Tis the Season

This week has been busy with painting for web updates, as well as, state writing tests for my boys. I know that we are looking forward to the weekend...and believe it or not, I don't have any projects for my husband! We'll, maybe I can think of something??

I've pulled out all of the Christmas decorations from the garage, so I guess we will turn on the Christmas music and start our decorating! Have you started or finished your Christmas decorating? Although I've been making Christmas items since Oct!? I feel a little bit behind on decorating my own home for the season!

Here are some photos of the items I've been painting this week and that will be offered on TDIPT Mercantile on the 1st. Can you believe it's December already?

The first offering is a framed silhouette of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.

And the second offering is a table runner made using the same process as a I use for floor cloths. I've painted a simple winter snow fall scene.
Please visit TDIPT Mercantile tomorrow on the 1st for to view all the artist's offerings...it's always fun to see what everyone has created.

Have a wonderful weekend!

"Wear the old coat and buy the new book."

Austin Phelps, American Educator and Clergyman (1820-1890)

"A room without books, is like a body without a soul."
.....attributed to Cicero

Our Thanksgiving was quiet (well, as quiet as 2 boys and a dog can be), and filled with projects. Extended weekends seem to be the only time to complete unfinished projects in the house. We were finally able to paint the bookcase my husband made a few weeks ago, and after the staining and the waxing.....stacks of boxes of books were "freed" from the garage (that's another L-o-n-g weekend project!). My husband is a collector of hymn books some dating back to 1637....those revered books were given a place of comfort long before...but, the poor "family/livingroom" books,(as written in my hand on the box) have lived in the garage since we moved in about 2 years ago. It was like Christmas opening each box! And I'm sure the books are happy to breathe again too.

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1875

All but one box of books found a place on the shelves, and in other nooks of the house. I guess "the man with the tools" will have another bookcase to build, because I didn't have enough room to decorate!
Here are a few photos ....it's been cloudy and cold with snow flurries here, so I used the flash. In our previous home, I painted the first 2 quotes about books on our family room walls.

"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library."
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1811

Christmas Craft Fair

Welcome to Pear Tree Primitives' Christmas Craft Fair Offerings~


~Snow Pokes~
This trio of "Snow Pokes" are ready to decorate your home for the holiday season. Each snow poke is made of clay, painted, sprinkled with glitter and sealed. They measure 13 inches and each has a pretty paper collar, and ribbon attached. Sold as a set or individually...
Set $27 plus shipping (making more for a set)
Individually- $10.00 each plus shipping
Snow Poke 1....Blue Ribbon
Snow Poke 2...Red Ribbon
Snow Poke 3...Trio of Ribbon *SOLD* Thank you!



~Vintage-style Silhouette Charms~


Each charm is hand-painted on glass, then soldered. I've left some silver, and "aged" a few as well. The 4 square charms measure 3/4 of an inch square and are $15 each (plus shipping).

The 3 long rectangular charms measure 1 and 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inches wide and are $17 each (plus shipping).

The circle measures 1 and 1/2 inches round and is $17 (plus shipping).
The charms come with a choice of silver ball chain, black cord, of black lace ribbon.

4 Square Charms~$15 each
Bird (silver)
Rose (silver)- *SOLD*
~*~*~*~
Girl (black patina)
Boy (black patina)
Sold as a set (girl and boy): $30

3 rectangle Charms~ $17 each
Parasol (silver)
Matron (black patina)
Young Miss (silver)

Circle Charm~$17
Lady with Comb (black patina)



~White Winter Stockings~
These stockings are made using ivory wool felt. I've blanket stitched each stocking and added vintage buttons to each side. Beaded and ribboned lace are also hand-stitched as an embellishment.
Each stocking has a soft gold ribbon hanger, and is open at the top to add your own candy or evergreen sprig....OR tuck a vintage silhouette charm/necklace inside for a sweet gift to a friend (or yourself)!

Large stockings measure 5 and 1/2 inches (without gold ribbon hanger) and are $5 each plus shipping

Small stockings measure 4 and 1/2 inches (without gold ribbon hanger) and are $4 each plus shipping

Both Sets~ $25 (plus shipping)


If you would like to purchase and item, or have a question about an item please email me at: peartreeprimitives@yahoo.com
Thank you for visiting!

(Little update....Please click on the photos to enlarge, I just made them larger. And the Snow Poke with the tall top hat has a new home...thank you!).

Snow, an Award, and Happy Thanksgiving!

We awoke to snow this morning....just a light dusting, but enough to get my boys excited about the possibilities snow can bring! It fell for about 30 minutes but soon melted away....oh well, I'm sure we will have more that will be fun to play in later. Here are a few "not-so-great" photos. It was C*O*L*D and my hands were shaking (probably didn't help that I was still in my robe!).

~**~**~**~

A big thank you to sweet Manuela, who was recently awarded the "Friendly Site" award, and passed it along to me. Thank you Manuela! If you haven't visited her blog, you should click on over.....Manuela always has fun projects and decorating ideas!
And to keep the award going, I'm passing it along to Cathy and Lana...both very talented ladies, as well as, having fun and friendly blogs.

Wishing you and yours a Very ~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~

A Promise

“May God give you...For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.”
~An Irish Blessing~

We've had rain and drizzle most of last week, which was needed, but was a little wet to rake those leaves I've been avoiding. The weather was still damp on Saturday, but after spending most of the day (and night) painting the commissioned floor cloths...I needed a break. So, we pulled out the rakes and as we made our way to the front yard...this was awaiting us! Hope you can see the beautiful rainbow...it arched over our street, starting behind the neighbor's home and then across the reservoir.

And speaking of floor cloths, here are some photos of the commissioned penny circle half-round floor cloths I finished this weekend. They will cure for a week and then be shipped to their new home.

The bookcase was painted too...but it still needs a coat of stain and wax....then Books!


Today is a special day....Happy Birthday to my sweet husband, may you have many, many more!

"Passed" Painter of the Day

This week I've been working on a floor cloth special order, and on a "commissioned" piece for my husband. As busy as we all can be during this season...how can you say "no" to your husband?! He asked if I would paint a portrait of Mary and Baby Jesus for the Christmas music program for our church. If the "commissioned" painting of 'Mary and Babe' turns out I'll post a pic when it's completed.

My son's school Art curriculum for this week was another unit on portraits. I am really loving this!....he is being a sweet boy and trying to enjoy it with me! We are beginning another lesson on portraitists. This week we studied Thomas Sully 1783-1872, who was born in England and moved with his parents to the United States when he was nine. He attended school in New York, but when his mother died, the family moved to South Carolina where his uncle ran a theater and Thomas acted in plays with his brothers.
Thomas' older brother was a painter of miniatures and taught Thomas how to paint. Thomas opened a studio of his own, but wasn't happy with his work, so he traveled to England to further his painting skills and education.
When he returned to the US, he settled in Philadelphia, but traveled throughout the states painting and even traveled to England to paint Queen Victoria.

Thomas Sully painted what he called "Fancy pictures". His style of using soft colors and shadows to create a warm and tender lifelike image of his subjects made him a popular artist and one that is recognized today. Here are a few of the over 2,000 portraits attributed to him.

~I'll be finishing up the floor cloths and painting the new bookcase this weekend.....hope you have a good one~

References: My son's home school curriculum. idahova.org

Simple Offerings

The Primitive Gathering is updated for the 15th.....lots of wonderful wintry offerings are available for viewing.
Pear Tree Primitives' webpage: Click Here
The Primitive Gathering website: Click Here

S-t-r-e-t-c-h....ahhhhh

......a little more breathing room! Changing the template is a little like rearranging the furniture in your home. This might become a new addiction, lol! Hmmmm, I may just change it again next week!

The weekend was busy with getting my items ready for The Primitive Gathering update on the 15th. Here is a sneak peek at my very "humble" offerings. And with the help of some books and my online friends for support, I spent an afternoon teaching myself how to solder jewelry. When this is perfected, I hope to offer hand-painted charms in a few weeks. So stay tuned!

And "the man with the power tools", aka my husband was back to building this weekend. His thumb has healed nicely and he wanted to build us a bookcase or two before his "workshop" (the back porch) became too cold this winter. Here are a few photos of him in action! Now the next step is painting it.

Secret Sisters

Is it Friday already??? The week seemed to fly by...although at times I felt I was running in slow motion!
One highlight of my week was a box I received in the mail from my "Secret Sister". Some of the artists on The Primitive Gathering have been surprising one another with a box of goodies sent to the next person on a closely guarded list (lol)....this person is your "Secret Sister". My secret sister, Michelle Sylvia of The Blackberry Briar, sent a box to me this week and look at all the fun things she stuffed into a priority mailing box! ( I want her to help me pack a suitcase when I go on a trip!) I was so excited!! Tink (Michelle's nickname) spoiled me with a wonderful candle from her new line!! YUM!!! She sent me "Teacher's Pet", a yummy Apple Jack fragrance. And she also made a custom order room spray "Spiced Pear"....I just love it! Don't you love her labels? Here is a link to Tink's webpage on The Primitive Gathering: Tink's Webpage.
This month she is debuting this wonderful line and you'll find a list of all her candle and room spray fragrances.

~*~*~*~(Just ignore the makings of a floor cloth in the background, now you can see what my family has to put up with on the dining room table!)~*~*~*~

In the box were all sorts of wonderful treasures....she made cute little wax boots for hanging, soap, 3 wool felt acorns, 2 wool felt pears, and one of her notecards made using one of her whimsical folk art paintings. She sent an antique book ( I love old books)...this one is entitled "Claudia" and written in 1868. There were 2 old photos, a tin of holiday tea, Indian corn for decorating, an artists canvas for painting....and a journal that each Secret Sister signs and passes along to the next person. Thank you Tink!

Now, it's my turn to send a box of goodies to the next Secret Sister on the list! I hope my sister is as thrilled with her box as much as I was with Tink's for me!

Happy Monday!

Monday is here already...hope everyone had a restful weekend.

This weekend (instead of raking leaves!), I finished ~*Vintage Red Cape Angel*~...lol, not exactly a very catchy name, but it's descriptive! And I've put her on Ebay along with a small banner I've painted in the same vintage-y style. Please visit the link below for a peek:
Pear Tree Primitives on Ebay

Here are a few more photos of the angel and the banner.......



now I have to get busy making things for The Primitive Gathering in a few days! Where does all the time go??

New Offerings

TDIPT Mercantile has been updated for the 1st of November. The theme this month is "White Christmas":

TDIPT Mercantile


Please click the link above to take a peek.
Here are a few more photos that aren't on the website of my Nov. 1st offerings.



I'm also working on a vintage-postcard style Christmas Angel. I hope to have her on Ebay this weekend, if not sooner. I'll post a link and a photo or two when she is done.