I AM WORKING ON SOMETHING NEW.....WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I just thought I would take a quick minute and share a new project with you.  It is a work in progress....put on hold for me to do my Christmas baking this week.  But I still wanted to share what I am doing.....Here is a pic:

The tree is sitting inside a large paper mache container that I painted red over black and distressed.  The Santa ornies are a cute pattern from Old Homestead Barn.  Some red berries stuck in here and there along with some small red balls and there you have it...my Santa tree.  I still need ot put together several santas as the back of the tree is bare.  Looking forward to getting back to it.

The tree sets on an old crock in my diningroom.  Next year that area will be designated for Santas only...ha!

On a different note, I wanted to share an adorable snowman that I was blessed to win from Vicky of PAINTSPOTS AND SPLINTERS.  I am a diehard collector of snowmen and this one is just sooooo special!  He will be a "forever" favorite.   Vicky is such a dear, sweet gal and a very talented artist and offers some wonderful wood and fabric whimsical items in her etsy.  If you would like to peruse her shop and check out her handmade goods just click HERE.

I want to wish each and every one of you a very safe and Merry Christmas.  It is my hope that your holiday season is filled with family and love.

warmest holiday hugs,

Carol

TIME FOR SHARING....A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT....

Good evening ladies.  Have you all been as busy as I have getting ready for Christmas...making those handmades for family and friends?  So much fun and satisfaction giving the handmade gift.  What a wonderful way to say "love."

I am popping in tonight to share some wonderful gifts I have received this week from some of our blogging friends who offered some great holiday giveaways.  It has been so much fun getting these prezzies in the mail and having some new, awesome prim decorations to display this season. 

We all know and love Brenda of THE RUSTY THIMBLE and here is a darling snowman that I received from one of her giveaways.  Brenda is generous to a fault and always doing something sweet for others.  This little guy is just amazing.

I also received this beautiful little tree skirt made by the very talented Becky of PRIMITIVES N STITCHIN.  She made it from an old cutter quilt and I feel very blessed to receive it.  It was perfect for a small 2' tree that I added to our decorations this year here on the farm.  The skirt has that wonderful handstitched look and feel.

Yesterday the mailman brought me a package that contained a wonderful  breadboard handpainted by Willa of THE OLD CUPBOARD DOOR.  If you have not had the pleasure of seeing some of Willa's work you are really missing out.  I am an avid collector of snowmen and this board is perfect.

And last, I joined in on a giveaway sponsored by BLESSING HILL PRIMITIVES on her facebook page and was blessed to win a wonderful prim Santa made by the talented Beth Thompson.  The Santa is the large one on the shelf with the white jacket holding the cutest holiday tree. 

I thank you so very much ladies!  I feel so blessed to own a piece of your beautiful handiwork.

  I hope if you have time during the busy holiday season you will stop by these very talented ladies blogs and check them out.

On another note, here is a pic of what I have been up to for several weeks.... working on some Christmas stockings for my new son-in-law and granddaughters.  It has become a family tradition and now all of our children and grandchildren have stockings of their own.

And last, here is a sneak peek at what I am working on now.  I am making these for my daughter, sister and daughter-in-laws for Christmas.  I have a few more to go before I will be finished.

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out the going-ons here at the farm.  I would love to hear what you have been up to and what family traditions you share.

warmest holiday hugs!
Carol

STOP IN FOR A NICE VISIT AND HAVE SOME COOKIES AND MILK

I have never shared my cooking, recipes, or for that matter, anything having to do with  domestication in the kitchen.  My reason for avoiding this area of my life....I am an average cook....no better, no worse and it has never been something that I really cared much for.  THAT IS...until this week when my daughter brought over her Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer and let me use it to mix my cinnamon dough ornaments.  Well, it didn't take long and I was hooked and wanting one of my own.  Here is my new mixer which is an EARLY Christmas present from hubby (Mr. Wonderful)......I mean how can it sit in the box till Christmas when I have soooooo much baking to do...lol

Anywho.....now I would like to share a GREAT cookie recipe that I found the other day on facebook.  I am not an avid fan of peanut butter but hubby is so I decided to make some Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies.  These cookes are absolutely awesome and I love them; not too peanut buttery and oh so soft.  And yes, they probably taste better cause I used my new mixer to prepare them......ha!  Wish you were here so I could share one cause I know you would be hooked.  They are AMAZINGLY SOFT AND YUMMY!!!!!

So here is the recipe for any of you that have never tried these.  They are well worth the effort.

3 C. Flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp. Baking soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
3/4 C. butter - room temperature
1/4 C. shortening
1 C. Brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C. Reeses Pieces

Peanut Butter Mixture:
1 C. creamy peanut butter
1/4 C. butter - room temperature
1/4 C. honey

1 - Preheat oven to 350.  Mix ingredients for peanut butter mixture in small bowl.

2.  In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, bking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In large bowl cream butter, shortening, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs - beat after each addition.  Add vanilla and peanut butter mixture.  Mix well.

3.  Add flour mixture - one cup at a time.  Beat at low speed until mixed.  Mix in Reeses Pieces.

4.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Drop dough about 2 inches apart.  Bake 11 minutes.  Remove from oven.  They won't look done but this will keep them soft.  Leave on baking sheet 1 minute then move to cooling rack.

That's it!!!  Now enjoy with a tall glass of  ice cold milk.

This recipe and others can be found at JULIES EATS AND TREATS.  Stop by and check out her other yummy goodies.

warm holiday hugs!
Carol

I HAVE GREAT NEWS TO SHARE...MARMMIES MAMMY'S AND MORE IS HAVING A GREAT GIVEAWAY

Be sure to stop by Marmmies Mammy's And More and check out Mary's awesome giveaway.

WOO HOO!!! What a generous giveaway, indeed!  It icludes this awesome prim Santa, the cutest snowman, a sleigh and the prim perfect tree.  Now don't dillydally!  Hurry on over and read the rules and get yourself signed up before it is too late.  The giveaway ends December 7th and the drawing for this awesome duo will be on December 8th.  You don't want to miss out on this one as Mary's prims are truly amazing.

WARMEST HOLIDAY HUGS!!!
Carol

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!

Although there is frost on the grass and the temps. are chilly, the sun is shining here in the beautiful State of Michigan and that is a GOOD thing.  If you are just rising, I hope you will grab that first cup of coffee and check out my post as I share some pics of some wonderful goodies I won a few days ago from one of our overseas blogging friends, Goedele, of Belgium.  You will love her blog, THE GINGERBREAD GEM.  She has lots of vintage shabby chic decorating ideas and shares them with all of us.  She has just recently been asked to write some decorating articles for 24 HOMES, an e-zine that specializes in shabby chic vintage decor.  Congratulations, Goedele; that is certainly a wonderful honor.

Here are the goodies I received from Goedele's giveaway: 

The "Small Spaces and Cozy Corners" is full of fun, decorating ideas and perfect for me as I have lots of small corners...ha!  And the vintage clothespins....well they started in the US, made their way to Belgium and are now back in the U.S.  And Goedele tells me that they were used by the Amish.  How awesome!!!  I just so happen to have the perfect little spot to display them.

This wonderful pumpkin that displays some of Goedele's crafting talent.  I love the look of the pumpkins covered with different fabrics and then decopaged.  The stem area is wrapped with jute twine.  It is really adorable and very chic.

And last, this primitive string of wooden red hearts that I have the perfect place to display.

Thank you so much, Goedele, for your generous gifts!  I certainly love them all.

I hope you will take the time to visit Goedele at THE GINGERBREAD GEM.  You won't be sorry.

On a little different note, I just wanted to share a picture of a diaper cake that I have been working on over the past couple of weeks.  Our nephew and his wonderful wife are expecting their first (a sweet baby boy) and the shower is Saturday.  WOO HOO!!!  I love baby showers.

 

hugs!
Carol

BLOG HOP CHRISTMAS ORNIE GIVEAWAY

Brenda, of The Rusty Thimble, is hosting yet another awesome giveaway that begins today and ends November 18th.  Along with Brenda, many other VERY talented bloggers have generously donated some beautiful ornaments for this event.  One lucky person will win enough ornaments to decorate a fabulous tree with some awesome handmade goodies.  Just think about how much fun that would be to have about 35 new ornies for your tree this year!

The rules are really pretty simple.  You MUST sign up on EACH blog who is offering an ornie to be eligible for the drawing.  A list of all the blogs that are participating can be found on Brenda's blog
HERE

This is the ornie that I am offering:

You MUST be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY in order to be entered.  And of course, new followers are always welcome.  Have fun and good luck!

MERRY HOLIDAY HUGS!!

Carol

NEW CHRISTMAS MOUSERS ADDED

I just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that I have updated my etsy shop with some new holiday Christmas mousers for your shopping pleasure.  My shop will be open today through Sunday, November 4th at 5:00 PM. (est).  Click HERE for the link.  Hope you will plan to stop by and take a peek at my offerings.  If you do not shop through Etsy and would like to make a purchase, please feel free to contact me at grams1garden@yahoo.com.

Also, don't forget to check out Joyce's Christmas offerings on The Bear's Blog.  You will not be disappointed.  You can find her HERE

One last note....I am currently taking a couple more orders this year for the Christmas Carolling Mice Gathering.  If you are interested in ordering, please shoot me an email.

Holiday hugs!
Carol

ONLINE CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW

THE BEARS BLOG AND BUTTERMILK CREEK FARM have come together to offer you our first annual Online Christmas Craft Show.  It will start tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM (EST).  Here are the links to the show:  THE BEAR'S BLOG click HERE and BUTTERMILK CREEK FARM ETSY click HERE. A link to my etsy can also be found on my right sidebar.

  I thought you might like to see a couple of sneak peeks at what I will be offering.......

  How easy is that than to shop from the comfort of your own home and what better way to say "LOVE" than "HANDMADE."  We hope you will plan to join us tomorrow.  If you do not wish to make a purchase through etsy, please feel free to email me at:  grams1garden@yahoo.com .

HOLIDAY HUGS!
Carol 

 

 

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - 25 GIVEAWAYS!!!!

Nancy over to VICTORIAN MOTTO SAMPLER SHOPPE is having an AWESOME giveaway for her followers beginning December 1st and running through December 25th.  Her shop offers beautiful patterns, hand dyed flosses, stitching cloth...just to name a few of the supplies....and she is giving away all kinds of stitching goodies each day in December until Christmas.

Hurry on over.  Nancy is such a generous soul and will be giving away hundreds of items.  While you are there getting signed up for the fun, please tell her I sent ya!

hugs and smiles!
Carol

GIVEAWAYS AND CRAFT SHOWS

The mailman just came this afternoon and brought me the nicest box of handmade vintage goods from Marie of SPUN BY ME BLOG.  Now I am not bragging about a giveaway win but only wanting to share the talents and generous heart of one of our fellow bloggers.  If you are not familiar with Marie's blog you can check it out by clicking HERE.  She has a wonderful vintage style and some cute tuts you might enjoy.  The box I received today had the wonderful scent of lavender (one of my favorite scents, by the way) and was just full of beautiful vintage style handmades.

 
A ditty bag full of scented lavender buds and a gift certificate to Amazon:

A beautiful vintage journal:

A vintage style collage that will look beautiful hanging from my peg rack:

A vintage pocket size journal and a packet of  Earl Grey black tea in a decorative envelope adorned with little buttons.  I look forward to a cup of tea on one of these cold Michigan mornings.

A beautiful antique doiley along with two vintage pinkeeps....one in a zinc lid just ready for hanging and the other tiny and delicate fit inside a half walnut shell.

Some hand-stamped, decorated gift tags that will just be the perfect addition to some of my gifts this holiday season:

Now you are probably thinking....isn't that all in this goodie box.....but it isn't...there is still more.....

This delicately decorated burlap pouch which is also full of little goodies....some hand-stamped ribbon, a vintage picture frame made by Marie herself and last this adorable necklace.

You are such a talented and generous person, Marie, and I thank you for everything!

I also thought I would send out a reminder that THE BEARS BLOG and BUTTERMILK CREEK FARM will hold their first annual online craft show on November 3rd.  Here is a quick sneak peek at one of the items I will be offering:

What better way to say LOVE than handmade!  We hope you will plan to join us.  More information will be coming soon.

PRIMITIVE BLESSINGS!!!

Carol

WINTER WONDERLAND GIVEAWAY ENDING SOON!!!

Just a quick reminder that the Winter Wonderland Giveaway is ending tomorrow.  If you haven't signed up yet you will want to do so soon.  This is a big one with 24 prizes and 24 winners!  Brenda, of THE RUSTY THIMBLE is sponsoring this giveaway.  To get signed up and earn some extra entries, just click HERE 

GOOD LUCK!!!

hugs,
Carol

I WANT TO SHARE A WONDERFUL ARTIST WITH YOU...THEA DE BRUIN OF MILLY-ME TEDDYBEARS

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to a new blog I had never visited before.  The name of the blog is Milly-Me Teddybears and the talented artist who is its creator is Thea De Bruin.  She did a beautiful post on a new doll she had just created...Alice in Wonderland.  In addition to the debut of this adorable little treasure she was also offering a fun giveaway of some amazing handmade, vintage gift tags.  In keeping with the Wonderland theme, the tags were none other than the White Rabbit.

Now I have to tell you that Thea has an unmistakable eye for detail.  Very evident in everything...right down to the last detail and incuding her beautiful packaging.

Here is a close up of the card so you can see the detail and beautiful vintage finish.

If I have peaked your curiosity and you would like to view Miss Alice in Wonderland along with some of Thea's past works you can find them here:  THEA'S BLOG and here: THEA'S FACEBOOK.  She is truly an artist of amazing talent.

hugs!
Carol

SWEET BEAR CREEK WHIMS FALL GIVEAWAY

Jody of SWEET BEAR CREEK WHIMS is having a fall giveaway starting today and ending on October 15th. 

Pop on over to her blog and check out the details and get yourself signed up!  You won't be sorry.  Jody's is one talented gal and her goodies are just amazing!  AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE, WISH JODY A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

hugs and smiles!
Carol

BUTTERMILK AND BEARS ONLINE CRAFT SHOW

I am linking up with my good friend Joyce of THE BEAR'S BLOG to hold an online Christmas Craft show on November 3rd.  What better way to shop for the holidays than from the comfort of your own home.  AND what gift says "LOVE" better than handmade.  My etsy shop will not be open until then as I am busy crafting some new mice and other goodies for your shopping pleasure.

I hope you will mark the date of NOVEMBER 3RD on your calendar and plan to join us for some shopping fun.  Watch for some future updates and "sneak peeks."

holiday hugs!
Carol

GOOD MORNING LADIES!! HAVE I GOT A GREAT GIVEAWAY TO TELL YOU ABOUT!!!!

 

A WINTER WONDERLAND GIVEAWAY WITH 24 PRIZES AND 24 DIFFERENT WINNERS THAT BEGINS TODAY AND CONTINUES UNTIL THE 21ST OF OCTOBER.


Brenda of THE RUSTY THIMBLE is sponsoring this awesome giveaway and has teamed up with 24 other very talented crafters who have donated the prizes for this event.  CHECK IT OUT......

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Aren't the prizes just amazing?  And what better way to get in the Christmas spirit than by participating in the fun.  AND THAT'S NOT ALL....when the drawing is finished all the names will go back in the hat and be eligible again to win a $20.00 gift certificate donated by The Rusty Thimble which can be used with any one of the crafters who have donated prizes.

SO HEAD ON OVER TO THE RUSTY THIMBLE, check out the rules of the giveaway and get yourself signed up for some fun and prizes.  There are LOTS of ways to be eligible for additional entries.  Then come on back and leave me a comment on this post and earn yourself another entry.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR THE EXTRA ENTRY ON THIS POST ONLY.  THANKS!!

GOOD LUCK!!!

holiday hugs,
Carol

HUGE CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY PLANNED....READ ON FOR DETAILS!

Just wanted to give you the heads-up that Brenda of THE RUSTY THIMBLE is sponsoring a big Christmas themed giveaway that will begin on October 1st  through the 21st.  I am excited to be  participating in this fun event and donating  Granny Sweets.  She is wanting a new home for the holidays.......one with a big kitchen so she can do lots of baking. (lol)    Be sure to watch for more details and good luck to everyone.

Holiday hugs!
Carol
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HALLOWEEN GIFT GIVING IDEA-PREZZIES-SOME FALL DECORATING PICS

 

I just LOVE these new jar toppers that I purchased recently from KM PRIMITIVES and wanted to share some pics of them and my idea for their use.  They're  just so darn cute and will fit either a pint or a quart size jar.  I decided to attach them to antique pint canning jars and fill them with my favorite halloween candy for gift giving to some of my family members.  What a cute and inexpensive gift that can be used year after year.  You could fill with any number of fall goodies and tie off with raffia for a little extra added zing if you are not a candy lover.

If you have not had the pleasure to meet, Karen of MY COLONIAL HOME, you are really missing out.  She is an amazing crafter and a wonderful person and I feel blessed to know her.  Not only did I get these adorable jar toppers from her but she sent along a few PREZZIES in the box as well.  And goodness....who among us doesn't like to receive a prezzie or two...heehee!  And you ask "Why the prezzies?"  Well, just because....just because she is such a sweet person with a generous heart.  Here is a picture of the Christmas print she sent along with a couple of great smelling tart melts in sweet ditty bags.  The tarts are one of my favorite....Grandma's Sugar Cookie.  So yummy smelling.  Makes my mouth water.

 

 

And, last but not least, here are a few pics of my Fall/Halloween decorating around the farm.......

This is a pic of my antique wooden ironing board with someof my favorite things.

My centerpiece on my antique drop leaf table in my diningroom.

Witches shoes (made using a pattern from OLD ROAD PRIMITIVES and keepsake box sitting on antique radio.

Another fun Halloween keepsake box with what else than a witchy mouser...ha!

My antique drawer/ make-do wall box with more of my favorite Fall goodies.

 

My reproduction dry sink with more Fall/halloween goodies.

And last, my kitchen bench.


WHEW!!!  Have you made it this far without yawning.......then be the first to leave me a sweet comment and tell me what your favorite halloween candy is and win a SURPRISE Fall goodie from the farm.  A hint......the goodie is in one of the pictures in this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by and HAPPY BLESSED FALL!!!

hugs and smiles,
Carol