Winter Solstice ~

The days will start to get longer ~ woo hoo, though for a long time it will be almost imperceptible.  Thursday's rain is set to turn into Friday's blizzard.  Some meteorologists are comparing it to the blizzard of '78 which was one heck of a blizzard!  Of course I hope the weatherguessers are totally wrong, but this weather system looks as if it will affect most of the US and Canada.  My son is flying in Christmas Eve.  I am hoping his flight will not be delayed/cancelled.

I finally finished the cross stitching on my little Santa.  Those crazy snowflakes (which were supposed to be French knots) gave me fits.  Using the magnifier on the OTT, I still could not count correctly.  There was not quite enough contrast between the color of his face and the linen, so I added a thin backstitch around it.  Not sure I like it, but oh well, oh hell.  I just want it done.  Hopefully today I will get it sewn in to a little pinkeep.

Some more pictures from around the house.  These are from the downstairs powder room.

Little reproduction feather tree that Lisanne Miller from Cushing was selling during Rug Week at Sauder Village.  They were a steal at only $10 and sold out quickly.  Decorated with vintage ornaments.

Little hypertufa snowman.

This little tree in the kitchen is decorated only with the old figural bulbs.

A few close ups.

Also in the kitchen.

Dining room.

Vintage chenille Santas.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

December 19 ~ Already!

It is amazing how much more quickly I can cross stitch using a good Ott light.  Not even using the magnifier, I could see to stitch.  This 26 count looks like horse stitches!  

Yesterday I headed to an antique flea market about an hour south I had not been to for many, many years.  I was impressed with the number of dealers and items they had.  Much more vintage than antique, but still some pretty good stuff.  I swore I would not buy any Christmas things but I should have known better.  I found 3 fun (not old) Santa ornaments, but hey, they cost a grand total of $1.25.  Also found 3 vintage figural glass bulbs that I add a hanger to and for $10 I thought they were a great deal.  Here is a snowman figural bulb . . . and he fits right in on my snowman tree . . . that is a new tree this year.  The cinnamon stick snowman I painted many years ago.

Two Santas also found their way in to my bag😁  This Noah's Ark driftwood Santa, very well painted, was only $2.  It had a couple paint ships, but I added a bit of stain so they are not noticeable.  He has serious hair, doesn't he?

This "new old stock" Santa bank, probably from the 60's jumped in my bag, too.  He does not light up.

A tin hopping, wind up bunny that still hops and a few gifts were also purchased.  All in all, a good day.

Several readers have inquired as to when I was going to share some of my decorating.  I don't change my decorating up too much from year to year.  I pack things according to the space they will occupy.  If I changed things up every year, it would take me a month to decorate instead of two weeks.  I still have not learned the concept of "less is more".  Here are a few random shots to share.  

In my spare bedroom/desktop computer room.  The little hooked mat was designed by a fellow hooker for a Christmas in July exchange at Crooked River Rug Hookers (CRRH) and she also added ATHA (Association of Traditional Hooking Artists), our parent organization.  I love the red, white and blue.

Little hanging cupboard on the upstairs landing.

And below it.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Year of the Klutz!

I have suddenly turned in to such a klutz!  I know every time I go to the doctor they ask if I have fallen.  This has not been a good year.  I like to blame it on inattention and not my age!!!  In June I tripped over the extended dog leash and did a face plant to the hardwood floor.  That involved a trip to urgent care and having my head glued shut.  In September, heading to the garage I was watching the squirrel in the driveway and missed the bottom step.  Another trip to the urgent care and then follow-up at the orthopedic doctor.  Fractured fibula and in a "boot" for six weeks.  In November while raking leaves, I somehow fell off the curb and smacked my left knee in the road.  Let's just say it was painful but getting better, when suddenly about a week ago the pain was intense and bending it became an issue.  Another trip to an ortho doctor yesterday.  After several x-rays, the pain was not diagnosed as an injury to the knee, but having aggravated the arthritis I didn't even know I had.  (Based on heredity, that is not the least bit surprising.  My mom's knees were horrible and my older brother is having serious issues.)  The cortisone shot was like a miracle cure.  Early evening I removed the brace I was given and was amazed that the pain was gone and the flexibility back.  Now I don't have to go down the steps one at a time like an elderly person, which I know I am considered 😝  I am also scheduled for therapy, but am hoping it is not necessary.  I know this is not a permanent fix, but it is most welcome.

Counted cross stitch was my first love, but I got away from it in the early 90's.  In about the last 10 years I have stitched a little bit.  Well, I decided to stitch small Santa as a Christmas gift.  I grabbed a piece of decades old  26 count linen.  This is HUGE by today's linen standards.  Back in the day this was the most primitive linen I found.  Let me tell you, it is giving me fits.  I am frogging more than I am stitching.  I am just having a heck of a time counting the threads properly and am constantly one thread off.  It is time to use the Ott light with magnifier if I have any hopes of getting this project done in the next few days.  I use the stab method to stitch, so I am slow to begin with.  My hook?  It hasn't seen the light of day in weeks.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs😊
Lauren

How much wool is needed?

Just a quickie post here.  A couple people wanted to know how much wool was needed to make a woolly wreath.  I made the medium size wreath (about 6 3/4" diameter) using a 2" wide piece of wool about 64" long.  Of course it will depend on how tightly you wrap your wool.  Use about 36" of 1" wide wool to make a simple bow.   It's easier to have a little extra and trim if necessary.

Isn't this the truth?

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

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

Inspiration~

Just a quickie today.  I came across this gift bag.  It is a small one, just 6" x 8".  Wouldn't this be a fun design to enlarge to hook, reduce to punch, or applique?  Too many projects, too little time!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

At Long Last ~

 

Holy moly!  December 8th already.  I thought with Thanksgiving being so early this year and having started to decorate a few days before, my decorating would be long done.  Ha!  I should know better.  I am close, but close isn't what I want right now.  Perhaps if I would stay home, more could get done.  It seems I am always running somewhere.  Thankfully I didn't have to deal with dilation at today's ophthalmology appointment (all is well) so at least I can see.  Then I decided to make a couple dozen ornaments on the Cricut and since I hadn't made any in over 6 months, that was a re-learning experience . . . and with only one call to my son's girlfriend 😁

About two and a half years ago dear friend Dolly gifted me this wonderful old shirt cupboard from a department store in Akron, Ohio.  Isn't it just the coolest wool storage cupboard?  Now if I would just organize the wool in all the drawers!  It sat kind of forlorn in my bedroom (the only place I could find room for it) for the last couple of years.  

FINALLY . . . Ole Jack got hung over it and it is the perfect spot for him.  I am absolutely thrilled how it looks.  That is my maternal grandmother's rocker sitting in front.  Dolly, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.  You are truly one in a million.

Some of my sewing collectibles sit atop.

Must get back to being busy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren