Little Mats ~

 

Ohio's Buckeye Rug Hooking Guild is collecting non seasonal mug rugs to be donated to a facility in Dublin, Ohio.  This project is all about sharing our love of rug hooking and sharing kindness with others.  I drew up a couple simple designs on a small piece of linen.  I decided to add a wool backing rather than binding them since they will be used as mug mats.  The little tulip is about 5" x 5 1/4" and the bird is 4 1/2" x 6 1/4".  These had to be hooked in an 8 cut which I now consider a fine cut . . . lol.  Hopefully I will finish the bird this evening.

 

I pin.  I baste.  And I still sew the labels on crooked :)

 

I didn't want to waste the remaining linen or have to add on to it to fit on the rug frame, so I drew a little 3 penny rug to hook with a few leftover worms.  It measures 5 3/4" x 13 1/4".

 

 

Now that all my hooking "obligations" are finished (challenge rug, Christmas in July and mug mats), I need to get busy hooking a gift.  I have chosen Maple Sugar Hearts, from the book American Folk Art Rug Hooking by Barbara Carroll. 

 

 

That's it folks.  Nothing fun or exciting to write about.  All work (well, almost) and no play makes Lauren a dull, dull hooker.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Meet Betty ~

Betty came to live with me a few weeks ago.  She was purchased from Tweedthistle Primitives.  An old dress form, she no longer wears her fabric covering, but I thought she was pretty cool and will make a good necklace display piece at shows.  I was told I might want to tuck her somewhere as she has been known to spook a few people when you forget she is in the room :)  For now, she is residing in the hooking room. 

 

I also purchased this wonderful wagon the same day Betty came home with me.  Though I'm sure it's been repainted, it is a wonderful blue color on the outside and red inside.  Taken with a flash, this pic is washed out . . .

. . . but a little too dark without.

Thanks to Lori and Janice for identifying this colorful creature as a webworm :) 

I've hooked a couple little mini mats that I will share soon, but no other hooking going on.  I really must get back in the swing of things.  I've signed up for a 3 day retreat at the end of August which should inspire me.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Milestone ~

 

DSO celebrated a milestone birthday this week.  A (not quite) surprise party was thrown.  He knew something was up, but a friend of mine totally blew it just before the party was to start. 

 

I bought this wonderful birdbath at an antique shop that is going out of business.  Though not old, I fell in love with it and bought it.  Then it dawned on me that it is concrete and weighs a ton.  I was almost afraid to tell DSO about it, but he was such a sport.  Thankfully there was a guy at the shop to help him load it and when we got to my house, he had a ramp system that made it so easy to put in place.  It is never going to move :)  I look forward to next year when the hostas and ferns will mature.

 

I've purchased a few of these concrete leaves as gifts over the years, but never had one for myself.  I found this at a sale a few weeks ago.

 

The clematis were beautiful this year.

 

These hosta were gorgeous ~ until yesterday when the deer discovered them.  ARGH!  I found a recipe for homemade deer repellant (eggs, hot sauce and garlic powder).  Even though it is supposed to sit for 24 hours to get really stinky, I applied immediately.  I will make another batch and hopefully the deer will not bother them any more.  I live in the city but with woods nearby, and the deer are a real problem.

A hen having chicks :)

 

Not sure what this is and haven't done a search.  Sure hope it's nothing bad.  Anyone know?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Another Binding Technique ~

Jennie was asking how I finished a rug using 4 separate pieces of wool.  I don't know if this is a "proper" binding technique.  I am not good at easing around corners if using one long strip of wool, so this works better for me.  This is how it looks from the front.  The strips were just sewn on in the usual way. 

 

Sometimes I whip stitch the corners before sewing down the binding.  I think it makes is it a bit easier.

 

I then whip stitch two opposite sides.

 

I then sew the other sides.  You can just fold over flat if you wish.

 

Sometimes I create a "fake" miter.

 

 

All done ~ except for the label.  This will be displayed at Sauder Village during rug week, the first time I will have a rug in the show.  Oh, the colors are so much better in person!

 

 

After my California trip, I posted pictures of this plant.  Several of you wondered what it was.  After a Google search and consulting with someone from California, I found it is called an Echium Candidan.  Very cool and most unusual.

 

 

I went to an antique show yesterday.  Nothing special came home with me (frowny face), but this was one of the coolest things I've ever seen at a show.  In 30+ years of antiquing, this was a first.  It is a wooden dog crate.  I absolutely fell in love with it.  Thankfully it was sold when I went back to look because I was so tempted to bring it home with me, but it was WAY MORE than I was willing to pay.  What a conversation piece!

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Christmas in July ~

Crooked River Rug Hookers guild is having a Christmas in July celebration at the end of the month.  There is an optional mat swap if you wish to participate.  I hooked a design called Marshmallow by Tina Payton from the February 2008 issue of Create & Decorate magazine.  The finished size is approximately 11" x 11 1/2".

I love how this wool hooked up for the background.

I think he came out kinda cute.

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

God Bless America ~

~ Land that I LOVE ~

Happy birthday America

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

 

 

Lauren

And So It Continues ~

July.  As always, I am asking how did that happen.  Do you feel the same way?

 

Well, my Social Security debacle continues.  As you may recall, I am trying to get one form processed.  Well, early June I am told the form was entered incorrectly (it was turned in September 5).  Gee, the guy handling my claim told me that back in February but obviously never followed through nor called me back as promised.  It took me until last Friday to get an appointment to actually speak with him in person.  Bottom line, my calculations are correct on the amount I believe I am owed.  SO . . . the form will be processed and I should get the $$ within 15 days . . . but I have an another appointment scheduled at the end of the month, JUST IN CASE.  Can you say frustrated?  Whine over.

 

I finally have a couple finishes to share.  Not much hooking has been accomplished.  A long while ago, Kim wanted to know how I finished a rug with this edge. 

I started taking pictures of the process, but then it was so long between steps, I forgot to take additional ones.  Anyway . . . I will try to explain. 

 

Depending on how wide your binding is, trim the excess linen.  I always zig zag so that it does not fray. 

 I then attach the binding.  In this case I used wool that coordinated with the background.

 

 

Rather than turning the binding flush with the last row, I left about 3/8" showing on the front . .

 

 

. . . and whip stitched it down on the back.

 

 

I also finished my first Christmas present by whipping the edges with chunky wool yarn.

 

 

I still need to finish tacking down the binding on my Crooked River challenge rug and I'm almost ready to  bind my little mat for our Christmas in July swap.  Hopefully I will be sharing these finishes soon.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren