Hello Autumn

 

It was a super busy summer....the retreat barn is up and running and we had several retreats here at the farm.  It has been a blessing having so many ladies come from all over the USA and we have loved having each and everyone! 

 

Frank Bielec (yes, he was on Trading Spaces) is a wonderful primitive folk artist and he has graciously allowed me to turn his artwork into needle punched, applique, and rug hooked pieces.  I am working on putting together some of his designs and offering them as patterns.

 

The one above is called

PEACE ON EARTH

so far I have a sample and pattern made for needle punch and I am working on one for wool applique.

If you are interested the patterns will be in my Etsy shop or you can email me if you would like to purchase one.

 

This one is a table mat called

Winter Time

It is about 18" across and is done with wool and is very easy to make.

 

Over The Hills of Snow is a needle punch book that holds your scissors, pins, and needles

It is needle punched on the front and has wool applique on the inside!

 

Matilda is a whimsical happy little witch and is a fun wall hanging.

 

 

I have been missing from blogging as summer was so very busy!  The grandkiddos are growing up so fast.  Sloan is now 9 years old and loves playing kid pitch baseball and is the catcher for his team.  He loves it!  Eva Mae has started full day pre-school and is 4 1/2 years old and has the most beautiful blue eyes you ever saw.  She loves school and playing on the playground.  Little Betty Rae is 2 1/2 and is going to preschool for a couple of hours a week and knows all her ABC's and thinks she can do anything Sloan and Eva can and of course she tries it all.  Can you tell MoMo loves those grandkiddos and might be a bit partial.

 

Our days here on this earth are so very short....it's like a whisper and before you know it a year is gone and then another and another.  Hug those near and dear to you, hop of the couch and go outside and play, smile at those who look grumpy who knows you just might brighten their day!

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Check back soon I hope to share a free pattern!

 

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Come Join Us For Our Barn Opening Day!

 

We are having a Barn Open House on May 14th, 2016 so if you are near central Oklahoma or visitng the area you are welcome to join us!   We will be serving Hotdogs with all the fixings, desserts, and we will giveaways throughout the day.

 

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Prairie Moon Primitives and Retreats

 

 

It's been a dream come true!  

 

 

 

 

Danny worked and worked and worked some more...evenings after work, and weekends!  We worked together and built a big red barn.  A barn for retreats, gatherings, a store to sell goods, a place for quilters, rug hookers, sewing, applique, scrapbooking, punching, and more! 

 

 

 

 

There will be all kinds of classes. 

 

 

 

Maybe this little gal will one day give piano lessons!

 

 

 

These two might have a class available someday, too!

 

 

 

We have a large classroom with design walls, cutting tables, light tables, and ironing stations.

 

 

 

A place to sit, relax, and visit.

 

 

 

 

We will be serving home cooked meals and desserts!

 

 

A few views of the store....still more to hang on the walls and put up!

 

 

Wools and Valdani threads for applique and embroidery.

 

 

Lots of sizes of Oxford Punch Needles!

 

 

Applique, embroidery, needle punch, rug hooking, quilting, and sewing patterns.

 

 

 

A peek into the bunkhouse....we have 16 twin beds! 

 

We  have another barn with 4 more beds that can be used for a visiting teacher or 4 more guests.

 

 

There are two outdoor porches to enjoy the great outdoors!

 

 

It has been a dream come true......we will be having an open house on May 14th from 9 am to 4 pm so if you are in the area we would love to have you stop by.

 

We will be having our Farm Chick Day that day as well, so if you would like to bring a project to work on come join us for the day!  WE will be serving lunch and snacks so bring your appetite as well.

 

If you would like to see more pictures of our retreat barn stop by my blog Prairie Moon Primitives and Retreats!

 

 

Happy Trails.....Ginger

 

 

 

February Days!

 

February Days have been cold and windy but the sunshine is bright and so that does make for signs of spring!  The above applique pattern is by Wooden Spool Designs.

 

We are on the finishing up phase of the retreat barn.  My store is complete just moving lots and lots of goods over.  Patterns, wool, hand dyed yarns, applique kits, needle punch kits, supplies for hooking, punching, applique. 

 

We will be meeting this Saturday February 13th at the house but I hope to have everything ready for the Farm Chick Day on March 12th in the big red barn. 

 

If you are in the area of central Oklahoma  and would like to attend,  we meet each month on a Saturday around 9 am and you are welcome to stay as long as you would like.  Bring a project to work on and enjoy visiting with all the gals.  We have lunch and dessert, too!

 

 

You can email me at prairiemoonprimitives@yahoo.com for directions and dates.

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

 

 

Tutorial on Finishing A Punch Needle Project

 

I have a lot of needle punched pieces and there are a lot of different uses for them.  Ornaments, pillows, pictures, stockings, door greeters, book covers, little stuffed dolls, pins, necklaces, pincushions, and the list goes on and on.

 

 

I made some simple little videos to show you how I finished the piece above.  The pattern will be available in a couple of weeks if you are interested.  I used Valdani pearl cottons size #8 but you can use your favorite threads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rainy Days and Soggy Nights

It has been the craziest year with all the rain....we are certainly out of the drought.  Our ponds are running over and our yard is puddles. 

We did get a chance to get out in the fields and get some of the hay in.  Now the rains have returned and we are looking forward to sunshine!

So as we get a good SOAKING in the evenings I have been punching.  I've been using a lot of the Valdani #8 pearl cottons and will be having 3 different designer packages coming soon.

The above piece is Fraid E. Cat and the tale of 2 birds.

Then we have Mr. Gobbles a little bitty piece.

A little pumpkin headed gal that will be made into a wall pocket.

With all the rains the roses are soaking up every drop and putting on lots of blooms.

Wild blackberries are all over the pasture....I'm hoping to get out there to pick a pail full once the rains let up.

Look how big Miss Betty Rae is getting.....her favorite words are uh oh and NO.  Such a little cutie pie.

Sloan is up to something just look at that onery face!

Eva Mae borrowing Sloan's hat.  She is such a busy little gal and is growing up way too fast!

Fall pieces are beginning to come together.  I only have a couple of months and I will be back to Silver Dollar City to vend again.  The Autumn Kitty  was also punched with Valdani threads.

The little pumpkins below will be made into pins and were punched with hand dyed wool threads.

.I'll be off this weekend for a week  to Vermont.  I am going to take the teacher certification class for Oxford Punch at Amy Oxford's school.    It will be fun to take oxford punching to a new level.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog for a visit and hope you are enjoying your summer days.

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Spring Time On The Farm

 

Spring Time is coming down on the farm!  The trees are producing tiny little buds and little sprigs of grass are poking through looking for sunshine. 

 

Love is in the air as the birds are once again looking for little tidbits to make a new little place to feather a nest.  Lots of new little baby calves are playing in the fields as their momma's keep an ever watchful eye.

 

Spring days with scattered rainfalls are so sweet smelling and bring back memories of childhood as it falls across the prairie. The ponds turn a deep rusty red as the Oklahoma red dirt stirs up the water. 

 

Soon it will be time to help with the planting of a big garden that mom and dad have planned.  Seeds have been started and are keeping warm inside a little greenhouse built by dad.  Sweet onions, lots of varieties of tomatoes, squash, green beans, peas, watermelon, corn, and cantaloupe to name a few!

 

Yes, Spring Time is coming down on the farm.

 

I've been playing with the needle punch and valdani threads this one was worked up with soft spring colors in the perle #5's. 

 

A small booklet of the seasons on the farm is in the works....

 

With spring coming really soon....the yard is already asking for a trim!  It will be a busy time for

us this Spring but I don't mind :)

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

Big Red Barn... A Dream Coming True

(photo found on pinterest)

 

Danny and I both like BIG RED BARNS and a dream is looking like it will be coming true.

 

For a very long time I have wanted a shop to sell my wares, supplies, and to teach handmade crafts of all kinds.  For the most part I just enjoy being around folks that have a desire to make things.  I have always kept busy making something even from a very young age. 

 

So we have talked and planned and drawn sketches of plans and we have come up with a  BIG RED BARN that will be here at our farm.  It will have a store for me to offer my handmade goods and also, supplies of wool, punchneedles, yarns, rug hooking supplies, and much more.

 

There will be two porches with rocking chairs and tables to gather around for visiting and relaxing outside, then a big, bright room with plenty of workspace for quilting, rug hooking,  punching, and wool applique workshops or retreats.

 

 

A place to gather around the tables inside  to enjoy some good ole' home cooking and a bunkhouse built in for 16 gals to spend a night or two. 

 

I want this to be a place that everyone that comes can enjoy a taste of the country life,  make new friends, and leave feeling refreshed and wanting to return again. 

 

 

 

 

We have already  measured off where it will go....next is the dirt work to level everything up. 

 

 

In the waiting process I am still planning on several workshops in the big gathering room we have now. 

 

Check back soon for some upcoming workshops on Crazy Clutch, Shirred Rugs, Needle Punch, Oxford Punch, Beginning Rug Hooking and A YEAR IN STITCHES Block of the Month.

 

I will post the dates soon with more details.

 

If you are in the area we also have a Prairie Chicks day once a month.

This month we will meet Saturday, January 10th from 9:30 to late afternoon.

Just bring something to work on and I will provide the lunch....no charge just a good old fashion day of visiting and stitchin', hookin', and punchin'

 

 

Happy Trails......Ginger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bits and Pieces

Oh how I have neglected blogging.  I have been hard at it getting ready for this fall being away from home for 2 months and vending at a show and then at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO takes time away from the computer.  

I will be vending SEPT 6TH, in Warsaw, MO at the community building from 9 am to 3 pm.  If you are in the area it is a wonderful show with lots of vendors!

Then I will be teaching Oxford rug punch and needle punch on Sept 8th at the Saltbox Primitive Woolens in Warsaw, MO.  

Then Ann and I will be off to Branson, MO where we will step back into the 1800's for 7 weeks and be craftsman demonstrating rug hooking, rug punch, locker hook, and needle punch at Silver Dollar City!  I have found out that my cabin will be located right behind the gazebo where the performers sing and dance on the main square..... If you are visiting that area from Sept 12- October 26th we would love for you to stop by and say Howdy :)

I've been making lots of magnets, hang tags, and little canvas pictures along with boxes and other things with the paintbrush and paints.

Mom made this wonderful dish towels and they look just too cute to use!

I wrapped them up and have them packaged and ready to go.

In between all the crafting  we have been busy checking out the spiders and bugs after Sloan gets out of school each day.

Can you believe this boy is in FIRST GRADE!  He will turn 7 in October and he is growing up so fast!

I have been finishing the binding on lots of things and making more pins and stockings.

Scrappy rugs got bound.

Needle punches still need the finishing touches and I leave in 2 WEEKS....I think I can, I think I can!

Been crocheting and braiding little coasters.

To top it off this lil' gal is going to preschool 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours and she is upset that they haven't left yet!  She knows all her abc's and can already count to 26!  

Here is a picture of both Eva (as a baby)  and Betty wearing a shirt supporting our business.  Miss Betty is growing like a weed.....she is such a good baby and can sleep through just about anything!

Yes I am going to miss this kiddos while I am gone!  

I will have to another post in the next few days and let you see what a SPECIAL FRIEND sent me.....it was quite a surprise and I'm so blessed by her friendship!

Now you have seen the bits and pieces that have been keeping me busy......hope you enjoy the bits and pieces of your days as much as I do!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Building Houses on A Cold Day

Keeping warm on a cold day building a couple of houses the fun and easy way.  The red house was easily needle punched now just need to decide what to do to finish it.

This morning was spent with gathering up much of the dreaded tax stuff.....not fun at all!  It is what it is and has to be done.

This evening I managed to pull a few loops on a little rug.  Just taking my time loop by loop.

Stay warm and safe if you have to get out the temperatures are downright cold!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Lucy Locket Lost Her Pocket

Lucy Locket Lost Her Pocket,

Kitty Fisher Found It;

Not A Penny Was There In It,

Only Ribbon Round It!

Well I made three little pockets yesterday and finished the last one up this morning.

This is what was on the frame yesterday and for a first attempt It turned out okay.

This is the back of the sheep pocket

When you open it up it repeats the sheep....I added a magnetic heart closure but can you see the mistake???

This is the little pocket just big enough to tuck in some spare change or folded bills.

A little pocket that opens at the top.....maybe to hang a sprig of flowers or herbs!

I've been thinking about doing a pocket booklet....think I'll go find my rug hook and see if I can find Lucy Locket's pocket!

Happy Trails....Ginger