WSOAPP BLOG

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2011-11-20T10:58:00.001-08:00

From all of us at WSOAPP....

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

Civil War in the family

2011-07-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

Stop on over at Barefoot Primitives for a little personal Civil War history.

Click Here for BAREFOOT PRIMITIVES

New Offerin's at WSOAPP!

2011-06-13T13:28:00.001-07:00

I've just been over poking around at WSOAPP and noticed some wonderful new creations and a few just-can't-pass-up goodies in our SALE category! Stop on by for a visit.

Click here for WSOAPP.org!

Civil War Era Dolls and Toys

2011-04-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

Join us on ebay April 3rd and all through the month in our WSOAPP shoppes for:

Civil War era children enjoyed simple toys and games powered only by their imagination.

Circle games, singing games, and group activities were enjoyed by all ages. And children of different ages played together. The older children were expected to watch out for the young ones, and to include them in their play. Girls joined in all the rough play and fierce competitions as boys did. Only when they reached maturity were they expected to develop into demure damsels, as boys were expected to become gentlemen.

Most children had dolls and toys that were home made from whatever materials were on hand. Corn husk dolls and dolls made of home made cloth and scraps were the norm. Little girls often had their first sewing experiences creating dresses, hats, and quilts for their dolls. They often had embroidered or button eyes and might have been stuffed with feathers, cotton or even straw.

Only a few privileged children might have lovely dolls with porcelain or wax heads and limbs, however, they didn't stand up to active play.

Stuffed Animals were common, but were made of fabric, not fake fur. For little boys, soldiers were crafted of wood and fabrics.

Wooden toys were usually building blocks, toy soldiers, wagons, animals, cup and ball toys, jacobs ladder, pull toys wooden guns, cannons, swords, hobby horses and even carved whistles.

Many games that remain popular today were played back then: Blind Man's Bluff, Hide and Go Seek, and Duck, Duck, Goose, Squeak Piggy Squeak, Drop the Hanky, playing cards, Blind Man's Bluff, Hide 'n Horsy, Jacks and Marbles, Yo-Yo's, and Hide and Go Seek. Little girls loved to play house while boys threw old blankets over tree limbs to make tents to play under. Older children and adults enjoyed 20 Questions, Anagrams and Charades. The board game LIFE was created in 1860 and it's popularity spread quickly.

Singing games were very popular among the younger children. They included games such as Pop Goes the Weasel, Farmer in the Dell and Ring a Ring of Roses.

Children also had instruments and noisemakers such as drums, whistles, bugles, rattles and clackers, horns and cymbals.

Children would get together to play a popular new sport called Baseball. Races, Croquet, and Graces, which is is a fun game played with ribbons tied to hoops and rolled with sticks.

Basically the Make Do spirit was alive and well in this simple but turbulent time. Even though chores were many, children found time to play and stretch their imaginations, swim in a nearby pond, lay on their backs in the grass and see what shapes the clouds would make for them today.

Civil War Quilts

2011-03-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Through the predawn of April 12, 1861, the first Confederate shell arched through the sky and exploded behind the walls of Fort Sumter. It touched off one of the deadliest wars in America’s history.

By April 20, 1861 President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 men to join the militia. And within five days of the call going out, the women on the home front got involved.

All over the country, Union and Confederate women, composed of the mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts of our brave soldiers, rallied to the war effort. Patriotic passion abounded on both sides, certain the war would be short and decisive.

The U.S. Sanitary Commission was funded and supplied by the efforts of Northern women volunteers with the object of "doing what the government could not". They rolled bandages, sewed quilts, clothing, purchased medicines, and held fund raisers called "Sanitary Fairs".

It is rare to find a quilt that survived such hard use but diaries, letters and family lore tell about the quilts. Usually they were made using simple block patterns such as the 9-patch or snowball. The fabric was most likely a cheap basic calico or checked dark print. The dirt showed less if dark colors were used.

To prevent theft, all quilts distributed by the Sanitary Commission were stamped with the U.S.S.C. oval logo.

Northern women gave quilts to Northern soldiers from the beginning of the Civil War until the end. They made special quilts as well as utility quilts. Some quilts were inscribed in ink with the names and dates of those who's hands had sewn them. There was a story about a soldier that had been injured, was unresponsive and near death. They changed his bed and covered him with a quilt . He began reading the signatures on the quilt and found his wife's name. He immediately began improving and survived.

In 1863 the U.S. Sanitary Commission requested cot size quilts (approximately 48 x 84 inches) that the soldiers could also use as bedrolls and this amazing group of volunteer women made an estimated 150,000 - 250,000 sanitary commission quilts in addition to providing an abundance of other relief services.

Many Southern women tended to stitch with their family rather than forming sewing circles or societies. Some may have had little experience in sewing for themselves due to having people in the household who might have done that particular work for them. However, Southern Relief Societies were formed as the war dragged on but none were coordinated like those in the North.

The biggest challenge facing the women of the south was fabric shortage. Southern women cut up heirloom quilts and used carpet, drapes and linings from their dresses to make blankets and quilts for their soldiers. Later during the war, southern women spun cotton and made homespun fabric to be utilized for quilts and clothing. In some of their diaries they write about the roughness of the homespun fibers and of making clothing from bed ticking and basically anything else they could salvage. Due to the high cost of fabric and severe fabric shortages, they often resorted to using newspaper as quilt batting.

As you can imagine, not many of these Civil War quilts made for soldiers survive today. Many were completely worn out after the war and did not seem worth saving as well as many soldiers were buried in their quilts.

Quilts in the Civil War era seem even more precious under the dire circumstances and reasons for their creation.

We invite you to check out WSOAPP's ebay auctions beginning April 3rd to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the onset of the Civil War... and all month long we'll be adding Civil War related creations in April in our WSOAPP shoppes.....

2011-01-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

We would like to give a warm welcome back to our Lisa, of My Raggedy Doll House. Lisa has been with WSOAPP almost from the beginning, and through the years we have watched her sweet style become what it is today! We have just opened her shop today, keep watching for when she gets it filled with her one of a kind pieces. Drop her a note to welcome her back!

Looking Back

2011-01-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of our dear friends and families! We thank you all for helping to make our first few months in our new home such a great success and we especially thank those who have sent us many kind words and letters of support. They mean more than you will ever know and your support has empowered us to keep looking forward to future things at WSOAPP.

When we sat down with WSOAPP's leaders to plan the new Market Street a little over a year ago, we took into account the numerous requests and suggestions that had been made to us over time, from members and our customers alike. We set out to offer our artisans and our customers both the very best primitive and whimsical marketplace that we possibly could, utilizing the full power that only a website can offer. With the new Market Street format, now we are are able bring you far more than just the traditional artisan shop that we have all grown accustomed to, we can offer full pattern and crafting supply shops, antiques shops, a gallery of artisan work that show cases our crafts people's finest pieces from the past to present, trade and craft related articles offered by professionals working in the field, linked categorized listings that help you browse and find exactly what you are looking for with fewer searches, a newly listed item column that allows you to see what is fresh on the site, social networking on facebook and twitter, and our newest feature; the sale barn. There are many new features yet to be implemented, but they are in the beta testing stage right now and will be offered as the wrinkles get ironed out.

Our sale barn is the newest addition to our feature list and it is one we are very pleased with. It is now open to the public, after a few months of testing and preparation, and we know that you will love it as much as we do! In the Sale Barn, you will find top artisan offerings at sale prices, from hand made one of a kinds to patterns, crafting supplies and antiques. We invite all of you to stop in and check it out, and stop in often!

Again, thank you for all of your support and feedback, we are praying for a happy and very blessed 2011 for all of you!

The WSOAPP mods

Nightmare on Marketstreet * WSOAPP *

2010-08-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

September Theme:

A Nightmare on Marketstreet

Keep checking back all month long as our talented artisans add their spooktacular creations!

Click here for WSOAPP.org!

~ WSOAPP Grand Opening ~ !!!!

2010-07-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

A New and exciting shopping experience awaits you and it's all at the touch of your fingertips!
WSOAPP.org Market Street has been moved and completely redesigned to offer you a more enjoyable and easier way to shop from some of the most original and creative Artisans we could find! From antiques,primitives, handmade bath and body products, handmade prim dolls, patterns and crafting supplies, to Holiday offerings and much, much more! We feel that you will love our new look and all of the new features that we have to offer our customers and our artisans.

In Celebration of the Grand Opening of our new venue and home, all Artisan's Shops will be listing many new items, not only on Ebay and Etsy, but in all their WSOAPP shops as well.

In addition, a $50 prize drawing will be made at the end of the week! Simply purchase from a WSOAPP member's shop on WSOAPP.org and on Sunday, August 7th, we'll draw the name of the winner! This also qualifies you to an EXTRA $50 to go absolutely nuts purchasing what you would like from any of the shoppes on our Marketstreet! Our artisans are launching both Christmas and Autumn themed items early as it's never too early to get ready for the Holiday Season!

Visit WSOAPP.org to find out how to sign up for all of our simply divine door prizes to be given away EVERY single day from August 1 until we run out! The prize donations just keep rolling in! Like wise, be sure to bookmark your favorite artists shoppes and follow their shop announcements and specials for the month.

To those of you who have generously supported us in the past, thank you so very much! To those of you just now finding us, we hope that you will find your hearts desire on Market Street and most of all... have fun doing so!

We love being able to offer you the best of our handmade, vintage and quality products! We hope to see you stop in often... Happy Shopping!

Here are a few of the door prizes so far! Some items shown will be similar to what you will receive.
Thank you to all our talented artisans for their generosity!

Your choice of wool from Crowing About Primitives:

Punkin' Ornie from The Stars in Barb's Eyes:

1 Bottle Room Spray & a bag of hips~n~sticks, Vanilla lavender or Christmas Memories scented the same, from Piney Woods Primitives:

Bar of luxury soap from Sweet Harvest Farms:

Bird Pin Keep from Ro's Cluttered Attic:

Santa Letters from Aunt Mannys:

One free epattern of your choice from Barefoot Primitives:

Hand painted star from My Tiny Studio:

Witchy Hat,16" tall x 17" wide at the base of the hat, from Cedar Hill Rustics:

A small doll from Veena's Mercantile:

Picture coming soon

WSOAPP.com is now WSOAPP.org!!!

2010-07-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

It has been a long haul but we have finally gotten our group moved into our new home. Market Street has had a facelift and Wsoapp.com in now WSOAPP.org. Coming on August 1st we will be rolling out the red carpet with our first launch in our new home. Our theme will be "Haunted Mists with Peppermint Twists" What better way to kick off our party than to celebrate two holidays in one! Stay tuned to the blog for giveaways and prizes.

Happy 4th of JULY!!!

2010-07-02T06:36:00.000-07:00

We at WSOAPP would like to wish each and every one of you a very happy and safe 4th of July!

Keep checking back or sign up for our mailing list... the Grand Opening of our new shoppes is getting closer!

New Home For WSOAPP!!

2010-06-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be wondering why our selling blog hasn't had a lot of new goodies lately. Well there's a reason for this, as we're in the midst of a transition.......

We are so excited and can finally let ya'll in on this. Coming very soon in July, WSOAPP will be celebrating the Grand Opening of our brand spankin' new website! It's been a long work in progress and labor of love and we know you will simply enjoy browsing around at all the cool features and shopping the awesome creations from our talented artisans!

We at WSOAPP want to personally thank Mare and Joel for more hours than they can count and many sleepless nights as they've created this incredible site!

So stay tuned! Sign up on our mailing list if you're not already to you'll know what's happening and when!

Izannah Walker Dolls

2010-04-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

Izannah F. Walker, one of America's earliest known female doll makers, was born in 1817 in Bristol, Rhode Island. On June 28, 1873, at the age of 56, Walker applied for a patent for "improvement in the manufacture of dolls." In her application Walker claimed "my doll is inexpensive, easily kept clean, and not apt to injure a young child which may fall upon it. It will preserve its appearance for a long time."

As witnessed by the surviving examples of her work, we know that this is true. Izannah was granted a patent on November 4, 1873. However, it is known that she had been making dolls for quite some time before she applied for her patent. Research has uncovered a documented case of her making dolls as early as 1828.

Izannah Walker's dolls are three dimensional works of art, strikingly similar to the folk portraits painted in the 18th and early 19th century by artists such as William Matthew Prior (1806-1873) and Erastus Salisbury Field (1805-1900). Although all of Izannah's dolls possess a recognizable style, each is distinct. This raises the question of whether some were done as portrait dolls. Although there is no documentation of this, the differences in height, facial shapes, and hairstyles on the dolls could certainly cause one to speculate that this is possible.

Her dolls have been found in 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 24 inch sizes. The hair is usually painted on with some variation of either wisps surrounding the face or corkscrew curls. Most of the dolls are girls but several boys have been found and photographed. Izannah also made black dolls. The dolls hands have stitched fingers and applied thumbs and the feet are either bare, with stitched toes, or they have painted on boots.

Today the rarity and beauty of Izannah Walker dolls make them highly collectible. Currently the price range for these dolls, in good condition, can go from $16,000-18,000.

Thanks to Donna of cameomoon for this article!

WSOAPP March Offerings

2010-03-04T18:28:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner and we at WSOAPP are celebrating with Our March theme...

"Treasured Memories of a Vintage Past"

Here are just a few Spring creations to drool over! These... and so much more... will be available on our website: WSOAPP MARKET STREET SHOPPES on March 7th!

Pie Birds

2010-01-22T17:08:00.001-08:00

First of all, some of you may be asking... just what is a Pie Bird? Well Pie Birds, also known as Pie Funnels, Vents, or Chimneys, are little ceramic, glass or earthenware creations that have been used since Victorian times. They are "steam vents" that are placed in the center of fruit and meat pies while cooking to prevent the pie from boiling over in the oven. When the pie filling is cooking, they allow the steam to escape from inside the pie. Pie Birds also support the pastry crust in the center of the pie, so that it did not sag in the middle.

These amazing pieces of art are very useful to have around, but the real joy of these little guys is their beauty. The most common is the black bird, and over the years, more animals and characters have joined their ranks.

Of course, if you are going to collect Pie Birds, do your home work and watch out for replicas. For example, the Black Chef from the 1950's wears a white chef’s hat has a long thin white spoon and a blue, green, or yellow smock, and is valued at around $150. The replica's spoon is round with glaze crazes. Look carefully at the vent holes and make sure they are about the diameter of a pencil, as repros usually have a small vent or absurdly, no vent hole.

I started collecting pie birds a few years ago when I stumbled on them by accident on ebay. I dutifully got a couple of collectable books to get me started and a few smarts...

...and I have enjoyed the thrill of the hunt for unique and affordable funnels and birds. Of course, there are those I must pass up if they go beyond my budget, but mostly I collect the ones that appeal to me. Here's a some pictures of a few of my collection. Some I got for a little... some for a little more! :o)

Paper Dolls

2009-12-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

When I was a youngun', well we didn't have a lot of money, but I do remember my Chatty Cathy doll... that my little brother broke, thank you very much.... and my 1960's bubble head Barbie doll that I still have. She came with about three outfits, the rest I made... yeah, way back then, by hand, before my first sewing machine! So needless to say, the rest of my dolls resorted to paper dolls. I begged my ma for my first paper doll book and spent endless hours meticulously cutting out the dolls and outfits, making sure not to mess up those fold over tabs! Even back then I just knew I could make more outfits, so being resourceful, I started drawing my own paper dolls, outfits and accessories. For nostalgic purposes, I wish I still had those simple little dolls that gave me hours of joy.

So just how far back do paper dolls go? Well, in Europe, the production of paper dolls began as far back as the 1790's! The dolls were illustrated with their underclothes and pasted on cardboard to strengthen them and came with hats and dresses. The joints were connected by threads to the body so the limbs could move in different positions by manipulating a thread attached in the back.

Between 1810 and 1816, the London toy novelty firm, S & J Fuller, produced a series of books that came with a paper doll and hand-colored outfits. The early paper doll clothes didn't come with folding tabs like they have today, but were attached with tiny drops of non-greasy beeswax. The Fuller design was different than the dolls of the 1790's, having only a head and neck instead of a full body. The neck served as a tab that slid into slots in the back of the outfits. The small books told stories in verse, centered on a character represented by the paper doll. The character wore a specific outfit in each episode of the verse and as the book was read, the doll would be dressed in the appropriate outfit. The books would often tell morality tales aimed at children. Little Fanny was the first of these dolls.

In the mid-19th century, America entered the paper doll manufacturing arena. Crosby, Nichols & Company of Boston printed the first paper doll in the United States in 1854 titled “Fanny Gray: A History of Her Life. She was packaged in an elegant lithographed box with six figures, a wooden base to stand the figures and a booklet of moral verses. Included was The Cottage where Fanny Lived, Fanny Selling Matches, Fanny a Flower Girl,Fanny Her Uncle’s Pet, Fanny with Her Kitten, and Fanny Feeding Chickens.

The first American book on paper doll making, Paper Dolls and How to Make Them, A Book for Little Girls, was published by Anson D. F. Randolph in 1856. It included hand-colored plates of dolls and clothing for children to cut out and play.

During the Victorian era, the November 1859 issue of Godey's Lady's Book, was the first magazine publishing a series of paper dolls, six boys and six girls, each with a set of fashions. Below are copies of pages from that book.

Prior to the 1880's, the paper dolls and outfits were colored by hand and because paper was so expensive, not in everyone's budget. But after paper became more affordable, and hand coloring was replaced by the less expensive color printed paper, just about every child would have access to these coveted toys.

Frank Leslie’s Lady’s Magazine also published pages of dolls with hand-colored costumes in 1866, and this collection included the front and back of the dolls with their outfits. By the end of the 19th century, advertisers used paper doll popularity to help sell their crackers, thread, coffee, etc. They also did front and back printing of the dolls and outfits which were slipped over their heads.

By the beginning of the 20th century, department stores realized paper dolls were the ideal fashion advertisement. They featured specially designed dolls promoting the latest fashions. They appeared in such magazines as Ladies Home Journal, McCalls, and Good Housekeeping, to name a few.

Paper dolls have featured fictional characters from books and newspaper comics, animals, well known and famous people. They have advertised anything and everything from coffee to fashions; there are paper doll clubs and organizations; but most of all, the enjoyment of children across time with these simple creations is priceless.

* 12 Days of Christmas Ornie Winners *

2009-12-03T05:16:00.000-08:00

Santa's been digging in his big 'ol sack and picking winners for the wonderful ornies donated by WSOAPP artisans. Here they are!

Rabbit Hollow Prims -
Gollywobbles - Nancy from NY
Sweet Magnolias Farm - Cathy from ILL
Aunt Manny's Creations - Joyce
My Raggedy Dollhouse - Doris from TX
Ro's Cluttered Attic - Lea from TN
Barefoot Primitives -
Cedar Hill Rustics -
My Tiny Studio -
Vintage Keepsake Trunk -
Love You Cherishables - De from WA
Cre8ors Touch -
Oak Hollow Primitives - Karla from Florida

Now, there are a few winners that have not contacted the artists yet, so check your email!

12 Days of Christmas!

2009-11-25T12:24:00.001-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at WSOAPP and are we ever in the spirit of giving for the holidays!

December 1-12 we will draw names from our Mailing List and give away a handmade ornament every day!

All you need to do is sign up on our Mailing List to be entered! If you already are, you're already entered! In the upper left hand corner of this blog you'll see where you can sign up (a.k.a. e-newsletter).

All of our generous artists who have donated an ornament will also pay shipping charges within the continental USA. We simply ask that those of you outside the USA pay for the shipping. Winners will be contacted directly by the artist so start watching your email beginning December 1!

Make sure you check out all our shoppes and the new offerings on the 7th, as we'll be taking "A Candlelight Walk Down Market Street!"

Here are the wonderful creations, in no particular order, that will be given away. You can click on the link below each picture to visit their WSOAPP shoppe!

Rabbit Hollow Prims

Gollywobbles

Sweet Magnolias Farm

Aunt Manny will customize your envelope with the name of your choice!

Aunt Mannys Creations

My Raggedy Doll House

Vintage Keepsake Trunk

Love You Cherishables

Cre8ors Touch

Oak Hollow Primitives

Join us, beginning November 15th............

2009-11-12T05:56:00.001-08:00

WSOAPP is getting ready to open the doors and kick off the Holiday season with our Christmas launch theme, "A Charles Dickens Festival". Carolers will be singing and candles will be flickering in evey snow capped window all up and down market street. We invite you to join us on Ebay, November 15th for our official launch that will feature stunning, ooak treasures made by our artisans. Following that, stay tuned for the fun right here on our blog when we will soon start our 12 days of Christmas giveaway on Dec 1-12. We will be drawing names every day on those days for 12 lucky winners. Keep watching for more details on how you can join in on the fun! WSOAPP on EBAY

HISTORY of HALLOWEEN in AMERICA

2009-10-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

That spooky time of year where children, and some adults as well, dress up in their finest spook-tacular costumes and trick or treat for candy. But where did one of the world’s oldest holidays begin in America?

In the mid-nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants, bringing with them their varied Halloween customs. The millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition. Young women believed that, on Halloween, they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings, or mirrors.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers, than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft. In Maryland and the southern colonies, the customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, wove a distinct American version of Halloween.

At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats.

HISTORY of the JACK-O-LANTERN

Today, we think of Jack-o-Lanterns as the carved pumpkins with candles lighting them from within; but did you know that the Jack-o-Lantern actually has deep historical roots and originally didn't even involve a pumpkin? The Jack-o-Lantern stems from an old Irish myth about a man named Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack

According to the story, Stingy Jack, an Irish blacksmith and notorious drunk, had the great misfortune to run into the Devil in a pub. Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a sixpence that Jack could use to buy their drinks in exchange for Jack's soul. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.

Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack and not try to claim his soul for ten years. When the ten years had passed, Jack ran into the Devil as he walked down a country road. The Devil was anxious to claim what was due but Jack stalled. Jack thought quickly and said to the devil. "I'll go, but before I go, will you get me an apple from that tree?" The Devil thinking he had nothing to lose climbed the tree as Jack pointed to the choicest apple. Perturbed, the Devil climbed high into the tree after the apple Jack selected. When he was high up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down. Jack, very proud of himself made the Devil promise to never again ask him for his soul. Seeing no other choice the Devil reluctantly agreed.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. Being unable to go to heaven or hell Jack asked the Devil where he should go. The Devil only replied, "Back where you came from!" The way back was very dark so Jack begged the Devil to at least give him a light to find his way. The Devil tossed Jack burning coal from the fire of hell to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern." Today we commonly spell it jack-o-lantern or jack-o'-lantern.

In Ireland and Scotland, people believed that spirits and ghosts could enter their world on Halloween. These spirits and ghosts would be attracted to the comforts of their earthly lives. People not wanting to be visited by these ghosts would set food and treats out to appease the roaming spirits and began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack-o'-lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o'-lanterns. They were softer and easier to carve than the turnips and potatoes of their homeland.

So remember this Halloween when you are carving your pumpkin the moral of the story of Stingy Jack.

BOBBING FOR APPLES

When the Celts were absorbed by the Roman Empire, many rituals of Roman origin began. Among them was the worship of Pomona, goddess of the harvest, often portrayed sitting on a basket of fruits and flowers. Apples were the sacred fruit of the goddess, and many games of divination involving them entered the Samhain customs.

HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE MASK

From earliest times people wore masks when droughts or other disasters struck. They believed that the demons that had brought their misfortune upon them would become frightened off by the hideous masks. Even after the festival of Samhain had merged with Halloween, Europeans felt uneasy at this time of the year. Food was stored in preparation for the winter and the house was snug and warm. The cold, envious ghosts were outside, and people who went out after dark often wore masks to keep from being recognized.

CANDY CORN HISTORY

Candy corn has a legacy that goes back over a hundred years. The Philadelphia-based Wunderlee Candy Company's George Renninger, invented this popular candy back in the 1880's. Then Gustav Goelitz, a German immigrant, began commercial production of the treat in 1898 in Cincinnati and is today the oldest manufacturer of the Halloween icon. The Goelitz Candy Company later became the Jelly Belly Candy Company and they continue to make candy corn today. Candy corn's introduction gained instant popularity among farmers due to its appearance of an actual piece of corn. Additionally, the three color on a single candy was revolutionary in its day.Today, nearly 8.3 billion candy corn kernels are sold every year - 80% of which are sold during the months of September and October!

From all of us at WSOAPP....

Needle Books

2009-08-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

I love olde sewies! What are olde sewies? Well, to me they’re any kind of vintage item associated with sewing! Simple! This time around I’ll be talking about Needle Books. I have a nice little collection of them which started on my antique shop haunts a few years ago. Make sure you check the glass cases at the antique shops and flea markets, as sellers seldom leave these small items just lying around. With the internet and selling sites, you can find them all over the place!

Humble sewing-needle books are admired as tiny works of antique art. They offer a walk through history with their colorful pictures. They contained needles and sometimes the little needle threader. Many of the older needle books came with a variety of needles.

Few are dated, though some are marked Occupied Japan. Most were produced from the 1920’s to 1950’s or so, however, you can find some earlier. A bit of historical sleuthing can get you in the right era they were made by they style of clothes people are wearing, for example.

There were many categories of needle books like Advertising, Animals, Army/Navy, Baskets, Canadian, Children, Christmas, Fans, Flowers, Horseshoe, Pop Up, Space Series, Travel, Women Sewing, Worlds Fair and Zeppelin.

Many were promotional giveaways and clearly advertisements. They often feature a picture of a logo or product and they usually say nothing on the cover about “needles”.

Conditions of needle books can be a problem, as with most paper collectibles. Besides, needle books were meant to be used, not saved. I have duplicates of some books because I’d find one in even better shape down the road!

So what do you do with needle books? Well, you can frame them, display them in little baskets or even put them behind acid-free protective album sheets. It’s recommended to remove rusty needles from the books before you store them. With many historical items, keeping them out of the sun is always advised.

Enjoy the slide show below of some of my needle books!

And now for a little FREEBIE! Who doesn't like free, right!

Click on the link below for a free pattern to make your own needle books to use with your prim dolls or sewing cases, whatever you like!

Blessings My Friends!

~ Barefoot Primitives ~

Click below to get your:

FREE NEEDLE BOOK PATTERN

Autograph Books

2009-08-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Simply put, an autograph book is a small book to collect autographs of others. Self explanatory…right? However, vintage autograph books, also known as album amicorum ("book of friends") or stammbuch ("friendship book”), included beautiful hand written personal messages and remembrances in stunning penmanship and calligraphy, poems, rhymes, little sayings from a bygone era, and even drawings.

Autograph books have been around for centuries! From the 15th until the mid-19th century, they were popular among university students of central Europe to have their personal bibles signed by classmates and instructors. Finally, their popularity began to diminish and they were replaced by yearbooks, though a considerable number of young women continued to exchange them.

The first true autograph books appeared in German and Dutch cultures by the mid-16th century. By the late 1800's, German immigrants transported the tradition to American culture.

It’s soothing to look through these vintage treasures with their personal thoughts and messages from a time when life might have been a bit slower and harder to boot. Long before computers and type writers were used by just about everyone, your hand writing spoke volumes of who you were, your education and your gender. I admit with all my typing, my scribbling would shame my ancestors!

You can find vintage autograph books in antique stores, estate sales and online. Prim crafters can make aged books with a few vintage pictures, cardboard and scrapbooking skills. Go ahead! Give it a try and take a step back in time.

Remember Dear Heloise?

2009-07-26T08:06:00.001-07:00

Articles of Dear Heloise still adorn newspapers nationwide and abroad with her helpful hints, tips, recipes and humor. My gramma, who was born in 1904 and lived to the blessed aged of 98, would read aloud some of (the original) Heloise’s cleaning tips and exclaim, “Well any housewife worth her salt knows that!”

The original Heloise was born in 1919. She wanted to write a column in a newspaper to help housewives, and the Readers’ Exchange column began in 1959.

Heloise died December 28, 1977. Her tombstone reads, "Heloise, Every Housewife’s Friend." Her daughter took over the column and continues to write the Hints from Heloise column. Keeping with the times, Heloise tackles up to date issues like consumer credit, goodies for guys, computers, you name it!

Excerpts from http://www.heloise.com/

I came across this little ditty from an old publication and wanted to share…

My face in the mirror
Isn’t wrinkled or drawn.
My house isn’t dusty…
The cobwebs are gone.
My garden looks lovely
And so does my lawn.
I think I might never
Put my glasses back on!

Whispered Secrets of Our Primitive Gardens

2009-07-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

Amidst all the creating we WSOAPP'ers do, we also love to find time to add primitive touches to areas of our out door living. A little spot to relax, an area to envision our next creation, or just a haven to relax outdoors and smell the flowers. We'd be honored if you would take just a moment from your busy day and enjoy a few pictures of our secret gardens!

Our Memories of Yesterday were Once Moments of Today

2009-07-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Make a memory today with a person you know and love. We all know, too well, how quickly the summer days come to end. Since we’re still pretty early in the summer I thought it would be great to share a few ideas of something fun to do with a child. It’s not the destination of our vacations or how much money we spend that makes someone feel special…it’s the gift of our love and time spent together that says, “I love you”.

Kool-Aid Play Dough
The children will love the smell of this play dough!
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups boiling water
2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid
Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Wearing gloves, knead for 10 minutes. Store in zip lock bag in refrigerator.

Notes:
Your hands may smell of the Kool-Aid flavor even with gloves.
Kool-Aid is a powdered drink mix sold in North America. Parents just add sugar and water to make the drink. The powder has both flavoring and color which makes it great for this craft.

Kids Craft Recipes for Paper Mache
Paper Mache Paste:
1 part water
1 part flour

To make a Piñata:
Blow up a large balloon and tie it closed. Tie up the balloon somewhere from a height so it’s hanging down for you to work with. Cut old newspapers into strips and make the above paper Mache paste mixture. Soak strips in mixture and apply them to the balloon like a plaster cast. Let one layer dry, then add another and let dry again. Repeat twice more. When the piñata is dry, burst the balloon, make an opening at the bottom and pour in small candies or trinkets or toys. Cover the bottom hole with duct tape and paint the piñata brightly. Insert a hook in the top and hang the piñata up. Give kids strong sticks to break it.

Variations: Can cover just half of the balloon and make a basket. Can make it into an animal or your child’s could design his own head by adding a face and yarn “hair”. Just use your imagination.

Bank
"Just make draw/color your own picture of anything you like. Make sure it is on thick paper so that you can't see through it. You can use any kind of empty, clean container that has a lid. Just make sure that your paper is the right size to go around the container. Then using Mod Podge or any type of Decoupage glue, cover the back of your picture with the glue and wrap it around your container.

When that's dry (about 2 hours), coat the entire outside with another layer of the glue. Let this dry overnight. Then, have your Mommy or Daddy cut a slit in the lid and put the lid on. You now have your own personalized bank!

Footprints in Time
As your children grow, you may often wish you could “hang onto them” just the way they are at that moment. Your child’s feet grow quickly from the feet you hold in your hands and count “piggies” to feet that need mud and grass stains scrubbed off of them. They’re feet you tie shoes on and teach to pedal a bike. All too soon they’re feet wearing high heels or kicking footballs. No matter what stage mark it with this great idea if you’re going to the beach.

Pack a plastic bag full of plaster of Paris in your suitcase. At the beach, mix the plaster and required amount of water (fresh water – salt water will not set). Have each child make a clear, deep footprint in damp sand. Pour the print full of plaster. Let the plaster stand until it is semi-soft. Then insert a bent hair pin into the plaster for a hanger. When the plaster cast is cool and hard dig away the sand and remove the “footprint”. On the back of each footprint, write the person’s name, age, and the place where the footprint was made. Keep a collection of these on a special wall or in a child’s room.

I hope some of these ideas inspire you to make today a special one! Get out your candles or your good china. You know, the stuff reserved for someone special. Tell your family someone very important to you is coming to dinner. Then when they ask “who” you can tell them it’s THEM. They are the special people. Every one of us can make today special for someone. Just use a little creativity and a lot of love!

This summer fun article was written by Karen of Love You Cherishables.
You may check out here shop here at wsoapp at:
Love You Cherishables

And the Winner Is......

2009-07-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Our winner of the picnic basket contest is Patrick of Cre8tors Touch!
Patrick wins the $50 cash prize plus one free month in his shop!
A big thank you to our judge, Julie Bailey! We know it was a hard choice with all the amazing WSOAPP'ers baskets!

Pack a Perfect Romantic Picnic Basket

2009-06-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh Summertime! Warm weather and longer days, watching lightening bugs blinking their Morse code as the sound of children's laughter playing hide and seek filter the air, gardening, swimming, fishing, vacations, 4th of July and fireworks, and all the wonderful outdoor activities of this glorious time of year! All that activity can work up a powerful appetite! So let's head off to a secluded spot, even if it's in your own back yard and have a picnic! No ants allowed!

Some of our WSOAPP artisans have accepted the challenge to create the Perfect Romantic Picnic Basket. Below are pictures of their offerings, along with a title, theme, a little write up or poem about their gathering. An independent set of judges will pick a winner sometime after July 10! (more pictures will be added in the next couple days) So kick yer shoes off and let's have a picnic!

CONTESTANT #1
“Romantic Primitive Western Style Picnic for Two”

In Tucson, AZ, there is only one way to do a picnic; by the pool and of course Western style! Hosting this little get together is my baby Annie Oakley! She has put together this little picnic including all the fixin’s; his and her mugs, Sarsaparilla, rustic baked biscuits, beef jerky, and Grandma’s raspberry jelly. Two red bandanna's serve as napkins and a rustic metal plate is perfect to share! All this is presented on my handmade pieced table cloth.

CONTESTANT #2
"Life is a bowl of Cherries"

A Romantic picnic for 2 with fresh cut flowers from the garden, and feeding Sweet Rainier cherries to your sweetie that takes the absolute best care of me and our fur babys...What more could a gal ask for...a day at home with her sweetheart, a sunny day, just relaxing the day away on a nice Sunny summer day....Ain't Life Grand!!! :)

CONTESTANT #3
"Romantic Escape"
A romantic picnic in a secluded garden,
Holding hands and sipping champagne,
Sharing delights of taste and sight,
Whispering secrets and stealing a kiss,
Dreaming of travel and a romantic escape.

CONTESTANT #4

A Romantic Back Yard Retreat with your favorite Jane Austen Novel

You don't have to travel miles and miles to that perfect getaway spot, you can pack your basket and head right out into your back yard or on the front porch! Toss in all of your favorite things that make you smile, your favorite Jane Austen or a novel by the Bronte Sisters, your favorite chocolates, a bottle of vintage wine, a great magazine that you have put off reading forever, and then head out to set up a comfortable spot where it is just you and the song birds in your garden. There is nothing like reading Pride and prejudice in your garden. Don't prefer solitude? Pack enough for your loved one to sit out there too!

CONTESTANT #5

When I think of a romantic summer picnic, I think of Tom Sawyer and Becky Thacher and their picnic down by the cave and the mouth of the river. Tom "Tiger Cat" Sawyer and Becky "Calico Cat" Thacher have packed a romantic picnic basket full of goodies and headed on down to the river, cause they know that nothing says picnic, like an afternoon dangling your toes in the cool water at a rivers edge and dropping a line off your cane poll to see if you can catch your lunch, and we all know how much cats love fresh fish! Tom is catching the fish and throwing them in his minnow bucket, Becky has packed a basket full with grapes and other fruits, along with a bottle of "Cat Nip" wine. Of course she also remembered a thermos full of hot tea for Tom, cause it is his favorite drink. No picnic with cats would be complete with out their cookies and cream. These are a couple of my Full size folk art dolls, all sculpted from stone clay and hand painted. Note the little bird on the handle of the basket, and I even found a dragon fly for the handle of the minnow bucket.

CONTESTANT 6

A PERFECTLY PINK PICNIC BASKET

Sugar cookies thick with frosting, shortbread cookies made from rich butter, mini cheesecakes topped with cherries, Russian teacakes rolled many times in powdered sugar, strawberries dipped in chocolate, and grapes dripping in sugar. These would be my snacks packed into my "Perfectly Pink Picnic Basket". A beautiful sunny afternoon, quilt spread on the ground, and my sweet husband to share the afternoon with (shortbread and Cheesecakes for him). Ahhhhhhhh......it sounds wonderful.

Crafting with Herbs: Lavendar

2009-06-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

Lavender
I love growing lavender! The smell is heavenly, the bees love it and it looks wonderful in crafts, added with a doll or critter, in potpourri and sachets or in crocks. The possibilities are endless! And lavender dries so well and retains its fragrance and color for quite some time.
I clip lavender stems early in the morning just as the buds are opening. Gather a few stems together, tie with string and hang in a brown paper bag with holes punched in it for air circulation. Just as long as the location is dry and fairly dark, but I find when placed in the bag, any loose buds that fall off are easily gathered to use in potpourri and sachets.
Lavender is a tough plant and is extremely drought resistant, once established. When first starting lavender plants, don't be afraid to give them a handful of compost in the planting hole and keep them regularly watered during their first growing season.
They will tolerate many growing conditions, but thrive in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. An alkaline and especially chalky soil will enhance lavenders fragrance.
Although lavender plants get pruned regularly simply by harvesting the flowers, to keep them well shaped and to encourage new growth, a bit of spring pruning is in order. The taller varieties can be cut back by approximately one-third their height. Lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth.
Lavender will spread out a bit over time, but it’s not an invasive plant and more than welcome in my gardens for its beautiful purple flowers, aroma and crafting needs!

Crafting with Herbs was written by Debbie of Barefoot Primitives. Debbie is a master gardener and uses many of the things that she grows in her wonderful garden in her primitive creations. You may check out here shop here at wsoapp at:

A Look at Sweet Annie; a prim crafter's best friend!

2009-04-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

Several other names for Sweet Annie include Sweet Wormwood, Chinese Fragrant Fern and Artemisia Annua.

Sweet Annie has feathery green foliage and small yellow flowers which bloom Mid Summer, Late Summer/Early Fall. It holds its color very well when dried, and it seems to keep its scent much longer than any other herb.

It’s easily grown from seed. Just sow your seeds after any danger of frost is past. If left to go to seed in the fall, Sweet Annie will pop up in your garden year after year. Some might call this a noxious weed and it can become invasive, but Sweet Annie attracts bees, butterflies and birds. It self-sows freely; so deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season.

This will grow best in a sunny location, but does not need any special soil. Sweet Annie grows up to six feet in height, so be sure to plant near the back of a flower bed. It has average water needs, just water regularly but don’t over water.

To harvest Sweet Annie, just cut the stems off close to the ground.

To dry: Bunch the stems together, tying a group at the base, hang upside down in a dry, dark, open, airy place. To collect seed head/pods when flowers fade; allow seed heads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds.

People with allergies may have trouble working with Sweet Annie. You can spray a little hair spray on the greens before handling or wear gloves. Sweet Annie is also an excellent deer deterrent!

The use of Sweet Annie in medicine dates back to ancient China, where it was used to treat fever. It has been used in connection with Malaria, Fever, Infectious Diarrhea and Intestinal Parasites. Artemisia-based drugs are not readily available in the United States or Europe and are still considered experimental.

Dried or fresh, Sweet Annie is a primitive artists dream to use in wreaths and so many other prim creations!

This article was contributed by Debbie of Barefoot Primitives. Debbie is a master gardener and is a wealth of knowledge to those of us here a wsoapp who love to garden!

The Romance of Flower Folklore

2009-04-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

April Showers bring those May flowers! So here at Wsoapp, wet took a closer look at some of those very old, traditional garden favorites and discovered the folklore that contributed to their names.

The Legend of Black-eyed Susan and Sweet William
These two much-loved wildflowers have a romantic legend in common, told in an old English poem by John Gay: “All in the downs the fleet was moored, banners waving in the wind. When Black-eyed Susan came aboard, and eyed the burly men.
‘Tell me ye sailors, tell me true, if my Sweet William sails with you.’” This search for Sweet William is one of the all-time favorite wildflower legends, and good gardeners always note that these two species are both biennials, bloom at exactly the same time, and look lovely together.

How the Forget-me-not got its name.

This is a romantic and haunting legend indeed. It is said that a medieval German knight and his lady love were courting together beside a stream. Seeing the lovely sky blue flowers on the banks he began to gather them for his sweet. Without notice tragedy struck the young man when a flash flood descended and swept him into the rushing water. As he was pulled away he tossed the bouquet to his love and uttered the forever famous words. Forget Me Not.

The Daisy
Daisy chains should always have their ends joined when finished as they represent the sun, the earth, and the circle of life. It was once believed that dressing a child in a daisy chain would protect them from being stolen by the fairies.

Foxglove
In Scandinavia, they say that foxes were saved by the fairies from extinction when the fairies gave them the secret of how to ring the foxglove bells to warn other foxes of approaching hunters. The foxes were also known to wear these flower gloves so that they could walk more silently among the chicken roosts to capture an unsuspecting hen or rooster

Sweet pea
In the language of flowers sweet peas are used to say farewell. Sweet peas are said in European folklore to bring good luck, protect children from harm, and promote friendship. This would be an excellent plant for any cottage or child friendly garden.

Hollyhock

What cottage garden would be complete without the old fashioned hollyhock? In fact in the early days here in America, the Hollyhock was often planted around outhouses in order to "afford gentlewomen a tad bit more privacy". So when one of our Victorian ancestors needed to use the restroom, she would discretely ask her hosts where their Hollyhock garden was-a proper lady never mentioned an outhouse by name! In the language of the flowers, hollyhock means abundance, fertility, mother of the family, and in some versions, ambition, particularly female ambition.

Soap Making Now and Then

2009-01-29T06:02:00.000-08:00

Have you ever considered the history of a home made bar of soap? In days of olde soap making was a necessity and part of life. Lye was made by leaching ashes. The ashes were placed in a barrel. Water was added to the ashes and the lye would
leach out from slits cut into the bottom of the barrel and collected in a basin
or tub. This was dangerous work as the caustic liquid burned the skin and even the fumes would burn their lungs. Grease was added so the final product
wouldn't burn the skin. For bathing they usually added fragrance in the form of wild ginger or bayberry and for laundry soap they added borax or resin. The hot
and laborious work was chosen for a cool day as it necessitated building a huge fire and setting a cast iron kettle to boil. Each household had their own secret recipe. Some women preferred harsher grades for heavy duty cleaning and laundry washings. And milder soaps were concocted for bathing. Now days home made soaps are the ultimate in luxury and skin care.

If you have never tried a sumptuous bar of goats milk soap you simply must treat yourself. Soap makers guard their secret recipes and take much pride in offering the best quality they can achieve. Essential oils and fragrance oils in every scent imaginable, fresh and dried herbs, pure goats milk, wholesome oats all designed to beautify and heal. They provide important nutrients and care for the skin that store bought soaps can't offer. Manufactured soaps contain ingredients that dry and dull your skin and can be harmful and aging.

WSOAPP is lucky enough to have two very fine soap makers in our Market Street Shoppes. Be sure to click on the images here to take you directly to their shops!

Birchberry Farms and Sweet Meadow Farms both offer excellent and much
recommended varieties. We invite you to try their wares as many loyal and
repeat customers can attest to their benefits.

Photos provided courtesy of Sweet Harvest Farms and of Birchberry Farms. Images are copy written property of their owners.

Now open for business; Wsoapp has added pattern sellers to their site!!!

2009-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

Great news for all of you who love patterns and excellent, prim supplies! Wsoapp has just added a Patterns and Supplies link page to their web site. This is an exciting opportunity for everyone, as we are extending this page to non members too. Contact Wsoapp management if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, or, if you just want to browse and shop, this will soon be the hot spot for you. This link page will assist you in finding your favorite suppliers.

The rise of American folk art: a quick look at The Pennsylvania German influence and Fraktur

2009-01-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

It may come as a bit of a surprise to some to learn that the humble beginnings of folk art in America first arose, and were for a long time almost exclusively carried on by the Pennsylvania Dutch and Germans. It is historically clear that these people were virtually the only culture in Colonial America who possessed a strong, imaginative feeling for color and design and for creative art in their households; so that even their barns, fences, wagons and weather-vanes were not exempt from decoration. Even in death, they took their love of their artful decoration to the graves, as their tombstomes were often inscribed with ornate carvings like the image depicted on the plate above. They were a deeply religious, simple, hardworking people. The folk art that arose from their culture reflected the practicality of the life they lived and the culture they brought with them from their native Swiss and German cultures. Most notably the folk art that we can accredit to the Pennsylvania German culture are: pottery; slip-decorated ware (sgraffito ware), furniture, glassware and Fraktur work. Shown above, the typical Pennsylvania German "Blooming Heart" motif is done in a sgraffito technique on Redware. This plate was dated 1816 and the artist is unkown.

This month, we are going to highlight Fraktur work. Fraktur documents played a primary part of the life of the Pennsylvania German and Dutch household. They had a myriad of uses, serving to record births, baptisms, marriages, and important sacraments and celebrations. For nearly two centuries this art flourished in Pennsylvania; the art being usually practiced by schoolmasters clergymen or the occasional freelance artist who would create these items as a means to add to a meager income. These people had become highly skilled artisans in a trade, producing this decorative “Fraktur”.

Strictly translated, Fraktur is an ornate type of written or printed German, similar to Gothic lettering in English. Fraktur is used in older German books and printed documents. The word comes from Latin and means "broken script" (Bruchschrift), so called because of its ornamental curlicues that break the continuous line of a word. When a writer was finished with his work, he would then finish it off by decorating it with naïve watercolor drawings that included animals, angels, mermaids, flowers, birds, and hearts. The work of the Fraktur scribes and artists ranges from downright primitive to quite marvelous. From this tradition springs a rich source of the symbols we see commonly used in our folk art of today.

Common symbols today such as the heart or the tulip were a central theme in much of Fraktur work. The blooming heart is a combination of the heart and the lily-tulip or the rose of Sharon . It was common for the Pennsylvania Germans to write about, and envision, their hearts being the home of, and blooming with, their faith and belief in a promise of life after death. Like the heart alone, the blooming heart appears frequently on Fraktur and other Pennsylvania German arts and crafts. The vases of blooming flowers had the same meaning as the blooming hearts, only here the heart was replaced with a vase. This symbol shows up on all different aspects of Pennsylvania arts and crafts but rarely, if ever, is referred to specifically in their writings. One other very commonly seen symbol is the unique parrot-like bird that often appears in pairs. It is called the Dinklefink and it represents luck.

Certainly, religious overtones may be found in nearly every aspect of the Pennsylvannia German piece of Fraktur, but it also can be reasonably argued that the Fraktur artists drew many of these motifs for aesthetic rather than religious reasons. After all, the tulip was balanced, colorful and easy to draw.
Featured above, a Fraktur work by schoolmaster Hans Jacob Brubacher. A religeous text dated March 14, 1799. Hans Jacob worked in Province township, Lancaster County PA. This Fraktur piece comprises 10 verses from the book of Psalms and was created for Johannes Schenck, a well known and prominent Mennonite farmer of the area. Hans Jacob was the Schoolmaster of Johannes Schenck; who also created fraktur works of his own.

Bibliography and books of interest:
Pennsylvania Dutch Cookery, J.George Frederick, 1936
Mennonite Arts, Clarke Hess, 2002, Schiffer Publishing LTD. ( An EXCELLANT source for folk art and Pennsylvania German history)
The Pennsylvania Barn; it's origin, Evolution, and Distribution in North America, Robert F. Ensminger; published thorugh Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992

Living In The Days Considered "Primitive"

2009-01-13T15:15:00.001-08:00

At the start of this New Year, our theme will be living in the days often considered primitive. Nothing helped me to ponder this concept more than back around Christmas time when several massive ice storms ripped through our area, leaving us with out power for 5 days. On day number 3, I sat with my family on our sofa, huddled under a pile of quilts staring at the walls after our generator had stopped running; no t.v, no running water, no heat, and no bathroom....NOTHING! Nothing but the hissing crackle of the logs in the fireplace and candlelight. We did something as a family that we have genuinely not done in a very long time....even over dinner; we were having a conversation! Now I'm not saying that we don't communicate, but here, we were actually communicating with out the hum and the buzz of our modern life in the background. It is amazing how much clearer one can hear without background noise from the refrigerator, furnace or computer fan. (I will add that my teeth had started to chatter loudly at this point as the temperature in the house dipped below 30 degrees...now that was noisy!)

The truth is, our ancestors, though they may have been living in what we consider to be primitive or simpler days, their lives were not lacking. And, they certainly were ingenious inventors.

This month we will show, in a special edition of the recipe section, just how many of our modern day recipes still have their roots in recipes from the colonial and early Victorian era. We will also show some of the unconventional recipes too; like candied Violets. We will have a "Guess That Antique" section of the blog, where the first person to accurately guess and describe the functionality of a really odd looking antique will win 20% off in the artisan shoppe of their choice.Did you know that our "modern" invention of the apple corer and peeler has it's roots in medieval times? That certainly floored me when I had learned that....and here I had thought that my shiny, new, stainless steel corer/peeler from Pampered Chef was the height of modern convenience. Also, watch for our article on soap and it's amazing history. We invite you to join us!

The first image in this article is of Swedish imigrants who settled in Kansas and lived for the first few years in a mud dugout. This photo had been taken around 1856 inside that dugout....note that they still whitewashed the wall and kept it meticulously clean. The second image is of the same family years later after they had built their first timber structure on the homestead. These photos come from Mary at Oak Hollow Primitives.

Mystery Antique

2009-01-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

Wsoapp has found this unusual piece and we have decided to make a fun game out of it. Everyone, including members of Wsoapp are invited to join in on the fun. So far, we have had some really great guesses, but no one has hit it right on the mark. Posted below are some of the guesses from our readers and from group members and the answers to those guesses. I have been periodically posting hints on the front page of the blog right beneath the picture of the mystery antique. Good Luck!

Hint #1 : That is George Washington's face you see and cast just over the handle.

1. Is it a door knocker or a money clip?
Lynnie D.

No, it is not either.

2. This is a device to make a wax seal.
Cindy H.

No, sorry it is not that. Great guess though.

3. Hi; it looks like it is a handle and latch to open a trunk? Mona.

No, it is not that either.

4. Is it an official seal? Marcy

Great guess, but nope! It is not a seal.

5. Is it a door latch? Stephanie B.

No, it is not a latch of any type.

6. This is a combination peephole/door knocker used on doors. Danae.

Sorry, it does not go on a door.

7. It's a seal press, used to put seals on documents and envelopes with hot wax or something.....Patrick.

Nope, it does not get used with hot wax. It does have a pressing type action to it though

Clue # 2: Although originally created after the war of the revolution, this handy little item was patented in the late Victorian era. Around 1879 to be exact. A Victorian housewife would have found this item a wonderful luxury to own for her kitchen.

The Tradition of the Make-do

2008-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Wear it out, use it up, make it do or do with out"

Have you ever considered the early American tradition of the Make-do? Of the days when nothing was absently discarded the make-do became a way of extending the life of a family treasure and providing a gift for a child when a store bought item would be out of the question. A favorite tea cup that had been broken found a new life as a lovely pin cushion. A much used candle stick whose holder had snapped off was just the thing to use as the base of a child's dolly or a hat stand. Not one scrap of fabric was ever thrown away for it was sure to find a use later.

The tiniest bit would be used for a dolls shirt or a square in a quilt. Silken threads were wound around a bobbin to save for embroidered embellishments later. A tiny bead, button or a few inches of lace would find their way to trim something special. Even using such things as horse hair, saw dust or sand as stuffing. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of these pioneering women something to be honored today. Most primitive and folk artists today earnestly try to recapture that feeling with the same pride and attention to details as our ancestral mothers. The make-do is a folk art must have and most collectors have at least a few placed in and about their homes. They are as much a part of our history as a hand made quilt or an old oil lamp.

These items bring about feelings of comfort to us somehow. You can almost envision a prairie child playing with her favorite dolly.
Or see her proud mother sitting by the fire and admiring her fine pincushion remembering where each little addition originated. Today we are content with the
decorative appeal these pieces bring to our homes. And who knows, maybe someday a story like this will be written about us.

Celebrating Christmas Traditions in Folk Art

2008-10-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Wax "Ornie"
Whether it be a lovingly hand stitched sampler or an intricate piece of detailed fraktur work, folk art is a rich part of our culture and it celebrates our heritage. Folk art is defined as art which has been crafted by everyday folks with out a formal art training but whose unique styles and craftsmanship have been passed down through the generations. Take for example a Baltimore album style quilt with all of its detailed appliqué work or the hex signs that are commonly found on barns around Lancaster County Pennsylvania. The work of those common folks has become an earmark of their culture and time. As folk artisans of today, many of us craft traditional pieces that are steeped deeply in our own cultural history, only we add our own artistic interpretations to our work, thus carrying on the tradition of “folk” art.

One tradition that many folk artisans of today still create is the wax ornament. Molding and carving beeswax has its roots running deep into Germany.
We have found beeswax ornaments in German museums that are well over 350 years old! At Christmas time, these wax ornaments were carefully crafted by German housewives by pouring melted beeswax into wooden cookie molds carved from fruitwood. These elaborate carvings usually depicted scenes of St. Nicholas, animals, birds, guild workers and pastoral/county living. Many times the wax was then elaborately painted and further embellished by carving or adding other small wax pieces.

When the first wave of German immigrants came to America during the early 18th century, they brought with them their prized cookie and confection molds and the tradition of beeswax ornaments soon became steeped in our own culture and a cornerstone of our early Christmas traditions.
During the nineteenth century, wax ornaments were sold by German toy manufacturers and were a popular Victorian find in most American homes. Usually forms of full bodied angels, Belscnickles or country folk were the most popular. These antique wax ornaments are very rare finds today.

2008-10-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

A warm welcome to the family home of WSOAPP!

Here, we are celebrating the holidays with an olde fashioned handmade Christmas, and we invite you to grab a hot cup of cider, sit back and join us for a while.

There is no gift more cherished or kept closer to the heart as a handmade gift. Unlike manufactured presents these gifts are often one of a kind and irreplaceable for the recipient. The quality, attention to detail and the uniqueness can only be found in hand crafted items.

They will strike a memory like nothing else can and often become heirlooms that are passed down through generations. They bring back precious memories of days gone by when Christmas was a time when great thought and care went into each and every package that was placed beneath the tree.

When we had time away from the hustle and bustle of the world outside to really think about what that special someone would love most and keep always. Wonderful scents filled the air. Fresh pine, warm spices and sweet vanilla were the first impressions that greeted cold travelers coming through the door. Then the sparkling lights and a crackle from a warm fire. A twinkle from a candle and a special doll resting on a table top brought oohs, awes and smiles. Sweet tones of soft holiday music. A garland with never seen before ornies nestled here and there.

The packages all carefully wrapped and embellished
with special hand made vintage tags made the anticipation that much more exciting. We invite you to bring back the past and make this a handmade Christmas. You can feel good about purchasing a handmade gift because it is something that is so much appreciated by your friends and loved ones. And the grateful artist that has lovingly created the special piece feels a part of your joy and is supported by your patronage.

A Wsoapp House Walk

2008-10-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, it's a virtual house walk! We promised you all we would roll out the red carpet, so here it is; participating members have opened their homes and shared their Christmas decorations inside and out. The nice thing about this house walk is, you don't have to get cold while taking the journey. Sit back, enjoy the view....and maybe even pick up an idea or two.
Merry Christmas!!!
From the home of Linda of Meadowbrook Cabin. We LOVE the vintage and retro look of her holiday home.

This set of trees and decorations come from the home of Stephanie over at Old World Primitives. We love her style; She truely decorates in the primitve way!

This sweet, little set of themed trees comes from the home of Gina at Cat Nap Inn Primitves. A few of the themes for Gina's trees here is a kitty tree and a biker tree!

This is Gina's dining room hutch where she keeps her Santa collection, including a Santa from a fellow wsoapp member.

This gorgeous tree comes from Shirley at Dolls in the attic.

This tree from Shirley of Dolls in the attic features her handmade snowman ornaments. They are just so perfect for a prim themed setting!

This beautiful tree comes from Mandy over at Aunt Manny's. Everything on it is handmade even down to the garlands! This is not Mandy's usual style of tree for the holidays, she has a new addition to her household this Christmans, (the cute, furry kind), and has opted to put up an artificial tree up rather than fight with her new puppy and housebreaking.

This tree comes from Mare at Oak Hollow Primitives. Her tree is in a Victorian theme since she lives in a Victorian home. This tree also sports plenty of handmade ornaments, including paper cones and antique scrap ornaments.

This is Mare's front entry door all decked out for Christmas this year. She usually puts a pineapple,(the old, colonial symbol of welcome), on the keystone over the door, but this year she has left it out as she has yet to find a better way to attach it to the greenery. Let's just say a few guests have come over only to be welcomed with a pineapple fallin on them!(so not good)

This real feather tree is at Mare at Oak Hollow's home. It is one of her favorite trees to decorate with, because it is so simple and primitive.

This tree comes from the home of Nancy over at NT Dolls.