Thursday's Work

A Thursday with nothing to do. Still a day too early to take down the Christmas decorations, and payday isn't until tomorrow, so no money to spend. So, I pulled out a pattern that I bought a while ago, and started punching. I went with the directions on the pattern, and used 3 strands. I usually punch using 6 strands for a more prim look, but the outlining of this piece needed 3 strands.

It always looks like a mess without all the background punched in. The loops spread out, and distort the picture. But, the main parts are done, and time to start the background.

Once I started the ecru background, it began to take shape.

After spending most of the day working on it, I finished punching the piece! Now to decide how to finish the piece. I have an idea of a wool pouch to hang on a peg, but I'll have to see what colors of wool I have.

Speaking of wool, I'm debating whether to sign up for a rug hooking class. I've seen so many wonderful rugs, that I would like to try one. But, I know that will lead to needing more supplies ~ namely wool. Then, if I really like it, a cutter. Decisions, decisions.....

~*~ Laura ~*~

Yarn holder

I found a new use for a vintage wood bowl ~ as a yarn holder. I've been busy crocheting a baby afghan, but that big ball of yarn kept rolling around the floor. I usually use a carrying bag to store it in, but mine is full of punch needle supplies at the moment. So, I looked over at the coffee table, and tried a bowl that I purchased at an antique store a few weeks ago. It's a shallow bowl, but it does the trick of holding the yarn in one place.


I'm still playing with my new Sony Bloggie touch. The camera portion doesn't have a flash, but it does take indoor photos.

Not too bad for a darker room, with only a couple lamps on.

Here's the photos it takes outdoors. James was really wanting to try out his new bike, so I took it outside. He needs to get comfortable using hand brakes instead of coaster brakes. He only rode up and down the street a couple times, as it's really cold. It's suppose to warm up in the upper 40's by Saturday, so I'm sure he'll be out more, as long as it doesn't rain.



I playing with the video part of the Bloggie. It can take still photos while it's still video recording ~ how cool is that?

I'm back to crocheting. Maybe I can finish this afghan in the next couple days. :-)

~*~ Laura ~*~

Moving around

One little addition to the family room resulted in LOTS of moving around this past week. My husband got a bonus (first time EVER). He's always dreamed about having one of those flat screen LCD tv's. So, we had enough for that, a sale blue ray, and a new tv stand. It all fit nicely in the space from the old tv/entertainment center. Of course, the old entertainment center wouldn't fit the new tv, which is why we got a new stand.


We only had one tv, so the old one went upstairs, along with the entertainment center. There was a cable outlet already on the wall, where the previous owner had their tv. It's a corner entertainment center, but we put it against a flat wall (makes it easier to clean around). But, the china cabinet that was there needed to be moved.

The china cabinet is now where the piano was. The piano is where the antique secretary was. (I would like the get rid of the piano, as no one plays it. Rachel had taken lessons for a couple years, but isn't interested in playing anymore) The antique secretary is now downstairs in the hallway. Of course, now all the things on the wall will need to be moved around. But, I'll wait until all the Christmas decorations are down to see if this is where all the furniture will remain. Guess it will keep me busy during my week off!


Since the secretary is not centered on the wall (makes it easier to walk around the lower level hallway), I'll have to add some things to the wall to balance it off.

Here's a quick Christmas wrap-up:



James got a Star Wars Lego set. He spent a lot of time today putting it together, and he finished it.
Matt at my parent's house yesterday. The photo taken with a new video camera. It also takes photos. I'll still have to play around with it to figure out all the features.


Andrew with his Svengoolie t-shirt.


Rachel with her new purple bike. She'll want a car next, as she's eligible to take driver's ed this summer. But, she rides on bike paths, and all over town on her bike. At least she won't outgrow this one.

James, also, got a new bike. He's never had a new bike. All his other ones were hand me downs. He rode the one so much, that it's falling apart. This one had hand brakes (but one speed), so it will take some adjusting, especially down hills. It's suppose to get warmer later this week, but rain. But, just maybe he'll be able to test it out.

I have this week off, along with the kids. I just printed out a couple Valentine graphics to use as punch needle patterns. Yep, thinking ahead to the next holiday for Ebay sales. I also started a baby afghan with some left over yarn. Need to run and get some more yarn at Walmart. It was nice to take a few weeks off crafting, but my hand and itching do some more. :-)

~*~ Laura ~*~

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

This is the photo that was on our Christmas cards this year. I just sent them out on Monday, so I'm hoping they all arrive by today. I finally finished my shopping and wrapping yesterday. Then I started on baking cookies. The snow started falling this morning, and we should get about 3 inches of snow for a white Christmas.

I hope all of you have a blessed Christmas!

~*~ Laura ~*~

Chrismas play

My youngest, James, is full of surprises. He volunteered for a part in the Sunday School Christmas play. I didn't know this until I received a letter saying he had the part of Joseph! James hasn't done any plays/acting before, so it really surprised me that he wanted to do this. The play was just for the 4-5th graders, and parents. The parts didn't need to be memorized, but the kids needed to be familiar with their parts. The play wasn't rehearsed, but the kids did a wonderful job.
Since our school has cut many extra curricular activities, a school play isn't an option. None of his brothers or sister enjoys acting. But, maybe James would? I'm just glad that he enjoyed it, and wasn't scared. (they put the words on a powerpoint slide on the back wall to help the kids read their lines)

I haven't done any crafting. I'll be working on Christmas gifts, wrapping, and re-doing the house. Re-doing the house, as we just got a new tv tonight. The new tv doesn't fit into the old entertainment center. It's a nice Habersham Plantation corner unit that we purchased 19 years ago for our old house. Don't want to toss it out. So, have to move it upstairs to the living room. Which means moving a china cabinet, piano, and antique secretary. Now everything on the walls isn't in the right spots, so all that will have to be moved. All for one new tv. It will keep me busy trying to figure out where to place everything. I'll try to get some photos later ~ you don't want to see photos of boxes, and stacks of stuff looking for a new place to call home. :-)

~*~ Laura ~*~

This N That

Gee, I haven't blogged in the past week ~ oops! I went through some photos of what I've been doing, and here they are. The high school had their winter band concert last week. I went to see my favorite trumpet player.


Went to the Merry Cary Parade. It's an annual Christmas parade in our town. James and Russ are holding the Cub Scout banner.

Andrew was holding the Boy Scout banner further back in the parade. Sometimes I think there are more people in the parade than watching! It was cold, but not as cold as today.



We had a snow storm come through Chicago. We only got a few inches of snow, but the wind really blew the snow around. Now the bitter cold wind chills have settled in. Perfect to stay indoors where it's warm.

I need to start a few new projects (one's for Valentines), but have been working at my side phone job. They've had a couple projects, and I won't turn it down. The extra $ always comes in hand at this time of year. I also *finally* started my Christmas shopping. Now to get it finished...... :-)

~*~ Laura ~*~

* Snowman finish*

I just finished the snowman! It's my first original design!

It took a few extra coats of paint to get the color right on the hornbook. It was too dark, so I put more barn red paint on, sanded it ,and a light coating of gel stain. Just a hint of mustard paint shows through. I lightly aged the punch needle piece with walnut ink, but didn't use it on the snowman. The snowman already has light color variations, and I didn't want that altered. Sometime the walnut ink will make those variations disappear. It did mute the oatmeal and blue sky colors, though. A simple string of vintage buttons completes the top.

And, yes, I cut my own wood. It's a scary thought. Me and power tools. I bought my own jigsaw and learned how to use it. I'm not great at cutting, but I'm learning. But, the great thing about primitives is that it's not suppose to be perfect! If it's lopsided ~ it's even better! :-)

I'm going to put it on Ebay Sunday night, unless anyone sends an email wanting to buy it. Let's say $45, and free shipping in the US.

We had our first measurable snow today! *** We got about 3 inches or so. It's going to be cold, so it's going to stick around. Makes me want to get some Christmas shopping done (I haven't even started yet!!). I have some lists done, and just need to go. As the kids get older, it's easier to just give the green stuff (cash). But, I have to get a few other goodies, too! I know I have the entire week before Christmas to get stuff done. Some years I'm done shopping before Thanksgiving, but this isn't one of those years.

~*~ Laura ~*~

*** December Snow ***

It's the first of December, and the forecast was for snow flurries. It was snowing more than just flurries this morning, so we got a coating of snow. I'm NOT ready for winter. But, I was ready to punch snowmen. This is the project that I'm currently working on. It all started with the hornbook. I had cut a different shape, but the jigsaw knicked the edge and cut it. I didn't want to throw it out, as the rest was still good. So, I made a couple more cuts to make a rectangular shape with a longer handle. I then took some paper and drew up this snowman to go on the hornbook.

While I was sketching, I drew some blushed cheeks, which I then transferred and punched. It's a blush color, so it's not really pink, and not really peach. It just adds a little something to his face.
Now to add some cording, and paint the wood. I'll go more traditional on this one ~maybe a barn red background, and tan cording to set it off.

I had to run to a different grocery store this week to get whole cloves for a school project. It was worth the drive, as the cloves were a fraction of the price of other stores. While I was there, I stopped into the Goodwill store and found this cute little basket. It easily holds the salt and pepper shakers on my counter. For a whopping 49 cents, I took it home. :-)

This has been a week of things breaking and being repaired. Our old van is getting some engine work. Our mechanic had some problems with the gaskets, but finally got them to seal. But then, it developed another problem which is being worked on. We're hoping to get it back tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Then, last night, our printer cartridge exploded. It had been leaking and leaving streaks all over the sides of paper, but new cartridges are expensive, which is why we didn't replace it. Got a new name brand toner cartridge now. But, I now need to get some Oxy Clean to get the stains out of the carpet. Sigh. Now to learn how to replace the cartridge in our new kitchen faucet. The manufacturer sent me a new one, as the water pressure is really low. I'm hoping this is the last of things breaking for a while. (I can only hope!)

I'm off to paint!

~*~ Laura ~*~