New things at www.theoldtatteredflag.com

 Hi Everyone, Just a quick note to show you all the great things I've added to the website today.  "Tom" is absolutely stunning, I just love the colors my Mother chose.  
Even though we are raffling a "Santa 2012" kit off, I have also made him available for purchase just in case you can't wait or you don't want the whole kit, would prefer to do him in your own colors.

And, I'm so happy to finally be able to offer my new "Appli-Punch" patterns, both the Flag peasant bag and the "Pumpkin in the Vines" pillow.  Visit www.theoldtatteredflag.com  to see these new items.  

Going to work on the newsletter..

Until next time.....

Introducing "Folk For All Seasons"

I am so happy to be able to finally introduce my Sister's Santa's to you.  You see, it has been a long time in the making.  Back in 1998 when we were stationed at West Point I found these cute Santas in a craft book.  They were made of papier mache.  On one of her visits my sister and I made one.  Well, skip forward a few months and we were making 100's of them and selling them at craft shows.  Back in 1998 these were a simple little Santa hand shaped on a cone.  We even started making little West Point Cadets.  I quickly burned out on the Santa making, but my sister Lisa has continued on with the Santa making. 

Let me tell you,  the Santa's she's making now resemble NOTHING of the Santa's we made years ago.  Not to say that what we made was bad, but she has turned in to a true folk artist.  She does one show a year in Vermont and I'm not kidding when I tell you that when the doors to the show open there is a rush of frantic women running to her table to get their special Santa for the year.  So, with that in mind, my mother and I have told her for years that she needs to expand.  She needs to start a blog and write about her little guys and the inspiration that goes in to them, AND, she needs to offer them to other people than those in Vermont.  I think you will agree with me that these are truly fantastic!!!  

So, I got a call yesterday that she has decided to give her notice at her job and focus full time on her art.  Now, my sister will fully admit that she sometimes needs a gentle nudge, ok, she needs a kick in the ass!!!  I have told her that I think the nice ladies I have met through my blog, website and ebay might be interested!  I have asked her to design a Santa based on my Santa 2012 rug I showed yesterday and a special "Rug Hookers" and "Quilters/Stitchers" Santa.  Since her Santas are completely hand sculpted she can pretty much do ANYTHING!!  

Here's some of the other ones she does:

Grandparents Santa ~ He holds a list with all the grandchildren's names.

Sports Team Santa ~ Basketball, football, baseball, golf, you name it, she can do it with personalization

Baby's First Christmas ~ Santa holding a little bundle of joy

Santa on a motocycle ~ he's funny

Santa riding a cow, sheep, pig, swan

Then there's her fantastic line of Santas sitting on Antique spindles and other great primitives!! 

So, I'm sharing this with you not to pander, but, because my sister follows my blog and I'm trying to motivate her.  Please, please, please, send your comments if you like her work and would be interested.  Her Santas go from $35 and up.  I'm trying to get her to let me build her a "button" on my website for this Christmas so she can get going. 

She plans to design a Rug Hookers and Quilters Santa for around $50.  Let us know if you are interested!!

Until next time........ 

Santa ~ 2012 Hooked Rug Kit Giveaway

Santa 2012  12 x 36 inches

I'd like to introduce my newest Santa for 2012.  He's a simple guy, fashioned after the Belsnickle's of yesteryear.  We intentionally left a border off because we wanted him to be primitive and simple.  The colors make him stunning! 

Now for the exciting part.  We are giving one kit away, it is a $150 value.  You will get the pattern hand drawn on monks or linen, your choice and all the wools needed to create him.  He is a tall 12 x 36 inches.  

To enter the drawing, all you have to do is visit my website, www.theoldtatteredflag.com and hit the "Contact Us" button, fill in your name and email address and in the comment box, provide your address and phone number and say "ENTER MY NAME" so we can get in touch with you when you win!!  You can also email me directly at theoldtatteredflag@yahoo.com with the above information as well. The drawing will be held October 15, so you will have plenty of time to hook him before Christmas.  

**This giveaway is for the Hooked Rug Kit, not the actual finished rug**

Keep checking back, lots of great things are in the works....

Until next time....

Coming soon!!!

Have I told you how good it feels to be back to work?? Just thought I'd give you a sneak peek at a couple new things we are working on, plus, Mom should be done hooking my new Santa design by tomorrow, so check back.  This years Turkey (simply called "TOM") is very different than last years.  He will be hooked with a solid black background and colorful, but primitive feathers.  He is so handsome and bold!!  The top photo is a new idea I'm working on called "Appli-punch".  It is going to be a pillow, I punch needle embroidered the grapevines but the rest will be appliqued.  The vines could also be hooked or just plain appliqued.  I hope to have a finished picture by Monday with the pattern soon to follow.

Last but certainly not least, Baxter has really gotten use to coming out to the studio to work with me everyday.  I'd like his job!!  Did I ever mention that I have another dog, another puggle named Max.  You never see him because he's forgotten that he is my dog.  He just LOVES my mother and never leaves her side.  Oh well!!  

Until next time....

Flag is done!!

Yay, finally put the last loop in my rug the other night.  Of course when I say I'm done it means I'm done hooking.  I can't tell you how many of my rugs I have not officially finished by binding.  It drives my mother crazy, until she offers to do it.  Is there a method to my madness???  

I do want to finish this one though as it is going in our bedroom in front of the fireplace.  I do have a bad feeling though that I will hear Max scratching it one night as he prepares to lay down.  I'll kill him!  

I also wanted to show you some new colors Mom has been working on.  These 9 new colors will be part of our "vintage collection".  They are nice and soft and muted, a beautiful palette.  Watch for them to be on the website soon.  And if you haven't signed up to get my newsletter please let me know by contacting me through here, the website, or emailing me directly: theoldtatteredflag@yahoo.com

In my newsletter I have a section on new patterns, new wools, a craft of the month, recipes and more!  

I have two new designs that I hope to be able to show you within a week, the first I mentioned is my Santa 2012.  He is very simple, but oh so primitive with the colors we have chosen.  The other is my Turkey for 2012 which I at first wanted to call quirky turkey, but he's not really very quirky at all, just very handsome, so I've decided to simply call him "TOM".  Mom has chosen gorgeous colors for him.  She's going to start him in a day or two.  These will both be available in punch and wool applique as well.  

So, off to take some cold medicine for this nasty end of summer cold.  I have a military ball to go to tomorrow night.  My red nose will look wonderful with my blue dress, throw some white in there and I'll look like a true Old Tattered Flag.

Until next time........

Inside of the house.......

Entry hall..

Time for mums!

Mom's been very busy weeding......everything!

This was all overgrown, like I said, Mom's been busy.  We really need to get some mulch this weekend...

Kitchen, I think I need a big rug right in the center, what do you think?

Kitchen again..

Kitchen again....

Living room, does anyone know where I can get a nice primitive dried flower wreath for over that fireplace??

Living room, I have since added some berry swags over the curtains to give it a bit of umph!

Living room looking into Mikes office...

There's a story behind this....we can never find a yardstick in the shop so I took care of that!!

Ollie enjoying the sun!!  He never strays far from  Mom when she's weeding...

Mom dyeing on the huge stove.  She loves it since it's so much faster and she can have 4 big pots going at a time!

Here are a few pictures of the inside of the house, but, if you are familiar with our old house you will notice that this one is very different.  It is a "warm" house with lots of wood and fall colors, but the tile floors in some of the rooms make an echo that I just can't get rid of and it makes it feel empty.  So, I am still tweaking.  It has been a bit of a challenge for me to decorate since I like a bit more primitive, but, it is very cozy.  I'd love any suggestions.  I am still looking for fabric for curtains in the sunroom and some throw rugs and a dried flower wreath for over the fireplace.  I would love a big bittersweet wreath.  If anyone knows where I can get one let me know.  

Also thought I'd throw in a pic of Mom dyeing wool.  That commercial stove is truly amazing.  At first it was a little intimidating but now we love it.  I had forgotten how fast gas cooks.

Keep checking back as I am churning out designs like you can't believe.....it feels so good to be back to work!!

Until next time.....

The Old Tattered Flag is up and running!

Looking in from the main entrance.

The dyeing sink......not really, but sure does look nice.

Anyone see us in the Wool Street Journal??

What a nice sitting area for new students!!

Awwwww!!  Baxter has to be hitched because he decided to go introduce himself to the neighbors. He just thinks everyone loves him........well, they do!!

Well, its about time huh?  I cannot tell you how good it feels to be sitting here writing!!  Last time I wrote, we were living out of suitcases and on air mattresses waiting for our household goods to arrive.  They came the next day and I don't know what I was thinking, I told my mother we had 80 boxes, well, make that 400 boxes.  Yup, 400!  I just now feel like I can say the house is 95% put together.  There are still a few things I have to do, curtains to sew when I find the perfect fabric, houseplants to buy, and I'm looking for the perfect dried flower wreath to hang over the stone fireplace.  Come back tomorrow to see pictures of the inside of the house so far.

But, we are very pleased to finally have the shop put together.  I thought you might enjoy seeing the photos.  We are very proud of it.  We have more room than the dining room in Evans Mills and we are using every inch of it.  I have a counter top for measuring fabric, tallying people and just a really nice area with my computer, label maker, scale, printer, etc.... It's so nice to have it all in one place!  Every morning I come out (it's a big room off the garage, a separate building), print out orders and fill and pack them right here.  So, our next step is actually getting people here.  Are there any hookers in Missouri??  I know you're here because I've sent things to you.  So, please, come see us!!  We are ready.  Call me at 315-767-8313 to let us know you are coming by as we don't have set hours, but I can assure you we are here most days.  

On to other exciting things.  I designed "Santa 2012" and Mom is currently hooking it.  The way she hooks I should have a photo to show you in a couple of days. He is a very simple guy, but quite tall, a belsnickle type Santa simply holding an American flag to his front, but what's going to make him special is the colors we have chosen.  We are going to raffle off a kit, the pattern and all wool, with the raffle to be held Oct. 25.  Check back for more info.  Also coming are the Flag peasant purse as well as some other purse designs, Quirky Turkey, Christmas parade, and some gorgeous pillow ideas.  I am so excited to be designing again!!!  

Now that I am up and running plan on lots of additions to the blog and facebook.  I have finished my Flag rug and I have photos of the inside of the house, so come back and see.  

***Correction ~ A few blogs back I showed Lillith holding a beautiful Crow rug and said it was a Create and Decorate design, well, wrong, it was from the most recent Fall  Need'L'Love book, I think it came out last year.  So sorry for the mix up.  

So, come back, I'm re-energized...

Until next time......