MAMA SOW and PIGLETS

My pictures are out of order. This is a pic of the garden after the brave little piglets (shown below) came for a visit. They rooted around in the mulch and disturbed the newspaper weed blocker. What a messs......thanks little guys! This spring our pig sow had a litter of piglets and they are the cutest little guys. Look at how tiny they are compared to the mama!

I think Mama is trying to hide or maybe she's just keeping her nose warm. Look how each little piglet is a different color. At about three weeks old the piglets were getting brave and coming out of the pen. They would go exploring in the barnyard and run at every noise.

Getting ready for summer! HIP HIP HOORAY!

SHOP IS SHUT APR. 18TH

Here is a before picture of my herb garden. Isn't this old fence great. It was going to be torn down and burned so I rescued it. I cut it down to about 30" and knocked out every other slat. I told my husband I wanted it to look like its been in the yard for a hundred years....He said "you don't have to worry about that!" Now it looks good with our 100+ year old farmhouse.

I always use brown eggs for dying at Eastertime. I just love the way the colors come out with the brown undertones. They look so countrified.

The shop will be shut on Sat. April 18th. My son participates every year in the "Odyssey of the Mind" competition. The group from Benton placed 1st in the regionals with 348 points out of a possible 350. They are going to the state finals this Sat. I am going so I can get pictures. Evidently everyone was very impressed with the Walrus (my son) costume, which was made by one of the girls in the group. I didn't get to go to the regionals so am going this Sat.

A NICE DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY

I tried to put my map here but a message kept coming up--internal error-- so there's no map. I will type in the directions from different areas. And if it's raining like today, bring an umbrella, it is a bit of a hike from the parking to the shop.

From Rt. 42 and points west: In Millville take Rt. 254E about 5 miles, turn left onto Austin Trail, go approx. 5 miles, turn right at stop sign, go 1 mile, we are on the right, across the street from the Jackson Baptist Church.

From Rt. 487 and points east: south of Benton, take Rt. 254W about 5 miles, at the stop sign turn right, go 1/4 mile and turn right onto Austin Trail, go about 5 miles, turn right at the stop sign, go 1 mile, we are on the right, across the street from the Jackson Baptist Church.

From Berwick: take Rt. 93N to Orangeville, turn right onto Rt. 487N, follow directions from Rt. 487 above.

From Bloomsburg: take either Rt. 487N or 42N, follow those directions above.

From Benton: off of Rt. 487N. turn left onto Market St. follow Market St. out of town, over West Creek Bridge it is now called Distillery Hill Rd., follow Distillery Hill up the hill, at the T follow the road to the right. Keep going approx. 3 miles, cross over Green Creek Rd. and go UP the hill (not right and down and not left and backwards) UP the hill. The road now is called Derrs Rd. Go approx. 3 more miles and you will see the Jackson Baptist Church in front of you, we are on the left, approx. 5-6 miles

From Rt. 118 and points north: take 487S to just north of Benton and take a right onto Waller Rd., go a few miles and take a left onto Green Creek Rd., go 2 or 3 miles and take a right onto Piper Rd., go 2 or 3 miles and at the stop sign, we are on the left.

These are the easiest directions and once you are here you will no doubt find shortcuts to take home. As my friend Carolyn says....all roads lead to Derrs.

THE OLD FARMHOUSE

Last night I brought in the last 10 or so boxes to unpack. I love this old farmhouse. It suits me. I have rearranged the quilt fabric room for the third time. I think it works now. I spent the whole day (tuesday) emptying out the garage so I could sweep and mop. I am going to divide it into an antiques room and a plant potting room. It has 11 foot ceilings and the walls are all panelled. The quilts will have plenty of hanging room. Hope to get some pictures soon so you can see.

Our new address is 353 Derrs Rd. Benton, PA 17814 (the parsonage across the street from the Jackson Baptist Church in the Village of Derrs). Please call for directions....we are only 5 miles from the old location.

New phone # is 570-458-6968. It took the phone co. 2 weeks to connect the phone.

Picked out a room upstairs for scrapbooking. Now I just need some furniture for it.


Set up the quilting machine in another upstairs room. It has a view of the parking lot so I can see arriving people.

New hours are Monday thru Saturday 12-5 and Thursday til 8 pm. Other times by chance or appointment. Closed Sunday by order of the church!

Please check the blog frequently for changes or closings and goings on. Hope to see you soon!

THE OLD SHOP IN TOWN

Click on the picture to get a close-up of the quilts.



I have officiaolly started to move. I have been mulling over in my mind the pros and cons of leaving town and opening my shop in the country. The pro column is about 15 items long and the con column is only 1 item (location). This is a pic of the town shop. The dilemma is that I am located behind another building and as people drive by on the main road they have no idea I am even back there. When the store in front of me is closed, no one sees my shop out back (and they close for the winter). I think I lose a lot of business with no road frontage. And my overhead is very high for this small town. The pro column at this shop is 1 item long (location, but not really a good one) and the con column is 12 items long (probably more). I have been searching for a place on Main St. for a few months now and nothing has been going in my favor. I read a book called "The Secret" last year and one of the main issues with this book is that "you make your own destiny" and "if you think it, it will happen". I really believe that and here's why: When we first moved to the little village of Derrs, the parsonage next door to us sat empty and I thought to myself "what a neat place that would be for my shop!" WELL--wouldn't you know, when I asked at church one Sunday about a month ago...."What do you think about moving my shop into the parsonage"? The response was a big YES--the only yes I have heard for months. So, I'm thinking that my thoughts from 4 yrs. ago are going to happen. I have signed a contract with the Jackson Baptist Church and will be moving into the parsonage this month. The parsonage is located only 5 miles away and a very nice drive in the country. It sits on an acre and a half with room for gardens and a greenhouse. The attached garage will make a great classroom. I teach all kinds of primitive handwork and need the room. I'm looking forward to all this new space!

These are the Summer girls. I make a life-size doll for the porch every season.

Thank you Patti from Brickhouuse Crafts for your kind comments.

UNCLE SAM GOES TO FLORIDA

A friend was in and saw my Uncle Sam pieced and quilted wallhanging and wanted her sister (in-law?) who lives in Florida to see it. The sister (in-law?) decorates her home in Americana. So here, in all his glory, is Uncle Sam. Enjoy!

SPRING AT LAST ?

Bunny on a stick peeking out of the daisy patch.



















Paper-pieced tulips wallhanging. Bright and colorful.



















Cutest ever bunny in a box with carrot garland.

DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

OFF CONSTANTLY TEAM....awesome!














Check out the monkey!














Winding up for the throw!















COSMIC PANDAS TEAM......cute!

Every year at about this time the BENTON JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL has a dodgeball tournament. My 2 boys are always on separate teams and It is such a competition between the two teams. This was the first year I actually went to watch. It is sooooo much fun for the kids and for the audience. I couldn't believe how much fun it was. The OFF CONSTANTLY team came into my shop to use my work table to gussy up their t-shirts. The t-shirts are white and they add graphics and nicknames, I liked CREEPER and POP-O TART alot, but they were all really creative and original. My other boys team was something about COSMIC PANDAS and they came in to cut their stencils and were going to Max's house to paint their shirts. The teams consist of 6 players and the object is to not get hit by a ball thrown by the opponent. There are 3 balls in play at all times. Its really fun when the opposing team gangs up on one boy and he has to dodge 3 balls at once. The OFF CONSTANTLY team had a gorrilla (SMURF PAPA) on their team and everyone was yelling "Kill the Monkey". What a riot!! The tournament lasts about 3 hours and we had to stay to the end because OFF CONSTANTLY beat every other team and had to beat the TEACHERS TEAM. The teachers won!

PENNY SQUARES REDWORK CLUB

So, in February I started a PENNY SQUARES REDWORK CLUB. Here's how it works--buy the starter kit for $11.95 and then every month for the next eleven come in for a new pattern. At the end of eleven months you will have 12-5x5" stitched blocks to make into a small wall hanging. The kit includes enough muslin for 12 doubled 8x8" squares to do your stitching on and some fabic left over for a few extra squares, floss for 12 blocks, needles, and your first pattern. The next 11 patterns will be available the first week of every month and will cost $2.00 each. I have figured out the cost of 12 patterns at the reg. price of $4.00 would cost $48.00 for the year plus the cost of fabric and floss. In the CLUB, the cost for the year is $34.00 which INCLUDES the materials. Such a deal...a savings of approx. $21.00! ! You can start or stop anytime you want and also do additional projects with the patterns. I made a lavender sachet ot of one patterns and framed the angel. Very cute.

This is a picture of the first pattern and the following months includes patterns of CAT & MOUSE FRIENDS--A BEAR with a balloon--A SALTBOX with willow trees-- A CANDLE in a pan with potpourri--A TINY PENNYRUG--FLOWERS AND 6 MORE all with a heart theme.

ONE WEEK

So I must be the worst blogger in all of blogging history......I just cannot motivate myself to keep up with it on a daily basis. Or even weekly...Or even monthly. I have a shop that I run myself, and I make all my own products. It is a lot of (fun?) work....Why, just last week I made 10 lbs. of Chai tea (my own recipe that everyone loves), 3 herbal teas for medicinal purposes, I made 2 flannel baby quilts and quilted them, quilted 3 large custom made wallhangings, made a paper-pieced four leaf clover quilt square and two blocks in the Underground Railroad quilt for the Northern Columbia Quilt Guild meeting tonight, started a new PENNY SQUARES REDWORK CLUB and am now stitching the models for the patterns, did all my paperwork for income tax filing (depressing!), took down the Christmas tree (finally) and am trying do do some spring cleaning in the shop and at home. Between all of that, I drive the kids to their sports and after school activities and games, cooked for a church function Sun. afternoon And just last night, listened to my husband gripe about how I don't do anything!!!!WHEW.............