Plum Thicket Primitive Folk Art Dolls and EPatterns by Edna Bridges

Super Bowl Widow's Epattern Sale on ETSY

2012-01-30T16:25:00.001-06:00

I love football but I know a lot of folks don't. I am having my annual SUPER BOWL WIDOW'S EPATTERN sale in my ETSY shop. This will give you some fun things to do while others are sacked out on the couch consuming tons of unhealthy snacks, yelling a lot and acting like kids! 30% off. Be sure to use SB2012 code when you check out. Enjoy!

5th Birthday Celebration

2012-01-30T12:38:00.002-06:00

Please join us for our 5th Birthday Giveaway!

Feb 29th @10:00 pm edt - March 20th

Fabulous prizes handmade and donated by our members

tdiptmercantile.com

Key To My Heart

2012-01-15T07:28:00.004-06:00

I love the look of hammered copper so I had fun creating my faux version.

Listed on EBAY

Tomato Soup, Pies, Puddings and Bread Crumbs

2011-12-29T11:04:00.000-06:00

For these recipes and information, visit me at
Edna at Home

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T11:29:00.004-06:00

It's raining and dark outside today, but the Christmas tree lights are twinkling in the living room and in my studio/nest. The stockings are hung with care while visions of family and good food dance in my head. I want to thank you all for your wonderful friendship. My Internet Family are very dear to me. Wishing you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a most blessed and peaceful NEW YEAR 2012!

To my Liberal Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2012 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To My Conservative Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I love wool...

2011-12-13T09:00:00.001-06:00

In the mid 80's I taught myself to do porcelain baby/children dolls. It was fun at first, but then became boring as these reproduction dolls were cast from molds by others and you glued on a wig. I really wanted a doll with more character. In 1991 I purchased the annual edition of Santa Claus magazine by Better Homes and Gardens and was *smitten* with the old guy and his beautiful wooly locks! Thus my doll making journey began and my quest for my own style. I have since switched from porcelain to cloth dolls and what a wonderful adventure it has been...with still more to come if the good Lord is willing.....

Here's how I clean Wool: From the tip end, pull your ringlets apart and get as much vegetable matter out of each strand as possible. Have the end tips all going in one direction and put them in a small open mesh bag (one like fruit come in from the grocery) I only do one batch at a time so it will fit into one of those plastic shoe boxes. Lay your bagged wool in the shoe box and fill the box with HOT almost boiling water. The hot water will break down the lanolin that is in the wool. Let sit for 20 minutes. DO NOT SWISH IT AROUND OR YOU WILL HAVE FELT! After 20 minutes put another plastic shoe box on top of the wool and pour the water out, pressing with the second shoe box to get the water out. Add HOT water again, then a few drops of Dawn Dishwashing liquid. Let sit for another 20 minutes and press the water out the same way. If you wool does not look clean, repeat this process with the Dawn until it looks clean. (If will look darker while it is wet but will dry much lighter) Once your wool is clean, add HOT water, no soap to rinse. Let sit about 10 minutes and press the water out. You can add two or three drops of fabric softener to your last rinse. Press the water out, take out of bag, put on a towel and press the water out with the towel. Seperate the strands and let them dry on the towel or paper towel. Mohair is much easier to wash as you can swish it around with your hand instead of putting it in a mesh bag. You do not have to worry about mohair felting while you clean it.

Life and Knitting...Same Principles

2011-12-10T08:46:00.001-06:00

Start with a plan

Follow the pattern

Count your blessings

Be patient

One step at a time

Correct your mistakes

Love what you do

Give thanks

Enjoy the fruits of your labor

Begin again

Not A Creature Was Stirring Christmas Mouse Pattern on CD

2011-11-27T15:43:00.001-06:00

This is for a PDF PATTERN on a CD and NOT A FINISHED DOLL.

This sweet 9" mouse is painted muslin fabric. Mouse is reading The Night Before Christmas book, wearing it's gown and night cap, soon to be dreaming of visions of sugar plums. Great for Christmas decorating or remove the book and leave it out all year. This pattern is fun to do, so make a whole family of Mice! Patterns, painting and sewing instructions. Also includes instructions for book and pattern envelope. My designs are simple sewing/painting and designed to be printed on regular 8-1/2" x 11" paper. CD & Jewel Case. United States Postal Service - Priority Mail Shipping is to the UNITED STATES ONLY Now listed on EBAY

Happy Thanksgiving and a SALE!

2011-11-23T13:01:00.001-06:00

I have put the lids on my paints, the cover on my sewing machine, closed the door to my studio to hide the mess and put one of those yellow *crime scene* tapes over the door. I am off to the kitchen to prepare goodies for Thanksgiving and take a couple of days off from creating. I wish each of you a most blessed and peaceful THANKSGIVING. We have so much to be thankful for!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!
25% OFF of everything, including finished dolls, only in my PlumThicket Prims ETSY shop. Sale starts at 6am until 6pm on Friday, November 25, 2011. You will need to use code BLACKFRIDAY2011 at checkout in order to get your discount. All epatterns will be shipped by me to your email address within 24 hours. See you there... http://plumthicketprims.etsy.com/

Paper Mache Santa Head Shelf Sitter

2011-11-16T14:41:00.000-06:00

I love the rustic texture and look of this Santa shelf sitter. I wish I could tell you that I sculpted this sweetness, but I must confess that I cast him in paper mache using my vast collection of vintage style molds. This Santa head is 5" tall and 5" wide. He is made of paper mache that I painted with acrylic paints and stains and he has been sealed so he can be cherished for years to come.

You can find him here in my TDIPT shop. Thanks for peeking ~Edna~

BugBaby EPattern Released...

2011-10-26T13:37:00.001-05:00

There is nothing sweeter than a nap in the pumpkin patch! The original BugBaby was a OOAK doll that I made last year. I have had several requests for that pattern. I have just released a simplified version of BugBaby and I think she turned out even sweeter than the original. You will find purchasing information for the epattern on my PlumThicket Patterns page. Thank you for your interest in my designs. Creating is good for the soul. ~Edna~

Handmade Rubber Stamp Tutorial

2011-10-02T15:20:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago I made my own handmade rubber stamp to use to stamp fabric for a custom doll that I was working on. Now I LOVE making rubber stamps. It's very relaxing for me, but then again, so is dollmaking, knitting, sewing, painting...well you get the picture. Creating is good for the soul. My latest project is a Handmade Rubber Stamp Tutorial so you can make your own one of a kind rubber stamps, too. The technique is super easy and oh so much fun.

My E-Tutorial is available in my ETSY shop or you can get it as an instant download at my nook on PatternMart or at The Pattern Cupboard.

Drying up...

2011-09-25T08:36:00.001-05:00

This *was* our pond. This hot dry summer has taken it's tole on us, the animals and our surroundings.

I am standing inside the dry pond. You can see where the water level usually stays.

This is the deepest part of the pond. It may be three feet deep now. Two large white cranes that usually fish here flew in this morning, looked around and left. Lord...We need rain, please!

It must be September - First Day of Autumn!

2011-09-23T11:02:00.001-05:00

Thank you Lord!

September ushers in a wonderful supply of pears waiting to be made into delicious pear preserves. Making pear preserves is an annual event in our household. It is time consuming but worth the effort.

The supplies are gathered. Wide mouth pint canning jars.

Aren't these just the cutest half pint squatty canning jars? I can see them filled with all kinds of goodies other than food. Beads and buttons come to mind.

To see more of my canning adventure, please visit me at Edna At Home...

Prayer Request!

2011-09-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

I have a prayer request . . .

There's a lady I've known forever. She's very sick. On top of that, she's being abused by those to whom she has given everything. Lies about her abound, and seem to come from all sides. Just breaks my heart. Seems there's nothing I can do alone. But maybe, if we join in and lift her up together we can heal her. She's well over 200 years old, but way too young to die. Her name is AMERICA . . . and I love her.

And the Winners are?...

2011-08-31T12:15:00.001-05:00

At noon today I used Random.org to select the three lucky winners of my Witchee epattern giveaway. The winners are...

#80 Hildreth Ann Smalley

#280 June Modena

#120 Shirlene Downie

My Witchee epattern has already been emailed to each of the winners. Thank you to everyone that helped to make my epattern give-a-way a really fun event. Be sure to check out all of the postings at Handmade Art Fair and visit our member's links. Find something new at Handmade Art Fair!

Wishing all of you a most delightful Autumn Season.
~Edna~

EPattern Give-A-Way!!

2011-08-18T10:17:00.001-05:00

To celebrate Handmade Art Fair's Autumn Open House, I will be giving away my Witchee Epattern to Three Lucky Winners on August 31, 2011 at 12:00noon CDT. You will have three chances to win if you do the following; do one or do them all :)

#1 Submit your name and email address on my form. (NOTE) This information is for this drawing only and will not be shared or retained after this drawing is over. You WILL NOT automatically be added to my mailing list by filling out my form. If you are interested in my work and want to be added to my mailing list, please use the mailing list form here on my blog or website.

#2 Post on your blog or website about my blog epattern give-a-way.

#3 Post on your blog or website about Handmade Art Fair's Open House; adding the HAF banner (that you can snatch over on the right) would be nice also, but not necessary.

Thank you all for participating and adding to the fun!
~Edna~PlumThicket~

What do you do when it's 111 degrees outside...

2011-08-03T15:59:00.000-05:00

You think cold frosty thoughts and finish knitting a pair of wool footies made from scraps started way back when and start knitting on a new pair of socks to keep those tootsies warm.

You also put on Christmas music and make a Santa. This guy turned out sweet. I used a Sweet Meadows Farm pattern adding my own personal simple touches and a face that I sculpted using PaperClay. This Santa is dressed in 100% rust colored wool with Warm & Natural trim and rusty jingle bells. He is a cutie!!

It has been 100+ degrees here for almost two months. Gotta love this Texas weather!

I've been published in Art Doll Quarterly!

2011-07-19T20:00:00.003-05:00

I was thrilled and humbled several weeks ago when I was contacted by Stampington & Company saying that three of my dolls will be published in the Autumn 2011(Aug/Sept/Oct) issue of Art Doll Quarterly due out August 1st. Today I received my official pre-issue and I must say, the folks at ADQ did a beautiful job capturing the whimsical personality of my dolls. I can't believe my eyes...it only took me twenty five years to become an *overnight* success. :))) Thank you ADQ and thank you to all of my valued friends and customers; you are my inspiration. Creating is good for the soul.

p.s. Pages 116, 117 & 119 if you are interested.

Stampington & Company

Bless This Mess Angel Bag Doll EPattern

2011-07-17T11:27:00.000-05:00

I have just released my latest epattern which is a Angel bag doll to hold those pesky but necessary plastic bags. She is not your ordinary bag doll holder as she has legs/shoes (I love shoes) and openings on both sides.

You can find ordering information for instant downloads
or for having an epattern sent directly from me in an email
on the Pattern page on my PlumThicket website.
Thank you for your interest in my designs.
Enjoy God's daily *hot summer 100+ degree days* blessings.
~Edna~

DragonFly One of a Kind PaperClay

2011-07-07T21:08:00.000-05:00

My DragonFly is finished and I love the way she turned out. She is sculpted using PaperClay. Her wings are transparent and she is painted in metallics, pearls and frosted with Diamond Dust. She will make a wonderful addition to my personal Bug and Bird Collection. My simple style inspired by the art of Sherry Goshon.

Getting back on track...

2011-07-05T11:39:00.002-05:00

Recent illness has caused havoc in our household and our schedules but we are recovering daily and trying to get our lives back to normal as much as possible. We still have a long way to go, but we are getting there with help from Above!

Some time ago I was privileged to sign up for an online Libelle doll class with the always creative Sherry Goshon over on DollStreet. Her style encompasses several techniques and since it involved a DragonFly, I just had see what was going on. She did not disappoint. I am back in my studio on a limited basis and excited to be creating again. Here is a work in progress (WIP) on my DragonFly and I hope to have more pictures soon along with maybe... a couple of new epatterns.

The next step is sanding and refining and then on to the other fun parts...painting and embellishing! Don't we have fun?

A Work of Art...

2011-06-24T15:47:00.001-05:00

Recent health issues made us rethink getting rid of our old fiberglas tub and installing an easy access custom made cultured marble shower. This cultured marble is made from Texas limestone and is a work of art from the hands of the folks at The Marble Shop in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Owner Larry Layton and his crew did a beautiful job and created a masterpiece of simplistic elegance.

From this...

...To This!

If you want to see more pictures of this makeover,
please visit me at home by clicking Edna at Home

Mobile Society...

2011-06-11T12:32:00.000-05:00

Our world is a *fast lane* mobile society. Have you ever stopped to think what you would do if you were suddenly not mobile? I'm talking if you were unable to move or walk and had no muscle strength to hold yourself up! Who would take care of you? How would you function? We take so many things for granted in our busy world. Things can change in the blink of an eye and you will come face to face with situations you probably have never ever thought about...

Priorities

2011-05-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

Why does it take an illness for us to get our priorities in order? About 99.5% of the things that we think are absolutely necessary aren't important at all...

Organizing

2011-05-03T14:25:00.000-05:00

I found this wonderful picnic basket on Ebay. I think it will make a sweet large sewing basket.

I have a little sewing stuff here and a little sewing stuff there. It will be nice to get it all in one place for a change. Now that I see the light at the end of the tunnel on redoing the floors (another story coming soon) I hope to have more time for organizing and creating.

Wishing you a blessed and peaceful EASTER...

2011-04-24T08:23:00.001-05:00

Hard Cooked Eggs and New Blog!

2011-04-22T16:19:00.005-05:00

Want to know an easy way to cook those eggs for Easter
or for salads and breakfast? Take a peek at my new blog!
At Home with Edna

My Newly Released EPattern - Angelic

2011-04-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

All of my *EPatterns* are available at the following places...

PatternMart

PlumThicketPrims ETSY Shop

The Pattern Cupboard

~Thank you for your interest in my designs~

Inner Peace

2011-04-15T09:20:00.000-05:00

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat plain food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then you are probably the family dog!

This is our 11 month old 70 pound Sassy.

She is growing into quite a lady.

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-04-01T12:06:00.004-05:00

How exciting! First of all, I would like to thank every one for visiting, for your sweet comments and for taking the time to enter my EPattern Give-A-Way. Thank you for helping to celebrate Handmade Art Fair's Spring Extravaganza! The winner of my two epatterns is #62 BOODLEBEAR KERRY! Congratulations Kerry!! Now Kerry can visit my website at http://plumthicket.com/patterns.html and decide which two patterns she wants. Kerry has been notified and as soon as I hear from her I will get her epatterns to her by way of email. Have a grand day everyone and thank you again! Creating is good for the soul; so are Give-a-Ways! Edna

Holding my breath...

2011-03-06T13:52:00.000-06:00

When I purchase yarn for knitting socks, I always purchase two small skeins because one is not enough to make a pair of socks. I have yarn left over when I finish knitting the pair. I wondered if the left over yarn would be enough to make a pair of footies. As you can tell by the above picture, I had a piece of yarn about 18 inches long left over! Whoa, that was cutting it close! I was beginning to think I might have to piece the toe...but all's well that ends well.....

Sights of Spring at Our House!

2011-03-03T13:13:00.003-06:00

I don't know about you, but I am ready to fling open the doors and windows and let in some fresh air. I'm ready to dust, clean, reorganize...get my nest in order and get rid of the confines of Winter. Vegetable gardening time is just around the corner.....

Rare Beauty!

2011-01-09T13:43:00.002-06:00

This is the view out my studio window this afternoon. We have had the biggest, fluffiest snow flakes that we have ever seen in our lives! Snow is rare in our part of Texas and we are very thankful that we do not have to travel in it :) It is enjoyed inside where it is warm; all snuggled in with a cup of hot tea and a big pot of soup simmering on the stove; a great time to knit socks.....

My MERRY CHRISTMAS Gift to you...

2010-12-13T19:20:00.006-06:00

I would be pleased if you would join me and my Texas accent in my studio while we make a fabric doll. 16 step by step videos; almost in actual time and before you know it you will have a finished doll. Creating is good for the soul...

(You will need to click on the text PlumThicket Studio under the red and green FREE DOLLMAKING CLASS text to view the class)

FREE DOLL MAKING CLASS

at PlumThicket Studio

Merry Christmas!

A good day to curl up and knit...

2010-12-05T10:20:00.006-06:00

It is cold and partly cloudy outside, homemade chicken soup is simmering on the stove, so this is a perfect day to curl up and knit. I put the finishing stitches on a pair of Firecracker Red socks and I now I need to start the second sock in the Plum Tweed to match my new pajamas I received for my birthday. For some reason, the second sock is always harder to start. It takes me a month or more to knit a pair of socks because I just do a few rounds in my spare time. Handknitted socks are a good *warm* thing!

Personalized Christmas Stocking EPattern

2010-11-27T09:35:00.002-06:00

You have plenty of time before Christmas to make my new personalized stocking. It is simple and goes together really fast.

This 25” generous sized Christmas stocking has lots of room for Santa to leave you bobbles, bangles, beads, diamond earrings, vacation tickets, keys to a new convertible and oh so much more! But, here is where I have to tell you that the above mentioned items are not included in this epattern...only the pattern for the Christmas stocking with letters A-Z and numbers 1-0 so that you can personalize stockings for yourself, your family and friends and don't forget your pets.

This latest epattern is currently available for instant download at my PatternMart Shop.

It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving!

2010-11-21T13:25:00.007-06:00

Marketing has been done and Poppa and I are waiting with great anticipation for those first bites of pork roast (no turkey this year), dressing, cranberry sauce, gravy, turnip greens, deviled eggs, radishes, olives, sweet potatoe pie with whipped cream and iced tea. One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is all of the left overs, football and no cooking for a couple of days :)

Our table centerpiece this year is a maple leaf platter, a ceramic pumpkin, an autumn swag with leaves, berries, gourds, and corn complete with tassels, a pumpkin spice candle in a canning jar and a delightful handmade painted fabric highly scented crow with wire legs. The candle and the crow were part of a birthday gift from a very dear friend and business associate.

Unfortunately our family does not get along any more so traditional family get together dinners are a thing of the past. Poppa and I are sick with a nasty bug this year but we love each other and enjoy each other's company, no matter the circumstances and we accept things for the way they are. We will enjoy our Thanksgiving and be thankful for each other and God's grace.

May God bless you and your Thanksgiving.....

Sights of Autumn...

2010-10-26T13:33:00.003-05:00

Sassy is really growning...

Pumpkin Cart Ride

2010-10-17T15:23:00.005-05:00

All sorts of fun things go on in the pumpkin patch,
especially after the bewitching hour of midnight!

Autumn Blessings Mouse

2010-10-15T11:10:00.004-05:00

I love the way this guy turned out and he was fun to make! Decorating for Autumn is one of life's sweet pleasures.

BugBaby

2010-09-29T16:43:00.005-05:00

The pumpkin patch is a sweet place for napping!

Meet Sassy!

2010-08-31T11:03:00.005-05:00

Sassy is the newest member to our family. She is an energetic 3 month old bundle of joy Black Labrador Retriever that we adopted from a shelter in Grand Saline. She is a full time job and Poppa and I will have to stay on our toes. She is a Chewing Machine Monster from Hell!

The End of an Old Tradition...

2009-11-27T09:29:00.004-06:00

With our recent home remodel and adding a larger dining table so that we all could sit at the table at the same time, I had great visions of a warm, fuzzy Thanksgiving dinner filled with love, joy and comradery; fuzzy not meaning bacteria is growing but referring to good feelings.

Our dinner took several hours to prepare and as the family members arrived and we sat down to eat, my warm fuzzies quickly turned to realities of obnoxious bickering, strained conversation and picky eaters that ate like birds! When I joked about preparing TV dinners next year since we aren't eating much these days, one member said that cooking is way too much work and it is much easier to eat out.

As the day ended, I looked around at our grown children/grandchildren and sadly realized, we have each gone in our own directions and the only thing we really have in common any more is the binding thread of love and our last name. So, out with old traditions and in with new ones. With no guilt, next holiday, instead of making turkey, I'll let them make reservations...

It's a good thing!

Threads That Bind...

2009-07-26T11:01:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I did a surname search for a project that I was working on and happened upon Ancestry.com. After finding the information I needed, I decided to type in my dad's name just to see if any thing came up. Much to my surprise, a forum came up with a post from 2006 from someone that was looking for his grandfather. After reading the post, I realized this was the son of my long deceased half brother.

What a joy his son has been to correspond with. I have found out things about my dad's side of the family that I never knew. My grandmother was the great grand daughter of a Texas Cherokee American Indian Chief, Chief John ‘Duwa’li’ Bowles, that died in the last Indian battle in Texas in 1839. Strangely enough, his Historical Marker is only a few miles from our current home. I have often wondered what brought me to this beautiful part of Texas fourteen years ago that feels so much like it has been my home forever. Now I know...the good Lord and the threads that bind...