Progress ~

 

 

I know I must say it every month, but I can't believe how time is flying by.  How can it possibly be Thanksgiving next week?  My niece and family will be in from Chicago.  She and hubby started the tradition before they were even married and have not missed one yet.  It's been 15+ years.  Unfortunately because of the cost of airfare, my California son won't be here for Thanksgiving but he did find a super deal for mid-December so we will have an early celebration with him then :)

 

Hooking has been slow going, but I am getting close to finishing Ned.  I finally reverse hooked the stem, leaves and flower pot and am much happier with it.

 

 

I have been crazy busy and barely have time to breathe.  Tomorrow DSO and I are heading to Michigan.  There's some shelving he wants from Ikea and then we will have dinner with his daughter before heading home.  Saturday is an ornament class with Rebekah L. Smith and Sunday we're heading to Erie, PA, for Cirque du Soleil.  It is a retirement gift from my boss and my co-worker.  What a cool gift :)  Speaking of retirement gifts, yesterday I had lunch with dear friend Dolly (who adopted one of my foster pugs and even though dear Eema passed away long ago, remains a dear, dear friend).  She gifted me these three pieces of treen to add to my collection.  Such a thoughtful gift.  You can read more about my treenware collection here.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Crazy Ohio Weather ~

I'm not complaining.  I'll take it.  Our weather has been beautiful.  I mowed the lawn today.  Not that it needed it, but it is much easier than raking :)  Being only two blocks from Lake Erie is advantageous in the fall as we get a frost/freeze later than inland.  I still have a few flowers blooming.  Friday they are predicting a high of 70* with sunshine ~ and a possibility of snow on Sunday.  Welcome to Ohio.

 

Here are my goodies purchased at From Our Hands and Hearts.

 

This sweet little chair was one of a pair.  Friend Melissa purchased the other one.  Also got that wonderful stack of blue homespun and a couple linen towels.

 

 

This nubby linen (?) towel measure 24" x 30 1/2".  I have no idea what I will do with it (I really don't have a place in the kitchen to hang it) but my younger son is Jason Thomas so I could not resist.

 

 

I was so excited to find some featheredge.  It's not often I add to my collection.  From a child's play set the plate measures only 4 1/2" in diameter.  It is in excellent condition with just a couple tiny flea bites.  The little platter measures 8 1/2" wide.  It has lots of flea bites and small chips, but I've never come across a child's platter before.  The next day dealer Donna (Antiques on the Ridge in North Ridgeville, OH) brought the tureen and of course could not leave it behind.  

 

 

I now have an official collection of pinkeeps (3) from Lanna Omlor, Humble Rugs.  She is the talented sister of Lori Ann Corelis.

 

 

I also got a punch needle pattern and floss keeper from Lori Brechlin and some beautifully dyed velveteen from Stacy Nash.  All in all I'd say I got some wonderful goodes :)

 

Bobbie gifted me with this wonderful box from Lisa Evans, Folk for All Seasons.  What a perfect retirement gift!  I will put it to good use.

 

 

Grandson Jake had his first sixth grade orchestra concert this evening.  He is playing the cello.  What fun!  I know nothing about music and never played an instrument so am so happy he has the opportunity to learn.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Day After ~

From Our Hands & Hearts is now just a great memory.  Fun to spend two days with friends Bobbie and Melissa selling our goods and finding treasures to bring home.  So many wonderful vendors.  If money was no object . . . sigh . . . I'd need to rent a truck to bring it all home :)

 

The artwork of Lori Brechlin greeted you as you walked in the door.

Our booth ~

Lori Ann Corelis ~ The Spotted Hare

How could you not fall in love with this face?

Rebekah L. Smith ~ Folk Artist

I LOVED this box.  An eagle from an antique coverlet.  Thankfully it sold quickly :)

C. Yenke Co.

Shooner American Redware

Christine Miller ~ Antiques and Folk Are (Rebekah's talented mother)

Kelsey A. Smith (Rebekah's talented daughter)

Lori Brechlin ~ Notforgotten Farm

 

Dean Hicks Antiques

Marta Urban

 

Oh my goodness.  There are so many booths that I did not take a picture of :(  Stacy Nash had the booth next to us.  She had a beautiful display and was just sweet as can be.  Melissa, Bobbie and I purchased many things from Antiques on the Ridge and you guessed it ~ no picture. 

 

I will share a few of my new/old treasures in my next post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

 

Veterans Day ~

Please don't forget to thank a Veteran for their service to this great country of ours. 

 

Remember ~

If you can read this, thank a teacher. 

If you are reading this in English, thank a veteran.



From Our Hands is finally here.  It is a show not to be missed.  I am honored (along with friends Melissa and Bobbie) to be asked once again to participate.  If you get the opportunity to attend, you will not be disappointed.

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

A Terrible Problem to Have ~

Too many finished rugs :)

 

On vacation I hooked three rugs.  Only the smallest has been bound.  These two need a good steaming and then the binding.  You all know how much I love binding rugs . . . sigh . . . and the majority of you feel the same way.  I was doing a good job keeping up until these.

And then this.  I finished dog and two crows, based on an antique by Magdalena Briner Eby.  One more to add to the binding pile.

More progress has been made on Ned, though I thought I would be further along.  Remember I am hooking this mostly in a 9.5 so it hooks up rather quickly.  As you can see I not only changed the butterfly to a flower in a pot, I am also eliminating the flower under his body.

I hope everyone has exercised their right to vote today.  I believe this is the most important election of our lifetime.  Our great country as we know it may be forever changed and that makes me extremely sad.  May God Bless this great Land that I so love.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Class Pictures ~

 

 

 

Our group picture from the Caroline Twigg, Eagles Nest Woolens class.  I think everyone just loved it.

 

 

The last afternoon we had a throw down to show progress that was made.

That's Caroline on the left and friend Kaye on the right.  Caroline just had the nicest things to say about everyone's rugs.

Kaye's rug.  Pattern by Maggie Bonanomi.  She had some of it hooked before class and she must be the queen of reverse hooking, but when done, her rug will be magnificent :)

 

Some of Caroline's rugs.  Sorry the color is so washed out.

If you plan to attend the ATHA biennial in Cleveland next October, Caroline will be teaching.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Ned ~

Great progress was made on Ned in my class with Caroline Twigg of Eagles Nest Woolens.  I'd forgotten how much one can get hooked when using a 9.5 cut of wool. 

 

Day 1 ~



Day 2 ~ not as much progress as I had hoped for :)

 

Day 3 and today's guild meeting ~

Some of the wools I'm using.  The grayish wool to the left is called Magdalena stripe and is the main body of Ned.  The wool to the right is the background around Ned.  When I see the wool, I see green but Caroline did not and after hooking a bit of it, I see more of a neutral color.  The two middle wools are the two outside borders and are more subtle than they look in the picture above.

Before the start of class, I told Caroline I might be hooking Ned so she brought along her hubby's rug.  Yes, hubby is a hooker, too.  When I saw his version, I had an aha moment.  I never did like the butterfly and when I saw Ned sniffing a posie, I knew that was what I wanted to do.  I am going to reverse hook a bit of the pot.  Looks a little too perfect.

The class was wonderful and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to take it.  Caroline is a GREAT teacher and I will share more in the next post.  I'm off to pull a few loops ~ on my Magdalena rug.  I am SO close to being finished.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren