~ Tuesday Morning Musings ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk!

another damp day on tap…

seems as though the thunderstorm that came through last night has passed, 

but it brought in cooler temps.

we even lit the wood stoves again to ward off the chill here in this old farmhouse ~

Iggy has no problem keeping warm

up here in my sewing room

wearing his little fur-pajamas

and snugged into my stitching chair:

thanks for warming up my stitching chair Ig!

snug as a bug

I've set my rug hooking aside for a little while ~

 I have only two weeks to finish up new punch-needle designs that I'll be releasing at the

Prim Stitchers Society {PSS} Retreat

March 31 - April 3 2016

I'm working on 4 new 'motto' designs…

this one says

"Keep Goode Company"

{like the drawing you see in my header above}

Using beautiful Valdani #8 varigated pearl cotton threads …

in shades of cream, blues & the background will be filled in with black/brown ~

I'm using my sweet little Dimensions punch needle to punch these…

I LOVE this little workhorse of a needle!

it helps to switch out between this punch needle and my Cameo {Ultra} punch needle.

If you punch often, you should consider using different styles to keep your hands from getting fatigued.

{I know it helps these farm-wife hands of mine!}

do you see that I have **doubled-up my Valdani in my needle?

meaning, I have pulled one end of the thread 

from the middle of the ball, and pulled another end from the outer surface of the ball…

why?

I don't know.

just works for me I guess…seems to make my loops look more like tiny french knots :)

{**You cannot double-thread a smaller needle with this size #8 pearl cotton…it will not work!}

This Dimensions punch needle has a medium needle-tip that accommodates either all 6 strands of DMC {or other} Cotton floss, OR #8 pearl cotton, doubled or not.

and of course I'm using our handy little 

Farmhouse Ball Jar to hold my ball of pearl cotton…

{without it, I'd be chasing a cat who is chasing a ball of pearl cotton around the dining room table again}

I am excited to tell you that we are creating a new video-series for my 

Youtube Channel

that will allow you to see how I create my needle work ~ 

Beginner Basics to more Advanced Applications

… from drawing your design onto the foundation cloth 

to showing you different techniques to finally completing the project!

these videos will include:

cross stitch

punch needle

rug hooking

wool applique

humble embroidery

So you will be able to watch the videos at your leisure 

~ time & again for reference :)

Look for the announcement of the release of the videos in the next few weeks :)

I'll be sharing more photos of my finished 'motto' designs in the next few days…

they are simple small & quick,

but fun & folky too

~::~

here are the links to the items above, located in our Etsy shop:

Dimensions Punch Needle

Weavers Cloth

Farmhouse Ball Jar

Hoping you all have a wonderfully creative day my friends,

try something new!!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori