Jeepers Creepers ~

 

 

Do you hear them peepers?  For the last week when I've walked Ellie in the morning, I've heard the peepers.  A sure sign of spring . . . . along with the first of the daffodils I've forced to bloom.  I pick them when they are only a few inches tall and it is amazing how much and how quickly they grow in water.

 

 

Last evening I headed an hour south to hook with the Hidden Hills hookers.  It was a rainy drive down ~ which in daylight wasn't too bad, but an unpleasant drive home in the dark.  Oh, I must be getting old.  Driving in the rain at night never used to bother me . . . sigh.

 

It was worth the trip.  I finally started sewing the braid on my snowman.  I got most of it done there and finished the rest when I got home.  I think it looks pretty good, don't you?  I will post another picture when it is totally done.

 

 

These are some very talented ladies.  So much eye candy :)

 

So happy today is POETS day.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

An AMAZING Rug ~

 

HAPPY FRIDAY and the start of a 3 day weekend for me.  No big plans, but an extra day off does the heart good.

 

I must share this amazing rug.  I wish I had a better picture and some close up shots.  This is Gail's first completed rug.  It is her own design and her hooking is absolute perfection.  It is perfectly flat and has not yet been steamed.  Every loop is the same height.  I'm guessing it was hooked in a 4 and a 6 cut.  Just breathtaking.  This gal is one fine hooker :)

 

I received this sweet heart from Julia in South Carolina.  I have made so many friendships because of this blog.  It is hanging in my hooking room where I can admire it daily.

 

Beautiful stitches.  Thanks so much Julia ~ for this heart and for your friendship.

I have no braided edge to share with you.  I got the wool strips braided, but made an error in joining the ends of the braid in to a circle.  Teacher Sue is coming to my rescue and is going to fix it for me.  By the time the error was discovered, it was already 8:30 and I still had an hour drive home.  Me thinks you will need to find a You Tube video because there is no way I can 'splain it to you.  So sorry :(

 

Just a reminder that there are still a couple more days to enter my give-away.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Bound and Determined ~

 

 

I finally got my Kelley Belfast snowman bound this evening as he needs to be completed by this weekend and tomorrow night after work I'm off for my annual mammogram and then to another Christmas with DSO and his family.  Saturday morning it's off to wrap gifts at Barnes & Noble to benefit Ohio Pug Rescue.  We do very well and last year broke the $1000 mark in donations.  Such a busy time of year.  I think (HOPE) I bought my last present this evening, but I need to check my list to be sure.  Since I only have one grandchild, every time I am shopping I seem to find something else for him.  That's what grandmas are for, right?

 

Here's a picture of the backside - bound in the background wool.  I'll share a picture of the front after  he gets a light steaming and his rusty bell added.  I'll have to add a label at a later date.

 

Next up is binding my challenge rug . . .

 

. . . so that I can start another little snowman mat.  (Pattern by Katie Alman ~ Kid'l de Divey Woolens.)  The Hidden Hills Hookers meet monthly.  This is an optional pattern to hook and then in January we are going to learn how to finish a rug with a braided edge.  I've seen it done before, but have never done it.  I bought some grungy sparkly wool to use.  That will be a first for me. 

 

 

Here are a few of our overachievers who had theirs already hooked when we met in earlier in December. 

 

A cheesy plastic Santa in my hooking room . . .

 

. . . and a tinsel tree with only lights.  

Ceramic Santa painted by my mom.  One of my prized Christmas decorations.  

She did beautiful work. 

A surprise was in my mailbox this week.  This darling cupboard tuck smelling of balsam.  Sweet, isn't it?  Thanks so much Debbie.  You made my day.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Not According to Plan ~

 

My plan this weekend was to

• bind Old Tom
• finish Eke and Zeke
• start pulling wools for my challenge rug.

Well . . . I did bind Old Tom . . .

. . . and then I got sidetracked.  I thought it would be fun to hook a few sunflowers and put them on an old bedspring.  The other night hooking with at Hidden Hills Hookers, I was inspired by Deb's sunflower. 

 

 

I guessed the diameter of the center and started hooking.  When I finally added the proddy petals, I discovered that it is too big for the spring.  I guess these three will end of being table mats.  Because of the way I hooked the center, I just can't remove the outer row.  The overall diameter is about nine inches.

 

I used three different golds for the petals.  Fun to do and it hooks up quickly.

 

We've had some beautiful fall weather.  I wish it could go on like this until spring.  A hooker can dream, n'est pa?

 

Ellie is curled up on her usual spot on the couch soaking up a little sun.  She's not a wintertime gal, either.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Finally Friday ~

 

 

Last evening the Hidden Hills Hookers met.  Here are a few projects that were shared.

 

The three dog rugs were hooked in a class with Donna Hrkman.

 

The next two rugs are from a class with Connie Bradley.

 

Sunday I was supposed to leave for a hooking retreat but unfortunately it was cancelled.  Was it karma ??? that I was then asked to vend at a show in Mt. Vernon, OH on Sunday.  Not a primitive or antique show, just an eclectic group of sellers.  If you are in the area, please stop by.  Please also pray for good weather :)

Just a few of the things I will take with me.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren