My newest creation

Just finished making a few of these guys.  They are 13-15" tall on a old barn wood base.  I so enjoy doll making.  Check out my other work at www.handcraftedbymichelle.com

Sping has sprung

Spring is here - well for now...  I am hoping the other shoe does not drop and it gets cold again.  My back yard is melting nice and the pond is needing to be cleaned and filled - just not quit yet.  

Can you believe my tulips are coming up!  The lower picture is the what they will look like when in full bloom.  It is a triple tulip, the other kind that I have planted in with these looks like a peony.  As you can see we have sandy soil up here but they dont seem to mind. 

All finished!!   But wow did this one take a toll on my eyes.  The wording is done thru one hole of osnaburg.   The stitchery is about 8"x8" unframed. 
But I have not taken a break - Im already stitching on my next sampler.  Ill share photos once Im  bit further along.

My house

 I thought since a lot of you have seen my home decorated for Christmas on the blog by my yellow farmhouse, Id show you how it looks during the "off season."    Above is my kitchen looking from the hearthroom.  I just love my painted red cabinets.   We built just about everything in our home - cabinets included.  Actually the house itself, we drew the prints and pounded the nails.

 This is the kitchens "working" area.

 This is the foyer,  this is where the large 15-16 foot Christmas tree goes.

 Heres what you see when you enter the front door, its the cozy hearth room.  Plus I see my little doggies toy made it in the photo.  She was following me around when I was taking pictures carrying her little "bobo".

 The living room, the big screen tv is behind the green doors.

 The sitting room - no one ever uses this room.  Kinda sad.

 Dining room

 Dining room

 Laundry Room, back door and garage entrance.

 Master bedroom.

 One of the kids old rooms that is now a guest bed.

 Another of the kids old room that I  "primified" after they moved out.

 I just love this beds coverings!

My harvest guest bedroom.  As you can see I had 3 boys living here but all have there own homes now but the youngest who is almost 18 and wanted his room in the basement a few years ago - crazy kid. lol 

Well I hope you enjoyed the little tour of my home!

Rug Hook

Well as promised I have posted some of my creations.  I enjoy rug hooking - its what I do in my limited free time, when I am not creating items for others.  This and the little samplers are my "me time" fun.  I hand dye my own wool and draw alot of the patterns myself.  I have purchased some patterns too.

 The one above is quite large 4 feet across I believe. 

I just love the one above - so simple.

This one is in my foyer is is 4 feet by 8 feet.  My largest one yet!  It took about 6 months of working on it alot.  I had to stand on my stair landing to get a picture.  
I just enjoy the warmth these rugs bring in both decor and actual comfort.   Its so gratifying to have made these and know they are functional and will be here for years and years!  People come over and can not believe we walk on them - I am like walk all you like - it just adds patina!
Hope you enjoyed the tour of rugs. 

My 2 sewing room friends

 Well on these cold days and freezing nights I thought I would show you how spoiled my 2 cats are.  Above is Abby (we thought he was a girl until HE went to the vet and the vet said we'd need a new name.  By then Abby was stuck so that was that)  He loves to curl up in my wooden dough bowls in the sun.

 Now this one is Liberty - she is such a lover!  And she is a she. 

 This is what I found when I came home from work today.  Abby loves to lay with the babies! 

And finally I wanted to share the stitchery I am currently working on.   The finished pattern picture is at the top of the photo, so as you can see there is alot to do yet!

I am going to try to take photos of the rug hook that I have made thru out my house.  It may not be tomorrow since I have to work a 10 hour day, but keep checking back I hope to blog at least a few times a week. 

My newest primitive love!

 I love the use of alphabets in samplers.  The one below is even missing some letters - which is how the pattern was, I know my ABC's  lol 

 This one (below) has such great colors - harvest shades.

First let me start out by saying I think I have gone a bit crazy...  I am in love with stitching these little samplers.  And I do mean little.  For all you stitchers out there you will understand when I say these are sewn with 1 thread of DMC floss, now I dont mean the way it comes off the skein I mean pull a length then separate the 6 threads that make that strand up and use only one.  These are some of my finished ones.  I took one look at the patterns and thought hmm this will take awhile.  But I have completed 4 since late summer.    I put a nickle in the picture so you can get an idea on size.   Funny thing I can not stitch these with my contacts in - cant see good enough with the tiny detail, only can do them wearing my glasses  -- readers WITH my contacts maybe needed???