~*Happy New Year*~

My wishes for a joyously Happy New Year to all of you!

~*~*~*~*~

This week began with me working and crafting in full motion... but quickly came to an abrupt stop. Somewhere along the way I stumbled upon a flu virus and was down & out for a few days. Thankfully I'm feeling better now and the week did get better. Of course there was some extra play time this week too with the kiddo out of school. We enjoyed an afternoon watching movies (the afternoon that I was my worst, I could do that!), an afternoon at the skating rink, a meal out at the kiddo's favorite spot... McDonalds, and some shopping so he could spend the gift card money that was burning a hole in his pocket.

And, even though I didn't get everything finished that I was wanting to... I did get works done to offer on Early Work Mercantile... for tonight at midnight... but the update may be ready for viewing early 'cause after all... this is New Year's Eve!


If you are planning to go out to ring in the new year this evening... please be safe.

Happy New Year!

Warm smiles...

Betty

~*Busy Cookin' & Workin'*~

Hello Dear Friends! I'm busy cookin' & workin' & it feels so good!

I've got dollies drying in the oven...



And stitches marking their spots on linen...



It feels like it has been so long since I've worked with my hands... in a good productive, crafty, sorta way. I've feeling refreshed with creativity & my mind is just whirling with ideas!!

Don't forget, my debut on Early Work Mercantile will be on January 1st, 2011! I've got a few goodies finished... and a few other ditties in the works. I'm excited!

Also, I plan to have two, maybe even three, new cross stitch patterns to release in January too!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Winding Down*~

Hello Dear Friends! I hope your Christmas was blessed with family, friends, and all things happy. Ours most certainly was! Now things are winding down... the kiddo is playing with his new toys and the hubby is too... so I'm going to enjoy a comfy spot on the sofa with my Peppermint tea...



and some linen & threads...



I pray that those of you on the east coast, in the midst of the big blizzard, are staying safe and warm. And for those of you on the west coast... I pray the flooding and down pours come to an end soon... and please stay safe too.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Merry Christmas*~

~*Where I Create*~

Hello Dear Friends! It isn't 100% finished... and really there is a lot left to do... but I'm using it! Here is my new space...

Tony said there was no way I was going to fit all my furniture pieces in there, but so far I have. One room is full up... and one room is still empty.

I am reminded though... "A place for everything and everything in its place."



I've got a mish~mash of furniture... but I don't mind. It all works for me!





Here are a few of my favorite things... a sign given to me by Joanne (on the top) and another made for my by my little brother, Kelly.



Wanna see my wool? Here it is all clean and sort of organized... it is setting on a shelf that was in our basement when we moved. I slapped some green paint on the shelf long ago & have used the heck out of it...



The basket sitting up on top on the left is an heirloom. My Mom gave it to me long ago. She and my Dad bought it shortly after they were married. She told me it was the first antique she ever bought.

This old desk is probably my most cherished piece of furniture...



It may not look like much now... because it has been through a lot in all its years... including a house fire. The desk has a broken drawer (that I do still have) and the part that closes up, sadly, is now missing... but this old desk once belonged to my Great Grandma 'Gram'. You may remember me mentioning her before. She has been the inspiration for many of my cross stitch pieces. One day I hope to have this desk restored... but will have to safe lots of pennies and find someone I trust to do it right. Until then... I'm going to use it. I plan to use it as my computer desk once we get the cable run to the studio.

The other room is bare except for my bookshelf of craft books...





I do have furniture to go in here, but need to get it painted first. I have a table & an old buffet purchased from an auction awhile back. I plan to paint them black... and distress them of course. Once done, they will soon have a home in this room.

The princesses are really comfy. Ima is still skid-dish (you can see her above checking out the desk ~ she seems to like the smell of Pledge.), but Katie totally loves affection... and this chair!



Well, I better get back over there. I'm working on finishing a couple small mats for the update on January 1st.

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Whipping The Edges*~

Hello Dear Friends! While working on finishing my ~*Antique Cookie Cutter Pony*~ rug this afternoon... a rug that I started months ago & am finally getting it bound thinking it will be an offering for my Early Work Mercantile page on January 1st... I thought you might be interested to see how I finish the edges of some of my rugs.



Often times I whip the edges of my rugs with wool worms... the same wool worms used to hook the rug. I don't have a large collection of wool yarn... and find it easier to finish the edges this way. I begin by marking the linen 2 inches around the boarder of the rug with a Sharpie marker. Then I sew a stay~stitch with the sewing machine... a straight and/or zig zag on the marker linen. Then cut away the excess linen. Next, I cut the corners of the rug off to prevent too much bulk. To estimate where to cut the corners, fold the point of the linen towards the corner of the hooked rug. Finger press. Then open the fold and cut on the fold line. Next, with the rug facing up, fold the raw edge of linen up to the outer edge of your rug as close to the last row of hooking as possible. Then fold the linen in again ~ so the first folded edge is now against the last row of hooking.



I don't always add cotton cording, but for this rug I did. Often times I have left the cording out & just whipped around the linen only. Also... a penny saving tip... cotton clothes line from the hardware store is a little less expensive than the cotton cording you can purchase at the fabric store. You get a lot more for your money with the clothes line.



Set and pin your cotton cording inside the folded linen as shown.



Grab your gold, bent tip needle & thread it with a woolly worm.



Poke the needle down as close to the last row of hooking as possible. Pull it through leaving a short (1/2 inch or so) tail. Hold the tail with your thumb and poke the needle through the linen again about 1/4 inch from the first poke. You will need to guide the worm as you pull the needle to keep it from twisting. Pull it down snug, but not too tight... having it hold the tail as you do this. Continue whipping until the worm is too short. Thread the extra worm under a few 'whips' on the backside of your rug and then trim the tail. (I haven't trimmed the tails on my rug yet.) Start another worm and continue until finished.





This is just how I do it... and I've never had a lesson... so it may not be right... but it works for me.



Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty