A Token of Friendship ~

 

Shamrocks are not falling from the sky here in northern Ohio, but more of the white stuff.  I must admit it is very pretty, but I could do without ⛄  My son brought his BIG snowblower over the other day to do my drive and walks.  DSO would have had much difficulty with his smaller snowblower.  Thanks son 💙

I am ready to begin binding Wonky Love Heart.  Hopefully I will have a finish to share soon.

I have started to hook Cammie Bruce's Peter Rabbit.

Saundra posted a hooking challenge on her blog for anyone wishing to join in.  She has chosen 6 antique/vintage rugs and will provide the line drawing to anyone wishing to participate.  We are to hook it using alternative fibers, what we have on hand as our foremothers would have done.  There is still time to join in on the fun . . . but let her know by tomorrow (Friday).  There are no rules (my kind of challenge) and it will be fun seeing all the different adaptations.  Here is the piece I will be hooking.

I finished stitching a Token of Friendship, a free pattern by Notforgotten Farm that can be found here.  I will simply turn back the linen and primitively stitch it down.  It has been too long since I have had a little give-away, so I will be gifting this to one of my blog friends.  As always, the rules are simple . . . but there are a couple.  Leave a comment on this post only or send me an email with give-away in the subject line.  Please no sharing on any social media.  I will choose the winner on February 24 and the winner must CONTACT ME within three days.  {{Sorry, my Canadian friends.  Even though this is very flat, I worry that USPS would charge me a parcel rate.}}

A page a day calendar I received at the Millersburg retreat last fall is just a pithy saying each day.  A few of my favorites so far ~

Never miss a chance to just shut up.

I came . . . I saw . . . and I forgot what I'm here for . . .

Sometimes . . . it's not about the destination . . . it's about everything that happens along the way.

Some days you need to just suck it up . . . smile . . . and be on your way . . .

And these last two are so apropos in today's world.

There is always hope .

Remember to laugh . . . it's all temporary.  (So I hope and pray!)

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Yardi Gras ~

Mobile, Alabama is the home to the original Mardi Gras.  My sister has lived there for decades and always joined in the celebrations, including attending a few of the balls.  Sadly, this year it is not happening, so they have come up with Yardi Gras, where people have decorated their houses and yards.

Thanks so much for stopping by 
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Three Little Finishes ~

Happiest of Valentine's Day to you 💖  I hope there is something/someone in your life to make it special.

I have three small finishes.  Two will go to the finished but not really finished pile.  Punching is complete on Coxcomb & Tulip.  The pattern by Notforgotten Farm can be found here.  I may tone it down a little with some coffee or walnut crystals.

The cross stitching is finished on another little Valentine freebie.  Even on 28 count linen it measures a mere 2 3/4" x 5".  I think I need to stitch this again . . . in red . . . on a smaller count linen.

Here are all my Valentine stitcheries that someday (hopefully) will become little pinkeeps.

I am most pleased with the colors chosen for Wonky Love Heart.  Here is my original finish.

When friend Heidi saw the bottom partially completed, she suggested maybe I needed to frame LOVE in black.  She was so right.  Thanks for the suggestion, Heidi.  Much better!

Nothing is planned for the frame, so I thought I would check my pattern stash and choose one from there.  I have narrowed it down to four.  Two from Cammie Bruce ~ Baskets of Wool ~ and two from Heavens to Betsy.  I am thinking perhaps of working on a small pattern and also starting Gypsy.  I haven't worked on anything "large to me" in many months.  Now that darn Saundra is putting us up to a hooking challenge, so I may need to join in on that, too.  So much for my "What am I going to hook next?" dilemma.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

This 'n That ~

Happy Thursday 😏  I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted.  Time is still flying by at a standstill.

I have been working on my little projects.  The punch needle is nearing completion.  Not worth showing a picture.  I had not intended to start another little Valentine cross stitch, but friend Bobbie gave me the heads up on another freebie, so decided to start stitching it, though none of the others have been "finished".  I grabbed a piece of linen that happened to be 28 count.  WOW!  The Xs seem so big.  I am stitching with 2 strands over 2.  It looks so different than the others, but I'm sure if I ever get them sewn in to little pinkeeps, they will look fine together.

I am closing in on finishing Wonky Love Heart.  Unlike Saundra who always plans ahead, I have no idea what I am going to hook next.

My annoyance with the USPS continues.  They are finally delivering packages in a timely manner.  However . . . I wanted to send paper hearts I made to family and friends.  I took a heart, a Valentine card, put them in a manila envelope and went to the post office.  "How much to mail these?" I inquire of the clerk.  Seventy five cents was the reply so I buy the stamps.  I get home, address the envelopes and mail them.  Two days later they are returned to me stating they have to be sent as a parcel for $4 +.  I head back to the post office and was just told that the clerk should have known better.  Too bad, so sad they basically told me.  Needless to say I was not going to spend $30 + to send them.  I ended up putting a few on my tobacco stick tree.  

Thanks so much for listening to me gripe and for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Friday ~

In my previous life, when I had a day job, I was always so happy to have Friday finally get here.  Now, I barely know what day of the week it is 😃

I do have a couple things to share with you.  I finished another little Valentine freebie.  Another one I am sure will not be sewed in to a little pinkeep before Valentine's Day.  I am just not good "finishing" my finishing . . . LOL!

Progress has been made on my punch needle piece.  I am having some thumb pain, so working on this is a bit uncomfortable, though I am determined to get the punching done.  Once again, there will be a problem with the "finishing".   

I started a new hooked project, Wonky Love Heart.  The punch needle pattern can be purchased from Jo (Leedy Ritter) Wick on FB.  The instant download is only $6.00 and permission is given to enlarge.  I guess I am feeling blue as I am hooking this in many shades of teal/blue.

How many times have you left your vehicle and forgotten your mask?  I know I do often, so I leave you with this.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Groundhog Day ~

 

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today and as legend holds, that mean six additional weeks of winter.  Phil was awakened at 7:25 a.m. and made his prediction in front of about 16 members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club at Gobbler's Knob.  

Since our winter here in northern Ohio, has been extremely mild, I hope it gets no worse.  We did not get hit with as much snow as predicted ~ maybe 4"-5" is on the ground.  NOTHING like states east of me.  

Do you feel like you are living in "Groundhog Day"?  I know I am.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Little Finishes ~

 

Happy Monday, dear friends.  Thank you for taking the time to visit.  This morning I was sure it was Tuesday.  Do you have that problem, too, knowing what day it is?

Just a little post to share two finishes.  The first is another little Valentine freebie . . .

. . . and the second is "True Hearts", a small pattern (11 1/2" x 15 1/2") by Terri Leamer that can be found here.  If you've never visited Terri's etsy shop, she really has many sweet patterns.

Happy 101st birthday to my mom in heaven.  I like to believe she is smiling down on me 💓

Again, thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren