I did it!

My goal was to finish my Antique Hearts adaptation by mid August.  Yesterday, the 15th, it was done!!!  I didn't think it was going to happen.  I reverse hooked about a half dozen of the "tongues" because after seeing them hooked, realized that the color placement was too close to another tongue with the same color(s).  The center of the tongue on the top left was hooked with a very dark teal, but it just read as dark and looked too much like the background.

Here she is hooked, but not yet steamed, a task that ranks right up there with binding 😝

I love the way teacher Jenny had me hook the background around the hearts.  I never would have thought to do that.  Thankfully she drew in all the directions for me.

Can you see that tiny bit of red in the center of the heart?  When I was not at my frame, Sue added that.  Just a little reminder of our class that will remain there.

Can you believe August is half over???  Where on earth is time going?  We have gotten rain every few days for the last couple of weeks.  My grass is green and growing.  I can't remember the last time I didn't have brown crunchy grass in August.  I need to mow more often, but no complaints from me.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

I hate meeces to pieces!

So the other night I was sitting in my hooking chair and had just set my frame next to me on the floor.  I was on the iPad when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye.  I looked over to see a mouse  jump off my rug frame and run under the couch.  TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT!  It's not the first time I have had a mouse in the house . . . but still did not handle it well.  DSO was at his place already in bed so I didn't want to call him.  Put on my big girl panties.  ARGH!!!  I knew I had a bag of mouse traps in the basement.  Thankfully there were instructions on the bag since I had never set a trap before.  I put several out and headed to upstairs.

Not five minutes later I heard a snap and I'm sure you can figure out what I found.  Took care of that (EEK) and headed back to bed.  I really did not sleep well wondering if I had more "visitors".  Come morning all was well.  (At least for now.)

That's it for today 😢

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Antique heart rug update ~

ARGH!!!  Darn desktop computer is acting up.  Keeps telling me I have all these viruses and trying to sell me antivirus programs.  Hopefully I can get a quick post in.

Progress has been made on my rug.  Woo hoo!  If I keep at it I may actually reach my goal of finishing it by mid-August.  Hopefully life won't get in the way.

Another picture of Ernestine from this morning.  Daddy went to a meeting.  She hates to be left alone (she's not spoiled . . . much) so she stayed with me.  That grey face of hers just melts my heart.

The computer is behaving for a minute so I'd better end this before it starts up again.  Don't you just hate computer issues?

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

For Modrina Neba ~

Just a quick post for Andreja and Ula.  So happy you found my blog and I would love to email you, so your email address would be much appreciated!

This is Ernestine, almost 14 1/2.  I fostered her and my significant other adopted her a week later when she was just five years old.  Here she is in all her cuteness!

And a little tidbit for you.  I am part Slovenian!!!  My mom was 100%.  Born in the USA, but her parents were from the "old country".

Next post will be a rug update.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Losing momentum ~

My goal at the end of my Jenny Smallridge class was to hook one "motif" (triangle, hexagon or tongue) daily along with the surrounding dark background.  I was hoping to have it all hooked by mid August.  The best laid plans of mice and men.  It got set aside to bind America Banner (pattern by Cathy Stephan, Red Barn Rugs), which I am happy to say is complete except for the label.

Nancy (The Wooden Folks) said she is able to get the most accurate color on a picture taken with an iPad.  Thanks for the tip, Nancy.  This is much more accurate than I normally get.

Now I am back to hooking my antique adaptation started in the Jenny class.  I am a couple motifs behind but (fingers crossed) I can get my momentum back.

Tomorrow I am heading to Hook & Thread.  It is a hike there, but such a great group of hookers.

I was scheduled for possible jury duty on Tuesday but have already been notified the trial has been canceled.  

Other than that, just busy as always trying to keep caught up on life!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Dulling down~

Jenny Smallridge of the Wooly Horse gave us a couple great tips on how to "dull down" wool.  I gave it a try.

Here are the before wools.

And after a dye bath of Cushing's taupe dye.

I forgot to take a before picture, but here are the wools after a tan dye bath.  A much more gold/muddy color.

I hope the next generation of digital phone cameras can see color better!!!

My cherry tomato plant finally has tomatoes.  A volunteer from a friend (thanks Valerie), I should soon have lots of little home grown tomatoes.

That's it for today.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Class projects ~

So many talented hookers were in the Jenny Smallridge class hooking a wide variety of rugs!

Debbie finished all but the eyes on her Love Birds rug, in honor of her 50th wedding anniversary this year.  Congrats to Debbie and hubby.

Geez, on my phone the colors are true to color, but not when transferred to the post.  Darn!  Kathy's antique adaptation is absolutely wonderful.  She was in both sessions of Jenny's class and was so close to finishing.  Jenny owns the original antique.

Sue's HUMUNGOUS rug, 4' x 5'.  With Jenny's help, she changed up some of the motifs.

Robyn's fun antique adaptation, and once again the original antique is owned by Jenny.

Pam is working on a Jenny pattern . . . 8' long.  She has the perfect spot in her home for a rug that large.

A pattern that Julie designed and is sold through the Woolley Fox.  Both she and Tammy were hooking it.  I love seeing the same pattern hooked in totally different colorways.

Tanya's rug.  She always chooses the best colors.  I just love her red barn.

Another rug Tanya brought along.  An antique adaptation.  She was incorporating some alternative fabrics and was getting ready to add some gauze.

Peggy, Carroll and Terry were working on Jenny's scrappy rugs.

And finally, the start to my rug, an antique adaptation.

There are two antique shops across from the Hotel Millersburg.  I'd say antiques are few and far between.  I snapped this picture there.  Seriously?  Would someone actually buy this?  It was good for a laugh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren