AHA MARKETPLACE GRAND OPENING

Welcome to our Grand Opening~

 If you haven't visited the Marketplace yet, click on the banner for a wonderful ride~

We are celebrating with a Chriskindlemart, so do get comfortable with a cup of something nice to drink.

To celebrate this s occasion all Ahartisans are participating in a Blog Give-away! This Give-away will run from August 25th (5pm - EST) through September 12th (5pm - EST). The rules are very simple, and you have a chance to win more than one prize.

Here's how it works.

First, each Ahartisan has posted a picture of our give-away prize clearly marked on our blogs. on the 12th, we will each choose a random number.All you have to do is post a comment under each prize picture. Now, if your comment corresponds with the Ahartisan's chosen number, then hooray, you win the prize for that blog. So, the more comments you post, the more chances you have to win! Easy!

Each of us have listed our fellow Ahartisans on our blogs, so all you have to do is follow the list from blog to blog, find the prize and comment. What could be easier?

~ My Offering~

My tin whimsy is inspired by my love of Puritan Graven Art

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Remember to leave a comment and enjoy a stroll to some of  my friends!

 Suzanne Urban Designs

 Mothers Dream Artwork

 Seasonal Whimsies by Susan Vanderhoek

 Folk N Fiber Blog

 Alycia's Art

 Back in the Day Originals

 The Christmas Corgi

 Elysian Fields Originals

 Fantasy Whispers

 Folk Art By Penny

 Folk Art From The Heart

 Ginny Diezel Studios

 Golder's Creaky Gate

 Granny Wolf Original Art Dolls

 Howling Moons Blog

 Lowell Country Designs

Grunge Goddess Primitives

 Whimsical Endeavors

 Skellyton Art

 Snippet Girl

The Goode Wife of Washington County

Wings and Paws Whimsies

Show Time!

I love doing shows and seeing the special connection made between my wee folk and their adoptive parents.  There are no words that describe the magic made in these love connections, but that moment brings me the greatest joy.




I will be doing a show at the Mabee Farm, in Rotterdam Junction. Not far from Albany~ Not too bad for my Vermont and Massachusetts friends and family to visit. I'm so excited! What's better than a show? A show at a Historical site! The Mabee Farm was built about 1670-80 and has a full sized Dutch Barn. I will surely be in my element! The show will be from 10 - 5. Do stop by for a visit~ I'd love to see you! For more information, click on the picture and visit the link~ 

It's An Honor~

About two weeks ago, I found the most delightful letter in my email box. A friend had nominated my work to be a part of this wonderful organization. American Holiday Artist's  juried my work and accepted me to be a part of their group of talented Artisans. It is a great honor for me to say thank you to everyone! If that wasn't wonderful enough, A.H.A. will be opening a new online marketplace next Wednesday!  The sneak peek  from my last post is my offering.

You will see my blog change a bit over the next few days as  I give this ol' gal a face lift for AHA's GRAND OPENING and prepare for some celebrating. ~ I do hope you are all in for some fine celebrating.....also as promised, there will be more news ahead. It just keeps getting better and better!

Ahhh...This Crazy Life~

The days continue to be very full here at my little Kitchen Table Studio. I am thankful to have the work in such a difficult economy. The house here is full of activity and giggles as my daughters spend time with me and prepare for them to go back to school. They have also been giving me a hand as I try to get all the orders caught up. 


I wasn't able to devote time to TDIPT this month, but do stop by and visit the wonderful talent . You may find something special that speaks to you!


I am hopeful that I will get everything out this week and I'm also working on a little show. I had planned a couple shows near Tim's thinking that I would be settled in by now. We just do it a little differently at this point. I will give more information on this show and a couple other pieces of Goode News in the days ahead. Until then, here is a little sneak peak of something VERY special!

It's been a year since my Father went home. Not a day goes by that we don't remember his words or his smile. He has let us know he is near in ways that only he could. There have been a lot of difficult days....but the fun memories and the way my father would say things...left many smiles to comfort us.


I know he is very proud of me and all that I do. He made sure that he let me know before he left. At times he was a very difficult person and as a parent he taught us much about  honor and family values. It is not what you say... it is what you DO. He told me once while Tim and I were visiting him in the hospital... "Stacey, you are always my rock. No matter how tough things get, I can always count on you". It wasn't until many months later, did my Mom share with me that he had told her the same...and also told her that he was proud that I was always so independent and he never had to bail me out financially. My Dad and I had many, many rocky moments...but as he got sicker, we spent the time talking and listening to each other. I never was quite so sure he was proud of me, until those last few months. 


As many of you know, I have lived with my parents to help my Dad take care of my Mom. She has MS and is full care. My daughters lived with us here until my Father's illness created anxieties last year. I was supposed to move and my Mom have round the clock care in the home. After 7 years of being on call and 10 years of living here... I would like to just be a daughter. I've done everything that it takes...taking family leave time for weeks and months. I still had a mortgage and bills to pay and we did what we needed. Much to what was thought, my parents did not pick up those bills so that I could help them. It was never my style...there were very, very few occasions that I would allow it. It was my duty as their child to step up and help them when they needed it.


I'm still here a year later because it wasn't feasible for a promise to be kept and I would never dream of walking out the door without knowing that my mother was in good hands. It has been a rough 18 months of not being able to go to a family barbecue...a shower or even a graduation because someone needs to be here for her. I am fortunate to have a brother that has stepped into my shoes so that I could work and do a show in January. I am thankful for his time and his insight on all of this. 


I no longer say.. I will be moving or should be out and living my life as a daughter by a certain month or time frame. After a year  and a half of words without action, I realize that I'm still the rock for my Dad and I will continue to do what it takes for my Mom. I know he smiles...and that's all I need. My Father taught me well.

Where Does The Time Go?

It is amazing how fast the days can go by, especially when you are busy. I had started on several projects for upcoming shows and it was a good thing. You see, the summer is always a good time to sell patterns as people create for locals shows, for their own home and gifts. After seven years of new pattern releases and even a magazine cover, I would have never guessed that THIS Summer and THIS July, the orders would come in faster than I could process them. I am nearly caught up... but as I was folding and filling these orders I was worried about my obligation for finished items on Simply Primitives. Thank goodness I had some designs that needed just a wee bit of finishing. 
   My tombstone angel holds a reflection of my heart. I have always loved a stroll in an old grave yard and have been known to pack a lunch to enjoy,  as I walk through and read of lives  that were lived so very long ago.  What did he look like? How did she do her hair? What were their days like? What was this area like....oh if I could just step into their time and take a peek! I know that this place is filled with heartache, and there are tragedies told... but it is also a place for them to rest, and me to ponder. And so ponder I have, as I experiment with different layers and just how the paint should go. I am thankful for friends that send me pictures of old tombstones to share ~ I thought that we must seem an odd lot, but I find that each time I work in this direction, more and more people share the same love. Art does speak well to our hearts, doesn't it?