Spring is in the air...and possibly some snowflakes as well...

This Sewing Box uses an old Cigar Box

as the base and a pewter Duck

pin-cushion relaxes in the rippling waters.

The Farmer Rabbit was made by a dear friend of mine, 

Melissa D. Terreck, and I treasure him.

These are truly the first sign of Spring here as we

still have snow on the ground and have

been told we may just get some snowflakes falling

at some point today.

It is official, we have broken the all time

record for the snowiest winter EVER

with over 108" of snow!

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Early American Folk Arts & Trades Group

If you happen to have an appreciation for OR

are educated in OR are an artist who creates art based in

the history and love of the Early American

Folk Arts & Trades I would highly recommend that

you join this Facebook Group.

Suzanne Kizis founded this group and her goal is

to create a dynamic arena for educators,

curators, artist and enthusiasts to dialogue with

one another. It is the goal of the group to

also help define and focus what "Folk Art &Trades"

really means and to continue both creating

and educating ourselves and all those 

who have this passion.

Please join and help grow and nurture this fairly

new but dynamic group. If you have

a website or blog there is a new logo you can use

to help promote this group.

Contact Suzanne to learn more.

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A Work In Progress...

My Tramp Art version of a Moravian Star...

the box splits open in the middle and 

will hold so antique German Christmas treasures!

I have just about half of the pieces 

chip-carved (164 out of 336) so it looks like I will

be busy for the next couple of days.

Then I will start to assemble everything and

get ready to do the finishing.....

will keep you posted as things develop!

Maggie's BIG Adventure...

Well it seems when we last chatted

Maggie's Hot-Air Balloon

couldn't even get off the ground.

I am glad to report that the Maggie Jack-In-The-Box

is ready to go and the Maggie Hot-Air Balloon

has taken a few test flights and is almost ready to head home.

However, she seems to have taken on a stowaway.

Schneider, the mouse, seems to have gathered

up enough cheese and crackers for the journey while

cleverly avoiding the mouse trap on the bottom

of the basket he is riding in!

Looks like Schneider left a few morsels behind

to lighten the load. I just need to take their

official Passport Portfolio Photos and they will be

ready for LIFT OFF!

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Here is a sneak peek at twin Tramp Art pieces 

I am working on at the moment.

They are an interpretation of the Moravian Star.

These "boxes" can either rest on a tabletop

or be hung for display. They will open in the middle

and each half will have twelve "points".

One of them will be filled with long golden hued

flax. An antique German metal basket

will rest in the flax and will hold an antique

German baby Jesus creche figure.

Two antique German Stick-leg Sheep will

watch over the baby Jesus....this piece is going to a 

special friend and fellow artist.....the other

will be posted on my website when it is finished.

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Thanks for dropping by and have a most 

enjoyable day! Please sign up to follow my blog. 

I would be most appreciative.

Meow.....it's Maggie

Maggie seems to be purr-fectly content

with the Jack-In-The-Box and the Hot Air Balloon

being made in her likeness.

This Jack-In-The-Box is painted in the traditional German Red

and Yellow. The letters M-A-G-G-I-E are chip carved

and applied to the box. Linen is used to create the hinge and a

vintage spring is attached to the base.

Maggie lives in Arizona and can't wait

to get out of the snow here in New England. She should be 

on her way home soon. But not soon enough as we are

expected to get another 3 to 6 inches of snow later today!

The Jack-In-The-Box is almost complete and I will be

making the base for the the Hot Air Balloon basket today. 

Then I can start weaving the basket!

The little mouse you see will be the passenger in the 

Hot Air Balloon basket. He will be relaxing in a nest of flax 

on top of a mouse trap and snacking on some cheese.

In the meantime, our Biagio just wants his house back!

I am sure he will be happy to help me

when I need to pack-up Maggie for her flight home.