Happy Yule! Happy Winter Solstice my sweet Friends ~ here are a few of my very favorite 'winter'-themed artworks I absconded from Pinterest ~ each one different, but each one holds my heart... i could live here forever ~ who would not want to be invited to join this gathering of friends? ~ princely owl ~ bobcat & gnome-smiles i think I heard this band of merry-makers in our deep woods last night ~ today is the shortest day of the year ~ a great day for new projects or beginnings! Here are a few snaps of us in the farm shop on Saturday ~ l-r: Joan, Louisea {my sis}. Robin & Patti oh, NOW I have your attention…lol! except for Patti who was using an Oxford punch with wool strips for the first time... Patti you are a peach ~ and we love when you come for your visits! "lefty" at work….watch out! Robin offering encouraging words ~ great job my friend!! keep at it :) here is that little hooked mat that I was working on {below} … all finished and attached to the blue stool ~ December 21st 2015 and my herbs are STILL growing on our patio! I hooked with all hand-cut wool strips, ranging from 1/2" to 3/4" {and maybe even a little fatter than that} I used little black carpet tacks and my trusty ball pin hammer to nail it on with… one tack in each corner and one in the middle of each side ~ doing things to old-fashioned way :) {{ please excuse the cat hair }} I love the colors of the wools against the blue/green paint of the stool. I wonder who used this stool ~ a small child to reach cookies on the kitchen counter? a farmer's wife used to milk her goats? or was it used to prop up tired feet after a long days' work in the fields…. …. each nick of wood and chip of paint tells a story if we just listen. This little gem and more finished items will accompany me to the Winter in the Valley Show on February 6th {snow date Feb 20th} in Fishersville VA mark your calendars! ~~~~::~~~~ Today I will be charting & begin stitching the 1st of our 2016 Little Stitches Handwork Club projects ~ Kits will begin shipping to club-members in mid-January ~ if you are not a member of the LSHC or need to renew your membership, please click HERE Have a beautiful & creative first day of Winter !!!! ~ Blessings from the Farm ~ Lori