So Thankful ~

 

Blog friends are THE BEST :)  I have received so many sweet comments and emails regarding my recent "mishap".  I really do appreciate each and every one of them and it warms my heart knowing how much you care.  Thank you so much.  The wrist is still a little sore and the staples will come out Monday.  Hopefully the wound will heal quickly so I can take care of those unsightly roots . . . lol.

 

Here is the little mat I could not show you.  Santa Paws (correction ~ Claws, not paws . . . duh) is a freebie pattern from Lori of Not Forgotten Farm.  My California son Bill and girlfriend Melisa have a pure white cat named snowball.  They were here for Thanksgiving so I gave them the mat.  What I failed to remember about Snowball was that she doesn't have a normal cat tail, just a curly stub.  Oh, well.  She'd look like this if she had a normal one :)  I also could not hook with white wool (just me . . . I don't like to hook with solid colors), so I used a very light wool with a bit of color in it. Melisa is already back home and my son will be here for a couple more days.  It is so good to see him.

 

 

My niece and family were here from Chicago.  It is a tradition started about 15 years ago and they have made it here every Thanksgiving since.  Jake absolutely adores his cousins.  Jake just loved his purple shirt and Melisa told him it takes a real man to wear purple, so he repeated that many times during the day.

Elise and Michael

Holiday crunch time is quickly approaching.  I know all my stress is self inflicted so I have no one to blame but myself.  I will never learn . . . sigh.

 

I hope you had the best Thanksgiving ever.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

OUCH ~

 

If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.  Yesterday morning walking Ellie I fell on an icy sidewalk.  Thankfully I did not fall on Ellie nor did I lose consciousness.  I don't remember falling but I do remember my head bouncing on the concrete.  I am not one to run to the doctor or ER, but this scared me enough to go to the ER.  I had split my head a bit but it was determined that I did not need a cat scan.  The physician's assistant said I needed to have it stapled closed.  I asked her how bad the cut was and she took a picture and showed me.  My reaction?  OMG, I had no idea my roots were that bad . . . lol.  Now let me tell you getting your skull stapled is not what I call a lot of fun.  And in a week I have to have them removed.  Double ouch.  They did x-ray my wrist (my hooking wrist - ack) and determined that it was just sprained.  Last night with just a bit of pain I was able to finish the little mat I am hooking as a gift and started hooking on the burlap with metallic thread that I talked about here.  The burlap does not grip the frame well so I'm not liking hooking on it, but for a small project it is ok.  It is a pattern from Not Forgotten Farm that I did in punch needle years ago.  Since I am not hooking any background, I hope to have it done soon.  The burlap is very glittery but it just doesn't show up in the picture. 

 

 

I am thankful that my injuries were not worse.  I feel very fortunate.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Portabella ~

I'm not talking mushrooms.  I'm talking wool.  This wool is much more luscious in person.  It is from Rebecca Erb's July 2014 mailer.  It hooks like butter.  Just a great piece to get a very primitive background from only one wool.  It is a green, not something I'd normally use, but very muted and drab.  This may become one of my new favorites if it is still available. 

I'm using it for the background of the mat that I can't show you, but I'm sure many of you can figure out the pattern I'm hooking.  My goal is to have it hooked and bound this weekend because hopefully it will be going to its new home at Thanksgiving.

TGIF.  It's been a very long week.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Another Hump Day ~

Are you like me and wondering how it can possibly be Thanksgiving next week?  I'm still wondering what happened to summer.  I guess I need to be thankful for the little things ~ actually this is a biggie ~ that I don't live in Buffalo.  I cannot even begin to imagine that much snow ~ nor do I want to.  Here it is only November and I'm already whining about winter.  The cold snuck up on me.  Here's my little fountain.  Hopefully it will thaw this weekend and can get put away for the winter.

Here's my stag finish.  (As always, much better color in person.)  I do like the way it came out.  Right now it's sitting in my ever growing pile of rugs needing bound.  Hopefully I can find/make the time to get it done before the holidays.  I think it will be perfect in front of the antique corner cupboard in the living room.  (If you haven't seen the pattern before, you can find it here on Lori's sidebar.)

Now, I have to say I don't have an original bone in my body.  This was stolen graciously borrowed from hooker extraordinaire Carole.  I wish I had taken pictures of her finishes, but sadly did not.  This is a burlap fabric with gold metallic threads running through.  Carole hooked Santas and I think a gingerbread man and did not hook any background.  Just a little hooking "glitz" for the holiday.  The fabric can be found at Michaels near where you find cross stitch supplies.  The best part in case you don't like hooking on it?  Less than $4 if you have a 50% off coupon.  Hopefully I'll try hooking something in the next few days.  I am about half done with a little mat but can't share because it is a Christmas gift. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren 

So Close ~

Yesterday I headed to with Sherry to peruse the goods at From Our Hands.  It was a very high end show, showcasing many talented folks.  There were also some wonderful antiques to admire and drool over.  By the time we arrived, the crowd had lessened.  Earlier I understand it was wall to wall people.

Artwork and booth of Lori Brechlin

My only purchases were a couple patterns from Not Forgotten Farm and this wall box.  Not real early, but most likely 1910-1920 vintage.  I wasn't sure where I would hang it, but think I found the perfect spot in the living room. 

Last evening I was so close to finishing my stag rug.  This close. 

 

 

I was at DSO's and ran out of dark worms.  I thought I had cut way too many, but I always use more than I think I would.  In person, you don't see this much of a difference in the dark wools.  They are just, well, dark.  I think I used five different dark wools ~ a black check, my favorite reversible black, a couple plaids that had red and navy in them dyed very dark and a solid black/red.  I'll share the finished rug soon.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Off to Five Guys soon.  My favorite place to eat.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Veterans' Day ~

Hooked by Donna Hrkman

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

 

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

Canadian physician

1915

 

Please take a moment to thank a veteran today. 

Freedom isn't free.

 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

 



                            

Amazing Progress ~

 

 

I've made amazing progress on my stag rug.  I've spent far more time hooking this weekend than I normally do, but this rug is also an easy hook ~ no detail and the majority of it being hooked in a 9.5.  Hopefully I can continue this pace and be done in a few days.  I need to start thinking about Christmas gifts.  I always start too late, get stressed, and don't finish what I had hoped to.  This year will probably be no different :)

 

 

I am having a really hard time believing it's already the second week of November.  These days and weekends keep going faster and faster.  I find it scary.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Hooking Room ~

The hooking room is finally organized, at the expense of a couple closets and cupboards.  When I wasn't sure what to do with something, it ended up in a closet or cupboard . . . sigh.

Reds, blues and greens.  The basket on the bottom right has wools I've chosen for a Maggie Bonanomi rug I want to hook and on the left on the top of the basket is my collection of bright wools :) 

Pie safe that has probably not seen its doors in decades.  The stacks are a little wonky because of differing sizes and shapes of wool I was folding.  

I love the top of the pie safe.  A few purchased items and many gifts from friends.  (Thank you Karin, Melinda, Bobbie, Cathy, Cynthia and Marly.)

Another pie safe purchased from a friend a couple years ago.  The ladies sewing pocket on the left is from the very talented Melinda of Merry Wind Farm and the pug quilt on the right is a gift from sweet Gayle, the Middle Sister.

Inside it is VERY GREEN.

Another antique cupboard filled with books and "stuff".

My corner cupboard (not sure what that phantom spot is on the right door) that desperately needs some attention.  It is to the point that when the upper doors are opened, "stuff" starts to fall out.

I've been collecting picnic baskets with the intention of hooking small mats for the top and giving as gifts.  I probably have 8 - 10 baskets and have yet to hook a rug for one of them.  These

are currently full of wooly worms.

I did decide to bring the little stand in I purchased at Gathered Treasures last weekend to hold books and magazines.

Under the table (that holds my cutter) is a basket of unwashed wool.

My problem child :)  The laundry basket is full of bits and pieces of wool.  I really need to sort by color and somehow organize them.

Yes, all this is in my not so big hooking room.  Plus I have a couch and an old tool chest that I use for a coffee table/catch all.  Hopefully I can do a little better job in keeping my wool/wool room organized, but as we all know, it's not an easy task.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Stag Party ~

 

 

Lori of Homespun Prims designed this stag pattern.  I don't think she'll mind if I share her version.  You can purchase the pattern here. 

 

 

I really appreciate that she offers paper patterns and the buyer can enlarge to the size desired.  She also offers cross stitch and punch needle patterns.  This is one talented hooker lady.

 

Here are the wools I chose for the stag.  The two wools on the top right are from Rebecca Erb's latest mailer.  Oh, they are wonderful wools and hook like butter.  

 

These are the wools chosen for the antlers.  Light colored wools all put in the same dye pot using Emma Lou Lais' old putty recipe.

I've enlarged my pattern to about 22 1/2 x 28 1/2 which for me is a pretty big pattern.  It is hooking up quickly using a 9.5 cut.  I may have to set it aside soon to hook a couple Christmas presents. 

Of course the colors are not as bright in person :)

 

I hope everyone got out and voted today.  I was pleasantly surprised at the number of voters who turned out for mid-term elections.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Play Date ~

 

Yesterday I had a play date with hooker friends Melissa, Bobbie and Sheila.  We met up in Mansfield, OH,  for two primitive shows.  Our first stop was at Gathered Treasures, one of my favorite shows.  Lots of prim goodies if that is what you were in search of.  I tend to purchase antiques rather than primitive crafts.  I do like them, but I already have too much stuff :)

 

I have to say I just love this little box/stand.  I bought it to use on the porch during the Christmas holidays filled with greenery, but I am considering putting it in the hooking room to hold books and magazines.  This would be so easy to make.  Just an old wooden box and four tobacco sticks nailed to the sides.  So who is going to be making one?

 

This paper mache turkey candy container is a treasured find to add to my collection.

 

I bought this for the  white ironstone pitcher, not to use as a holiday decoration.  The seller said I should have no problem removing the tree, but I am not so sure.  (She used hot glue.)

 

I also bought 5 celluloid reindeer to add to my herd, but they are still in the bag.

 

Sheila headed home after the show, but Bobbie, Melissa and I headed to Simple Goods.  I go just about every year and each time I wonder why.  I have never been a big fan and I think most of the prices are laughable.  No offense to those of you who like it.  That's just MHO :)  My big purchase was three tobacco sticks ($1 each)  to make a tripod for the garden.  I wasn't thinking but I should have bought 4 more to make another box/stand. 

 

We actually made a quick return trip to GT because there was a coverlet piece Melissa regretted not buying.  Luckily it was still there, and then I found this little pantry box to bring home with me.  Nothing special and I probably already have that size, but for the price I couldn't pass it up. 

 

I finished Santa and Sheep by Star Rug Company.  The first picture is washed out.  The colors are pretty true in the close up.

I think I am going to use these antique buttons on his coat.  I bought some rusty stars, but I think I like these better.  Now to get it steamed, bound and the buttons sewn on . . . sigh.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren