Boxwood and Berries~Day 2~

Where oh where does the time go? You've all been so patient, waiting to hear about my incredible day two at Boxwood & Berries...this time with the fun and fabulous Stacy Nash instructing our group. Here goes.

~Stacy's Finished Project/Sample~

(Photo courtesy of Patti Gagliardi)

Walking into the school room that morning felt very surreal. I think I must've pinched myself hundreds of times during my time in Spring Green. But sure enough, I was wide awake and day two was ready to begin. Taking our places, each of us found this pretty little package at our place setting, like a gift waiting to be opened.

(Photo courtesy of Patti Gagliardi)

I have long been an admirer of Stacy's work, chatted with her through email, and even sold her patterns way back when...but I had somehow never gotten the chance to meet her in person. My first impression of Stacy...a lovely, tall blonde who reminds me a great deal of my gorgeous friend Jane-both from Indianapolis, their voices eerily similar. I think the very best thing about Stacy (besides her obviously killer talent) has to be her sense of humor. She  can deliver a joke with a totally deadpan expression. You know, the kind of humor that makes you do a double take? She's a funny lady...I really love that.

Stacy is also warm and friendly, and very clever. She eased us into a detailed project that looked hard, but she had somehow found a way to make easy. Remember the sampler I was stitching a few posts back? Under Stacy's guidance, we spent the morning turning our stitched pieces into a beautiful fabric covered sewing box...complete with accessories. We all marveled at how easy everything went together and were thrilled to go home with so many finished projects. Again, I was fortunate enough to share a table with Patti, needlewoman extraordinaire, who was always one step ahead of me and willing to answer my bazillion questions. 

A table at the back of the room was laden with projects from both designers. Stacy's newest projects line up along the back wall. 

Stacy's new Christmas pattern and a fall sampler she created for a class at Not Forgotten Farm.

(Photo courtesy of Patti Gagliardi)

Day two found us incredibly busy as we tried to fit in as many adventures as possible. Once again Patti led the way as we took ride in the beautiful countryside to a little shop called The Woodshed. The gentleman who owns the shop refurbishes wooden crates and boxes (the kind we love) and gives them new life. As much as I enjoyed seeing the shop...I think I enjoyed the ride there and back with Carla & Wendy more. Having met at Boxwood & Berries only last year, the two have become good friends. With their banter and easy laughter they seemed almost like sisters. I really hope to spend more time with this FUN pair!   

Jeanne is a fantastic organizer and packed our time in Spring Green with wonderful activities. Late in the afternoon on day two, we got a chance to stretch our legs by walking several blocks to the home of Ruth Hass, a local antiques dealer. Ruth's home is gorgeous, and is decorated in the simple, primitive colonial style that is my particular favorite. Ruth was gracious enough to not only let us peek inside her home, but to allow us to take photos so YOU could peek too.

Patti has some great shots of Ruth's home on her blog, so I'll try not to duplicate them...but as I scanned my photos,  I noticed that Patti & I seemed to fall for the same vignettes in Ruth's home. :) (Hop on over to Patti's blog for more photos!)

As you walk in the front door, this corner "office" is sure to catch your eye. I think if I had to pick a most favorite spot in the house, this would be it. Maybe.

Ruth's family room features built in shelving, a fireplace and access to the sun porch. You wouldn't know it by looking, but her family uses this room every day. 

On the other side of a central staircase is this rustic, but functional,  dining room. People actually eat meals here. 

At the back of the house, just off the kitchen, is this truly amazing buttery. This room is a work of art. Oh to be a crock on Ruth's buttery shelves and just gaze at this masterpiece all day long! 

The view from my shelf in the buttery.

Even the bathrooms are beautiful here.

Impeccable displays abound. I loved the simplicity of this washstand in the upstairs bath.

After the others had passed through, I lingered. One of the most pleasant things about Ruth's home was the play of light on carefully placed objects.

Primitive doll in upstairs bedroom.

Chest in upstairs hall.

Game board in upstairs hall.

 Main floor, back hallway.

And this, dear readers, was just day two. Can you imagine?

And where did MY completed "Stacy project" end up?

My finished project found a home on a little tavern table in front of the window among other sewing collectables. Isn't it perfection? :)

Until next time...

Rhonda

~Coming Home Again~

"There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again"  

(Margaret Elizabeth Sangster)

I've missed you. It's true. I'm so grateful that you've stuck around.

I really have been a blogger of the worst kind, and for that I must apologize. Spring here has been wild and wonderful...but mostly just wild. I suppose some of you are curious about what I've been up to. And for those of you who don't care, just ignore me...go ahead and scroll through the pretty pictures. 

Here's one to get you started.

This lovely ironstone pitcher was a gift from my sweet friend Emily. She arrived at my house just before Mother's day and presented me with a huge package. I have often coveted admired her beautiful collection of ironstone, and was shocked when she gifted a number of her pieces to me because, "You are such a good Mom". Her loving words and kind gesture sincerely overwhelmed me. 

These are few of the other pieces Em shared with me. 

I'm not worthy!

 

My new collection inspired me to de-clutter the buttery shelves and go with something simpler for summertime. But I'm such a clutter-bug...I have so much trouble keeping things to a minimum. I'm still not sure I got it right.

 

 Sometimes I wonder why I do the crazy things I do. What I mean is...why do I choose the busiest time of the year to embark on a huge home improvement project? Since the two oldest "boys" moved into their own place, Mr. Kattywhompus and I have been rethinking the way we use the space in our home. He encouraged me to move from my small studio sewing room, into two large rooms on the second floor. That might sound simple, but in reality it's quite an undertaking. Although he encouraged me, Mr. Kattywhompus, has been unavailable to help me accomplish such a daunting task. Between raindrops, he has been sowing and reaping (and mowing). And with my built in help cozily settled into their own bachelor pad, I am pretty much on my own. I have been painting, shampooing carpets, moving furniture, and sorting through the seemingly endless array of crafty "needfuls". 

When my back hurts and I am tired and whiny, I envision how it will look...all beautiful and pink and spacious, with room to invite friends over to play. 

It will be so worth it...but sometimes I still whine.

When I simply cannot force myself to sort through another box (or whenever I can sneak away) I have been hitting some wonderful summer garage sales. I bragged to Misi about one of my best, most amazing finds this year, and promised her a picture. 

So, this one's for you Misi.

You should have seen how fast I moved when I saw this on the table...and then I saw the price...$200. No, it says $20. NO- it says $2. !!! I thought I was imagining things. 

For less than I pay for a cup of coffee...it was mine.

Speaking of Misi...you may have noticed some of her delicious, scented wax fruit in the foreground. She very sweetly send me a delightful package including these. They are rustic and beautiful...and they smell wonderful.

I also purchased some of Misi's pansy bowl fillers for myself and for my Mother. They make an entire room smell heavenly and Mom loved them.

To experience Misi's wares for yourself go here.

Between Emily and Misi I have been very spoiled these last few weeks. I have one other wonderful thing to share...but it will have to wait, as I used it to create something special for my swap partner. Don't fret, you won't have to wait long, my package goes out tomorrow.

And for sticking with me...here's one more pretty picture for you.

~An ironstone pitcher filled with lilacs from the side yard~

Until next time...

Rhonda

Tuesday Display Chain~ These Four Walls~

~These precious bunnies, from Cheryl at Patty Cake Primitives, are the newest addition to my Easter display~

~Tuesday Display Chain~

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings selects a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain". This week we are asked to show off our favorite walls.

This one was easy...I am blessed beyond measure to share my four walls with a man who adores me and three sons who make us look like better parents than we really are. Throw in three cats with big personalities and two comical dogs,  and we have enough to keep us entertained for a long while. Is it any wonder that home is my favorite place to be? 

"Home is any four walls that enclose the right person(s)." 

~Helen Rowland~

~The buttery is still one of my favorite places in our home...so many possibilities for decorating. Here it is decked out for spring.~ 

"I'm not famous but my kids think I'm a star
  I'm not rich but I've made a million memories so far
I may not be a model
But my man thinks I could be
I may not be from royalty
But in these four walls
I'm the queen"

~Sara Evans~ 

Just for fun, here's another peek at those adorable bunnies.

 Details like the painted eyes and the little needle felted whiskers add extra charm to these sweet little bunnies.  And I just love the way Cheryl used stain to add contour to them.

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls."  

~Joseph Campbell~

Until next time...

Rhonda

The Stage Is Set

Once again, Misi, at Gable House Musings has come up with a way to entertain us. 

I'm bursting with excitement over her Spring Scavenger Hunt!

Misi  has asked each participant to submit a photo of the area in their home where the found items will be photographed each week. This was easy for me because I have a little corner of the buttery where I take most of the photos for my Etsy shops.

Beginning Friday, March 11th you'll see this...

...laden with the items that Misi chooses each week.  

In order to stay in the running for her amazing prize, I'll have to find 4 out of six items on her list. I'm guessing it will get harder each week. Wish me luck!

Until next time...

~Tuesday Display Chain~ Bowls

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain". This week we are showing off "bowls". 

I am a collector of bowls...big bowls, little bowls...bowls made of pottery, pewter, wood, china, glass...I love them all.  These are a few of my favorites...

~This tiny yellowware bowl was a garage sale find...just .25 cents. Isn't that great? OK, so here's the not so great part...see the spice box it's sitting on? Also a garage sale find...it was $10 and had the original finish-including stenciled drawer fronts. I thought it was ugly, and not that old...so I gave it a prim finish. Can you say young and stupid? Saw one just like it (before condition) in an antique shop for $150. *sigh* OK, moving on...~

~More garage sale bowls. Are you sensing a theme? My entire house is decorated in early garage sale.~

~I found this set of nesting yellowware bowls at the thrift store, four of them for $20. The two largest ones are pictured here on my $1 corner thingy. I think it might actually be a plant stand, but it works for me.~

~Red hutch full of primitive goodness~

~You guessed it...garage sale. Hutch, $50. Loading it into a minivan by myself, priceless.~

~Rowe pottery bunny, and a piece from my Dad's baby dishes, surround a wooden bowl filled with gourd eggs.~

~A redware bowl from Turtlecreek Pottery, a favorite gift from my Mother in love.~

~Wooden bowls rest on a dry sink.~

~A HUGE yellowware bowl from my grandmother. It measures 14" in diameter and makes a fabulous punch bowl.~

~An old trencher takes center stage in the buttery. The woman I bought it from said it was hand carved by her great-grandfather. I know...how could she sell it?~

~Vintage Pyrex, colorful and fun. And no, this photo isn't staged. I bake outdoors all the time.~

 

Not my style, but still...one of the prettiest bowls I've seen. 

It seems to me that one can never have too many bowls.

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

~Tuesday Display Chain~Winter Whites~

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain" by featuring items from their collections. The theme this week is Winter Whites.

This theme was a challenge for me as my decorating style tends to be a bit on the dark and somber side. I've tried, really I have...to go with a more neutral pallet, but the truth is I just can't resist mixing in splashes of reds and blues. These are the things my eye (and heart) are drawn to.

Still, I was able to find a few little of puddles of light...

When my boys were small we made an entire village using chipboard, glue and instructions from Martha Stewart LIVING magazine. I cut all the pieces, they painted and glittered. The little white church is  always at the center of our display.

I found two pairs of these cotton lace stockings at an estate sale. Just look at the beautiful workmanship. Click on the photo for a better view of the lace patterns. I can't imagine wearing these, can you?

This lone baby sock, from the same time period, was found in a box of "junque" I brought home.

I love the textures of the linen, cotton lace and the old glass next to each other.

A simple ironstone bowl perched high on a shelf of the buttery.

Turn of the century stockings, and mercury glass beads, hang in the back hall.

A precious little bell from my Grandma Beulah's tree.

A closer view of that beautiful cotton lace.

A snowman, desperately in need of a makeover. He used to be an angel...but tells me he would prefer a top hat & something festive to hold in his icy little hands.

Old glass against a child's calico dress.

And for those of us who are not fans of the white stuff (I'm speaking of snow here), this plate of orange pomanders, studded with cloves, adds a bit of winter sunshine to a corner of the buttery.

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...