Saturday 22 December 2012

Three Sleeps Until Santa Comes...

 
I've finally got around to posting pictures of my Christmas Decorations!
This year has gone by so fast and before we know it, Christmas is upon us!
I put my Decorations up about 2 weeks ago, took pictures, but haven't had time to post them...still, better late than never!
 
I started with my Shaker Tree...I wound the lights around the middle and then added the decorations...
(Oops, Mrs Claus was drying her all-in-one on the radiator!)
 
 
 
The lights on...but not a very good picture, as it was daytime!




One Decorated Tree!
All the decorations on here are handmade and from either the USA or over here...all made by very talented gals! 

 
 
 
Tree with wrapped presents underneath!
I used one coloured wrapping paper, brown paper and red jute string this year!
I think they look good together...
 
 
 
 
Top Shelf of my old School Cupboard...
There's a bit of a Santa theme going on here!
One is a Jim Shore Santa, which I love...
The picture on the left came from Elaine in the USA, as did the tiny Sifter with the tree in it...you can check out her goodies at
6stringbluesman on Ebay...
 
 
 
 
Next shelf down...Santa in his Sleigh!
I added the Prim label to the crock on the left and filled it with real Candy Canes...

 
 
 
The Snowman on the left is one from Wendy of
Primitives from the Attic...
I've got 3 of her Snowmen and a few of her dolls...I love them!

 
 
 
I wanted to light up this end of the room and found these Tree Lights in the loft...I left them in the circle, put a tie twist at the top and hooked them onto the drawer knob...perfect!

 
 
 
My 'little' Snow Kids from the USA...these are one of my favourite Christmas pieces...I bought them about 10 years ago and still love them just as much as I did then! Snowgirl must stand at over 3' tall and Snowboy is about 2' tall...
I've never seen any others over here and although they cost a fortune, I'm SO glad I bought them!

 
 
 
Another Prim Snowman from Wendy...I saw the Sleigh a couple of months back at an Antiques Centre...just right for my Snowmen!
 
 
 
 
Another Sleigh and another Snowman from Wendy...I've named them Charlie, Alfie and George!

 
 
 
Who says Bunnies are only for Easter? Well, not Elaine in the USA!! I got this one from her earlier in the year and he's lovely!
The Christmas Card is an antique one I got for Terry...it's been written inside, but there are no names, so it's apt! 

 
 
 
This Tree is one I used in my Prim Shop...
It is sitting in a HUGE Tin Cup, yes, from Elaine!
Elaine added the label, which says...
Merry Christmas to you and yours...
Elaine handmade the decorations on it...I bought the Peg Dolls, but the little Pillows were a gift from her...Thank You Elaine!

 
 
 
I love this little display!
The Stacking Boxes are from...yes, Elaine!
The Shoo Fly, Eggs and Plate...also Elaine!
The Tree is one that I decorated for my Prim Shop...
I glued on buttons, wooden clothespins and cinnamon sticks, then tied on checked homespun fabric, hung decorations on it and added some tiny Rice Lights from the USA...
A true OOAK!!! 

 
 
 
Christmas Tins...just a few!!
All of these Tins are from Elaine...except the 4 little McSteven's ones and the Cracker one on the bottom right...
Just how FAB is Elaine?!!!
Those adorable tiny Dollies on the bottom shelf are from Barb at
Cariad Bach Primitives
 


 
 
 
This is the wall above the long sofa...
My son, Dan bought me the Shelf for Christmas! I love it and it will stay there all year long!





 
Close~up of Shelf...
Tins from Elaine...
Sleigh from my Prim Shop...
Santa in the Sleigh from Billie's Primitives...
Tiny red Sifter from Elaine...
The Tree on the right is a REAL one!
The 4 tiny Santas are from Barb at Cariad Bach Primitives and are just sooooo cute!!

 
 
 
This Sign was made by my friend Sharon...she is a fab painter, you should see her freehand flowers!
The little Santa Panda is from the USA...

 
 
 
Beautiful Sampler made by Christine of
The Primitive Shelf...
I just LOVE Christine's work!

 
 
 
This Sign was a gift from my friend Sharon one Christmas...
I got the beautiful Stockings from Elaine (!) They are made from antique Cutter Quilts and look superb on there...another OOAK!

 
 
Well, that's all the pictures I've taken...hope you enjoyed seeing them!
I'm working over Christmas, so may not get to post until the New Year...
It just remains for me to say...
 
"I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2013!"
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Love Karen xx

Tuesday 20 November 2012

I have a very dear friend called Mary...
I met her earlier this year and we get on so well, I love her to bits!
Mary is who my hubby, son and daughter bought my birthday Bear from...
Well...Mary had a box of Prim Dollies and as she is more into Bears (actually, into Bears BIG time!) she sent the box to me!
It arrived on Friday and I am in Dolly Heaven!!
There were 2 Country Dolls (Dan's girlfriend has got those!)
A black Doll with a lovely smiling face...
A beautiful old straw-filled Dog...
And...FIVE SUPERB DOLLS made by
Sharon of
Mustard Seed Originals...
Well, her work is just amazing!
Each of the Dolls is similar, but totally unique!
They are all rag-stuffed, so hang nicely...
They all have wear holes in them...
And each stitch has been made with love!!
 
You can check out her website here....
 
 
AND HERE THEY ARE....
 
Belindy...
 
 
Katie...

 
Annie...

 
Ann...

 
And Connie~Lou...

 
This is the little Dog...Dixie...
 
 
This is the smiling Doll...

 
The pictures don't actually do them justice...
They are MUCH better in real life, trust me!!!
 
Well, that's it for now...
Thanks for looking and take care!
Love Karen xx
 
 

Wednesday 7 November 2012

SANTA CAME EARLY!!!

Santa has been early this year...he brought me a box of goodies from Elaine in the USA!!
I am an Elaine Addict now and just LOVE the things she does! She is a very talented lady and you can check out her goodies on ebay at:
6stringbluesman...
 
Trust me, you will just LOVE her listings!!
 
 
These are my new goodies...
 
 
 
Four beautiful Christmas Tins...

 
 
Close~up of two...

 
 
And the other two...

 
 
Tiny Whale Tail Board with a Tin-type Picture...

 
 
Small Rolling Pins...painted 'Elaine-style'...

 
 
Tin Sugar Shaker with 1873 and Tiny Tin Set...

 
 
Two Tiny Mashers...again 'Elaine-style'...

 
 
Elaine also sent me these Tree Decorations as a gift...
Thank You!

 
 
And these two Prairie Dolls...
Thank You So Much, Elaine!!

 
 
 
I also got some fantastic pieces from Christine at The Primitive Shelf...
 
This gorgeous Harvest Doll...I've weighted her, so she sits nicely...
 
 
This fantastic Sampler, which I've nailed to a piece of old wood...
Christine's work is beautiful...

 
 
And this beautiful Sampler Pouch...
I've put a few Pumpkins and Teeny Dolls inside and they look fab!!
 
 
 
The Teeny Dolls came from Barbara at Cariad Bach Primitives...
Her Dolls are out of this world fantastic and I love them! I think I've got around 25 or so...here are a few of them...the rest are in an earlier post...
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
You will find her wonderful Prims at:
 
 
Check it out, you will LOVE them all, I promise!!
 
Well, that's it for now...
I hope you are all keeping well and looking forward to Christmas...not long now!
Love Karen xx
  


Wednesday 17 October 2012

Mini~Major Makeover!

Had a bit of a change round in my living/dining room last week...
What started out as a clean up, turned into a major makeover!
 
This was the right side of the chimney...
 
 
 
And this is it now...
New Dresser Top, New Table and New Flowers!
 
 
 
Dresser Top...it fitted into the alcove perfectly!
It's a real heavy beast and is on the wall with 6 long screws!! 


 
 
This was the left side before...
I've painted the Shelf blue and all my Buckets are under the new Table, which is under the new Dresser Top...
 
 
 
This is it now...my old Toys stand out much better against the blue...
The Shelf on the left is new too...
I still need to sort out the School Cupboard, so will add pictures when it's done!
 

 
 
This is a 1950's Rocking Cradle...all handmade. When I got it, the previous owner had started to sand off the ORIGINAL paint...WHY???
I left it as it was, but decided it needed an all-over colour, so did it burgundy...
 
 
 
 
 
This lovely Cupboard was over by the window. I prefer it here, as you can see it better...more New Flowers!

 
 
 
 I leave my Shaker Tree out all year, but change the decorations...
This used to sit on a cream table, but I moved the Farm Stool here, put the Dough Bowl Keeper on it and stood the Tree on top...
I think it looks unusual...

 
 
 
I got these two Sledges at a local Antiques Centre...
They are from the 1950's and I love them!
I gave them a coat of matt varnish and they came up great...
They were still on the table when I got my Pumpkins out, so I put them on the Sledges...
Pumpkin Sledges!!
 

 
 
I've been adding to my addiction of Cariad Bach Dolls...
Barbara is so talented and makes such beautiful but teeny tiny Dolls...and all
BY HAND!!!
I've got quite a collection now, so will post some pictures of them...
You can find her website at:
 
 
 
I've got a box of goodies coming from my friend Elaine in the USA, so when they arrive, I'll post some pictures...
Check out her e-bay site...
6stringbluesman
Elaine is a very talented gal, who can make the oldest things look totally new and unique...I just LOVE them all..!!
 
Well, thanks for checking in...
Take care and chat soon!
Love and Blessings!
Karen xx