What Wonderful Bonnets!

 Lecia of Farmhouse Prims and I are online blog friends.  I know we'd be friends in "real life" too if we only lived closer. 

We've gone back and forth commenting on each other's blogs and emailing each other.  Earlier this year we decided to do a swap - baskets for bonnets is the name of the swap!

I think we are addicted to each others work, another swap was in order.  Today's mail brought the most delightful package........

A HUGE surprise in a TINY bonnet!  I'm not sure where I'll display this one yet, but for the photos, I placed it over a pottery piece that I have. 

I'm thinking it might stay here - it blends in so well with the other pieces displayed in this case.  

How adorable is this?

I should have started with this photo - Lecia wrapped everything up so prim and proper!  I think she knows that I LOVE burgundy.   

Lecia sent me 3 prim bonnets, one muslin stained and 2 calico's.  

Lecia,  Thank you so much for your generosity.  Your sewing & presentation is wonderful.  

~Ann

A Little Hooking

Confession:  I'm a part time hooker. 

 Every year when I attend the Rug Hooking show at Sauder Village in Archbold Ohio, the bug bites me a little harder.  Each year, I venture farther and farther into this wool hobby of mine.   I always feel so intimidated when I attend the show, the feeling I have that my hooking will never be that good, I wish I could combine colors like that, etc.

Attending the show this year with my blog friend and now real life friend Lauren of Rugs and Pugs was like having my own private tour guide.  Thank you so much Lauren.  

My purchases at the show:

Pumpkin Kit by Wendy Miller of Red Salt Box 

Purchasing a kit is my favorite!  Someone else has taken the time to pull together all the wools and cut the strips.  I don't have a cutter so I have to resort to my rotary cutting tool & mat.  This pumpkin kit included antique paisley strips to hook into the pumpkin.  

                                                    

I was brave enough to purchase 2 patterns - one of them Antique Florals by Wendy Miller of The Red Salt Box.  

My progress on this one so far - I LOVE rugs with dark backgrounds and simple designs.  I added the year to this one - not sure I'm happy with it.  What do you think - should I take out the 2012?  The corners just seem so big with nothing in them.  

I recently did a swap with Saundra of Woodland Junction blog.  I sent her one of my Rug Hooker's Tote baskets.  

This purse that she hooked is gorgeous.  The hooking is perfect and her finishing is WOW!  Her attention to detail is wonderful - the lining is sewn in with such care.  

If you aren't a hooker, but want a hooked piece, check out Saundra's blog for a link to her website.  I highly recommend her work.  

I can't wait to carry this little purse - until then, it will hang on my peg rack by our front door.  Great for my fall decorating!  

Completely off topic - we have a Senior.  How did this happen, she was in kindergarten with Mrs. Nicholls yesterday! 

 Last Friday night at the football game, all Senior athletes and their parents are introduced.  Carrie is one of 3 Sr. girls running Cross Country.   

 In just a few short months she'll be off to college and I'll be living with all boys.  Who is going to paint my nails? Who will let me braid their hair?  The only boy with hair long enough for me to french braid is Shadow.....

Have a great week!

~Ann

Framed!

My husband recently had time to make some frames for my pile of cross stitch finishes.  I used foam core board with straight pins to mount these pieces.  (Thanks Marly!)  You'll see that I've decided  not to use glass in the frames.  

Lydia Broome Sampler by Pineberry Lane. 

 I used the DMC suggested and stitched on 28 count linen.  

  

Anne Browne Early Style Sampler by Country Rustic Primitives

DMC suggested on 30 count Weeks Dye Works Linen

 This one has found a home - next to my great hanging cupboard made by Firecracker Kid (Carol & Tim)

 Caroline W. Dickinson Sampler by Country Rustic Primitives

DMC floss on 28 count linen

 Tansy Yarrow & Rue by Pineberry Lane

DMC suggested on 30 Count Linen by Notforgotten Farm

I absolutely LOVE the floss colors on this one - my flash washed it out a little - but the colors are just gorgeous.  

 One of my next stitching projects - Harvest Pinkeep Drum by Stacy Nash Primitives.  

I was excited to find this pattern in my older son's bedroom - I thought maybe he was going to make it for me as a surprise birthday present.  When I questioned him about it - did he need some help getting started, supplies, etc - he laughed!  Can you believe that?

Here's the problem ---

Or should I say culprit?  The Graybinator decided to take the pattern out of my cross stitch bag, hauled it upstairs and dumped it in Matthew's room.  Funny thing, he took a different pattern up to my bedroom - I thought maybe my husband was going to start stitching too. 

Happy Labor Day!

~Ann