Time, Kids, and Project City

Four months since I've been around my blog so that means I'm WAY behind on reading yours!  I was looking through my "Edit Posts" and came across a few drafts that I started with every intention of posting but it didn't quite work out that way.  Where have I been?  What have I been up to?  Do you even care?  Haha.

Well... I realized that time was passing by quickly.  I only had a few short months left to spend with just my baby boy before he starts full day Kindergarten this fall.  My blogging had always occurred during our time together.  When he asked me once if I would get off the computer and watch a cartoon with him, it hit me pretty hard and right in the face.

The little guy and I have been enjoying our mornings and evenings together, just us and let me tell you... this is what life is ALL ABOUT!  I'm so very thankful that God has allowed us to have these few months together because I know memories were made that neither one of us will forget.  More importantly, I will not have that regret that I didn't spend more time with him.

The last few months have turned our home into Project City. Don't get me wrong... I'm not complaining about the many "projects" each of my kids have been assigned (I counted 12 between the 3 kids in only five months).  I love seeing the creativity come alive in them without our prodding.  It's awesome to see their little minds work out the details and the joy it brings them when they've "got it!".  Because I love my kids and they are so much of my life, I just wanted to share one picture of each of them with their awesome projects that they all achieved with little to no help from us.

Ryan got an "A" of course on this awesome Catapult for his Science class.  It had to launch a tennis ball at least 5 feet.  You can see that yellow dot flying through the air and landing 18 feet out!  He was so stinkin' proud, as was his parents!  Dad is out there holding the tape measure.

Little Miss Amariah and her friend did such an amazing job on their Rubber Band Powered Vehicle for Science class that they received the privilege of taking it to the Tulsa Engineering Challenge.  The girls were the only two-girl team in the contest amongst lots of boys.  I was so proud of them as they showed them boys that Girls Rule!  Not only did they take first place in their division and win $100 to share, but they also beat last year's record by 12 feet!  Their little car went 71' 8".  Of course, we were proud parents!  Amariah is in the red hoodie.

Last but not least, little Robbie had so much fun making his dinosaur diorama.  He was naming the dinosaurs with their long names and pronouncing them perfectly.  I was shocked that he listened so well in class.  He really enjoyed making this with his dad and dad enjoyed it too!

It's been quite a year already and quite a busy year already.  My laptop clock just hit 12:01 AM 6/1/2011.  Can you believe that?  Time is fleeting.  I hope you are taking charge of your time and spending it with your family and friends but more importantly... take time to live for Jesus!  The May 21 end of the world prediction was wrong as we all knew it would be but I do believe that our time on this earth is short.  Spread not only the love of Christ, but the Good News about His saving grace.  Share with someone this week your testimony of what He has done for you.

I'm grateful for time that God has given to me to teach my kids about His love, His mercy, and even time to just hang out and laugh with them.  There really is nothing sweeter.

Have a delightful week my friends!  Now that school is out for the summer, I hope to visit your blogs and see what you have been up to.  =]

Yippeeeee!! My awesome garage sale find for today!

Oh my word prims!  I am so very excited!!  I have been wanting one of these for over 20 years but they are so expensive.  At the last garage sale I hit today it was there with no price.  The man was really talking it up so I finally said "Well, I know you want more for it than what I can handle, how much?".  He said "Oh... $15".  Me:  "WHAT?!?!?!  Only $15?  Are you sure??".  I heard the "fif" sound come out of his mouth so I thought he was gonna say $50, lol!  Isn't she a beauty??  The treadle is broke.  I know my dad can fix that but not sure that I want it fixed... might leave it as it is.  Sorry for the background, I couldn't wait to show you so I took pics of it in the garage as soon as I pulled it out of the truck, hehe.

Then when you open it up, here's what's inside...

It even has a needle!  The little bit that I've looked up on the internet so far about "Ruby" says they aren't worth much but I don't care about that... it's worth a lot to me!  Everything still turns with no trouble or squeaking!

I'm so glad nothing is going on this weekend so I can get it cleaned up and moved into the house!  Happy Mother's Day to me!!  =]

I bought this sweet little Raggedy Andy at an antique mall a couple of weeks ago for $6.  I collect Raggedy's and this handmade one I love because it's little heart says I heart Jodi.  That is my sister's name and the way it's spelled too.  How sweet!

Another find at the antique mall for $3.  I didn't even have to do anything to it but wipe it down really good.  We are a family that eats all of our meals at the table together so having a wonderfully prim centerpiece for my table just hasn't worked because it's constantly getting moved out of the way and then the hassle of finding somewhere for it to sit.  So this lazy susan is perfect for us.

I've bought lots of pieces this past month that I was going to re-do this weekend but now they will have to wait till I get the machine cleaned up first.  Any ideas on what to use on the actual machine to clean it up?  I'm afraid to touch it.  Guess I'll have to do some googling on the internet to find out.

Well that is it for this post.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I always appreciate your time spent with me.  Have a beautiful weekend and wonderful Mother's Day!

Old sewing notions and bobbins

I was so excited to receive a package in the mail recently from my good blog friend Dale from over at A Country Shop.  If you are ever in the Rochester, NH area... you simply must make time for Dale's shop.  I have never been, but every time she posts on her blog about her shop, I wish I could be there!  Dale is a real sweetheart and LOVES what she does... you can just tell from her blog posts.  She has so much fun playing with her prims!  She saw my recent post about my laundry room and decided (Thank you for deciding this Dale!!) I needed to add a few pieces to my printer's tray.  So she sent me the Anacin tin that still contains aspirin and also the little green metal Tums tin!!  Thank you so much Dale!!  You are a real sweetheart!  I have been looking for pieces to add to this box but everything I come across is to big so it was fun to add these little pieces.

I bought the tiny green bottle on the bottom shelf for 50 cents.  It says "Sample, 3 in one oil" on it and is so cute.  I also bought the amber bottle at the same antique mall for 1.00.

Dale also gifted me with this awesome ointment tin which still contains ointment!

As if that wasn't enough, Dale saw these adorable spools and thought of my old sewing notions bathroom.  As she says in her note... "Found these and loved them... thought of you and your bath.  SO got 2!  1 for you, 1 for me."  Lol!!  Thank you so much Dale!  These are so cute and I can't wait to make some!  They are wrapped with tea stained fabrics and the little muslin tag says "Bobbin".  I have lots of old plain wooden spools... now I know what I can do with them!  The Caldwells Syrup Pepsin bottle was a recent acquisition at the same antique mall.  Thank you for thinking of me Dale!  I appreciate your gifts and will think of you every single time I see them!  As always... prim blog friends are the bestest!!  =]

I got a little bobbin happy when I went antiquing recently, hehe!  I just kept finding them and they were great prices.  I am so drawn to those old sewing notions.  I need you all to tell me why some of these are red and blue.  I have never, ever seen colored ones.  I suppose they are reproductions but yet the tops of them look really worn.

I couldn't pass up on the tall bobbin (11") for only $4!  I also found this awesome box of thread from The American Thread Company that is in perfect condition for only $2!  Even the re-order form is intact in the bottom.

Thanks to those of you that took the time to comment on my last post.  I appreciate all the help and advice you gave me.  I'm gonna be adding another cabinet in that room soon... which is a good thing because at the rate that I am buying, I'm running out of room!

I wish for you a blessed week~

Needing some laundry room advice please!

I worked in my laundry room yesterday and I need to know what you think.  I'm thinking about moving the Apothecary sign up a little.  I'm still working on it.  I have a couple more things to put on the shelf and I also have a jar full of my waxed clothespins to add.  A few of the old sewing notions that I recently got at a garage sale will make their appearance here too.


I have been on the lookout for some old ironing boards.  I want a big one to lean against this cabinet and a smaller one to set on top.  I found a few of the big ones at my favorite antique mall, I just couldn't decide which one to bring home with me.


I am so blessed to own two of my mom's dresses that she wore when she was a baby.  They are at least 75 years old and still in great shape!  I treasure them so very much!!


Along with my mom's treasured dresses, I am so honored to display some precious handmades by some of my sweetest blog friends!

• Adorable little cupcake pinkeep that I won last spring from Lucy over at The Farmer's Attic.
• Neat wooden spool with antiqued tape measure ribbon and waxed clothespins (that started my wax obsession!) that I won last year from Darla over at The Prim Patch.  Thank you Darla for getting me hooked on wax, lol!
• Darling little baby shoe pinkeep that I won last year from Linda over at Parker's Paradise.  Sweet Linda also recently gifted me with the wonderful ditty bag hanging on the peg.

Don't you just love surrounding your home with wonderful handmades by dear friends?  I see these things on a daily basis and my friends immediately come to mind... even over a year later.  Thank you dear friends!

Okay, now that I took a walk down memory lane... please be brutally honest with me and tell me what you think I need to do.  I am going to soften it up a little with some greenery and of course I have to add some berries in there somewhere to stick with my Berry theme.

Looking forward to antiquing with some friends all day Friday and then scrapbooking with them all night!

Thanks in advance for your visit and help.  I wish you a blessed week~

Fabric and sewing goodies

Goodness girls, I have received and bought lots of things this month.  I can't even post it all in one post!  First I want to share some goodies that two of my dearest, sweetest friends that I have never even met have blessed me with!

First off, I'm sure lots of you know our sweet blogger friend Linda from over at Parker's Paradise.  She is always blessing someone with goodies that she makes, finds, or makes over!  I received a "just because" package from her.  When I saw who it was from, I knew it was going to be jam-packed with good stuff and she didn't disappoint!  Oh my word Linda, you are so awesome!!  Thank you for all these wonderful goodies!  It was like Christmas... the ditty bags all had something in them, so much fun to unpack!  =]  

There are wonderful ditty bags, adorable heart bowl fillers, fabric covered eggs in a cute little wooden bowl, a sweet little pip berry wreath and best of all is the piece that it is all laying on.  I used this as a runner for my table... perfect for spring!

As if that wasn't enough, Linda also added these cute note cards that I had to hide from my daughter, haha!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Linda for your friendship!  I am constantly amazed at the prim friends that I have made since I first started blogging.  Even though I have never met a single one of you, I consider you to be some of  my dearest and bestest friends!!

Another dear, sweet friend that blessed me this month is my facebook buddy Micki Groom Creamer.  She is a doll!  Some of you may know that I have a great fondness for old sewing notions.  Micki had some wonderful pieces that I fell in love with last year.  I found myself going back to her pictures often to get another glimpse.  One day she contacted me and asked for my address because she was getting rid of her needle books and wanted to share them with me.  I was so excited when I received them in the mail!  I search for these every time I go treasure hunting!  Be still my heart!!  Thank you so much Micki! 

What sweet friendships I am so honored to have!  Thank you dear ladies!

Yay for garage sale time!  I was so excited to find this aida cloth for cross stitching for 50 cents a roll and some vintage fabric.

I felt like I hit the jack pot when I stumbled upon this lot of "craft supplies" for $3.00.

There were even some vintage sewing notions and patterns from the 70's, yay!

This large box was a great find at 50 cents!

Well that's it for this time.  I have much more to share and my newest obsession, lol!  This week I am going to work on my sewing half-bath and laundry room because that is where most of this will be going.  Can't wait to finish that area.

Thanks for always stopping by for a visit!  I appreciate you dear friends more than I can ever show you!

Have a blessed week~

Painting and cleaning

Prim friends, I have been so busy... too busy to keep up with blogging.  I miss posting and I really miss seeing what all you are up to!

This is what I am in the middle of right now... painting.

Here is one of my dining room walls before.

Here it is after one coat of dark red paint, and still wet too.  Only one coat!  I couldn't believe how well it covered, I was seriously amazed!

So far the second coat has been applied and I could really stop there, it looks so good.  But I haven't used near the paint that I thought I would so I am going to put on a third coat tomorrow.  Can't wait to tear off that blue tape and see that dark red against the wood.  When I'm done, I'll be back with some more before and after pictures.

This is what else I've been doing... spring cleaning in my kitchen!  I was debating on whether I should share these pictures with you or not because I don't want you to see my messy kitchen haha, but I am going against my will and hoping that this will spur some motivation in someone.  I opened every single drawer and cabinet in my kitchen.

I spent two full days taking every single thing out, wiping out each drawer and shelf.  Then re-organizing every single small appliance, dish, and utensil.  As I finished that drawer or cabinet, I closed the door.  That was a wise thing to do because although it was a very tedious job, it was so nice to see that I was making progress!

I'm actually amazed it only took 2 days but once I got going, it was so fulfilling to finally get things organized!  I am a Pampered Chef junkie (also a Scentsy junkie, lol) and have bought a lot since we moved into our home 4.5 years ago so it was very nice to get everything together now instead of all over the kitchen wherever I could find room.

I'm so excited that I now have sections for: baking, entertaining, and holiday items.

Other than these home improvement projects, I have been extremely busy with my kids and their many school projects.  I will only bore you with one of the projects.  My daughter and her friend took 1st place at their school with their Rubber-band Vehicle in Science.  The top three advanced to the Tulsa Engineering Challenge that is put on by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.  They went up against many, many boys and they were the only all girl team and guess what?  Those girls got 1st place in their division and won $100 (to share)!  We were so very proud of them because they built it, my husband was just there to supervise.  Amariah is the one on the right.

Oh, I've also been antiquing on a weekly basis and have so many things to share... as soon as I can get to it all and get it unpacked!

Have a delightful week my friends~

For Sale

Please send me an email at berryhomespunprimitives@gmail.com if you are interested in buying.  I accept Paypal and money orders.  I do combine shipping.


Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I always appreciate you!



These primitive Ditty Bags would be perfect hanging on a peg hook, an old chair, or from an old cupboard door.  You can also display them in old wooden bowls or on your primitive shelves.  Just add grubby candles, lavender, sweet annie, or hang it as it is.

Reproduction 19th Century blue and tan floral print fabric with a muslin hand embroidered patch that says "1842".  This piece is heavily tea stained with vanilla and cinnamon also.  Ditty Bag itself measures 5 3/4 x 7 1/4", not including the twine hanger.  All handmade by me.  $4.00.  Shipping in the US is $1.25.

Reproduction 19th Century blue and tan floral print fabric with a muslin hand embroidered patch that says "1847".  This piece is heavily tea stained with vanilla and cinnamon also.  

Ditty Bag itself measures 5 3/4 x 7 1/4", not including the twine hanger.  All handmade by me.  $4.00.  Shipping in the US is $1.25.

Reproduction 19th Century barn red, black, and tan floral print fabric with a muslin hand embroidered patch that says "1847".  This piece is heavily tea stained with vanilla and cinnamon also.  Ditty Bag itself measures 5 1/4 x 6 1/2", not including the twine hanger.  All handmade by me.  $4.00.  Shipping in the US is $1.25.

Reproduction 19th Century barn red, black, and tan floral print fabric with a muslin hand embroidered patch that says "1842".  This piece is heavily tea stained with vanilla and cinnamon also.  Ditty Bag itself measures 5 1/4 x 6 1/2", not including the twine hanger.  All handmade by me.  $4.00.  Shipping in the US is $1.25.

Homespun barn red and tan with a muslin hand embroidered patch that says "1842".  This piece is heavily tea stained with vanilla and cinnamon also.  Ditty Bag itself measures 5 1/4 x 7 1/4", not including the twine hanger.  All handmade by me.  $4.00.  Shipping in the US is $1.25.

Homespun barn red and tan with a muslin hand embroidered patch that says "1847".  This piece is heavily tea stained with vanilla and cinnamon also.  Ditty Bag itself measures 5 1/4 x 7 1/4", not including the twine hanger.  All handmade by me.  $4.00.  Shipping in the US is $1.25.

So far this month...

My dear friend Katie and I went shopping in a little Amish community down the road from here.  Our first stop was The Amish Cheese House for some chicken base, jelly, and yummy snacks.  Lunch was delicious at The Dutch Pantry.  It is homemade buffet only and those noodles are oh, so yummy!  Then we hit Cherry's Antique Mall.  We have yet to make it all the way through the mall, lol!  I adore this vintage white bowl that I found for $4.  It has some characteristic cracks in it and stamped Ohio on the bottom.  We bought a bag of molds, cutters, and scoops for $6 and split it so this is my $3 worth.  It's so much more fun shopping with a friend!  =]  Oh, I just realized my cutters aren't in this picture-- they are in my cutter bowl.

The only other thing I bought were these beautiful vintage graphic valentines, I delight greatly in them!  They were so super cheap!  I bought all 10 of these (in both pictures) for $4!

One has a ripped head, hehe, but they are so neat.  They are for "Odelia" and have the years 1926, 1929, and 1930 written on them!  I am AMAZED that they are up to 85 years old and still in near perfect condition!  I can't wait to decorate with them next Valentine's Day.

Speaking of old... this is a Leisure Arts leaflet I bought in 1993, 18 years ago and still haven't completed!  Could I be the queen of good intentions, lol?  Well, I finally picked it up again and decided to work on it while "sitting in line" to pick up my three car rider kids from school.  Yes Brenda, this is "the big one" that I've been working on for years and can't seem to complete, haha!

It says Country Kitchen Sampler, but mine will be a Primitive Kitchen Sampler.  =]

I'm still deep cleaning (yes... bleh!), going to some scrapbooking crops (finally started my 15 year old son's baby book... yah!), and finally trying to decorate for Spring.

I hope you all are enjoying your March so far.  Have a delightful week my sweet friends~

Show-off Time

I finally got around to taking a few pictures of some recent goodies.  Well, in all honesty... I guess I should say I finally got around to doing some dusting before I could take these pictures, hehe!

Don't you just love this adorable bonnet that I bought from Lecia over at Farmhouse Prims?

I was so shocked to learn that she has only been creating and crafting this past year!  Her bonnets are wonderfully made and primmed!  Lecia was so sweet to let me pick out what color I wanted and how primmed I wanted it to be!  I love it and I knew exactly where I wanted it to go... on one of my favorite family heirlooms.  This awesome highchair has a lever on the back that can lower it to become a carriage!

I will share more of the highchair later, that will be a post for another day.  I love the beautiful mustard color of my bonnet!  Thank you so much Lecia, I love it!!

My sweet and beautiful friend Katie gave these adorable little vases to me "just because".  Love them and love her!  I am going to get some single spring flowers to put in each one.

Katie is my one and only friend that lives near me that is getting into prims, YAY!  Finally someone to share prims with!!  She doesn't know it yet, but she will be starting a blog hopefully soon, hehe!  We are going to the Amish community down the road from me tomorrow.  I can't wait to eat at The Dutch Pantry, shop at The Amish Cheese House and hit the antique malls there!

I also received a wonderful box of goodies from winning the giveaway that Tricia over at Hillcrest Home Prims was hosting.  This adorable little shirt is going in my laundry room as soon as I get a peg hook board made for it but for now it looks right at home with my little Amish collection.  It's so sweet with its little cinnamon stick and homespun hanger and it is primmed perfectly with little holes and stains, love it!

I really love this beautiful throw but I'm not sure where to put it.

My daughter got the bright idea to put it on the school desk and since I'm too lazy right now to move everything off of it, this is where it will stay for awhile.  I will probably end up draping it over the desk instead of laying it across it.  Thank you Tricia, I love them both so much!!

Lots of deep cleaning going on here at the Berry Homestead.  Trying to get as much done as I possibly can so I'm not stuck inside when we reach that 70 and 80 degree beautiful, sunshiny weather!

I hope you all are having a blessed and delightful week so far!  Spring will be here in a few weeks...

*Smile*