I JUST DID IT AGAIN... ANOTHER FIRST

This is the time of year that I don't really like. All sorts of things goes on. First, I notice that I've put on a few extra pounds from being indoors more and the festivities and all that, the daylight is short, I don't care much for the snow because I'm afraid to fall like I did last winter and either break bones because I have osteoporosis or suffer a concussion. I worry every time someone have to drive in bad weather and the thing that I hate the most is filing piles of papers at the year end. It's really a pain in the rear end...  I normally do it a little later in the year but this year I have to have it done before I leave on January 18th for analysis study of some sort.

I've been feeding the birds extra food because I have three fat squirrels who have been raiding the feeders. I counted 18 mourning doves at the feeder this morning and lots of chickadees, a woodpecker but I didn't see my cardinals. This photo was taken through my dirty window yesterday morning and before I could clicked the shutter button a whole bunch flew in a nearby evergreen tree in the backyard.

Today I  bit the bullet and  JUST DID IT again, I ordered a set of 4 aluminum dye spoons and I couldn't believe the price. $65.00 US.  I also ordered 33 packages of Cushing's Acid Dye and a color chart, and 2 yards of fine scottish linen for finer cuts. I've never used fine Scottish linen before. Boy, I plan to be busy.

 My order couldn't be shipped today because the W. Cushing & Company were close because of the storm but they answered my email.  They also informed me that I get a 20% discount on my dyes which was great news to me. So tomorrow, I'll finish my transaction.  I've been wanting to do this for a long time and now it's done. The Canadian dollar is strong and the timing couldn't be better for me.

I'm still waiting for a book I purchased on Amazon.com on Dec. 20th, Hooked Rug Landscapes and it's supposed to be shipped between January 19 to Feb. 18. I never knew that it would take that long to arrive. They have received my money but I'm still waiting for the book. Someone is dragging their feet. I'm not impressed with the seller.

You know that even if I don't enjoy January either, I've did some new things that I never tried before. I know that it's no big deal to some but to a person like me who is not very technical, it's been rather rewarding. I usually like to deal with people face to face. I'm old fashion and it's hard to teach this old bitch new tricks.  I hope that everyone who are affected by this latest snow storm stay warm and safe and have plenty of milk and bread to eat and that you don't loose your electricity.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.  JB

IT'S HERE... NOT THE GRANDSON, THE BOLT OF DORR MILL WOOL

First of all, I was very surprised this morning to see that I had 2 new followers on my blog. And you know my reaction, my mouth opened wide and my jaw dropped.  The words that came out were " Oh my gosh, two new followers! " It feels like a ray of sunshine when I get new followers, I get a warm feeling inside. Welcome  The Paisley Studio and  Donna of Starkey Hollow blog. I intend to read your blog as soon as I finish this post. I just didn't had enough time this morning.

I was just back from the barn this morning having a cup of fresh brewed coffee when the door bell rang.  The kind petite letter carrier was delivering my big bolt of Dorr Mill wool right to my door. She had a big smile on her face as she put down my big package. I think that she went the extra mile for me and I'm so grateful for the excellent service this letter carrier gave.

I anxiously opened the package which was extremely well wrapped and I tell you even if this package would have ended up in the river, it would have floated, it was so air-tightly wrapped. I also got a #5 cutter wheel but the price went up quite a bit from last February. Last year I paid $23.95 + tax for each cutter  and this time I paid $38.50 for it plus tax of course.  I received a small black wool swatch speckled white as a freebee. It cost around $12.00 for shipping the whole package  which was not bad at all.

To keep on with my new motto, Just Do It, I ordered my air line ticket online this morning for the first time. I didn't know what to expect and I was reading everything and I had to keep extending my alloted time to do the buying on line.   I'll be leaving on  January 18, and come back whenever. It's a direct flight and I'm glad that I'm leaving a day ahead of schedule because the 19th is full moon and we know that more babies are delivered on the full moon. Well, actually not on the full moon but during the full moon. lol...I just hope he waits for me to get there.

For those of you who saw this before, please bear with me. I'm just trying to show Donna what goes into making my Childhood Memories rug. I just roughly drew my memories on a page and then I cut them out and I taped the drawings on a large piece of flip board paper. I had more memories but I couldn't fit everything on.

Then, I placed my burlap backing on top and traced the best I could with a Sharpie.  It's amazing that we can see through the burlap.  Notice that all there is here are ideas.

I hooked the figures first and added fillers like trees and clouds and tracks in the snow. I'm not pleased of my ribbon on top but I'm leaving it for now and the cow udder is too big in the back and there are several other details that bothers me.

When I first started hooking I used a home made frame until I bought this one My rug hooks on the gripper bars tightly but I think that a rectangular frame would work better for me as my rugs are rectangular.

 This is my Bliss model A cutter and as long as I keep it clean, it works well. I now have  #3, #4, #5, #6 cutter wheel to make four width strips of wool for hooking.  I use a Medium hook most of the time but I also have a fine and a large hook. The wrench is to take the brass nut off to change the cutter. The sharp snipper scissors is to snip my wool ends so it looks neat.

This is my work station in the sun room. I keep my wool swatches rolled up so I can see at a glance colors that I need to work with. My snippets goes in the little basket most of the time and the rest goes on the floor. I have three baskets of wool worms in small snack size Ziplolock baggies so they don't get mixed up.  I've clipped the corners a tiny bit to allow air in the baggies. The baskets with covers hold some clean recycled wool and I have three big drawers full upstairs.

What I'm not showing here is me hooking. Maybe some day, I'll get my husband George to take a picture of me. Oh my, that's scary. 

Thanks for your visit and leaving a comment.  JB