Bee Happy Swap from Becky

I was partnered with Becky of Ginger Creme Hollow for the Bee Happy swap that Amy at Bumble Bee Lane hosted. Boy did I ever get spoiled. We were suppose to send one stitched item, at least one form the related to the theme and any others that we also would like to include in the swap package. Becky sure went above and beyond. That cute little prim pillow is adorable. It will join my raggedy collection when they are moved to their new home. Becky also sent this mug rug as she called it. It's made with I believe little bumble bee material from Honey & Me. It's the perfect size for my extra large coffee mug to rest on. And in keeping with the birds/bees/flowers theme Becky also sent this bird pin cushion. I desperately needed a new one as I had lent mine, full of pins and needles to my neighbor so she could teach her daughter how to sew...well the daughter took it home with her to her apartment so mine was never returned. This one isn't going anywhere. There was also a cute stenciled box and nestled inside were wax dipped salt dough bird and flower ornies. Too cute. Becky said, if I remember correctly that these 2 tin tiles were thrift store finds. Aren't they just the cutest. And of course they fit perfectly within the theme. These strawberries look so yummy...but I'll just hang them over my dough bowl racks front bar brace and enjoy them.....very summery. There was also a yummy scented wax tart. Can't wait to melt it. There was also a cute little beehive sign and a cute notepad that had bees on it made by Primitives by Kathy....she has the cutest note pads sometimes. Oh and the little gingerbread man...he's too stinkin' cute. I love him. He will be hanging off a peg on my new peg rack the hubs is making for me....shhhh....don't tell him as I haven't informed him yet...will be tomorrow though as I've had the idea in my head for awhile. As you can see I've been thoroughly spoiled by Becky. Thanks to Amy for hosting this awesome swap. Until next time....

Summer Bug Swap

I participated in the Summer Bug Swap that Wendy from Ravenwoods Whimzies hosted and was paired with Vicky Weaver from Vicky's My Art. I gotta tell you that Vicky sent me the cutest swap things as you can see in the main picture but I took a few close ups so you can see the detail. Vicky is a wonderful painter with a whimsical style as you will see in the upcoming pictures. Isn't this set of watermelon slices too cute? And what about the ant who joined in on the fun. I mean it wouldn't be summertime without a few ants! I have found a lovely home for this wall hanging right by the front door. Luckily this is one ant I don't have too swat at! And Vicky was certainly as busy as a bee creating these little buzzin buggers! A set of 3 bees bowl fillers. Thankfully they are the non stinging kind so they have found a home for now tucked onto my dough bowl rack. They look adorable among the bowls. These cute planter pokes have such great details. I love them! They have all found homes in my indoor plants, my wandering jew and spider plants. Vicky also sent a cute metal bucket that was embossed with dragonflies. I will be getting an african violet to plant in that and it will sit on my bay windowsill. Oh and the sour gummy worms that aren't pictured, well the son claimed them right away, so they were history even before the pictures were taken! As you can see, Vicky certainly spoiled me. Everything was wonderful and I love it all...at least with these, I don't have to call the hubby to kill them. Thanks Wendy for hosting this fun buggy swap. Until next time....

My Swap To Tracy

I participated in a swap that Tammy A Primitive Place hosted on her blog. I was partnered up with Tracy of Prairie Patch blog. Tammy's swap theme was "So me, so you".

We were to send one thing that was "so me"....that was the easy part. The harder part came in with the "so you". That required digging into our partners blog and finding little tidbits of information about them. My job was a little more difficult as Tracy has a very diverse and eclectic style, but I did manage to pin down a few things about her! LOL!

I found out through reading that Tracy loved little prim sheep. She had received a swap from another gal, and in it was a little hand painted sheep soap, that Tracy had made comment that she was starting to "collect" sheep. Through emails, I found that Tracy liked earth tone colors...so now that I had 2 clues of what she liked I got to work. The end result was the sheep sign above painted on an tan background.



So with the "so you" part all worked out, I got to work on the "so me" part. The hubby has been on a roll recently with making me some pieces to hang on the wall, so I thought, why not have him make Tracy a smaller version of a bowl rack that he made me although this had a little twist to it. We added a rolling pin groove to the bowl rack as I knew that Tracy liked prim kitchen utensils from a blog linky party she hosted. I painted the bowl rack/pin holder in my favorite color, black. Having emailed Tracy about color schemes in her house, she said that she hoped one day to do her kitchen in brick red, and knowing that black should be a lovely contrast, I was confident in my color choice. I added a small burgundy bowl for the final touch.

I had so much fun with this swap and getting to know Tracy. If you haven't been over to Tracy's blog, hop on over and check it out. She also has a few other blogs including The Sunburnt Cow where she holds linky parties to show off things that you have for sale and she has just launched a new shoppe contest. What neat ways to promote others.

Until next time....

My Punkin Swap Goodies Came

My punkin swap came last week! I had to put it aside as I was getting ready for my big show of the year. I did take pictures and thought I would have time to do a post but I couldn't keep my eyes open at the end of each day.


Carrie of scaredycatprimitives sent me the most delicious smelling pumpkin made out of chenille. It smelled good enough to eat. In the box also was a small peat pot, that she painted like a jack o lantern and a ceramic ghost popping out of a pumpkin. I don't know how Carrie knew but she also included my favorite Halloween candy...a bag of candy corn. I had to beat the boys off it as they were trying to eat it on me! As part of the swap Carrie also sent 3 yummy sounding recipes that I can't wait to try out.

Thank you so much Carrie. I appreciate everything that you sent. I have already found a place for everything. Just need to add some more fall decorations and I'll be set.

Primitively Patriotic Swap Part 2

I showed you in a previous post the cool swap goodies that I got from my swap partner Lottie of Sweetpeasprimitives, well here's what I sent to Lottie.




Of course a patriotic sign was in order. Of all the new ones I just recently completed, this is the one I liked best.




I enjoy painting on these metal star votive holders. The previous ones that I have purchased have all been black. This whitewash was a refreshing change and it meant that I could just paint right on the holder without having to basecoat.




Don't know if you remember those little rusty taper holders I showed you in a previous post, that I picked up while wholesale shopping. Well here's what I did with the one I included in my swap. I love how it turned out...just wish I had more time to grubby the candle more.





I had two of these little wire baskets left...just sitting there waiting for something to be done with them. Nothing says prim to me like some pip berries and a barn star, so I added some red, cream and blue pip berries to the front and attached a small barn star. I added a homespun and cheescloth fabric bow and a coffee stained metal rimmed hangtag to the handle.






Here's another thing I had just laying around! Why do I buy these things and never get around to making them? Anyway, I probably bought about a dozen of these little wispy wreaths with the intention of putting berries on them. Anyway, still looking for more things to include in this swap, I took the wreath and added some red, cream and blue pip berries to it. A blue homespun bow and a small barn star were added.


This is the prim patriotic plate and plate holder that I purchased while wholesale shopping. It was too cute to resist and for the price, I couldn't pass up the chance to include it in my swap box.


This little flower bobble was a last minute idea. I had just received my Create and Decorate magazine in the mail. I fell in love with the fabric pinwheels. So off I went to Joann Fabrics, magazine in hand, so as not to forget anything. Well, picked the perfect patriotic fabric, the coordinating fabrics and off to the check out line I went. There in the $1 section was this little pink bobble flower note holder. So inspiration struck and I thought, why not? I can paint it americana. Of course, the sad part is that Lottie's box was suppose to have those pinwheel flowers, but I forgot the darn buttons...so much for taking the magazine with me to ensure I didn't forget anything! Sigh!


This was a last minute addition too... Char of The Pickled Pepper Patch had a tutorial on her blog to make these little wooden firecrackers out of a dowel rod. So since Home Depot was in the same shopping center as Joann Fabrics and I was already stopping there to pick up some more trex for my flower beds, I picked up a dowel. I came home and cut the rod into 4 pieces and set about painting the stripes and stars on the dowel firecrackers. After some shading and antiquing they were perfect and included in the box.

This was such a fun swap to do. I love painting americana and usually at craftshows you will find a large americana section in my booth.

Primitively Patriotic Swap

I arrived home from running errands to a rather pleasant surprise...there was a box waiting for me on the table under my mailbox. Usually that table is filled with packages outgoing...it's unusual to have an incoming one.



OMG, I opened the box and was almost afraid to unwrap all the wonderful goodies that were contained within. It was just like Christmas morning. Each item carefully wrapped and revealing yet another wonderful treasure. Oh, I guess I should tell you who was the generous person that was my swap partner. Her name is Lottie from Sweetpeasprimitives .


As you can see Lottie sent me a cute wooden flag to hang on my front door. Perfect for those patriotic holidays to show our American pride. The star bowl fillers are perfect as I already have a nice prim patriotic bowl for them to make a nice home in.


Isn't this little dolly prim-i-licious? She already has a temporary home on my shelf with some other dolls but will grace a new shelf that the hubby is making for me....well he doesn't know he is yet, but he is! LOL! He runs for the hills when I say, how about making me this as he never knows what I'm gonna ask for!

The covered box shown in the first picture will be put to good use holding whatnots and things I may not want the males in my family to find....I know that they wouldn't think of looking in it...too much work! LOL!



Lottie also sent me a room spray in a delicious blueberry scent. It smells almost good enough to eat! Also in the package was a Gooseberry Patch cookbook which I hope to put to good use once our kitchen renovations are complete. I did get to take a peek and there are some great recipes for the grill, so maybe my family won't starve in the meantime.

A notepad for those all important "honey do" list and 2 small American flags that I plan to stick in my front porch planters for more patriotic spirit was in the box too! I tell you Miss Lottie certainly spoiled me!

This swap has been lots of fun and I want to thank Char of The Pickled Pepper Patch for organizing it.

Anyway, thanks again Lottie...I love everything!

Easter Swap at the Painters Box

I'm just hooked on these large pockets. I love painting them or should I say repainting them. I belong to and host a private painting forum on delphiforums called the Painters Box. We participate in swaps, play bingo and share info and our lives via the internet. They are a great bunch of gals...if you have an interest in painting and would like an invitation to check us out, drop me a email through ebay or etsy.

This swaps theme is Easter/Spring. Our swap is a secret partner swap...my partner may see what she may get as many of the gals post pictures of their creations, but they don't know for sure what they are getting, til the package arrives. A lot of good time ribbing and bickering goes on til the items arrive...all in fun of course.

I also sent along some Easter candy for my swap partner and the only hint I can give is that it's traveling west of me! But all the ladies in the group are west of me, so not much of a hint, huh? LOL

There's A Mouse In My House

I received my swap today from Teresa of Teresa's Primitive Treasures. We are both members of Old Farmhouse Gathering on etsy. Teresa sent me the most adorable little mouse sitting on a pin cushion. From his whiskers, to his curly tail and tiny legs and arms, the details on him are incredible! I tried to take some pictures to show you.




Teresa also sent a cute wood box with little chicks around the bottom and a sheep with a chicken riding on his back on the top. She also sent a cute prim notepad with a bunny on it.

Thanks again Teresa and be sure to stop by and check out what other goodies Teresa has in her etsy shoppe by clicking the link above.

OFG Swap

I belong to a prim group on etsy called Old Farmhouse Gathering, OFG for short, anyway, we are having a swap. We are all assigned partners so this is a one on one. I was lucky to get a really nice gal....have chatted with her on many occasions. She's a painter and loves prim. I painted her a nice large metal pocket with a prim bunny based on a design by Terrye French...she's one of my favorite designers. I wrapped the handle with fabric and placed cream pip berries inside...sure hope my prim gal partner likes it. Oh, and of course she's getting some of my favorite Easter chocolates!