We Are Having A Sale In Our Etsy Store

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

SALE - SALE - SALE

We Are Having A Sale In Our Etsy Store Today And Tomorrow

Feb 28th & 29th Only

All Our Products Are 25% OFF These Two Days Only

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Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For Many Of Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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How We Produce Our Products - The Process

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

We get numerous emails asking us how we make our products. I thought I would put a post in our blog that might help to answer that question. There isn’t any way one could even begin to explain in detail every aspect involved, but hopefully this will provide the reader with some insight into the process.

Many of our customers are surprised about the amount of detail to authenticity our products exhibit. We include this insert with our products to provide the customer with some details about how their piece was created and hopefully answer some questions they may have as to why their particular piece looks the way it does.

As you are aware, DM Production and Sales specializes in creating Home Décor pieces that are reproductions of those originally made and produced centuries past. Creating a piece to look like it originally looked when it was first built isn’t difficult. Making it look like an authentic piece would actually look today is where the skill and craftsmanship comes in. It is much harder to accomplish this than most people think.

Besides the obvious research that must be done about any given piece produced, great care needs to be taken when selecting the wood one uses, the types of stains and finishes used, the glues and hardware used and many other factors. Care must be given to give the piece being produced the correct amount and type of simulated wear and use effect so it truly looks as old and used as it should look.

We start any project with research which tells us not only how the piece we are reproducing was originally made and the elements involved in its production. Then research must be done to determine how this items would actually look after 50, 100, 200 years of daily use. Once this is completed, we start with wood that is as close as possible in age to the original time period we are going to reproduce. We obtain much of our wood and lumber from historical preservation and restoration projects. This allows us the advantage of starting a project off on the right foot so to speak.

Once the actual physical construction of a piece is completed comes the difficult part. It’s not good enough to just slap some stain or other finish on the piece and call it good. We make many of our own stains and finishes. Often using century old formulas. This gives us an additional advantage when we begin to Age and Distress the piece. Knowing what type of finish to use and how much finish to use is also important as well as knowing where and when to carefully remove some of that finish to give the piece the proper aged look are techniques that we have developed over many years of trial and error.

Anyone can put dents and dings in a piece of wood. This doesn’t make it resemble what it should really resemble. This just makes it look banged up. Knowing where to place wear marks is important. They need to be in places that would have normally received more wear than other parts of the piece under normal daily use.

Another element that is often forgotten is the element of the weather. Pieces that would normally be used or located outside will have different and additional types of wear and weathering that wouldn’t normally be found on pieces that were usually kept indoors. For example, pieces that have been exposed to many years of weathering and no matter how well they are protected by finishes, will have tell-tail indicators of exposure such as cracks, splits and checks in the wood itself. Knowing where to put these aging elements take years of experience. These types of pieces will often show areas on them that have been sun-bleached (lighter areas that have been exposed to sunlight more than others. Add to this the normal daily wear from water (rain, ect.) and wind, dry heat, and humidity all must be taken into consideration.

Taking all these factors into consideration when we produce a piece is what makes our products special and unique. Providing our customers with items that they will cherish for many years.

Remember, when you are looking for something that really looks and feels like the past, think of
DM Production and Sales first. Custom work available upon request.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For Many Of Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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In This Weeks Handmade Product Spotlight

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

In This Weeks Handmade Product Spotlight

If you are not into the culture and lore of the Old West, you may have never heard of a “Dream Catcher”. They are one of the most fascinating traditions of Native American culture. The purpose of a dream catcher was to protect the sleeping individual from bad dreams, while letting the persons good dreams through. The good dreams would slip through the hole in the center of the dream catcher, and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. The bad dreams would get caught up in the web, and be destroyed with the first rays of the morning sun. Dream catcher have been a part of the Native American culture for untold generations. Another aspect of the Native American dream catcher has to do with the tradition of the hoop. It is said by some Native Americans of North America that the hoop is held in the highest esteem. Primarily because it symbolized strength and unity.

Thankfully many of these Native American traditions have not been lost and continue to be made by dedicated crafters though out the country. One such crafter and artisan is “Arizona Dreams” http://arizonadreams.etsy.com . Pam, who is the inspiration, crafter and contact at “Arizona Dreams” is perpetuating this great tradition and craft with skill and love. Pam has been making Dream Catchers for a number of years and as she puts it: “I began making dream catchers almost twenty years ago to trap nightmares my children were having. Soon, neighbors and friends were asking me to make them. I made around 50 and bought a spot at a craft mall and realized people were really liking my items. I have two handmade sites currently, and still love making dream catchers. My children are now adults and still have a dream catcher hanging in their room. There is more to the legend than the beauty of the dream catcher.”

The quality of these Dream Catches is very difficult to put into words. The pictures above show more than words can explain. When you are looking for that unique gift for someone or simply want something that will become a cherished item in your home, check out Pam’s work at “Arizona Dreams”.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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Repairing Dents and Scratches In Wooden Country Rustic and Primitive Décor

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Repairing Dents and Scratches In Wooden Country Rustic and Primitive Décor

When it comes to dents and scratches in your Country Rustic and Primitive Décor, the first thing you need to do is ask yourself, “do I really want to repair this”. A large portion of the charm and uniqueness of these types of decorative items is the “Used and Worn Look” that they have developed over the years. You really need to consider this prior to making any repairs.

There are instances where repairs just must be made however and that is what we will look at today. This isn’t so much a “How To” type of posting as it is some basic principles that can be used to repair a wide variety of wooden items. There are just too many variables involved to be “piece specific” in this post. There are many tricks of the trade but we will focus on those the average home owner would normally be willing to tackle.

The most common repair that the reader will probably want to make is dealing with scratches. Usually most scratches on wood are not deep. Usually scratches only happen in the outer Finish Layer of the piece. Let’s look at these types of scratches first. I’ll discuss how to handle deep scratches in a minute.

Minor surface scratches can usually be repaired very quickly and simply. First, you have to determine what type of Finish the piece is. If the Finish is a Natural Oil Finish, and the scratch isn’t real large and noticeable, the quickest way to deal with it is simply by using a matching Oil Finish to go over the scratch. Once this is dry, a coat of wax is usually all that is needed. If the scratch is really light, a product called an “Almond Stick” can be used to simply run over it and the scratch will disappear. These little pieces of magic are not always easy to find. They can sometimes be found in hardware stores. Occasionally better quality furniture stores carry them. If neither of these work, try a cabinet makers supply outlet. They come in a light and dark color. Simply use the appropriate shade.

It is not usual for Country Rustic and Primitive home décor pieces to have a heavy gloss or semi-gloss varnish finish. If your piece does appear to have this type of finish and it is a true antique, the finish is probably either a multi-layered and dried Linseed Oil finish, a varnish or a built up hard wax finish. Linseed Oil will dry quite hard and with multiple coats can provide a very durable finish. One of the main reasons it isn’t used much these days is that it takes weeks for each coat to dry properly (depending on the drying conditions). If you do have a scratch in a Linseed Oil finish that must be repaired, you should take it to an expert. If however it is a varnish finish, you can take a very small brush (similar to a small artists brush) and simply fill the scratch with a high quality varnish. You will need to build up in layers and wipe off any excess varnish that you get on surfaces around the scratch. Let each layer dry and repeat until the scratch is filled. If the scratch is in a wax finish, you can melt a small amount of quality paste furniture wax and use the same process as with varnish to fill the scratch.

Dents in wooden item require different approaches depending on the size and depth of the dent and the type of wood itself. If you have a really deep dent, I strongly suggest you have an expert deal with it. You could very easily damage the piece if you don’t have the expertise to deal with it yourself. Minor dents can often be lifted back out with a steam iron. Simply place a cloth over the dented wood area and place a hot (not too hot) steam iron on top for a minute or two. The actually time required depends a great deal on the type (hardness) of wood and the depth of the dent. The steam will cause the wood fibers to swell and basically fill in the dent. Caution is the key word when using this process and I recommend you experiment on a piece of scrap wood first before you attack you actual piece. A little practice can go a long way in preventing damage to the actual piece you are planning on repairing.

The other most often addressed repair that might be needed is Re-gluing. Simply squirting some glue into a crack of separated piece can crate further problems for you. Using the wrong type of glue can actually cause further damage to the piece. Small cracks can often be repaired simply by injecting (with a syringe) a small amount of good woodworkers wood glue into the crack and clamping the crack closed tightly. If the crack is large, take it to an expert if you don’t feel comfortable addressing it.

Actual joints in any piece can usually be re-glued relatively simply with a good wood glue and clamps. There are some instances, depending upon the type of joint, wood and condition of the joint that will require more work. Sometimes, the old glue will need to be removed in order to make a proper repair. Sometimes a special type of glue must be used because of the condition of the wood. If this appears to be the case, see an expert.

Most minor repairs can usually be addressed by the average home owner but always remember that if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, Don’t.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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Taking Care Of Your Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor Pieces

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Taking Care Of Your Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor Pieces

Keeping those unique pieces in your home in top condition doesn’t have to be a major project. In most cases, simply keeping them clean and polished is all that is necessary. If you’re using the right cleaners and the correct polishing material the whole job shouldn’t take you that long at all.

If you must use a type of soap cleaner on any item, the best thing to use is a mild mixture of dish soap and water. Stay away from cleaners that have ammonia and other harsh elements in them. Your normal window cleaner is terrible on most woods and can even damage certain pieces of pottery. Glass cleaners where made for glass, not wood. Most commercially available polishes are not the best items to use on wood products either.

Wood itself is a living breathing item. It has pours and as such these pours can become clogged with all kinds of dirt and other elements that can damage the piece. If you must use an oil on a wood piece to restore some of the natural oils that deteriorate over time, use a quality oil specifically made for this purpose. In most cases you will not find these better quality oils in your normal grocery store. You may even have difficulty finding them at places like Home Depot or Lowes. The best places to look for these better grade oils are in Wood Workers Supply Stores or high end Furniture Dealers. You might check with a local furniture repair shop for advise on locating a source. I deliberately haven’t mentioned any specific brand because there are a number of good ones available. The problem is that every part of the country is a little different and many of these products are specifically formulated for that specific region. That is why it is best to find out what the experts are using in your particular area and use it.

Most wood pieces will not be hurt by a light wax finish to help protect the original finish. Again, the same principles apply to the type of wax you use as do to the type or brand of wood oils. Do your homework and it will pay off in the long run. In most cases, a quality paste wax is best. These spray on waxes or polishes you find in most grocery stores will only damage your piece over time. What is nice about a good paste wax is that it lasts a long, long time. Several thin coats are much better than one heavy coat.

Even a good quality wax will create a buildup over time and needs to be partially removed. Again, there are specific products made for removing wax from wood pieces. Use a quality product that you can find in your specific area. In most instances you will not need to remove 100% of the wax finish. Usually only the first couple of layers will be sufficient to restore the luster and appearance of the piece.

In some things, buying lesser quality doesn’t matter. In this case however, by spending the money up front, you will save in the long run. Having pieces repaired by a professional is expensive. You will save money by treating those unique pieces properly from the very start.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

http://www.dmpmc.net
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n This Weeks Handmade Product Spotlight

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

In This Weeks Handmade Product Spotlight

In the process of researching stores for our weekly “Handmade Product Spotlight” post, we look a many artists, their work and their stores. What makes choosing a specific artist to feature difficult is the number of great artists we see. This week we want to bring you one artist and her work that we feel really stands out. Her name is Diana Feldman and her store (Diana's Stained Glass and Jewelry Creations) http://dianasstainedglass.etsy.com contains a number of fantastic creation of Stained Glass and Jewelry.

She creates traditional tiffany style stained glass boxes, lamps, panels, sun catchers, and does custom designed stained glass, one of a kind fine jewelry and custom jewelry. She uses the lost wax casting process. We ask those we Spotlight to tell us a little about themselves. Not only does Diana have a flare with stained glass, she knows how to express herself very nicely.

“I have been doing tiffany style stained glass for about 4 years now. I learned stained glass in a small group at my church. I always wanted to learn stained glass so when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance. I love every part of stained glass. The beauty of the glass as the sunlight hits it is just magical to me. It brings the piece of glass to life, like gemstones.
I love creating things with my hands. As a master jeweler for the past 22 years it's been with gold and gemstones and now lam able to bring my talents to the field of glass art. It's my passion to create beautiful things. In the coming months I will be making more creations in fused glass and leaded glass windows so keep checking back!”

As you can see from the examples above, Diana knows her craft and we look forward to seeing many additional great pieces appear in her store over the next weeks and months. We encourage you to visit her store (Diana's Stained Glass and Jewelry Creations) http://dianasstainedglass.etsy.com yourself and pick up several of her creations. Diana also has a blog (http://NorthChurchJewelry.blogspot.com) which we believe you will find very interesting.

*************************************************

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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New Creations Consulting, LLC / DM Production and Sales
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Making Use Of The Already Used In Country Decorating

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Making Use Of The Already Used In Country Decorating

One of the biggest advantages of decorating in a Country Rustic & Primitive style is that it can be very Eco-Friendly. So many items that fit perfectly into a Country Theme can be made from recycled materials. In our case, almost all the materials we use in producing our products comes from re-claimed and recycled lumber and wood. Much of it coming from Historical Property Restoration Projects.

When you start off with materials that already have a historical age factor, it adds significant value to the piece you are creating. It also makes it much easier to achieve an authentic appearance in the piece. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, using re-claimed wood can not only save you money but can take a great deal of work out of your project. The frame for the picture seen here was made from re-claimed wood from and old fireplace mantle.

Wood however isn’t the only thing that you can use. You need to think out of the box when it comes to your decorating projects. Everything from fabrics to glass and everything in between is fair game. One thing that I have noticed about most people who decorate in a Country Theme is that they lean slightly towards being a bit of a packrat and a scrounger. This certainly is helpful when you are making many of your home décor pieces yourself. At least as long as you doesn’t get carried away with it. If you find that you have a 55 gallon barrel of bent nails, maybe it is time to cut back a little.

VISIT OUR ETSY STORE FOR FANTASTIC SAVINGS

DM Production and Sales produces and sells Hand Crafted Country Rustic and Primitive Home Decor. We have been in business since 1988 providing quality products and services to our customers. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us! Custom made products are available upon request. All our products are Made in the USA and are Eco-Friendly. Most of them are made from Reclaimed Lumber & Wood. Bringing the Past to the Present since 1988!

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products

Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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Do you like building rustic furniture?

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Do you like building rustic furniture?

If you like to build things, here is a tip that will save you a ton of money. One of the catch phrases often heard when the talk shifts to Country Rustic and Primitive Décor is “Barn Wood”. True “Barn Wood” should come from a barn, but lets face it, how many people do you know that have an old barn they will let you tear down? I’ll bet not many. “Barn Wood” is basically a wood that is old, weathered and pretty rough. That being the case, what would be the problem of using any wood that meets those requirements to give you the same effect?

There are many Lumber Re-claimers that will sell you real “Barn Wood” but it isn’t going to be cheap. Here is a tip for rustic furniture builders...old fence boards, good as barn wood in most cases...as long as it's dry and termite free,,,it's pre shrunk and pre dried and pre weathered from the sun and rain. If you live where there are no old barns these old fence boards make great tables and benches and they are FREEEEEEEE. Just keep your eyes open as you are driving around. I’ll bet you can find someone in your area that is tearing down an old fence and will be glad to give you what ever you need.

The Dead Snake Chili Cookbook

The Dead Snake Chili Cook Book or Very Old Recipes From The Very Old West. This cook book was developed primarily as a conversation piece or decorative item but with over 80 really old recipes in it, anyone with an interest in history or cooking will find this item of interest. A few examples of the over 80 recipes are: Apple Bread Pudding, Baby Porcupines, Beef Cakes, Beef-steak pie, Braised Tongue, Brown Fricasseed Chicken, Buckwheat Cakes, Cabbage and Bacon, the original Chicken Fried Steak recipe, Chicken-Barley Soup, Chuck Wagon Stew, Cinnamon Flop, Corn Fritters, Corn Meal Mush, Crackling Cornbread, Creamed Turnips, of course our recipe for Dead Snake Chili, Dressed Bass, Grandma’s Original WWI Donut Recipe, Hickory Pie, Molasses Stack Cake, Mule-skinner Chili, Old Fashioned Home Made Vinegar, Oxtail Stew, Poor Man's Pudding, Pop's Rattlesnake, Pumpkin Soup, Rabbit in Fruit Sauce, Sourdough Bread, Venison Stew, Vinegar Pie, Wagon Train Biscuits. This cook book is designed to look like it had just come off of a 1000 mile cattle drive.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

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What Does It Mean To Live In A Home That Is Decorated In Country Rustic & Primitive Style?

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

What Does It Mean To Live In A Home That Is Decorated In Country Rustic & Primitive Style?

I thought I would do something a little different in today’s blog. Instead of focusing on the elements of Country Rustic & Primitive decorating themselves today, I would give the reader something to think about in regards to their own home’s current decorating style. Even if your home isn’t decorated in a Country Style, you may want to consider it as you read further.

There seems to be considerable interest in the Country Look when it comes to home decorating trends today. Actually, there has been for the past several years. I’ve always wondered just how the concept of decorating any home in a Country style can really be called a new trend. Particularly when you really think about it and considering the history of our country and how most people lived for most of our country’s history, that is a rural background. I would say that it is really a very old trend. Of course I don’t think my great grandparents or my grand parents or even my parents probably every thought their farm houses were decorated in any form of Trend or fashion.

Let me ask the reader, how is your home decorated? Does it fit in with today’s Trend? Maybe I should really be asking, “What is the Home Decorating Trend Today?”. To a great degree it depends on what part of the country you live in and of course what the so called experts say it is. Now, I really wonder, do you really care?

I see a lot of people that are so wrapped up in keeping their home decorated in “Today’s Trend” that they never really enjoy their home. What really seems more important to me is, “Do you like the way your home is decorated?”. Now, like I mentioned, I come from a rural background and what I like is just that. What I Like. It may not be the readers choice but that doesn’t matter. They don’t have to live in my house, I do.

One thing that seems to be very consistent in homes decorated in a Country Style is that they always seem to be very comfortable. You have the impression the minute you walk in that you are welcome and you can relax and enjoy yourself. You know real people live there and enjoy life. My final question for the reader is “Is that how your home feels?”.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

http://www.dmpmc.net
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ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, New Creations Consulting, LLC / DM Production and Sales

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Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

Where To Get Country Rustic & Primitive Home Decorating Ideas

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Where To Get Country Rustic & Primitive Home Decorating Ideas

If you are just starting to think about doing some Country Rustic & Primitive decorating yourself in your home or already have Country Rustic & Primitive Décor and seeking new ideas, where do you look? There are numerous avenues one can take in obtaining ideas. You can of course start by looking at the homes of friends and family members who already have Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor. There are also a host of magazines and books available on the subject you can use. Depending on where you live, your local Historical Society may have pictures you can look at and possibly members who can help. You can also visit Historical Homes in your community to pick up ideas. You can even go to local furniture stores and see what they have that you can reproduce. All these are possibilities but have you ever given any thought to the movies?

One of my favorite methods of obtaining new decorating ideas is to watch Historical Dramas and other period specific movies. Most movie production companies try to make their sets as accurate as possible. They spend a pretty good chunk of change hiring experts just for this purpose. I’ve picked up hundreds of ideas simply by watching these types of movies. It helps if you can watch the movies on your computer so you can take a Screen Shot of items and rooms you find interesting. B&W movies are alright, but color movies are really much better for this purpose. You have to stay focused while your watching the movie, otherwise you will miss many of the details. That’s why being able to take a Screen Shot or Pause the movie is so helpful. One last thing, don’t forget to have a pad and pencil handy for your notes.

While watching, try to keep in mind the overall room setting. How items are placed in conjunction to everything in the room. Look for the little items or pieces used. These are often the elements that add those special final touches that really make the difference. Even things like the curtains being used. Most well lived in Country homes have accumulated a real assortment of odd and unique items over the years. It is just these touches that give the room that warm, welcoming, lived in look.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

http://www.dmpmc.net
http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
http://dmproductionandsales.ecrater.com
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ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, New Creations Consulting, LLC / DM Production and Sales

All rights reserved

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

This Weeks Handmade Products Spotlight

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

In these days of mass produced products, it’s easy to forget that long before the days of mass production, things were made by hand. Some may think these skills have been forgotten but that is far from the truth. Each week we will be featuring a fellow crafter and their work in our blog. Our goal is to acquaint the reader with some of the thousands of skilled and talented crafters who produce handmade products that are special and fantastic values.

This Weeks Handmade Products Spotlight

The art of pottery making is a craft with a very long history. At one time, most pottery created was more of a utilitarian necessity than any thing else. When you are just scrapping out a living on a day to day basis, eating and storage vessels are more important than decorating your stick or mud hut. As skills and techniques developed so did the complexity and diversity of the types and styles of pottery develop. Today, these skills and techniques are seen in today’s pottery makers.

One of our favorite pottery crafters is Judy Nevius. Her shop on Etsy JNPottery (http://jnpottery.etsy.com) is a great example of functionality and style. I asked her to tell us a little bit about herself and her work. “I've been making things from clay for 7 years, and I can't stop! I make pieces that are functional, and I hope also decorative. I am extremely pleased when someone tells me that they use my pottery on a regular basis. Isn't that what it's all about? Except for raku, all of the glazes are food safe. Pieces are oven and dishwasher safe and most can be put into a microwave. I sell pottery on Etsy and at local craft venues. I love making these pieces, but I get even greater joy from people using and enjoying them.”

Some other samples of her many pieces

If you like really great pottery that is not only useful but great looking, we encourage you to check out Judy’s shop on Etsy.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

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http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
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ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, New Creations Consulting, LLC / DM Production and Sales

All rights reserved

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF OUR INVENTORY TRACKING PROGRAM

For many smaller or part time on line sellers, keeping track of their inventory, production cost and customers can be a problem unless they have elaborate accounting software. If you are an on line seller who makes their own products and who is looking for a simple yet effective program for tracking your Production Costs, Control Your Inventory and Manage Your Customers and track their purchases? If so, check out our Inventory Tracking Program. You can download the free program at the bottom of the Hand Made Directory page on our company web site.

Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products

Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

http://www.dmpmc.net
http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
http://dmproductionandsales.ecrater.com
http://www.auctionquests.com/stores/dmpmc

ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, New Creations Consulting, LLC / DM Production and Sales

All rights reserved

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

So You Want A Custom Piece Built!

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Having Custom Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor Pieces Made

Can’t find what you are looking for? Seems hard to believe with all the various pieces of Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor that are floating around these days that people actually have custom pieces made. The fact is that they do. Often the reason is that the customer wants to reproduce something that they had in their home when they were a child or possibly something from a picture found in an old family album. What ever the reason, more and more people are having custom pieces made.

I thought I would take a few minutes and offer some advise should the reader be considering having a custom piece produced. First of all, one of the best ways to save yourself some money is by doing your home work. Learn as much as possible about the piece you are planning on having built. If you have or can obtain a picture of what you want, even better yet. Any good craftsmen is going to do some home work themselves about the piece. This can become expensive. If you have all the information the craftsman needs already, you can save several hours of research costs. Another advantage of having your homework done is that it allows you to shop around for the best price.

The second thing is that you need to be realistic about the amount of time it takes to produce the piece. Rush jobs will cost you considerably more. The time necessary to produce any given piece is of course going to be determined to a great degree by the piece’s complexity and size. Time frames can run from as little as a couple of days for small simple pieces up to weeks for more elaborate or larger pieces.

Listen to the craftsman you choose. They will have many years of experience and are more than willing to give you recommendations about wood type, finishes, hardware and other aspects of the piece you are planning on having made. Don’t hesitate to offer suggestions but it is really important to consider the craftsman as an artist. Most of us are slightly on the temperamental side and are pretty set in our ways when it comes to our work. We encourage questions and suggestions. Just remember that we are not always going to agree with what you suggest. It’s just that we have been doing this for so many years that we have developed an instinct for building these types of items. We have also had the unfortunate experience of following the customer’s suggestions to the letter more than once, and again our better judgment, and having the customer dissatisfied at the outcome.


Our Etsy Store Is Our Flag Ship Store For All Our New Products
Visit Any Of Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor
http://www.dmpmc.net
http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
http://dmproductionandsales.ecrater.com
http://www.auctionquests.com/stores/dmpmc

ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, New Creations Consulting, LLC / DM Production and Sales
All rights reserved
Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

New Blog Feature Starting Feb 11, 2008

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

New Blog Feature Starting Feb 11, 2008

There are thousands of internet stores to window shop in these days. The average person has such a wide selection of merchandise to purchase from that finding something of real quality can often be a problem. So many on line stores seem to carry the run of the mill mass produced material which the shopper can find in almost any Wal-mart these days. I guess this is fine for some people, but if you are looking for something really special. Something that is really unique. Something that doesn’t look like it just came off the ship from China. You can be in for a great deal of searching.

This doesn’t have to be the case however. There is a vast community on the internet that specializes in producing quality products that are not mass produced. The question for the shopper is “Where are they and how do I find them?” To help answer that question, we will be starting a weekly section in our blog which features various crafters who produce and sell handmade products. The name of this section is “Handmade Product Spotlight” We encourage you to visit those who also hand craft unique products with quality and value. You may also check out the “Hand Made Product Directory” to find that special item.

If you produce handmade products for sale and would like to be considered for inclusion in the “Handmade Crafters Spotlight” in our blog, please contact us at spotlight@dmpmc.net with the following information.

Your company (or your) name:

Your complete web address:

Your email address:

The types of products you produce:

A short bio or promo for you store (max 100 words):

We will be happy to review your store and products for possible inclusion. Because of the number of requests we get, we can not guarantee to Spotlight any particular store nor do we guarantee when it may be featured.

Visit Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

http://www.dmpmc.net
http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
http://dmproductionandsales.ecrater.com
http://www.auctionquests.com/stores/dmpmc

ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, DM Production & Sales All rights reserved.

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

Decorating With Country Primitive

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Decorating With Country Primitive
Make That Room Your Own Cozy Corner

All one has to do is spend about 30 minutes on the internet to see that there are many fantastic items available on the market you can use to create the perfect primitive themed room. What is really nice is that most of these items are inexpensive.

If you really want to get down to basics, primitive home décor is based on cottage and rustic themes. The idea behind all of these room styles is to give the room a simple, yet inviting and warm "lived-in" feeling. The following example should give the reader a better understanding of how you can achieve the primitive home look.

Simple Furniture - When selecting furniture for primitive home decor, you will want to stay with pieces such as benches, coffee tables, and end tables that are made of unfinished wood. Try to use plain wood furniture that has gouges, scratches, chips, and is worn in places, this is an excellent way to keep the room looking authentic.

Giving Your Walls That Rustic look - Primitive home decor coloring for your walls are usually in warm rustic shades of light to dark brown, golden yellows, bronze, reddish-brown and terracotta.

If you want to, you can add some interesting paint affect to your walls by using some faux painting by sponging or using rag rolling to create a stony or rippled look on the walls.

Don’t Forget Your Flooring - Floors can be wood, tiles or wall to wall carpeting. If you have wood you can paint it to create a worn look, tiles can be made to look like rocks or stones, and if you have carpet stick to the brown tones.

What About Your Upholstered Pieces? - As for the upholstery that you will use for your sofa and chairs in the room, an inexpensive tack is to create slip covers that are made from faded sheets or light blankets, with patterns of floral or nature designs. An interesting affect can be achieved by tea-staining sheets to give them a more rustic feel.

Remember To Use Wall Art – There is no end to the variation that can be used here. Some interesting wall art ideas that you can use to add to the primitive decor in your room includes paintings of country scenery, botanicals or animals, as well as family pictures that are done in detail.

Think about putting all of your pictures and paintings in tarnished or unfinished wood frames. Wood carvings, a quilt and animal antlers are also good wall art ideas.

Windows Don’t Have To Be A Problem - Usually windows do not require much attention. If privacy is an issue, use a plain beige roll shade to cover the window, and then add plain tweed, or wool curtains to add the authentic primitive touch.

Using Accessories – Some ideas of primitive décor accessories that you may wish to add to your living room could be plants that you can place in an old fashioned wheelbarrow, or in chipped unpainted pottery vases. Old fashioned farm tools, as well as an oil lamp for authenticity can also add some great emphasis to any room.

Just be creative. Your goal when it comes to your primitive decor, is to create a room that is friendly, inviting and fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Visit Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor
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http://www.auctionquests.com/stores/dmpmc

ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, DM Production & Sales All rights reserved.

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

DM Production and Sales

Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

Primitive Decorating... just what it is.

Often primitive decorating is thought of as part flea market finds, part shabby chic, part make-do. Our grandchildren, when they were real young, called it Early Caveman. Sometimes it involve antiques or yard sale finds. Other times you have to buy something new and forcefully age the pieces. As of late, primitive country decor has taken a bit of a new twist. Often called Upscale Country or Country Revisited. Primitive pieces are created new, then distressed to look old. For some reason many think this is a new thing when in reality it is decades old. You can find many great examples in our stores.

Because someone decided to put a fancy name of this process these types of items often are very expensive. The real fact is that many pieces you will find in stores are radically over priced. You see you really don't have to spend a lot of money at these specialty Primitive Decorating stores not as long as you've got time on your hands and a few basic items to work with.

Making Your Own Primitive Decor

There are two basic ways to start. One is to make your own pieces cheaply with primitive decorating you will need to invest the time into scouting out some classic older pieces at flea markets, second hand stores and auctions. The Second is to produce the piece completely from scratch. Build it yourself. Since for the vast majority of people, this simply is out of the question, we will focus on the first method which also happens to be the easiest.

Let me make this one very important statement to start with. What ever you create, you will be the one living with it. That being the case, make it look the way you want it to and like. Don’t worry about whether others may think. This is truly an art form and as such, your imagination, likes and dislikes are the only things that will matter.

Once you have the furniture or wood piece (and by the way, you don’t have to stick with just wood items either) at home you may like to repair wobbly legs, apply a faux finish, change the color, apply a little crackling mixture from your local home decorating store if you like, and so on. You are really only limited by your imagination. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Some of our best techniques came about by simply trying something new and different. Soon you'll have the down-home appeal that is 100% to your tastes and matching your current color schemes already present in your home.

We will be starting a series in the next couple of weeks on the “How To’s” of making your own pieces along with many tips and techniques we have developed over the decades.

A Quick Note On Decorating Country Primitive

There really isn’t any hard and fast rules in this area. It all begins with inspiration and learning, decorating with what you already have and a passion for decorating. Our home is very primitive (partly because it is just plain old). Mostly however because we made it look that way. Not over night either. It takes time and is often an on-going process. Inside, the furnishings and decorations are a mixture of many different time periods pre 1900.

I have a difficult time calling it Upscale Country or Country Revisited. To me it is just US. What we like. If you work at it, that’s what you will be able to say about your home when you are done.

Visit Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor

http://www.dmpmc.net
http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
http://www.auctionquests.com/stores/dmpmc
http://dmproductionandsales.ecrater.com

ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, DM Production & Sales All rights reserved.

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net

The Art Of Creating Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor - How We Create Our Unique Items

DM Production and Sales
Bringing The Past To The Present Since 1988

VALENTINES DAY SALE (1/1/08 thru 1/14/08)
ALL COUNTRY PRIMITIVE JEWELRY IN OUR ETSY SHOP ARE ONLY $10.00 ea

The Art Of Creating Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor - How We Create Our Unique Items

Many of our customers are surprised about the amount of detail to authenticity our products exhibit. Hopefully this article will provide the reader and our customer with some details about how our unique products are created and hopefully answer some questions they may have as to why our products look so authentic.

As you are aware, DM Production and Sales specializes in creating Home Décor pieces that are reproductions of those originally made and produced centuries past. Creating a piece to look like it originally looked when it was first built isn’t difficult. Making it look like an authentic piece would actually look today is where the skill and craftsmanship comes in. It is much harder to accomplish this than most people think.

Besides the obvious research that must be done about any given piece produced, great care needs to be taken when selecting the wood one uses, the types of stains and finishes used, the glues and hardware used and many other factors. Care must be given to give the piece being produced the correct amount and type of simulated wear and use effect so it truly looks as old and used as it should look.

We start any project with research which tells us not only how the piece we are reproducing was originally made and the elements involved in its production. Then research must be done to determine how this items would actually look after 50, 100, 200 years of daily use. Once this is completed, we start with wood that is as close as possible in age to the original time period we are going to reproduce. We obtain much of our wood and lumber from historical preservation and restoration projects. This allows us the advantage of starting a project off on the right foot so to speak.

Once the actual physical construction of a piece is completed comes the difficult part. It’s not good enough to just slap some stain or other finish on the piece and call it good. We make many of our own stains and finishes. Often using century old formulas. This gives us an additional advantage when we begin to Age and Distress the piece. Knowing what type of finish to use and how much finish to use is also important as well as knowing where and when to carefully remove some of that finish to give the piece the proper aged look are techniques that we have developed over many years of trial and error.

Anyone can put dents and dings in a piece of wood. This doesn’t make it resemble what it should really resemble. This just makes it look banged up. Knowing where to place wear marks is important. They need to be in places that would have normally received more wear than other parts of the piece under normal daily use.

Another element that is often forgotten is the element of the weather. Pieces that would normally be used or located outside will have different and additional types of wear and weathering that wouldn’t normally be found on pieces that were usually kept indoors. For example, pieces that have been exposed to many years of weathering and no matter how well they are protected by finishes, will have tell-tail indicators of exposure such as cracks, splits and checks in the wood itself. Knowing where to put these aging elements take years of experience. These types of pieces will often show areas on them that have been sun-bleached (lighter areas that have been exposed to sunlight more than others. Add to this the normal daily wear from water (rain, ect.) and wind, dry heat, and humidity all must be taken into consideration.

Taking all these factors into consideration when we produce a piece is what makes our products special and unique. Providing our customers with items that they will cherish for many years.

Remember, when you are looking for something that really looks and feels like the past, think of
DM Production and Sales first. Custom work available upon request.

Visit Our Stores Today For Fantastic Savings On Country Rustic & Primitive Home Décor
http://www.dmpmc.net
http://dmproductionandsales.etsy.com
http://www.auctionquests.com/stores/dmpmc
http://dmproductionandsales.ecrater.com

ITEMS IN OUR ETSY STORE

Copyright © 1988-2008, DM Production & Sales All rights reserved.

Sales@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net