Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Summer Fun

 
Busy days of punching and hooking samples and of course that means  putting the binding on all these little mats :)

 
Some days I sit outside and watch Sloan ride the scooter and catch grasshoppers while I whip around the edges.  Then in the late evenings while watching British comedy (my mom got me hooked on them) I bind or sometimes punch more.

 
I punched this little basket of flowers for a paper mache box but can't seem to locate the box so I made a wool needle case out of it instead.
 


My friend Dee told me about these neat little magnetic heart shaped closures.  Easy and simple to add and they close so nicely.
 
 
I took the grands to the zoo today.  It was HOT but we did have fun seeing some of the critters.  Sloan wanted to stop and have our pictures made in the fun booth so we did just that!
 
 



We had a great time last night celebrating Dad's 72nd birthday at a new Mexican food restaurant nearby.  He had another round of chemo this week and is to the halfway mark. 
 
Well the days have been filled with packing up everything I can think of for our 6 week stay in Branson.  Hooks, frames, wool, yarn, finished goods, patterns, displays, and so much more.  We will be dressing the part of pioneer gals from the 1800's so prairie dresses and skirts with granny boots :)
 
Sloan took this photo and has taken to calling me an old granny!
 
 
Hope you are enjoying your summer and taking time to have a little summer fun!
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Poppity Pop Pop Pop

 
Just about every day I do some sort of crafting.....It is my therapy and brings me lots of pleasure making something with my hands.  I finished these needle punches into little memo book covers.  Some have wool yarn around the edge and some have a heavy jute sewn around the edge. 

Needle punch pins overflowing finished with wool on the back and a pin sewn securely on.  Snowmen, Gingerbread men, Pumpkins, Birds, Christmas Trees, and more!
 

 
I wanted to try dyeing some wool yarn purple and came up with this color.  A quick oxford punch for Halloween!
 
It has been such a different July with several different days of rain and more on the way this week.  We are certainly counting our blessing!
 
We have a little surprise to share soon :)
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Snippets!

 
This rug has been needing finished for a long time.  I finally set down and finished up the background and added the border.  Pulled the last loop and now to get it bound.  If you are interested this is a pattern by Pine Island Primitives.   Think I will place it in front of the fireplace where the grandkiddo's like to set and look at books :)
 

 
Started this scrappy little rug on Saturday and finished pulling the last loop on Saturday evening.
 

 
With the same pile of wooly worms and a bit of scrap monks cloth made a small little scrappy mat.  With hooking all these pieces I have lots of wooly snippets for stuffing :)
Now to get everything bound!
 

 
A week or so ago I spent the day dyeing about 200 skeins of wool yarn.  With the Oklahoma winds and the sunshine it doesn't take long to dry.  Pati and I are building a website that will offer wool yarns, patterns, and finished goods later this fall.
Our 6 weeks of demonstrating at Silver Dollar City is coming up soon and we have a few things left to finish up!
 

 
We had our little rug hooking group here on Saturday and Sandra and Pati were both able to come.
 


There was 10 of us in all.  We enjoyed our time spent together and it will be October before we will all be able to meet again. 
 
Mom even got to come over and stitch.  Dad is doing pretty good with the chemo and radiation.  He continues to cut and bale hay but does rest when he needs too.  We are so thankful that he is getting through this.  The daily driving to radiation does get tiring for Mom and Dad but hopefully in a few weeks that will be done.
 
We have one more family gathering planned before school starts!  We have a few July birthdays to celebrate and we do enjoy getting together :)
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger


Friday, July 12, 2013

Embrace Every Day!

 
We are taking each summer day and enjoying them as much as we can.  Time slips away so very fast.
Sloan gave all of these rocks their own personality.  The green ones glow in the dark. 
I have been trying to read to him as much as I can this summer so we joined the Library dig into reading program.  He starts kindergarten the middle of August and he said he is looking most forward to the ice cream that will be available!
 

 
We hop into the truck and meet up with Aunt Jenn and Eva Mae at one of the local parks.  The riding toys are hot so we cool it down with a big beach towel.
 

On to the splash pad where we all enjoy the cool spray of the water!
 

 
Back at the house Sloan tells me he wants to earn some quarters and he  asked  if I have some chores he can do.  There is always something needing done and so he shines up the glass doors.
 

 
He told me that he needs six more quarters and so a sink full of dishes gets done!
 

Miss Eva Mae comes to visit and they both have a great time playing together.  She calls him bubba and he tells everyone that she is his lil' sister!  Cousins that are as close as brother and sister :) 
 
 

 
Pati Jane and I have been working for months on kits and finished goods for the time we will be at Silver Dollar City.  We set up a mock display with a few things we will have in our booth.
 

We have boxes filled with lots of kits, patterns, yarn, hooks, punches, and so much more!


 
We will be at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo from August 23- September 30th.  If you are in the area we would love you to stop by.  We will be demonstrating rug hooking, oxford punch, and punch needle.  Silver Dollar City is an amusement park set back in the 1800's that is a family friendly park with activities for young and old. 
 
 
I hope each of you are taking each day and embracing it and making memories along the way.  Memories can last a lifetime and time slips away so fast!  Take time to enjoy the simpler side of life :)
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger

 

Monday, July 1, 2013

Bright & Cheery!


 
Some days you just need a little something to brighten up your day.  I've made my own bit of bright and cheery in the dye pots.  The dye pots have been going since early morning and I have been hanging out wool yarn all day long.

 
The day is almost over and it is just about time to start gathering in the yarn that has dried so far!

 
Just finishing up dyeing lots of greens....they will have to wait until in the morning to take a turn outside in the sunshine.

 
The grasshoppers are plentiful this year and the flowers are getting eaten up.

 
 
Sure wish they would leave my splashes of color alone.  I didn't plant much this year but I do enjoy a little bright spot here and there.
 
 
The cows are grazing late into the evening.  We are enjoying some cooler temps and it makes me want to be outside as much as I can.  Sloan spent the day chasing grasshoppers and putting them in his bug barn.  He turns them loose and gathers more.

 
Tomorrow I will be making lots of yarn cakes....in lots of yummy bright colors!
 

 
The cameo punch needle gets used a lot late in the evening.
 

 
I also started a bright and cheery crochet project.  As usual I have lots of projects going at once.  The washing machine seems to always be humming, cookies are being baked for all the guys, and someone is always calling my name :)
 
Dad is really struggling trying to eat.  I will be so glad when all these treatments are over for him.  I will say this Cancer is not for sissies!
 
Thank you so much for all the prayers for him and my mom....they are all much appreciated!
 
Hope you each have a bright and cheery week :)
 
Happy Trails.....Ginger