Friday, April 29, 2011

Simple Stitches ~

I've never been one for 'fancy' things...

the plainer the better for me.


I'm drawn to drab colors & uncomplicated design
and I try to incorporate both into my work.


I would much rather work with a simple needle and thread
than any new-fangled thing...



I am still pleasantly surprised when I finish a sampler
or project ~ as I watch the finish come to life on cloth...

I love to incorporate olden dates and names,
...some fictual, some actual ~
and sometimes one will speak to me as if I actually knew them.



sitting in my chair,
working with thread, needle and cloth ~
creating something that hopefully will be passed
on to another generation of needlewoman...


appreciated for what they are;


simple little stitches
gifts from the past.




Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Thursday, April 28, 2011

In Progress...

Hi Folks!


hope you're all safe from the terrible storms we've been having...
this morning sounded like a freight train coming through our usually-peaceful farmstead...



..howling winds and torrential rains...

our basement has taken on some water, so the old pump has kicked on....


anyhoo,

since it's been such wonderful weather for creating,
I wil have a couple of offerings this month on




please join me,
...as well as the other wonderful artisans
on Sunday, May 1st ~


Blessings from the Farm...
Lori

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Early American Life magazine

has a great article on the Putnam family of Massachusetts ~


if you're interested in history and needlework like me,
you'll want to get a copy of this issue!
(I bought mine at Barnes and Noble but you can go to www.ealonline.com to subscribe)


I'll be working on my Witches Garden sampler today
...am almost finished with the second band...

it is going to be beautiful once finished...I'm stitching it on 32ct, 1over 2 threads and will share pics later today of my progress...


please don't forget to visit
www.midnightfarm.blogspot.com
...for a chance to win my little pinkeep!

Have a wonderful day full of happy stitches!


Blessings from the Farm...
Lori

Monday, April 25, 2011

Strawberry Tart Pinkeep ~

Good Morning Folks!!


it is a beeeutiful day here on the farm....
you should hear the robins singing this morning ~
and the little whipporwills lulled us to sleep last night....


ahhhhh,....spring!


we had a great Easter weekend, as I hope you all did as well....
so much to be thankful for ~ friends, family and FOOD!

I think I'll have to walk an extra mile or two today to help
shed the couple of poounds I've put on since friday!


BUT


here is a little
FAT FREE treat ~


it's a little wool Strawberry Tart pinkeep!


I've stitched it from handdyed wool, stuffed it with cotton and crushed walnut shells.
stitched on leaves made from old feedsack, then settled it onto a nest of dried moss...
lastly, I placed it into a little antique tin tart cup!!

the 'seeds' are pins that I've painted black ~

SWEET!

I'll be putting these in the shop for the open house.

IN OTHER NEWS:

our beautiful peacock-couple,
Billy & Sky
are expecting!!!!

Sky has laid 4 precious eggs so far, and I am told that she will lay another dozen or so before she will actually set on them to hatch them...
remember last year when we hactched 2 of her eggs in the incubator?
sweet little dears didn't live long, so we are letting
Mother Nature work her magic this time!!!

I will keep all posted on the progress and share pictures soon!


Hoping you all have a most wonderful day
~ full of sweet treats & beautiful things!


Blessings from the Farm...
Lori

Sunday, April 24, 2011

ppsssst....have you heard...???


I'm holding a giveaway on my other blog....


www.midnightfarm.blogspot.com

{{{{{ jump on your broom & fly on over there !! }}}}






Blessings from the Farm...


Lori

Wishing you....

...and yours
a very Happy Easter!!



Blessings from the Farm...


Lori

Saturday, April 23, 2011

little heart & hand pinkeeps....



Hello Friends & Folk ~


these, and more like them
...will be available at our spring open house on may 7th ~



each one measures approx. 6" long


and are stuffed with cotton and crushed walnut shells...





... little helping hands to hold your pins and needles ~


they'll be available in brown or blue hearts.




the pair shown here will be in my etsy shop in just a bit,
and will be sold separately...


((( ~ BOTH HAVE SOLD thank ye kindly ~))))




I'm finishing up my next design for the next issue of
Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine,
it is a cross stitch pattern with a nautical-theme...




Hoping you all have a wonderful Easter Weekend
and a Blessed Ostara!



Blessings from the Farm...
Lori

Friday, April 22, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Easter Weekend Shop Hours



Good Morning Folks!
wanted to let everyone know that the shop will be
CLOSED


today, friday & saturday
so that we may enjoy a long Easter Holiday weekend with family & friends....





above you can see a picture of my traditional
Onion Skin dyed Easter Eggs...




wishing you all the blessings of the holiday~

Lori

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

New Arrivals!


Good Morning Folks~
...my New Arrivals are

Ready to Ship!


here are:

"Bless my Scissors"

stitch count ~ 95w x 97h

pattern 8.00

~AND~

"Lovely May"
stitch count ~ 79w x 92h
pattern ~ 8.00

if you'd like to place an order email me at not4got@aol.com
and I'll total you up...

these will be available in my etsy shop as well...


and SPEAKING of new arrivals,
here are a couple...


brand new baby chicks hatched yesterday!..


um...wait a minute,,,





THAT'S not a baby chick!!!

...nope, it's a baby Cottontail rabbit that Buddy brought to me last night.....

AAWWWWWwwwwww~


...he snuggles up with his best friends in their little box...
he is drinking replacer milk and is very healthy!!





...here are my Three Amigo's
all sleepy & content....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

wishing you a wonderful day full of suprises!!!



Blessings from the Farm...
Lori

Monday, April 18, 2011

I'm Here!!!

really, I AM!!

I have the In-Laws visiting this week, so I might not post every day as usual...

but I'm here if you need me!!


:) (thanks for your concerned emails about my 2 day absence!!)

just busier than usual this week!!



Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Prom Night ~


...last night was Hannah & Skyler's Junior Prom~

aren't they adorable?

remember I told you that they both wanted to re-visit the 1980's with their clothing & hairstyles,

so that's why they are decked out like this!!


here are Skyler, Hannah, Natalie & Tyler looking good~



they wrote PROM 1984 on their car window...

Beautiful kids, each one.... we are so thankful that we have them to love!!
ahhh....memories in the making....



Blessings from the Farm... Lori

Friday, April 15, 2011

Simple Stitches ~

I've been busy designing, and Felicia has been busy stitching them!


I wanted to design a series of small (6" x 6") samplers that incorporated my favorite things in word form, AND have them represent the letters of the alphabet ~ so far I have: Baskets and Brooms Primroses and Pincushions Houses and Herbs

& Samplers and Stitches

I'll be designing up the rest & sending them over to Miss Flea for the stitching, then I will figure out how I will finish them ~

a quilt perhaps? pincushions? what are YOUR ideas for finishing them? remember, there will be 26 of them!!!


I'd love to hear your input ~ let me know your thoughts!!!



Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Fresh Picked ~

yummmmm ~


there's nothing better than fresh Strawberries... with whipped sweet cream and sprinkled with cinnamon & brown sugar!

aren't these beauties???


plump & ripe....


BUT they're not edible!! ....they are necklace charms that I made this morning from sculpted paperclay & wool leaves!!!


each one measures approx. 1 1/2" long and have been hand painted & aged by me... then they are given a nice rub of beeswax for a mellow glow ~


wouldn't these look SWEET worn with your linen shirt for the summer months?


they are available for 12.00 each in my etsy shop ~


I'll be in the shop today, processing your orders and working on more handmades for the open house...


if you're in the neighborhood, stop in & say hello!!





Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Farmhouse Vignettes ~

The laundry is hanging out to dry, the farmhouse is clean & shiny ~


so I thought I'd just snap a few pics and share them with you while I'm 'between' projects!


a favorite wooden trug filled with old sewing hoops, string, thread & buttons...

a sweet old doll, companion and blue bowl

graces the front of my blue mantle...


children's clothing grace a pegrack made from tobacco stick & old nails...

the open cupboard is my absolute favorite & I fill her with

my beautiful covered box collection ~


AND

how true is the saying here:
I love old motto samplers, and this one is done in blackwork...

it is frayed and faded, but still stands the test of time~ like True Friendship!!


Today ~ I will be working on finished goods for the open house~ good, old fashioned primitive-farmhouse wares & decor...

...simple & true,

from Me to You!


Have a beautiful day, my friends!


Blessings from the Farm...Lori

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Old School ~


I love my computer ...really, I do...

it helps me connect with friends, family and all of you here!


I love how fast I can get in touch with someone, place orders for goodies or ...visit a shop in another part of our ever-shrinking world. I love my needlework, too...even more than I love my computer~ it soothes and relaxes me and keeps my brain semi-sharp


I even design my cross stitch patterns on a software program....


but sometimes...

when all is calm and I have a moment or two...


when I don't want to bask in the glow of a computer screen and play with hundreds of tiny pixels, I get out my trusty graph paper and favortie pen....


I can sit quietly and let me mind wander as my hand pens dots onto squares Over and over again...

Some of my (I think) best work has come from such moments ~


leaving the modern world behind and forgetting about mega-giga-hertz-wurtz...

...whatever....


Slowing down with pen & paper is a joy that has become lost...


I intend to find it again!!!


Hoping you all have a relaxing evening, spent with those who love you most!



Blessings from the Farm...Lori

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Bless My Scissors ~

Here's another little quick-stitch that I finished this morning... (Felicia did the cross stitching for me)


"Bless My Scissors"

done on 28ct cashel, walnut stained and finished into another pin pillow...


here's the back:

measures approx. 6 3/4" x 6 3/4" when finished pattern available soon, along with "Lovely May" and a couple others! (as soon as I can get them finished up!) ~AND~


I'm working on my next punchneedle project for the next issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine...


{{Thank you to SO many who've emailed to say how much they are enjoying my 'Helping Hand' project!!!}}

Have a Wonderful Sunday, my Friends ~



Blessings from the Farm...Lori

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Lovely May ~ sampler finish



Hello Friends!


thought I'd share my finish with you ...before heading out to the shop....

here is "Lovely May"...


i decided to finish it into a pin pillow, as it measures a large 8" x 5.5" ~


I really love the way the linen took my walnut stain...

it was stitched on 28ct dirty 'cashel' linen (my new favorite thanks to Stacy!)


it will be available soon as a pattern, ... as I'm working on a couple more to offer at the same time ~ I'll keep you posted!!


rainy & grey here today at the farm... a beautiful day to stay inside, listen to some bluegrass music and...

STITCH!!!

Blessings from the Farm... Lori

Thursday, April 07, 2011

All dressed up ~

...and no place to go!

the three dolls that you saw yesterday, now complete with wool hair and dresses...



each has a personality of her own...

one has blue hair, the other brown and the third red.



do they look like they're telling secrets? ...or exchanging recipes? or whispering about their unusual hairstyles I gave them perhaps.... ...they measure approx. 11 inches long.



{{ do you not love the old basket they're sitting in? I found it in Mechanicsville while at Rug Fest the other weekend....

it's primitively perfect!}}


I will be making more of them for the shop, but for now theses girls will need to find new homes
SO if you would like to adopt one, two or all three~ they can be a part of your family for 18.99 each + shipping please specify your choice by haircolor: red, brown or blue :) How do you like my new blog template? that Amy has done it again!! (www.amybugsells.com)

I love the little farmhouse~

...........................................................................

I'll be finishing up the "Lovely May"sampler today and will share pics with you tomorrow of the finish...


Have a great Friday & enjoy the Spring Rains!!

Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Playing with Dolls....

Good Morning Folks! thought I's share these three little dolls with you...

yes, they're nekked & hairless~

but won't be soon :)

I've been thinkin' about adding a new line of primitive doll patterns to my needlework pattern line...


I used to design & sell doll patterns way before I started designing samplers & such... you may even have one of my earlier patterns?
"Hester CAWdwell", a colonial crow Ladye "Bittersweet" a painted fabric doll "Little Patriot", a boy doll that wears a newspaper hat....

and many others... I was also thinkin' about re-offering them in my etsy shop....

what do you think? are there still any primitive doll makers/lovers out there? I collect them, make them and love them, so my answer doesn't count!!!


I'll be in the shop today, processing & packing orders... Peter is home today, working on my car ~ oh joy.

well, at least I'll be happy to have it on the road again.,..

and, while I'm on the subject, please let me thank Miss Felicia for allowing me to "borrow" her old car, which we've nicknamed 'Othello'

(thank you, my friend...xoxoxox to you)



Hoping you all have a beautiful & productive sun-shiny day!!



Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Morning visitors ~

Usually, the dogs will smell them before I see them,

but this morning ~ they slept in I guess!!


out my kitchen window was this small family of White Tail Deer...

at the bottom of the pic above, you can see a remnant of what was once a little summer kitchen in our backyard.... oops! I think she heard me!! and here are Mr. & Mrs. Eastern Bluebird...
shopping the houses that Peter built... these houses are along the fenceline that surrounds the donkey's paddock.
I think they've found the perfect Love Nest to start their little family!!

I love early Spring...it brings us many pleasures!!! new growth, twitterpating feathered friends, and baby everythings!!! we have about 40 eggs in the incubator, and the chicks should be arriving in a couple of weeks... just in time for our Spring Open House on May 7th!! I'm off now to hang the wash on the line... Hoping you all have a beautiful Spring day!!!!

Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Teaching a class in Georgia ~

A sampler class is in the works for October 7 - 8 2011 at the Stitch store http://www.stitchstore.net/

in Buford, GA ~

if you're interested, please let Terrie know at

terrie@stitchstore.net

or comment on her blogpost at www.terrie-pruett.blogspot.com


details to follow!!

:)



Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Dyeing Threads...and other things ~

I always dye my threads... usually after my stitching project is complete, ...but sometimes I don't want the entire project overdyed

SO

I tend to dye them first:


these colors, although aren't by any means bright, to me, still needed 'something'...

... so I brew a pot of coffee... (no instant coffee for me folks) take the skein wrappers off, and dunk the skeins HALFWAY down intot he pot of hot brew ~ ...place them on my trusty little stained & dinged-up cookie sheet and pop them into a preheated 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes... THEN I check them and turn them and in they go again for another 5 minutes...
after they reach my desired amount of SCORCHED-NESS (?) I will let them air dry fully before using them... dipping them down into the coffe half-way lends a variegated look that I love....


AND

my friend Joan (hi Joan!!) love little "sew-y" gadgets and introduced this gizmo to Flea & I the other week...

a teeny tiny OTT lamp!!!

it's as big as a cell phone and believe me when I tell ya... it is BRIGHT!!!


I love how it can clip on anything, and travels well in my sewing basket....

$20 at Michaels, not bad!!!!! (it is battery operated, so buy those lithium, long-lasting ones)

AND one more thing....


the UPS-man just brought my batch of Primitive Quilt and Projects Magazine!!!!

(I will be selling these in the shop & they are now available

if you'd like to purchase a copy, please let me know!)

my copy is waiting for me and a steaming cup of pomegranate-green tea laced with white clover honey...

(i did a quick peak and had to sit down...oh my stars & garters!!!)

GO GET YOURS!!!!



I want to thank all of the folks at www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com

for including me in this beautiful, high-quality publication....

look for my series of projects in the first four issues!!!

have a wonderful day my Friends!!!



Blessings from the Farm...

Lori

Monday, April 04, 2011

Wrinkles and All.....

well, I told you I would show you the new cross stitch project I'm working on...

I guess I could have ironed out the wrinkles in the linen before I snapped these .....

but then again, I don't iron out my own wrinkles, so it is what it is!


this little basket will be filled with tiny Forget-Me-Not flowers.... in thread, of course....

but soon.... VERY soon, I will be gathering some of these ...to fill my own baskets and bowls~ Tansy: Scarlet Bee Balm:
Hosta:
and Strawberries:
most everything in the shop's herb garden has begun to sprout new...


today will be in the 70's and sunny, ... so I will work out there to clean all of the winter away.


I'll show you more pics of the little basket as it comes along!


get outside today, if you can...if only for a moment.

the fresh air & sunshine will do your Heart & Soul good!!

Blessings from the Farm... Lori