Thread & Chickens ~ and other stuff...

Nice post title, huh?

{LOL}

...so here's my thoughts on the thread part:

As a designer, 

I am privy to new & upcoming things 

from excellent makers of threads, linens and other wonderful sundries for needleworkers…

hence the latest:

new Sampler Threads and Simply Shaker Thread from

~ The Gentle Art ~

4 delicious colors that I can't wait to work with!

they are perfect together for a patriotic sampler I have in mind ;)

creekbed

green tea leaf 

verdigris

&

ruby slipper

I love the subtle-ness of their variations ~

in each unique skein

one colors seamlessly blends into another, yet as a whole,

...create a completely different look when used to stitch with.

…and now the part about chickens:

{humor me a bit here}

you all know I'm a farmwife ~

I have a small herd{?} of hens & roosters

that I dearly love…

they are my sweet little clucking-friends

and provide us with fresh eggs & much amusement.

So

it is only right then,

that I should honor my feathered folk with this:

~ a Laying Hen Pin Keep ~

{this will be a pattern due out with the Spring Releases….VERY SOON!}

I chose to create my fat hen using antique feed sack fabric ~

and in the snaps below,

you can see I'm still in-progress of crowning her wee head 

~ with a bit of vintage cotton fabric for her comb and wattles…

she rests on a nest of dark dyed linen,

to which I have added small stars of white thread….

then after she is finished, 

I will put the final-touch of raw flax 

under her tail-feathers to act as nesting material ~

but she also holds a surprise….

Lady Hen & her nest are mounted high atop a white painted

~ Thread Spool /Pincushion Stand ~

which Peter has made for me…

and I adore it :)

these will also be available at time of Spring Release~

...the final pics of EVERYTHING we've been working so hard on 

will come in the following days my friends ~

and speaking of Peter…

{my wonderful hubby whom is always willing to bring me my cup of morning energy}

I was brought this this morning on my desk:

he said he couldn't figure out how to add a lighted candle to it…

but I'm sure given enough time he would have.

Thank you, Peter ~

you are a 'sweet-tea'

{sorry folks couldn't resist}

Yes, it's my birthday ~ 

...the 52nd trip around the moon for me.

I thought entering my fifties would mean lots of negative things…

but much to my relief

none of those things have happened {yet}

my hair is still intact.

...my teeth are still ok 

and my legs are still able to hold me up.

{although one knee…..}

~  I have noticed subtle changes, though like

having to tinkle more often than not

{especially when it's cold out}

trying to remember simple things like where I left my scissors. or the milk.

and

I'm finding that I am relying more 

on my sense of touch more than my eyesight going down the stairs

{even though my trusty try-focals are glued to my head now}

~ being 50-something is ok.

I LIKE the color of my now grey/white/silver/blonde hair.

I like the 'respect' I receive at the grocery stores, 

{{and hey, I'll take that discount when you think I'm a 'senior' but am not quite yet…}}

and even though I have always been a strong, independent & outspoken woman,

I like who I have become…don't get me wrong ~ 

I am still strong, independent & outspoken

but now I do it with experience & grace!!

ha!

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

I'll be here in the farm shop today,

we're open from 10:00 - 3:00

the driveway is a bit on the muddy side, 

so please be careful…

Hoping you all have a beautiful day my sweet Friends!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori

Tuesday Morning ~

~ Good Morning Friends & Folk ~

I found myself this morning,

in my sewing room…

gathering threads that I will use for our next class model ~

"Pansy Basket"

punch needle class

March 21st at Notforgotten Farm

10:00 - 3:00

{not a beginners class}

class/supplies fee ~ $38.00 

 IF you already have a punch needle, hoop or gripper frame to bring with you,

then the class fee is only ~ $28.00

I have a few spots open for those that would like to come…

you can sign up by emailing me at 

Not4got@aol.com 

or call 

434-263-6508

 we will be using beautiful Valdani Threads for the project, 

from my

 'Spring from Notforgotten Farm'

 Valdani Thread Collection

{available HERE}

aside from getting ready for the class,

I am also stitching away on a few more projects…

our new Spring designs ~ will hopefully due out by early to mid-March ~

look for new thread winders, 

~ a new thread-spool pin-cushion stand base & pattern, 

~ a cross stitch sampler "Spring at the Farm" 

~ a punch needle pattern "Tulip Peddler"

and more!

here are a few peeks at works-in-progress ~

we will also introduce you to our newest hand dyed linen, aptly named

"Ironstone"

...a beautiful, soft white 32ct. linen

 that I've dyed to replicate my favorite pieces of antique ironstone

in my ever-growing collection of pitchers, bowls & plates…

...this last photo below,

shows a small project that I've been working on

 for our upcoming cross stitch class in July

here at the farm…

almost finished with it!

~ and~

I have been stitching away on my class model for the upcoming

Prim Stitchers Society Retreat at Colonial Williamsburg

{which is really not that far off now ~ woohoo!}

I won't share my project with you now, but will very soon…

for now I'll just keep teasing you all ;)

Have a beauty-FULL day my sweet friends,

keep those hands warm…

and busy!!!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

Snow Pretty….

yes I know ~
most of you reading this are sick & tired of the white-stuff.
but
here in VA, we don't get much of it
and we have gotten lots of it in the last week…

...so we are enjoying how very pretty it is.
{safe in the comforts of our snug farmhouse that is}

Iggy runs to-&-fro,
windowpane to windowpane
chattering at the guests at our feeders…

our old gnarled bittersweet vine is covered in ice this morning
after an ice storm came through last evening…

...a winter wonderland to us!

even my sweet annie gets a coat of ice ~
every dried little bud seemingly sparkling in the morning sun.

and my car really does look like a candy apple now!
:)

an old crow friend dances at the base of our feeder…

~ as mrs. redbird fluffs her stuff against the chilly wind.

I know that you are tired of seeing the snow ~
but just think:

in a few weeks it will be Spring again.
we will turn set our clocks ahead to greet the morning earlier.
we will see signs of new life stirring under that melting snow
that has been seemingly hidden for these past long months,

..and we will begin again with new attitudes towards our little worlds.

to me,
like the soon to come Spring rains,
the Winter Snow & Cold
cleans out everything from the year past.
it refreshes and renews
and while I may be housebound, and unable to do as much as I would like to,
that somehow helps me to gather my thoughts
...for what is sure to be a wonderful new season of life.

while we complain about the disadvantages of winter;
the poor driving conditions
the heating bills
the inability to be outdoors, etc.
we should keep in the back of our minds
our families, neighbors and friends and how we can perhaps help them cope better.

a  phone call, a shared ride to the grocery store…
just a simple smile in line while we wait to buy that bread & milk
...instead of complaining…

hey,
we're all in the same boat ~
and our boat really is drifting to sunnier shores!

I hope you can find the beauty and peace in today ~
...while you dream of a better tomorrow.


~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori

Yoohoo!

Due to the EXTREMELY cold weather

our little Farm Shop is

C L O S E D

today, Friday 2/20 

and tomorrow, Saturday 2/21

please keep warm, 

and please please remember 

~ to take extra special care of our feathered & fur friends outdoors!

I will be here in the farmhouse, stoking the wood stove and keeping warm under a pile of wool ~

I am needle felting, rug hooking and doing a little wool appliqué too!

Busy hands, Happy heart!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

Touches of Spring ~

...a most welcome sight!!

my 'persuaded' forsythia & pussy-willows are beginning to bloom!

{I dislike using the word 'forced', so 'persuaded' it is…}

I cannot wait for the gardens to stir to life again this year ~

I have big plans for new plants, new colors and some neat garden decor ideas…

I have always loved houseplants too,

my Mom & Sisters all have green thumbs when it comes to houseplants…

me? not so much, but I do keep a few alive ;)

ivy

some kind of succulent ~ any idea?

a corner of our Keeping Room off the kitchen ~

i love old wire birdcages too ~

soon will be shearing season again ~

here are a few of our antique sheep shears & old spoons…

early printed rabbit in a basket of carrots…

waiting for

S P R I N G

hello!

this is my strawberry gathering basket below…

a sturdy white & hardworking basket that

it is patiently waiting for the first sweet berries to fill it.

at the moment it holds memories of last year ~

...soon….very soon.

In the Meanwhile ~

to whet your appetite for SPRING & NEEDLEWORK

Don't forget to HOP along with us on the 

Buttermilk Basin Spring Thyme Blog Hop

~ beginning March 1st ~

here is the 'line up' of participating designers:

March 1 * Quilts By Cheri
March 2 * Plumcute Designs
March 3 * Gail Pan Designs
March 4 * Woolen Willow Designs
March 5 * Ali Strebel Designs
March 6 * The Cottage at Cardiff Farms
March 7 * Sew Unique Creations
March 8 * Wooden Spool Designs
March 9 * Heartspun Quilts
March 10 * Notforgotten Farm
March 11 * Crabapple Hill
March 12 * Threadwork Primitives
March 13 * Buttermilk Basin
March 14 * Calico Moon

{links to these are located on my sidebar to your right --->}

Well I'd better get to my chores ~

*vacuuming

*window washing

*floor mopping

*dusting

{{beginning my Spring Cleaning?}}

you betcha!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Have a *SPARKLING* day my sweet friends….

~ Blessings from the Farm ~ 

 Lori

For the Birds ~

and so it came…

we haven't seen a flake here, 

...compared to the rest of the east coast

but

yesterday that all changed…

we woke to about 10" of snow this morning ~

a lot less than the northern states

but still it's here.

I don't mind it so much

because it comes…

~ and it goes.

{{unlike the northern states where we grew up.}}

I like to see our feathered friends footprints in the snow...

sweet little traces of their visits 

~ left as proof of their thankfulness for a bellyful of seed ~

the towhees, juncos & sparrows 

wait for the larger birds to forage in the feeder high above ~

spilling down seeds for them.

mr. towhee finds a morsel

i love to watch the backwoods for signs of deer, fox & rabbits too ~

this lone boy cardinal is waiting for his turn at the feeder…

our backyard feeder

 in the front of the farmhouse,

the barn & coops wear a dress of white ~

paths & pawprints to-and-from the barn

made by dogs and folk ~

flag blowing in the cold breeze

icicles dripping from the old tin roof ~

I stuck in some of my 'faux-sythia' a few weeks back to nudge Spring along…

it is now brightening this snow-filled day.

Roxy playing in the snow :)

seat of our rope swing piled-high….

Pinocchio & Daisy 

don't seem to mind so much ~

both wear their winter wool coats…

sweet & gentle friends

after a short walk

{{to clear my lungs of woodsmoke from our stove here in the keeping room}}

I'll head back in to our cozy farmhouse

to snuggle with Iggy a bit ~

my handsome boyfriend

zzzzzzzzzz

 and get back to my handwork 

which is waiting for me in my basket…

'needle & thread dance in my head'

wishing you all a peaceful day 

...filled with beloved friends and creativity!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori