~An Exciting Announcement ~

Good morning and Joyous April to you! As I'm sitting here enjoying my first cup of coffee and the sun is just starting to rise....crackles (a small black bird we have here in VT) are trying to build a nest in a basket I have hanging on the front porch and the wee chipmunk who lives in the rock wall of my garden is scurrying about collecting sunflower seeds! Oh how I love the early morning!

Tis also a wonderful time for making announcements:)

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~I AM VERY, VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE~

~Early Work Mercantile~

A new online monthly selling site for artists who create
~Early style folk art creations reminiscent of the 18th & 19th century~

Our Grand Opening will take place on
~ May 1st~

I'm am thrilled to say we have 27 fantastic artists
signed up to participate so far!

To view our homepage & see our artists list just click on the banner above!

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We still have openings so if you are an artist who creates early style folk art and would like participate, send me an email at vermontharvest@earthlink.net. Please be sure to include three photo's of your work and a link to your site if you have one. :) This is a juried site and I am also limiting the number of artists in each category.
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Have a wonderful day!

Doreen

Simply Primitives Offerings For April

Good Monday morning to you all. I know I'm putting this post up a bit early...however, I have several things to share with you over the next few days...one of which is an exciting new venture that I will be announcing on April 1st! It is something I am SO VERY EXCITED about & something I've wanted to do for a long time!

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Now to my offerings this month on Simply PrimitivesFirst is this tiny little trinket box topped with a lovely little pin keep. I purchased these sweet little mache boxes from my friend BJ of Daughternature Primitive Folk Art during her online yard sale...I actually think she still has some items available if you want to check it out..I purchased some wonderful things...two beautiful reproduction fabrics..one of which I used for this small pin keep.

I sanded & waxed the box...added an aged paper tag which has an olde dictionary definition, "To Sew; To work with a needle & thread. The pin keep is stuffed with my usual fragrant stuffing combination and has some primitive stitches on it's edges. It is securely attached to the top of the box with aged cotton string. The entire piece measures just over 3"! So SwEeT!

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My 2nd & final offering is this lovely velvet strawberry made from vintage mohair velvet!! This is wonderful velvet that I received as a gift from a very generous friend :)

I over dyed the fabric too deepen the color then stuffed the berry in my usual manner & topped it with a blanket stitched wool cap made from a vintage wool blanket.

Then finished it off with an antique satin button, a pearl hat pin and an aged paper tag featuring Miss Goody Two Shoes.:)

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Now I'm off to finish up an order & send in my offerings for the upcoming TEA Web show which will be taking place on April 4th. I'm also hoping to dust ..... and mop the floors today...but that may have to wait until tomorrow!

Have a wonderful day everyone!
Hugs,
D

~Sugaring Season~Making Vermont Maple Syrup

Good day. :) I wanted to share a few pictures from our days......and nights..(long nights for Mark, Mike & Gary) of this years "Sugaring". The sap is still running great and there is still lots left to boil before this year comes to a close! I took these pictures last Saturday night...Mark's brother Jason was here from Colorado and it was so great to be able to have him come to the Sugar House for a visit.(from L to R, Gary, Jason, Mark & Pa)

Now..these pictures are not the best...as ..there is no electricity in the Sugar House.....it is lit with gas lanterns which throw off a lovely glow..but..make the pictures look not so great.
Now...this syrup is made the old fashioned way..with a wood fired evaporator...and everything done by hand...to quote Mike..who says; "I'll burn the place down before we put electricity and an oil fired evaporator in it!!!!!"(Gary "Firing" the evaporator)

If you did not know any better..you would swear...Mike and Mark....were 95 years old as they are both very old fashioned and set in their ways...NOT that I disagree with the way they make syrup because it is amazing and the fact that it's wood fired..and that they are so very meticulous with the cleanliness of things (if it comes in contact with sap/syrup and the equipment...it's spotless) is the reason folks say it is the best syrup they've ever had...."You stick with what works!!!

In the Sugar House....Gary does the firing....Mark determines when the sap is syrup and makes the draws..and Micheal does all the canning!


(Sweet smelling sap steam rising from the front pan)
( A shot of the steam rising from the front pan..pay no attention to the numerous bottle of whiskey in the background..over the years Mark and Micheal have agreed that it takes almost as much beer and whiskey as it does sap to make a gallon of syrup!!!!):)


(Mark, Micheal and Jason)(Mark & Gary)

(Mark testing the sap...sap becomes syrup at 219*. 7* over the temperature that water boils)


(The sap is ready...here's Mark making a "Draw"...that is pure syrup coming out of that spout!)


(Mark showing Jason how to check the syrup with the Hydrometer and test cup)

(This is sap..that had been dripping from the broken tree in our front yard...it got cold..and it froze..mmmmm a sap cicle!!!!)

That's all for now..i'm headed out to walk down to the sugar house now actually! Have a great day!

~I'm in an Etsy Treasury~

~My Early Homestead Pin Keep is featured in an Etsy Treasury~ Thank you Laural for including me in this. If you click on the picture it will take you to the treasury...lot's of wonderful stuff!

~A Few New Pieces & Happenings~

Good afternoon everyone....I've been meaning to do a new blog post for three days now but time just seems to keep getting away from me......fitting in my new walking, eating right, healthy living routine has taken some adjustment..but I'm doing it and it's all working out just fine.....I always seem to end up getting everything done.....so no sense worrying about it! I feel so much better just getting out and getting a good workout....the spring birds are chirping away and flittering all over the place and the sun is so warm..of course..its still chilly..but it feels so good....it helps my mind relax and organize what I need to get done...... what I would like to get done.... organize orders, go over patterns in my head and come up with new ideas (my mind is full of them lately) I've been sketching up a storm!

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I've had a bunch of requests for my Primitive Pears pattern so I decided to take the time to remake them before offering the pattern....they are now finished and the pattern is ready to go and will be listed on my website on Sunday. The Finished Set of Prim Pears will be available on Simply Primitives on the 15th.....here's a sneak peek at my other offerings as well:)






I will also have a new piece available on Ebay on Sunday...as part of The Prim & Whimsy Girls...A Bird In The Hand Challenge. Here's a little sneak peek at my offering;
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I also have a new private blog ....A Doll Makers Journey.....click on the picture of the bird in the column to the right if you would like to join......leave me a comment and I will send you an invite.....There's lot's of new & exciting things in the works!

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Jenna & Kurt along with their sweethearts and four other friends from school are right now on their way to Key West, Florida for Spring Break!!! Imagine how warm and sunny it will be there!!! They are driving down..camping out along the way and once they get there.... an oceanfront campsite...!!!! Awwww....to be young and adventurous again! This trip has me a little nervous....it is after all their first official..we are adults now...no parents along........ trip!!! GOSH....They grow up in the blink of an eye!

I'm off now to get dinner started..Have a great night!

Doreen

Three Little Kittens Prim Set & The Prim & Whimsy Gallery Hop

~Three Little Kittens Primitive Prairie Set~

Good morning everyone. We have a major winter storm hitting us right now..the snow started about 6:30 this morning and there is a howling, obnoxious wind accompanying it. It's gusting down through the stove pipe and giving my poor little wood stove fits...every few minutes it sounds like it's going to explode it's roaring so loud then a small bit of smoke sneaks out the damper..this should be an interesting day that is for sure! I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the power will stay on but I'm getting my candles out just in case!

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I wanted to let everyone know that the Prim & Whimsy Girls Gallery Hop is now officially taking place. Do be sure and stop by to see what lovelies are being offered. I listed Young Miss Potter and Miss Crissy Forsythia as they are still available and with everything going on this past week....time just got away from me.

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I did finish up a new set to put on my website. I just love this set of Prairie Kittens inspired by the Nursery Rhyme "The Three Little Kittens" which has always been a favorite of mine.

They are completely stuffed with sawdust and have lightly penciled faces. Their little cotton dresses are hand stitched and they hold little aged paper "Little Golden Books". They are listed under "Wee Creatures" on my website.

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I'm off now to get the house picked up, throw in a load of laundry and then get busy creating! Have a wonderful day everyone and if this snow storm is hitting your area..do be careful & stay warm!
Doreen