Father Christmas is on his Way
The air at night is slowly growing crisp with the anticipation of the holiday season. This my favorite time of the year and I am excited by the prospect of enjoying many family and friends, good food and lots of laughter. I am getting in the mood!
Chester is at it again…. My lap dog does not want to accept the fact that he can not fit in my lap!. However, her does try hard to convince me! Enjoy the laugh!
I have been really busy making a variety of different things this summer. I just finished painting this rooster. I named him Roosta and he is brilliant with color and attitude. I listed him on my ETSY site, shugsthisnthat, and hope to find a home for him. On top of all that, I also have a set of hand painted placemats listed on my LemonPoppyseed site, shugswhimsyworks. I painted them so that they are reversible and can give the buyer years of use and variety. The mats are painted with a traditional pineapple and then on the other side is painted a faux barn wood with stars adorning one side. I have another set of four that will be listed on my ETSY page very soon. Not quite finished yet!
I have also been creating some handmade purses and because I am getting addicted to the purses and such, I bought myself a new sewing machine. Boy I never knew how much sewing could change using the same ole machine!!!!! I am sure most of you can relate to my words on that one.
Hope all is well with everyone and I look forward to hearing what projects all of you have been working on. Ciao for now! Kim
Made with My Cool Signs.Net
I will be leaving on a much need vacation in a few days. However, before I leave, I wanted to share with my following bloggers some of my new creations. I have been busy with MOTHER'S Day hand hooked pillows. I have two for sale right now. My sheepish MOM pillow is 8" x 12" and completely hand sewn.
I also have a pillow in blues and white that is simply for fun. It reads, "Call your mom, she worries".
I have two more on there way, I just need to finish them up.
Here's wishing all you mother's out there a great mom's day coming up.
We know how much we deserve one, don't we ladies……
All the best, and have a great beginning to MAY…
Kim aka shug
I have been busy doing not much of anything. A wedding took some time this past weekend in Texas where the weather was allot more conducive to my old achy bones.
I have joined a group on ETSY that is called ETSY for Charity. The group sells handcrafted items specifically for charity. I haven't listed any items as of yet, but I will be doing that very soon.
I have been working on a few patterned designs for rug hooking. I bought the patterns when I was first teaching myself and they are designed by Sharon Perry. I made contact with her through EBAY and she is responsible for me learning to hook and having this obsession with rug hooking. Her sister is a very distinguished hooker named Deanne Fitzpatrick. She is a legend in hooking for many and has one many titles of distinction for her work. I will eventually show some links on my pages for you to see for yourself.
I have added a poll on the top of my blog to see what interests are out there for my followers. Please take a look and join in…
I also have added all the blogs that I am following right now. They have great things to offer for information and of course items to purchase!
Hope my friends around the country are "weathering" storms and have a wonderful weekend.
I am dying to dye some more fabric. Hopefully that will be my next posting. Wish me luck….
Oh yeah, I forgot, I also added a website listed at the top of my page for you all to review. It is called the Olde Peddlers Wool. This is a local wool and yarn shop. They are now selling their items on line and they are a great shop. They have punchneedle and Rug Hooking supplies as well. Darlene is a great resource for many things. Please take a look!!!!
I began with eight ¼ yard pieces of Dorr Wool. (You can use more or less, but since this was my first time I decided I didn't want to waste great wool on a foul-up)My deepest darkest color was burgundy, then a rosy mauve, then a paler pink and then a subtle pink. I added antique white pieces for the final touch
I first soaked the wool in warm water in the sink with a mild soap detergent for about 2-3 minutes (until the wool was wet). I then used a vintage white enamel cooking pot for my dying chamber. After the wool was wet, I placed one piece of dark burgundy and two pieces of rosy pink still wet and not wrung out, in the bottom of the chamber. I then added onion skins from yellow onions on the top of the layer of fabric. (I have been saving the skins for some weeks). I scattered them on the wool but haphazardly. Then, I applied salt(about 3-4 tablespoons) and sprinkled that on top of the skins. My first layer was ready.
Next, I added two pieces of pale pink and one piece of rosy pink. I did the same with this layer adding the skins and then the salt. Last, but not least, I added two pieces of antique white on the top layer. Finally, I added the onion skins and salt.
Now I was ready. I took about 6 quarts of hot water and began to add this onto the already wet and soaking wool. I only added enough water to cover the wool. I did not fill it to a saturated consistency. You will be seeing the burgundy and pinks already rising to the top from the other wools at the bottom. The onion skins bring out a natural orangey yellow. You then place the pot on the stove. Use a low flame, cover and steam the wool for about 45 minutes. Voila!!! You are now finished!
I took a small strainer and placed it in the drain of my sink. You do not want those skins going down the disposal or sink. !!!! Messy. I then poured the water and the wool out. At the same time I ran cold water onto the wool to cool the fabric and help set the color. (The salt does that for you as well). After the wool was cooled I took the wool and ran it on a low heat in the dryer to dry. I couldn't put it outside that day because it was 32 degrees and raining!
Well, you can see how my wool pieces turned out in the picture. They are mottled and interesting to use in your rug hooking pieces. I also spot dye a few pieces as well. I will describe that at a different time. I used all Dorr Wools. Many of their colors complemented the color process and made the process very easy. If you have any questions don't hestitate to contact me. I am not a pro by any means but I can help!!!!!
Hope everyone is having a grand March!!!!
It has been a strange week and to tell you the truth, I am mystified that I am celebrating my 20th year in marriage. What happened? Where did the time go. Where are my little boys holding my hand and needing to be tucked in at night?????
I am busy punching away and soon to be hooking again.
Remember, today is the most important day!!!!
Blessings.
It's Monday and the end of the day. It snowed and left a cover of virgin powder so dry that when walked on it sounds like peanut droppings on a dirt floor. It is a cold dry setting sun and I have lots to do. I have been creating punchneedle works lately. Punchneedle is an old Russia form of embroidery much like the primitive rug hooking here in the good ole USA. Punchneedle is produced on a much smaller scale. It really is a great way to practice training for patience and attention to detail. I have completed four or five projects and it is a slow (turtle speed){}}}} improvement. Mu ebay friend Ginger aka nyafarmgirl has just finished explaining how to create this craft in VERY good instructional detail. Her blog is listed on the side of my page. She does great work and her pieces really speak about her! Take a look if your interested. You won't regret it.
I am part of an ebay group of ladies called the Ye Olde Thyme Primitives!!!
We may be primitive but…. WE AREN'tOLDE!!
They are a warm and friendly group of ladies and some of their blogs are part of my following group. Look them up. Their stuff is awesome!!!
I also am part of a group called Age Before Beauty(AB4B). Nice large group of crafters that have a huge variety of crafters to pick and chose from. Lastly is The Lemon Poppy Seeds (LPSX). Their Primitive style web page is spectacular and of course all extreme prim…… I hope some of you will respond to my words or even join in. I will include some new pictures soon.
Until then, have a nice lazy evening.
Shug
Well, it has been a strange week. I have been trying to create some new ideas for creating works for my work pages. I have joined three groups on eBay to help to support and promote my products. They are easy to find groups on eBay. All you have to do is put their call letters in the search box and their group items will come up for sale. They are Lemon Poppy Seeds or LPSX, Age before Beauty, AB4B and Ye Olde Thyme Primitives, YOTP. Each group is unique and all the items are handmade.
Looking for a fulltime job has been difficult. I have sent out tons of resumes. I will not get distracted. I will not get bummed out. I will move forward!!!!!!Until then, I am working hard to sell what I can.
I am working on my first "real" punch needle piece for sale. It is my fav, the rooster. I love roosters.
I have listed the shops I am selling my items through on the right side of this blog for you to take looks at once and awhile. If you need items for gifts or yourself I hope you would take a look. Buy American……… or HSAOA (help support and old artist{}). Later!
HeavY!!!!!!!!
One more moon dance first!
