Happy Thanksgiving ~

 

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

Musical Tables ~

 

 

I'm not sure what I did to deserve a friend like Dolly.  She recently downsized and had no place for these two antique tables.  She said if I couldn't use them, she would probably take them to the Goodwill.

 

They are absolutely gorgeous.  I am no expert, but based on the dovetailed drawers and square nails, I would guess them to perhaps be 1860's???  

 

 

They both ended up in the living room and the living rooms tables then went upstairs to the spare bedroom. 

 

I don't know much about wood, but I think this one may be maple and walnut . . . 

 

. . . with a birdseye maple (?) drawer front.

I'm thinking this one might be walnut . . . 

. . . with tiger maple drawer fronts. 

Whatever they are, they are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L :)  Thank you Dolly.

 

Grandson Jake is sporting new footwear.  Poor guy was tackled after wrestling practice and will be on crutches at least 3 weeks before he gets a walking cast.  He is really bummed about it especially since his cousins will be in from Chicago.  Please say a little prayer that he heals quickly.

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

Just a Quickie ~

 

One week from today Thanksgiving will be over.  How is that possible???

 

Just wanted to pop in with a quick hello.  Saundra, no whining, but I've finished the hooking on my challenge rug.  I decided to stick with the wool I chose for the dog.  It is so much more subtle in person.  I'm not sure if I'm wild about him, but at this time I don't think I will change him.  

 

 

This is the wool I used, cut 90* from the stripe.  (Does that make sense to you?)  For his back, I used only the blue stripe.  The finished size is about 20 1/2" x 27 1/2".  I think I hooked this rug in about 3 1/2 weeks which is really fast for me.  I am happy to have the hooking done ~ now I just need to decide how I want to bind it.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

From Our Hands ~

Friday evening I attended the preview of the From Our Hands Show in Peninsula, OH.  I've never been to a show with so many talented artists gathered in one place.  I can't begin to describe how wonderful it was.  If money was no object, I would have needed a U-Haul to bring my goods home.

 

Sorry the picture is so poor, but this was in the booth of Greg and Mary Schooner. 

 

The next two pictures are the booth of Christine M. Miller of Somerset, PA.  She is the mother of Rebekah Smith.  I see where Rebekah gets her talent.  One of Rebekah's daughters is a talented fraktur artist who also vended at the show.

 

I purchased the hanging star from Christine.  Made from vintage fabrics and hand sewn, it is much more muted in person.

 

A couple pictures taken once the crowd began to thin.

My other purchases are this sweet little papier mache box by Pam Gill, tiny scissors from Stacy Nash (Christmas gifts if I can bear to part with them) and a little Schooner piece. 

 

I am nearing completion of my challenge rug and finally decided on the wool for the dog after changing my mind many times.  Once I started hooking him, I'm thinking the color (value?) is too close to that of the horse.  I hope to go hooking tomorrow evening and will see what others think.  

Yesterday I got together with a college roommate I hadn't seen in 20+ years.  What a fun time.  You'd think we had just seen each other last month.  We vowed to not let another year go by when we don't get together.  She's about 5-6 hours from me, but drove about 2/3 of the way here.  Thanks, Kathy :)  Sorry I did not get a picture :(

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Milestone Birthday ~

 

Yesterday was Loocie's 10th birthday.  {{ I didn't want to trivialize Veterans' Day by posting this then. }}  I can't believe she is 10.  After "dating" my DSO for 10 years, he finally made a commitment.  We got a puppy and have joint custody.  Here it is 10 years later (yes, we've been together 20 years . . . lol) and we're still "dating".  {{ Love you, sweetie }}

 

Isn't she just the cutest thing?  That grey face just melts my heart.

 

 

Loocie and Ellie loved their party hats, can't you tell?

 

Worn out after too much partying.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Veterans' Day ~

 

 

"It is the soldier, not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

 

It is the soldier,

Who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag,

And whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

 

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

If you are reading this in English,

Please than a veteran.

 

God Bless our military,

past and present.

 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

Gathered Treasures ~ Simple Goods

 

Two antique/primitive shows were held in Mansfield, Ohio, yesterday, only about 10 minutes from each other.  I headed out with friend Melissa and met up with friends Sheila, Bobbie and Earlene.  We first went to Gathered Treasures, one of my favorite shows.  We got there when it opened and it was a mass of humanity.  Much too crowded for me.  The older I get, the less I like crowds.  Many of the booths you couldn't even get in to browse and the ones you could get in, I found it hard to really see what they had to offer.  I guess I was just too distracted, but that didn't stop me from finding a few treasures.  The kitty is not old, but so sweet.  (The little putz sheep was a purchase from Simple Goods.)

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised to find this on the bottom.  

I collect old figural Christmas bulbs and purchased 4 of them.  One went home with Melissa.  I wire the top and use them on a tree during the Christmas season.

Next we headed to Simple Goods.  To be honest, I am not a big fan of the show, but I knew the tin lighting vendor would be there and I was hoping to purchase a bedside table lamp.  I find many prices laughable (ie, a mirror maybe 4" x 5", though early, $300.00.  Puleeze.).

 

I had no intention of purchasing anything much, but I fell in love with this sampler.  My mom's initials were AKD and I thought EKD was close enough . . . lol.  How's that for rationale?  Dated 1843, I'm assuming it's a British sampler because of the crowns.  It was in a horrible new, cheap frame so I've already removed it and will see if I have an old frame in my stash that I can make work.

I've never noticed antique paisley at shows before, but found 3 vendors that had four large pieces.  I purchased this wonderful large piece (see the next two pictures for truer color) with the intention of selling half to Melissa.  Now I'm not sure if I want to cut it.  It is in beautiful condition . . .

. . . except for this one tear.  I don't believe I'll be cutting it any time soon.

 

By the time I got to the lighting booth, selection was very limited.  I could have ordered one, but chose to purchase this lamp.  Perhaps a little too small, but I do like it and can always find another spot for it if I find something else.

 

The little hit and miss mat is the 3rd thing I hooked ~ back in 2005.  Then I hooked all very small pieces and they used to take me many hours.  Thankfully I've gotten to be a faster hooker.

I can't believe the weekend is over already.  This will be a busy week with hooking two evenings, but Wednesday is a holiday so that will be a nice break.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

TGIF ~

 

I haven't made much progress on my challenge rug, and though I have not yet chosen the wool for the dog, I have been working a bit on the background.  I dug through all my worms and small pieces of wool and chose anything and everything light colored.  Some is wool I dyed and some is off the bolt.  I'm guessing there are at least 12-15 different wools.  I'm really liking it :)

 

We have had some absolutely beautiful weather here on Ohio's north coast.  More like September than November and I'm lovin' it.  It is beginning to change . . . sigh. 

 

I have two huge maple trees in my front yard that don't have good fall color and those dang things don't lose most of their leaves until late November and in to December.  Now my neighbors' maple tree is always gorgeous.

 

 

Tomorrow I'm off to play with hooker friend Melissa.  We hope to meet up with Ohio friend Sheila and Michigan friends Bobbie and Earlene.  Hopefully I won't find too much I can't live without :)

 

Just minutes ago, this is the sky looking west over my neighbor's house.  Breathtaking.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Challenge Rug ~

 

I am participating in the "Out of Hand Rug Hookers Hook-a-Long and Challenge" on Facebook.  (WHEW!  That's a mouthful.)  We were given maybe 15 motifs to choose from to design a rug at least 18" x 28".  You could use as few or as many as you wished.

 

Magdalena Briner was my inspiration.  Here's my design before transferring to my linen backing.

 

 

I think my rooster came out pretty good :)

 

Bobbie was able to identify this wool as Milk and Honey by Heavens to Betsy.  I love the way it hooked up.  The color in the bottom picture is the true color.

 

 

Progress so far.  I was going to put an LF in the left corner.  I wanted it to blend in, but I think I need to hook more around it to see if it is going to work.  I also need to tweak my fat-headed mouse.  I think I need to move his hind "legs" further back.  He looks like he is on wheels . . . lol.

So far, this is fun.  I may not get any of my Christmas gifts made . . . sigh . . . but there's always next year, right?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren