Goodies & a New STITCH ~

it's the afternoon...
I spent the entire morning running errands & shipping orders
(many thanks!)

so now I have a moment to spare, and to share....

I visited Miss Robin's shop yesterday ~
(www.millstonemercantile.blogspot.com)
I was looking for an accent lamp/light and found this beautiful old BLUE painted lamp
that was rewired and now sets upon my olde cupboard ~

I placed one of my (many) little chairs next to it,
...and now resting sweetly in it is one of Tina's dolls.
(www.burlapowl.com)

then I added my little barbed-wire tree from Barb & Giles next to the lamp...
(www.nccabininthewoods.blogspot.com)

I've added early little wooden thread bobbins to it as simple decoration ~
I love it so...I will add some tiny heart & bird ornies to it for St. Valentine's Day...

behind everything I've propped up an antique sampler I purchased from ebay ~
it is a nice, large sampler ~ done in blues, creams, whites & flax-colored threads

...it's stitched on nubby linen and dates from the mid 1800's.
I will be hanging it as soon as I can locate the hammer!!!

~AND~

I've pulled my threads for a new sampler I've designed :
the sampler's title is:

"Susannah Hoffer's Marking Sampler"

it's a simple stitch, yet has an old-world look to it...

and I will be stitching it on overdyed Osnaburg ~

I counted the threads in the Osnaburg fabric last night,
and it is a 40ct fabric when stitched over one thread...
I will stitch this pattern over 2 threads so it works out to be 20ct.
(a little easier on the eyes!)
but, you can stitch it onto whichever fabric you choose !

I'll share progress pictures soon...

In the meantime,
I'm off to make Pesto Chicken for supper,
then off for a walk in the woods with my dog-friends before the sun sets on this day.
blessings from the farm,
Lori

CrAzY WeaThEr, cRazY CHicKeNS, CraZy HeaRTs ~

Happy February my Friends!

it is my favorite month...
...I was born on the 28th of February, during a blizzard in 1963
(so they tell me)
I love everything about this month,
from Presidents Day to St. Valentines Day, to the usual cold & snow...

This year it seems, that Winter has forgotten about us...
here are some pictures of our budding lilac bushes and early-bird daffodils ~

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I guess they don't rely on the calendar....


Below, you can see the daily stand-off that occurs between dogs & chickens:

Lazy is trying hard to ignore them, but he usually shares with them!
Buddy definitely shares with them,
...as you can see by them flocked around his food dish below~

I swear I heard the rooster BARK the other day....

they love Kibbles & Bits

and dirt baths.

...and sunshine.

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and they also love ME.

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and here are a few hearts that I'll be making into jewelry
...to take with me to the feb 11th show ~

sculpted from paperclay, painted & aged...

they will be given hemp cords, silver & turquoise beads too...
I love them.
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Have a beautiful, crazy February day!!!!

blessings from the farm,
Lori

A.T.H.A. newsletter ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk!
another beautiful day here in Virginia...
sun & warm temps expected today ~ I am loving it!!!

I wanted to share my new
ATHA newsletter with you ~ I am a member of ATHA, region 3 here in VA,
((was a member of region 1 in CT))
(Association of Traditional Hooking Artists)

I am honored that so many of you enjoy my designs for rug hooking!!
and I'm especially thrilled when one of your adaptations of my designs makes it into a publication...

the following pics are of rugs that were taken at the 2011 Biennial
and are published in this issue:

a stunning cover (not my design) hooked by Cheryl D. Bollenbach

you can see my 'Glad Tidings' design
in the upper left hand corner of the left page, below:
it was hooked by Leanne Sitler and the pattern can be purchased at
www.Spruceridgestudios.com

the rug below is my
'Give Ye Thanks' pattern ~

it was hooked by Jan Winter and the pattern is also available from Kris at
www.Spruceridgestudios.com

I love how Jan hooked this, her colors are just beautiful!

Thanks to all of you who hook & share your work with us all :)

and, I just thought the picture, below, is so pretty...

the blue paint, the scrubbed top of my little table...
the way the sun touches the tulips in my little tin pitcher ~

~ SWEET ~

Have a wonderful, simply peaceful day, my Friends!!!

blessings from the farm,
Lori