Rag Rugs....just can't stop making them!

I went to drop some Rag Rugs off today at my friend Martina's Shop.  She has a cute little wool shop nearby in Whitby, Ontario and she has been selling some of my work on consignment over the last couple of years.

   I have been obsessed with making these things
this summer, so easy to sit and crochet while listening
to internet radio programs!  Hunting for the fabric has
been great fun, found some awesome deals at my
favorite thrift shops...more fun ripping the fabric up piece by piece while my dogs look on thinking I am a crazy lady! 
I have heard that these old fashioned rag rugs are coming back into vogue, must have something to do with becoming thrifty during hard economic times.  For me, any time is a great time to appreciate old time crafts and re purposing old materials.           Waste not, Want not!

Etsy Treasury etc.

Just got an e-mail that a piece I made has been added to an Etsy Treasury. Here is the link,
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c658b218bf46d9120311c1e/if-i-must-welcome-fall

Been Busy re-painting my Dining room, it was a deep Red, always wanted to try a red room but it was not working for me, I gave it two years but in the end decided it had to go!

I have some pretty trim for the shades on the chandelier if I can ever find my glue gun!  I wanted to paint half the house this summer but this room is all that I managed to get done so far...summer's not over yet is it?  I better "get my skates on" if I want to get anything else done before the fall!  This is a big improvement I can assure you.  I had been using my dining room as a studio and had it jam packed with felted sweaters, my sewing machine, bookshelves, all my odds and ends and believe me I was too embarrassed to take a picture of it in that state.  Everything has been moved to a spare bedroom and I am hoping one day to have a studio build for me in the basement with lots of space and good lighting.  It is a dream of mine!

Bunny Rabbit Cloud...

Hey , I saw a Bunny Rabbit Cloud....I took a picture.

Another crafty thing added to my life!

I have so many things that I wanted to get done this summer.  Painting walls, gardening, getting ready for a big garage sale to downsize the clutter....instead I have been making crochet baskets......I really want to get things done but I can't resist the urge to pick up a crochet hook and start another rag bowl.  I have made three in the last 3 days.  The crochet thing is a new thing that I figured out by watching Youtube videos...I started with rugs and now I'm doing bowls.  I need to figure out how to make handles, that would be cool.  If I keep this up, everybody will be getting a rag bowl for Christmas!

Upcycled t-shirt fabric used to make a nifty bowl.

My Daughter Morgan models a rag bowl for the camera!

Air Conditioning and a Button Necklace

We're having a bit of a heatwave here in my part of Ontario.  It makes it hard to want to be outside.  I walk the dogs early before 9am and the dogs and I are glad to be home for a drink of water and the A/C when we are done!  So in between shifts working my part time job I have been sitting quietly making this button necklace.  I am loving it, Green is my favorite colour and the greens in these buttons remind me of old Jadeite dishes.  I love how green and brown look together, very natural.  I had been inspired by seeing other button necklaces on Flickr and have wanted to try to put one together for a while with my own little twist.  I inserted black ribbon at each end in order to be able to tie it up and I added a couple of funky beads that dangle down the nape of your neck......Great fun, and knowing me as I do, I will probably knock out a few more while I am obsessed with them before the urge winds down and I am on to something else.

One Hot day.....

Wow, Thursday was hot around here.  I had gone to visit my Mom and we decided to go to St. Jacob's for the day to check out some Antiques.  Mom is still recovering from a knee replacement that was done 8 weeks ago.  She is doing beautifully and beat me to quite a few booths at the market.  St. Jacob's is a town not far from Kitchener, Ontario.  It is in an area of Mennonite settlements and Farms and they have a big influence on the food and flavour of the area.

This was a pretty doll sitting in an old high chair, cloth painted face.  I had an eye out for textiles but I gotta say, there just wasn't much to see.  No penny rugs at all.  I asked the market manager if she had seen any penny rugs lately and she told me she hardly ever sees one any more.  Years ago she said she saw then now and then but not any more.  I really enjoyed getting out for the day but it was killer hot.  The A/C in my car is not really working well, think I need a re-charge.  So Mum and me looked quite wind blown by the time we got home!  We did make a pit stop for lunch at my Mom's favorite restaurant, Swiss Chalet.  Only in Canada and the best Chicken place ever!

This quilt was backed in flour sack cloth and was very primitive.  Don't know if I'd want to snuggle up with it, the cloth was pretty rough, but it was a beautiful thing to behold.  The Needlepoint pillow cover pictured here was very bright and colourful and I was tempted to purchase it but the picture will have to suffice.  My Mom spotted a booth with jars of vintage buttons so I did manage to pick up 4 jam jars of buttons.  I was a happy girl with those tucked under my arm!
We needed more time....St. Jacob's has an amazing Farmer's Market the we didn't even get to that day.  Mom scolded me and told me that I needed to stay longer.  Wish I could have, had to work the next day.

Next time I promise, I'll stay longer!

Been working on a Wall Hanging.

I have been working on this wall hanging.  It's been pinned to the board right in front of me for months without saying much to me and I think it may be time to decide what to do about it.  It is measuring approx. 19in x 32in.  I am stumped as to whether I should make it bigger, add a border, add buttons, or just sew some rings on it and slide a support across the back of it for hanging.  Just don't know what to do.......does that mean do nothing an just wait??? Talk to me you silly thing.......

Kindred Spirits....

A good friend of mine owns an adorable Wool Shop in the town of Whitby, Ontario.  She has been very supportive of my work and has always been eager to carry my goods on consignment.  Yesterday I dropped of a few more things.

 

                                         Here is a link to her shop,    http://www.kniterary.com/
I have made and sold quite a few things at her shop.  Her buyers especially like to see the tote bags I make from old sweaters that are large enough to carry a knitting project around in.

It's nice to have someone who believes in you and who you can also stop by to see for a cup of tea and a good gab!

Happy Canada Day!

I like Cuffs!

Another quick little project that I enjoy making is a cuff.  A cuff can take an hour to a couple of hours to put together while watching TV or listening to an internet radio program.  I love these little things, they give me an excuse to use buttons and beads and in turn that gives me permission to hunt for and buy these items at my favorite thrift shops.  It's a vicious circle but I love it!

Memorial Service in the Morning....

My Father in Law of almost 25 years has recently passed on and tomorrow is his Memorial Service.  Jack was a retired Fire Captain from the Toronto Fire Dept.  He joined the Department back in 1957 and served proudly for 32 years.  His loss will be felt deeply by my Family for the rest of our days but we are so happy that he is out of pain and has a peaceful passing. 
I sat and worked on a rag rug during his last few days, it sure did help to occupy my mind and my hands during a tough time.  Crafting stuff can be so soothing and theraputic, don't you think?
Love you Jack.