What inspires you?

I've just gotten back from a few days away at my Dad's camp. It's a place without indoor plumbing, without telephones and without computers. Going there is stepping back in time...a peaceful time.

It makes me see everything in terms of rugs. For instance this sunset would make a great rug....or...wow, how cool to try to capture that reflection in wool...in a rug of course.
What about that sky? Could I dye wool to make that sky? It's a little pink and a little lavender and what about the white pines? Could I use lots of antique black with a bit of blue and pink and hook what I see?
What about a really big water lily rug?
Or just a rug with lots of water lily leaves....the fallen cedars would look good in a rug too.
A pickerel weed rug? Don't laugh...I was thinking about it. Pickerel weed would look good hooked in a wide cut primitive style. I was inspired by the things I saw and the things I couldn't see. I found this plant at the west end of a small lake...a long time ago when the area was logged, horses were used to pull the logs out of the bush. Along the north shore a team of horses must have fallen through the ice. My dad told us where to look....parts of the old sleigh can still be seen in about 10 ft of water along the north shore. The day we were there it was breezy and we couldn't see it because there were too many ripples on the surface but I can imagine what it looks like. I think there's a rug in that story too.

Look for inspiration everywhere and take a camera wherever you go.

'nuf said

Hooked Runner

This runner looks great on the make-do secretary desk. The colours are a perfect match (completely unplanned). Sometimes it is so cool to work on a primi piece and then find other random pieces that just have a great fit and the look is just perfect. I guess the best plan is not to over-plan and let the creative juices flow!!

This is a fun little runner made for the most part with my scraps and a hit-or-miss border. 100% recycled wool, hooked in an 8 cut, it was quick and used up some odds and ends. Mostly experiments at the dye pot that didn't quite turn out as I had hoped found their way into this little mat. I think it's cute as the dickens!

Cheers

Jackie

A View of My Garden

With all the summer flowers in full bloom I thought you might like to see my primitive garden. I say primitive because it isn't at all formal and you will find weeds but the Hollyhock, Lavatera, Daylillies and Bee Balm looked so pretty that I had to take a few photos to share. With all the rain we have had the garden is a riot of colour. The weeds have enjoyed the season as well and have gotten ahead of me as they usually do. Perhaps I need to stop and appreciate the Milkweed and Queen Ann's Lace as they seem so insistent upon having a place in the garden.

At any rate, this is a little colour to brighten your day.

Cheers

Jackie

Ann and Andy Chill Out

Raggedy Ann and Andy spent this rainy afternoon chillin' in the rocking chair. This duo are sporting non-typical raggedy attire dressed in light green...so fashionable with their rust coloured hair!! Ann's tie and Andy's pants are sewn from black-green homespun. We put them right at the door because they are so very sociable and love to greet customers when they come in the shop. :) Prim dolls are so much fun to play with....a nice change to work the soft stuff in between refinishing projects.

If we get much more rain around here we will have to change our woodworking focus to arc building!

Take care folks and if ya live in this neck of the woods try to stay dry!!

Cheers

Jackie

Small Mustard Washstand

This is an extremely primitive piece that is really old as the hills. I don't have to tell you that it was acquired at auction because you know us by now....it was either acquired at auction or hauled out of a dumpster!!! LOL I should have taken a "before" pic...but I dropped the ball on that...just imagine the most homely wee cabinet, extremely dirty and sporting a coat of flat paint in reddish-rust. Terry washed it up and decided to repaint it with our favourite old mustard, leaving it slightly distressed and then waxed. You will notice that the door is slightly askew...but that really adds to it's primitive charm. This is an oldie with square nail construction and rough boards slightly out of square. All I can say is it is 100% charming. Topped off with an enamel bowl and water pitcher it's rustic charm just can't be improved upon. Lucky for us that the folks attending the auction that night had absolutely no vision!!

Showy Lady's Slipper

Last week, Kaitlin and I donned long pants and long sleeves on a day that was too hot and humid for the devil himself. Oh yes, I forgot to add that we were sporting rubber boots and had thoroughly marinated our gorgeous selves in Deep Woods OFF. We did all this just so that we could navigate our way through field, brush, thick woodland and finally swamp to bring you this special treat...a picture of the rare and in some places endangered Showy Lady's Slipper. We found some real beauties but we won't say where...

Cypripedium reginae

Did I Mention that June was Grad Month???

Alannah, the baby of the family, graduated from St. Michael Catholic High School on June 24, 2008. Here she poses with her two sisters and Mr. Finner, a favourite teacher. Alannah was the recipient of the Hal Anthony Rotary Scholarship as well as the Founder's Award. The latter being awarded to a graduating student who demonstrates the Christian values upon which the school was founded....Kaitlin argues that Alannah would never have been given the award if the governing panel had to live with her..."she's probably wearing my underwear right now!"
Ahhhh, the joys of raising up 3 girls!! Is it any wonder my hair is gray??? LOL :)

Another Grad!!!

Congrats Emily!!!! Terry and daughter Emily pose for a photo at Brock University where Emily received her Honours Bachelor of Phys. Ed. Way to go Emily...that's "our" girl. In addition to this fine accomplishment Em was also on the Dean's List. Emily is continuing her studies at Lakehead University in the fall where she will study for her Bachelor of Education. Another proud mama takes a fine pic on a glorious day!!! ....Terry cleans up real good too!!