Who Let the Cold In?!!

GOOD HEAVENS! Who let 'Old Man Winter' back in the door??!!!!

It was 38 this morning! Yeh, I know, that's sunbathing weather for a lot of you but it's down right frigid for me!

Because of the cold weather, I feel obliged to share some of my Easter goodies I've been working on! These are my designs and are just so easy to make!

 Someone said they look like Pez Dispensers! They do!

This is another one of my designs.....

My Big Foot Funny Bunnies! You know me.....I LOVE me some color!

I just finished designing this guy and am going to have him in our upcoming OFG Celebration.

I've named him Sunshine, well, for the obvious reason that he looks like sunshine!! He was SO much fun to make. I need to add a tag to him, Wonder if he can fly??!!

Last but certainly not least, I had these baking in the oven yesterday morning. 

Can't wait to take a bit out ot the real thing! We're huge melon fans here and eat lots while they're in season and plentiful!

I'm dressing Bunny dolls this morning. They are soooooo cute and can't wait to see then all completed in their Easter Finery. Will show you soon!

Hoping this is the last of the cold. It's been a heck of a winter and I'm sure all of us are ready to close the door on it!

Stay Tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

SPRING and WIPs

It's Spring here! Trees, plants, and bushes are blooming!

 Pollen is everywhere! So we're sniffling and sneezing just as if it was still cold. Can't win for losing!

I've been busy with some new patterns!

This one comes from Olde Annie Primitives.

Eater Egg Pocketfuls! They are SEW easy to make! I need to get me some Spring Pip Berries to put in them along with my Sweet Annie! I purchase my Sweet Annie from THE FLOWER PATCH on Etsy.

I've made up a 1/2 dozen of these! 

This is just a pattern I'd drawn up. Any one with drawing skills can do the same. I like to coat mine with some water-based varnish after I paint them with my Burnt Umber acrylic paint. Makes them shiny and look like REAL chocolate. You can find these in my Etsy shop.

 This pattern is from Pam Gracia of SOFT IN THE HEAD. She is so talented and I love making her patterns. 'Miss Bunny' is also in my Etsy shop.

I've cut out and sewn Watermelon, Bumble Bees, Bunnies, and now some Pigs! I've also just sold off the last of my Christmas Elves so I'll be pulling out the Christmas greens and reds soon!

I've got 3 orders for my Garlands sitting on my table so I'll need to get to those today. We've had rain, LOTS of rain, these last few days and it's kept me inside. At least I was able to finish my hand stitching which I detest!

Hope your Spring is coming in like a Lamb and not with the March winds we've been getting. I think we're all well on our way to a thaw!

Stay tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

TUTORIAL -- A PRIMITIVE BUNNY

I know it's a few months before Easter, but here in our little 'crafting corner' where we buy and sell, we like to be the birds that catch the juciest of worms, ya know?!

So I have a little pattern for you to make these guys. They measure approximately 8" x10".

 One I sculpted and the other I didn't.

Here is a list of materials you will need to make these bunnies:

Pattern (2 pages)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3ZH1BVLOI4JRjVnc2xHRDYyVkU/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3ZH1BVLOI4JYWhpQjRnZUhyVnc/edit?usp=sharing 
 

Muslin or fabric of your choice for the bunny

extra cotton floral fabric (2 1/2" x 4" piece)

Fiberfill for stuffing

#10 Crochet Thread (or your choice of Thread)

Sweet Annie and/or dried flowers

Prim Staining Mix

http://americanprim.blogspot.com/2005/09/tea-coffee-staining.html

Let's get busy!

Cut her out --1/4" seam allowance is already added to the pattern. Sew her, turn, stuff. Easy, peasy so far! (I left the bottom open for stuffing but you can easily slit the bunny where the pocket goes to turn and stuff).

If you're going to sculpt the hind legs and ears, refer to the pattern (make sure you leave the bottom open if you're going to leave the pocket off). Use a long doll needle and some sturdy thread (upholstery or crochet). Here's a link.

http://www.ask.com/question/how-to-needle-sculpt-doll-faces

 They're ready for the staining mix.

Now, I added some dk brown acrylic paint, 'bout a tablespoon or so, to my mix.

Some people just paint the stain on with a sponge brush but I actually like to submerge mine. I add a LOT of vanilla and cinnamon to my stain mix and it saturates the fiberfill thus leaving it smelling stronger,  longer. Takes longer for the drying time but I like the smell!

 Don't forget the cotton tail! Strip about 5 pieces of 6" x1/2"pieces of muslin.

Fold it over once.

Tie it in the middle with a heavy thread. Should be 10 pieces on each side. Tie it tight!

Should look like a Pom-Pom. Trim it up and stain it.

Bake it in a warm oven (205 for mine) for 15 minutes at a time. Guess I turned mine 2-3 times. You can also put them outside in the sun but I'm guessing since it's still winter, you might have some trouble with that whole 'sunshine' part! 

DON'T FORGET the floral material for the pocket! Stain it, too; dry it!

Pin the pocket in place.

Sew up the pocket leaving the top open. I used brown #10 crochet thread. You can use embroidery floss, also.

I added a spot of hot glue at the top corners to keep the pocket down. Add your dried floral pieces or just some Sweet Annie or whatever appeals to you. Glue or sew on the cotton tail.

You should have something similar to this.

 What else would you do with this guy below?

A tag? Rusty pin and Jingle bell? Where would you put it? Everything I tried didn't look right. Let me know what you'd do!
THIS PATTERN IS FOR YOU TO ENJOY HOWEVER YOU WISH!

Enjoy!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

A GIVEAWAY from the FAAP Team!

http://folkartandprimitives.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-giveaway-and-celebration.html

Don't miss it!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

A Giveaway Winner/Where Is Our Sunshine?!!

Seriously, we've been without sunshine for so long I think they're going to rename our state!

 I try not to diss the rain when we get it. When you live on a lake and watch the water levels come and go, you learn to appreciate when Mother Nature is giving. But dadgummit all I WANT MY SUNSHINE!!

I've got a winner for my Valentine Giveaway! Random.com surprises me from time to time by choosing #1 and it did this time!  

So, Vicki H. you are my winner!

Email me at VicWeave@aol.com so I can get your Garland out to you this next week!

Thank you EVERYONE for signing up and supporting this Giveaway. I will have more throughout the year/Seasons. I'm getting ready for one on my FB to celebrate 700 followers and I'll let you know when it's up and ready!

Our Etsy Team, Old Farmhouse Gathering (OFG) had a Team Swap: "Beat the Winter Blues" and I received mine from Bonnie of Occasional Gifts.  Here's a picture of what she sent me.

We were supposed to send a Snowman, fabric, something 'sweet' to eat and then something else that we chose to send. I LOVE these little Snowmen!

**********************

I've finished my Cardinals except for a little beaded eye.

 I'm putting them away until it gets closer to the Holidays as they'll be designed with floral twigs and greenery, and white lights. The pattern can be found at Old Road Primitives.

I've just finished 6 chocolate Bunnies. 

They need their bows but I'm sending some of these with some Easter grass, colored wooden eggs, and a carrot to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. I donate to their Bun Fest every year.

Last but not least, I purchased another cute pattern from Sweet Meadows.

I've cut out 6 and am now in the process of cutting and sewing them up. Hope to have some to show you next week. My 8 yo daughter wants one so she has to help me stuff them up. Love me some cheap labor!!

Best wishes to all in this cold weather. Looking forward to Summer so I can complain about the heat!

Stay Tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Baby, It's COLD Out There!

Oh, BRRRRRRRR, it's so cold here in Florida! How cold is it Vicky? 

"It's so cold that...Starbucks is serving coffee on a stick!"

  "It's so cold the lawyers have their hands in their OWN pockets!"

  "It's so cold that the snowman is begging to come in and get warm!"

  "It is so cold outside that I had to climb into a chest freezer to warm up!"

  It's so cold that, "my Snuggie needs a Snuggie!"

 "It's so cold outside the chickens are begging KFC to fry them up."

  "It is so cold that the smoke froze up in the chimney."

Well, I could go on but I know that many of you are COLDER than I am!

I had a really good friend come over yesterday to paint the day away with me! These are my favorite kind of days....filled with lots of hugs, love, and mega laughter! Everyone should have a friend that you can LOL with!

We made my new Love Bugs!

They are so fun to make! Wish I'd taken a photo of hers as they were SOOOOO much better than mine!

I've also been making more of these as they've been a good seller for me this year.

 I have an order to put in the mail on Tuesday along with another Garland of mine.

Can't wait to finish these and show you them all in their RED!

 They were supposed to be finished by Christmas but the Flu caught up with me and I went down like lead balloon :( The original pattern is from Kim over at ORP or Old Road Primitives.

Don't forget about my current Giveaway in the post below this one. You can also find it in the upper right of my side bar.

Stay healthy and 

Stay Tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

2014 VALENTINE'S GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Yep....it's time to think of pink and red and hearts.....at least my buyers are anyway! I've already sold a few of these so I thought I'd make some extras and start the year off right with a Giveaway!

Take your pick.....1, 2, or 3!

These are older pictures but these Garlands are still made the same way. I just add more fabric in between and the paper on the Decoupaged one differs a bit. They are about 36" long (I'll have to take some new pictures this year)!

Here's what you need to do to win one of these Garlands!

1. FOLLOW THIS BLOG!

2. Leave me a comment of which one of these Garlands you'd like to have (1, 2, or 3).

3. Like me on Facebook for an EXTRA chance! Already do, tell me in your comment!

This Giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

End FRIDAY Jan. 31st. Winner announced SATURDAY, Feb. 1.

Thanks for your support!

Stay Tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, my Blogging Friends!! Yes, it's taken me a few days to get that out.

Thank goodness for 2014 finding us on the mend. We have been some sick little puppies! Thank you for all of your well wishes! I've been resting and catching naps during the day. Laziness suits me just fine! I've piles of 'this and that' sitting in my laundry crafting room. Don't judge me!

These bins are full of half-finished items that I hope to have ready for my show this Fall. I have 7 months to worry over it.

I always donate to the Humane Society's 'Bun Fest' in Stuart, Florida on our Gold Coast so Bunnies are on my mind!

I figured this year I'll send some Chocolate rabbits/Carrots in baskets. Do you have a place where you donate once a year?

 Getting started on a few Nativities. I'll offer these this year in a set of 5 (manger included) with the option to add the other pieces (8). They take a while to paint. Not sure what to ask for the set. Hate to get too pricey as I know they won't sell but surely don't want to short-change myself. Any suggestions?

Making some of these now since I sold 2 sets today. 2014 started off right with me seeing sales on day one. Nice to see I'm getting noticed but don't want to generate too much work for myself (see my opening statement and the reference I made about laziness!).

Stay tuned as I've a Giveaway next week! 

My best to you as you get your 2014 started! It can only be as good as WE make it!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Back in the Blogging Lane!

Nothing like being shut down by technical devices that you have no control over. I'm not going to take you through my computer woes of the last few months.....just know I'm back!

Amy from BumbleBee Lane Cottage hosted a Christmas Swap and I received some wonderful Swap goodies from Sandi Allen of THE PRIMIVE SKATE. Here are a few pictures!

What's not to LOVE?!!! THANK YOU, Sandi! It's all just wonderful and smells soooo good! You can go over to Sandi's blog and see what I gave her, HERE!

We've been battling illness around here most of this month. Our 8 year old son has developed Cellulitis in his leg and we're dealing with that infection with recurring trips to the hospital and lots of antibiotic. Hubby and I still managed to put on a good Christmas despite all of the stress, however, a few things were placed aside such as cards, ornies, and the family letter. I figure I can send those off in another day or so.

I'm back up on my Etsy but will hold back new things for my show this year. I did make this guy for a gift though.

He's a pattern from Chestnut Junction. Can't wait to make more of these guys in various colors of reds and greens!

Here's hoping you and yours are having/had a wonderful Christmas and Happy Holidays all around! I'm enjoying all of my children (6 of them) for the next few days!

 Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

}}Hugs{{

Vicky