Rocky knows!

Yes, our Rocky knows where he looks good! Just happened to find him in the hall on a Korean chest just below a mirror we found while we were stationed in Okinawa. Other kitties are often hard to photograph as they won't stay still more than 2 seconds, but I think Rocky poses!!

Right Jolly and Pup

This Santa certainly isn't old, but he will certainly be jolly!

We're having a bit of an experiment with "mobile blogging" this morning. It's rainy here in beautiful southern Virginia. Santa was just born last night and couldn't wait to put in an appearance, so here's a preview (he still needs his hat, white fur trim on that and his outfit and a snazzy belt!). Anyway, this an iPhone pic made with the kids on my work table using my iPad case as a background. S. and pup are standing on a piece of black mini bear fur.  So let's see what happens when I click on "publish!"

A New Pup and some Fabric Fun!

I think this year my Santa Bear will be bringing puppies to Hunt Valley!! What do you think?? I recently received some viscose from the Ukraine - thanks Anna - and thought it looked like "PUPPY!"
Now, here's an idea! Have you ever received a fur order and wished it were a little fluffier? Try this!!

Put it into a little bath for awhile to soften it up! Here, I'm using a product available at  Knit Picks (www.knitpicks.com) usually used to ready a knitted item for blocking called "soak." Any soap will do for this, however, and you just need a tad. Let it soak until the fabric backing feels soft. Be careful to put each piece in individually or put like colors together in case there is any color bleed. Once you have rinsed the piece under running water until the water has no more bubbles, just toss it into a dryer.

Or

Spread it out on a towel to dry. Run your fingers against the grain to fluff it up! Thanks for the help Cleo!!

Here you can see the difference. The top piece is right out of the envelope and the bottom piece has had a bath and a fluff!

Hope you like the pup! Here he's standing on my deck railing which is only about 4 or 5 inches wide.

Just a wee handful, really!

Wow!!

My neighbor, Tania,  just brought over this beautiful bouquet for me!! She's just returned from visiting her parents in Germany and she also brought some wonderful German chocolates!! I shall enjoy them slowly so they will last a long time. These flowers just shout "JOY" - don't you think??

Thank you Tania!!

Kim's Shawl!

Kim just finished this wonderful shawl made of Brooklyn Tweed yarn. The delicate pattern goes so well with the fern I had on my show table.....don't you think? Now that fall is a breath away, we're getting out the yarns, needles, and hooks!!