Turkeys and a Snowman!

Busy, busy here at The Old Tattered Flag. Mom finished hooking my two newest designs "Let's Talk Turkey" and "Pride" (snowman) and I finished my "Let's talk turkey" wool applique pattern. I wanted to make it a bit different than the hooked rug pattern so turned it into a table runner with more vines and threw a couple of pumpkins in. I also decided to use some linen for my background fabric that I had slightly coffee stained. The patterns are available on my website, www.theoldtatteredflag.com
Because I always have to have my hands in something I have been fooling with some really primitive decopage pins and ornaments. I am working on some military unit ornaments for ladies at Fort Drum. It give me a nice break from the textiles here and there. So, needless to say....always busy.
Sorry for the space between blogs, I'll try to be better....
Until next time....

Punch Needle and Turkey!!

What a combination huh? I am in punch needle world now. I think because of my advertising in Create and Decorate, the punch needle world has finally found me because the patterns are flying off the shelf. I actually love drawing them, I turn on my itunes and sit with my sharpie and weavers cloth and it's very relaxing. I have 19 new designs. Above see my new Santa 2011 done in hooked form and punched form. I also have a great new Turkey design that a couple of my students asked me for. Mom is color planning it and I have revised it into a very primitive penny rug table runner and will punch it as well, very soon.

Life has been pretty hectic as usual around here since hubby got home. Who would want it any other way right? Last weekend, his first weekend home, him and my son ventured down to Mass. to attend his fathers mass and Mom and I headed north to Maine as she had a wedding to attend. While there we visited Camp Wool in Kinnebunkport. Oh my goodness, what a great store. It was overflowing with everything textile, from hooking, punching, needle felting, wool applique, you name it. We were there for two hours and probably could have stayed longer. If your ever in the area, make sure to visit. LeeAnn, the owner was so nice!!

My mother got an order for 12 chair pads so she has pretty much been roombound hooking. In the middle of the chair pads she also finished Santa and I'm happy to say he is already on his way to a nice lady in Australia. He's very festive and whimsical.

Since hubby is home I feel an obligation to attend events with him and the invitations coming in are insane, sometimes three a day. After a deployment people come and go so there are alot of ceremonies to attend to say hello and goodbye. Like I said, hectic, but also nice to have him home and get out again.

So, hope you enjoy the new designs. I'll get more on as I get them punched, hooked, painted, etc...
Until next time..

"Autumn Romance" finished

Wow!!! Mom just finished this last night. What a stunner!!! It's a big rug at 28 x 28 inches. Sure to be an heirloom for someone. It is for sale for $525, look for it soon on my website or ebay, or contact me if interested.
More good things coming...
Until next time....

2 New Patterns and Hubby's Home

Well, my husband finally got home Saturday night. Just in time to stack the huge pile of wood I had delivered, LOL! Looking back, the year went by so fast at times. This was our sixth "real" deployment, meaning a whole year gone. Who knows if it will be the last? So now we settle into a regular routine, or as regular as it can be with a small business, a vacation coming up, a senior in high school and junior in college. My schedule has now gone from busy to insane.
Of course I can never take a break, as I waited for him to come home Saturday I tweaked two new Christmas patterns, not sure what I'll name them yet, but they will be on my website by the end of the day. I am punching the Santa one right now. Mom is finishing my Autumn Romance Rug and I'm breathless at how beautiful it is. She chose beautiful colors. Next she will start on Santa.
So, until next time....

Remsen Barnfest goodies and more....

It's been a busy week, when isn't it, right? Hubby comes home tonight so we've been trying to get all those things done that we've put off for some time. My mother motivated me to repaint his office and really deep clean it and I'm so glad we did, because it looks so good, very inviting. I've kind of taken over the whole house, so now he'll have his own little "nook" all his own to go to, we usually call it the "I love me" room as alot of his "certificates/awards" are hanging in there.
I haven't written since we went to the Remsen Festival of the Arts last weekend. I was naughty or in other words, very good to myself. The large pumpkin is hand carved from wood, a real treasure and I got the last large one!! The movers can't break that one. I got a cute little plant dragonfly made from vintage silverware. Mom and I both got little purses from The Vermont Bag lady. She has the best purses, look her up on her website. Also got some great dip mixes from judecraft specialty foods. These are the best dips, especially their garlic butter and bruschetta oil. Once you have them, you'll be a repeat buyer. I use to sell them in my shop and couldn't keep them in stock. Their cheesecake mixes are great too. So, a good time was had by all. Also got a great needle felted hat for winter and a beautiful warm fleece pullover. Great stuff!

You can also see my new "Bauble Board" for jewelry, that I painted on an old printer press drawer and I am now in the process of turning my Antique Butter Mold designs into punch designs.

It is 41 degress here today and rainy. My husband has terrible nasal problems and is looking forward to the cool, crisp fall air. He sure won't be disappointed!!

Until next time.....

New things....

Well, now that the barn sale is done and I have gone through every attic box I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. So, I am able to focus on catching up. I probably sound crazy but sometimes it feels good to just catch up on house cleaning and laundry. That really means you've been too busy. I have also been diving back into new projects. I currently have two punch needle designs going. My "Autumn Romance" which mom is also hooking right now, and "6 Crows". I also have about 12 other new designs lined up right behind those.
As you can see I've also taken a little "me" time to paint, my favorite thing of all. I just love the colors of fall. I listed some new paintings on my website, www.theoldtatteredflag.com
The COL T rug was designed by me and hooked by Mom as a gift for my husband who will be coming home after a year in Afganistan hopefully next weekend. We are going to try to repaint his office and have it hanging in there for him. The pistols represent Military Police which is his branch.
Tomorrow we are off to the Remsen Craft Fair. It's in the town of Remsen, NY and they close off the whole main st. It's a good one and I can't wait!! I'll try to remember to snap some pics and show you all.
Until next time....

Successful Class and Barn Sale

Phew, it's been another busy week. Last Thursday we had a Wool Applique class and offered our students the opportunity to have a preview of our barn sale. We had 13 ladies come over to work on "Ezzie's Hat". It was fun to see a room full of ladies working on one of my patterns. Everyone got some goodies in the barn sale and hopefully had fun making their own Halloween Pattern. Thanks so much Ladies!
The barn sale was a HUGE success. We got rid of so much stuff. Thanks to the man who took my husbands weights (for free), being less that amount of weight will make the move easier next year. We will be making donations to the Salvation Army, Urban mission and library with the leftovers. One more sale in the spring and we should be in great shape...
Yesterday we set up at a luncheon on Fort Drum to show some of our finished items and generated some interest from perhaps a couple new prospective hookers?? Time will tell.....
New items including wool, paintings and finished stuff will be on the website tomorrow and I'll post pictures here too...
Until next time....