Who is Sadie?

Friends that know me well, know that for YEARS I have been making and sharing my family's ‘famous’ salad dressing, “Sadie’s Dressing”. And I am asked all the time, who is Sadie?

Well, I was pretty sure I knew, at least from what I could remember, that she was a relative on my Mom’s side, but recently I received a cool confirmation while attending the Memorial Service for my last, living relative from my Mom’s era, my dear Aunt Vera who passed away at over 96 years old.

My Aunt Vera with my brother Rick and I

Most of my family knew I had begun “legal” production of Sadie’s Dressing during this past year, thanks to the amazing PA Department of Agriculture. So it was probably no surprise when I brought two cases to the dinner held after the Memorial Service as gifts for most of my family. The discussion began and soon my cousin’s daughter chimed in that she had heard the story of who Sadie was, directly from my mom, Katie. In fact, she didn’t know Sadie’s was called Sadie’s, she only knew it as Aunt Katie’s! 

Are you confused yet?

Anyway, the story goes that Sadie was my grandmother Sara’s mother, so she would have been my Great Grandmother and her name was Sadie. Word has it that she was quite the cook, and if she was anything like my grandmother, wahoo!

My brother Rick and I would walk home from school everyday and wait at my Nanny, Sara’s home, until my mom could pick us up after work and take us home. It was not uncommon to walk into her house and find clothes lines strung everywhere with home made egg noodles drying on the lines from her all-day egg noodle production. Her egg noodles were to die for, as was her delicious Chicken Corn Soup with rivels that I try hard to duplicate! Yum!

Nanny, my cousin Jeff, myself, Pappy, and Rick

It was also not uncommon to ‘assist’ as she chopped the head off of a chicken in the back yard. Those were the days. And if you’ve seen the movie Leap Year, you may have witnessed Matthew Goode doing the same to a chicken, with his bare hands, as Amy Adams character freaks out. Later in the movie when Matthew asks, “Where did you think chickens came from?”, her reply was hilariously, “from the freezer section.” 

For sure, those where the days...

When I first realised that Sadie’s Dressing had its own following in my Mom’s church back in Yeagertown, Pennsylvania, and it actually dawned on me that there was a dressing besides Ranch, (this is for you, Rick!), I stood up and took notice. And when I finally asked Mom for the recipe so that I could make it here in Shippensburg, it became legendary!

Everyone whom I had the occasion to serve Sadie’s to, begged for more. Then begged for the recipe. Like I said, it was in demand. During a church event, one of the ministers challenged me to produce it, and I was inspired. But after attending a seminar on home businesses etc., I dropped the ball. For every other thing I had my fingers in at the time, I couldn’t see any possible way that I could do what needed done to make it happen, it seemed too big of a task. Plus, one of the instructors at the seminar told us that the preliminary test to be able to produce it could cost up to $900.00. Holy cow! At that time, that sounded like a million, and I immediately put my vision, hope and dream on the shelf and pushed it way to the back!

Fast forward to the inception of the Cumberland Shop. I was doing a lot of dreaming and it didn’t take long for me to reach back up on that shelf and drag that Sadie’s dream off and begin to investigate. Our churches representative from the Dept. of Ag literally walked me thru the process, (Thank you, Channing!) I got all the paperwork filled out and submitted and next I had to take Sadie’s to a recognized laboratory. The final PH test would verify that Sadie’s could be sealed without heat, and sit on a grocery shelf, until opened, without refrigeration! I had my credit card ready, come heaven or high water and no matter what it cost, I was getting this test done. I filled out some forms, handed the clerk the Sadie’s and he said, “That will be 9 dollars!!!!!!!!!!” That’s a far cry from 900!!!!! I looked at my friend and we both laughed. She had been at the seminar with me and heard them say the 900 dollar price tag for the test. What a riot!

I know my steps are ordered by the Lord, so I rest in the fact that His timing is best for every step I take. No worries. Even for Sadie’s production!

A dream come true...some of the first
bottles of Sadie's produced & ready
to share with the world!

So the production of Sadie’s has begun and we are thrilled at how it is flying off the shelves. For now it is only being sold at The Cumberland Shop but we are going to be taking it to several other outlets in the very near future. It has been warmly received by so many!

It’s hard to describe the taste. It’s sweet and sour with a mini-zing, and it is delicious and can be used on way more than salad. I have a friend who told me the lettuce in her fridge is jealous because she uses it on so much other stuff! LOL!

I invite you to join the Sadie’s Fan Club. It’s growing and growing....

For me, Sadie’s keeps something alive. It keeps my Mom (Katie), my Nanny (Sara), lots of great, old, important memories and a past that was simple, and happy and glorious alive. The memories may seem silly to some...memories of chickens, gathering eggs, and making jelly, an old cook stove, and getting a bath in a washtub out back, and wood stoves, and quilts on a quilt rack in Nanny’s living room, and black and white TV’s and homemade noodles and childhood, and love, and family and how wonderful it was to grow up kind of poor, but so rich in love. It keeps all that alive...

So, I make Sadie’s because it’s delicious, but I make Sadie’s because I inherited this recipe, and I hope it lives on for many generations and I want to keep sharing about it as long as I can. Now you know who Sadie is; she’s my Great Grandmother, and I’m hoping to make her famous. - Nancy A. Hudson, Owner of Katie’s Creations, producer of Sadie’s Dressing, President of The Cumberland Shop.

Check out Sadie's Facebook Page here!

We Love Our Artisans: Deborah Sanders Slocum

 In the next few weeks, we will be celebrating the amazing artisans and entrepreneurs who are part of The Cumberland Shop. I begin my overview of them with Deborah Sanders Slocum.

I met Deborah in an unusual way. Last year, I was doing a major purge of my belongings in preparation for a remodel of my home. As I ripped drawers and closets apart, I was finding all kinds of goodies that I didn’t need or want and one of the things that I found was a huge bag of Kente cloth, handwoven in the country of Ghana, in the continent of Africa. I saved every large piece I had, but I just COULD NOT bring myself to throw away any of it. I had a few scattered pieces of smaller cloth that I believed that possibly a fabric artist or quilter could use to create something beautiful. This cloth is such unique handwoven fabric.

An example of the beautiful Kente cloth

A friend suggested I post concerning it on a Shippensburg Social Media Page and offer it to anyone interested. In a very short time, Deborah responded and I made arrangements to see that she got it. She shared with me that she had a friend who would probably love using this historically made traditional cloth fabric. YAY!

Of course, after that, I did what we all do, I stalked Deb on FB and began to “go wild” paging thru her many fab creations and later on the Foundry Website. Deb is skilled in many artistic mediums, but what drew me to her work initially was a painting she has working on that was overflowing with pinkish flowers. Before long she announced that it was sold and I began to ardently follow her in case another one like it should make its appearance and I would be able to purchase it. 

Deb is fabulously creative and talented. I can’t get enough of her things!

Soon after I “discovered her” we made arrangements for her to teach a painting class at a “Galentine’s Weekend” event, and we finally got to meet face to face. She is beautiful and when she teaches, she is patient and makes you feel like Van Gogh! I had a history in Art Education in another life, but painting wasn’t my thing. That night I felt like I could really get back into doing some leisurely painting again, in between the thousand other things I have my fingers in! LOL!

The gals with their finished pieces from Deb's class

In the shop, we feature Deb’s alcohol ink artistry on espresso sets, thermoses of varying sizes and uses, ceramic cups and mugs. She also does resin work on: cheese boards, beverage trays and their gorgeous matching coasters, paper weights (that I want all of!), jewelry, etc. She also does mini dishes, succulent planters that are TOO CUTE, and a variety of other things. I currently have a few ideas I want to throw at her, but I’ll share that with her in private.

Something else you need to know, Deb will do custom work for you. If we don’t have the colors you want, not a problem, she will do it.

One of the most unique gifts she offers (in my humble opinion) is a custom made paper weight, or whatever, made from resin and she can include inside it either a flower from a funeral spray, a flower from your bridal bouquet or whatever to make a piece that could truly be something passed down from generation to generation as a keepsake in your family. These pieces are STUNNING! You must have one, I have several and have trouble even passing them along as gifts! I want them ALL!

I have to admit, after I met Deborah, the idea that was already churning in me to open a store, began to gain momentum in my brain. All I could think was, this girl lives in Shippensburg...and I have to drive the whole way to Chambersburg to view her stuff. We have GOT to do something about this. I LOVE the Foundry, but when I need to GRAB a gift and run, I can’t always get there. When the idea for The Cumberland Shop was born, I knew the very first person I would ask to be a part of the dream was Deborah Sanders Slocum. You can imagine how thrilled I was (Major Happy Dance that day!) when Deb agreed to join hands with us. She is a foundational part of our very talented artisans at the shop and I think everyone should give her unique and artistically beautiful works as gifts, plus you should actually have several for yourself. I know I do!

In more good news, Deb has agreed to begin to teach some classes at The Cumberland Shop. So far we have two scheduled and we will add those links to this blog. Please sign up soon, spaces are limited due to COVID as we practice safe social distancing.

February 11 - Sign Up Here

March 11 - Sign Up Here

Please take the time to peruse the pictures here that show just some of the creative artistry from the hands of Deborah Sanders Slocum. Giving a gift made by Deb will demonstrate to the receiver just how much you love and appreciate them, as they are fashioned not because that is what Deb does for a living; they are created from a passionate, beautiful soul who puts her best into everything. When you have one of her pieces, you have small part of her heart, too.

The name Deborah means bee. And believe me, I am pretty sure it fits her, she is a creative non-stop! Keep buzzing, Deb! We can’t get enough of your stuff!

Welcome to "The Cumberland Shop" Blog!

Welcome to “The Cumberland Shop” Blog! As often as we have news, we will try to articulate what is happening at The Cumberland Shop and keep you informed about new works, new artwork, new product, new classes, and the outreach to the community through the shop.

To begin, we want to offer a brief ‘in a nutshell’ view of how we came to be. Here we go...

In late August, as I sat reading on my porch, my mind began to wander to a place it had gone to quite often. I began (again) to see a shop, a unique shop, that would host and house Artisan works and the creations of entrepreneurial people in the great and vast Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania. Though it seemed a far reach of what I could possibly do, the dream seemed to take root, and suddenly I thought, “I can do this!”

I have had the privilege of traveling across the world and in the USA and usually am thirsty for some kind of meaningful ‘piece of the area’ I have travelled to. I always seek after locally made whatever. Maple Syrup,  Jewelry, Fabric Art, Hand Crafted clothing, art work, pottery. Due to space restrictions traveling, I usually find jewelry to be the easiest to bring home, but I have been known to occupy space in many “over sized” luggage compartments on international and domestic flights! LOL! And then there is the domestic cheese out of Amsterdam that has filled my carry ons and multiple extra bags. Good Times!

The "soon to be" Cumberland Shop space!

But getting back to my point, in the last few years I have been happily stunned to find any number of super talented artists and entrepreneurs  that have no brick and mortar space in Shippensburg to display their works and creations. My thought process said, this has to change, someone should do it. Divine inspiration said, why not you?

Of course, as I spread the vision to others, our team formed and it would enable us to really “get busy” with all the paper work that needed done in order to become a non-profit. With advice from those who know these things, we moved forward and began to shop like crazy for fixtures and furniture!

I never knew shopping on Marketplace was so much fun and that the deals were so amazing! We could NOT believe how much high quality stuff was out there, practically for the taking! We begin to wonder, oh my goodness, did we buy too much stuff! No, we did not... and as artists and makers began to fill out applications and bring the wide variety of goodies into the shop that they did, we stood back stunned, and then as we filled the shelves, I have to admit that we had more than one tear filled moment standing in awe at what we had accomplished since the beginning of September.

The Public Opinion did a beautiful feature on the shop!

Our Grand Opening window announcement...

A proud moment...watching our sign installation.

Open & ready for business!

If you are reading this short blog about our beginnings, I assure you that this is JUST the beginning. I love expressing myself thru writing, and I’ll try not to bore you here. But piece by piece we dedicate our blog to all the amazing Artisans and makers who have filled our shop with love by way of pottery, creative works, home grown recipes, luscious fabrics, yarns, woven pieces, paintings, photography, pastels, watercolors, jewelry, etc. Each week, and some (whenever the inspiration strikes to write) we will individually feature an Artisan/creator whose works fill The Cumberland Shop. Journey with us, then step inside our home to so many, beautiful things!

A montage of some of our incredible Artisan works!

“We will call this place our home, the dirt in which our roots may grow. Though the storms will push and pull, we will call this place our home. We’ll tell our stories on these walls, every year measure how tall. And just like a work of art, we’ll tell our stories on these walls. Let the years, we’re here be kind, be kind. Let our hearts like doors open wide, open wide. Settle our bones like wood over time, over time. Give us bread, give us salt, give us [life].” ~ North, Sleeping At Last