THANKSGIVING 2010

It has been a long time since my last post, and for that I apologize.  It seems as soon as Labor Day Weekend is over, things just get so busy, and then the next thing you know, a new year has arrived.  Every year I promise myself that I will slow down, and take the last 3 months of each year more slowly.  Well, maybe next year :)

When I log onto the internet each day, the countdown until Christmas Day shows, and I start to rush through everyday even more.  This past weekend, it was time to get out my favorite recipes, for treats that I only bake this time of year.  One being an Amish Pumpkin Cookie Recipe.  The cookie turns out cake like, and I smother the top with delicious cream cheese icing.  As a matter of fact, my husband took an entire batch to work with him this morning to share.  So, tomorrow, I will make one more, along with a batch of Snickerdoodles.

I promise to post more between now and Christmas, showing some projects that I have been creating, so I hope that you will check back.  It will get more interesting...LOL.

So, with that, here is the recipe for the Amish Pumpkin Cookies. This is the original recipe, but I have added some changes at the end, just as a suggestion... Enjoy!  And have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.  ~ Robbie~!

AMISH PUMPKIN COOKIES

• 1 cup of Crisco
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup of Libbey's pumpkin
• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside.  Cream your Crisco and white sugar, add egg, and mix well.  Add pumpkin, and continue mixing well.  Fold this mixture into the dry ingredients.  Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake 12 minutes, or until they begin to get light brown on the edges. 

**Options**

I put 2 tsp of cinnamon instead of 1, and I add a little nutmeg and ginger also.  You can use Allspice (for apple pies) as a substitute for the cinnamon.  I like my cookies bursting with flavor, so I usually add more. 

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions


In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.
If it is too thick add a tablespoon of water and remix to make more moist.
 
Ice the cookies once they have cooled.  You might have left over frosting.  I usally don't, because I pile that stuff so thick on top of the cookies!  You can also sprinkle the tops after you ice them, with a tiny hint of nutmeg for color. 

AUTUMN THEME LINEN, ROOM, AND BODY SPRAYS

One morning of a drop in temperature, even though not drastic yet, still gets me in the Fall mood.  Ready for pumpkins, cornstalks, and a room filled with the aroma of mulled cider, cranberries, and more.  So, I want to share with you a simple room spray you can make at home.  I will provide links for supply sources also.  My favorite of course is pumpkin spice.  However, I have created room sprays for several different rooms in my home.   Here is the simple recipe:

Distilled Water (you can get this at Walmart or grocery stores)  I buy it in gallon size.
2 - 3 ounces of WATER BASED fragrance
1 1/2 ( 1.5 oz) ounces of Isopropyl Alcohol (leave off the alcohol if using as a body spray)

Mix the water based fragrance into the isopropyl alcohol by pouring into a clean glass container and stir together gently.  Put in a 4 oz spray bottle, then slowly add distilled water until you fill your spray bottle.  Again, this is for a 4 oz spray bottle.  You can double the recipe for larger bottles.  Your liquid spray will most likely turn white or cloudy.  That's okay, it is a simple reaction with the water.  Shake before each use.  Test furniture first if you plan on spraying fabric furniture.  Never use this on Silk or Satin.  And please, don't spray the dog!  LOL

See how simple this recipe is?  And I love it.  You can even make money selling these at art and craft fairs.  So here are some sources for supplies!  Enjoy!

4 oz plastic spray bottles ( http://www.specialtybottle.com/ )
Water Based Fragrances (they have tons of different scents) ( http://www.craftlobby.com/ )  It will show a name Big River, but it is the same company, and they have been very quick to ship. I buy the 8oz bottles.

Then I use brown kraft labels as shown in the photograph!  Again, hope you enjoy this simple projects.

Antique Fireplace Mantel BEFORE & AFTER

A summer afternoon at an auction several months back resulted in me acquiring two antique fireplace mantels. As you can see in this BEFORE photograph, the center accent piece was missing, and it needed some work.  So, while my daughter-in-law was visiting, we decided to refurbish this old mantel and give it some Cottage Chic looking upgrades.  A quick trip to Lowe's, and we managed to find the perfect architectural accents pieces.  A nice ornate piece for the center, and tiny rosette medallions for the two diamond side accents.  Overly anxious, we could hardly wait until the glue dried and we could begin priming and painting the mantel.  I'm a very messy painter, so drop cloths were put down and the brushes started whipping back and forth over this mantel dating back to the 1800's.  Heavy and old, but perfect for our plans.  So, the next day and we were back at it with the second coat.  It wasn't very long before we were done, stood back and grinned at each other.  After her visit was over and time to head back to Jacksonville, Florida, we loaded it in the bed of the truck, packed suitcases on top, and off she went.

Thank goodness Tristan, my grandson was able to help lift it, and take it into the house when she got home.  Her newfound treasure now serves as a headboard in their bedroom, with plenty of room on the top of the mantel to begin adding decorative pieces such as candles, etc.

Now, surprisingly, both mantels were purchased for a total of $15.00.  I would say that was a great day at that auction, wouldn't you?   You can click on the photo of the finished mantel to enlarge so you can see the detail!

The Fish Bait Tree

Now, as fate goes, at the age of 22 I found myself, by choice of my own, uprooted from my beloved North Florida, and living on a 40,000 acre cattle ranch in Oregon. Mama says I should never have married a Yankee. But alas, that is what happened. And, so as the dog days of the summer of 1978 ended in Quincy, Florida, so did my days of laying on the sugar white sandy beaches, fishing and swimming in the gator infested waters of Lake Talquin, and throwing a cork into the fishing waters from an old cane pole.

Out West, I soon became known in the tiny town of Mitchell, Oregon, as that “crazy woman” from Florida. My accent was odd, my stories chalked up as “tall tales”, and no one out there, seem to know the difference between a “gopher” and a “catawba worm”.

Fishing for trout, sturgeon and salmon was so different than what I was used to. I had never used a rod and reel. We used cane poles back home. Our prize catch for the day was bream, catfish, and a speckled perch, and now and then a prize bass. And forget a store bought lure! We had a fish bait tree ourselves. Well, that claim was the beginning of my “craziness” in the eyes and minds of the local ranchers and citizens in our small ranching community. What sealed my fate as being the crazy woman from Florida, well…I’ll leave that story for another post.

Yes, we had a fish bait tree when I was a kid. This was during the time we lived on the Flora Dora Farm, a beautiful peach orchard located just off the Attapulgus Hwy, between Quincy, Florida, and Bainbridge, Georgia. It was called a Catawba tree, and once a year, it was filled with the best worms imaginable. Catawba worms, perfect to catch fish with. But, you had to get them off the tree, and that darn tree was located right next to the old tin roof shed on the south edge of the property, and right in the middle of the hog pen.

I’ll swim in gator and snake infested waters, but goodness, I hate having to go into a hog pen, filled with those beasts. Daddy had about 12 white hogs, and thankfully they were far from the house! But, one weekend afternoon, Daddy and his friend Chuck Burns decided to go fishing down at one of the farm ponds for catfish, because the catawbas were thick, and a fish fry was a sure thing that Saturday evening.

So, Daddy and Mr. Burns rounded up the kids to go with them to that hog pen, and the fish bait tree. They gave us buckets and explained to us that they were going to climb up on the old tin roof of the pig shed, and they would shake that tree, and any worms that fell into the dirt floor of the pen, we were to pick up and put in our buckets. And so the adventure began of dodging hogs, each other, and grabbing those worms.

Now, to get into that pen was not a problem for most of the kids, but me, well it involved crossing over an electric fence that was in place to prevent the hogs from escaping, and I was scared of electricity. Daddy assured me I would be fine, to just step over it, try not to touch the wire, and get into the pen. And so, one leg went over that wire, just as I began to lift my other leg, the first leg touched the wire, I jerked, got shocked, then the other, and before long I was stuck bouncing off both wires, screaming, one leg on one side, the other leg, on the other side, hogs running everywhere, worms falling off the tree because Daddy and Mr. Burns were laughing and the tree shaking from their enjoyment of my predicament and the other kids running around picking up worms, while my bucket was flaying in the air while I’m still screaming and crying.

Then, THUD….Daddy fell off the roof of the shed from laughing so hard, right into the middle of those hogs. Many fish were caught that late evening, and I swear the neighbors 2 miles away could hear their laughter the whole time they were fishing and frog gigging that evening and night, about the episode in the hog pen. As for me, both thighs scorched from being burnt, I never went inside that hog pen again.

Baubles

I was recently asked how I got so interested and infatuated with vintage baubles and jewels…. Well, I had to think about that for a minute or two, and the answer that came to mind was clearly, my Aunt Bernice.

Aunt Bernice was married to my Uncle Hershel Dean. My fondest memories of her were the times we visited them while in Sumatra, Florida at their hunting lodge, an old Victorian house in or near, Tate’s Hell, their little newly built home in Tallahassee, Florida, and the little lake cabin located on the banks of Lake Talquin, located between Quincy and Tallahassee, Florida.

Yes, Aunt Bernice and Uncle Hershel moved around, because they “lived”. They followed their dreams and trials. They were not afraid, in my opinion of trying different things, testing their ideas and dreams, and they loved their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Uncle Hershel was probably more like the grandfather I never had.

Aunt Bernice, well she had the most beautiful things, through my eyes, a child. There seem to always be ribbon candy in an elegant glass candy jar on her coffee table, ornate flatware for dining, a very modern stove that anyone can imagine with Guardian cookware to match. Her shoes were fashionable leather high heels, with purses to match, she wore beaded earbobs, and her shoes and purses matched every outfit I saw her in, even down to her sweet calico aprons when she was busy cooking all the catfish and bream we caught on Lake Talquin, or in the roadside ditches of Sumatra, Florida. Aunt Bernice was a lady, elegant no matter where she was.

Not only do I remember her colorful shoes and purses that matched her clothes, I remember her treasure chest of wonderful costume jewelry that complimented all her outfits. I couldn’t have been more than 9 to 11 years old when we would visit the Lake house. In order to keep us kids occupied with something interesting to do, on days that the weather didn’t permit our swimming or fishing in the lake….she would pull out her jewelry box and let me play with her baubles. Uncle Hershel provided us with tons of note pads with Ring Power logos and decks and decks of card games such as Rook. So much like a treasure chest, the Lake house was. My siblings and I would stay spellbound for hours, until our family visit was over, and time to load back into the old blue Plymouth 2 door and make our way back home to Quincy.

Uncle Hershel and Aunt Bernice provided the most wonderful comfort zone for children. They loved, and I hope they knew how much we loved them. They provided some of the most wonderful memories I have of growing up in rural North Florida. They took adventures and encouraged their nieces and nephews to also.

SILHOUETTES

----An excerpt from the journal of Mrs. Jonathon Whittington circa 1851---


You know I was betrothed against my will to a man I really didn’t know or love. Being from one of the most proper families in Pennsylvania had no affect on my expected servitude to Mr. Winthrop H. Williams, and neither had my distain for him or his family. Apparently this prison cell was arranged at my birth in order to merge two family businesses into one major conglomerate. I was to have none of it you see.

But, that wasn’t because our school Headmaster had been sweet on me and I had like feelings. No you see, but rather that he had taught me well, the yearning and desire to be adventurous and independent through the mountain of books required of our studies. Much to his avail I’m afraid. Old Headmaster Thomas would shower me with his little drawings of reward when I excelled in my studies. There were numerous frakturs of hearts, vines, urns, and such, but my favorite was a special bird. What an inspiration, though he never knew, and reminder that I had wings too if I wanted.

So, in secret, I answered an advertisement in The Philadelphia Inquirer for a mail order bride, posted by a farmer from the Northwest wilderness. Yes indeed I did! Tansy, my sister, argued for a week over my wild notions of running away to the wilds of Oregon, but she was afraid herself of the same plight I was facing, and so we sat by lamplight one night, and she carefully drew my silhouette, to be sent to this woodsmen, along with my answer to his advertisement.

Old Headmaster Thomas had taught our small class well in the rendering of likenesses, and so little did he know that his instruction would be used to help make my escape from him and Mr. Winthrop H. Williams. If I had to be a prisoner, best to spend it somewhere adventurous and far away from Philadelphia.

Tansy and I worked out all the secret details and managed to avoid being exposed or caught. Then silently we made our way to the train station early one morn before the household was awakened some months later. You see back then mail was a very slow process! With small valise in hand, Tansy helped me onto the train car. With tears of joy and sadness we parted, and she slipped my wings into my hand, the small bird fraktur, as the train pulled away.

SQUASH FIELDS OF THE SOUTH

Shade tobacco was one of the 3 most money making crops of the South when I was a small child. There were fields and fields of that sweet smelling large leaf plant, all covered in white fabric shades. Gadsden County had white boxed fields everywhere. Shade tobacco was used to wrap cigars. My home county was part of 1 of only 2 districts that grew 95% of the American grown wrapper leaf. If you wanted a job as a youth, you went to the tobacco barns, or the fields.

Our local movie theater was called, The Leaf , and actually made it into a movie scene starring Melanie Griffith in the 1980’s.

My mother, the infamous “Miss Odene”, now 81 years of age, had a tobacco leaf in gold embedded into the gemstone on top of her high school class ring, smooth and worn with age now. Tobacco was king then.

But, by the time I was working age, about 13, the shade tobacco work was dwindling, and my parents didn’t want me to work in the tobacco barns, but considered other field work. Yes, 13…! When you became a teenager, you went to work. Now I’ve written before about my ventures around the courthouse square selling boiled peanuts, but one summer that I will never forget, my parents insisted that I take a job picking squash for Old Man Spooner.

I was scared, but they reassured me that my cousin “Fuzzy” would be there and picking too. So, that morning I got dropped off at Spooner’s Squash Field, and there was Fuzzy. We were both given our wood chip hampers, 3 ft tall, complete with wire bail for carrying on our shoulders, as we worked our way down each row.

There I found myself, just outside the door of a tobacco barn, only to be given that hamper that was just about as tall as I was, and Mr. Spooner showing Fuzzy and I several of the yellow gems and being lectured briefly about exactly what to pick and what not to pick. And so we went. Yes, two small kids age 13. I cannot even begin to tell you how large that field was, or if we picked an acre or more. I just remember that by the time I hauled 3 hampers to the barn, my shoulder was sore and possibly bleeding. I was told to dump all my pickins’ into a huge 55 gallon metal drum full of water, and go back for more. It was hot, it was painful, but I did it, and so did Fuzzy.

So after a full morning of bending over and grasping the most choice golden crooked neck squash, and hauling that hamper with the rusty wire bail digging, and my heat exhaustion, with NO WATER, I was looking forward to being paid my day’s wages.

But Old Man Spooner was not finished with us yet. And mind you, it was only two 13 year old kids that picked the field that day. No one else was in sight, and just when we thought we were done, Mr. Spooner comes out of the barn with scrub brushes. Yes, the squash had to be washed and prepared for the Farmers Market on Hwy 90, west of town.

So as the 55 gallon drum was filled with water, and squash very gently lowered into their bath, the scrub brushes began their up and down motion, like 2 kids churning butter. Then we dried them off, placed them in clean hampers, wired the lids down, and stacked them into the back of Mr. Spooner’s baby blue El Camino. Yep, this farmer had an El Camino instead of an old farm truck. I was told to sit in the back and hold the hampers down as we made our way through the town of Quincy, Florida, and out the west end to the farmers market, which was at least 10 miles distance from the fields.

I sat on the side of the bed in back of the car, holding down the hampers, while Fuzzy drove, maneuvering through Hwy 90, stop lights, and railroad tracks. Yep, that’s right. I was in the back and Fuzzy at age 13 drove. You see Mr. Spooner was legally blind, and not able to drive. So off this farmer went, with a 13 year old kid driving, and 13 year old kid in the back holding down the hampers full of beautiful yellow squash to be sold that day.

And as dusk began to set in, and as my cousin and I waited for our parents to pick us up, we winked at each other, just waiting for our pay for the day. Anticipation getting the best of us, we began to pick at each other and stuck our tongues at each other, having the maturity to work the fields, pack, and drive, but still the innocence to tease and wait.

And as the sun was setting, and after calculating his profits for the day, Old Man Spooner came back to the barn as our parents drove up to load us up and take us home after a hard days work. In each of our hands, he placed a five dollar bill.
Now I don’t recall ever going back to work for Old Man Spooner, and I don’t know why he could only find 2 kids to do his work, but I do look at my grandchildren and wonder what they would think if I hauled their tails out to a farm field and dropped them off for the day with a strange farmer, and to be paid only $5.00.   Times sure have changed………..

JULY 4TH IS JAMBOREE TIME

Each year, here in the small town of Smithville, Tennessee, thousands of people gather for the annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree, http://www.smithvillejamboree.com/   The streets are filled with vendors, muscians gather under the trees around the square, and practice their art before their scheduled performances.  Cloggers tap and twirl across the stage during their competition, and everyone seems to tolerate the heat of summer during this festive time.  At night, you'll hear bluegrass music, banjos and fiddles in each campsite, as old friends and competitors once again are able to hang out with each other.  It is always fun to stroll around the courthouse square, and check out all the artists and crafters that come to sell their wares.  Several city blocks are roped off, and filled with white tents, full of fun things.  This year, I'll have my grandkids here, and we'll share ice cream and funnel cakes, and I'll try to keep up with them as they run from booth to booth, looking for something of interest to them.  Then later the night of the 4th, the fireworks begin and another 4th of July will come to a close.  With that, the tents will come down, the stage broken down and stored again until next year.  Sweet freedom, something that all Americans should not take for granted, for these little peaceful celebrations all over the country would not be possible if it were not for our freedom, and so I thank our servicemen for their contribution, the most precious thing they can be giving, their lives.  As a military Mom, I'm very proud of my son, and I'm proud of his wife and kids.  Families that have to go for long periods of time and not see their spouses and parents.  This year, I hope everyone will remember what the cost of freedom was and still is. 

GOLDEN AMBER HONEY GLASS AND SWEET BUMBLE BEES

There is nothing like sweet amber honey, especially when you use the honey collected from the area where you live.  One of the purest foods known to mankind with so many medicinal benefits, including boosting our immunities and more.  Instead of an energy drink, why not eat honey.  There is such a wonderful recipes out there in internet land.  I now use honey in my coffee and tea instead of sugar.  It is delicious.  When I acquired these beautiful faceted glass beads, and held them to the light, the warm honey glow color was so beautiful, and of course, I decided these earrings had to include a reminder of the source, tiny little bees.  Our gardens and flower are buzzing with the little critters and we give them their headway, and do not interfere with their daily chores of collecting the precious pollen and nectar.  The glass is accented with antiqued brass findings, and give these earrings a vintage victorian look.  I'm very pleased with how these turned out.  One day I hope to have a big grand straw beeskep in my garden, but for now, will just watch them work.

BUSY AS A BEE THIS SUMMER

It has been way too long since my last post.  But with an early Spring, came a very busy and early summer.  Gardening, trips, family and more.  Things are calming down somewhat, and I have time to upgrade my blog appearance, and post this weekend.  Right now, I'm still trying to tweek the blog design, then will post all about our busy season.

Hope you will check back, and please note, all the little problems with the appearance will get ironed out.
Just takes me time, because I'm not that computer savvy.

Robbie

Primitive Soldered Candle Charms

It's Friday.  Wishing everyone a great warm weekend, full of sunshine and family. 

So, on April 15th, my new items will be available at the website, http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/ and as promised yesterday, here is a sneek peek.  These will be available in several different design sayings, such as Simplify, The Keeping Room, Welcome Friends, and I'll even put a family name if the purchaser would like.
They measure approx 1.25 inches across.  Simply thread your favorite ribbon, homespun fabric, or raffia, etc. and tie to your candle. 

Also, please keep in mind that I have some new jewelry designs and lockets in my Etsy Store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/ and also great personalized items in my Ebay Store, PumpkinMoonStudio.

Primitive Keeping Room Candle Charms

The deadline for my new listings for The Primitive Gathering is soon approaching, and with that my head has been spinning with new ideas for fun primitive ideas.  I have been limited on updating my blog due to a 2 to 4 week  fight with illness, but much better, the head is getting clearer, leaving room for those crazy ideas I have floating around.

Last month my creations were centered around Spring, rabbits, and Easter, and I thank all my family, friends, and Blog followers for all your wonderful comments, encouragement, and purchases.  I love and appreciate everyone of you.   

Spring is still in the air, with a slight nip of winter still blowing through the cracks in this old farmhouse.  If you know me personally, and have seen my home, you will know that I decorate very primitive ( the photo shown is a collection of dolls from my friend and favorite Folk Artist, Susan Grant http://www.countrypresence.com/ ).  My husband laughs and teases me, and tells me that it is actually "primitive poverty"....a term that actually he heard from me, when describing what my friend Susie's husband said.....I banter back and laugh, and call my decor "Shanty Chic".  Bottom line, he doesn't understand how a very old tattered and torn wing chair costs more than a new virgin vinyl contemporary chair from the local discount furniture store.

Then our discussion centers around the value of that old tattered wing chair.  I argue about the skeleton of the chair, good hardwood, fine detail, and though the outside is ripped to shreds, the inside is strong.  As for that virgin vinyl chair at the local discount furniture store?  Well.....if you have ever purchased any pressboard or fiberboard based piece....well, the first drop of water or humidity in the air, and that piece starts to crumble.  I've thrown 2 computer desks away in the past 4 years from that. They weigh a ton, but are worth absolutely nothing.   Now, as of today, I have a wonderful antique 2 plank solid wood old primitive farm table that now serves as my computer table. 

I encourage my children, who now have their own families and homes, to buy good strong vintage or antique furniture.  If they need to resale, they stand to get back what they have into it, or more.

Now, I best get back finishing my items for http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/  I'll post tomorrow, a preview of my new items.  Please let me know what you think.   Oh, and before I forget, my husband Gary said that I must now figure out how to re-upholster the 2 wing chairs, because it is too expensive to have it done professionally.  If I begin to tackle that, I'll definitely blog about my adventures in upholstery work LOL.

Flight of the Butterflies

The weather is improving here in Tennessee, and with that, the grass is growing, daffodils are poking their heads up, and I'm in a mood for gardening, planting flowers to attract butterflies and bees, and wishing for a much luck with our vegetable garden this year.

With the thought of the "good" insects, I was inspired to repurpose an older brass locket into a fun necklace, using some new glass cabochons I purchased.  The glass magnifies the art beneath, so I tucked a vintage image of a Monarch Butterfly inside, topped it with the glass, and set in a crown edge bezel.  The locket itself, I embellished with an aged brass filigree finding.  The vintage amber gemstone beads accent the wings of the butterfly, and the aged brass chain completes this upcycled necklace.  You can find this creation in my Etsy store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/  Also, some new earring creations using these little glass gems. 

Have a wonderful Thursday, and a Blessed Easter weekend.

MAKE DO GLASS CLOCHES AND TERRARIUM & TABLETOP MEMORIES

Good Morning!  It has been awhile since I updated my blog.  Since my last post, I have been to Tallahassee, Florida and back.  A much needed trip to see my parents, and family.  With all the azaleas, japanese magnolias, and dogwoods beginning to bloom, it got me into thinking about my own gardening projects that I am looking forward to this Spring.

For years I have wanted to own an antique glass garden cloche.  A glass cloche is simply a bell-shaped glass cover placed over a plant to protect it from frost and to force its growth.  A glass cloche is also used to cover food, such as cheese, cakes, and more.  It is also a GREAT way to display treasures, collectibles, and more.

Now, though I have not been able to acquire a large antique glass cloche, I recently found what I consider a small  MAKE DO CLOCHE, great to display small things, and to use in a tabletop terrarium.  I was browsing through a table at a garage sale, and inside a box was numerous old home interior glass candle holders.  My eye of course, on the clear glass ones, and so for only .50 cents, I bought two of them, and then found another pair, slightly different in shape at the next sellers table.  I'm quite pleased with my small glass make do cloches, and have displayed some small collectibles blue willow children's tea set pieces under them.  My hope is to acquire more in this particular size and shape for my tabletop terrarium.  Obviously, they are easy to find at tag and garage sales, so hope this idea will appeal to you also.

The Chicks Are Done!

The beginning and the end of the vintage style Easter chicks. I've been busy trying get so many projects completed, I haven't had much time to blog.  However, I'll be back this weekend, and update you and tell you another story.

Robins Egg Blue Rabbit

Okay, as things progress, here is another peek.  The rabbit still needs its whiskers attached, but at least you can get a good idea.  Here is a before, and after.

RABBIT, CHICKS, AND BLUEBIRD UPDATE!

I'm still painting, antiquing, and trying to finish my sculpted whimsies.  Here is a before and after of one of the rabbits.  Now keep in mind, the rabbit will be used for another project, so not yet complete.
Also, I saw some vintage Easter chalkware chicks, and I thought, hmmmmm, I think I can handsculpt some of those, that will look vintage, but be from clay.  Of course, I haven't painted their eyes, and I haven't added the glass glitter, or mica flakes, so the final results will be posted next.  But, in the meantime, thought you'd like a peek.

RABBITS BLUEBIRDS DUCK OR CHICKS

This morning I began my projects that will appear on the website,  http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/ on March 15th.  I've chosen a fairly complicated project that starts with this block of clay.

And let me apologize for the poor quality of this photograph.  This is an air dry clay, and I actually find it somewhat difficult to work with at first, usually getting too much water on my hands, but eventually, characters begin to take shape.  This morning it took about and hour and 1/2 to handsculpt 2 rabbits, 2 bluebirds, and 1 duck or chick.  Though the birds seem lifeless and plain, the final result will be much more whimsical.

Now the rabbits were a bit more complicated, and each one seems to take on their own personality as the projects progress.

The heads will now sit and dry for several days or possibly up to a week, then each one will be handpainted and used to create some Spring designs.  I won't tell you just what I'll be making, but will post the projects in their completion when I'm done.  Now, I must get back to work, as I have orders to be filled on Ebay.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Dixie Doodles

In between my projects and blogging about them, I find myself thinking about the most cherished stories of the “old days” as told to me by my Mother. Now, I will tell you that I have said many times, that God broke the mold after creating my Mama. She is one of a kind, and she makes me laugh, soothed my aches and pains as a child, and continues soothing and healing my emotional aches and pains now that I’m an adult.

Mama was a true born Southerner and is a country bumpkin. My Mama is fun, and loves with everything she has, body, soul, spirit, and makes me laugh. My Mama is Miss Odene (pronounced O-dean)…..she will be 81 in May.

When I find it hard to be creative, stuck in a slump, feeling the “blues block”, can’t get the artistic side cranked up, I think of Miss Odene. My Mama has a knack for being one of the most creative people I’ve known. She is a fantastic mathematician, she loves the “art” of retail, one of the most self-controlled people I know, loves to dance, loves a party, and adores her children. My Mama never baked a cookie or cake that I can remember. She wasn’t a house wife, she was and still is a hard working woman, and whether she knows it or not, she is a precious Southern comedian, and so a little story, with many to follow.

Miss Odene was “next to the baby”, the second from the last in birth to Henry and Vida Brock. There were 5 girls and 2 boys. Sundays found the Brock family in church in Havana, Florida. They walked. I have never heard my Mother talked about her Daddy or Mama driving anywhere. A car was a luxury they never had. My Grandparents were married to each other, and they were married to The Depression. So, on Sundays they walked to church. Obviously from her stories, a hell fire and brimstone preaching church that would make any small child shudder to think of the consequences of “falling by the wayside”. Attending Sunday worship was not an option to her and her siblings whether her parents went with them or sent them on alone, but her parents gave what they could, and each child was given a dime, (ten cents), to put in the offering plate each week.

Now, here is one of the first signs of the “mathematician” of that small child in my opinion. After church, the family would walk back home, passing a retail establishment of some sort, famous for their ice cream, and one very special treat, the Dixie Doodle! Even at 6 or 7 years of age, Miss Odene knew the price of the enticing “Dixie Doodle”, and in order to acquire that lustful treat, it cost 5 cents, a nickel. She was too young to hold down a job, and if she did, that money would have gone into the family sugar jar for the expenses of the Brock household.

So, as the offering plate was passed around on summer Sundays, and as she pulled her dime out of her pocket and held it above the vessel of giving, the beauty of education and a small wee mathematician overwhelmed with the desire for that special treat, with no reservations as the subtraction tables whirled through her mind, that small dime was gently placed in the offering plate, and quickly a nickel snatched up, in change, and placed back in her small pocket. And as they traveled back home, barefoot and whistling, and with baffled and suspicious looks from her siblings on those hot humid summer Sundays, the nickel was proudly placed into the hand of the proprietor, payment for the Dixie Doodle, and I chuckle as I think of how many times my Mama has told me that story. The story of a child, her inner light and the genius of that little girl within, who found the where-with-all despite the threats of going to hell being shouted and reverberating throughout that clapboard church, to make change in that offering plate during those post Depression years, in order to get her beloved Dixie Doodle when walking home on those summer Sundays.

And today, I tease her each time she retells the story, and remind her that The Word, The Bible, clearly states that our offerings were to be ten percent, not TEN CENTS, much less only a nickel, and we laugh, giggle, shed a few tears for those innocent days, and once again with her tales of ole’, she made me laugh, and she healed, for it a sure thing, that laughter itself is the best medicine.

Winter Blues & Calico Too

In the 12 years that I have lived in the State of Tennessee, I have never seen a winter like this.  Occasionally in the past we would have a few days with snow in the forecast, but easily melted away within a day or so, with lots of frigid cold days and frozen water pipes.  This winter, we've had snow for what seems like an eternity.  Each day, the flurries continue to fall. 

Living in an old farmhouse with little insulation, makes for a very cold house.  You squeal as you  run and jump under the pile of quilts and blankets as your back hits that cold sheet, and you learn not to move an inch until your body heat begins to warm up your space under those covers.  Having to get up and out from under those warm quilts is difficult in the wee hours of the morning.  I love old patchwork quilts, and I can assure you that I have at least 3 on our bed.  The antique ones from the 19th Century, cotton filling and lots of turkey reds and indigo blue calico are my favorites.  An old cotton filled quilt that old, usually is so soft and warm, somewhat faded from years of good use, and each piece of antique calico is a treasure.  To be able to find a piece of antique indigo calico fabric is not easy, and you usually will pay a very high price.

Some quilting shops now carry Civil War reproduction calicos, and they are gorgeous and so reminiscent of the past.  I have several fat quarters of my favorites, but since I'm not an avid quilter, I have held onto them wondering just what I could make with these small pieces of fabric.  I've also managed to acquire a few cutter quilt pieces, too fragile and torn for much use, but I do rescue a few of the indigo pieces.  So, during my "winter blues" this past month, I had to come up with some ideas for my participation on the website, http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/ where each month I offer a sampling of my work.  My little fabric treasures were the inspiration, and as I cut and tucked tiny fabric treasures between glass, I began to solder and my blues began to subside as my excitement took over. 

3" long glass pieces now are the showcase for my "CALICO STICKS"...fun pendants to wear with jeans, each one with either antique or pieces of the Civil War fabric, and the backs though not shown, are old striped mattress ticking. 

Then the button box came out, and as I shuffled through those, I pulled out blue buttons, layered, stacked, and added magnets, and they turned out so cute and fun for my studio bulletin board, I decided to offer a set of those also.  They are more Cottage Chic in style.

And I didn't stop there.  Another pendant and a pin or brooch showcasing a piece of the calico from the 1800's began to take shape, and added to my presentation for The Primitive Gathering.

For a long time I have wanted to have an old piece of punched tin from an old pie safe door, framed and made into a bulletin board for my primitive kitchen, but kept that idea on the backburner, as I did not want contemporary magnets on it, but ones that fit more into the charm of a primitive cottage kitchen, so I continued soldering and this was the result.  I was so pleased with these, I listed a couple of sets of these also.  So I invite you to check out http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/ where you'll find me listed under the Artists Section, Pumpkin Moon Studio.  And don't forget to check out my ebay store, and etsy store also.  Here are the links:

http://stores.ebay.com/pumpkinmoonstudio

http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/

Stay Warm!.......Robbie

 

A LONG COLD WINTER

It is winter. It is cold, wet, windy, frozen, and currently raining here in Tennessee. Today I drove up to my bank’s drive in window to make a deposit, the usual small talk between the teller and me. The weather, of course is the subject of our casual conversation. Yes, it is cold, yes I wish winter were over, yes I wish summer were here. Well, if it were summer we would be complaining about the heat. Now, I have to disagree with that, because last year I do not remember complaining about the heat.




My best recollection is actually enjoying the humid evenings, the sultry sway of the trees while the cicadas buzzed away in the branches. Wiping sweat off our brows as we sat on the front porch and enjoyed our evening toddy. A days work done, the sweet smell of fresh mowed grass, Miracle Grow & dirt under our fingernails from digging in the flower beds and weeding the vegetable garden, and the now and then wave to a passerby as they drove home over the ridge.



I do remember however, some very hot summers. Growing up in the South, you cannot help but know what a boiled peanut is. My Dad was a mechanic, leased a gas station from a man, and that man also owned the gas company he bought his gasoline from. That man made more money than my father ever saw. But, my Dad loved to come up with gimmicks, collected things, and was the best gardener I’ve ever seen. And he really enjoyed coming up with ideas to make extra cash, and to keep me busy during the summers.



Now you talk about hot. To give you a little insight however, let me explain that my Mother had traditions and superstitions. You NEVER went barefoot until May 1st of each year. So, basically, you went barefoot in the hottest of hot in North Florida. Daddy decided that he would sell boiled peanuts from his gas station. Now this establishment was located on Hwy 90, the main highway across North Florida. This was before the interstate was built, I-10. So, the tourists that were headed south to the many Florida roadside attractions, seem to always find their way through Quincy, Florida, on Hwy 90, and right past Daddy’s gas station. Daddy figured he could sell many bags of boiled peanuts during the tourist season and peanut harvest, and bring some extra cash into the household.



And so, the big stock pot and his propane gas fish cooker, now became the peanut boiling kitchen in one of the repair bays at Dean’s Texaco Gas Station. Little brown paper candy size bags were filled with the hot salty boiled things, stapled shut, and lined up in a cardboard beer flat box, and handed off to me to make my rounds around what we called the courthouse square. In and out of retail shops I would go, dress shops, toy, hardware, banks, and more, all located around the central courthouse of Gadsden County Florida. I had no reservations about asking if anyone wanted to buy some boiled peanuts for 50 cents a bag. It was fun, I was out of having to do chores, and I had a little jingle in my pocket. Those 2 years of peanut peddling blistered my feet, because I never wore shoes much in the summer. You did okay along the sidewalks in front of the storefronts with their retro striped canvas awnings giving shade to the sidewalks, but Lord, you start to cross a black asphalt street, and you were hopping, squealing and squeaking as you ran for the next corner curb. That “walk” light couldn’t turn fast enough. Hot asphalt and bare feet bring a whole new meaning to the term “hip-hop”. It didn’t take long to whip out some of that jingle, and buy myself a pair of rubber flip-flops about the second time I passed McCrory’s dime store. Now those were HOT summers.

VICTORIAN CHIC AND OH SO ROMANTIC LOCKET UPDATE

Not sure why I felt this necklace was incomplete, so back to the drawing board I went.  I added some antiqued brass charm dangles, and more vintage pearl dangles.  I think this added more romance to this creation.  So here is an updated photo.  My Etsy Store was updated also. 

Vintage Pink Pearls & Enameled Heart & Locket

I love the romantic look of this necklace.  Starting with a vintage aged brass locket, adding an old vintage brooch with heart shaped enameled and handpainted rose.  Very Cottage Chic in style, and the 1950's sweet pink and creamy pearls add more elegance.  A swing chain with a large vintage pink pearl drop and  antiqued brass neckchain completes this romantic piece.  I think it is absolutely stunning, and can be worn with classy to casual.  You'll find this in my Etsy Store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/

Antique Glass Earrings - Upcycled Chandelier Grapes

Doing some cleaning in my "junk" room, and while shuffling around boxes, I found two antique glass grape clusters.  Miniature in size measuring only 3.5 or 4 inches long.  One cluster was coming unraveled, so I finished unwrapping each small green glass grape, and when the last string came loose, out tumbled these antique green copper embedded glass drops.  I was instantly fascinated and curious.  What could I possibly do with these wonderful little things?   The copper wire already changed over time with beautiful patina, the small glass ends slightly irregular in shape with lots of bubbles within the glass, obviously handmade decades ago.

They are about 2 inches long, and so I began making loops with the wire, and turning them into antique glass drops for my upcycled and repurposed jewelry.  You can see in these photos, how wonderful they catch the light, and you can see the wonderful whimsical bubbles within the glass.

I don't remember when or where I even acquired these miniature grape clusters, but I'm very pleased with the results of the earrings that have been created using the little glass treasures.  The antiqued kidney earwires add to the vintage charm of them.  I could have embellished with more ornate bead caps or findings, but this old glass speaks for itself.  The beauty is the glass itself.  You can find this pair in my Etsy Store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/  

My husband calls me a packrat, but sometimes little things tucked away for years, with the thought of "Maybe I can do something with those one day", actually comes true. 

ROBINS EGG BLUE VINTAGE SWALLOW NEST

It is February 1st, and it is still cold.  My studio has been iced in and over for several days, but the sky is blue and gorgeous, and while staying in where it is warm, I wrapped a few silver nests for my Etsy Store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/ 

Vintage pearls salvaged from old necklaces from the 1950's were the inspiration for my EGGS.  Sweet pink pearls wrapped in non-tarnish silver wire, and topped with a sterling silver bail.   The other, beautiful robins egg aqua blue pearls wrapped, and topped with a gemstone turquoise star and sterling silver bail.  Both ready to hang from a sterling silver chain.  Very sweet pendants.

February is off to a busy start.
Now hoping the studio/cabin thaws soon.

CREATE YOUR OWN FABRIC DESIGN EASY & FUN

It is exciting to open a package that you have been anxiously awaiting for, especially when you are getting actual fabric that is your own design and artwork.  http://www.spoonflower.com/ is a wonderful website, where you can upload your own art and designs, and have cotton quilting fabric created in small yardage and fat quarters.  I am a member of Spoonflower, and you can search the site and find me by searching the designers.  My designs are under the name pumpkin moon, or follow this link to my page http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/pumpkinmoon

Sock monkeys are the rage, and so my most recent design features pink and chocolate sock monkeys just for girls.  The great thing about Spoonflower, is that you can have a simple 8x8 inch swatch printed to see in person before you order more yardage.  I simply created this basic design, then the magic of Spoonflower is, that they repeat the design, and you can actually see a sample on their site, showing how the repeat design looks as a full yard of fabric.  Sort of like creating wallpaper for your computer screen.

I've ordered a yard of this, and as soon as it arrives, within 7 days, I'll photograph and post.  Of course, I have all sorts of ideas on how to use it, and  if I like the way the fabric looks and feels, then I can allow Spoonflower to sell my designs, and I get a commission.  Of course, beware!  This can get very addictive! 

This is the basic design, then the next shows the pattern in repeat.

VINTAGE ASSEMBLAGE AND 1950'S MOONGLOW BEADS

Aged brass add to the appeal of these earrings.  Vintage lucite moonglow teal beads from an old discarded necklace circa 1950 have been used as the focal point of this assemblage.  Topped with  beautiful crystal teal rondelle faceted glass beads,  hanging from aged brass lever back earwires.   These are available in my Etsy Store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/  I recently purchased a nice lot of vintage jewelry from the estate of elderly lady, who practiced her art of bellydancing from the 1930's through the 1950's.  You'll find a few choice vintage pieces from this estate in my Etsy Store also.  I think seeing her cherished possessions, exotic costumes, and well loved jewelry and accessories was the inspiration for this pair of earrings that I created.  

VINTAGE REPURPOSED UPCYCLED REDESIGNED JEWELRY

Half a day has been spent adding items to my Etsy Store, http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/ .  I love vintage jewelry, and I take old broken and discarded pieces and upcycle and repurpose them into fun jewelry to wear.  However, there are those times when I have acquired a beautiful piece of vintage jewelry, and just do not have the heart to take it apart, and will list it as is in my store, hopefully becoming the addition to a collector of pins, necklaces, brooches, earrings etc. 

Upcycling old lockets is one of my favorite jewelry projects.  Such as this locket.  Beginning with a small vintage locket about 3/4 inch in diameter, then adding a vintage plastic rose cabochon, which was made in Japan years ago.  It is such a sweet buttercup yellow.  Then I added the old link from a bracelet, and I accent it with a yellow rhinestone cab.  Vintage celery green pearls then begin the neckchain portion, with vintage links that I have added enameled  tiny rose cabochons, then old glass bicone crystals, and finishing off with aged looking vintage aged brass chain.  Pieces from at least 4 or 5 different old jewelry pieces add to this necklace, now ready for wear.  These look great from dressy to casual blue jeans.  Each piece I create is OOAK (one of a kind).  I will never duplicate a locket design.  Each one is individual.

Today I listed a couple of these new creations with vintage flare in my Etsy Store.   I also listed some wonderful old vintage jewelry pieces such as this.

A very beautiful double hearts brooch or pin.  I couldn't take them apart, they are too perfect the way they are, and both encrusted with vintage aurora borealis finish rhinestones.  What a sweet piece to wear during February, the month we celebrate Valentine's Day.

I hope you'll check out my Etsy store, and pass my link onto your friends.

Typewriter Key & Soldered Initial Pendant Jewelry

Digitally layering artistic elements in tiny spaces such as this can be time consuming, but the result is appealing.  A simple faux typewriter key, digitally layered on artistic paper, and graphic elements resulted in a very special necklace. 

An old world sepia toned decorative paper backs this, and both sandwiched between glass, soldered, then adding a handbeaded necklace with color coordinated beads, and charming little dangle.  I use only lead free solder.  I used a decoratived edge copper foil tape for this, which adds to the eclectic charm of this piece.

The pendant itself is approx 1.25 inches square.  When wiring each bead together gives the chain the look similar to a rosary chain.  I have listed this piece in my Etsy store at http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/  Of course, the piece will be made to order, with initial of your choice, and necklace length of choice.