Primitive Sunflower ~ FREEBIE Tutorial!!!!

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!

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,,,,,

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

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:-)

Come & Visit Us in Historic Copley, Ohio!

Favorite Old Quilt Santa

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

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!

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

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!

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!!