by Susan | Dec 24, 2020 | On My Mind
In the light of COVID-19 turning our lives upside down, I’ve had an unusually quiet December with plenty of time to plan for a peaceful Christmas at home with Hannah and Paul. Gifts have been wrapped and under the tree for a week (except for the one languishing...
by Susan | Dec 20, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
Such a curious bird with their large ungainly bills. My new red felt – Strawberry Dreams is the perfect shade for this Red Crossbill felt ornament. Enjoy! Red CrossbillDownload Now!1423 Downloads...
by Susan | Dec 20, 2020 | On My Mind
Gidget is such an integral part of our lives that it’s odd to think that this is only her fifth Christmas with us. We celebrated the season with a new Christmas scarf and an impromptu photoshoot. It took a few takes and the promise of a cookie to get her on...
by Susan | Dec 16, 2020 | Out and About in Maine
We took the scenic route home from work today. Sixteen degrees outside meant we took most of our photos from the comfort of the car. Truly the calm before the storm.
by Susan | Dec 13, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
While in Pennsylvania last month, I picked up a couple of these flower decorations from the Christmas section at Hobby Lobby. I very much like how they look on my Joyful Owl wreaths. Last week during our trip to the big city (Bangor), I hoped to pick up some more...
by Susan | Dec 10, 2020 | Odds and Ends, Projects
My tiny office is home to two desks (mine and Hannah’s), a couple of file cabinets, a chest of drawers, my work table, and other miscellany that gets dumped. Still, I have piles and bins stacked everywhere. I’ve been browsing the interweb searching for a...
by Susan | Dec 3, 2020 | On My Mind
COVID-19 has changed so many things this year. Possibly the best silver lining has been to have Hannah home since Thanksgiving. As a result, we’ve been able to work together on donations for WHRL’s Christmas Tree Festival. I organize the event for WHRL,...
by Susan | Nov 29, 2020 | Out and About in Maine
After quarantining for a week, waiting on my COVID-19 test results since I traveled out of state to bring Hannah home, it felt good to get our about today. My test results came back today – negative (Hannah got hers before leaving campus). We celebrated with a...
by Susan | Nov 27, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
Sometimes I forget that I’ve made patterns. Or I make patterns and forget to share them. The Cool Christmas VW Bus felt ornament pattern is one I designed but never got around to creating. If I wait for that to happen, another Christmas will go by without you...
by Susan | Nov 27, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Squares
This felt square comes to you from Hannah. She left for college with a stash of my felt for some crafting in her down time. (Stay tuned for her amazing free for the Christmas Tree Festival!) She designed this square around my Tufted Titmouse pattern for her...
by Susan | Nov 15, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
Our WHRL Christmas Tree Festival is three weeks away. We’ve made the difficult decision, due to COVID-19, to have the event entirely online this year. A month ago, the plan was to have bidding online, but an extended window of time for folks to stop in and view...
by Susan | Nov 12, 2020 | Critter Patterns, Felt Patterns
When folks ask for or suggest a pattern, I don’t always jump on it. My life is a little crazy, with multiple part-time jobs that make up the whole. And then there’s my love of designing these felt birds and critters – the side gig. The pattern...
by Susan | Nov 11, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Only once have I spotted a Tufted Titmouse here at Downeast Thunder Farm. That made today’s activity at the feeder incredibly exciting. A Tufted Titmouse pair. I love those big eyes that seem to look in your soul. They were very skittish. Their view into the...
by Susan | Nov 6, 2020 | On the Farm
Last night, it was quite late when I put the ducks away. I had to chase them out of the pond, which is never fun. As I closed their door, I spotted a large bird sitting on the roof of the “lean-to” where we keep the duck food. It startled the wits out of...
by Susan | Nov 4, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
I’m still struggling with ideas for this year’s WHRL Christmas Tree Festival. I seriously lack inspiration for trees and wreaths beyond the Joyful Owl Wreath I do in some form each year. I could repeat some of the other felt bird and critter trees...
by Susan | Nov 3, 2020 | On the Farm
This isn’t the earliest it’s snowed here in Coastal Maine. We’ve had some white stuff in October too. It’s been less than six months since our last snow. I love all of the seasons and the first snow of the season feels magical. We got about...
by Susan | Oct 31, 2020 | Other Patterns
I’m searching for inspiration and playing with ideas for WHRL’s Christmas Tree Festival. I designed these snowflake patterns with thoughts of decorations for a Christmas wreath. I’m not sure where that idea is going but thought I’d share the...
by Susan | Oct 22, 2020 | Out and About in Maine
Despite COVID-19 the WHRL’s Christmas Tree Festival is a go for the first weekend in December. It has to look different this year. We’ll be open for viewing of trees and wreaths over a more extended period with limited admission at any given time. All of...
by Susan | Oct 18, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
If you’ve ever had Grackles at your feeder, you’ll understand why in bird-speak that flock is called a “plague.” They will clean out a feeder faster than any other bird I’ve seen. Yet yesterday, a beautiful, inky, iridescent Grackle came...
by Susan | Oct 17, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Grackles are beautiful with their inky iridescent feathers. I enjoy them when they are not bullies at the feeder. This guy showed off his color – and good behavior today. They always seem to visit in the fall – or at least that’s when I notice them....
