My Old Faded Rose

The other day I stopped in at the Cinnamon Stick (Spice Cupboard Blog) and bought a couple more of the old hangers I bought a few months ago.  I used one of the old hangers I had to hang a lighter weight quilt and hang it on a nail board in my living - and I have a bunch of quilts stored away and folded up so thought I would get a few more to hang some more.  I decided to take pics of the quilts and quilt wall hangings I have in my house - so this is just a little tour...

Living Room:

This quilt I bought this past summer at a yard sale for $5...

This Bear Claw quilt was made by my Mom.  It hangs down behind the tv cabinet (the quilt was hung years before I had the bigger TV cabinet.

I have an old lady in the corner of the living room - this is my lap quilt made by my Mom with an applique of a Moose on it and then the top one is actually a table runner - just do not have anywhere to put it right now...

Another lap (or twin bed) quilt made by my Mother - used one of the hangers to hang it...

A quilt mantle scarf...again made by my Mother...

Love this one and fits perfectly atop this old sewing table - this table has the sewing machine taken out and has a thick piece of black marble to make a table top - just had to cover that up!  Again, made by my Mom

This is a star wall hanging...yep you guessed it - my Mom made it!  (I didn't realize how faded it was until I took the pic - I know the colors are bit more muted and a little different than my photo's show but this is actually fading.  This side of the living room gets quite a bit of sun....hmmm wonder what it's doing to my hooked rugs in this area!  Eh gads!)   

This is another table topper on top of the old wash stand...yep - my Mom again....

This is a wall hanging gifted me by the extremely talented Lori of Homespun Prims.  I was so touched when this showed up in the mail for no special reason at all.  Lori is generous person and wonderful hooker and stitcher and seamstress - the fabrics in this hanging are so cool.

Okay - not sure if I missed any in the living room, but now moving into the Dining Room:

This is on a little bench with my twig tree - just a table topper - made by my Mom...

This is one of the first little wall hangings I got from my Mom probably over 20 years ago - Flying geese...

One the buffet table - another one made by my Mom

This is one I had for years too made by my Mom (again) - this is atop the huge hutch so you really don't see it.

This was gifted me by Bren - another generous, talented and wonderful friend I have met online!

And another wall hanging gifted to me for no other reason than she wanted to!  Jacque  is another of those wonderful generous souls that I have met online and she is so talented - do check out her blog - she's always creating wonderful quilts, aprons and whatnots - and she has a very handsome dog to boot! 

Now on to the bathroom.  Let me just tell you this powder room isn't me -this is the only room in the house we haven't re-done (you think we would have in the past 14 years we lived here - it's too "pretty" for me - it's a green color (the one that was popular in the 90's) and has half paint and half wallpaper - the wallpaper is a green ticking (i do like that) but the border between the paint and the wallpaper is pink roses.  Like I said very 90's - anyway - one of these days I will get an idea for what I want to do and do it - right now it's decorated in cats.  Here's a table topper - again made by my Mom - that i just threw over the back of the toilet...

A small "pretty" log cabin wall hanging - made by my Mom...

Okay - not really a quilt - a cross stitch piece made about 20 years ago by me that my Mom framed with fabric and did some hand quilting on...

On to the entrance way/hallway... I have mostly cross stitch pieces and hooked rugs through these areas...

On my settlers bench in the hallway - I have this old postage stamp quilt that I found at a flea market (hidden with junk) for $5 - I love this one...

Another small wall hanging made by my Mom...

The Kitchen...

Can you believe it - no quilts or wall hangings in the kitchen.  I did make this cross stitch piece about 100 years ago (okay feels like it! LOL) and my Mom framed it with fabric and batting  and did some hand quilting on it.  I always liked the alternative to the costly framing issue! 

Okay - that's the tour of the quilts/wall hangings on the first floor! 

We have steps going upstairs and then a landing and then more steps to the 2nd floor.  I have an old chair sitting on the landing with this little Raggedy Ann quilt sitting on the seat (she looks kinda demented because its sort of folded over right now - LOL - Three guesses who made it!  Yep you guessed it - my Mom...

Here is a "house" quilt that I have thrown over the back of this chair that Chris - another online friend gifted me - Mystical Primitives - check her out on eBay - she has some gorgeous rugs and PN pieces! 

This is a huge quilt that hangs on the way up the stairs - My Mom was trying to remember who made this (image not her) She thinks her Great Grandmother and Grandmother made it - She can pick out pieces of clothing that was hers and her brothers.  She found it in a drawer in a bureau - it was just a quilt top - she put the backing and binding on and had it hand quilted.   If you notice the Raggedy Ann on the far right of the picture - My Mom made that - she matches the Ann in the little wall hanging quilt.  The big Ann on the right next to the one my Mom made was made by a cousin of mine - she was given a project to made the doll and had to give it away - I received her when I was about 10 I believe.  The two (Anne and Andy) on the left were my dolls as a child and the next two were given to me by a co-worker about 25 years ago.  Not that I ever collected Anns and Andys - but it works with the quilt! LOL

Okay - some other day I will continue the "quilt tour" to the bedrooms .

We are still having problems with our little Miles.  He's skin and bones but it seems we are maintaining his 3 1/2 pounds and doesn't seem to be suffering.  Still because of his hyperthyroidism he gets "ravenous" for food, and honesty , I think because of his age there is some "dementia" there that he doesn't remember he just ate and doesn't listen.  Besides all the puking and meowing, he tries to get on the counter in the kitchen, a place the cats know is a no-no.  Because he can't jump straight up anymore he jumps on the couch, then the back of the couch and through the pass-thru - we constantly find him "licking" the sink dry or any dish left in the sink - even if it has soap in it - So i put an old bread board over the sink and have even caught him trying to move it.  He has to go across the stove too to get to the sink.  It's a never ending battle for sure.  Anyway - today I had had it.  I still feel terrible - I yelled at him (loud and stern enough that Jonesy and Riley came running to see what was up) And for anyone that knows me - I'm just not a "yeller" - My husband always says the cats just laugh at me as I'm just not "stern"!  Anyway - I decided I needed to block off the pass through someone - so short of drywalling it up - what to do??  Well this is my temporary solution (Oh the pass-thru is usually a junk holder - so this will get tweaked and maybe get to look a little better!)

We shall see if this keeps him out - I put an old wooden crate sideways and a ginger bottle and some old nursing bottles (they were my Moms) on the side to block it- Put stuff on the top too so it's way too tall for him to jump thru and do not think he will be able to know the bottles over to squeeze though - doesn't even look to bad from the living room side.

Anyway - sorry for the long post...wonder how many people I "lost" midway!

Have a great day!

The Best of Times

Another week down and another week I have been in a serious slump with my hooking.  I'm hoping this passes soon as I feel I want to hook but then I do nothing about it- It just goes with getting started - once I start I'm a house afire, but it's the sitting down, drawing something up and getting started.  Do not know why I have this problem but won't dwell on it and just hope something comes together!

Earlier this week I continued my purging of stuff (even though these pics don't look like it) in the dining room this time.  I got out some of the bunnies and spring stuff - I can't find one of the tubs - so I'm a little light in the loafers in my Spring decorating.  Here are some random shots - It's still a work in progress, just not happy with a few of the areas -

This is the corner on the right side of the front window - Need to move some of that stuff out of there - too much stuff - You can barely see it but that redware plate I found is up there on the shelf with a couple of other places and mugs...

I like this little area - a couple of my milk cans from my collection and some bunnies...

I hung my flower and heart rug and do not like it - I took down about 6 pictures I had hanging on this wall (I had framed old hankies and hung them haphazardly - Just not happy with this - the big window is the right of it - Maybe it's too close to my other rug or too plain for me - not sure yet - there are caned chairs and more milk cans on the floor below it - I took down my big twig tree and packed that away.  (My walls aren't white - just looks that way - they are called "cottonwood" - just a faint gold/yellow color)

Close up of the shelf over the buffet cabinet

Top of my huge hutch...

My little twig tree...

Below the hearts and flower rugs (I dye wool so I use all these agate pots sitting around - when I dye I fill them with water and soak wool and also use the white ones on the stove - so I just store everything in plain view)

Under the red shelf - and more dyeing supplies!

Will have to think more on what to do with some of this stuff!  At least it's clean and dusted - that's a plus right?

I have a lot of things to look forward to, a short trip to AC and then my upcoming annual New York Trip in a few weeks.  We will seeing 3 different Broadway plays/events so looking forward to that!

This past week had a great time.   Spent a couple nights out at Lindas (Owner of Grant Street Woolworks) rather than driving out and coming home the same day.  Drove out Wednesday and visited with Kathy and Linda and than that evening Linda and I went to play bingo at her local fire company - We both were happy as we both got to yell "Bingo" once!  Fun to go home with a little something!   Kathy met up with us for shooting the bull and tea and coffee to warm up later - just damp and cold!  

Thursday was the hook-in.  There were several people in and out throughout the day and always a good time.  I didn't have any hooking started so worked on making some feather trees -I made 6 or 7 of them I believe.

What a day however, look at these expressions - such seriousness (and goofiness)!

Friday I left and stopped and shopped in Lancaster on the way home.  I needed to find a pair of dress pants so that was my mission - got lucky - found a pair on clearance for $7.99 - I hate dress pants - for the past 10 plus years I have been lucky enough to wear jeans to work but needed something for interviews - Seriously - I got rid of every pair of dress pants and skirts I had this past summer and fall and have absolutely nothing that fits except the same few pair of jeans I've been wearing!   So mission accomplished.

Stopped at some of the country and antique stores but nothing knocked my socks off that I couldn't live without.  I do love to shop for ideas though  - but again, nothing new and unique!

Hope you had a great weekend.   Check out Lauren's (Rugs and Pugs) blog - she is doing a give away for new hookers and made up a kit - how wonderful is that!   I'm thinking of doing another give away - just haven't decided on what - any ideas?  Another hooked rug?  Some recycled wool for stash building?  Hmmm will have to ponder this...

Desert Rose and Cobwebs

Another week has flown by and it's Friday already!  And what a beautiful last few days it's been - Just have to laugh - after the frigid cold and snow of the past few weeks we are enjoying weather in the high 50's and 60's! Today I saw people driving about in convertibles and wearing shorts and flipflops (and the girl in the white see through  tights and short camisole type shirt and no undies - yes that see-thru! Oh my) - and it's only February - Yep I do believe some are pushing it - it wasn't that warm - but it sure was a heat wave compared to what it's been.

The other day I mentioned rearranging furniture so here are a few pics.  Oh the green walls - they've been green about 8 years or so (years ago I guess I watched too many episodes of Trading Spaces) Wasn't too keen on the green but my husband wanted it so I went with it - We had painted a few years after we moved in and the previous owner had stenciling all over the walls and even using "Killz" it came thru - so we painted again a few years after that - so I wanted something darker to cover the stenciling .... (silly me)

I really hate my living room - I would be happy without the fireplace - the areas beside the fireplace are so hard to do anything with - one the left side of the fireplace is the stairway going upstairs, the entrance to the living room, and then the wall area has a pass thru to the kitchen, on the right - the wall is a big double window and a small wall area and then the slider - it's so hard to set up furniture without putting it "at attention" against each wall - just hate it!  Anyway - on the inset area on the right of the fireplace I had 4 tubs of wool stacked up and covered with a quilt!   I repacked the wool and have it crammed in closets upstairs now.  So I moved that little desk and chair I found at a yard sale this summer back there.  Not sure if it's staying yet!  The mantel and shelf is full of treasures from friends (oh and my living is a mix of "styles" as you can see from these couple pics)  - that would be an Edyth O'Neill rug hooking pattern of the whale (not prim at all - I just liked the whale!)  I made that back in 2007. 

I moved the "tupperware" bench (its where I store all my plasticware - the seat lifts up) as we call it into the living room and moved out the deacon's bench - Jonesy is loving it - he lays on it now and never did when it was in the dining room - maximum sun I guess. 

This old wash stand was in the entranceway when you enter my front door - i moved that out and put it on the back wall near the slider - I had an old washtub holder thing there that is now in the basement - not sure what I will do with it.  Oh those hooked rugs are "folk art" style!  and the valance over the window is more country - a mix for sure!

I moved my round end table between the two couches - that tub is the one i'm starting for my niece and yes it's still there!  More folk art hooked rugs, and hey Sherri - there is the "Mouser" rug you were asking about - it's an adaptation of an antique rug.

Thursday Nettie and I took the trip to Grant Street.  For some reason as soon as I get somewhere my shoes fly off my feet - really don't know how that happens.  Anyway - it appears I still do not know how to dress myself - even at age 50!   What a knucklehead I am.

I spent the day whipping my rug and finished it (Yes Kathy, I know it needs to be labeled yet) - the evening I spent cutting wires for an upcoming feather tree class.

There were many people in and out during the day and I apologize again - I did remember my camera but didn't get pictures of everyone and their projects.

Here is Beth working on a punch needle project...

Here's Bonnie and her little chick mat she started...

Diane and her kitty and dog rug - she's doing this in a #4 or #5 cut I believe! - She was really working hard going to town on it all day!

Jackie was working on her rooster rug - the colors are gorgeous in this rug - she really has an "eye" for detail!

Jill was working on her stair riser...

Louis at one point was getting a rub down from Kathy - I couldn't stop laughing - you had to see him in "person" - it looked like his eyes "glazed" over from contentment!  He was really enjoying his butt rub.

Our leader Linda of the Grant Street Gigglers...

Bonnie and Jackie saying goodbye for the evening - you know it's always a good time when this pair show up with their smiles! 

Kathy got SOME work done on her rug - she was busy waiting on people and helping them with colors and shopping most of the day so she didn't even get to sit too much...

Sherri and one of her kitty rugs - she just needs to bind it...

Nancee and her finished house rug - love the ticking as the binding - it's really cool in person...

Okay the next two pictures - don't even know how to explain them.  Just know there was a story being told by Linda and some re-enactments, and Kathy - well at one part Kathy was laughing so hard she was crying and she had me and Barb in stitches. I actually couldn't breath at one point  but did manage to snap two pics...

 

Another wonderful and productive day at Grant Street.

Got home around 2:30 or so and slept in this morning!  Then when I got up I decided it was too nice out to stay in and felt the need to get out and move around so drove out to Ephrata and went to the Green Dragon Farmer's Market - wow it was crowded  - also did my normal and stopped at thrift stores and here and there.  No good finds today though!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.