"Stars and Flowers" ready to punch and "Remember...."

Hi Everyone, Just a quick little blog here on this rainy and cool Saturday.  We have had our hands in so many projects this week, I swear Mom hasn't come out of her room.  Oh wait, as I ran to the post office today she asked if she could ride along and run into the Dollar Store for some long boxes to separate her wool strips.  That's her big outing for this week!!  

Anyway, she did finish my "Remember" hooked pattern a couple of weeks ago I just didn't get it on to show you.  The Wool Applique pattern for this will be in the next Wool Street Journal as a free pattern, so be sure to subscribe, it's a wonderful magazine.  I will get the hooked pattern loaded to the website very soon.

"Remember....."  

Thanks to those of you who wrote telling me that I'm not the only crazy one who would tackle "Stars and Flowers" in one big punch needle design.  I got it drawn on to weavers cloth and plan to start punching tonight.  I will devote  1 1/2 hours to punching the design and 1 1/2 hours to stitching the wool applique version.  How will I ever find any pinterest or facebook time??  But I am like a woman possessed, I want to get these finished....  You can see that I have chosen colors a bit different for the punch needle version.  Of course green for the leaves and vines, the tan will be my background, stars will be ecru and the flowers will be red and blue.  Have to go with my patriotic theme.  I think I will most definitely lightly mist it afterwards with walnut crystals to take some of the "new" off it.  I'll keep you updated on the progress of this too!

Stars and Flowers ready for punching....

I have also put "Maximus Snifficus" on weavers cloth for punching and a new design "Peace" with a white dove.  So watch for those.  

Well, if you don't hear from me for a couple of days you know where I will be, in my chair with busy hands!!! 

Until next time.....

Meet Maximus Snifficus (Pig in the Flower Garden) Rug and ....would you punch this??

Just as promised...here is "Maximus Snifficus" (Pig in the Flowers)!!!!  Isn't he just so pretty??  I used Baxter's unique way of sitting, ever so leisurely with his back foot thrown off to the side, and Max's always busy, sniffing nose as my inspiration.  Max is so frustrating because we will let the dogs out after dinner and the other two will come in right away, but not Max, he has to go around sniffing everything in his kingdom.  He moves at his own pace!  (I always say he reminds me of Ferdinand the Bull, does anyone else remember that great kids story?)  Anyway, Mom did a great job on this one, as usual.  I requested primitive colors for this, and felt that antique black was needed for the background so that Maximus would really pop out.  If you are interested in the pattern, here is the link to the website pattern page:

Maximus Snifficus Hooked Rug Pattern

..and if you would like the kit, (pattern and all wool) here is the link:

Maximus Snifficus Hooked Rug Kit

I need to ask all you punchers if you would tackle this.  I have converted my "Stars and Flowers" design into 5 inch blocks for punching.  I will sell each block separately for sure, but to punch them all together has made a 21 1/4 x 26 1/4 design. Am I the only crazy one who would do this??  This is a tough one, and I'm not sure how I'll do it because it would be amazing as a 4, 6, 9, 12, and 16 block design as well, with you being able to choose your favorite blocks...

I'll keep you posted on that, but if you do punch, let me know your thoughts.  

Off to do inventory, 

until next time.....

Stars and flowers adjustment.....and another finished rug...

Sometimes when I design I tend to be in a rush, wanting to get the design out as soon as possible. But, I have really been taking my time lately which is a good thing. It gives me time to really choose the right colors and make sure the design is right. So, with that in mind, I was looking at the "stars and flowers" quilt of all,places, here on my blog. Apparently standing right by it I never noticed that there are three blocks with berries right next to one another. This just won't do! It will throw the whole design off in my opinion. I'm glad I caught it for my wool appliqué, but this will be tricky to change the hooked version mom is working on. I see lots of red sharpie in my future....I wanted to share this with you as I know a lot of you are keeping an eye on the progress...
Also, wanted to show you our "Gary's garden" rug that mom finished. It's very different from anything I've ever designed, but has great sentimental value as its dedicated to my Dad. Great job Mom!
Check back tomorrow, our little (Baxter) pig rug will be finished!

Until next time.....

Stars and Flowers Wool Applique Quilt all cut out!!!

As I look at the pictures below it looks so daunting, but I have to say, cutting out from wool, for me, is so relaxing.  If I don't have to, I won't use a template.  I just draw the first shape, then copy it for the rest.  For instance, if there were a lot of the same leaf or berries.  It's not necessary to draw them all, I just cut freely.  And I did tackle each square one at a time. I'm not a quilter, so I really don't know the "correct" way of doing things, I just do what works for me.  So, tonight I start stitching!!  I can't wait!  The blue fabric you see in the photo will be the (do you call it sashing?), or borders on each square, then I am going to do something on the outer edges too, that's still in development.  So it will differ slightly from the hooked version.  

(I really don't like the way that backing fabric is photographing, it is more of a grungy brown in person, but has taken on a greenish tinge in the photos)

In addition to working on the wool applique quilt, I also started color planning another rug for myself.  It is not one of my designs but one that I bought from Betsy Reed, her "Lady Liberty".  I have shown it in the past, but will show it again as I progress.  It's really on the bottom of my list as I am also working on getting the above pattern converted into punch needle as well!  

Baxter peeking out from the pattern as we color plan!!

Don't tell Baxter I said this, but he has gained a couple pounds this winter, so I have used this pose as my model for a pig rug.  Mom is working on it now.  I should have the picture uploaded tomorrow.  I actually incorporated Max into it as well as he loves to go outside and sniff the flowers!!  

Better get to work!!

Until next time.....

Lots of pictures and a bold statement defining us as Americans!

I'm not one to really get on my soapbox politically or shove my opinions about gun control or anything for that matter down anyone's throat.  I believe that everyone has their right to their opinion.  My husband, mother and I do have the best discussions at the dinner table though about the state of our country.  In regards to this past week in Boston, it's been heart breaking to watch.  My husband is from a town about 1/2 hour away from Boston, so of course he wanted to be there personally to help with the manhunt.  I could not believe as I watched my favorite city Boston (I'm originally from Vermont, but have always loved the city...to visit) and the horror that they were going through.  All I can say is this: terrorists will never win in America!!  When your 72 year old Mother says to you, "when we are back in the Northeast next year, let's go to the Boston Marathon to cheer on the runners", that wraps it all up.  We Americans are resilient and defiant.  You may knock us down for a bit, but we will get back up and we will be stronger!!  

So, with that said, I have snapped a lot of pictures over the past few days.....so enjoy!

I'm going to keep showing these great guys made by my sister until she puts them in her Etsy store.  They are fabulous and HIGHLY collectible.  To see her other great items in her Etsy store, click below:
Etsy ~ Folk For All Seasons

Mom and I have been weeding like crazy and it seems that in the immediate courtyard area we have it under control.  We do need some more mulch though....

Mom has started the 4th in my Gameboard series ~ Chinese Checkers....

Look at all those little marble holes!! She says there are 144, I didn't count, I believe her!

Ah...pretty!!

...more pretty!!

aaahhh....not pretty!! What a couple of fools.  Baxter loves to go for a ride on the ATV!

I love cooking with herbs!!

Lilacs....

Bad flooding near Waynesville, MO.

So, my husband was up in the shed getting our summer clothes and tells me that he came across a snake skin and some dead mice, then asked if I could go up and help him......um........NO!

Pretty tree in the yard!

Purple basil!!

This butter is the Texas Roadhouse sweet butter recipe.  On warm yeast rolls it is the best!!  Who am I kidding, it's great on anything!!

Yesterday, hubby and I had to bring the boat up to Osage Beach to be repaired.  We had a nice drive and did a bit of shopping.  I did discover one thing though.  We were buying him a couple of suits for his soon to be retirement (next job) and we both discovered that there is some thought that goes into matching suits, shirts and ties.  Hey, he's been wearing Army green for nearly 26 years!! This retirement thing will be a whole new world for us...
 This sign is in Waynesville, MO

Waynesville again...

Progress on the hooked version of "Stars and Flowers"

I have started cutting out the Wool Applique version and decided to use very different colors from what my mother is using.  The background fabric is more brownish, a dirty, grungy look, than it is showing in the photo...but I do love those blues!!!!

This little guy scared the crap out of me today....I don't know when I became so squimish!  I call him Titus, the turtle!!

I have uploaded my "Vintage Golfer" pattern to the website, www.theoldtatteredflag.com  This particular rug was given to my brother by Mom.  Click below to go to the sales page:
Vintage Golfer Rug Hooking Pattern

That's it for now, I'll keep posting with progress on those "Stars and Flowers"...

Until next time....

I'm a goner and some reorganization in the studio...

I just want you to know that this may be the last time I ever blog because after these first two pictures Mom is going to kill me.  

We don't have set hours in the studio so we always tell people to call us ahead to make sure that 1, we are here and 2, that we are not in our pajamas.  So, I thought it only appropriate to prove that we are not making that up.  If you had seen me, I was also in my PJ's.  So, I look over and there's Mom putting wool away, on a stool.  I just had to snap a pic!

.......Mom, what are you doing???

Uh oh...........I'm in trouble.  If looks could kill, huh?

I just couldn't take it anymore.  The studio was a mess.  We have a bad habit of...well, not picking up after ourselves.  Wool was strewn everywhere and  my office section was in shambles.  We also have this thing with tchockies ( I know that's not how you spell it), but we always pick up cute little sewing things, baskets, boxes, you name it.  But we are running out of space.  So yesterday I started tearing it all apart.  These next two pictures show what a real geek I am since I am excited about a tidy sections with shipping envelopes, my stapler, tape, twine, kit flags and purchase cards.  Then I had to show my new "monster" printer with paper organized under it.  It's all there right in reach...love it!  I know, I'm a geek!

Shipping stuff all tidy!

Paper right under the printer where it should be...

 So, since we tidied things up I thought I'd show you some more picture of our little studio.  It really makes me happy when it's clean and tidy and it's not that way often....

Patterns....and a crock full o' strips...

Wool and fabric and punch needles, oh my.....

More punch needles with my new thread that I will be offering with the kits...

Punch needle display...

Close up of that cupboard door full o'punch needles....

Our Sampler bags, these are hot sellers, a great way to build your stash....

Come sit a spell.....

Under that Pumpkin pillow and Antique Coverlet rug is a basket of my rugs that I have not finished....why Julie, why??

Pretty!

I love our blacks and grays, and well, this just makes me happy to look at!

I painted this box a few years ago and it's always been one of my favorites, it's filled with finished hooked rug samples.

Oooooooo......

Ahhhhhh.......

.....wooool!

So, now I'm off to make dinner, then sit and do some cutting for my "Stars and Flowers" wool applique quilt.  I hope to have some pictures of that to show you very soon.  I also have several new designs in the works.  One word for you.......pigs!!

To visit our website, click on the link below:
www.theoldtatteredflag.com

Until next time......