Pumpkins and A Saltbox Doodle for You

Here is how yarn looks when used with an oxford punch needle. A simple pumpkin done on monk's cloth. With the yarn it works up even faster because your not having to load your needle as often.



I did use wool strips just for the lines in the pumpkin to give it a little bit of variation.




Here is the pattern for the Saltbox house I made in the previous post. Feel free to use it however you choose but please give me credit as the designer.




So far we are still sunny but there is a crisp cool wind blowing. Went into town to pick up a few groceries and you can certainly tell that many folks are preparing for what they are predicting to be a significant ice storm and then snow with huge drifts. I'll be content to set at home and watch it from our farmhouse.

If your in the path of this storm please be careful out there!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Saltbox House

Well the cold winds have returned and more dropping temps are on the way....good by 70's hello teens. Might as well keep the hands nice and warm with working on more punched pieces. This lil' saltbox house is my latest finish and of course I still need to bind it. It was all made with wool strips. I have another one started with the yarn below. I'll share it in a day or two.



I found the yarn at a little shop in Norman, Oklahoma. I was asked what brand it is. It's called Cascade yarn and it's 100% Peruvian Highland wool. It's a nice hand~dyed wool that works up beautifully. I have been doubling it and putting it through my oxford punch needle. It cost about $6.00 for 220 yards.

Looks like we will be snowed in for a few days and we have been preparing by giving the cows and goats some extra food. Checking on generators and of course we got to keep the soup on a cooking!

Wishing each of you a safe and warm week.

Happy Trails....Ginger

Preparations for A Winter Blast!

Amazingly today we had temperatures of 75 degrees....I enjoyed rolling down the car windows and letting the breeze come right on in. It's not without it's consequences though we have had way too many fires. I am really hoping that the winter blast that they are expecting for Monday and Tuesday does bring some much need precipitation...just not in ice form!

Well to prepare for the winter blast I picked up some beautiful wool yarns so my oxford punch needle doesn't get cold! I also got enough fixins for some homemade chicken noodle soup and if the power goes out why we will just have some sandwiches.

I've been counting down the days to the Rock Creek Hook~In held in Lenexa, Kansas. It's always the last Saturday in February and this year we plan on leaving to make our way up a few days early to check out lots of shops and stop by our very dear friend Betty's. It's going to be so much fun I can hardly wait!

I need to clear off the old work desk it's piled up with wool, fabric, and patterns so I can get started on something new!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

I'd Rather Be Punching!

I finished up a couple of little oxford punch mats now on to the whipping phase. I'm already thinking of another little mat to make and I know I NEED to finish these before starting another.

We had a beautiful day today that reached up to 73 degrees....crazy weather for January but I'm not complaining...no sireee! If the weatherman is right come Tuesday we are in for what they are calling ice, snow, and sleet. Looks like I'll have plenty of time to get these lil' mats done and maybe a few more.

Well I can't stand it any longer...got to at least draw off the next piece I want to do. Wishing each of you a wonderful weekend.

Happy Trails....Ginger

Hook ~ Punch and a Warm Day!

I've been hooking on the LJ Fibers rug and just about have it all hooked. I hope to finish it up this evening and get it steamed....then on to the binding. It's been so relaxing working on this one.




Well if you know me I never have one project going....so I drew up a simple little flower and decided to do another oxford punch. I got this much done in 1 hour....so if you own an oxford punch needle and have not tried it yet....give it a try. This one I have been doing with wool strips in a #6 size.



Here's the free pattern if you would like to make it. Feel free to use it however you choose.



Today the temperatures soared into the mid 60's and tomorrow looks to be about 70. Sloan and I made it to a nearby lake and he enjoyed playing at the park and feeding the geese and ducks.



The weathermen are forecasting freezing temperatures with snow, sleet, and ice for Monday and Tuesday....so guess we better enjoy the next couple of days. We do need some moisture since we are in a high fire alert. It's been one dry winter unlike so many of you that have had way too much snow!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Partners And A Fair Deal

Howdy.....The lawman and me had a busy day. We played lots, did just a little laundry, cooked a couple of meals, brownies, and cookies, did the dishes. Watched a little Scooby Doo and then we got busy.




Danny and I hit a few thrift stores on Saturday and found some treasures. We found a wood table and 4 chairs for $30 and then another dining room table for only $15. I plan to give them a make~over once it warms up. For now I worked on a few of the smaller items with my lil' buckaroo!



Once I got started painting it was hard to stop so we started on making a few signs.



He does pretty good at helping me prim up some wood signs. He insisted on payment of 2 popsicles. I think that's a fair deal!





Happy Trails....Ginger

My Super Hero & Fun Times With Friends!

My little super hero loves dressing up in costumes. Today he played all day long as a super hero and had to go home in a costume. He has quite the imagination and today I had lots of protection with flame throwers. So look out bad guys cause my "Super Hero" is here to save the day!



Yesterday I met Pati and Sandra at the place where we have a little booth set up at a local antique shop. We have had so much fun collecting and making things to add to the booth. It gives us an excuse to get together more often and have lunch together as well.
















Sandra did a little shopping while we finished up with rearranging a few things.

We finally got a dusting of snow but not near enough to build a snowman out here where I live. I'm still holding out hope before winter is over that I'll get a chance to at least throw a snowball or two!

Hope your staying safe and warm in your neck of the woods!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Crocheting a Rag Rug

Well it seems like I have been blowing and a going for the last week. Friday I had a wonderful time going to the quilt show in Oklahoma City and of course I couldn't resist a few new patterns. Even bought Danny an iron. He said to buy him something so he likes tools so why not an iron!

I've been busy making rag balls out of scrap fabric and then got out the crochet hook and decided to try my hand at making a crocheted rug. It's a fast project that will help to use up some of the fabrics I have on hand and turn them into something someone can use.



Saturday Pati and I went junkin' and to an antique shop. I had a truck full of goodies by the end of the day. I never knew there was so many neat places to go in Oklahoma City....and you can bet I'll be back!

Pati didn't buy the quilt she is looking at but we did find some great Ladies Home Journals from the 1800's along with a basketfull of other treasures.




I didn't buy this monkey but I do have someone in mind that I think it would make a GREAT Christmas present for! Just kidding it is a bit scary but I do believe we had one of these growing up.



Happy Trails...Ginger

Sometimes You Have to Stop and Clear The Clutter!

Slowly I've been hooking on this big House Blessings rug by LJ Fibers. It has been nice to just sit and hook with all the strips already pre~cut. Laurie did a wonderful job with this pattern, color selection of the wools, and I must say I'm very pleased at how well cut the strips are. Just overall a happy rug project!!! I'm going to change up the heart with the 2010...just not sure what I'm going to do just yet.




Well it was a busy weekend as usual but I tackled a huge project and emptied out most of my craft room into the living room. Thank goodness no one came knocking at the door and witnessed the mess. Well my desk is now back to a work station and the wool is all put up once again. I still have the SCARY closet to take care of. I think I need to really use the motto....MAKE DO AND USE IT UP!

It's been cold here and we had a light dusting of snow...oh if only we would get enough to build a snowman!

Happy Trails....Ginger

White Crochet Doily No MoreWhat would Grandma Say?

I'm not a fan of white crocheted doilies but I do think they look a lot better once they have been aged a little bit. With a little bit of tea in a skillet and just a touch of peppermint to make the house smell good these once white doilies are now a nice aged tea stain. I had two grandmother's that crocheted not sure what they would think of me dipping doilies into tea!

If your wondering about the sweet little needle book my dear friend Betty stitched up this one and isn't it just lovely. What tiny stitches!



I had several doilies that I had purchased in antique shops and thrift stores so I just stained up some more while I was at it. The lovely cross stitched pillow was done by Kelley. Just love this lil' pillow!

There were several questions about the oxford punch and I put the post about how I go about doing it on the left side of the screen. Just click on the picture and it should take you there or you can just click HERE. I do use wool yarn and wool strips and for the most part a #10 regular oxford punch needle. Hope this helps.

Well I'm off to find that needle it's time to be whipping a mat while someone is sleeping!

Happy Trails....Ginger

*Oxford Punch Needle*

I sure have enjoyed punching with my oxford punch needle the last few days. This little rug has wool and wool yarn.

They are predicting snow for Oklahoma by next week and yes I can hardly wait! We need a snowman around here!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Some of The Best!

Some of the Best moments come when a lil' boy looks out the door waiting on his Daddy to come get him after work and says look at that beautiful sky. Simple little moments in life....makes you think to just stop and enjoy the moment.



Don't you love his "safety" goggles aka swim goggles! He thinks he needs a real drill! This boy does love tools!




While he slept this afternoon I made another little mat. I've been very surprised how well our lil' booth has done so it's motivated me to keep hooking, punching, and stitching!

Just a thought~ You know your a grandma when your playing Peter Pan and Captain Hook and you need help getting up from under the table!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

~A Basket Full Of Noodles~

Wooley noodles that is. Lots of #6 cut wool noodles in so many wonderful colors. Perfect to punch with an oxford punch needle.



Just a simple design and it was so quick to do. Sometimes it's good to do something that is simple and quick. Our little booth at the antique shop needs some tending to this week and I've been trying to finish up a few pieces to help fill in here and there.

Something to think about....

Kind Words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
~Mother Teresa

Well it's back to binding :)

Happy Trails....Ginger

Scraps Of Life

My first finishes of 2011 and does it feel good. Slowly the big basket of leftover worms are disappearing into projects. Scrappy pieces made into little mats don't take too long and add a little touch of prim here and there.







Yesterday we had our families over for lunch. We played games and then hooked up the Wii game Danny got me for Christmas. Now that was a surprise I never expected to get one. Had never even looked at them but I must say I have already had fun trying the "Let's Dance" and believe me I can't but it's a fun workout. Two of my nieces were in competetion seeing who had the best moves.


Sloan came over to spend the first night of 2011 with us. He has decided that I need to share all my prim goodies along with family photo's and parked himself right under a table gathering up my things. See the lil' needle punch piece to the left it is made using very muted colors of brown and it is of two kitties it was punched by Betty and I'm forever having to tell him it's mine but he keeps claiming it's his! Guess for now I have to share :)

Well the scraps of my life for 2011 have already begun. So let the adventure begin and let's see what kind of treasured memories will be made.

Happy Trails...Ginger