Hi everyone. Hope this week is going good for everyone. Do you like to collect antiques? I know I do. We actually use to have an antique business and sold American country primitives and refinished antique furniture. We did antique shows and then actually did open a small gift shop in the town we use to live outside of. The year right after we opened, a huge forest fire destroyed the area and no tourist came through and they closed the national forest that summer so that even stopped more summer traffic. Needless to say not a good time to open a store. Many small businesses had to close including our store. Oh well such is life.

We still like to collect antiques and if you do also I thought you might like to know the top 10 collectibles of 2012.

                                                                            

1.   Crocks – Crocks are the number one collectible for 2012. Crocks once used for canning and storing food, are now used for display.
2.   Quilts/Coverlets – Quilts and coverlets were brought to America during the Colonial period.
3.   Baskets – Decorating with baskets is a simply way to bring warmth to your home.
4.   Wooden Bowls – Fill with items to display in your home.
5.   Pewter – When the Colonists arrived pewter replaced woodenware.
6.   Yellowware – Colors range from a deep mustard yellow to a light butter-colored yellow depending on the location of where the clay was found. Very colorful for displaying in your cabinet.
7.   Vintage Textiles – Look great in a vintage cupboard. Mix and match colors and patterns.
8.   Dough Boards/Cutting Boards – These are becoming increasingly popular in decorating the primitive kitchen.
9.   Pantry Boxes – Colonial women used these to battle the bugs and critters to keep them out of the flour, sugar, coffee and other dry goods.
10. Vintage Cookie and Biscuit Cutters – These are fun to collect and are easily found at garage sales, thrift stores and antique shops. They display well in Mason jars.

                                                                                                                                             Reprinted in part from The Country Register of Minnesota

Interesting isn’t it. It amazes me how every few years the types of antiques people collect changes. I have a few of these items and do love crocks. Looks like I need to add to my collection of stuff. How about you?

Also wanted to tell you….most of the snow is gone!! After being buried in four feet of snow this winter (which is six months long!) we are finally melting it away! HURRAY!! J

 Well off to the sewing room. Have a great week everyone!

How is everyone’s week going? Mine has been busy as usual. Having trouble getting motivated to finish getting all of my work done to be ready for the summer markets here. I really need to make sure I have enough products as I am doing two markets a week this summer and that is going to take a lot of merchandise. Seems other obligations keep getting in the way. I did have time to make this little crow pillow. I just love to make these little stitchery pillows.

                                                                        

Ok, enough about my stuff. I don’t know if you noticed, but I have two websites. One is my Etsy shop and the other is my own website that I built. I use DIYeStores for my hosting company and they are the ones that helped with my website. They are wonderful people so if any of you want to start your own website these are the people to go to. Anyway…..they are having a Pin It To Win It contest. So, do any of you use Pinterest? I am telling you what an addictive social media! It is fun, but man oh man does it take up a lot of your time if you let it and that is what happens to me. You can go to this website http://diyestores.com/pinterestcontest.html to get the information on the contest. You will have the chance to win one of the products you have pinned. So if you like to pin, which I certainly do, hop on over to the website and get started pinning. Of course, then you need to find the time to pin. J

I need to get going as I have some commitments to my volunteering to do. And I wonder why I don’t have time to get my sewing done. I will post again soon. I did get a new recipe for a great salad for those warm summer nights and Food For Thought done so check them out. I am still thinking about how to get some of my stitchery patterns on here. Also want to try my hand at designing some small quilts. Guess when I get time……oh what is that. J

Well here we are…another Wednesday upon us. How has everyone’s week been going? Was everyone's Easter weekend nice? I finished a couple of stitchery pillows this week. This is one of them. I call her my Annie pillow.

I told you last week that I would be doing an article about the art of decorating your home. So here it is. Enjoy. :)

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE LOOK

The way you decorate your home says a great deal about your personality and your style. Follow these easy steps to guide and assist you in achieving the look your desire.

·         Display in odd numbers-Displaying items in groups of 1, 3 or 5 creates a casual, less staged look. Landscaper’s plant in groupings of 3, as it is more appealing to the eye.

·         Add soft to hard-Textiles are a simple and great way to soften a display. To add some character to your display, try draping a piece of homespun fabric out of a crock or add a runner underneath a table display.

·         Use different shapes, sizes and colors-Combine shapes and sizes to add interest; play with textures and color combination. Combine functional and decorative items. Use game boards, cutting boards and breadboards as backdrops. Start with these items at the back of your display and work your way forward. Using dark accents on a light background and vice versa is a great way to make your collectibles stand out.

·         Vary heights-By varying the heights of objects, the eye will flow easily around the collection. If the objects are the same size, try placing some of them on risers of different heights. Old books or wooden bowls turned upside down work great to give your items the additional height they may need.

·         Group like things together-Create a bigger impact by grouping like things together. Showcase rocks or a collection of pewter in a cabinet to create an impressive, visual statement. Hang similar items on a pegboard for a uniform, uncluttered look. People will notice your items more if they are displayed in groups rather than scattered throughout a room.
                                                                                   

Reprinted by permission from The Country Register of Minnesota

Be sure to check out the new recipe. I think I will try this one. I always need a new chicken recipe.  Hope everyone has a great week and weekend. See you next week. J

Sorry I didn’t get an update done last week. I was off visiting family and friends. Had a nice time. The weather was wonderful. It was in the 70’s and I actually got to see the ground! Up where I live we have snow and ice on the ground for six months out of the year so we don’t get to see the ground for six months! When I did get back we were starting to go into our break-up which is wonderful. That is what we call “spring” as all the ice and snow starts to break up and move out. We actually can see dirt on the road in front of our house. That is always a wonderful sight.

Well I did get two pillows made since I got back. They are lodge themed pillows. I have done pretty well selling these. They make really good gifts for anyone with a weekend cabin or a lodge/rustic décor.

I sell eStitchery patterns on my websites and I have free patterns in the Country Register so I am thinking on doing some patterns on this blog. What do you think? Now, if I can just figure out how to get them on here. That is the trick since I am one of those “non techy” people. I must say tho….I am learning a lot about the cyber world.

Don’t forget to check out our new recipe. We can always use a good recipe for tuna. Also, check out our Food For Thought. Next week I will be posting another article from the Country Register. It will be on the art of displaying and how to achieve the look. Also coming soon I think I will do a word scrabble if I can figure out how to get it all on here. I always liked those.

Enough blabbing for now. Off to the sewing room.  Hope you all have a great week!