*~Old Cowboys~*

 

 

We are off to a good start this week....last week was full of stress and a lot of prayer!  My dad had quite a week and ended up having to stay in the hospital all week.  Let me just tell you an overload of calcium is nothing to mess with.  Thank goodness he is one tough old cowboy!

 

Would you believe he got out Sunday and today was building fence!  Can't keep a good cowboy down.  Mom is one tough gal, too I don't think she slept a solid hour the whole time he was in....I'm hoping by now she has caught up on some rest.

 

Well the wool dust has been flying....I have missed pulling loops and I'm on my second chair pad.  Once I start hooking seems I can't seem to stop.  Wish the binding bug was as strong :)

 

 

 

 

While I was sitting with mom and dad last week I did manage to make a little penny rug.  It's a great take along project that you can put down and pick right back up to work on.

 

Pati and I will be taking a little road trip to see Betty "PrimitiveBetty"  her grand opening of her little shop is this coming Saturday and I can hardly wait to see what goodies she has filled it up with. 

 

Well off to pull a few more loops!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger 

Penny Rug Class and Snowman Pillow Giveaway Winner!

 

It was a cold day today but we had a wonderful mini workshop on penny rugs thanks to Carol Weatherman and Dee Bartrug!

 

They make the most wonderful Early Style Penny rugs....they had kits cut ready to stitch and we had the nicest time blanket stitching pennies together and putting them on to a wool background!

 

 

 

These are just a few of the penny rugs they have made!  You can visit there shop "The Sampling"  to see lots of wonderful hand~dids and hooked rug patterns.

 

 

This is the penny rug I completed in the class.

 

Now to announce the winner of the Snowman pillow giveaway with a few little extras.....

 

The winner of the Snowman pillow giveaway is Jessica of Country Whispers!

 

Well as the afternoon came to an end the temperatures have dropped and rain has begun to fall and has turned to freezing rain!  So I'm going to cut more pennies and get to stitching.

 

Happy Trails.....Ginger

 

 

Putting a Pattern on for Rug Hooking and Punching

 

We have little workshops out at the house occasionally and with lots of new beginners I thought I would do a very simple tutorial on how to draw a straight of grain on to monks cloth you can also do this on linen or rug warp.

If you are going to do rug hooking then it won't matter the size of your frame or hoop but in oxford punch if using a frame with a gripper strip it is better to draw the pattern to fit inside the frame.

 

Here is what you will need to get started.  For the example I am drawing an 8 inch square.  You will need a sharp pencil, a ruler, serge or zig zag some monks cloth or linen (to prevent it from  raveling) and I use a Sharpie Rub a Dub marker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like to give myself plenty of room around the outside edge for binding so I leave a good 2 inches all around.

 

 

Take a good sharp pencil and place it at the top where one of your sides will be and slowly begin dragging your pencil down it will fall in the holes.

 

 

 

 

 

I pull the top just a bit to keep it good and taut as I'm dragging the pencil.

(sorry it's hard to get a pic and draw with one hand and hold it tight with the other)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you get it all drawn on you will have a pencil outline. 

 

 

 

 

Next I grab my Rub a Dub Sharpie.

 

 

 

 

I pull the marker down right over where the pencil had been go slow...believe me it is easier after you do the pencil than just beginning with the marker.  (My son came by so had him take a pic for me)

 

 

 

There you go a simple square ready for a design.  I'll show you another simple way to add a pattern in another post.

 

I know a lot of you are very experienced hookers and punchers but for those beginning I hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

Oh and don't forget to sign up for the pillow giveaway in the previous post I'll announce a winner this Friday.  I had made two of them and guess who snatched up one to take home....I just can't resist those little hugs and smooches!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

 

 

A Joyful Giveaway!

 

 

 

Time to have a little giveaway! 

I made a simple little snowman pillow and if you would like a chance at it and a few other goodies I have gathered up just leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name on Friday!

 

 

 

I added a little snowman face to the back!

 

 

Now if you don't have a blog be sure and leave an email address so I can let you know if your picked as the winner!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

Running With Scissors Week 1

 

Are you one of those that feel like your overwhelmed with your baskets that are full of unfinished projects or are you one of those disciplined gals that start a project and finish it before starting another?

I'm a running with scissors kind of gal.....I run from one project to another.  I want to do it all and do it all now!

 It's time to start getting some of the mounds and I do mean mounds of half finished projects done!  So by hook or by crook I'll be working on some every week!  I'm sure I have plenty to last the whole year long and yes even  into the next few years :)

 

 

These little hooked  houses can now be used as mug rugs!

 

 

 

A little bluebird pinkeep ready to hold pins and needles.

 

 

I think this needle punch piece and the the one below have been in the basket for at least a year.  Finally finished :)

 

 

 

Then I finished a little penny rug of sorts!  I have a lot to learn when it comes to penny rugs.  I'm hoping to take care of that in the very near future :)

 

 

So each week I'll be running with my scissors (just kidding) getting some of these projects out of the basket and into the FINISHED  PILE! 

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

As Another Year Begins....

I have had a needle and thread in my hand the past few days.  Finishing many projects that have been in the pile for so long.  Hooked rugs are being bound and pennies are making their way onto some linen.  The needle and thread has a way of letting you think over the days that have already passed and the days yet to come.

 

Little notes are being scribbled in a notebook beside me...bits and pieces of little notes to myself.  Things I want to accomplish, things I NEED to do, quickly scrawled drawings  to remind me of a quick thought.....

 

I've come to the realization that I work in phases and that is how I manage to get things done.  At times I can multi~task and at times I can't do anything but make a mess!

 

So as this New Year begins my hands and mind are going almost non~stop :) 

 

 



 

And just a thought..... Everyday has it's Blessings!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger