Transformation

A while back, OK, its been a long while back, I posted a find, do you remember this?

Hmm. what it the world would we want with this old thing?

Well, Mr has worked his magic again and now we have this.

So cute, a metal top, casters on the bottom for easy moving around and shelves on top. Anyone would like this for their home. It could be used just about anywhere, too, Bedroom, kitchen, country dining room, etc. Sorry you had to see the background, but I used my Iphone for the picture, it does just about as good as my regular camera.

Thoughts and a giveaway

Well, I am having a day...

I lost the USB cord to the Ipod player... (update: I found that one - Thank the Lord) (crazy place tho - hmm, maybe I need to be checked for Alheimer's...)

I lost the SD card for the camera...

I cannot find a USB cord that will fit the camera to download the pictures...

I have looked and looked, but I am trying to leave this in the Lord's hands and hope that I will remember when the time is right. I pray about this and then I snatch it right back and run to another place and start looking there. I have sorta cleaned out a few places in my search, but that is a whole other story.

Maybe the solution is a new camera, the one I have is just a simple point and shoot. But I need want a fancy, dancy camera with one of those long lens that take incredible pictures and then I remember that I am a simple person, those fancy, dancy camera are heavy to lug around, and I need to be content with what I have.
*****************

Well, Life on our farm is having a giveaway. This young lady is making a custom made notebook to give away to a lucky - no blessed individual.

Check this out at  http://lifeonourfarm-oklahomafarmgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaway_29.html#comment-form

So much talent should NOT go to waste!

Coffee Punch Recipe

I have had this wonderful Coffee Punch at several wedding, graduations, etc. So, so good!

I'm sorry that I do not have a wonderful pictue of this treat

Frozen Coffee Punch

2 Gallons regular milk
2 quarts Half & Half
1 pink cream
2 pints non-fat creamer - French Vanilla
4 ounces instant coffee - dry (decaf if you plan on evening event)
12 ounces Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
1 tsp salt
4 ounces Vanilla (the real stuff)
2 Cups Sugar

Warm some of the milk and dissolve the instant coffee, sugar and chocolate syrup in it. Add the rest of the liquid and freeze in a container that you can slush in later. Defrost and serve when slushy.

This can be doubled or tripled for the amount of people you want to serve.  Looks wonderful in a punch bowl. And you will have them coming back for seconds.

No Sew Rug Making Tutorial - Part 2

This is the second in a series of a fabric rug tutorial. I have to give credit to my friend MZ for showing me how and her aunt RR for showing her. This is a unique method that I have never seen instructions for. It has been passed down by word or mouth for years. Those that have know how, have been generous enough to share the method with us.

If you missed the first part, you may want to catch up by going here:

http://wildberryranch.blogspot.com/

Also, check out instructions again here

Picking up from where we left off on my last post, we made strips and we made holes in the ends of the strips.

Now, on the end of two strips, fold them into thirds, then into thirds again, so that you have a very narrow folded end.

Secure this with a safety pin. Safety pins make it easier to go into the holes. I don't know what our grandmothers used, but these work great for me. They do not have to be extra large, but the little gold ones that you use to secure that gap in the front of your blouse will not work. They are going to be used over and over and they just don't have enough umph for me. In fact, the large ones (not the honking ones!) are really good.

Next, join two strips. This is easier than I will make it sound. Right sides up, on your lap, a table, etc, lay down one strip and put another strip over the top, matching the holes. Just like you are extending the strip.

Take the top strip and find the end with the safety pin, bring it up from the bottom through both holes.

Pull it through until they are joined. If you pull too tight, then you will have the ends come through. Don't do that. Just pull enough that they join. Here is the back (fabric wrong side)

and here is the front.

It will not lay perfect, the side will "roll" out, don't worry...as you work with the strip you can (and this is a personal preference for me, roll the edges to the back, so that they are encased in the knot. Some don't do this and they are perfectly happy with their results.

The middle of the rug is the hardest and this seems like it will never come together (you are saying - when do we start? !) OK, I like to not have the start at the seam of the two strips, so I make one strip a little longer than the other by moving my "center" down just a little, perhaps 4 - 5 inches. Pin it to a surface.

This can be the fabric on your leg (ouch!) or the arm of a chair. Start making knots, tying them the same way, left strip over the right, or the right strip over the left. Be consistant.

 Don't draw them real tight. Do several and you will notice that there are holes, you will use these.

When you feel you have enough for the center line of your rug, turn the corner, ( I think I did around 12 knots) working from left to right, by tying about 3 knots into the last hole you did. Now look for the next hole and bringing the fabric strip from the left, the one underneath, wrap it around the one from the top and go up through the hole.

Go to the next hole and repeat -- the one from the bottom goes around the one from on top, bring it up through the hole (it now becomes the one on top). The whole rug is based on this one knot. Now, working along, you will get to the end of the very first knot, (by now, you will have removed the safety pin that is holding the "rug start" to your leg or couch arm) tie about 3 into the end hole. Turning the corner...

Now work one knot at a time around to the other end. Add extra knots into holes as you go around. When your rug gets larger, you will add on the rounded ends, not ususally on the straight sides. This will make an oval rug. There are ways to make round rugs (If you have crocheted, you know how) and also square or rectangular rugs. This one seems to be the easiest.

You are using the fabric from your strips as you tie those knots and your strips are getting shorter, then shorter, etc. When the end you are working with is around 6", remove the safety pin, attatch it to the next color strip you want to use and attatch the strip to the one on the rug using the method outlined above. Now, if you staggered you strips, one will be longer than the other, that is good, so that your joining knots will not be right on top of one another. Continue with your strips until you reach the size you would like for a finished product. This could be a small rug, a chair pad, a placemat, or it could even be a room size rug, your choice.

When it is time to end your project, pull your last knot around to the back and weave your ends around and through several previous rows until it is hidden in the colors.

I have found that as I work, at first it is easy to lay on your lap, then it starts to hang over, you don't want bubbles or knee marks in your rug, so roll it over or work on a table in front of you. Sometimes you need to lay it down on the floor to admire your work, (walk away, turn around and squink and see if you really did this piece of art) I took the makings on an airplane and had many stop and ask what was I doing...

I have laundered my rug - I used cold water, spun it really good and hung it over a chair to dry by the fire. In the summer I will probably lay it out on a table outside. You can dry it in the dryer if you want, I just wanted it to last a little longer and as it wears, it will look more vintage and homey.

Any questions would be welcomed. I wanted to share this with you, but I don't know if I was clear or not.  Enjoy your new rug.

No Sew (I Promise) Rug Making Tutorial - Part 1

A couple of years ago, my friend was making one of these rugs. She was gracious enough to share with me the know-how. She learned it from her aunt, who learned it from an older woman probably over 40 years ago. I have made several of these and have given all but the blue one away. It is a great project to take in the car, to an outing that you have extra time on your hands, etc. Working on a flat surface when the rug gets larger will keep it flat. You can work on your lap if you want, so...

This is an attempt to do a tutorial on how I made my rug. See it here: http://wildberryranch.blogspot.com/2011/03/blue-rag-rug.html

For part 2 see  http://wildberryranch.blogspot.com/2011/03/no-sew-rug-making-tutorial-part-2.html

And, if you are really brave, check this out too. here

So, to begin

First, choose some fabric to use. Find colors that you find pleasing, there is something about working with colors that you like that will make your project uniquely yours.  Fabrics that are cotton have worked best for me. Remember that this is a rug, so very light colors will work, but will need laundering more often. Also, look for contrast and colors that work well with one another.

I scour yard sales for older sheets (not those that are worn out - but our grandmothers used old worn out fabrics from shirts, skirts, etc for their rugs- so go for it if you want). I also look for tablecloths that are not too thin, or fabric from someone else's project that they did not finish. I have found holiday prints for little or nothing. Great colors for a rug, black, dark reds, etc. Here are four fabrics for another time, another rug.

You can buy fabrics, but they will make your project expensive and we don't want that.

I usually don't wash my fabric ahead of time, but if you so desire, go on ahead if it makes you feel better.

Here is a fabric that was a tablecloth and I have used it in one of the rugs I made and still have some left over.

Notice that it has many colors, browns, reds, greens -- all make for a great floor covering, unless you want blue or pinks and this would not look so great.

Next, prepare your strips. Cut off the selvage edges, if your fabric has them. Cut a snip in the fabric and tear the fabric. This will make those strips even all the way across. Now, every 2 1/2" to 3" , cut another snip and tear it off. I use my fingers as a handy measure, count the knuckles and tear away. Just be consistant in using either 2 1/2" or 3".

There will be lots and I mean lots of loose threads. for your sake and sanity, pull them away and dispose of them. They just make a mess later.

On each and every end of the strips, fold it down about a half an inch and then fold it in half again and you will have a little corner. Cut if off, not too much, it will make a little hole.

 Now, if you cut too much off, then cut that part off and try again. You can fold these strips into color segments if you want. My daughter always plans her rugs out by laying out the fabric and she plans on which one she will use first, secondly, and so forth. I have a general idea and go with that. Do what suits your personality the best.

Here is an example of how "T" may possibly lay out for a color scheme. (OK, T, I did say possibly...) Colors can be combined to make a two-color stripe. See the light and the dark area, those are two different fabrics on my rug? Used together, they make a unique design of their own.

On my next post, I will take you through starting the actual rug. This explanation take longer than the actual doing.
 I know that there are going to be questions -- so ask away and I will try to answer them, and your question may clear up something for someone else -- so ask anyway.

Card Rescue giveaway over at Miss Mustard Seed

Who wouldn't love a gift card to a well-known store?  Well, check out Miss Mustard Seed's giveaway at
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/

Not only a giveaway -- but $100 giveaway! Can you beat that?

Horray!! I finished this quilt project...

Well, I have been working on this quilt project for far too long.

I wondered if I would be eligible to draw Social Security before it was done.

It is for a grandson, who had his birthday back in early February... maybe it can be for his next one. He wanted cowboy things, can a 3 year old really know?  It is now warming up and this will be a very warm quilt. He probably won't need it on his bed until next year.

I had this bright idea (picture eyes rolling) that I would quilt a different design in each square. I had stars, a compass point, boots, hats, hearts, smiling faces and paisleys. I really like paisleys now.

Well, I can see that you cannot see any of the designs, that is just as well, as I was not going to take out the extra dark thread that shows through. I think I will tell this grandson that grandma was really old when she did this and she was too lazy too blind to make it look good.

On another front, I really need to get to ironing done today. I may resort to wearing something really ugly if I don't restock my closet.

If you are interested in seeing some of the other quilts I have done, they are posted on picasa under quilt pictures 

https://picasaweb.google.com/bustoshelen/QuiltPictures02

Please forgive the extra pictures, some are out of focus, I am not a photographer...

Have a great day.

Looking into handcrafted items at a giveaway

Can you imagine getting to pick what you win, that's exactly what is happening over at http://mojaneofalltrades.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaway-time.html  . So many choices. I like the birds, or there is the pillow, she has a computer mouse to pick from (my computer has that "thing" in a little square), chalkboard in  a really neat frame, jewelry holder shelf. I mean, so much to choose from!  Go on over and check it out and become a follower... Just saying, you may win...

Upcoming Shows For April

Well, these past few months have certainly put a damper and dampness on our show dates.  Our show in Alameda was cancelled in November and March. A "make-up rain date" was for the second weekend of March and we attended.  There were dealers there, but there were also other shows on that same date that conflicted with this one. Needless to say, less dealers, confused shoppers (who thought the show was the previous weekend and it should have been...) and still rain showers made for a show that was to me, mediocre.

These were wet, rainy, miserable Alameda shows, and yet... we sold enough...

Now, this weekend we have off, but we are both feeling poorly -- more like the flu...

The first weekend (April 3) will see us again in Alameda. The trailer is mostly packed with space for a few additional items that we hope to finish and find before the pull-out early morning.

A peek inside a partly packed trailer, when this baby is packed, there is no more room, it is packed clear to the door.

The second weekend we hope to be in downtown Sacramento, under the freeway. We have loyal customers, or at least repeat lookers at both shows. The configuration of our booths are different in each space and I have to rethink "now, how am I going to set up".

Our spaces here are set on the diagonal, whereas in Alameda, they are set straight.

The third weekend of April (17th) we will be doing a show in downtown Roseville - a small city about 15 minutes away (compare to 2 hours to Alameda) A little Antique store called "The Tattered House" will host it and the city closes the street for about 2 blocks. It is an invitation only event (We Get To Go!)  I  don't have pictures of last fall's show, but you can see theirs at their website: http://thetatteredhouse.com   Look for the Roseville Antique Market and there you go! The Tattered House is a smallish older home turned into business and perfect for a shop.

A dealer that sells in the Tattered House bought this from us

 Here it is in the store:

I know, it looks better there...

Here are a few other pictures of my last visit

Do you notice a Bricoleur?

Amazing silver jewelry sold here and a write-up in a magazine.

Bread tins turned into display

Repurposed industrial size beater turned into a chandelier

Silver forks are now easels.
Well, that is what the next few weeks will bring. Come on by and say hello if you are in the neighborhood, we would love to see you, always.

Ramsigns giveaway at The Virginia House

The Virginia House is hosting a giveaway by  Ramsigns. An incredible company. You might want to comment for an entry, but only one, because I want to win this one!

Check out her website with the button on the right side or head on over yourself and enter.

Blue Rag Rug

A while back. I made a rug for my front bathroom. Actually, I finished it this year, but I worked on it, off and on for a couple of months. It is a technique that a friend showed me. She learned it from her aunt, who in turn learned it from an older lady years ago. My rugs do not look like my friends, nor do they look like the ones my daughter makes. I guess we all have our own style and we tend to take over the technique to make it work for us.

I have been looking online for a rug similar to the one I made. This is about as close as I am going to get.

http://www.plowhearth.com/Country-Rugs_p216_S2002_D1042_C1016.html

Plow and Hearth Magazine

This is, I guess my inspiration... and then again, it is only similar.

Fabrics are torn into strips about 2 1/2" to 3" wide, selvage to selvage. Holes are cut into the ends of the strips and then they are joined just like you do rubber band strips, pulling the end of one through the hole of the other. I know, it sounds like - huh? It is really not that hard, I probably need to do a tutorial on it sometime. Using two strips (ends are folded small and then secured with large safety pins to make it easier to put ends into holes)

A series of knots are made, actually the same kind, one knot over and over, -- bring the top strip down and then bring the other strip around it and up through the hole from the previous row. I used fabrics from my stash, and an old sheet I got at a yard sale. I got the fabric stash at a storage auction a couple of years ago and I have made quilts, upon quilts and now I have made about four rugs (I still have too much fabric).

When your strip gets shorts, you add on another. Here is one of the joining areas. I have not had a problem with the fabric fraying too much.

I have started another rug with some of the leftover fabric for a bath mat by the tub. So far,I still need more fabric to finish it. Here is what I have done so far.

It will be similar, but different. These rugs tend to take on a personality of their own.

Another Giveaway of a beautiful bracelet

If I knew what I was doing, I would have already included this giveaway in another blog and been very efficent, but, I am what I am.

Go over to:  VanHook & Co

http://vanhookandco.blogspot.com/

she is definetly a kindred spirit.

Giveaway

A wonderful giveaway given by a fellow blogger at http://kensingtoncottage.blogspot.com/

A "31" bag, be sure to check this one out. I hope I win. I simply love the bags they sell.

Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing: Mod podge, painting and more,....Newbie party on!

Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing: Mod podge, painting and more,....Newbie party on!

If I only knew what I was doing, I would tell you that I wanted to join this newbie party... but I don't know if I did or not.  Oh, to be new...

Check out another great giveaway at My Sweet Savannah

Visit   http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/  for a giveaway. They are giving away a fabulous enamel sign! Can you believe it?

I especially like the round black and white "2".  It just speaks to me... Probably in another language, but it is saying something... like "take me home with you".

Fantastic Giveaway at The Vintage Bricoleur

Well, hurry on over to  http://thevintagebricoleur.blogspot.com/  for they are having a giveaway for their one month anniversary... ! My bad, I spelled it wrong the first time. Hope it works now.

You wouldn't believe what they are offering... choices of quality items

1. A handmade necklace -- made by a talented young lady

2. A cool vintage type sign

3. A pillow for where you need it most

4. An apron made from a vintage pillow case.

Now, my personal choices are most of the above, what are yours.  Be sure to visit and check out this giveaway.

Let's Twist Again

My good friend allowed this to happen at her home... Thanks G

Mr had a great idea to have our young people make pretzels at our Friday evening gathering. I made up the pretzel dough and they were enthusiastic at rolling and twisting the dough into many shapes besides the traditional pretzel one. Words cannot describe the flour everywhere, the messy hands, the many shapes, or the willingness of the participation.  The best part was the smiling faces of our young people as they created their snack.

Creativity at work...

Busy hands...

Enough said...

I have to say, they were delicious... We even went beyond the usual salt top and put cinnamon/sugar on some. And... some had both!

A concerned grandpa cuts them into pieces so that there will be plenty for all.