ARTISAN DIRECTORY (See More at the Bottom)

Friday, February 26, 2010

Featured Artisan / Friday Freebie

PLEASE NOTE:
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 12TH
It's amazing how the week just seems to fly by! It's time for another Featured Artisan and Friday Freebie segment here on The Primitive Peddler! First, I'd like to say a big "Thank You" to Brenda of The Rusty Thimble for providing us with last week's interview and her incredible generosity for donating last week's Friday Freebie!
The winner of Brenda's adorable Prim Doll is Marcie of Gingerbread Hill.
Congratulations, Marcie!
This week it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to yet another incredibly talented artisan. Please meet Michelle of Rocking Chair Stitches:
What is the name of your shop? And why did you choose this name?
My husband named my shoppe. One night while we were doing the dishes we were talking about renaming my shoppe to something more primitive. As I think now I can't even remember the former name. Anyway, primitive made him think of grandmas and granddpas lol and the stream of consciousness led him to rocking chairs. Poof, Rocking Chair Stitches was born.
What type of items do you offer?
We offer all hadmade hand-dyed wool penny rugs, bed rugs and bed quilts and many seasonal wool applique creations. We also hand-dye our own wool in our kitchen offering made warm and yummy colors. Our own line of patterns has been a bit hit. We also offer kits for most of our creations. Sometimes we offer finished items by other wonderful designers like Lake View Primitives, Cath's Pennies Designs and a few others.
How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting for so long, it's hard for me to remember back that far. I took (as most of us did) home ec classes in middle school and I guess it's been since then. I would make quilted Christmas Tree skirts and sell them at the local fairs. I went on to doll making and seasonal items and then settled on the warmth of wools and the serenity I feel when I stitch by hand.
Who or What inspires you?
I am inspired by so many different people it's hard to list them and it feels kind of like accepting an academy award lol. Anyway, my mom certainly has always inspired me in my sewing, making me rip out zippers in my younger days and re-sew them until it was in perfectly. My dad has enormous amounts of creativity being an interior designer. My wondeful friend and mentor Jackie Bennett of Lake View Primitives who was the one who encourged me to design patterns and The Itinerant Painter who gave me confidence and introduced me to penny rugs.
What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I don't have one favorite item in my shop really. I love so many of them but if I had to pick one it would be the very first item I made which sometimes is lovingly referred to as "the head".
What else would like to our readers to know?
I would like readers to know that I am a Mom....(waiting to be a grandma, with no luck lol), a Wife to my awesome husband and hopefully an understanding and caring person to the people in my life. I am a Family Court Paralegal and Divorce Mediator and my sewing keeps my serene, sane and grounded. My biggest wish is to own a wonderful quilt shop in my retirement.
Michelle's many creations can be found at local shoppes in the New England area, oh, you don't live in the area you say? Well, lucky for us we can also find her items in her online shoppe, Rocking Chair Stitches. And you're invited to visit Michelle's blog as well.
And now for this week's Giveaway! Michelle has graciously donated this adorable prim bunny...and just in time for Spring:
Pretty pastelly green wool bunny. Little whiskers and buttons for eyes. He's minty good chocolate.!!
Guidelines for Entering:
Visit Michelle's Online Shop, Rocking Chair Stitches, and come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item.(1 Entry)
Follow our blog and post about this giveaway on your blog(2 additional entries)
Purchase any item from Rocking Chair Stitches this week for FIVE addtional entries!
Good Luck and Happy Blogging!

13 comments:

  1. you make me proud :)

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  2. First off Congrats Marcie on winning my Rabbit.
    NOW.......I want to win this guy he is AWESOME. so put my name in the bucket and I will post about it on my blog this evening.
    Brenda
    The Rusty Thimble

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  3. Really cute bunny--kind of a st. pats bunny.
    i love-love-love the 'Penny Sheep' penny rug. I am a follower and am posting on my blog!

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  4. I love your work Michelle! I have added your giveaway to my blog and now I'm also a follower. I look forward to reading all of your future posts. Melissa

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  5. I'm fronm Spain... I don't know if I can entry!
    #pinkpurple Pink and Purple Passion i smy favourite item!

    cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

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  6. Follower now!
    cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

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  7. I like the Bunny Hop runner (plus a lot of other things)
    I am a follower and have a link in my blog and this is also in my blog roll and shows up there :)
    I would love to have the bunny to put in my Pioneer style room with my other bunnies :)

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  8. I love the three flowers purse. It is super cute and it's big enough for all my junk!
    Laprochaine@gmail.com

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  9. Adorable little bunny!!

    I love this in the shop too!
    http://www.rockingchairstitches.com/catalog.php?item=214

    Snow mittens~

    SheilaC

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  10. just discovered this fantastic blog - what a treat! next step: become a follower! the pastel green 'post modern' designed bunny is my favorite bit so far. spring is surely on the way!
    desiree
    http://habitmade.wordpress.com/

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  11. Super cute, sign me up! I am off to post this on my blog.
    Kim

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  12. I love her shop especially Aged Traditions http://www.rockingchairstitches.com/catalog.php?item=211 It reminds me of something my grandmother once had.

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