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.

Kneading Therapy

I have been kneading either clay or dough since I was a young girl. Mostly clay, but coming from an Italian family, my Mom and Grandmother kept a kitchen humming. A friend of mine ( Thank you Tracy!) was nice enough to share her Pita bread recipe. While it is going to take some practice to get them to puff as nice as hers, I can tell you that they were yummy good. The kneading is particularly soothing and as I enjoyed this quiet task, I looked back upon this past year of mine.

As most of you know, many pattern designers had a tough go with it last year. As tough as it was, it gave the opportunity to open conversation and explain things that others had not truly thought of, such as Piracy. Social media was ablaze and it is in such times, that you see how people treat each other. I saw that after the initial shock and rants, there were people that I truly did not want to have connections with. Unkind words and actions were perplexing. Over time came distance, with the people and with Social Media. I had to learn how to balance it, to be a fruitful part of my life. It has been a time of healing inside and out. A time of family and a time of discovery for me. I am happy for the outcome. 

Back are my sculpts, with a renewed sense of direction. I have learned better pattern making and technique for my mice and birds. I am thankful for a couple of friends that encouraged me this Winter to keep up with the armatures and take them further. I have so loved this journey and the birds that have come as I have grown.They truly are matching the look of what I set out for a year ago.

Chapters close in your life and it is not a bad thing....

I am healthier, inside and out (and it's wonderful to see inches disappear). I walk the walk, not talk the talk.....

I have goode friends that are goode people inside and out. They are not mean to others. Their actions match their heart.

I have goode family beside and two daughters that are both on their next journey. Through sunshine or storm, we all have each other.

I am grateful for the opportunities given me....for the lessons learned along the way. Also, for the friends and family that keep the better path.

Comfortable In My Skin

It's hard to put your work out there, especially at first. The internet can seem very daunting as an Artist. There have been many times that I have felt like a young girl again...unsure of myself. What if no one likes it? What if they don't get it??? Or...after many hours of seeing the project..."it bites". 

I love that I don't keep myself confined to one media...one style. I love the ability to grow, to get my hands and heart into each medium that I enjoy. Each medium is unique and I can do lots of growing and exploring, especially of technique. It can be a challenge and a risk.....

not for the faint of heart~ smiles!

Like Antoinette, here. A blue pumpkin?? What the heck is a Jarrahdale? I could just hear it....but I LOVED them. So why not? Last year I was timid with a a Jarrahdale offering and the response was tremendous.  Now I search for fabric that would make the perfect complimentary dress for them. 

I do have a traditional part that calls me also. I was doing some reading on "Frozen Charlottes" and well, I was inspired to say the least with these pin keeps. 

Primitives never leave me though...like a well worn pair of jeans, they feel the most comfortable after so many years.

In it all, there is a certain simplicity... It has taken me a long time, but I am truly comfortable in who I am as an Artist. 

I don't have to shout out in color for attention. I know how to use it.

It's not about how many pieces of work that you put out, as long as you put out your best.

It's not about who is making what, it is about what tugs at your heart.

It is not about how many sales you make compared to someone else....art is not a competition with anyone but yourself.

it is all simply.....you

Goode News!

I'm taking a leap of FAITH, once again. I get emails every week asking for finished pieces. I like my selling sites, don't get me wrong~ they have been wonderful and they have given me so much on my Artful journey. Every once in awhile, I think...what if I just set up a selling page and have a web show here or there too???

Well, I'm ready to try it.I have the page all set and I am happy to announce that on  June 13th~ Thursday Evening at 7pm EST, I will be opening my little Album, specifically for finished pieces and placing a couple things up for sale.If you would like an email reminder, just send your request to:

thegoodewife@yahoo.com

A click on my little Pumpkin Ladye (above)  or on my "tab" (Wee Folk For Sale) under my Goode Wife picture, will bring you there. Stop by and mosey around a bit.

Goode Works Ahead

The older I get, the more ideas pop into my head. In some ways, I'm more patient, more willing to take subject matter and pursue a study...let things evolve. 

On the other hand, I am impatient. My head is off to another project, before I complete the one at hand. I'm always feeling the heat of a deadline. If it it's not monthly offerings, it is licensed work or publications.  Mix with it, the love and mastery of a couple media and add a splash of "don't put me in a mold" and you have my world.

My wonky life...somehow it does balance with work and family. Perhaps though, I wonder if it would be easier to put out offerings in an occasional web show? I'll never know unless I try ~ another leap of faith. I will be announcing the date and time for my first, (small but quaint) webshow.

          This is gonna be good, I just know it.

If you would like to be put on my email list, please send your request to me at : thegoodewife.yahoo.com

There's No Place Like Home

To say that it has been quite a week, may be an understatement. I have been quite busy still with orders and squeezing in some sculpting after a few weeks moving things from my Mom's home to ours. Memorial weekend was nice and quiet for us. Spent in solitude and remembrance...with a sprinkling of shamrock confetti on the gravesites of loved ones.

I have been working away on several sculpted pieces for offerings and enjoying myself.....until Wednesday night. This is thunderboomer season, which I admit that I enjoy. In Upstate NY, you don't think about tornados....but one decided to pay a visit Wednesday night. We had 15 minutes, to let our kids know and have Tim's kids get home. We took care of a few items in the back yard, grabbed the fur kids and went to the cellar. 

In true Jessie form, I get a text as the storm starts to really hit.
"I need to get Prom Shoes"

to which, I reply:

"Can we wait til after the tornado"

Tim's kids were a few streets before ours and heading to their house as they saw a funnel cloud.....

we were lucky, it lifted before it got to our house. It was an EF2. There was quite a bit of damage, and only 1 injury in the course of its 17 mile journey. Aside from debris, we lost power until the next day. 

 Today, we spent up north, enjoying the last Prom for this Mom. Jess wasn't too upset about not having new shoes. Together, with Matt, they make a stunning couple. Her dress is a wink and a nod to her Grampa in Heaven~ for our artful family; it is Vincent Van Gogh's, "Starry Night". A favorite  of  ours and especially Grampa's.

Jess and Matt; friends since the 7th grade. It took a lot for them to figure out that they were more than just friends. I knew... their friends knew.They made a great team before they realized it. They have the right stuff. They are both very grounded and ambitious. They have plenty of support between both families. Jess just needs to listen to her Mom. Mom is always right...even about tornado's.

The Call of Fall

This morning has once again dawned overcast, but gone is the steamy humidity and a big chill sets in for the next couple of days. The skies change from milky to dark gray and a misty cold rain falls. The candles are burning and Mother Nature is giving me a nudge to keep me fueled with Fall inspire.

For me, it is more than a love of Halloween, it is wrapping up in the yesterdays of olde. A little history..a sprinkle of Puritan and I find my heart content. I love my wee Dollhouse; the rituals and treasures that make it ever changing and ever filled with possibilities. They set the stage and Mother Earth gives me a reminder every once in awhile and I am lost for the day......except... I  need one more thing to seal the spell....a mug of Hot Chocolate.

Works of Heart

I saw this lovely Lily of the Valley heart idea on Pinterest last year, but time escaped me and I didn't follow through. As my Lilies opened this year, I was determined. It's not that it took a long time to do ~ in a few minutes, it was complete...it's just tearing myself away from what I am working on.
Sound familiar?

Art is truly a wonderful journey of self exploration. while there is really no concept that hasn't been done, it is how we choose to put our personal stamp on it. With me lately, it is not just about  making a mouse or sculpting a piece, it becomes a bigger picture. I love the play of texture and form...I love a range of whites. I am drawn to areas that that have been painted and how, in time, the wood shows it's grain...it's voice.

Of course, those that really know me, know that there always has to be humor! Nothing like a photo bomb, right?

Create what tugs at your heart, you will never go wrong. Time will put a stamp on what you do and with time, you and others will see what is clearly you. No matter where concepts, or heartstrings lead trust that your style, your heart will come through.

The Magic of Fridays

I love this time of year. The smell of the grass as the lawn is mowed....birdsong that begins before the sun rises and the magic of Fridays. 

Do understand that  I have worked mostly retail and my own business. Rarely a Monday through Friday job....but I do try to make weekends more of a family time this time of year, as shows will creep into the Holiday Season. It's not for long, but it is treasured. 

I've finished this week of packing orders and getting my first Early Work offering. It has been  jam packed  and steady. I'll still "work" this weekend; but it will be creating, designing and putting some finishing touches on a few of my Wee friends.  Tonight I am smiling and ready to dig in... two whole days of POSSIBILITIES!  How can you not be excited???  ~ it's the magic; the favorite part of what I do...and it starts right now!

The Fickle Month of May

May can be a fickle month here in Upstate New York.  She teases you with warm temperatures and lures you into opening your windows for gentle breezes by day and the lulling of peepers by night....Iced tea is made, the grill is getting a workout and the gardens are starting to take shape. Then, without any warning, she sneaks Jack Frost back in to have one last Runamuck!

For me, I have been busy with family and work.  I do want to thank everyone that took part in my sale ~ It was amazing and I'm still working on orders!

In between it all, I have been busy squeezing some creating in. Life gets so busy from May to December for me. I am getting the show applications in as fast as they are coming in the mail, it seems. I will settle on a few nice shows and leave some time for my other endeavors. 

This morning was my first appearance on Early Work Mercantile. I awoke to several requests to adopt dear Stella. The emails have still continued with requests to see more. When one door closes, another opens.  I have come to Early Work, the place that was the best fit for my work. Thank you Tina for the invite, and thank you Mr. Frost for the inspire.

Altho Stella is spoken for, please click on her picture and enjoy the very talented works of some wonderful Ladyes~

Celebrate '13

It's fun to look back and see where we were and just how far we have come. Raven's Haven Folk Art Patterns have officially turned 10 years old.  The sewing journey started 5 years earlier though. I had 
no sewing experience. A "D" on my sewing attempt of a shirt in Home Economics, in 7th grade. Talk about being self taught!

Although I giggle about having a pattern company and not knowing how to sew~ it certainly made my success. I kept it simplified because I didn't know how to sew.I admit, that it was daunting at first and not many doll makers would share. My Mentor simply told me to draw it out on fabric, stitch it up and stuff it. Sometimes it will work out and sometimes it won't. She is a Vermonter to the core, but with her words, she gave me wings. While I watched others switch a bunch of pattern parts around from other designers and call it theirs; I was using my gift of drawing. I could truly go to a show and say, these are my own designs.....and that I did.

Until the economy got wobbly. With the help and a huge shove of an Internet friend, he walked me through the scary parts. I took a 8 week course in my county for how to start your own business and still my knees were just as wobbly as the economy. In order to make a living, I needed to do more than just local shows and patterns were an answer. My designs were good sellers and when shared with other doll makers, they did do pretty good. ....but a pattern?

I approach my designs as a problem to solve and with not much experience, it was all about simple and straightforward  Primitives have a simplicity to them. Clean lines and technique. A seasoned seamstress may wince, but most seem to just have fun.

As I have grown, so have the patterns. Most are simple, but none are difficult. I try to keep them fun and make sure that they don't take too long. It works....10 years, yes, that is something to celebrate!

My patterns will be on sale until Sunday, May 12th at midnight. We are celebrating Mother's Day too! This is the last weekend. You can click on any pattern and you will find yourself there.

Enjoy

Create

Thank you so much for a successful sale. Happy stitching, everyone !

Early Works

I have been doing a lot of thinking over many months. I enjoy doing local shows and have had some fun opportunities besides. I sit down every six months or so and make a plan...what works, what doesn't and most of all~ what do I want to do???

I had thought with the closing of TDIPT, that I would simply take a break for awhile.....but goode things fall on your lap. Well, more than goode, here~ simply wonderful! 

I was contacted by Early Works Mercantile. Over the past couple of years, I have watched this talented group grow to become a stunning site. One of the plans that I have been working towards, is to lean towards a more Early and Primitive style~ to go back where I love to create. It was like a sign...so here I go! I will open my spot on May 15th and I have a couple of goode pieces, I have been working on. I believe they will fit in rather nicely.

Until I get there, do stop by and enjoy the many Artisans and their goode work. A click on the picture above will take you

~*~