~*Sharing Beginnings With Friends*~

Hello Dear Friends! Oh, I just have to share this with you 'cause I think it is so COOL!

My dear bud, Doris, is an awesome needle puncher. She also use to be a rug hooker, but due to allergies with the wool has not been able to enjoy the craft... so she now focuses all her creative talents for her punch work.

No, that isn't what I wanted to share. But this is...

Doris gave her daughter, Carol, most of her rug hooking supplies. Carol works at the Indiana Historical Society. She had never hooked before... but wanted to learn and apparently has friends at the historical society interested in the art as well. Carol took the rug hooking supplies to work with her. Together, the group of talented beginners worked on these rugs. They leave the supplies where they can all just pick up the hook & some wool and literally work on the same rug. It is a 'community' effort. I'm not exactly sure where the patterns have come from... Doris thought they they were drawn up by the new hookers. Personally, I think they are GRAND!! This group of beginners have joined forces to create some really wonderful rugs. The way I understand it, after the rugs are finished, they are gifted to someone else and/or displayed at the society.

WOW, huh?





What a unique way to share the craft with your friends & beginner rug hookers!

Doris, thank you for forwarding the photos & story with me so I could pass it along.

Wishing you all warm smiles,

Betty

~*Friday Sharing*~

Hello Dear Friends! I'm sorry to report there aren't any ~*Friday Finishes*~ to show... but there are other goodies worthy of sharing. This past Tuesday, June 22nd, Tony and I celebrated our anniversary. He took me to dinner at the historic Hays House... which just happens to be the same place we had dinner the night he proposed 5 years ago. While we were in Council Grove, we did a little antique shopping. Tony was discouraged that there was not much to offer as far as antique stores in the town... and he was determined to buy me some antiques as my gift. I told him repeatedly, that dinner alone with him was gift enough... because he loves and does so much for me and the boys. Well... we did find a few treasures at a thrift shop/antique store... and I will cherish them always...

a vintage cookie jar... that was full of cookies a couple of days ago...


~I just have to mention... because I'm feeling guilty showing you a jar of store bought cookies... I did bake 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies on Father's Day that have long since been devoured.~

a sweet old quilt... I just LOVE the blues in this one... There is a little wear & tear... but it is still very sweet.




and last, but not least... another olde watering can for my collection...


I do just love him so!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Longer Summer Days*~

Hello Dear Friends! Happy Summer to ya! Today marks the first official day of Summer... and it has been an enjoyable one. The sun is now going down and the moon is shining...



The day was hot... but the evening has been cool.

Tony decided he wanted to build a new oval, remote control car track in the back of our property. (Inside his building is an off road track. That is his building in the picture above.) He does love to play and it is so nice when the boys play with him... after they dipped in the pool for awhile...





See that blue chair out there? That was my stitchin' spot for the evening... started a new sampler...



Even Brownie came around to watch all the excitement...



Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Happy Father's Day!*~

Happy Father's Day to all the Daddy's out there! I hope you are all spoiled today like you deserve to be!

I'm headed to the kitchen right now to make some chocolate chip cookies to begin the spoilin' here!

Warm smiles...

Betty

~*Goodies From Garage Sales!*~

Hello Dear Friends! Today was our family garage sale... as part of our city~wide, yearly sale. It was very hot & humid, but we survived. The best part of the day was when my loving husband whisked me away to visit the other sales! Here are my goodies...



~Brand spankin' NEW Olfa rotary essentials kit $2.00~

~a pile of clay pots, 7 of 'em & some saucers $1 for ALL~

~ceramic, light up, Jack~O~Lantern... just a had~to~have!... $2~

~enamel, cast iron baking pot NEW $2~

~large enamel pan (I'll probably plant some flowers in it.) $1~

~vintage bean pot... USA made... $1~

~about a yard of WOOL $1 (that alone was worth the trip out!)~



~this never~before~used, wooden trellis was only $2~

So, I didn't do so bad! Tony and I found some other goodies too... but I only took pictures of MY stuff! ;)

Tony found a couple of remote control cars for his HUGE collection. He repeatedly told me how "stoked" he was to have them. That makes me very HAPPY! :) Trinity didn't go with us, but we find him some thermal coveralls (not that he will be wearing them anytime soon with this kind of heat!) and a really cool, weighted kicking bag for his Tae Kwon Do practice.

We spent more than we made at our own sale today (those rc cars are kinda pricey)... but it was fun & we have some great new treasures!

Before I sign off... take a look at this...



This is the temp INSIDE the greenhouse at about 7pm tonight. Notice it shows the high temp for the last 24 hours is 136 degrees! Goodness!!! Lil' hot for growing in there right now!

Wishing you all warm (maybe I should say cool?) smiles,

Betty

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends! Friday has rolled around again... and there are some lovely finishes to share with you... enjoy ~

From Trena...

She has actually been stitching quite a few lovelies lately. This is only one of many pillow tucks she has posted on her blog. She says she has used many of the freebies I've offered & has changed some of them around for to make them a little different. They are all so sweet! :)

Adriana (no blog) has stitched up several of the freebies too. (You may remember seeing one in an earlier post.)

She combined her stitches into one piece. She says it is now placed by her front door to hold keys and sun glasses. Darling!


From Blyn ~ another dandy finish!



It is always such a treat to see what you make with my designs. Thank you, all of you, for stitching and sharing!

We have a family garage sale tomorrow. Today was spent getting things finalized for the big day. I'm pretty beat from working in the heat... and thinking of retiring to my spot on the sofa for the rest of the night... and stitching!

Wishing you all a great weekend ahead with many warm smiles...

Betty

~*Sheep Sampler Freebie*~

Hello Dear Friends! It has an some time since I've put up a new freebie for you... so...





I hope this inspires you! Enjoy!

As with all my freebie offerings and patterns... please give credit where due... to me, Betty Dekat... aka primitivebettys. Also, please remember I love to see & share the goodies you make with 'em too!

Warm smiles...

Betty

~*Painted Tote*~

Hello Dear Friends! The paint brush was put to use over the last couple of days... and here is my new tote...

I just LOVE it!



I began with a base coat of black... then added a coat of red. After it was good & dry... it was sanded to distress & add age. Notice the handle... I sanded more where it 'would have been picked up over the years'. Because the scrap wood used to build the tote was already stained, there was a nice brown showing through where it was sanded. I did still go over the entire piece with my trusty, brown show polish too though. The shoe polish added more warm brown tone... but also 'waxes' the finish.



Now I have 2 pieces finished that my wonderful hubby built for me... and 2 more to go once I decide what I'm doing with them. Oh, I didn't tell you about both of them yet. You know about the other old door, frame... but Tony also made a wooden, "treasure chest" for me. It out in the garage with the base coat drying as I type.

The wool in the tote? It was purchased from Judy Cripps... aka Rustic Rugs, a couple weeks ago. I have plans to try some wool dying with the lighter wools... once they get soaking. :)

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Some Hand~Dids*~

Hello Dear Friends! I hope you have all had a wonderful & creative weekend. It has been a productive one here & the camera has been out to prove it.

Recently, my dear hubby, purchased a few wood shop tools that he has always wanted. He was inspired to put them to use... and made some things for me with 'em! (I just LOVE him so much!) He began by making a few frames from an old door. He knew I would love the old paint & patina of 'em... and he was right! After making the frames, he made this really awesome tote. The front & back panels are two different heights... very interesting don't ya think?



I love how he made the handle with the wood pegs! Just so cool!



He is always saying he isn't a carpenter. Why does he say that? He has done wonderfully in my mind!

I'm still trying to decide what color to paint the tote. More than likely it will be red or an early blue. Hopefully I can get that done this week. For the frames, the smaller one will be for a cross stitch sampler... maybe. For the larger, panel frame... well, this is what I've done with it...



Hooking with scraps, I made the penny rug last night. It was then attached to the panel with a few carpet tacks. There is a sawtooth hanger on the back & it now hangs in our living room over a door. It was too dark in the house to get a decent picture of it there... so I propped it in front of some old fashioned, or wild, delphinium in the backyard to share with you.

Also finished this week...

A small cross stitched~topped box... simple & sweet...



and this prim rug... could I have been thinking of Halloween already?



It feels good to have such a productive weekend! The wheels of creativity are spinnin'!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends! Oh, I do apologize... I've been such a bad blogger. It has been a week since my last post. Believe me, I have thought of posting... but things have been 'one step forward ~ two steps back'. There are things I've wanted to share... and will do my best to post more often this coming week. There are some stitches, punches, and woolly loops sitting near me in my crafty corner of the house that I hope to show you. Plus, the yard is blooming wonderfully. I'm planning on getting out there with the camera soon to snap some shots. I'm thinking too, that it is due time to share another freebie chart or doodle with you too... so hopefully I can get on the ball with that too!

In the meanwhile... there are some fabulous ~*Friday Finishes*~ to share with you... ENJOY!

Becky has created the lovely, prim grouping. She started by using the freebie scissor FOB chart ~ to stitch a book topper. She stitched on 18 ct Aida with DMC threads... then tea dyed it for that lovely, olde look. The stitching has been attached to a fabric covered book ~ then tied to an old child's slate with some jute & a little Sweet Annie tucked in for added goodness. Becky's mom made the precious prairie doll for her birthday. Super sweet!





Next up is a stitch of the ~*Crow*~ freebie by Adriana. She has only stitched it so far... and has only scanned the image to share. She apologized for the purple paper behind it. She didn't need to worry about that though. The stitching is lovely! She told me she stitched this while watching the movie Avatar. She said she has also stitched up ~*Wicked*~ and is working on ~*Time*~... with plans to finish them all together into something... that will be shared later. I'm looking forward to seeing what she will be working up!


Thank you, Ladies, for stitching & sharing!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends! Friday has rolled around again... I hope you have all had a wonderful week! We have here & have continued to be busy. Between chores, errands, and fun with the kiddo... I have been trying to sneak in some crafty time with hooking, punching, and stitching. I'll share some of my finishes in a few days. Until then though... here is a FABULOUS ~*Friday Finish*~ to share with you....

Suzanne has stitched up the freebie ~*Time*~ and done a beautiful job! She didn't give fiber or floss info... but I do think it is truly stunning! Don't you?



What a darling pillow to tuck into a simple gathering... it makes a grand display!



Thank you, Suzanne, for stitching & sharing!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Needle Punch Handy~Helpers*~

Hello Dear Friends! Because I was asked... I would like to share with you a couple of my handy~helpers. These are super simple & easy to come by.

The first is a tool I very roughly, constructed myself...a thread holder... with a few odds & ends found around my hubby's construction area.



Here is what you need ~

scrap 2x4 about 12" or so long... but could be shorter or longer if you wish
about a dozen 10 penny nails
a drill & drill bit slightly wider than your nails
black paint (or color of your choice)
sandpaper

For holding your 6 strand embroidery floss, you will need some leftover thread spools. You can save your own from your sewing projects ~ or hunt for some vintage ones at thrift shops, antique stores, or garage sales. Just wind your floss on the spools & mark your color number with a pen or pencil directly on the spool. Yes, I've thought I should be more 'kind' with my vintage, wooden spools... rather than use a pen on them any longer, I do try to use only pencil so I can erase & change the number when needed.



To make your thread holder ~ mark where your nails will be & drill holes about 3/4" deep into the 2x4. You will notice, I didn't evenly space my holes... I just drilled them in two rows. Then paint your board black (or other color of your choice)... this covers any markings already on the board & makes it more friendly~lookin' too. After the paint is dry, roughly sand it to make it look good n' old. By making the holes slightly larger than the nails, you can easily pull the nail out to remove the spool & replace with another color.



My other handy~helper is something I learned from fellow punches & you may already be familiar with it. If your fridge is like ours, it is loaded with these cheap, advertising magnets. Nab a couple of them off the fridge & sandwich your threaders between them. They really help you keep an eye on 'em! I haven't lost as many since I've been using them.



I've finished punching the box lids... but have yet to finish the boxes. Hmmmm... maybe I'll go do that now!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty