Gotta be thinking ahead..*NEW* Easter Thyme Doodle Booklet

I have been drawing and getting this, and another doodle booklet just for Spring, together since Friday night.I love drawing and playing around with the ideas in my head. The Spring Doodle Booklet will be ready in another day or so.
I Had to say a big thank you to everyone for the lovely comments about my finished rug. There are so many helpful and encouraging ladies ( and guys) in the rug hooking community. I feel so welcome by you all. And those that don't hook...try it !!

I also wanted to show a picture of a little wool applique pillow I made for the opening of the selling blog. It's been sold, but sine I'm not actually sewing, hooking or punching, I wanted to show a pic of something...lol .I mde this uing one of the designs on the front cover of the Thyme for Valentine Doodle booklet. Big hugs, enjoy your Sunday ! Robin

**BIG NEWS**.........

Yup...that's right ! I finished my rug....BUT...I learned AFTER I did the "tongues" the correct way to do the edges. I am going to put it back on the hoop and fix a few things..It is also a little wonky, mostly due to the horrible mess made by whoever did the really poopy job drawing the design on the monks cloth!!!!...Oh, wait, that's me....lol I did end up tearing out the numbers and the little box they are in and re-doing ( made some mistakes there too ), and I tore out the strip of white that outlined the bird and hooked it in a darker tan than the background...the same color I used to outline the bigger flower. So, with all the repairs made already, and the ones I still have to do, I think it is passable for an ADHD old lady who knew next to nothing when I started....lol...Thank you to ALL of the folks that were so knowledgeable and tutored me along the way, the compliments and the crititicisms are both welcome and appreciated !!! I don't know what your weather is like, but we are getting a doozy snow storm here in NW Pa. ( Erie) ...we even had THUNDER snow...lol..I looked out a bit ago and couldn't even see the house across the street it was snowing so hard..Not blowing...SNOWING.....wow ! When it's cold and stormy, what is a good way to pass the time ????Hmmmm.. I know !!! Go and sign up for a SUPER Spectacular GIVEAWAY !! And check out the new selling group I'm in.. ** PRIMITIVE HANDMADES MERCANTILE**
All you need to do is sign up for the newsletter..That's it ! you will be entered to win. Drawing will be on Friday January 27th.

Official opening is tonight @ Midnight, but you can still snoop around and check out all the talented artist's pages.. Hugs, Robin

Another try at Rug Hooking....

I am not too happy with my progress so far. I don't want to be too hard on myself. I don't feel like giving up. Every time I grab ( or cut ) the next wool strip I'm hopefull this row will turn out better. I'm still trying to get the hang of going through small curves and not making my loops too tight. Ok, so, seasoned rug hookers, tell me this ...Am I breaking some unspoken rules here ? I almost feel as though not having a class or any proper " learnin' " in this, that I'm doing things wrong and I'll never really know what....lol #1 I don't have a cutter, and I can't seem to find a ruler in my stash that is actually STRAIGHT ! all of them seem to be warped or something...grrrrrrr...I can't seem to get strips that are even in width, and I hate to waste the ones that are too thin or too thick or thin on the ends and thicker in the middle.

#2 I found outtoo late that my hoop is just a little too small.Or...that I drew out my design just a hair too big....lol...the very ends dont all fit in the hoop, so I am going to have to move the piece on the hoop, squishing what I've allready hooked, in order to finish the outside. #3 I'm not happy with the strip of off white I did around the bird, hoping to " highlight " it . I was going to do that to the flowers also, but after I did it, I don't like it. I think it looks too ??? Cartoonish ?? Soooo...rather than pull the loops out and re-do, I'm thinking of just staining that just a tad to tone it down ??? #4 I hooked the area inside the lare flower with a checked blue wool. The more I look at THAT, I'm not happy with it... #5 The numbers came out horrible ( how do you all do it ??!!) #6 The square that the numbers are inside came out all whacky and not square...Do I tear that out and re-do? #7 Almost forgot...I only have a hoop, no frame, so do I spend the money on a frame ? I don't see myself givng it up anytime soon so...?? Ok, like I said, I don't want to beat myself up toooooo bad , but at the same time, where do I draw the line at being particular, and giving myself a pass on perfection for the sake of enjoying the self-teaching/learning process. ?? There you have my weekend...lol Off to cut more strips and trudge on. I am enjoying it, don't get me wrong, I just wish I could figure some of the finer points of the art out... Hugs, Robin

*New* Punch Needle Pattern and New Doll , pattern almost finished...

I never would have believed anyone, if they told me last year when I first really gave it a shot at punch needle, that I would be able to start a project at 4:30 pm , that's drawing pattern on the weavers cloth, setting up my supplies then starting to punch, and be finished with it by 11:50 pm ... I think what really has helped me is getting my thyroid taken care of. When it was so bad and levels were dangerously low ( I didn't realize it) I couldn't have concentrated long enough to even think to draw up a design. I then proceeded to stay up ALL night ( I know...stupid) and finish up my doll for a new pattern. Not only that, but I hooked up a quick heart to add to it, allthough the hooking part is optional for the pattern.

I did manage a sleep for a bit, and now back up, working on the pattern finishes, and God willing, that will be finished before later tonight and then, I AM going to bed at a decent hour !!Hubby got up for work this morning and almost scolded me for not going to bed. He worries I'll get run down and then I catch any little bug that happens along. I heard him getting his belongings ready, next thing I know he is standing behind me with a prepared glass of "Emergen C"... distasteful drink...I can taste the B vitamins in it and EWWWWW.... He teased that he would plug my nose for me while I drank it....lol..He did stand over me till I drank gagged it all down.... Hugs to you all... Be Creative !!
Colonial Punch Needle Heart Hanger

This is a very quick and easy punch needle design and pattern to create. Great for Valentine's Day ...
Price: US$5.00

Visited a lovely shop...I got wool !!!

( Quilt above sewn by Anita isn't it beautiful ?? Design by: Lisa Bongean (Primitive Gatherings) I visited a lovely shop today...Anita's Homespun Treasures ..It's located about 40 or so miles from me...The woman who owns it, Anita, shares the space with a Quilt shop on the other side... I've been at the shop before, but of course with all the beautiful quilts and other finished items hanging on the walls, and adorning little nooks and crannies, not to mention the wonderful wools and other fabrics everywhere, I just about died and gone to heaven when I walk through the door... Anita is a really nice and very talented lady...She has a few of her own beautiful designs published, and has created so many other awesome goodies with wool and other fabrics... I am just going to post the pics, but you will see a really unique loom...Anita spins, weaves, knits, crochets, sews quilts, does wool appliques projects...hmmm I know I must've missed something.... Oh, and she overdyes some of her wools and the colors are PERRRFECTION !! You will see some of the wool I purchased..hubby laughs because I asked him to keep the bag of goodies I bought in the back , but within reach for me....He said " I know why ,,so you can fondle and admire your goodies on the way home "...well....of course !!! ...lol I also had to buy a few pattern books..I wonder when I will do anything from them ????Don't we all have that problem...?? So if you are ever in the area ( Warren County Pa. ) stop in and tell Anita I sent ya .... Here is the address and phone: Anita's Homespun Treasures Intersection Rt 27 & Ross St. Pittsfield, PA Open Wed-Fri: 10-5pm & Sat 10-3pm 814-694-7134

Hooked Heart Progress and Another Talented Lady...

I have been hesitant to start my second hooked project as I don't have a good stash of variations of colors. I'm not happy with the larger pieces of wool that I have that can be cut into strips for hooking... the colors are just not quite right. But..I went ahead and placed the backing on my hoop, drew a heart in an oval on it and just started...It really is addicting, I didn't want to put it down. Now, I seem to be having a really big problem with the strip of wool twisting as I pull it through. This tends to take up alot of time for me, but I'm still learning. The colors of red in the pic look too bright and kind of "orangey" ( is that even a word ?) This is really just a "practice" for me, learning going around the curves and corners. I still need to get the hang of uniform looking loops and I ended up in the middle of the heart, getting bunched up. I know for all of you experienced hookers, it was just a matter of " practice makes perfect "...I hope so....lol And now....another VERY talented lady on Ebay, Chris(mysticalprimitives) has punched one of my designs from my "Thyme for Valentines's " Doodle Booklet. I love Chris's work, her punched pieces are beautiful ! ~Click here to check out her auctions~

*New* Valentine Wool Applique Mat and Pattern

I have been quietly tucked away in my craft room for most of the this past weekend, designing, stitching and writing up the pattern for my new wool applique mat. I never used to do alot of decorating for St. Valentine's Day, except for a small ornie tree and some stitched pillows. Well, I wanted something to add to my few Valentine decorations, so I actually made 2 of these, one to sell and one for myself.
so...the pattern is now available, and the finished mat will be available for sale when we open our new selling group on the 20th of January..
Now, I can get to taking down of the Christmas decorations...Hubby is taking a vacation day off tomorrow , so I very sweetly asked if he would like to lend a hand and he very sweetly said yes .....lol
Thanks for taking a peek ...hugs,
Robin




Valentine Love Letter Wool Applique Mat


This simple and prim Valentine's Day wool applique mat is quick and easy to put together and ...

Price: US$5.00