Eyes Without a Face

Just wanted to say thank you for all your well wishes on my eye problem.

After four visits (in 11 days) to my regular eye doctor I was sent to an Opthamalogist who I saw today.  Just as I have been saying all along, there really is nothing wrong.  The antibiotics I was taking were unnecessary.  After a thorough exam they found no evidence of swelling, of irritation, or cloudiness.  He said the only thing he saw was some "overwear" (something in the blood vessels) which is caused from wearing ill-fitting or just happens to people that wear contacts for a long period of time.

So on that note, my friends that will have to see me in person will have to see me in my glasses for about two months.  No contacts to give my eyes a break (I've been wearing contacts for going on 35 years!)   After two months I can go back and get properly fitted and wear them again!

I had to giggle at the doctor, he said "do you have a problem with wearing your glasses for a few months".  I said Of course I do - I don't have prescription sunglasses and it's a pain in the ____ when it rains too!   So he tells me to get clip-ons.  I said CLIP-ONS, DID YOU SAY CLIP-ONS!   He started laughing and saying the clip-ons of today aren't like Grandpa's clip ons - that there are some pretty nice ones out there.  Well this remains to be seen until I can figure out where to buy "clip-ons" (Geez, if I'm not AARP crap in the mail from turning 50 this year, I'm being told to get CLIP-ONS!)  I'm not ready to grow up like this!  I'm just way too young for clip-ons!

This week I only managed to hook two small mats.  I'll post pics of the small mats I've been making when I get them all whipped.

The other night a friend sent me home with two little eggs filled with cat treats for Riley and Jonesy - they had a ball smelling them and trying to figure out how to get them open to eat the treats!   There are still a few treats left so if I rattle them - they both come running!

Didn't it seem like Easter was so far away this year and here we are - it's on Sunday! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful day doing whatever you wish to do and enjoying time with whoever you choose to spend the day with!   Eat lots of chocolate - it doesn't count this weekend!

You're So Vain

Rughooking. What does it mean to you?

Blogging. What does it mean to you?

I find both relaxing. I met some of the most talented and incredible people through rug hooking and blogging and have learned so much from fellow rug hookers and fellow bloggers.

I feel I have many new friends even though I have not met many in person yet we all share a similar bond whether it’s rug hooking, blogging, our stories of our lives, whatever.

I have even met a number of people in person through each that have become very good friends.

All of this makes me smile.

While I’m “blog hopping”, if I come across a blog that isn’t my “cup of tea” so to speak, I simply click out of it, I would never think of leaving a spiteful or hurtful comment saying something about their house or children or animals or whatever they choose to post about, I just leave and move on to the next that may tickle my fancy or not.

So that brings me to my last post. My intention was just to re-visit a few of my rugs as part of my post not to open up a controversy. I feel this needs to be addressed after opening my emails yesterday morning. I certainly felt your love and support. My blogging intention isn't to pass on negativity so this type of post won't be a habit.

Here is a comment that appeared as a result of my last blog post:

newburyarts has left a new comment on your post "Can't Go Back to Memphis":

*****as for the cat rug, I know the company and they are one of the tops in the business. the so-called problem is an easy one to fix...you simply are a rank amateur and therefore they did not choose to respond. did you not ever learn of the rug specifically drawn off grain and hooked by joan moshimer? worked out perfectly...but she knew what she was doing! perhaps you should learn more about the craft and the fact that designs DO NOT have to be drawn on the straight of the grain...the rest of us who know what they are doing seem to be able to accomplish this. perhaps it because the southern hookers, like the texans, are rather poor!

I received so many comments and emails regarding this comment. Apparently so many people have received comments from this person who chooses not share with anyone and therefore how could we all know of his/her greatness? I don’t care what is said to me as I could have very easily have hit the delete comment but truly feel bad some others are hurt by the words of another.
The word “Bigot” came to mind after reading that post. ((Definition of BIGOT: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance ) and really doesn’t deserve this attention.

I do appreciate all your comments and support on my.   Apparently this person that doesn’t enjoy my blog and many of yours is monitoring our blogs nonetheless and has read your comments and felt the need to leave this comment this morning on the same post ….

newburyarts has left a new comment on your post "Can't Go Back to Memphis":

*****well...thanks for the laughs "ladies" and after looking at your blogs, it is nice to know that bad taste is alive and well in the lower middle class segment of the needlework world. from little pugs sitting on ugly rugs to a fool who won't be able to use her hand soon...please continue to let it all out so that the internet world can get a glimpse inside your unattractive homes and mediocre lives. cheers and happy trails!

Sorry, I really do not understand how we all have become targets of this blogland bully. How much nicer it would be if this person is so great at rug hooking that they would be sharing in a positive manner that people could learn from!)  (Oh and just to share - I heard that this person has left a comment that he or she is a Physician – can you image their bedside manner! Holy hell! Oh and for you girls going to the “Camp Wool” Hook-In – I understand you will be blessed with the presence of this person – Hmmm wonder if the red carpet will be rolled out - LOL)
I think perhaps we just need to laugh this off as totally “unbelievable” or perhaps we should be very sad that someone is that insecure they feel the need to try to make someone else feel so bad about their life in order to make themselves feel better. It must be a truly lonely world to think one is so self-important and superior to the rest of the world,  To me there is no “class sytem” - . Everyone has a life and their own story and deserves respect as such.  I for one love pics of Pugs on Rugs, I love seeing all your lovely houses whether you have lots of money or none at all.  It's the sharing and creativeness that shines through on all of your blogs and for the most part the community spirit out there.  To know that when the chips are down someone is there with a kind word or an action in a way sometimes even our closest relatives can't be. 

Moving on – again I want to thank each and every one of you that have shared your life and stories through emails and your blogs and call you my friend.



Just want to mention that this “rank amateur” as I was called in the above comment had to re-draw 4 of the cats, I had to add linen to one side to make it work, and have some border to “whip” the edges. I know, I know what you thinking – how in the world did this little pea brain of mine figure out a solution being such an amateur – but I tell you it was a job but I did it – All this was accomplished from start to finish in three days – whipped and on the floor. Image that from this amateur (Definition of Amateur:  1 : devotee, admirer  2: one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession  3 : one lacking in experience and competence in an art or science
Okay my friends, I say let's just hit that delete button on unkind comments and let's just shake it off and do the tickle dance!

Can't Go Back to Memphis

Well I'm not in Memphis but my husband is - I haven't been there since 1994 when we were married in Tennessee!  My husband is there until Wednesday for about the 3rd time in the past few months for work.  Lucky guy!  Actually I may have been able to tag along but he would be working all day and Memphis isn't really the safest place to be traveling out and about alone - and as you know - I will go about anywhere! LOL

Anyway I don't having the house to myself now and then.   No worries about making dinner, about not having the TV on (don't know why but if I'm sitting quietly hooking my husband seems to think I should have the TV on - too funny - I don't mind total quiet now and then.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my eye.  I've gone back to the eye doctor today and now am on an antibiotic - it's not any better and may be a tad worse.  I'm supposing it's an infection or an allergy or a cold in the eye.  Who knows.  Will see if these drops (4 times a day - yuk!) do anything.  So it's the glasses this week again until I go back end of the week.   No pain for me just feels like there is an eyelash in there or something.  Always something

And speaking of always something - it was back to the garage to today - I needed them to "light up my life".  Saturday night my friend and I were leaving and get in my car to take her home and started out and no lights!   I thought since it was pouring rain and no moon and really dark that was it since it was a back road wooded area?  Nope - no lights.  They did work on the high beams though so had to drive home like that - no running lights, no parking lights, no low beams, no fog lamps! Geez - Apparently - and who knew this? IF one light is out for a period of time it blows them all!   Well my one running light was out for a week or so.  My husband was going to get a bulb and change it and never got around to it - but really - a running light - not all cars have them so what was the rush!  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr So spent about 1 1/2 hours at the garage waiting for my car - had them to a lube and filter change too. 

Last week on my venture out towards Lancaster, I had stopped in a Shabby Chic/Vintage type store.  It was in an old house and I saw they hung two vintage aprons as a valance in the window.  I thought it looked pretty cool but I do not have  a window in my kitchen and didn't think it would look good in my dining room.  I do have a pass-thru in the kitchen to the living room of which i had a valance on each side already. 

So......

What do you think (Oh the pic looks like it covers half the pass thru - really only covers the top 1/4)  Anyway - this is an apron I made when I was about 7 in 4H - not cute like the vintage ones they had hanging but tried it.  So is it too country? Too cutesy? Cool?  My kitchen is filled with tin and agate and stuff like that.  I used to have this apron hanging over on the other way over an agate strainer. 

Thought I'd show you (or maybe re-visit) a couple of rugs I had rolled up for the past few months due to the issues with Miles - I can't tell you how many times I had cleaned his puke off these rugs that I finally cleaned them real good and rolled them up for a bit.

This is a design by Karen Kahle called Antique Rose Runner - I believe I hooked this in 2005 -  it's in the "pink" room alongside the antique iron bed...

This one lays in front of the bed in the same room.  I can't even tell you the troubles I had with this rug - it was drawn so far off grain that one side half the cats butt was missing and the other side no face when i lined up the border - and to top it off the pattern only had 1 1/2" or less of border around it - Needless to say I will never recommend or order another pattern from this company.  No customer service whatsoever and when I called and wrote to tell them my dilemma - they had no response and never replied to any emails.  Still it got finished and I always thought these cats looked like Miles - an Abyssinian. I probably hooked this in 2007 or around there.

This is a pattern by Vermont Folk Rug - Flower Power I think is the name of it. Not 100% on that.  This I used all wools I had marbleized.  This is laying in front of the window in the same room.   I think i hooked this in 2009 or maybe 2008 (I know Kathy - had I labeled them I would know definitely)

Hope your week is going good!

Little Magic Glasses

Well I've been stuck wearing my glasses all week.  An eye doc appointment on Monday resulted in having to take out my contacts and wear my glasses and come back on Friday due to a "cloudy area" in my eye which was "irritated".  Back today and have to go back on Monday again - vision in the eye is better but something still isn't right.  Told to rest the eye and not do close work (I'm sitting as far away from the computer as I can! LOL).  I was supposed to go to a hook-in tomorrow but will not be going tomorrow as being in a room full of wool and hooking all day wouldn't fall into the "resting the eye" category! 

Anyway - it doesn't really hurt - just a wee bit bothersome.  So I guess iffen I was a "napping" type of person I could just sleep the weekend away!  

Well despite having to wear my glasses (which I hate when I'm out) I ventured out to Grant Street (again) on Thursday. 

Another fun day with loads of belly laughs and silliness and actual work getting done!

I did some "wool therapy" shopping - hey I have a bad peeper so I had to cheer up that eye right?

Joan (the bionic hooker) came and has finished her dog rug... colors are wonderful in person...

Jackie and Bonnie showed up (which always means a full pumpkin patch full of laughs)... Forgot to take Bonnie's pic -she's still scrambling her eggs.  Jackie got a lot done on her dancing bunnies this week.  She's making this for her grandson  Jack who has decided exactly what colors and what he wants on this rug - So I'm sure next week this rug will be done!

Nancee is just about done with her dog rug - It's supposed to be her Mom's dog and her dog - It's another beauty in person....

Oh poor Kathy - she's either crying from laughing so hard or the fact she just about took her finger off.  She received a package from her secret pal and one of the gifts was one of those little battery operated fans.  Well she had it buzzing (sounding like a lawn mower) and next thing you know she's yelling OUCH or something like that!   She got her finger too close to the blades - Thank goodness they aren't metal blades or I'm thinking she would be taking up another hobby!  Anyway we were all howling with laughter - thinking back on that  that might not have been too nice of us!   Oh heck, it was funny!  Bet her secret pal had no clue they gave her a weapon!

I also had a secret pal gift for Easter.  I'm thinking my secret pal is way too generous - It's only April and I've gotten a trunk load of gifts so far!

This time I got a candle on a hog scraper - really cool.  An old strainer filled with RED woolly worms and some fabric eggs, some Reeces pieces, two chocolate scented bunny tart melters (oh my goodness my entire first floor smells like chocolate from these two little things, and some peeps!  OH yea and some cat treats for the boys!  Thank you my secret pal - I'm thinking you need to take a break - you've been way too generous but I so love everything so thank you.

This picture is for the BRAT - and she knows exactly who she is and I wasn't amused to find this in my bag this morning....

At the Sheep Shearing a few weekends ago I started this antique adaptation rug "Kinderhook Flower Basket" - I had it almost done except for the border by the end of the night and finished it today.  For those that know me - I RARELY "revervse hook" or pull out or whatever you want to call it - but I did a lot on this rug.  After I got the flower and basket and leaves in and some of the shading around it - I didn't like the rest of the "lines" - just couldn't find the right thing.

Well I actually had the right colors but I cut this one wool (see the wool pic and see the piece) one way and when I hooked it - it just looked "pebbly" to me around the flowers.  And I only had a little bit left so needed to get another piece and once I cut the wool in the other direction - the colors and everything feel into place.  

Anyway wasn't sure on some of the other things but thanks to Kathy (and new wools at Grant St) she picked out the perfect faded looking wool to use for the very outside border.  The funny thing about this was earlier she had been folding some of that wool and I'm like "i don't like that!".  Well just goes to show you never know.

This is a bad pic taken tonite and it's dark out - will try to get a better shot of it when I finish the binding. 

I do love the drab and antique look to rugs and always struggle to do that - I tried so hard to keep this one neutral and it was hard for me to keep those yellow flowers in - Almost all my rugs have red in them and those flowers nearly got changed to red about 10 times!  I'm liking how this turned out I think. 

Today I went outside and picked some Spring and brought it in the house...

Oh and remember my onion skin dyed eggs.  Well my boy Riley took "egg scratching" to the next level as you can see - they were soooo pretty (oh and they are a darker red/redware color - bad camera or bad camera operator!) - however the scratches are there! 

Wishing everyone a great weekend!

Back in Black

I want to thank everyone that entered my contest - I really had fun reading the comments and making you all guess!  Sue,your egg will be on it's way to you tomorrow!  And for the person that emailed and said she entered and had the right answer - I am really sorry - I went back thru all my emails and thru my spam and never received an email - if I had, I certainly would have given you credit on getting the correct answer - I did post almost daily stating there had been no correct guesses to date so I do not know what else I could have done.

Well today the weather turned - it went up into the 80's and was sunny.  Of course first day in a while that it was sunny and I had an eye doctor appointment.  Don't you hate those drops that dilate your eyes and then they send you out in the bright sunshine and you have to find a way to drive home!  Well I made it safely home and the eye doctor told me  not do anything but relax for a few hours but did I listen?   Nope! 

I decided I should be thoroughly embarrassed at the state of affairs in my car and the dust and grime so my car got a thorough cleansing inside.  I didn't do the outside because it's supposed to rain the next few days.  Amazing what one finds in ones car when one cleans it out!  Why did I have 8 pairs of mittens/gloves?  Why did I have 3 pair of shoes under the back seat?  Why did I have 3 coats in the very back?  I found some pens, lots of loose change, some earrings I had been looking for (who knew!) and more!  Well it's organized now and hopefully will stay that way - well at least until I get into the car again and grab a coffee and spill it!

Between cleaning the car I decided to try out my Caromal Colours paint that I had bought almost a year ago and hadn't tried.  I had seen the demonstration at the York Folk Art Show (and they advertise a lot in Country Living) and thought this stuff is for me.   I am not a painter, make more of a mess than I care to tell you, and usually ruin things.  This paint is supposed to adhere to anything without priming and sanding and can just "slap it on" and make it look good! 

Well if you remember my give-a-way last week on guessing the "footstool" - this was all prompted because I found one at a thrift store and my idea is to refinish it and hang a rug on it.

So first I had to gather my supplies and clean the stool - the only prep work you need to do with this paint is to be sure things are clean and dust free.

As you can see - this is heavily varnished and normally you would have to sand and sand to apply new stain or paint...

Oh this would be the Project Manager Ollie (The neighbor's cat who supervises anything I do outside - he looks just like our first kitty Sid who is sorely missed)

The Project Engineers Jonesy and Riley were none too happy having to stay in the office for the day...they wanted to be out in the field with me and Ollie...

I decided not to use two colors and the chipping creme but just use one color,and the toner - so I picked Peppercorn (black) - here it is after I slapped the paint one with a brush - still wet in this picture.  The paint is very thick - you can use it as thick or as thin as you want.  I did find after checking on the drying that some of the stain/varnish was showing thru so I guess I put it on too thin or else it soaked it up - so I did it again and when it was dry it looked great...

Next was taking the sander to it and distressing it - I thought "Oh no, what the heck did I do" - I used our electric hand sander and thought I went a bit too far......

Oh yea, look at the Supervisor.... a lot of help he is...Geeshhhh Management...

Well I went ahead and applied the toner and then wiped it off.  It was dark by the time it dried but will check it out in the light tomorrow but I really like how it came out....

The only thing I have to do yet is apply wax to it and then it's done - well until I decide what little rug to hook and attach.

So all in all I like the Caromal Colours.  I really want to do my bathroom cabinets with the two colors and chipping creme but will practice on another piece I have to refinish first and then may attempt it!

Another plus for these paints is it actually washes off your hands with soap and water and the brush clean up was a breeze too - that's always a plus in my book.

On Sunday I went to the local flea market, it had just opened last weekend so I was excited to see what treasures I could find.  I was very disappointed - didn't find anything at all and what I did like was way over priced!  On Saturday I had gone to another flea market and did manage to find a rug hook for $1 and a little metal "occupied japan" pin cushion for $1 but that was it! 

On Friday I met up with my friend Sharon,  at the Cinnamon Stick .  After watching Sharon do some retail therapy and taking pictures...

Silly girls...

Trying to be serious for the camera....

Sharon and I headed out for lunch and to the local Antiques Mall.  Again no treasures were found but it was a fun day despite the weather.  Always a good day hanging out with Miss Sharon.

Thursday was the hook-in at Grant Street - another fun day full of laughs, as usual..

Bonnie was still scrambling her eggs.

Genny and her sister (sorry I didn't get her name) working hard

Jackie got far on her rug - it's gorgeous in preson...

She however decided to start another -the 3 antique dancing bunnies...

Love the colors she's using for the bunnies...

Jill pulled a few loops on her sheep rug...

Kathy and Barb were stitching away...

Nettie was seeing "stripes" as she worked on her horse rug...

Nancee was working on her dog rug...

Not sure if Linda even pulled a loop - she did look at her rug though....

Sherri is making some cool cats...

And later Linda telling a story about her and Kathy driving down the rug, demonstrating how she had her hands on the wheel, ...(well you just had to be there)

I missed getting everyone in the pics - the place was hopping all night!

So all in all it was a good week.

Hoping to get back to Grant Street this week - We shall see how the week progresses. 

Well so much for the nice day - it's pouring rain as I type!  Have a great week!

My Ding-A-Ling (Reveal and Winner!)

Okay - I understand this has driven a number of you crazy over the past week!  I really thought for sure that it would have been easier - but I sure had fun! Did you?

Okay remember this...

So what is it?

Well it isn't any of these (a handful of the actual responses)....

portable confession booth

decided this would have been a good spot to put a little chamber pot - and have a back rest while you are going about your business.  Then I saw the back of it..........and laughingly, I said..........well, it could be a twosome. A butt on each side.

Is it used to carry buckets from a barn or something?


could it be for a card game or could it be for a TV tray of some kind or a toiletries wash up station

a candle shelf

do~dad to sit on the table. ha ha ha It could have condiments on either side & taken off the table when not in use

wondering if it is some kind of rug smoother or mangle?

a fireplace screen

some type of a game board. The players can't see each others stuff and only talk thru the opening at the top.

courting or bundling board

a sack turner

a carrier/holder for the TV guide and remote controls

a voting desk

Well sorry - it's none of the above!

What it is is a FOOT STOOL (footrest/leg rest)  and this is how it works...

Believe it or not - it's actually quite comfortable.   It's really great with a rocking chair as it will rock with you. 

I am sorry  - I do not have the answers to what area is it from, what time period, whether there is an actual name for it, etc.  Do any of you have any ideas of where I can send a picture of it to and maybe get someone to tell me more or perhaps some history on it (a free site of course).  As I have found one at a yard sale and one at a thrift store (and my idea is to refinish them and hook a rug to hang on the one side and re-sell it) I know I'm not crazy and have the only one.  There are people out there that actually know what it is.

However, no one guessed the correct answer on the blog but I am still going to give away two little redware eggs.  I wrote everyone's name on a slip of paper that left a comment or emailed or texted me or told me their thoughts and rolled them all in balls

Riley helped stir them all up (there were over 30 of them)

I dumped them out on the floor and Riley and Jonesy went about choosing the winners (Jonesy loves paper balls)

Here are the winners...

Sue from October Girls blog (Sue if you could send me your address via email I will get your egg out in the mail!
and Genny W. (she's from the hook-in out in Grant St where I go- I will take an egg with me next time I go out there and hand deliver that one!)

Congrats ladies.  I hope you like your eggs.

I hope you have enjoyed this guessing game and hope I didn't disappoint anyone with the "reveal"!

Have a wonderful day.

My Ding-A-Ling-A-Ling

When I was a little biddy boy

My grandma bought me a cute little toy

Two Silver bells on a string

She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling

My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling

My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling

When I was little boy In Grammar school

Always went by the very best rule

But Evertime the bell would ring

You'd catch me playing with my ding-a-ling

Once while climbing the garden wall,

Slipped and fell had a very bad fall

I fell so hard I heard birds sing,

But I held on to My ding-a-ling

Once while swimming cross turtle creek

Man them snappers right at my feet

Sure was hard swimming cross that thing

with both hands holding my dingaling

Now this here song it ain't so bad

Prettiest little song that you ever had

And those of you who will not sing

must be playing with your on Ding-a-ling

Wilbury Twist

Okay - It's Wednesday - I have had the correct answer from Linda of Grant Street but she disqualified herself for a prize so the contest is extended until this Friday and I promised a hint!  So for the way to enter, check out my April 1 post.

Here is your hint:

You would generally use/have this item in the living room

Put your hand on your head (hand on your head)
Put your foot in the air (foot in the air)

Then you hop around the room (hop around the room)

In your underwear (in your underwear)

Ain't ever been nothin’ quite like this

Come on baby it’s the Wilbury Twist

Lift your other foot up (other foot up)

Fall on your ass (fall on your ass)

Get back up (get back up)

Put your teeth in a glass (teeth in a glass)

Ain't ever been nothin’ quite like this

It's a magical thing called the Wilbury Twist

Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist

Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist

Roll up your rug (roll up your rug)

Dust your broom (dust your broom)

Ball the jack (ball the jack)

Howl at the moon (at the moon)

Ain't ever been nothin’ quite like this

Everybody's talking ‘bout the Wilbury Twist

Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist

Glass Onion

Once again, don't forget to send me a guess for my Give-A-Way on my April 1 post.   It seems most of you want a redware egg as the prize so 2 of these eggs will be given when the winners are chosen.   I hooked these from the wool that I dyed yesterday morning - Of course if you are picked and want one of the other choices, that's fine too!

I am giggling at some of the comments I am getting on "what is it!"  I'm even getting text messages about it and was nearly accosted by a friends sister saying it's driving her crazy! Oh too funny! 

Today was miserable outside - windy and rainy - Riley was amazed at the rain pelting against the slider!  Even scared Jonesy.

Yesterday I mentioned about dyeing hard boiled eggs in onion skins - here are my results after keeping them in the skins over night.  Love how they came out...

I decided not to waste the bath of onion skins - so i took this off white/grayish wool...

And got a nice dark tan with a reddish brown tint (color looks more pink in the pic)

Always fun to see what comes out! 

Have a great day!