Sunday, August 31, 2008

"Witch's Brew" cutting on Ebay

Just added to my ebay auctions
(link to the right sidebar on your screen)

I think I might actually pick up a needle & thread tomorrow...we don't have anything planned for Labor Day, so me thinks it will be a creative day.
I'll post pictures here to let you know what I'll be stitching on!
Happy Labor Day everyone!!!
Stay SAFE!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Party Hats!!!!


I have been in quite the sarcastic mood lately, so I thought if I created some vintage style Party Hats, that would snap me out of it.


I was wrong.


SO, I went 'with it' and designed them to be worn by the person that reeeeally may not want to be the Life of the Party...
LOL!!!

They're available on Etsy...right now.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Rug Hooking Designs...


If you're a Hooker at Heart,

Please go visit my friend Kris' website,



she's just adapted 4 new designs from my work for me...


Binx, Black Cat Society, Trick or Treat and Smell my Feet
have been added to the list of patterns form Notforgotten Farm...

click on the 'patterns' page on her website, then look for 'notforgotten farm'...
(You'll find 'Merrie Hallowe'en" shown above, there too!)

tell her I sent ya!!!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

so much for "Inspiration"...

unbelievable...

I was looking at a couple of my favorite picturetrail sights, and came upon this picture of some Witch silhouettes that look a little TOO familiar to me...


http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20380142

ring a bell?

no, I did not make them.
no, i did not sell the originals NOR copies to these dealers.
no...I'm NOT happy.

I always say that inspiration is a wonderful thing...but, when someone is a little too inspired, well...let's face it...it isn't very pretty.

what some people don't get is, that as a designer, I put alot of time, work & effort into coming up with new & unique things...then I put my heart on my sleeve and load pictures of my deisngs on the internet for the world to see, hoping that I will be recognized for the time & talent...

Usually, things go wonderfully...I've been designing for almost 20 years, and have had only a small number of people be so 'inspired' to emulate my 'look'...fortunate, yes. happy? no.

I do not like it when I find something of mine, which I consider 'mine'...almost blatantly paraded and sold for someone else's profit.

Let's get creative out there, Folks...you have the energies & drive to make something, so why not make SOMETHING of your own???.....

"imitation is the best form of Flattery"...? nope. it hurts. it hurts artists like me who struggle constantly with bringing fresh designs to an already saturated market....where anyone who can pick up a pencil or needle and thread considers themselves to be a "folk artist"....and do what?...copy another person's hard work. that's just not right.

I hope you visit the link above, see for yourself just what I'm talking about...those that follow my work know exactly what it is I'm upset about....those unfamiliar, I'm hoping that you do your homework when buying anything 'handmade'....make sure it is not something that has been "INSPIRED" to the point of copyright infringement...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Prayers needed please...

Hi Friends~
I just was told by my sister Jo that she is now in stage 4 of her cancer...
she also may have a bleed on the brain from some of her medication and will be having a CT Scan tomorrow.
Please continue to hold her in your thoughts and prayers, as well as our family...
Thanks bunches...

Monday, August 25, 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008

New Designs are released!!!

Hi Folks! Happy Saturday to ya~

wanted to share with you my newest designs!!

"Trick or Treat" notecards set of 6 (same design) + envelopes
10.00 per set (5" x 7")

"Smell my Feet" notecard set of 6 (same design) + envelopes
10.00 per set (5" x 7")


"Black Cat Society" needlepunch pattern ~ 8.00 ea.
4" x 6 1/2" finished~


"Binx" needlepunch pattern ~ 8.00 ea.
4 1/2" round when finished


If you're intersted in purchasing, just email me at not4got@aol.com... wholesale inquiries are always welcome too!!!

please let me know what you all think!!!!!



Friday, August 22, 2008

They're coming !!!!


The Halloweenies!!!
...tiny little characters made from needlefelted wool...
with vintage trims and lots of charm & whimsy!!
Look for them and others at my Etsy Shop soon!!!
~ AND ~
Look for 2 new Hallowe'en Notecards, PLUS 2 new Hallow's Eve Needlepunch Patterns
on my Ebay auctions...I'll be releasing them Saturday, Aug. 23rd!!!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

My Sweet Girl ~

I cannot believe that my little girl is growing up so very fast...
Hannah started high School this past monday...how did that happen????
*BLINK*
She has always been my joy & my life, and continues to fill my heart everyday with her laughter, sense of humor & compassion and empathy for all living things...

When she was 2 years old, she ate the candles off of her birthday cake...
and every year since, as we celebrate, we remind her not to do that again!!!

LOL!!!!

She is Musical, Lyrical, Artistic and Magical...

She is Beautiful, Softspoken, Headstrong and Fiercely Independent.

No wall-flower here, folks...

I watch her grow into a young woman with teary eyes...not from sadness, but with pride from knowing that she will make a difference...somehow.

We Love you Hannah,
Thank You for filling Mom and Dad's life with your love & light!!!

and CONGRATULATIONS on your new journey in High School!!!!!

Monday, August 18, 2008

More Wedding Photos ~

Jason & the Boys

Just Married

Felicia's Close-Up

L to R ~ Nadia, Noel, Felicia, Nina (Bella), Jason, Natalie, Jordan

The Honeymooners

So Pretty!!

Bye!!!!

Happily Ever After.....


Sunday, August 17, 2008

Goin' to the Chapel & we're...

Gonna get MA A Aried!!!!
in a baby-blue 1952 Desoto!!!

what a beauty!!!

the ring....

the KISS!!!!!!!


What a FANTABULOUS Wedding Felicia & Jason had!!
...the weather was perfect (albeit dry)...cool & comfy.


the Bride wore a sweet confection of a dress...dusty turquoise blue...strapless & layer upon layer of chiffon & crinoline, with a tiny waist-band held in place with a vintage rhinestone pin....her hair was coiffed into a finger-waved page-boy, that was clipped back on one side with the most beautiful vintage marcasite & silver barrett...just too pretty!!!!


her Groom and Grommsmen wore black trousers, white dinner jackets, black bow-ties & the spiffiest black shoes with white spats!!!


her Bridesmaids all vintage dresses...chiffons and lace...each one a different shade of palest pink and green...


They were accompanied down the aisle by their young son, Nathan, along with a friends daughter, Aubrey...both setting in a vintage wagon, tossing rose petals along the path of the Newlyweds...


The reception was so pretty!
Felicia has been scouring antiques shops for weeks to find vintage tin picnic baskets...she amassed several to place on the reception tables, along with varied antique tablecloths...her flowers were simply fresh garden flowers...sunflowers, blackeyed susans, lavender, cattails, roses...just plain & simple, displayed in blue Ball canning jars....


the Cake was a tower of sweetness...a buttercream frosting adorned with marzipan strawberries & vines...too pretty to eat!


We danced the night away to Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Cluney & the Big Bands...romantic & nostalgic both...
we ate picnic fare food...fried chicken, corn on the cob, beans, coke in repro vintage glass bottles...
we snacked on pixie stix, mary janes, boston baked beans (candies) and fake cigarettes!!!
under the twinkling lights of the arbor and trellis...not to mention the beautifully haunting light from the Full Moon!!!!
A wonderful time, had by all...
Comgrats Jason & Felicia ~
May all your Dreams come True!!!!!!


(More pictures to come, sorry about the tease!!!)

Friday, August 15, 2008



Here are pics of the finished Cake Topper that I made fopr Felicia's wedding tomorrow.
I needlefelted the Bride & Groom Birdies from our own sheeps' wool, after I carded it & overdyed it.
I placed them atop a white paper mache box that I added vintage crepe paper to...then I attached a vintage millinery flowered headpiece as an arbor above their little heads...
the whole thing measures approx. 7" tall

I just loved making this & I think it came out really good...let me know what you all think!!!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Sneak Peek ~


This is a portrait that i painted for our upcoming EHAG challenge this Friday, the 15th of August

The theme is
~ HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL ~

so i painted a rollercoaster ride on a Witch's hat...

What do you think?

I also am making a paperclay pumpkin guy...I'll post pics of him finished tomorrow.

in the meantime, I am almost finished with Felicia's cake topper for her wedding cake
(can't believe that Saturday is her Big Day!)
and I'll post pics of that too for you....


Friday, August 08, 2008

Problems with shipping~

Hi Folks...I've been receiving emails from my customers letting me know that their Hallowe'en Tyme booklets haven't yet arrived or are arriving rather late....Ebay and personal orders included.
They were all shipped out, regular mail through USPS, so unfortunately I cannot track them.
I am happy to ship out replacements to any of you that haven'te received them yet...please just let me know....
Many thanks for all of your continued support and kindness!!

Thursday, August 07, 2008

I am an ARTIST.

Peter, my DH, came into the studio the other afternoon, while I was working away...he said to me, "is there anything you can't or won't do"?...
i replied, "no."
he said back..."that's an artist for ya!"
who...me?
True, I do love a challenge...new mediums to conquer, new techniques to learn and master.
I paint, sew, sculpt, draw, stitch, hook, punch...I bend wire into jewelry and solder metals into charming little things....and I also teach others to do the same.
I have a voracious appetite for anything new, old, funky or familiar.
contradictory? maybe. normal? definitely not...but perfectly sensible to me!
I devour books & magazines, spend countless hours on the internet, always on the hunt for that perfect little NEW thing to 'do'.
I am sloppy. unorganized. forgetful if i don't write notes to myself. I lie awake in bed some evenings with thoughts of colors, textures and designs in my head, that I have to immediately jot down or they'll be lost in the myriad of other swirling ideas...
Many of my friends, are kindred to the creativity process that I love...we chat, gather, create and genuinely love what we do, and each other...and we seem to also share the same principles & ideals...that we can create our own happiness, by....
CREATING.
an artist?
not sure...i guess you could call me that...I consider myself one of many strong women who can fend for herself, whether it is yeilding a paint brush or a pair of pliers...how cool are we?!!

Monday, August 04, 2008

Vintage Rose Bracelet ~




I made this delicate little bracelet today...since I'm 'busy' recuperating from surgery, I can't lift anything really heavy yet, so I'm playing in the studio...


...i got out my boxes of vintage millinery flowers, my silver jump rings, and some vintage mother-of-pearl buttons...joined the buttons to the jump rings...


... made tiny little charms out of some of the vintage velvet flower heads, complete with little fresh-water pearls for stamens...I added some more little pink roses in the form of charms themselves, and topped it off with a small scrabble tile with my initial "L" on it...


I'll be making more for sale here in the shop, but you will also find them on etsy...
my etsy sellername is notforgottenfarm.

Morning Hibiscus ~

Woke this morning to beautiful blowsy blooms of huge pink Hibiscus...

...the ribbed leaves remind me of crepe paper...


What a magnificent artist Mother Nature is....

the double-blessing here is, that my Friend Patsy gave me a small Nandina Berry bush last year...this Hibiscus must have been sleeping in the soil along with the berry bush, and woke this Summer for our amusement & enjoyment!


Sunday, August 03, 2008

We Have A Winner!!!

Many thanks to all that have posted a comment here on my new blog!
Congrats to Deirdre!!!!
AND
for being SUCH a good sport in my zany-little-contest and for posting 3 times in a row... (hahaha)
Sandi from Texas,

I'll be sending along a little something for you too!!!!!
(unless you want me to hang on to it until your visit in September?)
I'll be holding monthly contests from now on 'cause they're just SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

a picture of the giveaway prize!

(above)
5" x 7" collage-under-glass
Silver Soldered edges
hangs by a length of faded ribbon with vintage trims & flowers
layer upon layer of ethereal delight!!

(above)
Reverse side of collage...I've incorporated vintage photos, stamps, a feather from our guinea hens, swiss dotted lace transparency, hand-painted details...

(above)
close-up of faded ribbon & vintage trims...

GOOD LUCK ~ !!!!!!!

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Pictures of the Shop and a Giveaway!!!

Hi Everyone!
I'm hoping that you can come for visits often, as I've been known to post more than once a day!!!
as promised, here are some pics for you:
~ a Sneak Peek of the shop ~

the bedroom, above,
is becoming my favorite place in the shop,
with all of the different vintage fabrics!!!

vintage crocheted pot-holders make a
swell little valance in the 'kitchen' of the shop!!


we've named the white enameled wood-stove 'Pearl'...

the front counter/display case is chock full of vintage hats,
purses, jewelry and boxes!!

a peak into the 'kitchen' area of the shop...
would you like cream and sugar with your tea?

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

I'm also holding a giveaway here at my new blog!!!

if you would be so kind as to leave me a comment on this post, regarding the pictures, changes being made to my shop, just saying 'hi!' ...whatever!!!

be the 7th person to comment, & I'll send you one of my hand-made soldered pieces..this one is 5" x 7", collaged with old photos, pretty floral papers and inspirational words...silver soldered, and hung from a length of vintage ribbon!!!!

So, please tell me what you think of the changes taking place at Notforgotten Farm...and please be kind??

xo