I knew you were coming so I baked you a cake....

A Red Velvet Cake!

With cream cheese frosting, the heart is red jimmies (sprinkles for those of you who don't live in Wisconsin) and chopped walnuts on the sides.

It was Yummy!!

 I haven't made a layer cake in a real looong time.

Infact it was so long I had to run out and buy cake pans. I really liked making this cake so much that I'm on the hunt for a recipe for my next cake.

 I was able to use my snowflake plates and mugs. I love snowflakes! I found the snowflake napkin holder in a little gift shop...love those after Christmas sales! Even the napkins had snowflakes.  I can't believe I had all that snowflake stuff around the house.

The cake should have been darker but I ran out of red food coloring...I like this color.

Click here for the recipe.

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

I'm Finished....

I've been wanting to make this Pumpkin and Vines Penny Rug table runner for a long time.

I just love it!  

It truly has been a labor of love....lots of stitching.

 It's made from a nice this wool that I washed and put in the dryer to felt it.

It has such a nice feel.

 I used hand dyed wools for the pumpkin, leaves, vines and tongues.

I just love the autumnal colors!

 Everything is hand cut and hand stitched by me.

 I love the little curly q's.

I love it on my table!

You could lay it on a bench or hang it on the wall or I've even laid runners on the end of a twin bed.

I decided to put this one up for sale on ebay because I made two of them.

I knew someone would love it as much as I do.

Click here it see what I have to offer.

I'm working on another wool piece that I'll share with you when I'm done.

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

Some Stitching and Stuffing and ...

Wtih a little bit of stitching and a little bit of stuffing and some cute fabric along with some yarn and buttons you can get some cute dolls!

 I just love the big smiles on these dolls.

 The shoes and socks are too fun.

 I like making her into an Americana girl.

 Don't you just love the pinwheel?  I love making and dressing dolls....picking out cute fabrics.  With having 3 boys I need to get my girly fix some how. I made her using a pattern from Sweet Meadows Farm with a few of my own touches.

 I just had to show you my little mouse pincushion.

She looks so cute sitting on her pillow.

Enjoy your weekend,

Leanne

My first E-Pattern....

I've been asked if I make patterns of my penny rugs and I always said I don't but I would love to try.

Well, with it being so cold and between football games (I was just stuned when the Packers lost but we won't go there) I thought I would try making a pattern.

I have to say I really enjoyed it!

My first e-pattern....

~*~Snowmen and Snowflakes~*~

A Harvest Moon by the Lake Pattern

by Leanne

If you would like this e-pattern just look in my pattern page

or

you can purchase it on ebay...click here.

Enjoy Your day,

Leanne

A trip to a new quilt shop....

well, the Quilt Shop was new to me.

We wanted to do something fun the other day so we took a day trip to Green Bay 

where we visited the hallowed grounds of

 Lambeau Field and the Packer Hall of Fame...saw all Four Super Bowl Trophies...very fun!

No, Lambeau Field doesn't have a quilt shop....

but there is a really nice quilt shop on the way.

Primitive Gatherings Quilt Shop

in Menasha, Wisconsin.

When we go on these male pilgrimages I try to find something girly I would enjoy.

My husband and son were so generous with their time...not once did they say let's go or that's enough shopping.  They sat in the car for 45 minutes while I was in quilt shop heaven....thank you!

Now don't get me wrong, I could have spent the whole afternoon there but I know their limits.

The shop is cute and cozy with lots of  wool, patterns, fabrics and anything else you would want in a quilt shop.  There were plenty of samples made up and the employes were just a joy. I will be back it's not too far away only an hour and a half drive.

I have a few penny rug patterns from Primitive Gatherings...now I have more.

I'll share pictures of my goodies.

Christmas patterns were on sale.

 Beautiful wools... I've been looking for some off whites...

 golds for sunflowers...

 and perfect oranges for pumpkins.

 Antiquing spray

I'm going to use this on some of the counted cross stitch item I've been doing.

 Finished up some Warm Woolen Mittens penny rugs. 

I'm getting ready for my craft fair season in fall...since I hand stitch everythng if I don't start now I will never have enough. 

 I'll put a few of these on ebay...click here to see them.

 My first attempt at counted cross stitch in about 30 years.

I have to say this was a really fun piece to stitch.

 Look close... no mistakes...lol. 

I need to finish it into a ditty bag might be awhile but I'll get it done before Christmas.

Today I'll be stitching...I want to make the gingerbread penny rug.

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

What have I been doing.....

Stitching!!!

There is snow on the ground and it's cccold outside.

What better things to stitch but snowmen, snowflakes and mittens.

 It sure feels good to be stitching again.

 I haven't done any penny rugs in December.

 These snowmen and snowflakes penny rugs add some nice color to my table after all the Christmas decorations are down. The house looks so bare.

 I put away 18 bins and 5 soft bags of Christmas decorations...thank goodness for basements and and nice strong shelves.

 Warm Woolen Mittens on a cold, cold winter day.

I hope you don't mind the show and tell.

I'll keep stitching...

If you would like to see more of my penny rugs I have more on

ebay....click here to see them.

Enjoy your day,

Leanne

What Are Penny Rugs?

Happy New Year!!!!!
I hope you all had a nice holiday. 
Mine was fun but very busy.
I took our Christmas tree down yesterday...what a job. 
I've been collecting ornaments for atleast 26 years...too many to count.
Tomorrow down come the Santas...I'll keep the snowmen up for another month.

I thought I would start out the new year with an old post.
I have been asked many, many times....

What are Penny Rugs?

Many of you have been asking me about penny rugs and wondering what they are.

Well I will give you a little history lesson.

Penny rugs were popular in the mid 19th century.
They were made from men's wool suits that were no longer in use or left over pieces of wool fabric.
The wool was then felted.
Felting is the process of washing and working the wool to shrink it.

The women would use coins as their pattern to cut out circles.
This is where the name "penny rug" came from.

Penny rugs were not used on the floor.
The women would use these penny rugs on the tops of fabric covered chairs to protect them from the oil men used in their hair.
They also used them as decorative table covering or wall hangings.

Today we use penny rugs as decoration.
You can use them under candles, over baskets, stitched to a pillow, as a picture or wall hanging, as a hot pad or anything else you can think of.

My penny rugs are all hand stitched by me. I enjoy making these little treasures. I love mixing wools and making different color combinations no two are ever the same.

I sell them at local craft fairs under the name

Harvest Moon.
I also sell them on ebay under the name

Harvest Moon by the Lake.
Click here to see what I have to offer on ebay.

If you would like to purchase one of these just email me.

Have a Happy Week,
~*~Leanne~*~