New Year Blessings

A new year, new goals, new experiences.  

I plan to make more primitives for myself, instead of making everything to sell.  I want to have the things I love all around me.

I went to an Antique/Primitives show this year and when I walked into one of the booths, I said "this is what my house in Heaven will look like".  It just gives me a warm, cozy feeling to be surrounded by prims and I want to make my house here on earth more like that.  

Be kind, be happy, and be a blessing ~ and you will in turn be blessed.  

Primitive Easter/Spring Bunny eggs

I just finished some primitive rabbit eggs for Spring/Easter.  Wool applique on osnaburg.  (sp?)

Available now in limited quantities in my Etsy shop.  Don't wait!

www.PriviesAndPrims.etsy.com

Merry CHRISTmas from Privies & Prims!

Pineapple Walnut Cookies

It's that time of year when I make our family recipe for Pineapple Walnut Cookies!  

Scroll down a bit for the recipe and make ya some yummy cookies!

Primitive Snow Angel doll for sale~

Noel is a primitive Snow Angel and is for sale with FREE shipping in the USA!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173608080/primitive-wynter-snowgirlsnowman-angel?

~Display her all winter in your home~

Primitive Sheep ready for last minute shipping!

I just finished these awesome primitive sheep!

They're available now for next or same day shipping, 

just in time for Christmas! 

Get yours before they're gone~

www.PriviesAndPrims.etsy.com

Still need a gift for someone special? A pattern for a primitive spring rabbit?

Last minute gifts, stitchery & punch needle patterns available at Privies & Prims on etsy!

Here's a sampling of the patterns available~

There's no better gift than a handmade gift!

www.PriviesAndPrims.etsy.com

A snowy day in Lancaster County

More snow today in Amish Country!

I took these photos with my cell phone, so the quality is not the best.  Please be forgiving.  :)

These are either in Strasburg, or very close to it.   

As I followed this Amish horse & buggy, every time a car passed them, the horse would spook and go into the snow on the side.  So, for the horses comfort and mine, I decided to stay back and allow him to relax.  

I hope you enjoyed my photographs.  I live in a beautiful place, among beautiful people~

Primitive SnowMan Ornament GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm having a giveaway on my Privies & Prims Facebook page!  

You could be the winner of a handmade ornie, just in time for Christmas!

To be entered,

1. "like" my page.

2. Post a comment under the ornament photo on my FB page.

 Go to Privies & Prims page to enter!

Fun time with family.  I got to spend some time with niece and her husband and son.  My son ended up having the day off, so he got to go with us.  We started out with lunch at Pizza City in Strasburg.  Yummy fries!  Then we headed to the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum.  I think the guys had the most fun building Lego trains.  :)
After that, we walked across the street to the RR station and waited with them a bit until I simply got too cold.  I got to wave to Trainman Jack as a train was leaving and he yelled "Merry Christmas" to us!  He's a conductor and a sweet man.
Here's Brayden's photo this year on the train with Santa.

Always glad to spend time with the little ones.  :)

Waiting on the snow.....We're expected to get a pretty good snow storm today.
Tomorrow my niece and her family are coming to Strasburg to ride the Strasburg Railroad train with Santa Claus.  Through the eyes of a 3 year old.  Here's a photo from last year's train ride.  Showing Santa the cows!

We'll also be visiting the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and The National Toy Train Museum!  Tickets for the museums are free though my local library.  Who knew???  Four passes for free.  Total value is $100!!!  They are sponsored through the Eiserer-Hickey Fund of the Lancaster County Community Foundation.

Now, we just need the weather to cooperate.  My niece will be traveling to get here, so we're praying the roads are clear and safe by tomorrow afternoon.

Here I am again after a way too long amount of time.  :)

I killed my netbook a long time ago with sweet tea and decided to buy a Kindle Fire to use instead of another netbook.  My thought was that I would spend less time online if I was using a tablet instead of a netbook with a keyboard.  It worked.  Except, I got sick of it.  A Kindle Fire is great, but not meant to be used as a primary computer which is how I was using it.  

I do have a desktop computer in my bedroom that I use for printing or cutting stencils.  But I just don't like sitting at a desk, so I rarely use it.  
Solution???  I bought myself a new netbook for Christmas!!! Actually, it's a refurbished Chromebook.  I almost always buy refurbished when I can.  Even my cell phone is refurbished.  You get the same warranty, but pay a lower price. 
So, I picked up my Chromebook tonight at Walmart after waiting in a very long line.  They had one cashier open in the back for the Site-to-Store/Layaway.  Since today is the last day to pick up layaways, they were pretty busy.  AND, not staffed for it.  As usual.  

I'm hoping to be more active on my blog, now that I have a keyboard again.  
And, I'm curious to see how I like the Chromebook.  It's made by Acer and so far, I'm liking it.  :)

As for my business/crafting life, I've been selling to The Old Country Store in Intercourse, PA and they've been keeping me pretty busy.  Sadly, they closed last week and filed for bankruptcy.  Everyone was shocked and saddened.  They will be missed.  Over 30 employees laid off and many local crafters have lost an outlet to sell their creations.  

I am still selling on consignment at In Grandma's Attic in Kinzers, PA.   I took some things today for the wholesale buyers and I'm hoping they buy it all!  

I have some stitchery  & punchneedle patterns, and finished primitives on etsy www.PriviesAndPrims.etsy.com and also my stencils are for sale at www.HomePlaceGatherings.etsy.com.   To see what my latest creations are, I usually post photos on my facebook page.  (Doreen Brannan Bell)  I'm not adding any friends on my page, but I'm pretty sure you can "follow" if you want to keep up with it.  

There's so much I could add here to get you caught up with life, but for now I'll sign off to get some sleep.  Snow day tomorrow in Lancaster County!

Changing your Blogger background

Is your blog background boring you???  Problem solved and it's FREE!

I did a Google search for a free Blogger background.  Backgrounds are the graphics on your blog.  You can buy a custom background made just for you, or use free ones like I do. 

From my search results, I chose a website called “Daisy Gray Design”, and then chose the background called “Penny Rug ~ Primitive Background”.   I chose that background because I make penny rugs and primitive style crafts, so it’s very fitting for my blog. 

Changing your blog background is a nice way to personalize your blog and you can change it as often as you want. 

The website gives directions on how to use the free backgrounds.  If you’ve never done anything like that before, it can be a bit confusing at first, but it really isn’t that hard to use.   Once you get it set up, it’s just “cut & paste” when you want to change it to a different design. 

http://daisygraydesign.blogspot.com is the web address.   If none of her designs please you, do a search till you find something you like and have fun with it!