Good Things to come ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk ~

As the days grow more chilly & shorter,

and after all farmhouse & farmyard chores are completed ~

it seems like I find myself more & more snugged up in my stitching chair by the wood stove...

I usually will put a kettle on that little stove

and listen to it quietly whistle it's tune while doing a bit of handwork.

there's something about a whistling kettle that reminds me of being home as a child ~

perhaps it was because my mom always made me a cup of tea in the morning before school?

Handwork & tea seems to soothe my soul ~ they go perfectly well together.

I have been dyeing our Old Farmhouse Linen© for the upcoming Christmas Open House

~ and thought I would also dye up some Osnaburg  for some of my stitching and finished projects ~

... I liked how it turned out SO well, 

that I will be offering it by the fat 1/4 yd. (approx. 18" x 22") in my Etsy shop

for those of you who don't care to stain your own or those that just don't have the time to do so.

Here is an example of the practice-piece I stitched on:

small sampler stitched onto my hand dyed osnaburg ~

Osnaburg,

being an uneven weave, can be used for primitive cross stitching 

as well as for dolls, penny rug backings, pocket/purse linings, sewing roll up linings 

and MANY other things...

I believe the stitch count is 18 stitches per inch 

(using one strand of floss over 2 threads of cloth)

or

35 - 36 stitches per inch 

(using one strand of floss over one thread of cloth)

 I'll be offering the cloth as soon as I can get it listed in the etsy shop.

this was stitched 1 over two (one strand of floss over 2 threads of cloth)

 and I thought I might show you the other sawdust projects I'm working on for the open house too ~

this is one of my Heart Pin Pillows ~

inspired by an antique found in Lancaster, PA a few years back:

it's a big one, measuring in at approx. 10 inches across

and using up scrap calico fabric from my work basket....

sawdust stuffed for a nice old heavy & floppy 'hand' or 'feel'
then...stained with my walnut stain & spiced.

 and here are just a couple of those calico barn cats now having expressions:

momma & two kits'

(... does the large one look grumpy to you? )

I still have to add their braided wool tails...

I will be here working in the shop today,

if you'd like to stop in for a visit and warm up by the wood stove....

bring your workbasket with you!!

Have a beautiful weekend my Friends ~

* Blessed be * 

Lori