FUN DAY...

Sharon and I had a fun day (we so think alike)...but the "pickings" were few ! I did come home with a couple goodies but I am not doing cartwheels. LUNCH WAS GREAT - at a "tea room along the way !! One of the places we wanted to go to is now closed on Monday and Tuesday....bummer....I suppose with business as quiet as it is they are not paying for help for 7 days. So we came back to my house early and "brainstormed" for our Halloween event !! So many ideas running thru our heads....and we really have to get busy putting it together!
Another "glorious" day here in Pennsylvania - and back to work - work !!

TALLY-HO AND AWAY WE GO !!!

Sharon and I are taking the day "off" today to have a fun day - we can put some "miles" on when we get together!!! We are going to an olde Grist Mill where dealers have their antique wares for sale. Right across the street is the home of ' THE SEAMSTRESS FROM BLACKSTONE"...
( www.seamstressofblackstone.blogspot.com/ ) Her home is wonderful and the grounds are beautiful....one of these days I will get enough nerve to just knock on her door and say "HI" !!!
We will visit a couple "country stores" that are on our way and then have a nice lunch - where depends on how long we are everywhere else.
The sun is shining and it promises to be a beautiful day!!
Yesterday I worked on fall items....(really Halloween) I must get my act together and find some good fall items to make - I do realize that not everyone is "into" Halloween the way I am !! Owls seem to be very big this year....I know we sold every "owl" that we had right away last year - but finding an owl pattern has been hard - and I am again thinking I will have to "make my own"...that takes time and "trial and error"...oh well....it is still only July...not going to panic (just yet) !!!!!....unless someone out there has a PATTERN they would love to tell me about??? (hint hint) !!!
Will tell you the story of our "adventure" when I get home.....hoping to find some good treasures for the store and some "new" ideas too !!!

??? AMISH PUZZLE BALLS ???

The picture above is of two "Puzzle Balls" made for us by Leah Webb (one of our very talented artists) !! I have searched long to try and find any "history" of these works of "art" - but have not been able to. I know the "antique ones" go for lots and lots of $$$$'s and no wonder when you see all the work that is involved in making one. Apparently they were made for "fun" - (yes the Amish have FUN too!) and used as pincushions. They look great just sitting around with your other "sewies" !! The two that Leah made are a sample of exquisite workmanship. They are for sale on our PT !!The rainstorm we had Saturday night really "beat down" the gladiolas at the store - Tony staked them up yesterday and brought me in a bouquet - sadly they do not last long once cut. I could have sold the bouquet a few times .. LOL!! I love how they look in front of the double mirror...gives you more "bling" !!! Aren't they the prettiest RED...!!! Gladiolas are a fond memory of my Grandfather. My grandparents owned a Country Inn and Restaurant...THE GREEN GABLES INN...and my Grandfather raised the most prettiest flowers (not that I appreciated them when I was young)...He would take an olde flower basket ( like we think of funeral baskets today) fill them with the Glads and they would be the centerpiece on a table in one of the dining rooms...it would be huge and beautiful.... MEMORIES ....

IT HAS COME TO THIS.... FINGERNAILS..

Sorry that I am so boring...but right now I have fingernails....strange topic???...well not for me...I NEVER have fingernails above the tips of my fingers. They look nice ...well they would look nice...if they weren't stained with paint, stain, coffee and brown dye! My hands are NOT pretty...I sometimes think what is that customer thinking when I am writing out her invoice !!! (shaking my head in embarrassment!!) A hazard of the trade I suppose, but I am not dainty and jewelry is non-existent other than earrings (when I remember to put them on.) DO NOT SUGGEST WEARING GLOVES....can't work with them! So if you visit the store and happen to look at my hands...KNOW that they are the hands of a crafter...one who won't wear gloves...and one who if you come right down to it - can live with her "ugly" hands.

I have been busy working on fall and Halloween and starting to get a nice little pile together. BUT I am still looking - searching - to find that GREAT NEW ITEM THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE YET... wondering if it is out there...???? I get my ideas from everyone else....I see something in a magazine or internet and think...."hey I could do something like that"...rarely.....very rarely....do I use a pattern...I make my own and then it is my own....maybe not my own idea but my own work ! There are so many gals out in cyber space with so much creativity and so many wonderful ideas...and best of all they love to share...BOY AM I GLAD TO BE BACK ONLINE !!!

I have to figure out a face for these guys....so off I go searching......Have a beautiful Sunday !!

PREPARING FOR AUGUST.....

I know it is only the first week of July but when you are a storekeeper you have to always think ahead - these beautiful "posies" are perfect for August decorating...and will take you right up to Christmas by filling crocks and baskets with "life-like" blooms! When fall does arrive a few sprigs of bittersweet will look great amongst the flowers.
It did not feel like July weather today....a really beautiful spring day was more like it. Guess that is because the humidity we usually have was in hiding.....it can stay hid for me !!
The tomato patch has been harvested and we have lots to share with you....just look !!!
..I better get more jars ready for the garden's bounty so we can fill the pantry shelves for those cold winter months...
Hope your garden's are filled with lots of wonderful treasures ~!!!!!

SPURTS...

Did you ever notice that items in your store go in "spurts" ??? We have (had) really nice olde meat hooks....most of them handwrought....for $5.00 each. All clean and ready to use in your home - I had rows of them hanging from the ceiling (forever) and all of a SUDDEN - GONE ....not a one left...how did that happen? Seems like everyone wanted an olde hook instead of one of the cheaper new ones. Okay with me...however....trying to find more is always a chore as I add another item to the list of "things we need" !!

The picture above is a Baker's Cupboard....most likely from the early 50's....nice, chippy white paint and the dough board is there...woohoo!! All the glass knobs are original to the piece, however the agate top has some serious stains. I am the last person this would bother as they are easily covered (if you feel the need) with a homespun cloth or olde dough board.

WOOHOO AND TALLY-HO !!!

I am back online....oh my goodness hallelujah and all that jazz.....what a rig-a-ma-roll it was too. My sweet and very handsome, computer whiz neighbor did the final job. Don't ask me how cause he was configuring and reconfiguring and typing in numbers for over an hour and TA-DA...we got reconnected to the internet. I will be afraid to turn this machine off in case it disappears again!!!!
I can't wait to catch up with everyone - I have half a million emails to answer - a picture trail to update and blogs to read !!!
Keep your fingers crossed that my computer woes are over and all is well in Pennsylvania!!! Now I am off to make sure all my buttons and whistles work...so far so good.....!!!