Stay or Go?

Ive been a crafter almost 30 years now. When I started my business I was in my mid 20's. It was always a running joke at some of the large shows I did, where do old crafter's go? No one seemed to have an answer. The best we could come up with was we all ended up in some hippie commune out West somewhere! That was years ago, the time is drawing near now that Guy and I are some of the older crafters. We never thought years ago that someday we would retire, it seemed so far away. Well here we are. We have been fortunate  to have a brick and motor store in our downtown with our house connected to it. Sixteen years ago we bought this old place which has provided us with ample work space. We have been lucky to have a 1500 sq. ft studio and store , when some crafters I know still are working in tiny spaces or at kitchen tables. Sometimes I think the ones working in small spaces are the lucky ones, the more creative ones. I'm constantly pulled so many different directions with working in the front of the store and trying to create in the studio behind. I've done this a long time and I'm tired, very tired. Every season the store gets changed and every season new merchandise gets made.Over the years I have made thousands and thousands of reproductions and vintage style holiday items. Often customers will ask me about an item I made years ago and to be honest I cant remember what they are talking about. So, with all this being said, Guy and I are coming up on some big changes. For the past year we have been working on our little stone cabin at Penn's Creek. Hopefully we will be finished by the end of this year. The next phase is the house in town will be painted and ready to go on the  market. What about the store? Well I honestly think that brick and motor stores are dying. I know our old downtown has been dying a slow death over the past years. Right now I'd say it's barely on life support. Things are a changing and we have held out as long as we possibly could. We will keep the store for as long as this place is for sale. When it sells we will change to a online shop, probably Etsy or our own website. Will we have the large line we do now, no, but maybe the best of the best and new one of a kind creations. Here's to a new future and being able to breath again!

 

 

Summer Fun!

Summer is the time we get out of the studio and store to work on other projects. Right now we are trying to get our cabin finished so we can move in the end of this year. Here's a picture of the new front entrance Guy just finished...I love it! Just  in case you are looking to visit the store this summer, it's open by chance or appointment....

Is it May?

It's cool here in the Northeast for May. By this time we have normally had our air conditioning on a few times. Not this year. Maybe it will be a cool summer, fine by me. We are now on summer hours at the store. Right now we are open Wednesdays and Saturdays 11-4pm. Other than that it's by chance or by appointment. I've been working on a few fun things and experimenting with a few other things I've always wanted to try. Right now as you can see in one of the photos, I'm working on Fourth of July. When I'm not here at the store and Guys not at his job you can find us working on our cabin. The plan is to be moved in there after Christmas this year. I guess you can say it's the first step towards semi retirement! My brick and mortar store has been put on notice that "she" will eventually be gone and I will be an online business only......

April Showers

April showers brings May flowers or so it says. Its cold here once again in central Pa. The tiny heads of my spring bulbs need ear muffs! The lilac bush is blooming and tonight it is suppose to drop to 16 degrees....weird weird weather. It's time again for change in the store. Easter is gone and summer is coming sometime so its red, white and blue. Guy is finishing up our taxes this week and I'm working on an assortment of German putz sheep, pigs, gnomes and patriotic candy containers. I always look forward to this time of year because it is my catch up time and the time I have to work new things. Raisin continues to keep us busy. I cannot believe she just turned 1 year old. It seems she was just a little thing, now shes over 100 pounds and shes one tough but sweet girl. They say Rottweilers are puppies until they are about  three years old, lord help us! We  make our weekly visit to Petsmart and then through Starbucks drive through for a pupa-chino, a cup of whip cream for the beast! She loves it.......

Catching A Break!

Wow, what a busy Easter season we have had. I'm so grateful for all my customers. I always enjoy visiting with each and everyone. Now is the time we start summer work here in the studio. We are looking forward to some new creations getting under way and finishing some things that are already in the works. When we aren't n the studio Raisin keeps us busy. Turning one year old last week she is now over 100 pounds. Still a puppy and doing bad puppy things, we have at least two more years of this. Overall she is a pretty good girl. For those who are

following this blog, you may want to check out our Facebook page that is listed under Kay Stamm. There you will find daily pictures of items we sell in the  store and more pictures in general. Have a great day!

Easter Greetings!

Spring seems to have arrived a little early here in the Northeast this year. Growing up in central Pennsylvania I remember the month of March being cold and snowy. I remember getting off the bus, snow flying, stinging my face as I made the long walk up our driveway. This was always March. Today is the 10th of March and it's close to 70 degrees and raining, makes one wonder what is going on here! I wonder if the Easter bunny will arrive in a sleigh? Maybe, we will see if old mother nature decides to  surprise us one last time! I have been in the studio the past few weeks making German Rabbits, chicks and gnomes. The store has been busy with customers who stop by to add one more little rabbit or chick to their collection. Soon I will be able to slow down again for awhile and get back to some projects that I started but have not finished. I will be working on a line of figure soaps for all holidays. This is something I have wanted to do for quite some time so now is that time. The samples will be shown sometime this summer so if you are in my area stop by the store and see what we are doing. This week new candies arrived, basically a little blast from the past to add to our ever growing candy counter! The children's area of the store is stocked with trinkets for  Easter baskets. The spring gnomes are finished and waiting to be adopted by someone who wants a little "kitsch" in their house!
Happy Easter from Stamm House

 

Hopping Into Easter!

Well Easters coming sooner than I had expected. Guy and I are in the studio working on some new Easter molds. It has been a slow start with each of us not wanting to quite give up our "winter break" yet. After looking at the calendar and realizing that Easter is very early this year I thought we better get going! Changing seasons in the store is a big big project. With each year that passes I swear it will be the last but for some unknown reason I keep working year after year. I suspect that when my end comes some unsuspecting customer will find my bare skeleton sitting at my workbench with a paint brush clutched in my bony hand!
seriously changing the whole store to a new season is a lot of work for one person. Guy repainted all the interiors of the cabinets for me last week. I rearranged the store layout and did the displays. Customers can now see my mini museum of vintage toys all displayed on top of the cabinets. I'm now back to painting and sculpting Easter items. The store will reopen on Tuesday March 1st at 10am. Lets all hope for an early spring! Until we see you...Guy, Raisin and I will be busy!