TDIPT Mercantile Open House & Giveaway!

Its time to Celebrate...
TDIPT - Style!

November is going to be an enchanting month
and on the TDIPT Mercantile,

we are thrilled to host a

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE !

We have TWENTY ONE talented artisans
who have graciously donated their own

captivating handcrafts to make this occasion

as joyous for you as it is for all of us!

Entering the drawing couldn't be easier, either...
To qualify to win one of the

wonderful gifts shown below,
Simply JOIN our MAILING LIST or
Leave a Comment on our Blog!

DOUBLE your CHANCES of WINNING!
Each time you purchase from the TDIPT Mercantile
this month, you will qualify for TWO chances

in the drawing.

Already on our MAILING LIST?
No Worries! You are already in the drawing!
Just sit back and cross your fingers.

The Drawing will be held

and winners announced on

November 22, 2009.

Please keep in mind, all of our artists who

have generously donated a gift

will also pay all shipping charges

within the continental USA.
But we want everyone to participate -

and just ask that those of you outside the USA

pay for the shipping.

We do hope that you will
JOIN US for the FESTIVITIES!

Remember, we have uploads twice monthly -

on the 1st and the 15th of the month.

♥ Plan to visit often and linger long ♥

Now, from the Artists of TDIPT Mercantile

here are the prizes......

2 hand painted Christmas Ornies from

Pear Tree Primitives

Santa Star Ornie from
Nothing Plain by Jane

A Holiday Folk Art banner from

The Crackling Crows


From Chickadee Primitives
A Wormwood Bundle


A beeswax cone filled w/ wormwood and yarrow
from Chickadee Primitives



A hooked ornie hanger from
2- Stitchin

A papier mache ragdoll from

Carol Roll Nostalgic Folk Art

A framed canvas painting from

Susie Designs

A Christmas Pudding from

Meadowbrook Cabin Primitives

A Victorian Angel Cupboard hanger from

Brady Bears Studio

A Folk Art Bird from

Bay Rays Child

An Antique “glove box” w/ the paper supports intact
hand painted by Carrie Huber

A small Crock w/ hand painted Feather tree from

Country Crocks

A sew keep w/ accessories from

Eat Crow Primitives

Folk Art Christmas Cards from

Back Porch Pickins

A prim snowman from

Little Sisters Dolls

Folk Art Pear Ornie from

Village Folk Art

Prim Santa Crow hanger from

Fiddlestix Studios

2 handsewn ornies from

Winding Vine Designs

A prim Santa head make-do from
Mustard Seed Originals

And lastly, a lovely

"Snow Wings" Ornament
from Julie Marek Folk Art

Thanks for visiting

and

Good Luck to You!

Coming in November......

We'll have Holiday offerings galore.....and a HUGE giveaway right here beginning November 1st! So mark your calendars, and be sure to join us for our Holiday Open House on the Mercantile, as well as our giveaway right here.

We're also ready to unveil our "In the Spirit of Giving" project to you, and will be making it available for purchase, come Novemebr 1st!

We hope you'll join us for all the fun and festivities, celebrating a very special month on the Mercantile!

And the Winners are.........

We've drawn the names, and the winners of our
Birthday Giveaway Gifts are:

Cindy From Minnesota - Carol Roll's Angel Ornie

The Keeping Room - Blackberry Briar's Candle/Tarts and Room Spray

Woolen Sails- Ragpatch Primitve's Patriotic Mouse

Heidi from Iowa - Curds and Whey's Santa Mask

Sheryl Parsons - The Crackling Crows Folk Art Banner

AwtemNymf - Whimsical Endeavor's Candle gathering

Christine Edwards - Hot Metal Mama's Prim Crow

Please email me at pkelly306@aol.com with your shipping address so that I can pass it along to the artist.

***We must hear from you w/in 3 days, or we will draw another name***

Thanks to all for joining in on the fun!!

We're Having a Giveaway!!

October 13th - October 20th

Our Ebay artist group (not to be confused w/ our TDIPT Mercantile which turns 3 in March) turns 3 years old today, and although the TDIPT gals enjoy traditional celebrations of cake, party hats and receiving gifts, we've decided such an exciting event warrants something more, something extra special, so we're having a giveaway!

We've got wonderful handmades gifts, just perfect for our upcoming holiday seasons, offered by some of our members, and you can be the lucky recipient!

All you'll need to do to be entered in the drawing is:

1) Follow our blog

If you follow our blog, you're automatically entered in, so if you're not following already, be sure to sign up as a follower.

2)Leave us a nice comment

(please include email address and state that you reside in),

We love to hear from you, so just leave a comment on this post, and we will throw your name in the hat again for an extra chance at winning one of our lovely gifts.

Good luck to everyone!

*** Our generous artists are happy to ship complimentary to anyone in the continental US.***

If outside of the US, we must ask that you absorb the cost of shipping.

Our Gifts

From our "Master Scentress" Michelle of the Blackberry Briar, one of her signature, and very elegant candle groupings, which includes one of her candles, a room spray tarts.

From our ever delightful Cookie of Curds and Whey, one of her large and gorgeous painted Santa Masks.


From our sweetest ever Miss Kitty of Ragpatch Primitives, a darling Patriotic Mouse



From our talented paper mache artist Carol Roll of Nostalgic Folk Art, one of her original and very lovely angel ornies


From our extremely unique and mighty gifted Metal artist Tee of Hot Metal Mama one of her generous sized rusted crows for the interior or exterior decor of your home.

From our very creative Ivonne of The Crackling Crows a beautiful Folkart banner perfect for your harvest decor.


From our very sweet Pea of Whimsical Endeavors a lovely Autumn array of scented goodies, which includes grubby taper candles and room spray in Pumkin Spice scent, putka pods, and fragrant sweet Annie.
Grouping does not include the enamel pan



A big thank you to our members who were so generous to donate gifts for giving!

Annie of Chickadee Primitives Winner of Pet Contest!

Annie of Chickadee Primitives was the winner of our Funniest Pet Contest and winner of a GoldiLoo Woodworks sign made by our Pam. Looks like Annie found just the right spot for it! What a delightful picture. I keep looking for a lil gnome poking out from behind somewhere. Pam thank you so much and Annie thank you for participating and of course Congradulations!



Doesn't this picture inspire you to get your Halloween decorating going?

TDIPT Presents......

Jen Blomquist (aka Ellie-Mae Clampett)

of

Prairie House Primitives

We asked Jen:

Where do you live?

I live about 30 miles east of Colorado Springs in a rural area, also known as The Prairie

Can you tell us a little about your family?

I have been married almost thirteen years to my husband Jason. We have one animal loving daughter named ,Riley, who is eleven.

Sweet Riley and one of her pet goats

Do you work outside the home?

Nope, i have a full time job right here on the homestead!

Can you give us an idea of what a typical day at the Prairiehouse Primitives is like?
I get up early to do chores! First i feed the horses and then let them out into the pasture for the day. Next comes feeding time for our thirteen goats...after that I fill all my wild bird feeders then head inside to feed the dogs and cats and for some coffee and computer time! Around 8 am I head back out and clean the horses stalls then I am back in by 9 to get Riley going on her homeschooling. We are usually done by lunchtime and then its back outside to either paint orders, work with animals, do yardwork, or run errands! Evening chores start at about 4 o clock. Horses come in and get fed, as do the goats, chickens, dogs and cats! Phew! Then its dinner time for us humans and little relaxation!

The Blomquist's mini horse "Pip"

Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do when you're not creating?
I have always loved horses and love the time I have to play with them. I have been studying Parelli Natural Horsemanship for about ten years now. Its all about communication with horses in a language that comes natural to them. ALot of people refer to it as "horse whispering". It has made a tremendous difference in my life and my relationship with my horses.I also enjoy hiking with the dogs and hanging out with the goat herd!

Clansie and Daisy

What are some of your favorite things?

I love Fairs! Any kind of fair-county fairs, state fairs or craft fairs! I also love drives in the mountains, and doing any activity with animals. I have recently developed an interest in goat showing! My daughter and I just started raising and showing Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats!

Other than animals, do you collect anything in particular?

I have collected a whole bunch of animals that's for sure but i also love antiques, particularly anything with a "farmhousy" feel! I love old crocks, tinware, signs and especially old Canada Goose decoys!

How did you get your start in your creative business? When?

We started building primitives about 6 years ago. I kept pointing to things in magazines that I liked and my husband kept saying he could build them! I figured since he could build them I could learn to paint them with a old distressed look. At first we just created things for our home but then I fell in love with a fancy horse in Oregon that I wanted to buy so we decided to try our hand at selling! Turned out I was able to buy the horse and our business venture took off!

Tell us how you got your business name?

Its pretty simple really, we live in a little house on the prairie!!!

Is it in the genes......does anyone in your family, now or generations before create?

My mother is very creative and is a decorator by trade!

How do you keep ideas coming?

I research alot in books about early American life and when time allows I love to browse around in antique stores!

Who/what inspires you?

I am inspired by all sorts of things, I love to look through magazines and see other peoples ideas on decorating and some of the old treasures they have found.

Do you have a studio/workshop or do you work in different parts of your home?

I do not have a studio YET! My workspace is in the back of our barn!!! When I am done with an item I bring it inside so I can take pictures with all the goodies I have collected over the years. I have learned that presentation is everything

Jen's workshop

Do you like to listen to music while you work, if so what ?
Sometimes. I like old country music. I am a real bumpkin at heart!

Do you have a favorite piece of work that you've created?

I have a china cupboard that Jason built for me for Christmas six years ago.

What have you learned about marketing?

Stick with what you do best!!!

What keeps you motivated?

I have alot of hungry animals!!! Sometimes I get real creative urges and my brain is overflowing with ideas. Other times, not so much!!! I have learned not to push myself through those times because it turns a fun hobby into a burden

Do you sell you work in any shops, or will you be in any upcoming shows?

Last year we did several craft fairs and it wore me out!!! I think we will take a break and enjoy the holidays this year!

Do you have any tips you would like to share?

I love to work with old reclaimed wood but when we have to use the newer wood I distress it by banging on it here and there with a hammer, using a chain to put dents in the wood and adding nail holes where I think they would look good! Paint in layers if you love that old early look!!!

Tell us something about yourself that may surprise us?

I have worked all over the country for various horse trainers...I even spent some time in Canada working for the bronze medalist for the Canadian Equestrian Team. I have shown hunter/jumpers, ridden steeplechase, flat track horses, and competed in three day eventing. At one point in time my dream was to ride on the US Olympic team!


Some of Jen's work

It's been fun seeing you in the TDIPT Spotlight Jen!

Weston's Apple Festival

We took a bike ride yesterday to join in the festivities being held in a quaint little town called Weston, Mo. This town actually holds alot of my family history and has always been near and dear to my heart because of that.

Their annual Fall Apple Festival was held over the weekend and this normally sleepy little town on the banks of the Missouri River was bustling with excitement.

We found a place to park, which just happened to be right in front of a tobacco drying barn. If you have never seen tobacco drying, it's actually quite captivating (at least it is for me). The aroma is so rich and sweet ... I stood inside the door for several minutes just gazing at row upon row of the wonderful stuff.

There are several drying barns in the area and I'd love to find an owner of one to see if I could buy a stalk or two! I would love some hanging in my house.

It was a great day popping in the tents, boutiques, and artists shops. One shop had some very unusual pieces from rusted iron and metal and reminded me of the wonderful pieces our very own Tee of Hot Metal Mama creates! I'll leave you with one of my simple favorites ... which contains the perfect sentiment for us all: