Welcome to Our New Sponsor!

Welcome to Kimberly Glesenkamp, who makes beautiful and encouraging Christian art!




The above is just a small sampling of her amazing talent. Please stop in her shop and check out her amazing art prints!

Treasury: Interviewees

Here's a treasury of some of the handmade items from the artisans I've been fortunate enough to interview recently:

Another Giveaway at Screaming Sardine

There's another interview and giveaway at Screaming Sardine.

This is one of multiple items being given away by the talented Rae of 723 Plain & Simple.


Deadline: July 28th.

Don't forget about the ribbon giveaway as well!

Alpaca Kids

Okay, just saying, these fabulous alpaca wool baby clothes are so cute they almost make me want to have one of my own (a baby that is!).  But on second thought, maybe I'll just get an alpaca instead!  Isn't this adorable?  Alpaca Kids is another fabulous new shop I found on Etsy.  They make THE cutest knitwear for little ones made entirely from wonderful, soft alpaca wool.  I love this little alpaca owl hat, isn't it adorable?  Sized for a little one up to 3 months of age, this soft and warm hypoallergenic hat will keep your wee one warm and looking darn cute to boot!  Beautiful in shades of grey, black and natural this little hat is only $35.00 + shipping.  Just click on the picture or click here to go see this listing and don't forget to check out the other adorable baby clothes at Alpaca Kids.
Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Do You Love Ribbon?

Do you love using ribbon in your projects? Then get thee to the Screaming Sardine where the Ribbon Jar is having a ribbon pack giveaway!



Deadline: July 25th

Simply Sweet Crafts

Here's another new shop I discovered on Etsy, Simply Sweet Crafts.  Vanessa makes THE cutest and most unique fabric flowers, just take a look at this tulip arrangement.

You get six hand embroidered cotton fabric tulips plus the cute vase for displaying them.  The whole arrangement measures about 9 inches tall (or 23 cm for those of us on the metric system!).  $16.50 + shipping, just click here to go see the listing on Etsy and make sure you take a look at all of the other wonderful items in Simply Sweet Crafts shop!
Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

How to Tick Tracy Off in Just One Sentence

How to tick Tracy off in just one sentence - lol

Why Are People Rude?"

If you'd like to be interviewed, please let me know...but be nice - lol! (You can email me at iluvffmn at yah00 dot c0m).

Rag Dolls Treasury

Here's a treasury filled with a wide variety of handmade and vintage rag dolls - from the famous Raggedy Ann and Andy to primitive and whimsical handmade raggedies!

Salt Marsh Sisters

Evening everyone, Deb Riddell here again.  As promised, I'm back to share some of my new favourite shops at Etsy.  I discovered Salt Marsh Sisters while doing my Pounced Upon Etsy treasury and love their products!  They have a line of organic bath & beauty products created in the beautiful Maritime province of Nova Scotia, Canada.  How about some of their Salt Marsh Soak?

It's a healing blend of sea salt and organic flowers, just add to your bath and revel in the rejuvenating mix of ocean air and organic florals.  And to make it even better, the salts are packaged in a recycled glass jar!  Just $11.00 for a 4 oz. bottle.  Click here to view the listing on Etsy and make sure you check out the other wonderful items on offer at Salt Marsh Sisters.

Artisan Interviews

I've been fortunate enough to do some interviews over at the Screaming Sardine the past couple months.

Valerie from Valerie Paperie, who makes the most beautiful silk flowers!


Nancy Maxwell James of Sugar Lump Studios, who specializes in mixed media creations and has some great online classes.


Laura of Rhodes Creations makes a wide variety of handmade items, from lye soap to embroidered pieces.


Nancy, shop owner of Linens and Laurel, which sells ribbon loop fringe, trims, tassels, and more.



Audio interview of Lil Raggedy Angie.



Claudia of Reino Ja Cheguei


Cindy Adkins, who specializes in mixed media, altered art, and anything vintage.



Gaily of Shabby Cottage Studio is another person who has online classes, one of which I'm taking.



Audio interview of Rebecca of Gather Ye Roses.



Erin of Peony Wire Works, who makes delightful creations out of chicken wire!



There's currently a giveaway of a couple of Cindy Adkins' altered creations in connection with the newest interview: Daniella Hayes. Deadline is July 11th.

Sunburnt Cow Ezine - July Edition

Welcome to the first Sunburnt Cow ezine. Obviously it's still in its infancy and will grow, so bear with us; however, I think you'll like the wide range of articles presented within this first edition. This is what we'd love to see happening in the editions to come.
Articles:
- history lessons of the various items/implements and the decor
- spotlight on various bloggers/shops
- We need contributors in prim/country/Americana/folk art; shabby chic; cottage style; Victorian; eclectic; mixed media/altered art; vintage; diy; thrifting/junking; French
- tutorials; free epatterns
- Q & A
- classifieds - sale, swap, etc.

If you would like to contribute an article, please email me at iluvffmn at yahoo d0t com with the subject line of "Ezine article." You would get a link back to your site(s) whenever you contribute an article, which would mean more exposure for you. This could be a monthly writing gig or a one-off.

This month's contributors are Gen from Olde Pear Primitives; Kat from Kat's Nature; Christine from Crafty Geordi; Cindy from Cynthia Lee Designs; and yours truly from Screaming Sardine.

Shoo Fly Tutorial
by Gen from Olde Pear Primitives



I was a little hesitant to post this because of my husband. He had said if I did a tutorial no one would want to buy one from me. But I thought, you know it's not fair to people out there who really want to make one and can't find the information they need. I too was looking everywhere online for how to make one. And no one had a tutorial. They were just selling them. So, I am going to post this and in the hope it will help someone out.  I hope it will help YOU to make your own if you want. I am not saying you should not buy one. By all means there are plenty of beautiful ones out there. I am just giving you some ideas on how to make one if you are interested in doing one yourself. Ok, onto the fun part.

Lets begin.
What you will need:
1. A strainer (try to look for one with the handle connected to the rim on the OUTSIDE of it. Not connected IN it. You'll see what I mean with the pictures below) or a pre-made shoo-fly from a store like Hobby Lobby.

2. You will need pliers for removing the metal handles on the metal strainer. (omit this if you are using a different type of strainer or you are using a pre-made one.)

3. You will be using my faux rust technique, so grab the primer and rustic umber. On these shoo flies I used Autumn Brown.

4. A wooden knob or your knob of choice (I used old kitchen cabinet knobs).

5. And lastly, if you are going to be using the strainer with the plastic rim you will need jute rope.

Ok, here are the three different types of strainers I have used in this tutorial. You can choose which one you would like to try.

The one on the left is the pre-made one from Hobby Lobby. The one in the middle is a large strainer with a plastic rim. And the one on the right is the metal one. Make sure its the one with the handles ATTACHED to the rim. I like this kind because it doesn't leave holes. If you can't find one then by all means use the ones with the handles attached on the inside. To cover up those hole you can use some wire and wrap it through the strainer and around the hole to make it look like a repair.  Those are great looking too!


This is what I mean that the handle is attached to the rim.
If you are going to use the one from Hobby Lobby remove the flowers from it completely.


Once you have all the flowers removed from the cover remove the ones on the rim and handle.




Now that it is stripped of the flowers and trim you can now prime it with your primer. Once dry, paint the cover with your Rustic Umber or Autumn Brown. Then if you like you can wrap some twine around the handle for a more prim look. And then you're done.


I added some rusty wire to this shoo fly by attaching it to the underside of the handle going to the rim.


Now if you are going with the plastic rim strainer you will need to remove it from the plastic rim.

You may find that you have to work the mesh a little. But once it gives it is pretty easy to pull away from the plastic rim.

Here it is with the plastic rim removed. At this time I put my knob on. I primed it and painted it altogether with the cover. But, if you have a wooden knob ,you can paint it and add it later.


Once primed you can then spray it with your Rustic Umber and or Autumn Brown. Add your knob to the top. (If you used a kitchen cabinet knob then it should already be on.) Then with this one I used jute rope to line it and create a rim for it. I just glued the rope all the way around it. But you can choose not to use one at all. It still looks very prim.




Now to the tough one. I am not going to lie. This sucker was hard.


I had a tough time removing the handles from the rim. I didn't have a blow torch so I just popped it in my oven. I didn't have it on the highest setting because at the time I had a pantry cake in there. So, it was on 170.  But I had it in there for quite some time. You can put it in your oven at a higher temp. You just want to help soften the metal so you can work it off better. But if you have a blow torch then go ahead and use it. It might be easier. But whatever works for you use it. This just worked for me.
After I took it out of the oven
(Be careful when removing, it will be VERY HOT!)


Once taken off you are ready to prime. After it is primed and dry, go ahead and spray it with the Rustic Umber paint or Autumn Brown.





Add your knob of choice and you're done!

Well, there you go. I gave you three choices to work with. I hoped I have helped you with this tutorial. All I ask is that you do not claim this tutorial or pictures as your own. If you do decide to put it on your blog or website you need to give me (Genevieve @ Olde Pear Primitives) credit for it and link it back here. For all the work I have done on this tutorial it would not be fair of you to claim it as your own. Plus, the blog fairies will get you. And you don't want that.

Thanks For Stopping By!


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

    
    
Folk Art
by Kat from Kat's Nature

I plan to show you all about some of the different styles "Folk Art." I really want to explore new folk artists and what new things are out there. I have had painting experience with a folk artist in Virginia, but I consider myself a "self styled  folk artist". I am by no means a learned expert. I just tend to love folk art and nature art. Others may have different ideas...but lets just say this is going to be my ideas and my thoughts on folk art....through my eyes and my mind. Please enjoy and let me know your thoughts.

Well... as you may have guessed, I plan to start right here with myself. The nicest, most laid back person I ever interviewed. My art is basically a lot of birds to begin with. Some are painted , some are  simplistic wooden sculptures.

I start with an old piece of wood, add  a pencil sketch
of a bird and some flowers.


Then I just start adding color. These two are done with oil paints. I used a scrubbing technique with a stiff brush.


This is the end result A pair of oil painted cardinals to hang on my wall.

To me folk art usually comes from a  self taught artist. Folk art tends to be created with the earthy, natural, simplistic subjects and is often very primitive in style. It could be a sculpture made from natural items found in the woods.

I used some old tree bark as a base.

And here is more bark.
It could be a painting ...






It could be fiber art, wooden art, or paint art.









I like to see simplicity and a relaxed style for me to feel it is a good example of "Folk Art".

Here is a water coloring of a bird and  flowers.



I added pen ink to define and add interest.

So that is some of my own art, and next month I hope to have a new folk artist to showcase. I have a few in mind, but if you have someone in mind, please let me know where I can check out their work.
Your friend through art
KAT

    
    
DIY Furniture Makeover
Christine from Crafty Geordi
     How many times have you been to a garage sale or a thrift store and seen a beaten up piece of furniture? If you're like me, thats more times than you can count! I cannot begin to tell you how many coffee tables or end tables with coffee cup rings, peeling laminate and bad paint jobs I have found.
      I recently came across such a piece of furniture at a garage sale. She just looked sad and past her prime. I was opening the drawers and the bottom one didn't open. The owners showed me that the drawer doesn't open but it swings inside out! You know, like the secret room behind the bookshelves. But much, much smaller.





Ooh! Hidden storage!





As far as I can tell, this is a small sewing table. I believe that these dowels are for holding thread. I can say that I have never before seen anything like it. And I was intrigued. I wasn't into the price of the table though. I got this cutie for $10 after talking them down from $20. Remember, unless you really have to have it, don't be afraid to walk away. Its okay to come back to the sale later in the day and try again for a better price. I was walking away, prepared to come back later when I got my $10 price.

A power sander is a fantastic investment if you plan to refresh furniture. It can save hours of work and its fun to use.

     I took her home and immediately got to work on her. I began by sanding off the entire finish. I used my power sander then used a damp rag to clean off the dust. On this pretty lady I applied a dark stain using a foam brush. I did skip a critical step and it shows in the end result. I didn't use a wood conditioner first. I will definitely use this next time. Wood conditioner can be found along with the wood stains in the paint section of your hardware store. Apply the stain liberally. After letting the stain sit for 15 minutes you will want to use an old rag and wipe off the extra stain. Let her dry for 24 hours to make sure that all of the stickiness and tackiness is gone. At this point I applied 2 coats of a spray on polyurethane. There is also a brush-on variety of the polyurethane. These are also sold along side the stains.
     Lastly, I added new drawer pulls and that was it. The total cost of this little table was in the ballpark of $30. A little elbow grease and a couple of dollars and I have myself a total gem.

I chose the drawer pulls because the warm color of the metal ties in with the warm red tones in the stain.

I left the storage area untouched. Like any good hidden room, no one is going to see it unless invited.

I just love the way the smooth top reflects light.

    
     If you are thinking of refreshing furniture, consider going by my own self-imposed rules:

• Don't spend too much on your item. Sometimes these makeovers just don't go well. It's much easier on the psyche of you've "wasted" $5 rather than $100.
• If your project is a total bust, it is still not wasted. It is a valuable learning experience.
• Don't be afraid to try something new. You might be very pleasantly surprised. I recently painted a desk with chalkboard paint and shiny red legs. I think that it is okay-cute but my niece and nephew loved it and my sister was pretty impressed.

Happy furniture refreshing, everyone!



    
    
~Using Old Windows As Wall Decor~
by Cindy of Cynthia Lee Designs

If you are like me…you love to decorate your home, but you need to do it within a budget. This past February, we purchased a corner fireplace for our living room and that meant we needed something to hang on the walls above it. I wanted something pretty, but nothing too fancy or too expensive. So that got me thinking about whether or not I had anything already here at home that I could use. Then I remembered that we had a shed full of old windows that were given to me from a relative who does home remodeling. I wondered if they would look good above the corner fireplace. So I cleaned them up a bit, but not so much that they lost their old charm and then hung them up. These old windows were instantly turned into simple but beautiful wall decor.

I put mine up in the living room, but you could also display one in the bedroom. My friend Linda hung this huge arched window above the bed as a focal point.

Or how about leaning a large window up against the wall that has a painting in each frame. This window makes a great focal piece...your eye is drawn right to it when you enter Linda's living room. You could even put photos from a trip you've been on or pictures of family behind the glass.

If you love to do machine embroidery like I do or even hand embroidery...here is another way that an old window can be used as wall decor to showcase your embroidery designs. This wonderful piece is hanging in Linda's living room.

How about putting an old window on an outside wall of your home and changing it out for the seasons like my mother-in-law has done at her home.

Now if you don’t know someone in home remodeling or the window replacement business...don't worry, because you can find old windows for reasonable prices at flea markets, junk shops, salvage yards, thrift stores, yard sales, and sometimes out at the curb on trash night for free. And if you are lucky enough to find several old windows...how about making one of these. It is on my list to do very soon!

Hope this inspires you to hunt for some old windows to turn into wall decor for you home.
~Cindy~
Cynthia Lee Designs

    
    
How to Make Dessert Looking Soy Tarts
by Tracy of Sunburnt Cow and Screaming Sardine

Here's a tutorial on how to make dessert looking soy tarts that I posted on one of my old blogs a few months ago - how to make dessert looking soy tarts. Of course, it's best to use a scent that is something yummy and dessert-like. I used Chocolate Brownie for these.

I'm not going to spend time on how to do all the melting and such, since this tutorial is primarily showing how to make a different looking soy tart. Making candles is super easy (easy enough for me to do, so it MUST be easy)! There are some very good tips over at Nature's Garden Candles on how to make candles. Once you get the basics down, you'll feel more comfortable experimenting around with making soy tarts. I just think of them as wickless candles.

You don't really need any fancy molds, though I did use one for the walnut on top.

All I used was toilet paper rolls and a small yoohoo or juice box...box for the molds.

I threw out the top one since it had little dents that made it not all that circular. The lower two were better, since I was going for a little brownie bite type of look.

After I melted the wax, I poured just a little bit into a pie tin. (Make sure there are no holes in it.... I forgot to check...OOPS)! Pour enough wax to have a thin layer covering the whole bottom.

Put the toilet paper rolls in. By the way, I cut them in half and put the cut half up, so the halves with the straighter edge would be in the wax. You're only going to be filling up an inch or less, so you don't need the entire roll. Plus, you get twice as much out of this "trash" item!

Wait until the wax in the pie pan cools off enough to harden. In this way, it'll help hold the hot wax that you'll be pouring in. Otherwise, it seeps all over the place, even if you tape it up, line it with wax paper, etc. (I learned the hard way!)

Then pour just a little bit of hot wax into one toilet paper roll. Wait to see if it'll seep out. If not pour a little bit into the next roll. Wait, and then repeat with the next. Let those first layers cool, and then repeat by pouring just a little bit, waiting, etc.

Wait until these harden. I usually wait a day, but I'm sure several hours would be fine. You'll probably have plenty of wax left, and that's okay. Just keep it in your pot and remelt it for the next step.

Once your toilet paper and juice box molds have hardened, carefully peel the molds off.

Then melt some more wax. You may have to add more wax and fragrance oil according to how much you have left from the previous step. (This is where some experience in candlemaking helps). Once it's fully melted, you play the waiting...and waiting...and waiting game. I think it took me probably an hour for the next step: grainy!

Once you see the graininess starting to form, it won't be long! As it gets a little bit thicker, I spoon a little layer over my "cakes" or "bites."

Then when it gets really thick...

you quickly start glopping it on to your base. You can even wait until it gets thicker and treat it like a thick frosting. Note, though, that once the wax starts thickening, you have to move fast because it gets thicker and thicker.

And there you have a tutorial on how to make dessert looking soy tarts. Since I haven't used other types of wax, I have no idea if they get grainy like soy wax does. If someone knows, please post a comment!

    
    
Question and Answer

I got this while "junking" around. I have no idea what it is. It looks like a wooden trench, but I'm wondering if it is used for anything special. It's pretty sizable at around a foot deep and two feet long. Does anyone have any ideas? (You can click on the pictures to enlarge them).
Upside down


right side up


and inside