Hooked on Primitives

Cold Weather Hooking and Easy Sugar Scrub Recipe

2011-11-17T22:34:00.000-05:00

Hello!!! These are my latest creations! All currently on ebay.

Is everyone getting ready for Thanksgiving?? I always have it, so I had better get ready.lol.

Does anyone like sugar scrubs? I found several recipes, but didn't really want to hunt down and/or order all of the essential oils, etc.. some of the recipes have several ingredients. I thought there has to be an easier way to make these. Some use olive oil, which is ok, but I am not a big fan of the fragrance, or lack of with some olive oil.

So I simply made some up with only 2 ingredients. I used regular granulated sugar and mixed it with my favorite body oil. Vaseline has a nice gel oil, here is a photo, it has a really nice fragrance. Any body oil will work. I just kinda found I liked mixing it with this gel. Since you use them in the shower, just grab an old small plastic container with a lid ( I wouldn't use it for food again.) Fill your container about 3/4 of the way full of sugar and start adding your oil until it just makes your sugar look clear and it is no longer granulated. Rub into your skin in the shower and rinse well! Your skin will feel wonderful and soft! I have purchased sugar scrubs for much more than it cost to make my own, and really could not a tell a difference. You can always mix these is glass jars, decorate them and give them as gifts. FUN!!!!

Coxcomb.........

2011-10-09T20:56:00.000-04:00

Sorry, so long in updating. Summer fly right by like it always does. We went to the Smokies about a month ago, it was awesome!!! We took our little dog Libby, Gatlinburg is a very pet-friendly town. We have had Libby a year now. I bet it is beautiful in the Smokies right now with the leaves changing!!

Each Friday, I've been visiting a Farmers Market in Fort Wayne, and I bought this gorgeous Coxcomb. Such a unique flower. I plan to hang my bouquet and dry it so I can keep it around for a long time! I had to plan and hook a Coxcomb rug too! I just listed it on ebay! I did some gradation dyeing to get the colors for my flowers. FUN!

Penny Rug Finishes

2011-07-26T21:54:00.000-04:00

Well, I had a super wonderful time with my cousin! Miss her lots! Tomorrow me and the girls are going to do some back to school clothes shopping...(wish me luck)....Summer always goes so darn fast! Just finished these 2 rugs, thought I would finish them with tongues...lol! Yes, fall is just around the corner! Here is the link to these 2 rugs......

http://stores.ebay.com/My-Heartfelt-Designs?_rdc=1

The witch is in....

2011-06-25T21:22:00.000-04:00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190548985312

Hello! Having a wonderful visit with my cousin, she is here visiting from Scotland! I just finshed my Witchy Poo Make Do Pattern! Hope everyone is enjoying some nice summer weather! Cathy

Checker Board Rug

2011-06-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

I just finished this game board rug yesterday. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120736380001

I am so happy to say...the Americana Pillow Auction went very well, thrilled to be able to donate $108 to the Fallen Troops Foundation!! Thanks Laurie!

I hope everyone has a SUPER weekend~!

Charity Auction~Americana Heart

2011-05-30T22:47:00.000-04:00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120731516101&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Happy Memorial Day~I just listed this pillow on ebay...100% of the proceeds go to the Fallen Troop Foundation. Link below the photo.....God Bless our TROOPS!!!

More New Creations.............

2011-05-17T14:20:00.000-04:00

These are my latest hooked creations. I am almost done with my owl pattern and listed my Bee Skep Pattern on ebay ans etsy. I think the strawberries will be a pattern too, also working on my witch make do pattern.

I am really ready for it to stay warm, ready to put away the coats for awhile..lol....

Hope everyone is doing well! Hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day and Easter, etc...

Have you ever started cleaning something and made it worse??.......... back to my spring cleaning! lol!

New Creations!

2011-04-20T19:04:00.000-04:00

These are my latest offerings on ebay, the owls are still for sale, the other two sold. This last one is the Tea Cozy I made. FUN, FUN! What to do next?? Hum...lots of ideas floating around, now which one to put on linen. Which reminds me...I need to order more. I have had pattern requests, just need more prim. linen, getting very low.

Toothbrush/Amish Knot Chair Pad.....

2011-04-15T18:15:00.000-04:00

I made this for my mom, she had a rocking chair she wanted it for. Has anyone made these, do you like the method, or how they look? I am not really a braider, and have never made any rag rugs. I have SO much cotton fabric, trying to put it to good use...lol..I do love the scrappy look of these. I am currently working on an oval rug and another chair pad.

You can use wool strips too, but wool is a bit thick, the cotton strips are user friendly...lol... Kinda different and fun. Have a great weekend.....Is spring really here?? Not so sure...

Antique Chicken and Home Rugs...

2011-04-03T21:02:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of my recent ebay offerings..... The chicken is from an antique punched tin design, possibly an old pie safe???? The "Colonial Home" is my own design.

I tried to change my blog background...oh my....hope it looks ok, I see things are overlapping.....I better just stick with my HOOK!!!lol

Daffodil Bunny is now a pattern, available in my ebay store.

Working on a Tea Cozy! Have a super wonderful week! Cathy

Idea for using scrap foundation fabric...mothproof too...

2011-03-18T20:29:00.003-04:00

Hello~! I always have quite a bit of scrap linen and monks cloth. I can only hook so many flowers...lol.... So...I thought of a way to use it up and help repel the moths at the same time......Sachets! I used a lil' penny posy design, but the sky is the limit on design. I filled mine with Cedar Chips, but you can also use Lavender, Cloves, Thyme, or Cinnamon. If you think of any other natural repellents, please do share in the comment section.

I thought the loose weave would let the scent out and they could be cute at the same time..lol. I also have some loosely woven wool that is not large enough for a pillow and too loose to cut into strips, so I may try it next.

I simply stitched them together on my sewing machine, but I am sure there are other ways. I used a large needle to feed the dyed jute through the tops.

If you have any questions, or more ideas.....let me know...Happy Hooking!!!

Daffodil Bunny!

2011-02-23T20:07:00.003-05:00

Hello! I got my chicks done and listed on ebay. Now this is my newest creation, meet Daffodil Bunny! I think I may turn her into a pattern? Her tail is roving, hooked then clipped to form a fuzz ball...lol. cottontail! She is 16" x 10."

We are supposed to get freezing rain tonight and more snow tomorrow...ugh! Come on and hurry Spring! Enough of the snow!

Tulips, Tulips, and more Tulips.......

2011-02-16T22:24:00.006-05:00

Here they are! This bottom one is the one I just finished and listed on ebay. The other 2 rugs and 5 tulips... thankfully... already sold.

Looks like I will need to dye more red and mustard! LOL! Oh my...

Well, it was 55 degrees today..Love it!! Spring is in the air around here with all of the tulips!

These were fun, now I am off to hook some little chicks....Blessings & Hugs! Cathy

Hippity Hop!

2011-02-12T22:10:00.002-05:00

Is it spring yet??? Not quite I suppose...but, I have been very busy hooking up tulips and bunnies! Here are the bunnies. They look pretty happy...lol

I used my Penny Bunny Pattern for both, I just hooked a carrot with floppy tops on one and I decided to hook them in cream rather than in brown.

I will post photos of my tulips and tulips rug next post. I am working on another tulip rug now, sort of an antique album quilt design! FUN!!

Tonight was date night with my valentine! lol! We had a super great dinner and shopped just a bit, then back home to the kids. It wa great not cooking and it is nice the kids are finally old enough so mom and dad can slip away for a while...boy you really need that sometimes...lol.. It was so quiet!!! I can't be gone for very long though, the kids tell me our little dog Libby whimpers at the door and won't eat, etc...while I am away. You may remember we got her back last fall, she was a rescue...she attached to me right away....god lover her!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! Hugs! Cathy

We have a winner!

2011-01-29T19:17:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Gayle in Utah, she is the winner of the heart pattern!

Thanks a bunch to everyone who participated!

Bless everyone!!!

More giveaways, recipes and inspiration to come!! Cathy

Penny Heart Pattern Giveaway!

2011-01-22T21:17:00.003-05:00

Hello! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. You know how the holidays are...... Happy 2011!!

I am giving away a Penny Heart Pattern Packet on January 29, one week from today. Just leave a comment here on this post and I will draw a name next Saturday. Best Wishes and Good Luck to all! Thank You! Cathy

Brrrr....Snowcouple...

2010-12-09T19:47:00.002-05:00

Not a big fan of the cold, but it produced this rug...lol... They look pretty toasty together!! Working some little ornie/tucks will post a picture of them soon!

Extreme Penny Tree...

2010-11-24T16:33:00.003-05:00

I just sent this really large penny tree out to a customer, but I took some photos first. I have the little white one on ebay, so I had fun comparing the sizes..lol! It ended up being almost 3 foot tall and about 18" wide. I was afraid to go any bigger or the thing would just topple over.

I am going to hook some mittens and so I asked my youngest what color I should make them, she suggested green, I do love green, but told her mom is pretty well "greened out right now." lol!!!! I think red would be nice.

I have had several requests for my nutcracker pattern, so I will have it on Ebay and Etsy any day now.

THANKS & HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! Cathy

Hookin' up for the Holidays!

2010-11-12T21:32:00.005-05:00

I had to squeeze a few things in while working on the looong rug..... All but the Joy Star are still for sale on ebay!!

All Done w/ better photos too..lol

2010-11-11T16:03:00.006-05:00

Ok, I am all done! The rug will be sent out tomorrow!! I am really happy with how nice it lays down, pretty straight and all. I was a bit concerned before I even started it, and was hoping it would look nice, straight and all. It is actually straighter than it looks... I was having issues with our outdoor cat trying to keep him off of it!lol!! So I quick laid it down and took these pictures.. Oh My!!

I will be back soon with photo's of my nutcracker!! You can see it by clicking my ebay or fb link!

I am also finishing up some lil' tree and snowman ornie/tucks!

Almost Done!

2010-10-31T20:43:00.002-04:00

Sorry, this is not a very good photo, but here it is! lol! My monster rug/my 6 foot commission. I am just about done, only a few more squares to go. I really like the warm shades and it gave me a chance to use some of those great single strips I have saved!

She sent me a photo of a much smaller rug, and told me I could do the design about any way I wanted, which was nice! The small rug was in grays and blue's and she wanted this one in browns and reds, etc.... Other than being so heavy to work with, it has not been too bad. It is not really wide either, that helped too. She wants it for a window seat!

Happy Halloween~~~!

Meet Libby!

2010-10-24T19:37:00.002-04:00

This is our new lil' dog Libby! She is just the best lil' sweetheart, so good! We got her over a week ago, got her from Perfect Paws Pet Rescue, she is 2 years old. We all just love her so much, with five of us she does not lack for attention. She gets along very well with our kitty's too, which was very important! She is an 8lb. Peke N Chin, or a Pekingese/Japanese Chin mix. Due to a home foreclosure she was in a shelter when perfect Paws found her.

Right now I am working on a 6 foot commission rug, kinda like wrestling and alligator if you know what I mean! lol!

Easy Dyeing without Dye....

2010-09-27T22:37:00.007-04:00

Does anyonelse live on the computer?? Facebook, Ebay, Etsy, Blogging, Email, OH MY! LOL!

Well, it is time for snowmen.. A bit a gray is nice sometimes, but I lean towards a warmer shade of off-white. Sometimes I get it a bit too dark with dyes and have to make reindeer or bunnies...lol....

This was very simple to do. If I plan to dye, I save that day's old coffee, it is great to tone down colors that went bright, etc.. I knew I needed more creamy white for sheep and snow folks, so I took 1/4 yard of Dorr Natural. I grabbed just a few onion skins, like about 6. I threw wool and all into a pot. I used the coffee instead of water, sorta wrapped my wool around onion skins. I turned on the pot, let come to a boil, turned it way down for a few minutes, say maybe 10-15 minutes. I added my vinegar and turned the heat off and let it sit until I had time to rinse. I ran it through a spin cycle and dried it, and....this is the result......FUN & EASY!

Almost forgot my gobbly guys! Above are my latest creations! I used my turkey pattern for both, and just modified it a bit it for the pillow.

Punkins and Such...

2010-08-07T21:47:00.003-04:00

Here are some of my latest ebay offerings!

The cone flowers are my latest pattern..

Everyone staying busy??

Back to School time already!!

Blessings and Happy Hooking!! Cathy

My "Flying Witch"

2010-07-16T23:26:00.004-04:00

How is your summer going?? Fast as usual? Here is one of my recent "labor's of love." LOL!! The flying witchy poo! I just listed it on ebay, here is a link with more photos:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120596945150&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I've been using quite a bit of monks cloth lately for my rugs and liking it! I use Dorr's and it is nice with a wide cut, price is right too, etc... I also love the mixed prim linen they sell now, it is about twice the cost though.

I will offer a pattern giveaway and post some free pumpkin dye colors soon.I am finding a little more computer time lately. I am just about done with my orders, not sure if that is good or bad...hum??? lol! Also, my kids seem to be behaving better this summer, hum, what could they be up to?? Bless you all! Thanks for stopping by! Cathy

Eagle Rug

2010-06-22T18:44:00.002-04:00

Here are a couple of my latest creations! Didn't realize how long it has been since my last post! Gee Whiz! Finishing up my last orders, so hopefully next time it won't be so long. Hope every one's summer is going well, pretty hot here, supposed to be 90 tomorrow. We are going to see a butterfly exhibit tomorrow, our youngest LOVES butterflies!!! LOL!!!

Hydrangeas

2010-04-28T19:48:00.003-04:00

Hi there, hope everyone is well! I hooked another basket of posies! Hydrangeas! It was tons of fun preparing the wool, lots of spot dyeing, etc.... I wanted lots of mixed and mottled shades for this one! I am so ready for it to warm up and stay warm! Flowers always get me in the mood for summer! Talk Soon! OH, I plan to do a free/pattern giveaway with one of my new one's, so keep checking back! Thanks! Cathy

Antique Basket of Geraniums

2010-03-23T20:20:00.002-04:00

I just sold this fun rug! I really enjoyed making it! Now I am taking orders for it, better dye more red and black! LOL! The kids are on spring break this week. We are heading to Amish town this weekend. They have a nice department store where I love to buy wool! FUN! Yummy resturants and more!
Here is a link..... http://www.shipshewana.com/ Just in case anyone is heading through northern Indiana, it is worth the time. It takes us about an hour to get there. We have another fun little Amish town closer, but no wool....lol! I always appreciate you stopping by my blog! Thanks, Cathy

Hornbook Sampler Rug

2010-03-15T21:21:00.002-04:00

Hello to all! I guess I am not keeping my New Years Resolution to blog more!! Filling many orders, as a matter of fact I am working on turkey rugs and more....lol!

I am loving this ticking wool, I used it in my tulips on this sampler rug! FUN!!

I found this little bit of wisdom the other day and thought I would share it! Not sure who came up with this one, but I love it~~! Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titantic. ~~~ Isn't that fun?? Bless you!! Cathy

Wool Fun with Ticking!

2010-01-31T16:30:00.002-05:00

I just love these new ticking wool bundles from Dorr! Very versatile! Some are so beautiful that all I did was tone down the brights with some Cushings Tan! I hated to change the colors on them too much, so Tan Dye worked out very well!! I wanted to show you before...stay tuned I will post the results soon! Have a wonderful day!! Cathy

Happy 2010!!

2010-01-03T22:55:00.002-05:00

Snowmom and kids!

Hello! Hope everyone had a great holiday!! One of my resolutions should be to blog more!! Just spending lots of time with my kids, they go back to school tomorrow. I made some scarves for my girls. I don't really like to knit much, but love spool knitting, reminds my of childhood! This is one my latest hooked creations. Taking lots of orders for her! FUN!! Hooking up lots of hearts too!! Wishing everyone a blessed 2010! Cathy

Finally Back!

2009-11-14T20:57:00.008-05:00

I wish I had boquets like this on my street! LOL!! Grafton Street in Dublin!

Trinity College!

Scotland, the countryside!

Great shopping on and off "The Royal Mile" Edinburgh.

The Beautiful City of Edinburgh, Scotland!!

Here is a small sampling of my trip! I had a super, super wonderful time! Europe was simply wonderful all I hoped it would be and more! I wish I could say I had been away this long, but no, just slow to catch up on everything!!! LOL!! Sorry! Kids keeping me busy with school activities, etc..

Vacation Time!!!

2009-09-12T15:50:00.001-04:00

I am off to Scotland and Ireland for about 8 days!! I think it will be very inspiring!! See ya all when I get back!!! Blessings!! Cathy

Fall Hookin'

2009-08-27T16:38:00.004-04:00

Hello! Sorry so long! Crazy as ever around here! Got the kiddos back in school! Trying to get ready for my trip to the UK in 2 weeks! I always manage to get some hooking done though, here are a few of my latest. I also have new patterns in my ebay store.

I got a new comp. monitor and for some reason I can't see my background graphics on my blog and other places..wonder why.....hummm?

I have the witchy poo make do on ebay right now.
Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190330522005&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

One a Day~~~!!

2009-07-30T21:09:00.002-04:00

Summer is just flying by~~~! I just made up these apple's, I thought they would make nice teachers gifts, etc.... Hope everyone is well! I have been insanely busy with everything!! Ready for things to SLOW down around the house~! LOL~~

Happy SuMMerTiMe!

2009-07-10T19:32:00.002-04:00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190319430298

It has been way too long since I have posted something new, so here is my latest creation! I love old pottery! My kids are keeping me so busy! Summer is flying by like it always seems to do! I seen Back-to-School supplies the other day, OH NO, too early for that~!!! HUGS! Cathy

New Patterns and Rug

2009-06-22T18:44:00.004-04:00

Hello! I just listed a pattern for my ghost and my eagle on ebay!
This is my latest creation! I actually started it last year and finally finished it. LOL!!

New Hooked Goodies!

2009-06-17T19:26:00.005-04:00

Hello!!! These are my latest creations! The kitty and eagle are still on ebay! The other rug is the way to it's new owner! I hope to do a pattern for the eagle soon! I getting backed up with orders again, but will try to squeeze it in!! LOL!!! Best Sunny Day Wishes to all! Cathy

Is it Summer Yet??

2009-06-07T16:35:00.002-04:00

Well school is out!! Yipppppee! Trying to finish some projects, here is one of my summer thyme goodies. Been so busy with stuff around the house, my kids, etc... Sorry it took me so long to update my blog!

So excited, planning a trip to Scotland and Ireland at the end of summer! Having my passport renewed etc. I have a cousin who I ADORE, she lives in Edinburgh, so I am going by myself to visit her once the kids are back in school, thank dear hubby! She suggested we visit Dublin while I am there, we are both very Irish! LOL! FUN!!!!!

I LOVE U2, been a fan for longer than I care to remember. We plan to stay in a hotel owned by Bono and The Edge! LOL!

Memorial Day Flags!

2009-05-24T20:57:00.006-04:00

Happy Memorial Day!

I hooked up some flags just for the occasion and listed them on ebay! Sometimes I hook the star in mustard, but this time I stitched on rusty stars!!! FUN!

More Coneflowers!

2009-05-14T22:41:00.003-04:00

All kinds of Coneflowers!

2009-05-13T15:45:00.005-04:00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190307270139

Hello! Just trying to wind down the school year here for our 3 kiddos. It has been quite an experience homeschooling our oldest this past year. She will attend the nearby middle school in the Fall, which makes me VERY nervous. UGH! LOL! We live in a small town, but our middle school has a bad reputation! Scary......

Thankfully, I have my diversions, and as the Wool SJ calls them "Dyeversions" too. LOL! I have been working on a big flower order, some of which are coneflowers, so I made these top 2 sets for ebay. I already sold the Black-Eyed-Susan's to a super great lady! I am hoping to offer a pattern for them sometime. The cone's I made for the order are cream, rust, peach, brown, etc.. very pretty together! I should take a photo of them.

Dyeing the purple cone's can be fun, I usually use one of the Cushing's rose shades and bit of blue, such as Copenhagen or Sky Blue. Copenhagen has a periwinkle sort of cast to it, so it works well. A touch of a red and a blue is nice too, if you don't have a rose dye on hand. I also add a bit of brown, green, or yellow to tone down the "brights." I just look at my wool while it is wet and see what it needs as a drabber, then add it in. End of the school year best wishes to all, see ya again soon! Cathy

I am also having a sale in my ebay store until the end of the month!!

Proud as a...............

2009-05-04T20:26:00.004-04:00

(right click me for a better view)

PEACOCK! lol!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190305210747

Isn't it fun???

My latest creation, when I saw it, I knew I had to bring it to "life" per Se!

Lately, I have been having trouble getting on my computer. My daughter Gabby, she is 7 is really into the Webkinz!! lol! They are really cute and a wholesome good time for her. Every time I tell her need to get on, she stands over my shoulder waiting for me to get back off. Not to mention my almost teenager and her MP3 player, always downloading songs, etc.. I guess I am reluctant to let them have their own computer, then I can't watch them as easily...hehe.

So between my orders and my kids...well ya know!!! LOL!! STylized biRDie BlesSinGs to all!!!

Funny Pets!!

2009-04-25T22:23:00.002-04:00

Hello!!! My dear friend Joanne got me thinking, so I scanned this very old photo...it is about 23 years old...lol! Anyhow, this is my dearest old Patches! He went everywhere with me, when this photo was taken I was attending college in Cincinnati. The hamster was my cousin's, isn't it a hoot? They are sharing a plate of cottage cheese! Everyone who sees this photo in my office loves it, I thought I would share it! I got Patches when I was 9 and had him through my first year of marriage, he lived to be 18 years old!! I am an only child, so he was really my pal growing up! After he passed, my hubby got me my Tippy, and she is now 15 years old, our Muffin is 13, so I guess my cats live a long time!!! LOL! I hope to get back to some more creative blogging soon, I am still catching up on my orders, which I am so thankful to have! Happy thoughts to all!!! Cathy

Pattern Sale..........

2009-04-17T15:34:00.003-04:00

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/My-Heartfelt-Designs__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Just wanted to let everyone know I am having a 1/2 price pattern sale through the end of the month in my ebay store!! Just click on the link above!!! The stars pictured above are my latest pattern offering. Many Thanks!! Cathy

Bunnies & Bee's............

2009-04-13T16:26:00.005-04:00

Hello~! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! Seems so long since I last blogged..lol! Where does the time go?? Here a few of my creations for the season and upcoming season!! FUN!!!! The bee skep here on the top was so fun to hook, I used some of my fuzzy textured wool for the wings! I turned it into a pillow for customer! Wishing you all many sunny and happy days!

On this bee skep, I needle felted the accents!! Just love to mix it up a bit, especially with wool!

More soon! More dye talk soon too! Cathy

The Winners are.....................

2009-04-05T15:03:00.004-04:00

Hello and Happy Sunday!!! I had my prince charming of a husband draw 2 names today! The winners of the flower sets are: Terri of Clay Hill Farm http://clayhillfarm.blogspot.com/
& JD of Tumbleweed Trails http://tumbleweedtrails.blogspot.com/ !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for everyone who signed up!!! Cathy
P.S. Enjoy a bit of Forget-Me-Not and other floral clipart!!!

GIVEAWAY!! Spring Boquet-Forget-me-nots! 2 Sets!

2009-03-21T00:17:00.006-04:00

Well, this is just so exciting!!! LOL!! I am so happy to have had such a nice response to the flower giveaway........so I am making 2 sets of 3 forget-me-nots to give away! This way we can have 2 winners!!! One winner just didn't seem like enough..lol! I hope to do another flower giveaway in May too, I will pick another color or a mixed color set, maybe I will just run a poll to see what is popular!lol I really do love the sentiment of Forget-Me-Nots!! LOL!! I will draw 2 winners on Sunday and announce the winners then!! Thanks! Cathy

Hello! Just wanted to welcome in Spring with a cheery flower giveaway and a blue dye recipe. If you would like a chance to win a set of 3 of my handmade/hooked flowers like the one's pictured below, just add a comment to this post. Make sure I can link back to your blog, or you can contact me through my ebay store with an email address to contact you if you win! FUN!!!! I will be sure and have these to you by Easter! So I will draw a name on April 5, which is Palm Sunday! Good Luck!!

My favorite blue recipe is a combo of Cushings Sky Blue and Silver Gray. All depends on how much wool, etc.. add more Silver Gray for a more prim shade. Add a bit of peach to tone down and warm up your color. If you want an even warmer blue use Peacock, Turquoise, etc.. If you want a touch of lavender for more of periwinkle use Copenhagen Blue or Royal with Silver Gray. ENJOY!!!

Welcome Spring!

2009-03-19T23:18:00.004-04:00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190295097102

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190293549268

I am so ready for spring! Better weather, winter seemed especially longggg this year! I hooked up a couple of SPRING rugs!! Just wanted to share!!

Food for bunnies!

2009-03-11T22:00:00.003-04:00

Bunny Wabbit Food!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190293009619

I just finished these and listed them on ebay! FUN!!!! Pattern soon, I hope,...lol!

Handmade prims from the past......More feather tree ornie ideas too!

2009-03-08T20:00:00.017-04:00

Awhile back I was discussing the wonderful wool feather tree's my dear friend Joanne makes and lil' ornies for these tree's. I found a couple more ideas in my picture files. For some reason, mostly to free up space on my computer...lol..I have been going through my photo albums..... Just like around the house, I am terrible about throwing things away, it is the same on my computer..so many files! I am like a computer pack rat!

Anyhow, first the ornies, then just a few of my past creations!

Easy and fast to make! Again, I used Styrofoam balls. Some folks don't care to paint, so this is another option, little rag balls. In the top 2 photos I used an old calico quilt top, wrapped my lil's strips around the mini balls, aged them with vanilla coffee, and then used rusty safety pins for the hangers.

Then for the third picture, on that tree I used an old crazy quilt top. I used quilt tops because I thought an actual quilt would be too thick. You could also use your favorite fabric, Civil War prints, or wool of course! lol! I made balls and hand stitched little cones, hand dipped little birthday candles, rolled them in some spices and tucked them into the cones with a few drieds (Sweet Annie.) I used string as hangers.

Here is a small sampling of prims I have made, some published patterns, some my own, some spring thyme, some for anytime! A bit of stitching, felting, punching, hooking, etc...

Overdyeing Dark's

2009-03-03T23:55:00.004-05:00

I have been working on more order's, so just taking a bit of time away from them to dye, make some flowers and say "Hello!" I made these flowers from some great deep shades. It seems I just can't leave a piece of wool alone or as-is...lol! The top 2 woolens (petals) were already great on their own, but I had to play!lol!

One is a great deep wine and brown plaid, the other a wonderful bittersweet stripe. I think I mentioned this before, but if you have to wash the wool anyways........why not do a bit of dyeing? I simply used what I had left in a lil' pack of Cushings Tan, it was probably about 1/4 teaspoon over 1/2 yard or so. I threw all in a pot just to drab down the wool even more, and to mottle it up a bit.

Below is a runner I hooked up last week!

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Two things.....Drab Dyeing & Floral Rug.

2009-02-19T00:03:00.003-05:00

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First, this is a folk art floral I just finished! I used some wool paisley in the red flower! Fun!

Now a bit of dye chat or dyealougue...lol!

For whatever reason, I hardly ever use an as-is wool. Since, most wools I get need to be washed, I always figure why not throw some dye, coffee or something on it first?? My black dyeing ends up too dark sometimes. This wool had a bit of a sheen, so I basically wanted it changed a little, aged. I wanted something lighter for a runner I am working on. I wanted a dark gray, but not a blue gray, more of a warm gray. So here is what I did in the photo below. The center wool in the photo is the piece as-is. I used 1/2 yard, or actually 2 quarter yard pieces. A combination of orange and blue will give you a gray shade, why not a gray on gray...lol. So, I used 1/8 of Cushings Orange and 1/16 of Royal Blue. I was going to use 1/8 of sky blue, but I rarely use the Royal, so I just cut back on the amount and used it. I love it, not too dark, and a nice prim shade!

Just like in the dye book I wrote, by mixing unusual blends, you can achieve new shades. Silver Gray would have been too blue and Dark Gray too purple. Just like I like to make brown, I enjoy making my own gray too. If you want to try it and don't have orange, royal, or sky blue, just pick up your Cushings dye chart. Pick another orange, like Mummy Brown or Brown Rust, or make an orange from a yellow and a bit of red. You can choose another blue like Copenhagen Blue, it is a great blue, I use it often. Try a couple of different combo's and strengths for a nice background shade or a supplement to shades you already have. ENJOY!!! SMILES~~~! CAThy

More "Sweet Treats"

2009-02-16T22:18:00.002-05:00

Chocolate eggs!!!

Sometimes I like to turn my past sewn prims into newly hooked style prims! Here is an example, I used to use brown muslin and vintage ric/k rac/k. I would crewel stitch the flowers with floss, almost like stump work, so they stood up like rosebuds, etc..! I kinda burned out on all the coffee staining, sanding, etc... I still like the ideas/patterns, so I just convert some of my designs over to wool! I just listed these on ebay!!

Happy and Sweet Thoughts to all!! Cathy

Lake Limberlost........lol......More Tulips~!

2009-02-12T22:53:00.007-05:00

I just finished this order of spring tulips. Very colorful!

Did I ever mention our lakeside home??? We live on Limberlost Trail, so I call it Lake Limberlost. Just joking, it is only waterfront property in the winter/spring! Yep, we had a bit too much rain/snow melt........ Maybe it will freeze so I can go ice skating! Thankfully, we are safe, there is a little hill there, I have only seen the water come up onto the basketball court once, and that is still far from the house. If you see the bottom photo taken in the summer, that is how it supposed to look.

Fun to pretend we are lakeside though, better than thinking of how the river simply overflowed. LOL!

Everything is coming up tulips!!

2009-02-10T18:53:00.006-05:00

I wish it was outdoor tulips, but no.........the indoor woolly kind of tulips!! LOL!

These will help get us by until the real one's pop up!!!
Fun! Fraktur Tulips!! Plus the pattern listed on ebay!

Lots of sewing with these, but they are worth it!!

For Sale!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120376372073

Inspiration from...........

2009-02-06T22:20:00.003-05:00

Inspiration from Treats!LOL! Not sure whether it is my sweet tooth or maybe fond childhood memories. I have often incorporated sweets in with my crafting. You just never know when and where you will be inspired!

I may have already mentioned this, but before I sold hand hooked items, patterns, and such on ebay, I used to sell my sewn (hand and machine) items on ebay and at craft shows. They were actually not always sweet though...lol. I think I made every kind of vegetable and fruit out of muslin, lots of painting, sanding, grubbing, etc.. Fun, but....... this was before rug hooking totally captivated me! Sometimes, I like to revisit these things in my hooking projects. Here I have a lil' Easter Thyme sampling of Peep bunnies for you! Once I finished assembling these, I sprayed them with an opal spray glitter for a bit of vintage sparkle! It adhered to the wool very well.

Here we have the chocolate hearts! I visited my mom last night at the bakery where she works, and there they were! I knew I had not imagined these...LOL! Just as pretty as I remembered. I guess they don't look much like the hearts I hooked...lol! That is how ideas are though, we have our own interpretation and way of re-creating what we see. That is what makes our art and all types of art so much fun! The uniqueness and individuality of it all!

Still busy with orders, and some new patterns, but I did manage to dye some wool tonight, so more dye adventures soon!! Wishing you dreams come true, a passion for life, and happy hooking always! Cathy

Yummy New Pattern!

2009-02-01T20:47:00.002-05:00

I finally finished another new pattern! This one is for my large chocolate floral heart. The color's are fun! I used lots of shades from my dye book like: Aged Barnwood, Dark Mossy Green, Grandmas Rose, Antique Rose, Pony Brown, and more!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190284042061

Not just for Valentine's Day! Great for shabby, primitive or country decor!

Penny For Your Thoughts.............

2009-01-31T22:05:00.004-05:00

We had a fun-filled day Saturday at a children's museum! A great Italian meal and a bit of shopping! Something for everyone. Museum for the kiddos, food for hubby, and shopping for me!
Our weather is still pretty bad here, all of the snow is drifting, very slippery roads. The kids missed 3 days last week. It is hard for me to teach when all 3 are home, so we all missed school! LOL!

I can't stop making hearts!!! LOL! :) This is my latest creation for ebay! FUN!!! A great way to use use up those wonderful strips that you only have 1 or 2 of! The one's you keep because you know they belong in something.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120371893778

Selling on ebay is usually pretty seasonal, so I am trying to stretch the hearts out as long as I can. I always kinda miss hooking a particular item once the season ends, silly I know! Hearts really work anytime though, stars too!

These are my little "chocolate" style hearts, another way to use pink. I am glad I am not the only one who likes pink! Alright ladies it is time for more prim lover's to come out of the pink closet and admit it!!! LOL! We do like pink! Have you seen the guys wearing pink neck tie's? Love em'!

I hope to complete the pattern soon for my large "chocolate" heart pillow. I call them chocolate because my mom always bought me a small decorated cake for Valentine's Day. You know the pretty one's with lacy white icing and a rosebud? They were almost too pretty to eat, and honestly, they looked better than they tasted. Am I just imagining I ate these years ago? My mom has worked part-time in a bakery for years, I know that is where she used to get them! The belly aches afterward were not imagined, I guess should have just looked at them. LOL!

Got Prim Pink / Pink Heart!

2009-01-25T20:10:00.003-05:00

A little pink inspration & A fun valentine!

Okay, I know prim rug hookers don't use much pink, but sometimes we need a little right?? Maybe for a floral rug, a heart, a bunny's nose, etc....??? I was in a pink mood today. As our temperatures drop yet again, I am SO ready for Spring. I do like pink, my youngest is crazy for pink. Pink is our birthstone, our b-day's are 5 days apart, in October! One of my bathrooms is Shabby Chic, so I use pink, green, and white in there.

These wool pieces are smaller than they appear and not as bright. Pink can be prim, much depends on the wool used and the addition of a green to tone down any brights. So here we have 3 shades, on the far left we have a mauve shade, I used Woodrose over a grey herringbone and a taupe plaid/texture. Let your wool be the guide, mix and add dye as needed to achieve the depth you want. In the center I have a small piece of pink, I used just a bit of American Beauty and Bronze, and dyed over a light gray mini herringbone.

Finally, at the far right end, my favorite's, I like the warmth. I used Old Rose and Mint Green over a tan check and a white confetti. You probably see the confetti speckles, it looks like I didn't mix my dye well, but I did!!! LOL!! The lightest of these was added to the dye bath last, I wanted one piece a bit lighter, gotta have contrast. I chose Mint Green because it is a warmer green, but not dark. This is the fun part, if you don't have mint try another green to tone it, or a brown shade for a deep, almost salmon shade. Happy Day to ALL!!!! :)

Good Luck!:)

2009-01-23T18:21:00.003-05:00

I am Irish, so every season I make up a couple of shamrocks, maybe that is why I like green so much!! LOL! I placed these on painted/aged glass candlesticks. FUN!!!!

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190282033919

I hope to offer the pattern soon!!!

Adventures in Dyeing and Hooking...........

2009-01-17T20:07:00.010-05:00

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When I hook our PRESIDENT'S...........LOL! I do love the challenge. I always want there to be no doubt who they are. I start with a portrait (George & Abe) or a photo for Barack. Then I move on to the colors, now for Barack I used both of my Spiced Up Tan's from my dye book for his skin.

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I used my favorite boucle' for his hair. I used the same wool for Abe's beard and hair, and for George's hair. Three different dye formulas. George's hair was basic a drabbing down of this wool. Don't know what I will do when I run out of this wool .......lol.

I will be back soon for more........To be cont............

Ok, since I talk about it all of the time..lol! Here is a sample of the type of wool I like to use for hair, beards, etc.. I have it in cream, it is at least 80% wool and it takes the dye very well. It is perfect for sheep and other animals too! I used this sample because it looks just like the piece I used for Barack's hair and eyebrows.

P.S. I am an Independent voter! My hooking is totally a non-partisan thing! LOL! Had John McCain won, I would have been happy to hook him. I really like and admire both men and thank them for their service to our country.

Busy as a Bee!! LOL! Feather Tree Ornies Idea...

2009-01-06T18:10:00.006-05:00

Well, Happy 2009 to everyone!!! I have (most thankfully) been so busy with orders, hooking away here, putting together pattern packs etc...

Trying to get back into the "swing of things," teaching my daughter again etc.... I was going to keep her studies going over the holidays, but we were both ready for a break. I had to catch up on so many things! Do we ever actually catch up?? LOL!

I have a new pattern on ebay for my Penny Sheep, plus I have a couple of newer cat patterns too. Penny Heart & Tulip Bunny coming soon! Here is the link to the sheep pattern. I always tell folks that if they don't like to hook shapes, most of my patterns can be hooked as a square pillow or rug.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120361847565&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=002

I was thinking about those little ornies on the wool feather tree. They would be so easy to make!!! I once bought a small lot of little tree's set in mini repro yellow ware bowls...lol. I wanted to decorate them, so I bought those little packs of small Styrofoam balls. I pushed wire hangers into each one first, and then painted them. I did some in orange, painted lil' faces and made JOL's for Halloween. I applied faux snow to another set, and painted faces on them for snowmen. Then I hung them on my tree's, even sold a few a ebay. I also used paperclay, formed shapes and painted them and made lil' ghosts, etc... You can make any shape of course. I also started with a mini Styrofoam ball and made little paperclay ears, stuck them on the balls, and made cats! So lots of possibilities!

I bought these yellow ware ball ornies some time ago. I have some that are gray with blue decorations, they are the stoneware ornies. I just thought in case anyone wanted to make some of these, they are simply painted mini Styrofoam balls with a wire hanger. Had I known this, before I bought them, I could have made some myself...LOL!! So, you can have yourself a set of ornies for every season and some for any season!

See you soon for more dye tips, etc...........Back to hooking!!! Blessings for a great 2009!!!!

Hooked some hearts and made a woolly tree!

2008-12-26T21:59:00.009-05:00

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Is it too soon for hearts??? LOL! I guess not, cause I made some! Christmas come and goes so fast every year!!

Isn't this tree so much fun?? I just love it! My dear friend Joanne teaches classes on how to make these beauties and shows how to make them on her blog. Here is a link for you: http://snippetsandscrapsandpieces.blogspot.com/

Do you like your mustard's to sing or whisper?

2008-12-23T21:38:00.007-05:00

First, let me wish everyone the Happiest of Holiday's and a very Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has a safe and blessed day!!!

Just a rhetorical question here. I think we all love a great shade of mustard. Just wondering how subtle you like yours? These are a couple of shots of some of my favorite mustard's. I use lots of it in my hooking, so some of mine are down to strips.

Some thoughts on dyeing your gold's and yellow's......... Remember the less of your gold/yellow you add the more subtle your shade will be. Old Gold is my favorite "ingredient" for a good mustard. Light Brown or Tan drabs down any of your Cushing's yellow/gold's, or a yellow wool. This would be an as-is wool or one that has gone a bit bright during the dye process. Just grab any yellow or gold and try it with Spice Brown for a nice warm shade of mustard. Bronze brightens up a mustard formula for pizazz, but just use a little.

Say you have a piece you want to dye, why not tear it in half, add one piece at first then your second piece about half way through, right before you add your vinegar. This will give you 2 great pieces to use together with a bit of color variation too. Enjoy & more next time!

New rug listed on ebay "Prairie Rose"

2008-12-22T22:34:00.003-05:00

Well enough of this Winter already! LOL! Ice, below zero temps, UGH! My mom has been with us since the weekend due to a power outage at her place. I guess I am thinking flowers! LOL! This is one I just finished to forget the Blah weather. I just listed it on ebay. Based on an early quilt design! I adore old album quilts!

Antique Light Background Continued.......Leaping Deer

2008-12-15T21:21:00.004-05:00

Hello! Just finished my new 2008 deer rug and listed it on ebay. The deer below was my 2007 creation. It may be a little hard to tell from the photo's, but this new one has a more subtle background and was hooked using mostly oatmeal that was drabbed down a bit with the Ecru/Old Ivory formula. I do like to mix it up a bit though...lol, you can see that a bit of the more dramatic background wool snuck in somehow..lol!

Antique Light Background's - 2 types

2008-12-14T18:39:00.008-05:00

My friend Paula was just asking me the other day about a light antique background for a rug she is working on. Then I found I needed a few extra pieces for one I am working on too. My rug is almost done, so I will post photo's in another day or two, it is also a deer rug. I thought I would first post a couple of pictures of the wool I just dyed, different one's in the same color family. Most often what I do is use a favorite formula, then I get my variation by adding different cream textures to my dye bath. You can add some that need the most color at first, then the other's half way through the dyeing process. For example, if you have an off-white wool, add it right away, then add a darker oatmeal half way through.

This photo is a mellow, subtle, off-white, and oatmeal set of wool. The bottom set of wools was stirred very little and will have a lot of variation when hooked. This is perfect to add a bit of wow, interest, and yes prim-bling to a background! I usually prefer a very spotty wool, but I went with the top set of woolens. I already had quite a bit of variation in my motifs, and I didn't want this rug to look "too busy." It is a deer and tree pictorial, can' t wait to finish it! FUN! The top 2 photo's are of a deer rug I hooked last year and it has a pretty varied background, I even mixed some warm's and cool's into this background!

If you would like to create this top set, you will want to stir more for less mottling, and spotting. Oatmeal wool is so wonderful and takes very little dye to get a nice ready to hook shade. I mixed a little bit of Cushings Ecru and Old Ivory to get these colors. Coffee works too, you can even eliminate the Old Ivory if you don't have it on hand as I am not sure it shows up much dyed over Oatmeal. I guess I just feel it warms it up a bit..lol!!

Now for this set of wools, for 1/4 yard I mixed 1/16 of Light Brown and 1/64 of Silver Gray. I find Light Brown to be warmer than Tan, but you can use Tan if you don't have Light Brown.

The things that inspire our art?

2008-12-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

This is my latest hooked creation and offering on ebay.

I think so often about what inspires creation..... What inspires you??? I usually find it in something old in which it's usefulness has past. I find the folks who created the wonderful from so little very fascinating. I love nature, tree's, animals, and flowers. The floral rug here was simply a desire to hook some big flowers from my gathering stack of dyed woolens...lol.

Sometimes I will see a picture on a wall, love the colors and think they should somehow come together in a rug. Dyeing always inspires me, I can usually find a use for all colors somewhere. I am planning a deer rug and have a brown that must become this deer. lol! FUN!

I love antique album quilts, they tell such a story. The rich, yet faded colors are truly wonderful. Antique needlework of any kind always makes me smile. My first "needle love" was crewel embroidery which has now been replaced by my love of hooking. I adore needlepoint, and have spent so many hours cross-stitching, etc... I know they have all influenced my hooking in so many ways.

The love of antiques such as pottery, the shape and colors. Old coverlets are such treasures. Old wood and the aged patina on an oldie but goodie, such as a weather vane. Dried's can even inspire with their colors. One of my favorites is old fraktur's. Old folk art of any kind has value to me. The designs in old butter molds and punched tin are so inspirational.

On the more contemporary side of art, I am a fan of O'Keefe, love her flowers and know they are not primitive per se, but love the colors and am amazed by the size of her work. I am a huge fan of Grandma Moses, her painting always make want hook a pictorial. I have had a Moses calendar up all year and will miss it when 2009 arrives..lol! I find such great value in all of it, old and new. Here are 2 of Grandma Moses's works, very timely too. Just love them! What a life she had.

Sometimes the inspiring thoughts are almost as fun as the project, well almost that is....

Creme Brulee and Cars...LOL!!

2008-12-06T20:58:00.000-05:00

A nice day at home today! We got our tree put up, and had a little snow!, it is about 20 degrees here in Indiana. Tomorrow will be a busy one, a roller-skating b-day party, basketball, a visit from grandma, dinner out, a bit of shopping, etc...

I recently bought some cute little ramekins to make some Creme Brulee, never made it before. I got lucky it came out great, would post pic's but with 5 of us, it disappeared fast...down the hatch. haha! Other than setting the topping on fire under the broiler...lol, luckily it peeled right off with a spoon and I re-did it! My girls don't like eggs, but little do they know, they eat eggs quite often....lol!

Can I make an endorsement? Last Summer I bought myself a new car, and we just love it. I wanted a cross-over with a third row seat. It had to have enough space, and it actually seats one more person than my old mini van did. Anyhow, we looked at several models, weighing price, etc.. I bought a Mazda CX-9, it is truly a joy to drive and a great ride! My first import and I am sold! The top pic is mine the bottom is the stock photo, wish I lived near those nice mountains. Hubby being a car man, well he pinstriped it and added some chrome wheels etc... The kids name everything, they named it Mazzie. Men and Kids, too funny!!

Some upcoming dye post's will be what to do if you are out of some colors you need?? No need to wait for an order of dye's to arrive, work with what you have. Also, how to get some good neutrals...

Have a wonderful one~! Cathy

Back to Limberlost Cabin

2008-12-04T17:46:00.001-05:00

I was called back to the Limberlost home of Gene Stratton-Porter yesterday. Ever so often they call on me to repair worn areas on a large rug in her living room. It has been over a year since we last visited. If you are not familiar with the author, you may know her books like "A Girl of the Limberlost," and "Freckles," etc..... Stories about life in the "good old days." This home was built in 1895. It is the first home her and her husband built. The builders were paid a quarter a day, can you imagine??? She has another wonderful home north of us on Sylvan Lake, and I have some nice photos of it as well.

This is the first time I have visited in the Winter, so they happened to have it decorated for the holidays which was nice. It worked out well with my homeschooling too. I have Natalie writing a report about the home, Gene, and her life. They suspect she used the masculine spelling of Jean/Gene because at the time they thought her books would sell better if it looked like they were written by a man. Nice huh?? lol?

I always like to pick up a keepsake in the gift shop, usually a book. A couple of years back they had a birthday celebration tea at the cabin, so I bought the little cookbook from the tea. Wonderful and unique little savories were served with tea like: Cheddar Cheese Scones w/ Ginger Sauce, Stuffed Cucumbers & Apricots, etc... Wish I had been there for that..lol.

They have a funny cat they call him Cabin Cat, what a character, he runs the show as most cats like to do. He is the greeter. He actually likes to ride home with the site manager every night, especially when it is cold or hot outside. They say he goes over to the manager's truck and waits for him to leave each each day. Then he comes back each morning with him to spend the day. Too funny!! They think he is about 10 years old. We always bring him cat treats when we visit. This photo was taken during one of our Summer visits to the cabin.

Random Dye Thoughts............

2008-11-29T21:20:00.000-05:00

Finally, recovering from a bug and catching up from the holiday, so back to the creative talk..lol.

First, something fun I like to do. When I place an order for Cushings, I like to pick up the dye chart and just pick something I have never used. You know a BLING color, those colors that are rarely used in a recipe. It is fun, and I have found some really great colors this way. For example, I love Bright Green, I love it over dark brown texture's. It is also nice to use Bright Green with any red, it works well as a drabber in a red recipe. Another color I like is Orange, I use it often with brown dyes or over a brown wool. Old Rose is very pretty when used with a brown, great for a primitive floral. Burgundy and Maroon are some other's to try for something different, they are very dark, so beware.

Let's talk gray. You know any Cushings gray will act as a drabber for a wool that has gone a bit bright. Do you need a good gray, say for a background?? Or for an animal in a rug?? Don't have a gray? Make your own by mixing a brown and a blue.

Tan will tone down a shade that is too vivid too. I like my colors prim and muted, but I don't like a nowhere color. I like colors that go easy on the eye's, but not one's that say nothing, a color should sing to you, otherwise put it back in the dye pot and try again.

Even though Cushings has some fabulous green's, sometimes I like to make my own by mixing blue and yellow. This is how I come up with new shades, otherwise I find them looking too much alike. Any yellow/gold, brown, and a touch of red dye will give you a nice new orange too. The fun can be what if??? You choose any brown, yellow, and red, as matter of fact try two different recipes using 6 these colors and compare them.

Bronze Green is great alone to dye a wonderful ruch warm green. Oh how I love green, must be all of the tree's I hook! LOL!

If you click on "All those extra wool strips," The poinsettia rug above is one where I used the re-dyed strips in the background. The directions are in the other post. You can click the photo and get a closer look.

Cornucopia

2008-11-27T21:39:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a cornucopia full of joy today!!!

Seasoning?

2008-11-25T23:12:00.000-05:00

I am the cook in the family! Saying I love to cook would be a stretch, but I don't mind and do an OK job. I'd much rather be hooking or sewing! Now every year by the time I get to the store, they are always out of poultry seasoning, or they have the mini container that cost about six dollars. So I went on one of those site's for substitutions, etc.. I just love those. Anyhow, I am going to just whip up a little batch of my own and wanted to share the ingredients here. For poultry seasoning a general list of spices and herbs are: Sage, Thyme, Pepper, Majoram, and optional additions are: Parsley and Rosemary. Add or subtract to taste. Enjoy! More Dyealogue, hopefully tomorrow!

2008-11-24T20:09:00.000-05:00

Tiffany (Tippy) is our seal-point and Muffin (Pookey) is our blue-point. I name them and my hubby re-names them..lol!

Pet Thyme!

2008-11-24T19:55:00.000-05:00

He was sleeping under the Christmas tree in the last photo. It was a pic from last year, no we don't have the tree put up yet this year...lol! I just took this picture of Nibbly tonight, such a character I tell you!!! LOL!! If he looks ornery it is becasue he is! haha! We love him!

We also love our girl's, we have 2 Himalayans, they are older than our kids! Our bunny adores them, but he just kind of aggravates them...lol!!

My Turkey Rugs!!

2008-11-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

Have you planned your Thanksgiving meal yet?? Even though I am practically a vegetarian, I do like a "little" meat on the the holiday's. I have kind of evolved into a vegan over the years, just kind of lost my taste for meat for several reasons. Give me a heaping spoon of sweet potatoes, and sweets....oh yeah! To celebrate our upcoming holiday, I am posting photo's of some of my past turkey rugs! The last one is a wonderful design by my friend Angela Jones of Breezy Ridge Rugs. I used some vintage paisley's to hook this one.

If you have never hooked or worked with old or new wool paisley, I recommend it! FUN! I bought a wonderful Talbot's paisley skirt on ebay for less than $10, I always throw a piece of it into my dye baths to have some in every shade. It is just a fun way to add a vintage BLING to your wool handiwork!

The rest of these turkey rugs are my own design's and pattern's, if you would ever like to purchase any of my pattern's you see, just let me know!!

Inspiration and Mr. Nibbles.........

2008-11-18T21:34:00.000-05:00

Who was the inspiration for this rug?? My love of tree's and..... our bunny- Nibbles, I hope to post a video of him, he does the funniest things sometimes, like run circles around the kitties!

Who is your best friend???

2008-11-17T21:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I added a music player thingy to my blog. UGH! I know! I have a love/hate thing going on with those! You must hear Mary J Blige "Peace" if you have never heard it!! I love the old song "My Best Friend," makes me think of my husband!! Just wondering who your best friend is and if you have song's that remind you of them?? Gee Whiz, who are those kids in the photo???LOL!

"Oh Penny Tree"

2008-11-16T20:25:00.001-05:00

My Latest creation. Just listed on ebay.

All of those extra wool strips!!

2008-11-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

What can we do with all of those extra strips??? Dye them!

Thanks a bunch to everyone who has commented on my blog, etc.. I appreciate it!

There are only so many Hit & Miss projects, and borders to use your "extras" in right?? I always need more antique black for backgrounds. I love a mixed look, not a solid color, but lots of variation. So what I like do is take a mixed bunch of strips. I have some divided by color, but I always have several "strays" of all colors in a bunch.

***You may want to start with a small pot of strips and see if you like the outcome first, then go back and repeat the process if you do.

There will be few casualties, and you will loose a few strips, but you will have several you can use in an upcoming project. I say you will loose a few because some will become overfelted and too thick to hook with. Some wool can be dyed more than once and not end up too thick, others with fatten up too much. You can always use those strips unfit for hooking to stuff pillows, etc...

Use enough strips to almost fill your pot, I throw them in my pot and see how many I can get in, then I remove them. Fill your pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling turn it down and stir in your favorite black dye recipe. A good one to use is one that combines all of the primary colors, this way you won't end up with a pile navy blue or dark green strips, etc..
Since I am not sure how big your pot is, let me give you a general idea on how much and a recipe, but please adjust as you see fit. For a medium pot, let's use equal parts of Cushings, say 1/4 teaspoon of Khaki, Golden Brown, and Black for a total of 3/4 tsp. of dye. Stir these dyes in your pot and turn the heat way back, this will prevent too much over felting of your wool. Now add your strips. Stir a bit and watch them for awhile. Pull your strips up with your spoon, do you need more dye, is one shade showing up more than you would like?? If say the khaki is going too green, add some Mahogany or any red. If they are not dark enough you may need to mix up another batch and add it to your pot. Add vinegar when you are satisfied with the shade in your pot.

You can hand rinse your strips, or I usually go ahead and run them through the warm/cool rinse cycle, and then machine dry them. Hopefully, you will end up with a nice collection of mottled and varied antique black strips you can use. You should have nice deep interesting mix of black.

Another way to do this is........say you have a bunch of dirty white's, but you actually need a nice mix of mustards. Just follow these directions, but use your favorite mustard recipe over your dirty's for a great selection of mustards. A good mustard is a mix of Mummy Brown and Gold. Have fun!!!!!

I am adding a photo of a rug I just finished using strips I re-dyed in the background.

Let's start a dye - dialogue or a dyealogue.

2008-11-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

Ok, let's talk color! I think about color, well most of my waking hours! I think most rug hookers are always looking for a good background color. My favorite is a black/brown. One of my favorite ways to get brown is by mixing plum with any yellow or gold. This is Cushings or any dye you choose. If you want it darker use a bit more plum and if you want a very warm shade of brown use a bit more of your yellow or gold. Gold will make it very warm. Try it first by using a 1/16 of a yard of any wool. Get a glass jar, fill it 3/4 full of water and heat it in your microwave for about 3 minutes. Carefully remove it, set it in your sink and mix in your dyes, then add your wool. Let's use 1/64 of Plum and 1/64 of Yellow for a light to medium brown. Use equal parts 1/32 of each for a darker brown. This is good way to use up extra purple dye!!!LOL!!!

I like the basic Cushings brown's but also like unique ways to get to brown. It tends to get rid of the blah...oh no not that color again!!! LOL!! If you don't have purple or plum, just mix a blue and a red together. I would use say Sky Blue and Scarlet. But this is the fun part, just get in that dye box and pick 2, it is only a small piece of wool... Once you have the dye combo that you like, dye larger pieces. I added the picture of my Abe Lincoln to show you his beard. I had a yellow/gold wool texture, I dyed it with plum and came up with his beard color. So you can do this on an undyed piece using yellow and plum or over a previously dyed piece using the missing color. No reason you could not take a piece of purple wool and over dye it with gold to get a brown. More dye-alogue soon!

New week!

2008-11-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

Are we all ready to start a new week??? Just think it is about 2 weeks until Thanksgiving!! We just decided on ham and turkey. I am the cook in the family, so I better start gathering the recipes and ideas quickly. I learned to cook from the very best, my grandma Rose! My hero! The nicest and most giving woman I have ever known. She lived in a very small town here in Indiana, worked full time, raised 5 kids, tended to grandpa, made all of her own drapes and such. A wonderful cook, she managed to win the Pillsbury Bake-Off TWICE!!! The 1st win took her and my grandpa to New York, and the second trip they got to travel to Hawaii. I am still so proud of her and miss her so much! I try to do her recipes justice! Her second bake-off win was for Apple Crisp, her winning idea was that she used coconut cream pudding in the topping. Just the dry mix in with the basic topping ingredients. You should try it, very yummy!!

Burgundy Sweet Annie!

2008-11-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this burgundy Sweet Annie?? I just love it!! Got it on ebay, where I get many of my prims and bobbins!haha!

Bobbins!

2008-11-09T15:56:00.000-05:00

Maybe someday I will get over my bobbin thing!! Well, maybe not! I don't know what it is...just got a new shipment yesterday, fabulous collection of oldies, but goodies! I imagine all kinds of creations displayed on them. Maybe it is my love of antiques, or a recycling thing! LOL!! Watch for more, because if I can get it on a bobbin, I will!!! Peace and Old-time Happiness to all!

Santa on a bobbin-

2008-10-27T18:02:00.000-04:00

I have been selling on ebay for a few years now and I love it! I may do a website someday, but ebay keeps me very busy! My latest thing has been turning my hooked creations into patterns. Awhile back I made a scarecrow on a bobbin. Sometimes customers are great about giving me ideas. I had a request for a Santa on a bobbin like the scarecrow. She wanted it green, so I made him up and made a red Santa for ebay, pattern to follow soon. They are quite tedious to sew together and on to the bobbin etc.... But they are worth it!

Welcome to my blog!

2008-10-27T17:40:00.000-04:00

I thought it was finally time to start blogging. So welcome to my little creative part of the universe! I am an eclectic person with many interests. I plan to discuss the "creative process" here, but I am sure other things will come up like...our pet bunny, raising kids, why kindness matter's, homeschooling, the love of cats, etc.... I do try to bring imagination to all that I do......hope you will enjoy my blog and be inspired to create and live your passion.