Tuesday, April 15, 2014

~*Bait Shop Activity... so far*~

Hello Dear Friends!

As I've mentioned earlier, I have a part time job with the bait shop at the beautiful Lake Wabaunsee.  This lake is about 10 minutes from our house.  I have not spent much time there yet, but I am just in awe at the natural beauty.  I'm looking forward to a great summer at the lake!

I work at the bait shop Monday and Tuesday mornings.  Later I may fill in a few extra hours, but I do still have my other part time job with the consignment shop in Council Grove.

So far, the lake has not been too busy.  It is still early in the season... and it has been very cold.  We had snow the other morning!  ICK!!!  No more until next Winter PLEASE!

To fill my time... I have been hooking!

Here are my finishes from this week...


Thank you to all who gave me suggestions for the bunny rug!  It is now finished... and I think it has been claimed by a new home.  *SMILES*  Remember, the pattern for this rug was generously given by Lori Brechlin of NotForgotten Farm.  It is a freebie pattern she gifted a few years ago.  I had to change it a little because of my hooking trials... but hopefully she will approve of my finish.  Thank you, Lori!

 Here are a few more photos... with and without the camera flash.

My washboard is finished now too!  It was a fun & quick project.  I kept the design and hooking simple.  Around the edge I hooked a little red and blue for color.  The letters are a light gold.  The background a brown mix.  I'm thinking I will keep this one to display in our laundry room with my collection of other old washboards.  We moved here in October... and I have yet to do any painting or decorating.  Hmmmm... maybe I'll start in the laundry room?
 

 More photos with and without the flash.

When I arrived at the lake this morning, it was a chilly 27 degrees.  The fog rising from the lake was soothing and gentle.  I was mesmerized by it...

 In the lower picture, you can see a couple of friendly geese...
I hope to keep sharing more projects, finishes, and beautiful lake views with you!
 
Wishing you all warm smiles! 
Betty

Friday, April 11, 2014

~*Rabbit Hookin'... frustration*~

Hello Dear Friends!

This rug is designed just beautifully by a most awesome designer!  You all know her very well ~ I'm sure!  Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm gave this sweet design a few years ago as a freebie.  I loved it then and I love it now!  Thank you so very much, Lori!

However, I have been struggling hooking it.  You may remember a few months ago when I posted the rug and how I had reverse hooked every part of it.  Well, last weekend my SIL Robin and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Judy Cripps and the Rustic Rug Hookers for a local hooking, grouping in Topeka.  With the encouragement from the other hookers there, I changed the face a bit... the eyes and nose/brow lines... to a more simpler form ~ one that I, a very untrained hooker, could handle better with my big, fat strips.  (They are a 9 cut.)  I hooked the day away... and then took the rug with me to the bait-shop (my second part time job... where I don't actually 'work' very much... I can craft there!) and hooked some more.  Well... until I ran out of the background wool... that I purchased from Judy on Saturday.

Here is what I have so far...
 The strips of wool at the top of the photo will be used to 'fill in' the gap.  Yes, they are a different color, but hopefully they will look like a 'prim patch' and be okay.
 I'm not sure about the lines in the ears.  The color of wool is a bit too yellow.  Maybe I'll change it.  I'm also thinking that the whiskers need more work.  What do you think?

Once I am finished with the bunny... or maybe I'll set it aside  for awhile... this is another project I'm excited to work on.  I found this old washboard at a thrift store the other day for $3.  Someone has painted a barn scene on it.  I hate to destroy someone's artwork... but I want to make this 'mine'.  I would like to update it and make it more prim too!
 Here is the back.  It has been patched with an old piece of floor trim.  The label marking is faint, but you can still see some of it.

 The top measures 10 3/4 by 4 1/2 inches.  I have a scrap of linen just the right size... and an idea!  I'll keep you posted.

On another note... here are my sweet babies girls!  They are growing so fast, I can almost see them get bigger just watching them!  And I love them so much!!!
 They all pretty much look the same.  The smallest girl is sitting at the back of the lower picture.  I call her Mona... or Mini Mona.  The one strutting her stuff in front is the most friendly to me.  (At least I think she is the same, overly friendly one when I'm around.)  I think I'll call her Ophelia.  Why these names?  I have no idea.  They just popped into my crazy brain!
Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

Monday, April 7, 2014

~*I'm Working*~

Hello dear Friends! Once again... I'm posting weeks apart. I'm still working on finding my groove and a regular routine. Just when I think it is all figured out... another wrench is thrown into the mix. This time... it is another part time job. I now have two part time jobs. Three days a week I drive to Council Grove to work at ReRun Consingments... where Robin and I have our antique/junque/craft/whatever booth... and now two mornings ~ EARLY MORNINGS... 6AM! ~ I work at the bait shop at Lake Wabaunsee. Yup... I am working at a bait shop. I sell the fishing licenses for the private lake... and worms, minnows, and crawdads! Now, did any of you see that happening?


The only reason I wanted to work there was for the opportunity to meet the friendly people around the area of our new home.  So far, it is working.  I've meet a handful of happy smiles and am looking forward to spending the summer at the lake too.  When school is out, my son can tag along with me and swim at the beach.  He will surely enjoy that!  The job started at the first of April and will run through the summer until September.

So far at the shop, we have not been busy.  It has still been a bit chilly outside... and folks are still working. Many of the lake residents have their cabins as vacation homes only.  They will soon be leaving their winter homes and making residence at the lake.  Until then... it is a little slow.  

The really good part about that... I get to craft at work!!!  I took my hooking today...

This morning was a little cloudy and area farmers have been burning the fields.  One fire got out of control today... causing the local fire fighters to scramble together for assistance...


I'll take more pictures there this summer to share... and will continue to craft and share that too!  I promise!

My mornings before work are calm.  I'm now a coffee drinker.  I like to sit in this old chair... and am always surrounded by my little girls...
The chickens are growing, but I don't have an updated picture to share.  The chicken coop is coming along.  Hopefully it will be finished when the little ladies are ready to go outside.  

I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of Spring... and are crafting lots of beautiful things!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty