Wednesday, April 28, 2010

SOME NEW HANDMADES...

Good evening prim pals. As promised, I am posting pictures of some handmades from yesterday's endeavors. I sewed from 8:30 a.m. to about 11:30 p.m. last night and got quite a few things done - or almost done. I ran out of glue sticks and had to finish up the last few things after work tonight. I'll give you a peek at what I took to the shop today.
First of all, I wanted to show you the above old red box with the feedsack curtain. Isn't it just the best?
I've been dying to try a doll with the key nose and I made two. This little gal has her crow and some Sweet Annie tucked in her skirt.
I'm just crazy about the old key nose!
Another little gal with a key nose went out to pick some flowers and came home with a pet mouse!
She was really careful not to get her white shoes dirty!
This big old bee has garden gloves for wings and is on a grapevine wreath. He has rusty wire antennas and would look so cute on a front door.
This picture is a little dark, but you get the idea.
The other wreath is a cat head with a slice of watermelon.
I want to thank all the gals that have signed up for our spring classes! Can't wait for the fun to begin.
Well pals, this is it for this gal tonight. I am TIRED! More handmades to show you tomorrow and then off to pick up a load of antiques after the shop closes. Have a wonderful day!
Until next time...

Monday, April 26, 2010

SPRINGTIME CLASSES...

Good evening prim friends! I've been waiting all day to get on and chat with you, but our power was out for part of the day. I have no idea why we lost it, but thank goodness we have it back!
Another busy weekend just passed us by, but it was fun! Our Gannon was without a bike, so Saturday after work we went bike shopping. It was so much fun to watch his little face light up! We had to hit a couple stores before we found just the right one. Daughter Amanda and her husband Greg had us over for turkey dinner before we went shopping. It was so much fun to just relax together and listen to everything the other kids had to say. Gannon made place cards for everyone at dinner and I got to set next to him - of course!
Yesterday Dick started putting the lattice work on the base of the deck and it is going to look so pretty! Can't wait to get it all decorated and flowers planted!
Today he worked on a new potting bench for the shop made from an old door (thank you Dick) and I can't wait to get it finished up and in there! Pictures will follow soon!
This next two weeks are going to be super busy. Our Ladie's Nite Out is coming to Holly from 5-9 on May 7th and we will be having LOTS of new goodies in there by then. Tomorrow is going to be sewing day from morning until night. I sold a LOT of dolls last week, so... Can't wait to get started, I have so many ideas twirling around my head. I will have lots of "new" antiques, more really new items and some very unique handmades. Wait until you see the gift boxes we will be having for Mother's Day!
Lots of people are already signing up for our new line-up of classes. We will be offering these in conjunction with Zanie Janie's (the coffee shop attached to Holly Hills Primitives). Our soldered jewelry (taught by Kari Wolf) is already getting a lot of registrations. We have added a tole painted garden lunchbox planter that is beyond adorable! This class is taught by Sharon Cerne and is limited in class size. We are also adding scrapbook crops for you gals that just want to get out and have some fun creating and meeting new friends. We will have two morning and two evening crops each month. We hope to be adding lots of new classes as the summer progresses. Come on in and join the fun!
Well, better head on in and get some sleep. LOTS of work to do tomorrow and the days that follow. Hope you all had a great weekend!
Until next time...

Thursday, April 22, 2010

FUN DAY...

TALK ABOUT SPRING! I just could hardly wait to show you what arrived at the shop today. I got the great pieces of outdoor furniture in - an old glider and 3 chairs. It is just the perfect turquoise spring color too. It would look so adorable on a screened in porch, front porch or deck. I just love it! (It would be the perfect color for our deck at the Little House too - but I'd rather share with you.)
Look at the old picnic basket under the bench. It's in great condition and so darned cute!
Isn't this color just eye-popping? It looks great with white or with prims - your choice! If you enlarge the pictures, you can see some of the other great garden goodies we have too.

Another beautiful piece I got in is the upholstered bench. What a statement it would make in a foyer or bedroom. Oh how I love to share new goodies!
Other news from Holly Hills Primitives is our class line-up coming soon. We have a soldered jewelry class scheduled for May 6th at 10:30 a.m. and May 20th at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to call the shop for registration details - it's well worth it. We will be adding lots of new classes (including a tole painted lunch box planter), so be watching!
Other news to remember is that our Ladie's Nite Out will be May 7th from 5-9 p.m. More on that in another post - but mark your calendar's! It's an event you won't want to miss.
Another fun day at the shop with the weekend just ahead! Hope you had a fun day too.
Until next time...

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

HAPPY DAY...

What a great sunny day in Michigan! The temps are only around 60 degrees, but the sun is shining bright. I just had to show you the newest additions to the shop. This antique bed is so pretty. It's Bird's Eye Maple and just so sweet. The quilt is also very old and the stitches are amazing - all by hand.
Not sure what this was used for - maybe a grate of some kind. I just love the angel details on it.
Had to show you another picture of our table and benches after it got "primmed up". It looks a lot shinier in the picture than it really is.
A few new pillows are coming in - one by one.
This prim angel is adorable - she even has real wool hair and bells for eyes.
Monday afternoon we met Chad (my son) and Kim for their birthday dinners - finally. Their birthdays were both in March! Kim's folks met us too and we had the best dinner, I had King Crab Legs and they were YUMMY!
Today was great at the shop. I sold a beautiful upholstered settee and the big turkey feeder (which we have to deliver tonight) and then another shop bought 8 of my dolls - HOORAY! Time to get sewing again, and again, and again!
Hope you are having a happy day in your neck of the woods!
Until next time...

Sunday, April 18, 2010

THE ONES WE LOVE...

WOW! What a night, but fun! Gannon and Ellie were spending the night while their parents had a night out and then Gan wanted Abbey to come over to go fishing with him. (Love the picture of both of them fishing.) Well, when it was time for Abbey to go home, he wanted her to spend the night too. I felt like I spent the night in musical beds. It started out with me and both girls in our bed and Dick and Gan in another. I went from our bed to laying down with Gan, then Ellie came and crawled in, then I moved her back back to our bed, there wasn't enough room so I went to the couch. At about 3 or 4 a.m., Abbey came out and laid with me on the couch, then Ellie was nervous so I went back to my bed. But, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world - just glad that all seven of them weren't here at the same time!
Ellie LOVES Peter Pan, so she thought it was really cool to watch "Hook" on the portable DVD player.
Mom came down this morning for awhile and the kids all look like little ragamuffins!
When Ashley came to pick up Abbey, Ellie was thrilled to see Lucy. She loves babies and wanted to set with her in the rocking chair for a little while.
THEN - after all the kids were gone, we went to pick up my dad at the nursing home. He has had a TERRIBLE week, trying to get out the doors and come home. We took him for a long ride, he wanted to see the shop, and then we all went out to dinner. It did him so much good to get out of there for awhile, but it was heartbreaking to take him back. When we were leaving, he got all choked up and had tears in his eyes. I so wish I could wave a magic wand and make everything better again - I just want my old dad back. I am thankful that we have these times together though and he had so much fun.
So I think I'm going to put on my jammies and get a pillow and blankie and hit the couch for awhile. It's been a LONG day!
Hope you spent your Sunday with the ones you love!
Until next time...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

AND MORE ANTIQUES...

More antiques have arrived at the shop this week and some great ones too! I just LOVE this little table and benches! It would be so darn cute in a breakfast room or on a screened in porch - or anywhere for that matter.
This old blue island is so prim perfect - just the right height and size for your kitchen.
How about this old wooden wheelboro? Couldn't you just see it with pumpkins and bittersweet or even a coffee table?
Another cute watering can. You can't ever have enough of them.
This old white wicker tea cart is adorable. Anyone ready for a tea party?
Lots more new gardening goodies. Old wire fence, a red child's cart and more.
This is just the perfect garden sign!
Does anyone collect old sprinklers?
This old bin is fabulous. It must have come from an old general store counter. It even has the old glass in the top. LOVE IT!
Lots of small miscellaneous items too.
LARGE crate with a shelf would be adorable with a feedsack curtain. Might even try it tomorrow.
Cute little reproduction spice cabinet.
That's all that I can show you today. Lots more handmades are on their way in the next week or so and I have a feeling you're going to love them.
How about this weather??? It was over 80 here today - unbelievable for April in Michigan. I'll sure take it though. Love to be able to prop open the door of the shop and let the fresh air flow in.
It's been a long day and I'm ready to climb into my nice comfy bed. Hope you will all have a great weekend!
Until next time....

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

SPRING IS BURSTING OUT ALL OVER!

The geese are back and Mama is sitting on her nest. The "Old Man" comes to visit every day. I tried to get a close-up of him, but he just gently glides back into the water when you get too close. It won't be long until they are parading their babies across the back yard.
All of a sudden the blossoms are everywhere! This is surely a sign of spring.
I can almost taste those rhubarb pies already.
Bleeding hearts are starting to come out.
The tulips are opening.
And peonies are going to be everywhere!
Lucy stopped over and loved the flowers too. I love for her to come visit, she is one of the happiest babies I have ever known - right down to her little belly laugh.
Today started out to be a rainy old day, but soon the sun came out and it was beautiful. My friend Bonnie and I went on a little road trip and picked up some great "new" antiques for the shop. I can hardly wait to get in there to put it together tomorrow. Just wait until you see the potting benches Dick is working on - they will be perfect for any garden. I promise to have pictures tomorrow, but for today - time to just have fun.
Until next time...

Sunday, April 11, 2010

AWAKENING TO A SYMPHONY...

...right in our back yard! When we got up this morning, we opened the doorwall to the back yard and it was so beautiful. The sun was shining and the birds were singing everywhere. What a great way to start a Sunday morning! The above picture is the view from our doorwall and patio.
As much as I miss our old house, I feel very blessed to wake up every morning to be surrounded by nature. From morning to night we are entertained by beautiful sounds. The birds sing all day and at night the frogs join in. It is truly incredible!
I love Sunday mornings. It is the one day of the week that we don't have to jump up and run. We can enjoy our coffee, have time to visit with each other, and do something besides shop work. This might even be a good day to start cleaning out flower beds and getting the gardens ready for the glorious colors of summer.
Hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday!
Until next time...

Thursday, April 8, 2010

GARDEN PRIMS...

What a difference a couple days can make! We went from nice spring-like weather to COLD! It might get down to about 28 degrees tonight and "S____". I know it could still happen in April, but we've had enough for this year. The flowers are popping out and we sure don't want to look at any more of the white stuff.
I promised to get a few more pictures on from last weekend and so here we go. I got the old harness maker's bench in and it is SOOOO PRIM! It would look so great on a porch with a big fern sitting on the end.
My favorite is this old turkey feeder. Can't you just see it planted with red geraniums? I also like the old garden gate for a backdrop in a garden or on a porch.
This bench is hand-hewn and also very prim. It would make a great coffee table OR would also be perfect in a garden or on the porch.
Don't know if you can see this old rusty, metal basket. What a perfect planter this would be! The old white pedestal would make just the right stand for a fern or hanging plant.
Tonight it's back to the sewing machine! Another shop ordered a few dolls from me and I need more in my shop too, so guess what I'll be doing for awhile? My creative juices are flowing though and I can't wait to see the end results.
Last night was like a fairy tale! My husband won tickets to the Fox Theatre in Detroit to see "Celtic Woman" and it was beyond wonderful. We had VIP parking (the attendant even walked us across the street with an umbrella) and we had perfect seats in one of the suites. The theatre had a beautiful buffet set up for the suite-holders and we had a host bringing us drinks, desserts or anything else we wanted. If you ever get a chance to see this show, it is out of this world. After the show we went to Greektown to dinner and tried $20 in the slot machines - no luck (I was hoping to win enough for another load of furniture)! All in all, it was a wonderful night to remember.
My Gannon boy is spending the night tonight and going to work with me again tomorrow. It seems that Abbey and him have been taking turns while they are on spring break. What the heck? They are only kids once and I'm thrilled that they like to come spend time with me as much as they do. (Wonder when the next FIVE will want their turns!!??)
Hope you all snuggle in where it's warm tonight and spend some time with the ones you love!
Until next time...