Happy Valley Primitives

Light As A Feather...Klunk!

2012-01-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy week, but I think we're just about back to normal...only about 6 inches left after a whirlwind of snow. We had a few visitors that I've not seen before this time, so I thought I'd share with you.

These are puffed up varied thrush so I'm told. Very striking birds, especially with the white backdrop. They feasted for days on my purple beauty berry bush. More birds followed their lead soon after. My feeders were plenty active too with the usual chickadees, marlots and other varieties of beautiful songbirds. The birds were the only sound as the snow muffled out all distant noise.

Seeing his next meal at this bush was my unexpected visitor. He greatly misjudged the flight path and slammed into my dining room window so hard that I thought it broke. As we watched him in the snow, his head was actively moving, but he appeared to either not be able to move or was stuck in the deep snow.

So, I ventured out with really heavy gloves on, in case he needed some help. Well, once I got within 2 feet of him, he lunged out of the snow and landed against the house. I managed to get a few shots of him looking me over. After a little research, I believe that this is a Coopers Hawk.

After just a few minutes to shake off the cobwebs, he flew towards me and then off high into a fir tree. Whoosh! I fell back into the snow and just marveled at how he began his wobbly flight and then soared away. So magnificent to see one of these birds and also to know that he's okay after having his world turned upside down. Wonder if he'll think twice before attempting to secure his next meal near our house?

Well, back to creating, now that school is open for Nic, and the house is once again lacking the turnstyle of kids through the front door. I'm working on a few more patterns and projects and will share those soon! Have a wonderful day!

Celebrate in a Heartfelt Way

2012-01-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

Without sounding too gushy, I just love Valentine's Day! It's that expression of love that my sweet hubby has down pat...for 25 straight years now! Nothing like that special feeling from someone you care about so much.

So I had some fun creating a few hearts for this celebration with the OFG Team. Hope you'll check out this beautiful collection (www.etsy.com type: stlc in your search bar), as there are a lot of new artists participating and nearly 90 heartfelt items.

'Cuz, after all, Love Dwells Here...especially at this time of year!

All "Fire'd" Up in Wool...My Textured Kindle Keeper

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my stop for the Nancy Zieman Tablet Keeper blog tour! I'm so honored to be a part of this exciting opportunity to show different techniques and styles for the Clover Trace 'n Create Templates.

My creation was constructed entirely from wool fabrics with a hand needle felting design on the cover, and I couldn't resist some bead bling sprinkled in. Using wool does give the overall piece a bit more bulk; however it also provides a little added protection for my Kindle Fire.

I began by creating a paper pattern of a randomly flowing floral and vine design. The template helped me to determine placement of those areas that I wanted to really show off without being obscured by the strap. After cutting out the pattern, the design was chalked onto the black wool base.

I needle felted the design, blending the tones to achieve gradual shading. Then it was time to sew on lots of colorful seed beads to the larger flower centers and finally finish the cover with some beautiful square black beads scattered about. Even though this step took some time, the result was just what I was looking to achieve.

The interior was created with scraps of hand dyed wool fabrics fused to the interfacing in a crazy patch style, and then I feather stitched the edges with heavy black thread (perle #3) for more impact. Once the fusible interfacing is applied to the cover and lining, the wool fabric won't stretch out of shape, making it just as easy to work with as cotton for this project. Using wool fabric inside also helps to wick away dust from the e-reader...another plus!

The wool strap was embellished with purple eyelash yarn and matching beads. I used the perforation markings from the Clover Create a Strap to keep my yarn's spacing even without even having to get out my tape measure!

The binding was also done with wool, although I did cut it at only 2" wide and sewed it as a single fold binding to further keep the bulk down.

And one last tip...To make the Kindle Fire fit a little better, I moved the elastic in further, just past the template's markings. This proved to be an easier work around, rather than altering the keeper's overall size. I'm very pleased with the end result!

There are limitless ways to personalize these...think about the timeless beauty of hand embroidery and applique on wool as other ideas if you're not a needle felter. As you can see, quilter's cotton doesn't have to be your only fabric choice...be creative and it will turn out beautiful!

Thank you for stopping by today to see my creation! For more ideas and inspiration, I invite you to become a follower of my blog. A big Thank You to Clover for providing the templates, shapers and hardware to construct this project! And don't forget to enter HERE for Nancy's drawing to win these great products from Clover:

Creative Evolution

2012-01-11T10:39:00.000-08:00

A creative soul can find all sorts of ways to express their artistic style, and every year I find that there are more and more techniques out there to learn. I grew up in the era of construction paper, glue and sequins...then there was the phase of tri-chem paints, stamped cross stitching, and felt applique. Today, there is an amazing array of mixed media outlets to learn incredible new ways with paper clay, creating your own fabric designs, and who would have thought that bottle caps and Scrabble tiles could be so beautiful. And since the ideas keep coming, the wheels of creativity will never end!

Lately, I'll confess to being hooked to the how-to videos from Joggles.com. I began to watch these weekly tutorials, each describing a technique or product I was unfamiliar with. Lots of tedious detail, and I find that to be helpful in determining my interest. This week, the focus was in creating bead edging and fringe. Beautiful in design, the hand beading is so exquisite...just look at this purse by Barbara of Joggles. Wow... Now I'm inspired to add a beaded edge to one of my next table mats!

As far as creating my own fringe, well, I'm still set on buying that by the yard for my scarf embellishments as I've found some of the most gorgeous trims over the years for my scarves. This one is my favorite right now, hanging nearly 4" long...it's really show-stopping.

However, I am intrigued by creating my own beaded fringe on an elaborate purse like this one someday...as soon as I can figure out a good staging method for those teeny tiny beads. 'Cuz, with kids and a dog, sigh...can you see the bead showers in my forecast?

A Patriotic Pattern Release!

2012-01-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

What was once considered a distant dream is quickly becoming a very enjoyable reality! I've been busy writing, editing and brainstorming creative patterns and have just released my latest...a needle felted star over a whimsical flag on this cute (and easy to sew) lined tote bag!

This idea began as a commissioned project, and swiftly became one of my daughter's favorite pieces, so I created one for her too. These are so easy to make up; I could see creating a different embellished bag for just about any occasion! And because the outer shell is made in wool felt, this project is very affordable and has a minimal supply list to complete. It combines easy sewing construction with one of my favorite creative expressions...needle felting!

Never being one to stay only in one artistic venue, I have another epattern about ready to release (a very quick and simple sewing project), and several more in the works, so I hope you'll check back for more inspiration soon!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year filled with good health and happy memories in the making! My family and I are hosting some very special friends for an evening of laughter and laid back fun. Hopefully we'll all make it to midnight...

The OFG Team's January White Sale is about to begin! If you're looking for beautiful primitive items to grace your home, this is your chance to grab them at a discount. I have several items marked down, and will be adding more for this once a year event!

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

Memories of childhood dreams and anticipation of that big day...this is a picture of me with my brothers taken about 40 (gulp!) years ago. Mom stitched up matching jammies, and I remember how excited we all were. Brother Matt with his ear to ear smile and stylish crew cut, and little Jeff (the judge) as he embraced the world with those monster sized cheeks, and me with my long braids. Hope you have a holiday season filled with great memories!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Last Minute Fabric Wrapping Fun

2011-12-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

This year I've found myself with some pretty sizable boxes to wrap up for Christmas gifts. The thought of using nearly a whole roll of wrapping paper for one gift has my thrifty side cringing. I haven't had to restock my wrapping paper supply in a while, and don't relish the idea of heading back to the stores this late in the game. So I find myself happily sorting through my largest stash of fabric to put it to good use! Just a yard or two of beautiful inexpensive fabric will yield many opportunities to be used, and then there's the gift of that fabric for any of your sewing friends too!

If you're wrapping a gift with a piece of fabric, you can certainly wrap it just like any other paper wrapped gift, but you will incur some bulk around the folded ends and corners. For me, that added to the charm of my daughter trying to guess what in the world it could be! I used safety pins to secure the seams and ends and lots of beautiful wide ribbon for a bow (again, from my stash). The fun part for me was waiting a few days before putting a name tag on the boxes...keeps 'em guessing.

Now originally, I wanted to gather a huge piece of fabric to the middle of the box with a rubber band and create a center pouf, but even my largest chunk of red fabric couldn't match up with these two humongous boxes. I don't think these are too bad though, and the great thing is that my garbage bin won't have much in there this year. What wasn't wrapped in fabric was placed in fabric gift bags and reusable decorated boxes!

There are a lot of great websites for tips and techniques on wrapping gifts with fabric. I found this beautiful collection of photos of packages with much more style than mine offer: https://www.google.com/search?q=fabric+package+wrapping&hl=en&rlz=1C1TSNO_enUS461US461&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=CEfyTpiHC-bc2QXp4ISDAg&ved=0CJgBELAE&biw=1600&bih=775. But heck, these are for a 10 year old who really doesn't care about anything other than what's inside those bright red boxes!

Have a great day! Ilene

Sew...you need some inspiration?

2011-12-01T11:55:00.001-08:00

It's the beginning of the countdown to the 25 days of Christmas! Are you ready? Have you finished up all of those projects in your head for gift giving this season? Whew, I'm not even close! But I did find some new (to me anyway!) websites and blogs that have great quick sewing projects and tutorials for those extra special handmade gifts. Come take a look at these cool sites:

http://erinerickson.com/ Has great tutorials for little bags and pouches as well as awesome advice on taking great pictures...check out her VERY cute dog in a bag!

http://pinkeeps.blogspot.com/ I've admired this blog for a while, as she has great tips and tutorials. Check out her latest...a thimble keeper! Great idea, as those little guys get lost so fast in my sewing room!

http://www.craftpassion.com/ Another favorite...check out her tutorial in July, 2011 for a very unique coin purse. I need to try this one and use up some scraps

Now, I hope that you won't stray to far from me, as I'll soon have another tutorial for you! I've been invited to join the Nancy Zieman Tablet Blog Tour in January! I'll have my own rendition of these new tablet keepers for you to see and make. However, if you can't wait and want to make your own now...check out this great tutorial from Clover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhYVERqxYpQ

Sew...are you inspired yet???

A Token of Thanks...for YOU!

2011-11-24T02:26:00.000-08:00

The turkey is roasting, the gingerbread cookies are fast disappearing, and my sweet family sings in the spirit of the season...I have so much to be thankful for.

Oh baby, it's cold outside!

2011-11-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Brrr...the thermometer reads 23 degrees on this chilly Sunday morning! Frost has saturated the grass; the roads are a bit tricky, and so my Prius will stay warm nestled in the garage...at least for the day! So, that must mean that it's time to pull out the winter wardrobe and grab that toasty scarf to snuggle in. Did you know that Happy Valley Primitives also carries a line of luxuriously soft scarves with the most elegant beaded fringe out there? I have a small sampling listed in my Etsy shop now with FREE US shipping for a limited time, so if you're in need of a new fresh look, with a little bling...come check me out!

Walking through a Winter Wonderland!

2011-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

Songs of the season have been dancing through my head! Walk through your winter wonderland with the incredibly talented primitive artists of PAFA! The celebration is on...now through December 9th! Type PAFAWW on Etsy.com to see all of the wonderful offerings!

Tagging away!

2011-11-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that in only two weeks, the Christmas season will be in full swing. Wow! Where did the time go? Just after Thanksgiving marks the opening of one of the biggest holiday draws here in the northwest corner of Washington...The Lights of Christmas (http://www.warmbeach.com/lights-of-christmas.html)! This spectacular event draws over 50,000 people and boasts over a million twinkling lights on display, along with festivities, theatre, food, and of course, several gift shops! Once again, I will have a table full of creations for sale there. So, while nearly all of my projects are ready, I have taken it upon myself to create new pricing tags this year. I just love to showcase a beautiful piece of art in my price tags; however, I also want to personalize them. And, since I'm, ahem...thrifty, I've researched on the net to find printable tags at little or no cost. There is a large assortment out there! A couple of my favorite sites are: http://alenkasprintables.com/free_printables.shtml; http://www.instantprintables.com/; and http://www.senecapondcrafts.com/store/. Check out these awesome sites for free to low cost printable tags, ornaments, and so much more!

Welcome to the first ORP Christmas Craft Fair Shop Hop!

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

It's here! It's here! The ORP Christmas Craft Show Shop Hop has begun! All of those one of a kind handmade holiday items are now showcased in the participating shops. Will you find that treasure that you've been hunting for? Happy Valley Primitives is very honored to be a part of this celebration, and I have several wonderfully cute primitive decor items for your consideration to the right of this blog post. Find Santa, his reindeer, THE "elf" penquin, Bling, Raggedy Annie, Mice and Snowmen galore to celebrate the season! I even have a few newly released epatterns if you'd like to make your own creations! Best of all, all of my items include US shipping AND they are priced at special "Shop Hop" savings!

Most of all, I hope that you enjoy discovering these truely talented artisans as you travel through their blogs. I'm amazed at all of the beautiful creations! Have fun shop hopping!

Another Great Giveaway from OFG!

2011-10-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy has put together another great giveaway that you can win! Check out this treasury full of items to trim up your tree in style, and be sure to leave a comment to enter! Good luck!!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTYwOTAxN3w5ODMwMzIxODU/win-half-this-treasury-trim-your-tree?ref=pr_treasury

Etsy Scavenger Hunt

2011-10-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

Ready for some fun? A team of Etsy sellers have put together an awesome scavenger hunt within their individual shops. Check out this blog for more information: http://etsyscavengerhunt.blogspot.com/. Happy Valley Primitives is participating too, and the hunt starts November 1, so get ready to scour through lots of very nice shops to find the all important scavenger hunt photo, and while you're looking, maybe you'll find something wonderful for someone on your gift list!

Fall Fun for that Necessary Room

2011-09-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

The rain is here, so it must be time to decorate for fall! Well, summer was short-lived here in the Northwest, and now we're on to autumn...my favorite time of year! Here's a quick little decorating idea for that special place we all have...the necessary room!

How many times have you been the lucky one to find that the roll of T.P. is empty? Well, try this out, and only you will know where it's hidden!

You will need: one roll of T.P. (toilet paper), a fat quarter of orange fabric, a fat 1/8th of green fabric, a 10x10 scrap of gold tulle. Lay out the fat quarter, wrong side up, and place the T.P. in the center. Start on one side and begin tucking the raw edges of the fabric into the center of the T.P. roll until the entire piece of orange fabric surrounds the T.P. Tuck the center part only of the gold tulle into the center of the T.P. Fold and roll up the green fabric to about 4" tall tight roll. Push the cut edge of the fat 1/8th into the center of the T.P., making sure to not push through all of the tulle. There, now you have a cute pumpkin for your bathroom decor that, in a pinch, is ready for those 'necessary' moments!

Jump into Winter with this new Celebration!

2011-09-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

SPLAT! Ready for a snowball fight? Today begins a new OFG Team Celebration for all things Winter! It's not too soon to think about something new for your home decor as the weather begins to cool down. Type WWHOFG in your search on www.etsy.com and find over 100 brand new items! Since snowmen are one of my favorite decorating items, I've been busy drooling over so many unique finds here...hope you'll check out!

Harvest?...sigh...

2011-09-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

There's a scene in "Finding Nemo" that keeps running through my head these days. It's the part where Nemo is encouraging the Tuna, who are about to be captured and reeled up in a gigantic net by a fishing boat to keep swimming down, in an effort to break the mast holding the net and setting them all free. "Keep swimming...keep swimming..." they all chant together.

I feel the need to chant to the sun as we venture towards fall to "keep shining...keep shining!" since our 'better late than never' garden is making so much effort to produce in the short time we have left. We have plenty of zucchini, cabbage, onions and potatoes, but the tomatoes are just stuck...green as grass. And I so desperately want to get some canned and oven dried this season!

If you have never oven dried tomatoes, it is very easy. To prepare the tomatoes, wash and dry. Use tomatoes that are relatively the same size. For smaller sizes, cut in half (like small romas or even cherry); larger sizes can be quartered, but will take longer. Place, cut side up, on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle tops with italian seasoning and a bit of kosher sea salt. Place in oven at 200-250 degrees for several hours, checking about every hour for doneness. Tomatoes are dried when gently pressed and no juices appear (they should still be pliable). Place in airtight container and refrigerate (or freeze). These are amazingly awesome on pizzas, italian dishes, salads, or just snacking (my daughter loves them after school). They have a very concentrated, intense flavor when dried. Hope you'll give it a try...and hopefully, that will be what I am doing soon too!

Strolling through the pumpkin patch with PAFA!

2011-08-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to participate in my first celebration as a team member of PAFA! These talented artisans have put together a colossal sized promotion of autumn inspired items! Check out this link for all of great finds: http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=sttpp. Here at Happy Valley, I have several new table mats, an incredible needle felted wall hanging, lots of great prim dolls and more!

But wait, that's not all!!! Enter for your chance to win some wonderful creations by several members of this team! Check out the PAFA blog at: http://primitiveandfolkartists.blogspot.com/2011/08/strolling-through-pumpkin-patch.html to enter!

Win this Treasury full of Handcrafted Items!

2011-08-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

Win this treasury!!! Stop by and leave a comment for your chance to win this great Thanksgiving treasury by some of my friends at the Old Farmhouse Gathering team! One winner will be chosen amongst all who leave a comment, so be sure to enter!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjIxMTI3NHw1NzMxNzA3Nzc/win-this-treasuryturkey-trot-with-the

24 years and counting!

2011-07-12T05:52:00.000-07:00

Today marks a wonderful memory...24 years of marriage with my husband, Matt! Of course, it seems like many more, since we dated for over 4 years first. But I feel like it is so incredible in this day to be able to commit to one another for so long, through good times and bad, and still share such an amazing love for one another. It's sad, but I sometimes feel like some couples could benefit more by what Matt and I share, the ability to communicate and support one another so well.

And so, I am remembering that special day with this bouquet of flowers table mat that I created. The center area is hand needle felted and includes a variety of color tones for the flowers, with pink as the base. The leaves feature four different green shades which details the shading, veins and subtle effects of leaves, just like in nature. The inside of the scallops each have a pearl flower button with a teeny pastel pink button on top. The whole piece was blanket stitched to a wool backing with a pink crochet thread. It's a beautiful piece that only took a couple of hours to design and make. Making these types of table mats is really fun and easy to accomplish. Just keep in mind the delicate beauty of a flower in bloom and watch it grow from there!

Hope you have a very enjoyable day!

Whaahoo! The worse day fishing is better than any day washing dishes.

2011-06-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

We're back from a fun week of vacationing in Oregon! After several days visiting with family, we ventured over to Diamond Lake, a favorite fishing spot from my hubby's childhood. Snow still packed in the banks, we were just sure that the mosquitos wouldn't be out this early in the year, but, alas, there were there to greet us in massive form. Now I know what a swarm of these little buggers is, as they lurk above in formation with the wind casting their carnivorous shadows, and timing the dive to exposed skin just right. Itch, itch...

Thank goodness for Nic, who blessed us with her plump 17" trout for dinner one night, and as I'm told, a hearty "whaahoo" shout out once she knew this beauty was on her line. Cuz, if we were to rely on Matt to catch dinner, well, that tiny minnow would've surely left us with noisy tummies. Overall, they caught several and I happily snapped up pictures from shore, that is, while spraying repellant. I multi task well when necessary.

And, yep, our new "boat", an inflatable giant at 10.5' long really did well. We took some razzing, cause those die hard fishing dudes just couldn't take that little boat seriously, but it's kinda funny how we had the stringer of fish to prove that size just doesn't matter!

I didn't get too much stitchin' accomplished, as it appears that dish duty only fell to those who stay landlocked. It was so worth it though, to see many beautiful memories created between a father and his daughter and a new vessel, christened the S.S. Tolly. May she have many more watery adventures ahead!

A new chapter at Happy Valley...My designs published!

2011-06-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that I have been asked to design needle felting projects for Clover Needlecraft, Inc.!!! The past few days have been very busy, as I have just completed several designs for Clover's project sheets. It's an awesome opportunity to publish some of my work with a wonderful company. Ahhh, yes, and on top of all that, I was provided with an ample supply of Clover's outstanding felting tools and roving to work with. I'm like a kid in a candy store! To think, before working with Clover, I did all of my needle felting projects with a single non replacable barbed needle! Clover's tools utilize several needles, or you can use just one if you like...the point is, there are options. This was also my first experience working with Clover's felting brush pad, which, again was SO much better than my foam cushion (the needles don't get stuck in the felting pad!).

So if you haven't tried needle felting, I encourage you to give it a go. The few tools needed to get started aren't very expensive; it's a very portable craft, and the design ideas are really limitless. See a flower and you can re-create it's beauty. That's what I did in this pink hydrangea.

Stay tuned here, and I'll announce when my projects, complete with how-to instructions, are available at your local craft stores and to download online. And, let me know what magical creation you make...I'd love to see it!

Flag Day Challenge Fun

2011-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for a challenge, and my friends at the Old Farmhouse Gathering have put together a wonderfully fun little competition for Flag Day! Many artisans have put together a patriotic display for you to vote on! Go to: http://www.etsy.com/, type in FDOFG and see all of these creations. Click on the button to the right of this post to be taken to the OFG blog, where you can cast a vote for your favorite. Be sure to follow the directions and enter your email address, as you could win a prize just for voting!

Of course, Happy Valley Primitives was up for this challenge...here's a peek at my entry, a large wool table runner depicting a proud flag as the foundation for our beautiful country:

Voting starts June 4th, so be sure to cast one for your favorite! Happy Flag Day!

Can this seamstress be saved?

2011-04-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

I confess...I'm not a garment maker. I can easily whip out a doll and even crank out her clothes with no problem, but when it comes to fitting a real live person, I am sewing challenged. Yesterday, I seemed to forget all that, and found a beautiful piece of fabric to make myself a top...no sleeves, and yes, with a pattern marked with the word EASY in large caps. A nice fitted dart in the front, and flare out around my, ahem, mid section...so it didn't seem like rocket science. It's only 2 pieces plus the facing fabric; however, it still posed a great challenge to match the facing to the tunic pieces without them both not meeting up. How is it that you can cut up two identical pieces, not on the bias, and one ends up an inch longer??? And now it has a gap in the back neck area, cuz I made it a size larger so that it would fit my mid section. Not sure how to work with that other than to grow my hair real long.

Hubby, in his ever reassuring splendor, commented that "at least you didn't try doing sleeves again." Ahhh, bless him. He just had to bring up that knitted sweater I made him many years ago. Hmm, maybe his right arm has grown longer since then, what with all the reaching he has to do while falling out of chairs laughing at my garment construction...

So, when will I learn? I suppose never. I really want to create beautiful things to wear, so I'll probably keep trying. But the real truth is that the garment sewing trophy goes to my mom. She has a knack for fitting a piece perfectly to the individual. I should know, as my bridesmaids were just stunning! Wonder if she'd give this old gal another lesson?

Today's story is for the birds

2011-04-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

So here we are, finally enjoying the beautiful flowers of spring, along with warmer temps and a whole lot of better attitudes from the people who are so dreary during the winter season. A new beginning for many little critters out there, gathering twigs and building nests, singing all the while. It's no different here at Happy Valley, where, as I sit, I can hear the songs of the chickadees at my bird feeder, so delicate and happy.

However, some are not content with just song and play...they are attempting to become just a bit too 'friendly'. A very territorial robin is attempting to conquer my west facing windows. The reflection is too powerful to resist plowing into, over and over and over again. This is an annual thing, and we've tried masking the window, hanging predator looking critters and the like to no avail. I just hope he gets his nest made soon and moves on his way. Last spring, I had a little guy pounding that window until early summer, as his first nest was destroyed by a wind storm. They are very persistent.

And this morning I am also greeted by the rat-tat-tat of a northern flicker woodpecker on the roof. Yikes! It sounds like a mini jackhammer creating a remodeling option up there. Oh, please! We have no more room at this inn...move on! Ahhh...some peace at last. A quiet moment now. Time to sew! May you have a wonderfully pleasant and creative day in your 'nest'.

My annual weekend creative blitz!

2011-03-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday to you! Today, I awoke feeling refreshed and recharged, after a 3 day weekend retreat as my family left for Oregon. It's an annual trip that my hubby and daughter make together, allowing them some wonderful time to bond, and me some well loved quiet time to create!

This weekend my main project was to re-do the room divider "curtains" that I made several years ago...back when southwest country style was popular...wow, that was a while back! This oak divider was made by my hubby, and it was designed originally to mimick the curves of our dresser mirror. I have rarely kept it in our master bedroom, as it works better in the front room (or in this case, the entry) to divide up the open areas of the home. The fabric was a wonderful thrift store find of home dec weight toile (4 yards/$4!).

The little desk/chair combo was a discard from my hubby's great aunt, and we've kept it for over 10 years, intending to restore it. I wish I would have taken a before shot, as it was a dark walnut stain, and completely falling apart. The chair was entirely detached and the curved part of the desk was warping outward. We believe that this piece is from the 40's or 50's and was perhaps a telephone stand? It also resembles a old fashioned child's desk, as the seat isn't very large (I can fit in it, but wouldn't want to sit there often). Hubby completely stripped this piece and restored it to a beautiful light cherry stain color. Next up was the chair pad, which I made this weekend. I first spray glued a thick foam pad, and then covered with a sturdy cotton fabric which was stapled on. Next I made this hand needle felted floral design on black wool and made it into a slipcover for the pad, complete with zipper. That way if I want to change it out, I can.

Needless to say, hubby was both surprised and happy to see me finally complete these projects. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with them too...and feeling pretty lucky that I have such a talented woodworker just a kiss away. Have a wonderful day!

Bring on Spring...OFG Celebration Style!

2011-03-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

It's nearly time for a spectacular OFG Spring and Easter Celebration! I've been busy putting together several new creations to debut on Friday, March 11 for this wonderful attraction. Here's a sneak peak at what you will find at Happy Valley Primitives. To see all of the great celebration items, go to Etsy.com, and type SECOFG in the search button. Celebration dates are March 11-25!

One last winter blast?

2011-03-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

This winter's weather has been generally pretty mild here in NW Washington; however, last week provided an extra winter break for the kids from school and dumped an unusual amount of snow north of Seattle. The major interstate had to close for several hours one night as too many folks were abandoning cars in the quick flurry that dumped 24 inches just north of where we live in just a few hours. We didn't get quite that much, but we did enjoy some sledding down the driveway hill, and even though Nic is getting bigger, she still managed to hitch a ride on Dad's back for a trip that lasted a good 500 feet down to our barn. Sometimes it's a load of fun having such a great hill on the property!

My Electric Baby's Back!

2011-01-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

The first month of 2011 has proven to wear out it's welcome fast here at Happy Valley. Ah, yes, where to begin. Right after my last post, my husband had the misfortune to hit a deer on his way to work...in our Toyota Prius. Well, it limped to work, crushed hood, fender and bumper. The headlight, while still functioning, had broken connections to secure it, which meant the hood was the only thing keeping it from falling out. The side fender jammed into the door area, making passengers travel only in the back seat. But still he drove it. All the way to the gas station, for a usual fill and journey home later that day. Next day, he ventured to work in our Kia Sorrento, and again to the gas station for a fill. Same station as the day prior. Well, then the fun began, as the Kia hardly left the station before it died, and ended up being towed. Yep, bad gas. Turned out to be 87% Ethanol! I then ventured out with the Prius to the end of the driveway, only to now have it completely sputter...yep, bad gas here too. It took a bit longer with the Prius, I guess because it runs on battery power some before trying to choke down that "gas." Now that one was towed away too. So then, minus 2 cars, we bring out the monster tow rig hiding out in the barn for hubby to drive...thank goodness we had it! I have to say, though, that we were a bit hesitant about going anywhere or putting gas in that one! The gas station responsible was quick to write us a check for all of that...which promptly bounced!!! Okay, ahem, well now that has been remedied, and the repair work is now done for the uninsured deer that strolled in front of my quiet little car. Seems like a fitting country song saga, huh? Goodbye January, on to a new month! Now, back to creating!

Heap of Hats

2011-01-05T08:37:00.001-08:00

Hope you had a very nice New Year celebration! Here it is, well into the first week of 2011, and I'm struggling to get back into the swing of things, school schedules, sports activities, and my daughter's 10th birthday, which is only a few weeks away. Wish I could have planned her arrival for a bit later into the year, and not so soon after Christmas, but it is what it is!

My creative clock is a bit stalled these days, so I'm working on the familiar stuff. I just closed out a local month long show, and did extremely well selling hats and scarves this year. So, I've been spending this week making hats for next season's shows. I always seem to be short on the number of hats I have made up, and even though I tripled the amount I made, they sold so well that I really need to have more available. Plus it feels good to have these done and ready, so that I can focus on more creative outlets later on. I've been making these hats for so long that I can pretty much construct them while sleeping, which kinda feels like what I've been doing a lot of lately!

Merry Christmas to all!

2010-12-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree. I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me. Could it be cardstock or kits or lace? Or a Chopper, I said, with a smile on my face. And that's when I heard him, "Hi Santa" I said. "You know....good little girls should be in their beds." "I know I should Santa, and now I've been caught, But I was just so excited to see what you brought." "Well, let's take a look in this room where you work." He shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk. I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear. "You've got enough crap, I'll see you next year!" Author Unknown

Snow fun!

2010-12-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Ahh, yes, decorating can be so fun. Pulling out those long forgotten creations is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the season. I thought I'd share just a few little snow creations with you today. Enjoy!

LEGO my...

2010-11-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I've certainly been MIA on this blog! It's that crazy time of year, but I've finally finished up my November shows, and yesterday, I sent off my goods to an all month show here. I calculated that I made up 80 new scarves, and 20 new hats for this year, and quite frankly, I'm really tired of sewing up those! Back to primitives and making my favorite...snowmen!

But before I can sneak back into my studio, it's time to get that holiday shopping for the little one taken care of. This year, it's all about Legos! Yep, my girl has a secret love for Legos. Have you checked out these lately? Legos has creative and detailed kits that build up houses and have 3 different designs in the same box. They're really quite fun to put together! Well, this year, I discovered a couple of newer designs, one which is a detailed toy shop, and the other a really cool bakery. Love the baker dude taking out that large loaf of bread out of the oven, so cool! The wonderful thing about these kits is that they teach your children about following directions and beyond that, being incredibly creative. My daughter has taken the kits she has and created a coffee shop (LOL, she has my passion covered!) and homes enough for the entire neighborhood now residing on our coffee table. They don't consume a lot of space, are fun to create, disassemble, then re-create, and there is so much more detail to these that ever before. And finally, Lego is developing more creative ideas that appeal to girls, so it's not just about Star Wars and Bionicles anymore. So, this Christmas, it will be fun to create a whole little community together. Who knows, maybe we can put together a little storefront with lots of primitive snowmen and santas and dolls, oh my!

Where it all began

2010-10-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

When I first ventured in to the world of selling handcrafted items 7 years ago, I designed and created my own line of scarves and reversible hats and hit the small show circuit. Customers flocked to see my product, and I sold more than I could possibly have imagined. It was such a wonderful way to start out, knowing that my idea was so well received. Every single year since that first one, my scarf and hat sales have increased.

Recently I learned that my major fabric supplier is closing for good. I buy their fabric at about 1/3 of the cost of getting the very same thing elsewhere. So, I stocked up , and have enough now for about a year, but after that I will either have to drastically raise my prices on these items or stop creating them all together. Neither option sounds good to me.

I understand that nothing lasts forever; it's just sad that so many good, local businesses are fading away. They take the time to get to know their customers, and provide the best customer service around. And, like a good friend, we count on them to always be there. So, goodbye my friend, this long time customer will miss you!

Celebrate!

2010-10-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

It's here! Time for the OFG Winter Holiday Celebration! Wow, there are SO many items for this celebration, and they are so unique and beautiful. Find them all by typing WHCOFG into the search bar on Etsy.com. I have put together a collection from the celebration on this treasury this morning: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cbc6a5856068eef347bed6b/santa-baby-hurry-down-the-chimney. Hope you'll take a peek! There is so much incredible talent in this group!

Stitch 'n snore

2010-10-13T10:12:00.001-07:00

Gosh, it's been a while since my last post. I've been stitch'n away the hours in preparation for an upcoming craft show and OFG celebration. These pics are just a few of the items I've been working on. It doesn't take much time to get them done; however, when you're making several of the same thing, it can feel like it takes forever!

It's such a wonderful time of year with the autumn leaves changing, cool crisp mornings, and the rain. Oh yes, the rain! I love those days, as I don't feel too guilty about hibernating in my sewing sanctuary with a wonderful apple spice candle flickering about, hot coffee, the pup snoring on his bed, and the hum of my sewing machine in action!

That is, until someone wakes up refreshed and ready to play! Hope you have an enjoyable week, and keep checking in my shop for new items. I'm listing something every other day, and these will all be new items never seen before at Happy Valley!

If my walls could talk...

2010-09-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Are you afraid of color? So many people are afraid to paint a wall anything other than white. My hubby was like that, until he saw just what one can do with the right color. Now my choice of color isn't very traditionally primitive, but I propose that looking at color on your walls and what it can bring to your decor be done outside the box. Saying that, I'm now confessing to my choice for my kitchen and family room...purple. Not bright or even dark, but a soft medium tone that balances out the wonderful wood tones of our cabinets and furniture. At night, the lighting casts a darker greyish tone that adds to the soft character of the room. And warmth...well, this is a color that really makes one feel cocooned in pure tranquility. And I can't find a color to accent in this room that doesn't look great with the purple. When I made this transition, I was actively involved in a MOMS group, and had many get togethers with this group at my home. New in this home, I was always painting a room anything other than white. So many of these women were taken back at the idea that I would actually choose purple as a base color, but once they saw it, they wanted to change their own homes. So many were just too afraid to try a color on their walls. But, this is the easiest, and really most inexpensive change you can make to your home. And, it's reversible! If you don't like it, change it again! Decorating gurus will tell you that the right shade of black on the walls will have the same effect. The dark subtle tones of your walls can really bring out the beauty of your furniture and surroundings. It's an amazing transformation. So, if you're looking to accent your beautiful primitives and furnishings with a backdrop that is fresh and different, consider purple. I've had it in this room for about 7 years now, and I haven't grown tired of the color at all. It works, it's versatile and it's me!

Button, button...

2010-09-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Just wondering if there's a place out there where crafty folks go that have lost control. As I sit here in my sewing studio, I'm facing the dilemma of having more than a few "collections." One of these makes any new visitor to my santuary gasp in, well, I hope it's awww, and not...this girl needs an intervention! I literally have a wall of buttons. What doesn't fit mounted to my enormous cork board is tucked in pretty decorative jars and when those got full, I moved on to baby food jars. Then there is a box in my cabinet stocked full of vintage buttons still on cards from long ago. Oh, and a paper mache box is full of odd buttons too. Wow, maybe I do need help.

I've tried to use them up. I have a button framed message board above my computer, as well as one for my business card collection in my studio. These are super easy to create and take on a style of their own. So if you have a few buttons that need a home, why not try this idea.

You will need a cork board with a frame, any size will do. I find these a lot at yard sales for next to nothing. Now find that beautiful piece of fabric that is too small to make much with. I had this paisley cordoruy remnant, and would recommend that you not use too thin of fabric, since you'll be pushing pins into it a lot. Remove the cork from the frame and wrap the fabric around it so that the front is straight and has no creases. You may need to cut out the bulk in the back corners to get the smooth look on the front and to fit the cork back into the frame. Then either staple or use heavy duty tape to the back of the cork to secure the fabric. Now take out your glue gun and get ready! Dump out those buttons, all sizes, shapes, textures and colors. Hot glue them around your frame covering the front completely. Don't work too hard on color selection, as it looks better if you just put this together real randomly. I also built up the buttons in a few spots to completely cover the wood frame. Pop back in the cork and hang your message board up! Super easy!

And one last thing, if you look closely on mine, you will see a few empty spots. Well, I'll admit that this message board has been the perfect place for me to find just the right button for a project now and then...cause maybe like shoes, this girl just has to have just the right look! LOL!

Crafting "the" look

2010-09-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

I'll admit...I actually really enjoy being a vendor at a crafts show. Last year, I did over a dozen, some weekends with two at a time! While it was hectic, I really enjoy presenting my products to the public. Folks are still just as wonderfully friendly, and they reinforce my commitment to delivering a quality product at a fair price. One thing I actually spend a LOT of time putting together is my booth. Presentation is so important in drawing in a crowd, and since the Pacific NW doesn't have too many primitive shops, it's really vital to grab their interest quickly. I've read just about everything I can find on how to present your products, but I do have a bit of a quandary. I sell a diverse grouping of products, and sometimes I even get together with a friend or two to have a larger booth full of different items. The best method I can think of is to separate the items with stand alone areas so as to give the shopper more of a 'store' like experience. Scarves/hats over here, bags there, and primitives everywhere else. This year I'm venturing into selling more ornaments, as I have a couple of shows that seem to do well with inexpensive items. So how shall I display them? In the past, I've put out my alpine trees and themed them. Last year, one had only snowman ornaments and one had Santa, reindeer and related items. Sometimes when I didn't have so many ornaments left, I merged them onto one tree. This seemed to work at some shows, as it kept the items at about eye level. However, this year, I'll be having a larger variety of ornaments and am trying to figure out the best way to show them off. Build a display piece with hooks and keep them all together? Put them in baskets around the booth? Or stick with my tree idea. One thing I know I'm changing is to put bed risers on my tables to elevate them. Nothing bugs me more than having to bend down to see something, since my knees are weakening with my advancing age, LOL! Anyway, if you have a great display idea for me, please share! Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can really help a girl out!

Thrifty shopping fun

2010-09-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

I just love shopping at thrift stores, and I'm so fortunate to have about 6 within a few miles of my home out here in the country. They are real popular in Washington, I guess, because when I lived in Oregon, your only choices were Goodwill or the Salvation Army. In my neck of the woods, we have many shops that are ran by the senior centers, and boy are they fun to look in and find those forgotten items. Plus, they are cleaner and don't have, well you know, THAT smell. Because they tend to be smaller stores, they don't have as many people shopping, which is great for grabbing up sewing and crafting items. Here I say that after posting about purging my stash, LOL. Well, I look for specific things that are rather expensive at the local craft stores here, like crochet thread. I have found the most beautiful colors of heavy crochet or tatting thread at thrift stores, on spools the size of serger cones, and often for 10 cents or maybe a quarter! I always go through the clothing section to see if someone has gotten rid of an unusual wool suit or skirt that I can take apart and felt it for a cool rug background. And just this weekend, I found a HUGE assortment of curly crepe wool (great for santa beards), unopened stuffing, wood candlesticks, fabric (uh, oh!) and more pattern books (big uh, oh there!). Filled my trunk for under $20! And I'm in heaven, happy in my own little world of being able to work on my little hobby business on a shoestring budget. Plus it just feels so good to repurpose used items into new beautiful creations. Have a wonderful, creative day!

It's a big, big world out there...on Ebay.

2010-09-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

For over a year now, I've kicked around the idea of selling my extra and unused sewing stash online. Well, today I finally began. This is NO small undertaking, either. I literally have 6 large boxes of books and sewing magazines that I'm ready to get rid of, and that doesn't count the ones I've already donated to Goodwill. I'll admit to being an avid pattern consumer over the years; however, now that my tastes have changed, I'm really not doing so much quilting and garment sewing. My tiny craft room is bulging at the seams (it rarely looks as clean as this picture shows), so time to take the plunge! More listings to come, and after I've delved into those, I'm off to purge some of my fabric and sewing stash and even yarn too. That's a whole closet issue. I knew it was time last week when I went in there and had a bunch fall on my head...those piles are a weee bit high for me! Here's where to find my new little shop on Ebay. Hope you can take a peek...who knows what you'll find! http://myworld.ebay.com/stitchninspired

Halloween and OFG...the perfect combination!

2010-09-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's time for a celebration...Halloween style! My friends at OFG have put together so many special items for this celebration, which begins today through September 20th! To check out the scariest primitive decor around, go to Etsy.com and type HCOFG in the search box. I got a sneak peak at this talented group's work, and let me tell ya, you'll be amazed at the wonderfully creative ideas that came to life! Here are just a few of the items I made for this special event. Guess I'm really into cats this season! Hope you'll check out this fun event and find something wonderful for your home!

One last summer blast...

2010-09-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well, summer is slowly leaving us here in the northwest. It's always an adjustment for me to really accept that once September comes, that's it. No more scorching hot days (anything over 80 degrees here)...in comes the rain. And boy, did it rain yesterday. One day early. Sigh.

We took one last little camping trip up to Birch Bay, WA, about only 1.5 hours from home. It was SO nice not to be driving forever, like earlier this summer. The first evening had the most beautiful sunset imaginable. The whole family was snapping away pics in the moments before that bright spot in the sky sunk into the water. We took an afternoon to venture all around the bay's edges, up around to the tip where the dock from our side is about 40 feet from the dock to Blaine. No one has built a bridge accross this short span yet to join these communities together, which seems weird, since they're so close. They still run a passenger ferry between the two docks.

Did lots of stitching for the Halloween celebration, which will be here before you know it! Now I'll have more time to work as school started today...Yea! Yep, that's me doing the happy dance. Enjoy your last days of summer!

Silhouette Art Quilt

2010-08-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, my mother commissioned an artist to complete a silhouette drawing of my two brothers and me. Each was individually beautiful, with their distinct black profile against the light background. Back then, it was all done by hand, no computer images and the drawing software creator probably wasn't even born yet. Oops, there's my age peeking out. Anyway, I've dreamed of one day creating a silhouette of my daughter's profile, but since my drawing abilities are next to none, I've never tackled it. I was flipping through books at the library this week and saw this idea from Alicia Paulson to create a silhouette art quilt. Hey, I just love freezer paper, and since that was the main component in creating a template for the picture to paint, it sounded like something I could do.

So first I took a profile shot with my digital and then printed it on my regular printer to the size needed. I traced the outline onto freezer paper, then cut out the center, leaving the outer part of the pattern intact. Then I ironed the freezer paper to fabric, shiny side down. and applied fabric paint to the pattern's hole, carefully working around the edges. You don't want the edges to curl up, so be gentle and work from the paper's edges towards the center. After letting it dry overnight, I ironed the piece from the back side to set the paint. The kind of fabric paint I had has some puffiness to it too, so once ironed, it added a bit of dimension which turned out pretty cool. The fabrics are all torn and layered a bit skewed, and then onto a piece of wool felt that has been cut with pinking shears.

That's it. Super easy, and it looks just wonderful on my wall. Best of all, my daughter loved it too, as some day it will go to her as a memory of a time gone by.

A little prim for the rear end

2010-08-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the bleachers waiting for my little one to get through cheer practice can really drag on, so I always try to keep my hands busy. These chair pads have been on my 'to do' list for a while, as we have 2 captain chairs in my kitchen/bar area that need some help to make them look just a little primitive. Right now they squeal 1980's with their gold accents, so I really need to give them a thorough painting makeover too. However, I'm really not much of a painter (except for my walls), so I keep putting that project off.

So for now, I made these and they came together pretty quickly, since all of the details are done in black, and the stitching is easy, portable and fairly relaxing. A little batting, some machine sewing, and poof...they're ready for the usual crumbs and spills that kids dish out. And now that my daughter has a fondness for my iced coffees, that should just prim them up quite nicely!

Pear perfection

2010-08-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

As we roll through August, I'm reminded of the crisp fruit that is just about ripe here in Washington. Of course, we're known for being one of the biggest apple producing locations in the US, and boy, there is nothing like a fresh juicy apple! But for some reason, I'm partial to the shape and delightful colors of a beautiful pear. While the pear isn't my favorite to eat, it is one of my favorites to create. Recently, I picked up some golden hand dyed wool with all the hues of a luscious pear. I saw this painting project and decided that I would create it in wool, and I think it looks just perfect. The size is quite small, and it fits nicely on a tiny round end table that is in my entry hall.

Add a bowl of these painted muslin pears with cinnamon stick stems and you have a wonderful August display!

Hmm, maybe now might be a good time to head to the produce stand for some fresh fruit?

Pin Keep Passion

2010-08-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have found a new love. The love of a beautiful place to store the multitude of pins gracing my sewing room. These little gems are made with wool and are affixed to teeny tiny tartlet pans. They make a beautiful display together; however, my favorite is the hydrangea (at the bottom, left). What a neat idea for someone who does a lot of stitching! These are available on my Facebook fan page under the "Shop Now" category. I've been working up a few more penny rugs to share soon and am starting my Halloween celebration items for an upcoming promotion. Whew, and it will be nice to have more time available once school starts in just two weeks. This summer certainly went fast!

Three little lambs

2010-08-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes knowing that a friend is always there for you, no matter how little you get together or chat is worth so much. A dear friend of mine, Marie, is just that person. We've been through a lot together, growing at each stage, but there is one thing that Marie does for me better than anyone I know (other than my hubby!). She supports my desire to create in every way. Marie is a beautiful, creative person herself, and certainly could make most anything, as she continues to shine in her successful crafty businesses.

A while back we discussed a wool piece to reflect her three little lambs (aka girls). One who is 11 and 6 year old twins. I came up with this piece and finally completed it for her. It's made with hand dyed wool and the little lambs have been needle felted. The pink flowers are to resemble forget-me-nots, which have little stars in their centers (didn't know this until she pointed them out in her yard). Hope she likes it!

If you'd like to see Marie's work, check her out on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarieR). She makes beautiful glass beads and art pieces that are known world wide!

Grandma with the red lips...

2010-08-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, my paternal grandmother was a big influence in getting me interested in hand embroidery. She is now 87 years old and still makes the most beautifully stitched tea towels. For years I have treasured the two sets in my possession, using one and keeping the other in new condition. As we embarked on the incredibly long journey to visit her a few weeks ago, I had forgotten that I had asked for a new set from her a year ago. Imagine my delight at receiving this beautiful set!

Now, Grandma doesn't just whip these up. She is VERY particular about the quality of fabric, size of the towel and makes sure that the threads are pulled before hemming to ensure a straight towel. These babies are starched and pressed to perfection after washing. The stitching is exquisitely perfect in detail, as beautiful on the back as it is on the front. Grandma often muses about the times in her early life that she was in awe of her own grandmother's talent at making these towels. What an incredible history of loving care. And as I listen to her talk of times past, I'm reminded of those afternoons spent stitching with her as a young girl myself. Her kind attention and encouragement always made me want to do more. They represent a special place in her heart and in mine.

Here's to you, Grandma. And if you're curious as to how she achieved noteriety as "Grandma with the red lips," well that's thanks to my daughter who remembers this very special lady by the beautiful smile she always has. Grandma just relishes in being known by this, as she's got a tale about her very first tube of lipstick that'll make you just giggle...times were different then for sure, but this lady is timeless to me.

Come on! Let's celebrate!!!

2010-08-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

As a newer member to a great group of talented primitive artisans, I am just in awe of the beautiful items now available in our Autumn Celebration promotion. I hope you'll take the time to check out these by typing in ACOFG in the search section at Etsy.com. You won't be disappointed!

Toot! Toot!

2010-07-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm really kinda shy about tooting my own horn, but it's hard not to get excited when I get to create something cute and share it with everyone. I made this little fat Santa ornament for a Christmas in July themed tutorial at OFG, and hope you'll give it a try. My nine year old daughter enjoyed making these together and took most of the photos, since my hands were a little busy! Imagine a bunch of them on a festive holiday tree. Guess it's time to get busy and use up some more of my red fabric. Any reason to go through my immense stash is a good reason to get more, right?

Find the tutorial at: http://oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com/. They are super easy and fast and don't have too much sewing involved. Hope you'll give them a try!

Oh Deer!

2010-07-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well, we're back from a wonderful week along the Oregon Coast! What perfect weather and outstanding state parks to camp in. There are so many new things that the parks offer, like continual educational programs for children and activity books that teach about that particular area's wildlife and habitat. I'm sure they wouldn't like that we hand fed the wildlife, but the deer there were so tame. This brave buck gently took as much of an apple as he could. Nicole just loved the whole experience, and probably biked 100 miles by week's end. Of course, she never did get tired. Makes my old bones wish for that kind of youth again!

I took a tote bag full of stitchery projects, and only finished two, as I found myself enjoying those bike trails just as much, as well as walking on the beach. Nothing is more tranquil than that!

Now, it's back to reality and perhaps, payback. As I anxiously awaited returning home to a very ripe patch of sweet nectarberries, alas, the deer here made themselves at home during our absence. I managed to get enough picked before we left for one pie, but it looks like that may be all. Oh well. They did leave the rest of the garden to grow nicely while we were away.

Hope you get a chance today to enjoy the fruits of your labor in some special way! Mine will just have to be vegetables. :O)

A very special person

2010-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

This week has just flown by. I will see my little girl, Nicole, this Saturday, and am so excited as I've been really missing her smiling face each and every day. She is such a positive and caring young lady, and I sometimes wonder what I did right to deserve such a treasure. As we prepare to see her, I am thinking of the person who has been shaping my little girl's life these past two weeks, her Grandma, Linda. Grandma has been busy shuttling Nic to daily swim lessons as well as teaching her the techniques of riding a horse that has been specially raised for her. All this in an environment where it's been at or near 100 degrees every day! Goodness, that's a lot for a Grandma to do, in between handling her own daily work at their ranch. So, I thought it would be nice to put together a little something in appreciation for Grandma's hard work, patience, and understanding. This is an idea that utilizes a technique that I have ventured into lately and really enjoy...needle felting. I painted the clay pot a toffee color, then crackled it with a black top coat. The focal piece is blanket stitched osnaburg fabric with a layer of batting behind it. I needle felted the flowers all different colors and the pot in shades of turquoise and white. Some hand stitching for the stems and buttons, and then jute was tied to secure it around the pot. I found a beautiful striped miniature rose for the pot. Grandma will probably be able to grow this inside her house for a while (she has an incredible green thumb). Then I imagine a beautiful indoor cactus growing in it. She has those everywhere.

This is a photo of one in bloom at our last visit. I have many special people who have helped to shape the development of my daughter to thank. Grandma Linda is just one of them. May you be blessed with many special people in your lives too!

Mouse size tantrum and a special day

2010-07-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ahh, Monday. Hope you had a great weekend! Mine was productive shopping, working in the yard and, of course, sewing. Well, the sewing part wasn't so productive. In fact, it was down right frustrating. See this cute little mouse? Well, my intentions were to make several, so I got busy chain sewing those body parts one, then another...man I was just cruizing! Whew, now to turn them out and stuff away. A great job for TV time. Here we go...okay, um, try again, and once more, again (I don't give up easily)...huh? My itty bitty tweezers that have gripped and turned many a doll part could not make anything happen. The material I used was too stiff to turn these tiny parts. GRRR. I had to throw away all of it. Sigh. It's not easy to toss out an afternoon's work.

Now did I really want to make the darned thing at all? I'd already done up the candy cane, so I tried again with a more flexible material that managed to work. Got one done, and I think he looks great. I'm plugging away at the others now, and I still have a problem...they're all turning in such a way that they are now lefty's! Guess that's not so bad, since I'm a lefty!

Today is a special day though, as my sweetie and I have been married 23 years. Time has sure gone fast, but I'm so blessed to have this wonderful guy with me. May the people that surround your life bring you as much happiness as mine do! Have a great day!

Ilene

New girl in town!

2010-07-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hello! And welcome to my new blog! I'm Ilene, and I have a little business known as Happy Valley Primitives where I create and sell my handmade stitching designs. Like to take a look at what I offer? Check me out on: http://www.happyvalleyprimitive.etsy.com/.

Today is, well, obviously, my first post. And as I sit here typing, I'm trying to think of what my next project will be. It is already time to work on the Christmas holiday items for my upcoming craft shows, and it'd sure be nice to feel like I'm ready for them this year. It's always a crunch to get just one more item made before a show. Guess I have that mentality because that last item made usually is one of the first sellers for a show, so it makes it worthwhile to stay up and get 'r done!

I'm a stay at home mom (SAHM), and, ahhh, enjoying a few weeks without my little girl as she spends some quality time with her grandma and grandpa at their horse farm. Don't get me wrong, I miss her a lot, but it's sure nice not to have to handle both of our schedules, shuttle her here, there, well, you know!

I'll leave you today with my latest table mat just listed in Etsy. I love making these as I can take them anywhere to stitch and they come together fast. Enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51146774/wool-autumn-leaves-table-or-candle-mat