Catching up!

Yes, after looking at lots of different books, magazines and websites, I'm trying to get caught up and put some of this inspiration into action! I got this cute little leaf print skirt at Target, but don't really have a cute casual shirt to wear with it....so....I've created my own.

The t-shirt....I've had it for a few years, so it's totally broken in.....I've cut out the neck of the shirt and made it into a v-neck and then went back and blanket stitched around the edge with pearl cotton....then I got out some wool scraps and made leaf designs and sewed them onto the shirt....can't wait to wear it!

My next project is going to be making a little pool bag out of these patriotic fabrics....I'm planning on making at least 2...one for my niece and one for myself....these will be great to tote sunglasses, sunscreen and a good summer read!

Lastly, this is a little rug that I hooked a few years ago....I believe the design is by Pris Butler....I love the colors on this one...they make me happy!

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Inspiration

Today I'm sharing a few sources of inspiration.....you can find it anywhere really, but these are a few things I've come across surfing this morning. Some pictures make me want to dive in and learn something new. These pictures make me want to learn how to crochet.....not just the granny kind of crocheting, but this wonderful free form, artful crochet.

Yummy!

I've even found a darling purse that comes with FREE instructions.

Of course...now the link doesn't work, so I'll search for these free instructions again and see if I can track them down! Arrgh!

More sources of inspiration and fun!!!



To make the Embroidered Rock you just need to know how to do the blanket stitch from what I can tell!



How To Embroider a Rock


Then there are all the fun things you can do with



Image Transfers
and altered art

I can see the bullions as an added dimension to a hooked rug as a flower...or add them to a t-shirt or pair of jeans as flowers!





Create a Bullion


And then I found this cool site where you can share information on how to do just about anything.


Instructables

or how about this cute little mini quilt from the Angry Chicken

heck, this even makes sewing look fun!

at least THIS does because it's not so darn PERFECT!!!
Right now I'm in the midst of finishing up my "Fly Away Home" rug and turning it into a pillow....can't wait to finish it and share it with you....think pillow and chenille ball trim!



Next time you pull out your hook....think about "what could I do different" on this piece....embellishing is not for EVERY project but it can be fun to be playful with your pieces!

Makes me feel like a big kid!



Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Dyeing for a particular color

I do a bit of custom dyeing for my students, friends and customers. Here is just a little bit of how I go about doing this.
I have them provide me with a paint swatch, fabric swatch or something showing the color that they are wanting.
I then go into my resource center and pull swatches of things I've dyed or the swatches from ProChem are really nice to have.
I pull the swatches of colors that I think will work.
In this case I'm trying to get the light pink color in the background of this paisley fabric for my friend Kelly.


It's not fancy by any means, but this is how I store my Cushings dyes.

And this is how I store my dyes from ProChem.

Here is one batch of pink that I'm dyeing for Kelly.

And these are the colors that I came up with today. Hopefully some of them will work!

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Look who's using my wool!

Meg at The Magpie's Nest has been using some of my hand-dyed wool to make these darling pin keeps!

This one went for a pretty penny!

and now....low and behold she has one that's even cuter than the last on eBay right now plus a little elephant that's darling. Here is a link to Meg's auctions!

I love to see what people make out of my wools, so drop me a line with a picture!

SkipToMyEwe@hotmail.com

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Hooking from behind

Wow! Nothing is more inspiring to me than getting together in a group and hooking the evening away! Last night at Simply Fibers everyone was working on different projects that were as different as night and day. We were all huddled around the work table, elbow to elbow.
I've taken pictures from behind everyone so you can all enjoy the wide diversity of what rug hooking can be.
Above, Patti is working on a piece with round "pennies" for a chair....wonderful earthy, primitive colors! A pattern she drew herself.

This is a piece that Renee started in a Karen Kahle workshop when she was in Kansas City this past week. It is the "Rose Tote" and will end up being an actual tote bag....so many bits and pieces of colors in this!

This is Dulcy's original design "Nighttime Garden Fox". Dulcy has such a great, fun color palette!

Katy is working on a pattern from Quail Hill Designs called "The Yearling". Her flower is positively yummy!

These are some of the wools at the store that the girls have to pick from....always trying to update things and come up with more new and inspiring colors.

Above is a picture of me (no, I'm not in my pajamas....that's my scrubs from work :) ) with colors that Kelly is picking out to make this wonderful paisley rug from Rug Thyme Designs ,for her daughter Casey's room.....Kelly normally does primitive colors, so working with this cottage palette of colors is really going to stretch her. This weekend I'm hoping to dye up just the right light pink for her background . When she finishes this I'll have to share another photo with you of the rug in Casey's room.

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

What's new?!

I've started yet another little rug....I think this one will be a pillow...I'm seeing it with a piping that is red with pink or white polka dots on it. The pattern is from Rita's Rugs and is called "Fly Away Home". I tried to pick colors similar to some of those used in fabrics from Cath Kidston. I just love her bright, pretty summery colors!





I've also bought a few books......don't know what's gotten into me....maybe the fact that I've mastered doing the covered cording for the bindings on my rugs has made me feel that I might actually want to sew other things as well. I've purchased "Romantic Home Sewing"....most of the projects look totally do-able, but I've yet to start any of them.




Another book that was recommended by Carol at www.SimplyFibers.com , where I teach rug hooking, is "Heartfelt". She has the book in the store and if you're interested, just let Carol know Carol@SimplyFibers.com ....I don't think it's on the website yet. Most of it calls for felted knitted pieces of sweaters and such, but it should be totally do-able with wool. I know I'm always looking for more ideas of things to make with my wool stash!

The other book I've acquired is "The Abs Diet for Women"....yes summer is pretty much here and this seems like a great way to guide myself back into healthy eating. I've done this....along with cardio, weights and Pilates for one week and I'm happy to say I've lost 3 pounds. Can you say EXCITED?! Hope to be lying pool side in Vegas with my 6-pack abs in early August :)

Today, Kenny and I might be going to an auction...not sure about this yet, but if we do I hope to bring back pictures of the treasures we find!

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Happenings in the garden

Well, we had a little time after the basset hound party to snap a few pictures of the garden yesterday evening.

This is the hibiscus that bloomed yesterday....such an unusual color....lavender and a soft butter color...the blooms on this one are huge!

This is the area of the garden that Kenny is re-designing. He has taken out two large bushes and made this half circle area that he is planting with more tropical plants.

Kenny is so creative...he made this bird bath/planter out of old Mexican pottery pieces....the plant in the pot is a plumeria....it should be beautiful when it blooms, but it still has a ways to go.

The torch lilies have bloomed....another kind of odd and freaky plant...but they do look like a torch!

The daylilies are blooming also!

The orange tree has blossomed.

Wish you could smell the blooms....so fragrant!

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Basset Hound Days at the Park

This evening was the annual "Basset Hound Cookie Party" at Phelps Grove Park. There were probably 50 basset hounds....some in costume, some not. Even a basset hound pulling a little boy in a wagon!!! Big Truvy now thinks she needs one of these.....as for Cleopatra, she thinks she'd rather ride in it!

Here is Cleopatra in her ballerina costume that Kenny made for her. She thought she looked "pretty" and she had a little prance in her step. She totally loved all of the attention she got. We thought she was beautiful!

Big Truvy went as a wild flower. She liked her costume because it didn't slow her down and she thought it was whimsical......like her! Her petals were made out of the fabric left over from the binding on the Flower Girl rug and her leaves were made from left over wool from the Basketful rug.

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

I've been busy!

I've really been busy trying to finish up a few unfinished projects the past few days. I've finally finished the "Flower Girl" rug. I started this back in January when it was cold and blustery....happy to have her finished and hope to hang her in the "Simply Fibers" store for a while before she becomes part of the decor here in the house.

We have a small bathroom that is a dark chocolate color and my husband thinks she will look nice in there.

On this rug I finished the edge with a "covered cording" technique. I used a really cook batik fabric that has all of the colors in the rug....what a find....I think it works perfectly.

After that was sewn on, I went back and sewed wool to the back, to keep all of the wires that are holding the beads on from scratching up against the wall.

Doing all of this hand-sewing was a bit tidious and I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that it's finished!

The other thing I've finished this past week is my "trash to treasure" project....Here is the finished project.

I really don't have a place for this, but it was fun and will most likely end up in the booth at the Ozark's Craft show in October.

The other thing I've been up to is making a costume for Big Truvy. She's going as a wildflower. Kenny made Cleopatra's outfit and she's going as a ballerina. That happens at 6pm tonight, so I'll be back tomorrow with lots of pictures from the Basset Hound Cookie Party.

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

What a great day!

Today has been a great day.....a little sunshine, a little rain and LOTS of wool dyeing!!!

I had a chance to try out some dye recipes from the Doo Dye Inn book and all I can say is FAB-U-LOUS!!

These colors are rich and earthy and yummy!!! Saturated with color, yet distinctly primitive!!!

I have more in the dryer, but this is my first batch.

From left to right:

Buster Brown, Cinnamon, Butternut, Vintage Stone, Bittersweet

It's always so satisfying to have a great day in the dye pots!!!

Here are a couple of pictures of the girls from yesterday.

It's so rare that I can get them both in the same picture and have them both awake!!! Cleopatra...the small one is obsessed with her ball.....her favorite thing to do is to throw it in the pool and bark at it until you get it out and throw it for her again......silly girl!

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy

Memorial Day weekend

The flag is out in remembrance of loved ones and what a beautiful day to decorate.....the temperature has stayed in the low 70's and so far not much rain to spoil the outdoor fun.

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

We didn't see fields of poppies today on our outing through the countryside to the graveyard, but we did stop and gather wildflowers along the roadside....have you ever seen so many wild coneflowers?! The brown speck at the top left of the picture is me!

More of the beautiful countryside.

My husband is able to find beauty in everything....even a thistle weed!

There was a wee bit of magic in our garden this morning....little mushrooms that look like parasols for fairies....just those little things that make you smile.

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy