Happy thoughts for a new year!

This afternoon I finally found time to sit down with a cup of chocolate mint tea and open an  envelope I received yesterday in the mail from The Wool Studio...some beautiful wool samples for rug hooking.
This usually gets me thinking about starting a new rug but I have a few projects I need to complete first.  But of course this didn't stop me from placing my order for some very nice darks that will make a gorgeous background.

I took down my Christmas rugs from the walls and hung back up my bunny rug

It's nice to catch our breath after the Christmas crazies and begin looking ahead to some new projects...I think part of the fun is in the planning.   I think that's part of the pleasure looking at others blogs.  So much creativity and talent!

One of my favorite rug pattern sites is Spruce Ridge Studios....I have already one in mind for this year.

Over Christmas I was excited to sell another one of my dolls...the Christmas snowgirl....and so now I'm looking forward to maybe a Valentine girl and a springtime girl...I'll post my work in progress pictures here.

My hands ache from carpal tunnel syndrome and you'd think this would slow me down a little from being on my computer but it hasn't.  I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas so now I can play games and check my emails, read blogs and surf the net just about anywhere...when I think about having carpal tunnel surgery the first thought I have is "how will I check my emails?"

I don't do New Years resolutions but here's a few things I'd like to accomplish.....do more Pilates...go for a walk everyday or hop on the treadmill.... ...thank the Lord for ever day He gives me and my family...be slow to criticize and quicker to compliment and enjoy life each day~

Shopping expedition with the Christmas birthday grandkids...and one belated!  The kids get to pick out what they want for their birthdays then we go eat....lots of fun and great memories~

Meet Miss Mylie

Time flew by since the fall and I have been very busy with getting ready for Christmas.

Miss Mylie

We now have a new member to our little family and her name is Mylie.
When we got her she was 12 weeks old and now she is 5 months old.  Part King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and part Bichon Frise...what a combination.  She is one big HAPPY ball of fur...she bounces around all over the place like she owns it.

We had a few puppies to look at the day we got her but when took one look at those big brown eyes we were hooked.

It had been awhile since we had a puppy so of course we forgot how much work is involved.  On our way home with our new "baby" we stopped at Petsmart for supplies.  Can we say...OVERWHELMING!!!
Who knew this 7 lb bundle of fur would need so many things?  By the time we dragged ourselves out of the store and got back into the car little Mylie had thrown up ...and we felt like it too.

With our puppy training books in hand we bravely began this journey....and  with Rachel of course;  Mylie's dog trainer.  Actually, she trained me NOT Mylie.  After 4 encouraging training sessions she cut us loose and we were on our own.

Some days we not so good.....


But eventually we fell in love with this little sweetheart...

We've decided to nominate her for the A.D.D Poster Dog of the year.    I had recently asked my daughter to please bring her little dog Cooper over to meet Mylie and give her some doggy socialization ( no kidding, for real, this is in the book).   Well, have you ever had kids over to play with your kids and your kid's running around out of control while theirs is sitting quietly coloring????????  At one point little Mylie's tongue was hanging sideways out of her mouth with joy over company and poor Cooper is backing away from her.....what can I say.

No, really, right now she's just a puppy and this too shall pass (again, in the book); and  in a few years I'll wish she would just get off the couch and do a few laps!

During all of this we had a 10 day cruise booked and couldn't change it so Aunt Lonna came to puppysit....she's still in recovery.

We celebrated yesterday because Mylie went 24hrs without any accidents in the house!  Yippee!!

As I am writing this right now we still are "accident free"         For this we give thanks.


Wishing all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!
Patty-Mylie's mom

Exciting news for October!

Hello!

I might be a little early but I want to share Miss Winter Winsome with all of you!

She's got a soft body but her head is paperclay over foam.  I added German glass glitter and some other sparkly stuff to add some dazzle.  She's very sweet I think.

I'm going to put her on PFATT Marketplace for October~
"Primitive Folk Art Trinkets and Treasures Marketplace"
I was very pleased to be accepted by www.pfattmarketplace.com to sell my folk art so I'm busy working on fall and Christmas ideas. 
   There are 4 or 5 cutter quilts on the way to my house from EBAY I'm going to use for more primitive angels or maybe stockings; we'll see.

Been busy also going to see two of my grandchildren play deck hockey...it's their first year and so they are just learning.   The helmets are almost as big as their little bodies!  They look so cute trying to shoot this little red ball....sometimes in the wrong net (not my grandchild of course).  I have eight grandkids from one yr to 17 yrs so there's always something going on; they are such a joy.

 We are at a "should  or shouldn't we" place right now because we are seriously contemplating getting a puppy.......a Goldendoodle....I think they can combine anything with a darn poodle!!
Spent hours last nite exploring the world of Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Cockapoos online. 
It's hard to look at these adorable little pups as sweet as angels and then try to imagine them bigger, needing to be taken to the groomers, jumping up on the furniture, etc...you know, the "real" world of owning a pet.
My life is pretty calm & quiet right now...thank God!...do I want to take this big step?  I know if I go to see them, pick them up and well, you know the rest...that'll be it.  It'll be coming home with us....

My stepson was here last nite with his little Shitzu/poodle..can't remember the breed right now..shihpoo?? anyway, he was updating me on all the latest I need to know on raising a puppy.
1.  They now sell "calming" toys for the ADHD or hyper pup
2.  I need to "introduce" our home to the puppy by keeping it in a certain space or room in the beginning
3.  "To crate or not to crate"  is the latest buzz
I'm sure there was more but by that time I was getting anxious!!

Well, stay tuned and don't forget to check out  Pfattmarketplace in October! 
Blessings,
Patty

September Blessings

                                                                

September 2 was my 60th birthday.... why is it I feel like I'm still 30????

This is a With thy Needle and Thread design I received from my sister.........can't wait to start it!  Aren't the threads yummy colors?

              

 Husband invited my family & friends for pizza and cake and after everyone went home we took off for a surprise trip to Canada for a long weekend!!

 We had a small incident at the border crossing into Canada...when the border patrol asked him where we were going he said   "I can't tell you because it's a surprise for my wife and I don't want her to know where we are headed".........well,  what do ya think happened next???

Yep, we were pulled over and then directed to go inside headquarters or whatever it's called and he was interrogated by 3 different officials!!!  It was all quite a big mix up but after he explained WhY he didn't want me to know they let us go!!  Poor guy, he was so shook up.  I have to say, though,  we are grateful that the border patrol are that vigilant but next time I'm driving!!

 Millcroft Inn outside of Toronto where we stayed for 4 beautiful days~~





  

   But, now back to reality...         

Snowgirl??  snow queen??   Spent 3 days trying to make an umbrella..I have always liked the vintage postcard depicting a snowman holding an umbrella.

But as you can see I don't think I was very successful with it...

So, back to the basement for some fresh new ideas....check back for the 2nd edition..

Trying to find time to finish my rug

First fall apple pie........

The evidence is in.....

you can almost taste the cinammon..........mmmmm    

Have a good week~~~

                               

Ready for Halloween?

Days seem to be shorter and my urge to nest and BAKE  & cook have kicked in.....

But....

before I start getting out the cookbooks and turning on the food channels I want to share my 2 new Fall gals....

Miss Falleena
She's not a witch per se (husband is a gothaphobiac!) but she's sort of Halloweenish in her own way.  She's got this aloof, prim attitude but if you look closely you'll see maybe her darker side.....

Meet Miss Autumn

When I start the dolls their bodies are muslin and filling   

Then the fun begins...
adding the paperclay to the face....

It takes me over 2 days or more from start to finish to create one.  It takes 2 layers of paperclay applied, sculpted and dried before you start to see the face come alive...

I think once I paint her eyes and lips I get an idea of who she is but the real girl emerges when I create her hair. 

I guess that's  like most of us;  we aren't "done" until our hair is..

These girls' hair I created from washed sheep locks (not from my sheep; don't have any...yet? ) 

Finally, I finish dressing them and adding their handmade accessories and they're done.

When I was little my most favorite thing to do was playing with paperdolls...so this is probably my grown up version...I just now thought of that!

Well, the pot of chili on the stove smells like it's about done and it's starting to get dark out there....Closing for now,

Blessings
Patty

Trip to the organic grocery store

 Husband and I recently watched the documentary film "Food Inc" on TV.  This film exposes all the seriously nasty stuff that happens to some of our food on it's way to our table.   When it ended we agreed that we needed to make some real changes in our food shopping habits;  we became believers.

We watched it on TV Saturday night..... Sunday we went to Whole Foods to begin this new organic journey.....  Drove an hour 15 minutes to get there.  Spent $296.....  Husband said he wished we had gone to a movie Saturday nite................

Have a good week

Patty

                                                

Meet Miss Autumn




I'm excited to share photos of my newest doll "Miss Autumn".  I really wanted to make something that would be primitive but not  too scary; some of my loved ones are not quite sure how to take the extremely primitive stuff I have!

She really has a different "personality" than the first one I made;

 maybe a little more whimsical?

I was going to put Miss Autumn on ETSY but I am being considered by PrimNest for their online market. 

Right now I'm looking out my big picture window at stone sized hail hitting the window; bird feeders swaying and trees bending!  It seemed to come out of nowhere. 

I want to share some photos of samplers I've done over the years;  I've got the urge to start a new sampler after looking at Blackbird Designs blog and some others' I have been checking out!

You can't help but get the "urge"  after you see all the beautiful  sampler designs that are out there. 

I usually stitched reproduction samplers and loved Sheepish Designs;  I don't think they are still designing??

Meg's Bunny  Sheepish Designs

Can't remember the name of this one but loved the colors

Rosanna Pinkham   Sheepish Designs again

This one is my favorite;  also Sheepish Designs

Chloe Lincoln-Sheepish Designs


I love looking online at all the sampler charts that are out there today~~ such talent and creativity;  I want them all.

Going to a cross stitch shop was always a treat from picking out the chart to matching the floss. 

While at the check-out counter we would be looking forward like a kid on Christmas to the evening when we could

get into a cozy chair and putting that first stitch in our new sampler!

What made it even better was .....having a sister who OWNED the cross stitch shop.....who let me have first dibs at the new patterns.........and gave me a family discount!!!!

Went to see One Day ..the movie.. last nite with DH.  It was slow at first;  some surprises but I'd give it 3 out of 4 stars.

I started this post on Friday; went back in to do some editing of the pictures and viola! half of my post disappeared!  So, it's really Saturday...not Friday...fyi

Today I am hoping I can talk my man into taking me to SHAKER WOODS FESTIVAL which is a yearly handmade craft show;  we'll see....

Have a great weekend..go stitch or hook or just relax~~

Patty