First New Handmades for 2016

Usually I do very little creating for Valentine's Day, but this year I was compelled to do a nice display for the two shops where my goods can be found.  I think the milder winter has played a big part to improve my winter doldrums.  These are just a few of the handmades I delivered yesterday.  You can find links to both shops in the sidebar of this blog...   I've already started on St Pat's and Easter handmades, and just finished dying some of the most beautiful robin's egg colored wool to use for Easter.  We love looking through the thrift shops for materials to use.  I was very surprised to find a beautiful long camel hair men's coat last week at the Salvation Army.  It was also a huge shock to see the 149.99 price on it.... Umm, really?   I'm not sure how many of their shoppers can afford that.   I can't even do the half price on family day!   Well anyway, so it was saved from my scissors.....       Today I will finish a few of my granny wool coat bears and Ellies for Saint Pats.  

Enjoy your week wherever you are!     oxo Denise  

A Fresh New Year

I have not posted in quite awhile.  2015 was an emotion filled year.   It was hard to blog and harder to post on Facebook, other than a bit of show info.   Never have we been so thankful to have a year pass.  This last one was trying for us, but we made it through!  and a lot of wonderful things were part of it, and for that we have great appreciation.  We have enjoyed being a part of the two shops we're in, and the shows and farmer's market kept us totally hopping all year, and it was a very successful year overall.    It's time to start on plans for this new year.   Our show listings page is updated and we are staying with a lightened schedule for the year so that we have breathing room.  I am spending time converting some of my earlier patterns to epatterns during the winter months, and writing a few of my saved up designs while time permits.  I've had to relearn the whole process because all my programs have changed and don't get along like they used to!    I do hope to bring back my website listings again.... I miss the simpler days sometimes.    something I worked on this morning... I will be starting off with some easier things until I am sure I have the hang of it.   

 

a little tutorial for Valentines Day creating.... 

 

 

you can find it in my etsy pattern shop as an instant download.

 

I've been working on Valentine's creations and will be listing some finished things in my etsy handmade shop over the weekend if I can get good photos taken. 

 

This is the time of year I try to learn at least one new skill to put to use in my work, but I haven't any yearnings at the moment.  

 

May you all have the best year ever! Thank you for your friendship and support.  We are so thankful to have you in our lives! 

 

 

 

New Etsy Handmade Listings

It's been quite the week here, just saying, but not complaining.  We have many blessings mixed in with the sorrows, and are thankful. My orders are caught up and shipped...
 I did manage to take advantage of this nice day, and get a few photos snapped for my etsy listings. These items are ready to ship.  

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SassafrasHillPrims

A Labor of Love

Well what a day yesterday turned out to be.  I brought my mom for her allergy shots, which was not in the plan for the day, but she was sick Tuesday.  We had a nice time, and she was happy.  

 I am grateful to work at home and even though sometimes the best laid plans fall apart  'tis okay and we move on.   Being home has allowed me the time to care for the people in my life who have needed me there... I can't imagine it being any other way.

So anyway...  I started a huge batch of bread and butter pickles when I got up in the wee hours.  I have not made these in a long long time.  But the garden is doing extremely well this year.   Matt keeps bringing in large bags of cukes.  I did a huge batch of refrigerator dills last week.   Later in the afternoon I got my grandmother's pressure canner out from the pantry and gave it a whirl.  Thank goodness, because the pressure gauge steamed up badly.... not a good thing.   That's the only way I have done it, and the way my grandmother taught me. Thank goodness for pinterest and youtube because there are tutorials for everything!  I ended up processing them all by water bath, which was easy peasy, although I'm not sure grandma would have approved.   It was wonderful to hear the plunk plunk plunk as they all sealed.

 

 So in the meantime, I am looking for either a lid, or pressure gauge for the old trusty National #7.... I think it's from the early 40s and every time I use it I am flooded with memories of my grandmother.   She taught me so many things when I was a young woman.... canning, bread making, mending socks (I don't do that but I still think of her when I throw them out!)

We have a busy day planned for today.... never got to the tufa work we had planned for yesterday, so we will be doing that.  haha.... maybe, if nothing else goes haywire.   Also planning a nice little trip to visit my friend Laura at Hidden Treasures and maybe a quick eat at Main Street Deli.  

~Enjoy your day ~

Our Humble Gardens

We have been blessed with good gardening weather this year, and have been working daily bringing the gardens back to their former glory... I try to bring my work outside as often as possible. One of my favorite crows overlooking the herb garden, with rambling rose trellis, greenhouse, and some of our many watering cans in the background.

Why hello little man... peeking out from the watermelon tub. 

My favorites... the purple coneflowers are everywhere, and a feast for the butterflies, birds, and bees! Mostly everything we plant is for them.

A vintage iron sink planted with nasturtiums and kale... should be interesting. 

Why hello little bee.... welcome to the catnip patch!

the top of the hill.  Our previously 40 foot high trumpet vine before the tree was cut, in it's trimmed and trained glory.  The hummer's favorite.

A peek into the raised veggie garden, over the catnip.  I have harvested a bunch of catnip this season, but leave lots of blossoms for the bees and hummers.

one of the hundreds of coneflowers.   they have taken over, and we have allowed them...

A spot at the top of the hill.  Coneflowers have started blooming and the Black Eyed Susans should be flowering in a day or two. 

I moved the shoe garden from near the picnic table, after snagging this plant stand at an estate sale.  I'm not sure how I ended up with one single shoe! 

One very large tufa, probably twenty years old or so, planted with overgrown sedum, on an antique iron base.  I need to do some thinning and transplanting.

The veggie garden is thriving this year.

I am utterly obsessed with wind chimes and motion in the garden.   One of my old worn out chimes.

An autumn project, curing on one of my benches.  First try at pumpkins, and also did a nice cornucopia...

One of my window boxes with petunias. 

I hope you've enjoyed this little stroll on a hot summer day!  Enjoy your day!