Friday, January 28, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hey! TGIF to y'all! With the busy week I've had... I'm not sure if I'm ready for it to be Friday because I have so much left undone still. I could really use a few more days to get it all finished. But then... Friday is always a goodie because tomorrow is the weekend and today is ~*Friday Finishes*~. So... I'll take it for the GOOD of it!

Let me just get right to the goodies...

From my buddy Doris... another lovely needlepunch! She has added her own creative design to one of the Willie the Perfect Sheep doodles... and her finish is just beautiful! Doris over~dyes much of her embroidery floss before punching. Doris also over~dyed the piece after it was finished with some strong tea to darken it more. Just beautiful!



Nan is ready for Valentine's Day and Valentine's Day stitching! She has stitched up the latest freebie... and it is a BEAUTY! She used 28 ct. white even weave and stitched with GAST Cherry Wine threads.




I finished up the latest freebie too... but I can't tell you the fibers used because they were unmarked scraps. I think the floss I used was DMC 221... my favorite red. It did make a sweet lil' pillow tuck... filled with woolly snippets & backed with a scrap of wool...



This final ~*Friday Finish*~ for today isn't made from one of my patterns... but it made me smile when I saw it & I thought it might do the same for you too. I received a sweet email from Michelle telling me she enjoys and follows my blog. She made these darling Valentine sweets... they look like lollipops to me... using needlepunch accents for the middle. She said she is working on some shamrocks now too. CUTE!


Thank you all for playing with my patterns and for sharing! I do so enjoy seeing all the wonderful finishes you all make! Keep 'em coming!

Well... that is it for today. I want to wish you all a fabulous weekend... with lots of warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

~*Fun Times Rug Hooking*~

Let me begin by saying a big THANK YOU for all the kind comments of support & well wishes! The rug hooking class yesterday was so much fun & went so well!

The class started at 8:30. We laughed, giggled, and hooked until about noon. Five sweet ladies attended ~ Linda, Sue, Trish, Debbie, and Jerilynn. They were there bright & early and ready to learn. These women are all so very talented, creative, and great spirits... and were a true joy to meet. They made me feel so welcome and comfortable... I can only hope they felt as at ease with me as I did with them. These women are all quilters... and now they are rug hookers! By the end of the class, there was talk about getting a group together for future hooking fun... and I do so hope that becomes a regular get together!

I took my current project to demonstrate the basics of pulling loops...


To begin with... we talked about the different rug backings. Then we cut some chunks of linen & Sue started up her serger to seal the edges super~nice. (Thank you Sue!) I took along every piece of rug hooking from my home for inspiration and also all my rug hooking books. The girls were inspired and began designing their own images for hooking. I urged them to keep the design simple, but to have fun. We didn't have a lot of wool to work with... but for fun... I dumped my bag of woolly worms in the center of the table for them to pick through freely. We did have some as~is wool to use also and I gave a handout to them with lots of online links to some of my favorite woolly suppliers. I was also sure to tell them about the monthy hook~in at Judy Cripps' and the Rock Creek Hook-In & Rug Show in Lenexa, KS on February 26th. I showed my Rigby cutter, my frames, and my hooks and urged them to try them all. It was a great day!

Sue's piece...


Debbie's piece...


Trish's piece...


Linda's piece...


And this one is Jerilynn's...


There is a reason Jerilynn is hooking an ear of corn and not a heart. Jerilynn is a children's story book author. This is her book... Raccoons In The Corn...

After having raccoons eat her own corn a few years ago, Jerilynn joked that the raccoons must have had a party. This inspired her book... and it is such a cute story! The illustrations are totally precious! The illustrations were done by a local artist, Josh Finley. This is a fun story about a farmer, his love of corn, and his struggles with a raccoon family. When Jerilynn was talking about the book... her excitement and love of story telling filled the room! She is a bundle of joy and inspiration! At the back of the book she shares some of Farmer B's favorite corn recipes... AND... this story also inspired a charming quilt pattern...

If you are interested in the book or the quilt pattern, they are available by visiting Prairie Pieces Quilt Shop. I was sure to pick up several copies of this book to share with my own kiddo, his class, and my lil' niece who turns 5 this weekend. :)

Hooking and smiling during the class...



A special thank you to Sue for providing the room at the quilt shop for the class, to Linda for thinking of me as a teacher, and for all five girls for coming to learn and making me feel so comfortable!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~



After returning home yesterday, I continued working on organizing my patterns to ship to the distributors for market. Wouldn't ya know... I ran out of double sticky tape! I'll be visiting the store today to stock up on supplies... then UPS tomorrow to send the patterns and the models out. It won't be much longer now! Market is less than a month away. My mind is already thinking of more creative inspirations! So... more patterns are in the works!

Wishing you all warm smiles....

Betty

Monday, January 24, 2011

~*Up, Packed, Excited, and Ready to Go*~

Happy Monday Dear Friends! I'm so excited... so excited that I woke up without the alarm at 5:30 this morning! That is amazing for me... I'm very much NOT a morning person. Today I am though... today I'm teaching a rug hooking class... my first rug hooking class.

Everything is loaded up in the car... unless I've forgotten something...


I'm taking all kinds of things to share & show. I've gathered up just about every hooked piece I have... pieces I've made and pieces from others...


I've got a notebook with scribbles of things that I want to remember to tell my students... there will be 5 of them. We are having the class at the local quilt shop in town...Prairie Pieces. I'm excited... and nervous... but looking forward to having a day of fun... and making new friends.

I'm taking the camera... and plan to share more with you later. My hope is that this class will start a rug hooking group here in our small community. It would be so much fun to have a group of hookers & prim crafters to meet and gather regularly... maybe even here at my studio.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Friday, January 21, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hey! It is ~*Friday Finishes*~ time & there is LOVE in the air!!! I think you will agree with me... and you will LOVE LOVE LOVE these dandy finishes too...

From my dear buddy, Doris... who I just know has needlepunch needles for finger tips! She punches all the time... and comes up with one fabulous work after another! For this one, she has put a special Valentine twist on the ~*Black Cat & Jack*~ Freebie Doodle... just oh~so~sweet!...

Doris over~dyes most of the flosses she uses for her needlepunch. This definitely adds an extra~special touch.

~*~*~*~*~

Another Valentine treasure comes from Kathy (no blog or album)... cross stitched and photographed so very charmingly...~*Valentine*~ freebie...


Kathy didn't give fiber of floss info... but I think simple is sweet & special. She has stitched so wonderfully and has a beautiful finish.

Thank you Ladies for playing with the freebies... and for sharing! Keep up the great works!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Thursday, January 20, 2011

~*Banana Pancakes*~

When you wake up to 2 inches of snow... have a kiddo 'blue' because it wasn't enough snow to call a snow day, only a school delay of an hour... and you have a few ripe bananas in the fruit bowl... what should you do? Well, I would recommend making some ~*Banana Pancakes*~!

I didn't have my camera ready for photos... but would like to share this recipe with you. I woke up this morning & did a quick search online... and found this recipe here. Oh goodness... it is so YUMMY! I did leave the oil out... it really isn't needed & only adds more calories. You could probably add a few chopped pecans or some mini chocolate chips... but they are wonderful as they are!

Enjoy!

Banana Pancakes

Ingredients for Banana Pancakes Recipe

* 2 large ripe bananas
* 1 cup flour
* 2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
* dash of grated nutmeg
* 1 Tbsp. sugar (or Splenda sweetener)
* 1 cup milk
* 2 eggs
* 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil (may be omitted)

Optional

* 2 additional bananas to slice and serve on top of the pancakes
* Maple syrup

Instructions

1. Mash 2 bananas and set aside.
2. Blend dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl.
3. Add banana and wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until everything is moist. Batter will appear lumpy.
4. Use oil or pan spray to lightly coat a frying pan or griddle. Heat the griddle until a drop of water spattered on it sizzles.
5. Drop spoonfuls of banana pancake batter on the griddle and cook on each side until the pancakes are golden brown, but cooked through.

Note: your banana pancakes are usually ready to flip the first time when you see air bubbles rising in the pancake as it cooks.

Serve your banana pancakes with warm maple syrup and slices of fresh banana. You may also leave the nutmeg and cinnamon out of the batter and garnish with a sprinkling of cinnamon-nutmeg blended with sugar.

Wishing you all warm smiles....

Betty

ps... I should say, these pancakes got a 5~star review from the kiddo! :)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

~*Some WIPs...*~

Hello Dear Friends! I would like to give you all a very warm YOU ARE WELCOME... for the dear comments and expressions of THANKS for the latest freebie. I hope you are all finding it a fun stitch... and I do hope to start seeing some finishes soon. Finishes that I'm so looking forward to sharing! I did stitch up the design the other day. It is now in my stack of WIPs. Here are some of what I am working on... some 'works in progress'...





Cross stitches for boxes and pillow tucks. What you don't see in the picture is one of my many rugs... awaiting the whipping of the edges... or the dollie bodies awaiting prim lil' dresses... or the sweet exchange gift that is very near completion. Oh there are so many things I'm working on & so many more things I'm wanting to work on. Where is the time?

Should I dare share one of my flaws ~ one of my little 'imperfect' secrets? Can you see it in the photo at the top? Well... here it is closer up...



An abandoned sampler borders new cross stitches... never to be completed... but yet, the linen shall not be wasted!



No one is perfect! Right?

Well.. while I work away on my WIPs... my mind is already wandering to the next one to add to the list. Wanna see?...



Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Sunday, January 16, 2011

~*A Gift for You... and an apology...*~

Hello My Dear Friends! I'm going to ask for an apology. My new pattern releases are ready... but I've decided to wait until Market to release them. Market isn't until February 20th... that seems so very far away... I know. I am sorry... but after much thought and guidance... that is what I've decided is best. I am so sorry. Please accept my apology for the delay. There will be THREE patterns ~ Spring Inspired ~ at that time. I'll post a sneak peek before market so you can see.

Until then... please enjoy this NEW FREEBIE. I hope you like it... and aren't too frustrated with me.

~*Love Me*~ Freebie...


© primitivebettys 2011

67 by 55 stitches

Please feel free to use any floss or fibers of your choice. This would make a most precious pillow tuck or pinkeep. It would be a perfect gift for a dear friend or loved one... after all Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

Please always give the designer credit, me Betty Dekat of~*primitivebettys*~. Do not sell the pattern... but you are free to sell a limited number of works made from the pattern.

And remember... don't forget that I LOVE to see & share your finishes. Be sure to email them to me so I can post them here on ~*Friday Finishes*~!

Wishing you warm smiles always...

Betty

Friday, January 14, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends! Hey... do you know what time it is? Time for ~*Friday Finishes*~! ha ha... The way I typed that... reminds me of Howdy Doody!.. ha ha... what a silly way to start the day, but I'll bet you are smiling now for sure!!

Here are some dandies to share...

From my buddy Chris... a super-dooper needle puncher for sure... is her rendition of ~*Woolly Freebie*~...


Chris has an ingenious way of combining hooking and punching. She has HOOKED the sheep wool with a variegated boucle yarn... and then PUNCHED the rest of the design with 6 strand DMC floss. It gives such a great finished dimensional texture. She also takes great care in the final finishes of her work, adding a wool backing with extra details of applique... and stitches wool around the edge for the final touch. Just brilliant!

These next goodies are from Sandy... she has been keeping her fingers busy... and her needle must be burning, she has stitched so much!
~*Sheep Sampler*~ freebie

She has made some really great pillow tucks to display in the perfect little spots throughout her beautiful home... don't ya think?

~*Silent Holy Night*~ freebie



From Alice... one that always makes me smile... she has hooked up ~*Snowy Tony*~ freebie... what a chipper fella! Alice hooked with some sparkly wools that are really just great for adding that extra special touch of twinkle! Alice said this piece is 9 by 11 inches... but she has plans to hook it again larger. It would be a sweet welcoming mat in any home... a wonderful way to greet your visitors at the door. :)


Thank you ladies for playing with the patterns & doodles... and for sharing. All the finishes are wonderful!

Just a reminder... if you are interested in any of the freebie doodles & patterns I've offered, you can see them all in one spot by clicking on the link found in the upper left sidebar. I hope you will go snag a few (or all of 'em)... play with them and email me your finishes to share. I am not the only one that likes to see 'em... we all do!

Wishing you all a great weekend... full of creativity, fun, and lots of warm smiles...

Betty

Thursday, January 13, 2011

~*Feeling Better & Keeping Busy*~

Yup, I'm feeling better! Thank you for all the well wishes for healing & recovery. The sinus pain and pressure has gone away... and things are improving. Thankfully!

I've been able to finish the hooking part of this rug...



And have put a base coat of burnt umber on some paper mache boxes... and gathered up some linens & inspriations...



For those that have inquired about the new patterns... they are coming. The models are complete... the patterns needs to be put together... then they will be shown. They may be ready as soon as next week! I'll keep ya updated & posted! :) Thank you for being patient with me... and for being excited too!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

~*Blustery Cold*~

That is what the weatherman is saying... and he is right. It is bone~chilling for sure. However, I haven't been out at all. I'm suffering from a sinus infection and am so very thankful for a loving husband and a caring doctor. I didn't want to make a trip to see the doc. It would have meant a 30 minute drive... and then another 30 to pick up a prescription. The doc's nurse talked with me on the phone and the doc agreed to just call in some antibiotics... and my loving husband drove to the pharmacy to pick them up. So... I could stay in the house... layered with a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, sweats, and two pairs of socks... with plenty of tissue boxes near by. I guess I'm a big baby when sick... good thing I don't get sick often!

Enough of that...

This is snow day #2 with the kiddo home. He had a friend over to play yesterday, has read some books, played with his toys, and played lots of video games. He is keeping busy seems happy.

I've been working on crafty things. My three cross stitch models are finished... just waiting for the patterns to be worked up & some good photos taken. I've also been working on my rug...


If my energy level holds out... it might be hooked by bedtime...

Wishing you all warm smiles... and warm homes....

Betty

Monday, January 10, 2011

~*A Blanket of Snow...*~

as seen from the living room window...


means time for woolly loops...



and some tiny stitches...


Yes, that was a tease with the stitches... those are the models (still in progress) for the newest releases... coming soon.

Wishing you all warm smiles...
Betty

Sunday, January 9, 2011

~*Swoosh!*~


Basketball season has started for our 3rd graders! The first game was yesterday and they won 16-8! No, the score isn't really that important and it would have been just as good if they would have lost.

Trinity is on a team sponsored by our small-town rec center. The boys on his team are all buddies and classmates. They are learning the importance of teamwork and practice. It is great to see them play good together and to see how they support one another. Granted, there are players on the team that stand out and excel... but they are all great about cheering each other on. To me... that is far more important than the score. Although... it is nice to see a win too! You should hear my lil' guy bragging about it!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Friday, January 7, 2011

~*Friday Finishes*~

Hello Dear Friends! Now that the holidays have once again slid past... it is time to get back to some normalcy. Time to get back to some ~*Friday Finishes*~! Yet again there some fabulous sweets to share! It seems Valentine's Day is quickly approaching... and these finishes are proving it...

From my buddy, Doris...

Doris over~dyes most of her wool and puts a lot of attention into her works. They are always so nicely punched!

My SIL, Robin, has punched up the same freebie doodle...

Robin told me she was inspired by Doris for this design. She punched using vintage wool threads and mounted her finish to a wooden box. The pillow in the picture is actually for tucking inside the box. So cute! I've seen this one in person... and the photo doesn't do it justice. It really is much nicer. Robin will be listing this and maybe more pieces on Ebay this coming Monday.

Thank you girls, for punching and sharing! I'm still itching to get my punchneedle out... like I mentioned the other day... but it still sits untouched. Maybe this weekend I can work with it.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

~*A Few More Gifts*~

Here are a few more of my new treasured gifts. Oh goodness... I received so many and am truly blessed. My family and friends have really spoiled me... and given me too much. Their love and support is really all I could ever ask for and all I ever need... and they give that to me always.

These are just a few of the gifts... some I thought you would enjoy seeing...

This is one of the other boxes Tony gave me. He bought this vintage toy box at an antique store... knowing how I love old, vintage, primitive, 'beat up' stuff...



It is just so sweet! Look at the crackling decals...




I moved it to the studio this morning and filled it with Trinity's art supplies. He needs a spot to create too..



This is the other box Tony gave me... a sweet sewing caddy. The cubbies & drawers on these little things really amaze me. Who thought of this design anyway? It is just ingenious!



Tony wasn't the only one to give me boxes. My family just knows me too well! This one is from my stepson Jamie and his girlfriend, Annie. They also went shopping at the antique stores for me. They are new to the antique store browsing, but both said how much fun they had seeing all the KEWL old stuff. This is a super box! It has a 'bread-box' type top & a drawer at the bottom. The design on the front is carved & I think would make a neat motif for a hooked rug. Darling!



I also received some great hand-dids as gifts!

You may remember seeing this one. It was stitched by Murf & she shared her finish with me via email to post on ~*Friday Finishes*~ not too long ago. Imagine my surprise when I received it in the mail! WOW! I've told her & I keep saying this... but I love the blue rick rack! It is so striking! I've hung it in the studio & it makes me smile each time I see it. Thank you again Murf!!



This next gift was delivered in the mail too & really tickled me! It has been stitched by Cheryle, a customer and email buddy from California. She is just the sweetest! She reads my blog and saw my love for my princess kitties. She thought they needed another one to keep them company... and stitched up this darling ditty. Cheryle named this kitty Beulah... and I think that is the prefect name. Thank you again, so very much Cheryle! We moved a couple more pieces of furniture next door. These are pieces I was going to paint black, but decided to just leave them as they are. One is a buffet & the mat looks wonderful on top of it.



Also in the mail came this cute coin purse... and several other goodies like notepads, a pen, some candies... and so much more. My buddies in Oklahoma, friends I've met online and in person, made these cute purses for the members of our online group AAPG. They are just the right size for a debit card and a couple dollars! Thank you Ginger and PatiJane!!




And one more... this great eyeglass case was hooked by my sweet SIL Robin. I just love everything about it! Especially that it is the perfect size to hold my Hollywood Shades! I needed a case for them. :)


I received so much more! This is only a sampling. All I can really say is... Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I mentioned that we have moved more furniture next door. I'm trying to decorate more before taking more pictures... but hope to share with you soon. I've also been stitching and hooking... but because they are gifts (and a model)... they will be shared later.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty