A Ducky Pouch

For over a year I've  been saying I want to make this pouch. 

It belongs to a rug hooker friend. Lauren even gave me two canvas pouches. Last summer I walnut stained the pouches. And there it sat. Somewhere hidden in that sewing room, along with all that other "cool stuff". 

This past Sunday was Hook &Thread. And once more I forgot to take pictures. The pouch was there, Lauren ribbed me about not making it yet. 

So I went home and got busy. This is my version. In hindsight I could have made the duck larger. But it's done except for adding a bit of orange to her beak. It even has a zipper pull. It was my birthday and Lauren gifted me a zipper pull that says Sue. I love it.

Lauren also gifted me some gand dyed wool in my favorite shade of dusty tealy blue. She's so good to me. 

It was such a lovely day. Thank you to all.

Sue.

Messy Marvin

 My son looked into my sewing room and asked, what happened? Said it's looks like JoAnn's exploded. Just a short couple of weeks ago I had it all cleaned up, vacuumed the carpet and everything. Now? It really does look like an explosion. 

I'm guilty of getting home from either quilting or hooking and just dumping everything onto the table. Or when I'm cleaning the rest of the house if anything crafty belongs in there I place it on the table or ironing board. I frequently tell myself that I should go in there and clean. And I start to clean. But then I find myself getting immersed in my crafts. 

Mac, my 8 year old grandson, has been asking to sew. I have to tell him it's just too messy in there right now. This next week will be a great opportunity to clean. It's supposed to get really cold again. The weatherman has even mentioned the s... word.

I just have too much stuff. Stuff for rug hooking. Stuff for making quilts. Stuff for needle punch. Stuff for cross stitching and embroidery. Just to name a few. My newest interests are needle punch and texture art. Like I needed more crafting adventures. But both do sound fun. 

There's no picture today because it's just too much of a mess. 

Sue

The Hummingbirds are Back

My first hummingbird of the season arrived today.  I don't get many of them, maybe four each season. And I sure like watching them. 

Mostly Quilts

  I went to Connie's hook-in last Saturday, then to Hook &Thread on Sunday. I forgot to take pictures either day. Shucks!

I'm slowly working on my version of an antique reproduction that is known as Kinderhook. I've reworked some areas a couple of times. It's more difficult to get it done when I don't have a definite color plan. 

At the hook-in I got the two doodads at the bottom hooked. At H&T I was busy sewing binding on a quilt. I had two quilts that were completely finished and ready to donate and three more that needed the binding put on.

This was a three yard challenge quilt sponsored by the Black Fork Quilting Group. This is a fun group of ladies. We get together once a month. Isn't the backing fun. I mostly use cotton sheets for the back. And I thought this one was adorable. 

A simple way to use up some scraps. This pattern is called "June". I've used this pattern several times. The quilt always turns out great. Again the backing was a flowered sheet 

This is a Bonnie Hunter quilt pattern called Scrappy Trip Around the World. It uses scraps that are 2 1/2" wide. And again the backing is a sheet, a lovely blue floral. Some of the pictures are sun dappled. Yes, the sun. 

I have no idea the name of this pattern. I do know that I don't like it. I love the gray print paisley. And I got my colors from that print. But it's too chaotic looking for my likes. I hope someone likes it. All of these quilts will be donated to Snuggled in Hope. 

And this last one is another scrappy, use up what I have, get rid of pieces and parts. I had several leftover string blocks from another project and lots of leftover half square triangles. I still have some left. No sheet this time, but used up several yards of a green print. 

That's it for my crafting. I had an MRI of my back this week, now I'm waiting to hear what the DR says. 

Sue.

Gathered Treasures

 Let the sale begin. Lauren and I are set up for the Gathered Treasures primitive and antique sale here in Mansfield Ohio. We set up today and the show begins at 10am tomorrow. Lauren said she didn't have much stuff left. I hope you're laughing at that one. I didn't bring enough, so I went home and got even more. We were being frugal and so went with the smaller booth. And crammed everything in. So far I've made $20. 

Hopefully lots more sales will follow.

If you're in the area come see us at the Richland County Fairgrounds 

Sue

My Poor Tulips

 My poor tulips, or should I say my no tulips?

Something has eaten every one of my tulips in the front garden. I have probably planted 50+ bulbs, and usually I have big beautiful blossoms. Not this year.

And it appears the lilies got a bit of frost burn. So kinda ugly right now. 

So I'm out working on the flower garden and I went to put tools away in this little shelf. See the pretty birdhouses?

I leaned in towards the drawer, and a bird flew out of the birdhouse, right over my head, and scared the bgeezies out of me. I think it was a bluebird. Because after I came into the house they were out there just a squawking and hollering. If it is the bluebirds I hope they decide to stay. I love watching them. 

Earlier this week I went to a Mennonite run flower auction. Oh my the bidding was fast. Mostly I was lost, but I did get a flat of pansies. And since they can tolerate a little cold, I planted some of them already. 

I picked these beauties up at the farm store for half price. In the last few years I've grown very fond of calla lilies. I have to dig up the bulbs each fall, but so worth it. 

On my latest AWL ( adventures with Lauren) I saw these hypertufa houses. I'm going to try to make one or two of them this summer. I would also like to make a bee skep.

Cute. Right?

Spring Fling

 Oh what a good time. We left early on Thursday  morning, stopped at several antique shops on the way there and arrived at our airbnb house. We had trouble with the plumbing. We'll have a good laugh about this someday.

This was a different, larger place this year. There was plenty of room. And lots of pretties for sale. 

I did purchase a couple pieces of wool and eight hanks of wool thread. I plan to learn to needle punch and or cross stitch using the wool thread.

These are the pieces from the women in our small hooking group. This is Valerie's piece. She sewed some faux fur onto his hat.

This is Linda's piece. She started this in a class with Kris Miller. I love the colors.

This is Lauren's. She's making a heart to mount onto a piece of barn wood for an upcoming sale. 

And this is mine.

Lots of tables, lots of women. Most were hooking

 Some were punching or doing embroidery. 

This is Jo's. Barb and Jo took a mini class from Jenny Smallridge to learn that scrappy hooking technique. They both said they had a good time.

And lastly is Barb. I'm so glad she could attend. At the last minute Michelle could not attend, so Barb took her place. I hope next time they all come. 

The shot I got into my hip has helped, a lot. I was nearly pain free until I picked up and stacked wood. I know there's no rush on clean up. But I do not like looking out the window and seeing the mess. The mess from the second downed tree doesn't bother me at all ( because I can't see it ). 

There's always more to do. I'm also trying to get stuff ready for the sale. This time around I'm not making anything. I'm just trying to get rid of stuff. I consolidated two houses to just this one and I have too much stuff. I hope the sale goes well.

Sue

New Rug for the Spring Fling

 On Thursday I leave for spring fling hooking event in southern Ohio. I usually do not attend a hook-in as I find it a lot of work for a few hours of hooking. But this time I am excited to attend. We'll leave Thursday morning and eat and shop on the way there. The event is Friday and Saturday. 

I'll be starting a new rug. It is my interpretation of an antique rug called Kinderhook. 

And just when I've made up my mind, pulled the wool to take. Well....

I see this.

 

It was on the Woodland Junction blog a couple of days ago.  And I love it. I mean I LOVE it. I can see this on my frame soon. 

I went to the orthopedic doctor. It's either hip bursitis or a spine issue. I let her give me a kenalog shot into my hip. If I don't get better I am to follow up with the neurosurgeon. I sure hope it gets better. I do not want another back surgery. 

Fun coming right up. Sue

Is it Spring or Winter??

 Ohio just cannot make up its mind. One day it's gorgeous, clear blue skies and 70. The next it's 32, snowing, thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds. 

Sunday at 430

This is my son's house. Next, Sunday at 930.

I had marble sized hail at my house too. I just didn't venture out to take pictures.

Spring is trying her best to be here. Just look.

 Daffodils from the garden and a bluebird at the feeder. 

Yep, springtime is on her way. We just have a few more bumps to get over. 

Sue