~Joyous Thanksgiving ~

~May you have~
~A home filled with those you love~
~A bountiful table~
~And much to be thankful for~

. Many blessings to you & yours,
Doreen

~Teddies Worldwide Holiday Bear Show Is Now Open~

~Good morning. It is a cold, cloudy and blustery day here today. Perfect for an online Teddy Bear show....don't you agree :) Now...you know me...I like to chat however, today I have a very busy day...the show is taking place & soon I need to meet my sister so that we may go pick up my son..who is playing basketball with some friends ~he's home from college for 2 weeks..YAY :) (Jenna will be here on Wednesday ..double yay :) And....we are also doing a bit of Christmas shopping and our Thanksgiving grocery shopping (not looking forward to this part)..so anyway..I need to keep this short & sweet. :)

The Teddies Worldwide Holiday Bear Show is now open..
(Click on the banner above to visit the show)


this bear show is such a wonderful thing. Daphne has done a wonderful job of bringing us all together for this online show..not an easy task..there are 75 of us...the best benefit to all of this is we've all made some very wonderful and very dear friendships because of this show :).

I have four offerings available;

This is Putney...I AM SOOO PROUD of this guy..he is by far, my best bear yet....I have finally stopped being afraid of the very expensive mohair..and just got in there and went to town and I am so happy that I did....I LOVE him (he actually sold while I was writing this post :)Yay)


Next is Walden...who is enjoying The Annual Skate On Waldorf Pond.
Look at those cute little skates..and the pond...(which is a mirror of course)..it was truly snowing while I was taking these pictures :)...It was so great!

Gosh I just love this little guy :)

Next is Holly who is decorating a small tree outside her home.....She's spreading Christmas cheer :)

And..last (but certainly not least) is my creation for the Under $50 category....

A Woodland Sheep...Oh how I love sheep..I think they are VERY Christmassy don't you? :)

Wishing you an absolutely beautiful Weekend :)Doreen

~It'sThat Time Of Year~

Oh yes..it is definitely that time of year when things gets crazy & oh so wonderful. The fire is now going 24 hours a day, my favorite pine candles are lit and you just never know when you will glance out the window & see snow gently falling. Along with the hustle and bustle of filing orders and working on new offerings I have been gathering my recipes, scouring through my cook books, writing menu's and lists galore and searching for the ultimate stuffing recipe to accompany that glorious bird!


Now, we do not eat at home on Thanksgiving day..we eat an early dinner at Mark's parents around 1:00 and then a late dinner at mom & dad's at 6pm...regardless of the fact that we do not eat at home...I've always made a turkey with all the fixings, here at home, so that we were able to have all those fantastic turkey leftovers..I mean what is Thanksgiving without that wonderful turkey sandwich the next day, usually enjoyed while playing scrabble or monopoly with the family..it's one of my favorite parts!

The last four years however, I've gotten out of the habit of doing this because I've had a show the day after Thanksgiving....so Thanksgiving had unfortunately..gotten hectic...we ran around from house to house..all the while I was thinking about what I should be doing to get ready for the show & what I needed to pack and bring....I had show stuff all over the house & worst of all...the kids were home from college and I barely got to spend any time with them..NOT THIS YEAR! Mark & I decided that last year..was indeed that..... the LAST time I was going to do shows (outside our home) during the holidays. This year we are getting back to the way our Holidays use to be...enjoyable..relaxing.. our home filled with our children, family & friends..playing scrabble, monopoly & cards..sipping wine & mulled cider by the fire and enjoying each others company while delicious aromas of homemade food fills our home.

So..this is why..I'm searching for the perfect stuffing. I do NOT like that gooey wet stuffing that cooks inside the bird (yuck)..I want one made with big chunks of homemade bread, apples from our local orchard, fresh sausage, sage & onions...all baked to perfection in it's own dish......:) I'm still looking for that recipe..but most likely...I'll just fly by the seat of my pants and do what I usually do ....make up my own :)..............................

~New Offerings ~

"How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait, like children, for the snow."

- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

Joyous November to you. This first morning of November has dawned cold with snow flurries floating through the air...it is absolutely perfect! Oh, how I love this time of year. The anxious anticipation of snow, the festive decorations, the smiles and laughter, the celebrations with family & friends, cooking, baking and the simple coziness of home. As you may have noticed, I have added a play list with a few Yuletide snowy songs to get in the holiday spirit and Miss Winter once again graces us with her presence :)...you have no idea how anxiously I have been waiting to change my banner and add this lovely holiday music. :)

So....On this first glorious day of November I have three new offerings available on Early Work Mercantile.

First is Prudence Moore..

I think I say this a lot with my dolls..but this gal gave me a very hard time! I guess for me...dolls are more difficult to complete than my bears or other little mohair moppets...I love sculpting the dolls faces and watching them come to life..but when it comes down to dressing them and creating a completed look..it's hard for me..I know how I want them to look..but "they" never seem to agree with my ideas..as is usually the case, an argument ensues which ultimately ends with me giving in to "their" ways and giving them what they want! I guess I should just stop fighting it. I set out to make Prudence an old grandma turkey, wearing a shawl..perhaps a bit hunched over & holding a big loaf of homemade acorn bread....however, Prudence would have nothing to do with that..she wanted to be a bit younger..a bit fancier and more graceful. And please... a loaf of bread......She would have nothing to do with that....She did not care in the least that I had already spent the time creating this loaf of bread for her!! She did, however, concede toward the end and allow me to add a few "gray hairs" in that lovely updo of hers.

Regardless of my thoughts and her thoughts...I had this photo in mind while making her and now that I look back on it..I really do think she resembles this lovely albeit frazzled mama turkey!!!

In the end...I am very happy with how she came out..she's really quite lovely and I was still able to come up with a story to accompany her..so I will complain no more :)

I also now have available these fantastic Father Christmas Tree Ornies..they are so full of wonderful detail ..I just love them.



And last, but certainly not least, is this lovey Blackened Beeswax Hen.

I have one on my dining room table, placed in an olde wooden bowl with a bit of dried grass and she looks so lovely and festive :)
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Thank you all so very much for stopping by and I wish you a wonderful day :)D