Winter Splendor

Hello Everyone!

           I haven't blogged in quite awhile because my childcare business has picked up and I just haven't had the time.  Fortunately today I have a few minutes to myself so I wanted to wish all my prim buddies a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

            We had a blizzard over the weekend and I took this pic right after the storm.  It's a view of my back yard at sunset.  I think the first big snow of the year is just so beautiful.  Enjoy!

Squirrels Have to Eat Too!!

Hello Everyone!

         Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  

         Today was pretty much just like very other weekday.  I was giving my daycare kids lunch and just puttering around the kitchen.  All of a sudden one of the kids is yelling and pointing to my kitchen window.  Low and behold there sat a squirrel on my birdfeeder helping himself to the sunflower seeds that were mixed in with the regular bird seed.  It amazes me how he got up there without falling.  It's probably about 5 feet from the feeder to the ground.  I, of course, hurried to grab my camera.  Luckily for me he stayed there long enough for me to snap this pic!  Enjoy!

Cat Napping

Just waiting for one more of my daycare kids to show up.  While I'm just sitting here I spotted Zion taking a quick cat nap.  He gets in the strangest positions but I just love him to death! 

My Primitive Home: Fall Contest Winner!

My Primitive Home: Fall Contest Winner!

Fall Contest Winner!

Hello everyone!

We have a winner in our "Fall" contest!  Gail Norton from Assonet, Mass submitted this "very" primitive "Fall" display.  I thought this was very original and creative!  Thanks for the entry Gail!

Here are pics of other entries we had

Denni Bowles Display

Kristal Norton's Display

Terri Liles Display

I wish to thank you ladies for your entries.  Check my website for more contests coming up for the holiday season!

    Blessings,

   Dianne

Snow Likes the Prim Chair!

Well as soon as I was finished with my prim chair my cat Snow got right up on it and made herself comfortable.  I don't think she could wait until I was finished.  She sat and watched me putting the seat on as if to say "hurry up and finish so I can check it out"!  LOL!  Here's a pic!

Prim Chair Finished!

Well I finished my prim chair on Sunday and I was very happy with the results.  It cost me $1.99 for a yard of material to finish it because I didn't quite have enough already on hand.  You can't really use small pieces of fabric because the strips have to be at least 24" long.  Anyway,  here is a pic of my finished prim chair!

Primitive Chair Makeover

Good morning everyone!

I haven't blogged in awhile so I thought I'd update everyone on what I've been doing.  I recently was given an old ladder back chair and decided to paint it and change the seat.  It was sitting outside and the seat was made from an old woven straw like material which basically fell apart in the rain, etc. 


So far I've painted in flat black and an now working on redoing the seat.  I cut a "ton" of 1" strips of material about 30" long and grouped them in sets of 9 strips.  I knotted one end of each group and then braided them.  I then started one one side of the chair and worked from side to side.  

I'm now working back to front and just weaving in the braided strips.  I'm using left over cotton fabric I had lying around so it didn't cost anything.  Here is a pic of what it looks like so far.

"Fall" Primitive Wall Display

I was trying to figure out what to put on my living room wall for a "Fall" display and here is what I came up with.  First I had these 2 shutters down in my basement.  They're the kind where you can change the insert panel in the middle.  I found some fabric downstairs that I thought would give them that primitive autumn touch.  I painted them flat black (they were originally white) and then hung them on either side of this old wooden window box I found at a yard sale.  I put my primitive pumpkin men inside with a pumpkin in the middle and hung an old sign (which I also found at a yardsale) on top.  A sprig of fall berries completed the display.  Here's a pic.

My Primitive Home: Fall Contest

My Primitive Home: Fall Contest

Fall Contest

Hello everyone!

            I've just decided to host a "Fall" contest.  All you need to do is send me a pic of your "original" fall display whether it be a wall display, centerpiece, art work, etc.  I'll be judging these October 1st and the winner will be receiving a "Halloween Rag Quilt" made by me!  Please send your photos to dianne2255@cox.net.  I'll be advertising the winner in my November newsletter.  Just a hint ----- the more "primitive" the better!  Here's a pic of the rag quilt that will be awarded.  Good Luck!

"Snow" Loves Prims Too!!

Hello everyone!  I was walking through my living room this morning and I saw my cat "Snow" curled up with one of my prim dolls.  I thought it was sooo cute I had to show you a pic!  It's so funny.  Actually, here are a couple of pics of her sitting with some prims.  Enjoy!

My Thimbleberries Quilt

I just finished making this "block of the month" quilt from Thimbleberries. The pattern is called "Safe Haven". I had it almost finished about 3 years ago and finally decided to complete it. It goes great with my newly decorated bedroom. I also made the pillow shams, square pillow and neck roll. Here's some pics I thought I'd share with all of you. Hope you like!

Finished!

Well the room is finally done! Curtains made, walls painted, floor done and prims hung on the walls. Hope you enjoy!

New Floor!

I just had my floor refinished and it looks beautiful!! They're white oak and they look brand new again! I think I'm just going to throw down a couple of area rugs, probably braided ones since I'm partial to braided rugs. Or I might even make a rag rug out of my left over fabric strips. This sounds even better because it won't cost me a dime! I'll probably be able to put the furniture back by the end of the week. We've had so much rain that it's taking longer than usual for the poly to dry. Here is a pic of the just finished floors.

Prim Bed Pillows

I made these 2 pillows from some left over material I had downstairs in my sewing room. I chose to do one side of each pillow in toile and the other side in a floral print and a homespun plaid. I just used fiberfill to stuff each one but you could use a pillow form. When I get tired of one side I just flip them over to get a whole new look! Don't you just love decorating?

Old Family Pics

I bought these frames at a local thrift store really cheap! I thought they went well with the wall color and trim. Here's some pics.

Some Primitive Essentials

Today I put up a few things in my room to give it a definite "primitive" feel. I hung an old framed mirror over my bed with some berry vines draped over the top. I put on a quilt I bought at a thrift shop for $5.00 and a throw pillow I made. And then I changed the picture in my clock and added a vintage pic to a cute frame I also found at a yard sale! Enjoy!

Primitive Curtains

I next put up curtains my friend Claire made for me. I moved the rods down just to the top of the window so you could see the nice contrast between the wall and the wood trim. I also brought them in on the sides so it would give the same effect.

New Switchplates

Today I decided to redo my switchplates. First I went downstairs into my sewing room to look for scraps of fabric to use. I bought the clear plastic switchplate covers and cut some material to fit inside. I think they came out really cute! Here's a pic of one I did.

My Dad

Here's a pic of my dad I decided to put in my primitive bedroom. The frame was a worn brassy color so I decided to go over it with some white paint and then take a little off with a cloth to give it that old worn look. Since the wall color is so dark I thought the lighter colored frame would stand out more. My grandmother had this done in l924.

"Betsy Ross House" Brown

Well I finished painting the room and hanging curtains. The curtains were made by my friend Claire. I purposely lowered them on the window so you could see the beautiful woodwork around the window. The sharp contrast between the trim and wall color is beautiful. Next I'll be changing all my wall switches and plugs! Very easy to do!

Getting Started

Well here is goes! I started priming my walls last Saturday. I first taped everything off and "cut in" all around the doors, windows, etc. When cutting in around the baseboards I put painters tape along the top of the baseboards all the way around. This is so much easier than trying to do it without tape. I also removed all of my switchplates because I will be replacing them with new ones. Here are a few pics of what I've done so far.