~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

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!!  

A couple little changes.

MY GOODNESS, can you believe September is drawing to a close???  I certainly can't!!! It is truly crazy, how fast this month flew by.  It was a flurry of appointments, gramma baby sitting time and filling orders..it's truly all a blur!! :)

Therefore, IN AN EFFORT to find time for...well, ANYTHING...haha...I am making a couple of small changes. These changes will make things much easier on me and allow for more creative time.  

#1......I will no longer be selling punch needle supplies such as weavers cloth, Cameo needles, hoops, frames, floss & thread. 

...Keeping up with the constant ordering/tracking/selling/shipping of these supplies is so very time consuming and taking this duty out of my daily schedule will free up a LOT of time for me. AS ALWAYS,  I WILL SHARE with all of you where you may purchase these products yourself.   

#2...I have reduced my Blackened Beeswax offerings to just a few pieces.  Things I can make quickly and easily.  This too, will free up a LOT of time for me. 

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and hope you understand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEW THINGS TO COME...

KITS....I will soon be offering a **LIMITED NUMBER** of full kits for all of my new designs. :)

 **I HAVE A NEW "BOOK" IN THE WORKS :)

I will be ADDING candles and tarts, made by my daughter, to the site, this holiday season.

SO..that's it. 

 Whew...I feel better already!!! 
 Now..on to the most wonderful time of the year!  
Love and hugs, Doreen

~HELLO....IS ANYONE OUT THERE~

There is something about this time of year that makes me chatty.  I begin to daydream about sitting  on the front porch, mug of coffee in my hand, crisp Autumn leaves whirling past on a slightly chilly breeze, with a goode companion and while away the hours.  Though it is still hot here in Vermont, I know what's' coming and it excites me and I  want to share that goodeness, (yes, I know that is "misspelled) and all that it holds, with all of you.  

Therefore, I have decided to start blogging again!!  I've missed it!!  I've a lot to do before this blog is fully "decorated" but I've made a goode start and I LIKE it!  I hope you'll take the a moment, to stop by from time to time, and say hello. :)

Until next time ~ hugs to all of you, Doreen