Prindle Mountain Primitives

Just Finished Her!

2012-03-07T20:48:00.003-08:00

Meet Kari Christina! This sweet prairie doll just got finished, and I'll be adding a pattern for her to my website very soon! I wanted to make a non-raggedy Ann-type doll, and I also wanted it to be an Easter doll. I've made several dolls with bunnies and chicks, but wanted this to be more about the real meaning of Easter.

I'm so happy with how her bonnet (trial and error!) turned out!

She is named after one of my twins, Kari Christina, who just had surgery a couple of weeks ago. Kari's full name means "Pure and Christ-like". A perfect name for my daughter. During her surgery and recovery, even in pain, this sweet and good daughter of mine always had a "thank you, Mama" whenever I brought her her medicine, food, plumped her pillows, helped her to the bathroom, etc. Now that she's returned to school and still can't carry her very heavy backpack, her twin sister, Kaitlyn, carries it for her. Every time I hear "Thanks, Kaitlyn. I love you". Such a sweet, sweet girl! I am truly blessed!

I have two more patterns I am working on: An Easter table runner and a Mother's Day Annie and sampler. Watch for them in the next couple of days!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

It's Finally March!

2012-03-02T12:39:00.004-08:00

It's been a little while since I've posted. February was quite a month for us, and we're certainly glad to put it behind us! Started out February with two daughters, my husband, and myself sick. Relapses followed a few days later. Just about that same time we started lambing. We had 29 lambs born in 7 days! At one point, we had 10 in about 20 hours! This is exhausting even when you aren't sick, especially since we have to check the ewes for lambing problems about every 3 hours around the clock! And problems do arrive! We lost three lambs total this year, from mal-presentation (triplet stuck...was able to save the other two), to two trying to be born at the same time (saved one...lost Mom also). We had a lapse of 10 days, but had 4 lambs born last night, and have just one ewe left to lamb. We're certainly ready to be done! We are also bottle-feeding the lamb who lost his mother.

Also this month, one of our twins had to be rushed to the hospital and ended up having emergency surgery! She's on the mend now, but it's been one month we were certainly glad to see end!

Thinking about wondering back into the crafting room, so watch for some new patterns soon! Think Spring!

Primitive blessings,

~Laurie

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

Is it already the middle of February!? Must be Valentine's Day soon! Do you have plans with your sweetheart yet? As Valentine's Day falls in the middle of the week this year, we'll just be staying home. I thought I'd make homemade (heart shaped) pizzas, and of course there will have to be chocolate! Some years I make up a double-batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and bake giant cookies in my heart-shaped cake pan. Sometimes I use that same pan and fill it with Rice Krispie treats. It's fun to use my cake decorating stuff and decorate them with frosting.

This year I sent our son, who is away at college working on his Masters in Teaching degree, heart-shaped buttermilk biscuits, a couple packets of Country Gravy (just add boiling water!) and some real bacon bits. I also sent him a note to mix up the gravy, add some bacon bits (sausage would've been better, but I can't send sausage in the mail!), and serve it over the biscuits. His favorite: Biscuits and Gravy! Little sister also sent some of the cookies that he and she dreamed up a few years ago. A little love from home!

One of my favorite Valentine's Days was probably over twenty years ago. We were snowbound from a big snowstorm, and I didn't know how I was going to be able to get out and buy Valentine's Day treats for my husband and our (then) two children. I remembered that after Christmas I had bought a turkey when they were on sale. I'd never baked a turkey before, but I took it out and defrosted it in the bathroom sink downstairs where my husband wouldn't see it. My husband was able to get to work, by hiking over a mile through our fields to our 4 x 4 that he had parked. I surprised him when he came home from work on Valentine's Day with a turkey dinner, homemade pink peppermint taffy that I'd made and pulled, and my big heart cookies. Valentine's Day doesn't always have to be about spending gobs of money (contrary to what all the jewelry store and florist advertisements are telling us!). It's the thought (and the love!) that counts!

Hope your day is extra sweet and extra special (and involves CHOCOLATE!)

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

New Patterns - Finally!

2012-02-02T13:23:00.001-08:00

Yes, January was a long, long month, and I pretty much didn't do anything crafty! (Other than organizing my photos and putting together some photo books). Finally decided it was time to get busy, so I have two new patterns brand new on my website! I'm not really Irish (a little here and there mixed in with the other, but mostly Scandinavian), but thought it would be fun to add a couple of St. Patrick's Day primitives to my site! Here are Kaitlyn Ann and my Irish Blessings Sampler. Both are available as paper patterns or e-patterns. Check them out on my website, Prindle Mountain Primitives , or you may wish to order them through Pattern Mart for immediate e-pattern download here:

Irish Blessings Sampler Pattern

A traditional Irish blessing is stitched up
in a fun script on our 8 x 10” sampler.
Click to order through Pattern Mart.

Price: US $5.50

Kaitlyn Ann Pattern

Kaitlyn Ann is Irish through and through!
Click to order through Pattern Mart.

Price: US $5.50

I had a lot of fun designing Kaitlyn Ann! I couldn't find any shamrock/St. Patrick's Day fabric that I liked. It was all bright kelly green, and I prefer more of a sage or olive green. So, I chose some that was solid, and came home and made my own shamrock fabric! I'll show just how I did it on my pattern, using my PDF shamrock download, freezer paper, and your printer! When it came to naming this doll, I already have a Patty Ann doll, so that wouldn't work for this new St. Patrick's Day raggedy. I asked my family, and my daughter Kaitlyn told me that "Kaitlyn" is Irish. So, that's where the name came from. (Although my Kaitlyn's name is Kaitlyn Grace, not Kaitlyn Ann!)

It's Groundhog's Day, and I guess we're supposed to have six more weeks of winter. We have beautiful blue skies and mild temperatures, so if this is winter - I'll take it!!!

I plan to add some finished items to my Etsy site, but I've got a sick husband on the couch, as well as a sick twin (the other one - Kaitlyn - hopefully stays healthy so she can play in the last home basketball game tonight!), and I'm not feeling too swell myself, so that will be a day or two. Check back!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

I Love This!

2012-01-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Facebook, and had to add it to my website! (Of course I had to re-do it to make it match my website!) Hits close to home!

Hope you've had a terrific week, and are ready for the weekend!

Primitive blessings,

~Laurie

P.S. Feel free to post this on your website/blog too! :)

Tame the River CD for Sale!

2012-01-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

Yes! Lukas has his Bluegrass/Acoustic Folk Songs CD for sale for $8.00 (and $2.00 shipping). (See post below if you missed this!) It is comprised of 10 original tunes, and Lukas plays all the instruments and sings all the parts. He recorded himself playing each instrument, and then combined them, so it sounds like a whole band!

Songs included are:

In Full Bloom
Tame the River
Home on that Mountain
Woman, Not a Girl
Train of Thought Blues
I Think You’re Thinking
Magpie
A Young Boy and his Pup
Beneath the Snow
Silver Thaw

I've made up a video of him playing as well as photos and video of Mr. Bird, and Lukas' song "Magpie" plays in the background. The CD will be delivered within two weeks. Thanks for the kind words about my Mr. Bird story and Lukas' music! If you'd like to purchase a CD, please click the PayPal link below.

Here's a little about Lukas from his CD:
I grew up raising sheep, beef and chickens on a 50-acre farm on the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. I have always been involved with music, performing in wind ensembles and jazz bands on bari sax, tenor sax and bass clarinet. In the past four years, my interest in Bluegrass and Old-Time music has grown, and I’ve frequented festivals and jams in my area. I’ve been playing guitar for around 10 years, and mandolin for almost two years.

I am currently completing my Master in Teaching at the illustrious Washington State University. I plan to teach high school English and lead my secret double life as a Bluegrass and Jazz musician.

I can be seen playing in the Pullman/Moscow area with my Bluegrass band, Train of Thought. I also play mandolin and saxophone in the folk-rock band, New Mother Nature.

As you can guess, I'm pretty proud of our son! Have a great week!

Primitive blessings,

~Laurie

P.S. I didn't tell you about my favorite song on this CD...."A Young Boy and his Pup", which Lukas wrote about Molly; the sweet cocker spaniel we had all his growing up years.....but be prepared with a hanky for this one!

Our Amazing Magpie!

2012-01-22T00:25:00.000-08:00

I spent the day working on CD art for my son's Bluegrass CD that he is putting out. He plays the banjo, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, you name it, actually, and he can pick it up and play it! Anyway, he's putting out a CD of ten original songs, and one of them is about the magpie that lived with us for the summer of 2010. Did I ever mention Mr. Bird? I don't think so, and it's quite the story, so pull up a chair and I'll tell you all about it!

In late April of 2010, our son Lukas called from college (Washington State University in Pullman, WA), and he said he'd just found a baby magpie that had been blown out of a nest in a bad windstorm. There was only one baby bird alive, so he took it home and warmed it up. After doing some research online, he found out it was probably a week old, and that something to feed it was wetted puppy food for protein. He fed it that by hand, as well as water through a dropper, and somehow kept it alive. A week later school was out for the year, so he came home in his truck with a squawking baby bird poking it's head out of a shoebox wanting to be fed! He had to stop every hour or so and feed it. It was really loud, and we weren't sure that saving it's life was such a good idea afterall! Like kids, baby birds grow quick, and within a month he looked full grown! It was warm then, so Lukas started taking him outside. It didn't seem right to have a wild bird in a cage on the porch, so even though there aren't magpies in southwest Washington, he opened the door and hoped he'd stick around. Sure enough, he did, and he liked following us around and peeking in the windows at us.

He slept at night in one of my hanging flower baskets! Lukas worked for the county on the road crew during the summer, and left at 5:30 a.m. One morning at 6:00 a.m., I was awoken by someone saying "Mr. Bird" (what he'd come to be known by....even though we had no way of knowing whether "he" was a he or a she!) The voice sounded just like Lukas, and I looked at the clock and thought he was late to work. Then I realized the voice was coming from the roof!!!! Yep, Mr. Bird learned to talk! (Imitate, really!) By the end of summer, he said "Mr. Bird", "I love you", "come here", and "what??!!!"....all with a lot of expression, and Lukas' voice! Even better, he had such a personality! He loved to steal anything shiney, and then we'd spy on him and he'd fly off and hide it for later! He peeked in on us in the shower, and loved to try to talk to the chickens! He fancied himself a farmer, and flew around and tried to "help" when the kids were hauling hay in the field!

I had a small American flag in a flower pot on the porch, and he liked to pluck out the flag and fly around with it! He was such a patriotic little guy! :)

Lukas went back to school and Mr. Bird missed him terribly! He came home 10 days later though, for Labor Day weekend. When he was packing to go back to college, Mr. Bird flew around his truck, tried to get in, and wouldn't let Lukas out of his site! It was only a few days later, he disappeared. We were pretty sad, and still hope to this day that he's just away on an extended vacation! It was really a wonderful summer....our summer of "Mr. Bird"!

Anyway, Lukas' album is called "Tame the River" (his title track), and we took pictures of the Washougal River in the snow last weekend. I thought it would be fun to superimpose Mr. Bird into the picture, since there is a song about him on the CD too! Inside, with the song titles is a photo of Lukas playing the banjo with Mr. Bird on his shoulder. He loved Lukas' music!
It's funny how animals can warm your heart, break your heart, and a memory of them can put a smile on your face! I think I need to go hug a cat!

Primitive blessings,

~Laurie

Do You Like My New Look?!?

2012-01-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

I stayed up half the night trying to figure out how everyone is putting cool new fonts on their blogs! After messing around for hours and hours, I gave up and went to bed. (4:00 a.m.....kinda ridiculous, huh!?) Today, I just spent a little time and here it is! Figured it out! I love the casual look of this font, and I'm happy with how it turned out! Got that done; now I need to get back to crafting!

It's a beautiful winter wonderland today at our house! Perfect for a three day weekend when we don't have to go anywhere! Hope you're having a lazy, perfectly wonderful weekend too!

Primitive blessings,
Laurie

Happy Birthday to my Babies!

2012-01-11T17:12:00.000-08:00

Seventeen years ago I couldn't sleep. My twin babies were due in 2.5 weeks, but they'd quit moving. I was scared to death! At 5:00 a.m. we headed for the hospital. An ultrasound confirmed that they were okay (big relief!), just out of room. An ice storm was forecast, the doctor was going on vacation, and they were at a good, healthy size, so we were scheduled for a c-section! At 5:58 and 5:59 a.m., our babies were born on January 11, 1995. Having these twins has been the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, and I wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world! I am so lucky to have these wonderful girls in my life, and I am so proud to call them my daughters! Love you forever, Kari and Kaitlyn!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T02:17:00.000-08:00

Doesn’t it seem like the holidays came and went awfully fast this year?! This week my kids went back to school, the Christmas decorations came down, and I spent a couple of afternoons enjoying some “me time”! I generally try to catch up with some scrapbooking in January, but as I am now over two years behind, the task was a little daunting! I tried something new, and I’m really excited about my new method of keeping a record of our family’s photo memories: photo books!

I use Walgreens for my photo processing, and I had an e-mail a couple of weeks ago advertising a sale. I put together a photo book with old family photos. It was really fun, and just like regular scrapbooking, there were lots of different papers and designs to choose from. Unlike standard scrapbooking, however, there was no glue, paper scraps, and trying to decide on a layout. I was very happy with the results!

I just received a great offer from Walgreens, but you have to act fast! Their 8.5 x 11 hardback photo books are on sale for buy 1 get 2 free! Yes, TWO free! What a deal! I quick put together another photo book using old family photos, as well as photo books for my twin daughter’s upcoming birthday with pictures from their Disneyland trip last spring. Even with just a day to take advantage of this sale, it’s possible to quickly put together some photo books. I like to decide on my own layout, but they have an auto-fill option, so you really could put together a book in only an hour or so.

I am also working on a 12 x 12 photo book for our 2011 photos using Shutterfly. They too are running a sale through January 11th, with their 12 x 12 photo books 40% off and free shipping. I figure that buying an album, scrapbook papers, digital photo printing, strickers, etc., would be way more costly than the $32.99 I will end up paying for our entire 2011 photo book! Shutterfly has a lot more options than Walgreens, but I’ve been very happy with both sites, and would recommend their programs. They are easy to figure out, and it’s a lot of fun!

Here are a couple of my layouts. The following is from my 8.5 x 11 Walgreens old family photos book . . .

. . . and this is a layout from my Shutterfly 12 x 12 photo book.

Wishing you all the best in 2012!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie Johnson

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

Holiday greetings!

Here is is just a few days before Christmas! It sure snuck up on me this year! Maybe it's because I had Christmas shows up until just 10 days ago, and it seems like I should still have at least 3 weeks left before Christmas! Somehow I've got the house all decorated, all the shopping and baking done, and it's all wrapped and ready to go! Life has definitely slowed down a little, especially with the hectic pace of Christmas shows and shopping for gifts behind me! I've even had an opportunity to take a few cat naps with my kitty! My sweet Lexie is such a snuggler! Here she is dreaming of sugarplums underneath one of my miniature trees!

I love vintage artwork, and found some great vintage Christmas Kitty graphics I'm going to share! Enjoy!

Have a blessed Christmas, and health and happiness in 2012!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

My gift to you!

2011-12-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Ahhhh.....bazaar season just got over Sunday, the house is decorated, and I have lots of presents already bought/made. Life has definitely slowed down in the past few days! Upon looking at my poor website and blog, however, it seems I must've slowed down a long time ago! Over a month since my last blog post!? I'm a bad, bad girl! To stay on Santa's good side, I thought I'd better remedy that! Here's the plan: Go to my website - Prindle Mountain Primitives, and choose an e-pattern. At checkout, enter the code "Free e-pattern", and your e-pattern will be FREE!!! This coupon code is just good for today and tomorrow, so don't delay!

It was a great bazaar season! My friend Vicki and I had a ball! Here's our display at the Expo Center in Portland, Oregon. Hard to see in the picture, but our husbands built us a little shop (and I mean "little"....10' x 10'!) out of old barn wood. We've always wanted to have a little store, and we did....for six whole days!!!

I hope you're enjoying this special time of the year, and I'm wishing you and yours the best, most blessed Christmas ever!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

Craft Shows

2011-11-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

Nope! I really didn't drop off the face of the earth! I'm in the middle of bazaar season, and I've been spending every waking moment (and lots of moments that I should be sleeping!) stitching away! Averaging 5 hours of sleep, and not getting to bed until 3:00 a.m. has left me little time for blogging!

My first craft show of the season is now one for the history books! This show, "Crafts Unlimited Holiday Boutique", is one of the most unique shows that I do. Artists combine their wares, so we have a boutique feel, and not individual booths.

My sweater mittens proved to be a good seller! I sold all but three pair, and have a bunch more to make for my big show later this month/first part of December, "America's Largest Christmas Bazaar".

I just added a new pattern to my website this morning. Itty Bitty Annie was very popular at my craft show, and I've decided to make her into a pattern to sell. Very quick to stitch up....I made 40 of them in just a couple of days!

Hope you're gearing up for some great holidays ahead!

Prim blessings,

~Laurie

Photos from the Crafts Unlimited Show:

What's New!?

2011-09-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

Is it really the third week of September!? Where has the time gone?! It's been a month since I've posted, but I've really been crafting up a storm for the Christmas bazaars that start in only a month and a half!!!! Besides my usual primitive dolls, Santas, snowmen, and other fun prim holiday items, I've also been trying my hand at altered art domino necklaces, penny rug pins, and here are some spiffy mittens that I just finished making up, and they were so much fun, I thought I'd share them with you!

First, I bought lots and lots of wool sweaters over the past few months at yard sales, thrift stores, and some friends even shared from their own closet! :) I did what the washing instructions tell you NOT to do: washed in HOT, HOT water! It's amazing how much they shrunk! I let them air dry, then I cut open the seams and laid out my pattern. (I made my pattern slightly larger than this pattern I borrowed from Studio 5. Deciding which fabrics to use was the fun part...I liked to mix them up a little, and one pair of mitten had fabrics from four different sweaters:

I've lined these mittens with quilt-quality flannel. So fuzzy and warm! Of course I've been stitching these in August and September, and have received some funny looks both when purchasing a pile of wool sweaters in the extreme heat, as well as from my family when I'm trying them on and admiring each pair while wearing shorts and complaining about how hot I am! :)

On one pair of plain mittens I appliqued some holly, using burgundy and olive Pendleton wool.

Did you also notice that some of the buttons that I used were made by my husband from dropped deer antlers? I think these are my favorite pair. My husband said I should pick some out for myself for Christmas! :( Not really what I had in mind, Dear!

Lots of fun to make, and I may have some up on my website once the craft shows have passed.

Yesterday I received my newest issue of Create and Decorate Magazine. My "Mr. Kringles" pattern is included, and is now available for sale as well on my website as a paper pattern or an e-pattern.

Hope you're enjoying the last waning days of summer, and are gearing up for a fabulous fall! My pumpkins are just about ready for picking! :)

Please click here to view our newsletter.

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

Fair time!

2011-08-17T23:06:00.000-07:00

We spent a week at the county fair with our twin daughters. They had a great fair, both earning highly coveted belt buckles for showmanship.....Kari for master sheep showman, and Kaitlyn for reserve champion for livestock showmanship for horses/beef/sheep/dairy goats/market goats/swine. They've always been my little farm girls, even though they are now 16! They've hardly taken off their buckles, and already plan to wear them for the first day of school! So, so proud of them! Here they are shown with their cousin.

During the fair my Jack Nodder Halloween make-do came out in the newest Create and Decorate magazine. I've also got the pattern now on my website as well as Pattern Mart.

Back-to-school is quickly approaching! My son takes off tomorrow; heading back to college for his final year (Master's Degree). He was hardly home, as he spent 8 weeks this summer in school with the Accelerated Master's Degree program. He was super-busy, but got an entire year of grad school out of the way in just 8 weeks, so it was worth it. Monday our middle daughter starts her junior year of college, and a week later our twins start their junior year of high school. Our oldest daughter also heads back to the classroom, but she's the teacher, in this case, and teaches at the local middle school. She is going to graduate school to get her Master's Degree too, however, so they are all students in one way or another.

Sure has been an odd summer here in the Pacific Northwest! In our neck of the woods, it's a warm day this summer if it's 70-75. We've yet to hit 90 degrees, but they are saying we may before the end of the weekend. My garden and everything is way behind, but it's very green around here, so I'm not complaining!

Hope you're enjoying the dog days of summer, and looking forward to fall! I've already seen signs of it in my local craft store, and I'm really not sure if I am ready for that yet......

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

New website!

2011-07-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken long, long ago! It is of my Great, Great Grandparents,
before my Great Grandmother, who passed away in 1945, was even born!

Two weeks ago I noticed that my website wasn't working! Yikes! Last year it was bought out by another website host, and we were encouraged to switch programs then. Since this came right before our county fair (which is a very busy time, and consequently, is coming up AGAIN in less than two weeks!), I stayed on with the program I had been using since 2003. Well, the program finally gave out, and it was apparently corrupt. I had to totally rebuild it with a new program, and it's taken me hours and hours every day for about 10 days! Finally done, however, and I am happy with it! Here you can take a look: Prindle Mountain Primitives

If you're on the mailing list from my old website, please sign up again, as I have a new mailing program. You can do this at the bottom of the "home" page.

Hope you're having a wonderful summer! Here in the Pacific Northwest, we've been spared the extreme heat that the rest of the country has been experiencing....in fact, this has been a cool, wet summer so far, with 80 degree temperatures being rare, and we've not even hit 90 yet!

Prim blessings!

~Laurie

I'm Back!

2011-07-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

I spent the first couple of weeks of July with family in Eastern Washington. While there, I got in lots of good visiting with family, as well as found the deal of the century at a rummage sale! Check out this vintage quilt I got for A QUARTER! It is entirely hand-stitched of flour sack fabrics, I believe.

They were selling other bedding (not vintage) for $2, and the gal told me that this old thing was in bad shape, so she just wanted a quarter for it! I brought it home and stitched some loose spots, gave it a cleaning, and while it isn't my ideal colors, I can't believe how cheap I got it! My youngest daughter thinks that when she has her own room eventually, she wants to have it on her bed. (She is sharing her room with her twin sister right now while all four girls still live at home).

I also got to spend a lot of time with my Grandma. This is the Grandma that I blogged about back in June and had their wedding photo on here. She is 87 and is still going strong, and is as cute as ever! Such a treat to see my Grandma!!!

At the end of our stay, our twin daughters, Kari and Kaitlyn, were in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics in Spokane. They had qualified earlier this summer in Seattle. Kari placed 9th in the 100 meter hurdles, and Kaitlyn placed 5th in the triple jump and qualified for Nationals in Kansas! Unfortunately, a trip to Kansas wasn't in the budget, so we've ordered the t-shirt, and she's just happy to have qualified and also set a new personal record.

I've noticed a problem with my website this evening, and hope I can get it straightened out ASAP! I can't seem to connect, and have an e-mail in to see if we can get this settled! In the meantime, don't forget my patterns can be ordered on Pattern Mart. Just click on "Prindle Mountain Primitives" under "designers".

Is it summer in your neck of the woods? It was yesterday, sort of. 75-80 isn't really as warm as we expect this time of the year, but this year we'll take anything over 65! Today, however, was rainy, wet, and I'd swear it was mid September or even early March! I think our summer may have amounted to the week of it I had in Eastern Washington! I guess I shouldn't complain, though, when I hear about the temperatures some of the country is dealing with!

Hope your summer is going splendidly!

Prim Blessings,

Laurie

Sale! Sale! Sale!

2011-06-27T16:10:00.001-07:00

We're running a sale for the remainder of the month of June on our e-patterns. Our e-patterns usually sell for $5 each, but just until June 30th at midnight, you can get TWO e-patterns for $5.00! Send PayPal payment to: prindlemountainprimitives@msn.com, and make sure to list which two patterns you would like to receive!

It's been very busy around here, with lots of Santas and Snowmen being stitched and prepared for the holiday bazaar season! My hubby spent the weekend shearing all the sheep, so I have lots of wool for Santa beards!

We also had two little bull calves born the last few days around here! Twin daughter's Kari and Kaitlyn's cows, Clarabelle and Lizzie gave birth to Clarence and Lenny! They are so cute! Here's a photo of Kari with her calf Clarence.

I've put my Daughter's Yesteryear Pattern on my website, now that it has been published on Create and Decorate. The next two issues of this magazine will have patterns I've created, so be sure to watch for this great magazine!

With the 4th of July just around the corner, I'm adding a couple of neat vintage cliparts that I just love! Hope you have a wonderful Independence Day!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

70 years ago today

2011-06-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

70 years ago today this lovely couple was married. I am lucky to call them my Grandparents. I miss my Grandpa every day, and am so fortunate that my Grandma is going strong at 87! It doesn't seem possible that it's been 20 years since we had a big 50th anniversary party for them, but I remember being big as a house with our third baby, and here Emily is almost 20 years old, so there you go!

I put together this fabric covered album to hold family photos. First I started by covering the album with a thin layer of craft glue and then covered it with a thin piece of batting. After allowing it to dry, I cut the fabric I selected 1-1/2" bigger all the way around than what the album was. I turned under the edges and glued it down around the inside of the album. I used clothespins around the edges to keep it in place while the glue dried. Next I glued an antique doily onto the cover of the album, and then added a small pewter frame that I had put Grandma and Grandpa's wedding photo into. I finished it off with a matching ribbon bow and a "J" typewriter key representing their last name. I have made dozens of these over the years for family weddings, baby gifts, etc. Really a fun gift to make and you can get pretty creative!

Prim blessings,

Laurie

Here's the winners!

2011-06-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

The three winners of an e-pattern are Fran from Vintage Gatherings, Nancy from Huggins Haven, and Rene from Sew Many Raggedies! Congratulations, and I'll be sending each of you an e-mail.

June 1st! How is it that we are now 6 months past Christmas already! I don't know about you, but my favorite season to craft for, decorate for, and dream about is CHRISTMAS!!! With several Christmas shows coming up this year, I think I'd better get busy!!!

Prim blessings!

Laurie

Remember our Heroes

2011-05-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day is tomorrow. Please take a moment to remember our veteran's and service members who have paid the price for our freedom.

This has been a month of busy, but fun times with all my kids at home. My last post was all about my son graduating from college. He's been home for 3 weeks and will be leaving soon to head back to school to begin his master's degree. Lukas is such a fun guy to have around, and I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him these past few weeks. We've spent time together preparing our garden (he's definitely got the green thumb in our family, and I don't know how I'm going to keep my garden going this summer without him!) We've had a couple of road trips while he's been home, and lots of music with him here. Lukas plays the banjo, mandolin, guitar, and the bari saxophone. He has a bluegrass band back in his college town, and our evenings are spent more with my husband and son playing music than with the television on! Yes, I am going to miss him lots when he's gone, but I've had a great month with him home!!! I suppose that is the reason I have no new patterns this month!

I did receive my August issues of Create and Decorate magazine yesterday. (Seems kind of early, when our weather here has been like February/March!) Anyway, my "Yesteryear Raggedy" is a featured pattern. I made this doll for my daughter. She holds Ashley's babyhood bear, and has a tag that says "So fast you grew, sweet daughter dear, my little girl of yesteryear." I have also put a small locket around the doll's neck with Ashley's photo. I'll have the pattern available on my website soon, once Create and Decorate has released it back to me. I have two of these magazines, and the first person who leaves a message "please send me the magazine!" will get my extra! (Just be sure to e-mail me your address).

Just a few more days to become a follower on my blog to be entered into a drawing to receive a gift certificate for a free e-pattern on Pattern Mart! I'll post the winners on May 31st!!!

Enjoy your Memorial Day! Send your sunshine to the Pacific Northwest, please!!!! :)

Prim blessings,

Laurie

Mother's Day Weekend

2011-05-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! Our son graduated, summa cum laude, from Washington State University, and our whole family went, as well as both sets of Grandparents. The weather was perfect, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. Lukas received his Bachelor's Degree in English, with minors in Jazz and Humanities. He'll begin his Master's Degree in a few weeks, but in the meantime, we get to have him home with us (happy dance!) He plans to teach high school English, and hopefully, Jazz. Our oldest daughter, Ashley, graduated two years ago, also summa cum laude, with her teaching degree. She teaches middle school. Such a proud, proud Mama I am! A perfect Mother's Day, with my perfectly wonderful family! Hope your day was fabulous too!

On another note, during the month of May, I am trying to get more people to follow my blog! I just don't know how some of these people have several hundred followers! Anyway, I will give away gift certificates for one of my epatterns on Pattern Mart on May 31st to three people who are followers of my blog. Be sure to sign up to be included!

Prim blessings!

Laurie

A wonderful surprise!

2011-04-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

My Mom's parents grew up on the prairie of Montana. Life was hard and neither had much growing up. Grandpa met and fell in love with the little red haired girl, and when she was just 17 years old, they borrowed $5 and were married. This was in 1933. By the time my Mom was born in 1945, they had moved to Washington State, had three older sons, and lived in the house my Grandpa built that they would live in for the rest of their lives.

My Grandpa was a carpenter, and worked hard to provide for my Grandma and his children. He was an amazing gardener, craftsman, and a wonderful Grandfather. Grandma was small, feisty, crafty, a great cook, and a bundle of energy! They were devoted to each other and were married for 70 years. We didn't know how Grandma would ever live without him when Grandpa passed away, but she was very strong, and with the help of my Mother, she was able to stay in her own home until she passed away 3 years after Grandpa.

My aunt and uncle moved into my Grandparent's house once they were both gone, and they've been cleaning. My Mom called tonight and told me that she located my Grandmother's wedding dress in my uncle's attic as well as some baby shoes that were my Grandma's. She wanted to know if I wanted them! Of course!!! I am so excited! I am anxious to see what the dress looks like, as it's hard to see in their wedding photo.

Mom is also sure that the baby shoes that she is giving me are those worn by my Grandma in the following baby picture.

I love old things, especially items that belonged to my ancestors. With the royal wedding in the news, I can't believe my good fortune at being given a precious gift from the past.

Prim blessings,

Laurie

New patterns!

2011-04-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

I spent a few days last week going through craft supplies and organizing, and ran across some blue gingham fabric. It reminded me of Dorothy's dress from The Wizard of Oz, and I started getting some ideas! Here is my new "Dorothy Ann" doll! I am really happy with how she turned out, and especially love her little Scotty dog! He is made from some leftover black mohair I had. I haven't even made the pattern yet (look for it on my website by Sunday!)

I also found an old pig doll that I made probably 20 years ago. She was pretty 90's looking, but I re-used her laundry basket and made my new "Penelope Pig". I'll get her pattern done in the next few days too. My goal this year is to make at least two new patterns per month, and so far so good! :)

Hope spring has arrived in your corner of the world! We've had one day of it, but with low snow levels again, and a cold, dreary rain, it looks like we're back to winter!

Prim blessings,

Laurie

Mother's Day gift idea!

2011-04-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is only 3 weeks away, and here's a fun project that I made for my Mom a few years back! I had seen some of these paper bag scrapbooks made, and they looked kind of interesting, so I gave it a shot. What a fun project it was, and a perfect way to use up some of my scrapbooking leftovers. It took just a couple of hours, and I didn’t buy anything at all for this project…just used what I had on hand.

First you will need 3 brown paper lunch bags. You could use more, I am sure, but this was a perfect size, and I think if it was much thicker, it may be hard to punch holes in for the binding.

Layer the paper bags on top of each other, making sure that the direction of the bag ends alternate. Next I chose some decorative paper and cut it just a bit smaller than the length and width of the top bag. I like a distressed, “used” look to my scrapbooking projects, so I scuffed up the edges of the decorative papers, as well as the photos themselves, with fine sandpaper. Adhere to top bag. I used rubber cement. It holds well and is forgiving!!! Cut a coordinating piece of decorative paper 3” wide and trim to the correct length. Glue in place for binding.

Fold the bags in half. You’ll need to punch three holes through all the layers, and I found that this works best using the largest hole setting on my eyelet setting tool. Punch the holes about ½” from the edge of the bag, and spaced evenly apart. If you don’t have an eyelet setting tool, a paper punch would work as well, however, you will need to punch the holes in each bag separately. Tie ribbons through holes as shown in photo. Decorate cover as desired, using chipboard letters, rick-rack, ribbons, tags, stickers, etc.

Next I adhered scrapbook papers to all the pages, thinking ahead to which pictures/stickers would go where. In my scrapbook, I wanted to start with photos of my Mom with her Mother; my Grandmother. These photos aren’t originals, but rather scanned copies. This is a good idea, so you don’t have to cut up treasured family photos. You can also crop them, resize, etc.

In the bag opening on the right side, I placed a tag that I made with a poem:

On the following pages I scrapped photos chronologically of my Mom and I through the years, as well as some of us with my Grandma too.

In the following photo, you’ll notice that I covered the bottom of the bag at left with a piece of paper just big enough to cover it to make a little pocket. Into this pocket I placed a little note to Mom in a sweet little envelope.

Into the next bag opening I added another tag:

Here you can see that I have added another member of the family; my newborn daughter. This four-generation photo shows my Grandmother, my Mother, myself, and my daughter Ashley.

This final page shows all four of my daughters when my twins were babies, as well as five years ago in the final picture of us with my Grandmother before she passed away.

This scrapbook was a special keepsake gift for my Mom for Mother’s Day, and this final tag in my book had a double meaning for her. Her Mom is gone now, but she’ll always be with us, and my Mom and I live 350 miles apart and I don’t see her nearly often enough.

This project can be completed in an afternoon and will be a treasure to any Mom. With Father’s Day right around the corner, you may want to make a paper bag scrapbook from Daddy’s Girl. Just a warning, however. Not all guys “get” this! My husband for one! He looked at this and said I did a good job, but “It’s just lunch bags!” Exactly! Quick, easy, beautiful, and CHEAP! Have fun!

Prim blessings,
Laurie

Thrift Store Finds

2011-04-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

I love haunting thrift stores, estate sales, and any place I can get good stuff cheap! Today it was a beautiful Friday afternoon, and after getting groceries, I thought I'd swing by a local thrift store. Here's what I bought for just $1.30! A great shirt that I was going to use for some raggedy doll clothes until I noticed it was my husband's size and was in perfect condition! Also, a tin tea container, for my daughter Ashley, the tea drinker. But my best find was a 10 cent red toile plate. I just love the crackling on it!

I looked at one online, found out it is vintage and worth lots more than 10 cents! I am trying to decide if I am going to make it into a cupcake/cookie server by adhering a glass candlestick to the underside with E6000 glue (here's a photo of what I mean, with it just temporarily perched on a candlestick).

Or maybe I will make it into a mirror that would go perfect in my bathroom. Here is a mirror made from old plates that a gal I know made.

I've made a couple of them before as gifts, and they are really fun to make! Just find two or three vintage plates that blend well, layer them until you get a pattern you like, adhere them together, and top with a round glass mirror in the middle. I just picked up a mirror at the dollar store, removed it from it's plastic frame, and used that. Once again, E6000 glue is my adhesive of choice.

Funny how $1.30 spent can brighten my day! :)

Prim Blessings and a great weekend,
~Laurie

New Puppy!

2011-03-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

Today we brought our new Great Pyrenees Puppy home! As you know, we raise sheep, and living at the base of Prindle Mountain, there are coyotes, cougars, bears, and all sorts of critters that would like to make our sheep and their babies into dinner! We have a seven year old Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog, Bailey Jo, who is fabulous at protecting our sheep, but staying up all night and all day keeping track of our herd is getting to be too much for her. Our new puppy, Heidi, will be a big help when she gets bigger! Heidi was born in a barn and raised her first 6 weeks with goats, and now she is in our barn with sheep and lambs near her, and Bailey able to come in and visit. Raising livestock guardian pups is a lot different than bringing home a family pet that can sleep in the house and snuggle with you. They are amazing dogs, and we're so happy to have two of them now!

Spring sure is taking it's time coming here in our corner of the world! Lots and lots of rain, mud, cold temperatures, wind, and did I mention RAIN!?! We are sooooo ready for some nice warm, dry weather!

Primitive blessings,

Laurie

New design!

2011-03-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

I'm back! While I haven't posted in a couple of weeks, it's been very busy around here! First of all, we now have 24 little lambs, with just 2 ewes left to go! Still checking them every 3 hours around the clock, so in between shepherding duties, catching up on missed sleep, and kid's activities, I have found a little time to design! In honor of lambing season, here is "MaryAnn and Hope"! This is an all-new style of doll. Her body is a wood block, her head is a 2-1/2" wood ball, and she stands alone on her dowel legs and paper clay shoes. Very little sewing is involved, and she actually goes together very quickly. "Hope" the sheep has needle felted actual sheep's wool, and is super fast and fun to make! I'll be working on the pattern for MaryAnn and her lamb, "Hope", this evening, and will have it on my website very soon!

A little about the names I've come up with for this pattern. Of course everyone knows the nursery rhyme, "Mary had a little lamb", but my "MaryAnn and Hope" pattern name comes from our earliest sheep! When we first started raising sheep many years ago, our three oldest kids got triplet lambs. Our daughter Ashley named her lamb "MaryAnn". During her long life, MaryAnn raised dozens of babies. One of her last sets of lambs were twin girls that Ashley named "Hope" and "Joy". We still have Hope and Joy. They are now 10 years old, and they have three nice, big healthy lambs between them! Here's a picture of Ashley with her very aged ewe MaryAnn, back in 2004.

Watch my website for four new patterns in the next few days!

Prim blessings,
Laurie

Grandpa's Quilt

2011-03-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty busy the past few days getting some designs made for a craft magazine. I'm pretty excited about what I've come up with, but have to keep it secret until the magazine is released. More to come on that later!!!

We've got 15 little lambs now! So cute! Seven ewes left to go, and of course we're still checking them every 3 hours around the clock. Three little lambs arrived at 2:30 a.m. night before last....you just never can tell when they'll make an appearance!

I just came back in from checking on the sheep, and as I pulled on my old coveralls to keep my clothes clean, I started thinking about my Grandpa, who was the first owner of the nice, old comfy coveralls that I pulled on tonight. My Grandpa passed away in 2000. It was my first real experience with losing someone I loved so much, and I still think about him every day and miss him so much! He left a big hole in our family. As a way to keep Grandpa close, I gathered a bunch of his old jeans, flannel shirts, and dress shirts and made several small quilts for my family members after we lost Grandpa. Here is the quilt I made for us:

Just a cozy little lap quilt to curl up with, and brings to mind happy times spent with my Grandpa. "When this you see remember me" is embroidered on the bottom right corner of the quilt".

“Remember Me” comes from one of my Grandpa’s favorite songs, and it is one he used to sing and play frequently:

Remember me when the candle lights are gleamin'.
Remember me at the close of a long, long day.
An' it would be so sweet when all alone, I'm dreamin',
Just to know you still remember me.

Love you forever, Grandpa! :)

If you still have your Grandpa, please give him a big hug next time you see him!

Prim blessings,

Laurie

New supplies available!

2011-03-02T01:49:00.000-08:00

Spent some time today cleaning out the ol' supply room! (A little early spring cleaning!?!?) I found some of my adorable sock monkey fabric that I used to make my Roxie Ann and Sox pattern just about a year ago. This has been one of my best-ever selling patterns, and I decided to list a limited supply of fabrics used in this pattern on my "Supplies" page on my website. This "kit" will also come with a pair of mini sock monkey socks. I also found some of my sweet Debbie Mumm bee fabric used in my Beatrix Ann & Buzzi pattern, and have that listed too. When I was advertising in Country Sampler, I was getting a lot of phone calls for finished dolls that I was selling the patterns to. I'm not getting as many of those requests now that I've discontinued that expensive advertising, but I'm happier designing new patterns regularly, rather than re-making over and over the same pattern I've already made. I'm happy to clear this fabric out, and get on with the next craft idea rolling around in my head!

I'm thinking that I need to make a new little Raggedy with a lamb. This would be timely with lambing in full-swing here on Prindle Mountain. Two adorable little twin lambs were born just today! Keep an eye out for a new pattern in the works!

Time to go check on those lambs....it's only 2:00 a.m. Yawwwwnnnnn! :)

Prim Blessings,
Laurie

Two years in the making!

2011-02-27T23:38:00.000-08:00

I started this quilt top over two years ago. I kind of set it aside and didn't work on it for months at a time, but decided it was time to get back to work! We had a snowy, unexpected four day weekend (no school due to the weather Thursday or Friday), so I took advantage! I finished hand-appliqueing the last couple of blocks, and then got them all sewn together, along with the border. Now it's ready to layer with backing and batting and get to hand-quilting! I haven't made a quilt since I made a log cabin quilt for my Mom and Dad when they retired in 2002, so it was about time I get busy! This will be for our bed, and I am excited to get it done! I got the design from this book:

I love her designs, and think I'll have to choose another one to make! I picked my book up at a craft show, but I see it is also available on Amazon.

Hope you had a great, relaxing weekend too!

Prim blessings!

Laurie

Printing on fabric

2011-02-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

Today I tried something new, and I am so happy with the results! I've done some research on how to print on fabric, and found a very easy way to get good results!

First I got some freezer paper at the grocery store. This has wax on one side. I cut a piece of pre-stained muslin to approximately 10" x 13". I cut a piece of freezer paper to the same size. Next I ironed the wax side of the freezer paper to the muslin. Then I used my rotary cutter to cut this conjoined piece of muslin/freezer paper down to 8-1/2" x 11" (standard printer paper size). Make sure you have a nice crisp edge, and the freezer paper is firmly affixed to the muslin. Next I opened up Microsoft Word and placed my graphic on it, centered with plenty of room all the way around. Then I sent my muslin piece through my printer, and yay, it didn't get caught or mess up my muslin, but came out perfect with this cute crow design on it! I stitched my crown design onto a piece of burlap to make a prim pillow.

My ink isn't waterproof (found that out the hard way with a previous craft project!), but this is just a decorative pillow and won't be washed. To get the coffee stained look I wanted, I pre-stained my muslin before I printed on it.

Very easy to do, and I foresee a bunch of projects in the future with this neat idea! I've included the crow graphic I used below. Click on it, and then right click to save. Let me know what you make!

Prim blessings,
Laurie

Crow clip art (officially it's a raven), courtesy of Florida Center for Instructional Technology: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

Thank goodness it's Friday

2011-02-25T08:43:00.001-08:00

Yes! I really need the weekend! This has been a very long week, and now I am having problems with my e-mail server! As you may know, I just sent out my Prindle Mountain Primitives newsletter. I plan to have one of these monthly, instead of sporadically like I have in the past. I have around 750 people on my mailing list, but my server (MSN) only lets me send out 300 e-mails per day. So, I send out half, and then more the next day, and so on. The first batch went out fine, but the batch I sent out last night was missing the attachment, which is the newsletter! Frustrating! To make matters worse, I can't resend the mass e-mail with the newsletter until tomorrow! Does anyone know a better way to send mass e-mails!?!

The weekend is coming! Yay!

Prim blessings,
Laurie

Photo Cube

2011-02-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

Today is my dear friend Nancy's birthday! Have you ever had a friend keeps you laughing until tears run down your face, would do anything for you, and knows you inside and out? That's Nancy! We've been friends for many years, and time spent with her is sure to be a good day!

For Nancy's birthday I made her a birthday cube. I've made these for Christmas presents before as well, and they are easy to make, fun, and quick! First I got a 3-7/8" square Styrofoam block at the Dollar Store. (See...cheap!) Next I covered all six sides with coordinating scrapbook paper. I love to scrapbook, but doggone it, I'm over a year behind! Anyway, I had trouble getting the scrapbook paper to stick to the Styrofoam with the tacky glue I was using, so I went around the edges of the bare Styrofoam first with some masking tape and the glue and scrapbook paper stuck well to this. Get all six sides covered, and then start adding poems, pictures, stickers, etc. Once everything is how you like it, then comes the messy, fun part: Glitter!!! :) I ran a line of glitter around all the edges and freely sprinkled with silver glitter. Shake off the excess, and let dry. A cup or glass that the cube can sit on to dry is a good idea, so it doesn't stick to your surface.

Here are some photos of my Nancy Birthday Photo Cube!

Prim blessings,
Laurie

P.S. Hope you're enjoying your President's Day!

Grandma's Cookies

2011-02-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

With little Girl Scouts haunting the doorway of practically every store I entered yesterday, I got to thinking about MY favorite cookie! Nope. Not sold by the billions by friendly little girls toting boxes of Tagalongs, the always popular Thin Mints, or Do-Si-Dos, but my Grandma's Gingersnaps!

We lost Grandma over three years ago. Last week she would've been 95 years old. She was a very good cook, very crafty, and so much fun to spend time with! I miss her so much!

Here is a craft idea that I came up with to share with other family members. I took an empty pickle jar (wash it out really good!) and filled it with some of Grandma's delicious cookies. I made them a little smaller than usual, so they would fit in the jar nicely. Next I made a tag with a photo of Grandma, a fun poem about Grandmas, and added her recipe. I decorated up the tag with bits of lace, old buttons, and some vintage rick rack. I covered the jar lid with a scrap of fabric cut into a circle. (Click on photos for a larger view).

Here is Grandma's Gingersnap recipe. So yummy!!!

Grandma's Gingersnaps
3/4 cup shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening, salt, and sugar. Add beaten egg and molasses. Sift together dry ingredients and stir into creamed mixture. Roll into balls and then into sugar. Do not flatten. Bake at 300 degrees until done. Enjoy!

Prim blessings,
Laurie

Freebie....and more red stuff!

2011-02-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

Remember how I was just saying how much I LOVE red!? Well, today we bought a RED van! This will be perfect for carting my crafts to shows, and did I mention it's RED!?!

I am working on a newsletter to send out to my website mailing list, and have decided as a way to draw people to my blog, I will offer my "Easter Annie" e-pattern as a freebie for new followers to my blog. This will be in effect from now through March 15th. Not to forget about the faithful few who already do follow my blog (have I told you that I really appreciate your sweet comments!?), I will gladly send you this popular e-pattern too. Just send me a message or e-mail, and I will happily send my Easter Annie e-pattern to you too!

Think I'll go sit in my new van now....

Prim blessings,
Laurie

A couple of new patterns!

2011-02-17T17:41:00.001-08:00

I finished a couple of new dolls, and haven't even got the patterns made yet, but thought I'd share a photo of my favorite - "Attic Annie". This is the kind of primitive doll I always try to make, but somehow they always turn out cutsie! I think this doll looks like it's been sitting around in the attic for half a century or more, and I had a lot of fun grunging her (and her naked baby)up!

I'll be working on the patterns tomorrow, and hope to get them up on my website and Etsy over this three day weekend.

Have a great long weekend! Be safe!

Prim blessings,

Laurie

I'm now offering patterns on Pattern Mart!

2011-01-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

I now have a few of my e-patterns available for purchase and instant download on Pattern Mart! I plan to add e-patterns weekly. I'm excited about this new outlet! After deciding to discontinue my Country Sampler ads (WAYYYYY too expensive with the economy these days!), I hope that Pattern Mart can help draw people to my website!

Below you'll see a photo of my brand new "Love Ewe" Penny Rug e-pattern. If you click on "more info", you will be taken to this pattern on my Pattern Mart page. To see the rest of my Pattern Mart patterns, click on "see all my patterns".

Thanks for lookin'!

Blessings!
~Laurie

Love Ewe Penny Rug Pattern

My Love Ewe Penny Rug features a sweet ewe lamb holding a heart. It measures 16-1/2" across...

Price: US$5.50

What's YOUR favorite color?!?

2011-01-22T23:11:00.000-08:00

I've just been noticing how I REALLY, REALLY like the color red! My dining room/kitchen is red, my front door is red, my blog is red, and I use red in almost all of my patterns! I wear a red coat in the winter, my favorite purse is red, and my Mom tells me the first book I ever read was called "Ann Likes Red"! Red makes me happy. Red is cheerful. Red looks good. Red tastes good. (red ropes, watermelon, apples!) I LOVE red!!! What's YOUR favorite color!?!

New Valentine's Day Stuff!

2011-01-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

My, my, my, it's been some time since I've blogged! I guess the holidays came (and went!) and time got away from me! To my defense, I've been very busy crafting for Valentine's Day, and I've got some great new patterns and items for this sweetheart holiday on my website! Here's a sneak peak of a fun cupid raggedy pattern, as well as my newest venture: mohair bears! I wanted to make a mohair panda bear for my panda-loving daughter, Kaitlyn, so I gave it a shot, had a great time and it turned out better than I'd hoped, so now I'm hooked! I've also got a sweet little brown bear on my website, and plans to make many more. Watch for a whole den of bears coming this way soon!!!

Happy New Year, and my resolution was to eat healthier (yeah, yeah!) and blog at least weekly! Blessings!

Laurie

Online Christmas Bazaar!

2010-12-01T13:50:00.001-08:00

Winter has come early to Prindle Mountain Primitives! We had our first snowfall back on November 9th, with several ice and snow storms since then....and here it is just NOW the first of December! If it's snowin' and blowin' where you are too, and you don't want to face THE MALL, pop on over to our Online Christmas Bazaar going on right now on our website! www.prindlemountainprimitives.com You'll find all kinds of great primitive Christmas gifts...hand crafted here in the USA! They're ready and waiting, and can be on your doorstep before you know it!

Hope you're enjoying the Christmas season!

Blessings,
Laurie

Great Craft Show!

2010-11-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a great show Crafts Unlimited was this year! Very busy, lots of customers, awesome craftsmen, and great deals! Next, on to Mountain View High School!

I spent the next day browsing at an excellent estate sale, our local antique store, and getting some good ideas for Christmas gift-making! My one find I was especially happy about was an old vintage composition doll. She's pretty sad, but I love her just the way she is! I bought some old vintage linens at the sale and made her a dress, since she was just wearing some too-big baby clothes. I think she's perfect! :) I also picked up some antique Christmas bulbs.

I added a few things to Etsy today. Please check it out:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrindleMountainPrims

Ready for craft shows, and five new patterns too!

2010-11-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

It's been pretty crazy around here, with all the hectic sewing and crafting getting ready for the Christmas bazaar season, but I'm ready, with the exception of some pricing. Yay! :) I even took the time to make five new patterns today, with some new designs I came up with for the craft shows. Here's a little peak, but you'll have to check out my website to see them all! :)

If you're in the Portland/Vancouver area, be sure to check out my craft shows! Here's where I'll be, and when:

November 6&7 - Crafts Unlimited, Vancouver, Washington (here's a link to the blog: http://www.craftsunlimitedshow.blogspot.com/)
November 13 - Mountain View High School, Vancouver, Washington
November 20 - Washougal High School, Washougal, Washington
November 27 - Prairie High School, Brush Prairie, Washington

We spent the weekend at Mt. Hood in Oregon! They had several FEET of snow last week, so there was nothing like some snow to get me in the Christmas spirit! With the calendar now proclaiming NOVEMBER, I know by the end of THIS month I'll be Christmas decorating, and getting ready for the holidays big time! YAY! We love Christmas!!!!

In the meantime, enjoy a wonderful autumn, and make sure to take time to count your blessings!

Hugs!

Laurie

New stuff!

2010-09-08T00:38:00.000-07:00

Just finished two new patterns tonight! I'll be posting them on my website tomorrow, as well as letting everyone know about my new website design, my newest blog (totally different direction for me - baby stuff!), and some supplies I'll now sell on my website! Been really busy, but I am really in the creative zone right now, so I'm taking advantage of it!

Fall is sure in the air! It rained like crazy today...hard as it ever does! I LOVE warm, sunny, beautiful summer days, but there is nothing like the first good rain of September, when you can put on a sweater, listen to the rain pounding outside, and know that you don't have to drag around a hose and water everything, and you can sit inside and work on craft things without an ounce of guilt!

Here's a sneak peak of my newest patterns!

Blessings,

Laurie

Summer time!

2010-08-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

Been busy, busy working on a new look to my website! You won't see it yet, but I'm in the designing stages. If you noticed that my website was down a couple of days ago....well, apparently my server is having problems and then decided to close up shop! I was given 2 days to move to another server and re-build my website! Yikes! Someone stepped up and bought the server so the threat of my website disappearing again tomorrow is now gone, but I'm not taking any chances and have already signed up with a new server. Should be a nice new look for my website when it's done, and I'm excited about the graphics I'm making! If you noticed a new look to the logo above...you're right! This is my grandparent's barn. No, not on Prindle Mountain....in fact, on the opposite side of the state, but I really wanted to use this picture! I spent a lot of time as a little kid playing in that barn, and somehow I didn't break any bones when a friend and I used to jump out of the window on the left hand side!

We're getting ready for our county fair here! Those little lambs a few posts down are now big and ready to go be market lambs! (See photo above!) Our girls are each showing two lambs, as well as taking five black Angus cows between them. Always a fun time!

I've been working on some new Santa and snowman patterns I hope to get on my website soon! I'm also looking ahead to the Christmas shows that are really right around the corner, and crafting like crazy!

My daughter and I found a wonderful estate sale last weekend! She was thrilled to find Fiestaware to add to her collection, while I packed the car with some great craft finds: Pendleton wool, old flour sacks, and some wonderful old canning jars that I couldn't pass up! Great prices and lots of fun!

Hope your summer is going well, and watch for some new patterns from Prindle Mountain Primitives soon!

Prim blessings,
~Laurie

I'm back!

2010-07-16T00:35:00.001-07:00

Oops! Another lapse in blogging! Not to be confused with inactivity...quite the contrary! Working steadily on new designs for upcoming holiday craft shows...designing some new patterns....and of course it IS summertime!!! All my birds home in the nest, and I'm pleased as punch!!!

Just received the newest issue of Country Sampler....and my Trixie Ann Halloween doll (see post a few months back!) is in there. I've also recently designed a Christmastime raggedy...and here she is! I had a lot of fun with this girl!

Prim blessings!

~Laurie

Lambs are all here!

2010-04-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Yay! Hope finally had those babies, so we're all done lambing here on Prindle Mountain! Twenty three cute little babies running around in our barnyard! I noticed I said I'd post a picture back in February, so I guess I'd better!

I also noticed I'd mentioned taking pictures of my veils, so here's a picture of those on my beautiful girls, Ashley and Emily, with friend Kadie in the middle. I've made lots of them now, and am making some birdcage veils now too. If you need a veil....look me up! I'm also thinking about making an Etsy store for wedding veils and ring bearer pillows too. Busy, busy!

Time to do a little craftin' before bed!

Prim blessings, Laurie

Started an Etsy store!

2010-04-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

Yay! Look at me! First a blog (although you'll note I haven't posted since February....a bit more on that later!) and now I set up an Etsy account! Thank you, dear friend Nancy, for your encouragement to do this! You'll find me at Etsy, listed under: PrindleMountainPrims. Check it out! I think this could be fun!

I guess my only excuse for not blogging since late February is that we've been busy lambing! Twenty one little lambs to date, with one ewe left to go! "Hope" is nine years old, and it seems like she is the last to go every year! We just keep "Hope"-ing and hoping she'll have those babies!!!

I did design a new Halloween-time Annie. She's not even on the website yet, since I haven't even made the pattern, but here's a sneak peak! I had to get something to Country Sampler for the fall issue, so I just got her done. What do you think!?

Spring has sprung here on Prindle Mountain Primitives! Hope it has wherever you are too!

Primitive Blessings,

Laurie

Lamb time!

2010-02-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

If you've ever read "on the farm" on my website, you'll know that we also raise sheep here on Prindle Mountain. Thursday night lambing started! We have 13 ewes (down from the 25 or more we used to have....grain prices have gone through the roof!) Any way, two of those 13 now have cute little twins! Pictures later!

I have made 5 veils now. (And I didn't coffee stain even one of them!) Really kind of fun, and a totally different creative outlet than primitive dolls! Once I get a couple more made, I'll take them to the shop and see what they think. I plan to take some pictures of Emily wearing them, and I'll post some on here.

Beautiful, beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest! Hard to believe it's February when it's been 62 degrees, perfect blue sky days, and things are blooming left and right! Is it really still a month until Spring!?! Not the best weather for our neighbors to the north, however! (We're about 300 miles south of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.)

You'll notice I made sure to put "B.C." after "Vancouver". Vancouver, Washington is our nearest big city, and where our newspaper, etc. comes from. The folks in "our" Vancouver do NOT like being mistaken with Vancouver, B.C. There has even been talk of renaming Vancouver, Washington to Fort Vancouver, Washington. (Fort Vancouver is still a historical site here). For the record, though, our Vancouver came first, founded in 1825; whereas Vancouver, B.C. was incorporated in 1886.

Just a little history lesson! Gotta go check my lambs! :)

~Laurie

Just a little complaining!

2010-02-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

Oh wow! Got a phone call at 2:30 a.m. from someone wanting to order a catalog! Glad I didn't even hear the phone and saw the answering machine blinking this morning! I advertise in Country Sampler, and get some early morning phone calls from the east coast once in a while (no...I'm not in Washington D.C. - it's Washington STATE....the west coast.....three hours earlier than the east coast!), but nothing like 2:30 a.m.! You'd think that when the answering machine says "you've reached the Johnsons.....blah, blah, blah", they'd realize this is a home business! My customers are really awesome, though, and I'm just complaining a little bit about this one because she obviously doesn't have the internet so she won't know it! (Those are the ones who call instead of e-mail).

I don't even have a catalog....just a brochure with a handful of items.......

Okay. I'm done grumbling now! :)

On another note, I'm starting a new venture today! I've been asked to make some bridal veils for a shop. Never done anything like that before, and it's definitely not a primitive craft (can you imagine a coffee-stained veil!?! Ha!), but with four daughters, I'm sure it'll come in handy eventually!

Happy Sunday!
~Laurie

New patterns are out!

2010-02-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Yay! Got the new patterns on my website today! I hope I get a good response! I had fun working on all these new patterns and products!

Lambing time will be starting in about 2 weeks! We pared down our herd to just 13 ewes, since the economy tanked! We've had a really warm winter, and I am just crossing my fingers that the snow and ice doesn't decide to make an appearance when the lambs are due!

Time to get off the computer and enjoy my weekend!

~Laurie

New patterns coming soon!

2010-01-31T00:03:00.000-08:00

Worked like crazy today to get my new patterns done! Last weekend I created, and today I had to get things down on paper! I'm holding off adding them to my website, as I plan to add a new category "Monkey Business". I'm waiting for my socks to arrive, so I can sell full-sized sock monkeys, as well as my mini monkeys, Sock Monkey Annie (Roxie Ann & Sox), and sock monkey bottle cap pins. Hopefully within the next week or so!

Watch for it!

Oops! I'm a bad blogger!

2010-01-20T18:27:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is mid to late January, and I've neglected my newly created blog! Note to self: "blog at least weekly"! (New Year's Resolution #2!)

The holidays were very hectic, but we made it through! I'm back to designing, and I've got a couple of new patterns in the works! I should have the patterns up on my website within a week, and I'm excited about them! First is a cute Annie doll with a darling mini sock monkey! I just recently caught the sock monkey craze! I always thought they were cute when I was a kid, but never had one. When I found some sock monkey socks on sale before Christmas, I ordered some and the lucky recipients of my sock monkeys were my son and my niece. While my little niece is just 4, and probably the appropriate sock monkey age, my son is almost 22! He said he always wanted one too, and he named him "Melvin"! He's back at college with him! Anyway, watch for "Roxie Ann and Soxx" coming soon, as well as "Beatrix Anne and Buzzi"...a little raggedy doll with her bee dollie.

Thanks for readin'! ~Laurie

Deck the Halls!

2009-12-03T23:25:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the ol' Johnson Homestead here on Prindle Mountain! All set for Christmas, minus tons of gifts yet to purchase, cards to make, and a Christmas tree to go chop down! Ok, so I'm not ready! The house looks good and sparkly, and it was fun decorating, even if it only lasts for a month!

One more craft show this weekend: Wy'East Middle School in Vancouver. Hoping to unload some things I don't want to store until next year! Happy holidays!

First Post

2009-11-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

Yay! I think I'm figuring out this blog thing! Time to step into the 21st century and get with the program! I need to put together a blog or website for one of my craft groups, and thought I'd better explore my options and see what I can do out in cyberspace for free! Should be fun!
~Laurie