~Merrye Summer Thyme Has Finally Arrived~

Merry Day To You.  Tis a glorious one here in Vermont as the birds flutter about, the winds gust merrily from tree to tree and a flutter of merrye young birds dance to and fro.  Goodness, what a glorious and beautiful time of year.

I do so hope this greeting finds you well and enjoying these first few, lovely days of summer to the fullest.  Life is, as ever, busy here in Vermont as we tend & plant, gather & create in our usual Spring & Summer fashion.  I've been busy in the studio improving my rug hooking and am delighted to tell you that I have two new designs finished and made into patterns.  The first is my Olde New England Hen design that you will see in the column to your right.  I am SO pleased with how she turned out. You will also see in the column to the right, two other new design that are now available on my website.  :~).

....My second hooked design is shown in the photo at the top of this post entitled Olde New England Keepsake Box.  It will be available as a RUG HOOKING Workshop & Gathering, here in our home, on October 5th, 2019.  Registration is now open and there are only SIX spots available, so if you are interested, please sign up as soon as you can.  The workshop will run in the same manner as my Punch Needle workshops have always run...goode food, goode friends, a GOODE time :).    I originally did not plan on holding workshops this year, however, in the end, I just could not stick with that plan!  The workshops are a lot of work, but I adore holding them and hosting all of you, here in our home.  Especially during such a wonderful time of year.  I am also excited to have my deare friend, and experienced rug hooker, Connie Fletcher of Seven Gables Designs joining me for this workshop.  She will be here just in case you have any questions, regarding rug hooking, that may be out of my depth as a newbie to this glorious art.  And, of course, my sister-in-law, helper extraordinaire and deare friend Stephanie, will also be here.

...I will also be holding a punch needle workshop this year as well.  I will have photos of the design asap.  The workshop will be held on Saturday, November 9th, 2019 and will also run in our usual manner.  I am very excited about this project!   It will be in conjunction with my punch needle online video course :).  Details soon!!!

...Let's see....what else. Oh, I am still in the process of listing my designs under my rug hooking category on my website. I know it seems like it is taking me forever, however, size is very important when it comes to creating a  rug hooking design, therefore, I want to make sure I test sizes, etc. before I commit to them, which takes time.  Slowly, but surely, I am getting it done.

...I have several punch needle designs, from past magazine submissions and books, that I am getting ready to list on my website.  I am hoping I can start that today if time allows.  Goodness, that is a bombshell of a statement..if time allows..IMAGINE :~).  Anyway..IT IS ON my ever growing TO DO/MUST DO list!!!

Okay, I do believe that is all the news and information I wanted to pass on to you today.  Thank you all so much for allowing me to pop in and visit with you for a few minutes today.  If you have any questions, just shoot me a message.

Until next time ~ wishing you JOY, Doreen

~Olde New England Hen Rug Hooking Pattern is READY!!!~

I came across a quote yesterday...... "To create a memorable design you need to start with a thought that is worth remembering" ~ Thomas Manss.   Oh my goodness, it struck me, this is EXACTLY what I do with my work.  I create designs, from images and thoughts, that I feel are worth remembering. Or, perhaps more accurately, a world I wish to see. :)

Goode Thursday morning to you.  Tis a chilly one here in Vermont at the moment, however, the weather-folke tell us that the sun and it's warmth shall be arriving sometime today.  At least that was the weather predictions last evening,  Goodness knows what it might be today.  Tis been a crazy Spring thus far.  We have had some lovely days though, and I am thankful we are not experiencing the horrible weather some folks are currently dealing with.

I am popping in this morning to let you know that my Olde New England Hen design is finished!!!  She's been hooked, steamed, binded (bound???) and hooked again.  I absolutely LOVED every single minute of this project and am itching to begin my next!!  Speaking of thoughts worth remembering ~ a lovely Turkey hen atop an Autumn pumpkin is definitely something I would enjoy seeing often. :)

The pattern on linen is now available on my website and in my Etsy shop. 

 The hooked design is 13" x 20" and will come with a color photo for reference, in case you wish to create your piece in colors similar to mine :).

Next, on my hooking list, a lovely little floral piece that I shall be offering as a workshop, here in our home, on October 6th :).  I am having a heck of a time deciding on colors for this project but I THINK..red shall be involved :)

I'm off now to tidy the house, feed & walk Mr. Oliver and then it's into the studio for the day.

Until next time ~ Wishing you JOY, Doreen

And the rain, rain, rain came down, down ....DOWN

Goode morning my dear friends.  We've a dark and stormy morning, here in Vermont, with abundant flood warnings and a river that is just about to leave it's banks!!   The rain actually woke me, several times in the night, it was coming down so hard.  Tis the perfect day to settle in with my hooking. Goodness, how I love saying that!!!  I have often heard that rug hooking is addictive and my goodness, it certainly is for me.  I feel as if I've come home.  Contentment has set in & THIS is what I was meant to do (no worries, I will not be abandoning my beloved punch needle) A feeling of peace and relaxation has come over me.  That feeling of reaching out, searching... because I felt like there was something else, something more, I was suppose to be doing....has parted.  THIS IS IT ~ I am HOME :).




I have properly washed my first order of wool (I was quite nervous about this) and my used Bliss cutter arrived and I've cut my own hand dyed wool....

My BLISS Cutter ~purchased from my dear friend Connie of Seven Gables Designs

I've chosen a color palette for my latest project (as I mentioned in my previous post I was struggling with this) and I love it. :)  I ordered a smaller Hartman hook (a 5mm) which makes my hooking SO much easier and smoother...

I LOVE IT!!!!

 AND...my new frame is scheduled to arrive today..woohoo!!!  At which point, the only thing I will have left to order, to make my rug hooking journey complete are my own dyes for dying!!!   I plan to order those in a couple of weeks.  I am still waiting on my linen ...bare with me as setting up a wholesale account with Dorr does take a little time.  I will be listing patterns on the website this week, as time allows.

:~) Life is goode my friends.

I'm off now to tidy the house ….Oliver is concerned his breakfast will be late as I've changed our usual routine to write this blog post.   Typically, at this time, I am finishing up my morning chores and preparing to give him his breakfast and head out for our walk.  :) 

Until next time ~ wishing you JoY, Doreen

~My first...FINISHED...rug hooking project~

Goode day my deare friends.  Tis snowing here in Vermont this morning.  Our Spring weather has been one of ups and downs to be sure!!!  Yesterday, I sat on the front porch hooking, barefoot & wearing just pants and a light sweater, and this morning, bundled up in hat, coat and scarf, I still shivered as Oliver & I took our morning walk!    I do believe I will have to keep the fire going all day & perhaps bake a little something to keep the coziness going :)….I'm feeling something gingerbread related may be in order.

Speaking of gingerbread, I just realized that my first FINISHED hooked project reminds me of gingerbread.  I'm not quire sure why, but it does nonetheless.  :).  I'm quite pleased with myself in having finished my first project....oh I have several in progress, hooking projects but this is my first OFFICIAL FINISH!!  

My loops are 10 different heights and I'm not really pleased with my color choices but I did what I set out to do, which was to feel comfortable with knowing how to hook.  I'm hoping keeping a steady loop height is something that comes with practice...  (YES???  NO???))   

The stool it is sitting on was made by my niece and her husband (Shopgirl Design Studio).  I LOVE IT. It is angled slightly and is perfect, for resting your feet upon, when hooking and/or punching.

NOW..ON TO MY NEXT PROJECT......

COLORS ARE...from bottom left to right...
deep blue grey/black,
 dark orange and black,
dark greenish brown,
light greenish tan
 light orange.

 This is a design I drew almost a year ago, when I was in Belfast, Maine, and first met my dear friend Connie of Seven Gables Designs AND  got started on this rug hooking journey.  As you can see I had previously hooked the turkey and the pumpkin stem.  Yesterday, I took the loops out, as I feel I can do a better job now than I had done originally...well, lets hope anyway.    

NOW...the NEXT thing and, what I seem to be struggling with the most....

CHOOSING COLORS!!

I feel like I am usually quite good at color planning.  As far as my punch needle embroidery designs go, I love them,  but for some reason...I can't seem to settle on what colors I should use when rug hooking!!!  I don't trust myself, especially after having chosen WRONG with my foot stool!!! 

 I MEAN..IT'S AN AUTUMN DESIGN..THIS SHOULDN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT...… 

 Why am I making this so hard??? 

URN....grey/black?

PUMPKIN.....orange...white...green???????

PUMPKIN STEM...… greenish tan??

TURKEY....UGH.....  red neck...brown/black body...  ?

BACKGROUND....????????  black?... OATMEAL????

I was original thinking a dark green background (because I LOVE green) but I dont' think that is going to work...….  Though now that I am starring at this photo....How lovely would the dark grey look next to that green!!!

UGH....I JUST DON'T KNOW...…

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

By the way...this is the first design that I've created specifically for rug hooking!!  I usually design for punch needle FIRST and offer the template for rug hooking :~).

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

Okay..i'm off to finish tidying the house then it's a shower and pattern printing for me.  Hopefully, as I walk past all these colors, laid out on the dining room table, the proper color palette will come to me. 

Until next time ~ wishing you JoY, Doreen

The Struggle......IS OVER

Goode day my lovely friends.  I hope this message finds you well and seeing some lovely signs of Spring in the place you call home.  Though we are waking to a fresh inch of snow on the ground, Spring is gracefully making herself known.  The Robins have returned & are hopping around the yard, dodging the snow & singing despite it.  My woodchuck friend has come out of hibernation and, just yesterday, I saw her on the edge of the lawn munching on tender roots.  When I stepped out, onto the deck, she scurried to her home, which is under a large boulder in our stone wall, just to the right of the apple tree.  I left her a fresh Pink Lady Apple for a treat :).  I will confess, I just love her and leave her treats from Spring till early Winter, when she retires to hibernation. Last year she had two babies and it seems as though they have made their home on the other end of the stone wall!!!

Anyway, enough about my tenderness toward the wild creatures that call this place home...I popped in today to chat about Rug Hooking and my STRUGGLE which has finally come to an end :)

FOR THE LONGEST time.....I could not manage to feel comfortable with myself AS a rug hooker.  I have TRIED to hook, for a couple of years now, and never could seem to make it "click".   Then, last year in Belfast Maine, when I was invited to speak & vend at the 207 Creative event, I met my kindred spirit...Connie Fletcher of Seven Gables Designs.  Connie and I just clicked!!!  I will share with you that when I decided to accept their invitation to Maine, something I struggled with because the possibility of speaking in front of 100 people IS NOT my idea of a good time,  I told my sister-in-law Stephanie, "As scary as I find this, I know I have to go because The Universe is telling me... these are my people"  AND...you know what, they were/are!!!  We all had such a great time in Belfast, dinners out, sightseeing, hooking and chatting.  It was like Connie, Roberta, Steph and I had been friends for years!!!  Since that trip Connie and I have grown even closer and share a wonderful friendship. 

 Two weeks ago, Stephanie and I headed out, insanely as it turns out,  as it was in the middle of a pretty bad Spring snow storm.  Silly us, we actually thought we would drive out of it!!! NO SUCH LUCK as, the further we went, the worse it got!

 Have you ever driven in the white mountains of New Hampshire during a snow storm??? I don't recommend it! Poor Connie drove alone, from Maine, in that storm and wasn't able to drive over 35 mph the entire trip!!!  But alas..we all made it and found ourselves at Roberta's beautiful snowy log cabin by 5:30 where we promptly unloaded the cars and got into our comfy pj's and enjoyed a very YUMMY Chicken stew & crusty bread!!!

Oh what a wonderfully perfect weekend we all had....goode food, goode friends, LOT OF LAUGHS and all the ins & outs of rug hooking!!!  

We dyed wool, we transferred patterns, we HOOKED!!

AND ….I came away from it finally feeling like a REAL RUG HOOKER.  I am FINALLY comfortable with it!  THOUGH I still throw questions out to Connie every couple of days....it's the little things and I feel like I can move on from here and...DO WELL :).   Oh the gift of goode friends!!!   I can't wait for August, when we get together again for another weekend of Hooking Merriment :).

NOW....I am moving toward having all my patterns, on linen, and available ON MY WEBSITE just as soon as I possibly can.  

Be patient with me ~ If there's a pattern you would like before I have it listed on the website, just shoot me an email; Doreen@vermontharvestfolkart.com :)

Until next time ~ Wishing you JoY, Doreen

This is why......

You should never give yourself a hard time for dabbling in different mediums.  When something calls to you, don't question the why, or feel guilty because you should be doing other things, because all of it, all the little stop off's, turns & moments of trying new things, or revisiting old, feed your creativity.   I say all of this as if I am an authority on the subject, I assure you, the opposite is true.  I JUST accepted this fact.  This "knowing" concept that has taken me years to realize AND, to allow myself to do. Case in point...while I was immersing myself in the wonderful world of needle felting (oh my goodness, I SO enjoy it) a new punch needle design started to come to life~~~  Do you see that handsome turkey towering over the little house :). I love it!!  This is the moment when I finally realized, it's okay to mix things up, take time for the new, dabble in the old, let go and just "DO". :)  They ALL are creative and they ALL feed your creative soul and work together rather than separate you from one or the other.  Why did I think they did?????  Why is it so hard to just take the path and not question it. Change is scary....our heads always try to fight it!

 As a business owner, we are always making sure we are doing what's best for our business and from time to time,  the running of things hovers over the creative and creates a cloud that we need/must shake loose and let the wind blow away. The schedules, list and organization of it all, sometimes pins down our creative souls and we find ourselves in business mode rather than creative mode.  Thankfully, my creative soul is a fighter (thank you YOGA) and she makes sure the creative gets through no matter how hard I try to make it.  

What's funny is, I've no idea why I worry so about any of it.  Even though I've been dabbling in four different things, as of late, I'm still managing to keep it all in check.   All orders are going out when they should, whether it be wholesale shop orders for patterns or daily website and Etsy shop orders.  I"m creating new pn designs, dabbling in different mediums and still getting the work done. My house might be in desperate need of a good cleaning and I've a different project in literally every single room but I know it will all, eventually, get done.  It's all good :).

**Pattern coming February 14th**

Okay...as I have just noticed the blazing red sky outside the studio window, it tells me sunrise has arrived and it is time to get this house picked up & for Oliver & I to head out for our morning walk & chores.  We've a big ole snow storm headed our way this afternoon. Hopefully, it will hold off until after I'm home from the dentist & errands!!!  I'm also really hoping to make it to Yoga class this evening, so fingers crossed that still happens :).

Homemade pizza is on the menu this evening..Mark shall have to grill in the falling snow ~ I LOVE THAT!!  :)

Until next time, wishing you JOY my friends.  Doreen

~Slow Stitching ~ Yoga ~ Finding My Way~

Much like everyone else, I was tired after Christmas.   Being under the weather two weeks prior to Christmas, with a nasty cold, did not help matters of course but this year, it felt different;   I was exhausted!    Let's face it, no matter how you do it....Christmas is a LOT of work.  Do not get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Christmas and all that surrounds it & even, all that goes into it.  It truly is magical and completely wonderful .  But it is still VERY tiring.  The week after Christmas found me absolutely drained and exhausted.  All the plans, thoughts, ideas & designs, I had been thinking about for months and couldn't wait to get to after my busy workshop season & the holidays, now seemed wrong & uninspired.  I tried starting a few different designs and didn't like anything I did!!!  I sketched something new and then tossed it aside.  All the while, in my head, I was in a panic!!  A little voice kept telling me, "hurry, hurry, you must release new designs!!!  Thankfully, this feeling only ended up lasting for a couple of weeks but I can tell you ,,,,it literally felt like years. 

 December 29th found me on my Yoga mat once again (as I mentioned in my last post, I skipped Yoga classes during most of Nov and December) and thankfully, day by day, my mind started to quiet down and the exhaustion lifted.  I have come to realize, for me, Yoga is a medication..and one I can not skip!!!   I feel embarrassed that I skipped classes for those weeks, but in the end, I guess I needed to, so I could truly realize how important and necessary my yoga practice is for my health and well being.   

As my body, once again, started to feel stronger my mind did as well.  My muse returned, things started to settle into place and my time in the studio felt good again.  This bit of exhaustion and worry has made me realize something that I need to change;  I need to slow myself down! When I am punching, I catch myself rushing to finish a design, punching as fast as I can, so that I can get the pattern written and released as soon as possible!! I was stripping all of the joy out of my punching. So much was my rush to finish, I barely paid attention to the wonderful design in front of me that, in many cases, took me a long time to put down on paper.. That design, when I originally sketched it out onto paper, brought me joy and a smile to my face! Yet, when I began stitching the design with my thread and needle, I rushed so very much I lost that joy and was no longer bringing that piece to life, I was simply trying to finish it to move on to the next. As an artist, I MUST NOT let that happen ...I can NOT do that to myself. It is a grave mistake to make because, quite soon, the well will be dry and there will be no slow, joyful thoughts & ideas to put down on paper!!

When I punched this, I was in awe of it's loveliness as I brought it to life...The vine & THOS FLOWERS....oh my!!!
I need to get that back!

Back in December I came across an article on Pinterest on Slow Stitching with Maggie Bonanomi. It looked intriguing so I pinned it but never took the time to read it. Last week it popped up in my feed again so this time, I took the time to read it and my goodness, did it hit home!!! Slow stitching is exactly what I was no longer doing!!! I sat back and starting thinking about how I use to punch. I took it all in, I went slow and enjoyed every second of it. I magically watched as my simple sketch came to life with the colorful threads and my needle. Somewhere along the way, I lost that (it's a constant battle to keep ahead of the seasons, keep your name and work out there..etc..) and it's time to get it back. Yesterday, I sat in my comfy chair by the fire and punched. I felt every punch, I paid attention to where every loop was placed and how each one was formed and I enjoyed the slow, relaxing time I spent with my hoop & needle.

Thought and ideas floated by. New ideas and designs but also, things I want to try. New things, that recently I've been beating myself up for even thinking about taking the time to work on because, CLEARLY I have other things I need to do first! I have no idea why but I have been trying my hardest to lock myself into one category when clearly I am not meant to be there!!! I am a maker OF MANY THINGS (I honestly do not think I have the ability to do just one thing) and you know what, I've finally realized, THAT'S OKAY!!. I am giving myself permission to be more than just a punch needle artist and pattern maker who MAYBE, once or twice a year if there's time, might make a bear or spun cotton snow folke. From now on...I am going to take my time, enjoy the process and slow "stitch" my way through whatever it is I am making, whether it be punch needle, wool applique, rug hooking, bear making, spun cotton OR whatever else might find it's way into my thought process so that I MAY REMAIN JOYFUL AND INSPIRED in all that I do. I give myself permission to work on whatever I feel like bringing to life and not hem myself into any one particular category because clearly, I do not enjoy being there!!

.

Are any of you feeling overwhelmed? Are you moving toward changes to rid yourself of that feeling and if so..what are they? Is anyone feeling great ~ well balanced and energetic?? If so, please share what you are doing and what is helping you along the way :) Here are a few more links for slow stitching should you care to look into it. 1. Slow Stitching Article with Maggie 2. Slow Stitching Movement website 3. Slow Stitch ~ Mindful & Contemplative Textile Art by Claire Wellesley-Smith 4. Slow Stitch Video ~ by Ellie Beck ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forgive me if this post it a bit rambling and jumbled...:)  I'm using it as somewhat of a "journal writing" exercise this morning.  Goodness, I feel so much better having gotten this all down "on paper" Thank you for stopping by today and listening my lovely friends. I can't tell you how joyful it makes me to have you here. We've a fresh dusting of snow this morning and a very large snow storm on the way tomorrow afternoon. I am looking immensely forward to it! I am running errands in just a bit so that we may be supplied with the makings for my homemade Italian Chicken soup & rolls and I do believe I'll make an apple pie. I hope you enjoy the weekend ahead and if you are in the path of this very big storm ~ be safe and well. Until next time, wish you joy ~ Doreen

~Tools Of The Trade~

Good morning my lovely friends.  I hope this day finds you well. I've been keeping cozy by the woodstove (it has been bitter cold here in Vermont) stitching, filling orders, baking, cooking and SLOWLY getting back into my usual routine.  It seems like it took me SO MUCH LONGER this year to get back into the swing of things!!! When the holidays were over, I was completely exhausted! That will teach me to skip Yoga for the month of December!!! I was thinking I just didn't have time for classes but what I failed to realize was...YOGA was what I needed to keep me fueled and strong for powering through the holidays!!!  I won't do that again!!!    Alas,   January found me BACK TO MY THREE TIMES WEEKLY YOGA CLASSES (Locally at Studio G) and Yoga With Adriene, here at home on non-class days, and my body and brain feel normal again AND..my muse has returned!!   :)

As I mentioned above..... it has been COLD here in Vermont!  It feels as if the cold grabs ahold of you when you step outside!!  Mine & Olivers walks and taking care of our chores has been quick, I can tell you!  CHORES....it's really just filling the bird feeders and feeding our new Crow friends (more on that another day). :~) but it is quick nonetheless. The cold is expected to worsen next week (argh) and settle itself in for a good long visit!  Goodness, I am not sure I'm ready for it!  Thankfully, our first (insert disgusted face here at this being our first) BIG SNOW STORM  IS expected to occur this weekend so perhaps, the cold won't seem quite so.....COLD.   To me it feels extra cold when it's below zero and we've no snow cover!  Thankfully, it would seem, this storm headed our way is a BIG ONE and our snow cover may be over a foot, or more, when Monday rolls around!!! WOOHOO!!!  

  OKAY>>SO....I am popping in today to share my new favorite tool of the trade with all of you.

This wonderful frame from Folk Art Primitives!  

They are made by Alice Frazier and her husband Sonny and it is truly, in my humble opinion, THE BEST PUNCH NEEDLE FRAME I'VE EVER HAD/USED/TRIED. Truly!!!  It's the perfect height for placing on your lap...... it spins, it swivels IT tilts!!!

 The lap plate is removable...so you can punch with the frame raised up on your lap, with the plate in place or remove it and punch on a table, hold it in your hand or fold it flat for travel.  You can also tighten the "nuts" completely which is how I like to use it when I am hooking with it.  YES, this is for punch needle AND rug hooking!!!

My dear friend Connie Fletcher (Seven Gables Designs and Primitives) brought this frame to one of my workshops in November and I fell in love with it and have been using it exclusively ever since.  

My frame has a working area of 9 1/2" x 11" but they also carry a larger frame that has a working area of 11" x 16" (that's on my wish list)  You can also purchase a floor stand (also on my wish list when I'm farther along with my hooking)

I actually met Alice and her husband Sonny, several years ago when I taught at From Our Hands Spring Creative event ~ they are the sweetest people!!!  I have put a link in the sidebar to their website or you can click here; FOLK ART PRIMITIVES

http://folkartprimitives-alice.com/frames__hooks.

I promise you, you won't be disappointed!!!

Okay..I am off now to tidy the house, walk Oliver, fill the bird feeders, feed my crow friends (I now have four that visit daily) and then it's back inside to settle myself in for a lovely day of punching.

Until next time ~ WISHING YOU JOY, Doreen

***WE HAVE A WINNER**

Goode morning my friends.  We wake, here in Vermont, to falling snow, the grind of the town plow clearing the roads and the snap and crackle of the wood stove ~ I LOVE IT!

I want to thank each and everyone ONE OF YOU for participating in my Favorite Things Giveaway.  I read EVERY SINGLE COMMENT and can not tell you how much your lovely words touched me.  You are all so very sweet and wonderful.  THANK YOU.

OKAY..on to our winner.  I used a google random number generator to pick our winner.....we had 113 entries and the generator PICKED...….

#7 ~ DEBBIE OF WOOLENSAILS!!!!

  Congratulations Debbie!!!!  Please email me at Doreen@vermontharvestfolkart.com with your mailing address so that I may send your goodies to you. :)

Again ~ thank you all so very much.  Wishing you a lovely day, Doreen

Starting the New Year off right...FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY

This year...
Hang on to your truth and respect the truth of others.
Choose to be happy.
Forgive those that you can forgive
and seek the forgiveness of someone who deserves it.
Do something outside of your comfort zone.
Be the voice for someone who has no voice.
Choose healthy food, activities and people.
Fall six times, get up seven… persevere.
Wish people a lovely day.
Live honestly, truly and with integrity.
Be the example for your children.
Remember that love is a verb.

Goode day dear friends & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  A fresh new year, 365 days of blank slate to do with what you wish (well, for the most part anyway)..what will you do with it?  Everyone's plan for the upcoming year is different but generally, everyone has something they wish to try, pursue, include, improve, change, etc. when a new year rolls around.  A few of my favorites on my "goals/plans/wishes for the New Year are to;

SHARE MORE

GIVE MORE

&

HELP MORE

SOOOO ….TO KICK OFF THIS NEW YEAR IN A GREAT WAY,  WITH THOSE WORDS IN MIND, I HAVE DECIDED TO HOLD A GIVEAWAY.....

I'VE BUNDLED TOGETHER A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS......

A bit of wool, a fat 1/4 piece of linen & weavers cloth, some wool & cotton threads, a wonderful pack of tarts (made by my daughter) and a gift certificate

ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO ENTER IS.... 

LEAVE ME A COMMENT HERE, ON MY BLOG..

***BE SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR NAME AND A WAY TO CONTACT YOU**

**I'll pick a winner (via a random number generator) one week from now on Wednesday, January 9th**

Goode luck everyone ~ again...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!