~ My Friend Mary ~

I was not tired at all last night ~

and after a full weekend of kayaking with family and friends,

 you'd think I would be!

so I watched some mindless TV and stitched.

 gathered together and surrounded by threads and scraps of cupboard cloth {osnaburg}

and just let me hands create...

 

Growing up in CT, 

and spending lots of time in the ancient graveyards there,

 I found the name 'Mary Black' on a headstone...

I was smitten with the name 

and felt as though Mary & I could have been {or perhaps were?} 

~ friends through time.

the first time I used the name was back in the early 2000's ~ 

... when I designed this:

'Mary Black's Shoe' pinkeep

{pattern available here} 

 and 

'Olde Witche Mary'

{pattern available here }

I even punched this, using dear Mary's name ~

waaaay back in 2009 for a EHAG group challenge

{Ecclectic Halloween Artists Group}

and this piece is now in private collection...

{but I think I need to make another one!}

so, 

with the inspiration from my tiny little muse, 

 I am continuing on with my story of keeping her namesake alive.

 This is just an ongoing theme in my brain that keeps popping up ~

and it never has to be Hallowe'en for a witch to be included in my folk art or needlework!

so, here is little Mary Black again ~

this time, 

in her Strawberry Garden.

she is humbly cross stitched, 

simply freehanded so that she is my favorite kind of wonky.

 

satin stitches are included too...

in DMC cotton threads.

I have a little more to stitch, then will finish this into a ....

well, at the moment, I don't know quite how yet.

but

she'll tell me. 

;)

I'll offer her on June 1st's 

Early Work Mercantile

and if I have time, perhaps another small work.

 

My how time is flying by....

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

Saturday ~

 and 

our little farm shop will be OPEN Saturday ~ May 27th from 10:00 till 3:00 only...

we are closing early to begin celebrating the Memorial Day Holiday :)

If you're in the neighborhood, 

come on by and bring your needlework in progress with you ~

see you soon!

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Between the Raindrops ~

is that the sun?

no, wait ~ it's gone again.

no really...is/was that the sun? 

*sigh*

i love the rain {as we all know} but it's been here a little too long now.

~ saturated soil {ok, red clay} 

... and soggy everything.

come on sunshine, stay for a while!

I've been punching up the next model for our 

click -> Primitive Punch Needle Club

{and yes I have fallen behind, apologies to my members}

This sweet strawberry below will become a needle-keep ~

and I am waiting on threads to come in.

Hoping to have them soon and get these shipped out for you!

 *please ignore my filthy garden clogs*

*please admire my beautiful chocolate mint!*

This time, 

I've used only DMC 6 strand cotton floss for the model.

I have had a few PPNC members say 

that they are having difficulties punching with the Valdani pearl cotton..

that it wants to 'splice' when they punch with it. 

{I have never had a problem with it}

anyhoo, this current kit will contain all DMC floss to finish the project, 

which will measure approx. 3-3/4" x 5" when completed by you.

I will show you the 'finished-finish' soon, 

as I have to get the backing fabric stitched on today.

and while my punch needle was handy 

and I had excess weavers cloth from said project above,

I figured I'd punch a little bee.

or maybe it's a big bee.

or perhaps it's a fly that thinks itself a bee?

 not sure, but it's cute.

 

all of the rain has turned everything here a lush green.

except for that damn red clay...

we have a family of chickadees living in this little birdhouse near the patio ~

watching them flit in & out makes me happy. 

All kinds of 'volunteer' plants are growing....

even though they are considered weeds, 

they are valuable to our planet.

did you know you could make a nice salad with dandelion leaves?

oh and a soothing medicinal tea too.

used for centuries to treat fever & upset stomach

and to stimulate appetite...

not that i need any help with that.

Peter has divided his banana plants, 

and they are sprouting again...

especially in the rain & heat...like our own little tropical paradise.

this time we have 5 or 6 of them coming back to life 

after being dormant all winter in the basement.

 

my cinnamon basil and parsely have perked up a bit this morning...

I love basil!

 

love the black variety of basil too...a little stronger taste to it.

 

flat Italian parsley next to  a small iron birdbath....

my garden toads love to sit in it at night and take sips.

 Hoping the sun will continue to shine for the rest of the week...

grass needs mowed

laundry needs hung

farmhouse needs aired out from being closed up for days

and I need some vitamin D ~ hoping for a little patio-stitching!

Post office run today, then picking up miss Joan and taking her to Joann's store.

those coupons are burning a hole in her pocket!

Many thanks for the sympathy cards that have been sent to us for Joan.

Today marks the 2nd week since her Arthur has been gone.

xoxoxox

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Down the Tube ~

Good Monday to You ~

 Friends & Folk

I am almost finished with another new cross stitch design, 

called  ~ 'Huswifery'.

 

I charted it a year or so back, started it and then stopped working on it.

It was calling out to me last evening

as I was walking past my basket of

UFO's ....

I have so many that need finishing.

but, I follow my muse wherever she lands me and that is just the way it is.

 

pretty colors and a sweet verse 

make for a simple yet charming little stitchling.

 

oh! I almost forgot....

I have been added to the list of fellow

FLOSSTUBE - ers.

:)

I'll be working on new videos soon 

but for now if you'd like to subscribe to my channel, the link is:

https://www.youtube.com/user/notforgottenfarm

~ and don't forget to check out #flosstube on Instagram too!

https://www.instagram.com/notforgottenfarm/

#notforgottenfarm

 

 Off to the PO today, and tomorrow, 

... and most likely Wednesday too...

{ thank you kindly for your continued support of what we love to do }

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Farm Shop is Open Today ~

 Farm Shop is Open Today May 20th ~

10:00 - 4:00

come on out for a visit, bring your needlework {any type!} in progress

and come create with me for a relaxing day on the farm ~

{p.s. we have puppies!}

;)

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Friday Musings ~

 Happy Friday 

Friends & Folk!

a busy day ahead for me ~ after processing customers' orders,

I have to get the Farm Shop back into 'gear' today...

... it has been as I left it since returning from the PSS retreat a few weeks ago.

{{ it has been neglected with all of the happenings lately. }}

with the hot temps and rain, the gardens need pruning back as well ~

and there are plants to be...

well, 

... planted.

a busy little bee I am.

In the evenings, I have been stitching on this:  

my little 'Tomato Season' design ~

 as I've mentioned, I'm working mine over-one

 on 32ct Vintage Sand Dune linen from Lakeside Linens...

this is the bottom left of the design...

 

my sweetest model stitcher Heather 

sent me a photo of her progress as she is working it, 

this is a sneak peek below, of the lower right side of the same design...

she's stitching it on same linen but over two threads 

~ so when we are both finished you'll see a 'regular' sized model 

... and a teeny tinier version of it too :)

I wanted to show you my finished project bag too!

I purchased the boiled-wool bag from Ali at the PSS Retreat

{{www.alistrebeldesigns.com}}

along with some new roving and new felting needles...

I appliqued the wool tulip on, 

then embellished with needlefelting on the leaves, stem and flower.

I LOVE it ~

how many of you folks needlefelt???

I'm thinking of holding a class here at the Farm shop this Autumn ~

any interest in learning??

 and 

of course I have been perusing Pinterest

every. single. night.

I love being able to pin my favorite things on my boards ~

So here are some EARLY miniature samplers to enjoy...

{these are not 'mine' ~ they are all from Pinterest}

 

 well I'm off to 'work' ~

 hoping your day is filled with wonderful little things!

 P.S.

FARM SHOP WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW Saturday May 20th!!!!

woot woot!

 

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ ***UPDATED*** And...They're UP! ~

Hello Friends & Folk!!

Peter & I just listed our newest little item in our Etsy shop ~

introducing our  

Stitcher's Tray© from Notforgotten Farm™

 we have been working on this for weeks ~

Peter & Chris have been like mad scientists in the 'laboratory'...

I brought some of our first trays to the PSS Retreat a couple of weeks ago, 

and they SOLD OUT!

so now here is your chance to get one while they're hot ;)

I LOVE mine ~ and keep it on my chair perpetually...

mine is painted barn red, but you will have your choice of colors and finishes 

when you order yours from our Etsy shop.

handy magnet holds pins, needles and scissors in place.

a PERFECT place for your rug hooks, punch needles, pincushions and other sewing sundries

{as well as the tv remote, the phone and a few snacks too}

Our furniture-quality finishes available in our custom colors enhance your home's decor ~

while keeping your needlework supplies in reach and out from down in the cushions!

 

our trays fit most armchairs and sofas, but they are also handy parking-spots for your 'stuff' 

with the tray simply sitting next to you on the cushion of your chair/sofa ~

 ***UPDATE***
We will be offering this tray shown and the same tray but with the clamps on the shorter ends to accommodate larger armed chairs & sofas!!!
Etsy Listing will be updated to reflect that asap :)
 

there are 7 colors to choose from, and also stained and unfinished.

{ Unfinished means NO paint, stain or wax sealer }

 ***UPDATE***
We will be offering this tray shown and the same tray but with the clamps on the shorter ends to accommodate larger armed chairs & sofas!!!
Etsy Listing will be updated to reflect that asap :)

To read more about them, and to make a purchase,

 please click  HERE ~

We love what we do, 

and are SO blessed to have the support and friendship of sweet folks like you ~

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Needle and Thread ~

 Good Monday Morning ~

Friends & Folk!

yes, it is a good morning.

even for a Monday...

the sun is shining, the air is sweet and I have rested well.

Peter & I spent the day with Hannah yesterday ~ 

enjoying a nice dinner, cake, cards...

and a beautiful lily plant from Hannah & Tevin

~ that I will add to our farmhouse garden.

the rest of my time was spent daydreaming of tiny stitches and samplers....

I am in the midst of charting a whole bunch of new designs to send to my talented model stitchers.

as well as stitching on a work in progress...

recently I can truly attest that :

Stitching Mends a Broken Heart

so, while healing my heart

I again turn to inspiration from the past ~ 

some of my favorite samplers from my Pinterest Boards

aren't they beautiful?

 I love them all!

Have a beautiful Monday ~

spend it with those who love you most.

Create something ~

it doesn't have to be a masterpiece ~

just something that makes your heart Happy.

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori