The Country Primitive Shoppe

Olde Primitive Peddler Update....

2011-09-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to let you know that my page at the Olde Primitive Peddler will be updated tonight around midnight! I have two new items to unveil! One for fall and one for winter! There are many talented artisans that present their wares on the 15th update so please remember to join us! I am sure you will find a treasure that will be hard to resist!!

I also need to update you...but not tonight...on what I have been up to! I will just say that I have been extremely busy with wholesaling...but that Made In America story will be shared with you later!

Winners.....

2011-08-09T20:14:00.000-04:00

I bet you are all wondering who the winners of the contests are...so...I wont keep you waiting a moment longer!! But first, I want to welcome all my new followers, and say a big thank you to all my blog followers! Every comment left makes me happy!
I really enjoyed the name that bowl fillers contest! There were so many creative names suggested!! But the name that received the most votes on the Facebook poll was....Chicks-n-Grits!! How fun is that?? The winner was Tammy! I hope you enjoy them Tammy!! Thank you everyone that joined in on the fun!

Like I was saying in yesterday's post, I have been so busy...and forgetful! :{ I forgot to draw the winner of the Crows Guide to Magic!! Can you believe that??? So the winner of the Crow's Guide to Magic is: Jessica~Before the Dawn Congratulations Jessica!! I will send you an email for your info!!

Also...I need one more comment for a free ornie...do I have to beg??? lol I will be emailing all the ornie winners also!! Congrats to all!

Monday Mania...I am so tired sale!

2011-08-08T23:56:00.001-04:00

Oh hey...guess what?? I have been working so hard on trying to expand my business that I forgot to draw my winner...and guess what else...you will have to wait until tomorrow!!! I know...that's not very fair right? Well..I understand, but its nearly midnight and my back is screaming at me...and...I have to get up at 600am to get ready for work! I am burning the candle at both ends!! Work has been stressful and life at home can be hard when you are trying to build your business, and you also work full time and the normal cooking and cleaning that we all do...well after that there isn't a whole lot of time left! Trust me...I am not complaining...I feel so happy that people seem to really like my work! So I think what I am really trying to say is...please forgive me!!?? I will draw the winner tomorrow and....since I am so tired...the first 5 people that leave a comment will receive an ornament for free! It will be my choice! So...I am going to head to bed...and you get busy leaving a comment! :) And I promise to try and do better!!
Nite all!
PS Dont forget to leave your email address so I can contact you!!

Monday Mania...Ornie BOGO Sale!

2011-07-25T20:35:00.001-04:00

Merry Christmas in July!!
I know what you are thinking...you are thinking that the summer heat has really gotten to me now right?? She's crazy right?? But its July...and what is a great way to beat the summer heat? Dreaming of Christmas!!! It's Christmas in July at The Country Primitive Shoppe and I would like to offer you an early Christmas present with a buy one ornie, get one ornie free sale!!

Here is how to take advantage of my sale! Go visit my Etsy shoppe: The Country Primitive Shoppe
Pick out your favorite ornie, or ornies and email me to order! Make sure your email states BOGO Ornie, tell me your choices and include your paypal address and I will invoice you! Its as simple as that!! But hurry...this sale will end Aug 5th!
Email To Order

Let The Voting Begin!!

2011-07-24T07:23:00.000-04:00

Voting has begun to choose the name of my bowl fillers!! We have names from the blog and Facebook! The contest is on my Facebook fan page! ENTER HERE

And don't forget to enter my Giveaway! Just a few more days until I draw a name! Contest ends on July 31st! If you are having any difficulties entering, please send me an email and I will add you to the drawing! Email Me

Monday Mania: Name Those Bowl Fillers Contest!

2011-07-18T20:36:00.000-04:00

I need your help!! I would love a creative name for my chicken bowl fillers and I would love for you to help me name them! With the chicken bowl fillers, there is a cup of scented corn cob!

Please leave your suggestion in a comment after this post...then I will post a poll on facebook and there will be a vote for the winning name!! I think this will be a lot of fun! The winning name will win the chicken bowl fillers!

Couple of New Things.....

2011-07-17T21:27:00.000-04:00

It has been a very busty weekend and I just wanted to share a couple of new items that I have created over the weekend! The first is Crows in the Sunflower Patch!

Next we have my favorite Chicken Bowl Fillers...they are nested in corn cob! Kind of looks like chicken feed!

And last but not least, my newest sawdust pillow! It has a pocket that I have filled with Sweet Annie!

Tomorrow is Monday Mania....check back for details on a contest!!

Lots of GREAT Stuff Going On!!

2011-07-15T10:05:00.000-04:00

Good Morning and Happy Friday!! Woohoo for the weekend!! Besides my giveaway, hint hint...I would love for you to check out the fabulous artisans that have listed on the Olde Primitive Peddler for the July 15th update! I am so very proud to be an artisan in this group! Tilly the Toad Witch is one of my offerings on the site!

Another exciting venue that I am proud to be a part of is the Christmas in July show by EZ Craftshow! Start your Christmas shopping early this year and browse the many wonderful booths that the craft show has to offer! What a great way to beat the heat...don't you think? Here is just one item that I have to offer at the show!

Well that's it for now...but stayed tuned and watch for some new items that I will be posting over the weekend! :) Happy Shopping!

Monday Mania...a Little Late!

2011-07-13T19:39:00.000-04:00

Last week I got Monday Mania off the ground and I was excited...the next day...I drowned my laptop with a cup of coffee! What really stinks...besides ruining my computer and NOT being able to retrieve many patterns that I have purchased was that I had taken an extra day off from work last week as a treat...cause things have been stressful and I needed a me day! WOW...what a treat and let me tell you...it was ALL about me...but not in the way I had imagined!! lol So...since I am late with my Monday Mania, I decided that this Monday...Tuesday...ooops Wednesday is going to be a giveaway! Regardless of what happened, I am FULL of gratitude for all the wonderful things happening in my life and my business! I feel the need to give back!! Simply follow my blog and leave me a comment and you will be entered to win. If you can't leave a comment, please just send me an email asking me to enter you at:
dina@thecountryprimitiveshoppe.com

The Crow's Guide to Magic...this was made using an awesome pattern by Pam Garcia from Soft In The Head that was in the Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Crafts 2009 edition! The pattern was called Something To Crow About! The contest will run until July 31st when I will announce the winner! Good Luck!!

Monday Mania Announcement

2011-07-04T19:06:00.001-04:00

Happy July 4th!! In honor of our nation's birthday, I decided to begin my Monday Mania today!! I am offering my first 10 followers that email me by midnight Sunday July 10th, my best selling Fall Gathering Acorns that normally sell for $18.95 for the bargain price of $9.95!! That is a 50% off deal!

email me: dina@thecountryprimitiveshoppe.com

Every Monday I will have some kind of new offer or giveaway!

Keep watching for the unveiling of 4 new items at the Grand Opening July 15th update of the Olde Primitive Peddler! I am working on these wonderful items now! And don't forget to sign up for the giveaway! There are some fantastic prizes!!

Its Here...Olde Primitive Peddler is Open for Business!!

2011-07-01T06:33:00.000-04:00

The Olde Primitive Peddler is now open for business and you must check out the amazing wares that the artisans have prepared for your shopping pleasure! This is a talented group of artisans who have banded together to make some of the best folkart and primitive items that can be found on the web!
Dont forget to stop by and enter the giveaway! The prizes are amazing too!

GIVEAWAY LINK:
http://primitivepeddler-giveaway.blogspot.com/2011/07/olde-primitive-peddler-giveaway.html

GOOD LUCK!!

OFG's Fall Fun Celebration

2011-06-30T22:04:00.000-04:00

Our Fall Fun Celebration has begun! Come shop with the Olde Farmhouse Gathering team on Etsy! The team has worked extremely hard to bring you an amazing selection of fall, harvest and halloween wares!

To find all the wonderful offerings of the team, type in FFOFG in the etsy search bar...you will not be disappointed!

Grand Opening Announcement

2011-06-26T11:04:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to announce the Grand Opening of The Olde Primitive Peddler on July 1st! At The Olde Primitive Peddler you will find a fantastic array of Primitive and Folk Art artisans that offer quality handmade wares! Artisan pages will update on the 1st of the month and the 15th! The Country Primitive Shoppe's page will update on the 15th! Also, please join us for a wonderful giveaway of donated items from the artisans! Entries will open on MIDNIGHT July 1st and close at MIDNIGHT on July 21! Winners will be announced on July 22nd!
Here is what The Country Primitive Shoppe has donated for the giveaway!

Celebrate Fall Fun at the Olde Farmhouse

2011-06-25T19:17:00.000-04:00

How can you beat the heat of the summer? By joining the Olde Farmhouse Gathering team and dreaming about the cool crisp weather at our Fall Fun Celebration July 1st thru July 23rd!

Close to 30 artisans from the team will be displaying up to 4 new items that have been made for the celebration in their etsy shoppes! Here is a sneak preview of one item that I will be listing for the celebration!

To easily find our celebration items, do a search on Etsy using the call letters "FFOFG" and you will find all the team's amazing items!

Oh My Word....

2011-06-16T17:59:00.000-04:00

I am not even sure where to start!! But I guess it's best to start where I left off....right? Well in my last post before Christmas I was talking about gratitude, so I think that is the perfect way to begin!

On New Year's Day, my daughter called to tell me that she wanted me to be there when the baby was born, so....of to Italy I went! :) When I got off the plane on January 27th, I rubbed my daughter's belly and told my granddaughter Haylin that Grandma was now here and it was time to come out!! Haylin wasn't due to come out until February 13th, but she was born just two days after I got off that plane and I got to spend the entire 3 weeks with my daughter, son-in-law and brand new baby! We were even able to take a trip to Florence and Pisa! I couldn't be more thankful and grateful!

Unfortunately once I got home, things didn't slow down! On March 7th, my husband was in a motorcycle accident. We thought all was going fine when he was released from the hospital that Saturday, but that was only the beginning of a very long ordeal that we are still going through. I won't bore you with the gory details but he has spent the better part of the last three months in and out of the hospital, with multiple surgeries and complications. I believe he is finally on the road to recovery!
So this leads me to say that I am back! Back to crafting, posting, and building my business! I now offer wholesale, and if anyone is interested please contact me at: dina@thecountryprimitiveshoppe.com and I will gladly give you the details!
There are a lot of exciting things happening in my little craft world...stayed tuned!!

Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway

2011-04-17T10:23:00.000-04:00

Are you ready for Summer? After the crazy winter that most of the country experienced I can only imagine how bad everyone is craving summer! Well the wait is over! Check out all the amazing offerings from the Old Farmhouse Gathering team and their Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway! Just click on the giveaway button and it will take you to the team's blog, post a comment and one lucky winner will be drawn to receive all these creations on May 28th!

See you there!

Expressions Of Gratitude....

2010-12-16T06:39:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted for a while....it's not that I have nothing to say, it's more like I have had too much on my mind and couldn't put it all down on paper. That seems to happen to me a lot, so I stay quiet!

But it's the holidays and I couldn't let the season go by without expressing my gratitude for the wonderful things in my life! No matter how hard things are at times, if I focus on the positive aspects of life, it gets me through the rough spots!

The other day, I was troubled about something and I received a phone call from my daughter. She told me that when she asked my 3 1/2 year old Grandson what he wanted Santa to bring him, he told her that Santa had to bring him a little tiny ball ornament to replace the one that broke on a little tree that I had on display because he wanted Grandma happy! Wow...it made me cry that he wanted me to be happy! When he sees me sad about something, he smiles at me or makes funny faces and says be happy Grandma. I have been truly blessed with this little bundle of love! He reminds me on a daily basis that true happiness comes from within and can be found everywhere you look, as long as you allow it in your heart!

Speaking of a bundle of love, my youngest daughter, who had fertility issues, is 30 weeks pregnant and is expecting a little girl in a few more weeks! That is a story worth sharing! My daughter lives in Italy with her husband who is in the Air Force. Because they are in Italy, I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream in May of visiting Italy and seeing where my Dad's family and my roots originated. Before I left, I had told a friend that the only thing that could make this trip even more amazing would be to hear the words "Mom, I am pregnant", from my daughter's lips! Well....I arrived in Italy and my daughter told me she wasn't pregnant but, I was in Italy, travelling with one of my best friends and visiting with my daughter! We saw Rome, Pompeii, Venice and many other small villages near my daughter's home! I also got to visit Germany!
But I feel like the most magical place we visited was the Trevi Fountain in Rome...my daughter and son-in-law made a wish, threw their coins, and drank from the fountain (in a potable spot) and the day before I left Italy to come back home, we were blessed with the news that she was pregnant! I can not describe to you how I felt at that moment except to say overwhelmingly filled with awe and gratitude!! My trip was a dream come true in so many ways!

I am grateful to the wonderful members of The Old Farmhouse Gathering and the support and kindness that is shown to each other on a daily basis! I will say that I am not a good poster, but I am there in spirit...not always in words!

I also want to thank all my customers! You make my heart sing when you write and let me know that you like an item I have created!

I have a lot of changes and choices to make in the coming new year and hope to share parts of my journey with you! I also hope I will blog a bit more and stifle the silence!

I could probably go on forever with all the things that I have to be grateful for in my life, but I just wanted to share some of the highlights and take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and wishes for a wonderful New Year ahead!!

New Items And Fall Specials!

2010-10-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

It certainly has been a while since I last blogged! Why is it that you can have so much on your mind, but so little to say! I often find that I have so many thoughts, that its difficult to zone in on one specific item! So....I remain quiet and I apologize because I have missed touching base with you! I have been busy trying to make new things for my Etsy shop, and am now consigning at two shops! I am very excited about that and hope I can find more stores to showcase my work in!
I also wanted to let you know that several of my fall items in my Etsy shop have been reduced! Now is a great time to grab these items for your fall decorating before they are gone!

Boo Kitty who is dressed in fall finery and holds onto a yummy candy corn would look wonderful in your Fall and Halloween displays! She has been reduced to $19.95

This Scarecrow Nodder has always been a fall favorite of mine and at craft shows! With his winning smile and bouncey attitude I am sure he will become a favorite for you too! Price reduced to $14.95!

Check out the shop for more Fall discounts!

New Arrivals

There are some new arrivals just in time for the upcoming holiday season that I want to share with you! Who out there ever has enough prim ornies for their decorating needs? I decided to offer two special ornie collections to help you decorate your prim tree, use on a wreath or swag, or how about as a gift for your prim loving friends!

Another new item is the Prim Mitten Trio!
This mitten trio brings a touch of nostalgia to your Christmas tree! They are sewn from wool felt with a sheep's wool collar, and made in perfect prim colors!

Keep watching for more updates to my shop for all your holiday gift and decorating needs!

MONDAY MARKETPLACE-OLD FARMHOUSE GATHERING SHOPS

2010-07-19T13:45:00.000-04:00

This is my first Monday Marketplace feature for the Old Farmhouse Gathering etsy team and I couldn't think of a better business to feature than Firecrackerkid Primitives. Carol and her husband make a fantastic team! I can attest to the quality of the work produced by this dynamic duo because I have purchased two very high quality handmade wooden items and will definitely be back to purchase more! Please read on to meet Carol and to gain a little insight to this wonderful artisan!

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name? Firecrackerkid Primitives. Well, I chose this name, because I'm crafty and I was born on the 4th of July. My family always called me "firecrackerkid". My father always told folks that when I was born I came out with a bang. Put that little fact, Independence Day, my love of primitives and my country, plus I don't think we ever grow up, and you get Firecrackerkid Primitives.

2. How long have you been on Etsy? Since March 30, 2008.

3. What type of items do you offer? One-of-a-kind Woodcrafts and reproduction woodcrafts like different Early American dough bowl racks and Primitives.

4. How long have you been crafting? Twenty-five years.

5. Who or What inspires you? The love of all things Primitive, my e-friends, and my husband.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why? That would be our one-of-a-kind items. We like to come up with unique primitive woodcrafts that are appealing to others, and are functional in the home.

7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog

http://www.firecrackerkid.etsy.com

http://firecrackerkid.blogspot.com/

http://fpwoodcrafts.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1817572815&v=wall&ref=name

Please pay Carol a visit! You wont be disappointed!

Motivated Monday Challenge

2010-06-21T22:09:00.000-04:00

It's Monday, my day of reckoning! So I bet you are wondering if I completed all the items I challenged myself to accomplish in a week right? Well, I didn't quite make it, but I worked really hard! I did forget that Sunday was Father's Day and I spent a lot of the day cooking for my husband and not as much crafting as I had planned.

Here is what I did....and I am pretty proud!

6 Bars of Brown Sugar and Oatmeal Soap
2 Sugar Cone Flicker Candles
4 Prim Cupboard Flicker Candles
4 Pumpkin Shaped Tarts-Pumpkin Brulee Scent
6 Pumpkin Brulee Tarts
8 Mini Salt Box Tarts-Candy Corn
16 Candy Corn Tarts
18 Spiced Cranberry Tarts
12 Mini Salt Box Tarts-Spiced Cranberry
1 Prairie Doll
4 Dolls almost complete...but need hair and faces
5 Snowman Ornies need faces stitched
10 Prim Angel Ornies are sewn but not finished

So, I didn't quite finish what I challenged myself to complete, but I worked hard and kept at it! I won't give up on following my dreams of crafting for a living and I am not going to give up on my schedule!! I am going to try it all over again this week and I will be back to post my results!! :)

Misery Loves Company.....

2010-06-13T08:41:00.000-04:00

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice."
~Wayne Dyer

I saw this quote this morning and I really don't want to admit it, but it sounds a lot like me lately, well...not when I was on vacation in Italy for 2 1/2 weeks (will share about that later) but I have been miserable and totally lacking in motivation! I will also say that I know I am in good company because I see my Facebook friends post about lack of motivation constantly!

How many of us have dreams and desires that are yet unfulfilled and we sit back and feel miserable that our dreams aren't coming true? My dream is to craft full time and not have to work at my present job. I realize that feeling miserable that I have to go to my job each day takes up too much of my energy and leaves me with no motivation. I spend too much time thinking instead of doing!! Do I really think a Genie is going to sweep in, grant me the wish of success so I can quit this job? I wish lol....but it's going to take motivation, hard work and long hours! If I want my dreams to come true, I must make the choice to motivate myself and put in the time and effort that it will take to make my dreams a reality!

I love to be challenged and so I have set up a challenge schedule to try and keep myself on track! Here is a list of items that I want to accomplish each week!

5 Dolls
10 Ornies
5 Harvest/Fall/Halloween Items
5 Winter/Christmas Items
5 Misc/Everyday Items

Sound ambitious? Well maybe so but I have a big 2 1/2 day craft show in October that I have to get ready for and my new career as a full time crafter....right? ;)

So, who is up for a challenge? Post your thoughts and your new goals and we will accomplish this together!! Oh....accountability comes to play in this whole equation, so on Mondays, I will be posting what I accomplished during the week! I think I will call it Motivated Monday! Since I just started this new venture, don't expect too much from me tomorrow but I will post something that I make today to prove that I am serious!! lol....no really....I am!!! Are you?

Happy Mother's Day....

2010-05-09T10:32:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies that have been blessed with children and to all the ladies that have the dream of having a baby! On this Mother's Day I am happy and grateful that I had the privilege of having my daughters! I think back and I am filled with many wonderful memories as I sit back and watch as my oldest daughter is now creating special memories with my Grandson! The memories are what Mother's Day is all about. So this Mother's Day I did a craft project with my Grandson that is sure to remind his Mommy on a daily basis of the day we spent at the beach!

After spending the day at the beach and collecting some really beautiful shells, I was instantly struck with the idea of giving my daughter a special picture and frame for Mother's Day! To prepare the shells, I soaked them for a half day in a weak bleach and water solution, rinsed them, then let them dry in the hot Florida sun! I stopped at our local discount and picked up an inexpensive plastic frame ($3.00)because I couldn't find a decent priced wood one. I wasn't by the dollar store because I would have stopped there! lol I positioned the main shells and my Grandson pointed where he wanted others and pressed them into place. I think it came out beautifully and it will certainly remind my daughter of our day at the beach! It goes to show you that wonderful gifts do not have to cost much when you use a little creativity! I hope this will inspire you to create a special gift for someone!

Have a Wonderful Mother's Day

My Saga Continues....

2010-05-08T09:40:00.000-04:00

Ok...so I set out to discover myself and finally organize all the craft stuff that I have collected over the years. I went to our local discount store and purchased plastic containers and drawers in order to conquer the mountains of stuff I have! I was focused! I had ambition and desire to get organized!
So where am I at on this journey now and what have I learned? Well, trying to organize a mess that has been created for so many years is an overwhelming task. I have learned that this undertaking was definitely paved with good intentions and as I have painfully realized that has been the basis of my life....a path paved with good intentions and little follow through with ideas, plans, projects in all aspects of my life. My mess is a product of a messy personality! Hasn't it been said that admission is half the battle? It has never really been difficult for me to point out my shortcomings....its the other half of the battle that I haven't won yet....correcting the things I know are wrong! Distraction and procastination are not conducive to good outcomes.
In my defense, I did organize a lot of my supplies and have been pleasantly surprised when I have needed something and I could go right to my plastic drawers and find it!! That has made me happy, but not more productive....another character flaw! lol But hey....I can laugh at myself, isnt that a good characteristic??
So dear friends, my plan is simple...I will take it one day at a time because that is all I can promise myself right now. I will not promise, but I want to blog more often! I am actually formulating a plan for my blog....a sort of schedule....a challenge to myself to stay on track with my crafting and my life.....
Stay tuned...

Hi My Name Is Dina And I Am A Craft Supply Buy-A-Holic

2010-02-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

Whew....glad to finally admit it! Sometimes you ignore the things that are staring you straight in the face because it is too painful. But I took a good hard but most of all honest look today at all the items that I have purchased over the years....all with good intentions mind you...for my craft business! WOW....do I have a lot of stuff!!! Toooooo much stuff! Stuff that I told myself I needed for a project that never quite materialized. Stuff I bought because I couldnt find the stuff I bought!! No organization of my stuff and far too much of it! It all ends today!!

I took that painful step and took the blinders off! I have stuff in just about eveery room of the house....paintbrushes by the kitchen sink, projects I am working on in my livingroom, stuff stored on my porch....it's got to stop! Some of the stuff is boxed fairly neatly and some has been rummaged through and downright messy!!

Now, you are all going to be a part of my journey while I create and use the tons of fabric, paints, wax, soap supplies, christmas trees and wreaths, etc to make finished items for sale in my Etsy shop, website and craft shows! I can't promise that I may not purchase things to finish projects, but I will promise I will take my purchasing decisions more serious! (ModPodge and stuffing not included) :)

While I am on my road of creative and organizational self-discovery, I will also make great use of all the patterns I have purchased over the years from the many talented artisans that offer their great ideas and talents to the masses in the form of patterns! I have purchased many many patterns....wow...no wonder I am still working full time and not crafting full time!!!

Today, (heavy sigh) I am not even sure where to begin....I know I need to organize, but that might require buying more stuff in the form of storage containers, etc. lol Oh my... it feels like such a HUGE undertaking and it is overwhelming....but it must be done!! Hope you will follow my journey and offer suggestions and organizational tips! Don't forget to watch for items that I will be making from all my stuff! :) http://www.etsy.com/shop/primgirl62

Mouse Goes A Courtin'

2010-01-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

It's freezing here in Sunny Florida! I woke up to pipes that had bursted outside and no water....overnight it was 21 degrees and windy! So I am thinking that we need to warm things up a bit, so I created this adorable mouse that is sure to warm your heart!

Mr Mouse is in Love and he wants to proclaim his love for Ms Swiskers to the world! He has taken a big wheel of aged cheddar, carved it into a heart shape and wrote Be Mine on it! He knows this is one sure way to win the heart of the fair Ms Swiskers!

He can be yours for just $10.00 plus $4.95 shipping!

Email me if you are interested!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T18:55:00.000-05:00

When people ask me what I want for Christmas, all I have to do is take a look at my Grandson and know that I am truly blessed and there is nothing else I need! I had so much fun with him through the holiday. He has learned to say Merry Kissmas, noman (snowman) and e claus...lol...don't ask me where he got e claus out of Santa Claus! At 2 1/2 he is a sponge that absorbs every bit of info you can provide him! I am amazed at his brillance! (Ok...so I am a proud Grandma!) He seems to like the primitive style and will sit with me when I am looking for a new pattern to purchase! I think he has even chosen his favorite artists!!! ;) When he decorated my Prim Christmas tree, he seemed to enjoy each and every ornament he put on the tree....not to mention that he even spaced them out pretty good!!
I can't wait until tomorrow morning when he opens his gifts from Santa! It will truly be a magical time for me! Enjoy your family and friends because they are the real gifts! Have a Very Merry Christmas and enjoy all that this special time of year has to offer!

View From My Front Porch

2009-12-17T06:52:00.000-05:00

I know it's cold and snowy in many parts of our nation, so I thought I would share a picture from my front porch that might warm you up a little! It's funny though....doesn't it seem that people tend to want the opposite of what they have; straight hair wants curly, curly wants straight, tall wishes to be short and short wishes to be tall and me.....I live in Florida, I miss the seasons and get very tired of 90 degree temps for 9 months of the year! So remember when someone posts a picture of snow on their blog or beautiful fall leaves, I am living vicariously through you! I hope you enjoy! Happy Holidays from Florida!

I Have Never Laughed So Hard In My LIfe....

2009-12-01T20:44:00.001-05:00

Today at work, I was having a very busy day and my daughter sent me an email that contained the video below! She thought it would brighten my day....and she was right! As a matter of fact she brightened the day of my coworkers too!! It is totaly funny! I laughed so hard that I had tears running down my cheeks...but I guess what makes it even funnier for me, is that it stars me and my family! Have a laugh on me.....literally!

2009-12-01T20:41:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

OFG Suffers a Huge Loss

2009-11-28T07:21:00.000-05:00

Our Old Farmhouse Gathering group has suffered the loss of Linda Foster, moderator of OFG who suddenly passed away on Thanksgiving Day. I am new with the group but in the little time I have been a member Linda showed everyone who she met patience, kindness, leadership but most of all friendship. She was a lovely lady who's beautiful spirit will be missed by the many people who's lives she touched. All the wonderful memories that she created will keep her alive in our hearts. Please keep Linda's family in your thoughts and prayers.

Amish Friendship Bread and Apple Butter

2009-11-14T19:40:00.000-05:00

Today, I thought I would share some recipes! With the holidays coming, it's always nice to have wonderful goodies to share with family and friends!

AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD

The first recipe, Amish Friendship Bread is a wonderful cinnamon bread that begins as a starter that can be shared with others so they too can make some bread! I love to make this bread and have it as one of the desserts for Thanksgiving, bring to work and share with my coworkers and also to give as gifts at Christmas time!

First you must make the starter. The starter is simply one cup flour, one cup sugar and one cup milk. I store mine in a plastic storage bag on the kitchen counter. I find that is the easiest way to do it. *Do not refrigerate. The bag will fill up with air, simply let it out. Don't panic if your mixture is thickening, bubbling and fermenting, this is supposed to happen!

Day One: Make starter or if you receive some from a friend, do nothing

Day Two: Squeeze the bag

Day Three: Squeeze the bag

Day Four: Squeeze the bag

Day Five: Squeeze the bag

Day Six: Add one cup flour, one cup sugar, one cup milk

Day Seven: Squeeze the bag

Day Eight: Squeeze the bag

Day Nine: Squeeze the bag

Day Ten: Add one cup flour, one cup sugar, one cup and stir.

It is now time to bake and give some starter away as a gift to a few friends! Pour one cup of starter into 3 plastic bags. Give to two friends and keep a bag for yourself if you want to make more bread!

With the batter remaining in the bag, add the following ingredients:

1 cup oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3 large eggs

2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour

1/2 cup milk

1 large box instant vanilla pudding

Pour into 2 large greased and sugared (cinnamon and sugar) loaf pans. sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the top. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Enjoy!!

Apple Butter

So what do you do when you have a huge bag of apples sitting on your counter? Make apple butter!! I will share my apple butter recipe and it might inspire you to make some to give as a wonderful gift this holiday season! Mine was made using the crockpot which was great because you could leave it on all night to cook without fear of it burning or scorching.

*Using a tart apple, peel, core and quarter your apples. Then finely chop. Fill crock pot to brim with apples. *Place finely chopped apples in crock pot. Add 2 cups apple cider, 3 cups sugar, 3 tsps cinnamon and a pinch of salt. For a variation in taste, use 2 tsps cinnamon and a 1/4 tsp nutmeg or cloves. Cook at high for 3 hours stirring occasionally, then cook for an additional 10-15 hours venting the lid slightly. This will allow the mixture to thicken.

When mixture is thickened and a deep rust color, you will know the apple butter is ready. Prepare canning jars as recommended by manufacturer and jar the apple butter. This is the best way to store the apple butter in my opinion.

I hope that you will get a chance to try out these recipes and maybe even make them as gifts for friends and family.

And the winner is.......

2009-11-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

I am back from my mini vacation to Tennessee! It was wonderful...but like any vacation, never long enough! The weather was lovely and cool and a wonderful change to the humidity of Florida. The countryside was breathtaking with the beautiful colors of fall and I was filled with gratitude! I am always thankful for my trips to Tennessee and hope that someday I can call it home!

Speaking of gratitude, I was so grateful and happy to see all the new followers of my blog and all the wonderful comments that were left! Thank you to all that entered the contest, it made choosing just one winner of the ornament contest difficult! But.........here we go.....

The winner of the Ornie Giveaway is............subwife98 Congratulations!!! I hope you enjoy them! Please contact me at dina@thecountryprimitiveshoppe.com with your contact info so I can get your ornies out to you!

Celebrations......

2009-10-28T21:00:00.000-04:00

Whew...that is all I can say about the past several weeks! Life has been a whirlwind lately filled with great things and a few not so great but in the end, I find that I always have so much to be grateful for and so much to celebrate!

First, I was accepted to join a very talented group of etsy artisans known as the Old Farmhouse Gathering. I was so happy when I got the email letting me know that I was now part of this talented group! The artisans created vintage, shabby chic, country, and primitive items just to name a few! To find the wonderful offerings from this talented group please type-- ofg team-- into the search bar --titles & tags,descriptions!

Right now, our group's Old Farmhouse Gathering Holiday Celebration is currently underway! When you type ofghc into the search bar, you will be treated to an array of seasonal wonders that can be used for gift giving or winter/holiday decor! You will not be disappointed!

Here are two of the items I have listed in the Old Farmhouse Gathering Holiday Celebration!

We will also have a wonderful gift basket filled with goodies made by the Old Farmhouse Gathering members! Details will follow soon....but just in case here is the link for our blog: http://www.oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com/

So now on to more news, the not so good news! lol My youngest daughter and son-in-law were here from Italy where they are stationed! We were having such a great visit and had lots of plans for outings, when my oldest fell down the stairs and broker her leg! She is doing much better now and I appreciate all the well wishes I received for her speedy recovery! Through it all, we did have a great visit and Tiffany and Josh are now back home in Italy!

Since life should be filled with celebrations, I am going to celebrate my love of crafting and giving by having a giveaway! In order to win some of my favorite Holiday Ornies, sign up to follow my blog, or leave a comment and you will be entered! Winner will be announced on November 10th when I get back from Tennessee...that is another thing to celebrate!!

Fall and Holiday Crafting

2009-09-05T13:32:00.000-04:00

Wow...it's been a while since I last posted, sometimes life gets so busy and before you know it time has flown by! Speaking of flying by, the holidays are almost here and crafters have been busy working on Fall, Halloween, Winter and Christmas designs for craft shows, festivals, websites and auction sites! I was planning on the Country Folk Art Show in Tampa in September, but was disappointed to see that the show was cancelled! I am not even sure why....it is one of my favorite shows of the entire year and this was my first time planning on showing instead of buying!

Since fall is right around the corner, I started working on some scarecrows! Here they are waiting for their finishing touches!

This has been one of my best sellers and now I have given him a new look and I love it! Here is the finished scarecrow nodder with his new look!

Another item I created for the fall season this year is my Midnight Ride fixens, 2 generous cups of orange putka pods, 3 dough witches hats and 2 brooms which have been scented with Witches Brew a spicy and sweet treat for Halloween.

And of course we can't forget that Christmas and Winter are right around the corner.....one of my best sellers for the winter season is my snowman lamp. I will be posting more Christmas and Winter items soon.

Stay tuned for the Grand Opening of The Country Primitive Shoppe website it will surely be a fun time!

Vacation Ramblings...

2009-04-28T21:18:00.000-04:00

I just got back from a wonderful vacation in Tennessee! What a beautiful state! I have been traveling there for the last several years. Why Tennessee you may ask? Well, I am originally from up North and living in Florida is definitely not the same! My favorite time of year is fall and I love the changing seasons. There isn't much change in Florida! Our change in season consists of warm to HOT. Though I must admit that when I am watching TV in the winter and there is one snowstorm after the other across the country, I am secretly glad I am here! :) Anyway, I was missing Fall, the chill in the air, pumpkins and gourds and of course the beautiful leaves and did some online searches and found a Pumpkin Festival in Franklin, Tennessee that looked fun, so I convinced my best friend Debbie to go check it out with me! There has been no turning back! We decided to go this April to see what Spring in Tennessee is like. While it is not as gorgeous as the breathtaking colors of fall, there are still many wonderful sights to behold.

While visiting the Franklin area, I searched for Country and Primitive shoppes in the area. I found a shoppe that is a must visit when you are there, Sugar Ridge Creations! The shoppe is nestled in the woods on a lovely country road not far from Spring Hill. Not only are the items in the shoppe great but the owner, Mary is friendly and welcoming and when you step into her shoppe you feel like you have been friends forever!

When we pulled up to her shoppe, we were greeted by some brand new baby bunnies that tentatively watched us as we got out of the car and quickly scurried under her porch....how fitting!

There is never a visit to her shoppe with out an awesome purchase! I bought a fabric primitive pear to place in some nook and cranny in my home. She is having a Plant Swap this weekend and plans to have more events throughout the year! Make it a point to visit Mary and her shoppe, you will not be disappointed!

You can check her blog out at: http://sugarridgecreations.com/blog/

*****PLANT SWAP RAIN DATE MAY 23rd*****

I have to say, I left my heart in Tennessee. Each and every time I visit, it feels like I am coming home and when I leave, I leave a piece of my soul. Someday I will get back each and every piece of me because I will be calling it my home.....

My Shoppe

2009-03-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

The Country Primitive Shoppe

I have a small shoppe in a local flea market called...The Country Primitive Shoppe, of course!

I love my shoppe, it has given me endless hours of happiness! When I decided to open the shoppe, I wanted it to feel warm and welcoming and completely different than anyone else's booth!
I painted the walls a sagey green color and my husband installed dark wood plank flooring! He also designed my doors to look like barn doors, which I painted red of course!

For my display, I bought folding tables from my local Wallyworld and covered them with beige sheets. I purchased wooden boxes in various sizes that I stained a dark walnut to go with the floors! I have to give you the link for the wood boxes in case you need them for craft shows! The company I purchased them from, is a family owned businees that has fantastic items, great prices and super quick shipping! I highly recommend them!

Check them out at www.woodthings.com

As you can see, I have all kinds of great primitive goodies! I carry candles, tarts, potpourris, fixens, tart burners, candle holders, handmade dolls, lamps, dip mixes, handcrafted soaps and home decor items! All in one shoppe!

You will find these goodies and more on my website, which will be opening soon!

Welcome To My Blog

2009-03-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

Hi, I am Dina, formerly of Crow Creek Primtives and now getting ready to open The Country Primitive Shoppe which will carry original desings from Crow Creek! I live in sunny Florida on a very beautiful river! I have two grown daughters, one very special daughter from my husband's first marriage and a collective 3 Grandchildren! My Grandson Logan and my Daughter Ashley live with me, so I am certain you will be hearing about him alot...he is almost two and makes me laugh on a daily basis!Life is good!

I have lots of random thoughts and ramblings that I will be sharing with you all soon! I will keep you all posted on how the site is coming along and share Grand Opening info! I plan to have plenty of giveaways!

Check out my etsy site for a preview of some of the items that I will carry on my site!
primgirl62.etsy.com

Thanks for stopping by....have to go bake a cake for the cake decorating class that I am taking with my daughter, but that's another story!