Our
Special Edition: Worn by Time & Softened by Love (Valentine’s Day
issue) is in stock ready to ship!
Between
Christmas and Spring lies a quiet, tender season, one filled with
reflection, warmth, and handmade beauty. Our newest Valentine’s Day
Special Edition celebrates that in-between time through the lens of
love, history, and heart motifs that have endured for centuries.
On the cover is the home of Ray Baker & Jean Salisbury-Elden – Upstate New York
For
Jean Salisbury-Elden and her fiancé, Ray Baker, primitive style is a
way of life shaped by timeworn wood, humble textures, and handmade
items. Their upstate New York home exudes rustic primitive warmth,
defined by early treenware, warm red accents, and stitched hearts that
quietly mark the Valentine season. Jean’s approach is subtle: a few clay
hearts tucked among wooden bowls, a feed sack heart on a peg rack, or a
tin heart resting inside a wreath. With Ray’s eye for antiques and
Jean’s love for soft patina, their home celebrates the craftsmanship of
the past and the enduring love found in every handmade piece.
Inside, you’ll discover:
Home tours filled with early antiques, folk art, stitched hearts, and stories of love that have stood the test of time.
Decorating inspiration for the transition from Christmas to Valentine’s Day
Historical features on colonial courting customs, the Heart-in-Hand symbol, and vintage Valentine’s cards.
Spotlights
on heart-themed hooked rugs, maple sugar molds, pewter heart ice cream
molds, and other antiques bearing the marks of love.
A Few Standout Home Features Include:
Roger & Penny Ausley – Burlington, North Carolina
At
Happy Days Farm, love is measured in simple moments—the crow of
roosters at sunrise, the cluck of hens near the porch, and the soft glow
of sunlight beaming into a small 1800s log cabin that Penny has
transformed into a seasonal retreat.
Pat and Sandy Miller – Lake Stevens, Washington
Primitive
style might seem rare in the Pacific Northwest, but Sandy Miller has
built a home in Lake Stevens, Washington, that proves it thrives
anywhere love for history lives strong.
Gary and Anne Wallace – Bumpus Mills, Tennessee
Their
home is filled with handcrafted textiles, rug-hooked heirlooms, and
generations of needlework. Once co-owner of Homespun Corner, Anne’s
passion for stitching, weaving, and hooking shows in every room. From a
rug-covered chair inspired by Magdalena Briner to hand-carved butter
paddles made by her son, each piece reflects the family’s deep creative
lineage.
Kevin & Marjorie Moser – Nova Scotia, Canada
On
a quiet peninsula in Nova Scotia, Kevin and Marjorie Moser have created
a home where handmade beauty fills every corner. With few antiques
available nearby, Marjorie crafts her own, stitching penny rugs, sewing
heart pillows, and shaping wreaths from gathered vines. Together they
rebuilt a faux storefront, now her favorite spot to decorate through the
seasons.
There will be 18 homes featured in this issue.
