A Folky Pear Pincushion is Yesterday's Creation

Happy Tuesday all.... Yesterday's creation is a printed vintage advertising pincushion, stitched from beautiful natural linen fabric.  I adore pincushions of every kind and have a vast collection.  I also enjoy creating them.   Not only are they fun to collect but they're also functional.  

This started off as a completely different project but evolved into it's current form.  A happy meandering day sometimes brings the best creations...   I listed the instant download pattern if you'd like to create your own.  I also listed the pattern model.  This would be a great gift for one of your stitchy friends!  

Have a happy meandering August day... 

Big Beautiful Sunflowers Pattern

Happy Tuesday all!   We are hunkered down waiting for Isaias to pass.... Ugggh, high winds and tornado watch are our biggest fears this time of year, when the trees are fully leafed out!  Both our house and my momma's are surrounded by gigantic trees.  We are as ready as we can be and praying for the best.

In the meantime I finished another bunch of creations and got another pattern written.  

After the storm we will enjoy several perfect days for finishing my mountain of pumpkin creations!  I will post finished product on the website as soon as I can.   

Enjoy your summer week!  

Bitty Bats Pattern

Good Sunday all.... I managed to get out and do a Hobby Lobby shopping trip this past Thursday and gathered up all the orange paint I could find for my rather monstrous pumpkin pile. I got home and checked my emails and guess what?!?!?   Deerfield Fall Craft Show has also been canceled.  Crocodile tears happened, as well as a happy dance.   What a freaking bizarre year.  Matthew and I were intending to be there, and had it planned out to the last detail to keep us and our customers safe... A bit scared about it, but now that it's off the table we can relax.  The pressure is off.  I really think we are done with shows for the year.  :( 
I have been stitching and stuffing ferociously and will continue, because what else does one do?  I finished a pattern this morning.  Will do some writing as time permits and listing of some finished product. 
Mom is well.  Kitties are good.  Our gardens are going gangbusters.  We're eating some great food.  My kids are all well.  So many things to be thankful for. 

Bitty Bats Pattern in paper format, instant download, and finished product is up on the website. Tap the photo to go see :)   

  

Enjoy the remaining days of July.... 

Autumn Handmades

It's been the most productive spring season in sassafras land... However I can't say I'm sorry to see it pass.   This will be a year not soon forgotten!   

I have started summer off with a big bang by working on offerings for autumn.   This is an uncertain year and I haven't quite figured out what to work on.     One of our favorite fall shows, Walker Homestead, has been cancelled.   I am rather hopeful the rest will follow suit.   Knowing what we go through to participate in our shows, I can't think of any possible way that they would be safe, for ourselves, or for our dear customers!  

I will be writing some fall patterns this year, and I do feel blessed to be able to work on the new website.   It has given me new focus on my humble beginnings.   I've updated and added most of my early feedsack luminary and printable designs as instant downloads.   Many of my cloth designs are also instant downloads.   It's so much easier for me to handle them with mom's care mixed in with my daily duties....   I will also be accepting paper pattern orders and finished luminary bags, when time permits.   It's all still a work in progress, unfolding a bit more every day.  Handmade finished items and a few supplies will be also available.   I'm awaiting a box order.... no way I'll be groveling around the supermarket for empty boxes in the midst of a pandemic!!!   

so.... this is some of what I'm up to.

Next thing is waiting on a patch of dry and sunny weather to fill the clothesline for my annual painted pumpkins picture.   That will be too fun...  One of my favorite summer things.   I am ahead of schedule this year! 

 "Til then, be good, and be well.  ~ Denise

The Lazy Days of Summer

ummm... no lazies here! 

I've had extremely busy days and find myself wishing for more hours to complete everything.   I've spent some hours during the week on more behind the scenes stuff for the website. I'm not rushing it because I want to make sure I'm happy with it.  I'm taking my time and pondering each step.  My son is helping me with my label files... it seems my computer resized everything at some point.  I wasn't aware of it... I thought my eyesight was going.   Some of the old I will retire and some will be reworked.   And there are new designs.  All will be listed when ready and when time permits.

Much time has been spent in the gardens and they are fabulous this year.  I am going to allow myself the time to enjoy them.  

We are geeking out on the birds... hummers, orioles, bluebirds, finches, wrens, a huge woodpecker population, and more.  Because we're in a heatwave I've put out extra birdbaths for all.  Matthew is working on oriole feeders today.   I’m so thankful for all his hard work, every day.   

I worked on a new fabric pattern, the first in many years, and some punchneedle designs that I'm anxious to start punching.  And I am stuffing like crazy.  I've been staying up late every evening.... my kitties are always near.  

As always every day we spend our time with my mom.  Her knee is troublesome again but we're keeping her out of pain and well otherwise.  I'm thankful to have her home even on the hard days.  We will spend the coming months mostly at home so we can all stay safe and well.  Although I’m a homebody by nature and happy in my own little world, some days it gets to me...   today was hard, knowing we would have been at Walker Homestead having the time of our lives.   

‘Til next time, be well and have a happy summer!    

Blessed Spring Dear Ones

After a remarkable winter, we have had a few chilly days again.    A bit of snow is forecast for today, but I am rather looking forward to it this time.   It will be nice to admire the flakes knowing it's probably the last time and that they won't be sticking around all winter. 

 

We have a warmup coming next week with days in the 70s.  Kitties are enjoying the fresh new catnip, which is always the best of the year,  and I am making some kitty doll toys for the shops with it.

 

This is always such a fun time for me, because I can get down and create to my heart's content...   Yesterday was a truly creative day... old coverlet garlands, six new clothespin bags, a huge number of blocks, and more old wool kitties.   Plus I cut out a bunch of kitty dolls to stitch up today. 

 

I have already received some really fun orders because of  Vintage Market, so yay!   I love it when someone has a dream they are wishing for and I can make it come true for them! 

 

And the shops with my handmade creations are doing very very well, so I am pleased for them, and happy to have the opportunity to do some more creating.   If you haven't had the pleasure of stopping in at Hidden Treasures and Cozy Cat Primitives, you should put them on your Bucket List!  

 

a sweet greeting as you begin your Sunday and your Springtime!   Hope it is everything you wish for!  

 

 

 

A Morning Song (For the First Day of Spring) by Eleanor Farjeon 1922 - recorded by Cat Stevens

 

 

with best wishes ~ Denise & Matt

 

 

Watermelon Weekend And Work in The Gardens

A quick lil pop up treasury to celebrate the weekend with my Hafair team artisans.   

 

Yeah for the weekend.  It was a very short week for us this week, and I am playing pedal to the metal with my sewing machine to catch up.  Hoping to make a trip to Hidden Treasures for the weekend, and working on goods for Walker Homestead show which is coming up quickly now....

 

oh, and I do not think I have blogged for weeks, but we have a really nice selection of handmades at Cozy Cat Primitives in Southampton Ma.  Norm has been a collector of my work for years, and I am so honored to have my work in his shop!   If you are in the area on a weekend, this beautiful shop is a must see.  We were blown away from the moment we drove up.  The inside is like a fine gallery of prim.... just amazing.  Check it out on Facebook and be sure to like his page so you can see what Norm and kitty Ben are up to!  and please let him know how you found him...

 

  

 

We are working in the gardens, after a few years of neglecting them.  It's nice to see Matt motivated again, especially with his brother so ill.  I think it's been good for him to see how much better they look and I will snap some photos when I can.  I am praying for some rain though, because we have transplanted a bunch of things. 

 

 

 

Today's Work Table

A busy day here....

 

Laura said our handmade blocks have been a hit at Hidden Treasures, and today was spent working on another batch.   They will be in shop by the end of the week.  This batch was done with mother's day in mind, but will also be great any time you are thinking of your momma!  Just a peek of what's coming...

 

 

if you like her facebook page (badge on the blog sidebar) you will receive updates whenever I bring new goods in! 

  We've been busy getting ready for our journey.... a couple more days of packing and planning.  My boys will be holding down the fort for us, with a little help from my momma, but are not able to do my orders.... Any orders will be processed when we return.