Just a Wee Bit More to Go

I see there's a new follower who just joined my blog; thank you and hope you enjoy the read.  If you're a newbie and have questions I'll be very happy to help you, just write and ask.  For fun, after reading this post you could type in topics of interest in the blog's search engine.  That is located at the top left of my blog just above the Domestic Zoo photograph.  There is a red square with a white letter B and beside that is an empty search engine box.  Type your topic and hit enter.  If I've written about it, it will show up.  Moving on........ 

This little Black Kitten Mat (an antique adaptation) is a little closer to be completed and I'm looking forward to working on Hester again.  Particularly since this is the second hooking of the same design; thankfully it is a small mat.

For you new followers, below is the antique from which the design was drawn.  I'm not sure if the angle is representative of a chair pad of that shape or if the angle of the photo is in perspective from the angle of the photo taken.  But I wanted mine rectangular ~ mine measures 15 x 17.

Yesterday was a good day and a bad day.  I'll give you the GOOD DAY first.  I had a Polly Minick Moby pattern to ship to Western Australia and had never shipped there before.  So I packaged it up, weighed it on my grand father's antique scale to estimate shipping costs for the buyer. 

Continuing...just happened to have a Customs Document I'd acquired somehow and went to the post office.  Much to my surprise it is really easy to ship to Western Australia, particularly if it is a flat flexible envelope.  Were it a box then I'd have had to use a customs document and the buyer may have encountered extra fees.  But the pattern shipped first class, and yes the cost is still VERY costly but not the trouble I was encountering and thankfully the shipping was the buyers responsibility.

The BAD DAY part was my HP printer 6600.  Did you know it will NOT print in black and white if there is an empty color cartridge?  HUH? is what I'm sure you're thinking. 

'Tis true and I was totally ticked off.  Even tho there were cartridges ordered from HP last Thursday (cyan, yellow, magenta and black) they aren't to arrive until tomorrow. But I want to print a black and white shipping label.... so went thru the motions of usps and payed for postage thru my PayPal account.  Guess what, won't print because I'm out of magenta ink.  The cartridge is on it's way BUT the label only has until midnight of the day to ship to print out the label. 

I know what you're thinking and I did too.... I pulled out the cartridge, shook it, tapped it and slid it back in.  Nope.  Won't print as Magenta cartridge needs to be replaced.

Okay, the $15.99 Magenta XL is on it's way but I had to go to Walmart and buy a regular Magenta cartridge for $10.99 in order to print the label.

Would you explain why a printer wouldn't print in black and white if a color cartridge is empty?  And surely the printers can be programmed to let the person choose FIRST if in color or B&W before saying it won't print. So that is why my day was bad yesterday and why only a couple loops got pulled.

Okay, I'm calm now taking a deep breath and am ready to pour a glass of Pinot Noir.

Have a great evening everyone and hope my next post will be an update on Hester and the finished Black Kitten mat.

Saundra

The Cat is Back and Mystery Solved

Had fun pulling a few loops on Hester to get that out of my system but really do need to finish the mat for my friend so it is back on the frame.  This is a small piece so could easily be done tomorrow if I'd just hook and not stop to watch what's happening on the TV.  Goes to show I can't chew gum and pat my head at the same time.  Here's the cat mat now.

And the mystery hooker of the piece below has been identified thanks to a couple followers....thanks gals.  The designer and hooker is Glenna Bailey and she has Wully Ram Studios.  She named this design Moses and Moe.  She doesn't have a web site but if you would like to contact her you may reach her HERE.

Drew another pattern today so tomorrow is shipping day for a few items.  Hope you weekend was wonderful and for some it is back to the salt  mine and for others it will be check travel and check in at Sauder.

Speaking of Sauder... for those of you who know me or Evelyn we have this playful banter that has been ongoing for many years.  I sent her a link to the blog post where I mentioned 'having my entourage take pictures of the rugs in her class'.  She said, "I think they give us DO NOT ENTER signs.  To that I responded, "That's okay I've got a mole inside". 

So Jo, don't know if your friend reads my blog but you may to let her know the inside joke. I tried to write you personally buy you are a NO-REPLY blogger so couldn't send.  Well, I could type it and send it but you wouldn't get it....would go to a dead letter box somewhere in cyberland.

Hope your day tomorrow is great and I'm envious of all you Sauder participants.

Saundra

Black Kitten Mat is Back

Are you bored yet?  If not you might be soon.  Yup, am getting close to being done with this cute mat which was intentionally hooked with rounded corners.  This photo was taken in natural light outside on my porch and notice I'm causing a shadow on the left side.  Oh well, you still get the idea.

The reason I say you will be bored eventually is because I took this mat to wine tasting last Friday.  Although no others are rug hookers they are disappointed if I don't take something for show-n-tell. 

There is one guy who has always wanted to buy something I've shown when doing shows and would ask the price.  His eyes popped just like everyone else who thinks this is a hobby and would cost $10 just like those handmade quilts which were made with scraps....  Right... so you do understand where I'm going with this.

This local young man does love my work and said this kitten reminded him of his cat Dax.  So plan to hook another just for him because I WANT this one.  Thankfully it is small and his will be a little different.  His will have squared corners as that would be better for him to put on the wall.  Also won't do the grey down the middle of the kitten like the original antique, but rather echo hooking which will be easier I think. 

However, before I start his mat I'll need to pull more loops on my son's rug.  After all, it's getting a little closer to Christmas even tho it is hot and humid as hell right now and hard to think about winter.

Have a great evening everyone.  Please take care of your pets and be sure they have plenty of water, shade and preferably inside like my spoiled Rottweiler Ben.

Saundra

Black Kitten Mat Show-n-Tell

Seems I'm always making excuses as to why more hasn't been hooked on my projects.  Heck, it isn't as tho I have a job so it's my time management which is the issue here. 

At least I can see well now as I picked up the new prescription glasses.  My eyes are examined every year but there was such minimal change the last 3 years that no new glasses were required.  But about 3 months ago I noticed the left lens just wasn't working for me and things were a little blurry.  Now my vision is perfect and love being able to see just right.  Everything seems more crisp and didn't even mind the reduction of money in my checking account.

This is what the Black Kitten Mat looks like now.

And already know exactly how this kitten is getting bound.... none other than the Betsy Reed primitive binding technique.  I've already done a tutorial on that style and won't do one again when binding the kitten.  So if you want to learn how to do it just look at the top left of my blog and you will see a red square with a B in it with an open area to the right.  That is my blog's search engine and you can type key words there and previous posts related to that topic will show up. 

Unless it rains tomorrow it's once again time for grass cutting #!*&%!.  Yes, this weather is better than snow and freezing rain but sure does take time away from things I'd rather do.  Yes, life is good and am happy for every day I draw a breath, pull loops and be grateful for what I have.

Can you believe it is July 1st?  Just think, in less than 6 months it will be Christmas again.

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian Friends!!!  Enjoy and celebrate your holiday....I'll tip a glass of wine to that!!

Have a great evening.

Saundra

How Do You Hook Antique Adaptations

Thank goodness I've finally finished the whole kitten and a row or so of background around.  And yes, the original antique has a lighter line down the middle but mine shows up more prominently than in the photo further down.

Below is the original from which mine is being adapted.  That line shows up very faintly there and was printed off my computer; yet the line is more prominent in the photo in person.  You know me.... I'm not bothered by pulling out loops and replacing them but do try to hold off for a while to see if it grows on me.  I've pulled loops too early and then regretted so now try to hold off a little.

OH, just a thought ~ for those of you who love hooking antique rug adaptations, do you try to hook them in the colors which may have been the original clean colors before fading and wear?  If you get to see the rug in person you get to see the original colors on the underside.  Or, do you hook them in colors similar to the olden dirty and faded look? 

There is not a good or bad way, right or wrong answer, just a matter of taste.  For me it was the look of the well loved and well used rug of yesteryear that attracted me.  Perhaps I'm an old soul ~ har har, hell yeah I'm old now, ....again.

I've recently been asked a question from someone who is a NO-REPLY blogger and as much as I'd to hit the 'reply' button and answer that email would bounce.  A lot of people don't know they have that problem.  So Miss "C" please click this link and perhaps you can fix the situation: http://woodlandjunction.blogspot.com/search?q=how+to+fix+no+reply+blogger  

Has anyone taken on this Black Kitten Mat to task yet?  Thankfully the sun came out today after several days of rain. Enjoy the remaining of your weekend and hope next week is wonderful.

Saundra