A Peek Inside Prims and a Giveaway....

One of my favorite styles to create is Primitive Country.

I have been making my own style of primitive country for years. 

I sell a lot of that style locally at festivals and shows.

So I am over the moon to share that I am within the pages of the current issue of Prims from Stampington and Company.

It is a great issue for fall and winter.

Let's peek at a few inspiring projects within this issue.

There are so many cute characters.

I am going to make some of these great pumpkins and turkeys from Renee Tousignant.

I love the simplicity of her designs.

This fabulous ghost would look haunting on anyone's front door.

Angela Clark Prater is brilliant.

This little primitive pumpkin gal is just the right amount of sweet from Trudy Honeycutt...

There are pieces from Chuck McClenning that look like authentic vintage Halloween pieces.

 Once I refine my skills, I may attempt something as fabulous as this cat from Carly Smith.

If you are already thinking winter, have no fear...

There are plenty of those too.

Like these little guys from Char Hosea.

Or this little guy that utilizes a recycled can from Heather Ledyard Hodges.

I am definitely going to work on some pieces that this project will inspire.

And nestled in the gallery pages are these little guys and gals...

Made from socks.

Really....

How do I know?

I made them....

And here they are...

I am over the moon proud.

I made this little block snowman too.

So, is primitive country a style that calls out to you?

If it is and you would like a chance to win a copy of Prims for yourself, leave a comment below about your favorite project shown and you will be entered for a chance to win.

A winner will be chosen next Tuesday and announced Wednesday here on the blog.

Stampington will send it right to you.

Thanks for stopping by....

Sometimes A Collection Starts With 5....Hand Saws

It has been crazy around here.

  I will reveal why in the next few weeks.

I apologize for being a little MIA.

Earlier this summer I shared my apron collection.

It all started with one...

But sometimes a collection starts with 5.

That's how I am now collecting hand saws.

On one of my flea market trips this summer, I found 5 hand saws for $1 each.

Now, I could not turn away a bargain like that.

So my daughter and I dug out all 5 and put them in the little rolling red wagon we take on such journeys.

And home they came.

They have each seen their own share of work.

The handles are worn smooth with wear...

I had no idea whatsoever of what I would do with them when I loaded them in the wagon.

But a few ideas are dancing around in my brain now.

My husband was given first choice when I got home.

He kindly declined.

At first I was a bit disappointed.

If he had chosen even one, I would have had a reason for such a strange impulse buy.

Nope.

On my own here.

I do love the wear on the handles and the blades.

I always think of the stories a piece holds but cannot tell.

So it looks like I now collect hand saws too.

What odd little things do you collect and how did it all begin?

Thanks for stopping by...

                   Linking up with these great blogs.

Shotgun Shell Vials....Inspired By Lynne Simon Suprock

I was looking through my pictures to see if there was anything I had missed sharing with you.

I realized I did not share these.

I gave you a taste of them when I shared the post for over dying silk strips.

Today I wanted to show you all of them.

Lynne Simon Suprock is an amazing artist.

You can find her blog here: Simply Pretty Stuff.

Or follow her on Facebook.

Her original pieces first appeared in an issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

I made my own after I tracked down the right size tubing.

Because my shotgun shells were not brass, the etching did not work the way I wanted.

I do like the patina I got on mine.

I love filling each little reliquary.

That is half the fun.

I also like determining what the rest of the necklace will be like....

Old hardware, crystals, silk strips, polymer beads, patinaed chain....

It is all good.

I gave a makeover to cheap mall jewelry chains with mad scientist patinas.

Because I do them myself, each has a whole different look.

I even stamped some of the vials with StazOn black ink.

Uh-oh!

Sometimes when I revisit something I made, it gives me an itch to make some more.

I am definitely feeling itchy...

Hope you have been working on something that inspires you too.

                       Thanks for stopping by...

                 Linking up with these great blogs.

15 Jewelry Projects From Up Cycled Materials

I am always looking for ways to reuse something I have or something someone has discarded.

I also love the challenge of taking something common and doing something uncommon with it.

Take a look at some jewelry projects that started with some very non-jewelry related items.

These bangles got an upgrade with buttons and some earring flowers.

Find the post here.

A vintage spoon and a bullet casing became this fun necklace.

Find the post here.

These fun rose bracelets are actually made from plain white sheets.

See how to make your own here.

And more sheets transformed this bangle to a fun cuff.

Tutorial here.

These plastic bangles got a makeover with some washi tape.

Make your own by following this tutorial.

The following pieces remain among my favorites to this day.

These were made from plastic tubing, shotgun shells and were dressed up with recycled silk strips.

See the full post here.

Some incorporated hardware pieces as well.

Don't throw away that old puzzle because some of the pieces are lost.

Make some earrings instead.

See the post here.

You might want to raid your kids pockets after seeing this post.

A simple glass marble becomes a fun yet sophisticated necklace.

See it here.

The same post shows how to turn a tiny glass Christmas ornament into a tiny time capsule.

A bullet casing can become an amazing jewelry piece.

See the full post here.

These pretty earrings started with some paper flowers from the scrapbooking section of your favorite store.

See the post here.

How about making some very artistic earrings from some beads, yarn and discarded book pages?

See them here.

More buttons...

This time getting a new life as a fashionable choker.

Here is the post.

This bohemian sweetheart stars beads made from felt and discarded book pages.

See the post here.

I promise to bring you more up cycled jewelry pieces soon.  

It is my favorite thing to create.

Thanks for stopping by....

                  Linking up with these great blogs.