Oooo, those are winter clouds. Beautiful but ominous at the same time. This is a strange time of year for me because it's super busy, but you also feel like Mother Earth is preparing for that long winter's nap, the time to rest, rejuvenate, before coming to life again. It's kind of like that in our house. Yes, we are always busy, but this time of year, when you pack away all the outside furniture, the grill, put the tractor away and realize that, hey, it is ok to sit and hook or punch in your chair on a Sunday afternoon while you watch a football game. It is ok to just sit!! Here in upstate NY we really "hunker down" for the winter. The shop has been very busy lately. I liken it to the squirrels collecting their nuts.....the ladies are collecting their wool and projects for a long winter.
When we got back from the last show it was on to the next thing of course....never a dull moment. It was time to get the rest of the Christmas patterns out and prepare for the Christmas Open house. By they way, have you heard about our Christmas Open house? Come back tomorrow to read all about it. It will be December 5, Saturday from 10-6.
So, we have been busy, busy getting new patterns and goodies on the website, www.theoldtatteredflag.com , like....
Mr. Cool for punch needle....
Click on the titles to see at the website:
Mr. Cool Punch Needle Pattern or Kit
Mr. Cool Punch Needle Pattern or Kit
Mabel, our in house model is wearing the latest fashions! Our "got hook?" t-shirt is great with jeans, or let's face it...sweats. A must have for any hooker!Got Hook? t-shirt
Our 2016 calendar is loaded with out favorite pictures from right here on the blog...a little bit of this and a little bit of that...
"Best of the Blog" 2016 Calendar
"Best of the Blog" 2016 Calendar
My friend Robin has graciously allowed me to offer her design, "Simply Autumn". Just stunning. It is available for Rug Hooking....
Simply Autumn Rug Hooking pattern
Simply Autumn Rug Hooking pattern
My mother loves pennies. She has been wanting to put together a kit for this beautiful Antique Poinsettia penny rug that I purchased from an antique store last year. We are offering it in a kit, complete with all the cut pennies. The only thing you have to do is cut out the poinsettias and stitch. A great thing to do, sit and stitch on a Sunday afternoon!
And by request I managed to adapt another one of my Sisters whimsical folk art pieces into a rug hooking design.
..and we have added "Shutter Santa's" to our Christmas Rug Hooking patterns section. These are single "stand alone" santas that can be mounted on old shutters, cupboard doors or antique pieces.....or perhaps even stuffed to stand alone. We have this one below and a patriotic Belsnickle. Type in "stand alone santa" into the quick search box on the home page of our website.
...and oh my, my latest design inspired from an antique scherenschnitte (paper cutting) design. I love the neutral tones we chose for this beauty and what a phenomenal job Mom did hooking it! Also look for it in our punch needle "everyday" section.
Dutch Tulip Rug Hooking Pattern
Dutch Tulip Rug Hooking Pattern
We do manage to get in a bit of retail therapy and lunch out on Wednesdays and a couple weeks ago Mom and I headed down to Baldwinsville to a local boutique called Stacey Kates. An amazing little boutique where we found them sitting at the sewing machine stitching up the latest linen designs. Then to make it even better, they ice dye the linens for a perfectly unique and artsy look. Stacey Kate can be found on facebook and they have a website.
After the day of shopping and lunch it was back to work to prepare for the Christmas Open house. We had so many people looking for handmade gifts last year so Mom and I are working our fingers to the bone to get some goodies made up. Here are some things in progress....
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| Primitive poinsettias |
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| These will be primitive trees... |
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| Vintage "hook and scissor" bags for stitching.. |
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| assorted goodies that will be loaded into the shop for the open house.... |
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| Dried goodies for bowl fillers |
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| Proddy poinsettias for my Christmas mouse pin cushions... |
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| ...and I'm not sure what I will do with these goodies.... |
So, this is that awkward time of year where you wonder, "should I put the pumpkins and Halloween stuff away?" Of course Pumpkins can stay out until thanksgiving, but do I want to put half away now and just have to do it again in a couple of weeks? I have decided to put it all away and with a bit of a plan, start doing the Christmas decorating little by little. I am one of those people who believes that Christmas songs and decorating should wait until after Thanksgiving so though my shop is filled with Christmas woolens and patterns, the true decorating will not happen until after Turkey day. I am only begrudgingly bring out the Christmas stuff for the house now, as I will not possibly be able to do it in one week. Do you put all your fall stuff away now? Are you already listening to Christmas music.....come on....fess up! To each their own, it's all good......secretly I can't wait to fill the shop with the beautiful music!
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| Goodbye Halloween stuff for another year! |
So, mark your calendars for Dec. 5....it's less than 3 weeks away. Come back tomorrow to learn more about it. You won't want to miss it!
Until next time......
2 comments:
Someday, I will come from here in California to one of your open houses. Now I just have to be happy with your blog.
Everything is just lovely.
It is nice now to hunker down and hook without guilt. :)
Have a lovely day.
Wonderful post! Love all the 'eye candy'. I put the Halloween stuff away, but the Fall decorations are still out until the day after Thanksgiving. No Christmas music yet.
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