Spring Crafting

Sunday afternoon kept me quite busy the weather here in Califormia is still brisk don't do too much outside yet so decided to clean up my craft room. I am searching for fabric everywhere in the house so that was my first priority get the fabrics together so many tubs are now full with fabric galore. I did manage to keep one tub only for the different types of muslin I like to use. Muslin is the main staple for any fabric item I sew with me I like to use several types.Textures are important for the life of the fabric product it gives the real character.Sometimes plain muslin will work,more expensive means less imperfections,I like imperfections,onsaburg,batting anything with an oatmeal look really makes me happy.Now the fabric is neatly folded in tubs,guaranteed not for long late night madness will cause me to raise havoc looking for that perfect match for that perfect project.I separated my patterns all neatly in their place,put the finished products together on the wood shelf that my husband made for me,lined up the paints,even dusted my sewing machine-that probably won't work now that it is so clean and last hung up some favorite pictures that the grandchildren created from their little hands and feet.Precious pictures from my daughters that were created from Piggies and Paws Parties that they attended. This is a fantastic company which I am the proud owner of their products. I wanted to share with you my nicely cleaned space it will not look like this for long. If you noticed I took a picture of one of the walls in the room. I painted a large tree and every year I have the grandchildren stand tall so they can be measured. This is the family tree-I look up and see all the babie's names there along with their height and date makes me feel all warm inside.I wanted to make sure that my craft room has pictures of our family all generations including some of me when I was young while I am sitting at my sewing machine I can take a glance of the life that I came from and the life that is continuing knowing

My life is Blessed

One last thing those beautiful yellow and purple irises are from my garden along with some fern that grows in front of our home.My first blooms of the season. Spring is here HURRAY!

Hand made Fabric Bunny Giveaway

It is Sunday evening already the week just seemed to come to an end so quickly although a new one gets to begin- hurray for this. I heard it was the first day of spring today; here in California it was brought in by rain. I must admit I love the rain it does wonders for all my garden bulbs,refreshes the trees,and just puts put a new look on the lawn but so ready for sunshine and warmer days. I was in Mass today listening to the Priest as he reminded us about rebirth in our faith. I thought of spring and how the bulbs emerged from the ground sprouting into beautiful flowers faithfully each and every spring. This is what I want to accomplish in my life emerged with faith for every door that must close and a new one that opens I will be ready to take the challenge knowing I won't be alone. I want this for each of you!
Here is my way of saying "thank you" a handmade fabric bunny giveaway.
In order to enter

Rupert 1 large primitive bunny holding fabric carrot
Fern 2 simple primitive bunny with floppy ears
Priscilla 3 primitive sweet faced bunny
Now for the giveaway one of these bunnies will be given away depending on
the most popluar vote once I hit a 1000 fans on facebook and 100 followers on my blog page.


1. Mandatory entries follow my blog on google friends
2. Tell me which bunny you like the best this will be the bunny giveaway
For Extra Entries
3.Follow me on Facebook
4. Blog about this giveaway post
4.Follow me on Twitter
5. Tweet about this giveaway
6. Post on your facebook about this giveaway
ONE COMMENT PER ENTRY
At least one comment should include your email address

Blogging with Others Just how do they Craft and Blog

Its been a while since I have put my words into my blog page just wondering where all the time goes. I must say I admire those bloggers that post everyday or maybe every other day how do they do it a question that I ponder on quite frequently. I start reading their blogs which takes me to another blog next thing I know hours have passed. This is a good thing for in a sense because those who are writing have not just put words into cyberspace you are being followed, read and dearly enjoyed. There are a couple of blogs that I want to include today Tip Junkie and Serendipity Chic Design
These two blog sites are fantastic each with their own style. Here I get lost for hours on end so I try to limit myself to late evening hours to catch up on their wonderful ideas and tips. Please take the time to go visit their blogs and sign up for their emails you won't regret this.
So where else have I been these past few weeks working at my day job as a customer service rep and into the wee hours of the morning sewing. Spring fever has biten me. First I thought these hot fevers were just menopause but nope I am scouring the web site for new bunny and spring patterns that grab me and I have found some great ones. I just finished up three new styles along with some wool felt eggs and bunny ornies created from that favorite fabric minky chennile. One week later 24 spring items were done. I have some pictures to share and they will be going on our web site soon for sale these that I just finished up were sold before I finished them so off to the local store here in our town for sale soon. But not to worry because they will be available on the web site also. I have the fever and plenty of night hours to make them. Make sure you take a look at our face book fan page for them since I have decided to have a giveaway with 1000 fans for one of the bunnies. I am going to let the posts make the decision which bunny will leave my house on its way to the winner. More details to come this week about the giveaway.
Hope all of you are enjoying the spring awakening in your home town breathe it all in- yes stop and smell the roses I am especially the freesias which are growing everywhere here at my house.
Glad you stopped by here to visit where you can find your country, primitive and whimsical fabric and wood products
Sincerely ♥ Rachel

Is Jewerly on your Mind?

Its Saturday afternoon the weather is so great here in California that it was too hard to go into my office to sit in front of the computer to blog. I just couldn't resist letting you know about this fabulous site that I was introduced this morning. Ingrid's Creations quality handmade jewerly which is absolutely true....Her items are just fantastic for all ages and life's moments. I fell in love with everything so need to get of few of my own items sold to make purchases over at Ingrids Creations. I have included her site here for you to take a look. Enjoy the rest of your day as I know I will Grandbabes are heading over to spend the night..Pizza and ice cream HURRAY....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/IngridsCreations

Remember for your whimiscal and primitive handmade fabric and wood items
to visit our web site

http://www.ourcreativehands.com

And The Winner IS

Congratulations SETexasMama - Please contact me within 48 hours so that I can get your Raggedy Ann and Andy sent to you... Sincerely ♥Rachel

Valentine's Day Gift

On February 14,1976 I received a

Special Gift

, the birth of my daughter Valery Lea. She was a surprise since I had another 3 months to go before my due date. I went into the hospital very early that morning hoping that it was just the swine flu that was going around that caused me to be having early contractions doctor said no way to stop them that the baby was going to come. I prayed dearly knowing that this was not good hoping that my prayers would be answered for a healthy surviving child. During these years we really did not know for sure what the sex of the child would be so as my daughter was being born I just prayed. She was rushed from me taken straight into intensive care and then without hestitation the decision was that she would go to Children's Hospital, San Diego,CA. I got to see my daughter for a very short time, the name I decided was Valery, because she was born on Valentine's Day. Valery weighed 1 1/2 pounds and 19 inches long. I looked at her this fragile baby girl covered in white fuzz, long gangle legs and arms with no hair. The doctors told me that it was a miracle that she was alive and not to hope for the best. Those doctors did not know my strong belief in God nor my little daughter's will to live. I remember laying in the hospital bed with one visitor, my Dad bringing me a box of Valentine Day candy. This was the only memory I have of that night because that moment on I only concentrated on being with Valery, who now was being transported to Children's Hospital. I traveled everyday about 30 minutes away from my home to go see her in the incubator lying so peaceful. She received feedings every hour and my only contact with her was through the glass. I stroke her bald head, touched her so tiny fingers and spoke to her letting her know that her Mama was there with her praying that she would get stronger to come home. This went on for about 3 months I became close friends with all the nurses and doctors on the floor for Neo-Natal. They always let me sleep on the couch in the waiting room, made sure I ate and just allowed me to be a mother to my child in the best I could be through a glass dome. The doctors never really had much hope but in April they made the decision to let Valery go home. She now weighed over 4 pounds with lots of complications but she was going home with me. I was lucky my mother helped me for the first few months when Valery went home. I stayed with her so that I could have someone to help me with Valery's feedings. I had to feed her every hour 1 to 2 tablespoons of formula. The first ones we tried Valery had a bad reaction to- her stomach had not developed enough finally after several types of formula soy based was the only thing Valery could tolerate. My mother made doll clothes for Valery since nothing at the stores were for premies at this time. Each day she got stronger and stronger. The first year of Valery's life it was a slow process learning what foods she could tolerate, taking care of her hernia in the belly button area, and hoping she would just grow. Valery's one year check up the doctors were amazed at her growth and how she was at normal levels for her age group. I never had a doubt and Valery made sure we succeeded. I want to tell you that my little daughter exceeded all expectations. She was a straight A student, grew to be almost 6 feet and never was anything of a weakling. She did have more than her share of colds, and always seemed to catch anything odd going around but other than that Valery made it. Valery grew up to be a wonderful person and Mom, now married has 4 children of her own not one of them being a premie. We did worry about this since it does run in the family, my uncle on my Dad's side was a premie and one of my sister's was a premie, guess that is why my Mom was so helpful when her first grandchild came into the world a premie. I am just so THANKFUL for my most wonderful Valentine's Day gift who could ask for anything more ♥

Raggedy Ann and Andy
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner to me these dolls just come to mind as a special symbol for this holiday. Did you know that Johnny Gruelle created Raggedy Ann for his daughter, Marcella, she had found an old hand-made rag doll, and he drew a face on it. From his bookshelf, he pulled a book of poems by James Whitcomb Riley, and combined the names of two poems, “The Raggedy Man” and “Little Orphant Annie.” He said, “Why don’t we call her Raggedy Ann.”
Johnny Gruelle, children's book writer and illustrator, inventor the Raggedy Ann doll in 1915. In 1920 Raggedy Andy, her brother was born, and the two starred in many of Gruelle's children's stories. The dolls were very popular during the Depression and World War II. Marcella, Johnny Gruelle’s daughter, died at age 13 with the legend being told that he worked on the stories to keep his daughter’s memory alive.
I have included a picture which is to be the very first Raggedy Ann that can be found in the The Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy museum opened to the public in May of 1999, in Arcola,Il. The museum was officially closed 2008 in Arcola. Marcella’s Corner Gift Shop has moved to Rockome. Here is the website http://www.raggedyann-museum.org/exhibits.html to see the works of Johnny Gruelle, which you have to check out truly inspirational and heart warming.
My love for these dolls has inspired me to create all the different versions. I have included them on my web site for sale. The primitive Ann & Andy are sold as a set. At this time, I have made only two different styles but as I researched, I found that the old patterns from McCall’s 1940 may be available- if this is the case, I will be making that one also.
My mother, who just passed away over a year ago, had a wonderful collection herself . She loved to thrift store shop and here she would find “Raggedy Ann and Andy’s” . These sit in the playroom for the grandchildren to play with but soon will be completing for them their very own “Raggedy Ann” with a special message on her chest. – Red wool heart containing the words “nana loves you.”
To celebrate my Mom and her life I am having a giveaway for the pair- Raggedy Ann and Andy.
The instructions are simple to enter. You need to leave one comment for each item you complete per entry.

1) Follow my blog
2) Write a blog post about my giveaway
3) Go to my web site and sign up for my newsletter
4) Like me on Facebook for Our Creative Hands
5) Post my giveaway on your Facebook

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2011 the winner will be selected using Random.com.

I wish you all good luck and especially hope that my Raggedy Ann and Andy
Dolls make you smile as they do me.