Another Easy Woolly Craft ~

Head on over to the Dollar (and a quarter) Tree and pick up this wreath form.  

Two in a package so after cutting apart (using a grinder or tin snips . . . not sure . . . my sweetie cut them for me) you end up with 6 rings, 5 1/2", 6 3/4" and 8", 2 of each.  They can be found more in the craft section, not Christmas.

For the larger two rings, I tore the wool 2".  The smallest ring was cut about 1 3/4".  Snip the wool being careful not to cut the strip apart.  No need to be exact.    For the largest ring I cut the strips about  1/2" wide and a bit narrower for the other two rings.  I prefer the narrower cut.  You can double the strip to make the cutting go a little more quickly.

Using tacky glue, start winding the "feathers" around, being careful to avoid the glue.  I would spread the glue maybe an 1 1/2" - 2", wind the wool and then start the process over.  Overlap the strips as you go around.

At the end, I put a dab of glue and clipped it to allow it to dry.

Add a wool bow and you are all set.  Add embellishments as desired.  I prefer mine rather plain.

Yesterday was TubaChristmas and my longtime readers know how much I love it.  Yesterday did not disappoint.  I tried to upload a video, but blogger said the file was too large.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Simple Patriotic Project ~

Raid your kids/grandkids sports stuff.  Walk through a park where there are ballfields.  Check out yard sales (I found one for $.05 a couple weeks ago).  If the balls are dirty, just wash with some dish soap and let dry.  Barn red, antique white, dark blue acrylic paints, an antiquing medium and some spray sealer are all that is needed.

 

A few years ago I made one.  I tried to get my lines all straight and paint real stars.  Not this time and it was so much faster and so much more fun.

Close up of a star.  You can see how primitively they are done but still look great.

 

After painting, antique as desired.  Let dry thoroughly and give it a few light coats of the spray sealer.

 

Hope your weekend is off to a great start.  It's that time of year again near the shores of Lake Erie ~ Canadian soldier time.  Oh, how I despise these creatures, though they are supposed to be a good sign.  The more that hatch from the lake, the healthier the lake.

 

My clematis - exceptionally gorgeous this year.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren





What a Mess ~

 

It's a good thing I live alone.  Others might have a problem living with this mess.  When I hook, it is upstairs in my hooking room so my mess is contained there and pretty much out of sight.  I stamp my spoons and forks in the basement, but any other creating is done on the dining room table and this is what my table has looked like for a couple of weeks.  Even I am tired of the mess, but makes no sense to me to put it away each evening.  I am getting ready to vend at the Western Reserve hook in at the end of the month and am trying to come up with a few new things.

 

 

I will be taking some of my garden markers . . .

 

. . . and some of the pickle and olive forks.  (There's still time to enter if you'd like to try winning a set.  See my previous post.)

 

I've been making pendants out of antique paisley (oh, they are so much prettier in person) and some pendants made with quillies.  

Velveteen and antique paisley pincushions are filled with crushed walnut shells to keep needles and pins nice and sharp.  I hope to get a few scissor fobs made, but we'll see if I run out of time.

My complete set of typewriter keys (missing the "C" . . . lol) now have bales and are ready to add to a necklace.

After nearly two weeks, still nothing on the frame.  I need to do a better job of planning ahead.  I've pulled several patterns already on linen and a few on paper, but nothing is screaming my name.  I hope something screams soon.

 

My little robin mat is about 80% bound.  I'm going to give myself an atta-girl for binding it.  I will share the finish in my next post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Havin' a Ball ~

I should have posted this while ball season was in full swing, but just got around to painting one this weekend.  Perhaps your kids or grands have an old ball laying around they'd be happy to part with.  I used acrylic paints and then antiqued it.  A few in an old wooden bowl would be fun for the 4th of July.

Isn't the bear just the sweetest?  Hooker friend Jane's mom Ruth (that's a mouthful!) was a well know bear maker back in the 80's (?) and Jane gifted me with this treasure.

There must have been ten birds bathing in the birdbath the other day, but every time I tried to get a pic, most of them flew away.

They have been enjoying the little sun dial birdbath, too.

Butterflies really do like the butterfly bush :)

Jake's self portrait.  I still am not used to seeing him with teeth . . . lol!

Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Dried Pineapples ~

Last year I found directions on how to dry a pineapple here.  Now when you click on the link it says that it is open to invited readers only and I guess I'm not invited :(

Last week Aldi's (discount grocery chain) had pineapples for only $1.19 so I decided to give it a try.  I think they came out pretty good if I do say so myself.  I learned that it's really hard to scoop out the insides from a hole in the bottom and nothing is really salvageable to eat!  They also shrink ~ ALOT!  I think they were about the same size to begin and now only about 1/3 the size they started out.  One seems to have shrunk more than the other.  The directions also said it took about 8 hours to dry in the oven.  Mine were in for 24 (at about 200 degrees) and still not totally dry.  Maybe I didn't scoop enough out.  If you'd like more information, I'd be happy to oblige but I don't want to step on any one's toes.

The weather is still phenomenal in Ohio with temps in the upper 60's.  I've done a bit of yard work 3 days in a row.  I don't ever remember cleaning out the flower beds in March, but I'm not complaining!  Just so we don't get a hard frost!!!  The daffodils have started blooming.  I just love me some daffodils.  The jonquils come a bit later and I love them even more!
Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

In the Spirit of Friends ~

The god of sunshine was smiling on Malabar Farms on Saturday.  The vendors set up Friday evening in rain and mud, but thankfully the weather cleared and by early afternoon the sun was shining. 

This is the only picture I took at the show.  It was life sized and just a hoot.  I wish I had gotten a picture of her bare feet.  I am also sorry to report I did not get the name of the vendor.

I didn't buy a whole lot (though I could have!), but purchases sure do add up quickly.

I did get this bittersweet wreath for the front door.

This sweet little Jack from Rhonda over at My Glory Stars.

A jar full of buttons and this cross stitch pattern from Lee at Falling Star Primitives.  I bought a pattern from her last year that is still not stitched :)

Yummy wool (MUCH more subdued in person) from the Aults and Alice over at A Day in the Life.

Last but not least these really cool old spindles from Bobbie at The Evening Stitcher.  She used one as a hanger for a little dress.  I think they would be really neat to hang a sampler or small hooked mat.

 

On the way home I decided to make a quick stop at a multi-dealer antique shop. I had purchased some very reasonably priced silver plate spoons there a couple of weeks ago and decided I'd better go buy the rest.

Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Treasures ~ from Gathered Treasures

I've finally taken a few pictures of my new/old

treasures from the

Gathered Treasures primitive/antique show.

A vintage shoo-fly rocker I looked at soon after I arrived.

It was still there when I was about to leave.

I figured because it was still there,

it was meant to come home with me {big grin}!

I think this will be someone's birthday present.

I have no idea how old this is

but I do know that it is vintage.

It was just too cute

not to bring it home.

Just a sweet little wall box.

Not antique, but it does have some age

{whatever that means!}.

There was a VERY talented bear maker ~
I believe she was from New York.

I'm so sorry I failed to get her name.

She also made the sweetest pin cushions ~

many made with vintage tomato pin cushions.

I also purchased four 48 star American flags.

Whenever I find them at a good price,

I snatch them up.

I got four of them

for only $5.00.

* * * * *

I got these pictures from Hopscotch's mom today.

Oh, that girl is a pistol.

This one just cracked me up.

I guess she figured if the cat could be on the table, so could she.

Eema is also doing great!

Her mom Dolly sent me a couple

snail mail pictures of her

sleeping with a mouse cat toy.

It is the first time

Eema has ever played with a toy.

Remember, Eema was my

girl who spent her first seven

years as a puppy mill momma.

How wonderful she is now living

the life she deserves.

It does my heart good!

* * * * *

Our weather is sunny and warm today.

We had torrential rains yesterday

and more are predicted.

I may never get my yard work done.

* * * * *

I've picked up a few new followers. 

Thank you so much! 

I've also passed my 300th post. 

In my wildest dreams,

I never thought I'd go this far with my blogging.

I must say, I am addicted.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Maggie B and a Give~Away ~

I did something this evening I've never done before.  I came home from work determined to spend a couple hours hooking.  I was on a mission ~ to complete my Maggie B rug this evening.  My goal was to get it hooked the month of March.  Well . . . I didn't start the rug until March 9.  I wanted to get the hooking done within a month's time and voila!  I did it.  I really am pleased with the results, but this is a TERRIBLE picture.  Hopefully I can get a better one at a later date.  I normally hook small mats so this is actually the third largest rug I've hooked to date.  I really enjoyed hooking this one.

On to the give~away.  I've got two little needle punch bunny mats that I made last year.  The winner gets her/his choice.  Maybe if I get a few new followers, I will give them both away. {HINT!  HINT!}

As always, the rules are pretty simple.

• leave a comment on this post or drop me an email with give~away in the subject line
• you don't need to be a follower but I'd love it if you were
• the winner will be chosen some time after 6 pm on Sunday the 10th
• you are welcome to post this on your blog, but you don't get any extra "points" for doing so :)

* * * * * * * * *

Saturday I am heading down to Alice's for a proddy class.  I've never taken a hooking class so should be a fun day.

* * * * * * * * * *

I often get questions about the vintage holiday postcards on my posts.  No, I don't have a collection of them.  They are on a CD I bought years ago on eBay.

* * * * * * * * *

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you will come again soon.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

And the First Winner is...

A big THANK YOU to all who left me a comment or sent me an email to enter the give~away.  Because I have so many wonderful readers and followers, I have decided to draw more than one winner.  The first name drawn gets to choose from one of the following.  After she decides, I will draw the next name.

And the first name drawn is....Becky Jean from Primitives n Stitchin.  How ironic is that?  I won her give-away last fall.  Becky, please send me an email (lauren@centurytel.net) with the item you want and your address.   

7" x 8"

6 1/4"  x  9 1/4"

The winner will receive 3 woven wool hearts.

Well, I'd better get busy.  I have to get these mats steamed and bound.
Thank you so much for stopping by, entering my give~away and being such great blog buddies.  I appreciate each and every one of you!!!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren