*~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

*~* Happy New Year *~*

 

As I say goodbye to 2012 I can say it was a very blessed year!  I hope your's was too!

 

One of our greatest blessings was a new addition to the family.

 

My greatest blessings call me "MOMO"

 

Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

 

Hearts and All I Want For Christmas!

Today Miss Eva Mae came for a visit.  We played and I finished up these little Valentine Bowl Fillers. 

 

Wouldn't you know it on Christmas day this little one got her bottom two front teeth in!   She is officially 8 months old and well on her way to crawling.  Before you know it I'll be chasing the little one around the house.

 

 

They are forecasting a little more snow flurries tonight.....hooray!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

Bloomers in the Midst of Winter

With everything so brown it's nice to have some colorful flowers in the midst of Winter.  With a little wool thread and a punch needle this little bouquet was soon made and will remind me of Spring!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

Snow and Sleet For Christmas

 

Hoping each of you enjoyed Christmas with family and friends.

We will be having our family Christmas here on Saturday.  Our Christmas brought mostly sleet and a bit of snow. 

 

 

The ducks flew away as I was walking around the pond.

 

 

Just enough snow to make a bit of mud.  The pond is down so much from the lack of rains.

 

 

With the sunshine today the snow is quickly melting.

 

It's been a good day for a  quick walk and a bit of crafting!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

The Stars Are Brightly Shining!

 

Wishing each of you the merriest of Christmas'.....Looks like a white Christmas for us this year!

 

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!

 

Merry Christmas to all and remember with all the festivities  take time to be thankful for the most precious gift of all.

 

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

 

 

Happy Trails to You.....Ginger

 

 

~*~Little Finishes ~*~

 

Small finishes of snowbuddies and

little Ginger's finished this weekend.

 

Hugs and smiles from the grandkids filled my heart! 

 

Simple pleasures are truly often taken for granted.  Hug those closest to you and tell them you Love them.  Forgive those that have hurt you and say your sorry to the ones you have hurt.  Pray even if you don't know what to pray for.

 

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With GOD as our father.

 

Happy Trails....Ginger

 

 

Heartache

 

My heart absolutely aches for all of those affected in Sandy Hook.  I can't even begin to understand it all and what each of the families affected by this must be going through.  No words can even come close of what even to say.....just know that my prayers will be with each one.

 

 

Winter Chill

I've been busy as an elf preparing for Christmas.  The punchneedle has had a workout as well as the rug hook.  Hope you enjoy some of my designs!

 

This snowman is a design by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread!  Just love how it turned out!

 

A few I actually finished completely!

 

The rug hookers, punchers, and stitchers that meet out at our farm once a month each brought a delicious dish for us all to sample.  I tried each and everyone!

 

 

Back to work!

 

Laura started binding on this rug!

 

Kay had finished this one.

 

Today Eva Mae came for a visit.  She is sitting up on her own and beginning to crawl.  She says Moma and has just started waving bye.  She is such a good lil' baby and she has her momo wrapped right around her little fingers!



I pick up Sloan after school and he is getting so very big.  He loves school and is always hungry and is always ready for a snack!

 

These cousins LOVE each other! 

 

Now how about a little doodle....

We had a dusting of snow early this morning and we have finally turned on the heater.  The high today was in the 30's and it felt so good to finally say welcome to Winter!

 

Happy Trails....Ginger