Progress ~ or lack of...

Just thought I would take a quick minute and show everyone that I really have been working on a few things.

I can count on one hand the number of things I've cross stitched in the last two decades. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I'd also forgotten how much I don't like filling in large areas...lol! I am currently working on a Stacy Nash design - Tombstone Angel ~ on 28 count linen. I am FINALLY nearing the end of the angel's wings. I feel like I've been stitching on them forever. Thankfully the wings are not perfectly symmetrical because I've made an error or two on the right wing, but I think no one will notice.
I had so much fun punching Pat Cross' Bird Dog that I decided to do another one. Not sure why because there are plenty of other designs I'd like to do.
And finally ~ ~ ~ my hooked rug. At last I've gotten back to pulling a few loops and have made a little {very little} progress.

It's not often I reverse hook. I usually learn to like the wool I've hooked, but that wool under the red horse's front legs has got to go. I like the color but don't like the look of the loops. I'm guessing because it's a solid color. Oh, how I wish I could pull all my loops even...sigh.

It looks like we've got two more days of our heat wave and if we're lucky maybe some rain on Friday and/or Saturday. It would be most welcome.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I do appreciate everyone who takes the time to share in my world.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Hookin' at the Farm ~

Eema worked an event today for Ohio Pug Rescue. I could not make it, but one of the other members took her. It's hard being so cute and it just wears her out. Here she is having to prop her head up on a stool, trying hard to keep her eyes open.

Down for the count!

Thursday evening was the first "sit and hook" at That'll Do Farm. As I was packing the hooking bag, I thought to myself that my bag seemed very light even though I had my cutter in it, but I gave it no more thought.

Upon my arrival at the farm, I was greeted by Andrea who offered me a tour of the farm. Just as we were about to head to the barn, two more hookers showed up. (What are the neighbors going to think?) We were first greeted by the chickens ~ of course I don't remember the breed but some of them lay the most wonderful blue eggs!

Meet Dewey (Dewie?). I believe she is a Great Pyrenees (Andrea, please correct me if I am wrong.) and is just the sweetest thing.

The goats. I am in love with the goats!!!

How can you not love these faces?

Look at that fleece that will eventually be spun in to skeins of yarn.

And then there are the alpaca. I guess I didn't get any pictures of the babies.

Back to my hooking bag. Remember I mentioned it seemed too light? I drive 40 minutes to the farm, take a tour, sit down to hook and the little light bulb goes off as I'm pulling out my rug. The bag is too light because I left my frame at home. One of those "oh-no" seconds. I was in luck, though, because Andrea was between hooking projects so I was able to use her frame.

In addition to being a hooker, Andrea is a fantastic knitter as you can see by this scarf. The color is all wrong in this picture, but you can see the detail.

Heidi is hooking her funky green car that she drives.

Jane is working on a fall piece.

I'm still working on my horse rug and will be for a long time to come at the rate I am hooking. At least I got to pull a few loops for the first time in a month or so. Of course I did not take a picture but will take one soon to share with you.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. They fly by too quickly, don't they?

The weather is heating up again here in northern Ohio. I just hope one day it doesn't turn cold and stay that way.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Jake the Pilot & other Stuff

My DSO has been building an airplane ~ in his garage ~ for over a year and a half, but that is a totally different story that I will share at a later date. Anywho...the plane finally made its way to the airport a month or so ago, and Jake and I took a ride out the other day so Jake could see the plane with the wings on. Talk about one excited little boy when he was allowed to sit in the plane with headphones on!
My little water garden doesn't get much sun. Earlier in the summer a friend gave me some water hyacinths and lo and behold, one is blooming!!! Very exciting. {It doesn't take much to amuse me!}

Here's a great idea I came up with for a quick hose guide. I drove a piece of rebar in the ground and topped it with an old insulator.

Another great idea is from BFF Wink. In memory of my Mom, she sent me flowers. She had sent an old brown canning crock to the florist for them to fill in lieu of them using a vase. I'll always have the crock as a remembrance.

Tonight I'm off to hook with Andrea at That'll Do Farm. Check out her blog or her website for information on her hooking, spinning and knitting get-togethers. I hope I'll have pictures to share!

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Hooking of Mary Sheppard Burton ~

This year's featured exhibit was by the late Mary Sheppard Burton and Leonard Feenan. Mary was the hooker and Leonard turned her drawings of a Noah's Ark project into a reality. Noah's Ark was started in September of 2006 and was completed in September 2009. It is 30 inches wide by 36 inches long and stand a total of 5 feet, 7 inches. You can read more about it in the March/April/May 2010 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.

Twenty eight volunteers in 10 states and 2 countries hooked the animals.

A pillow made by Mary was up for bids in a silent auction.

This room sized rug featured alphabet blocks and took 23 months to hook (if I remember correctly) according to Mary's granddaughter who is seated to the right hooking. She said it was in her Grandma's dining room and she remembers jumping from letter to letter as a child.

Mary's granddaughter.

A hooked cape in a very fine cut. I can't imagine how heavy it must be!

Hooked shawl.

The next pictures are the four seasons of the Sycamore Hollow house.

Though not too clear, more of her work including a stair runner.

Needless to say, Mary was a very prolific hooker. Her work was absolutely breathtaking!

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Animals of Sauder ~ ~ ~

I'll start the tour of the rugs from the Sauder Village rug show with one of my favorite rugs from last year. I was so happy to see the rug received an honorable mention in Volume XX and was once again displayed at Sauder.
Here is Taylor with her rhinestone collar.

And to make me smile, there was another pug rug this year.

Remarkable!

More animal rugs in no particular order.

It's amazing how the same pattern can look so different.

The rugs side by side.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I have more rugs to share so please stop back again soon!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren