Tweet, Tweet ~

 

Still cold in Ohio.  -6* this morning.  Sunny but cold with more snow on the way.  If March comes in like a lion, I sure hope it plans to go out like a lamb. 

Last evening I stitched up this little applique piece.  It is a pattern from Maggie Bonanomi's latest book, Thistle Down Moon.  Only 6 1/4" in diameter, it stitched up quickly.

 

 

At the moment, it is sitting on a little table in the upstairs landing with a bowl of antique stone fruit, a doily crocheted by my grandma and a rug hooked by Tonya Robey.  

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Stay warm and safe in this winter that just won't end. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Next Up ~

 

Here in Ohio, as I'm sure everywhere, when it gets really cold or really hot, all we do is talk about the weather.  Winter is about on my last nerve and it's not going to be much better anytime soon.  I swear, I get cold in November and don't get warm until April (unless I am having a hot flash . . . sigh).  Even winter-lovers have had just about enough.

 

That's my rant du jour : ~}

 

My Maggie rug is very close to completion.  The decision had to be made as to what would be next on the frame.  Recently Saundra sent me a list of all the patterns she already had on linen as a tool to help her decide what to hook.  I thought I should do the same.  Holey Moley.  I have 19 patterns already on linen ranging in size from 9" x 15" (Edyth O'Neill candle mat) to 22" x 43" (My Garden by Woolen Memories).  That does not include all my patterns on screen, paper, or in books.  I better start hooking faster . . . lol.

 

So what did I choose?  None of the above :)  Louise of Dogwood Farm is a pug mom who shared her pug pattern with me.  I will hook this as a fundraiser for Ohio Pug Rescue.  It will be raffled off at their reunion in May.  The finished size is about 14 1/2" x 19".  Thank you so much, Louise, for sharing your pattern with me.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Warm pug hugs :)
Lauren

Snug as a Pug on a Rug ~

 

When I am done hooking for the evening, I like to throw my rug down to see my progress.  Last night Loocie thought it was the perfect place to lie.

 

 

Buttermilk Basin is having a mystery block of the month and this is block #2.  The pattern can be found on their Facebook page.  I'm not sure what I will do with mine, so for now it is hanging on this little cupboard.  (The cupboard really is hanging straight.)

 

 

I did not put the "band" on the flower pot and now looking at it, it looks a little blah.  I may have to add it.

 

 

Our temps today were near 30*.  It seemed like a heat wave but we are headed to a -2 tonight.  Plus, it's snowing again.  ARGH!  I am so ready for spring.

 

Thanks so much for the visit.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Xin Nian Kuai Le ~

 

That's Happy New Year in Chinese.  According to the Chinese zodiac, tomorrow begins the year of the sheep.  Hopefully we will all have lots of wooly goodness :)

 

My Maggie B rug is nearing completion.  I thought I'd have more done by now, but the best laid plans of mice and men . . .

I sure wish I could capture the true colors.

Most of the preliminary stitching is done for my Rebekah Smith workshop.  Just a bit more to go.  The day of the workshop, we will be assembling a sewing caddy.

 

My fireplace is strictly for ambiance.  If you are not within a couple feet, you don't feel the heat.  Tonight is the perfect night for a fire.  No where I must be (yippee), cold ~ 10* and falling (ugh) and a bit of snow (nothing like my friends in the east or Kim in Nova Scotia).

 

Antique samplers, stone fruit apples,
hogscraper candlesticks,
Victorian Christmas light

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Be safe and warm.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Frame Cover ~

Last week, Heidi (Woolnuts) invited us to the library to make proddy covers for our hooking frames.  Usually I just throw an old terry towel or ratty piece of fabric over my frame when I am taking it somewhere, so this appealed to me.  I took a piece of light colored wool to use, but got this thicker piece of wool from Heidi.  Other hookers were using brightly colored wools and making sweet little flowers.  Not me.  This is what I came home with.  I thought it looked great.  Then I thought it looked B-L-A-H.

{{BTW . . . I still haven't found my proddy tool.  It went missing (isn't that a crazy term?) well over a year ago.  I haven't a clue where to look next.}}

I decided to add a little wool applique and am pleased with the results!

Feel free to make one yourself.  Super easy.  Cut a piece of wool and allow for an overhang on all sides.  I then did the proddy, a little wool applique and a blanket stitch on all four sides.

 

We are at 3* and still no temps above freezing in the forecast for the next ten days.  My hyacinth is a breath of spring and smells heavenly.

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

Sauder, Saturday, Snow and Stuff ~

This is one of my favorite Valentine's Day postcards.  I love anything patriotic.

Happy Valentine's Day to you.  I hope you get to spend your day doing whatever makes you happy.  I was going to go "play" today at the antique shops about an hour from home.  I have a bit of "fun money" that is burning a hole in my pocket.  Well, the weather is not co-operating.  It's snowing and ever since my crash on an icy highway a couple years ago, I play it safe. 

There is much I can do here at home ~ hook, work on the applique for my Rebekah Smith workshop, blog, read blogs, do a little Facebook and if I run out of things to do I can always clean . . . lol . . . but I don't think that will happen :)

This was the last heart I finished and it is my favorite.  I love how the back turned out.  Time consuming but worth it.  It is now happily residing in South Carolina.

I never take as many pictures at a retreat as I would like, but here are a few to share with you.  I can't believe I didn't get a picture of my hooking partners in crime, Melissa and Bobbie.  So sorry, gals :(

This magnificent rug is being hooked by Cindi Gay.  I believe she started it in 2007 but has worked on other rugs in between.  It will be at least 8' x 10' and it is breathtaking.  The colors are wonderful and SHE IS HOOKING IT ENTIRELY FROM HER WORMS.  Someone asked if she would have to work on other rugs to get more worms, and she said no. 

Dawn from Indiana is hooking this HUGE
pattern.  I believe it is Tulip Cross

Jane working on her Klimt inspired design using
many things other than wool to hook it

Jane's finished Santa

Not sure who was hooking this
sweet pattern

Western Reserve guild members
Ruthellen, Marian, Linda and Jane

There were many fine cut hookers in attendance.  They far outnumbered the primitive hookers.  I so admire the detail they can achieve, but it is just not for me.

For those who inquired, the issue of Early American Life with the article about Edyth O'Neill is the April 2015 issue. 

For those of you who loved the whale rug in my last post, the pattern can be found at "Never Enough Wool".  The designer is Lynne A. Kossarek and you can email her here.  I was told she does not have a website.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

More Sauder ~

 

The lodge at Sauder Village is a wonderful place to stay. 

Looking down to the lobby.

A room full of hookers.  It is a great room to hook in.  Plenty of room and lots of light.

There was a small display of rugs.

Huge pillow with the fattest cord binding I'd ever seen. 
The colors were much more vibrant in person.

To hang on the back of a chair.

My favorite rug.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Edyth O'Neill Article ~

 

If you are an admirer of Edyth O'Neill, there is a wonderful article in the latest issue of Early American Life magazine.  Not about hooking, but about her beautiful home filled with items collected with her late husband Jack and furniture he built.  The pictures are breathtaking, her taste impeccable.  Thank you, Edyth for sharing with us.

 

 

Winter started out slowly here in Ohio, but will not be leaving us anytime soon.  It was a bit above freezing today, but still a damp, dreary cold.  The ten day forecast does not have a day above 30*.  Maybe this will be our last hurrah?  Wishful thinking . . . this is Ohio.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Sauder Quickie ~

Just a quick little post to say the Sauder retreat was WONDERFUL as always.  Lots of hooking, camaraderie and let's not forget eating.

 

I was working on my Maggie rug.  Here is what I had done upon arrival . . .

 

My goal was to finish the black background.  I should have known better . . . sigh.  It seemed I was doing a lot of hooking, but this is all I accomplished.  Sorry the pictures are so washed out.

 

I do have a few more pictures to share, but no time this evening.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Damn Groundhog ~

 



My day started with 20 voice messages and went downhill from there.  People were getting on my last nerve :)  Tomorrow will be better . . . if we don't get the snow that is predicted for tonight.

 

Thank you, Marg, for the above.  You were a bright spot in my day.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren