Happy New Year! Welcome 2013! I haven't posted in quite awhile, but I've been busy hooking rugs, felting, spinning wool, and weaving scarves along with knitting. Here's some of the projects I've done:

 woven scarf

 woven Noro Kureyon scarf

 hand spun and hand knitted scarf

 woolen woven plaid scarf

 primitive Christmas tree mini hooked rug

 hand woven scarf, woolen, in shades of brown

 hooked rug

 machine sewn table runner, using Civil War era replica cotton

 hand woven alpaca scarf

 felted snowman

I'm totally addicted to spinning. Look at what Santa brought me:

I'm adjusting to this wheel very nicely...it's so easy to spin on, and I keep this wheel in the family room so that I can spin while we watch TV. My spinning has improved, and my yarn has been more consistent. 
          Just getting over a horrible cold, which became bronchitis. Hoping NOT to get the flu! I prefer to stay home, out of crowds, and I am contented to work on projects in my home. I love this time of the year...it's so cozy to stay in while the cold weather stays outside my window. I never get "cabin fever". I would do very well living in Alaska with their 9 month winters. Unfortunately, my hubby doesn't agree!
          This new year, my resolution is to make gifts early in the year for the 2013 Christmas season. I think homemade gifts are the best, and I love giving things that I have made.
           I hope everyone has had a great start to this new year, and I hope you are keeping your hands busy, and completing new projects as well!

Happy 4th. of July!

I hope everyone is having a good week! I certainly am, and just have to share my excitement!

#1) I sold 3 rugs on Etsy within one month. Now, call me crazy, but I felt that people tend to 

      purchase wool stuff when autumn arrives. Guess I was wrong! Mind you, I'm not 

      complaining!

#2) My son is moving back home!

#3) Today I found out that I won a $1000 shopping spree at Macy's in Providence, RI. I entered 

      online not really thinking anything would come out of it. The shopping spree will occur the 

       day before my birthday, this month. How's THAT for a birthday present! Hubby said he 

       will pay the taxes.  They will film it to make a 2 minute clip, so that it can be shown at a gala 

      event that RI Monthly Magazine is having, and they're giving me two VIP tickets to the 

      event. Should be fun!!!

Projects I'm working on:

#1) I'm weaving a second scarf on my Cricket Loom. It's amazing to see how bad I was weaving when I started my first practice scarf, and you can see progressive improvement all the way through, with a darn nice looking ending. Weaving is so much fun, and I'm  happy I started, after wanting to weave all these years.

#2) I'm hooking a horse project. I need to get moving to replenish my Etsy store! Wriggling my nose to fill the shop just isn't working!

#3) I keep practicing my spinning. I love my wheel, but I also love the hand spinners. I received a kick spinner this week, and it's great having two free hands to draft the wool.

#4) Cleaning my home (BIG fib....do you think I have time for housework after doing all that other stuff?!?! )

Wishing whoever reads this (if anyone reads it...LOL), a wonderful, safe 4th of July. 

Weaving fever

I finally got the courage to set up my loom. The smaller loom, of course. I've been dying to weave, but the set-up seemed complicated and overwhelmed me...crippled me, actually. I stared at it every day. I dusted it. Then I'd walk away. One morning, I woke up with such determination! I felt like I could overcome anything! I took that old loom down from the shelf it sat on for four years, and glared at it as I set it on my table. I used Youtube videos, which I played over, and over, to learn the set-up. OK...a job that was supposed to take one hour tops, took me...ahem...<whispering>...5 hours. So what! At least I won the battle! Such a challenge, and it's a simple little heddle loom. I pass out when I imagine what weavers go through for 8 harness looms! But it was worth all the trouble, and I'm having a ball. I could really get into this hobby, and I'm already planning on projects and color schemes. I might even attempt warping my big heddle loom one of these days. Ya, I know...before any more of my big plans, I have to get up the courage to learn how to get this gosh-darn (I'm being polite) scarf OFF the loom! Hey, as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day!

Death of a friend

Upon arriving home from work last night, I learned that my friend Lynda, passed away in her sleep a few nights ago. I almost fell to my knees from shock...she was a little younger than me. I had spoken to her about three weeks ago. We used to work together, and that was how we met. We instantly became friends, and I've missed her since she took a position at another facility. Lynda was a little spitfire, and she dressed like and adored Stevie Nicks. Funny, she's been on my mind a lot the last two weeks. I have been thinking about her whenever I was at work. When I woke up this morning, I was hoping that this was just a bad dream. Sadly, it isn't. This just reminds me to don't sweat the small stuff, and enjoy today as if it will be your last day. Too bad we have to be reminded of this through the loss of a friend. Rest in peace my friend...I will miss you...

Gravestone angel

I finished my little gravestone angel rug. I kept pulling out sections that I had hooked, because the color didn't look right to me. I like the way it came out! It measures 12" W X 9" H. I just love gravestone art from the 1700's and 1800's! If you want to see beautiful gravestone art, check-out this link...https://www.facebook.com/thegravestonegirls....their pictures are amazing!!! I'm selling my little rug on Etsy, but I hate to part with it...I have several areas where I could display it in my home. Today I need to draw another rug design to hook. I love it when I'm in a hooking mood!

Finally finished my table runner.

ALLELUIA! I finally finished my woolen hooked rug table runner. I hated it the entire time I was hooking it, but when I started the antique black border, I fell in love with it! It's so funny how an opinion can change, with the right choice of color! Never a dull moment when rug hooking!