~*Ending 2014*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!  Please, if you are going to be out and about celebrating tonight... be safe!  Make 2015 be Happier, Healthier, and Brighter than ever!

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I am ending the year with some 'For Me' projects... 

This morning while enjoying a warm cup (or 2 or 3) of yummy coffee... I crocheted these Fingerless Gloves.  Nope, I am not a talented crocheter!  My gloves are kind of sad really.  However, they were fun to make!  I will let my Momma and Sister continue to marvel and shine with their quality crochet!  My dear buddy, Ginger, shared her finished gloves on her blog... and that gave me the fever to give 'em a try... 

I found the pattern HERE if you would like to make some of your own!  *SMILES*  And I am sure yours will look as nice as the ones finished by the talented crochet artist that gave the pattern... and not the sad, but still wearable ones I made.  *GRIN*

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Locker Hooking is a medium introduced to me about 10 years ago.  My Mister bought me my first kit... and it started my journey into rug hooking.  The supplies had long been boxed and abandon... but last week... they were dug out.

I made this rug during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Season... it was just finished the other  night...

My plans were to make it for our laundry room... to sit in front of the washer and dryer.  However, it has ended up in our living room.  Placed in front of the cabinet that holds our TV.  I enjoy looking at it and love the spark of 'color'.

The rug is about 58 inches long and about 20 inches wide!  

After the locker hooking was complete, the edges were finished with a crochet touch.  (Yup, more crochet!  However, this one is super easy!).  I used black rug yarn (purchased from my buddy Ginger!) with just a single crochet around the edge... 1 in each square of the latch hook canvas... 3 single crochets in each corner.

Locker Hooking is done on Latch Hook Canvas using a special needle... one with a crochet hook on one end and a yarn needle on the other...

If you would like to know more information about Locker Hooking... visit Ginger's blog.  On the sidebar she has a link for all her Tutorials... she has a 3 part one just for this craft!  She is my buddy... and super talented too!

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My locker hook rug was made of 1 inch wide strips of cotton and polycotton fabric.  I have a HUGE TOTE full!!!  This photo was taken AFTER MY RUG WAS FINISHED!

 

So these fabrics have another purpose in the works... my next project will be on my Weaving Loom....

This is the one and only woven rug I have made using my loom...  It is made of strips of old, tatter, and torn quilt strips...

Before we moved (over a year ago)... I measured out warp threads for a project.  BUT... that project was never started... and the threads were not moved well from our old home to our new home... and were very tangled...  I didn't want to waste them though!

I was on a mission!  And, after over 4 back~breaking hours last night... the loom did get threaded!  It is now ready for weaving! 

So... ending 2014... I will be working on another rug on my weaving loom!

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty

~*Merry Christmas*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas... with peace, love, and joy!  And may your New Year be brighter and cheerful, and full of smiles!

We have our gifts wrapped... purchased and made... and are ready to settle down with our loved ones.  Before we begin our festivities here though... I wanted to give you a little something...

~*Forever*~ Freebie 

96 by 34 stitches

This is a simple freebie... use scraps of fibers and floss.  I was thinking it might be sweet to work into a drum pinkeep... but maybe you are already seeing a different stitched finish.

Please, enjoy... and have fun stitching!  And remember... Valentine's Day is now just around the corner!

Wishing you warm smiles of joy and cheer!

Betty

Oops!  Well.. I made a goof!  I'm not perfect!  The freebie has been corrected.  No one says, "Forever and AND a day!"  ha ha ha  I'm sorry for the troubles!  The new chart has been added to this post!  Smiles!

~*Primitive Handmades Mercantile UPDATE!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I have been making a HUGE mess in my craft room... really ~ snippets of paper, fabrics, and threads are everywhere.  I have been a crafting fool... getting ready for the update on Primitive Handmades Mercantile TONIGHT at 8pm Central... and trying to finish some Christmas presents.  

The items for the update a finished... and ready to hit the ACTIVE button online tonight... and the Christmas presents are almost finished.

Here is a little preview of one of my items for the update this evening...

There are four ditties for this update.  Please swing by to check them out.

CLICK HERE to visit Primitive Handmades Mercantile... but remember... items aren't updated until 8pm Central!

As for my Christmas presents... I will take pictures, but can't share them until after they are gifted.

Ok... I'm off to grab the broom and do some clean up!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Rustic Rugs Hook~In*~

Hello Dear Friends!

Today was a fun day!  Hooking with friends and kindred spirits at Judy Cripps' home!  Judy is Rustic Rugs... I'm sure you are familiar with her!  She is always such a great hostess and a super~awesome rug hooker!... and the house is always full of talented rug hookers.

Judy has a shop set up in her basement...  that is stocked with great wools and fabulous patterns!

And the food is ALWAYS divine!!!

I took this project with me.... it is one that was started just last night.  (Yes!  It is worked that fast!)  I worked on it at the 1st Friday Event at Fairlawn Plaza Mall between chatting with shoppers.  It is a simple snowman that is punched (with my Amy Oxford #10 rug punch)... using some multi~colored, hand~dyed wool yarn.  I took it along to the hook~in today to finish the punching... which I did.

However, I thought the snowman was too bright... so tonight, I gave it a coffee bath.  It is now drying... and will be constructed into a stand~up, weighted snowman with stick arms... and some type of decoration down his front.  I will share more of him later...

I knew the punching of the snowman wouldn't fill the day... so I purchased this simple kit from Judy  (Yes!  I purchased a bunch of wool too!)... a fat rooster.  I worked on him the remainder of the day... and finished hooking him after returning home this evening... 

I don't know for sure how to finish my rooster... a pillow?  just whip the edges?  maybe some penny tongues around it?  Hmmmm... I'll have to ponder that for a bit.

Like I said earlier in this post... last night was 1st Friday.  Here are some snaps of my tables...

It was another fun night!  I love to meet and mingle with such friendly folks!  Talking with them about my wares... and how they are made.  I would like to think I have inspired some to dive into the arts of needlepunch, rug punch, and rug hooking!

Okay... off to steam my rooster!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Lucky ME!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I want to give Jeremy & Emily of Prairie School Farms a BIG THANK YOU!!!  

They recently hosted a giveaway on their blog and Facebook page... and I was one of the winners!  YAH ME!!!

My prize arrived today ~ a 200 yard bundle of 100% Alpaca wool!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this yarn!  It is the right size to fit through my Cameo Ultra Punch Needle (medium needle)... and because it is Alpaca wool... it is dye-able!  Lucky ME!!!  Right?!?!

I'm excited to get it dyed up and get to punching!!!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*1st Friday is Coming!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

 

Yes, this Friday evening at Fairlawn Plaza Mall... it will be Merry and Bright!  I'm so happy to be invited back for another fun evening!  Please come visit for the festivities and fun... and bring a can (or cans!) of soup to help replenish the Salvation Army Food Bank!  

We would love to see you!  I would love to see you!

Here are a few finished ditties I will have with me...

 Do you see the punched sunflower bowl above?  That WAS a nut bowl like the one in the photo below.  The tool holder has been removed... and I punched up the sunflower for a little fun!  

I have stockings, ornaments, snowman pins, purses, coasters... and MANY other things waiting patiently for me to finish...

 The little punched sheep mat is a pattern from the awesome Julie Thomas of Old Tattered Flag called, "The Wishing Star"... it is a fun, and free pattern she offered.  I didn't hook the star because I have a rusty, tin one to use in its place.  I'll share the finished mat soon.  The hearts will be some funky, mug rugs...

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*NEW Primitive Counted Thread Pattern PDF!*~

Hello Dear Friends!!!

Yes!!!  I FINALLY have a brand, spankin' NEW cross stitch pattern RELEASE!!!  Can you believe it?

Here it is...

~*Gretchen Ann's Sampler*~

I actually worked on this during the past Summer while working my temporary bait-shop job.  It was fun to stitch... and is very sentimental to me.  Willard, Kansas is where my Dad grew up.  My relatives go even further back than my Dad in this small, teeny~tiny town... and I do have a great fondness for it.  The town is just a small, unincorporated township now, but I often wonder how it was earlier... with more citizens, businesses, school, and the railroad.  How did the first settlers come to call it home and make it a town?

I hope you enjoy the pattern.  It is simple and sweet!  

I have loaded it into my Etsy Shoppe for purchase.  If you don't have an Esty id... you may email me to request a purchase.  My email is on the sidebar.  

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*TONIGHT! Primitive Handmades Mercantile Update!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

This is just a reminder that tonight... at 8pm CST... the update for Primitive Handmades Mercantile goes LIVE!

You will want to see all the beautiful, wonderfully~crafted wares that all the artists have whipped up!

Here is just one of the items I have offered...

This is an original, stitched by me, sampler.

I'm sorry... but it will not be made into a pattern.  I just stitched it freely... and enjoyed the process of creating.  

(Soon though... I do hope to have new patterns... I am working as hard as I can.)

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Busy Hands*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I've been keeping busy... but, as usual, never busy enough! 

Here is my spot in the basement ~ cluttered as can be...

 My dear Aunt LaVon gave me the idea to make some punched, stocking ornaments.  So... I drew up several and have been working on them this afternoon...

 I use a combination of #6 cut wool strips... and wool yarns with my #10 Amy Oxford Rug Punch...

 I have managed to get a few finishes...

 but have several more sitting, off to the side... unfinished...

 Some I'm not so sure I really 'like'... which may be part of the reason they are off to the side...

 I have been invited back to Fairlawn Plaza Mall in Topeka for the next 1st Friday Artwalk!  Come see me!!!  I'm so happy...

 And... I have rejoined the fabulous group of artists at Primitive Handmades Mercantile!  I will update for the first time back this coming Thursday evening... 9pm EST!  Be sure to check out the update for some amazing, primitive artworks from the group of artist on the site!  You won't be disappointed!

My many kind THANK YOUs to the Fairlawn Plaza Mall organizers and PHM organizers too!  I am so delighted to return to both!!!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Keeping my fingers warm...*~

Warm with WOOL that is!

Hello Dear Friends!

The scrappy mat above was started last Friday when I was displaying, selling, and demonstrating at the 1st Friday Artwalk at Fairlawn Plaza Mall.  Our weekend was busy here... but when I get off the computer... I will be finishing this ditty up tonight... while I'm sitting near the wood stove staying warm!

The next few hand mades were just listed this afternoon in my Etsy Shoppe...

 

I have many more finished pieces that will be listed soon.  Please keep a'watchin'.

Also... one more pattern has been converted to PDF...

This one is ~*Helga Watts*~...

I hope you are staying warm with this cold blast that is traveling through the US and Canada!  Thank you for all the kind words regarding the freebie given in the previous post.  I hope to see some finishes soon... I know they will all be grand!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~SNOW!*~

Hello Dear Friends... again, yes, twice in one day!

The Weather Guy said it is going to be COLD here next week... and to the north of us may get SNOW!

So... here ya go...

Stay warm and stitch!

~*North Wind*~ Freebie

© primitivebettys 2014

116 by 100 stitches

And because I now know how to do a PDF pattern... if you wish to download & print it... here ya go...

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/23e95171-dbc9-4716-aed3-957d3f604335

Wishing you all smiles... and crafty fingers!

Betty

~*MORE!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I've been able to convert more!  More PDF patterns!

These two...

~*Winter Journal Cover*~

~*Prim Sisters Needlebook*~

...were only released to an elite group in kit form.  They are now available for anyone in my Etsy Shoppe as a PDF/ePattern/Instant Download!

Yes, there was a third pattern that I did for this group... but it is not converted as of yet.  It may be in the near future.  Please keep watching my blog or my Facebook page for more details.

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I would like to thank you all for the encouragement you gave to me to convert the patterns to PDF... with the kind words, purchases, and with sharing your own handmade finishes made from them.  You all really warm my heart!

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On another note... Last night was 'Get Cozy" at Fairlawn Plaza Mall in Topeka, Kansas... as part of the First Friday Artwalk.  I was delighted to be a part of it and would like to thank my buddy, Kris, for inviting my Mom and me to participate in the fun!  We had a great time showing, sharing, selling, and MOST OF ALL mingling with old and new friends!

My son told me last night... that he was looking at my Mom and me... and was thinking, "Gosh!  My Grandma and Mom really DO look alike!"  Ahhhh... shucks!  Thanks kid!  My Momma is sure one pretty lady!

My Mom was showing her charming critters.  She makes these wonderful babies... crocheting threads and fine yarns.  They each have the sweetest expression and personality.  Have you seen them all?  Check out her Etsy Shoppe for more

This is one of my favorites...

Please meet... Mattie...

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Christmas Sampler*~

Hello Dear Friends!

I wasn't going to do it... because I had said earlier... "Again, once the printed patters are gone... they are gone... retired... no longer available."  Well... that, in part, is still the case.  I cannot PRINT any more patterns for mailing when the stock I have on hand is sold.  However, at the urging of many friendly cross stitchers... SOME of my former/earlier patterns CAN be made into PDF form (now that I know how to do it!).

Yesterday, I worked on getting this one charted into PDF...

~*Christmas Sampler*~

© primitivebettys 2010

It is now available in my Etsy Shoppe if you are interested.

This was a difficult decision to make... I want to keep everyone happy... but don't want to feel I'm going back on my word.  One friend said, " If there are stitchers who want it Betty, you should sell it...Look how happy they'll be to have it and stitch it. Things change and because of that we sometimes change our mind. So happy to see you back at it!"  Thank you, Nan!

So... the pattern is available and I will continue to work on formatting more... earlier and NEW patterns... and stocking them in my Etsy Shoppe!

Thank you all for your kindness, support, and friendship!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Primitive Handmades Mercantile!*~

Hello Dear Friends!

It is official!  I'm going to once again be offering wares with the outstanding artists of Primitive Handmades Mercantile!  I am so super excited!!!

The site opens for new offerings on the 3rd Friday of every month.

I will be offering my finishes wares... needlepunch, rug punch, hooked goods, and cross stitch... and maybe even a dolly from time to time.

So... mark your calendars for the next update... November 21st!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty

~*Making Antiques*~

Hello Dear Friends!

~*Making Antiques*~... well, of course, I'm not making 'antiques'... hopefully they LOOK like antiques... and even more hopefully will someday BE antiques!  For now... they are just REPRODUCTIONS...

 I'm always on the hunt for old boxes... treasures boxes... mostly wood ones... I totally LOVE the old handmade ones...

This past weekend... I designed a couple of simple, old~looking rugs and used my Amy Oxford #10 rug punch... wool yarns and wool fabric strips... to decorate these beloved old boxes...

 Both were given a quick SLAP of paint with some Annie Sloan Chalkpaint.  I don't have very much of this paint because it is quite costly... but I do have one can of red and one can of blue... my favorites!  I severely distressed the paint... then gave them both a good wax with some brown shoe polish... and then some paste wax...

 Both rugs were designed to look extremely scrappy... and 'messy' if you will...

(this box is 13 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 5 inches)

I left the old hardware on the blue box.  The hook closure is simple and perfect in my mind...

 If you look closely, you can see the wool strips mixed in with the wool yarn... the edges of both rugs were whipped with wool yarn around cotton cording...

 The blue box is thicker and  more 'masculine' in appearance... fat wood construction and big hinges on the back...

 I think the red one is my favorite of the two... but red is my favorite color!

(this box is 14 x 10 x 3 inches)

I purposely left the mark where the old closure once was on the box... because it, in my opinion, makes it look that much more loved and well used...

 Again, if you look closely, you can see the mix of yarns and wool strips... I love that the rugs are both a little 'ratty' looking with uneven loops and even a few snags from the punching...

 The red box hinges are smaller.  Maybe this box was once for silverware?  I don't know... but I love it!

 Both boxes will be coming with me on Friday to Topeka for the 1st Friday Art Walk at Fairlawn Plaza Mall.  If you are near.. come see me!  My Mom will be with me displaying and selling her sweet little, darling bears and critters!

Wishing you all warm smiles...

Betty