Cherished Belongings and Things You Love

I've mentioned this sofa table in a previous post, but this is a front view and with closer detail. My dad, who passed away nearly 12 years ago, made this table for me. When he retired from his job, he took up wood working as a hobby. Over the years he made everything from clocks and wooden bowls to desks and framed dressing mirrors. He used to work crossword puzzles a lot and would sit around reading encyclopedias. He had a love of learning and was always reading something, which was surprising since he had never finished high school. He joined the Navy during WWII at the age of 17. During his lifetime, he had been a farmer, a salesman, and a factory worker, and he was a life-long St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan! Anyway, this table is something I cherish because my dad made it!! The wooden bowls on top are part of my wooden bowl collection. I LOVE large old wooden bowls (the more primitive and weathered, the better!) The three big pears were made by my daughter. She is very talented at making her own patterns, and I love the things she creates. I guess the love of creating has been part of three generations. My dad, then me, and now Rachel. I don't know about any generations farther back. That would be interesting to research.

Here is the view from my kitchen, looking down the hallway. The room in the middle of the picture on the left is my living room. The three large bowls are hanging with leather ties from an old tobacco rack. There are hooks along it from which the tobacco leaves would hang in dried bunches. Most of our walls (the non-wood ones!) have a textured finish which we did ourselves. We took drywall compound and made random trowel marks on the walls before painting. It's a nice look like old primitive plaster.

My sister is still in the hospital, but improving, and will hopefully be able to go home soon. I got a much needed haircut today, and now feel a bit scalped! It turned out to be quite a bit shorter than I had planned!! Thank goodness my hair grows fast!

It is raining right now and has been most of the day. At least it is warm! Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Worry and Faith

I received a phone call this morning early that my sister had been taken to the hospital and that she is in intensive care, so as you can imagine, my day began in worry. This sister is two years younger than I and lives within 30 miles distance. Her situation was serious and the cause of her illness is still unknown. While waiting to hear more news, I prayed for her. I prayed for the doctors to have wisdom as to how to treat her. I spent some time praying for family members as well. She has improved, but is still being tested and may be in the hospital for at least the next several days. Praying for someone is so comforting, and I cannot imagine the despair that some experience when there is no faith in God to give peace and to lessen their worry.

The above 5" x 7" mat was one of a series of small designs I created about 6 years ago. These were created specifically for those who would like to try rug hooking without having to buy a large expensive kit. I think when some people start rug hooking, they get bogged down with large projects that leave them discouraged and regretting the expense. These small kits were intended to make trying rug hooking more appealing to beginners. I found that even those who have been hooking for years like the reward of a finished item in just a few days. These small mats can be combined with other items in displays and have been lots of fun to make. The small "Willow House" mat above is one of my favorites. It is simple but cute!

This sunflower mat is 6" x 8" and involved the use of "proddy" to make the sunflower petals. This was fun to hook and compliments any decor. Primitive designs are so appealing!!

I hope you have a great weekend and we'll talk soon.

Contest Winner Announced!!

The guesses have been submitted, the numbers have been recorded, and the winner has been determined. Before I announce the winner's name, I want to thank each one of you who participated. I enjoyed it, and those who commented seemed to enjoy it as well! When I decided to do this, I sat and counted each "worm" as it went into the pint Mason jar. I was totally surprised at the number that it took to fill the jar. I had expected the total to be a far different number. Soooooooo (insert drum roll here in your imagination!) the winner of the first ever Wool Cupboard Contest is...............GAYLE, with the winning guess of 77 worms!! The actual number of wool strips that it took to fill the jar was 57, so you can see, Gayle was pretty close!

I will be sending her prize to her home in the next few days, and will at a later date post pictures of the prize for any who are interested to see it.

Yesterday and all day today were taken up with a yard sale, so I am asleep as I type this! Garage sales are SO MUCH WORK. I have made about 300 trips up and down the stairs to my basement, trashed my house, and endured gale winds outside during the sale today. I know I picked everything up off the ground about 10 times. It sounds like a hurricane going on outside even now and it's raining again! Oh well, enough complaining...at least I made a little fun money and got rid of a lot of excess "stuff". Yard sales are great!!

Have a great weekend!
Linda


Talk to you soon!
Linda

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain.......

Finally, tomorrow we are supposed to get a break from rain! I shouldn't complain, everything looks sooooo green. Yesterday, it rained literally all day except for the several minutes that it hailed!! It was (fortunately) very small hail that fell so quickly that we had "drifts" of hail stones all piled up on our deck.

I am going through a bunch of "stuff" tomorrow in an effort to try to get ready for a garage sale on Thursday. The weather is supposed to be great, so that will help. Garage sales are so much work, and I'd rather be hooking!

The entries for the contest are coming in really well, and I'm glad so many of you are enjoying it. Good luck everyone! By the way, I put a few new items on The Wool Cupboard Shop today, and hope to put new items on more regularly. I've been having a terrible time uploading pictures for the past three days. I think there is some issue with my server. It took 45 minutes to upload two pictures!! UGH!

Have a great day!

For some reason, the items that I added to the sale blog show up only occasionally. I don't know why this is happening, so I will try to solve this problem asap. Sorry for the inconvenience!

First CONTEST!

Thank you for your patience! The picture of the jar from my last post was a little tease for my very first contest. Here is the jar again, and please look closely at the contents. Can you tell what fills this antique pint Mason canning jar? It is WORMS. I don't mean the kind all fishermen love, of course. I'm referring to left over strips of rug hooking wool. (I'm sure most of you knew that, but in the off chance that someone may not know, I had to explain it!) I stuffed the PINT jar with as many as I could easily fit into it. Some are 18" long, some are 12" long, and some are just random lengths. Most are #8 cut, but a few are #6. I counted the strips as I placed them into the jar, so I know exactly how many are there. If you wish to participate in the contest, please leave a comment with the number of strips you think there are. I will wait one week. The FIRST person who correctly guesses the exact number will win the contest. If no one gets the exact number, then the person guessing the closest number will win. In case of more than one with the same guess, then the first one to submit the closest guess will win. I hope I explained that clearly. If you have questions, please email me. I already have several things in mind for rewarding the winner. Because of shipping expenses, I'm sorry I must limit entries to those in the USA and Canada. I will tell you by way of a hint that some of the prize will be rug hooking related, but not all will be. I'm excited and hope this will be fun for you, too!

The hare next to the jar is aged (with paint) cast iron and is something I found one day while shopping in primitives shops. Just within the last couple of weeks while in an antique shop, I saw a pint Mason jar just like the one in the picture. It had a price tag of $225.00!! I did not pay that much for mine!

Not too much going on around here. The weather has been great the last few days, so yesterday I took Olivia and Allison to the Eureka Lake Park. We had a lot of fun together and we got ice cream! Tomorrow morning is soccer, so I'll get to hold Kale for an hour :0) Have a great weekend!

JUST CHAT

This picture must remain a mystery for a while. The reason that it is here will be explained soon, so just ignore it for a day or so.

Did you go to one of the Tax Day Tea Parties? There was one organized for Bloomington, IL, which is close to where I live. I had planned to go, but ended up not participating. Now I'm feeling like I shirked my duty! I watched the coverage of some of them on Fox News tonight, and it made me feel proud to be an American. The people I saw were respectful, well-spoken, knew why they were there and were not afraid to tell you. I had the same feeling that I had right after Sept. 11, when every car you saw on the road had an American flag attached to it, and people were not afraid or ashamed to show their patriotism. I then switched over to CNN...no coverage. I looked at a few other channels and didn't see coverage on them either! I was honestly shocked that so many in the media didn't think it worthy of coverage. Later on Fox, I did see a clip of a female "journalist" from CNN who did make it to one of the parties. She confronted a tall man holding a baby sucking a pacifier (cute little baby!).
Here is the quote of what happened from NewsBusters.org...CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen rudely interrupted one of the protestors and slammed the event for being "anti-government," "anti-CNN," and "not really family viewing." Roesgen asked a man holding his toddler, "Why are you here today?" The man started to respond saying, "Because I hear a president say that he believed in what Lincoln stood for. Lincoln's primary thing was he believed people had the right to liberty and they had the right..."
But Roesgen cut him off him, saying, "But sir, what does that have to do with taxes? What does this have to do with your taxes?" She continued asking questions over his as he asked her to "let me finish my point." One crowd member was heard to yell "shut up" to the Roesgen.
When the man finished his statement about people having the "right to the fruits of their own labor" and "government should not take it," Roesgen began arguing with him again and other protesters began to get upset.
Roesgen backed away claiming that "you get the general tenor of this," tea party. "Anti-government, anti-CNN since this is highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network Fox and since I can't really hear much more and I think this is not really family viewing.

She was arrogant, belligerent, and provocative in her manner of questioning, not to mention rude and judgemental. She may claim to be a journalist, but she is no journalist!! She was not seeking information or clarity, she had an agenda. I become so frustrated trying to watch the main line news programs anymore, that my blood pressure goes up 10 points! Where are the honest people who should be trying to cover what is really happening? They go out with the intent to sway the listeners to their viewpoint. Journalism today has lost its integrity and the result is that we have candidates for major offices who are being HELPED into office by NEWS READERS!! When did campaigning become part of CNN journalists' job description?

Anyway, I really wish I had followed through with my plans to go. I ended up washing windows and screens and doing laundry, which will do little to change the world, especially since a BIRD has already targeted my bathroom window in a fly over! Eeeeeeewwwwwww...

Hope you didn't have to pay much in the way of taxes today!

New Hooking Project Completed

Hope you all had a blessed Easter. Our son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren came over for dinner, and Olivia and Allison enjoyed an Easter egg hunt outside, even though the weather was less than perfect! It was a great day. The pictures are of a new item for me. It is a cell phone pocket to keep your cell phone protected while inside your purse. My daughter suggested this idea. This is the first one completed, and I will post others as available. I think I will make a few changes in the way I sew it together for the rest of them, but I like the way it turned out. I whip stitched with wool around three sides and then around the entire top opening. The top on either side of this first example got a little bulkier than I would like, so I'll have to find a better way to finish it! I'm hoping to make these available in several designs on my selling blog soon. Tonight is another rug hooking gathering, and I'm planning to go. Have a great week, everyone.

MORE FUN HOOKING PROJECTS

Good Morning! Hope you are having a great day. Yesterday was wonderful for me. My sister, Janice is here from TN and she and another sister, Saundra and I spent the entire day going to antique and craft stores and having lunch. We got to spend good quality time catching up on our lives and also saw a lot of great decorating ideas. We have very different decorating styles. Jan has a beautiful home near Knoxville, TN. She likes country French style and her home looks like a magazine picture. Saundra likes more traditional country with touches of country French. I'm the only primitives lover in my family! We also stopped in to see a new kitchen store which has only been open for a few months. They offer cooking lessons for adults and children and have EVERY kitchen gadget imaginable. I am a gadget fanatic, so I thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the fun things to buy for your kitchen. The hooked pins above are some of my own design from several years ago. They are embellished with rusty wire star garland, vintage buttons and wool applique. My personal favorite is the candy corn! The other picture is the view from the entrance to my living room. The sun was shining brightly the day I took this photo, and sunlight always makes a room cozy and cheerful. As you can see, I love old baskets. The sofa table is very valuable to me because my father (who passed away nearly 12 years ago) made it. Please excuse the clutter on my dining table...I was working on some projects! The primitive cupboard against the wall is so perfect for the spot. At Christmas, I decorate it with greenery and tiny white lights. It was one of those "love it as soon as you see it" items! The wood walls (which are individual spruce boards stained to look weathered) do present some decorating challenges, since they are dark. We love the rustic primitive look, though. Have a very blessed Easter with family and friends!!

A Trip to the Antique Mall Today

I hadn't been to the antique mall for quite a while, so I decided today to take a couple of hours and have fun looking. You know how it goes with window shopping, you always find a bargain or something that you just can't pass up. Well, meet my new sugar jar!! The glass is very heavy and has some scratches, but that is the way I like antiques - worn. I'm not sure that the lid is original (I rather doubt it) but I love the look. I just have to decide what to put into the jar. I guess there is always SUGAR. I have so many collections, that I've decided to limit some of them to items "already in my possession." I have quite a few hog scraper candlesticks, and lots of old baskets. I also have pewter, yellow ware, wooden boxes, large wooden bowls, apothecary jars, printers letters, and pantry boxes. Whew! The wooden bowl in the picture is filled with one of my favorite things. Stein fruit and vegetables are so fun. They are very well made, stuffed tightly, and antiqued nicely...my personal favorite are the pea pods!! My granddaughters love playing with the fruit when they come to visit. We have lived in our home for 28 years, and I have NEVER re-arranged the furniture. It just seems right the way it is, but I move my accent items around all the time. I also move pictures and other items on my walls to new locations often.

Will America Ever Be the Same?

It is a dreary rainy Sunday afternoon here. Hope you have sunshine where you are. I've been concerned about the turn we have taken in our country, and I feel that I need to speak up. I'm pretty much a news "junkie" and watch several different news channels and listen to talk radio and read quite a few bloggers and columnists each week. I don't know about you, but I do wonder if America will ever again be as we have known it. If you or I got foolishly into more debt than we could afford to repay, would anyone advise us to go borrow our way out of trouble? NO!! Why do those in power feel that borrowing trillions is the answer to our problems? When did it become a good idea to encourage those who have little ability or inclination to repay a loan to go to their bank and borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase a home? Why do some believe that the Federal Government is wiser than business people when it comes to handling business matters? Government has been unable (unwilling might be a better word to use here) to stay on top of its own spending and borrowing for decades, but now those in power have taken control of PRIVATE businesses and will probably never return control. It is now being reported that some banks have tried to return the TARP money that they received (which was the way it was SUPPOSED to work) and the President is refusing--refusing to accept the returned money (with interest.) What could possibly be the reason for doing this but to keep control of the banks involved. This policy is so wrong on so many levels. Socializing business, banking, and health care will do nothing but harm Americans and marginalize our freedoms and lower our quality of life. I also resent that our President went overseas to speak to the citizens of other countries and criticized his own citizens-calling us arrogant, derisive, and worse! If he feels that way, then tell the American people, not the French! I'm sorry to get up on my soapbox today, but sometimes it is necessary to speak out against government policies which are potentially harmful to America. It is not my aim to offend anyone. I'm simply stating my opinion, and you are certainly free to disagree. I just hope everyone gets involved and holds those whom we elect responsible for the decisions that they make with regard to our freedoms and quality of life. I've already contacted my representatives in Washington to let them know what I think, and I hope that lots of other people do the same. If we don't speak up, then we may find one day that we have lost the right to speak up. I never thought that that would be a possibility in America, but I fear that it is now a very real possibility. I promise to get down off the soapbox...at least for now :0) This rug is one of my own designs from a few years back. It is #8 cut hand dyed and as found wools on linen, and measures 13" x 9 1/2". I like the folk art look. The rug is embellished with a star button and a bead eye on the crow. Have a great week, and God Bless America.

Olivia & Allison Play Soccer!

Today we went to watch our granddaughters play soccer. It was only their second game, and it was windy and COLD! They have never played before this year, so they are just learning the game. As you can see, they did get involved and they did very well. I held Kale on the sidelines and tried to keep him bundled up against the wind. It was a lot of fun! I'm starting a pretty large rug this week, and hope to have pictures for you soon. I'll try to post some during the process. I also have another project in mind which should go faster than the rug! Hope it's sunny and warm at your house. It did get into the mid 50's this afternoon, so today was nice! Have a great weekend.

Cougar and Zeb (aka Vlad, the Impaler)

We have inherited several neighborhood cats by simply putting food and water out for them. These two are brothers (a few months apart!!) Cougar, in the bottom photo, has from the beginning been a standout as far as beauty goes. His fur is shiny and evenly striped and he is just nice to look at. He loves people and has a kind of "all is well with the world" personality. Oh yes, and he LOVES to eat! He can be an acre away and as soon as he hears the door open and the food bag rustle, he is like a shot across the yard and in the bowl! He also loves to be stroked and will sit in your lap for hours if you let him. The cat in the rear behind Cougar in the top picture is Zeb, or as we affectionately call him, "Vlad, the Impaler." He gets this name from his habit of somehow puncturing you with one or more of his claws every time he comes near you! It is unintentional, but he just can't help it. He has not yet learned to use his "inside" feet! Both Cougar and Zeb/Vlad are outdoor cats until we open a door and then they are temporarily "indoor" cats. They know we are going to catch them and reintroduce them to the great outdoors, so they hide from us (usually between the sofa back and the slipcover). You can see the telltale paws just standing still and waiting...hoping you won't find their safe haven! Zeb is also highly motivated by food. We usually coax him out of his hiding spot with some kind of treat. They are good company when we are outside (and often while we are inside) and a lot of fun! I have added a slide show to the blog, which I hope you enjoy. We live in an area where we can only get dial-up internet connection (unless we go the satellite route), so uploading pictures takes hours and hours. Hopefully, someday we will be able to get high-speed internet. I've started adding items to my new selling blog, and plan to add things as I have time. Our town has town-wide garage sales this month, so I need to buckle down and get things ready for a much needed sale. I'm trying to simplify and organize and work toward not having so much "stuff" around. Clutter and crowded rooms have really become irritating, so I'm thinning out my "collections!" It must be epidemic, because I have heard several people lately complaining about having too many "things" in their rooms. Have a great week!