More Pumpkins

I kept myself busy sewing up more pumpkins today. I just love the real pumpkin stems but I only had a few and used twigs after I ran out. Seems I can never get enough pumpkins sewn up because they sell well every fall. These will all be available tonight on my retail and wholesale sites. To anyone interested in ordering wholesale please email me and I will be happy to send you my link after you provide a valid tax id. Blessings,

Jill

A New Pumpkin & Herbs

Today has been very mild and pleasant outside. Temps are expected to reach the 90's again this week so I got outside today to cut my herbs. I just hate cutting my herbs when they are so pretty. But it must be done in order to dry them. I found these old green shutters on my travels years ago and I have used them ever since to hang my herbs on to dry.

I also finished up a new pumpkin and I love how three dimensional it looks. I added a real dried pumpkin stem. I have several little ones outside drying as well; I can't wait until Fall! Hope you all have had a productive day!

Hot Summer Days

The weather here is still much too warm for my liking. But we have had some lovely cooler nights. I prefer spring and fall to summer; but it seems we have such short spring and fall seasons. I am anticipating fall and new fall designs. I have even started on a few things and will have them ready for sale on the website this coming week.

The hot summer days have brought forth a bounty of my favorite herb, Tansy. It seems to thrive in hot dry weather and tolerates neglect. It drys perfectly and is an ant deterrent. By the looks of it I am going to have a plentiful harvest of it this year. In hot dry summers my plants usually yield two different crops; one in early July and then again in September. I will be offering some up for sale very soon! Hope you all had a blessed Sunday.

Rainy Night

I whipped up these pantry jars tonight in the workshop as I listened to the pitter patter of rain on the tin roof. What is it about rain on a tin roof that's so inspiring? My dear Mom drys most of the drieds for the jars and I just love how they make a kitchen so primitive and homey.

We had another very hot day here! It's hard to even think about making fall and Christmas items when it's so hot. But fall will right around the corner before we know it!

Kentucky Roots Run Deep

When I was a young'un I would get angry when I heard people refer to Kentuckians as "hillbillies". Now that I am older and have learned more of the Kentucky heritage it is no longer an insult to me to be referred to as a "hillbilly". However folks have the wrong idea about us. People generally think hill folk are uneducated and toothless. Granted they are some in that condition. But the hillbillies I know are people who were raised to work hard and fear God.

I have scarcely been out of Kentucky in my short life; and only to neighboring states. However when I look outside I wonder where on earth could be more lovely. This is home for me and always will be. Once a Kentuckian always a Kentuckian. I thank God to be able to live in a very small town where crime isn't a big issue. Where every one knows everyone and where we do love thy neighbor. When you are a guest in

a Kentucky home you better believe you will be treated like "kin"and no doubt fed some good "viddles". And if you stay overnight I guarantee you will be served some biscuits and gravy come the morning. In short, I am proud to be a porch sittin' God fearin' hillbilly!

Photos from the Kentucky Explorer

Sock Cat Tutorial

Hello everyone! I finally have a new tutorial for you. I really enjoyed making this guy; you can use the same technique to make a doll rather than a kitty. If you have trouble with any of my tutorial directions and have a question please feel free to email me and I will do my best to help. Email me at gigi252000@aol.com

Supplies Needed:

Black Sock or other black fabric (I used the sleeves from a old black tshirt)

rags for stuffing (I used scraps of homespun and other fabrics)

Chalk

Button thread in tan and dark brown

2 old white buttons

Optional Supplies:

Stained Twine, rusty bell and scrap fabric for patch

LET'S BEGIN

1: Begin by laying your material right sides facing; using your chalk draw a primitive cat as shown in photo. It does not have to be perfect!

2. Sew right on the chalk line either by sewing machine or hand; leaving the bottom open for turning.

3. Turn right side out.

4. Using your fabric scraps stuff your kitty; the lumpier the better. Try to pack it in pretty tightly except for where you want the kitties neck to be.

5. Run a gathering stitch along the bottom of the kitty and pull tight and knot.

6. Using your brown button thread cinch around the kitty where you want the neck; pulling tight and knotting thread.

7. Using your tan button thread primitively stitch your cat's nose, mouth and whiskers.

8. Sew on his eyes.

9. To embellish hand sew on a old piece of fabric for a patch and tie a rusty bell around his neck with twine.

ENJOY!

Please remember as with all my tutorials I ask that you do not sell these directions; freely give them to your friends as they were freely given to you.

May God Bless,

Jill

It's HOT

We had some strong storms last night and today; it seems it made the weather even hotter and stickyer. I had to run some errands today and it was just miserable out. Lol, by the time I got home my hair was flat and stuck to my head due to the humid weather. I don't know if it's just me but the summers seem hotter here in Ky than they used to be. On a positive note; I found this sweet little tiny bird nest lying on the ground. What is so strange about it is that it has human hair woven in the nest. It's gray hair.......I have brown hair so I am assuming the little birdie carried the hair from far away and made her nest in my cedar tree. If we could only be more like the fowls of the air; always working and making great strides to prepare their nest and feed their young. Blessings to you all!

Jill

Oatmeal Cookies

I can't keep my hand out of the cookie jar ever since I baked these sinful treats. They are so yummy! The original recipe called for raisins; however I don't like raisins. Here is the recipe:

OATMEAL COOKIES

2 sticks margarine or butter, softened

1 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c.sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

3 c. Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy

3. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well

4. Add combined flour, soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well.

5. Stir in oats; mix well

6. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 10 to 12 min or until golden brown

8. Cool 1 min on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack.

Makes 4 dozen

Bears

Holy Cow is it HOT here today! We are in the 90's and it feels just miserable out. The dogs don't linger long outside when they go potty. They do their business and come back into the ac quickly! I have been working out in the workshop on some new fall designs and making these bears. They are a Sweet Meadow's Farm pattern and I just love them. Hope you are all keeping cool.