Nicol Sayre will be signing her original doll creations at American Harvest on Saturday, September 11th from 10am to 1pm.  As you already know quantities of Nicol’s dolls are extremely limited, so arrive early for the best selection.  She will be featuring Autumn and Halloween dolls.  In addition, we will be selling her licensed designs for ESC.  These wonderful Halloween designs are being manufactured for Nicol by ESC.  The Halloween items include Caged Witches (that is a witch doll where the lower body is wood slats), paper mache witch shoes, a witch on a crow and many other designs.  Because we are Nicol’s Home Store, she will also sign the licensed products that we sell that day only.  We are very fortunate to have Nicol at our store….Nicol does not sign these items at any other store but American Harvest!

If you are unable to attend her signing at American Harvest, you may call the store at 925-485-1577 during the signing and purchase her dolls and licensed items over the phone, please ask for Sharon.  They will not be available online through our website shopping cart until after September 11th.  Yes, if you purchase over the phone, Nicol will sign her delightful creations for you!  But, we really would like to see you in person at American Harvest on September 11th!

The Headless Horseman makes his appearance on Saturday August 21st, as American Harvest presents Sleepy Hollow, Halloween event.  Our postcard was designed by Ingrid Pomeroy.

We have been working around the clock to make this event special for all attendees.  April made her magic again this year with major prop building including this large Sleepy Hollow sign patterned after the actual sign at Sleepy Hollow, NY.  Take a guess on how many pairs of recycled work gloves it took to make her haunted tree.

Sharon has created many of the items for this event, including her famous glittered skulls.  Jan pulled out all the stops in creating her vintage inspired Halloween collages.  Susan brought us a wonderful array of her Halloween creations.  Ingrid also made beautiful “floating” clock face necklaces.  And what a nice surprise today, when Laura brought in homemade Halloween cupcakes!  We all needed that blast of sugar!

Glass owls adorn this Halloween feather tree with mushrooms.

Debbee Thibault has created 25 one-of-a-kind Halloween pieces for our store.  These are the most incredible items, my pictures do not do them justice!

What a royal Halloween treat is this beautiful queen!

This sweet little lady is decked out for the Sleepy Hallow event at American Harvest.

Debbee’s whimsical creations capture the heart.

Sharon, Monique and Debbee are putting the finishing touches on a Halloween display.

Halloween items by Debbee.

More Debbee one-of-a-kind creations.

Nicol Sayre just surprised us with two Sleepy Hollow inspired dolls for our event tomorrow.  These two original dolls are beautifully costumed and meticulously hand painted by Nicol.  Also, Nicol has brought us five of her designs that are being produced by ESC.  These five designs are not in stock yet, but should be here in time for her signing at American Harvest on September 11th.  You can pre-order these creations tomorrow at American Harvest and have Nicol sign them when they arrive.  You can then pick them up at the Sept. 11th signing…we do expect to sell out of these wonderful creations, so be sure to see them at the Sleepy Hollow event.

We hope to see you on August 21st at 10am for the Halloween event of the year….Sleepy Hollow at American Harvest.

Here is one of the venues of the Black and White Ball before things got started.

There is no other bridge in the world like the Golden Gate Bridge, the view is from San Francisco looking toward to Marin County.

The Transamerica Pyramid building makes San Francisco’s skyline one of the most recognizable skylines in the world.

It seems that Coit Tower stands proudly above the City from almost any vantage point.

San Francisco’s China Town has fabulous restaurants.  This is Debbee Thibault’s favorite!

We try to go here when Debbee visits us.

SF’s Playland was torn down years ago, unfortunately.  But many of the items from Playland can now be found at the Musee Mechanical on Fisherman’s Wharf.  This is Laughing Sal, who greets visitors with a very loud and sometimes frightening laugh.

Here is another view of the beautiful Coit Tower.  When visiting SF, you should go inside the tower to see the magnificent murals.

This is Lombard Street, the “Crookedest Street in the World”.

A view of the San Francisco Bay Bridge looking toward the Oakland Hills.

Alcatraz Island is a great place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there!  It is a fun excursion, but seriously cold out there on the bay.

Christopher Columbus looks out to the Golden Gate.

Known for its hills, San Francisco is beautiful from every angle.

I think that the building in this shot is Mission Delores.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

Here is the perfectly manicured gardens in Golden Gate Park between the Aquarium and the DeYoung Museum.

To the west lies the beautiful blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Are you still singing?…..”when I come home to you, San Francisco…”

Here are pictures of some of my favorite items in my own garden as well as my sons’ yards.

A beautiful coleus was planted in a vintage European planter with a statue of a little boy holding a fish.  This is on my front porch.

Jeremy hung two old windows on either side of a vintage screen door.  The garage wall was a blank canvas for yard art!

An outside room between the garage and house is decorated with bright, fun items.  Jeremy and Amy love Disneyland too, so they framed and hung posters of Disneyland attractions on the walls.  A wire basket of vintage billiard balls sits on the Dr. Pepper patio set.  This is a great ‘room’ for entertaining his high school cross country team.

Noel and Sarah placed a love seat on their backyard patio.  It is a perfect spot for relaxing after dinner.

Every yard should have a water feature.  Ringo loves to drink out of the fountain.

Rodger is crazy for these vintage garden gnomes.  He even has gotten our sons hooked on them.

An old metal headboard serves as a trellis for pole beans and basil.

A new gazing ball adds color and sparkle to our yard.  Gazing balls were particularly popular during the Victorian period.

We just purchased this “stone” bench for our backyard.  It is five feet long and curved.  Rodger needs to get some ground cover planted around it now!

I will post more yard pictures soon if you are interested.  Please leave a comment!

This doll was created by Susan.  Please check out the SHOP section of this website for her creations.

This banner is from the early 20th century.  It is in excellent condition and a great find!

I place all of my small Americana collectibles in a pine cupboard.  The small collectibles look important in these small cubbies!  Shown above is a vintage bank and one of Rodger’s rhythm band instruments.

A small book on essays continues the Americana look.

This set of 48 Star flags would have been placed on a car for a parade on the Fourth of July.  It is one of my favorite Americana finds.

This is a band uniform that Rodger found.  No it is not his uniform from school.  Unfortunately, our high school replaced all of the old marching band uniforms and tossed out the old ones!  Rodger was crushed when he learned that.

In this corner…more of Rodger’s musical instrument collection.  Did I say that he collects just drums?

This big bass drum with original skins is his pride and joy!  My flags look great on top, don’t you think?

These two Debbee Thibault creations are playing the drums next to a drum bank.  If you look closely, you’ll see that the two small plates are of a vintage Mickey Mouse.  One is playing a horn and the other is singing into a microphone.  The flags in the background are 48 star flags on a desk set.

Nicol Sayre made this Americana doll for me years ago.  Her creations continue to amaze me!

My mom painted this picture for us a few years ago.  She knew that Rodger would want a drum and  Pepsi Cola sign painted into the picture!

Rodger learned to play drums on this snare drum.  His first teacher was his sister, Suzanne.  This was her drum and a few years ago she gave it to Rodger as a gift!

I love old, small boxes, as you can see in the above photo and the two below.

I have many more little Americana boxes….all of them on display.

I also have a school bell collection.  It complements all of this Americana!

I have lots and lots of vintage American flags,  you can never have too many flags!

We hope that you have a wonderful summer and a meaningful and safe Independence Day!

#1.  This is in the queue for the ride Indiana Jones Adventure.

#2.  Reconstruction is what’s going on in the Rivers of America at Disneyland.

#3.  On the left is Cruella de Ville, on the right is Sharon…please do not mistake them for each other!

#4.  I am looking at the pond between Frontierland to the left and Adventureland to the right.

#5.  No NOT gears…it’s a Hidden Mickey!

#6.  There’s a Hidden Mickey in the doorway to the Disney Vault store in Downtown Disney.

#7.  I’m the Blue Fairy.

#8.  I’m Pluto and I play the drums just like Rodger.

#9.  I’m Minnie Mouse and I’m running to”take a break”.

#10. Who’s the leader of the club?  No doubts here, it’s Mickey Mouse!

Stay tuned for another game and I guarantee it will be much easier!  Check back soon for a very easy game.

Picture #1…Where Am I?

Picture #2…What’s going on here and where am I?

Picture #3…Who are these two beauties?

Picture #4…Where am I?  Please be very specific.  Hint:  Look at the top right and top left corners of this picture.

Picture #5…What do you see?

Picture #6…What do you see?  A bonus point if you know the location!!!

Picture #7…Who am I?

Picture #8…Who am I? What musical instrument do I play?  Hint:  it is the same instrument that Rodger plays!

Picture #9…You surely know who I am, but why am I walking so fast?

Picture #10…Who’s the leader of the club, that’s made for you and me?

Need a little help????? click on this link for help and some fun!!!! You may see an advertisement first, just be patient!

You have only until Wednesday, May 26, 2010 to answer these pressing questions!

A vintage beach chair and beautiful mermaid tags

Bird Bath filled with a variety of shells

Susan’s beach doll

American Harvest’s office decked out for summer!

Customized wood sign, you can have your favorite beach name put on any of our signs.

This inviting window exclaims, “Come in, we are ready for summer fun!”

A soft, white look in our store.

This sign can also be customized for you!

A cozy pillow for your beach chair.

Fishing floats, finger star fish and barnacles…easy items to use in your summer decorating!

Debbee Thibault has created nearly 25 one-of-a-kind creations for our Spring Fling 2010.  You can call Sharon at American Harvest for more details.  She will be available after 5pm this Friday, May 7th.  Our phone number is 925-485-1577.

Please call for additional information and more pictures   925-485-1577