The Package

Twas the season after black and orange,
and all through the cottage,
our pumpkins and skeletons
 were illuminated in red and green wattage.

Our witchy girls
were sat to the side with great care,
in order to give Santa the spotlight,
as is only fair.

When out by the front door,
I heard a big knock
I ran to the door,
to promptly unlock.

It was dear Santa,

dressed in his reds.

Delivering a package 

and looking well fed.

The package was brown

and as plain as could be. 

From Michigan it said, 

"a grave matter for thee".

Into the house I went,

all cozy and warm

this is serious, thought I~

Tis time to perform. 

To the table I went,

 scissors in hand...

What could this be?

 It must be quite grand!

So with scissors and care

 I opened the box.

I was greeted with a shovel, 

dirt and some moss.

"This is indeed a grave matter!",

was my first thought. 

 After some digging,

 my shovel did stop.

It took some work

 to find my unusual prize...

 it was a wee coffin

of a curious size.

I opened it with care

and read with a shaking hand...

 an invitation from Bewitching Peddlers, 

   to spread Halloween throughout the land!

And so dear family and friends~ 

I am honored to announce,

that I will be traveling to 

Michigan

once again...

to gather with my show family,

on the 29th of September

details to follow in the new year

Goodbye November

I bid thee farewell...

We had a wonderful time together..

Family and friends gathered ~

we've made a lot of memories with you.

Witches are year 'round for me now...

and I am happily enjoying

the goodness of gourds.

My friend here is available 

on

EHAG Emporium

She makes a whimsical presence

where ever she stands...

and has a secret.

She can stand atop a tree...

because all Halloween Trees, 

need a witch above.

Goodbye dear November~

Hello snowflakes

and snowladyes.

A Little Black Friday Fun!

Olde Gingerbread Man

The Holiday season is off 

and running. 

Here at the Cottage on Curry Road,

we are all about celebrating...

I have 3 new pattern releases 

and they are on sale until 

December 1st

at 20% off~

Jackers

Sometimes we just need to treat

ourselves a little,

right?

I have added 3 new friends

 full of fun and whimsy~

and as always, 

I encourage you to 

use the designs along 

with your own creativity....

Jackers would love to sit in a Santa hat,

instead of a carrot...

and Marjorie~

would be so fun with a Santa Hat

and a Christmas Tree.

A click on

 MY ETSY SHOPPE

will wisk you away

for a little

pattern fun.

Merrye Thanksgiving

courtesy of 1890 Gable House Goods

Thanksgiving morning was
 a cold one here
at the cottage.
It was 29 degrees out as I awoke.
The coffee brewed...
signaling to my husband to awake.
I chuckled as I watched out the window.
A cold blue sky
with a few white clouds~
our gang of squirrels
dancing
and playing along the
stockade fencing.
I could hear the chickadees
in the hedgerow
along the side of the house.
Sauce was simmering and Ziti was in the making.
The Season is upon us.

Courtesy of 1890 Gable House Goods

 Thanksgiving becomes different

 as we grow.

Some seats are empty~

and new ones are filled.

Life's cycle.

While I am not nestled in

my beloved mountains,

they are within me.

While my Mom and daughter's 

celebrate up North,

I will join Tim's family

which has been our normal.

I always add 

the Caruso part of my family

within our Thanksgiving.

I may not mill the tomatoes 

at the Caruso table,

but the sauce is a part 

of blending families.

I find myself
settling into my new normal.
my biggest show is behind me.
For the first time
in 20 years,
I am not making for the holidays,
but simply enjoying
Fall
Family
Friends.

I know there are changes ahead,
as I settle on 
a new business model.

 

I love

the blackened wax ornaments

from

 Gable House Goods.

They bring me back

to a time

of my beginings...

I have loved making chalkware from my own sculpts and molds~

and have often thought,

that blackened wax

would be 

amazing.

As I write my 

business plan for next year,

and shape my business

for the future;

I also see things 

that still catch my heart.

I'm not exactly sure

how I set things up,

but I do know 

that my heart will 

lead the way.

Inspiration Touches Your Soul

The TV is usually on as I work...

sometimes I will catch

 an oldie but a goodie ~

which I love because I can just listen 

and keep my attention to the matter at hand.

 Sometimes...

something that you see, 

will catch your eye.

You have seen the movie

many times.

you can just listen to it..

but as you catch a glance,

it is kismet.

Nanny McPhee.

A glance up in the beginning was all it took..

A china doll was hung on 

on a door...

and that day, 

it caught me.

There was a lot of research

on construction

along with a technique that 

would go perfectly.

Art is a labor of so much love....

reflects your soul..

and images that touch it.

Fiona 

is but a start.

I will grow with this...

and love both her

and

 the process.

This set

is also a wink and a nod

to another time...

I can be so weird.

I know,

but in my world,

it makes perfect sense.

Both are available 

on

Early Work Mercantile

November Morning

Snowladye in the morning light.

This morning is dark and dreary.

The milky skies 

give little brightness,

but candeglow casts its warm light 

and a mug of hot tea

chases the chill away.

I am fast at work,

racing the light today

as it is upload day for Early Work Mercantile.

I took a moment to peek

out the kitchen window,

while I waited 

for  some clear coat to dry.

Not that long ago...

a week or so~
there were roses on my rosebush,

and morning glories 

were still in abundance;

such a pretty blue.

This morning however~

there are brown and orange leaves,

scattered on the still green lawn.

 The frost

has turned colorful 

blooms to a dark brown.

Above,

 on the stockade fencing,

oblivious

 to the sparrows and starlings

swirling about...

is a gray squirrel.

I have to chuckle as he is happily 

munching on his breakfast.

A good sized piece of pizza.

Booty from the garbage next door.

A squirrel's breakfast in the burbs.

I am reminded

that our world is what we make it.

I love surrounding myself

with dollhouses

and dollys in the making.

Candle glow on these

dreary November days...

Needle and thread.

The busy hands of a maker.

Early Works offerings 

tonight at 9 pm.

It REALLY Happened!

Our Spidey powers were with us as we were Michigan bound.

I worked all year for this....

the biggest honor

of my art journey.

Tim had spent 

the last 3 months

keeping house...

making meals...

and going solo

 to family and friend events.

My surgeries had put me behind. 

I had to make up for lost time

and abilities.

An overnight stop on the way, to see family in Buffalo!!!
The start of a new tradition~

I also knew, 

it would take a village.

Nothing of this scale, 

comes without others.

And so I enlisted

dear friends.

Thank you Pea, for my amazing Banner.
It truly made the booth beautiful!
Thank you for also being as beside, as beside can be,
when you live on the other coast!

I called upon my Ohio friends,

that we had not seen in 6 years

at the Simple Goods show.

We have been friends for many years, 

but we don't get a chance to see each other.

Could you????

They became my set builders...

set up/tear down crew

and basically

they ran the ship,

so that the Goode Wife booth 

could shine

and run smooth.

We couldn't have done this without them.

Thank you Angie and Jake

for all that you did

and for being such a huge

part of our journey family!

We are already excited
 for next September~

Kaf and Joyce of
Grimitives and Enchanted Productions.

I met fellow artists, 
that I had long admired.
This show is more than a show...
it is a family.
They embrace you,
they guide you.
They hold you up when you feel shaky!

Hi Becky~ my neighbor across the way!

Set up was ...
busy~
crazy~
and FUN!!!

Lots of Ladyes and ratties!
my Nattie Rats, in this style are now retired
after 6 years.

A few last minute changes;
lots of encouragement~
and
everyone telling us...
"this will be unlike any show you have ever done"
(we were already seeing this!)

Kaf really did bring Cape Cod to Michigan as promised!

We were all

giddy and silly that morning, 

before the opening!

ARRRR!!!!
~congratulations Kaf on winning Best Booth!

A peek of some favorites!

Nicol Sayer's work is stunning!
who woulda thunk,
that I would see her work up close and in person!

My breath stopped at Nicol's booth~

She has been an inspire 

for so many years.

Oh Carolee! You paint magic!

The King of Mice Studio

and the magic paintbrush 

of Carolee.

~Hats in the Belfry~

How cool are these hats??

We saw many a

amazing noggin 

throughout the day!

The Acorn Cottage

I fell in love with David's

artitstry and imaginative booth!

Enchanted Productions is right!!
how fun!

As a doll maker,

I have loved Joyce's

work for years! 

Joyce is just as magical as her dollies!

Joyce has stitching magic
within her
for sure~ 

Monkey Cats Studio

Laurie Harding's
skill at Paper Mache
and painting,
makes for
collector's treasures!
How could you not smile just
looking at her booth?

Dustin and Matt

...and these two?
Dustin creates and Matt
runs a tight ship!
(full of laughter, of course).

They took me under wing
in the most amazing way.
.....I am still reeling
and shaken~

My art journey
is forever changed.

my favorite piece of the show
because...IRISH!!!!

you can see the pores 

in his face

in person~

such an attention to detail!

 Prim Pumpkin

Jennie's

Pumpkins

are so unique~

I am in awe of their coloring~

and the freckles just make

your heart smile.

I am in love~~~

Rucus Studio

I would have never dreamed,
that I would have the opportunity
to see Scott's work.
I have admired his mastery
for a long time.
The details
up close
and in person~
just amazing!
(I think I am using that word
too much in this post~
but I call it as I see it!)

group smile!!!

...and then we were called...
time for a group picture
before the show begins.
lots of laughter!

Angie, Rebecca and I

I was able to meet

friends and collectors

that have been

 a part of my journey

from it's beginning.

Angie, 

along with husband Jake,

kept the booth running smooth.

and 

Rebecca

is a collector,

 that I have long 

wanted

to meet and say

THANK YOU~ 

Angie, me, Diane and sister Erine


The night before,
while at the hotel~
Angie and I
had met up with longtime
friend Diane
along with her sister, Erine.
So we were in
 prime giggle mode,
by the time that
we met up again
at the show.

Rene, Ang and I

....And this gal~
blows me away.
Rene
has been a part of my journey
for many years.
Can you believe she is
a
race car driver???
She also
is talented in many other ways~
patterns,
lamp beads,
folk art..
and a stitching magician.
She made this upcycled outfit.
oh. my. goodness.

Nicol Sayer and I

... I was able to meet
Nicol Sayer.
all those years ago,
as I sat in the 1812 house
with Netty,
she shared the
Holly Berry Hill
catalog.
I was forever changed
when I walked
into the 1812 house,
and then as I saw the catalogs
I collected them as well
and
would pour over them for hours~
soaking up
the drawings
and the works
of the artists.
The catalog itself
was an artful
masterpiece.
...this group of artists
inspired me.
I had little
sewing experience
other than basics
in
Home Ec
(which was not my best grade).
I would not be
this far
without their inspiration.

To meet Nicol
was to come
full circle.


Suddenly,
it was over.
we packed everything up.
went to the hotel~
had dinner
and crashed.

Me, Jennie, Kaf, Laurie and Joyce

The next morning,

many of us gathered.

Lots of laughter.

Kindred 

one of my treasures (I also have the sister)
Mourning Glory Jewelry by Avery


Unbelievable~
is the family
that welcomed us with open arms.
 Such gifted
artists
along with,
 the loved ones that help
us
as we join together
to make a magical show.

Avery, you are my spirit sister...
it's like you saw my soul.

I know that I am so late
in getting this to you.

I needed to recoup
and regroup.
I had time with family...

 I have been so blown away,
with the friends
that lifted, guided
and rocked me to my core.
I am forever changed.

My heart,
my soul
my journey.
I am sorry that I didn't get
so many other booths,
and pictures of
new friends and fellow artists
(and their support teams!).

The level of artistry~
the gifts we are given as makers,
is unique
to each of us.

This group
celebrates...
Celebrates each other ....
celebrates those that
do all of the support work
to make it happen....
and
celebrates the love of Halloween.


I am back...
and rested.
Building my plan..
challenging myself~
and ready to post
more frequently.