Quickie Winner and Piano Recital

Thanks to all who commented on my "sewing of the bunnies"....good times!

I did the Random.org and the two numbers were #1 and #7.

Karen of Buttons in the Attic

and

Kim of Valley Primitive Stitches

are the "lucky" winners of a "Painter who thought she could Sew" bunny magnets.

I will contact you and get those in the mail to you.

Thank you all who were so sweet with your comments.  I guess it is never to late to learn a new hobby but for me right now I will stick to painting.  Probably for a little while and then I will have a dream of fancy and pull out the sewing machine again thinking I bet I could do "this"!?!

We are off to a Piano Recital for my kids today.

My daughter is playing the "Piano Man" by Billy Joel

and my son is playing "Mission Impossible".

Enjoy your day!

Barb

I Really Need to Stick to Painting...

Through my church I was asked to teach 11 year old girls about preparing to became a young woman which includes crafts, learning about life, religion, and homemaking!?!  It was my turn to teach them this last week and I did not have a clue about what to do.  Easter seemed to come so early this year and I had planned on teaching them how to sew on buttons to a little magnet bunny craft project.

Out came the sewing machine, the iron and board, the swear jar…you are getting the picture thus far, right?

I have a cute little bunny pattern that I bought years ago and have used it before.

So how bad could it be to sew up a few little bunnies. NO WHITE THREAD!

 It would either be military (husband) green or scout (son) brown. So they got the brown because it was already loaded-is that the word?

Sewed a few up-much less language then usual! SHOCK!

But still I had to go to the fabric store. The helpful clerk asked if I was looking for “flats” when I said I needed a yard of material. “Flats”?  So I told her I did not speak "fabric". She showed me around and at this point I am trying not to have a panic attack. I don’t do well in places I am not familiar with or know what I am looking for and it was a sea of material….

“Deep breath, be one with the air” as my husband says, ringing in my head.

Poor clerk! She took me by the hand and helped me find some material, white thread and a few buttons.

OK, all is well.

Ended up teaching the girls how to thread a needle and sew on three buttons, put a face on the bunny and color the inside of the ears! YEA! Done!

Homemaking???   My only two talents are painting and eating!

Poor girls. Talk about being out of your comfort zone!

So now I am offering you a “quickie” giveaway to whom ever leaves a comment (good or bad). Hoping to give a good home to these poor little magnet bunnies.

I will try that Random.org drawing thingy again and pick two “lucky” winners on Saturday morning!

I have to go clean the house which will take me until Saturday due to all the dust from pulling up the tiles in the entrance and hallway. At least I do know how to dust!

Remember to sign up for my “real” giveaway!

Enjoy your day and hopefully this post has not tramatized everyone!

Barb

A Bit Late and a Bit Early

April has almost come and gone...where does the time go?  I had planned on celebrating an anniversary in April.  I have now been on the huge learning curve of Etsy for two years.  April 6th was my two year mark.  I think I have learned allot.

Then I noticed that I have been on blogger for two years come the end of June.  Well, thought I, lets combined the two and have a giveaway.

So my good blog friend Vicky said it was OK for me to use her idea and celebrate by listing a few things and having you pick a favorite.  These are some of my favorites!!

1) A set of Raggedy's.  The frame size on these are 10 x 11 and you would receive both.  This is a Susan Jill Hall pattern. 

2)  My try at sewing a bias around this fun bunny.  This hangs 23 inches not counting the ribbon and is 10 inches wide.  This is a Susan Jill Hall pattern.  Love the belly on this bunny!

3)  Love this basket full of posies.  The frame measures 12 x 12 and the flowers are painted on a wider weave of black screening.  Love this effect.  This is a Cheri Saffiote pattern.

4)  Hoppy Spring bunny face!  This frame measures 10 x 6 and is a Shara Reiner pattern.  I love the color purple! 

5)   My fun little bunny in a primitive frame.  This frame measures 14 x 8 1/2 and is a Frank Bielec design.

I really like the simplicity of this design!

6)    Love this Angel.  It is a Shara Reiner pattern and the frame measures 10 x 9.  What more could you want in life...an angel, some flowers, some cherries and a heart!

Here are the rules;

Be a follower of my blog and  new followers always welcome.

Would love for you to post to your side bar if you have a blog.
Would love for you to follow my Face book page (another huge learning curve for me).
Would love for you to follow me on Twitter.
Would love for you to follow me on the addictive Pinterest.
These links are all located on the left side bar.
Tell me which piece of art you enjoy the most and if you do not have a blog please leave me an e-mail address so I can contact you.
We will have Two winners!
You can leave all that you have done on one comment.
This drawing will take place on May 7th.

I hope you find something that you like and will leave me a comment!
Thanks for all your support over the last two years.  I so appreciate all of you!
Enjoy,
Barb

I was caught....

I was caught...

It was just a few minutes before the kids came home from school so I turned on the TV and was watching the "Penguins of Madagascar".  One of my guilt pleasures...when the door opened and there stood my husband!

"Is this how you spend your day?"

So I answered like Phineas of "Phineas and Ferb", my other guilty pleasure.

"Yes, Yes it is."

It is sad to say with 300 channels on our cable network these shows seem to be the ones that draw my attention.  Mindless FUN!!

No, I will still stop everything to watch "The Closer", "Criminal Minds", and "The Amazing Race".

My husband did not own a TV when I met him.  So I had to bring three to the marriage.  But since then I have noticed my TV time has diminished to just a few favorite shows.  My favorite are the first two listed above.  What does that say about me?

Do you have a favorite show?

Enjoy...your favorite show!

Barb

Shake Out and a Winner!

Today at 10:15 Utah will be having an Emergency Preparedness Drill for an Earthquake.  It will be interesting to see how prepared we are here.  I will have to call my block captain to let him know if I am alive or dead...I haven't decided yet what that will be.  Getting up at 4:30 am I am usually ready for a nap between the hours of 10-12.  The time I need to call.

 I am hoping they will be doing the drill at both the Elementary and Middle school since my kids are there and not at home.  I guess Hubby is on is own at work. 

Having been in a couple of big ones-Alaska and Nevada-I think this is a great idea!!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on the "quickie" giveaway-again thanks Carol for the name-I will be using from here on out when I do this!

I used that Random.Org Generator and got #9 but was not sure how to post the photo to my blog.  I think I did it backwards.  So we will have to try that again.

Betty of Primitive Cook Hugs is the winner.  Drop me a line at barbsheartstrokes@gmail.com with your address and I will get that in the mail to you.

Thank you all for the support and we will play again soon!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Recovery for some...

Spring shows like the weather are always an "iffy" thing.  This spring show was a bit slow for me.  If any one had a tax return they probably were like us and buying bigger maybe more useful items like tile for the floor or a new mattress!   So now for recovery...getting things back in order!

I had been thinking of having a clearance section in my shop on Etsy and after this show I decided to set one up.  Basically it is for me to clear out some room so that I can paint more things.  There are about a million patterns I have marked that I just "need" to paint!

If you are interested in looking at my clearance section click here.

If you are interested in looking at my destashing section click here .

 The PAFA team had an Easter swap and my partner Donna from the Countryside Cottage sent me these lovely gifts.  She had been sick and I hoped she would not worry about sending me anything but she did.  I am so happy!  Fabulous little bunny that will be sitting out until July for sure!  Be sure to check out her Etsy shop! You can find her blog here.

My friend Carol of the Firecracker Kid has a wonderful Etsy shop and a great blog.  She always has something interesting going on between the wood shop, the front walk, and her kitties!  It is always fun to visit.  She also does some random giveaways for the first few commenters on her blog.  This last one was for a really fun and unique cookie cutter.

So with that in mind I thought I would like to try giving some of my readers a chance at winning a little prize now and then.  This is a little flag I painted on a metal surface.  I think I found the surface at Hobby Lobby and of course brought it home.  It is 5inches long and 2 inches wide with a rusty hanger and three rusty bells tied to it with a bit of material.

If you are interested in this flag please leave a comment.  I will pick a winner out of the first 12 people that comment.

WOW!  I had allot of words in my mouth today.

Thank to all who commented on my Hubby and his knee.  He is upstairs as I type trying to get the tile in.  I do not think he knows the meaning of rest?!?! Recovery for him??

Enjoy,

Barb

Show set up and an injury

My poor hubby always willing to work hard and never complain...Sunday he was out checking on the garden and heard a pop. He came limping in and did not say a word to me. He was slightly gimping around and I did not think anything of it because I was so focused on my spring show. I thought he was feeling his age after he just tore up our entrance and  hallway floor to put down new tile. (We have talked about this for 6 years now.)

Finally I notice him limping and could hear the snap, crackle and pop every time he walked. He was not doing to well. The kids and I hauled all the grid and show stuff up the stairs and he directed packing it in to the van. Some how between the two of us we did get our 8x8 space set up in almost record time (2 hours 30 mins).  Good thing I am lifting 8 lb. weights at Jazz every morning!

 

We added some shelves with hooks and knobs he finally got a chance to make and some stacking boxes that were hits when we lived in Vegas.   Hope they sell here!

I will be working the show tomorrow and then take down is Saturday night.  Hopefully hubby will be feeling better but I think I see surgery in his horizon.

Hope not because he never sits still....sitting with him in a movie is like sitting by the most wiggly toddler ever only worse! A reason we (the kids and I) never take him to the movies!! 

Love you honey!!

Enjoy,

Barb

Hoppy Easter!!

Just hopping in to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

Enjoy your day!

Barb

Call Me Lucky!!

Do you all remember this FABUULOSU giveaway...well call me lucky because I WON!! 

Doris at The Craft Cabin Home was the designer and painter for this cutie.  I received it in the mail the day of all my tramatic clothes sewing and repairing. 

Made my day I have to tell you. 

 I tried to take pictures but they did not come out near as good as this one that was on her blog.  On top of  that it is so much sweeter in person!  So to avoid the "swear jar" I just had to use her photo.

Well I happen to be looking on the OFG site for some information and ran across this interview with Doris.  I wanted to share this with you and encourage you to go to her shop and also her blog where she shows some of her fabulous work!! 

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?

After having back surgery, I was unable to do shows for a year. I still had a wonderful following and got tired of digging through storage tubs for items they wanted to purchase. I also wanted to be able to display my wares all year long. Hence, the Craft Cabin was born. We had a custom made 12' x 12' building with log siding built and set up behind our house.

2. How long have you been on Etsy?

I joined in September of 09, but didn't get it up and running until December of 09.

3. What type of items do you offer?

A unique gathering of mostly handmade and hand painted home decor, featuring primitive, rustic, country, lodge, and much more!

4. How long have you been crafting?

Most of my life.

5. Who or What inspires you?

Junk! I love to re-purpose old stuff and turn it into something to be enjoyed.

I think if you can make "junk" look this good you are a wonderful artist.  Who would of thought that a softball could become such a cute lookin' bunny?

Check Doris out here:

www.thecraftcabin.blogspot.com 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCraftCabin

She has some fantastic creations!

Thanks for picking my name Doris!!

Barb

I can not put this off any longer....

I have to get out the sewing machine.....The pile of clothes that needs repair is huge and the "Boy Scout" needs his patches sewn on before tonight.  I would make him do it but he is 12 years old, and emotionally, if I have to help him do it that would send me to the asylum!

So I am in the process of delay.  I have sprayed all the framed art, getting it ready for the show, priced everything that I can think of, blogging, Facebook, Pinterest, doing the laundry....I might as well just bite the bullet and GET THE SEWING MACHINE OUT. 
I guess I could look at it this way...at least I do not have to hand sew it all and I do HAVE a machine!?!.
OK, wish me luck!
On a brighter note, I will be selling my artwork at this fun show in Ogden, Utah.

Click on the link above for more information and a chance to win $$!

Well, I guess it is time for the sewing machine and me to do battle.  I better do it now before the "ears" come home and the "swear jar" comes out.

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Meet a Wonderful Seamstress!!

I would like to introduce you to a very talented seamstress and artist.  You all know how much I admire people who can sew.  Deb is one of these people.  She owns "My Stitches To Treasures"

and has a talent for making wonderful creations!

She belongs to two teams on Etsy that I belong to the Old Farmhouse Gathering and the Primitive and Folk Artists.

1) Your first name and Name of your business and how you got your name?

My name is Deb and my business is My Stitches To Treasure. At the time I decided to start moving my hobbies forward to a business, I was sewing much more than crafts. I did things from wedding dresses, bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, and prom dresses as well as alterations and upholstery work (I even recovered the inside of a 2-seat airplane once). I wasn’t sure where I would end up, but I decided “My Stitches To Treasure” would cover whichever venue I pursued. Crafting was drawing me in and then the last fabric store in town closed, leaving Walmart as the only source of fabric within 200 miles… sort of made my decision for me!

2)How long have you been in business?

I started doing craft shows about 1996. In 1999 I applied for a tax license and come up with my current business name.

3)Who or what inspires you?

I love looking through magazines and going to craft shows to look for ideas. My customers also inspire me, they often ask for a custom item that triggers more ideas. And of course, the Internet is a never ending source of inspiration! However, the majority of my inspiration comes from all the fabulous pattern makers there are…I have 3 crates filled with patterns!

4)What is your creative style, primitive, country, folkart?

I need a book to define styles for me to probably answer that question. I don’t really have a single style…right now I am loving primitive style items, but I enjoy trying different styles and techniques.

5)What medium do you use in creating, clay, fabric, altered art, wood etc.?

My primary medium is fabric including warm and natural, chenille, fleece, plush felt, felt, homespun and cottons, terry cloth, and muslin to name a few. I also have many items with wood frames or bases so I use a lot more than a sewing machine during my days. I have a drill and several saws including a table saw, band saw and jigsaw.

My favorite item to make is snowmen-I have sewn hundreds of them over the years. I also make Santas, elves, reindeer, witches, angels, pumpkins, scarecrows, cats, elf shoes, ice skates, mice, bunnies, dolls, and more. I have items from 3 inches to 4 feet tall. Variety is my specialty!

I sell my items online through Etsy and local craft shows. I currently do 3 local craft shows in the fall and have inventory at a gift shop. I also have many loyal customers who stop by my house to shop.

6)What are your links (list your etsy shop, eBay, web site, blogs etc.)?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyStitchesToTreasure

http://mystitchestotreasure.blogspot.com/

Facebook.com/MyStitchesToTreasure

Deb is having  a one year Anniversary giveaway on her blog and this is the cutie that you can win.  Click on the lamb to take you to the page.

Visit her shop to see all the wonderful creations she has...it was hard to pick which of her creations to show you here on my blog!

Enjoy,

Barb