And the winner is....

JOJO!! I wrote all the drawing names on little scraps of paper and had Jimmie Dean pick the winner! He chose JoJo. Not a very bright idea by me. I had to try to get the little piece of paper out of his mouth before he destroyed it.

Congratulations to you JoJo!!! I'll email you. Here's what you've won!!!

A wool snowman ornament. I bought one of these at a craft fair a few years ago and have been making them every year since. Hope you like it JoJo!

Here's a picture of J.D. with his new bed. I got it at Bass Pro and their stuff is mostly for hunting dogs. This bed is bigger than my king sized pillow!! He did drag it across the floor about 2 feet. I couldn't believe it. The little shit is strong!!! I read that Yorkshire terriers were bred to put in a man's pocket and carried to a rat infested home or business. They cut their tails when they're pups and leave a "handle". They used the handle to pull them out of the hole. He's a fast little booger. I can see him catching a mouse for sure. He's sure been fun for both of us. We're working on not biting now. That's not going so well. He's pretty much potty trained, but he's just not quite getting the "don't bite" thing. Patience grasshopper. I wonder how many of you are too young to remember that phrase?!?!?!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving. We sure had a nice time at my sisters. I got to see all my nieces and nephews and their children. That was a happy surprise. I thought they would be at their dads all day. We took Jimmie Dean but I didn't let the kids handle him since he has bronchitis. I did do some Internet searching to see if we could get sick from him. The answer is no. You can't pass illnesses back and forth from your animals.

Have a great weekend. Hope you're not too tired from shopping today!

Peace,

Sheri

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Let's not forget to be thankful today. Hope everyone has a love filled day with friends, family and memory making.

Peace,

Sheri

Working on "Secret Santa" box

I've started getting the Wool Snippets secret Santa stuff ready. I have all kinds of ideas for the box of goodies. Can't tell though. She may read my blog!


It's supposed to be 60 degrees here again today. Talked to Patti in Florida though, and it's 75-80. Must be nice! Got a picture of her on the beach. I've never been to Florida in the winter. I'm happy with 60 degrees!!!!


I've got to go to an eye surgeon in an hour. I have an oil gland in my lower eye lid that is enlarged. Ever heard of such a thing? Me either! I hope it doesn't interfere with my hooking. I'm starting to freak about DH's rug. What, only 30 days until Christmas? I know I'll finish it waaay before, I always freak for no reason. Maybe it motivates me.

I was so proud of Tammy. She's painting her utility room. Sanded off the oil paint, then repainting with latex. Anyway... I read that she had set herself a "mental" finish date of being finished by Thanksgiving. I swear it works!!! Something about making a promise to yourself is hard to break. That is unless you promise to go on a diet. I can always seem to break that promise!??!?

Also Jimmie Dean is doing better I think. He's still coughing, but not as much. He's taking a nap in his playpen now. I ordered one of those big play yards that doesn't have a bottom in it. You can shape it any way you want. It has eight panels. I thought in the spring that's what I'll use outside since our huge yard isn't fenced. I can take just four pieces with us to grandmas house too!
Peace,
Sheri

Post number 50! Enter for give away!

When I started writing this blog I was doing it for fun not thinking anyone would actually be interested in what I had to say. But today is number 50! Thanks for reading! Just leave me a comment and I'll draw a name on Friday (Black Friday) I'll be giving away a Christmas ornie. It will be a surprise I'll show you after the drawing! I'll be home on that day. Not out with the 4:00 a.m."sale people" I have finished my shopping!

I am feverishly working on Christmas hooking projects. I am getting a little closer every day on DH's rug. And the Santa dolls are coming around too.

One down...

Two to go...

It's already 9:30 a.m. here. I'd better get hooking.

Oh and BTW I had to take Jimmie Dean to the vet yesterday. He was coughing for about three days. I thought it was more like dry heaving, but the doc said it was a bronchitis cough. He's on antibiotics. It is liquid medicine and I told Mickey to hold him down and I'd squirt it in the back of his mouth. Mickey bent over with the syringe and said lets just see if he'll lick it. Duh.....He lapped up every drop. I was prepared for the holding, thrashing, choking of my last dog. Here's the cute little scrap book I got for his pictures. I started taking pictures when we were at the bank withdrawing the cash to shopping at Walmart to paying the lady for him. I forgot to take my camera to the vet yesterday though. Bad mommy. I have lost a scrapbooking moment! I have to take him back next week for a re-check. I'll take a pic of that and put that in the book.

Have a great Tuesday.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.

Peace,

Sheri

More Maxine humor

Happy Monday!

Maxine Thanksgiving

I love Maxine...

By the way, I got the platter that is my new banner at Hobby Lobby for 80% off! Regularly $60.00 for $12.00! I think they are pricing all of their things so they can have the 50% off sales every week. Don't you agree? They're very pricey in my opinion.

Have a great week and try to go by Hobby Lobby before Thanksgiving for this years stuff at this great price! I got paper plates and napkins at 80% off too.

Sheri

Needless to say I'm not hooking much

I've got to get back to hooking so I can finish the "river rug" by Christmas. But Jimmie Dean has had my full attention for the past week. I can't believe it's been a week already. But I've been using the crate potty training system and he actually knows where he's supposed to go now. No accidents in the house today. I think that's pretty good after only one week! I have to take him back to the breeder tomorrow for another shot and I can't wait to tell her how great he's doing. I assured her when we brought him home I'd be the best mommie I could and she said she knew that or she wouldn't have let him go with us. He was her favorite of the litter. I'm sure he's the smartest one!!! OK I'm a bragging puppy mom.

I signed up for the Wool Snippets Christmas swap. (an MSN rug hooking group for those of you who don't know) Check it out, www.groups.msn.com/woolsnippets/ .That stuff has to be mailed by the 15th of December. I have also done two other internet Christmas ornie swaps this year. How fun!!! I got an authentic German nut cracker ornament from Australia. I gave it to my sis though as she collects nut crackers. I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it away though. You just can't think of photographing everything! But when I read blogs I love to look at the pictures more than reading the actual post.

Yesterday I went to my mom and dads and met my niece and her daughter Zoie for some crafting fun. I bought a kit for making the beaded candy canes we made as kids. The ones with the triangle beads and pipe cleaners. Remember?

Zoie helps her GiGi and grandpa decorate their tree every year so we gave them to her GiGi. We each kept one for ourselves as a memento of our day. I also took her the stuff to make the decoupaged soap for her teachers gifts. She and her mom had read my blog and she wanted to make these. I didn't know that so what a happy coincidence! She's a very talented and crafty seven year old. Last year she knitted scarves on a loom for her grandparents and great-grandparents. She thought it was so funny that I asked her to teach me how to use one. I bought two at a garage sale with no instructions. She said, hum... that's funny, you're the one who always teaches me to do crafts!!

My babies are both sleeping (Jimmie Dean and Mickey) I think I'll try to hook a little now. I'm going to make some more of the Santa dolls as gifts this year.

Here's a copyright free Santa you can use to decoupage your soap. I bought a wonderful CD of antique postcards that are all c.r. free. Just right click him and print it on plain paper. Remember three coats of mod podge first, then pic, then three more coats.

Let the beauty we love be what we do...

Sheri

River rug is coming along

I've got to get busy to get this finished by Christmas. I've lost a whole week of hooking 'cause of Jimmie Dean. But he's certainly worth it!!

I have taken out the hooking on the right side that was supposed to be a bluff with shadows. I don't know what I'm doing there yet, but I know it just wasn't right.

I have done a real no-no and just hooked and hooked and not put it down and stepped back to see what it's looking like. The more I look, the more I see the water needs some work too! I think the wording will be OK when finished. Remember it says, "not all who wander are lost". I'm going to try to work all day on it today. But my photographer friend is coming at lunch time to photograph my Sunflower rug for the book by Jane Green titled, "Pictorial Rugs".

It will be published in the fall of 09, but I have to get my pics in my the first of January. I figured with all the confusion of the holidays it's best to get it done now. I still can't believe that one of my rugs is actually going to be published--in a book!!! It really humbles me. Yet at the same time I'm jumping up and down!

I can't close without showing another picture of Jimmie Dean. He's been "home" for six days now. I keep reading that we're (Mickey and I) are supposed to be the alpha dogs but.....he's a cute little puppy. It's so hard not to just let him have his way. He was biting my socks-ruined two new pair. But after quite a few no's and nose swatting he finally "got it" I hated to even barely swat him on the nose but he had the whole top of my sock in a death grip pulling and growling, with my foot in my sock!

I remember my mom saying with my last puppy, you can spank a child but you can't spank your dog!?!?! Yes I can do both. But I'm not very convincing with either one. I can't seem to "get my bluff in" with kids or dogs. I'm too much of a softie. But I do actually think I'm much better with dogs!

Let the beauty we love be what we do...

Peace,

Sheri

New family member "Jimmy Dean"!

Good Morning! Happy Birthday to me!!! I got a new puppy from my hubby! We have been looking and trying to get a shelter dog for a couple of weeks to no avail. There are at least three prominent rescue places in Springfield and I couldn't get ONE person to phone or email me back with my inquiries!!! One man I spoke to said, oh it'll take her 2 or 3 weeks to get back to you, she has over 300 dogs to take care. Well maybe if she would return people's phone calls she wouldn't have 300 dogs!!!!!

Anyway... we ended up going with a small breeder that works out of her home. It was very clean and smelled good! NOT a puppy mill. Now ta da da da........He's an 8 week old Yorkie!!!! AKC registered.

He's the one with one ear up and one down. The lady said she'd tape the other one if it doesn't come up on it's own.

We have decided on the name Jimmy Dean! He was Billy for awhile, then Stanley oh and then Dink. But then the name Jimmy..... Jimmy Dean! popped into my head and that's for sure his name. Of course DH said Jimmy Dean pork sausage? Noooooo. Jimmy Dean DeMate!

I also bought a playpen from the breeder, Carol. That's where they were staying so of course I wanted him to feel at home. We put him in it last night at bed time with his little bed in one corner and puppy training potty pads lining the rest of the floor of the playpen. Also left the TV on for some noise for him, oh and a little wind up clock for the "heartbeat" sound of his momma. Anyway I got up at 3:00 to go to the bathroom and he was wide awake sitting in the very corner of the playpen. Just sitting. So I figured maybe the TV and clock were keeping him awake! Turned off the TV and I went back to bed. I didn't hear him crying. Well when Mickey got up this morning (Mickey is my hubby) he said Jimmy Dean had pooped one little plop right in the middle of his bed and was still sitting in the corner---on the potty pad. I am using these 'cause the breeder had been using them and she said once they start using them that they are really great. She doesn't even let her Yorkies go outside in the winter here, it's soooo cold and they're so small. I don't know if I can get used to a dog doing his business inside or not. We'll see... I have it in my craft room under a large dining table. So maybe it'll be OK. Nobody goes in there but me.

There's that white orb ghost again on my right ear. Must be dust on my camera lense. Or the ghost followed me home from Eureka Springs, Ar!

Ohhhh. He just woke up and I took him in to the pad and he pottied on it!!! Yeah!!!! Maybe this will be a GREAT idea!!!!

Usually our coffee table is empty except for the blue box and the remotes of course! See the little black hoodie? It says Biker Dude! It has studs on the hood!!!

OK, now maybe a little hooking stuff. I have finished the Santa kit I got from Deanne Fitzpatrick. I made him into a doll.

Also I have finished the hooking of two snowmen that will be my winter purse. I need to think of a design for all seasons and make a purse that you can button (or velcro or something) different panels on. Oh ...my mind just won't stop!!! But I think that's a great idea!

Also the natural dying turned out OK.

The orange marigolds produced a beautiful bright yellow.

Left to right dyed with, monkey grass berries, morning glory berries, yellow mums and orange marigolds. Alot of work for a little wool! I did a quarter yard of each color. Now to make sure it's colorfast.

Have a great week.

Peace,

Sheri

The right person at the right time!

That's what Samuel L. Jackson said on the Ellen show this morning.

I do think that this country is going to have great things happen because of our president-elect Barack Obama. I have never been so involved or interested in the voting process as I was this year. And I really do believe, "Yes we can" and "the change we need". Like he said in his speech after the election even if you didn't vote for him I think he will work hard for ALL Americans, Democrat, Republican, black, white, gay, straight..... OK enough about that!!

I have finished the hooking on my house rug I am making to cover the ugly ottoman. I think it turned out cute! My husband thinks it's night time and I should've added some stars. But I didn't really hook it to look like night!

Also I wanted to share a picture of the beaufiful wool I got from Deanne Fitzpatrick. Her website is http://www.hookingrugs.com/ Aren't these the yummiest colors? I plan on using the orange, pink and reds for a sky in a rug I haven't even dreamed up yet!!

And I've been in the garden gathering seed pods and blooms. I boiled them down and am trying to make some natural dyes. I still have to do some reading on which mordants to use to guarantee that they are color fast. I wouldn't want to do this much work only to have it fade out. Any help from you guys would sure be appreciated!!! I have read to use Alum and cream of tartar to soak the wool in before dying.

These beautiful blue berries came from a shrub in our yard that we didn't even plant! I think the birds planted it. I have no idea what the plant is. It's about ten feet tall!



These are the last of the orange marigolds from the garden.

And finally, these are the seed pods from the shrub baptisia. It is also known as "false indigo" so I expected it to be a blue dye. However it's a brownish purplish color.

I really need your advise as to how to use them before they go bad!! I don't have room in my freezer or I would put them in it. At least I will try to refrigerate them until I find out for sure how to use them!

That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing great.

Peace,

Sheri