~*Shop Opening*~

Hello Dear Friends!  Thank you again for all your encouragement & support on my new venture!  I opened the shop this past Saturday... and it was wonderful!  I didn't expect to be 'busy' with a huge crowd, but I am thrilled that I was able to meet and greet many kind folk!  Thank you to all those who stopped out... and I do hope to see you again.

My sweet SIL, Robin, spent the day with me.  We crafted between customer visits.  My beloved, Tony, picked up a pizza (gluten free!) for lunch.  (We sat around my work table and devoured it when there was a break between customers.)  And... my Mom & StepDad came down (they live an hour away) to see & wish me the best.  It truly was a GREAT day!

 Until I'm able to set my regular hours, I've been popping over & opening up the shop at random.  We live on a busy road, so the sign is very noticeable to passers~by.

Tony snapped a few photos of us while we were all visiting.  I'm not sure what my StepDad was talking about at the time... but he always has a good story to tell.  I am so glad he & my Mom came down for a visit.  He is doing well.  He has quit smoking his pipe (finally!) and is much more energetic.  His surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday.  

(my mom June, Robin, and stepdad John)
 
Spending more time in the studio has given me more time to craft on things.  My supplies have been mostly over there since the inside was re~done a few years back.  Up until the shop opening, I was toting things back and forth from the house to the studio... and wasn't getting much accomplished.  But now... I am!

I started hooking on this yesterday...

 And finished the hooking on it today.  There is another one started too that didn't get photographed today.

 I've also been stitching.  I made a small 'wrap' for this old bottle.  Just a simple 'prim'...

 I also stitched up a few smalls from a Stacy Nash booklet.  The stain is a tad too dark maybe?  Still prim goodies...

I'm enjoying the shop... and enjoying the time spent in my studio.  It is a dream come true!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends & Happy Friday to ya!  I do hope you are all doing well.  My friends on the East coast... I do pray you are safe!  I am so sorry for your struggles, sufferings, and losses.  My prayers are with you!

Tomorrow is my big 'Quiet' Opening day... from 10am to 4pm.  I'm nervous, worried, excited, and happy.  A whole lot of  mixed emotions!  The 'Quiet' Opening is just a simple thing... I'm just opening the door and greeting anyone who happens to stop by.  The 'Grand' opening will have refreshments and door prizes.  Tomorrow, my sweet SIL, Robin, is going to be with me.  We plan to craft the day away in the studio... and hopefully visit with customers.  *smile*

I only have a few things to finish getting ready... mainly sweeping the floor.  I moved my Boston Ferns into the shop a few weeks back when the temperatures began to drop... and now their leaves are sprinkling on the floor.  

Today is Friday... and I'm happy to share a finish with you.  This is a simple finish using a freebie of mine called ~*Best Friends*~.  It has been made by AnaCristina.  She has been busily stitching away and has many finishes to share on her blog post.  Each one is a treasure!

  

Very charming, AnaCristina!  Thank you for stitching and sharing!

The update for Early Work Mercantile was yesterday.  You may have noticed I had to put a banner up explaining I was taking a break.  I'm not really 'taking a break'... I'm just very over~extended right now.  Next month, I do have plans to be back on track!  I also have plans to get busy stitching away on the patterns I REALLY WANT TO RELEASE!  Really I do!

Wising you warm smiles...

Betty

~*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