This Is Madison....the sweetest young lady I have EVER known. She is so caring I wonder where it comes from???? She is the oldest of Patti's ( my middle daughter) three girls. I do not know where she got her caring ways but they are so endearing that it makes me cry!!! Every little person who is born has a special something...but she got an extra-special dose!!! She is gtting ready to turn 14!!!!Love you Madison!!!!!!!!!!

This was a wall hanging done by my sister Sally long ago...stretched on a frame...when going through my sister Lucian's things we came across it and I sai d I wanted it! I took off the stretcher frame..carried it home to Kansas....and turned into a pillow! I had just re-done my Lake-house bedroom in pinks so it was perfect as an accent pillow for my bed! I do hope Sally approves!!!

Locker hooking!

This is another favorite of mine...although more time consuming than traditional rug hooking. This is done with strips of fabric...done on a grid larger than the linen of rug hooking. You can use leftover strips of fabric..or dedicate some fabric to the project. You need an exact locker hooking needle and some instructions but it is a very rewarding project. My friend Betty started on one after seeing mine and ended up with a LARGE rug on her first try! The square one in the middle of my photo was done for my TINY bathroom in my motor home...it is perfect for wet feet stepping out of the TINY tub!!! Can you imagine John stepping out of the tiny Tub??? It does happen when he does not want to use the campground facilities! The longish one is a runner on a tabletop with yarn fringe. The smaller one is just a small example of locker hooking. Supplies are available at Hobby Lobby or Michaels...perhaps Jo-Ann's??? If interested try...a great way to use leftover fabric scraps!!!!

More Hooking with panty hose strips!

Okay...here we go again...another little mat hooked with panty hose strips! It will never replace the wool hooking but it is a fun alternative...I have come across some pieces in my flea market/goodwill/thrift market travels that have been questionable in what they have been hooked with???..Now I feel as if they have been hooked with leftover panty hose strips! Who knows who came up with that idea...but it is a fun project...the strips are a natural after cut into 1/2 inch ?? strips and stretched out...they become curled up thin strips to hook with! I of course color them with a mixture of boiling water....vinegar....and a dose of acrylic paint of your choosing. After mixing all together...you can determine the intensity of the color. Adding more or leaving in the color bath for a shorter time.

Totally up to your eye...and what it looks like. Rinse out and dry on a towel or whatever you have handy. I hung the strips on a grid used for baked goods out of the oven! Stretch out as you hook them. It is too much fun!!!!

Mimi's Grandkids at Camp Wayfarer in NC

This photo....my 3 grand-daughters (They live in Florida)...at Camp Wayfarer in NC. They have gone there for ?? years....since they were small. This was the first day ....moving into their cabins and setting up their bunks.They each have an antique Sari blanket brought back from India by their mother Patti. I would guess they have the cutest bunks???!!! Plus all the Natural Life things to decorate with. They are all 3 very good tennis players....note the racket on the wall. What fun! What lucky girls..will be there for a little over 2 weeks.

Collage of Wisconsin trip

Just playing around with collages from our recent trip....

I use the photo-editing program Picasa...amazing what you can do with it. It is free and easy to navigate. Try it!

Churches in Door County!

When we travel I always see so many charming churches and feel compelled to take pictures. While in Wisconsin I saw these two...one being Catholic....the stone one ....the other is a Lutheran church.. St. Francis is in the courtyard...failed to get the name of church bet feel it must be St. Francis! The stonework was so colorful.

Door County Wisconsin

We are definitely not in Kansas anymore Dorothy! Many beautiful farms...everyone has a red barn...wildflowers are abundant....the biggest pink coneflowers I have ever seen.....I brought back some to dry for seeds and try to plant next spring. Not sure they will grow but I can try! Read following posts for more of Door County...a very memorable trip!

Tucked into the woods! Door County

This was an awesome RV park in Wisconsin....each site was like a little room carved out of the forest....very private....also expensive for a campsite. While the fees are usually $20.00 or so this one was $50.00!! But it was well-worth it!

We also got the last spot due to a cancellation. Pine trees...evergreens...are abundant...must be very beautiful in the winter!

Door County RV Trip!

We just returned from a wonderful trip up north to Door County, Wisconsin..a peninsula in the upper part of the state. It is a well-known vacation spot with little villages....many shops....restaurants. Lake Michigan on one side....Green Bay on the other side. Rather narrow so you can drive across the peninsula in no time. It is very New England like....also reminded me of Martha's Vineyard.

The little houses and cottages are just adorable...as I keep saying they are like Hansel and Gretal houses. The abundance of wonderful flowers are everywhere....many that I know would not grow in Kansas. I guess it is cooler temperatures and proximity to the water. This picture is a little shop in Sister Bay...one of the largest of the villages in Door County. It just so happened I knew the owner....she was very active in the Tole painting days. She is now a designer of Old World Santas...and quite successful. Her shop was well-worth seeing. Wish I could have spent more time there.

Door County Wisconsin

Beautiful flowers everywhere....guess it's the cooler weather..but they are everywhere! LOVE the flowers in just plain galvanized buckets!!!

Selvage Pincushions!

for years I have cut off my selvages and tossed them....until I found out you can create wonderful pincushions with the different very colorful selvages. I have even seen quilts made with selvages. So look at your fabric edges with a different eye!!

Felted Sweater Pincushios!

Have a cupcake!!!!! OK.....they are really felted sweater pincushions! The hardest part is finding

the right wool sweater....of course the thrill of the hunt! Look for them at Goodwill....thrift stores..

Salvation Army. Wash in hot soapy water....washing machine...dry on high heat and you have a felted sweater. For the core I use a stiff cardboard tube from wrapping paper?? then wrap the core with widths of sweater until you have several layers that will be for the pins. You then zig-zag

the edges of smaller cuts(1"??) ....this will ruffle the edges...making a flower. I use two flowers ...one being smaller. Tie a knot with a piece of cut sweater for the center. A piece of felt cut to size covers the bottom raw edges! Leaves are cut from green felt or green sweater if you prefer leaves.