A Star-Spangled Giveaway

My favorite museum exhibit at the Smithsonian is the Star-Spangled Banner -- the absolutely humungous flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem.  When visiting the exhibit, you approach the flag via a hallway, turn the corner into a darkened room, and there she is in all her glory.  The size of it is heart-stopping, and knowing it was completely hand-sewn by Mary Pickersgill, her daughter, two nieces, and two servants in just five weeks is breathtaking.  Each stripe is two feet wide!  Mary used more than 400 yards of wool and cotton to create the flag.   It is battered and bruised but it is still quite remarkable and great effort has gone into its conservation.  

As an homage to Mary and her assistants, and to George Armistead,the commander of Fort McHenry who ordered a flag "so large that the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance," I have designed a new pattern called "Long May It Wave." It is hand-drawn on premium Dorr Linen and will measure a mere 8 inches by 28 inches when completed and YOU can win it and hook it yourself!  Leave a patriotic comment below and in the evening on Memorial Day, I will randomly draw the name of the winner.

Good Luck and enjoy the holiday weekend!

Scenes from the Weekend

Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair

It's that time!  Hallockville is hosting, once again, the Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair, along with the Long Island Livestock Company.  Barb is heading down today while I work on a few last minute things.  We will be in the Naugles born on the west side of the farm.  Please come and visit!  The weatherman says it will be a beautiful weekend!

I also want to give you a head's up on our next show.  Barb and I are pleased to announce that we will be vending at the Eastern Long Island Quilt Show, June 8 & 9 at Suffolk Community College in Riverhead, New York.  More information to follow, but to learn more now go here: Eastern Long Island Quilters Guild.

Surfeit of Sheep

When you are vending at a sheep and wool festival in a week or so, you spend a lot of time making sheepy (sheepish?) stuff to sell.  This little sheep mat is a sample for some of the kits I sell.  I didn't want to waste the surrounding linen, so I hooked up some little sheep to turn into pins.  I may do some alpaca soon, too.

The Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair is drawing near!  I hope you will join us for a fun and furry weekend at Hallickville Museum Farm!

Spring

We have had a solid week and a half of stellar spring weather.  The cherry trees that line our street are in full bloom and rival anything that Washington, D.C. has to offer.  My white lilac just opened and the tulips and daffodils are the best I've seen in years.

Pete and I spent the weekend working in the yard -- weeding and mowing and painting and sanding.  I cleaned the oven (which is not self-cleaning).  I then made dinner for 6 on the grill, because our propane tank was almost empty, and washed all the dishes by hand because our stupid 4-year-old dishwasher broke fore the 4th time.  We went to bed exhausted last night -- but happy, because of all we accomplished and the fun we had with our guests.

Looks like rain may move in on Wednesday, but that's okay -- we really need it.  And it could be worse -- it could be 17 inches of snow, the amount that fell on Wisconsin the other day.  

I've been designing some new patterns and plan to spend this afternoon hooking away at one of them.  I think I deserve a quiet afternoon of hooking after all the work and repairs and deliveries this morning.

Wonderful Weekend

Our first time at the Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival was a great success.  We had great weather, a good spot, and sold lots of stuff.  We also saw lots of friends, old and new.  We're already signed up for next year!

We have three weeks to restock for the Long Island Fleece & Fiber Fair at Hallockville.  Back to work!

Off and Running!

It's a beautiful day here in central Connecticut! Lots of sheep and goats and FIBER! Corn dogs, too.