have had my appointment date for the long awaited surgery to my manky old right foot. I shall be well out of action for quite some weeks at the end of January, in fact I won't be able to walk without crutches for tow weeks, ohh what joy . . . . . NOT!

Right onto the Christmas Concert. Rob and I attended Libby's Christmas play on Tuesday night, Libby was given the part of a mouse alongside five other classmates, but this was not just any old mouse, ohhh no no no no no, she was a country party mouse! Now the pictures aren't great as the only area lit in the school hall was the stage and we were sat on the very last row (some parents must have arrived an hour before the performance to get front row seats). Anyway here she is in the orange shiny dress (just goes to show how things can be used again as this was the finale dress worn by Beth at last years dancing show)

and she said her lines PERFECTLY!! Off course she was THE star of the show!

and she wanted a picture taking of her mouse face, without the wonderful "mum" made mouse ears (yes I can sew mouse ears as well as prims!)

Finally the Festive Rollerskating, today was the Christmas party at Rollerworld and the girls dressed up as Santa's. Whilst Libby's wore a cute outfit, Beth's was more on the flirty side, Rob nearly had heart failure when Beth tried hers on for him, I think it hit home that his first born daughter was no longer a little girl, she is a blossoming young woman.

So from Beth & Libby, Rob & I

We Wish You All A Very Very Happy Christmas!

Lots of Love From All Of Us

xxx

Christmas Decorating At The Cottage - Part 2 & A Christmas Friendship Swap

2011-12-09T19:43:00.005Z

Hello Again, it really is so lovely to see you back here at The Cottage for the second part of the Christmas tour. There is still some mulled wine if you want a glass and it's good job the mince pies were on offer in Asda or I would have had to resort to baking and whilst I can turn my hand to many things, baking is not one of them! Right let's get you inside, am bringing you in via the back entrance, have decorated my little Christmas tree with red lights and white stars, the one that sits on the old cart in the back garden and wanted you to see it before we head off inside.

I think you can just see the red lights twinkling, (you might need a magnifying glass though!)

As we head inside, the porch shelf is all decorated, on the top are some Snowmen Heads (pattern by Tennessee Ridge Primitives) tucked inside a little prim sleigh. I made these quite a few years ago

and hanging from the rusty nails underneath is an Olde Thyme Sleigh which again is a prim I made a fair few years ago (pattern by The Old Glory Company) and a pair of grubby Prim Ice Skates (another great pattern by Tennesee Ridge Primitives).

Ok in we go and this room is called the back room, because it is at the back of the cottage, but since getting into the wonderful world of primitives its now called The Gathering Room, which is appropriately named as it is the room we all do indeed gather in! Now this room might look a little crowded but with it being Christmas and as you all know, friends and family visit and more often that not there aren't enough chairs for everybody to sit in, so Rob fetched out of storage our small leather fireside chair.

And I know Janet is now going to be thinking "but Karen isn't over keen on lots of red", which I must admit I am not a huge lover of the colour but when I saw this throw in my local Asda store (Asda is part of the Walmart group) I just loved it on sight. It's so warm and snuggly, made from lambswool and angora, I simply had to buy it, even more so as it was reduced from £24.95 down to £15. BARGAIN!! I got it home half thinking I would be taking it back the following week, but it's still here and I do have to admit to loving how it "warms" up the brown leather. Well I couldn't drape the throw over the chair and there not be a cushion to sit with it, so off to the workroom I went and cut a cushion out of an old antique quilt I had. The red in the cushion is almost an identical shade to the red of the throw! On the stepback behind the chair I have added some faux pine greenery, this was from Janet's shoppe this season. I have to use faux greens as the heat from the log burner kills of real greens within a matter of days. Ok moving round we have the tall bookcase that sits in the alcove to the left of the fireplace.

The third shelf up is decorated with some more of the faux greenery

and the bottom shelf is decorated with a Santa, a mini make do chair (purchased last year from Janet's shoppe)

and in a small munising bowl are two pinkeeps hand stitched by Janet as gifts, the long narrow one at the back says "Christmas" and this was one of the Christmas gifts she made for me last year and the front one, "Be Ye Merry" is one of this years gifts, Thank you again Janet! The fireplace is decorated with two handmade prim trees, (can't remember the name of the seller who made these) and a couple of my hand made stockings plus a Gisella Graham Wreath & Garland.

The little trees have small ditty bags hanging from the odd branch and the Gingerbread men I made last year pattern by TFC Folkart (I think, if am wrong then by all means let me know).

In the alcove to the right of the fireplace,

the makedo shelf hanging above the TV cupboard has the last, and I think the best of this years gift from Janet, a pinkeep which sits on the middle shelf. The words "Merry Christmas To My Friend" are stitched underneath a prim winter scene, isn't that something to treasure forever.

On the top of the TV cupboard is another of last years Santa's made from the pattern by Hidden In The Attic.

Moving round the room again and next to the sofa is a makedo cupboard with one of last year's handmade Santa's hanging from the door (pattern by Kentucky Primitives),

and the top is decorated with a simple Gingerbread Bag (again I think this pattern is by TFC Folk Art and again if am wrong then please do let me know).

The colour red must be growing on me because I saw this cushion (on the settee in the picture below) in a popular shop here in the UK called Next, I didn't care whether it was "prim" or not, I just loved it and at just £14 I loved the price too!! I think it was the fact it was made from red wool and had a pair of Turtle Doves embroidered onto it, the Doves reminded me of the film Home Alone 2, where the owner of Duncan's Toy Store that gets broken into by the bad guys tells Kevin the story of how to share a pair of Turtle Doves with somebody that matters to you. That is one of my favourite Christmas films, next to Home Alone 1!

Above the settee hangs this wall cupboard decorated with another spray of the faux greenery from Janet's Shoppe

and a Woodland Santa I made last year hangs from the door, (pattern by Kentucky Primitives).

Leading off the Gathering Room is our little kitchen and in the window is a Snowman with some handmade Christmas Peppermints and the last of the three prim trees bought from Janet this season.

Both the Snowman and the Peppermints are my hand mades from a couple of years ago, I love the little red cardinal sitting on a twig tucked in his arm.

finally an old wood bowl of Cellar Apples with a spray of fresh pine

and that's The Cottage decorated in all its Christmas Glory!

Finally, (and I do promise that your so very very close to the end, stick with it!!!), I received a wonderful Christmas Friendship Swap in the post today and it was this truly stunning Christmas Cushion

handmade in just my colours! I LOVE IT!! and it fits perfectly in the Makedo chair in the front room

THANK YOU so much Wendy and thank you for the little surprise gifts

Beth has laid claim to the Gingerbread Basket and Libby has the Mouse Stocking on her desk in her bedroom. I didn't get chance to find homes for them as soon as they girls got home from school, that was it, they took them!!!!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, I have a couple of weeks now where I can sit back and take it a bit easier, I have done all my Christmas gift shopping I just need to do the big food shop. It's perhaps a good thing not to be rushing around over this next few weeks as I am due to have surgery on my manky old right foot in the New Year, had best make use of being mobile while I can and not sit back for too long!

Love

Karen

Christmas At The Cottage - Part 1

2011-12-07T17:42:00.005Z

Seasons Greetings

Come in, come in, it's freezing cold out there, how lovely to see you, let me take your coat. I have mulled wine warming on the stove with mince pies and cream. Now sit down and warm yourself through in front of the fire and when your good and ready let me take you on a guided tour of our little cottage. Make sure your well rested coz there's LOADS to see!!!!

We will start at the very top of the cottage which is the second floor known as Beth's bedroom

The Pixie is one I bought from an Ebay seller some years ago and she went by the user ID of Elkyandmo (I think). Walking down the stairs from Beth's bedroom we arrive to the first floor, this area is commonly known here in the UK as "the landing" and on the wall sits a set of apothecary drawers

I made the Reindeer just this week and adapted it from a horse pattern by TFC Folk Art.

Under the drawers sits the dry sink and it's decorated with a Snowman and prim tree

the tree is one of three I bought from Janet (you all know by now I mean Janet of Winter Willow Primitives.) I made a Partridge and 3 Pears to hang from the branches (the Partridge is actually a Chickadee pattern by Hazelruthe and the pear pattern is by Sassafras Hill Primitives). I think I can truly say, hand on heart that my most favourite prim item I have ever made is this Snowman,

I made him from my very own pattern some 3 years ago and even though I do say so myself, I really was and still am very proud of this piece of art!

Moving on into Libby's room (this is just off the landing) and hanging from the door handle is a sign . . . . .

. . . . . hmmm not so sure on this! I guess she has been on the "Nice List" more often than the "Naughty List" so she could be in with a good chance of Santa stopping Christmas Eve!

In her window she has a little tree

all decorated with red and white.

Next door to Libby's bedroom is the Bathroom (this is the second room off the landing area).

This is a new Santa for this year made from a pattern by Hidden In The Attic and staying on the first floor the final room off the landing area is our bedroom.

The pinkeeps were all gifts for my birthday this year from Janet and sat in the makedo chair

is a Dru McArthy bear with another Janet made pin keep, this one was made a Christmas Gift for this year, thank you again Janet, I do love the "K" in the stitching!

We are now going to head down stairs, turn right at the bottom, into the front room (this is the room at the front of the cottage, hence the front room) and the tree corner.

My new German Twig tree decorated with Prairie Dolls, Little Boots and Beeswax Icicles, (Dolls made with my pattern, Boot pattern by Netty LaCroix).

The larger Santa I made last year and the smaller one is newly made this year (both patterns by Hidden In the Attic)

I just love this style of Santa made from a pattern by Kentucky Primitives, he is hanging from the corner cupboard door above the tree. He was a true labour of love, those leather boots are not easy things to sew!

The fireplace is all decorated with Beeswax Santa's, Gisela Graham Garland & Wreath and a pair of my Christmas Stockings.

I had to keep all my iron pieces on the fireplace mantle, I just love them!

In the top of the stockings I did have fresh seasonal greenery but due to the heat it didn't last long so I had a light bulb moment and filled the stockings with Pheasant Feathers.

Next to the right of fireplace sits the makedo chair

and above the makedo are a pair of antique sieves.

The Bear I made a couple of years ago, the Pinkeep was a Christmas gift from Janet last year and Janet made me yet another Christmas Pinkeep gift this year and I have put it on top of an old firkin sitting at the side of the make do chair.

In the alcove just next to the makedo chair is a tall bookcase and I have simply added some faux greens to the bottom shelf, tucked around an aged tin lamp.

The bucket cupboard has had a few seasonal touches added to it,

the Santa is newly made this year (pattern by Hidden In The Attic) and a second prim tree from Janet

and on the top shelf an old wood bowl full of woodland pot pouri, wax jingle bells and another of last years Christmas gifts from Janet, a festive Pinkeep.

I made a second Reindeer to sit on top of the Granddaughter clock (pattern as before)

and FINALLY (thank goodness I hear you cry!!), the small chest in front of the settle

I made the penny mat last year as well as the Santa (pattern by Hidden In The Attic), the plum pudding is a new purchase this year from Janet's shoppe.

Have just realised that wasn't the last picture, am so sorry, there is just one more. I treated myself to a set of black punched tin shades to go on the chandelier in the front room, sort of a "To Karen, Love Karen, Happy Christmas Gift"!

They have made such a difference to the overall feel of this room and you can now breathe a huge sigh of relief as that really was the last picture for this post!

See you in a few days time with part two!

Love & Hugs

Karen

Tis The Season - New Handmades Over On My Selling Blog

2011-11-03T16:03:00.002Z

Afternoon Ladies,

My apologies for being absent from blog land for the last week or so, but if you hop on over to my selling blog my selling blog you will see why.

I am so chuffed with how everything has turned out, but it sure has been hard work, lots of late nights and a fair few sore fingers. Anyway I hope you like them all, I have to get back in the workroom as I still have gifts to make for family and friends and a whole bunch of Santa's to make for here at the cottage!

Catch you all very very soon!

Lots of love

Karen

Happy Halloween From Me To Thee

2011-10-27T18:07:00.000+01:00

Happy Hauntings!

Beth & Libby Halloween 2006

Whatever you may be doing for Halloween this weekend, have a fantastic time!

Love

Karen

Stunning Silhouettes

2011-10-22T14:58:00.001+01:00

Can you spot the difference from the picture below to the picture in the last blog post??

will give you a minute to look carefully at the picture but there is a huge clue in the post title!!

Yup you got it, the sihouettes hanging above the sconces, aren't they just fabulous! I love them! They seem to have completed the overall look on this rather large bare wall

I contacted Pamela via her shoppe, less than two weeks later the custom made silhouettes were being delivered and they were even better in the flesh!

Thank you again Pamela!

And can you see something else in the picture?, draped over the back of the settle is an Angstadt #9 table square. Can you remember me putting out a cry for help a few weeks ago, well thanks to a very friendly email, full of links to various websites, from a wonderfully kind lady in America, I now have my throw. Think am finally finished dressing this room, 20 months after we last decorated it!!!!!

Love

Karen

Swaps, Horse Riding, Makeovers & Roller Skating, All in All a Bit Of Everything!

2011-10-18T14:31:00.001+01:00

As you can probably tell from the title there is a lot going on in this post!

A fair few months ago I took part in my first ever swap with Carol at Firecracker Kid Primitives. I commented on her wonderful fowl boards and before I knew it Carol and her husband worked their magic and I had one in the post winging its way across the pond! I asked her to leave the board natural as I wasn't sure what colour I wanted it. Anyway when it arrived both hubs and me thought it a great shame to paint over such a wonderful piece of oak so I just waxed it using Briwax and here it is . . . .

. . . . I have it hanging from the oak posts that divide the back room and the kitchen. At the moment a tobacoo basket is hanging from the top two hooks, but I am hoping that in time I will get my hands on a narrower longer tobacco basket, which may need to be "made to measure". I have been searching since deciding that I liked the idea of a basket hanging from it, but you know what they say "patience is a virtue" and am sure one will come along eventually!

The second swap I did was just a couple of weeks ago, again this came out of my making a comment on Wendy's blog about her wonderful handmade pumpkins, the next thing I know I am taking delivery of a large box simply full to the brim with the most wonderful handmade pumpkins in all colours and sizes. Wendy and I have called them Friendship Pumpkins and we both seem to be suffering from some kind of pumpkinalcoholism!!!!

Aren't Wendy's pumpkins just fabulous?? I love them and each time I look at them they make me smile. I know I have said it so many times already Wendy, but thank you my friend, I really was so touched to receive such a wonderful friendship gift, can't wait to do it again!

Next up Horse Riding, and before you all sit with baited breath, waiting for the pictures of me getting on a horse, you can all breathe, as the horse riding was a belated birthday present for Libby. Regular followers will know that March 1st saw Libby's birthday and we promised to take Libby and a friend for a horse riding lesson once the weather was warmer. Early July saw the day when she got dressed in her jodphurs, boots and hat

and off to the stables!

each time Libby goes horse riding we have the never ending discussion over Libby having a horse of her own, needless to say we don't take her that often, we are running out of reasons to say no!

Onto a makeover I did on the pegboard in the front room. When I first had it made, don't ask me why but I went with the makers suggestion of having it painted a distressed cream colour, bit of a daft decision since nothing else in the room it was to hang in was cream. It has been one of those pieces of furniture that I never liked, simply because it was the wrong colour, so out came the sandpaper and paint and it has been transformed from this

to this

much better!

And finally, roller skating, again I am not that adventurous and bearing in mind what happened to Pam, I have decided to keep my feet firmly on non moving objects! Beth & Libby have been learning to rollerskate for quite some month, they have been going to Rollerworld on a Sunday afternoon, a place that is totally safe for families and children to roller skate under the supervision of staff employed there. In this day and age that is a very rare thing. As a parent it is wonderful to know that the girls can be somewhere for an entire afternoon, without mum or dad having to be with them to ensure they are safe and sound, it gives them some much needed freedom and independance. Whilst they have both been learning to skate they have worn hired skates but this weekend they were both treated to skates of their very own, and just so as you know exactly what that meant to Libby, here she is with her skates the night she got them

fast asleep in bed, the skate bag at the side of her, her index finger holding onto the bag hook, that's a picture that shall be etched in my memory forever.

Have a wonderful week,

Love

Karen

New Offerings Over On My Selling Blog

2011-10-10T15:20:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to let you all know that at 3.15pm BST I updated my selling blog with some new hand mades. I know its been quite some months since I offered new goodies for sale and I sure hope you like what has come out the workroom this last week. If you want to take a peek simply click HERE

I shall be back in a few days with a bit of a random post and to catch up on my blog list, Libby has just walked in from school and its now all systems go!!!

Love

Karen

Birthday Wishes & A Cry For Help!

2011-09-28T13:08:00.004+01:00

Now don't go fainting, yes I have done two, that's TWO blog posts in as many days!!!! Think I must be sickening for something!

The main reason for this post is to wish my mum a very very Happy Birthday for tomorrow

she will be 68 years young!!

I always ask her if there is something specific that she would like as a birthday gift and this year she asked for a pair of gold earrings, last week I headed off into Derby and got mums special request. We have also renovated her old garden bench for her. A month or so ago mum asked Rob to dispose of it for her as it was well past its sell by date, but Rob being Rob, he decided to take it to work and have a go at restoring it. The cast iron fretwork was sandblasted to remove years of paint, base coated and painted black. He replaced all the bench lats with new oak ones which he pre-stained with sadolin and by the time he had finished it looked like a brand new bench! We gave it to her a couple of weeks ago, she was over the moon with it. Mum is also a huge lover of prims so I have made her a couple of surprises. I will share pictures as long as you all promise not to tell her. . . . . ok, here they are.

The first is a doll, made from a pattern by TFC Folk Art, the pattern is called Callie

and the second surprise is a pumpkin made from a pattern by Sweet Meadows Farm

do you think she will like her surprises?

Before I made mum's doll I made one for myself. Whenever I buy new patterns I like to do what I call a "try out" to see if I will like the end result. This is my Callie

she is going in the back room once the fall decor is all put away. I really do like this style of doll and am going to make a couple for the selling blog. . . yes your eyes haven't deceived you, I will be sewing next week to list to the selling blog!

Now onto my cry for help. A month or so ago I decided I wanted an Angstadt #9 throw in linen/brown to match the window dressings in the front room. Kathy @ American Heritage was showing one in stock, I emailed her to purchase but alas she no longer had it and it seems that this particular design is now discontinued. I did the usual google search and after many enquiry emails I came across a website, that had one in stock, that would ship to the UK and accepted Paypal!! HOORAHH!! The owner gave me a shipping price for one throw and for three throws as she was carrying three in stock, I told her I only needed one, gave her my paypal email address and waited for the paypal invoice . . and I waited and I waited . . . after days still no invoice. I emailed to enquire if the invoice had been sent . . . no reply . . . I emailed again to ask if she was still proceeding with the order . . . no reply, even after 4 weeks!!! Now this really annoys me, to ignore a customers email is quite simply, down right rude. I can only surmise that my order for one throw was not at all valued by the website owner, so my search has now come to an untimely end.

Does anybody know where I might get my hands on an Angstadt #9 throw in linen and brown, where it would get shipped to the UK and I can pay via paypal??????

Thankyou all so very much in advance for your help,

Autumn Blessings

Karen

More Fall Decorating at The Cottage

2011-09-26T15:01:00.002+01:00

Afternoon Ladies, am back with some more photographs of the rest of my fall decorating, these are the last ones and be warned there are quite a few so now might be a good time to put the kettle on, make a cuppa and then get all comfy. Right are we ready? Ok let's make a start.

We will start with the garden. I bought a Welcome hanging basket to hang outside the workroom door.

Friday night I called at the local garden centre and they had just taken delivery of a whole load of Red Robbin bushes and I just had to have one, I knew exactly where in the garden it was to live.

About a month ago I bought a few mini pumpkins, but over here in the UK the shops don't seem to stock larger pumpkins until Halloween is virtually upon us and I was so hoping to get some to decorate all around the garden, but alas no. I have had to make do with these little fellows sat on the old cart.

Next year I am getting Rob's dad on the case with the pumpkin growing. This time next year I could well have more pumpkins than I know what to do with!

Leading off from the garden we are going to enter the cottage via the back porch

Ella just had to get in on the picture, sorry about that! I have gone with a Witchy Hollow theme in here, can you just make out the Ghost Rider to the right of the doors? Well that was one of my very first prim purchases some 4 years ago and it was made by the very talented Marcia of Hill Kountry Krafts. On the shelf are a couple of pumpkins handmade by me from a pattern by Tennesse Ridge Primitives and a wonderful Pumpkin Farm sign purchased this season from Janet @ Winter Willow Primitves.

Hanging below is the Witches Potion Pocket I made a few weeks ago (pattern by Sassafrass Hill Primitives) and a pair of Large Witches Shoes which I made last year (pattern by The Primitive Lady)

As we go inside into the back room, also known as the gathering room, I haven't gone overboard with fall decor, I have just added a few bits here and there.

Starting with the step back

Do pumpkins need to be pumpkin coloured??? course they don't so I made some to tie in with the colour scheme in this room.

The tall book case to the left of the fireplace has a few fall touches

On the bottom shelf one of my handmade pumpkin head dolls (pattern by SweatPeas Primitives) and a few pumpkins from Janet @ Winter Willow Primitves. The large one comes as a set of six, you will see the other five dotted around in the rest of the photos.

and a few more pumpkins on the top shelf.

Moving across to the fireplace

I have decorated the mantel with a leaf garland which started out life as an autumn leaves bush purchased from Janet, I got a bit creative and turned it into a garland and I made some more pumpkins. I love this new style pumpkin, the pattern is by Maureen Mills of Sweet Meadows Farm.

the sun was beaming in the day I took the photos

To the right of the fireplace is another alcove

The make do shelf decorated with some more faux pumpkins

The top of the TV cabinet with a wonderful doll which Rachael @ Curious Folk Art Dolls made for me last year.

And finally the last picture in the gathering room, the wall cupboard over the sofa, with the a single pumpkin and Harvest Jack the Rabbit which I made last year from a pattern by Kentucky Primitives.

Leading off the back room is the kitchen and I have decorated the window with another pumpkin head doll and a few pumpkins

As a PS, when I did the first fall decorating post I forgot to add this picture of the old chest in the front room. The pedastal bowl is filled with wax bricks from Janet and some pot pourri.

You can now heave a huge sigh of relief as the last photo is coming up! I took delivery of a wonderful antique iron skillet and sugar cone candle from Kathy @ American Heritage and changed the display on the landing to accomodate it.

And that is my fall decorating for this year! Did you manage to make it to the end without nodding off, LOL!

On a final note we are having some truly marvellous weather here in the UK, temps are well up on the seasonal average and rumour has it that by Wednesday it will be hotter here than in Hawaii!!!!! I shall be soaking up every bit of sunshine as it isn't going to last, it seems we are forecast snow for October!!!

Have a great week,

Warm Fall Hugs

Karen

Autumn Decorating at The Cottage

2011-09-09T13:33:00.004+01:00

Afternoon Ladies from what is a very warm day here in the UK, in fact it is warmer today than it has been the entire month of August. I feel as if the seasons are not what they once were, Spring was unnaturally warm, Summer just didn't happen and now Autumn seems to be making up for the warm weather we lost in Summer. Am not one to philosophise (that is too long a word for a Friday afternoon), but there just might be something to this global warming thingymajigwotsit!

Anyway, I somewhat digress, back to the post title and here are some snaps of the decorating I have done so far. We will start at the top of the house and work our way down.

A white pumpkin to dress the bathroom

(handmade by me, pattern by Tennessee Ridge Primitives)

a pumpkin head doll, gourd and nubby candle stubs

which sit on the top of the dry sink situated on the first floor landing.

(doll handmade by me, pattern by SweetPeas Primitives, gourd by Steins and candle stubs from Winter Willow Primitives)

The pumpkin folk doll decorating the chest in our bedroom, which I shared in my last post.

(handmade by me, pattern by TFC Folk Art)

This takes us downstairs to the pegboard at the foot of the ground floor stairs,

(pumpkin and bonnet handmade by me, pumpkin pattern as before, bonnet pattern by Backside of the Moon Primitives)

and into the front room. The Hobgoblin is one I made a couple of years ago and is my favorite fall prim. The pattern is by Moonchilds Primitives and I just added a few personnel touches to individualise it.

standing underneath the hobgoblin is an antique stool with a pumpkin and a pair of witches boots

(pumpkin handmade by me, pattern by Tennessee Ridge Primitives. Witch shoes handmade by me, pattern by Sassafras Hill Primitives)

Moving round to the fireplace, the print is a new addition (Ebay UK) as are the iron plates which Janet @ Winter Willow Primitives so kindly ordered for me. You can just make out the pumpkins at either end, I made these this year from a pattern by Maureen Mills of Sweet Meadows Farm.

I gave the make do chair a touch of autumn with a wonderful little cushion from Trica @ Hillcrest Home Prims

The bookcase in the corner has a fall display on the bottom shelf,

another of my pumpkin head dolls with a handful of mini pumpkins purchased from Janet this year and a pumpkin decorated plate which I have had for a fair few years.

Finally the bucket cupboard

on the top of the smaller firkin is a pumpkin which is smaller in size to the ones on the fireplace and a handful of the mini pumpkins arranged in front of the standing doll and tin lamps.

and on the top shelf is an old wood bowl full of handmade pumpkins

and that's all the pics I have taken so far. Over the weekend I shall go round and do the rest of the house.

Whatever you may be doing this weekend have a good one!

Hugs

Karen

Making Up For Lost Time!

2011-09-05T18:14:00.003+01:00

I have gone from not sewing for months to sewing every spare minute of every day, I think I am just about getting ahead of myself, with just a couple more orders to complete. I have made a couple more of the Pumpkin Head dolls

and a couple Pumpkin Folk dolls

isn't he a cutie! He was made from a pattern by Jackie Schmidt and I just had to keep one for myself. Mine sits on an old chest in our bedroom.

He adds just the right prim fall touch!

In between sewing I have found some time to decorate our cottage for fall, am just waiting on a couple more parcels arriving and it will all be complete, pictures to follow soon.

Well I had better get back to the workroom, the sooner I get finished the sooner I can spend some time blog hopping and catching up with my favourite blogs, am so looking forward to seeing everybody's fall pictures.

Have a great week everybody!

Love

Karen

Back Sewing & Lovin Every Minute!

2011-08-24T16:32:00.005+01:00

Early this month I finally got the energy back to do some sewing and once I got into the swing of it, I realised just how much I had missed being in my workroom, here's a few pics of what I made.

Albert the Bear

from a pattern by Sweet Meadows Farm

Albert has now taken up residence in his new home

I kinda miss seeing him in the workroom!

Then I made a whole load of Pumpkin Head Dolls from a pattern by Sweetpea's Primitives

the first three from left to right are now decorating our cottage and the last one on the far left is decorating my mum's home. I also needed a few pumpkins to sit on the shelf in the porch

and finally a Sassafras Hill Primitives Potion Pocket to hang from the porch shelf

I just have a few more items to make and I shall have the cottage all ready for fall, pics to follow in a week or so.

On a final note, today I was back at the hospital to see the consultant and after 8 long, and sometimes very painful months, he has agreed not to make me undergo any further tests, he is happy for me to stay on the "wonder tablets"!! I couldn't be happier, no more treks to the docs or hospital and if all I need to do is take a few tablets daily am one happy gal!

A Make Do Story

2011-08-16T18:59:00.153+01:00

My plan to get all up to date with life here in the cottage went a little bit astray . . . . we took ourselves off camping last week so what with all the preparation for a week away I didn't get time to do any more blog posts before the month of July ended. Into July and the wonder tablets were still working and it seemed as if my luck was changing for the better, read on and you will find out why.

Early last year, my dear friend Janet bought the most fabulous make do chair from Pat of Olde Bittersweet Farm. I was absolutely green with envy!!! I had admired these beautiful chairs for months and I knew that I would never be able to own one of Pat's gorgeous chairs, living in the UK the shipping costs alone would require me to take a second mortgage out on our home and whilst Rob never bats an eyelid over what I buy, I do think he would have something to say over the cost of shipping a chair from America to the UK! So I admired the pictures that Janet sent me and once in a while I would sit looking at them and dream that one day, I may just be lucky enough to get my grubby prim mitts on one.

Fast forward 12 months and whilst browsing through picture trail sites I came across Pat's and I noticed a couple of albums with a tutorial, but this was not just any tutorial, oh no no no no no, this one was called "let's make a make do"!!! I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT, here were complete instructions and detailed photographs showing how to make a rush seat ladder back chair into a make do chair. Now I might seem a little paranoid here, and this just shows how desperate I was to own a make do, in fear that the album may be deleted before I had chance to make a chair, I sat and printed every single page off!! Over 130 sheets came tumbling out of my printer and then I got to thinking, what if I had missed printing a page and the instructions were incomplete????? so I got Beth to check the printouts with the instructions in Pat's album . . I think this gives you the general idea how badly I wanted a make do chair.

Now I had the full colour instructions but no chair. I patiently waited and waited for just the right chair to come along. I searched Ebay on a weekly basis as well as checking out local antique shops and house clearance stores. Eventually my patience paid off and I became the very proud owner of an antique English oak ladder back chair, which also happened to be the perfect height to sit in the spot I had earmarked. Next came the fabric choice. The chair was to go in my bedroom and I wanted it to match in with the bedding and window dressing which had all come from Family Heirloom Weavers. An email to Janet soon got it sorted and the fabric order was placed. I again patiently waited for the fabric to be wove, then shipped to Janet who in turn shipped it onto me. Two weeks later I had all the raw materials to start the project and had learnt many lessons in how to be patient!

The first stage was to prepare the ladder back for upholstering, now this was Rob's department as I am useless with a saw, hammer and nails! This is how the chair looked after Rob had followed the first set of instructions, (the picture is taken in my workroom which also doubles up as a utility room)

view from one side

and the other side.

Next came the wadding, this was my department,

it took a bit of doing,

but eventually I had all the wood that Rob had attached covered.

Not only was the chair covered in it, but I was too, the next chair I make remind me not to wear black!

Finally I had to cover the wadding with the fabric. I followed Pat's perfect instructions until I had the wadding fully covered and this is the end result.

The fabric is a perfect match against the bedroom window dressing,

I am chuffed to bits with how it has turned out,

I wake up every morning, see the chair and can't believe that I now actually own a make do!

There was enough fabric left over to make some new window dressings for the kitchen plus an undersink curtain. I took inspiration for the design from a house featured in Mercantile Gatherings magazine, but I did make the side tails longer than what was featured. The kitchen window does not sit exactly in the middle of the cupboards either side it, by making the tails longer it helped to disguise this.

I really liked how the dressing to the kitchen window turned out so I made another one for the bathroom window. Having ran out of the fabric used to cover the chair I used osnaburg instead.

And that is my make do story (plus a few new window dressings). I would just like to thank Pat of Olde Bittersweet Farm for passing on her knowledge, experience and advice in the art of making make do chairs and also thank you to Janet of Winter Willow Primitives for ordering the fabric on my behalf.

Thanks Ladies, your the best!

Karen

Less Frustrated & Getting Up To Date Part 3

2011-07-26T17:18:00.000+01:00

I am happy to report that my recent spell of problems with blogger have now been resolved, I can comment on blog posts without having to keep signing back in. It seems I had my internet security levels set too high for Blogger, after reducing them from medium/high to just medium things got a whole lot better.

Now where are with the whole getting up to date topic . . . ohhh yes, we had worked our way through May in Part 2. So, June saw one test after another at the hospital and finally my consultant prescribed me with what I am calling a wonder drug, coz since I started taking it I have been pain free and that was over a month ago now. The month of June also saw me get another year older and as well as the Hornbook I shared with you in the part 2 post, Janet also stitched for my birthday gifts two beautiful pin keeps . . .

. . . one says "Primitive" and the other says "Crow", I have them on the old chest in my bedroom. As I started to feel more like my old self we finally got the Gathering Room painted, we had to cancel it twice due to me not feeling too hot on the dates the painter was booked in. We didn't change the colour scheme in here, just a fresh lick of paint on the walls and woodwork.

I moved a few things round, the Gathering Room sign hanging on the brick fireplace was previously hung over the wall cupboard above the sofa

and the Quilts sign use to hang above the french doors.

I left this area the same as before although the braided rug in front of the tv cupboard is a new addition.

In the picture below the little candle tray on the make do cupboard is a new addition, a purchase from Janet's shoppe Winter Willow Primitives. I had hung my nose over it for quite some months and after being so unwell it was my cheer me up gift from me to me!

I didn't change anything round here on the bookcase, but a new addition is the small square basket on the very top, which was from American Heritage.

I moved bits around on the stepback, the large dough bowl I use to have hanging on the wall and the buckets were stood to the right. I also bought a pair of the fluted candle sconces, again these were from Janet's Shoppe. Since taking this picture I have made some new fabric tops for the crocs.

The last picture shows the view across the gathering room into the kitchen area, including Rob's comfy chair and another new braided rug.

And that's me for today, I need to go get tea sorted, you know how it is when children are on school holidays, they are always hungry!

Have a great evening all,

Hugs

Karen

It's A "Clicky" Olde World

2011-07-23T10:06:00.007+01:00

Before I start my story, in this context the word clicky means to be part of a group that may, or may not, talk about any non group members, and when the said group is together, the group may or may not, be nice to non group members (taken from the urban dictionary and edited for the purposes of this post). I am sure we have all come across "clicks" during our journey through life, this story is based on my own experiences in my 43 year journey to date.

The first click encountered has to be when we are all at school. There is always that one group of people that are always together whether it be in or out of school and they are the ones that determine what and who is cool, and more importantly what and who isn't cool! From conversations I have had with my two daughters it would seem that "school clicks" are still very much evident today. I was never part of a school click, I was happy to have two or three close friends and that was it.

At aged 16 we all left school and started work, this bought with it a whole new click, the "workplace" one. Now this wasn't as cruel as the school one could be, but non the less it was still a click. This group of people sat together for their coffee and lunch breaks, they went out on a Friday night together, they all went to each other's engagement parties and subsequent weddings and when married their husbands even formed a click of their own, one click bred another. Again I was not part of this "workplace" click and again I had a couple of close "work" friends whom, after more than 20 years, are still my very close friends.

We are now going to fast forward a number of years, we are back at school, this time as mums and yup, you guessed it, there is another click, this one we shall call the "school gate click". This group of people stand in the same spot in the morning and at the end of the school day, clicking away to each other, more likely about all the other mum's that aren't in the group. This click of people does differ slightly to the previous ones because guess what??? it is a mix of male and female! All the other clicks I had previously encountered were predominantly female only and yes you know what is coming next don't you?? I am happy to report that I am not a part of this click either.

We are nearly at present day and the penultimate click is within the world of primitives. For the purposes of this story we shall call this one the "prim click". One never would have guessed it, but it seems that just by communicating via email and the web there is a very small group who send "hugs" and "love" whilst wares are being sold, but when that money stops so do the "hugs & love", and you know what am going to say next don't you, so will save my slightly aching fingers and not say it, but my love of primtives, and more recently blogging, has also bought me into contact with many many lovely people, a couple of which, are now very very dear friends.

And finally to present day and the last click I have come across happens to be the very best one off all, it knocks spots of all the others, this click is one I call "Family", and this time I am very very very happy and very proud to say that I am a part it!

On a foot note, anybody who would like not to be in my click, please leave a comment. . . .

Karen

FRUSTRATED!!! & Getting Up To Date Part 2

2011-07-22T13:59:00.004+01:00

Over the last few months I have been reading about various problems posting comments to blogs and how very frustrated people were getting, I have to say I truly do understand that frustration!! Last night I had a couple of hours spare and chose to spend it reading through my blog list, in 2 hours I managed to post one comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried again this morning and the very same thing happened, I can post the first comment just fine, any comment there after and Blogger doesn't want to know, it keeps asking me to sign in!!!!! HELLOOOO I already am signed in!! Then it lets me publish the comment but states am ANONYMOUS, which I am not!!!! Does anybody have a solution to this very annoying problem?????

Now onto publishing a post, this it seems takes forever too, what on earth is happening???? Time is precious enough without having it wasted by a darn glitch in the Blogging programing!

Ok, to calm myself down I shall attempt to do the second post in my series Getting Up To Date. The month of May was a bit of a difficult one with my health, I seemed to have more bad days than good. The weather here was unusually warm for the time of year so the good days I spent in the garden. Hubby and I have spent a fair amount of time and not to mention money, in getting the garden looking just how we want it, new plants were bought and pots to put them in alongside a set of outdoor sofa's.

A view as you walk into the garden through the back gate, Ella had to get in on the act!

The old cart we bought last year.

A couple of Standard Laurel Trees, these are new this summer. We did have two Bay Leaf Trees, but the severe cold we had last winter killed them, we bought these to replace the dead Bay's.

This is the gate that leads into our garden, you can just see Libby's Wendy House painted blue.

Picture taken from the very top of the garden.

Looking down the full length of the garden.

I arranged some old crocs against the wall of my workroom, I thought they looked quite effective stood on the grey slate.

Begonia hanging basket in full bloom, the colours are wonderful shades of peach!

We invested in some new, good quality, outdoor wall lights to replace the old ones. The design of the lights is exactly the same as the new lights we have hanging on the staircase.

Our wonderful new rattan garden sofa's! I had been hanging my nose over a corner sofa for nearly a year. I first spotted one in my local garden centre last year and I was determined that this year we were going to get them.

They are sooooooooooo comfy!!!!

We also bought a new Derbyshire slate water feature, the plants and pots in front of the water feature are new additions too.

The bird bath and Buddha used to be stood next to my workroom wall, they look better here and the blue grass and pot are again new additions.

The Japanese Acer is one we have had for quite some years and the Boxwood bush I re-potted into a black container.

We still kept the table and chairs as an outdoor dining area.

Overall we are really happy with the end results, we just need the summer to come back!!! LOL

Hugs

Karen

xxx

Let's Get All Up To Date - Part 1

2011-07-21T19:49:00.002+01:00

Evening Ladies, thank you all so very much for your kind and thoughtful words regarding my recent bout of being unwell, I truly appreciated all of your comments. I am happy to report that I have now been pain free for one month, YIPEEE, the docs finally got some medication sorted that works and I feel as if normal service has virtually been resumed, for which I can't tell you how relieved I am to finally be back to my old self.

So, the last proper post was where my thoughts had turned to decorating, we did manage to get all done what was planned and here are some pics of Beth's room and the Staircase's, which were completed at the end of April this year.

Beth wanted to keep the colour scheme the same, lilac and cream, but she did have new bedding

and new window dressings to the roof windows

A new lamp and DREAM ceramic letters in lilac

the furniture remained unchanged.

Her dressing screen was a birthday gift from me and her dad when she was 11

and finally her desk area with faux orchid

Off course we couldn't give Beth's room a makeover without adding a few new items to Libby's room, namely the faux flower arrangement in the window

the little shelf unit under her princess bunting

and a Roo from the Disney shop

Whilst decorating Beth's room we also had the two staircases painted. The wall colour remained the same but the woodwork changed from pale grey to dark grey. We also bought new hanging lights, there are three in total,

and changed the carpet to a black one, which tones in beautifully with the colour scheme, however it does show every single little bit that lands on it, even dust!!!

This is a picture of a Hornbook, made as a birthday gift for me by my dear friend Janet

isn't it just fabulous, I love it!

and that brings you all up to date with the house changes up to the end of April.

Have a great week everybody,

Hugs

Karen

It's Been A While . . . .

2011-06-21T11:52:00.001+01:00

. . . . since my last post. The long and short of it is I have been backwards and forwards to the doctors as well as in and out of hospital for various tests over the last 3 to 4 months and at one point I was admitted to hospital. It hasn't been a good time of late not only for me but more so for my family, who have had to share in the worry and upset to normal family life.

I wasn't going to do a blog post until I was feeling happier with life, there is much sadness in the world without having to read a blog post about yet more sadness, but I have had a fair few emails wondering what has happened to us all.

Once I am firing on all four cylinders, I shall be back to regularly post and also to read through what has been happening in your world, until then, take care all and enjoy the long summer days ahead of us.

Warm Blessings,

Karen

Happy Mothers Day To Mums Everywhere

2011-04-01T13:59:00.001+01:00

Sunday 3rd April 2011 is Mothers Day here in the UK

Wishing all mums a very Happy Mothers Day!

Sending my own mum much much love for everything you do and everything you have done.

xxxx

Mailing List Subscriptions

2011-03-27T19:19:00.000+01:00

Just added the few new items to the selling blog and if anybody would like to be added to the selling blog

mailing list just email me on oldecottageprimitives@gmail.com and I will manually include your email addy to the list.

Karen

Signs Of Spring

2011-03-25T11:56:00.003Z

Blossoming Cherry Tree In Our Garden, Full Of Pink Blooms

Freshly Planted Forget-Me-Nots

(you can just see the first tiniest blue flower to the left, you gota look close though)

Eggs For Hunting

And Eggs For Sharing

(shhhh . . . . . don't tell Beth & Libby)

Fresh Red Tulips In My Mum's Old Vase, Basking In The Spring Sunshine

A Sheep Tuck In A Corner Cupboard

(From Brenda @ The Rusty Thimble)

Peter Rabbit Hanging Proud

(Handmade by me, pattern by Kentucky Primitives)

A Rabbit & An Egg Tree

Stick used for Tree, courtesy of the woods nearby!

(large rabbit purchased from Winter Willow Primitives)

Amish Rabbit Cushion In The Make Do Chair

(cushion purchased from The Cinnamon Shack)

Willow Blue Eggs In An Old Grain Measure

(eggs purchased from Winter Willow Primitives)

Vintage Style Rabbit with His Bowl of Eggs

Love Him!

(rabbit purchased from Winter Willow Primitives)

Another Peter Rabbit

(made by my own hand)

Houston The Rabbit

(whom you met last week)

Another Sheep Tuck On A Kitchen Shelf

(again purchased from Brenda @ The Rusty Thimble)

Grey Rabbit In The Kitchen Window

(purchased from Jenn @ Rabbit Hill Primitives)

and finally, paint charts, tester pots and carpet samples!

Yes indeed, I am in the mood for re-decorating!! The staircase's and Beth's room are getting a make over, work starts in 2 weeks time!

But the real sign of spring is putting the clocks forward one hour and guess what???? that happens this coming Saturday night here in the UK, YIPEEEEEEE!!!! Lighter nights are here at last!!!

I hope you all enjoyed my "Signs of Spring" pics. We have had such a beautiful week here in the heart of England, the sun has shone every single day. I have spent a couple of days in the garden and the rest of the week sewing for the March update over on my selling blog, Olde Cottage Primitives the update will be on Sunday 27th March @ 6pm BST, notice the BST, BRITISH SUMMER TIME!!!

Have A Wonderful Weekend,

Love & Spring Hugs

Karen

Olivia & Houston, Spring Rabbits For Mum & Me!

2011-03-17T13:58:00.003Z

Last week I set my stall out to make a few new prims for here at the cottage, one such item was a standing rabbit from a pattern by Olde Homestead Barn, inspired by one Jean at Prim Crafts had made. Whenever I buy new patterns I always show them to my mum, she is as a big a prim lover as me, well when I showed her the pattern for "Ottis" she immediately requested that I make my "dear old mum one as soon as possible" . . . blackmail me thought!

Anyway, despite the black mail, I set too and made a rabbit for mum and one for me and here are the end results. The first one is mum's, I added a few of my own little touches to the original pattern, I used plush felt instead of calico for the body and shoe buttons for eyes . . .

. . . I also used a delicate flower print for the inside of the ears, the sweet annie bag and the scarf . . .

. . . and I added some raw sheep's wool for a bunny tail . . .

. . . mum has called her's Olivia.

Mine is called Houston (named by Rob) and here he is . . .

. . . again I used plush felt for the body and navy ticking for the inside of his ears . . .

. . . blue check homepsun for his dungarees and neck tie, the dungarees have antique bone buttons holding the straps in place . . .

. . . an egg bag made from navy ticking filled with calico eggs and excelsior moss . . .

. . . his little raw sheep's wool tail . . .

. . . and this is where he stands . . .

. . . next to a make do cupboard in the gathering room, where he looks perfectly at home!

And that was the sum total of my weeks sewing, two standing rabbits, but I also spent some time putting out spring decor am just waiting on a parcel arriving, hopefully today, which has a few new goodies and then I shall take some pics to share.

Whatever you may be doing today, have a lovely St Patrick's Day!

Blessings, Karen

A Blissful Bedroom

2011-03-07T14:22:00.000Z

Afternoon Ladies, it is a beautiful Spring day here in the UK, don't you feel so much better when the sun is shining?, I have more "get up and go" today than I have had for weeks!

Today I thought I would share with you some new pictures of our bedroom, recently tweaked with a few new additions and changes.

First of all our bed. I decided I wanted to give it a bit of a "layered" look and over the last month have gradually bought a few new textiles including a black/linen Eurostripe Pillowsham, plain linen Mock Mice & Teeth Runner and a black/natural oblong scatter cushion all from Winter Willow Primitives. The Herringbone throw again in black/natural was from American Heritage.

We also added a new 3 arm chandelier in black, just visible at the top of the picture. I changed round my prim bits, to give the room a more simple appearance. On the cabinet above the bed sit a stack of black bibles, an antique bear, an iron clip rushlight and an iron snuffer, the little make do shelf over the bedside cabinet houses 2 pairs of antique leather baby boots, one pair on each shelf. Finally the bedside cabinet has an aged tin lamp with an iron skillet stood at the side of it and a Barbara Young Elephant. A couple more old bibles sit below. The bonnets hanging from the peg board are what I made late last year.

Another new addition is this Dru McCarthy bear bought from A Primitive Homeplace just 2 weeks ago . . .

. . . the bear rests in a child's chair which my mum bought for Beth when she was two. I gave the chair a make over when we re-vamped the bedroom 2 years ago and it sits in front of a large chest of drawers.

I have changed things around on top of the chest, leaving just an aged tin patriotic candlestick.

Another new addition is this Governor's Garden runner in black/linen, again bought from Winter Willow Primitives. It drapes over a make do towel rail above the fire . . .

. . . I also moved the iron Betty Lamp from the fireplace in the Keeping Room and hung it on an old rusty nail to the left of the fire.

Finally the picture below is one taken of an alcove behind the bedroom door which is really hard to photograph, but I wanted to share with you the mirror board and standing tin floor lamp.

The floor lamp was made by Robert Allio of Coopers Town Tinker Shop and on the board above the mirror is a stitchery I made, it says "God could not be everywhere that's why he made Mother's".

I hope you liked our bedroom changes, not major changes I know, just a few subtle additions and the odd move round of "nik naks".

This week I am planning on making some new prims for here at the cottage, it is quite some months since I made anything for home and am looking forward to seeing how they all turn out. Whatever you may be doing this week have a good one!

Blessings, Karen

8 Years Ago Today . . . .

2011-02-28T14:40:00.002Z

. . . . at this very time, 2.30pm I had an urge to completely empty the fridge out and give it a right good old clean. With dish cloth in hand, on hands and knees I reached to the back and was suddenly struck with tummy pain, "this is it" I thought, our second child is on her way!!

Just over 13 hours later at 3.23 in the morning of the 1st March 2003, Libby Rose made her entrance into the world and rather a quick one at that. The speed of her arrival seemed to set the tone for her life to date as she has been in a hurry since the day she was born! This is a very rare picture of Libby, one where she is actually standing still, aged just 2

Below is an example of her hurrying through life. Eager to get to the top of her slide she decided at just over 3 years of age, that it was quicker to walk up the slope rather than have to walk round to the steps.

See, much quicker !

Happy 8th Birthday Libby Rose, you have made our family complete and there isn't a day goes by that you don't have us all in fits of laughter.

With All Our Love

Mum, Dad & Beth

xxxx

Selling Blog Update - Sunday 27th February 2011 @ 6pm GMT

2011-02-25T15:17:00.004Z

Just a quick post to invite you all along to my selling blog update this coming Sunday @ 6pm GMT. I shall have the kettle on ready to offer you all a nice cup of coffee or tea and I might even go all out and bake a cake, are there any particular requests on the cake choice, chocolate, lemon, ginger, madeira???? or what about all 4??? A cup of coffee and a slice of cake, yum yum!

Here's a little sneak peak of just one of the item's I have been working on . . .

. . . "Sara" A Prim Spring Bunny . . .

PS. Jean, I got distracted when I did the post and forgot to add that Sara is from a pattern by Acorn Creek Primitives, cute isn't she! Her egg is from a pattern book that I bought from Moonchild's Primitives when I first started primmin some 4 years ago.

See You All Sunday!

Warm Blessings,

Karen

Early Style Rag Doll Winner!

2011-02-24T08:13:00.000Z

Good Morning Friends

We Have A Winner!

I am a little late posting the winner's name, the draw was supposed to be done last night, but our neighbours had a bit of a crisis and we spent most of last night offering them a helping hand, by which time Beth and Libby were fast asleep, so I decided to do the draw first thing this morning.

Here goes, Libby is still in her pj's as it is 8am here . . . .

. . . into the bucket all the entries went, it was Libby's turn to pull a name out . . .

. . . out came the name . .

"KAREN AT MY COLONIAL HOME"

Congratulations Karen!!!

My heartfelt thanks to every one who entered,

Blessings To You All

Karen

A Passion For Pin Keeps

2011-02-16T13:22:00.001Z

I have recently developed a passion for cross stitch pin keeps, but am thinking this passion might be turning into a bit of an obsession!

It all started last June, when Janet at Winter Willow Primitives made two beautiful pin keeps for my birthday, since then I have gradually added a few more of Janet's hand mades and thought I would share a couple of pictures of how I have them grouped together.

Here are three in an iron pedestal bowl that sits on top of an old blanket chest in the Keeping Room . . .

. . . I had been eyeing up the bowl on Janet's website for quite some weeks and was so relieved that it hadn't been sold when I finally decided to purchase it.

The "Summer Blooms" & "Time" pin keeps were the original two made as birthday gifts, this bowl sits on the TV cupboard in the Gathering Room.

. . . to fill the bowl I added a rag ball bought from a lovely seller on EBay US.

Hope you liked the pics, and with one week to go it won't be long before I shall be revealing the winner of the give away, good luck to all who have entered, I am really looking forward to see who wins!

Enjoy the rest of the day,

Blessings, Karen

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-12T10:03:00.000Z

To Wish All My Blogging Friends

A Very Happy Valentines Day, From Me To Thee

Have A Loved Filled Weekend,

Blessings,

Karen

New Items On My Selling Blog & A 50th Post Give Away!

2011-01-30T19:47:00.004Z

Evening ladies, I hope your all enjoying your Sunday, I seem to have spent a fair bit of mine sat at the computer and am looking forward to chilling with my feet up very shortly.

I have just added some new items to my selling blog the fruits of my labour over the last few weeks. When I checked the post there seems to be some information missing underneath the Folk Art Birds, price and so on. I am hoping that this is just some kind of system error as all the information that should be displayed is there on the editing page, but in case your wanting to know the price and postage just drop me an email and I will get back to you with the relevant information.

I finished the last two items on my new sewing machine and it works a treat. I am still getting used to it as there are a few things that are in a totally different place to my last sewing machine, I keep reaching for the presser foot lever at the back of the machine and on the new one it as at the side!

Now onto the give away to mark the recently passed 50th post on this blog, I am offering one of my Early Style Rag Dolls as a free give away, in Burgundy and Tan Ticking Stripe.

If you want to know a bit more about her just head on over to my selling blog, I have made three of these lovely dolls all in different ticking fabrics.

And here's how to get your name entered into the hat (might have to be a bucket as I don't think we have a hat!)

1. BE A FOLLOWER OF THIS BLOG = 1 Chance (one overall entry into draw)

2. BE A FOLLOWER OF MY SELLING BLOG = 2 Chances (two overall entries into the draw)

3. POST THIS GIVE AWAY TO YOUR BLOG SIDE BAR = 3 Chances (three overall entries into the draw)

4. LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST GIVING DETAILS OF THE NUMBER OF CHANCES YOUR GOING FOR = 4 Chances (the maximum of 4 entries into the draw)

It's kinda important I know how many chances your going for so as I know how many times to put your name in the hat. I will let the give away run for three weeks and the draw will take place on Wednesday 23rd of February @ 8pm GMT, and Beth & Libby will once again do the honours. Ohhh one more thing, there is no postage to pay as she is quiet a light weight item so I will post her to anywhere in the world free of charge.

If you do decide to enter, GOOD LUCK and thank you!

Blessings, Karen

Never Rains But It Pours!

2011-01-27T15:49:00.001Z

Ever had one of those periods in your life where nothing seems to go your way?. . . . . . . well we are certainly having one of those and this is not a shower of bad luck, more like a monsoon!

It all started at the beginning of November last year when the dishwasher broke. Fair enough thought I, it was over 3 years old, used daily (sometimes twice daily), and hadn't cost the earth when we first purchased it. The weekend before Christmas the television in the Gathering Room decided to stop working. Now I wasn't best pleased with this as it was only a couple of years old and was by no means cheap when we bought it. Onto the week between Christmas and New Year, the microwave obviously felt left out and wanted to join the dishwasher and the TV in the great electrical graveyard, so it decided it was no longer going to give any heat out. This brings me up to last night and my beloved sewing machine, the one item I really can't do without, sewed its last stitch. With a painful whine and whir it too has now departed this world, made even more desperate by the fact that I have 2 items to finish sewing before updating my selling blog this coming Sunday.

Last night I searched for a new sewing machine, feeling very sorry for myself at yet another costly electrical item to be replaced. This morning Rob collected the new machine for me and bought it home, at least allowing me to get finished what I had started.

It would seem that 2011 has started very much like 2010 ended, VERY EXPENSIVE!

A Champange Breakfast For Two!

2011-01-14T14:51:00.000Z

Today is my husband's birthday, Happy Birthday Rob! and for Christmas (as a joint surprise pressie) my mum bought us voucher's for a Champagne Breakfast at Morley Hayes Hotel & Golf Club. With it being Rob's birthday we thought it would be a great idea to make use of them today. So, this morning we packed the girls of to school and drove the 6 miles to Morley Hayes to enjoy our 3 course breakfast, which was absolutely gorgeous! You will find the menu on the link above, just look for "Champagne Breakfast" on the home page

Thank you mum for such a wonderful pressie and huge birthday hugs to my husband who works so very hard to provide for his family, you deserved a day off and a treat!

A Belated Happy New Year

2011-01-12T14:31:00.001Z

Hi Blogging Friends!

I know it has been a fair few weeks since my last post so I thought I had better stop by and wish each and every one of you a belated, but Very Very Happy New Year! I hope this year will be a good one for you all.

With everything back to normal here at the Cottage, Christmas decorations packed away for another year, the girls back into the school and dance class routine, Rob back working the long hours he does, my thoughts have turned to sewing and creating. The last time I was in my workroom was the end of November, making Santa's to decorate our home over Christmas and with the nights getting a little lighter I feel like sewing again. I have been in the workroom today, working out what to make and matching fabrics to ideas, I am hoping to get a fair few pieces finished over the next couple of weeks, all of which will be available through my selling blog, Olde Cottage Primitives. And I haven't forgotten that I passed the landmark 50th post and promised a give away to mark the occassion, that too will come out of the workroom the same time as the new items.

I also have so much catching up to do with what you have all been up to and I am looking forward to reading through my blog list, see you all very soon!

Hugs

Karen

Birthday Girl

2010-11-12T14:13:00.001Z

Look who is 15 today . . yes its our eldest daughter Beth . . . . and here she is when she was still a little girl aged just 9

and here she is at a very grown up 14, doing what she loves, cudding her little sister Libby!

Happy Birthday to Our Beautiful Daughter
With All Our Love
Mum & Dad
xxxx
xxx
xx
x

Window Dressing

2010-11-05T17:28:00.002Z

Hello Blogging Buddies!

I hope this post finds you and your loved ones all well, and I would like to wish you all a belated Happy Halloween. The local fair was in town this last weekend so rather than do the usual "Trick or Treat" the girls wanted to go to the fairground. Thursday Rob's parents took them both and Saturday night it was our turn and we took, Beth, Libby and one of Beth's friends. The weather was good, no rain or wind and very mild, which is highly unusual for Belper Fair. We arrived at the fair ground and took a walk round so as the girls could decide what they wanted to go on, first stop "Sizzler". On they got, eager to part with Mum & Dad's cash, the ride started and it threw them from side to side, in and out, and side to side again! Second stop, "Scream", so called because it does indeed make you scream!!! Well, our Libby LOVED this ride, and her scream could definitely be heard!!

Whilst the girls had what seemed to be an endless ride, Rob and I took a look at one that you stood up in and it turned you upside down whilst spinning you round and round, hmmmm I thought, I needed to warm up on a slower ride before going on that. We walked to the end of the fair and watched what I thought was the perfect warm up ride. The ride finished and all five off us got on, once everybody was on, it started slowly, and then before I knew it, we were being thrown upside down, inside out and back to front!!!!! I couldn't wait for it to end!!! After what seemed forever, it eventually stopped, I went to get out of my seat and I couldn't walk . . my legs were shaking that much!!! I think I am getting to old to be going on rides that make your legs shake. Needless to say that was the one and only ride that Mum went on! Rob didn't think it was that bad and he then went on the meanest ride at the fair, rather him than me! But, all in all a great time was had and we rounded the night off with a fish and ship supper.

Now back to the blog post title. I have recently changed the window dressings here at the cottage and thought I would share some new pictures. The first one is the kitchen window. The kitchen is at the back of the cottage and I made the tails and small under sink curtain a few months ago. . .

. . . the fabric is from Laura Ashley and is in the colour charcoal and biscuit check.

Next up the Bathroom window, again this room is at the back of the cottage . . .

. . . . this time I used plain natural calico and rather than age them I decided to leave them cream. The bathroom suite is plain cream and the new tails look much better than the previous coffee stained tobacco cloth I had hanging.

Onto the front of the cottage and first up our bedroom window. I bought the festoon from American Heritage about 6 weeks ago . . .

. . . it is plain linen in colour and matches the black and line stripe blanket perfectly. The bonnets hanging from the peg board are a couple I made earlier in the year and the little brown bear sat in the child's chair was a buy from Rabbit Hill Primitives.

Finally my newest festoons hanging in the front room (also known as the Keeping Room). As you know we decorated this room early this year and I always thought that it didn't seem quite finished, there seemed to be something missing . . . the correct window dressing was indeed what was missing . . .

. . . I asked my dear friend Janet over at Winter Willow Primitives if she could get me two festoons and she didn't disappoint. A few weeks later my blinds arrived and I love them! They are the Angstadt pattern in brown and linen, one hangs to the window and the other hangs to the half glazed front door. . .

. . . Rob is currently making me a new table to house the laptop, he just has a second shelf to put in it and I can then get cracking on making it look like a prim piece of furniture. Once that is completed (hopefully by the end of next week), I think I can safely say that the front room is finally done!!

Lastly I just wanted to show you a penny ring coverlet I made this week, I wanted something to sit under a small wood trug and thought a penny coverlet made from wools would fit the bill. This was my first attempt and am quite chuffed with the end results . . .

. . . ignore the empty trug, that will eventually be trimmed with Christmas prims, well, that is when I think what to put in it!

And that's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the new window dressing pictures. This weekend we are out with our closest and oldest friends for a few drinks and a curry, looking forward to that! Sunday I shall be in the garden trying (in vain) to sweep up the endless amounts of leaves.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a good one!

Warm Fall Blessings,

Karen xx

PS I have just noticed that this is my 50th post, soooo I think we may have to do a give away to mark the milestone! Watch This Space!

New Items For Sale On My Selling Blog

2010-10-27T16:03:00.000+01:00

Hi Friends!

I have just today, at 4pm BST, listed my Christmas Offerings for this year. With this being the last week in October and less than 2 months to Christmas Day, the items listed are the last to come out of the Olde Cottage Primitives Workroom for this year. Next month I will be sewing gifts for family and friends and I am so delighted with all the Santa's I have made for the selling blog that I want to make some to decorate our cottage with over the festive season too!

I would like, for the first time in years, to have all of the Christmas present shopping done, the house decorated the gifts made and posted, all by the 1st December, so as we as a family can sit back and enjoy the holiday season rather than racing around trying to fit everything in. So far my plan seems to be working, but I will keep you all updated coz as you all know, life never goes according to plan!

Love, Karen

New Items Just Added To My Selling Blog!

2010-10-13T14:27:00.000+01:00

I have just added a few new items to my selling blog and I know I am a couple of weeks late to call them "September Offerings", but if all goes according to plan I will be having another update before this month is out. Dolls are the theme for September and here's a huge clue for the next update:

You better watch out!

Better not cry!

Better not pout!

I'm telling you why,

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

To have a nose at what's new today, just click HERE

To Bring You All Up To Date!

2010-10-11T13:14:00.002+01:00

Hello Blogging Friends, I am sat here in the Keeping Room waiting on a new dishwasher being delivered and as the delivery slot is between 10am and 2pm, I thought what a perfect time to do a blog post and bring you all up to date with the goings on here over this last month. So make yourself a cuppa and get comfy as it's going to be a long one!

I will start with the end of August, which saw us take our last camping trip of the year. We went back to the same camp site and this time we took along one of Beth's friends, as we were only staying for 2 nights, rather than do the trips out like we had the time before, Rob and I decided it would be nice to visit a couple of garden centres that were within 10 minutes drive of the campsite. Needless to say this was off no interest to Beth and her friend, visiting garden centres is so "not cool" to a pair of 14 year olds!

Five days after we returned from camping it was back to school for Beth and Libby. Libby has started the local junior school and Beth returned to her senior school with the addition of attending college 2 half days a week to undertake the Hair & Beauty course which forms part of her option choices for the next 2 years. Here they are the morning of the first day back . . . .

. . . Beth has settled back into school really well and is thoroughly enjoying her time at college. Libby really struggled the first couple of weeks, with moving from the infant school where the lessons are more about learning through play and the teachers were very warm and caring, she has found it difficult adapting to the more structured learning in the junior school. It was really heard leaving her in the play ground of a morning, I could tell in her face that she wasn't looking forward to the day ahead, but she kept putting a brave face on, more for me I think One month on and she is much more settled and happier, she now even walks the very very short distance home on her own!

Early September saw Rob take a trip to Belgium, it is something that had been arranged for a over a year and it is organised by the landlord of his Dad's local pub. Over thirty regulars go each year and they travel by coach and ferry. They visited a lot of memorials to soldiers who fell in the 1st World War, the main one being the Menin Gate . . . .

. . . . it is one of four memorials dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who fell in battle in the area of Ypres Sailent in Belgium Flanders. The memorial bears the names of 54,389 soldiers and officers, many of whom were under the age of 25. Each night a parade passes the Menin Gate in honour off all those brave men. . . .

. . . . this is just one of the wreaths recently laid and it bears the name "Aldercar Community College", which strangely enough is the name of the college that Beth goes to.

Rob found the visit to one of the cemetries particularly hard, he said it was a very humbling experience standing amongst all the hundreds and hundreds of head stones. It was a very moving one too, he found himself having to choke back the tears on more than one occasion . . . .

If it were not for those thousands of thousands of brave men, I fear the world would be a very different place today.

Mid September saw the girls return to dance classes after the long summer break, Beth takes lessons in Modern dancing now as well as Tap and Libby takes them in Tap as well as Ballet. They are both working towards the next stage of dancing exams.

As for me, well apart from keeping the home fires burning and doing all the things us mums and housewives do I have been trying (in vain) to get back in the workroom to do some sewing for a September update on the sales blog. This week for the first time in well over a month I have a pretty clear run and the new items will be ready in a couple of days time.

And that is the news from "Across The Pond", I will leave you with some pictures of our home "simply" dressed up for fall . . .

. . . "Trick or Treat Tree" on the first floor landing . . .

. . . "Jack The Rabbit" in the Gathering Room . . .

. . . I love how he turned out! . . .

. . . "Jester Pumpkin Doll" handmade by a very talented lady Rachael at Curious Folk . . .

. . . she sits on top of the TV cupboard in the Gathering Room . . .

. . . "Hobgoblin Party Doll", one of my handmades from fall of last year hanging on the doorway leading to the bottom of the ground floor stairs . . .

. . . he has to be one of my favourite pieces . . .

. . . the fireplace in the Gathering Room . . .

. . . . the shelf in the Porch . . .

. . . Cellar Apples in an old wood bowl from Janet . . .

. . . feather tree in the Keeping Room decorated with my own handmade pumpkins . . .

. . . the Keeping Room fireplace . . .

. . . and finally coloured gourds dressing the old chest in front of the settle . . .

. . . I timed that just right as the delivery men are here with my new dishwasher, thank goodness for that, I have had enough of hand washing dishes for one weekend!

You all take care, I will be back in a few days with the sales blog update and I have pictures to share with you all of the new window treatments here at the cottage.

Warm Fall Blessings,

Karen xx

Where Did September Go To?

2010-09-28T16:16:00.001+01:00

Guess Who? Yes it's Me! Am still here in a very Autumnal UK!

I know I haven't updated my bog for some weeks now, but I really do not know where the month of September has disappeared too. With the girls now back at school I seem to have less time on my hands that and the fact that the nights here are starting to draw in, the days certainly are getting shorter, all I seem to want to do off an evening is snuggle up on the sofa with a G&T watching TV!

I have so much to fill you all in on and I promise to do so sometime over the next couple of weeks, I also need to catch up on all my favorite blogs and find out what you girls have been filling your days with. I have managed to pluck up some enthusiasm and find some very precious spare time, to start some sewing and will update the selling blog very soon. I shall title it "September Offerings", I don't think it will matter that I am a few days late.

Tomorrow it is my mum's 66th Birthday and I am taking her out for lunch to help celebrate. For her presents we have bought her a CD/Radio player, some fab Cellar Apples from Janet, one of Janet's stunning handmade pin keeps and I made her a little wool rabbit holding a pumpkin. I hope she likes everything!

Well I had better dash and get the tea on, why is that when children get in from school they are always starving? See you all very very soon!

Love

Karen xx

A New Addition In The Garden

2010-08-26T19:20:00.000+01:00

I am beginning to think that summer has well and truly departed here in the UK. Today, much like every other day for the last two weeks, it has been windy, cloudy, cold and downright miserable. In fact it has turned so cold I have just lit one of the log burners!! I have come to the conclusion that I was not meant to live in a damp and cold climate, should I win the lottery the first purchase will be a home in the sun!

On a brighter note, I have had a bit of good luck. For over a year now I have been on the look out for an old cart to go in the garden, most I had found were way out of my price range, but last week I dropped lucky and found a wonderful old and rustic cart for the very reasonable price of £40!! I was ecstatic!!

A few days later Rob and I drove the 30 miles to collect it and it was better in real life than in the pictures, well in my eyes it was. We got the cart home where Rob gave it a rub down with a wire brush and replaced the rotting supporting joists that ran underneath the base of the cart. We are now debating whether to try and restore the cart back to its original splendour, you will see from the pictures that it doesn't have any sides, what would you do, leave it as it is or add side panels? . . . .

. . . . it looks right at home next to the Japanese Acer . . . .

Please ignore the window which is our neighbours utility room window. Over the 120 years that the cottages have stood the gardens have moved about 6 feet to the right, which means part of our garden runs across the front of next doors utility room, don't ask me how or why this happened as the boundaries were like this when we bought the cottage 17 years ago. Below is how this little corner used to look . . . .

. . . . I had to move the old wood trolley to make way for the cart, that is now at the side of Libby's playhouse . . . .

. . . . the stone wheel is one that was used to grind corn, Rob found it many years ago whilst he was working on a barn conversion. The little lavender bush I bought from the local garden centre this last weekend.

So after seeing the pics of the cart what do you think. . . leave the cart well alone or restore it using reclaimed wood for the sides?????

Karen xx

New Prims Listed On My Selling Blog & My Fab New Make Do Chair!

2010-08-17T15:13:00.000+01:00

Afternoon Prim Friends from a wet and damp UK, I think we had our summer way back in June, it lasted all of 2 weeks, blink and you missed it!! At least yesterday was warm and sunny enough to get some prims grunged and dried and they are now available on my selling blog Olde Cottage Primitives, all have a Fall theme to them, I hope you like them all.

Just thought I would also offer a helping hand by way of currency converting. In the past I have been frequently asked how much something is in US Dollars, with my prices being shown in English pounds. My simplistic way is to take an amount shown in English Pounds and times it by 1.5, the number you get is roughly how much something would be in US Dollars. For example, £5 is roughly equivalent to $7.50, give or take a few cents.

Anyway, enough of my waffling on about conversion rates, I expect most of you know that anyway. Whilst I was sewing new items for the selling blog, I finally managed to finish up a Harvest Jack The Rabbit for myself, he has been patiently sat waiting to be grubbyed and dressed for over 3 weeks and is now proudly hanging in our Gathering Room. I have made and bought a fair few new items this last few months, but the one thing I love the most is . . . . wait for it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MY FABULOUS MAKE DO CHAIR!!! Yes I got one!!!! YIPEE!!! . . . .and I just LOVE IT!!!!

What do you think??? isn't it just the bees knees, it has made such a difference to the Keeping Room. I bought the rush seat chair off Ebay and contacted the upholster who made the settle to see if he could turn it into a make do chair. I showed him some pictures and also drew some sketches of how I wanted the sides to look and hey presto, 2 weeks later this is what he delivered . . . .

. . . . He did a first class job!!! And I am totally in love with the iron rush light, this is one of two that I bought from Janet, the other is in our bedroom. The 2 firkins are also new additions, the larger one has the copper nails rather than the staples, and I got it for the bargain price of $25!! I will take some pics of all the other new bits around the cottage at a later date, but I just had to share my new chair with you all straight away!

Warm Blessings,

Karen xx

And The Winner Is . . . . .

2010-08-15T18:56:00.000+01:00

Afternoon Ladies, I am a little late than I had planned to be in announcing the winner of the Peg Rail Gathering Giveaway. The girls have been at their grandparents since early this morning and I have taken full advantage of being on my own and got cracking in the workroom making some new items for my selling blog.

Ok on with the draw. First let me just say WOW what a response, I guess you ladies must like your bonnets, THANK YOU all so very much for entering and for all of the lovely comments and best wishes on my venture onto "Selling Blog Land". For those of you that have entered my giveaways in the past you will know that Beth & Libby like to be involved in the name drawing, well this time it was Beth's turn, so into the bowl the names went and boy were there some names, with her eyes shut tight . . . .

she delved into the bowl and pulled out the winner . . . .

MARILYN OF THISTLEBROOMS!!!!

Congratulations Marilyn!!!!

Would you drop me an email Marilyn with your address as your Bonnet, Ditty Bag and the Surprise are all wrapped ready to post out to you tomorrow and would you mind doing a blog post when you receive your winnings, just to let everybody know what the surprise is?? Thanks so much!

I am now off to get some tea, I have been that busy sewing all day I just realised I haven't had a thing to eat all day, just time for me to say, my heartfelt thanks once again to each and every one of you. I will do another giveaway very soon and I will be back in a few days time with a post about new items for sale over on my selling blog.

Ohhh and one final thing, Nancy I had no idea that the year I had put against the giveaway post was 2009, so no you weren't too late to enter as I did mean 2010, I must have had a major "moment" when I did that,

funny . . those kind of "moments" seem to be happening a lot of late!!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Blessings, Karen xx

A Camping We Will Go!

2010-08-10T18:28:00.004+01:00

I have always been a creature of home comforts and all the mod cons that come with it, and had always frowned upon any sort of outdoor living thinking it was definitely not for me. Well, the old saying goes "don't knock something until you have tried it" and never a truer word was said! Last year as all our time and money was being spent on our home we weren't in a position to be able to go on our annual fortnights holiday to a warm, hot, sunny climate and the picture was looking very much the same for this year. So it was by sheer chance that in May last year whilst walking round our local Decathlon store (they sell all kinds of equipment for nearly every kind of outdoor pursuit known) that the idea to have a "budget holiday" sprung to mind. . . . why not give camping a go!! Well you can imagine Rob's face at the very mention of it, me the Queen of Comfort, who could not live without my hairdryer and straighteners, wanting to go camping . . . . . had I lost the plot???? Rob thought I had!!! When we got home I rang mum and told her about my brainwave idea to go camping and without hesitation mum offered to buy us the tent we were interested in, as an early Christmas gift, well very early beings as it was only May!

The following week we headed back to Decathlon, bought the all singing, all dancing, super dooper pop-up tent (it does exactly what is says on the packet "up in 4 minutes flat") and a few other bare essentials and the rest they say is history. I have taken to camping like a duck to water, I love it as much as Beth and Libby who look upon each camping trip as an adventure. What I like the most is spending quality time together as a family; no television; no computers (we do take mobiles in case of an emergency), just the four of us. This last trip was our fourth and over time we have added to our camping equipment and now have everything we need for a great time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Wednesday of last week, after checking the weather forecast daily, we packed up and set off to Tansley, a little village about 25 minutes drive north from our home, to a campsite called Packhorse Farm. We have stayed at this site on 2 previous occasions and found it to be 1st class. The site is clean with a heated shower and toilet block, plenty of hot running water and ample pot washing facilities. The site is also very family orientated and has a great reputation for being one of the quieter sites around the area, quieter as in most campers are respectful of others and there doesn't tend to be a lot of late night noise, which suits us down to the ground. Thursday morning we all had a full English breakfast, sausage, fried egg, bacon, fried tomatoes, fried mushrooms and beans all cooked on 2 portable camping stoves. Full to the brim we headed off to Matlock, 5 minutes drive away from the campsite.

Matlock is set across both sides of the River Derwent and was formerly a spa town, thermal springs were discovered here in 1698. In the Victorian Era, Matlock and neighbouring Matlock Bath, were seen as select fashionable resorts. Now both towns are a mecca for hill walkers and tourists as they are just a few minutes away from the Peak District. We have all been to Matlock many times, but to be honest I have never stood and truly looked at the countryside around it. As we walked across the ages old bridge that spans the River Derwent (parts of it date back to the early 1400's) I couldn't help but wonder at it's marvel, how this old stone bridge had stood the test of time. In Victorian times, bridges were built with "v" shapes cut into the sides to allow Ladies to stand in them preventing their large dresses from being splattered with mud as a horse drawn coach rode by, these "v" shapes stand to this day, below is Beth stood in one . . . .

. . . . and who should want in on the photo call . . . . none other than Libby

Standing on the bridge, looking up river the view was simply beautiful . . . .

. . . . the view down river was just as stunning . . . .

There is a great Antiques store in Matlock, three floors full with all kinds of collectables, I managed to find an old black Bible for the princely sum of . . . wait for it . . . . £1.50 !!!! (just over $2).

After spending a fair few hours in Matlock we headed off to Peak Village, a place where discounted shops of all kinds sell their very varied wares. By this time Rob and I were ready for an afternoon cuppa, so we all had high tea sat outside a lovely little cafe.

Friday we woke to more in the way of cloud cover, in fact it looked very much like we were going to get heavily rained on, so after yet another full English breakfast (I think I need to diet for the next month now) we decided to visit Bakewell, a place neither of us had visited for years and years and yet it was only 45 minutes from our home. Bakewell dates to the Saxon era, the Church was founded in 920 and still has Saxon fragments in the porch. In 1777 Sir Richard Arkwright opened a Mill here and it was perhaps due to this that its popularity grew and as a result much of the town was re-built in the 18th Century. One such building was the Rutland Arms. Jane Austen stayed here in 1811 and in Pride and Prejudice she has Elizabeth Bennet stopping here to meet the Darcys and Mr Bingley. However, the Rutland Arms main claim to fame is that in 1859 one of it's chef's invented the Bakewell Pudding, apparantly by accident and you cannot visit Bakewell and not buy a pudding!

As we walked along the small narrow side streets, Rob was amazed at how many of the old buildings were managing to still stand upright, when you looked at how the fronts of the buildings seemed to bellow in, you could not imagine them having stood for a couple of hundred years. On some of the dwellings the roof tiles were made from stone, not slate but actual tiles cut from stone from the surrounding hills. As we stood at the bottom of one small little street, I decided there and then that I wanted to live in this little row of cottages . . . .

I could only imagine what treasures lay behind each front door; an ingle nook fireplace blackened with use, the original coble stone floor worn in places, English oak beams dark and bowed with age, a well worn wood staircase, 12 inch windowsills cut into the stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sorry for a minute there I had drifted off back into my little dream world, ok on with the post.

The picture above is just typical of some of the buildings in Bakewell. Mind, Rob thought he was more suited to a grander abode, much preferring the residence below, which is now a shop . . . .

Hours later, still dry as the threatening rain clouds managed to stay firmly shut and armed with our freshly baked Bakewell pudding, we headed back to the campsite for a much needed cuppa and a good nights rest!

And that was our latest camping trip, we are heading off again in a few weeks time, a last treat before the girl's go back to school after the long summer break and I will be back at the weekend with the winner of my giveaway, I can't wait to see whose name gets pulled out of the hat and I have decided what the surprise will be, I just need to get sewing and get it made now!!

See You All Soon,

Karen

A Short Break

2010-08-08T18:28:00.000+01:00

Evening Blogging Friends, I hope this post finds you all well and enjoying the first week in August. This is just a quick post to let you all know am still here!! I will do a longer post later in the week all about our recent camping trip, that was the main reason for me being absence and guess what???? I REMEMBERED THE CAMERA and not only did I remember it but I also took a few pics to share with you all, so I will see you all in a few days time.

'Til then take care and enjoy your Sunday evening!

Blessings, Karen

A Surprise!

2010-07-29T07:47:00.000+01:00

Hello Prim Friends!

This morning I have had a read through all the comments left against my giveaway post and I feel truly humbled by all of the lovely kind words and wishes of luck for my new venture into "Selling Blog Land", my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for taking the time to visit my little prim world. I have read on other people's blogs how they wish every entrant could win. . I too wish you could all win.

I also noticed that my list of followers has passed the 100 mark, ain't that just fantastic?? Again my thanks to all of you who have passed word around and in honour of the landmark "100" I have decided to include a surprise gift to the lucky winner of the Peg Rail Gathering and for sure it will be a surprise, even I don't know what it will be yet!

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Warm Blessings To All

Karen

Selling Blog Grand Opening Today & To Celebrate . . A Giveaway!

2010-07-25T16:07:00.003+01:00

I have sewn my little heart out this week, making two OOAK creations to launch the opening of my new selling blog, Olde Cottage Primitives. If you pop on over you will see the fruits of my labour and to celebrate the opening, I am offering all followers of this blog the chance to win a Peg Rail Gathering comprising a wonderful long back Prairie Bonnet and Ditty Bag.

The bonnet is made from navy and white printed calico fabric from the US, it measures approx 25 inches long and has a full brim with side ties and a back strap. The ditty bag is also made from printed cotton calico but it has a reverse pattern to the bonnet; white background with small blue flowers. Poking out the top of the bag are sprays of sweet annie. The bag measures approx 17.5 inches long. Both items have been aged for the time worn, prim look, we all love so much! I am also adding a surprise item in celebration of reaching 100 followers!

To be in with a chance of winning here's what you have to do:

1. Be a follower of this blog, new followers are welcome to enter, this gives you one chance at winning

2. Leave a comment against this post, this gives you a second chance. When leaving your comment, please could you let me know how many chances your going for, this will help me out no end when it comes to entering all the names in the draw. Also if you don't have a blog, let me know within your comment how I can contact you.

3. If you do have a blog, post this giveaway to your side bar and this will give you a third chance to win.

This giveaway is open to everybody, everywhere and there is nothing at all to pay for postage. The draw will take place 3 weeks from today and the closing date for all entries is midnight GMT on Saturday 14th August 2009.

If you do decide to enter, Good Luck!!

Karen xx

My New Selling Blog - Opening This Weekend!

2010-07-21T17:24:00.000+01:00

Hello Blogging Friends

Just a quick post to invite you all to the launch of my new sales blog Olde Cottage Primitives which will open this coming Sunday 25th July and to celebrate the opening I shall be offering a give away, right here on my sharing blog.

See You All Sunday!

Blessings, Karen

Our Cottage Garden

2010-07-09T14:49:00.000+01:00

As it is such a glorious day here today I have taken some pics of our garden, well when I say garden there isn't much in the way of garden. Low maintenance and practical are a better way to describe our cottage garden. Over the last 15 years the garden is perhaps the area that has seen the most changes, from lawn to decking, to patio's and borders, none of which seemed to give us what we needed or made the best use of the long narrow space. 2003 saw us take the radical move away from lawns with pretty borders and raised decking to the entire area being concreted and it has stayed that way ever since. Practical for the girls and our 3 Weimaraners and it made the best use of all the available space.

As you walk into the back entrance of the cottage this is what you will see . . . .

. . . . yes you will see Ella too! This little area I call "my morning cuppa area". In the summer this is where I sit with my first cuppa of the day, sometimes as early as 5am!! The garden is south facing and gets the sun all day long. The tall high plants are sunflowers, aptly called "Beth & Libby", grown from seeds by Rob's dad and the plaque on the wall reads "Mum's Garden".

As you sit on the chair having your cuppa this is what you will see looking up the garden . . the bay leaf trees in the cream pots I bought just a few weeks ago. I had been wanting 2 for ages and finally I got a pair that were almost identical, the right height and the right price.

And yet again you will see Ella, wherever I am Ella is never far away. Can't you tell am married to a builder, brick walls everywhere!

Picture below is the same view but looking straight up the garden.

More recent additions to the garden; this wonderful old Milk Churn, which was delivered just this week

and this great rusty old wheel . . .

. . . . whilst still sat with your coffee in the "Morning Cuppa Area" cast your eyes to the right . . behind the curved wall is my workroom door, a water feature built into a corner at the front right side of the curved wall and our fuel for the burners for this coming winter.

Where the table and chairs are, that use to be a raised square flower bed, Rob took it down Easter of this year. It has given us yet more space and allowed for Beth & Libby to have the pool out when it is hot and sunny. We dine at that table all through the summer, weather permitting that is.

Below is a picture of Rob's pride and joy . . . . his Californian Palm (excuse the washing line running across the picture). Me, Beth & Libby bought it for him for Father's Day about 6 years ago, I would say it has grown about 12 inches since we planted it and this is the only thing in the garden that Rob tends!! and he has a name for it, he calls it Peter The Palm. . . daft I know, but we humour him.

Right at the very top of the path, behind my workroom are two outbuildings, the left door is Rob's shed and the right door is Daphne & Henry's little home. Originally these buildings were 2 small outside toilets dating back from when the cottages were built and they were all but falling down. Rob demolished them completely and started from scratch. Just this last weekend I re-painted the render, the doors and the fascia, they look heaps better now.

Whilst taking the pictures this morning, Daphne (on the left) and Henry, decided to have a nose at what I was doing.

If you turn round and stand with your back to the gate, look left, you will see . . . .

. . . . walk down the path a small way and look left again . . . . the doorway to my workroom . . . .

. . . . look back up towards Daphne and Henry and you see . . . .

. . . . and finally, stand anywhere in the garden, gaze over to the left and take in the views out over the Derbyshire Hills.

Perhaps our garden is not what most people would call a garden, but is suits all of our needs and means the summer isn't taken up with endless lawn mowing, weeding and planting, leaving us more time to sit back and enjoy the warm weather and balmy summer nights.

That's it from me, whatever you may be doing this weekend have a lovely one, we are forecast fantastic weather here in the UK and I know exactly what I will be doing. . . . sitting in our garden soaking up the sun!

Blessings, Karen xx

The Keeping Room Is Finally Finished!!

2010-07-06T14:34:00.000+01:00

Afternoon Blogging Buddies, I hope your all well and enjoying the long awaited summer and guess what? at long last I have pics of the Keeping Room, "about time" I hear you say, so here goes. .

This is the Keeping Room window (or the front room as it is at the front of the cottage). The corner cupboard Rob made and the tin panel is one I used to have in a previous "non-prim" corner cupboard. On the bottom shelf of the corner cupboard sits a stitchery I made using the title quote from Faye's Blog. Thankyou so much Faye for allowing me to use the verse. Next to the stitchery is an iron basket candle holder and a spray of sweet annie. The shelf below accommodates 2 bears, one of which was from the Antiques Fair we went to a couple of weeks ago, 3 pairs of vintage shoe lasts and a tin whaling lamp. In the window I have a small wood box with a checkerboard propped up inside it and a few wood bobbins. The little cupboard doors in the wall below the tv hide the gas and electric meters.

Working round the room, this is the fireplace which Rob built about 3 years ago. At that same time we gutted the entire room and Rob exposed the original beams in the ceiling, laid an oak floor and re-plastered all the walls. The sampler resting on the fireplace mantle is the one I got from the same Antiques Fair as the bear, it rests against a wood board.

This is the tall old wood bookcase, with a Jenn Bear sat on the third shelf down and I decided to put the Summer Blooms pin keep that Janet made for my birthday on the shelf above, propped up by another of my stitcheries. The chair was a bargain "sale" buy from Laura Ashley about 8 years ago but am wanting to replace it with one to match the new settle, that won't be for a while though, need to save some pennies first!

A closer view of the displays in the bookcase

Another couple of Rob's creations; the bucket cupboard and the peg rail. Above the peg rail hangs one of my "Home Sweet Home" stitcheries and the little antique doll's wool dress was an Ebay find.

The doorway leads to the bottom of the stairs and then onto the Gathering Room (the Gathering Room is at the back of the cottage). I love the Olde English Granddaughter clock which was an investment buy some 8 years ago, the painter who decorates for us is forever trying to get me to sell it too him. And can you just see the settle. . the one that caused me so much grief and hassle???

HOORAY here it is!!!! and it was worth the wait!! The camera seems to have lightened the colours of the checks in the settle, especially the black ones, so had better let you all know that the check colours are black (which are now blue in the picture) dark brown and mid brown. Didn't want you all thinking that I had lost the plot and picked a check with blue in when there isn't any other blue in the room!

The bonnets hanging on the pegboard above are just a selection of what I have made over the last few years and the doll sat on the settle is from a pattern by Angel And The Crow called the Mended Ole Soul. I made her clothes to match the standing doll on the bucket cupboard which was a treat buy from Angie @ Drakestone Primitives.

This is the corner china cupboard which houses my vast collection of Royal Crown Derby Imari 1128 china. The runner on the front was from Janet

Finally this is the computer table, the wall clock is an Antique German one, bought about 10 years ago from an Antiques store in Derby. The door you see is the front door to the cottage but we don't use it at all, we have always used the back entrance as do any visitors, even the mail man brings parcels round the back. I made the curtain to hang round the little computer table which is actually an Antique Games Table. The curtain hides the scanner, printer and cables

And that is the end of the tour of our little Keeping Room, I hope you all liked the pictures. Next time I will do a post on the garden, mind it isn't really a garden, there is more yard than garden, but when I sent some pics to Janet she called the back garden "a courtyard" . . . I did feel ever so posh . . . but we still call it the back yard!

'Til next time, take care all,

Karen

Birthday Pressies!!

2010-06-30T15:01:00.000+01:00

Good Afternoon Friends!

Well we are having some totally fabulous weather here in the UK, for nearly 2 weeks now the sun has shone, this has to be a record for us as the last 3 or 4 summers have been dreadful, I am soooo keeping my fingers crossed that it lasts until well into September. I know nearly a week has passed since my birthday and am a bit late doing a post on the lovely gifts I received, but with all this wonderful warm weather it is such a shame to spend it in doors.

Ok I will stop rambling on about the weather now and get on with the list of gifts. From my mum, I had money and 2 lucky dips on the National Lottery, I didn't win, but hey ho we can't have everything! Rob's parents gave me money too and a bottle of my most favourite tipple, Gin! Rob's Grandma also gave me money, so last Friday it was off to Derby to do a "shop 'til I dropped", and for once I didn't buy one single "homey" item! Rob and The Girls bought me a gold ankle chain to replace the one I lost some 18 months ago and OASIS (the band) box set CD, which I have not stopped listening too since opening.

The day of my birthday (Thursday) mum took me out for a lunch and on my return, in the back porch was the most enormous bouquet of white Lillie's I had ever seen

A local florist had delivered them and they were from my oldest and closest friend Maxine, the blooms are nearly all out now and are truly beautiful

And they smell gorgeous, they fill the whole house with their scent

I had only been back home about 5 minutes when another of my oldest friends, Rachel, called with yet more gifts, another bunch of Lillie's, can't you tell they are my favourite flower

and a fab T-Shirt and some of my favorite choccys, Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisps, which happens to be quite ironic as my middle name is Elizabeth and as you know my married name is Shaw!

Now onto a parcel I received from my dear friend Janet. Inside was a box of See's chocolates, which are Janet's favourite and now mine!! They were blooming LOVELY!!! My favourite ones were the nutty ones and the dark choccy ones, I say "were" as they didn't last long once I opened them! Then there was a bundle of nubbie candles, they are now standing on the dry sink. . . love them!!

And then two of the most FABULOUS hand stitched pin keeps, all done by Janet's own hand and let me tell you ladies, the pictures do not do these justice at all, the workmanship is second to none, Janet has a real talent for x stitching.

This is the smaller one of the two, which is sat in a small sieve in my Keeping Room

And this is the larger one, Janet said as I was a summer birth, she had chosen the design special, how lovely was that??

This one is on the step back in the Gathering Room. The only person in my family who loves primitives as much as me is my mum and as she doesn't have access to the Internet, as much as she would love to buy me prims for birthday and Christmas she can't, so to receive prim gifts, especially hand made ones was a real treat!!

Well that's it from me for today, whatever you all may be doing, stay safe in the sun.

Love & Blessings,

Karen xx

Birthday Wishes

2010-06-25T21:33:00.000+01:00

THANK YOU so much for all the Birthday Wishes, I will do a post in a couple of days time with pics of my wonderful Birthday gifts. I consider myself to be so very lucky to have such a great network of family and friends and I thank each and every one of you, for making my birthday a very happy one indeed!

Lots of Love & Hugs,

Karen

PS I will make my way round and catch up with all the blogging news over the next week.

Camping & Antiques

2010-06-22T18:56:00.000+01:00

Good Evening Friends from a totally glorious summer's evening here in the UK, has summer finally arrived?? I do hope so! Is it just me or does everybody feel better when the sun is shining? Well I would feel better if I didn't keep waking at "Stupid O Clock"! For the last 3 weeks I have been awake at 5am and haven't been able to get back to sleep, yesterday it finally took it's toll on me and I did feel quite poorly through lack of sleep, off to bed I went at 8pm, at least I slept right through til 5am!

Ok back to the blog post title, as you know we were re-decorating Libby's bedroom in our Whitsun holidays, by the time Wednesday came around Rob had finished all he could do until the room had been decorated. The painter wasn't coming until the Saturday morning so off on a camping trip we went. I had been watching the weather forecast and it looked to be improving as the week wore on. I rang a campsite we visited last year to see if they had any availability. . we were in look they even had the same pitch we used last year. Thursday morning armed with our camping gear and enough food to feed us for a week (we were only going for 2 nights) we headed off to Tansley a little village north of us about 30 minutes drive away. For the entire three days the weather was fabulous, I was cooking a full English breakfast, outside in just shorts and t-shirt at 8am. We did absolutely nothing, just lazed around and enjoyed the weather. I did my usual trick and forgot the camera, but have no fear we will be heading off again in a couple of weeks time and I promise to remember to take the camera this time!

Now to the Antiques part. Last weekend Rob and I went to Kedleston Hall Antiques in the Park, it ran for three days, Friday to Sunday and we visited on the Saturday afternoon. The Hall is only a 15 minute drive from where we live and do you know that was the very first time I had ever been!! And guess what?? I forgot the darn camera again which I was gutted about as Kedleston Hall is a beautiful stately home now run by the National Trust. There was also some excitement as the BBC where there filming for Bargain Hunt and when we got back to the car a lady had just given birth to baby in the front seat of her car!! I tell you it was all happening! The Fair was a good one and I got a couple of items one was a really old small bear with shoe button eyes

and stuffed with straw

He sits next to another bear in the Keeping Room

Then on the same stall I spotted two samplers one was an alphabet one and the other was this

I won't be certain but I think it might be American. I loved it on sight, I just need to get it framed which I will do Thursday. If anybody does know where its origins lye then please do let me know, it would be lovely to find out where it was made and how old it actually is.

I am just waiting on a couple of bits to arrive from America and I will then take the pictures of the made over Keeping Room, everything should be here by the end of next week so until then, enjoy the sunshine.

Blessings,

Karen

Libby's Bedroom Make Over

2010-06-15T15:25:00.000+01:00

My blog posts are getting like English buses . . .nothing for ages and then loads all at once!

This post is to bring all you lovely bloggers up to date with Libby's bedroom make over, this was planned in for our Whitsun Holiday (just over 2 weeks ago) as Rob had booked a week's holiday from work. Libby's bedroom is the smallest room in the cottage, literally a box room. Over the years it has had many changes, first it was Beth's nursery, then her bedroom, it was converted back to a nursery for Libby and then back to a bedroom. There was a fair bit of work to do, Rob re-plastered the walls and ceiling, replaced the previous plastic window board with a wood one and fitted new skirting board. She also had new carpet, bedding and accessories. We had a bit of a job finding a desk to fit what space we had, but we got one in the end, so she now has a new desk and chair, but no felt tip pens off any kind are allowed in her bedroom!! Libby is a walking calamity, if anything gets broke or damaged you can guarantee "A Libby" has some hand in it!!

The walls are painted in Laura Ashley Pale Chalk Pink paint, the bedding and curtains are all from the Children's Collection @ Laura Ashley and they are Pink Gingham. The bear is one I bought her 6 years ago from Hamleys toy store in London.

This is her wardrobe, which goes right back over the first floor staircase, the doors were made to fit the opening way back in 2003 and I just gave them a wax up. She loves her little white table and chair and for saying we got the table from Next and the chair from Ikea they match perfectly!

The chest of drawers we had made in 2000 and as with the wardrobe doors I just gave them a wax up, the little baby boots are the only bit of prim she would allow me to put in the room. The lamp is again from Laura Ashely and the frame was from a local mill shop.

Libby's room is at the back of the cottage with her window looking out onto the back garden. The curtains are pink gingham check and they were what she had previously, likewise the flag bunting. In the window are some ABC wood blocks, bought from a seller on Ebay and an artificial pink freesia bought from the same mill shop as the picture frame.

Finally her TV and DVD combi which was her birthday present this year from me and Rob. The wood shelf was a cheap one from a local DIY store and I just painted it barley white the same colour as the skirting, door and window board.

And that's Libby's new bedroom!

PS I have been having a sort out and listed some prims that I no longer have room for on Ebay, I still have a few more bits to list later this week. I will ship outside of the UK just drop me an email for any postage prices needed.

Tears Of A Mum

2010-06-14T07:03:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Friends, from a very wet and windy UK!

It is about time I updated you all with the last months goings on here at the cottage and the first thing to tell you about is Beth & Libby's show which was in late May. As you all know it was very hectic leading up to the actual show dates, but boy was it worth it!

The weekend of the show was a very hot one here and for all three performances I had to apply Beth & Libby's stage make-up, which was no easy task, especially on Libby. When it came to putting her mascara on and I told her to "look up", she literally did and threw her whole head back, but kept her eyes looking down!! Then came red lipstick on such small wobbly lips I had almost given up hope of ever getting her to keep still!! but we got there in the end and Libby spent the time left before leaving for the show admiring herself in the mirror!

Onto the performance Rob and I watched, which was on the Saturday evening. There were in total 120 dancers performing to 30 different songs of stage and musical, the idea being that each class within the dance school performs to a minimum of one song with most classes dancing to three. In Libby's dance class there are 12 girls all ageing from five up to eight, in Beth's class they range from about twelve up to fifteen. There are also adults that attend the dance school including one gentleman. Libby's first dance was the third one in the program, she walked out onto the stage, with the other little girls, dressed in her purple sequin Charleston dress and danced to the song "Fat Sam's". The minute I spotted her within the group, the tears started. I watched her perform through tears of pride and love. I had just about composed myself when Beth came out in her cowgirl outfit to tap dance to "Deadwood Stage" and the tears started again. Beth only started learning tap last September, but she is so good at it, she looked very grown up and mature dancing on the stage. By now my mum was passing the hankies down to me in very quick succession! Libby's class performed another dance in the second half to "Whistle Down the Wind". This time she ballet danced in a fairy style dress, all the girls looked so pretty and danced beautifully!

For the show finale, every class within the school danced to songs from "Mamma Mia". "Voulez Vous" for the seniors, "Waterloo" for the juniors and "Does Your Mamma Know" for the primary classes and yes you guessed it, I was at it again, wiping tears from my eyes! I am so glad there will be a DVD to buy so as I can watch it all again and catch the bits I missed whilst the hanky was blocking my view!

Unfortunately the taking of pictures wasn't allowed, which is a shame as I would love to have posted some of the girls performing. But they both did fantastically well, Rob and I couldn't be more proud of them both. The entire production was fabulous, we all enjoyed every minute of it!

WELL DONE BETH & LIBBY!

Lots of Love

Mum & Dad

CLOSING DOWN SALE!!

2010-06-13T12:59:00.000+01:00

I have been doing a lot of thinking of late with regards to sewing, my website and how best to find the balance between being a mother, keeper of the home and working from home. As many of you will more than likely be doing the very same thing you will know this is by no means easy!!!. I have often found myself feeling guilty of late, for not updating my website with new prims as often as I have done in the past and as I see it, I shouldn't allow something that I love doing to make me feel guilty, if I do, then I will no longer continue to enjoy creating and sewing.

Saturday I finally came to the decision to close my website down, Rob is working increasingly longer hours, which in the current economic climate is an absolute god send! As a result of this more and more of my time is needed with Beth & Libby and ensuring that everything here at home is running smoothly to allow Rob to focus on his work. I am sure you will all understand when I say "family comes first".

I will still continue to sew but this will be as and when free time allows and I am either going to go with opening a selling blog or a picture trail site, haven't made my mind up yet, but as soon as I do you will all be the first to know.

The website will close early August and I am now running a sale on every single item in stock at greatly reduced prices so if you fancy a bargain, nip on over and take a look. Just as a reminder, the postage costs apply to the UK ONLY, would any overseas customers PLEASE EMAIL ME for postage costs.

I would just like to say a very very big THANK YOU to all my customers for their patronage over the last 3 years, I have always appreciated every single order and I hope to serve you all well in the future, all be it on a smaller scale.

Love & Blessings,

Karen

Missing In Action!

2010-06-01T17:59:00.000+01:00

Hello Blogging Buddies!

I just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know that I am still here!!

There has been such a lot happen this last few weeks that I really don't know where the time has gone too! I have so much to "show and tell";

Libby & Beth's Dance Show

New prims I have made and bought

Libby's Bedroom Make Over

Pictures of the Keeping Room complete with the Settle

and finally an up and coming Camping Trip!

I will do a post on each of the above during the next couple of weeks as well as another give away, so just bear with me friends, I will be blogging regularly as soon as life here slows down.

In the meantime, take care all and if you have 5 minutes nip on over to Janet's Blog and wish her a Happy Birthday!! Have a Great Day Friend!

Blessings, Karen

Show Time!

2010-05-17T16:32:00.000+01:00

Afternoon Ladies!

I know it is over a week since I last paid Blog Land a visit and what a week it has been!

As the title of the post suggests, the dance academy that Beth & Libby attend is having its annual show and this years theme is, Music Of The Night. The opening night draws ever closer, in fact, the first performance to a 300 strong audience is this coming Friday night. This last 2 weeks have been consumed with rehearsals, dress rehearsal's, costume alterations, final fittings and the ever increasing list of things that mum has to get ready!

This Thursday they have a rehearsal of the "Finale" on the stage where the show is to take place, Friday night they both have to be ready and at the venue with full stage hair and make-up for 5.30pm. The trauma is getting Libby's very long and very thick hair into a bun!! Not looking forward to that, neither is Libby! Saturday they have two performances, one in the afternoon and the final one in the evening. My mum and aunt, together with Rob's parents and Beth & Libby's great grandma will be watching in the afternoon and Rob and I alongside my mum, (she soooo wanted to see them both twice) will be there to watch them both in the evening. Best of all, this year, we have seats that are only 3 rows back from the stage so I am hoping I get some good pictures to share with you all.

Finally, NEWS ON THE SETTLE . . . . the upholster is starting from scratch and making a complete new one as per the original design!! HOORAY!!! Another couple of weeks and my Keeping Room will be at long last finished!!

I will catch up with all my blogs as soon as the madness of this week is done with and I will do a post on the show together with, HOPEFULLY, some great pictures.

See you all very soon,

Karen

Pea Fowl Winner!

2010-05-07T16:19:00.000+01:00

Good Afternoon Ladies, the day has come for a name to be picked out of the bucket, (I hadn't got a hat this time so we used a bucket,) to see who the winner of the Pea Fowl give away would be.

So without further delay, into the bucket the names went, Beth gave them a good old shake.

Beth picked out a name

Libby opened the paper to reveal the winner;

JEANNE of GREY HOUSE SAMPLERS!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS JEANNE and a big THANK YOU to everybody who entered, I will do another give away later this month and Jeanne could you drop me an email to let me know your address so as I can get your Pea Fowl mailed out to you, thanks!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, I know it is Mother's Day in the US this coming Sunday so Happy Mother's Day to all mums everywhere.

Shall you all keep your fingers crossed for me for a happy outcome to my sofa problem, the man is coming to collect it Sunday night and has promised to return a sofa to the exact design I originally ordered, so far so good!

Blessings, Karen

A Terrible Week!!

2010-05-03T07:53:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Everybody!

I know I have been absent from Blog Land for the last week or so, but as the title suggests it has not been a good week at all and I wanted to wait until I was feeling more positive before I added a new post.

I won't bore you all with the finner details of the week I would rather forget but I will just run through the main events!

First, last Sunday, I decided to move from my current mobile phone provider, the contract was up and the company concerned didn't seem to value my 5 years loyalty. The up shot is our broadband, land line and my mobile phone are now all being provided by one company and for what worked out to be an additional £5 month I got an all singing all dancing IPhone 3GS!! Tuesday the problems started, I have spent hours and hours on the phone trying to deal with one issue after another, yet at the time of taking the new contract out I was informed that I didn't have to worry about a thing!! NOT!! It took until Friday morning to get all the issues sorted. But as Friday was the long awaited delivery date for my new settle, nothing could put a damper on the day. . . or so I thought.

The settle was delivered and it is nothing like what I ordered, I was totally and utterly mortified. After waiting 3 months for it I had in my Keeping Room a piece of furniture that bore no resemblance to the many pictures the furniture maker had been given. I now have to wait a week until he returns off holiday, no doubt spending the £800 I paid him with. He is going to have to start with a new settle entirely from scratch. I can't even begin to describe how very disappointed and upset I was and to be honest, I still am.

How businesses who operate in this way remain viable I have no idea, needless to say I would never recommend this person to anybody. His communication is non-existent and how on earth he came up with the design of the sofa he delivered I have no idea, the only thing that is right is the fabric choice and the dimensions. I told Janet, Winter Willow Primitives all about it and she has been a total star, offering me support and sympathy from "across the pond", once again Janet, thank you so much for being such a good friend!

On a happier note, it cheered me no end to read all the wonderful comments left against my Pea Fowl Give Away, thank you so very much to all the lovely people who have so far entered. I will catch up with my blog list over this coming week, as I wait for next Monday to arrive, D-Day for the sofa man!!!

Have a wonderful week everybody,

Blessings, Karen

Website Update Today

2010-04-25T12:01:00.000+01:00

Good Morning All,

Just a quick post to say I have this morning (BST) added a few new items to my website. I so enjoyed making the Pea Fowl for the give away that I made 3 more for the website and I also have 2 more nearly finished to dot around our cottage! I think I have gone "Pea Fowl Mad"!!!

A "BIG Thankyou" to all the regular followers of my blog who have so far signed up for the Pea Fowl Give Away and "Welcome" to all the new followers, it's really great to see you all and I love reading all of your comments. It gives me such huge encouragement knowing that something I have made is wanted.

Also I have some news on the long awaited Settle, it is being delivered next Thursday, HOORAY!!! It has been that long since I ordered it that I can't remember what it looks like or what the fabric looked like!! At long last I will be able to share with you some pictures of the recent Keeping Room make-over!

Have a Great Weekend Everybody!

Blessings, Karen

Pea Fowl Give Away

2010-04-22T16:21:00.000+01:00

Up for consideration as this month's give away is an Early Style Pea Fowl, another new pattern I have been working on for the last week or so. The Pea Fowl is made from osnaburg and clean rag stuffed, with small black bead eyes and ladder stitch detail. Overall the Pea Fowl measures approx 7 inches long and stands 4.5 inches high.

This give away is open to all, you don't have to live in the UK to enter and because it isn't heavy the postage is free too!

If you would like to enter here's what you have to do:

1. Be a follower off my Blog, this gives you one entry into the draw

2. Post this give away to your blog side bar, this gives you a second entry into the draw

3. Leave a comment against this post, this will give you a total of three chances at winning. When you leave your comment, could you let me know how many entries your going for so as I know how many times to put your name in the hat, thanks folks!

The closing date for all entries is Thursday 6th May (2 weeks from today). Beth and Libby will do the name drawing on Friday 7th May.

If you do decide to enter, Good Luck!

A Trip To An Antiques Fair

2010-04-19T16:58:00.001+01:00

Sunday morning I was awake with the birds, the day had come, I was going to an Antiques Fair, the first one in years! This particular one was held in a leisure centre about a 15 minute drive north from where we live. As it wasn't too far away Beth and Libby elected to stay at home with Beth in charge for the few hours we would be away.

In Rob and I walked and at the opposite end of the room I caught sight off a small old wood chest. Strange how your eyes can skim a room and straight away fall upon something that you just know is going to be what you want! A closer inspection confirmed what my eyes were telling me, a beautiful dovetail jointed work chest, with metal corners and hinges. I loved it! The trader was asking £30 for it, out came the purse and with a smile on my face I handed over the money.

A few close up pictures show the detail of the joints

I love the metal corners and hinges

And here it is on the chest of drawers in my bedroom, I tried the display with the sweet annie wreath still hanging from the sieve but it looks better with the sieve empty.

A final shot of the new chest

I did forget to take the camera to the Antiques Fair, but we are going to another this weekend. It is at Derby University, again only a 15 minute drive from where we live, but heading south. I am on the look out for wood kitchenellia, spoons, mashers and paddles. This time I promise to remember to take the camera with me.

Have a great week everybody,

Blessings, Karen

Jobs On The "To Do List"

2010-04-17T07:19:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Prim Friends!

Well it has been a busy last couple of weeks here at the cottage, we have been enjoying some lovely spring sunshine and making best use of it! I managed to get the dresses all sewn for Libby & Beth's up and coming Dance Show, am glad they are all done I can get back on with some prim sewing now. The girls are back to school Monday after the two week Easter break, I am going to miss having them around in the day.

A few outside jobs have got done, over the last few years we have spent nearly all our time getting the inside finished and sadly the outside of the cottage has got a bit neglected, but now with the inside all done we can focus our time on the garden and exterior.

Over the Easter break, Rob painted the stone lintels and sills on the front of the cottage and then I painted the outside render that runs to just above the Keeping Room window, that all looks so much better now, especially with the black of the sills against the cream of the render. The front of the cottage can now be ticked off the "to do" list.

After the front, came a smallish job in the garden, knocking down a raised flower bed so as I could stand the garden table & chairs in the centre of the yard. Not only did Rob knock it all down but he added a block paved design into the yard where the table & chairs now stand, am really pleased with it and it looks so much better. I will sort some pictures for you and post them at a later date. Another job ticked off!!

Yesterday I had a go at making a Sweet Annie Wreath, I had emailed a couple of sellers in America about shipping to the UK, none of whom would, now I am kind of glad they didn't. I had just enough Annie to make a wreath and below is the end result, am really rather pleased with my very first attempt

I have hung it in the large old sieve in our bedroom

And then I changed the towels hanging from the Make Do Towel Rail hanging on the chimney breast in the Bedroom

I like the plain fabric better than the printed calico's that were hanging.

Tomorrow Rob & I are going to a local Antiques Fair, I am really looking forward to it as it has been some years since we went on a treasure hunt, I will let you all know if I find any prim treasures!

Have a great weekend,

Blessings, Karen

Our Weimaraners

2010-04-07T18:04:00.000+01:00

In my "About Me" I make mention of me being a "mum" to three Weimaraners so I thought I would tell you a bit about how we came to love the breed and introduce the rest of the family to you.

It was Rob who first fell in love with the Weimaraner, I had never heard of them and had no idea what they looked like or what type of dog they were. After we got our first computer I did a bit of research and although I grew to like them I was no where near as obsessed as Rob was, well, not then at least. Over time Rob went on and on about wanting a puppy so I eventually found a litter not far from where we lived, unfortunately none were available, each puppy had a new home to go too. But a couple of hours after ringing the breeder, we got a call saying they knew of a 6 month old Weimaraner that needed re-homing, were we interested??? . . . . . . . well no I wasn't but Rob, well he was over the moon.

Under a huge amount of protest (you can imagine the conversation) an hour later we were heading off to Cannock (about a 45min drive away) to see the breeder of the 6 month old puppy. I had absolutely no intention whatsoever of coming home with the dog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 hours later we headed back home with one 6 month old Weimaraner! So much for my "no intention"! Her name was Sasha, she is pictured below, and I say was because we lost her 3 years ago this coming August, aged 8

From Sasha my love of the breed grew and after a few months of having her I could fully understand why Rob had wanted one so badly. They are the most loving, loyal and intelligent breed I have ever known, in fact they are almost human. Sasha was always Rob's dog, she worshipped the ground he walked on and she would do anything for him. He took her too work with him every day and she would sit in the front seat of the van as if she had every right to be there.

After having Sasha for about 6 months we had a second, Daphne, and she was but 8 weeks old when we collected her and a year later followed Henry again an 8 week old pup, full brother to Daphne (they both share the same parents the breeder repeated the mating a year later). Pictured below are Sasha, Daphne & Henry, in the fields next door to our cottage

Now Henry is such a handsome fellow that we decided to give showing him a try, he is pictured below with Rob at his first show aged just 9 months old and guess what . . . HE WON HIS CLASS!! Best puppy at the Weimaraner Show! Mind I also think my hubby should have got a rosette for being "Best In Breed" too!!

My Boy, he is the softest dog I have ever known, so laid back with not a nasty bone in his body, he is just like a teddy bear. He has sired 4 litters all of them beautiful pups, in fact we had a litter ourselves from Henry & Sasha.

And this is why you just can't help falling in love with them, a beautiful blue eyed pup aged just one week and one day. This is the last litter pf pups we had with Daphne, from which we kept Ella, our youngest Weimaraner. Daphne was a totally brilliant mum, in fact we use to have such a job keeping her away from the pups when it was time to wean them off her and get them onto normal food.

Daphne with the six puppies she had. Ella is in there somewhere!

I love this picture, the one looking at the camera, looks so chilled out.

And finally Ella at just 8 months old with Libby aged just 4

And that's the rest of the family. Last year we had a bit of a health scare with Daphne, she had to have an operation which was a bit touch and go at the time. She is now fully recovered and at the grand old age of ten she gives young three year old Ella a run for her money!

'Til Next Time,

Blessings, Karen