Friday, January 27, 2017

A Place to Dye

 
 
I have been working on this awesome pattern
"Pastel Tulips"  by Cath's Penny Rugs.  I have always loved her designs.  I chose a little different color selection but that is the fun of having wools to choose from.  I love having her patterns in my shop. 
 
It's been a busy week of dyeing wool and washing load after load of as-is wools.  The bins are overflowing in the shop and next will be tying up lots of wool rug yarns and mixing up dyes and watching them change from natural creamy yarns to all kinds of colors.  It's like a surprise when they come out of the dye pots!
 
 
Look at the wonderful dye room Danny built for me!   Am I one lucky gal or what!
 
It sure makes the dyeing much quicker and I don't have to worry about messing up the kitchen.
 

 
 
Wishing each of you a wonderful weekend and hope you find time to do something you love!
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger
 


Wednesday, January 25, 2017

A New Spring Time Pattern

 
I'm teaching at a local quilt guild in February so I wanted to design a simple yet fun and instructional piece for those who want to try wool applique.  Blanket stitches, colonial and French knots, stems stitch and straight stitches will be what they will be learning.  Pinks and purples are not usually my choice but I stepped out of my comfort zone and it turned out to be a fun piece to bring a little spring time into anyone's home!
 
Happy Trails....Ginger

 

Friday, January 20, 2017

Prairie Moon Primitives Classes

 
I am going to be offering several classes this year and hosting some teachers as well. 
 
I'll be updating all the different things we will be offering on my facebook page
 
We will have Wool Applique
Beginner Rug Hooking
Locker Hooked Rugs
Pleachet Rugs
Basket Weaving
Needle Punch
Oxford Rug Punch
Piecing Quilts
Machine Quilting
Jewelry Making
 
plus lots of retreats for all sorts of fun fibers
 
It looks to be a year filled with friends old and new
Laughter
Memories
and so very much to be thankful for and treasure!
 
 
Life is but a whisper so enjoy each day!
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger
 


Thursday, January 19, 2017

Little Quilts

 
I like little mini quilts and I have been making lots of samples for the shop.  This is a pattern by All Through The Night and I decided instead of making it into 6 different pieces I would combine them into a little quilt.  It was a fun one and was put together very quickly. 
 

 
I have lots and lots of jars of buttons.  I like the look of them in the old canning jars.  Eva likes buttons, too.  I suppose most little girls like playing with buttons and beads.  Maybe she will enjoy doing little sewing projects...guess I better sharpen up my skills on left handed embroidery as she is a little lefty!
 
The little girls love coming in the craft room and exploring!  Buttons, beads, threads, crayons, paper, scissors, doo-dads.....who am I kidding I like coming in the craft room, too!
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Little Old Lady

 
This little birdie sets on top of a jar!  I've been trying out applique's on lots of different things.
Jars filled with buttons, jelly beans, threads, snippets....lots of jars holding lots of things!

A simple little needle book to hold some of my favorite needles....chenille, straw, millners, embroidery, quilting....lots of needles!
 
I like little things.....little needles, little scissors, little scraps
Each day I work on some little something
It's therapy for me!
 
I listen to music
or to some of my favorite Bible scholars
sometimes I even watch/listen to Andy Griffith!
 

 
I stitch when I go work in the office for Danny..... that is in between phone calls and customers! 
I'm usually tagging a project along on a trip in the truck.
If we are at Home Depot I'm the little OLD lady sitting in the truck stitching away.
 
I've always loved making things....
I have piles and piles of handmade things!
Some I give away, some I display!
Drawers filled with hand stitched blocks, needle punched pieces, so many things.....
A lifetime of things
Makes me think of all the stacks of items found in little shops!
Handwork by little old ladies sitting in trucks waiting on little old men :)
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger
 
 
 

 

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Little Girls Need Dolly Blankets

 
The little grandgirls love their dolls, pretend cooking, games, and throwing balls to PaPa.  Betty loves to wrap up babies in blankets and she needs one smaller for her little babies.
 
So out came the crayons and I must admit I haven't colored on cloth in years.  But those poor little dolls need some bright colored blankets!



So with some crème colored muslin and a few crayons we are getting to work on making some bright little blankets.

 
Once it's all colored you just need to press it with a hot iron with a paper towel over the crayons to heat set the color in.

 
Next, grab your favorite floss or thread and mine just happens to Valdani black and add some of your favorite stitches.....it's like doodling on cloth with a needle and thread!
 
Easy enough even a kiddo could have fun making their own little projects!
 
 
Happy Trails......Ginger
 


Thursday, January 12, 2017

Basket Making!

 
We are offering a wonderful Basket making class by Pauline Asbury from right here in Oklahoma!   She is one talented lady and can teach from beginner to advanced students. 
Come join us on January 28th from 9 am to 3 pm ....you will go home with a finished basket!
 
Pauline brings everything you will need  and I will be making lunch and dessert!
 
If you are interested in attending the basket workshop just email me at
 
Space is limited to 15 students
 
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Wool Applique It's Addictive

 
I love the feel of pulling thread and needle through fabrics.  I have always LOVED handwork even as a small girl.  Now don't get me wrong I was the biggest Tomboy probably around town.  But when it came to handcrafts I was in love with making something, anything, including mudpies!
 
For a few years now I have loved applique and my favorite is wool applique.

 
I put it on all kinds of things, bags, boxes, pillows, mats, wood, whatever.....

 
You can make pincushions, patch a sweater with a little flower, bags, penny rugs, add it on a hooked rug....you get the idea the possibilities are endless.

 
 
Miss Molly keeps a watchful eye late in the evenings as I keep on stitching. 

 
Have you tried wool applique?  
 
Happy Trails......Ginger

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Sitting Room

 
 
Every evening I spend time in this room!   I'm not much on sitting still for very long but put a needle of any sort in my hand and I can sit for awhile.  I love the feeling of making something with my hands.  Even doodling while on the phone at work fills up the pages where call backs for Danny to make fill in around their names.  Needless to say I have to make him a list if I can decipher what I wrote to begin with.
 
This week will bring warmer temps possibly up to the high 60's and then they are calling for rains and icy cold conditions later in the weekend!  Snow.....then sunny warm days,....then icy cold winds with possible freezing!  Makes for Oklahoma winters and lots of people with coughs and colds!
 
 
We are hosting lots of different retreats in the upcoming months so if you want to see all the updates follow me on facebook PrairieMoonPrimitives


Well,  time to find that comfy chair and get to stitching!  Hoping your enjoying some time spent doing what you love.

Happy Trails......Ginger

 
 
 


Thursday, January 5, 2017

Pleachet Rugbee Rug Needle Retreat


Pleachet is the technique!   RugBee Rug Needle is the tool.   Laura Jane White is carrying on a family tradition created by  her Grandmother,  Laura Elizabeth Johnston.   The early 1900’s fiber art is fun, fast, and easy….no sewing involved!

Make rugs, chair pads, and trivets of any size in six easy steps.  Free your imagination and creativity and “Pleachet Away.”  Join new or recycled fabric strips with the RugBee Rug Needle and our 100% cotton carpet warp.  Our unique needle is pointed on one end for easy loading of fabric with a crochet hook on the other.  Come join us and create your own family heirlooms. 

With this retreat you receive a Pleachet Rug Needle, Pleachet Instruction Book and DVD, 100% Natural Cotton Carpet Warp, 1 yard of precut fabric.   We have options for just taking the class and going home in the evening or come stay at our retreat center and enjoy working late into the evenings and enjoy our comfortable retreat center.   Meals are provided and prices will vary on the option you choose.
 
I met Laura while I was vending at Silver Dollar City and she was another craftsperson demonstrating and vending there as well.  Her technique of Pleachet was created by her Grandmother and she is working hard to keep this beautiful way of making rugs, chairpads, etc passed on to many others.  We will be hosting a retreat here at Prairie Moon Primitives and Retreats April 7th-8th.   If you are interested in attending or getting more information just contact me at prairiemoonprimitives@yahoo.com or visit my website at www.prairiemoonretreats.com
Happy Trails.......Ginger
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

A New Year Brings New Goals




We have closed out another year here at our little farm.  Our grandkiddos are growing up just too fast for me.  Miss Betty Rae is our youngest and she will be 3 years old in March.  She is keeping right up with Eva Mae and Sloan.  They each have their own personalities which makes them mighty special. 




We have farm chick days twice a month....one Wednesday and one Saturdays.  We have ladies who quilt, rug hook, Oxford punch, needle punch, applique, knit and scrapbook.....


Carolyn made this scrappy rug!  She gets a lot done and does many different things in fiber.


We offer basket classes by a local OKC lady "Pauline Asbury.  She does classes for beginner to advanced students.


We had 36 ladies come for our Christmas party....we played dirty Santa and Left Right Center plus everyone brought a dish and we sampled lots of good eats!




WE held our first scrapbook retreat and they made cards, jewelry, and did scrapbooks, too.



Farm Chick days are fun days just to gather and enjoy each other's company, eat lunch and a little dessert and work on projects.








Well with 2017 here I am setting some goals for myself.  Blogging more this year is one of them.  I want to offer some free little doodles, do some simple tutorials, keep you informed on retreats we will be offering and share some of our farm days!

Life is busy but it's good to slow down and cherish friendships, spend some quality time with family,  have a few quiet times stitching, and of course I really need to focus on studying and reading my Bible more.

This year is sure to bring some happy days and some days that will bring me to my knees but I will take one day at a time and rejoice in whatever comes my way!

Wishing you and your family a Happy, Healthy, and Joyous New Year!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Monday, November 7, 2016

Snowman Doodle Just For You

 
 
 
 
 
Thank you for stopping by today!  Here is a little snowman just for you to needle punch, applique, rug hook or paint!  Please give credit to me as the designer!
 
Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
It's my littlest sisters birthday!  Happy Birthday Bobbie!!!!
 
Happy Trails....Ginger

Friday, November 4, 2016

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

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Farm Chick Days and Lots of Applique

 
Twice a month we have farm chick days here where gals come for the day to enjoy hooking, punching, and stitching!  Look what Christine made!  Isn't this a beautiful wool quilt!!!!
 

 
Of course we always have lunch and desserts!  Working on all those projects makes us hungry :)

 

 
Little Betty Rae is our youngest grandkiddo she is a cutie pie and is growing up way too fast!

 
I've been FINISHING projects these are all completed!

The sled and the cardinal are both patterns by Cricket Street Wool....I carry them in my shop and they were so fun to make!

 
This was a quick pattern by Primitive Gatherings....my favorite time of the year is fall. 
 
There are a bunch more I finished plus I have MANY more I'm working on!  My little shop probably has well over 300 different applique patterns....guess I'm a bit addicted to wool applique right now!!!!
 
If your near central Oklahoma our next farm chick day is Saturday July 23rd if you would like to join us!
 
Happy Trails....Ginger

Monday, June 6, 2016

A Little Summer Time Fun!

 
We are staying busy as the summer time fun has began.....Sloan has grown up so much and loves baseball.  They won 2nd place in a benefit tournament and the gave the kids and coaches rings....he loved it!  Yes, that's his dad....my redheaded kiddo all grown up!
 
Jenn and I took the kiddos to the splash pad to cool down on a hot summer day and then we have to stop for a delicious snowcone! 
 
 

 
We have added another Golden Retriever to the family....Molly now has a friend "Moses" and she keeps him in sight most of the day.  Believe me that is a lot of work as he is one busy lil' pup!
 
The dog days of summer are here it seems!  It has turned off hot and muggy and it's always nice when you can find a shade and enjoy a big glass of iced tea or lemonade.  Danny has been looking for goats to add to the farm family and I'm hoping to have a chicken coop up once again.  Life is always busy on the farm but it sure is fun!
 
We will be hosting an open retreat this fall if you are going to be in the area.
 
 
Time to go find that tall glass of iced tea...
 
Happy Trails....Ginger