HAPPY THANKSGIVING ~

An oldie but goodie :)

How to cook a turkey ~

- Go buy a turkey
- Take a drink of whiskey 
- Put turkey in the oven
- Take another 2 drinks of whiskey
- Set the degree at 375 ovens
- Take 3 more whiskeys of drink
- Turn oven the on
- Take 4 whisks of drinky
- Turk the bastey
- Whiskey another bottle of get
- Stick a turkey in the thermometer
- Glass yourself a pour of whiskey
- Bake the whiskey for 4 hours
- Take the oven out of the turkey
- Take the oven out of the turkey
- Floor the turkey up off of the pick
- Turk the carvey
- Get yourself another scottle of botch
- Tet the sable and pour yourself a glass of turkey
- Bless the saying, pass and eat out

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Scramblin' ~

You'd think I sit around watching TV all evening eating bonbons the way I'm scrambling to get things done.  Truth be told, I don't have a working TV ~ haven't had one in years ~ and don't miss it a bit :)  People think me strange, but so be it.

My niece and family are continuing their holiday tradition of spending Thanksgiving here in Ohio. What a great tradition it is, and the least I can do is Swiffer up some of this dog hair.  Now Ellie doesn't shed nearly as much as a pug, but I should invest in Swiffer stock ~ or maybe I should just Swiffer more often :)

In between cleaning and work, I did get the yard raked (just about froze my butt off) and have worked on a few things.  I started a little Christmas sampler by Country Rustic Primitives. I love the colors, but I don't know if it's the linen I'm working on (I think it's only a 28 count so nothing tiny) or the drab colors, but I am having a terrible time stitching this. It is small so I'll do just a little each day ~ when it gets done, it gets done.  It will probably just end up in the "needing to be finished" pile along with several other cross stitch pieces.

I'm also hooking a little pumpkin (???).  An acquaintance bought a little mat from me and has requested a similar one to give her sister for Christmas so it's not something I can put off.  Thankfully it won't take long.

I've also sewn the binding on the little heart mat. I love using wool to bind.

I don't think my company is arriving until late tomorrow, so I hope to find the time to sneak to a new hooking group that is meeting for the first time.  That is after I work, go to the grocery store one more time (ugh, the crowds) . . . you know how it is.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Still Lost ~

Well, the proddy tool is still lost, but I found it very easy to add a proddy edge using my Hartman hook.  It's really very simple, but as Gayle pointed out, it does use a lot of wool.  It can be done with strips as narrow or wide as you wish, as long as you want.  It all depends what look you are trying to achieve.

On the mat I just hooked, I hand tore my strips about 4" long.  You can leave the edges blunt or taper them if you wish.  They also can be cut with your cutter or scissors.  They don't have to be exact.  Close is good enough.

When doing proddy with a hook, I worked with the linen on my rug frame.  Insert your hook from the top and pull about half the strip through your backing fabric.

Move over two or three threads and once again insert the hook from the top of the linen.

Pull the tail up and adjust the lengths if needed. It's that easy.  Once you get more added, they will lay better.

From behind, you can see how closely I spaced the proddy edge.

From the front.  I know ~ I should be thinking Christmas gifts, not hearts :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

How to ~

. . . print labels from your computer.

This is how I've done it.  I'm sure there are better ways, too, and I know that Saundra of Woodland Junction blogged about it not too long ago.  (Not sure where to find it on her blog.)

The easiest way is to buy Avery Printable Fabric. Just type the information you want (I use Word), put the paper in the printer and you are done.  You can iron it on or sew it.  It is pretty pricey (I think it was $15 for five sheets several years ago), but if you plan carefully it goes a long way.  The downside is that it's white, so when I've used it I stain it with coffee, tea or walnut crystals and also quite stiff.

7/8" x 1 3/8", ironed on

Another way is to use muslin or a similar weight fabric.  The fabric needs to be treated or you run the risk of the ink running if the label gets wet.  There is a commercial product called Bubble Jet Set.  I've not seen it in the stores but it is easy to find online.  You can also make your own.  Click here to find instructions. Soak fabric as per directions, and after the fabric has dried, cut it on the straight of the grain, slightly larger than 8 1/2" x 11".  Iron it on to the shiny side of freezer paper (found at the grocery store)

and cut to the size of printer paper.  It is now ready :)  I just use Word and type what I want my label to say.  Feed the fabric in your printer (yes, it really works and I've never had a problem ~ knock on wood) and hit print.

I then use a paper cutter (since I can't cut straight to save my soul) to cut to size.  I've attached to the hooked piece in a number of ways.  I've used fusible interfacing and ironed it to a slightly larger piece of wool. 

I've also turned under the edges and sewn on ~ slightly crooked even though I swear I pinned it straight :)

. . . or just sewn without turning under (see picture here).  

It really is not difficult, but I am not too good about labeling my rugs :(

If you have any questions, let me know and I will try my best to answer them.

Happy Sunday to you.  It is like springtime in Ohio today but unfortunately it is not going to last and there is talk of severe storms tonight.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

LOST . . .

. . . one proddy tool.  I know it's been a while (almost 2 years ???) since I've used it, but shouldn't it be with my hooking stuff?  I want to try a proddy edge on a little round mat.  I know I can just use my hook, but I paid a small fortune for the darn thing.  I'm sure I'll find it when I no longer need it . . . sigh.  Don't you just HATE (I know that's a very strong word) when that happens?

Actually, since starting this post, I tried it and it is working very well with the Hartman hook.  I don't know that I'd want to do an entire rug this way, but for the edge it is progressing quickly ~ and the mat is only 12" in diameter.

Several people have asked about my rug label shown in the last post.  It's really very easy.  I will try to find the time this weekend to give a quick "how to".

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

A Tale of Two Santas ~

I'm on a roll here.  I finished not one, but two Santas.  The pattern is by Lori Rippey (Homespun Prims) and you can purchase the pattern here.

As you can see, I took out the black "definition" line and decided that the direction of the hooking was enough to define the arm.  Much better, me thinks.

The first picture was taken without the flash and the red is closer to the true color.

Taken with the flash, the pic is crisp but the color is much too bright.  

I've even got them bound and the labels sewn on. Is this the new, improved me?  Most likely not :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

May God Bless our Veterans ~

One of my all-time favorite rugs ~
hooked by Donna Hrkman

"It is the soldier, not the reporter.

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet.

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer.

Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier.

Who salutes the flag.

Who serves beneath the flag.

And whose coffin is draped by the flag.

Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

                                                                                                 unknown

Please take a moment to thank a veteran ~ today and every day.

May God bless them.

Hugs :)
Lauren

A Day Late ~

The story of my life . . . sigh.

The recipient of my Betsy-style hooked pumpkin is . . . . . . . . . . .  Cathy of Orange Sink.  Cathy has been a long time follower and just yesterday in her post she mentioned my love of binding rugs . . . lol.  If you are not familiar with Cathy's talents, please stop by for a visit.  She has wonderful patterns for sale that she has designed.  I've bought several but this is the only one I've gotten hooked so far.  It's a fun, fast hook.

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy lives to read my blog.  It is very much appreciated.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Maria Gaetana ~

A few weeks ago while out "playing",  I purchased this antique sampler at Seville Antiques in Seville, Ohio.  This is how the sampler was hanging on the wall, with Maria's name at the bottom. However . . . hanging like this the rest of the sampler is upside down.

When I find the perfect spot for it, I will hang it in this direction.  (Sorry for all the glare, but I just can't get a good picture with the glass.)

They said the sampler dates from the late 1700's. I just love the animals.  I thought it a good addition to my antique sampler collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  
Happy hump day.
Hugs :)
Lauren

Seven Hundred ~ ~ ~

Here I go again, asking where another month has gone.  Time to put the Halloween away and get out the turkeys. I hate that Thanksgiving is so late this year. Stores are already in full Christmas mode and it will be here all too quickly.

Yesterday was spent at the Gathered Treasures and Simple Goods shows in Mansfield, Ohio.  Lots of good antique stuff ~ much of it outrageously priced.  Both shows are geared for the primitive lover.  My house is antique-filled, but it's not "prim".  I'm not sure how to describe my style.  Even if I could afford the ultra-prim antiques, my 1940 colonial does not lend itself to that style.  Of course, I did purchase a few things.  This canvas print needs touched up in a couple places, but for the price I could not resist.  (I just hung it on my cupboard door to try to get a picture ~ so hard to get without a glare.)

And how could I not come home with this pug?  He's the real deal, dating from about the turn of the century.  Once the Halloween is put away, he will join his little pug brother that I purchased a few years ago.  (And Joanne, one of these days I really will get around to sewing the one you sent me.)

Now for the seven hundred part.  This is post #700.  That is a whole lot of blah, blah, blah.  When I started, I had no idea I would still be at it four and a half years later.  I never dreamed the friendships I would make.  Blogging has been a wonderful experience and I plan to continue.  So for all of you who are reading this, I am having a give-away ~ one of my Betsy-style pumpkins hooked with hand torn strips.  As always, entering is easy.  Leave a comment on this post or send me an email with give-away in the subject line so I don't miss it.  You MUST CONTACT ME within 3 days to claim your win or I will choose another name.  Too often I've had someone stumble upon my blog, enter, win, and then never come back again.  'Nuff said :)  Oh, I'll probably pick the winner on Friday.

Thank you, dear friends, from the bottom of my heart.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren