Cannot Stop Smiling!

 

Folk For All Seasons booth at Autumn on The Green

     So much going on!  Did I mention that I love Fall!  Well I do.  This past weekend I took part in the most wonderful festival called, Autumn on the Green, (well this year it was Autumn Off the Green because of road construction and improvement work) in Danville, Vermont.  It is a one day event with more than 100 vendors selling all kinds of wonderful.  There were of course crafts, maple products, jams and jellies, antiques and food....wonderful food!  Something about ginger carrot soup, pulled pork sandwiches, gourmet cupcakes just spells good times to me!  Along with all of the wonderful booths and offerings, various groups performed good old fashioned music throughout the day.  My booth was situated perfectly to be able to take it all in.   This year being my first year with Halloween offerings and this being my first "official" public showing of them, I was nervous!  Thanks to my wonderful husband for putting up with, and alleviating  much of my anxiety with all of his help.   In the end, all could not have gone better.  I sold several pieces to good new homes and so many people were so complimentary and enthusiastic.  It is so heartening!  When you spend countless hours creating in solitude, sometimes some doubt can creep in.....will anyone like what I am doing? Of course your loved ones are always complimentary and encouraging, but you still wonder.  Well this weekend was just the shot in the arm I needed!   Ok, stopping now....sounding a bit Sally Fieldish! 

     An exciting development that came from the show.....my remaining Halloween characters are being exhibited at The Antique Rose Florist/Country Chique Antique Shop in Woodsville, New Hampshire.  Thanks so much to Karen Hatch, Ruth Hatch. A special thanks to Jody Engle longtime Santa and snowman collector for being my very first customer and your enthusiasm and support of my new offerings! 

FFAS at The Antique Rose Florist/Country Chique Antique Shop

 

So today the drive to Woodsville had me sipping on a pumpkin spice latte, listening to Crooked Still, The Lonesome Sisters, and Outlaw Social way to loud...with some off key singing, admiring the gorgeous foliage.  On the way back, I decided to pull off at the Wells River Fishing Access to finish my Subway lunch.  This spot is so pretty and relaxing with the prettiest river bend and lovely waterfall.  The foliage was not as bright as I thought it would be but still a very special place. 

 

 

 

     With the leaves falling to the ground comes the inevitability of colder days and nights and hopefully soon, a fire in the woodstove!  Cannot wait for that first cozy fire, and to break out my heavy wool sweaters.  Our weather has been pretty mild so far....in fact our forecast for the remainder of the week is pretty nice with temps in the high 60's expected for the end of the week.  I just  might sneak in one more kayak at the pond!  As much as I look forward to the fires in the woodstove I really dread the prospect of putting away the kayak for so many months.  I guess that is why things stay so special to us in this region. For that I am grateful.......for so many things I am feeling grateful today.

     Bill and Troy will be away this weekend at a golf tournament in Long Island, New York......I plan on locking myself in the house (except for that kayak!) and working from dawn to dusk on my last big push of shaping up Santa's and snowmen.  After this push it will be all about painting and finishing.  Stay tuned for some WIP posts coming real soon.

Till next time.............

 

Fall is in the Air!

 It has been a few weeks since I posted and I just cannot believe how quickly time goes by sometimes. Here in Vermont the seasons are changing and with the change comes one of my favorite times of year.  Autumn colors are emerging everywhere!  With a hint of nip in the air the jeans, sweaters and flannel have come out of storage and the flip flops are giving way to Crocs and clogs.  Football is back and with it so are Sunday dinner roasts and pies.  I love each seasonal change but this one is special. 

Our backyard maple tree showing signs of fall

 

Last week and weekend were spent getting ready for a big yard sale.  We started trying to schedule the sale in April and finally got to it last weekend!  It is so great to have it done and to be clutter free.....well, maybe not clutter free but less cluttered!  So after all our hard work last weekend, we decided to have some fun this weekend.  Yesterday we headed over to my favorite farmers market in Waitsfield.  It is just the best!  There is of course all of the usual wonderfulness (is that a word?) of a Vermont farmers market, with vendors selling everything from veggies, baked goods (amazing baked goods) goat cheese, eggs and a smattering of crafters.  In addition they always have live music!  Yesterday was a little chilly and a little gray but still so enjoyable.  I scored some beautiful golden beets, patty pan squash, goat cheese called "Madonna" and some of the best teriyaki marinade ever.  Bill and I split a HUGE blueberry muffin while we browsed.  Just a good time.....

 

 

 After the farmers market we headed to another of our favorite fall destinations, The Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Vt.  The minute you step out of your car the smell of cider donuts and apple pies cooking hit you.  We wandered around and got a gallon of cider and some spice bags to make hot spiced cider at home, but you just cannot leave without getting a cup to sip, so we did.  Is it weird that if we ever win Powerball I will be going back to make an offer they cannot refuse on this beautiful blue truck?

 My future ride

Love this!

                                                                                               

 In other exciting news.....Folk For All Seasons has a very nice feature spread in the Wool Street Journal magazine.  Thank you Bonnie Smith and Julie Thomas (from The Old Tattered Flag fame).  I previously wrote in another post about how this all came to be so check it out!  It was very exciting to open up the magazine and see some of my creations in full color.

 

 

                                                              FFAS in print

Action photos of Maya doing her favorite thing, playing Frisbee.  She would do this all day if she could.....we if we would!  She does not miss many and if she does she scoops up the Frisbee so quickly that you are not sure if she missed or not!
 

                                                           Good catch!


                      Santa and snowman production is in full swing.  These guys are all waiting for paint.  It is a Santa Claus takeover....they are all over the house in various states of doneness.  Lots of new characters and surprises to come so stay tuned!                               

 

 

The garden bounty is dwindling but still beautiful!  Cannot wait for the, "you can't get it any fresher" corn on the cob with our pot roast today!

 

 

 

 

I hope that no one minds..... but I have decided to extend the are you Funky or Folky give away a little bit.  I am also extending the choice!  So now are you Funky, Folky or Festive?  The lucky winner will be able to choose from the Sunflower pumpkin for Folky, the whimsical white pumpkin witch for Funky or the top hatted ghost with smiling pumpkin for Festive (Halloween Festive that is!)  So how do you enter?  Many ways!  You can become a follower of this blog by clicking the icon to the left at the top of this page, leave a comment on this post, like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Folk-For-All-Seasons or share any Facebook post.  Do any or all and you will be entered to win your choice of Funky, Folky or Festive.  Enter as many times or ways as you like.  I will draw the winner on Monday, September 23rd.  will  announce on this blog and my Facebook Page.

 

 

Until next time............

In Full Swing......Pun Intended! And A Giveaway!!

Things have been a little hectic around here and golf is mostly to blame!  The golf course where my husband is the superintendent, recently held the 2013 Vermont Amateur Golf Tournament.  To those who do not golf or who are not familiar with the obsession.....suffice it to say, it is kind of a big deal.  Well, this year made even a bigger deal because the tournament needed to be postponed because of all of  our inclement weather this summer.  Unprecedented in the tournaments more than 75 years!  Hard to believe especially in weather fickle Vermont.  Anyway, along with preparing the golf course for the tournament and all that goes along with it, Bill also caddied all 72 holes for our 16 year old son, Troy.  Because I can just not miss anything....I too walked along (from a fair distance away mind you) and watched every shot on every hole.  Our son did very well finishing tied for 8th!  I tell all of this not to brag or boost (well maybe a little) but so I can show these photos:

Father and Son Team Work

 



The whole experience was just one of those great memories that we will keep and cherish forever.  Immediately after the tournament concluded, the junior representatives for Vermont were selected to go to the New England Junior Tournament and Troy was chosen for the team, so off to Connecticut we headed for more golf!  Bill and I again saw every shot on every hole and really enjoyed the beautiful setting at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam Connecticut.  It is a really great experience for the kids and we really enjoyed it.  So long story short.....I have not really gotten very much work done over the past few weeks and it is really time to get busy!

Vermont Junior Golf Team at the New England Junior Tournament

 

I did manage to just list some more LARGE pumpkin pieces on Etsy. 

 

 

Also, got a little bit of organizing and preparation done for the shift to Christmas creating.

Just a small sampling of some of the goodies I have big plans for!

 

 Some Santa's starting to take shape

 

 

Autumn Giveaway!  Tell All Your Friends!

Last but not least!  I thought it would be fun to host a giveaway.  Are you Folky or Funky?   I chose two favorites from my stash of autumn creations and will be giving one away on September 15th. 

 

How can you win?  Lots of ways!  Become a follower of my Blog by clicking on the "Join this Site" button at the top of this page on the left side, like my Folk For All Seasons Facebook page by clicking here, or if you have already liked my Facebook page share my giveaway post(s) or any post for that matter, or lastly, leave me a comment here on my blog.  Enter as many times or ways as you like.  I will remind of the giveaway often on this site and Facebook until September 15th.   The lucky winner will be able to choose Funky (witch) or Folky (sunflower pumpkin). 

 

Till next time.........