Christmas is Over

It doesn't seem fair all the hustle and bustle and then it is over in one day. It is impossible to see everyone. But I am looking forward to the New Year and a new president.

I finally finished my lion that goes with the lamb. I am very pleased with how he turned out. Just hours and hours of needle felting.

I already miss working on Santas so I think I shall start the year out by working on an uncle Sam.

My site http://www.lowellcountrygifts.com/ is under construction. I am rebuilding it. It is going to be awesome. There will be only finished items on that site. My patterns can be found on http://www.lowellcountrydesigns.com/ or http://www.folkartpatterncompany.com/ and the all the fiber can be found on http://www.mohairandwool.com/ I have found it is much more user friendly for my customers to have it this way.

Here is a pic of the lion finished.

An afternoon of relazing

Yesterday afternoon I decided that I needed a stress relieving afternoon. I have been going straight for weeks. Between the shop,open house, a show and orders I finally wore myself down. I love needle felting. It is one of the most relazing things to do. It is time consuming but rewarding. I love sheep so I needle felted a small sheep. Each little Blueface curl was felting on individually. I hope to felt a lion to go with him.

Santa's on Ebay

This last weekend I had my annual Holiday open house in my shop. It was wonderful and tiring. I am still trying to recover and catching up on orders. I will be listing a few of my Santa's on Ebay. The two I have listed today. Links below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=380088538947

And the link to my tree topper /make-do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=250339949796

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

I love this time of year. The air is so fresh and crisp. I want to give thanks for so many things. Good health, good food, a wonderful family and lots of great customers.

I have just listed on my http://www.mohairandwool.com/ site some gorgeous Cotswold ringlet locks in cream and hand dyed deep blonde. There is a Thanksgiving freebie on both my fiber site and my pattern site. http://www.folkartpatterncompany.com/

The special will end Nov. 30th.

The Big chill

Check out my 2 NEW Santa patterns. Mr Claus and his mouse and Mr. Claus Jr.

Well, I made it through my first show in 5 yrs. It was unseasonably cold. It felt like it was Jan. The show went quite well but I did catch a cold. I hope it lifts before Thanksgiving. Although I can't complain because it is the first cold I have had in 10 yrs.

Today we are suppose to have high winds and power outages. I have my fingers crossed that we do not loose our power.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

My first Christmas show in 5 Years

Bluefaced Border Leicester

Shetland Wool

Cormo Coopworths

For 10 years I did 5-6 Christmas shows. I believe I thrived on it. This Sat. I am doing a show in Middlebury, Vt. I think one should never skip a year or 5 years in my case. It is just too difficult to get back on track.

For over 12 years I have made Santa stars with hand carved faces. They have really become my signature. I never tire of making them. I think it is because there are no two alike. Plus I love trying out all the differnt kinds of wool. It really makes each one unique.

My Shop

Wow it is hard to believe it is Thanksgiving next week. I have decided to do a Christmas show for the first time in 5 years. After I opened Lowell Country Gifts 6 years ago it just became too difficult to get enough things made for showws plus the shop.

This year I am pleased to have a very talented glass blowers Christmas balls in my shop. His name is Jason Lewis. His work amazes me. It not just a glass blown ball. There is some really cool glass work going on inside the ball.

New websites

I know it has been quite some time since I have blogged. Life sure does get crazy sometimes. In July I opened a new website. It is just for my mohair,wool,alpaca and needle felting kits. I really felt I needed to separate them from my patterns in order to make things more user friendly for my customers. It seems I was right. So July 11th http://www.mohairandwool.com/ was launched. I also can accept credit cards as well as pay pal and money orders. On Aug 27th. ( my youngest son's 29th birthday) I launched my new pattern site. I love the new look. http://www.folkartpatterncompany.com/ Lowell Country Gifts and Lowell Country Designs will soon only have links to my new sites. I do have plans for Lowell Country Gifts but it may be a year before I get it changed over. So please do go and check out my new sites.

Thanks,

Gloria

NEW Pattern Release

Well, it is finally here. I released my Colonial Hattie and the Chocolate Bunny this morning. It is an 11 page pattern that is brimming with fun! In the pattern you will find 3 color pictures, all the directions for the big bunny,mini chocolate bunny and the little egg and the pattern pieces.

It is now available on my website. You can purchase a instant download e-pattern or a mailed pattern.
Have a nice weekend.
Gloria

Power outage and directions

Well, it has been several days since I blogged. I was planning on getting the directions written to my new pattern on Sun. Sat. night we had a bad ice storm. I woke up at midnight to a large pop and a light show. The transformer outside my bedroom window had blown. So we were out of power for some time. I believe I am back on track today so I can get the directions written. Mean time check out my Etsy. I have 2 new needle felters packs on sale. I am planning one more. It will be natural colored wool.
Have a great day.

My New Pattern & New Marketplace

Well, I told you a couple of days ago I have been working on a new rabbit pattern. "Colonial Hattie". Well, she now has a chocolate bunny in her basket. Being so close to Easter i thought how fitting but to design a miniature chocolate bunny to go in her basket. The chocolate bunny looks good enough to eat!

Well, when my daughter was a little girl she loved to watch the Little House on the Prairie. She called them "her little girls". It was the cutest thing. Well, she is 35 now and has 5 babies of her own. I was remmebering how sweet that was and how she loved that show. Just remembering that beautiful memory gave me the inspiration for this rabbit with the bonnet.
I joined a new marketplace today. I am in a group on ebay and we have decided to launch a website. Please go visit my page: http://oldprimitivesisters.com/Vendors/sites/lowellcountrygifts/index.php

And please check out the other ladies too. It is a wonderful group of ladies.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Up and running

I have been having a hard time using the computer in the last few days so I have not been able to Blog. My DSL keeps going out and another storm. I hope to see the tulips soon.
I am working on a new pattern that I am very excited about. My wonderful webmaster doesn't know this but I am naming it after her business name. It is a rabbit with a colonial style bonnet so her name will be "Colonial Hattie".
I hope to have pictures posted tomorrow.

Polar Bear and Bunny

Goodmorning,
Snowing again. I think we got about 6" over night. Will it ever stop!
I decided to make one of my little Polar bears.


He is for sale on Etsy. He is also a kit in the "kit" section of this website.
The link ti it;
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9937800
This bear is not the traditional needle felting. I have made a muslin form stained it and then needle felted wonderful super soft Alpaca over it. It gives it a primitive look.
I have also been in a bunny mood. Over the last few weeks I have worked on this little guy. He is done in the traditional way. Many hours has gone into him. I used only a single needle to needle felt him. He is also for sale on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9928601
I have been having a bit of cabin fever. I have a great love for African violets so I decided to stick my little bunny in the middle of the flowers. Think spring!

Vermont Cow

Well, this morning is the coldest morning of the winter. It is 15 below here. BRRRR
Yesterday I made one of my Vt.cows. I hadn't made one in quite some time. It is one of the first patterns I released. It comes in two sizes. The larger size looks wonderful tucked in a cupboard or on a window sill. The ornament size looks great on a Christmas tree. Especially if you make a bunch. This coming Mon. I will be doing my segment on primsisterstalkradio. It will be a V-pattern. (a video demo). It will be about how you can make plain old muslin into something that looks like soft worn leather. It has a cool look and feel.

So be sure to check it out on Mon. at: http://www.primsisterstalkradio.com/thisweekshow.htm
You can always go back into the archives and check out all my v-patterns.
Have a wonderful day.
Gloria

Goldie Bear and the Sun

Goodmorning,
Oh wow the storm is over after 36 hours of steady snow. The sun is out and I have to say even though I have had enough snow it is absolutely gorgeous.
I desided to make a Goldie Bear. I have put him on sale on Etsy. The link is:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9889996
He is a darling primitive needle felted bear for a collection. I also sell the kit so you can make your own. It is found on this website or Etsy.

Have a nice day. I am going to be working on my segment for Monday's show on primsisterstalkradio.
Gloria

The storm

Well, this storm hasn't been quite as bad as predicted. But it looks like a winter wonderland. The snow has clung to the trees making it look like a true Vt. post card scene.
I am going to work on a small needle felted teddy bear today. And I also need to work on this week's segment for Primsisterstalkradio.
Here are several pictures I just took from my porch.
Have a wonderful day.

A Vermont scene Before the REAL storm

Well we are in for a HUGE NOREASTERN TONIGHT. iT HAS BEEN LIGHTLY SNOWING ALL DAY.
So I thought I take a picture of the barns across the road. This picture is taken from my porch at approx. 4 pm on Tue. I am going to take a picture on Wed. afternoon to share with you.

33" so far this Feb. Largest snow fall ever in the month of Feb.

My Etsy store items

Find more photos like this on Indiepublic

I am a member of Indiepublic

Good Sunday morning,
I am pleased to say I have joined a great networking website. It is dedicated to the artist or handcrafter. It is also associated with Etsy. I believe in the age of all the cheap imports that we need to support and buy handmade. This is something I have been doing for years. I so appreciate people that work and create with their hands.

View my page on Indiepublic

I would like to invite any artist/handcrafter to join me on Indiepublic.
Have a nice day,
Gloria

Miniature Needle Felted Bunny on Sale at Etsy

Hello,
Today is sunny and chilly. Some differnt from yesterdays snowstorm.
I had so much fun making the miniature primitve needle felted bunny that I had to make just one more before I went onto other things. I am planning a new pattern in the next week.
This is the link to my little bunny. Of course if you want to make your own you can hit the "kit" button on my website and buy the kit.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9774223
This one I included a vintage looking ribbon bow.


Be sure to watch the show on these little bunnies on Monday. (www.primsisterstalkradio.com)

Have a wonderful weekend.
Gloria

Primitive Felted Bunny

Well, another snow storm in Vt. This is the craziest winter in years.

Yesterday I made one of my sweet little primitive needle felted bunnies. He was a special order for a lovely customer but it was a nice change to do some primitive needle felting. I devised a technique about a year ago where I needle felt over a muslin body that has been coffe and cinnamon stained. It is sparsely needle felted over the muslin body to look like an heirloom. I so love the effect. My primitive needle felted kits can be found on my website on the kit page. http://lowellcountrydesigns.com/kits.htm

Anyway I have been doing V-patterns (stands for video patterns) on http://www.primsisterstalkradio.com/. Each Monday Brenda does a fabulous job of putting together a fun show for everyone to view and listen to. In past weeks I have done segments on the traditional needle felting. After several requests I decided to this week's show on the Primitive needle felting. It is a ton of FUN!


The key to the sucess of these little gems is the wool stuffing. I wash and card the wool stuffing for the bodies. The wool stuffing is also included in my kits.
A carder has many comb and brushes the wool til it is soft and silky. It is then called a roving.

Have a wonderful day.

Tote bags

Goodmorning,
It is below zero in Vt. this morning. And the "Today" show is in Sugarbush Vt. I really wanted to go up there and see them but opted my warm living room. I figured it would be a mob scene up there. Meridith took the penquin plunge and dove into Lake Champlain. I can not imagine jumping itot the icy lake. BBBRRRRRR
Yesterday I strated making my tote bags again. I enjoy making them but it seems like I never have enough time in a day. In the next few month I will be filling my NEW Etsy store with lovely totes and accessories. There will vintage looking bags to country colors. I use only top quality quilt shop fabrics. No cheap box store fabrics. I also put a lot of love and care in each one.


My Etsy store link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5565857
Shop handmade. It's the BEST!
Tomorrow I am going to blog about my weekly wool special. And I want to discuss my segments on Primsisterstalkradio.
Have a great day.

Americana Rabbit

Goodmorning,
This one of my favorite all time folk art pieces. I designed him almost 2 years ago. You can get the pattern for him in my Americana section. But I have finally decided to sell the one and only oringinal Americana Rabbit with Sam the Crow. He is 19" long.

He can be found in my Etsy store.
The link is: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5565857
Have a wonderful day. Til tomorrow.
Gloria

Needle Felting and sewing

Goodmorning,
Well, it is time for one more cup of coffee. mmm so good!
I have now moved my whimsical little chick from ebay to Etsy. He is $4 less because the final fees are less. Most of my finished pieces will now be found on Etsy. I love to needle felt but it is a time consuming art. No patterns or molds used. I love this little chick. He was approx. 6 hours of labor.


Today I am going to start making my bigger totes with matching coin purse and make-up case. Even if you are a "wash and wear gal" I think these little travel pouches are a wonderful thing. Even though I love prim, folk art and vintage I have a dear love for the retro colors and designs. It is those darn 60's that did it to me!


In the summer I love to go on trips with a girlfriend. We scour the junk shops for old vintage necklaces and brooches. I make the zipper pulls from some of these beads.
Have a nice day. Looks like snow again.
Gloria

My NEW Etsy store

Hi,
I have been working on filling up my Etsy store. It is a place where I will be offering many of my handmade items. Such as needle felted finished pieces, tote bags, wallets,coin purses and make-up bags. So far I have some of my E-patterns listed,needle felted finished pieces and this week I have been working on my functional make-up bags. The bags will come with a free gift such as a handmade all natural goat milk soap or a lotion. They make wonderful gifts. I will be using a wide range of fabrics from retro to country.

Felted Chick

Hi,
I wanted to share a picture of my little felted chick. He is all Alpaca, hand dyed and needle felted. He is just as whimsical as can be. I have him up for auction on Ebay this week.

He has been shaded in the differnt colors so he has a lot of depth. I am really proud of him.

Queen of Hearts

Hi, It has been quite a while since my last post. It is an ice storm here in Vt. I am so hoping that I will not lose my power.
My first NEW pattern of 2008 is called Queen of Heart. It is a fun pattern. I am working on a new needle felting kit. I hope to have it released in the next few days.
Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers.
Gloria