Where Did the Time Go?

I got lost in time....too many things to do. I have been busy setting up for a show and exhibit in an Art Gallery...Yes can you believe it, me in an Art Gallery. I was asked to show my Primitive Folk Art at the Historic Dryer House Emporium in the Village of Victor, NY. It is a beautiful Federal-Italianate style home built in 1838 by William C. Dryer. I will be in the Gallery until the beginning of August. I am so honored and excited. I hope to get down there and get some photos to show you. I am also ready for July 1st on www.simplyprimitives.com I included one photo from that offering here today. Things are moving along and I find myself very blessed. I also joined Linkedin (Arts & Crafts)...WOW high tech Sandie! I love this artsy life....so many cool people and wonderful connections with REAL people...It's a Wonderful Life.

Reflections on Procrastination

Do you ever feel that you are really going nowhere fast? I do...my goal was to be on ETSY in April...NOT DONE...no reason...just am incapable of taking the fatal plunge. I find myself being very busy... doing all kind of nonsense and accomplishing very little...must be a gene missing in my confidence. Has anyone ever felt so terribly driven to nowhere? The sun is out, the flowers are blooming and there is hope everywhere in the world....except here in Blog Land. I just bought a new background from a vendor and specific instructions to upload it...think I can get it on the Blog....NOT ... I guess that is what the problem is...not knowing exactly what to do, I just get tired of STUPID...oh well, I have made a decision that will move me forward....I am going to go get some CHOCOLATE....success at last!

They Say You Can't Go Home Again

But you can..... I live in Rochester, NY and  I returned to Rochester, PA this week. I went to be with my friend, Suzanne...her sister, Gail died and I wanted to be there. I met Suzanne when I was 6. We had moved to Rochester from the Alleghney Mountains and I was a lost soul...being a country girl and all. Suzanne rode her bike by one day and we just hit it off...that was 58 years ago. Both of us have lived other places and have full lives...but we call ourselves our "Longest Friends" (oldest is not a good adjective at our ages)...Any way...as I sat in church on Wednesday...I began a long journey down memory lane. Gail was 7 years older than us...she was the pretty blond high school girl I wanted to be. When Suzanne and I were in the Brownies, Gail and her new boy friend, Jake, came to Life Guard for us...I remember how "cute" he was...all of us little girls swooned. I remember when they married, had their boys, became grandparents and recently celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary. All of these memories came flooding back. These are the people that have formed the tapestry of my life. I have so many memories of Rochester and the days with Suzanne.... roller skating on skates that had a key, buying penny candy, camp fires, dolls and paper dolls, shared secrets, crushes on boys, dances every Saturday night during high school, friends during college, marriages, children and funerals. I also laughed at myself as I remembered riding my bike down Reno Street and screaming at the top of my lungs..."Suzanne, I just got my first trainer bra"...and as a true friend, she was happy for me. It is a privilege to know Suzanne and her wonderful family. Sometimes the worst of times bring out the best memories. I am back in Rochester,NY now...but my heart is warm with the memories of Rochester, PA...Thanks, Suzanne.

Easter Renewal

Nothing in life is as good as a second chance. It is during the Easter season that we get a glimpse of new beginnings and rebirth...the world is coming alive and the sweet tender greens long frozen are emerging toward the sun. It is good to be alive...it is good to be awake and enjoying all that is around us. Renewing my dreams to be a blogger success, an etsy success, a web site success, a primitive doll maker success.....all of this is possible in this season of growth and new beginnings. I was following my favorite blogs earlier today and read a quote by George Eliot "It's never too late to be what you might have been"....I love it Catnip Studio Chronicles has this quote right at the top of her blog...makes you think...gives inspiration and renews my soul...thanks Kathy. Happy Easter to all of my friends...new, old, and those I have yet to meet...grow, stretch, achieve, and above all....believe you can FLY...

Simply Primitives

I have been selling on Simply Primitives. May will be my third month there. The other artisans are amazing and I feel honored to be among them. My items appear on the first of the month...so toddle over there on May first and see what is new......I included a sneak preview...stop by and visit. www.simplyprimitives.com

There's Always a Little Girl Inside

It's been raining in Upstate NY...I do love rainy days and that was something that was taught to me by my mother. She made rainy days very special. In our dining room was a buffet and the bottom drawer held surprises galore. I was allowed to choose one item per rainy day and it was from this drawer my first book of paper dolls emerged. I was hooked...but too little to cut them out...so we sat by the fire place and she cut and I began to fantasize. That was the beginning of my doll love affair. I must have been 3 or 4 years old and I am now 64...long time obsession with dolls and not a chance of it letting up or being cured...as if I would choose the cure!! I wish mothers introduced their daughters to this wonderful world...we loose so much of our imagination. I was an only child for 6 years..before the baby brother..and we lived in Cresson, PA. We were located in a valley between two 2000 ft high mountains (Allegheny Mts.)  The Main Line (Railroad)   moved through Cresson on it's journey to the famous Horseshoe Curve. We lived about 10 miles out of the town on a private lake near the town of  Loretto. My dad worked 3 jobs back then...one was that of a coal miner...any how...It was 1950 and my mom stayed at home and did not drive a car...So she and I spent much time engaged in dolly make believe...I treasure those days. I had my own play room  filled with dolls and teddies...I recall red and white gingham curtains, a tin doll house filled with plastic furniture, a golden record player and oodles of little plastic golden records. We need to remember our roots and what makes us who we are today.. How I sang along to those golden record songs! ...Bibbity...Bobbity...Boo... I cherish the good ole days and appreciate how I have become who I am today....I still sing along as I create my dolls. It really is a GRAND rainy day !!!

Who Let the Cat Out?

OK...am I nuts or what?  I was so pleased with myself that I actually uploaded an animated cat and he was soooo cute,,,those of you who saw him...for one fleeting minute...would agree...HOWEVER when I went to post today...he was gone. Now I ask you, why would a cat be so stupid to leave a warm blog home for the world of cyber space...who'da thunk it?  Well, there is really no use to whine...he is gone and I do not have the time to find him tonight. I am not happy, but am capable of making my own CAT....Here's one with my School Marm doll...Creative???  Well....someone has to go find the poor cat. He's probably cold, hungry, lost...LOL  this is obviously not a good idea...Here, Kitty, Kitty..