Holiday Decorating

It's a Snowy Sunday today~ perfect for Holiday Decorating!
I love how the Primitive Pottery looks in this old hutch we found in Vermont a few weeks ago.




Spooky loves Holiday decorating too!!




Soon after this picture was taken she jumped over to the Christmas tree and started smacking the ornaments around~
If she only knew that Santa was watching :)

Prim-Herbal Recipes

Check out my new RECIPE link!
I've started to put together a collection of my Prim~Herbal Recipes and Formulas.



Check back~ there's more to come!

Orange Pomanders

It's "Pomander" making time!!


Every year I tell myself to start sooner~ but here it is November again and I'm just starting my Orange Pomanders. Here's my Pomander Spice Mix recipe for anyone that's interested:



Equal Parts of Powdered Clove, Cinnamon, Allspice and Orris Root Powder. If you have any Nutmeg or ground Ginger in the house you can add that as well. The Orris Root is a "fixative" and holds the scent of the spices. We sell it at our herb shop, www.theherbarium.com I've been making this mix for years and it works Great!

You'll need a few handfuls of Whole Cloves for about 6 oranges. Apples are also used as Pomanders but they don't look as nice when they're all dried & shriveled up :)

Gently push your whole Cloves into the orange and try to evenly space them around. When working with children, I'll take a nail and make the holes first and then have the kids push the whole cloves in. Sometimes the Cloves can be tough on their fingers.

Once all the cloves are in the orange it's time to roll it in your Spice mixture. A shallow pie pan works great for this. Layer the bottom of the pan with your Spice Mixture and place about 3-5 oranges on top of the mixture. You want them to have enough space the be rolled in the spices without touching each other. Roll, roll, roll your oranges in your Spice mixture! Once they are all covered in spices it's important that they have enough air to dry or else they will start to mold. So check them often & continue to roll them in the spices until they are completely hardened. This could take up to a few weeks.

See, that's why I need to start these in July :)

Here's a picture of 6 year old Pomanders!!The small ones are Apples & the larger ones are Oranges. Every year I roll them in fresh spice and then store them away when spring arrives!





To accompany your own Pomanders try some of my NEW orange Pomander Potpourri! Super Prim!!

Primitive Herbal Soap

WOW! Time is flying by! I've been very busy making items for my wholesale & retail customers! Since my Gingerbread soaps have been so popular, I thought I'd create a NEW primitive soap~ HERBAL! They are filled with Herbs,Flowers & Essential Oils. I have these great rusty Bee Skeps that I've attached to them also~ Super "Prim-Herbal"

Rosemary

We've had a few frosts here in western mass already and I didn't want to chance loosing my fragile herbs so I headed to the gardens to dig them up & bring them in the house.
It's great to see just how much these herbs have grown since they were put in the ground this Spring!

The Scented Geraniums get cut back and then potted before they come in the house. The Rosemary's get potted without cutting them back and I keep my fingers crossed that they last the winter in the house. They're tough to winter over.

Here's a picture of the Rosemary I potted up today~



Gorgeous!!

Primitive Fall Decorating

Put some Music on in your House, Light your Candles & start DECORATING for the FALL!

Just a few touches of Bittersweet, Pumpkins & Gourds around your Home make ALL the difference!!

I've had these Rusty Jack-O-Lanterns for years~ I love how they give a Whimsy~Prim Look to the Windows!




Have FUN with It!

Spooky & the Catnip Sachet

Spooky had been enjoying her Catnip sachet when I managed to get it away from her to take this picture~
Notice the glowing green eyes of fury~



It was quickly returned & All was Forgiven :)


Herb Sachets are listed in the "Prim Things" page

Sweet Annie Harvest

Today's Harvest~



This is the time to harvest the Sage, Sweet Annie, Rose Geranium, Pineapple Mint & Orange Mint. What a wonderful job~ everything smells Sooo Good!!

It's also time to Harvest the Rosehips & Bittersweet Vines.

Organic Gardening

My, How the Garden has Grown!!
Here's some pics of the vegetable garden.
Don't ya just Love Summer :)



Here's a shot of one of the Watermelons sitting on the stone wall~


The Pumpkin vines are making their way thru all the flowers~


We're thrilled with all the Cantelopes this year!



The Herbs are thriving as well~ I've been cutting this Scented Geranium for bouquets in the House~ It smells Wonderful :)

Bath & Body Splashes

My Latest Body/Bath SPLASH is Ready!!
Amber & Vanilla Body/Bath Splash is a beautiful combination of Orange Blossom water and Pure Essential Oils of Amber & Vanilla.
NO CHEMICALS!

I've always used Essential Oils of Rosewood & Amber in the bathtub and as a Perfume. That's how I came up with the idea of a SPLASH!
Plus I like the look of an old bottle displayed on the counter in the Powder Room~~ Not only should it smell Good but it should always LOOK good too :)




The Body Butters go Perfectly with the Splashes. Rosewood & Patchouli Body Butter w/ Rosewood & Patchouli Splash
Amber & Vanilla Splash w/ Amber Body Butter
You know I'll be packaging these items together for Easy Gift Giving~~

Turkey Family

After a stormy morning, this mother turkey & her babies decided to dry themselves off on our woodpile. We've been watching these wild turkeys for weeks now and the 10 babies have really grown!



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Veggie Garden

Happy Summer Everyone!
Here's some shots of the Vegetable Garden so far~














I've been harvesting the Basil and adding it to every Pasta dish I can think of :)





The Hollyhocks are about to Burst open~






The Delphiniums are at their Peak!




And the Lavender is Looking Gorgeous~ As Always :)

Gardener's Salve & Soap

NEW Gardener's SOAP & SALVE is Ready!

I'm so excited about my new Soaps & Salves. The Gardener's Salve is made with Organic Comfrey leaves & Calendula Petals. Well known for their medicinal properties. The Gardener's Soap is also made with Comfrey & Calendula, plus I put a bit of Corn meal in there as a scrub. Essential oil of Rosemary is also added to both products. Besides smelling "Herbal", Rosemary E.O. also has Antiseptic, Antibacterial & other medicinal properties.
Okay...and the packaging is just Adorable (to me anything w/ a Bee Skep on it is adorable) and PERFECT for Gift Giving!!

Garden Inspiration

Today's Garden Inspirations

New Organic Rose Geranium Soap

Phew! Things have been Sooo busy at the Crow's Nest, shipping out massive amounts of Bee Skeps & working on wholesale orders that it's been hard to find the time to get some of my NEW soaps made.
FINALLY my Organic "Rose Geranium Soap" is ready :)

I've always loved to grow Scented Geraniums and winter them over in the house. The Essential oil of Rose Geranium has also been a favorite of mine mixed in with bath salts and when I decided to try my hand at making soap a few years ago Geranium was what I had in mind. Well, it took longer than I had thought but I'm so pleased with the outcome :)






I just picked up a bag of Organic Corn Meal and am planning on making my new "Gardner's Soap" this weekend. It should be FUN!

Sample size Lavender Salve & Body Butters

After many requests I've come up with a SAMPLE size of my Organic, Amber Body Butter!
I should have made them sooner~ they're the perfect size for your purse, gift bags & baskets, traveling etc. Just $2.99each
Available under "soap & skincare" category



Organic Lavender Salve also available SAMPLE SIZE!!
Just $2.50each

Spooky Hide & Seek

I thought I'd take advantage of this Gorgeous day and finish stirring my batch of herbal soap outside. Spooky decided to join me. Here she is playing "hide & seek" (her favorite game in the garden) We have to pretend we don't see her~ LOL
If you ignore her long enough she'll jump out at you :)

Country Home Invitation

THANK-YOU!

I was surprised when the editor of Country Home magazine asked me to be in their magazine and even MORE surprised by the wonderful response I've received because of it!
I can't believe it's only been one week ~ I've had the pleasure of talking to so many people from all around the country and we All have one thing in common ~ The Love of Bee Skeps!

To top it off here's what I was given when I got home today :)

Organic Sudzy Bath Bags

Here's some NEW Items at the Crow's Nest~

My new Sudzy Bath Bags are made w/ Crushed Organic Soap, Organic Lavender buds & Calendula Flowers. Not only do the Herbs smell WONDERFUL, but the Muslin bag acts like a washcloth and the pieces of Organic Soap mixed in "does the job" I LOVE these!!
Just let the bag hang to dry in the shower/tub after each use.



Once all the soap is gone, discard the remaining herbs, wash and dry the bag and then re-use the empty muslin bag. I like to fill the clean bags w/ more dried herbs and stuff them between the cushions of my furniture. Great Air-Fresheners!! Another good idea for the clean/empty muslin bag is to fill it w/ our Herbal "Moth Chaser" mixture and hang in the closet or tuck away in your dresser. (I'll be posing the Herbal Moth Chaser soon)


I just received a shipment of new Linen Hand towels. 2 designs available~ stitched Crow & stitched BumbleBee
Check them out in the "Curtains & Things" section.

New Melting Tarts

I'm offering two NEW Melting Tarts! Chai Latte & Apple Cider. YUMMY Scents! Now all I need to come up with is Chocolate Cake melting tarts....hmmmm....there's a thought!

Springtime in the Hilltowns

The First Signs of Spring are showing up here in the Hilltowns! The Daffodils and Crocus's are pushing their way up through the soil and the Robins have invaded our property!! Yippee! Spring has kept its promise once Again :)



I just received some bunches of Celosia and displayed them w/ the "Spring" pottery setting at the shop. I LOVE how the deep burgundy color of the Celosia compliments the Amber colors of the Sweet Annie and the Sky Blue color of the "Egg & Nest" displays~~ Beautiful!

I'll post the Celosia on the website for Sale if anyones interested. I also received some Yarrow, Tansy, Oregano & Strawflowers.







A New Batch of Lavender Bundles are In!!
Now Available Wholesale as well!





It wouldn't be SPRING without the addition of Birdhouses and Bird Nests!
I've received some great Birdhouses at the Crow's Nest and More are on their way!!

Primitive Herbal Creations

Whew! It's been a VERY busy past few months! As you can see I've created a New Website. It's been A LOT of hard work, but I'm please with the outcome so far. The shopping cart is much "smoother" and the entire website navigation makes it a pleasant shopping experience :) I'm really happy about the Wholesale access section~ Much easier than the old "paper catalog" updating, mailing etc...

I've also been Inspired to create some new "Prim Herbal" items~ as I call them. To me "Primitive" not only means Old and Grubby it also means Natural. Using Organic Herbs, Spices, Beeswax, Pure Essential Oils to create my primitive products bring out the Simple Beauty that inspired me in the first place :)

Herbal Pantry Cakes, Ginger-Spice Cakes, Sweet Annie Cakes are some of the New creations I've been busy with.





"Everything Has Its Place" is my motto at Home. That translates to "I can't stand Clutter!" That's why I've created these Prim Beeswax Jars. Great Storage~ Prim Herbal look. Keep them on your desk, or in the Laundry room for all that pocket change. Possibilities are endless :)





Another New item is the Locally made Lavender Heating Pad. For years we've sold these Heating pads in our Herb Shop and I thought it would be a good idea to offer them thru the Crow's Nest as well. I had the removable/washable covers made w/ "primitive" fabric. These Heating Pads are GREAT! Just pop the Heating Pad in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes and it will stay warm for over 30 minutes.
I've used these Heating Pads on my family for years. For the kids earaches, tummy aches or just to keep them warm if they weren't feeling well. (that's why the removable/washable cover is so important)

Icicle on Lantern

Just Another New England Storm! Check out the size of that Icicle on the front lantern~ Whew!