Despite the winter blahs.......

Despite the fact that it was -36 degrees this morning and the sight of 3 feet of snow n my yard I am remarkably chipper.  I can honestly say that for the first time in about six months I feel like I have finally gotten off the treadmill of life.  With the move last fall, then going right into the holidays, running the business, doing a hook-in and now renovating for the shop, things have finally slowed to a manageable pace.  I love waking up everyday and saying "...what's next?".  We have a bit of tweaking left to do in Mom's dye kitchen, but it's almost done and then we can start in on the garage/shop.  It is really exciting to see everything coming together.  Keep watching as I will be showing lots of pictures of everything in the future....

So, like I was saying..........winter.........blah!!  I still in the happy glow of being back in my house, but much more of this and well, it could get nasty.  I did say on Facebook that we've now entered that time of year where Mom holes up in her room hooking!!  I hand her her meals through a small window.  A craggly hand reaches out and snags the food...lol!  But seriously, we have been challenged as most of the country has this winter....

In November or December it's like "oh, look, snow!!! Isn't it pretty", now I actually tell the weatherman on TV to shut up..

...and with harsh winter weather, something in me has to make comfort food.  Last weekend it was.....

Bundt cake....

Pot Roast....

and a big pot of soup!  

But weather  never slows down the creative in us does it?  We have converted Clorine from wool applique to hooking and she loves it, but here's a sampling of some of her beautiful pieces.  Thanks Clorine for showing us!

Beautiful Fall Table Rug

Gorgeous Christmas Tree skirt...

 ...and a beautiful Winter table runner..

 Now that my life is a more relaxed pace I have been able to get back to creating.  The picture on the left shows a bunch of punch  needle patterns I have punched but not quite put the finishing touches on.  I WILL finish them this week!!  The photo on the right is our newest pattern on the website for Punch needle.  It's showing rosier than it really is, it truly is a nice primitive redware color.  I punched it and then sprayed it with walnut crystals, then to finish it off twisted a rope of our Major gold wool and stitched to the edges.  If you are interested in the pattern or kit here is the link:

Redware Bird Punch Needle Pattern/Kit

I have also added some Morgan Telescope Lap Hoops to the supplies section of the website.  These are the best embroidery hoops for punching, in my opinion.  I sell the 7/9 in. size.  Here's the link to them:

Morgan 7/9 inch Lap Hoop

...and like I said, Mom has been busy hooking the Winter away.  She is making amazing progress on our "Weathervanes of New England" pattern....

.....only 2 Rug Hooking Santas left on the site, be sure to check them out:

Rug Hooking Santas

And with the long cold Winter days it's important to keep yourself busy with silly family activities.  My Sister's family has had full blown sock fights, we here at the Thomas residence like to get shots of our dogs with drawn on eyebrows........

 ....or get the most embarrassing shots of our dogs!!!  Oh well, we do what we must...

How to do you stay entertained in the dead of winter???

 

Keep watching, lots of new things to come....

Until next time...