A Little (?) OCD~

 

Often times, when I start making something, I just don't know when to quit.  The paper hearts are a perfect example.  I was going to make a few . . . so far, I've made ten.  I thought I was done, but The Merry Needle posted more free graphics today that are just so sweet.

My hooking has been in slow motion.  It took me a couple weeks to hook this little snowman chairpad by Woolen Memories (and it still needs a steaming . . . and have no idea how I will bind it).  I don't believe it is on the website, but you can contact them through Facebook.

And finally, these little red, white and blue hearts were hooked several years ago.  At long last they have a back sewn on and are lumpy stuffed with snippets.

Please forgive the grammatical error 😒  I just copied and pasted.

The foot seems to be doing well.  I am no longer using the walker (though the doctor says I should use outside the house . . . my bad).  Doctor also says to wear the shoe for six weeks and NO DRIVING!  That is going to be a tough one to adhere to.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Must Have Wool ~

 

Do you have a favorite "must have" wool in your stash?  I have many, but one of my very most favorite (how's that for bad English?) is Flax & Linen by the Wool Studio.  It is an older wool, but a few months ago I was able to order a couple yards from them.  I know the general rule is to cut wool with the stripe, but more often than not, I cut it against the stripe.  However, you can cut it both ways and mix the two and it looks great.

Santa's beard is hooked cutting against the stripe and his moustache is cut with the stripe.  You can see the moustache is just a tad darker since I chose the darker stripes.

Mr. Jingles body was hooked against the stripe.

So was the background of this little mat, though it is showing up much too white.

It just hooks up as a kind of grungy white 😍 . . . and it overdyes beautifully.

I did one more batch of goldenrod dyeing.  Here are the before wools (including Flax & Linen).

And after.  More tan than yellow which I like.

I hope everyone is well.  As always the time is flying by.  Mid October?  Argh.

Do you have this problem?  No matter what I do or how hard I pinch the nose wire, I have this issue.  I don't envy people (Cathy!) who have to wear masks for hours on end.  I suppose that is why so many people wear their mask under their nose . . . 😁😁😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

(Zombie) Jack's Crow ~

The hooking is finally done on Jack's Crow.  I think Jack looks like a zombie :)  

I'm not sure how I am going to finish it.  Terri did this fun finish on hers.  It looks like it would be easy and fast to do.

It was suggested I hook my initials in this funky little rectangle.  I tried . . . and I tried . . . and I tried again but it just didn't look right so I gave up :(

The pattern can be found here.

I was scheduled to have a class with Laurie Lausen of Wooly Red Rug at the end of September through a guild I belong to.  No surprise that it has been cancelled.

Well, "old blogger" came up so this post is being done with it.  I need to figure out where "new blogger" went . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Piddly Stuff ~

At the hooking retreat, I worked on piddly stuff but feel I got lots accomplished :)

I bound the little mat for the footstool and even got it labeled.

I also got the binding done on the Tree of Life.

I hooked a little pumpkin mat that will also go to the recipient of the footstool.  Hopefully I will also get some other seasonal ones hooked so she can switch them out.

I started Jack's Crow, a fun little pattern by Winter Cottage that can be found here.

ACK!  What's with the new blogger interface?  I hate change :(

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and staying healthy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Happy Hump Day ~

Not much to share.  Things are opening up in Ohio, but I still haven't really been anywhere except an occasional trip to the grocery store and one to the garden center.  I really need to get there again.  I don't plant annuals in the ground, but do put them in crocks and the old wheelbarrow.  

Hooking is going S-L-O-W-L-Y :(  It should not take a week and a half to hook a small mat ~ but it is.  I am getting close on Mr. Jingles and am anxious to get him done.  

The binding is done on the last of the hook in door prize mats.  Rug labels have been sewn on a number of small mats.  Lots of piddly stuff getting done but nothing major.

The yard has been taking up quite a bit of my time.  It is a never ending process especially when the gardens are a jungle.  Why have I ended up with so many invasive plants?  I've dug some and passed them on but it's still a jungle.

The iris are exceptionally beautiful this year.

I really need to spray the hostas before the deer find them.

My one and only azalea.  It was here when I moved in.  I've planted many others but not a one has survived.

DSO lives in a former shipyard and the front of his unit is what was once a drydock where they built 1000' Great Lakes ore carriers.  Not the sharpest picture of the heron . . . they usually fly away just when I am ready to snap one.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren   

This, That and the Other ~

It just dawned on me to check the calendar.  Holy moley.  Monday is Memorial Day.  Maybe I didn't realize it because it falls so early this year . . . or maybe because the world is in such a crazy state.

I have been working on this cross stitch for a month now.  I stitch a little every day but usually only 30 minutes or so.  I've had to frog more than I ever have before.  The chart has many errors and it is just frustrating.  If it wasn't the perfect birthday gift, I would have given up long ago.

I am finishing up a little hooked mat, a fun pattern by Notforgotten Farm.  He's called Mr. Jingles, but I think I need to call mine Mr. Shoebuttons since I plan on using antique shoe buttons in lieu of the rusty bells.  A Christmas gift.  Maybe this year I won't wait until the last minute and go crazy trying to get a few hooked gifts done.  I just don't have the inclination to start a larger rug, though I have many patterns to choose from.

Did you know that May is "Older Americans Month"?  Did you even know there was such a thing?  I didn't until the bank sent me tips to help me protect myself.

Yard work just never ends.  I just about finished all the edging, and I had to start all over again.  I did get my 10 bags of topsoil on the low spot (400# worth . . . that's more dirt than I care to carry) but it still isn't enough.  Oh, well.  It may have to do for now.  Still have my 6 bags of mulch to put out.  

For a couple "no-reply" bloggers.

    - P Loebl . . . please send me your email address

      - Kate . . . thank you for the info.  I will look for a competitor's coupon to use.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Be safe and stay healthy.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Baby Steps ~

I am getting things done, but nothing major.  Lots of little accomplishments, but little is better than nothing, right?

I joined Saundra in hooking a cat's paw mat.  Mine is small, just 13" x 14".

Before returning from Florida in March, older brother Bill stopped in Mobile, AL, to visit our sister.  My grandma's rocker no longer lives in Alabama, but now in Ohio.  Sadly her daughter is very minimalistic and has no desire to hang on to this family piece.  I fear it will mean nothing to my boys, either.  It makes me sad.

I've also finished binding two of the three door prize mats for this October's hook in.  Fingers crossed that we can hold it.  I (along with many others) need a hooking fix :)  These are bound with wool, my binding of choice.

I need to make labels as I have a half dozen things needing one.  Michaels has not had a 40% off coupon for a couple months and I'm hoping they will have one soon now that the stores are open.  The printable fabric they carry that I prefer, not cheap to begin with, has jumped in price.  Better the cash in my pocket than theirs :)

The lilac bush is so fragrant.  Too bad it doesn't flower all summer.

The poppies I have are very invasive, but worth the show.  I love how the buds droop.

The flowers, so very delicate.

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

Saturday Laugh ~

I intended to do a real post today to show what I've been doing.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions, right?  I just don't have that much ambition, but did want to pop in and say hi.  

This just cracked me up :)

Gee, and I thought they used nasal swabs.

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