I Have a New Blog

Just a brief note today to let you all know that I have a new blog called Keep Calm and Fibro On. If you or any one you know deals with fibromyalgia, you might like to stop by.  I will be adding posts about meds, diet, stress, and helpful tips. If you like what you see then, please become a follower!

Seed Giveaway and 9 Lives!

Goodness where does the time go!!! I have been so busy lately.  Just stopping by to let you know about the Farmers Almanac Seed Giveaway (see sidebar) and to remind you to stop by often to check out the giveaways I post on my sidebar ... I always try to have some new ones for you to sign up for each week!

Also, I wanted to share this little cartoon! So true!

Winner of the Mystery Giveaway!

Good morning to you all! I am excited to announce the winner of my giveaway -- congrats to Becky at Primitives n Stitchin.  Here is what she won: a red work kitchen towel I embroidered while on vacation; a wool strawberry pincushion (also hand sewn by me); a little kitty magent; some blueberry tea; and cream of wil rice soup mix. Just a little busy this morning, so I'll sign off for now. FYI, I will be having a little stitchery give away in August (hint: it will have kitties on it!).

A Giveaway and a Sweet FREEBIE Cross Stitch Pattern

First of all, the giveaway! Because I will be enjoying a week up north (northern Minnesota/Lake Superior) that I look forward to all year, I am having a giveaway! What it will be I don't know yet because it all depends on what I find on my vacation travels. It could be something I stitch up, maybe a little antique I find, or a sweet vintage item, or possibly a prim pattern. I don't know yet ... but I'm sure you will like it!  These are the requirements for the giveaway: (1) you must be a follower of my blog; (2) you must leave a comment on this post; (3) for another chance at winning, you can post about my giveaway on your side bar or blog post; and (4) for another chance, share a crafting tip! Good luck to all and I'll see you (well, your blogs!) in about a week.

I also wanted to pass along a sweet, cross-stitch freebie that I think all you sewing sisters will like. Its from a wonderful blog I just found called The Primitive Hare. The pattern is called "Sister Stitcher" and you can download it HERE.  I think it would make a lovely present to someone close to your heart that is also a stitcher! The contest ends on July 20th with the winner announced on July 23rd.

Well, I'm off to get the vacation in gear! Hope you all have a fantastic week too and pamper your kitties with a few tasty treats!

MUCH TOO DRY!!!

I know all you sweet ladies and gents out there have big hearts so I'm asking you to keep the people and firefighters and law enforcement in Colorado in your prayers.  The fires are being banked by strong winds.  They need rain (and so do the farmers here in the midwest).  Thanks! I know our prayers can make a difference.

Unexpected Yard Sale Finds: Firkin, Potato Bin, Cut-Glass Cruets

Last Saturday, my daughter stopped by with Henry and "convinced" me to go yard saling with her.  My first find was a little firkin for cheap that I am going to try my hand at "making over" with the techniques found in A Primitive Place magazine. I will post about it when I've gotten it done.

Next we stopped by at an estate sale! To see what Molly bought, visit her blog at Molly Makes Do.  There were so many wonderful antiques and prims there, I didn't know what to look at first.  I did purchase this sweet, old, oak potato bin.

 Here is a picture of it next to my hoosier cabinet that my hubby restored (it was originally from his family but was in the barn in pieces when he started re-doing it). My daughter said it looks like they were always meant to be together!

I also purchased the little, oak, Bible box (complete with Bible from the early 1800's) that is sitting on top of the bin.

The last two items I bought were a little cut-glass deviled egg plate (yep, 30 years of marriage and I never had one - up until now just watched those little devils slide across the plates) and a cut-glass cruet set.  It is not very ornate and that's just how I like it.  It has 4 cruets: salt, pepper, vinegar, and one that I put sugar in, but I am wondering if it is for mustard? Any one have any ideas?

Of course, there has to be a "cat" thingy in all this ... notice the kitty treats jar? I found that at a local consignment store recently!  Well, that is my show and tell today.  Hope you all have a great stitching and kitty hugging day!

My First Hooked Rug

I actually did some crafting while I've been away.  I have been trying my hand at rug hooking.  A few years ago I purchased a hooking frame and other accessories and they had been sitting around.  Well, I wanted to craft around little Henry, but I didn't want to worry about losing pins and needles when hand sewing, so I thought I could make up a simple hooked rug pattern and try out my talents as a hooker (LOL).  The pattern I came up with was inspired by a hooked rug I saw somewhere based on one of the verses from "Simple Gifts" (tis a gift to be simple). I thought that was pretty neat and decided I'd like one that said "tis a gift to be free."  So here it is, my first attempt at rug hooking!

It really was a make-do kind of project as I used wool that I already had in stash from my wool kitty projects and penny rugs.  I learned a few things (especially what not to do) and made another one very similar to it and just a tad bigger for my mom's birthday.

Here it is hanging on my Americana wall.  I am thinking of making another one for the local American Legion's (I'm an auxillary member) auction this fall.  We use the money raised to send community teens to summer camp.
 

I have another hooked rug project I'm currently working on -- wanted to get it done this spring but the gardening took over! It will be a nice thing to work on when hubby and I go on vacation up north in a few days!

As far as my cats go, they LOVE playing with the wool strips whenever I'm  not looking.  Here are Louie and Oscar looking very innocent and lazy basking in the breeze on the screened in porch. What a life ... they are always on vacation!  Well, I wish you all a lovely weekend full of fun times and quality stitching.