Saturday, December 31, 2016

~ A New Year ~


 Another year is over, 
...almost.

~ I'm happy to welcome 2017 ~

 here are a few more of my favorite antique postcards for you ~
some are sweet, some just plain silly.
{all are from Pinterest}


not sure what's in those sacks...

French postcard, love this one!


little ladybugs!  

how cute are they?

love the Pierrot & Pig!

another pig! never knew they were so popular :)

to keep them from pelting you! violets are my favorite flower....

this little lass looks like she is walking down our very own dusty road...


I would love a little frog to serve me champagne!

 and of course, 
those kittens get me every time...




Spending a quiet eve at home
with good friends to ring in the New Year...

Be safe everyone!
& Happy New Year!!

Blessings from the Farm ~ 
Peter & Lori

Friday, December 30, 2016

~ Creative Minds ~

Have you heard?
in just a few hours there will begin another 
1 Year of Stitches embroidery project 
happening on FB and Instagram ~

I heard about it through my Humble Work Hand Embroidery group on FB
and decided to join in on the fun!
Here's the Humble Work group link:
 and
Here is the link to the 1 Year of Stitches 2017 FB group:

I encourage you all to break out of your comfort zones 
 ~ and do a little soul-searching through needle and thread.




I've chosen to work my Year of Stitches
on my 10" Morgan hoop, using threads that I have here in my sewing room...
some antique French threads, Valdani, DMC, over-dyeds from Gentle Art & Weeks Dye Works,
and wool threads from Moire ~ just a happy mix of textures and colors....


my base fabric is a stained Osnaburg, which I nicknamed 'Cupboard Cloth' ~
which has a look of homespun cloth, 
and can be cross stitched upon as well as embroidered on...
{{ but know that it is an UNeven-weave cloth}}

I don't have any solid plans for exactly WHAT I'll be stitching day-to-day, 
I think I'll try a different stitch a day and see where that goes.

I'm so excited to be a part of this project, along with SO MANY of you
and can't wait to see the progress on Instagram & FB




If you have not had the pleasure of visiting 
Brown Paper Bag
a website dedicated to illustration and needlework,
here is the link: http://www.brwnpaperbag.com/
I have never seen so much creative talent in one place before!!!
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
I'm steadily working on this at the moment,
other of my embroidered hearts ~ 

I finished the basket last night,
and now am on to the florals & such...

{{I am loving the white threads on the old brown calico.}}
will stain this when complete for an early look too.



 
** look for new 2017 patterns for my
rug hooking, cross stitch, punch needle and embroidery soon.
 
Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori

Thursday, December 29, 2016

~ Moving Forward ~

 Good Morning 
♡ Friends & Folk ♡

it rained heavily last night ~
but this morning is a bright & sunny one!
 ... how nice to wake up to a day that seems like it was washed clean...
scrubbed behind the ears by Mother Nature herself :)

I love this time of the year, 
 these last few days of the year lends a glance back at my previous postings
 and the things I've accomplished ~ sometimes I can't believe how full of blessings my life is ~
reflecting on changes to be made, while nodding to the future always sparks my creativity more!

I've been walking more than usual, 
it really is helping with my 50-something aches & pains.
stretching and low-weights help too.
 keeping better care of my physical self 
~ will only improve other parts of my being.

Today's walk will be in a different part of the woods ~
 to a place that I don't visit often enough...
I'll be sure to bring my camera with me so I can share it with you all.
∞∞∞

I've made progress on that freehand cross stitch/embroidery project
 that I shared with you in my last posting; I'm in no rush to finish it.
Instead I'm savoring each stitch and pull of thread ~

here it is thus-far:


I'm stitching her apron now ~
using two strands of cotton thread and scattered cross stitches...

 

 Here is my favorite stitching spot,
upstairs in my quiet old farmhouse...in my comfy chair
right next to a bright east-facing window.




surrounded by stacks of books & piles of fabric
big and small hoops, frames and most-importantly ~
my beloved collections of things that please my heart & soul.

the sunlight filters through one of my antique christening gowns
hung in the same window.... giving a sense of peace and calmness.

 
 

~ Stitching Mends thy Soul ~





stitches used so far:
french knot, cross, satin & straight stitch

thread colors used are
 DMC 610, 3852, 732, 831, 924, 3064 & ecru



although I am enjoying this project,
I'll have to put it aside for just a bit...
~ to finish work on a few offerings for January 1st's



 P.S.
Don't forget you have one more day to save 10% on your total purchase in our ETSY shop
 by using the Coupon Code 
"justforme2017" at checkout!

 
Blessings from the Farm ~
  Lori

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

~ Needle & Thread {and Linen, too} ~

 Good Morning 
~ Friends & Folk ~

we woke to raindrops on the tin roof this morning,
{{ a sound that always tells me that it will be a great day for handwork! }}
...most folks don't welcome the rain,
but I always do.
I'll even go for a walk in it after breakfast.
{one of my 'other' favorite things to do}



I've had this idea floating around in my head for a couple of days,
and this morning I put it to paper,
and linen...


If you are a regular reader,
you'll know I've been recently talking about my 'freehand' cross stitching...
well, this is going to be a pattern for that ~

I usually stitch them on muslin or other plain cloth,
but decided that I wanted a different look for this design.

So I searched through my stash 
and found a pretty cream/tan Buffalo plaid/check linen 
that I had 'waiting' for just the right project...
~ this is 28 count.

I begin by sketching a design in pencil on paper, 
~ then going over the sketch with a fine tip sharpie.
After that, I place my linen directly over the inked design 
and trace through onto the linen using same pencil.

Being that that linen is a light color, and a 28 count ~
it is easy to see the paper pattern through...
you may want to use a light box 
or sunlit window to transfer yours.




Now
here's the fun part!
after tracing the penciled design onto the linen,
just begin stitching the design by 'eye-balling' your cross stitches ~

I prefer the continental-method of cross stitching, 
meaning all of my half-stitches will go to the right, before coming to the end of the row
where I will go back over and cross all of my previous stitches.

and
NO COUNTING ALLOWED :)




{{for photo purposes, I took my linen out of my hoop}}

my rows are not straight or even ~ some of my cross stitches are 2 x 3, 3 x 2, etc...
some are wide, others are short,
and I am not concerned with that at all....

I am purely stitching by happenstance
 :)
ahhhh.....
freedom to be me!




wherever my needle lands is where I'll make a stitch ~
wonky? 
why, yes.
unprofessional looking?
 you betcha, 
...and happily so.
but, when I am in the rhythm of stitching like this
it is so cathartic
so forgiving
that I can literally lose myself to daydreams 
and other household distractions that conventional
counted threadwork will not allow...
yay!



... will I complete this design using all of these tiny misshapen cross stitches?
I dunno, 
we'll see when we get there...

 I might add some other sundry embroidery stitches to her dress,
flowers and pet bird.
I love satin & straight stitch, eyelet and algerian too ~
perhaps a few french knots too. 
combining everything I love to do 
~ makes me a happy girl.

Happy Wife ~ Happy Life



So tell me,
what makes you happy these days??


Blessings from the Farm ~ 
 Lori

Saturday, December 24, 2016

~ On Christmas Eve ~

Since I was a child,
I've long believed 
 at the stroke of midnight 
on Christmas Eve ~
the Animals gather from farm & field
to offer their voices ~ 
to us 
which they yield:
"a Happy Christmas to one and all"
... then head wearily back to their stall
or branch, nest or burrow
deep into the night
and whisper a sleepy 
"...to all aGood Night!"
 ©L.Brechlin 2016

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
 
Well, that's they way I see it anyway...
what better time for our beloved fur, feathered & finned friends 
~ to become magically outspoken but on Christmas Eve?

I remember fighting sleep each year
waiting for a chance to hear
 tiny voices from our kittens ~
that I imagined would sound something like a
baby talking in a high-pitch.
{but, then again at that age I believed I could hear the stars twinkling at night too}
✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴

My love for animals has no bounds,
and I will gladly sacrifice any morsel of food I have to one who is hungry ~
or happily kneel in dirt to gently pat one who may be scared or hurt.

oh we could learn so much from them...
if we'd only listen.

here are a few {ok, ALOT} 
of my favorite antique Christmas postcards depicting animals ~
found these all on Pinterest...

my very favorite, of course
are the kittens & cats:

















~ for my dog-loving friends:






and various others ~
 








 


and remember
all of our woodland friends too:

 





















 Happy Christmas Eve to you!

Blessings from the Farm ~
 Peter, Lori & Hannah