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

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.    

Olde Pumpkin Jack Pattern

Always one of my favorite things to create.... prim olde pumpkinhead dolls of all sorts.    I've finally had a moment to get this prim guy posted in pattern form and will be listing the pattern model this week.  

Enjoy your Sunday and Happy August.  

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... 

Kitchen Garden Gourds Pattern

Happy Wednesday All !

Just a quick good morning before I start this too busy day!!! The website is working out quite well.  I've added another of my fall show favorites as an instant download and as a paper pattern.  The finished gourds will be listed later in small groupings for your autumn displays.  

A busy busy week here, but no complaints as we head into the dog days of summer.  Hope you're well and enjoying summer :-) 

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!  

Off to Hidden Treasures

Just a sampling of some of the OOAK handmade creations I am bringing to Laura's beautiful shop for this weekend's Shop Small event. 

 

 

Will be there late this am filling my space :-) And Laura is always willing to ship if you are not nearby!  Hidden Treasures, Main Street Agawam, MA

 

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!  

 

A Maker's Life

Oh I truly love this time of year.... This is the start of our day and a new week on Sassafras Hill.  Again, I am up before the birds, painting pumpkins.   This puts a slight dent in my pile!  I have been waiting out the heat wave, so they aren't over baked on the line. 

 

 

 

I have been stitching and stitching and stitching as you can see!  It has helped my heart to heal after learning of the  awful way we were ripped off from the last shop I was in....  I feel content to be able to do what I love every day, and that is something that can not be taken away. We are in a good place. 

 

 

I wanted to reach the tree in the woods, but am a bit short and afraid the line will break.  There are several more to the right, but that's all I could photo in one snap..... 64 in all, and stopping for a bit to work on some bottle dolls.  and Matthew is covered in sawdust already.... he is finishing some new display pieces and cutting some pumpkins for outside!  I am grateful he has had a summer finding joy in making. 

 

I will have plentiful autumn offerings in Hidden Treasures and Cozy Cat Primitives ... also our two  upcoming shows. 

 

Have a beautiful week where you are, and with what you have.... Love, Denise and Matt

Our Primitive Booth at Walker Homestead

 Well, it was another awesome show at Walker Homestead and we have not unpacked the vehicles yet, but already we are thinking ahead to fall, which is my favorite.   Our booth was jam packed with handmades and antiques, and we did quite well selling both.  We were both thankful to have the most picture perfect weather for the show!     I am taking a few days to find my house again.... show season is tough, oh wait.... it's always show season for us.  It's a good thing we enjoy what we do!  

 

some of our preserved sweet annie from last fall's harvest, and Matt's tufa planters.

 

outside our tent with some prim patriotic dolls and juicy watermelons.

 

the bucket bench stuffed with goodies.   above it our new handmades booth sign.

 

one of the back corners, with a mix of goods.

 

my favorite very heavy part of the display, onion drying racks make a great backdrop.

 

my trusty checkout stand.

 

some of our signs and boxes of ornies.... I like it better without the tree.  They all sold well.

 

the other back shady corner.

 

mostly handmades, and upcycled antiques under our new bigger Sassafras sign

 

 

front corner of the tent, looking out at Paul and Lynn Rulli's beautiful work...

 

Thank you everyone who made the journey to Walker Homestead to spend the beautiful day with us.  We came home very tired, but feeling very blessed. 

 

   

We Have Our Prims On, and Are Waiting Patiently!

Next up on our show agenda.... WALKER HOMESTEAD! 

  Yay! 

  Thursday and Friday will be spent setting up, with great attention to every last detail, then Saturday morning, June 18th, it's showtime!

  We have worked really hard to bring you the finest of our work, and once again will have a double space! We will have a mix of antiques and handmade goods, and I think you will be pleased!  

This is truly one of our favorite shows, and we are blessed to be part of it.  The setting is serene, even while jam packed with prim enthusiasts.  The vendor lineup is spectacular, with some of the best from New England and beyond.  The owners of Walker Homestead are about as salt of the earth as you could hope to meet.  We look forward to being a part of it all, twice a year!

 Show details can be found on the show page, check the tabs above....


a snap of one of our booth corners from last year... 

 

Also, we have a great selection of handmades both at Hidden Treasures, and at Cozy Cat Primitives!

  As always thanks for your friendship and support! oxo, Denise and Matt

   

Memorial Day Weekend - 1/2 Price Epatterns

Happy Memorial Day from our family to yours.    

 

I hope you will have a safe, enjoyable weekend wherever it may find you.    We will spend the day Sunday at the Golden Lamb Buttery, enjoying the Vintage Country Market.  It looks like the weather will be stellar.  I am recovering from a wicked bout of allergies, so pricing like a fool today.  I am loving what I made, and hope it will be a wonderful day.  My dear hubby is helping, as he always does, and tis all under control!    For this weekend only, we are doing a special on epatterns.... half price on all orders of 6.00 or over, on all website orders...  my epattern selections are here SASSAFRASHILL.COM.    please use the code  1/2MEMDAYEPATTERN in the voucher box on the order slip to deduct 50 percent....     As always thanks for your friendship and support! oxo, Denise and Matt

 

   

A Weekend in Spring!

It's a beautiful weekend here in Connecticut!   We had a great day yesterday, with a huge score at our first and favorite church rummage sale of the year.... two floors of goods! We waited almost an hour to get in, which was totally worth it!    And while there it was awesome to run across some of my favorite people, and let them know where our creations can be found.   So many tag sales and events happening around town yesterday.   The Scantic Spring Splash reminded me of Matthew's whirligigs created for the event.  

  I had a special order to finish up for Hidden Treasure, and was able to make the trip to Agawam in the afternoon.  Nothing is more fun than a lively chat with Laura.   I got some nice handmades for my momma for Mother's Day next weekend and some local honey for me.   Hidden Treasures is jammed packed with such a beautiful assortment of things... things just jump out at you.    We are so behind in yard work, because last year we dropped everything to take care of Tom.  We will not suffer from boredom this year...    

Happy May Day

I have always loved the month of May.   As a child my grandmother would help us create little woven paper baskets, and tell tales of May Days past.   Such a wonderful memory.   Every year it comes rushing back.  

 

We are both worn out from our trip and all that awaited us while gone.... Allergies are in full bloom this year, ugh... I felt great in Florida!  However yard work and gardens are needing attention, so I am back to the neti pot and local honey! 

 

We have had an excellent first month at Hidden Treasures in Agawam! So thankful to see some of my faithfuls have made the trip.    In the works are some all new designs for the shop.   I will update when we make the trip... Remember, we are no longer at the shop in Hazardville.... the goods you see there are most definitely not ours.  I am sure you can all tell anyway :-)

 

Remember to take time to smell the flowers, every day!  Have a beautiful month!