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.