Growing up in the country with very few other kids close by, many of my days were spent fixing up and playing in our barn’s hayloft, always drawing or creating something for that little space. Wandering through the woods collecting rocks, flowers, moss, anything interesting to bring back. Sewing pillows or crocheting little potholders. Stitching pictures of flowers for the walls. Picking wild apples and blackberries for dessert for me and the many kitties we always seem to have. Those early years influenced my lifelong love and appreciation for anything that is simple and handmade.
I am now settled and living in a small Pennsylvania town outside of Pittsburgh. Happily married, and mom to one sweet kid. I started Rabbit Hill Primitives and Vintage in 2005. Before that time, I tried many jobs… waitress, front desk clerk, store manager of a trendy little shop in Santa Barbara, foundation work for cancer research, garden maintenance and design at a local nursery, and financial analyst for a garbage company….in that order! I enjoyed doing all of those things but was never fully satisfied. When Lydia turned 3, the office I worked for closed and moved to Philadelphia. I was laid off. It was scary to be without work, but Dino and I thought it was a good opportunity for me to stay home with Lydia. It was tough but we skimped and budgeted and it worked. During that time I started selling antiques and handmades at a little antique mall in Ohio. A few years later, right before Lydia started kindergarten, the antique mall went out of business. I felt this was God giving me a chance to try it on my own. I began building my website Rabbit Hill Primitives the day that Lydia started school in September 2005. 15 years later, I have never looked back. I treasure that time at home dearly, knowing how lucky I was to be with her and still be able to do what I loved.
Last year Lydia graduated from high school and is now in college in California as a Plant Science major. Life is definitely different for Dino and me. Thank goodness for FaceTime! To fill the quiet time, I am expanding my business. Starting slow and learning as I go. I’ll be sharing more, offering more, and hopefully inspiring more too!
I want to create a space that shares little moments of happiness with you. Simple ways of living. Handmade ideas. Recipes. And flowers and gardens! Oh how I love plants!
I will continue to make textile art pieces using treasured, found, and salvaged materials. Collecting fabric is my passion! But I have a deep desire for sharing more.
So with all of that…
Welcome to the new Rabbit Hill, Handmades & Happy Things by Jenn Tavoletti!
A place where we can all come together, sharing beautiful ideas in this interesting world we live in.
I’ll be gardening, cooking, and creating every step of the way!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
~Proverbs 3:5-6