~ Victorian Christmas Cards ~

I have always had a fascination for antique postcards ~

any holiday...but the Christmas ones are quite strange indeed.

From their morbidity, to the just plain strange!

here are a few that have made me say...

 "....Hmmmm...."

I mean, 

creepy walking root-vegetable men?

or how about a kidnapping santa?

this one cracks me up - just look at their little legs!

 

a little too much eggnog perhaps?

 

and doesn't a cat-fight outside a tenement window just scream Happy Christmastide?

or would you prefer a gang of torch-carrying birds to lighten your way?

 

I especially adore the Krampus character, being that I love Halloween so very much ~

 he scared the H E double-hockey-sticks outta me as a child though!

this one stumps me:

 

ever heard of the Yule Goat?

or perhaps sled-riding, well dressed chickens?

 

but

I do prefer the plain old, 

creepy guy that we have all come to love the best though

 

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

~ Cyber Monday Sale on Etsy ~

 ....just hear those sleigh bells jingling,

ring-ting-tingling too.....

ok, I'm ready for some snow.

a Good Old Fashioned Winter where we have to bundle up,

wear mittens and drink lots of hot chocolate type of Winter!

~ I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ~

but until the fist flake falls, I'll keep dreaming

and keep my hands busy with my beloved needlework...

what's that you say? you too?

oh such good company I keep...

♥ 

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday ~ how strange to say that...but, it's true!

thanks to technology we can shop in our sweats or jammies,

and receive instant gratification -

{with the help of our computers, printers and pdf files}

and to help celebrate,

Peter & I have a few new Needful Things for you ~

... a beautiful new wooden item from Peter, this is our 

'Stitcher's Companion'

a great little box with drawer, pincushion base and 4 spool holders on the top ~

 this has a removable clamp so you can either keep it stationary with you on your work table, 

or move it around from place to place as you stitch!

a NEW thread holder/floss winder in the traditional shape of a Peppermint Stick!

 and 2 new Punch Needle patterns:

"Peace Dove" & "Santa Deer"

{patterns will be offered as mailed/paper & PDF}

So, tonight ~

at the stroke of Midnight

{well, here in the good old USA anyway}

you can shop in your jammies and save 10% on your total purchase with us!!

PLEASE REMEMBER

 to use the COUPON CODE:  

cyber2017

when you check out.... 

or the discount will not work and I can't apply it to your purchase after that!!

I wish you all a Holiday Season filled with Peace & Creativity....

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ And We're Punching.....

Yep! 

The gears have switched {what else is new?}

...finishing up my new Christmas/Winter punch needle designs for you!

'Santa Deer'

is in progress...

well, almost finished really ~

just a little more to do yet ~

using Valdani #8 pearl cotton & DMC 6 strand in this design...

also using different heights on some parts to make them more dimensional & fun!

{like the trim on his coat & hat}

 

I like using both variegated pearl cotton & plain DMC 6 strand in one design,

it gives a different look to m finished work and is a little easier

 on the pocket-book when you use DMC for the fill-in of the background!

 

I have a few more to work on, and will show them to you soon ~

I will be adding all of the new NFF designs and Wooden Wares to our Etsy shop very soon!

Have a beautiful Sunday my stitching friends!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ On Christmas Eve ~

Since I was a child,

I've long believed 

 at the stroke of midnight 

on Christmas Eve ~

the Animals gather from farm & field

to offer their voices ~ 

to us 

which they yield:

"a Happy Christmas to one and all"

... then head wearily back to their stall

or branch, nest or burrow

deep into the night

and whisper a sleepy 

"...to all aGood Night!"

 ©L.Brechlin 2016

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

 

Well, that's they way I see it anyway...

what better time for our beloved fur, feathered & finned friends 

~ to become magically outspoken but on Christmas Eve?

I remember fighting sleep each year

waiting for a chance to hear

 tiny voices from our kittens ~

that I imagined would sound something like a

baby talking in a high-pitch.

{but, then again at that age I believed I could hear the stars twinkling at night too}

✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴  ✴

My love for animals has no bounds,

and I will gladly sacrifice any morsel of food I have to one who is hungry ~

or happily kneel in dirt to gently pat one who may be scared or hurt.

oh we could learn so much from them...

if we'd only listen.

here are a few {ok, ALOT} 

of my favorite antique Christmas postcards depicting animals ~

found these all on Pinterest...

my very favorite, of course

are the kittens & cats:

~ for my dog-loving friends:

 

 

and various others ~

 

 

 

 

and remember

all of our woodland friends too:

 

 Happy Christmas Eve to you!

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Peter, Lori & Hannah