Soy Sauce and Burns

Soy sauce is a wonderful medicine for burns, but the trick is to get the soy sauce onto the burn immediately. Yesterday I burned my left thumb severely when I foolishly picked up the sealing wax stick that I had just used. It was melting and hot and painful.  I ran downstairs to the fridge and immediately doused the owy with soy sauce. It was in pain nonetheless, and after soaking it in ice water and then bandaging it, I noticed later in the day that it was ALL better. My husband, Greg, learned this somewhere. It works every time.

Early American Tinware (Tole)

I love early American tinware. I even took many classes in tole painting back in the '70's and '80's. Of course, early tinware is not easy to find, and has always been rather expensive. Now that we are in the 21st century,well, face it, whoever stumbles across a reasonably priced piece of early American tinware is ever so fortunate. Perhaps this is why it's not such a bad thing that it is no longer a real popular look.

I have a very small collection of it. The first five photos here are my limited collection. My husband, Greg, wrote a wonderful article about tinware. Click here to read it.

The following pictures of early American tinware, I gleaned from the Internet:

Fraktur

The word Fraktur is both singular and plural. One does not have a dozen frakturs, one has a dozen fraktur.

Fraktur is a beautiful art form to me.

My dear and very talented husband, Gregory LeFever wrote a wonderful story about Fraktur for Early American Life magazine. Visit the article to learn all about Fraktur.

The top fraktur is from Winterthur Museum Delaware. Mind you, the pronunciation is Winter ter, don't sound out the th. I know that many of you already know this, but there are some young ones out there who've not been much exposed to this sort of thing.

The second one is a portrait of George Washington by an anonymous painter. Art historians refer to him as the "Washington-Sussel Artist" because his work was first studied by a collector of that name. It is in the Independence National Historical Park.

The third Fraktur is from artist Lana Manis of Honeysuckle Lane. Hi, Lana!

The last one is my little bird fraktur that is a copy of a c. 1790 eastern Pennsylvania, book mark in ink and watercolor. I have framed it in glass and silver solder that I aged to a dark patina.

Pink Trees Everywhere!

Spring comes early in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, where I live just outside of Portland in historic, Oregon City. One cannot look out a single window without seeing the resplendency of flora in my favorite color, pale pink. Enjoy!

Down on the Farm

I found this darling piece of farm ephemera at an estate sale in one of Portland's beautiful, older homes up in the West Hills. Some child did a wonderful job of making this little pictorial of a farm oriented scene. I keep it in my kitchen.

It is so cute the way this piece can be turned open to reveal the hens!

Have I no pride? My kerosene chimney is in need of spring cleaning as it lights up my sheep, and hens and bunnies high atop my baker's table. Above it is my favorite Edward Hicks painting of a wonderful old Pennsylvania farm scene.

Two butter molds nesting in my wooden bowl shelving unit. Time to churn that butter!

This beautiful sunshine overlooking the hills and valleys is derived from a Betty Caithness design that I painted. I painted it onto a piece of roof shingling that dates back to the 1830's from our old house in Ohio. It hangs outside on our porch by the kitchen door.

Twigs

I found this twig arbor and fence online, somewhere, and I love it. Yesterday I pruned my daughter and son-in-law's apple tree so that I might have some twigs to begin creating some of this charming, old world rusticity. I love it!

If anyone has the know how for making twig things, please share! I just love twigs!

Never mind, for I have found a book on it and successfully made a twig arbor!

Spring is in the Air

I have been doing cleanup in my gardens, for the past several days, and it is so invigorating and satisfying to watch my compost heap grow as my grounds take on that of a cleanly swept home.

Of course, the pictures here are all from Colonial Williamsburg, so don't  give me credit for these wondrous sites. Just enjoy and be inspired!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ann, by Currier & Ives, is such a beautiful lithograph of which I am grateful to own a copy. Her rich, red dress and her delicate flowers, remind me of Valentine's Day, and so, Ann is greeting all of you dear friends who visit me. Happiest of Valentine's Day!

Many XO's ,Christine

#31!

It is an honor to announce that Country Living magazine invited me to be the 31st member of their Country Living Guild which is known for "honoring American artisans and craftsmanship". Read about me in the brand new, February, 2009 issue on pages 47 and 49. I am thoroughly delighted. For I have been chosen to be their first and only doll maker to be included in this guild.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It STOP!

The snow has delineated the odd curves of part of our yard, and that is due to the many rock formations that exist there. Basalt to be precise.



Although it is very beautiful and quiet, this has been going on a bit long for The Willamette Valley, Oregon. You see, this area is not equipped to keep the streets plowed, and so we get crippled. The ice has caused much loss of electricity and much damage. Many, many places are closed now for days, and this includes retail stores, antiques malls and of course many offices including the state and city offices.

I know this is lightweight compared to many other areas. I love my cake that the snow created out of the bird bath! This family is postponing Christmas celebration until Saturday the 27th., because we will be back in the 40's by then. Yay hooray!

Peace on Earth

Well, 'tis time again to concentrate on creating a time of peace on this earth, so let us all do our best to visualize through prayer or thought (whatever means works best for each of us). I have chosen a primitive theme for my Christmas/Hanukkah or just plain solstice this year and that is because it is so sweet and simple, plain and unencumbered. My lamb above is featured in my Christmas card next to my new Santa below.


Here is Santa holding his damask bag with a Christmas tree and of course a dolly! But the tree is hidden behind her, so alas, there you have it. But you can see a tree in the painting that I did below. (The real one is white and sparkly.)

If you wish to make some cards from my little Santa, just click on the link below it and print onto card stock. Cut a small piece of card stock as a back. I use a 3" wide by 5" long piece of it, and I fold it over, and attach it to the back of the Santa card with a piece of foam core tape. Then write in the body of it.

Click here for a PDF of this card.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving and My Beginning of the Holiday Season

I have loved this beautiful, serene card for years. It was made by dear friends from the Right and Propper company, back in 1992. Photography by the late Marion E. Hilton of the Von Der aye House in Molalla, Oregon, Assisted by Teresa Hilton



Edward Hicks paintings are so beautiful to me. Above is one called The David Twinings Farm, 1787, and I do see a couple turkeys in that charming yard. It is not a card, but a copy of one of his paintings that I found online.

Cozy Autumn in 1664

Oh happy times as I dream of The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts or even the oldest house in Salem, which was built in 1664, known as the Pickman House.

Welcome to my kitchen friends. The candle is lit and the teapot is simmering.

Somerset Life and My Slip-Ins!

I am so very proud and excited to report that my Slip-Ins are featured in the current and beautiful Autumn 2008 issue of Somerset Life magazine.
There is the story about them as well as more pictures of them and a how to make your very own! See them on pages 72, 73 and 74. I am SO happy!!! And I must point out that these little slip-ins are only 3 to 4 inches tall. They look bigger in the magazine.