Wednesday, January 31, 2018

WIPs



I normally work on only one project at a time, and 99% of the time it is a hooking project.  I started New England Gravestone Urn (Old Scotties Primitives) before heading to Off the Ocean Rug Conference and only had background left to hook.  It went to camp with me to work on until I got to meet one on one with Kris Miller and begin color planning my rug.  So that made two projects in process.  I have since completed the gravestone urn . . .
 
 
. . . and made progress on my Maggie Bonanomi rug, Tulip & Peony.
 
 
Then I took an applique class with Rebekah L. Smith and have been working daily on it.  I am almost ready to start the making of the bag.  UGH!  Not my forte :(
 
 
Also wanted to hook a couple Valentine gifts, so I pulled my Red House Wool Studio heart pattern.  One done.  Except for the reds and bits of paisley, I used wool I dyed before I left for rug camp.  I've started another but don't have enough hooked to bother with a picture.
 
 
I am heading to Sauder Village tomorrow to hook for a couple days.  The gravestone urn and one of the heart mats are prepped for binding.  Instead of my normal binding with wool, I am going to whip them, one with #8 cut strips and the other with some chunky wool yarn.  Hopefully I will get those done and lots of hooking on my Maggie B rug, too.

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

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

The End of the (Camp) Story ~



Finally!  The last of Off the Ocean Rug Conference. 
 
In addition to Kris Miller and Sheila Arbogast, there were three more teachers at camp.
 
Katie Allman ~ an Ohio teacher ~ is always great fun.  You never know what she is up to.  These are a few of the rugs being worked on in her class.
 
Sue (my personal Uber driver . . . grin . . . thank you again Sue) was working on Magdalena's Goat, drawn by Saundra of Woodland Junction.  Sue is a super fast hooker and had even more done by the end of camp even though she did not hook a couple of the afternoons.




 
Diane Stoffel of Massachusetts is a very admired teacher who teaches throughout the country.
 
Melody aka Woolwoman and I have been reading each others' blogs and corresponding for years.  She is how I found out about Off the Ocean.  She started this rug in Diane's class.


Here she is hard at work :)

 
A few more rugs from Diane's class.



 
Last but not least, another Ohio teacher, Sibyl Osicka.  She is an incredible fine cut hooker who has authored a number of books.  This is the rug she brought with her.  She truly paints with wool.


Shirley, my delightful roomie will soon be 80 years young.  About 50 years ago she learned to hook and just a couple years ago started hooking again.

 
Shirley's progress.

 
Can you believe this is what each student was working from in Sibyl's class (tailored to the rug she was working on)?  I was told you work with swatches up to 11 values and this is how placement is determined.  Impressive but not for me.




 
If you've never been to a rug camp and get the opportunity, I strongly suggest you go.  It is a wonderful experience and so inspiring.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Prairie Road Designs ~


 
Sheila Arbogast of Prairie Road Designs was one of the five teachers at Off the Ocean Rug Conference.  She had so many fun patterns. 

 
I just LOVE this flamingo!  You can see he even has a knee.






 
Don't you just love this face?


 
I did purchase one of her most basic patterns.  Who knows if I will ever make one, but he sure is cute :)
 
 
A few of the rugs being hooked in her class.

 

This hooker was hooking a likeness of her dog.  So sweet.


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

Friday, January 26, 2018

New to Me Blog ~



Leonora left a comment on a recent post of mine and I'm so happy to find she has a wonderful blog called A Journal of Days.  She's been blogging since 2009 but says she is new to rug hooking.  Stop by and check out the rug she is hooking.  She sure doesn't look like a newbie!  She also has a great tutorial on how to marble wool without dye and a few posts back one on dyeing with onion skins.  Please try to stop by and give her a big hookers welcome :)
 
It's a gorgeous day in northern Ohio.  The forecast is for a high of 51*.  Sunny to partly sunny.  Low winds.  Only 53 days until spring.

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

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Time Flies ~



I can't believe I got home from camp a week ago.  Time does fly.
 
My class with Kris Miller from Spruce Ridge Studios was excellent.  I took limited wool with me since I was flying, but she used most of it in my rug.  Here is my progress so far.  All I have left to hook are the diamonds and the mindless background which I enjoy doing.


 I hooked in a bit of paisley throughout the rug.



Kris is excellent with color planning.  Here are some of the rugs that were being worked on in the class.  Lots of talent in our group.
 











 
Saturday I took a class with Rebekah L. Smith.  Here is my progress so far.  I am determined to work on it a bit each day and actually finish one of her patterns!  I positioned the motif on the lower right a bit too low, but I figure if I don't tell, no one will know :)  I am not about to change it.
 
 
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren