SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING...

comes to the store everyday....today it was total "chaos".....Every display I made with my Turkey Hollow Folkart treasures,that arrived yesterday,were taken apart...SOLD....and all had to be put back together again...lucky for me I had some goodies "stashed" for Black Friday. New dips (the absolute best made) and soups from Castle Creek Farm are now fully stocked just in time for Thanksgiving....so hurry in this weekend and be sure to try our Herbal Cranberry Spread which we will be serving! #1 Seller !!!

I have always collected olde country store jars....and sell many in the store...AND I am always sad when they sell - I am just a silly olde storekeeper who would love to keep everything -HOWEVER, I do have the bestest customers and know all our countrywares are going to good homes where they will be loved. Such a rewarding feeling!

Here is a picture of some olde quilt pillows from Turkey Hollow - Barb either cross-stitched or stitched on each one...still available....

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING...

Angels are singing all over the store.....bringing you Christmas cheer and well wishes. There was a time when I couldn't get enough angels to sell....and for some reason they are not the biggest sellers anymore. ???? !! The ones flying above are made by Dianne Galloway and are just too sweet! Stuffed with cotton they have the feel of long ago....I can't imagine anyone not wanting to hug one!

The next photos are of Terri's (The Olde Button Tin) snowflakes....made from vintage doilies with handworked snowmen in the center....the back has a circle of wool covering the tiny stitches. Always coming up with something unique, Terri likes to use vintage "everything" in all her creations...like this olde perfume bottle as a "make-do" mitten base....tiny flecks of glitter and a tag that reads "Snowy Days"...makes it so special !It is a "dreary" morning here in PA and I think I heard another Nor'easter was headed our way...glad it is NOT SNOW!! I do not have any kind of "relationship" with snow...I know it is "olde age"...but it is what it is!! (Tony's favorite saying to me) !!!

ALSO ...

For Ginny - these are the pillows from Terri of The Olde Button Tin - made from Vintage feedsacks. The MERRY CHRISTMAS and PEACE, along with the "straight lines", are stencilled on. The other one is called the "Christmas Rose" and is done in "penny rug" style right onto the feedsack top - in hand dyed wools. All are stuffed with cotton for that oldetime softness. ENJOY !!

PS...not as dark as picture shows on the penny rug one!

The backs -

THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG....

Just an observation - I don't sell many "stockings" at Christmas ???????????????????? Not sure why...I have many, many, many in my Christmas collections at home. Fabric ones from olde quilts, feedsacks, wool - wooden ones from 2 inches to 2 feet - even some vintage red flannel ones from long ago. Some are handpainted, some stenciled and some just plain. I display them in make-do "garlands" - all sizes and shapes - on my beams in the living room. I always have plenty in the store - slowly - year by year - they sell - ?????

I WENT SHOPPING FOR...

GLITTER today...and did I ever find some cool stuff....Martha of course. She has "tinsel" glitter and I couldn't wait to get home and play with it. (make messes is more like it) Tony is away for a couple days so I can make all the messes I want - !!! I really shouldn't be playing I SHOULD BE CLEANING...BUT..................there's always tomorrow to do that !!!

Terri Leamer, and olde friend and artist, stopped at the store yesterday bringing me some Christmas cheer. A Santa, an angel, a Christmas pinkeep, 3 really cool pillows (she works with vintage feedsacks) a couple embrodiered doilies...(she has the best ideas) cute little stockings that will make a sweet gift sack - I know there was more but my mind is blank right now. Dianne made us 6 little primitive angels - cotton stuffed with ticking wings too... everything will be for sale Wednesday when we reopen....along with my TURKEY HOLLOW GOODIES!! Can't wait to get that box - it should arrive on Wednesday. I love when the store gets restocked each week....honestly, it is almost daily that new goods are arriving. There is only one cross stitched pillow left by Susan Hoover but she promised to work hard (gosh you can't cross stitch fast) and get some new ones to us. These make wonderful gifts - she stitches her own primitive designs and these are new to the store.

I am seeing so much of the "OLDE" crafts becoming popular again...stenciling, cross stitch, embrodiery - I wonder what statement is being made ???????????

Arriving from Turkey Hollow, Washington Wednesday !!

REMINISCING....

This time of the year I am a "wanna-be Candy Store owner" - there are not many left around us. I do have a favorite....Gardner's Candy not 10 minutes from the store. Every Christmas since I moved to Hereford, I played "candy store".... EXCEPT this year....and it saddens me. DARN ECONOMY - made me make a decision that is NOT fun! Yesterday I just HAD to make a "candy display" though - so above are the "before bad economy" picture and after ! The candy that I purchased always sold well but was very "pricy"...really yummy!!! This year I decided to forego the $$$$'s that normally would be spent on "gourmet goodies" in fear that customers would not be in the mood to spend frivolously. I think it was the right decision but can't wait till everything gets back on track for everyone...!!!

Oh and the rain yesterday.....NEVER HAPPENED ! But it was windy all day...and yes I was running thru the parking lot picking up greens!!!!

CRAZY DANG WEATHER !!

It is so windy here - all night and this morning (and I am grateful I do not live at the Jersey shore right now)...what a mess it is on the news. Another Nor'easter is upon us - no rain yet but so much wind ! I am afraid to see what the wind has done to all the outside greens that were sprinkled here and there at the store - I picture myself running thru the parking lot gathering evergreens and bows!! IN THE RAIN !! Ahhhh the life of a storekeeper!

New handcrafted pics arrived from Dianne....so sweet...I just love her work and what a wonderful gift - UNIQUE ! Tiny pieces of fabric scraps make up the picture with embroidered features. I just don't take good pictures as I don't know how to focus the lighting so you just have to believe me when I say they are great. (pictured above) The one with the children building the snowman - in the snow are his nose, hat, scarf and all the little pieces of coal that will bring him to life - artistic imagination at it's best!

Tony is keeping me busy with all the neat antique finds he is cleaning up and giving me for the store. I keep making new displays and it is fun...although yesterday I took apart a wall upstairs and didn't get it back together until 4 pm....hammer, nails all sitting right out in the open for customers to see! yi yi yi !!