Our Cozy Farmhouse

Yesterday

was a little warmer than it's been...

but

we still had the woodstove on in the Keeping Room to make the farmhouse cozy ~

I've been cleaning and tidying up a bit too,

taking down most of the Hallowe'en items that I've had up for what seems like months now.

Being in business where I always have to be ahead of season, 

it's always hard to figure out what I want to display to help me in my designing...

I am finding myself drawn to a less cluttered look.

I'm tired of store-bought things and how they just don't 'fit' in anymore.

I am going to be selling off a lot of my things that just don't fit my tastes any longer,

or things that I just don't positively L O V E.

So, keep an eye on my Etsy Shop to see what goodies I might be offering you ~

In the meantime, have a visit with me in my little farmhouse ~

happy to have you!

~ as you enter our front door an old clock case and pewter with drieds greets you ~

turn to your left and you enter our snug little dining room ~

dining room from another angle ~

walk through and you will enter our keeping room ~
it was originally two divided rooms, but the original owners took down the walls opening up one large room...
this is the back of the keeping room

another view of the back of the keeping room

and another...

...and one more.

looking to the front of the keeping room (from the back) you can see our mantel with flat screen tv above ~

I want to cover the tv when not in use, so I've been perusing the internet for UNIQUE ideas ~
I think I have one ~  I'll share with you once finished....

a larger view of keeping room

and another.

this is my personal view of the mantel/tv from my favorite spot on our sofa ~
we have a matching sofa & loveseat that rocks and reclines...also is near the wood stove.
Perfect place to watch old movies and do my handwork.

I'll be finishing up the Holly Vine wool appliqué class model today and will share the finish with you this evening...

*Blessed be, my Friends*

 ~ Lori ~

~~~::~~~ Holly Vine ~~~::~~~

I'm making progress on the model for my 

Holly Vine Wool Applique class ~

Class for this project will be on 

January 18th 2014 (wow) 

...from 11:00 - 3:00

Holly Berry Vine

 I am not fussy when I appliqué.

quite the contrary ~

staples hold my pieces in place in lieu of pins ~ 

 I prefer simple whip-stitches

 to the more traditional blanket (penny rug) stitch ~

the outcome has an older, lighter feel to me.

stem is finished with simple whip-stitches

 I don't use perle cotton either,

I prefer a thin, linen-colored cotton thread that blends well with everything:

tiny stitches of thread

 and I prefer a backing of cotton instead of appliquéing onto wool...

here I'm using osnaburg for the backing ~

wool on cotton

 I never start out with a pattern ~

instead I let my scissors play...

meandering, blowzy holly vine

my little sewing basket matches perfectly, 

don't you think?? 

~~::~~

 I've chosen a mix of solid and textured wools for the leaves ~

the berries are not truly 'round' but more wonky...

a very relaxed piece to work on.

little berries on the vine

 you can see my stitches here:

some you can see, others disappear into the wool

 I'm a very relaxed teacher ~ 

I want you to enjoy the process of creating your work...

perhaps some mistakes will be made,

but that is what handwork is about ~

...being humble, but doing your best.

backside shows my little knots and small stitches.

If you'd like to sign up for this class in January,

or the wreath/salve class in November (which is filling up quickly!)

I'm only an email away...

not4got@aol.com 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in the shop today,

working on this and enjoying the company of friends and the warmth of the wood stove ~

Hoping your hands are busy & warm today!

*Blessed be, my Friends* 

 ~ Lori ~

Winter Classes beginning at Notforgotten Farm ~

Hello Friends & Folk!

I am happy to say that we will begin a new season of classes here at the farm shop ~

I will be listing all of the classes on the 

"CLASSES"

link over there on my sidebar to your right ~

Our first class is going to be taught by friend

Nancy Bauer (remember she taught us how to make Lavender Wands?)

She will be teaching a dual-class here on 

Saturday,November 23rd from 11:00 - 3:00

the two class projects will be this beautifully simple 

 ~ Burlap Wreath ~

burlap wreath model made by Nancy Bauer

this wreath can be left as is, simple and so primitive looking and left up all year ~

or

Nancy will be bringing drieds & such to decorate your wreath the way you'd like to....

add your favorite drieds and such at the class ~

I can't wait to make mine!!

 The second class project that will be taught the same day (after the wreath class) will be

~ Organic Healing Salve ~

Organic Healing Salve

 Nancy gifted me with a tin-full of her salve last year

and I use it constantly for my chapped hands ~

it is so soothing and it smells wonderful!

so pretty

as a needleworker and someone who works with wools,

my hands are always in need of a little TLC...

this salve is earth friendly and you will see how Nancy makes it right here in our shop!

We are limiting this double-class to 8 students only and I already have 3 signed up,

so if you'd like to attend, please email me asap at not4got@aol.com 

the class fee for both projects is $35.00 per student...

hope you can make it to this wonderfully creative class!

I will be updating the class schedule 

((as mentioned at the beginning of this post))

 ~ I'm working on a wool appliqué project at the moment 

which will be the class model for our January class...

(no class in December due to our Open House on Dec. 7th and then the Holidays)

Hoping you are all enjoying this beautifully crisp weather 

...with a little handwork & hot spiced cider :)

*Blessed be, my Friends* 

 ~ Lori ~

New Goods ~ in our Etsy Shop

Hello my Friends ~

it's a blust'ry mid October evening.

our little woodstove is piping and the kettle is singing in the Keeping room

where I've been finishing up lots of goodies for you ~

please visit our Etsy Shop to see all of our new Offerings....

'Winter Squirrel'
rug hooking pattern

'Colonial Herb/Mitten Rack'

'Acorn Harvest'
cross stitch ornament/pinkeep pattern 

'Santa Who?' punch needle pattern &
primitive wooden Acorn Frame

'Woodland Christmas'
cross stitch pattern

'Acorn'
thread winder/floss keeper

'Dear Santa...' cross stitch pattern &
Dirty Brown Combed Paint flat stock wooden frame

'Christmas Donkey'
cross stitch pattern

'Fir Tree'
thread winder/floss keeper

'Mary Snow'
cross stitch pattern

I hope you enjoy them all ~

*Blessed be, my Friends*

 ~ Lori ~

Santa Who?

I'm working on a little punch needle design 

that will be released with the new, upcoming cross stitch designs ~

I love the rhythm of punching that needle down into the cloth 

...and watching a design come to life slowly.

This primsical little guy is called

"Santa Who?"

filling in the background...

...a nighttime sky

thread-ends look like feathers from the back of my work...

here is the front ~

perhaps I WILL add some kind of dimensional feathers?

hello!

a sliver of harvest moon

oak leaves and acorns

almost finished!

I have a brand new frame that was made exclusively to house this design,

and I will be releasing all of the new cross stitch patterns, this pattern, new wood frames 

and new finished wooden smalls this week for your holiday/winter stitching pleasure!!

Have a beautiful October day!

*Blessed be, my Friends*

 ~ Lori ~