~ love notes ~

 it's the last day of January ~

and it is C O L D.

staying indoors, cooking hearty meals on our always-burning woodstove...

baking sweet treats for my beloved and keeping my hands busy

~ all help to ward off this deep-freeze we are in at the moment.

tomorrow marks the 1st day of a month of 

celebrating love & friendship, so I wanted to create a new set of blank

note/thank you cards using my original drawings...

I have always enjoyed the look of fine line illustration ~

using nothing more than an ink pen and tiny detail.

 

instead of printing directly onto the kraft-paper colored cardstock,

I thought it would be nice to print onto some of my hand-parched paper ~

 

then I stained the paper some more, 

and before adhering to the front of the cards,

I cut the edge of the drawings with pinking sheers...

 

while sitting in my keeping room, with old movies on the tv...

piping hot chocolate within reach and slowly cutting paper and gluing,

I was reminded how as a child growing up in Connecticut on frosty stay-at-home snow days,

always would I have my paper, scissors ~ pencils & pens scattered about me.

I guess some things never change ~ 

I'm blessed to be able to do what I love, and still channel that young girl

that drew hearts and flowers on everything she could....

 my sweet notecard sets w/envelopes will be available in my Etsy shop today, 

~ as well as here in our Shop at the farm

💌

wishing you all a day warmed by love and creativity!

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ New Patterns Available ~

Just Listed ~ in our Etsy Shop... 

3 new patterns for my Folk Embroidery line!

and they are:

"Tulip Polka"

paper/pdf available to make this sweet double-decker pin cushion

just in time for Valentine's day ~

 

"Farmer's Market"

paper/pdf available, a 4-in-one pattern for you to make your own wearable vegetable garden 

{brooch or necklace}

and

"Folk Art Collection Number One"

paper/pdf available, for a 3-in-1 pattern for you to make tiny folk-art inspired wearables...

{brooch/pin, you choose!}

 

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Dyeing ~

.... dyed some Osnaburg last night ~

I dislike the name osnaburg, ~ so I nicknamed it cupboard cloth.

just love to stitch on this...

embroider or cross

~ it reminds me of old-fashioned seed cotton cloth. 

 

not sure what I'll stitch, 

~ but the reproduction calico and threads will be a part

in my work....

almost forgot ~

I dye my cloth with dye I make 

from our black walnuts harvested in the autumn.

 

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Shop Open & Stuff ~

~ Also ~

 we have delicious new candles from 

Gable House Goods

{https://gablehousegoodes.bigcartel.com/products}

and sweet & folky new patterns from

Dru Ann at Cinnamon Creek

{https://www.etsy.com/shop/CinnamonCreekFolkArt}

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Light-hearted ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk!

well we have gone from "Frosty Bottom Farm" - 

to "Soggy Bottom Farm" in the matter of 2 days it seems.

it's ok, I am a lover of the rain.

Pluviophile - 
(n) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

 ... such small things, like the rain can make me happy ~

like digging through my linen closet and coming up with this small crocheted heart

made by my mom so many years ago...

it is such a sweet thing ~ made with loving hands and a need to create.

me thinks I will now keep it out all the time and enjoy it's simple beauty and love that went into making it.

another heart I'm working on...

this one I started a week or so ago and haven't been able to get back to it

but this afternoon I will ply my needle again and finish it ~

do you see that I've added a small stuffed 'patch' of calico?

I'll be embroidering around that patch as it is meant to signify a broken heart 

that is healing and now becoming full once again ~ 

there is just so much sadness and cruelty in this world today ~ we need to begin healing.

this guy ~ my Iggy, is another dear-heart in my life.

although he can get the wind up his fuzz-butt, race around like a floofed-up rocket

 and attack my ankles at the drop of a thread-spool...

I love him dearly.

Hoping your day is filled with love, healing and friendship

☙♥🖤♥❧

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Decisions ~

 wool dust is still bothering my eyes ~

which means i cannot cut/strip wool fabric to hook with.

so the decision has been made 

to rug punch with yarns and my Oxford #14  & #10 punches...

 

 

have to keep these hands busy in this frigid weather!

 {plus, deadlines need to be met}

 

~ stay warm everyone ~

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Friendship & Class Photos ~

You know when you meet someone for the 1st time,
and you just 'click'?

and from that point, between the laughter and small talk...
you know. you just know. that you were meant to be friends?

yep...
that has happened to me many times.
thankfully, truthfully and wholeheartedly.
like, for reals.


today we gathered for a little class in embroidery ~
this small brooch was our project:

some came early, some came a little later...
I am happy that they come at all!

these girls that I can honestly say are my friends...
not a word to be used lightly, like as-in 'Facebook friends'.
no,
I hold these women in my heart because they come back often, laugh & cry with me,
and support our family and friendship in a way that can only be called generous and honest...

it's not often that we meet souls that are like ours, 

~ or for that matter even want to put up with us!

 but

I am blessed because I have known this group of women for a long time

and these are my friends:

 rough-tumbled, passionate, concerned, strong, opinionated...

married, single, widowed, mothers or chosen-ly not. 

not alot of out-ward judgement ~

 but perhaps quiet suggestions and always, always kind-guidance.

 

these women have planted themselves into my being,

and I am forever grateful for their strength & growth...

Nancy B

Nancy P

Pat W

Robin H

Anita R

Robin M

Shari K

  

Barbara H

Gail H

Amy G

Joan S

'twas a cloudy, then rainy day...

initially cold in the shop, {so sorry!} 

but then warmed with friendship and affection for one another...

then we plied our needles, untangled out threads 

and got to stitching with hands that have soothed many, and perhaps even scolded a few

in their lifetimes ~

yet remaining soft, creative and strong all-at-once:

Amy

Anita

Robin M

Nancy Z P

Barbara

Pat

Joan

Shari

Nancy B

Robin H

good times yes, 

common small-talk and crazy strange conversations aside...

which we will not divulge to outsiders, they will just have to join us to know!

~ you really all have no idea how much you mean to us ~

we hope you enjoyed your class, 

~ as much as we enjoy well...

You.

... just You.

xoxoxoxoxo

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Peter & Lori

~ Open Studio Today ~

 Our Shop & Studio will be Open Today

10:00 - 4:00

 and kindly remember there will be NO OPEN STUDIO 

Tomorrow, Saturday January 19th {we are holding our embroidery class}

 but the Shop will be OPEN to customers 10:00 - 4:00

have a beautiful & creative weekend my friends!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ tiny little x’s ~

....can you believe it?

I am cross stitching again ~

With the help of my very low vision reader glasses,

I am able to work those little stitches again!

Although I am working on a large count linen ~ 20 count to be precise...

The linen was purchased last year at a quaint little shop called 

Hodge Podge, located in Strasburg, PA ~ 

{https://reallancastercounty.com/hodgepodge-cross-stitch-antiques-collectibles/}

It is a beautiful cream colored linen, that I have overdyed a bit for an old look.

The cartouche has the date 1821 and the name Hannah in progress of being stitched both over one with 2 strands of cotton and also over 2 with 2 strands of the same cotton.

This will have a basket of embroidered florals and leaves around it,

just like an early sampler from days gone by ~

~ Pattern coming soon ~

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Slow Sunday Stitching ~

it is snowy ~

and cold.

sleet and freezing rain is tapping 

on my old glass windows here in the farmhouse 

while I am enjoying the warmth of our wood stove 

and comforting scent of spaghetti sauce bubbling in the old iron pot on top...

keeping my hands warm is not a problem though ~

~ watch for the pattern for this sweet little embroidered double pincushion 

to be released soon ~

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Friendly Reminder ~

 I feel better! but, not 100% back to myself yet ~

so, with that in mind, our Farm Shop & Studio

will NOT be OPEN TODAY Saturday Jan. 12th

We will be OPEN next Friday & Saturday, Regular hours, 10:00 - 4:00

BUT

Open Studio time will only be on Friday the 18th,

 due to a pre-scheduled Embroidery class that we will be holding on Saturday the 19th.

 hope you all have a wonderful weekend my friends!

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Another Class Schedule Update ~

 Good Afternoon Friends & Folk!

well, I am on the mend, but coughing terribly and very weak still...

I know my limitations, though...

so I won't be doing too much until I finally kick this crud out of my system!

I wanted to share with you all a very exciting update to our 

Class Schedule here in the Studio at Notforgotten Farm ~

Saturday March 2nd 2019 10:00 - 4:00

 Round Sewing Box Class at Notforgotten Farm 

with Teresa Miller from Teresa’s Primitive Treasures

I have known Teresa for years ~ she is a sweetheart ~ one of our original vendors that comes back each year to our Gathering Show here at the farm...a talented designer and creator ~ 

and we are thrilled to be hosting her class for this beautiful Pin Keep box!

Create a 6 ½ inch round sewing box with a raised pinkeep top insert. 

 In class students will applique the flower in a vase using wool, 

hand stitch the words “By My Hands”,

cover the paper mache box with fabric and assemble for a simple little sewing box.

Supplies you should bring to class:  

Sharp Scissors

Class Kit includes:

 6 ½ x 1 ½ inch round paper mache box, wool, cotton fabric, needle, paper pattern 

Class Fee ~ $50.00 per student ~ 

to sign up: email notforgottenfarmwitch@gmail.com 

or call the studio at 434-263-6508

 **light refreshments served or bring a bag lunch

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Shop & Studio CLOSED ~

Under the weather....

Yep ~ I am sick.

Our farm shop and studio will be closed Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th.

Hoping everyone else who is suffering from this feels better soon!

Blessings from the Farm 

 Lori

~ Calico Hearts ~

~ Good Morning Friends & Folk ~ 

and a happy Tuesday to you all!

all of our Christmas/Yuletide decorations 

are now tucked into their boxes ~ to slumber for another year...

I love to decorate for the seasons and holidays, 

although not as heavily as we once did when Hannah was younger and still living at home.

 St.Valentines' Day is a quiet celebration for us ~

usually spent at home, with a comfort-food dinner such as stuffed peppers

 and a sweet-treat for dessert...

{{ maybe a couple dozen heart-shaped Linzer tarts? }}

usually followed by a tear-jerker or romantic comedy while snuggled together on the sofa.

{ "together" means: Peter & I, Iggy and Roxy, with Pepper at our feet }

I also enjoy creating new things for this holiday ~ 

small simply-made and well, 

... heartfelt things.

 

I'm using scraps from my basket, cotton calicoes

in shades of brown, cream blue & red.

 

stitched around the edges using linen thread ~

neat & tidy, plain & simple.

 

they will become small ornaments with wire hangers...

to be sold here at the Farm Shop ~

 

How do you & your loved ones celebrate St. Valentine's Day?

the weather-folk are predicting a few flakes for this weekend, 

and although I long for Spring...

some clean fresh snow and colder temps are needed

~ to get rid of all the bad germs 'out there'.

Wishing you all a beautiful day filled with love & creativity 

❤ ♥ ❤

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori