Freebie Friday!!!

Free ATC {artist trading card} with any purchase of soap from my Etsy Shop {Friday Only}!!!

Soap Cupboard

Lemon Poppyseed Soap with Lanolin
The blog was feeling a bit too fussy for me so I got back to basics, just white. Now this little space looks like it's been covered in snow and it makes things look so clean and simple. Speaking of the white stuff, we had just a bit of that the other day, beautiful to watch but I already miss the warm weather and my plants. Our orchids have all been repotted and are now under glass and they are thriving. Funny thing about orchids, most people think they are delicate and hard to take care of, but for someone like me who forgets to water things sometimes....it's perfect!
They don't like it real wet and I only water them once a week and only then it's a tiny bit. I'll try and share some pictures with you next time.


I promised new soap yesterday, but it just didn't make it in the shop until this morning. The last soccer game of the season was calling my name and the boys and we had to go watch!

Lemon Ginger Mint
This is one of my new favorite blends! What is your favorite scent for Fall?

Tea Staining Projects and New Soap In the Shop

I was going to share something that happened last night, which wasn't very pleasant but instead maybe we will talk about happier things my friends. I've continued on with my needle and thread obsession and my mom had sent bags of old lace my way, some still attached to their bloomers! So the first thought was to get out my big pot and do some tea/coffee staining all the lace.

This photo was taken this summer. I didn't need such a big pot this time. I had saved all the coffee and tea left over in the pot for a week instead of throwing it out, refrigerated so it wouldn't spoil.

So after playing around a bit with the photos I had printed out on fabric and gathering buttons, ribbon. etc. this is what I came up with.

I love collecting pine cones!

What I thought would be a few pillows became fabric cones.

The button says "Gypsy". A place to display or tuck away all those tiny treasures you have been hanging on to.

Velvet & satin ribbon are attached for hanging.

On another note, the wind has been picking up outside and it's getting quite cold so I've been inside most the time by the woodstove. I need to start thinking about making some more soap after lunch today, now that all the supplies are in it's time to make Kudzu Blossom again. I will have Lemon Poppy Seed, and Spiced Pear in the shop this afternoon.

Sheep Incognito or the trip to the Fiber Fair

This is a free e-card {I borrowed the pic} from Sheep Incognito aka Charisma Art by Conni Tögel. His paintings were at the Fiber Fair I attended Saturday and I had to share his art before I went on any further about the fiber fair. His paintings are hilarious! I stood there laughing out loud for all the world to hear, I just couldn't help myself!
Okay, now about the fair...

I have never seen so much fiber in all my life!! There were vendors selling every color of thread and yarn that you could imagine and it was all displayed so beautifully, like wall after wall of cotton candy. I was fairly sure they wouldn't allow pictures to be taken inside, so I didn't even try. Most craft shows won't even allow that, so sorry for the lack of photos here. There were hats, scarves, shawls, rugs, ornaments, socks and craft items made from all kinds of fiber. There was also raw fiber from Alpacas, Angora Rabbits, Sheep, Angora Goats....it was mind blowing and everything was very expensive!!

Claudia and I left out Saturday morning around 8:00 and glad to say we beat the crowd although it was already fairly busy when we arrived. We were both on the same mission, we set out to understand felting and if we said it once we said it 100 times...we were clueless! Neither of us knew anything about knitting, spinning, weaving, felting so the vendors might have been speaking a foreign language because we didn't understand the jargon or what anyone was talking about. I mean we literally stood there with puzzled looks on our faces when a vendor would start speaking. But I guess if we wanted to learn felting we couldn't have been in a better place.

Claudia and I happily stayed on our mission to find out how to felt by picking up every book we could find on the subject, and oh the books!!! We would often stop to gauke at the spinners that were demonstrating their craft and the beautiful spun and dyed wool or arts/crafts that they were selling. It was like a huge craft show, just for fiber artists.

We finally happened on one lady, not all that busy demonstrating needle felting so we ran over to her table, really we ran! "Mind if we watch" Claudia asked "we're clueless". They demonstrator was happy to oblige and explained the whole needle felting process.

Further down the walk we came upon another demonstrator who was very eager to explain the whole felting process, but I couldn't help but to turn red in the face when she started asking what type of sheep I had. I stood there hemming and hawing looking quite embarrassed. "I have sheerless sheep" I said finally, but that left her with a puzzled look on her face and then she began speaking in French! She literally named about three differenet breeds of sheep, right off the top of her head that could possibly be what I have. But still I stood there embarrassed, again I had no clue.."well they are red and white" I offered "in case that helps any". She just shook her head in disbelief. "Well", she said "you can't use sheerless sheep for felting anyway, there's nothing to sheer, it all just falls off in the field and disappears"! "Oh , but a friend gave me some of his wool the other day, so I have wool" I said. With that said she began explaining the felting process. Claudia and I left somewhat pleased we had the information, finally but oh what we had to go through to get it!
Now ask me to explain felting to you and we might be sitting here for awhile ;)

That in a nut shell was the show and if you ever get a chance to go to a fiber festival...go!
Of course you won't be surprised to hear that I enjoyed petting the Angora Rabbits the most......it was the best part of my day!

Fiber Fair

I have but 2 little words for you FIBER ART!
I have completely been entranced by so many options related to this type of art that I have completely left my paper and glue in the dust. I have been suduced by fleece and will be throwing myself head long into SAFF {Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair} on Saturday and I pitty my friend who I have talked into going with me. This one is in Asheville, N.C. {an hour away}. I will try and get some pictures and post all about it Monday.

On another fiber note, this piece is No.5 in my Wall Flower Series was made with tea stained lace, which I am having trouble finding this particular type of lace again! The photo shown here can be replaced with your own, so it doubles as a frame as well. I like functional art.

The text behind the mesh reads: {taken from Pslam 91:1-2}

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Hime will I trust."

I'm sure after Saturday I will come home from the Fiber Fair overloaded with inspiration and will have to unload all my ideas on you; ready for that?

Tagged

Jenni from Peaceful Living has tagged me, so I'm it! I just love her blog, so after you read this hop on over and say hello to her. She has asked me to write 6 things that I value and 6 things that I do not.

6 Things I Value:

• Top of the list would have to be my relationship with our Heavenly Father and how He has taken the time to persoanlly touch my life......every aspect of it!


• I value the time and effort my husband has taken to guide our family and point us toward the Lord and all the time he puts into our marriage, it's priceless.


• My children and their thoughtfullness, helping hands and loving heart.


• People {whether family, friend or stranger} who go the extra mile to say a kind word or reach out to help or show friendship just because they can.


• Watching the sun go down here in the mountains.


• Handmade Goods and the support {in so many ways} I have been given to be able tto live a creative lifestyle and have a small business at home.

6 Things I Don't Value:

• Cell phones . Now I know they can be useful in emergencies, but to me they can be so annoying and becomes just one more thing that occupies our time that could be better spent talking to those right beside you. Funny how the very thing that is supposed to keep you connected can actually disconnect you from the more important things in life.


• Gossip or Drama. I despise them both!


• Liars.


• Name Brand Soap {like Ivory, Coast, etc.} LOL.... I guess you could have predicted I would say that.


• Nick Knacks and Fancy Things. I like it Plain and Simple, almost primitive. I'm loving the woodstove right now :)


• Shopping Malls. Yet another thing that keeps us disconnected from each other. Buying handmade and local can give you such a sense of community and it feel so much better to know where your products come from and who makes them. Everyone should buy handmade and or local as much as possible!

This was harder than I thought, because the lists could have gone on forever! Thanks Jenni, that was fun, now I'm going to tag Heidi from Crabby Gabby Dolls {love her primitive dolls}.....you're it!

Soapmaking at Home

***Check Out the Featured Item On Sale This Week!!! ***

Learn to make all natural soap at home!

If you have ever wanted to make the real stuff, but have been overwhelmed by all the information out there, my little book is for you! I have boiled it all down {no pun intended} to what you absolutley need to know to make that first batch and have it turn out the right way. It has several of my recipes inside along with a suppliers list + other useful and fun information.

On Sale at My Etsy Shop this week!

i'm a farm girl first

Here's one of my sweeties, waiting for a treat :)

I have loved animals all my life, all kinds....All Of Them! Even the ugly little ardvarks, lol

But I have always held a special place in my heart for sheep, with a deep desire to have them here on our farm for years but it never really worked out. But God truely know our deepest desires and this summer {just a few months ago} that wish came true and now I have sheep right outside my door. They are so graceful, but I'm also learning some surprising things about them........

1. They always stick together no matter what, one never strays off.

2. There is a leader in every herd who all the sheep follow but if one chooses to misbehave the others make sure he is corrected quickly. They don't put up with any nonsense! At times it can be four against one, they all band together to make sure the other is pulled back into rank.

3. Sheep are not stupid.

4. They don't care how many treats I give them, I'm still not allowed to pet them.. darnit!

Our dog {springer spaniel/lab mix} Spot is scared of them and wouldn't harm not even a tuft on the little head but they all keep a really close eye on him if he happes to be within 20 feet.

He's waiting for a piece of bread too. Daddy always gives in :)

Momma and Baby

How do you feel about the cooler weather coming? The birds have resorted to sneaking into my studio for a bit of warmth here and there. Latley they seem to enjoy my stash of moss and twigs just as much as I do. The little carmel colored house wrens lite on my windowsill outside and just watch me, next it will be my ribbons they're after.

Getting ready for winter isn't one of my strong suits; wouldn't you much rather play in the dirt a little longer too or maybe gather some acorns, pinecones and vines to make wreaths? I brought in the hens and chicks and repotted them, maybe that's what was needed inside.......a little more outside.

Free Banner

Feel free to use it if you like it, it measures 800 x 200 {or close to it}.
It work well with your blog, website or maybe even Ebay.
Hope yall have a great day!

the day at hand

It's just chilly enough to pull out a favorite sweater or two. The air smells like cinnamon and the trees are on fire. Let's take long walks in the woods together, down the winding paths with the leaves crunching under foot.....

We will walk down by the old abandoned house and see if the birds have left us any elderberries. Peeking through the windows of the old homestaead by the river you can see an old doll that was left behind on the fireplace mantel. To hear tell, years ago the family had to leave this place, when the river started rising. They must have thought they could return to their sweet home after the river went down because much was left behind. Sadly to say the waters flooded their home, but now the field is alive with herbs of all kind, just ready to be harvested.
Come back to the farm with me and let's put some of those herbs to good use and make a batch of handmade soap and talk over a hot cup of tea.

Fall/Winter Primitive soaps will be ready soon my friends.

blog banners

What can I say....I'm a hopeless romantic.
Blog banners available at my Etsy shop.

**Almost forgot to mention, if you would like the image but are new to blogging or need help uploading it to your site {like blogger or typepad} I would be happy to help you out in that area.

what do you see in your garden?

Well, growing season is about over and with us it seemed to be over before it even began!

This has been our first year, in over ten raising chickens here on the farm and I am enjoying every minute of it, well except for the fact that they like my tomato plants just a bit too much. I always heard that chickens keep pests away from the plants, I never knew they liked eating the fruit. Their "free range perimeters" just got some heavy boundaries this weekend. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has little troublemakers in the garden; who do you see in your garden?

Simple things that can make you smile~