Poor Cow

After some tweeking I suppose it's a Cow - well it's a PRIMTIVE COW for sure!  Still need to do some blocking and whipping and it should look much better!

How Much is That Doggy in the Window???

How Now Brown Cow!

So I'm thinking is it a cow or a dog?

I will wait until I get the background in to decide for sure.  The cow is tans and browns since I'm doing a dark background.  Just not a big fan of the "outline" so didn't go for the traditional black and white.

It's a miracle that I can get any hooking done at times!

Old MacDonald

Old MacDonald had a farm,

Ee i ee i oh!

And on that farm he had some cows,

Ee i ee i oh!

With a moo-moo here,

And a moo-moo there

Here a moo, there a moo,

Everywhere a moo-ooo

Old MacDonald had a farm,

Ee i ee i oh!

Okay - what's that all about?  Well a cow of course! I do not know why I'm letting a cow intimidate me but I am.  Remember my chair pads I'm making, well the order is for 8 of them.  I have posted pics of four of them.  This week I've been working on the last four.  I have 2 more done (a cat and another house) and halfway thru a version of the a quilt pattern "Tulip Cross".  The cow will be the last one! 

Heck I've grown up surrounded by farms - even have ridden my sled under a cow before (My grandmother's house was built in hill and my Mom's cousin's farm was across the street and down a hill - we would have someone hold open the wire fence and toboggan and sled from my Grandmothers hill all the way down to the creek - often there were cows in the way so we would duck and go between their legs!  They would just stand there!  So why am I afraid of hooking this cow?

Who knows? Let's just hope I find some inspiration soon!

Several people have left comments and emailed me about my Snowballs. Thanks for all your comments. 

Here is how I assembled them.

After hooking the snowman I put modpodge around the last row of hooking (You can use any type of glue or fray check - just something to hold the backing .

After it is dry - cut the backing away as close to the last row of hooking as you can.

I then took twine and threaded it with a needle into the backing of the snowball to make a hanger.

Then I cut (with my pinking shears) a piece of wool slightly larger than the snowball.

Glue the backing on and let dry - and then trim away extra wool if needed.

Done!

This is basically how I made my magnets too and have made pins like this before.  Easy peasy

Have a great week!

The Things We Do for Love

of WOOL that is!

Today I decided to venture out to that big box store "Costco" for necessities like toilet paper and paper towels and the like.  Near Costco is a thrift store that I used to visit weekly when I was working but do not get over that way too much anymore.

I have always found tons of 100% wool skirts to cut up there and if you wait for the right color tag on the right day you get things pretty cheap.

Today I was walking around and was quite disappointed.  It's getting harder and harder to find some good 100% wool to recycle.  I am thinking it's because people just don't wear suits and skirts so much anymore - things are way more casual.

So I'm over by the books and didn't find anything there either (another love of mine) and then walk down the last aisle to leave.  There they have hanging sheets and comforters and things.  I happened to glance up and saw large pieces of fabric on hangers.  What do I find but a large piece of wool!

As any of you rug hookers know your heart starts racing at a large piece of great colored wool (nice muted textured purple/gray - perfect to overdye!) but it just hanging there and not on a bolt,  you do not know if it's 100% wool or not.  So after a moment of fondling the wool, I sneak a few pieces of threads and go running out of the store figuring there must be at least one person standing out their smoking so I can light my thread to test it to see if it is indeed wool!

Wouldn't you know not one person loitering is smoking - and there were like 10 people hanging around! Grrrrrrrr

I go to my car - search the glove box - no matches - well what a surprise - I don't smoke!  (Oh and I used to carry a lighter just for this reason but it was dead last time we went to use it!)

So there I stand with my few threads thinking now what?

Wait a minute, there is a dollar store right there.  So I run in - buy a three pack of lighters for $1.06 and run out where I'm met by a homeless woman asking me for a smoke.  She was a bit rude so I said "What do I look like I have a cigarette (forgetting I'm holding 3 lighters - LOL)

Anyway - ran over to the corner and did the "burn test" - yep disintegrated and smelled like burnt hair.  So I ran back in and grabbed the hanger with the piece of wool (Phewwwie - wiping my brow it was still there - those people in that store didn't know a treasure was hanging there!)

It was marked $5.90 - Not a bad deal for this piece (measured it when I got home and it's 60 inches x 73" - I guess that's 2 yards????)  Get up to the cash register and find out my total is $4.19 with tax! It was 33% off - WOOHOO!  I just love a bargain!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

JUST KIDDING!!!!

Finished up my silly snowball ornaments last night...

Oh What A Night!

 Been pretty much trying to get things done this past week and a half (sick of hearing that yet?)  As always, my rug hooking room seems to be a constant state of shambles.  It really keeps you from wanting to create but I know I had some things i needed to get done.

So first thing I did was straighten up the hooking room.  Well me being me, I ended up moving some of the furniture in there.  I have a big heavy armoire type unit in there that is stuffed full of things (it functions as my home office so has all the bills and paperwork and printer, and things like staplers, tape dispensers, and also has some wool stuffed around everything and i think my serger is in there) so anyway it's not easily moved!  I have a cobblers rack that i had on the one side of room and I wanted it on the over to be nearer the window - So hard to pick out wool in a dark corner that is hard to get to with "stuff" in the way!

Anyway - the cobblers rack was moved which entailed more stuff being moved and then being moved back and then back ago.  So now I'm not so happy with the way it looks (looks like soldiers lined up against all walls) but I do have a center of the room where I pull out fold out tables and work and then pull out the hooking frame and work, etc.

After that I pulled out the linen and cut a huge piece and drew up 8 chair pads and drew in the designs.  The woman I am making them for sent me a template and gave me and "idea" of what she wanted and allowed me to go from there.

Then I drew up some of my "snowball" ornaments to make for someone else, then another small piece of linen I drew up some small mats for someone else!

Got all that put away and cleaned up and then started pulling and stripping wool.  Okay - got that done (what a mess wool dust makes!)

Finally I was able to sit and start hooking!  Well once I get myself organized and have an idea in my head I get obsessed and that's all I do!   So much so that by Tuesday I couldn't even pick up a hook the pain in my wrist/hand/nerve were so bad!   Oh well I managed to get 4 chair pads hooked, 7 small mats, and 18 snowballs! 

Wednesday I picked out (and ordered more) yarn for the whipping of all the mats and chair pads, packed it all up and loaded it in the car to take out to Grant Street for the Thursday hook-in.  I baked a cake for Kathy (if you follow her blog you know her birthday celebrations goes on for days (and days, and days, and days, and days) LOL In her defense I did ask her to extend her celebration another day so I can come out and celebrate it with her.

Now funny thing is I've been collecting things here and there to give her for her birthday - the week before in my cleaning frenzy I had gotten it mostly together and put it somewhere I wouldn't forget! Well Wednesday I couldn't remember where the heck I put everything! So tore my hooking room apart (again) and found it practically in plain sight (knocking myself on the head here!)

As you cat owners know - the furkids always like to help out.  Riley needed to test Kathy's bag I was going to put her presents in for durability

Shhhhh! Don't tell Kathy - she's allergic to kitties! (can you image!)

Then on Thursday it was off to Chambersburg for the hook-in and birthday celebrations.

Nettie drove along with me this time so I had company on the long ride this time!  Poor Nettie had to put up with me singing along to Johnny Cash on the way out (I did try to be quiet and not sing at top lung like I normally do - oh maybe I shouldn't even call my warbling singing!)

What can I say except it was another fun day - full of friends, fun, food, and of course laughter.  At one point Linda, Nettie, Genny and Kathy had me laughing so hard I couldn't breath - I had tears running down my face and every time I looked at Kathy I laughed harder (guess you just had to be there!)

So here are some pics of the day in random order

Kathy busy working on her wonderful bird rug...

Barb after a hard days work relaxing and laughing...

Jill and Barb (wowo those two look serious - how'd that happen), Bethany and Linda working...

Beth being silly - she didn't want the camera and gave me a fake smile - heck she still looks good!

Bethany and Cherina working hard - love the colors in Cherina's rug

I brought my chair pads to "whip" and got the four I have hooked done! Four down - four to go - The order is for (4) hours, (1) willow type tree; (1) cow (oh no!); (1) tulip cross type design; and (1) cat (okay I can do that one!)

Here's Doris putting on her jacket - Nice catching up with you Doris....

Genny came later... she was working on her chair pads she's making for herself.  She does lovely work - hers are all in the red white blue theme and she's doing a great job at designing and hooking...

Wow Linda and Jill actually hard at work...

I made Kathy hold these (now remember this is after 11:00 p.m. at night - Kathy gifted me with two of her kitty projects - I love black cats! Love them Kathy - thank you so much!!!!

Oh and isn't it great when you have a friend that sees your waddled up wonky bunch of tangled wool yarn and her eyes go big and she wants to roll it in a ball for you! You go girl! Love that you LOVE to do this!

Kathy's bird rug - love it - it's much better in person - the colors are so much more rich and prim and neutral!  

Linda was hard at work most of the day - at times I thought perhaps she was in a hooking trance...

Nettie working on her rug - come on Nettie you are almost done! 

Pat working on her Heart in Hand rug - I believe I saw it finished over on her blog! Pat I'm so happy you came out - loved catching up with you and hearing about your and Zips and the kitties antics!

Everyone hard at work (wow lots of work getting done yesterday!)  Not sure what Jill was doing - posing maybe?

So that was my week.  Today I assembled my snowballs - will take a pic of them next time.  Hoping to pop in a Dark Shadows DVD in a bit and sit back and try to hook!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Big Girls Don't Cry

That's right, no crying for me today!

As some of you know I got to New York every year for a girl's weekend and we often see one or two plays.  For the last couple of years we have been trying to get tickets to see Jersey Boys but has always been sold out the weekends we are up there.

Well Jersey Boys is at the Forrest Theater in Philadelphia  from September until December of this year.  So my friend and I got tickets.

Started the day driving to her house.  One of her houses is near Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.   It turned out to be a beautiful day (rain was expected) so we walked to South Street - maybe 10 blocks away - and walked "South Street".  Truthfully it wasn't that great.  Haven't been there for years except for a concert at the TLA a few years ago, but nothing like it was years ago with unique shops and just a good feeling.  Now it just seemed dirtier, grittier, too many costumey and I don't know how to describe type stores! LOL  I guess if you are going to eat though it's not bad -lots of little cafes and cheesesteak places, etc.  We ate at Jon's Bar and Grille (It's the birthplace of Larry Fine from the Three Stooges - he was born in the building that houses the restaurant - i think 1902 or around there)

After lunch (it was after three anyway) we walked back and just relaxed for a bit. 

The play started at 7:30 so her husband dropped us off in front of the theater. 

I have to say - the play was great - really fast paced and fun.  I would recommend this even if you are not a huge fan of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (I also had forgotten how many "hits" this group had)  and I never really knew the background of their beginnings and career and family lives.  It was really interesting and fun.  I would actually go see this one again.  It was 2 1/2 hours long but felt like it was over fast!

After the play we taxi'd back to my friends place and I decided not to spend the night as my Dad just got out of the hospital and my Mom has plans to go with friends to Lancaster tomorrow and wants someone to check in on my Dad a few times during the day.    So I thought it better I come home  rather than rushing home tomorrow.

A fun day though and I'm thankful the weather held out.

Well off to give some tigers some treats!

Friday Night Was A Beautiful Night for a Broom Ride to Hereford!

Well Friday night, Judy and Tony hosted a "Witches Night Out" at their store, The Cinnamon Stick in Hereford, Pa. (You can check out Judy's blog here.)

Well I dusted off my broom and flew up to pick up my friend Nettie.  We stopped for a bite to eat (why? I don't know - Judy had so many good treats at her shop - yet eating at the pizza joint first - do you think that stopped me from nibbling!)

We arrived at The Cinnamon Stick and there was already witches and warlocks milling about!  The building was decorated for a nice eerie night - witches feet, jars of rats, eyeballs, and more.  Oooh and you had to watch if you needed to go in the bathroom, there was this HUGE hairy spider hanging over the door! 

What a great night - it was nice running into old friends and making new ones.  As I said before there was plenty of treats to eat - Tony (Head Warlock) was manning the popcorn machine and hot dogs, there was chili, pumpkin cookies, witches hat cookies, a big spider cheeseball, apple cider and more!  Yumm!

Here's some random pics of the night:

A coven (Gaggle?) of Witches and Warlocks -

April and her "familiar" her crow!

That door is the bathroom door - not sure if you can see the HUGE Spider over it! This is the back porch of the C-Stick

Another view of the back porch

The front porch where the food was layed out - that is Tony in the left corner making hot dogs under the orange  light!

Judy, Me and Nettie

Me, Judy, Nettie and April (Me, I thought we were supposed to dress for "casual friday" - LOL)

The littliest witch of the evening - Molly - she was adorable with her hat and costume

Oh my goodness - I call this picture "Nuttie Nettie" - We pulled in, parked the broom, and she puts on this "witches hat" - I could not stop laughing!  I think perhaps I should have dropped her off across the street at the bar to serve up some German Beer!

I think Nettie was conjuring up some spell her for April, Joy and Molly

Some of my pics didn't come out to well and once again I forgot to keep taking pictures.  There was some great outfits.  It was great night, so thank you Judy and Tony for a good time!

The Passing of an Old Friend

I just learned my friend Gus (whose age I'm not sure of - late 80's i think) passed away last night.  I posted a picture of him and a little bit about him in a post last last year, you can check that out again here.

I am sad that he is no longer with us on this earth but also happy knowing he is with his wife Olga.  He was devoted to her and it was so hard on him when she passed.  He always mentioned her and also his last cat Nookie who was a real sweetie.  I know he's with them now and he's probably there taking care of my two Nicky and Sid that passed a few years back also - that's just how he was.  He always asked about them and was sad when I lost them.

Not sure on the details of his passing and waiting to hear more.  I was supposed to pick him up at the train station Tuesday or Wednesday and did not hear from him.  He told me a few months ago, right before he left for his annual trip to Greece and Russia, that he would call me to remind me three days prior to his leaving Greece.  I never heard from him so I emailed some friends (he lives upstairs in a house where they have their business) and who had been with him in Greece for two weeks a month or so ago,.  They are vacationing in North Carolina so they called Greece, his daughter, and the person in Greece said they put him on a flight to the States on September 30 and also said he had been hospitalized over in Greece!

Oh my, you have to know this man, he never talked about himself and never wanted any fussing over him.

Well they called someone to go to the house last nite to see if he somehow made it home.  He was found on the floor, 911 was called, and he apparently passed away last night at the hospital - and that's still unclear if he was already passed.

Oh I wish he would have let someone know he needed help or let us know he was home, but that was Gus.

So I just wanted to say "Goodbye Gus, I am a better person to have known you, thanks for your friendship -- Goodnight"

What a Wonderful Surprise

The other day after being in and out all day I found a package.  It was all the way from Washington, PA!  Not DC!

A few weeks back I hosted a giveaway and my kitties picks a name - Julie of  Primitive Heartstrings .  They couldn't have picked a more deserving and wonderful winner!  The rug I sent her (pics on her blog) looked wonderful and matched her style perfectly!  I was so happy!

So Julie being the wonderful person she was sent me a Thank You Gift (Again Julie so not necessary - just knowing you are happy made me happy!).  She must have read that I love ticking and sent me one her ticking hearts - Oh my goodness it's wonderful - her stitches are perfection and it smells so good to boot - It's probably about 8" x 4 or 6 and solid!  I just love it Julie - Thank you again!

It's been miserable weather most of the week - damp and colder.  My mission has been to find jeans.  I went to Macy's (armed with my 20% off coupon - Oh and it's rare I buy anything that isn't on sale) and what do I find but a pair of capri's and a t-shirt - I got a very good deal though so couldn't pass it up.

So I still need jeans - I did find a pair today at the Philadelphia Outlets.  So now my ankles will at least be warmer since I had nothing but capri's that fit! LOL! 

This weekend will hit the Reading Outlets - I received an email that their entire stock of jeans will all be $15.99 and under - can't beat that with a stick!  Hoping I find something!

My other mission in the next few weeks is to get the house in order (been neglecting that), and start a chair pad order and some ornies for Christmas.  I seriously need to dye some wool too!   I guess I should start by putting everything away from this weekend!  LOL That's right - everything is dropped in my dining room - once in a while I grab something and bring it up - Guess its back to reality!

With this cooler weather - the kitties have been staying close.  My husband took this picture of me, Riley and Miles after he got out of the shower - He was shocked that Miles curled up on Riley - and so was I when I saw the pic (oh that would be my butt and legs they are curled up again! 

Miles is still not getting any better but I do not think he has lost any weight.  We are still supposed to go with the thyroid medicine and just get as much food into as we can.  He eats and drinks and uses the litter so nothing out of the ordinary except the constant puking!  Oh well - we do what we can and I really appreciate that Riley helps out keeping his eye on him too!

Earlier this morning I was paying bills - I was sitting at my laptop cross legged (that would be my leg that looks as white as milk bottle between the two sets of fur) and had two weights "helping"  hold me down.  You just never know when high winds may gust thru the room (even with the windows closed!) and blow me off my seat!

Hoping everyone is having a great week!

Oh and like to wish Kathy a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY! 

Day Two - DONE and OVER

Well today probably went better in terms of people knowing the "rug hooking" craft.  Only had one "latch hook" comment - Shocking I know!

I also had some repeat customers which was nice and I few asked if I could do this or that so I gave them my card to contact me if they decide to go ahead with anything.  I also mentioned I have rugs in the CP year round so they can always go in there as I change rugs around or ask for something there.

Sales were about the same as yesterday which made me happy.  There weren't nearly as many people in  the village today, however, we were lucky to have the rain hold out.  My favorite customers of the day had to be the couple who bought two rugs and didn't even look at the price first!  Wish there had been more of those types (LOL!)  I did have a couple of people tell me (ones that understands handcrafts) tell me my prices were too low while others I'm sure shuddered at the prices.  

My husband, again, made it there this morning after I had drug everything from the parking lot to the spot, but he did come this evening and help me load everything up and take everything in which was nice.  I took the display rack and table back to my uncles, and when I got home it started drizzling - perfect timing!

Here's some pics of today's both (around mid-morning before I re-straigthened up things) I had to smoosh myself a bit today so set up a little different.  She was having another vendor out front with us so we had to "downsize" our areas

Now the pretzel guy - he must have did well again!  The vendor next to me went up to him and asked how he did yesterday - Apparently he sold out at 600 pretzels at $3.00 and his partner was at another event and sold 1600 pretzels!  Me thinks maybe I should start rolling out pretzel dough!

Well I think I'm off to read a book instead of thinking or doing anything else today!

Have a great week!

Day One - Done

Well the first day of the two day event is over.  What a long day!

Woke up to a beautiful but chilly day (thank goodness it wasn't gray and dreary) It was 46 degrees!

I wanted to leave by 7:15 as we were asked to start setting up around 7:30 in order to  drop our stuff and go out and find a parking spot (which was limited).  My husband was supposed to help me set up but by the time he arrived on the scene,  I had already unloaded the car, parked, and then moved everything but two items to the spot where I was to set up! Had to laugh - he was like a fish out of water when I was starting to hang rugs and stuff - He did help put up the backdrop and then ran at the chance to go to his car to see if he had something in it to help sturdy up the top of the backing! Again I just had to laugh - I basically used him as a tree stand, "Hold this" "Hold That" until I got everything out!

Here's some pics of my area - it was quite sunny under the trees and couldn't get real clear photos

There were a whole lot of people walking in town - it was pretty much busy all day (10-6).  We were joking (the vendors around me) that the only person making money was the pretzel guy.  Honestly -. every other person was walking by with one of those large braided pretzels ($3 each!)  He must have run out around 3:00 cause then the funnel cake vendor picked up the slack! It was funny.   I did okay - not great but okay.  Some of the vendors around the CP were very disappointed and won't come back tomorrow.  I was watching people walk by and not many were carrying bags (just pretzels! LOL)

All in all it was a good day and the weather cooperated which was great.  Tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy so hopefully there were be a good crowd tomorrow.    I had three different ask me if I would be back tomorrow - so that's a promising sign I suppose.

It was funny sitting there and listening to the comments people make - so many people would show up with a friend and one would be an expert on the craft "You just need a latch hook and pieces of yarn to make these" - Hahahhaha; or "I do this latch hooking stuff".  Then there were people that told me about their grandmothers rugs and frames and things which was interesting to hear about.   I was also told by some they make "crocheted rugs" just like these but they liked my colors better!  Oh I could go on but you get the picture. 

Well I'm pretty tuckered out - having to set up, sit, take down, and do it all over again! 

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday!

Just How Much Stuff can you STUFF into a Subaru!

It's too dark to take pictures but rest assured my little Subaru Forester is stuffed to it's capacity!  I can't image what I forgot - but will know tomorrow!

I will be participating as a vendor in the Skippack Days at Skippack Village tomorrow. 

I borrowed some metal frames/stands from my uncle that he uses for his paintings at shows to use as a backdrop.  I can shape into a booth  or maybe a zigzag or I don't know what yet .  So all that and tables and rugs and boxes and baskets and stools and whatnot are in my car!

The past few days it's been raining buckets - We have had some severe weather (flash flooding and tornado watches) There was a ton of flooding and a lot of the roads were closed today (we are surrounded by bridges).  A woman lost her life less than 10 miles from here last night due to driving into a flooded road - so sad. 

 Thank GOODNESS the sun came out this afternoon as this is an outdoor event and I do not have a tent to use!  It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow and Sunday is still iffy.

I spent tonight making up some business cards, some information cards on care of rugs and hanging suggestions, and even printed some little Thank You cards to throw into bags in case anyone buys anything!  You just do not know if anyone will be buying or even interested in your items!  I also finished pricing a few items.

I am hoping I will remember to take my camera so I can get pictures of my set-up which I will share in another post.

Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful weekend!  I'm off to do one last round of the rug hooking room and make sure I didn't forget anything....