Christmas season and things to think about

Many things going on even though we are done for the season with craft shows. Robin and I have been talking for awhile now about setting up an Etsy account. If you don't know anything about Etsy, it's a gathering place for many artisans, who offer handmade/vintage items for sale. Our website seems to be attracting many customers who are looking for a florist or floral shop, which we are not, so we are thinking about a name change. It will be a big step for us to change an entity that we have worked hard on getting this far. We are attached to Robin's Floral Designs and have to make sure we get the new name right. When Robin started out in the craft business, she was concentrating on florals and wreaths, and then like many businesses she expanded her offerings. I like the direction we are going, so many possibilities, and great enjoyment in coming up with new items. We will keep you posted through the transition. It's going to be an exciting and enjoyable new year, lots to talk and think about.

All signs point toward Christmas in the Country

Last show is this weekend, a home tour, called Christmas in the Country. We have been very busy getting everything ready.

These signs were popular in Plattsburgh at our last show.

This was a door of some kind that I found up in the barn and made into a display. The barn is always giving if you look hard enough.

new woodturnings

This candle holder was turned last week and I just finished the wood burned design on the top. I had this design in my head and I'm happy with the way it came out. The house is busy right now getting ready for our last show of the year, lots of creativity in the air, you can almost hear it humming. Love it!

This was my latest turning project. I got tired of my factory shifting knob rattling when I sat at a stop light or idling somewhere, so I turned this new knob, out of a piece of birch I had in the barn.

Already had the wood burner warmed up, so I just had to burn my shift pattern on there, and when I started the truck there was no more rattle. I like this kind of turning project because every time I drive now, I will have my hand on something, that my hands made.

Birch woodburnings

Trying something new for me, wood burning on birch bark, which I found it to be easy and fun. Robin is going to use these in her designs and sell them individually with some ribbon to hang them wherever you may want.

Hope you enjoy these pictures more to follow when they are finished off with ribbon or in arrangements.

New candle holders

Robin made these candle holders last night and I think they are awesome. She and I had made the wooden backs a while ago and last night she had the idea of applying the star and made her own twisted wire holder.

I heard her pounding with a hammer and wondered what she was working on and when she brought them in I couldn't believe how great they looked. The pounding was on the two staples in the back.

Then before I went to bed she had twisted this Merry Christmas. She has her groove going for the upcoming Christmas in the Country craft tour. This will be tacked on to some sort of creation I'm sure.

First give-away on Facebook

We had a give-away for the month of October on Facebook. The winner is getting one of our popular pipberry garlands. It was an interesting experiment and we are going to do another one. There is a difference between Facebook and the blog. For us, the blog seems like you are sending your message out to whom ever stops in to read it, and Facebook has defined people your message reaches. The opportunity with Facebook, is friends of friends, may come across your message also. Whether it is the blog or Facebook it's fun trying to build interest in Robin's Floral Design.

Busy day today finishing (hopefully) Robin's inside set-up. She is doing a show this weekend at St. Mary's in Glens Falls. She has done this show in the past and it will be an opportunity to try out the new set-up before Plattsburg next weekend.

More from Eagle Mills

This was Robin's "home" for the two weekends.

She was happy with the set-up and even more happy with her sales! Everything looked great as usual. It's hard to achieve that homey feel but Robin does a great job with it.

Lots of fall colors. It's hard to tell in these pictures, but the twigs that are sticking out are lighted at the ends, these are one of the items Robin is finding people are very excited about.

This is another arrangement that Robin has added the lighted twigs to. The response has been very good. If you ever see anything on this blog that you are interested in, please leave a comment or visit our website http://robinsfloraldesigns.com/ and let us know through e-mail.

Eagle Mills Craftshow

When you first arrive at Eagle Mills, you can't help but be drawn to this covered bridge on the property, it stands next to the cider press area.

You can see the press area on the right in this picture. This is the view from the bridge.

This is the opposite side view, very nice setting for a craft show. The building on the left is the bakery, cider donuts and apple pie, seemed to be the popular choices.

Many crafters' tents all around. As you can tell the weather was gorgeous again this past weekend. Two weekends in a row, you can't ask for more. These pictures were Sunday afternoon and there was still many people on the grounds.

Craft Season is in full swing.

Well, as you might have guessed from our lack of posting, we are in full swing now. Robin's first weekend at Eagle Mills was very busy! She goes back this weekend and then we are at the Warrensburg Garage Sale the following weekend. It has been a little hectic around here to say the least. Robin is busy making all kinds of new creations and we will keep our fingers crossed on her taking some pictures this weekend. The Eagle Mills craft show has been going on for some time, they have events all year long, and from her description it sounds wonderful. You can click on this link to check their site out:http://www.eaglemillsfun.com.

Now I have to tell you how my day started today. I, like most people around here, love fall. So it was fitting that today, being the first day of Autumn, start the way it did. I was on my way to work this morning and was quite happy with the present I was given. Halfway there, I looked to my left, and in the cow pasture was a bank of early morning fog. The sky behind it was breathtaking, orange and yellow and many other color combinations mixed in. I feel you are rewarded with special things from Mother Nature, from time to time, and when I am rewarded with something that special I feel a need to share it. I told Robin I wanted to call her right then and tell her to go outside, she appreciated this, but I think she was glad I didn't. It was one of those moments that you wish you had a camera, but you know it was for you and anyone else who experienced it. So I'm sorry I don't have a cool picture of it, but I've got a feeling all of us have those moments in our memories, and it's just as good to let your imagination take care of the visual aspect of the story. Do yourself a favor, next time this happens to you, pull over or stop walking and take it in. There are lots of gifts around, we just have to take the time and scoop them up.

Sandy Hill Days

Sandy Hill Days was a success again this year. Robin was featured on our local TV station, the segment was taped while she was setting up, and we joked that it was not her first time in front of the camera. When she worked at a local bank, she was in a short commercial, only this time there was audio to go along. She said she was very relaxed and got a good plug in for Christmas in the Country home tour in. The new items she featured, went very well, and she is very excited for the fall season. I will post pictures of some of the items, hopefully tommorow, when we get fully unpacked. She has shows the next two weekends, and if this show was any indicator, they should go pretty well also. It is always a challenge to find the next "in" thing in home decor, but Robin has a very good eye, and seems to know what people are looking for. Sandy Hill Days is not a typical craft show, in that it has an old time bazaar feeling to it, it ends when the fireworks go off about 10pm. Outstanding weather also helped the weekend, it really felt like early fall and everyone's attitude reflected it. Fall weather seems to put people in a different state of mind, I think it is an innate feeling to plan ahead for winter. Whether it's projects or purchases, it seems people have the same reaction to the oncoming season, do it now and don't wait for the snow to fly.

1/4 dozen...

One of the unique designs from Robin's week.

Day one of the Art in the Park show in Rutland has come to a close, now it is time to relax and gear up for tomorrow. It always feels good to have Robin home after the first day, I don't know who is more nervous, her or me. Sounds like she had a decent day and made some good contacts, one of her designs will hang on the door of a college president in Vermont, not bad for a new line of hand made products.

Packed and ready

Well the week sure went by in a flash and Robin is all packed for the Rutland show starting tomorrow. She is excited and nervous about this one, because like I've said, this is out of her comfort zone a bit. It will be great experience for her and sometimes you have to put yourself out there and see what happens. Her new wood line is great, and with some good weather, lots of people in the green mountain state will get to see how hard she has worked these past couple of weeks. Stay tuned.....

Stars of summer

Robin has this star hanging from a shepard hook in front of the hydrangea bush. I like pulling in the driveway and seeing it. I think it's very regal looking, is that wierd?

This star is on the front porch door and is hooked to a small grapevine wreath. Robin painted this to add depth to the cut out star in the middle. Love the reflection in the window in the background. I will enjoy these green pictures in the winter months.

And finally, you remember our ladders from a month or so ago, this one is decorated with a pipberry garland. Robin's Floral Designs is constantly changing. Robin was asked to make several duplicates of the wooden creations we have been making. So we had a conversation about duplicating or mass producing certain crafts and we just don't have that mentality. After making six or so of a certain item we are ready to move on. To us each item we make should be a little different. Where is the spice of churning out a dozen of this and two dozen of that, we make six wooden sconces, and each one is hand cut and a little different. If I'm turning at the lathe, trying to turn six or eight snowmen, I take one at a time and let them come out of the wood the way they come out. When Robin is creating designs for sale she starts with a certain idea and may end up with something totally different. That's what makes it special, she would actually be sad when she sold some of her favorite florals, she liked them that much. Anyone who is crafty/artsy/creative knows how hard it is to duplicate, especially by hand. And isn't it great knowing you have purchased the only one of something?

More Primitive Craft designs from the barn

We had a very productive Monday.

Robin spray painted these hydrangea, to be used in an assortment of arrangements.

We were able to knock all these out, plus a couple of other future posts, Monday as well. The barn is such a great work space, it makes these kinds of crafts, very enjoyable to make.

Now for some painted photos, above we have tissue box covers, and below, are two different kinds of candle holders.

These two designs will each receive their own electric grungy candle. Great looking, so far, if I do say so myself.

Candlestick Maker

Sunny day today. Beautiful Sunday.

This is a practice candlestick that I made today on the lathe. The next candlestick will have a larger base, I was just trying to get the form down, before I turned the real thing. We also put together a couple of tissue boxes that I will post pictures of after Robin paints them.

Kindred Spirits

The definition of kindred spirit is a person who shares beliefs, attitudes, feelings or features with another. I, like everyone else, have found kindred spirits along my lifes journey. I am also lucky enough to have married one of my kindred spirits. Robin's creations sometimes speak volumes. I like this for obvious reasons, it means one thing to me, but it could mean something different to you. It may make you think of that one person in your life that still makes you smile. It may even be a gift for that special person. I really like the items Robin makes and I'm pretty sure she likes them too, that's why they don't hang around very long, she puts a little blood, sweat and love in each one of them.

Lake George Summerfest wraps up

This is Robin's view from her booth at Lake George Summerfest, not bad huh? The band had just finished up and it was time to get packing.

The great thing about Lake George shows is you already have the people in the village. The bad thing is most are on vacation and not looking to purchase, as opposed to the other craft shows, where people are going there with a purchase in mind.

Our goal on breakdown day, is to go from this..............

....to this, in the least amount of time. We have a good system and the kids are getting bigger, so there is more help, and less bickering between them. That and they know there is food involved!

Bird Condos continued

The master in action (you know how much I like the action shots)!

The bird condos are painted and primped as promised, I believe we may have a bird for this piece, you will have to come to the show in Lake George, NY to find out for sure.

Bird Condos

New creation from the barn, ready for painting and primping.

More from the first show

These dolls were a hit at the first show. I kind of cut this ones head off but it was to show where she was sitting.

They make great accents to Robin's creations.

Enjoying the view from street level.