Big Time Bummer!

Just to let those of you who don't know---I lost my Dad this past week from complications around having knee surgery.  He died on Palm Sunday in the hospital and will be missed dearly----I was very close to him and I am at Peace with his passing---it is just gonna be hard to get used to him being gone as I talked to him regularly.  My life will be forever altered by this.  I wanted to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who wrote me with well wishes----it is a great comfort to feel that loved and I am grateful to have such wonderful people in my circle of life----charmed beyond belief I say----

This is a photo of my immediate familly with Grandma smack dab in between---I am so proud of each and every one of my children---they handled the passing of their Grandfather with Grace and great respect. 

Cement Eggs--Very Tres Chic

Well I did it---I went and made some cement eggs for the Shop (Round Barn Potting Company) here in town----and honestly---I thought I was in Heaven! With the help from my sweet husband---we put together these large eggs and some small ones too----it was a true test of our relationship during this process as both of us had our own SEPERATE ideas of how this was all gonna work---me, of course, on the crafty fly by the seat of my pants side---and him, Mr. Cement worker, smooth cool and very calculated----I went to the $ store and got the plastic eggs, filled them up with a special mixture and viola---the hardest part was waiting for them to dry thoroughly before taking them out of the molds----patience TRULY is a virtue on this project my little chicadees! These guys weigh around 7 lbs. and are smoothed slightly flat on the bottom for easy sittin' ---as you can see by one of the pictures it is inside of a regular size door wreath to give you an idea of its size.  'Feather Your Nest' is a reflection of Hope~Peace~Faith and the thoughts of feathering your nest with all of those attributes.

We are getting ready for a HUGE Junk Market Show at the shop this coming weekend---I am all a flutter about it as I have made some really fun and simple lower priced French Inspired Goodies for the show---Lori has done a fabulous job setting up the new vinettes and it really does have a Euro feel to it and is absolutely a treasure trove of fabulous items---pop in there and see some of the new photos---she is always updating so it is really fun to check in there and see whats shakin bacon----ENJOY!

Ohhhh-La-Laaaaaaa Created from Burlap BUNNY!

Well Happy Spring-O-Rama to all of you this fine Tuesday! I just listed this Burlap Bunny---and I have to tell ya she was an adventure to make!  In keeping with the way that burlap works it was a bit of a nightmare to get her small pieces turned and stuffed without taking a trip or two to the funny farm---but we got 'er DONE and she is in my BirchBerry Farms Etsy! She was made from a vintage coffee bean sack and has PURPLE writing down her side---only on one side---I did that on purpose that way----kind of artsy fartsy look----she was stuffed with raw wool and is weighted onm the bottom---cool aqua blue glass eyes and button jointed arms----WAY Farmhouse Shabby Chic!----I am bringing 3 up to the shop today----my last of the Easter items----so if you are interested in her and she happens to get snagged off of Etsy to email me and I will see what is left at the Round Barn Potting Co.  I also am kicking around making her into a pattern---I think I may be biting off more than I can chew as there is so much detail and directions and instructions---still working on that one in my teeny little brain---I will let cha's know if that materializes---Have a Happy Day and go outside to play if it is nice in your neck of the woods---it is here today and I am in LOVE that our birds are BACK! Don't freeeeget to feed them---long trip home---probably starving--poor things!

A Noteworthy Reflection!

Big WINK! There is a saying----You Reap What You Sow----

A Shabby Cottage Low Boy I Just Had to Show Off!

I just got done with two pieces of furniture for the Round Barn Potting Co. I was simply delighted to have the chance to work on my passion---which is turning old into new again---I did a small hutch in cream that came in two parts and this sweet and heavy low-boy----which was a MESS when I first got it and needed alot of work to get it fixed up---in fact, I almost didn't want to tackle it----but it beckoned me to make it purdy once again---it has a white sanded shabby finish with slate gray heavy sanded drawer fronts---the top 3 drawers are a lighter shade of gray to which I decoupaged French Script and torn love letters to the face fronts and sealed it---I had purchased some new brushed metal drabby silver handle pulls---which were a bit on the 'spendy' side---upon getting them home---after several trips to different places to find the best ones---I discovered that they totally threw the look of the cabinet off----so I got my handy dandy can of white spray paint out and painted the original ones that were on there to begin with----ahhhhhhh I LOVE when that happens----time well spent!  The piece looks so much better in person and has a real Seaside Cottage look to it---and I am happy to report that I am very pleased with its overall appearance and soft subtle tone----Enjoy!

Happy Valentines Day My Sweet Tarts! Here's My Newest Girlie!

Boy it seems like forever since I have posted---thought I would introduce you to my newest creation----Her name is Katherine and I have been working on her for quite some time now---3 weeks to be exact!  She is my first Fine Art Doll of the year as it has been a bit since I have ventured down that road---I am listing her on Ebay tonite.  Her head is paperclay and she is wearing a dress that I made out of a vintage pillowcase.  I crackled her and stained and sealed her as well---her arms are wired and she is what I would call Simple Country Cottage as she is a little shabby as well.  Don't mind the awful picture I took of her---I will be taking better ones for her listing---I JUST finished her and could HARDLY wait to share her with you all.  Have a fabulously FUN Loving Valentines Day!!!  PS. I also listed new items on wsoapp.org and Birchberry Farms on Etsy as well as White Birch Boutique on Etsy!!!

MITTENS are ALL on SALE in Etsy!!

Mitten Mitten---who's got the mittens---well I DO ya Silly! I bet you are wondering why so many---welllll this winter started here rather early this year and it is so bitterly cold out that I just had to make more---I typically don't make them so late in the season, but I just couldn't resist! There are many to choose from and at a great clearance price and they are all listed in Etsy---and there is a surprise listing in there as well! ENJOY!  Have a great weekend peeps---I am a free woman---hubbens went Ice Fishing with the fellas and I am going to play all weekend long! ttfn

Reflections of My Christmas!

I love Christmas---HATE the hustle and bustle to get to the day---but muttle thru as best as possible without going to jail from hurting perfect strangers...LOL  I found myself trying to 'find' Christmas in my heart for some reason this year---I felt as though I was missing it--that warm fuzzy feeling---usually it is there all on its own--but this year---this year was different---I watched all my favorite Holiday Shows---Charlie Brown and Rudolph and the Grinch---I did all of my usual baking---met up with friends and peeps for holiday cheer before hand and yet nothin'---until this one day---this one day that I went out shopping and left the house with a mission to get it all buttoned up and finished.  Lists of scribbled notes of this and that on paper that had been crossed off of and re-assesed just to be crossed off again---food purchase lists mixed in with electronics mixed in with housewares and toiletries---unorganized would be putting it mildly! Here's what happened: 

I went into the first store---outside was this young and very sweet tall and gangly African American boy---ringing the bells for the Salvation Army---singing Christmas songs with the biggest smile and the voice of an angel--I stopped and listened for a moment and said to him---Bless you for Ringing the Bell sweet child---and he hugged me and said Merry Christmas!  Blessing number 1

Then I proceeded into the next store---I was at the checkout lane standing in line and I saw this old couple walk by holding hands---and when I say old I mean they were in their 80's---with this look of complete and udder love and happiness for each other and very smartly dressed---I noticed them stop to look at something---here it was this young boy---about 6 or 7 years old---whistling Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer---with a look of enchantment and joy on their faces ----he and his two other siblings and his mother came into the very line that I was in---and he continued to whislte away---I reached my hand out to touch the top of his head and smiled at him---he was so sweet.  Blessing number 2

Then the last store I went into---I was wandering around for what seemed like HOURS looking for where in the heck one would put the Wax Paper if one were a stock person who even knew what wax paper was---I kept passing this woman pushing this cart full of stuff---she was a bit overweight and had the most happy and sweet rosey cheeks and pretty smile and was struggling to even walk----she says to me---you look like you are lost---to which I replied---I think I may be---I just wanna find Wax Paper and get the heck out of here---she says---and mind you ---she is not an employee at this store---I can take you there--so she does and it is quite a ways away from our original destination--and I say to her---awwww thank you---I think I need to take you with me the next time I go shopping!! She says to me with MUCH delight---that would be just fine---as I have no one---I hugged her and wished her a Merry Christmas---Blessing number 3

We go to Mass on Christmas Eve---and the Church is packed FULL---there are parents coming in with their children all dressed up---I had the best time before mass started--looking at all the children in their fineries--as I totally remember those days when my kids were young---so dang CUTE. As luck would have it---the Childrens choir was singing---during Mass---Silent Night---tears came strolling down my face as I sat and reflected on the things that I previously mentioned---and at that VERY moment I finally got the warm and fuzzy feeling that I had waited and wondered about---and that my dear friends---that was my Blessing number 4----

I would like to say at this time---Blessing number 5 for me will be..... that each and every one that reads this will think about the small incoincidental blessings that come our way daily---that you will stop and really take note to the great STUFF that is going on around us constantly---stop and think about the simple blessings we all have in our lives---they are there--trust me they are---we just don't always take the time to see them---take the time people---and know that if you do.... your heart will always be warm and fuzzy mode!  Here's to a Happy 2011 New Year to all of You and Yours!

Look at This Gorgeous WINDOW!!!

This was made by a customer of mine who purchased my 'JOY' window sconce pattern ---Her name is Cathy---is this not gorgeous or WHAT!!!  I love that she sent this to me as it truly made my DAY! I love the tone of the window and the color of the wood around it---the warmth and style is incredible---it is always so nice to see when things are done up in someones own style---she added some really cool snowflakes to it as well---FABULOUS Fa-La-La-LA LAAAAAAA Cathy!!!

A Couple of Freebies for You this Holiday from Birchberry Farms!

Happy Holidays to you and yours---here are a couple of Ideas I have for making your moola go a little further---my gift to you and Birchberry Farms Original work and concepts---

We make our gifts every year here at this house and have been doing it my whole life---these are easy and ECONOMICAL to make and are very lovely to give as gifts---My sisters and I love giving and receiving homemade handmade gifts---they are truly from the heart!  ENJOY!!!!  Oh---they are in the next two posts so scrollllllll on down!

My Little Snowman Globe!

Awwww this one is so cute---I made these for the shop and they went like MAD---easy and very cheap to make--Let's get started!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Glass jar with lid (I have used pickle, spaghetti sauce,molasses,fruit & picante jars!)

plaster of paris

mica flakes or fake snow

snowman ornie (got mine at Target for $3 and its wood and has the cutest wire arms)

jute

faux pine

chalkboard paint (optional) for tag

cute cardstock & tagboard

chalk

wire

enamel cream colored paint (ceramcoat 'E')

glitter and glue

Hot glue gun

I took the plaster of paris and mixed it in a clear plastic bag---I cut the corner of the bag and squirted it into the bottom of my clean empty jar----about a cup of Pof P.  Let it sit for a day--if you are inpatient--I put mine in the oven at 170* then shut the oven off and let it really just sit in there while I prepared the following. The ornie I got from Target I took the hanger out of and the hokey scarf from its neck--I painted him with glue and rolled him in mica flakes and set him to dry. I took a piece of tag board and cut a cute tag out and painted it with chalkboard paint and backed the tag with cute paper after the paint dried.  I punched a hole thru it and strung about 24" of jute thru the hole and set my chalkboard tag aside for now.  I took my jar out of the oven and made SURE the Plaster had dried, then I took my glue gun and dropped a GOB of glue onto the middle of the dried plaster in the jar---I also added a titch to the bottom of the snowman and I carefully set him on to the glue--I hurried and threw a handful of mice into the jar before the hot glue dried so it would stick to the mound and cover that up---I kind of swirled it a bit while keeping a FIRM finger on the snowmans head so he wouldn't move.  I painted my inside and outside of the lid with cream colored acrylic enamel and let that dry well then I painted it with glue and glittered the lid top so cutely! I then wrote 'JOY' with chalk onto my little tag and then I wired a piece of wire around the chalk and twisted it then around the top of the jar below the 'lid screw line'.  I then wrapped my jute around the top of the jar and added the little pine sprig and tied my jute into a bow.  I then made on my printer a little slip of paper that reads---Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow and I decopauged that to the jar on the bottom edge and I glittered that as well ---carefully avoiding getting that glue and glitter onto the glass part---just the slip of paper needs that! I twisted the cover onto the top and smiled cuz it is so dang CUTE and easy!!!!