GOOD BYE DEAR FRIEND

Here it is 2013 .....2012 is in the past. It was a very sad year for me. We had 3 family deaths, 2 friends from church that were unexpected...numerous serious health issues with friends and family and last my beloved kitty Sadie Mae (10 1/2 yrs) succumbed to Injection Site Sarcoma. I wanted to post this  the information for anyone that has a strictly indoor kitty. Please Google this and read up. Had I been given the information I would never have been the conscientious pet owner taking my kitty in for her shots. Had no idea about this. I have been so angry and devastated words can not begin to tell.
Not having children, my fur babies have always been my children. With Sadie Mae she had a difficult life before coming to our loving home at the age of 3. She was so precious. Seems she was very thankful to have found somone to love her. I can certainly relate to that. After losing our pretty Calico Orphant Annie, 3 1/2 years ago, Sadie Mae's personality began to blossom. Annie was the Queen of the house and Sadie knew it.
One day while Sadie was looking out the back enclosed porch, my heart told me to take this photo of her. She loved sitting on the porch, watching the birds come up on our patio, then she would begin to chatter. Oh how I miss this. Also had a cardboard flat with a blanket in it for her. She adored her little sunroom so to speak.
So...here is the photo and my words. Notice on the left upper side the lumps that were forming from this horrible cancer. She hung on and wasn't going to let go. We had to make that decision on November 19th....no more suffering Sadie Mae...it is ok to let go now.

"so another chapter in my life closes. The tears in my throat are threatening to choke me. It is time for you to walk through this door. Thank you for sharing your life with us."

I miss so you very much my "good good girl Sadie."

CHRISTMAS TREE FOR YOUR SEWING ROOM

I need to get back on my blogging more often.  Decided the remainder of this week will highlight some Christmas items in my home with crafting tips.
Here you will see the 2 1/2 ft. table top tree in my studio. I have it on top of a cabinet athe end of my long wood sewing table.  The tree skirt is an adorable quilted table mat with applique spools "Spoolin Around"  by KansasTroubles Quilters.
I will probably add more ornaments as some idea catches my fancy. So far I put a couple vintage tape measures, then clipped some antique wooden straight clothespins to some branches. 
Next, an idea with used patterns and styrofoam eggs came to mind. So.....for the eggs simply get whatever size styrofoam egg you want.  Add a nice layer of Modge Podge. Then begin layering strips of vintage patterns in crisscross fashion.  Set the egg on a plastic drying rack that Folkart painters use.  This has the tiny nubs all over. Holds the item up.
The next day do again. You can add however many layers you want. After this was totally dry I made a hole in top, squirted some glue into this area and put loop made with ribbon.

The hang tags were made using some flavored tea dyed tags. After drying I cut out of my quilt magazines tiny pictures of quilts.  Glue to tag. Stencil whatever quilting or sewing term on the tag. I used black ink.  When all done sprinkle lightly with glass glitter.
Enjoy !
Susan

Just a note to let you know that I am no longer with the Old FarmHouse Gathering Team on Etsy.
Due to the hypocrisy and just downright nasty treatment I have left that group.
It is not healthy for a person to deal with drama.  We should be encouraging each other instead of nit picking.
Anyway, am praying no one is planning to join. Please consider it long and hard before doing so.
Have been in contact with some others that left, some were mods..and their sentiment is the same as mine.
Unfortunately, the one mod, Lucy and one of the memebers, Robin are not a pleasant persons to work with. Very biased.
Enough said.
I have joined two new Christian groups where it is ok to opine our Christian values :)  I will begin posting things from these two teams.
Again, if you are considering joining the OFG Team on Etsy please contact me before doing so or visit my FaceBook page - Susan Wolf Green. Will be happy to message you.

Dec 18 an update....the one moderator has continued to harrass me with threatening emails. Really mature huh. So sad. Like I said above...will be more than happy to tell you the facts, names and truth in this.  This world really doesn't need bullys such as these two ladies.

EASTER EGGS

Of course this Easter Holiday is totally about Jesus and what He did for us on the cross....but I do enjoy the Spring Season with all the new birth of His creation !  Love
the new critters coming into existence. Who can resist those soft little guys. And oh my the flowers peeping through the ground getting ready to display their colorful clothing !
The air that is usually a bit cooler this time of year makes it perfect to get out into our yards and work. 
Anyway, was busy posting my Easter designs on Etsy the past month.  Of course we all should remember who the great designer/creator is. He has blessed me with the urge to create from His creation.  Yes, even the colors we artists claim are really from Him. He is the one that made the colors - red,yellow,blue,green,purple....and so on.
Here is a pix of some Primitive eggs I designed.
They are made with wool & felt pieces made to look like the Penny Rugs...then adorned with crinkled ribbons and rusty tiny bells attached with a rusty safety pin.
Praying each of you will have a most beloved Easter this Sunday. Never forget what was done on the cross for my and your sins.
Hugs

Susan

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times."

"What is the secret of your life?" asked Mrs. Browning of Charles Kingsley. "Tell me, that I may
make mine beautiful, too." He replied: "I had a friend."

Love much, there is no waste in freely giving;
More blessed is it, even, than to receive.
He who loves much, alone finds life worth living;
Love on, through doubt and darkness; and believe

There is no thing which Love may not achieve. - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

A Cold January Day And Nothing To Do But Stay In

A couple more photos of groupings in my home.  The one has an Aladdin Drape Oil Lamp in it, some cloth Shabby Chic hearts I made, a framed Antique Easter card.  The second photo shows my antique dresser top in our bedroom.  To the right of clock you will see a photo of my father as a baby.  Yep, the guys wore the long gowns in those days! A couple Boyd Bunnies sit in front. Vintage Crystal hold my charm bracelet and gold bangle from Arabia.

A COLD JANUARY DAY

A good day to stay in reading or sewing or designing. Decided to take a few photos showing some of my vignettes in our home.
The first pix is of my antique composition Effanbee doll Patsy. She is the large Patsy approx. 27". I have her sitting on a stool in corner of our bedroom holding a Boyd bear in her lap. Before moving to Indiana I had her completely restored by a doll maker in Florida. She is just special. Still bears the original Effanbee heart tag on her wrist.
I also have pulled out a few books from my library and scanned a few pages here and there. One of my favorite authors is the Indiana Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley.  My father would read from an antique book of his poems, to me before going to bed. Then we would have our prayers.
Today I looked at one verse of  "A Life Lesson."

THERE ! little girl ; don't cry !
They have broken your doll I know ;
And your tea set blue,
And your play house , too,
Are things of the long ago;
 But childish troubles will soon pass
           by.-
There !  little girl; don't cry !

I typed the verse as written in book.  This book is Child Rhynes, James Whitcomb Riley , Hoosier Pictures by  Will Vawter.  Copyright 1890. This antique book I have was presented to a young lady in 1929 at Christmas time.

SNOWBALLS AND HEARTS

Thinking about this time of year, cold, snow, snowmen and snowladies, then getting ready to springboard into reds and pinks for Valentine's Day.
So what do I do, rearrange some of my creations in the front living room that are noticably WHITE ! LOL
I have fun with vignettes! Using my creations along with vintage and antiques.
This time of year after the Christimas Season us artists are in dulldrums so to speak. Our creativity spark just isn't there, so I decided to enjoy what I have out now.
Mind you there are only two white hearts in the white vintage McCoy vase.
Enjoy !
Susan

SNOWY SNOWY WINTER

This is the time of year that I hunker down and enjoy quiet hours creating in my studio. After all the Christmas is down, I leave up snowmen and anything that depicts snow. Perfect for this time of year until we decorate for Valentine's day.
I finished my SnowLady doll last night.  The inspiration for her came from Create & Decorate, but I changed her around, using what supplies I had on hand. 
Her body was made from white linen fabric leftover from what I have just recently used to create new curtains.  Her dress, apron and cape are from vintage embroidered fabrics. The cape was then edged with the teeniest pom poms you ever saw.  Her hat is wool felt, the glam belt is a piece of sequined trim. I used vintage silver tinsel around cuffs on legs and arms.
Her super baggy pantaloons was made with vintage flocked fabric. Of course the flocking looks like snowballs!
I used a paper mache ball for her head. I sprinkle glass glitter on head and hat.
Enjoy!
Susan

She is approx. 24" long to top of hat.

CHRISTMAS

Due to my health issues wasn't able to get our 10 1/2 ft. tree up this year.  We have boxes and boxes of antique ornaments which normally takes me 3 days to get it all on, lights included.  Anyway, decided to put out a couple more of my Alpine trees and decorate them.  Here is one in our front living room.  I used vintage flocked fabrics to make the "poufs" then added vintage gold tinsel and bulbs. On the base I added a new large floral poinsettia wreath. It fits perfectly over the base. Thought this was a new flip on a Christmas tree skirt.  As you can see this is in whites. I love white, our home has lots of white shades.

Merry Christmas

MORE HARVEST PICS

Here are a couple photos showing some of my fav Harvest items.  The one is an antique paper mache' jack o lantern. On my antique hutch in dining room I have a jar full of orange putka pods that look so much like teeny tiny pumpkins, in the background you will see a stack of various sizes antique wooden tureen bowls. Been collecting them for years. Couldn't resiste the Pumpkin Candle one year, so it sits proudly on a candle mat I made.

Enjoy !

WHITE PUMPKINS

My white pumpkins. I created these with various textures and shades of white fabrics, including a velvet. The stem is made of a pale green brocade. The vines are made using a green eyelash yarn.

HARVEST PHOTOS

I can not believe how much time has elapsed since I last posted on my blog.
Too many things happening with a slower body ! :)
I did take the time to shoot a few pixs of our  Harvest items in house.
The Pumpking Wall Quilt is in our family room. I use this wall as a focal point for my quilts. This part of our home is decorated in Country Folk Art. The quilt is my design. On the center band is a recipe for Pumpkin pie, written in brown fabric pen. Wanted a rustic look.
The pixs of my white pumpkins are in our front living room. This part of the home as is most, is decorated in White Country Chic. My terminology. :)  Love the Mediterrerean whites. When on vacation through Greek Islands the open and airy feeling of white intrigued me. For some reason unable to get the first pix righted.

 

SOME PICTURES OF MY FLOWERS

I have in my photos: Bee Balm, ConeFlowers, White Wave Petunias, Sweet Annie, New Dawn Rose, Ceoposis, Tiger Lily, Native Indiana Sunflower, Coral Bells , Brown Eyed Susans ,and my Raspberry Patch.
There is nothing as relaxing as walking about your flower beds, admiring God's creation, working in the dirt, feeling a light breeze skim over your sweaty clothes, cooling you. Just look at some of the beautiful colors. Awesome !

FAMILY ROOM WALL QUILT

Slowly I have been making a wall quilt, for over our couch in family room, depicting each Season or Holiday.

This is a SnowBall Quilt Block.  You fussy cut a big flower for center.  To make the blocks pop you encase all in black cotton fabric. 

The colors in this go with the Folk Art colored family room.

Susan

MY GIFT and BACK PORCH PIXS

My freebie from Susan Mudge of The Country Store , arrived today.  A couple of fun prim guys!  They are so cute. Will fit in with my Autumn Harvest decorating in the fall. She has made them from muslin and boy do they smell good. 

Since I took a pix of them on my enclosed back porch , decided to show a couple other photos that side of porch.

This is the porch my Tuxedo kitty spends time in. She has a little bed and can look out the full length glass door onto our patio and back yard.

The washed painted blue cabinet is an early 1800's Canadian StepBack. This is the bottom portion. We bought this in Ohio. I love it.  The bunch of hanging Hydranges I purchased in Middlebury last fall at our Garden Club's District Meeting. They are hanging from an  antique drying rack.  As you can see I enjoy gardening and old things.

BABY BIRDS WREATH

I promised to post a picture of our front door with wreath that baby birds are in. We have a wrap around porch. You can see my fat Tuxedo kitty , Sadie Mae at bottom of storm door. She seemed to be saying, hmmmm why is mom leaving the front door open.

The babies nest is behind the branch of green floral that is in center opening.

The mama bird wrestle the florals around to get back in there.

You can only see the nest with babies from inside.

Susan

BABY BIRDS

I have waited patiently for the baby birds in wreath, on front door to get a tad bigger in order

to get a good pix of them.  Here it is !

They are growing so fast.  Had read that within two weeks they usually are ready to leave the

nest, and I do believe that is possible.  The mama comes to wreath now, only to feed them.

They are so adorable. Tomorrow will get a pix from front of house showing the wreath on our

front door.  The nest is at the very back, behind the flowers.  It presses up against the big storm door.  My camera shows a bit of reflection, but you can see the little yellow beaks, especially on

left hand side.

I know my heart will be heavy the day they fly the nest !

It has been a privledge to watch God's creation as these, up close. He is an Awesome God !

Enjoy !

Susan

EASTER

May each of you have a Blessed and wonderful Easter Sunday.
I , too, enjoy the pastels, bunnies, chicks , candy , eggs oh my so many wonderful things....
but let us not forget the true meaning of this Holiday.

It is because of God's massive loving heart that He sent His Son Jesus for us.
Forgiving us of our sins, if we willingly repent of our sins.  What an awesome act of
love for mankind.
It was a horrible death...but Jesus obeyed His Father for us.  
Easter Sunday is beautiful, new growth, Spring in the air, after the previous darkness.
Look at the new growth in plants and on trees, this symbolizes our new growth in Christ.

God bless each of you.

SADIE MAE

Here is an updated photo of my fat Tuxedo kitty , Sadie Mae.   She has a special
spot now, on blanket runner on end of guest bed.  So I put an older down filled
comforter for her there.  In background is my vintage metal doll house, equiped with the furniture.  It is sitting on a trunk at end of Jenny Linn bed.
Sadie likes to duck her head behind it, hiding from me ...silly girl.