~*Scrappy Ol' Rug*~

Hello Dear Friends! I've finished hooking this lil' mat & listed it on Ebay just a few minutes ago. I'm really happy with how it turned out... it looks so antique & olde... to me anyway.



If you would like to see more of it... CLICK HERE or search seller id primitivebettys.

Tomorrow is suppose to be cold & rainy... actually the remainder of the week is suppose to be cold. I've got a few soup recipes picked out to try... and plan on staying in with hook & needle in hand. (well, not at the same time ~ but you knew that!)

Wishing you all many warm smiles,

Betty

~*Was It a Selfish Saturday?*~

Well, it could have been... guess it depends on how you look at it.

Hello Dear Friends! Yesterday I took the day for MYSELF & crafted to my hearts content! While I didn't stitch on anything, I did hook & finish up two trash~to~treasure pieces. Tony was working in the garage building a packer for the go kart track and Trinity spent the day playing with the dog & later on with two of his cousins... so I did my own thing! It felt GREAT too!

Here is what I did...

First, let me remind you of what I started with. This is the group of stuff I found when my good buddy, Sher, and I hit the thrift shops in town a few weeks ago...



Look closer at this...



It now looks like this...



The cross stitch on the top was one I had done several years ago for another idea I had that didn't pan out as envisioned. 'Willard School' was the name of the one~room school house my Dad went to (well, both my Aunts too). The building has now become someones home. I don't get to Willard, Kansas often now... but each time I do, I make a drive by & imagine what it would have been like as a school.

Here is a close~up view of the stitching... I've aged it with some sandpaper & a few snips here and there...



The slate sitting at the bottom was also from the thrift store. The large part of this piece was only 25 cents... and the slate was only 99 cents. Hard to believe it only cost $1.24 total!

My next project of the day was the stool. Here is a view of how it looked before (it was only $5)...



Here is how it looks now...



Using cheap spray paint, I first gave it a coat of black & then a quick coat of red. I didn't even bother with sanding before painting... I figure I do enough sanding after painting to make up for it.

After the red was applied...



After the sanding... notice the school board 'thingy' there too... I didn't even bother repainting it...



Then a coat of shoe polish to stain & wax... (remember I told you that lil' secret before)



I grabbed a scrap of linen & one basket of woolly worms... drew up a geometric design... then headed for my spot under the Oaks in the backyard... (the linen was actually one I had scribbled on the other side for another rug that never became a rug)



While hooking... I decided to make a change in the design...



Tony had to ask me if I was hooking a pizza. I wasn't amused by the comment... but we did have homemade pizza for supper last night. LOL



Another view of the finished stool...



So, was it a selfish day? Maybe it was to some extent... but it sure feels good to have a few of the things on my list finished. It always feels good to me to have worked with my imagination, heart, and hands. Plus, I feel the creative juices are regurgitated for more.

Wishing you a day of warm smiles, sunshine, and crafting joys...

Betty

~*It Is Monday... already?*~

Hello Dear Friends! It is shocking to me that it is already Monday! Where did the weekend go? We were having so much fun! Saturday was the monthly hooking at Judy Cripps' place. (It was GREAT... as usual. :) Lots more showed up to hook this month than did last month. My sweet SIL, Robin, was able to make it this time, and so were Sher and JoJo. It is always nice to see such happy hookers spending the day together!) Then yesterday was our big, family birthday bash. (We had over 30 here for food, fun, and go karting. It was a wonderful time! I'll share more about this later.) PLUS, this weekend was an online stitching retreat for one of the online, cross stitch groups I'm lucky to be a part of AND an anniversary party for another online group. (I didn't get to spend much time socializing with them because of all the other happenings of the weekend... but aren't our online friends just AWESOME?!)

I did receive an email this weekend sharing this darling ditty... :) ...



This awesome ditty was hooked by Rebecca. The pattern is the freebie ~*Halloween Cat*~. It is GREAT too! I just love the variegated wool used for the kitty body. Makes me think of my own lil' Sarah kitty. (she is black, gray, and kinda tort-like) Rebecca offers many of her fine wares for sale on Ebay with the seller id Goodwool. She is also a member of The Primitive Rug Hookers group (on Ebay). Have you searched the groups goodies lately? Click HERE or do a search with the letter PRHG to see 'em all. It is a fun search to do!

Well, I must get back to stitching. My Momma's birthday is Friday and I only have her present about half stitched. I'll show you all when I'm finished so you can see.

Wishing you all warm smiles,

Betty

~*Finishes to Share*~

Hello Dear Friends! The weather has continued to be AWESOME here this week & I've continued to work on my cross stitch models outside in the shade of the trees while Trinity and Brownie romp and play. I do have 3 models finished ~ as far as the stitching goes anyway. One is completely finished, one needs framed, and one needs some construction finishing... but I am getting closer!

I've received a few emails of finishes to share ~

It looks like Naomi is in the mood for Fall! She made her rendition of the ~*Black Cat & Jack*~ freebie... changing the key to a star. Although it hasn't been whipped, it is still super sweet! Don't you just love the look on Jack's face? I love it, Naomi! Thank you for hooking & sharing!


This isn't a freebie finish. It is Connie's adaptation of ~*1836 Spring Tyme Sampler*~. (Available in my Etsy Shoppe.) Connie has dedicated this to three women that mean a lot to her and share the same birthday of May 29. (Not of the same year though she said.) The year has been changed to 1885 because that was the year her Grandmother Kate was born. I do just love to see so many personal touches & influence put into stitches. Lovely, Connie! Thank you for stitching and sharing!


I'm headed back out to my shady spot!

Many warm smiles to you...
Betty

~*Catching Up*~

Hello Dear Friends! I've got some catching up to do and I'm so sorry to have not posted for a few days... it has been a fun, busy few days!


What a cheery smile Marianne has!

This past Thursday I finally had a chance to meet up with my dear friend, Marianne ~ in person. We have been friends via email for over a year now & only live an hour apart. It was about time we met face to face, huh? She is truly the sweetest! Her family, home, and critter babies are super sweet too! She introduced me to a marvelous cross stitch shop in Wichita called Hearts Desire. I was able to meet the owner & drool over the fibers and charts (ok, I didn't really drool, but you know what I mean!). There isn't a cross stitch shop near my home, so it was a big treat to visit this awesome store. I plan to revisit it, and Marianne, much~much more now too! After shopping, we spent the afternoon stitching & I also showed Marianne how to needle punch. She took to it like a natural! Oh, and I can't forget to tell you... Marianne is an amazing cook! She treated me to supper of homemade sauce, meatballs, and bread! This time... I really did drool! LOL

Yesterday was the monthly hook-in with Judy and Rustic Rug hookers. It was a smaller crowd than normal, but still great to get together for a day of hooking, wool shopping, and eating. I was disappointed my SIL, Robin, and good friend, Sher couldn't make it... but hopefully next month they will. Here is a photo of the wool I purchased ~ love the new over-dyes Judy had! ~ and an update on the rug I've been trying to finish for over a year now. I don't know why this one is so slow going! At least it is closer to being finished.



With the busy last few days, I've been behind on emails. While catching up, I was delighted to find this fabulous finish from France! The email was in French & I found myself disappointed that I could not remember much from 2 years of high school french class... but thanks to an online translator, I could read what Isa (no blog given) had said. She combined 2 freebie charts, ~*Beholden*~ and ~*Spring Freebie*~, to stitch up the most darling, pinkeep. The fibers & finish are so sweet and special! Isa, merci beaucoup!



Amidst all the busy days... I have been cross stitching on MODELS. I'm working frantically to get the finished & put the polishing touches on them. It won't be long.

Wishing you all warm smiles...
Betty

~*Monday Make~Overs*~

Hello Dear Friends! I've been crafting! I've actually been able to sneak a few minutes in here and there & do some hooking! It feels GREAT! I'm one of those that, if I don't get to craft, I get a bit ~ just a tad ~ GRUMPY! Well, I'm not grumpy anymore. LOL

I just finished the make~over... trash~to~treasure... last night.


When we were on the way back from Eureka Springs a few weeks ago, we stopped at a few antique stores in Fort Scott, Kansas... and some others along the way. I wasn't even in the door to one shop 5 steps before I clutched this wooden bucket (an old sewing basket) in my arms. I KNEW it had a new life!

Here is a before picture of it & some of the other treasures I found.


The bucket was only about $6.00. I began by painting the entire bucket ~ metal ring and all ~ black. The next coat of paint was light blue. Next was sanding & scuffing... then some warm, walnut stain & a coat of clear to protect it. For the metal ring, I added some 'cinnamon rust'. Yes, I will admit, I found out the hard way that this ring cannot be removed. YIKES! The whole bucket will fall apart! Silly me... huh? For the 'cinnamon rust', I painted the ring with a coat of craft glue. Then sprinkled cinnamon spice to cover. Let dry. Then give it another coat of clear to seal it.

The bucket didn't have a lid, but I thought it needed one. My wonderful Tony helped me out there! I found a plastic lid in the kitchen that fit the opening ~ for him to use as a template. He cut a circle from a scrap piece of thin, wood we had laying around. I used the same plastic lid to mark some linen & hooked up the rug to top it off. I wanted it to look olde & scrappy... so I hooked it entirely of left over woolly worms & hooked it hickety~pickety... with the loops all different lengths & a lil' WONKY.

Close up of the 'cinnamon rust'...


Some closer views of the rug on top...




Another thing that makes me feel better... having my corner in the basement ORGANIZED! I stayed up late ~ super late ~ a few nights ago working on finding some order here. This area wouldn't make it in a magazine & isn't beautiful by any way, shape, or measure... but at least I know where things are and can move & work comfortably now. Well... at least for awhile... it doesn't stay this way long ya know.


Okay... I'm off to find the next project(s)!

Warm smiles to you all...
Betty

~*Freebies for You*~

Hello Dear Friends! I don't know why it is... but even with Independence Day a few short days away, I'm thinking about Halloween. Maybe it is because I've been seeing so many new spooky creations posted on Ebay and all those awesome online craft markets!

As promised... some new freebie offerings for you to stitch, punch, hook, or whatever medium you choose. Please though, be kind, and give credit where credit is due ~ to me, Betty Dekat... primitivebettys... and share your finishes so we can all see 'em! Email them to me & I will happily post them here on my blog!

Enjoy!

~*Black Cat & Jack*~ Freebie
(Okay, I know it isn't black yet... but I was thinking black cat when I doodled.)

©primitivebettys 2009

~*Wicked*~ Freebie Chart

68 by 50 stitches
©primitivebettys 2009

Warm smiles to you all...
Betty

~*NWA Hook-In part 5 FINALE*~

Hello Dear Friends! Thank you for allowing me to share all the beautiful rugs & fun from our weekend in Eureka Springs. It really was a great weekend! I probably do have more to share with you about it, but will consider this my FINALE POST for now anyway.

To top off such a fun weekend, my good friend, Ginger, and her charming hubby, Danny, came over to our hotel for supper ~ grilled chicken breast by my awesome BIL, Jimmy... YUMMY! I've got to tell you, I truly admire this couple. Ginger and Danny are both the sweetest & kindest anyone could have the honor to meet and know. I do feel extremely blessed to have this friendship.



Ginger gave both my SIL, Robin, and I quilt tops she had made. She said these are from her stash of UFOs. I cannot imagine having a stash of these... they are both beautiful. I missed getting a picture of Robin's, but here is mine ~



I'm going to keep this in a safe place until I get the nerve to try to finish it myself... or take it to a trusted quilt finisher. Isn't is wonderful? I just love the design & the colors! Thank you Ginger!

I've talked (typed) so much about Robin & Jimmy... I should share them with you too ~



And our smilin' mugs too ~



And to close the post... sunset on Saturday evening...



Warm smiles to you all...

Betty

~*NWA Hook-In part 4*~

YES! There are still more rugs to show you! Enjoy!
















Well... that is it for the rug photos. They have all been wonderful, haven't they? There will be one more post from our marvelous weekend tomorrow & then back to my same-o, same-o bloggin'.

Warm smiles to you...

Betty

~*NWA Hook-In part 3*~

More rugs from the hook~in to share...
















I do actually have MORE photos to share of the beautiful rugs! WOW! It is really just astonishing, isn't it?

Warms smiles,

Betty