Soul of Olde

I try to be patient. It's difficult for me. It's hot....and not a dry heat either. I enjoy the Northeast and the change of Seasons, so very distinct. I love the history also. Can you see where my head and hands have been working?

Olde Gravestones call my heart. I must have lived and loved in another time. Everything in the pictures call to my heart.

Quill pens and the sheen of dried ink. Dried blossoms will be a forever reminder that my beloved loves them also. Ladies accessories that will become pin-keeps and will speak with a voice of long ago when complete. Ribbons and thread on a wooden spool, remind me of Williamsburg and a trip the Millinery....ever etched in my memory. 

I have a soul of Olde.

Just A Little Different

Yesterday, as I was finishing Wee Folk for Early Work Mercantile, I was thinking how different life is for me as compared to others.

It may be different....but it is never boring.

The kitchen has a "creating station".  On upload days, it tends to grow. There are paintbrushes drying in the dish drainer, along with silverware.

A variety of paints, sealers and glues hang out with a bowl of instant coffee, mixed to just the right level for "aging".

If there are good smells from the oven...generally it is nothing that anyone wants to eat, when I take it out.

I do use the coffee table for coffee....and stitching and building.....it also works great for sculpting.

If you come to visit, there is usually some level of "Creative Disarray"....it mirrors the disarray  in my head as well. As one character is finished, I have 3 more in my head that I try not to lose!

In it all, I may not have a fancy job. A showroom house....nor am I a slave to fashion.

I have the ability, however, to do what I love ~ give back to the Universe, the gift that I was given.  I get to inspire others to create along the way.

Balance

July has sprung forth in full glory. There is no slowing down at this time of year for me. If there was a rest to be had, it is in those first six months.

I am loving this sculpt. Clay like other mediums is something that you grow with if you have an inclination. I've tried about every clay made and have found what makes my work sing. Textiles and texture all blend together making a simple photograph a celebration.

I feel that I have settled into a place that I enjoy. I am fully in my "Beatrix Potter" inspired journey and loving it. 

It is not all work though. When it is not stormy or soupy, we have enjoyed music in the park (If you have never heard "Screaming Orphans", do look them up on YouTube, you won't be disappointed). We have had dinner under the "Cabana" with family and friends, along with quiet evenings sitting by the fire pit. Marshmallows required, of course. There are more family gatherings ahead in the next couple weeks. We are truly blessed to have such simple joys.

Settling In To Summer

After days of downpours and flash flood warnings, the sun has come out for us in Upstate New York and it is darned hot. It is a quiet and simple Holiday, as I work away stitching Samples. The next couple of weeks will bring lots of Family gatherings. 

I have a couple friends that aren't spoken for and would be happy to bring smiles to your home~

~ Trixie ~

and Dixie~

crack me up. They are sassy things and are so fun. I've had a lot of requests to do them as patterns, but with their carved beaks, I think that I will keep them as one of a kinds.

You can find them at Simply Primitives.

Last but not least, is Jarrah. A sweet Queen Anne inspired Pumpkin Ladye. Her unique coloring draws your eye from across a room. She is the star of the Wee Dollhouse....for now.

She can be found at

Olde Primitive Peddler

Blossoming...

I awoke this first morning in July, to milky skies and a light rain. We have been dodging showers for a few days now, and it looks like it's not going to change very quickly. The dew point is high; which I don't really care for, but I'm not complaining. It is so much hotter and difficult in other areas. I can get lost in my work. I am grateful to have the ability, to do what I am most passionate about...every day. I'm not one to settle into a comfort zone in my work and I have been working on a new rodent~ Matilda. She is a Meadow Mouse, also known as a Vole. We have quite a few of them here at the Cottage, so it was just a matter of time.

 I do live a different life. I saw first hand this weekend as Tim's kids had a get together that included the parent's of their friends. It was nice to meet new friends and fun to watch the expressions on the parent's faces. They walked around inside the Cottage and had a peek of my world.....from my dolls, to my olde portrait collection; or as Tim refers to them....my dead people. This is my "Imaginarium", no matter what room I decide to create in. Sometimes, you just never grow up...and it's a rule for this house. It was wonderful to see the sparkles of the eyes and the smiles that come from the heart as new friends enjoyed the Wee Folk around the house.

I feel that as I create lately, I am working on my original vision when I first stepped into the world of Primitives. I loved the simplicity and the "wonky" that it held. It is easiest to to create a cute or cartoon like look. As an Artist, I wanted to challenge myself and Extreme Primitives captured my heart. I have wanted them to have a look of whimsy and charm, in a more grown up way. 

These Starlings have been the latest in that voice. They were so fun to do. I carved their beaks, a first for me, as my Father was the woodcarver of the family. He must have smiled down from above, because they really made the Starlings a stand out.

Above all, I am having fun and growing with each new piece. I have to keep a notebook close at hand as my brain imagines faster than my hands can create. 

I am loving my Art and I believe that the secret to a happy heart, is to not feel confined, but free to blossom.

Please stop by Simply Primitives and Olde Primitive Peddler to see the first of the month offerings of myself and other Artisans.