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=)