~ A Little Nonsense ~

... a few more changes, 

that is.

while working on getting this studio

{read: home office/sewing room/art studio...not sure what to call is, but I'll stick with studio for now}

Peter came upstairs to me with a smile on his face and hands clasped in front of him, saying

"I brought you good luck!"

{he's such a child and I love him for that}

He does this, occasionally ~ 

sometimes he'll gift me with a feather, a snail shell....a baby blacksnake.

~ you know, tiny sweet little gifts.

 BUT 

 believe me when I tell you 

there's NO telling what he'll be holding in those strong, yet gentle man-hands {refer to blacksnake}.

So, I stepped back,  {smart from experience} while he proceeded to unclasp those hands.

and out crawled a tiny little black cricket!

{here's a link to a little fun reading on crickets --> HERE}

of course we set him free in the farmhouse, to carry out his destiny

{I think I heard him chirping by the woodstove last night}

⌣

after the much-needed cricket diversion, 

{thank you  honey}

more progress was made on said room:

you can see we hung a big old mirror, and other things that make me happy ~ 

like the big lanky doll from friend Mandy from Bittersweet Folk Art, 

an old Victorian engraving of a girl named 'Emily'...

a wonky little wooden shelf that was a high school Wood Shop project back in the 1940's &

my favorite wire dress form sits behind the curve of the desk, as I hate empty space {hahaha}

and  favorite sign hung above the mirror,

"A Clean House Is The Sign Of A Broken Computer"

{{ 'nuff said there....}}

 

As I get to the corners of this room, 

which are momentarily piled floor to ceiling with wool,

 fabrics and other creative paraphernalia  ~ I'll share more.

In the meantime,

today all orders that came in last week while I was sick will be processed and shipped today!

I apologize for the delay, but I couldn't get off the sofa.

you have my permission to whip me with a wet wool worm if you feel the need.

I'm stronger now and can take it.

;)

I am "finishing the finishing" on my new soon-to-be-released Spring designs

 as well as the

Jan/Feb/Mar 2017 Little Stitches Handwork Club ~ and kits will ship this week.

much appreciated thanks for your patience my friends....

Hoping you have a beautiful day, filled with happiness and peace ~

Blessings from the Farm ~ 

Lori

~ Ch Ch Changes ~

It's here!

my big shiny new glass & chrome work-station/desk  ~ 

I feel like I'm on the Starship Enterprise 

as I sit in front of it!

 nope,

 it's not 'primitive' ~ but it is practical.

yes, it's huge ~ 

but it actually yakes up less space

 than all of my other smaller tables that I've been working on!

serious re-arranging going on in this room at the moment,

and since I am beginning to feel better after a week-long bout of a bad cold ~

this will be a much-needed, slow-going activity for me as I clean and organize.

more photos to come of the changes being made :)

since getting sick a week ago,

I've not had much energy to do a whole bunch of stuff ~ 

and boy do I still feel wiped out after I even walk across the room,

so progress on my 1 Year of Stitches project has been delayed a bit.

But, I did manage to add a small hand...

~ along with an even smaller teapot, teacup & teabag!

{reminders of what has been soothing me while recuperating}

I'm hoping to accomplish a lot more this coming week,

and am anxious to release our new designs & folk art-y things for the new year!

I'll leave you with another poignant quote from MLK:

"We may have all come on different ships...

but we're in the same boat now."

 love one another, 

be nice to yourself and one another.

Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori

~ Wool Works ~

I'm SO excited!!!

...not only to be included in the Premier issue of

Wool Works Magazine

{{ http://www.woolworksmagazine.com}}

I am just as excited to receive my copy in the mail!

... just look at this beautiful cover ~

featuring the sweet design for rug hooking by 

Yvonne Buus of Vintage Heart Rug Designs

{{http://www.vintageheartrugdesign.com}}

 I'm honored to be amongst these talented artisans:

Artist Lori Ann Corelis - The Spotted Hare
www.thespottedhare.com

Karen Hahn of Horse and Buggy Country
Horse and Buggy Country on Etsy

Phyllis Jackson of Winterberry Cabin
www.winterberrycabin.com

Laurie Lausen of LJ Fibers at The Wooly Red Rug
www.woolyredrug.com

Folk Artist Rebekah L. Smith
www.rebekahlsmith.com

Cathy Wagner of Cath's Pennies Designs
www.cathspenniesdesigns.com

Here is my project included in the first issue for you...

a combination of dimensional punch needle and primitive rug hooking, 

... and a design I named

"Waiting"

{as in;  waiting for the magazine to get here, 

waiting for those robin's eggs to hatch, waiting for Spring!}

i hope you love it :)

If you haven't already subscribed to Wool Works Magazine, 

well, what are you waiting for?

{pun intended}

And

here is my Day Eleven finish for the

1 Year of Stitches Project ~

I added a teeny little sheep!

 

I thought it would be apropos for the 'wool works' theme of this posting today ~

just look at those minuscule french knots!  

 I spent the majority of yesterday on the sofa ~

have been hit with a cold that has me coughing and feeling under the weather.

hot tea with ginger, lemon & honey

lots of water

tissues

heating pad {read: CAT!}

and surrounded with magazines and piles of wool, threads & linen.

'Peter has been taking good care of me, and today I am making chicken soup.

 It's warmer out 'there' today, melting the snow & ice a bit....

~ but I'll opt to stay put by the wood stove.

 

Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori

~ Exercize ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk ~

cold cold cold cold!

trying my best to keep warm ~ 

copious amounts of tea keeping me warm today.

I titled this posting 'exercise' because I am doing just that,

using creative muscles I haven't used in a while...

the 1 Year of Stitches 2017 project is an exercise for me in focus and diligence,

one that keeps me using my hands for stitching

 but in different ways from my usual cross stitch or punch needle ~

am enjoying this immensely.

{today is day 10 ~ I added the small black scissors}

... another exercise is one that hearkens me back to my painting roots ~

watercolors to be exact; 

there is just something healing about dipping a brush in water and pigment

and letting the brush wash color onto the paper... 

I'm working on new prints and note cards in-between stitching....

 

stay warm my friends, 

and remember to make room in your day for a little creativity. 

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

~ Feathers & Thread Tales ~

Good Snowy Sunny Sunday Morning 

Friends & Folk!

after our recent, wonderful snowfall ~

we are having beautiful sunshine today

...albeit only in the 20's when we woke.

I love to see snow when it sparkles in the sunshine, don't you? 

Peter made a quick makeshift bird feeder from a trash can lid for our bird friends...

here are a few who visited this morning:

 Blue Jays & Grackles

Snow Buntings & Cardinals....

their antics crack me up! 

we put out peanuts in the shell, dried fruit, sunflower seeds and millet 

~ boy do they love us! 

{{ we had to take down the bird feeders for repair, hence the lid! }}

〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜

I've finished stitching the model for the 

Jan/Feb/Mar 2017 Little Stitches Handwork Club {LSHC}

a sweet girl with her pet bird...

 

... now I just need to 'finish' finish it!

I'll be shipping club kits this week to current members :)

 

I'm finishing up other projects for soon to be released patterns ~

punch needle has been in progress for weeks,

as my little punching-station is set up in our keeping room, 

which is next to our cozy woodstove...

I'm excited to show you the new designs!!

I hope you'll like them ~

think: 

 F O L K Y

of course I'll be including a few hearts into the mix,

along with more spring-like & everyday designs...

❤ 

 

and

here are my recent stitches for the

1 Year of Stitches 2017 project ~

I am truly enjoying this...

and seeing everyone's progress as well!

 today 

I added a thread spool & needle :)

 Wishing you all a beautiful day 

... filled with peace & contentment!

Blessings from the Farm ~ 

Peter & Lori

~ Move your feet... ~

 ....Lose your seat.

I got up to snap a photo 

of my Day Five progress on my 1 Year of Stitches project...

turned around to find Iggy in my place.

*sigh*

thankfully he didn't decide to nap on my actual project this time.

added a small red stylized tulip.

what's in your hoop today?

Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori

~ hearts aflutter ~

 Happy Wednesday Friends & Folk!

headache seems to be going away ~ took down Christmas and put out a few 'heart' things...

asmy thoughts are turning to Valentines Day!

Here are a few of my 'heart' inspired needlework designs & folk art 

that we have available in our Etsy shop...

{our Etsy shop link is above, under our header photo or click HERE}

how many of you decorate for Valentine's Day?

I have a feather tree up all year that I decorate with small hearts and such... 

it's in our dining room and I love the little lights glowing all year long...

I think I'll make some more, done in embroidery & punch needle...

and speaking of embroidery ~

here is Day Four of the

#1yearofstitches project...

 

 I added tiny purple stars around the moon,

and a sprinkling of snowflakes on the right of the storm cloud...

guess I'm going with a weather-related theme for my start ~

Hoping your day is filled with much creativity and things that fill your heart!

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Peter & Lori

~ HOOP-la ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk!

~

 another dreary day here at the farm...

hoping the sun will return soon 

and the barometric pressure will change and alleviate my brain-pain ~

I've been stitching a lot lately.

working on finishing the Jan/Feb/March model for our 

Little Stitches Handwork Club

{{ click HERE for more info }}

using muted cotton {DMC} threads, 

and I am actually stitching with two threads for a change!

linen I'm using is my 30ct Old Farmhouse Linen ~

{I'm waiting for a back order of 32ct, 28ct & 40ct at the moment 

and will re-list in my Etsy shop asap}

I should be finished with it this evening, 

and will either post again here and/or on FB/Instagram.

 I'm stitching this 'in-hand' or, without a hoop....

~ it's a small stitch so it's easier for me to stitch this way.

 

But,

I am using a 10" Morgan hoop

to hold my 1 Year of Stitches project.

I added a storm-cloud to it this morning,

how apropos for the current weather ;)

 

If I have time,

 I will be taking down the Christmas decorations & tree today too ~

after processing orders and working in the shop for a bit.

Hoping your day is one filled with Good Things!

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Peter & Lori

~ Monday Musings ~

 Hello Folks!

This evening would have marked our inaugural

 First Monday Needle Night

here in the Farm Shop....but,

I woke with a splitting headache/partial migraine 

... which I believe is caused by hormones and barometric changes.

so, I begrudgingly had to cancel.

On that note, 

our First Saturday Stitch/Hook Day will be this Saturday from 10 - 4

and shop will be OPEN from 10 - 4 for regular Farm Shop hours ~

So if you're in the neighborhood, come on by!

ᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲᎲ

The photo below shows my sewing room/studio.

right now it's in it's New Year messy-stage, with paper, patterns, thread, 

fabric and wool strewn about as I finish up the soon-to-be released pattern designs.

I love this room, but ~ I need to lighten up.

my heavy wooden 'desk' {which is an old table} 

will soon be replaced with a new, modular glass and steel computer work station

 that will fit nicely into the corner where you see the cedar closet...

with it being glass, it will lighten up this room substantially.

{oh I can hear you saying glass? steel? that's not 'primitive'!!}

and no, it is not ~ but I am an eclectic-girl who likes many different things

and loves to mix things up.

... today Peter will be adding our new light fixtures, removing the white chandelier and replacing it with a more farmhouse-y and brighter pendant light {which will be better for my tired eyes too}

So,

stay tuned for more photos of this transformation!

out with the old, in with the new :)

Here is my progress of Day Two for the

1 Year of Stitching 2017 Project:

I added a small crescent moon early this morning while waiting for my headache to dissipate.

some of you have asked in the FB groups what the fabric I'm using is called...

it's plain old Osnaburg, which I call 'Cupboard cloth' ~  that I've stained with walnut dye.

it's great to stitch on!!

{we offer this in our Etsy shop, HERE}

 and I've used it many times for cross stitching and simple embroidery...

 

Do any of you have this book?

it's by Japanese designer Noriko Komurata and is entitled

"Teeny Tiny Menagerie"

in it are the sweetest little motifs for all kinds of animals,

from mice to owls & sheep

sharks, tiny birds and otters!!!!

 

I want to stitch them all!!!!

 Hoping the 2nd day of 2017 is a creative one for you all ~

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Peter & Lori

~ 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:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/humbleworkhandembroidery/

 and

Here is the link to the 1 Year of Stitches 2017 FB group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1294313713974098/

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 ~ 

for Jan. 1's Early Work Mercantile

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