Stocking up for winter!

 They really make us laugh around our house!

Please do not copy my images to sell or make make money.

Cruella Crow!

I saw this beautiful crow land and it looked like it had paint spattered all over it. The opened wings were a sight! Think of the craft wheel at fairs that turned and spattered paint all over a canvas for you! This crow walked around my neighbor's yard with authority. Maybe she or he has a little Cruella de Vil inside!

Am I a Cardinal?

These two were chatting, drinking and bathing together. However the male kept a very watchful eye on the grey bird. I am assuming a female cardinal? I am lucky to get so many cool birds around my house. In fact a farm down the road is being made into a conservatory.

Watt Pottery

 Watt Pottery was made in Ohio. The plant closed due to a fire in 1965. According to Kovel's website the apple pattern can be dated by the leaves. Pre 1958 were three leaves. This is a rare cannister. In all my years I have not seen this for sale in person and it looks like it was never used. My guess is a grease jar or a cannister. I saw a different pattern with similar shape marked "tea" on it. The cookie jars were stout and it is definately not a bean pot either.   $125.00 Local Pick-Up Greensburg, PA

DIY Halloween You Got This!

I just need a hay bale to pull it all together!

I have been gathering tossed aside trick or treat pumpkins from garage sales the past couple years. They look awesome hanging from my maple tree. This year I decided to make a scarecrow for the front of the tree. This is so easy to pull off.

Materials

An old XL or bigger flannel shirt

A plastic pumpkin pail

Dirt, flowers or something to weigh down the pumpkin pail.

A wood stake 4-5 ft tall

A piece of wood to nail on top of stake. Two inches thick like a cut 2X4 will need a long screw. Less thick would be a better choice. Eye up the length so you get the look of broad shoulders. 26-30 inches. Test plank with shirt. Too long and you won't be able to button.

Screws and hand tools. A mallet is best when pounding a stake into the ground.

Plastic bags, plastic packing to puff out arms. Tie off with twine and raffia.

Lay stuff out and think out your project. Decide if you want to pound the stake in and add your plank or add the plank and pound all together into the ground. I weighed my pumpkin with dirt and threaded wire thru the pumpkin and wrapped around wood to keep attached.

This project is so simple and creates a great display. As always I find these projects most satisfying by using scraps from around the house and keeping costs down. Sometimes just going to the shed or garage and looking at all your junk will get your creativity pumping. Also a great way to get your kids imagination going!

Adding props into your landscaping makes it look less generic

Skull head from JoAnn's. Wire down to plank of wood. I added a black light on it for night time.

How to make a "Make Do," Scarecrow

You hear "Make Do," thrown around a lot in the Prim Decor world. What does it mean? Many people who make prim dolls will say it is scraps around the house people used to construct a doll and basically make do with little they owned.

Not so fast...I guess it sounds romantic thinking about a little wood house deep in the woods of the Appalachian mountains, curling smoke from its chimney. Thinking a petite, poor Granny is rocking in her creaky, wood chair sewing bits of scraps from worn out work clothes next to a warm pot belly stove.

Believe it or not our Grandparents and beyond recycled in general because they did not believe in just throwing useful things away. They also repaired things and these things many times end up in antique shops. They are sometimes beautifully gnarly and the prices outrageous. 

So here is my, "Make Do" scarecrow. Just think you can teach your kids to use their imagination, recycle and give a history lesson.

Supplies

1. Overalls and a shirt.

2.Plastic grocery bags, anything that does not soak up water.

3.Rafia or straw. Just 4 hand fulls.

4.Orange mesh or light weight cloth for the head.

5. Left over craft supplies for eyes, nose and mouth. Or use stuff from nature.

6. Twine, scissors and a hot glue gun.

Start stuffing! Lay out the shirt and stuff to desired puffiness with grocery bags etc. Next you are going to trick everyone with the rafia. Stuff long uneven ends of rafia into ends of sleeves and tie off with twine. Tie off bottom of shirt with twine. Now put shirt into overalls. Fill legs and tie off with rafia.

Construct the head. I did this very simple as I tore my scarecrow down at the end because it was in the weather. I simply made a light weight ball of plastic and draped mesh over it and tied the bottom off like a balloon. I also added a few hot glue spots around the ball before draping. I had a nice bit of material at the end of my head so it looked like a scarf and made it look good setting on the body.

Next hot glue the facial features. Hot glue a doll hat if you want too! Now you are ready to prop your scarecrow and add the head. Once in place set the head on the body and cover attachment with extra material tied at end of head. I added hot glue to my shirt opening and then placed head.

Add anything else you want. Have fun!

Turkey Vultures are Gnarly

 

Yes, these birds are creepy! They scavenge and are the grim reaper of nature! They are large and in charge. Just their look makes you shutter. I came across vultures eating on a country road a couple years ago and they were massive and did not budge. I had to wait for them. These particular ones I came across in of course a ghostly tree. Ready for their take in some Alfred Hitchcock movie. I was on a backroad in Indiana County, PA.

While they may give some of us spine tingling chills, they are necessary.  Vultures are the maid service. Their sense of smell picks up fresh kill. They prefer a new kill verses very rotted. I have read their scavanging actually helps prevent the spread of disease to other animals.

For more reading: https://www.dept.psu.edu/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/turkey_vulture.html