Summer's Wave Goodbye

The maple leaves are beginning to change and the air is getting crisper in the evenings. When we left for our holidays, it was still summer in Ottawa, but now Fall is definitely on the way. And I am so excited! I am so ready to get out my Fall decor! I can't wait to fill our new house with pumpkins and gourds, bittersweet and signs. I came home with some old crocks and baskets that will be filled with sunflowers and mums. Two old hay rakes are waiting on my front porch for some cornstalks and hay bales to keep them company. But before I start decorating, our kitchen is being renovated, the kids are heading back to school, and there are new stencils arriving this week that need to be painted. I do need to take pictures of the new signs, so maybe I will be able to get some of my Fall decor out after all, strictly for use as props. Really.

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."~Elizabeth Lawrence

Fall is coming....

I know it is only just August, but I am already looking forward to Fall. I love it! Fall is, without a doubt, my favourite season. I love the colours, the crispness in the air, the way the leaves crunch under foot. Fall is one of the busiest times at Primitive Expressions, the beginning of the Holiday rush. Fall signs quickly meld into Halloween signs, and before I know it, it's time to start painting Christmas signs! Which is why I'm thinking about Fall signs the first week of August. I have several new Fall block sets that I'm excited about, and a few new signs as well. But first, we are off for three glorious weeks in Nova Scotia, where I'm sure I will find tons of inspiration. And maybe some new "junk" to decorate with......


"Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower."~Albert Camus

Canadiana

It seems somehow fitting that the very first sign I sold was part of my first order after returning from the US. The sign that started it all was my Canada~True, North, Strong and Free sign. For a long time I had looked for a primitive "Canadian themed" sign to decorate with on Canada Day, but was unable to find any. So I decided to paint my own. I contacted a stencil company based in Canada, and had her custom design it. After I painted it, I decided to try to sell some on ebay. Sure enough, it did. Not only did it sell, but it lead to my first wholesale order, 12 in all. The rest, as they say, is history. I now have several other Canada signs in my collection, some that I have yet to paint. It is no longer as difficult to find "Canadiana." Canadians have become much more overtly patriotic, perhaps because of the War in Afghanistan. We live in a wonderful country, one we should be proud of. Canadian flags and "Canadiana" are no longer solely limited to July. I for one am glad! I love our flag, I love the maple leaf, and barn red matches my decor perfectly!


"I read and learned and fretted more about Canada after I left than I ever did while I was home. I absorbed anything I could on topics that ranged from Folklore to history to political manifestos... I ranted and raved and seethed about things beyond my control. In short, I acted like a Canadian."~Will Ferguson

Welcome Friends

Welcome to my new blog about the signs I love, and all things primitive and crafty that inspire me. After a two year hiatus, Primitive Expressions is back, and hopefully it will be bigger and better than ever. I have a new Etsy store that will be up and running at the end of August, as well as a Facebook page where I will keep you updated with information about the store as well as showcase my favourite signs! There are lots of new signs and block sets coming in September, as well as old favourites. I can't wait to paint them and share them all with you! I hope you enjoy your visits here, preferably with a good cup of coffee, because you'll soon learn I love coffee almost as much as I love signs!

"Cherish yesterday, live today, dream tomorrow."~Richard Bach