Wild and Crazy ~

 

Can you believe another year is coming to a close?  These years are passing much too quickly. Remember in 1999 as we were approaching the new millennium all the computer problems that were predicted?  Some thought our world would come crashing down.  And tomorrow it will be 2017.  In an eye blink.  WOW!

 

Normally on New Year's Eve, I prefer to stay home and just relax.  Maybe drink a little wine, hook a little and watch a little tube.  This year I decided I'd like to go out.  Call me crazy.  My idea of eating out on NYE ~

 

 

Little cheeseburger with tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled jalapenos and light ketchup ~ YUM!  And don't forget the fries :)  That way we can get home and still have time to drink a little wine, hook a little and watch a little tube.  We are currently watching The Man in the High Castle, an Amazon Prime series.  It is riveting!

 

Speaking of hooking, tonight I will start on My Garden by Woolen Memories.  The pattern size is 22" x 43" which will be the largest pattern I've hooked to date.  I'm not convinced this is what I really want on my frame, but I must start on something!

 

 

I'd like to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read my blog.  Your comments and emails are much appreciated.  You make it all worthwhile.

 

My wish to you is health, happiness and prosperity in 2017.

 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Caught Up ~

 

It's rare when I can say I am caught up with my binding.  I finally finished Ned and even got the label sewn on.  It just needs a final steaming.  Still nothing on my frame . . . hopefully soon ~ very soon.

The gold is not bright at all in person.

Yesterday I drove almost 2 1/2 hours south to Delaware, Ohio, to visit dear college friend Wink and her beau.  It's been a year so it was very good to visit with them.  I got a belated birthday present and ones for Christmas, too.  She spoiled me for sure.  The old rabbit mold was my birthday present and the vintage pin cushions were for Christmas. 

We only had time to hit one antique shop but what a wonderful shop it was.  I could have done some serious damage but only came home with two things.  A great piece of blue homespun and a featheredge platter.  Now I need another platter like I need another hole in my head, but the price was just too good to pass up.

It has such a beautiful edge.

She also gave me a Kohl's gift card and an applique pattern.  And of course a couple shot glasses to add to my collection. 

 

 

The shot glass collection is in retaliation for the salt and pepper collection.  I have been gifting her with S & Ps for more than 30 years.  They have to be cheap and tacky to qualify :)

 

Today is the first day in many I have been home and I am just frittering it away.  I wish I'd accomplish more, but it feels kind of good just to be doing "stuff".

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren



Two Days After ~

I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone.  Christmas day was relatively quiet but enjoyable.  I shared it with my son, grandson, older brother and his DSO.  My poor DSO has been sick for days.  He finally went to a walk in clinic this afternoon and he has sinusitis.  He is absolutely miserable, but thankfully it is nothing more serious.

 

 

 

 

 

I know many of you have all your Christmas put away, but not me.  I will savor it a few more days and begin to take it down after the new year arrives.  I can't believe I didn't post many pictures of the house, so here are a few.  I have some great pictures taken on my iPad but can't figure out how to download them to the desktop.  I suppose I could try blogging from my iPad, but that just frustrates me. 

 

This little tree has mostly vintage cotton batting and chenille ornaments.  The white chenille stars are repros.

 

 

 

My kitchen tree decorated with old figural lightbulbs.

 

 

Santa tree in the dining room.  Rug pattern by Maria Barton of Star Rug Company.

 

 

 

The bear to the left is my blind antique bear.

 

 

Vintage celluloid Santas and reindeer and bottle brush trees.

 

 

Mostly vintage (and a few reproduction) cotton batting Santas.

 

 

On the mantle.

 

 

Just a few of my salt glazed Santas in a wall box.

 

 

Plastic snowmen from the 50's?

 

 
Old childrens' shoes.

 

Took a quick trip to the antique mall in Norwalk, Ohio today.  Got this paper mache Santa who has seen better days, but for the price, I could not resist.

I still don't have anything on my frame . . . sigh.  I think I'm going through withdrawal :)  God knows I have plenty of patterns to choose from.

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

Merry Christmas ~

May all your Christmas dreams come true.

 

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to visit with me.  It is appreciated more than you will ever know.  I hope you have the merriest Christmas ever.

 

Hugs :)
Lauren

Winter Solstice ~

 

I'm officially tired of winter and it has just begun.  The upside is that we will gain a bit of daylight each day forward.

 

There is nothing on my frame, but I am getting some hooking-related stuff done.  I've sewn the labels on two of my vacation rugs.

 

 

The binding and labeling are also done on my Magdalena Briner adaptation.  The finished size of the rug is 30 1/2 x 24 1/2".  For me, that is a B-I-G rug.  It just needs a final steaming.

 

 

Ned is the only rug that is not yet bound and that is next on my list and I will be all caught up!  That doesn't happen too often.

 

I hope you are ready for the holidays.  This has been my most stress free Christmas season ever.  What a wonderful feeling.  I still have a few odds and ends to do and of course one more trip to the grocery store and a bit of cleaning.  Friday we are heading to Michigan just for a few hours to celebrate Christmas with DSO's daughter.  Because of nasty winter weather, she did not make it to the celebration in Ohio last Saturday.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Almost ~

I love anything patriotic.  I have a tree that is all patriotic ornaments and also a collection of patriotic Santas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been almost ready for Christmas for at least a week and a half.  How come I haven't gotten there?  Maybe almost is all the farther I will get, but that's okay, too.  I got my packages mailed today and didn't even have to wait at the post office.  That was an unexpected treat.

 

The last of the Christmas gifts is finally bound and labeled.

 

 

 

I have nothing on my frame :(  I have plenty of patterns on linen and even more waiting to be transferred to linen, but at the moment nothing is screaming "HOOK ME", so I will continue binding.  My Magdalena rug is about half done and Ned is waiting in the wing.  Sure would be nice to be caught up with that chore.

 

Yesterday was TubaChristmas.  Always a fun time.  So happy my grandson still enjoys going.  This year was smaller than normal ~ only 80 participants ~ perhaps because of icy weather.  The tuba players ranged in age from 11 to 74 and came from many local schools and universities.  As I say every year, if you haven't been to a TubaChristmas, it's worth going. 

 

Are you almost ready?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Labeling Rugs ~

I think I hate labeling rugs more than binding them.  Mine aren't nearly as fancy as Saundra's, but I do print mine up on the computer in a Word document.  I wish I had wonderful penmanship and could hand write them, but that is not the case.  I have two rugs that MUST be labeled today and one by Monday (that is not yet bound) and of course my printer was giving me fits.  I finally was able to print them off on printable fabric. 

 

 

This is the brand of fabric sheets I buy.  It is thin once the backing is pulled off and I iron on a lightweight fusible interfacing.  It was purchased at Michael's. 

 

 

I then cut them out, stain them (with coffee or tea) and sew them on.  My stitches are a bit wonky ~ hand sewing is not my forte.  I actually sewed them on pretty straight.  That doesn't happen often :)

 

 

Gotta run.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

Progress ~

Wouldn't this make a great rug
for a fine cut hooker? 

I started my little hooked mat yesterday and got all four corners done and two of the little tongues.  I thought I'd get much more done today, but we sat and watched Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation.  I can't believe the movie is 27 years old!  I hook super slow when I am watching something on the tube.  Oh well, a little progress (very little) is better than none.

 

 

I had to say goodbye to my son today.  Even though he's 37, it still is hard.  He should be landing in LA in a couple hours.  It was wonderful having him home for almost a week.  I am thankful for the time we had together.

 

Well, gift wrapping is still on today's list so I need to get a few done.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Sunday Quickie ~

Just a quick post to let you know all is well.  Just busy, busy with my son being here.  We celebrated his Christmas yesterday.  I am so thankful to have him home for a few days.  {{Of course I will still send him a small box just before Christmas.}} He is flying home on Tuesday with a couple pumpkin rolls so he will be a happy camper.

 

LA Bill, as he is affectionately known, is on the left.  My #2 son "J" is obviously the guy on the right.  He's putting on his "winter face" since he sometimes has to work outside here in northern Ohio.  Of course that is grandson Jake in the middle. 

 

 

Modeling my son's company hoodies.  I wish I had pulled mine down.  He gave me mine when we were in California.

 

 

This is the little mat I need to get hooked and bound in the next week.  It is a freebie by Kelley Belfast from a few years ago. 

 

 

I will be using this color palette, me thinks.

 

 

Still have shopping and wrapping to do, but the decorating is mostly done.  A few Christmas letters need to be written.  Overall, I have never been this ready for Christmas so early in December.  It feels so good!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren