All Shook Up

Actually I'm all messed up - my rug hooking room that is - again it's a disaster!  One of these days I will get it totally organized and learn to put things away as I go - but no - I pull wool out and it doesn't get put back right, I look for glue and then leave it on the corner of the hutch, then I look for twine and leave that roll over there, and then I look for the packing tape - and leave that on the floor, well you get the picture!  

I guess I have to come to the conclusion - it's my work room - and leave it at that!

The morning after my last post when I thought all my deadlines had been met I woke up to an email for an order of 11 mug rugs.  I still gave myself a couple of days off and then "thought" about drawing up squares!  Well I finally did yesterday and have 8 of the 11 hooked as of tonite while watching Dark Shadows (Yes I'm still watching this series - can't remember when I started -sometime in the Spring - I just finished Disk 83 out of 125 or so DVD's! LOL).  Jonesy has placed himself on top of the frame so there is no hooking going on right now! That's okay - there is always tomorrow.

I also started a couple of Christmas presents and have been toying around with something to make for my Mother for Christmas.  She's very particular and has to have a place for something or else let you know exactly what she wants or she isn't happy.  I have surprised her with a few rugs over the past few years and most have been accepted and loved.   So I'm thinking of making her a runner for her entranceway - I know that is something she would like and it would replace an old one she has there now.  Now the trick is to figure out what design and can I pull off an approx. six foot runner by Christmas!  Will have to dwell on this a little longer.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We stayed home - my husband didn't want to go anywhere and didn't want to company this year - he just wanted to stay home.  No problem.  I got a free turkey at the grocery store (well not exactly free - you had to have their "card" and spend $75 that day!) .  So I made us the turkey and stuffed that baby (and while I was stuffing it I won't go into the commentary that was going on over my shoulder by my husband) and some veggies and called it dinner!  It all came out great so last few days it's been turkey clubs, hot turkey sammies, turkey enchiladas, and so on!

Wishing you all a great week!

Auld Lang Syne

No need to check your calendars - it's not New Years yet (soon however).

I do not make resolutions as most made the 1st of the year seem to disappear from ones mind before the month is out.  I am however going to start today on one resolution and that is to start using what I have before I keep buying more. 

I was in my bathroom closet putting away some supplies I bought and realize I already had 6 bottles of contact solution, then I noticed all the little things in there - all those little sample hair sprays and shampoos that come attached to the big ones that I keep pushing to the back to save to use "when I go away" - Well hello - how often to I go away?  Several types of deodorants, not used - hello - I have only 2 armpits and why I need 4 extra on hand? and so it goes - so I'm vowing to use up this stuff before buying more!

Oh believe me - I'm by no means a hoarder - far from it - but it's silly to "save" some of these things - heck just use them!

Along with toiletries and groceries, I'm also going to keep it in mind with wool and such too (however my stash is getting low - can't have that - so may have to re-think this) !

Anyway that brings me to my deadlines - I finally can breath - I have everything ready to take to the Heritage Center tomorrow (the deadline to get myself in for the sale in December), and have completed all the orders I have! Woohoo.  I was even done by 9:00 tonite so I finished up my AAPG Christmas Swap package and got that all together and that is going to be shipped out tomorrow (not even due until December 6th). 

Will give myself a few days off then on to working on some Christmas presents and getting ahead for the next deadline!   Might even get a rug hooked in there for me!  Let's hope I can keep up the motivation!

Today I ventured out to the grocery store - oh my - was it ever crowded!   I had gotten a free turkey a couple of weeks ago but I just needed the normal stuff.  People were everywhere with full carts!  I wish I would have had time to go last week before the craziness but didn't have the time! 

This evening we had the title company over to our house - we refinanced at a nice lower rate ( 2 points lower - 3.78%)  Was told by the guy that we had the best credit score # he has even seen!  Hard to believe since we really do not have much to work with but I do try to pay off all the bills each month in their entirety.  Another thing done and out of my hair! 

Well I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and will show you these pics I took last night of two of my crazy kitties:

Riley was snoozing in this basket on top of the cobbler's rack - Jonesy decided he wanted it and pushed Riley (twice his size) out of it...

Look at that silly Jonesy laughing at Riley...Riley does not look amused...

Ahhh...friends - a sweet compromise (oh and I pushed his big old butt back on the wood box so they didn't topple over)

About 1/2 hour later - everyone warm and cozy and happy!  What more can you ask for!

Fun, Fun, Fun

On Saturday that is - and no we weren't cruising to the hamburger stand but we were bending, whirling and twirling in the little village of Hereford, Pennsylvania at a wonderful country store called the Cinnamon Stick - yep another Feather Tree Class!

It was so much fun - Judy, Owner of the Cinnamon Stick

of course provided us with a beautiful attic room with great lighting

and lots of snacks - candy, fudge, pumpkin cake, veggie pizza and pomegranate punch!

The girls all arrived and were a very happy chatty group.  Almost all smiles throughout the day!  Wasn't long before they were hard at work fringing their wool...

Bending wires and Robin practicing her twirling technique...

Twisting and fringing and glueing -making their branches...

Look at the concentration going on here...

This is El on the left and Kathy in the pink.  I was excited to meet Kathy - she's been a blog reader and read about the class.  She quilts and is a new rug hooker!

More concentration....

Always a show off in each class (just kidding) El was the first one done...

Followed in minutes by Miss Kathy - look how proud and look at those smiles on these fun ladies...

Sharon next...

Beth was the last one in and one of the first ones done - she is a new grandmom and had tons of things to do so she flew in - made her tree - and flew out!

Carolyn and her tree...

Adele done... Susan almost done - Susan even made a tree with her arm in a sling! 

Grace - I think she was amazed her tree was done!   Rocky start but I think in the end she enjoyed herself!

Look at Susan's big smile - I think that says it all!

As the girls got done making their trees, Judy had the makings for little paper ornaments so some were making theirs...

Thanks Judy and all the ladies for making it a fun day to share with you the makings of a wool feather tree! 

Well I'm back to finishing up some items - here are some of the items I made this week and threw on the floor as I was done whipping them - tree skirts, mug rugs, little mats. I still have a small pile to finish whipping - then the need a good steam and a label and then off to their destinations.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
Isn't it hard to believe in only a few days it will be Thanksgiving!

Hey Hey We're the Monkees

Good Morning - Here I sit with my little buddy on my lap

 
drinking coffee and should be getting in the shower - I have to leave in an hour or so to teach another feather tree class at the Cinnamon Stick.  Will be fun today - It's going to be a FULL house and I will also get to meet a fellow blog reader that read about the class and is coming.
 
Speaking of my little guy Jonesy - his new thing is to get me out of bed bright and early in the mornings just so he can sit in my lap - Honestly he'll bug me until I get up and then he'll run in the hooking room and sit  - the second I sit down in there he's in my lap and snuggled in like the pic above!  I love him to death but I don't get things done this way!  
 
Earlier this week he was getting mad at me because I had the hooking frame pulled up and trying to hook so what's he do - crawls under my linen into my frame...

Doesn't make it very easy to hook with a full grown kitty in your frame....

Finally I got him settled down next to me - as you can see he couldn't get any closer to my hip if he tried...

He is a good guy nonetheless - he just hates to be alone - he always makes me feel bad when I leave the house as he follows me to the door and gives me those "eyes"!  Heartbreak here!

I have been busy finishing up some projects.  I have a couple of small orders which are done and just need to be delivered, some items I need to get over to the shop where I sell some rugs, and the deadline for getting my rugs to the Folk Art Sale is on Tuesday - and I will be delivering them on Tuesday - usually I'm ready beforehand but had too many things this past month.  After these deadlines then I will start to think about Christmas and gifts (maybe! Just not ready!)

Thursday Nettie and I ventured out to Grant Street.  Several of the gals wanted to make the feather tree so I came loaded down with kits and my whipping again (yes I do hook but seems I have enough to bring to whip on Thursdays!).

Sorry I didn't get any pics of anyone's rugs they were working on but I did snap a few pics of the girls working on their trees...

However, first thing Nettie is taking photo's - I hate getting my photo taken - - Got Nettie taking a pic of me.

Sandy and Sherri were my first two to sit down to make a tree...

Sandy got all her branches wrapped but had to leave early so I showed her how to finish up the tree. 

After Sandy left Genny came and we got her started.  Sherri is just finishing up here tree and it looked wonderful. 

While I was down at the one end I was missing the fun at the other end - Joan arrived with some monkey's hanging out of her bag - Sock Monkeys - I believe she made these.  Well next thing you know these darn monkey's were talking...

Then telling Linda secrets...  (was Kathy trying to eavesdrop?)

Then trying to get everyone's attention to discuss a hooking project I suppose..

After Sherri finished her tree she moved up to the other end and Bonnie and Jackie came to start their trees.  That is Genny with her finished tree and Bonnie working on hers.

Look at Bonnie and Jackie concentrating so hard!

Completed trees and Bonnie will be picking glue off her fingers for a while!

The trees all looked great! You have to wait until the glue is totally dry to "open" them but they will all be beautiful.  The wools everyone picked were great.  Hope you girls had fun and I want to hear about the forests you make!

Rockin Around The Christmas (Feather) Tree

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm still trying to get things done.  Took yesterday off from any crafting except I did manage to cut a piece of linen and had every intention of drawing some designs on it to hook but computer games sucked me in last nite!

On Saturday, I showed a bunch of really nice ladies how to make the wool feather trees at The Cinnamon Stick (See Judy's blog - The Spice Cupboard) for more better and more pictures on her picturetrail of the day.   She's having another class this upcoming Saturday so if anyone lives close I believe there is a space or two open due to some changing around of days.

When I got there I went up to the attic and Judy had the place all set up - What a great space for crafting - I want to move my rug studio in there!  Great lighting, plenty of room to make a mess (and we did!)

She also had her old wooden ironing board filled with tempting goodies and punch along with chocolate (who could resist) on the table! 

The ladies arrived one by one and two by two!  Full house for sure!  Not a good pic but that's our hostess at the end of the room standing up!   After giving the girls a brief description of all the prep steps we would be doing I handed out the kits and they got to it - What's nice is there is several prep steps and everyone can decide to do what they want and work back and forth.

Hard at work marking and bending wires...

Hard at work fringing wool...

Had to giggle, a few times they ALL were so intent on working the room was quiet and at times I felt they didn't need me.  They were such a great bunch and just knew what to do!

All but one lady finished their tree (only because she had to leave early).  You need to wait until the tree is totally dry until you "open" the tree so I mentioned they can use them for feather dusters until then!  

On thing nice about doing this tree is in only a few hours you have a completed craft project.  How often do you take a class somewhere and then go home and still have more to do and you let it sit..and sit...and sit... and never finish it? 

I think everyone enjoyed it and a few mentioned about making more.  A big thank you to all and especially to Judy for providing a wonderful work space.

Well I got out that linen, and then I got out the "beast" (a.k.a. the sewing machine") and of course needed to wind more thread on the bobbin.

As you can....

only me!  I can certainly make a mess just trying to wind bobbin thread! Geez don't even ask!

But you can ask about those scissors.  Just have to share.  When I was at Judy's last week (The Cinnamon Stick, The Spice Cupboard Blog) we were talking and she was asking what I needed that I didn't supply for the class  I said everyone needs to bring scissors that cuts fabric.  I'm left handed and have 2 pair of working gingher's and 2 cheapie pairs that just do not work on fabric.   Well Judy said she had plenty of scissors and I was thinking how some scissors do not cut fabric so well and you really need a good pair to fringe the wool - She pulls out this scissor above and I tried it - Ohhh lalalala - i loved it and went home and ordered myself 3 pairs.  Judy does a lot of paper cutting and these do not dull going from paper to fabric (Can't tell you how many times i have found my husband using my good ginghers to cut open a kitty litter bag or something - eek the horrors!) .  They are so comfy too and being left handed doesn't matter with these handles.  left handed scissors hurt after a while - these don't!  Think I will be retiring my ginghers!  Some of the girls were asking about them in class too and writing down the info on them - so thanks Judy for sharing your scissors!

Well I better get my buns in gear and get hooking! Wishing everyone a wonderful week.

Crazy

Well this past week has been totally crazy trying to get things done!  There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get done everything I want and need to get done (Dyeing wool, stripping wool, assembling kits, hooking rugs, finishing rugs, making feather trees, delivering orders, etc. etc.) .  Anyway, I know whatever will get done will get done and that will have to do!

Riley knows how much I like to sew (all I do is zigzag) so he decided to "help" me (guess he's tired of hearing me curse at the "beast" and thought he better stay close so I don't throw it out the window) (Oh that would be Quentin in the background - we were watching Dark Shadows)

 Tomorrow will be the first feather tree class at The Cinnamon Stick. I have everything for tomorrow ready but am working on getting things ready for the upcoming classes also.

Yesterday was the Hook-In at Grant Street as well as Veteran's Day -

Linda honestly and seriously was honoring all those who served...


The day was fun as usual and as usual I didn't get all the shots of things - hey I was busy working!

Barb was rolling her floss onto the cards - we keep hearing the thump thump of her little cranker...

Miss Beth - pretty as she is always has to pose quickly if she sees a camera - Beth was working on her bunny rug and Nettie was working on her "Do You See What I See ".  I forgot to get a picture!

Jackie earlier in the day - her rug is beautiful in person -

Later in the day after starting the "tongues"

Have any of you heard of Dark Chocolate Covered Pomegranates?  Well I (was it a mistake?) brought some to a hook-in a while back and Kathy got hooked (Don't every get between Kathy and her pomegranates - it's not a pretty sight!) So I bring her a bag whenever I come out (well at least I try)  Anyway Jill and Beth were wanting to try them.  Don't you know they love them know too  - Here's Kathy and Jill enjoying one or two (handfuls?)

Kathy opening a present from her secret pal and a pic of Kathy's rug - she was working on background! (Happy Anniversary Kathy and George!  Hope you have many more happy years together) 

Nettie taking a break from the action...

I think you all know by now to expect the unexpected at Grant Street

Isn't she so sweet and innocent!

I did mention I was working! This week I had hooked 4 little mats and 7 tree skirts - I did get the tree skirts whipped - Here's the blue and red one - you can't see it but i made the pompom on the hat sculpted (i guess you would call it that - 3d?), make the fringe of the scarf hang out and the little snowman in the back is wearing puffy earmuffs

Here's the green penny circle mat - as you can see they look funny when they aren't around a tree!

Green snowman faces...

Red Penny circles

Well you get the picture - I had 3 with snowman and 3 with penny circles and one with stars.  Have to whip the little mats yet.

Earlier in the night someone asked Jackie what she was going to do with her rug and if she had a place for it - She didn't.  Someone mentioned I made a valance out of one my rugs (i believe I posted this way back - sorry if you saw this before) and Jill and Jackie asked if I would post this on my blog for them to see.  So here you go girls.  This was a block of the month from the Woolen Willow probably 5 years ago.   Those are tabs made from hand dyed black wool and tacked on the back of the rug and hung - I finished the edges of the rug by whipping them with the hand dyed black wool yarn.  Easy as pie and just something else to do with a rug!

Well I have a lot to get done in the next few weeks and hopefully I won't get that "overwhelming" feeling too strong! 

It will be what it will be!