Monday oh Monday ~

This is what it's doing outside ~

I know I've said many times before how I love rainy days ~

but a little bit of sunshine would surely be appreciated,

because we are beginning to feel like this:

Today marks the 8th day of the 

Martha Stewart American Made Contest ~

we are absolutely astounded at the number of votes we have this morning ~

over 9000!!

we are sincerely thankful and humbly-hopeful 

...that you all will continue to vote for us…

Click HERE to place your vote(s) for Notforgotten Farm

and in typical Monday fashion…..

Off to work I go!

have a beautiful day my friends ~ 

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

Chairpad Finish & WOOL!

Good Soggy Sunday Morning!

yep, rain again today ~ 

...and the ants have invaded our pantry.

went to get the honey for my tea and there they were ~

such funny little buggers ants are…they come in when there's no rain for a drink,

then they come in again when there's a lot of rain to get dry ~

oh well, hazards of old farmhouse living I guess…..

Yesterday I finished the chair pad I was working on:

thought I'd show you how I simply finish it…

after it has been steamed with a damp towel & hot iron,

and while it is still damp is when I like to bind it.

I cut to within about an inch of the last hooked row all the way 'round…

then I snip into the linen and turn the edge back ~

I like to use Valdani Pearl Cotton #8 for the stitching part,

it blends in well and is strong.

I also like to use binder clips to hold down the edge while I'm stitching it back.

these come in super-handy!

stitch up to the clip, then take the clip off :)

close-up of my needle and thread…

see how I turn the linen back super-close to the last hooked row for a nice clean edge?

…and all stitched:

love the colors of the mustard wools with my old blue chair, 

...don't you?

the wording on this rug has double-meaning:

the PA Germans have used this term, 'sit a spell' or 'sit before you go once' 

as meaning to stay & visit with them a while…

of course being the witch-y girl I am I like to think the term used otherwise ;)

and speaking of wool ~

had a customer email me & ask what color wools do I carry in the shop?

and I tried to tell her, 

~ but pictures work better…

lots of textured, as-is & off the bolts…

new hand dyeds from Blackberry Primitives too!

1/4 yds & 1/2 yd cuts ready for the picking and your next project ~

personally, when hooking my projects,

I like to use 90% of the textured/as-is wool 

… then throw in 10% of a hand dyed mix.

i think it gives my rugs instant primitive-ness. ~

I just drew up another chair pad to hook today…a geometric based on an antique motif.

I'll share my progress tomorrow….

and what's with all the chair pad-hooking?

well, I like to hook them ~ i have hooked & sold hundred of them in the past ~

they are fast, fun and small in size yet add lots of charm to a home…

not only to be used on a chair, but on a table or hung on a wall as well.

~ and yes, I use a round wooden hoop when I hook a chair pad ~ 

as opposed to my ©Hookinpunch Adjustable Gripper Frame.

{who is sitting here looking at me sadly empty….now I have to draw something to use on it. geeeez.}

sometimes ya just have to mix it up a bit :)

 and please don't forget….

today is day #7 in the 

~ Martha Stewart American Made Contest ~

Click HERE to vote for Notforgotten Farm today

remember too, that you can vote up to SIX {6!!!!} times EACH & EVERY DAY

from now until October 19th…

Last I checked, we were at 7,898 votes!

We appreciate each & every vote we receive from you, and also

THANK YOU to those dear friends who help spread the word about us on Facebook

and on their own personal blogs!

Hoping you all enjoy a wonderfully creative day my sweet friends ~

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

Short & Sweet ~

A somewhat short posting this morning ~

another rainy day on tap…perfect for hooking I think.

I'm almost finished with this chair pad, 'Sit a Spell'….

need to hook in the triangles around the rim using the beautiful mustard wools yet ~

will show you the finish soon :)

~ ALSO ~

{{Shameless Plug}}

…. today is day number 6 of the Martha Stewart American Made Contest ~

if you would be so kind as to vote for us today, and everyday…

you can vote up to six times per day!

Click HERE to Vote for Notforgotten Farm

 ~ AND ~ 

If you're in the neighborhood on this drizzly Saturday,

come on in for a visit to our farm shop ~

we have wall to wall WOOLS for your rug hooking needs !

{or, you can all just let me wade in it and keep it all for myself ha!}

if you're coming, bring your work in progress or some show & tell for me.

we're open now Fridays & Saturdays from 10:00 - 4:00

{longer hours for you to come & play}

Hoping you all have a *SPARKLING* day, no matter the weather!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

Gratitude ~

I know you're all probably getting tired of the redundancy 

~ of me reminding you to vote ~

but please remember to vote!

http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/104333/crafts/notforgotten-farm

and with that said, please accept this little token below from me for voting!

 you have my permission to hook, punch, stitch,

 embroider, paint or wool appliqué this design to your heart's content!

"Happy Home ~ Happy Heart" Freebie
from ©Notforgotten Farm

I only ask that you kindly give credit to me as the designer/giver, 

and I would LOVE to see your finished work please!

enjoy this rainy September day my sweet friends ~

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

Christmas & Winter Designing and Shows

Good Morning Friends & Folk!

tis the 2nd day of Autumn ~ and here in Virginia it has been beautiful.

Peter & I have been enjoying our cooler walks in the evenings,

Roxy is more playful and even the donkeys seem more spirited by the change in weather….

this time of year, right after our Gathering show,

I beginning working on my new 

Christmas/Holiday/Winter designs

I am in the midst of charting 3 new cross stitch designs,

finishing up sketches for 4 new punch needle designs,

have a few rug hooking ideas rattling-around 'in there' too ~

I had asked Terri {Dixie Sampler} if she would dye up a batch of linen for me

for one of the ideas I have for a monochromatic sampler ~

I wanted the linen to be green.

not just green. but olive-y drab khaki green.

with no hint of a blue undertone…

Terri worked her magic and viola! 

here it is…

a rich, drab green that is thee perfect shade of olive {in my mind's eye anyway}

old looking, early-looking & I cannot wait to put my needle and thread to it!

I've chosen Gentle Arts "Oatmeal" as my thread color

and since this will be a one-color project, I think the two colors go together very well…

of course I'll age it after it is completed, and I have a great antique frame that I want to use with it.

Thank You Terri for your colorful creativity!!

On October 9th, 10th & 11th, I will be in Middletown, VA at

Valley Needleworks ~ {{Click HERE for more info}}

I'll be teaching a wool appliqué & humble embroidery class ~ project below:

AND Joan & I will be set up for their Merchant Mall which is OPEN to the Public both days!

I am also working on finished goods for the upcoming

From Our Hands Folk Art & Antiques Show

November 13th & 14th 2015

a wonderful show filled to the brim with unique folk art & antiques 

from some of the today's best dealers & artisans

Working on finished goods for this show is the highlight of my year ~ 

I get to create so many different things!!!

and,

most importantly ~ I get to see old & new friends again :)

visit the FOH blog HERE

&

visit the FOH website HERE

~ AND ~

Today marks day #4 of the Martha Stewart American Made Contest!

Did you know that you can vote up to SIX times per day, Everyday?

and, that voters have a chance at winning a weekly prize too, just by being a voter!!!

yep, the more often & consistent you vote, 

the better YOUR chance at winning a monetary prize from Martha!!

Woot woot!

So, please head on over and cast your 6 votes again today, 

and then again tomorrow, and the next day too…all the way up until October 19th!!!

Click HERE to vote for Notforgotten Farm

{{Peter, Hannah & I thank each & every one of you who have voted 

… and/or helped spread the word on FB and Twitter about us!!}}

Have a Beautiful Thursday my friends, make it a creative one!!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori