A (very) Little Progress ~

Just wanted to pop in for a quick second!

I have been working on Proud Lion, but I sure haven't made much progress in the last week, but as I always say, a little progress is better than none.  I really need to figure out what color the lion's body is supposed to be.  Hopefully that is not wool I "borrowed" years ago.

I did another cross stitch on the rug linen.  I have a plan for this . . . well maybe . . . but executing said plan is another story!  (What appears to be brown yarn, is more of a barn red but I'm not in the mood to fight with my camera to get better color!)

I always say that once the 4th of July gets here, summer is half over.  Tell me it isn't so!!!!!!!!  We went from chilly and rainy to stinkin' hot and humid.  Today we got some much needed rain.  I am always amazed how quickly things dry out.  I'm sure the flowers are doing a little happy dance tonight.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Still Hanging In ~

 

I've been a bit MIA trying to get things done.  My house is probably at 99.5% of normal.  Piddly stuff left to finish.  The dining room table and spare bed are still piled with paperwork I am sorting through.  No one should have this much worthless/obsolete paperwork!!!  The built in cupboard that I emptied a week plus ago is still a disaster with stuff all over the floor.  A few little odds and ends of redecorating left to do.  So close.  I just want it all done!

I have finally found time to stitch a little.  Since I changed the spacing between the alphabet rows, I need to resize the large snowflakes.  The A B C D to the right has not yet been frogged.

A (very) little progress has been made on Yellow Bird.  I will share in my next post.

I can't even begin to wrap my head around the devastation in California.  To lose absolutely everything (and you have seen how materialistic I am).  How do you come to grips with that?  Just heartbreaking . . . but we mustn't forget the devastation in Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina that people are still dealing with.  Our government can continue to send BILLIONS to the Ukraine and other countries while our citizens suffer.  Our citizens should be the top priority.

OK.  Off my soapbox.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Overwhelmed by Stuff!!!

My living spaces are full of stuff.  I was recently told I really packed a lot in to my living areas, but it did not seem cluttered.  I feel the same way, but don't even think about opening a closet or drawer.  As previously mentioned, I was purging paperwork and still am.  I already have a laundry basket full of paperwork that needs to be taken to the secure county recycling center where they shred documents.  I decided to start cleaning one of the built in cupboards on the upstairs landing.  Holy moly is it full of crap stuff.  A week ago I bought one of those neck reading lights.  I thought it might help with cross stitching.  Well, golly gee.  Guess what I found in the cupboard?  An identical one still in the box that I must have purchased years ago and have absolutely no recollection of buying.  Now that is scary!  Thankfully I haven't used the new one and have all the packaging so it can be returned.  An entire tub of small boxes, spools, boards that one day I am going to attach something to.  (And there is more in the basement.)  Yeah, right.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions!

So not only am I purging paperwork and cleaning a cupboard, I need to un-decorate.  I started Saturday and dropped a little snowman ornament and chipped his hat and broke his scarf.  I have the pieces but they will be difficult to glue back on.  Then yesterday I dropped a paper mache' snowman.  I was able to sort of repair him with a paint job 😡.         

At the rate I am going, I will be living in chaos for quite some time, and I don't do chaos well 😬.  Oh well.  Oh hell.  This too shall pass.

I have made progress on my little Pineberry cross stitch.  Even having adjusted the spacing of the letters and rows, it is bigger than I would have liked it.  That's what happens when you only find a piece of 28 count linen in your meager stash!!!

I pulled a few loops on Yellow Bird but so few nothing worth sharing.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Lookee what I found ~

Found . . . but now needs to be used 😁

I also started another little Christmas stitchery.  I believe I stitched this once a number of years ago but needed another no-brainer thing to work on until I found my hook.  (Hook not really lost, but tucked away because I had no time to hook and didn't want the hooking mess in the living room during the holidays.)  Once again on 28 count linen because as I have said, I have no linen stash.  I started stitching it using the spacing on the chart.

Not happy at all with it, so started over with the letters and rows closer together.  MUCH better . . . but there a couple of snowflakes whose size may need to be adjusted by a couple threads.

I hope your New Year has started off without a bang!  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

A Not Fully Finished Finish ~

I guess it's time to get out the Ott with magnifier.  Stitching this little piece on 28 count linen has given me fits.  (How on earth do people stitch on 46 count?)  I did okay with the dark color threads, but the threads that were close in value to the linen . . . argh!!!  Let's just say it did not go well 😝.  But the stitching is done and it will join all the other little cross stitch pieces that are stitched and not fully finished.

I wish I had more to share but this is sadly it.  Still haven't gotten the hook out.  I thought between Christmas and New Year's I would finally have time to kick back and enjoy the peace and quiet of the season, but I have been just as busy as before Christmas.  Of course, all self inflicted.  I only have myself to blame!  I normally start un-decorating on the 2nd, but this year I may enjoy my home all decorated a few days longer.  Everything is lit up with little white lights and when they are put away it is just so dreary.  Not a whole lot of sunshine in northern Ohio in January.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Because You Asked ~

Here is my meager start to the little cross stitch piece by Country Rustic Primitives.  I'm sure Marly or Janice would have had it done in a night or two, but I am just super slow!  Plus I have spent more time frogging than stitching 😭.  I don't have a linen stash, so found a piece of 28 count that was purchased at Michaels.  There are many half crosses charted, but I am making them complete Xs.

I know I have shown this St. Nicholas before.  My mom called him her Russian Santa and he is one of my most prized possessions that she painted.  He has a place of honor on my mantle, in front of the first antique sampler I purchased decades ago.

I have been so close to being ready for Christmas for many days, but I keep finding more stuff I need to do.  So what did I do yesterday?  Went and played for a half day.  My prime enabler (sister-in-law) couldn't go, so I played alone and did enough damage without her.  I found quite a few piddly items that will be little extra gifts NEXT Christmas.  Gotta get 'em when the gettin's good 😁

It was an indoor "collectible" market (a term used very loosely) and most items are not priced which I hate.  I asked the price on this crock and immediately started walking away after hearing what he wanted.  The seller asked what I would pay, I gave him a low-ball response (not really wanting to buy it) and he countered.  I still said no . . . but then I got it for what I originally said.  I think I got a pretty good deal, but I really did not need another crock!!!

This little hard plastic Santa was also calling my name.  I am guessing he is from the 50's.

The sterling silver is still not all polished (Christmas is the only day of the year I use it and that is non-negotiable in my life).  I hopefully made my last trip to the grocery store.  I am not ready mentally for it to be Christmas.  Oh well    . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Crying Uncle ~

Nancy Agness is going in to a permanent time out.  I started her once again and I am happy with the blue chosen (DMC 926).  The problem is after getting this little bit done (thankfully not more) . . . 

. . . I looked at the picture of the antique.   Whoever reproduced the sampler took way too much "poetic license" in charting it and removed all the quirky charm of 10 year old Nancy Agness' sampler.  The chart is much to perfect. 

I though I could chart it back to the original, but the quality of my photo does not allow for that.  

Here is row #2 of the sampler.  I have circled the most glaring changes in that row, but liberties were taken throughout the entire sampler.

If I decide I must stitch something, I will find something I will be happy stitching.  I would never be happy with this one.

It took a week ~ argh ~ but Christmas has been totally put away and the house redecorated.  I am happy to have that done so hopefully will get something on my frame sooner rather than later.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Two Finishes and a Start ~

1890 Roosters is finally bound though it still needs a final steaming and a label.  That little rug took way too long, but I am happy with the way it turned out.  It was so hard to hook in that scrappy style . . . but I love it.  Once again, thanks to Saundra for the pattern.  You can find that one ~ and many more ~ here.

I decided to do a little freebie cross stitch Marly (Samplers & Santas) had shown.  The link to the chart by the Primitive Hare can be found here on her blog.  It was such an easy stitch until I had to stitch with the white floss.  I did way too much frogging because I just couldn't count the threads properly.  Didn't have that problem with the darker colors.  There is still one error I did not correct but I am quite certain no one will find it, but I KNOW IT IS THERE.  Ugh.  Stitched on a scrap of 30 or 32 count linen, the finished size is 3 7/8 x 3 1/4.  Unlike Marly who fully finishes her cross stitch, mine will end up in a shoebox with other cross stitch that is not totally finished. 

Last night I decided to start Nancy Agness McGlaughlin, a reproduction sampler I found in a 1988 Traditional American Crafts book.   The chart did not list DMC floss number, just "blue" and "tan".  After stitching for almost 2 hours I decided I did not like the blue I chose so frogged all of that.  (Can you relate, Marly?)  Maybe tonight I can try blue #2.  I am a slow stitcher (still use the stab method) so this will be an ongoing project for quite some time.

And to Saundra . . . No.  I have not started a new hooking project 😢

Christmas is almost down and hauled to the attic.  I need help with the big tree.  Every time I think I have found everything, another tree surfaces.  Thursday my Fitbit went crazy and said I did 159 floors.  Now I know that is not true, but I am sure I did at least 50.  Thankfully it is a walk up attic!!!  

Let the re-decorating begin.  Then maybe, just maybe, I will have time to get something on my frame.

For my grammar nazi friends, I leave you with this.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Another Cross Stitch Finish ~

Whenever I find little wooden boxes and such for a good price, I buy them with the intention of adding cross stich, punch needle, etc., to the top.  I have plenty of boxes but this is the first time I have actually used one.

A sweet little dome top box missing its escutcheon.  The inside has some bright green velvet rather poorly added but I left it as is.

I stitched this fun little Santa a few years ago.  Pattern is by Lori Brechlin of NotForgottenFarm.  You can find her here on etsy.  It was the perfect fit for the little box.  I have never glued a piece of cross stitch before, but I am pleased with my results.  Another gift to cross off my list!

My Samsung dishwasher door replacement saga continues.  The bottom line is that they assured me the door was in only to cancel because it was not.  Rescheduled and I did not even get a courtesy call to tell me they were not coming.  Of course you can't talk with a supervisor, they just connect you to Samsung who after a half hour on the phone tells you the part is backordered and they have no idea when it will be in.  The last person I spoke with was still playing the pandemic card.  ARGH!!!

But the good news is that Christmas is in 11 days and I think I am ready.  That has never happened before, but I must be forgetting something major that should be on one of my many lists...lol.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Tuesday Twaddle ~

twad·dle

/ˈtwäd(ə)l/

INFORMAL

noun

1. trivial or foolish speech or writing; nonsense.

   "he dismissed the novel as self-indulgent twaddle"

That about sums things up!  Sometimes I feel that's all I write about, but today, I do want to share a finish.  Of course, not hooking (no hooking has happened here in a couple weeks), but a cross stitch finish.  I believe this is a Pineberry Lane pattern that I stitched a few years ago.  As with most of my cross stitch finishes, it ended up in a shoebox.  My dear friend from college, Wink, was stopping by to visit yesterday and I wanted to gift it to her.  I once again put on my big girl panties and got out the sewing machine.  I must say, I get an atta girl for the finish!!!  Stitched into a little pillow, I edged it with vintage tinsel.  

In front of my vintage Santas.

Haven't been hooking, but doing a little applique.  Easier when I am heading to DSO's than to haul my hooking stuff (though I still do that often).  I guess I just needed something mindless to occupy my hands.

So hard to believe I mowed the lawn just two days ago and today we woke up to snow.  Welcome to Ohio 😂

I am the crazy Christmas decorating fool.  Knee deep in boxes.  Considering it is still November, I am feeling pretty darn good, though I have MUCH left to do.  I am maybe half done.  Decorating would go so much more quickly if I didn't have to pack up most of my house to put the decorations out.  Oh well.  I am my own worst enemy who does not subscribe to the "less is more" style.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

A Little More on the Fall Gathering ~

 

I love that Thanksgiving is so early this year.  I value the extra days between then and Christmas.  Argh!  I said the "C" word 😁

As usual, I only took a few pictures of the projects being worked on.  My travel partner Val was hooking this fun pumpkin guy.

Tablemate Deb finished her Santa.

Another attendee was working on the HUGE Michelle Palmert punch needle piece.  Isn't it wonderful?

My ambitious goal was to hook two roosters, but I knew that wasn't going to happen.  One is better than none!

Jo Wick (of Jo's Folk Art Fibers) hooked this fun rug she designed.  You can order the paper pattern from her for punch needle or to enlarge for hooking.  Great colors!

Jenny Smallridge (of the Wooly Horse) hooks enormous rugs.  I think her motto is go big or go home.  I believe I have shared this rug before.  I am guessing it is 4' x 4'.

Her current project is this wonderful log cabin rug being hooked with handtorn strips.  It measures 57" x 47".  I love her border.

Former blogger Melinda Cole of Merry Wind Farm is a long time friend who lives in Tipp.  It was great to see her once again.  It had been too many years.  She now has an etsy shop where she sells cross stitch patterns that she has charted from antique samplers.  (She has even reproduced several of my antique samplers 😉 )  She is so giving and gifted me a piece of antique paisley and this beautiful project bag.  Perfectly stitched and sewn and her fabric choices complement the piece so well.  I feel blessed to own such a treasure.  Now I must get a small cross stitch or punch needle project together so I can use it.  Thank you, Melinda.  I will treasure it always.

I must share with you the cutest trick-or-treater ever.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

New Old Treasures ~

I really need to stop finding new treasures!  Daily I think about purging but then come home with "stuff".

Last Friday my new sister-in-law Lyn (smile) texted me information about an antique barn sale that morning.  She could not go Friday and so I texted friend Laura who said she would pick me up as soon as she got dressed . . . lol.  I had not looked at any of the items from the sale, but Laura texted me a couple pictures.  There was this really cool pug picture and it was still there when we arrived.  How could it not come home with me?  Sorry for the angled shot but it was the only way I could avoid glare.

It is an original charcoal drawing measuring      18 1/2" x 24 1/2" excluding the frame.  Note how different a pug looked way back when.  It had a pronounced snout and much longer legs.  They have bred these characteristics out of pugs.  The flat face they are now noted for has contributed to many breathing/health issues.  Friend Julia says that itinerant painters would have part of the charcoal done and just add the head to the already completed body.

The frame is most unusual.  I am not real wild about it.  Made of wood, I am not sure how it was made.  Based on the back of the frame, it has been in the frame for some time but most likely, IMHO, not original.  It is not two separate separate frames as it appears.

Yesterday between hooking and a doctor's appointment, I had time to kill.  I stopped at an antique shop I haven't stopped at in many years.  In all my years of antiquing, I have not come across another crock like this.  It is in commemoration of George Washington's 200th birthday.  It does have a crack but a cracked crock never has bothered me.

One more item to share.  Lyn gifted me this pin drum several years ago for Christmas.

At a show on Sunday a vendor was selling pin drums she stitched and her mom sewed and I decided to treat myself (once again 😁).

Can you believe they are the same pattern, just with a different name?  I don't believe it!  Here they are side by side.  Same count linen but Mary was finished a tad smaller.

There is still time to purchase raffle tickets for this WONDERFUL rug, but it will be given away to one lucky person this Saturday.  You can get the details here.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren