Another Week of Projects and Finishing Up - DONE

This week was another week where I kept busy and got stuff done for a change. I decided I had such a good time last Thursday out at Grant Street's Hook-In - that I decided to make the trek again! So on Thursday morning off I went to Kathy's and from there we went to lunch and then to Pat and Linda's to hook for the day! I had a great time. We got there and Pat, Linda, Marian, Doris, and Tracy were there - Doris and Tracy had to leave so I didn't get any pictures but it was great seeing them again. Missed their projects too but thank goodness Kathy's on the ball with the camera! LOL - I carry it but always forget to take pictures! This time I finally remembered before Pat left and got not one but two pics of her!

Here's a pic of Pat and her smiling self!


Here's a pic of Linda multi-tasking - making phone calls and hooking! That lady is a wonder!

And here's another pic of Pat showing me her checkerboard - the picture doesn't do it justice - it's just gorgeous in person - I really think it would look wonderful in my living room! Haha!

That's all the shots I got out at Grant Street - Everyone always asks me why I make the long trip out there - okay it's about 150 miles - give or take a few - and about 2 1/2 hours. Well it's worth it - It's really hard to explain so I won't even try but I enjoy everyone and come home all inspired to hook and create more. And of course there is the fact that you laugh most of the day- Yep - read somewhere where laughing is good for your health - so let's leave it at - I do it for my health!

Of course I got home pretty late (3:00 a.m.! Hey what's a girl when you are having fun!) so Friday I tried to sleep in but Jonesy had other ideas - he wanted to play - not sure what he was playing but i think my lifeless body was a speed bump in his game! This of course gets Riley and Miles wound up so when the boys are up - everyone's up! Not a problem - Ending up getting up and getting some errands done.

I believe the last post I showed some bags - Well they are full of my friends UFO's (Unfinished projects!) I have a hard time with leaving things "half done" so I immediately dove it and got it sorted and started some of the projects . These are all kits she started at various workshops she took over the years and were in various stages! But she will get them all back (except the penny rugs - I don't do that) completed!

On this sheep, she had the swirly lines done on the sheep. I finished the hooking and this weekend I finished whipping and steaming last night and today sewed on the eye and the rusty bell - Done

This was another kit - this is yarn punched with the Oxford punch - She had the pumpkin done - so I whipped it and made the leaf and blanket stitched around it and sewed it on - Done

Another kit - posies - she had two hooked - so i did the red one and then got some branches off my tree and assembled them - Done

This is KoolPop- a snowman where you hook the strips thru wool (I had actually made this same one years ago) -She had it all hooked - I just sewed up the pillow and stuffed it - Done

Hmm - wonder what I am going to do with this silly stuffed cow I picked up for a buck at the thrift store Saturday?

Well behead it of course (bahhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa!) I beheaded the poor cow - then I took some old stockings and filled them with snippets and stuffing and elongated the legs and arms and then "dressed" the cow in a pair of overalls and flannel shirt. I took an old pair of my gloves and stuffed them and gave him hands. Then finished up the "pumpkin head" and Viola - Meet "Gourdon" the Pumpkin Man. (This was another kit) - Oh and by the way - Gourdon is wearing Baby Gap overalls, a kids Talbot flannel shirt, and Oshgosh brand new kids work boots - better dressed than most of us! LOL - Done

This is another kit - It was a little over 1/2 way hooked so finished hooking it and then steamed and whipped it and made the tabs - Done!

Oh and the following are two projects I hooked last weekend and finished this weekend - These weren't part of my friend's stash.

This is a pattern I had bought from The Star Rug Company (Maria Barton) called The Little Drummer Boy - I hooked him last weekend and finished him this weekend - Done!

I had a piece of linen and about 22 x 16 and didn't feel like drawing - so just sat down and started hooking it all in hit and miss - easy and DONE!

That's about it for my creative side of my week! I did make some labels for some rugs and delivered them - so another thing off my plate - Done!

Oh and there can't be a post without the kids!

My little baby is getting so big! This week he seems to be growing longer -

I found him tucked in the comforter on the bed yesterday - I mean really - what else is there to do on a rainy day -

Here's a pic of Miles helping me whip some rugs! Poor guy is getting skinnier by the minute - he eats so I don't know what's wrong - a few months ago we had him at the vet and for his age (16) he's healthy and the tests didn't show anything - I just try to give him lots of hugs and pets and help him up and down off the bed and couches to ease the pain in his hips.

And of course Riley is always amazed at whatever I'm doing - he just loves to stare - almost like he's supervising! Maybe he's thinking "come on, is that all you got - get to work!"

So that's my week!

Planning on hitting the beach this week for a few days - so hopefully the weather at the beach will be hot and sunny!

Wishing everyone a great week!

So Many Things - So Little Time

Since coming home from Grant Street Thursday nite (or should I say Friday morning!) I've been really inspired to hook again and get things done. So I spent the weekend hooking - yep believe it or not I didn't go out of my house again until Monday! Image that - I think that's a record for me! LOL! My car turned over to 100,000 last week so believe me those wheel's go "round and round" on my car! I was so intent on hooking and that's all I wanted to do! I got 2 rugs done - not whipped yet - so no pictures yet and another one started and another one designed and on linen. It felt good to have the hook in my hand though.

There were some occurrences when I was stymied from my hooking...

No access to my wool...


No access to my frame...

No access to my wool again...

Decided to cut some wool for one of the rugs - went downstairs for some water and came back and guess what - No access to my wool in the basket...

Don't get me wrong - there were times I was able to interest him in a toy or Riley was able to occupy him with their playing but he was just too cute - With that mug - how can you shush him away! I certainly can't! When it's not Jonesy with me - it's Riley or both of them!

Here is Riley deciding he needed some attention - I think it was a conspiracy because at this same time Jonesy was asleep on my rug hooking frame! Maybe Riley was trying to tell me that there was better things to do with my time - like give someone some "Riley Rubs"!

Monday afternoon I was doing some things around the house - went into the back bedroom to put away some clothes - I found all three of my knuckleheads asleep on a different part of the same bed! What a life

Did you ever get the feeling you are being stared at - while hooking the other afternoon I got that feeling - looked up and there was Riley just staring at me! He was atop the TV cabinet! Always has to get as high as he can! Again - guess he just wanted some rubs!

Today I went over to my friends house who is moving in a few weeks to help her with whatever I she needed.

Well I came home with a carload of her UFO's (Unfinished Craft Items!) Oh boy what have I gotten myself into! These bags are filled with rug hooking kits, punch needle projects, penny rug projects - wool - books - all in different stages! More about these items as I get them sorted out! Let me just say these bags are large and they are filled!

She also knew I was looking for an old doll bed - I have an idea to make a "hooked bed rug" - doll size though - She had this old wood one at her store and gave it to me - It's larger than I thought I wanted but I really like it - I plan on re-finishing it and now I know exactly what I will use that ticking I bought and stained a few weeks ago - a new "mattress" and pillow for this bed - then I have to design a "bed cover" - I'm thinking not formal but more a geometric or quilt design - We shall see what my brain will come up with - Right now I have too many other things to get done and now this motherlode of unfinished projects to sort out!

No matter what you bring in the house - the inspectors must check it out -


I hoping to get out to Grant Street again this Thursday - It's worth the drive to hook with a group that is so inspiring and fun to be around!

Hope everyone is having a productive week!

It's Certainly hot and Humid Out There

It certainly has been a hot one this week - the heat just hits you in the face when you walk out your door! I stayed inside most of the week (well for me anyway it seemed I was home a lot). Got some stuff done around the house.

On Tuesday I decided to take a trek out to Lancaster, there is a prim shop going out of business and everything was on clearance. The balance of their stock will be sold at auction Of course I saw things I wanted but I decided I didn't need. It's nice to get ideas though to make myself. I stopped at some thrift stores too and found a few things. One thing I will have to repaint and am thinking of putting a rug on the front of front - it's a wooden magazine holder I guess? We shall see - I'll share pictures if my ideas work out!

Thursday I went to Kathy's house - My main mission was to verify she had cocoa in her cabinet! (The Cocoa Story is on Kathy's blog) Here's the proof - She had it!
So after driving 2 1/2 hours to verify she had cocoa in her cabinet - I decided to stay and spend the day with her at Grant Street Woolworks hooking! LOL! First we did some errands and Kathy found some great finds in the local Goodwill (see her blog!) We grabbed some lunch and then went to Linda and Pat's shop. I of course forgot to take my camera out until later so missed some shots and forgot to take pictures of everyone's projects but never fear, Kathy was on it! (See her blog! hahahahah)

It was great seeing Pat and her checkerboard is wonderful - Love everything about it. She will have it done in no time.

This is Seth, Linda's grandson - He was "target" shooting with his gun and q-tips and had me giggling!


Here's a pic of Madeline busy at work hooking. When we got there she was just finishing up drawing a new pattern. Next thing you know she had it transferred to her backing and was hooking away! Better watch out - she's only 10 or so I believe - Image what she will accomplish!

Here's Linda and Jill hard at work -

And Kathy -

And here is Beth who is always smiling and always looks good! (No matter what she tells you!)

I had this snowman pillow kit for about 3 years now and decided to take this along since I didn't have anything else started. This is hooked through the wool and makes it easy to assemble into a pillow - I finished hooking and sewing on the little buttons and bells and want to thank Linda for sewing it together for me! Not sure if Linda reads this but if she does - LINDA I REALLY APPRECIATE IT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH! And I want to thank Kathy for coming to my rescue with the perfect color worms when I ran out of wool in the kit. So thank you Kathy for the worms and the use of the reading glasses so I could hook since I'm a bonehead and forgot mine!

It was a fun day and a long day - got home around 2:30 in the morning - but that is okay - It is worth it - It's a great group out there and wish I could get there more often. I really enjoy everyone and I can't explain what I mean but I am truly amazed (and thankful for) the ease of the conversations, the laughter, the thoughtfulness of everyone, and just watching everyone help everyone else - it's very refreshing to say the least! And it's fun to shop and look around while you work!

Friday got up and picked out a new project to do - I just finished hooking that and plan on starting something else. I need more "hook-ins" to keep me inspired!

I even think this heat (even in the air conditioning) affects the kitties - they are very sluggish this week (as you will be able to see in the pictures!)

Here's a pic of Riley this morning making funny faces at me!

Hey Mom - I can cross my eyes - Maybe they'll stick that way!

This afternoon Miles was none to pleased...

to find Jonesy asleep on his blanket!

Oh and earlier this morning when I was trying to hook...

Earlier this week - Jonesy and Miles were in the basement room staying cool -

Jonesy being his cute self - he plays hard and then sleeps sound -

Wonder when he's going to grow into these paws! (NOT rushing him - he's already growing too fast!)

Hoping everyone had a good week and an even better weekend! Stay Cool!

STrange but True

I saw this photo in a magazine and thought - no way is this an actual "squid" So i googled "Piglet Squids" and found it's true. Isn't he just too cute - can you see him floating around in your fish tank! LOL!

Scientists at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium found a cute deep-water squid that looks like a fat little cartoon piggie:
Piglet Squid, Helicocranchia pfefferi: This funny looking squid is about the size of a small avocado and can be found most commonly in the deepwater (greater than 100 m or 320 ft) of virtually all oceans. Its habit of filling up with water and the funny location of its siphone with a wild-looking 'tuft' of eight arms and two tentacles had prompted scientists to name it the piglet squid.

The Curious Case of the Wandering Tomatoes

For the past two weeks since our tomatoes started ripening on the vine we've been picking them daily and bringing them into the house - We have Roma, Beefsteak, and Cherry tomatoes.

For some reason however, our Cherry tomatoes are leaving the bowl and being found in curious spots throughout the house.

Now how can that be?

Tomatoes do not have legs!

My husband and I are not throwing them at each other - why would we do that - we'd have to clean them up then.

So why have I found tomatoes in my living room?

Why have I found some in my dining room?

And even found one in my powder room?

So I went around and asked the usual suspects...

Riley insists it wasn't him, after all he only eats the food in his kitty bowl...

Miles said it definitely wasn't him - he has better things to do with his time...like nap...

Jonesy was unavailable for comment at the time....

Besides, this angel face - it couldn't be him - no way - no how.... there is just no way...

Later in the day I found these pictures in my camera.... and no one's talking...

CASE CLOSED!