Kathy Barrick

Heirloom Necklace & Earrings for Anna

2012-02-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

I did it! I actually used one of my most favorite treasures in a piece of jewelry. And what fun it was!

It wasn't difficult; it seemed to almost put itself together. I love it when that happens!

I listed it in my Etsy shop this afternoon. You can find it here. It's very expensive and I truly hate that. I've invested so much into the elements I've used, I had to make it expensive. I still hate it though.

Hopefully those who look at it will consider it an heirloom piece to be worn and enjoyed for years and for generations to come. Hopefully.

My niece Anna was allowed to get her ears pierced when she turned 13. She was a happy girl!

When I visited my sister Marty, her husband Tim and her daughters Anna and Grace last week, I gave a pair of Ugg boots to Grace. They were too small for me.

Grace is younger than Anna, but has larger feet. The Uggs fit her perfectly. She was one happy girl!

And although Anna did not say a word, I could tell she was wishing I had a pair of Ugg boots that fit her too. I didn't.

So, today I made Anna earrings. I'll get them in the mail to her tomorrow morning and will keep my fingers crossed that she like them.

They aren't Uggs, but they might help!

It's 66 degrees in York today. I took Rose and Bella for a hike. What JOY!!!!!

Treasures

2012-01-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

Lately when I go to antique shows and flea markets, I've been trying to focus more on higher end pieces of antique jewelry. They definitely cost more, but seem worth the extra expense to me because I end up with heirloom pieces of jewelry. See what you think of these treasures:

This is an OLLLLLLD micro mosaic piece from Italy. The colored chips are unbelievably tiny. It's a very early piece and a dead giveaway to that is the extra long pin you can see coming out from behind.

These three are unset cameos. Made of shell and absolutely gorgeous. These make me a little nervous because I have to drill holes in order to use them. Cameos tend to dry out. To combat this, you are supposed to wipe them down occasionally with mineral oil. I soaked these babies over night in mineral oil and I'm STILL nervous about drilling them. But I will!

This is an unmounted cameo. It's stunningly beautiful. It's never been mounted on a piece of shell. I'm very grateful it was already drilled!

I fell in love with this locket the second I saw it. It's gold plated with a rose gold plate in the front. It's an amazing piece!

This is a gorgeous piece too! It's hand carved from deer antler. This is obvious when you look at the back.

Now if I can make myself actually USE these pieces and not hoard them forever, I'll have it made!

Antiques

2012-01-18T13:05:00.001-05:00

I've begun to list some early antiques in my Etsy shop.

Coverlets, and...

samplers...

A reverse painting on glass,

a silhouette. If they aren't there yet, they will be soon! Keep checking here.

And, have a good one!

The French Poste

2012-01-15T16:06:00.001-05:00

Be sure to check out Liz's new Etsy Shop: The French Poste. It's wonderful!!

Here's the link: www.TheFrenchPoste.Etsy.com

More Details

2012-01-12T14:36:00.000-05:00

www.frenchsentiments.etsy.com

Details

2012-01-10T11:37:00.000-05:00

www.frenchsentiments.etsy.com

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a fantastic couple of holiday weeks and are excited about a new year...new beginning!

Wishing everyone a wonderful new year! May all of your dreams come true!

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-23T14:21:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a Holly Jolly Christmas!

Needlework

2011-12-22T16:27:00.001-05:00

It seems you can take the girl out of needlework, but you can't take the needlework out of the girl.

Whenever I go to antique shops and antique malls looking for treasures to use in my jewelry designs, I always seem to find a lot of antique sewing stuff....pincushions, emeries, tiny scissors, wonderful buttons.

Why, oh why is that?

I don't plan it.

It just seems to happen.

Must be in my blood!

This jewelry (and more!) coming to an Etsy Shop (here) near you, very soon (tomorrow)!

Happy Holidays!

Memories

2011-12-15T21:44:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, my parents had a farm in Frederick County, Maryland. It was just a small farm, but it was the perfect place to grow up. On one of my birthdays, somewhere around my 8th or 9th, my parents gave me a tin doll house. One of those big ones that is open in the back and you can arrange the plastic furniture in each room. I HATED it! I was SO offended that my parents would get me such a girly, babyish gift. I probably let my feelings be known because soon after my father built me a barn. A wonderful wooden barn with a tin roof that I loved beyond reason.

I still have the doll house and I still have the barn. They are the only two toys I've kept after all these years.

Recently on Pinterest (if you haven't been there, go!!), someone posted a photo of a kids barn decked out for Christmas. I was immediately inspired!! So I found the barn in the attic, cleaned it up and even made a wreath for it. (I used a bangle bracelet and wire wrapped sprigs of boxwood all around it.) Tomorrow in the light of day, I'll go out and cut some greens and spruce it up a bit more. But I couldn't wait to show you.

And, this is the ONLY decorating I've done for Christmas. Can you believe that? Not a single tree, not a single light. This is it. I'm not sure I know what's happened to me!

The Fruit of My Labor

2011-12-08T21:44:00.000-05:00

Actually, it feels kind of silly to call it "labor" when I love doing it soooooo much.

Maybe I should title this post: Kathy's Day of Fun!

I'm a lucky girl!

Jewelry can be found here and here.

Home Again!

2011-12-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

I'm back! After a L-O-N-G day of flying home yesterday, I finally made it home about 11:00 last night.

Anne and I spent all day Sunday driving through the State of Montana. It's a GORGEOUS State and I'm happy I got to see so much of it. We arrived at Anne's folks' house about 6:30 Sunday evening, had dinner, then crashed until Monday morning. We had one day to play in Columbia Falls and Kalispell. Then it was off to the airport at 4:45 Monday morning.

I woke up at 7:00 this morning in a panic because I had an 8:15 doctor's appointment an hour away. Got there right on time! Came home and slept for about three hours, got up and started making jewelry. I missed making it sooooo much while I was gone!

Tomorrow it's more jewelry making and I'm going to start decorating the house for Christmas. Reasonable decorating, not over-the-top decorating. So she says!

Road Trip, Days 3, 4 and 5

2011-12-03T18:53:00.000-05:00

Sorry for being mia for the last two days. And, sorry too that I have not one single photo for you. I suppose I could dig up some jewelry photos, but I get the feeling you've had enough of those for a while. So, it's just plain me!

We are now in Montana, though not yet to Anne's folks' house. We're almost to Billings and will have another 5 hours to drive tomorrow. Today alone, we went through South Dakota, Wyoming and started into Montana. I got a speeding ticket in Crook County, Wyoming. I was doing 84 in a 75 zone. Crazy, huh?! I could show up in Sundance, WY on January 12th to contest the ticket, but somehow I don't think that'll happen! At that point, we set the cruise on 78 and kept going.

In Wyoming and Montana we saw herds of deer, antelope and two mule deer. The mountains are gorgeous!! We went through lots of snow and cold and wind. When we woke up yesterday morning in Iowa, it was 15 degrees. The dogs' morning walk was F-A-S-T!!

The dogs have adjusted to their temporary life in hotel rooms and the car. They sleep in the car and are happiest when in our laps. Once in the hotel rooms, they go a bit nuts, but then settle down.

So...we started in PA, when through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, a bit of Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and now we're in Montana. It's only taken us 5 days!! LOL When our husbands rode out here last summer on their motorcycles, they made it in 4 days. Oh well! We figure we're having waaaay more fun!

More soon!

Road Trip....Day Two

2011-11-30T20:59:00.000-05:00

I'm afraid I didn't take a single photo today. So, you're stuck with jewelry photos again!

We made great progress today! We left Cuyahoga Falls, OH about 8:30 this morning. We got through Ohio, Indiana and are about half way through Illinois.

Besides a couple of rest-stop stops (to let the dogs out to run, etc.), we made one stop to visit a couple of antique shops in Indiana. I can't remember the name of the town, but it's downtown area was charming. Besides a couple of tiny jewelry things (for a total of $5), we didn't find a thing.

So, we are relaxing in our hotel room in Princeton, Illinois. There's a huge antique mall very close to our hotel, and we'll probably go there first thing tomorrow before heading into Iowa. We're hoping to find lots of antique shops in Iowa before heading into South Dakota.

So far, so good!

Oh, I almost forgot! It was snowing this morning when we left Cuyahoga Falls. Snowing like crazy! We drove out of it in about an hour, but it was nice to see snow!

And, there was absolutely NO traffic the entire way, until we hit the Chicago area. Then it was wild and crazy!

That's your update for today! Hopefully I'll have more exciting news for you tomorrow!

Road Trip...Day One

2011-11-29T20:13:00.001-05:00

We didn't do too badly on our first day on the road. We left about 9:30 this morning and finally quit driving around 5:30. We are about a third of the way through Ohio.

Anne's pooches did remarkably well. Curly (Joe), a sweet little black and white poodle, tends to get car sick. But, Anne was prepared with motion sickness meds, which worked well, except the poor little guy drooled the entire way through PA and into Ohio.

Ruby, a sweet Bichoon/Shi-Tzu mix, was a great traveler. They are both worn out and happy to be sleeping this evening.

We made one stop at an antique mall today. I didn't buy a thing, I'm happy to report!

We'll be hitting the road early in the morning. Will keep you posted on how far we go!

An Adventure

2011-11-27T20:40:00.000-05:00

My best friend, Anne, is temporarily moving to Montana to take care of her Mom. Anne needs her car in Montana so has decided to drive out. I'm going with her. We're leaving Tuesday. The trip is around 2200 miles and should take us about 35 hours. Anne's two puppies are coming too!

We're thinking we should arrive in Montana on Friday or Saturday. I'll stay a couple days, then will fly home on Tuesday.

How exciting!! Or crazy!! It's already snowing in Montana. Hopefully we won't run into too much nasty weather.

I'll keep my website and my Etsy shop open while I'm gone and will ship orders as soon as I return.

I sent out a From the Raven's Bench newsletter this weekend. It includes a 20% off coupon for my jewelry. If you'd like a copy, please sign up on the right side of my blog and I'll be sure you get it!

Have a great week!

P.S. All jewelry available HERE and HERE!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with peace and love. And safe travels!

Jewelry, Once Again...

2011-11-08T15:19:00.002-05:00

I've been in crazy-woman-jewelry-making-mode the last few days. I LOVE that mode!

The piece in the photos above and below is one of my favorite pieces ever. It's the French souvenir heart that does it for me. It's a pinwheel (pincushion). It's made of mother of pearl and salmon colored velvet. Very rare and soooo special!

I made the earrings below with gemstones I found at the gem and jewelry show in Baltimore last week. The gemstones include aquamarines, rubies, labradorites and pink tourmaline. I loved them combined with all the rhinestones. Festive, don't you think?!

Then, I started my Holiday Line. I LOVE working on my Holiday Line. I save pieces all year long, just so I can make some wonderful Christmas jewelry, very unlike the Christmas jewelry our mothers used to wear....

The holly locket came from France. Holly and mistletoe grow all over France.

I paired the holly locket with a sweet bird and tree medal, also from France. It reminds me of "a partridge in a pear tree!"

This necklace has two strands of gorgeous pyrite (fool's gold) beads, and one sterling chain.

The earrings below are also part of my Holiday Line. These wonderful Christmas trees were part of an antique candle clip used on a Christmas tree. One of the trees still has a bit of wax on the back from where the candle dripped many many years ago. I thought about cleaning it off, but couldn't bring myself to do it!

The necklace below is another from my Holiday Line. The reindeer came from an archeological dig in Europe.

I've made a chain for him with garnets and crystal quartz beads and some pyrite too.

Then I added a little "bunch" of jewels underneath of aquamarines, rubies, tourmalines, garnets, labradorites and pyrites.

All jewelry can be found here: www.frenchsentiments.etsy.com.

Hope you're all having a great week!

New Blog is Up!

2011-10-31T14:36:00.001-04:00

While the new blog about our house is up, it isn't finished. But, please feel free to check it out if you'd like: www.1804stonehouse.blogspot.com.

It's Still October and We're Supposed to Get SNOW?????

2011-10-28T19:14:00.001-04:00

I mean seriously. Snow? And not just a dusting, but 6-10 inches of snow. Are you kidding me???

On a happy note, our house is on the market.....FINALLY!! It's all spiffed up, polished and sparkly (well as sparkly as an antique house can be).

I'm in the process of creating a blog about our house and will let you know when it's ready.

In the meantime, if you know anyone looking for an 1804 stone farmhouse in South Central PA, please send them my way!

I'll give anyone a personal tour! Just give me a couple hour notice so I can pick up!

I've squeezed in a little jewelry time between all the cleaning and decorating and painting and yard work.

It's my favorite part of my days!

Wishing you all a wonderful and snow-less weekend!

P.S. All jewelry available here!

Jewelry Sale...Once Again!

2011-10-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

It's that time again. Time for a jewelry sale!!

All jewelry in my Etsy Shop is 20% off! Yay!!

Come visit! Here's the link!

Crazy Busy!!

2011-10-09T20:46:00.001-04:00

Man Oh Days!!!!! You know how people sometimes say "I need to go back to work so I can get some rest"? Well, I need Art to go back to work so I can get some rest!!

We have been insanely busy around here. After Tropical Storm Lee came and did his damage, we've had to re-do three rooms: the master bedroom, the little office attached and the accompanying bathroom. Art has refinished all the plaster walls and the sheetrocked walls. Actually he's not done yet in the bedroom. The office and bathroom have been painted. My job is the trim, or woodwork. Between the three rooms, there are seven windows, six doors, six door frames, miles of baseboard and three shelves. (Our windows are six over six. That means that the top portion of the window has six panes and the bottom portion has six panes. They take forever to paint!! Just thought I'd throw that in!)

I still have two doors and three windows and about a half of mile of baseboard left to do.

In between, we've been cleaning out anything which doesn't move....the summer kitchen (yes, MORE), the barn, the attic. And, we've been re-stacking fire wood so it's prettier, so to speak. Hauling stuff out of the attic.

The roofers come tomorrow to start putting a new roof on the house. So, we need to go up and cover everything that's in the attic. Which isn't really that much, thank goodness.

As soon as the roof is done, we'll have new carpet installed the three rooms mentioned above. Then the house can go on the market. Yay!! Although I DREAD (yes, in capital letters) the thought of having to keep the house sparkling and shiny, I am truly done. I've had enough of restoring, remodeling, painting, stacking, carrying fire wood, building fires, stripping, sanding, etc.

I'm ready for a NEW house!! With a thermostat instead of a woodstove. With central air. With a modern kitchen. With real closets. You get the picture!

Art goes back to work Tuesday. While I'll still be painting, I will no longer have to keep up with his crazy pace. I can work at MY pace. For a couple of days, I may even work at a pace even slower than my pace. Just cuz!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

P.S. Jewelry can be found here!

Jeanne d'Arc Rosary Necklace

2011-10-02T17:18:00.000-04:00

Just listed! www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com!

Liz's Giveaway!!

2011-10-01T08:28:00.000-04:00

My Sweet Girl Liz, is hosting a giveaway on her blog! Go here to see: www.LizMathews.blogspot.com. She's adding a new treasure to the "pot" each day during the month of October. What fun!!!!!

Those of you who know how much I LOVE beads, will know that I already want to win!!!

Mourning

2011-09-29T20:07:00.000-04:00

www.frenchsentiments.etsy.com

As I believe I mentioned....

2011-09-21T16:33:00.000-04:00

I spent Saturday cleaning out the summer kitchen. It was a disaster...a place where Art and I both put everything we were too lazy to put away in the barn or in the house. And a place where we stored stuff we knew we wouldn't be using, but didn't want to pitch. The mess in there just grew and grew. It was pretty much an all-day project and I was thrilled to get it done! In the process, I found a few things I had totally forgotten about, which is always fun.

About eight or nine years ago, I made these little framed paper dolls for a Nashville Needlework Market. I don't remember how many I made, but it was a LOT! (I can never make just one or two of something, it's always a LOT!)

The paper dolls I brought home with me ended up in a box in the summer kitchen and I was kind of happy to find them Saturday. Wasn't sure what in the world I was going to do with them, but happy nonetheless.

The idea for the paper dolls came from an antique framed paper doll I found years ago. It was made out of old ledger paper and was adorable. So, I took it apart, made a pattern and got to work! The doll and the dress are two separate pieces of antique paper. They are place on hand-dyed linen and framed in a burl veneer frame (from Olde Colonial Designs).

I've kept a couple for myself and have added the rest to my Etsy Shop. Check them out when you get a chance and see what you think. Kind of fun, definitely different, kind of collage-y before collage-ing was so very popular. And, I think they would work really well hanging with samplers!

Have a good one!

CRAZY!!!

2011-09-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

Please forgive the lack of posting. Life here in York, PA has been crazy, to say the least!

I'm not even sure when to start.......I'm thinking....Ok, first we had all the torrential rains from Tropical Storm Lee. The roof started leaking, which was a first.

So, Art started repairing the roof. It didn't go well. The more he worked, the more he discovered a disintegrating roof. In between all the attempted repairs, it kept raining. Water got into two closets, ran down walls, drenched the carpet in one bedroom and generally made us crazy and created tons of work inside the house.

So, we started loading up the attic with pots to catch the rain before it could get into the house. While working in the attic, Art over reached and lost his balance and feel though the attic floor into one of the bedrooms down below. He broke a rib.

Oh, let me backtrack a little. Before all this rain stuff started, Art found out he is being transferred from the Frederick area to Baltimore at work. He's not happy about this. We decided at that point, to go ahead and put the house on the market, contacted a realtor and set up an appointment to have the realtor come in and do whatever it is they do. We also had a 20-foot dumpster delivered so we could start cleaning out all the construction materials and stuff that's been piling up in the barn and the summer kitchen and have everything looking neat and tidy.

Art's fall slowed him down quite a bit. He was no longer able to climb the ladders to work on the roof, pick up anything with any weight, in fact, he could barely walk. He spent all day yesterday in the emergency room, learning he had a broken rib, being told he can't work for 6-8 weeks or lift anything heavy. He came home from the ER drugged to the gills, got the on the tractor and mowed the grass.

Also yesterday, my wonderful brother-in-law, Marty's husband, Tim, came over and put a great temporary patch on the roof. The roof needs major repairs and we'll be getting roofers to come in and give us estimates this week.

I spent all day yesterday cleaning out the summer kitchen, running back and forth to the emergency room, getting prescriptions filled, mowing the grass that has to be push mowed and I fell into bed about 9:00.

I feel sure there is a lesson to be learned here, but I haven't quite grasped it yet. Don't plan too far ahead? Don't mess with Mother Nature? Any ideas??

I'm not planning to work too hard today! And I need to find a way to slow down Art. Last I saw him, he was working on patching a few spots in the stone walls of the house, hauling rocks around in a wheelbarrow....all while walking kind of sideways. He also tells me he's going to work tomorrow.

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday!

(jewelry can be found in my Etsy shop: here!)

A Wrap Neclace

2011-09-08T12:45:00.000-04:00

I just finished this piece and it's been a labor of love. I started it yesterday and just kept working and working and working on it. See what you think!

It has everything in it except the kitchen sink!

And there are a bunch of different ways to wear it!

You can find it in my Etsy Shop here.

On the home front, we are all waiting for this incessant rain to stop. It's been raining forever (a solid week). The roads are flooding in places, the fields are flooded, the pool is overflowing, the ground is like a sponge. This morning we had over a foot of water in our basement. AND, our roof is leaking into the attic, which is running into one of the bedrooms upstairs. Not good. Art is out in the rain right now trying to fix the roof. He spent the entire morning in the basement pumping out water. I believe he is now ready to sell this house!! Keep your fingers crossed for sunny days!

Happy Pre-Labor Day Sale

2011-08-30T13:39:00.000-04:00

I'm having a jewelry sale in my Etsy Shop!! Check it out!!

Happy Pre-Labor Day!

So Long Irene!

2011-08-28T17:11:00.000-04:00

Irene blew out of here this morning and we're left with sunny skies, warm temps and hardly any damage! Yay!! We have tree branches to pick up all over the yard, but that's about it. What a relief!! We spent a few hours Friday evening tucking everything away that could potentially fly across the yard and fields. At least the pool furniture is put away for the winter. I truly dislike that job!

I've been making jewelry today. This one is fun!

It's made from an antique French teething rattle. It jingles!

Hope you are all having a good one...without power outages, trees down, water everywhere, etc.!

Antiquing

2011-08-26T13:05:00.000-04:00

I decided to go antiquing this morning...in search of jewelry treasures to use in my designs. I went to Carlisle, PA. (Normal people say car-lyle. Locals say caw-LYLE. I don't know why.)

Didn't have much luck. The two pieces above are all I found. But they're good pieces!

I did, however, find this:

It's Little Red Riding Hood....under glass!! It's very Victorian and very sweet. I'm afraid I couldn't resist it. It's now living in my bathroom on my shelf full of antique glass bottles.

Next time I'm looking for jewelry parts, I'll go to Gettysburg. (Normal people say getties-burg. Locals say gettis burg. Don't ask me why!)

I forgot...

2011-08-24T09:19:00.002-04:00

to put a photo here of the collage inside the French Compact. Here it is!

antique French paper in the background courtesy of Liz! :)

French Jewelry

2011-08-23T14:37:00.001-04:00

Here's the link!

It's been a fun day!!

P.S. I hear there was an earthquake near Richmond, VA. WOW! Liz felt it in Baltimore, but I didn't feel a thing. Hope everyone is fine.

Needlework Antiques and Textiles

2011-08-18T19:01:00.000-04:00

I've started listing some needlework antiques and textiles in my Etsy Shop.

Stuff I've had for years and years and years...

The Needlework Market

2011-08-14T19:39:00.000-04:00

I'm back, I'm happy to say, from a fun, wild and crazy needlework market in Baltimore. These markets are held at Embassy Suites and the exhibitors set up their booths in the front room of the suites and sleep in the back, bedroom. It's a great set up! This is the first year it was held in Baltimore and it was a fun show! I shared a suite with my sister Marty, her husband Tim and their two daughters, Anna and Grace. Marty exhibited her new (my old) needlework designs and I exhibited my jewelry.

This is Marty's newest Hawk Run Hollow design...Farms. It was a best seller!

Another one of Marty's new designs...The Tree Speaks

Marty also brought chickens!! She and Tim reproduced these from an antique chicken spool holder she gave me as a wedding gift 16 years ago.

Check out the amazing display board Marty and Tim brought. It was a huge success! Shop owners saw patterns they hadn't seen in years!

Part of my jewelry display.

More of my jewelry display...

Another part of my jewelry display, and one I particularly love. Liz gave me this gorgeous French piece last week.

More jewelry....

And more jewelry!!

Now for the fun part....my nieces, Anna and Gracie, discovered my mannequin and realized what fun they could have with it......

Oh my!!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2011-08-10T14:21:00.001-04:00

It's SHOW TIME!! This weekend is the TNNA Fall Cash & Carry Market in Baltimore and I'm making jewelry like a crazy person, pricing, boxing, counting, re-thinking displays, and generally making a total mess of my studio!

See?

Empty mannequins! How WEIRD!!

They look so naked!!

Ridiculously messy bench.

I'm not complaining though. Last year, I was making thousands of charts, packing them up, along with my display stuff, shipping it to St. Louis, and getting ready for a three-hour flight. This year is EASY!!

At least none of my antics are bothering Bella!

In other news, I ordered a piece of jewelry from Liz's Etsy shop. Liz thought I was nuts, since I was with her when she bought it and said I didn't want it at the time. It looked so gorgeous in her shop! Anyway, the package came in the mail today and I had to show you...

Not only is it beautifully wrapped, but she gives a code for a discount on my next purchase. Smart girl!

I'm off to do more....

The Farms of Hawk Run Hollow

2011-08-08T23:11:00.000-04:00

Marty posted a photo of the complete sampler "The Farms of Hawk Run Hollow" on her blog today. Be sure to check it out!! www.carriagehousesamplings.blogspot.com.

It's STUNNING!!!!

More Jewelry

2011-08-02T14:50:00.000-04:00

Available here!

I couldn't wait.....

2011-07-31T22:25:00.000-04:00

I think it must be against my nature to have new jewerly and not list it! I tried, honestly I did, but it just wasn't going to wait another day! I realize I'm doing a show in Baltimore in two weeks and need to have as much jewelry as possible. BUT, I do have two weeks!! I can make a lot of jewelry in two weeks, so I figure I'll be fine. I listed nine new pieces on my Etsy site tonight. Here's a preview:

In other news, I've spent the last four days with my nieces, aged 10 and 13, which was SO much fun! We swam and watched movies, and played games and did crafts and had tons of fun together. They are truly a joy.

My computer is down. Art thinks I just need a new power supply cord, but I'm not convinced. I'll find out tomorrow. Thank goodness we have an extra laptop in the house!

Liz came home this weekend with her brand new, super spiffy Nikon SLR camera. You can see a few of her shots on her blog. My girly-girls were her models! Good thing they got haircuts this week!

Have a great week!

An Exception

2011-07-26T20:45:00.000-04:00

This one just may have to go on my Etsy site tomorrow!

Finally!!

2011-07-26T13:53:00.000-04:00

I'm back, finally!! Sorry for being MIA for so long. It's been a bit crazy around here and, as I said in my last post, HOT! So, I've been in the pool a lot and we've had lots of friends and family in the pool as well. Makes for a fun summer!

The Needlework Market is coming very soon and I've been making tons of jewelry for that. It's in Baltimore this year (YAY for me!!!) so no flight needed, no shipping ahead, just an hour's worth of driving. How cool is that?!

It's absolutely killing me to not be posting my new pieces on my Etsy site and on my website, but I know I have to hold out for this Market.

It's been fun using some needlework antiques I've been saving....strawberry emeries, acorn emeries, tiny pincushions, laying tools....fun stuff!

Back to work! Lots more jewelry to make! Hope everyone is having a good one and keeping cool!

Hot!!

2011-07-22T13:36:00.002-04:00

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More soon!!

Carriage House Samplings

2011-07-09T16:41:00.000-04:00

Have you all noticed Marty is starting to post photos of The Farms of Hawk Run Hollow on her blog??

Check it out!! Here's a LINK! (And, win a free chart!! She's having a contest!)

New Jewelry!!

2011-07-05T22:12:00.000-04:00

I've been having a sale on my Etsy site for the last two weeks or so and I can't tell you how much I've missed listing new jewelry. Well.....I'm back at it!! So, I thought I'd give you a preview of the pieces I've started to list and the ones coming all week long. Here goes!!

That should give you an idea of what's coming! There are many more pieces I still need to photograph and edit and list. SOOOO much fun!! See them here: Etsy Shop or here: Website.

Sale!

2011-06-20T04:02:00.000-04:00

I'm having a huge sale on my jewelry on my Etsy shop!

Almost every piece is on sale!

At substantial savings!

Check it out when you get a chance! www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com

Another Day

2011-06-15T17:10:00.000-04:00

Another day of making jewelry....I'm such a lucky girl!!

This antique crowned heart locket is an amazing antique piece. It's sterling silver and absolutely beautiful. This is one of my favorite necklaces I've ever made. It's ridiculously expensive and if it never sells, that's perfectly fine with me! I'll wear it until I'm an old, old lady!

Onto another subject.....this is a plant Liz brought me this weekend. It's adorable!! She potted it and added the vintage French price tag. She's the best!! Thank you Lizzy Girl!

Today

2011-06-14T16:21:00.000-04:00

Not only is today Flag Day, but it's also my sister Marty's birthday! Happy Birthday Marty!!!

(Yes, I swiped the photo from her blog, but I was the photographer, so I don't feel too badly about that.)

I spent my birthday at the dentist learning I needed root canals. I spent Marty's birthday at the dentist having a root canal. We're not having any more birthdays. We agreed. We can still get each other awesome gifts, but we are officially not having birthdays.

Besides I would like it better if she were 3 1/2 years older than me rather than the other way around.

After my root canal, I stopped at an antique mall in New Oxford, PA. I found this bird!

Liz will tell you I've been looking for a stuffed bird for a long time. Ever since I read a French decorating book (which Liz has and I've yet to replace, so I can't tell you the name of it) which had gorgeous photos of stuffed birds in French houses.......

I HAD to have one!

Liz did tell me to NOT EVER do this:

Which just made it impossible to resist. Sorry Liz!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope you're not spending it having a root canal.

P.S. Marty has some interesting information on her blog about a new Hawk Run Hollow design. You might want to check it out!!

Buttons...again!

2011-06-12T17:45:00.000-04:00

I am having fun with old buttons these days!

I found these old rhinestone buttons in Columbia, PA yesterday in an antique mall. I LOVE how they've aged and how all the rhinestones are now a silvery gray. And, they're prong set, which means the will never fall out. That's a bonus!

I've found a few more cool buttons I haven't used yet. But I will!

This is a necklace I worked on today. For hours....but what FUN hours they were!

Happy Sunday!

New Jewelry for a HOT Summer Day

2011-06-09T12:14:00.000-04:00

The temperature outside is 96 degrees. It's a hot one!! A great day for staying inside and making jewelry!

Hope you're all keeping cool!

Fabric

2011-06-06T18:54:00.000-04:00

For many, many years I was a collector of fabrics. Not just any fabrics, but homespuns and civil war reproductions fabrics and crewel fabrics and linen fabrics.....anything that looked old.

It was FUN and it got a little out of hand.

It's in cupboards in the house, it's in tubs in the summer kitchen, it's everywhere in my old studio in the barn.

So, I've decided it has to go. So far, I've just tackled the dry sink in the living room. I made four piles - one of homespuns, one of ticking, one of crewels and one of calicos. I started photographing and measuring the individual pieces. It took forever and I've just gotten through the blue homespuns and the red homespuns. This is going to be a long process! I need to find a way to consolidate it. I'm working on it!

Before I went to work at the antique mall this morning, I hung a bunch of homespuns out on the clothes line to air out. Isn't it gorgeous?!

I'll be listing fabrics in my Etsy shop in the days and weeks to come. Haven't figured out the best way to do it yet, but I will! Check it out!

Bracelets (and they aren't mine)!!

2011-06-01T16:07:00.000-04:00

I just had to share these bracelets with you!

They are my latest "thing" these days!

I bought three of them...

They go perfectly with my jewelry....they have a modern "antique" feel which I love!

They were made by Stacy Leigh who has a shop on Etsy. Here's the link: www.StacyLeigh.Etsy.com

And while you're there, check out her handbags. They are to die for. Stunning works of art! I'm still trying to choose one. It's HARD!

But choose one I will! You might want to get there fast so I don't choose your favorite!

If you order a bracelet, be sure to check her sizes and ask Stacy to add an additional snap if you need it to be smaller. I ordered six-inch bracelets and that's the exact size of my wrist. I like them to fit snugly. But you may feel differently!

Here's the link again: www.StacyLeigh.Etsy.com. Enjoy!!

Storm Damage

2011-05-27T17:12:00.003-04:00

Art arrived home this morning from a week-long motorcycle trip up to New England. This tree in our driveway is what he found when got home. I was still asleep and didn't have a clue.

I knew it was horribly windy during a thunder storm last night, but that's all I knew.

This is another tree that fell beside the barn. Actually a third of the tree fell and the other two thirds are still standing. But they're not looking good. Neither is Art's pick up, the joy of his life (next to his Harley) that has 200,000 miles on it, is rusting out and runs like a champ.

Edited to add: Art's pick up isn't looking good because it just doesn't look good, not because the tree fell on it. I realized what I wrote above sounded like it got squished, when it didn't. Art is happy.

The other two thirds need to come down before they fall on the barn.

Thank goodness for tree people....tree surgeons? tree cutters? tree whatever! They'll be coming next week.
And we'll have plenty of fire wood next winter!

In the meantime, we cut up and moved the tree in the driveway. It took us four hours. And you can't even tell it ever happened!

Wishing you all a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend with no trees falling in your driveways, on your barns, your pick-ups or anywhere else!

An Experiment

2011-05-26T20:33:00.000-04:00

This is an experiment, only an experiment. Do not adjust your tv set.

Liz just told me how to make my photos larger on my blog and I'm giving it a shot!

So, here's Bella!

Yay! It worked! Finally I can have larger photos!

A New Blog to Visit

2011-05-24T14:30:00.001-04:00

I've started a new blog for the antique mall where I work. Check it out and step into my world!!

AntiquesatIvyHall.Blogspot.com

Buttons and Jewelry

2011-05-22T14:11:00.001-04:00

While I've been learning lots about antique jewelry the last couple of years, I haven't been learning about antique buttons.

I think it's time I do!

The gorgeous antique button in this necklace is mother of pearl. It has an image applied to the front of the button. I've never seen this before, have any of you? Can anyone give me any insight into this type of button?

I've added this long wrap necklace to my Etsy site. It's 38 inches long and meant to be double wrapped.

And, here's another piece I made.

No buttons, but it does have a Jeanne d'Arc slide locket which I've been wanting for a few years now. Two of my very favorite things - Jeanne d'Arc and slide lockets, all mixed together! It doesn't get much better than that!!

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Antique Hat Box

2011-05-17T17:37:00.001-04:00

This antique hat box was just listed on my Etsy Site. I believe it's European and from the early to mid 1800's. It's very cool!!

Jewelry Everywhere!

2011-05-17T14:49:00.001-04:00

And sweet dogs too!

Trying...

2011-05-13T19:28:00.002-04:00

Blogspot has been having some issues of late, but I'm going to give this a try. My post from yesterday keeps disappearing and reappearing. We'll see what happens with this!

I promised you long ago I would post some photos of our finished downstairs now that all the construction and projects are done. So, here we go!

The finished living room. The floor in this room has been replaced with random width boards from our attic. When the old oak boards were removed, it was discovered the beams holding up the floor were rotting out, so all of those had to be replaced. The exterior door you can see above was replaced. Tom added antique strap hinges and an antique lock. The walls were re-plastered by an expert plaster guy who specializes in old houses. The (gross) paneling wainscotting was removed and new chair rail made. And it was painted of course!

The finished living room again.

And again. This time facing towards the kitchen.

Another shot, much like the first.

The living room again, this time from the dining room doorway.

This is the room with no name (which used to be my old studio....remember those horrible photos of this horrible room?!) This room was re-plastered as well. The above shot shows the new exterior door (complete with antique strap hinges and an antique lock). This room was also repainted. And the doorway to the living room was re-done.

Another shot of the room with no name.

The room with no name yet again.

Standing in the living room, looking through the room with no name and into the laundry room.

A better view of the same doorway which was totally re-done. To the left of the doorway are one set of stairs that go to the upstairs of our house. I should have taken a photo of these. Tom rebuilt the stair way, the plasterer re-did the walls and the stairs themselves were painted a dark ochre brown.

The new laundry room. This room got a new floor, new washer and dryer and I think that's it. Oh, it also got a new door to the furnace room with looks a hundred times better than the old door to the furnace room.

Woops! I've already screwed up the order and I was SO determined to get it right. This is the room with no name again. You can see the new exterior door to the left of the woodstove.

This photo was taken from the kitchen through the new hallway leading to the living room.

The kitchen. Not much happened in here besides painting. The pale mustard makes the room look so much larger than it did when the paint was dark green.

The kitchen again and the doorway to the dining room.

The dining room, which you've seen before. All that really happened in here was a new entry door. I think I have a shot of that....

Turns out I don't have a shot of that. Anyway, that's about it! It's been a long, slow, torturous project, but definitely worth it in the end.

On a (VERY) sad note, my best bud Anne's former husband Tom (and the carpenter for the above projects, and my very good friend) was killed in a motorcycle accident last week. It's very sad. Anne is holding up well. They were very close and still living together even though they were divorced a couple years ago. My husband Art considered Tom to be one of his very best friends and is having a hard time coping with this terrible loss. It's been a hard couple of weeks for all of his friends and family.

Onward to happier topics...I've been making jewelry as usual and am on a new kick....French cut steel buckles! I'm having such fun with them. The photo below shows a completed bracelet and more buckles just waiting for me.

Did you notice the two tiny pins?

I can hardly wait to turn these into earrings!

I think I've covered all my news and all my photos! Hope you all have a great weekend!!

And, don't forget Sweet Girl's Blog Giveaway!! www.LizMathews.blogspot.com

A Gorgeous Spring Day

2011-05-10T17:56:00.001-04:00

We've been having perfect weather lately! The sky is bright blue, the sun shines, the flowers bloom, the grass grows, the dogs spend their days outside playing, Art and I do outside chores......it's perfect!!

We planted wisteria by the pool four years ago and it bloomed for the first time this year. It's been gorgeous!

The smoke tree by the pool is ready to bloom too. It gets white lacey flowers all over it. Can't wait!

The bridal wreath is thicker and fuller than it's ever been!

The pool is open, but the water is 57 degrees, so the only one who gets in is Rosie!

The barn swallows are back! I LOVE the barn swallows, but I must admit, they are getting a bit thick. Barn swallows come back to the same place every year and they MULTIPLY!!

The lower barn is FULL of nests and FULL of barn swallows. I'm now officially afraid to go in because they go nuts when you do and they want you OUT. I can respect that!

I made jewelry today! Big surprise!!

That's all my news! How about you?? What do you do on these gorgeous spring days?

Birds

2011-05-06T14:16:00.001-04:00

I just finished this piece:

This is the front (above).

And this is the back (above).

It's one of my very favorite pieces I've ever made.

It's the clasp that does it for me.

Even though one of the mother of pearl birds has a chipped beak, I couldn't resist this buckle when I found it in Adamstown last weekend. It HAD to be mine!!

And now it can be yours! For more photos, please visit: www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com.

Birds & Bugs

2011-05-04T10:37:00.002-04:00

Kind of seems fitting for spring!

Come Sail Away

2011-04-28T19:41:00.000-04:00

Post Cards from York

2011-04-27T12:05:00.000-04:00

The Investigation

2011-04-26T18:17:00.000-04:00

With Spring comes hikes in the fields. I'm so happy the girls and I were able to start hiking again!
Today's walk, however, was interrupted by an investigation....into a ground hog hole.

Rosie was the prime investigator...

Bella was the assistant.

I got bored and went home. Which is probably good because I had a root canal today and they put me on antibiotics and told me to stay out of the sun. Don't know why, but they did.

I assume the investigation uncovered nothing but dirt. Rosie and Bella came home about ten minutes after me. Rosie will be getting a bath tonight. The assistant will be quite happy she doesn't need one!

An Oil Painting

2011-04-21T19:01:00.000-04:00

I've just listed this antique oil painting for sale on my Etsy shop. For those of you who stitch, you may recognize the design. It was the inspiration behind my pattern "Only One Ewe."

Thought you might like to see it!

www.kathybarrick.etsy.com

Beads Galore!

2011-04-21T13:09:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, I purchased a baggie full of antique rosary beads from France. Gorgeous rosary beads made of ivory, bone and wood, in every shade of cream, tan, brown and taupe imaginable.

A year or so ago, I purchased this gorgeous antique ivory brooch, hand carved into birds and leaves.

A few months ago, I purchased this antique rhinestone buckle. Many stones were missing, but I still loved it.

Last night I got up at 3:00 AM and started putting the bits of rosaries together into long chains. It was hours of fun!

It's like magic when it all comes together!

General Busy-ness

2011-04-20T17:46:00.000-04:00

I'm afraid I've let much too much time get away from me between blogging.

Spring has sprung I think, and along with it, lots to do!

Like... jewelry to make!

And...helping Liz to move!

And...dogs to the vet....

General stuff!

It's what I do!
Hope you're all having a good one!

Anne

2011-04-08T17:03:00.000-04:00

It occurred to me that I should have told everyone that Anne came back a couple months ago. To stay! Lucky me!! As sorry as I am that things didn't work out for her in Belgium, I am happy to have my best friend back in town.

Since coming back, Anne has been doing the most amazing painting. This is a painting she did for me for my birthday. Cool, huh?

She's also been making some fantastic jewelry! Here are a couple of examples:

When you get a chance, visit her Etsy shop: www.ScatteredMoments.Etsy.com. It's lots of fun!

New...Well, Revised..Etsy Shop

2011-04-06T13:15:00.000-04:00

Because girls really can have too much stuff, I've revamped my old cross stitch charts Etsy shop into an antique and vintage jewelry supply shop, which I've called Kathy Barrick's Supply Central.

Check it out! www.KathyBarrick.Etsy.com

A Contest!

2011-04-01T17:24:00.000-04:00

My Sweet Girl is having a contest on her blog! Go here: www.lizmathews.blogspot.com.

Full Moons!

2011-04-01T07:37:00.001-04:00

January Moon - Wolf Moon - According to lore, under this moon, wolves would howl in hunger outside Native American villages. When the moon is full in January, people tend to eat too much, drink too much, and play too much trying to fill a winter emptiness.

February Moon - Snow Moon - February is traditionally when the heaviest snow falls. People often dream of places they'd rather be when they sleep under a full Snow Moon.

March Moon - Wolf Moon - In the spring, the ground softens and earthworms reappear..as do the robins who eat them. The lure of possibly getting caught while doing something daring or scandalous is hard to resist during the first full moon in March.

April Moon - Pink Moon - This full moon marks the appearance of pink ground phlox, an early spring flower. The amount of hope in the air during a full Pink Moon makes it the best time to ask someone to marry you.

May Moon - Milk Moon - The abundance of greenery to eat at this time of year gives cows and goats the potential to produce rich, fortified milk. People often think they are the most attractive under a full Milk Moon.

June Moon - Strawberry Moon - June is typically when strawberries ripen and are gathered. The best time to seek forgiveness is under the Strawberry Moon. Sweetness seems to linger during this time.

July Moon - Buck Moon - Bucks begin to grown new antlers at this time. Young men will butt heads and generally show themselves under this full July moon.

August Moon - Sturgeon Moon - Native American lore says that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were the most easily caught during the full moon in August. This full moon tends to make people feel restless and overwhelmed.

September Moon - Harvest Moon - This is the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox, bright enough to allow farmers to work late into the night, bringing in the last of their harvest. A time of introspection. People are often moody during this moon.

October Moon - Hunter's Moon - Historically, after the harvest, with leaves falling and fields bare, it was easier to see to hunt under this full moon. If you stare at a Hunters' moon with a question, it will become clear what has to be done.

November Moon - Beaver Moon - Beaver traps were set during this time, before the waters froze, so furs would be in abundance for the cold months ahead. For some people, the full Beaver Moon is the last chance to do something they've wanted to do but put off, before the heaviness of winter settles over them.

December Moon - Cold Moon - The full moon hearalding long, dark, cold nights ahead. Unquestionably the best sleeping moon of the year.

Thank you to author Sarah Addison Allen for that!

In my neck of the woods, we woke up this morning to snow, about an inch of snow. Mother Nature's April Fools joke?!

New Stuff!

2011-03-29T15:41:00.000-04:00

It's been a fun day!!

www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com or www.KathyBarrick.com

Shop Sale at my Etsy Shop!

2011-03-28T00:26:00.000-04:00

I'm having a week-long sale at my Etsy Shop! Beginning Monday, March 28th through Sunday, April 3rd, each piece of jewelry will be 20% off. Yay!

Have a great week everyone!

Crowned Heart

2011-03-19T20:40:00.000-04:00

Today I made a necklace using the crowned heart piece I recently purchased. The heart is a locket.

It opens! And it's dated...1875.

I added some gorgeous mammoth pearls found at a local bead show, a barn swallow pendant, an old French souvenir book locket, a mother of pearl hand, lots of silver chain and some giant rhinestone ball beads.

It's (unfortunately) ridiculously expensive. The locket was a small fortune in itself, but I couldn't resist it.

I do love those crowned hearts!!

Haircut Day

2011-03-18T05:44:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was haircut day here in York. It was the first haircuts the girls have had since fall. They went from being hairy monsters to naked babies!

Happy naked babies!

2011-03-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

My latest newsletter (News From the Raven's Bench) was emailed today. It included a 20% off offer for my jewelry. If you're not on my newsletter list, please sign up now and I'll be sure you get a copy. To sign up, please click on the "Subscribe" button to the right of this post.

Thank you!

And, while I'm at it..... Holy Cow!!!!

2011-03-15T17:27:00.001-04:00

Oh, Deer!

2011-03-15T16:17:00.000-04:00

Coming soon to an Etsy Shop and a Web Site near you!!

A Gift

2011-03-13T20:15:00.000-04:00

I received the most incredible gift from my best bud, Anne. It's a lightbulb! A gorgeous, French lightbulb!

Look what happens when it's lit!

It's AMAZING!! I'm a lucky girl!

My Studio

2011-03-12T23:26:00.000-05:00

For a look at my studio, pop over to Liz's blog! I didn't know it could look so good!!

House Update, Jewelry and Other Stuff Too!

2011-03-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd pop in for an update! The house is almost DONE!!! Can you believe it? I can't!! After over six months of construction, it is almost complete. The laundry room is done, the room with no name is done, the living room is done, two exterior doors have been replaced. The only thing left is a third exterior door which was an odd size and had to be special ordered. But it's in and Tom will be here to install it soon, I'm sure. Even the painting is done! I do still have to make lots of curtains, but that'll keep. I'll take some photos this weekend to show you the finished rooms.

So, after a torturous week last week, filled with painting, stripping floors, cleaning, re-arranging, etc., I have SO enjoyed this week.

It's been rainy, cold, damp and generally yuck, so I've mostly stayed home and made jewelry, done a bit of redecorating upstairs, had dinner one night with Liz, went antiquing one day with Anne....fun stuff!

I almost hate to see the week end!!

You'll find new jewelry on my jewelry Etsy site: www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com and new antique-y stuff on my other Etsy site: www.KathyBarrick.Etsy.com.

Wishing you all a great weekend!

A Tragic Loss

2011-03-01T11:48:00.000-05:00

A wonderful family in Ohio, the needlework industry and the world in general has suffered a horrible loss. Lisa Roswell from The Primitive Needle died as her car was swept away in flood waters yesterday. My heart goes out to the family she held so dear and spoke of so often. I have lost a friend. I wish her family peace in this tragic time.

Nashville Needlework Market

2011-02-28T08:09:00.000-05:00

What fun!!

This is one of my favorite Market photos. I shot it from outside the window to our room. My sister Marty is smiling at me, her husband Tim is on the floor taking photos and Jean Hohulin is in the back (holding up the wall!).

This is Marty with the Carriage House Samplings display. Tim built the amazing structure holding Marty's models.

This is Carmen Sutton, from Cardan Needlework & Antiques and Jean Hohulin, stitcher extraordinaire, guidance counselor, helper and friend.

My jewelry display.

FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com

2011-02-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

I'll be putting my Etsy Shop for jewelry (www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com) in "vacation mode" today. All of my jewelry will be shipped down to Nashville for the Needlework Market.

I'll re-activate my Shop as soon as I return!

New Jewelry, Nashville and House Progress

2011-02-12T14:11:00.003-05:00

I've had fun making some new jewelry this week! I'm leaving Thursday for Nashville for a needlework market and always bring my jewelry with me.

Everything has to be shipped down on Tuesday, so I've been busy creating, tagging, packing, etc.

On the home front, lots of progress is being made! FINALLY!

In the living room, two window wells and the new front door need to be painted. The door needs to be attached all the way. Tom, carpenter extraordinaire, is using antique strap hinges and antique door locks on all the new doors. They're so cool! After that, the room is complete!! (Except I need to make new curtains.)

In the Room with No Name (every time I say it my head immediately starts singing "I went through the desert on a horse with no name") also has a new exterior door with antique strap hinges and lock. It needs to be painted as well.

I need to make curtains for that room as well, then it's done.

The laundry room just needs curtains. And a new storm door. Then it will be finished too!

The kitchen still needs a granite counter top. Then it will be finished.

So, it's all finally wrapping up! After it's done (with the exception of the curtains - I know myself and know they won't be done in the very near future), I'll post some photos.

By the way, if you look in the January issue of Early American Life magazine, the house on the cover of the magazine was restored by Tom Brown, our carpenter extraordinaire. Check out the article, their house is AMAZING!!

All jewelry is available from my Etsy shop: www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com.

Have a great weekend! I'm off to paint some doors!

Yesterday Was Quite the Jewelry Day!

2011-02-02T15:45:00.001-05:00

I worked until about midnight on jewelry last night. It was sooooooooooooo much fun!!

I made the plane piece above, just for the fun of it!

And I made the more serious piece above, just for the fun of it too!

Both can be found on my Etsy Site: www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com

Today I'll be listing some fun stuff on my other Etsy Site: www.KathyBarrick.Etsy.com. Stuff like pockets, a wall pocket and a to die for milliner's head made by the infamous Christine Crocker. Look for it soon!

Hope you're all having a good one and are dealing well with the snow/ice/wind etc. We really lucked out and had a little rain last night, but nothing else. Today it's sunny and the wind is blowing furiously.

Finally!!

2011-02-01T16:21:00.000-05:00

I had time to make jewelry today!

It seems like it was weeeeeeks ago I last made something.

It probably wasn't, but it does feel that way.

And the Market in Nashville is coming very soon, so I'd better get a move on!

I must admit, the pressure to make jewelry is a lot more fun than the pressure to make charts! And I'm very happy I get to go to the show. I'll be rooming with Marty (www.carriagehousesamplings.com) and with Carmen of Cardan Antiques and Needlework (http://www.cardanenterprises.com). Can't wait!!

This is NOT an Exciting Post....But...

2011-01-23T19:35:00.001-05:00

I just had to let you know.....

Baby, it's COLD outside!!!

Hope you're all keeping warm!

A Fun Predicament

2011-01-18T15:25:00.001-05:00

It seems I love decorating my studio. It seems I love decorating my studio a LOT!! I've been buying much too much fun vintage stuff to put into my studio and much too much fun stuff to save for my next house. So, I made a decision. I'm un-antique-ing the guest room and am going to redecorate it using my vintage, French, fun stuff. WHAT FUN!!!!

So, I've been taking stuff out of the guest room, making piles of stuff to take to the antique mall, and finding treasures to load on my old Etsy site: www.kathybarrick.etsy.com.

Some of it is old, some not so old. All of it is fun!

So, please visit my Etsy shop when you get a chance and see if anything might tickle your fancy!

There will be more in the coming days and weeks, so keep checking!

No Whining!

2011-01-12T18:18:00.000-05:00

Although I have plenty of whining material available, I will NOT whine today.

Actually, Art had the joy of hearing it all when he called me on his way home from work.

So, I pretty much have it out of my system.

But, I will advise you to NEVER hire a heating company, flooring company, painter and carpenter all at the same time. EVER. And if your neighbor goes out of town for two days and his German shepherd gets out of their house and spends every single minute of two days trying to get in your house, driving your dogs absolutely insane, ask your husband or another loved one to break into your neighbor's house IMMEDIATELY and put the dog inside. Just a little friendly advice. I'm not whining or anything.

All jewelry shown above is available in my Etsy Shop: www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com.

Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-05T21:14:00.003-05:00

I hope your New Year is off to a wonderful start!! It's been rather chaotic around here. It actually started Christmas Day. Art was horribly sick and went to the emergency room Christmas morning. I stayed home, waiting for Liz and her boyfriend to arrive. Art was admitted to the hospital because they wanted to rule out heart issues (which they did, thank goodness!). Liz arrived home, then we were off to the hospital to see Art.

Art was released from the hospital on Monday (my birthday). Turns out he had severe acid reflux and a terrible flu. He still has the flu. Everyone around me has the flu. I'm isolating myself as much as possible!!

(Edited to add:) I almost forgot! I went to the dentist on my birthday because I was having a tooth ache and learned I need to have not one, but TWO root canals. I've put that special joy off for another week. Thank goodness antibiotics make the pain go away.

In the meantime, we've been dealing with house issues. The plasterer came and finished the living room and the laundry room. Turns out plastering creates dust. LOTS of dust! The downstairs is pretty much covered with dust. Since everything from the laundry room is now in the room with no name and everything from the living room is in the dining room, it's utter chaos. We also put a new floor down in the laundry room. And we had to buy a new washing machine cause the old one died. The heat people came today and installed the heating units in the living room. But they don't work cause the circulator (whatever that is) in the basement isn't working. They'll be happy to fix it for $600. I'm waiting for Art to get better so he can decide if he'd rather fix that himself.

The painter is coming tomorrow to start painting the living room and dining room. YAY!! Once that is done, we can get this house put back together again and I can clean like crazy. I don't think I've ever looked forward to cleaning so much!

I didn't intend for this to turn into a whining post, but it seems it has. There have been good things too! My family Christmas celebration was postponed until New Year's Day and that was wonderful. I've been making jewelry and that's been great fun. I still love working at the antique mall. My sister Marty is enjoying being the new owner and designer of Carriage House Samplings. She has wonderful new designs in the works!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and joyful New Year!!

P.S. All jewelry shown can be found on my Etsy Site: www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com www.FrenchSentiments.Etsy.com

Merry, Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T22:55:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a Christmas filled with love, peace and joy!

May all of your dreams come true!

There's a Reason I Haven't Been Posting House Photos!

2010-12-22T17:05:00.001-05:00

And here's the reason:

Our living room.

The other end of our living room.

Our dining room, containing everything that belongs in the living room.

This has been our house since September. You could write the Gettysburg Address in the dust on the furniture in the dining room. I can't get in there to clean.

I did manage to do a little decorating! I put up on feather tree in my old studio (the room that needs a name).

Another shot of the same room.

And one more.

The kitchen.

That's about the extent of it. I'll be one happy girl when the living room is done!

Hope this finds you all happily decorating and preparing for a fabulous Christmas!

New Jewelry and The Changes I'm Making

2010-12-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

I've been adding more jewelry to my Etsy shop, which you can find here: www.frenchsentiments.etsy.com.

All of Carriage House Samplings is now down in Silver Spring, MD at Marty's house. It's SO weird not going out to my barn studio first thing in the morning any more! My jewelry studio is upstairs in the house, which is very cool. Today I'm adding a desk and a printer which will connect to my laptop. Then I'll be completely self-sufficient in the house.

There are definite bonuses....I'm doing laundry as we speak and I seem to be better at keeping the house neat and tidy. Rosie and Bella miss the studio though. They loved having me out there while they had the run of the fields.

We have the BEST plans for the studio! My brother is giving me his ping pong table and I know I'll be driving Art insane wanting to play ping pong every waking moment of every single day. I LOVE ping pong! The studio will be the perfect place to put the table!

Hope you're having a good week!

NEW BLOG!!!!!!!

2010-11-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

You MUST MUST MUST go see Marty's new blog!!!!!

Go HERE asap!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a day filled with love, joy, family, lots of turkey and safe travels!

Availability of CHS Charts

2010-11-23T14:27:00.000-05:00

To those of you who didn't find out in time that I had to close my Etsy shop early, I do apologize. You may contact Marty at 301-437-1028 on or after December 1st to order charts.

Change of Plans - Etsy Shop for Charts

2010-11-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Marty and I need to make a change of plans. My Etsy shop for Carriage House Samplings charts will disappear very, very soon. The last day I will have access to my charts to fill Etsy orders is Monday, November 22nd. If there are charts you want, please order by Monday.

We will be moving charts, computers, etc. to Marty's on Tuesday to begin the transition. Marty will not be selling charts on Etsy at all.

Rumor has it that Marty has finished two new designs!! Yay!!

Thanks!

Christmas Line

2010-11-13T11:51:00.000-05:00

I've started creating my Christmas line of jewelry. I've been saving antique Christmas pieces for almost a year now and it's such fun to finally use them! You'll find a couple in my Etsy shop: here. More are coming soon! And, I'll have a new category on my website called "Joyeux Noël". Chelsea, website designer extraordinaire, will be doing that very soon.

At the antique mall where I'm working, the Christmas Open House was October 28th. The mall is stunning with all the antique Christmas stuff everywhere. So, in my head, the Christmas season started very early this year! I'm dying to start decorating my house, but it IS a bit early!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a wonderful early Holiday Season!

A Fun Saturday

2010-11-07T14:42:00.001-05:00

Liz and I had a great day yesterday! We went to Lucketts, Virginia to the Design House and to Lucketts Store (http://luckettstore.com/design-house). The Design House was totally decorated for Christmas and was incredibly beautiful. If any of you can get there, do it!! It's a Winter Wonderland!

Kathy Barrick

Heirloom Necklace & Earrings for Anna

Treasures

Antiques

The French Poste

More Details

Details

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!

Needlework

Memories

The Fruit of My Labor

Home Again!

Road Trip, Days 3, 4 and 5

Road Trip....Day Two

Road Trip...Day One

An Adventure

Happy Thanksgiving

Jewelry, Once Again...

New Blog is Up!

It's Still October and We're Supposed to Get SNOW?????

Jewelry Sale...Once Again!

Crazy Busy!!

Jeanne d'Arc Rosary Necklace

Liz's Giveaway!!

Mourning

As I believe I mentioned....

CRAZY!!!

A Wrap Neclace

Happy Pre-Labor Day Sale

So Long Irene!

Antiquing

I forgot...

French Jewelry

Needlework Antiques and Textiles

The Needlework Market

Busy, Busy, Busy!

The Farms of Hawk Run Hollow

More Jewelry

I couldn't wait.....

An Exception

Finally!!

Hot!!

Carriage House Samplings

New Jewelry!!

Sale!

Another Day

Today

Buttons...again!

New Jewelry for a HOT Summer Day

Fabric

Bracelets (and they aren't mine)!!

Storm Damage

An Experiment

A New Blog to Visit

Buttons and Jewelry

Antique Hat Box

Jewelry Everywhere!

Trying...

A Gorgeous Spring Day

Birds

Birds & Bugs

Come Sail Away

Post Cards from York

The Investigation

An Oil Painting

Beads Galore!

General Busy-ness

Anne

New...Well, Revised..Etsy Shop

A Contest!

Full Moons!

New Stuff!

Shop Sale at my Etsy Shop!

Crowned Heart

Haircut Day

Newsletter

And, while I'm at it..... Holy Cow!!!!

Oh, Deer!

A Gift