Happy Halloween ~

Halloween Greetings 

to all my friends in blogland :)

Here is a picture of Loocie a couple years ago in her witch costume.  Isn't she just the sweetest little witch ever?  This year she was going to be a ladybug, but the weather just didn't co-operate. Thankfully for about the first 45 minutes of trick-or-treat the rain stopped, but it was just to wet to dress her up and have her outside.  I'm happy to report that I had hordes of kids so I don't have 8 bags of candy to eat :)

I finished my Tonya Robey snowguy from the most recent issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects. He looks nothing like the one hooked by Tonya, but the recipient would not appreciate a grungy snowman.  This will suit her much better.

Now on my frame is a pattern offered by Lori of Homespun Prims.  You can find the pattern here. This Belsnickle will also be a fun, quick hook at only 7" x 16".  I thought his arm needed a little more definition, but I think the black line is too stark .  Suggestions?

Happy Halloween.  May your trick-or-treat pail be full of yummy, no calorie candy.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

At Long Last ~

It's already been a year since my son painted the spare room and I turned it in to my new hooking room.  I didn't show it before because I wanted to get the cupboard hung.  Then my excuse was the rugs weren't hung, and for months the excuse was that the wool cupboards weren't organized.  I finally decided if I waited until the wool was organized, you would never get to see it.

The room is larger than my previous hooking room, but once I got everything in, not as large as I thought it was.  I wanted to "float" the couch in the middle of the room and put the antique table behind it as a place where I could keep my sewing machine out, but the room was just not wide enough.  The room is only 10' x 13 1/2', but in it I have 5 antique cupboards, the table, a tool box used as a coffee table (didn't show that, just too much of a mess!), and a hanging cupboard.  

Here goes . . .

I've lived here for almost 14 years and still don't have any window treatments made.  
Some day . . . sigh.

My flock of sheep is growing, but as you can see,
many of them have leg "issues".

Will I ever get the wool organized?
It would make color planning so much easier.

Sweet little hanging cupboard ~
a newer cupboard made with old wood.
A gift from friend Bobbie, the Evening Stitcher.
My small collection of 
toy sewing machines above
and an antique sampler below.

Treasures from friends, some who I have met
and some only known through blogging,
but friends nonetheless.

Ellie's favorite spot.

The rugs I have hanging.

Pattern by Red House Wool Studio,
Cathy Greschner - Orange Sink.

Magdalena Briner inspired rug.

Wendy Miller, the Red Saltbox

Patterns by Star Rug Company,
Woolley Fox
and Heavens to Betsy.

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

Sunday's Random Stuff ~

Aren't these just the two sweetest girls ever? That's about as close as they ever sit (with my encouragement) unless they are both on one lap.

And how about this cutie?  Friday we went to Boo at the (Cleveland) Zoo.  We had great fun.  Jake just loves those muscle-y costumes.  This is at least the third year he has had one.  Thankfully the weather wasn't as cold as I expected, but I was wearing my Uggs and super heavy, long winter coat.  I am such a wuss.  

LOVE the Koala exhibit!

Progress has been slow on my snow guy.  For as quickly as I hooked the last mat, I thought I would be done with this in no time at all, but I started it a week ago and today is the first day I feel I've made any progress.  It's not that big!  (12 1/2" x 13 1/2")  I did skinny up his nose a bit and I'm not putting the snowflakes in the background.  

Do you have a task that you absolutely hate doing around the house?  Mine is replacing the screens with storm windows in my doors.  I have four exit doors with a total of 6 screens, and every spring and fall I put off switching them.  It has been on my to-do list for weeks and I finally made myself do it today.  Even with washing all the windows, it really didn't take that long.  I am just happy to have it done!

I'm not sure if it's just me, but leaves seem to be changing slowly this year.  My burning bush has just started to turn . . .

. . . and I have a lone Black Eyed Susan still in bloom.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Stuff ~

Aren't these THE BEST rosehips?  They are from rose bushes growing between Bob Evans and Five Guys (my favorite place to eat).  I thought the bushes needed trimming . . . grin.  I hope Bob didn't mind :)

Last weekend I went to play for a few hours. Here is one of my new/old treasures.  I just love the old papier mache jacks even though this guy looks a bit evil.  This one still has it's original paper insert.  I've added two to my collection this year.

I finished hooking this Humble Rugs mat . . .

. . . and have moved on to the very popular snow guy from the latest issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects.  He will be a gift, so I'm hooking him in a more snowman-like color, and only hooking the main area of the design.  I don't think the recipient would appreciate the colors of the original.

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

Little Kitty ~

A couple weeks ago I blogged about this little kitty that was maybe a day old and found in the shop at work.  You can read about it here.

Meet four week old Nova.  She has survived (yippee) and thrived.  She no longer comes to work, so Nora, who rescued her, sent me these pictures.  I am happy to report she is doing great and will not be adopted out.  Nora can't bear to part with her.  Look at those eyes.  Thanks, Nora, for saving this little one's life :)

And speaking of Novas, do you remember the Chevy Nova from the 60's and 70's?

DSO is retired from the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, MI.  He has a great story about the Nova.  It was marketed in Mexico and totally bombed.  The reason?  In Spanish, "no va"  means "doesn't go".  Whodda thunk?

I finally did it today.  I turned on the furnace.  UGH!  It is cold (45 degrees), wet and dreary. The first time is always the hardest . . . lol!  Now I must say, I spend most of my time in the hooking room or the spare room where I have my desktop and in each of those rooms I have a small space heater that I've been using for weeks, and at night the electric blanket is on.  Cold and I DO NOT get along.

Thanks for much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren  

Great Progress ~

Do you sometimes feel totally in a blog slump? Like you have nothing to write about?  That totally be me : )  But since I feel I NEED to post, here goes . . .

I've been a hookin' fool this week.  I've really tried hard to spend an hour or so (which for me is a lot) each night working on my rug and here's the progress I've made.  I'm using mostly an 8.5 and 9 cut, so it is hooking up quickly.  Just the background and I can cross one Christmas gift off the list.  Well, I'll still have the binding to do but maybe, just maybe, the binding fairy will show up : )

This evening I needed to get a couple pictures of Ellie and I thought taking new ones would be easier than searching through the hundreds of photos on my camera that have never been downloaded.  WRONG!  Now this girl knows how to sit, but every time I told her to sit, she just fell over for a belly rub.  

She was a bit more co-operative once I bribed her with a treat.

She really is a sweet girl and I know her momma Judy is smiling down on us and that makes me feel really, really good :)

It has been a very long, busy week at work and I am thankful tomorrow is Friday . . . and payday.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs : )

Lauren

A Finish ~ A Start

My Magdalena horses - complete with a whipped edge.  The finished size including the edge is about 13 1/2" x 22".  Ali Strebel has the most wonderful 100% wool that I used.

The horse on the right is a bit chunky, shall we say?  Sometimes I have a bit of a problem staying within the lines.  It adds to its primitive charm, right?

Currently on the frame is a design by Lanna Omlor of Humble Rugs.  It will be about 24 1/2 x 13 3/4 when completed.  As many of you will attest to, using the hit and miss technique is not as easy as it looks.  Other than the background, I plan to use only worms or cut pieces of wool that are only a few inches wide.  I'm sure it would be a bit easier if I had separated the worms by color, but of course I didn't do that.  This most likely will be a Christmas gift.  If I'm going to get my gifts hooked, I'd better get busy, but this may get put aside to hook the snowman from the most recent issues of Primitive Quilts and Projects, designed by Tonya Robey.  He just looks fun.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.  I was productive yesterday, but today not so much so.  Oh well, better one productive day than none . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

For Sale ~

Here are the hooked items that did not sell at the fall show in Michigan.  Please send me an email if interested.  I can accept PayPal or a check.  All items include first class shipping in the good ole USA.  

The first four are approximately 11 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" to the top of the stem.  $60 each

#1

The color on this is good.

#2

Darker and more muted in person.

#3

Good color

#4

Terrible color.  It is a very rich, dark black.  For those of you familiar
with Rebecca Erb wool, it is her reversible black.

This one is about 13" wide x 12" tall.  $70

#5

A very dark blue in person

The backs are all finished with a patchwork back, "Betsy style".  (Sorry for the blur.)

#6

8" x 10" - $35

#7

6 1/2" x 8 3/4" - $25
NOT nearly as bright in person

#8

6 3/4" x 7 3/4" - $25

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren