~*Quiet Opening*~... this Saturday!

Hello Dear Friends!

Before I say anything else... let me first say my East Coast Friends are in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope you and your families are keeping safe with this terrible storm.  I've watching the news anchors on television... and it does look so awful and so scary.

Please keep safe!

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Many of you have read, I'm opening a teeny, tiny shop in my studio.  The Grand Opening won't be until January when I can set official store hours... but I am going to open it this Saturday for my ~*Quiet Opening*~... and expect to be in the store more and more as the days go by.  Once my stepDad has had his heart surgery and is all well again, the daily hours will be set.

So, I've been working hard at cleaning, pricing, organizing, and all the tiny details... and have been so super stressed wanting this to be a success.  Really, this is just a tiny shop... one room.  One little bitty room.  One room that is only about 12 by 14 feet!  (just over 150 square feet!)  Now... that is SMALL!  But, it is mine!  And I am very proud of what is has become!

Here is what I started with...

 The inside was full of old wallpaper... on the walls and the ceiling.  CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF THE BEFORE INSIDE.

 As with most things in life... it didn't come easy... and it didn't come quick.  The house didn't have electricity and was full of pack rats.  There have been some major changes!  This is what it looks like now...

 The room to the left (with the star over the window) still isn't done and probably won't be.   I'm using it for storage and furniture painting.  That part of the house is the original... on a hand dug basement... that I'm pretty sure is falling in.  One day, it will be removed completely.  One day, my dream is to add on to the shop in that location with new construction.  But that is one day... not now.

For now, I have two rooms.   Two small rooms.  One is the shop ~ where the door opens to.  One is my studio ~ the window to the right.

Here is how the shop is looking now...

 My patterns are stocked... with the models hanging in the studio room.  I didn't get the camera out in that room tonight except to snap a picture of my sign painting... at the end of this post.

I've managed to fill it up pretty good... and expect to be adding much more!

 I'm finishing up some small details... quickly.  Tonight I started painting the sign for the front yard.

 

I couldn't have done this without my loving husband, Tony... and the support of all my family & friends.  Thank you to each and everyone of you for giving me the strength and encouragement to fulfill my dream!

Friends that are close & wish to come by... the ~*Quiet Opening*~ is scheduled for this Saturday from 10:00~4:00.

2322 Road F5

Americus, KS 66835

Please know that I do hope to fill my tiny, teeny, weeny, little shop more and more over the next few weeks, months to come.  For the GRAND OPENING, I will have light refreshments and a couple of door prizes.  That will be in January... and I'll announce it here on my blog and on Facebook when the date is set.  This weekend is just a quiet, friendly get together for those that wish to stop by.  (I'll have a few Hershey's candy bars to share!)  I would enjoy visiting with you if you do stop.  *smile*

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

~*Wool Challenge*~

Hello Dear Prim Friends!  Here is something exciting & fun for you!  Have you already heard about the Wool Challenge Patchwork Posse is hosting?  I did mention it briefly awhile back... but it has started & I just know many of you will want to join in!

There is sure to be lots of fun, inspiration, tips, hints FREE PATTERNS... and did I say fun?

 Here is the first FREE PATTERN!

AWESOME!

I'm one of the guest artists (there are several!)... and while I don't call myself a wool expert by any shape or form... I'm giving a free pattern soon (mid November) & going to share some of what I know... what I do... well, what I KNOW I DO!  *smile*

So pop on over & check it out!

You can visit Patchwork Posse's ...WEBSITE... BLOG... FACEBOOK... OR TWITTER!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

p.s.  I'll share my pattern & finish soon... I need to get my camera on it!

 

~*Prim Sister Girls Club*~

Hi there Dear Prim Friends!  Just a quick note to let you know...

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the next Country Samplers Prim Sisters Girls Club patterns & model have reached the store!  Country Sampler has the patterns and my model... and I believe has opened up the group for a few more members!  The girls in the shop are working at kitting the pattern up... and plan to have it sent out mid November.

Here is my latest ditty for the club...

~*Winter*~ Journal Cover

 The cover was designed to fit a small notebook, photos, cards, your current novel, or an e~reader (like my Kindle).

 (with the notebook)

(with a Kindle)

 

It was great fun to design.  I kept it simple with the sampler, but added the bird with pomegranates to be a little 'Winter~festive'... and a border of very light tan around the edge to resemble icicles.  Oh, and I just LOVE the word 'Winter' with the deep red background!  Red is my FAVORITE color! 

I mailed the first bunch of patterns early this week... along with my model (that I already really miss! *smile*)... and heard from Jeanne that she would like a few more patterns.  Wonderful!

Thank you for letting me share with you!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

~*Pumpkin Time!*~

Hello Dear Friends!  I've been working setting up my new 'shop'... and have the opening day set for Saturday, November 3rd.  That date is very quickly approaching & there is so much that I want/need to do before that day arrives.  I'm taking baby sets... but this evening I stepped away to have a little PUMPKIN fun!  My dear MIL & FIL took us to the local pumpkin patch.  Trinity didn't waste any time climbing up to the top of the hay bales...

 On the drive there, we talked about the first time he visited this pumpkin patch.  He was only 3 then and in preschool... but that was so long ago.  Time really does go by too fast!

 It wasn't long before he found the pumpkin he wanted.  It was heavy for him, but he was able to put it in the wagon.

 And because it took so much out of him (or maybe it was just that I wanted to remember that 3 year old from so many years ago) I pulled him back up to the front.

 This coming Saturday, my in laws are hosting their annual pumpkin carving.  Many of the family members will be there for lunch, carving, and more fun.  Trinity has his pumpkin and is ready!

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I've been meaning to share this delight with you.  It arrived in the mail just the other day.  It is a sweet gift/prize from my buddy Jo...

 She made two very sweet pins ~ a bee and a bee skep.  She told me I was her favorite busy bee.  *smile*  Well, lately, I have been extremely busy that is for sure!  She also tucked in the yummy red wool and thread.  Red is my very favorite color!  Thank you so much, Jo!

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Besides working on the shop today and playing at the pumpkin patch, I stitched quite a bit.  However, I may be overly tired.  I kept miss-counting and having to take it out.  Over and over again today!  That stinks!  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.  I'm headed to bed soon to try to re-coop!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Primitive Handmades Mercanitle*~

Hello Dear Friends!  Just a quick note to tell ya... my page on Primitive Handmades Mercantile has been updated.  The other artists, if they aren't already done, are in the process of updating their pages now.  Be sure to swing by to see!  Ohhhh... so many great offerings ALWAYS!

Here are my wares for this month...

A one~of~a~kind, early look sampler... (no pattern has been made for this)...

 A sweet, little blue peacock ditty...

 A great, velveteen pear... (inspired by a pattern from Sassafrass Hill Primitives)

I hope you get a chance to visit the update this month.  Thanks for letting me share!

Wishing you warm smiles always...

Betty

~*Mid Week Update*~

Hello Friends & Happy Wednesday!  My week has been a blur... busy and stressful... but enjoyable too.

Trinity's 5th grade class put on a darling play today.  He was Paul Bunyan.  All the kids did great & every student in the class had a role.  If they didn't act in the play, they made the props or did special effects/background sound.  It was WONDERFUL!  The kids worked hard to put this together and they were just as proud of themselves as the teacher, school staff, and parents were.  This is one AWESOME bunch of GREAT KIDS!

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My StepDad's surgery has been schedule.  It will be November 13th.  The surgery is expected to take 7-8 hours... and it sounds like he will be in the hospital for about 10 days.  Your continued thoughts and prayers for him are greatly appreciated.  <3 br="br" kindly="kindly" nbsp="nbsp" so="so" thank="thank" very="very" you="you">

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With the encouragement from family and friends... I have decided on a date to open up the shop.  Saturday, November 3rd will be what I'm calling a "Soft Opening".  It simply means I'm going to open the door and greet customers who would like to visit.  That day I do expect to be in the shop the full day.  However, it looks like I won't be able to set my official store hours until probably January.  Although, I do plan to be there quite often from here on out.  Folks who wish to call first to check that I am in, are welcome to do so.  In January, I will have the official "Grand Opening"... with refreshments and possibly a door prize or two.  More on that ... and the shop to come.

Here is what I have going on right now... in my shop... oh what a mess...

 I've been gathering goodies here, there, and everywhere... and piling them up in my room (and our garage).  There have been other deadlines for me to meet, so I haven't had a chance to organize, display, or price anything.  I still have lots of furniture pieces to paint too!  Hopefully by this weekend, that WILL HAPPEN!

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One of the deadlines I have been working on is my next pattern for Country Samplers Prim Sister Girls Club.  It is finished!  As of last night!  I emailed Jeanne with details today.  I know you want to see it... and I will share it soon.

Since that deadline was met, I needed to work today on Primitive Handmades Mercantile.  It updates tomorrow night... before bedtime.  Here is my stitch clutter today...

This deadline is approaching very quickly... well, like I said, it is tomorrow!  Yikes!  I'm working on a few small offerings... thinking they will make great gifts.  Christmas is on its way!  Maybe these will make a good present to give a friend... or to yourself.  Tiny little stitches of sweetness!

I noticed something today.  Something that you probably won't want to hear about... but hey!  I'm human!  The stress must be taking it tole on me.  Yesterday was my annual doctor's check up.  All was fine.  She told me I was healthy.  She even said I could probably quit taking my bp meds.  Awesome!  Going gluten-free about 4 months ago has made a positive healthy change for me.  (Did I tell you about the gluten-free ordeal?)  However, today I noticed I seem to be getting a cold sore!  I've never had one before!  Those of you that have, I'm so sorry.  They are pretty crumby!!!  Of course, I noticed this after returning home from the grocery store where I could pick up some medicine for it.  Oh well, I'll be back in town tomorrow... if it gets worse over night, I'll grab some then.

Well, anyway... I have stitching to do & am sure you are grossed out now from the talk about my cold sore.  My warm wishes & smiles (hopefully without a cold sore!) for you...

Betty