Sunday, February 28, 2010

{ Today is Sunday...}


...it is a beautiful day!!!

it is warm,
sunny,
the birds are singing,
I am playing in threads,
...it is a Full Moon!!!

It is my Birthday!

I give thanks for being alive,
... to my Mother who chose to give me life~
for the chance to begin each day knowing I am where I should be,
...with a family that loves me!!

I give thanks for being gifted with
Good Friends
Busy Hands
a full Heart
a Generous Spirit
seemingly-unending
Creativity
and
Good Health!!
I will celebrate today
by honoring my past years,
and looking ahead with anticipation of what may
lie ahead of me...
all the while being
Thankful
for yet another year!!!
Thanks to you all, too, who keep me busy, thinking of new things to post here!!
it is wonderful to know that I have made a connection with so many of you,
and that you enjoy coming to visit me here on this blog...
Hoping you Celebrate Today, just as it is....
Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Saturday, February 27, 2010

{ out my window...revisited }




getting up this morning, I heard a racket going on outside in the farmyard...

our flock of Guinea Hen's were alerting us to something
(or someone?) foreign...

so I looked outside to see what the commotion was about,
and saw that we were being visited by the
Harbingors of Spring...
a small band of Robins....


hoping the view out your window is a beautiful one ~
...no matter what the weather.

Blessings from the farm,
Lori

Friday, February 26, 2010

{ Welcome little ones !! }


" For winter's rains and ruins are over,
and all the season of snows and sins;
days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
time remembered is grief forgotten,
frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins...."


can you see them?
there, next to the base of the ancient Ash
that once graced our front lawn...
...the little green spires of Spring,
bounding forth through ice & snow,
letting their fresh presence known to all who pass by...

(usually a chicken or two !!!)

although quite cold & windy today,
I will do as they;
and brave the weather just once more,
as I go on my way....
Thought I would share my tiny friends with all of you who are caught in that storm...
Hoping you have a sun-filled day of creative energy!!!
Blessed be!
Lori

Thursday, February 25, 2010

{ a few of my favorite things... }

Our humble farmhouse is filled with things that I love....
the smell of fresh herbs,
...the texture of chipped paint & hooked rugs...

redware & transferware and
abandoned turtle shells found in the woods....

old childrens clothing,
tin candle sticks...

old weathered barrels,
discarded textile spools....

fabric covered boxes, old bottles, ironstone china,
feathers and birds nests...

all keep me happy, searching for things to fill my heart...
The new issue of the Country Sampler Special Homes Tour magazine has me going crazy.
I am loving the more primitive, austere homes in it, yet am also drawn to the bright, cottage, garden-esque look that a couple homes share too...
how do I mix it up for my home?
I call it
"Primitive Farmhouse Style"

what style of decorating is your favorite???
{please take my poll at the top of this blog}
I'm headed out to town today, to ship off orders and go to market...
thinking about fresh salmon for supper, with garlic potatoes and asparagus...
Hoping you all have a bright & cheerful day, regardless of your weather!!!
Blessed be~
Lori

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

{ In Progress...}


here is one of new patterns I'm working on..
it is the first in a series of
School~Girl~Pockets
that I'll be offering soon...
I have 6 or so sketched up, but need to 'tweak' them for their final pattern.
I'll show this to you when I have it finished and made into a completed pocket...
the patterns for these will include the instructions
on how to make a completed pocket,
straps & all...
Well our warm weather that we enjoyed yesterday is gone,
and today it is cold & raining with a few spittles of snow flakes thrown in...
(I think just to remind me not to get 'too happy'...
that yes, Winter is still here.)
I just got the new copy of the Country Sampler's Home Tour,
so I'll curlp up & peruse that for a while,
then it's back to the needlepunching...
Hoping your day is a cozy one,
Blessed b e!
Lori

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

{ Spring-like Day }


Hi folks! ~

what a beautiful day here in VA!

the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the snow is
MELTING!

woohooooo!!!!!!

I just came in from checking on my herb garden out front,
...and am delighted to say that my daffodils are about 1/2" up!
our yard is full of robins,
getting their bellies full of worms
from the now thawed-out ground...
and nothing beats the sweet sound of the cardinals
calling for their mates...
soon the tree frogs will be vocalizing their love of spring too!
Here's the banana bread recipe I promised:
Preheat oven to 320*
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 stick real butter, room temp.
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped raisins
2 cups mashed ripe banana
in a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda & baking powder...
in a seperate bowl, beat eggs, sugar & butter until smooth then add mashed banana~
gradually mix in flour mixture to banana mixture until all is blended, then mix in raisins & nuts.
grease a 9" x 5" x 3" loaf pan.
line bottom of pan with wax paper & grease that too...
(I use spray PAM)
now fold your batter into pan.
place in a preheated slow oven (320*) for 1 hour...test with a toothpick for doneness~
if done, loosen bread edges with butter knife and flip bread out onto a wire rack to cool, upside-down...in about 10 minutes, peel off wax paper and flip right-side-up.
ENJOY!!!!
(you can see mine up there, but it's history now!!!
I'll bet it won't last long in your house either!!)
I'm off to work on my needlepunch designs~
I'll post pics as soon as I can!
Blessed be!
Lori

Monday, February 22, 2010

{ Winter in the Valley Antiques Show...photos! }

as promised,
here are some photos of the show this past saturday...
please forgive me for not putting all of the names down with the pictures,
but if you see something you like, visit the show's website:
and email them:
on with the show...
I love the bold, graphic colors and design of the quilts...
but I just adore the trail of wooden pig cutting boards under the table
and the
"no spitting" sign!!!

visit www.shabbyvilla.com
to see more vintage/garden things...
LOVE those urns!!!


Here's Robin's beautiful display...
visit her blog:
not sure who's booth this is, but that table!
OH I love those legs and that white chippy paint!!!

a collection of needfuls waits in this booth...
look at that corner chair in green paint!

delightful! ~
~ those beeskeps are a must for every primitive garden~

...toys, and quilts & rugs OH MY!!!

dolls and dresses and ooohhh, that apothocary cupboard!!!

Cecilia's pretty little booth was chock full of wonderful time-worns...
visit her at
www.picturetrail.com/henhouseprimitives

and there's my li'l booth...
see my hooked rug of the farmhouse hangin' on the table?

We had such a great time...
I could have shopped ALL day...
Thanks again to my sweet customers & friends for visiting us~
Now, onto creating some brand new primitive
NEEDLE PUNCH PATTERNS
for the Virginia Rug Fest
www.varugfest.com
~AND~
yes, I've changed the blog again...
I have to keep you all on your toes, ya know!

Blessed be, my Friends~
Lori

Sunday, February 21, 2010

{Etsy Update}

Hi Friends!!!
I've updated my etsy shop with Clementine & Claude....
please go take a look,
and if you'd like to adopt them, they'd be tickled!
want you to also know that I'll be releasing
TWO NEW CROSS STITCH PATTERNS SOON!!!
I'm excited about these...one is designed after my Grandmother,
and the other,
for my love of Folk-y Rabbits!!!
{look for them SOON!!!}

Thought I would get to post the pics of yesterdays' show tonight,
but Hannah is hounding me for dinner,
so I will begin a new post of that tomorrow,
along with my FANTASTIC Banana-Nut bread that I made this evening....
recipe to follow!!!
thanks to all for visiting my humble blog...it really means the world to me!
Lori

{ THANK YOU !!!! }

Many thanks to so many
Dear Friends
that visited me at the show yesterday!
I love seeing you all, hearing what you've been up to and getting those hugs!
we had a great show!!!
A BIG THANK YOU
to Linda Miller and Donna Smith for a wonderful show
~ I'll be posting pictures of the booths today...

and also,
I will be adding a bunch of stuff to my etsy shop!
{I know you've been waiting for that!!!}
I'm going to clean this farmhouse today...
blech...
with all of the snow now melting,
{Yippppeeeee!!!!!}
it is bringing in mud...
and this studio is a furry wreck!!!
So after my Olde Homeplace is spruced up,
I'll return here to update....
se you later?
Blessings from the Farm,
~Lori~

Friday, February 19, 2010

{ Clementine it is....}


Love that name for her!...
Thanks for the suggestion Linda B. !!!
okeedokee...I'm off to the shop...have to gather props for the show, bags, receipt books, etc...
Oh & my new CAMERA! woohoo!!!!
I'll be back later to post pics of the set up~
enjoy the warmer temps that will be heading our way today!
Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Thursday, February 18, 2010

{ Fuzzy Slippers & Mint Tea }

Ain't she sweet?

Fuzzy Slippers and Mint tea...
...they go together well, don't you think?
well I do.
Mint Tea helps calm my nerves before a show...
and tomorrow is set up.

and the "fuzzy" slippers aren't exactly intentional,
it just sorta kinda happens when you're working with mohair,
and distressing bears & such...

Speaking of Bears,
up there is a sneak peak of my lastest girl,
I haven't named her yet, but she is quite beguiling....
she's another 16" bear, from my own pattern...
she has reproduction Civil War-era foot pads and is 5X jointed with bolts & washers...
stuffed with old clean rags for a nice vintage feel...
Lavender-colored German blown-glass eyes, too...
her little dress is an antique,...one made long ago by someone who cared...
it is made from old feedsack fabric, with sweet little white milk-glass buttons...it is torn and tattered, but that's what makes it endearing, don't you think?

She is my favorite so far...
and will be accompanying me tomorrow for set-up...
any suggestions for names?

I'll take pics of set-up tomorrow,
...then I probably won't be here to post again until Sunday...
sooooo....wish me luck!
Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

{ The Countdown Begins!!! }

{this is Oliver...he was 'born' last night}

I have only the rest of today & all of tomorrow
to finish the things that I'll be taking to the show ...

Friday is set-up day, so that means I won't be home to do any sewing
(maybe friday eve)

but

I am So looking forward to getting out & meeting people & breathing fresh air & having FUN!
(oh & did I mention SHOPPING???)
I can't wait to see everyones things! I LOVE old textiles & fabrics, antique children's shoes & clothing, early toys, baskets, bowls, crocks...buttons & vintage jewelery...
(the list really is endless)
]so I'm here in my sewing room, working on another bigger (16") bear...this one is the palest, faded pink...I'll distress her severely & add some trinkets to her...
I'll show pics of her tonight if I have time!
thanks to all for your positive comments on my last post...
Thanks to my sweet family who has continually encouraged me to be who I am...
thank you for loving me !
I will be updating my" favorite blogs" list...
you'll see that it will continually change also,
as I couldn't possibly list every single friend's blog out there...
so if yours is there today, & not there tomorrow, it doesn't mean I don't love you anymore...
I'm just passing around the love...that's all!
Hoping you all have a Peacefully Creative day!
Blessed be~
Lori

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

{ What's New? }

{my sometimes-silent partner, Suzy}

Hi Friends & Folk!


....it is another cold, windblown & snow-y day here in VA...

Hannah is home yet again and we are cozily creating here in the farmhouse studio...


As you can see, I changed my blog colors again!
{I'm never satisfied to 'keep' one color...there are just too many pretty colors out there!!}


I've changed it up, added some things and deleted some things too...
I'll also be updating my 'favorite blogs'...so look for some new ones!!


I'm going to try something different here on this blog, too...
if you look on my sidebar, on the upper right,
you will see a "page" list,
and under that is a link to a page
where I will begin selling my finished folk art...

if it works, I will use that page monthly
to showcase some works that I wish to offer
to my customers/collectors directly...

this way, no fees are incurred
such as on an auction or other 'selling' site...

{I'm hoping to update the page after this saturday's show,
so please watch for that...}


For those of you that have emailed me and have asked,
"What's with all this BEAR stuff?
where's your cross stitch & needlepunch stuff???

WHY aren't you talking about that????"


well, please let me explain...
I began creating bears back in the 1990's.
I designed my own patterns, and my Mom would help me sew them up.

together, Mom & I would do local Bear Shows in CT....
we had a blast & loved being together!
{still do...LOVE YOU MOM !}

ANYhoo...
when Hannah was born I kind of stopped making my bears
to focus more on the pattern designing for my needlework designs...
I was fortunate {again, still am!}
to have been picked up by great distributors
and the rest they say, is history....


Occasionally,
in the last few years,
I would make a bear & offer it on ebay or etsy,
and developed a following for them
{Thank you very much dear friends!}
I love the idea of creating something that smiles back at you...

and have, lately,
shifted my attention to again selling

finished mohair bears & critters.


I was just accepted into the group:
"Guild of Master Bear Makers"
{badge/link on my sidebar}
and am SOOOO excited to be in the company
of some of the world's most talented bear makers & artists.

So there you have it...
I guess I've come full-circle.

I will always continue to design & offer you my needlework patterns,
but I will now tickle my own fancy by doing something I truly, truly love...
something that delights my soul & warms my heart!!!

I will be celebrating a birthday on the last day of this month,
and the best gift I could ever give myself is to follow my own dreams ~

don't get me wrong now, I still dabble in just about every craft known to woman-kind!!
but for now, I will follow my muse....
who knows where it might take me??

Wishing you all the fulfillment of your own Dreams ~

Blessed be!

Lori

Monday, February 15, 2010

{ this is just a test... }

well I just got home from Walmart...
bought my new kodak camera...i LOVE it!
it is SO easy to use...
I snapped this picture of some luscious mohair, in my sewing room in the house...
the colors & clarity look good to me,
but please let me know how you are all seeing the picture?
The roads are just terrible...Hanna & I were stuck in a pile up on rt 29 north
for about 45 minutes, then we decided to take a back road home....
MISTAKE!
we slid all the way...
& my anti-lock brakes were doing that
rumbling-thing when you slip & slide!
(scared us to pieces!!!)
we're home safe now though...

*sigh*
I need a steaming cup of chamomile tea to calm my nerves....
Lori

{ Bunny Love... }



I'm loving making these little critters!
each one has such a different personality and expression on it's face~

This little girl looks like a vintage toy from a dusty attic somewhere...

she is only about 6" tall, made from hand-overdyed white string mohair...stuffed with bits of old fabric & cotton batt and she has joints made from old string & antique MOP buttons.
her German Blown Glass eyes are a loverly shade of Violet...
in fact, that's what I'll name her!
so, folks, please meet Violet!
She'll be available for adoption at the
Winter in the Valley Antiques show
this saturday, February 20th...
along with some of her other friends.
I'll be working on some LARGE bears this week for the show,
and will share some pics when they're finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Rug hooking class Saturday was fun!
although some of my students didn't show up, but I blame that on the weather.
I do have pictures, but my camera is going fritz-y...I've been using Hannah's.
I will be going out today & buy me a new one! woohoo!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, Hannah is home AGAIN today...
the school called last night & at first said a 2-hour delay..
she was happy, 'cause she baked cupcakes for her friends last night, for Valentine's Day.
BUT
this morning, the school called again, and cancelled altogether,...
this makes 12 days she's home (not including weekends!) because of weather.
...and they're calling for a little more SNOW today.
I will just submerge myself in my work, that's all...
put on some good music, make a pot of something on the woodstove for supper and
dive into the mohair and wool!!!
Hoping you are all staying busy, doing your handwork or house-keeping...
Blessed be!
Lori

Friday, February 12, 2010

{ Friendly Reminder }

Hi Folks!!
Tomorrow (Sat. Feb. 13th) is the
Beginner's Rug Hooking Class
here in the shop/studio
from 10 - 3
Students that have signed up, please bring a pair of scissors!!
As far as it looks now, the weather will cooperate with us!
YAHOOO!!!

If you have not signed up for the class,
and
already know how to hook,
you can come & visit us...
bring along your hooking project-in-progress,
and some show 'n tell too!
see you all tomorrow!
Blessed be,
Lori

Thursday, February 11, 2010

{ Patiently Waiting... }



...or maybe NOT so patiently waiting?

looks like Buddy is waiting for something {someone?} to come out of the woods...

it wasn't Lazy, 'cause he was standing next to me as I took this picture.

...perhaps it's a squirrel, busily gathering more for his cache.
or maybe it's a raccoon ~ slumbering in a nearby tree?
it could be that Buddy is doing what we are all doing...
.....waiting patiently ,
or not, for Spring!

me?
you guessed it..
.i've never been known to have patience..
...so
you all know how I feel !

I have been ushering in Spring in my own little way,
{ as you can see by the picture above...}
I'm creating little chicks and bluebirds,
along with more rabbits & bears from wonderful mohair!!!
I'm having so much fun making these critters for the show on the 20th ~
I've gotten a few emails regarding them being offered in my etsy shop,
and I can say YES!
I will be offering some soon ~
soooo please stay tuned!

Well, I'm in the house/studio today..
.going to take a break in a minute to eat some lunch
{Tuna salad with sprouts on whole-wheat toast}
then will come back up here and work some more...
think I'll watch a movie...

....maybe Sense & Sensability?
no...Dances with Wolves.
again!
Hoping your day is filled with sunshine & creativity!
Blessed be~
Lori

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

{ CONGRATS!!! }

to my good friend Robin from Millstone Mercantile!!!
She has been chosen to be in an upcoming issue of the Mercantile Gatherings mag!!!!
go on over to her blog (in my fav's)
send her good wishes!!!
Congrats to you sweetie!!!
XXOXOXX
Lori

Monday, February 08, 2010

{ Meet Claude...}

Folks, please meet Claude...
Claude, please meet my Friends.
a tiny little guy that stands about 6 1/2 inches tall
{not including his ears, that would make him about 8 1/2"}
made from hand-dyed mohair in a sweet Maple Syrup color.
his ears are lined with vintage feedsack fabric,
he has German blown-glass eyes and is button/string jointed.
He looked hungry, so I needle-felted him a long carrot
from hand-dyed wool roving from some of my sheeps' wool.
He is just one of the critters I'll be taking to the
Winter in the Valley show
on February 20th ~

Hope you can come meet him in person!
Blessed be~
Lori
***I just received an email from my friend Beth, telling me that my pattern,
"The Rev & Mrs Potter" had made front page of etsy.com!!!
WOOHOO!!!****
It was featured in a treasury, but I didn't know it!
It prolly won't be there when you go there, though, as the treasuries change frequently!!!
But WOW...I AM HONORED!!!!!

Sunday, February 07, 2010

{ Winter in the Valley Show }


Just learned that the Winter in the Valley show
has been rescheduled to be held on

February 20th !!!


so I hope to see all of you there!

I'm working on some little mohair rabbits and bears to take along to the show...
it having been rescheduled gives me two more weeks to create more goodies!

woohoo!

I'll be looking through the mohair fabric collection that I have to see what needs reordered...

I love to overdye the fur to make it old & vintage-looking~


and
I can get out of my driveway !!!!!
thanks to the diligent plowing of my farmer husband and his

beloved John Deere tractor...{GO! Big Green!!}

and lucky us,
we got no where near the amount of snow they were predicting...
...only about 7" on top of the 5" from last weekend.

so for those that have not received their orders,
thanks for your never-ending patience~ they will ALL go out tomorrow !
:)

I will be heading out soon, Hannah has been invited to go sledding at a friends' house.
poor thing, she loves school and her friends and has been house-bound for a week...
today she'll get plenty of fresh, cold air & sunshine!!!


Then I'm off to the market,
where I'll purchase some fresh tulips for the kitchen,
and then come home to clean the floors of this old house....


oh Spring...
where art thou?
sleeping under hills and mounds
waiting for rebirth
~warm Earth~
...come again to grace my face
with the warmth of a sun-kissed May day.


Blessings to you all!
Lori

Friday, February 05, 2010

{ out my window }


Out my window
....there is snow.
much of it,
seemingly never-ending

out my window
there is a barn-full of friends
waiting for the final thaw
out my window
is a man
with a make-do shovel
carving a path
that will allow the dogs
to rest their feet from
the sharp-coldness of frozen slivers
out my window
are tiny feathered creatures
nesting in brightly colored cups
of recycled wool scraps
out my window
underneath the heavy drifts and banks
is the promise of green beginnings...
{written by me}
yes, I am a poet...i first had a couple poems published when I was a teenager,
and won a couple Poem Laureate awards...
mostly, I keep my poems to myself...in my head.
but I thought I would share this one with you.
I am here in the farmhouse, again.
yesterday was a treat to be able to get out & drive to Lynchburg.
Hannah & I ate at Hardee's
(the Jalepeno Burgers are back! woohoo!!}
and went to the bookstore and to Michaels' & Joann's...
this morning i was supposed to drive to Fishersville to set up for the show tomorrow,
but I can't get out of my driveway - again.
It looks as though I won't make the show tomorrow....hoping that there will be a good turnout though for the people that can make it!
the shop is closed as well today & tomorrow,
because you can't get down my driveway either!

So here I'll stay,
painting, stitching, hooking...
writing poems in my mind.
Wishing you a day-full of dreams...
Blessed be,
Lori

Thursday, February 04, 2010

{ I'm EXPECTING !!!!!! }

....more SNOW that is!!!!!!
THAT got your attention, huh?
{sorry Mom, I'd love to give you another grandbaby...but I'll stick to the fur & feather kind!}
Yepper, the wise a**....
I mean wise old weatherman is now predicting
another good foot of snow for tomorrow into saturday....
hopefully I will be getting all of the orders for the new needlepunch patterns out today..
please remember, they are shipped in the order they are ordered....
Hannah has been home all week from school,
and I think she's 'prolly not going back until she graduates at this rate!
Tomorrow is set-up day for the Winter in the Valley show
{SUCH an appropriate name, no?}
but the weather will play a large role in if I'll make it there or not.
SOOoooo...if YOU brave the snow, and go to the show
and I'm not there, then you'll know why!!!
in the meantime, today looks like the only day I'll be able to get out of here...
been home since sunday and as much as I love this old place,
i NEED to go somewhere!

Barnes & Noble here I come!
LOL
{hey, if I have to be stuck in the house for another week,
I need to stock up on more books & mags, no?}
Salmon & Asparagus for supper, with brown rice on the side.
a typical "spring" meal for us....
hoping to chase away the winter's blues a bit!

& I think it's time for:
RED BEET EGGS!!!!

do you all need the recipe again?
here it is~
6 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1 can red beets
2 cups white or cider vinegar
1 tblsp pickling spice
add all ingredients into a large pickle jar with tight lid.
put in fridge & let set a day or so....
these are great with salad, but Hannah & I eat them right out of the jar...
salted of course!

Wishing you all a beautiful day, get out there & grab some sun while you can!
Blessed be~
Lori

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

{ UFO's & WIP's }

well it's sleeting outside now.
...I have been house-bound since sunday afternoon.
it's a good thing I can keep myself busy!
all of the Unfinished Objects & Works-in-Progress
here will keep me busy for years to come!

above you can see some of the 'almost finished' projects
that will accompany me to the show this weekend....
they have yet to be turned into pillows, their hems turned back, etc...

and I'm working yet on more things:
cross stitched pockets and pincushions,
needlefelted bird's nest pins
and who-knows-what-else...
HOPING that the weather will cooperate for us this weekend and even ALLOW us to
get to the show...hoping it won't be cancelled becasue they are predicting another storm to come for friday the 5th....
UGH.
~and~
since I've not been able to get anywhere,
I haven't been able to ship the new patterns yet, so
PLEASE
be patient with me...
I'm about ready to take the sled & hitch up Pinnochio and Dasiy, to get me outta here!
LOL!
I have pot of Hot Dog Stew on the woodstove today...
what?
you've never heard of Hot Dog Stew?
{ my Mom made this for us back when we were little & money was extremely tight}
here's the recipe:

1 package chicken franks (cut into coin-shaped pieces)
2 potatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 clove crushed garlic
4 cups water
salt and/or ground pepper to taste

in a soup pot, place all of the ingredients.
cover & simmer slowly for a couple of hours...
don't let it boil, your potatoes will disintegrate!!
serve piping hot with saltine crackers or a loaf of crusty bread...
YUM!
Hoping you all have a day filled with warm thoughts & warm hearts!
Blessed be~
Lori