Primitive and Folk Artists - PAFA

Freebie Friday

2012-03-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!!
We have some wonderful PAFA Team Member Blog Giveaways to share with everyone today.

Brandy at Lil' Prim Cabin is giving away this Primitive Grungy Ancestor Soy Candle. Her giveaway ends 3/31/12. The scent is Hot Buttered Cinnamon, doesn't it sound yummy!

Deb at Paxton Valley Folk Art is hosting a Paying It Back Giveaway that ends on March 20th. The winner will be able to choose from four of her wonderful creations.

Brenda at Rusty Thimble is hosting a March giveaway for this perfectly prim bunny. Her giveaway ends 3/31/12.

Hope you all have a chance to visit these blogs this weekend and enter for these wonderful giveaways.

The PAFA Etsy Team

Living History

2012-03-08T09:39:00.000-05:00

Fort Boonesboro, KY

One of my favorite places to visit for primitive inspiration is Boonesboro, built in 1775 by Daniel Boone, and only about an hour from where I live. Boonesboro is now a living history museum and park, with special events throughout the year and a well-stocked gift shop.

For primitive and folk artists, a visit to a local historical site can be both inspiring and sobering. We strive to replicate the look of early America in our homes, but after a good day of crafting and decorating we may quickly vacuum the floors, pop dinner in the microwave, and settle down in front of the television. We may have primitive decor in our kitchens, but our stoves light at the touch of a button and the food is right there in the fridge or freezer.

Memorial House Kitchen,VA

A visit to a local historical site can remind us of what living a primitive lifestyle was really like! Fireplaces are lovely, but I'm forever grateful I don't depend on one for heating and cooking my home. But the visit can also be very inspirational. Historical sites and museums are usually filled with antiques from the period, and what better way to see what a primitive home really looked and felt like?

Every state in this country has a selection of historical sites and living history museums. You can find the ones in your area by simply doing a Google search for your state, or by contacting your state's department of tourism.

Thick, hearty, packed with flavor ~ Chili

2012-03-07T23:46:00.000-05:00

3/4 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

2 cloves minced garlic

1 - 16 oz. can tomatoes, cut up

1 - 16 oz. kidney beans, drained

1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce

3 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

In a large saucepan, cook ground beef, onion, green pepper, and garlic until the meet is brown. Drain fat. Stir in undrained tomatioes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, chili powder and other spices. Cover and simmer for30 minutes.

Enjoy,

~Natalie

Monday Merchant Circle

2012-03-05T10:41:00.000-05:00

Good Monday Morning Followers and welcome to

Monday Merchant Circle with

The Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team

today we would like to introduce you to

Karen of Country Cottage Soaps

Karen offers

Handcrafted Primitive Gift items, Including Herbal Soaps, Salves,

Bath and Body Care Products, Candles and

Potpourri's and Garden Gifts

Be sure and check out her etsy shop Here

And next we have Mona of MR Originals

Mona describes her originals as have a story behind

every doll and quilt.

Have a wonderful Week

Spotlight Saturday #5

2012-03-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Spotlight Saturday here on the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy team blog where we introduce you to our newest team members. Today we have two new shops for you to explore, let's start things off by introducing you to Terry of My Adelines Place.

Terry tells us that they specialize in customization and that everything in their shop is hand painted, no stenciling or stamping here! They have a wonderful variety of items, the Primitive Tea Stained Muslin Valance pictured above is but one of the options they have on offer and look at all of their great hand painted lamp shades:

This Salt Box Sheep Linen Lamp Shade is but one example, make sure you head on over to check them out!

Next we'd like you to meet John of Moco Primitive.

John hales from Peterstown, West Virginia and does wonderful primitive and custom wood work. Don't you love the Bread Box pictured above? Or how about this Step Stool crafted from solid oak?

Wonderful work and John says that it can be finished in whatever primitive style you'd like, just give him a convo!

We hope that you can take a minute to visit the shops of our newest team members to view their items, they are both very talented and a great addition to our wonderful team! And speaking of team, there is still time for you to check out all of the great Spring items our team has put together for you for our Spring Forward With The Etsy Team Celebration!

Search SFPAFA on Etsy right through to March 6th to find hundreds of wonderful creations from the hearts and hands of our talented artisans. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today, have a wonderful weekend and we will see you again on Monday!

Freebie Friday

2012-03-02T01:00:00.001-05:00

Good Friday Everyone!

The weekend is almost here, just a few hours to go! Today we would like to share a free pattern offered by Chris W. Designs. This is for her purse design "Coco". For you sewers out there, this is a fabulous find. Such a cute bag.

One of our PAFA Team members also has a tutorial on her blog for making Primitive Easter Eggs from those dollar store plastic eggs. You may even have some stashed away in your Easter decorations, as well as the other supplies on hand that are needed to make these. Please check out Wendy at Ravenwood Whimzies blog for all the details.

She makes it look so easy on her tutorial. There is also a story about her husband mixing up elderberry jam with a jar of "grunging" that somehow ended up in the fridge. Too funny!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

The PAFA Etsy Team

Winners of Our Spring Giveaway

2012-03-01T08:51:00.001-05:00

Good Morning Followers

It is time for the PAFA team to announce the winners

yes all 33 of them

This will take some time to put together

so if you are a winner please note that

your profile or email address will be sent to the

member donating the prize you have won and you

will be getting an email from them for your address

Congratulations to all Winners

Winner of Birds donated by *Sharon of Mustard Seed* is *Pinetreeprims*

Winner of Rabbit set donated by Sharon of Mustard Seed is *Imsteelefullofscrap*

Winner of plaques donated by *Jan of RaggedyJan*
is *Sweet Pepper Rose*

Winner of Bee Skep donated by *Deana of Old Goat Prims* is *The Primitive Pantry*

Winner of the Room spray donated by *Kris of Maple Street Shoppe* is *The Bear's Blog*

Winner of the arrangement donated by *Sheila of Country Impressions* is *Cyndis Distinctive Creations*

Winner of the Bird House donated by *Alan of krugs Studio* is *From Melanieshometoyours*

Winner of The Rabbit donated by *Mary of Keep Sake Designs* is *Diane M*

Winner of Bumble Bee Votive Jar donated by *Carol of Firecracker Kid* is *letsgosew*

Winner of Easter Stitchery donated by *Valerie of YorkiesPrimitives* is *Rusty bucket Prims*

Winner of Rabbit donated by *Brenda of The Rusty Thimble*
is *Happiness is Cross Stitching*

Winner of Sheep Tarts donated by *Brandy of Lil Prim Cabin* is *Prim Crafts*

Winner of Garden Canvas donated by *Donna of Ctryside Cottage* is *Lee Hill Primitives*

Winner of Decorated Clothespins donated by *Sandy of Stuff Depot* is *MamaTkins*

Winner of Owl donated by *Gena of Appalachian Doll* is *Folded Gingham*

Winner of E Pattern for Easter Eggs donated by *Cathie of Country Garden* is *Sew Yorkie*

Winner of Garden Bunny donated by *Lisa of Stitch in Time patterns* is *The Barely There Primitive Bear*

Winner of Rabbit donated by *Carol of Doxie Doo* is *Bumblebeelane*

Winner of The vintage Veggie slicer donated by
*Martha of Apple Tree Cottage* is *Primcats*

Winner of the Painted Bunny donated by *Patsy of Lollipopexpress* is *Glen Oaks Primitives*

Winner of Rabbit Makedo donated by *Deb of My Stitches to Treasure* is *Buttermilk Creek Farm*

Winner of Rabbit donated by *Michelle of Mondays Child Prims* is *Pokeberry Primitives*

Winner of the appliqued Tree pillow donated by *Sue of Wicked Faerie Queen* is *Scrappalachia*

Winner of Chenille Rabbit donated by *Annie of Olde Annie Primitives* is *ThePrimitiveSkate*

Winner of Hoppy Spring Donated by *Barb of Barb's Heartstrokes* is *Sherry*

Winner of the Beeswax Rabbit Ornaments donated by
*Teresa of TeresasPrimTreasures* is *The primtive Hutch*

Winner of the Rabbit donated by *Kim of The Barn Hollow* is *Eagles Wings*

The winner of the Spring Blocks donated by *Vicky of Paint Spots N Splinters* is pending LOL vicky let me know thank you

Winner of the Cherokee Comb Basket donated by *Ann of 1802 Ohio Farm Baskets* is *The cutting Edge of Ordinary*

The Winner of the Rabbit donated by *Laura of Cave Creek Primitives* is *Meadowbrook Cabin*

The Winner of the Sunflower Bowl fillers donated by

*Deb of Paxton Valley Folkart* is *Country Pickins*

The winner of the Rabbit donated by *karen of Buttons In The Attic* is *Kathy H*

I would like to say thank you to all of the PAFA members that donated these wonderful prizes. And Big congrats to all the lucky Winners

This may take me some time today to get the info out to the winners and those that donated your prize so please be patient and be sure to check your spam mail

Have a wonderful day

From the PAFA etsy team

Tuesday's Treasures!

2012-02-28T10:42:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Friends!

I've a few "Treasuries" to share with you that have been

made by some of our PAFA Team members!

We are still going strong with our "Spring Forward Celebration" so take a peek at some of the WONDERFUL variety that our Artists have to offer you!

AND

Stop by any of these Etsy shops and browse their various items! You'll be glad you did!

Monday Merchant Circle

2012-02-27T18:12:00.001-05:00

The Primitive and Folk Artists of Etsy would like to

share a couple of their members with you today

We do hope you will take the time to visit these artists

Sonya Smith of **Mayberry Prims**

Sonya and Her husband and I own a retail store Mayberry Primitives located at

215 North Main Street, downtown Mount Airy, North Carolina

Mount Airy is cradled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northwest North Carolina. Also known as the Granite City, it is the home to the largest open-faced granite quarry in the world. Mount Airy is best known as the

boyhood home of Andy Griffith

Sonya does several styles of items from Wood signs to sewn items as well

Be sure to Visit Mayberry Prims

next we have **Ninnas Attic**

Ninnas Attic is a a family owned shoppe specializing in primitive and country wares.

They are located in Western Pennsylvania and enjoy spreading

homespun blessings through our handmade creations.

Be sure and Visit Ninnas Attic Here

In the left sidebar at the top you will see

the button for the giveaway we are still taking entries

and will until Feb the 29th

33 Prizes and 33 Winners

And our Spring forward Celebration will run

until the 6th of March

**So click here and enjoy all of the spring offerings**

Spotlight Saturday #4

2012-02-25T13:38:00.000-05:00

Good Saturday morning everyone. It's time for another Spotlight Saturday here at the PAFA Etsy team blog where we introduce you to our newest PAFA team members. And today, we would like you to meet Linda of the Village Needler.

Linda says that she's been sewing since she was a youngster and has memories of sitting underneath the cutting table where the older 4-H'ers cut out their garments and using the scraps for her doll. She sewed dresses and outfits for her two daughters and now, as Grandmother to 5, she continues to sew and create for them as well.

Linda, is that cutie pictured above one of your grandchildren? How adorable is she and how cute is the Easter Ladybugs Sundress she's wearing?!

We hope you can take a minute to stop in and visit Linda's shop, not only does she has the cutest children's clothing but also some lovey stitchery pillows and quilts as well. We also wanted to remind you that time is running out to enter our Spring Forward With The PAFA Team Giveaway:

Click the button above to go to our giveaway post to enter, remember, there are 33 gifts being given away to 33 lucky entrants so your odds are pretty darn good!

And while you are over at Etsy visiting Linda's shop, be sure to search for SFPAFA to find all of the wonderful spring themed items on offer from our talented artisans for our Spring Forward With The PAFA Team Celebration!

On checking this morning, there were 229 items on offer from our artisans for your shopping pleasure! Have a great weekend and we'll see you again on Monday, happy shopping!

Freebie Friday

2012-02-24T01:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Have you heard about the new website, "Craftsy"? They have online classes, workshops, patterns and projects. It is a great place to go if you want to learn how to do something new. They offer classes in knitting, jewelry making, paper crafting, just loads of things.

But most importantly, they have FREE patterns!! You may need to sign up/join their site to get the freebies, but it will be worth it. Here are just a few of the freebies you can find on their website:

Cozy Cocoa - this is a decorated layer cake!!

This one is a paper flower!! - just amazing!

Upcycled Wool Stockings-just too cute!

So many FREE projects and patterns to choose from. There are others under the headings of Gardening, Quilting, Crocheting, Knitting . . . you are sure to find something, no matter what medium you work with, or would like to learn about!

Just a reminder to join the PAFA Etsy Team for our Spring Forward Celebration. There are new items being added almost daily. Go to ETSY.com and type SFPAFA in the search bar under the heading of "handmades" to see what our talented team has been up to!!

Have a great weekend!!

The PAFA Etsy Team

Fabrics for Prim Crafting

2012-02-23T08:15:00.000-05:00

There are no hard and fast rules concerning the best fabrics to use for primitive and folk art crafting, but there are a few 'industry standards' that most artists use. One thing for certain - modern primitive artists have many more options than our ancestors ever dreamed possible - and we don't have to weave for hours and hours to get our fabrics. Unless you want to, of course.

Muslin - my personal favorite and probably the most widely used for constructing doll bodies, muslin is readily available, inexpensive, and strong. There are different qualities of muslin, as there are in any type of fabric. I generally use a heavier-weight (determined by thread count). It can be dyed, stained, painted and sanded. Muslin is all cotton and will shrink, so if you are making an item that will be washed, it's best to preshrink.

Coffee-dyed osnaburg on a plain muslin background

Osnaburg - is a natural woven cotton fabric that looks a lot like linen, but is much softer, crease-resistant, and way less expensive. It takes color well and is durable and strong, so it works well for tightly-stuffed dolls, stenciled items, pillows, and other prim looking designs.

Wool - my favorite wool for prim crafting comes from Goodwill or thrift shops. Jackets, skirts, and even sweaters all provide some great fabric.

Corduroy - not a traditional primitive style, but corduroy can be used for accent pieces, clothing, or in folk art pieces. Available in solids and prints, this fabric has a definite one-way nap or grain. You can find corduroy pants and jackets to recycle in thrift shops, or buy it new where you purchase fabric.

Cotton homespun fabrics

Homespun - generally plaid or checked fabrics that are woven in colors and styles similar to those that pioneer women wove on their home looms. Homespun fabrics have no wrong side, as most fabrics do. They are available in warm, natural colors usually mixed with beige or off white, so really look great with those primitive items. They can be stained or dusted with cinnamon to complete the look.

Quilting cottons - literally thousands (or more) to choose from. A hint for these fabrics: when you find that print that is just too bright for prim designs but oh, so perfect - stain it lightly with coffee or tea. It will take the bright lights out of the fabric and warm it up, without losing the essence of the colors or pattern. Sometimes just a few dry brush strokes will work, and with others you'll need to stain the whole piece, depending on the design. Test a swatch first, of course.

Adding coffee or tea stain can calm bright colors

Burlap - generally too heavy for construction, but can add that perfect prim touch in accessories or small items, such as bags or pocket patches. Burlap frays easily and also takes color well.

Of course, there are a gazillion other possibilities. Choosing the right fabrics can make or break a piece, whether it's a doll or a quilt or pillow cover - but finding that perfect piece is half the fun!

Don't forget to sign up for the PAFA Spring Celebration Giveaway going on right now. There are 33 prizes and there will be 33 winners! The giveaway ends Feb. 29th so hurry on over right now!

Choose a Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2012-02-22T19:25:00.000-05:00

Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 cup butter

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. baking soda

2 cups rolled oats

In a mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add about half of the flour, the brown sugar, sugar, egg, baking powder, vanilla and baking soda.

Beat until thoroughly combined. Beat in the remaining flour. Stir in the rolled oats.

for Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. cloves

with the dry ingredients.

Stir in 1 cup raisins or currants.

for Choose a Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Stir in 1 cup chocolate, butterscotch or peanut butter flavored pieces and 1/2 cup walnuts.

Or, use your imagination to create your own combination...

chocolate with butterscotch

chocolate with peanut butter

chocolate with raisins

(it's awesome, like chocolate covered raisins!)

and for the holidays,

white chocolate with craisins.

Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden.

Cool on a wire cooling rack.

Enjoy!

Tuesday's Treasures!!

2012-02-21T10:05:00.000-05:00


Look to the left sidebar for Sign ups!

Hello Dear Friends!
Here on the PAFA Blog we started celebrating Spring with our Spring Forward Celebration Giveaway full of wonderful Blossoms, Chicks, Bunnies, and everything Spring related that we could promote!
Well, now we're adding a CELEBRATION to this and we want you to be a part of it!
Here are a few new pieces that our team Artisans have made for your browsing and purchasing pleasure!

Just click on the button above to be transported into a Spring-Filled Wonderland!

AND, if that's not enough, we have some talented members already making us some Treasuries!

Please do stop by and visit and if that change is jingling in your pocketbook, well it's just trying to tell you something!

}}HUGS{{

From the PAFA Team!

Monday Merchant Circle

2012-02-20T09:08:00.000-05:00

Good Monday Morning from the PAFA team

And welcome to our Monday Merchant Circle

This morning we would like to introduce you to two members of our team

Teresa of Teresas Prim Treasures

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, surrounded by a large family, I've always had the desire to create. Living on a farm, I remember waiting patiently for the feed truck to come each week in anticipation of the new feed sack prints. If only I had a few of those for today's creating! The area in which I now reside, just like my home, has many Amish families living nearby which is a constant reminder of the simple life!

In 1989, I began creating Amish dolls for a local gift shop which began my interest in selling my handmade crafts. Since that time I've added many new treasures and started attending craft shows.

My husband creates the wooden pieces and I do the finishing. It's been hard getting him to understand the look of primitives and not making everything so perfect. Together we make a good team!

In 1996 I opened an online shoppe,Teresa's Primitive Treasures, to sell my wares which has opened up a whole new door! I've meet some wonderful people over the years and now you can find my treasures in shops across the US.

Be sure and visit Teresas ETSY shop

And drop by her blog HERE

Also we would like to introduce you to

Julie of Oakleaf Hollow Primitives

I've been drawing, painting, and crafting as far back as I can remember! Primitive or Whimsical Folk Art are my favorite styles. I paint on just about anything that doesn't move! LoL! I've designed such items as shirts, trophies, and shoes for the University of Arkansas.....to creating an ornament for the Library of Congress Christmas tree in Washington, DC.

Be sure and visit Julies ETSY shop

And drop by her blog HERE

And for some other news Tomorrow Morning kicks off the

Spring Forward Celebration with the PAFA team

That is right in the morning our Spring Celebration will begin

So be sure to come back to see what all the team members have been

creating for Spring

Also remember to sign up for our Giveaway there are 33 Prizes

That will be given away on March the 1st to 33 different winners

Simply Click and sign up today

Have a Wonderful week

Spotlight Saturday #3

2012-02-18T04:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday everyone, hope you have all had a great week. It's time again for another Spotlight Saturday and today we would like to introduce you two new PAFA Etsy Team members!

First of all meet Jill of Jill's Primitives.

Jill hales from the Texas Hill Country and says that sewing is her passion. She's been stitching since she was a "wee one" and figures she's set her needle to just about anything you could think of! She also is a lover of cats and has two of her own plus a new kitty she is sponsoring at a local cat shelter. Good on you Jill for sponsoring Kiki! Speaking of cats, don't you love Jill's 9 Inch Primitive Irish Fat Cat pictured above? Perfect for St. Patrick's day!

Next, here's Cathy of QuiltAples.

Cathy tells us she is currently living in Maine where she and her husband decided to settle down after he retired from the military. She says she started quilting about 10 years ago and figures that her love of crafting must have come from her Grandmother, who always had a project or two underway. Cathy says she loves to try new patterns and would like to get into designing her own. Her Quilted Landscape Quilt - Mountain Meadows is an example of one of her own designs currently for sale in her shop, aren't the colours wonderful?

Hope you will be able to take a minute and visit the Etsy shops of our two newest members, they are both very talented! And after you've taken a look at their shops, make sure to come on back here to enter our Spring Forward With The PAFA Team Giveaway!

Just click the button above to go to our giveaway post where you will find 33 prizes that have been donated by our very generous PAFA team members and where there will be 33 winners, woo-hoo! Good luck to all who enter and be sure to also stay tuned for the launch of our PAFA Etsy team Spring Forward Celebration on Etsy,

Starting on February 21st there will be hundreds of wonderful creations on offer from our talented artisans, you won't want to miss it either! Have a great weekend and see you all again on Monday.

Freebie Friday

2012-02-17T01:00:00.001-05:00

Whether it is for personal use to keep extended family up-to-date on changes in your life or for business to keep in touch with your customers, blogging is very popular these days. But what do you blog/write about? If you are like me there is so much going on from day to day that an idea of a blog post or story will pop in my head, but when I sit down to write about it, I can't remember what it was I wanted to post.

I found someone selling Blog Planning Pages and loved the idea, then got to internet searching for something that was better suited for my personal use and found someone else blogging about the very same thing . . . . and even offered her pages for FREE!!

Check out Beckie's blog: Infarrantly Creative for free downloadable blog planning pages. She has two different designs one is plain black and white, which is the one I have been using, the other has some color graphics that are pretty cool (see picture above). She recommended printing them out and taking them to Office Depot or Staples and having them wire bound, but I use a plastic report cover that I had in my file drawer and it works for me. The one below is mine for March.

This is a great organizational tool. If you are an artist or crafter, add a few blank pages in the back for doing sketches when a design idea reveals itself. You never know when a blogging idea is going to strike, so have paper and pencil in hand.

The PAFA Etsy Team is having a huge Spring Forward Giveaway, please make sure you are entered to win. Please also be sure to enter member giveaways that are offered on the right sidebar. Angel Bug Prims is giving away a cute little Heart Make-A-Do that ends 2/19/12; Lil Prim Cabin's giveaway for a sheep cupboard tuck ends 2/29/12; Ahl Cooped Up's giveaway for Snowman tucks ends 2/17/12.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Making Do with a Make-Do

2012-02-16T10:27:00.000-05:00

** Before we go any further - make sure you check out the Spring Celebration Giveaway going on right now on this blog! There are 33 Prizes and there will be 33 Winners! There's still plenty of time to sign up - the Giveaway ends on Feb. 29th. Don't miss this one! **

♡♡♡

So, what exactly is a make-do? It's hard for us to imagine, but back in the day, folks lived simply, without the internet we all can't live without, or malls, or the funds and/or transportation to go shopping every time they wanted or needed something. But they were still creative, ingenious people (like us) so they had to learn to 'make do' with what they had around the house. In the world of small modern primitives, a make-do usually refers to a piece of prim art that is displayed on some sort of 'found' pedestal. But not always. Make do furniture, for instance, is made from adding additional framing, fabrics and padding to an existing piece to completely alter the look.

There are no rules for this, and the make-do category of prim art is filled with clever uses of repurposed items. Spinning spools, thread spools, candle holders, chair legs, driftwood, discarded bowls, cups, pots, pans, boxes and more have all become the base for a new primitive design.

Old spool make-do base from Angel Bug Prims

Rusty spring prim heart from My Stitches to Treasure

The most unlikely item can be used for a make-do base. Rusty springs lend themselves perfectly to the primitive look.

While our ancestors were usually limited to their own homestead for make-do sources, we have the world available to us. Flea markets, yard sales, Goodwill, thrift stores, Etsy, Ebay, and other online markets are all potential sources for discarded and recyclable items for creating a make-do.

And of course, don't forget your own homestead. Next time you're ready to toss that thing you've had in your closet or shelf collecting dust, take another look at it with a make-do in mind. You may be surprised at what you see.

Valentine cupid on a vintage table leg from Paint Spots and Splinters

Pizza...Pizza...

2012-02-15T22:56:00.001-05:00

Homemade Pizza Crust

2 3/4 to 3 cups all purpose flour

1 pkg. active dry yeast

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup warm water (120 degrees)

2 tbsp. olive oil

In a large bowl combine 1 1/4 cups of the flour, the yeast and the salt. Add warm water and oil. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Mix in as much remaining flour as needed until a soft dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 6 to 8 minutes. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Press dough into a greased pizza pan.

Prebake the crust at 425 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread with pizza sauce,

and desired toppings, such as

pepperoni

mushrooms

peppers

onion

olives

canadian bacon

pineapple

Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Spring Forward Giveaway Loads of prizes

2012-02-14T00:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentines Day

The Members of the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy team

are having another Giveaway
Warning picture heavy post lots of great prizes
Please do take the time to visit these members
all of their links are beside their donations
There are 33 Prizes!! And there will be 33 Different Winners!
Rules to enter are at the bottom of the post

PAFA members are NOT eligible to Sign Up!!

Set Rabbit Makedo's
Donated by
Sharon Stevens of
MustardSeed

Sharons' Etsy Shop
Sharon's Blog
Sharon's Facebook page

OOAK
set of Vintage Quilt Birds
Also donated by
Sharon of
MustardSeed

Sheep & Bunny
Plaques
Donated by
Jan Young of
RaggedyJan

Jan's Etsy Shop

Bee Skep
Donated by
Deana Webber of
OldGoatPrims

Deana's Etsy Shop
Deana's Blog
Deana's Facebook page

BlackberrySage
Room Spray
donated by
Kris Lavoie of
Maple Street Shoppe

Kris's Etsy Shop
Kris's Blog
Kris's Facebook page

Bisque Birdhoue

Donated by

Alan Krug of

Krugs Studio

Alan's Etsy Shop

Alan's Blog

Bunny
Donated by
Mary Ruhmann of
Keepsake Designs

Mary's Etsy Shop
Mary's Facebook page

Bumble Bee Votive Jar
Donated by
Carol Anderson of
FirecrackerKidPrimitives

Carol's Etsy Shop
Carol's Blog
Carol's selling Blog
Carol's Facebook page

Easter Blessing
Stitchery
Donated by
Valerie Richardson of
YorkiesPrimitives

Valerie's Etsy shop
Valerie's Blog
Valerie's Facebook page

Rabbit Tuck
Donated by
Brenda Griffith of
The Rusty Thimble

Brenda's Etsy Shop
Brenda's Blog
Brenda's Selling Blog
Brenda's Facebook page

Sheep Tarts
Donated by
Brandy Szejk of
TheLilPrimCabin
Brandy's Etsy Shop
Brandy's Blog
Brandy's Facebook page

Garden Canvas
Donated by
Donna Petersen of
Ctryside Cottage

Donna's Etsy Shop
Donna's Blog
Donna's Facebook page

Decorated
Set Clothespins
Donated by
Sandy Mickle

Sandy's Etsy Shop

Leif Owl
donated by
Gena Hart of
AppalachianDoll

Gena's Etsy Shop

Easter Egg E-Pattern
Donated by
Cathie Richardson of
County Garden

Cathie's Etsy Shop
Cathie's Blog
Cathie's Facebook page

Garden Bunny
Donated by
Lisa Hansen of
StitchintimePatterns

Lisa's Etsy Shop
Lisa's Blog
Lisa's Facebook page

Little Folk Rabbit
Donated by
Carol Ann Reed of
Doxiedoo

Carol Ann's Etsy Shop
Carol Ann's Blog
Carol Ann's Facebook page

Vintage Painted
Veggie Slicer
Donated by
Martha Smalley of
Apple Tree Cottage

Martha's Etsy Shop
Martha's Blog

Appliqued Tree Pillow
Donated by
Sue Hunter of
Wicked Faerie Queen

Sue's Etsy Shop
Sue's Blog

Painted Bunny
Donated by
Patsy Hamilton of
Lollipopexpress

Patsy's Etsy Shop
Patsy's Facebook page

Bunny
Donated by
Michelle Smith of
MondaysChildPrims

Michelle's Etsy Shop
Michelle's Facebook page

Chenille Rabbit
donated by
Annie Greene of
OldAnniePrimitives

Annie's Etsy Shop
Annie's Blog
Annie's Facebook page

Rabbit Make Do
Donated by
Deb Bures of
MyStitches
ToTreasure

Deb's Etsy Shop
Deb's Blog
Deb's Facebook page

Beeswax Rabbit
Ornaments
Donated by
Teresa Miller of
TeresasPrim
Treasures

Teresa's Etsy Shop
Teresa's Blog
Teresa's Facebook page

Hoppy Sping Bunny
Donated by
Barb Stock of
Barb'sHeartStrokes

Barb's Etsy Shop
Barb's Blog
Barb's Facebook page

Bunny
Donated by
Kim Dickinson of
The Barn Hollow

Kim's Etsy Shop
Kim's Blog

Spring Blocks
Donated by
Vicky Weaver of
Paintspotsnsplinters

Vicky's Etsy Shop
Vicky's Blog
Vicky's Facebook page

Sunflower Bowl
Fillers
donated by
Deb Riddell of
Paxton Valley Folk Art

Deb's Etsy Shop
Deb's Blog
Deb's Selling Blog
Deb's Facebook page

Wool Bunny
Donated by
Laura Obiso of
CaveCreekPrimitives

Laura's Etsy Shop
Laura's Blog
Laura's Selling Blog
Laura's Facebook page

Cherokee Comb Basket
Donated by
Ann Frank of
1803 OhioFarmBaskets

Ann's Etsy Shop
Ann's Blog
Ann's Selling Blog

Floral Arrangement
Donated by
Sheila Babneau of
Country Impressions

Sheila's Etsy Shop
Sheila's Blog
Sheila's Selling Blog
Sheila's Facebook page

Bunny
Donated by
Karen Barbera of
ButtonsInTheAttic

Karen's Etsy Shop
Karen's Blog
Karen's Facebook page

PAFA members please do NOT sign up!

The Way the Winners will be chosen is
Each prize will be put on a piece of paper and placed in a basket
All entries will be put on a piece of paper and placed in another basket

As A winner is chosen out of the basket, a Prize will be drawn out for that winner
Yes you can get your name in several times which will make the odds of winning better, but note once you have won
you will not be eligible to win again

Please leave only one comment

1. You must follow this blog if you are not yet a follower we welcome you
leave your comment on this post only

2. Share our giveway on your blog grab this button and place it on your sidebar
linking it back to this post

3. Do an actual Blog post about our Giveaway

4. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page or Tweet it

5. Visit our Facebook Page HERE and leave a comment on the page

Again We hope you try to visit all of the shops and blogs, and also facebook pages of those members donating prizes

This Giveaway will Run from February 14th to February 29th

Winners will be announced on March the 1st

Thank you from the Members of PAFA

Monday Merchant Circle

2012-02-13T13:07:00.000-05:00

Good Monday Everyone!!

In today's Monday Merchant Circle, we would like to introduce you to two PAFA Etsy Team artists. We hope you will enjoy their wares and visit their shops.

Donald Kunz is from Kingsport Tennessee. He builds primitive smalls and folk art from wood. He builds everything he makes from Poplar wood and powdered mild paints. A lot of time goes into his items. He also hand carves all of his knobs, pulls hinges and latches. Right now he is offering a 20% discount when using Coupon Code: READYFORSPRINGWARMTH.

Next, please meet Karen Blevins from Columbia, South Carolina. The name of her shop is Prims Gone Wild. Karen uses her own designs for her creations. She not only does dolls, but cats and bunnies as well. Her style is best described as Folk Art, Prim, Grunged and Extreme Grunged.

Please visit the shops of these extremely talented artists. They have so much more to choose from. It was difficult doing this post to pick just two from each of them!!

Saturday Spotlight #2

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the weekend! Hope you all had a great week and thanks for coming back to the PAFA Etsy team blog today to meet our newest members.

We have two new shops for you to check out this week, first of all we'd like you to meet Patricia of Lollipop Express.

Patsy tells us that she has been painting for over 35 years and after selling her paintings at craft sales and in consignment shops decided to sell at Etsy as well. She says that she is going to paint "what I want to paint each day" and promises to paint a great variety: gingerbreads, angels, cows, chickens, primitives, signs, shabby chic, cats, dogs and more! Judging by her adorable Raggedy Ann Andy with a Worn Teddy Bear painting pictured above, I'm sure we will all be watching and waiting to see what she comes up with next!

And now, meet Sheila of Country Impressions.

Sheila says she has been creating and crafting for as long as she can remember but it wasn't until she discovered floral arranging that she found her true creative outlet. She works with quality silk and dried florals in a prim and country style and delights in incorporating 'found' treasures in her work to add an element of recycling/upcycling to her arrangements. Her Crow and Sunflower Arrangement pictured above is a prime example of her commitment to the 3 R's, she's handmade the box from lathe, how wonderful is that?

Thanks again for stopping by today to read about our new PAFA Etsy team members and we hope you will stop by their shops for a visit. We'd also like to take this opportunity to tell you about our upcoming Spring Forward With The PAFA Team Celebration and Giveaway!

Our Spring Forward Giveaway will start February 14th and run through to February 29th here at the PAFA Etsy team blog.

At last count we had over TWENTY prizes donated by our very generous PAFA Etsy team members so you will not want to miss this one! Make sure you come on back on the 14th to read about our giveaway and to enter then, it's going to be great.

And then, starting on February 21st through to March 6th, we will be having our Spring Forward Celebration at Etsy.

During those dates, you will find many, many items created especially for our Spring Forward Celebration by our talented PAFA Etsy team members just in time for your Spring decorating. Make sure to visit Etsy February 21st through to March 6th and search SFPAFA to find our specially tagged Spring Forward creations.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and see you all again on Monday!

Friday Freebies

2012-02-10T01:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday Every One!!

Lots to share today. First off, two of our PAFA Etsy Team Members are having giveaways this month on their blogs so be sure you hop over to their blogs, become followers, and get signed up!!

The first one having a giveaway is Brenda at The Rusty Thimble. She wanted to reach 1000 followers by the end of the month, well that took her no time at all. Congratulations Miss Brenda!! So at the end of this month, she will be giving away this gorgeous American Apron Pocket!!

Our second giveaway is from Vicky at Paintspots and Splinter's. She is even going to customize it for one lucky winner!! Same wording and artwork, just a different background color if the one in the pic does not match your home's decor. So COOL!! Isn't this just beautiful?!! Vicky will be awarding one lucky blog follower this treasure on 2/22/12.

Next, check out the free, that's right FREE e-patterns at Paxton Valley Folk Art. When you go to her blog, look for her free pattern download box on the left sidebar. Deb is so extremely generous in offering these patterns for free, becoming a follower on her blog is a great way to tell her thanks!! To tempt you, here are pics of just two:

Wow, so many goodies today. Please be sure to visit each one of these blogs soon!

Please don't forget when you shop Etsy, type PAFA Team in the search bar to be connected with even more fabulous PAFA Etsy Team talent!! We have a big event coming up and even more great giveaways in the coming weeks!!

How to Get the Perfect Prim Color

2012-02-09T05:45:00.000-05:00

Everyone who loves primitives, or makes them, knows that white is a seldom-seen color, unless it's Christmas. Even lots of primitive snowmen have that warm, antiqued light-brown shade that makes us feel so cozy and comfortable.

Most prim artists use a variation of a basic brew of instant coffee and water - proportions determined by the desired color. Other ingredients to add - or to sprinkle on the item later - may include vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ground sage. The brew can be brushed or sponged on a sewn and stuffed item, or the fabric can be dyed before the item is constructed. Personally, I use both methods. When I dye fabric first, I boil it for at least half an hour, poking and turning as it 'cooks.' I wring it out when it cools and hang it out to dry or throw it in the dryer.

If you add vanilla and cinnamon, once cooled, your concoction is going to form a gritty, gluey goop at the bottom of your jar. This is slippery stuff, but great to rub on those areas where you want a little shading or more grunge.

A lighter look can be obtained by using tea instead of coffee. Tea containing orange pekoe is slightly more orange than other teas.

You can also add a very small amount of acrylic paint to your mix if you need to deepen the color, or want to give it a different look. In place of the standard primitive stain, a thinned acrylic paint can be used to color items. At first it will seem stiff, but when thoroughly dry, sand with fine sandpaper to soften, create worn spots, and dull the finish. This method is great for the extreme primitive look. Start with a rich brown paint, and add a little black until you get the desired color.

Walnut crystals are also a way to achieve a nice brown color. These are available from various sources and a little goes a long way.

Remember that different fabrics will take color differently, and the key to achieving the color you want is to experiment. Prim stains also tend to get a little lighter when they dry, so you may need to use a couple of coats or adjust your mixture to get the color you want.

Oh - if you put coffee-dyed fabric in the dryer, place it in a pillowcase. If you don't, your hubby will ask why his clothes have funny brown streaks on them and you'll end up doing laundry again.

Ham Fried Rice

2012-02-08T21:26:00.000-05:00

Ham Fried Rice

2 beaten eggs

cooking oil

1/2 cup diced cooked ham

1/4 cup finely sliced fresh mushrooms

soy sauce

3 or 4 sliced green onion

4 cups cooked rice

soy sauce

The beauty of Fried Rice is that you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand...

perhaps, even use up some left overs.

But, I do think that green onions are essential to the flavor.

Use 3 or 4...

The white bulb and the green part, too.

Mushrooms, Carrots, Onions, Peppers, Peas...

all good!

But, be sure to have all the slicing, dicing, and chopping

done before you heat your pan.

With a drizzle of oil, cook your egg and remove from the pan.

Add a little more oil and then, cook your ham and vegetables.

A wok is ideal, but an electric fry pan is the next best choice.

Then, add in the cooked rice, soy sauce,and cooked egg.

It's a favorite at school...and here at home.

I hope you enjoy!

I TREASURE You!

2012-02-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

Good morning dear friends!

I have a few treasuries to share from some of the PAFA Team members.

Lots of creativity to show you and even more for you to see. Just stop by Etsy.com and type in the search bar under ALL ITEMS for PAFA Team. You won't be disappointed!

Monday Merchant Circle

2012-02-06T10:41:00.001-05:00

Good Monday from the members of The Primitive and Folk Artists

Featured members on Monday Merchant Circle this week are

*Sharon of skb007*

and

*Julie of Prim Country Creations*

First we will start with Sharon she designs Painting Patterns In her own words

In addition to finished painted items, I also work with Terrye French in her "Painting With Friends" group. She designs and I paint! Together we have created instructional pattern packets that are sent thru email! I will be offering those to sell as well!
I love all things PRiM, CoUnTRY, FoLK & WHiMSiCaL

**Stop by and see Sharon Here**

Next let us share with you Julie

In Julie's own words

I love just about anything and everything primitive. Most of my items are one of a kind.

*Stop by and Julie Here*

On the sidebar you will see updates from Members blogs that are posting features on their blogs today, to check out some great shops click on those and read about members of the Primitive and Folk Artists Team of Etsy

Saturday Spotlight #1

2012-02-05T01:52:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone, today is the first day of a new feature here on the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team blog which follows in the footsteps of our New Members Monday posts. Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight where we will be introducing our newest PAFA Etsy team members.

Today we would like to introduce you to Kris of Maple Street Shoppe.

Kris describes her style as eclectic and her shoppe features 'antique finds and old fashioned hand mades'. We think her 'Reclaimed Stenciled Antique Pickets' pictured above certainly encompass what her shop offers as it is both antique and hand made! Kris also has a blog called Maple Street Friends and a business page on Facebook called Maple Street Friends that we hope you will be able to visit. And make sure you visit her Etsy shop for more of her wonderful creations.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and we hope that you will visit again soon. Lots of wonderful new changes are occurring here on the PAFA Etsy team; stay tuned for the upcoming Spring Forward Celebration and Giveaway and don't miss any of our members posts here at the blog everyday day from Monday through to Saturday! We'll see you again on Monday!

Friday Freebies

2012-02-03T01:00:00.007-05:00

Good Friday Everyone,

Welcome to the PAFA Etsy Teams first Friday Freebie!! Every Friday we will post a freebie for all our blog followers to enjoy. Things like free patterns, tutorials, giveaways, projects and they can be related to creating or just things to help you around the house!!

On the many travels we may across the internet in a day, this site was found and this wonderful project for creating a "Veggie Hod" from The Runner Duck. Never heard of such a thing, but wow, the possibilities!! Full instructions with pictures are available by just clicking on the name.

Could you just imagine!! Made of recycled barn siding and the metal caging all rusted up, painted or stained and lined with basket moss with little pots of violets sitting in it, or painted in bright colors and filled with natural dried grass for an Easter basket. Ahhhh, the possibilities . . . . .

Can't wait to see if one of the PAFA Etsy Team decides to make us up some!! (hint, hint)

Happy Friday from the PAFA Etsy Team!!

All Things Primitive

2012-02-02T06:45:00.037-05:00

Hello to all PAFA members and guests, and welcome to our new Thursday feature, where we'll be sharing primitive and folk art styles, crafting information, techniques, tips and tricks...and more, of course. This week, I wanted to share with you some of the fine primitive and folk art magazines that are available for lovers of all things primitive. Browsing through these magazines can be really inspiring for the prim artist, but they are also great crash course on primitive decor for those who are just getting started collecting and decorating.

PRIMS - Art Inspired by a Bygone Era, published by Stampington and Co. features primitives and folk art by various artists around the country. It's published three times a year, and is well worth the wait. I do believe some of our very own PAFA members have been, and will be featured on these pages.

A PRIMITIVE PLACE focuses more on primitive decorating. If you need ideas on how to pull the primitive look together in your own house, this magazine will show you how. They also have a website with lots of photos from the magazine, where they also feature before and after 'trash to primitive' projects.

And don't forget online mags, like RUSTY TIN ROOF and DOWN THE PRIMITIVE PATH.
and THE PRIMITIVE PANTRY, just to name a few. A simple online search will surely bring up others, so grab your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and settle in for a couple of hours of great reading.

Apple Crisp

2012-02-01T22:54:00.000-05:00

A delicious fruit based dessert...

Apple Crisp.

4 cups peeled, sliced apples

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

Stir together and place in an ungreased baking dish.

1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp.nutmeg

Mix together.

With pastry blender, cut in

1/4 cup butter

Stir in

1/4 cup chopped Walnuts,

if desired.

Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples.

Place in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Serve with Ice Cream!

Recipe by Natalie, Tins and Treasures

2012-01-29T08:39:00.001-05:00

A Good Sunday Morning to all of our followers

With Valentine's Day fast approaching and Spring Time Soon to show up The members of the Primitive and Folk Artists team are making some changes

Starting Wednesday Feb the 1st we will be posting daily on this blog with the exception of Sundays

Covering topics like, online shopping, recipes, and crafting freebies and tutorials. So be sure to follow along if you aren't and check in to see what all we have to share

We will be kicking off another LARGE giveaway with more prizes then we have offered in the past

It will begin on the 14th of February, and we will also be having another Celebration

offering wonderful spring related items

**So be sure to visit The Primitive and Folk Artists of Etsy**

And check out what all the members are creating

Making changes to the PAFA Blog

2012-01-17T21:24:00.002-05:00

Please bear with us as we make changes here

Hope you like our new look, more changes to come soon

As well as a Spring Celebration and Giveaway from the

Primitive and Folk artists of Etsy

New Members Monday #19

2012-01-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! Hope this finds you all well and enjoying the winter weather.

We have two new PAFA team members to introduce you to today. Our team is going through some changes right now (as you may have noticed here on the blog!) but more about that in a minute, first of all we'd like you to meet Sandie of Chancery Lane Primitives.

Sandie says that she is a primitive folk artist who creates "dolls, critters and such" and that she loves what she does! She lives in Upstate NY and sells her wares in shops in the Finger Lake region as well as on Etsy, so keep your eyes open for her adorable creations if you live around there! Her Belinda Bovine Cow Doll is too cute, don't you just love the freckles on her nose?!

And next, meet Michelle of Monday's Child Primitves.

Michelle tells us she has been crafting for over 20 years but recently has discovered (and fell in love with!) primitives for their time-worn, much-loved appearance and for evoking memories of a simpler time. She lives in southeast Michigan and has her wares in a small shop in the Houghton Lake area (as well as on Etsy) so be sure to be on the lookout for her lovely prims if you live around there. Check out her Set of 4 Primitive Spring Bunny Bowl Fillers/Tucks shown above, perfect for the coming Spring and Easter season!

Pop on over to Etsy to check out our new members shops if you have a minute, they both have adorable items for sale and we are so happy that they have joined the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team!

And mentioned above, our PAFA team is going through a few changes. Karen of Cedar Creek Primitives has had to take a step back from being our team captain and the very talented Brenda of The Rusty Thimble has leaped into action and has graciously agreed to take over! Please help us in welcoming Brenda to her new roll and be on the look out for new giveaways, celebrations and features here on our blog and on our Etsy team page as Brenda is plum full of ideas and promotions! It is an exciting time for our team and we hope you will continue to follow our blog and support the members of our great team.

So that's it for today everyone, have a great week and hope you will check back regularly here at the PAFA Team blog to see what Brenda and the team have up their sleeves! See you again next Monday.

New Members Monday #18

2012-01-09T15:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. It's time for another edition of New Members Monday here on the PAFA Etsy team blog and this week we have two new shops to introduce you to. They are both amazing and we are sure you will have a great time checking them out!

First of all, meet Alan of Krugs Studio.

Alan tells us that he has been interested in art his whole life and started out his career as a photographer. Several years ago he discovered the Pennsylvania Dutch style of decorative painting and has continued to learn and develop his own style and techniques using both acrylic and oil paints. His 'Poinsettia Edged Bird In Cherry Tree Wooden Plate' pictured above, a wonderful interpretation of the Pennsylvania Dutch style!

Next, meet Fretta of Fretta's Loveable Dolls.

Fretta lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She tells us that she is a 'passionate' doll maker who specializes in Waldorf and primitive style dolls and toys. Her 'Leah, Round Head Primitive Doll' is beautiful, look at that face!

We hope that you will be able to take a minute to visit our new members Etsy shops, they are both amazingly talented and have wonderful items listed, We just wish we could share them all with you here today! Thanks as always for stopping by to visit the PAFA blog and we'll see you again next Monday for another installment of New Members Monday. Have a great week!

New Members Monday #17

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the Graphics Fairy for this wonderful picture!

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. It's the start of a new year, everything is shiny and bright and full of possibilities. Here's to a year filled with all that your heart could desire for you and yours :O)

Even though everyone has been busy over the holidays, we still had three new shops join the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy team since our last post. We are proud to introduce you to our newest members, first we'd like you to meet John of Art Vineyard.

John says that he loves to paint and has "brushed color on anything you can think of since I was 13". He also is a wood carver and creates folk art dogs, birds and 'odd looking' sculptures. We don't think your sculptures are odd at all John, we think they are fabulous! The Primitive Folk Art Wood Bird Carving pictured above is wonderful, don't you agree?

Next, meet Tonya of Ragged Edge by Tonyaleslie.

Tonya says that she is a self taught artist who loves anything primitive or vintage and that texture is her thing! She works in a multitude of mediums and is always teaching herself new techniques. Her absolutely amazing Primitive Owl Primitive Doll Shabby Chic Folk Art Owl pictured above is only one of the incredible creations you will find in her shop. We love that owl!

And finally for this week, meet Tina of Tina's Timeless Treasures.

Tina tells us that she is semi-retired and loves to paint and craft. She specializes in unique hand painted gifts for any occasion and particularly enjoys turning the old and new into "special treasures". Her Glass Apothecary Candy Jar pictured above is one example of her lovely work, can't you see it filled with peppermint candy for all those sticky little fingers that were visiting over the holidays?!

So that is it for this week my friends, thanks so much for stopping by and we hope you will be able to take a minute to visit the Etsy shops of our talented new members. Stop by next week for the next installment of New Members Monday here at the PAFA blog and until then have a great week and again, Happy New Year to you all!

New Members Monday #16

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ho Ho Ho! The big day is almost here, are you ready yet?! I hope this finds you organized and relaxed as you enjoy the twinkling of the Christmas tree lights at this most magical time of the year. I have three new PAFA team members to introduce you to this week so without further ado, here they are!

First of all, please meet Anitra of Anitra's Cute Art World.

Anitra specializes in digital graphic art and utilizes her background in fashion and cosmetology to create her custom collage sheets. She says that her pictures tell the story that resides within us all and she is more than happy to create a digital collage sheet especially for you to help you tell your story. I was especially drawn to her Set Of Four Classical Fairy Tales collage sheet pictured above, it evokes memories of my childhood, how about you?

Next, meet Holly Hinkle, owner of the Etsy shop Holly Hinkle Contemporary Folk Art.

Holly tells us that she is a 'contemporary folk artist living in a cabin on a mountain in West Virginia where she creates her soulful art to share with the world'. Sounds like the perfect existence to me! I can imagine her gliding across the snow of her mountain hideaway as she has pictured above in her Skiier River Rock Paperweight!

And finally for this week, meet John and Miriam of Woods of Foster.

John tells us that he and his wife Miriam are 'RE-tired' and that they 'RE-vive' and RE-scue' old items to give them a new and useful life, just like John and Miriam are enjoying in 'RE-tirement'! I love how they have described themselves! John builds rustic furniture and home accessories and Miriam is a tole-painter and makes wire wrapped jewelry I am hoping that the great Primitive Black Crow CAW CAW that I chose to picture above represents both of their work, I love it!

Thanks so much for visiting our PAFA Etsy team blog again this week and I hope you will be able to take a wee break from your holiday preparations to visit our newest team members Etsy shops. I'll be taking a break next week from posting about our new PAFA team members but will see you again in 2012! How is it possible that the year is over already?!

On behalf of the members of the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy team, I'd like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring you peace, joy and good health. See you next year!

(Thanks to the Graphics Fairy for the lovely vintage image above)

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

New Members Monday #15

2011-12-06T13:23:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone! Hope you had a great weekend and are well into your holiday preparations. We got the inside of the house decorated last week, now on to the inside. I have to find my way out from under all my fabric, stuffing and paint before I can do that though LOL!

I have two new members to introduce you to this week but before I do I want to remind you all that even though the PAFA Etsy team giveaway has ended (and congratulations again to Diane of Lavender Dreamer on her win!), our PAFA Winter Wonderland Celebration is continuing at Etsy.

Just click the button above to visit Etsy or type in PAFAWW when at Etsy to find hundreds of wonderful primitive and folk art creations for your holiday shopping pleasure!

But now on to the real reason for this post, our newest PAFA Etsy team members! First of all, I'd like to introduce you to Karen of Buttons In The Attic.

Karen tells us that she has been crafting since she was taught by her Grandma how to do needlepoint at the age of 6 and she has now branched out into trying her hand at pretty much everything! She prides herself on her craftsmanship and has pledged to never use glue in her sewn creations, every little bit and bob is hand sewn into place. I love her Candy Cane Lane Snowbaby Prim Ornament pictured above, isn't he adorable?

And next, please meet Gena of Appalachian Doll.

Gena lives in the beautiful Appalachian region in West Virginia and creates one of a kind folk art dolls. She says that they vary slightly in style, some more distressed and 'aged' than others but that they are all made with lots of love. Her One Of A Kind Father Christmas 20 Inch Santa Doll Figure pictured above is certainly an amazing example of her art and talent, what a wonderful addition to anyone's home for the coming holidays!

I hope you will be able to take a minute to visit our new members Etsy shops and also to leave a comment and say 'Welcome to PAFA!'. We are so happy they have joined us, what a talented group of Etsy artisans at PAFA! Thanks for stopping by today and I will see you again next week for another installment of New Members Monday!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Winner of The Winter Wonderland Giveaway

2011-12-01T09:14:00.000-05:00

What a Wonderful response we had to our giveaway Thank you

Don't forget The Winter Wonderland Celebration is still going on

Click here to view all the wonderful Creations listed

So without Delay The Lucky Reader who has won all of the Prizes in The giveaway is

**Diane of Lavender Dreamer**

Congrats Diane you will be contacted shortly to get your address

Please join us in congratulating her on winning

Have a Merry Christmas

from The members of the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team

The End Is Nigh!

2011-11-29T14:44:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone. Well, for the first time since I started to do our New Members Monday blog posts here at PAFA I don't have anyone new to introduce you to this week. It's such a busy time of the year with so much to do and so little time (yikes!) and I am sure we will continue to grow our membership once the holiday hubbub settles down. So I am devoting the post this week to reminding you that our PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway ends .... Wednesday, November 30th! Click the button above to head to the giveaway post to enter quick and good luck to all who have entered, the winner will be announced soon!

But don't feel too sad that the giveaway is ending because the PAFA team still has their Winter Wonderland Celebration going on at Etsy.

Click the button above to find hundreds of wonderful primitive and folk art creations from the talented PAFA Etsy team artisans for the holidays, you will not be disappointed, what a great selection of items!

That's it for this week and I'll be back next Monday to fill you in on what's happening with the PAFA team. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and happy shopping!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

New Members Monday #14

2011-11-20T23:15:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! Wow, what a week it has been for the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy team. Not only do I have SIX new members to introduce you to this week (that's right, 6 new shops!) but we also launched our PAFA Winter Wonderland Celebration over on Etsy.

If you are looking to get a head start on your Christmas shopping, our celebration is a great place to start! Just type in PAFAWW in the search bar at Etsy or click the button above to find 100's of winter and Christmas related treasures from our talented artisans.

And don't forget about our PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway that is still going on here at the blog!

Just click here to go to the giveaway blog post or click the button above to enter and good luck!

So, as I said, I have seven new members to introduce you to this week. PAFA continues to grow by leaps and bounds and I encourage you to come and join us if you are a primitive or folk artist. We would love to have you become a part of our great Etsy team! Click here to visit our Etsy team page to check us out.

The first artisan I'd like to introduce you to this week is Susan of Olde Threads.

Susan tells us she has been working in the primitive style for over 30 years and has now returned to her first love, cross stitch. Her exquisite embroidery is pictured above, I love these Primitive Christmas Cross Stitch Pinkeeps and Bag! She prides herself on her workmanship and attention to detail and I think you will agree that her artistry is very evident in her work.

Ninnas Attic is a family owned shop specializing in primitive and country wares.

Located in western Pennsylvania, they say that they 'enjoy spreading homespun blessings through our handmade creations'. I certainly feel the love when I look at their Prim Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments, love those little feather trees!

Next meet Mary of Mary's Sign Studio.

Mary has been an artist since childhood and in recent years has turned to personalized and novelty plaques to express her artistic nature. Her preferred wood medium is Eastern white pine for it's ease of carving but she does utilize any wooden medium, either bought or found! I love her folk art style carved 'Big Boss' Bas Relief Rooster pictured above, you can almost hear him crowing!

Dawn of Folk Art by Dawn is a stay at home Mom and artist of folk art style portraits of people, pets and whatever else strikes her fancy.

Her artwork ranges from primitive to realistic but she says she always paints in a realistic style, never abstract. Her Custom Primitive Folk Art Painting on a double light switch cover caught my eye, you can personalize it with a portrait of yourself or your child and your pet, what a wonderful gift to give to someone special!

Charlotte of Charlotte's Attic Treasures Shop is our next new artisan.

Charlotte tells us she loves to do crafts and thinks it is because she has never grown up! She loves to create treasures from bits and pieces that she finds. I love her Handpainted Ornament With Snowman pictured above, the colours are so cool and wintery, perfect for the coming holiday season.

And finally, our last artisan for this week is Karen of Rustic and Lace.

Karen tells us she has been a quilter and costumer for most of her life and had a hand quilting business from 1972 till 2001. Now semi-retired, she has turned her hand to creating primitive stitcheries, soft sculptures, hand sculpted critters and quilts. And speaking of critters, don't you LOVE her Christmas Mouse Ghost Of Christmas Present - The 'Scrooge' collection pictured above? That face is adorable!

So that is it for this week; boy, I am exhausted after all of that typing LOL! I hope you'll be able to take a minute to visit each of our new artisans and also to search out our PAFA Winter Wonderland Celebration items on Etsy. Don't forget to enter our giveaway either, time is running out! Have a great week everyone and I will see you again next Monday.

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Winter Wonderland Celebration!

2011-11-18T00:55:00.000-05:00

It's the perfect time to get your Christmas shopping done, with the fantastic artisans from the Primitive and Folk Artist team! We are celebrating Winter, with so many new primitive creations that we want to share with you! Stop by ETSY and type PAFAWW in the search box to see all the newest creations from some of the most talented primitive artists on ETSY! You won't be disappointed!

New Members Monday Lucky #13!

2011-11-14T14:04:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone, hope you all had a thankful and thoughtful Remembrance Day long weekend (or Veteran's Day for my American friends and Armistice Day for my UK friends). It's Monday again so you know what that means, time to introduce you to the PAFA Etsy team's newest members! And look, it is Member's Monday #13, thank goodness I didn't decide to do these posts on Fridays LOL!

Before I get to the introductions, I wanted to remind you about the fabulous PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway that is going on right now.

Just click the button above to go to the giveaway post to enter (after you have finished reading about our new members of course!) and good luck to all who enter.

I also wanted to remind you all that the PAFA Winter Wonderland CELEBRATION will be starting soon on Etsy as well. From November 18th until December 9th the PAFA team will have hundreds of wonderful Christmas and winter items available for sale on Etsy that were created especially for you and just in time for Christmas gift giving. Be sure to stay tuned for all of the Celebration details coming soon!

And now, without further ado, here are the PAFA Etsy teams newest members. I have three shops to introduce you to today, first of all I'd like you to meet Brenda of Pumpkin Hollow Store.

Brenda tells us that she is an Illinois artist who has numerous crafting passions. She loves to use recycle, upcycled and natural surfaces to create her items. Her Hand Painted Snowman Gourd pictured above caught me eye when I was in her shop, he is so adorable! She also has some fabulous felted wool mittens listed that she says is her current passion, make sure you go and check them out.

Next meet Kim of The Barn Hollow.

Kim says that she is making a return to creating and crafting after having been very active as an artisan in the '90's. She has been involved with crafting for over 25 years and has been featured in such great publications as Country Folk Art, Country Samplar and Country Woman magazines. She's now entering the wonderful world of the internet to share her great work and we are very glad she is! I love her Gingerbread Ornie pictured above, I can almost smell the cinnamon looking at him!

And finally for this week, meet Lisa of A Stitch In Time Patterns.

Lisa started her business, A Stitch In Time, 19 years ago and loves to create quick and easy primitive patterns for dolls, ornies and samplers. She currently has a wonderful array of primitive doll patterns, stitchery pattern packets and books and some great blank prim note cards available in her shop. Her Primitive Doll Pattern Christmas Holiday Ornies Simple Make Do's pictured above really appealed to me, look at all of the great items you will be able to create with this one pattern!

Well, that is it for this week folks, I hope that you will be able to take a minute and visit the shops of our newest PAFA members. Have a wonderful productive week and don't forget to enter our PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway by clicking here and also stay tuned for the details on our PAFA Winter Wonderland Celebration that will be starting on November 18th. See you next Monday!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway

2011-11-10T01:31:00.003-05:00

Primitive and Folk Artists Winter Wonderland Giveaway

We are proud to announce the launch of our Winter Giveaway for 2011, Gee this year has flown by, and the PAFA Etsy Team has grown in leaps and bounds. Thank you for following our blog and if you are not yet a follower, do jump on board and follow along!!

There are several prizes once again with several ways to get entered but only one is required to get your name into the drawing for some Wonderful Hand Crafted Prizes

There will be One Lucky Winner this time yes One person will Win all of the donated Prizes!!

Below are Pictures of all the Donations, if you will notice beside the donation is the Etsy Shop link and the Blog Link to the Artist that donated the prize. Please do take the time to visit them.

Donated By Deb of

Paxton Valley Folk Art

Hand embroidered candle mat and a little wood and paper Christmas ornie

**Go Here to Visit Deb's Blog**

**And Here Deb Has Two Blogs**

Donated by Ann of

1803ohiofarmbaskets

A beautiful Hand Woven Basket

**Go Here to Visit Ann's Blog**

**And Here yes Ann has two blogs**

Donated by Donna of

CtrysideCottage

A Wonderful Snowman

**Go Here to Visit Donna's Blog**

Donated by Karen of

Cedar Creek Primitives

Five Sweet Snowmen Ornaments

**Go Here to Visit Karen's Blog**

**And Here She has Two blogs**

Donated by Barb of

Barbsheartstrokes

An adorable Painted Snowman Ornament

**Go Here to Visit Barb's Blog**

Donated by Wendy of

Ravenwood Whimsies

Some Cute Gingerbread Bowl Fillers

**Go Here to Visit Wendy's Blog**

**And Here she has Two Blogs**

Donated by Valerie of

Yorkie's Primitives

A great ticking Stocking Ornament

**Go Here to Visit Valerie's Blog**

**And Here to her other Blog**

Donated by Brandy of

TheLilPrimCabin

A Wonderful Decorative Soy Candle

Donated by Jan of
Raggedy Jan

A Hand painted Bell

Donated by Brenda of

Blackbirdprimitives

A Sweet Pair of Primitive Snowmen

Donated by Brenda of

Pumpkin Hollow Store

A mini angel sled, Christmas tree bear, and bear photo ornament

**Go Here to Visit Brenda's Blog**

Donated by Vicky of

PaintspotsnSplinters

A Wonderful snow Plaque

**Go Here to Visit Vicky's Blog**

Donated by Brenda of

The Rusty Thimble

A crow, a mitten and a gingerbread Ornament

**Go Here to Visit Brenda's Blog**

**And here to her Other Blog**

So what do you Think, would you like to Win all of these wonderful prizes for the Holidays

Well here are the guidelines for entering

1. You must be a follower of this blog *New followers are welcome*

2. Grab the button and share it on your sidebar of your blog

3. Do an actual Blog post Titling it PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway

4. Share this Blog Post on your Facebook Wall, Or twitter it

That is it pretty simple this time. Again we thank you for following the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team

Remember to Buy Hand Made this year. Good Luck to all who Enter. And Many Blessings to you and your families for a Joyful Holiday Season

New Members Monday #12

2011-11-09T00:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am aware that it is Tuesday but Brenda (The Rusty Thimble) announced yesterday that the next PAFA giveaway will be starting soon so I decided to defer our new members post until today. Just in case you missed the post yesterday, the PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway

will be starting here at our blog on Thursday, November 10th and will run until November 30th so make sure you come back to sign up!

But now on to the real reason for this post, our newest PAFA Etsy team members! I have four fabulous new shops to introduce you to today so without further ado here is new member number one, Karen of Always Painting.

Karen says that she is a self taught and that she is a published artist. Her adorable Snowman with birdhouse plaque caught my eye when I was at her shop, it has a little nob on the bottom that is a perfect spot to hang your wax dipped candles, wouldn't it be wonderful to display it all winter long? Karen is offering 15% off in her store right now, but only till tomorrow, so head on over quick!

Next, meet Donald of Folk Art Furniture.

Donald has a great appreciation of early country woodworking and in recent times has turned his own hand to creating unique woodcrafts that reflect the art and the craft of this field. I love the simple clean lines and functionality of his Country primitive furniture cubby box pictured above. I would say, looking at this piece and at all of the other beautiful wood crafts in his shop that he has indeed found his new calling.

Farmhouse Prims lives in the Shenandoah Valley but says she originally hales from West Virginia.

She says she remembers visiting her grandparents who lived a simple life without any modern conveniences and that her work reflects those simpler times. She 'dabbles' in several things; stitcheries, prairie bonnets and school slates to name but a few and I love her Prairie Dress and Bonnet Set pictured above, truly a remembrance of times past and perhaps of times that were best?

And finally for this week, we have a pair of artisans for you to meet, Beverly and Esther of Whimsical Art Two.

Beverly and Esther are mixed media artists whose work combines vintage and found objects to tell a story and thus give a new life to discarded items in their unique and beautiful works of collage art. Their Collage Assembly Jewelry Inspirational Brooch pictured above made me smile, I love the juxtaposition of the vintage photo and the jewels and glitter!

That's it for this week, I hope that you will be able to take the time to visit the shops of all our new members and don't forget to search for PAFA Team when at Etsy for an amazing collection of folk art and primitive shops.

And also, don't forget to come back on Thursday, November 10th to enter the PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway, we'll see you then!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Gearing up for The PAFA Winter Wonderland Giveaway

2011-11-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

Happy November to all of our Followers

Wow Winter will be upon us before me know it

The Jolly ole Man in Red will be making his way across the world

With A Sleigh full of gifts for every good Boy and Girl

Yes Christmas is right around the corner!!

Winter has already visited some of you I am sure

We hope you are all warm and snug for the winter season

Be sure and Mark those Calendars save The Date

The Members of The Primitive and Folk Artists of Etsy are at it again

Our Next Giveaway will begin on November the 10th and end on November the 30th

Shortly after launching the giveaway we will also start our Winter Wonder Land Celebration

offering Wonderful festive holiday decor in Prim and Folk Art Style

*Remember to Buy Hand Made for all of your gift giving this year*

Feel free to share our button and link back to this blog on your own blogs

Then be sure and come back here on November the 10th and see all of the great

Donated prizes and to sign up for your chance to win.

We thank you for following us on our blog

See you on November the 10th!!!!

From all members of PAFA

New Members Monday #11

2011-10-31T17:42:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween to all of our PAFA fans!

Thanks to the Graphics Fairy for this great vintage photo!

Hope you are having a ghoulishly good time celebrating All Hallow's Eve. It's Monday and you know what that means, time to introduce you to the newest members of the Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team. We continue to grow by leaps and bounds and the talent of our members is absolutely amazing. So, without further ado, here are our newest PAFA team members for this week!

First of all, I'd like to introduce you to Laura of Hazuzu.

Laura is from beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (welcome to a fellow Canuck!) and she tells us that she is a mixed media artist who delights in creating OOAK pieces that never existed until they spring from her very talented fingers. Her shop is filled with delightful and inspiring artworks but I chose her Cheshire Cat Box pictured above in homage to the season, I love Alice In Wonderland and all of the fanciful creatures associated with that wonderful book!

Next, meet Jamie of Wreaths 'N Things by Jamie.

Jamie makes custom and holiday wreaths and other home made country gifts. She tells us that now is the time to get your orders in for your custom Christmas wreaths and if they are anything like her Fall Harvest Wreath pictured above, I say convo her right away as she will only be making a limited number!

Prims and Tiques is the next newest member of the PAFA team.

Prims and Tiques tells us that she loves to make holiday items and that more will be added to her shop soon. I love this Primitive Bell Door Hanger that she has featured right now, prim perfect for the coming season!

And finally, for this week at least, meet Jennifer of Fatty Frog Pots.

Now, I may be wrong, but I do believe that Jennifer is the very first potter to join our team and I am so very glad that she did. Jennifer tells us that she is a potter, a hobby crafter, a mom of two 'amazing daughters' and a keeper of numerous frogs and dogs, guess that's where her great shop name came from! As a painter, I couldn't resist showing you her Red and Blue White Stoneware Utensil Holder pictured above, but honestly Jennifer, I think it is much too pretty for a bunch of dirty old paint brushes!

Well, that's it again for this week. I hope you will be able to take a minute to visit each and everyone of our new members and don't forget to search for 'PAFA Team' when on Etsy for a wonderful and diversified collection of folk art and primitive artisan shops. Have a frightfully great Halloween and see you next week!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

New Members Monday #10

2011-10-24T16:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! It was cool and frosty here in beautiful British Columbia, Canada last night and it is definitely looking like fall. They are calling for our first skiffle of snow tonight too so time to pull out the winter woolies!

I have three new members to introduce you to this week and I hope you will be able to take the time to visit these talented folk artists, they are all wonderful additions to our Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy team.

First, I'd like you to meet Carol Ann Reed of DOXIEDOO.

Carol Ann tells us she has been sewing since she was a little girl and enjoys making everything from crafts to dolls to handbags to skirts. She hopes that her experience shows in her work and I think you would have to agree that her talent as both a seamstress AND an artist are very evident in her beautiful Primitive Folk Art Angel hanging doll pictured above.

Next, I'd like to introduce you to Howard Rains.

Howard tells us he is a native Texas artist and fiddler and his love of both music and painting are very evident in his work. I love the colours in his wonderful folk art painting shown above entitled 'Rafe Stefanini & his Kel Kroydon Banjo'. Howard just let us know that he is now making wooden toy folk art as well, so even more goodness to check out in his shop!

And finally, for this week at least, meet Dan Casado and Julia Sisi of CATsEYEart.

Julia and Dan currently live and work in the Canary Islands, another wonderful international addition to our PAFA team. They tell us they are both self taught artists and I have to say, they are both amazingly talented. The vibrant colours and energy in Julia's painting 'The Island' caught my eye when I was in their shop but you really do have to pay them a visit to see all of their work, it is wonderful!

Thanks for visiting us again this week and for taking the time to visit our newest PAFA team members. Remember to search for 'PAFA Team' when at Etsy for a diverse and wonderful collection of primitive and folk art. See you again next week!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

New Members Monday #9

2011-10-17T21:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday everyone, hope you all had a lovely weekend and are rested up and raring to go for the week. I have two new PAFA Etsy team members to introduce you to today, so let's get right to it.

First of all, I'd like to introduce you to Red Shed Vintage.

I have to tell you, I had a heck of a time choosing a photo to use in this post because I love EVERYTHING they have listed but I finally settled on the Vintage Spice Box Apothecary Chest shown above. Red Shed Vintage tells us she has always had a love of all things vintage and handcrafted and her favourite past time is hunting for old finds to upcycle into her amazing vintage treasures. She also tells us she writes a 'Trash To Treasure' column for A Primitive Place magazine!

And next, I'd like you to meet Tricia of The Crafty Farmhouse.

Once again, I had a heck of a time choosing which of her amazing items to feature, they are all beautiful, but ended up choosing this wonderful Modern Colored Primitive Penny Circle Mat. Tricia tells us she's a stay at home Mom who loves to sew and create new items. She also likes to use reclaimed wool and buttons in her creations, so not only are they beautiful to look at but they are good for the environment as well!

I hope that you will be able to take a minute to visit our newest members Etsy shops by clicking the links above, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed as they both have many beautiful items listed. Thanks for taking the time to visit us here at our PAFA blog this week and don't forget to type in 'PAFA Team' on Etsy when looking for primitive and folk art treasures for you and your home. See you next week!
Deb Riddelll ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

New Members Monday #8 On A Tuesday!

2011-10-11T21:02:00.000-04:00

Well, my excuse for not posting about our new PAFA Etsy team members yesterday is that it was Thanksgiving Day here in Canada and I was so full of turkey all I could do was gobble! Apologies for the delay in this post but hope you will find it worth the wait!

I'd like to introduce you first to Amy of Ducks To Swans.

Amy and her husband Bob are retired and love primitive and Early American decor. They scour their state of Maine looking for treasures to repurpose into beautiful primitive pieces that are painted and distressed to perfection. The fabulous mustard yellow wooden candle tray above is just one example of their wonderful work.

Next, meet Heather of Witch Hollow Primitives.

As you may have guessed from her shop name, Heather's favourite time of the year is Halloween and she admits to being 'shamelessly addicted to primitive folk and vintage Halloween art'. Her work honours her Grandma and evokes a love and appreciation for days gone by. I love her OOAK trinket box pictured above, so whimsical and nostalgic!

Julie of Winter Folk Whimsy is one half of our newest sisters duo here at PAFA (you will meet the other sister shortly!).

Julie has been crafting for 25 years, mostly creating her amazing gourd creations, and her designs have been featured in many prominent magazines. She says that 'creating is the first thing I think of and the last thing as I try to fall asleep' and she values uniqueness above all else when it comes to her creations and her gourds! I think you'd have to agree that Jasper, her primitive Halloween black cat is certainly unique and wonderful!

Nancy of York County Folk Art is another wonderful new addition to our great PAFA team.

Nancy is a traditional folk artist who was inspired early on in her career by the great folk artist Grandma Moses. Nancy says that she tries to tell a story 'of country life' with each of her OOAK paintings and finds herself drawn into her paintings and imagines herself living there. She has been listed on 'Early American Life' magazine's Directory of Traditional Crafts for four years running, congratulations Nancy! I was especially drawn to her door frame cats pictured above, love their expressions!

And finally, last but certainly not least for this week, meet Jan of Kitschy Christmas, the other half of our crafting sisters duo!

Jan's creations are all created from fabric mache and her dream is to 'someday create with my enormous old fabric collection'! She loves the look of Christmas's past and her passion for 'foraging' thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, etc. means all of her creations are embellished with wonderful vintage treasures. Her Halloween greetings crows demonstrate that so well, look at those wonderful vintage light reflectors their pumpkins are sitting on and their vintage postcards!

Well, that's it for this week, I hope you will be able to take the time to visit the shops of our five new and amazingly talented artisans. And remember to search for 'PAFA team' when on Etsy to find an amazing and diverse collection of primitive and folk art. Thanks so much for stopping by and see you next week for New Members Monday!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

New Members Monday #7

2011-10-03T19:19:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! I've been away on holidays and haven't posted about our new PAFA Etsy team members for a couple of weeks, so I have SEVEN new PAFA team members to share with you today. The PAFA Etsy team just keeps on getting bigger and better and I am so excited to share these fabulous new shops with you today.

First of all, let me introduce you to Desiree of Habitmade Studios.

Habitmade Studios offers penny rugs, colonial candle mats and whimsical folk-art ornaments for your home. As Desiree says "We make it easy to indulge in Handmade". I love her Adirondack Love Primitive Penny Rug Candle Mat pictured above, aren't the colours wonderful?

Next, meet Grandma Kringle. Don't you just love her shop name?

As you may have guessed, Grandma Kringle says she is passionate about Christmas and loves to create Christmas crafts throughout the year. She has always dreamed about owning her own Christmas Shoppe and now, here it is, on Etsy! Don't you love her Primitive Stitched Gingerbread Christmas Bowl Fillers pictured above? Wonderful stitchery, they are too cute!

Blackbird Primitives hales from Toledo Ohio and has also always dreamed of starting a shop of her own.

Blackbird Primitives takes pride in creating her own originally designed primitive crafts, quilts and fine art and is starting to create her own line of craft patterns as well. She says that "happiness is homemade" and looking at her cute Hanging 'Pumpkin Pie' Stitched Scented Sachet pictured above, I'd have to agree!

Abby of Abby's Spare Time(abbyn67) tells us she is addicted to fabric and sewing and her shop certainly reflects that!

Abby tells us she has been sewing since high school and delights in putting fabrics and colours together in unique and creative ways, she doesn't think she's ever made two items the same way! And isn't that why we all love buying handmade? I love her Homespun Quilt 59 x 77 pictured above, it looks so warm and cozy and just right for the fall season.

Next, meet Valerie of Luthers Lounge.

Valerie tells us she is a city girl who fell in love with primitives after visiting her mother in laws barn. She slowly progressed from hand sewing her primitive creations to creating her own patterns and dolls and now delights in knowing that her creations are scattered around the world bringing her love of primitives into her customers homes. Her Primitive Pumpkin Sack Jack Fall Harvest Halloween Doll pictured above caught my eye when I was visiting her shop, love the suspenders!

Vivian of Blue Moon Beginnings has a new passion in her life, primitive dolls!

Viv tells us she started out as a primitive folkart painter but then discovered and fell in love with making prim dolls and patterns. And I am so glad that she did, don't you just love her Primitive Halloween Witch/Cat Makedos epattern pictured above? They are too cute!

And finally, our last new member for this week is Kelly of Kelly's Primitive Friends (kswatson63).

Kelly tells us that her hubby is a vintage car restorer and so she took up creating her OOAK primitive dolls to fill her days as a 'car widow'! She takes pride in upcycling vintage items and materials in her OOAK creations so I guess you could say that Kelly is into vintage restoration as well :O) Isn't her Primitive Miss Liberty Doll Handmade pictured above wonderful?

I hope that you will be able to take the time to visit each of the shops linked above, you will find an amazing collection of wonderful items that I wasn't able to share here. And don't forget to search for 'PAFA team' the next time you are at Etsy to find thousands of amazing primitive and folk art creations from our talented members. Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you again next week with the next installment of New Members Monday. Have a great week!

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

It is Time to announce our Winners

2011-09-18T09:32:00.000-04:00

What a Wonderful Celebration and Giveaway PAFA had for Fall

We would like to thank everyone that participated and shared this event

Now if you recall the 1st place winner will have her choice of Seven prizes. After 1st place picks her 7 prizes and contacts me I will then contact winner number two for her to choose three prizes, after that the remaining winners will get a prize each.

1st Place winner is Debbie of Woolnsails

2nd place winner is Robin of primitivehutch

3rd place winner is Tam of countrygalcreations

4th place winner is Heidi of mysimplecountryliving

5th place winner is June of gammiesprimitiveattic

6th place winner is annesphamily

7th place winner is Carol of buttermilkcreekfarm

8th place winner is Peggy of mixedmediaartbypeggyr

Please do congratulate all winners Thank you Again for signing up with the artists of

Primitive and Folk Artists Etsy Team

New Members Monday #6

2011-09-06T21:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday everyone! Yes, I know, I'm a day late with my new PAFA Etsy team members post but in my defense my niece got married this weekend (congratulations my darling!) and so I totally ran out of time to get this posted yesterday. So hope you will forgive me and help me in welcoming our new team artisans!

Before I introduce them though, I'd like to remind you about the PAFA Etsy team's fall celebration, Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch With PAFA.

Just click the button above or search for STTPP on Etsy to find hundreds of wonderful creations from our talented team members.

Want more? How about a giveaway as well?!

Click the button above to go to the giveaway post to enter, there are 16 prizes to be won!

And now, back to the real reason for this post. I have two new members to introduce you to this week and first I'd like you to meet Mama's Insanity.

I love the name of their Etsy shop! They tell us that their name arose from the fact that they started their sign business on a kitchen table with 5 kids in the house! They specialize in hand traced, routed and hand painted signs and have a wonderful collection, head on over to check them out.

Next, meet Always Primitive.

Always Primitive says she is a wife, mom and grandma (of 7 grandkids no less!) who loves to craft and who's been doing so for most of her life. She's even lucky enough to have her own craft shed! I hope you will head on over to Etsy to check out her shop, I love her vintage sifter light pictured above!

Thanks for taking the time to visit our newest artisans and for visiting our blog. I will be off on holidays for the next few weeks so will see you again at the end of September to share with you are incredibly talented team members. Take care,

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Feature Friday with Marie Provost From Marie's E Pattern Shop

2011-09-02T10:19:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! I am very excited about today's interview!! I have admired Marie's work for years; she is a very talented self taught artist! I am so happy to have her as a part of the PAFA team. I hope you enjoy getting to know Marie as much as I have!

Camera Shy Marie

Tell us a little about you?

My name is Marie Provost I’m a self taught painter and I’ve been painting since 1996. I live in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. I own a craft shop near my home which is stocked with all my creations. I cut all my own wood and I also like to paint on one of kind recycled items and create something new out of them. All my lettering is done with a brush, I don't use stencils. You can view pictures of my shop on my blog

http://mariescountrywoodcrafts.blogspot.com/ I then joined facebook and some of my fans encouraged me to design my own patterns so you will find country and primitive decorative painting e-patterns on my e-pattern blog. I’ve recently opened another blog where I sell my creations as well as in my etsy shop.
How long have you been in business?

I’ve been in business since 2005.

How did you get started?

I was at a craft show one time and saw some woodcrafts and just decided to buy a scroll saw and painting book and started cutting wood pieces and taught myself to paint and cut. Now I own a bunch of power tools, books, magazines and pattern packets LOL.

Who or What inspires you?

Ideas just pop into my head and I then draw them out on paper and cut them out and paint them. I also like to look through magazines and other artists creations for inspiration.

What type of items do you offer?

I offer country and primitive wood crafts and creations that I have made out of recycled items. I love going to the thrift store to find goodies to paint on, you should see my stash LOL. I also offer e-patterns of my creations and I’ve also been doing e-patterns with Terrye French for Painting with Friends.

Do you have set hours that you work on your craft?

I have no set hours but when I’m at my shop I paint the whole time I’m there.

What does handcrafted mean to you?

Handcrafted means that it has been made by your hands and that you’ve put your heart and soul into creating these wonderful creations.
Where do you sell your crafts?

In my shop in Ottawa, my e-pattern blog, my creations blog, my etsy shop, I’ve also sold some on facebook.

Are there other places you can be found online?

My e-pattern blog:

http://countrywoodcraftsbymarie.blogspot.com/

My creations blog:

http://mariescountrywoodcrafts-creations.blogspot.com/

My etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MariesEpatternShop

My blog:

http://mariescountrywoodcrafts.blogspot.com/

My facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ottawa-ON/Maries-Country-Woodcrafts/284192741812?ref=nf

New Members Monday #5

2011-08-30T02:00:00.002-04:00

Okay, officially it is still Monday because it is before midnight here on the west coast! I'm pushing it this week but am determined to get this post published on Monday LOL! Hope you have all had a great week, we have been busy as little bees here at PAFA getting our fall celebration, 'Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch With PAFA' launched on Etsy.

Click the button above to see all the wonderful fall items our very talented team members have created for this celebration or you can type in STTPP in the All Items search on Etsy.

And if that wasn't enough, we are also having another one of our huge giveaways! There are 16, yep, you heard right, 16 prizes to be won and there will be multiple winners.

So after you've read all about our new members, make sure to click the button above to head to our giveaway post to enter and good luck!

I have four wonderfully talented artisans to introduce you to today. First of all, I would like you to meet Kimberly of Whimsical Folk.

Kimberly says she loves to celebrate and create for Halloween all year long and is an avid collector of Halloween treasures. Visit her shop to see her amazing OOAK hand painted folk art creations.

Shane of Shaka Studios has been hand crafting antique and primitive reproduction furniture for over 20 years.

He specializes in primitive, shaker, early American, shabby chic and American Colonial furniture. All his pieces are made to order, I adore the Ephrata buffet pictured above!

Rebecca of BecksEuroBoutique is another of our international team members and hails from the Netherlands.

She describes herself as a woman, crafter, wife and mother and creates handmade organic soap and earth products. She left the 'corporate rat race' to pursue a life more respectful of Mother Earth and reuses, recycles and repurposes wherever she can to help make our world a better place. Thank you Rebecca!

And finally, for this week, meet Kim of Teaberry Folk Art.

Kim says she has been stitching for over 25 years and has a particularly soft spot in her heart for folk art and primitive patterns that evoke memories of a simpler time. She says she takes great pride in the quality and detail she puts into each of her pieces and I think we would all agree with her, just look at her beautiful little tuck pictured above.

Thanks for taking the time to read about our newest members and please take a minute to visit their Etsy shops. Don't forget to enter our PAFA Etsy team's fall celebration giveaway and also make sure to check out the right sidebar for links to other giveaways being offered by our members. Thanks for visiting and see you again next Monday!
Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch Celebration and Giveaway

2011-08-28T00:44:00.010-04:00

All Members of The Primtive and Folk Artists Team of Etsy would like to

Welcome you to Their fall celebration called

*Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch*

Our Celebration will run from August the 28th to September the 17th

The talented members of PAFA have listed fall items for this in their Etsy Shops

We do hope you will stop by **HERE**

And stroll through all of the shops offering Fall creations

That is right not only will we be offering great items for sale

We will be having a Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch Giveaway

loaded with wonderful prizes donated by members

The Following items are the prizes that will be given away

Along side of these donations you will also find

The members etsy shop and their blog links please take some time to visit them

Fall Sunflower Seed Sack

donated by Deb of

Timesofoldcreations

Visit her Etsy Shop

visit her Blog

Halloween Door Hanger

Donated my Marsha of

Eclectic Creations

also know as Sassyminidolls

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Set of Acorn Bowl Fillers

donated by Valerie of

Yorkie's Primitives

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Visit her sales Blog

Fraidy Cat

donated by Vicky of

Paintspotsandsplinters

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Witch Hats And Broom Sticks Bowl Fillers

donated by Deb of

PaxtonValleyFolkArt

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Selling Blog

Visit her Blog

Simple Ghost

donated by Barb of

Barbsheartstrokes

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Scaredy Cat

donated by Donna of

Countrysidecottage

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

primitive grungy pumpkin pie with crow

donated by Ami of

Folkartandprimitives

Visit her Etsy Shop

Cat Ear Herb Rack Black

donated by Carol of

Firecrackerkidprimitives

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Scarecrow

donated by Laura of

Cavecreekprimitive

Visit Her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Painted Witch Wall Pocket

donated by Jan of

Raggedyjans

Visit her Etsy Shop

One Fall Tin

donated by Natalie of

Tins and Treasures

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her nataliesnotions Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Painted Pumpkin Baseball

donated by Julie of

Oakleafhallowprimitives

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

Frankenstein and Myrrh Halloween Potion Bag donated by Brandy of

Lilprimcabin

Visit her Etsy Shop

Halloween Sign

donated by Charlene of

Catsdesigns

Visit her Etsy Shop

Visit her Blog

The last prize is a Fall Door Hanger Donated by Tammy of

Aprimitiveplace

visit her Etsy Shop

visit her blog

WOW there are some great prizes

*Note: members of the PAFA are not eligible to sign up*

Below is a list of ways to sign up

*you must do number one and you must leave a comment on this post*

please include all of your entries in ONE post ONLY

1. Be a Follower of this blog New followers are always welcome

2. There is a Button for the Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch celebration on the right side bar, please share that on your blog sidebar

3. There is a button for the Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch Giveaway

please share that on your blog sidebar

4. Do an actual post of about our Celebration and our giveaway on your blog

5. Share this blog post on your Facebook

Please leave your user name on Facebook if you share

6. Go to The Primitive an Folkartists Facebook page and like us

CLICK HERE to go The PAFA FaceBook Page

please leave a comment on that page saying you have signed up

for the giveaway

That is 6 chances to Win

Do you want to know how many winners we will announce

First Place will get her Choice of 7 of the prizes that is right 1st place

will pick 7 prizes that she wants

Second Place will get her choice of 3 of the prizes left over after 1st place picks hers

Third Place thru 8th place will win one of the 5 prizes that are left

*Thank you for signing up*

Good Luck to everyone who enters

Please do not forget to check out our

Strolling Through The Pumpkin Patch Celebration on Etsy

New Members Monday #4!

2011-08-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday morning everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend and are rested and ready to start the new week. It's Monday so time to introduce you to our newest PAFA Etsy team members. But before I do, I'd like to remind you that the PAFA Etsy team's fall celebration and giveaway will be starting August 28th and will run through to September 17th. So make sure you come on back to see us soon so you can find out all the details about our wonderful new endeavor, there are lots of gifts involved again if I am not mistaken :O)

We have three new, talented members to introduce you to this week. First I'd like you to meet Marie of Maries Epattern Shop.

Marie says we might already know her as Marie's Country Woodcrafts. She has been painting since 1996 and loves to create wooden treasures and epatterns in a country primitive style. I love her prim saltbox sheep design pictured above!

Next, meet Zada of Sew Cute Primitives (ZJJohnson on Etsy).

Zada tells us she is an avid rag doll collector and in January this year decided to start making Annies of her own. Her favourite part is making their dresses out of old feedsack prints, too cute!

And then finally for this week, meet Briarwoodfolkart.

Specializing in hooked rugs, Briarwoodfolkart designs and sells her own patterns and also sells finished pieces like her amazing cat rug pictured above. She tells us she has had a love affair with wool for 30 years and since she can't knit, she hooks!

I hope you'll be able to take the time to visit their shops and explore all the wonderful items they have on offer. We are so lucky to continue to attract amazingly talented artisans like those pictured above to our wonderful team! Remember to type in PAFA Team to view the best primitive and folk artists on Etsy!

Have a great week and see you next Monday,
Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art

Feature Artist Friday with Pam, from Stitch Crafts

2011-08-19T09:32:00.000-04:00

This weeks feature artist is Pam from stitch crafts. Pam is a talented needlework artist, that makes wonderful cross stitcheries, penny rugs, and does needle felting. I hope you enjoy finding out about Pam as much as I have!

Tell us a little about you?

My name is Pam Bardwell. I live about 50 miles west of St. Louis with my husband of 21 years, my teenage daughter and son. We live out in the country on 51 acres.

How long have you been in business?

I opened my Etsy shop in 2008 but really started working on it in 2009.

How did you get started?

I love to cross stitch, and have been stitching for about 30 years. I can't keep everything I make, and I have gifted a ton of pieces to family and friends so the next logical step was to sell what I make. I sell on EBay under the name xstitched4u also. When I found Etsy I liked that I could list pieces for months at a time and have a shop for people to see.

Who or What inspires you?

I love antiques and primitive furniture, old crocks, rusty metal pieces, and natures gifts like pine cones, acorns, and sunflowers.

What type of items do you offer?

I offer primitive and country cross stitch pieces that I make into pillows, pinkeeps, fabric covered cubes, and cards. I also do needle felting and make felted acorns and snowmen. I like making penny rugs and have made some beautiful primitive penny rug sunflowers and gift card holders.

Do you have set hours that you work on your craft?

I try to work on crafts in the early morning hours especially when school is in session. I squeeze in a few hours each morning after I get the housework done, the kids off to school.

What does handcrafted mean to you?

Handcrafted means that you start from scratch with raw materials and stitch or piece something together with your own two hands. I love to take a blank piece of Aida fabric and watch the picture develop stitch by stitch.

Where do you sell your crafts?

I sell online in my Etsy shop, Stitchcrafts, and on EBay under the name xstitched4u.

Are there other places you can be found online?

I'd love sell on my blog but haven't figured out how to work that out yet. Here's a link to my blog. http://xstitched4u.blogspot.com/

New Members Monday On A Tuesday (Because I'm A Day Late LOL!)

2011-08-16T16:11:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,
Yes, I know, it's supposed to be New Members Monday but I'm a day late, sorry about that! We have four new PAFA Etsy team members to tell you about today, so grab a cuppa your favourite beverage and read all about them.

Stewart Easton of Stewart Easton Art hales from Coventry, England and does pen and ink drawings inspired by folk tales, pre-War Europe and the songs and stories of the Appalachians.

His drawings are amazingly detailed with a wonderful folk art feeling.

Next, meet Deb Bures of My Stitches To Treasures.

Deb tells us she's been sewing for 40 years and that snowmen are her passion. Judging by the cutie above I'd have to say she's right although the bunnies she has in her shop are pretty darn cute as well!

Jannett Conwell of JD Conwell Folk Art Dolls is an amazing self taught doll artist.

She combines her love of history with her 35 years of arts and crafts creativity to fulfill her quest to continue the age old tradition of doll making. All I can say is WOW!

And finally, last but certainly not least for this week meet Dawn Alley of Primitivehand.

Dawn is a Missouri artist who is inspired by folk art portraits, fraktur and other early paintings to create her unique and amazing watercolour artworks. Her love of animals and florals is very evident in her beautiful paintings.

I hope that you will be able to take a minute to pay a visit to the Etsy shops of all these talented artisans. Are you a folk or primitive artisan who has an Etsy shop? If so, we'd love to have you join us. Just click here to visit our Etsy team page or copy and paste this address into your browser:
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7150/primitive-and-folk-artists-pafa

Come on back next week to see who else has joined our great team (maybe you?) and stay tuned as well for the next PAFA Etsy team celebration and giveaway that is going to start on August 28th. There will be lots of giveaway goodies to be had and a score of wonderful folk art and primitive creations from our talented members for you to purchase. Bye till next week everyone,

Deb Riddell ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art