~ My Folk Art ~

These past few days have been quiet,
and I want to Thank all of you for your kind, healing words
regarding Tippy ~
I tend to try to escape my thoughs by turning to my handwork  & folk art ~
so I will share with you this }

'Nantucket Broom Ride'

 this has been a work in progress, as I've frogged it out a number of times...
the background just wasn't working for me ~ but finally it all came together into this ~

browns, black, greys...a hint of mustard and wheat ~
a scalloped border and a touch of movement in the background...

I wanted to keep a subdued look to this piece.

 was going for a primitive, early hooked rug look

~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I'll make a sawdust-filled pillow with it, but not quiet sure...

I've since started on another piece,
the punching of my needle is very consoling to my soul
right now...

This design will be sold as a pattern soon.
it is (C) Copyright protected, as is all of my work.
Kris at www.spruceridgestudios.com
has adapted this design for primitive rug hookers, along with a couple of my other designs as well...please visit her website to see them ~ they are AWESOME!!!

this Finished piece will be sold at the Ghoultide Gathering Show in October.
and a painting of this design (or adaptation of it)
...will be on my Ebay auctions this weekend.

Next weekend, things will be very different here on the farm...
Hannah will be graduating from High School, and we will be celebrating with Family & Friends...
can't wait to see my Mom!

Blessings from the Farm!

Lori

A Fabric Finish & What's on my Frame ~ and other stuff...

Thought I would share a fantastic finish with you...
I received an email from sweet Pat ~ she said in her email, how pleased she was with my new fabric that she ordered from Spoonflower ~

she also sent along these snaps of a project she stitched up,
...backing her work with my "Sew Primitive' fabric...
here's the front with her wonderful stitching ~

&
here is the back showing my fabric ~
I'm so happy to know that my fabric is being used!
how cute is this????

Many thanks, Pat ~ for sharing with me and for your kindest words....
it makes me feel so good to know so many of you out there love the same things I do!

AND

I received a fat 1/4 of my new Sepia Faktur Bird fabric from Spoonflower today!!!!
I LOVE L O V E Love it!!!!

I think I'll be using this to back some of my pinkeeps as well....
what do you think?

Iggy says he likes it...
(although, he is thee least pickiest cat who's ever owned me)

comfy Ig???

...checking it out a little more....

and here's what's STILL on my frame...

remember this??

I would have generally had something this size (approx. 7" x 7") finished by now,
but
I was detoured into revamping our bathroom...
(ya know how ya just sit there...lookin' around???...TMI?? LOL)

so I decided to paint colonial murals onto my upper walls...

I took 'before' snaps, and will share the whole SHEBANG with you in a couple of days...
not only am I doing that, but I bought some AWESOME vintage embroidered fabric from etsy to make a roll-up shade and new curtains from...

I can't wait for the mail-lady to deliver the goods!!!

Ok, I'm off to the kitchen...
making home-made Chinese food for us tonight-
Sticky White Rice
Stir Fry Veggies w/Shrimp
and
Shrimp Rolls!!!

hoping you all have a pleasant eve ~

Blessings from the Farm!
Lori

My New England Upbringing ~

Growing up along the coastal waters of Connecticut, I have a yearning for anything that relates to the maritime...ships, boats, shells, fish & mermaids and particularly, or more Peculiarly....
...WHALES.

(((Lately, I've been drawing WHALES.)))

I've been researching the history of whaling along the upper regions of
Massachussets and Rhode Island...
Narragansett, Cape Cod...Ipswich & Nantucket...

I've watched a couple of shows on whalers and whaling communities.
How they did what they did with such crude & rudimentary tools is beyond belief.
I'm not one that favors hurting animals (at ALL.) but I know that Whaling was crucial to the development of the Nation ~ the by-products of the whale were needed, and as such, brave men ventured forth ~ sometimes for years ~ chasing the huge, elusive creatures...

So, my creative muse has taken hold of me once again,
and I am working with needle and thread to put my thoughts to design...

(on my frame is a work-in-progress...that includes a whale, and of course...a witch)


shown in sepia tones until the finish...

but being raised in New England, I find myself being even thriftier than ever in today's economy.

I found 15 skeins of DMC floss at a local thrift shop for $1.00 ~ uh huh, that's right. I snapped them up and am using them in the above project...

but, just because I was raised a thrifty Yankee, doesn't mean that everyone doesn't like a bargain or the hunt for one...such fun in finding something in a dusty corner that we didn't know we yet needed ~

I'm sure you all are thrifty in your own right.

My decorating tends to reflect my frugality, too...

this little white pitcher was 50 cents at a barn sale last weekend...

the little black-iron bird (which I think is a lamp finial) was a mere 2.00.

the photos, below were found in our attic here in the old farmhouse when we renovated,

the flicker candle is from the Dollar Store, and of course, the Lavender is home-grown...

not alot of money spent on my favorite farmhouse look ~

...another little pitcher, (below) a larger ironstone pitcher (with a beautiful chip), a tiny birdhouse gifted from a friend (Thank you Tammy!) and a jar candle made by another friend, with a copy of an old sampler simply pasted on and wrapped with stained osnaburg ~

is all my salvaged mantle-scape needs...it fills my heart without breaking a very tight budget.

So, call me a Yankee, call me a spendthrift...call me whatever you'd like to ~

but, don't believe for a minute that I'm any different from those of you who do the same thing

and live to create something from nothing, reuse, repurpose & recycle...

In fact, it is quite the compliment to me,

knowing that I have so many friends, such as yourselves, that do & enjoy the same...

I'll share the finish of my WIP on my next post ~

Blessings from the Farm!

Lori