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

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

"A" is for Amethyst...

'"A" is for Amethyst' by barbsheartstrokes

Love all shades of Amethyst. Primitive and Folk Art TeamTreasury

Infinity Scarf - Loop Scarf ... tinsandtreasur... $18.00	Golden Angel Nestled in Lave... WildMountainWr... $43.00
Iris Original Oil Painting, ... apieceofparadi... $115.00	Purple butterfly purse jewe... Ishymom $14.90
Purple Tulips II. - (Oil pai... HazyAfternoon $79.00	Orchid Bead Bracelet of Purp... sedgeworks $27.00
Miniture Quilt - Snail Trail... QuiltAples $35.00	Marbled Ornament OOAK Set of... charlottesatti... $20.00
Easter Basket Spring Purple ... PaintspotsnSpl... $12.95	7 Wool Felted Acorns in a Be... Stitchcrafts $14.00
Six Purple Lavender Plum Dis... ALovelyTimeAgo $44.50	Stained Mason Jars in Blue V... willowfairedec... $21.00
Nobody gets in to see the wi... HeritagePrimit... $11.95	Purple Flowers for Spring, S... NewLeafPics $20.00
Hot Air Balloon Die Cut Conf... WhimseyDimples $2.00	Deep Purple Plum Silk Bow Cl... LeelaPurse $65.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Meet a Multi-Talented Artist!

Meet a very multi-talented Artist Donna of Countryside Cottage.  She has her hands into everything and it all looks so great!  She can do it with paint, fabric, floral...everything!!  Her talent amazes me.  so meet Donna!

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

Hi! I am Donna and Owner of Countryside Cottage. We live on a dead end road in the country, and out any window you see the countryside and I dream of having a little cottage out here to be my studio some day. So thus the name Countryside Cottage, it seemed to work!

2)How long have you been in business?

I have been in the craft business for 18 years. Been on Etsy since August 2010. Really got more serious with painting, the last couple years.

3)Who or what inspires you?

I'm inspired by the outdoors, other artist, books, craft magazines and spending way to much time in

Jo-Anns and Michaels.

4)What is your creative style, primitive, country, folk art?

My style I would have to say all the above, but as I evolve more as an artist myself, I am turning more to the primitive and folk art styles. I love the time worn look of the primitive style

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

I have used a variety of mediums such as fabric, acrylic paints, upcycled items.

6)What are your links?

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

http://countrysidecottage-donna.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/ctrysidecottage

http://www.facebook.com/ctrysidecottage

 

Please visit Donna and find out for yourself how endless her talent is!

Enjoy,

Barb

PAFA Winners Announced!!

Head on over to the PAFA Blog and see if you are one of the 33 lucky winners from the Spring Forward Giveaway!!  Hopefully you are on that list!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Meet the Firecracker Kid!!

 

Meet one of my favorite people in blog land!  The Firecracker Kid (aka Carol)!

Her and her husband Tim do some of the most fabulous wood working that I have ever seen!

And they are the nicest people you could ever hope to met.  One day when we go back to Michigan I am hoping to take a drive to Ohio to visit them!!

So with out further ado please meet Carol and Tim!

1. Name of your business and how you got your name?

Hi ya folks! My name is Carol and I'm the Firecracker Kid of Firecracker Kid Primitives. Yep, you guessed it, I was born on the fourth of July and that's where our business name hails from! Married to my soul mate, Tim, for 33 years and counting. We produced two wonderful children. We love the Lord, our family, which includes all of our rescued kitty kats, and our humble abode built by Tim.

2. How long have you been in business?

We've been on Etsy since March 30, 2008, but have been making primitive country woodcrafts for over 25 years.  

 

 3. Who or what inspires you?

Some of my inspiration comes from the woodenware and furnitures of the olden days. Also, I inspire myself and try to create unique woodcrafts like our one of a kind rolling pin keeps, rolling pin/dough bowl keep, rolling pin/dough bowl/cubby keep and so on and so on. Oh, and the good Lord gives me inspiration. Plus the need to pay the mortgage.  

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

 Mostly country style I would say. Tim makes all of our woodcrafts without patterns, which makes them one of a kinds in a way, and puts his touch or signature, so to speak, to each of them. Occasionally I'll even try my hand at Folk Art, now Tim... no way! No Folk Art for you!

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

 We use mostly wood and paints to make our one of a kind wood crafts, in different styles like primitive, country, shabby and cottage. We do our best to show that great attention is given to quality and detail of our woodcrafts, all handmade in our wood shop by our hands for good folk's homes. I also dabble in fabrics and altered art when the mood strikes me. I try, I really do.

 6. What are your links?

http://www.firecrackerkid.etsy.com/

 http://firecrackerkid.blogspot.com/

 http://fpwoodcrafts.blogspot.com/

 http://woodshopshanty.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1817572815&ref=tn_tnmn

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Firecrackerkid-Primitives/106316589410283

Thanks for stopping by and go see all that Tim and Carol have to offer!

Enjoy,

Barb

PAFA Celebration Still "HOPPING" Along

Check out all the fun bunnies in this fabulous treasury!



'Hippity Hoppity Easter's On Its Way!' by bszejk

PAFA Celebrates the Easter Bunny

Primitive Rabbit, Primitive ... RavenwoodWhimz... $32.00	Primitive Bunny - Burlap Rab... KeepsakeDesign... $9.50
Primitive Rabbit Make Do - P... cavecreekprimi... $14.50	Bunny Love Spring Easter Gat... OldeAnniePrimi... $19.95
Peter Rabbit SFPAFA YorkiesPrimiti... $20.00	Primitive Rabbit Hanna Hare ... PrimitiveHart $24.99
Prim Bunny for Spring or Eas... MyStitchesToTr... $22.50	Bunny Rabbit Cutter Quilt Bo... PaxtonValleyFo... $15.00
Shabby Primitive Rabbit RustyThimble $18.99	SFPAFA Primitive Blank Bunny... stitchintimepa... $6.95
Bunny Pinkeep Prim Easter Sp... WhimseyDimples $19.77	Prim Bunny Ornies SFPAFA ninnasattic $3.75
Primitive Hopping Bunny East... OldeAnniePrimi... $14.95	Surprise Bunny coming out of... barbsheartstro... $14.00
SFPAFA Bunny with Large Fabr... mayberryprim $15.99	Primitive Rabbit TheBarnHollow $24.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Enjoy, Barb