A New Year

A new year and a new design page for my blog. My new years resolution is to blog more and to start selling my patterns. I kinda got side tracked last year with some remodeling that was going on around here. We (my husband and myself) got three huge rooms painted, carpeted and new furniture........we still have more rooms to remodel but what we got done was a huge undertaking and took alot of elbow grease. Then Christmas showed up so that took up more time. Anyhow I promise to blog more, have some give aways and design some patterns for my penny rugs. Hope every one had a happy new year and wishing ya all lots of luck for this coming year. Got my tree down and the house picked up (somewhat back to normal).

Been lazy too long!!

It's the end of May and I haven't posted at all this month. Time to stop being lazy......and get back to blogging. I'm starting to get the sewing bug back and have bought several new penny rug patterns. I have been a sewer for many years... mostly quilting but have put it all on hold to concentrate on wool and penny rug candle mats. I have been given permission to make and sell items from many of the patterns that I have bought. There are a number of articles out there concerning copyright laws......I still don't understand the laws but have come to the conclusion that I personally must get permission from the designers before selling any items made from their patterns. Most of the designers are very nice and ask that I mention their name as being the designer. I totally agree with their request and always honor it. Designing is no easy task and I admire them for it. There is only one designer that has given me problems. And because of the frustration I feel in not being able to make and sell the items from her patterns (which are very lovely, I might add), has led me into thinking gee...maybe I need to get off my lazy rear and start designing. I already have a couple of my own designs that I sold on E-bay last year. My goal for this year is to make up the patterns and also to give tutorial on my blog. So check back to see how I'm doing. Promise to keep you updated.

As for that nutty cardinal he is still at the windows!!!!! My husband wants to try to catch him in a cage and take him far away so he can find another house to bother. Now that summer is here, he's here bright and early. Crazy bird.

I have four days off with the Memorial Holiday... yipee! Plan on going to the parade and also start planting the garden.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday everyone!

Been Gone

Sorry, I haven't posted lately. I've been busy picking up extra time at work and have put most of my crafts away for spring. I know that summer is a good time to get stocked up on my candle mats for fall and winter, so I hope to catch the sewing bug soon. Been busy at home also trying to get my daughter and son's bedrooms refurbished, now that they are out of the house. Patching up the holes in the walls, painting, and putting in new woodwork. My husband even put up crown molding around the ceiling. New blinds, new wall plug cover and light switch covers and new shelving for the closets. Will take some pictures when the rooms are done. Which brings me to another reason for not posting. Every time I try to post pictures, they won't load. I end up getting so frustrated that I just sign off. I will try to drop a note every so other to let you know I'm still around.

Oh, and the hyacinth bulb didn't make it. I was worried that it was in too much water and getting mushy so I lessened the water ....and it ended up drying up.

Crazy Cardinal

What's up with this crazy cardinal? This guy has been pecking and flying into my bedroom window for about two weeks now. I put up pictures of owls and it just made him go to the front bedroom window. I put up more pictures of owls and then he went to the basement windows that are under the bedroom. No other windows, just those in and near my bedroom. I went to google and found more people with the same problem...they seem to think that the bird see's his reflection and being territorial is trying to attack "the other bird." Not sure if I buy it but it is kinda spooking me. You know all the old tales about birds hitting your windows or trying to get in your house.

Haven't posted for a while due to having to pick up extra hours at work. I'm still selling candle mats on e-bay although late winter has been kinda slow, prob a good thing. I do plan on cleaning out my craft room and listing alot of treasures. SIMPLIFY is the word for this year. I have too much "stuff".... life will be easier with less.

O.K. now for an update on my hyacinth bulb...it is getting bigger but I'm not sure if I have it sitting in too much water. I feels kinda mushy. It does have a couple of small roots.

The Great Big Home and Garden Expo

We went to the Home and Garden show yesterday. It was wonderful to walk in the gardens and smell the fresh flowers and see leaves on trees. The gardens were beautiful. The show is huge and we did a lot of walking...today I'm sore. Guess I need to get more exercise. Guess who was there? Yeap Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover. He drew a big crowd; the picture was taken from very far away.

There are many new home improvement idea's out there. Our home is 25 years old and needs alot of TLC. I'm ready now to start...only....I need alot of money to get my plans in action. Oh yeah in the garden were alot of sculptures....I found one that I really liked, and it was only 26,000.00 ( I think it is bronze)Aren't they adorable. I did buy one thing A hyacinth bulb in a clear glass. I put water in the bottom and it is suppose to root and grow. I will keep you updated on it's progress.

O.K. time to get back to reality.......we came out to our car which was lightly covered with snow and with the cold Feb. wind blowing in our faces.

I have two more candle mats really for auction. I hope to get them listed later today. I really didn't have much time this week to work on them, as I picked up an extra day at work. Gee I wonder how many extra days I would need to work to be able to afford those basset hounds...ha ha!

It's Paczki Time.

Paczki Day precedes the beginning of Lent, and the baking of paczki is traditionally a way to use up all of the fat, sugar, and fruit in the house--things forbidden during the strict Polish Lenten season. In Poland, Paczki Day, the day when all of the last paczki are consumed is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. In Cleveland and the rest of the Midwest, Paczki Day is celebrated on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday
Lucky me, I won a dozen paczki yesterday by calling into a radio station. We have a wonderful local bakery that sell these for 9.00 a dozen. If you count them you'll see that one is missing. I couldn't help myself, the weather is very cold so when I got home from running errands I treated myself with a nice hot cup of coffee and a paczki. I wonder how many calories are in one? Better I don't know.
The bakery (Kiedrowski's) hosts an annual Paczki Ball each year. Great food, dancing and all the paczki's you can eat.
When we were first married, years ago, we actually had a dog that we named Paczki, that was before these jelly filled donuts made a hit in this area. Everyone wanted to know what a Paczki was back then. Guess you can figure it out....my husband is Polish.

My newly designed Bunny candle mat is already in the mail. I listed it yesterday and got a buy it now offer last night and decided to accept it. The offer came from a repeat customer. I need to get busy and make another.Stay warm

Picky, Picky, Picky.

That's what my daughter would say. I just didn't care for something about my Easter candle mat. It was those flowers....they were too big for the mat. O.K. now what?..... very carefully without having to take the mat apart I replaced them with some tiny flowers.

Much better. At least I'm happier with it. This is the kinda thing that use to drive my daughter nuts. I can hear her yelling "Leave it alone, it looks fine!" Sorry I can't settle for fine. It will be listed this afternoon on E-bay.
My son was home from Columbus this weekend. He traveled home Friday evening in the blizzard. It made me very nervous. Anyway he showed me a easier way to upload my pictures. He started to laugh and make fun of me when I said, O.K. let's go step by step so I can write this down. Darn kids, technology comes too easy for them.

My bunny candle mat is done and ready for auction. I think it turned out quite nice.
Take care, Have a great day!

Thinking spring

I 'm really ready for spring, for some reason it seems like this winter has been tooooo long. The Home and Garden Show is starting today so maybe my husband and I will go later this week. So nice to smell the flowers and get motivated to do some home projects.

I started to work on some Easter penny rugs. It helped me think of spring. So tired of snow and the cold. This one started out as Easter eggs. I love the colors but then what....maybe flowers? Flowers are always springy. Oh and maybe if I put the eggs into egg holders? What are these things called...better look it up. Yeap just googled it and that's what their called. How simple. I then found a kinda lilac colored wool that I had dyed last fall but didn't care for. It's kinda tie-dyed in that it has veins of pink and blue running through it. Turns out it looks great with this mat. Guess I'll be listing it tomorrow. I have another that I'm almost done with (it has white bunnies on it) if I get it done I'll list it also.

Take care.

Prayer Shawls

"Shawls ... made for centuries universal and embracing,
symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God.
They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace,
mother, hug, shelter and beautify.
Those who have received these shawls have been
uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to
fly above their troubles..."

Written in 1998 by: Janet Bristow Copyright ©2009
The ladies of our church have been knitting and dedicating these shawl over the past several years to those who are in need of comfort.

This is one that I have been working on, I kinda put it aside when I started making candle mats but know that I need to get back to it, so by posting about it may keep me on track. We usually bring them to a Sunday service and have our minister pray over them before we box them up. As we hear of someone in need, a shawl is

sent out. Many of whom we have sent the shawls to have responded with such heart-felt thanks and usually say that they felt the comfort of peace as they wrapped themselves in them. If you would like to know more about them please visit www.shawlministry.com

Speaking of my candle mats, I plan on listing three this evening. These will be the last Valentine candle mats that I will be making for this season and plan on offering them at a discount starting price so if you get a chance check out my e-bay link.

Well stay warm and have a good week

My new Valentine candle mat

 I will be listing my new candle mat this afternoon on E-Bay. Thanks to all the helpful information from Cathy Wagner about copyrighting, I decided to mark my designs. It was quite simple to do with my Photo Explosion program. I am unhappy with the way the colors have shown, (darn camera) it is more of a cream and a dusky rose.
I received a question about the wool that I use. I use wool blends that I purchase at Jo-Ann Fabrics. They are different %'s of wool in the blends, mine are usually around 35%. I also visit Good-Will and sometimes get lucky and find a nice piece of 100% wool. All my wool gets felted (washer and dryer) which leaves it nice and thick with a slightly bumpy texture. I am a quilter but have found a love for working with wool.

The problem I am having is uploading pictures to this blog. It seems like it either takes forever or it loads fast without any picture. Guess I'm gonna have to practice and have more patience.

I also promised to update you on my Skecher Shape-Ups. Well I've had them for two weeks now and they are very comfortable. I am sometimes on my feet 12-16 hours a day and find that after about 8-10 hours my feet start to hurt....but I don't think any shoe out there could help after that much time. They do take a lot of pressure off my heels. I haven't really noticed any firming up yet but the bottom line is that I'm giving them a thumbs up.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Please don't copy!

Guess I better post. I've been busy all week (picking up more time at work) and trying to get some more of my candle mats done. I sold two last week and relisted one. I just finished another today so at least I will have one to list next Sunday. I follow the blog Cath's Pennies and she is having some stress due to e-bayers who have basically stolen her ideas and have made and listed candlemats I sent her a note on her blog because I bought a pattern from her before Christmas and sold the mat on e-bay with her permission giving her credit for the pattern. I don't want to get hate mail from her followers. After reading her blog I went on to E-bay and found the ones shes been talking about. They certainly have been copied, I can see why Cathy is so upset. Good Luck Cathy hope things go your way!

New Candle Mats

I sold all three of my candle mats that I listed on e-bay last week. Here are three newly listed ones for this week . I never know how they will turn out. I just start sewing the roses on the hearts and then  placed them on the mats. They are all different, so I have names each of them differently. The Pearl Heart has small beaded pearls sewn on the hearts. They have all turned out very nice. I so enjoy working with wool. I also have a link on my blog that will direct you to my e-bay site. Eventually I plan on adding pay pal, so that I will be able to sell from my blog. Well it's Sunday evening and I'm feeling more tired then usual so guess I'll go and watch Desperate Housewifes and veg.

Take care

Our Freckles

Freckles is our dalmation that we love dearly. My husband had always wanted a dalmation so 14 years ago my son and daughter and myself set out to find him one. She was a challenge during her puppy years. I can see why after the 101 dalmations movie (when everyone was buying them) many ended up at the APL. I always threatened to take her there. She was suppose to be for my husband and though he loves her dearly and always finds excuses for her bad behavior, she is really my dog. She is the most lovable dog we have ever had. She is the first dog that has been allowed on the bed. When I talk baby talk to her she coos as if to say don't stop. I decided to start taking more pictures of her. She is getting up in years and it makes me sad to think of not having her. I thought I would share a picture of her with you. Her feet get so cold in the snow that she won't walk so we have to go out and pick her up. So now she has snow boots and a sweater when it's cold.

Well I went out today and bought the new Skechers Shape-ups. A little pricey but if they do what they are suppose to do well worth it. They are a little weird looking and come with a CD to instruct you how to walk while wearing them. Very comfortable.....but that was only in the store. I will know better after wearing them for 12+ hours. I have a job that keeps me on my feet. They are suppose to:

• Promote weight loss
• Strengthen the backReduce cellulite and tone your thighs
• Increase cardiovascular health
• Improve posture
• Reduce stress on knee and ankle joints

I will be sure to give updates.

It's like living in a snow globe

Here's a picture of our yard....the snow just keeps coming down, I'm lucky that I don't have to go out today. Using Photo Explosion I decided to put the picture in a snow globe, because that's how I'm feeling.

Last nite I made some wintery comfort food. We have a local cooking school nearby that was just featured on Robin Swoboda's "That's Life" and I decided to make one of the recipes. I will be glad to share it with you, my husband had two and half servings. You will need to go to her site to get it the recipe. It's called Cheeseburger Soup. Very good but just a little too cheesy for me, next time I plan on cutting down on the cheese a little.

http://laurelruncookingschool.com Don't miss the hint she gives about using the vinegar to keep the cheese from clumping.

I listed three of my Valentine candle mats on e-bay last nite and already have a bid on one. Yippee!!! They are very Valentiney (is that a word?) I really enjoy making them. One of my mentor's is Cathy Wagner from Cath's Pennies (blog). She does an awesome job when it comes to designing and sewing candle mats and gives helpful information on her blog. I hope to someday be as talented as her.

Better get going. Have a good day!!!

Good O' Lake Erie Snow Effects

Last nite we had bands of snow crossing Lake Erie and dumping in our drive. Luckily we have a son with a tractor and snow plow. He was here bright and earlier to get our drive plowed. Thanks Mark! Temps are suppose to be dropping throughout the weekend, brrrrrrr.

Our home is quite a distance from the road (winter can be a challenge).


Speaking of last nite....what about those Ohio State Buckeye's. What a team, what a coach, what a band and great fans. I'm not really a sports type but I do enjoy watching Ohio State. Maybe because I live in Ohio.


I have three of my Valentine candle mats ready for e-bay. I just have to take some pictures and get them downloaded. Sometimes it takes forever to download. One of these days I'll get it right. I'm O.K. with the computer but there is just so much more that I would like to learn. I have a Photo Explosion program and love working with it.

Happy New Year!!!!

My New Year's resolution is to start writing in this blog. I started setting it up about nine months ago, but just didn't feel comfortable with getting it started. Well here goes...........

I have been listing Penny Rug/Candle Mats on E-bay since the fall. I love working with wool and wool blends. I have done many crafts and sewing in the past and have a craft room full of supplies, but have tried to commit to spending most of my time with wool. I recently changed my ID on E-bay to thekraftyrose from rdl19. I have a E-bay button on my blog site to direct visitors to my E-bay, so I thought I would change my E-bay ID to the same as my blog.

Well, guess I better get going and get our New Year's supper started. Gotta have pork and sauerkraut (we need all the luck we can get). Than later comes the Rose Bowl....Go Bucks!!!

Happy and Healthy New Year to all!!