Amish Country Wool Artisans Hook In ~

The ladies who put on this hook in know how to do it right!  What is better than a room full of 150 or so hookers?  They came to hook, eat, shop.  And shop they did.  This was the first time Melissa and I had the opportunity to vend at this hook in.  It was a wonderful day with record sales for both of us.  Our hard work definitely paid off!  A few pictures of our booth.

My goods ~

 

And Melissa's beautiful jewelry, mostly crafted from antique and vintage buttons, lace, etc.  She is so creative.

 

I barely had time to peruse the rug show, but quickly snapped some pictures. 

 

This pattern is from an old Create & Decorate magazine.  I am going through my copies to see if I can find it.

 

 

A few more pictures to share in my next post.

 

I haven't had a give away in about forever and just realized my last post was number 1300.  As I've said before, that's a lot of blah, blah, blah.  These are the hook pouches that did not sell so I will give the winner her choice.  (I'm making the assumption that it will be a her.  I can think of only one "him" reader and that's my DSO.)  More will be included, but I have not yet decided what.  It will depend on whether the winner is a hooker or not.  The top two are completely hand sew and made from antique coverlets.  The bottom is machine sewn and made from antique homespun.

 

They are lined with wool.

 

 

As always, my rules are simple.  Leave a comment on this post or email me at lauren@centurytel.net with give away in the subject line.  The winner MUST contact me within 3 days or I will choose another.  Please no sharing on any social media.  This is for my readers only.  A winner will be chosen Friday eve.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Importance of Capitalization ~

I just wanted to pop in and say hi.  I don't have much to share.  I haven't picked up the hook in days.  Just trying to finish some things for the hook in this weekend where Melissa and I will be vending.  I've made some more strawberry pincushions from antique coverlet and paisley pieces.  I still need to add a few buttons for embellishment.

More hook pouches and a few more to make.

I still need to add the buttonhole and buttons.  These are hand done.

 

I LOVE this box I display them in.  The lid is long missing, but I am a sucker for hand cut dovetails.

 

And don't you just love this escutcheon? 

Hopefully I will be back to hooking soon.  I miss having hook in hand.

 

I will leave you with this.  I hope you laugh as hard as I did :)

 

 

In this world of hi-tech gadgetry, I've noticed that more and more people who send text messages and emails have long forgotten the art of capital letters.

 

For those of you who fall into this category, please take note of the following statement.

 

"Capitalization is the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse.

Is everybody clear on that?

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

 

Gifts and a Bit of Humor ~

Greetings this sunny but still chilly day in northern Ohio.  I do believe spring has forgotten about us.

 

Last Saturday at the Ann Arbor hook in, dear friend Bobbie gifted me this needle book.  Stitched to perfection, it is just the sweetest.  I'm lucky to have such a talented and generous friend.

 

Yesterday, another dear friend, Dolly (who adopted pug Eema from me many years ago) and I met for lunch.  My belated birthday gift.  WOW.  A pug puzzle copyrighted 1901.  Pugs looked much different than they do today.  They had a very pronounced snout that has been bred out of them over the years.  Probably not a good thing because the flatter the face, the more breathing issues they can have.  I am truly blessed to call Dolly friend :)

 

I was very good at the Ann Arbor hook in.  I only bought a book on hooking eyes from Kris Miller and these yummy (sale) wools from Anne Bond.  The middle wool is more bronzy than is showing in the picture.  I am trying so hard not to buy wool because the wool room is overflowing.

I will leave you with a bit of humor.

 

To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine.

 

And those who don't and are always seen with a bottle of water in their hand. 

 

Ben Franklin said:  "In wine there is wisdom.  In beer there is freedom.  In water there is bacteria."

 

In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) bacteria found in feces.

 

In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop annually.

 

However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or rum, whiskey or other liquor), because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and fermenting.

 

Remember:  Water = Poop.  Wine = Health.

 

Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid than to drink water and be full of sh**.

 

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information.  I'm doing it as a public service.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

One Hook in Down ~

The Ann Arbor hook in was wonderful as always.  I've probably attended 5-6 times with Melissa, but this was our first time vending.  It was a great day.  So many hookers.  Luscious wools.  Yummy snacks.  Good sales.  Invited back for next year ~ woo hoo.

 

We were given a double booth, so we had lots of room to spread out.  A few pictures of our booth.

 

Ann Arbor is just over two hours from my house, but the styles of hooking seemed much different to me.  Here we see many primitive rugs.  There, not so many.  No matter what the style, there was much talent displayed.  (Sorry some of the rugs are so washed out looking.)

 

 

 

It's fun to see the same rug hooked two ways.

I just love the stone bridge.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren