Primitive Dolls Update

Good morning all... 

I’m up before the birds this morning, after a dreadful night’s sleep. Too many things lately to keep me up at night.  Rain showers are starting our morning and for that I’m most thankful.  But for our gardens it’s too little and too late... I will be updating and adding several dolls to the website today.  I will send an email out to my subscribers prior to going live.  Did I tell you I’d rather be stitching than taking photos, writing descriptions, finding boxes and calculating postage? 😂 oh I’m sure I have!  

Have a nice weekend!  

#websiteupdatecomingsoon #handmadeinamerica #sassafrashillprimitives #primitivedolls #handmadecreations

Time for The Big Girl Panties

This year is too much!   The shows I do and the wonderful people who come out to them are my lifeblood.      

They give focus to my work and goals to achieve.  Every show I plan to the last detail so I can build a better display than the time before.   I find that level of stress works for me.  Also it’s just the right amount of distraction from things I need distracting from.  Ha! 

So... yesterday I happened across the posting from Old Deerfield and not only is the Autumn show cancelled, but also the Holiday Sampler.   I’m too sad for words.   And yes, I am relieved too, because it’s safer to stay home and not be surrounded by huge crowds.   

And then I checked Old Wethersfield and they had also just posted and canceled.   That was the last opportunity for  this year.   So... I will keep making, because it’s what I do.  It’s just harder creating and not having visions of awesome primitive displays swirling through my head!  I will miss my people and the hustle and bustle of the shows.... the hugs, the heartwarming response to my creations, and another job well done.   😢

Autumn Creations and Pattern Writing

It was another hot August day here in Connecticut.  

I finished two more masks this morning because who knows how long we'll be needing them.  It sounds like forever.   And I don't even go anywhere, but we wouldn't want to run out, would we?! I have a huge stack made for family and friends... Because don't we all want gorgeous civil war reproduction prints?  Haha!  I really want something cool and fun, but I'm not fabric shopping anytime soon.  

Then I finished up a pattern I had started writing back many moons ago, one of my first autumn pumpkin guys ... before the shows got real and I stopped!  I didn't like the photos I took... too sunny.  I tried a few more times throughout the day.  Go figure... the first photo was the one I went with.  The pattern is available in both mailed paper copy and instant download.  The finished product is spoken for.  I promise I will keep trying to add finished!  

I've been stitching and painting and sanding like crazy.  I do everything in huge batches, so finishing doesn't come quickly.  I usually fly by the seat of my pants until the September shows and wrap it up right before, but I'm trying to mend my ways for this year.   Maybe it will be the start of something new.    

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!  

Mercantile Print Pumpkins Pattern

Good Thursday morning all.  

I promised to get this tutorial written this week, and it's just now listed on my website...  It's available as an instant download only.  

So... I came home yesterday after an awfully busy and really kinda dreadful day,  to a surprise package left at my door.  I was glad it wasn't seeds from China!  Ha....  

 A dear sweet soul purchased the most beautiful blown glass hummingbird feeder for my little friends.   I wept big elephant tears for quite awhile.... I'm not used to getting treated well.  I am so smitten with my gift.  My job this after lunch with mom is to find a special place for it!!!  I'm really excited and so grateful.  Thank you my friend!!!  

Heading off to my mom's for her last visiting nurse visit... Yay.  We're keeping her well.  And then hopefully our family can settle into a quieter peaceful August.   

 Stay safe and well all... 

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.... 

Time to Make The Pumpkins

Happy Fourth of July Weekend all!   May your weekend be amazing!   A quiet weekend here, just how we like it... 

I've been up to my neck in pumpkin making.  I have listed a few on my website,, mostly for practice with the shipping details.  Just a peek!  

Local delivery is available also.  Not sure what will happen with our shows...

off for a meetup this morning, then more making :-)   Happy weekend!  

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!    

Spring Sampler

Thank you everyone!  I was surprised and touched by the outpouring of support we received.   We had the best show ever and I came home with a much lighter load.   I loved the booth this year.   I was pleasantly taken aback by how colorful the booth became as I filled it.  I certainly needed a breath of fresh air after a long winter of trudging through snow and mud and cold to spend my time next door :-)

and so now I am moving on ahead to creating for the next show and coming seasons.... 

a peek of our handmades for spring.

  Next year we have already been granted a larger booth.  Yay!

Etsy Pattern Shop Sale

Good afternoon all, and Happy Earth Day! 

 

 

It's very chilly here in Connecticut and I spent my morning in the kitchen, painting a huge estate sale cabinet for my doll making fabric.  This is by far the best forty dollars I have spent in a very long time.   I am determined to get my act together this year!   It's the first time I've tried chalk paint for furniture, and I am loving it.  I'm trying to decide how to finish it now.....

 

My momma has been in decline and it has been weighing very heavy on my heart.  It seems she loses a little piece of herself every day.   We are trying very hard to do what's best for her.  I do not post about it very often, because then it becomes more real than I can handle.  Most nights I come back home and weep silent tears for her.  So please if you can, a little prayer for her would be most appreciated.   

 

We are stealing away to one of my favorite hot dog joints in a bit.... They opened a few weeks ago, but this will be my first time this season.

 

I added two new coupon codes to my etsy pattern shop this afternoon.

Should you wish to order bulk and want the downloads right away.  This might be a little easier for both of us.

 

10PDFPATTERNSALE  will give you 10 epatterns for forty bucks.

 

5PDFEPATTERNSALE will give you 5 epatterns for 24 bucks.

 

coupon codes can be entered at checkout...

 

My etsy shop is by far the fastest way to get your patterns downloaded, and especially with my momma's health.   Some nights I forget to check my email :-(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hell's Bells

Just a little reminder.....

Even though you think your computer is running smoothly, you never know when it's your turn for the dreaded blue screen of death!   So back up those files and make sure you know where all your programs are, just in case.  

 

 

My Saturday turned to this nightmare.....

 

 

and this, with lots of stressing in between.

 

I watched several Youtube videos on my ipad and tried everything they suggested to no avail. It would not restart :-(

 

So finally I had no other option but to reset the PC.  That option has not worked well for me in the past! 

 

I probably have 99 percent of my files backed up, but was thinking the one percent would cause some grief.

 

I am thankful my files are all still here, and I have reinstalled all my programs.  I have a little bit of readjusting to do because things are all working differently ( perhaps even better?) than they did before this happened. 

 

I guess it's time to ditch my long obsolete Outlook program for checking my mail and so I am trying the one that came as part of windows 10.   The Picasa program I like for sorting my photos is obsolete (who knew???) but I will use it for now.  And I have to locate my silhouette library for my own cutting files or reload them all one by one from my external drive back into the program.  

No doubt I will find other wonky things as I use them, but for now I am pretty relieved that everything turned out as well as it did! 

 

and now I can resume my dolly making! 

 

 

So anyway, back up those files, because you never know when it's your turn....   ~D

 

 

 

JUST A LITTLE FURTHER UPDATE.....

I was sick over my silhouette studio files.... I thought they were gone forever, but I had saved them not only in my library but also on my external drive.   I'm thankful the ones in my drive were there, but library was gone.   So hours and hours later, I found I could drag my thousands of files into my library.... If I lost anything, I can live with it at this point.  And I haven't paid attention but I can now save it all to the silhouette cloud, and keep it forever :-) yay! 

 

oh, and my beautiful fonts!!!!!!   gone, so had to go finding some more to install.  I am making a list this time!!!!   Plus saved them to my drive also.  I thought I had done that.  

 

Oh and got the sweetest little 4TB drive..... That should last me awhile.  Time to put the other dinosaur away!  



Blessings Always

The first day of spring is always the sweetest!

 

There are so many things to celebrate including longer days and fresh air.  Yay.... winter brings out the doldrums in all of us, and now everyone is feeling cheerier.   My momma is certainly doing much better with the longer days, so that is one of the biggest blessings.   I am hoping I can get her into the gardens again this year. 

 

We still have a good snow pack but this week is forecast to be quite a bit warmer.  With a little luck the snow will be gone by week's end.   I started the week and my spring by hanging some dollies out to age on the clothesline.   This is the time of year I shift my creating into high gear, although it has been an extremely productive couple of weeks.  Will photo soon...

 

Not only do I have many many dolls in the works, but Matt has a production line of whirligigs almost finished.  It's always good if he can keep himself busy....   And spring cleaning is in full force, finally!  I am taking my house back, a little at a time! 

 

It will be an interesting week here, with grandboys staying for eight days.  We drove them back home to get ready for school early this am before the sunrise.  Ha.... I have to say I rather embrace the quietness of our lives, and the bliss of getting up and following my whims all day.  I do not miss the school schedule one bit.  Four more school mornings.......

 

So more dolls waiting to be stuffed but thinking how nice to greet spring again.   Have a blessed one my friends!

 

Deerfield Christmas Sampler

Our show was the very best show ever...  I have so much gratitude for my faithful followers who show up show after show and buy direct from the artist herself.  It is always heartwarming to see what you picked out this time and to hear how you have decorated with my previous creations.

This time we lost a week of creating, because the date was moved up a week and I worked on goods for it right until we pulled out of the driveway for setup!   My hand is still buzzing and my fingers are numb, but slowly subsiding.  This is the first time I've experienced that, so will be more watchful.... need that hand for stitching!  

It's so much harder than it used to be for us.  Caring for my mom takes it's toll on us in many ways, but I am glad she got to witness some of my creating and see the show photos..... It brought the show to life for her.

I do not have a moment of time for any special orders because I got wiped out at the show, more so than year's past, and have to take care of my shopkeepers first.   I am working on finishing up some cute one of a kinds for Hidden Treasures for her big event this weekend....  .... and then afterwards I am taking a break for a bit and enjoying the holiday. 

Our plans this coming year are to do the same shows as this past year.  Nothing more, nothing less.... that keeps it about as exciting as these two creators can handle.  

Autumn Shows - Display Pics

We are home and recovering from two amazing back to back shows!  

Warm thanks to all our supporters who attended.  We always enjoy your company.  I'm such a homebody and love my time spent creating, but it's nice to get out sometimes too!

I always love autumn in Deerfield and it was a nice weekend for a show!
This is just a peek.... I have several more photos on my facebook page...
 

 

 

Walker Homestead is the perfect setting for a prim show and once again we had a fabulous show.  The weather was picture perfect and it was nice to see everyone once again.

 

 

 

 

 

So now I have a few orders to complete, and some things I must find from show photos to mail out, and alas we are moving on the winter items.  I don't ever transition well with that, because the autumn handmades are so heartwarming for me. 

 

 I do have some creations planned for Deerfield Christmas Sampler and placed a fabric order this morning....   This week will be spent organizing and putting away my messes!  And a last picking expedition planned for Sunday.  So that's fun!  

 

Etsy Hafair Team Treasuries

 

We have been incredibly honored to be part of the Hafair Team on Etsy.   Members create an assortment of wonderful handmades in a variety of media, and the treasuries are a celebration of team offerings.   I am hopeful that I can get back on track with being a good team member....

 

This past year has been incredibly hard with my momma to care for, and when I get in despair over it, I get stuck and shut down.... Online activities are the first to go. I stop posting on facebook, and don't list new offerings.  

 

But I want to shout out to the ladies who have promoted me and stuck with me regardless of my slacking.   You are quietly and lovingly cherished! 

 

These are some of the treasuries my work has been included in over the past few days!  Thank you everyone!

Please check them out if you have a moment... I think you will be pleased! 

 

 

 

Additionally we have been asked to join the FAAP  Folk Art and Primitives Team.... another great honor.