~ I thought it Sprung? ~

It was Spring yesterday, right? 

*sigh*

oh well....

it's pretty and all, but ~

I really wanted to see some 

flowers and bunnies and spring-like things instead 

of grey skies and snow.

here is the view from my studio upstairs in this old farmhouse this morning;

although it is a snow day,

I'll create my own bit of Spring with my paintbox & brushes.

the one advantage of a snow day is that I can pretend that I don't have much to do.

{HA!....that cracked me up!}

nonetheless,

as much as there is on my agenda, 

I do have a rotten chest cold and need to rest up a bit.

 

so you'll find me quietly painting while the snowflakes wane,

enjoying a couple of cups of steaming hot tea with honey & ginger ~

 

and dreaming of wonderful warm

and flower-filled days to come!

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Claudia Cluck ~

H E L L O! 

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

 

I am finished with my very first little Friend...

the start of a whole pattern-series of

Punch Needle Folk  

from Notforgotten Farm™

Once again, 

~ her name is Claudia Cluck ~

Claudia is the Head-Hen here at the farm...

she is most helpful with keeping the entire hen house on it's toes 

and will simply not tolerate any mischief from the chicklings.

Claudia is fond of earth worms, but prefers freshly baked cornbread while it is still warm.

On sunny Summer afternoons, 

you can find her taking her beloved dirt bath under the lilac bush on the side of the barn.

{Claudia also sews all of her own dresses from old printed flour-sacks}.

She is a free-standing doll 

... that I designed and created with punch needle embroidery.

I used my Ultra Punch Needle {with Medium tip} ~

Valdani pearl cotton size #8 {doubled} 

and DMC cotton floss {all 6 strands} were used to create her.

 I chose a beautiful floral cotton quilting fabric in blues for her backing...

and stuffed her firmly with clean cotton balls.

 

 {don't let that sweet face fool you into thinking she's just another dumb-cluck}

 I am now working on her best-friend, Roberta...

whom I'll introduce soon ;)

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Just Thinking....

 Hello Hello!

 and a fine day to you all ~

Another cold bitter morning, 

but the weather-folk tell us that today will be a bit warmer...

not so sure about New Years Eve or day though.

We will ring in 2018 at home once again...

some shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers & antipasto for appetizers

~ then pork chops and sauerkraut for supper.

I will bake lemon bars & oatmeal cookies to snack on while we watch old movies, 

then finally turn the station to see the ball drop at midnight ~ if our eyes can stay open that is.

Of course I'll be stitching too!

I finished dear Jenny Wren and I am pleased with the way her dress and bonnet came out ~

I gave her a garland of greens to hold, with the tiniest leaves...

and added black french-knot buttons to the front of her frock too ~

 

....she is impatiently waiting for her beau to be stitched now though...

The handsome Robin Redbreast or Cock Robin is already in my hoop, 

with penciled-on standing collar and a wild-eyed look!

 

just thinking about the colors to choose for his waistcoat and trousers

and of course his beaver top-hat will be greys ~

I am enjoying this phase of my creative path, 

and am so happy to hear how much you are too! 

Thank you kindly for all of the kind words via Instagram, FB, email & PM's!!

{whodathunk that in my mid-50's I would be embroidering nursery rhyme characters?}

Some of you have asked if these will be patterns,

and my answer is yes, they will.

but

I am hoping to compile enough finished embroideries 

 to offer as a series to those who are interested in embroidering them yourselves.

it's not as hard as it looks! 

just lots {LOTS!} of split satin stitch, long & short stitch, 

~ outline stitch, chain stitch & french knots...

the tricky part for me will be writing the instructions ~ but it will be done.

Let me know just how interested you are in learning to embroider like this...

I may just offer a class or two!

Stay Warm, be happy & keep creating my friends ~

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Friday Musings ~

Oh Iggy ~

so handsome and photogenic

... and a little nuts.

 

 chilly mornings = no legs out to risk getting cold.

they are all tucked under that fat...I mean fluff.

you wanna rub my belly?

 cold and quiet mornings = stitching by the woodstove while the house is sleepy and calm.

~ I'm working on an embroidery of a Jenny Wren-girl.

...in a dress.

I have always loved anthropomorphic characters,

and have many i my imagination that I'd like to bring to life with needle and thread...

 

I see you!

 her dress will be blue, as it is her favorite color {she tells me}

but it will be embellished with tiny flowers and leaves as well.

 After I'm finished with her, 

I'll be stitching on her beau ~ Cock Robin {Robin Redbreast}

from the Mother Goose storybook of the same ~ here is the beginning of their sweet story:

"It was a merry time,
When Jenny Wren was young,
So neatly as she dressed,
And so sweetly as she sung.

Robin Redbreast lost his heart,
He was a gallant bird;
He doffed his hat to Jenny,
And thus to her he said:

"My dearest Jenny Wren,
If you will but be mine,
You shall dine on cherry pie
And drink nice currant wine.

"I'll dress you like a goldfinch,
Or like a peacock gay:
So, if you'll have me, Jenny,
Let its appoint the day.''

Jenny blushed behind her fan,
And thus declared her mind
"Then let it be to-morrow, Bob
I take your offer kind..."

-Mother Goose (The Marriage of Cock Robin to Jenny Wren)

and, more on this work to come

 :)

In the meanwhile,

Hannah will be home for Christmas soon ~ 

and I have been getting the farmhouse ready for our simple and peaceful celebrating...

I moved our tree to the same place it was last year, 

as I didn't like it blocking out the sunshine in our keeping room...

On the mantle ~ simple decorations of greenery and lights

 in my very favorite vase that Hannah gave me last Christmas...

 

another view of the tree...

 

I have a little more shopping to do,

presents to wrap

cookies to bake

and final touches on the farmhouse....

& 

 

our shop will be OPEN 

tomorrow, Saturday December 23rd

10:00 - 3:00

Wishing you everything Merry & Bright!

 

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori