Country Parlor Holiday Home Show

Walter Leonard, Potter

2011-11-17T08:17:00.001-08:00

One of biggest draws over the 20 years of the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale was the pottery of Walter Leonard, who called his business Worthy Vessels. Sadly, Walter passed away a few years ago, which left an emptiness not only in the show, but in our hearts. We are happy to announce, however, that Walter's wife Sandy will be selling the last of Walter's vessels at the Home Show this year. The inventory includes mixing bowls, honey pots, mugs, and much more -- all works of art as well as utilitarian household items.

Please join us on November 25, 26, and 27 to celebrate Walter's life and legacy.

The Time is Drawing Near!

2011-11-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas won't be far behind. Be sure to mark your calender for this year's Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale, the best sale of hand crafted treats on Long Island!

Scherenschnitte

2010-11-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

We all cut paper snowflakes when we were children. Remember the magic of unfolding the funny triangle from which we cut seemingly random bits, and the thrill when our mom let us tape them to the window as part of our winter decorations? Well, Maria Brisotti never forgot that thrill, and she has taken the art of paper cutting, known as Schereschnitte, to the next level.

Here's what she has to say:

Scherenschnitte (pronounced shear'en-schnit-tah) means scissor cutting in German.

This art tradition was founded in Switzerland and Germany in the 16th century and brought to colonial America in the 18th century by immigrants who settled mostly in Pennsylvania. It continues to be a popular craft that has appeared through the ages in ethnic paper producing cultures.

My fascination with scissor cutting began in 1992 when my best friend and fellow crafter Christine, who had discovered this new craft for us to try, introduced me to it. I began tracing and cutting designs and have continued to do so these many years. I have always given my cuts as gifts and my first experience with selling was last year at the Country Parlor Holiday Home Show. As an elementary school teacher, I used the art of scissor cutting with my students and then with German students in our local high school.

The cutting is done using both scissors and x-acto knives using a variety of techniques: cutting mirror images on folded paper, unfolded designs cut in reverse, or a combination of both techniques.

In spite of the many tedious hours I spend cutting the variety f patterns, Scherenschnitte is may favorite handicraft.

Come see Maria's lovely creations in person next weekend. Barbara and her crew will have the beautiful Naugles barn dressed for the season and loaded with treasures for you to take home.

Friday, November 26, 2010, 9 AM to 3 PM
Saturday, November 27, 2010, 9 AM to 3 PM.

We're looking forward to seeing you!

November is Nearing . . .

2010-10-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

. . . and so is the 19th Annual Country Parlor Holiday Home Show!

Our artisans are hard work making magical merchandise for you. Barbara spent the year searching for new work to showcase, and she has found some marvelous new artisans to join us. Here's who to look for: Nancy Golder, Original Clay Vessels, Lura Bavaro, Local Honey and Beeswax candles, and Barbara Azzara, Felted Wool Purses.

Check back soon for more information . . . and don't forget to mark your calenders!

Pat's Stitchery

2010-05-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of setting up the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale each year is unpacking the work of Barbara's friend Pat from Michigan. I don't know how she does it, but this woman produces more cross stitched pieces than Carter has Liver pills. (Yes, I know that dates me!)

Here's a link to a nice interview with Pat: Cobweb Corner

Don't Forgot Hallockville's Victorian Christmas!

2009-12-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

It's tomorrow from noon until 4 o'clock. Come by the Naugles barn for an encore presentation of the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale!

Happy December!

2009-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

It is warm here in the Northeast today -- over 60 degrees! A Nor'easter blew through last night and brought warm air -- not very Christmasy. Temperatures will drop again tomorrow . To keep you in the holiday spirit, here are some more photos from the Country Parlor Christmas Show.

Here's Carol the Christmas Elf, who helped customers throughout the weekend.

For Those of You Who Missed the Sale:

2009-11-30T18:42:00.001-08:00

Hallockville Museum Farm, our host for the Country Parlor Holiday Home Show, will be holding their Victorian Christmas celebration next Sunday, December 6, 2009. To add to the festivities, the Country Parlor Show will hold an encore performance in the Naugles Barn from noon to 4 o'clock.

Here's the information as listed on the Hallockville website:

December 6: Victorian Christmas at Hallockville - Experience a special time of year in a special place. The Hallock Homestead will be decorated as it would have been during the Victorian Period. And celebrate a 1930s Polish-Immigrant Christmas in the Cichanowicz Farmhouse. Plus there is a lot more including a visitor from “up North”. Noon to 4 PM. Fee.

Here are more photos of the show from Maureen of Old Sound Stables.

Opening Day of the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale!

2009-11-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the doors to open . . .

Stained Glass

Honeysuckle Lane Doll

thimblefolk Bear:

Dried Flower Wreath

Scherenschnitte

Suzanne Davis -- Pear Tree Primitives

2009-11-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

This year, we are lucky enough to welcome Suzanne Davis of Pear Tree Primitives to our show. Suzanne hails from Idaho, a long way from the shores of Peconic Bay and the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale!

Suzanne is multi-talented: she not only paints beautiful portraits and silhouettes, but she also makes charming dolls -- all while home schooling her children!

When we unpacked Suzanne's boxes on Monday, everyone in the barn was oohing and ahhing over her careful craftsmanship . Every painting is perfectly framed. Her subject matter ranges from children to Santa to soldiers!

If you can't attend the show this year, you can visit Suzanne at her website: Pear Tree Primitives and on her blog: Pear Tree Primitives

It's Almost Time for the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale!

2009-11-24T08:17:00.001-08:00

We spent yesterday unpacking boxes of goodies from as far away as Idaho and Tennessee in preparation for this weekend's sale.

We'll be decorating with fragrant greens and holiday lights!

Meet Dakota -- the official mascot of the Country Parlor Holday Home Show:

Please stop by to see us!

Barbara Blossey-Chuvalas: Basket Maker

2009-11-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

A large slate-blue basket sits in front of an old farmhouse flanked by two porches. This is the entrance to Basket Garden Farm, the home of basket maker par excellence, Barbara Blossey Chuvalas. If you follow the drive around to the back, past the horse barn that is home to Mackinac, Cimmaron and Dewars, you'll find Barbara's cottage. It's filled to the beams with cane and reed and hand-made baskets in varying stages of completion, along with a big bag of carrots for the horses. If it's cold out, the wood stove will be going, and a cat and a springer spaniel (Barbara and her husband Ron rescue them) will be curled up there as close as they can get. In the summer, there are flowers galore around the drive, and the horses will whinny and snort until you stop to pet them. Barbara not only creates her baskets here, she teaches classes, too. It's a cozy and convivial place when classes are going on.

For information about classes contact Barbara at rbchuvalas@aol.com

Welcome to the Country Parlor Holiday Home Show!

2009-11-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new online home of the famous Country Parlor Holiday Home Show!

The Country Parlor Holiday Home Show begin 18 years ago in the front parlor of Barbara Blossey-Chuvalas' turn of the century Italianate farmhouse on the North Fork of Long Island. A basket maker by trade, Barbara created a venue through which she could not only sell her handmade wares, but also highlight the work of the many talented artists who live along the shores of Peconic Bay and beyond.

The Country Parlor Show soon outgrew the confines of Barbara's home. She moved it to the historic Grange at the junction of Sound Avenue and Church Lane in Riverhead. The creaky old building was transformed into wonderland of holiday and year-round treasures -- from Barbara's baskets to quilts, embroidery, hooked rugs, penny rugs, hand-woven scarves, pincushions, birdhouses, cookies & candies, jams & jellies, sachets, -- the lists goes on and on!

The big news this year: the Country Parlor Holiday Home Show is moving! Barbara has found a bigger and better home for her beloved sale at the historic Naugles barn at Hallockville Museum Farm: 6038 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 631-298-5292 hallockv@optonline.net

Here is the information for this year's show. Mark your calendars! Only one week to go!

Country Parlor Holiday Home Show
Thanksgiving Weekend 2009
Friday, November 27 9 am to 3 pm
Saturday, November 28 9 am to 3 pm
Sunday, November 29 10 am to 2 pm

How to get there:
Route 58 Riverhead, New York to Northville Turnpike (3.5 miles east of Tanger Outlets)
Turn left onto Northville Turnpike to end at Sound Avenue
Turn right onto Sound Avenue and head east
Hallockville's Naugles Barn wil be approximately 2 miles east on the left

Simply the best Holiday Show on Long Island!

Check back daily for biographies of featured artists and sneak peeks of what they've made for you this year!