A FRIEND IN NEEDS REQUEST...

Our hometown is in the running for Manitoba Homecoming 2010! Just for qualifying our town received $5000. BUT.....a week from today they will be counting the votes and the winning hometown gets $25 000 to throw a huge party! My hometown (Neepawa) could really use this! It would bring 1000's of tourists and visitors, which would mean more business! It would just be really nice to see my hometown thrive, even just for a weekend! I was born and raised here, LOVE it here....it's peaceful, beautiful and HOME!
CLICK ON THE MESSAGE TO BE TAKEN TO THE VOTING BOOTH AND THEN SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM
Would you mind voting for my hometown (Neepawa), please??? vote for Neepawa! I beg of you! THANK YOU FOR HELPING HER TOWN...

JOIN US WON'T YOU....

JOIN MY FREE PRIMITIVE COMMUNITY WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF GALS AND A FRIENDLY STAFF.
IF YOU ARE INTO PRIMITIVE, RETRO OR SHABBY CHIC JOIN US WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU, AND BRING A FRIEND WITH YA TOO...

TIPSY POTS

This is what I'm going to put together by my front steps






Tipsy Pot Materials:
-1 pipe or strong wooden dowel long enough to fit through all the pots you want to stack (may have to do a few test assemblies to determine this) plus enough length to firmly hammer the pipe into the ground (about a foot for every 2-3 foot of height above ground).

I like to use scrap pieces of 1/2" copper pipe. For what you see here, I used a four feet pipe. The pipe/dowel has to fit through the hole in the bottom of the pots but be strong enough to support all the pots.

-any pots or outdoor-friendly containers with holes in the bottom. The hole doesn't have to be in the middle of the container but needs to be wide enough to fit the pipe/dowel through. I used my clay pots but think of the possibilities: old aluminum teapots, coffee pots, kettles, cooking pots....Anything you can drill a hole in if it doesn't have one already. The larger the pot, the better the 'tipsy' effect.

-soil and plants, or whatever you want to stick in the pots

Assembly
-hammer the pipe/dowel into the ground until firmly in place.
-thread each pot through the pipe, one at a time, adding soil and plants as you go.
-each pot will find a good resting spot on the pot below. You'll get a feel for it as you go.

-these would obviously look great with bushier plants, but all I had was the sempervivum so that's what I used.

Make your Own Stepping Stones

Make Your Own Stepping Stones

If your yard already has stepping stones or sidewalk blocks, perhaps you want to add a little pizzaz to them. Creating embelished stepping stones the easy way can be a lot of fun and cost very little.

Materials

Precast concrete garden stones (shape & size up to you)
Ceramic tiles, ceramic plates, or colored glass NOTE (1)(2)
Thin-set mortar
Poly-blend sanded tile grout (optional)
3/16 inch notched tile trowel
Rubber tile trowel or large square rubber spatula without a handle
Hammer or tile pincers
Safety glasses
Cardboard box or other container to break ceramic in
Old cloth or drop sheet to cover ceramic while breaking
Large bucket
Sponge
Rubber gloves (the heavy type you do dishes with will work)
Large pan or container (used to fill with water to submerge garden stones in)


In a large pan filled with water, immerse one concrete stone at a time to wet thoroughly NOTE (3).
Mix thin-set mortar according to package directions (consistency should be similar to slightly runny peanut butter). Using a notched trowel, spread a layer of mortar onto PART of the stone to a thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Arrange pieces as desired, pressing them lightly into the mortar. Leave spaces between the pieces for the grout. Add extra mortar under pieces as needed to create a fairly even surface. Clean away excess mortar from the surface and let dry overnight.
Mix grout according to package directions. Scoop a large amount onto the stone and using a spatula or trowel so spread it out and push it into gaps. Add more as needed and removing excess as you go. Smooth grout on the sides of the stone as well. Using a wet sponge, wipe down the top, going over the surface in both directions and rinsing the sponge often. Repeat, taking care not to remove too much grout from the gaps. Let the stone dry for 24 to 48 hours, buff with a dry cloth and place in the garden.

NOTE (1)~ Old plates, tiles and colored bottles broken in various shapes are some items that canmake up the decorative tops. To break these materials safely, put them in a shallow box or container and cover with a cloth to prevent shards from scattering. Wear safety glasses and using a hammer or tile pincers to break the materials into pieces.
NOTE (2)~ Use items such as shells, marbles, colored pebbles, jewels, china and ceramics to create your stepping stones. Mix, match and use your imagination.
NOTE (3)~ While working on one stone, place the next one in the water to soak.





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Clever Hand Rake Ideas

Clever Uses for a Hand Rake
a wineglass rack, necktie holder, and letter organizer with a simple garden hand rake Candle Hanger, the skies the limit with this one.. I just love this idea!

Dipped Beeswax Hanger Candles

I found an amazing tutorial for making dipped beeswax hanger candles on this blog
http://kneek.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/beeswax-candles/ I have always wanted to try
these and with this tutorial I'm gonna give a try once I get all my supplies lined up.

HAPPY KEESTER

ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE
I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket
Walk softly and carry a big carrot
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears
There's no such thing as too much candy
All work and no play can make you a basket case
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits
Some body parts should be floppy
Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans
Good things come in small sugar-coated packages
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare
To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey !!

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER
Diane

More labels to download

I was bored today and made up 2 more prim lookin labels there in the orange widget box to your left if you want them just remember you can't sell these labels as your own creations but you are free to use them for yourself. I'd love to pictures of the
things you create with them... Happy Crafting..

Diane

I'm addicted to Prim Labels

I have been making prim labels like crazy (I didn't make this set) ever since I learned how to make them about a month ago.. This is what I made today using Labels..
What do you Think?

EASTER CHICK AND BUNNY FROM A WASH CLOTH

wow 2 posts in 1 day a record for me.. I just had to share this cute idea I found
today and post a link to her blog for the tutorial..Its awesome don't you think...
CLICK ON THE TITLE TO BE TAKEN TO HER BLOG...Let me know what you think of this project...

HARD TACK RECIPE

I have posted the recipe for civil war era Hard Tack in my prim community forum
this is awesome displayed in old jars with a prim label... I have made you a prim label to download from the orange widget to the left.. If you want the recipe join
my prim community and its all yours its listed under Primitive Tutorials...Hope you
enjoy this recipe and label I think its awesome...