Hit 'n Miss ~

I found a pattern that looked like it would be fun to hook in the summer issue of this magazine. 

When I received my copy of the magazine, there was an 8 1/2" x 11" paper tucked in the magazine  correcting a punch needle pattern.  When I went to put the hooking pattern on linen, I just couldn't figure out how to make it work.  I went online to see if there was a correction and found nothing.  I then sent a Facebook message to the designer, someone local who I personally know.  Her response was that the pattern should have been two pages and only one was printed and that I should "just wing it".  They will be printing a correction in the next issue.  I have a real problem with this.  Yes, I could "just wing it", but could a newbie figure it out? Don't mean to sound bitchy, but for an $8.99 magazine there should not be one mistake, let alone two. 

Anyway, here is my finished mat.  It's about  10 3/4" x 15" and I am pleased with the way it came out.  Of course, the colors are much  better in person.

I also decided to join Saundra and Gayle and hook this little hit 'n miss mat.  I needed something mindless, so I grabbed a handful of worms from each of the worm tubs and hooked away.  It's going very quickly.  I have absolutely no imagination, so, like Saundra's, mine is 12" x 12".  Too bad these mats are not even making a dent in the worms.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Thank You ~

Thank you so much for the good wishes on my retirement.  All the comments and emails truly warmed my heart.  The next few months are so busy it probably won't sink in for quite some time.  I must say it sure was nice not having to set my alarm for 5:30 this morning.    I was pupsitting and this alarm told me to get up at 7:30.  It is almost impossible to get a picture of her.  Though she has calmed down considerably, she is still very much the puppy.  My granddog Kali :)

Checking out the neighborhood

The show in Holly, MI, went well.  I made some fun money which is always good.  Here are pictures of our booth.

Melissa's AMAZING jewelry

I can't believe I didn't take pictures of any other booths.  The set ups were beautiful.  Lots of good stuff at some great prices.  I had my eye on a rather large dovetailed box.  I was happy it sold quickly so the temptation was gone :)  Earlene had the most wonderful little table but it's sad that I could not think of one spot in my house where it would fit ~ other than the basement.  Friend Bobbie hosted Melissa and me for the evening.  {{Thanks, Bobbie.}}  I bought these two frozen Charlottes from her for a former co-worker whose grandma's name was Charlotte.  They will be Christmas gifts for her mom and aunt.  Bobbie's necklaces were wonderful. 

Francine surprised us with a visit all the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba.  An eighteen hour trip.  Now that's a prim lover!  Didn't get a picture of her, either . . . sigh . . . but I did snag this one of her and her sweetie from Facebook.

My purchases ~

A fun pumpkin . . .

. . . and the sweetest little needle case (the piece in the front).

Two German putz sheep ~ complete with their neckbands and good legs.  So many in my flock have bad legs :(

My flock ~

I have no idea what I will do with these old wooden spoke wheels, but they spoke to me (bad pun intended).

Sweet little hypertufa snowman (no, I'm not hoping for winter) . . .

. . . and finally after years of saying I was going to try making one, a hypertufa beeskep.

Oh, and the sweetest little potty chair. 

Wish I had more room next to my commode because it would make the perfect tp holder.

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

NEVER Forget ~

  ~ May God Bless America ~

A New Chapter of Life Begins ~

As of 3 pm Tuesday, I am retired.  Was it the smartest decision?  Only time will tell, but I was ready.  Too bad most people have to get old to retire . . . lol :)  Perhaps I've just read too many obituaries of people my age or younger dying unexpectedly.  I want time to enjoy life (and hopefully not have to eat cat food too soon).

It is going to be a busy few months, so it probably won't hit me until after the holidays.  (I just can't say the "C" word yet, Saundra.)  It will be nice not to have to squeeze it all in after working full time.  First thing to get through is Saturday's show.  Lots more on the schedule after that.

I told my co-worker that I did not want a party, and that was not just lip service.  I really didn't.  I don't like to be the center of attention.  They instead planned our "end of season" steak fry.  They had a cake and gave me this wonderful hooking basket (and some $$ to buy wool). 

Pillow reads "hookers have more fun"

a gift from my niece :)

My boss had our sign guy make this for me.  Working in a department of 30+ guys and only three women, they got a kick out of the fact that they worked with a hooker.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of being serenaded by two delightful 13 year old twins with the most beautiful voices (daughters of a co-worker).  They sang "Forever Young".  How sweet was that?

My last day the Parks' guys sent me flowers. 

The Traffic Tech guy gave me lottery tickets.

My boss and co-worker got me and my sweetie tickets for Cirque du Soleil in November.

How ironic that I never felt appreciated until I was leaving.  Everyone was so kind with words of praise.  It was good to leave knowing how people felt.  I am feeling a bit melancholy. 

There seems to be two schools of thought regarding retirement.

1. I don't know how I ever found time to work!
2. I got more done when I worked!

I sure hope I'm more like #1.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Getting Ready ~

It is SO MUCH work trying to get ready to vend at a show {as many of you know}, especially when you are making all the items.  I started a couple months ago, thinking I didn't have much to do.  Of course, as anyone who has ever vended at a show will confirm, one never knows what will sell, so I keep adding more and more to my list of things to make.

I have finally been labeling hooked pieces.  I am even worse at labeling than I am at binding.  Not a hard job, but just not fun for me.  I print up labels in a word document (nothing fancy like Saundra's) on printable fabric . . .

OOPS.  Typo on one label and didn't catch until after it printed.

. . . iron on a very lightweight interfacing just to give them a little more substance,  coffee stain them so they are not stark white and sew on. 

This is the product I use.  It can be found at Michael's.  Be sure to have a coupon as it is quite pricey! 

And here they are sewn on.  As you can see, I bind my rugs with a wool used in the rug.

I still want to try making some pouches made from antique cutter coverlets and have not finished the bracelets or the necklaces.  I am running out of time here since I will be heading to Michigan on Friday to set up.  If by chance you come to this wonderful show, please stop by and introduce yourself :)  I am sharing space with hooker friend Melissa and am hoping we get set up near Bobbie and Earlene.  Melissa makes amazing jewelry and is also bringing wool applique and much more, I'm sure.  She is so talented and creative.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Happy Labor Day.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Three Ingredients ~

Do you like yummy?  And easy?  I have the recipe for you.  We had a potluck at work today and I decided to give it a try.  I doubled the recipe and there was not much left.

1# hot Italian sausage, browned and drained

1 - 8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 jar salsa

Put in crock pot to heat.  Serve with tortilla chips.

I doubled the recipe and used a 24 ounce jar of  medium salsa.  It just gave it a little bite.  (FYI ~ It heated up very quickly in the crockpot.)

Only 8 more days until ~

It seems I have been making stuff forever getting ready for the show.  I have so much more to finish up, rugs to label . . . and then pricing the items.  I find the pricing difficult.

Something new I've been making.  Bracelets made with paisley.  The blueish paisley was purchased at Sauder.  The others are made using vintage paisley.  One just never knows what might sell.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I know many of you are welcoming September ~ but I'm not one of them.  As I've said many times, I wouldn't mind fall if winter did not come afterwards.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

So I Lied ~

I forgot to post these two pictures from Sauder.  Beautiful antique paisleys. 

I finished the freebie pattern that Lori Brechlin posted on Facebook.  It's only 10 1/2" by 15", but perfect in front of this small cherry cupboard (though it probably won't be staying there).

And yet another small hit and miss mat.  I'm sure I will never run out of worms.

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