Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Alphabet Tags

I have been busy this last week putting together my new block of the month...Alphabet Tags....I thought you might like a peek....It is a stitchery with a little color...

There are of course 26 blocks .....and lots of piecing...plaids and prints....



.....I almost have the top together ...and I am going to hand utility quilt it.



It will be one of the Loft's blocks of the month starting in January.


Today is party day for my Wool Crazy classes...so I am off to the Loft....Bye for now...Jo Ann




Monday, November 21, 2011

Giving Thanks

Hey everyone....Hope you have plans to gather together with all of your families this Thansgiving Day. Gene and I are lucky enough to have our sons and their families with us. I tried to convince my oldest, Andy that he would love to cook, but he said he would do Christmas Eve if I would do Thanksgiving...and the deal was struck!



The stitchery above is one I designed for a class a few years ago....It's a quick little project combining things I love...stitching, wool and homespun....

As of last Tuesday, I still hadn't taken out the pilgrims and turkeys....the shelves were full of witches and cats....but since I am now on for Thanksgiving, I thought I best pull down the boxes. I am so glad I was forced to do it, because I love these pieces....




This Pilgrim looks like she has found all sorts of bounty for her feast...I have pumpkins and fall leaves everywhere...(we don't have as many outside as many of you....so we have to put them inside!






I have had this turkey for years....he is right in my entry this season...ready to greet our guests
He has lots of friends scattered throughout our rooms, but he is still my favorite!





......and this final shot is taken from our front door looking into our living room...I took it about 7 am and the light isn't too good....but I hope you get the picture. I will hate taking fall decorations down ....but the boxes of Christmas folk art are calling....


This has been a hard year for our family with Megan's illness. I want to send a special thanks to all of you for all of your encouragement, prayers and kind notes throughout. It has meant so much to all of us. THANK YOU.

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and this year brings you many things to be thankful for. All my best ....Jo Ann










Tuesday, November 15, 2011

It's Christmas at the Loft

I know that it is a long time since I blogged, but I have almost been living at The Country Loft. For two weeks we all were working on new kits galore and also found time to decorate the store. Sharon already showed lots of great things on the store's blog (just check my side-bar) and Paulette of Sweet-P (also on the bar) has spent days showing her shopping time there (thanks Paulette!) ....so I am just adding my two cents worth.....


Kathy spent all last week moving everything in the shop....My Crazy at Home things became part of this great display in the living room....Don't you love this Santa??? The cone shaped boxes were home to some snowman spoolie kits....just one of our 20 new Christmas kits)


Kathy Cardiff of the Cottage at Cardiff Farms designed this pin cushion for us....a little wool branch and berries...



....and I designed this little sewing kit....a bag to take your snowman cushion, scissors and thread in....the cushion is in a little pie tin....


....and here is part of the main table....Kathy used my "Angels Surround Us" as the cloth on this display....the kit on this table is a snowman gift card holder....that can be an ornament too....



.....and here is the little tree in the kitchen....those are my crazy Christmas stockings....I designed them before I did Wool Crazy....so they are actually in cottons and homespuns (yes I do own other fabric!!!!)

It was a great day and we all had such a good time....I was the cashier and I want to thank all of those very patient people who waited....and waited and laughed and made new friends ...and probably waited some more! It was such fun to see so many familiar faces and meet lots of new people too!


Today I am finally spending a day at home....Gene will be glad to see that he can't write his name on the furniture and that the hardwood floors have been swept! I hope that you are having a wonderful Tuesday......Jo Ann