HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2016

My memory card for my camera became damaged and unusable.  Finally got a new one from the internet. 

~~Soooo...drum rolllll~~

Here is my BIG snow flake for our front door

with our 'S'  monogram.

I painted it white and added German Glass Glitter.

* * *

I want to get a picture of it at night time, hopefully to show the sparkling glitter in a better night light. 

Hope it works..

Anyways...

WISHING ALL

A BLESSED  2016

with much Health & Peace

***GOD BLESS AMERICA***

Chuck, Barb and Sandy

P.S. Here it is in the night light...

 and to all a "Good Night & Happy New Year"...

IT IS TOTALLY QUIET...

We celebrated Christmas afternoon with our 3 youngest grandchildren... 
Kohana 7 1/2, Kylie 5 and Kolton 3.  

Up until this moment it was NEVER quiet.  
Then Papa said it was time for his ice cream... 
They all 4 joined together to enjoy Papa 
and his nightly ritual of ice cream.

 Our Family enjoyed a most 

Blessed & Merry Christmas.

Hope you did too,

Peace to all and God Bless America,

Barb

Here she is with her tree...

This year our Sandy decorated our 
Tree totally by herself.  

Yes, Dad set it up and she had help draping 
the 30'+ popcorn garland as it was 

too much for one person to handle,

she then decorated with most of 
our 'Memories Ornaments'.

 ALL BY HERSELF,

WHAT AN AWESOME JOB AT THAT.

It is the most beautiful Tree we have ever had. 

 There are ornaments that my Father had on their 
tree back in Hawthorne, N.Y.  
He and his sister would toss them 
back and forth playing catch with the kugels.

There are ornaments from my childhood 
some from Poland, of course my favorites.

Then there are those from Sandy's childhood 
and our other three children,
 Michael, Sondra(Sandy), Pamela and Jeffrey.

Of course, from our first year of marriage, 
 before the children, are there too.

 ~ ~ ~

The entry to our home is very festive... 

Remember, we live in Apple Valley, California,

The Mojave Desert.

Now you are getting closer to  our Front Door

YUP, you are there...

WELCOME !

Please come on in for some 
hot toddy' & 'treats' 

of all kinds.

OR

you can sit a spell and enjoy the lights and weather... 

NO SNOW

but, we are hoping and praying to get some.

~ ~ ~ 

Just one more addition as I ordered a huge laser cut

snow flakewith a "S" monogram in the center.  

I need to paint it and add German glass glitter.  

It  will then be hung on the door.

Probably the closest we will get for snow.

I will post that NEXT, when it will then ready 

to be a part of the celebration.

Thanks so much for visiting...

Peace to ALL  

&

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Barb

Sandy trimmed the tree too

It is wonderful to have our helper,Sandy, this time of year.

Actually, we are blessed to have her all year long.

We will take photos with Sandy when 

the tree is lit tonight.  Sandy's chair looks so empty.

She is enjoying her day at IBP, a program she 

attends 5 days a week.

Today is 'bowling day' and our 'Bowling Queen' will be home soon sitting in  her favorite chair posing for Christmas Photos. 

TTYL...

* * * 

Peace to all

GOD BLESS AMERICA

30' of POPCORN STRUNG...

Our Sandy had to string an additional 10' of popcorn 

to have this garland reach the top

of our skinny 7'-6" Christmas Tree.

That makes 30' of stringing popcorn...WOW!

It is a prelit tree and am thinking I like it just like 

it is with the popcorn.  

Sandy has other ideas and most always gets her way.

She will be adding our 'Memories Ornaments', while listening to Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Music...Now I need get to get back to work and do a 

little more decorating...

LOVE IT ! 

* * *

ENJOY THE SEASON 

with Peace for ALL 

and 

GOD BLESS AMERICA

COAT CLOSET DOOR WREATH...

Just put together this Grapevine Christmas Wreath.

Don't want it outside as the reindeer is old and in great condition.

So we agreed to hang it in the entry 
from the coat closet door.

I have seen this idea recently and I like it for inside display.

Sandy is stringing popcorn and listening to Christmas Music...

She LOVES this time of year.

WOW...That's one long Garland ...10'-0" +- !
She has actually made another, that's two 10 footers. 
So proud of my awesome daughter.

We will eventually get to making those smaller Gingerbread ornaments for the kitchen Christmas tree.

I love getting an early start ... I seem to fizzle out too easily these days.

He  is truly a handsome Buck...

Love this idea.

* * * 

Enjoy the day and soon to be Thanksgiving Day too,

Peace to all & GOD BLESS AMERICA.

For Sale~GINGERBREAD Cookie GARLAND, Old Fashioned & Baked

Just put the finishing touches to a sweet and aromatic 
Old Fashioned, baked
(NOT EDIBLE)

GINGERBREAD GARLAND.

 GINGERBREAD MAN Rustic Garland, home made -

Cinnamon, Cloves, Apple Sauce, to last for years to come.
Great aroma ~ Studded eyes are Pepper Corns

Tiny rusty bells for the Buttons 

All 7 are strung onTiny Red Polka dotted Ribbon
Shown draped on my 36" wide Pie Safe

 measures 42" when laid out flat
OR
Make each Gingerbread A separate Primitive Ornament,
giving you 7 yummy (NOT edible) ornaments for decorating or gift giving.

This year I have really been smitten by the wonderful nostalgic, homemade look of 

Ginger bread garlands and ornaments.

I am sharing these FOR SALE 
  Thank You Carla

In the meantime I will be enjoying the sounds of Christmas music and smells of cinnamon & cloves for the holidays as I continue making more varied sizes garlands of the adorable keepsake gingerbread  garlands and ornaments.

So back to Kitchen, turn on some Christmas sounds, 

make another batch of gingerbread,

 and Enjoy the Day... 

* * *

Peace to ALL & God Bless America,
Barb

MY "Turkey and Tallow Berries"

Well, I was very pleasantly surprised  when I received all my DMC floss for this Delightful Turkey design...the colors were not as expected but they were the ones on the list.  
Since I love the design,  I proceeded with the punch needle process.

***MINE***

 I did choose to go ahead anyway as

I prefer muted colors (mine) VS/
the more colorful turkey's design.

 ***Theirs***

Not yet sure what happened...

 BUT, I LOVE MY

"TURKEY and TALLOW BERRIES"
For now it is tacked to a basket filled with 
what else??? Tallow berries.
Eventually it will be a pillow with black mini pom-pom trim.  Sounds perfect to me.

  HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE ...  

OURS WILL SURELY BE AS WE HAVE MUCH 

FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL.

As always, PEACE to ALL

* * *

MY PUMPKIN PATCH

I really love this small Punch Needle pouch...

Just finished it and hung it on the side of my Pie Safe (running out of walls).

Very dark brown pumpkins with the rustic orange,

Will do the white one too, but not just now.

It is a PineBerry Lane Design

"The Old Pumpkin Patch".

* * *

LUV it!
BTW ... that's dried flax stuffed in the pouch, 
or at least that's what I have been told.
I think it gives it a nice finish.

a kwik post...

Just a kwick Post and picture with the Halloween Punch Needle ornies, plus some of the handmade pennys (by someone else) from a few years back.  We set it up in the kitchen on the island which to me is huge, 5' wide x 9' overall length (contains the sink and dishwasher plus a bar on opposite side). 

Decided to put it to some use for our holiday displays and camouflage the sink area which is usually not very presentable. 
We are down sizing (retired ) and I have very limited wall space ... otherwise I love the place...well, it is not primitive.

 

Here is an overall Look.  Sandy & I are HAPPY with it.  Needs more ornies and am working on that for next year.

EnJoy Trick or Treatin'...

* * *

Happy Halloween to all...

I have been busy...

I have not posted as my DELL needed a new screen.  

YUP, I thought it was dead so I bought another laptop.  Son suggested getting a screen off the internet.  Well that's just not for me cause I know nothing about what goes on inside my 'puter.  So I called a 'puter whiz kid and she got my DELL up and running again.  Had to send it out to get screen replaced.   I will keep the new one as a back up.  I cannot believe how helpless and lost I felt. Anyways, here are a few of the things that have been keeping me occupied during this traumatic time...

I completed another patriotic X-stitch...it is positively wonderful

In Full Glory ~ Blackbird  Designs 

Reward of Merit Pinkeep Cross Stitch

I went on to create some punch needle 'Halloween" ornaments ... All OOAK... for Sandy's black feather tree, not yet set up. 

 We have some penny ornaments for it too.  

The ghost I made for her special request.

I am currently working on a

36 linen count, Olga's Tart.  Another design by Paulette Stewart, so verrry cute.  I knew I was a gluten for punishment as I have never done a 36 ct before...but, slowly I am getting there.

Oh yes, one more patriotic punch needle

Land of Liberty
a picture of my finished piece is available on my DELL and I do not know how to retrieve it from here, my new 'puter.

Gots to go, so for now...
Peace and Blessings to ALL,
Barb
* * *
...God Bless America...

PEA POD PIN KEEP

ALL BECAUSE...

I saw this on the internet... and fell in love with it.  

I Searched (too long) and discovered it was a 

Maggie Bonanomi design, and the hunt was on. 

Finally found it in her book "Thistle Down Moon".

Gathered the materials needed.  

I even dyed some green velvet with yellow dye 
to get the pea color. 
It was a challenge for me.  
I had hopes of doing two... that will never happen.  
It is for show more than functional, but I am pleased.  
It does need to be propped up or it will lay on its side.  
So I put my thinking cap on and thought, my daughter Sandy has been collecting Monterey Cypress Tree Pods, of which I like very much and thought (twice in one day)... why not?  The woven pine needle basket was hand made by my Grandmother, Carrie, during her retirement years and is very much treasured by me.  

What you see here are 3 generations...at work.

• Carrie Wheeler ~ Grandmother, made the basket. 
• Barbara Wheeler-Shores ~ Grand daughter made the Pea Pod pin keep.

• Sondra Lyn Shores ~ Great Grand Daughter gathered all the Monterey Cypress Tree Pods. 

 

ALL BECAUSE ... I put on my thinking cap.

* * *

We are really hoping for rain.  So far Zilch (nothing), 

just clouds and wind.  YES, we live in Southern California and witnessed the smoke from the Cajon Pass Freeway fire yesterday... It was scary with cars and semi trucks burning...20 total, and no one was hurt last I heard. 

We were safe.  We live about 10 miles East of the fire.  Rain would be very welcome to help put the fire out completely and help us during this drought.  

Guess that's why it is called Mojave DESERT.

* * *

For now, Enjoy the day with Peace and Blessing for all,

Barb 

CUTE DITTY BAG

Just finished 

"Pocket Full of Autumn" 

from Brenda Gervais

 Truly one of my very favorite punch needle designs.

Used felted wool for the backing and filled 

with some Tallow Berries, just like in Brenda's pattern.   

~ ~ ~

LUV it. 

 Hung it from my 'Game Board' that Art Haber made for me from "Olde Colony Primitives", here in Pauma Valley, California... They have wonderful stuff to offer and live in
an awesome 'Salt Box House' built by Art.

Also included a primitive whisk broom and a black bee's wax cone that I made years ago,plus a 
small Nantucket Basket that I have had for years. 

I am itching to do another X-stitch project... some smalls and I am also wanting a needle book as the pin cushion isn't cutting it with all the different needles I have been using.

Sooo, off I go, s'more x-stitching...
(Or... I still am procrastinating on the Fraktur I mentioned a while back... maybe I will get a handle on that next???)

* * *

 Have a great day with Peace and Blessings for all,
Barb

A Rusty update...

Here is the recent addition (adopted) to our family.

 He hopped into bed (pillows) soon after I got up... 

enjoying the warmth and softness of all my pillows.

and now making himself very much at home, 

cooling off his belly in this 100 degree weather we have been enjoying???

I keep sheets on the sofa for his comfort... 

and easy for me to launder as often as necessary.

Rusty does NO wrong and is the now the new love of our family.

We still are convinced he is a Vizsla (Hungarian Pointer).

UNCLE SAM'S

Part of my 4th of July/Patriotic binge.

'Uncle Sam's' pattern 

by Threads that bind.

I have been on short supply of home decorations 

representing our patriotic loyalty. 

I just added this punch needle that I mounted 

on a custom made wooden Horn Book.   

Gave it another one of those faux grained finishes 

and added the rusty star above.

I chose to make some modifications to the design 

as can be seen when making comparisons to the original pattern. 

I displayed it on one of my easels rather than hang on the wall.  

That could change with the weather too. 

My binge includes 2 more patriotic designs... 

Hopefully, soon to be ready for viewing.

Have a great day tomorrow as today is pretty much kaput! 

* * *

Thanks for visiting,

Peace to all and God Bless America,

Barb

 

A SWEET ROUND BOX TOP

I have been seriously inspired by the wonderful felted Wool Applique shown on the internet

This is one of my most recent projects inspired by Rebekah L. Smith's boxes.  

It is mounted on a 4" round paper mache box 
which I covered with a sweet color coordinating 
fabric and trimmed the lid's side with irish trim.

I am in LUV with this style of 19th century Folk Art 
and am eager to do another ... 
but first, I must work on one of my Frakturs ... 
just can't put it off any longer ...  

It will probably be entitled
"Lion laying down with a Lamb".

My mood and frame of mind will tell.

* * *

As always, happy you visited, hoping you come back...

Enjoy the day with Peace and Blessings, 

Barb

TWO SHEEP . . .

This is my version of a more 'Primitive Finish' for 

 "Shepard's Shade"

       a punch needle design from Threads that Bind.

            

I bound it with heavy jute twine and whip 

stitched it in place using the same colored floss 

as was used for the border.

I think it's different ... not to say the least.

Now on to my next project ???

 * * *

Enjoy the day with Peace and Happiness . . .

Barb

Bitter Sweet growing in the Mojave...

I have moved and transplanted these monsters 3 times ... They just have the will to keep on going ... 

We live in the High Desert of Southern California - 
The Mojave.  

So far they are looking healthy but once that 100 degree sunshine hits them they begin to swelter.  Am hoping the block wall that they are planted against, which is actually West of them, will help to protect them from too much sun.  Those Sun Flowers are decrative NOT real stuff.

In case you have not heard we are having a serious drought.  They just may never make it.  Never did get much blooming but then I am the 'forever optimist'.  

I love decorating with bittersweet and have always purchased it on the internet.  

Hopefully I won't be doing that again.

Thanks for visiting and wish me LOTS of Luck...

Peace to all,

Barb

FOLK BASKET ~ Wool Applique

Just finished lacing the piece to foam core. 
Painted the flat 2" wide frame a subtle crackled black.

It is hard to see in the photo but I wanted some kind of texture on this 'Plain Jane' frame, 
which I prefer for this project...

Yes ... I seriously need to do some housecleaning... 

Don't look too closely.  Like my Mother would say, "it is either someone coming or going".

This is my first 'wool applique'.  I have learned a lot.  

My blanket stitches are OK...but when I get to the outside corners???what can I say?  

I do need help.  Marcia, also a member of the Creative Crafters group here in Sun City, Apple Valley, Ca., is an accomplished and award winning quilter.  
She has been so patient helping and showing me the ropes for this art form. 

One of my many WIP needs some backing...

So for now and 'til next time, enjoy the day 
and thanks for stopping by.

Peace and Blessings to all,

Barb

'LOVE in BLOOM'

I got brave and used brighter colors than I have used in the past.

The older frakturs always seemed to be colorful ...
 I wanted to emulate that look.

Here is 'LOVE in BLOOM'...

In a recycled black, crackled frame.

I am really being drawn to the dip pens ... another challenge in my old age.

water color painted ... another challenge as I am most familiar with acrylics.

All in alll ... I had fun.

I am signing my frakturs with my initials

BJFWS

Barbara Joan Faustina Wheeler-Shores

Now how is that for a handle???

* * *

Thanks for visiting ... Peace and Blessings to all,

Barb

Felted Wool Applique ...

Oh Happy Day, I just got my frame for my wool applique,  
'FOLK BASKET' designed by Maggie Bonanomi.  
I absolutely love her designs. 
It is my first try at this and I know it is far from perfect.  
I so enjoyed stitching this one and am planning on doing another soon, 
after another punch needle 'in between' project.

It has not been pressed and it is pinned to the size that will fit the frame.
The 2" wide, flat face frame was ordered, unfinished, from 'Signed and Numbered' on Etsy.  
Not planning on any faux graining yet, just a primitive black finish 
and of course that could change.  
Ya just never know about my feeble mood swings. 
Will show a picture when done.  
Not even sure where I will hang it...maybe our bedroom??? or Entry way???
Plenty of wall space in the bedroom. 
The entry way will need some rearranging.  
Who knows?

Thanks for visiting...Peace to all.
Barb 

* * *

TULIP HARE Punch Needle

 Just finished this "Tulip Hare" by The Gable House.

I actually had a recycled frame that 
was the perfect size. 

Did not fill in the background ... Just coffee stained all of it.  

Told Papa to save leftover morning brew and I dipped the entire piece. 

I Love this style and the design and am 
pleased with the finished piece.

Now on to finishing one of my Fraktur designs calling it 

'Love in Bloom' - so far.  

here is my sketch.
as you can see, still fine tuning it.
 
Am thinking it will make a great Punch Needle pattern too... my new passion.

Enjoy the day with Peace and Blessings to all,

Barb

* * *

ANOTHER FINISH...

HAPPY EASTER
with
~Peace and Blessings to all~

This is really a small ... 4" x 4"

but so darn cute for Easter.
"Munch Time"
from
The Coopers Cottage.

Thanks for visiting,

Barb