I made the Newspaper

 This articular was written by Lisa Allmendinger from The Heritage Newspaper in Ann Arbor, MI.  What a great way to end the year, and start a new year!  YEA!

By Lisa Allmendinger, Heritage Newspapers
Rose Clawson of Carleton took a class in basket weaving in 1992 and got hooked on the art form.

In her seventh year at the Ann Arbor Artisan Market with her Baskets By Rose, Clawson started selling her work in 1994.

With items from potpourri for $3 to $80 for a large basket, most of her items range from $20 to $50.

There are small baskets that can be used for salt and pepper shakers and larger ones for afghan blanket storage.

She even sells step baskets, a pretty alternative to a small step stool.

"I dye my own reed," she says and also offers cookie cutter baskets complete with rolling pins.

"As long as it's not below zero," she says she'll be at the market.

Lisa Allmendinger can be reached at 1-877-995-NEWS (6397) or at lallmendinger@heritage.com.

Happy New Years

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!

May 2010 be the best for you and your family!

Monday morning with OFG

Good morning, and welcome to another Monday!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  As you know each Monday I ask you to visit some Old Farmhouse Group Etsy Shops.  So please get something warm to drink (it is cold here), and check out these wonderful shops I have found for you today.  The first shop is Plow and Pony, where Toni capture's the feeling of horse and buggy days.  You will find handmade items and vintage pieces to make your home have the old fashion charm of gone by era.  The next shop is by Kathy from the Red Barn Primitive.  Kathy makes penny rugs, dolls, crochet dishcloth and sells fabric if you would like to make something for yourself.  The last shop for you today is by Sara from the Redneck Candle shop.  This is family run business that makes soy candles, and soap.  You can find laundry soap, along with glycerin fun shape soap.  Fun soap for kids or the kids at heart.  All three shops have something to add to your home.  From making your home smell great, to doing laundry, a wonderful vintage piece, and a handmade items, with out breaking the bank.  Then please check out the other wonderful artist from the Old Farmhouse Group (type in OFG) into the search bar.  Pick a room in your home and you will find something to change the look for 2010.  Have a Happy New Year, be safe, and see you in 2010!  I will be back next week, next year with some more great artist for you to look at.  Till then Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to the Military

It is Christmas in the middle east, and I would love to wish my son, daughter in law, and the rest of the military a  Merry Christmas.  You may be far from home but not from our hearts.  Be safe and return home soon.  To the other military mom's  may God watch over our sons and daughters, keep them out of harms ways, and may you get a phone call from them!  Merry Christmas!

A Soldier's Silent Night

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."




 

Merry Christmas

  Merry Christmas

Remember your Christmas past, and make memories this season!

Enjoy family and food!

Be safe in travel!

Bring out the 5 year old in all of us!

Merry Chirstmas

Rose

Monday morning with OFG

It is Christmas week, and we all have more to do then time allows!  How do we tell ourselves that next year we will start early, only to be in the same mess!  I think this question has been asked for the last hundred years!  So get something to drink and take a break, and visit some more wonderful shops with the Old Farm House Group.  The first shop I would love for you to look at is Painted Panache by Joann Y. Wheeler.  Joann is a china and porcelain painter.  Check out the teapots, and dishes she has painted.  Truly an artist, something from her shop can be handed down from generation to generation. Joann also has many other items to pick from and you will find yourself amazed with her work.  The next shop is Painted Kreations.  Kris paints snowmen and gingerbread men and women.  Many wonderful items for the collector in us or a family member.  Gingerbread people for Halloween and each season, not just Christmas.  You can start looking for upcoming Birthdays and Christmas gifts for next year.  Never to early to start.  The last shop of you today is Pioner Loft, Denise makes quilted mats, table runners, stitchery, and bowl fillers.  If you are looking to change the look of your home in 2010, this is the shop to look at.  You can get a new look with out breaking the bank.  One table runner can give a room a new look, and you will have it for many years to come.  I will have more shops for everyone to look at next Monday.  Till then I wish you and your families a Merry Merry Christmas.  Make some memories this Holiday season, and be safe!

More Christmas

I have some more Christmas trees to share with you and some simply ideas for that last minute Christmas punch!

When you walk into my back door, you are in the laundry room/ mud room!  So in this room I have added some garland and poinsettia on top of a cupboard!  Then on top of my drier I have added a small tree decorated with wash board and clothes pins.  I have the tree sitting on top of an old crate so you can see it from the window!

The tree in our bedrooms has old spools that belonged to my Mother and Grandmother.  They are on jute cord with some wooden beads left over from an other project, with some wired ribbon added to the mix.  Next to the tree is an old chair that I found this last fall, with some greenery tied on! I also have a silver bowl ($2.50 find) that I have ornaments that belonged to my Grandfather and my Dad.  My Dad loved the plastic deer on his gifts, and we now own a herd!  Simply and fun ideas, plus it keeps the memories of Loved ones long gone, still close to your heart.

My mother loved pink Christmas decorations!  It never came to my mind till after she passed away.  Where did she find all of these pink ornaments?  So I  have a pink bathroom still from the 50's and most like for another 10 years plus.  I have added a small tree, with some of her pink ornaments.  My Mothers pink ornaments makes this room very festive! 

To show you how much she loved pink this Christmas stocking was made by my mother.  Yes pink and all of the beading was sewn on by hand.  This Christmas stocking I know is over 50 years old!  It does need to be clean, but I'm not sure how to clean it.  Does someone know how?

 

This plastic Santa on his plastic reindeer, was in the bedroom I shared with my sister growing up.

How can something from the dime store mean so much, and bring back so many good times.  My dad had to rewire him twice (this is how old he his)!  Christmas is about making memories, and not gifts.  The sweater will be out of style, or to small in a few years.  But how we celebrate this season goes on for years, and becomes memories for the next generation!

Merry Christmas

Etsy Treasury BNR

Follow the link below to an Etsy treasury of BNR under $20.00, if you purchase one of the items, one of the items from your Etsy shop will replace it.  Great way to help promote your shop.  Lots of wonderful gifts that are under $20.00, handmade, and nothing like you would find at the mall.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=100921

 

This is what they have from my little shop on the web!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/basketsbyrose

Christmas Swap and Blog Winnings

First to the wonderful Christmas Swap ornaments I received!

The lovely group of hang tags is from Audrey's Country Crafts.  Hand painted wooden tag to hang in your tree.  They are just a wonderful addition to my big tree.

This hand painted gingerbread ornament is from Cindy Beaubouef.  Another wonderful ornament to have for the big tree for everyone to see.  I love to have a tree filled with ornaments that mean something and can tell a story.  Christmas memories a part of the season of love, and family.

Here are the wonderful hearts that I won from the Farmersatticblog.  I will add these to a sled a wove that is filled with ornaments from my childhood.  I have lost my family over the years and these hearts represent my sister, mother and father.  They are gone but the memories I have will last a life time.  I love letter that only a family can write.  Great addition to my home.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Money saving tip!

 First buy or reuse real ribbon.  Do not buy the paper stick on bows.  If you buy some ribbon after the season you can get it for 50% to 75% off the price.  Check you local fabric or craft store.  This ribbon lasts from year to year, and will not end up in a land fill.  Yes it does get a little wrinkle have you have stored it for a year.  But...............

If you get out your curling iron, you and fix it quick and not burn your fingers.

Run the ribbon through the curling iron a few times, and it will look just fine.  Some of the ribbon I reuse is about 10 years old.  The new ribbon with the wire in it can be fix sometime just with your hand, and a little heat from the curling iron.  If you do not curl you hair, and ask someone to use theirs or pick one up at a garage sale.  Keep it with your ribbon, and you are all sent.  Even if the stick on bow are a couple of dollars, times 10 to 15 years that adds up fast.  Or you can tell your family like I tell mine, the money I save will get us a free pizza!!!!

Merry Christmas

Monday morning with OFG

Welcome to Monday morning!  Christmas is coming fast, and if you have some gift buying to do please check out the three shops I have for you today.  Then type in OFG into the search bar of ETSY and you will find some more great shops.  Shopping in your slippers and coffee beats the malls any day.  No icy snow covered roads, no rude shoppers, etc.  Just you and your computer shopping, while the gifts are being shipped you can get something else done.  I love it!  So today I would love for you to visit The Glory Soldiers shop, this active military family are the makers of fine military, kids and sportsman signs, they also have cupboard prints, and black bees wax, a long with candle boards.  I love the baseball tickets sign myself.  The next shop be longs to Stephanie who makes vintage chenille ornaments for every holiday.  Do you have a tree that you leave up to show off all the holidays?  Then this is the shop for you!  Plus she makes primitive folk art dolls.  The last shop is Olde Country Cupboard, where you will find a good variety of holiday signs, hang tags, and mug mat coasters.  Shopping is so easy with the OFG team, something for everyone, and all handmade.  Happy shopping to you!

Some more Christmas from my home

Yesterday I was going to take pictures of my kitchen, but the camera was dead!  So I had to recharge the battery.  I hate that!  LOL  Today it was a much better day, the sun is out, no snow, just a lot of wind.  This afternoon I will go out and redo my outside decoration, that the wind blew around!  So it is off to the kitchen, where I have my tree done up in cookie cutters, and some are from my mother when she first got married in the 40's, some more she had from the 50, and the rest garage sales.  This year I found the little rolling pins to go on the tree.  I have the tree in a big crock with white lights.

Eighteen years ago I worked in a ceramic shop, and one of our customers purchased this Santa Claus cookie jar, cleaned him, and glazed the inside.  Paid for the whole thing, and never came back, so after a few years, the owner was going to throw this out, but I took him home.  Finished the outside of him, and now he has a home.  I did spent a lot of time painting him, but he was so much fun, and still looks good.  The cost was very little, I had the paints, just my time spent, and something we will have for a while.

This is one of the many old dish pans I have.  I have filled it with some red ornaments, and apples with a red candle.  Looks great in the middle of the table, and now we have to keep the papers off of the table.  That is very hard for the family to do.  Everything we do is at this table, and some days the table is under a lot of stress! 

This is one of many quilted Santa I have made.  He has coffee with me in the morning!  Does not talk a lot!  He is busy keep an eye on the coming and goings of the house.

This stain glass piece is new this year, it was made by Tina from Bello Art Glass.  Adds a lot of color to the window!  If you are interested in one please contact Tina at belloartglass@hughes.net for more information.  Tina also make wonderful stain glass Christmas ornaments.

That is all for today, I will add some more pictures in the next few days.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Bittersweet Prims Giveaway

Stop by Bittersweet Prims and enter her wonderful giveaway.  You could win both of these wonderful prim Christmas dolls.  Follow the link below!
http://bittersweetfixinsnprimitives.blogspot.com

Irish Rose creations give away

Irish Rose creations is have the most wonderful give away, a change to win one of her wonderful afghans!
Follow the link below to this wonderful blog and enter! You can get four chances to win, and if you buy something from her Etsy shop you get five more!  Someone will be very lucky on New Years Day!


http://myirishrosecreations.blogspot.com

Christmas time is here

Good afternoon!  I would love to share some of the Christmas items in my home, I have enjoy looking at everyone wonderful home this year.  The wonderful thing about a blog is that you find out that there are lots of people out there that enjoy the same things you do!  The number one item we have in common is family.  Every blog I read loves their family, and the good times, and the memories that are being made.  It is so much fun to look and read how everyday people decoration, celebrate the seasons, cooking that brings everyone to the table, and remembering those who we lost.  We live in a very blessed country, and need to keep the simply things in life important.  I have been blessed with some of my mother linens (some are hanging up on my quilt rack), the Christmas beaded ornaments that my Dad made, the old ornaments from when I was a kid, and some that belonged to my Grandparents.  Some are over 60 years old, not very shinning anymore, but they are the glue that holds the past to the future.  Share the stories of your childhood with your kids and grand kids,  

Please note that this year I have a red, white, and blue tree up for my son and daughter in law who are in Afghanistan and will not be home for Christmas.  The tree will be up till they come home, and we can do Christmas all over again.  It looks like it will be Christmas in July, for real.  Maybe I can add some 4th of July items to the tree and no one will know!!!!!  Please enjoy my living room and front door today.  Tomorrow I will show off another room!  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog!

My Grandmothers old sewing machine, with a mirror my mother in law was going to throw out. The silver on the mirror need some work, but I love the way it looks.

Both pieces work well together!

  Looking into the living room dinning area.

  I love Christmas trees and lights!  Old ornaments that we have collected over our long marriage, some my dad made, sister, and I.  No one will have the same thing, plus we purchase a Hallmark ornament each year for the tree.  We have been married so long that they could have their own tree.

Some of the ornaments from our military tree.

Some of the old ornaments from my childhood, and from my grandparents.  The picture on the left has them piled up in a old punch bowl, and the group on the right are on a silver tray that I found for $3.00 at Goodwill.  This tray is dived into three sections, for meat and vegetables

Thank you for stopping by!  Please come again!

.

Monday Market with OFG

Welcome to Monday and shops that I feature from the Old Farmhouse Group.  Today I would love for you to visit three more great shops.  So get something wonderful to drink and visit all three shops.  The first shop is Kattwhompus, Rhonda is the artist from this shop making one of kind stars, pin keepers, baskets, bees wax cones, with some vintage in for fun.  The next shop Kindra's Kreations that belongs to Kindra who is a busy stay at home mom, that makes wooden signs, and custom orders are always welcome.  The last shop is Oakleaf Hallow where Julie is the artist.  This wonderful artist take softballs and makes them prim!  Everything in the shop is hand painted by Julie.  Julie does have another shop that is filled with vintage fines.  When you are done please type in OFG into the search bar on Etsy and you will find many one of kind, primitive, shabby chic, art for your home, or for a wonderful gift.  Happy Monday, see you next Monday with some more wonderful shops from the Old Farmhouse Groups.

I am the winner of ................

This morning I found out that I won the Hearts and Letters from Farmersattic

What a great and wonderful start to the week! 

12-7 Pearl Harbor Day

December 7, 1941 Japan attached Pearl Harbor, starting the US going into World War II.  If you are lucky enough to have a family member or friends of the family, that are veterans, talk to them about that day.  What where they doing, how they felt, and what they did.  Then go and talk to the women of that time period, who became Rosie the Riveters.  Others who rolled bandages for the Red Cross, knitted socks for the troops, sold war bonds, and collected items needed for the war front.  Learn how to cook with ration stamps.  Yes you where limited to how much you could buy.  Food was needed to feed the military.  When my parents where getting married, people gave ration stamp as wedding gifts, so they could have a wedding.  My mom's wedding dress was made from my Dad parachute, and her Dad (my Grandfather) was a tailor and was the one who made it  History was made by your family and friends.  We are losing are Veteran fast, so take some time today to find out about our history makers.  If someone in your family is the collector of the family history, they still might have a ration book, then look for some old recipes, good food made with very little sugar.  This is the greatest generation, they lived during the Depression of the 30's, fought for our freedom in the 40's, returned to work, and raised their families in the 50's and 60's.  We could learn so much from them, the way the lived, the faith they had, and how to have a good time with very little.  It was all about family, and we need to get that back.

Please honor are Veterans everyday of the year!

Free shipping at Basketsbyrose

I have free shipping on most of the items in my Etsy shop and Art Fire shop.  Please stop by and take a  peak at what I have to offer.  Thank you!   If you would like to put something in lay away please convo me, and we can work something out. 

http://basketsbyrose.etsy.com
http://basketsbyrose.artfire.com

Merry Christmas to everyone!

The Farmers Attic is having a giveaway

Follow the link below to enter to win a wonderful give away.  The Farmers Attic blog is giving away some prim hearts and a love letter.  Who couldn't use a love letter!!!  This will be in time for Christmas and could be used all year long.  Easy to do just sign up and leave a nice comment, and you could win this!
http://farmersattic.blogspot.com

The winner is................

The Old Farmhouse has a winner of the basket giveaway and it is ...................... Jill from Lake Zurick, IL.

Thank you everyone who joined us in the great giveaway.  The ladies at the Farmhouse are working on the next one.  Please start looking after the first of the year for what we have to offer.  The Farmhouse is back and regrouping after the loss of Linda.  She is now our Angel and keeping us on track.  Congratulation Jill your basket is on its way to you.