Up..Up and away!

Actually it was pretty non eventful around here last night. We had a little rain and some strong wind but nothing like was predicted. I was hoping we would fly away like Dorthy in The Wizard of Oz and land in munchkin land where everything was pretty and clean but then I would have to deal with the wicked witch and all those little munchkins that I'm sure after awhile would get very annoying. Better off to stay put here on the ground! The poppy field would have been interesting though....a much needed nap! Back to reality, I have a shipment to pack of 50 little belsnickles all waiting to jump into the box and be shipped off to Shaker Workshops catalog for the Christmas season. So it's back to work for now ..whats next, pine cone gnomes for Christmas!

Waiting and watching....

The mother of all storms is soon to be upon us. Thinking about the age of my house, I think (she) would have seen it all by now. Built in 1830 I can't imagine that this old brick house hasn't done a few serious rounds with mother nature in her 182 years. Our biggest challenge is the rain runoff from the roof. Several years ago our borough instructed everyone that had spouting that ran into the sanitary storm drains to plug up their  drains thus leaving us to have our courtyard flood every time in rains.The problem then becomes, the courtyard floods being surrounded by walls, then the water runs into our basement. If it's a bad storm like this one, the house basement that connects with the store basement turns into one big gigantic lake.The pumps can hardly keep up with the water so waiting for what this mother of all storms is going to do is a bit worrisome! I don't think we will blow away like Dorthy but I did take in my candy balls in front of the store. After all the work to make those things I would hate to see them floating down main street or flying through the air into someones store window let alone my own! Now  our other house(cottage) out on Penns Creek may fly away. Being a little stone cabin with a tin roof, the roof could take off or worse case the place could flood being on the creek. Our cabin sits 30 feet above the water but I have seen the cute little creek expand into a ragging torrent and come have way up the embankment! Will this storm make the creek rise higher? Every year when I write the flood insurance check I bitch and moan about what a rip off it is..this may be the year I eat those words! Well enough about mother nature and her trick or treating on Pa. I do have a order of belsnickles to finish and ship off to Shaker Workshops catalog so I hope the power doesn't go out. I'm posting a picture of a new little belsnickle candy container we just finished. He's popping out of the chimney and comes with a bag of hard fruit candy from Germany inside..yummy!

It's been awhile!

Yes! It's been awhile since I have been able to get back to this blog. The last time I wrote anything I was getting ready to do a wholesale show in Gettysburg Pa. The show was fun as usual, seeing customers and fellow crafters. Now we are back in the studio and the marathon to Christmas has begun. I'm busy finishing an order for Shaker Workshops catalog along with  several other orders that have to get in the mail. There are all sorts of odds and ends to tie up. Earlier today I was taking some pictures around our house.Not that this place is anything to great but I've had allot of requests to see what type of "enviroment" we live in! This is an old funeral home after all.....Next blog in a few days I have some pictures of new work to post so keep watching....

Running on empty!

I've been MIA for awhile. We have been getting ready for a wholesale trade show in Gettysburg Pa. this coming week. All of my little gnomes and santa's  are now packed and ready to go. It's been a long week of molding, painting, pricing and packing. I think at this point I've been living in the studio. Next week after I return I'll have some new pic's to post so catch ya then!

And to all a good night!

The big belsnickle project is finished. It's been along week with many projects rolling along at once. I, having taken a nasty fall two weeks ago am still hobbling around like a little elf! Along with my continuing eye problem(which my doctor said is excellent except the gas bubble isn't gone yet) my mobility is limited. We worked on this big guy this week along with a large Santa order for a dear friend in Ohio who once a year has a big Christmas bash and gives all the attendees a different one of our Santa's every year. My store is being decorated for Christmas with belsnickles, German sheep, feather trees and all sorts of goodies for the season. We now will turn our attention to a trade show we will be exhibiting at in Gettysburg Pa. mid Oct so We've gotta get moving! Here's a picture of the big guy!