You Learn Something New Every Day ~

Did you know there is a difference between a "nun" and a "sister"?  Until yesterday, I did not.  According to Bing, the difference between a sister and a nun is mainly the type of vows they take and the lifestyle they lead.  A nun takes solemn vows, which are lifelong and unbreakable and lives in a monastery or convent, where she devotes herself to prayer and work.  A sister takes simple vows, which are renewable and can be dispensed, and often works outside the convent in various ministries, such as education, health care, or social service.

In the past I have shared visits with the Sister I had in both the 2nd and 8th grade.  Yesterday, 12 of us went and visited her once again.  She was so delighted to see us.  Sister Marian Coughlin of the Sisters of Notre Dame (back in the day she was known as Sr. Mary St. Patrick . . . and at some point in the past they had the opportunity to change their name and she took her maiden name) is still sharp as a tack going on 96. 

Also in the group was Sister Valerie, one of our classmates who began her journey to a life with God after the 8th grade and has been a Sister for many decades.  Having grown up in the era when Sisters were covered head to toe and the only thing visible was their face, it seemed so strange to see Sister Valerie in capri pants and sandals 😇

Here's hoping next year we can celebrate Sister Marian's 97th birthday!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

More of Ali's Creations ~

Ali has so many fun ideas she incorporates in to her rugs.  (I didn't get all the pictures I had planned because she started packing up before I had taken them 😖.  My fault . . . I dilly dallied too long.)  Her ideas just seem to be endless.

A great way to hook a sunflower.

Ali will be teaching this pumpkin in a class at Sauder Village this August during rug week.

I went to a workshop hosted by Ali and Maria Barton many years ago.  This is one of the finished projects.  Mine is buried somewhere partially completed.  This may inspire me to find it and finish it!

Check out the sweet little needle felted cardinal in his pocket!

Happy Sunday and stay cool.  The heat wave is coming to a large part of the country.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Outside My Comfort Zone ~ Day 3

I must say, I almost didn't sign up for Ali Strebel's class because our hooking styles are worlds apart.  I must admit, though, I am most happy I did and thoroughly enjoyed the class.  Ali is an excellent teacher and I would recommend her to any style of hooker.

Here are the projects from class in no particular order.  Somehow I missed one hooker's piece.  So sorry, Sharon 😥  If you enlarge the pictures, you can see the variety of methods and fibers.

close up of details from above pic

The only thing I added to my little piece today are the 3 leaves, called standing wool.  For you hookers out there, standing wool is making round quillies and manipulating them in to other shapes.  Three leaves to go then on to the background.  I must say I am very pleased with it.  Thank you, Ali!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Outside My Comfort Zone ~ Day 2

As I said, Ali Strebel is the queen of working with alternative hooking methods and fibers.  Here are some examples that clearly show what I am talking about.

I just love the finishing technique on this little mat.

Ali hooked this from a photograph of her dad.  He is even wearing wire rimmed glasses.  Absolutely amazing!!!

My progress after two days.  The center of the sunflower is clipped loops (though hard to tell because of the wool I chose) and the round blue flowers are little needle felted "pillows" sewn on with a narrow wool strip.  The only thing left to plan are the leaves and we have a idea for those.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Outside My Comfort Zone ~ Day 1

IMHO, Ali Strebel is the queen of hooking with alternative fibers using many different techniques.  She never just hooks a rug with pulled loops like I do.  Here she is demonstrating needle felting dots on top of an area that is hooked.

With Ali's guidance and encouragement, I am determined to try different things in my little mat.  The top rim of my basket has been appliqued.  The stem is a technique called caterpillar shirring and the berries are fabric bundle shirring.  Whew!  She is challenging me!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Sunday Snippets ~

Yesterday I vended at a small hook in.  Hooker Susanne hosts it annually, generally about 35 of mostly the same people every year.  Always a top notch affair.  I came home with a couple yards of wool (surprised😁?) and a bit of cash in my pocket so it was a good day.  No pictures to share.

Many of you hookers will be familiar with Ali Strebel.  I have a 3 day class with her this week.  She is a lot of fun, but our hooking styles are worlds apart.  She hooks with lots of alternative items and incorporates quillies, couching, needle felting, etc. in her pieces.  I am a just a wool hooker who pulls loops.  It will definitely be a learning experience for me.  I purchased this small 12" x 15" pattern from her a few months ago.

I have been binding Askew and am probably more than 50% done.  I will be happy when that is finally finished.

I am also back to hooking my camp rug.  I have been outlining all the motifs with my background wool.  For now I am going to leave that bright blue in, but will try coffee staining it later and if that doesn't help, will reverse hook it.  Even though I took the rug outside to try to get a decent color representation, it just isn't right 😡

Enjoy your Sunday.  A gorgeous day here on Ohio's north coast.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Technology is NOT my Friend ~

Tonight I am NOT doing a happy dance.  I have so many pictures I wanted to share of my yard, but I have been fighting with my computer for the last hour and a half and it will not let me upload the pictures to the blog.  I give up 😡

Random pictures in no particular order.

This is kind of creepy!  Found two of them in the flower bed today.  I think they are half of a walnut shell.

I recently bought this old kerosene lamp planted with a couple hen and chicks.  I hung it in the tree knowing I would probably bang my head . . . and yup, I did . . .  and probably said more than a few bad words.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Doing a Happy Dance ~

Askew is finally finished . . . at least the hooking part.  I had my doubts it would ever be done.  It is 29" x 45" ~ really big for me.  Not my largest, but close.  This was a "worm buster" project.  Except for "darks", which I ran low on and had to cut, it was hooked entirely with already cut worms or narrow pieces of wool.  It made a dent in the worms, but by no means have I run out.  As any hooker will tell you, they multiply while we sleep.

Hopefully now I will have time to work on my camp rug 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren