The Fruits of My Labor ~ Primitives ~N~ Spring Part #1

Is it too early to start thinking Spring?

My dusting day turned into a full fledged mess, I must say.  Always starts out as a small task at hand and

somehow I end up with the whole room...completely torn apart.

This area in my dining room is where my Natural Tree was this Christmas, finally took it down yesterday.

The display I put together to take it's place. 

This is about the only real sign of spring I added to this area.  

It's more of an everyday gathering, I reckon

This wooden cubby was in my kitchen until I made the stepback cupboard.

It has finally found a new "permanent" home

sitting atop a large wooden box, I think it makes for a great look.

Filled with needfuls aka junk 

I aged some cheesecloth to use as a make-do valance for the windows in here, nothing fancy.

Tomorrow I will share my Primitives ~N~ Spring Part #2

The Sawbuck Table Vignette

Thanks to all my wonderful and faithful friends who leave such sweet comments for me.  Each one of them brightens my day and warms my heart!

Blessings,

Traci

Awesome Find...Honey!

Rural Mountain Life has it's disadvantages...

such as

 -the convenience of water & sewage services like offered in town, 

 no natural gas supply piped by our house, no cable TV service and

no garbage pick-up service either

BUT, there is also advantages to these disadvantages!

We have to take our bags of down the hill for pickup, all the neighbors on our mountain share a dumpster.  

Well, last night it was hubby's turn to do so.  He was so excited when he returned to tell me about the

Dumpster Delights he had found

Now, who on earth would throw these treasures away?

Not me but I'm glad one of our neighbors did!

Antique Wooden Carriage Wheel

a couple spokes are missing but who cares, not me

A set of wood, metal and brass Hames

which go around the horse's collar 

Whoa Nelly!!!!!

Great score Hubby!!!!

We had another blast of snow last night....it was falling at record speed

about 6" in an hour or so...thankfully it stopped when it did.

We woke to pretty white this morning, blue skies and sunshine!

Today I'm off to do some cleaning (mostly dusting....where does it all come from?), maybe some rearranging/decorating.  There have been some ideas floating around in my noggin for a few days now.  Might just have to act on them.

Have a Great Day!

Traci

Girls Day Out... Friday

No School = Girls Day Out

Yesterday my best girl, Maygan and I had a day out.  Boy, oh, boy we put some miles on!  Hit up every thrift shop in a 100 mile radius I think.  What started out as a small venture turned into and All Day Adventure.

First we traveled across the NY state line to visit some junk stores and JoAnns.  We got lunch To-Go and sit

by the frozen Lake Chautauqua...picture above, Maygan braving the very wet snow while Mom takes a picture.

A couple of my finds...thought the little Love Poems book was a great find with Valentine's Day coming up.

Dusty Baskets...looking through the dust I can see some Tulips for Spring and Red Geraniums for Summer in the twig basket...the lil' ones, who knows, I just like little ones.

Back in PA now and traveling west...  glad we didn't have to travel in this

open Amish Buggy yesterday.

Yep, still behind them... going up a hill and look close

there's another one coming towards us (at least they have a closed buggy).  We are in Amish Country!

A stop at a little shop in Corry....  found some to *die for fabrics* and a couple candle hangers.

Didn't buy as much fabric as I wanted to ;)

Same town...at the Whistle Stop Antique Store this time

found some old blue jars w/zinc lids, tins and a lemon extract bottle

close-up of the bottle

♥ love old bottles, especially with their original labels ♥

In our travels I also found a book of vintage sheet music, some wooden candlesticks for primitive make-do bases, a paddle cutting board, & May found some books to read.

We had a great day!

Lots of laughter & love shared during our journey.

Tonight I will spending the evening with another one of my loves...  my hubs...  It's our Anniversary Eve.

Hope you get to spend some time with the ones you love...

Traci

Every Small Town in America...needs this to happen

I read this story on Yahoo News last evening....

warmed my heart!

~click here to read the article~

We are fortunate where we live to have small family owned businesses left.  I regularly

shop the local "feed" store...Agway, we have a small hardware, barber/hunting & fishing store, diners/restaurants, local pharmacy, non-corporate owned gas station and a hair salon.  We try to patronize these places often.  

If only everyone in America did the same.  Next time you need something....think about the "little guy"

first, you may pay a few cents more for the item in need but you will be making a big difference in the life of an

American business man/woman.

*Instead of "big box" grocers and department stores....visit your local farmers for

fresh eggs & produce...heck even meat for your table.  I love stopping at road side stands to shop.

*Instead of "big home improvement" stores...visit your local nurseries for your garden supplies, plants and seeds.

*Instead of visiting "big" garages the next time your oil needs changed or new tires..visit the little hometown service station.

*Instead of "department" stores...visit a local gift shop/craft show/or independent artist for your candles & pretties.

*Instead of complaining about the "big box" stores taking over...do something about it!  As an American....help an American, it's how it all started and it's what we need to do to keep America...America!

Nine times out of ten...they will remember and greet you by name the next time you visit.  They will know what you want to drink when you sit down at the table to order your meal.

I've personally been there, a small town retail business owner and it is tough trying to survive.

God Bless America,

Traci

Tidbits of HOMEspun Happiness

I ♥ Fabric

Calico, Feedsack, Burlap, Canvas, Flannel, Corduroy, Wool, Denim

old fabric....new fabric

Love the endless possibilities that even just a yard of fabric holds.

and I have quite a stash of beloved fabric!

but....I ♥love♥ HOMESPUN

 " True homespun fabric has a long history and can be made from many fibers.  Flax and wool yarns being spun for cloth dates back over 20,000 years. "

 " In the US and Canada we often associate homespun fabric with pioneer life. "

This is an Antique Barn Loom that I photographed at the Blockville Historical Festival last fall.

It is more for rug weaving but love it just the same.

Homespun Dress I made for a special order

Katie's Homespun Dress

Braided Homespun Mat I'm working on

Olde Wood N Homespun

Braided Homespun Egg

I like to make braided Homespun Baskets too

Homespun Pillow

Homespun Pieced Mat made by Mom

Homespun Quilt

Dolls dressed in Homespun

I have tidbits of homespun fabric throughout my home... and lots of it

in my fabric stash...so many 

colors & patterns ........checks & plaids

That's why I ♥ Homespun

Wishing you a Happy HOMEspun Day,

Traci 

Hey All!!!!

Good Monday Morning....

Let me start by saying...I hope all of our friends to the south are well this morning.  I seen on the news this

a.m. that a line of severe storms that spawned many tornadoes went through their area early today.

We are in store for some gusty winds ourselves today...up to 50mph

Stay Safe! Everyone

We had a busy weekend...  Saturday evening~ party at friends house.. we did a "junk" gift exchange, it

is always a blast to see what people dig up to bring as their gift...this year there were adult diapers, vibrating slippers, a raw egg and many more funny gifts involved, LOL

Yesterday we had family come to visit...

A couple new little prims I recently purchased to go with my prim sewing collection

a needle keep doll and a vintage quilt pin keep pillow

This is the stack of orders ready to depart today..hope the lady at the PO is ready ;)

A few snapshots I took yesterday...

X marks the spot...  a picture I took yesterday while out feeding the birds

two jet streams that crossed

a winter re-tweet

but no birdies home!

this always amazes me (yes, I know it doesn't take much, LOL)

how the snow can hang over the edges like this and not fall off

I have another busy week in store of me...  

~hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and wishing you great week ahead!

Blessings, Traci

Thank you...and .... a Quickie in the Bushes

Thanks to you fine ladies that took the time today to help figure out my problem.

I took Amy's advice and updated my browser to google chrome and it seems to be working!

Now I just need to get used to the new browser....LOL..

Quickie in the Bushes.
There are two statues in a park; one of a nude man and one of a nude woman. They had been facing each other across a pathway for a hundred years, when, one day, an angel comes down from the heavens and, with a single gesture, brings the two to life.

The angel tells them, "As a reward for being so patient through a hundred blazing summers and dismal winters, you have been given life for thirty minutes to do what you've wished to do the most."

The male statue looks at the female, and she looks at him. Then, without 
a word, they run together into the shrubbery.

The angel waits patiently while the bushes rustle and sounds of laughter ensue. After fifteen minutes, the two former statues walk out of the bushes, breathless and laughing.

The angel says to them, "Um, you have fifteen minutes left; would you care 
to do it again?"

The male turns to his female counterpart and asks, "Shall we?"

She eagerly replies, "Oh, yes, let's! But let's change positions...... 

This time, I'll hold the pigeon down and you crap on its head." 

     What were you thinking? 

Haha...got this in an email from my SIL today...too funny!

Thank again....Hugs,

Traci

Have a Problem...could someone please

venture over to my selling blog and see if you can access

the following pages

Olde ~N~ Early Primitives

Ragged ~N~ Worn Teddy Bears

Folk Art Birds ~N~ Fowl

I did updates on the first two pages this morning and I can't access them on my computer.  I can see them when I "preview" the page, but once it's published, I click on the page and it turns up white/blank.

here's the link to the blog

http://yorkmountainmercantilesales.blogspot.com/

I don't know if it's a blogger problem or a problem with the page format...

Thank You!

Traci

Last Night

we had ferocious winds, along with rain/sleet, then snow

Our electric began to flicker and we know all too well, after three flickers,

it's going out...and it did.

while sitting, enjoying the quiet by the light of the oil lamps, I started thinking...

time seems to slow down when there is no electricity.

Why?...

maybe because one doesn't have all those digital clocks staring at you

 with their brightly illuminated numbers...

they are everywhere.... kitchen stoves, microwaves, alarm clocks...on & on & on.

As the night crept on...slowly...I just looked around my dimly lit home...seems to look

so much better by the light of oil lamps and candles.  Warm and Cozy

I went to bed thinking that I was born in the wrong century (I think this often)

..or maybe I'm a reincarnation of an old soul that walked & worked this land hundreds of years ago.  Just yearning for the days of old.  The simple ways, the simple life.

Simply,

Traci

New Offerings to Share

Kitty Krazy Annie

she'll be listed on Ebay

Three Little Prim Teddies

They are up for adoption on my selling blog

The creative juices are flowing and boy does it feel good.  Usually this time of year they seem to freeze up on me, LOL.  So far, so good!

Austin left this morning to go back to college...the house is soooo quiet.

Wishing you a Happy Day!

Traci

Revamped, Reworked, Refreshed

Those three R's.....aRe what I have been up to.

Revamped, reworked & refreshed both my selling blog and this one.  I just can't seem to leave things the same way for too long.  Guess it's like rearrranging the furniture!

Speaking of refreshed, we have a brand new blanket of snow...it's super cold & windy outside.  The weather changed overnight and plunged us into winter once again.

Here are some pictures of the outdoors earlier today

Lil' Hemlock all struggling under the weight of ice & snow

Just after the plow went through (for the 2nd time), I believe it was up our road 4 times today.

Overnight icicles

This is my most recent finish

Lil Sleepy Pantry Mouse ~N~ Cheese

(mouse pattern by Staglane Primitives)

I thought the picture was cute, reminded me of a cozy winter day so I used the pic to make a new header.

Also finished up a couple more early offerings and a different Mouser today, I have listed all my newest handmades on my website for sale.  Still trying to rework my selling blog some so I'm holding off listing things there for a bit. 

I'm off to find my flannel pj's and snuggle in....

Hoping to have a cozy, winter weekend

and

I wish you the same

XOXOX

Traci

Let's Catch Up....

My blog isn't off to a very good start for the New Year...

glad I didn't make a resolution to blog more because it would have already fallen

by the wayside  ;)

So, let's see what has happened since the last time I did a real post....

Austin is still home on break from college, he and I took off on Tuesday

junkin'..didn't find too much..but it's always fun to hang out & have lunch!

He's got the best sense of humor of anyone I know so it's always a blast.

I'm sorry to say that our little Baxter (Maygan's hamster) passed away late last Saturday night,  I bottle fed him for 7 1/2 days.  He just wasn't getting any better, sad to see him go but really for the best.  Something I learned through googling his symtoms...hamsters are considered an exotic pet (hense the vet's in our area not knowing or being able to do anything) and he was not the only one with the same exact symtoms .  I found  some other cases in which most of the hammies passed within 1-2 days if not sooner.

I had plans of spending this entire week in the sewing room...yea, you know how plans change.

Maygan woke up at 2 o'clock am yesterday morning with symtoms of a bladder infection, luckily I was able to get her into the doc yesterday morning.  She's on antibiotics now but still home today.  Yes, she IS going to school tomorrow, LOL...

In the meantime I have focused my efforts on some new Early Style Primitives for my website.  They are my

absolute favorite to make and decorate with.  The grubbier, dirtier and those with the most patches and mends are the best in my book, so imperfect that they're perfect!  Made to look like they were pulled out of a much earlier era.



Here's a couple newbies

What's inside?



Early Peg Hanger Pocket

 Also been digging through my "pattern archives"...I have many designs that I haven't made for years, some since I had my Ebay store back in 2006 & 2007..  yikes..has it been that long!

I will be updating my website with new wares daily (I hope, unless of course my plans change)

So, now I'm off to the sewing room, if you need me, that's where I'm be..

Traci

Sale listings starting today on Ebay

I have been going through boxes and boxes of

Handmade Primtiives

It's time to move some of them

so

I have started listing them on Ebay as cheap, cheap starting bids.

 Will continue to list items through the weekend and am also

happy to combine shipping.

Visit my Ebay or type yMpSALE into ebay search bar.

There will be a little bit of everything!!!

New Year...New Look at the Homestead

Changing things up after the holidays....

always looks bare once the decorations come down

Starting in the Living Room

New Vignettes

Baskets & Pillows

Candles & Bibles

Favorite Old Wooden Boxes

Make-Do Lantern I made from

salvaged wood from my Dad's Barn

Crocks, Fur Stretchers & Quilts

Trying to take it room by room and I admit

I still have one tree up (my primitive natural tree)

Our little buddy Baxter is sick

I've called the vets (none of which seem to be familiar with hamsters), called the pet stores to see

if they could shed light on what may be wrong, I have bottle fed and held him close for 6 days, shed more weight in tears than what he weighs, prayed for his recovery

and now,  I pray for peace for the little guy.

How is it that such a little critter can become such a part big of your family?

Say a little prayer if you would for him...

Hugs to All,

Traci