Summer Ditched Me....

It's hard to believe that it was nearly two weeks ago that I was able to leave my Mom in agency care and do this quaint show overlooking the Mohawk River.  I had planned a couple shows for when I would be all moved in Rotterdam.  Sadly, a year was lost and my brother, Kevin now gets the brunt of paperwork to help get my Mother settled and me on to my life. Ah well....I did have an enjoyable show at the Mabee Farm~ I was able to see some of Tim's family and even....

meet up with Noelle. Noelle is the magic behind Tricky Stitches on Pfatt Marketplace. I have adored her work all these years.I can't wait to get settled in Rotterdam and enjoy the creative connection and smiles we shared that afternoon.  The Mabee Farm was beautiful and the weather perfect. I hated to leave, but I look forward to returning!

Since then, the days have passed by in a blur. I have been putting the finishing touches on a very late store order as I juggle my days and other obligations. There are changes ahead for me with my wee folk. I have to figure out just how to balance my work obligation (which is my  greatest joy) along with the (fingers crossed ) temporary needs of my Mother. I can't wait to enjoy and just be her daughter. 

These last weeks of summer have passed me by, but you can be sure that I will be wrapping myself around Autumn with a grin as big as Isabella's below. 

I'm excited as I look ahead and I know there will be days that my dear wee folk won't get the attention that I would like, but it will all fall into place. There are patterns to be released and new shows ahead along with a few other goode things to share...but those things are for another post.

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

~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~

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?

It's Goode To Be Back!

After some time away, it is certainly great to be back. I have been sewing, but for orders and samples. I had a difficult time trying to keep these wee folk from peeking out into the world before we were all ready. My Olde Salem Witch is one of my very favorites tonight on TDIPT Mercantile. I love Early Work and she certainly embraces it. I will be making her for local shows this summer.

Now these two characters have a wee bit different tale to tell. Yes, they are available on TDIPT as finished pieces, but they are also available as patterns!  You may preorder them and they will be mailed out starting next Wednesday, July 21st. They are 9.00 each and 1.00 to ship one, add .50 to ship both.For orders outside of the US, please email me for shipping.

To Order Directly:

By PayPal:

Use thegoodewife.folkart@yahoo.com and put the names of the pattern(s) that you wish to order in the message area.

By Check or Money Order

Send payment with requested pattern(s) to: Stacey Mead, PO Box 165, Granville, NY 12832

Credit Card

Please call (518) 337-8055. After 7pm is best, if I am unavailable, please leave your name and number along with the best time to call.

A Goode Visit Had

What is better than a trip to see friends? Enjoying the history and the food along with their company! Tim and I only had a couple days, but they are already fondly etched in our memories. Bailey and Jess are still there and enjoying the summer with their new found friendships of Rose and Annie.  We had a wonderful visit to Williamsburg. I never get to see it all, but that's why you just HAVE to go back. Next time, Jamestown is the first stop. Yes, Virgina, there will be a next time...and not so many years will go by before we do it again. A big thank you to Ron & Susan for their fine hospitality and to Arlys, for a great evening of catching up. We'l be back!

Virginia or Bust!

Summer has come full force here and there is excitement in the air! I have been working very full days (til the wee morning hours) making samples and filling orders...lots of orders! Store orders, finished friends and quite a few patterns. It's that time of year when we all like to create. It's been a crazy pace with school finals and taking care of my Mom, but well, I haven't been bored since about 1987.


Tim and I will be taking my daughters to Virginia on Friday. The last time I visited my dear friend Susan, Ron and Rose; Bailey was just walking. Jess and Annie weren't even thought of. Now, four young ladies will get to enjoy each other...really enjoy. Aunt Susan is very, very brave to take on two extra teenagers. Bailey and Jess will spend a few weeks as they all have a grand adventure. Did I mention how brave Aunt Susan is??? 


I will be taking time off from Simply Primitives, but hope to have new friends on TDIPT ~ July 15th. I am trying my best to make this next week a full vacation for me...it's going to be difficult. I already packed paper and ink.....shhhhhhhhh, it will be our little secret.

Summer In The Palm of My Hand

There is something about Summer Solstice that just makes my heart smile. Perhaps, it is the memories of past or the joy of making new. It is road trips and the smell of barbecues, the laughter of friends and family. 




It has been a few years since I've felt the sand between my toes or enjoyed the milky smell of palm leaves. Tim and I are gearing up to take the girls down to Virginia and let them enjoy a summer with dear friends. This is bound to produce huge amounts of giggles, tons of hugs and friendships that will last them a lifetime. The girls will stay and test the strength of their much loved Aunt Susan and Uncle Ron. Four teen age girls will gang up in giggles, as adventure lies ahead. 


Tim and I will return, as I will be awaiting the heads up for my move and prepare what I can. A show is right around the corner and that means plenty of wee folk to be made. There is a lot of living and memory making to be packed into the next eleven weeks. Are you ready?...on your mark.....get set.....GO! 

Father's Day Above

Happy Father's Day Above ~ As much as all of us miss you, today is not a day for sadness, but rather celebration. You give us all wonderful memories filled with laughter. I know you and John C. are keeping The Boss very busy. 


My heart is with you Dad, not just today, but every day. You made me who I am. You not only encouraged me to dream, but you let me know that I had to do the work to make my dreams come true.Here's to you, Herbie, a Koolaid toast from all of us!

Dancing with Deadlines

Hello, allow me to introduce myself. I am Bella, the Princess of Pumpkins. I am here to tell you that The Goode Wife is fast at work bringing wee folk alive. In the  weeks ahead, she has much work and well..... hand loved friends are not to be hurried. You may not see some of these friends here, but chances are you will recognize them in several shoppes. It is also a family time for the Goode Wife as she will be moving all of us sometime soon. We do hope to give her a few days away to spend with dear friends. I'm sure she will come back refreshed and VERY inspired. Do enjoy the gifts that Summer brings and don't forget to visit often. 

New Pattern Releases!

I am excited to announce the release of FOUR new patterns tonight! I'd like to thank you all so much for your patience. It it takes quite a lot of work to get the pattern masters together and my days have not slowed down one bit. The models for these are for sale on Simply Primitives.

Early Homestead Rabbit

Early Homestead Horses

Bickey Brown

Bibbity, Bobbity & Boo

You can order the patterns now. They will be back from the Print Shop on Friday morning and I will be sending them out in the order they came in. Patterns are 9.00 each. 1.00 shipping for the first pattern and .50 for every pattern after. For shipping outside of the US. please email me for details.

To Order Directly:

By PayPal:

Use thegoodewife.folkart@yahoo.com and put the names of the pattern(s) that you wish to order in the message area.

By Check or Money Order

Send payment with requested pattern(s) to: Stacey Mead, PO Box 165, Granville, NY 12832

Credit Card

Please call (518) 337-8055. After 7pm is best, if I am unavailable, please leave your name and number along with the best time to call.

These ARE the Goode Ole Days

I'm not sure who set the pace at "full steam ahead" but I am hopeful that my life navigator knows what he's doing. I can't remember the last time I was bored...I think it was back about 1985. Oh, I am thrilled to have so much work when the economy is still slow. I'm sincerely thankful that I can roll out of bed and into work each day. I love that my days are filled with everyone and everything. My girls are growing fast and I enjoy the gift of each one.

I have been working feverishly to finish orders and get them out. All last week, there was a train of boxes, tape and tissue paper to deliver wee folk and patterns. I have 2 more to do tomorrow and I'm fini..er...well, I thought I was. A few phone calls and a store order later send me off and ready to sew. Labors of love are not 9 to 5. Creativity creeps in when you are showering or even trying to sleep. There are odd shaped papers with notes and what looks like scribble in every room. There is no tidy notebook, no nicely sharpened pencil or neatly folded piles of fabric on a organized table. It isn't pretty at all, but it is my work.

I took a couple days off from my work this weekend for my other passion, one just as intensely full of love and joy. My life beyond the art. This Saturday, I had the pleasure of watching my oldest, Bailey transform into a Princess in front of my eyes. With Joe beside her, they rode to the Prom in a fire truck from the fire dept where she lives. Yes, this Mom did cry and wonder, just when did she grow up and become a lady??? As you can see, there wasn't time to keep wistfulness close as my ever loving Tim, "the biggest child" kept me smiling. Not to be outdone, is "Jess of the Sharp Wit". Don't let this serious picture of her fool you. There is a certain lad at school, that now sports a assignment book wrapped in pink duct tape with kittens and tiaras pictured all over it. Ahhh... well, I may not have an average or perhaps normal life. It's not perfect nor staged to look like June Cleaver lives here...it isn't clean and pretty....but it's happy and full of glee. I may work at what I love many long hours, but times such as these show me how truly rich my life is.

Another Side of Me

I'm fortunate that my parents always nurtured creativity in our house. I've sculpted since I was a young girl and for several years would earn my money at local craft shows as there weren't many teen jobs available here. It's always so special when someone shares that they still have one of my little critters from back then and the connection that they have with it. Before I found my groove in Folk Art, I discovered Paperclay. It was okay, but I never devoted the time to build a relationship with it.....not until last year when I decided to try a class using it. I enjoyed it...so much that I would steal time away, just to explore with it. Finally I decided it was time to put it out there and share with you. I can't tell you just how much I enjoyed working in clay again and adding it into my love of yesterday. Each piece showed it's own spirit every step of the way. It gave me times of uncertainty in my own ability, but I think that it is very much like riding a bike. I would now like to formally introduce you to three wonderful Ladyes.

• Grace is the sweetest little sparrow and so delicately painted. She is inspired by
• the olde sepia photographs.
• Faith is a Harvest Pumpkin Angel . Her arms and tendrils are made from rusty wire. The wire has the ability to speak so expressively and it is a favorite of mine.
• Finally, Fiona the frog... I was able to just let whimsy run wild and she makes me smile every time I walk by her.

All three have slips, bloomers and dangling feet above a wooden stand. They are all very much one of a kind pieces with simple details such as glass bead buttons and plenty of hand stitching or what I call, love stitching. I will certainly be making more friends this way, but I am not letting go of my other wee friends...just sharing a different side of me.

News Aound The Hen House

Like most of you, Spring brings much activity to our families, and often goes in several different directions at once. Our area and mountains have busted out in various shades of green and I am enjoying time outside, as long as the pollen count isn't too high. The bird song is beautiful in the mornings and coffee on the veranda with Tim a treat. My days end after midnight as there is so much to fit in. Some of my wee friends are stretching their wings and you will be surprised where you will see them, but be patient, that is for next year.

In all of this, we had quite a bump in our road these past few weeks. My daughter Bailey was taken quite ill and spent 2 weeks between her Doctor, the emergency room, tests and even a hospital stay. What was thought to be an her appendix, was then thought to be an ovarian cyst, and perhaps the gall bladder. The culprit, in the end, was her liver. It was a huge wake up call for us. You see, Bailey is one of so many of our children that is overweight in this country. She is my comfort food eater and even though she goes to a nutrition group every week, it is difficult for her to understand it all with her Autism Spectrum. Her body has said "enough" loud and clear. Fat is being stored in her liver, much like it would be on a alcoholic. Bailey learning how to become a vegetarian. She simply has no other choice. She is learning and embracing it...and realizing that Mom's smoothies had tofu snuck in ~ Netty's cereal is really "the bomb" and rutabaga fries are fun because they have a bit of sweetness to them. I however, realize that my favorite soy/chai drink may have to be hidden....

I am now trying to catch up on pattern orders, mailing wee folk to their new homes, a sea of samples along with my offerings for TDIPT, due tomorrow night. It is never boring around here, that's for sure. TDIPT will hold a surprise for many of you as I share my work in a different medium. It is one that I am quite familiar with. I have taken nearly a year to just explore a new form and see just where I wanted to go with it... it won't replace my love for my wee folk, but instead embrace another part of my heart. Til the morrow ~

Better Late Than Never

Meet Dame Dimbleby and her pet fly, Precious. She kept a smile on my face, the whole time I was bringing her to life. Being a caretaker for a parent does keep me more than busy lately. Some days it is difficult to find the extra time around care taking and 2 teenage daughters to work and create even just part time. I am ever aware though that when my care taking journey ends soon, that I will be unsure what to do when my lively days quiet down. There will be changes ahead for me, but in the meantime I will be taking care of my family first and creating during any stolen moment that I can.

Simply Primitives opened last night, but Mrs. Dimbleby was a wee bit finicky about which dress to wear. She finally decided, but it was too late for her to make her debut. She is joined by two other friends of the green; a Swamp Toad named Hadwig and a leaping Prince Charming, ready to plant a smooch on his Princess. Everyone will be up shortly on Simply Primitives along with the works of my less tardy friends. Please stop by and enjoy some smiles!

Extremely Goode

There is nothing so satisfying as to see your vision come together. Sometimes you don't realize just how long you have spoken through your work, until someone points it out. This weekend brought my dear friend and high school classmate home for a visit. She was looking at my little friends and giggled that the wonky bead eyes that I love, started long before this muslin journey. They were evident in drawings and sculptures made in high school. I drew constantly, and loved the feel of clay in my hands...and still do. The whimsical spirit if my work still comes speaks loud.


There is another side, however that pulls and challenges me. The simplistic nature of extreme primitives can be very difficult to capture successfully. It speaks to my soul and draws me in. My Early Bee Charmer is entirely personal and is very much my soul. I have always been drawn to the early tombstones in my area. I enjoy making rubbings and collecting them. A chat with a friend whose family is known for their beekeeping inspired and brought together my Bee Charmer. I love how the design elements pulled together and captured my inspiration.. she is

my personal favorite of all the offerings.

Tomorrow starts more Halloween friends and work that will actually make it's impact for next year. I have been fortunate to have a couple opportunities to try my hand at and although you won't see them until next year, I do believe you will recognize the work...even in a different media.

Do stop into TDIPT and enjoy the work of some very talented ladies!

Dancing With Bifocals

It's official. I've joined the ranks. A couple of years ago , I bought "cheater" glasses because I couldn't hold the small print past the length of my arm. Lately, I began having problems with the cheater glasses and off to the eye Doctor. I went. He laid it on the line for me... my eyes were getting worse. The astigmatism of my youth was still there and the cheaters were ruining my eyes. For the past 3 weeks, I have been trying not to use them, making computer work and sewing difficult.

Yesterday was my first full day with the new bifocals. I must say, it is an interesting dance. By last night, I was seasick. Going downstairs to do laundry resulted in a death grip on the handrail and toe taps to ensure each step was really where I thought it was. At times it was an odd, "I Love Lucy" show, but when it came to sewing on the machine and reading a book....it was heaven. I wanted to raise my hands and shout in glee~ "I can see! I can see!" It's going to take me time to fully get the hang of them. I'm sure that I will provide entertainment. It's a kind of "Right of Passage" to the 40 and over crowd. Recently as I was talking to the brother that is just a year younger than me. I found out that he has them already.... nanner, nanner, nanner on him! Sometimes it's the little things that make your day just a bit brighter.