The Stone Fence Cottage

Something's gotta give.......

2011-11-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!

How is everyone doing this fine November day?? Looks like the Christmas frenzy is on my doorstop already!! So much to do and so little time, it seems.

I've been putting off this blog post for a while. I love blogs! I love visiting everyone's blogs and learning so many interesting things!!! So much eye candy to see!!! I get so inspired by the creativity y'all share. I've met so many wonderful people in Blogland. I am truly blessed.

But me blogging?? Not so much. I have really struggled back and forth with this the last couple of years since I've been blogging. I don't enjoy it. It's like a chore to me..... I find myself putting it off because frankly, the time spent writing a post and getting photos together could be spent doing something else more creative-at least for me.

I'm one of those kind of people who never kept a diary as a teen. Journals? Forget it. Even art journels never got past 1 week of entries. Facebook??? I might post a status update every month or so.

The hubster offered to get me an Ipad2 or Droid type thingy for Christmas so I could blog and get on Facebook and Twitter more easily. I turned him down. It would be a total waste for me--I really have no interest in being that "connected" anymore.

I'm kind of a private person-at least about myself. I've never felt a need to share my life out in the open. I'm kind of boring like that. I truly admire those of you that can be so expressive and interesting in your blogs. Plus the photography skillz!!! I'm the first to admit I SUCK at photography. I'm usually completely done a project before it occurs to me to take pictures.

So...for now at least.....I'll be visiting ya'll as usual (I'd post more but sometimes Blogger won't recognize meor let me post) but as far as new posts go.....I'll be hanging up my keyborad for a bit. Everyone have a Happy Holiday!!! Thanks so much for all of your support, comments and encouragement!!!!

Hasta La Vista, Baby!!!

Tamera

Fixin' some tacky!

2011-10-23T20:29:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!!

I wanted to share a quick and easy tutorial on how to spiff up something you might already have.

I found this nice little soap & lotion set at Marshalls for $4.99. I thought it would look nice in my guest bathroom as I entertain a bit. I see these alot at Christmas time in the gift aisle. They pop up at thrifts and yardsales, too. You can always put new lotion and soap in the containers.

Here they are. I had already painted the gold basket black to match other stuff I have in the bathroom. Those labels were just not cutting it. So TWO hours before I have a whole house full of guests for a surprise bridal shower I get an idea. I'll take the labels off!

Well, that turned out to be impossible. Now they look like rats have been chewing them. I said I had an idea, never said it was a GOOD one...LOLOL.

Then I thought-I'll cover them!! It's not like I don't have enough paper to stock a craft store.

I chose this paper as it was subtle and matched other items in the room. but it needed SOMETHING!! So off to http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ I went!! I found some black and white french labels I liked and downloaded them. I also chose a round frame.

I measured the size of the original labels. I imported the new graphics into my graphics program (I use PrintShop) and sized them to fit over the old labels. I also used the round frame I downloaded to make a little tag with an S or L in it. I was able to manipulate the frame into an oval.

I cut my paper to fit the printer and printed them off. I cut out the labels and frames with my deckle scissors. I distressed the edges with Distress Ink in Sepia.

Now mind you I am about 1 hour from the shower. Normally I would've sprayed with clear matte spray to seal and then Mod-Podge them on. I sprayed the clear but used spray glue to attach.

Here they are!! I know the "S" is a bit off center but I was RUSHING!!

In the holder. MUCH BETTER!!

Here it is in the bathroom. I added the fall floral pick to dress it up. I plan on doing this for the different seasons. I can also refill them as needed. I had several compliments on how cute it was and where did I get it!!

I want to do another one for the Master Bath in a more "cottage" theme. Spray the holder Heritage White and distress with glaze. I think I'll print some of the gorgeous color labels the Graphics Fairy has and decorate the holder with some silk flowers and vintage ribbons.

While I was at http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ looking for the labels I also printed a gorgeous purple frame I used to make the monogram medallion for the top of the cake I made. The Bride-to-be loved it!!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Many Thanks!!!!

2011-10-15T15:54:00.002-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!!

I cannot express my gratitude to everyone who sent their kind words and lifted prayers for our family during this time of my Dad's illness and passing. It meant so much and I am sending a hug to you all!!! I wish I had time to email each of you personally!

We are all getting back to normal (or whatever normal is for me..lol) He went so peacefully-it was a blessing. No more pain, no more suffering. My step-mom is doing good....I think she is almost a bit relieved. It was so hard for her to see him like he was at the end...helpless to do anything.

My Dad when he was serving as a town councilman in the late 80's

I was clearing out my vegetable garden this morning and got a bit teary-eyed. My dad was an avid gardener and I definitely got my love from him. He taught me a lot about gardening. I got my love of reading from him. He introduced me to James Michener when I was a teenager. His favorite Michener was "Chesapeake"--think I'll have to get that out of the library soon and re-read it in his memory.

Not much has been going on at The Stone Fence Cottage the last few weeks. I did manage to hit up a nice yard sale in my travels. A nice haul for $2!!

Cute little Santa planter!

Ceramic Mary &Joseph--this is gonna get the heritage white spraypaint & glaze treatment!

Country Santa for the Santa Colection.

Nice brown & cream crock

Cute green USA pitcher and some 70's plastic mushrooms.

GORGEOUS vintage picnic basket!! Someday I want to rughook a cover for it!

Lots to do this week-I am SO behind and Christmas is around the corner!! Thanks for stopping by and y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Tamera

The race is over......

2011-10-04T19:12:00.000-04:00

My Dad passed peacefully today at 4:30pm after a long battle with multiple illnesses. He fought the good fight until the end and I am thankful he is no longer suffering so. Please keep us in prayer.
Thanks-Tamera

Dad

2011-10-01T20:38:00.001-04:00

Hiya Blogland!

I will be incognito for a bit. My Dad has been very ill and entered in hospice care today.
Please keep our family in prayer. They say it won't be very long.

Thanks-
Tamera

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-09-23T15:50:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!! It's another rainy day at The Stone Fence Cottage. Where was all of this rain when my tomatoes needed it in July?? I'm feeling like a slug today, so glad it's my Friday off! A good day for a cup of tea and snuggling under an afghan in the recliner with Mr. Bill and KaeKae to watch my tv boyfriend Mark Harmon (Gibbs, NCIS-hubba hubba!!).

I found this gorgeous old picture at the Goodwill this week. The frame was nicely carved but painted an ugly black. A spritz of Heritage White and some glaze made a huge improvement. It's not really as yellow as it shows in the before:

Hanging in the living room. It was hard to get a good picture of it with the glare from the glass. The colors are soft tans and greens. I LOVE it!! It's definitely a really old print--could find no signature but based on the type of paper and the style--I'm guessing turn of the century. Not bad for $2!!!

Now that I FINALLY got the cast off of my arm (the knee one still remains for now) I was able to finish some hooking UFO's.

Yarn hooked sheep and strawberry mat that now hangs in the kitchen (covering the weirdly placed unused phone jack)

Table runner made from recycled plaid skirts. I love to hook with them because you never quite know how they will turn out. I picked up a HIDEOUS navy blue and orange plaid 70's maxi skirt that I can't wait to see how it hooks.

Close-up of star. This runner when to a dear friend at church as a surprise blessing.

Mr. Bill and KaeKae helping me recycle wool. Hey, it's really TIRING supervising and looking cute!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

Heritage Days and weekend loot

2011-09-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland! Yesterday was the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg. I live right in town--in fact, all the houses around me were here during the battle. The lot where our house now stands was the neighbors garden. Confederate troops camped here during the battle.

Cute picture of Ms. KaeKae napping in the sunshine on a pile of wool I'm recycling.

Unfortunately, we got some surprise rain which cut short my attendance. Plus I over-estimated how much I could walk with the cast on my knee. I'm paying the price but oh well...

Oh, yeah. There are no pictures because I forgot to charge the camera's extra battery and the one in the camera was dead as a doornail. DUH!!!!

The hubster and I went down to the firehouse for the pancake breakfast.( He went back later in the day to pick up their bar-b-cued chicken platters for dinner) We then walked around a bit. There were lots of yard sales in town and the main street was set up for craft vendors and such.

I got to spend some time in a member of our rug guild's booth. Here's a shout-out to Caroline of Eagle's Nest Woolen's! http://www.eaglesnestwoolens.blogspot.com/ Her booth was wonderful and I of course had to buy some wool for hooking! Her charming hubster Ron-who is also a rug hooker, and another guild member Mary were also there.

The yard sales were kinda dismal for me--I'm not into tupperware or kids stuff. My backyard neighbor's friends were holding a yard sale in their yard and I was able to snatch up some goodies CHEAP--like $3 for all!

Gorgeous plates-a Royal Dalton, Homer Mclaughlin, and Edwin Knowles. These are destined as wall art in the bedroom.

Here's a close-up of the sweet cottage on the Edwin Knowles platter.

A feather tree!!! That's my work area in the craft palace. The table top is neat for a moment.

A flat feather tree. Gotta redo the can holding it--it says CAT. Nothing a little spray paint and a vintage label can't improve.

Here's the ornaments that were on the trees. some are vintage and some not. LOVE the green glass garland!

Close-up of one of the ornaments which turned out to be a pin. I'm going to adapt this idea into pins or ornaments.

My next door neighbors are a darling elderly couple. Miss Alice is 90 years young. She does ceramics as a hobby (she once owned a ceramics shop) She was selling some of her work yesterday and I had to buy some.

Sweet children and snowman for our daughter.

Gorgeous Santa for my collection.

Amazing detail!

Raffia-look pumpkin.

Well, off to take some drugs...I think I caught a bit of a cold yesterday and I want to KNOCK it out now!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Autumn has arrived!

2011-09-15T19:06:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!! Autumn has finally arrived at The Stone Fence Cottage!!! The temps arer only going to be in the 60's this weekend. I LOVE it.

Now that I am having my own "personal summers" or "power surges"( you ladies of a a certain age know what I be talking about!) I can't wait for cooler/cold weather. You can put on more clothes to get warm. There is only so much you can take off when it's hot before you get arrested or scare small pets and children.

Gratuitous photo of the most stylish dog in Sharpsburg looking cute. She helped take the pictures. Mr. Bill is camera-shy and it's hard to get a good pic of him. Not Ms. Thang!!! She sees the camera and starts posing and preening!

I did my outside decorating this week. This weekend is the Sharpsburg Heritage Festival-which commemorates the 149th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Antietam. We will have loads of tourists and visitors in town. I live on the major cross street about 1 block from all the festivities and I want my home/yard to look nice.

First up is a trash to treasure project. I have been wanting something to hang on my mailbox that i could change throught the seasons/holidays. And of course I wanted it for CHEAP!

I found two metal flower holders at the Salvation Army for $1 each. They are the same size but not exactly alike (one has handles) . They had some ugly painting on them. I THINK one was a chicken but I'm not so sure!

I drilled some small holes in the bottoms for drainage. I then drilled a hole near the top to hang it by. (Make sure the hanger hole is big enough to hang on your nail) I also drilled another small hole in the front to attach a bow. I haven't yet found a fall ribbon I like to put on the cans.

A couple of coats of hunter green spray paint (matches our shutters and door), some old floral styrofoam stuffed in the can, a bit of spanish moss on the top and some dollar store silk autumn leaves and they were ready to hang. I've gotten compilments from the neighbors and some passerbys on them. Super easy and cheap. I'm thinking some greens and poinsettias for Christmas will look awesome!

Here's some more pictures of the house:

My super fake-o pumkins I brought these maybe 10+years ago at Target on sale. They are jack-o-lanterns that I removed the lights and turned around. No one is the wiser!

Now I've gotta get crackin' on finishing the inside decorations!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend. I'll take pix of the festival if I'm not too stupid (menopause mind) and forget to take the camera!

Tamera

Cheap tins & Spray Paint

2011-09-11T15:29:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful DRY(if you're in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast) weekend!!

I want to share a quick easy CHEAP project I did to fill up this odd space in my kitchen. I have a cathedral ceiling--which means I have awesome display space above the cabinets. There is a pantry in the corner that has space above it to display stuff. It's kind of awkward because what ever you put up there needs to be largish to be seen and light weight.

Here's the spot!

The space needed COLOR!! I had some baskets, a wooden box and some wooden crates but they weren't cutting it.

I got some cheapo popcorn tins and other tins at the thrift store. You see the all the time at yard sales and the thrifts for next to nothing. I decided to paint the dark cherry red (Rustoleum 2X) with black lids. I dry-brushed a little black on the red to "texture" it. Totla cost for all the tins and paint-under $5.

I found the French Chocolate labels at The Graphics's Fairy. If you've never heard of her--check her out. Awesome free graphics and projects! Http://Graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

I printed the labels out as large as I could on 8 1/2 by 11 paper. I found some distressed looking scrapbook paper that I cut down to fit my printer. This made them look aged with no effort on my part! I tore the edges after printing and stippled walnut ink on the edge to further age it. A little tip-thinner paper works better if your tins are round--it seems to adhere better.

I then used spray glue--I get mine at the auto-supply store--it's the stuff they use to glue car headliners in- to glue the labels to the cans. It stinks but sticks like crazy.Aanother tip--I use food service gloves (those clear plastic throw-away ones-you can get them at Sam's for like 1000/$5) to keep my fingers from getting all gluey! After I glued the labels on I sprayed the tin with clear matte spray paint to seal.

Here's a close-up

Here's the finished display. I really like how it fills the space and pops out!

You can adapt this project to the colors/prints that work for you. These would be cute in a pastel color also.

Thanks for stopping by and hope y'all have a great day!

Tamera

It's all in your perspective.....

2011-09-07T11:58:00.002-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I'm still alive and recuperating from my "tragic hang gliding accident". At least that's what I tell people happened. It sounds WAY cooler then " I face planted on concrete like the klutz that I am". Still sporting the soft casts on my right wrist and left knew. HOPEFULLY at least the wrist one can go come mext Monday when I visit the doc. The knee is still hinky but I can get around THAT. Not having full use of my right hand has been a BUMMER!!

I haven't been blogging because I haven't had anything interesting to say.. and the couple of times I did Blogger ate the posts. My typing skillz are minimal with both hands and pathetic using only my left to peck the keys.

I managed to get the kitchen painted. Yep...left handed and it took FOREVER. Thankfully there wasn't much to paint--but I must've been a sight to see sitting on the stepstool with my leg propped on the counter, painting the walls with a brush taped to a pole-left-handed. LOLOLOL It's amazing what you can do when you're bored and
crazy!

Here are some pics. I painted it a pale beige--matched to a color in the wallpaper.

My super spiffy new window treatment. I had a bunch of old utensils and soapers and decided to hang them as the valance.

It my eternal quest for stuff at the thrifts I run across alot of items that the people at the checkout counter must think I am loony to purchase. It's all in your perspective, folks. I love finding things I can remake and repurpose. Recycling at it's finest.

Case in point:

A ceramic pheasant from 1983. A hideously painted ceramic pheasant for $1.50. The check out girl rolled her eyes at me. She just did not have VISION!

A coat of my beloved Heritage White spray paint, some Tobacco glaze, an old fall garland, a repurposed candle stand and some berries and WAH-LAH!!!

Stunning Fall coffee table display!

The owl was another example of 1980's DIY ceramic lovliness. This one only needed a coat of tobacco glaze (to tone it DOWN--neon owls!!!).

I've picked up a few more of these gems to redo later this year. (Christmas stuff is a BONANZA) It's looking at these items with new eyes allowed me to see the potential.

Cuteness alert!

Miss Callie looking cute in a basket-as opposed to terrorizing the dogs and tearing up stuff. And bringing me dead one-legged crickets from the basement.

Miss KaeKae supervising by laying on some lame' I was making into billows for our Hispanic Praise Flag Group. Never too much glitz for a diva!

Thanks for stopping by-I hope to not be away as long. I have TONS of pictures and stuff to share!

Tamera

Mr. Bill and KaeKae's 2 yr Anniversary

2011-08-03T17:57:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! Is everyone cooling down after all of this miserable heat?? I'm still at home -hopefully the doctor will let me go back to work next week at least part-time!!

This week celebrates the 2nd anniversary of Mr. Bill & KaeKae the chihuahua's coming to live in their forever home with us. For those of you new to my blog, Mr. Bill and KaeKae were puppy mill rescues. KaeKae was kept pregnant constantly-Mr.Bill was kept with her in the samer pen so as soon as she went in heat-she was bred. The rescue organization estimate she had between 12-15 litters in 6 years. They stayed in foster care for over a year before we adopted them as they were bonded to each other and had to be adopted together.

They are my little buddies and constant companions. Since I spend a lot of time down" due to fibromyalgia, they are my lap dogs!!!

In celebration-I decided to dress them up and take some pix. KaeKae LOVES to dress up and has a whole drawer full of clothes (I have no grandchildren yet!) She is known all over Sharpsburg for the fashionista she is--people will stop when we are out and comment on her stylin' look! She prances and preens and basks in the attention. She is quite the doggie diva.

Mr. Bill on the other hand HATES clothes. He has a sweater, a t-shirt and a Christmas tie. I put him in the t-shirt and well--the pictures say 1000 words!

"Help Me!!!!"

KaeKae lookin' cute!!

"I hope none of my dog friends see me!"

I stopped at the thrift store after physical therapy today (what? It's on the way home!) and scored a couple of goodies!

Gorgeous vintage Napco Christmas planter. The tip of one wing is missing but otherwise she is in perfect shape. Couldn't leave her for 25 cents!!

Beautiful painted tray for $1!!!

Thanks for stopping by!! I'm still having trouble posting to y'alls blogs--but I am visiting!!

Tamera

Random Stuff from the Queen of Klutz

2011-07-28T12:51:00.001-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I'm still here recuperating!! Since I have all of this time to kill I've been reading everyones blogs and posting but blogger has been wacko lately!

Thought I'd post some random pictures I've taken (before the "Fall").

My first afghan. I've been crocheting since I was about 6 or 7 years old but never anything on this scale. It's about 65" by 75". I made this for my daughter's new house. THANKFULLY I finished it the weekend before I fell. She loves it!

The progress on the Kitchen Paintapalooza. Sigh..... I had PLANNED on starting the evening I fell. I guess I'll start a new decorating trend--"blue tape chic".

New display over the bed in master bedroom. I have a large collection of floral plates that needed displaying. The sconces and frames are those hideous plastic Home Interiors stuff. A little Heritage White spray paint and they look cottage!!

I found this little doll wardrobe at the base thrift shop. I fell in love with the painting on the front. It holds lots of little things on it's shelves.

Yardsales have been the pits this summer in my area. I did score this nifty vintage basket for 25 cents!! Y'all know what it is?? It's a basket for funeral arrangement flowers. That's why it has the high handle, cone shaped basket and round bottom. This is probably from the 20's.

Little display on the dresser. I love little chairs and birds!! The queen birds were in the clearance bin at Michael's for 29 and 49 cents!

I've been collecting the blue and white Williamsburg pottery. I decided to amass it all in the master bath and use it as my "theme." The lamp is a metal thrift store find I painted to match the pottery.

I painted this picture a while back (using my favorite Home Interior picture as the canvas) It used to hang over the bed but it's perfect in the bathroom with all of the pottery.

More of the collection on a thrifted shelf. I painted all of the wood pieces the same sage green color.

More pottery on a little cabinet. I can find this stuff in thrifts and yard sales cheap!!

Glad you could all stop by!! Have a great weekend!

Tamera

The finished dining room

2011-07-20T12:40:00.002-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!!! I thought I'd share the photo's of the completed dining room. I am SO itching to do the kitchen but the Queen of Klutz has been put out of commission for a bit!

View from living room/front door. It's painted the same color as the living room. I like how it sets off my fruit plate collection. To the left is the kitchen.

This is the wall between the living room and kitchen. I call it my "gallery" wall. The furniture is an antique primitive drop front desk that I got at an auction about 30 years ago for $10. I have a collection of small crocks on top. The one on the right is holding a bunch of old church fans. Back in the day before a/c you used these to fan yourself at church. Most are advertising freebies from local funeral homes.

The lowest picture is by my grandfather tim Ferguson. I absolutely treasure this. He was a self-taught folk artist. I remember him bringing it to our house when he finished it in 1965. The picture above it is a vintage Grandma Moses Print in it's original frame. The top picture I pulled out of a trash pile. It's a really nice painting of the blue ridge mountains (where I live) There is no signature on it.

The computer armoire that doesn't hold a computer. I use it to store entertaining stuff. I collect Brown and Cream pottery and displayed the larger pieces on top. I used painted paper mache boxes from the craft store to make "levels" in the display.

Top of the china cupboard. My dining room furniture is early 60's Thomasville that belonged to the hubsters grandmother. I found I had collected several small wooden cabinets. I decided to paint them all the same color and display them as a group with some of the smaller pieces in my Brown & Cream Pottery collection. In the cupboard is my collection of Wexford glass. This was cheapo dimestore stuff in the 40's-60's. I inherited some pieces from my great-grandmother and that started the quest. You can still pick upieces at thrift stores fairly cheap.

Bookshelf with some of my cookbook collection. The lamop used to be painted in darker colors but a bit of Heritage White lightenerd it up. I'm thinking of recovering the lampshade in a lighter burlap.

Corner of the dining room. The little stand was a $1 yard sale find about 20 years ago. The "tree" is a vintage metal store display i stuck some mini baskets and vintage birds on. I plan on making small seasonal ornaments to decorate it.

Bucket bench in front of slider. This was a $3 goodwill find. I had painted it red but redid it in the Heritage White. It holds some of my jug collection and wooden bowls. The fruit in the bowl on the bottom is hand carved wood and was $3 for all at a yardsale. My curtains are good old Onansburg with rope tie-backs.

Top of the dining room table. I refinished it because it was dull and a mess and I hate tableclothes for every day. What a circus THAT was. It finally took 7 applications of citrus stripper to get out all the crap in the wood. I stained it "Provincial" to match the rest of the set and then applied 7 coats of hand-rubbed satin poly. It looks AMAZING now--you can see the wood grain. I plan on recovering the chair seats in a khaki fabric I have.

My cute assistant KaeKae helping me make the new living room and dining room curtains.

Supervising Mom is hard work!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the tour!!

Tamera

On a roll.....

2011-07-16T18:02:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! Well, the Queen of Klutzes has done it again!!! I was coming out of work Thursday and caught my (chunky, low) heel in a hole in the sidewalk and faceplanted on the concrete. My first thought was..check the teeth..ok all there...check the glasses cuz they are new....ok....OH CRAP, of all days to wear a skirt!!!....check to make sure my butt wasn't hanging out!!

I stumbled upstairs to report it.. freaked a few people (must've been the bloody nose!) and had to get the hubster to take me to Occ Health and then the ER. Three and one half hours later I'm heading home with a spiffy soft cast for my right wrist and a sling. AND some kick-ass pain meds!

Damage Toll: Severely sprained right wrist and elbow, Abrasions and constusions on both knees, right hand and elbows, abrasion on my nose--and it is broken but it popped back into place. Big bruise on my right hip. Everything hurts but it could've been worse. Gotta go see an orthopedic doctor monday morning to see when I can return to work.

I was planning on painting the kitchen this weekend but oh well... we'll just live with the blue tape everywhere!

I took some pictures of the gardens and front porch to share. Did I mention I am BORED???? I can't do ANYTHING!!!! I'm used to crocheting or hooking or such when I sit and watch TV and that is a no go.

View of the front porch and garden. Those are Stargazer Lilys...they smell AMAZING!!! The large grey thing behind them is my giant plastic rock. It covers the grinder fro the septic system. It's amusing to buy a fake rock when you're living in Washington County which is primarily ROCKS.

The front porch. We block off the one end in the summer with the bench. (We like it open in winter for ease in getting out in the snow) The little rocker was a trash heap on the side of the road find. It was hideous with these bizarre flowers painted on it...but STURDY and nothing a couple coats of white paint didn't improve. The plant on the red pedestal is my 75 year old Christmas Cactus. Which blooms for St. Patrick's day. I'm surprised I haven't killed it yet.

View of the old shelf by the front door. Yes, I have one of those geese you dress up for the seasons/holidays. I get lot's of compliments on it!! The picture is one I did to look like an old roadside sign I saw. I used an old Home Interiors picture as the base. It's the one from the 70's that looks like an old window with pictures of pumpkins and such. I can get these dirt cheap and they work well for painting!

One of my favorites-Purple Coneflower

Cleome--this self seeds pretty easily so you better love it!!

Yellow Knock-out Rose. These roses are indestructible and bloom like crazy!!

Some self-seeded (or the birds did it) Sunflowers

Bee Balm (Monarda) Can you see the big fat bumblebee??

OH LOOK...REd round objects!!! Could it be????? YES!!! The first tomatoes--cherry ones!!!!

They tasted fantastic!!

I plant zinnias among the veggies because well...I like them!!!

View of the veggie garden and my monster Zuccini plants!

Another view of the garden!

Thanks for stopping by!!! Hopefully I'll be able to continue paintapalooza soon!! Y'all have a great weekend!!

Tamera

Coming up for air!

2011-07-13T19:03:00.002-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I apologize for being off the grid recently but Paintapalooza/Redecorating 2011 has taken it's toll!! Plus--Blogger has been psycho lately--I've had posts here and comments on your blogs disappear into the land of lost socks or something!!!

The hall, living room and dining room are finished!!! Let me just say cathedral ceilings are a beast. I've gotten really proficient with a paintbrush taped to a pole to do touch ups!! Plus the walls were sprayed the lovely "builders white" and they didn't back-roll it to smooth it out. The first coat was like painting sandpaper!

I've been asked how I manage the painting with the fibromyalgia since I'm doing it by myself. It's pretty much breaking it down into small tasks and taking my time. I broke the living/dining/hall into smaller areas to paint. For instance---Monday I might empty the room of accessories and pictures. I'm wiped out Tuesday so I rest. Wednesday I patch holes, move furniture, and do a little blue taping. Thursday after work I put a coat on the trim. Friday after work I put on second coat of trim paint. I'm wiped out Saturday & Sunday so I may not start the walls until Monday. It takes me FOREVER but it gets done.

I chose a color called "Peaceful Habitat"--Colorplace/Walmart (Sherwin Williams makes it) It's an odd kind of pear color that looks pale green in some light, pale gold in some and a tannish color in others. I LOVE it on the walls. It's light and bright and just pulls everything together!!! My living room furniture is a warm sage green with tiny goldish flecks so it matches perfectly.

I also switched out all of my dark primitive stuff for lighter, more cottagy stuff. Rustoleum 2X Heritage White Satin and Ralph Lauren glaze in tobacco are my new best friends.

This was my living room (yeah, I know it's xmas pictures!) before:

And here it is today:

The TV niche was painted a couple of years in the darkest color on the strip that Peaceful Habitat was on. It helps blend in the TV.

Display over the sofa. I just repainted the stars and the picture frame Heritage White. The picture is an antique print called "The Gleaners". My great-grandmother's favorite hymn was "Bringing in the Sheaves". I stenciled a verse on a board I had to kinda tie everything together.

Niche area. I had all of the "stuff" around. I just painted anything black or dark the Heritage White.

I found those crosses in the trash on the side of the road (what--you don't scout out the trash on trash day?) They are metal and just needed painting. I made the curtains out of Onansburg fabric--it's CHEAP, washable, and looks pretty close to Pottery Barn's Belgian Linen.

I moved my pie safe into the living room. This is a family piece my dad refinished. Above it I framed several vintage postcards from my collection in repainted dollar store frames. I painted the folk-art Wool picture above it using an old Home Interiors picture as the canvas/frame.

Close-up of the vintage postcards.I used ones from Sharpsburg/Antietam and nearby locations.

Vintage coffee table that belonged to the hubster's grandmother. The artichoke and finial were originally a HIDEOUS gold metallic and the pineapple was BRIGHTLY painted. But they only cost a total of $1. A spritz of Heritage White and some glaze and WAH-LAH.

Close-up of new sofa pillow I made. I found this fabric at Joann's and fell in love-PERFECT COLORS!!I love birds and gardens! I had the one behind it boxed up from our old house.

Picture of my trash-pile picked wrought Iron lamp I found many years ago. A spritz of paint and glaze, an onansburg cover on the old lampshade and some rope trim and it's a NEW lamp. I did the black metal table lamp the same way.

I'll be posting the dining room pictures very soon!! Hope you enjoyed the tour and thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Paintapalooza and the Ancestry Rabbit Hole!

2011-06-10T09:15:00.001-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! How is everyone doing? It has been HOTTER then you-know-where here in Maryland. We had like 3 days of a nice spring and then ZAP--the humid blowtorch turns on. And I am not a hot-weather lovin' gal. I actually LOVE cold weather! You can put on more clothes to get warm...but you can only take off so much in hot weather. Unless you wanna scare small animals and children or get arrested. Although the hot pants and tube top ensemble is ALWAYS appropriate for a trip to Wal-Mart!

I'm still in the midst of paintapalooza 2011. The hall and living room are painted and next up is the dining room. They all flow into each other so it looks a bit weird to have a half painted wall!! Pictures will follow when done. I have to say I LOVE the color "Peaceful Habitat". In some lights it looks greenish, sometimes it's taupish and other times a kind of goldish tint. I can't BELIEVE how much difference a color makes as opposed to the boring white walls.

My new best friends are Rustoleum Heritage White 2x Coverage Spray Paint and my never-ending can of Ralph Lauren Glaze in tobbacco. (I brought a gallon on clearance like 2 years ago and maybe have used 1 inch out of it)

I have been painting all the formerly prim black stuff Heritage White and then glazing over it with the tobbacco glaze. It's AMAZING the difference it makes. I'm just remaking alot of the stuff I already have to get the "cottage" look.

After it's all said and done- I'm going to let my daughter "shop" my stash. I'm going to introduce her to the fun of thrift shopping and remakes. She has some black lamps she's wants to become silver. Hello Hammered Silver Spray Paint!! At the end of the summer I'm going to offer the prim stuff to some friends. I do not need to keep it---LOLOL

What little time I've been online has been spent (other than reading everyone's blogs- I've not been able to comment much due to Blogger Crap) has been on Ancestry.com. I fell down that rabbit hole researching my mom's family history as a gift for her upcoming birthday.

We both enjoy the show "Who do you think you are?" and she mentioned there were things about her family she wanted to know. She's really hard to buy gifts for (she doesn't need any more STUFF) so I decided to do the research and write it up as a gift to her. I cannot recommend Ancestry.com enough as a good starting point. Yes, you pay a monthly fee but it has been WORTH every penny in my search.

WOW!!!! What an adventure this has been. I do have to say--have an online encyclopedia open as you research to verify dates, names and maybe flesh out the history. I came across so many entries that were completely incorrect historically. (Ex.--noting a relative was born in Annapolis, MD in 1620. WRONG--Maryland wasn't colonized until 1634..little stuff like that)

What did I find? We are a direct descendent of Mary Queen of Scots. We have two direct descendents that came over on the Mayflower. Our 8x great grandmother was burned as a witch at Salem. We owned slaves. And we are a direct descendents of a slave. We have Piscatataway Indian Heritage. We were some of the first colonists in Maryland. We were titled gentry in England and poor laborers in Scotland. We were some of the first German settlers in Pennsylvania. We fought on both sides in the Civil War and actually met in battle on Culp's Hill Gettysburg.

One of the most poignant moments was learning my 5x great-grandmother's name. We never knew anything about her. I knew that my paternal grandfather's family had come from Scotland. I discovered that James (my 5x great-grandfather)and his son, Thomas had arrived in America in 1779. I knew they were from Drainie Parish, Morayshire, Scotland. Using the old parish records, I learned that Thomas was born in 1775--making him but 4 years old when he arrived in America. This was where I learned the name of my 5x great-grandmother, Jean Brander. The records showed she married James in 1769 and Thomas was their only living child. The immigration records did not list her as arriving in America, and there is no record in any parish in Scotland or England of her death. As far as I can surmise, she must've died on the way over-most likely (as was common of women her age during that time) from the complications of pregnancy/childbirth.

I am not who I thought I was. And I have a lot more researching to do.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Where Have I Been???

2011-05-25T09:18:00.002-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!!!

It certainly has been a hectic couple of months...the wedding (a dear friend's) is DONE, the garden is IN and I have a moment to breathe!!!!!

Our daughter is in a flurry of wedding making plans (TG it's NEXT May--LOLOL) The venue is set, the dress chosen and ordered, bridesmaid's selected. I'm just along for the ride! She started her new job as a business manager for the Dept. of Defense this week. Sean (the son-in-law to-be) and Julie brought a house so much moving and decorating planning are going on. They were really BLESSED to be able to buy a brand-new never lived in house for UNDER their budget in a good location. It's darling two-story kind of farm-house looking with a big front porch. She's already "shopped" some of my "stash" and put in her paint/finish requests. She's leaning towards a Cottage/Pottery Barn on a BUDGET look. It will certainly give me stuff to look for at the thrifts and yard sales!!!

Here at the Stone Fence Cottage I'm starting to prep for painting our living room, dining room and hall. I am SICK to death of builder white-it's a flat finish and so dingy. I decided on a pale sagey-khaki color called Peaceful Habitat with Soft White trim for the hall/living and dining rooms since they all are sort of together. Our furniture is a sage green so this blends nicely and is neutral enough to add other colors. I considered a butter yellow but the hubster wasn't down with THAT at all!!

This will be done in stages (hall, then living, then dining) so I can manage it without KILLING myself.

Since I have to move a lot of "stuff" to paint I got to thinking about going in another decor direction. I have been "prim" since forever- although my furniture isn't particularly "primitive".

The funny thing is--if I am out and about I am not drawn to prim stuff at ALL anymore!!! I realized that my favorite rooms in the house-the Craft Palace and the guest room were most decidedly NOT PRIM. They were more cottage/vintage/ eclectic. In fact, since that was what I am drawn to-they are OVERSTUFFED with things I've gathered.

I started looking around and I've decided I'm going to go with the cottage/vintage/eclectic look all over the house. I can then spread out some of the stuff crammed in the craft palace and guest room.

A lot of the black painted stuff I have will go cottage with a coat of white paint. And I'm gonna have one heck of a yard sale at the end of the summer!!!

I'll keep ya'll posted with my progess! Any suggestions for cool cottage decor sites are appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by! I promise I won't be so long away!!

Tamera

I'm still alive......

2011-04-26T14:13:00.002-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!

I'm still alive and still CUH-RAZEE!!!!!I've had problems with my camera lately...I'm not sure if it's the camera or the idiot pushing the buttons.
Anyhow--so sorry I missed posting pix of the goodies my Easter Swap partner Viv sent me!!! She really SPOILED me with so many CUTE things!! Whenever I can get the camera to work I'll take pix and post.
I'm a month behind in the tag-a-long...sigh
I'm still going to be somewhat incognito the next few weeks. I'm reading everyone's blogs when I can. It's GARDEN time and I've got so much to get planted and ready! Plus a wedding to decorate for (and alter the bridesmaids dresses) in 3 1/2 week..eeek!
Good thing I only have a little mind left to lose!
Have a great spring!!
Tamera

Ridin' off the rails.....

2011-04-06T13:21:00.002-04:00

on the CRAZY train!!!! to quote Ozzy Osbourne there!

Hiya Blogland!!!

I'm going to mega busy with LIFE the next few weeks so I'll be taking a brief break until later in May. I'll still be stopping by your blogs to visit when I get a chance.

I'm mailing out my Easter Swap and the give-away prize on Friday!

Everyone have a wonderful Easter and early spring! See you later!

Tamera

We have a winner!!!

2011-04-03T15:51:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!!!

Thanks to all who entered my give-away!! I used an online random number generator and my husband random number generator and the both selected the same number. I took this to mean whoever that is was definitely supposed to receive the bunnies!!

And the winner is.............................

Post #7 from Mary at Gettysburg Homestead!!! I'm thrilled it's her considering the week she has had--she's sporting a lovely walking boot and she's a paramedic!!!

I'll be mailing these out this week!!!

Tamera

Spring Give-a-way!!!

2011-03-30T19:59:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!! Wow--I now have 100 followers and just passed 100 posts!!! I'm having a give-a-way in celebration of both milestones!!! Just add a comment on this post before midnight April 2, 2011. I'll be drawing a random number and announcing the winner on April 3, 2011.

What is the prize you ask????

Bunnies!!!

Not the really cute poopin' kind!!!

A locker-hooked bunny wallhanging lovingly (snerk) created by moi!!

And thats not all!! You will also receive this wool bunny on a stick (pattern by folk artist Warren Kimble) and the adorable bluebird embroidered vintage mat.

While I've got your attention-hehehehehe--I stopped by our base thrift store today (it's on the other side of my work parking lot) and SCORED!!! Someone had dropped off a load of craft stuff and was it priced right!!

Rug hooking canvas and vintage buttons.

Park Designs napkins--brand new! These will make cute pillows.

Nice amount of spring-time colored gingham.

My PMP (Pee My Pants) find!! This was with the canvas for $3!! It's some kind of vintage rug punch thingy.

Close-up of box.

Here it is with the instructions. This is 30's-40's era judging from the photo in the instructions. I'm taking it to our rug hooking guild meeting this Saturday.

I love vintage and old craft magazines, books and patterns and am always on the lookout for them. I enjoy learning new to me techniques or laughing at the kitschy ugly stuff!!! Hit the MOTHER LODE today--10 for $1!!!!!

Quilting books and patterns. These will be going to Mary at http://gettysburghomestead.blogspot.com/

who is going to be having some "free time" due to an injured ankle.

Needlecraft book with patterns. Examples of some of the GORGEOUS design below:

Needlepoint design book-these will make good locker-hooking patterns. Examples below of patterns.

Some vintage (1986/87) Threads magazines.

Assorted 60's/70's era craft patterns and books. There is some serious TACKY here!

1971 Dyeing book. This will be going to the rug guild library.

1955 era sewing instruction book, 1967 tissue paper flower book and 1980's chicken scratch embroidery book.

Early 1980's crochet design books.

Some interesting technique crochet books. The milk glass & wrought iron are from 1954--and there are some stunning things in there. The Hot pads is 1983 era.

Lot's of neat reading material if I get time to read it!!! Don't forget to enter the give-away and spread the word!!

Thanks for stopping by!

TAMERA

Hydraulics 101--bra shopping!!!

2011-03-24T19:49:00.001-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!

I'm reposting my adventures in bra-shopping post as a request!!!

I had to do the dreaded bra shopping this weekend. I've been putting it off-but the underwire broke in another bra and it just had to be done.

If I have any male readers-you might want to click-out now--LOLOL. We are gonna be having bra chat!!

I've always been very "busty"- and very self-conscience about it. (I joke that my body grew into the existing rack-LOL) I have no idea why anyone would want to have surgery to make them BIGGER. It makes it hard to find clothes that fit (Why do designers think that a large bust=football player shoulders=armpit holes down to my waist??) Heaven knows men have conversations with them (hey-my head--it's up here). And some people equate big bust=small IQ.

Menopause is a weird thing. For some inexplicable reason, my boobs are going through a second puberty and GROWING. I haven't gained any weight--in fact I've had to take in some pants. Yet my bras and some of my tops have gotten too tight. I thought gravity made everything move south!! Yet some of my "junk" is apparently moving north. To my chest. Where I DO NOT need any more.

So I took all the measurements, determined the size and off I went to the big girl store. What? You wonder why I didn't go to Victoria's Secret??? Let me tell you Tamera's Secret--there isn't enough fabric in their bra department to hold up my puppies. VS is cute and all that--but I need hydraulics. Lift. Lock and loaded. I don't want to bounce and put my eyes out. I want them lifted UP off my waist. And the Wonder Bra just ain't gonna do it for me.

I'm perusing the bra department when the helpful PERKY (if you know what I mean) twenty-something, size four salesclerk comes over.

"Can I help you?" Here's one of our most popular styles-what size do you need?" She is WAY to friendly--I think she's been main-lining Starbucks.

"Mumble Mumble Mumble" from me.

She starts handing me one of each style they carry in my size. Great--multiple selections. Like I want choices.

I take a selection of different styles in my size in the dressing room and begin the try-on process. It's not enough to get the right size--gotta be the right cut, etc.

The first one I try on is the big girl version of the Wonder Bra. It has these little pockets in the cups that hold...get this... little BALLOONS. I haven't stuffed my bra since I was 10 years old. The front is very low-cut and plunging and it has tiny skinny straps. The premise is that the balloons will displace boobage to make cleavage. Yup--I had cleavage all the way up to my NECK. I felt if I coughed or such that everything was flying outta them cups--because they were over-flowing. And if one of the skinny straps broke--I'd kill someone. Who thought this would be a good idea for a big busted woman??

And while I'm on the topic. Who thought it was a good idea to make them little camisole tops with the built-in bras in size 24??? That flimsy stretch fabric isn't supporting ANYTHING that size. It just mashes them down. And halter tops for big girls--PUHLEEZE!!!! Unless you can wear a really good strapless or halter-neck bra--you gots boobs in your lap. And don't get me started on spandex shorts or mini-skirts at the big-girl store. If your butt fits in the size 26-28--the spandex miniskirt should NOT be an option. Check out http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ for confirmation. Just because it comes in your size doesn't mean you should be wearing it--in public. Have mercy--I'm just saying.

Anyway-and so it went. One positioned the boobage so they were kind of under my armpits--not an attractive look. Several just didn't get them off the waist. A couple gave me the dreaded 4-boob syndrome. You know--when it's kinda tight along the top of the cup so it makes it look like you are nursing four puppies.

Forty-five minutes later I FINALLY found a style that covered what I wanted covered. Lifted them where I wanted them to be. Held them securely with minimal bounce-age. I brought one in every color they had.

They better stop growing.....

Tamera

A PMP (Pee my pants) find!!

2011-03-18T20:13:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland from beautiful 79 degree Maryland!!! Spring has SPRUNG these last few days. My crocus are FINALLY blooming! They are about 3-4 weeks behind!

This is on my front porch on an old bucket bench. Yes, I have a goose I dress up for the holidays/seasons and I am not ashamed of it!!

I had to stop by the Weis grocery on the way home from work today---and it's only a hop skip and jump from an indoor flea market. You really have to dig thru the crap but there are diamonds to be had for CHEAP!! I found this darling vintage Scottish figurine (I'm Scottish by heritage)

Cute orphaned pig salt shaker. I don't collect S&P's but he just appealed to my sense of whimsy!

Vintage toaster cover. This was a popular "homemaker craft" in the 40's-70's. I already have an Aunt Jemima toaster cover. They now sit together in my kitchen! i call them Bertha & Beulah.

Here's a close-up. I love the fabrics in the patchwork skirt. I'm thinking of drawing up my own pattern and making another one.

Here is my PMP find!!! This was in a pile of nasty pictures and frames on the floor in one booth for $1!!!! It's a 20's or 30's era vanity tray. Look at the AWESOME steep roof cottage!!! I LOVE the colors!!!

Close-up of the tray. The picture is actually kind of textured. I put this in the guest room displayed on a plate easel.

I plan on doing some serious garden maintenance stuff tomorrow. Time to get all the dead out!

Y'all have a great weekend!!

Tamera

TOES!!!! and some artsy stuff!

2011-03-16T18:35:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland! Don't know about the rest of you but I am getting SPRING FEVER!!! It's finally warming up here in Maryland! Hopefully I can open some windows this weekend and let in the fresh air!!

In celebration of SPRING I gave myself a pedicure and painted the toenails for the first time since last fall. Hey-- I figure no ones seeing the toes in the winter so why bother???

A nice bright red!! Hey--I should link up for Rednesday!

I made some sugar scrub to get all that old dead skin off. Here's the recipe-it's SUPER easy and feels oh-so-wonderful!!

Cool Sugar Scrub

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup olive oil (you can also use almond oil)

Several drops peppermint essential oil

Mix all of this together and store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Just scoop a bit out and rub all over your feet. The coolness and the peppermint soothe tired achy feet!!

Omit the peppermint oil and add 4-5 tablespoons coffee grounds for a scrub for stinky feet. coffee neutralizes odors.

You an also add 1/4cup honey instead of the peppermint oil.

Add 1/4 ivory dish liquid to the sugar and oil for a soapy scrub.

Substitute 1 cup sea salt for the sugar for a salt scrub.

Aside from pampering my tootsies, I've finished a couple of projects. I've been wanting to do something on a canvas and was inspired by Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante papers. I also made some cards which I'll share in another post.

"Progress"

I decoupaged some pages from an old interest calculations book on the canvas and then colored it with dye inks-teal, aqua and brown. I used my Tim Holtz gear stencils with brown ink for the gear images. I put some vintage black lace down one side and a lace and flower petal border along the bottom. I rolled up a couple of pages from a vintage engineering booklet and secured them with a leather buckle I got off a wool skirt I salvaged for rug hooking. The woman is from the Steampunk papers--I omitted the wings she had and made my own from copper. You can't see the embossing I did very well. I die cut some gears (Tim Holtz) with my Sizzix from the Steampunk papers and adhered them on the bottom of the woman. I embellished the lower left gear stencil with an old washer. I put an old key with vintage ribbon in the woman's hand and stamped progress on a piece of paper. The bird image in the upper right corner was a happy accident!! I was searching through my stash box and laid it there while I was looking for something else. I liked it so much I left it!! I embellished her hat with a paper rose and found a small vintage looking charm that worked PERFECTLY for her necklace.

Close-up view!! This is now in my work office causing lot's of conversation.

Baby card I made for our supervisor from vintage cards. It's #9! for him and the second boy!!

ADORABLE card I found at the thrift store!! I love the polka-dots!! This is the second one I've found with the same kitten & puppy.

Hope everyone is having a reasonably SANE week!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

A little late to the party!!

2011-03-12T13:28:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland from hacking, gacking and wheezing me. The hubster and I were supposed to attend our church Marriage Conference this weekend but unfortunately the creeping crud that has been going around nailed me. UGH!!! This has been one sickness after another winter!

Anyhow, last Saturday was the monthly meeting of the Antietam Rug Guild and guess who forgot their camera??? Everyone brought their first hooked piece and the one they just finished for show-n-tell. I was AMAZED at the complexity of some of the first hooked pieces. My pitiful star looked so weenie next to some of them. I shared that I started hooking around 1997. I taught myself to hook from a book and since I couldn't find a real rug hook, I started with a latch hook with the latch part removed. I have improved since then. I pretty exclusively use recycled wool clothing.

After the meeting I stopped by a fundraiser yardsale at a local VFW. BONANZA!!! It was almost the end of the day and people just wanted to get rid of their junk. I spent a total of $12.50 for everything I got. The find of the day was the GORGEOUS vintage bluebird planter pictured above. It's now holding some "fake" tiny white daffodils. I LOVE it!

Of course, I found some wool clothing for my rug hooking stash! I don't pass it by if it's CHEAP considering the price of wool at the fabric store!

The two glass candle holders reminded me of miniature cloches. I have another of the glass strawberries--they must of held jelly or something Avon at one time. I am always on the lookout for old baskets and this one is perfect for a door handle or peg rack. The wooden cutting board or cheese board will be made into a primitive style candleholder. I collect orphaned creamers but couldn't resist the adorable apple sugar bowl!!

Found some more figural planters for the collection. The collie one is from the 40's. The lamb is Avon and so cute!! I've been looking for shades for my jar candles and this one is PERFECT!!

Nice cross-stitch in frame. I love cross-stitch but it's too ditsy for me to actually do so I'm now keeping my eyes open for it at thrifts. The pineapple checkerboard has a great shape but will be repainted a bit more prim. I look for stuff that has good bones but just needs some TLC.

Who could resist that adorable bunny wall hanging?? It's spring-timey without being too Eastery!! The bean pot is from Roseville Pottery. I put some fake lavender in it for spring. The red fabric is an old feed sack. I love these and rarely find them for a reasonable price. I collect the brown top pitchers--these are the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 cup measuring pitchers. I had the 1 cup at home. They are all pristine and I've seen the full set for around $15 at antique stores!

Well..being stuck at home means I have been getting some crafty projects from the UFO pile done!!! Be watching for them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Please pray for the people of Japan!

Tamera

March Tag-a-long

2011-03-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! It's time again to share our monthly tag-a-long!!

I started by covering my tag in a piece of green printed paper from my packet. I edged it with green ink. I punched a piece of music with a lace edge punch (Martha Stewart-gotta love those Joann coupons!) and edged it with ink. I found this adorable vintage image among my stash and knew it would be perfect for a March tag! I colored it with chalks. I'll describe how I did the lamb later. I put some "Irish Lace" on the bottom and trimmed it with a bit of vintage rick-rack. I found the shamrock stickers in my stash and thought they'd be perfect on a March tag. I cut out a bouquet of daffodils for the little boy to hold. Printed a tag saying out like a lamb, added some glitter and I think it came out really cute!

Since I couldn't find a recipe for Irish tea that didn't involve booze I decided to put a recipe for Irish Scones on the back.

Cloe-up of front of tag!

Here's a quick tutorial on how I made the lamb "fluffy". There is some AWESOME stuff out there called flocking powder. Martha Stewart has some and so does Inkadinkadoo (ACMoore's). It comes in all kinds of colors and adds that vintage flocked look to your cards.

The only problem for me was that it doesn't come in an ivory color. The white was too stark for my lamb

BUT...I found you can mix colors. I added some brown to the white and mixed it to make an off-white color. This means you can customize your colors!!

I added glue to the lamb. I used a thin flowing glue from Martha Stewart. A thicker glue like Aleene's would make the flocking lumpy.

I piled a good bit over the glued area and let it dry. When dry I brushed off the excess.

A cute fuzzy, wooly little lamb!!!

Use the Happy Homemaker Tag-a-long button on my sidebar to take you to our blog where you can visit the links for other March tags!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

2011-02-26T18:57:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I spent the morning doing one of my FAVORITE activities---going to the thrift stores!!!
AND I had a good reason to be going--I was looking for some wooden candle sconces to re-do for a display I am doing at church.

Not bad for $2.50/pair. I'm going to be doing these in an antique silver.

And since I was already in the thrift store...well I just HAD to look around.!! I'm always on the hunt for skirts or pants in 100% wool for my rug hooking stash. After a long drought this winter---the wool has been showing up!!! The thrift store also had all winter pants and skirts 50% off--so I was able to get them for $2-$3 each.

I found 3 different shades of teal wool today!!! Here are 2 of them. The brown/creme check will over-dye really nicely, I think.

Another of the teal wool. The bottom skirt is a nice plaid in many shade of olive green. The light plaid is another that will be good for over-dying. The red plaid is a pendleton pleated skirt-lot's a good fabric in that!! It still had it's $138 tag on it!!!

Forest green, gorgeous chocolate brown, light grey plaid, taupe and charcoal grey wool. I need to reorganize my stash since I've scored so much wool recently.

Picked up this gorgeous cut milk glass creamer.

An adorable puppy planter for the collection.

Got these darling plates for $1.50 each--still had the $14.99 tags on the back. They are meant to hang on the wall. I have no idea WHERE I'm going to put them but they were too cute to leave, if you know what I mean. And if you're a thrift store/yard sale junkie like me, you KNOW what I mean!!!

Close up of the strawberries--they look REAL!!

Another close-up!

I put away all of the snowmen and winter stuff yesterday because I was SICK of looking at it!! I put out my St. Patricks Day stuff and some of my spring stuff. I'll hold off on the bunnies and Easter until later this month. Everything seems fresher now!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Tamera

And the Winner IS!!!!!!

2011-02-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! First ---thanks for all the kind birthday wishes!!! Now on to the Give-away!

I used an online random number generator and it spit out..........

NUMBER 2!!!

Who happens to be the wonderful Sandy from 521 Lake Street!!!

Come on down and get your prize!!

Congrats to Sandy---please email me your address (I had it but can't find it--it's another senior moment!)

Again--thanks to all for playing!

Tamera

It's My Party!!!!

2011-02-22T11:50:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland from snowy Maryland!!! I even got a snow day from work so I am happy crafting!!

This sweet, innocent little angel (and if you know me you know how untrue THAT was) will be....gulp......52 years old tomorrow!

I'm having a GIVE-A-WAY in celebration of my birthday, Rednesday and my one year blogiversary!!!

Here are the goodies!

A shoulder bag designed by me!!!

It's made from red ticking with cotton calico lining. The design is adapted from a vintage embroidery pattern and embellished with yo-yo's!

Nice large lined pocket on the back!!

Lot's of interior pockets so you can organize your stuff!

AND...a pair of vintage milk glass luncheon plate & cups with a sweet rose decal!

Just leave a comment on this post before midnight February 24, 2011! I'll randomly draw a winner on February 25th!!

Thanks for joining the celebration!! It's my party and I'll blog if I want to!!!

Tamera

Looks Squirrely to Me!!!

2011-02-18T18:33:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I know it's been looking a bit schizophrenic around here the last few days. I've been twiddling with my blog layout and backdrop. What do y'all think of the banner I made???

Our newly engaged daughter certainly has bride-to-be brain!!!! LOLOL--the wedding will be May/June of 2012 and already she's got a couple of wedding planning books, bunch of bride magazines and been checking out flowers with the matron of honor and two of the bridesmaids. Mom is just along for the ride!!!!!

I think I found what may be the PERFECT wedding cake topper!!!!

How elegant is this??? Doesn't the empty beer cans on the corners add just the right touch of color??

Close-up of the topper. Notice the cute tie and how the "brides" nails are painted. The actual bride shot and stuffed these herself. What a woman!!!

My daughter was horrified!! Seriously--who is going to eat a piece of cake that a DEAD RODENT'S BUTT has been sitting on??? EEEEWWWWWWWW

Did a little bit of thrifting in Frederick on the way home from work today. Pickings were slim but I managed to find some stuff!!!

Found this cute vintage planter (guessing 50's/60's era) for $1.

A creamer for 25 cents!

More wool skirts for rug hooking!!! I hadn't been finding any for the longest time and these last couple of weeks have been a bonanza!!! I was sorting through the stash this week and noted I needed some more blue and WAH-LAH--a nice blue plaid pendleton skirt.

Cute, Cute, Cute Scotty fabric for $2. The white background is a christmas print and there is about 4 yards-I'm thinking aprons with jumbo red rick-rack trim!! The black plaid is a t-shirt knit--maybe 3/4 yard. I may line a bag with this!

I've been on a mission to finish some of my UFO's. I FINALLY finished the locker hooked bunny I started in January 2011. I intended to make two and sew them together to make a stuffed rabbit.

It morphed into a wall-hanging. The design is adapted from a cross-stitch pattern.

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!! thanks for stopping by!!!

Check out the buttons on the sidebar for The Easter Swap with Sandy at 521 Lake Street and Meri at Imagimeri's give-a-way!!!

Tamera

Valentine Swap Goodies!!!

2011-02-16T18:20:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! I participated in a couple Valentine Swaps and wanted to share the goodies I received!
I'm a bit late but I had camera problems (because the operator is an idiot-LOL)

I swapped a Dolly Dingle Valentine with the always fabulous Elizabeth of Bluebird Papercrafts!

Elizabeth's attention to detail and all of the tiny touches she puts on her work are AMAZING. Pictures really don't do it justice!

The back of the Valentine is as cute as the front!

Close-up view. Look at the darling bird in the window!

I also swapped Valentine's with Sandy of 521 Lake Street.

How cute is the Scottie?? I love the bingo card and the bling!

The Dalmatian Fire-dog image is adorable!! Again-another back as cute as the front!!

Sandy also blessed me with some extra goodies. The candy hearts vanished almost immediately!!

I also swapped Valentines with Paula of Paula's Altered Art. I'll post a picture when it arrives--I know it's going to be wonderful!!

I participated in A Swap For All Season's winter Swap. We exchanged 5x7 fabric collages. My partner was Sherry Wescott of If I Could Set My Soul Free. She made this cool collage-- I love the colors! The hanger is this neat soft fake rusty barbwire which I NEED to get more of!! She also sent the sweet heart and lace star to match the collage-they're destined for my friendship Christmas tree. She also made a cute little matchbox full of heart trinkets.

Last, but far, far, from least, I also joined a Vintage Valentine Corsage Swap. My partner was Mary Reeder. This is the stunning corsage she made from vintage ribbons. she gave it a fabulous Latino flavor as it is Mariachi season in Tuscon. I am going to treasure this corsage.

Mary brought tears to my eyes blessing me with this corsage. Let me tell you the story. I emailed Mary a couple of times after being paired with her but received no response. I emailed her again right before I mailed her corsage off. She then emailed back apologizing for not getting back to me and assured me she was sending mine out that week. She had just had surgery.

Mary Reeder is a survivor of the Congresswoman Gifford's shooting in Arizona last month. She was shot in her back and both arms, and by the grace of God, no vital organs or bones were hit. I was stunned when I learned this and I am so honored that she , with everything going on in her life, and in pain, made me, a stranger for all intents and purposes, this beautiful work of LOVE. I proudly wore it to church Sunday, where everyone admired it. I still get choked up thinking about it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Big Excitement at The Stone Fence Cottage!!!

2011-02-13T15:52:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! We pause the regular blog doin's to make an announcement!!

Our daughter Julie and her boyfriend Sean are now engaged!!

They've known each other since July 2006 and have been dating since January 2007 so we can't say we are totally surprised. Sean, however, completely surprised Julie. They went to Chincoteague Island and he proposed on the beach(Julie adores the beach) We spoke with him early as he asked our permission and we gave our blessing!

The Ring. It's very vintage looking and "sparkly".

No date set yet-most likely not until next spring but wedding planning is Mom's specialty (doing one in May for a friend) and this will be FUN!!

He's a wonderful guy from a really nice family. The funny thing is I went to high school with his dad and his aunt. We were all in band together and his aunt would carpool with me to practices. My mom worked with his aunt and uncle and all of our family knows all of his family. They didn't grow up anywhere near each other. They met when they were both working at Home Depot in 2006 and then had some college classes together. Sometimes the world is smaller then we think it is!

I think what hooked him was, besides being super smart and drop dead gorgeous, was she liked to eat and shoot guns.

Well, enough of my gushing! It's just hard to believe my baby is all grown up (she'll be 25 in June)!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

Thrifting Goodies on a Friday!!

2011-02-11T19:44:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! I took advantage of a relatively warm day off to take some things to the Rescue Mission Thrift. And of course I had to check out the stuff!! Turned out to be a good day thrifting!

Some cute patterns-50 cents for the lot.

Wooden primitive shelf and sheep plate-25 cents each!!

New rug for front door. I loved the primitive colors and the quilt-like pattern. Perfect shape and $2!!

Vintage printed tablecloth in perfect shape-$1.

Some vintage trim & ribbon-25 cents each.

Close-up of trim-isn't it cute??

Wall hanging piece--you just quilt it--75 cents.

Cotton batting-about 3 yards for 50 cents.

Another wall hanging fabric for 75 cents.

Unfinished pillow top for 25 cents. Evidently they tried to machine quilt it around the edge and messed up. I'm going to rip that out and re-do it correctly.

Walter Kimble style unfinished pillow top for 25 cents.

There is about 1 1/2 yards of this. It reminds me of a woven coverlet except this is very thin. Don't have a clue what I'm going to do with it but for 75 cents..hey!!

Neutral colored 100% wool skirts. I recycle these for rug hooking. I was really excited to find two ivory colored ones--I can dye these!! These are getting harder to find at thrift store so I get excited when i find one-much less six!!!

All in all a good thrifting day. Got lots of stuff to finish this weekend and lots of stuff to share later this weekend--I've been receiving some AWESOME swaps!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

February's Happy Homemaker Tag

2011-02-09T18:45:00.001-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! Here is this month's tag for the Happy Homemaker Tag-a-long. This is a year long process where we make tags using ONLY the paper we brought at the beginning of the year. My theme is "Vintage Fairies".
Here is the link to our website where all the participants will link up their tags for viewing on February 10th. Take a moment tomorrow and check out the awesome creative tags people are making!
http://wwwhappyhomemakertagalong.blogspot.com/

Here is February's tag. Again, I used a vintage photo image of Victorian era children and chalked the image to add color. I used more of the peach colored papers this time with a bit of glitter for some sparkle.

On the back I added a recipe for Cupid's Exotic Love Tea!!

My new "toy"--a pair of Martha Stewart fringing scissors- courtesy of a Joann's gift certificate and a 50% off coupon. I LOVE these for making nice neat fringe quick and easy! I used these to make the fringe on the bottom of the tag.

I like to use old music in my work--but everything I had was too fragile to cut nicely. So I copied a couple of pages onto regular copy paper. I ran the copied page through a second time so it would be double-sided. I then "antiqued it with distress ink.

I cut some strips into the length and width I wanted and then drew a line to indicate where I wanted the fringe to stop. you can eyeball this but ,frankly, I am to OCD for that!!

Cutting the fringe!!

I glued the two layers of fringe on the bottom and then curled it around a pencil for some dimension. The blue lace piece was cut from one of the papers edges and glued over the fringe trim edge to finish.

Another fun tag done!!! I can't recommend these scissors enough--they cut felt, crepe paper, fabric and just make the nicest neat even fringe!!

Thanks for stopping by and check out the other tags via the link above!!

Tamera

I'm officially a Hooker!!

2011-02-05T18:52:00.001-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! Saturday I went to my first rug hooking guild meeting. The Antietam Fiber Arts Guild meets at my local library on the first Saturday of the month. They are a new guild (only two years old) and I am so glad I found them!

This is going to be a picture heavy post!!! First off we had the pleasure of seeing and hearing about some of the most amazing rugs I've ever seen. They were made by Doris Aymar http://doriswooldyer.blogspot) of Keedysville, MD--who is a young lady of 85 years! She has been rug hooking since 1970 and has been a certified teacher since 1975. she teaches classes at her home--lucky for me it's only 3 miles from mine! I know what I want for my birthday this year (hint hint hubster!!) This first batch of rugs are hers.

Doris is on the left-the guild president Beth is on the right. Doris said this is a monochromatic color scheme rug. She hooks with #3 fine wool strips to achieve the AWESOME shading and detail. This has 160 shades of gold--some were from chrysanthemums in Washington DC for Carter's Inaugural. Her daughter saved the flower heads and Doris made a dye from them

Close up showing the detailing and shading.

This rug is an example of a two color rug. she used shades of woodrose dye and a green dye.

Close up of the gorgeous details!

This is Doris's own design. She called it white on white. Using two shades of white produced the checkerboard background. The silhouettes are in Antique black.

This is an example of a tertiary (3 color) scheme. The background is a gorgeous plum color.

Another close-up.

Another purple/orange/green schemed rug.

The detailing!

Doris told us that all of the flowers except two were from the same large plaid wool piece. She planned her strip cuts to pick up individual colors.

The grass on this rug was leftovers Doris overdyed. The apples, hair and sections of the grass are Waldeboro (?) style--they are raised up, giving dimension.

The apple, hair and hat brim are dimensional.

Gorgeous scene rug. Doris hand cut the strips.

Look at the detailing of the bricks!

This was a primitive pattern that Doris used fine cut wool strips on and did the shading/detailing. She called this an Amalgam rug.

It looks like an oil painting!

An oriental rug Doris's daughter made. This picture does not do it justice.

Detail of one of the birds in the rug.

This Santa is done in the Waldenboro style. I WANT this!!!

Close-up of the dimensional beard and fur trim.

Farm scene rug Doris is currently working on. she said she didn't have much done on it!!

Below are pictures of the rugs different members are working on. We have a good range of ages in the group--and we have two gentlemen hookers. In fact--one gentleman is part of a husband/wife hooking duo!

Warren Kimble cow by the gentleman half of the husband/wife duo.

The wife's chickens. She was binding this today. I LOVE it!!

Fine cut hooked red birch tree. I think this is her own design.

Fine cut hooked floral-- the teal is lovely. She's using dip-dyed wool to get the color shading.

This lady is a newbie hooker and doing a primitive star.

This lady is currently taking a class with Doris on Waldenboro hooking. The pink shades in the strawberry are beautiful! The strawberries will be dimensional when complete.

Santa and sled. The blue background is amazing!

Red haired primitive angel rug.

Mary's stunning primitive floral basket rug. I found at she lives right around the corner from me!

Sharon's autumn pumpkins. The shading is wonderful!

Our other gentleman hooker. The willow trees are stunning!

Our president, Beth, with her quilt. She said she had to get the binding on this and finish it before starting another rug!! It's in wonderful shades of plums, rusts, golds,--picture doesn't really do it justice!

There were other's that the pictures just didn't turn out too well thanks to my oh-so-stellar photography skills. I took my locker hooking project and quite a few were interested in it. I may do a demonstration of locker hooking later this year.

All in all it was a FUN day and I can't wait to next month. We are supposed to bring our first hooked project and the most recent finished project. EEEKKK!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

SNOWMEN!!!

2011-02-04T16:44:00.001-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! Greetings from missing out on another snowstorm Maryland.Ii know everyone who got nailed this week would disagree but I admit I'm a snow-weenie!!!

I've been working on my custom blog background/banner. The one I'm sporting now is from I think cutestblogontheblock. Evidently there is about 10 ZILLION free digital scrapbook papers out there and I can't find one I like!!! I am going to try scanning some of my own stuff and see if that will do the trick.

Thought I'd share some of my snowman collection. These come out after Christmas until spring or I get sick of winter stuff!!

The first batch are all by a dear friend of mine-Ida Mae. We often traded my Santa's for her snowmen. She learned to sculpt in paper mache in her 60's!!! You're never too old to create!!

The next herd is my collection of vintage and small snowmen that hang out on the kitchen window ledge.

I got this little dude about 25 years ago at a rummage sale for a nickel!

What's winter without PENGUINS?? Ida Mae made the one on the right.

Vintage snowmen in the hall bath!

Below are some yardsale/thrift store finds. I didn't spend more than $1 on any of them.

Cute Vintage professor snowman.

Primitive Snowman.

Snow Angel I made.

Display over stove. Years ago we had a Franks Nursery and Craft (in the days before ACMoore, Michael's, etc.) They sold chalkware vintage style figures you could paint. These snowmen are from there.

Something painted by my darling daughter Julie when she was 10 years old. I was doing a craft show that holiday season and she wanted to earn money to buy stuff for Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox campaign. We saved about 3 dozen pasta jars. She painted each one--filled it with those flat peppermints and put a tag on each jar say "Candy Cane Seeds". she sold them for $5 each and was completely sold out by noon the first day!!! The next year she made angel pins and made over $300 for charity.

Cute felt Snowman I just got on clearance ($6) at Michael's. It reminds me of something Elizabeth at Bluebird Papercrafts would make!

I hope you enjoyed the snowman tour!! Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Some of my favorite tools

2011-02-01T10:17:00.001-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! Happy February!!

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite crafting tools with you (cue Julie Andrew's sing "My Favorite Things") These are the things I pull out every time I am papercrafting!

Martha Stewart scoring board. Got this with a 50% coupon and gift card from darling daughter for Christmas. Makes it SO easy to score cards and make nice neat marks for cutting guides.

Brayer--I couldn't glue without this!! It assures everything is smoothly stuck together.

Decoupage scissors--curved edge and straight edge. Makes it oh so much easier to cut out images.

Walnut Stain Distress Ink and daubers/applicators. I love to ink edges and age stuff. The daubers make it easy!! you can find packs of them with the stamping stuff at craft stores.

Xacto-knives that fit over your finger. They are so much easier to control!! The orange is a regular one and the purple is a swivel head--this is GREAT for cutting tiny intricate areas!!

Thrift store mug rack. I saw this idea at Jenny B'/Allsorts and went on a quest to find one of my own. It's great to keep your scissors and such at your fingertips. I also have a large red jewelry holder similar to this I found at Joann's that holds all of my decorative scissors.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of my favorite tools!

I'm gonna be making some "big" changes here at the Sone Fence Cottage blog. I'm learning how to make my own blogger backgrounds and such and will soon have a new look that reflects me!! It's just hard to find digital paper of people in straight jackets!! LOLOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Thriftin' Goodies

2011-01-29T17:21:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! I made my rounds at the local charity thrifts this morning and managed to find some bargain goodies! Cheap fun!!!

Small vintage bunny figurine for 25 cents.

Small purple heart wreath--I may just take the flowers off for something else and redo the wreath- for 25 cents I can't lose!

Adorable bunny doll for 75 cents!

Cute standing bunny--needs a bit of tlc but a steal at 50 cents!

Gorgeous hand-painted owl plate. look at the little mushrooms at the bottom. My "big" purchase for $1!!!!

Red and white crocheted doily for 50 cents! I love these!

A new outfit for Ms. Kae the diva chihuahua.

Beautiful Hall plate-I love the pattern!

Pretty gravy boat--I just like the retro shape and the teal flowers. My orphan creamer collection seems to be morphing into a creamer and gravy boat collection!

Cute pottery from Gatlinburg pottery-$1!

One of those Scandinavian candle windmill things. It was falling apart and missing pieces--but all of the figures were still intact. At 75 cents-- I got it for the figures. I'm going to make a shadow box out of them-inspired by the one Lindsay at Two Crazy /Crafter's made from a wooden cutlery tray.

The figures are the Nativity.

Look at the adorable lambs!!!

I also picked up this super cute Debbie Mumm fabric (with my 50% off coupon of course) at JoAnn's. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it but I just fell in love!! I NEEDED it!!

Been busy finishing up some Valentine swap stuff-pix to come!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Finished stuff & thrift store goodies

2011-01-20T18:53:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I'm coming out from under my rock again--THIS time it was a stomach bug. UGH!!

Anyhow--I FINALLY finished my rug punch project!! It's my own design adapted from a crewel piece I saw in a magazine. It's a primitive peacock- the hubster STILL thinks it's a chicken...lol

I love primitive hooking with wool strips. I find the punch needle to be much more difficult for me. Next up is FINISHING the locker hooked homespun rabbit I started last winter!

I have been wanting a bucket bench for in front of the dining room slider. I drew up some plans to get the hubster to make one but hadn't gotten around to getting the wood for it. And am I glad I hadn't!!! I was able to score one the perfect size at the goodwill for $2!!! It needed painting (it was stained an awful 60's era orange maple color-forgot to take a picture) but was really solid and had good bones. I painted it the same red I painted the breakfast bar and dry brushed it black. WAH-LAH!!

The open "cubby" area is where our calico cat like to sit and watch birds!

I stopped by the local rescue mission and found a few things--most of the thrifts have been a desert lately as far as goodies. Happily i found something that was a PMP moment!! (Pee My Pants for new readers)

A 70's era Elsa William's crewel kit-- never used. It's to make a little bench and was $2!!!

Close-up of the scene to be embroidered. So colonial!!!

I also found a pretty plate, some birds and some stuffed strawberries for a spring project.

I've finished up my Valentine for Elizabeth at Bluebird Papercraft and will be sending it out next week. Next up is the Fabric collage for that swap and finish the valentine Corsage for another swap. I do love the challenges a swap can bring (good challenges) I'm also thinking of working up something for a Spring Swap I could Host. Will probably have details out February 1st!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

The Big Reveal!!

2011-01-13T17:27:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! Remember when I posted this picture and teased about what it would be???

A thrifted cheese platter & dome, some thrifted little houses, bottlebrush trees and white caulk.

TAH-DAH!!! A winter scene under glass!! And it was SUPER EASY to make!!

Here's another view without the glass glare.

First thing I did was glue some round wooden balls on the bottom to add height. I then painted it all out in white and antiqued it by wiping it down with stain.

I then laid out where I wanted everything to go. I could only use 2 of the houses. I decided I wanted a pond and used a scrap of mirror paper for that-altho a real mirror would work.

I glued the mirror paper down and let dry. I forgot to take a picture of me spreading the caulk on. Basically I squirted all over the bottom leaving an opening on the silver paper for my pond. I smoothed it out with a wet finger. I made it about 1/4" thick and tapered it to the edge where the dome would go. I then placed all of my trees and houses. I squirted a little more caulk here and there to fill in gaps. I used white glossy fabric paint to add snow to the cottage roofs.

I sprinkled it with fine crystal glitter after everything was in place and I finished caulking. I put it aside to let it dry.

I think it came out really cute! The little deer was from an old broken xmas ornament. I checked out tiny skaters at the hobby shop but they wanted $12 for THREE. I'm on the hunt for another cheese platter since I've still got two cottage left. OR COURSE, now that I want one I'll NEVER see another at the thrift store!

Hope you enjoyed my trash to treasure!! Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

January Tag-A-Long!!!

2011-01-09T16:51:00.003-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I'm participating in Elizabeth at Bluebird Papercrafts year long Tag-A-Long. We were tasked to select 10 12x12 pieces of scrapbook paper and to use them to make two tags each month-one to keep and one to swap at the end of the year. I had a hard time settling on a theme and paper!!

Here is my tag. My theme is "Vintage Fairies".

On the back each month I am going to

put a recipe for tea.

I found this great paper pack called "Tea at Elsie's" It's very vintage looking but in a color scheme I NEVER use. I felt I needed the challenge!! The problem was I could only find it in 6x6 packets. Since I loved it so much I decided to get 2 packets and work it out!!

Actually there are 16 sheets but since it's smaller I decided to go with it. It also had some diecuts that matched in the packet. I have a huge collection of vintage children's photo's and love working with them--I'm kinda new to using vintage greeting card graphics! I decided to incorporate them as my images.

I cut and glued the papers I decided to use on the tag blank--since it's winter I went with ones more in the blue range. I TRIED stamping and embossing a lace pattern on each side. I made the mistake of using the clear glitter powder instead of the white. It didn't look so bad on the blue side but looked AWFUL on the striped side. I use old music in lots of my work so I placed a scalloped edge piece down each side to hide the ugly! The blue edging on the music is chalk-- more on that later!

I like to use chalk to give the look of hand-tinting to my images.The chalk comes in these nifty cases with applicators at craft store. You can also use artist pastels and q -tips. I always print an extra copy or two to do a "practice" run on. Once I've gotten them tinted, I spray them with hairspray to "seal" them. Hairspray makes a GREAT cheap fixative!! I also chalked the edge of the music strip and the edges of the tea recipe.

I embellished my tags with buttons (I love buttons!!) The gold snowflakes are from an old xmas garland. I used some vintage rick-rack to trim the bottom and then edged it with some vintage mini-pompom trim. a little bit of glitter to jazz it up and WAH-LAH!!

Stop my Elizabeth's blog and see links for others who are tagging along!! http://creativebreathing.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

In Memory of Lance Corporal Maung P. "Samuel" Htaik

2011-01-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

July 12, 1990-January 1, 2011

This young man was a member of our church. He was killed in action in Afghanistan last week. His parents immigrated to the USA from Burma in 2002. He came from a country that had no freedom. He loved his new country so much he wanted to serve as a Marine to preserve the freedom he came to know. He was a devout Christian. His parents raised a young man who was willing to lay down his life to preserve our freedoms. The funeral service today was both uplifting and sad. His parents are so confident in knowing they will see him again in heaven that they were comforting other.

For everyone in blogland who is serving, or has served, or has a loved one who is serving or has served.....

Thank you.

New Year, New Things!

2011-01-02T13:34:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!
I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and New Years!! All of the decorations are now put away and I put out all of my snowmen decorations. What? You don't decorate every month?? LOLOLOL Seriously, I am a bit crazy with decorating for each season/holiday ..the hubster just looks on bemused and befuddled! I'll be sharing some of my 60+ snowmen and decor later.

Now for a little teaser.........

What could a thrifted cheese ball holder, some thrifted tiny houses, a bunch of bottle brush trees, an itty-bitty deer and a tube of white caulk make???? Stay tuned!!!!

I'm not much of a specific "resolution" maker because -let's face it- they fall by the wayside pretty quickly it seems. I feel like I've slept away 2010. The fibro has been a beast and my exhaustion and pain levels were through the roof. I just feel like I didn't accomplish half of what I intended. Heaven knows I missed alot of activities and such.

I decided in 2011 to focus on two words. Two words whose concepts/meanings will hopefully have an impact on the quality of my life.

My words are "Balance" and "Discipline". I believe they go hand in hand. To achieve balance I must have discipline. To be disciplined I must have balance.

I can admit to being unbalanced and undisciplined in several areas of my life. Which is rather ironic for someone with definite OCD tendencies. I'll be posting here and there my journey and any awesome insights or rather 2x4 to the head moments I'm sure I'll be having.

BALANCE AND DISCIPLINE

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Happy New Year!!!

2010-12-31T13:33:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year

from

The Stone Fence Cottage

Let's make a Snowman Banner!!

2010-12-27T13:47:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!! I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!! Is anyone else out there ?ITCHING to take down all of the Christmas decorations now??? If I were feeling better (still have this creepin' crud stuff) I think I'd be starting to undecorate.

I decided I needed a nice "snow" banner for my dining room window after all of the Christmas stuff is taken down. I found these foam snowflake ornaments at the Dollar Store (pack of 6/$1) and the bells went off in my brain. These would make the perfect base for a garland!!

I scoured my stash of vintage snowman images and selected some for the banner. I went with a "theme" of snowman pairs. Here they are cut out and ready to go.

I printed the word "snow" out mirror image on a piece of white cardstock. I then spray glued the white cardstock to a piece of printed scrapbook paper. I LOVE using spray glue for larger gluing projects. I've set up a "spray-glue" station in the Craft dungeon for this. I then cut out the letters.

These are the papers I've selected. I'll be making scalloped circle medallions to put on the snowflakes.

I use the Sizzix (LOVE) die cutter and two different sizes of scallop dies.

I decided it needed another larger circle. I decided what diameter I wanted it to be. I then spray-glued the chosen printed paper to a piece of white cardstock. (whole 12x12 sheet to whole 12x12 sheet)

I used my circle template to draw out the circles on the cardstock side and cut them out with a pair of scallop edge scissors. I then layered it all together using spray-glue and a brayer.

I mounted the snowmen and letters on the circles with foam dots.

I accented the snowmen with crystal glitter glue. I used white shiny fabric paint and made "snow" on the letters and sprinkled them with crystal glitter. I then glued the snowmen circles and letter circles onto the snowflakes.

I found some vintage thick red yarn ( I remember wearing hair bows out of this yarn in the seventies) to string the snowflakes on. I tied each snowflake on loosely so they could be "tweaked" when hung.

The finished banner!!!!! I can't wait to put it up!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. You can probably still pick up these snowflake ornaments at the dollar stores for your own banner!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Merry Christmas To All!!!

2010-12-24T11:39:00.001-05:00

"For unto us a child is born ,

Unto us a son is given.......

And His name shall be

Wonderful, Counselor,

Mighty God, Eternal Father,

Prince of Peace"

Let us not forget the REASON for the SEASON!

Merry Christmas and God Bless

from all of us at

The Stone Fence Cottage

Sick day and some random stuff

2010-12-22T11:12:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! If i seem a bit incoherent it's cause I'm blogging in a Nyquil haze. I managed to get the creepy crud that's been going around!!! So I'm sitting in the recliner with the doggies wrapped up in blankets surfing the web. Lap-tops are a wonderful thing!!!

Here are the tags from Elizabeth at Bluebird Papercrafts Apron tag swap. I've made them into a garland in the Craft Palace! Link is below to see them all close-up!

Bluebird Papercrafts: Apron Pocket Tags in the Mail!

Here are the Peppermint Christmas tags made into a garland in the guest room. Link is below to see them all close-up. I put the adorable cupcake shaped one Paula made on my friendship tree!

Bluebird Papercrafts: Peppermint Tags are in the Mail!

My little friendship tree in the Craft Palace. It has the ornies from Cindy at RickRack & Gingham's swap, Paula's Cowgirl Tag swap tags, Paula's cupcake tag, and Elizabeth's darling little dog and the tags she sent with the swaps. I look at it and think of how blessed I am to have connected with such a wonderful community here in blogland!

Getting ready for Elizabeth's year-long Happy Homemaker tag-a-long. I found these containers in the scrapbook stuff area at Joann's. They are very inexpensive (especially with a coupon!) and help organize my "stuff". You can also get divider trays to fit inside for small items. Yes I know it says 2010 on the label--my bad!!!

Another container gathering the supplies together for a winter banner....tutorial to come!

Well--time to go--the Nyquil is kicking in and I need a snooze. Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

Santa-Fest

2010-12-20T19:32:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!

Several people asked to see close-ups of the Santa's I've made in my "hoard". Many of the ones I've made through the years were given away as gifts. I started making them because I couldn't afford to buy them. I used to enter them in the Howard County Fair and Maryland State Fair and several have won blue ribbons and Grand Champion ribbons. I think it's my OCDish attention to detail....

This Santa is made from Sculpy and dressed in vintage wool. I made and sold quite a few of these back in 1999-2000

Stump-style muslin and wool Santa. The ornaments are vintage.

Wooden Santa board- i drew it out and neighbor's son cut it out for me. He also made the little sled on my front porch.

Paper conehead Santa's. These were made as examples for a craft-a-thon I had with some of my daughter's friends.

I didn't actually "make" this Santa as much as remade it. I brought it for $1 at a thrift store because it had good "bones"-although it was HIDEOUS and gaudy. I repainted it and added a vintage brush tree and wreath. I always look for stuff that has "possibilities"

Sculpy, fabric and wool Santa on a sled with vintage bead garland and brush tree.

Sculpy, fabric and wool Santa in a chimney. The "chimney" was formerly a kleenex box!!

The first Santa I made in 1987. It's fabric and the head is paper mache dipped in wax. He has leather boots and a velvet suit. He won grand champion ribbons at both fairs.

This woodland Santa was adapted from a pattern in an old spirit of Christmas book. It's made from painted fabric.

My "Elf" Santa-felt and wool.

Sculpy and wool Winter Santa with vintage ornaments and tree.

Another wool and Sculpy Santa. He's based off an old victorian era card.

Conehead Santa-painted canvas.

Pinecone Santa

Gingerbread house Santa adapted from a Sunnyknoll design.

I hope you've enjoyed a closer look at my Santa's! I'm thinking of doing a tutorial on how to make the chimney Santa next year if anyone is interested.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

Outdoor Decor at The Stone Fence Cottage

2010-12-18T14:25:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogland!!! Here are pix of the outdoor decorations. This is the hubster's area--at least the lights. Last year we won 3rd place in the local decoration contest--which we knew nothing about until we received the $25 in prize money!! Gives us incentive to do more!!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Merry Christmas!!

Tamera

More Christmas Decor!!!

2010-12-15T12:06:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogland!!! I'm going to be sharing the LAST of the inside decor today!!! LOLOLOL

Bedroom window. The garland is festooned with these sign ornaments I found one year at Target after Christmas for next to nothing!

Bench in front of window. The Santa came from a yardsale (of course) but was minus the tree. The bench I brought at an auction 25 years ago for $1. I love the chippy green paint on it!

Top of the desk. I made the white Santa and the pine cone Santa.

My "friendship" tree. The ornaments all came from swaps or were special gifts.

Couple of yardsale Santa's on the night stand.

Yardsale Santa and a Santa pillow I hooked. It's sitting on a cane bottom chair my Dad refinished. The chair belonged to his great-grandma and dates to the 1870's. I have the only one left. NO ONE is allowed to sit on it!!!

Tree decorated with vintage Christmas postcards. I found the Nativity at a yardsale this summer. It's a slightly larger version of my childhood one. It still had the Woolworth's price tag of $1.49 on it!!

Top of the dresser display.

Dresser display. The lamp originally was slate blue with pink bows and geese--can you say 1980's???

Wreath made of the hubster's grandmom's Christmas corsages.

Bathroom Christmas tree. It's decorated with tiny vintage victorian era Christmas photo's.

Yardsale wreath decorated with left-over craft show ornaments.

MORE Santa's!! I made the one on the bench and the others are thrift store finds.

Hope you enjoyed the "tour"!! I'll be posting the outside Stone Fence Cottage decor later this week!

Blessings!

Tamera

christmas Decor in my Living Room

2010-12-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogland!!! Here are more pix of my Christmas Decor-the living room. Hope you enjoy!

Bookshelf display. The cross-stitch picture was score for 25 cents at a yard sale!

Lower part of bookshelf displaying some of my 162 Santa figures (Icounted them this week!!)

Door Decor. The banner came from The Christmas Tree Shop (LOVE) last year. The wreath is a crewel piece i made like 30 years ago.

Display by the front door. The Santa & sled and the baskets are thrift store finds.

End Table display. I painted the chalkware Santa years ago. The candle is a cheapy that I spray-glued and then rolled in mica glitter.

Another table top display with glittered candle and chalkware Santa. I made the candy canes out of ticking.

This little boot was found at a yard sale. Some mica glitter and greens make it "new".

View of the "media center" (snicker) You can see Mr. Bill peeking out from "the hole"--a spot under the shelves with a pillow for the dogs.

Closer view of coffee table display. The oranges and lemons are FAKE--they came from Walmart and I put the cloves in them.

The pillows on the couch have vintage advertising on them and came from The Christmas Tree Shop last year for $1 each!!! Too cute to pass up!!

Top of built-in bookshelves display. I put my collection of Christmas planters on the top. The adorable child in the photo's is our now 24 year old daughter Julie. The one that is third from the right (the baby) is of Julie on her first Christmas. How time flies by!

More of the bookshelf display. I collect vintage Nativities and display them along with random Santa's here.

There's Mr. Bill again in the hole with his bear.

The main Christmas tree. I've been collecting vintage glass ornaments for about 30+ years. Most were given to me. Amazingly, with three cats in the house none get broken except by klutzy me when decorating!

Thanks for stopping by!!! I'll be posting pix of the master bedroom and outside later this weekend.

Tamera

My Kitchen & Dining Room Decorations

2010-12-08T15:40:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogland!!

Here are pix of the decorations in my kitchen & dining room. I think I need some more stuff-it looks a bit bare :D

Looking into the dining room. The oranges are fake ones I stuck cloves in.

Santa's on my pie safe. They all came from yard sales and cost no more then $3!!

Santa's on the desk. I made the one on the left. Yard sales and thrift stores provided the others.

Display of my vintage glass ornaments on the armoire. The gumdrop tree wound up there because a certain calico cat liked to lick the gumdrops.

I made these candy canes out of some of those cheapy plastic ones I found at the thrift store. Wrapped them in strips of fabric and added a bow & bell.

Top of the chest. I made the bears and the Santa came from a yard sale for $3. It still had it's $39.99 tag on it!!

Bench in front of slider. The rocking Santa was a $2 thrift store find!

Santa's on the China Hutch. I made the one on the left and the one on the right. Guess where the one in the middle came from??? LOLOLOL

The other Santa's on the hutch-I made the one in the middle.

The dining room Santa Tree. It's all Santa ornaments. Some are made from corn cobs, crab shells, etc. I collect mostly ones that are in red & white. I'll be doing a post later with close-ups of the ornaments.

Kitchen sink window display. The Santa & sled is vintage 60's and was scored at the thrift store for 50 cents!!!

Corner of counter display. I made the Santa on the little cabinet.

Gingerbread man tree and Santa's.

Stove top display. I think I need to count all of my Santa's!

Pantry Door display. The apron hanging on the left is vintage. I made the wreath from vintage cookie cutters. The tin Santa in the middle is a mold--missing the back but was only $1!!!

Display on the island. Of course the boot and cookie jar were thrifted!!!

Tree on top of refrigerator--it has cookie cutters decorating it. I made the picture.

Pictures of the tops of my cabinets. I'm surprised there wasn't a cat lurking among the display!

I hope you all enjoyed visiting and seeing my decor!! More to come!!!

Tamera

It's beginning to look like CHRISTMAS!!!!

2010-12-05T17:35:00.001-05:00

Hello blogland!!!
I've finally gotten everything in it's place!!!! It took close to 3 weeks to decorate. I'll be sharing pictures this week.

Here is my handsome Mr. Bill is his Christmas tie. You can see by his expression how much he LOVES wearing it.

Here's Mr. Bill and KaeKae dressed up for Christmas. Bill looks like a typical guy in a tie and Kae was being very diva-ish and not cooperating.

KaeKae looking all cute in her Christmas dress. I had a hard time getting her to sit down because she wanted to prance around and preen.

Another shot of the puppies. This was taken right before Bill figured out how to get the tie off. I found him hiding the tie under the pillow!

Our hall bathroom. The Santa on the floor came from a yardsale. The Santa arrangement is the bottom of an old cookie jar I've had for years.

View into the bathroom. The Santa Star was another yard sale find.

View of the shelf over the toilet. The hubster has been giving me the Charming Tails figurines for years. I have enough to change out for the seasons. I have my Christmas ones out. I made the hanging Santa.

My Charming Tails Santa & sleigh. A dear friend made the trees (they're paper mache). The towels came from the Dollar Store a few years ago.

Another view of the shelf & Santa.

Display on the sink. The candle arrangement is in a thrifted wooden fruit bowl I painted, and a thrifted candle ring. There's a couple of my Santa collection under the tree-both thrifted or yard sale.

View of the tree. It's all primitive style ornaments-mostly made by me and a few traded for.

Wreath (thrifted) with primitive ornaments I made. I had some left from a show I did a couple of years ago that i didn't know what to do with. Viola-new wreath!

View of the towel rack shelf. The little churches were made by a dear friend.

Each bedroom door and the hall bath door has one of these stockings I made hanging on it.

Guest ro0m bed with my Santa bear, my great-grandmother's doll Margie and our resident cat-queen Misty.

View of guest room dresser with my collection of vintage houses.

The guest room Christmas tree. I have a collection of plastic 60's & 70's ornaments. Many are from the early 60's and my childhood tree. I've also found quite a few of the kind that have little scenes inside at yardsales. This tree also has all of my vintage pinecone elves & Santa's displayed on it.

I found this tree-topper this summer at a yard sale along with a bunch of other Christmas stuff!! It's vintage plastic and has a Nativity scene inside. PERFECT!!

View of some of the ornaments and an elf. The red ornament is from my childhood.

My childhood Nativity. It's cardboard and plastic and precious to me!

Some of my thrifted Lefton hollyware. I keep my eyes open for this stuff now.

Almost all of my Christmas stuff comes from yardsales, thrift stores or I make it. I always have my eyes open for Christmas stuff year round. Because obviously I NEED more Christmas decorations!!

More pictures to come!! Y'all have a blessed week!

Tamera

The Craft Dungeon

2010-11-26T09:50:00.001-05:00

And so it begins!!! This is the Craft Dungeon (Hey, Craft Palace's HAVE to have a dungeon) and all the Christmas Hoard.

I love Christmas!!! But I wish I had some elve's to help me!

This is just stuff I've accumulated since last Christmas from yard sales and thrifts. Like I NEED more!!

A view of the corner with all my totes and boxes. They are organized mostly by room.

Another view while it was still neat. This has all exploded over the dungeon!!!

Through the years I have accumulated a bunch of tacky vintage Christmas stuff...mostly 60's-80's vintage. This year I decided to make a wreath out of it. I call it my "Homage to tacky plastic"

One of the ornaments on it!

The demon-possesed Christmas Pine Cone Girl! FREAKY!!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! Off to start decorating!

Tamera

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T19:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I know I am truly thankful this year for all the ways God has blessed us at the Stone Fence cottage this year. He has provided!!! So many blessings to list!

I'm thankful that my mom is doing pretty well during all this chemo. It's a journey and a battle!

I'm thankful that our daughter has the possibility (VERY GOOD POSSIBILTY) of getting an excellent Business Manager Intern position with the Federal Govt. She's made it through a few levels of interviews/vetting and goes next week for another interview and could have an offer made that day. All that hard work in college has paid off!!

VERY thankful that the hubster has a job after being laid off since October 2009(company went out of business-he was biomedical equipment service engineer) He started on November 8th at the same place I work. That background in engineering drafting & design came in handy! He's glad to be working (he's still taking classes in computer graphics and such to upgrade his skillset) and glad it's closer to homer and he won't have to travel. He used to be on the road 2-3 weeks each month.

And I am thankful for all of the wonderful people i have met in blogland. You all inspire me!!

Tamera

Peppermint Christmas and getting ready for Craftapalooza!

2010-11-17T17:48:00.001-05:00

Hiya blogland!!!

I'm participating in the Peppermint Christmas Tag Swap hosted by the fabulous Elizabeth at Bluebird Papercrafts http://creativebreathing.blogspot.com/ . We had to create 22 3x6 tags using the colors of red, pink, light blue, and light green. It was a challenge to step outside my comfort zone and use PINK!!!

I incorporated a papercrafting technique popular in the UK called "pyramage". It's basically a form of decopogue that layers the image in a pyramid form. There are variations called spiral or twistmage and inverted/tunnel pyramage I'm anxious to try. I included a small card with the layers ready to cut-out and directions with each tag.

I've become HOOKED on the papercrafting mags from the UK. So many new techniques to try and they always come with free gifts like stamps, embossing plates, chipboard pieces and papers.

Working on the cards. I can see why I got a "B" in photography class all those years ago!! It's the camera-LOL

I buy cheap plastic partyware at the dollar store and use them to organize my various "bits and bobs" for my projects. It allows me to put the stuff kind of away when I need to. I have both sectioned ones like this and oval serving platters.

Finished cards!!!

The cards in the upper right are the ones I'm sending along with instructions on the pyramage technique.

Front of the tag-you can see the layers. I actually used NO Christmas papers making these!

Back of the tag!

This is my work desk getting prepared for a Craftapalooza on Friday nite with a dear friend. We are going to be making Christmas ornaments and card toppers so I'm gathering anything Christmas"y" in my stash. This isn't even beginning to scratch the surface of my hoard.

This weekend starts the indoor Christmas decorating extravaganza at the Stone Fence Cottage. Pictures to follow!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Tamera

Worst Christmas Fabric EVER!!!

2010-11-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

Hiya Blogland!!! I'm still alive and kicking. My mom is hanging in there--the chemo is a bit rough at times. She lost her hair 2 weeks ago and is rocking her wig--oh yeah--"cranial prothesis" and it looks really cute. Better then her natural hair-LOLOL

I was checking out the new Christmas fabrics at Joann's last week looking for some inspiration or just more fabric for my stash (what??? you're supposed to USE the fabric??) when I ran across what has to be the WEIRDEST Christmas fabric I haver ever seen. In fact, it's one the of worst fabrics period--and I've seen some UGLY!!!!

Behold:

It's a Chippendale's Christmas!!!! I had to buy a yard of this because NO ONE would believe it without evidence! This is called "All I want for Christmas". Yeah right. What on EARTH could you make out of this? We were all laughing over it at Joann's--they were as horrified as I was !!! Let's make Grandma an apron!!!! The possibilities are endless. I know abs say FESTIVE to me!!

Then I took a closer look at it and was TOTALLY squicked out!!

The "men" all appear to be young teenage boys--very child-like in appearence. So now we have christmas fabric depicting young boys in their underwear. And it get's worse!

Here's "junior" in his candy-caned striped longjohns surrounded by packages. Doesn't he look sweet and innocent?? Wait.....

And here's junior's "package".

Here's junior's friend dresssed in his boxers with a package for you!

and not the one in his hands either.......

Here's another little buddy!

AND his package!!

I want to know what pervert designed this. Because obviously you have to be to come up with something like this. I'm planning on going back to Joann's and talk with the manager. This really shouldn't be put out for sale and the Joann's buyer that ordered this needs to have their head examined.

Tamera

What I'm workin' on & an update on my mom

2010-10-16T19:11:00.000-04:00

Hiya blogland!!! I thought I'd share some pictures of what I'm currently working on project-wise (ok...a couple of things I'm working on-I always seem to have several projects going at once. That dreaded Crafter ADD!)

The components for my pockets for Elizabeth at Creative Breathing/Blurbird Papercraft's Apron Pocket Swap. I have become the queen of the spray glue assembly line participating in these swaps!! Next up will be her Peppermint Christmas tag swap!!! I enjoy being challenged with a theme and stepping outside my "artistic" box!!!

Since I can't stand idle hands when I watch TV-I'm working on a punched yarn rug. Well...not technically. I HAVE an oxford rug punch..but for some reason I just can't do it...I also can't needle punch. I did find I could use my primitive rug hook and use yarn instead of wool strips and get the same look. This is my design from an old tapestry I saw in a book. The hubster thought it was a chicken. Um, no.. it's a PEACOCK!!!! LOLOL

Close up view. The colors are a teal, blue-violet, and plum for the Peacock. The background is going to be an ivory tweed. This will be a round mat for a chair or table when I finish. I have a friend who has peacocks that I think will love it.

Update on my mom. First and foremost--thank you so much for the encouragement and prayers. Her treatment schedule is pretty daunting. She will have chemo weekly for the next year and then radiation for thirty days. She's had two chemo's so far. She's doing pretty well--just tired and not much appetite. Still has her hair but the doc said it will probably start falling out in the next week or so. Her spirits are good and that's half the battle won. All we can do it put it in God's hands...He's the one in control here!

Have a great weekend!!!

Tamera

Fall decor inside

2010-10-14T20:56:00.000-04:00

I finally got around to taking some pictures inside of my fall decor ( I only have 3 large rubbermaid tubs full of fall stuff--LOL)

My kitchen island. Yard sale vase and the pumpkin came from Ross.

Stove display. The turkeys are vintage- I've been trying to collect them.

Some of my vintage honeycomb turkeys and pilgrims on top of my hutch.

Afghan from estate sale and hooked pillow I made a couple of years ago.

Appliqued towel. I adapted a Mary Engelbreit pattern. I made one for my Fall Kitchy swap partner
Donna and hand blanket stitched it all. THIS one I cheated and machine stitched!

Bathroom shelf/towel rack. I have another set of vintage turkeys and some pheasants displayed here.

Fall Mary Engelbreit-style banner swap banner. This was a FUN swap and kind of out of my usual "style" zone.

This is one of my banner pieces. I had pumpkin as a theme. The puppy is from one of my vintage cards. I actually paper-sewed the pumpkin!

I also had the letter "L". The owls are stamped and watercolored.

Thanks for stopping by!! I'm going to try to post at least once a week. I LOVE visiting everyone's blogs, but I have to say I'm not all that enamored of blogging myself...LOLOL.

Tamera

Goodies from an Estate Sale!

2010-10-04T16:16:00.000-04:00

FINALLY getting around to posting about some goodies I got at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. It happened to be right around the corner from me--elderly lady had passed and her family was clearing out the house.

And it was GOOD!!! As in loads of stuff and CHEAP. They just wanted it all gone. I had to restrain myself or I would've needed an 18 wheeler to get it all home.

View of the Craft dungeon!! Doesn't every Palace have a dungeon??? Everything piled in that corner is Christmas stuff.

Got a box of cool photo's. Family said they had NO idea who these people were. Lot's of pictures of cows and some really neat photo's of a copper mine in Cuba from the turn of the 20th century.

Y'all remember years ago before AC was so common these church fans??? I surely do remember being in the old country Methodist church I attended as a child (it had an outhouse!) and using these. They had advertisements from local businesses on the back--mostly funeral homes for some reason!

Old candy box full of vintage medical supplies. The box I'll keep but I have no idea what to do with the medical stuff?? Laurie at Magpie Ethel-do you collect this kind of stuff??

Vintage picture-I hung it in our guest bedroom. I loved the soft pastel colors. You can't really tell from the photo but the door is cut out and raised up.

Vintage "Friend" picture from the 30's. It had been given several times through the years by ther notes on the back.

Lot's of old pins from the 100th anniversary memorial of the Antietam Battle. They have little bells on them.

Money bag from the old bank here in town. Unfortunately it was EMPTY!!!

Old kitchen utensils.

More decorative plates for my collection. There were TONS of them but I exercised some restraint!!

Bags of old costume jewelry--Ive went through them and there are loads of goodies!! Some of the vintage stuff Ii will actually wear!

Cut glass vinegar cruet for my collection. Cut milk glass sugar & creamer, zinc atlas jar lid, really cool glass flower frog bowl and a gumdrop tree. I've been looking for a gumdrop tree.

Vintage thread holders, nice scissors and vintage ribbon. I want to re-do the little chair in something Mary Engelbreit"y".

Doileypalooza!! All in excellent shape.

Really cool crochet owl picture. I love owls!!

Lots of embroidered linens. Love the one with the different birds on it.

Adorable advertising apron. The elephant graphics are so cute!

Some printed linens--dutch girl, cocktail table cloth. (sorry for the fuzziness)

CHRISTMAS tablecloths in excellent condition !!

Loads of Christmas ornies!! This lady loved her holidays and there were boxes upon boxes of Christmas stuff. A lot of it was dollar store/walmart stuff but there were vintage goodies to be found if you dug for them.

A vintage nativity just like the one I have from my childhood. I'll be repairing this one for display!!

More assorted christmas stuff. The baker Santa is for the kitchen--the Matrushka had the wooden ornaments in it.

There is also a vintage christmas cocoa tin and some bottle trees with tiny spun head figures on them,

Load of vintage ephemera--got a huge box of it. Old almanacs, flyers, travel stuff.

Vintage calenders from the early 30's to be restored.

Load of Exxon calenders from the 70's--great vintage style pictures!

Lot's of old calenders- I'm going to "mine" these for images!

Can you guess how much I paid for all these "treasures"??? TEN bucks!!! I was one happy camper!!

Hope you all have a great day and thanks for stopping by and looking at my stuff!!

BTW MY mom's first chemo is this Thursday. Please keep her in your prayers!

Tamera

The Big "C".

2010-09-22T10:29:00.000-04:00

Hiya Blogland!!

I guess I've been a bit quiet lately-was on a blog break during August. And now I just can't seem to get my enthusiasm up to blog anything. A lot has happened in the last few weeks.

My mom has been diagnosed with cancer. And I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.

She had been a 5 year breast cancer survivor. Last time it was Stage 1A-- a miniscule spot in her breast. They removed the breast (her choice) and some lymph glands and she's been clear ever since. Oncologist felt since it was caught so quickly (routine mammogram--make sure you get them!!) that there was little chance of re-occurance.

Fast forward to mid-August 2010. Mom feels a small lump under her arm on the same side they removed the breast. Doctor says it feels like a cyst (smooth and movable as opposed to a cancer tumor which is usually rough and immovable)

They do a biopsy that week. And then comes the phone call "It's cancer". Surgery is scheduled for next week--surgeon has an opening.

More tests. I go with her to the oncologist for the results. Good news--the pet scan shows the cancer has NOT mestasized and is confined to her lymphs-maybe 5 that are involved and appears to be contained. The surgery goes well-they believe they got it all. She will have to have some chemo after the surgery. We joke about getting a Dolly Parton wig. We are feeling positive about the outcome.

This past Friday we went back to the oncologist for the surgery results. And everything came crashing down.

The cancer is a rare agressive type of Breast Cancer called HER2. She is Stage3C. It was in 8 lymph glands and showed characteristics of spreading into the vascular and muscle systems. For the next year she will have to have chemo, another med called Herceptin that is IV, some pill specific for HER2 cancer and then radiation. Right now the doctor says she has a 50/50 chance of it re-occuring. A huge plus in her favor is she is in excellent health otherwise.

Thankfully, because of it's rarity and her age (it's usually only seen in women under 50) she is now in a program with the Mayo Clinic so she'll be getting excellent treatment.

I'm struggling to process this and yet remain upbeat for her. She's an RN so she knows enough to make herself scared. I know it's in God's hands but wow, I just came face to face with my mom's mortality. And my own.

She's not just my mom, she's my FRIEND. I live 1 1/2 hours from her so that makes it a bit tough. My parents are divorced. One sister who lives only 10 minutes from her so that's a good thing.

My dad has been in poor health for years...he's like the Bionic man. Chrohns disiease, Throat Cancer, Heart Attack & Bypass, Kidney Issues. I've been settled with him dying for YEARS...he's been at the brink so many times.

But Mom, she's never been sick. I'm coming to grips that he may survive her. Even now it is hard to write this down because in the back of my mind I keep telling myself that it's not real. If I close my eyes it will be just a dream.

I know this post isn't my usual funny banter...but I'm just not feeling too funny right now. Yet I know this will pass and life will go on and we'll fight this for all it's worth and believe that we are gonna beat it. We have to.

Don't forget that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Get your mammogram and make sure your loved ones get one, too.

Tamera

Fall is Here at The Stone Fence Cottage!!!

2010-09-21T18:31:00.000-04:00

Fall has arrived at the Stone Fence Cottage!! Here are some pix of the outside decor! Indoor pix to come.

The corner near the porch and garage.

Front garden and porch.

Front door.

More of the front porch.

Old shelf full of bowl and scarecrow.

Another view of front porch.

Miss KaeKae looking cute.

Thanks for looking!!

Tamera

Hello Blogland!!!!

2010-09-04T13:03:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends!!! Long time no blog!! I have been trying to keep up with reading everyoner's blogs but it has been BUSY here at the Stone Fence Cottage!

After a month of chaos and disorder--the new floor in the living room and hall is done! I was SO happy to put the furniture back this week--everything had been stuffed in the dining room.

The hubster did an awesome job--it took a while because he is a perfectionist and was doing it prety much on his own. I LOVE it--makes the room seem larger. Next spring we are going to have the walls painted so no more boring builder white!!

As you can see I am starting to decorate for FALL!!!!

Looking into the dining room!

I will have more pictures of the fall decor to share next week. This, next to Christmas, is my favorite time of year.

Have a great holiday weekend!!

Tamera

See you in September!!!

2010-08-04T11:53:00.000-04:00

Hiya blogland!!
I'm going to be taking a brief blog-break the next few weeks!
It's gonna be super busy here at The Stone Fence Cottage. Lotsa projects going on!!!
We are installing new pergo flooring in the living room and I'm helping plan a surprise 75th b'day party for my dad. Plus we have Evangelist Perry Stone holding a conference at our church first part of September and I do hospitality (the hostess with the mostest!!! LOL) It's going to be a CUH-RAZEE month!
I'll try to stop by y'alls blogs to catch up when I can!!

Have a great rest of the summer! Don't know about y'all but I am looking forward to FALL!! (and cooler weather!)

Love-
Tamera