Pumpkin felting class...

 A couple weeks ago we had a pumpkin felting class at the tea shop...

and then a week ago we had a couple pumpkin hooking classes...

It was so much fun for me and I think everyone who came had a good time.

 Next month we are planning to do a needle felted cardinal class and maybe a wool holly candle mat.

Next weekend Barb and I are vending at the craft show in Grand Rapids at the Timber Lodge. I have pressed everyone into service to help me get ready and I feel a bit sinful sitting here at my computer as opposed to being at my sewing machine... Oh well...

The finished projects!!

Summer memories...

What more could you ask for...    the boys have all grown so much this summer. The chances to get everyone out together are so precious. Everyone has so much fun!!

Not too sure about this badminton game...

Oh heck... not too bad...

The pros...

Here Kitty... Kitty... my Mom's cat

Matt and Tina

My Mom & Dad

Updates...

Cole's School Sunflowers

The flower bed in the back of the shop has filled in so beautifully. The morning glories have taken over the headboard and slightly covered up the smaller flowers... see the little garden nomes peaking out from behind Cole?? A friend of ours has so kindly kept it mowed all summer (thank you Dex!!) and it looks so cared for! It has brightened up the little corner and we have received so many nice comments!!

Little bench with a hooked top

Old black stool with a hooked moon & star

The ending of summer's pink display...

Fayal Garden Club

 We did a demonstration earlier this summer for The Fayal Garden Club. Kris gave an overview presentation of rughooking and other uses for wool fiber, it just astounds me how she can think on her feet and always looks so confident. We had a great time and the ladies fed us a wonderful lunch!! There were beautiful flowers on all the tables, just amazing.
Thank you for inviting us!

...the wonderful lunch

...all the flower club members having a great time visiting

 Spinning a little wool. Kris has a little Honda Fit and the temptation to take my wheel with was an easy go.

Jeff's flowers at home

Hollyhocks and tiger lilies at our house. 


I think the hollyhocks are my favorite... they are so delicate but yet are one of the most determined flowers ever, they can survive any weather...

The humming birds just love to hang out here, what better combination??

 This little guy was a rescue and we just love him. You never know where he will turn up, sometimes he is in the back yard, sometimes in the front or by the garage door. He is so old... he has lost his ears somewhere along his life path... the silly old thing.

a little rug on a bench made up of some of the new color wools in the shop

A little surprise hidden...

 ...way back in the forest.

 Last Friday Kris and I headed over to Grand Rapids to meet up with Kay and Dale to celebrate Kay's birthday. It was great to spend some time with such wonderful friends and share a lunch and catch up on everyones news.
On the way back somewhere past Coleraine we spotted a sign along the road that said "rummage sale" and off we went down a side road. Now Kris is really good at directions, me not so much, so I am thinking "wow, hope we don't get lost". Several miles down the road, I'm wondering how far could this sale be!?? Then soon the road turns into a dirt road, by then I am wondering out loud if maybe the sale is too far out and are you sure you want to drive your car on a dirt road??

 To which Kris replies "I live on a dirt road", OK so then I'm starting to wonder out loud about how far and the chances of being lost out in the boonies?? To which she replies oh, it's just over there to 16, so I'm figuring at least maybe we won't be lost. Pretty soon we see another sign for the sale and turn on to an even smaller road where the trees are almost touching the car and I am starting to roll the time thing over in my mind and all of a sudden, there we are...

We both found a couple treasures and visited with the nicest people. They let us take a few pictures of their amazingly beautiful place to share with you. It was so quiet and peaceful...

 And Kris was right we turned on another road, went about a mile and were back on a main road and on our way home.


What a wonderful day...

Thank you everyone...

 Thank you everyone for sending your prayers and thoughts out. Everything is going good and things are getting back on track. Kris is doing pretty good, a bit under the weather from the new meds but just moving forward.

Last Saturday (Kris called and was still up to go, can you believe it?? The iron woman!! plus take in a couple garage sales.) we went to Land of the Loon to see our friend Theresa, the artist behind Coco Moon...

We missed her and I can tell you we were so looking forward to seeing her new creations!!

 On the way back we took in a couple garage sales and filled her little car with more things to repurpose for the shop.

Today we took a run out to the farm to see how the horses were doing after the storms and rain last night. Short of having to put more fly spray on them, they were no worse for the wear.

Starting them out early!!

My youngest grandson Chase

Time is going too slow today...

When you are waiting time goes by painfully slow... It flies when you are having fun. Kris is at the cardiologist today and we are waiting to hear the outcome. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers...

My boys... last day of school with their award ribbons. I am so proud of them!!

 To pass the time Cole and I decided to try our hand at making felted soap. You have to wind the wool around the bar of soap, add a little hot water and rub the soap like you are washing your hands...

 and rub some more and more. We rubbed it so much Cole got bored with it. We got several bars done up tho to sell in the shop and a couple to give out as samples... for some feed back.

 So check out our newest addition to the shop. Handmade Wool Felted Soap, much easier for small hands to hold onto, just like having a built in wash cloth and wool is naturally antibacterial so no stinky wool. Plus it is said the soap lasts longer and the wool acts as a buffer to make your skin softer.

Please stop in and check it out...

An updated look at our little garden thing behind the shop. We added a bed rail, compliments of Barb, some wild grape vines and morning glory seeds compliments of Chauncy and a few little flowers left over from Jeff's planting up at our house. I'm really happy with it, we christened it with a little BBQ and drug out the lawn chairs and sat and just looked at it. Ha ha it doesn't take much some days....

Barb's birthday!!

Happy birthday Barb!! A couple weeks ago we had a little birthday party and a good time was had by all! Wish you were here!!! (not sure what was up with the marker on the face... Barb passed) Cake was good and the singing was pretty good too!!

This is a sampler that Kris did a while back and gifted to me, it hangs over my fireplace and I think of her every time I look at it. Thursday the 7th was her birthday and she spent it in the hospital after having a heart attack. She is ok now, but please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Will keep you posted...

Where did May go???

This is an odd collection of pictures from last month...

Behind the shop is a bare 20 x 40 foot area and we decided to use up some old bricks to make a little garden and here is the start. Since the picture we have added dirt, a bed headboard, a bunch of vines, some flowers, school beans  (the kind we all started...right before school lets out), and a few flowers. Will update as it progresses.
 We took a day trip to pick up a cabinet to one of our favorite antique shops. Here is Grace looking at Kris on the ride to Buffalo. She is the sweetest dog and the best traveling bud.


The cabinet is loaded!! 

 I got so many good ideas for the shop. Their shop is actually inside an old barn. They have insulated the ceiling and used all manner of old doors, windows, screens, shelves, etc. to fashion into walls between vendor areas. 

It is just so cool!!!!

Plus we have been working really, really we have. Patterns for hooked rugs, felting and needle punch. I have been asked to bring my rug patterns to rug school this fall. It is such an honor and I am so excited!! The pressure is on... no just kidding, but it is so much easier to think up the patterns and much more work to get them all drawn up and hooked.