I attended garage sales, estate sales, and auctions as a child, all of which were my favorite thing on Saturday mornings, just after indulging in my daddy's homemade waffles or pancakes. The old barn auctions were the best! At home, an old chicken house separated my home from my grandparents, and it housed even older nails and screws, belt sanders and jigsaws. Believe it or not, that was my playhouse! As I grew older, my dad taught me how to use those machines and let me create my own artworks out of wood, without even a grimace. He empowered me to be self-reliant.

I have always enjoyed listening to the stories of my past, past being ancestral. My mind envisioned such tales and laughter always accompanied. Rustic tools, metal boxes and old, buried trash piles later informed my art work and photographic pieces. The richness of the textures, the smells and the wonder I find inspiring.

My son was born in 2008, and I decided it was time to make a change. I gave up my job as a Photo Lab manager at the school I had attended to give my new role as mommy a try. Obviously I fell in love, but that urge to create was calling from my inner soul! I stumbled upon etsy while watching Martha Stewart one morning (daytime tv was a new venture for me and constant companion during the frequent feedings). It was baby week and she had the etsy shop owner of 1boy1girl demo'ing how they make their shirts. I was hooked and thought I'd give etsy a try. But what to try?

I began selling my photographs, the first pair to a buyer in France! I also had some infant bodysuits that I had added appliques to, appliques of my drawings. Then I added the vintage. I loved it all! My infant stuff took off and I decided to open a sister shop (thebirdandelephant), and devote this to my photos, vintage wares and the oddball items I crafted, usually revamped from older pieces.

In the Fall of 2011, I began making the little flower earrings as a smalls item at my craft shows, and I'm still making them today!

Of course this shop has transformed over time. I came up with the name Primm Road, as that was the name of the road where I lived when my art world flourished, where my children were born, and where my life on etsy began. Of course I moved closer to home since then, but Primm Road is now an important era in my family's history.

follow me on instagram: bhartp