by Susan | Jan 21, 2019 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
It’s rare that I have the house to myself. With Paul away taking Hannah back to college, I had all types of plans for my weekend. Rather than being wonderfully productive, I felt a bit unsettled. I worry when my family is on the road – and in a winter...
by Susan | Jan 20, 2019 | Family, On My Mind
Hannah has been returned to college and I once again have an empty nest. Paul braved the storm for the trip, plotting and planning his route while I sat home and worried. It’s amazing how quickly the past month passed. And it was a wonderful time –...
by Susan | Jan 18, 2019 | Shop
It’s only been this last year that I’ve tracked the number of downloads for my free plans. Every time I take a peek at the numbers, I’m astounded. Happy the Hedgehog was such a popular pattern that I’ve added him to the SHOP. Also new to the...
by Susan | Jan 8, 2019 | Bird Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
Only at Downeast Thunder Farm will you find this Spiffy Spectacled Owl in the woods. He’s more inclined for warmer climates. You can download this free plan here or pickup a kit in the SHOP. Either way, she’s a good project for a snowy afternoon. The...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
After a half-day of work on this day after Christmas, Hannah and I both felt the need to get out and about. With snow in the forecast for Friday we made a snap decision to hike Pigeon Hill. We didn’t get there until the sun was low in the sky, so we hiked...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2018 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
I’m not sure what got into me this year. Just four days before Christmas I decided we needed new, custom Downeast Thunder Farm Christmas stockings. I enlarged my Barred, Western Screech, and Great Gray Owls (mine, Hannah’s, and Paul’s) and appliqued...
by Susan | Dec 25, 2018 | Family, On My Mind
Another Christmas day is over. Although Hannah arrived home just a week ago, she still had final papers to complete and submit. It seems we pulled together this year’s Christmas together in just a few days. Bright and cold today – a short rise in...
by Susan | Dec 24, 2018 | On My Mind
The mad dash of Christmas preparations is over. My presents are wrapped – but don’t look in my office; the wrapping debris will wait for another day. After the debate of whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, we’re settled in with a puzzle and...
by Susan | Dec 14, 2018 | On My Mind
The next leg of Operation Rescue Hannah begins tomorrow. I’ll make the 12-hour round-trip drive from my folks house in Pennsylvania to Granville, Ohio to bring her home for the holidays. I left Maine a few days early so I could spend time helping my dad organize...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2018 | Odds and Ends, Projects
While I’ve been designing trees and wreaths for our Christmas Tree Festival, it occurred to me that I’ve never made a wreath for myself – I always seem to give my completed pieces away. I love my Joyful Wreath Owl but wanted to make a wreath that...
by Susan | Dec 4, 2018 | Projects
Paul is my resident engineer, maker and fabricator. He’s a handy guy to have around. As a result, he was roped into more than one of my Christmas Tree Festival projects. After spying a little sleigh with trees on Pinterest, I challenged him to make one for me...
by Susan | Dec 1, 2018 | Odds and Ends, Projects
I always enjoy our Christmas Tree Festival and Auction here in town. Community members and businesses adopt Charlie Brown style live table top trees or wreaths and decorate them for auction. You’ve likely seen some of my submissions in the past. Rather than a...
by Susan | Nov 28, 2018 | Family, On My Mind
Today is mom’s birthday. What does one get Granny Gadget? Everything she does revolves around her family and taking care of them. She has little space for anything and she can purchase all the gadgets she wants. That’s where my Christmas Angel comes in....
by Susan | Nov 25, 2018 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
It’s my favorite time of year – WHRL Christmas Tree Festival time. I’ve got a few trees and wreaths planned for the event, but this is my favorite. I’ve updated my Barred Owl pattern and created her in grays for this wreath. Truth be told...
by Susan | Nov 23, 2018 | On the Farm
While lingering over my coffee this morning, this young whitetail buck came to visit. Ten feet outside the living room widow he nibbled at berries. Hannah and I watched him for at least five minutes before he realized he wasn’t alone. And then he started...
by Susan | Nov 19, 2018 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
The vintage pickup truck carrying a tree is such a popular theme right now that I’m creating a Christmas wreath around this wood version I designed. It was only after I had it cut out and painted that it occurred to me I could have made it out of felt. So I did....
by Susan | Nov 12, 2018 | Projects
Have you tried cutting out those tiny pattern pieces, like eyes? My circles usually look like ovals and get smaller and smaller as I keep trimming, trying to get them just right. I tested a technique that calls for fusing freezer paper to your felt. It’s like...
by Susan | Nov 11, 2018 | Shop
First designed in 2017, I’ve never been happy with the Bold Blue Jay. He was one of my earlier patterns and quite elementary. I’ve started and stopped a new design more times than I can count, trying to figure out how to do him justice. This time, I think...
by Susan | Nov 3, 2018 | On My Mind
Hannah has a habit of leaving me sticky notes here and there. Happy little notes that make me smile. Sometimes I find them on my computer. Other times they’re stuck in my planner. Sometimes they’re written to music or rhyme. Sometimes they reference and...
by Susan | Oct 31, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
Only when glorious maple reds are bare, and the oaks have faded to brown, does the unsung Tamarack begin to shine. Incognito for much of the year, this tree turns brilliant gold, creating a beautiful contrast against the firs. Another week or two and those yellow...
