Hooking and Flea'ing!

Good Afternoon!

It is such a beautiful weekend weather wise. 

This is how I like - cool mornings and nights and sun and breeze in the afternoon!  Hope it stays around for a good long time.

I see Riley tried to entertain you!  He's a character for sure and a real good guy - right now he's keeping his eye on Miles - Poor Miles is having a bad weekend again - we have a call into the vet and are trying a larger dose on his meds.  Time will tell.  Jonesy is buzzing around the house after playing with a catnip mouse.  He'll crash in a few I'm sure! hahaha!

Saturday I demonstrated rug hooking at the Hilltown Fall Festival in Hilltown, PA.  It was a beautiful day.  We were placed inside the house (not the best lighting) but I made do.  Juliana had never demonstrated before and she was excited to do it.  She game in a beautiful colonial dress she made herself and bonnet - She looked great.  She also brought a basket of onion skins, black walnuts, marigold, and more to show what they used to dye their wool with. 

Here's a pic of Juliana talking with someone about rug hooking

Doesn't she look like she stepped out of the 1800's!  (Oh and don't look at the electric light!)

Here are two of her rugs she brought for display also.

We also shared the room with a couple that antique kitchen items and tools and things.  Did you ever see a "carriage wheel jack" - I should have gotten more pics.  The woman had a "walking" spinning wheel and was giving demonstrations on spinning wool

Not the best picture - there was a steady stream of people all day so I never really got outside to take other pictures.  Throughout the house there were different vendors and demonstrators set up and outside was mostly vendors - kettle corn, jewelry, old books, leather making, floral, photography, antiques, and more.

From the amount of people, it certainly seemed a success.

Today I decided since it was so nice and out and all I did was sit yesterday, to go to the flea market.  Beautiful days brings out more people.  The place was completely packed.   Of course, to me, most of it was just junk.  Had to giggle at the amount of people selling their "country" collections, I think I saw more ruffles, bears, wood plaques, dried flower arrangements and such then I have in a long time!  There were a few people selling some decent antiques - some too pricey then I could pay but I did find this cool old basket ($8)  it's a great size and think it will be good to take with me for rug demonstrating to keep my noodles/worms in or even at home.

I  like it because it's not deep so I'll be able to see the colors better.

I also found this old bench/stool -  This one is in wonderful shape not a thing wrong with it.  I got a great deal on it ($7!) because it was just about the end of the day there (people start leaving around 10:30-11:00) and it was tucked behind other things so I do not think anyone saw it!   It will be used in the "pink" room in front of the window so the boys (kitties) can jump up into the window.  I have a wicker stool there now but my big lug Riley always jumps from it to the window and it falls over!

Now I plan on hooking and hooking and hooking!

Hoping everyone got out and enjoyed the weather today!

Taking the Controls!

Hi - My name is Riley - this is my Mom's blog and she had to go bed early cause she has to get up early to do some kinda rug demolition tomorrow - i think that's what she said - wait, she said demo'ing - whatever that means!  Anyways - she left on her computer so I thought I would show you some pictures of me and my brothers instead of those silly rugs she makes - well i'm a guessin they aren't too silly as they are so comfy to nap on - and i love my naps!

I really wish Mom was up then we'd be watching Dark Shadows - my TV - I always help do that part!  - It's magic I tell you!

Sometimes I get scared watching Dark Shadows and other times I love my front row seat

Ohhh that Angelique is so pretty but she's really a meanie - I certainly wouldn't want to be on her bad side! Don't mind the mess - Mom has this rug room really messy right now - but I have fun playing in everything and sometimes even scaring her to pieces when she doesn't know where I'm hiding!

It's Riley in a Box! (I crack myself up!)

Here's my brother Miles

 I've been trying to keep watch over him even though after 4 years he still just growls at me all the time - he just never feels good anymore and he's just skin and bones.  I still pull up a pillow and take naps next to him (after he falls asleep of course) just in case he may need me - I don't even wrestle him like I do Jonesy - I'm a big boy and he's not even 5 pounds Mom said.  She also said we have to be careful with him so we don't hurt him and we have to watch where we walk cause he throws up all the time and me and Jonesy make a game of hopping over piles! Yuk I know!  Mom also said we need to fatten him up so I always offer my treats to him

but he doesn't even want them.  Mom sometimes gives him some "soft" treats and he likes them better than the crunchy.  Me, I loves me some party mix - my favorite. 

Jonesy is my little brother - We do almost everything together - wrestle, play, eat, nap!

We love to help Mom and hang with her most of the day

This is Jonesy on Mom's left side last nite...

And me on the right side of Mom...

Dad came up and  saw us called Mom a "tiger sandwich".   I sure hope she doesn't eat tigers!

We always try to get as close as we can to her!  Now Jonesy - he usually gets Mom's lap and uses her as a bathtub!   Me, I'm more dignified and take my baths in my basket.

We had a pretty good summer but it was way too hot.  I told Mom next year I want one of these swimming pools if it's so hot - She just said "we will see". 

Well the window is open in here and it's getting pretty chilly - I need to go snuggle up with my Mom .  That darn Jonesy wakes us both up in the morning way too early for my taste. He bounces on the bed - digs at Mom and Dad - puts his cold nose on all of us and just plain disturbs us in the morning!  Me,  I love to sleep in snuggled on Mom's butt but he's up sometimes at 5:00 a.m. Can you image!  I've been trying to teach him but he's a "morning" dude just like Gandpa!

Nite-O!

Trying to Get Things Done!

I am so itching to make a rug for myself but I told myself while I was unemployed I will take whatever opportunities I can to sell some items.   So I have a few things upcoming I have to prepare for.  One of the things I will be doing is having a table at a 2-day event -  I keep asking myself why I have decided to take this on keep asking myself why I am doing this alone, will i have enough stuff, how can I make my table look appealing, what will people want to buy - and many more things are running through my head as the date gets closer. 

Of course I wasted most of the summer, I really could have gotten more done but it was so darn hot even with the a/c on !  Honestly, I think when I was working full time I accomplished more things than I do now!

This weekend I decided no starting any new projects - I had to finish binding, labeling, and pricing what I did have and then move on from there. So that's what I have spent the past few days doing!  I'd sooner hook a room size rug than sew on one label! 

Here's a sampling (no particular order and some you may have seen before from the hook-ins or whatever) of some of the rugs that I have done the past few months and some prior to that - yesterday I finished steaming them all and they are all labeled and priced and put in a tub awaiting either the 2-day show, the Folk Art Sale in December, a handful will go to The CP tomorrow, and today some went to live at the Mercer Museum's gift shop.   Oh and remember the pics aren't that great - can never get true colors with my camera (I'm sure it's me and not the camera!)

I'm trying to keep hook mostly smaller size mats a nd only a handful of larger ones.   I also have those crows, cat heads, magnets, and zinc lid pin cushions to add to the table and hope to get some feather tree and skirts made too and a few more smaller rugs!  Oh my stars, why do i do this to myself!

Enjoy your day!

Just Crowin' Around

Well actually instead of just screwin' around doing nothing, I decided to do some crowing!

Today I got out the black wool and made some crows - yep - can you say "Primitive"!  The crows all came out different sizes - some with big heads and some with skinny backends, and one poor crow looks like it's pregnant! That's because I just hand cut the fabric instead of tracing a crow and cutting it out properly! Anyway - Here's my crows!

I think the reason for the crows is all Judy of The Spice Cupboard Blog's fault.  I met up with my friend Sharon, of Moosecraft's Blog, and we went to her Fall open house (What fun it was shopping there - lots of goodies to be tasted, lots of items to choose from - I tried to behave but she had a lot of black cats - a favorite of mine!) !  Well Judy was talking about her upcoming "Crow Convention" at the Cinnamon Stick and the candy called "Crows" - So there you go - my idea bloomed!

I also mentioned in a previous post about Jonesy and his love of pork products - well look at what I found...

He must have taken that invitation I received to a pig roast out of the trash and hung it up above his bed!  Image that! 

Today actually felt like a beautiful fall day - the humidity "has left the area" (hopefully for good) and there was a nice breeze and sun!  Hoping the weekend stays like that!

Happy Friday to all!

Labor Day Weekend Motivation and a Sweet Gift from a Friend

Thanks everyone for your comments on my penny magnets.  Still not sure what to do - and as for size -I traced a water bottle lid (because it was here!) so they aren't that big!  Next piece of linen I'm working on I'll sneak in some larger ones between the projects (I generally draw more than one project on a piece of backing).

On Saturday I received a package in the mail!  Oh my goodness, Lauren of Rugs and Pugs , a wonderful friend I met thru blogging and a fellow rug hooker, sent me the sweetest necklace.  She said it looked like me and she's right - Love this type of jewelry!  On the back of the pendant it says "I Love my Cat' - Just love it - thank you so much Lauren - you are so sweet to think of me like that!

Well I finally got some motivation this weekend.  I had this light brown plaid piece of wool that just wasn't right for hooking so decided to use it to make some pillows so I hooked my projects directly on the wool.

I also had a couple of different Halloween fabrics so I decided to make a couple of the ball jar pin cushions today. Hey someone may like them rather than the standard everyday fabrics!

I also decided to make some wool cat face fillers yesterday.

Before I could do the assembly on the cat faces and pillows, I  had to run to the craft store for some stuffing - I used all my snippets on the last batch of pin cushions I made and only had enough snippets from recent projects for about 4 of them.  So I printed off my 50% off one item coupon and took my list of "needs' and off I went.  Then I totally remember that today was Labor Day and this one house about 3 miles from me always has an awesome yard sale on Labor Day - I have found some of my favorite treasures there - well I zipped on down and started kicking myself in the butt (well i woulda if i coulda) cause it was 11:00 and I knew it was too late - all the really great treasures were already gone.    Their neighbors were having a sale too - so I did manage to come away with a few things at both - pictures to follow.

One little silly thing I found was this walking piglet - he walks and his nose wrinkles up and he makes a piggy noise and his tail moves.  Well it was only $1 and I had to buy it for Jonesy - We call him the "Baconator" - he loves all pork products - bacon, sausage, ribs, pork chops, etc. (oh and he loves chicken and beef and seafood to - not much my little guy doesn't like) Anyway I thought it would be a fun toy for him.  Well don't you know he's scared of it - so much so we had to put it back in the box!  Anyway - as you can see from this first picture - Riley is checking out the pig (smelling his butt like a cat will do - I was hysterical laughing I almost couldn't take the picture) and then the next pic is poor Jonesy backing away from the piglet as he kept walking!

I also bought this old aluminum lunch box (forgot to take a picture) the woman was probably in her 60's or 70's and she said it had been her fathers - I just thought it was cool and I bought this antique blackboard from her too

There was roadside stand with veggies and PUMPKINS!  Couldn't resist buying pumpkins!

I also bought this white basket for $1 at the yard sale - it's a nice size and I think it will be nice to hold wool I'm working on while I'm working on a project.  It was really chipped up and dirty. So I gave these baskets a bath with the hose (Oh and the pink one Kathy gave me a few weeks ago - just ask her for anything - she'll give it to you - she's in the mood to purge! Just teasing you Kath...). 

Then spray painted them...

I may just re-spray the "charcoal" one that had been white - Will wait until it is totally dry - The cap showed it darker but it's more silvery than pewter.  Not sure yet.

Here are pictures of the projects I completed today:

Do you think I should just leave these guys at bowl fillers or do you think I should hang a wire on them or a piece of twine?  They are about 5" wide and 4" tall.  Oh I'm just so indecisive aren't I!

You can't tell it from the photo but love the fabric on the one pin cushion - it's little pumpkins, bats, black cat, and broom - but it's also aged looking.  The other is orange with black cats...

Now if I only can keep up this spirit of motivation - I'll be in great shape - Keeping my toes crossed I can!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

What do you think? Opinions Needed

First, wanted to say Congrats again to Julie of Primitive Heartstrings.  I had a nice note from her and so happy she has won the rug.  Be sure to check out her blog and picturetrail here, love the work she does!

Okay - been trying to come up with some ideas for a table I will be trying to sell some of my "wares" at next month.  I have made numerous small mats and of course will be selling some of the pincushions.  I think I need a number of small inexpensive items that I can make a lot of (it's a two day festival).   I made up these little hooked pennies first with the intention of making them into ornies for the feather trees I make, then decided they were too large for that, then my second thought was pins, but everyone does pins.  So I decided to make them into little magnets.

Here's a picture of a few of the ones I did (i do have some more!) Okay what do you think?  Are these silly?  Would you buy one?  How much should I charge if I sell them? Should i just save them and give them away with a purchase of a rug? 

The hooking part takes no time - just a few strips of wool on linen, then i glued a wool circle on the back and then glued on the magnet.   The magnets do cost money (I was surprised at how much a little magnet cost! LOL).  Anyway - just curious about this and would love comments - truthfully!  Oh and Kathy - do you recongize your cupcake pan in this picture - hehehehe!

I still don't know what else to make "little" - rug hooking isn't the most conducive to "small items" - even something simple like an ornament and assembling it takes time and money and you just don't want to give things away!

Hoping everyone is having a great Holiday weekend.

Post 200 - AND THE WINNER IS...

Good Morning Friends!

Well it's finally here - the 200th post.  I was away all week and came home yesterday.  Last night the boys and I decided to pick a winner.  All 50 plus names were put in a little basket.  Jonesy was elected to pick the name since he loves paper.  Riley decided to supervise to be sure he only picked one!

Riley wanted to announce the winner since Jonesy got to pick....

And the winner of the hooked rug is...

Julie of My Primitive Heartstrings!

Congrats Julie!   I hope you will enjoy this rug!  Please email me with your particulars at josicat@aol.com  so I can send you your rug.  I do have to apologize in advance, I won't be shipping the rug until next week - My husband ships thru his work and he is off all this upcoming week.  Hope this is okay!  

Thank you all for leaving comments and to some of my friends out there that left several comments! LOL I loved reading every single one of them and hope you continue to leave comments as that's the best part of blogging - the sharing of stories and ideas!  I really had fun with this on and so wish I had a rug to give to everyone.  Hopefully I can do this again sometime!

Everyone please have a happy and safe Holiday weekend!