Fresh on eBay!

New on eBay! Ends tomorrow! http://www.ebay.com/usr/heathersketter 

Dolls, A "Dusting", and Dogs

     First, if you haven't seen this awesome challenge put out by Barb Moore, the author of Purely Primitive Dolls and owner of The Primitive Oswald,  please go look and check out the work of so many talented ladies. The challenge is over now, but the site is now a selling blog for extreme prim dolls called "Purely Primitive Dolls".  It is a method for again, artists to sell their handmade art.  

     Supporting small businesses is so important, and I know you know, as many of you are friends with these artists or you are an artist as well (so skip to the snow and dogs below. You live this speech). Many people rely on this income to support themselves in some way in this economy. It also brings great joy for each artist to be able to create and pass on a bit of themselves to you! A legacy of sorts.  I am so blessed to have had the opportunity the participate in the Purely Primitive Doll Challenge.  I learned sooooooo much through Barb's book, which I highly recommend.  And, I have met many talented artists and new friends. So, please, take a look. And, this Christmas, consider buying something handmade as a gift for someone to pass along a legacy of love that has been poured into the creation by the hands that made it!

I am now leaving my soapbox (hopefully without tripping.  It's me, though.  It is quite probable... Ow! Yup. There it is.). I return you to your cup of coffee and regular blog reading.  Thank you for your time!

Dolls created by (left to right): The Primitive Oswald, Primitives by Old Lady Morgan, The Country Schoolmarm

The regularly scheduled programs: "First Snow Comes to Pennsylvania" and "The Dogs Who Wanted to Know Too Much". Enjoy!

"Bailey and Charlie" episode 32 - "Neighborhood Watch-For Whom the Dogs Bark?"

"Keep your yap shut until I tell you to open it, Chuck!"

"She wears me out. "

"Why is Jack the Sniffer being walked by his person at this hour? I don't like it. "

"What'd I tell you???" "I was sayin hey to Jack"

That's not Jack... (Cue dramatic music)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love and Hugs!

The Marm

Giveaways and Getting Caught Up!

     Hello, Friends! I hope this finds you all well. This is my first "Lazy Saturday" in a long while, so I thought I would get caught up. My husband uses my laptop, so I am doing this on my ipad. The Blogger app isn't my favorite, but howdy!

     Gee, what a busy year! We are only 2 months into school, but whew! What a whirlwind! I have been terrible over the last year keeping up with my blog! I had such good intentions, but the summer was a hectic one. I had to move my class again, which some of you already know. Thinking about that kind of sucked up my inspiration. I am trying to take pictures when the room doesn't look like a tornado went through it! So, you may never see any. Lol! I do have some random pictures of my classroom!

     Okay, well this is my desk. And coffee. And a cupcake. But listen to this! Someone dropped off fancy-smancy cupcakes from New York City (this sounds like the beginning of one of those Old El Paso salsa commercials, I know!). Now, I cannot pass up a good, homemade cupcake. Sorry. Just can't. When I have a good cupcake, a cup of coffee, and sit at my desk, well, it's like an old Calgon commercial. Oh, and no kids in the room. Okay (So side note... This why I haven't been blogging. All I have to share is about a cupcake!) so this cupcake was a a vanilla cupcake with a bit of caramel inside and brown sugar and slightly salted icing. Oh. My. I think just reveling in that was half of my planning period. It was bliss until the stack of spelling tests caught my eye. Yup. It was like the scene in Somewhere in Time when Christopher Reeves's character sees the penny. If you haven't seen the movie, well, you should. 

So, anywhoo... Hmm, let's see.

Oh, we've had a lot of praying mantises around the outside of my classroom. The kids have become obsessed with learning about them. They named them all. I love it. We even saw a female eat the male. Well, that was an interesting Q&A session afterward. Also awkward when you have named them. 

Speaking of naming critters... Yeah, this is Walter. I may have named him. 

Here are some glimpses of my desk...

I will show more of my desk later. The cool thing is... it's in my closet. It will make sense when you see my new room! 

I have listed some things on eBay and Etsy. Right now, eBay seems to be working the best for me. I just want to get rid of things, ya know. I got a couple of cute things, so something has to go. I have been really trying to balance one thing comes in, two things go out. It is freeing to just give things to friends or sell them on eBay. 

I  got this prim hutch top which is a make-do of old chocolate crates. I traded a friend of mine for it. He has a booth at an antique flea market. I love it. Topped with a sign from Sara Cocarus at Salmon Falls Prims, it holds my old tins well. I got the tins for a dollar here and there at my flea market.  I love the mice made by different friends of ours. You'd have mice in an old pantry, right?

So, with those additions, things had to go. I got rid of a lot of my old "Made in China" fall decor or any items that weren't made by our friends. I told my husband how it is a greater comfort to look and see something that I know the name of the person who made it.

Giveaways!

Check out all of the giveaways from our friends!

http://cynzplace.blogspot.com/2014/09/fall-giveaway-on-my-blog.html

Valley Primitive Stitches is also having one!

http://valleyprimitivestitches.blogspot.com

And Brenda at The Rusty Thimble! 

I am sure if you click on one link, you will see others as well! 

Coming up soon are reveals for Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies Winter Pinkeep Swap, and a doll I am trying to create for a challenge put out by Barb Moore, the author of Purely Primitive Dolls. This challenge is on Facebook. Her book is a very good one in giving ideas and techniques for making extreme primitive dolls from start to finish. You may also know her as "The Primitive Oswald". She is very encouraging and gives great insight for your creating journey. Take a look at her Facebook page for this challenge! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Primdollchallenge.

     Well, whew! I guess I had more than I thought I had to say. God has been good in his protection and love. I love you all and am praying for you! Thank you for stopping by! 

Love,

The Marm

It's Been a While...

     Phew... You all have been busy! I have been trying to keep up on reading through Feedly and Facebook! I do feel like a cheater reading on Facebook. 

     I haven't written much because, I haven't had much to say! God is good in His protection, love, and blessings! My school has grown from 60 (you know, when you all prayed because of fear of not having a job) to 200 students.

 (I am in this picture...)

     What God can do! I have had the blessing and privilege to see this school over the 14 years I have taught there. I was their first fourth grade teacher. I started with 5 students. This past year, I had 22. It was one of my favorite classes ever. We had such a great time! I guess with all of that talking to them, I ran out of words. I talk so much and write so much as a teacher that it is sometimes refreshing to be silent. But, I missed you all and love you all. I didn't want you to think I had forgotten you all, because I have not. 

     We did not get the pool open this year, so I do not have any bat stories for you. That is just fine with me. I have spend the summer thrifting, purging, and cleaning the house. Oh, and working on my classroom.  Because my room got moved. Again. Ugh. I also did not have a car for a bit. A deer attacked it while I was driving to school on the turnpike. Truly. I did not hit him; he hit me. He crossed the westbound and eastbound lanes to t-bone me in the driver side door. God so showed mercy on me. It could have been a lot worse. 

Charlie and Bailey have been my faithful companions this summer. 

     So have Etsy and Ebay. Yeah. That again. They should have a support group. EEA. I think you can figure out what THAT stands for. Aw, gee. No Benadryl was involved in any part of my purchases. I have changed my style around a bit, so THAT probably is a bit of the impetus for my friendships. I have the whole house pulled apart to revamp my style.  Right now my style is "Get the stuff put away and vacuum, for crying out loud". My craft nook/closet (the closet is in the room, not the other way around) is coming along. Although, right now it is a battle of wills-clothes versus crafts. I will keep you posted on that! So, I guess I have painted a picture in your mind of my house as a war zone. I am not going to try to convince you otherwise. It is. Truly. 

I did do some crafting. I did a couple of garage sales.

 

  This is my dad at the sale. We were bored so we stickered ourselves. My mom thought he wasn't priced low enough. He wasn't selling. Lol. The "open" sticker flew off the tent we were using. Think of it as a gold star on his forehead. 

     I have been trying to sell more with etsy, rather than eBay. I still am not sure which gets more exposure. I do have a sale running now until the beginning of September. The coupon code is "backtoschool14". 

I hope this finds you well! God bless! Lots of love and hugs!

Heather

New!

I is not a morning dog... Zzzzzzzzzz...

Good Morning, Friends!

I added a new page to this blog- "The Marm's Treasures for Sale". I also added some items to "The Marm's Primitive Pinkeeps and Hand-dids".  AND, my eBay auction items are ending today.  I probably won't relist many of them again this month since it will be more than the allowable free listings.  Take a look and see what you think!

Any questions or inquires?  You can email me at thecountryschoolmarm@gmail.com.

Thank you!  I will chat more later!  Chores to do!  Chores to do! :)

Love and hugs!

Heather

New Pinkeeps on eBay!

JUST LISTED...

Pewter, wood, tin, cheese cloth, burlap, vintage buttons, Civil War repro fabric , coffee, cinnamon, pins... You name it! There's a keep for that...

 ENDING SOON...

New eBay Listings!

I have relisted some previous items, added some items along with a few hand-dids.  There is a link over to the right- see what you think!  Thank you for stopping by!

Love and Hugs!

Heather