Thyme to meet the BIG GUY

Now did you think

I was going to post a picture of my husband??? LOL!

Here's the

BIG GUY!

as I was assembling him......

he's about 58" tall

he has individual  "snowball" pieces"

that are wired together

and so......

Here he is all done!!

He has a large rusty bell on his top hat

with some greens and red berries

a

black check scarf

and

grapevine wrappped around him

he's one handsome guy!

Lynn

Thyme for black hat Bob

Wow........what a busy weekend I had!!!!!!

I had so mamy items to finish

for the Country Plus

Christmas  Open House

on

November 28th

Here's black hat Bob!

I usually wait till the day after Thanksgiving to

decorate my house for Christmas

but

this year I started early  because of the

Country Plus open house next weekend

It usually takes me a WEEK to decorate........inside and out..........

I have a good portion of the inside done with the

exception

of the tree, nativity  a finishing touches here and there

I wanted to leave the fall decorations outside

till after Thanksgiving

(no one needs to know whats going on inside LOL!!!!)

We are not having Thanksgiving here......

You have to know me to ........ ummmmmmmm

LOVE ME..........

But

It's just not working for me this

1/2 Christmas .......1/2 Thanksgiving theme!!!

LOL!

Hugs,

Lynn

Weekend thyme.........

Is it just me or does everyone work like this???

LOL!!!

Here's GUS keeping me company

 in

this mess I call my studio!!!

I like to work on several things at once

 but

this is getting a little ridiculious in here

I'm trying to finish up several pieces to drop off

for the

Christmas open house at

Country Plus

Santa's and Snowmen

more snowmen.......

skates, signs, ornaments

Gingerbread and snowmen..some are finished

some are not!!!

Some..........

need other pieces added

some.....

are being put together

and some things like my painting table

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz!!!!

Could be cleaned up!

I LOVE spending the day doing

what I

LOVE

to do!!!

How about you???

Hugs,

Lynn

Thyme for snow angels

Here are some snow angel signs I've painted

Once again I can barely move in my studio

the brushes are flying here

The Christmas open house is

November 28 at Country Plus !

Thyme to roll out the dough

This is one of my
 FAVORITE
pieces

It was a class I did......several years aga

The design is by Prudy Vannier CDA

I never sold this piece because

I LOVE IT! 

This is the style painting

that makes my heart SMILE

I love to to

 hang it in my kitchen

every

year at the holidays

Oh.......those elves, working so hard!

A star cookie cutter

the rolling pin rolling the dough

checking the recipe.......

the recipe

a handsome ginger boy!

star cookies with frosting and sprinkles!!

YUM, Yum..............Looks good enough to eat!!!!!!!!!!!

Instead of painting today

I made these............Gingerbread ornies!!

Just wait till you see what I'm doing

with these !

Hugs,

Lynn

Thyme for snowflakes

Here's a sweet snowflake snowman

He's a Terrye French design

that

I've changed a little by adding the scarf

with

a glittering snowflake

He is also holding a string of snowflakes!

I painted the snowflake cutouts

and

added Diamond Dust

to make them sparkle

I've added some greens and berries to his hat

I just love his sweet face!

You can find the pattern for him

in

Terrye French's book called Wintry Friends

Visit Terrye at The Painted Pear Basket

Thyme to meet Gus

So here's Gus

How's that for a face! LOL!

Gus stands 58" tall

so he's a BIG GUY!

I love his Christmas tree

which

I wrapped with grapevine

 his sign says

welcome to our  "niche" in the woods

I added wood buttons to his shirt

and

a black checked scarf

Gus is a J & J Crafts Design

Thyme for Santa and candy canes

Heres a primitive door Santa

with a candy cane

After painting the candy cane

I wrapped it with a torn strip

of

muslin which I sprayed with adhesive

and sprinkled with

Diamond Dust for sparkle

I added a vanilla stained tag that says

Candy Canes 5 cents

I also added some greenery
with some artificial snow
I painted on

Santa has a snowflake on his hat

also

sprinkled with Diamond Dust

Santa has some rusty bells

tied with homespun on his hat
This is a J & J Crafts Design

Thyme to meet Conrad

Rainy ,windy and cold here today

so it was a great day to stay in and paint!

I usually work on several pieces at a time

right now I'm working on

several large snowmen , Santa's

and

even a moose!

I finished Conrad today

He can also be put on a stake
I added some greens and rusty bells on his hat
a small grapevine wreath
and tied some
homespun around his neck
The Christmas Open House
at
Country Plus
just around the corner
so the brushes continue to fly!

Thyme for Santa and Snowman shelf sitters

Here are some prim shelf sitter sets I've painted

 Prim Santa and 2 prim trees

and

a Prim Snowman and 2 prim trees

These shelf sitters are about 14" tall

They are cut from rough wood

I added small burlap bags filled

with greens and cinnamon sticks

the trees are decorated

with

rusty bell garlands

These are J & J Crafts Designs

Thyme to see who #18 is .........the Lucky Gobbler

            I'm packing the box for

Lucky Gobbler #18

first in the box

is

this sign

because

I am THANKFUL for many things

and one of them is

that I have met you

in Blogland!

Next in the box I'm putting

some candles and pumpkin spice sachet

And next in the box  for your Thanksgiving table

A set of scarecrow candle holders I've painted

And last but not least

A GOBBLE till you wobble sign

WOW.........how does that look????

Now I just need an address to put on this box

so I can get it to the

ole postie office!

So GOBBLER # 18

Heidi

Fairy Footprints in the sand

Congrats Heidi!!!!

I am sooooo glad you won!!!

I enjoy your visits every day to my blog......

But I enjoy even more

visiting you!!

You have an amazing blog, something new everyday!

sparking glittering

a fairy tale wonderland!

Now  to all you LOSERS

who entered my give away and didn't win

 LOL!!!!!!!

I hope to be doing

another give away soon!

PLEASE
go over and visit
Heidi
and wish her
CONGRATULATIONS!
Heidi
send me your addresss
and your
Gobbler package
is on its way!
Hugs, Lynn

And it's thyme for a WINNER of my 100th post give away.....

The Lucky Gobbler is!
# 18

Congratulations!!!!

Thyme to say goodnight

I love how this Santa came out

It is a Katrina Roncin pattern

for a shelf sitter

I enlarged it to hang

I added a rusty bell from his hat

soooooooo,

to all a good night

my next post will  annnounce the

Lucky Gobbler

of

my give away!!!!!!!!

Good Luck, GOBBLERS!

Lynn

Thyme for GOBBLERS to gather here for my GIVEAWAY

Well this is it GOBBLERS

Tomorrow  November 13th

 I

will pick the Lucky Gobbler

who will win my give away.....

I am busy compiling and typing out the list of entries

I will be using a random generator to pick

the

LUCKY GOBBLER

So if you haven't entered you still have time to enter

so

 WOBBLE

on over here

and tell me on my ORIGINAL post

what you will be

GOBBLING

on Thanksgiving Day!!!!

Good Luck GOBBLERS!

Hugs,

Lynn

Thyme for a Blessed Winter Day

As a child I loved to ice skate

My Dad always made an ice skating rink in our

back yard every winter

My sisters, brother and & I along with our friends would spend hours out there ice skating

then come inside to a wonderful cup of  hot chocolate

I've hung up my skates

and painted them !!!!

I've filled the skates with snow covered greens,

red berries, cinamon sticks

and

snowballs

I laced the skates up

with

a red plaid homepun fabric

amd

tied rusty bells to the ends

I've added some artificial snow paint

and

diamond dust to make them sparkle

Thyme to say Thank You to some very brave men and woman.......Our Veterans

On this Veterans Day

let us not forget to

say

Thank You
to the brave men and woman
both
past and present
that have served our great country in the military

Daddy, Where You Going? @ Yahoo! Video

Members of my family who have served this great country

My Grandfather
George Smith Sr
US Navy

My father
Ralph Smith
US Navy

My Brother

Bryan Smith

US Coast Guard

My father in law

Edo Barbadora

US Army

Thyme for a patriotic snowman

Here is a great

patriotic snowman
I have painted

The pattern I used for this piece was designed by

Jan Pappazisis

Jan was my first Decorative Painting teacher

She co-owned Jim/Jan Handcrafts

with her husband Jim.

They were 2 of the nicest people

 I have ever known

Our classes were held in

a

wonderful New England Country Barn

I took classes there for several years

Jan was not only a wonderful person but certainly a

very gifted, talented teacher.

I am so grateful to Jan for all she taught me

Sadly both Jan and her husband Jim who also worked at the studio

are no longer with us

I'd like to think that Jan is looking down on me smiling

and saying

"she"s finally got it!"

Hugs,

Lynn

Thyme for Santa and my 100th post give away

I spent the weekend working

 on some special orders

 from the show,

My husband cut out a ton of pieces for me

I basecoated all of them with

black stain.......it gives a nice prim look to things

so now I can go ahead and start painting all of them

Here is a Santa I finished

he is 48" tall

He has large rusty bell "buttons"

and

 a burlap flag that

I painted

Don't forget to sign up to WIN

my GIVE AWAY

on

my ORIGINAL post

Just tell me what you are going

to be

GOBBLING

on

Thanksgiving Day!

Good Luck GOBBLERS!

Hugs,
Lynn

Thyme to say thanks for a give away I won and my 100th post give away....

I'm so excited to show you my give away winning

from Brenda

at

The Rusty Thimble

I received 2 yes 2 of these wonderful Santa ornies!!!

He is already on my twiggy tree

in the living room

which

I just put up.

Before Thanksgiving I start placing some of my trees and greens

around the house then

 decorate them after Thanksgiving

So as lonesome as he looks now he will be surrounded by

lots of other HOMEMADE ornies!

I just love them Brenda

Thanks sooo Much!!!!

Speaking of Santa!

You may have noticed I changed my blog over to Xmas!

I just couldn't wait any longer

now that I'm painting for Xmas!

The Plate in my header

is a Kim Hogue CDA Design

that I painted in a class

a long time ago

It's called

Candy Cane Lane

It has tons of detail

I love Santa's face...

just look at this glistening beard!!!

and

 the tiny trees on Santa's jacket

his fir trimmed coat

and patch work bottom

Or who can resist this wonderful snowman

look at all those little trees and snowflakes on his scarf!!

his wonderful pine halo and

candy canes

or that yummy carrot nose

I just love the pail with the candy cane handle!

and

all the snowman ornaments

and the pine Xmas tree.........

all those fine pine needles to paint...LOL!

I did not finish this in the class I took

neither did any one else........!!!!

It sat in my closet for years when finally last year I finished it!!!!

I just LOVE it and will never sell it!!

Last but not least .........

just a reminder about my 100th post give away!

My GOBBLERS!!!

Leave me a comment on my

ORIGINAL POST

for my giveaway and tell me

what you'll be GOBBLING

on Thanksgiving Day!!!!

That's  it!

Good Luck!

Gobblers!

Lynn

Thyme for a Christmas Preview and my GIVE AWAY

Last night was the

Christmas Preview

at

Country Plus

in Hopkinton MA

the

shop I paint for!

The shop was closed all day so we could

get it ready and decorated!

It looked so magical

when we opened at 5 PM!!

What a talented group of people I have come to know at Country Plus!

Make sure you stop by the Country Plus Website and say hi to

Judy !!!

Enjoy the slideshow from last nights

Christmas Preview!

Now...........about my  100th post celebration!!!

All you have to do is leave me a comment on my

ORIGINAL POST

for my give away!!

Tell me what you are going to be

GOBBLING

on

Thanksgiving Day!
Good Luck GOBBLERS!!!

Hope you are having a GREAT weekend!

Lynn

I'm celebrating my 100th post with a give away!

Ok.........You all convinced me I need to have another GIVE AWAY!
My 100th post celebration!
First of all I'd like to thank all my wonderful followers
the comments you leave touch my heart
so
 the first item in the box to the lucky winner is this sign

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away

and ye shall want to set a pretty table for family and friends

so

the next item in the box to the lucky winner

is

a set of fall scarecrow candlestick holders

They are made of wood & are a Laurie Speltz Design

that

I've painted

They have a homespun neckerchief

with

a rusty bell that is fastened by

a rusty pin

Next in the box to the

LUCKY WINNER

are candles for the candle holders from

The Hearthside Collection

and

some Pumpkin Spice Sachet

NEXT

in the box to the

LUCKY WINNER

is this

GOBBLE paddle

Design By BeCca

at Folk Art from the Harbor

So what do you have to do to win my

give away?

*Just leave me a comment here telling me

what you are going to be gobbling

Thanksgiving Day!

Leave me a recipe if ya want!!!

* Become a follower of little ole me!

* Post  my give away on ye blog !

I shall pick the LUCKY Gobbler

on

November 13th!

GOOD LUCK GOBBLERS!!!

Lynn

My 100th post......thyme for a give away......

WOW..........100 posts by little ole me........

What do you think???

Should I do a give away????????

Thyme to Jingle all the way!

Well........as I said the paint brushes are  flying here!!!!!!!

It's back to business as usual

and

late nights painting!!!!

So late that I set my alarm to get up this AM

as I had a hair appointment at 10 AM

I woke up at 9:50............UGH......

I never sleep that late........right thru the alarm RINGING..........

Speaking of RINGING........ringing...........RINGING!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a real cute Santa I just finished.......

I painted

JINGLE ALL THE WAY ON HIS HAT!!!!!!

He is holding a grapevine wreath

his wreath has a garland

of  rusty bells

OH.......back to my hair appointment

I had to give my hairdresser Lisa a little

JINGLE

on the phone

to say I had overslept........

so

she was able to re-schedule me to 1:30 PM.......

So Thanks Lisa!!!!!!!

She usually stops by here to see what I'm up to!!!!!

One ringy, dingy,

two ringy dingy..............LOL!!!!

I LOVE LATE NIGHT PAINTING!

Lynn

Thyme to meet some chilly weathered friends

Well after a day off to rest up from the show the brushes are flying again.

The Christmas Preview

at

Country Plus

is November 6.........this Friday!

Here are some chilly weather friends I've painted

The pattern for this piece came from

Batch of Pretties

Thyme to visit a new blog and a give away!

I'd like to introduce one of the Artisans from Country Plus
Michelle Harter of Rocking Chair Stitches

Michelle is new to blogland

so

Please stop on over to her blog to welcome her

At Ramblings from Rhode Island

and

 enter her wonderful give away!

It's Thyme for The Folk Art Festival of New England to come to an end

What a great weekend I had

at the

 Folk Art Festival of New England

I'd like to introduce the wonderful ladies who were a part of this show with me

(left-right) Lynn Painting Thyme Needfuls

Judy Coffey Country Plus

Michelle Harter & Connie  Rocking Chair Stiches
Marie Poole  Basically Bears

I am EXHAUSTED but it was well worth it!
Our booth turned out beautiful
I even got to meet a fellow Blogger!!
Brenda from Pumpkin Patch Primitves
I knew I would love you Brenda after meeting you thru blogland.........
BUT
it was even better in person!!!
How Fun!

Tomorrow its back to the paint brushes for me!!!!
Friday is our Christmas Preview
at
Country Plus!

Thyme to see us at the Folk Art Festival of New England

A long day today but it was GREAT!!

We arrived at  8:00 AM to set up

We were finished setting up by about 2 PM

 The show began at  5 PM

 We had a non- stop line of customers!!!!!!!

YEH!!!!!!!!

The show runs thru Sunday

I am so blessed !

I  LOVE what  I do!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,

Lynn

Today I spent thyme trying to finish some more pieces for the Folk Art Festival of New England this weekend

The countdown has begun

and I'm ready!!!!

I finished up these last pieces today

for the show

A fall block set that I wired together

and

hung with homespun

a winter block set

a snowballs for sale sign

and  Jolly Ole St Nick himself!

The paint brushes will continue to fly here as the Christmas preview

at

Country Plus

is

November 6th

Thyme for gingerbread, happiness and The Folk Art Festival of New England

Happiness is licking the spoon

I'm still putting the finishing touches on many things for the show this weekend

even though there really is not alot of

baking

going on around here lately

there sure is alot of painting!!

AND

that brings me so much happiness!!

 This is a cute gingerbread ornie I did last year

I put clothes pins on the back

This is a Katrina Roncin pattern

I hope to get more of these painted for

the Country Plus  Christmas Preview

which is November 6

These are WONDERFUL grungy cinnamon gingerbread

that I also made last year for the shop

I got the recipe from Terry French

at

The Painted Pear Basket

  You will want to include these in your holiday crafting

I hope you do something today for YOU that brings you

HAPPINESS!

Hugs,

Lynn

There's still thyme to keep on painting till the Folk Art Festival of New England

I think I will be still be painting on my way out the door

on Friday

as I leave for the Folk Art Festival  of New England

in Marlboro

Here are 2 signs I finished last night

I really love how these came out

The peppermint sticks on the above sign

I  made from wood dowels

I painted the dowels barn red, stained them

tore coffee stained muslin into strips

and

wrapped it around them and glued

I added tiny eye screws to the top

so

I could wire them to the sign
I then sprayed them with adhesive glue

and

sprinkled with Diamond Dust

I just LOVE the sparkle of Diamond Dust

It not only make my pieces sparkle

but the floors on my house too.........

with all this painting going on ,

WHO has time for Cinderella chores?????

Thyme is running out......till the Folk Art Festival of New England

I have been real busy this weekend

trying to put the finishing touches on so many pieces

 for the Folk Art Festival of New England

which is next weekend.

Country Plus the shop I paint for will have a booth .

We are all very excited!

More signs, pilgrims, santa's and pineapples

I was able to finish another fireplace screen. 

It just needs the hinges put on

This is Snowbrite

He is a Renee Mullins Design

You can find Renee

at

Plum Purdy Designs

So......until next time the brushes are flying

 and the paint spattering here!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Lynn

Thyme for Christmas cookies all around

I just love making Christmas cookies!

So this wooden bowl is a REAL favorite of mine

Don't the cookies look good enough to eat???

The shading techniques in this pattern were awesome!

I have only painted one of these

and

 I couldn't part with it so it is one of

my most treasured Christmas decorations!

As always I like the back of my pieces to look as good as the front

I painted a piece of holly and signed my name and date.

This is a Distinctive Brushstrokes Pattern

Thyme to build snowman

In the meadow we can build

a snowman

I cut some mittens out of wood and attached them to the is sign with wire

I also added a snowflake that I painted white and sprinkled with

Diamond Dust

I then finished it off with homespun red bows

Thyme to explain

But Santa.......I can explain

This is a WONDERFUL Santa

His face and hat are wood that I painted

His beard is muslin that I coffee stained and scented with vanilla

and ripped into strips

I sprayed his beard lightly with

spray adhesive and sprinkled with diamond dust

On the rim of his hat I used snow tex paint

He is a Terry French design!!.........Of course!

She is one talented lady!!

You can visit Terrye

at

The Painted Pear Basket

This sign I painted using a stencil from

Homestead Stencil

  The candy cane I cut from wood

and

painted Barn red

I then wrappped torn strips of coffee stained muslin

around the candy cane and sprinkled with diamond dust!

I tied a piece of homespun to the candy cane with rusty bells

I have also done these candy canes and glued a clothespin on the back

then added some sweet annie and berries for a wonderful ornie for your tree

HO ~ ho~ho  ~ho

Lynn

Thyme to sell snowballs

Crazy new England weather!

I'm selling snowballs!!!!!!!!!!!

Thyme to look out the window

I can't believe what I see outside

SNOWFLAKES the size of golfballs!

It's October 18th!!

Looks like a long cold winter ahead in good

Ole New England!

This is an old window I painted using a

Terry French Pattern called Lookin In

You can find Terry at

The Painted Pear Basket
I left the glass panes in the window. 
After I finished painting the design I sprayed the snow areas with a spray adhesive
 and sprinkled diamond dust over the snow areas, so the snow actually glistens.
I love this window !

Don't you think its Thyme ......

I just got done reading a post by
Deb at Crows on the Cupola
titled " Is this you?"

Deb actually wrote a hysterical poem about
life as a crafter/artist
Well, I must say My Pretties.........
 I can relate!
Take a look at this!

my studio/office is becoming buried with

 pilgrims & santa's

tons of signs

snowmen

items needing hangers put on them

patterns, stencils, paint  EVERYWHERE......

My husband said today, "I can't even walk thru here anymore"

Yes, I would say that is an accurate statement............

Well Deb......I think you were peeking in my windows today!

Even Colby has given up trying to find so much as a ball to play with!

Maybe, just maybe I had better clean up my act!

LOL!
Hope you are all having a productive weekend!
I am!
Lynn

Thyme for gingerbread and cocoa with marshmallows

Here is a metal tray I found

at a flea market

I painted the design on the tray using a

Renee Mullins pattern

from the book

Snow Many Friends

You can find Renee

at

Plum Purdy Designs

Renees designs are really fun to paint!

I always like to paint a little design on the back of my pieces to sign my name

Hope you are all enjoying your holiday crafting as much as I am!

Hugs,

Lynn

EeeeeeeeeeKKKKK! I'm so excited!

KaThREN from Cody's Keepsakes just emailed me that I won Bella in her give away!!

The first winner she drew has never contacted her .......and it's been a week........RATS.........

and so

Little Ole WICKED Me was the next name drawn!!

Well now My Pretties

KaThREN has been instructed by none other than me

to get on her broom and get Bella to the postie office

and sent to me!!!!!

I have just the spot for Bella!
Thank you KaThREN for such a great giveaway!

Hugs,
Lynn

Thyme for a sleigh ride

Here is a sleigh ride sign I've painted

I also painted a prim wooden sled
and
attached it with red plaid homespun
and
rusty bells

Thyme to see Sweet Treats and Wintry Friends

This is a glass cookie jar I found at a flea market

It had a metal top which I took off

 my husband cut out all the gingerbread pieces,

after they were painted

he adapted them to a wood circle to serve as the cover

He has a real knit scarf and hat!

His coat has real heart shaped buttons!

His pocket is filled with goodies!

I made the pockets from homespun

and

stiffened them with glue diluted with water

He has some snow on his clothes, hat and scarf!

He is one of my favorite pieces....I leave him out all winter

I have made several of these cookie jars as gifts

 and

filled them with Italian cookies or chocolate truffles

This pattern was designed by Terrye French

 and

 can be found in her book called

Wintry Friends

You can visit Terrye at The Painted Pear Basket

Thyme to meet MS. Snowie

This is Ms Snowie that I have painted on a metal container with handles

I filled it with artificial greens and berries. 

I took styrofoam balls and made the snowballs by spraying them  with spray glue
 then sprinkling with glass glitter

This is yet another wonderful Terrye French Design

you can find Terrye French

at

The Painted Pear Basket

Snowman thyme

To make a winter friend

find a carrot and some coal.

Gather up your friends

and

roll a bunch of snow!!!!!

I just LOVE snowmen and these signs!!!!!

Visit BeCca at Folk Art From The Harbor

for

some great stencils for sign making

Thyme to see who is here!!!!!!!

I can't tell you how excited I was today to see the mailman coming up my driveway with a package!!!!!

BECAUSE

Marilyn from Harvest Moon Primitives had e-mailed me to say my package was on the way!
I won TILLIE  in Marilyn's give away
WELL

Here she is in her new home

OMG
I LOVE HER!!!!!!!
She is sitting on the bench in my breezeway ready to greet all who enter!

I had to laugh when I saw her..........I used to tell my sons when they were little that frogs had TEETH because they would always be catching them and bringing them in the house to show me and I was petrified  I'd find one loose in the house!!! LOL!!!!

I'm sure they will kid me ALOT about that when they see TILLIE!!

Well...thank you for making my day Marilyn!!!!!

If you haven't already

get on your broom and fly on over to see

 Marilyn at

Harvest Moon Primitives

You'll be glad you did!!!

I know I am!!!!!

Hugs,

Lynn

Thyme for some gingerbread and a snowman

I love gingerbreadmen as much as snowmen!

This is a gingerbread light box

I have filled him with greens and berries

And here is a snowman light box!

Thyme to feed the birds

This is a snowman birdfeeder I've painted.

 I'm always on the lookout for the old tin pie plates to use as the base for the birdseed. 

I  leave them outside on the deck to rust.

I drill small holes in the pan so if it rains the water will drain out.

I usually put some birdseed in a small bown lunch bag and tie with homespun.

Welcome to Country Thyme

Here is a great Terrye French pattern I painted on a wooden sled.

It's called Welcome to the Country Sled.
The pattern can be found in Terrye's  book called
Harvest Blessings and Holiday Spirit

Thyme to tell you how excited I am

Marilyn from Harvest Moon Primitives contacted me and told me I was her give away winner!!

 I won Tillie!!!!

I cannot wait for him to arrive!!!!!

Thyme to build a snowman

Well this is it....... I'm starting to switch gears and start painting for Christmas as you can see by my header!

This is a snowman fireplace screen.

I have painted 3 of these.

 The one in my header I painted for the Chrismas Open House at Country Plus last year.  The lantern in the snowmans hand has a flicker light that lights up! I had it in my hand when I walked into the open house and a lady took it out of my hand and went right to the register with it!

I painted 2 of the blue ones seen below and gave them to friends for Christmas one year.

We have had a Christmas swap every year with 2 other couples with one stipulation, the gift has to be HOMEMADE and BOTH husband and wife need to take part in the making of the gift!

We have been doing this for at least 12 years with these 2 couples and I must say

it has almost become a contest among us with who can come up with the BEST idea!! 

We usually go out to eat at a nice restaurant then back to one of our houses for coffee and dessert

 ( of course again homemade!!)

We then open our gifts from each other.

I have to say these are the gifts I treasure the most every year because they are handmade with  LOVE!!!

  I came up with the idea for the fireplace screen but used snowman patterns from Monika Brints book called Snowmen to Melt Your Heart.

I don't know what I would do without my husband who spends many hours in the cellar every weekend cutting my wood!!!!

I have another one cut out and HOPE to get it done for the Folk Art Festival of New England Show I'm doing at the end of the month!

Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe: Freaky Friday Fun Giveaway, WK# 2

Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe: Freaky Friday Fun Giveaway, WK# 2

Weekend thyme

Rainy day here in New England.....I can't believe how quickly the leaves are turning.

I hope to get alot of painting done for the show. 

I have my husband busy in the basement cutting a pile of wood!!!

 Here are a few new items I finished.

and about me too !!!! LOL!

I hope enjoy your weekend!!

Lynn

Thyme to see some gobblers gather here

Well now My Pretties, I just finished my daily exercise routine.....LOL.  I need to maintain my girlish figure with the holidays coming  up and all those goodies!!! LOL!!!

Did I tell you how much I LIKE turkey, stuffing, cranberries and gravy???  Well BeCca from

Folk Art From The Harbor

came up with some GREAT stencils for these signs I've painted!!!

I had so much fun painting them and laughing via e-mail with BeCca about them!!!!

Soooooooooooo,

I'm back to painting once I can compose myself.....LOL

Until next time,

Keep on gobbling My Pretties!!!!!

Lynn

Thyme for a new blog!!!!

As most of you know I paint for a shop called Country Plus in Hopkinton MA!

 Judy Coffey the owner of Country Plus has just started blogging!!!

Stop by and say hi to her for me!!!!!!!

She has a new kitty that needs a name!!!!
Click below to vist with Judy and name her kitty

Country Plus by Judy

Hope you are having a great day!!!!

Lynn

Thyme to gobble

It's almost turkey thyme!!!

Turkey, stuffing and cranberries!

Yum!

This is a great pattern from Batch of Pretties

Thyme to tell you something

I am so excited about this! Country Plus has been asked to be at the Folk Art Festival of New England!  We are very busy planning and getting ready!!! Several Artisans from Country Plus will be participating along with our own Judy Coffey owner of Country Plus!!! For more details go to http://www.folkartfestivalofnewengland.com/

This is a gathering of Americas finest Artisans & Craftsmen

October 30 5PM - 9PM

October 31 10AM - 5Pm

November 1 11AM - 4PM

Pilgrim thyme

It's thyme for me to start thinking Thanksgiving, turkeys & pilgrims!  This is a great pattern from

Batch of Pretties. I was ready to start painting for Christmas.  But Country Plus  the shop I paint for is going to be  in a Folk Art show the end of the month.............so I'm scrambling My Pretties!!!!    More about the show later !!!! Hope you are all having a great day!

Hugs,
Lynn

Thyme to see some new signs I've finished

I am busy painting..........
some new signs I finished today

This is a very large sign 75"  

It is going to a customer in Olympia Washington.

 It was a bit of a chore to get it ready to be shipped!

Much smaller in comparison to the New England sign!!!

Thank you My Pretties

Well good morning My Pretties!  I want to say thank you to all who entered my Witchy give away!!

The winner of my give away was Debbie from Theres an angel on my front porch. Please stop by and visit her, you will be glad you did.  Some how life has a way of stopping  you in your tracks and making you see how very precious life is! Hugs & prayers are being sent your way my dear friend ! Debbie your box of goodies will be in the mail today! Enjoy!

I had so much fun doing the give away and meeting so many new friends along the way! Thank you for all your kind comments about my work!!! I truly feel blessed for having met all of you and for being able to share my love of painting with you.
Enjoy this glorious Fall day!! I know I shall!
Hugs,
Lynn

And the winner is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well now MY pretties the time has come to reveal who the REAL WITCH is!!!! Won't you come in?

 My husband the LUCKY man to live with ME shall draw the winner..........

Drumroll  please....................Are you excited???????????? WAIT..................I'll be right back

There ......I'm back..........just powdering my nose for the publicity photos with the winner!!!!

EEEEEEEEeeeeeeeKkkk!!!!! 

And now........drumroll............the winner is....................

debbie said...

Dear Lynn,

What a talented lady you are.....I joined your blog and I hope you will visit my blog and join also. I love meeting new people and I have a very electic taste.

I love your pumpkin tree you made...that is so adorable...I love your harvest angel that you painted on the tray in post before this one.

My daughter is quite ill and I think I will make her a pumpkin tree....and put little twinkle lights on it....she has always loved halloween and dressing up.

angel hugs

debbie

If you haven't read Debbie's story please do..........Congratulations Debbie.........my heart goes out to you.  You said you liked my pumpkin tree.

 I hope you have made a pumpkin tree for Amy......I just wish I could fit the whole tree in the box.....I am putting all these also in the box for you to put on a tree for Amy.

Please send me your mailing address so I can get this in the mail to you!

Hugs,

Lynn

Good morning My Pretties........and the winner is

Well .......today is the BIG day MY Pretties!! Today we will find out who the REAL WITCH  is!!

I am cutting up all the entries

Adding them to the bowl

and of course having my coffee

and doing my morning exercise routine!!!!!

soooooooooo My Pretties I will get back to you shortly on who the LUCKY WITCH is!!!!!

This is you LAST CHANCE to enter my GIVE AWAY My Pretties!!!!

Well now My Pretties as you can see I have been VERY busy getting ready for my give away tomorrow!!! I have begun typing up all your names.....whew.....had to stop for a cup of witches brew and goodies...

YUMMY!

Last count 65 of you have got on yours brooms and flown over her to tell me what a WITCH you really are!!!!  I was thinking after reading all your comments that maybe I should be having this give away for your POOR HUSBANDS!!!! LOL!!!!!!

Anyways.........My Pretties I have the box almost all packed with all your TRICKS ..ummmmmm..... I mean TREATS !!!!!!!  I am soooooooo excited to see who the REAL WITCH is amongst us!!!!! Good luck My Pretties you are going to need it!!!! If you have not entered you had better get on your broom NOW and fly on over here to enter!!!! 

And now My Pretties.......

Double double

toil and trouble,

fireburn and

cauldron bubble...........

That's right My Pretties

I have been very busy here in my kitchen mixing up some TRUTH SERUM. Some of you have flown on over here to tell me what kind of WITCH you are! BUT then again MY PRETTIES some of you haven't!

SOooooooo, I'm mixing up a batch of WITCHY POTIONS

First I shall make labels for my potions.....so I have out my metal bowl and stain mixture

Into the bowl goes the labels

then onto a cookie sheet they go and into the 200 degree oven

to dry

all grungy ....just the way I like them.........

I now glue them to my bottles

like this

and this

Time to add my magic potion and put a cork on it........

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm waiting for you My Pretties!!!

If the shoe fits........wear it and admit it.........YOUR A WITCH!!!!!

Now get on your brooms MY PRETTIES and fly on over here and enter my give away..........THYME is running out!

Thyme for FALL in New England

When the bold branches

bid farewell to rainbow leaves~

Welcome woolen sweaters

~B. Cyril

A new England sign I have painted for Country Plus!

Thyme for pumpkins and gourds

This is a great fall sign I just finished out on my porch! Love how it came out but it's on its way to
Country Plus to be sold!!

And here it is hanging in the shop at Country Plus

Thyme for a FAll slideshow and a reminder to enter my give away!

The leaves are starting to fall here in New England!  It seems like I have been painting for Fall for months now.  I have been thinking that it is almost thyme to turn my attention to thinking about beginning to paint for Christmas!

So many of you have been out there flying around on your brooms, many have stopped in to enter my give away........have you MY Pretty!!! 

If not get out that broom NOW and fly on over here to enter! Thyme is running out!

Every farmers needs help some thyme....especially Harvest Thyme

Here is a John Sliney design I painted on a pumpkin.  It is called Farmers Helper. Vistit John Sliney at
John Sliney American Folk Artist

Farmers Helper pumpkin  pictured with some large prim door pumpkins......my own design . These come in 3 sizes.

You don't have much more thyme left to enter my give away!

Thyme is running out for you My Pretties!!!  Get on your broom and fly on over here to enter my WITCHY give away!

A GIVE AWAY and THYME to tell the truth........Are you witchy??

MY DH thinks I'm a REAL WITCH sometimes......but the truth be known ....a lot of YOU have flown over here on your brooms to tell me your are WITCHES too!!!!!!  EEEKkkkkkk!!!  But I KNOW there are a lot more WITCHES out there.........now do I need to get out the TRUTH SERUM and cast a spell on all of you who haven't gotten on your brooms and flown on  over here to enter my GIVE AWAY below!!!!  WELL ........now  MY PRETTIES............for THOSE of you who haven't told the truth you had better get out your broom and fly on over here to enter my GIVE AWAY!!!!!!

In the meantime MY PRETTIES, it's back to my cauldron to mix up some more TRUTH SERUM.......looks like I'm going to need it!

Thyme for Harvest Blessings

This is a Terrye French design called Harvest Angel that I have painted on an old wood tray I found.

  I drilled holes in it and fastened rusty wire so it could be hung.

 You can visit Terrye's blog here.

Don't forget to fly on over here to enter my give away My Pretties!

Who's a WITCH ?  I know I am!  Are you?  We shall see on September 28 if you enter my give away below!

Thyme for some apple cider

There is so much to love about Fall!  For me one of the things I like to do is go apple picking. I usually take my Mom with me. Hot apple cider, apple crisp YUM!  Here is an Autumn Blessing  saying that I have painted on a small pan I found and also an Apple cider sign.

Don't forget to enter my give away...... My Pretties!

Get your broom out and fly on over here to enter my giveaway!!  I will be naming the LUCKY WITCH on September 28!

Thyme for my first give-away!!!!

I'm in a witchy mood and want to cast a spell on you! I'll get you My Pretties!  Here's the details to win this WITCHY give-away!
1. Leave me a comment on this post telling me why you are a WITCH and you get one entry to win!
2. Become a follower of my Blog and you get another entry to win!
3. Post my give away on your blog and you get another entry to win!! But BE SURE to tell me My Pretties!
4. AND last but not least leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win My Pretties.....Good Luck..........your gonna need it.........
Sorry but this give away is open to USA residents only because of its size

So what do you WIN???? Why a WITCH HAT, MAGIC POTION AND A SIGN to tell everyone what a WITCH you are!!!!  All hand painted by the WITCH herself.....ME!!!   I will be drawing the lucky winner on September28 so you had better get out those brooms My Pretties and fly on over here to signup!

EEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!
Lynn

Thyme to thank Annie from Olde Annie Primitives

I just want to say a BIG thank you to Annie from

Olde Annie Primitive for this wonderful ghost ornie I won from her monthly drawing! All I can say is EEEKKKKKKK!!

       I put him on this Halloween tree. I just  LOVE him! These are the other ornaments on the tree that I painted on light bulbs! They are a Sandy Holman design. In case you didn't know it yet  Annie has opened a new tuck & ornie shop called

Homespun Annie   Be sure to get out your brooms My Pretties and fly on over there!

Hugs,
Lynn

Thyme for counting sheep

Mary had a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow and sometimes  black as coal! Large black & white sheep with some seasonal hangs I do.

Thyme to check out some give-aways My Pretties

There are some great give aways going on out there in blog land........so get on your brooms and check them out! I've posted a few in my side bar!

Thyme to cast a spell on you

I'll get you my pretties.......I 'm always looking for interesting old bottles but these just so happen to be beer bottles!!! .......I have been very busy mixing up magic potions, "Eye of New and Tongue of Frog,Wool of Bat, Adders Fork, and Blind - Worms Sting. Lizards Leg and Howlets Wing, for a charm of powerful trouble, like a hell-broth boil and bubble. ~ William Shakespeare

9/11 a thyme to remember

Maxine Thomas Thyme

This is a Maxine Thomas design that I have painted.  You can visit Maxine at Country Primitives

Thyme to say thanks

I was away this weekend but when I arrived home the stencil I had won from Folk Art From The Harbor was waiting for me in my mailbox! It says " a happy childhood lasts forever".  I can't wait to get it painted...........when I do I'll be sure to show you! Thanks so much BeCca!
Lynn

Thyme to meet my favorite artist.......Norman Rockwell

This weekend husband and I visited Stockbridge Massachusetts once home of Norman Rockwell.  We visited the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Norman Rockwell is probably best know for his covers for the Saturday Evening Post done over a period of thirty years-and offers a pictorial panorama of a growing and changing America. One of Rockwells most famous works include The Four Freedoms. It is said that no other paintings in the world have ever been reproduced and distributed in such numbers as these four, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear created by Rockwell in 1943. He thought he could finish them in 2 months and it actually took 7. Norman Rockwell related that the job should have been tackled by Michelangelo.One of my favorite illustrations is called Triple Self Portrait seen below.

Norman Rockwells studio.

While in Stockbridge we stayed at the famous Red Lion Inn located on Main Street Stockbidge.

Rare picture of me......hate having my picture taken!

The Lion's Den Tavern where we enjoyed dinner Sunday night.
Some pictures around the Inn....
The Inn is also home to Country Curtains.

What a wonderful relaxing time we had........enjoying the beauty of The Berkshires.

Thyme to learn more about Fiona's shoe and hat

No witch can be considered well dressed without her hat. Fiona is no exception! Here is a hat I painted for her complete with an  invitation to the Masquerade Ball.  But BEWARE she will cast her witchy spell on you! Many of you have commented on the boot in my header ....yes it's an old boot I painted for Fiona!  It's a wonderul design from none other than Terrye French at The Painted Pear Basket.  Speaking of casting spells and hauted houses, here is Fiona's haunted house. Another great Terrye French design.  Yes, the witch is in! You can find her everywhere here! I'll get you MY PRETTY!

Scarecrow Thyme

Here are the 2 finished scarecrows  featured in the tutorial below. Hope you are all enjoying your fall decorating and crafting as much as I am!
Have a great day!
Lynn

Thyme to paint a scarecrow tutorial

 I first have DH cut my wood!  I then paint all pieces black using Sherwin Williams Exterior Stain. I then basecoat my pieces. I added some shading on sunflowers to define the petals. Transfer details such as eyes and mouth using graphite paper. When all painting is done I sand all pieces around the edges of the front and on the back to remove any excess paint.  I think that the back of your piece should look as nice as the front! The more you sand the more prim your piece! Stain using Olde Century Gel Stain in walnut front and back of piece. Wipe excess stain with clean lint free cloth. I then spatter with black paint  diluted with water and and old toothbrush.  Now the fun part.......finishing.  I glue each piece on using Elmers Carpenters wood glue or Elmers Ultimate high performance glue. I also secure some pieces with nails.  I then add rusty bells, stars nails, pins,grapevine, stained cheesecloth and homespun. Use your imagination. Don't forget to sign and date the back of you piece. I always have a large amount of rusty bells and pins on hand. I've included my STAIN MIXTURE is great for staining muslin, cheesecloth etc. and my RUSTING RECIPE.

 STAIN MIXTURE

In an old mixing bowl stir together 1/2 c instant coffee, 2 tbls. vanilla and 3c hot water. Mix until all is dissolved. (This stain mixture will last in a jar with lid for several weeks in refrigerator).  Soak items to be stained in mixture . This mixture can be used on so many items, tags, muslin, cheesecloth etc. Bake in low 250 degree oven till dry.

                                                         RUSTING PINS AND BELLS

1c peroxide

1c vinegar

3tbls salt

Combine all ingredients in a throw away container or glass.  Add pins & bells and let set 1-2 days in mixture.  The mixture will most likely foam up and come over top of container so do this on top of someting like a tray. Remove items with a slotted spoon and put on cookie sheet with shallow side, let sit insun for day or too, can also dry indoors. They continue to rust as time goes on.

Trick or Treat Thyme

I just finished these 2 Halloween signs! LOVE them!!  I purchased the stencils from BeCca at Folk Art From the Harbor. Thanks, BeCca!

Be ye thankful!!!! I am!

I'm feeling so lucky and thankful today!!! Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket! LOL! BeCca  from Folkart from the Harbor contacted me and said I was the August stencil winner! Thanks BeCca!!! AND Annie from Olde Annie Primitives contacted me to say I had won an ornie. Thanks Annie! I have met so many wonderful new friends in blogland. Thanks for taking the THYME to make my day!!!
Lynn

Thyme for some outdoor fall decorating

My front door

Breezeway porchBreezway porch with my painted window. Pattern by John Sliney. You can visit John Sliney here.A Terrye French Design called Morning in the Pumpkin Patch. You can visit Terrye at the The Painted Pear Basket here.

There is that wonderful fall Crispness in the air.......so time to decorate! I hope to go buy some fall mums today.  Hope you are enjoying this Thyme to change seasons like I am!

Even Colby is ready for Fall Thyme!

I feel a chill in the air today..........has fall arrived? Apparently Colby my shitzu thinks so, he's sporting his fall neckerchief today!

Thyme for some fall garden stakes

Here are some fall garden stakes. A jack o'lantern, SCAT cat, and a scarecrow. Patterns for these can be found in Debbie Forgac's book called Simple Gatherings. You can visit Debbie Forgac at Piney Creek Primitives here.

Cock-A-Doodle-DOOO! It's a Rooster Party & You're Invited!

Welcome to our Rooster blog party. It's time to strut our stuff! I've just became a fan of roosters! I love them!  Here are a few I have painted!  A big thank you to our hostess Barb at Bella Vista! You can visit Barb here.

Cock-a-doodle-dooooooo!
Lynn

Autumn bounty thyme

I started to do some indoor fall decorating today. This is actually a piece I painted several years ago in a class. It is a lazy susan. Every year when I unwrap it I am reminded of what a very difficult and challenging piece it was for me at the time! I swore I would never paint a piece of fruit again. LOL.  The small basket in the second picture I also painted in a class. It is called Pumpkin Harvest. It was an original design by Linda McFadden. You can visit Linda at Cats in the Cradle Publications here.

Thyme to rise and shine

This is a huge sign I just finished 59"x11". It never made it to the shop to be sold I liked it so much! I have a large country kitchen and hung it there. Oh well , I'll just have to paint another for the shop. I had DH hanging it after dinner tonight. I purchased the Stencil from Karen at Homstead Stencil Company. She offers a great selection of stencils both on E-Bay and her website. You can visit Karen here.

Thyme for scarecrows, ghosts, witch hats, black kats and pumpkins

I just finished these great fall items......I've been real busy but so has my husband....Lucky for me he cuts all my wood! You can find some of the patterns for these pieces at Batch of Pretties here.

Thyme to see a wooden bowl I found and painted

Here is another great Terry French design that I painted on an old wooden bowl I found. The design is called Moonlight. You can visit Terry French at The Painted Pear Basket here.

Thyme for a sign tutorial

First I have DH cut boards to desired size. I then paint the boards BLACK using Benjamin Moore Exterior Stain. Once the boards are dry I lightly base coat them in the desired color letting some black show through. I then position my stencil and hold it down using painters tape. I like to use a stencil brush while some like to use the small cosmetic sponges.....whatever gets you the look you want is fine! Once you have finished applying the stencil you want to go back with a small brush and diluted paint and paint in the bridges. Those are the spaces on your stencil... so your letters are completely filled in. After stenciling I sand the signs using a palm sander. The more you sand the more prim the look! Make sure to sand the back for any paint that may have got on it. After sanding is completed I stain my signs using Olde Century Gel Stain in walnut. I stain front & back of my signs. I then wipe excess stain with a lint free cloth. I then spatter my sign with black paint using diluted paint and an old toothbrush. Add a picture hanger to the sign. Once dry don't forget to sign and date your piece. I like the back of my piece to look as good as the front. Notice the crow on the back of the sign that I have signed my name and date on......I usually change that with seasons. I hope you have enjoyed this sign tutorial.
Blessings,
Lynn

New fall thyme signs

Some new fall signs I just finished.

Thyme to go sit in the pumpkin patch

I just finished painting this bench. This is one of my own designs. My DH spends a good amount of time on weekends cutting wood for me and assembling items. I am very busy painting for the Fall Preview at Country Plus where I sell my painted items. The fall preview is September 12 & 13. You can visit Country Plus in Hopkinton MA here. You can find me under Artisans.
Blessings,
Lynn

A thankful season thyme

I just finished painting this Terrye French Design. It is called "A Thankful Season". You can visit Terrye French at The Painted Pear Basket here. There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for. But I am most thankful for my family and the time I spend with them. This week my daughter is here visiting from Georgia. It is so good to have her home!

Blessings,

Lynn

Can you believe it's almost apple picking thyme?

This is a welcome sign I just finished using a John Sliney pattern called Nature and Company. As I read everyone's blogs I can see you are all busy with your fall crafts.....what fun! You can visit John Sliney here at American Folk Artist

Thyme to see some new fall signs I finished

Hope you all had a great weekend. My husband & I went to Cape Cod. I think it was the best weekend weather wise that we have had all summer. But today back to work on Fall painting. I just finished these 2 signs...... they have a small bat flying over them! I'm very busy working on Fall painting even starting some Christmas!....such a busy time of year.
I'm trying to stay ahead of it...if that's even possible! SO far I'm pleased with how much I have done.
Blessings,
Lynn