New Listing

Sassy Sunflower is now listed on Etsy

 

 

Believe

The Believe Pillow is now listed in my  Etsy Store.  Go check it out before its gone.....(hopefully)   Wink!

Pillow talk

I got cracking first thing this morning and started sewing the back on the pillow.  Martie from Taos Sunflower  asked me how I finished the backing.  I did take a couple of not great pics while I was working.

First I did a double zigzag with the sewing machine close to the hooked edge.  Then I layed the pillow front on the backing and secured with some pins.

I trimmed the excess from the backing and then began to fold the fabrics under and do a simple, discreet whip stitch along the edge.

It didn't take nearly as long as I thought and it wasn't nearly as painful a chore as I anticipated :)
The finished result ........

Earlier today I got some bad news.  My neighbor at the cottage passed away.  Our cottages were built the same year, so we have been neighbors forever.  Before Mom got so sick, I used to move out to the beach all summer.  Every weekend morning we would each go out on our respective decks, in our jammies and bathrobes, turn our chairs to face each other and have our morning coffee talk together.   Mary Louise loved flowers so this flower is for her.  She will be missed.

Meltin' and Hookin'

It is hot and humid.  Humidity should be outlawed.  Nobody even likes it, yet it keeps showing its ugly muggy face around here. 

I felt like Swamp Woman today.  A house with no air conditioning is not a happy place when the muggies invade. I gave Mom ice cream twice this afternoon.  (OK, I had some too)  Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Also, the bra did not make an appearance today.  I don't expect to see it tomorrow either :)  I don't even dare think of what menopause will be like.  I will not make it through the hot flashes.  I will need to be sedated and locked away until it passes.  Seriously.....this is for everyone else's safety. 

I did manage to finish hooking the 2nd little piece today.  I'm going to make it into a pillow. 

I hate the thought of hand sewing the back onto this pillow but maybe if I start it early in the morning before I'm fully awake I won't even realize what I'm doing.

Grateful

I can't begin to express how much all your sweet comments meant to me regarding my last post.   It was a long stressful week but, as usual, my blog buddies have lifted my spirits.   And yes Julia, you were right - each comment had that effect!

Mom is doing much better today and (knock on wood) we have been "accident" free for the past 24 hours.  That in itself is something to be grateful for.  I am hopeful that if we are careful in the next few days that we can get her system back to normal.

I have had a few new followers recently - - Welcome!  I am so pleased that people read this stuff and comment and come back to visit often.  This little blog has given me more than I could ever imagine.
AND I just realized as I was typing this that I think I missed my blogiversary......yup it was 2 days ago.  Duh!!   I guess I will have to announce a giveaway soon.  (not today, but soon)  Only 4 more followers to get to 175!  Anybody know 4 people??  Lol  - kidding

I am also grateful for my friends outside blog-ville.  This afternoon I met up with 2 great gals for some chatter and a "special" coffee.  Another friend suggested we meet tonight at the local pub for a beer.  It sounded very tempting but I was so hot and tired from the week, that the thought of putting a bra on was too much to bear!  I sent her a text message saying I looked like I fell off a turnip truck.  Attractive, right?  Lol

And the other big "grateful" moment today was selling another rug.  Yes, the red rug has sold before I have even finished binding it.

Wouldn't it be great if they all sold that easily?   Oh and I almost forgot - I won a fabulous giveaway this week from Cobblestone Corner and Grandma's Biscuits blog.  I can't wait to show you when it arrives.  Jody had a very generous giveaway and has a very sweet blog. It was perfect timing too - made me smile.  I hope you all have a happy weekend and stop to remember to be grateful for something each day.

PS - Don't forget to visit Patrice at Everyday Ruralty.  Her Anniversary party continues!!

Big Red is finished

This rug seemed to take a long time to finish.  But then again, I'm not as committed to hooking time during the summer months.  There are too many other distractions.

Yesterday this was all that was left to hook.

Under normal circumstances this should have been finished within an hour.  But the sun was shining and the beach was calling my name. 

So instead, the final loop wasn't pulled until about 11pm. 

I haven't decided how I will bind this one.  Just a simple fold under or maybe a whipped edge??  I will have some time to think about it because there is enough burlap on the end to draw out another little rug before I cut it.  I think a pillow perhaps - quick and easy.

Once I get it blocked and bound I will take a better picture outside to try and get the true colors. 





Chats on the Porch

Again this week I am joining the Farmhouse Chats hosted by  Patrice at Everyday Ruralty.

I abandoned my Sis at the beach tonight.  I battled a headache all day and just couldn't drag myself out to the cottage.  Instead I took a nap.  I feel a little better now so here we go with Patrice's questions

1.  Do you exercise?
Hahahaha,  NO.  I know I should and have tried to get into an exercise routine many many times, but it just fails. 

2.   What's your favorite type of party or get together?
Any kind of get together with family and friends is fine by me.  Good friends, food, laughter - perfect.

3.   What's your favorite kind of melon?
Cantaloupe I suppose.  I even had a tasty cantaloupe and cracked pepper salad recently.  Sounds strange but tasted wonderful.

4.  Do you ever go to a farmers' market?
I love Farmer's Markets.  Everything looks so fresh and colorful.  The trouble is things look so yummy I often buy more than I can eat. 

5.  Would you prefer a series of day trips, or a week's vacation?
Since Mom's illness, day trips seem to be the most practical.  However I am in desperate need of a good relaxing week anywhere sooner than later!   A quiet spot and a few books for a week would be heaven.

Tonight on my way home from work I grabbed the latest Rug Hooking Magazine.  I'm going to flip pages for inspiration. 

Not much progress on the red flower rug.  Just more of the same background.

Progressing

It's a wrap on the weekend again.  My migraine did not return and I was able to enjoy this nice sunny weekend.  What has been a rare treat lately - an entire rain-free weekend! 

I have even made some progress on the abstract flower rug.  I think I have passed the point where I usually give up so you might get to see an actual finish on this one someday!  In fact, I think my original idea has expanded a bit, but before I go into any of that detail here - lets wait until I get a little further along.  (Just in case)

Since relaxing was the theme of this weekend, I thought I would close this post with a picture of the Queen of Relaxation.  She works so hard all day, following the sun spots around the floor, stretched out on all her glory, basking in the heat.   It is exhausting work, or so she says.....

Can't you just hear what she is thinking?  "Mommy I'm tired, please rub my belly".  What a life!!

Straight ahead or sideways?

Sometimes when you start something you have no idea how it will end.  Will it run smoothly (like the delusions in your head) or go sideways mid way through?   (sideways is most likely)

I finally decided on my next rug hooking project.  And ironically, that piece of wool I showed you in the last post, will not be anywhere in this rug.  Go figure huh!   It will avoid the cutter for now and live to see another project.

I was looking through some old photos I took last summer of some flowers and one of them was always one of my favorites.  It is taken from the back stem angle of the flower, not front on.  So I thought I might try and hook it.

I have this dream of hooking one great abstract rug.  I have tried a couple of other times and given up early on.  The partially completed messes are stuffed behind one of the sofa's, hopefully never to see the light of day.

I'm not sure what possessed me to try again.  Even now as I look at it, I am lost.  I am going to keep going (for now).   I'm sure every abstract project looks bizarre in the early stages.  (Right??)     It probably was a stupid plan to try and get re-inspired with a frustrating project, however I am trying to hold on to the notion that this rug will not go all sideways in my head.  

In the event, after a few more hours of hooking this week, you never see this rug again (or ever hear me mention it again) - you will know it has joined the other flops stuffed behind the sofa.

Soggy Saturday

After 5 long workdays, the weekend finally arrives.  And what happens??  You wake up to rain, rain and more rain.

That put a crimp in my plans.  No backyard, no sitting out on the deck, no barbequing.

I woke up with this desire to hook.  I haven't felt much like starting a new project.  But then the mental nagging started.  I "should" be doing lots of other things - housework, office work, etc. 

So I wasted so much time arguing with myself, I ended up drinking coffee with baileys and laying on the sofa reading all afternoon. I did finish the 3rd book in the 50 Shades trilogy.  (blush)  I think my next book choice will be a little more serious :)

I have this piece of wool that has been taunting me.  I have been hoarding it, waiting for the right inspiration.

This is a crappy iPad picture but the wool is very rich and pretty.  But I don't have a clue want to do with it.  All I know is I want to cut it up and use it.

Any thoughts?  Something simple and primitive?   Hookers Block......what a pain!



Weekend Update

It has been another busy weekend.  Friday evening was our town's Relay for Life event.  A few friends and I went down for a couple of hours to join in the festivities.  It is always a wonderful event full of laughter and tears.  I have yet to watch the Cancer Survivors walk their victory lap without tears streaming down my face. It is such a moving sight. 

Our little community has a lot of spirit.  Relay teams fund raise and hold events for months leading up to the night.  I am proud to say that $184,000 was raised for Cancer reasearch and support!

Saturday I decided I should finish up some UFO's.  I have several rugs that have been hooked for a long time, waiting to be bound.  Why is it so torturous to complete that task??  This particular rug has been hooked for over a year or so.  (Shameful, I know)

She is a Deanne Fitzpatrick design and is currently for sale in my Etsy shop. 

This only rug has been hooked for a couple of months (see, this one didn't take years to bind) and is also listed on Etsy. 

Since I was on a roll, getting jobs done I have been putting off - I also updated my iPod playlists.  I was getting bored with what was on there.  Plus it's summer and you need some fun driving tunes.  An eclectic mix including lots of classic rock with the Eagles, Queen etc.   You know, the kind of tunes that make in easy to get a speeding ticket.

What is it about classic rock tunes that makes your gas pedal foot heavy?  Or is it just me?

The finshed result

Well, I have finshed up the little projects I showed you last post.  I think I may have over-hyped the project!  The little snaps I collaged were actually not part of a single rug.  They are little hooked mini-pillows filled with dried lavendar buds.

A local business downtown (owned by my friend Stephanie) had offered to sell some in her Boutique.  So I gave her a few a while back, thinking she was just being polite and never expecting them to sell.  Well, who would have guessed it but she sold some!!

And then......asked for more.......YIPPEE!   So yesterday I delivered some more and re-filled her little display.

So, the next time you are in Downtown Amherst, stop into to Flow Lifestyle Boutique and grab one (or two).  :)

Now that those are finished I am wondering - What is my next project?

On with the show

Lately it seems like I am the Ringmaster of a 3-Ring Circus.    And each Ring is featuring some kind of train wreck!  Lol

No, not really that bad but I do have too many balls in the air right now.  So if I am behind in checking up on some of my favorite blogs, please have patience. 

I'm on the road tomorrow so that is another wasted day. 

I thought it was time I posted and showed you what I have on the hooking frame these days.    This is part 1 of the project.  



You will have to wait for another post to see the finished results.  Well, if I don't get cracking on it you won't have anything to see in the next post!   Just wanted to pop in quick so you would know I was still alive!

A bright beginning

The long weekend in May is the traditional start of summer around here.  And it couldn't have started out on a better foot. The weather was ideal and the smell of fresh cut grass and barbeques filled the neighborhood air.

Yesterday and today I got to enjoy some sun out on the deck.  I relaxed, read, and drank my morning coffee watching the birds zip around the birdhouse.  Nothing is better than starting the day like that.  It gives me that little bit of me-time that is kind of rare around here.  Plus I even got a little color on this pale skin. 

I have even managed to hook a fair amount this weekend.   This is just a sample.  I will show you the finished results soon.   I need to hook 6 squares before I can cut the fabric.  Three done, three to go.

I was still dreaming about that stupid scallop burger.  So, I decided to make my own.  (Its just not the same when someone doesn't serve it to you!)  I must say, it was tasty!  And I have enough scallops left to make another tomorrow ;)

The evening sky is pink so that means another great day tomorrow.  I'll meet you on the deck in the morning with a coffee.  Days off are fabulous!!

The Plan must go on

You take a Type A personality and a Plan and that can be a tricky situation.  Especially when something has the potential to threaten the plan. 

I am on Day 1 of my 4 days off.  I have plans for all 4 days.  Sounds perfect, right?   Well what happens when you wake up this morning with a headache?  Day 3 of the same headache, I might add.  But I would not relent with the Plan.  I wanted to go for a drive to Parrsboro.  Our little beach front restaurant re-opened last weekend.  They are only open in the summer.  The best scallop burgers, and I have been dreaming of having one all winter.

I felt like crap when I got up.  I immediate took a couple of pills.  I'm not sure if I actually looked green, but I certainly felt green.  My stomach was not good at all.  Instead of thinking of changing the plan, I instead thought of places along the road where I might have to throw up.  (I know, Type A - crazy)  Auntie came downstairs and looked at me and said "Maybe we should go another day"  (so apparently I did look green)   No, I said we were going - I would be fine soon.  I said just wait a half hour, I will have a cup of tea.   See, if you are from Nova Scotia, the cure-all for everything is a good strong cuppa tea.   Well, the tea plus a couple of digestive cookies and I did start to feel better. 

We headed out as planned.  It was a gorgeous sunny day and the drive was lovely. We arrived at the restaurant, me in total anticipation of the scallop burger.  I scan the menu 3 times.  Its not there......  I ask the waitress and she says its off the menu.  Huh?   My response - you have scallops, you have burger buns......can't you just slap them together??   Well, apparently not.  I feel my day circling the drain again.  Hrmmph,  WHATEVER.   We did stay for lunch, however disappointing as it was.   (Note to self: need to find new restaurant)

Next stop was the lovely Sweet Briar Boutique.  We did manage to pick up a few little treats there.  A cute little summery necklace and a few little goodies for a birthday gift for a friend.   The retail therapy helped brighten my mood :)

Once we got back home and I dropped off the Golden Girls, I went to have a coffee and visit with my friend who owns a downtown boutique.  She says, I owe you money.  YAY!  She sold some of my little hooked pieces.   Nothing puts the hooking mojo back in your spirit like money in your pocket!

So tonight I picked up my hook for the first time in several weeks.  I didn't realize how much I missed it until I pulled those first few loops.    The day ended with hot fudge sundaes at 9:30pm.   You need to be little decadent on vacation days :)

Home again

I'm back home after my little work trip.  Just so you know, the hotel wasn't quite Norman Bates but still a little icky.   Did I mention there was no door on the bathroom??  Yeah, classy - just sayin.

Rebecca, my co-worker and I met for breakfast the next morning. Part way through breakfast (McDonald's bacon and egg biscuit) she says "I shouldn't tell you this, but when I went to bed last night I started thinking about bed bugs and couldn't sleep."   OMG, I did the same thing.  I got in bed, had that flash through my mind and then got all itchy!  By the way - there were none.  I checked.  

The mattress was like laying on marshmallows - too soft.  Between that and the bug thoughts, I didn't sleep well.  And in the morning my back was killing me from the mattress.  I took me several minutes to even get out of bed.  I must have looked like a 98 year old arthritic trying to get up.   So needless to say, we were both less than bright eyed and bushy tailed at breakfast. 

We did have a good day and a nice 3 hour drive home.  We were in the part of the province that is mainly agricultural.  So that meant lots of little farm markets and fruit and vegetable stands.  We stopped at several.  The highlight was finding the first batch of Spring Fiddlehead Greens.    I cooked them for tonight's supper with a piece of salmon.  Mmmmm, perfect.

I still haven't found my hooking mojo.  All I seem to do lately is knit.  I just packed up an order of cotton dishcloths.  I may find the strength later to list some on etsy.  I am missing the rug hooking, yet until you have that inspiration for a project you like, its a waste of time.  You will not like what you are doing and it will become another unfinished thing.  So for now its still knitting.    MOJO, where are you?

Weekend update



The weekends seem to fly by so quickly.  This photo pretty much sums up what I'm feeling tonight.  Lol

I did survive the rest of the week after my little pie-hole incident.  Sorry Michelle, its not a story I dare blog about.  (but email me and I'll tell you :)  The neighborhood has temporarily calmed down.  And the piles of garbage were picked up on Friday so things are slowly settling down.

Saturday I went to a large indoor yard sale in support of the local Relay for Life teams.  The place was packed and it was nice to see so many people out in support of such a great cause.  Just another example of how our small town turns out to support each other.   And I came home with lots of goodies like homemade fudge and donuts. 

Next stop Saturday was a visit to Flow Lifestyle Boutique for an Eco-Fashion Show.  It was a combination of new clothes and vintage, pre-loved clothing.  But I wasn't there long when I started to feel bad.  It was a migraine starting and by 4pm I was miserable.   Thankfully I woke up this morning feeling much better.

It has been at least a week, if not two, since I picked up my hook.  Today I got back to the frame and managed to get a few little lavender sachets hooked.  I will get them assembled and delivered later this week.

They will look much better when they are sewn and stuffed.  I'll take another picture when they are finished.  These are fun to hook, but I drag my feet on the assembly.    I had another etsy sale today. Yay!  The summer fields rug will be headed to its new home this week. 

This post is getting a little random.  Sorry.  I just wanted you all to know I am still here and haven't been run out of the neighborhood. 

Have a great week.

Easter Bunny Humor?

An Easter Bunny with a sense of humor?  But somehow when I woke up this morning to discover the blanket of white snow left behind, I was not amused.

I thought the Easter Bunny would leave me a pile of chocolate goodies - NOT a chore to shovel. 

When I was a little girl it was tradition to get a new skipping rope along with the other goodies.  I think I looked forward to the new skipping rope almost as much as the chocolate and candy eggs.  (Well, almost)  You could hardly wait to get home from Church and change out of your fancy Easter clothes so you could go outside and play with the neighbor kids.  That skipping rope would have been a big disappointment this year.

OK, enough weather whining.  I did get some chocolate.  The bunny now has no ears.  Now it looks like a gopher.  In fact, I picked away at junk food all day.  When it was finally time for the big easter dinner, I wasn't hungry.  Nobody was.  Sigh......what a waste of several hours of preparation.

These are the eggs Mom painted and dipped at Alzheimers Day Care this week.  They always find the cutest little crafts for them to complete.

Now  I am ready to reveal the little projects I was making from the scrap basket.  I did actually manage to hook a bit today, in between snacking.  They are small lavender sachet pillows.

I shared all your birthday greetings with Millie.  I think she was quite pleased!  She got lots of extra treats and loving yesterday.  Well, she gets lots of loving everyday.  I don't know if you have noticed, but she is kind of spoiled :)

I hope you  all had a lovely Easter weekend.  I still have one more day of vacation tomorrow.  Yippee!

Still Relaxin'

So, it has been more of the same around here.  And by that I mean lovely, relaxing vacation days.  On Day 2 (Thursday) I dropped Mom off at the Alzheimers Day Care and Auntie and I went to a nearby City shopping.  We had a nice lunch together and we did buy a few little things - mostly new clothes for Mom.   We had a great day - just like old times.  We laughed and giggled as opposed to the caregivers stress fights we have been having lately.

Yesterday I made our traditional Good Friday brunch of Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon.  It is so good I didn't even care about the calorie or cholesterol count.  I could just eat that Hollandaise sauce with a spoon :)  Then the day was capped off with a little gathering of friends.  There were lots of laughs, a few inappropriate stories and a few beverages.  Perfect!

I am working on a few little projects using the bag of leftover wool strips.  It seems that bag of wool strips never goes down.  The strips multiply like rabbits (or Easter bunnies??)

The last thing I am going to share with you today is another milestone.  Miss Millie turns 10 years old today.  It seems like just yesterday she was a new puppy.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby!



Ta Dah

My motivation eventually kicked in today and I just pulled the last loop on my rug about an hour ago.    

I  then spent the last hour looking for the specific piece of material I needed to start the new project.  Did I find it?   No

Did a little April Fool elf hide it on me?  Possibly.  Hopefully it will turn up tomorrow.  It is material I have been hoarding because you can't get it anymore.  

So I suppose I will resort to knitting a little dish cloth tonight instead.    Here is the rug - not bound yet.  That part can wait.

Not the best quality photo.  Just snapped it quick on my iPad.  Once it is bound I will take a proper photo.   This is last of my "friends" rugs.  I'm getting bored with that one.  Time to move on. 

Did I mention I am only working 2 days this week?  Yippee.  After 4:30pm on Tuesday I am on vacation for a few days.  Lets hope Monday and Tuesday fly by quickly and uneventful.

Have a great week :)