Thursday happenings

 I've been slowly working on my old snowman rug. I finished hooking the snowman, just need to decide on a background. The original pattern had a red background. I'm thinking either brick/barn red, or maybe a smokey blue/grey. I don't have any wool in either of the exact colors, so I just started on a small section of the new snowman rug.  :)

Tonight we saw a raccoon in our backyard ~ before it was totally dark. We watched, and it's a mom with 4 babies. They are cute, but coons can be so destructive. I really hope they leave ~ soon.

It sure doesn't feel like summer vacation to me. I've been cleaning, washing walls, curtains, blinds, and cleaning carpets. Still a lot more to do. I want to finish all the deep cleaning by the end of next week. Then I'll be working for summer school during the mornings. I want my afternoons free to do other stuff - like hooking, punch needle, etc. This summer I need to make some Christmas ornaments. Last year I did a mouse in a mitten pattern by Country Stitches. I need to find another cute pattern to make a few dozen of.  (anyone done any they can recommend?)

~*~ Laura ~*~

School's Out ~ time to get to work!

 School is officially out for the summer. So, I now have to get to work on all my household projects. I didn't like how this last piece of scarlet red wool turned out. A few too many areas that didn't get enough dye. So, I put it back into the dye pot with a little more dye.

 This is the result. It's still mottled, but more evenly covered.

 I took out my new snowman rug and my big box of leftover worms. I found some great wool for the snowmen faces and the ground snow.  I think the faces will be the very light greyish/blue mottled wool. For the ground, I'll mix the rest of that with an off white and very light plaid wool. I'm hoping I have enough.

 The blue is for a snowman jacket.I'll have to dye some buttery yellow for some other parts.

 The tan/brown will be for the snowman pants and dress.

 The trees are large. I really liked the example with various combinations of greens. I found a couple plaids at a store yesterday. I might order another wool to coordinate. I've had them in sunlight, and they do go together, it's just the flash that changes the colors. I could always marry the colors to get them in the same family.

The background will be various darks. I love the dark reversible stripe. It gives the dark, as well as lighter grey with green. I also have some chocolate mocha wool and a dark olive green plaid I found yesterday. (much darker in person) . I might change a the chocolate mocha to another wool, but am still in the thinking stage. Maybe a few rows of experimenting will help.

I'm off to start some summer cleaning!

~*~ Laura ~*~

Memorial Day Weekend

 On the hot Memorial Day weekend, I've gotten a ton accomplished. I finished hooking the runner ~ just needs to be blocked and bound. I was going to add another border, but after experimenting, I just didn't like it. So, the scallop border will be the edge.

 Went to the Memorial Day parade in our town. My son was playing the trumpet in the high school marching band. Glad they got to wear t-shirts and shorts and not heavy uniforms. It was only 92 today, which was cooler than yesterday.

 My youngest was also in the parade, marching with his Boy Scout troop.

 I also took an entire day to clean out my stuff in our storage room. It's a lower level bedroom that's unfinished. The room holds all our stuff, and acts as our basement. I store all my craft/art supplies there. I weeded through and sorted. I think I can actually find stuff now.  :)

I've been watching a pair of finches build a nest in our back flower basket. Yesterday there was 1 egg, and today there are 3 eggs. It should be fun to watch!

Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend!

~*~ Laura ~*~

A Day Off

 I took the day off work today. Didn't accomplish as much as I wanted, but that's ok. I only have until next week until school is out. I did a couple things. I went to a few thrift stores, and found these candle holders for $1 each. They were stained oak. I had some left over black spray paint, so now they are black. I just need to find some mini pip berry candle rings for them.

 I finished binding this mat. On this one I used cotton twill tape, and used black wool yarn for the edges. It just needs another quick steam to flatten the edges.

 I've also gotten a bit further on my runner.

This is the pattern I received as a giveaway last week. I've been looking at the photo, and thinking about colors. I just received my wool samples from The Wool Studio. I'll have to see what looks interesting to hook as is, and what I can dye.

My big find today was a table. My husband has started working from home 2 days a week. He needs a larger table/desk. I found this kitchen table that will do the trick instead of a desk. It needs refinishing, but it offers plenty of space (it has a self storing leaf). I already sanded the top so I can stain it. Not bad for $14.99.   :)

It's back to school tomorrow. The countdown is 6 more days!

~*~ Laura ~*~

DuCKLiNGS

 I'm duck sitting tonight. Our class had 18 ducklings hatch this week. I couldn't resist taking a couple of them out in the grass for a few photos.

James was thrilled that I brought them home!

I got my pattern from The Star Rug Company this week! After I finish a couple projects in progress, I'll start on it. Thank you SOOO much, Maria for this fabulous pattern!

I'm off to make sure the ducklings have enough water. Seems all they do is drink (then pee and poop). They go back to the farmer tomorrow.   :(

~*~ Laura ~*~

I won!

Yesterday, I entered a giveaway on Maria Barton's blog http://starrugcompany-maria.blogspot.com/. The giveaway was to promote her new website of wonderful rug hooking patterns! I can't believe, but I won my favorite pattern ~ Winter Walk. http://www.starrugcompany.com/Winter_WinterWalk.html . This rug is 19x31, so it will be bigger. I'm going to have to put some careful thought into color planning, and dying the wool, as I want this one to be a piece to hang on the family room wall. Hop on over to Maria's new website and check out her other wonderful patterns!

Thanks SO much, Maria!

~*~ Laura ~*~

Updating

A month later, and I'm finally updating my blog~ if I can figure out how to update it. I signed in, and the whole interface has changed.

I've been slowly working on my spring runner. I've just run out of time. I spend a while job searching and updating my resume. I've sent off several resumes, but no calls/interviews. There was one job in my town that I drove over and hand delivered my resume. Even with a follow up call, I haven't heard. Guess it's the job market around here. Way too many applicants. I'm only applying for openings that sound good and are really close to home. That means not many more resumes being sent out. At least I like my job as a kindergarten aide, and it's close to home.

I had intentions (a month ago) of ordering a dye book, but just haven't gotten around to it. I know it wouldn't just be a dye book, but some measuring spoons. Oh, then the wool to dye. And time to plan and do another project. Hopefully this summer once school lets out.

Have a great week!

~*~ Laura ~*~