TDIPT Mercantile Open House...with Drawing for Prizes!

The TDIPT Mercantile is having an Open House for the month of November. We are offering many lovely handmade prizes to our faithful readers and beloved buyers. To qualify is easy! Simply sign up to recieve the TDIPT newsletter. If you already recieve the monthly newsletter, then you're already qualified.

PLUS, each purchase made from the Mercantile from October 31st to November 20th will give you another entry in the drawing. Names will be drawn and winners announced on November 21st. To sign up and see all the lovely handmades that you can win, click  HERE! 

Here's a peek at what I've been working on this month, between marching band contests, football games, major projects, homework, dentist appointments, doctor appointments, you know-the usual!

He'll be available at the TDIPT Mercantile update this evening around 9:00pm.

Have a lovely week!

~Katherine

TDIPT Mercantile Update tonight!

Just a reminder that the TDIPT Mercantile's mid month update happens this evening. Stop by and take a look at the lovely handmades offered there. Here's a peek of my things...

It's so nice to have some cooler temperatures, and I'm definitely thinking Fall!

~Katherine



Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth Y'all! Should be back to a regular posting schedule later this week...

Katherine

TDIPT Mercantile Group Launch on eBay!

The artisans of TDIPT Mercantile are getting together for a Springtime auction launch! Starting this evening, February 21st, will begin a week of handmade offerings that follow our theme "Birds of a Feather Create Together".  Just type TDIPT into eBay's search feature to see the wonderful and unique creations. I'll be listing my things on Tuesday...

~Katherine

A Springtime Giveaway...

Please hop over to visit Christine at Preferably Prim! She's offering a generous giveaway to celebrate her 100th post. Adorable bunnies, and beautiful stitcheries to remind us to hang in there, Spring is coming! Make sure to read through her blog. Lots of great photos, and definitely one of my favorites.

~Katherine

Frames,Quilt Blocks, and WWW...

I love old quilts! I have several single quilt blocks that I've gathered over the years. I've picked them up at flea markets and antique stores, and a few at the TS. It feels a little sad to see part of someone's unfinished quilt, and I wonder what happened to the rest, and why it wasn't completed. So they always have to come home with me if they are reasonably priced. I finally decided to do something with them. This week I've been on the hunt for some square picture frames. Any excuse to go to a thrift store, right? I managed to find just one frame out of 4 stores, but it was the right size for my favorite block, the red basket. It was hard to get a good photo with the glass and the gloomy weather-it's a nice deep red, and the white parts are naturally aged to perfection! I found this block in an antique store in Lebanon Ohio, nearly 20 years ago. My husband and I spent a Sunday afternoon there, having lunch and browsing the antique stores. We didn't have much extra money then, so after a nice lunch, that little red block was probably all I could afford that day. Everything was so expensive, but I have the best memories of that day. It's a shame that it's taken SO long for me to do something with it. These will all go in my guest room. The simple nine patch blocks are pretty sturdy, so I may make them into throw pillows for the bed . I don't know the name of the other one, but it's really well done and aged so nicely too.

I was also able to finish up a cross stitch  that I've been working on. It's just aida cloth, so it went pretty quickly. I'm learning to stitch on linen, and it's really difficult for me and my old eyes! Not sure what's up with my camera today-it's making all the reds too bright. This is really much more rusty and subtle.

I'm looking for a frame to prim up for it as well. So that's about it from me.I've been busy with cleaning, organizing and general house stuff, so not a lot of creative time. Please be sure to check in with Leslie at My Country Home to see what everyone else is up to!

Have a lovely week!

~Katherine

Whatcha Working on Wednesday...

I know it's a little late for Wednesday, but I'm linking up with Leslie's Whatcha Working on Wednesday anyway. My post and projects were all ready, but I had to wait to get pictures this morning. I've been working on several things, but these are the only two that are complete. So I'll start with this tin star shaped light that my Mother-in law gave me years ago. It has a glass chimney, which always seemed undersized. I used the chimney on something else, so the light has been tucked away for a few years now. I've also had this huge silicone bulb for a looong time. It's so big, I could never find the right lamp for it. When I was organizing (yes, really, I was) I got inspired and decided to experiment with a pillar sized slipcover for the candle.

I just used the cardboard circles from a spool of ribbon and some posterboard to make the cylinder. I covered it with some grocery sack, and added glue gun drips. Then I just painted it ivory and antiqued it with some water based antiqueing medium. I've always loved this little lamp, and now it's perfect for this spot in a dark hallway. When the jumbo bulb burns out, I'll just remove the pillar sleeve, and resume the search  for a more proportionate glass globe.

I also want to share my Valentine's day Wreath with you. I was fortunate enough to snag the sweetest Cupid ornament from Robin of Bird in the Hand Primitives. This was her prototype for this new pattern, so I'm really thrilled to have him. Robin's work is fantastic-he's so well made. I knew he'd be the perfect centerpiece for a twiggy wreath, so I made several hearts in different reds,burgandy, pink and some muslin ones too. Those were supposed to be stitched with phrases like "Be Mine" and "Love", but whatever. Next year.

Isn't he the best? It was hard to get a good photo without all the glare on the glass, but it looks much better in person. (If you click on the photo it will enlarge) So now I'm ready for Valentine's day. Especially the chocolate!

So that's it from me today. I'm off to shop my my little one's 13th birthday...I'm on the hunt for Ripstik wheels and other fun boy things. Wish me luck!

Doughbox Makeover

It's been a pretty low key Monday around here. The boys are out of school, so there is plenty of noise from video games and the never ending arguments. No fist fights yet, so that's a plus. But, between laundry and other glamorous chores, I was able to finish up a TS find that has been hanging around in the garage too long. Here's the before shot. Sorry it's all taken apart at this point, I got a little overzealous and almost forgot to get a photo. It's a 1960's "Early American" piece.

I don't mind the turned legs at all, in fact I really like them, but I thought the curvy apron around the bottom really made it look less authentic, so I covered it with some flat molding I had left over from some other project. I sprayed the hinges first, with some black Rustoleum Hammered finish paint, then I painted the rest black. I sanded the edges and then rubbed the whole thing down with Special Walnut stain.  It's now in my media room, waiting for the perfect lamp. It was hard to get decent pics, since it is so dark in there, but I think you get the idea. Not bad for $8.00 and some spare time.

It's deep, so there's lot's of room for the junk that accumulates in the room. LOVE that! 

So that's all from me today. I'm off to figure out what the heck is for dinner.

~Katherine

Can I get a Do-over?

On this blogging thing? I mean, I have to be in the top 10 worst bloggers for 2009. So let me start over, and try again. I'm much more organized this January than last, so let's hope I can keep that up. I am currently on hiatus at TDIPT Mercantile, but am planning to have some offerings ready for Spring, probably April. My work this year will be a reflection of what I really love. Old, worn, well loved dollies, and Santas. I've pulled out some inspiration fabrics and remnants. The basket below will be sitting on the work table in my sewing room, along with my pattern making materials, all ready for me to get started... There are indigos, double pinks, ticking, drab browns, and antique coverlet pieces in there.

The big doll is Lizzie. Sometimes she wears homespun or indigos, but today she's Amish. That's a real Amish baby dress she's wearing.* Love it* The little boy I made ages ago, out of old materials. They'll be reminding me to keep it simple.

Since today is Whatcha Workin on Wednesday at one of my favorite blogs, Leslie's My Country Home, I'll join in with one of my first re-dos of the new year. These are just those basic pine cheese boxes you've all seen. Below is the larger one, I stained it back in the 80's when everything had to be stained. It's been on top of my kitchen cabinets unseen, to lift up some baskets I have displayed there. The smaller one I found at the thrift, with an ugly mauve painted wood cutout that said "Welcome" hot glued to the top. I peeled that baby off and left it right on there on the store shelf.

I painted them in my favorite blues. I am loving them now, and have to move some stuff around to find them a prominent home.

So I'm off for now, there's lots on my to-do list today. But first, I think I'll grab a Diet Coke, and read a few blogs!