new label idea

I've mentioned before about my love for using printable fabric to make labels for my rugs and other hooked items....but lately I've been trying to come up with a new way of attaching them. The problem I seem to have is that the cut edges fray -- whether they are straight-cut or pinked....and I find folding them back to be very awkward and they never seem to press easily (or perfectly straight). None of that really much matters now -- since I came up with a new way of attaching them today: ultrasuede.

Basically I used a fabric glue stick to baste them in place on the Ultrasuede.....(next time I think I will try to use some sort of 'wonder under' or other two-sided fuser, for more stability long-term)


Then I sewed around the outside, using a wide stitch, to attach them more permanently. I tried just a regular zig-zag first, but when it was a little puckery, I tried a herringbone-like stitch....and found it worked a lot better. After they were sewn in place, I simply trimmed away the excess fabric, leaving a border of about 1/4" of Ultrasuede on all four sides.


And, they were ready to attach. Since Ultrasuede is durable and doesn't fray, it's easily and neatly sewn by hand to the back of a rug (I use a glover's/leather needle and matching Upholstery thread). I have the distinct feeling that there will be a lot more labels like these in my future....

P.S. The text is a little blurry when you click on the pictures, but if you want to read the care instructions, here's a clipping from my Photoshop file....(you can click on it to enlarge)

Pretending

I'm feeling behind on my work....my e-mail*...my reading....my tidying...and the list just goes on, and on....

But I was able to tune most of it out this afternoon, while I sat and hooked, and forgot about all of the chaos happening around me -- or not happening, as the case may be. Truth be told, I needed to finish up this little sample mat as a part of my display (for next weekend's OHCG Annual)....but compared with several of the other dodged tasks on my list, it was very much at the fun and easy end of the scale.

I started it a couple of weekends ago, at Patti Armstrong's workshop. It was about 1/3 hooked before I started working on it again today. Wanting to play around a bit with adding in some wool strips in addition to the sari ribbon and silk yarn, I mixed things up a little bit on the bottom half....


I can't really decide which half I like better. The top half (all silk) has a very old look to it, with the unusual combination of colours and the feeling of 'anything goes' .....but I think maybe the textures of the bottom (with the wool) is more my style. Perhaps the unusual texture of the silk is better showcased in the bottom? Regardless, it reminds me that a little can go a long way....

* If I owe you an e-mail, I promise to get back to you before I head north tomorrow morning, to visit my family -- and really just do a lot of nothing for two whole days, but cook, eat and hide candy. I can hardly wait! :-D But first, I must get that inbox back down to zero...

Belleville coin purses

Purses in the foreground: Judy's Klimt, Sue's Godseye, Barbara's Tweets

I drove through rain, sleet, slush, snow, and big fluffy flakes.....to finally arrive home yesterday at suppertime. Luckily I got an early start on my trip -- those Belleville girls are speedy -- and had my wits about me for the drive home.

It was a wonderful weekend....and another reminder about how much and why I enjoy teaching. They are a great group of ladies and it felt a little bit like old home week, since I had met many of them before. I had another great visit with Christine, a terrific hostess and cook (and she is a new blogger – if you haven't already checked it out, just click on her name for a link), and a great get together at Glenn's place on Saturday night with yummy pizza from Paulo's and wonderful salads and desserts made by the ladies. Proof again that you never go hungry when hookers are near! :-D

All of this talk of food is making me hungry for supper....but I had better post some pictures first of the rest of the fabulous finished coin purses....

Tina's own creation

Tina's Hoot

Jane's Free

Glenn's Flutterby

back of Cindy's Hoot

Debra's own creation

Gloria's Bloom

Joan's Leave

Carol's Bully

Mary Anne's own creation

Christine's own creation

Liz's Fleurs

sleeping in on a school day

For those of us who are years (and years - or a lottery win!) away from retirement, there is something truly decadent about being able to wake up sans alarm clock during the week. It's still pretty sweet on Saturdays and Sundays....but much more special on, say, a Friday like today...

In spite of my ambitious plans for a productive week, I was sidelined by a cold on Tuesday...stayed home from work on Wednesday, and decided to take the day off today to hopefully 'kick it out the door' before I head to Belleville this afternoon (about 4 hours drive) for a weekend of coin purse making. In between sneezes, I did get my little runner hooked (I will take pictures once it's pressed -- I'm still debating about hooking a single row of something around the outside edge....but I'm torn between just wanting to be finished and having no clue as to what to use, so the quick and dirty approach of just leaving it might win out in the end).

I also managed to label the rest of my crazy 8s that were cut up a couple of weeks ago and have been patiently waiting their turn. Now that they are all boxed up, it is sure nice to no longer be tripping over all of the green shopping totes they were sitting in....

It is hard to believe that the Annual is just TWO WEEKS away. I am almost afraid to create a list of the things I still need to do -- not to mention all of those ideas of things that I would like to do. I have a feeling that I will be very grateful for the 4-day weekend that is Easter.... :-D

In the meantime, I am already starting to dream about all of the things I will be able to work on, once my current roster of commitments runs out in mid-May....getting back to hooking on Jumbo, doing some quilting, maybe designing and hooking a new purse with my iPad in mind (it's ordered, but not yet delivered), playing around with some of my new batiks...


Regardless of what I choose first, I'm looking forward to having more interesting stuff to blog about in the coming weeks...and more time! :-D

P.S. I had no idea, until after I had posted, how similar the colours in this photo are to the ones in the previous post. I guess you just like what you like, and there is no point in fighting it....

slow progress is still progress

I arrived home exhausted last night, after being on the road since early Thursday morning. Sandwiched between 16 interviews in 3 cities for my 'real job' was a quick (and fun) one-day class with Patti Armstrong on hooking with alternative fibres, a PJ party at Elaine's with Wendie.....and all of the fun things that girlfriends do when they get together.

I was happy to get a little bit of hooking done along the way...and I'm happy to have reached the half-way mark on this runner....


I'm having a bit of a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I have so much to do in the coming weeks.....but I just keep telling myself that it's a busy person that gets things done. Right? I sure hope so.....

Campbellford coin purses

Jill so kindly sent me pictures of the coin purses completed by her group....and they've been practically burning a hole in my inbox, waiting to get posted. So without further adieu, here are the beauties.....

Liz's own design

Marg's Heaven

Mina's Bully

Joan's own design

Beth's Bully

Kim's Poppy in progress

Jill's God's Eye

Elaine's Hooters in progress

Patti's Poppy

Tammy's own design

Beth's Klimt

Janis' Weft

Once again, I am amazed at how different each one is from the last. It's so wonderful to see people put their own twist on things. Making it yours is really where it's at! :-D

weekend update

My first goal for the weekend was to triumph over my taxes....and I can say (with much relief) that I am pretty much done. Yippee! I just want to do a double-check of the actual forms to make sure I wrote all of the numbers in the right places and that my math is good....and I will knock that off one night this week and then send for my refund :-D I celebrated with an early suppr of Saturday of banana pancakes, yummy Maple syrup from Campbellford (thanks Harmony!) and wonderful Creamy Earl Grey tea (thanks again Jill!)


This photo pretty much sums up the rest of my weekend. The couch that has been piled up with wool for weeks is now back to normal -- and all of the wool has been cut into Crazy 8s. I was starting to feel a little crazy by the end (about hour 13!).....but the carrot of finally being able to sit down and try out my new hook was sufficient motivation. After the lint was vacuumed up, I sat down and started hooking on a new simple runner to sample all 16 new shades. I love my new hook, and can't wait to get back to working on my runner tonight -- and hopefully make a bit more progress with a shift off the comfy couch....