June showers

The month of June, so far, has been as wet as May was dry.  At least when it's raining I am getting things accomplished that really need to be--like a few more journals to add to the shop.  And, working on the list of projects that I was sure I would get done over the winter, but still haven't. 

There are always a couple small summer knitting projects also.  This is a pattern that I am modifying a little--I need to rip out a few rows and do it a little differently.  If it is a success I will post some pictures when finished.

There is always a dishcloth in progress, as I am in desperate need of some new ones.

With the start date on our house getting very near, we thought we better get going on the bathroom vanities.  One vanity {as yet to be found/built??} will use an antique marble top we found, and the other will be made from this dresser, which we have had for some time.  Saturday we shopped for sinks, came home and started in on it...

I traced out the template and Mike did the cutting...the sink went in perfectly.  Now the more complicated part will be modifying the inside and the drawers to accommodate the plumbing--I'll be sure to get some photos so you can see how Mike makes it all work.

Our pre-cast basement walls are scheduled to be delivered a week from today--weather permitting--so I am hoping and praying that clouds will be rained out by then!

Where Women Create Magazine Giveway

My sincerest apologies for not being back here the end of last week with a giveaway, as promised.  I kept meaning to fit it in, but instead I got carried away working on journals, launching a new shop website, mowing and trimming trees, shrubs, and blackberries on our property, and enjoying a Memorial Day picnic and flea market.  It was a great weekend, but now that life has settled back to normal I am happy to announce the giveway ~ an issue of the latest Where Women Create magazine.  Jo Packham, Creator & Editor-in-Chief, has kindly sent me a copy to give to one of you.  

It is an honor for me to be included in this May/June/July issue.  Jo Packham, besides a creative genius, is an absolute pleasure to work with, going out of her way to be kind and helpful.   The current issue features the work spaces of Bethany Kramer, Anne Freund, Beckah Krahula, Betz White and more.  As always, it is full of inspiring photographs and stories.

If you would like to enter to win a copy, please leave your comment below.    

• This is open to all readers, even if you are outside the US.
• Only one comment accepted per person
• Comments will be accepted until end of day Sunday, May 31, 2015
• Winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced on Monday, June 1, 2015

Thank you dear readers and customers for all your support,

Deb

Finally, a Fall update....

 

Some new items can now be found in the shop...thanks for taking a look!

journal giveaway results

A most grateful thank you to all who

entered the journal giveaway;

and your {much too} kind remarks are sincerely

appreciated!

Here are the results:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

83

Timestamp: 2012-10-10 23:44:25 UTC

Congratulations to Connie:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "some of my summer handiwork and a giveaway":

hi deb.....thanks so much for the opportunity to win one of your lovely journals.

connie

Thanks again,

Deb

 

some of my summer handiwork and a giveaway

         Over the course of the summer, many spare moments were spent working on some homespun goodness for a local craft festival.  The week of the event quickly arrived, and with it an unexpected family event for that very same day.  I never made it to the craft festival, but that turned out just fine as I now have some things to offer at firefly farm goods, which has been sitting quite empty all summer. 
Here's a bit of what I've been working on over the summer:

{ drawstring pouches }

{ recycled book cover journals }

{ some flea market treasures }

{ sugar sack & leather tote bag }

{ some zipper pouches }

Best of all, I would like to give away one of the

recycled book cover journals to one of you!

This journal is 5.25 inches wide x 7.5 inches tall.

Inside you'll find 100 sheets of acid-free blank white paper

plus pages of black & white nature illustrations

from an old book. 

It can hold your writing, drawing, or scrapbooking momentos... 

To enter the giveaway drawing,

just leave me a comment.

This is open to all readers, even if you

are outside the US.

And, if you are an anonymous commenter,

be sure to leave your email address.

Comments will be accepted until

end of day tomorrow, Tuesday October 9, and I will announce a winner

on Wednesday, October 10.

Thank you all for taking the time to stop by and visit!

Deb

*Note:  Comments are now closed and a winner will soon be announced--thanks for entering!!

household notes...

From the hen house:

It's been an exceptional summer for eggs--apparently

the girls don't mind the hot, dry weather we've been

having.  So, besides smoothies, I've been making

a lot of Dutch pancakes for breakfast--perfect

with some fresh-from-the-garden strawberries or blueberries

and a dusting of powdered sugar.

~

In the garden: we're been picking zucchini,

peppers, cucumbers, collard greens,

cherry tomatoes, more blueberries, and just yesterday

got some green beans and full size tomatoes.

~

In the kitchen: I had some dried blueberries left

from last year, which I made into some of 

Hazel's famous lemon blueberry scones. 

I bought three different kinds

of local honey at the Amish store--buckwheat,

basswood, and clover--and discovered that I love

clover honey in my English breakfast tea.

The basswood is very mild flavored and perfect

in my early morning cup of mint tea.

The buckwheat honey, I found out, has great

medicinal value, and so I have been adding that

to our morning green smoothies.

~

Thankfully the living room/dining room/hall

painting--both walls and floor--was finished

yesterday.  I can't wait to get all the furniture

back in place, and, I don't want to see another

roller or paint brush for quite some time :)

~

On the fun side, there's a bit of journal crafting being

done for an upcoming August festival, as well

as lots of sewing yet to be finished...

~

Hope your weekend is happy!...Deb

sunny days

The last of the vintage book cover

planners & journals were mailed out

yesterday.  Thank you all for your

purchases and comments...

and if you would like to leave a link

to your own vintage book project

I would love to see it.

All my book-making supplies have

been packed away for now,

and I'm back at the sewing machine

making some more bags... 

The light has changed lately...the sunshine is

brighter and it's still light out

as I'm fixing dinner.

The daily morning walk

is much more enjoyable.

We've had hardly any snow this

winter, and already I hear birds singing

in the trees, a flock of geese passed overhead,

and the tulips & rhubarb are just poking their

heads out.

This morning was a bit frosty,

but spring is definitely in the air...

The ladies are loving it too

and giving me 10 to 12 beautiful eggs

a day--it's feast or famine here

when it comes to egg production :)

~

Hope it's sunny where you are,

Deb

vintage planner/journal tutorial ~ part III

Have you started on your vintage book project yet?...

The possibilities are endless when it comes

to the insides of your vintage book cover notebook:

• calendars
• planning/organizing pages
• blank/lined pages
• artwork pages for subject dividers
• scrapbooking papers
• use your imagination!

A paper cutter and adjustable 3-hole punch

make the job a bit easier,

but you can certainly get by without.

A little Fiskars punch is handy

for rounding corners...

Gummed index tabs are nice for making

your own subject dividers...

And red bordered labels...my favorite!

For more pictures of the insides of these

books, see my set on Flickr here.

For those of you who were interested

in purchasing one, these four are available

as follows:

*SOLD* Beginning French Planner

• 2012 'Daytimer' weekly/monthly calendars w/tabs
• 5 artwork subject dividers
• lined notepaper
• measures approximately 5.5" x 8.5"
• Price $35 USD ~ free domestic shipping

*SOLD* Merle's Crusade Journal/Notebook

• 150 sheets blank vintage paper
• 16 sheets nature-inspired illustrations
• measures approximately 5" x 7.5"
• Price $ 25 USD ~ free domestic shipping

*SOLD* Dorothy In California Planner/Journal

• 2012 'DayRunner' tabbed month-in-view calendar
• 120 sheet lined paper
• 12 sheets months-of-the-year illustrations
• elastic strap closure
• measures approximately 5" x 7.5"
• Price $25 USD ~ free domestic shipping

*SOLD*  Past & Present {Silver Embossed Cover} Journal/Notebook

• 90 sheets blank paper {cream color}
• random sheets of classic poetry
• elastic strap closure
• measures approximately 3.75" x 6"
• Price $25 USD ~ free domestic shipping 

~

Just email me if interested--I will be

happy to ship internationally--just let me know

and I will give you a quote on shipping.

~

Happy Crafting!

Deb