MY OLD BLISSFIELD CUPBOARD

You know how you buy something and swear you will never get rid of it? Well...this old hanging cupboard is one of those things. I bought it in Blissfield MI about 10 years ago. I have had it in the living room, the dining area and in the kitchen. I took it down about 2 years ago when I was going thru my "HGTV" phase..(trying to make my house look like every house shown on national TV). But after seeing on the basement floor of my laundry room I couldn't take it anymore. It was either sell it or put it back up..so I hung it back up in my kitchen. The items will probably change from month to month, but for now..I'm quite happy with it the way it is! The sampler on the door was made by Sherry Kristoff, From Sherry's Heart and I love it! One of my favorite samplers! Below, is before I loaded it up..pretty rustic. And then the last picture is with the doors closed. It looks kind of "olive green" in that picture, but it is a really nice old brown.

STITCHIN' AND STITCHIN'

I don't know what has gotten into me, but I just can't seem to get enough time to stitch. Ever since I went to Lori's home and seen all of her beautiful samplers..I just want to make them all! The above small sampler on my header is a Stacy Nash design. I stitched it on 14 count, hand-dyed linen using my favorite DMC blues. I painted the frame in "Calypso Blue" by Americana Paints and then grunged it up a bit using Brewax in Tudor Brown. The big mistake I made, however, and I vow NEVER to do it again...was to use a peel and stick board to adhere my fabric too. WHAT WAS I THINKING??? I have never done that before..I always use the lacing technique for all of my projects..I guess I was in a hurry.

I am now cross stitching a long sampler "Zilpha C. Moss" designed by Linda Gillon. I purchased the pattern at "The Country Sampler" in Spring Green WI a few weeks ago on our vacation. They had the finished product hanging on their wall and I fell in love with it. I am stitching it on 28 ct. Platinum Lugana. I didn't think I would be able to stitch on this fabric..because my eyes can't focus that well...but actually it is more like an even weave...so skipping every other hole isn't so bad! Of course...I don't know how long this one will take me. I know after I go to Sauder in a few weeks, I'll be back to rug hooking. Maybe if I don't go into work, don't sleep at night, and spend every moment stitching...I can get it done by the fall! I am such a slow stitcher.

OH HOW I LOVE...MEDINA

Yesterday morning, after working all week, my husband decided that we were not going to stay in the house on a Saturday..especially when they had been calling for severe weather on and off all day. We figured we couldn't work in the yard, which we are both sick of anyway..so he asked if I would like to go to Medina Ohio for the day...WHAT????? Are you kidding???? We hadn't been on one of our little day trips in a long time (not counting our trip to the UP of course!). So off we went..it is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house.

Our first stop, was Liberty Station Antiques located off of Rt. 18, near the Root Candle shop...which is huge..not the antique shop, but the candle shop. I bought a couple of little goodies there, including the garden bench pictured below ($6!)then I bought a really cute little wall box for only $5. After that, we went to 3 Brother's Antique Mall..there are two shops next to each other and they have gorgeous primitives.



Then...the best of the best...Seville Antiques...located also on Rt. 3 about 15 miles out of Medina. This shop has the best primitives I think I have ever seen! Another one out of my price range..but I always manage to find a little something. This time I found an early breadboard and purchased Judy Condon's latest book. The lady that own the shop is so sweet. If you go to: http://www.picturetrail.com/theprimitivestitcher, the beautiful picturetrail of Linda Babb's, you can see this antique shop..she took tons of pictures when she was there on vacation. A feast for the eyes!

Lastly...we went to the Medina Antique Mall, right off of I-71. This mall is super huge and has a mix of all periods and styles of antiques. I bought a couple of pieces of linen for stitching, but my biggest find, were my glass jars. The man who has the booth sells mostly antique, primitive jars, glasses, and advertising memorabilia. He gave me a nice price on both of them. Then my husband bought the little rocking chair, for the grandkids. We now have three of them in the living room, but this one is by far, my favorite.



The darker bread board, standing up against the backsplash, is the one I purchased in Seville. The two wider jars on the end, I have had for many years, and now the two taller ones compliment them.



The little rocker in my living room, looking quite comfy with "Lydia" and my Sampler pincushion...both hand made by Lori Rippey of Homespun Prims by Lori.

WOODEN BOWLS

Tina's display of her primitive, antique wooden bowls on her dining room table.


My collection of antique wooden bowls...wish I had the antique table Tina had in her dining room!

After visiting Tina's beautiful saltbox in Wisconsin..I couldn't wait to get home. She has such a lovely way of displaying her primitives...ways I never would have even thought of! I had all kinds of decorating ideas running through my head!! One of the displays Tina had, was her old wooden bowls. She had them placed in an old, primitive wooden box, just very simply sitting on her dining room table..BEAUTIFUL!

So...when I got home, the first thing I did was run to the basement, dust off my wooden bowls....clean the cobwebs off of my primitive, antique dough box (that has been sitting in the cellar for over a year)and put them all on my table! I love it..of course the husband just kind of rolls his eyes but he always goes along with the flow!

OLDE FABRIC COVERED BOOKS

I just had to post something about my two, early fabric covered books. They are in the most wonderful blue, early fabrics. I have had them for several years. They were the only two I have come across in my antiqueing ventures over the years....both purchased at different places and at different times.




The larger book on the right, was purchased at an antique show in Ann Arbor several years ago. It was a bit pricey, but when I opened the front cover..I was blown away! Inside was a crudely written name "Bobbie Shane". Now..first of all..I didn't think Bobbie (my name) was that common of a name but the last name "Shane", just happens to be my second oldest son! I knew it was meant for me! I know that the signature is not as old as the book...but I still thought it was a strange coincidence...

The small book I found at a little mall by my house about 10 years ago. There is a really cute poem on the front page:

And when looking thru this book, I found a couple of old newspaper articles that someone thought was important enough to save..something about taking care of your body and your babies. Then I found the paper cutout of this beautiful Victorian Lady.

Thank you to all for reading my blog..I really appreciate hearing from you!