It's a Regifting Giveaway!

'Tis the season for regifting. Fa La La La La

Oh, you know there is a that one gift that you wish had never been under the tree. That gift that you cannot bring your self to throw away because you know it was given with so much love... but man, where are you supposed to put that thing? Or why did she think you were two sizes larger than you really are? Do you seriously look that fat? Ouch!

I believe that regifting can be the relief to your troubles. You can regift a heartfelt gift and never feel guilty about not appreciating the gift because you know that someone else will enjoy it. It might not be your color, but you know someone who would absolutely croon over it... ah, the joy of giving. 

It never stops. 

While unpacking one of my sister's moving boxes we came across this cutie. It's a hand painted box I gifted her many years ago. It was one of the first pieces I painted and it is far from perfect but wicked cute. However, she has had it and loved it for many years and doesn't have a place for it in her new home. My idea was to purge it and she agreed, but then SHE came up with the idea that it should go to a new home, so here it is up for grabs. Let the regifting begin!

This little box has a black over red distressed body and its compartments are lined in red wool. 

The top is painted mustard and has a gentleman carrying a pumpkin. It's painted in the Peter Ompir style. I have no idea whose pattern I used (It was a long time ago) but it is not my original design.

 I just painted it. It has been used and loved, and looks just like it did the day she received it.

It's so cute. 

To enter the giveaway just leave a comment and tell me what you could not bare to purge and decided to regift. Can't wait to read it. I will choose a random winner tomorrow. See  you then! Brenda

I Love Handmade Gifts

As I was helping my sister finish trimming her tree before the big day, I spotted this little cutie already tucked in and hanging on it. I had to stop and touch it. It's so soft. It reminded me of the hours I spent making it (along with a few others because it's actually part of a set) that I made for her a few years ago. I remember having to ask my other sister how to make french knots for the eyes and berries because, at the time, I just could not make a knot for the life of me... In the end they all turned out well but it was a labor of love. 

I love gifting handmade. It requires A LOT of forethought, a lot of planning and discipline. You have to be sure your keeping the recipient in mind and you have to hope they'll love it enough not to regift it, and you have to be sure that once you make it you'll let it go. I can't believe that some people actually gift with a disclaimer,  "when you die be sure to leave it to XYZ". It makes me think the person who gifted it is actually "lending it". Either it is gifted, or not. I thought my friend's relative was weird but then someone else told me a similar story so I guess the practice is rampant, LOL. What is up with that? That's crazy!

Anyway, I truly believe that if you gift you need not lay claim to it after the recipient has died. That's just me and my thought on that matter...I always assume my "collections" will end up in a yard sale anyway so I am enjoying them now. 

I hope that next year my life will have settled down enough to make some lovely new treasures to gift at Christmas. I love handmade gifts, don't you???

A New Home, A New Journey...

I am in TX visiting my dear sisters this month. One of my sisters has moved to a new house, and has spent many weeks making it her own. It's been a long process but she's finally in it, with only a few unopened boxes to show for her struggles, but those too are on their way to becoming just a distant memory.

As I sit at her dinning room table listening to Christmas music and consuming that mighty Chai Latte that will give me the courage to face the chair assembly that is on my schedule this morning, I am so happy for her that I catch myself smiling and reminiscing of when I was young-ER and single, and childless... oh, it seems so long ago. I can't believe how time has just flown by. I used to change her diapers and now I sit in her house, at her table. It just amazes me how life goes on and it's like a book full of chapters. Some happier than others, but all integral parts of the plot of our lives.

I wish I lived closer to enjoy this new phase of her life with her. But like all birds, they spread their wings and they fly away. I wish her love, laughter and a table full of friends to warm this lovely new place....

Oh, but what's a table without chairs?! I better get cracking on this assembly before she comes home and finds me still sitting here on my tenth latte. LOL Hope your holidays are filled with love and laughter, and wonderful gatherings. 

I'll leave you with  a view from my perch at the dinning room table.

and a peek at her lovely new living room.

Isn't it lovely???? I think she has found herself a keeper here. 

Anew home for a new journey. Let the next phase begin!

Happy Holidays!

Stop Planning and Start Living!

One day, not long ago, it hit me that I had lived in this house for almost a year and my life was "on hold". I found myself in a "holding" pattern that I am sure is not unique to me, but to many people in recovery. It's that state when you live your life waiting for the other shoe to drop...

 and it's mentally exhausting.

The last couple of years have been challenging, to say the least. It seemed like I had the worst case of growing pains in history, but somehow I managed to hang on and come out on the other side. I can only explain it as a a white water rapids kind of ride... you hang on while the water beats the crap out of your vessel, you might even fall out, but you climb back in and ride it to the end where the pool is usually calm and you just stay in the raft pondering, in amazement,... did that all really happen? Am I OK?  My ride was so long and hard that its taken me a year to realize it's time to get out of the raft. But how scary is that? Will my legs hold me or will my knees buckle?

I have a long tale to tell but I will have to share it a little bit at a time. For now I just wanted to say Thank You to those who have helped me along the way. For those who believed that I would eventually get out of the raft and step on dry land. You know who you are... thanks for believing in me.

Now it's time to stop planning and start living in this "no longer new" house.

7/23/2013

Feeling Blessed

Today a young man died of Osteosarcoma. I did not know him, I did not know of him either. I just found out about him today and his story touched me.

When a young life is taken so early it brings things into perspective. It reminds us of our healthy children and how lucky we are to tuck them in knowing that they don't hurt and that when we wake them in the morning they'll spring to life (or slowly come alive) and you'll face nothing but the challenges of being a Mom and helping him navigate life. No matter how hard his life is, how challenging it is... he is alive, and for that I am grateful. Hug your kids tight tonight and know that not every Mom is as lucky as we are .

This is Zach Sobiech, he was just a few months older than GP when he died.

Kind of puts things into perspective. He wrote a song and leaves a legacy of love. What a kid; I am sure his mom is hurting tonight, but she must be proud of the  young man he became. RIP Zach. His You tube video is below. Just follow the link. It's worth it. 

Clouds by Zach Sobiech

We Have A Winner!

Congratulations to Robin who was chosen by Random.org as the winner of the Catchall Kit. 

Thanks to everyone for joining in the fun! Brenda

Follow My Heart Fabrics Have Arrived!!!

Seems like a lifetime ago when I ordered these wonderful fabrics and they have finally arrived. 

I love them so much I have even decided to cut some fat quarters because it's one of those lines where you just need to sample all the prints.  They're whimsical without being cutesy... 

ou can order your yardage or a Fat Quarter Bundle (while supplies last) here:

Follow My Heart

Playing with the Big Girls

Just a few weekends ago I went on my second retreat. Yes, that would be my second QUILTING retreat. I went to the Boston Modern Quilt Guild Retreat in Kennebunkport, ME with my niece and the new pumpkin in our patch, Jessy. 

I had such a great time just hanging out without a care in the world,  just stitching the day away while the machines hummed my nerves into a craftiness coma that I only managed to wake from on Sunday, when it was time to come home.

I managed to complete (well, almost complete), ONE project. This one.

Now I know you feel joy for me and my accomplishment. I mean, you're all so supportive and you know how hard I work at my craftiness perfection (or lack thereof) so I'd like to share with you, what I like to call my I spy pictures. 

I spy my quilt on the FAMILY wall (these are my niece's blocks, made at the retreat for a quilt she is working on. She worked on other projects too, but these are her "completed" blocks. And there under my "project" are Jessy's blocks, which she cut and stitched at the retreat. She cut TONS of these, but these are the ones that were "completed" and made into strips. This will be her first BIG project, and she was on a roll. She also made a knitting needle case for her mom while I worked on my one project... did you find it in the picture? 

Oh, I did finish the stitching around my Wool & Needle January mat too. 

I was so productive!

Oh, but there were other projects that were pretty impressive and as all girls do, I had to compare mine to theirs and see how I measured up in the productivity department. Soooo, I went on a little mission after hours... seeing how my guy "measured up" to the "Big Girls" quilts. Here's what I found.

Here I spy my project next to a hexagon masterpiece that had me wishing I had a love for piecing...

check out those block! Holy smokes! Yeah, she fussy cut the center blocks too. Sigh. 

Mine was "almost" as nice as hers...

 But not feeling as accomplished as I hoped I continued my quest for my equal, and although I thought this wouldn't be a fair comparison, I did try to measure up to this one....

but the scale was all wrong. Can you even see my project in this picture? 

Yeah, the little spot on the big quilt, that would be mine, LOL...

Quilt after quilt I saw that each one was unique and ever so beautiful but none was quite like mine. Which made me think of how lucky I was to be welcomed into such a talented group... 

 and to have my little guy playing with the Big Girls!
Can't wait to do it again next year. =)

My Favorite Snowmen Are Made Of Wool

As you may or may not know, I am not snow's biggest fan. I appreciate the need for snow and understand that my garden has a crush on it but I personally, well... not  a fan. 

I prefer warm days and crisp nights as opposed to cold days and freezing nights.  I hear snow is coming and I feel a chill up my spine. I get so stressed, "What if the power goes out? Do I have enough wood? Do I have enough groceries? Are my flashlights where I can find them?"  UGH, There's so much drama in my head, you'd think it was a Tsunami alert. Yeah, I'm bad, LOL

Having confirmed that the pantry is full, that I have a stash of batteries that rivals Home Depot's inventory stock, I can now move on to how I spent the last few nights. I spent them making this cute little snowman pocket.

It's made of wool, lined in flannel, embellished with hand dyed buttons and even has a little painter's blush to complement his embroidery smile. A fast, fun and easy weekend project... or snowstorm nerve calmer.
Hope you're staying warm and crafting up a storm while you wait for Spring. Be well! B=)

Winter Doesn't Last Forever

As another snowstorm threatens the peace and quiet of our Winter landscape I have to ponder the age old question, why the heck do I live in NH if snowstorms send shivers up my spine? Why, oh why, don't I just move to the hot and spicy southwest like the rest of the women in my family?

Oh, it's the crisp Fall days and the sunny Summer afternoons that go on forever. It's the fresh apples picked straight off the trees and the blueberry picking, I love blueberries! NH has a lot to offer; and if I loved the cold I would be in heaven. Instead, I will whine about the weather and dream about the clear blue water that lies beneath that white chunk of ice in my backyard and remember that the best part of Winter is that it doesn't last forever....

Cannonball!

We Have A Winner!

Congratulations to  Donna of Mia's Cottage. 

She is the winner of the Scissor case drawing.

Donna, drop me a note at pumpkinpatchprimitves@yahoo.com and I'll mail it right out. You're going to love it!

Thanks to all who joined in the fun. Brenda

If the case fits, then it could be yours!

I made something! I did! It's been so long since I actually started and finished something in a weekend that I'm giddy with excitement.

This past week I went away and before I even packed my undies, I pulled out all the kits that I had purchased this past year (which gave me a great selection to choose from, mind you) and chose four of my faves and stuffed them in my bag. Then, I proceeded to pack. It's all about priorities folks, get with the program! 

I spent the weekend stitching away, and slowly but surely my little scissor case was completed. The outside and appliqué are all made of hand dyed woolens, the inside is flannel. I used Valdani, Cosmos and The Gentle Art threads, then I added the wonderful hand dyed buttons by Hillcreek Designs and TADAAAAAA!  Isn't it the bomb? I love it! 

Now for a true confession... I know I will never use it. I do. I have a gazillion scissors, all over the house, in every place I could possibly think that I might need one... but this case is sized for dressmaker shears. Ummm. I don't have ANY of those. WHAT? Yep...none, zippo, ninguno. It might be the only size I don't have. Soooooo, you guessed it, I'm giving it away.

Do you have a wonderful scissor that you would love to sheathe in this beautiful little case?

 Then, leave a comment and it could be yours. 

I will choose a random winner on Wednesday. 

Good luck!

As One Door Closes, Another One Opens

Another LQS has closed in my area. It was only six years old and a very cute place. I feel the loss because it's one of the few LQS's that I actually visited more than once a year. The owner was generous with her time and her staff was always very attentive, which made it a nice destination on a warm sunny day. The reasons for closing are unknown to me, but the fact is evident. It is now closed. But as they say, when one door closes another one opens; and a new LQS has opened, ever so tentatively in our area. It's been open for months, I just recently discovered. It's right down the street from my house, literally, and I didn't even know it was there. How sad. When I went to visit it I thought it was a charming little shoppe and found it to be full, of KNITTERS! Yes, it's a knit shoppe/ quilt shoppe combo. Very light, bright and modern for all those modern quilters that have been neglected in our area. Sadly, I'm not one of them. Happy for my niece, her friends and a few of my own bright and beautiful friends, who now have a place to peruse their very light, very bright, and very modern looking fabrics. It's kind of funny that when I leave a modern quilt shoppe I always feel like I've been to Ikea. Excited by all I've seen, yet knowing none of it works for me. Gotta love that. It's like going to a candy store and not feeling the urge to indulge. You feel the thrill, get excited and never gain a single pound. WooHOO! But then again... there were all those amazing knitting threads. I wonder if I could make a scarf for myslef. HMMM. Better check out their class schedule. I have time for just one more hobby. 

To find out more about Modern quilting in the Boston Area, check out the Boston Modern Quilt Guild,  these ladies know all about, light, bright and and beautiful. You can find them here:

Boston Modern Quilt Guild

I'm a member of this guild because I love spending time with my niece, and just like I sat through hours upon hours of Disney Movies just to have some "quality time" with her, I am happy to share in her vision of quilting.
As light, and bright as that may be. =)

You're Invited!

I've decided to start a Sewing Circle. 

We'll gather on the first Saturday of each month, from 9-12.

We'll share our knowledge and build our skills together!

If you live within driving distance of Nashua, email me for details.

Space is limited so if you're interested, email me at

pumpkinpatchprimitives@yahoo.com

subject line: Sewing Circle Details

New Year, New Challenges, New Expectations

I seem to start every year with the same resolutions, stay happy, get healthy and work smarter. I like to keep it simple. 

2012 rocked GP's world, and not in a good way. His new life with braces, without his dog, and in a new house which was nothing close to his old home. Changes and more changes... just what every autistic teenager needs.  Last week he told someone that he was "a prisoner in this new house". OMG! I felt sucker punched. I think I got that "deer in the headlights look". I told her we had moved and he was still adjusting to the change, but I was mortified. Where the hell did that come from??? UGH, One step forward and two steps back. I don't know if I'll ever recover from 2012. I'm just glad it's over!
This year is full of hope and promise and I am looking forward to great things.
I have a six month deadline on unpacking the last of the boxes, I've hired a wonderful young lady to help me in the Pumpkin Patch and I've signed us up for Weight Watchers to lose all that extra fat that comes from emotional eating... and yes, all that in the first twenty days of 2013. I have great hopes for this year. I expect love, laughter, health and happiness to find us at "this new house" so I've decided to take steps to make it happen.
Hope your year is off to a great start and that love finds you and stays with you this year. Love of self, love of family, love of friends... nothing will make you stronger. Be well. B=)