Shabby Sheep

Where have I been, you ask?

2011-09-13T20:18:00.011-05:00

I've been working on stuff to take to be a vendor at the First Annual Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook In that was put

on by Patty Wallace and her "flock" from Saltbox Primitive Woolens. What a GREAT time! I was also taking some horrible
medicine that is supposed to prevent the breast cancer from returning and it had me crippled with bone pain. (literally walking with a cane in my house) I got off that stuff about three weeks ago and the difference in my health is unbelievable!!! For the better, I should say.

Here's our living room before the show.

Hungry? This is our dining room! (can't believe I'm showing you this!?!)

This is some of the "hooker" jewelry I was selling at the show.

You can order these necklaces here from my blog before I put them in my Etsy shop. They are only $14.00 and come on 18" or 24" ball chains and this beautiful ribbon too! Email me at shabbysheep1@gmail.com to order!

This is part of my booth at the show. See the wild wool on the left? It's from Jane Green's new dye book. It's called fry-pot wool, as it's done in an electric deep fryer. You roll up the wool lengthwise and put it in the basket like a turbin. Then dye each color and let it "cook" until one color is absorbed. Then I let it cool, roll it up again and do color number two, etc. Some of these pieces have 5 colors of dye and took four hours each to dye!! I plan on putting these on my Etsy store too. I'm selling them "by the notch" so people can either buy the whole piece, half a piece or just pick out the part they like. Most at the show bought the whole piece, however. It's so beautiful. Not bragging, but it's Really cool!!!!

I know that Tammy from Skip To My Ewe posted some pictures of the rug show on her blog. I'll post some tomorrow too. (Still not back up to normal energy levels yet)

I just got a tip that a lady from Ridgedale, MO has been to an estate sale and has Tons of Dorr wool for sale at her house. It's only about 40-45 minutes from here so I'm thinking about taking a little road trip tomorrow to check it out. I just got a mid-life crisis car!

Until tomorrow,

Peace...

Sheri

Well I went to a garden party

2011-06-02T21:52:00.002-05:00

Last night at Marcia's house! What a glorious garden! We ate, drank, even got in a little hooking! I almost didn't make it. I thought yesterday was Tuesday all day long~'cause of the holiday. Tammy called me at 5:00 and said, "what are you doing?" "I'm at K-Mart picking up some hairspray, then going to Barnes and Noble to look at magazines. I asked her what she was up

to and she said, going to Marcia's garden hooking party! I said no, that's tomorrow night!

I was an hour late, but I'm so glad I made it.

Marcia's garden was just beautiful. Meticulous. Nothing like mine! Since I was late I asked her to take me on my own personal tour. Rita was late too, so we got a private showing!

She lives in this beautiful saltbox in a grand old part of town. Her house is perfectly period decorated. Prims everywhere. Her rugs look so good on the floor. Of course I forgot to take pics inside the house. Maybe she'll share some with us!

Marcia said that at one point she had 36 clematis in her collection! WOW!!! I have three and think they're stubborn and difficult!

Some views of the back of the house. See by the hammock? That's where we were hooking.

Rita finished the binding on her rug! She said she'll "throw it on the floor in the fall!!!" It's a big rug in my book.

And Belva was working on the binding of her Three Bears rug. I forgot to ask her if this was for herself or a gift!?!

Just as we were leaving all the lights came on~but the mosquitoes were also coming out!

I am working on a portrait class from Wanda Kerr of The Welcome Mat. Some of you will recognize her from her dyeing lessons in the Rug Hooking Magazine. This is Much harder than it looks! It's all done with 8 values. I'll show a finished picture in a few days~hopefully. (We hook a bit, send her a photo, she critiques it, then we re-do it, and so on!!!

Thanks for dropping by!

Peace,

Sheri

OK…I’m a plant-a-holic!

2011-05-18T21:44:00.001-05:00

Friday I filled up the back of the Durango with flowers from a local nursery. This is my kitchen!!!

See that cast iron skillet? I wonder who put that there?

Saturday I went with Tammy, her husband and his friend to Ash Grove, MO to a nursery I’d never been to. Uh-oh!

Here are some pictures from our yard~before planting the new stuff. Sunday Mickey and his friend were walking around the garden and said they counted 50 plants that needed to be planted! I said did you count the 6 packs as 6? They both said NO!

I’ve planted Mon, Tues. and Wed. No pictures of that new stuff yet! It has started raining here and is not supposed to stop until next Wed. or Thursday!

Hope you enjoyed your garden tour.

Peace,

Sheri

Finished the hooked purse and some gardening!

2011-04-30T17:57:00.003-05:00

I finished the purse just in time for my mom’s birthday on the 27th! Crunch time. It only took a little while to hook~I mean FAST. But putting it together with the metal frame took a little longer since I had never done that. Here’s a pic with the hinges open. I like it and have ordered more hinges. I started out making this for me, than at the birthday dinner my sister said she wants one for her b.day in August.

I tried something other than the pattern directions (imagine ME doing that!) and braided 3 pieces of wool for the loops for the handles to go through. I love the way it looks. The pattern is Karen’s of Primitive Spirit and she had used embroidery thread for the loops. It just didn’t look strong enough to me.

You can also see in the following picture the strap itself. I did 4 rows of a decorative S shape stitches on it. Makes it look sturdier too! All this for a purse that’s only about 10” long and 7-8” tall!

A friend hooked this pattern a few years ago and I have always wanted to. Her colors are more “me”. Mickey looked at my hooking and said, “WHAT are you doing?” He’s never seen me use these muted colors that much either!

And Renee’ is getting ready to put the lining in hers. I love seeing the same pattern hooked by different people!

Remember Mick’s friend who is working on his parents house for an estate sale? Well, he told me I could go over any time and dig plants too! Stupid on my part (because of my health), but what fun I had.

Until this…..Remember those cute black clogs I hand painted? Well little miss priss was wearing those to dig in! I fell on our uneven brick patio. I cuss that thing every year. This year I’m covering it with river pebbles!

And doesn’t everyone wear their best jeans to garden in???

That was the only clean pair I had left as our basement was flooded and had a small river running through it. Guess where our laundry room is?

Then to top off that perfectly lovely day (until I got home, anyway) I fixed myself a plate of leftovers from Logan’s Steakhouse from the b.day party. Brought it to the living room, sat the tray on the coffee table and watched it in S L O W motion fall on the carpet~face down!! Ate it anyway!

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Peace,

Sheri

Happy Birthday Susan!

2011-04-24T21:23:00.001-05:00

I went to a good friend’s birthday party last night and had a great time! I only knew a few people when I got there, but by the end of the night I had made some new friends!

Here’s Susan the birthday girl with her gift from me. I used an old sewing pattern for wrapping paper and coffee filter flowers!

I filled a box with tons of ephemera from the estate house that I told you I got to go to before the sale! (Mickey’s good friends parents house) That’s a whole other blog post! Anyway… She loved it! That’s her good friend Abbe, who told me where she teaches yoga and invited me to come on an “easy” night!

Susan is an art teacher for the Springfield Public School System. All of the people at the party were artists/artsy fartsy. Need I say more about the fun we were having? Oh, and this party started at 6:00 p.m. too!

She also got this cool three sided jar filled with medals for her assemblage work. (Wait till you see her bathroom!)

Just one shot of her bathroom. She made these frames. That’s why we all bought her STUFF.

She got lots of “artsy” and handmade gifts~lucky and loved woman! Better slam that last drop of wine so she can blow out her candles!

I don’t know who invited these two. I think they were plastered by 7:30 though.

I talked to a hooker girl, Melanie, that I had met once before at Susan’s at an “art day” a few summers ago. She said she will stop by and hopefully join our library group once a month! She said her hooking is so loose compared to mine and she felt not as perfect as my style. I told her I am trying HARD to loosen up my look and be more free flowing. Just as I imagine her work is! Aren’t we always critical of ourselves? We shouldn’t do that. And check out this room. It’s the breakfast nook in Susan’s kitchen. This girl has more stuff than I do!!!! The puppy is Ricky, Susan and her two kids doggie. He’s so quiet compared to JD.

Here’s me and my old girlfriend, Stephanie. We were friends in high school and ran into each other at The Creamery Arts Center where she is the Director of Creative and Education Something!?!~sorry Stephanie. We hadn’t seen each other in 20 years and said hey I know you!

I had to call home at 9:45 to tell him I was going to be out a little longer. The invitation on Facebook said from 6:00 until 9:00. Well the guitar and harmonica came out around 9:30 and I could tell this party was just starting!! This is Katy singing and playing the guitar. She plays in a band here in town. Sorry, can’t remember the name. Hey, it was a party…I’m not expected to remember Everything!!!!

11:00 pm~

Hey! We’re OLD!!!

I borrowed some artsy books to bring home and drool over. Here’s what’s left of Jimmie Dean when he saw the bag.

Hope everyone had a perfect Easter.

I am almost finished with Karen Kahle’s hit and miss bag, but I just remembered my mom’s birthday is Wednesday!!! I have NEVER not made her something for her birthday.

I’ll make me one later in the week. It only took a couple of days to hook and a little time to put together since I had never done this one before. I’ll show you pictures when it’s completely finished!

Peace,

Sheri

Happy Birthday Tammy

2011-03-26T23:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday……I’m sorry I’m so slow. I told her I was coming over for happy hour earlier in the week and I guess she didn’t really believe me! I called and Kenny answered at around 4:30 and told him I was on my way!!! Tammy was not home from work yet (shopping at TJ MAXX-one of her favs) They had dinner plans with her family at 6:00 so I didn’t bring any “happy” for the hour. I bought her a pair of origami earrings made by a local artist who donated the proceeds to Japan relief. They were for sale at the flea market where we used to have a booth. So while I was there I also got her a little china plate thingy to put her jewelry in. It was made in Japan many years ago. I thought it was so appropriate!

Here are some pics of what Kenny and the “kids” (dogs) got her.

This WOW hat for lounging by the pool.

And the kids got her both these pair of earrings. Big earrings are her trademark. They look so good on her.

I have finished the front panel of the purse I’m making for my radiation oncologist. The writing says “Thank You” in Korean. (I hope) If any of you know the language, please make sure I’m doing it right! I’d hate for it to say something insulting!!! I googled Korean writing and this is the best I could do at copying it! I added the pink ribbon and of course the writing to the pattern from Susan Quicksall.

I love her stuff….all of it!

This evening we had my parents over for dinner. Turkey al a king! We love it and haven’t had it for years. My mom gave me her recipe and on it was written, “Sheri’s specialty-Love it!” Of course Mickey wouldn’t even taste it! For dessert I made a frozen fruit salad. It had cream cheese, sour cream, apricots, cherries and pineapple and lots of added sugar. It was excellent! You make it in a mold. Had to get that at the flea market too! I don’t remember the last time I used a Jell-O mold!?!? We loved it-Mickey wouldn’t even taste it! He had leftover chicken and baked potato from last night and a fudge cycle!

My dad and Jimmie Dean. Note: they’re NOT dog people-but they really like JD!

My mom… I think she’s talking in this pic! She’ll be 82 years old next month!!! Do you see any wrinkles? Incredible!

I don’t know what Mickey is doing. Probably wishing if he closes his eyes we will disappear! He put the E in Crabby this evening before they got here!! He straightened up for company though. LOL. He’s putting in WAAAY too much overtime and worn out. (He’s a supervisor at a dental lab-he does orthodontics-retainers and appliances to make you look pretty)

I’ve got my days and nights reversed again. Last night I finally went to bed at 3:00 am and slept until 11:00 this morning. It’s 11:00 pm now and I’m kinda sleepy. Going to go try to get some sleep.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Peace,

Sheri

Road Trip!

2011-03-21T16:44:00.002-05:00

I’ll start with Saturday and go backwards! Tammy and I hit the road early Saturday morning and headed North to Warsaw, MO to the hook in at Saltbox Primitive Woolens.

Patty Wallace is the owner, and let me tell you, those girls know how to put on a hook in! This is Patty, ringing her little cow bell to get our attention. She said it gives her POWER!

I finally got to meet my kindred sister Katie. http://katie-primitivewoolens.blogspot.com We are both breast cancer survivors and I think she’s the first person that told me she would pray for me that I didn’t personally “know”. We quickly became internet friends, but got to meet in person this day. She’s holding a little wool owl I made for her.

The shop was absolutely wonderful. Yards and yards of wool. And tons of finished rugs hanging on the walls.

This lady (sorry I don’t remember your name) was carrying a little bag she bought from me three years ago at our Springfield Boathouse hook in! I need to make some more of those!

And my homies that also made the trip.

Tammy and Elizabeth

Rita

Vicki (left) and Jo Lynn (right)

This is the Darling project Jo Lynn is working on. I have never hooked right onto wool. I am liking the look!!

We ran into a terrible thunderstorm on the way home and had to pull off the road it was raining so hard. But we made it safely home at around 7:00 p.m. Thanks again for driving, Tammy.

Tomorrow I’ll go back to Friday and show you my day!

Peace,

Sheri

Just when you think you’ve seen Everything!!!

2011-02-20T17:32:00.001-06:00

I was shopping the other day at Michael’s in the jewelry making department when I saw him!!!

After trying to look at him, without just Staring I finally walked over to him and said, “I like your jewelry” He told me his name is Gene and his great- grandfather was a chief and his g.grandmother was an Indian princess! Lots of his jewelry was his grandfathers and lots of it he has made. Even his shirt and boots!!!

He seemed very pleased to be photographed and I told him that it’s great to be proud of your heritage. He said his family at home asked him if he was going to wear this get up to Springfield! He told them, you betcha. It just so happened that that day I was also wearing all my turquoise jewelry and he admired mine too!

I’ve never won much as far as contests go, but I did win one! From Maria Barton of Star Rug Co. This cool mixed media Valentine hooked piece. She has used scrapbook paper on a canvas and embellished it even more with the curled wire hanger with the felted balls on it! Love It!!! Thank you Maria!!

Friday I had the opportunity to go “pickin”! Mickey’s friend, Don was in town from Tulsa to start the process of getting ready for an estate sale at his late parents house. Mickey said he was there almost every day after school starting when he was 16 and they have maintained a great long distance friendship over the years. That’s why Don immediately thought of me to come over and look through the stuff before any official selling starts. There was a garage and 4 FOUR out buildings! I went nuts!!! He kept saying pace yourself, pace yourself. We haven’t even been in the house yet! To tell you the truth I liked the stuff in the sheds much better than the house stuff! I’ll show you pictures tomorrow. Great fun, but of course it put me in bed the next day. Totally worth it!

Have a great week and

Peace,

Sheri

Didn’t think I had anything to blog about!

2011-02-06T18:23:00.001-06:00

I was talking on the phone this afternoon with Tammy and she insisted I blog about something! I told her I haven’t done anything blog worthy! I didn’t notice it has been a Month since I have done it!

Turns out I have been doing Lots of things~in between another week long sleep in. (They are still tweaking my heart meds and Dr. said that can make you fatigued)

I have been hooking on my so called “cancer rug”. I couldn’t decide whether to use black or white for the background so I chose both! You can’t actually tell, but this is a tree…the tree of life! I came across this quote somewhere and knew I had to include it in my rug. On top of all the swirls I am going to sew one of those antique watch faces. (for the time, duh!)

So now my next dilemma is what color to use behind the text? Maybe the reverse of the black and white!?!?! What do you think?

Friday night I was playing around with my paint pens and painted these shoes!

I found them for sale at TheSwanx.com. I had these old shoes in the closet and practiced on them. I had been looking at Ed Hardy purses and lovin’ them too. They look like tattoos painted on the accessories. Just my luck last week at the thrift store they had a sale for everything you could put in a bag for One Dollar! You know what’s coming next. Remember, I am a hoarder.

All of them are leather, and a few are name brands! Can’t wait to play with these. Who needs a purse?

Spent all day Friday on the phone with our mortgage company. I think it was Ter’e talking about having to argue with some dumbass kid over Very important issues. By the time Mickey got off work I was half drunk and swollen eyed from crying after getting disconnected so many times.

I got it all worked out but the life insurance. I told Mickey if I die this weekend to get an attorney and make them pay off this house!!!!!

After dinner I’ll be listing some new wool on Etsy. Please stop by! ShabbySheepWool.etsy.com.

Chili Pepper Red

Fall Sunset

Cirque de Soleil

Mickey has called me to dinner. His fab homemade pizza. He starts with a Chef Boy A’rdee kit. Fabuloso!!

Ciao bella

and peace,

Sheri

The best thing about your best friend…

2011-01-04T20:45:00.001-06:00

She “gets” you, really Gets you. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer the first thing that came to mind was, “I can’t even plant a tree and watch it grow”. I love gardening and nature. So this spring after completing my treatment we went to the nursery and I picked out my “cancer tree”. A red maple. They came out a few weeks later and planted it in our back yard. So my cancer tree has become very special to me. So I was surprised, but then again not…when Tammy bought me a necklace with a tree of life on it for Christmas. (Actually it’s a tree of knowledge, but we’re calling it the tree of life)

She understands the importance of my little Charlie Brown tree. I think she, Mickey and my mom are the only ones who Truly understand just how important the symbolism. I think they even get my obsession with the Virgin Mary too! No, I’m not Catholic, but I’m so drawn to icons of Her. I bought myself a necklace with Mary on it.

This is the pendant I made for her. I only got one pic of her wearing it and she’d kill me if I posted it. (her eyes are closed)

I made my parents a smaller version of my Sunflower rug.

I finished the beading at noon on Christmas day and I was serving lunch for family at 2:00!

I thought I could finish it the night before, but I wanted to have a little energy for Christmas day.

And I MUST show you our little Santa Jimmie Dean! That’s his heating pad he’s standing on too. No, he’s not spoiled.

Tomorrow is hooking at the Brentwood Library @5:00 pm. Stop by if you can!

Peace,

Sheri

Hookers brunch at my house!

2010-12-16T16:49:00.001-06:00

Last Sunday I had a little Christmas party/brunch at my house. There were 10 of us. We had Lots of great food, drinks and hooking!

We started the party at noon (so we could respectively drink alcohol, I guess) with mimosas. Orange juice and champagne. However I use Asti Spumante. Yummy!

I made ham in the crock pot (spiral cut ham with pineapple slices and a spoonful of brown sugar in every slice of ham, then you pour on a can of Coke and cook 3-4 hours~the Coke is supposed to make the meat extra tender) , cheesy potato casserole, pears in a blanket and some cinnamon rolls. Everyone also brought a dish. We had sweet potatoes, meatballs, green salad with dried cranberries, feta cheese and pecans, cranberry salad, hot rolls, bread bowl dip, French chocolate bark (dark choc. with dried crystallized ginger, apricots, cherries, golden raisins, and cashews) OMG!!! Also I think Rita made some chocolate covered peanuts, but I didn’t even get to taste one! Sooo much good food! I had to start the coffee quickly after lunch so we could get some hooking done!

Below, Marcia on left, Mary middle and the side of JoLynn.

Tammy and the back of Dulcy!

Sandy and Dulcy.

Vicki, Tammy and Rita.

Marcia and Mary.

Elizabeth.

Busy Vicki and JoLynn.

Jimmie Dean is “helping” my with my hooking~NOT!

Can you see his tiny little head in the worm basket? (He has on a black t-shirt)

I had the girls line up to try to guess which snowgirl/man was hers.

These are the bottle snowmen I made them as party favors. This also explains why I haven’t blogged in a month. I have been making these and I didn’t want to show what I was up to!

As I was working on them, each one took on her own personality and I began naming them for their new owners!

The snowman factory. Literally this stuff was spread out for a few weeks!!! The only cooking going on here was the fimo clay that I made the carrot noses and hats out of!

Now which head goes with which body?

These are Fimo clay too. Might as well make some necklaces and earrings since I have the stuff out.

The rest are pictures that Tammy took of our home in it’s holiday dressing.

Made these this year with primitive linen that I didn’t like to hook with. Jimmie’s is the blue one.

A pooped out Jimmie Dean on his favorite blankie after the party.

I’m still working on some last minute gifts that I can’t show. And I’m trying Hard to finish a rug for my parents in time for Christmas.

Wish me luck!

And now you know where I’ve been for the past few weeks!

Peace,

Sheri

Drumroll please….

2010-11-09T20:47:00.001-06:00

dddrrrrrrrrrrr. Max the cat is finished!

Bound and ready to hang. I printed a label just a minute ago, but will wait ‘til morning to iron it on so I know the ink is good and dry. I dyed all the wool for this one. It was so amazing trying to match the colors exactly from the watercolor original.

I looked at some old pictures of Max and I’ve done this one in three weeks!!!! Some of the work was done in the middle of the night. One or both of my heart meds are making me NOT SLEEP at all!!!! I finished the eye on the right (our right) one night at 2:00 a.m. I just could not get them perfect. And I think if the eyes aren’t just right, it would just ruin the piece. I think I got it!

Now what am I going to do? I have been looking at some of Susan Quicksall’s patterns. But now I kind of want to only hook my own patterns. I still want to try to capture my blue bottle tree in wool.

That’s a good question. For those of you who do design your own patterns, do you still purchase other artists patterns or stick with your own?

Have a great week. I have to go to a funeral Thursday. My uncle Ralph passed away. My mom’s sisters husband. I had a lot of fun with my cousins when we were younger. They lived about 60 miles away, but we went there almost every weekend to visit my grandma and grandpa. They lived in the country on a big ranch. I thought they were sooooo lucky. I lived in the big city…..they thought I was so lucky! Will we ever be happy just where we are? I am right now.

Peace,

Sheri

I had no idea it was this late!

2010-10-24T22:56:00.001-05:00

I've been on Facebook, looking up old girlfriends from high school. I went to the kitchen to get some water and the clock said 10:30! I thought it was around 8:30 or 9:00!

I've made some more progress on Max. This is day six, I think. He's really moving along! I know the right eye (to our right) looks funky, but I'm saving those for last. And I'm not happy with the yellow color on top of his head. Too mustardy.

Last Thursday I went to the Friends of the Library annual book sale and came home with quite a pile of books. Lots of picture books, I call them. Then this afternoon Mickey and I were out looking at the beautiful foliage and I remembered that today was the last day of the sale. Everything you can fit in a bag for ONE DOLLAR! Well, the "better" books were a bag full for five dollars! Still, we got three bags full. Mick didn't like it so much. He thinks I am definitely on my way to being a hoarder. I bought three Huge dictionaries for my visual journaling. He was not impressed, but carried them to the car and almost kept his mouth shut, like a good little hubby!

We also stopped at Wal-Mart and I got a pattern to make Jimmie Dean a new shirt. I just happened to have some fleece fabric in the cedar chest. See....if I didn't hoard fabric Jimmie wouldn't have a new shirt now! He freaks every time we put clothes on him and just stands still or goes and lies down. It's like if we need him to behave for company, all we have to do is put a sweater on him! Bless his little heart. Mickey thinks I am torturing him. I think he likes the warmth! He is so spoiled he lays on a heating pad on the couch in the summer.

I finally got him to realize that this huge basket of worms is warm. That's his ferret on top of him. Maybe we are both mean!!! Mickey did that.

We put the red slip cover on the couch this weekend too. Lovin' that! I'll share some photos with you later.

Have a great week,

Peace

Sheri

Hooking Max Day 4

2010-10-19T17:28:00.008-05:00

I can't put this one down! I don't want to stop to eat, drink, or sleep!

I ended up dyeing 15 shades of reddish orange, turquoise blue, green, and the purples.

Gotta go! I have to finish the right side this evening!!!

Peace,

Sheri

My hooked pumpkin....ta da!

2010-10-15T13:52:00.001-05:00

I did this piece for a challenge and I can't remember Where the challenge was!!! The theme was hooking something round. Anyone else involved in the challenge? I love it anyway. So glad I did it. I had the pattern for years and this just got me motivated to do it. I used a real pumpkin stem that I saved and dried from last year. (See it IS handy to be a hoarder) It is JoEllen's pattern.

www.befruitfulkreations.com

Also I've made some progress on the cat rug. His name is Max, I found out.

The color planning has begun. I am going to have to dye the red to the right, the turquoise and the pink on his chin.

1st day hooking

I was noticing little fuzzy hairs on the top of the linen. It is bleached and I have never used this brand before. NOT liking this!

You probably can't even see it. But it was really bugging me. So here's contemplating using my Usual linen!

You all know me and you KNOW I changed to the other linen!!! I re-drew and re-colored it.

OK, now hooking on the new linen.

Not liking the red color I chose. You guessed it...I pulled it out and made another color choice. Again...lucky I'm a wool hoarder too!

OK, now I love the pinkish/purple color. But I HAVE to rip out the outline of his nose. I used black yarn on it and it's looking scraggly already. Just imagine what it would look like by the time I hook everything else and drag my hands and arms over it. On the other outlines I just hand cut the wool. I can only get it so small though. I'm wondering what a 2 or 3 cut with a cutting machine looks like. I simply can't cut it any smaller with scissors!

I may be able to hook some of the oranges in the upper left corner today. I'm getting WEIRD on the color planning! If my ProChem dyes would just arrive in the mail I could continue! Tammy told me I can go over and borrow some of hers this evening if mine doesn't arrive today.

Tomorrow morning I'll be at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk. I'll be in the registration booth. Come by and see me and give me your cash! It's at Jordan Valley Park...right by the Cardinals ball field.

Have a great weekend! And please stop by and make a donation tomorrow.

Peace,

Sheri

No we didn't go on vacation and fall off the edge of the earth!

2010-10-11T21:41:00.001-05:00

We did have a great time on the coast of Maine. Lauri and Dick were great hosts. (That's their house and the little cabin we stayed

in)

I still can't get over how we got there from being blog buddies. It is so true that there are really Nice people in the world. Everyone is always talking about how bad everything and everyone is, but I'm afraid they're just looking past all of the good that is right in front of us.

Lauri took me to Cushing's and on a wonderful

historical tour around Kennebunk. I bought some beautiful wool there. She also took me to Stonewall Kitchen. Yummy! I have never heard of them.

And the day Mickey and I went "up north" we went to Searsport Rug Hooking. WOW is not enough to explain that place! I got to meet Chris. Unfortunately Julie was out of town for the day.

I'm sure you heard the story about meeting JoJo. she's from Kansas and I'm from Missouri. Anyway, when I went in the door at Searsport I introduced myself to Chris and told her we were from Missouri. She said there's a girl in the back from Kansas. I went back there and it was no one other than JoJo! (me on left, JoJo, and Chris on the right)

We have been blog buddies for years and have kept each other on our prayer lists for a long time too. Crazy you have to go to Maine to meet someone from Kansas. (One state over from us) I guess it really is a small world.

After the trip I was TOTALLY worn out. For weeks. We think that maybe all the new meds are making me feel so tired and just not right.

Today I finally got off my butt and went to Kinko's to have this photo blown up. I had it made to measure 30" by 20".

Remember I showed you this picture about a year ago?

It is a painting that was at Watercolor USA. I was totally enamored with it and wrote the artist and asked her permission to hook it in to a rug. She was thrilled and flattered!

The name of the painting is Peter's cat. And the artist is Robin Avery from Texas.

I will have to dye ALL of the wool for this one. I think I might have enough bright orange on hand, but that's it.

I made an order with ProChem tonight. Their dyes are soooo vivid and bright. Perfect for this project!!

I simply can't wait to get started!!! I think all I needed to get back in the groove of life was a great pattern to hook!

This is the black and white blown up on paper.

And here it is drawn up on the linen.

It looks like a paint by numbers to me. Does it you? I only wish it would be that easy. I have a feeling this will be my most challenging rug to date!

I'll keep you up to date with pictures.

Have a great week!

Peace,

Sheri

We're in Maine!!!

2010-09-15T19:54:00.003-05:00

We arrived Friday after flying from Springfield to Dallas, then to Boston where we rented a car. We then drove to Lauri's place. (Lauri from Wool Snippets) She took me to Cushings. LOVED it there. Got lots of pictures. We got to spend a little time together before driving up north to Searsport yesterday.
We went to Searsport Rughooking this morning and I got to meet Chris. What a huge place! I had no idea it was so large!
I got a new Ipod the day before we left for vacation and have taken 1050 pictures!!! However, I had to bring my old laptop. ( I dropped my "good one" and bent the dvd drive thingy. ) Took it to the shop/Best Buy Thursday night. They said it might be gone for a month!!! Anyway, can't upload any photos to this computer, as it's full. AND the pictures that I was able to email to myself were upside down!!! I hope I don't have to go in and change all 1000+ pictures!!! It says this Ipod will hold 2500 photos. It's the new Touch that just came out last week. LOVE IT. Just sorry I can't share our vacation pictures with you yet!
More when we get home.
Peace,
Sheri

Finally met Jan

2010-08-30T21:45:00.001-05:00

The owner of Leola's in Ozark, MO. I've followed her blog and been in her shop a hundred times, but never met her in person. This past Monday Tammy and I went out for a little shopping therapy. We started at the tile store for Tammy's "fancy room" fireplace surround. After a quote of around $650 and us almost fainting, we headed for somewhere we Knew we could get a bargain! Leola's!!!

You can see some of the cool stuff behind us. I got two stamped dish towels for $4.oo each. Sorry no pictures. But I did come home and make a set of stamped napkins. Really cool. I'll show you those when I photograph them.

Did someone say whimsical?

Or excuse me, but do you know the time?

Lovely glass holders to put a candle in.

Are these canisters not to die for?

I've now got to pull the handles off of some piece of furniture in my house and replace them with antique lace! Don't cha just love it?

The next day Miss Dulcy came by to give me a refresher course on knitting. I remembered the knitting part quickly, but have never purled. I did not pick that up so easily! We had to take a small break and go on a yarn hunt. There's a new yarn shop in town that we had to check out. (Not too exciting, BTW) Then went to Simply Fibers and I got enough wool yarn to make a shawl. Just a long rectangle. But now that I've actually purchased the yarn, I'm committed to Make it!

Notice anything different about me? New hair color! Platinum blonde! I went to Tammy's "girl". I told her I wanted to be blonde, but not look like Tammy's.
And NOT yellow blonde! I was surprised, but I like it. This color wouldn't work for me if my hair was any longer. I told Tammy I would look like a Real HOOKER if it was long!!!

Tomorrow Dulcy, her husband Jim, and I are going to The Springfield Regional Arts Council at The Creamery Arts Center to hang our rugs for the First Friday Art Walk. They will remain on display for the whole month of September. I named us the Center City Hookers. It's me, Dulcy and Tammy showing our work. This is the gallery I showed you earlier where I helped out with the Free art day on Saturdays~Did that again last week too! Too much fun!!! I'll be sure to take my camera to share with you.

Have a great week

and Peace,

Sheri

Mixed media class Saturday

2010-08-16T12:39:00.001-05:00

So glad I made it to this class. My friend Susan Goodman was the teacher. She is so talented, especially in mixed media. You should see her home!!!

We were first taught how to make these "memory jars". She taught us the secret of using black caulk as the base in which to stick our stuff! Just squirt out some caulk on the jar and spread it around evenly with tip. Only work on a small section at a time. And have PLENTY of damp paper towels ready for your dirty fingers!

This is Susan's half finished jar.

The beginning of mine. It will be "Time in a bottle"

After about an hour of playing in the caulk and pretties we switched gears and went to making Memory Books.

I started with a kids cardboard book which I had gessoed before class. Then went crazy from there!

(Look at that Boy Hair, would ya?)

I'll never cuss doing my hair again!!!

From left: Stephanie, a long lost friend of mine from high school, who is now administrator of The Creamery Art gallery. (Where we were), her daughter August, Susan (teacher) and her daughter Audrey.

Carol and her mother Evelyn taking the class with me!

Some of Susan's work. I LOVE Meat dish!!! It's in a silverplate serving dish!!

Have a great week!

Peace,

Sheri

Pictures of hooking at the library Monday evening.

2010-08-11T19:41:00.003-05:00

Dulcy working on her cottage rug she started in Jane Green's workshop in Maine.

A close up of the cottage. Aren't the rocks amazing? Dulcy is hooking this in a number four cut, which is TINY for our group!!!

Marsha is working on this large ship rug.

Contemplating how to hook the "waves" at the front of the ship.

Janette and her cute pumpkin couple. I think this is Maria Barton's pattern!?!

Renee' still plugging along on her window rug. I showed the rug, but not her face a few posts back. Very cool rug!

Next, the two Peepers!

Rita is working on another darling cottage rug.

Lovin' the colors of this one. The house wool is spot dyed and looks kind of like pink brick.

This is Vicki and her patriotic rug.

I've got a few projects going. No pictures though. I do have this picture of the wool I picked out for the 3D pumpkin I'm working on. It's a pattern by Befruitful Kreations. JoEllen has lots of neat patterns on her website.

Hope the rest of the week is divine for you!

Peace,

Sheri

Whipping an edge with wool strips~A little tutorial

2010-08-04T14:24:00.001-05:00

First make sure you have serged or zig-zagged the edge about 1/2" from your hooking.

1. Fold your linen (backing) towards the front of the rug and insert the needle that is threaded with a wool strip of whatever size you hooked the rug with. I usually start at the middle bottom. No specific reason. Leave a little "tail" that you will cover up in a minute.

2. Pull the wool strip through to the back.

3. Bring your needle back to the top and insert it in 1 or 2 holes next to the first one.

4. Make sure your wool doesn't twist before you pull it down. I think this is the hardest part of the job~keeping it from twisting.

5. Pull this loop through to the back too, covering the little tail you had left.

6. Just continue inserting the needle one or two holes over and whipping from top to bottom.

7. When you run out of wool strip leave another little tail. (You will cover it up like before)

8. I start the new strip in the same hole as the last one.

9. Showing here with a different color of strip. Again, leave a tail on the top (new) strip too.

10. It's hard to see, but I'm holding both the tails. One on top and one on bottom.

11. Then just start the whipping process again. Covering the tails.

Here's a finished corner.

1. I kind of pinch the linen together to form a corner and work with it to make the turn.

2. Whip just like before (while holding the linen corner together) Kind of difficult!

3. Many times on the corner you'll have to stick the needle in the same hole as before in able to make the turn. You'll move the wool strips around with your fingers too.

When you get to the end of the piece OR you can do this when starting a new piece. Insert the needle on the back Through three or four previous loops (that are laying flat)

2. Pull the strip through all three loops.

3. Snip off this piece of wool to hide the ends.

This is the piece I was working on. This is the FIRST rug I ever hooked. STILL HAD NOT FINISHED WITH THE HOOKING!!! It only needed a few strips hooked on the right side! I took the class from Tammy in 2004 or 5. Last night I did finish the hooking and I will finish whipping the edge. It WILL be on my table this fall!!!

And here's a picture of how I do a piece of wool to insert a cafe rod. I simply cut a piece of wool to fit and hand stitch it on the top and bottom. Easy Peasy!!

I hope you could understand my tutorial. And I hope you can do it now too! If you have any questions feel free to email me!

One more note, I've started adding small bundle packages of wool at my shop!

ShabbySheepWool

Peace,

Sheri

Hooking at my house

2010-07-31T21:50:00.011-05:00

Thursday evening a few hooking buddies came over for food, drinks and some hooking too!

For the drinks we had Appletinis! Here's the recipe:

3 parts Absolute Vodka

1 part Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps

A splash of Rose's lime juice

Shake with ice in a coctail shaker until it frosts then strain and serve. (I keep the vodka in the freezer)

The food was a Tuna Salad that I remember my mom and I making when I was young.

I had to wing it with the recipe, but this was good!

3 cans white Albacore tuna

Miracle Whip (I use fat free)

Cheddar Cheese cut into 1/2 inch cubes

red grapes (cut in half)

apples (cut into small pieces)

pecan pieces

You'll notice there aren't any amounts in this recipe. Just make it like you're making regular tuna salad as far as the miracle whip and add the fruit "til you think there's enough!!!

Then for dessert, the now infamous Chocolate sheet cake. I found this recipe on thepioneerwoman.com/cooking. Just type in The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake, Ever. That's the name of it and it's true! We stood over the pan and kept cutting pieces with a knife and eating them~that's After we ate it on a plate!!

This is Renee's rug she is working on. (It's a window scene!) I'm so sorry I didn't get a picture of Renee'.

And Tammy is cutting wool for a new rug for a friend's baby. The baby is due in a week! She thinks she can get it finished if she works Hard!!!

Dulcy is working hard on her beautiful piece. She drew it and is hooking it in a #4 cut. She took this to Searsport for the camp with Jane Green. She specializes in pictorials. I think Dulcy is doing a Great job on this one!!!

You'll notice there's not a picture of what I'm working on. That's because I'm not really doing anything. I drew a pattern for a gift for my mother-in-law, but don't have enough done to show. And I don't want her to see it either!

It's too hot to go outside here so I worked on photographing wool all day. It's so hard to get the actual colors to show up with a point and shoot camera. Maybe someday I'll get a digital SLR camera. But until then, I have to depend on Photoshop to try to make the colors right!

Hope the rest of your weekend is great!

Peace,

Sheri

Shabby Sheep is officially OPEN for business ~ again!

2010-07-23T17:41:00.003-05:00

I started listing wool yesterday and I've already had a sale!!! Yippee! Back in the saddle. You can find me at www.shabbysheepwool.etsy.com.

As a result of my now being a breast cancer Survivor, I am donating a percentage of my sales to the American Cancer Society via the Etsy charity Team EPE.

Etsy Project Embrace. You can read more about it here.

Please help us make a difference in the knowledge and research of cancer of all types.

Thank you and

Peace,

Sheri

Almost ready to Re-open Shabby Sheep Wool!

2010-07-20T21:34:00.001-05:00

Mickey has been on to me every day for working so hard. But once I get out all of the dyeing stuff, I might as well dye LOTS of wool! Especially when I'm trying to get my Etsy shop opened again. http://www.shabbysheepwool.etsy.com

Solids...

Spot dyed...

and Textures...

Tomorrow I'll be doing the photography for the shop and hopefully by the end of the week I'll be OPEN for BUSINESS!!!

I'm Back!!!

I know in my heart I couldn't have done this without your prayers and well wishes. Thank you again.

Peace,

Sheri

p.s. On shabbysheepwool I'll be donating a percentage of my sales to the American Cancer Society by the way of the Etsy group TeamEPE, Etsy Project Embrace. Please see http://team.etsy.com/viewteam.php?id=685 to learn more about the group.

More of my home tour

2010-07-12T22:12:00.001-05:00

I barely remembered I promised you more of the tour today! I just got home from the monthly hook in at the library. We had a great time, but called it an early evening (8:00) 'cause we were all hungry.

So on with the tour! This is the kitchen with it's fresh new coat of taupe paint. Remember it was red? I hadn't planned on painting the kitchen until one day I was sitting on the couch and looked into the red kitchen walls. They seemed jarring. Not at all fitting into the Zen like feeling I was aiming for.

This cabinet is made out of old doors. I found it at a garage sale and knew immediately it would become my new "pantry". ($50.00) The little curtains are garage sale tablecloths hung on tension rods.

This armoire has been all over the house. A few houses, actually. It has been in the bedroom for sweaters, the living room for TV and stereo and now in the kitchen for a small TV and all of my wool dyeing supplies and baking pans. It's the oldest piece of furniture I own. I had a man make it for me probably 20 years ago. It was a pretty stained pine. Of course I painted it white. And that was probably 10 years ago.

And the bookcase is full of pretties like old rhinestone pins, old jewelry pieces, just trinkets I guess, stuff for mosaic making and altered art stuff. I love to go through the jars every now and then and look at all the cool things. When one of my friends comes over she always wants to see if there's anything new to see!

This is the plate rack I made when we remodeled the kitchen. It used to be the cabinet where the exhaust fan was for the stovetop that was inset in the countertop. It was black

until this past Saturday! I thought it was too stark looking too. The bottom of the island is still black painted bead board though.

When we were at Renee's hooking the other night I commented that I liked this key holder she has hanging in her hooking room. She said, "wait right there!" And out she came with another one for me!!! I just love it.

Next we'll go to the bathroom. Well, not GO to the bathroom. You know what I mean. We'll Look At the bathroom. The only things I changed in here were the shower curtain (this one was .50 at a g.sale) and a new rug.

A tray full of girly things on the back of the toilet.

On to the bedroom and one of the biggest bargains I got. The new quilt was only $2.00!!! You guessed it, garage sale. I love the soothing colors. And of course, more drop cloth draperies. The chandelier was also gold when I got it. I sprayed painted it too. And the little "drips" of wax on the candles were made using my hot glue gun and running beads down them before I painted it. The little chest I finished with unmatched drawer pulls. Love it too!

Another garden rake. The other one is in the kitchen with wine glasses hanging from the tines (above the plate rack)

This shot shows a better view of the walls. I painted them to look like boards!

Once again I've redone my hooking studio too. (Bedroom #2)

Finally hung some rugs I've made and now I can sit in the wingback with my daylight floor lamp and hook all night. The wingback chair was $2.00 at a sale and I recovered it myself. I think I have $60.00 in fabric. The curtains on the closet are actually a huge Ralph Lauren sheet. Really heavy material~g.sale $1.00.

You can see in the very top of the picture above, part of the yellow, green and blue chandelier. It was brass too when I got it. I painted the dots with my fingerprints!

I painted the little lampshade on the desk too!

On to Mickey's "boy room" This is really his dressing room and get away place. (Bedroom #3)

This is the rug I hooked of him fishing in the river. I made it for him for Christmas a few years ago.

He's a fishing fanatic. So he can never complain of me having too much wool with all the tackle he has!!

You notice I still have LOTS of color in my room. I LOVE color. But I think that laying in this house all winter, being sick and staring at the same old walls and same old stuff I really just wanted a fresh new beginning. The neutral colors are very calming and Lord knows I need that. Too bad I'll Never be able to show the basement. Where do you think all the STUFF went?

I'm feeling great. The house is calm. Everything feels right.

I'm even gearing up to reopen my Etsy shop! Shabby Sheep Wool. Bought 25 yards of wool to dye today. Will let you know the minute I get it open!

Thanks for going on our little bungalow tour. Hope you enjoyed yourself. If you're close by stop in and say hello!

Peace,

Sheri

Whole house re-do pictures

2010-07-11T22:06:00.002-05:00

I didn't publish the pictures the next day like I said I would, but here they are.

I ended up doing Something in every room of the house, with Lots of major stuff for a total price of $1850.00! I could have spent that on a sofa alone, but I'm too much of a tight wad to do that!!!

I'll start in the living room.

This is just inside the front door. There is no "entry" in this little bungalow. You just enter right into the living room. A garage sale mirror I painted white, an old armoire door~I put burlap in where there used to be a wooden panel and I painted some silver "bling" inside the little niche.

The new sofa. Remember I said I was going to order it in red? Well I ended up with my original white and then a few weeks later I ordered another slipcover~Red~ that I'll use in the winter. The bird pics are new and a bargain for $25 a pair. And of course, the drop cloth draperies~$12.00 a panel from Lowe's.

This is a wingback chair I had that had birdhouse upholstery on it. I ordered this ready-made slipcover from Penney's~$70.00. I made the little pillow on it from burlap and velvet. The little Duncan Phyfe table was my parents and I spray painted it silver. (I thought my dad might shit when he saw it, but he just laughed!!!) And see the little saint statue on the mantle? That's part of my new found love of all things Catholic!?!? I asked the lady in the store if she happened to know what saint he was and she said he's Saint Thomas. Mickey's name is Thomas Michael!!! And you all know what a saint he has been for me during my cancer battle. Couldn't have been a better day! Mickey calls him Saint Big Head.

Also I got the peaked top window at a flea market and painted the lamp and frames white.

This is the settee I picked up at a garage sale for $60.00 and had our local slipcover genius, Carol Ussery do her magic on. And the finally finished "antique star" reproduction rug. I started this last year and just finished it the night before the dinner party. I also put together the hanging lamp from an old lampshade frame. I electrified it and hung crystal prisms on it. Quirky, huh?

I love the little ruffle Carol put on the bottom of the settee. And I forgot to add that the fabric was $90. and she charged $185 to make it.

Carol putting on the slipcover. I had her make one side of the cushion this wild red print to use when I have the red cover on the sofa. I made a couple of throw pillows in this print to put on the couch too! Love it!! And actually, I like the original blue and white check fabric too! Jimmie Dean had to be in the middle of her working. Luckily she likes dogs.

This is a close up of the niche I painted with a silver paint pen! See my collection of heart rocks? Mickey made the wire butterfly that's "flying" on the back. He is a supervisor of orthodontics at the dental lab where I also worked. He makes retainers all day out of wire, and he's also a talented artist!And my great-niece Zoie made the little basket for me at Vacation Bible School while they were home visiting last week.

And this is the chair pad for Jimmie Dean that Tammy showed on her blog~SkipToMyEwe. It looks Just Like Him!!! I took a picture of him and then drew it on paper and transferred it onto the linen to hook. I painted the little bench a few years ago.

I'll move on into the dining room tonight. Then I'll continue the tour tomorrow...Really!!! tomorrow!!!

The table I bought at the Salvation Army and was in pretty bad shape. I used wood filler on the top and painted it a glossy white with a nice oil paint.

My sis gave me two of the parsons chairs and I bought the other two at a consignment store for $125. for the pair. I was going to make linen slipcovers for them that draped to the floor, but after spending $25 for fabric for just one chair and Four Hours sewing and cussing, I ended up ordering these cute covers online for $15 a piece. No cussing and lots cheaper and easier!

And the chandelier was a garage sale find for $2.00. It was black and really scuffed up. Nothing a $4.00 can of spray paint won't fix.

I used rubber cement and put burlap on the back of these shelves.

These pictures are fabric. I purchased this fabric and covered six dining chairs with it! Then I found out the chairs looked too short with the table. The lady at the consignment shop wants me to put them there for sale. I hope they sell. Big boo boo. But at least I got these two little pictures! I stapled the fabric onto some old canvas I had in my craft room (to paint on some day)

Mickey surprised me with these great lamps on the last day of my radiation treatments!!! I was sleeping on the couch and he snuck them in and put them on the dining table. Isn't he great??? And this buffet was in our bedroom~but there's still no silverware in it. Still has panties and nightshirts in it!!! And the drop cloth draperies are in here too! They really do look like expensive linen drapes.

The dining room looking into the kitchen. I'll show you that tomorrow.

Hope you're enjoying the tour!

Peace,

Sheri

Finally finished the antique star rug!

2010-07-08T20:17:00.001-05:00

The one I found a picture of on an online auction of antiques. I had written 2009 on the bottom of the linen. I'll make a label for the back and make it 2010! I sure couldn't hook while getting chemo and the other treatments. Sooo glad that's over.

I also put the finishing touches on the whole house makeover on Tuesday. Just before (literally minutes before) my dinner party for my out of town guests! My niece Angie, and her daughter Zoie are visiting from Indiana and my aunt Sonja and her daughter Melissa and kids, Max and Morgan are visiting from Florida. I love an excuse for entertaining and what could be better than guests from two states?

That's my mom, dad and sister (and Missy in the mirror.)

Angie and Zoie. I taught Zoie to rug hook in about two minutes!!! She drew a pattern and I'm going to make her a kit and mail it to her!

Morgan is four. (We had spaghetti for dinner! I missed a spot on her mouth when I washed it~Not a mom!)

Max is seven and so involved in the family conversation!!!

Their mommy Melissa.

My aunt Sonja on the left, me, and my aunt Naomi on the right. My mom's sisters. Do we look alike?

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the house redo. I did it all on a Tight Budget. But I think I did great by adding some garage sale "treasures".

Talk to you tomorrow

Peace,

Sheri

Remembering Michael Jackson

2010-06-26T21:45:00.002-05:00

Last night Tammy and I ventured to Branson, MO. to see the Legends in Concert show. It was the anniversary of Michael's death that drew me to the show. They would feature the local dance troupe last night for this special show. Click on Tammy's name above to see lots more pictures!

About the "other story" Tammy spoke of, I thought it was Ridiculous to ask $20.00 for a photo of us with the Imposter, so........... I took a picture of the picture they were selling! I know, I'm such a REBEL!!! Tammy said she was going to have to tell Kenny that I had her on an Unwilling crime spree while we were out! We got home around 11:30 and I headed straight to bed.

Straight to bed because I had to get up this morning and go to the Springfield Regional Arts Council and volunteer at the Free Arts Day for kids. It was my first time "teaching" there. I think I had as much fun as the little ones!

If you look real close you can see some HAIR under my ball cap!

This is my friend Susan getting her bugs ready before we started. She's an art teacher here in town. A talented collage and assemblage artist too. We share and trade garage sale trinkets. We have discovered we can't go to the sales together though, 'cause we both want the same thing!

This is one of her pieces that just sold!

And some pics of the little darlin's

When I got home from this I worked on my rug a little and then did the usual ~ NAPPING!!!

Aaahhhh felt so good.

Peace,

Sheri

I've been asleep for a month!

2010-06-24T20:34:00.001-05:00

No kidding!!! I had the last radiation treatment last Friday and they said it would probably be another 10-14 days until I didn't feel the need to sleep day and night. I had NO idea when they said it would cause fatigue, did they mean you would literally sleep 16-20 hours a day! But it's all behind me now and I'm ready to start livin' life! The cancer is gone, it did leave me with a little heart trouble but the cardiologist says he can make it alot better with meds. I am taking a Beta blocker and ACE inhibitor and will see him again on July 1st. I imagine he will tweak that medicine until he gets my heart rate where he is comfortable with it. (It's still averaging 110) Too high.

Today I was actually awake more hours than asleep and I got out the sewing machine and made some pillows for the new sofa. I haven't told you I decided to order it in white and also got the red slipcover that I plan to use in winter. Today I made a cool pillow out of burlap and made a little "runner" in velvet down the middle of it.

Also made some with red print fabric to go with the red slipcover! I only took a picture of this little one, but I made another with a scalloped edge that's cute too.

And while I had the machine out I made some placemats with the leftover linen I had. Oh, that's another story I haven't told you. Maybe later this week!

I don't know if the stars are lined up just right or what, but I did all this today without one cuss word!!! Usually when I sew it sounds like a few sailors are in my house!?!

Glad you guys didn't send out a posse looking for me! I won't keep you wondering how, or where I am any more~promise.

Dangerously close to finishing my antique stars rug too. I'll take a pic tonight and post later. I would like to get in finished by next week when my aunt and her daughter are coming for a visit from Florida.

Lots more to say, but no more energy this evening.

Talk to you soon,

Peace,

Sheri

Interesting web sites

2010-05-23T21:33:00.001-05:00

I found these sites late last night. I couldn't get to sleep and entered "antique hooked rugs" into my search engine. I spent HOURS looking at pictures of beautiful textiles.

Thought I'd share them with you.

The first one is www.rahmanan.com

This one is circa 1880 and is listed under American hooked rugs. What a website. There's over 400 pages of antique rug photos!!!

The other one I spent a lot of time on was, www.cyberrug.com

I spent the whole weekend hooking on my antique star adaptation. Talked to my oncologist Friday and she said the ECHO cardiogram wasn't normal and she is trying to get me into a cardiologist asap. She told me to take it easy and No Exertion this weekend! Gee...why didn't she scare me? (For once I followed her advice though.)

Hope you enjoy looking at the antique rugs! Don't stay up all night!

Peace,

Sheri

Making some progress on antique rug and

2010-05-18T15:23:00.001-05:00

the mat for Jimmie Dean's little chair that sits at the front door so he can see out!

First, here's the antique adaptation. It measures 19" by 42" and there's really not that much more to do. Just sit down and Do It!!!

I think this shot depicts the colors the best.

Very muted from my usual color palette. (That's why I think I totally lost interest in it right in the middle of the rug. When we hooked at JoLynn's a couple of weekends ago, it was my intention to get all the red diamonds hooked around the border. That made it seem like there's not so much more! Just fill in some lines now~~~LOL.

And this little mat for J.D. has been what I've been doing while I lost interest in the big star rug! He sits on this little chair every day and watches the children walking to and from school. I think he likes his little mat!

Had some not so good health news over the weekend. I spent all of Saturday night in the ER. I had seen my MD two weeks earlier for what I thought was asthma. He gave me an inhaler and it did nothing. So my radiation oncologist said her husband is a pulmonary specialist and sent me to his office that very minute! He gave another inhaler, which also didn't help. That was last Wednesday. Well, by Saturday afternoon I Could Not Breathe and told Mick to take me to the Urgent Care Clinic. They did tests that showed a suspected pulmonary embolism (from the surgery) He said go to the ER immediately! Your husband can drive you~I don't think you need an ambulance! Scared the shit out of me!!! Got to the ER and thank God I was expedited and didn't have to sit in the waiting room with sick babies that don't have health insurance~~~totally another story, don't get me started on that. But that's just not right for a mother to have to go there to get treatment for her sick child...

The ER physician comes in and checks the EKG and chest x-rays from the place I had just come from and suggested "congestive heart failure" especially since my breathing was almost impossible when I tried to lay down. He explained that the left side of my heart showed damage and inflammation~~~ probably from the chemotherapy!!!!

He called my oncologist who said it Was Not from chemo, it was from radiation. The ER doc was ready to admit me and start running all the heart tests and hook me up with a cardiologist. Looking back, I wish that's what had happened.

He did, in the hospital start an IV with Lasix and Prednisone to try to get rid of some of the fluid on my lungs. Then prescribed Prednisone for eight days. I dread that. Last time I took it I gained 20 pounds overnight and it took over a year to get it off. Guess that's the least of my troubles right now though.

Yesterday I saw both oncologists/ the regular one and the radiation one. Boy are they protective of their special fields of medicine!!! Again the radiation doctor said it wasn't possible to have any heart damage from only 10 treatments (which makes since to me) but the regular oncologist keeps saying the chemo I took doesn't cause heart problems. WRONG..... Now I should have known better than this because before I could have the chemo I had to have a MUGA(sp) test to make sure my heart could handle these drugs. (This is what Tammy does all day in her job in nuclear medicine). Of course me being me, I came home and read every thing I could find out about the drugs I received.

1. Adriamycin: side effects: COMMON:

Damage to the heart with the symptoms of:

swelling of the hands and ankles

shortness of breath

difficulty breathing

2. Cytoxan: side effects: Rare

Damage to the heart muscle. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the legs and feet and tiring easily.

I was supposed to have a radiation treatment today, but just can't do it right now. Although the RA Dr. PROMISED ME this wasn't the problem. Yesterday she said, "do you want this cancer to come back? Then march down that hall and get your treatment!" Which I DID!!! But I just couldn't do it today. How are you gonna know what's the right thing to do? I will always question myself now. what if.....what if...

Good news~~~This Thursday at 4:00 p.m. I am scheduled for an ECHO cardiogram. This will answer all the questions about my heart. Even congestive heart failure can be treated with medicine and the breast cancer is gone! Please send out some positive vibes my way! I truly believe in Prayer and Positive Thinking. And I promise to keep you guys informed.

Peace and love,

Sheri

Furniture shopping with Tammy

2010-05-07T16:57:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we went to most of the furniture stores in town. We separated immediately upon entering the stores! She was searching for leather and I for a "cottagey" slip covered sofa. The salespeople pointed us to our appropriate corners and we shouted out for each other if we found something interesting!

You can see her interests on her blog Skip to my Ewe. (click on name to go there~this Windows Live won't let me make my links another color!)

Here is what I've decided on.

I was Sooo sure I wanted a white slip covered sofa until I brought home the swatches and put them up against the walls and curtains in my living room. Too blah for me.

So red it is! And I think Tammy is choosing at least one piece of red leather. Must be our bashful personalities...not.

Last week I bought this settee at a garage sale. I think it will look good with the red sofa. (Those are the sofa color swatches on it)

I didn't want to get into a red, white and blue color scheme, then I remembered this wingback chair I reupholstered that is in my hooking room now. I think it will bring the room together! Eclectic...Just how I like it.

Poor Mickey said it sounds like I've already made up my mind when I asked him if he wanted to go look at it. He just can't understand why I keep buying couches. The only reason I Hate the one we have now is that the back cushions aren't attached and the seat cushions scoot out every time you sit on it. It's a very soft cotton material, almost slick~pretty...but it makes me CRAZY!

Started radiation treatments this Monday. One week under my belt. Only six more weeks to go. It really goes quickly. I'm in and out in fifteen minutes. The only bad thing is that it's at 2:00 every afternoon. Right in the middle of the day.

Also been working like a dog in the garden. Trying to get everything planted before the side effects of the radiation catch up with me. They say it causes fatigue~as in you have to take a nap every day. YUK! I don't want to take naps.

I've got some livin' to do!

Have a great weekend.

Peace,

Sheri

More hook-in pictures

2010-04-19T13:22:00.001-05:00

These are in no specific order and unfortunately with no names!

More tomorrow!

Peace,

Sheri

Springfield Hook-in

2010-04-18T17:26:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the 2nd annual hook-in at the Lake Springfield Boat House. What a great day!!! Great weather, great food, and great friends. I was so glad I was able to go this year. With the surgery I wasn’t sure I’d be able to. But I did. I stayed all day AND I kept my hair on all day!!!

Carolyn Snyder of Cricket Street Wool was selling some beautiful applique patterns and beautiful hand dyed wool. (www.cricketstreetwool.com)

I bought this snowman runner pattern. Like I need another thing to do…

Tammy and me hard at work!

Tammy has more pictures over on her blog~ www.skiptomyewe.blogspot.com.

Here are a few pictures of rugs and their hookers. I’m sorry I can’t remember everyone’s name.

Dulcy just starting a tea cozy from Karen Kahle. I’m sure she’ll be posting some pics on her blog too. www.dulcysdoorstep.blogspot.com

I’ll post more pictures this week.

It’s going to be a busy one. I am going to start radiation the first week of May and I have two Dr. appointments this week to get ready for that. (Looks like it’s going to be a long summer too.)

Hopefully when the radiation is over I can get back to my “normal life”! Those who know me well wouldn’t call me normal!!

Peace to all,

Sheri

Recuperating from surgery

2010-04-08T20:37:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow will be two weeks. They did a modified radical mastectomy on my right breast and also took all the lymph nodes from under that arm. We went to the surgeon’s office on Thurs. the 1st of April for the pathology reports.

ALL CLEAR!!!

No Cancer!!!

He said the percentage of patients that the chemo zaps ALL of the cancer are only 10-15%!!!

He still wants me to have the radiation though, and I have an appointment with a radiation oncologist on the 16th of this month. I REALLY don’t want to do it, but hey, I’m not going to tempt fate at this point! It will be every day for six weeks. And I’ve heard that the fatigue from the radiation is worse than with the chemo! Hopefully I’ll be back in the swing of things by the fourth of July!!

But I’m feeling GREAT!!! I was in the garden scattering some flower seeds just days after the surgery~the next Thursday!!!

Also that day we had a fence installed in the back yard for Jimmie Dean. He has been running out the back door alot and we live on a busy street. So we had a fence put in from the back of the house and out just thirty feet. Our yard is about 300 feet deep total, so fencing the whole thing is out of the question. $$$$ It’s a small area, but he acts like he’s free as a bird!!! He’s never been out without a leash and he didn’t quite know what to do at first.

One more exciting thing happened this week… I have some fuzz on my head!!! It’s totally white and barely visible, but it’s the beginnings of HAIR!!! I stood in the sunlight this afternoon with a mirror and admired the tiny fuzz!! LOL. I told Mickey if I don’t quit rubbing it and feeling it I’m going to rub it off!!! I’ll never cuss doing my hair again. Hopefully it will be a little thicker than before. I had baby hair before.

Hope everyone had a marvelous Easter. I finally got to see my family (nieces and nephews and their kids). We surprised them at my sister’s dinner. I haven’t seen any of the kids since last fall~before Halloween! Doctors told me to stay away from the little ones because of germs. They had grown! I burst into tears when I saw them. So needless to say, I had a great day!

The hook-in in Springfield is next Saturday and I’m going to be able to go. Can’t wait!! I’ll take lots of pictures. Finally I can start getting out again and have something to blog about!

Great to be back. Missed you all.

Sheri

Your prayers worked!!!

2010-03-12T11:56:00.001-06:00

I had the post-chemo mammogram Wednesday and they said It’s CLEAR!!! No tumors, no cancer showing up!!! The chemo did it’s job!!! The doctor had me come over and view the before and after films. He was so excited to tell me the news. And the nurse hugged me and said this “very rarely happens” that the chemo completely takes it away!!!

Mickey told me Wednesday morning that he thought they would say that the cancer was gone. I told him not to even get his hopes up like that. That I knew it had shrunk it, but it couldn’t be Gone… I felt like he was setting himself up for a huge letdown. When I got out to the car and called him to tell him the news he screamed YES!!!!! then, I Told You So!!! God, I love him. Couldn’t have done this without my Mickey.

We still meet with the surgeon and my oncologist next Thursday the 18th. I think they will still do the surgery, but won’t know for sure until after that appointment.

Remember the picture above? That’s the owl my great-niece made for me at Build a Bear Workshops. She went with me to chemo and she’s wearing a wig too!

Thank you again for all the prayers and well wishes. I could feel every bit of good energy you were sending me! You’ll never know how it made me feel to know that all of you were praying for me and wishing good things for me. It almost overwhelms me to think about it. Don’t stop yet, though!!! LOL

Have a great weekend. I know we are going to!!!

Peace,

Sheri

Painting the house

2010-03-01T21:10:00.001-06:00

It’s very hard to keep up a blog when all you do is lay on the couch! I did come up with a great idea for spring though. Paint the exterior of our house! It’s only been about five years since we painted, but the brick red we chose to paint has faded into a yucky kind of terra cotta. And from the front of the house you can see the north side which hasn’t faded at all. It really looks awful…So I figured we better change the color!!! Mickey Loved the idea…..NOT. Like I said, that’s what happens when you just stare at the walls all day.

I told Mick I would like Pink or Yellow!!! He said he WON’T live in a pink house!!! So yellow it is. Just like The Daisy Cottage. You may click on the cottage words above to go to her blog (for some reason it won’t underline the link!)

Kim’s is a stucco bungalow built in 1922. Ours was built in 1929 and sadly, doesn’t have the covered front porch. But I think it will look great.

Here are a few other yellow and pink houses I found on the net. Some I like, some not.

If you haven’t already, check out the blogs on the right for the Lenexa, KS rug show pictures this past Saturday. I’m so sad I had to miss it this year. But I’m killing cancer this year. Next year for sure!!! I wanted to meet some of you in person.

Gotta go watch CSI!

Peace,

Sheri

Chemo is FINISHED!!!

2010-02-16T20:28:00.001-06:00

It is such a relief and a huge milestone on my journey with cancer treatment and survival. In one month I will meet with the surgeon to discuss the mastectomy. I have so many questions for him. Number one being, can he do the reconstruction surgery at the same time even if I need radiation treatment? I’ve heard you might have to wait for six months to a year if you do the rad’s. I’ve decided I want to have an implant in the one they will remove and also an implant on the “good” one~to make it match the new one and be perky too!!! Hey, might as well make the most of a terrible situation, right?

When I was first diagnosed my sister wanted to buy some pink bracelets and give them to our friends to wear. I told her No Way…None of that pink crap!!! Do you have any idea how much of this stuff is out there? And where does the money really go? One website proudly proclaimed that they give 1% of their profits to breast cancer research. WOW…1%.

Here are a few needless things I found while surfing this evening

pink ribbon headphones!

pink ribbon candles

pink ribbon bracelets

pink ribbon sandals

pink ribbon candy dish!

pink ribbon onsies

for the baby!

And finally a pink ribbon watch!

Like I said, what do you think they do with all the money from these products? And this is just a Small sample of the things for sale. Somebody’s getting rich.

I did go to the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks today after chemo and bought 10 of these rubber bracelets to give away!!! For some reason they didn’t seem so bad. (Or maybe they are still really bad and I was just feeling victorious!) They read Beacon of Hope and bcfo.org.

And yesterday I sketched a little mat with Jimmie Dean sitting on his little green chair. Hooked a little on it today at the hospital. I’m hand cutting all the wool for it and it’s fun so far! Will show you when I have a bit more finished.

It’s so nice to read all of your kind, friendly and loving comments. thank you.

Peace,

Sheri

I finished the tote bag by Karen Kahle!

2010-02-15T19:48:00.001-06:00

And I had the best time hooking it! It hooked up really fast. Then came the sewing with a machine part….

And the swearing…. Broke the needle within a few minutes!!!

I am going to change the handle material to a pink wool. I think the stripes are just too bright. And I think I’ll add some sort of trim around the top of the bag too.

Hope everyone had a great Valentine’s day! Mine was great! He spoils me and I love it! And he even proved he Listens to me. A while back I told him I’d like to try my hand at growing an orchid. He got me two for V. day. One white, the other lavendar. Also two more silver charms for my bracelet. And a pot of daffodils to set out in the spring!

It’s still snowing here and has done so every day since last Friday. Not sticking on the ground, just looking beautiful.

Have a great week

Peace,

Sheri

I’m CLUELESS!

2010-02-03T11:27:00.003-06:00

And Dulcy is my HERO! Last summer she asked Tammy and me if we would like to do a rug show at The Moxie Cinema. A unique movie theatre in our upscale downtown area. We were both thrilled and said yes immediately. She said the show would be in Feb. 2010. Oh how life changes when you’re not looking. I didn’t have any CLUE that I would be knee deep in chemo. Nor did Tammy have a CLUE that the night before the big show she would come down with food poisoning! Enter Dulcy and her husband Jim. Jim is a professional photographer and they have many years experience “hanging” shows. But I’m sure they didn’t have any CLUE that they would be doing it all by themselves this morning. We feel so bad about it too. I talked to Tammy a minute ago on the phone. I did remind her of what Dulcy told me yesterday. That we would gladly do it for her if the circumstances were different. And it made me feel much better. Of course we would. And think nothing of it! She promised to take lots of pictures and Mickey and I plan to go see a movie over the weekend.

I was going to show you the rugs I am displaying……BUT my pictures app won’t work!

So in closing I wanted to tell you that have been asking how I’ve been feeling that honestly I’ve been run over by the chemo truck. Been in bed for 10 days. It’s the weakness and shortness of breath that’s keeping me in bed. If I get up and walk around my heart just pounds and my arms and legs feel like they weigh 100 lbs!!! Only ONE MORE to go though. My last chemo will be Feb. 16th!!!! Then surgery hopefully by the end of March. Then the dreaded radiation. I had my calendar out yesterday and I think I’ll be finished with all treatment and all patched up by the end of June for sure!! It will be here before I know it.

Keep sending your prayers and positive vibes my way. They’re working. I know this because I’m still smiling through all of this! Thank you.

Hopefully I can show pictures of the rug show soon!

It’s good to talk to you again!

Peace,

Sheri

A great place to study

2010-01-13T21:11:00.004-06:00

Study color, shading, composition, value.

That’s what I’ve been doing with this website. Please take a look at it and see if you don’t agree with me. It’s http://dailypainters.com

Take this black dog, for instance. Notice there isn’t really that much black involved in his body. That’s what I’ve been studying! Look at all the blues, lavenders and purples.

And can’t you just see a rug designed with this image in mind? Look at the color!!!

I’ve always wanted to hook a self portrait. Studying these paintings would sure help with the color selection. And the general understanding of where to place the values on your face.

Again, look at all the colors in her face. Not flesh toned at all.

How about backgrounds? This could be hooked with a great spot dye!

And there are quite a few basic mandala shapes we could incorporate into rugs! And each one is a great lesson in color planning.

I hope everyone enjoys the site as much as I do. If you sign up, it will be delivered every day in an email.

Is it just me or do all of you see rugs in everything you look at? It gets kind of weird, actually. LOL

I finished the little heart hooking this afternoon. Haven’t taken a picture yet though. And I forgot to sew around it before I hooked it so I haven’t cut it out yet either!

Have a great evening…

Peace,

Sheri

Charging for The Welcome Mat!?!?!

2010-01-11T15:10:00.001-06:00

What exactly would we be paying for? Sharing ideas on the internet? Sharing photos, recipes, helpful tips? Wouldn’t that kind of be like charging to read blogs? I understand it takes an administrator to have a group like this, but should you really be in it for the money? Or, honestly…..hire people? It just seems absurd to me! Are you going to pay the fee? I guess you know where I stand! (And BTW I have paid for a “class” on The Welcome Mat and was also quite disappointed.)

Let me know what you think about this!

Peace,

Sheri

Alice and I are published!!!

2010-01-07T15:40:00.003-06:00

It’s not yesterday’s news, but it is recent! Jane Halliwell Green’s new book, “Pictorial Hooked Rugs” was released in the fall and I just now got my copy! And here are our works!

Mine is titled “Sunflower” and it is the place in my mind I would love to live in Italy! Never been there, but hope to go someday.

The sunflower in the lower right hand corner is stuffed with fiberfill and beaded with little brown and gold beads.

And here is Alice’s rug, titled “England Memory Rug”. You can visit her blog folkartprimitives.blogspot.com.

Also of interest today I was reading Jane’s blog and she has a link showing her new video on pixelating! Jane Halliwell Green teaches how to pixelate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Bf2c-vCoU

Very Interesting! And a great idea for hooking all of the spring flowers that are just around the corner. (Yes, I know I’m pushing it. We have snow on the ground too!)

I’ve been hooking on a tote bag by Karen Kahle. I’ve got one side finished already! Really fast hooking.

And FYI, I had chemo #4 Monday and everything is going Great! Still feel good~knock on wood! Two more to go! Yeah!!!

Going to do some more hooking this afternoon.

Hope everyone has a pleasant evening.

Peace,

Sheri

Correction

2009-12-29T11:22:00.002-06:00

It seems I have made a terrible mistake with my words. I'm sorry to say, I haven't completed all of my chemo treatments. When I said my last appt., I meant last...like last week! I HAVE finished three out of six though. So I am half way through!!! And number four will be this coming Monday.
So sorry I got you excited for me~but at least I'm Half way through!!!
Thanks to you all for caring so much about me. You can never know how it feels to have people you've never met praying and thinking about you. I can feel your love every day, my friends.
My mom and I were just talking about how this whole cancer experience has turned into a spiritual event for the both of us. Everything has some significant meaning to it now, however small. Never take anything for granted.....live each day like it's your last......make today count....treat people like you would like to be treated......they're all true. Now, if everyone would just practice what I preach!!!
Have a great day and sorry about my confusing writing.
Peace,
Sheri

Blue Bottle Tree

2009-12-28T13:13:00.001-06:00

I’ve wanted one for years. And my brother-in-law has been saving wine bottles for me for years.

On the day of my last chemo I took a picture of the dead cedar tree that Mickey had finally drug home from the lake. The perfect tree. (Kind of like Charley Brown’s tree)

Notice the worm holes in the bark where it has laid up on the shore. He searched for the perfect tree for months before finally bringing this one home! So the day of chemo it was laying in the yard and I thought I would take some pics of it. I was sooo proud!

Mickey came home for lunch and wished me good luck at the treatment.

When I pulled in the driveway I immediately saw it. The bottle tree was “planted” and “growing” some beautiful cobalt blue bottles! Mickey had done this on his lunch hour for me!!! Of course I couldn’t even see it for the tears. How sweet is that? He knew how much I wanted it.

It may seem silly to you guys, but this is, and will always be the greatest gift I have ever or will ever get!!!

Ever since, he has been searching Pier One and numerous other stores in search of the perfect cobalt blue bottle. Found a few at Hobby Lobby too. Knowing how much he HATES to shop makes it even better!

Over the summer I was at a garage sale and the people had a whole box of the old Milk of Magnesia bottles. They told me I could have all the bottles for a nickle a piece!!! I think I got a dozen or so. And there is a Kosher water that comes in the most beautiful bottles!

That was the beginning of December. This was Christmas day…

A Coopers hawk has found my tree and stayed for hours sunning himself on his beautiful new perch.

I Love it. Not so sure about the neighbors. Paula said, “it’s so you, Sheri” I’ll take that as a good thing!!!

Have a great week.

Peace,

Sheri

I’m still here! Just a little slower than before!!!

2009-12-16T12:05:00.001-06:00

First I want to share with you the gifts I have received from the two swaps I entered. The first one was Deena’s Jingle for the cure. It came from my new friend Lea from Arkansas. Here was just inside the box. Mind you, this is supposed to be an ornament swap. Not to her!

She mailed me two handmade ornies~both beautiful.

Everyone's favorite, chocolate!

Some warm fuzzy socks. Two pair, so my little tootsies don’t get cold.

And my favorite. A shabby sheep she made from the last piece of an antique wool blanket she had been keeping in an antique trunk in the basement. Lea said she had been saving it for something, just didn’t know what! Until she saw that I was Shabby Sheep! then she says she knew! Isn’t that the sweetest sentiment? I have her on my mantle with all of my old Santa's. Thank you again, Lea. Like I said, they were all good tears!

Then Laura from Got Three Bags Wool, got my name in the Wool Snippets swap. She also totally went overboard with her giving!!!

First, this darling hooked pin. (I’ve always loved black sheep for some reason)

This great hooking/ditty bag.

Another pin, this one wooden! And adorable.

And the greatest for last! This BEAUTIFUL hooked angel mat! I cried when I opened her. It’s just so special. Ever since this cancer diagnosis, my mom and I have been collecting all things angelic. And this fits on the box on my coffee table like it was made to go there! Thank you so much, Laura.

We had a hooking~Christmas party at Dulcy’s house last night. I’ll show you the picks from that tomorrow! We had a great time, eating, drinking and hooking!

Peace, Sheri

Drop Cloth Draperies

2009-12-01T08:03:00.011-06:00

I think they look just like linen! These are cotton painters dropcloths. Measuring five feet by nine feet. I purchased each "panel" at Lowe's. About $10.00 each. Then I machine washed and dried them on hot and ironed the "valance". I did this by folding over 13 inches on all of the panels. (with the pretty hemmed side facing front). For the hem, I merely snipped a piece and tore it across!

Clip them onto your drapery rings and VOILA, LINEN DRAPERIES!!! OK some of you with linen draperies are saying I need to get my eyes checked, but I can still have my wallet checked too! I did the living room ~ 2 windows and dining room ~ 1 window, for $30.00!!! I think I'll still add one more to the dining room for fullness.

Been doing a few crafty things. I got out my Fimo clay. (Which my friends knowingly told me to take out of my garage sale stuff to sell) and whipped up some breast cancer jewelry. Ford has a new campaign with "WARRIOR" as the theme for the pink fight. I like it. Sounds tough. Then I made a necklace, the same clay minus the white highlighted letters that says F%@K CANCER! Blazing crude and vulgar~but I like it! You'll just have to use your imagination to see it!

And later this morning I'm going to load up all the scarves and hats and take them to the St. Johns Chub O'Reilly Cancer Center, here in Springfield, MO. The nurses have already told me they'll have to set up a new place to display and distribute them! I'll call them first and let them know I'm coming! That makes me so proud! Proud of YOU!!! Thank you. We have a very nice start!!! (Maybe I should go to work for PBS or somewhere like that!)

I'm also thinking of extending my challenge to Wanda Kerr's THE WELCOME MAT. I think you may need an invitation to join the group, but let me know and I'll gladly "get you in". It's a huge group of rug hookers and fiber artists from all over the world! You probably recognize Wanda's name from Rug Hooking Magazine and the great dyeing recipes she contributes each issue.
And in closing, here's a picture of the progress I'm making on my Antique Star rug.

I'm moving right along~between the nausea and extreme arm fatigue. So Glad I have something to escape to, though. I can't imagine just Sitting here staring at that black box you call a TV. It seems like such a waste of LIFE!

Have a great week!
Peace,
Sheri

Angels on Earth

2009-11-20T14:48:00.010-06:00

There really are such things as angels here on earth. I'd like to share some of mine with you!
Last Friday night at around 10:00 p.m. I was in my craft room watching some girl TV and my step-son stopped by to bring us some WalMart supplies. He came and left without me even knowing he was here. But Mickey came to my room with this huge box in his hands. He said Jason had found it on the front porch. (We always use the back door and the mailman had, of course already been here that day.) So it was great he had stopped by. Anyway.....I couldn't imagine what it could be. I sure didn't remember ordering anything! I opened the pretty wrapped package and immediately burst into tears! I couldn't even read the letter that was inside. I did though, read who it was from. One of my wool customers, who has become a great friend. And it was a BEAUTIFUL knitted blanket to take with me to my chemo appointments. I guess everyone but me knew it was cold in those places. Her name is Martie and she is on my blog list on the right as Taos Sunflower. She lives in New Mexico and just recently closed her yard and fiber shop. While it was open she and her customers made it a habit to knit squares, or blocks (as in quilt blocks) and stashed them around the shop. Then whenever anyone needed one she put them together. She knitted the blocks together. She said in her letter that she was sorry about the color, knowing I like pink. But take a look at this!!!! It looks as though they had made it to match my home exactly. Just look at how it matches my Sunflower rug. She also told me about her friend Vadan who had battled breast cancer for fourteen years and finally lost her battle just this year. She had knitted some of the blocks on my blanket! I just got goose bumps all over my body just typing those words. Her friend took her blanket to every treatment, just as I will do and she called it her "cosmic" blanket. Of course that's what I'm calling it to. I can honestly feel the love knitted into it when I drape it over my lap and shoulders. Thank you again, Martie.

Then yesterday another package arrived. I did recognize this address. It was from my great niece Zoie and her mother (my niece) Angie. Inside was my owl from the Build a Bear Workshop. Zoie had wanted to make me one since she found out I was sick. They are coming home for Christmas (from Indiana), but she thought they better mail it so I could take it with me to chemo too! I chose the owl from their website because it was a get well soon owl. Sooo cute. She bought me an extra outfit and a gift card for some accessories too. She is only eight years old and saved her own money to buy it for me. She recorded her own voice too. She says, "I love you, Aunt Sheri and I miss you sooo much." Again made me cry. But good cries! Oh, by the way I named her Zhootie, for Zoie and Hootie! And I bought her a black wig so we both could have wigs on. This is my new blonde one. Looks like my hair! Thank you Zoie and Ang!

Then today~NO~another package! This from Kim from Millies Mats. (Also on my side bar in fav blogs) She has knitted me a hat to keep my little head warm! She mailed it before I sent out my wishes for hats to donate so I get to keep this one! She really made it for me...not cheating, really! It is so soft. She made it from 100% cotton and it feels so good. I did get a picture, but not on my head. Mickey had already gone back from lunch so I didn't get a picture of it on my head, but it fits great and looks great, if I do say so myself! Thank you so much, Kim.

I've had such a beautiful response to my challenge for the hats and scarves for cancer patients. I really do feel like that's my calling. I don't know yet, Exactly what I'm supposed to do, but I'm sure I will get my clues in the right time.

I made some draperies out of painters cotton drop cloths too! I'll show you those tomorrow. Still tire out easily.

Thanks for everything again,
and peace,
Sheri

My challenge to you

2009-11-12T08:48:00.011-06:00

It's the time of year to start thinking about Christmas swaps and fun things like that! I just entered the one on Wool Snippets, as a matter of fact! BUT....I want to CHALLENGE my loving readers to do another kind of giving this year. Something that, before a month ago, I didn't even know there existed a need for! And what a better group than you, my talented readers to help me achieve my goal.
Lots of you have been saying you'll do anything you can to help me~Betcha' didn't think I'd take you up on it did you?

Here's the dilemna.

Lots of women with breast cancer.

Almost all of us will lose our hair from the treatment.

Remember I told you about the blue wigs at the American Cancer Society? Well, their hats aren't much better.

I DO NOT WISH TO INSULT ANYONE, however who may have donated a hand made hat!!!! It's just that they're a little "old" looking!!! And cold looking! I'm guessing the ones in the picture are crocheted because of the holes!?!?! (You can tell what an accomplished knitter and crocheter I am!)

So my challenge is this.

Please knit or crochet a stylish hat or scarf for me to donate! You know with bright colorful cool new yarns and beads and baubles!

But then again, do keep in mind they will need to match coats and other women who's style isn't,let's say, as "eclectic" as mine!

I even saw a pattern on Etsy for a hat with wool yarn dreadlocks on the top!

Talk about cute!!! Here's where to buy the pattern! Her shop name is www.janicerosema.etsy.com. (in case the link doesn't work!) She has wonderful patterns and Great prices!!!

And there were absolutely NO scarves in the boxes! The nursing director told me that certain types of chemo make it unbearable to breath in the cold air!

And fingerless gloves? All the rage!

If it isn't asking too much, could you make up a scarf/hat whatever you feel comfortable making, and mail it to me to take to the breast cancer support group? The December meeting will be Monday December 21st. I sure could take them before AND after that date too though!
There are donation boxes where we get our chemo and in the ACS office right in the door of the Cancer Center.

I don't want to leave out the men either!!! I saw NO men's stuff!!! Their heads get cold too!!! So how about a man's hat or scarf?

And here are the scrub hats I saw before going into surgery. Remember I told you about Ruby, the lady who makes them in sports teams for all of surgery staff? Well she brought me a pattern to my house!!! So I could make some of these to donate to cancer patients too. I liked these 'cause I'm always so hot and they are lightweight cotton. However.....I decided to try one out of fleece. More my style! What do you think?

Cotton:

fleece:
so funny, but soooo me!

Come on girls......
I know you can do it!
And I guarantee you will feel better after you do!

Peace and love,

Sheri

please email me and I'll give you my mailing address!

Chemo Karma!

2009-11-08T08:22:00.008-06:00

I hope I can help all of us find some humor in dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment! Now this might be funny.....IF it didn't happen to you!!!
Last Monday morning was the first day of chemotherapy for me and three other people at St. John's Cancer Center. We each had to sit in a recliner right in front of the nurses' station, so they could watch us. (Like maybe we were going to run away!?!?) I was the first one to really get going with the meds. Everything was going fine until THEY sat down. I knew from looking at these two they were going to be trouble! You know the loud, pushy, we're the only ones here, type? I immediately asked my nurse to close the partition curtain between us. Didn't care if they thought I was rude! But of course they didn't even notice because THEY were the only ones there! LOL So It's going on 11:00. (I started at 9:00) My nurse is the greatest little thing~carefully explaining and letting me journal each word and medicine she is giving me. She literally spelled each one for me so I could get it right in my book/journal/thing. Then I heard it. "What do you want for lunch? How 'bout Quiznos!!! OOOHHHH YES~Grilled Pastrami with EXTRA ONIONS!"

Holy Crap. Monica had just told me that the drug I was now receiving was the one that, if it was going to....would be the one to make me sick at my stomach!
A short 15 minutes later here came the f)*^3#@&* ONION SANDWICH!!! Oh My God. And I had been soooo proud of myself for being so tough.
I could feel myself actually turn green. I screamed for the nurse to get me a mask!!!! Help! There's no oxygen in here! Only onion air! They practically ran at me with the mask and I had to cover up my nose and mouth with my hand too! Then the lady two more chairs down said, "OOOHHH Your lunch smells good!" Of course, me......being the mild mannered lady I am blurted out NOT IF YOU'RE GETTING CHEMO, IT DOESN'T! Still they didn't get it!!! The eating lady, as I will call her from now on, asked her friend what I said. So again, little angel Sheri snapped the curtain back and said PLEASE, after you eat that onion sandwich, take all the wrappers and trash completely outside this room. Maybe outside the building! Her friend whispered, "it's making her sick!"

(Now remember this lady is a little behind my schedule with the meds....tee hee hee) Oh.... they are s l o w l y starting her D R I P now. tee hee hee.

OK Karma.

My BFF in the universe!!!

Please make your appearance be known now!

(I am laying back now, just resting. With my hand still covering my nose, but feeling Much better) The whole department is whirling with nurses! Eating lady is sick~Get her some 7-up and crackers! The poor man whose wife thinks lunch smells good is sick~crackers ASAP. And Sprite, not 7-up. He doesn't really like 7-up!

How does it go again? What goes around comes around? I LOVE LIFE!!!

Peace,
Sheri

You have breast cancer

2009-10-28T16:19:00.006-05:00

Those are the words I heard on Monday October the 12th at 12:05 p.m. I had felt a lump in my right breast two weekends before and had been to my MD to check it out. He sent me to the Breast Cancer Center at St. Johns Hospital for a diagnostic mammogram. The same day they did an ultrasound and that doctor told me she wouldn't believe it if the results came back negative. What? Me? No one in my family has ever had breast cancer. In fact nobody that I know of has had Any kind of cancer, except for my sister with melanoma.

Then on that Monday my doctor called and gave me the news. I really already knew what he was going to say, from the ultrasound doctor. But I didn't really expect to hear this news ON THE PHONE! I had left a message with the nurse earlier in the day saying that my husband and I would come over to discuss the results. My doctor told me he had never had to do that before! That's because it Shouldn't be done on the phone!!!

From there he scheduled me an appointment with an oncologist. Dr. Raju, a woman. I liked the fact that she was a woman. She actually has breasts. (Not that men don't. But you know what I mean.) Mickey, and my mom and dad went to this appointment. The nurse seated us all in a tiny examination room. Again... I expected to meet with her in her office, with her sitting behind her desk and explaining everything to us. NOT....
She put my chart up on her laptop and began reading the test results. She said, "You have advanced ductal carcinoma and it's bad". Then she just looked at the floor and shook her head. I can't count the times she did this. Talk about freaking you out!?!?! Hadn't I felt anything before now? Why didn't I know about this sooner? How could this be at least a stage three cancer and me not know it? I thought I was the one who was supposed to be asking the questions. She did an exam and then immediately called the surgeon, who is just a few buildings down. He was in surgery at the time, but agreed to meet us in 15 minutes. Can you believe what I was thinking by this time? I talked my parents into going home before we went to meet with him. They looked so pale and fragile. I assured them we would call the minute we left.
This guy was all of 30 years old~if that... I like that too. I think young doctors are so much more informed than the older ones. Sorry, doctors. But anyway he said the same thing. This cancer is bad and at least a stage three. He said I must first do chemo and then he would see me in the spring for surgery. A mastectomy and reconstruction at the same time. This new procedure is called a something flap. It involves taking fat from your lower abdomen and making a breast out of it. I thought he was kidding when he said you get a tummy tuck too. He scheduled a CT and PET scan to see if the cancer had spread to my bones or other organs. Those tests were on Thursday the 22nd also at the hospital.
And on Friday the 23rd I met the surgeon again. This time in the "holding cell" awaiting the surgery to put the chemo port in.
My life has been in S L O W motion since all of this happened. It honestly feels like the diagnosis was a month ago. I have to keep looking at the calendar to have it all make sense. Actually it was only 16 days from diagnosis to putting the port in.
Tomorrow Mickey and I go to "chemo class" at 4:00 and they will schedule the first treatment then. It's not really a class as I would have assumed, it's a one on one with us and a nurse. Explaining what to expect, etc.
In just these few short days I have bought two wigs. One blond, the other red. And yesterday evening I had my hair cut short. Razor cut at the nape of my neck and then coming down longer to my chin in the front. Again....it's like slow motion, but has happened so quickly.
I started keeping a journal on that Monday. And I am seriously thinking about writing a book and maybe titling it, "You have breast cancer. Take two aspirin and don't call me, I'll call you." Do you know that I didn't receive as much as a pamphlet at the oncologists office and I have had Several times where the doctors offices haven't even returned my phone calls! It is absurd. I thought that maybe I could write a sort of instructional manual for breast cancer.
So that's what I've been doing and why you haven't heard from me in so long.
And THANK YOU to all of my friends and family who have sent cards, flowers and well wishes my way. I'm astonished to know the number of people all over the country who are praying for me and my family. Again Thank You.
I'll write again soon.
Say a little prayer please. And please go get your mammograms.
Peace,
Sheri

We've rented a flea market booth!

2009-10-01T08:35:00.013-05:00

What were we thinking? I was ready to donate all the rest of the stuff in the basement. As a matter of fact the DAV truck was coming to our street in a few weeks! But Mickey said HE was just going to rent a booth and put the stuff in it!
It was quite a wreck when we rented it. The back wall was brick but painted yellow. The floor is concrete, but painted hunter green and sponge painted with white blobs. So we went to work.
We hung burlap on the back walls and white fabric on the sides (to cover the dusty chicken wire!) Then painted the floor a clean white and I stamped these fleur-de-lis on it! Yesterday I filled it up with HALLOWEEN decorations and dress-up supplies!

Wednesday~Noon...

The painted floor

Hung some shutters

And Voila! Yesterday at about 2:30!

Wish us luck. We chose the STD flea market that's close to the MSU campus~ Hopefully the kids will find some costumes for Halloween!

Peace,
Sheri