Hi-Tech Hijinx

My web site has been down all day due to web host server upgrade issues, but it looks like we're back online now. Glad it wasn't as bad as one time years ago with a previous web host who brought all their client sites down for about two weeks!! That's what made me change to my current web host, whose record of web site up-time is excellent - problems such as today's are rare. I am with Create a Shoppe, a DIY web site and store builder. Very intuitive, easy to maintain and low cost. If you're in the market for a service such as this, do check them out!

Saturday night... What shall I do? Some rug hooking? Watch a movie? Surf the 'net? Not sure. Hubby is downstairs watching hockey so I'm on my own. Should call my Mom - yeah, that's what I'll do. She's debating making the trip up to Maine for Thanksgiving this year. Think I'll make a "sales call" and try to seal the deal.

Enjoy your Saturday night!

Wonderful Wool!

Yum Yum! I just received a big box of wonderful hand-dyed wool bundles from Blackberry Primitives. Shown is a collection called "Holiday Surprise". Reds, greens, golds - great for holiday projects. There are six different bundles to choose from, each one has ten different hand-dyed wools, both solids and textureds, in 7" x 8" pieces. I'm selling these for $28.00 a bundle, and they're already going fast! The chillier temperatures and less daylight has really rekindled everyone's desire for projects working with WOOL!

Speaking of which, I've put together another little wool and floss kit to make the adorable Penny Pouch, a Lynda Hall design from the Winter issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects. This little wool "crazy quilt" bag is on my "must make" list and I've already got my wools color-planned for it. This little "helper" kit will give you seven 6" squares of hand-dyed and textured wools, plus a hand-dyed black for one of the patches plus enough for your initials, should you choose to put them on the bag front as Lynda did. There are also five primary colored DMC flosses to use for the embroidery embellishments. These little kits are priced at $10.00 and are available under my Kits section. Here's Lynda's sweet little wool bag:

Don't forget to comment on my Nov. 9th post, "It's All About the Fun" with your suggestion for a great project for me to offer as a future kit. I'll pick the suggestion I like the most next Wednesday and will send that person a half yard of wool as a Thank You!

Have a warm and wooly weekend!

Thank a Veteran

If you live in a free country, thank a veteran today! Let's celebrate their service and support those still serving.

It's All About the Fun

I made up the rest of the White-on-White Wool Applique Bag kits today. The base wool and reproduction print I used for the lining (a Jo Morton print, by the way) are used up and my ivory buttons are pretty much gone. But what fun it was putting them together! I love it all - color-planning, cutting the pieces, selecting the buttons, ironing the fabrics before they're packaged, even choosing the right font to print on the paper label I staple to the bag. It's all FUN! I'd forgotten how much fun making kits is, and I need to do more of it. But there are so many patterns - so many and so little time! Is there a particular wool or wool & fabric pattern you'd like to see kitted? Leave a comment on this post or shoot me an email - next Wednesday I'll pick the suggestion that I can best create a great kit for and send the suggester (is that a word??) a nice piece of wool. So, get those books, mags and patterns out, and let me know what you want!

And as far as more White-on-White kits - I'm working on pulling some similar wool and fabric combinations together and might have a source for more old ivory buttons. Watch this space for updates...

In stitches,




P.S. I forgot to say, the design needs to be from a book or pattern that I sell. Patti's suggestion of a Maggie Bonanomi design from one of her book's, Nature's Offerings, definitely fits the bill and is a great suggestion - Thanks, Patti! Keep 'em coming! ~Wendy

White-on-White

This is Maggie Bonanomi's White-on-White Wool Applique Bag design from the latest issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine. It knocked me out, and I know lots of others love it too! So, taking inventory of my supplies, I saw that I could make up kits for this great bag. I substituted a lovely, oatmeal wool for the sometimes hard-to-find (and pricey) silk matka Maggie used, and combined it with a slightly lighter, natural wool for the appliques, five antique ivory buttons from my personal button stash, and a skein of ivory linen floss for hand sewing. For the lining, I chose a nice, tan and brown reproduction shirting fabric.

I've priced this kit at $20. Only two are available while I search for more oatmeal wool for the outer bag!

In stitches,

Oh Boy!

Just arrived today! The Primitive Quilts and Projects Winter issue! Sixteen new projects from folks like Maggie Bonanomi, Renee Plains, Lori Brechlin, Jan Patek, Lynda Hall and more. I think this is the best issue yet! Click here for a short video peek inside the issue. I've got a good supply, so get 'em while they're hot! (Will require $3.24 in USPS First Class postage.)

Have a creative weekend!

How About Ewe?

This is Sheep - a set of three full-sized paper patterns for rug hooking from Primitive Spirit. Baa is a 7-1/2" x 10" rug that could embellish a bag or mount on an old suitcase. My friend, designer Kim Dubay did just that, and it looks awesome. Go to Sheep is a 10" circle that could be a chair pad or made into a pillow with prodded wool fringe as shown here. Finally, Wooly is a 8" x 9" heart-shaped design that can be hooked as-is or centered, as Karen Kahle has done, in a 10" x 11" rectangle with a hit-or-miss background, which I just love. This pattern set is $15.00.

This sweet little paper pattern set, also from Primitive Spirit is Owl Babies. Three little owls to hook that can be combined any way you like, or made individually into little heart-shaped mini pillows as shown. I made the one in the middle, named Knap. Shilo and Wari are his buddies. This set of three designs is only $5.00.

Happy Hooking!