{ feeling chippy-er }

ain't she purdy??

and she's a tall gal, too!

Felicia just gifted me with this FABulous cupboard...
it's chippy-peely paint just gets my li'l heart pumpin' !!!!

it's about 6" tall
missing a drawer (who cares?)
and has about a billion coats of paint on her,
but is predominantly country green...
...be still my heart.

me thinks it will look splendin in the old farmhouse...
to be used to house our flat screen TV, and stash equipment below...
{ohhh I hope it fits...where IS my measuring tape?}

Yesterday was spent painting the 'den'...
which was once the dining room, off the kitchen,
but has become our new little nest
where the TV and 1 woodstove is...
I cook frequently on the woodstove,
so it made more sense to bring it closer to the kitchen..
I painted the lower half of the room in a pecan-colored paint (it was dark brown)
and it has truly lightened things up quite a bit!

now, with the addition of my new (old) chippy green cupboard,
our little room will look so farmhouse-y primitive!!

SIMPLE COUNTRY PLEASURES & GOOD FRIENDS
{one can never have too many}

Peace & Plenty to you all,
Lori

{ Punch, hook...stitch }

Yesterday,
i cleaned up my sewing room...
what a mess.

tiny bits of cloth, shreds of threads, snippets of wool~
everywhere.

after the frenzy of the holidays, I find it quite soothing to root about in that room,

rearranging this, simplifying that, tidying everything...

As you all well know me, I tend to float about between mediums, but my favorite by far are
cross stitching, needle punching and rug hooking.
{as you can tell by my banner above, too...}

this time of year, as the old year fades and thoughts of the new come into mind,
I bring out unfinished projects that were put on the 'back burner'
and see if i really want to finish them, or just re-design them...
as I do this, my mind is also uncluttered of old thoughts,
and new ones always seem to come sliding in...

a perfect opportunity to make room in my home & heart for new beginnings...

I'll be working on the new punch needle designs this week...
the one that's on the frame right now is called

"The Bunny Trail"

{think: primsical, folksy, fun!...and yes, ' primsical' is a wonderful word

to describe my designs...primitive & whimsical...all in one!}

I want to release the new designs in mid-January, so you can all have them for early Spring...

Hoping that you all have an uncluttered day, with thoughts of wonderful things to come!

Peace & Plenty to you,

Lori

{ Sunny & Bright }

finally, the sun came to visit us today...
it seems like all we've had as of late are clouds/rain/snow...
we did have a White Christmas, albeit a wet one too...

Christmas day was spent relaxing in the warm farmhouse, with Peter & Hannah.
I made Chicken Caesar Salad for supper, and of course we ate too many cookies & sweets...we watched "Home Alone", "Night at the Museum", "Nat'l. Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", and many Fa-la-la-la Lifetime movies!!!

The weather helped provide the 'motivation', have you, for a Doll-making day also...
here is my latest paperclay-over-cloth doll:

she's available for your bidding pleasure on ebay right now...
lots more pictures on there for you to see her better...
{link is to your left}

I'll be working on another today,
then I think I'll head out to one of my favorite haunts,
"Vintage on Main"
here in Amherst, VA...
Vickie, the owner,
has wonderful laces & bits of early cloth
just perfect for a new primitive doll!

I'm also working on new needlepunch & cross stitch patterns for Spring~
I'm thinking Tulips, Farmhouses, Lilacs, Lambs, Rabbits & more!

Hoping that your day will be filled
with thoughts of pleasant days to come in the New Year~

Blessed be!
Lori

{...my wish...}

...for you all ~

>::<>::<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We'll be enjoying a pleasant Christmas Eve at our neighbors' house this evening...
but we'll return home in time for a couple rounds of card games and some snacks before retiring for the evening...Santa Claus comes tonight!
AND
ever since I was little, my Mom always told me
that all Animals talk at midnight on Christmnas eve...
So, I always make sure that I'm home
in case there's something someone here might want to tell me!

{of course, having SO many animals here on the farm,
they will have to stand in line and take turns...
not so sure that Suzy my cat will allow that though...,
SHE is the most talkative one in the house anyway!}

Here's how I like to help my animal friends this time of year:

go to your local thrift shop or Goodwill store and purchase some old blankets that may be used as bedding for cats & kittens that may be strays living outside...

Leave some carrots for the riendeer,( ok...the donkeys) apples for the sheep,
or better yet, donate some food to your local animal hospital or pet-adoption agency...

Remember to fill your birdfeeders and birdbaths
{especially if you have snow like we do here!}

Check your dog's footpads in cold weather...
make sure they are not dry & cracked, which can cause severe pain & infection.

Leftover bacon-grease mixed in with some bird food makes a wonderful suet that gives our little feathered friends extra protien that they need to keep warm in frigid temps...put a dollop on an aluminum pan and set out near the birdbath,...watch the feast begin!!

and lastly...

remember to tell them how very special they are to you, and that you love them...

They really do understand every word you say.

for the rest of us,
Peace on Earth & Goodwill toward Mankind...

Lori

{ your new favorite Christmas Cookies...}

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies

1 cup of water1
tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Begin:
Sample the Cuervo to check quality.
Take a large bowl,

check the Cuervo again
pour one level cup and drink.
Turn on the electric mixer.
Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add one peastoon of sugar.
Beat again.
At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try anothercup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.
Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.

Mix on the turner.
If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something.
Who geevesa sheet.

Check the Jose Cuervo.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts..
Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find...
Greash the oven.
Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fallover.
Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Finally, throw the bowl through the window,
finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher.

Cherry Mistmas !

{ 15 years ago }

our daughter Hannah turned 15 last evening...
(December 20th)

where has the time gone?

15 years ago,
Peter & I were Christmas shopping as I went into labor...
we called the Dr. and he said to continue our day,
as I wasn't ready
...so we did...
we laughed everytime a cashier would ask us:
"how are you today?"
my reply:

"I'm in Labor"
Peter's response:
"...she's not kidding."

15 years ago,
I was magically transformed at 10:00 pm into a Mother...
and I watched my husband fall hopelessly
& forever in Love with his brand new baby girl.

15 years ago,
we brought her home,
dressed her in an elf outfit and placed her under our Christmas tree...

our gift to one another.

15 years ago,
I couldn't have imagined the joy that Hannah brings us everyday:

with her smile, her sense of humor, her clutz-y-ness, her talent for making friends,
and for how she continues to remind me how lucky I am to have her.
{even on the days when she's downright mean-as-a-snake!}
but hey, a teenager has to do what a teenager has to do...
...and she is by far her very own person.

last night I baked chocolate cupcakes
with chocolate frosting for her,
and gifted her with a pair of "footie Pajamas"
...yes, they do make them for adults
{Target stores}
she's adorable in them...

just like she was

15 years ago...

Happy Birthday Sweetheart,
Love forever,
Mom & Dad

{ Snowbound }

it's the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man!
{oh...no wait...sorry, that's my husband.}

... snug as a bug in a rug.

can you spot Buddy?
{hint: he's closer than you think}

you're not getting me to sit on that toilet seat in there
...no way...i'll stick fast!

we have about 2 feet of snow...that's not counting the almost 4 foot drifts...

.....and they're telling us the 'heaviest' snowfall will begin today about 11:00....
what?
?????????????????

we're all stocked up on cocoa and popcorn...
candles and kindling...
...wool and kitties.

tell me...
what more could one ask for on such a perfect day?

wishing you all Warm Woolies!!!!
Lori

{ a little flaky...}

I'm happily snugged in the farmhouse today...
awaiting the predicted snowfall this aft of anywhere from 6" ~ 24" !!!!!

not typical weather for this part of the country, but VA has had it's share of snowstorms...

the last "good one" we were blessed with was 6 years ago,
the first winter spent here in this old farmhouse....

At that time, we had not yet renovated, and the walls had no insulation.

nor did we have indoor plumbing, as the septic system went soon after moving in.

we were left with a humongous woodstove, and plenty of woods to peruse for fuel...

we entertained ourselves by keeping the fire lit, and collecting kindling
(on each pass outside to the portable potty that we had to rent until said septic was replaced)

it was a challenge, you could say, for a transplanted Yankee City-girl like me, but I loved it...
when that first snowfall came, and blanketed this old homeplace and it's fields and woods in a good foot of sparkling white snow,
I truly felt like I was 'home',
as it reminded me of my CT winters growing up...

Today, as i sit here typing this, I'm looking out my sewing room window, across the way to my little shop...we've come a long way in the 6 years we've lived here, thanks to the hard work Peter has put into making this our 'forever' home....
I see a barn where there once stood none, housing our animal & chicken friends...
I can see the steel grey sky just waiting to' poof ' that first little snowflake into exsistence..

and I can see our gardens, once lush & green just a few short months ago,

now settling coldly into the deep sleep that can only come from a long Winter's nap

...only to be reborn again, in another few...short months.

Hannah will be coming home early today, and will begin her Winter vacation...
as the snow will fall this aft into eve, we'll bake some cookies and watch some old movies...perhaps take the dogs for a walk in the woods..

...simple country pleasures.

wishing you all the peace that comes from a freshly fallen snow,
the warm hug only your own home can give you
and the companionship of those you love most dear~

Peace & Plenty be Yours today,
Lori

{ in progress }

here's what I've been working on:

it's a rug that will be my 'sign' that will hang when I'm vending at shows...

I hooked up our farmhouse, then added a black walnut tree
and the words 'notforgotten farm'
and hooked a 'wavy' ground...the background will be blacks
(antique black-greens, brown-blacks, etc.)

it measures approx. 26" x 26" and I will mount it on an old breadboard that I have...
i think it will look pretty cool...

~ Also ~
I was commissioned to hook this chairpad for Connie:

I hooked a brown background with cream 'slip' lettering...
i have to bind it yet...
It is approx. 12" round...
I LOVE the colors...
...they're very early looking

I have to go to the post office today, so will try to get this finished & sent out,
along with gifts heading up to CT & down to TN....

Hoping your day is filled with warm cookies & coco, some furry friends and wool!
Blessed be~

Lori

{ Donkey Love }

Daisy & Pinnochio

Can you spoil donkey's?
{ me thinks you can...and terribly, too. }

Peter & I have succumbed to those big, brown eyes and soft muzzle-nuzzles...
their laughing guffaws and crazy antics performed while thinking no-one is watching.

How gentle the big Pinnochio is with Daisy,
but all at once reprimanding and reminding her that he is

The Boss...

Their leisurely days are filled with carrots, fresh air, sunshine and rain,
plenty of hay and molasses-laden oats and brushing...
oh, how they love to be brushed....
leaning heavily into you while you turn coarse fur into silk with each swipe.

Every morning,
when I set out to the barn to feed everyone,
there is the usual welcoming chorus of Baaa's, Bray's, Rooster Calls, Clucks & Quacks
(and whatever that noise is that Guinea Hens make)

greeting me with a round of
"Good Morning Mom!"

but by far, is the sweetest, excited little *squeak* that tiny Daisy makes
when she first sees me...

That, my friends,

is Love.

Hoping you all have someone to Love...
who Loves you back....
just for being You.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peace & Plenty be Yours~
~Lori~

{ forgot to mention }

I forgot to mention

....that the new issue of the Wool Street Journal is out...
and I have a free pattern in there for you all!!!

look for my 'sweet treats' on page 34!!

{blessed be!}

Lori

{ coming soon }

I have been trying all day to put an annoucement up oon my sidebar here on this blog.
BUT
for some reason, it won't let me...

SO

I'm posting this here, in hopes that it will work somehow, too...

HERE GOES:

I will be posting
(on said sidebar...hrrrrumph!)
the Winter/Spring 2010 Shop Class Schedule

SOOON!!!!!

I've been getting emails & calls from some of you
who would like to take some of the aforementioned classes,
but I don't have the particulars worked out yet for dates/times...

SO until I can't get the kinks worked out of my schedule AND this blog,
please accept this post as the announcement!

(*sigh*)

thank you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>::<<<<<<<<<<<<
I'm getting this shop arranged and (almost) ready for staurday...
the weather is suuposed to be sunny, but cold...heck, I'll take it!

I have to get my basket & long-jane's on
(yes, I wear long-jane's...I'm a girl...only boys wear long-john's!!)
and head out to my woods to gather some fresh pines & berries to decorate with.
I'll do that tomorrow, the fresher the greens, the better...
and bake cookies, and print out patterns, and, and, ....

oh yes, work on my rug when I get a moment!
(p.s. thanks for the emails regarding my chairpad on ebay...it is pretty, isn't it!)

Okeedokee...going to click the 'publish post' buttoon and see if it will work this time...
wish me luck?

~Lori~

{ Woolen Tulip }

I finished my hooked chairpad last night,
but was too pooped to list it!!

So I will be listing it this afternoon on ebay.
it came out so old & early looking...I love the colors~
rusts, browns, robin's egg blue, sage greens, mustards & pumpkins.

making these chairpads are so much fun, although I hate to bind them...
I did bind this one with a soft cream colored twill tape, stitched on w/ black cotton string.
then I added a muslin tag to the back which reads:

"Folk Art Tulip
designed & hooked by
~ Lori Brechlin ~
December the 8th 2009
Peace & Plenty be yours...
Blessed be..."

I used a sepia colored pigma pen to write on the muslin,
then stitched it to the center of the back of the chairpad.

the finished chairpad measures approx. 12" round.
{I say "approx" because since it is hand-drawn onto the linen,
the shape is not completely round...it's a bit wonky, like me!}

Anyhoo, it was fun to make & I'm already hooking on another rug...

I'll share pics later!

I'm off to a local church for a Christmas concert, where our daughter Hannah will be playing a Flute solo for the Senior Citizens there...

{I'll take pics of that, too!}

Have a wonderful day, create something dear to your Heart~
Peace & Plenty be Yours,

Lori

{Christmas Tyme}

Please visit my Picturetrail ~

{ www.picturetrail.com/notforgottenfarm}

for a virtual Holiday Tour of our humble farmhouse & shop decorated for
Christmas Tyme
While you're visiting my picturetrail, please sign my guestbook and/or leave a comment for me on a photo!!

>>>>>>>::<<<<<<<

we ALSO invite you to visit our shop on Saturday, December 12th
from 10:00 ~ 3:00
for our 4th annual
Holiday Open House

we are located at :
3530 Tye River Road
Amherst, VA 24521
434-263-6508

come see our selection of hand-dyed wools, new hooking frames & stands,
patterns for cross stitch & needle punch, fabrics, quilting needfuls,
hand dyed wool roving and a great grouping of primitive santa's & snowmen!!

while you visit, help yourself to a serving of hot cider & fresh baked cookies...
{we will be open regardless of the weather!!!}
Come warm up by the woodstove,
and be sure to bring show 'n tell for us all to drool over!

>>>>>>>>>>>::<<<<<<<<<<<

I will be posting our Winter 2010 class schedule soon,
{please look for that on the side bar to your left...}
classes are held on Saturday's, taught by me and include:
Primitive Rug Hooking
Primitive Needle Punch
Old Style Cross Stitch & Sampler Making
Needle Felting
Primitive Doll Making
Primitive Painting & Finishing
Wool Rug Braiding
if there is something that you would like to learn,
but don't see it on the list above, or have a suggestion on a class,
email me at not4got@aol.com

>>>>>>>>>::<<<<<<<<<<

Well I'm off to the farmhouse...
I have 3 woodstoves going & need to check on them all...
We're expecting some nasty weather later today,
so I want the house cozy for Peter & Hannah when they come home...
I'll be cleaning the farmhouse & shop today, and will make a Pork Roast this aft~
{{I always use fresh rosemary from the garden to top the pork roast
...along with garlic...makes the house smell wonderful!}}
Then I'll head to my hooking chair & finish the chairpad I've been hooking...
hoping to have that up on ebay tonight!

Hoping your day is filled with creative energy & happiness!
*Stay Warm*
~and~
please remember to fill up your bird-feeders...
those little sweet-things need our help this time of year!

Peace & Plenty be Yours,

Lori

{ Home again... }

{chairpad above is in private collection~ hooked by me in 2006}

Hi Folks!

well I'm home from my marathon weekend of travelling up to CT for Jo's memorial...
it was really nice
(if you can say that)...
I re-connected with some long-lost family members and friends,
and there was a wonderful show of support by all those that came to celebrate Jo's life...

Hannah & I left early friday morning, got in to CT about 6:00 that eve.
went to the service at 11:30 saturday morn,
and that ended at 3:00...
we left for the drive home sunday morn about 8:30
and returned home last night about 6:00.

{almost 18 hrs of driving in a 48 hr. period}

I'm pooped, but happy to be home.

>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<>

I did find about 4 skirts, and have washed them up
and now will over dye them tomorrow ...not sure what colors yet, but I'm leaning towards a nice mustard, then a pine green...then we'll see what I end up with!

That's the fun of the dye-pot!!!

>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<

I'll be taking pictures of the farmhouse & shop decorated for Christmas,
so I should have them up on here and on my PT soon....

I've been virtually visiting all of your homes out there in blogland...
I wished we all lived in the same neighborhood!!! what a cookie exchange THAt would be!!!

Well friends, I'm heading back into the house...I'm working on a chairpad for ebay.
Stay warm, Stay happy & Blessed be!

~Lori~

{ Hooking a Rug }

.... oh YES I am!!!
here's PROOF:

SEE????

and it feeeeels GOOD! LOL :)

I started this rug a while ago...it's one of those
'UFO's'
[ Un Finished Objects]
that we all seem to collect...

This one is about 32w x 17h
hand drawn by me on linen, my own wonky design...


........two crows, an upside-down basket,
two stars, a couple of half-round flags, and a heart with a key in it.

the unfinished top and bottom borders have the words:
(top) "Plain & Simple"
(bottom) "Prim & Proper"
the words will be hooked in brown on a mustard tweed background,
so they will blend nicely with the muted colors of the rug...
I didn't want to have the wording overpower the motifs,
as the motifs are so askewed and busy themselves...

I'm using mostly scrap wools from my bottom-less scrap basket,
so it will truly be a OOAK when I'm finished....

I'm enjoying the process of pulling those soft strips of wool through a coarse backing.
sitting quietly with the fire in the woodstove, a pot of homemade-something brewing on top.

even the cat is happy I'm hooking again ~
she's gotten herself all snugged in my wool basket!!

Where is your favorite place to hook?
Do you have a specific room devoted to hooking?
I would love to see pictures of your wool/hooking rooms...
email me at not4got@aol.com

I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, with Hannah, to head up to CT for Jo's memorial.
I'll be back on Sunday.

Have a *Warm & Wooly* weekend!
Peace & Plenty be Yours,

Lori

{ Merrie December to You ~ }

(two Jolly old fellow's made from my Belsnickle Santa pattern)

Getting the old Farmhouse all decorated in it's primitive Yuletide attire...

I'll be posting pictures this evening, perhaps...

hopefully before I head up to Connecticut for Jo's memorial
{ leaving here on Friday the 4th }

>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<

Working on drawing up that hooked rug that's in my head...
not sure still what it will be,
but it will be extremely primitive & early looking...
I'm leaning towards a farm scene, with some animals...but who knows~

What are you working on?

off to the PO then the Bank...then the Office supply store...

then back to the hook & frame.

Happy December to you!
Lori