A Glorious Mess ~

Does your house turn disastrous when the Christmas boxes come out?  I hauled all the boxes down from the attic (MANY trips) and put them in the  pile I showed in the last post.  Now they are everywhere.  Some empty, some still full, some partially empty.  I seem to be totally disorganized jumping from one thing to another rather than finishing one area at a time.  Of course I had hoped to get more done today than I did. 

 

 

Celluloid Santa and reindeer ~

 

 

Sweet faces ~

 

 

 

Some vintage, some new ~

 

 

My dear brother brought me an early Christmas present today ~ a truckload of wood for the fireplace.  What a sweet guy, but I helped unload and my back is killing me :(

 

I'm almost done with my first little hooked mat for a dog lover.  Several more to go . . . sigh.  I'm thinking I'll add a row (or two) of black for a border.  Opinions welcome :)

 

 

We had another exceptionally mild day today ~ 60*.  It was so nice hanging the outdoor swags without freezing.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

'Tis the Season ~

Thanksgiving is over ~ time to put the turkeys away.

 

  

Now the mad rush to Christmas begins.  Every year I am going to be organized and not stress.  Maybe next year . . . sigh.  At least Thanksgiving was early this year and the fact that I am retired (though I still don't believe it) should help.  My niece and family along with my grandson stayed with me for the holiday.  It was wonderful having them here, but I am back to peace and quiet and loving it.  I started hauling boxes down from the attic but then took a break to mow my lawn.  WTH?  It's almost December.  I find it easier to mow the leaves than to rake them.  Even though we've had a freeze or two, I have a few straggler flowers blooming.  No complaints from me.

 

I still plan to hook a few Christmas gifts, but I have not even started them.  I think I'd better get busy.  They will be smallish, but still . . .   Are you like me and wait until the last minute?  I also need to make an ornament for one of the hooking groups I recently joined, fill a pair of socks for this week's guild meeting, shop, wrap, write cards, mail packages, blah, blah, blah.  So what am I doing?  Spending time on this dang computer.  No one ever accused me of being too bright . . . lol. 

Will I simplify this year?  Probably not.  My decorating style is very eclectic.  A few primitive pieces, some antique/vintage, things my boys made when young, decorations received from friends/family over the years.  Upon opening the boxes, I just can't resist putting them on display.  Sure wish I could say all my boxes have been hauled down from the attic :)

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

Happy Thanksgiving ~

May this be your best Thanksgiving ever.  We have much to be thankful for in this great land of ours.  There is no better place to be.  We are truly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving and may God continue to Bless America.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Finally ~

 

I'm finished with Ned.  I didn't think I was ever going to get him done.  I had so little to hook on it for so long . . . I thought when I retired I'd have hours to hook every day.  So far it has not happened and there have been a few days where I found no time to pick up the hook.  Maybe if I stayed home more???

 

I re-hooked the flower pot and stem and am happier with it.  I also added a scraggly mane.  Caroline Twigg (class teacher) thought it didn't need one because of the directional hooking of that body area, but I'm glad I added it.  I took pictures both inside and outside and couldn't get decent color.  The gold and teal are not nearly as bright in person.  Now it will join my growing pile of rugs needing binding.  (On a positive note, I did start to bind one of them.)

 

 

Our trip to Ikea was fun.  I've only been there once before for a very short time.  This time we spent a few hours walking around.  There is just so much to see.  For the most part, their furniture is not my style, though there were a few things I could easily live with.  

 

Rebekah's class was great.  She is such a sweetheart.  I don't have a finished ornament yet to share.  It was about an hour away and we ended up driving home in some near white-out conditions.  Ever since crashing on ice a few years ago, driving in bad weather frightens me, but thankfully there were no issues.

 

Cirque du Soleil.  What can I say?  The performance we attended was called Ovo (egg).  It was absolutely breathtaking.  So unreal what some people can do with their bodies.  We really did enjoy it, though we haven't a clue what it was about . . . lol.

 

I really must get busy cleaning and baking pumpkin rolls!!!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

 

Progress ~

 

 

I know I must say it every month, but I can't believe how time is flying by.  How can it possibly be Thanksgiving next week?  My niece and family will be in from Chicago.  She and hubby started the tradition before they were even married and have not missed one yet.  It's been 15+ years.  Unfortunately because of the cost of airfare, my California son won't be here for Thanksgiving but he did find a super deal for mid-December so we will have an early celebration with him then :)

 

Hooking has been slow going, but I am getting close to finishing Ned.  I finally reverse hooked the stem, leaves and flower pot and am much happier with it.

 

 

I have been crazy busy and barely have time to breathe.  Tomorrow DSO and I are heading to Michigan.  There's some shelving he wants from Ikea and then we will have dinner with his daughter before heading home.  Saturday is an ornament class with Rebekah L. Smith and Sunday we're heading to Erie, PA, for Cirque du Soleil.  It is a retirement gift from my boss and my co-worker.  What a cool gift :)  Speaking of retirement gifts, yesterday I had lunch with dear friend Dolly (who adopted one of my foster pugs and even though dear Eema passed away long ago, remains a dear, dear friend).  She gifted me these three pieces of treen to add to my collection.  Such a thoughtful gift.  You can read more about my treenware collection here.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Crazy Ohio Weather ~

I'm not complaining.  I'll take it.  Our weather has been beautiful.  I mowed the lawn today.  Not that it needed it, but it is much easier than raking :)  Being only two blocks from Lake Erie is advantageous in the fall as we get a frost/freeze later than inland.  I still have a few flowers blooming.  Friday they are predicting a high of 70* with sunshine ~ and a possibility of snow on Sunday.  Welcome to Ohio.

 

Here are my goodies purchased at From Our Hands and Hearts.

 

This sweet little chair was one of a pair.  Friend Melissa purchased the other one.  Also got that wonderful stack of blue homespun and a couple linen towels.

 

 

This nubby linen (?) towel measure 24" x 30 1/2".  I have no idea what I will do with it (I really don't have a place in the kitchen to hang it) but my younger son is Jason Thomas so I could not resist.

 

 

I was so excited to find some featheredge.  It's not often I add to my collection.  From a child's play set the plate measures only 4 1/2" in diameter.  It is in excellent condition with just a couple tiny flea bites.  The little platter measures 8 1/2" wide.  It has lots of flea bites and small chips, but I've never come across a child's platter before.  The next day dealer Donna (Antiques on the Ridge in North Ridgeville, OH) brought the tureen and of course could not leave it behind.  

 

 

I now have an official collection of pinkeeps (3) from Lanna Omlor, Humble Rugs.  She is the talented sister of Lori Ann Corelis.

 

 

I also got a punch needle pattern and floss keeper from Lori Brechlin and some beautifully dyed velveteen from Stacy Nash.  All in all I'd say I got some wonderful goodes :)

 

Bobbie gifted me with this wonderful box from Lisa Evans, Folk for All Seasons.  What a perfect retirement gift!  I will put it to good use.

 

 

Grandson Jake had his first sixth grade orchestra concert this evening.  He is playing the cello.  What fun!  I know nothing about music and never played an instrument so am so happy he has the opportunity to learn.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Day After ~

From Our Hands & Hearts is now just a great memory.  Fun to spend two days with friends Bobbie and Melissa selling our goods and finding treasures to bring home.  So many wonderful vendors.  If money was no object . . . sigh . . . I'd need to rent a truck to bring it all home :)

 

The artwork of Lori Brechlin greeted you as you walked in the door.

Our booth ~

Lori Ann Corelis ~ The Spotted Hare

How could you not fall in love with this face?

Rebekah L. Smith ~ Folk Artist

I LOVED this box.  An eagle from an antique coverlet.  Thankfully it sold quickly :)

C. Yenke Co.

Shooner American Redware

Christine Miller ~ Antiques and Folk Are (Rebekah's talented mother)

Kelsey A. Smith (Rebekah's talented daughter)

Lori Brechlin ~ Notforgotten Farm

 

Dean Hicks Antiques

Marta Urban

 

Oh my goodness.  There are so many booths that I did not take a picture of :(  Stacy Nash had the booth next to us.  She had a beautiful display and was just sweet as can be.  Melissa, Bobbie and I purchased many things from Antiques on the Ridge and you guessed it ~ no picture. 

 

I will share a few of my new/old treasures in my next post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

 

Veterans Day ~

Please don't forget to thank a Veteran for their service to this great country of ours. 

 

Remember ~

If you can read this, thank a teacher. 

If you are reading this in English, thank a veteran.



From Our Hands is finally here.  It is a show not to be missed.  I am honored (along with friends Melissa and Bobbie) to be asked once again to participate.  If you get the opportunity to attend, you will not be disappointed.

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

A Terrible Problem to Have ~

Too many finished rugs :)

 

On vacation I hooked three rugs.  Only the smallest has been bound.  These two need a good steaming and then the binding.  You all know how much I love binding rugs . . . sigh . . . and the majority of you feel the same way.  I was doing a good job keeping up until these.

And then this.  I finished dog and two crows, based on an antique by Magdalena Briner Eby.  One more to add to the binding pile.

More progress has been made on Ned, though I thought I would be further along.  Remember I am hooking this mostly in a 9.5 so it hooks up rather quickly.  As you can see I not only changed the butterfly to a flower in a pot, I am also eliminating the flower under his body.

I hope everyone has exercised their right to vote today.  I believe this is the most important election of our lifetime.  Our great country as we know it may be forever changed and that makes me extremely sad.  May God Bless this great Land that I so love.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Class Pictures ~

 

 

 

Our group picture from the Caroline Twigg, Eagles Nest Woolens class.  I think everyone just loved it.

 

 

The last afternoon we had a throw down to show progress that was made.

That's Caroline on the left and friend Kaye on the right.  Caroline just had the nicest things to say about everyone's rugs.

Kaye's rug.  Pattern by Maggie Bonanomi.  She had some of it hooked before class and she must be the queen of reverse hooking, but when done, her rug will be magnificent :)

 

Some of Caroline's rugs.  Sorry the color is so washed out.

If you plan to attend the ATHA biennial in Cleveland next October, Caroline will be teaching.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren