Bag Lady Tour Part I

Next Friday, the Bag Lady Tour kicks off at 10:00 a.m. The tour is a two weekend event happening on April 19^th & 20^th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sun. the 21^st from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The following weekend, April 26^th & 27^th 10-5 and Sun. the 28^th 12- 5. By completing the tour and acquiring a stamp from each shop, you will turn in your flyer to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gas card. Along the way, however, be sure to look for the wooden shopping bag which will travel to a different store daily. The bag will be discreetly planted somewhere in the store until someone finds it. That lucky eagle eye will receive a gift certificate to be honored at the participating store of their choice.

I decided to take the tour this year myself, albeit early, and share my findings with all of you lovely readers.

Please note: all of the images on this blogsite belong to me unless otherwise noted and are not for public use without permission. The following images contain unique creative integrity and subjects are the property of the creators and not for public usage. Please contact individual shop owners concerning items you see in these photos.

Ravenwood Antiques

Ravenwood Antiques offers a large selection of unique items ranging from hutches, tables, chairs and other furniture to glass bottles and child size items.

After 10 years in the antiques business, there is no doubt you will find what you are looking for at Ravenwood. I happened to spot a lovely Saxony wheel peeking out from behind a small cabinet. Those of you spinners who appreciate antique wheels know how hard it is to find one intact! I’m not sure if it is all original to itself, but all it seems to be missing is the drive band. I also did not have time to really investigate the condition, but judging from everything else I saw in this interesting space, it should be pretty nice.

One of the owners of Ravenwood is also a wood carver and you can find her primitive style Santa figurines there as well as other hand carved items.

Don’t forget to look up while inside, as you will find many beautiful and interesting things above your head, including a child’s rocking horse.

You can visit Ravenwood Antiques at 16441 Pitts Rd. Wellington from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed through Sun.

Farmyard Flowers 

New on the tour this year: Farmyard Flowers is housed in a refurbished barn and offers an array of floral and decorative items, from the sophisticated to simple and elegant.

Owner, Deborah Davidson started the business 30 years ago and in honor of her 30^th anniversary this year, she has added a small Café area for customers to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and snacks, visit with an old friend and enjoy the lovely atmosphere.

I found several settings around the shop that ranged in style and taste that would suit anyone’s decorating style. It also offers a selection of gourmet foods including cheese balls, soups and jellies, silk stems and bushes, dried flowers and herbs, and garden accessories. The styling ranges include Tuscan, French, Country Woodland, Garden and of course Seasonal. So if you need a custom floral arrangement in silk and dried flowers, gourmet foods for your next dinner party or just a little something to spruce up a certain space, this is the place to come.

Shop Farmyard Flowers Wed-Sat. 10-, located at 45635 U.S. Rt. 20, Oberlin. 440-775-4013 or email farmyardflowers@frontier.com.



Touched by Grace

Also new on the tour this year: Touched by Grace is a resale shop that offers good clean items arranged sensibly and displayed in a shop like manner. There is a great selection of items ranging from furniture to clothing and just about anything you can think of in between.

The selection is vast and there are wonderful treasures to be found here from vintage to modern. I found a nice selection of handbags and jewelry as well as lots of dishes and glassware among unique paintings and a little something for the fellas.

Whether you are setting up house for the first time, or just looking for some great items to add to your collection, don’t overlook this great shop. Owner Deborah Rusnak opened the shop in 2005 and works hard to find items that will suit any taste and budget.  I even saw a wedding dress or two!

Visit Touched By Grace at 44881 U.S. Rt. 20, Oberlin Tues. & Wed. 10-5 and Thurs. through Sat. 10-6 or phone 440-774-6970.

North 40 Creations

North 40 Creations is located in Lagrange and offers a nice mix of hand crafted and retail items. Owned and operated by a mother & son team, the business has been in operation for 18 years, though, recently relocated to Lagrange.

Ron is a jewelry maker who designs and casts his own metals and offers customers the opportunity to choose their own stone to go with the setting of their choice.

Lynn is a painting instructor who offers her pieces in the form of wall paintings as well as furniture adorned with her work. Here you can also find raw stones among the retail items of coffee mugs, and children’s puzzles, candles and totes.

If you’re looking for a little something different, this is the place to shop Mon-Sat. 9-5 and Sun. 10-4 at 105 Public Square #2, Lagrange or visit their website at n40c.net.

Days of Yore

Days of Yore, a unique home and garden boutique, offers a bit for our grown up side as well as a bit for our inner child. Donna, who owns the shop, opened 20 years ago, specializing in herbs and flowers. 

Since then, she has grown her shop to include Guy Wolff Pottery, House of Webster Jellies, Tea Breads from Canton, a variety of teas, bone china tea sets, and garden accessories.

For the more playful side, or our inner child, she offers a large selection of Fairies and everything that goes with them including houses and garden furniture!

On May 1^st, Herbs and miniature plants for your very own Fairy Garden will be available and during the summer there are several gardens to explore on the grounds. You will enjoy this lovely spacious shop housed in a renovated barn in the country.

On June 22^nd Days of Yore holds a Fairy Festival which includes a Fairy Tea Party at the end of the day. What a way to add a little bit of whimsy to your summer!

Visit Days of Yore Thurs -  Sat 11-5 at 4925 Jones Rd., Penfield (440) 647-2045 or visit them online at www.daysofyoreherbandflowerfarm.com

I hope you found this post interesting and also hope you will take time to visit some of my friends from the tour. Remember, if you are making the Bag Lady Tour this year, you can pick up a bag and flyer at any one of the 15 shops participating. You will also receive a little gift as a show of appreciation from each shop you visit. And don’t be afraid to sign up for individual shops’ mailing lists, as this is for their use only and it is a great way for them to notify you of special offerings and invite you to special events they have aside from the Bag Lady Tour.

The next 5 shops will be posted over the weekend.

Thank you for stopping by,

~Vickie

Mother Nature's Magic

Well, the people had been calling for the impeachment of the groundhog just a week ago when our first day of spring brought snow. But look at the wonder that March weather brings in Ohio.

 If you ask me, it is the best time to photograph the magic of Mother Nature.

I hope your Easter was filled with family and laughter. I know mine was as lovely a day as one could imagine. The sun was bright most of the day with the exception of a brief rain shower and the air was crisp. Not as warm as most people would have liked, but I found it refreshing.

My nephew got two special Easter gifts in his basket this year and I couldn’t resist capturing their little sweet faces. Yet another example of the magic of Mother Nature.

Annie was born about a week before Easter

Baby Girl born on Good Friday (I forgot her name)

 

Babies are a sure sign of spring, whatever the species, and these two are little darlings. Annie at only a week old, is already proving to be a little pooper. She has already escaped her mother’s watchful eye and ended up in the pen next to hers. Curious babies, what can you do? She is just tiny enough to slip under the gate.

Bath Time.

I hope you have enjoyed this little walk through the nursery. 

Next time I will be posting some information about the shops that will be on the Spring Bag Lady Tour that will be taking place the last two weekends of April. I hope you enjoy.

Happy Spring

~Vickie

Keeping with New Year's Resolutions

Dear Readers,
How are you doing with your New Year's Resolutions so far? I want the record to show that I have been dedicated to my basement lately. Yes, in keeping with my list, I have cleaned the basement and even made room to move my weaving supplies from the over crowded loom room. So by getting one item done, I was able to get another done as well!
This is why I have been absent from the blog for the past couple of weeks. Just busy, busy, busy. Now I have a sinus infection coming on, I'm afraid. We'll see if I can nip it before it gets too bad.
I will be dedicated to weaving for the next few weeks, however and not much else. I pulled some cotton tonight for two rugs I have planned. I will try to get a photo of my Union once I get it dressed.
And look, I figured out how to get a photo up here again.

This is the very first thing I ever wove. Can you see my mistake? It is hemp warp with jute weft which I dyed blue on a woodburner. I was very thrilled that I actually wove something. It's a table runner by the way.
I made this on my little HD which is my first loom. I don't use her as much as I should anymore since I make mostly rugs, but have some plans for her in the near future. She is lonely in the corner with Eunice (the Union) getting all of the attention most of the time.
But what can I say? The sweet little HD is just not made for rug making.

Until next time,
All my best.
~Vickie

Just A Quick Update...

I just wanted to drop in to let all of you lovely readers know that I have not forgotten about you. I have been a busy girl the past two weeks and this is the first chance I have gotten to get online.
We spent the past couple of days cleaning the mill and making plans for some upcoming shows.
In April we will be on the Spring Bag Lady Tour again. I will try to post some more details next week including dates and a list of shops that are participating.
We will also be at The Great Lakes Fiber Festival in Wooster, Ohio again this year. As always, this show takes place on Memorial Weekend. Again, I will try to post more information next week.
I am having trouble posting photos but hopefully next week I will be more able to do so.
I would also like to send a warm welcome to all of you new readers from France!
That's about it for now.
Until next time,
All my best.
~Vickie

Happy Valentine's Day!

Boy, I almost forgot to wish all of you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Not much going on here accept that Scarlett, our carder is giving us fits. She is very temperamental and we do our best to keep her happy. This time she is getting a new belt and pulley that runs the main drum. I really need to get some photos of her up here! I will try to remember to do that soon.

Meanwhile, here are some flowers for you.

And some sweets!

And just something because I like it and to some, this is exactly the perfect representation of Valentine's Day!

By the way, those cookies did not last very long. Ah-hem.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

~Vickie

I know this post is a bit late, but I seem to have underestimated the piece. Originally, I thought I would post a little piece about St. Distaff's Day, but in doing my research to get to the original source of the event, I found the material to be more indepth than I had imagined. I got lost in the mystery and beauty that surrounds this sacred event and the Goddess it celebrates. I knew the celebration was rooted in "something", however, I did not know it went so deep. So after I did my initial research, I did some thinking and then did some more research.
I would like to thank Juniper from walkingthehedge.net/blog/ for her help with this story. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and knowledge on this subject.
Enjoy!
~Vickie

Celebration for Frigg on St. Distaff's Day

Spinning is steeped in mystery and romance. From Fairy Tales and Fables to beautiful Goddesses who spin the thread of human life and weave the future of mankind. It is actually from the legends of these Goddesses that the Fairy Tales seem to owe their beginnings.

Frigg is the Goddess of Love and Marriage. She is known as The Mother of All, The Goddess of All, and The Protector of Children, depending on which version of her story you follow, but all depicting a beloved Goddess.

The Pagan Norse: The name Norse referred to the people and language of the ancient Scandinavian, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Germanic and Icelandics. As a Norse Deity, Frigg belonged to a complex religious, mythological and cosmological belief system. This tradition was started in a period from around 1000 B.C. and continued until the Christianization of the area around 1200 A.D. These Gods were not indestructible and were said to be mortal Gods, just to clarify.

Frigg was married to Odin who was the God of all Gods and Men. He is known as the God of Magic, Wisdom, Wit and Learning.

Frigg spent much of her time in her private Palace, Fensalir, surrounded by fog and nature. There she would spin on her jewel encrusted spinning wheel and spin beautiful, colorful clouds. The Constellation, Orion’s Belt is said to have been named after her because it represented her spinning wheel. Translated into Norse it is called Frigga’s Roc. Frigga for one of the variations of her name and Roc (Norse) meaning distaff which translates into spinning wheel and not to be confused with what we know today in America as a distaff.

Frigga Spinning the Clouds, Published in 1909, John C. Dollman. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Frigg and Odin had but one child together named Baldur. He was the God of Light and ruled the Sun. He was born after a long labor on the longest night of the year which marked the New Year and the end of Winter Solstice.

He was eventually killed by a dart of mistletoe which punctured his heart. One version said when the God responsible for Baldur’s death was killed, it ended the world. This could perhaps represent when the Pagans were converted over to Christianity officially.

"Baldr's Death" (1817) by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg. Courtesy Wikipedia

Since many Pagans were reluctant to convert to Christianity, many of their traditions were adapted into Christian ceremonies, perhaps as a way of getting the Pagans to celebrate Christian Holidays.

Christmas became officially celebrated on December 25^th, a decision made by Pope Julius I in the fourth century A.D. Until then, Christmas was celebrated at different times of the year. This marries the Pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice with the Christian Birth of Christ Celebration. Mistletoe becomes a representative of Christmas Celebrations and the New Year also becomes a significant Christian Holiday to mark the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year. In a round about way, when we celebrate New Year, we are welcoming the birth or rebirth of Baldur. If we are Pagans, that is. The use of firelight or candle light marked the birth or rebirth of the God of Light.  

Somewhere along the lines, but in A.D. times, a celebration was created to mark the day the women picked up their spindles again after the 12 days of Christmas Celebrations were over. It is not clear exactly when these celebrations of Roc Day began, but even today the tradition continues. Some Pagan writings say that Roc Day can be celebrated any time from January through May. Today, some count 12 days from the 25^th of December and celebrate on January 7^th, while others count from New Years Day and celebrate on the 12^th. I don’t think there is a specific date, but more or less the first day you go back to spinning for the year.

Renee Russo as Frigga in the Marvel movie Thor

According to legend, Roc Day is a day of both play and work. When the girls went back to their spindles, the boys would set fire to their flax. In return the girls would douse the boys with pails of water. This seems to be a significant part of the celebration and perhaps lighting fire to the flax honors the Goddess Frigg’s son Baldur, the God of light who was once honored through candle and firelight. The pails of water could represent Frigg’s tears at the loss of her son.

Somewhere along the line, Roc Day began to be called St. Distaff’s Day. Although there is no actual St. Distaff, it makes it a more folky celebration and perhaps more acceptable to some.

In today’s community of spinners, celebrations take place on different days and in different ways. Some hold fiber and yarn exchanges within their guild, while others get together and hold a spin-in. While others still, prefer a private ceremony offering up their spindles, some wonderful fiber and lighting a candle and perhaps offering a glass of wine to the Goddess in sacrifice.

Although the rituals may have changed over the centuries, and reasons behind traditional ceremonies may have been altered to suit this ever changing world, the roots are still the same. So no matter why or how you celebrate Roc Day, remember, there once was a Goddess named Frigg, who spun colorful clouds and watched over all women and children. Even if only for fun, I recommend you pay homage to Roc Day in what ever manner you see fit.

As I said above, I spent a good deal of time going over this material and over it again, until I have what I believe is a comprehensive understanding. I hope you enjoyed this post and please, tell me, what do you do to celebrate Roc Day?

Until next time,

All my Best.

~Vickie