Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Handmade barn ornament for your tree!!!!!!!!


This ornament is presented by http://www.artfire.com/users/crackerjack1 of Artfire.
A great amount of detail is seen inthis finely crafted ornament.

The artist states:
This could be a Christmas tree ornament, or you can prop it up on a shelf. Gift idea for a farmer, ag teacher, FFA or 4H Club member/leader, or someone with counry on his/her mind.
Dimensions: 4 1/4" wide x 6 1/2 high. Built of recycled wood from a peanut crate


Inspiration / Story behind this Product:
Many barns have a distinctive front face. With the barn door open, they look like they go forever. Who knows what is in there, or how long ago it was put there?

Even though Christmas in July is nearly over, we still have time to try to plan ahead to ensure a quiet and joyous winter holiday season.

Hugs, Barb

Monday, July 27, 2009

Vintage hang tags for the coming holidays........

Great for the holidays, these hang tags are so versatile. They can be used for gifts, crafts and more. Great to attach to that gift for teachers and more.

They are from Prairie Harvest Arts at Artfire. See them at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=321384

Product Description:
Such cute little tags! Great to use with gift baskets and various other things.

They are a remembrance of an older, simpler time and I hope you enjoy the children playing in the winter snow.

These tags print out on 8.5x11 card stock and once you download them, they're yours to use again and again.


Inspiration / Story behind this Product:
I enjoy old things. I live on a farm in a 100 year old barn and truly appreciate the craftsmanship of times long ago. These hang tags will add that warm old fashioned feeling to your gift and craft projects year after year. You can print them over and over.


Hugs, Barb

Friday, July 24, 2009

A Hammered Sheep Ornie for Christmas


The GIFT for your favorite fiber lover! Actually this handmade ornament is a fine addition to any tree or folk art decoration for the upcoming holiday season as well as year round.

It is available from Artfire artist: LilAcresFarm

Primitive folk art hand hammered metal sheep Can be used indoors or outdoors, as a Christmas or home ornament. Looks great hanging off your spinning wheel or loom. Great gift for all your fiber loving friends anytime of year
Measures 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches at widest points

It can be seen at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=292865


For this item and more, visiti the fine craftspeople at Artfire.com

Hugs,
Barb

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Button, button, who's got the Christmas Buttons?

Just the thing for your Christmas Projects. Artifre's buttonsbyrobin offers these winter wonder snowman buttons for you to use in your own creative way.

You can see them at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=290047

The artist describes them as follows:
Six handmade Christmas or winter buttons in the shape of a penny rug for sewing, scrapbooking and more. These have a primitive or country look and are perfect for your primitive Christmas or winter crafting. This design is a blue penny rug with a couple of snowman. The image is my own original design.

Washable!

Use for:
-sewing
-knitting
-art quilts
-scrapbooking
-card making
-embellishment
-altered art
-collage
-purses/bags
-anywhere your imagination takes you

Approximately 1 1/4' wide by 5/4" tall or 3" cm wide by 1.75 cm tall. The last picture shows the buttons with a Canadian penny (which is the same size as an American penny or one cent piece) to help demonstrate the size.

I've been making buttons for over seven years and over time I've perfected my methods and finally found a combination of materials that are washable. This means you can use these buttons anywhere you would normally use buttons.

These buttons are created and hand made by me using a graphic I created myself. They are not available anywhere else. This sale is for a set of SIX buttons. If you would like these buttons in quantities different from that which is listed here just convo me and I will see what I can do.

Due to their hand made nature they are all unique. That's the beauty of hand created items. If you like cookie cutter designs available anywhere these are not for you. If you appreciate hand crafted artisan work then they're perfect.

My button and jewelry items are not meant for young children who might like to chew on them because, like any small item, they are a choking hazzard.


Inspiration / Story behind this Product:
I love snowman and winter and Christmas!!! I've recently decided to try and develop my own line of graphics for my images and these are some of my first attempts. I've always loved primitive designs as well and this project lets me combine so many of the things I love. I hope you enjoy these buttons as well.

Enjoy Christmas in July,
Hugs,
Barb

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

More Christmas in July

These are well done with the original being hand painted by HuckleberryArts. You can print as many of thee as you need for four Christmas projects and gifts.

They can be seen at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=184095

From Huckleberry Arts:
This is actually one of my first Printables done a few years back I was asked to offer him again and decided I would for a limited time

This file can be sent PDF or JPeg It is a 300 DPI file

This is a hand painted Santa by me, done onto the hang tag, and then created into the collage sheet

You can use all my sheets in art for sale, as hang tags, incorporated into art work, or just use as hang tags, enclosure tags, gift tags.

Once you purchase one of my sheets you can print as many times as you like.

Happy Christmas in July!

Hugs Barb

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Night Before Christmas


Vintage Keepsake Trunk has created a wonderful Christmas "keepsake" for your family to appreciate for many, many years.

You can see this wonderful creation at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=291910
Product Description:

Welcome Prim Friends, and thank you for stopping by to view my new Christmas Offerings. Here we have a Primitive Grubbied "Night Before Christmas" Book. This piece would be the perfect display for your Christmas fireplace hearth, on a bureau or table by the tree measuring 22" tall and 17" wide.

I have created this piece in the primitive fashion to give it that time-worn look. The hard cover of the book is sewn from muslin, stiffened and painted barn red, baked, sanded, washed with a coffee-vanilla-cinnamon aging solution and baked again. Cardboard was inserted for stability and stitched inside. Pages of grubby stained and stiffened muslin were hand-stitched into the book cover. The top pages were printed out onto parchment colored paper, stained, and baked. I carefully burned the edges with a flame and sealed them onto the muslin. The left page tells the story in Olde English script font and the photo on the right shows Santa delivering a doll to two little girls.

Around the edges of the pages I have inserted pine sprigs, berries and spanish moss. Tiny rusty jingle bells were pinned to the pages with rusty safety pins around the edges. Stained cheesecloth was used for the book mark down the center of the pages.

This piece has been lovingly hand-made by me from a pattern created by Old Glory Primitives.

This design will come to you dated, signed and tagged with my own label Collectibles by Joan which states The Handcrafting and Time Invested in this Piece are its Own Mark of Quality.

Merry Christmas in July.

Hugs,
Barb

Monday, July 20, 2009

Bethany Angel Makedo


This is a beautiful doll that is available on Artfire. I can see her nestled in a cozy quilt on a stool in an entry way to greet your guests or to add that special "angelic" touch to a family room. She would be great added to any room in any home.

The artist is artisanmemories
You can see this beautiful doll at http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=321050

SHe is describes as: Bethany Angel is made of Muslin. She is painted throughout her bodice and face. Her face is painted with water colours and her bodice is painted with red acrylics. Bethany's hair is adored with bells. She also wears a warm and natural collar with bells upon it. She also has warm an natural cuffs with bells. Her skirt is made of homespun. Her wings are made of Muslin and she is stained with a coffee aging mixture.
She has hand stitched eyebrows and a handstitched mouth. in her hands you will find a star with bells on each corner and a grapevine star wreath in the center.
She stands on a wooden candle stick.


Enjoy July and there's never enough time to prepare for Christmas!

Hugs,
Barb

Happy Monday Morning!

I truly appreciated my week of taking extra time for self and family and am now ready to get going again. I love the artwork at Artfire and am ready to share some more.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Hugs,
Barb

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Taking a week off!

Decided it was time to take some time for myself to rest, reinvigorate and get ready for the rest of the year.. See you next week.
Hugs
Barb

Friday, July 10, 2009

Take time to paint for Christmas!

s

Well Earned Nap - Painting Pattern Packet


take a look at his great packet on instructions for you to pain your own piece of art for Christmas. Presented by DawksArt on Artfire, this wonderful project could brighten up your holidays.
According to the artist:
This is an original design of a napping Santa, painted on a tag, approximately 3 x 4 inches. The packet contains instructions, a line drawing, a photo and a glossary of terms to aid you in painting this item. It can be enlarged and painted on a variety of surfaces.

It can be seen at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=263764

Enjoy your weekend.

Hugs,
Barb

Thursday, July 9, 2009

They hung the stockings with care.......

Get enough for your family now!
Basketsbyrose presents a traditional Christmas stocking for you to enjoy. She describes it as: Quilted Christmas Stocking in the crazy quilt pattern. Machine fancy stitching adds charm. Made from fannel fabric, with scrape quilt batting for the top trim piece. A jingle bell has been sewn on. Great for males, or cabin decoration. Size 20" x 13". Will hold a lot of goodies on Christmas morning.

This item is green, made from scrap fabric.

I can see a whole row of these mounted on the mantel of the fireplace, going up the banister and you could always include them in that care package to the loved ones who cannot be with you for Christmas.

Christmas stockings are a wonderful tradition that we all love.

See this one at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=299865

Merry Christmas in July,
Hugs,
Barb

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Brrr..... It's cold out there!!!


Getting ready to decorate for winter and Christmas?

This is perfect! Presented by OldeAnnieArts on Artfire, this is a wonderful addition to your home.
From the artist:
"This is the sweetest snowman gathering I've put together in an old Kraft cheese box. The trees were made from a couple of green cotton prints, stained and baked. The snowman is made from terrycloth, has a little striped knitted hat and a brown plaid scarf. He has a heart and star button on front and little brown wood mittens. Stitched to his front is a little square of fabric that reads "cold hands - warm "heart". Also tucked in the box is some Spanish moss, pine picks and cream pip berries. Everything is tucked in nice and snug. Measures approximately 13 inches wide by 10 inches tall."

It can be found at:
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=291698

Happy shopping,
Barb

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Christmas in July continues with.........

A great way to decorate for Christmas. This sign is a warm way to welcome guests to your home, and bring a smile in with them.

It has been crafted by BeeCharmerPrimitives. Rhonda of Bee Charmers describes it as follows:
know what you are thinking, it's too early for Christmas! But it will be here before you know it! So I have decided to list some of my Christmas signs for a Christmas in July promotion. This sign has been painted tan, napa red, thicket green and dark brown. You are welcome to change the colors at no additional charge! This sign measures 9.5" by 24", I have given it a wonderful primitive finish and it will come ready to display with a sawtooth hanger attached to the back.

See it at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=291746

Enjoy your summer and let's get ready for Christmas!!!!!

Hugs,
Barb

Monday, July 6, 2009

Christmas in July!


It's that time of year.
Christmas in July. It's never to early to start getting ready for that busy period.

To start this off with we have a perky elf from Santa's shop.

He is presented by VintageKeepsakeTrunk on Artfire.

You can see him at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=292047
Here we have a very unique, Primitive Folk Art Santa's Elf. He is just a perfect display for Christmas hanging on the wall, as a door greeter, or hanging on the fireplace! This piece measures 22 in tall and 6 in wide.

This elf's body is sewn from tea-dyed muslin and stuffed tightly with needle-sculpted elf ears. His dangling arms and legs are made from thick jute twine that I have knotted for his knees and his hands. His round red nose is barn red fabric stuffed tightly and his matching Raggedy red hair is made from Loopy Locks. His curled elf boots are sewn from black fabric and tiny gold jingle bells are stitched to the tips with hunter green knit scrunchy socks.

For his festive ensemble, he wears a shirt sewn from a red, green and white Christmas plaid with his sleeves turned up. I have blanket-stitched the edges of his barn red felt vest with black floss and embellished the front with two tiny black buttons. A tiny painted wooden gingerbread man pops out of his pocket. His night cap features a tiny red gingham check with a gold jingle bell tied to the tip. His pants are sewn from a black and green check and prim stitched around the edges with red floss with a matching green bow tie.

Rudolf the Reindeer dangles from one hand tied on with jute linen thread. His body is sewn from tea-dyed muslin with separate needle-sculpted ears, head, legs and body. He boasts a big red bow under his chin with a gold jingle bell. His big red nose is stuffed felt and his eyes are dip-dot black paint. His tuft of hair features blonde stringlets and his antlers are made from curled black wire.

The Feed Bag dangles from his other hand and is sewn from natural Burlap and each corner is tied off with bows of natural jute linen thread. A label is prim-stitched in red floss with Reindeer Food written in pigma pen. A tiny holly leaf and berry embellishes the feed bag.

I have given him a Prim Tag that I have aged in a coffee-vanilla-cinnamon mixture, baked and topped with a nostalgic print of a vintage greeting card showing Olde St. Nick with his back pack of toys and a Christmas pine tree.

This piece was lovingly made by me from a pattern created by Sweet Dreams.

This design will come to you dated, signed and tagged with my own label Collectibles by Joan which states The Handcrafting and Time Invested in this Piece are its Own Mark of Quality.

Enjoy your summer and the time to prepare for Christmas.

Hugs,
Barb

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy 4th of July to the USA!!!!!


Happy 4th of July to all
Announce it to the world with this great sign by CountryWorkshop

You can view this sign at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=274465 plus many more.

Decorate with this Happy 4th Sign painted on an antique white worn finish background. Fireworks are sparkled with iridescent glitter.

Sign is made of ½ inch mdf (medex), an exterior grade building material which won't warp or crack due to weather and painting is sealed so this is ready to be hung outside if desired. There are no knots and this has a smooth finish.

Sign measures 6 inches x 14 inches

Each sign is cut to shape and painted with acrylic paint and sanded. The design is then painted on, each individually and each is a little different. A final top coat of a catalyzed varnish is applied and the sign is ready to go. A key-hole slot is cut in the back for hanging on a nail or screw.

Happy 4th and
Hugs, Barb

Friday, July 3, 2009

PRIMITIVE FOLK ART AMERICANA DOLL for all year round


Americana at it s best!!!
Presented by VintageKeepsakeTrunk at Artfire, this doll is incredible.

She can be seen at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=284354

Here we have a Primitive Folk Art Americana Doll that I have fondly named "Lady Liberty". This piece would display nicely handing on the wall or sitting in a chair. She measures approximately 32 in tall and 12 in wide.

I have created Lady Liberty in the primitive fashion to give her that time-worn look. Her round head body is sewn from coffee-vanilla stained muslin with wired poseable arms, needle-sculpted fingers, pinch-stitched nose and brows. Her eyes are drawn with artist pencils and her rose bud mouth is painted red. Chocolate brown dyed sheeps wool is needle-felted in place for her hair. I have painted on her sanded red shoes and added tiny Mother of Pearl buttons for buckles.

Her dress is sewn from navy blue cotton with printed creamy stars with an over skirt of Americana print stripe in cream, navy and country red sprinkled with gold stars. The fabric has a touch of metallic gold sparkle to give it shine. I have embellished the neckline, hem and sleeves with a decorative tan machine stitching and dipped the dress in a coffee-vanilla aging solution.

Her coordinating cone hat is cut from stiffened star fabric and bordered with the sparkling stripe fabric. She holds a set of two Firecrackers that I have painted red white, and blue over stained muslin and added vintage tinsel to the natural jute wick. The patriotic Pinwheel that is stitched into her other hand has hand-painted red stripes on coffee-stained muslin backed with navy and cream star fabric with a stained wooden button at the center.

I have given this piece a primitive tag, aged with coffee-vanilla-cinnamon stain, that I have carefully burnt the edges with a flame and topped it with a nostalgic print of a vintage greeting card showing a Vintage little boy dressed as Uncle Sam holding a flag and standing by a canon and firecrackers.

I have lovingly made this piece using adaptations of a pattern designed by Karen Walker of Prim & Proper Folks.

This design will come to you dated, signed and tagged with my own label Collectibles by Joan which states The Handcrafting and Time Invested in this Piece are its Own Mark of Quality.

Enjoy your 4th!!!!!
Hugs,
Barb

Thursday, July 2, 2009

A tribute to the Red, White and Blue


Blessings ....
A quiet scene with a sheep pear, saltbox and the American Flag reminds of the blessings we all enjoy living in this country. Thanks to Primgal for bringing this beautiful piece of Americana art

You can see it at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=213856

Prim gal has been gearing up for summer and loves to change her mousepads out for the seasons, so this is one that I did for this summer. It measures 9"x7" and is 1/4" thick giving you lots of mouse room. I painted the background black, and then added lots of summertime detail. We have the American flag,pear,saltbox,sheep, watermelon, and crow. This is a Terrye French design. After painting it was sealed several times with a very durable sealer, so it will clean up nicely with just a damp cloth.

Enjoy!!!

and Hugs,
Barb

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Getting ready for the 4th!!!!!!


Uncle Sam and the 4th of July, fireworks and all!!!

Timeless Uncle Sam is perfect for the 4th and all year round.

Offered by monniebeanfolkart, you can see this great piece of Americana Folk Art at :
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=242805


Barn board painting, 15 inches long, by 10 inches wide. Sealed with a matte varnish, and ready to hang with a sawtooth hanger on back. Signed and dated.

Enjoy your 4th with art from Artfire!!!!!!

Hugs,
Barb