Happy Halloween!

Smokey and Max will be going to the groomers today....  not their favorite thing to do but they still want to wish everyone a safe and Happy Halloween!

Cathy G

Christmas A Little Early!

The light dusting of snow we had here a few days ago kind of got me thinking more along the lines of Christmas greenery and twinkling lights mode than Fall Harvest and pumpkins!  Yikes! Flurries and cold winds with below freezing temps brought out the ear muffs and scarves!  We've finished cleaning out the gardens and putting away hoses, water fountains and the last of the garden ornaments.  

 Indoors here at the Red House Wool Studio things are beginning to look a little like Christmas!

I'm not one to rush the seasons but in the retail business we are always pushing it earlier each year it seems.  The weather here certainly is!

I've been working on my little wool appliqué quilt which is going better than I anticipated!  I found some fabric that coordinates with the squares with the penny circles appliquéd onto them and I actually think it looks pretty nice!  What do ya think?  Did I make a good choice?

I've sewn all the squares together and put some batting and a homespun back on and now I'm in the process of hand quilting it all together!  Jill and some of my rug hooking students have had to give me some advice on the quilting part as I have never really done much of this piecing and quilting work before.   I am really loving it though!  Have to remind myself to get back to my rug hooking a little bit too.... I haven't neglected it completely....  you may have caught a  glimpse in the photo above of something I've hooked recently for the Christmas Season ahead!  More to come later on that!

I've had some inquiries about purchasing the pattern for the "Squared Up" wool appliqué mat in my last post.  If you left a comment on my last post and I didn't answer it's because there is no way to contact you if you don't have your email address listed on your blogger identification page.  Please think about adding this information so it's easy to contact you! 

I've decided to offer a few of  the patterns here on the sidebar for a limited time.  The cost of the pattern is $7.50 USA only please... plus .50 shipping.

Just use the Paypal button below the pattern on the sidebar!

Oh and don't worry... I haven't started playing the Christmas music yet!  For it isn't even Halloween until next Thursday!  

Blessings!

Cathy G

Squared Up and Squared Away!

Greetings on this sunshiny chilly October day!   I wanted to share my finished wool applique candle  mat... the pattern is by Primitive Gatherings called "Squared Up"  as well as some things I've been trying to get squared away!

There have been so many things calling for my attention here in the studio lately.   It's been a little less stressful since I decided last month to opt out of the Primitive Handmades Mercantile Group!  Oh I fretted over that decision as they are such a wonderful group of ladies!  Their October Update is in full swing with fabulous hand made goodies! If you haven't been... hop over and see!  

With a few less deadlines I am able to concentrate more on my upcoming rug hooking classes here in the studio.  AND try my hand at some new things I've been wanting to learn!

I've had desires to cut up some wonderful fabrics in little chunks and sew them together!  I believe they call it quilting!  LOL!   There were a few things holding me back like not having ANY equipment like cutting mats, rotary cutters, quilting rulers etc.   Ahhh ... and the quilting fabric.... do you think that might come in handy when a girl decides to make a quilt?!!  So desires led to action and over the last couple of months with coupons from Joanne's and trips to a couple of fine quilt shops I now have at least the basics to get started!

Now let me say that my quilting attempts probably will not yield any full size beauties for the bed at the present time!  I have in mind some smaller projects.  In fact I have one started....

It involves some wool of course....  surprised?  LOL!   Living with a shop full of wool stirs up all kinds of inspired ideas for things I want to create!  But lo and behold...    I've already run straight ahead into a wall with this project!!.  Oh why do I do these things!  Yep... didn't calculate how much of that cotton background print I would need and I have 13 more squares to make and I'm out of that particular fabric!  So this first project will be a make-do.. as in make-do with what I have on hand.  Still not squared away when it comes to quilting fabric!!  But I do have an idea...so 

Stay tuned... 

Will she have what it takes to become the quilter she dreams of?

Cathy G

An October's Day

  I tried not to let thoughts of approaching cold weather interrupt the sunshine and warmth, sights and smells on this gorgeous October day.

The pungent smell of burning leaves, fresh cut firewood and Windex fill the air as the final outside chores are checked off the to-do list .

Beautiful birch branches lay on the lawn as Dave surveys his wood pile.  Is he thinking about how many more trips to the woods he needs to make before the stockpile is enough to get through the winter?

I hope he is also thinking about the project I mentioned to him earlier that involves those birch branches!

Wood neatly stacked in the backyard after it is split.

Pointing the camera up through the maple leaves captures what it must feel like to be a squirrel!

Our maples in the front yard are some of the last in the neighborhood to show off their golden orange and yellows.  

Look at that blue October sky!!

I've added some twinkly lights to a potted shrub in the backyard.

I see Dave didn't forget about the project I mentioned earlier!  Since the Green Bay Packers won today he was in a pretty good mood.  

It's nice getting a little head start on a Christmas decoration!

Hope your October Day was filled with sunshine and wins!

Cathy G

Pears and Squares

Howdy!  Oh gosh I know it's been awhile!  I'll be amazed if I actually have any readers left out there! Blogging is hard work you know.  There have been days lately where I just couldn't bring myself to sit down and write a word... I'd think about it then instead of coming up with a post  I'd just go immerse myself  in Pinterest!  I deserve a good spank!  LOL!

Of course a lot of things have been going on!   I've been teaching rug hooking classes here in the studio.  I've had a half-dozen lovely new students over the past few weeks.  And come the first week in November there are a group of TEN who would like to come take my class!  Whew!  That's quite a few in one class but this group of friends would like to take it together!  So... I hope I can keep everything straight!  Lots of learning, laughs and loops are anticipated!

That lovely pear in the photo is a real pear!  I know it almost looks like an artificial one doesn't it?   A couple of weeks ago while Dave and I were on a short trip up north to Bayfield, WI,   we visited an apple orchard and amongst all the varieties of apples I spotted these great looking pears.  They were not quite ripe when we purchased them but after a few days on the kitchen counter in a wooden bowl  they turned from green to a beautiful peachy glow!  They were the sweetest pears I've ever tasted!

I sliced a few of them up today and popped them in the food dehydrator to make pear chips!  Like potato chips except made from pears!  Sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon they are absolutely delicious!

And the house smells  of cinnamon and pears...  so Fall like and cozy.

Speaking of cozy...

A few days ago I drew up some little acorn shaped coasters on linen and hooked them using some new wools we got in the studio!  This little corner in the studio is quite comfy to sit and hook or work on some wool applique. The little acorn coasters are nice to set a cup of tea on while stitching or hooking.   I have been working on some models for the studio.

I have only recently been working with wool applique.  It's a nice break from hooking and I still get to play with wool!  There are so many cute patterns out there that I would like to stitch.  I thought this one from Primitive Gatherings would be easy and quick!

Well it turns out nothing with hand sewing is really ever quick for me!  It was fun though to cut out all the little squares.  I am using a product called Heat-N-Bond lite and it sure makes the work easier and keeps the wool looking tidy on the edges. 

We will be carrying this pattern in the shop now too.

So much more to tell you about but I think I need to go work on this project for a little while before hitting the hay!

I'll be back soon if all goes well!

Happy leaf watching and Fall merry making!!

Cathy G