Prim shopping in wonderful New England…

This past week I had the privilege of visiting several wonderful primitive shops in New England, some for fun and some for business but always delightful! We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful shops in New England to find just the right primitive accessories and antiques. If only we had unlimited time and an unlimited budget! Some of these shops I have shared before, some are new. I hope you enjoy following along.

On Tuesday, my dear friend Karen – of Catskill Mountain Prims was back in MA to help her sister and before she headed home to the Catskills, she stopped by My Red Door for lunch and after that we headed northwest to Templeton, Ma to Country Mischief. I have blogged about this great store several times in the past so if you go to my left sidebar under labels, you can click on Country Mischief to see pics or you can click ~HERE~ for the website. It is a huge antique home with many rooms filled to the brim with all kinds of great primitives and antiques. Gail and her staff are always changing things up so there is always something new to see. It was fun to see A Primitive Place magazine displayed right inside the front door! Gail kindly shared some of the history of the home with Karen and I and even showed us the ‘inside outhouse’ room. I didn’t have my camera with me so do check out my previous posts and make sure to read the history on the website. While in the dining room of the restaurant inside the home, I spotted a goody that spoke my name. It’s a new piece for a wall in my kitchen. I am going to make some minor changes in there and I’ll share that in a future post! On her visit, Karen brought me the sweetest early birthday present – a wonderful little redware pitcher. I am saving that for the same future post. Thanks Karen! I love it!!

Did you all see Karen’s home in the new Home Tours Issue of Country Sampler? I haven’t seen it yet but her kitchen is on the cover and she is featured inside. Despite being a very active member in the A Primitive Place forum, Karen was very quiet about being chosen for that magazine out of respect and consideration for the App staff because we had just announced the kickoff of the A Primitive Place magazine. She is a dear friend and I am so thrilled for her! If you don’t have the magazine, you can see her beautiful home on her Picture trail – just click ~HERE~. By the way, You HAVE to see how she painted her kitchen counter and refrigerator with Caromal Colours paint. She explains it in her Picture trail kitchen album ~she is so creative and talented!

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On Thursday, I spent time with another dear friend - Audrey and I enjoyed a sunny cool day and packed our lunches and headed ‘a ways south’ to Stonington, CT to Milltown Primitives. Robin moved to store from Mystic CT to it’s current location last year but before she could open, she rehabbed the interior of the shop and it is prim eye candy. I had been here once before but this was a first for Audrey and she wasn’t disappointed! The store is so inviting from the outside…

And inside does not disappoint either!

We both bought a few little goodies and I made myself a wish list for my next visit! You can see more of the store, and find the address and directions by going to the website ~here~.

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And today, Bonnie, Audrey, Ashley and I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Open House and magazine signing at our dear friend Judy’s store in Hopkinton, MA – Country Plus. It was a delightful afternoon meeting fans …

signing the magazine….

and doing a little shopping for ourselves! I made a little wish list for myself here too. Bet you can’t guess some of the items on it…

Thanks to the gals who came by with pictures of their homes to share with us and thank you Judy for hosting us and making us feel so welcome! For the address and directions to this wonderful shop, you can go to the website ~here~.

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After leaving Judy’s, we took a short drive through the lovely town of Hopkinton. Like so many towns in New England, it is so picturesque. Just look at how pretty the gazebo looks on the common…

Bonnie did a little marketing while we were out and about…

We continued a very short distance into the town of Holliston and made a stop at another delightful shop ~ Jackie’s Primitives. Look what we spotted…

Jackie told us she sold out of her first wholesale order quickly and had to reorder more magazines! We were so pleased to hear that!

Having recognized us from the magazine, Jackie and her husband warmly welcomed us. They have a great shop…

…full of wonderful primitive accessories and antiques, and once again we all found some goodies for ourselves and I made another wish list for my next visit! Bet you can’t guess what’s on this one…

I couldn’t find a website, so here is all the info you’ll want when you head out to visit: Jackie's Primitives, 76 Railroad St, Holliston, MA 01746, 508-429-1317 Hours: Wed- Sun. 11-5. She will be having an Open House March 26 and 27th from 11-5 – do stop by!!

In addition to an unlimited budget, I need a bigger home!

If you stop by any of these wonderful shops after reading this, please do tell the shop owners that Linda Rudman from A Primitive Place magazine sent you!

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Thank you for all the warm and supportive comments after my last post. My heart goes out to each of you also dealing with that dreadful disease or watching your parents health fail.

A very special thanks to Melissa from over at Libbie’s Home blog for the info on getting the cassette tapes I have of my mom, onto CD’s. She sent me a file with instructions and when I get a chance to try it, I’ll let you all know how I did. Thanks so much Melissa. HUGS!!

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Today I am thankful for:

…kind and thoughtful blog friends

….living in New England

…having a reliable vehicle

…having our grown children and grand daughter close by

…dear friends who share the same passion for primitives

…dear friends who send me uplifting and caring messages

Thanks once again for your visit Behind My Red Door. Until next time – hugs, Grammee Linda

Let’s play a matching game, and a long goodbye…

Thank you to all my repeat visitors and welcome all new visitors and followers. I think you are going to really enjoy this post – it is full of what we all just love – primitive eye candy!! As promised here are some more of the photos that didn’t make it to print in the spring issue.

Now for the fun part… can you match them to the four homes in the magazine that I had the pleasure of photographing?

Here’s #1 ….

Did you figure that one out??

Here’s #2 …

Still not sure? Well how about #3…

and last but in no way least, here is #4…

I hope you figured out which is which and enjoyed playing my little match game. Maybe we can play again after the summer issue makes it’s debut! If you haven’t gotten your subscription yet, what are you waiting for?? Click ~HERE~ to find out how to subscribe, about wholesale orders, where to buy it, and to get answers to most of your magazine related questions!

If you are planning to attend the Country Spirits Show in Arcola, IL in March, then you will have a chance to meet some of the APP staff! We are excited to let you know that A Primitive Place magazine will be at the Country Spirit show in Arcola, IL on March 4th & 5th.

Meet: Senior Writer, Dan Weaver

Stylist/Contributing Writer, Kimberlee Johnson

Publisher/Editor, Kristine Berg Doss

Assistant Editor/Contributing Writer, Jeremy A. Doss

Stop by our booth and pick up the spring issue! We will also have a few of the Holiday issue on hand for purchase.

Click ~HERE~ for all the details!

Don’t forget the New England crew has two events coming up in MA as well. Check my previous post for all the details!

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Our blogging friend Sheila over at Seasons of thy Heart posted about a wonderful service for women battling cancer. Cleaning for a Reason offers free home cleaning services for women going through chemo treatments. PLEASE pass this info on! Click ~HERE~ to find out more about this great service!

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Way back when I started blogging, one of my most faithful followers and commenters was a very sweet gal Kathy. Kathy and I emailed for awhile and I so enjoyed chatting with her. Unfortunately at some point we lost touch. But recently Kathy started her own blog The Heart of the Home and I am thrilled to be able to mention it here. Kathy shares the struggles and frustrations of raising a family, keeping a home, and juggling all those hats many women wear. She happens to be avid quilter too. To meet Kathy and to see some of her gorgeous quilts, please click ~HERE~!

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I also promised I’d share the new piece of redware that I ordered from my friend Janet. If you missed my last post, she recently began carrying a line of made in the USA redware on her website Winter Willow Primitives. It all started several months ago when Janet asked me about this piece of redware that I have owned for many years..

I think you can guess why she liked that particular piece – the willow tree.

Janet asked me for any info I had on it and all I could give her was the name etched in the back. We did some research and found that artist. Janet was able to contact her and get the plate reproduced and now she carries it and other pieces from the same artist on her website. I was thrilled that it worked out so well for Janet. And of course when I saw the great pieces she was offering, I knew I had to have another one. I finally settled on this adorable little square plate…

Isn’t it darling?? It is a perfect fit in the little cabinet in our bedroom, don’t you think?

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~SIGH~

My heart is heavy tonight. This afternoon we took Lili to see my folks. You see today is my mom’s 82nd birthday and though we are having a party for her this weekend, I knew she would love some snuggles with Lili today. Lili was charming and delightful and loving with my mom. I could see the joy she brought to both of my parents. She was the best gift we could give my mom right now. Joy in the moment. As many of you know, my mom has Alzheimer's and is slowly failing. It is so sad to see the once vibrant woman slipping away. The body works amazingly well for her age but the mind is another story. If you are new to my blog, my mom was one of the most creative and talented woman I have ever known. You name it, she did it and did it well. Martha Stewart couldn’t hold a candle to her. That is no exaggeration. If you click on MOM under labels in my sidebar, you can read about just some of the things my mom did in her lifetime. But today my mom couldn’t remember how to play her piano. It about broke my heart. I grew up doing my homework to piano music. At one time my mom owned an organ, an upright piano and an electric piano. She played every day of her life until just a few months ago. Now it is but one more thing lost to her and lost to the rest of her family as well. It is incredibly sad. As many of my friend’s call it – “the long goodbye”.

Today I am thankful for:

All the cassette tapes I own of my mom playing the piano and singing to and reading to my children when they were young.

The primitive portraits of my children that my mom painted when they were young.

All the creative skills I learned at my mother’s side.

The memories of all the wonderful times she created for our family over the years.

The time we have left to make more memories and share joy in the moment.

Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me share a little of my world with you today. If your mom is still around, right now tell her how much you love her. You won’t be sorry.

Until next time – hugs from Bev’s blonde and blue eyed daughter