~ STUMPED ~

 SO today has me following my creative muse of 

"STUMPWORK"

{{ Stumpwork or raised work is a style of embroidery in which the stitched figures are raised from the surface of the work to form a 3-dimensional effect. Technique Stitches can be worked around pieces of wire to create individual forms such as leaves, insect wings or flower petals. Wikipedia }}

 I have done some before, like this drizzle-stitch sheep from last year ~

{now resides in private collection}

and this work, 

my very first attempt at picot stitch &raised cup stitch 

and bullion stitch

not bad, but I am feeling that pull to do more...

my mind is swirling with ideas and I can't wait to begin again...

 How may of my followers do Stumpwork Embroidery?

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Autumn Sunday Musings ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk ~

a wonderfully crisp October Sunday it is here on the farm!

I heard geese flying overhead this morning as I was waking up...

heading south to their winter homes.

but

I like to pretend this is what was making all that racket:

I have been a huge fan of Charles Wysocki since my childhood!

For those who have been following along on the progress of my embroidered Santa brooch,

I finished it yesterday ~ the addition of the beaded edge and berries just makes me smile ~

I just have to sew the pinback on and it will be fully finished off {FFO}
finished size approx. 2-1/2" x 2-1/4"
and yes this will be a pattern with detailed instructions.
I plan on a Youtube video tutorial for this type of embroidery
when I release this and {a few others} in the coming week or so ~

Of course,

I had to begin another brooch ~ so many irons in so many fires but that is me!

so
I drew one up on my osnaburg fabric and have put in a few start-stitches...
these help me with direction and shading as I stitch
~ and will be covered by my tiny little split stitches soon.
** Click on the Santa brooch photos to enlarge them, you'll see those tiny stitches!

It is a sleepy little fox nestled in the holly leaves ~

and I cannot wait to see this one come to life!

and I know my sweet friend Nancy B. will love it too...
🦊

of course I will add some beads to this one,
holly berries of course but perhaps a sprinkling of snow for the background?

Lately I have become a bit obsessed with beads
right along with my Tribe of enablers I mean Girlfriends!
adding beads to my work opens up a whole new way of designing for me ~

and speaking of beads...

I made all of these with the help of my friends

Sharon & Becky 

who are fabulous beaders and have the patience of Job with us

while we try to learn new things! I tend to cuss alot {really? shocking!}

while I bead...it helps me concentrate {not} 

and I thank my girls for putting up with me being the sailor/trucker in the room hahaha.

On the far left is an eyeglass chain, and the rest are bracelets ~

the one on the far right I just finished yesterday

... and holy cow that thing plucked my last nerve!

but

I muddled through and I love it.

friends Anita & Janice helped me through the last stages of it, 

as Janice was just beginning hers

~ and I was finishing mine up.

I may make another like the one on your middle-left, {blue beads & jump rings}

it was the easiest one for me to make and I have the perfect beads 

that I think will work nicely for another one.

Well folks ~
 I am off to grab my punchneedle, weavers cloth and threads!
a few new Christmas/Yuletide/Winter pattern models need to be worked on today! YAY!
I'll share some peeks of them, {and my progress on little sleepy fox embroidery soon.}
Oh.
I tend to post my progress photos on my Instagram page & FB too...
the links are up there on the right hand side of this blog
if you should care to follow me there.
❤♥❤

have a beautifully creative and peaceful day my sweet friends!!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Remembering ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk!

and a happy Tuesday to you all...

the weather-folk are predicting some falling 'stuff' for us this evening 

and in to tomorrow night ~ a mix of snow/sleet & rain.

~ we'll make sure to have candles at the ready and plenty of wood for the stoves, 

in case we lose power...

it won't bother me a bit to have to stay home due to bad weather ~

that just means more time to stitch!

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

Some of you might remember this:

it was back in 2015 that I designed my stitched cuff bracelet...

 it reads:

"I Stitch therefore I am remembered"

"I Stitch" pattern for cross stitched bracelet available in our Etsy shop

  I have been wanting to create more designs for cuffs, 

but these will be embroidered, of course!

here is the first one in progress...

~ Strawberry Cuff ~ 

I'm stitching this on good old stained Osnaburg {cupboard cloth}

using Valdani 3 strand variegated cotton floss, 

~ which I am doubling to make 6 strands...

 

split stitch and stem stitches used so far ~

stems are stem stitch, the rest is split

not sure what the flowers will be yet, perhaps satin stitch or...?

 

since staying home while I am under treatment for my

Actinic Keratosis and using fluorouracin,

I have been getting lots of stitching done...

here is my nose today, day #8 of treatment:

keeping my mind and hands busy 

~ to keep me from thinking about my nose lol!

 

So tell me what is in your sewing basket today??

 ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂ ✂

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

~ In-betweens ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk ~

happy Tuesday to you all!

another sunny/rainy/sunny day here...

we've been going between clouds, showers & sun

but we need this rain for sure.

In between working on new pattern designs for you,

I have been working on finished goods that will be available in our shop here on the farm, 

and on our Goods for Sale page here on this blog {link to your right under 'my links'}...

Don't forget to visit me on Instagram at: 

https://www.instagram.com/notforgottenfarm 

I usually post photos during the day and evenings there too, so you don't want to miss anything!

here is a little embroidered witch in progress of being 'born'....

I'll work on her again this afternoon after orders are done and chores are finished ~

 

golden needle & silver scissors...

Our upcoming Gathering of Primitive Friends Show/Hook In is quickly approaching!!

our Hook In is almost full, 

so if you would like to register to hold your seat for the day, please email me asap:

notforgottenfarmwitch@gmail.com

 

 hoping your day is full of wonderful in-between moments too!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Saturday Morning Musings ~

~ Good Morning Friends & Folk ~ 

It's Saturday {again}!

 geeez how the weeks {months, years...} fly by, don't they?

I have to admit, since my back has been acting up and I've been 'planted' on the couch 

I didn't even know that today was Saturday until I looked at my computer screen.

I've had my head buried in thread and my hands busily stitching ~

always taking advantage of down-time and putting it to creative use.

I'm working on a little witch. a pansy witch, me thinks...

or fern ~ or strawberry since she has red hair?

oh! 4 leaf clovers!

that's it ~

 a LUCKY little witch she is then.

{who says witches are just for Hallowe'en?}

<|:~)

 

I'll finish her dress & hat then begin choosing the 'greens' 

for her foliage which will surround her...fun fun!
{I may even offer her for sale when she's finished!}

hello!

In other news ~

the daff's are up! 

poking about 5-6 inches out of the red southern clay soil we have here...

which, btw is still a bit soggy from the last rains we had.

And look at these two:

each morning, our sheep Esther & Bobby 

~ walk around the barn and head on out to the big field to graze and nibble on the new sprouts... 

they are old now, and go much slower than they used to ~ 

... especially Esther, who we think to be about 15 yrs or so.

Bobby, her son is 8-ish if my calculations are correct

{ he is devoted to her and never leaves her side }

just a happy snap of our Roosty, showing off his spring feathers :)

 Here are two books I recently found at Joann's store and got with 50% off coupons!

I am so happy that they accept coupons on books now ~

these are two very good, inspirational books on my favorite subject:

Hand & Surface Embroidery

AND

Progress on the shop:

Peter & Chris have been working every day on the shop...

and yesterday our friend Lee a.k.a. Mr. Millstone 

{Robin's sweet hubby & Millstone Mercantile's main-man} 

came out to help Pete with the pegboard...

 it will be painted a very soft, light grey color, along with the trim and floors

and the walls will be a brighter white

the lower shelves are in the process of being built, as you can see in the photo below...

 

we can't believe the change already ~ 

we are excited to reopen and have you in for a visit! 

We are planning a grand reopening day with our fresh look and new products,

that will also include an outdoor market of vintage items, plants and flea market goods!

 stay tuned for more on that ~

Well Happy weekend my friends,

hoping you all have a peaceful & creative one!

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ February Again ~

 I know him ~

 February's Thrush,
And loud at eve he valentines...
On sprays that paw the naked bush
Where soon will sprout the thorns and bines.

~George Meredith, "The Thrush in February," c.1885

~ Good Morning Friends & Folk ~
we have made it to another February first!
February is that month of limbo...cold, dark & seemingly dreary.
But, it holds so much promise!
in 28 short days, we are that much closer to Spring ~
a most glorious season indeed.

This month will find me:
Planning gardens, sketching, writing in my journals...
 {{ preparing for much needed painting of the interior of this old farmhouse }}
~ keeping cozy at the foot of the woodstove with needle in hand ~

It is a month of celebration for us too,
with Saint Valentine's Day in the middle,
and my birthday at the very end...
~ 55 trips around the Sun for me this year!

 

Here are some of my favorite photos of interesting Hearts that I found on Pinterest ~

{{ Click HERE to follow me on Pinterest }}

please note:

these were not made by me ~

 I cannot take the credit for such beauty ❦

I think I'll take cue from these artisans and create an embroidered & stuffed heart today...

I'll dig through my bottomless piles of trims, beads & other things to add to mine!

I will use these fabrics to make my heart:

and here are my thread choices ~

and finally I will embellish with lace snippets ~

some beads, buttons and other things...

{can you spy the tiny blown glass doll's eye below?}

and to help you get inspired, 

here is a freebie template for you to embellish your very own way ~

click on the heart below, 

then save template to your computer and print out any size you'd like 

to finish it in any manner that makes your heart happy!

⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶

I would especially ♥  

 to see yours when finished if you decide to play along!

I'll share photos of mine later today on FB and Instagram :)

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori