Happy Halloween ~

 

I know many of you just decorate for fall, but I have so much Halloween that I still enjoy displaying.  It is an eclectic collection ~ everything from vintage paper mache, things my mom made for me, gifts from dear friends and the usual Chinese imports.  I often wonder what the Chinese factory workers think about Americans while making the items . . . lol.

A few figures in part of my treen collection.

All the ceramics on this cupboard were painted by my dear mom, except for the standing scarecrow that I painted with her guidance in 1975!!!

Mom did amazing work.  The scarecrow on the right was one of her favorite pieces.

The jack-o-lantern on the top shelf, middle, is one that I've had for 50+ years.  The gourds to the left were painted by me and the ghosts were also made by me many years ago using paper towels.

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

It's Already Been Two Weeks ~

~ since the ATHA Biennial and Hooked in the Valley, and I am just now finding the time to show what came home with me.  I was disgustingly good at the biennial (but I could have been VERY bad).  This is all that came home with me.  Two pieces of wool from Heavens to Betsy. 

Hooked in the Valley was another story.  I more than made up for being good at the biennial.  I fell in love with this pattern by The Wool 'n Gardener.  So did many others.  I know several people who also bought the pattern.  The original rug is owned by the Jan and Fred Cole who own the business and are two of the nicest people you could ever meet.  The pattern comes in three sizes.  I would have bought the smaller pattern, but they only had the medium and large by the time I went to purchase.  It is the largest pattern I've ever bought at 45" x 36".  The price is excellent for a pattern that size!

 

                 . 

They had two hooked versions of the pattern in their booth.  Here it is with a dark background which I normally prefer . . .

 

 

. . . but I fell in love with the lighter version, this one hooked by Jan.

 

The above picture is showing too light.  This picture is a more accurate.

 

I am so not a pink person, but I loved the faded red/pink horse.

Cammie Bruce, Baskets of Wool was also one of the vendors.  She had many wonderful patterns and yummy wool.  This sweet little pattern came home with me.

 

Surprisingly I have very few brown wools, so bought the stack on the left from the Wool 'n Gardener.  Three of the four wools on the right are from Cammie.

Bolt wool from Rebecca Erb, The Wool Studio .

 

Melissa, with whom I share booth space, makes the most amazing jewelry from vintage buttons.  I just love the necklace.  The bracelet is made from old trouser buttons.  Fun stuff :)

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

Hooked in the Valley ~

From the ATHA biennial, I headed to the Pine Tree Barn in Wooster, Ohio,  for Hooked in the Valley.  In addition to being a hook in, there were wonderful vendors selling things other than hooking related items.  A very successful first time show put on by Kathy and Jeff Graybill.

 

Kathy is the most talented folk artist.  Here is a sampling of her work.  (She is also a hooker and sells patterns.)

 

To the left are vintage and antique rugs.

 

Friend Melissa and I were thrilled to vend there.  Our booth was huge so we had lots of room to spread out.

 

 

Some of Melissa's work.  She is so creative, using vintage buttons, lace, etc. 

 

Here are some of the vendor booths.  Sorry I do not remember the names of them all.  I believe the first picture is Two Old Crows.  I know the second is theirs.

Rebecca Erb ~ the Wool Studio

 

A great rug to use leftover worms.

 

 

Lori Ann Corelis ~

 

Cammie Bruce ~

Ali Strebel ~

 

Unknown ~

RSG Antiques ~ be still my heart!

Unknown ~

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Class with Cynthia Norwood ~

I was fortunate to get in a class with Cynthia Norwood at the ATHA biennial.  Since reading Cynthia's first book, I knew primitive was the way I wanted to hook.  Our class was titled "The Beauty of Primitives".  Everyone was hooking the same pattern but we got to choose our wools for each element from wools Cynthia brought to the class.

 

Cynthia's rug ~

 

 

Close up ~



Cynthia ~

 

The first worms I chose ~

 

Getting started ~

 

Hookers hard at work.  Those standing in the back were choosing their optional background wool.

 

 

Class throw down.  Similar yet each one different.

 

Pretty Girl approved :)  It's been a very long time since I've been hooking pug hair in to a rug . . . lol.

I pulled my final loops this evening.  The finished size is 13 1/4" x 20".

 

 

There is a strip of antique paisley hooked in the flower (and one in the basket).  I'm sure I would never have chosen the wools hooked in the flower, but I am loving it.

 

 

I was so happy to finally have the opportunity to be in a class with Cynthia and it was wonderful.  Unfortunately I had to leave class an hour early to head south to Hooked in the Valley.  More on that later.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren