We are getting a little outer band rains from Alex today. I don't want to complain because we have had so little rain in the past few months. Living in the middle of a forest it is a little scary with all of the pine trees and such! Everything has been so dry! I am hoping that there is no thunder and lightening so that the kids can still play in the pool! I was afraid that our air conditioner went out on us last night it got so hot in this house! I don't know why I didn't think that one of the twins had played with the thermostat! When I checked it this morning it was set at about 85 degrees!!!! I keep telling my daughter that she should blog about what those two little girls can come up with!!! She says "Mom, I don't think it's funny"!!! If the weather gets too bad we will have to do art projects inside! I didn't get my two patterns done before they got here so I am not sure when I will get them out! My daughter and I are trying to find sometime to work on a couple of new projects, she is so creative, but I think she is going to have to wait until the twins go to school!

I was thinking this morning about building my stash and how I got started collecting wool. As I said before I do this show once a year (Christmas) and it started years ago where I would use it to make wool bags with applique to fill and hang on your front door or an old cupboard door, I would fill with greens and other things! One of my favorite things is making Santas with wool coats, anyway, I guess that is how and why I got started collecting wool! Before there was so many wonderful shops to buy wool, that has already been felted and over dyed, I hit garage sales, flea markets and thrift shops! I buy clothing, blankets (I love these for big projects) robes and whatever else that I can get in wool! I bring them home and throw them in my wash machine using hot water and then the dryer. The clothing I take apart at the seams fold and put away until I decide if I am going to dye it! There are some new dyes out, I bought some at the last quilt market but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I use regular Rit dye and it works just fine, you can combine different colors for a more custom color or just use as is. the one thing you have to be aware of when dying in your machine is the amount of water you are using to mix with your dye. For the smallest load I use two boxes of dye, it just depends on the color intensity that you want. I guess what I like about dying is playing around with the colors, if you don"t like how it turns out over dye it with another color! When I get ready to do a project I have lots of different colors to work with!! Make sure when your are on the hunt for your wool that you look for plaids, checks and other patterned wool. It makes for the most beautiful and interesting finished pieces!

Well-it is going to reach 101 today and down here in the south that means the heat index will around 115-120! Here I sit working on my wool! There is just something about the wool that makes my heart sing! The piece I am working on now is another table runner! When I design table runners I like to leave a place in the middle so you can set a candle or an arrangement on the piece, depending on which table I am going to use it on! The other piece I just finished is a table runner too, but it does not have a place to set anything on! This last piece I mentioned I will try and get a photo on here by tomorrow! I haven't completed the pattern yet! My daughter and her children are coming from Dallas on Monday! They will be here for a week! I can't wait! It is hard to work on things while they are here so I think I will just have to take a break and enjoy them! I live in a small town so there isn't alot to do, we have a pool but the water is over 90 degrees right now so it is like getting into the bathtub! Not very refreshing but they enjoy it anyway! Mr Thomas likes to go fishing and golfing with his papa, when he's not getting the girls into trouble and the twins (Miss Mia and Miss Sophie) love to work in my work room ! I guess I will have to clean up my mess so they can make theirs! My plan is to have these last two patterns done and on my website before they come!

Well it is back to work for me! I enjoyed the weekend but by the time I decided that it was OK for me to do nothing it was time to leave! I am pushing for two more patterns by the end of this week! We will see! Christmas in July is coming quickly!

I got up early this morning to work on another new pattern! I have most of the drawing done but I haven't even started to put colors together yet! Sometimes I get a little ahead myself, I can't always wait to get the drawings done before I start putting it together! Sometimes I create it as I go! This one will be wool on wool felt. I like using the wool felt for the base (especially if its going to be a table runner) it just seems to lay nicer, but I love using the wools because of the different designs and textures. I just think it makes the finished piece more interesting! When I design, whether it be in my home or a piece of art work, it has to be easy on the eye, something I enjoy looking at. I don't always get it right the first time, but when I do I know it, because it will just feel right. So when working with your colors cut small scraps of different colors you are planning on using, lay them next to one another and on your back ground color, move them around a little. Don't settle until it is right for you! I really don't like to put colors down on my patterns because what is appealing to me may not be for you, so when making a pattern use the designers color choice as a suggestion only. Don't be afraid to do your own thing! I am so glad it is the weekend! We are going away for the weekend to a resort not too far south of us, it will be nice to get away. I have promised myself that I am not going to take anything to work on! I think sometimes you just need to turn it off! I say that but I know that a sketch pad and pencil will find it's way into my suitcase! But-for the most part it will be RELAXATION for me!

I finally got two new patterns on my website! I am working on another one and by the end of next week I hope to have at least two more on the web! I have so many new ideas but it takes time to get them out there! When I first started doing patterns I didn't realize how much was involved! First I have to come up with the idea (the easy part) then I have to figure out how to turn that drawing into a fabric cutout, put all the pieces together, sew it and try to write down the steps I took. I have to put it into pattern form using my computer, writing and drawing, take photos and produce a finished product! I have worked very hard to try and put out a good pattern, I really only like to design the pattern, when I have so many designs in my head I get frustrated when I can't get them out there faster. I love coming up with the idea, sometimes what I see in my mind doesn't always come out just like that on paper! I think you can see why it takes some time to get the actual pattern out there for people to buy!

Well the heat is on in the South! I am so glad I have an air conditioned shop to work in! If I am going to work outside I try to do it early in the morning because it is too hot in the afternoon! I have been up a long time this morning trying to figure out which way to turn. I have so many ideas running through my head that I don't know where to start! I just know that I have to get started soon! Christmas always sneaks up on me, I think it is because we don't really get the big change of seasons down here. I know it may seem early to be thinking about Christmas but I know the shops already have their Christmas fabrics! Most of them have a Christmas in July! I really have to get moving!!!! What a great day to think SNOW!