Piddly Stuff ~

At the hooking retreat, I worked on piddly stuff but feel I got lots accomplished :)

I bound the little mat for the footstool and even got it labeled.

I also got the binding done on the Tree of Life.

I hooked a little pumpkin mat that will also go to the recipient of the footstool.  Hopefully I will also get some other seasonal ones hooked so she can switch them out.

I started Jack's Crow, a fun little pattern by Winter Cottage that can be found here.

ACK!  What's with the new blogger interface?  I hate change :(

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and staying healthy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Almost Heaven ~

 ~HOOKER HEAVEN ~

We are known as the Twenty Dollar Hookers and just spent three + days hooking in Millersburg, Ohio.  Friendship.  Laughter.  Lots of laughter.  I laughed more in the last few days than I have in the last 6 months.  

As usual, I took very few pictures.  Here are a couple rugs being worked on.  

Tammy's antique sheep.  Pattern by the Wool'n Gardner.  This pattern is HUGE!

Melissa's rug.  Pattern by Red Barn Rugs and started in a class with Cathy Stephan.

Tanya's completed antique sheep pattern.

She is an over achiever :)  The next two rugs are also hers.

Lee's fun rug.

Heidi needle felted the snake about an inch high.  I love that green against the white and black.

Another of Heidi's rugs.

This statue was in front of the courthouse near the hotel.  I thought we should try to topple it with wool . . . lol.  When I told my boys I was attending a hookers' protest, my younger son told me to make sure we broke a few windows and burned a police car or two so that people would believe it's a peaceful protest.  Out of the mouths of babes . . . but this babe is 39 years old :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Three Rows it is ~

Thank you for your input.  The consensus was three rows of red and I agree.  All ready for binding.  Hopefully I will have time at the protest to get it bound.

A couple readers inquired as to how I attach the mat to the footstool.  I don't.  I just set it on top.  Crow's Foot Farm said she has used nails and hid the heads in between the loops.

Here are two footstools in my living room.  I hooked this one . . . 

. . . but bought this horse mat on eBay many years ago.

A few random pictures from around the yard this morning.

I really need to think about packing my clothes.  Hooking stuff is ready (except for the color planning of a little mat . . . sigh).  That's the important stuff, right?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Hookers' Protest ~

Thursday I am off for the 3rd annual hooking retreat in Millersburg, OH.  (Edited . . . I forgot to mention it is for FOUR days.)  Since even small gatherings are discouraged and frowned upon, friend Lynn who put it all together is calling it a hookers' protest, since thousands can protest and that seems to be OK.  (Am I being politically incorrect once again?)

I am not taking anything too exciting to work on.  I will bind the mat for the footstool.  I should finish the border on the Tree of Life this evening and will take that to bind, too.  I was just going to put two rows of red . . . 

. . . but now in looking at the picture, I am leaning towards three.  Opinions, please!

Also planning on taking a couple little fall pieces to work on.  Like I said, nothing too exciting and no brainer kind of stuff.

In the last couple of days, the crickets have started chirping like crazy.  To me, that is a harbinger of fall :(

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Last Minute Gift ~

Here is the footstool I purchased not long ago.  So happy I did because I need a birthday present for my brother's DSO ~ fast.  I was cross stitching that mermaid piece, but put it down in disgust weeks ago.  

This is the little mat I hooked for the top.  Once I chose the colors (agonized and changed my mind countless times ~ it should NOT be that difficult) it hooked up quickly. 

Of course, binding still must be done :(  Then it's on to finish the Tree of Life.  I have been working on that, too, and it is nearing completion.

I received many comments on my last post from no reply-comment bloggers.  Just want you to know I appreciated them but cannot respond to you.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

What has happened to Freedom of Speech?

I am not on Facebook that often and occasionally will share a post or post something hooking related.  I am currently part of the 7 day rug challenge.

I recently shared a post that some people did not agree with regarding mail in voting.  That is fine.  This is America.  You have the right to disagree . . . at least that is what I believe.  Is there only freedom of speech if I agree with you?

If there is a way to prove who you are, I have no problem with mail in voting.  I have to prove who I am to board an airplane so why not prove who I am to vote?  A woman I have known for 30+ years took exception to my post.  She sent me a private message stating that if I was not on the same political side as she is to unfriend her.  I responded back that I am not that shallow but she could unfriend me if she so chose.  Yep.  She did.  The thing I find most ironic is the fact that she spent her entire career in journalism (an assistant editor of a local paper for many years) and isn't the #1 thing of journalists freedom of speech?  

I am curious as to what you have to say regarding mail in voting.  You may agree or disagree.  That is the beauty of America.

~GOD BLESS AMERICA ~

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Fini ~

Chilly is done ~ except for the label.  I'm not sure why it took me almost two weeks to bind and sew on the buttons for the mouth.  I will blame it on my funk.  Yes!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

To attach the star, I used a dab of E6000 glue and some twine.  I then used a double knot on the backside of the mat to hold in place.  It's the best way I could think of.  Anyone have a better idea?

Just over a week ago I went to the Chinese Market.  Darn.  There I go being politically incorrect once again.  It was the rescheduled Vintage Market.  The majority of the items were from China and definitely not vintage.  Of course I did find a couple vintage items to come home with me.  I have so many picnic baskets like this.  One of these days I will hook a little mat for the top of each and give them as gifts.  Probably when hell freezes over :)  Well, this little cutie is just 9" wide and 4" tall.  Too cute.  Not sure what I will do with it.

Also found this 2 gallon crock.  Nothing special but for $12 it was worth bringing home.

Last week went to a shop called Useful Junk, about 45 minutes south of me.  For many years I would pass it and never stopped.  A few years ago I finally stopped and what a fun little shop.  Kind of hit or miss but great prices.  I found a wooden footstool.  I will hook a mat for the top . . . soon . . . and give as a birthday present.  The recipient was to receive the mermaid cross stitch piece, but I am so disgusted with it I haven't touched it in weeks.

Patti ~ a new rug hooker left me a few comments, but I can't respond to her directly since she is a no reply-comment blogger.  I must say, I like the way you think :)  Have you found Saundra's blog?  She is a great one to answer any newbie questions you may have.

That's about it.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren