Happy Halloween ~

Longtime readers have seen my Halloween decorations many times before, but still want to share for those of you who might be new. 

On the middle shelf all the papier mache items are vintage.

Vintage tin noisemakers.

I've had the ceramic pumpkin as long as I can remember.  The little pumpkin was painted by son "Billy" in 1987 at 8 years of age.  The adorable scarecrow is one of my favorite pieces painted by my dear mom.

The samplers are all reproductions I stitched back in the 80's.

I painted the gourds in 2007.

Mostly stuff painted by my mom :)

Feather tree.

Fun rug purchased on eBay.

Isn't he just the sweetest?  A mohair creation from The Beary Patch purchased a few months ago.

I just love that sweet face.

I'm hoping the rains stop by this evening for Trick-or-Treat.  I sure don't need 250 pieces of candy left in my house!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

The "C" Word ~

Not yet November, and there have been signs of "C" in stores for way too long.  Remember as a kid . . . yes I know I am dating myself . . . that "C" stuff did not appear until after "T"?

Anywho . . . I need another "C" tree like I need another . . . well, you know.  BUT . . . how could I resist this little tree for $1 at Dollar Tree?  (Well, I did actually buy two . . . lol.)

I knew it needed a little skirt and found some old quilt squares languishing in a drawer.  

Voila.  Tree skirt :)  All I did was cut a hole in the center and blanket stitch the edge.  

The reverse side is a wonderful homespun fabric so either side can be used.

And here she is :)  Of course she needs some little glass balls and perhaps some lights.  But not now.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Just for Fun ~

Lexophile is a word used to describe those that have a love for words, such as "you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish" or "to write with a broken pencil is pointless". 

A few more fun ones ~

- When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.

- A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

- The batteries were given out free of charge.

- A dentist and a manicurist married.  They fought tooth and nail.

- A will is a dead giveaway.

- With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

- A boiled egg is hard to beat.

- When you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

- Police were summoned to a daycare center where a three year old was resisting a rest.

- Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off?  He's all right now.

- When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

- The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.

- He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

- When she saw her first strands of gray hair she thought she'd dye.

- Acupuncture is a jab well done.  That's the point of it.

- Those who get too big for their britches will be totally exposed in the end.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Stitching Small ~

No hooking has been happening, but I did manage to finish the little Rebekah L. Smith stitching small started in a mini class with her.  I only used one color of floss throughout instead of her normal three.

I added a cotton twill tape hangar.  The back is a piece of black felt that came in the little kit.  Tomorrow it will be gifted to my brother's DSO.

Do you ready Merry Wind Farm's blog?  Melinda just released four new cross stitch charts.  The really cool part?  Three of them (second, third and fourth) were charted from antique samplers I own.  I just think that is really neat :)

I previously posted this picture from the Ft. Laurens hook in.  I received a comment from Pat who wrote, "The pattern for the witch rug in the picture and be found in either "Purely Primitive" or "Simply Primitive" by Pat Cross."  Me thinks that is Pat Cross who left the comment, but she is a no reply-comment blogger so I can't thank her personally for her visit.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Quieting Down ~

Life is finally quieting down a bit.  I loved everything I was doing, but it would have been nice if it was spread out a little more.  I do have upcoming guild meetings, one more show were I am vending (not a hook in so need to get busy making a few things) and a weekend retreat with Caroline Twigg in November.  Life is good and I am thankful I can spend time on things I love.

Here are more of Janice Johnson's rugs.  The lighting in the room was not very conducive to picture taking.

Janice talking about the above rug . . . but to be honest, I don't remember what she said.  I miss my mind :)

As a gift from the ladies who organized the class, each hooker received a kit to make one of these.  Thank you Judi and Kathy.  So very sweet of you.

I received a kit to hook this.

Another gift from Judi and Kathy was a mini class with Rebekah L. Smith.  Here is the start of my pumpkin.  It is the current "stitching small" and can be found here.

Friday and Saturday was spent hooking at Sauder Village.  This is the only rug I took a picture of.  It is being hooked in a 3 cut and is absolutely stunning!!!  I love the fine cut rugs, but it something I choose not to even try.

Progress on my rug.  Not my usual colors but I've gotten many compliments on it.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Another Busy Week ~

Saturday was the Ft. Laurens Rug Hooking Guild's hook in.  I haven't been in quite a few years because of schedule conflicts, but this year it worked out.  Melissa and I were happy to have been asked to vend.  They moved to a new location ~ a wonderful, well lit venue.  Here are some of the rugs displayed. 

What a fun tree of life.

Individual pictures hang on the tree.

I love this idea.  The hooker said she found the box in her aunt's burn pile.  She did not attach the little mat to the box so she can switch it out seasonally.  I have the perfect old drawer to steal this idea.  Now to find the time to hook up a little design :)

I am loving what I am doing, but I will be glad when this week is over so I can finally breathe :)  I started yet another class today with Janice Johnson of Wooly Woolens.  I think I've died and gone to wool heaven.

A few of Janice's rugs.  WOW!  LOVE this first rug.  So much better in person :)  It was near a sunny window and the colors are so washed out.

Day one progress on my rug.  Very different colors for me but I'm  a happy camper :)

The class runs until Thursday and then Friday I am heading to Sauder Village to hook for two days.  WHEW!

Well, they (whoever they are) say that the third time is the charm.  We'll try this one more time . . . drumroll please.  Long time reader, Barb of Village Folk Art is the winner of the little crow mat.  Barb, you have three days to contact me with your snail mail address.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren