Progress ~ Old & New

 

Pearl and Earl.  I'm about half done with the background and lovin' the colors.

 

 

I started on my applique sewing book.  This will be the cover. 

And finally a little cross stitch start.  It's the Anna B. Sampler by Country Rustic Primitives.

Last but not least, another picture of the "girls".  That's Ernestine to the left and Cindy Lou to the right.  I am sitting to the left stitching.  They are almost always touching.  Just cracks me up.  You can see the CLW has a stuffed toy between her legs and another on the floor.  The toys are everywhere.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Girls ~ Happy National Love Your Pet Day

DSO is off to California visiting his son and d-i-l for 8 days, so Cindy and I have a houseguest, Ernestine.  They get along great . . . 

 

 

. . . except at mealtimes.  I hate to point the finger, but it's Ernestine who has some real food aggressions.  The food bowl doesn't even have to be on the floor.  She just has to feel threatened and she will go after Cindy with a vengeance.  Cindy does not put up with it, so there have been some knock down, drag out fights.  I am doing my best to avoid a problem.  I have to keep them out of the kitchen when I am getting the food bowls ready, then totally separate them by a baby gate and not allow them to see each other while eating.  Fingers crossed.  So far, so good.

 

LOVE those pug/puggle butts :)

 

 

I so enjoyed the first two little mug mats that I appliqued, that I did two more.  {If you did not see a previous post, these are door prizes for the Western Reserve hook in.}

 

 

We were asked to label them, so I just made some very simple ones.

 

 

I decided to start another wool applique project.  This a free Rebekah L. Smith pattern in the December 2014 issue of Early American Life magazine.

 

 

 I will choose from this pile of wool.

 

 

We woke to about an inch of snow this morning.  With rising temps, it is mostly gone.  My son said that his area of Las Vegas got about 2" of snow the other day.  Most unusual, he says, though not that far north they get snow on a regular basis.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren 

A New Rug Hook ~

I know our winter here in northern Ohio hasn't been nearly as bad as some (think Wisconsin), but I've had enough.  I am so ready for spring to come and stay.  I sure hope the groundhog's prediction is correct.  Only 31 days until spring :)

 

When I started hooking back in 2005 I bought a Hartman hook.  At that time they cost in the neighborhood of $25 - $30, but having used it for so many years, definitely got my money's worth. 

 

 

Since that time I have purchased two more Hartman's, a Conner hook and several others, but I would always go back to my original Hartman.  It just felt "right".

 

 

Well, let me tell you about another hook.  Friend Linda had told me how wonderful they are, but I hesitated ordering one since I was still loving my original Hartman.  Several times I visited their etsy shop and admired them.  See, they are made from old tool handles so no two are alike.  And you know that I like anything old :)  I decided to go for it and ordered one because I just loved the old paint on it.  Well . . . it came and I absolutely LOVE it.  I've been using it for a week (with an 8.5 and 9 cut) and it just feels "right", too.  The hooks are very reasonably priced.  $30 which includes shipping and the best customer service you could ask for.  After placing my order, I got a personal thank you from Sharon, the shop owner.  She said I could return the hook, even in a month or two, if I was not happy.  Check them out on etsy ~ Hudson Valley Rugs.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Happy Valentine's Day ~

 

This year Western Reserve Rug Hooking Guild members were asked to hook, applique, etc, this little design to be used as door prizes at our hook in.  The design measures 4 3/4" square.

 

I think this small design would be difficult to hook even in an 8 cut so I chose to do mine in wool applique and I opted to make mine round.  I've gotten two completed . . .

 

. . . and am working on one more.

 

 

I've also been pulling a few loops.  All that's left is background and I do enjoy the mindlessness of it.

 

The "girls" have a Valentine message for you.

 

Ernestine



 

Cindy Lou Who

 

I hope your day is perfect!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Signs of Spring ~

 

I was quite surprised to find these in the yard this morning.  I know they are very early bloomers, but still was not yet expecting them after the frigid temps we had recently.

 

Snowdrops

Winter aconite

This girl is lucky she is so darn sweet :)

 

Soaking up some rays on Pearl & Earl.

When Cindy came to me, she had a brand new toy from her guardian angel.  She would not play with it so I assumed she had no interest in dog toys.  WRONG!  About a week ago she discovered the dog toys in the basement.  Now just about every time she goes down there, she brings another one up.  Isn't this just too sweet?

Speaking of the basement . . . when I leave her home, I gate her in the kitchen and she has access to the basement.  Well, let me tell you, she sure finds trouble down there.  I have a bar down there, very 1960's.  I use it as a catch all.  Now my basement is not the neatest place, so there is stuff piled by the bar.  A box and a wooden sewing machine cabinet.  Her bag of dog food was sitting on the bar.  That little stinker somehow got on top of the bar and into the bag of dog food.  I could not believe she got up there.  Then yesterday she discovered a bag of beans that I used in a container to "plant" garden markers that I sold at a show a few years ago.  She got the plastic bag off a shelf, tore it open and had beans everywhere.  It is hard to get mad at her because she is just so darn likeable :)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

More Crazy Weather ~

I know it's not just northern Ohio that is having these wild temperature swings.  Today was in the low 20's but the winds were ferocious making it hurt to be outside.  By Tuesday we are supposed to be at 51* again ~ but just for one day.  I did see a little clump of daffodils right next to the house peeking out of the ground.  That is a good sign :)

 

Look at this little bunny Bobbie gifted me.  Isn't she just sweet?  She is wearing a dress made from antique homespun.

 

 

Holding a bundle of wool topped with a rug hook, she sports a scissor necklace.

 

Melissa gave me a yummy wool bundle and some hand dyed wool yarn.  In the little black pouch atop the wool is the neatest pin.

 

Many thanks to you both.  You are the best hooker friends a girl could ask for :)

 

Each year Sauder gifts us with a little something for attending the retreat.  This year we got these WONDERFUL canvas bags.  I need another tote bag like I need another hole in my head, but this will be put to good use.

 

 

I got the backing on another heart.  I have no idea how many of these I have made over the years (I'm guessing at least a dozen) and I don't have one to call my own.  This one got mailed off today.

 

I don't have enough progress on Pearl and Earl to give you an update.  Hopefully next post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

Finally Finished ~

I finally got the backing on the give-away heart.  Now for you quilters out there, this is very primitively done.  Nothing fancy here.  It's stuffed with wool snippets and a lavender sachet.  Speaking of lavender, if you are looking to buy some, eBay seller lavenderandotheritems sells 1/2# for $12.50 with free shipping.  It is WONDERFUL.  Very fragrant.  A half pound may not sound like much, but it really is.

 

Congrats to the winner, L Salamy.  You have 3 days to send me your shipping information.

 

I got the binding done on the little hit and miss mat.  Even the label has been sewn on :)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren