Meet Thaddeus...

 

Guess who I finished yesterday? Yep. Thaddeus Badger, aka Tad. Tad is Theodore's brother. It's funny. Now I'm looking at the main photo of Tad and it looks like the feet on the badger on the ribbon on the spool are his legs. lol

I changed the vest color on this badger. They're brothers, but not twinsies, after all. He also has a pocket chain, but unlike Theodore, Thaddeus has a tail! (I can't believe I forgot to give Ted a tail.) 

Also, Ted lives with our younger daughter-in-love. He was her Birthday gift (which she said looked just like he stepped out of The Wind in the Willows). Tad will live here at the farmhouse with my other spoolies.

Now to decide which spool animal I'll tackle next. Elephant? Cow? Deer? Puffin? I don't know yet, but as soon as I finish the next one, you'll be next to know!

Happy Weekend, friends. Can you believe that Sunday will be June 1st?! I surely can't. I wonder what surprises this new month will hold? I can promise you, we'll find out together.

Wednesday Friends Day...

Back Row: Deb B., Dan F., Deb and Dan N., Janet and Jay K Front Row: Donna L, Mary S., Karen S., and Cal C.

I'm sharing my photographs backward today. I'm beginning with our dinner gathering and photos of the small but dedicated group of classmates who met for dinner in spite of the crummy, rainy weather. 

The ladies sat at one end of the table, while the guys sat at the other end.  Of course, we have completely different stories to share, so we "herd up" according to gender. We had a great time.

Fun with Friends

I have to share the outtakes this month. I'm calling this photo collage "The Mullet Collage" - Business up front. Party in the back. lol Everyone in the front row has what Handsome refers to as their camera faces on, ready for the photographer. Meanwhile, the back row is jocularity and silliness. They sure were having fun back there!

Flour Sack and Vintage Embroidery Project Bag from Kathy D.

Lunchtime was fun, too. I didn't get photos of Kathy inspecting the spoolies because we were sitting in her car at the drive-in. It rained the entire time, so rather than sit under one of their canopies, we stayed warm and dry in her vehicle.

Kathy had a show-and-tell, too. (I actually refer to it as my Mum does...bring-and-brag.) When we were at a group meeting of the"Sewcial Sisters" a couple years ago, I took along my collection of vintage flour sack cloths. My sewing was going in a different direction and I knew I wouldn't use them, so I offered them for sale. Kathy bought all of them, and she recently decided to do something with them.

She's been combing antique and resale shops in search of vintage embroidered linens. Even though many of us have a collection of inherited embroideries, who wants to cut up something our ancestors created? I know Kathy and I don't. So, we purchase with the intention of cutting into it. I guess it's easier if you don't know the creator - especially when you know you're going to make something new and wonderful with it.

Kathy's been sewing these lovely project bags, and she practices her quilting skills on the patterned fabrics. She offered one to me and said I could choose the one I wanted. Of course, I chose the bag with the embroidered puppies. 

In exchange, I'm going to create a spoolie just for her. I didn't have Henrietta Chicken or Theodore Badger to show her because they were already gifted, but her favorite was Daisy Skunk. I'm planning to make a new little skunk for her. (I'm also going to make another badger and chicken for my collection, too.)

My very last stop of the day was at my friends, Vicki and Del's home. Del and I have known each other since junior high school, and I got to know Vicki after Handsome and I moved back to Wisconsin. She's been seeing my spoolies and offered her assortment of wooden spools to me. I gratefully accepted, and I traded her for quilting fabric, which she loved.

I got to meet their sweet nine month old Labrador retriever, and got a tour of their lovely home. We exchanged gifts, hugged, and I left to take dinner home from the restaurant for Handsome. 

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty fabulous day. I spent time with so many dear friends, and came home with a full heart. It really doesn't get better than this.

Today, my Explorer will be getting an early morning oil change, and then I'm going to get my hair trimmed this afternoon. Once I get back home, I think I'll be getting a little crafty. I don't know what I'll work on yet, but I'll let you know tomorrow. I'm going to grab a cuppa for the road now and be on my way. Later, 'gator!

Rex The River Otter...

Knowing this is my newest spoolie, I'm sure many of you were thinking I'd name this little guy "Steve" after the famous comic otter featured in many of my Saturday Silliness posts. But I was specifically asked by Handsome not to. (If you know, you know.) I honored his request and named my latest spool animal, "Rex the River Otter" instead.

I'd love to have a small snail, stone, or a wee crab in his paws, but until I find or create such a think, I'm going to leave him as is. No necktie. No vest or jacket. Just Rex au naturel.

What do you think? Does he look like an otter to you? He's a wee bit larger than my other spoolies, but not enough to require a larger spool. Feedback appreciated. 

I have another blissful day off today. Time for a bit of homekeeping, and then I'm going to work a bit more on my bluebirds. A little zen stitching before I go back to work tomorrow. aaaaahhhhhh

Spring In Wisconsin...

Spring has finally arrive at the farmhouse. All the trees and bushes have begun greening up, and the flowers are opening again. The most wonderful gift here is to see our old apple tree bloom and bless us with her fragrant, showy flowers each year. This year is no exception.

I was working on my spoolie last night, but am completely unhappy with the head shape for this animal, so I'm going to start over today. After two days of standing on my feet at work, all I want to do is give these old knees a rest. A little needle dancing (where I can just sit) is just what I need.

My plan is to rework and complete my spoolie today, and then I have this month's Artist Trading Cards to do. This month's theme is flowers, so I'm looking forward to creating something pretty and floral. 

I'll share whatever I complete today with you tomorrow. I'll also be able to do a little housekeeping around here tomorrow, too, after my "day of rest". As for today, I shall play.

Thinking About My Next Spoolie...

I'd planned to show you a finished spoolie today, but truthfully I ran out of gas when I got home. I brought dinner with me, so I changed out of my work duds while Handsome set up our dinner plates. I made salads to go with the rest of our meal, we ate, cleared dishes and I fell asleep in my chair before I could even begin my project. 

A few hours later, Handsome asked me how it was coming along, knowing full well I haven't even touched it. We'd been in the same room all evening so he was just teasing me.

These are the materials I've pulled together for the next spoolie. Any guesses? It's been mentioned and was added to my list. One hint: the thread on the wooden spool is meant to represent water. I know it's green. Green river water. Leave a comment to see if you can guess what it's going to be.

Another work day today. sigh Once I get through this seven hours or so, I'll have off until Friday. yay! See you tomorrow!