My Favorite Time of the Year!

My Favorite Time of the Year!

Oh, it’s my favorite time of the year! WHRL’s Winter Festival & Auction is just around the corner. I’ve felt time-poor this season leading up to the event, but I’ve got new designs and some old favorites for auction entries. I love Charley...
A Mud Kitchen for Milbridge Commons

A Mud Kitchen for Milbridge Commons

When I came home one day with a picture of a “mud kitchen” and asked Paul if he would make me, he agreed – as he almost always does when I volunteer him for a project. He’s been busy working on my Women for Healthy Rural Living “honey...
Flying the Coop!

Flying the Coop!

I’m taking off to spend some time with my family in Pennsylvania. If you plan on ordering, please do so by Thursday evening, February 9th. I’ll be closing the shop for a bit after that. Thanks! https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/shop/
A Joyful Owl in the Square

A Joyful Owl in the Square

This Joyful Owl in the Square is my latest submission for WHRL’s Winter Tree Festival. The felt owl (download the free pattern here) resides in a wood frame embellished with artificial pine, berries, and a lotus seed pod. Paul made the simple 12′ frame...
Countdown to the Winter Tree Festival

Countdown to the Winter Tree Festival

It’s less than three weeks to WHRL’s Winter Tree Festival & Auction on December 2-3. That means that the ribbon, baubles, and crafting supplies have exploded throughout the house. My first entry, which started this summer, is complete! A few years ago,...
Downeast Thunder Farm Owl Sign

Downeast Thunder Farm Owl Sign

Some time ago, Paul asked me to convert my Downeast Thunder Farm logo owls into an image file he could use with his X-Carve machine. His first test run with that simplified design was on the garden trug he made for me a couple of weeks ago. Last week he started...
My New Garden Trug

My New Garden Trug

Each year, Women for Healthy Rural Living has a raffle auction – except for the last two COVID summers. I’ve often been able to talk Paul into making and donating an item. In the past, he’s built a rowing dinghy and a child’s pedal Bugatti car,...
May in Bloom

May in Bloom

As May comes to a close, I thought I’d share how Maine has come to life this last month. Although my gardens are just emerging, the wild blooms have nourished the pollinators and my soul. Ferns are emerging. Ash tree (maybe?) in bloom. Wild violets. Buttercups....
Wood Veneer Column Lights

Wood Veneer Column Lights

In December, I shared my first project created with my Cricut Maker 3 – Downeast Thunder Farm birds made from wood veneer. At the same time, I was working on another Cricut Maker 3 project that I couldn’t share until after Christmas. Inspired by round wood...
Downeast Thunder Farm Wood Veneer Birds

Downeast Thunder Farm Wood Veneer Birds

I splurged this fall. One little idea spotted on Pinterest that used wood veneer, and I went down the rabbit hole. After tons of research, I purchased a Cricut Maker 3. A couple of small projects behind me, and I started devising wooden birds from my designs. It took...
Hogwarts Magical Tree and Custom-themed Monopoly

Hogwarts Magical Tree and Custom-themed Monopoly

Holy moly, it’s been a race leading up to WHRL’s Winter Tree Festival. While I’ve shared some of what I’ve been working on, Hannah has invested her energy into two things. The first is a Whale in Sweaters wreath that is just darling.  However,...
Maine Vintage Map Trees

Maine Vintage Map Trees

This entry for WHRL’s Christmas Tree Festival and Auction is a trio of minimalist vintage Maine Map Christmas Trees. A vintage map tree I spotted on Pinterest from Bombus in the UK inspired these designs. Paul cut three triangles of wood culled from his scraps....
The Enchanting Winter Woodland Owl Wreath

The Enchanting Winter Woodland Owl Wreath

The Enchanting Winter Woodland Owl Wreath is my second entry for WHRL’s 2021 Winter Tree Festival. Inspired by a wreath I spotted on Pinterest, I scoured the woods for some young trees with thumb-sized branches. Four lengths snipped 14″ long were left to...
Maine Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree

Maine Lobster Buoy Christmas Tree

With WHRL’s Winter Tree Festival & Auction just a month away, I’m relieved to be ahead of the game and have my first entry finished. This summer, I spent many hours on my porch painting these little wooden lobster buoys. I strung the individual buoys...
Maine Lobster Buoy Chairs

Maine Lobster Buoy Chairs

In the last few years, Women for Healthy Rural Living – or WHRL (formerly Women’s Health Resource Library) has had a summer auction. Two years ago, I created my Navigating Maine Coffee Table for the event.  Last year, we decided to have local artists...
Vintage Oak Sideboard

Vintage Oak Sideboard

Do you know those Honey-do items that languish on the to-do list? This one has been languishing for about 15 years. In part because there have been so many projects on the list and in part because I didn’t nag. Years ago, I refinished this old chest of draws...
Maine Cottage Fabric Pot Holders

Maine Cottage Fabric Pot Holders

Maine Cottage has beautiful furniture and fabrics. If I had the means, I just decorate my entire home from their catalog. They were gracious enough to donate fabric to WHRL for curtains and pillow cushions in our new office space. The fabric is priced out of range, so...