Pieces of Olde

I treasure my pieces of olde. At times I wonder if I left my heart in a place of long ago.....I am always drawn to them, be they shoes, gloves, pictures and diaries. Most things old that hold within, a person of long ago. 

It is a dreary and rainy Solstice in Upstate New York. As dusk arrives, it brings with it a fog ...making it a Sleepy Hollow dusk. There is beauty in the bare trees that stand in this misty fog. Inside, the lights and candles give the house a warm and cozy glow. I was upstairs sewing and I noticed the olde diary which is kept on my treadle table. My beloved treasure of a table, now is home to a much newer, but still basic sewing machine. Beside the diary, an olde shoe that I brought with me when I moved here three years ago. 

As I stitched away, my thoughts went to those who wrote diaries such as this, so long ago.  We don't do that anymore....we have so much at our fingertips and yet we don't do the simple things like write a note or a letter to those we love on a regular basis...nor do we journal our days and lives. Even the tombstones of old would many times document the life of the person at rest, with words of their passing or symbols carved with love and meaning.

I picked up the diary of Rufus Henderson, dated Monday, Dec.12, 1896. There are reminders to note the thermometer reading and weather. He wrote:

"Just snow enough
to cover the ground

 no sleighing yet 

ground frozen very

hard"

It is difficult to read in parts as the pencil seems to have faded with time. I will enjoy a little slower pace in the year ahead. I want to take time to enjoy more Simple Joys such as these....

Saturday, December 21, 2013

It has rained most of the day and the temperature has not varied much and is in the lower 40s. Half of our snow has melted. We are fortunate with our weather, as many have had ice in parts of our Country today. Evening could bring worse weather to some States. The street has been busy today with the holiday approaching. I am happy to be home and mixing chores with creating. Blessings to all, this Solstice.

A Gentle Season

We are welcoming December here at the Cottage on Curry Road with turkey soup simmering and Christmas Carols on the radio. It is cold and the sky looks like snow.....

Our Thanksgiving was full of joy and laughter as we traveled to enjoy it at the home of Tim's step daughter. My youngest has worked the whole weekend at the Vets, keeping all the fur babies that are ill or in boarding ~ wrapped in love and treats. She loves them as much as they love her. My oldest is in New Hampshire with her Sweetheart and his family. We are never far with the help of cell phones. My girls have grown into fine young women.

We did not shop for gifts on Thanksgiving day, nor did we run from big box store, to big box store for "door busters". We try to keep Thanksgiving special... family and low key. Today we head to Tim's oldest daughter for a dinner of Venison Stew....these are the memories which we will hold dear.

I was late... a little after midnight, getting my offering up on Olde Primitive Peddler ~ but within minutes, "The Cratchits" were adopted. It was fun to revisit this cartoon and primitive look. When I came across the sketch from a few years ago, I knew that I had to share.

I also have more news to share; both happy and sad. 

This is the last month for me to offer my Wee Folk on Simply Primitives and Olde Primitive Peddler. It was not an easy decision and it came with much thought over the past few months, but it is time. I am thankful for the opportunity given me on both venues and hope that you will continue to stop in to see other Artists.

On the other hand, I am excited to go forward. It has been an amazing year for me and so full of opportunities....they continue. 

I have new shows ahead as well as my selling Shoppe in Sharon Springs. I will still be on Early Work Mercantile on the 15th of each month as I will be focusing on Early looks and keeping with my look of the past year.

I will also be hosting web shows. This will give me the chance to do a nice body of work and be able to offer them around my shows and deadlines for other work. In the weeks ahead, my blog will get a bit of a makeover and links to all things Goode Wife.

I will be going forward with new chalkware designs and may even offer the pieces in blackened beeswax. There are sculpts ready to be made as molds and I will make offerings on my web show.

The pattern line will continue and there will be new releases ahead. It was so busy as the magazines broke that I was unable to work on them....but they are coming~ promise!

I will also be starting another pattern line. I mentioned it last year, but with it so busy, it wasn't to be. I have had requests for years and I think it is time to offer punch needle. I can't wait!

This year has been very goode to us here at the Wee Cottage on Curry Road and I am excited to get working on all of the new.......

but not before I enjoy December with my family and friends. I look forward to soft snows and candle glow.....hot chocolate and cozy slipper days.

Here's to the gentle season