OTHER BLOG GIVE A-WAYS

Stop on over at ANGIES http://simplethymeprimitives.blogspot.com/ and sign up for her wonderful Primitive Snowman plus a couple of adorable Ornaments.

RENAE over at My Little Raggedy Blessings is giving an adorable Penny Rug away....click on her link and go visit and sign up.
http://mylittleraggedyblessings.blogspot.com/

Happy Victorian Gothic Halloween

Someone pointed that I had been remiss in my Halloween posts this year, especially compared to last -- who could forget Steam Pumpkin -- but I did stumble across a lovely set of Gothic Victorian Party Decor on MyHomeIdeas.

I can't get enough of red velvet curtains -- but tying them back with a noose is innovative...

Modify portraits with lace masks, decorate old spools with black lace for candleholders, use tarnished silver for a bouquet...

The best use of apothecary jars I've seen -- to hold creepy crawlies...

Many more photos and how-tos here.

Loving God, Loving Others

Reading 1 Corinthians 13 does it for me. Going through Mary Kassian's study has done it. Reading & responding to the 50+ comments on the last post (that are no longer up) did it. Being around irritating or difficult people does it. Even being at home, with the people I love and treasure, does it. What is "it"?

"It" is: forcing me to really see how little I resemble God, and how little I truly LOVE God. As I read through 1 Corinthians 13, it easily becomes a checklist for self-examination:

• Do I focus on speaking well, but lack love?
• Do I have insight, knowledge, and even faith, but lack love?
• Do I give generously & even live radically for God and yet lack love?
• Am I patient and kind towards others, both the easy-to-love and the less-easy-to-love people around me?
• Do I compare myself with others, either envying or boasting?
• Am I arrogant or rude, essentially puffing up myself and/or putting down others?
• Am I convinced that my way is the only right way?
• Do I get easily irritated with others? Am I resentful?
• Am I entertained, excited, or delighted by sin, or by the truth?
• Do I put up with difficulties, or am I weak and whiny when it comes to suffering?
• Do I believe and trust, or am I suspicious?
• Do I hope, or am I shaky, anxious, and uncertain?
• Do I endure (am I reliable?) or do I give in and give up?

Boy, do I fall short! On almost every single question, I answer the wrong way. It is painful to see just how unloving I really and truly am.

Honestly, y'all, these last few weeks have been chock-full of God's gentle, yet firm and in-my-face, showcasing of my failings. He's doing it, I'm confident, to change me. To bring me low so that I won't walk in pride or even come close to thinking that I have it all together. To show me that He loves me enough to keep softening my rough edges. But, as a form of public confession, here are some of the things He's bringing to mind:

• I am, all too often, irritable towards my husband.
  
• I'm impatient with my children.
• I am unkind in my heart, mind, and words towards others who are different (as seen here at MH this week).
• I care far too much about the perceptions of others... I want to be seen as smart, fun, insightful, and desirable-as-a-friend... not a critical, grumpy know-it-all.
  
• I think my way is the best way, almost all the time... whether we're talking about editing a brochure or making lasagne or raising kids or folding laundry or whatever.
  
• Plain and simple: I lack love.

Pretty convicting. And embarrassing. But what a precious thing to have a Father that doesn't just let me stay like I am-- but One who is willing to hurt me and wound my heart as He points out my sin so that, in the long run, I will hopefully be more and more like Him. One who is willing to break me so that I will rely on His wisdom instead of my own. One who knows--better than I do-- what I need.

And what I need is love.

Q&A on M.O.N.A.'s Drawing Room

Kevin Derrick, the Project Coordinator for M.O.N.A.'s drawing room in the previous post, was so kind as to answer a couple of my questions about the room, it's contents, and the design.

What is the mirror frame made of?
The mirror is oxidized copper tentacles, made by processing wax forms via an electroform tank. The copper solution "sticks" to the specially-coated wax and when complete, all you need do is torch the wax away. Pretty cool, huh?

How did you make the chandelier?

The chandelier was made by Rebecca Pulver, who brings a wealth of talent to our group. She's the protege of Warren Muller (from bahdeebahdu) and also created the fire screen and electric plate covers too. The chandeliers contain the cast-off parts of other light fixtures wrapped around a wire mesh frame. The real difficult challenge was hanging the 150 pound structure from the vaulted slat ceiling. The genius of using steel chains at the top made it appear to be restrained rather than suspended.

Why all the stuff on skinny sticks? :)

Mass-produced porcelain came into the hands of the middle-class for the first time during the Victorian era and so I thought should be included in the room. We used vintage/antique porcelain and silver tableware on thin steel rods which references (maybe a bit too heavily as I'm writing it) plate spinning as a circus act, a huge pastime for families in that era. Too much?

The letters on the walls -- do they say or mean anything?

The letters are random except for spelling out the names of team members in key points throughout the room (Geoff, Emily, Robert, Schuyler, Kevin, Michael, Rebecca and Linda.)

How did you light the glassware on the corner table? (Showing off
clear glassware is a challenge...)

We'll keep that one a secret...

The Dining Room at Dog Haus (photo courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson at AroundMainline.com)

How did you pull this off? It's a bit eccentric for the more
"mainline" style of the house (although props to the dining room...)

Props to the dining room indeed! That was created by my mentor, RJ Thornburg of bahdeebahdu. He coined the name "Made On North American" and is responsible for our existence in too many ways to name.... But back to your question- The PSPCA organizers of the Dog Haus were exceedingly gracious in allowing us carte blanche to create a memorable space in the home. While the owner was unsure of our direction and ability to pull it off (though we never had a doubt, haha), ultimately she was happy with the result as well. The other designers in the showhouse had some provocative elements too, though they were invariably more subtle than ours. Ultimately, our strategy was for people to talk about us first and then sort out if they agreed with our ideas or not... The best part is that the more attention the house receives, the better it is for the mission (and coffers) of the *extremely important* SPCA charity organization.

Thanks, Kevin!

Made on North American's Drawing Room

Usually designer show houses feature rooms designed in the most traditional and unrealistic possible sense (i.e. "The Girl's Room" is always pink with ballerinas, 4 books, and 3 sets of clothes.) Not so the Philadelphia SPCA's designer show house. Atop a set of stairs in an old Victorian Mansion lies the twisted traditional (if still unrealistic) drawing room designed by the collaborative innovators of MONA.

(Play the slideshow for lots of pictures and close ups.)

M.O.N.A.'s space, The Drawing Room, re-interprets the home's lineage into a surreal, neo-Romantic boudoir with references to 19th-century themes that include decorative lacemaking, silver gelatin print photography, the industrial revolution and classic horror novels, amongst others. In order to highlight the broad capabilities of our professional network, M.O.N.A. produced every single piece of furniture and the larger potion of decorative accessory for this room. Signature items include a white oak tete-at-tete, silver-leafed rocking horse/buggy, electroformed copper fireplace screen and antique settee with handcarved, painted wood and patent vinyl upholstery. A strong axis of half black/half white invites further drama into the space while likewise creating an innovative play of texture and pattern. [It's] intentionally-seasonal with its inspired lighting, achromatic scheme and Gothic influences.

The historic mansion is open for viewing seven days a week through November 9th and benefits the Philadelphia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Tin Tile for the Dishwasher

RJ Gilmour commented with a link to these great dishwasher facelifts...

Chris Kauffman at Just Beachy created the first one


...a recent Home Depot find , plastic which looks like old tin tiles which I used adhesive to attach to my dish washer , I think it adds a little detail.

Linda MacDonald at Restyled Home made it a focal point with shiny "tin"

Simple, cheap, DIY. Great!

Holly Black's Hidden Library

Holly Black, half of the duo behind the enchanting Spiderwick Chronicles (the New York Post calls it "vintage Victorian fantasy," so you should seek out a copy for yourself or your steampunklets) mentioned her "hidden" library a couple months back, and I sought her out and cajoled some pictures (although truth be told it wasn't that hard...).

Our tour, guided by Ms. Black...

The bookshelf, closed

And now, slightly ajar

And now, open into the sorta secret library.

The secret door from the other side.

The hidden door is from hiddendoors.com and installed by our
contractor during the renovation. There are a few other small hidden things in our house, but this is really the most fun.

Looking into the library. There is a speakeasy door (ed. note: a door with a small window hole in it that can be opened to see who is on the other side.) on the other side, that leads outside -- the library is in the basement, but it's a walk-out basement -- which is why the library can only be sort of secret.

The fireplace surround is actually pressed stone. It's from www.mantelsdirect.com. They don't have the specific mantel I got any more, but it's a great place to acquire relatively affordable mantles that look like stone.

My husband wanted to be sure to include his WETA ray gun.

I can tell that a lot of love and passion went into this library -- can't you just see a hearty winter meal on that marble table, with a fire roaring and plenty of red wine?

I also wanted to draw your attention to the lighting design -- there's the great chandelier with the mica shade for style, but the library gets most of it's drama from the track lights that highlight the books, panelling, and objects.

Thanks Holly!

More hidden doors.

WHAT I DID TODAY

Today was one of those days I got so much done and still have energy to go for more! lol

I finished up 7 orders, packed them up and ready to mail tomorrow....got another order and started sewing on it.

I also made some NEW MINI ORNIES...and posted them on my website...go on over and check them out...they are just the cutest! But I'll show you them here too - it's not nice to tease is it??? lol. These look so cute on a mini Feather tree.

Oh, and I made a new Candle Hugger too - ohhhh and a set of Coasters!

Psychobabble Parenting

Maybe you've noticed it too? I've been discouraged to see a growing movement -- found among Christians -- that employs psychological nonsense in their parenting advice. They give bad advice, use long, confusing titles for various sin problems, and recommend strange methods and behaviors for parents. And then they accuse others of parenting unbiblically. I confess, it drives me bananas.

First, they give flat-out BAD advice. Advice that produces a domineering, self-centered, disobedient child. Then, once a young mom follows their advice and it yields a two-and-a-half-year-old domineering, self-centered disobedient child, these same advice givers will say something like,

"Yeah I know what you mean. Just buckle down and hang in there. That's a tough age. Remember, we're in the right because we're not being punitive like those other terrible parents whose kids only look like they're behaving and content."

They may then dispense a few methods for fending off disobedience by prevention or avoidance. Or worse, they may recommend that she see doctors so that she will have a series of letters or labels to identify what's wrong. They don't tell her that the problem is sin, and that they themselves (following their own terrible advice) are perpetually on the verge of mental break-down because of not having dealt wisely with their own children.

Just this week, I came across a random blogger's profile and I had to look up several of the concepts she used to describe her parenting style. I'm fairly well-informed about parenting methods and trends, and still some of her words were foreign and confusing. But biblically wise parenting doesn't have to be reinvented every couple of years.

FROM CONFUSION TO CLARITY
As I've come across more and more absurd advice (full of big words and labels and conditions, but rarely-- if ever-- mentioning sin, discipline, and obedience), I'm convinced that we as Christian parents need to be cautious in this area of whose advice we're heeding. There are several things that get all jumbled up in modern-day parenting advice, particularly that which is whitewashed with a "Christian" veneer. Instead of trying to combat each false idea or method, I'll just try to simplify things a bit here.

• Children are a blessing. A sweet gift from God. We ought to be thankful for our children... not only in words (like, "of course I love my children, but I don't always like them heh-heh-heh"). But we ought to be able to truthfully say and believe, "these children ARE a sweet blessing to me." When we become mothers, we have the privilege of interacting with neat, funny, unique individuals. Sure, sometimes it's tough. But, overwhelmingly, motherhood is a gift, and if we are continually frazzled, on-edge, angry, exhausted, and embarrassed because of our children and their terrible behavior, then we are doing something wrong. Children are a sweet gift from God.
  
• That said, children are sinful. Children don't learn sin. It is inherent, and must be dealt with. The longer it goes unchecked, the more it will run rampant and unchecked in their hearts and minds. If your parenting advice doesn't deal with the sin problem, or tries to postpone the facing of it, it's lousy advice. Go straight to the Word and see what it says about foolishness and children.
  
• Sin is sin. Disobedience, and disrespect are not justified simply because there's a reason for them. Children need to be taught self-control and obedience. Yes, sometimes they're sick or extra-tired (and, lemme tell ya, I know about this one, having moved around the world multiple times with preschoolers) and we need to wisely take these things into account, but we need to quit coming up with more and more labels and conditions to describe plain, old, run-of-the-mill sin.
• Children should listen to and obey their mom and dad. It's sad to me that this needs to be spelled out these days, but since I virtually never see this actually said in the forums and blogs that dispense this bad parenting advice, I'll come out and say it here.
  
  Children are not smarter or wiser than their parents, even when it comes to assessing their own "needs". Much of what's doled out in modern advice is a bunch of hooey. Toddlers are inherently foolish and want all sorts of things that are not good for them. They need parents to wisely guide them and teach them. Giving them latitude and "freedom" to display horrible attitudes and further turn their little hearts towards sin is not wise or loving.
  
  Choices come later, once they've been carefully discipled and display wisdom in their choices. But in the beginning, with little ones, the basic thing that kids need is a loving mom and dad who will teach them to obey. Pretty simple, really.
  

Passing these basic principles of child rearing along to younger women is a bit of my part in the Titus 2 chain of women.

We moms need to get our advice from the One who made humans. If we have to resort to ridiculous behavior, newly-created labels, and psychological methodologies just to deal with a sinful and/or foolish child, we're not dealing with him/her correctly. Go to the Word of God, discipline your child accordingly, and you will have rest and delight in your soul.

[An explanation about why comments were closed: Messages, forum posts, and blogs from young moms who are floundering following worldly philosophies aren't difficult to find, and oftentimes, the most that they get is a pat on the back, a cutesy parenting "tip", and perhaps an, "I'm struggling with the same thing." That's not Titus-2-ing. That's commiserating.

I get letters and e-mails and comments fairly regularly asking for me to share what our parenting philosophies are... how we raise our kids, what we do with tantrums, whether we spank, how we handle x, y, or z... and this post is my certainly imperfect but honest attempt to answer part of that question.

And with that, I'm closing comments. This isn't an "I'm packing up my toys and going home" closing of the comments, but rather, because I think this post stands on its own and doesn't need to be picked apart word by word. If you have something to say to me (as many of you already have), you can always e-mail me at makinghome@pobox.com.

Thanks for the dialogue... it is both difficult and wonderful to talk through these things. Even when it feels very personal (both to me and to some readers), I think it's worth it to work through that feeling and get to the root issues of the matter. So, thanks!

Blessings & may God teach us all more and more of how to be like Him and like He intends for us to be as parents as we walk the adventure of life with the precious children He entrusts to our care and teaching. ~Jess]

EVERYONE LOVES A DRAWING SO...

Lisa from Cranberry Flats http://cranberryflats.blogspot.com/ is having a fabulous Give A-Way...please stop on over and sign up and read her wonderful Blog....

Here's what she posted:
Now the rules. Don't worry. You don't have to send me gas money or your first born. Just kindly leave me a comment to get your name entered into one of the hubby's "lucky" Cardinal hats he failed to wear this season. AND, to get your name into the drawing twice, I grant you permission to borrow my picture above, post it on your blog and link back to my sight. Then you, yes you lucky lady may be the winner of the that savory, luscious candle I can't stop sniffing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AND......Char over at The Pickeled Pepper Patch http://charsethman.blogspot.com/ is having a Give A-Way in honor of her daughter Amy's 21st birthday!

It's the most wonderful wood toaster cover!

Here's what she posted:
All you need to do is leave me a comment here, and if you don't have a blog, please leave me your email addy so I can get in touch with you if your name is chosen. The winners name will be drawn by the birthday girl on November 1st! If you post this to your blog, I will enter your name again....so, that is two chances for you to win!

Escher up the walls and outside

Yesterday's Escher inspired housing designs were boring compared to these...

A house in Toronto

A mural in a bathroom

Wallpaper in a restaurant

And molds for three wonderful concrete pavers, so you can make your own and tile a driveway or patio.

AWARD TIME

Okay girls...I have been COMPLETELY remiss in thanking each and everyone of you for the wonderful Awards you have so sweetly given me.
I am putting them on in a group and sending on the Awards to my wonderful Blog friends.

I have been TAGGED by
JUANITA from
http://itsharvesttime.blogspot.com/

and

KIM from

http://valleyprimitivesgiftshoppe.blogspot.com/
THANK YOU GIRLS!

The rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are the 7 facts about myself!

1. Never had any self confidence to step up and be in front

2. Hate being on the shorter side of height ( 5'1-3/4" - ick!)

3. Cry, even if it's inside, when I see ANY animal that has been injured/killed

4. Always (still do) wanted a B&B with gift shop attached

5. Always wanted just boys not girls....only because I think I'd go crazy with their mood swings....lol Having just me is enough!

6. Always faught for privacy in my home - 3 sons and a husband leaves one with little room to go hide...lol

7. Worked as a nurses aid in our local hospital all through high school - loved it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

JAN from

http://oldeharborsaltbox.blogspot.com/

and

TINA from

http://oldglorysoldiers.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-first-award.html
have awarded me the Fabulous Fall Decor Award

THANK YOU GIRLS.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

JUSTINA from

http://pepercreekgatherings.blogspot.com/
awarded me with the Kreative Blogger Award

Thanks so much!

The Rules Are:
1. List 6 things that make me happy
2. Send to 6 people

Now for the 6 things that make me happy!

1. My family for sure

2. The fact that as of today yet, we still have incomes

3. My children have jobs and are happy (as far as they let us know anyway!)

4. For my wonderful little business

5. That my husband and I have been married 45 years and still going!

6. That the sun comes up everyday!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Well, here's the list of my dear Blogger friends who I think all deserve these awards...if there are repeats and you have already received the award which by now I'm sure all of you have - everyone's sites are so wonderful....then yo don't need to put it on...just let me know you received it.

1. Nancy from
http://primitivethymes.blogspot.com/
have you seen her Blog...it's soooo wonderful and soooo Colonial looking and here articles are most interesting.

2. Dawn from
http://forgottenbarn.blogspot.com/
she has two Blogs and this one she sells her products on...it's so great...go on over and visit.

3. Dawn again for her other Blog
http://dawngunning.blogspot.com/
She posts such wonderful thoughts.

3. Amanda from
http://amandascrafts.blogspot.com/
if you have never been to her Blog THEN GOOOOO! This girl has the art of crafting and ideas down to a science and she is so published for her works...you have to check out her site.

4. http://primitivekountryhappenings.blogspot.com/
Would you all go on over to her Blog and check it out....I go often and she posts regular but no one seems to leave any comments. She also has a wonderful website so please go check her out. Unfortunately I don't know her name! But please, we all want to make it in Blogsville.

Here's her website as well
http://www.primitivekountry.com/index.php

5. Angie from
http://angiesraggedypatch.blogspot.com/
her blog is adorable...photos are too cute and she is so interesting...go on over and say HI!

6. Maurine from
http://stitchinsprims.blogspot.com/
I know Maurine from a few Forums and the websites so go on over and visit her - cute Blog and it's rather new - Let's give her a boost!

Karen

Sweet Pea Home Sale

Please mark your calenders to attend our sale on Sat. November 1st from 9am til 2pm! The cottage will feature a Christmas theme and will be filled to the brim with treasures from our recent trip to Texas. We will also have a bottom dollar table loaded with great stuff that needs a good home at fabulous mark-downs. Great way to finish or start your holiday shopping! Hope to see you there!


spri6789@cfl.rr.com for more info or directions

Saturday Nov. 1st
Sale starts at 9am
No early sales please
Cash or checks accepted

Escher on the Floor

Yesterday's library had a floor inspired by M.C. Escher, which made me wonder what else was out there modeled on Escher's work (even if he was too late to be steampunk).

The fundamental mathematics that make Escher's work suitable for floors (or walls) is that they are tessellations -- interlocking shapes that fill a plane. The easiest, and most popular, seems to be the cube tessellation that we saw yesterday. I found it done in concrete, in carpet, in parquet, and in stone tile.

concrete stain by Tom Ralston Concrete

Carpet at the Morgan's Hotel in NYC. Here's a similar rug.

Parquet at the Hotel Palomar

A quick review of the Sunshine City floor in Tokyo, above, makes it easy to see how to constuct this tessellation from simple squares. You need three colors. Four squares of the lightest makes up the top of the cube, and then each side is made up of one whole square with two half squares finishing it up. It's all done on a grid, so while you might get dizzy installing it, it wouldn't be too hard.

Tomorrow: even more Escher for the home.

MY NEW ITEMS

Yesterday my husband and I filled these adorable pocket hangings...I've had so much fun making them and I like them even better all stuffed. Check them out on my website - link is posted at the bottom

http://www.kmprimitives.com/