Good evening dear friends! 

Today Jay received a wonderful email! It was from the Conrad Weiser Homestead and they asked if we would consider adding spoons to their gift shop. It is very humbling to be asked to make spoons, (or anything for that matter!) for a historic site!

Jay and I talked and feel that this is a GREAT opportunity for both you and us, as it gives us a way to get beautiful spoons into your hands. It will also offer you a place to pick just the right one for you! Shape, texture and the overall look are all things that are hard to show in a picture.  If you pick mugs, and fabric based on touch, you will understand and appreciate being able to touch, look at and even smell the spoons to pick just the right one. By selling at the homestead we will also have more time to set up an online store.

We plan on starting small, with a limited number available. Each one is hand made with tools that are authentic to the 18th Century. We do not have all the details finalized but wanted to share our exciting news with you! So be on the look out for more information... and once they are at The Conrad Weiser Homestead we will spread the word! 

Take Care! 
Leigh Ann and Jay

 So Jay and I moved into the big stone house in 2013. That is almost 4 years ago now! There are STILL boxes that we have not opened or unpacked from our move. We worked hard to pack everything and make sure that it got from the old apartment to the new house with out breaking and yet we never unpacked it! (Do most people have this problem?) Anyways, we decided, after 4 years, that it was time to start de-cluttering the big stone house!

We are now working on re-purposing our guest room into a history room/craft room. I am so excited that we will finally have space to do crafts (not on the floor in the living room or the table in the dinning room!) We will also have space to store all our gear between events... because you know the garage sometimes makes too much sense. I have been walking around all the trunks/baskets and clothes for 2 weeks now because, again, we had no real home for any of it.

Speaking of events, we have one next weekend!  The event will be at Fort Frederick and it will be one of the many Garrison Weekends they host.  Jay and I will be under the nice new fly. He will be making spoons and selling any that we have finished. I will be weaving - find your tape needs now as I will have a wide variety available. 

The fort is a HUGE stone fort, located in a very beautiful part of  Maryland. The fort was build to help protect the settlers in the area from potential Native Raids. It did what it was designed to do,then it was used in the revolutionary war and in the War of American Independence...and now it's a historic park. Here is a map for you to find your way... I don't give directions - I want you to get to the event! 

So we got our first letter requesting spoons. It was a wonderful surprise and truly felt like an honor. Jay was happy to fill the order and it was delivered today much to the delight of the receiver. 

Jay posted a photo on Facebook to showcase how we packaged them and explained that they were made to bring happiness to a sometimes sad and lonely world. His post was a hit! He had many requests for spoons to be put up on the website, and while we do have intentions of that soon, we do not currently offer that.
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Please keep your eyes out for events that we will be selling the spoons at and come back to the website periodically so that you can see if we posted any! 

Here is what I would like from you, so that when we do post spoons for sale, we get it right the first time! What is your preferred method of payment? (Paypal, Square, etc.) What is your preferred shipping method? (USPS or UPS)  Leave your thoughts in a comment and I will do research in the meantime. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get the spoon of your choice! 
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Jay and I had a total blast at the homestead today. We got there early and were able to enjoy a stop for breakfast, and an easy set up (Thanks Brian! You were a great help!) Then we were able to take in the lovely setting. We have been going to the homestead for several years, but this was the first time we got to walk the grounds. It was enchanting and romantic - a great location for a nice family picnic or wedding. 

See! It is beautiful! The crafts/trades people were set up in the rear of the house. It was nice, there were several interpreters: a tavern, a shingle maker, a carpenter (hewing HUGE logs in moccasins) a basket weaver, gunsmith and lots more! Jay and I were set up near the main entrance and we got so busy that we did not make it to all the areas - we missed the barn completely! :( 

The hosts, Lynn and Kim Otto were wonderful, they helped set up, provided a great lunch and then helped to tear down with everyone. - A BIG thanks to both of them and all the volunteers that helped to make today fun and successful! 

Here are some photos that Jay and I took during the day. If you have some from the event we would love to see them! Tag Stone House History on Facebook or Jay or myself! 

Jay and I are going to prep tomorrow for an event on Sunday up in Berks County. A little known gem, The Conrad Weiser Homestead. It has all the beauty of an estate, but its a stone house - like ours - built in the 1700's. There is a spring kitchen, outbuildings and even a pond! If you need quills for your letter writing, you can find the feathers there. 
They are hosting a Colonial Craft Day and will be featuring several great people interpreting many trades/crafts of the 18th Century.  Some of the people have portrayed blacksmiths, gunsmiths, horners, weavers and of course tools. Last year, at this event they even had a cobbler! 
This is a rain or shine event, as they will open the big barn on the property for all the craft/trade tables. 
They are also having an event Saturday. It is called Forest Diplomacy, and will feature many Native Americans. I hope to get a lot of new pictures to show off of the beautiful property and all the great trades people, when we visit on Sunday.