From Our Hands ~ Creative ~ The Mercantile

All too soon it was time for the grand finale of 

From Our Hands ~ Creative ~

The Mercantile!

The day dawned quite chilly and we had a bit of a wait.

But when you are together with other creative souls, talk makes time fly by...

There was even a bit of show and tell!

It was such fun to meet Terry and see her beautiful masterpiece.

Isn't it gorgeous?! This is from an Ali Strebel workshop the week before.

Soon the doors opened and it was time to discover the treasures that awaited inside!

I had seen this lovely chalkboard the afternoon before and should have guessed that it would be the backdrop of one of my favorite folk artists -

Ginny Henson of Heart in Hand Folk Art!

May I have one of everything please ;)

The mesmerizing booth of Heartwells - oh my!

I could have spent an entire day in this booth alone!

Jackie Cessna's Jackieland Antiques.

Here are a few of the textile treasures that I purchased.

And the wonderful trims and needles that Kim purchased.

And some wonderful wools that one of my Bittersweet Sisters purchased.

This is the sweet booth of Donna and Connie

a lovely combination of antiques and folk art.

Kim bought a beautiful antique sewing bird here.

And I bought these darling cards hand made by Connie (and several more which were put in the post before I thought to take a photo...) Connie also gifted me with the precious little boot scissor holder.

I met Connie last year when I purchased a beautiful box crafted by her sister Bobbie. You can see it here. I was so hoping that Bobbie would send more of her boxes to the show this year as I was smitten with them!

Not only did Connie bring Bobbie's boxes, she brought Bobbie to the Needle In!

It was such a delight to meet her, but I am sorry to say that I didn't take a photo...

Bobbie is a master of many mediums and has even appeared on the Martha Stewart Show twice. You can view her appearances here and here.

Well, needless to say, I am not very good at decisions.

So I couldn't pick just one box to come home with me...

Instead I bought two :)

Aren't they absolutely stunning works of art?!

Can you believe that she cuts the silhouettes freehand while watching tv?!

I love the antique papers that she uses...

 They mean even more to me now that I have met the woman whose hands crafted them.

I will treasure them always!

Thank you Connie for bringing Bobbie for me to meet!

It was a blessing to visit a bit with Connie, Bobbie and Donna.

It was also a blessing to meet these lovely ladies!

Melissa (Handicraft Creations), Bobbie (The Evening Stitcher) and Lauren (Rugs & Pugs)!

Such wonderful women and such stunning creations!

I've followed Lauren's blog for so long that I felt like I already knew her.  

I wish that I would have had an unlimited budget!

This wonderful pendant from Lauren was perfect for my Mom for Mother's Day 

and was tied to the top of her gift.

I bought these pendants by Lauren for myself.

The embodiment of 1 Corinthians 13:13

 "But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."

A Bittersweet Sister  bought this stunning necklace from Bobbie and I just love it!

Several of the Bittersweet Sisters bought wonderful wool bracelets from Melissa, but I didn't take any pictures :( Believe me they are gorgeous!

It was such an overload of the senses and I missed getting photos of many of the booths and even missed visiting some of them. I ran out of money way too soon LOL!

One of the Bittersweet Sisters bought this ever so sweet bear from Lori Ann 

and this sweet bunny to keep her company :)

This little pinkeep from Lori Ann went home with one of the sisters as well. 

Somehow I also managed to miss the booth of Kelsey A. Smith, 

but one of the sisters found these wonderful treasures there.

I was able to make it to Rebekah's booth and was so happy to find a few treasures to come home with me. 

I love how Rebekah is incorporating antiques into her creations - a treasure in both forms :)

It was such a very special day! And a perfect way to end our trip.

I'll have one more post about our trip that will include a little giveaway.

As you do not know the path of the wind,

    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

    the Maker of all things.

~Ecclesiastes 11:5

Blessings, Patti