Finishing Touches

The days are flying by so fast.

There are still a couple presents to get...

some gatherings to enjoy

and family to visit.

Snowflakes are swirling about 

and Old Man Winter 

is bringing bitter cold.

A perfect excuse to sip on 

hot chocolate...

a little more than I should.

Annabelle

Marks the end of my offerings for this year.

She is available 

on 

Early Work Mercantile ~

waiting to be that special gift for someone.

She reflects the growth 

that I like to challenge myself with

 in all of my creating.

I am excited to

move forward.

There won't be 

as many offerings

with the New Year~

but 

they will

still hold that magic

that is in my heart.

I am excited to wrap presents

and 

put on the 

finishing touches

for

Christmas and Yule....

just as I have put 

on the 

finishing touches

that 

I have created

this year.

One Last Hurrah!

Olde Kinderhook Gingerbread Man

Blue sky is peeking out today,
with the promise for more.
Winter's cold has taken hold,
making December the perfect dance partner.

Heaven and Nature Adirondack Bear

There are very big changes for me.
I have already started to prepare for my
Bewitching Peddlers journey....

and that will mean,
no local Holiday shows.
no big PictureTrail shows.
The winds of change...

Sleepy Mouse Container

But for all of you,
It will be a great opportunity
to get some pieces that
I have kept or made for me....
Some past pieces~
that I won't revisit
and some special prices on some oldies but goodies.

Just waiting for a wee Mousel to take a nap....

And so....

On Monday Night,

December 5th 

at 

7pm. EST

There will be a Picture Trail Show

which will be the last of 

my large Christmas Shows

as I embark on a new journey.

If you would like to be on the mailing list

for a reminder~ 

send an email to:

thegoodewife@yahoo.com

and if you would be so kind as to put;

"Picture Trail Show"

in the subject area~

I will add you to the list.

Echos

Where is your head lass,

 when you are stitchin?

It is in a time long ago...

in my mind today,

 Tis Downton Abbey that captures me.

Not upstairs...

nay, 

but down.

Not just Downton~

but 

actually more

Hildene...

Robert Todd Lincoln's

estate.

My Great Grandparent's served him

in his fields and house.

The maids and kitchen staff a flutter

 and at the table,

a young maid quickly makes

 tiny repair stitches. 

Her pins on a pinkeep 

made of scrap. 

Perhaps pieces of a uniform, 

long retired from it's obvious task?

I wouldn't be able to create 

in that time.

Life would have been spent with many more needful duties,

and 

creating would have been made in small, 

stolen moments.

I wonder sometimes if my heart held memories, 

over years greater than I.

Could the stars and heavens

 have kept glimpses 

of another era

reflecting

that heart?

A Busy Season

As the sun was making it's way to sleep

I scurried to finish

 my Early Work offerings 

and capture the sunset colors

through the picture window.

My inspire was home...

and family now gone.

Now they will live on,

 perhaps unknowingly

with their new families.

If you get a chance, 

do stop by

EarlyWork Mercantile

to see the offerings ~

along with others 

from my friends.

What better gift,

than a handmade piece for 

someone close to your heart!

I have been fast at work

creating for a local show

and 

trying to get better.

Sometimes,

 it just takes more than one try

and some ruling out.

So today,

it seems that my Asthma is the culprit~

and not willing to leave so easily.

When the Dr. stepped into

the room

 I said,

"just call me Rerun".

Apparently my age is not helping either.

I was so into that 

age is just a number thing...

One thing is clear 

however,

I 

refuse

to 

grow

up

!!!!!!

I am enjoying my create time

despite

healing and visits.

It will come together

and I hope 

my local friends will

visit 

at a new venue for me~

I hope you will stop by!

Over The Moon!

When I first met my husband

in 1988,

I was welcomed to a family that

loved

Halloween.

A visit to a nearby

Haunted House 

that raised money for the town's

volunteer Fire Department,

sparked my husband and his brothers.

What a fun way to raise money 

for the Fire Department 

in their own small town!

The years passed. 

My husband and I separated,

but I remained a part of 

the Halloween fund raiser, 

until my caregiver duties demanded that I leave.

As I took the journey 

to create primitives,

Halloween was a strong love~

and a natural subject.

This past January,

 I decided that I wanted a stronger 

art presence 

and focus

in 

this world 

and passion of mine.

It has truly 

been a place that 

my heart lives.

And so.....

it is truly my honor,

to share that I will

be joining 

the most amazing Halloween Artists.

(by then my pinch marks should be healed)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ghoultide Gathering 

now has different wings to guide it,

but the same faces remain.

It will be under a new name as well~

The Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween.

Mark your calendars

for

the 30th of September 2017

at the

Chelsea Michigan

Fairgrounds!

I look forward to meeting everyone!

A special thank you to my beloved, Tim.

My daughter's Bailey and Jess

as well as 

my family and friends 

for being such wonderful supporters 

as well as secret keepers.

It is with many

that dreams can come true.

I am soooo

over the moon!

Merrye Hallows Eve

The days are shorter...
and the smell of the fallen leaves
is just heavenly. 

I am creating 
but it is a very slow process it seems...
As I am recovering~
Some minor surgery 
and some seasonal
stuff that 
wants a bit more attention...
have made October
just a bit tough.




I won't have an offering for EHAG tonight...

I am an unwilling captive
to medicated rest!

I will be enjoy the day quietly
and I look forward 
to the children tonight.
...and while I may be held a bit captive~
I am working
 towards some 
goode news
and 
a surprise ahead.

October Surprise

Yesterday was simply glorious...

and today is no less.

We hit a record breaking 84 degrees

 here in our little spot, 

not far from Albany.

Just one last taste of Summer.

Today is just as glorious. 

It is not quite as warm however,

 gray clouds are dancing

 with cobalt skies 

and make the changing leaves

 look stunning.

Golden leaves have been dancing

 in the breeze this morning...

occupying my time 

as I enjoy their pretty dance.

Over the past two weeks...

Snowflakes have danced in my head~

as I prepare for the season ahead 

and one local show.

Sleepy mice

and ginger men

 have started to appear~

Along with an Angel theme...

I am wrapping up around 

Christmas Carols to guide me~

taking a cue from the wee ones 

that I loved last year.

While October 

may have given us a day or two of a surprise,

I am enjoying her gift~

as yummy wools

and pretty flannels

dance in my head.

Brown cardboard packages

may not be tied up with string...

 but oh how they hold

 my most favorite things~

there is magic happening 

with each stitch

and

 although this will be the last day 

of our

 October surprise~

there is plenty of magic

to be had at the Cottage.

October's Magic

Wee sleepy Spice is the last of two witchy offerings for Early Work Mercantile.

I love October.

 I keep it close to my heart throughout the year~

once it is here,however~

 it blossoms...

into afternoon mugs of Chai,

evenings of sipping cider 

...and nibbling a cider donut or two.

It holds memories 

of helping my Father make our own cider.

My Mother In Law 

making donuts on her farmhouse porch...

I love stitching up Cathedral Window squares...
and Pumpkin looks so sweet napping atop a Halloween themed one. 

and this evening~

a gathering of Tim's family.

We have an annual picnic.

That's right~ a picnic...

in the evening!

It is a wonderful way to gather 

and bring crock pots 

of comfort food...

hot dogs on the grill

 and groups of us

 huddled about fire pits to keep us warm.

This has become a beloved tradition!

As I enjoy time with both families...

a weekend in a cabin, deep in the Adirondacks...

and plenty of crisp mornings 

(that we have been waiting for all Summer)~

I am enjoying tiny stitches,

experimenting with my wee sleepy mousels...

and

designing for the next season ahead.

October is indeed magic for me.

In all that I hold dear

and 

I intend to thoroughly enjoy it!

Making Spirits Bright

A wee sleepy Angel mousel will be perfect for my Holiday offerings.
A sleeping cap Mousel is on the way also!

The morning and evening air has become crisp...
the leaves are turning
and falling.
The aroma of wood smoke weaves around it all.

The smell of Fall
 wraps it's arms around us
and welcomes us like family
 we haven't seen in ages.

In this heady mix,
I am working on different seasons...
The Thankful
and the Holiday Season.

Whiteface...

Last weekend,

we took some time away.

Rented a wee cabin in the woods...

and enjoyed an Adirondack get away

 in my beloved Lake Placid.

This stunning site always makes me catch my breath!

 This is the place where my dreams came true.

Where a bunch of us came together to create.

I learned so much 

about myself

and making art.

Our cozy cabin.

 We came here last year,

and loved it so much...

we decided to make it 

a yearly event.

Mirror Lake....you always hold my heart.

This year, 

we decided to come down with colds

while we were there.

Awesome, right???

It's okay though...

we enjoyed ourselves in spite of it.

I had time to just think and sketch...

and put together a plan for the Holiday season and next year.

I have spent this past week

recovering from that hanging cold,

packing orders,

and making a model or two for my next show.

It seems...

that it is also the season of

of coat tail riders.

All of us have them~

With my eyes opened even wider

 during my time away~

I am reminded

to:

keep my course

remember my gift

and keep giving it 

back to the Universe.

after all... 

no one can capture

or copy 

the spirit that is truly yours.

Readjusting My Sails

Thanks for catching my snafu!
here is the corrected version!

No matter how hard we try;

our days can get rearranged for us.

I have no complaints~

Don't get me wrong.
I have been

VERY

blessed,

more than I ever could have imagined.

However, 

in these blessings,

I came to realize

 that I had to reschedule

 my 

Picturetrail show.

Wednesday...

Sunday Evening

will mark the end 

of this year's

 Hallows Eve offerings

with the exception of

EHAG Emporium.

Wicked Goodes 

will host 

olde friends and new;

a collection of smalls

that 

make a heart smile...

as they give a wink and nod to the past.

Ruth's Shoe

After,

I will be turning to

 the Thankful Season...

All that comes with 

Harvest Blessings,

snowy days

and 

Himself,the Elf~

Oh how I love this time of year!

So Much To Do......

It may seem

 that all you have heard

 from me 

is 

the sound of crickets lately...

I have been 

crazy

busy.

Squishing everything in...

a pattern sale, 

a online show soon~

and 

my Early Work Mercantile offering.

I cram a lot of day into my work,

or 

perhaps I cram a lot of work into my day.

I will get to recharge soon

and travel up to the mountains.

I can't wait to see that wee cabin in the woods.

but first...

I need to get patterns 

to the many customers 

that blew me away with the orders.

finish some Fall lovelies

for a Picture Trail show..

and introduce 

you to Gracie~ 

My Harvest Angel...

She is on Early Work Mercantile this evening.

Oh yes...

those wings~

those lovely wings, 

are a start for me.

because 

it's 

time

 to

grow.

September Goodies

Mrs. Munson (left) & Harriet Lurvey
fun little shelf leaners or tucks.
they have their eye on you!

Our few days of cool, September weather

have drifted away. 

Even yesterday's storms and rain, 

did not make a dent in the heat and humidity.

Summer; it seems,

does not want to let hold of her grasp.

Peanuts!
He is inspired by our back yard hooligan's and named after a beloved.
Sometimes, they just capture the spirit of someone I love. 

My head has been in Fall

since January.

 when I decided that it was time...

to step back in to the memories of my beginnings.

Memories of magical days, 

drawing and dreaming 

in an old 1812 House

and a wonderful friend.

I don't see enough of her,

now that I have moved.

Miss Brimfield.
When she first appeared,
 she was an instant hit with her touch of realism
 and Deer mouse markings.
She takes some fussing with,
but oh so worth it!

It was at that time,

 that we spoke of our love of Halloween.

Of old cemeteries...

and skeletons.

along with the time period of those early gravestones.

Folky Gloves
Fun and unusual...
perhaps they will spark your imagination in other ways!
Always the first to go at shows.

So you have seen,

the wink and the nod.

Squeezed in between 

the whimsy .

It just seems to come out, 

no matter how hard that I try to 

put myself back.

Edna Nettle's Shoe
A fun pocket hanger.
let your imagination run wild
with the possibilities of what to tuck in her show.
At Thanksgiving,
 it is also the perfect Pilgrim's shoe.

It's all goode, though...

The whimsy makes for goode patterns.

and so...

a couple months ago, 

I started work on a pattern release.

The Kiss
He is a fun fellow and much belated
 as many of you have asked for his pattern. I love him propped on a shelf.
perfect for a Princess' bookshelf!

 It takes awhile as I balance it all..

but when it finally comes together~ 

What fun!!!

However,

no goode pattern release,

should be had without a sale.

You can hop over to my Etsy Shop by clicking on on any picture.

once there,

remember to use coupon code

FALL16

when you check out.

just like magic

you will receive 20% off.

(Goode until Sunday, September 11 at midnight EST)

Harvey WallBanger
last...but not in anyway least!
He has given us big chuckles here!