More Stitching and 2 Cats

 Obsession isn't a strong enough word

Pumpkin Stitching Ahead

try not to be jealous of Olivia's fancy bed

this is how she likes it

a rarely seen sighting of her underbelly

only safe when Melrose is in the garage

 found in my stash

during the wool room deep clean

a chart from 1995

finally, the right time to stitch it

mine will be much more prim

*****

I found my unicorn chart/book the other day on Ebay

The Bells on Christmas Day

my second in line is Kindred Spirits

by The Primitive Needle

Hope everyone is keeping hydrated and cool

even with the AC on Melrose likes to sleep in front of a fan

this is the look I get

after he sniffs my Carmex lip balm

it's his own fault

because he has to check out anything I'm holding

Stitching Away

the other day 

chicken was baking so he put his grumpy coat on

hoping it would earn my pity

What a little poser!

 Old Flag Station

by The Pinkeep

there is nothing I don't love about this pattern

and this designer

I started on my third of her designs yesterday

Stitched on 32 count Marble Hazelnut by xju designs

that stained looking background is perfectly prim

As always, I changed a few things, floss and threads at bit

looks so much better in person

*****

I was wrong a little bit ago

saying "hell no" to designing my own patterns...

been looking for some Halloween smalls

there are no cats

to my liking for the most part

shall I draw them on graph paper

or purchase a program to design them to sell

decisions await

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Busy Hands, Happy Heart

 Star Spangled

pattern by Threadwork Primitives

the light ones are much better in person

but their still going to get a second dye job

Am looking for this OOP print book if you know anyone

who'd like to part with theirs for cash or a hooked rug

purchased from my friend Bea a few weeks ago

while I was helping set up for her estate sale

created by her son in the late 70s/early 80s

it has so much meaning

her son Ronnie died around that time

we have attended the same church my entire life

she is still active in many projects

*****

I do believe in blogging without obligation

but I didn't intend to be away so long

I have about (no joke)

20 x stitch pieces to show you from

the past few months

Hope you're able to keep cool in this heat

Ohio is bad but not like farther West

It's been a week since Melrose had his dental work

they only had to remove one tooth

He is so much better, other than mad about no crunchy food

Cross Stitching and Flosstube

 image from Pinterest

I have been very busy hooking and stitching this week

My phone is nearly done for

replacement should arrive tomorrow 

then I will share photos

*****

I have been on a shopping spree like no other

watching flosstube videos with pen and paper in hand

I even ventured into my local needlework shop today

(I won't be going back)

My goal is to stitch all the smalls

I have no desire to have framed samplers

(I love them! But the cost of having them framed is prohibitive)

my walls are for quilts and hooked rugs

*****

Melrose hasn't been himself for a few weeks

finally going to the vet Monday...

it took a month wait for the appointment

*****

I am also heading to Bea's house Monday morning

she is selling off her belongings

then her son can sell her house

she collected and sold antiques

 she very excited that I love Americana!

Have a great rest of the day my friends.

Blue Bird Rug

started the hooking this morning

mostly stash strips

cutting as I need 

this boy

he loves to lean on quilts and hooked rugs

definitely a "do not disturb" face

image from Pinterest

circa 1880-1910

instantly fell for this antique rug

even if it has 4 hearts...

on my to hook list

Off to work soon

don't know if I can resist weighing myself

non scale successes have been great the past few days

Liberty Whale

hooked for my friend Debbie St Germain

the border was done last year

just waiting for the inspiration for the center

my sister thinks it look "very Nantuckety"

Melrose says it's very comfortable

now to press and remove cat fur

shipping tomorrow!

stitched this - by hand

about 30 years ago

got carried away and made it king size

I have no use for it this large

it's in the top/not quilted stage

so fairly easy to take apart to make two

smaller quilts

this way I can use and enjoy

maybe gift one to someone who likes blue

Happy Tuesday!

keeping my hands busy is easy this week

I am very thankful for that

A Cozy Sunday

first she steals my chair

  

he has his own plans for that chair

just right

pretty comfy

it's one of those thermal pads

that warms up when you're on it

Hope you have a cozy Sunday...

I'm off to work in a few hours

Back At It

 set aside last year

back on the frame this week to finish hooking

mostly using up the pre cut strips

with a little added new black

speaking of black

here's my beauty

Happy Saturday!

Melrose and Bees

talk about pouting

before I approached to take his pic

his chin was on the floor

it took forever to get him to look at me...

all because I won't let him in the garage

(the door to it is about 2 feet past him)

reason 1

I recently waxed my car

he must have slid off the hood at some point

because he refuses to get off the car

even when he really wants to for snacks

it took me over 30 minutes the other day to get 

him off the car

(it's a Saturn Vue so no trunk) 

reason 2

Bees

right behind those white shoes

is the door to outside

just to the right are the bees

I didn't think they would get into the garage

but who knew what would happen when

the exterminator arrived

*****

since then the exterminator has come and gone

a few bees in the kitchen

Olivia stood watching him out the window

while Melrose ran and hid

he's still hiding

 looks like forgiveness will 

take a little longer today 

Cats and Wool

so rare to find these two close to each other

they were both enjoying the breeze

from the front door

Olivia was there first...

the quilt on the back of the couch 

is the last one Mom made for me 

from 2011

I've been using it for napping

*****

dyeing more wool before work today

I'm getting ready to list it for sale

later this week

$11 a fat quarter

plus shipping based on your zip code

USA only

if I don't sell even one piece

it'll be fine

all the colors look so gorgeous next to each other

I haven't dyed much in a very long time

these will add some joy to my hooking

Happy Tuesday!

This That and Cats

certain things just give my heart a jolt

while on my journey to owning less

I'd like what I own to be fabulous...

perfect place to store worms 

simple and perfect

 she usually sleeps and rests like a meatloaf

lately though...

quilt hog

those eyes are because I stopped brushing him

in Outlander fangirl world this is called  

Knee Porn 

 cracked me up when I first read those words

I x ray knees all the time

but never the knee of a man wearing a kilt

the show is back September 10!

*****

 no hooking for a few days

working on cleaning up the garage

much to the dismay of the cats

they want to be out there alone

 

New Old Design Progress

still mostly pulling from the pre cut baskets

only the oragne strips are newly cut

I used nearly all the orange them last year...

cleaning up my old doodles

for the booklet has helped me get some of my 

hooking mojo back

tomorrow will be 3 months since Mom has been gone

there is such a big empty spot inside me

trying to stay busy and positive

knowing that's what she wanted

I am pulling old memories from my mind

from when my parents we younger and healthier

the past 10-12 had pushed those memories deep 

for the most part

 

 here's a recent good memory

Mom and Melrose were best buddies

they had their own little mutual admiration society

off to work soon

ah...the stories I could tell from the ER

 

Hooking Best Friends

ugh

these close up shots show how 

my loops aren't perfection..more prim

a little progress

after some reverse hooking

the petals go all around the sunflower

I tend to draw them as I go

my girl in her house

she feels protected from Melrose in there

with two escape routes

I am in her direct line of vision while I hook

two rooms away

full belly nap time

he's on the couch in front of me

after demanding some brushing

if only he'd really conk out so I could get to that belly!

Happy Saturday

I'm off to work soon

 

Hooking Away

rug progress

approx 42 x 25

beyond time to choose something for the center

lightened up the second photo
closer to true colors

  

angel arrangement 

in memory of Mom from the staff at her facility

my sister has it

since the cats love fresh plants

some of my very old hooked pieces...

 as always

he wants to know why I'm not brushing/petting him

it's supposed to storm here later

so I better go tackle some weeds...