Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent

 Hang on to your tiaras.......there was a whole lot of crazy going on this Halloween night.  To prove my point:
 

Exhibit A:  Mij in her Sleeping Beauty outfit that I bought her, complete with the crown.  Doesn't she look thrilled.



Exhibit B:  My daughter Leah, decked out in her Maleficent costume, the  beautiful, but wicked stepmother of the lovely Sleeping Beauty.



Exhibit C:  Mij.....trick or treating, or is that trying to sneak in the back door to escape the craziness.



Exhibit D:  Long suffering Prince (i.e. Ben) who posed, at the direction of Leah, kissing the lovely Sleeping Beauty, awaking her from her poisoned slumber.




Mij's expression says it all.  Where are the cows, where is Will?  Why am I dressed in pink satin?
Why does the lady I live with suddenly look spooky and evil?  Who is the funny looking straw guy sitting in my back yard?   Where is my bed,  where is my pillow?  Aw.....finally, maybe if I close my eyes this will all be over.  But wait.....what do you suppose she has in mind for me at the next holiday.  Turkey feathers and pilgrim hats or do we move right on into an elf costume or angel wings?



Poor Mij.....what next????  I don't have the heart to tell her that Leah's theatre company is doing ANNIE at Christmas time.  I don't suppose Leah will spray paint her brown, tie a big red bow around her neck and make her jump out of a box as  Little Orphan Annie's dog Sandy.   Oh, why did I have to mention that.  Sorry, Mij!



Happy Halloween to All.....

Janice

Cinderella's Pumpkin Patch

With only 2 days left before Halloween, there is still time to show off this cute little pumpkin rug.  This is one of my own designs.  I always think this might be a scene from the very pumpkin patch  that Cinderella's fairy godmother selected that famous pumpkin turned golden carriage.  Yes, I am fairly certain the pumpkin in the center was the lucky orange orb.

The background of this rug is Flow Blue, in 3 values.  The pumpkins are 3 different oranges, 1 and 4 are the same color and 3 and 5 are the same.  I pulled a very blacky green color for the stems and vines, which worked well against the medium sky value.

This is not a very big rug, approximately 10 X 28, it is a perfect size for a table runner.   I am drawing this up for someone as a special order this week.  If anyone else needs a pumpkiny project, let me know! I would be happy to draw one up for YOU!!!!

Happy Halloween....

Janice

Pumpkin Fest

More gifty pumpkins!  Jan Goos came to hook on Friday and brought these wonderful wax spiced pumpkins as a present.  The shop smells wonderful, all cinnamon and spice!  Goos worked her magic on these beautiful things.  I have no idea how she does this stuff, but they are gorgeous and terrifically delicious to smell.  Again.....thank goodness for my talented friends.

The little round hooked piece is a pattern by Cabin Creek.  I love the little French pumpkin, done in Earthy.  The soft black background is Spunky Monkey.

Next, the work continues on the addition.  Today they removed the wall between the old shop and the new room.  It was exciting and fun to watch and I got to volunteer my help, cleaning up sawdust and hauling away wood scraps.  Next week the electrician, then in two weeks they will insulate and close in the inside.  After the retreat, the cement will be cured enough for me to paint.  We will definitely celebrate Christmas, on the first Saturday of December with an all day hooking 10-5.  Carl will make lunch and we can revel in the new space.  Join us!!!

Soon,
Janice

Good for YOU

GOOD FOR YOU Barb Burke!!!!   Some of you may remember Barb was in the store a few weeks (or months) ago and picked up this little floral kit.

She finished her project and sent me a picture to prove it!!!  Congratulations.  You did a great job.
Now on to the next rug!

The little pumpkin man is a project of Kathleen Salak's.  This is a pattern from Red Rocket Rugs, that is unfortunately no longer available.  Kathleen and I colored planned this little guy and it is a perfect time of year to show him off.

Happy Halloween,
Janice

Bowl of Pumpkins

Tonight I have a bowl of pumpkins and assorted friends.  I have been cleaning out cupboards getting ready to start moving into the new addition in the next few weeks.  The things you find!!!!

Here is a bowl of Halloween (and a Christmas ornament hidden in the middle) decorations that I made a few years ago.  Have you ever made these roving mini's?  They are fun and simple and so easy that a child can enjoy making them too.

Here is what you do:  First, dye roving the colors you want.  I like purples and oranges, but also love the turquoise ghost background.  I use 1/2 ounce strips approximately 36 inches long.  I dye this wool roving with Cushing or Pro Chem dye.

When the dyed roving is dry, roll in to a ball, then covering the woolen ball with your hand, slide it in the toe of an old nylon or knee high nylon.  I take old panty hose, cut  the leg off at knee level, slide the roving ball into the toe and then tie a knot close to the roving.  Then....off to the washing machine.  Throw the ball in the nylon into the washer with a little detergent, wash it, then throw it into the dryer.
It comes out felted and ready to decorate with more roving.  Don't worry about drying the little balls all the way dry. You can take them out still slightly damp, cut away the nylon with scissors and reshape the ball a little if it has gotten a little out of sorts in the dryer.

Now the decorating......use a barbed felting needle, some scraps of dyed roving and you are only limited by your imagination.  I have one bowl of just baby pumpkins, each with a different jack-o-lantern face.  I like the ghosts and there is a witches face on the back of one of those darlings.  At the time I was making them, people were buying them right out of my hand.  I finally had to say they were not for sale, so I would be able to have some for myself.

Try them....they are great fun.

Soon,
Janice

Festivus Halloweenus

I am enjoying all the wonderful Halloween decorations my friends have made.   This little wooden wheelbarrow on my dining room table, is sporting some pumpkins made by friend, Jan Goos.  These are made of paper mache and there are cat faces, pumpkin faces and ghostly pumpkin faces too.   Where does she come up with these ideas?  They are just wonderful.

Below the wheelbarrow is a little train I bought for Carl when we were visiting Sauder Village.  I found this little toy train in an antique store and thought it would be perfect to go under my snow village when I decorate for Christmas.  Carl is a big lover of trains, so it was his present from the trip.  I think he would have preferred some of the chocolate that never made it home.

Next......the addition is right on track and the carpenters were out today.  They got walls up and are now preparing to reinforce the wall that will be cut away between the building and addition.  They are coming back tomorrow, so things should be moving right along.  I definitely think we will be having our Christmas party in the new addition to the store!

Soon,
Janice

Witchy Poo

Let me introduce you to "Witchy Poo".  Kathleen Salak brought her out to me to grace the store this Halloween season and she is just perfect with the the pumpkin and bat combo to her right.  That Kathleen comes up with the most creative ideas and this little witch is an example.  I love her checkered sox.  She even appears to have a wart on her face.  Thank you Kathleen!

Below is a rug I finished a few weeks ago.  It is 3 Friends from Woolley Fox and it was a cute and quick little rug to whip up.  Those who know me, can attest to the fact that I am a big user-upper of leftover noodles.  For this rug, I took the leftover greens and blacks and off whites from my 'lady' rug and added some Seal Brown for the border.  Voila....a lovely little country rug!  I have the pattern in the store if anyone is inspired to hook their own.

 Till next time.....

Janice

PS They are putting in the floor of the addition today.  Carpenters come on Saturday!  Exciting!!!!!