WASHPOOL FARM

I just want to tell you about Washpool Farm.  I bought this soap for my dog from them at Stanthorpe .  His skin is quite sensitive and I thought I'd give this soap a try.  I found it works beautifully and since I gave him a bath with it yesterday - no scratching - YAY -  he's much happier.  They don't just make animal soaps, but they make them for people too, but I've not tried mine out yet.  Melissa & Juanita make their own soaps, and the ones I really liked were wrapped in wool that they'd felted themselves.  Very nice.  By the way, I have no connection with them, but they were such friendly bubbly girls who believe so totally in their product, that I just knew it was going to work for me.  

BACK FROM APPLE AND GRAPE

I'm back from a wonderful weekend at Stanthorpe's Apple & Grape Festival.  Visitors loved Chloe's lavender owls and they sold well.  Her little "owl" purse is bulging as her funds towards her trip to Italy next month have increased enormously. 
She is now working on increasing Chlo-Bo Designs range of products.  She's got chickens and now owls and we're waiting to see what's next.

This is my table of rag rugs that I had at the Civic Center for the week end.  I took this photo just as we set up.  There were lots of visitors to the market and I didn't get a chance to get another photo of the crowd.  I talked to lots of lovely people and heard many stories as early childhood memories were jolted.  Rag rugs certainly played a part in many people's lives.  One man had tears in his eyes as he told me about his Grandmother teaching him to crochet a rag rug back in England when he was a child.  He was quite moved by a memory he'd completely forgotten about and thanked me for bringing it back.  I know rag rugs were made in America and Australia, but obviously they were made in other parts of the world too.  I loved that I could play a small part in helping people recall a little bit of their family history.  I listened too, as Grandmothers explained to their grand daughters a little bit of what their lives were like when they were young.  What a wonderful experience.


I'll be updating my rag rugs section of my website now that I know which ones I have left over.  Just got to get a few things organised and find a little bit of time.  Should get to it in the next day or so.

APPLE AND GRAPE

I wonder what a group of rag rugs is called.  Maybe it's a pile, or a stack, or a heap, but in my case it's more like a mountain.  These are a few of the rag rugs that I'll be taking to Stanthorpe next week end as I have a stall at their Apple & Grape Festival.  It's in the civic center, and if you can possibly make the trek to the little border town, I promise you there's lots to see and do and loads of fun to be had.  It will be well worth the drive from where you live.  My two grand daughters who live there will be in the Grand Parade.  It's one of  Chloe's duties in her newly acquired position as School Captain.  I am of course a very proud Mum-ma.

This was the view of my drive way this morning.  You can see the fog, but fortunately you can't feel the wet and the wind in this photo.  I think Toowoomba has just about been blown off the top of the hill today.  I've been listening to ABC local radio and feel for all the people in Charleville and Roma who have flood waters through their properties.  Even good things  have a down side.  I'm hoping the weather will have enough time to fine up and be perfect for the Apple & Grape on the week end.

SCHOOL CAPTAIN

Well done Chloe

PAINTING IN PROGRESS

Slowly, very slowly this railing is getting painted.  Not the most exciting job I've ever had, but I will get there eventually.  I so wish the dowels were flat, and I so wish we didn't have so much verandah.

Bonny says she'd love to help, but she just needs a little bit more rest in her favourite spot under the hedge and amongst the violets.  On a hot day it's a pretty good choice too.

KINDRED SPIRITS BAG

I've been asked to take a bag workshop at a craft week end later in the year, so I've decided our Kindred Spirits Bag will do nicely.  I've made it up including some of my new fabrics, and I really like the way it looks.  I've made up some extra kits, so at the moment I'm offering it as a kit on my website.  I always make sure my kit fabrics are the same as the photographed item, so it will look the same as mine.  This is a simple and satisfying pattern to make up and doesn't take too long.  Lots of fun really.  Click on the link to find it on my website. Contact me for more information or extra photos sales@applecottagedesigns.com.au 

RAG BALLS TAKING OVER

Rag balls really were taking over my house until I had a big tidy up this morning. Truly, they had got scattered in just about every room.   They're now under control and sitting on my old miner's couch ready for more rag rugging this evening.  I've got several new rag rugs ready to list on my website too, but I need to get a few spare minutes to do that.  
My rag rugging has slowed down this last week or so because of our decision to paint our house.  The tradesman we'd chosen to do the job and who also assured us it would be finished by Christmas, just hasn't showed, so in a moment of weakness, I decided that I could do it myself.  Must admit he didn't say exactly WHICH Christmas.  Why is it that we always choose the wrong tradesmen.  Obviously, we still haven't learned the art of recognising the reliable ones.  Anyway, I'm now very skilled at scraping old paint of steps, and my trusty sander is doing a supurb job.  Luckily the rest of the house isn't in need of very much scraping, so it will be much easier when I get to the walls.  I can see I'm going to have to overcome my fear of heights unless I can talk some kind person into doing the high bits for me.