Warehime-Myers Mansion hosts Holiday to Harvest Show and Simply Pretty Stuff

Simply Pretty Stuff  To Be At The Holiday Show At The Mansion On 

 November 4, 5, and 6 in Hanover, PA

This is a holiday show with fellow artisans.  I love being there and am so pleased that in the past 4 years, it has grown in attendance beyond expectations. I am one of six gals who worked hard to make it all happen.  Thanks to elves Toni Burns, Cheri Cline, Lisa Elsner, Jeanette Miller and Cel Smith.

This year, Santa is making an appearance, as well as  the Hanover High School Choir, directed by Deb Smith.  On auto harp, in two additional performances, will be Linda Huber.

The show will be located at the Hanover Historical Society's Warehime-Meyers Mansion on Baltimore Street in Hanover, PA.  There will be plenty to see and artists to meet, as well as plenty of yummy refreshments.

Hope to see you there!!

StoryPeople Elves In The Simply Pretty Stuff Workshop

It's Once Again That Time Of Year!  The Glass Cutting Has Begun!

Things were busy here last week and will continue the pace as the StoryPeople ornaments will soon be announced and readied for orders.

Did someone say elves?   Well, indeed there are elves this time of year here and they are humming and dancing and .... cutting glass right at the moment.  Thousands of pieces actually!

I snuck a picture of what's accumlating in the studio thusfar!!



GLASS!



GLASS!



PARTS!



Flip Flop Couture

Flip Flop Style On A Dime

OK, I know summer was yesterday and fall is now.  However, who could resist one dollar flip flops??  Tis the time of year these babies are found here and there for just a buck.

A plain Jane, I am not.  Therefore the dollar flip flops evolved.  With a bit of black silk ribbon ( can make by cutting scrap silk on a bias), I made two little bows and hand sewed them to the top of each flip flop. 

The next part was easy.....I picked up hand made posies at the Summer In Paris Retreat in Harper's Ferry, VA in August.  A working mom, and artist, Jennie Gift, sold pins and barretts made from ribbons and pearls at the vendor show during the conference.  Rather than wear these flowers in my hair, I thought they would make cute flip flop adornments! Snip, I cut them free from their hair pins and hot glued them to the bows.  Ready for wear.......NEXT summer.  ; )

StoryPeople Tiara Design

StoryPeople In A Simply Pretty Stuff Tiara

One lucky person will be flaunting this oh so wonderful tiara around town this coming Holiday season.  Check out http://www.storypeople.com/ for upcoming details as to how to win this piece.

As well, keep an eye open for my seven latest beautiful holiday ornament designs made exclusively for Storypeople, and available for order

online this November.  Make sure you are in the know by going to http://www.storypeople.com/ 

The Wedding Of The Century!

Just Married...

In case one were to notice, there has not been much activity on this blog for a bit.  Much to do in the way of a major event going on in our lives.  Our son has married the love of his life and Joanna has done the same.  The studio activity here is on hiatus, but will resume shortly after basking in the moment...

It was the most beautiful day for a wedding in New Hampshire!  Sunny, warm, fall days are undoubtedly the best!! The ocean breeze from a stone's throw away was so New England!

The food was yummy and the bride and groom, awesome.  Singing, dancing, eating and some well given toasts were all part of the afternoon. 

People came from Canada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other such far away lands to attend Chris and Joanna's  special event.  A fun filled evening with a barbeque at the new couple's home followed the luncheon reception. 

These are just a few of the one thousand plus photos snapped.  Seriously!  Let me start with an unconventional shoe picture!  sigh.  Conventional pix will follow!

More Christmas Ornaments

By Simply Pretty Stuff

I just added these favorite collages to the mix for some of the more recent Chrismas Ornaments on the design board today.  I can leave the kitties alone for awhile now and get working again.

Tiaras next!

Orphan Kitties

Not One, But Two Homeless Kitties

Well, there was an unexpected surprise...no, two surprises this weekend.  Out for morning coffee and wandering around in the parking lot, was a tiny little kitty.  Before I could finish the phrase, "Here kitty, kitty," she was under our car peeking out from the behind the tires.  A second more and she was in my husband's arms.  What could we do? 

Coffee delayed until after a quick trip to the Clearview Animal Hospital in Hanover.  They are terrific folks there.  They gave her the once over and tested for the dreaded FIV/feline leukemia.  Negative meant life. I was glad.  She spent the night curled up in our mudroom and with a full belly safe from the elements.  Never did get that morning joe.

That would have been the end of it. However, I had a definite feeling there was still a kitty out there... a litter mate perhaps, or the mum.  It did not take much deliberation, so in the rain, we went back to where we found the first little girl. 

OK, you guessed it, and the title gives it away.  Number two was soaked and shivering under a bush.  Our Vet once again, gave a good prognosis for number two. 

BOTH girls now reside in our mudroom.

A dear friend is considering adopting.  It is a big decision though so some time is needed for it to be the right one.  They each met and love her already, so it would be an easy fit into a new household if they go......Sigh. 

Most of the studio work did not get done this weekend.  There were more pressing matters at hand in the form of hugs, petting and flea combing.  Work will resume again tomorrow and at break time, a couple of kittens will need attention.

Simply splendid, don't you agree? I am thinking there will be two more ornaments on our "family tree" of ornaments, custom designed by Simply Pretty Stuff, of course.

The Shops In Frederick

Shops In Frederick, MD Are Worth The Trip

Aside from my vending at the marvelous Summer In Paris Retreat (organized by the fabulous Korie B),

http://papergoddess.typepad.com/ 

I had the most fun shopping with girlfriend Carol and bringing home bags of new found treasures. I alluded to all this fun in a recent post and had promised to fill in some of those retail details.

Driving through Frederick, MD, on the way

to Harper's Ferry, WV, girlfriends just have to stop!  Lot's has happened to improve this community over the past several years and the town is alive with art and culinary pleasures.  I love Market Street and always look forward to stopping in some of the most chic shops, that just seem to scream "welcome girlfriends everywhere."

Our first stop is Molly's Meanderings.  Oh, how I love the hat's there.  One can also find a large selection of Pandora and Brighton jewelry, fashion clothes and home decor there.  http://www.mollysmeanderings.com/

A few steps out the door takes you next door to The Muse. Owner Whitney Bingham is on top of her game with all the local and tri state artists.  My Pennsylvania girlfriends just love Whitney. The Muse carries the most unique and beautiful jewelry, hair accessories, clothing and home decor.  I love the shoes and am partial to some of her metal artists wonderful work.  Whitney schedules some of those very artists to hold classes, so be sure to check out her listings. http://www.shopthemuse.com/   I just had to have this hair clip created by Poppy Chic.

After all that musing around (he he),  we found ourselves in the Simply Beautiful Boutique.  Owner Beth Pumphrey arranges the flowers in the shop herself.  Beth carries Vera Bradley and Lilly Pulitzer and just "simply beautiful" things!

A more recent addition to Frederick's shabby and certainly chic retail is a store called Tiara Day.  Yes, real tiaras can be found there.  Honest to gosh, real tiaras! Owner Maria Peck has the best sense of wonderful ephemeral feminine chic for sure.  Her store is filled with a surprise at every turn, all staged in a bright spacious SoHo style warehouse look.  White washed brick showcase chandeliers, chandeliers, chandeliers and give definite character to the lovely vintage dressforms, perfume  bottle jewelry and literary pieces.  I just had to have some of these knobs for my own studio!

Viva la chic!

Charms Sold, Friends Made, Book Binding Learned

In the end, a very successful vendor show for Simply Pretty Stuff at the Summer in Paris Retreat.  I made lots of new friends who are also now customers!!  Check out these wonderful women and take a peek at the book binding by Carol Novak and moi, of course!

Ah yes, the Summer In Paris Retreat has arrived...

Summer In Paris Retreat

a.k.a.

Shop, Crop, Drop

A couple posts back I blogged about buttons found in New England, just a hop, skip, and ten hours away from home.  Today was the second day for the Summer In Paris retreat in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  Well, guess who found some more buttons?  And so many other wonderful discoveries..........

But before I show and tell all, let me say there was great pre conference shopping (particular shops I will certainly blog about later) and a delightful tea at the Hillbrook Inn.  Tea was the perfect thing in August, as fall begins to round the corner for another season.  Seven guests, all attending the conference, conversed, laughed, ate, and began a very special kinship around a single table at the Inn.

Quaint and charming, nestled at the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains, sits the Historic Hillbrook Inn.  Absolutely the best high tea ever taken.  This epiphany offered by moi, who had sipped Twinings with the Brits in London town many times.  Truely a worthwhile visit in an awesome setting, boasting a wonderfully tasty menu.

Now, I am new to the women of cropping and scrapbooking, but am connected at the hip with their energy and passion.  I never knew there existed entire groups of these paper, scissors, and ribbon loving women working until midnight on their ideas, sharing stories, supplies and spirit all in one place, creatively inspired.  I was so honored to be among them tonight, sharing my stories too and displaying my charms.  For a closer look at the venue check out this link. 

http://papergoddess.typepad.com/retreats/

Many thanks to these wonderful women who bought a few.  How fabulous was that?

 

 

Simply Pretty Stuff merchandise displayed!