Reflections....

It's the last day of 2008 ~

I'm not sorry to see it pass...really, I'm never sorry or regretful to see a year pass.

2008 was a year that brought us many joys, with the continuing Friendships of Old & the beginning of New ones...

Progress on our shop & farmhouse continues, and I can't wait to see the changes coming next.

There were marriages, divorces, births & deaths,...beginnings & endings that enrich our lives for better or worse, but are always enriching nonetheless.

Illnesses, laughter, road-trips and the occasional argument..
these are what makes life simply,
...worth living.

I don't make New Year resolutions...I think that sets one up for failure.
why mark a certain day to make positive changes in our lives,
when we have the ability do that every single day?

What I do instead, is just what I'm doing now...
I look back on situations and try to understand how (if ?) I could have made them better.
I weigh opinions & options
and usually come to the same conclusions
that were presented to me at that time.

Living a simple, less cluttered (body, mind & spirit) life is truly freeing and joyful.

I will continue to wake up each morning thanking the Stars for who, what & where I am,
and who I am blessed to be with....
that includes those of fur, feather or skin.

Take today to reflect on your past year...
you can't change it now, but tomorrow morning you can change everything....
~ again.

That little chick that you see in my hand in the picture above can't remember having it's picture taken, but it knows that tomorrow the sun will rise and a wonderful cycle will begin again...

Peace & Prosperity to you All ~

Lori

Someday....

THIS is my idea of the perfect Quilt Shop ~

This picture is found in the Better Homes & Garden
QUILT SAMPLER magazine,
(year 2000)

The name of the shop is
COTTONS
and is owned by Deb Coates...it's located in Battle Ground Washington...

Okay...the things( among MANY) that I LOVE LOVE about this shop,
(never being there personally,
but just drooling over the pictures
in this poor, dog-eared & bedraggled issue of mine)...
are:

~the White-Washed wood floors
~Bright, Natural light
~Old-timey cupboards, displays
~Bolts & Bolts of Homespuns, Plaids & Checkered fabrics...
(my 2nd fav...repro 1800's are my passion)

...housed in a renovated Church, this could possibly be thee best place for a Quilt Shop...
i mean, what better building could house something that we hold SO close to our hearts, than
a building that was erected for the sole (or should I say "soul"?) purpose of bringing people together under one roof, to gather like-minded individuals & share our stories....

Not unlike lovers of Needlework
( fabrics, threads, wools, sewing items, etc...)

We gather together to create beautiful things that we just HAVE to share with our friends...

(don't quilt? I can show you how...can't stitch? please...look at how easy this is....)

~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~::~

I'm hoping to purchase some buttercream-colored paint...
the floors will be first, then onto the trim...
I'm hoping to keep my little shop here on our Farm
as a destination...
someplace that many will continue to want to come...
to gather, create & share...

I've been blessed these past (almost) 3 years to have Friends visit with me,
and tell me how fortunate I am to have a shop...
I know I am.
I am because you continue to come...

~May all of your best wishes & dreams come true for you in 2009~

Blessed be,

Lori

I'm Blue....

well, not really...but this sweet little kitty pinkeep is!

she's fresh to ebay this evening...

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/notforgottenfarmprimitives_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

Working on a couple of Frakturs to list tomorrow eve also ~

Blessed be!!
Lori

just a note...

Popping in to say hello & remind you that we will re-open the shop on Friday January 2nd~

Felicia & I will be arranging the shop to get ready for the upcoming classes...more repro quilt fabrics will be arriving, and I'll be installing better lighting in the shop so we can see better!!

Quilt & needlework pattern models, as well as class models are being made up & will be posted here soon...

I'll pop in as I can...can't wait for the New Year!!
Woohoo!!!!!

Blessed be, Friends...
Lori

Just "Stuff"...

We had a busy day here in the shop, customers came from near & far to get patterns, wool, advice, ....floss, fabric, advice,...more advice...

I love when my customers ask me questions on how to "do" something...
I am always happy to help as best as I can....
Sharing the things I've learned over the years fill my heart.
I'm thrilled to pieces at the results!!!
Not only have I helped in lighting a little spark in the heart
of a 'newbie' hooker, stitcher, puncher, etc...
I've made a new Friend!!!!
THAT is my reward~

The picture above shows a scarf that I made from some as-is wool, I then embellished it by needlefelting a robin's nest with dogwood flowers...
adding little beading to the center of the flowers....
Our Needlefelting Class for Beginners will be held Saturday, January 17th 10-3...
I'll be teaching you the basic techniques for needlefelting,
and you will make a scarf of your very own design!
Class fee is $25.00 ~
if you'd like me to save a seat for you, please email me at not4got@aol.com

Just received our shipment of the new Wool Street Journal magazine...
If you'd like to purchase one, you can email me at not4got@aol.com ~
they are $8.00 each ~
This issue is the January 2009 issue, it is chock-full of
thee most gorgeous rugs, colors & articles!


Below are pictures of Felicia's youngest daughter,
Bella, stitching the afternoon away...

she's in kindergarten and is already comfortable with a needle & thread!

you go girl!

This picture below is of the little quilt that Felicia made as a model for the upcoming
Beginners Quilting Class on February 21st ~ (saturday) from 10-3
Class fee is $25.00 and includes everything you need to make this quilt...

it measures approx. 12 1/2" x 16" ~
You'll have a choice of fabric colors, and will learn how to measure, cut, hand-piece & hand-quilt.

...the class is filling up quick, so if you'd like to attend,
please email me at not4got@aol.com to reserve your seat!

Well, today is Hannah's 14th birthday...we bought her some Chanel parfum that she wanted so badly, and she was gifted with some spending money from some relatives...
needless to say, she is at the Mall right now with her father !!!

We celebrated by having Chocolate Mousse cake, then we watched the home video of the day I went into labor, Hannah being born (no, no "grim" shots!) and of us bringing her home...
We watch it every year, and every year I cry when I see her that little again...
She's blessed our lives more than I would have ever imagined...

Tonight will be a quiet one,

as I'll be stitching on the model for the Mercantile Gatherings magazine...
(www.mercantilegatherings.com)

We'll watch a movie and maybe have popcorn & cocoa with marshmallows! yum!

Wishing you a Peaceful weekend spent with those you love, in the place you love most.

Blessed be,
Lori

Christmas Shop Hours:

geeez...you'd think I actually made them wear those hats?...
look at Lazy's face...
he seems to be thinking ..."how embarrasing!"
hahaha!
Buddy, the Beast is ready for anything, including a sled-ride...
now all we need is some SNOW instead of all this rain!

Wanted to let you all know that I'll be
closing the shop next week for the Christmas Holiday,
to spend some quality time with my family ~
sorry for the inconvenience...

we'll reopen the shop again the following week...

all orders have been shipped, so those that have emailed regarding their last minute purchases, be assured you'll have them before Christmas...
if you order something after today (12/18) ,
I cannot gaurantee that you'll receive your order before Christmas...
I'm sure you understand...

I've begun working on my Spring 2009 designs...I have sketched up some designs for needlepunch, cross stitch, embroidery, doll quilts & even a doll pattern or two!..
(I haven't made a doll in SO long...I'm itchin' to stitch one up on my treadle!)

Also, I'm working on the Deare Ladyes of Threade guild, and have been asked to submit some free patterns for Mercantile Gatherings magazine...

I've got to get.....

Busy Busy Busy!!!!

count down begins...

Hannah will be celebrating her 14th birthday this saturday, the 20th ~ I can't believe that 14 years have passed since we brought home a little bundle of sweetness!

I also can't believe that Christmas is almost here!

one week away...the farmhouse is snug & cozy...I've put up 3 trees this year,
one in the Keeping room, one in the Kitchen, and one in our Den~
the lights twinkle & blink to our life's backround music,
which, on any given day is the sound of
cats mewing, dogs barking, Peter, Hannah & or I talking
(read: yelling)...
(hey, he's Italian)....

How quickly a year goes by...
how quickly a baby grows...
how quickly, our weekly chores,
daily routines,
memories....
fly past...

Cherish them,
make them count,
hold each fleeting second in your heart forever...
or as long as you can...

Today will not be like tomorrow,
nor was it akin to yesterday...

Each day,
I count,
as a new beginning...
a new year?
...well....
that's much better of a beginning now, isn't it?...

Fix what's broken,
mend what's worn,
and discard those things that

just.
can't.
be. .
..fixed.

I'm speaking spiritually, physically & metaphorically....

"Too Fast, Too Soon, Too Much, Too Little," ...
words to eliminate in the upcoming year.

Words to savor?
"I Love You", "Enough", "Thank You"....

I'll sign this post with a quote from a dear Friend's signature...

"May you always have enough"

Blessed be,

Lori

LIttle Quilts...

I've stitched up two little doll quilts in the last week...I absolutely love making them!

I love choosing just the 'right' fabrics, then hand-piecing & hand-quilting them...

...it is a soothing respite from counting (cross stitch)
and much more quiet than needlepunch (click-pop, click-pop!!)

This one I'll call...
"Washday"
...

it measures approx. 11" square...
...it reminds me of a Saturday morning spent doing laundry & housecleaning...
I've used vintage ticking, early blue calico, repro 1800's brown calico, muslin and another blue/brown repro for the border and backing...the design looks like a dash from a butter-churn to me, too...so it's a little quilt to remind me to keep humble...

... in every quilt I make, I will include a
"Humility Patch ~or~ Block"
...the Amish & Mennonite Women & Girls are known for their quilting abilities,
yet however perfect their stitching is,
they intentionally make a block that is imperfect...
to keep them humble...

Can you find the Humility patch or block in my little quilts here??

This little one below I'm calling
"Sunday Picnic"
...

it measures only 7 1/4 " square...
I've chosen mustards & reds for this one...reminding me of , what else?
... mustard & ketchup...
the backing & the border calico print reminds me of tiny ants marching!

I'm not sure if I'll list these on ebay, or keep them for myself...
let me know what you think of them?

Well, Gentle Folk, I'm headed to the farmhouse...the woodstove needs banking since the temps have dropped again this aft...I'll be frying buttermilk chicken (recipe to follow:) for supper tonight and making oatmeal raisin cookies for our snack later...

Blessed be,
Lori

~Notforgotten Farm's Buttermilk Chicken~

4 chicken thighs
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups crushed saltine crackers
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 tblsp melted butter

Soak chicken in buttermilk for at least one hour,
(although, soaking longer makes it better...)

Mix cracker crumbs, garlic & rosemary
and coat wet chicken with crumb mixture...

Melt butter in frying pan
and arrange chicken fatty sides down...
turning to cook fully.

Serve with crusty bread and a cold green salad...
YUM!

What's New?

Hi Folks ~
...been a couple of days since I've been able to really get up on this computer to do any work...

Last Saturday, I was fortunate to demonstrate Needlework at Oakland, as I had previously posted...

it was a wonderful turnout, with all proceeds & donations benefitting the
Nelson County Historical Society...

I took some pictures, but for some reason they came out so dark that they were unuseable...bummer.

I've been working on the Pocketful of Primitives book, gathering more photos, etc. to make it more 'meaty' of a book than I first intended...I'm hoping to have it published soon, so I can release it by the first of the New Year!

I've also been hand-quilting small doll quilts, too...I am in love with hand quilting...
since Felicia taught me the 'proper' way to get my corners & points lined up...but they are still extremely primitive & naieve-looking...
I think I'll be coming out with some patterns for doll quilts soon too!

Speaking of Quilting...
I have been thinking about this for a while too...you all are aware of the AIDS Quilt that was created in 2000 to benefit the AIDS Research Foundation...they raised millions of dollars.

Well, How about a Breast Cancer Quilt?

"Memories in Cloth"

We could all create a 12" (with 1/4" seam allowance) square quilt block...
now, if you don't quilt, you can still contribute by creating your block in one of the following mediums:

Needlepunch
Applique
Rug Hooking
Cross Stitch
Embroidery

I would ask you to send the blocks to me, to then have professionally put-together,
and the finished quilt would then be auctioned to raise monies for
Breast Cancer Research...

My sister Jo-ene is in stage 4 of her cancer...still undergoing treatment.
I know families that have been touched & affected by Breast Cancer.
So many unanswered questions...

Are you up to the challenge of making a simple quilt block,
that best reflects your feelings about Breast Cancer
& the millions of lives it touches?

if so, give me a holler at not4got@aol.com... and we'll get this thing rolling...

I think alot of Good can come from something as simple as Memories in Cloth...

Blessed be~

Lori

A Sneak Peak !

The picture above shows the little doll quilt
that I've sewn on my new (antique) Pfaff Treadle sewing machine !!!

...now, I'm not a quilter by any means...
the Amish say that they purposely make a mistake in their quilts
because only the Lord is perfect...
well, I've definitely got Amish blood
(or at least PA German, for sure!)
in my veins...
and i don't purposely make mistakes...
they create themselves when i quilt!

I like the wonky look my little quilts have when they're all finished up...
the pieces don't line up right,
and I sure can't hand-stitch like a professional quilter,
but, the look I'm after is one of a small child's hands...I think I achieve that well-enough...
this one measures a scant 8 1/4" x 8 1/4".
(I'm debating with myself whether I want to list this on ebay,
or pin it to my Keeping Room wall...
so far, the debate is leaning towards the Keeping Room wall.)

The picture also shows you a preview of one of the projects in my newest book,
"Pocketful of Primitive"
which I am almost ready to release...
The pocket shown is called "Elda's Flowers", named for my sweet Mother ~
The book should be ready in a day or so,
and I'll post here when it will be available and up on ebay too...

I have another little quilt in mind, this one done in blues & browns...
perhaps a little bit larger than the one shown here...I have some early men's shirting in cream with little blue stripes & polka dots, some seriously thin & old homespun in thee best grey-blue/cream, and a bunch of others that are repro 1800's...

Well I'm off to peruse Maggie Bonanomi's book (again) "With These Hand's"
...I love it DEARLY
and now want to change my little Farmhouse to all browns/creams/blues...

*sigh*

Blessed be, my Friends~

Lori

December musings...

my feather tree stuck in an old grey graniteware coffee-pot,
wears a funnel of the same for a topper!

The family members that were here over the Thanksgiving Holiday have now all gone...

Peace and Quiet again in the old Farmhouse!

I've been writing a list of things to do (or not to do) for December,
to prepare for the long Winter ahead and the upcoming New Year:

1~ buy more wool socks...
The old floors of this house are COLD.

2~ stuff the old windows with newspaper to keep out more of the cold.
It worked for Grandma, it'll work for me.

3~ collect more kindling for the woodstoves.
I love the way it crackles, plus gathering firewood warms you twice...
once when you go hiking for it & twice when you burn it!

4~ ready the barn for the cold wind.
the sheep's barn is full of hay bales now,
so that will help insulate them a bit more.

5~ stock up now on floss, threads & sewing needfuls.
if I get snowed in, I'll be sure not to be stuck without something to do!

6~ fix and/or patch the quilts.

I usually patch with wool...lasts longer than the quilts themselves!

7~ catch up on my spinning.
I have gobs of raw wool that needs to be carded & spun
...hmmm...about those wool socks...(see #1)
oh, never mind, I can't knit to save my life.

8~ try to NOT take scalding hot baths.

even though i love LOVE to soak in my big porcelain tub,
the hot water sure does a number on my old hide.

9~ stitch more. talk less.

10~ talk less. stitch more.

XXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXxxxxXXXXXX

Santas & Bears on the old Blue mantel in the keeping room

I've posted a few pictures of parts of the Old Farmhouse that I've decorated.
I'm very plain & simple farmhouse style....don't have the tree up yet, will post that when I do ~hope you enjoy!!

The dolls are from some of the best doll-makers out there in cyberspace...& yes, I do collect them...I have about 50 different primitive dolls from Dear Friends...

this basket was once used by an Appalachian Momma to hold her babies...
now it holds some of mine.

Blessed be, My Friends...
Lori