{ a few of my favorite things... }

Our humble farmhouse is filled with things that I love....

the smell of fresh herbs,

...the texture of chipped paint & hooked rugs...

redware & transferware and
abandoned turtle shells found in the woods....

old childrens clothing,
tin candle sticks...

old weathered barrels,

discarded textile spools....

fabric covered boxes, old bottles, ironstone china,
feathers and birds nests...

all keep me happy, searching for things to fill my heart...

The new issue of the Country Sampler Special Homes Tour magazine has me going crazy.

I am loving the more primitive, austere homes in it, yet am also drawn to the bright, cottage, garden-esque look that a couple homes share too...

how do I mix it up for my home?

I call it

"Primitive Farmhouse Style"

what style of decorating is your favorite???

{please take my poll at the top of this blog}

I'm headed out to town today, to ship off orders and go to market...
thinking about fresh salmon for supper, with garlic potatoes and asparagus...

Hoping you all have a bright & cheerful day, regardless of your weather!!!

Blessed be~

Lori

{ In Progress...}

here is one of new patterns I'm working on..

it is the first in a series of

School~Girl~Pockets

that I'll be offering soon...

I have 6 or so sketched up, but need to 'tweak' them for their final pattern.

I'll show this to you when I have it finished and made into a completed pocket...
the patterns for these will include the instructions

on how to make a completed pocket,
straps & all...

Well our warm weather that we enjoyed yesterday is gone,

and today it is cold & raining with a few spittles of snow flakes thrown in...

(I think just to remind me not to get 'too happy'...
that yes, Winter is still here.)

I just got the new copy of the Country Sampler's Home Tour,

so I'll curlp up & peruse that for a while,

then it's back to the needlepunching...

Hoping your day is a cozy one,
Blessed b e!

Lori

{ Spring-like Day }

Hi folks! ~

what a beautiful day here in VA!

the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the snow is
MELTING!

woohooooo!!!!!!

I just came in from checking on my herb garden out front,
...and am delighted to say that my daffodils are about 1/2" up!

our yard is full of robins,

getting their bellies full of worms

from the now thawed-out ground...

and nothing beats the sweet sound of the cardinals

calling for their mates...

soon the tree frogs will be vocalizing their love of spring too!

Here's the banana bread recipe I promised:

Preheat oven to 320*

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 stick real butter, room temp.

2 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup chopped raisins

2 cups mashed ripe banana

in a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda & baking powder...

in a seperate bowl, beat eggs, sugar & butter until smooth then add mashed banana~

gradually mix in flour mixture to banana mixture until all is blended, then mix in raisins & nuts.

grease a 9" x 5" x 3" loaf pan.

line bottom of pan with wax paper & grease that too...
(I use spray PAM)

now fold your batter into pan.

place in a preheated slow oven (320*) for 1 hour...test with a toothpick for doneness~

if done, loosen bread edges with butter knife and flip bread out onto a wire rack to cool, upside-down...in about 10 minutes, peel off wax paper and flip right-side-up.

ENJOY!!!!

(you can see mine up there, but it's history now!!!

I'll bet it won't last long in your house either!!)

I'm off to work on my needlepunch designs~
I'll post pics as soon as I can!

Blessed be!

Lori

{ Winter in the Valley Antiques Show...photos! }

as promised,

here are some photos of the show this past saturday...

please forgive me for not putting all of the names down with the pictures,
but if you see something you like, visit the show's website:

www.picturetrail.com/winterinthevalleyantique

and email them:

on with the show...

I love the bold, graphic colors and design of the quilts...
but I just adore the trail of wooden pig cutting boards under the table
and the
"no spitting" sign!!!

visit www.shabbyvilla.com
to see more vintage/garden things...
LOVE those urns!!!

Here's Robin's beautiful display...
visit her blog:

www.millstonemercantile.blogspot.com

not sure who's booth this is, but that table!
OH I love those legs and that white chippy paint!!!

a collection of needfuls waits in this booth...
look at that corner chair in green paint!

delightful! ~
~ those beeskeps are a must for every primitive garden~

...toys, and quilts & rugs OH MY!!!

dolls and dresses and ooohhh, that apothocary cupboard!!!

Cecilia's pretty little booth was chock full of wonderful time-worns...
visit her at
www.picturetrail.com/henhouseprimitives

and there's my li'l booth...
see my hooked rug of the farmhouse hangin' on the table?

We had such a great time...
I could have shopped ALL day...

Thanks again to my sweet customers & friends for visiting us~

Now, onto creating some brand new primitive
NEEDLE PUNCH PATTERNS
for the Virginia Rug Fest
www.varugfest.com

~AND~
yes, I've changed the blog again...
I have to keep you all on your toes, ya know!

Blessed be, my Friends~
Lori

{Etsy Update}

Hi Friends!!!

I've updated my etsy shop with Clementine & Claude....

please go take a look,

and if you'd like to adopt them, they'd be tickled!

want you to also know that I'll be releasing
TWO NEW CROSS STITCH PATTERNS SOON!!!

I'm excited about these...one is designed after my Grandmother,
and the other,
for my love of Folk-y Rabbits!!!
{look for them SOON!!!}

Thought I would get to post the pics of yesterdays' show tonight,
but Hannah is hounding me for dinner,
so I will begin a new post of that tomorrow,
along with my FANTASTIC Banana-Nut bread that I made this evening....
recipe to follow!!!

thanks to all for visiting my humble blog...it really means the world to me!

Lori