Sunday, December 28, 2008

Things I love.....

wreath of roses
1. anything pink
2. roses & daisies
3. lipstick
4. chandeliers
5. vintage jewelry
6. pink champagne
7. aprons
8. fine china
9. teapots & teacups
10. humor
11. candlelight
12. spring & autumn
13. valentines
14. my Irish heritage
15. fresh berries
16. music
17. pearls
18. vintage images
19. glitter
20. lace
21. scarves
22. buttons
23. Christmas lights
24. craft books--can't have too many! :)
25. birds
26. crowns & tiaras

Saturday, December 27, 2008

A Vintage Valentine Swap

Hello friends,
I hope you are recovering from Christmas! :) Can it be time to think about Valentine's Day already? Always! I love anything to do with Valentine's Day or valentine's in general. And of course I love anything vintage too...so...what could be better than a vintage valentine swap? Find the info HERE. Deadline is Monday Dec. 29! Hosted by Foxgloves, Fabric, and Folly.

Enjoy!

SHERI

Friday, December 26, 2008

Tea Cozy Swap

Hello all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

There's a tea cozy swap going on at Mary Jane's Farm right now. Click HERE to find out more! Need some inspiration? How about some pictures (posted directly from Flickr)...

Keep on Crafting!
SHERI

Please click on photos to be taken to owner's page on Flickr for more info! Thanks! 


Lemon Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by colonial stitcher




Snowman Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by crazydaisy60


Sombrero Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by plainsight


Teapot cozy
Originally uploaded by Queen Conch


Tea Cozy
Originally uploaded by Dacia Ray


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!




I just wanted to take a moment to wish my dear readers a very Happy Christmas and I wish for you many blessings in the New Year. I am amazed at the joy and the fun I have had working on this blog this year & I am looking forward to next year. I am hoping to be able to spend much more time working with crafts. I treasure each comment that was left. I have met some very special and wonderful people through blogging. I hope here at Prim Rose Hill Studio you found a bit of inspiration to spark your creativity. May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and love.
SHERI

Monday, December 22, 2008

Mixed Media Monday: Angel Tags

Please click on photos to be taken to owner's page on Flickr for more info! Thanks! 

            all photos posted directly from Flickr
Altered Art Angel Gift Tag
Originally uploaded by BarkerBell Herbs and Heirlooms


Snow Angel Tags- Set of 3
Originally uploaded by oldladybern


Antique Angel ATC
Originally uploaded by Bio-hazar


Tag close-up
Originally uploaded by roseyposeyconfections

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Finished Christmas gifts + RECIPE for cocoa mix

Hello friends!

Nothing quite like finishing up gifts at the last minute. Of course, hey, I still have 3 days to spare! That's an improvement for me. :) Now, don't laugh at my "dress form". I have asked Santa for one for Christmas (and he said it will probably be first of the year). Yeah! :)

I finally finished a scarf for my friend. It's a hunter green trimmed in a wine ruffle:

And I finished a baby pink (and oh so soft!) scarf for my 8 yr-old god-daughter who loves pink:


Oh I had to show you a picture of my Buckeye Fudge for my father-in-law. (They're from Cincinnati so "buckeyes" are perfect). And the chocolate truffles I made for my mother-in-law. I posted the recipes for these on Tuesday. She's going to love me as much as she hates me when she opens these. :) And I'm sure the conversation will soon turn to joining Weight Watchers...haha.
And I've been up to my eyeballs in cocoa mix! But I have bags (and bags, and more bags!) ready to go now and of course, I have to also include a bag of mini-marshmallows with each one. Hey, who drinks cocoa without marshmallows?

It's a real simple recipe:
8 qt. box instant nonfat dry milk powder
6 oz. package coffee creamer
20 oz. Nestle Quick
20 oz. confectioners' sugar
9 tablespoons cocoa

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well!

Use 1/3 c. cocoa to 8 oz. hot water. Makes about 7 of those Wilton gift bags (for cookies, candies, etc). Each bag holds about 12 servings. Yum! These go over really well at Christmas I've discovered.

Hope you are enjoying the holidays!
SHERI

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Free Holiday Embroidery Patterns


Hello friends,

If you go over to the PatternBee.com you will find some cute holiday patterns for embroidery. How sweet! I especially love this reindeer.

Looking for more prim-type patterns? Check out this page of Homeberries.com. I love the prim sheep!

and....I love snowmen! How about a Snowman Stitchery?

Hope you're having a grand Saturday!
SHERI

Friday, December 19, 2008

In Pigeon Forge, TN, & Learn to crochet edgings on your napkins

Hello friends!

I am shopping in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN, but I wanted to post something for you! :) I love to go during their Winterfest. There's just something magical about Christmas lights.


And now on to MORE, yes MORE crocheting! LOL. I have always wanted to know how to crochet and when I finally learned something simple (like all the scarves I've made this year as gifts!), I wanted to move on to something easy, quick, but looks nice. I never knew these edgings on napkins were so darn simple! I think I'm going to edge every one I own. :)

I hope you are done with your Christmas shopping and getting time to relax. Heck, who are we kidding? We don't relax until dinner is made and the gifts have been opened on Christmas day! :)

Hope you're having a grand Friday! Best wishes for the weekend,




EDGING YOUR NAPKINS**

The first step to edging your napkin is to make a blanket stitch all around the outer edge of the piece, as close as possible to the edge of the fabric.

You will work the edging into the sewn stitches you just made. Warning: this can be a tedious process, but once you get past the first round, the work will become much easier. Use the smallest steel crochet hook you have (I used a size 12, 1-mm hook) to make it easy to get under each stitch. I worked this border with size 10 crochet thread—mine has a sliver of gold spun in for extra fun.

1. Insert your hook under any stitch and chain 1:

Make 1 single crochet (sc) in each sewn or embroidered stitch. Keep the tension pretty loose since you are using a tiny hook. Be very gentle with the sewn thread so that it doesn't break:

Make 1 single crochet in each stitch all the way around the napkin. Add 1 chain stitch to the last sc before turning each corner.

When you get to the end of the first round, slip stitch in the first single crochet to join the round. At this point, you can switch to a slightly larger hook to make things easier. I continued using a size 4 (2.0-mm) hook for round 2.


2. For the second round, chain 1, *single crochet, ch 4 in the first stitch, skip 1 stitch; repeat from * around:

Slip stitch in the first single crochet to join the round, and you're finished!

**From craftstylish.com

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas Cards & Holiday Crafting

Hello friends!

I am late in getting my cards out this year! OH WOW. I don't know how it got so late in the year. I thought exam week would never be over and now it's a week before Christmas. I'm finishing up my cards today and mailing them TODAY. :) I did have a little time to make a few gift card "holders". Amazing what you can whip up with a little scrapbook paper. These are to hold my mother and father-in-laws gift cards. Thought I'd hang them on the tree.

Happy Holidays!

SHERI

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tea on Tuesday: Chocolate Truffles & Fudge

Hello Friends!

I'm off to the kitchen today to make candy. These are part of my "home-made Christmas" gifts, so what could be better than chocolate? These are two really easy recipes that turn out terrific!

Happy Holidays!



recipes.com
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Ingredients:
* 3 cups (18 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
* 1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* Coatings: Finely chopped toasted nuts, flaked coconut, chocolate sprinkles, colored sprinkles, unsweetened cocoa, confectioners' sugar or colored sugars

Directions:
IN large saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

POUR into medium bowl. Cover and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

SHAPE into 1-inch balls; roll in desired coating and/or decorate with frosting and candies. Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

~~Recipes.com~~

FOOL-PROOF FUDGE

taste of home
Ingredients:
* 3 cups (18 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk-chocolate chips)
* 1 (14-ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
* Dash salt
* 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with milk and salt. Remove from heat; stir in nuts (optional) and vanilla. Spread evenly into wax paper lined 8- or 9-inch square pan.
Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board, peel off paper and cut into squares. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

OTHER GREAT FUDGE FLAVORS:

Buckeye Fudge (Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Glazed Fudge): Proceed as above but stir in 3/4 cup peanut butter chips in place of nuts. Glaze: Melt 1/2 cup peanut butter chips with 1/2 cup whipping cream; stir until thick and smooth. Spread over chilled fudge.

Marshmallow Fudge: Proceed as above but omit nuts and add 2 tablespoons butter to mixture; fold in 2 cups miniature marshmallows.
Gift Giving Tips: Create delicious homemade gifts by serving up several varieties of this fudge in decorative tins or boxes. Simply wrap up individual pieces of fudge in colored cellophane, candy wrappers, gold and silver foil or place in candy cups and arrange in gift boxes or bags.

~~yummy recipe and photo from: Taste of Home~~

Monday, December 15, 2008

Mixed Media Monday

Hello Friends!

Hope you're having a wonderful Monday...well, atleast as good as a Monday can be. :) I can't believe there's only a little over a week and it will be Christmas! WOW, I am so far behind in everything! Is your shopping done? I'm having more of a handmade-Christmas this year, but there are a few things I still need to buy...and I haven't started making my gifts in a jar either! I will get it done...I will..really...

Keep on Crafting!




 Please click on photos to be taken to owner's page on Flickr for more info! Thanks! 

Various artists on flickr.com:


merryandbright
Originally uploaded by bethquinndesigns





Sunday, December 14, 2008

Easy Christmas Wreath Pattern to Crochet

Hello friends!

I just can't resist a crochet pattern! LOL. Yes, I'm afraid I have become addicted to anything crocheted. Well, I keep telling myself I could have worse addictions, like those darn chocolate covered cherries, that are in abundance this time of year. I think I'm the only one who likes them anyhow. :) Atleast in my house.

Here's a simple little crochet Christmas wreath coaster. Wouldn't it look cute made into an afghan?

Enjoy your day and Happy Crocheting!


From CraftStylish.com: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/13120/free-christmas-coaster-crochet-pattern

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn-small amounts red and green
Size H crochet hook
Small bow (optional)

Size: 3 1/2" square

Directions:
Rnd 1: With red, ch 4, join w sl st in 1st ch to form ring, ch 3, 11 dc in ring, join w sl st in top of ch 3, fasten off (12 dc).

Rnd 2: Join green w sl st in 1st st of Rnd 1, ch 3, dc in same dc, 2 dc in each dc around, join as before, fasten off (24 dc).

Rnd 3: Join red w sl st in 1st st of Rnd 2, ch 4, 4 trc in same dc, * dc in each of next 5 dc, 5 trc in next dc, rep from * twice, dc in each of last 5 dc, join w sl st in top of ch 4, finish off (40 sts).

Weave in ends. Tack small bow to front if desired. Enjoy!

**From CraftStylish.com