"Flax Farm" Renamed...

"Flax Farm" Table Mat Renamed "Hickory Hill Farm" Table Mat

It's Finished!!

If you haven't seen this in process, the pattern is called "Flax Farm" from Primitive Gatherings. I modified about a third of the design, adding our Compass Barn, our dogs, and bluebirds. The backing fabric, a striped flannel, came in the pattern kit, and I really like it.

Table Mat Completed

 

I'm tickled with the way it turned out (Handsome likes it, too!), and now that it has my modifications, I've decided to go ahead and change the name to "Hickory Hill Farm".

 

It now occupies a place of honor on our dining room table. The perfect place, where I can see it every day...and smile. On to my next project...

 

Soooo Close...

Finished Barn - Flax Farm (Revised)

I finished everything but the second tree and the Bible verse on my "Flax Farm" project. I tried to finish it yesterday, but I had so much fun working on details.

I added a collar for Bella, and Tag needed an eyelash. Then, I added two small openings that are on our barn, and decided it should have a bluebird. The bird is completely stitched, rather than created with wool. All the fencing and flowers are complete on this side of the table mat now.

Finished Tree - Flax Farm

I completed one of the trees that anchor the ends of the mat. I still have the branches and leaves to complete on the other one, and then everything is finished except the Bible verse from Proverbs. I'll finish those today.

"Flax Farm" Revised - Almost Finished

 

This is the entire mat so you can see what I still have to do to complete it. The white lines are drawn with my iron-removable Clover chalk pen. I'm leaving them for now so I can properly align my verse. 

 

In case you're wondering how I'll transfer the wording to my wool, I'll be tracing everything onto Glad™ Press n Seal, placing it in the correct position, and then stitching it out right over the Press n Seal. Once it's all done, I can safely and completely remove the P n S. I'll take photographs to show you on Monday once I've got it all set up. After the stitching is done, all that will be left is to attach the backing fabric. I'll have that done to show you on Monday, too. Back to my needle and thread...

It's Not A Farm Without The Dogs...

Farm Dogs For "Flax Farm"

 

It was beautiful weather for working in the garden yesterday, so my stitching took a back seat to getting my hands dirty. However, I woke up yesterday morning with two elements that had to be added to my wool project. Tag and Bella!

So, I spent the day outside, and after dinner, I headed up to the studio for a little "needle time". I stitched both dogs in front of the Compass Barn, because the Black Dog would have been lost on the ground fabric. I'll give them their finishing touches today, and I think they'll need some rhubarb leaves behind them, too.

The sheep on this half are all finished, so the only thing left are the trees, the fence pieces and the rest of the flowers on this side. I do believe I'll finish the stitching today, and I can't wait to show you the finished piece! I'm hoping I'll be able to share it tomorrow, so please check back...

Time For A Barn Raising For Flax Farm...

Flax Farm Has A Compass Barn, Too!

I changed the barn on the "Flax Farm" pattern to its very own Compass Barn. I'm using the white Clover marking pen to draw in my fence lines, wagon wheels and compass for this side of the pattern. I'll stitch those soon. I also added a blue roof to match our blue tin roof here at Hickory Hill Farm.

Flax Farm Under Construction

 

This image shows the sheep, ready to stitch, but they're all done now. I've started on the barn and will finish it today. I'll have the entire piece finished by the end of the week...or sooner! 

 

"Just The Flax, Ma'am"...

Watering  The Flax Flowers

I apologize for the bad pun. If you're anywhere my age, you'll remember Sgt. Friday on the original Dragnet tv series. (This was frequently his line when a witness got sidetracked when answering one of his questions.) Handsome groaned when I told him what I thought of for today's post title. lol

It was a wonderfully busy day yesterday. It was in the mid-60sº, so I got a little stitching time in. I was going to wait until last to do the flowers (kind of a treat, really), but I couldn't resist tackling them at this point. I stitched between running downstairs to rotate loads of laundry.

Farm Girl, Flax Flowers and A Sweet Sheep

 

My sister stopped by late afternoon, too. She brought some of her homemade floral jellies (peony, white apple blossom, and wild plum blossom) for me, and I shared some of mine (pomegranate, garlic-onion, cranberry/jalapeno, Christmas jam, and lilac). Then we headed down the road to a place where I'd seen "wild" lilac bushes on an abandoned farmstead. We picked enough for me to make jelly, and Sher to make lilac water.

 

After dinner, I made up the last batch of lilac jelly for this season. By the time I was finished...I was finished. I originally planned to stitch afterward, but decided to put my feet up and enjoy a late cup of tea instead. So, when all was said and done, all I stitched yesterday were the flax flowers. 

 

"Just the flax, ma'am." 

Sometimes I crack myself up. lol

 

"Flax Farm" Progress...

Stitching Sheep On "Flax Farm"

I neglected my stitching over the holiday weekend in favor of gardening and canning jelly. I made up for it yesterday, threading up my needle and spending the afternoon on wool applique'.  "Flax Farm" is coming along in fine form. It was overcast and cooler outside, eventually turning to rain, so it really was a perfect day to be stitching.

Newest Favorite Tools

I thought you might like to see my two new favorite tools for wool stitching, too. I began work on this at the last Sit & Sew with Lisa Bongean, and noticed she was using a pen I hadn't seen before. I asked her about it, and she graciously demonstrated it for me.

I also sit next to my girlfriend, Kathy, when we go each month. I noticed that she had a lint remover in her kit. I got mine out when I got home, and it works perfectly for keeping stray threads (and maybe a few dog hairs) off my work.

Clover Iron Away Chalk Pen

 

This is the pen Lisa was using. It's a Clover™ White Marking Pen. It leaves a nice line for stitching on dark fabrics, and is easily removed with a hot iron. I've quit using the Frixion™ pens because they were never designed for use on fabric, and I don't know their long-term effect on my work. I also know that the ink has a tendency to reappear in cold weather. This pen won't have that problem. Once the lines are gone, they're gone.

 

I drew the lines for the flax plants that I'll stitch as soon as I finish the sheep and hillsides on this half of the mat. I'll layout the other half of the mat and stitch it when this side is done. Do you like it so far?

 

"Flax Farm" Progress...

"Flax Farm" Progress

I have most of the pieces cut and prepared. The gardener is already fused, but I had to take Fray Check™ to the woven wool sheep bodies. The edges will be much nicer, and it will be easier to sew once they're all dry. The sheep heads (of course) aren't in their final position, but I'll place them after their bodies are fused to the base.

I spent time in the garden yesterday, too. I needed to weed the herb bed next to the house, and decide what else needs to be planted. three of my lavender plants died over the winter, so I'm going to get four new ones. I also lost a hosta (possibly to the rabbits?), so I'll get a new one to fill in the gap.

Once they're planted, I'm going to use a newsprint weed barrier and top with mulch. I don't garden every day. Since I fell in Chattanooga, I have an issue with water on my right knee that really should get a doctor's exam. So until then, I just have to limit my kneeling - ice it when it hurts, and garden when it doesn't.

 

I'll get the rest of the plants over the weekend, and plant them right away. Then, I may wait until early next week to do the mulching. Besides, I'd rather be stitching anyway. Well, that and spending time with family on a holiday weekend. I see a cookout in our future! How about you?

My Current Project...

Setting Up "Flax Farm" Images

 

My Tuesday was spent tracing, cutting and fusing wools for my next project...Primitive Gatherings' "Flax Farm". This will finish as a larger table/candle mat, at 28" x 19".  

I was working on it at Primitive Gatherings' offices, where a group of ladies, me included, get together once a month. The nice thing is that, if you're working on one of Lisa Bongean's patterns, she's right there to answer any questions. Of course, she's more than generous with her knowledge no matter what the design. If you're missing a piece of fabric, or other supplies, we're right next to the warehouse...or just down the road from the shop!

 

"Flax Farm" Pattern Photo

 

I'm substituting the golden barn on this mat with a rendition of our red Compass Barn, and the extra space that results from the change will leave just the right space to insert a Corgi. I mean, how can you have a herd of sheep without a Corgi to keep them close? They are a herding breed, after all.

I'll continue to cut and fuse, so I can get to the stitching very soon. I'm thinking a cold lemonade on the front porch will be the perfect place to work on it. The forecast is to have nice weather, at least for the next few days, and the lilacs are in full bloom, so it will smell heavenly out there, too. I'll have a lot of stitching time to work on "Flax Farm" right here at Hickory Hill Farm.