Four Years of Blah, Blah, Blah ~

A big THANK YOU to all my dear blog friends! Some of you have been listening to me blather on for four years.  Four years ago I posted for the first time.  You can read about it here.  I really am not "chatty" in person, but here on the blog I can ramble on and on and on :)

In honor of four years, I will be giving away four of my spoon necklaces.  Here is a sampling of what I have to offer.

I do have them for you non-hookers, too, and I can always do a woof or a meow.

If you already have a necklace, you can enter to win a stamped handle.  They can be a necklace, be made in to a scissor fob, or used as a charm.

Here is my necklace.  I'll also send some beads to add however you wish.

Entering is simple.  Leave a comment on this post or drop me an email with give-away in the subject line.  I will draw the names on Tuesday.  

Thank you again, dear friends, for your kindness, support and friendship.  Some of you I have had the privilege of meeting in person and some I will never meet, but you are all very dear to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  As I said in my first post, what counts is the journey, not the destination.  

Pug hugs : )
Lauren

A Day Late ~

I'm a day late . . . so what else is new?  In honor of Memorial Day, I am posting a picture of what is one of my all-time favorite hooked rugs, hooked by Donna Hrkman.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this rug.

I hope everyone had a good holiday and took a minute to remember our veterans and the ultimate price some of them paid.  Freedom is not free.  God Bless our soldiers.

I'm also late picking a winner of the hearts and clover pattern on linen.  Congrats to Lilly.  Please send me your snail mail address and I will get the pattern mailed tout de suite.

I've been a hooking fool lately (or is it just a fool . . . I'll get to that in a minute).  I finally took a look around my yard the other day.  Oh, dear, I need to get busy.  I did the initial spring cleanup and haven't done anything other than cut the grass since.  

There are so many squirrels in my neighborhood and they run around like wild children.  Here's one feasting on a helicopter from the maple tree.  I have so many helicopters, I could feed an army of squirrels.

Now the fool part.  After work I needed to make a few stops near the mall, about 20 minutes from home.  I was on a mission and was going to accomplish my tasks quickly.  I do not, repeat, DO NOT like to shop.  In my haste to enter JoAnn's and not wanting to forget my coupon, I set the keys down, left them there ~ and proceed to lock the car.  GGRRR!!!  So I call AAA and am told it is a busy day and there is a two hour wait.  Now I am really mad at myself.  Thankfully my son was not working so he is going to rescue me.  I am on the phone to cancel my AAA call and luckily answered my beep because the tow company said they'd be there in less than 10 minutes.  All in all I probably lost 25 minutes time, completed my errands, came home, did yard work and here I am.  Whew!  Makes me tired just thinking about it.  And the best (worst?) part is that I did not use the coupon because the items were already on sale.

Thank you so much for stopping by and listening to my ramblings.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

It's Been a While ~

It's been a while, but yesterday I put on my "big girl pants" and went up in this with my DSO. (Remember, he built this!)  Now this airplane is little.  Cozy you might say.  The engine is about the same size as the engine on his motorcycle.  (Does the phrase "the difference between men and boys . . . come to mind?)  

Even though small, there are quite a few instruments, gizmos and gadgets. 

The fields are a wonderful patchwork from the air.

Our destination is that little clearing of land next to the Muskingum River - apply named Riverside Airport - in Zanesville, Ohio.

It is such a small world.  After landing, a gentleman asked if we flew down from Lorain to which we replied "yes".  (DSO was wearing a shirt that had Lorain on it.)  He said that he was originally from Lorain and lived on King Ave. Wait a minute!  I live on King Avenue, a street only 3 blocks long.  Years ago when I was looking for a house in this area, I actually looked at the house he had owned.  When he told me his name I realized that I knew his niece.  That is just too much coincidence.  What is it they say about only six degrees of separation?

* * *

Just a few pictures around the yard.  Thankfully we have not gotten a frost, but it has not been far from it the last few nights.

LOVE this iris

I still haven't picked a winner for the rug pattern. Soon . . . I promise.

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

Just to Clarify ~

Memorial Day ~ already?  The time is passing so quickly it makes my head spin!

In my last post, I posted a picture of the most recent rug I completed and the pattern on linen that I drew up.  I am giving away the pattern, NOT the completed rug :)  I apologize if there was any confusion.

Currently on my frame is a Heavens to Betsy pattern, Cat and Mouse.  It is 12" x 30" but should be a relatively quick hook since I am using mostly a 9 or 9.5 cut.  Betsy hooked hers using hand torn strips and it came out so primitive looking.  You can see a picture of it here, but of course the colors are showing way too bright.  

I received a surprise package in the mail a week or so ago.  Judi is a former Ohio Buckeye living in Florida.  She is also mom to 3 pug boyz.  If you are ever in Arcadia for the (monthly?) street fair, be sure to look her up. She sells wonderful, primitive antiques.  This sweet angel was included in the package, along with some flower bowl fillers, pug magnet for my car, some spoons . . .  and more.  What a lucky gal am I!!!

Reproduction samplers stitched by me 25+ years ago

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Another Finish ~

I pulled the last few loops on my hearts and clover rug this evening.   I hooked this to give as a gift, but this one will be hard to part with.  I guess I'll just have to hook another.  I could not get a decent picture with or without the flash.  This is without . . . this is actually not too bad  . . the red bird is very subtle.  I first hooked it with a dark outline but it was totally lost in the background.  The "beauty line" helps a bit.

With the flash.  UGH!  Totally wrong!

Here is the pattern on linen.  It is about 18" x 21". If you would like a chance to win this pattern, please leave a comment on this post or drop me an email with give-away in the title.  I will pick a winner in a few days . . . not sure when :)

If you would like to purchase this pattern on linen (from MM Rug Wool), I would be happy to draw one for you.  The cost is $30 with free US shipping.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Flowers and More ~

My first poppy has bloomed.  The flowers are so delicate.

A few years ago I had my first wisteria blooms but then moved the plant.  It is finally blooming again.

I think this is the only tulip that bloomed.  There is some critter that loves them more than I do. 

I have no luck with azaleas.  This bush came with the house and it's the only azalea I've not killed.

I can never remember the name of this plant.  It's pretty but rather prolific.

I guess I can no longer say I am the world's slowest hooker.  After eight years, I've finally gotten my rhythm you could say.  Plus hooking with mostly an 8.5 and 9 cut helps speed things along.  In addition I have been making more time to hook.  One look around the house and yard and you'd probably agree :)  I'm still undecided on the color of the bird.  It will either be a dark red or perhaps the color of the pot.  Any suggestions?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Door Prize EVERYONE Wanted ~

. . . and I was so lucky to have won!

On every table at the Western Reserve Rug Hooking Guild hook-in, there was at least one hooked mat that a guild member hooked and donated for a door prize.  This was the mat everyone was talking about and hoping to win.  My name was one of the first called and I was able to bring this treasure home with me.  It was hooked by Lanna Omlor of Humble Rugs.  Her patterns can be found here (though I don't believe this is one of her patterns).  Lanna's hooking and color choices are perfection.  Thank you, Lanna, for such a wonderful prize!

The mat is 10.5 inches in diameter and finished beautifully.

The backing was brought to the front and yarn was added.

When a person's name was drawn, they were given a slip of paper with their name on it that was to be pinned to the mat they chose.  My mat was on Karin, Carole, and Mitsuko's table.  Knowing them and trusting them (haha) I left the mat there.  A while later when I went back, Karin's name was pinned to it :)  What a fun bunch of hookers!

* * * * *

I took only a few pictures.  Here is a rug Melissa brought to bind, though she did not get to it.

She did, however, get this one bound.  It is a pattern by The Red Saltbox.

The next two are Carole's rugs.  She hooks mostly antique adaptations.  This one was stunning.  It is very vibrant in person.  I think I would enjoy hooking this one.

I love how she hooked this one.  She used striped wools and hooked it in the order it was cut so both the background and the chickens look like the uncut wool.

Karin's rugs are always wonderful.  She sells many of them on eBay as seller PrimitiveSpirits.

Sweet Katie of Kid'l de Divey Woolens.  She is speed hooker.

Stacey's long sheep nearing completion.

Dawn started this rug at the Woolley Fox rug camp.  It is huge at 56" x 56".

A close up of one corner.

The Western Reserve Guild knows how to put on an excellent hook-in.  Good food, good prizes and lots of camaraderie.  Thank you, ladies.

* * *

Thanks so much for stopping by.  The winner of the Better Homes & Gardens subscription is Holly Hills Primitives.  Thanks to all who entered.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Ode to Motherhood ~

Me Mudder

(Author Unknown)

When me prayers were poorly said,

Who took me from me wittle bed,

And spank me til me ass was red?

Me Mudder

Who took me from me cozy cot,

And laid me on the ice-cold pot,

And made me pee when me could not?

Me Mudder

And when the morning light had come,

And in me bed me dribble some,

Who wiped me tiny wittle bum?

Me Mudder

Who me hair so gently part,

And hugged me gently to her heart,

And sometimes squeeze, til I fart?

Me Mudder

Who looked at me with eyebrows knit,

And dern near threw a fit,

When in me Sunday pants, me shit?

Me Mudder

And at night when her bed did squeak, 

and me raised me head to have a peek,

who yelled at me to go to sleep?

Me Fadder !!!

Growing up, my mom had her own version of the first two verses of this poem that she loved to recite.  

First Communion - 1928

1940

Dressing up as a princess
with great granddaughter Sophia - 2007

Still beautiful in 2007 at age 87

Miss you, mom.  Love you!

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Hugs :)
Lauren

On the Frame ~

My current project is an antique reproduction. The original is in the book "Seasons at Seven Gates Farm".  I've seen it referred to as Bird & Clover, Hearts & Clover and Clover Buds.  

Here are the wools I am using and the background will be hooked using many shades of black.  The hearts are definitely blue, not purple. Tomorrow I'm off to another hook-in.  There will be no rug show to share, but hopefully I'll remember to snap a few pictures.

Better Home & Gardens is one of my favorite magazines.  I recently renewed and they sent me a gift offer I can't refuse, so if you'd like a chance to win a year's subscription, leave a comment on this post or send me an email with give-away in the subject line to enter.  Easy peasy :)  I will pick a winner early next week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the great comments regarding my last post.  It's nice knowing I'm not alone in craft room chaos!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren