Just Finished

I got the idea for this penny rug last year but only did a couple of rounds to see how it would look. Never got back to it till just a couple of weeks ago. Now that it is done, I am already thinking of the next one I would like to make. I am thinking fall colors...I seem to have accumulated many oranges, browns, and golds. The little wheels in my head are turning round and round with ideas!

Done at Last

Finally, this rug is finished. It's been a work in progress since 2006, although I have not been working on it constantly. Usually I work on it for a month or 2 on and off each year. So many other projects come up that need my time and attention.

I hooked the cat using just 2 wool yarns, a natural and a grey. It was my first experience hooking with yarn. I enjoyed it and is certainly different than using wool fabric strips. The coverage is different and is more like random filling in. The eyes gave me alot of difficulty as I had not done them before. I hooked and un-hooked them so many times I lost count. Very frustrating! I finally just quit working on it till I could come back to it with renewed enthusiasm. But once I got the eyes the way I wanted them, it was smooth sailing after that.

The background is a "hit n' miss" using 3 solid grays, 3 textured grays, 2 antiqued creams, 3 blue textures. I have to admit it did get monotonous. But I achieved the look I was after. The border is a blue and white herringbone ... leftovers from a previous project. And finally wool yarn to whip the edge, over wool pencil roving.

The "Pearl" rug was a good leaning tool but am glad to have it finished. And I already have a new rug on the frame although it is a much smaller rug. Let's hope that it won't take 4 pus years to complete!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's the start of a new year and time to ponder 12 new months to fill with just about anything you can think of. Have you given it any thought?

Every year I write a list of things I want to do during the year. Some things might be hold overs from the previous year and that's alright. I don't worry if it's on the list again. I know that eventually it will get done. Then there are all the new things that go on the list ie. a new author I want to read, a new gardening project, trying a new crafting medium, finishing something that didn't get completed, and the list goes on. I find it easier to write it all down. It keeps it more tangible. There are sometimes little nagging chores that need to get done but are forgotten until the next time I realize it needs to be done. So writing it down makes it a constant reminder and it's more likely to get taken care of. And at the end of the year it's gratifying to read all the items that got the "check mark" of completion!

Something else I do is make a monthly list of "What I accomplished in .... I find it is a helpful reminder of all the things that do get done during the course of the year. As the years pass more quickly, it's hard to remember just what all I do with my time. I think we all tend to think in terms of large or noteworthy. But let's face it, it really is all the little things that add up to the passing day, week, month, and year.

So here's to 2011 and all that it brings and all that I make of it. Wishing one and all, happiness, health, and best wishes.

Catching Up Again

The year is winding down and so are my pre Christmas projects. I finally conceded the fact that I wasn't going to do all the things that I thought I would get to. But that's fine because when I do get to them after the start of the new year, I will have a renewed enthusiasm. I am looking forward to that. I have started a new list of things to do in the coming year.

I made lots of holiday things for consignment and returned some things that didn't find homes last year. And to my surprise, some of the "leftovers" were the first to sell. It just takes the right customer to find it and love it and call it theirs.

I did indeed finish the batik baby quilt and it turned out just the way I pictured it would. And I am pleased with the finished quilt. I would almost ... emphasis on almost, be tempted to make one for my own bed but I don't think that will happen! LOL

I have continued to visit the library regularly and have read 104 books so far this year. And the count continues. Along the way I have discovered some authors that I had not previously read: Lee Childs, Elin Hilderbrand, Kristen Hannah, Alex Kava, Stuart Woods, and Mariah Stuart to name a few. So my reading list continues to grow.

On the agenda for the new year are Christmas stockings for the newest grandbabes, finish hooking the current rug so that I can move onto the next one that I am anxious to start, continue learning to spin. I bought a drop spindle a few months ago so will teach myself how to use it. I know there's more but can't think of them at the moment.

With the coming of the winter months, I hope to be more consistent with my blogging. We'll see!

Hot Off the Work Table!

I'm in the swing of crafting new things for the Halloween/Fall season. These are some of the items I just finished. They will be going to the shop. I'm hoping that they will find new homes. I don't usually make things for Halloween per se, mostly because I don't decorate for it. But I think it is becoming a very popular occasion for decorating so will give it a shot.

The witch's boots and the crow make do are from a pattern by Hazelruthe. The cat, pumpkin, and crone make dos are all in one pattern envelope by Blue Moon Beginnings. All items are stuffed and painted muslin with some hand stitching. Simple to make.

For friends from the P&R forum, thanks for viewing. Any comments are welcome!

Catching Up!

Has it really been that long since I last posted? Guess so! So let's see, what's been going on? Mostly the everyday stuff. It all takes time.

I had a large project going for my daughter, making 17 bears for some friends and family as a remembrance of her dad. That certainly make the grey cells work overtime. Each was different fabric, theme, color,etc. There was no time limit which was a good thing because some of these bears were puzzlers. They all had to be made from t-shirts sent to me. They had sport's logos on them such as racing, college teams, you get the picture. I can safely say though that they came out just fine without looking tacky. No small feat!

My garden has gone into overdrive producing grass and weeds. And the volunteer flowers are all over the place, namely places I don't want them. Needless to say, it's a constant battle to keep it looking nice. But right now I am not winning. But to be out in the garden is pure enjoyment.

I am working on a baby quilt, just got started actually. Had the plans for it in my head, drew it out on graph paper to make sure it would look as I wanted it to. Last week, went to the annual quilt show here and found exactly the fabrics i wanted. So not I have started the blocks and I think it will be a nice quilt.

I'm way behind in making items to go to the consignment shop so have projects completed and others in the works to take over in the next week or so.

Finally, I have been doing lots of reading. Have 72 read so far this year. Have caught up with some of my favorite authors and their book series. And at the same time, I have added new authors to my list on recommendation from one of my sisters. Visiting my local library is just about a weekly outing.

A couple of pictures of projects. The black scarf with beads was completed ages ago but have a better picture that should show more detail. And the other 3 are of the new quilt fabrics.

Till next time, later!

1344 French Knots!

Last fall I went antiquing with dh and I came across a box of linens to be embroidered. Most had never been started and some had just the beginnings of work done to them. I bought the box for $20 with 14 pieces to do.

My favorite piece is the one I did first and just recently finished it. It is a table runner or dresser scarf of 100% pure linen. I chose rather primitive holiday colors for it in hopes that it will sell in the shop where I do consignment.

The design is rather simple but kind of elegant, I think. I chose a deep cranberry for the French knots, did I say 1344 of them! Gold for the daisy chain accent stitches, a soft brown for the vine that I stitched in a back stitch, and a forest green for the "leaves", done in a fishbone stitch. They rather remind me of pine trees.

I hemmed it with a double turn 1/4" hem, hand stitched and finished with a back stitch in the same forest green.

My original thought was to find some vintage crocheted or tatted lace to sew onto the edge all around. But reconsidering, I didn't think I would find enough of one kind to do that and if so, it would be rather expensive. And that would add to the selling price. So I opted to just keep it simple and I am glad I did. The finished piece looks just right. Lastly, I hand soaked it in some warm water with a bit of Ivory dish soap. Let me just say that the linen was filthy. Don't know how old the piece was and how long it had been sitting in someone's house or attic or drawer. but after soaking and rinsing, I rolled it in a beach towel to get the excess water out before laying it flat to dry. Final step was to iron it from the back side and voila', done.