New Curtains...I can sheerly see them...

OK, these are the old curtains...I made them last year but now they are so faded from the sun that they are hardly presentable. I should have lined them, but oh well. So I have been looking for a different look...

And here it is! I love it...gives a whole new look to the living room.

And my new curtain rods from last year look great there too!
I used four panels a window at $4.75 each (thanks to Wal-Mart), which adds up to $57, not bad considering what drapes cost!

I couldn't decide what to do with the windows that are side by side...should I put the darker colors in the middle or just on the sides? I decided just the sides only and think it looks great.

I can still go back and change it if I want...

The constant rock...

inspirationI just read this a few weeks ago and thought it was very inspiring....

Constant Rock
I wonder if you have had the experience of going to the seashore and seeing a rock out at sea, and watching the waves crashing against the rock? And you might wonder about the waves. Where they come from and why they appear one after the other ... endlessly. Why the rock has to put up with the waves.

Waves are the result of storms far out at sea... the storms have disappeared but the waves they caused are still crashing in... long after... and the bigger the storm, the bigger the waves that roll in.
And I remember a particular rock.... it was protecting the shore behind it .... breaking the waves, defending, deflecting, reshaping, reforming... Maybe you recall a similar rock?.....that looked as if it had been there forever .... solid and strong... and every wave that came surged against it .... broke up with a roar and then withdrew eventually...... Some waves were so large they submerged the rock .... other waves were just ripples that splashed and were gone .... again and again the rock met the wave, became one with it, taking on its shape... the wave hugs the rock and the rock moulds to the wave.... until the rock and the wave are one, understand each other, became part of each other... some waves come in with a great roar and a crash with foam flung high... other waves roll gently round the base and drain away with a gentle laughing gurgle.

But every wave ... large or small .... was absorbed and quickly the water ran off .... leaving the rock as it always had been... solid ... strong.... constant.
And many years later I went back to see that rock. The waves had sculpted it... had changed it... its shape better suited its position.... the waves made it better at protecting the coast... but still it was the same rock... in a way that rock had learned from the waves... learning to absorb sometimes and to deflect other times...
And I wonder if that rock enjoys the waves, and celebrates before every storm.... because with the storm comes that sense of mastery based on enduring long exposure.... a deep rooted confidence... that comes from knowing that whatever comes can be dealt with .... knowing it is capable of handling anything.... knowing that each wave makes it stronger... a confidence that needs to be reminded and refreshed....
Because always ... after every wave... the water drains away... and the rock remains .... serene.... unchanged.... learning from wind and water and sun and storm...
And in a way the rock is grateful... after every storm.... the waves wash away a little but deposit some things as well... and with the ebbing of every wave... the rock knows tranquility... and experiences its own strength reaching right down to the foundations. And it's good to know that each wave... no matter how fierce it seems... will retreat ....and leave nothing more than a ripple in the sands of memory...
Steady and constant, strong and sure.... the rock can carry on. Because tomorrow a new day brings warm sunshine and bright sea air... the rock is constantly renewed.... constant in an inconstant sea.

The sad snowy day...or how I toasted my favorite (and only) wool slippers

Let me start by saying I can't believe this happened!! Yesterday I washed my wool slippers...this morning they still were not all the way dry. So I got the bright idea of setting them on a cookie rack on top of the wood stove, for about 5 minutes. Note the big fire inside the wood stove.

Please also note that I had just gotten up, my feet were cold and my brain was apparently still asleep. Note that I loved these slippers sooooo much!! Note that I forgot that I put them on top of the wood stove.

The scene of the crime.

The result...

The morale of the story is not to dry wool slippers on top of a wood stove.

The house smells like a cross between a herd of wet sheep and burnt toast....Rachel couldn't stand the smell..she stayed outside for a while. Myself I am still tearfully planning my next pair of wool slippers.

Pot Scrubbers from Netting

Someone asked me to make a pot scrubber...she brought in an old ragged one and I used it for a pattern for a bunch of new ones. I bought bright colors of the coarse netting, 77 cents a yard at WalMart.
Using my rotary cutter, I cut 4" strips of netting. The netting comes 72" wide, so that gave me a generous amount from just one yard.
I connected the strips by cutting small slits in each end of the strips and slipping one through another like you would link two rubber bands. Or they can be sewn or just knotted together. Whatever makes it easier for you.
I wound them into balls and then started to crochet!
Using a K crochet hook, I chained 4, then slip stitch the last stitch to the first, forming a ring.
Chain 3 (that counts as first Double crochet)
Double crochet (DC) 14 stitches in the center of the ring.
Chain 3 (counts as first DC)
DC two in each loop for a total of 30 DC in the second round.
Chain 2, cut netting and pull the netting through the stitch to finish off.
Weave the end into the scrubber.

Here they are, the finished product! They can be machine washed and used many, many times.

WOOLdn't you like to see my next wool project?

I know, not even funny play on words, huh?

This is my latest (idea came from my sister Sarah, I just copied it!) wool project. Made from felted wool sweaters, I just cut squares and am in the process of flat stitching them together.

I have a few bugs to work out, but am busy at it!

I love the texture and color combos. More later....

I Need a Sewing/Craft/Weaving Room Makeover!!

OK, here's the deal...I am basically an organized person, but not always a tidy person...My sewing room is proof of that. I call it my sewing room, but it actually holds my floor loom which is giant and fills a goodly portion of the floor space.
I do keep like things together and try to organize, but when space is limited and I am working on something I tend to let things slide.

Take this closet for example...

or the loose ends of the ribbon spools...

or this basket full of tools, thread, bobbins, and STUFF!

Some people think I have a thing for scissors...there is a purpose for each type of scissors...Fiskars is definitely my brand. Although I do have one pair of Mundial and a few pair of Durasharps. I take them to be sharpened when the man comes to JoAnn Fabrics.

OK, fine! I do have a thing for Fiskars scissors. I love really sharp ones, but if they are Fiskars I want them.

Here's the view from the door. You can see the loom on the right. Currently I use it for hanging different projects on. I need to warp it (re-thread it) and get busy, but am lacking motivation at the present. The last time I warped it I spent 16 hours and got lots of bruises! It is faster with two people, but somehow I can't convince Sam to help me out.

My Grandma and Grandpa Hook sold me the loom. Grams has made rugs on it for a long time. I always wanted to learn from her. I watched her make rugs during summer visits, but never actually sat down with her and had her teach me specifically how to use it. I did learn mostly from a book, but also had to have Carol Leigh from Hillcreek Fiber Studio come out to my house and get me started. I made lots of rugs to start with and they were OK, but not very good. After a bit my skills improved.

These pictures were taken after an hour of organization in there this evening!

Glad this room has a door and is upstairs out of sight of the rest of the house!

Thrift Store Stuff

I had been to all the local thrift stores last week. I found two neat foot stools during my forays, in addition to several wool sweaters. I love this wicker foot stool, thinking I may take it all apart and paint the wicker and recover the cushion. Not sure how I will do it, but for $5 it was a steal!

This stool was also $5 and I love the legs and the little storage place inside. The cushion will clearly have to be replaced (I have some pretty blue toile fabric), and I will probably paint the legs black. I will have to wait for warmer weather to finish this one though!