From the Handiwork Journal . . .

. . . played around with a new "flower" dish scrubbie pattern.  I am making some to sell at the next Farmer's Market.

. . . finished my 11 year-old's tablet cover.  Finally.

. . . started another pot holder set, and dishcloth.  These are my "to go" projects.  When I need to go somewhere, and I am not driving, these go with me.

. . . got around to embellishing the crocheted cat bookmark.

(Click here to see more from my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot)

. . . spray painted chalkboard paint on a clip board to make a sign for Farmer's Market.  

. . . crocheted 1 rag rug for the master bath (sheets and pillow cases).

. . . crocheted another bookmark for the store/market.



The weather is hot and humid here.  I collected 70 pints of water in my dehumidifier.  We have been running it in our master bath, to help the the tile project dry completely.  Rain is in the forecast today, but you never know anymore.







 

From a Journal Junkie

From the Handiwork Journal . . .

. . .knitted 3 more dishcloths.

 . . . crocheted my very first recycled denim jeans rag rug.  I like these.  I will continue to collect old jeans from the family, and make more of these (only bigger than the pattern called for, see S.C.R.A.P. for details).




From the Homesteading Journal . . . 


. . . Hubby, and extended family, picked up a truck load of fire wood for us Saturday.  We were on the last day's worth.  However, the truck broke down after they loaded it with wood.  Sunday, we got the truck back, and wood re-stocked.

. . . made another batch of ginger ale syrup, and another batch of homemade shampoo.
 


From the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for:

~sunshine
~pillows
~my husband's job
~my camera
~God's Love
   


From my personal journal . . .

. . . according to medical experts, it could be another week before I feel better.
   

From the Handiwork Journal . . .

 . . . I am up to about 52 feet on my braid of rags for my rag rug.  This was kind of forgotten about over summer and the holidays.  This project continues.

. . . still plugging away at knitting basket weave blocks for a blanket. 
 

. . . my 11 year-old daughter knitted her first bean bag.  She still needs practice, but she continues to learn.

 You may also like to read this post:  Crocheted Rag Rug

 

Mug Rug for the Football Fanatic ~ Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

The pattern is really for a place-mat, but I call it a mug/snack rug for a football fan.  I just finished one for a Christmas present for hubby.  These look pretty nice when they are finished.

The pattern can be found at

Backyard Camping

This is the lean-to or "wall tent" the kids made last year.

We washed up some rugs, aprons, towels, tablecloths and sheets.

Braided Rag Rug, Heart Wall Paper Note Cards and More Projects

We weren't really snowed in yesterday, but we did get snow.  It was perfect for sitting down in front of the wood burning stove, and to start braiding a rag rug.  

Excerpts From a Journal Junkie

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

While hanging laundry on my clothesline, I kept hearing a woodpecker nearby.  My clotheslines are run off of 3 large, older trees.  They were there from the previous owners.  

I stopped what I was doing, and walked in the direction of the middle tree.  

 

In the top portion of where a tree limb was broken off, I found this. The last few tornado seasons, brought in bad winds and tore down many thick branches.  Birds now make a home in this portion.  I sure hope the barn cats don't see it.

We are drying Peanut (our goat in milk) off for breeding.  We are down to 1 pint of milk a day.   I will sure miss it over the winter, but will be blessed with more milk next year.

Wood splitting came to a halt.  Our chainsaw blade went bad.  Now, it's just a matter of hubby getting the time to put the new one on.   

From the Family Journal . . .

This past weekend was full of surprises, deep house cleaning and pumpkin carving.  On the one day I thought I would have hours to catch up on unfinished projects, my 17 year-old daughter had an idea of her own.

While sitting at my sewing machine, sewing rag rug strips together, she pops her head in and says, "Oh good, your sewing.  Can you make this top look like . . .?"

I dug through the sewing machine drawers and found a small amount of red thread.  We ran out, and used some cheap thread.  I adjusted the tension and said a prayer.  The thread held up.  I used some old seam binding that my Mom left in the sewing machine drawer.  It still had the original price tag on it - $.19!!!  Can you believe that?  I sewed that on for the front design and used silver thick string to create the criss-cross pattern on the front.  I have to give her credit for only spending $3.00 on the original top.  However, I lost out on my day to catch up on projects.  

My 15 year-old daughter asked me to buy her a pumpkin to carve.  I guess she will get extra credit for Spanish class.  Why a pumpkin?  I can only guess "Dia de los Muertes."

I hope she gets all her extra credit too.  I had a hard time finding pumpkins so close to Halloween.  I found 2 for $2.99/each. 

She spent almost the entire day carving this pumpkin.  I sure hope she gets her extra credit.

From the Crafting Journal . . .

It was a good day for a celebration on Saturday.

I finally finished my 12 year-old's crocheted blanket.  Just in time for winter also.

While out looking for other items at a local thrift store, I found myself a used sewing chair.

 
It's not in that bad of shape and it only cost me $7.00.  It works perfectly with my sewing machine.  The chair I was using was too tall.

I also managed to finish up two more flour sack towels for my 9 year-old daughter.   One more left to embroider. 

I also managed to fill my basket again with rag roll balls.  I am going to need another basket.  I will have plenty of projects this winter.

From the Writing Journal . . .

National Novel Writing Month starts tomorrow.  Am I ready?  Nope.  This sinus pressure is not helping my brain think.

From the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for:


1. my camera
2. the scarf that is keeping me warm inside today
3. hot tea
4. kleenex
5. Vick's Vap-o-rub 
6. my kids who keep me on track
7. my mother
8. peace and quiet today
9. God's Mercy
10. trees

Rag Rug ~ Preserving Memories

I finally finished it.  Phew!  I crocheted a rag rug with sheets, pillow cases, and other rag-worthy fabric.  I've been saving fabric for approximately a year now. 

It measures about 5 1/2 feet long by about 22 inches wide.  I even cut up an old apron my kids used for playing house when they were very young.  I also cut up an old baby crib sheet that I probably used for all the kids.  

My Uncle gave us a new set of sheets and pillow cases, and we greatly appreciated them.  It gave me the opportunity to cut my old pillow cases and sheets, and make this very useful rug.  Some of my pillow cases were over 20 years old and worn very thin.  I honestly thought they would rip when I crocheted them, but they held tight.  

My 9 year-old was watching me sew the strips together the other day.  She now wants, not one, but two rag rugs for her hope chest.  

Now......I better get back to cleaning.  I just hope I don't come across another unfinished project, or I may have to stop cleaning to finish it too.

Organizing and Getting Projects Finished

I am working my way through my craft supplies, and finally started a set of flour sack towels for my 9 year-old's hope chest.  I just found out that my 12 year-old wants the same ones, but with black and gray cats.   These particular ones, will have orange cats, to match her own cat, Tiger.

Tiger, as a baby.

I also crocheted a bath rug, from 3 skeins of thick macrame yarn.  I purchased them at a Goodwill many years ago,and had not done anything with them.  

This was a bit of a challenge.  This type of yarn frays and I had to knot each end, and then weave the ends in.  Either way, I made a useful bath rug, and used supplies I already had. 

More projects to finish yet.  I also taught my 9 year-old to sew a button on, and to hand sew.  Now, all she talks about, is when we are going to rent the cabin again, and sit in our "rockers and sew." Ha ha ha!  She is such a "mini-me" through and through.  Now she wants to learn to do embroidery.

Rag Rugs and Cleaning

"Honey did the closet swallow you up?" inquired my husband this morning.

Yes I got swallowed up and chewed up and spit out. However, now we can actually see the floor in there! Ha ha ha! Although there is not enough room for all my craft supplies, I have organized, decluttered and found two purses with stuff in them. One of them has a chewed up strap from a naughty dog.

I've even cut an old pillow case into strips to sew together for another rag rug, put those absolutely wonderful 3M hooks everywhere to get stuff off the floor (like my boxing gloves), and vacuumed up 2 hairy wolf spiders.

Amazingly, I will still have time to finish a second pair of crocheted slippers, close out my on-line pampered chef party, get some writing done, and make dinner. I'm taking advantage of this wonderful rainy day.

Before the snow arrives, I will have rolls of cut rags all ready for a winter rug project. I'll have handmade presents to share and bless with, and I'll be rested knowing that all the Christmas ornaments are made and in their assigned boxes.

Finishing up Summer Projects

It sure feels great to finish a few projects this summer. I finally finished the crocheted t-shirt rag rug for my SCRAP Web site. I love the rug and it's perfect for our simple country bathroom. I can't wait to start one made of recycled cotton sheets.

Our oldest earned his driver's license this morning so that is one more thing to check off the summer to-do list. Hooray to him!

I working on another recycling article for the Scrap Web site and creating more Christmas ornaments. Things are looking pretty good.

Crocheted Flower Dishcloth, Cup Coaster

This is a flower dishcloth pattern I found on