Piddly Stuff ~

At the hooking retreat, I worked on piddly stuff but feel I got lots accomplished :)

I bound the little mat for the footstool and even got it labeled.

I also got the binding done on the Tree of Life.

I hooked a little pumpkin mat that will also go to the recipient of the footstool.  Hopefully I will also get some other seasonal ones hooked so she can switch them out.

I started Jack's Crow, a fun little pattern by Winter Cottage that can be found here.

ACK!  What's with the new blogger interface?  I hate change :(

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and staying healthy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Almost Heaven ~

 ~HOOKER HEAVEN ~

We are known as the Twenty Dollar Hookers and just spent three + days hooking in Millersburg, Ohio.  Friendship.  Laughter.  Lots of laughter.  I laughed more in the last few days than I have in the last 6 months.  

As usual, I took very few pictures.  Here are a couple rugs being worked on.  

Tammy's antique sheep.  Pattern by the Wool'n Gardner.  This pattern is HUGE!

Melissa's rug.  Pattern by Red Barn Rugs and started in a class with Cathy Stephan.

Tanya's completed antique sheep pattern.

She is an over achiever :)  The next two rugs are also hers.

Lee's fun rug.

Heidi needle felted the snake about an inch high.  I love that green against the white and black.

Another of Heidi's rugs.

This statue was in front of the courthouse near the hotel.  I thought we should try to topple it with wool . . . lol.  When I told my boys I was attending a hookers' protest, my younger son told me to make sure we broke a few windows and burned a police car or two so that people would believe it's a peaceful protest.  Out of the mouths of babes . . . but this babe is 39 years old :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Three Rows it is ~

Thank you for your input.  The consensus was three rows of red and I agree.  All ready for binding.  Hopefully I will have time at the protest to get it bound.

A couple readers inquired as to how I attach the mat to the footstool.  I don't.  I just set it on top.  Crow's Foot Farm said she has used nails and hid the heads in between the loops.

Here are two footstools in my living room.  I hooked this one . . . 

. . . but bought this horse mat on eBay many years ago.

A few random pictures from around the yard this morning.

I really need to think about packing my clothes.  Hooking stuff is ready (except for the color planning of a little mat . . . sigh).  That's the important stuff, right?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Hookers' Protest ~

Thursday I am off for the 3rd annual hooking retreat in Millersburg, OH.  (Edited . . . I forgot to mention it is for FOUR days.)  Since even small gatherings are discouraged and frowned upon, friend Lynn who put it all together is calling it a hookers' protest, since thousands can protest and that seems to be OK.  (Am I being politically incorrect once again?)

I am not taking anything too exciting to work on.  I will bind the mat for the footstool.  I should finish the border on the Tree of Life this evening and will take that to bind, too.  I was just going to put two rows of red . . . 

. . . but now in looking at the picture, I am leaning towards three.  Opinions, please!

Also planning on taking a couple little fall pieces to work on.  Like I said, nothing too exciting and no brainer kind of stuff.

In the last couple of days, the crickets have started chirping like crazy.  To me, that is a harbinger of fall :(

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

Last Minute Gift ~

Here is the footstool I purchased not long ago.  So happy I did because I need a birthday present for my brother's DSO ~ fast.  I was cross stitching that mermaid piece, but put it down in disgust weeks ago.  

This is the little mat I hooked for the top.  Once I chose the colors (agonized and changed my mind countless times ~ it should NOT be that difficult) it hooked up quickly. 

Of course, binding still must be done :(  Then it's on to finish the Tree of Life.  I have been working on that, too, and it is nearing completion.

I received many comments on my last post from no reply-comment bloggers.  Just want you to know I appreciated them but cannot respond to you.

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

What has happened to Freedom of Speech?

I am not on Facebook that often and occasionally will share a post or post something hooking related.  I am currently part of the 7 day rug challenge.

I recently shared a post that some people did not agree with regarding mail in voting.  That is fine.  This is America.  You have the right to disagree . . . at least that is what I believe.  Is there only freedom of speech if I agree with you?

If there is a way to prove who you are, I have no problem with mail in voting.  I have to prove who I am to board an airplane so why not prove who I am to vote?  A woman I have known for 30+ years took exception to my post.  She sent me a private message stating that if I was not on the same political side as she is to unfriend her.  I responded back that I am not that shallow but she could unfriend me if she so chose.  Yep.  She did.  The thing I find most ironic is the fact that she spent her entire career in journalism (an assistant editor of a local paper for many years) and isn't the #1 thing of journalists freedom of speech?  

I am curious as to what you have to say regarding mail in voting.  You may agree or disagree.  That is the beauty of America.

~GOD BLESS AMERICA ~

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Fini ~

Chilly is done ~ except for the label.  I'm not sure why it took me almost two weeks to bind and sew on the buttons for the mouth.  I will blame it on my funk.  Yes!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

To attach the star, I used a dab of E6000 glue and some twine.  I then used a double knot on the backside of the mat to hold in place.  It's the best way I could think of.  Anyone have a better idea?

Just over a week ago I went to the Chinese Market.  Darn.  There I go being politically incorrect once again.  It was the rescheduled Vintage Market.  The majority of the items were from China and definitely not vintage.  Of course I did find a couple vintage items to come home with me.  I have so many picnic baskets like this.  One of these days I will hook a little mat for the top of each and give them as gifts.  Probably when hell freezes over :)  Well, this little cutie is just 9" wide and 4" tall.  Too cute.  Not sure what I will do with it.

Also found this 2 gallon crock.  Nothing special but for $12 it was worth bringing home.

Last week went to a shop called Useful Junk, about 45 minutes south of me.  For many years I would pass it and never stopped.  A few years ago I finally stopped and what a fun little shop.  Kind of hit or miss but great prices.  I found a wooden footstool.  I will hook a mat for the top . . . soon . . . and give as a birthday present.  The recipient was to receive the mermaid cross stitch piece, but I am so disgusted with it I haven't touched it in weeks.

Patti ~ a new rug hooker left me a few comments, but I can't respond to her directly since she is a no reply-comment blogger.  I must say, I like the way you think :)  Have you found Saundra's blog?  She is a great one to answer any newbie questions you may have.

That's about it.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Too White?

Oh, wait.  Maybe I am not allowed to say that :(  Not politically correct!

I started on the background on the Tree of Life with the wool provided in the kit.  It was way to white.

I found a wool in my stash that I like much better.  (I think the true color is closer to the first picture.)

Early in the quarantine or whatever we want to call it, I was so much more productive.  I need to get out of this slump. 

The county in which I live just mandated that masks are required in public if a distance of 6' cannot be maintained.  So now on my morning walk must I wear a mask because all sidewalks are not 6' wide and I may pass someone?  (I am no scientist, nor doctor, nor health care professional so I may be blowing smoke here with my figures.)  My county has a population of 301,356.  We have had 1,064 confirmed cases which is .0035%.  The deaths stand at 68 which is .00022%.  That means there are 2.2 (2 point 2) deaths for every 10,000 people in the county.  I do wear a mask in a store, but nowhere else.  Restaurants are now open, but a mask must be worn in all indoor locations with the new mandate.  Am I allowed to take it off to eat . . . or will they once again close restaurants?  If I am in a car with someone other than a family member . . . you got it.  A mask must be worn.

Can you say frustrated?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Little Leaves ~

Hooking is progressing on my Tree of Life, though of course more slowly than I would like :(  I am so tired of hooking little leaves, but I am nearing the end and can soon start on background.

Many years ago I facilitated the adoption of a pug named Wilma to a local woman, Darlene.  Darlene and I became friends, and after DSO adopted Ernestine, she was our go to pug sitter.  Two years ago she broke my heart when she moved away (she was THE BEST pug sitter) . . . but she is in Ohio for a week so I took a little road trip today.  We sat on the shore of Lake Erie and talked like she had never been gone.  Ernestine was happy to see her.  I do believe the feeling was mutual :)

Well . . . more whining from me.  We need a do over for 2020.  The year that wasn't.  I was to leave tomorrow for a 3 day class with Cindi Gay.  On Friday it got cancelled with it possibly being rescheduled for September, but it will not happen this year . . . sigh.  Another October hook in has been cancelled and one in September has a 99% chance of not happening.  Even though I was not attending, the rescheduled rug camp in Ligonier, PA has also bitten the dust.  I know in the scheme of things my complaints are petty, but I sure do miss my old life!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Happy Birthday America ~

GOD BLESS AMERICA

LAND THAT I LOVE

I truly love this great Land of ours and I hope and pray it is not destroyed from within.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

July ~

Even though I don't feel like I am living, life is flying by.  Already July ~ WOW!  I am still busy all the time and feel there are not enough hours in the day . . . these times are just unsettling.  I'm sure many of you understand how I feel.

Blog friends are so sweet and generous.  Friend Carolyn in Texas surprised me big time.  She sent me a kit for a Tree of Life.  Beautiful wool included!  Somehow she ended up with two kits.  She hooked one and sent the other to me, telling me I could hook it or pass it along.  I've decided to hook it.  I have it started, just barely :)

Then a couple weeks later comes another surprise in the mail from Texas.  This time a sweet pattern by Northwest Folk Design (Marijo Taylor).  She liked the pattern so much she inadvertently bought it twice.  Lucky me.  THANK YOU so much, Carolyn :)

~ GOD BLESS AMERICA ~

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