A Visit to Olde Crow Primitives on a Century Farm
Crafty friends are the best kind of friends to have, don’t you think? My neighbor Bonnie is super crafty; she quilts, she knits, she weaves and she has a gorgeous home. She’s a pretty good cook as well from what I hear from her husband Dan! On a Sunday in early November the two of us set off through the mist to visit another crafty friend: Janet McClure of Ilderton, ON.
Janet, who has a part-time job at the local quilt shop, The Marsh Store, also has her own small business called Olde Crow Primitives. It’s open at this time of year on Fridays and Sunday afternoons.
Janet is an old hand at all things primitive. She lives on a Century Farm with her husband Stan, two horses, three dogs, some cats and her little flock of chickens. A couple of years ago, as an extension of her love of the primitive look, she renovated the old granary on the property to turn it into her shop, Olde Crow Primitives. Since then she’s added on a small extension and a welcoming front porch decorated with the birdhouses, washtubs and antique ironing boards that she sells.
Getting stock ready for the annual open house
The day we visited Janet was knee deep in work, moving her stock around getting ready to bring in Christmas wares for her upcoming open house which takes place the first weekend of December. Bluegrass music played and inside it already smelled like Christmas. Nutmeg, vanilla spice and brown sugar scented candles and potpourri gave off a delicious aroma.
Rustic lanterns, felted wool, and antiqued wooden signs
This year I purchased a punched tin lantern with a battery operated flickering candle to illuminate it. It will look perfect hanging from a wall hook in the family room this Christmas and over the winter months. My husband Rob’s grandfather was a tinsmith and I think Rob will like this rustic handmade lantern.
Bonnie, who is also a rug hooker, was enthralled with the selection of felted wool that Janet now stocks. Janet also makes her own antiqued wooden signs of which I have at least a half dozen in my home. She’s got everything displayed in her small space using the antique furniture that is also for sale.
A little shop with big ambiance
Although the shop is small, the ambiance is huge, leaving shoppers with the feeling that they just got a warm hug. Shoppers return again and again from as far away as the USA. They love this little shop and promise Janet that they will return.
What’s a farm without animals? This one has plenty
Ladies from the Sarnia area had just left when we arrived so we had Janet all to ourselves. Kit, Janet’s ever faithful Jack Russell, welcomed us and introduced us to Louie, the older bear of an Australian Shepherd. There’s a new puppy Janet is still training whose name is Buster Brown. He is every shade of warm brown with cute white socks.
Coriander, one of Janet’s rescue horses, nickered and pranced about, happy to see some new faces. Like Bonnie said, “there is nothing more beautiful than a black horse” – especially one on such a picturesque farm.
Annual open house first weekend in December
If you’d like to visit Janet during her open house, here are the details. You can contact Janet through her website at www.oldecrowprimitives.com
Annual open house December 1-3, 2017
Hours:
- Friday, December 1 from 9 am to 8 pm
- Saturday, December 2 from 9 am to 5 pm
- Sunday, December 3 from 12 noon to 4 pm
How to get there:
The farm is located at 14156 10 Mile Rd. between Hwy 4 (Richmond St.) and Wonderland Rd N. just outside of Ilderton, Ontario.
Don’t forget to bring a carrot or apple along for Coriander!
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