It's over ~

Hopefully now I can breathe and work on some things I really want to work on . . . but I do have a few small things I must hook.  Hook in door prize mats, a thank you gift, thinking of you gift.  Always  something, and it's about five weeks until I am vending at a hook in.  I need to inventory to see what I need to make, but I'm thinking it's not too much (fingers crossed!).

The show was good.  I did not do as well as I did at the fall show, but I didn't expect to.  I had many fewer antique items to offer.  I am not a dealer and not purchasing items to resell, nor do I plan to.  Just trying to get rid of the excess stuff I have that I never use/display.

Here are a few pictures from the booth (though you may have already seen some of them on Sue's blog).

Things that I thought would sell did not . . . and other items that sold surprised me.  About half my profits came from hooked items so I'm happy I took the time to make them.  Of course, I don't command the high dollar that more well known hookers make.  But no complaints from me.  Now I have some "fun money" to buy more antiques and wool 😁.  I did buy just a few things at the show (and one great gift that I can't share at this time).  

I have a "thing" about little wooden totes and this one divided in to four sections had to come home with me.  I waited until the show was minutes from being over . . . trying to talk myself out of it.  The old quilt hearts were from Sue.  

There were a few other items I considered buying but by the time I decided I really wanted them, they had already sold.  They weren't meant to be!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Springtime in Ohio ~

DSO got his fountain going early this year.  Perhaps a bit too early.  The robin perched on the frozen fountain cracked me up.

A few more things I've made for vending this Saturday.  I haven't a clue if any will sell, but one never knows.

A few more boxes.

And the last couple finishes!!!

Another large heart on a piece of barn siding.

And yet another Happy Birthday America piece.

Easter has been put away but I need to re-decorate the house.  And now just must gather everything up for vending.  As always, I will be glad when it is over and done with 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

My Booth ~

 

My booth space ended up being larger than anticipated, so I have this huge "dead" space in the middle.  I did set some things aside and am taking an additional table tomorrow that I will put in the booth.

Some closer ups . . . 

Those white pegboards belong to the vendor behind me.
I should have asked him if I could use them for display!

I am hoping I will sell, sell, sell, but realistically I know I will have plenty to pack up and bring home.  Two vehicle loads are in my booth and my sister-in-law will come to the show and take what won't fit in my Rogue.  The show is very primitive and my items for the most part are not, so hoping there are buyers who are looking for other things.  I took a number of hooked pieces, priced lower than the "going rate", and will be surprised if any of them sell.  One just never knows what buyers are looking for . . . sigh.

Wish me luck!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Almost Ready ~

 

I am almost ready for vending at the Gathered Treasures show in Mansfield, OH, on Saturday..  Just need to pack the Rogue and head out tomorrow to set up, about an hour and a half from home.  One load had already been left at Sue's who lives nearby.

I will be so happy to finally have this mess out of the living room area.

I have absolutely no idea what may or may not sell.  I am taking a few of my hooked pieces, priced lower than the "going rate", and will be very surprised if any of them sell.

At the last minute I decided to make some wall pouches from antique coverlet pieces.  A few of them I dyed to tone down the colors a bit.  I also wanted to make a few Christmas stockings, but just ran out of time 😧

I hope everyone (at least in my neck of the woods) is enjoying the beautiful weather.  I am trying to talk myself in to going out and mowing one more time.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Sunday Stuff ~

Yesterday's hook in was great fun!  Susanne does an excellent job of hosting it.  A one woman hooker operation.  Sales were okay for such a small hook in.  Funny, though.  Most everyone is a repeat attendee to various hook ins where I have vended, so many have purchased my silverplate items in the past.  Thankfully I brought a little vintage cupboard, drawer, and a few lidded baskets.  They made up the bulk of my sales.  Any sales are better than none to help me support my habit 😁

At Crooked River guild the other day, we had a member sale.  I got the deal of the decade on a Beeline floor frame.  In the twenty years I have been hooking, I have tried a couple floor frames that just did not work out for me.  I gave this one a "test hook" the other night, and I think this just may work.  My Snapdragon lap frame works well (I have never gotten around to having DSO mount it to a floor frame) but for bigger rugs I just have trouble with all the excess linen on a lap frame.

If you have Netflix, watch Nonnas.  What a delightful movie based on a true story!  Toward the end of the movie in a group scene at the restaurant, look for the grey haired guy clapping behind the actor who has the lead roll.  He is the real Joey the movie is based on.  I just found it a wonderful, feel good movie.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Great Lakes Rug Hook In ~

Susanne keeps her hook in small by design.  It is the same vendors each year and pretty much the same group of hookers.  She is so gracious and considers us family.  Isn't that sweet?

Of course I failed to take pictures other than a few of my booth.

I was pleased with my sales.  I sold very few of my silverplate items, but other items that don't normally sell well did.  When you vend, you just never know what will people will be buying.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

The Secret is Out ~

Rug hookers are familiar with Rug Week at Sauder Village held every August.  It is the holy grail of rug hooking.

The 2022 class and vendor list was published yesterday.  Guess who is on the list?

Oh, it was so hard to keep this secret for so long!  Melissa and I are beyond excited having been asked to vend.  I know what I am going to be doing all winter!!!

Remember the rusty bicycle I pulled from a dumpster down the street?  I finally got it in the yard.  For now a pumpkin will suffice, but need to find a basket to fill with greens for the Christmas season.

We had our first flurries today.  The first couple hours it did not stick, then starting hanging around, and then melted.  I am ready for spring.  Anyone else with me?

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

This 'n That ~

WOW!  We are already in to the second week of September.  The days are changing much too quickly for my liking.  Chilly in the morning, warm during the day, and getting dark oh so early.  The gardens are looking tired and the annuals even more so.  Thankfully the deer waited until last week to start eating my large hostas.

Soon this will be just a fond memory of summer.

Tomorrow, hooker/vendor partner in crime Melissa and I are leaving bright and early for the Woolkeepers hook in in Danville, Indiana, a five hour trip.  It is a Friday eve/Saturday hook in.  Wish us good sales!  I have been busy making more of the applique pumpkins.  With my luck, this time they won't sell 😁  One just never knows what will.  These appear so simple, but they take much more time than I would have imagined.

I am so afraid for our country.  As you are all aware, Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our beloved country.  With all that has transpired in the last month, I am terrified.  I can remember exactly where I was when the first news came out about a plane hitting the World Trade Center, and I watched in horror as the second tower was hit.  For a couple days I was glued to the TV when not at work, but had to stop watching because I cried nonstop.  I am even getting teary eyed just writing about it.  Please pray for our Country.

May God Bless America

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Catching Up ~ This 'n That

Total randomness today ~

Every 9-11 I post asking that one NEVER forgets what happened to this great Land of ours that day.  I was out of town on the 11th, so better late than never.

Tomorrow fall will officially arrive.  So not happy (like I can do anything about it).  Picture snagged from the internet.

Yesterday was a near perfect day.  A little hot but with a wonderful breeze, hooking on the shores of Lake Erie for the day was heaven.  A small hook in put on by an individual, it is always a first class event.  Thank you, Rita, for this wonderful day.

She kindly asks me to vend each year.  It is so nice because I get to sit and hook all day and people track me down if they want to purchase something :)   A  couple close ups of my goods.

I did some goldenrod dyeing.  I forgot to take a picture before soaking, so here is one of the wet wool.

It's hard to see the difference, but the wool is a subtle yellow color.

After having been MIA for quite some time, my frog has returned.  Marly reports that it's a lithobates clamitans and by its coloring is a female.  Thanks, Marly.  Glad she is back :)

So hard to believe but it's been THREE years since my retirement.  Time flies when you are having fun and I'm having a ball :)

Last but not least.  I have a guest today.  She loves to follow the sun around the dining room.  What a cutie patootie.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren