I need Prim advice!

This treasure is one that my Dad gave me years ago. It's a yoke (I think) made for a person to place on their shoulders and hang a bucket on each end. It's neat and looks hand carved, especially when you look at the underside. The problem I have with it is the color. It's red red. The writing on it says CALIFORNIA "L.A." CHARLIE. All I can think was it was a joke given to someone who was going to move? I don't know where Dad got it, I'm sure it was picked up at an auction. It hung in my parents garage for as long as I can remember. I'd like to strip it down to the natural wood. I'm just so hesitant to do this and I don't know why.

I'm looking for advice from all of you...what do you think, strip it down or not? Should I rough it up and stain it with walnut strain? I don't' display it because the color is just not my prim muted color. I'm trying to figure out if the writing is quaint or not? I am not an indecisive person so this is driving me crazy. HELP!! Thanks for your input. ~Ann

A few Halloween Decorations

I haven't shared any of my fall decorating with you yet. Here in NW Ohio it is the perfect day to stay inside and craft (and I have the day off school, but all my kids have school - YEAH!). It's rainy and dreary and cold. YUCK!


The wooden box and stitchery were garage sale finds. The stitchery is a little to "clean" for my liking, but I'll coffee stain it with the next batch of staining that I do. I thought it was perfect for 50 cents. I just can't get enough of my little candle lights. My only requirement is that they all have the dipped silicone bulbs in them. Shelf in the living room with all Halloween items on it. Love the Black! A couple of years ago I bought the pumpkin head with the feather tree sticking out of his head on a shopping trip with my friend Melissa of Farm Field Primitives. I just love him and look forward to getting him out of the box every year.

The last picture needs some contrast, sorry it's on a wall that is creamy colored and it just washes out. Found this pumpkin head guy last year at The Maggie Blair House in Liberty Center Ohio. His pocket is filled with sweet annie. Yes, he's sitting on a Christmas greenery ring but nothing else looked as good! The sifter was a lucky find at an antique store. I'd seen them for $$$ and wasn't willing to go there. At this one shop I found it for $18.00 and was jumping up and down with joy. What's the saying "Good things come to people who wait" does that apply in this situation?

I had to fix macaroni and cheese for 50 people yesterday. It is our turn to fix one of the 2 main dishes for our DD's Cross Country Team dinner tonight. I have my fingers crossed that it turns out well. Have a wonderful and creative weekend. ~Ann

Rug Hooking & a New Basket

Linda from The Wool Cupboard and I worked out a trade. She wanted a basket and I had been admiring her rug hooking kits. Isn't Barter great?! It took me a while to finish this up, but here it is done and in the frame I decided upon. I had originally thought I'd do a pillow with this design, but I just love this frame and the piece fit perfectly. A new basket that I will list on my 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets blog. It is a very functional basket, holds your salt and pepper shakers and napkins. I really need to find my Folk Art salt and pepper shakers to put in this basket!

Our DD(2nd in on front left) and her girlfriends before the homecoming dance. She was terrified that she would spill on her dress at dinner so she ordered a plain quesadilla! They all had fun and our DD was a grouch on Sunday from a lack of sleep. They all had a sleep over (are they too old to call it that now?) and I'm sure stayed up half the night talking. We of course got to pay the price!

One final note today, our youngest DS is 9 today. Happy Birthday Daniel. Too bad they had Ohio proficiency testing today. He is a ball of nerves and made himself sick over the test. His school called mine at 11:30 so I could come pick him up! His fist words when we were out of the building? "I kinda liked the test, there were cool stories that I had to read" ARGH! We love you Daniel! Have a great week. ~Ann

Filling the Frames

One of my very first posts was about my addiction to picture frames. I just can't pass them up at garage sales or TS. Once home I remove the picture and glass and coat them lightly with a flat black spray paint. Then I switch to a brush and flat black latex paint, coating just once. Rough up the paint a little with sandpaper and rub on my favorite gel stain. These are some recent stitcheries that I did up for fall. The bittersweet vine is bittersweet pip berries that I attached to the stained stitchery.

Trick or Treat and boo I just free handed on my design and stitched up with embroidery floss.

Found the Harvest Crow as a freebie online - sorry I can't remember where, but it's on one of your blogs! Thanks for sharing it with us. The pumpkin is wool felt with antique buttons for eyes.

This last picture I had to share is one that my DH took. He recently went on a "boss lift" with the Ft. Wayne Indiana National Guard. One of the guys that works for DH is a National Guard member and nominated DH for this honor. He got to go up in a cargo plane for a midair refueling mission. He took the pictures of the F-16's after they were refueled. It was a once in a life time experience for DH - in 20 years of being a "boss" he's only received this honor just this once. He had a blast and was thrilled to be selected for this.

We've been very busy helping DD's class with their homecoming activities. I made an Indian costume for the mannequin on their class float. Hopefully we can "Smoke out the Indians." I love making Halloween costumes and this Indian costume was kinda like that. DD has a weekend off of Cross Country, but our 6th grade DS runs tomorrow morning in an elementary fun run. Have a great weekend. ~Ann

I'm complaining more often!

A few posts ago I was complaining of never finding Folk Art at garage sales or thrift stores. Well, look what I found at a flea market last weekend......The largest canister! Now my set is complete. I must give DH credit for this find. My Mom and I had been standing right in front of it admiring a pie plate that had a pumpkin cover on it. I never looked at anything else on that table. DH caught up with me at the next booth asking whether or not I'd seen the Folk Art (yes I have him trained well!) I couldn't believe that I missed it. What a buy at $7.00 and it's in mint condition. I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy the other one that was on the table - the next size down for $5.00 - one of you out there would have wanted it I'm sure.

Have you ever been in a Gordman's store? It's kind of like TJ Maxx but WAY better. I found this little jug there for $3.99! Couldn't believe all the primitive decorations they had. The only draw back is it was made in China.

Have a great weekend. ~Ann

Harvest Swap

I was so excited when I saw this very prim looking box on my dinning room table this week. I couldn't wait to open it, kind of the same feeling that I get when Mercantile Gathering or Early American Live arrives in the mail. It was my from my swap partner Amy, At home with Amy. Look at these great swap goodies. As I told Amy, my DH, DD, DS#1, DS#2 all were very excited that she remembered them with Autumn mix candy. Exactly how they "knew" it was for them leaves me baffled, as there was no note for them. I felt like the little red hen, I did all the work for my swap and they were happy to eat the candy! LOL, just kidding.

Amy stitched a wonderful "welcome fall" sampler with berries under the words. The frame is my favorite color, dark red and rough. A finger tip towel and ceramic leaf peg hanger will look great in my downstairs half bath. On the far right in the back is a grater that Amy redid with autumn flowers and raffia, I included a side view so you can see the grater. I told Amy this will add a splash of color to my kitchen.

I had so much fun making my items for the swap and sending them off to Amy and looking forward with anticipation to receiving her wonderful box of goodies. This was my first swap with Char, but I will be doing the next one!

My Mom is visiting with us for the holiday weekend. We are looking forward to our DD's Cross Country match tomorrow. She runs in a big race south of where we live in Ohio. Last year she finished 8th out of 176 girls, big expectations for tomorrow. Have a great Labor Day weekend. I'm going to catch up reading all your blogs, I've missed most of the week.

~Ann

What to do with an 80's Heart???

Picked up this peg rack at a garage sale for $1.00 (actually bought 2 of them). I am not a heart person - I'm a star person so I needed to do something with this. After hitting LOTS of garage sales this summer I don't think I'm the only non-heart person! There are lots of shelves out there with hearts on them, eagerly awaiting a prim make over. I don't remember on which of your wonderful blogs I saw an idea that inspired me, but a big thanks goes out to YOU! (Now I know that it was Janene - thank you Janene!) I decided to stitch the word "blessings" on osnaburg then I attached that to a stained piece of ticking.

I nailed the ticking onto the shelf with 4 rusty old nails, one in each corner. The paint on the peg rack is Navy by Olde Century Paints, sanded the edges and stained with Pecan gel stain from Olde Century. Now I just need DH to attach the hangers on the back tonight and it's ready to go!

So, what can you do with an 80's heart??? Let's see your prim heart makeovers. ~Ann