Snow folk ~

 

Since we are less than a week away from Christmas, I thought I'd better show some of my Christmas "stuff".  Year to year my decorating is very similar, but some things are changed around a bit and there are a few new additions 😁

Today I will start with my snow folk!

These are in the living room at the base of the stair.

Hanging above the snowmen shown above.

A vintage snowman snow globe.

Can you tell I like wall boxes?

A Kelly Belfast rug won years ago.

Snow folk tree in the upstairs bath.

Hooked and constructed in a class many years ago.

And my only blow mold Snowman.

On the little landing leading to the basement.  

Hanging on my drapery stretcher.

What a busy time of year.  Thankful that I started decorating early because I have been gone so much lately I would be crazy-stressed by now had I not.  About the only things left to do are grocery shop (one of my least favorite tasks!) and polish the silver.  I only use it at Christmas so it needs a bit of cleaning.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

99%

 

I will never be 100% done because I keep finding additional things to do or put out . . . but I am happy with 99%!!!  I don't bake so that is not something I have to worry about.  Just need to figure out Christmas day dinner, but it is never anything fancy.  No exotically prepared dishes.  As far as I'm concerned, cook is a four letter word (so is hook, but that is a good four letter word 😁).

A number of years ago I purchased this "thingy".  I don't know what it is called but it had something to do with drapes.  Drapery rail???  It is 56" long and has nails sticking out along the bottom.  (Sorry for the blurry photo.)

For years I had planned to have it hung to use for rugs and it finally happened.  (Thanks to DSO.)  It is great because the rugs can easily be switched out.  The wall is seen from the kitchen and leads to the basement.

The only crafty thing that has happened was the finishing of this snowman on a coverlet.  I am totally done making these for the season!!!  I can actually finish something when it needs to be gifted!

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful friend.  Laura has such a knack for filling containers with greens so I asked if she would do a couple for me.  She was out in the freezing cold the other day filling them for me.  They are absolutely beautiful and she even leant me the 10 gallon crock for my porch.  Thank you, Laura.

I have taken some time to go "play" in recent days.  Thankfully I found the last two gifts that needed to be purchased at an antique shop.  Today I met Vernon Junction Sue at an antique mall about an hour from home.  So good to see her and was gifted a wonderful piece of wool that I coveted.  I hadn't been to this mall in decades.  I found a Christmas ornament for my son and a little bag of buttons.  Overall I thought the prices were high so nothing else came home with me ~ not that I need anything else . . . lol!

Well, I'd better get busy sweeping and dusting.  Gabby from Cape on the Corner is coming tomorrow to video my house.  I will let you know when the video is up.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Co-Existing ~

First of all, thank you so much for all the comments and emails regarding my son J and his cancer diagnosis.  If I haven't responded to you personally, it is because everyone is coming thru as a no-reply blogger and I don't have your email address.  (I sure wish blogger would fix this issue!!!)  His first round of chemo is behind him and though he doesn't feel great, he doesn't feel that bad . . . but they have told him each subsequent round gets worse.

I think there is only one time I have started my Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, and this is the second time.  The 28th is the latest that Thanksgiving can fall and it just adds too much pressure if I don't get a little done beforehand.  Granted, I probably won't get much done, but something is better than nothing.  

I refuse to put my turkeys away so have to decorate around them 😁

I gathered black walnuts from the park (the squirrels were kind enough to remove the husks) and made garlands.

Papier mache turkeys

Candles

Here is the decorating that has been accomplished so far 😂

Topped with this sweet angel that Saundra gifted me a number of years ago.

Nary a loop has been pulled in a long time.  I have been working on these applique snowmen on antiques coverlets but that is about it.  They might be Christmas gifts . . . might not.

Son Bill who lives in Las Vegas will be home next week.  I still say home but it has been years since this has been his home . . . sigh.  He loves LV, is happy there, so this mama bear is happy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Rug Throw Down ~

There was a rug throw down at the Buckeye hook in last Saturday.  I did not get pictures of all the rugs, but here is a sampling.

Detail from above rug.  Lace (?) used to frame the piece and "jewels" to accent the tail feathers.

No hooking happening here, but I did applique a couple more snowmen on coverlets . . . 

. . . and a couple little Rebecca L. Smith applique pumpkins.

My houseguest.  My brother had knee replacement surgery today so Jasmine got to spend time with me.  (Please keep him in your prayers for a speedy recovery!)  Here she is soaking up some sunshine while I cleaned flower beds.

Saturday is the last of my last vending for the year.  So happy I won't have to think about it until next year.

I am off to the lakefront to check out the super moon and hopefully see the comet.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Rudie ~

Rudie is finally finished.  Took me long enough . . . sigh!  He is bound just not labeled.  And of course my colors are washed out no matter where I take the picture 😖

I also had a request for two snowmen on antique coverlet pieces.  The buyer will be sewing them in to pillows.  She wanted me to use the same coverlet for both.  I appliqued similar yet different snowmen.  I always have a problem with orders because I am so worried the buyer will not be happy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Better Than No Finish ~

 

There has been no time for any hooking or hand work.  Hook hasn't been in hand since the week before Thanksgiving.  Hopefully that will change soon!!!  I don't do much outdoor decorating, but did get fresh greens out today and my sleds are decorated.  (UGH!  And I even raked leaves.  That is so wrong for December 8!)  Inside all is finally done except for adding some greens here and there, but I will wait another week or so because they dry out so quickly.  My last major task is inventorying gifts to see what I still need to pick up.  Hopefully it is minimal.  Oh, and then wrap. I try to buy gifts throughout the year as I find things.  I like to give gifts that are not found on Amazon or big box and department stores.   

I finally finished my two snowmen on antique coverlet pieces.  They took forever 😖 and they should not have.  I am happy to call them done.  (I don't know the face on the right looks stained.  It is the same wool as the one on the left.)

My boys call me the grammar Nazi.  This about sums it up.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Getting Things Done, but NOT Fun stuff ~

I've been busy finishing a few things for vending, but nary a loop pulled on the class rug 😟  I hope to finally get back to it . . . soon.

More sunflowers that will be door prizes at the Crooked River hook in this September.  They still need some snippet stuffing and attachment to the bedspring.  Just a fun fact.  The guild is based on the west side of Cleveland.  The Cuyahoga River runs through Cleveland and is known as the crooked river.

A couple more pumpkins on antique coverlet pieces.

And a few snowmen.

Snippet bowls made from old 45 RPM records.  So easy.  Do a google search to find out how to make them.

Remember this song?

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren