Fall Swap

Look at what I received from Karen in the Fall Banner Swap!!!  Thanks so much, Karen!  It was like Christmas around here when her package arrived!

 

Karen sent such cute things and I love the burlap banner!
Now I have to decorate my mantel!

Look at all the goodies!!!  I love white pumpkins and the candles
smell so good!  That medallion makes me want to make some to
share!  I think the blackbird needs to hang on the banner along
with the medallion...

 

Here are the rules that Deb at Garage Sale Gal (her blog) set up for us:

Swap "rules": spell out F-A-L-L on the banner made with either paper or fabric. That means 4 pieces. Include 5 fall related items, one NEW one. Contact your partner to meet her and find our her likes. Get her address too! Wrap pretty and mail out on or before Sept 11th. Post Sept 25th.

So you see - I'm late in posting!!! Darn! 

Karen has a lovely blog also - check out her blog Shabby Brocante  When you get there you can see what a great photographer she is also.  Quite a talented lady.  So glad we met and now I can see her treasures - we both love transferware amongst other things!

Thanks again to Karen for all the fun stuff and to Deb for setting things up for us!!!

Take care,

Bonnie



 

The Miss Emily Kae is Home!!!

Yesterday, Miss Emily Kae came home to roost!  My new vintage 1968 Manorette trailer is now sitting outside by my gardens where I can see her from my computer.

My son and daughter in law bringing her home!!!

 

This is what I see when I'm at my computer!

 

Nestled in by my raised gardens... 

 

My trailer-warming gift from my friend, Judy!

 



A few things going out to the trailer

 after I get it cleaned up!

 

I have my little four cup coffee pot ready.  I'm looking for a small toaster oven and microwave.  I have a couple of shelves that need to be painted red, a small aqua corner cabinet and a red magazine rack. 

 

Pretty soon she will be so filled up that I won't be able to move it out of the yard...I am trying to limit my decorating items!!!

 

Take care - I'll be updating "Miss Em" soon!

 

Bonnie 

 

 

 



 

Fall Has Arrived!

It's fall in Minnesota!  It was summer forever with all the heat and no rain.  But now I bet the fall will fly by bringing in winter before we want it!

I took some pictures of the wonderful colors at the shop...

Looks lots different from all the white and burlap!

 

Orange burlap pumpkin embellished with a little bird's nest
and green Spanish moss and cute berries!

 

Love black pumpkins 'n doily

on top of a coiled orange bowl!

 

After some pickin' tomorrow, its cleaning time in the barn to get ready for our series of October Farmgirls Country Sales - Oct. 5, 6, 12, & 13th!

 

Time to clean the paint off myself after an evening of paintin'!

 

Take care,

 

Bonnie 

 

I'm Talking Junk Bonanza!

Junk is more popular than ever!  Of course, my house is evidence of this phenomena! In the new barn and the old pole barn and the pole barn behind the pole barn...we're knee deep in JUNK!

So my visit to Junk Bonanza in Shakopee this last week was a little bit of heaven.  Hundreds of junk vendors to visit - basically all under one big roof.  Yay!

Ki Nassauer, in sage green jacket, is the creator of Junk Bonanza

Junk I bought to make more Junk for our sales!

Ki Nassauer is also editor of the Flea Market Style magazine, our junk bible!

It was so much fun to hang out with fellow Junk Queens - now to get busy and reimagine!

Take care,
Bonnie

Vintage Camper Love...

Today we finally got to go see the little vintage 1968 Manorette camper made in Chilton, WI, that my friend's son has for sale!  It's 16' long and I'm in love.  It's all wood interior - usually birch I guess.  The wood needs some repair but on the way home we discussed how to keep it intact and restore it.

I see the stainless steel stripe changing to red.

 



Curtains and cover on cushion

probably aqua/old green and red something.

 



Jadeite and red transferware belong here somewhere.

 



 

Microwave on the end of the counter. 

Going to contact paper the oven that doesn't work

with old green and white checks.

Now I know the restorer, my friend,

loves this Route 66 motif, but its not me at all. 

So I'm thinking 40's tablecloth and curtains to match.

 

The cushions are sage green

and that will be perfect with my red stuff.

So I'm still dreaming but as soon as I can find someone (Bob?) to haul it home - its probably going to be mine.  It will serve as a writers nook, guest cottage and grandkids hideaway!!!  Oh ya - and my own Margaritavilla to share with my friends!
Take care,

Bonnie

Nests and Feathers and Birds...

There is something fascinating about the world of birds.  I love their antics outside  my window, their varied homes, their offspring before and after hatching and their lovely feathers.

And those birdcages...the old ones are the best ones but can't get enough of different designs.  Standing or hanging those cages are so captivating - no really - they are captivating!!!

The little Dove sitting in a doily nest filled with music!

 

A little birdcage with little lights that holds the little Dove.
Two doily nests with speckled eggs!

Book page Feathers!

So I spend some time replicating things in the bird world.

Take care and remember our feathered friends!

Bonnie

Making Wool Roses...

After many months of looking at my felted wool and thinking it was time to use some of it, I made some wool roses.  Mary Engelbreit is a favorite illustrator of mine and I think these roses look like the ones she draws for her wonderful illustrations.

I used felted wool and cut 4 1/2" dia. circles. 
Then I cut as example shows, trying to keep width of cut equal as I could. 

 

Begin on the outside of the circle cut and roll up
 - the bottom should be flat.

 

This is the bottom and the edges are flat/even.

Beginning in the middle with needle and thread,

stitch to outside and then back to middle all the way around

so all the layers are secured.



I stitch down the little flap from the inside of the curve

and around part way so the bottom layer will curl up the flower.

 

Now you can trim the top edges

 if you have little frays like this one.

 

I haven't embellished anything yet but stay tuned.

The blue flower is a larger circle so you can see

how much fuller they can get! 

The wool I used is a true red...

some pics are pink and some are pinker!

I could add one to a sweater or pillow

or headband or bracelet or journal. 

In fact I just might add them to all of the above!!!

 

 

So there you are - a wool rose or two or three or five!!!  Let me know if you have a question!

 

Take care,

Bonnie

 

 

 

I'm Kinda Awesome Some Days...

I'm so proud of myself...last week my printer stopped - like wouldn't turn on.  So I putzed around for a couple of days, uninstalled the software, got terrible error messages, tried to reinstall, etc.  So today was the day...if I couldn't get it going, I was going to order a new one. 

 

Well – this morning I pushed the button and it came on!!!  The light lit up and so did I!  So I reinstalled the software and whew!  It works. 

 

Now I can use up the ink cartridges I had stockpiled.  In my search to determine what new printer to buy, I couldn’t find one that took my cartridges that I had in the drawer…around $100 worth or so. 

 

So now I can go shopping for something more fun - like a new electric toothbrush because that stopped working last week too!  I guess I could try downloading something from Oral B and see if that would revive my toothbrush!

I love this time of year…we had our first fresh corn on the cob with salad with our fresh from the garden tomatoes in it!  I could eat just corn...so good for the diet!!!  Not!

  

 

 

Well - we're off to go garagin' to find more treasures for our October sales!!!  I do love to shop!

 

Take care,

 

Bonnie

Whew! Now for a few days off...

I took a bunch of pics before Crazy Daze in Mora yesterday so I thought I would share a couple...

We sold the 1800's wedding dress so I brought this
dress in - I think cowgirl boots would complete this outfit!!!



Wouldn't this look cute on a screen porch?  or bedroom area?

A 1940's glove box completes this little vignette!

Well - off to play with a couple of my grandkids!  Time off for good behavior.

Take care and have a great weekend!!!

Bonnie

Summer Daze...

I feel like I've been in a daze most of the summer!  I'm not going to whine about the heat anymore but I think its beginning to cook my brain!

I've been pretty busy but my crafting speed has slowed down quite a bit.  There are days that go by and I've only accomplished a small part of the list I've made for myself.

A tussy mussy made with Hydrangea!

This was a "free" day to get some hats decorated.  It's 7:30 p.m. and one is done.  This is not productive so now I will stay up and try to get at least three decorated. 

I did make a trip in to the store, brought my wire mannequin for the vintage white lace dress and set up a tablescape.  The dress form is now in the window by the floor length mirror by the table with my newly finished round burlap/muslin ruffled tablecloth.

So that is why I am embellishing hats so I can place one at the top of the mannequin.  It's kinda fun decorating a moving target...so many things sell that its never quite the scene we plan...hence, moving target!

Three pillows I embellished with doilies, flowers,
 picture card and a little bling!

Off to finish up those hats...I'd like to sit and watch mindless TV for an hour before bed!!!

Take care and stay cool!

Bonnie

Working on the Weekend...

Projects done!

It's too hot!!!  We live in Minnesota - its not supposed to be this hot!!!  In spite of the heat - I don't like the heat!!! - I accomplished a few things and Hubby did too!

Hubby soaking stamps off of envelopes
 so he can put them in books or file!  He's so cute!

First I made myself another caftan...its cotton batik and so comfortable!  Nothing binding....

My go to comfort outfit in this heat!!!
Three yards of fabric, fold in half,
cut out a neckline,  turn neckline edges over,
 stitch edges using decorative stitches,
 and sew up the sides!

Then I got out the paint and painted two old gold mirrors (the plaster decorated kind) Vintage White.  They will be part of a vignette in the store I'm supplying decorating items to tomorrow!  I finished a muslin pillow with burlap rose on a burlap sleeve and added embellishments to a burlap wreath I made a while ago.

So now I'm off to make some tattered burlap and lace roses for more projects.  Stay tuned!!!  I love making flowers with fabric.  They all turn out so differently.

I hope you've had a glorious weekend!  After hitting 100 degrees tomorrow, we should cool down.  Come on - its Minnesota - turn off the heat!!!

Take care,

Bonnie

Aqua Lovely...

I collect art pottery...aqua is my favorite!

I love aqua...I have a board on Pinterest called...Aqua Lovely.  I have pinned 110 aqua things. 

Growing up we had an aqua kitchen - my Gram had an aqua kitchen.  I have an aqua corner cupboard in my kitchen...and on and on it goes.

When I see a Ball jar that's aqua, I buy it...I have lots of jars that are aqua.

This is where I store my price tags that are a rendition of a ball jar.  Aren't they lovely???

Just so you know that I love aqua!!!

Bonnie

Baltimore Orioles and Me!

Momma feeding baby grape jelly - you can see it on her beak!

Lately the Baltimore Orioles have been entertaining me.  It’s been too hot for me to feel like gardening and I’m paying the price for watching the birds eat grape jelly instead of pulling weeds…the weeds are winning.

Baby wants more!!!

Two years ago I had a wonderful red bowl and a jar of grape jelly so I put one in the other and stuck it on the top of the deck post.  Almost immediately, the Baltimore Orioles discovered their little buffet.  They've come back every year.

Siblings at the feeder...not fighting this time!

This is the first year that I’ve actually noticed their young ones at the trough with Mom and Dad.  I have counted at least four young ones and who knows how many parents - I can't tell one from another - yet! 

Waiting in line for sweets!

My computer is aimed right at their feeding bowls.  Yup – I added another bowl because there were some dust ups with the young ones.  I don’t like confrontation so I put another bowl up to lessen the arguments. 

Another bowl so less fighting!!!

It’s a blessing that I have a digital camera because I’ve taken a hundred photos of my babies…here’s a few.

Take care and feed the birds!!!  It's so much fun and almost free entertainment!

Bonnie