I really didn't realize how much time had gone by since my last post. I decided that anyone who might look at my blog would think I had abandoned it, but not the case. I just have been busy.

This picture is of my oldest daughter Claudine in the middle and my grandaughter Alyssa on the left. They recently went into 11 weeks training to run the Freihofer's Run for Women in Albany, New York and this was after the finish line. For anyone who is not familiar, it is an annual race and is 5K in distance. There were over 5,000 women running this year and so I was so proud of their accomplishment. It was the first race they had ever run. The training really was good and got them in shape and told them what to eat the nights before and what to wear and what to avoid so they would decrease their chances of any medical emergencies. Outside of being very tired at the end, they were great.

Outside of that I had a grandaughter graduate from Albany Academy for Girls and have two more grandaughters (the twins) graduating this weekend from Shaker High School.

Am working craft wise on a lacy knitted shawl but it will take me a long time to complete that as it is so big a project and hase 4 different lace patterns in it. I am challenging myself to finish it and to get it right. One mistake in the pattern throws the whole thing off. Thank God someone taught me to put in life lines while knitting so when I tear out a section I don't have to go all the way back to the beginning.

So with working on the house, family celebrations, etc, I have not spent much time in the blogging community. I will have to go and see what all my blogger friends have been up to. I've missed you all.

Hope you are enjoying the fresh summer weather.

My good neighbor Marilyn is going to be a great grandmother to a little girl and her favorite color is lavender and so it made sense since I love to knit baby items for me to knit this sweater for her. The pattern is from knitwits-heaven.com/pretty_baby_sweater.htm., and uses one 4oz skein of worsted weight yarn. I had some yarn in my stash that I used. It is "Spotlight" Classic Elite Yarn made in Italy that I picked up on one of my trips and made of 100% cotton. I used 2 balls of 50gr/92 yards and knit it on #8 needles. It was a very easy pattern and worked up quite fast since the yarn was bigger and the needles bigger.

My life is changing a lot as I have not been working the aide job. Instead I am doing odd jobs for people like cleaning, and last week I wallpapered a bedroom for a friend. A few extra $s to help out the cause. Am working on old projects and new projects for my house and working in my garden too. All the flowers are coming out now and it is taking on a colorful show. Love it.

Hope you all had a great holiday weekend.

Second Wet Felted Purse

Just finished a project I started with my grand daughter. She wanted to make one of these purses. I wish I had a picture of hers'. It was quite pretty but she left and took it with her before I realized I didn't have a picture.

So this is mine and I enjoyed doing it as much as the first one. I did something different though.

I used a solid navy blue piece of felt from the craft store as a base and added my piece of hand felted on top and felted them together giving it more body. It worked really well, but I think almost too thick. Not quite, and definately much sturdier.

The felting material can be bought at yarn shops but should be 100% wool, as this felting must have had some synthetic material with it as it did not felt easily. Kept seperating hence the reason I felted it to a solid piece. Just things to consider in the event you want to try to do one on your own. I may add some beading to it, but for now it pleases me just fine.

Have been witnessing some pretty neat art on all your blogs. Thank you for always inspiring me to do more.

Wet Felted Purse

Front and open purse.

Back and open purse.

Mistake - Didn't mean to have two of these.

Finished Wet Felted Purse. Finished size is 5" wide by 4" tall as shown here.

Today being Mother's Day gave me the opportunity to do just as I pleased. After a wonderful lunch out with my two daughters and a really good time, I came home and had the rest of the day to play. I have been wanting to make this purse ever since I received one from a friend of mine who purchased it for me in Christchurch New Zealand. The one I received was a shade of turquoise blue and I just love it. Since I took a class in wet felting I decided I could do this too.

I completely made the felt by using some Roving I purchased at Trumpet Hill in Colonie, New York. Then of course I added my own laces and felted some flowers into the fabric and hand stitched some French Knots to hold some of the lace down and then did the blanket stitch around the outside and added a vintage button. So much fun. I think I might continue to make more. It definately took me the most part of the day to do the whole thing but I enjoyed every minute.

The true color is actually the color in the last photo of the finished purse. I don't know why I cannot get the same color in all the photos, but that is my poor photography skills at work.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day and your children let you know how much they appreciate you.

Following are pictures of a brass ornate sconce I bought at an auction last weekend right here in my village. For some reason I could not resist, I think because it has birds in it. Now I have a delema as to where to hang it and what to do with it as it is a little more "formal" than my living environment. I really love shabby chic and am thinking maybe I should paint it "white" (distressed) but I'm not committed to that plan.

I have decided to ask for assistance from fellow bloggers. I would love to read what you would do with this piece if you had it. Would you leave it alone or paint it or perhaps paint it in "real colors". Like the leaves green, the flowers in color, the stems in brown etc. Please help. I do love this piece but don't have the "perfect place" to put it. Something needs to be done.

I am anxiously awaiting your replys.

Peggy