Wonderful Wreaths

I'm still in a serious Fall mood, so I'm posting this picture of a wreath I decorated . The flowers are dried and some are faux. The pumpkin is papier mache' that I painted with acrylic paint and then antiqued for a prim look. Wreaths are so cheerful to me. Whenever I see a great wreath in a home or a shop or in pictures, it makes me smile. There is a floral shop near my home whose main decorator is very talented. Her wreaths are breathtakingly beautiful (and expensive!) She doesn't over-do them or make them too fussy. They are generally simple, airy & light, and unusual...not run of the mill. I think that that would be a great job! I would love to see her home and the wreaths she has made for herself. Maybe she is like the plumber whose home has leaky pipes, or the roofer with the hole in his own roof! She may not have any wreaths at all in her house! What sorts of things make you smile when you see them in shops or catalogs? Do you have a decorating "vice?" What would you like to bring home if money were no object?

I may not post for a while, as I will be babysitting for the next 3 1/2 days. My son and DIL are out of the country on their 10th anniversary get-a-way. They need some time away with their busy lives! If I survive 3 kids 5 yrs. and under, I will post again in a few days. Have a great weekend!

One More Needle Felted Mini Pillow and A Bowl of Cute!!

How about another needle felted mini pillow design? Candy corn is a favorite fall design motif for me, and I have made a number of these for others, but don't have one of my own :-( I may have to find a little time to make another of these for myself this year! For some reason I'm really in the mood to decorate for fall. Our weather this summer has been more like Autumn than summer, so perhaps that is the reason. I can't complain at all about our temps and sunshine. It has been perfect! This pillow is tiny (about 2 1/2" x 4"), so it is perfect for cupboard shelves, window sills, little bowls or baskets, etc.

Remember the bowl I planted this spring with several types of mosses and little rocks? Check out the May 6th post...Well, it seems there is another use for a bowl full of moss...

Evidently it is a pretty comfy bed! These kittens (neighborhood residents) have taken a liking to climbing up the twig plant stand and taking a catnap on the cushy moss. As you can see, there is still a little of the moss surviving the takeover.

How could I begrudge them such a soft (and lofty) resting place. They seem perfectly happy there. Oh, well...I can always re-plant next spring!

Kitty Rug and Jess Update.

I have finished one example of the free pattern offered last week, but I want to do another one with different wool colors. I've been hurrying to get this done, but my week has been crazy and I just feel that I can come up with a more primitive look. I'm batting a thousand with the last few rugs not being exactly as I pictured them in my mind's eye! My husband has been off work the entire month of July, so you know how that can re-arrange your day...bless his heart!

Jess is growing like a weed! She doesn't seem as "puppyish" lately...at least in appearance. She is still as energetic as any three puppies. She can go for a 3 mile walk and come home and race around the house looking for something to get into! I wish I knew her secret! She has chewed up her bed, and a few things around the house (my husband's cell phone charger...uh oh). No matter how many toys we put out for her, after she chews them up, she moves on to her bed and other things :-) She is so cute. Fortunately, she still likes her sleeping crate and goes inside easily.

Doesn't she look innocent? She has learned to sit, lie down, shake, and roll over, so far. She also has had a couple of run-ins with felines this week, too. She is sporting a scratch behind one ear, the result of getting a little too familiar with Zeb. Potty training is going pretty well, unless we tell someone how well she is doing in that department...inevitably bringing about an "accident!" She is a lot of fun and loves to give "kisses."

Well, on to another hooking project! Have a great week!

Moonlit Pumpkins Needle Felted Pillow

Today was not the best day I've had for a while. My sister rolled her car trying to avoid a dog who ran out in front of her. The good news is that both she and her two Maltese are ok. She missed the running dog, too! Our tractor which is used to mow our 3 acres and our son's 5 acres quit running this morning. The good news is that the repair guys got it going again. The bad news is that it cost $100 to repair with parts. The good news is that it could have been MUCH worse!

I have felt pretty "blah" all day...hope I'm not coming down with the flu or something. We did have a great dinner tonight with burgers cooked on the grill, fresh peas from the garden and the best corn on the cob in the world. (I must brag on our local corn--it IS the best corn in the world IMHO!!) The only thing missing from the table was fresh ripe tomatoes from our garden. For some reason, our tomatoes are not ripening very quickly. The plants look great, but the tomatoes are still pretty small and green. (Possibly our extremely late spring may be the cause.)

The above needle felted pillow was a spur of the moment design from a couple of years ago. I tried to make it look like moon light on the tree and pumpkins, but it may look more like frost!! I like the way it turned out, but if I had it to do over again, I would have chosen different wool for the background. Live and learn! I have a rug started that I really like so far, so hopefully, I will have a new finished (small) rug to post soon. Hope you are having a good week.

Oh, by the way, I keep forgetting to mention the Paper Back Swap button in my side bar. If you like to read, please check out this website. Literally thousands of people exchange books to save money and trees! Believe me when I tell you, nearly any book in print (and quite a few which are no longer in print) is available on this swap site. We have been members for quite a while and it works very well. Great idea!

New Fall Pattern and It's Free!!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, you must go to Kelley's blog and see her kitty and pumpkin punch needle projects. They are great! Her blog, With Hook & Needle is on my blog list in the side bar. I love her color choices. Her work inspired me to sit down last night and to try to come up with my own kitten and pumpkin pattern for a fall rug. I wanted it to be simple and cute. Here is the pattern I drew, and I thought it would be fun to make it available for anyone who wants to hook it (or needle punch) to do so. If you do this project, please email pictures, and if I figure out how to transfer them from email to the blog, I will post them! I will be making one myself too. Happy Fall Hooking!

Fall Fever?!

This tiny needle felted mini pillow is one from several years ago. Needle felting is fun, fast, and rewarding to do. I've never yet felted a 3-D object, but I would like to give it a try some day. I've seen some really cute and surprisingly realistic little needle felted animals. This fall pillow was a favorite, and I've made about 10 of these for customers. I did discover that making so many of something tends to take some of the fun out of it!!

The top and middle 6"X 8" mats were designed and hooked by my daughter, Rachel. She has only made three rugs, but has done a great job on all three. I made the star rug about 5 or 6 years ago. I've really been in the mood to do some Autumn things lately, so I may pause on my cat rug (which has been a trial!) and move on to something else. I've found that a pause may be just what is needed to clear my mind and maybe see another possibility in color or design element. It is just not coming together as I wished!

If you have not yet gone to Kelley's blog, With Hook & Needle, then you must go and see her recent posts showing her punch needle designs. She is very talented, and I love her new kitty and pumpkin creations. I think she is the reason that I'm in such a Fall mindset!

We had a busy week and weekend. We went to see our son in the Evergreen Triathlon Saturday, and I also watched Kale Thursday while my DIL took Olivia and Allison to the American Girl Doll Store in Chicago. They had so much fun choosing a matching dress for themselves and their American Girl dolls. They had their picture taken (girls and dolls in their new dresses), and it was very cute! If I can get a copy of it, I will post it. They had a great day together.

Have a great week!

Hummingbird Hierarchy

The backyard hummingbirds have been really humming this week. We have had to refill the feeder once a day and it holds a cup of liquid! The flowers did not do as well as we would have thought with all the rain we've had this spring, so there are fewer sources for them to feed. This first picture didn't turn out as well as I hoped it would. Maybe if you enlarge it you can see them better. It is amazing how they fight! Hummers must be the most territorial birds in existence, because all day long every day is a high-speed "dance" for eating rights. They don't seem very often willing to share the bounty, so it is constant bickering.

We have watched a hummer after he has eaten his fill sit on a branch nearby and lie in wait for another hummer who dares to attempt to infringe upon his turf. He would fly out and scare the intruder off over and over again. They are really fascinating to watch. It is rare that one will tolerate another at the same feeder. These two got along for a short while!

Jess gets so excited when the hummingbirds are at the feeder. She jumps her front feet up on the windowsill and looks up at them and just wiggles all over. She would love to get up there. Her eyes follow their darting back and forth. She looks like she is watching a tennis match! It is amazing how tiny they are and how fast their wings flutter. While I refill the feeder, they are buzzing all around my head impatiently waiting for me to leave. They sound like giant bumblebees.

Jess had her second set of puppy shots today. She was a big hit at the vet clinic. The vet had a hard time examining Jess because she is so full of energy. She was busy trying to lick/bite the vet's chin and nose. At one point the stethoscope was being gnawed upon by sharp puppy teeth. She has gained a pound and a half! The vet doesn't seem so sure that Jess is part Jack Russell, but she is not sure what mix she is. She does think that Jess is close to 12 weeks old. We made the appointment for one month from now to have her spayed, micro chipped and her next shots. She will have to stay overnight, so it will seem quiet around here for one night!

Have a great weekend!

Prim, Practical Coasters You Make Yourself!

Here is a really fun and inexpensive do-it-yourself project that yields wonderfully useful coasters for your home. They also make GREAT gifts! Go to your local home store such as Home Depot or Menards, etc. You can actually go to any store that sells tile. At Home Depot you can buy boxes of 4" x 4" tiles for under $10.00. Look for bargains! The coasters that I have made are slate and very porous so that they will absorb condensation from your cold glass of iced tea! Some tiles are salt glazed and will not be as absorbent, so choose tiles which will work best for you. The styles and colors are endless. The slate tiles usually are rather dusty in the box, so wipe them free of powdery dust on both sides, using a damp cloth. Allow the dampness to dry, and then...

stick four felt (or rubber) cushioned tiny circles (also available at Home Depot or even Wal-Mart.) on the corners. These will protect your furniture from being scratched by the tiles. Once the little protector pads are stuck to the bottom of the tiles, they are done!! How easy is that? Have fun with these!

They can look pretty, prim, or even formal or contemporary, depending upon the tiles chosen. Another idea is to buy some 8" tiles and make trivets to accommodate your hot serving dishes to protect your dining room table.

Jess Update

Jess is having fun exploring her new home. She is more curious than any cat and will eat anything that moves and most things that don't! She will chase flies, lightening bugs, toads, birds, cats, butterflies, dragonflies, Japanese beetles, and naievely HUGE bumblebees!!

Her favorite activity in the house is CHEWING. She loves shoes, fingers, toes, noses, chins, and hair. She also loves to bury her nose into corners of her bed, the sofa, chairs, and some rather embarrassing places! (That has got to stop! :-D )

Fortunately, she takes several naps per day, which gives us a much needed rest! She seems to love her sleeping crate, which to quote Martha Stewart, "is a very good thing." Her floppy right ear is now standing straight up (not sure why). She is definitely part Jack Russell. How big will she have to grow to fit those ears???!!!

Not a Favorite!

In a past post, I commented that some projects are loved right away and some have to grow on you! I've been looking at this finished mat for several days now, and it STILL hasn't grown on me. I've decided that this one will probably end up as one of my "UFOs". It is 6" x 6" and was originally intended to be a pillow. I had also thought of making a pocket of it to store "whatever." I guess nearly everyone has results like this now and then, but I hate to invest even an hour or two in something only to toss it onto the hopelessly "ugly" pile!! I suppose that something can be learned from failed projects, such as I've decided that I really don't like the shape of the flower petals in this. The colors didn't turn out as I had pictured them either. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure that I like the proportion of the whole design...

Well, enough of the complaining...on to another project!

FREE PATTERN!!

I have decided to offer a free pattern this week. The Willow House is a 5" x 7" pattern that I designed several years ago and it makes a terriffic little accent pillow! If you prefer, you can enlarge the pattern and add a border for a larger wall rug.

If you decide to hook the pattern, please email me with a picture of your finished project and I will put the pictures on the blog. It is always such fun to see finished rugs from the same pattern done by different people. It is amazing how differently hookers envision a finished rug in their mind's eye.

Have a great week!

HAPPY 233RD BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! I truly hope you have many, many more...but that may not be a certainty anymore. With the attacks on the Constitution coming from the left leaning politicians in OUR OWN government, who knows how long our freedoms and liberty will endure. I actually have seen a glimmer of hope recently, when some of the White House Press Corp. (Helen Thomas, a liberal) have posed some tough questions to Press Secretary Gibbs. It was so heartening to hear her DEMAND an answer to a question when the giggling Gibbs tried to laugh and joke his way out of answering. It is about time that some of the main stream media DEMAND answers from this administration about the way the economy is still failing and the stimulus money is being wasted or simply not applied. Barack Obama is not above the rule of law or the requirements of the Constitution, and it is about time someone held his feet to the fire about the way he is circumventing our Constitution. His tactic of appointing czars for every perceived need is his way of avoiding the safety feature of "accountability" as set forth in the Constitution. His czars are required to report only to the President. He sets their salary, and they have to answer to no one but him. How's that for transparency?! Where are the checks and balances in that tidy little arrangement?

Meanwhile, the push for Cap and Trade and nationalized health care rushes forward. Both of these bills, if approved, will destroy our economy. The limitations put upon businesses by the emissions caps and the carbon credits scheme will eliminate the possibility of fiscal success by American businesses. It will also have the added effect of raising the cost of EVERY SINGLE THING PRODUCED, BOUGHT, SOLD, SERVICED, SHIPPED,ETC. in America. Our standard of living will plummet! I'm sure you've heard about the requirement buried in the fine print of this scheme whereby, when you go to sell your home someday, there will be a government appointed inspector who will examine the energy efficiency of your home (window leaks, insulation in walls and ceilings, old appliances which use more electricity, and efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner, etc.). If the inspector finds your home to be deficient in any area, you must (at your own expense) repair or replace those items before you ARE ALLOWED to sell your home! Talk about BIG BROTHER! Please contact your Senators and plead with them to vote "no"on these these two pieces of legislation.
I've already contacted mine, but they are both liberal and likely to vote for these horrific bills. Every Congressman should be REQUIRED by law to read every sentence and every word of a bill before they are allowed to vote on its passage. The practice of voting into law legislation without having studied every possible consequence for American citizens is just reprehensible. Legislators should be ashamed to admit to (much less joke about) not reading a bill that they just voted to adopt into law. Ridiculous.

The above picture is one of the early rugs that I hooked, and measures 7" x 11 1/2", and is hooked using all #8 cut, hand dyed wool.




The above picture of a picture is one that is in my studio. I love the folk art print, bought locally several years ago. Please excuse the awkward angle of the shot, but I was trying to avoid camera flash reflection in the glass!

I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July and a great weekend!