More Stitching and 2 Cats

 Obsession isn't a strong enough word

Crows in Loops and Stitches

finally a rug off the frame

I started this one in late June I think

darn cross stitch got in the way

26 x 12

pattern available on Dorr linen

$50 shipped

 

a few mistakes 

led to fudging and I love it!

I stitch 1 over 2 on 32 count

makes for an older look I think

design by Homespun Elegance

October Crow House

*****

Hope everyone is having a good week.

It went from hot

to unseasonably cool here. I'm fine with that. 

This morning I picked up a carload of containers

from my friend Bea's house

it's almost empty

her son was there to pack the car

He's in his mid 70s

He'd rather be golfing 

Bea's house is almost empty

soon to be for sale

Right now, she is in the hospital

went in yesterday with weakness and heart issues

she's 98 

 ready to join her husband

emptying her house of treasures

has really broken her heart

I'll pop in and see her tomorrow

Can't Stop Stitching

stitching finished on Walk the Old Paths

by The Pinkeep

a few changes to the name row

I added my Grandmother's first name

year of birth and an extra bird

 CROW

by Folk Art Sampler

from 2006

I stitched many of these for sale and gifts in the long ago

came across the chart going through the last

container from the wool room

there were also half a dozen Stacy Nash booklets and charts

another from the 

Old Cats and Friends

by Pineberry Lane

just fun!!!

*****

I have two recommendations for flosstube

after watching many videos from different stitchers

they aren't going to make you crazy to go buy things

I have learned much from both and enjoy their personalities

far and above is Kitten Stitcher

Theresa is a designer and has an online shop

start with her first flosstube and keep on going

her love of cats certainly helps too

Mountain Crafts Studio is presented

by Christine, she is a master of many things

her collection of antiques is a joy to see

A nice break from murder mysteries and CSI

Hope you're having a good week.

I got my car back from the shop today

so very glad I have a 0% credit card

Little Crow

 Yesterday I pulled out a smallish piece of linen

stitched some cotton to the length and put it on the frame...

what to hook?

I cut for the background

everything else from the worm baskets

The previous rug did cut down the size of my worm stash

but in between I have hooked many rugs

adding plenty more strips

have also set aside some I think I'll never use

mostly purple

Today I started another similar to this on the same piece of linen

after that, there is a cat in the works

Thank you all for returning to my blog

after the long gap

Hook A Long

the antique inspiration

the basic background

feel free to use the design vertically too...or make it round...

it's all up to you 

no rules

no deadlines

just some basic ideas to get you started...

enlarge, reduce...whatever

put a cat in the middle or the corners

add a hat, scarf, candy cane

use that imagination! 

I'm the first to admit

I can't draw birds

(or dogs, deer or so many other things...)

so feel free to find some free crow clip art

like this

please have fun and share on FB when you're done

You make it winter by the colors you choose...

you can hook, punch, applique

you can use the ideas for personal or profit

please as always

give credit

and no selling of designs in any way

other than finished items...

Antique Crows

oh the possibilities...

*****

my every day motto

Crows It Is

I did start another rug a few days ago

patriotic border

no plans for the rest of it...

now I need something for the middle

this Magdalena rug caught my eye

crows it is

*****

vacation day one

recovery from working the past four nights

Sat and Sun only 2 of us

so we run all over the hospital at times

you know the STATS are ordered at the same time

on opposite ends of the hospital

while you are doing an URGENT

keep and call patient

my feet and legs need some rest

I've been keeping up with my strengthening exercise

my elliptical riding helps a lot too 

I need new orthotics for my super flat feet

should have made a Dr appointment for this week

***

so I will rest and prep today

by prep I mean grocery shop, clean and cook

so the rest of the week I'm free to dye,

sort through my quilt fabrics

and otherwise enjoy myself

 

Crows

 

 

planning a new pumpkin rug

with crows...

right now I'm back to the geometric

lost interest in the little cat and pumpkin rug

plenty of pressing on my plate

the big stack of chair pads all have whipped edges

now to press and stitch on wool backing

Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!

Srappy Tips

Saundra

asked me about my hit-n-miss hooking

I should really just refer to it as scrappy

I choose my colors palette...

this project included all the colors except the light neutrals

mostly medium to light shades

no high contrast strips

I have a ton of worms after cutting so many last year 

for Mom and Ann to sort for me

 normally there would never be a mountain of worms

they have been sorted by color

then into light, medium and dark bundles
placed in a large basket by color

I pull a bunch of worms 
 put them on the rug in progress

my huge Talon frame has given me lots of room

to the left in this photo is a small basket overflowing with worms

I work from these worms

pulling from the large baskets as needed

I NEVER pull a random strip and hook

the traditional way to hit-n-miss

I have to like the feel of the rug I'm hooking
I've tried the traditional way and it doesn't work for me

I hate to waste linen

normally I draw my pattern leaving a 2-3 inch background

stitch on some scrap fabric so I can move it on the frame

usually I hook beyond the marked outside edge too

adding scrap fabric to your background 
lets you hook on small pieces of linen

if you purchase a pattern 

with a generous background

stitch some fabric to the edge before hooking

then use the excess linen for coasters or ornaments
before you take it off the frame

*while this one is off the frame

I'm going to do a few more small pumpkin mats

some of my rugs from years ago

the American Alphabet Crow was such fun to hook

if I remember correctly I did the border first

without any idea of what would go in the middle
obviously my design

bottom left is a Lori Brechlin pattern 

Old Glory my own drawing

it feels good to be back hooking

thanks to all who have welcomed me back

Happy September

another work in progress takes a turn on the wall

there are six of these little churn dash blocks

~ ~ ~

FYI: nothing I've been posting this week is newly stitched

all the patchwork was done over the summer

as I clean up the sewing room I put different

patches on the wall to "admire"

the only time I felt well enough to do anything

this week was late on Thurs

when I cleaned and organized a bit...

I was glad to get back to work last night

glad we were slow though!

Pumpkin Patch Bench

by Pumpkin Thyme Patterns

oooh...saw this on Pinterest a while ago

need to find someone to make me one!

Giveaway!!!

I've gathered up a box of wooly worms 

that need a new home with a happy hooker...

Leave a comment on this post

with a caption for the above photo

for your chance to win...

one per person

by 6 pm EST on Labor Day

lower 48 US residents only please

the box is packed and ready to ship

as I'm heading for the post office Tuesday with some 

other packages

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Olivia is acting normal

no sign of the floss yet...

guess it was the mint flavor she couldn't resist

Caw Caw Caw

(image of item on etsy by crowfoot studio)

 thanks for your help in the bee skep rug

 I'll be doing some reverse hooking

and adding a crow

if you suggested a crow

your name is in the running...

actually...

I already know who won

and I'm not telling!!!

*****

Still having computer/camera issues...

very busy with family ...work...

hoping for a day of rest soon

to catch up on orders, emails and cat stories...

Random Inpsirations

all the photos where found in Pinterest...

for one reason or another they inspire me

if I had a red barn

this would definitely be on the side

love this

for all my floss and pearl cotton

the colors....

perfect

simple cat...perfect

I've been busy helping the folks...

Mom's been feeling sick for about a month

long trip to ER yesterday

specialist appointment next week

Blood work and imaging tests show all is well...

but she sure doesn't feel that way