Monday, October 31, 2016

~ Early Work Mercantile Update tonight! ~


Hello friends!
please visit www.Earlyworkmercantile.net  
for our November 1st Update!!





~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori

~ It's Here! ~

* Happy Halloween *

∞ Merry Hallowe'en ∞

• Blessed Samhain •

 However you say it or celebrate it....
my best to you!




it's not just a day for door-to-door candy hunting or church parking lot trunk-or-treating
or hideous costumes meant to scare the bejeebers out of each other!
... no, it's much more than that.

Today we remember our loved ones who've passed on before us... 
and for me,
 that includes all of my beloved animal friends ~ 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞



it's a day to light candles 
and set places at our tables for those who are no longer here in body...
to honor them for the goodness they did or could do while they were with us.
and to keep them always alive in spirit.

 


listen to the wind today ~
you'll hear them.
look to the shadows today ~
you'll see them.

{{ sit very very still and feel them all around us }}
let them visit with us once again as the veil thins tonight...
 



 I will be taking a nice long walk today
... deep in my woods,
to a place where I feel most-connected to my lost loved ones...
and ask them to guide and protect me
and surround me always
~ with their love and light.




~ Memento Mori ~

James L. Smith
Lucille Brechlin
Jo-ene Berke
Loureda Geiste
Robert Geiste
Frederick Geiste
Thomas Geiste
Miriam Geiste
Dorothy Geiste

and Marmalade, Spanky, Suzy, Tippy, Samson ~
Buster, Frannie, Buddy, Lazy...

Always remember, never forget.
 
 ~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori 
 ☾.•*¨*☆*¨*•.☽

Sunday, October 30, 2016

~ Coming Soon ~

  
Hello Friends & Folk!
Remember to join the Artisans of Early Work Mercantile
for our "Log Cabin Christmas" on November 1st & 15th...
 
www.earlyworkmercantile.net

**I'll have a few humble stitchings for you**
 :)

~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

Saturday, October 29, 2016

~ Yes we are.... ~


Farm Shop is Open Today ~
10:00 - 4:00
 

~ grab your workbasket and come on in for a little needlin' around!
{{I baked molasses cookies}}
 

~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori

Friday, October 28, 2016

~ Snippets ~

~ Good Morning Friends & Folk ~ 
... how frosty & snappy this morning is!

I take great pleasure being here on this farm ~ 
... from the daily watching of the sun traveling around it, visiting each room and touching  the old wood floors with beams of dusty-light...
to the twinkling of the stars in the clear skies at night, 
~ it gives me such a sense of calm & peacefulness.

I love how I can see, through our old wavy glass windows,
small glimpses of the fields and woods that surround our snug farmhouse on all sides
and know that we are safe, warm & dry no matter the weather.

Lately, 
my days are spent creating ~ constantly creating...sketching, designing...
and I move from room to room depending on what I'm working on.

when I am working on my old Pfaff treadle machine, 
you'll find me upstairs in my well-lit sewing room surrounded by piles of fabric, wool & velvets.
~ sitting amongst strewn-about snippets and threads.




if I am hooking, 
punching or hand stitching, you can find me anywhere ~
 but most-likely in our Keeping Room, 
{{which holds our beloved woodstove and my most favorite collectibles}}
and I'm usually watching an old movie or two. 

I've been working on this, a project that I started yesterday;
which combines wool/fabric applique 
and perhaps a little bit of punching or cross stitch will be added to it too.

I'm liking my results thusfar, do you?



my preference for applique is to use linen-colored thread and tiny primitive stitches
 ~ i do like the blanket-stitch, but I love the UN-eveness that I can achieve 
with minuscule whip stitches instead...  

to me,
 stitching in this fashion is more relaxing and more primitive.


~ she has such a sweet face ~ 


a little more hooking has been happening too,
using beautiful spicy warm & color-saturated wools ~
... bringing my sketches to life in lambswool loops.


as well as a few tiny cross stitches in my wooden hoop,
worked freehand onto cupboard cloth...
~ no pattern, just letting my mind & hands do the work and enjoying the process.




I see that some of you reading this have already received some flakes of snow!
...I am eagerly waiting for signs of them here ~
knowing that the long Winter season will finally be upon us makes me happy.

I am not a 'summer' girl.
 I was born in a blizzard in Connecticut, 
in February 1963.

I prefer dreary cold & rainy days spent snugged up in my cozy farmhouse
with a kitten or two and some handwork nearby...

give me a pair of boiled-wool socks and a sweater
over shorts & flip flops any-day.

 


 Hoping you all have a beautifully creative day!
~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

~ Wednesday Morning Musings ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk

44* this morning as I enjoyed my hot tea on the porch....
although it has cooled off tremendously, we still are enjoying bits of summertime around us ~
... like our huge banana tree, happy little fig tree and red tomatoes on the vine!



the black walnuts are dropping by the minute ~ they hit our tin barn roof and the sound echoes through our little 'holler' like gunshots ~ sending the peacock, chickens, guineas & ducks into alarm.
the donkey's are used to it now though...

can you believe it will be Hallowe'en in 5 short days?
heading to Ohio for the From our Hands show in 14 days!?!
where does the time go...


this time of year is tricky for choosing what to wear too ~
sweater in the morning, shorts by afternoon & sweatshirt by nightfall :)
but I'll take it rather than days upon days of heat & humidity,
... that just "plum" wears me out!

{love my little spooky jack below}



~•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••~

Peter wanted me to let you all know that FINALLY 
we will be offering more of our wonderful steel-shank Primitive Rug Hooks ~





I use mine constantly, 
love the shape of the hook and the fact that they are magnetized is awesome...



two, wool-covered magnets 
{one on the front of my work, the other underneath on the back}
hold my scissors & hook on my frame while I work...
handy-dandy!
 
 


We have the actual steel shanks made exclusively for us by a local machinist
~ who does a superb job at creating just the size & shape we want.

Peter & Chris lathe-turn the handles in our woodshop, 
from our farm-grown & home-milled trees 
then paint them in the color you'd like.

The red & blue handled ones you see below 
are brand-spanking new and have never pulled a loop....
 ~ you can tell they are shiny & sharp next to my 'honed' black hook.




the more you use one of our steel {or brass} primitive rug hooks,
the more 'mellow' it becomes...
their sharpness will dull a bit more, and the color of the metal 
will take on a glow from the oils on your hands and lanolin from the wools you work with. 

... as each metal shank & hand turned handle are made individually & each one by hand,
no two will ever be the exact same, although very very similar.




We will be adding them to our Etsy shop very soon,
along with our new Winter/Holiday needlework patterns & thread winders ~
OH! {almost forgot}
 Peter has another 'surprise' for us 'Hookers' out there
...something to helps us organize our wool strips while we work.
{more on that to come}
;)

 now, I'm heading out for another walk to look for turkey feathers in our deep woods.

Have a beautiful Autumn day my sweet friends!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

~ Classes and HUGE News ~


I love teaching ~ 
whether it's rug hooking, punch needle, applique or cross stitch...

it doesn't matter to me what it is actually,
as long as my students are happy!

Those that 'know' me ~ 
know that I am animated, outspoken and sometimes-nuts.
ok, more-than-sometimes-nuts.
{I prefer to call myself passionate}

 

This past Saturday 
we enjoyed another punch needle class here at the Farm Shop ~
some of us were old hats at this and others were complete beginners. 

we chatted, punched & learned.
I helped the newbies learn the basic techniques while
the advanced students quickly made progress and happily punched away.
 



Miss Joan celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday, 
and we all celebrated at the class with her by having chocolate cake!
 YAY!!!






 
~ Happiest Birthday to you ~
my Dearest Friend Joan
xoxoxoxoxoxox

and
Thanks to all of the Girls who came out for the class, and helped us celebrate ~

Oh ~ 
If I seemed a bit-more cranky than usual at the class, I apologize...
I've just been super busy and slightly overworked lately.
~ nothing a good long walk in the deep woods won't fix!
{and chocolate...chocolate is good for that too!}

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In Other News:
 here is the BIG NEWS that I've been keeping secret:
I have been asked to teach & vend at  Sauder Rug Week in 2017!!!! 

Here is the Link for you to read more about 2016's FABULOUS event:


I am MORE than humbled and nervous, excited & blessed to have been asked ~
this is an event that I personally have wanted to attend for many many moons...
and now I can't believe I'll get the chance to go AND be a small part in the actual event.
{{ I am working on the class project model now, a combo project for rug hooking/punch needle }}

the Sauder website should be updating on/around November 1st for the 2017 details.

 well friends, I'm off & running...miles to go before I sleep tonight ~
Next posting I will share with you some more of the finished goods
that I'll be bringing with me to the From Our Hands show!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

Thursday, October 20, 2016

~ Coming Attractions ~


It is so very hard to create winter/holiday-themed folk art 
~ when temps are in the high 80's!
 but, I am....
and making goode progress I might add!

for those that live on another planet,
this is the show that I'm in the midst of creating for...
{{click *HERE* for more info}}




 and here are just a few of the offerings I will be bringing with me ~



~ plenty more punching, hooking & stitching to go,
plus lots more to 'finish-finish' ;)

I'll keep you posted on my progress.


~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

~ Upcoming Class ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk ~
and happy Wednesday to you!

is it really October the 19th?
I mean...
was it not just June and I was teaching 
at Ye Country Mercantile in Sturbridge, Mass.??
where does the time go....

 I wanted to pop in here this morning to remind my preregistered students 
that this coming Saturday is Class day for the
Dimensional Black Cat Paddle project!

Students: 
if you already have a punch needle and hoop/frame, bring them to class with you.
{{your supply fee will be lower}}
for those who don't already have a punch needle/frame/hoop,
I have them here for you to purchase.

what to bring to class:
a happy disposition & sense of humor. 
{I'll supply snacks/lunch/drinks}

~ class begins around 10:30, but come a little early ~
 



this class is FULL ~ 
but I will be offering more punch needle classes in the near future 
and post them as soon as I get my Winter 2016/2017 schedule going.

**Please Note**
There will be NO 'Crafty Saturday' this saturday due to the class,
BUT if you're in the neighborhood and want to come shop, please be our guest!
 
~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

Monday, October 17, 2016

~ Little Stitches Handwork Club Model ~

 Hello Friends & Folk!
Finally I have a chance to post photos 
of the finished model for the Oct/Nov/Dec 2016

here is:
"There's no Place like..."



Home...
the sweetest word in the dictionary ~

 


my beautiful model was crossed stitched by the talented & able hands of friend 
Beth Wiksen
{many thanks dear!}
and I finished it into this sweet cupboard hanger, 
... shaped like a house with a wool appliqued roof.




Current Members:
your kits are already on their way!
YAY!!!

Folks interested in joining or renewing can click



 Now to finish the next Primitive Punch Needle Club {PPNC}
model for Nov/Dec/Jan!!
{photos coming soon}
click * HERE *  for details 
or to renew/join in on the fun!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 
Lori

Saturday, October 15, 2016

~ Crafty Saturday ~

Hello Friends & Folk!
and a hearty happy Saturday to you all ~
our little Farm Shop will be
OPEN today from 10:00 - 4:00

I have fresh baked blueberry cornbread & hot tea/coffee for you!


see you soon :)

~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

~ Previews and Ponderings ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk!
oh how I love a chilly morning here on the farm ~
Peter lit the woodstove for me to take the chill off this old farmhouse...
~ what a wonderful feeling to see it lit and smell the familiar tang of woodsmoke once again.

I wanted to take a moment before I begin my day,
to share with you a few previews of things-to-come;
First, 
while I was in Connecticut I received the model for the 
Oct/Nov/Dec Little Stitches Handwork Club
from sweet Beth who stitched it for me ~ Beth, your stitching is beyond perfect!
Thank you so very much once again :)

 Please forgive the tardiness of getting this quarter's kits out  ~
 I am running a tad behind on things since spending much-needed time with family up north.
here are just a couple of peeks:


Members of the LSHC will be receiving their kits in a few days ~
I yet have to put this model together and show you the 'finish-finish', but I think you will love it as much as I do when you see it...


If you would like to join our Little Stitches Handwork Club ~ or renew your membership,
you can click *HERE* 


 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Secondly ~ while visiting up North
I had a relaxed time with family, which allowed me to complete a few punch needle projects...
here are a few photos of them just waiting to be 'finish-finished' again!

Angels & Cats seem to be a 'thing' with me this year
;)








 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

and, Last but not least....
while on my way home from CT I stopped in PA at the Black Rose Antiques Mall...
{I swear my car has a homing-device implanted in it and it just 'finds' these shop!}
 ~ while on my way OUT of the mall, seemingly with no luck in finding anything ~
I turned to say 'thank you' to the shop proprietress and spotted this box:
of course the red-over-green paint appealed to me from the start...and the size is perfect too,



 but when I lifted the lid to find this I nearly swooned ~
there was a tray with tiny compartments! oh boy....


 and as if that didn't already clinch the deal for me to buy it,
I lifted out that top tray to find another!!!!!


I was squealing like a school-girl when I lifted out the second tray
and found yet another compartment at the very bottom!



I have always kept a basket of needlework supplies on our coffee table
in reach of my stitching chair and for those moments of impromptu stitching....
but now I had found THEE perfect box to hold ALL of my stuff!

 

of course, I emptied the now overflowing basket out,
and placed all of my hooking, punching & stitching accoutrements into the hand-hewn trays...
I have to clean the bottom-inside of the box a little better before I can place my weavers cloth, 
wool & calico fabrics in the very bottom.


Score one for me!
of course this will stay here in the farmhouse, and not be lugged around with me on my travels...
{{{as much as I do want to show it off "in person" to the world!}}}
 my pink-toolbox will be my traveling companion, as I shared with you in a previous posting ;)



 Well folks, I am off to the shop to process orders and ship them.
Thank you to all who continue to support us & what we do..
I'll be back soon again with more creative fun, finishes & Big News!!

P.S.
yes, I have changed my blog to a new header & background.
...in my mind I am getting prepared for the long, cold Winter ~ 
so I added a gentle snowfall for you too...

~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori