More Garage Sale Goodies!!!

Well prim gals here are the garage sale goodies that I have gotten this year. Just like my post from yesterday, all of these things I am using outside as part of my garden & landscape decorations. Keep in mind the season is still young! I will be searching through our local paper to see if there are any community sales going on this weekend. If I can remember, I think that there is one going on really close, like uptown. Hopefully the radio did not steer me wrong. Oh well, I will just have to check the newspaper out.

Okay, enough of my rambling, here are the goodies...

I just could not resist this Uncle Sam. The moment that I saw him I knew that I had to have him because he was going to be perfect for my white chair on the front porch. He is one of my most favorite finds so far this garage sale season.

This darling single wash basin was actually bought off of a friend of mine. I really could not believe that she was parting with it and so I told her that it was going to be mine. Over the holiday weekend I plan on putting flowers in it. I can hardly wait to get started on it!

This cute ladder also came from the same friend. She used to use it as an end table. However, I am going to be using it outside to put a nice large pot of flowers on. I also think some grapevine would look really cute on it too. What do you think? Yes, my friend and I do a lot of garage sale swapping each year, which is a lot of fun too. :)

One of my favorite things to look for at garage sales would have to be old farm tools. I already have several and am looking forward to getting the chance someday to display them in our breezeway.

Both this little bench and watering can came from my garage sale adventures within these last couple of weeks. I am still deciding where to put this little bench of mine. Hmmm? This may take me a little while to figure it out and will look forward to doing that this beautiful weekend. :)

For now that is all that I have to share of the goodies that I have found to use outside during my excursions this spring. However, I do have things that I have bought to use inside my home, which I will be posting about tomorrow. So, stay tuned... So, did you like what you saw? I know I had a lot of fun finding them and am looking forward to getting them all placed and finished like I want them to look this weekend. On Monday or maybe Tuesday I will have pictures of all the finished goodies. :)

Have a wonderful day my prim pals. May many blessings shine down on you this day.

Blessings and Perfect Prims,

I Love Garage Sales!!!

There are so many things that I love about spring, and one of them is garage sales! Every weekend I have been to one since they really got started back at the beginning of May. Below are a few pictures of items that I got last year when I went to a community garage sale day, actually in the same little town that I found my goodies on my trash pickin' adventure. :)

So, here they are...

I really like this little planter. It is sitting on the right side of my garage. It is a really cute little place to plant my verbena flowers each year.

These old sap buckets are some of my favorite finds. I have put pots of flowers in them each year. It gives the front of my garage a really warm and welcoming feeling. I love, love, love red flowers.

I also bought this large bucket and prim box as well. I will be planting red, white and blue petunias in it like I did last year. Any suggestions for what I should put on the inside of my box? It looks really cute in the front of my home.

Here is another pot and crate that I bought. It too is in the front of my home. I also plan on planting flowers or putting greenery in the pot. What do you think? The rocks are in it right now so that the wind does not blow it away.

This summer I am looking forward to actually landscaping around our home. It has not been done in many, many, many years and is so desperately in need of it.

Hope you like what I found last year. Stop back again tomorrow and see what great finds that I purchased this year for the outside of my home. Coming soon in future posts will be the garage sale bargains that I got for the inside of my home. :)

Blessings and Perfect Prims,

Trash Pickin'

A couple of weeks ago I was driving through a small little town, near our home, on my way from school. This little town is so cute and had just had their community garage sales the weekend before, which of course I went to. On this particular day people were getting rid of things that they did not want anymore and were putting them out to be collected by their township. Pretty much anything goes when this once a year event happens. You can only imagine what people were getting rid of. Let me tell you, I have never trashed picked a day in my life. Yet, I found myself turning around for some treasures that I have put to use as yard decorations. The whole time I told myself, I can't believe I'm doing this! Yep, it was fun. There were lots of other people out doing the same. Well, without further rambling, here are the pictures of the pieces I picked up and loaded my van with. I hope you like them. :)

So, have any of you ladies ever went trash picking before? What have you found if so? After the initial oh my goodness feeling, I think that I may have found a new sport. (hahaha)


Blessings and Perfect Prims,

Primitive Easter Baskets...

I have been doing a lot of planning and thinking about Easter baskets. Actually making up baskets filled with goodies is one of my favorite things to do. I love Easter, it is one of my 2 favorite holidays. Anyways, as I was getting ready for school on Monday, I got to wondering what a truly primitive Easter basket might look like and what I might do to make one. Next week I am on spring break and so I plan on trying my luck. Have you ladies thought of ever doing this or maybe you have done this? Do you have any ideas? Maybe you have some pictures? Like I said, this was just a thought. There are so many great ideas, for right now I just have to find the time to tackle some of them.

Blessings and Perfect Prims,
Stacey

Farm Wife Updates...

Hi ladies!

I just wanted to take a few short moments here and post something new. Many things have been happening around the Reilly farm. Let's see, well, I will quickly update you...

~ I have had a colonoscopy and EDG done to rule out some of the possible causes as to why I was having some of the symptoms that I was and thankfully everything came back fine and they were able to give me medication to help me

~ I have been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have been changing my lifestyle and learning all about this disease and what I can do to help stop any complications from happening in the future

~ My SIL had a baby boy on March 14, which unfortunately had sparked some emotional days for me because my husband and I are trying to conceive and are dealing with some infertility issues

~ My job as a substitute teacher has gotten busier with more days

~ Time around our farm seems to have been running short, or maybe I just had not adjusted to some of the changes that have been made, like going to the rec center and working out more often and learning how to cook better

I plan on posting a lot more. It would be really awesome if I could post everyday, which is something that I hope to do. Let me tell you how much all of you wonderful ladies have inspired me with all of your beautiful blogs and creative ideas.

Blessings and perfect prims,
Stacey

Posting trouble...

Hi everyone!

I can not seem to keep my post visable and am not sure why that is? If you are having trouble viewing my page then let me know. It seems like I can just click on February and they come up, but will not stay up after I log out? Hum, what to do? Sorry if anyone has been trying to view my blog, I didn't know that was happening before this afternoon.

Hugs and blessings,
Stacey

Tea Stain Recipe

I found a great site on the web that had some really wonderful primitive techniques for craft making and I wanted to share with you one of the recipes that she has on her site, which is how to tea stain fabric.

Here is her recipe:

Tea Staining ~ Fabric Tea staining has been around a long time and was first used to hide stains on linens. It is one of the most popular ways to stain fabric and gives it a warm antique look. Different types of teas such a green tea, black tea, rasperry and herbel teas will give you different tints and tones on fabrics so don't be afraid to experiment a bit. Hibiscus tea will give you red tones while black teas give more of a soft brown or cream tone to the fabric. Tea staining works well only on natural fabrics- muslin, cotton, linen and wools dye well. It is very easy to do and just takes a few simple steps:

~If your fabric is new be sure to wash it first to remove the sizing before dying

~I have found 4 cups of water and 4 single cup tea bags will dye one yard of fabric

~Bring the water to a boil and remove from heat add tea and let set for about 5 minutes until the liquid turns the desired color

~Remove the tea bags from the water if you dont the tea bags may make dark stains on your fabric

~Wet the fabric in water thoroughly, removing excess before putting in the tea mixture- stir gently

~Let soak for approxiamately 10 minutes checking to see if the fabric is dark enough

~Remember you fabric will dry a shade lighter

~When fabric has reached the desired color remove from the tea mixture and rinse well with warm water and a mild dish soap- if you don't the fabric may become damaged by the tea- tea contains acid which can destroy fibers over time

~Line dry or place the fabric in the dryer. I like to put the fabric in an old pillowcase to protect my dryer and if Im going to put in white clothes right after I will wipe the dryer out if it jeans I just dont worry

~When the fabric is dry if you want it darker repeat the process , if the fabric is too dark wash the fabric in a gallon of water to which you have added 1 tablespoon of bleach this will lighten the fabric- rinse thoroughly and redry

~If I am going to use the fabric for something that is going to be washed I will soak it in a gallon of cold water to which I have added 1 tablespoon of vinegar to set the color.

Have fun tea staining - remember the possibilities are endless -old linens, clothes, etc can all be tea stained! For more great crafting tips and recipes visit our website Two Old Crows.

Happy crafting and blessings,
Stacey