Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Snowed In


Piles of dirty snow adorn the parking lot . They are about waist deep to me. The skies are gray and dull ...... and my toes are cold.


Snow is still falling softly, like misting rain. I love the quiet it creates. I feel insulated from the world. It is wet heavy snow. Perfect for the making of snowmen. It does cross my mind as I stand here looking out. Unfortunately I have still not located my snow boots. I have two pair and one is a bright shiny green. Really shouldn't be hard to find. I realize that I have probably looked right at them without recognizing them. I am sure I will stumble on them when the grass is green outside and I have no need of them.


Can't locate the snow shovel either. I think maybe it is the back of His truck ..... He Who is about the business of helping stranded motorists. But, I used a dust pan and made a narrow little path there. As long as you put one foot in front of the other. The snow is heavy and I broke my dustpan! I paid $1 at the Dollar Tree for that!


While the snow is falling, I am still harvesting what is left of the blue jeans I cut into squares. The quilt is done. It is warm and heavy, just like I thought it would be. I have three trash bags full of pieces left. I am determined to use every bit!


This is a rag rug made of 6" by half inch strips. I love this one! I am using a tapestry needle with a big eye and a blunt end. You just thread the needle with the strip and go down and back up so that the two ends are on top. Then tie a knot. Simple. Each one of those blue squares on the grid of rug canvas represents 100 holes. My rug will be 30" X 72" and there are 132 of those squares. That is 13,200 strips of denim.

I have been working on it for almost 3 weeks and have about 1/3 of it done. I have altered my technique as I go. At first I was carefully measuring the strips and cutting them all to size. Then I started to worry that I would run out of material. I still prefer the 6" strip, but I am using 4" strips, too. They are harder to thread and tie, but will help fill in. I found that I could cut on the bias and have a little stretch and that I could cut thicker and thinner than my half inch, so I am no longer measuring and I am not cutting my long strips, but threading them in first.

I am moving a little faster now and this is the perfect project to do in front of the TV by the fire. The rug canvas is from JoAnn's and I used a 50% coupon. It will actually make two rugs of that size. I cut it in half length-wise and then used duct tape to re-enforce the edges. I tried masking tape, but it didn't have staying power.


I am still adding to my oval inseam rug as I harvest new material. It is not big yet. Maybe big enough for a door mat. It would be nice if it turned out to be big enough for an area rug.

In an effort to keep the house warm, I am baking a cake. Really, it is to keep the house warm! It is a healthy cake. Oatmeal and coconut and nuts ..... and butter, And sugar and spice and everything nice!

7 comments:

Brian Miller said...

goodness you got lots of snow...
that rag rug looks really cool...
and your inseam rug is def coming right along as well...

stay warm...

mamahasspoken said...

The rugs look great! A thought a bit late but have you seen those purses that they make out of old blue jeans?
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Denim-Purse
And with them being men's jeans you can call them a carry all, or a beach bag and sell them in your store ;o)

Linda O'Connell said...

Love that rug, but not the snow. Laughing: the boots are green and you can't find them. Sounds like me.

luksky said...

just looking at all that snow makes me cold! i like the jean rag rug.

Kathy G said...

So pretty soon everything in your house will be made out of denim?!?

SkippyMom said...

You are the best baker I know, honest. In fact you are the one that inspired me to make cinnamon rolls b/c yours looked so scrumptious. Now about that coconut, oatmeal cake. Are we sharing? I have never heard of such a thing, but if you make it then I KNOW it is good. Please? With sprinkles on top? :D

I love your rugs. Especially the tied one. COOL. I know a bazillion teenagers in the world that would covet that rug. Not to mention their Moms and well. . .everyone. Where will you put it?

I swear I gasped when I saw your snow. Dang K, that's ridiculous. I am glad you are safe, sound and almost warm [love the stove for heating up our home too, such a great excuse heehee]. Sorry about the dustpan, but I hope you can get your shovel back.
And I bet your green boots are hiding with Jeannie's [WOOF] Four! crockpots. ::laughing::
Hugs and love,Skip!

Val said...

I am snow-boot-green with envy. That snow would have gotten me a couple of snow days. We had nothing but flurries, which arrived around noon today.