Oh my goodness, I know its been awhile but I have had a long health battle but I am doing some new things. First, I just have to tell you that I can FINALLY see in my studio thanks to these awesome light I found on Amazon. They took me about 5 minutes to install and oh my goodness...they are so bright. I only needed two in my studio and added one to my garage and one to my laundry room. Just had to share.

I haven't Disappeared

Hi there my prim pals...I have been absent of late but it just couldn't be helped. I did want to check in and say a quick hello to everyone. Surviving the heat wave here in western Pa has made working with all things "wool" a bit icky but I did manage to post some more wool bundles on my WOOL FOR SALE page and have more to come (if the weather allows, haha).

Trying to keep my spirits up while continuing to battle what they now think is a resurgence of and/or aggravation of the neuroinvasive west nile due to another mosquito bite. Personally I don't think they really know what the heck the problem is and I can tell you the pain has been off the charts...the hubs has been great in what seems to be our nightly ritual now where he lathers me up with BenGay, wraps hot towels around my arms and legs and then rubs as hard as he can...it doesnt actually take the pain away, but it does help while he does it. Man, you should see my arms and legs though since they are bruised from how hard he is squeezing but the muscles tighten up like bricks and I beg him to squeeze harder and he is always afraid he's going to hurt me...poor guy !!!

Anyway, I do have a bit of good news to pass along to all of you who have been diligently praying for me (and thank you so much)....As most of you know I am chronically awake (insomnia) and survive on as little as 3 hours a day if I am lucky. Well in a recent turn of events I have been falling asleep before the hubs...like hours before him...like at 10 pm and sleeping till 8 am with very few interruptions. The first night it happened I was panicked that I wouldn't sleep at all the next night, which is what normally happens. Well, and I say this crossing my fingers that I dont jinx it, but I have now slept 8-10 hours per night for 5 nights running !!! Now I have no clue why or how long it will last but I am happy about it to be sure but the hubs thinks it has to do with the energy I am using when these intense pain periods ...me ? I dunno...just happy to have something to be happy about right now.

Okay, well this is NOT a health blog so I guess I should show you some of the things the hubs and I picked up on our way back from Virginia in May...I love them all !

Aren't these old wooden bobbins look so nice on my penny runner from my wonderful friend Karen at My Colonial Home ?

Even though this bourbon jug has a little chip, I just think it adds character !!!

Pretty cool items huh ? I have no idea where I am gonna put everything...the hubs actually hung the clothes hanger make do thingy (sorry, minds not working) and he "merchandised" it by adding some of my favorite swap items from my prim pals Amy from Bumble Bee Lane and Lecia from Farmhouse Prims !!! He did pretty good too...since he's out of work I told him I would hire him to take all my pictures from now on !!!!

Well, I am pretty wiped out right now and need to try to get some rest...following the docs orders to rest and try not to stress (yeah, okay, I can do that).

I miss you all and I do read your blogs even though I may not always be commenting. Thanks for all of your love and support during this very hard time...you all mean so much to me !

Grace to you,
Margie

It's June PHM Update Time

Oh my word...after all my big apologies last month about making sure I blogged more often, put up more comments and posts and especially offering more wool...well, obviously that didn't happen. Before I knew what hit me the PHM update time was here again and I just cant believe it.

Now I  must admit, I have been pretty darn sick...only left my house twice since I last wrote to you all. Yes, I am sick of being here and you would think I would be bored out of my gourd (what does that mean anyway ...just a western Pa saying ?) and have lots of time for being online and catching up but no, my body seems to want to really fight with me and I think it's winning....feels like my "behind"  and the rest of me for that matter, has been hit by a bus, run over by a car and then beaten with a baseball bat.

I haven't gotten much hooking done since my hands wont work right and I have tons of wool ready to list if I can just spend a day down in my shop but I have only left my bedroom a few days this month. The poor hubs has been scrounging for food ...the man is nearly perfect but he doesn't cook. Normally we balance each other out and he does the laundry and the ironing and I do the grocery shopping and cook all his favorite meals. Well, have you ever just not gone to the grocery store for a month ? Yeah, neither had I and I keep my pantry pretty full since I cant get it through my head that my boys have moved out and my grocery bill doesn't need to come close to the national debt every month (like that could even be possible, but dont get me started). So we have had lots of pizza and ice cream...good thing I stocked up on those Digiorno pizza's when they were on sale for $3.98 and I had $1.50 coupons....sweetest deal on those pizzas ever, but alas, even though I filled 2 entire shelves in the freezer (I bought 20), they are gone and we are on our last half gallon of ice cream so I had better feel better soon or the hubs is going to have to get better at spotting deals when I send him for lettuce and milk !

Oh my, I have been going on and on. Okay...just a quick peek at one of the items I have for sale over at Primitive Handmades Mercantile this month....I have seen the other gals listings (since I am almost always last to get done) and they are fabulous...honestly, they are just gorgeous so hit that little button that has the name on in to the right and go ver there and have a look around.

Ok...here's what I listed. Now mind you, I was sick, so I think I actually got a lot done from my bedroom and sending Jim down to the shop with a list (Oh and the shop never got put back together from the retreat and the trip to Va so its a disaster).

So there you have it gals....And this time I am making no promises of when the next post will be but I do promise to think of you all and will post again as soon as I am able.

Grace to you,
Margie

May PHM Update Today

Oh my, oh my, oh my, how time does fly. I first want to encourage you all to go over to Primitive Handmade Mercantile (you can click my button to the right) and see all of the beautiful items the gals have made this month...there are some beautiful primitive items for sale there and I am always amazed at the vast amount of talent in our group. Here are the two items I made for the May update...

"Curly Q Sheep"
This sheep mat was what I worked on at the recent retreat in West Virginia in late April. It was the first time I used  the technique of ripping the wool into strips instead of cutting it. The strips are all approximately one half inch wide and it really has a lovely effect on the wool...it curls in on the ends and is just so prim perfect ! 

"Freedom"
This mat is the second in my Patriot Rug Series. You may remember the first rug was entitled "Liberty". I have plans for 2 more in the series.

Now, if you will bare with me for a few personal reflections, I would really appreciate it since I know I owe you all an explanation to my lack of posting. I know it is unacceptable for me to be so sporadic in my posting and updating my blog... all I can say is that I am a schlub and that I am so very sorry...I have no other decent excuse. Sure, I have been super busy, but so are all of you. Sure I have health issues that keep me away from my computer, but so do many of you. Sure I have other responsibilities, but so do all of you. Sure I don't sleep, but many of you don't sleep much either. We are all busy women ! As always, I am humbled that you gals even tune in to read what I have to say and I know that lately I have really let you all down.

Today that changes and I vow to do my VERY best to not let that happen again. I have resisted asking my doctors to increase my medications because I know that, at some point, unless God chooses to heal me or provide a cure, the meds will continue to lose their effectiveness and I will be at the end of the road with no clue how to manage the pain in a matter of just a few years, a decade at most, so say the experts ! Well, then I am going to make this the best decade that I can !!! I want my life back, even if it is shorter.

That being said, I know some of you have asked me about when I will have some more blue, green and red woolens up for sale...well the dye pots are fired up and so am I. Those of you with current orders, they will be mailed out this weekend.  I am trusting God to move me and my business forward ! On our recent trip to Virginia I was able to get lots of what I am calling "Woolies" ready for sale too. They are perfect for those of you who make penny rugs or applique. Those, along with lots more of my regular wool bundles will also be up by the weekend.

I do ask for your prayers as I am in the process of finalizing the colors for my upcoming new dye book...I know, I know....why put one more thing on my plate right ? Well, because so many of you have asked for it, that's why !

Loads more to tell you, but that will have to wait...I have wool to rinse and today is such a beautiful day to dry the wool on the line !!!

Until next time,
Grace to you,
Margie

Sweet Super Duper Swap

Oh my goodness I have "oh so much" to share with you all. I have been a very busy gal getting ready for and then going to the Woolen Willow Rug Hooking & Quilting Retreat in the majestic mountains of West Virginia...but, you will have to wait till tomorrow to hear (and see) all that I did there because, silly old me left an entire, yes entire large bag, including most of my goodies, in my friend Teresa's car and she kindly mailed it out to me today....so I promise to catch you up on all the fun from the retreat as soon as I have all my pics fixed up and my bag back....It has all my projects from the retreat !!! Thank goodness the package only had to come across the state of Pa from Teresa's house near Carlisle to my house near Pittsburgh...I could not believe it when I got Teresa's text saying she found a wonderful bag of wool and a pretty sheep rug in her car when she unpacked, lol. Sending a huge "Thank You" out to Teresa of Teresa's Primitive Treasures...wait till you see what she hooked while we were there....It is "to die for"...she is really incredibly talented and a sweetheart too.

Okay, but just so you know...you havent wasted your time popping in today...I have pictures of all the yummy things Lecia, from Farmhouse Prims, sent me in a swap...Oh my, prepare to repent because you may commit a little covetousness when you drool with envy over what she sent me !!!

I have been wanting one of Lecia's bonnets for, well, forever and I kept hoping I would get her as my swap partner in one of the many swaps held by Amy over at Bumble Bee Lane Cottage...Sadly, after almost 2 years, I still hadn't gotten her as a swap partner (guess maybe I shoulda asked, huh?) so I finally just asked if she would like to swap sometime...Well, we worked out the particulars (although I dont feel the items I made her are even in the same league as what she sent me) and a big box arrived last week at my house with Lecia's return address. Now, by this time I was pressed for time to get ready to leave for the retreat and I got a wholesale order for some rug hooking kits (hooray...these was my first wholesale order) that needed to ship out before I left...so I decided to use that big box as an incentive to be my "reward" once I had completed all my tasks...Well I worked right up till it was time to walk out the door (no sleep for me) for the retreat so, sadly, I had to wait till I got home to open my package....

Well, it was more than worth the wait. Of course I should have taken a picture of how pretty everything looked wrapped up but, well, I had waited long enough !!! Oh my goodness...first of all, as soon as I opened the box I was enveloped by the most intoxicating smell...Oh it was just yummy, yummy, yummy. 

So, you wanna see what she sent ? Of course you do...so here goes...

Here is the beautiful bonnet...so much bigger than I had anticipated ! I cant wait to figure out where I will put it...pictures when I decide, I promise ! Isn't it just primtacular ?

Next is this gorgeous primitive style Prairie Journal...I just love it and I think even my adult kids will think its neat because the family used to play "Oregon Trail" on the computer and then actually ride on part of the original Oregon Trail when we moved to Colorado...such a sweet reminder of days gone by. Oh and that spicy pear soap smells divine !

Now, the thing is, the bonnet and journal was all she was supposed to send but Lecia really spoiled me with even more prim presents like this beautiful little calico bird pin keep...so sweet !

And this adorable little bunny with real twig legs...how cute is she ?

And look at this pillow hanger she made me...All so beautiful and prim !!!

So, again, a big THANK YOU to Lecia for going above and beyond on this swap...She  really touched my heart and I can only hope she likes what I made for her half as much as how much I love what she made for me.

Well folks that's it for today but I will have more to share tomorrow !

Until next time,
Grace to you,'
Margie

PHM Update

Hi folks...quick post and I promise I will write more later ...Not feeling well again...prayers appreciated ! Did want to mention thatttoday is the update for the selling group I am in over at Primitive Handmades Mercantile (see the button on the right side of my blog). Lots of terrific artists who specialize in bringing you the best in hand made primitive wares !

Here are the items I am listing this month....

Lulu the Lamb candle mat

Gameboard Candle Mat

Bee Skep Garden Candle Mat

Listing lots more wool and now I also will be carrying monks cloth in 1/2 and whole yards. I also got in more primitive rug hooks and will be listing those later too...Just hoping I can use my stupid hands....I hate to say it but hooking has become VERY painful, especially when I was already in a pain tail spin...Oh gosh, sorry,,,this isnt the time or place to be boo-hooing !!!

Love and miss you all and I promise I will be back later to chat more and hopefully catch up on all your blogs too !

Grace to you,
Margie

Easter Goal

My goal this Easter is to remember and to really think about what the Savior did for me on the cross at Calvary...He not only suffered an agonizing death, spilling His blood to cover over my sin so that I could be free to have a relationship with God, but He went to Hell to take the keys of death from Satan's nasty grip and He had to stay there, suffering every imaginable evil for 3 long days...I mean think about it...Satan finally has Jesus right where he wants him and Satan thinks he won...after all, Jesus is in hell and God the Father turned His face away from Jesus...But Praise God, Satan and death didn't beat Jesus... He Rose Again and Won our freedom from sin and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven . Every time I sin  the Bible says Satan stands accusing me before God's throne, but then Jesus, my Lord and Savior,  stands to defend me as He shows the stripes on his back where the whip filled with iron tore pieces of his flesh.  He shows all the blood that was spilled, the scars around his head where a crown made of thorns was placed in mockery upon His head. He shows the holes left by large iron nails that were driven through his hands and feet. He shows His side, where He was pierced with a sword. He stands to jump to my defense...I who live carelessly, often not even giving the sacrifice He made a passing thought, yet there He stands, pleading my case before God...in essence reminding God that my sin is covered by His blood and that no matter what Satan says about me, I belong to Jesus.

In the gospel of John  in chapter 17 you can read the beautiful prayer that Jesus prayed just hours before the crucifixion began..I have read that passage dozens (or more) times in my life but it brought tears to my eyes as I read it yesterday. You can hear the pleading in Jesus' voice as He asks the Father to keep each one of us who know Him safe from the evil one (Satan)... He prayed that  God would keep us, keep me...protect me, be one with me and that God would keep revealing Himself to me ...

How humbled I feel today on this Good Friday and my prayer is that each of you will reach out to God through Jesus Christ and find His everlasting love, His mercy, His forgiveness and that it will transform your life as it did the disciples, and as it did mine.

Blessings and Grace to you,
Margie

WINNERS PLUS Surprise Grand Prizes

Well my primitive pals, the long wait is over and today I have pulled all the winning names from the 5 weeks of ongoing giveaway prizes from my Second Annual Anniversary Giveaway. This is a picture heavy post...But you will want to stick around because after I pulled all the winners for weekly giveaway prizes I then dumped ALL the entries from ALL the weeks and pulled one GRAND PRIZE WINNER...but you will have to wait till the end of the post to find out who they are and what they won !!!

The prize from week 1 was my OLD CROW INN hooked candle mat and there were 75 entries

And The Winner Is....
Wendy from
Ravenwood Whimzies

The prize from week 2 was the WOOL FABRIC SCRAPS (basket not included)
 and there were 68 entries

And The Winner Is...
Debbie from
Barefoot Primitives

The prize from week 3 were the distressed wooden bowls and there were 46 entries

And The Winner Is...
Melinda from
Merry Wind Farms

The prize from week 4 was the old mustard tin, candle holder and candle and there were 35 entries

And the Winner Is...
Sandi from
The Primitive Skate

The first prize from week 5 was the distressed mustard candle stick and there were 53 entries

And The Winner Is...
Katy from
The Country Blossom

The MYSTERY prize from week 5 is a full half yard of this beautiful houndstooth wool

And the Winners Is...
Francine from
Primitive Stars

And finally, the  Grand Prize is $15.00 Gift Certificates to use on anything for sale on my blog from wool, to rug hooking kits, to items listed on my upcoming BLOG YARD SALE.....

And the winner is

Carol from

 Krazy Kraft Lady Primitives

So there you have it folks....Lots of winners ! Congratulations to all of you and I want to say a huge thank you to all of you who follow my blog, encourage me, pray for me and my family, share your stories and offer your friendship...I am truly blessed to have each of you in my life and I ask the Lord to bless each of you as you have blessed my life !

Look for more WOOL FOR SALE over the next few days...just  got a LARGE amount of wool in over the weekend....here's a sneak peek at just one small box I got to open....still has to get fulled and then dyed but I can wait to dive back in those dye pots...

And of course I already told you I will be having  the upcoming BLOG YARD SALE and here are just a couple items I plan to sell....

Iron plate rack
 (plates not included)

Hand forged iron crock stand
(tins not included)

American Country Collections Books

Plus LOTS, LOTS more...I am clearing out and making room to dedicate myself to wool, wool, wool and more wool !!! So there will be something for everyone !!! I will begin listing items tomorrow and will keep listing until I run out of items to get rid of, lol !

Until next time,
Grace to you,
Margie

FINAL WEEK of the Giveaway 2 PRIZES

Well gals today starts the final week of my Hungry Hook Primitives Second Annual Anniversary Giveaway so be sure and spread the word and tell your friends ...Oh and remember...you can still go back and enter for each of the prizes for the past 4 weeks by clicking on the links on the right hand side of my blog.

Well, today's prize is two fold...The first part of the prize is this candle stick that I have painted and distressed in my favorite mustard paint, yummy grubby cinnamon candle all tied off with some primitive homespun fabric...

So, I bet you want to know what the second part of the giveaway prize is for this week dont you ? Well, it's a secret and all I am going to say is you will be very sorry if you dont sign up for this one...it's probably the best prize yet !

Well, so there you have it...Most of you know the rules but see WEEK ONE for a complete list of the rules...basically you have to be a follower, leave your name and email, you get extra entries for blogging, adding it to your side bar, tweeting, facebooking etc and for sending me new followers.

I want to thank all of you who follow my blog and take the time to stop in here and see what I have to say... You guys are all terrific and this has been my way of saying "thank you" to all of you. I hope it's been a fun giveaway for you and remember...all thr winners will be announced next Monday !!!

Until next time,
Grace to you,
Margie

WooHoo Am I a LUCKY gal

OK, well first of all I think the title may be a little misleading...Luck ? Well, no...More liked BLESSED...Blessed with wonderful friends like Karen from My Colonial Home...She has been so sweet and kind to me since I entered this primitive blog world and yesterday I finally got to meet her !!! Yep, we have been trying to meet up for , well, forever it seems and yesterday we were both healthy enough to meet (although it was EARLY in the morning for me, lol). She has offered encouragement when I was at my lowest...she encouraged me to keep going when I felt like giving up and of course she has been there to listen and read my sometimes completely unreadable emails...I once emailed her after taking some sleeping pills and darned if there wasnt a single sentence that made a bit of sense but did she judge or scold ? No, she simply laughed and asked for clarification of what the heck I meant to say in the email...Yep, that's who she is. Oh and did I mention that she's not just generous with her praise and encouragement, but also wait until you see the gifts she showered me with when we met at Denny's for breakfast....

Just take a look at these wonderful, beautiful things she made for me....

First is this beautiful stitched wall pocket filled with lavender and sweet annie...It smells soooo yummy and it looks so pretty hanging in my bedroom.

But that wasnt all she had for me...She made me this beautiful pillow adorned with her signature pennies !!! Can you believe it ? What a generous lady but gals, the creme de la creme, the icing on the cake came next and it was so stunning it brought tears to my eyes...

Look at this beautiful, oversized penny rug she made especially for me...she even used wool that she got from me...I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it (as well as everything else) but more than that I love the fact that I got to finally meet my dear friend "Karen from Wisconsin" ( which is how I refer to her when I am telling my husband something about her....he cant keep all you gals straight and now he can put a face to the name because our hubbies tagged along for breakfast).

Just one more picture of the penny rug because I want you all to see the quality of Karen's work and her attention to detail...I mean look at those beautiful stitches...

I have so much more to say but for now I just want to remind you that today is the UPDATE over at the selling group Primitive Handmades Mercantile...Here is my entry for the month...

Make sure you pop over by clicking the button listed on the right hand side of my blog to see all thr wonderful items made by some true artisans !!!

Until next time,
Margie

WEEK 4 Giveaway Prize

Hello gals, today's post is going to be quick...It's Monday, so it's time for another prize in my Second Annual Anniversary Giveaway . Here's today's prize...

It's a great little vintage Colman's Mustard tin, and punched tin candle holder in a deep barn red and  a cinnamon stick Yankee candle.

Remember, you can register to win each of the prizes I have offered by going to each Monday's giveaway post and commenting on that post ! All the rules are listed in the original Giveaway post listed on the right of my blog page, so if you are just now hearing about the giveaway, by all means go back and sign up for all the prizes I have offered and check back next Monday for another prize.

You need to be a follower to participate and you get an extra entry for tweeting about it, blogging about it, listing on your sidebar and sending me new followers. Please just remember to leave me your email or blog name...Anonymous entries will not be honored because I have no way of contacting you. Remember too that I have posted giveaway buttons on the right side of my blog for each prize to make it easy for you to add them to your sidebar etc.

Ok gals...good luck to you all.

Grace to you,
Margie

New Giveaway Prize Today !!!

Hello there gals...Sorry this is a tad bit late getting posted. We had some technical difficulties but we are up and working now. Okay, so most of you already know I am hosting my 2nd Annual Anniversary Giveaway and am offering prizes every Monday...All the contest rules are listed in the Giveaway button on the right hand side of my blog. I know, I know...I should know how to put a button/link right here in the text but, as most of you know, I am a teensy bit challenged in the "computer skills" area...in fact anyone/everyone who shares with me how to do that  I will give you an extra entry in the giveaway week of your choice, just please send me an email, dont post here. Just remember, make it EASY to understand and assume I know NOTHING !!!

Well, as you can see form the picture above this weeks prize is a set of 3 wooden bowls that I have painted, aged and sealed. They are painted in some of my favorite colors... mustard, colonial blue and black. They are about 5" wide and 2" high.

Remember, the giveaway is open to everyone who is a follower and you can enter for today's prize on this post and you can enter for all the other weeks by going to each Monday's post and commenting on that post. Of course you get additional entries for blogging/tweeting/ facebooking about it, putting it on your sidebar, and sending me NEW followers. I will be posting each giveaway button on my sidebar so that you can get all those entries for each one...You will be able to get extra points for adding each weeks Giweaway button to your sidebar...Am I saying that clearly enough ? I hope so. I am still fairly sleep deprived but I did finally sleep last night...gotta a whole 6 hours for a grand total of 13 over 6 days !!! Grrrrrrr.

Ok, back to the giveaway...please remember to leave me your email address when you sign up...I have gotten SEVERAL entries that have no blog name/no email address so I would have no way of letting you know you won !!!

A quick note too...I do have a few more bundles of wool up and listed and I dyed a BUNCH this weekend and am bundling it up today.

Until next time,
Grace to you,
Margie

Lookie what I got...

Wow, I was blown away when this box arrived on my porch last week...I had signed up for the Humble Heart Swap over at Bumble Bee Lane Cottage... Amy holds the absolute best swaps in blogland. She takes so much time making sure they go off without a hitch and that everyone is happy...there's a great core group of swappers and they are all so generous which brings me to todays post.

I was lucky enough to get Amy as a swap partner this time and I couldnt be happier...she is so doggone generous and she puts so much thought and care into everything she does !

OK, on with all the yummy stuff she sent me...she knows how to spoil a gal !

WOWZERS...I just LOVE everything !!! Here are some close-ups....

Look at this adorable little yummy smelling lamb in a nest of natural lambs wool...TOO SWEET !

Then there's this adorable little pin keep trinket box Amy made me filled with old buttons and a beautiful old thimble....sorry the nest picture isnt very good...time for a new camera maybe ?

Such a pretty old thimble !!!

And look at this...my very first piece of Redware...HOORAY...I have been dying to acquire some of this....Now I am officially collecting it !!!

Of course Amy knows my love of all things patriotic so this little flag pillow tuck is pure perfection !!!

She also sent this lovely (and VERY large) rooster tea towel that I just love !!!

I was also blessed with some beeswax lip balm and a wonderful snowman magnetic tablet....again, she knows me so well and knows I adore all things snowman related !!!

Last but not least was this adorable little heart pillow tuck made of what looks like an old quilt  !!!

Well, did she spoil me or what ????? I was blessed to be her swap partner but doubly blessed to be her friend. She is a truly amazing woman and I am grateful to know her. She has touched my life in more ways than she even knows and is everything you could ever want in a friend...and guess what ? I dont even know what she looks like or the sound of her voice...friendship takes many forms and as many of you already know, sometimes cyber friends fill a void in our lives that really no one else can...I am blessed to have a few of those friends and Amy is indeed one of them...she's also the very first friend I ever made online and for that I am truly grateful and blessed ! Thank you Amy !!!

Well gals, that does it for me today...make sure you check in and sign up for my big 5 week Anniversary Giveaway with new prizes every Monday and also check my WOOL FOR SALE page...lots of new wool bundles and some fat quarters are up and ready for sale !!!

Until next time,
Grace to you,
Margie