More Rugs ~

SO MUCH TALENT!!!  This first one is one of my favorites.

Enjoy the show.

 

Thanks for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Ann Arbor Hook-In ~

Yesterday, my hooker partner in crime, Melissa, and I headed to Ann Arbor, MI for a hook-in.  This is my second year attending and I believe Melissa's third.  We met up with the Evening Stitcher and friend, Bobbie.  I was gifted this sweet lavender topiary.  I keep running my fingers over the leaves to release that heavenly scent.  Thanks so much, Bobbie!

Each hooker was given a little hooked mat as a welcome gift.  Every one was different.  I can't even imagine how many each guild member had to hook.  

Of course, it was wool heaven.  The vendor area was wall to wall hookers.  We hookers LOVE our wool :)  I tried to behave myself (very difficult!), but I did buy these pieces of wool.  What a bargain.  All this was a total of $9.00.  I also bought another half yard of a dark, dark red that was on sale and a half yard of one of my favorite light neutrals because I thought I was running low, only to come home and see that I had an even bigger piece waiting for a rug.  Thankfully wool doesn't go bad!  There was so much I wanted to buy, but there is another hook-in in two weeks so I must pace myself :)

So much talent and so many beautiful rugs.  Here is a sampling.

 

Sorry for the arm :(

My picture does not do this rug justice.  The colors were absolutely breathtaking!  The hooker started this is a class with Maria Barton (one of my favorite hooker-people).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Happy Sunday to you.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Best Laid Plans ~

~ of mice and men, so they say . . .

My Magdalena runner was supposed to be all about the worms - as in using as many as possible to hook the runner and cutting as little wool as possible.  Yes, I am using worms, but I'm also cutting.  Sometimes it's just easier to pull a piece of wool rather than find the "perfect" worm. Which creates another problem ~ yet MORE worms.  It's a vicious cycle.

This is the second largest rug I've hooked to date. Well, actually the largest was the rug I started last summer at the Heavens to Betsy retreat at Shaker Village that is not yet complete. I pulled it out of the pie safe a couple weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I had hooked.  I really need to get back to it.  It is an antique adaptation by the Woolley Fox, called What Nots.  

Not being the world's fastest hooker nor having much time to hook in the evenings, I am happy with the progress I've made.  Of course, I'd like to be further along (since I did hook on it for three days at the Susan Feller retreat and at the one day Amish hook-in which really doesn't count because not much hooking is done at a hook-in!). As I think I've said before, it is not how I envisioned it (it was supposed to be more "dirty" and old looking) but I do like how it is coming out.  

Here's little Miss Ellie watching me hook.  She is such a fuss-budget and has to fiddle with her blanket before settling down.  She really is a sweet little thing :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Inspiration ~

Betsy, of Heavens to Betsy fame, was the guest presenter at the Amish Country hook-in.  Last summer I attended Betsy's retreat (if you are looking for a wonderful retreat in a beautiful location, be sure to check in to check it out) at Shaker Village in Kentucky.  Betsy is so down to earth and believes there are no hooking rules that MUST be followed.  

These are too sweet!  Betsy gave a little demo on how she does her patchwork backs.

Miss Kitty was stuffed with lavender and smelled heavenly.

Isn't this a fun rug.  It is much more muted in person.  She did a braiding demonstration showing us how to add a braided edge to a rug.  

Even though I've not yet hooked the cat pattern I bought at the retreat last summer, I had to add this one to my stash.

And how could you attend a hook-in and not come home with a few yummy wools?

Saturday I am off to another hook-in, this one in Ann Arbor, MI.  In my next post, I'll show the progress I've made on my Magdalena runner.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Amish Country Wool Artisans Hook In ~

Yesterday was a great day to spend hooking. (Actually, any day is.)  Though the sun was shining, it was a cold day in Ohio.  A few flurries were encountered on the way to Millersburg, Ohio, in the heart of Ohio's Amish country for a hook-in.  Probably more time was spent conversing than hooking, but it was good to spend time with old hooker friends ~ and new ones, too.

So much talent was on display.  {The color on a few of the rugs is very washed out due to the sunlight streaming in.}  I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren