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OLD WORLD ARTS COLONY, LLC

One of a Kind - Hand Made Articles
Museum Quality...
Antique Frames & Linens Available as well as New

To Learn More About or To Be a Part of This Project
Visit our Project Information Page or
Use our Guestbook Or E-Mail Us to Inquire Further

In 1997, a small handful of women gathered together in a tiny kitchen in a remote developing country. Each woman came to the table with a burning desire to do something to create an income for her family. In a country where there is very little work, that is just the one thing that drew these women together. Rather than feel sorry for themselves or protest to a government that wouldn't hear them or take up arms, the women chose to take up their needles and thread and do what women have done for centuries. Together they developed a true cottage industry, composed of one coordinator and all artisans. As a group, they decided to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art. These gifted and talented women share their time-consuming, meticulous art with the world in the hope of creating a better future for both their country and their families.
     We offer these items for sale in an effort to help further their hopes and dreams to create a better quality of life for their children and grandchildren. Because our overhead and budget is very low, we are able to offer outstanding quality workmanship at unbelievably low prices.
     In order to honor America's deep colonial heritage, the women have chosen to stitch embroidered samplers similar to those done between the 16th - 18th century.
     In addition to the warm, hand-knit socks and mittens, we also have hand hooked rugs, similar to those done between 1840 - 1920.
     A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER HAND CRAFTED ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE!
We have over 100 Samplers in Stock - both Framed and Unframed, on New Linen and on Antique Linen. Prices range from $10 - $850. For more information, view our site or use our Guestbook. We appreciate your interest.

Moldova is a small developing country, located between Romania and Ukraine, where trading and bartering are a way of life. A person working in a shoe factory is paid with a pair of shoes. Buildings and streets hold bullet-riddled reminders of a civil war from just a few years ago. Jobs are very scarce. Electricity is turned off 6 hours a day. At present, there is no hot water. Inflation is rampant.
     These items were hand-made by Moldovan women as their only source of income. They would not accept charity. They did accept the opportunity to be creative and productive. Our group is composed of unemployed teachers, engineers, a college professor, factory workers and retired people, each one just wanting the dignity of work in order to survive.
Their magnificent handwork will truly become an heirloom. While newly stitched, many of the samplers are sewn on antique linen with small mended areas, framed in antique frames and look exactly like a treasured antique. Samplers are offered both framed and unframed.
     The colorful hand knit mittens carry beautiful patterns. The socks are multistriped and are very popular with the teens (especially the college age). These warm socks are also good for hunting and other outdoor sports requiring warm, toasty toes.
     The Pilgrim style chip carved boxes, pipe/candle holders and spoon racks are made as all our other items, slowly and with precision. The items are completely hand made; some are stained and some are left unstained for your pleasure.
     Many of our hand hooked rugs also have the fabric cut by hand. Some of the rugs are made the way our grandmothers and great-grandmothers made them - out of mixed fabrics. Other rugs are made of 100% wool material, not yarn! The backing on the rugs is either burlap (as granny would have done) or monk's cloth and are cold water washable.
      All proceeds go to the person who stitched the sampler, knit the socks, hooked the rug or did the chip carvings. This is a not for profit project. Within each stitch is HOPE-HOPE for a better life, HOPE for a future, HOPE for tomorrow.