Walk On The Wool Side

ALL ABOARD AMETHYST

2012-02-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

Crazy here. The bus departs for Sew Expo in just seven short days. Weeks ago Janet posted some fabulous berries on her blog, Art Journey. Magnificent with color. I thought that I needed to see wool looking like that. Dye pots on simmer today so gave it a try. Came close enough to please me. Shouldn't I do some additional shades? All of our hand dyed woolens including the new Amethysts, will be aboard when we head north for Puyallup. If you are lucky enough to attend this robust show, come see us in all of our new colors...and the old too of course.

second try - like.

first try

mystery berries

GET YOUR BOOTIES ON

2012-01-24T23:57:00.000-08:00

I. Love. these.

My friend Toni...who continues to reveal more and more of her talents, made these booties. She has used one of her favorite patterns to make many pairs but those peas in a pod are her own addition.

For me. . .that is what makes the little green pair beyond adorable. That's all I can say.

ORGANIZE

2012-01-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

First . . Gigi, please pick one of the three juvenile quilt patterns offered in our giveaway and then contact us so we can send your pattern on its way. Congratulations! Thanks to all of you who entered the drawing. Next it is the Followers turn. . . Woolbert said so and he will pick a name from all who have signed up to Follow our blog. We'll let you know what and when.

Almost ready...Sue is taking the pictures today. Don came up with these book formats a few years ago. Finally we coordinated our efforts into a new pattern which will have two appliqued wool books to help keep you organized in this new year! Who doesn't need that? Here is a peek at the small one. It will be on the website soon.

JUMP FOR JOY - WIN THE PATTERN

2012-01-13T22:14:00.000-08:00

I love this pillow Cheri Hoggan made from our Jump For Joy baby quilt pattern. She used WoolFelt and a cotton print together. She has made numerous items from this pattern but this is the most recent. Thank you Cheri for sending the picture.

I got to thinking. . . What a good idea for our first giveaway in the new year. So how about this. .Leave a comment to this post.

And tell us - One thing that makes you jump for joy?!!

We will throw you into our new year's cap

and DRAW A RANDOM WINNER! Please leave contact information so we can let you know that you have won. You can choose from one of the three juvenile quilt patterns shown below. You can click on the name of each to see the full pattern description on our website.

From left to right the patterns are: Jump For Joy, Fun Blocks & Quilt, and Lollipop Hill.

Comments must be received on this post by

Midnight, Tuesday January 17, 2012

HAPPY NEW COLOR YEAR

2012-01-10T01:06:00.000-08:00

From here

to there >>

In one Big New Color Year Leap.

Just pinned for now. Finish soon. Probably a

pincushion.

If you have pawed through our hand dyed wools at a show and are one of many that have asked, "Why no blue?" And if it was you who frowned when I said, "We just do greenyish blues"....Well then, I have a new color answer for you....because of you....and because of the boisterous blue that shouted at me the other day from the pitch of that roof. Some nautical shades will be all aboard the show boat and on the website too. Going to finally fix the neglected wool page of ours...

don't rush me tho.

So for you - Dusk Sky

And for you. . .
Midnight Blue

OLD YELLOW GIVES A HOLLER

2012-01-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

The morning walk took me to the lower road along side the tall old redwood fence that greets me almost daily.

One can easily admire each of its agey narrow planks, every one of them topped with a worn and weathered peak. Less of a fortress than in the beginning. Without its license now - its sharp points and brawny rigidity. A rather staggering, drunky figure these days.

Tattered. Softer. Friendlier!!

More of a greeter now. . .that perhaps just keeps the dog in. And the bear out. Lovely in every way.

But today, my attention was drawn to the pitch of a roof, just barely visible in a distance, above the fence top. Those colors. How had I not seen them before? I don't know. . . perhaps the new year has them shouting louder. A very strange Yellow trimmed in Dirty Aqua. I listen to them for awhile and then having given them adequate attention, I continued on home and began the search. I don't hang out with these colors much. But I found them. .and some of their relatives. For today, they are charming enough as members of - A Wool Pile. Lounging around. Not doing much. It is New Year's Day afterall. But tomorrow, they will be busy - working together - leading me into the New Colored Year.

They are Yellow and Aqua. . .and they have a job to do.

SAN FRANCISCO - 5 WOMEN

2011-12-28T23:26:00.000-08:00

A few pictures from the Mothers and Daughters trip to San Francisco. Holiday style.

Didn't capture the sight of us all walking (stumbling) in high heels, 4 blocks

STRAIGHT DOWN Mason Street.

Taxi?!! We don't need no stinkin' taxi!!

No photos of this. Laughing too hard All. Thee. Way.

Grace Cathedral - Could be the most incredible cathedral in SF. . has to be.

Here we heard a Christmas performance. Choral and instrumental and OMG!

We all got to sing along on a few familiar gems. . .we were so awesome that you could not tell us from the chorus. Really.

Daughters - Fairmont life-size two-story

Gingerbread House. I could not smell the ginger though and I love ginger.

Volunteer Hat Models
Very Cooool.

Laughs at Union Square

So Much Fun ! !

STOCKINGS WERE HUNG

2011-12-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

Antoinette finished all of these stockings well in time for the grandchildren to hang by the chimney with care.

Anticipating the big night.

She has done up a number of the stockings from our

I Ben Good pattern

and here are two more. One of my favorite stocking patterns.

These are from

Santa On The Way.

I'm in love with the little pink one especially.

Are your stockings hung?

Are your cookies baked?

I need to leave for the kitchen now and make some little gingerbread people come alive. Better late than never.

Happy Merry Days!

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS WEEKEND

2011-12-16T18:42:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Time in the City. . .San Francisco here we come!

Myself and my daughters 3 plus Lilanya's mother-in-law and her daughter are headed to the big city this weekend. They have a surprise event planned for us tomorrow as well as dinner and an evening finale at the Top Of The Mark. I have never been there before. I thought it was in New York!

Also going to the famous SF Renegade Crafts Fair. Years ago when I lived in San Franscisco I took my mother to the Glide Memorial Church where we had a very memorable time. Who knows...that might be part of the itinerary too.

I'm so excited my socks won't stay on!

I'll tell all next week...have a fun holiday weekend no matter where you be.

SHELF LIFE-LY

2011-12-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

First of all the winner of the little ornament in yesterday's post was drawn last night. Again from all of the comments from last week's drawing...we really loved them all. Winner left an Anonymous comment so please do Contact Me Kaye G, with your email address. Winner's comment:

"I love the wool!! And vintage anything is the best! Thank you for the great giveaway and Happy Holidays to you. Kaye G."

So Kaye G., please Contact Me so we can mail Little Santy to you.

And now my little lifely vintage shelf.

So many treasured tales to be told - but not enough room here.

SHELF DRESSED FOR HOLIDAYS

Sometimes I pretend I am curled up in one of the little cubicles, sipping hot chocolate and just watching and listening to the holiday chatter. It is so warm and cozy in there.

ORNAMENT DRAWING

2011-12-14T18:09:00.000-08:00

Woolbert and I loved all of the comments so much in last weeks drawing for the wool packet, that we decided to draw this weeks winner from the same comments. Seeing as how all of you were wool lovers, I'm sure one of you will enjoy this little hand dyed wool ornament. It was a prototype for an ornament in our Little Santa Things Pattern. Do you just love those little glittery jinglebells and his whimsical cap?

We know he will be well loved no matter where he travels to.

Winner will be drawn tonight and announced here tomorrow.

Then off he'll go ho ho ho ho!

A GIFTY BALMY RECIPE FOR YOU

2011-12-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

This morning i need to get making my cream/balm that all of my friends are addicted to. I thought that you might like the recipe. Makes a wonderful gift...toss into a lovely drawstring bag, add a card. Get real with the Big Jars. . . and make plenty for yourself. You will be Happy!

Just a note. Have heat will melt. Be not like me who at first did not add enough beeswax to the Lip Balm Version, and walked around with the tube in my pocket. Well Melt Me Messy. . .

I adjusted the recipe with more beeswax and all was well.

WOOLY WINNER!

2011-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Marcia. She is the winner in this week's drawing.

Have a wooly wonderful time with your prizes Marcia.

Thanks to all of you that joined in. I hope everyone enjoyed reading all of the comments as much as I did.

Wish Everyone could have been a winner but there's always next week.

Happy Holiday Stitching Everyone!

My Favorite Christmas Setting

2011-12-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

Bit behind on the decorations this year. I wanted to revisit a post showing my last year's favorite little setting. Little Wool Santa. Have him all ready to put out again tonight.

For all of the details you can visit "Older Posts".

From our pattern Little Santa Things

Can't forget my big find...The Urn.

How perfectly it homed this little

live Christmas tree.

Oh deary me,

I never did take that one down.

Christmas Napkins

Then you might want to go back and make some of these wonderful Christmas napkins. Just click on the picture caption to go back to last year's post.

Ok, TONIGHT we draw the winner of the wool pak below. Woolbert is way too anxious!

WOOLY WIN - MIGHT BE YOU!

2011-12-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

I helped myself to some goodies on Reets' well fed wool shelves. I have a neat little stack of hand dyed wool to give away. I'm sure she won't mind. . . Tis The Season you know! Those pieces are folded in half so are twice as large as they appear. Nearly 3/8 of a yard total. Then i just tossed in that vintage button card from Auntie Em...Reets has plenty of them too and they just went so nicely with the woolies! Last week our winner was drawn from our followers but this week we will draw from those of you that leave a comment to this particular post. Good Luck! Your friend Woolbert

Details below.

TO WIN: Leave a comment to this post only. Tell Woolbert why you would love to have
this hand dyed wool. . . even if it is just to look at it! Really, your answer has nothing to do
with winning, it's just more fun. We will put all of the numbers of the comments into the hat
and draw a winner. If you are not a member of FriendConnect, it helps to leave a contact.
Otherwise watch on December 9 for the comment number that won.
Deadline: We must receieve your comment to THIS post by midnight Thurs., Dec. 8.

FINISHED ITEMS ADDED TO MARKETPLACE

2011-12-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

We will subtract and add new things as the month moves on. We have more of the wonderful charms available also. Visit us in The Marketplace.

TOMORROW we will be posting the next drawing. Woolbert raided my hand dyed wool cupboard. .

just for the new winner. And it could be you!

HAVE BAGS WILL TRAVEL

2011-12-01T23:35:00.000-08:00

I LOVE when you send me pictures of the beautiful things you have created from your Reets patterns. I don't love it when i lose them in my files. I DO love it when I find them. I found these. . . so keep the faith. And send me more OK? I like the Stories you send too. Thank you.
This is from Claudia and Erin who used our

On The Road Again pattern. I want one! Especially if it were to take me to Australia.

"Here is a picture of the bags my daughter Erin, and I made last year. She took hers, the butterfly one, on a trip to Ireland. The orange one traveled with me to Australia. The bags were fun to make and travel well. Thanks for letting us share with you. . . . Claudia"

BARBARA'S hotti biscotti

2011-11-29T10:13:00.000-08:00

Remember these ladies from our January 25th post. Barbara made all of the aprons for their Pie Social. Well she has gone and tied her apron strings to the launch of a new biscotti business. She at one time lived in Italy. . . and it shows. Love women with finesse.

Fantastic website where you can order your own, read her story, and get inspired.

Just go to: Barbara's hotti biscotti

Seems like the perfect Holiday Gift idea. She recently had a booth at the San Jose Harvest Festival.

Enjoy the pictures below.

Good Find!

Barbara and her daughter in the booth

YUM!

The Baker Woman herself

ThanksGiving Winner

2011-11-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

The Follower that was picked in our drawing to receive the free Santa On The Way kit was. .

Quiltnut!

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

And thanks to all for joining us.

We'll see what we can cook up for our next give-away. Next week is nearly here and as promised we'll do one per week til mid December. This is fun.

WOOL KIT GIVE-AWAY

2011-11-20T22:05:00.000-08:00

Woolbert is anxious to get this free kit on its way so we are going to do the drawing on Wednesday evening.

For this week's give-away we want to Give Thanks to those of you that have signed on as Followers to our blog. There is still time to sign up over there to the right.

The winner will receive our Santa on the Way pattern PLUS a kit to make the black Bellringer you see on the left in the pattern picture.

The KIT is for the Bellringer only, but the pattern in the kit does include the stocking as well. Thanks to all.

Woolbert and Reets

GUILD DEMOS - A FRUITFUL AFFAIR

2011-11-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

Gone so much I miss most of our local guild meetings but my friend Sue and I were very happy we were able to attend this one. An evening of demos. The quilter-wanna-be, that's me, learned a very useful block that I will incorporate into the baby quilts for the expected twin grandchildren. First ones! Yippee. Youngest son the first to have children...you don't get to choose the order you just make the quilt(s). Here is the informative evening in pics. Click for big.

Robin does her magic
with four 5" squares

So much prettier than my photo

Begin with four 5" squares seamed together. Cut 1 1/4" away from center seam as shown. Best to place on small mat for rotating ease. Rotate your mat in quarter turns making the same cut each time.
Now, leaving center and outer corners where they are, rotate all four inner rectangles l80 degrees.
Next sew it all back together and there you have it...a Simply wonderful block.

Connie showed us how to use the Guild's AccuQuilt to cut many different shapes. We were so surprised to see that it even cut notches for matching up pieces.

Kim - Queen of Thangles

LOVED Thangles - great hopes now
for all sizes of the half square triangle.

Gotta get some Thangles - all sizes!

Nancy did beautiful hand painted cards and painted fabric as well . . assisted with her can of shaving cream. Yes, shaving cream. Amazing. My close-ups too blurry..sorry. Loved that she emphasized the ease with which children become artists using these methods. Fun too!

Susan was very artful as she demoed some quick gift bows out of various ribbons and laces. Just in time!

Thank you so much gals!

PICK YOUR PATTERN PLEASE

2011-11-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

Me..Woolbert again. I have to tell ya. . . it iS nearly ThanksGIVING afterall so when Reets handed me just one number out of her big winner's bowl I had to just shake my head.

REALLY? ONE winner Reets? So thank me later I drew out two more numbers. (They don't call me warm and wonderful for nothing ya know). And furthermore,

NEXT WEEK'S DRAWING

will be a wool kit and I will draw the winner from the Followers of my....er...I guess that's Reets' . . and my Blog. The followers are over there to the right if you want to jump in.

Okay Woolbert...May I please say a few things before I announce the winners. He is just a huge bit bossy . . but oh so sweet. Just a couple of things first.

We found some small and large glass charms that delighted us. On our website we have opened

The Running Goose Marketplace.

You will find the charms available there. Soon we will be adding some handmade items and other goodies. So keep your eye on our website, Reets Rags To Stitches.

I am sincere when I say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your comments. I would read one and say, "oh YES...that is my favorite thing about the holidays too!!" I said it again for the next, the next and you understand I'm sure..do read them. Thank you all for sharing and joining in the fun.

I will try to have a Give-Away every week until mid December. Won't always have time to send out a notice to our email list so just keep in touch here for the announcements.

OKAY...Do not have the email address for the 3 winners so you will have to Contact Me and give me your full names and addresses. Be sure to go to our Christmas Pattern Page and pick out your free Christmas Pattern.

Woolbert and I drew these three numbers. I will also add some words from your comment so we all match up and get the right winners. Thanks to All and Congratulations to:

COMMENT #9 - Cathy said.."My favorite thing about the holidays is time spent with family."
COMMENT #17 - Cathy Lynn said.."I love sitting in the company of the lighted Christmas tree..."
COMMENT #31 -Anonymous signed Pat - "I get a thrill from making something new for the house or the tree.."

These coming weeks of Holiday season. . .

Keep it breezy and easy and Joyful and Peaceful .

JUST ONE WORD. . .

2011-11-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

Well ok maybe a few more words about the One Word.

Nah....

just One Word.

SANTY HAS A PATTERN FOR YOU!

2011-11-13T02:25:00.000-08:00

Get the hot chocolate brewing and be ready to stitch up a stocking or two, a Santy, or whatever you choose. If you are the winner in our drawing you can take the Polar Express on over to our website and pick out a free Holiday pattern.

If you leave a comment here - has to be on this post - before
Midnight - November 16
I will pop your name into me Santy cap for the drawing.
The comment should mention your favorite thing about the Holiday Season.

Wish you all good luck!

Winner will be announced November 17.

DONE DITTY DONE!!

2011-11-06T23:23:00.000-08:00

Saying goodbye to 2011 shows. All Done. Couldn't have done it without all of you that were able to visit our booths and I sincerely thank you. Now..can someone please hand me my sewing machine. I do love to do shows and I do love to get home. Thought some of you that are unable to make it to the west coast might like a little booth tour. As you might guess each takes many hours to set up but you can take the tour in a jiffy!

Fun Charms

Luscious Little Hand Dyeds

See all of you show goers in 2012!

RED HEADS

2011-09-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

I don't know..just put some red petunias in a big white pot. It well satisfies the floral appetite. And that's from spring to fall. Why did I bother planting anything else? Do I show my appreciation by dead heading them? No I do not. Do I feed them? Nope. If

unperturbable

was a word, then I would call them that. The thermometer is wringing us out at 104 degrees these past days and still…they bloom on. We ate out on the patio this evening. i glanced over at their perky little forms. Feeling slightly irritable from the heat and waiting too long to nourish myself, a grimace escaped me and I mumbled..

"yah go ahead and just blossom your little heads off…like you don't even KNOW you should be flat out wilted….like me! Just sit there in all your bloomin' glory!"

Sheepishly, i turned back to my platter of food which for some reason now looked rather unappetizing. I went for a short walk down the road after finishing. When I returned, they all seemed to be staring at me as i attempted to sneak on by. But alas, I did. I apologized. To each and every one of the glorious little Reds.

It's the heat you know…turns me into a monster sometimes.

But they will forgive me I know they will and tomorrow morning when I walk outside to splash my face in the morning sun as it sprinkles through the redwoods, they will shout it out once again.

"LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL ..WHEN YOU ARE RED."

and they are so right...

FLEECE LAUNDRY DAY

2011-08-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends...it's Woolbert. I have some exciting news.
Reets isn't much of a shepherdess so she always buys her tiny curl fleece from someone else. Last time it came unwashed...that was many many months ago. Today was a miracle. Finally...she overcame her fear and washed the thing. Big Wooly Bully Deal I say! Oh well...just so she never heads my way with any shearing scissors. Freaky!

Well...Woolbert just does not understand that in the first place tiny curl is almost impossible to find. And then when you wash it, you can barely touch it. Scaredy as I am, I was forced to do it myself as my friend Carin is just never home long enough to lend her expertise. But when in doubt, look online! Losing Our Shirts, Keeping The Farm...Love the name! And loved their blog with a wonderful fleece washing tutorial. Go see if need be. Made it sooo simple.

kinda dirty...

Cleano!

I took the "clean" pic after my first batch. For the following batches i placed the fleece on some flexible mesh in the water so that i didn't have to handle it as much. I think it preserved the curl a bit better. This process is way easier than I thought..thanks to Keeping The Farm!

WEDDING GLANCE

2011-08-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of pics from our daughter's recent wedding. More to come. Busy getting ready for Tacoma show now. The wedding was more wonderful, more joyous, and more fun, than any of us could have ever imagined.

Lucky In Love - Zoom Photography gals were incredible...
and very zoomy!

Lilanya the Bride

They celebrated their vows in a dreamy Mendocino vineyard. Beautiful gardens everywhere.

And a superb

Dance Floor! Yes...

Very

Memorable

Day.

DAUGHTER'S BIG CATCH!

2011-06-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Look at my youngest daughter's Big Catch!

No...Not the fish. That GUY to her right!

That was last year in Mexico...the fish is real by the way. And the WEDDING...
is la little over one week away.
(Mother's note: She had better scarifice catching the biggest fish or a divorce might follow.)
My daughter is so organized that the day after her engagement party last summer, she had us gather to make hundreds of jars of strawberry jam to give as wedding favors.
I'm sure she is too busy to be reading this now so I can tell you how excited I am that I just took their quilt that I FINISHED IN TIME...to be quilted. Doing their three initials on blocks arranged helter skelter style.
Why can't their initials L A M not also stand for Love And Marriage. They Can. They Do.
Have never made a larger size quilt. Will show you later.

She chose that fan fabric last year
while helping me at a quilt show.
Never had a clue it was for a wedding quilt.
I picked out the others shown with it.

Letter L..too big for the scanner so the right side
is missing. This was a reject. Sewed the Ls backwards.
Oops. Had a number of rejects...almost enough for
another quilt. The letters were easy to put into block form.

DON'T LOOK SOPHIE!

2011-06-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

No don't look Sophie! Don't Look Behind You!! Reets has abandoned
ANOTHER one of us. AGHHH!...it has a POINTED HEAD!!
Remember those two empty noggins...yes way back last December it was.
Well there they still sit unfinished. And now this freaky thing.
We are nothing but Reets' UFO Cemetery. Plug your ears...I'm going to SCREAM!

Oh those girls..

Remember Sophie and Frances? Last December they posted such uncharitable things about me here. Go back and check out Older Posts, if you missed their petty little rant. They just have no faith in me. Little do they know, that pointed head now has a hat. And a face. And everything she needs to be my little Scream Punk Witch. My version of Steam Punk. And she be very FINISHED. So There Frances...at least you got the "Scream" thing right.

Scream Punk Abby - Quite Complete!

WINNERS!

2011-05-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

Since Reets was away so long, and hasn't
kept up with her give-aways, I talked her into
drawing two names!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS

KAREN KENNEDY

AND

ALLENZ

Thanks to all who joined in the fun. And I sincerely thank you for all of the wonderful comments. They all went to my head and I was really bossy this morning to my husband.

I've snapped out of it now though and am back to the sewing room scrambling for Market.

Thanks again and Happy Stitching...Reets

Hello Again

2011-04-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to me that with a family of this size, we have had very few family emergencies. I am finally returning from just that. Things have mellowed and it seems our middle child is going to be ok.

Thankful thankful. I'll leave it at that.

And now I scramble to try and still make it to Market in SLC.

I think I can I know I can I think I can...and so it goes. One week remains.

I did make a promise to you though and will take the time to at least make that good. Woolbert is so excited that, after many years, his little wool block has been put into a quilt. He is here to give away a free copy of his new Wool Sampler Quilt pattern. He'll tell you how below.

You have until MONDAY MORNING, 5.2.11 to leave a comment and be eligible.

Hi Friends! If you would like to win the new
Wool Sampler Quilt. All that you have to do
is leave a comment to this post. Tell
me how gorgeous I am or something. Reets
and Company will draw a lucky winner.
Love and good luck...Woolbert.

Look! That's me up in the
top corner! Gotta love
this one. Hope you win!

MORE FOLSOM TIDBITS

2011-03-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

During the show I was hosted by my wonderful friends Marylou and Richard. One evening, my carelessly leading everyone over a hillside to the lower level of the restaurant's parking lot, ended Marylou up in an unseen ominous hole in the pavement. Down went my dear friend, high heels and all. She insisted on continuing on with our dinner plans so we popped a bag of ice on her ankle and ate away. Oblivion was not permitted the next morning however, and a trip to the doctor reveals a cracked fibula. Big Groan. Shame on me and my habitual shortcuts.

Soooo sorry Marylou. But that's a lovely cane! Really! Isn't it lovely folks!
See how it matches her outfit? It absolutely does!!

Marylou is an accoomplished artist in the Scaramento area. Multi medium artist in fact. Her sculptures are as delightful as her paintings. You can meet her and view more of her incredible art work here:

Marie Dixon fan page link

Dancing Flowers

View of the American River

And then the gifts from my booth neighbors who are always so enjoyable and generous.

Vintage pincushion from Auntie Em.
Olde Wool and vintage button.

Beaded bookmark
from Barbara

Barbara's bookmarks - hand made
beads from Kenya. Charms also.

Barbara used to teach art to young children in Los Angeles through the Getty Art Museum so is well skilled in now creating her own art. Her works are located on etsy - cabochon atelier.

I love fences. They stop me in my tracks. So on the way home from the Folsom show I snapped these two moss-covered beauties. The stone fence ran a good ways around the lovely lake. Click on them for better view.

AUNTIE EM'S - BOOTH TO LIVE FOR

2011-03-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

The Folsom show, one of my favorites, has come and gone. But the memories have not. Can you imagine the challenge trying to set up your booth when right next door Auntie Em is unveiling treasure after treasure and the passers by are exclaiming one after another..."oh MY!" "Oh I have NEVER seen..." And once again you have to pop yourself up to the next rung on your ladder, balance with the other foot on the table...for better leverage...and peer over the curtain top. Quietly. Gracefully. Disinterestedly. Well CAN you imagine? The vintage buttons the antique quilts the linens. Take a look.

See what i mean....Booth To Live For.

Auntie Em herself.

Even has a rug on the floor...classy vintage.

Auntie Em has a wealth of knowledge to share about all of her quilts. I have learned a lot seeing as how I not only snoop but eavesdrop as well. She and Barbara are fun booth neighbors...we have to remind ourselves at times to attend to our customers and tone down the frivolity.
That's the Folsom report.
Woolbert says hello and wants you to know that soon he will have a free pattern drawing...as the new 12 block little wool quilt done at last. I'll try to get it up on the website as soon as we return from the airport in a few days....picking up the Pittsburgh son and the granddaughter. A three and a half year old in the house again...We are so ready for that!

"Whose woods these are I think I know"

2011-02-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

"Whose woods these are I think I know.."

So often lovely dark and deep..

but today,

Lovely and Luminous and bathed in snow.

Viewing the

Redwoods

from the deck.

Oh my oh my.

Who could resist an offer to walk in the snow. The trip to the top of the hill was nothing short of mesmerizing. On the way back down we found our tracks to be completely covered. And the snowflakes....nearly palm size. Truly.

Our reward...A View From Near The Top.
And I heard them saying so softly... "We are here we are here...beneath this snowy veil.
Come see. Gently, lift a bough. See the truth of green beneath our ghosty gown. We are here."
and then..."Leave us now to our silence to our peace. The spring comes so soon and we need our rest."
"Thank you for coming . . . and thank you for this place on Earth. We are here."

And the snow was wet. Snowballs were thrown. I was not the better shot.

Nor was I a good loser.

So there will be no pictures of this event.

til next time....stay warm, stay cozy.

And bless all that are trees.

Stitching Guides, Tutorials, Videos

2011-02-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

Folsom Show ever so close. Don't come visit right now...there's nary a path! I have just a moment though to share a website that is a wonderful source for all of your embroidery stitches. I used to reference a site in all of my patterns but have learned it is no longer found. So if you are stitch searching go to Mary Corbett's website and find yourself in stitchery heaven. She walks and talks you through a zillion different stitches no matter how simple or how complex. Super site!

NeedlenThread.com

Loved one of her recent posts as she was working with wool threads.

All for today...back to ripping wool. See you in Folsom if I'm lucky!

Janet Wins !!

2011-01-27T21:37:00.000-08:00

Janet from New Jersey is the winner in our very first pattern give-away.

CONGRATULATIONS JANET!

I hope that you enjoy stitching up every one of these patterns.

And unfortunately I must add...MY APOLOGIES...

to so many of you that contacted me, and those who did not, to say that you were unable to post a comment. Being way too new at all of this, I could not figure out the problem. Until just now.

Long story short...I have changed some settings so it should not be a problem in the future.

I will leave settings as such unless it creates some unforeseen problem.

SO very sorry!

I will make it up to you by having another drawing soon.

Woolbert was very upset with me but that little warm and wooly heart has already forgiven.

Hope you will too.

Thanks to all!

WOOLBERT'S PATTERN GIVE-AWAY

2011-01-25T23:27:00.000-08:00

Hi it's me again...Woolbert. I told you I would be back. It's about time we started some give-aways. See the three patterns below? You can win them just by leaving a comment to this post...has to be this post. We will put all of the names of those that comment into my little wool gathering bag, and draw a name to determine the winner of the three patterns. You have until

11:59 p.m Wednesday night, January 26

to comment. Please be sure to leave an email address so that Reets can contact you. I make her do all of the work. She will need to get your mailing address to send your patterns.

Good Luck To All...your true friend, Woolbert

Bunny Hop ~ Little Pockets ~ On The Road Again Part 2

DID BARBARA REALLY MAKE 14 APRONS?

2011-01-23T00:55:00.000-08:00

Seriously??...she made 14 aprons??!!! And they were each and every one reversible?? She told me this at a show where she had previously purchased our No-Hem Reversible Apron pattern. And then...she sent me the pictures. Made them all for her friends and here are some of them at her Pie Social. I didn't dare to ask how many PIES she baked. Accomplishments like this leave me standing in awe...and dashing for my sewing machine. Love these pictures. Remember now, the aprons are ALL reversible.

Here friend Barbara H. sports her
apple apron. Snazzy!

Ok have you looked at the aprons yet or are you still googling at those luscious pies??!!!
Our prolific SEWer gal Barbara Clark is in the back, wearing the pies apron. Pure delight in each and every face. Who wouldn't be delighted with friends like that. And ohhh... those PIES!
All of them familiar faces to me as I'm sure they have popped into our booth more than once.
See you next year Ladies....wear your aprons!

After this she hosted a spaghetti dinner and made everyone half aprons.
And, there's more..With our On The Road Again pattern, which makes a very large bag, she went overboard with creativity. She made six different bags. On three of them she personalized each one to match the recipient. (She wore me out telling me all of this.) Look at these bags.

Can't go wrong with ME images.
Beautifully done...and so cheerful.
Don't you just want one?!!

Here is her friend Donna's daughter. She appliqued her
likeness onto this bag. This one is particularly amazing isn't it?

Barbara thank you so much for taking the time to take and send these pictures. You have a lot of very lucky friends.
Ok...I have to go sew something now. bye bye. Oh. One more thing. Within the next few days Woolbert will be popping in to begin our first pattern give away. Stay tuned.

Little Woolbert Gives A Peek

2011-01-09T23:26:00.000-08:00

Have you met Woolbert?

Choice is not a factor. He insisted on being introduced.

He's one of our little hang-arounds...frequently sauntering into the stitching room and snooping to see what's new...made from his coat. Considers himself to be a pivotal figure about the place. Approving new hand dyed colors...seeing that they are mixed congenially

...things like that.

All of the little squares are finished now (oh...and approved). They must be joined together and the pattern written and our little wool sampler quilt will be ready to share.

When I get the pattern give-aways going, this pattern will likely be one of them!

Woolbert was quite anxious and insistent that he give you a sneak peek.

Though a meddler..he really is a very sharing and caring little fellow. And he simply loves you to come walk on the wool side here with us.

For now though, we bid you adieu, with two of Woolbert's favorite blocks.

New Year New Light...and a poem

2011-01-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Even after all this time

the sun never says...to the earth

you owe me.

Look

what happens

with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.

Hafiz

This was sent to us by a dear friend with wishes that we may have a love filled new year. And so I pass this same wish on to all of you. Yes...

Have A Very Joyful and Happy New Year!

On The Road Again Creations

2010-12-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

Love it when you send me pictures of items you have created from our patterns.

And love it even more when I actually get them posted.

Below are some of the pouches created by Beth and her mother from our pattern

On The Road Again 2.

Thank you Beth. Love your fabric choices.

She was nice enough to add a note...see below.

"I wanted to show you the 9” zippered stand up pouches mom and I made from the pattern you sent me. I’m going to visit my friend in FL, so I made her and her mother one for letting me stay with them. I cut everything, sewed the buttons and did the finishing hand stitching. Mom sewed it together for me on her machine. I didn’t do the quilting stitch, but I am very happy how they came out. We went to our craft store yesterday and I picked out the buttons and fabrics. It was a fun day."

Love the nifty little buttons she added in the corner!

Here is a picture of the actual pattern
cover for On The Road Again 2
Wanted to show you the little
wool version of the same pouch.

Frenz Gallery - Gary's Sock

2010-12-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

I'm always delighted when you send me pictures of your creations made from one of our patterns. Hoping the new blog enables me to share them with everyone in a more timely fashion. Below is a stocking made from our pattern Better Not Pout. I thought this was a very clever idea. Read what Donna had to say about her adaptation of the pattern below. We have also added it to our Frenz Gallery on our website.

Thank you Donna!

Better Not Pout Stocking

"This is a picture of the sock that I made

with the kit that I bought last year at the

NW Quilt show. I thought you might

enjoy seeing how I changed it to fit my

fisherman friend."

Donna Strom

Little Wool Santa

2010-12-16T01:52:00.000-08:00

I gave my little wool santa a new forrest this year on the buffet.

I don't know...will he deliver the goods? He looks like he wants to stay right there among those glistening boughs forever.

Deary me, I hope that I have not caused a problem with any expected deliveries.

He is from our pattern

Little Santa Things.

He is only about 12 inches tall. Don't you love his basket of glittery bells?

I want his leather bag. Really though...it is only painted and antiqued muslin.

He is so very proud of that bag so let's just keep that information between you and me.

Here is another of my favorite decorations..new this year.

Look at that urn. I found it on my way home from a show...one of those favorite little shops that you just simply must pop into. No matter how badly you want to be chugging up that last little hill, rounding that one last bend, and seeing that warmy wonderful front door. With the cats waiting presumptuously on the front porch. And someone inside is perhaps making hot chocolate..with whipped cream. No none of that matters. That anticipation leaves you like a bat with frenetic wings... when you see that exit sign for that little shop that absolutely cannot be omitted from your travel.

That is what happened on that day. That day I was a winner.

Oh Christmas Tree Napkins - Be Green Be Clothy

2010-12-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

I guess I could have left that preachy little "Be Green" out huh?

I bought some very clever Christmas tree napkins at a recent craft fair. I wished I had bought more of them for gifts so decided to try and stitch some up. They are basically just a half circle using two contrasting fabrics...stitch them right sides together, turn, press, fold accordion style. Just do a Search for Christmas Tree Napkin and you will find free patterns for them in both video and pdf formats. The napkins online did a nice job adding rick rack but I omitted that, as you can see below.

I could not scan the entire half circle...
I had to fold it in half. What you are seeing
is a quarter circle.

Cheery little thing isn't it?

I made some in the reverse direction also.

You know, looking at them now, I believe my folding is a bit askew. The napkins I purchased and the free online patterns have a preferred folding...pretty sure.

I will have to go refold and repress mine.

Anyway, I cannot wait to make a stack, tie them together with some favorite ribbon and wrap them up. So I'm off now..my fabrics are calling.

Go Tell It On The Hillside, A Childrens' Faire Is Born.

2010-12-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, on a crisp sprinkly morning,

I drove deeper into the countryside.

And In these hills..

Beneath this rolling fog..

I entered an enchanted little village. Really it was a school.

One known in our area for hosting events that freshen you with their creativity.

And these..are the things..that i saw.

You know that something good is beyond these doors.

I told you so.

A bag of dirt. A branch. A few gloriously simple ornaments.
Is there a better way to say Happy Holidays?

Chiidrens Art. Brilliant Tiles. A Quilted Wall Does Make.

This charming holiday craft faire had plenty of talented crafters.
Children and adults as well.

Below are they, and some of their wares.
Let me first apologize though.. for some of my pictures did not come true.
I am not yet well acquainted with the digital camera.

Young fimo artist with cleverly displayed ornaments.

Be still my heart...WOOL and so wonderfully felted by this little fella.

All could join the beading table. Look
at the Star of Zephyr.

I will never know...was it her sweetness or just the sheer beauty of these hand-crafted

hollow egg ornaments. But here is the artist and the ornament I chose. It hangs prominently beneath my vehicles rear view mirror.

One should always festify ones wheels.

A young knitter wastes no time while selling her knitty goods. I was so taken with the knitted dress she wore, which I assume she knit herself, that I forgot to snap a picture of all her lovely items.

Oh well..the dress speaks a thousand pictures.

Oh you don't say...I recognize those cards..

That is my friend Sue. No not up there...Down there.

She is a photographer.

Through My Lens

That is the name of her business. She takes incredilbe pictures and creates cards with many of them. Her husband Don pens the quotes on the back...each and every one so very apropos. We hope to have some available on our website soon.

And they are also both knitters, crafters and stitchers and do all of these things

in the most original ways.

And this is the famous spoon man..George.

Occasionally he takes a break from selling and does a little

salsa dancing with a customer or two.

There were singers and dancers and musicians of all young ages.

Oh...and an ACCORDIANIST. A REALLY YOUNG ACCORDIANIST!

Capitol letters mean that I LOVE the ACCORDIAN.

Thank you little accordian player.

It is the kind of gathering that you know sends everyone home in a happy way.

Come to think of it..I was still feeling pretty happy the next day.

I hope that next year you can come.

Aunt Bernie's Calendar

2010-12-05T19:29:00.000-08:00

Brrrrrrrr. The cold turned right around and snapped at the little spell of warmth we were enjoying. So I am remembering how joyful it was last week, to turn my Aunt Bernie's calendar to December. An aged picture appeared and my four cousins arrived on their sleds. The snow flew furiously...awakening so many childhood memories.

Have you ever been to Pennsylvania?

Brrrrrr. Put on your coat and hat and peek below.

The Horton Boys Arrive!

Two Heads Are Better Than One??

2010-12-01T23:15:00.000-08:00

Two heads are better than one!

No they aren't!

Yes they are!!!

No they AREN'T!!!

Shut up!!

No you SHUT UP!!!

Oh girls girls please...I heard you all the way out on the porch.

They don't even have their mouths yet and already they are sqwarbeling. I'm turning off the audio so as not to disturb you with this recurring nonsense - because sure as sugar, as you read, they are still at it.
It's like this. I start on a new doll. Not happy with the first head. Make a second. (sometimes a third ..fourth.. fifth and so on) Leave them sit for a day or two. The battle begins. Most always it's the inferior one proclaiming two heads are better...meaning she wants me to use both and make two dolls. Well. No one wants to be discarded I understand that. Still, no less irritating. At this point I am favoring the weirder one. What the jump..they're both pretty weird.
Well, I will contemplate the figures in between the little wool squares I am working on. Perhaps it will take a few nose stitches on each or a very mindful placement of some mouths. Or perhaps I will just choose the one that shuts up first. One will return to meet you later. But only one, because I have decided.. One head is better than two.

"Reets is such a bag of wind isn't she? We have been sitting on this
shelf for over FOUR YEARS. Unfinished and unattended. She hasn't even noticed that I'm sticking
my tongue out at her." "Yah and she tosses this 1800's scrim and satin bonnet over MY head so I'll
think I'm eloquent or something. Did you hear her saying about those faceless babes up there that she
'leaves them sit for a DAY or two.'
"HUH! How about a DECADE or two. Humpff..If she ever does give me legs I'm going to give her a
big ole kick in that royal rump of hers. I am!"
"Oh..Oh!! And remember that hideous Halloween thing she made...the one she made 13 heads for?
Remember them?!! She pondered over those things for months...like they were WORTH something. They weren't worth a bag of beans. And they ALL looked the SAME! Oh..oh...and THEN ..then she chose the very first one she made. Look, some of them are still tossed over there on that old armoire."

Oh..Thanks for noticing us girls. Raggy Reets abandoned us. And PLEASE do tell us, just HOW that one

down there is any better looking than any one of US?!! I'll give you a singing sack of candy corn if you can!

We're every bit as gorgeous as she. And she got the wand and the legs and the shoes and

then the TITLE. The QUEEEEEN of HalloWEEE-EEEN!

The Hag.

Oh my, The sorry sagas a Queen must lend her ears to.
I think I'll have some tea.

Bliggety Bloggety Boo! Welcome to my Web...log

2010-11-29T23:48:00.000-08:00

This is my Web...Please come in!

I read my first blog just months ago while staying with a friend during a quilt show..she being an enthusiastic follower. We sat on the couch chatting like schoolgirls...I loved it. Then, as she flipped open her laptop, an animated, an amiable, a very luminous world, enveloped us. It was like the schoolgirls had just stepped onto the playground and it was full of chatter and it was full of activity and friendly faces and there was laughter...yes, I remember plenty of laughter. Information wore a brilliant crown and was being enthusiastically passed around from neighbor to royal neighbor. And in a joyful way. For me...a new orbit. Uh oh.

Stepping back just a bit. For the last few years customers and friends had urged me to begin a blog, mainly because those newsletters on the website became so far apart that they could no longer reach each other...stretch out their woeful arms as they may, they lost the battle for continuity. It seemed I was always on the road anymore...those shows. And my News files became piles and they were filled with pictures and they were loaded with information that good folks were wanting to share with you through the newsletter. And then I saw that my last Ramblin Rag was dated almost ONE YEAR AGO!

So. The web begins. And I am committed to becoming a more proficient weaver. Won't be here every single day nope. But neither will you. Let's just get together as often as possible.

The web picture above is one that I took a while back in my yard. My how it glistened in the morning sun and I do wish that you could see that part. Here are a couple more pics taken that same crisp morning.

Well that is the end of the beginning for as one ear hears the clicking of the keypad slowing to a halt, the other hears the impatient snipping of scissors urging the fingers to fill their handles and make them more useful.

I'll say it again...Welcome. Feel free to be a subscriber or a commenter or a follower or whatever any of those things are. I have not yet figured any of them out but you probably have.
Until next time then...keep it kindly,

Reets