Author: PHW

PHW Newsletter and Order Forms Online Now

While we finish up preparing the hard copy version for mailing, you can get an advance peek at the fall newsletter. The issue contains information to help keep you and us safe while you shop at the Bough and Dough Shop this year. Get a copy now!

We are also working on order forms for perishable goods. While more will be added as information is finalized, you can check out the wreaths from Blackthorn Estate Nursery and loose greens form and the bakery order form for T L Cards and Crafts and Karen’s Kollection.

Holiday House Tour Championship: Semifinals Round 2

Once again, Amble Along Amherst swept the votes in the first semifinal round. Here is our updated bracket:

The competition looks to be fierce in the finals – and now it’s up to you to choose whether Christmas in the Country or Potato Hill Promenade will spar for the championship crown! Both tours have a following, but you can only choose one to advance. Refresh your memory of the tours at the links, and then cast your vote for your favorite tour. But remember – the polls close on Wednesday!

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Holiday House Tour Championship: Semifinals Round 1 Voting

After a close fight, Christmas in the Country emerged on top to go head to head with Potato Hill Promenade in the semifinals. Here is our updated bracket:

We now begin the semifinal voting to chose the top two tours! This week, Amble Along Amherst faces down Tradition and Transformation. Which tour will emerge the victor? The choice is yours! Refresh your memory of the tours at the links, and then cast your vote when you have made your choice. Remember to make your selection by the end of the day on Wednesday, October 28!

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Bough and Dough Shop FAQs Updating

The Frequently Asked Questions section of the website is being updated for the new operating procedures at the Shop this year. If you’ve wondered about how the Shop will function, give the main Holiday House Tour page a look, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, visit the FAQ page. If there’s still a question you’d like addressed that you don’t see there, be sure to contact PHW through any of our social media channels so we can add it to the page.

We also had new items dropped off at the Hexagon House for the Shop this week. Stop by our online storefront to see what’s new, including small original artworks by Sky Blue Pink by Phyllis. More will be added soon!

Holiday House Tour Championship: Quarterfinal Round 4 Voting

It was a hotly contested quarterfinal round last week, but in the end Potato Hill Promenade won! The themed tour of early log homes surpassed last year’s 275th birthday celebration of Winchester’s architecture. Will any tour be able to best the unstoppable Potato Hill? Here is our updated bracket:

It’s time for the last quarterfinal match-up! Which tour will you choose to face down the mighty Potato Hill Promenade in the semifinals? Will it be 1982’s A Candlelight Christmas with its mix of South Loudoun Street homes and businesses, or 1988’s Christmas in the Country tour of Frederick County homes? You can refresh your memory of the tours at the links, and then cast your vote when you have decided. The choice is yours – but remember to vote before midnight on Wednesday!

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Friday Roundup: Bough and Dough Shop Artist Lineup

Things are coming together for 2020’s Bough and Dough Shop! All artist slots are filled this year. Thank you to the new and returning artists who are sharing their wonderful work with us. We are happy to announce our lineup:

  • Angel’s Roost Quilts
  • Baker Mountain Crafts
  • Basket Cases
  • Beading by Marilynn J.
  • Best in Glass Studio
  • Blackthorn Estates Nursery
  • Blooming Hill Lavender Farm and Gift Shop
  • Nina Burke
  • Lorraine Candell
  • Tom Cesnik
  • The Clowser Foundation
  • George S. Davis
  • Eugene B. Smith Gallery
  • Eye of the Needle Embroidery
  • Norma Fredrickson of Fibergig
  • Hailewatercolor
  • Heartsong Hill Designs
  • Hot Flash Pottery
  • J&W Farm
  • Karen’s Kollection
  • Susan Keenan
  • Klay Haus Pottery
  • Lighthouse Woodworking
  • The Merry Beader
  • Libba Pendleton
  • Ree’s Treats
  • Linda Quynn Ross
  • Donna L. Sheets
  • Shenandoah Acrylic Resin Art
  • Siler Country Store and Gifts
  • Sky Blue Pink by Phyllis
  • Stitchery Studio
  • TL Cards and Crafts
  • Jackie Tobin
  • Very Merry Mittens
  • Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society

As you may have heard, we are preparing an online shop to complement the in-person shopping happening between November 27 and December 23. Some early drop off items have been listed in our store and are ready to purchase. If you are local and want to save yourself postage and time for shipping, remember to enter promo code “curbside” during checkout. PHW volunteers will contact you with more instructions when your order is ready for pickup.

For those who want to shop in person at the Hexagon House to see the items too unique, large, or fragile to ship, that option will be available. Shopping will be limited to ten guests inside the house at a time. Visitors will be asked to complete their shopping in half an hour. Because we anticipate more cleaning needs this year, the shop will close between 2:00 and 2:30 PM for a freshening up break Tuesdays through Saturdays. Remember to arrive before 4:30 PM to complete your shopping by closing time at 5 PM.

As the best-laid plans may still need to change, remember to watch our blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates. We are looking forward to seeing you at the Hexagon House after Thanksgiving!

Holiday House Tour Championship: Quarterfinal Round 3 Voting

The people have decided the next Holiday House Tour to move on to the semifinals! Tradition and Transformation moves on to face Amble Along Amherst. Thank you for your votes! Here is our updated bracket:

Now it’s up to you to choose which tour will progress to the second set of semifinals. Will it be 2014’s Potato Hill Promenade or 2019’s Through the Centuries? The decision looks to be a tough one between these two popular tours! You can refresh your memory of the tours at the links, and then cast your vote when you have decided. The choice is yours – but remember to vote before midnight on Wednesday!

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Friday Roundup: PHW Celebrates 1K Posts!

It’s been a long time in the making, but with this post, PHW has reached a social media milestone – 1,000 published blog posts! Our oldest post dates to March 2007, advertising a lecture by Christopher Owens of Reworks, Inc. The blog was not on a regular posting schedule until a website facelift in February 2012. Two years later, we outgrew our mailing list for the blog posts and transferred to MailChimp as our weekly email service in December 2014. This year with the pandemic, we have now increased our posts across all social media – the blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It’s been a journey to reach this point as we experimented with content and formats. Thank you for being with us as PHW stepped into the digital realm!

As a thank you to our readers, we are holding a small contest for some thank you gifts. Comment on this post or any of our social media channels by Wednesday, October 7 for a chance to win one of five prize packs! This includes the 2019 Winchester: Limestone, Sycamores & Architecture book, a vintage Apple Blossom pin, and a notecard pack featuring Winchester buildings. Winners will be selected at random, and you only need to comment once to be entered. The winners will be selected by Friday, October 9. Thank you for being one of our followers, and good luck in the drawing!

Holiday House Tour Championship: Quarterfinal Round 2 Voting

Our first quarterfinal round has concluded, and Amble Along Amherst emerged on top once again! Here is our updated bracket:

Now it’s up to you to choose who will face off against the homes and historic buildings of this venerable old Winchester street in the semifinals. Will it be 2012’s Tradition and Transformation or 1981’s Yuletide Traditions? The choice of traditions is yours! You can refresh your memory of the tours at the links, and then cast your vote when you have decided. The choice is yours – but remember to vote before midnight on Wednesday!

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