My Country Heart

Cinnamon Pumpkin ~Tutorial ~ FREEBIE for Blogger/Facebook Customer & Friends

2011-10-14T21:13:00.017-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Thought I would take a minute to share with you, my classic "Little Cinnamon Pumpkin Recipe" and Picture Tutorial! Hope you enjoy this "How to" in the Fall and make them every Halloween and Thanksgiving. If Halloween and Pumpkins are your favorite, like they are mine, you will really enjoy making these little beauties that smell so wonderful!

Please do bring me some links and likes, & do give me your credits- Many thanks & enjoy!

Ingredients & what you will need:

Medium bowl & spoon
Tin Cookie Sheet
Pastry paper roll
2/3 cup applesauce (least expensive you can find)
1 cup ground cinnamon ( a little more if needed)
2 tablespoons white glue (Elmer's or whatever white glue you have)
Nutmeg 1 t. or apple pie spices
Little cut, sticks or cut grapevine is fine, not too big
Blunt knife & scissors

Mix ground cinnamon, applesauce, glue, & nutmeg - all together to a clay-like kinda of dry consistency in a bowl, see photo below & add more cinnamon if needed. Mmmm, smells good & lasts along time! (I like the mix a bit dry so it takes a minimal time to dry out.)

They turn out a beautiful orange/brown color you will love. You can cut the sticks before you make them & on a slant at the top, with a scissors. Grape vine is nice because it has the curly cues.

Here is what you need...

Grab a hunk in the size you would like your little pumpkin to be & roll in your hands to get all the cracks out and smooth. (Just like making mud balls :) You might want to sprinkle cinnamon in your hands...

With the blunt edge of a knife like the one below or a butter knife, gently just lay the knife in the top of the pumpkin & "lay it down" to the bottom" to make your crease, making sure all your lines meet and "not cross at the bottom" I find it looks a lot better than dragging the knife. Six lines on each one just about looks good.

I like to press the pumpkin down a little but careful---not "too much". I sprinkled a little powdered cinnamon on top of these before they go into an oven -- but in hindsight, I think I like them without the sprinkles....

Place them on a section of pastry paper the full size of your cookie tin and in a low temp oven of 150 degrees. Each batch will be different--- some I leave in longer than others, watch them close, about 45 minutes will cook them fine then I place them out to air dry on the tray & keep turning them over for up to 3 days. Trial an error and see what works best for you. It also depends on how big they are....

Don't forget before placing in oven to now place the little stems/sticks in the top. Be careful not to "press thru" This is the crowning glory and they now look just like little pumpkins. I have one pumpkin that has lasted 5 years and still smells wonderful & looks great!

Here they are.....all dried and beautiful. Each one will look like that cute little pumpkin you have always dreamed of to place with your craft project or arrangements or just in a bowl!

~Kathie Givens ~

My Country Heart, Copley Ohio~

Primitive Sunflower ~ FREEBIE Tutorial!!!!

2011-06-11T00:48:00.012-04:00

I just love to come across a neat freebie pattern that gives me a good idea ~ so, hopefully, today, here is one for you.

This big sunflower is hand sewn together, and stuffed with raffia, or if you can find the primitive green stiff grass. Then a wood slat, as a stem. ( A fat tree stick would also work very well.) I love it weathered and about 2' tall and 1 1/2" wide. Then you can wire or glue a holder on the reverse side to hang on your door, or make a few to stick in a crock.

Use a big dinner plate and a smaller one as your circle guide. Cut two round bigger gold canvas cloth circles, then one smaller wool felt circles. Use big stitches and stitch thru all three layers of fabric. It goes fast.

Then cut thru all around the outside for petals, almost to the brown center in both layers of the gold cloth.

You can't go wrong on this pattern. Come into the shop and you can see them made up, or send me an email if you would like to purchase.

Turn over and cut a sliver thru only one layer of the flower backing. This is where you will stuff with raffia, then glue a wood slat in as the flower stem & tie a strip of green homespun around it or wool. I don't have one here to show you, but stick it in almost to the top & apply glue to the stick first. Do this, after you have stained & dried with your favorite coffee or tea recipe....

I always use one of these foam brushes to apply the darkening. The petals will curl up nice and look neat & prim when dried. I use cardboard cut ups to dry any item I have "antiqued" they work nicely and keep things clean. You can carry and stack them real easy ~ and reusing them are a dream.

And there you are, enjoy!

(Thank you for giving me credit if you use this pattern)

~ Kathie

January/February Ohio Country Register Ad!

2010-12-19T22:37:00.003-05:00

Sharing our new year of 2011, Jan/Feb, Country Register Ad. (Hand done by me.) Come in and pick up a free copy of this great little newspaper, devoted to all those who love the little primitive shops around Ohio!

Pictured here is a beautiful, wooden Angel, up for adoption & hand made from one of our wonderful artists! Come and see us soon!

Angel's Creampuff Princess,,,,,

2010-12-17T01:21:00.005-05:00

Here she is. Her name is Cream Puff, And she has lived up to that name every minute of her 16 years. If fact, she will be 17, in March of 2011, & still let's me know that she is the #1 cat of five, special & sassy in every way! She is a Blue Cream Point, Registered Himalayan, and white as the pure driven snow flakes falling, and just as pretty! Here eye color has always been this beautiful Caribbean blue with a big fluffy plumb of a tail & the trademark white spot on her mustache. And I taught her to wink at me when she greets me in the morning. And the "cat Greeting" is something you just cannot ignore.....they all so take it soooo serious!!!!!!! All I had to do was get her attention & repeatedly wink & finally she did it back!!! So do the other Himmies!!!! Try it! And, even that head-strong, fat-little, red and white Tabby, Rusty, that was rescued from the front porch, is winking back (sometimes; when he feels like it)!

Now, there is something more special & quite inspiring about this little peanut, Creamer of mine......she went totally blind 3 years ago & I thought she was dying. What a scare. But she pulled thru with flying colors, with hand feeding, & help from a Vet, and is still brightening my day, as usual. Cats are pretty darn smart. She remembered where the food was, and all I had to do was show her where I placed the litter box & there she was using it like a pro in all her glory! Her little Kitty Cube is right next to my bed and, she still goes to the register to warm up this winter & knew where it was located. And travels everyday to her water and dish, way down the hall, which all I have to do is tap her dish so she can hear just where it is.

What a blessing when she comes to my chair to be brushed. You have taught me many lessons Cream, and how courageous & smart you are! Love you special-Creamy-Puff!

Oh, & did I mention, that she still winks at me, when I call her name.........

2010 Akron Children's Hospital Annual Tree Festival

2010-12-17T00:45:00.004-05:00

Sharing a picture of this year's, Country Heart's donation to Akron, Ohio's, Children's Hospital Tree Festival!

I usually do this every year, since my son was hospitalized as a toddler, on Christmas Eve......it was devastating to have a baby that was so sick with croup ~ and in the hospital on this night of nights. He was so brave and treated with so much good care...I have always showed them my full appreciation for this service ---with a donation.

My theme for this year was "The Star of Bethlehem Wreath" with three sparkling golden Stars in honor of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the past I've been surprised & awarded a Ribbon for one of the 'Best of Shows'....which was also an honor and a treasured memory.

~Kathie:-)

2010-12-17T00:13:00.002-05:00

Are you interested in your own website? I have just signed with PrimMart.com ~ Great Primitive site and if you would, let them know I referred you..... & use my attached banner to use as a link....contact me with yours. kathiegivens@roadrunner.com

Thank you!

~Kathie

Come & Visit Us in Historic Copley, Ohio!

2010-12-17T00:07:00.002-05:00

Favorite Old Quilt Santa

2010-12-16T23:14:00.004-05:00

Here he is....my only hand created Santa for this year of 2010! He is made from almost one whole, old battered, red & white quilt. My own pattern, and lots of sewn on wool with a hand sculptured face. He is big and ready to be shipped for adoption. May only be making a few more from his pattern. His leather belt was a great find, fits his plump waist to a "T". Comes with brass bells and his own pair of little red mittens, also antiqued several times. Little sheep on wheels and bag of greens is an extra perk, handmade candy canes are sprinkled with diamond dust. Sports an antiqued tag that reads 1861-1865, and a signed and dated sewed on tag. Country Heart's signature heart on his hand ~ says he was made with love, especially for you..... thank you for checking Santa, out, email me if you are interested, kathiegivens@roadrunner.com

This Santa has been sold....contact me if you would like to place an order....Price: $148.00 + postage.

Hand-Done Wooden Prim Spices & Drieds Rack

2010-08-23T00:41:00.003-04:00

One of my favorites! Brown Labels done in the favorite font, filled with usable herbs and spices! Finish is red and black rubbed paint....visually very interesting!

THANK YOU! THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD:-)

September/October 2010 Ad for Ohio Country Register!

2010-08-23T00:33:00.004-04:00

Here's our little Pumpkin patch ad, hand-done for the Country Register Newspaper, which you can pick up FREE at the shop....Stop in and see all our Halloween neat stuff set up in the kitchen of our farmhouse shop!!! You will love our Halloween tree, with handmade ornaments & more, by: Barb Bakita of Barberton, OH!

Ms. Raggety with Crazy Quilt Piece Dress

2010-08-23T00:10:00.007-04:00

She is a sweet little girl who is just off the drawing board and up for a new home in the Primitive & Olde Country Style decor! She will bring her mustard wool hooked star and all her special detailing.

Wool hair, nubby wheat linen and darkly coffee tinted attire & body, pantaloons, with a hand stitched face!

Always, whole body is finished, not just arms and legs!

Signature heart, on hand, making her a Country Heart Originally-done pattern and hand stitched finishing!

Year the war ended, a worthy date to remember!

Priced @: $75.00 + Postage, email me for info... Kathiegivens@roadrunner.com

Thank you for your kind consideration!

Agetha ~ Crow Woman & a Trusty Friend!

2010-07-08T00:40:00.012-04:00

Here she is in all her beautiful-glory, and up for a new adoptive home. Mrs. Agetha, Crow Woman, a Country Heart original, $75 + pony express, comes signed & dated, smelling of vanilla, cinnamon spiced, and coffee. And she is a big girl! Totally hand painted, and aged to perfection, with old linen for an apron,a neat brass bell necklace, signature heart on "wing", lovely hand stitched face and hand a big stitched sunflower & travel bag. Her bloomers are equally "pretty", check out her little feet and humble expression. Email me if you would like her sent to your doorstep-she is not on my website yet...

Kathiegivens@roadrunner.com THANKYOU! CROW WOMAN HAS BEEN SOLD!!

Historic Copley, Ohio

2010-07-02T00:54:00.003-04:00

Here's a cute little picture of our little ole' Copley Township train station! Physically moved a few blocks on Route 162 and nestled in front of the tracks. Come and visit us and stop at all the neat shops in the area.....expecially this cute vintage Train Depot, 1/2 mile from our shop. Right next to it is a beautifully restored caboose! Besides our beautiful gazabo to check out, right across from our shop, located at 3564 Copley Road, Copley, OH 44321, we have the Copley Antique, Cannon, located at the Townhall another 1/2 mile from the shop. The Townhall just had a big renovation, too, adding from the original plan, an awesome Bell Tower, with the original vintage bell. Bring your camera.....lots to see. And don't forget to stop in at My Country Heart....lots of primitive handmades and stuff you never know what you will find.

~Kathie:-)
Shop Keeper & Craft Artist

Our Signature Candle!

2010-05-22T01:21:00.002-04:00

Don't forget we now the carry room spray and the pillar candle in Buttered Maple scent, with that hauntingly great smell. Give us a call and we can mail it to you! 330-665-9696. We believe that the two wicks in each of the jar candles are what gives it the fantastic scent. It's like double the aroma and makes the best and strongest scent! You will be hooked if you try it.....

- Kathie :-)

My Favorite Cookies in the World!

2010-05-22T01:10:00.002-04:00

Hands down.....you will love this cookie! They are my Oatmeal/Chocolate Chip & Walnut Masterpieces. And here is the recipe....Get a box of Quaker Oats Oatmeal, the cookie recipe is on the lid - follow it, adding bi-colored white and dark chocolate twisted chips, and chopped up fresh walnuts. To die for cookies, made in smaller little size, cooked on pasty sheeting and making an easy to wash cookie pan. Makes plenty and freezes well =)

Candles on Sale This Month - Don't Miss it!

2010-05-22T01:01:00.003-04:00

The entire month of May is our candle sale! Stop in and get 10% off any candle of your choice! Mention that you saw this reminder on Facebook for My Country Heart, and or my blog and get your discount. We have lots of Buttered Maple Syrup and Warm Glow has several new scents out and in the shop for you to see! We are located at 3564 Copley Rd, Copley, Ohio 44321 - Rt. 162, right on the Historic Copley Circle, in the olde 8 room country farmhouse- look for our big oval sign.

Angel with Thyme

2010-04-10T00:59:00.003-04:00

Our new little winged Angel, in old blue & white quilt is making her appearance at the shop. As sweet as she can be, & is up for adoption.

Come & See Our Vintage Designer Purses!

2010-04-10T00:50:00.002-04:00

I can't tell you how much I love Coach Purses! In fact, I have always loved any designer purses. It is a weakness that is quite a passion.

You can now find in our Country Heart - shop, Vintage Coach, Stone Mountain, Fossil, & neat leather purses at a fraction of the original cost. No knock-offs, only the real thing.

FREEBIE! MY FAVORITE DELICIOUS PIZZA CRUST RECIPE!

2010-01-20T11:54:00.016-05:00

Of course you can start off with a salad with lots of walnuts, spinach, & cranberries.....I think Italian tomatoes tastes & looks the best in any salad. We always use the BIG plastic bowls you get at the dollar store for salads, so..... more salad, less fats stuff.

Here's the vintage looking original recipe! Ha.

Mix lightly.....

Flour the rolling area....

Or can be divided in to two balls.

Pastry paper required no pan cleaning afterwards!!!!!!!yaaaaa.

Half pepperoni, have onions & cut up tomatoes.

This has to be my very favorite pizza crust recipe! I haven't found any to surpass ~ it's light, chewy, & easy! I have to give credit to J.P. Morgan Chase, for this great recipe, when I worked for the CEO, of Bank One, before Chase took them over ~ this was handed down to me from Bruce Bailey, at that time. He said it was his wife's favorite! So here it is being shared with you, so you can enjoy it. I hadn't made it in a long while. And just put it to the test last night. Mmmmm! It was my husband & son's, favorite dish....:

~~~~ THEE, FAMOUS PIZZA CRUST~~~

1 package yeast (three come in a pack, only use one)
1/4 cup lukewarm water

2 tablespoons olive oil (says you can use oleo or oil)
1 1/2 t. salt (I use 1/2 t.)

3 1/2 cups unsifted flour

Soften yeast in lukewarm water & let stand 5 minutes. Pour hot water over olive oil & salt. Let cool to lukewarm. Then combine with yeast. Gradually stir in flour, mixing until dough is smooth. Knead lightly. Roll out to 1/8 inch thick on cookie sheet. ( I use pasty paper, works like a dream?) Spread dough with your favorite tomato sauce & mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, Italian spices, garlic, & whatever you love. (Can sprinkle a little olive oil over pizza.) BAKE AT 425 DEGREES FOR 20 MINUTES. I like to preheat oven. You will love it!!!

Please ad me to your blog or web site, Thank you!!!!!!! www.mycountryheart.com

Kathie~

Christmas Open House & Customer Appreciation!

2009-11-28T00:09:00.002-05:00

Extending an invitation for all of you to join us in celebrating our 11th annual Christmas Gathering, here at the farmhouse shop! We will have a drawing for a $25 gift certificate, homemade cookies, and a free 2010 Victorian Calendar with a $10 purchase! Come also to enjoy the Copley Circle Annual Tree lighting at the Gazabo and Santa will arrive at the circle, right outside the door, on a fire truck! Here is our ad, published in "The Ohio Country Register". The best prim shop publication, out there!

Holiday Lighted Centerpiece with tiny twinkies

2009-10-19T02:05:00.000-04:00

Great for a Holiday Table decoration. Glass globe is filled with dried goodies and the glass is drilled for the large lite inside. Also included is a tri-colored pipberry swag, tin star and tin flag swag, & 50 light tiny bulb twinky lights, with wood box included. Cost: $95.00 + postage. Last one available.

Brand New Designed Santa In Old Quilt!

2009-10-19T01:48:00.005-04:00

Here's my newly designed Santa dressed in old red & white cutter quilt which is made to look older. He is carrying an aged sholder bag with a candycame, diamond dusted star in a tin circullar painted cornicopia ornie. His wool beard is needle punched on and there's a neat brass antiqued bell with a big loop on his hat. Cost: $75.00. SOLD, THANKYOU!

Freebie Idea & How-To, for you! Lima & String Bean Swag:-)

2009-10-19T01:20:00.006-04:00

Here is all that you will need to make this cute little Lima Bean Swag. When you make a trip to your favorite outdoor market, pick up some large marbled string beans and flat Lima bean in the hull. Dry both in a box top or any dry place, make sure none of them touch and they are not wet. After a week or two, get a punch, & rusty wire. Cut a piece of wire in the length you would like, punch each bean in the middle and thread a swag. If you can't find Lima beans, okra will do nicely, too. Add home spun strip or whatever else you can come up with! Have fun!

These swags are available for purchase $9.00 +postage, contact me at kathiegivens@msn.com

This last one is available.

What's New - Take a Peek!

2009-09-25T02:10:00.008-04:00

Civil War Sign - $18 - Sorry, Sold

These two little pinkeep Annie's would love to grace your wall or sit inside an olde basket. They are both made of old quilt and have a stunning smile with old lace and buttons:-) $48 each + pony express. Visit my site.

Here's a cutey. She is available for adoption, she is quiet, inventive, loves old stuff, and will make your primitive spirit soar. $68. plus travel. Email me! kathiegivens@roadrunner.com

Free Gift Fridays!

2009-09-25T01:42:00.004-04:00

All through the month of October we are offering you a free Old print 2010 Victorian Calendar, with a $20.00 or more purchase, on Fridays!

Come on in and see all our primitive Halloween & Fall decorations. We are locating in the old 8 room Farmhouse, right on Copley Circle, in Copley Ohio, Rt. 162. 40 minutes from Cleveland, 30 minutes from Canton, Ohio. Give me a call at the shop and I will help. 330-665-9696. Great finds to see! Lots of hand-mades to smooth your primitive spirits.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

2009-09-06T02:58:00.002-04:00

Time to get out those Fall Decorations!

Come and see our just in, pottery pumpkins, they are great to lite with candles and last for many years!

New Ad for the Ohio Country Register!

2009-09-06T02:32:00.005-04:00

Here is Faith, posing for her 1st debut.

One of her favorite Bible quotes is:

"The truth shall make you free"

If you want to enjoy a free and very interesting little newspaper, with Primitive shops & ads, look for the Country Register! It is awesome!

Here is our ad for the fall issue that recently was published.

The prim doll in the ad, posed for this event and is wearing her favorite dress and a vintage pin with a tiny mustard seed inbedded in it. Her name is Faith, and she was recently sold, (thank you!) but you can view her little antique dress, below. She is one of a kind and was recently designed by My Country Heart.

Fall Sunflowers to Hang!

2009-09-06T02:08:00.005-04:00

Primitive Sunflowers done in the large size and below in a smaller rendition. They are handmade and handstitched with a dry-brush painting.

Fresh off the drawing board are these new sunflower hangers! They are turning into a best seller & I may offer them in my pattern for sale. Let me know if any of you are interested. kathiegivens@roadrunner.com If you visit us in Copley, Ohio, at the shop, you can check out our sunflower and old crow harvest tree, done up in gold twinky lights!

I like to hang them on a window or porch, too! &, They fit nicely in an envelope to mail! They are great to sew up while watch TV!

Don't forget to visit my site for a peek, I just added 15 new items, along with the above! www.mycountryheart.com !

Freebie!!!! My Own Personal Grubbing Recipe!

2009-05-09T02:25:00.005-04:00

Here's for all you primitive crafters out there that have that passion to antique and grub up all your handmade items. I have tried many written recipies & this one that I use, works the best. You may copy and use, all I ask is that you ad me to your website or blog! My email is KathieGivens@msn.com, and my site is http://www.mycountryheart.com/

Grubbing Up Recipe with Tips: Instant Coffee or Instant Tea (without lemon added), Coffee is darker and makes a nice patina I think. Use the least expensive Coffee you can find, Big Lots or Walmart. The Dollar Stores may have some too. I save my instant empty coffee jars to do the mixing in.....I use about 1/8 of a jar of coffee. Then I add Cinnamon "powder", a few teaspoons, do not buy the ground cinnamon, the powder mixed better, unless you want the "grounds" of the cinnamon to show on your finished product because they will. My next item is vanilla, which along with the cinnamon can be purchased at the Dollar Tree ~ get least expensive brands. I also add a few drops of any scented oil, in this project, I have used Spice Cake and Cookie Doe, and it is heavenly to smell the mixture!!! :-) Next into the pot goes "Distress Ink" which is a walnut ink bought at Pat Catan's or any crafts store. A few drops with do. However dark you want your items in color will be fine with the amount of ink you use! Then shake up the jar and I use hot water to disolve the coffee & let it set for a few minutes. I use one rubber glove so my hand does not turn color and alway apply with a sponge brush & rinse it when I am done & reuse. When I am done I put the jar in the refrig, so it does not mold up~ it stays for weeks! I always save my fiberfill bags and cut them open & they make good staining mats. When done with the grubbing, I lay items on cardboard, it does not absorb too much of my mixture and item dry very well ~ I don't like to put items in my oven. Air drying gives the nice dark tint to the ends of the material. If you want darker items, give a second coat ~ but using the ink does it very well much better than acrylic paint! Look at the dramatic difference with just one application!!!!

I always do my painting and antiquing in my laundry room on my washer & dryer!!! I also have this vintage baby dress that is getting aged, great for a bear I am finishing! Check out this great old wood shoe rack that houses all my paints. Works great, I almost thru it out.

Old 1840's Coverlet Sew Keep

2009-04-26T02:17:00.002-04:00

Thought I would share this new design pin-keep, that's at the shop! It's made of vintage coverlet and wool with long paint processes on the sewing box, finished inside and out & with a satin sealer. Sorry, it has been sold. Thank you!

Make-Do Heart & Hand Pin Keep! New!

2009-04-26T02:05:00.004-04:00

This is a best-seller, and, yes I used my hand as a pattern:-) The best part of this newer item is the 1830-40, Vintage Old Coverlet heart and old bone buttons used for the heart and hand motif. I have two available. $45.00 each + postage. Visit my site to see the vintage doll bed & bedding.

Fresh Off the Drawing Board!

2009-04-26T01:49:00.005-04:00

Clair, the Arc Angel, is up for a new home! Boy is she prim and beautiful, with her flax hair and old feed sack dress she made for herself! Lots of detail and paint and sanding went into her personality. Email me if you have interest.....$52.00 plus postage! Did you see her embroidered primitive heart? All my OOAK creations have their trademark...can't get away from the dream, my country heart, that's what it's about:-)

New items also include a basket of lovable cats. Grubbed up cats, that come with a brass bell, so ya can find 'em quick. And the old blue civil war print quilt fabric tie, on each one, is vintage & hard to find these days. $22.00, + postage, and they purr real loud, too.

An Invitation to Visit Historic Copley, Circle Area

2009-04-23T02:01:00.012-04:00

Here is an extented personal invitation to come and visit our Shop! My Country Heart, is located in Copley, Ohio 44321 , 3564 Copley Rd. We are located on Route 162, right on Copley Circle!

There are many new shops that have opened in the area, you can make an afternoon of fun shopping and browsing! Here are a few of the other shops located right next to us. Copley Antique Mall has many Antique Dealers and many quality Antiques. Just That Twist, is located within walking distance and is a newly opened retail shop with lots of neat things to see. The Red Door, just down a few steps, is another large antique shop! Contact me for any questions you may have! Come take a little road trip & visit us:-)

Here's All the Beautiful Signs of Spring!

2009-04-23T01:45:00.012-04:00

Here's a peek of the bulbs I planted last fall, what a surprise they render in the Spring! Who says you can't make a Blue Spruce and Egg Tree:-)

Here's A Freebie For you! Award Winning Chili Recipe

2009-02-16T02:01:00.004-05:00

Aunt Kathie's
Award Winning Chili

Ingredients:

1 lb.Extra-Lean Ground Round
1/2 Pkg. McCormick's Mild Chili Seasoning Mix.
2 or 3 handfuls of Ditalini Macaroni (Uncooked).
1 14oz. Can of Beef Broth (College Inn or Gia Russa).
1 reg. size can of Pinto Beans (use juice).
1 reg. size can of whole Potatoes (cut in little pieces & rinsed, discard water in can).
1 reg. size can of Dark Red Kidney Beans.
1 6oz. can Contadina Tomato Past (with Roasted Garlic listed on the label).
1 28oz. Can (Progresso or Giant Eagle) Crushed Tomatoes in Puree.
1 reg. size can Lima beans, or large flat Italian Green Beans (Select Brand or DelMonte).
2-3 T. Extra Light Olive Oil (Bertolli).
2 flat round Cipolline onions, chopped up fine.
(optional: fresh Green pepper, tastes great without it!)
2 T. brown sugar
1 or 2 pats of real butter
Parsley Flakes, Onion Powder, Basil, Garlic-Pepper & water as needed.

Directions: In a large deep soup pan, brown hamburg in olive oil, onions, (green pepper cut up small if you like it) & add seasonings. (Cook well.) Add McCormick's Chile Mix, Tomato Paste, Crushed Tomato Sause, Beef Broth, Brown Sugar, stir well. Then add all beans, potatoes, butter & Macaroni, cover,then after coming to a boil,simmer on your lowest burner setting for 45 minutes. I like it to kinda' forment covered, for 15-20 minutes before serving. Yum! Serve with bagels, or cornbread, shredded cheddar, or sour cream. Depends how the diet goes. (I like it just with stone ground whole wheat flour bread, toasted!) Sorry, No awards were won with this Chile recipe :-), but it does not last long at home!

February 12, Lincoln's Birthday.

2009-01-31T02:18:00.001-05:00

Easter is coming and with it all the beautiful Spring flowers!

2009-01-31T01:59:00.001-05:00

Spring is on it's way!

2009-01-31T01:54:00.003-05:00

Time to start thinking aboutSpring. It is coming, and all this snow will be great for the spring flowers!

See Our New Ad in the Ohio Country Register!

2008-12-21T02:06:00.007-05:00

Don't forget to pick-up the totally free Ohio Country Register, newspaper that you see in all the Primitive shops. It is jam packed with neat stuff to look at and shops all around Ohio. And Barb, the editor is doing such a great job helping customers find us for all your primitive needfull things! Drop her a line and tell her how much you love the job that she does~ ! ohiocountryregister@yahoo.com

2008-12-21T01:56:00.002-05:00

May all your dreams come true in this brand New Year of 2009. Wishing peace, love, & happiness.

A Blessed Merry Christmas to you!

2008-12-21T01:47:00.005-05:00

Wishing all who enter a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Come visit our shop & make yourself at home, we love our visitors to take their time and browse through the farmhouse. You never know what you will

find!:-)

Christmas Open House & Customer Appreciation!

2008-12-21T01:02:00.024-05:00

December 6th & 7th brought lots of free gifts with purchase and homemade goodies to our annual Christmas Open House. The weather was not too agreeable here in the heartland of Ohio! Our December started out more like our January weather!

LOTS of Neat Stuff to Look At / Rusty Tin Roof Site!

2008-10-13T22:39:00.013-04:00

I have two things of importance to tell you today.

One being, I am pleased as punch to be selected to be interviewed for My Country Heart, by our Lemon Poppy Seeds group at their Rusty Tin Roof site. And appear in their summer addition Prim Craft Magazine!!!!!!! Find it on page 14. Really exciting for me. Take a short visit, to the very interesting magazine. It's FREE! And, save it to your favorites. I have also been selected as a guest writer. (Yep, sometimes I like to jot down some short thoughts!) So check out the new FALL issue to come and look for my stories. It's one of my very favorite things to do:-) Look for the Lemon Poppy Icon on this page to visit all the fab stuff on there from some way fantastic folkart designers!

Secondly, here's my best picture of the season, to share with you all, "the last rose of summer". I don't like to see the beautiful summer leave our mist. Sooooo, I think I can for one short minute capture it's rapture. So can you!

Rod Steward & Brian Adams At Blossom Music Center! August 2008~

2008-09-08T13:00:00.005-04:00

It's not such a great picture, taken with my cell phone, but here you have it. Rod at Blossom, I don't think I have missed one of his concerts, since day one.

What you see here is a giant screen behind him at the microphone and a fantastic stage set up. We had gold seats to the tone of $150 each. Was it worth it? Well, of course, but what it got you this time is hearing Brian Adams sing, then we had to wait while they took that bad stage set up down and put Rod's up, Whew!~ not what I want to pay for at all. And...it left Rod with only one full hour to sing and that was just not enough of a dose of time for us big Rod fans to enjoy. Don't do that again Rod! We liked Brian, but we paid to see Rod. Our seats were to the right of the stage not too far back and the huge speakers right in front of us just blasted us out, way too loud, but I guess that's what has to be to reach all the fans on the lawn way back.

The night was hot, it rain hard, and Rod was having problems with his ear piece, he at one time just walked off the stage in the middle of a song. We didn't know what was happening! Then he reappeared without explanation. Said his ears were sweating, I imagine this would be a problem. But no, there was no cooling system in place to cool him off, like fans, or such. His wardrobe was fab, and he looked his best and had what looked like a rosary around his neck? We enjoyed all the fine pictures of his family and youngest son which periodically appeared on the big screen. But really wanted more time of him. The crowd was in good spirits and he did not appear till nearly 9:45pm. Many soccer balls were distributed out to the crowd, but there were more waiting from a guy in the sidelines, but Rod failed to distribute. Rod, don't you know how important that is. I can tell you because I have two, that I caught in past concerts. One is autographed and one is not, that my son caught. And that was the concert that we had front row, center seating!!!!!!! And it's quite a thrill to get one!

All in all, of course his concerts are a great experience ~ and to all you Rod fans out there, you know what a treat they are. But we in Northeast Ohio, are in a crunch, and need a full concert to see when we pay that price for a ticket. Wasn't it in Cleveland that the first disc jockey played Maggie May? Don't forget that Rod.

What Is This?

2008-09-05T02:31:00.002-04:00

Well, I wondered what was eating all the tops off the backyard foilage. One plant after another, gone.

It's this little napping-sunbather- critter, making himself at home on my deck! And not afraid to be seen! Just taking it easy after a huge meal.

He's got to go, but how? He dug a big hole where the bees were or something did. And, I saw him yesterday just takin' his time, coming up the path after a little dip in the lake.

Hope I didn't disturn you......

~kg

Here's Bosco Looking Up At Me....

2008-09-05T02:24:00.003-04:00

Here I am, enjoying the morning sunshine

and I have another visitor on our deck. It's Bosco, the neighbor, who also has a live-in cat-partner named Poppy! She likes to watch the action on the deck., too. Her favorite day dreaming perch is the ivy patch. Where there is alot of chipmonk action.

Doesn't she have a pretty face?

~KG

Now Check Out What He Is Doing...

2008-09-05T02:19:00.003-04:00

Check out the same squirrel doing a balancing act on the finial. He is still trying to find the birdfeeder solution that he cannot reach.

I think he is trying to show that he can indeed be crafty, even if he can't get those juicy seeds. Ha!

What Next Will Be Out There?

2008-09-05T02:02:00.006-04:00

Can you see this dern squirrel? He climbed up the pine tree trying to get the bird feeder on the back porch. He can't reach it from above, so he is trying a different approach.

He is one of the things I see when I am sitting in my favorite spot on the back porch enjoying morning coffee with Cocoa on my lap. At one point he was hanging from his tail, upside-down, trying to come up with a way to get the goods. More to come.....

Just a Preview!!!!!! Coming Soon To My Site

2008-09-05T01:52:00.004-04:00

Here's a brand new primitive doll creation just off the drawing board! She will be available soon. She is dressed in old blue and white quilt and carries all her antiques in a box. She will be available on Lemonpoppyseed.com on Sept. 15, see her in more detail then.....:-)

~Kathie

Please Be Kind To Animals!

2008-07-26T03:15:00.000-04:00

I have always been a big animal lover, I can't imagine mistreating any animal alive. Please don't leave your animal tied up outside, he can't learn anyting that way. He does not understand why he is in "jail". Treat him like the memeber of the family that he is. In turn they will bring you the most unconditional love you will ever know!

Can't Live Without My Darlings!

2008-07-26T02:57:00.000-04:00

Thought you would enjoy seeing my adorable babies! If you like cats, you will love Himmeys, they are the best!

Visit The Shoppe!

2008-07-26T02:14:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you a little bit about our farmhouse primitive craft and antique shop. We are located right on Copley Circle in Copley, Ohio, on Route 162. We carry hand crafted Folk Art, Americana, rusty tin items, primitive dolls, Santa's, olde quilt pillows, lots of grungy candles, old doll beds, little chairs, jewelry, antiques, and tons of other stuff! Our 8 rooms are filled to the brim! Here's a little recent sampling of some of our treasures! We take wish lists for our customers, layaway, Visa & MasterCard, and like to give decorating suggestions on primitive and old country. Check out our new Americana Tree, I hunted all over for red, white, & blue lights, and could not locate any, but very easily found one strip of white, one strip of red, etc.!!!!! Stop in and see us or give me a call Tuesday ~ Saturday, 11-5pm, 330-665-9696!

2008-07-15T23:46:00.000-04:00

Just what is primitive? Looking in my trusty old black, leather bound 1937 dictionary, with it's well worn pages and dark print, renders up a defination of being: the first, or earliest of its kind; original; antiquated; primary; radical; not derived; an original work. And this is one of the closest to my mind's eye that I have found to best describe.

For those of us with a deep passion for this new "old" wave of early vintage excitement, truly love just discussing and seeing original primitive art works. We are the ones drawn like a magnet to its dark beauty. It warms the heart and feeds the spirit. The more I see the more I love it. But what some might not know is that primitives goes way back. And its current popularity, I believe, gained its momentum with the birth of "country stuff" not long ago.

But this new/old prim look is an evolvement, I believe too, of our country beginnings, but with much more safistication and historical flavor, with Civil War overtones and going even further back in time. And it has tiptoed in with it's own degrees, going with extreme, early, to kinda folky designs. Meaning articles and decorator items that are crudely made without measured patterns. And using ideas as to what the prairie women had, just what came from the land and their little ole' cupboards. The Folk Art prims, not so grubby and early, use material that are available in todays media ~ but still made to look ancient.

But we can't leave out the Country Primitive, not so cutesy, but on the rustic side. You could place some of the Annie dolls in this catagory. And this wonderful bloom of quoting the bible for samplers, and now making food that looks old is taking full stage. The exciting appreciation of the use of high-tech computer skills taking us back to the ealy 1800's is so much fun. This blend is magical and captivating for those of us appreciating this niche.

So what exactly is primitive decorating besides all the dark primitive antiques from long ago? It's not what everyone understands, but quite distinct. Like early American items, tools, whether it be for baking, crafting, building, lighting, or wearing, it's a gathering of handmade old used in todays world. Stuff that looks really old, but is not so easy to capture and create by artists ~ often called needfulls. And brings a feeling of comfort and a glimpse of what the past actually looked like but living in the joy of now. Pretty simple, huh? Well that word, simple is also finding it's path in the defination. Think of what it takes to make you happy in the old look, a collections of old baskets, a wooden sign dated 1805, an old barn with worn paint, a handcrafted doll meticulously detailed that looks like it lived in an attic for a century. Yep, that's primitive alright. Quite beautiful and attention getting for those of us hooked on the peek into the primitive past.

Believing even more exciting reproducing of primitive America, circa 1776-1895, creations will be coming forward to help us hold onto our beloved heritage with both hands, I am sure it will further inspire this flame of rememberance and will be here to stay for a long while, new ideas for what looks real old. Can't be beat.

- "One joy dispells a hundred cares"

~Kathie

Announcement!

2008-07-08T23:50:00.000-04:00

Check out our Signature Candle, it is the best smelling scent the market has to offer! You can purchase on our website. Don't miss trying our Buttered Maple Syrup 20 oz. jar size. It comes in diffusers, too! Our customers love it!

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

2008-07-08T22:50:00.001-04:00

July 8, 2008

Hello:

Welcome to my blog! I am a shop owner/craft artist, that loves to make primitive dolls and anything else you can imagine in the folk art industry! I also love to take pictures of old stuff, it's so inspiring. Before you leave, make sure your take a short cut to my website, it's open 24/7, no matter when you come, the welcome mat is out there for you. Check it out! http://www.mycountryheart.com/

I just got back from Florida, after visiting my son and daughter-in-law. And while I was there, here is one of my favorite places in the world, Honeymoon Island! Gateway to the ocean...!

And check out the beautiful Hybiscus in their back yard, talk about beautiful!

They also have a wild bird guest, that ventures into their garage looking you right in the eye for a tad of lunch meat. He is so cute. There are not just alligators in Florida. And I chose to honor & respect the beware of rattlesnakes sign!

Blessings to you!

~Kathie :-)