~ Creative Cold-Snap ~

 Iggy likes to sleep.

~ mostly 18 hrs every day.

 Until the clock strikes midnight,

... then he gets the wind up his fuzz-butt and flies around the farmhouse

 like a superhero with a bottle-brush for a tail.

and when he does that, he keeps me awake, or wakes me up like, hourly....

if HE is up, then I should be up too.

 {in a cat's mind}

So to turn the tables,

I pester him during the day when he is trying to sleep.

making sure to wake him every so often like he does to me - 

but at least I don't pounce on him 

or try to get in his mouth 

or pick his nose 

or pull any covers off of him

or open cabinet doors

or turn on sink faucets 

{yes he does, and sometimes flushes the toilet too!}

Here he is trying to take a nap in a sunbeam on the bed:

isn't the little pain in the neck adorable?

Ok Ig ~ I'll let you doze for a couple of hours...

{{ but you'd better keep one eye open for Mom. }}

 

So I am totally into this embroidery-thing.

it was always a fun thing for me to do, and I have always loved it.

every now & then I would embroider something.

even sold a few finished embroidered necklaces and pins ~ 

wearable folk art, as I like to call them.

this is a necklace that I made a few years back, and decided to keep it for myself ~

folky, whimsical & fun 

 ❤ 

I added buttons, pins and ribbon...

even an old rusty thimble.

I was thinking about holding a class for something similar in February ~

would anyone be interested in coming to the Farm and make one with me?

Here are Robin Redbreast {Cock Robin} and his Jenny Wren:

I'm all done with the embroidery, 

... now onto the 'finish-finish'.

the shading was something that I didn't know I was going to do until I was doing it...

things like that happen with me ~I just let my hands & my needle do their thing.

Robin is so dapper ~

he is shy, and fumbles a bit when in Jenny's presence.

he's never sure what to do with his walking stick when she is near him,

~ so he twirls it about and holds it behind his back sometimes

just to show off.

Jenny is quite demure ~ very quiet and patient.

she is gifting her dear Robin with a garland she made from honeysuckle vines ~

and they will hang this above their nest after they are betrothed.

I'll be working on the Parson Rook next ~ the preacher who marries them.

{{ You can read their entire story over there on my sidebar --->>  }} 

and I can tell you now that I am SUPER excited about working on him!!!!!

but in the meanwhile I wanted to stitch a tiny cat...

so I am.

the blue lines will wash away with a spritz of water, 

and my threads are DMC so they are colorfast ~ 

I'll finish this into a brooch,

 me thinks. 

Oh! and I was searching through my 'stuff'

and found a whole 'nother box of floss that I had previously wound onto thread cards 

and seemingly rainbow-color-coordinated them into a plastic box!

the stuff of dreams...

For those of you interested and have asked,

the embroidery group that I created on FB is called

Humble Work Hand Embroidery 

the group is for hand embroidery, no machine embroidery, no cross stitch please ~

If you would like to join, click on the group name above :) 

Keep those hands warm 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