~ Doll Quilt Class ~

 Hello Friends & Folk!

happy Saturday evening to you all ~

what a beautiful day we had weather-wise! 

high & dry, sunshiney and cool temps with a slight breeze...

perfect in my book!

Today was our hand stitched Doll Quilt class here in the Studio at Notforgotten Farm ~

{{ we have so much fun at our classes, I'm surprised we get anything accomplished! }}

Yesterday, in preparation for the class today,

Joan, Robin M. & I cut hundreds of 4-1/2 squares 

from some of my beautiful cotton quilting fabrics 

~ that I have been hoarding saving for such a class...

I wanted my students to be able to choose their own color-story for their own quilt ~

and, to my surprise ~ there wasn't one tussle over the fabric!

{I had nightmares about not having enough of 'this' or 'that' fabric 

and having to break up a cat-fight or two!}

I love the old looking fabrics in antique quilts..

so I lean towards the wonderful reproduction s that are available for quilters today ~

and try to keep the prints simple and charmingly humble...

while we stitched, 

we had the opportunity to see up close and personal 

the wonderful collections of Miss Joan, and Miss Barbara who were kind enough to bring theirs along for show & tell...oh my stars and garters!!

Here is Miss Joan's collection ~

 

I have to add that I inadvertently hung the green-bordered quilt on the far right UPSIDE DOWN!

and here is Miss Barbara's collection~

 

me, myself and I personally ~ 

was/am infatuated by this teeny tiny hand stitched doll quilt below!!!!

I mean, c'mon...just LOOK at it!

the minute squares, the fabrics, the border, the stitching, the wonkiness, the SIZE!

 

... and here is the back of said treasure ~ 

simple plain muslin but you can see those little hand stitches....in brown thread no less!

I tried to steal confiscate borrow this little quilt from Miss Barbara by stuffing it onto my bra, which is off limits to EVERYone ~ but she said no-go.

so then I lied and told her I LICKED it and that now it just HAD to be mine, but again...nope.

*sigh* 

it's ok, 

I know that Miss Barbara loves it so very much 

~ and will take thee best care of it {for me} lol

ok, on to the ladies quilts!!!!

here is Miss Robin H's ~

she chose mustards and browns and reds....

 

Miss Anita chose blues, cheddars and browns...

 

Miss Pat decided on a beautiful mix of subdued hues, with that pop of blue!

 

Miss Dawn helped us today by showing us how she miters corners ~ 

her colors are happy & fun!

 Miss Barbara, {owner of 'my' little quilt, lol}

chose green, blues and browns...

Miss Joan stitched our class model for us, 

in a variety of blues with an added triangle patch!

Miss Helena worked her little quilt in vibrant reds & blues...then decided to use a

super fun & bright yellow backing! 

here she is, embellishing her project with hand embroidered flowers....

Miss Shari chose reds and cheddars/golds for her little quilt... 

so pretty!!!

and, last but certainly not least ~

Miss Janice chose a sweet palette of colors that are perfect for a antique-inspired little quilt...

Miss Janice, 

thank you for coming today 

& we look forward to having you with us more and more!

♥️

 the little quilt below, 

was one I stitched a while back and gave to Miss Joan ~

I tried to make a small Flying Geese design, but in my usual wonky-way, screwed it up 

stitched patched backwards...

but it is that humble-ness that we love, isn't it? 

~ whether old or newly created.

Miss Shari & Mr. Steve

 always bring their fur-baby, "Cassie" with them to class...

such a sweet little hound dog she is...all tuckered out in her bed! 

Bless her little heart ~

 

OH! am I tired ~ but my heart is full once-again...

full of friendship and love ~ laughter and good food! {thank you everyone!}

 

 and as I wrote on the Studio chalboard today...

A Friend, like an Old Quilt ~

is both a treasure and a comfort.

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Preparation ~

I've been gathering some of my very favorite & special cotton fabrics

for my students that will be here on Saturday for our

 ~ Hand Stitched Doll Quilt Class ~

...it will be so much fun seeing everyone's small quilt when finished ~

can't wait to see everyone...

also, there are 2 spots open if anyone is interested in joining us!

email me: notforgottenfarmwitch@gmail.com or call the studio, 434.263.6508

there will be no Open Studio on Saturday, but there will be Open Studio on Friday {tomorrow}.

see ya then!

 

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

~ Color my World ~

 Howdy Friends & Folk!

and a happy Tuesday to you all ~

the heat is back, but thankfully not quite the humidity {yet.}

working in the gardens in the mornings and evenings

trying to keep one step ahead of the sun...

~ Hibiscus ~

~ Queen Ann's Lace ~

{my Mom's favorite}

tattered little butterfly ~ resting on the tomato leaves

~ Black Eyed Susans ~ my favorite {ok, one of many}

little bumbler with her baskets full of pollen!

the tiny Meadow Fritillary butterflies love them too!

~ hello tiny friend ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I visited the local Joann's store while in CT last week

 {who doesn't go to Joann's on vacation? lol}

and picked up these bundles of beautiful Batik print fabrics ~

their deep, rich colors  and patterns remind me of my watercolors ~

each piece different, yet similar...

I thought they would make great linings for some purse necklaces,

but I may embroider on some too

or use them to back finished projects.

 

Hoping your day is filled with many colorful things!

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Fabricating ~

Happiest November 

~ Friends & Folk ~

I love October very much...sad to see it go ~

but, November is another wonderful month...full of coziness & creativity!

{and some really good comfort food, too}

I have been busily holed-up in my sewing room these past few days/nights 

~ since returning home from up North ~

getting my fabrics ready to be made into wonderful sew-y related things 

that I will be bringing with me to the 

From Our Hands Show 

 November 11th in Penninsula, OH

always choosing just the 'right' colors and patterns are much fun for me ~

just look at these beautiful reproductions from the 1800's!

I'm making these little covered box ornaments... 

how sweet for your feather tree ~

inside holds a surprise: 

a pincushion in a coordinating fabric ~ to hold those precious pins & needles.

How will you spend your first day of November?

you know how I'll be spending mine...

 

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Snippets ~

~ Good Morning Friends & Folk ~ 

... how frosty & snappy this morning is!

I take great pleasure being here on this farm ~ 

... from the daily watching of the sun traveling around it, visiting each room and touching  the old wood floors with beams of dusty-light...

to the twinkling of the stars in the clear skies at night, 

~ it gives me such a sense of calm & peacefulness.

I love how I can see, through our old wavy glass windows,

small glimpses of the fields and woods that surround our snug farmhouse on all sides

and know that we are safe, warm & dry no matter the weather.

Lately, 

my days are spent creating ~ constantly creating...sketching, designing...

and I move from room to room depending on what I'm working on.

when I am working on my old Pfaff treadle machine, 

you'll find me upstairs in my well-lit sewing room surrounded by piles of fabric, wool & velvets.

~ sitting amongst strewn-about snippets and threads.

if I am hooking, 

punching or hand stitching, you can find me anywhere ~

 but most-likely in our Keeping Room, 

{{which holds our beloved woodstove and my most favorite collectibles}}

and I'm usually watching an old movie or two. 

I've been working on this, a project that I started yesterday;

which combines wool/fabric applique 

and perhaps a little bit of punching or cross stitch will be added to it too.

I'm liking my results thusfar, do you?

my preference for applique is to use linen-colored thread and tiny primitive stitches

 ~ i do like the blanket-stitch, but I love the UN-eveness that I can achieve 

with minuscule whip stitches instead...  

to me,

 stitching in this fashion is more relaxing and more primitive.

~ she has such a sweet face ~ 

a little more hooking has been happening too,

using beautiful spicy warm & color-saturated wools ~

... bringing my sketches to life in lambswool loops.

as well as a few tiny cross stitches in my wooden hoop,

worked freehand onto cupboard cloth...

~ no pattern, just letting my mind & hands do the work and enjoying the process.

I see that some of you reading this have already received some flakes of snow!

...I am eagerly waiting for signs of them here ~

knowing that the long Winter season will finally be upon us makes me happy.

I am not a 'summer' girl.

 I was born in a blizzard in Connecticut, 

in February 1963.

I prefer dreary cold & rainy days spent snugged up in my cozy farmhouse

with a kitten or two and some handwork nearby...

give me a pair of boiled-wool socks and a sweater

over shorts & flip flops any-day.

 

 Hoping you all have a beautifully creative day!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori