Grungy Primitive Waxed Apples

Had a wonderful Spring Break with the family, some much needed quality family time for sure!  Lots and lots of laughs and of course late nights with sleeping in, hehe.  It's good to be back with you all, I'm quite behind on my blog reading... almost 300 posts, yikes!  Hope to get that caught up this week so I can see what all you are up to.  =]

As soon as we got home and started on the 10 loads of laundry that we created over the week, I jumped over to the stove and finished up some apple waxing.  I just listed these in my Etsy shop but I wanted to share them with you, hop on over if you want to check them out.  I really like how they turned out!  I am such a perfectionist and most times I am NOT honestly 100% happy with my work, I can always find something wrong that others can't seem to see, lol.  But these, I like!

I love them in an old wooden box, they look like they just belong there!

They look like they have been around for hundreds of years.

I love this close-up of one of the baby apples...

Sitting inside a pretty white ironstone bowl maybe?

Anyway, they were fun and it feeds my addiction to waxing.  Waxing is fun, right Steph?  Lol!  As I was playing in the wax, I was wondering Why?  Why do we dip things in wax?  If someone were to ask me, I honestly have no idea what I would say.  Is it because the wax/spice combination lends to the old, primitive look we love?  Because it transforms ordinary, everyday household items into pieces of the past?  That's gonna be my answer, I would love to hear the reason you play in the wax.  Hmm... maybe there's a story there that we can have our friend and senior writer of a A Primitive Place & Country Journal Magazine Dan Weaver (of the blog Yesterday Once More) enlighten us with, lol.  =]

Thanks for stopping by for a visit and seeing what I've been up to lately.  I always enjoy visiting with you.  I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful Spring, we are so far even with all the yard work.  Have a delightful week~

Front Porch Primitives' Easter Giveaway!

So many wonderful Spring giveaways going on right now, isn't it F~U~N!  I want to share another one with you.  Our sweet and funny friend Steph from Front Porch Primitives is having an Easter giveaway of some of her wonderful handmades!  So hop on over to Steph's blog and sign up for this delightful giveaway!

Been working outside every day/afternoon/evening that I can.  It's been too windy here to burn so I haven't started a fire at all this week.  But would you believe that the burn pile that I lit LAST Saturday is still smoldering?  We've even had lots of rain this week!  I put some more leaves/sticks on the pile with the intention of lighting it tomorrow and a fire just started up on its own, lol... crazy.

Anyway, wanted to share a couple of pictures of what I've been doing this week besides cleaning up the back yard.  Waxing!!  =]  No Steph and Karen, not my legs, hehe...

I have a few different sizes of apples that I'm working on right now.  These only have the first coat of wax.

A few more still to do...

Once the first coat is on, the rest of the coats go much quicker.  It's a good thing because all the pears and berries are patiently waiting their turn for the wax dip.

I only have four of the vintage quilt block sawdust pillows left in my Etsy.  I was amazed at how quick they went!  I need to get busy on the bigger sizes.  Goodness... so much to do.

Spring Break coming up this week.  First time ever in 16 years that my husband and the kids are both off the same week so we are going to spend a few days in Missouri with my parents and a couple of day trips here in Oklahoma.  Really looking forward to just hanging out, having tons of fun and laughs, and of course sleeping in!  =]

Enjoy your weekend, my sweet friends~

Drakestone Primitives' Easter Giveaway!

Hi prim friends!  Hop on over and visit Angi at Drakestone Primitives Country Cabin!  She is having a giveaway on one of her wonderful, beautiful handmade bunnies!  I have been watching Angi create the cutest bears and bunnies for a few years now and she is quite talented!  I am gonna have to hop on over to her Ebay and buy one of those precious bears!  They always have the sweetest faces and Angi pays so much attention to detail.  The winner will be drawn on March 25, the start of British summertime... I just love learning neat things about our friends from abroad!  I think you'll agree that he's a cutie...

Spent all afternoon into the dark of night yesterday in the back yard cleaning, raking, and burning leaves.  It's so nice to be able to get out there and finally clean up but oh, it's so much work!  I'm so very thankful that God didn't bless us with the 20+ acres that Rich and I wanted, it's such a chore to keep up with this 1, LOL!  I'm also thankful that I am healthy enough to get out there and do it!

This week is sent aside for waxing!  YAY, I'm so excited about it!!  I haven't waxed at all yet this year and I have a terrible itch to play, plus lots of fruit that I've been collecting.  =]

Happy Sunday dear friends, enjoy your week~

Have A Seat

Good morning friends!  I have about 20 ditty bags almost ready to list on Etsy but I broke away from them for awhile to play with some tags and a new stamp set I bought from my Stampin' Up friend.  It's called "Have a Seat".  Of course everything I play with has to be dyed in tea and vanilla so that came first.  I love the way these came out, such a fun project.

I wanted to keep some for myself because they are so cute but I went ahead and put them in my Etsy shop.

I listed them in sets of like chair.  But I'm definitely going to be making more and mixing up the chairs in the sets.

For just 30 cents a piece I figure if they don't sell then I will have lots of fun playing with them =]

The stamp set only cost me $11.95 and came with an adorable Windsor settle bench stamp that wouldn't fit on the tags.  Click on this link to be taken to the Have a Seat stamp set in the Stampin' Up catalog.

Aren't they just so adorable?  I've had lots of fun playing with them this week... now it's time to get back to work and get those ditty bags finished.

Thanks for stopping by my sweet friends!  I always enjoy your visits~

Wooden Ironing Board Clean-Up

Hi all!  I have been seeing beautiful snow pictures from some of you and I am quite envious!  We went all winter without one good snow storm.  This is the first winter ever in my kids lives that they didn't get to make snow angels, build a snowman, or go sledding.  Of course, we all love snow days from school when we get to sleep in, stay in our pj's, eat snow ice cream, and play games all day.  None of that this year for us and it is quite sad.  Although... we have been having wonderful spring weather so I won't complain too much.  Today we are to hit 77 degrees.  It is so warm and sunny out there.  We like to take talks when we get home from school.

Yesterday I went rummaging through the garage to see what I could work on outside.  I have been wanting to get my old wooden ironing board in the house but it needed a good clean.

Every shopping trip I took last year, I kept an eye out for one.  They were running $28-$37 and most had huge cracks in them or were broken and didn't set up.  I held out because I knew "my piece" was out there somewhere and I will know when I come across it.  One day last summer, I was out garage saling and it was a bust.  I was ready to call it a day.  I came across one more sale.  I drug myself out of the truck and started looking.  Right there before my eyes was this awesome wooden ironing board that was set up and there were no cracks!  I thought I was gonna cry, lol.  Well not really, but I was so excited!  I was afraid to ask the price since everything else was priced... you know how that goes... it usually means it's more than you want to pay when there is no price on it.  5 bucks is all they wanted for it!  I whipped out my $5 and gave it to her.  Woo Hoo!!  I could hardly contain myself, hehe!

I continued to look around and someone about took my ironing board!  I had to literally run over there and tell them I already bought it and went straight to my truck with it, then went back to looking, lol.  I know they thought I was a nut.  But when you are on the hunt for a particular piece, that's what happens, well for me anyway... it turns me into a nut.  =]  

It is definitely worn and dry wood.  I was cleaning it up with my wood cleaner and it would soak it right up before I could even rub it in.  But just look at the difference!  This is yellow grease pencil.  Normally, it would need to be sanded off but I use a fine grade steel wool with my wood cleaner so it took care of it.

No sanding, just a little extra rubbing in that area and it came right off with no problem.  See the difference?

After all these years of cleaning and painting wood, I am still amazed at the change on each piece that I do.

I really wanted a wooden stand but for 5 bucks, I will settle for a metal one.  I actually like the green metal.  It's really hard to clean metal with chipped paint.  I took a bowl of Dawn dish soap and water and gently wiped it down.  A little of the paint flaked but I would rather it flake off outside than in my home.  Here she is all finished and pretty now...

It's in my laundry room (right by the main bath) leaning against the 3 hole cubby where each of my kids dump their school stuff.

I'm not sure how I am going to decorate around it.  The brooms were already there so I just put them in front of the board but they probably won't stay.  I have been admiring Cindy from Cynthia lee Designs' old wooden ironing board and how she decorated.  Click on her name and go check out her post, check out her whole blog... she is always inspiring me with her way of decorating!  I thought about draping one of my mom's dresses she wore as a toddler over it to showcase her dress (she'll be 77 next month) but I don't really like that.

I'll eventually get it figured out but in the mean time it'll be fun to play around.  *I am gladly open for suggestions*.  There's not much room here so it's not like there is a lot I can do.  I am thinking about adding a small crock (like Cindy did, hehe) to put all my wood bobbins in because this area has lots of old sewing notions to blend in with my main bath.  Oh, and maybe I can add an old label to the crock... right, Linda from Parker's Paradise?  I have this idea of Linda's on my mind and here's another one.  Thank you girls for sharing your ideas and always being an inspiration to decorating my home, I love that about our prim blog community!  =]

Winter is my sewing and stitching time but as soon as it starts to warm up, I am itching to get outside to sand and paint away.  It was fun to work with wood again.  I have lots more in my garage to pull out and play with.

The unofficial garage sale opening weekend is upon us!  I check the ads in our county paper every week and finally there are quite a few garage sales this weekend, woo hoo!  That excites this thrifty, makeover loving heart!

Enjoy your weekend with whatever kind of weather you have.... if you're snowed in, sit by the fire with some hot chocolate and stitch away.  If you have warm sunshine, get out there and dig in the dirt.  =]

Kim from Valley Primitives Stitches

Hey there my friends, I just want to pop in and tell you all to go visit our sweet friend Kim from Valley Primitives Stitches.  Her wonderful former blog you will remember as Valley Primitives Gift Shoppe.  Since she no longer has a gift shoppe, she decided to change names and now has a new blog but still the same sweet Kim with incredibly talented stitching!  Go visit and sign up to follow her so you don't miss out.  Oh, and a great incentive to follow her... she's having a wonderful giveaway right now!  Check it out here...

Happy Leap Year!  =]

Sunshiny Saturday

63 degrees, blue sky, and abundant sunshine here today.  My sweet baby boys are soaking it up...

Can't believe Pepper is sharing his spot with Robbie.  What a sweet dog.  Took a little break... now to get back to weeding out some toys that Robbie's outgrown.

Happy Sunshiny Saturday~ 

A Daffodil & 7 Random Facts

As I've been seeing from some of you this week, my snowmen came down also.  They got a good dusting and will be packed up tomorrow.  They didn't get to stay out as late as they usually do.  The culprit would be this...

A daffodil in February?!?  I have never in my entire life witnessed this.  But I'm not complaining.  When I saw them shoot up, I was afraid that a snowstorm would come along and destroy them.  I'm happy I captured one, and it's my only one so far.  But do you see what's behind it?  Others that will be popping open very soon.  YAY!

I haven't been out there to clean up their beds yet.  There's still leaves and acorn pieces everywhere.  It just makes me laugh.  Daffodils and daisies are my favorite flowers so I really enjoy my daffodils when they bloom!  I have to tell you that my very sweet, elderly neighbor blessed me with about a dozen bulbs 5 years ago.  One day I was admiring his rows and rows of daffodils that line his property.  The next day, he brought them over to me.  What a sweet surprise that was!  Now I get to enjoy them in my yard too.

Our sweet blog friend Steph over at Front Porch Primitives blessed me with the Versatile Blogger award.  I appreciate her thinking of me although I told her that I am quite boring and it would take me awhile to come up with 7 random facts.  So after thinking about it all week I finally came up with a few things.  Btw... I have so enjoyed reading everyone's list and learning more about each of you, it's been fun!

I hope I don't bore you to tears, lol but here goes...

1. I worked for Hobby Lobby for 19 until quitting almost 2 years ago to be a keeper of my home and family.  I spent a few years on the set-up crew traveling to Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Tennessee opening new stores and remodeling existing stores.

2. Speaking of traveling, my husband has worked for American Airlines for 16.5 years and we get to fly free in the US, Canada, and Mexico... so watch out, you might find me on your doorstep one of these days, lol!  But as with everything in this world... who knows how much longer he will have a job there with their recent bankruptcy.  We don't worry... God is in control.  

3. I am the baby of 6.  We are a very close knit family that gets together often.  My brothers and sisters all live within 15 miles of our parents, with me being the only one far away at 3.5 hours.  Almost all of our family get-togethers consist of the 6 kids, 4 spouses, 16 grandkids, 9 spouses, and 16 great-grandkids.  Add the 2 parents and numerous boyfriends/girlfriends and we normally have 50+ gather to celebrate birthdays and holidays.  Now that is F-U-N, love it!!

4. When I met Rich, his home was decorated in glossy black and white, very contemporary.  He didn't know what to think of my old, rusty, worn antiques and family heirlooms.  17 years now and sometimes he's still trying to figure it out, haha!  But I was able to help him lose the contemporary and tone down all that shiny black.  =]

5. My mom and I used to set up at craft shows while I was still in high school.  While my friends were out partying and living life, I was home creating and crafting away.  I can still vividly remember our times together, especially when we would just sit and laugh for so long that we couldn't breathe, haha!

6. I am a freak.  Well that's what my family and friends call me anyway.  I think it's a term of endearment.  Lol!  They call me a clean freak and organize freak.  But who do they call when they need help with an area of their home??  Yes, I have been known to help others out with their organizing and cleaning skills for FREE.  Sometimes they throw me a pizza and a Pepsi for it.  Also... I am constantly getting texts and calls from members of the home wanting to know where something is and I can lead them right to it (unless it's from their room, then who knows where anything is?)... then I'm not a freak anymore.

7. This last one is NO surprise if you have been following my blog very long... but I like to ramble... A LOT!!  I feel like I always have something to say about everything (which is why I have to comment on almost all blog posts that I read, lol).  Which is funny cause I really don't like to hear myself talk but it seems that's all I do once you get me started.

8. I know, I know... only supposed to be 7 but see... I got to rambling.  I didn't even think I could come up with 1 interesting fact about me, let alone 7.  Of course they are random, useless, probably boring to you facts but that's my life.  Which brings me to #8.    I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  God has given me a wonderful, caring, loving husband, awesome kids, a beautiful home, and a very content life.  Often times I wonder why He chooses to give me so much when I don't deserve any of it.  But He does, and I thank Him every single day.  He throws some bumps in there along the way, and I thank Him for those too for that helps us to remember that He blesses us, provides for us, and loves us unconditionally.

If you're still with me, thank you kindly!  =]  Thank you Steph, that was fun!

Have a fantastic weekend!  Blessings from the Berry Patch~

Blessed I Am

Before I get started showing you some goodies, I need to make a clarification from my last post.  The adorable little sheep from Linda, was not made by Linda.  She bought the mold and sent it to Rachel to make the sheep.  This is the picture from Linda's blog... aren't they SO adorable!  Just wanted to give the right credit where credit is due.

When I posted about the quilt tops and blocks awhile back, Karen from KM Primitives really liked one of the tops.  I had stuck them away because I didn't know what I was going to do with them and didn't want to mess with them.  I asked Karen if she would like to have it.  She said only if I was willing to swap.  How could I say no to our talented Karen?!  I didn't have a plan for either one so I sent them both off to Karen.  I absolutely ADORE what she sent me in return!  Her new, beautiful sheep lamp mat called "EWE FOLLOWING ME?"

That's not all...  I believe Karen knows that I love all kinds of tinware.  She blessed me with this wonderful antique sieve! Isn't it a beauty?

Karen also sent this sweet little strainer!  Love the homemade card too!

These pieces are perfect for me because when I am out antiquing, I am always on the hunt for old metal graters, strainers, sifters, and grinders.  I don't know why I am drawn to them,  I just always bring one home, lol.  As a matter of fact, I went antiquing Friday by myself and bought a neat little grinder, hehe.  So very sweet of Karen to bless me with such wonderful and perfect goodies!  THANK YOU KAREN, I LOVE IT ALL!!!

I enjoyed ooohing and aaahing over all your wonderful Valentine's gifts from such sweet hubbies.  Rich and I don't get each other gifts or cards for Valentine's Day, we do that for our kids but not for each other.  We buy big things throughout the year so we don't do the holidays.  He took me out to dinner at one of our favorite steakhouses this past Saturday night.  He has a bum knee, so we were limited on what we could do.  I suggested going to Bass Pro and walking around because we can sit when he needed it.  We head that way and drive right on by.  I said "Uhm... you missed it".  He informed me that we were headed somewhere to get my Valentine's Day gift.  Three stores later so I can get the pretty red that I wanted, here is what my sweet man bought me!!

I was extremely shocked!!  I had asked for one of these about 13-15 years ago and he sweetly bought me a very nice mixer with lots of attachments, but it was no Kitchenaid.  That was when I realized that I need to be specific when I ask for gifts, LOL!  That old mixer has been a great one and I appreciate him buying me one back then but oh how I LOVE my new Kitchenaid!  I have waited many, many years for it!  I'm not a bling bling person, but I sure love this shiny red, haha!  I am richly blessed with a great and loving man that works so hard so that I can stay home and raise our kids, while he lavishes me with the desires of my heart!

One more thing before I close.  Some of you have seen this floating around blogland and even posted about it.  Google is doing away with its Google Friend Connect.  I have read many rumors associated with this but the only thing that I can find on the official Google Blog is this short statement. "Google Friend Connect—Friend Connect allows webmasters to add social features to their sites by embedding a few snippets of code. We're retiring the service for all non-Blogger sites on March 1, 2012. We encourage affected sites to create a Google+ page and place a Google+ badge on their site so they can bring their community of followers to Google+ and use new features like Circles and Hangouts to keep in touch. "

Google is saying that blogger won't be affected, it will be for wordpress, typepad, etc blogs.  Some say it will be phased out completely for all blogs.  I don't find that anywhere in Google.  I added the Google + but I don't have a clue what it is for.  I do all my blog reading through my Google Reader.  I'm pretty sure I'll be okay.  I don't mess with my friends list much.  It's neat to look at it and see the new followers but that's all I use it for.  But just to be safe, I went ahead and added the new free "Linky" widget to my sidebar.  I'll be honest in saying that I don't like it yet.  I'm not one for change.  So I'm really hoping that I can delete it soon, hehe.  But you never know...

Thanks for stopping in my friends.  I enjoy your company and visiting with you.  Your blogs mean so much to me and keep me excited about being the keeper of my home instead of the mundane home chores that I have to take care of every day.

Enjoy these last few February days.  March will be roaring in soon and bringing Spring with it~

Sweet Goodies

Precious... you are!!  Your kind, sweet words and encouragement have meant more to me than I could ever tell you!  Thank you from the very depths of my heart!

While I'm thanking you... I also want to thank our sweet friend Linda over at Parker's Paradise for this wonderful package that arrived in my mailbox a few weeks back!  I adored these sheep that she made and blogged about, but I knew there was no way that I could make them as good as our Linda and boy was I ever surprised and thankful to receive one!!  He is so sweet on my year round tree!

Linda's little tucks are SO adorable too!

Thank you dearly, my sweet friend for your big heart and  generosity!

Another wonderful package that arrived just today was an order that I placed from Lois over at Huckleberry Lady.  Lois recently had a giveaway for her adorable X's and O's.  I acquired if she had any left because I had to have them to put under my Valentine's tree.  One set left, YAY for me!  Aren't these just so sweet?

They are perfect sitting in an old metal strainer (that is sitting in an old wooden Carnation crate) under my year round tree covered in hearts.  The X's and O's really add a touch of sweetness!

Oh... there was also a nice little surprise of a Twix candy bar that was quickly stashed in my purse to enjoy at the basketball game tonight.  I pulled it out at the game and started munching away.  Rich looked at me and said "Where did that come from??"  I just smiled.  =]  So thank you Lois for the extra little treat, I did enjoy it!

Gonna spend the week cleaning, purging, and organizing my son's room and prepping it for paint.  Hope to sneak in some crafting somewhere along the way.  I have a few quilt block sawdust pillows ready to list on Etsy.  I love the old look and feel of them, definitely reminds me of days past.

I'm so thankful that God's mercies are new everyday.  I'm thankful for the valleys He has us walk through to strengthen us and build our character.  I'm thankful for the precious friends and family that he puts along our path through the valley to lift us up and encourage us on our journey.  My family has truly felt your prayers concerning our son and his school.  I'm not completely happy with the outcome of our situation but I know that this is the best route for all.  Things could have been much worse so I'm thankful that Rich and I stood up to the school officials and administration to let them know that we will not sit back and watch injustice.  We fought and won some, but not all.  Short term, it is a small victory but I know long term that they will remember that we are very involved in our children's lives and we do watch out for their well-being.

Again, I can not thank you enough for being there for me and being such a strong supporter and prayer warrior for us!  I truly love you each and every one!  =]

Situation Re-Cap and His Word

My dear friends, I can not even begin to express to you how much you have touched my heart these past five days!  Within just a few minutes of my last post, you were right there offering me support, encouragement, and best of all your prayers.  As I read through each comment that you all made, the outpouring of love was so strong, so deep, and so sincere that I just sat there and bawled like a baby!  You have never even met me, yet you care enough about me and my family to let me know that you are there for us, lifting us up in intercessory prayer.  I appreciate and love each and every one of you that have thought of us or prayed for us these past days.  I can tell you that your prayers have given me the strength and the courage to be strong.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

We are still in the thick of this situation.  I talked to a lawyer today.  I also wrote up a written appeal to the school and we have our committee hearing on Thursday morning.  Right now I take one day at a time, one phone call at a time, one conversation at a time.

One neat thing that I want to share with you is how God is showing me so much of Himself throughout this whole ordeal... Monday morning was the day that my son and I went to visit with the high school principal so I spent Sunday evening in prayer and reading His Word.  I told you already how I am extremely emotional and very non-confrontational to the extent that I break out in hives and redness on my neck and face, throbbing temples, and have even experienced dizzy spells, all within minutes of being confronted.  I just don't like to debate issues (which explains why I failed Speech & Debate in high school, ha).  I went to His Word and was reading Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God".  So I shut my Bible right there and just poured out my heart to God.  He already knew my issues, He created me.  I asked begged him to guard my heart, my emotions, to speak through me and not let my mind worry or fear.  After praying for some time, I opened my Bible back up and went on to read Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"!  I was SOOO excited!!  He confirmed right then and there that He was indeed in control of the whole situation.  I have read this passage many times in my lifetime but in this one certain situation, this verse had a whole new meaning to me!  Such sweetness! =]

Our meeting with the principal was very direct and swift.  We weren't getting anywhere so I informed him that our only option was to obtain a lawyer.  Within 20 minutes of leaving our meeting, he left me a phone message that said Ryan could come back to school but he would be placed in In-House Suspension.  I called him back and thanked him for that option, but declined in that it would still present my son as guilty.  So now we sit and wait until our committee meeting on Thursday.  In the meantime, Ryan is allowed back to school as a regular student.  Which I don't understand but who understands school politics?  I give God ALL the glory for getting me through these past few days, for restraining my tongue, and speaking wisdom through me (Rich can attest that is definitely from God, haha)

So there you have it.  I thank you all that continue to send emails and messages that you are still praying and will continue until this situation is resolved.  Again, I can't express how much that touches my heart.  Please pray for our meeting on Thursday.  All we want is justice.

Now... on to some fun stuff!  I am so very excited, I am attending a crafter's retreat this weekend, YAY!!  All day Friday and Saturday, and almost all of Sunday.  This time away from home could not have come at a better time... another way that God is showing me His Grace!  We will be at Camp Egan, which is surrounded by the beautiful Ozark Mountains.  If only we could get snowed in there, lol!  Old friends and new friends, such a great time!  Oddly enough, I plan to scrapbook Ryan's school years and catch up to present year.  I'm also taking my recipe scrapbook and some stitching to work on.  It's gonna be a superb time, I can tell already!  =]  This is a present for my mom that is almost finished.  I need to complete the border and then add each grandchild's name under the hearts.  I plan to finish this at the retreat.

I thank you if you lasted until the end of this post, lol.  I know lots of words and not many pictures is not fun.  It's been quite a few months of heartache and tribulation.  Definitely not much fun happening at the Berry Homespun Primitive blog.  But... my God is a loving God and a gracious God who wants to give us the desires of our hearts.

I plan to be back to creating and crafting as soon as I get back from the retreat.  I have lots of projects that are patiently waiting for me.

Thank you one more time, my dear, sweet friends.  You mean so much to me and I thank God for our friendship.  Have a delightful week~