Don't Forget !!!

join me on Friday, October 1st
http://www.earlyworkmercantile.com/

Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Almost Famous...

...I'm famous!

...ok...not really,
but I'm thrilled at how the article came out
from last week's interview with our local paper,
the
Nelson County Times

sometimes living in Small Town, USA
... has more advantages than we know!
nothing like hearing nice things from your local neighbors and customers...
many thanks to you all for the congrats!!

I'm trying to get this studio/sewing room in shape so I can show you pics...
but Peter has to put together my big shelves.,..
hopefully this evening, but we'll see!!

I can't wait til it's finished and I can decorate it...
...um I mean organize it!!!

well, I'm off to serve supper...
homemade lasagna, pepperoni & provolone-stuffed bread and a nice salad...

Hope you enjoy the rest of your evening!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Just Listed on Ebay ~

*PLEASE NOTE*

the link to my auction on this post
isn't working for some reason, so please
use the link on my sidebar,
scroll down to your left !!!!!!...

thanks everyone for letting me know!!

a set of FOUR of my Out of Print
Primitive Design Booklets...

a total of 32 patterns in all!

hope you can take a peek:
http://shop.ebay.com/notforgottenfarmprimitives

Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Witches in the Air....finished!

Howdy Folks!

thanks so much for your emails of well-wishes...
I'm on the mend and finally have some energy today,

thanks to lots of rest & steaming cups of honeyed & gingered mint tea ~

here' the finish for my little
"Witches in the Air"
sampler:

i decided to make it into a hanging pocket...
backed with brown/mustard checkered wool
and hung from dirtied cheesecloth held on by rusty pins and jingler-bells ~

I've filled it with raffia, dried straw
and some really cool
dried pods from the
Lamb's Burr

plants we have growing all over the farm...
(they will be included)

remember, October 1st update on

http://www.earlyworkmercantile.com/
look for Robin there too, along with so many other talented Folks!

Sunny & breezy today,
in the 70's...

a good day to pack a trunk show that i'll be sending off to
The Craft Gallery
in Findlay, Ohio for next weekend...
{{if you're in the Findlay area, stop in to see my models and patterns !!}}

Hope you all have a beautiful Autumn day!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Almost Finished......

Hi Folks!!

I've been stuck in the house for three days now,
battling the sinus infection from Hell....

so I've surrounded myself with magazines, thread and linen
and am working on this little Hallowe'en sampler,...

I'm almost finished stitching the little shoe, then will add some more motifs
to the bottom of the sampler...

I plan on making this into a ditty bag and filling it with drieds and sticks.
it will be offered on
Early Work Mercantile for October 1st

I'm hoping to make a few more small samplers for the update too,
but don't know how far I'll get...
I have to start stitching for the upcoming Winter/Christmas shows ~
(so that's why I've pulled out ALL of my Holiday mags...and let me tell you I have hundreds!)

it is raining here in VA today...
and I love it.

finally have cool air and it truly feels & smells like Autumn...
Beautifully Dismal

I've always loved rainy days, and still do!!!

Hope your day is beautiful for you, no matter the weather!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Saturday Stuff ~

Hi folks!

happy Saturday to ya...

it's HOT again today, and the stinkbugs are out in full-force.

they are nasty little creepy-crawlies that invade
every nook and cranny on late summer/early fall days....

I cannot wait til they all freeze to death.

(sorry, but when you wake up with them crawling on you, find them in your pockets,
medicine cabinet, the folds of the curtains, and everywhere else imagineable,
you'd want them dead too.)

ANYhoo....
Bonnie sent me this beautiful finish of my Olde Hallow's Eve punch:

her hubby cut a block of wood to match the exact shape of the design,
and then Bonnie used little black beads for the jack's eyes...

great job!!!!


and here is that antique Ribbon Dispenser that I purchased at the show here last week:

perfect for holding my twine, string and ribbons....
(thanks again Joan, you know what I like!)
this will stay in the house studio with me!!

well, I'm battling either a sinus thing, or am coming down with a cold or allergies.
right now it feels like all three....
*blech*

In Other News:
am excited to share with you that I am now a member of
Early Work Mercantile

please join me on October 1st, by visiting
www.EarlyWorkMercantile.com

I'll be listing some finished Hallowe'en Samplers for your amusement....

well I'm off to take some Benadryl,
or Sudafed,
or something to unstuff my head.

p.s. Where's the cooler weather???

Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Mum's the Word ~

By the look at my herb garden, you'd never know that
Virginia is suffering from a drought....

I have a colossal-sized mum right smack-dab in the middle garden ~
and she is thee most beautiful shade of rusty pumpkin!!!

she has to be at least 5 feet around and is past my waist in height
(I'm almost 6 ft tall)

and take a look at my Sweet Annie plant...
it's almost as tall as our outhouse!!!!
I'm letting it go to seed, so I can have more next year...
I think I could have sold all of it at the show last weekend, but nope>
I'm not parting with any of it!!
:)

I've been stitching on a model for my new Christmas/Winter cross stitch designs:
this one below is called
"Civil War Christmas"

and will be a really simple, primitive design...
I'm using my own hand-dyed (black walnut from my trees) 30ct. linen
& Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.

I have a couple more designs that need to be tweaked,
then they'll go to Felicia, who will stitch the models for them ~

Hope you have a great weekend,
...we'll be here in the shop if you'd like to come for a visit!

Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Finally ~....FALL !!!!!

Hurray!

Happy first day of Autumn...
{{although we will be in the 90's again today....blech.}}

here are some of my pumpkins...
oh I can taste pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup
and of course, the traditional
pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream....

~ oh my ~

we sell pumpkins here too,
large = $6
small = $3

so come on out & getcha some!!

and yes, I did put a dent into my studio yesterday...
I have everything boxed up into neat little (big) totes,
just waiting for the shelves to go up...

I even hung my Gentle Arts Threads from my antique spinner:

the smaller spinner holds DMC flosses,
and the rack behind that holds folded linen waiting to be made into samplers.

can you see the little green spinner rack to the left?
I have no clue what I'll use it for, but it will be put to good use.

I also bought thee coolest antique store display ribbon holder
that will hold my strings and ribbons...
I'll take pics of that once I have it filled up and in the studio.

~::~

I have been fortunate to be asked for an interview with our local newspaper today,
so at 11:00 I will be doing just that...
wish me luck!!

remember, our hours here at the shop are
thurs, fri & sat
10 ~ 3

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Almost Embarrased >>>>>

That's right...

I'm ALMOST embarrased to show you my little studio,

BUT

I'm pretty sure I'm in
Good Company
these days...

everything is everywhere ~
I can't find a thing!

what is supposed to be a neat little cotner near my desk,
has become a pile of stuff that is swallowing the room....

it's a cluttered and dark mess and I can't stand it.

So, what will I be doing today & this eve?
you guessed it.

I have to rearrange this space to make it more suitable for me.
I'll show pics of my progress as it unfolds...

I will be clearing out the stuff that I just don't use that much
and placing it high on those shelves ...
I have purchased some vintage metal spinner racks and those will hold my flosses.

I'll keep the room light & farmhouse-y..may even paint my worktable and floors!
How's your workspace looking these days?

I'm starting on my Christmas/Winter needlework designs
and really need to get this room in gear...
there's nothing worse than working in a place that you just don't like!!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Show Photos ~

Just a couple of snaps of the show before the crowds came in...

we had beautiful weather...

it's always fun to see what great stuff the vendors will bring!

such creativity and originality ~

and pretty, smiling faces too!
(that's Hannah...)

unique items, quality handmandes and friendly people...

we SO enjoyed the show!
(oh,& please disregard the date on the pics...it wasn't my camera)

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Fantastic Show!

Hi Friends & Folk!

taking a second here to THANK:
All of the Vendors ~
All of the wonderful Customers ~
Mother Nature for the Perfect Weather ~
Lazy & Buddy for being on their best behavior ~

Felicia for going above & beyond with her help in running the shop ~
Corbin for bringing his music and sweet nature ~
Lee & Robin for their long hours, late nights & steadfast friendship ~

Hannah & Skyler for being a big help at the front tent (and for just being themselves) ~
and certainly,

my hubby & cohort, Peter
for months of preparation,
for always having the better idea (even when I disagree)
for keeping your cool when I lose mine,
for never giving up on me
and for putting up with me....

I love you more to the Moon ...and back.

(I'll post pics asap, right now I'll be taking a little time off to enjoy my sister Lou while she's here!)

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

a couple of friends' finishes....

Hi Folks!

just wanted to share a couple of finishes from friends...

below is my Eke & Zeke,
BEAUTIFULLY finished by
Sher Carter...

I love how she has it displayed, and how primitive it is!
Thanks Sher!

and below is one of my hooked designs available from

www.spruceridgestudios.com
hooked bby the Oh So TALENTED
Sandi Telzrow

do you see the little broom on the roof of the house?
and thekey around her neck?
Sandi added so many little details....
see the beading technique she used in her border?

...LOVE it!

if you have pictures of a finished design from Notforgotten Farm,

and would like to see it up here on this blog,
just email me at
not4got@aol.com


well Robin & Lee will be here this aft to help with last minute preps for the show...
I'll have vendors coming in on friday from noon till dark to set-up, then again early saturday morning....the gate opens at 10:00 am sharp!

We hope to see you Saturday!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

p.s.
THANK YOU
to all who purchased from my Hallowe'en Update last night!!!
it was a huge success ~

I'll be listing a little paperclay
Witch Candy Container on Ebay this aft !!

Jolly Old Souls and Friends

Fresh from the drying rack...

are these paperclay heads, waiting for bodies and then be transformed into
Holiday Witches, La Befana's, Peddling Gypsies and Gift-giving Cinderklauss'...

I'm just letting my imagination run these days,...
have been working so hard on preparing for the show,
that I just want to play~

Have you gotten your new Country Sampler mag yet?

Oh my....

I am loving it ~ Simple Christmas Decorating.....

yum!

Don't forget to visit my selling blog tonight,
www.goodsfromnotforgottenfarm.blogspot.com
for my Hallowe'en Update

6pm sharp

see you then!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

A New Look ~

With Many Thanks to Amy
(http://www.amybug.com/)...

...this blog, my selling blog, (http://www.goodsfromnotforgottenfarm.blogspot.com/) AND
my upcoming auctions will ALL have a nice, cohesive look!

Do you not LOVE the graphics on this blog?
Oh my stars and garters...

suits me to a "T"

If any of you out there want to upgrade your blog, selling blog, auction template or website,

you MUST fly over to Amy's site and see her incredible selection of graphics packages...
they are Unique and SOOOooo Primitive ~

she is extremely affordable and such a sweetheart to boot!

{{can ya tell I'm pleased as punch with this?}}

please make sure to visit my selling blog on Wednesday, Sept. 15th at 6:00
for my
Hallowe'en Update

(you can hop on your broom and have a sneak peek now if you'd like!)
I'll be offering my one of a kind paperclay creations...

....and yes, I'm sketching up things to create for CHRISTMAS!

new cross stitch patterns, punche needle patterns and finished Santa's & Snowmen too!

this will be a busy week for me, so If I don't post alot, you'll know why.

then again, I may post more than ever
'cause I'm just plain wired!!

:)

Blessings from the Farm, Lori

Beautiful Late Summer Sunday...

Hi Friends & Folk!

...thought I'd pop on here to see what you all were up to...

we are having such pretty weather here in VA!!!
I'm hoping that you are enjoying the same cooler temps, sunny skies and dry air ~

We are beginning to really see the end of summer here on the farm...

our Black Walnut grove is dropping it's leaves and nuts
(the latter being terrible for my mower blades, but great for the dye-pot!)

and our mums are HUGE this year!

...The squirrels,
{when they attempt to forage in a yard patrolled by Buddy & Lazy,}
have been squirreling-away their finds
and padding their larders for the coming cold months ahead...

I've been watching the shadows become a little longer,
and yes, the days are getting shorter now....
I've seen fewer and fewer Blacksnakes, and Daisy & Pinnochio are starting to grow more 'fluff'...their winter coats come early I guess....

Inside this old farmhouse,
even subtle changes are occurring:
our fur-friends (3 cats), who just 2 weeks ago were sleeping on the cooler wood floors,
are now nesting on our beds at night, or on the sofa in the den,...

here's my little Black Suzy...
just waking up from a little snooze on my coverlet...

Ah yes...
small changes.

all signs of Goode Things to come!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

A Preview of the Shop!

Look how purdy...

... she's wearing her finest Fall colors!

so much STUFF ~

...and a little more to come...

chock full of Autumn Tyme Needfuls!!

black cats, candy-corn, witches...

pumpkins and cornstalks
caramel apples and cider...
Oh I LOVE the Autumn!!!

Hope to see you all next Saturday~

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Breaking Tradition....

every year, I decorate for All Hallow's Eve

by putting up a feather tree and decorating it with my Hallowe'en ornaments....

but, this year, I have been so busy,
that I didn't even take my feather tree out of storage.

Instead, I opted to decorate some twigs that I placed in a hanging box...

and I'm SO glad I did!!!

just look at how simple & prim it looks!

I'm thinking I might do this every year....

we'll see...I do love my old German feather tree,...
it sits in an antique Grey Granite-ware coffee-pot...

and graces my little farm table...

I decorate it for all seasons and love doing so...
do any of you decorate a seasonal tree?

I'd love to see pics and maybe I'll share them here on the blog...

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Almost ready.....

"Peter's Prize Pumpkin"
available on ebay right now!!
http://shop.ebay.com/notforgottenfarmprimitives

Time is fast approaching !!!

...the shop is SO pretty all decked out in her Fall Finery ~

Robin & I have been painting, stitching, punching,
sewing, glueing, stenciling, sculpting and stressing!!!
but everything is GOOD!

{{ I'll take some pictures of the shop tomorrow
and post them for those who can't make it for the show... }}

I cannot believe that one week from today
our wonderful vendors will be here to set up for the show on the 18th ~
if this is a preview of what the weather will be like then,
...I'LL TAKE IT!!!!

The shop will be closed next thurs & fri
(sept. 16th & 17th)
in preparation of the show...
and the gate will open promptly at 10:00 on the 18th!

We hayed the big field yesterday,
Lee & Peter, Hanna & Skyler (her beau)
helped so much by hauling and lifting almost 200 bales of hay
onto our hay wagon
with yours-truly driving our John Deere tractor!!!
(I can Cook & Clean AND drive Big Green!!)

if you like the little fellow that you see in the pic above,
click on his link to see more of him on Ebay~
...he's a one of a kind and is looking for a good home!

AND, to those that have inquired about the
Jingler-Jacks and Pinhead Pumpkins in my last post...
I am offering those finished ones only at the show...
{{If I have time I'll offer some on Ebay or Etsy...}}
I'll keep you posted on that~

Thanks for your kind words regarding them,
they are sweet treats for sure!!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
especially to my sister Louisea & her hubby Tom,
Best of Luck at your Show!!!
XOXOXOX

Blessings from the Farm,
Lori

Friendly Faces....

I have had the best company lately...

silly-grinning Jingle-Jacks on stripe-y sticks...

and

more somber Pumpkin Pinheads on bobbins.

all pateintly waiting for their new homes....

They are hoping to meet you soon!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

it's the little things......

sometimes,
in our hustle-bustle days,
we tend to NOT notice the little things

that we should...

while watering the plants on the porch yesterday,
on a glorious-ly sparkling Labor Day~
I almost didn't see him....

can you spot him?

there...on the leaf...

thee tiniest little tree frog

I have ever had the pleasure of meeting...

only as big as my thumb-nail,
sleeping quietly on his leafy perch
swaying gently in the soft breeze

...on the last 'official' day of summer...

I watched him for a while,
snoozing with his little 'hands' folded under his chin.

how very peaceful and content he was on his green bed...
every once in a while he would open up his chartruese and gold-flecked eyes,

and look at me as to say
"are you still here?"

and I was...
by observing him, I felt my own blood pressure go down...
my brain stopped trying to process all of my mind-chatter and
I truly got lost in the moment and him....

it's so nice to appreciate the little things in life,
they really do wonders for us...

... here is a teeny little baby turtle that Peter found and brought to Hannah & I...

we stroked his sleek back and talked to him as if he undersrtood us...
{maybe he did,,,}
telling him how lucky he was to be alive,
and even though he was small now,
he would grow to be a beautiful, big turtle with a
true masterpiece
of nature on his back...

every now and then,
make the time to take some time
and

appreciate the little things around us...

you deserve it!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Happy Labor Day....

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather!!!

since it's gotten so cool,
the hens are laying again...
they kinda went on strike in all of that heat,

and their egg-production was nearly nill....

but now they're back-at-it
and we even have a broody little banty
that is setting on a clutch of 14 eggs

...such a good little mother she'll be!

Yesterday, Lee and Robin came over...
Lee and Peter worked the trees at the beginning of our driveway,
removing nuisance saplings and brush, as well as hazardous trees,...

they are also making a couple of new signs, painting antique farm equipment
that we'll have at the entrance of the driveway
and worked on many other manly things...

Robin & I worked in the shop a little,
since I had climbed into the loft-storage
and brought down all of the fall goodies...

the shop is looking great and there are still more new items
to be added for the show...

I am cranky though.
I've been working my little behind off day & night
and

being 47 yrs old,
can't tell if I'm suffering from PMS, Perimenopause

or, most likely

BOTH

so for those that have been on the receiving end of my attitude,
please forgive...
I love you still and this too shall pass.

___________________________________

the pic below shows my make-do bird-bath....

it was going to hold flowers, but they died in the heat,
...so I emptied the basin and put in water.

a little respite for my feathered friends!

Hope you all have a sparkling & safe holiday!!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

A Beautiful Sunday Morning ~

Finally.....

the heat & humidity has broken
and we are enjoying MUCH cooler
temps this weekend...

It took a
HURRICANE
to blow away that nasty heat-wave
we've had for nearly all Summer
and I hope it's gone for good!!!

just look at our little girl Daisy...
sitting in her favorite dirt patch in the Donkey paddock...

enjoying the crisp morning air ~

not sure where Pinnochio is, maybe sleeping in this a.m.?

Today will be spent bringing ALL of the items that I have stored in the shop's loft down
and rooting through it...
Hallowe'en & Fall items will be put in the shop and there is already a change to the shop...

Robin brought over a ton of new Autumn and Hallowe'en hand-mades!!!
(oh boy...wait till you see everything we're cooking up for this show)
woohoo!!!

I'll be cooking up a big pot of spaghetti sauce with sage sausage & meatballs today...
finally, no more 'picnic' food...
I can't wait to start cooking on my woodstove again!

Hoping you all enjoy a COOL, safe & relaxing Labor Day!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

Some Goodies & a Sneak Peek!

Had a fortunate day scrounging yesterday
while out 'playing' with Robin...

we headed to local shops and I found these items below:
2 comb-painted dough bowls
a red handled masher
a really cool strainer
and this box, which I'm not sure what it was used for, but had to have it!

(the pumpkins in the bowl, and the crow/sunflower piece was made by Robin
and are here in the shop for sale)

Below, is a gigantic dough trencher that I bought~
i adore it.

it is huge and so primitive!!!
( and i really got it for a great bargain price too!!!)
I will pile it high with pumpkins, gourds and bittersweet...
a few twinkle lights and set it on my dining room table....

for the Holidays, it will be filled with pomegranites and cloved-oranges,
fresh greens and candles....

oh boy!!!

and here is a tease of some of my paper mache'
items I'll be selling at the show:

Jolly Jack and Moon-man Ornament

Chuckling Witch

and here they all are, displayed in my office in the shop,
on that shelf I bought a week or two ago...
remember?
I wanted to paint it or do something to it?
well, I printed out moon faces and decoupaged them onto the shelf...

{{on the top is a picture of my sister Jo when she was 18yrs old...}}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm printing out the Olde Hallow's Eve pattern...
{the RIGHT one}
and will be shipping them out to you folks who have emailed me...
I am waiting to ship until I receive everyone's info,
so I can make only one trip to the PO,
and that will be after the Labor Day weekend, so expect your replacement next week.

Again, I do apologize for the inconvenience...
BUT

think of it this way...
You'll now have TWO different patterns, right?

Thanks for your continued support
& I so value your friendships!!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

A BIG mistake!!!!

well, once again I prove to myself and everyone else that yes,
I am HUMAN

I have been receiving emails letting me know that the
Olde Hallow's Eve
pattern that was shipped,
inadvertantley had the WRONG pattern inside...

I'm a one-woman band here folks,
... and sometimes work like a one-armed paper-hanger too,...

SOOOoooo

Please forgive my huge mistake,
and if you have paid for & recieved the WRONG pattern,
please email me and I can get the RIGHT pattern out to you asap...

I do have youre initial orders on file,
but it will still be easier for you to email me with your shipping info again....

*SIGH*

I do apologize for the inconvenience !!!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori

~ Saturday Hook In ~

Just a friendly reminder that this Saturday, September 4th from 10-3
will be our monthly Hook-In here at the shop....

I'll be in the shop working on something,
... not sure if I'll be hooking or not, but I'll be working on something for sure...

so grab your projects and some show 'n tell and c'mon over for a visit!!!!

Blessings from the Farm,

Lori