Monday, June 30, 2014

~*How I Did It*~

Hello Dear Friends!  Happy Monday!

Switching gears a little... and finishing some hooked projects.  I still worked on some cross stitch at the bait shop (my silly summer job) this morning, but last evening and tonight I'm finishing some hooked goodies that were started a few months back... some candle mats and mug rugs.

In the hooking world... I'm sure I have broken a ton of rules.  However, these little things are NOT floor rugs.  They are just for sitting here and there to add a little prim charm around the home.  I will be marking the price on them ~ not too high ~ and putting them in our booth at ReRun Consignments... and maybe offering a few online.  

My first rug hooking NO~NO... I hooked on burlap.  Yes, the cheap stuff you can get in the fabric departments.  It is itchy to work on and won't last a 100 years.  It will be just fine for these projects though.

I did hook with wool strips... cut to anywhere between 8-9... 1/4 to 1/2 inch or so.

I hooked several on a large piece of burlap at one time... using scraps from my big ol' scrap tin.

Circles and squares are drawn on the burlap with a black marker... about 7 inch circles and about 5 inch squares.

After the hooking was complete... a quick roll with the lint brush and a hot steam from the iron... and then some glue.  Yes, another hooking NO~NO!  (At least when making a floor rug... but I am not with this project.)

 Yes, glue... plain Elmer's school glue.  I drizzled a fat bead as close to the last row of hooking as possible.  Then let it dry.  When it is dry, carefully cut close to the dried bead of glue.  The glue will keep the burlap from unraveling.  You can use craft glue... but Elmer's is fine and less expensive.  (I learned this from Frank Bielec at the Happy Trails Rug camp hosted by my dear friend Ginger.)

Next, I grabbed a wool blanket from my stash.  This wool is thicker than I prefer for hooking.  However, it is great for this part of my projects.  I cut pieces for the backs of the candle mats and mug rugs to fit.  Simply lay the hooked pieces on the wool and cut around.  A little larger or a teeny bit smaller won't hurt anything... just try to get them about the same size.  This is a backing method that would never pass for a floor rug!  Again... it is great for this kind of project though!

 I then grabbed my Elmer's again... and drizzled a small amount along the last row of hooking.  It doesnt need to be as thick as the first glued row.  This is just to help hold that last row comfortably while you stitch the trimming on.  You will see in a minute.  Set the backing pieces in place... and put a few heavy books on top while the glue dries.
 Using the same blanket wool... I cut some 9 strips... long enough to go around the mats and rugs.  I then used my linen thread to stitch the wool strip to the outer edge... covering the outside edge of the burlap, last row of hooking, and wool backing.  I used a blanket stitch.
 This wool strip is standing 'upright' sort of... when the mat is set on the table, the hooking strip is on the very edge.  And this... is yet another rug hooking NO~No.  This would never be a strong finish with foot steps.
 I also stitched my initials and the year very primly to the underside.
 Perfectly prim...
I expect to have my mug rugs done this evening... then onto another project!

Thank you for letting me share!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Sunday, June 29, 2014

~*Crushed Walnuts & Wool Filler*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I've spent the weekend finishing some projects.  You may be interested in the filler.  My friend, Ginger, shared this with me and I thought it was worth sharing with you.  Crushed walnut shells (Lizard Litter found in the pet stores or pet departments) is a wonderful filler.  It is about the consistency of sand, but cleaner.  It is crushed english walnuts.  It adds a nice weight to your works and will help keep your pins and needles sharp.  Sometimes though, it can almost feel too heavy.  Ginger suggested a mix of wool snippets and crushed walnut shells.  Awesome suggestion!

My latest works have been filled with this combination.  However, I must admit... getting the right mix was a little tricky at first.  Some of my pillows are heavier on one end than the other.  I added too much wool or too many walnuts in big 'clumps'.  Oh well... they are primitive and I'm not going to stress over it.  By the fifth pillow full... it was about even from end to end and side to side.

Wool snippets are the small trimmings left from hooking rugs.  I have bags full as I prefer to NOT throw anything away.  Waste not want not!


 My crushed walnut shells in a plastic tub with a lid.  Inside I store my small funnel (pictured above) and this old creamer.  If you have them, dried lavender buds add a great scent.  I have some in storage somewhere... but haven't run across that box in the store room yet.  (Yes, it is frustrating that we still have so many boxes cluttering up that room!)


My finished pillows without the camera flash...

One is a pattern by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.  One is a pattern by Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes.  One is a pattern from With Needle & Thread book by Blackbird Designs.  The other two are my own freebie patterns.
 

And with the camera flash...

I still have these ditties to finish...  two will be needle books and one a small pouch when done.

One is a pattern from Isabella Abbiati of The Primitive Hare and the other two are patterns by Stacy Nash.

 

And I have these hooked candle mats and coasters to complete too.  The glue should be dry around the edges.  No, this isn't a great way to finish a RUG, but it will be just fine for these little things... and quick too!  I'll show you more when they are done.


Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty


Friday, June 27, 2014

~*Feathers & Fur*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Please over look the messes... feathers, fur, and chicken poo... but here are some of our loving critters and spots around our country home...

OC (short for Oreo Cookie) chillin' on the bbq.  He is either yawning or smiling.  Believe me, this isn't his scary face.  ha ha ha  He is a very kind kitty boy.
Tommy is fast asleep on the deck.  (It is past time for a good power-washing here!  Good grief... too much cat hair & junk stuck in the cracks.  How embarrassing.  Maybe I shouldn't have shared this picture.)
 My old chair that sits in the corner of Brownie's pen... where I can sit and watch my chickens.
 We still have seven of these girls.  We brought them home in March and they just keep growing and growing.  I'm thinking we may start getting eggs in October.
 This is Brownie!  He is my friendly, lovable walking buddy.
The chickens are fenced in near Brownie's pen.  You can see his dog house and blankets in the background.  (He has about 4 that he pulls around the yard.)   He is a good guard dog for them.  He may look a bit intimidating, but he is all baby!

 Brownie is out in the yard during the day.  He loves to run here!
 Our pond...

 And in the house... Sarah runs things.
 And Lucy keeps it entertaining...
We have a few more outdoor kitties.  They weren't around when I was looking with the camera.  They were surely lounging in the shade somewhere.

I was going to give my finger a rest and change mediums, but this morning at the bait shop... I did pull more stitches after all...
Thank you for letting me share.  Thanks for putting a blind eye to all our messes!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

Thursday, June 26, 2014

~*Linen Quality*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you for all the kind comments regarding the latest FREEBIE!  I do hope you all have a fun time stitching it up!  You are all very welcome!  *SMILE*

This morning at the bait shop I kept my fingers busy again!  So busy, in fact, that the tip of my middle finger, on my right hand, has a slight puncture wound!  Oops!  Maybe it is time for me to change mediums for awhile so it can heal?  It is so nice that I'm not actually busy 'working' at my job!  ha ha ha

I started by stitching the missing crow on my latest freebie... then grabbed some scrap linen and threads from the plastic baggie (no, it isn't pretty) that I carry my cross stitch supplies in... back and forth from the bait shop... and stitched a beautiful pattern by Beth Ann Seal of Summer House stitche workes.  This is a free pattern titled Pennsylvania Blossom that she gifted the members of Prim Stitchers Society on Facebook.  Thank you Beth Ann!

Are you a member of the group?  You should hop on over to join if you aren't.  It is a great, supportive, addictive group!

Here is my finished Potted Jacks N' Crows... along with the start (almost finish!) of Pennsylvania Blossom.  I only needed to finish the '9' before leaving 'work'.


See the missing crow?  I didn't even notice until after I posted this photo below on my blog a couple days ago!  This was even after a good coffee bath!  
ha ha ha

Now onto the title of this post... Linen Quality!  I have tried to NEVER be a linen snob.  I have used all sorts of linens, aida cloths, osnaburg, and other fabrics.  Whatever is available at the time... I will give it a try.  This morning I realized something... something I had not paid attention to before.  Maybe I came to this realization because I am a more experienced stitcher now... after over 25 years of doing it!  Maybe my eyes are getting worse.  (Oh... bifocals I know you are getting close!)  Well, whatever it is... I will deal with it and just give my normal explanation... "It is primitive, and I won't stress about it being PERFECT."

What did I notice? 

Well, the linen that I grabbed from my baggie this morning is a linen purchased several years ago from a large, big box, craft store.  I remember it costing about $8 for the 'bag' of it.  I don't believe it was a full yard.  Rather it was just a hunk-cut of fabric.  This linen is thicker than the quality stuff available from the fine cross stitch suppliers and shops.  Also, the threads are not consistent in thickness.  On top of that, there are thick 'spots' here and there.  

I worked with it.  However, I am sure I missed some stitches and picked up 3 threads, here and there, when I was stitching over 2.  Oh this finish, as beautiful as the pattern is... would be criticized drastically by the professional, by the book, stitcher.  Well... I don't care.  I still think it is lovely!  And like I said above, "It is primitive, and I won't stress about it being PERFECT."

I will continue to work with this fabric.  But, after the difficulty trying to 'see' the threads this morning (and my light was good)... I will probably reach for the finer quality linens in the future when I can.

Look at the photos to follow closely.  You can see my errors... you can see the fabric errors.  Would you use this linen?  Honestly, for the price and primitiveness of it... I do think you should try.  But remember, it is a little difficult to work with.
 


My afternoon has not been as productive as my morning... but the evening is still ahead of me.  I have the house to myself... so I'm sure I will find something to do.  Yes, probably continue to research the pdf file thing... by maybe I'll craft some more.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

~*Just Because... *~

Hello Dear Friends!

I have been asked by a few... about the jacks stitch in the previous post.  This is a pattern that I worked up some time last year... and I cannot for the life of me remember why, when, or any other details about it.  As you know... things have changed for me (for the better!) over the past year and I am still recovering from all of that.  Mentally I will get back on track soon.  Maybe... (maybe not)

Anyway... because you asked... here is a little FREEBIE for you...

~*Potted Jacks N' Crows*~ Freebie Betty Dekat/primitivebettys © 2014
67 by 74 stitches

Use thread colors of your own selection.  I have printed the pattern with DMC 3021 brown gray, 610 drab brown, and 301 mahogany.

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

On another note... I am working to restock my printed~mailable patterns in my ETSY shoppe.  Some are listed now, others will be added soon.  Once my paper pattern stock is gone ~ it is gone.  I don't plan to print any more photos or patterns.  Where we live now, it is not convenient to run to the store for prints and copies.  SO... like I have said many times over... I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A PDF PATTERN.  My super smart, stepsons are planning a visit from Chicago over the 4th of July holiday... and I AM GOING TO BEG THEM FOR HELP!!!   LOL  So please, bare with me a little longer!  Thank you!

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

The freebie patterns of mine can ALL be found by clicking the link on the left sidebar.  To print the free patterns...

Click on the freebie link (currently Miss Jane Freebie) and it will bring up the entire album.  Find the pattern you wish to print - keeping the entire album on the screen  Then right click.  This will bring up a menu of options for you to pick from... choose view image.  This should (if you are using Windows - I know nothing about Mac) bring the image up on a page alone.  From the File menu at the top left of your screen... all the way top... choose print preview.  Choose the scale that best fits your needs... then print.  To get back to the patterns - use your back arrow.

Ok... I have to step away from the computer to cheer on another ball game.  Have a GREAT night!

Wishing you all warm smiles,

Betty

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

~*Summer Stitches*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Happy Summer!  

Summer is in full swing here!  

We are in the middle of baseball season with my son.  His team is playing well and getting better with every game.  The season goes until mid July and will finish with a tournament.  It is hot, but fun!  I love cheering them on!!!

I'm still working my 'summer job' at the bait shop here at Lake Wabaunsee.  It isn't a difficult job in any way shape or form.  Most mornings I have lots of time for crafting.  *WINK*

We have continued working on making our new home 'home'.  The list of projects we want to do continues to grow as we continue to try to mark things off as done.  We still have boxes of things unpacked.  I guess I'm slow in unpacking them (really slow!) because I want everything to be organized, clean, and cozy.  It will get done in time... maybe.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Here are a few things I have stitched up this week...

Two of these are my own patterns... two are from other talented designers (Lori of Notforgotten Farm and Isabella of The Primitive Hare).  I'm not sure yet what they will be finished into... but it has been very nice to be a' stitchin'!
 I stitched up these little ditties below on Osnaburg.  I'm making them into prim~necklaces and key chains.  They are filled lightly with crushed walnut shells.  I've added a bit of bling with some charms and used ball chain.  They can be worn for 'prim~fashion' or for use as pin rests.  The key chains could even be used to hold threads for a current project.  At least that is what I'm thinking.  They will be going to the booth I share with my SIL, Robin, at Rerun Consignments in historic Council Grove tomorrow.
 When school let out for the summer, the kiddo went to the bait shop with me for about two weeks.  He now prefers to sleep in. *SMILE*  It was nice while it lasted... watching him fish.  LOL

I'm still trying to work out my routine and get a handle on finishing crafting... and patterns... and pdf downloads... and adding things to my Etsy shoppe.  I'm sorry for the delay.  Please bare with me a bit longer.  I'll get there.  Hopefully sooner than later.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Monday, June 9, 2014

~*Fabulous Finishes and Wonderful Fun!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Oh this past weekend was such a BLAST!  I'm still reeling with glee!

Before I tell you about the ~*Happy Trails Rug Camp*~ ... let me first share some wonderful stitches...

These are all done by others using my freebie patterns.  (You can easily get to all the freebies by clicking the link on the left side of the screen.)

~*Young Girl Sampler*~ stitched and made into a darling bag by Becky...
 ~*Liberty*~ wonderfully worked by Rita...
 ~*Liberty*~ stitched into a sweet pillow by Rosemary...
Ladies, all are perfect!  You have all done excellent work.  Thank you for stitching and sharing!

~*~*~*~*~*~
My sweet SIL, Robin, and I headed for Oklahoma on Thursday.  Driving through big cities and long distances makes me nervous as all get out... but we made it there and back safely.  Ginger greeted us happily and graciously... and, I'm sure you all know, she is a very dear friend!  She was an amazing hostess!  Frank Bielec is such an inspiration and a charming man & teacher!  The Happy Trails Rug Camp was so much fun and so informative!  We loved spending time with old & new friends... and we learned so much!  I have returned home with fire in my shoes and inspirations beyond belief!

Most of us finished... or came very close to finishing... our class project.  Oxford Punch is a QUICK craft!  It works in reverse like needle punch ~ so the image created is on the underside of the backing.  Using yarn... makes a finished hooked (punched) piece FAST!  Frank told us we can use ANYTHING to work with... yarns of ANY KIND, wool strips (cut 6-8), double knit polyester (WOW!), or any fiber that will fit comfortably through the punch.  With traditional wool hooking, there seems to be a desire to always hook with wool... 100% wool.  Well, really there shouldn't be.  Rugs in history have been made with anything available.  Including old clothes, rags, panty hose, and plastic bags.  These materials have all made beautiful, very interesting rugs.  So... we should feel comfortable using materials that fit our needs... and budgets!
(I am on the far right with the cheesy grin and goofy tilted head!)

When Frank talked about backing... he again told us we can use what we have available.  (linen, monks cloth ~ good or cheap, or even dime store burlap)  For the camp, I used very inexpensive, CHEAP, monks cloth.  It is the really cheap stuff you cannot find at the good stores!  It is that bad!  Frank said it is great for glued finishes.  Punch the piece... glue it to a box, in a frame, on a piece of wood... etc.  If the finished piece is to be a floor rug... then it would be better to use a quality monks cloth or linen. 

This is Frank's model... a punched sheep mounted to a screen.  (A painted piece of wood with a bracket on the back to stand it up.)  The ornaments in front are made to be replaced for the seasons.  Isn't it charming?
 Frank also set up a display of his awesome artwork.  It was available for purchase too.  *SMILE*  (Yes, I am a happy owner of a sweet painting by Frank Bielec!)
 Robin worked the fasted on her sheep.  Frank kept referring to her as a Super Hero! 
 She even had a second lovely punched by the end of the second day of class!
 Ginger was busy smiling, mingling, cooking, cleaning, selling, teaching, running to the store, rocking & feeding sweet Baby Betty Ray, introducing everyone to her LOVING LOVING LOVING family  (I totally LOVED meeting so many of her family members that I already felt like I knew so well from her blog posts and our friendly chatting.), and giving grand-babies kisses & treats... and still was able to work on a needle punch!  I've always thought Robin is a Super Hero... but geesh... can you imagine how the world could be fixed and run with the work of Ginger and Robin working together?!?
 After my sheep was punched... I started punching this heart.  My sheep was punched with a mix of yarns and wool strips.  This heart will be punched only with wool strips so I can 'test the waters' so to speak... (it is also being punched on that cheap monks cloth)
 The weather was great for our travels and stay.  It was sunny & not too hot... but there was a little rain.  I was intrigued by Danny's (Ginger's husband) Ranger tire.  The mud around it made me think only of Red Velvet Cake!
Well... I better wrap up this LLLOOONNNGGG post.  

Before I do, I would like to thank Ginger for her friendship & hospitality, Frank for his kindness & sharing, Robin for her sisterly love & patience with my driving, and all my new and old friends for the kindred spirit filled weekend!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Thursday, June 5, 2014

~*A Finish From a Friend*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I'm delighted to share this finish with you!  It was stitched by the talented, Jenny Hoffman of Country Rustic Primitives...


Isn't it just wonderfully prim!  She was FAST too!  I just posted the free pattern a few days ago!  *SMILES*

Thank you, Jenny, for stitching and sharing!  You are awesome!

Tomorrow, I leave with my wonderful SIL, Robin, for the Happy Trails Rug Camp at my dear friend, Ginger's home.  The camp will be taught by the amazing Frank Bielec.  I've never been to a rug camp... or class, or lesson, or anything like this.  We are very much looking forward to the class & seeing our dear friends in Oklahoma.  My camera is packed... so stay tuned for lots of pictures and excitement from the camp soon!

Have a great weekend & many warm smiles to all of you...

Betty

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

~*My Finish...ES!*~

Hello Dear Friends!  Yesterday I shared the ~*Liberty*~ Freebie... and also said that I hoped to show you my finish today.  It is nearing midnight... but I'm getting it posted!  Yippee!

And... there are a few others I can gladly show you that are also now completed!

The pictures were taken in the house ~ without enough light ~ please bare with me and the poor photographs.  

My ~*Liberty*~ Freebie Finish...

The ~*Liberty*~ pinkeep... and a few others...

This pinkeep is a stitch from a pattern by Nan Lewis of Threadwork Primitives.  I just LOVE it!  Thank you Nan!  (A freebie pattern for members of Primitive Stitchers Society on Facebook.)

This pinkeep is my finish of Lori Brechlin's Notforgotten Farm pattern.  Thank you Lori!  I LOVE this one too!

And finally... this one was just a little stitch I worked up on some scrap linen...

All these pinkeeps have old skeleton keys attached for charm and are filled with crushed walnut shells.  Around the edges, and for the key holders, I stitched in place a strip of cut wool.  The wool and the backs were also lightly ruffed up with some fine grit sandpaper to give the look of age.  Oh... and they were all aged with some strong coffee too.

It feels great to be stitching and crafting again.  Hopefully I can keep up the pace!

(All these pinkeeps have new homes and are not for sale at this time.)

~*Remember, I do love to share your finishes on my blog too!  So let me see 'em!*~

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty