Why did it Take so Long?

~ HAPPY LEAP DAY ~

Geez.  I just don't know why it took so long to hook this sweet little sheep mat I have named Maria's Sheep?  It took a week to go from this . . . 

. . . to this.  The pattern is only 11" x 13"!!!

We are back to cold temps for a couple of days, then back to very spring like weather.  The winter aconite are blooming like crazy.  This was a couple days ago with warmer temperatures.

Today the snowdrops and aconite have closed their buds it only being 28*.

Daffodils are budding.  I cut the buds when they are just a few inches high.  Cut as close to the ground as you can.  It is amazing how much they will continue to grow once placed in water.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

A Finish and a Start ~

The little heart mat is hooked and bound and ready (except for the label) to be taken to guild to add to the door prize mats.  For once I used all worms instead of cutting new wool.  We have twenty five tables at the hook in and like to have at least one mat on each table.

Another door prize mat I am calling Maria's sheep.  Years ago Maria Barton team taught with Ali Strebel and we were all given some of Maria's line drawings.  Maria has such a style of her own and her designs can be spotted a mile away 😁

I found this painfully funny!

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Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Rudie ~

Rudie is finally finished.  Took me long enough . . . sigh!  He is bound just not labeled.  And of course my colors are washed out no matter where I take the picture 😖

I also had a request for two snowmen on antique coverlet pieces.  The buyer will be sewing them in to pillows.  She wanted me to use the same coverlet for both.  I appliqued similar yet different snowmen.  I always have a problem with orders because I am so worried the buyer will not be happy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

2001 ~

~ HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY ~

I was gobsmacked to notice that this is post #2001.  My first post was in May of 2009.  I don't consider myself a chatty person, but that is a whole heck of a lot of blah, blah, blah!!!  Thank you for taking the time to follow my humble blog 💘

Rudie, a pattern by Cammie Bruce of Baskets of Wool, is prepped for binding.

Rather than succumbing to Saundra or Sue's temptation to hook a heart rug, or to dig out a UFO, I decided to hook a couple small mats that will be table prizes for the guild hook in this September.  Well, actually it is a heart mat (as you can obviously see 😁) but not one of the cool antique adaptations that they are hooking.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Puppy Bowl ~

 

Ernestine goes crazy whenever she see an animal on TV.  The Puppy Bowl was no exception.  Too funny to watch her.  I hope the video will load for you.  I haven't had much luck posting videos.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Rugs at Guild ~

Western Reserve Rug Hooking Guild met this past week.  One of the members had arranged for PBS to view rugs and to interview several of our members for a segment on rug hooking.  I have no idea when it may air, but hopefully I will find out ahead of time and let everyone know in case they would like to tune in. 

Many rugs of all styles were brought to the meeting.

Friend Kaye hooks the most wonderful primitive rugs.  The colors are washed out because of the light in the room.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it . . . lol.)

Isn't this absolutely wonderful?  Hooked from a photograph.  That is talent 💖

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Heart Rugs ~

 

With all the heart rugs that Saundra and Sue posted, I thought I needed to jump on the bandwagon.  I didn't realize I had this many.  Are there more rugs with hearts?  Just maybe.

Only the second thing I hooked back in 2005.  At that time I would draw up simple little designs because I was to cheap to purchase a pattern.

Key to My Olde Heart, a pattern by Red House Wool Studio, hooked in 2015.  I believe I changed the word LOVE to 1803, the year Ohio became a state.

My Garden, a pattern by Woolen Memories hooked in 2017.  I don't consider this a heart rug, but there are a couple hearts in it 😁

Old Hearts, an antique reproduction hooked in 2018.  The pattern was purchased from the Old Tattered Flag.

Wonky Love Hearts, a pattern by Jo Wick (find her on Facebook under Jo's Folk Art Fibers or simply Jo Wick) was hooked in 2021.

Also hooked in 2021 is True Hearts by Winter Cottage Studio.  The pattern can be found on etsy.  Oh, the blues are so much prettier in person!

In 2023 I took a needle felting class with good friend Heidi.  We hooked the mat before class and added the felting on top of the hooked piece.

Stuffed hearts also hooked in 2023.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Nothing Short of a Miracle ~

 

After 5+ months, I now have a dishwasher door that is not dented.  I have spent countless hours on the phone or texting with Samsung.  When they scheduled today's service call and assured me the door really was in (I had heard that song & dance before), I did not believe them.  I was sure they were going to cancel once again, but miracle of miracles, they came with a new door panel ~ in the correct stainless finish.  Now, the only issue is that the kickplate, for whatever reason, can't be attached below the door.  ARGH!  Hopefully DSO will be able to come up with a solution.  I do NOT want to deal with Samsung ~ ever again ~ if I can avoid it.  (The cupboards are not yellow as they appear on my monitor.)

My Thanksgiving cactus is confused but beautiful.

I had an order for a coverlet hook pouch, so thought I'd make a few more for vending later in the year.  I am thankful a friend found some coverlet pieces at an estate sale and thought of me.

On a heartbreaking note, my granddog got her wings yesterday.  Last week it was discovered that she had a tumor in her lungs and there was nothing they could do.  She took a sudden turn for the worse yesterday and that painful decision had to be made.  My heart aches for my son and his girlfriend.  Run fast and free, Kali.  I hope Molly is not too mean to you at the Rainbow Bridge 💔

Rudie, as little as he is, still isn't quite done.  I have also been junk journaling daily.  Really enjoying putting pages together and when I think one is done, keep going back and adding more.  My once skinny journal is skinny no longer.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Boy do I feel stupid!!!

 

I am losing it.  Lookee what I found.  This is a door leading to a never used in the winter porch on the north side of my house.  When searching for the rooster rug, I NEVER looked in that direction.  MYSTERY SOLVED!!!  (Does anyone else have those kind of senior moments?)

My hooking game plan was to finish hooking little Rudie and then work on a UFO from years ago, but that darn Sue . . . and now Saundra . . . are tempting me with antique heart rugs.  Decisions, decisions.

We have been so damp, dreary and rainy for weeks.  Today there is a light coming from the sky and it is 47*.  I found this in my yard today and snowdrops always make me smile.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren