Cardinal rug progress

I hooked a little at a friend's house today and then while waching the season finale of Downton Abbey. I can't wait for season 3 to start! I am fascinated by it. My friend has finished a large rug and completed a medium sized one while I am still dawdling with my cardinal. I don't think I've hooked at all since my last progress post. I feel guilty taking time to hook while there are other things around the house that should be priority.
 

A little carving...

My fickle craftiness has me obsessed with carving stamps again. I did a few about two years ago for use with polymer clay...another obsession. This time I carved out a stamp to use on paper. The technique, for me at least, is opposite for work with polymer clay. I love buttons. 

Noah's Ark - Thrift Store Gem!

My son had a high school band competition on Saturday. After that was done, and before I had to deliver a Thirty-One Gifts party order to my hostess, I stopped at one of our local thrift stores. I hadn't been to this particular store in a while and they had done some re-arranging of their home goods area. All of the wooden items were now together in one spot. It was wonderful! There was this huge box on the floor and I figured it was just a box, like an old sewing box or something. It was heavy as sin!

I opened the little latch and couldn't believe my eyes.

Noah and all of his animals came tumbling out! Each pair appear to have their own cubby. I don't know if they are handmade or not, but it's still a wonderful treasure. It's a pretty good sized box, painted dark red with goldish stars. The paint is chipping and the label they used for the price tag pulled off some paint too, but I think with a little love and dark stain it will be okay.

The back of the box is painted with the ocean and a rainbow of course. The Ark has what appears to be metal flashing around it so it's not a great toy to give to a child, but I'm keeping this for myself anyway. : )

These little kitties........

....and these little sheep are my favorites of course.

And there are two drawers where I keep the fish.



The little orange blur in the background is Cinnamon coming to see what I was up to.



There were also these letter blocks inside, but I don't think they are part of the set as they are painted a bit differently.

I don't know if this is handmade, but I love it! I paid $5 for it and I probably would have paid twice that. I apologize for the less then stellar photos. I lost part of the charger for my camera and the battery is dead. These cell phone pics aren't too bad though.

~Michelle

Kitty Question

Up until a year or so ago I had no qualms about declawing...until I learned what is really involved. Its not just removing the nail! Now that we have Cinnamon we have a decision to make. He is awfully cute, but he is causing us pain. I could care less about our furniture, but he attacks our feet during the night. Some nights I have succeeded by tiring him out with play time and he doesn't bother us until bout 5 am, lol. I trimmed his nails thinking that would lessen the pain. Nope.

I really don't want to declaw him. I'm going to order these little nail covers to see if that helps. That should be fun to get on him, lol! Anyone try them? I can't remember what they are called. Soft Paws maybe? I will have to Google it.

Please let me know how you feel and if you have any ideas. Oh, keeping him out of the bedroom at night isn't an option as his litter box is in the master bath and we don't have another place for it. 

Michelle

Oops

Haven't quite figured out the Blogger app yet. This is the desk that should have shown up in the last post.

Thrift Store Day

First I have to say that you guys are awesome. Within minutes I knew what my little wooden gadget was...though my husband is sticking with a candle holder, lol. Stubborn man. Thanks so much!

I hit the thrift stores today as it was 50% off Wednesday at my favorite Salvation Army. I went with the intention of finding storage for my friend Kimberlee. She is re-doing her craft room and wants old instead of the newer bookshelf that she hs now. I emailed her a few pics and I did well too.

Milk tank thingy for $15 at a local shop called Pieces. Its already painted red. Perfect for my porch! And I couldn't resist this desk for $15 either. We have a roll top desk from the 70s that I hate. It will be given back to my husband's aunt and this will go in its place. Just a spot to drop the mail. Please ignore the dusty floor grate and pile of paint. :-)  I bought a bunch of little things too.

I shouldn't have bought anything as my husband was laid off last Friday, but I think he has everything straightened out and will basically be working for a sister company of the one he was working for. Fingers crossed. 

Interesting thrift store find , but what is it?

I couldn't pass up this little wooden item for 25 cents. I have no idea what it is though. My husband thought maybe a candle holder that can hold any size candle; just turn the handle to adjust tension on the candle. Sounds good, but I'm not sure. Any ideas?