The Doll on my Business Cards

After much delay, I am delighted to announce that I have made a few more of the clothespin doll which is featured on my logo & business cards, etc.!!!

The first of these dolls is currently listed on eBay! The original doll didn't have a face, however after much prodding from a friend (you know who you are!), I have given this girl a lightly penciled face. If you squint just right, you can see Hannah's face in the photo below ...

I am delighted to announce that Hannah received a bid soon after she was listed! As of now, she is at a very reasonable $34.50. This auction will end on Sunday, February 28th. I hope you'll consider adopting Hannah into your family!

I'm Still Here!

WOW! Has It really been two months since I've written here? I've been so busy, the time has just flown right by! Let me bring you up to date ...

I was laid off from my job with the County of Sacramento in late September, however they re-hired me in mid-November as an "on-call" (i.e., temp) to help with the County's H1N1 vaccination clinics. During the clinics, which ran from mid-November to mid-January, I helped coordinate more than 500 people who volunteered at the clinics; this involved phone calls, lots of emails, and even more data entry. Now that the clinics are over, I'm helping to prepare reports and will be assisting with a "thank you" party event in the near future. DHHS will probably be presenting the volunteers with a certificate and maybe a small token of our appreciation (debate continues about whether that gift should be a cloisonne pin or a leftover bottle of hand sanitizer ... lol!).

Since mid-November, I have had FOUR different offices and "cubes" ... crazy, eh? Actually, there was one day where I had four different offices and cubes ... it's a long story!  For most of the last couple of months, I've been housed in the Public Health suite, and today, I will be moving to a new cube in (or near?) the Office of the Director, so this will be my fifth location in just over two months! My manager will be just a few steps away, for which I'm sure she will be grateful! I will definitely miss my peeps in Public Health, but I'm sure they'll let me come and visit now and then! :-)

What else have I been up to? Well, since the beginning of the year, I've been listing handmade things on eBay again. Some sell (mostly stuffed hearts), lots of things don't (mostly the dolls and critters). Many of my items get a bunch of watchers, but very few, if any, bids ... what's up with that?

This doll is still looking for her forever home!

This is only the second Topsy Turvy doll I've ever made; they can be a bit challenging! I adapted it from a pattern designed by Emily Franz of Hootin Annies, and she (or should that be "they") is (are?) now up for adoption in my Etsy shop. If you don't have an Etsy account but would like to adopt this sweet doll, just let me know and I can list her in my Artfire shop (where you don't need an account to make a purchase!) or I could even sell her to you directly! PayPal is my preferred form of payment and, yes, you may use your credit card through PayPal! If you'd rather pay by money order, I also accept postal money orders (the kind you buy at the post office).

And this is Bridgette the Valentine bunny. She was also an eBay auction, which ended yesterday evening with several watchers (as usual), but nary a bid. This makes me sad. Why do people "watch" eBay auctions, yet choose not to bid (especially when the opening bid is more than reasonable)? I will be listing Bridgette in my Etsy shop soon ... probably when I get home from work this evening!

I see it's time to get ready for my day job! I'll try to get back into the habit of posting more often. :-)

Featured in MimisDressShop Blog!

Just learned that this stocking was featured in MimisDressShop blog! Tiffany, the author of this blog and proprietor of mimisdresshop on Etsy, makes delightful children's clothes and darling tutus for your little princesses!

Prairie Primitives - Featured on the Handmade Highway!

Ok, so I'm behind in my email ... again. It happens this time of year! I've just discovered that a set of my fabric-covered boxes was featured in Issue 2 of "News from the Handmade Highway!"

I just started making covered boxes in June, after thinking about it for too long because I wasn't quite sure how to make them. However, when I dove right into it, I discovered they were a lot of fun to make, and they've been very popular at the craft and antique fairs where I sell my primitive folk art!

This set of boxes, along with several others, is available in my Etsy shop! Each of my fabric covered boxes contains a wee treasure -- sometimes this is a few whole nutmegs or antique mother-of-pearl buttons; other times it's a bit of rosemary or thyme or another special find! Through "Cyber Monday" (November 30, 2009), everything in this shop is 20% off!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale

I'm offering 20% off everything at Prairie Primitives Folk Art! Some items have free U.S. shipping (and discounted international shipping) too!

I'm offering 30% off everything in PrairiePrimitivesToo (my Etsy "destash" shop)!

Over at my Artfire shop, I'm offering 20% off everything, with free U.S. shipping (and discounted international shipping) on some items! Please note that the items in my Artfire shop are the same items that are in my Etsy shop -- there is only one of each! I will keep both sites updated as things sell, and remember, you can shop on Artfire without creating an account!

And last but not least, I'm offering a whopping 50% off everything in my online yard sale!

All of these sales run until 11:59pm PST (California time) on Cyber Monday (November 30, 2009) ... that's 8:59 EST (New York time). As always, I'm delighted to combine shipping between any or all of these sites! Go ahead and make your purchases and I'll send you a revised PayPal invoice! I much prefer PayPal, however I also accept Postal money orders!

Sign up for my mailing list!

If you'd like to hear about my new listings on Etsy and Artfire (and occasionally eBay), here's where you can sign up for my mailing list. All you need to do is enter your email address in the box below, and click the "Join Now!" button. I promise not to swamp you with emails, and notifying you of my new listings is the only thing for which your address will be used.

Subscribe to PrairiePrimitives Mailing List

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I plan to list lots of new things for the 2009 holiday season and will be having a Black Friday / Cyber Monday special ... for the entire weekend!

Oakmont High School - The Day After

This is not a show I would recommend to anyone, however I think that has more to do with the promoter and the lack of advertising, rather than the location or anything else. I took a few pictures of my booth to share with you! Pretty much everything you see in these pictures is still available for sale! I will be listing it on Etsy and Artfire as time allows. If you'd like to receive an email when I update these sites, just ask!

Shop on Facebook!

I've just discovered a Facebook app that let me set up a shop on Facebook. Now you don't even have to leave your favorite social networking site in order to buy my primitive folk art!

I've listed some primitive and "shabby & chic" Christmas stockings there so far, and I hope to list more things soon! Please remember that I only have ONE of each of these items ... so if you see the same thing on Etsy, Artfire, Facebook, etc., it's the exact same item! When an item sells on one site, I will get the other sites updated ASAP!

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

Suzanne has included my primitive orange pumpkin in her latest Treasury! You can visit Suzanne's Etsy shop at Peacefu1 ("Peaceful" but with a number 1 on the end, instead of an "ell").

If you would like to vote on the items in this Treasury, you can click on the Treasury image or on the text link in the first paragraph above; both links will take you to the Treasury page (only while the Treasury is active ... i.e., between now and Sunday, November 8th at 1:26 am). You will need to be registered on Etsy and logged into Etsy in order to vote. I am grateful for any and all votes you may cast for my primitive orange pumpkin! :-)

I have several pumpkins still available for adoption! Most are orange or black (black pumpkins have been quite popular the last couple of years!), but I think I still have one white one left too!

Thanks Suzanne!

Oakmont High School Craft Fair

The next event I will be participating in is the annual craft fair sponsored by the Citrus Heights (California) Lions Club on November 14th. This fair will be held at Oakmont High School, located at 1710 Cirby Way in Roseville, CA (near the intersection of Sunrise and Cirby, behind the Bel-Air supermarket). This fair has been happening for several years, however this will be my first year there!

This craft fair will feature 55 booths of handmade crafts ... and I've been assured that there will be only handmade crafts, none of that import or party plan stuff! You'll also be able to enjoy a bake sale, food and a huge raffle of items from the participating artists! If you bring a non-perishable food item for donation, you'll get a free raffle ticket!

In my booth you will find items for your Fall decorating (my new funky pumpkins!) as well as Christmas (2 snowfolk are finished, 2 Santas are almost done, and I hope to get at least 2 more snowfolk made before this show!). I will have pillows made from antique quilt, and smaller quilt hearts which can be used as "bowl fillers," stocking stuffers, or ornaments, as well as my always popular mica snowballs! I also hope to make more of my whimsical paper Christmas flags, and I will definitely bring some Americana items because they never go out of style!

Hope to see you on the 14th!!!

Pumpkins Aren't Just for Halloween Anymore!

I've just listed a couple of my grubby pumpkins on Etsy! They're made from a variety of cotton fabrics (osnaburg, muslin, etc.), and I've painted, stained, and grubbied them up just for you!

If you'd like just one pumpkin (or maybe you'd like more than two?), just let me know! The orange one is the "small" size, measuring about 7" by 8"; the black one is the "medium" size, which is about 8" by 9", and I also have a larger size, which is about 10" by 11".

Don't you just loooove those funky stems? I'm not sure what it is about the black pumpkins, but they're selling like hotcakes this year! Several of my customers have told me they leave their pumpkins out year-round, and I will be doing that too!

Just Updated My "Online Yard Sale"

I've just updated my "Online Yard Sale." There are categories for Antiques, Books, Craft Supplies, Handmade Items, Wearable Art, and the most popular, my Fabric destash! I hope to get the photos for the Fabric section redone soon! As with all yard sales, you're welcome to make me an offer on anything that's for listed in the yard sale!

I accept PayPal, which must be paid within 3 days, or the item(s) will be made available to others. Shipping is additional, of course, and you can choose between USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Just let me know what you're interested in and your zip code (or country) and I'll be happy to check on the postage!

Rustic Autumn Gift Guide on the Handmade Highway

What a surprise to learn that two of my items have been selected as featured items in the Rustic Autumn Gift Guide, sponsored by Handmade Highway!

My Bay Swag Garland (2nd row, above) and Primitive Colonial Fabric Covered Boxes (bottom row, above) are available in my Etsy shop. Both of these items are one-of-a-kind!

Halloween & Vine Creeps Nearer!

It's just 3 weeks until the owls & bats & spooky-eyed cats invade Petaluma for the annual Halloween & Vine art fair! I've followed this show from it's humble beginnings in a winery's tasting room in Napa to Sonoma and now to Petaluma, where it's been held for several years now.

If you haven't yet been to Halloween & Vine ... GO!!!!! The artists come from across the country to sell their art there, and the shoppers have been known to travel quite a ways too! If you don't live nearby, you could always make a vacation out of it and spend a few days in San Francisco or on the coast!

One of my favorite artists at this show is Johanna Parker, who drives out here from Denver, Colorado every year. I also enjoy visiting with Nicol Sayre and Jack Roads at this show, among others ...

Destashing Fabric!

Once again I've sorted through my ginormous fabric stash and have found more than a few yards with which I'm willing to part. My loss shall be your gain! Prices are $3 per yard and less, with much of this fabric being closer to $2 per yard. Shipping is extra, of course, however quite a bit of fabric will fit in a flat-rate Priority box!! These pieces vary from half a yard to about 3 yards; I'd rather sell an entire piece, however if you want quite a few pieces, I can probably sell you just as much as you need. And if you're in the Sacramento area, arrangements can be made for you to pick up your fabric to save on shipping!

The first couple of pictures are mostly Autumn and Halloween fabrics, then there's a couple pictures of Americana fabrics, and one of Christmas fabrics. After that are a few odds and ends ... isn't that Cupid toile soooooo sweet?!

If you'd like to buy some of this fabric, you can email me at prairieprimitives@sbcglobal.net. Please tell me which picture the fabric you want is in (1st, 2nd, etc.) and describe the fabric (colors or pattern). Thanks!



1. Orange linen (?) - 3 yards ... $5
2. Tan & black stars - 1 yard ... $3
3. Tan fabric - SOLD
4. Orange & white polkadots - 1/2 yard (minus 8" square cut from corner) ... $1.50
5. Tan & cream stars (Moda) - 1/8 yard ... 75 cents
6. Pumpkin & cream flannel or brushed cotton homespun - 28" x 30" ... $1.50
7. Black stars - 16"x22" ... $1
8. Mustard & cream homespun plaid - 1/2 yard ... $1



1. Purple fabric - 2-1/4 yards ... $4
2. Olive green "ribbed" fabric (woven, but soft & drapey) - 1-1/8 yards ... $2
3. Black & taupe checks - more than 22" x 36" ... $1.50
4. Orange & black checks - 1.5 yards ... $3.00
5. Mustard & cream homespun plaid - 3/4 yard (minus 6"x6" corner) ... $1.50
6. Black with metallic gold stars - 13"x27" ... $1.00



1. Red & blue stars & stripes - 1-1/3 yards ... $2.50
2. Blue & cream repro shirting stripe (Peter Pan) - 1 yard ... $3
3. Mustard & blue diagonal stars & stripes (Moda, Brannock & Patek) - 2 Very Large scraps ... $1
4. Cherry advertising labels - 7/8 yard ... SOLD
5. Mustard & blue diagonal stars & stripes (Moda, Brannock & Patek) - 1 meter ... $3



1. Blue flannel - 3 yards ... $6
2. Navy & red repro shirting stripe with stars - 1-5/8 yards ... $4.50
3. Red & cream stars (Marcus Brothers) - 2 yards ... $6
4. Large blue plaid (heavier weight) - 7/8 yard ... $3
5. Red & black diagonal stars & stripes - 3/4 yard ... $2.50
6. Red & white stars - 1 meter ... $3
7. Red & black diagonal stars & stripes - 3/4 yard ... $2.50



1. Red & green flannel or brushed cotton - 7/8 yard ... $2
2. Holly print - 1/3 yard ... $1
3. Red, white, multi stripes - 5/8 ... $1.50



1. Rosy pink twill "stripe" (62" wide!) - 3/8" yard ... $1
2. Floral fabric - SOLD
3. White on white stripe - 1-1/3 yards ... $2



1. Mottled pink - 7/8 yard ... $2
2. Blue Cupid Toile - 3 yards? ... $6
3. Brown & pink polkadots - 3/8 yard ... $1.50

Etsy Treasury!

Oh my, I've been featured in another Etsy Treasury! Hope you'll take a look -- and be sure to click on your favorite item(s) to vote for them! I love making the little covered boxes, and this is one of my most favorite sets!

Fall Preview & Craft Supply "Destash" Sale

Come meet several of the artists from the Sac Etsy Team, this Sunday (August 16th) in beautiful downtown Diamond Springs!

This will be first of hopefully many team sales events featuring local (Sacramento area) artists who sell their artistic creations on the Etsy.com web site! Some of the artists who will be participating include Shell Benesch (http://BrightAndBeautiful88.etsy.com & http://BridgetsCottageBiz.etsy.com), Tana Taylor (http://PrairiePrimitives.etsy.com & http://PrairiePrimitivesToo.etsy.com), Sara (http://MomwithaHook.etsy.com & http://SnailMailPals.etsy.com), and Sarah Hawke (http://Beadskinz.etsy.com). In addition to the wonderful handmade items, we'll also be offering many of our leftover craft supplies for sale!

You can find us at 512 Main Street, #7 in Diamond Springs. We should be open by 9am or so and will stay till we sell out or get tired, whichever comes first ... I'm sure we'll be there till at least 2pm!

Diamond Springs is near Placerville and about an hour from downtown Sacramento.

There is also a weekly swap meet nearby, so bring the hubby and kids and send them over there while you peruse the treasures at our sale!

California Chit Chat Girls of Etsy

My favorite Etsy forum is the weekly one featuring the California Chit Chat Girls. The only requirement to chat in this particular forum is that you live in California! You don't even have to be a girl (but we all are, or ummm ... claim to be!).

(I'll try to get an image of the Treasury in here, but Blogger isn't cooperating at the moment ... grrrr!!!)

Yoli, the Mistress of this particular forum, has compiled a Treasury and she was kind enough to include my blue ditty bag! If you're registered on Etsy, log in and then you can vote by clicking on your favorite items in the Treasury. You have 12 votes per Treasury and can use them all on one item, one on each item, or any combination you choose! Of course I would be delighted if you saw fit to vote for my ditty bag ... early and often as they say! :-)

SEO and Why It's Important to Artists

Recently, in one of my Etsy groups, there were some questions about SEO (search engine optimization), what it is and what it does. This post is an elaboration of my participation in that discussion.

The point of SEO is to get your web site (or Etsy shop, blog, etc.) ranked as high as possible in the search engines. The higher the ranking of your site/shop/blog/etc., the better the chance someone will find it. For those of us who are selling things online (or trying to sell things), it’s very important that our shops and/or web sites can be found! Most shoppers aren't going to take the time to look through more than a couple pages of search results when they’re looking for something.

Let's say that someone knew that I sold my stuff online, but they didn't know that I sold on Etsy. It’s likely that they wouldn't have the full URL (address) of my Etsy shop to search for. Besides, if they had the full URL, there would be no point in searching – they could simply type (or copy & paste) the URL into the browser, hit enter, and voila!

My shop (Prairie Primitives) is the second result on the first page when I Google for Prairie Primitives. In addition, quite a few of the other first-page results are mine as well (YAY!), however there are at least two other businesses using the same name also on the first page (sigh). Googleing my own name shows my Etsy shop as the seventh result on the first page, so it’s probably a good idea to include your own name somewhere in your Etsy shop.

Search engine optimization is a never-ending challenge, and has been since the internet became public in the mid-1990s. I think it's safe to say that Google is the most popular search engine these days (at least in the U.S.), however other search engines have been very popular in years past, and I will readily admit that I don’t have any idea which search engines may be popular in other countries. To make things even more challenging, just when web designers think they have a search engine figured out, it’s likely that the search engine will change their “algorithm” (how they rank search results), and you’ll have to try even harder to get your shop ranked high in search results!

Ditty Bags & Covered Boxes on eBay

Guess I should have posted about my covered boxes & ditty bags earlier in the week ... but now that I'm now working full-time (YAY!), finding time to blog is lower on my to-do list than it should be!

I've been wanting to make covered boxes for awhile now (like a couple of years), but I never took the time to try! So last month before the Los Altos show, I decided to see what I could come up with.

This is my favorite set of covered boxes so far -- I love the mismatched fabrics! They're currently listed on eBay, and will end around 6:30pm PST today.

I have a few other sets of boxes listed with other fabrics -- this set of blue boxes is my 2nd most favorite!

I've included a little surprise inside each box, but you'll have to look at the auctions to see what you'll get!

I've also been making ditty bags lately, mostly at the request of a friend in Tennessee. Denise has been nagging me to make them for years but I've been sooooo busy making primitive dolls. So I finished up a few ditty bags last weekend and listed them too! I like them all (a lot!), but if I had to choose, this one is my current favorite! The ditty bag auctions will end before the covered boxes -- starting a wee bit before 4pm PST today.

The ditty bags also have a lovely surprise inside, but (you guessed it!), you'll need to look at the auction to see what that is!

I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on the ditty bag auctions!!