A FOLK Winner

folk (fok) 1.a) a people, tribe, or nation; b) the large body of the common people of such a group. 2. of, originating among, or having to do with the common people, who transmit the general culture of the group through succeeding generations. 3. simple and unassuming; not snobbish.

No wonder I like the word so much :)

I think of it as an inclusive word ~ everyone, not us and them...

Thank you to the 24 people that entered my giveaway! Using random.org, the random number generator selected #11 - Pamela

Congratulations Pamela!

Please email me with your mailing address and FOLK magazine will be heading your way...

And for those of you that didn't win, you can click here if you would like to subscribe, order a single issue, or even purchase the sold out premier issue as a digital copy.



I also had to share that in FOLK Issue March / April 2012 I was so fortunate to have my peapod pincusion featured on the Folk Life page with artists that I have long admired such as Brady Bears, Woodland Primitives, Lori Ann Corelis and Walnut Ridge Primitives! What an incredible honor!

So sorry for the delay in posting a winner, I have been under the weather with a nasty bug, so it is back to bed for me...

"It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on."

Blessings, Patti

Are you FOLK? And a giveaway!

Are you familiar with FOLK magazine?

I was excited when I heard about it before the first issue was even published. and I found that the magazine did not disappoint. I love my fav primitive magazines - where the homes are totally primitive. I look at them and dream. But I know that I could never live that way - I love my prims and the history they bring, but I also love my modern day conveniences and electronics.

I feel like FOLK has that same mentality - a love of history, stories and connection and at the same time have their eyes on the horizon towards the future and hope. It is amazing to see their twenty-something take on the world and their passion, focus and ideals. One of their missions is "Pledge 2 Shop Local" - I love this! You can take a look at a preview of their next issue by clicking here. You can see that it isn't just a home decor magazine, but features fashion, recipes, stories and music - a little bit of everything, just like life.

On my side bar, you may have noticed that I have been published in a few of their issues. When issue 3 arrived at my door, I had returned home from a long rough day at work. I had submitted a few photos for the issue and I wondered if one had made it in. When I opened the front cover, I found this:
Right on page one was a full page of my photo from one of my favorite places on earth - a little channel on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward Wisconsin. Many of my favorite memories with my husband and sons were right in this very spot. It meant so much to me to see it immortalized.

FOLK also has a blog that you might want to go and take a peek - you can visit it here.

If you haven't already guessed, FOLK magazine has been kind enough to team up with me for April's monthly giveaway. This month's winner will receive a one year subscription to FOLK. As always I like to keep it open to everyone, so either comment on this post or send me an email to pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "FOLK" in the subject line. And tell me - what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "FOLK"?

I will use a random number generator to pick a winner on Friday night.

I'll leave you with a few of my favorite lines from the FOLK Manifesto:

"We take the road less traveled...

We are well versed in the terms "grubby," "primitive," "aged," and "make-do"...

And We try to always keep the little things in perspective and "Enjoy the ride".

We are FOLK."

Blessings, Patti

A weekend well spent...

This weekend my sister and I traveled to central Illinois to visit our parents and attend not one, but four fantastic primitive shows!

First we attended Homesteaders on the Prairie where I was so fortunate to meet Ben Ashby & Heath Stiltner of FOLK magazine. I can't say enough about this exciting and innovative new magazine! They are both as kind and patient in person as they appear in the magazine. They had a sweet little booth selling the new Christmas issue (with a 2 page TDIPT Mercantile feature of which I am a part) and items from their new FOLK label private collection.
At Homesteaders, I also had the sweet pleasure of meeting Roberta of Cottonwood Lane Primitives. We've followed each others blogs and it was so special to meet such a lovely person inside and out :) I only wish that we had more time to visit. Be sure to stop by her blog to see lovely photos of the booths at the shows. I was too busy shopping and being overwhelmed with the selection to take photos lol.

It was so fun to see another familiar face! Marsha Albrecht of Kindred Spirits was a roomie of ours in the Second Story at Boxwood & Berries 2010. What a surprise to see her with a stunning booth!

We also attended the Country Spirit show, A Gathering on the Prairie show and A Rural Life show! WoW! It is amazing what you can pack in to 36 hours!

I came home with lots of goodies:

a piece of ticking, 3 pieces of coverlet, the latest issue of FOLK, a Distelfink (bird) by Woodland Primitives (FOLK private label), a framed spencerian calligraphy of two birds and a nest, 5 wonderful engraved sleigh bells, a treen ware needlecase, a notecard of Adam & Eve by Anne Childs, and do you see my treasure next to the needlecase? A lovely leather acorn by Marsha!

I also added to my collection of primitive wood boxes:

A wonderful bluish green box with original paint. The natural wooden box had it's treasure inside...

Covered in early wallpaper, it's a lap desk with lots of compartments, some hidden under panels covered in black silk. The paper is stored in the lid behind a silk covered panel.

The bottom compartment features a flowered label that I think might have been added later...

The green box also has compartments inside.

It was a weekend well spent and even more enjoyable since I spent it with my sister and parents.

Please be sure to stop by TDIPT Mercantile tonight! The 15th of the month artists are updating their offerings and the Open House giveaways are continuing...

And it isn't too late to enter my giveaway on the post below...

Blessings, Patti