Midnight Design Country Curtains and Matching Decor

Thank you for visiting and sorry for the delay in getting this out to you. I had hoped to introduce a new pattern every week, but that just didn't happen. I will try to be more diligent in getting the rest of them out to you.

The new pattern this week is the Midnight Star design. Midnight is a marvelous combination of black, tan and red. The under layer is a small plaid pattern while the pointed layer is a subtle stripe in tan, red and black accented by an appliqued black star. This country valance is 5 star for quality and country decor appeal. All of the pieces are fully lined and the drapes and panels include matching tie-backs. A few of my favorite pieces are shown below.

Midnight Design Valance

Midnight Swags

Midnight Curtain Panels

Midnight Star Placemats

Midnight Star Table Cloths

Midnight Design Table Runners

Midnight Star Cotton Aprons

Midnight Design Country Throw Pillows

Midnight Star Throw Blanket

Midnight Woven Rug

Midnight Pattern Shower Curtain

Checker Berry Design Curtains and Kitchen Decor

The Checker Berry design (manufactured by IHF) is dominated by a wine and tan check cotton fabric with embroidered berry vine and wine berries. The curtain pieces are fully lined and the pattern includes accessory pieces for the kitchen, dining room and living room. A few of the most popular pieces are pictured below.

Checker Berry Scalloped Layered Valance

Checker Berry Shower Curtain

Checker Berry Placemat

Checker Berry Fishtail Swag

Checker Berry Aprons (available in full and half length sizes)

Checker Berry Throw

Checker Berry Drapes

Checker Berry Tablecloth (Available in 54" x 54" and 60" x 84" sizes)

IHF Country Window Treatments and Home Decor Accessories

IHF (India Home Fashions) has introduced several new fantastic designs in their 2009 catalog. The catalog includes too many designs and pieces to introduce in a single blog post so I will be introducing them one at a time over the next few weeks. Upcoming introductions will include:
Check Berry Valances, Swags, and Aprons
Midnight Design Valances and Curtain Tiers
Country Star Window Valance, Curtain Tiers and Aprons
Heritage Star Valances and Swags
Live Love Laugh Valances, Swags, Cotton Throws and Aprons
Willow Creek Valances and Throws (coming soon)
Home Sweet Home Valances, Throws and Tiers (coming soon)

The Snowmen Dolls are Back!

I am simply amazed at the number of primitive snowmen (and snowwomen) dolls available online. There are big ones, little ones, set of three and pairs of two. There are snowman lamps, snowman pillows, dolls, curtains, table cloths and table runners. You name it - there's a snowman version available somewhere.
In my niche, there are a wide variety of pricing and shipping options. Country Sampler boasts a pretty good assortment, but they seem to have higher prices than other retailers. Ebay has a wide variety of snowman collectibles, but you have to pick through a lot of junk to find the good stuff. Stitches and Baskets has a pretty good selection and very reasonable prices. The best place (IMHO) to find primitive snowmen is Primitive Home Decors in the, you guessed it, Snowman category. They have fast shipping on most of the most popular snowmen. I saved pictures of some of my personal favorites below. Which one do you like best?

Primitive Snowman Dolls


Mr. Jingles Primitive Snowman


Mr. Cane Snowman


Sir Tanner Snowman



Jingle Tree Snowman


Granny Rose Snowmen Doll Set

June Construction Progress

Greg Hillan and company made great progress on our new country home during June. The framing and roof were completed and the put in the windows before starting on the brick and stone work. Since these pictures were taken, they have done the electrical and plumbing rough in work and started on the drywall. Kate picked out the plumbing fixtures this week and Greg ordered the cabinetry and the appliances.
Here's a couple pictures of the brick, stone and windows:

Country Curtains

Found some great curtain ideas from Park Designs. These came from the country curtains section at Primitive Home Decor.


I love these Willow and Sheep Valances:


The Ohio Star valances are cool, but might not work with our new home decor.


These Honey and Spice curtains would brighten up just about any room. They would look great in the kitchen.


Cabin Quilt design is much more subdued than the Honey and Spice, but very rustic / country feel to them.


These Homestead design valances might just do the trick. Simple design for simple folks living in the country. (Even though we're really not that far out in the country.

Framing goes pretty fast in the country

They let the concrete harden for a few days before the framing started, but they didn't waste any time getting the walls up. From Monday to Friday, they framed the entire basement, framed all the exterior walls and started putting up weather proofing and framed the intior walls. WOW!!!





This is the view we will have from the kitchen



This is the rear elevation. So much for the concrete patio... Looks like a great spot for a deck.



They are going so fast, Kate will be challenged to get everything picked out by the time they are ready to install.