Back to Reality ~

I'm home from another fun retreat/hook in!  Sue and I headed to Shipshewana for a couple days of hooking and camaraderie.  Pop on over to her blog to see the vendor booths (but ignore the last picture!!!).

Attendees were asked to bring a completed project or two to share and it didn't have to be a hooked item.  Here is a sampling of the hooked pieces.

This is just too sweet.

Check out the little knitting needles and knitted piece.

Sue's fun purse, beautifully finished.

My rug in the show.

This Santa rug got Best of Show and the People's Choice Award!  Deservedly so!

Punch needle pieces ~

The punch needle version of Proud Lion which I am hooking.

Needle felted.  This must have taken forever.  I'm guessing it was nearly an inch thick.

And last but not least, a mixed media piece.

More to share in my next post.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Three Finishes ~

 

The last day of March!!!  As I say every month, time is flying by at warp speed 😏

Miss March Hare is bound and labeled and given to my sister-in-law.  The background is much more subtle in person.

Same with Ezra's Farm.  I actually changed out a rug that was hanging in the dining room and here it is.

I had another punch needle piece finished years ago, and he's the perfect topper for a cigar box.  I left the box labels intact.  Wasn't how sure how well they would come off.  I tried removing a label from another box and a little sticky residue was left.  When I tried to remove the sticky, the paint started coming off.  

And the inside!

Just call me bad.  I still need to purge and purge and purge, but none has happened in the last couple of weeks.  It is on "THE LIST" to get back to it.  Well . . . the other day I went to an antique and primitive sale held one weekend a month (March to October?) about an hour from home.  I had seen this crock in the pre-sale video and was hoping it would be sold by the time I got to there mid-afternoon.  Darn.  It was still there.  It is a small Donaghho crock, I'm guessing a half gallon.  It has a huge chip on the rim but it displays well.  I'm sure you've figured out it came home with me.  "Antique pox.  A disease for which there is no cure . . . except to buy more." 😁

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Door Prize ~

 

Crooked River Rug Hookers has traditionally used small mats hooked (or appliqued, punched, etc) by members as door prizes for our fall hook in.  This year member Rita came up with the great idea of decorating cigar boxes in the medium of your choice . . . hooked, appliqued, punched, etc.  A cigar shop near her sells the boxes for $5 each with all proceeds going to the local humane society.  The more boxes sold, the less that end up in a dumpster and a win for the homeless furkids.

Here is my first one.  I punched the piece years ago and never fully finished it.  For me, it's the journey and not the destination.  The "destination" was the perfect box topper.

I decided to add something to the inside, and thought a scrap book page of men's sweaters was a perfect complement to the guy theme.

The backside of the lid had an area where the graphic had been torn, so voila!  A Tim Holtz cutout was the perfect camouflage!

Not bad if I do say so myself 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Stitching in Millersburg ~

Miller(sburg) time is always a good time, and my weekend retreat did not disappoint.  So much talent gathered in one room.  There were hookers, cross stitchers, needle punchers and one friend working on redwork . . . but in blue.  Sorry I did not get a picture of that.  Here is just a sampling of what was being worked in.

Jo punches so close together you would never know this is the back side!

This was being hooked with hand dyed chenille.  Oh, what a mess that makes, but such a soft look.

I worked on The Poser for the first time since my class in June.  I got just a bit done on the left wing, hooked the leaves and stems and worked some on the flowers.

Vending went well.  I just never know what to expect.  Five of my six applique pumpkins on antique coverlets sold, but not even one hooked piece 😟.  Oh well, oh hell!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Women's Vote Centennial ~

Another Sauder Feature Exhibit was devoted to the Women's Vote Centennial.  What a variety of rugs!

A few examples of rugs with braiding.

Punch needle was also an exhibit this year.  I believe it was the first time.

I think this about sums up 2020 . . . though 2021 may not end up much better 😖

By the time I finish sharing Sauder rugs, you will be sick of seeing them!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren