Rag A Muffin Rug

I just finished my rug last night! I just love it,  colors, texture and all. I havent made a rug of this type for so many years I cant tell you. I started making them 16, 18 yrs ago? as I count the time I cant believe that its been that long. I made a few way back when to pass some time while my shop was taking off and enjoyed it so much that I cant believe I didnt keep up with it. Anywho...I've caught the bug once again and all because of a get together project for my youngest daughter and myself.

I had a great time rekindling an art that I had almost forgotten about, so much so that Im adding it to a division of my workshop.

I have now started a basket and have the bottom portion finished. I'll start decreasing to bring the sides in (im not working with a pattern so its design as I go) until it starts to look like the shape Ive got in my head :) I'm even thinking that I will make a basket for my kitty Ms Sophia! She has never liked a traditional cat bed, even though I bought her a brand new one the moment she came home to live with me. But I love her and I'll make her a bed and see if she likes this one, lol, lets hope? Cat lovers, hmm, we are a different breed ourselves.

I will get out my doll misc. this next week, im looking forward to it. I've had Zandar out almost since I moved into my new place. He's such an inspiration and guide to me. He reminds me that I love to create and that there's more waiting to come to life as well.

Have you ever looked at something that you've made and thought "how did I do that"? Well I have. I can remember feeling that way in my younger yrs after drawing/painting something. I had a teacher in Jr high ask me "so Michelle tell me how you made that painting" and I replied "I dont know" because I actually didnt feel that I could explain the process. Just an off the wall, random thought but I feel that way when I look at Zandar. He reminds me that I have a lot of creativity that is waiting to be shared with the rest of the world.

So back to the drawing board of life and what Im doing today which is a collection of things. Im first going to play with Ms Sophia who is trilling at me to stop typing, yes she trills not meows, cute though. And then I will work on my basket for a while. I would like to finish the bathroom today also so that I can put my rug in there. Its the reason I began a rug of my own after teaching Kristen how to start hers. I never mentioned that she's a lefty did I? Yes it was something to teach a lefty how to crochet :) but a good brain workout for me! Both of my girls, Andrea and Kristen are great at crocheting as well as many other artistic ventures, ahh passing on the genes, lol. I have to bring out my brag book every once in a while dont I? :D

Ok I'll stop, haha.

Talk to you soon,

Michelle

Sugar Cookies, Oh My!

I was chatting with a very dear friend of mine from L.A. this morning and in the course of the conversation she told me about a sugar cookie recipe that she's had for, well,  forever. Our conversation was about business, entrepreneurs and ideas for what sells and I was telling her about a local Farmers Market that Im interested in putting some food items in. Long story short; she gave me a beautiful Sugar Cookie recipe and I spent my day going to the market for baking misc and came home to make them. Below is the sugar, eggs & butter. Then next the flour, salt, baking soda &  vanilla.

This recipe calls for 4 1/2c's of flour! I dont bake often but I thought "wow that sounds more like a cake than a cookie". And as my girls can tell you, my cookies often come out more like crackers! I like them crisp and I like them tender but I dont like gooey cookies, so hence crackers. The dough is a bit stiff once completely combined but still pliable and needs to be refrigerated for an hour.

In the meantime I did some dishes, I really dont like having to do dishes at the end of baking or cooking so Im a clean as I go person.

They take about 10-12 mins at 350' and couldnt have been any easier to make.

They are mildly sweet and would be great with Tea, Coffee or Milk! And if you really wanted to make them a bit more decadent I could see them with a great frosting, mmm.

I've had 2 already and I think I'd better stop before I ruin my dinner, Im making some ribs in homemade bbq sauce :)

cant wait to show you my finished rag rug, its coming out so beautiful. I've even started a rag basket.

Talk to you soon, Michelle

New Projects! Crochet Rugs & Capelets

I have been working on a few things to keep me busy over the last week & 1/2, a crochet rug, a child's capelet & a much needed makeover for my dining room chairs.

The rug started out as a crafty something to do on Christmas Eve day for me and my youngest, Kristen. Somehow we got on the subject and before you knew it we were crocheting a rug. I brought out a few pieces of cotton fabric that I had in my collection of material and a large crochet hook (size 15 for Kristen and an 11.5 is what I'm using now for my rug).

The basics for it are: Chain a length of material (strips about 1inch), the size of the rug will depend on the length of the chain. Kristen decided she wanted a rug for her kitchen (oblong) and so she started with approx. a chain of 12. She then turned back on the chain & proceeded with single crochets across the entire length. At the end of the length she added 3 sc's on the last chain then continuing around in a circle.
If you're interested in the complete instructions for a crochet rug just leave me an email address and I'd be more than happy to send one out to you.

She is still working on her rug, it's pretty big now but she wants it larger so that it fits between the sink and stove. I have put a little less time into my rug but I've stopped to make a few other projects as well. And it can be a bit tough on your hands wrestling with a rug :) so interjecting a lighter project every once in a while is good for me.

I've also put together a child's capelet in a beautiful multicolored fleece, so cute. Its funny with some art/craft projects, they are so much fun and you just love looking at them so much that its hard to let them go. This Capelet will be on Etsy in my store in just a few days, I'll miss this one. But I know somewhere a child will be wearing it, with a smile and some laughter and a bit warmer for the wear.

I also re-upholstered my dining room chairs with some great fabric that Kristen & I found on one of our trips to the nearby fabric store find here in Phoenix (one of them, I did find another one that I love but the first is a bit more eclectic). They have a great selection of fabric and misc sewing needs for moderate prices.

Well I'm off to relax for a bit before bed, I hope you have enjoyed these new crafty Art projects. I will be posting a how to on a new doll sometime soon. I'm almost back in the swing of things and I'm loving it. My Art Room is coming along great.

See you soon,

Michelle

A Few Gifts for Christmas

Just stopped by to post a few pictures of some gifts that I made for my girls for Christmas! I was at a local Hobby shop and came upon a sale for patterns...99cents :) and you cant beat that. So I took advantage of it and picked up a few, well ten to be exact. One of the patterns is for the popular animal hats that all the kids and even adults are now wearing.

I made an ornament also that just seemed to go with my never ending love of snowmen.  So I'll leave you with the pictures and get a good nights sleep....zzzzzz. Oh yah, the pictures!

the Snowman is an original design :) if you are interested in the pattern just leave me a note with your email address and I'll send details.

Be back soon :)

Michelle

Its Me.....and I WILL write....

The date is 12-30-11 and I subscribed to an internet service on the 16th (originally it was supposed to be the 9th of DEC but that fell through ugh!).....I just this morning had it turned on! I just received my modem yesterday after it was delivered 2x's to the wrong address and then once to the wrong zip. How do I configure an icon that looks like its shaking its head vigorously? hmm.

I live, now, in the largest city in the U.S. so how this happened I guess isn't so much a mystery but is still very frustrating to say the least. So I can get a grip and go with things or I can fume over the disappointment of the system. I don't have time to get involved nor the patience because its been a roller coaster ride so far and my wits end has been passed up several times :)

I'm looking forward to getting back to the artsy end of my world....(sigh of contentment)

I have a few things to get done this morning  so I'll be back.......SOON.

I've missed writing so much.

Michelle

Internet! once again! yayyyyy

I will be brief but I just wanted to say that I will have internet by the  9th of DEC. ! Ahh the land of the living once again :)

See you soon,

Michelle

Internet a Bust in AZ!

Just wanted to leave a note for all those wonderful followers out there :) I am still alive and well in Arizona ! I just cant get internet without TV, which I dont want, for a decent price...arghhhh!

Talk about frustrating...oh boy, it really is just that.

So Im shopping for a decent deal here in AZ and until I get one Im without internet on a regular basis. This means that I am going to Starbucks...im not much of a coffee drinker either...and checking things like my email and facebook..I suppose I could also get it together and post on my blog. Its good talking again or rather writing because it really does allow me to make up my mind a lot quicker when I do.

Well Ive been here for about a month now and little by little Im moving right along. I now have my own digs and day my day Im putting things in their proper place. It takes me a bit longer since the back surgery but all  in good time. And did I mention that I left most of my furniture behind?? Yah, I did. My living room is the one to suffer the most but eventually it will be put together also, just like me.

I dont miss the snow at all...I dont think they've had much in Ohio but still the cold is there and I dont miss that either. I dont miss the grey, I dont miss the cold, I dont miss the urge to eat lots of heavy food either. I do miss my daughter Andrea..... A LOT, but I talk to her almost everyday. She calls me on her way home from work, she has about a 1/2 hr drive and it gives us the chance to catch up as though we were still 1/2 mile away.

I also miss being able to eat lunch with her, or dinner or just shopping.

I also havent mentioned that I had to leave behind a bit of my craft supplies because the movers, jerks that they are, gave me some lame excuse that they couldnt fit it on their truck without another 800.00. Yah, like I was going to fork over another 800 dollars....here ya go. Fortunately my daughter was able to keep what she liked of the craft stuff and donate the rest to some shelters that can use it.

I have taken a few pictures since coming here that are interesting but not like I would love to be taking. It seems that most of my days are filled with trying to get my medical records transfered here and finding a Dr. that would take my case. I have spent 3 weeks just trying to get a Dr to even hear me out. No one was willing until the Godsend Dr B.... :) and now Im fighting the system that will qualify him as certified in their OHIOan eyes!!!

OH yah, I was talking about pictures....and then I was sidetracked, as usual. I will look into what I have to post just so that things are a bit more interesting for you. I will be back.....but I have a big, Big,  BIG day tomorrow and I will deal with that first.

These are pictures of Lake Bartlett here in AZ. We went there shortly after I arrived and It was a beautiful day as you can see. I will post more when I take more :) AHHHhhh, I feel better now. It always makes me feel better to write, Im addicted, really.

See you soon, Michelle

p.s. and maybe some day I'll get back to the crafts, art, dolls, costumes and more.....I cant wait.