Dirty Snowman ~

Here are the class projects from the Ali/Maria creative workshop.  I tried to get all the projects, but I'm not sure if I succeeded.  If I've left any one out, I do apologize.  

Isn't this snowman hooked with hand torn strips on an old oil can too cute?  A few embellishments were going to be added.

Don't you love the snowboobs?

This snowman was almost 3 dimensional.

  

This will become a pillow.  The background was rug punched.

LOTS of little quillies!

Melinda's sheep

 

Here's my dirty snowman.  I'd never hooked on wool before.  I always thought you needed a loosely woven wool, but that is not the case.  This is a wonderful barn red wool (NOT orangey at all!!!) that is tightly woven.  Using my Hartman primitive hook, I hooked with an 8 1/2 cut.  It was different, but not difficult.  Now that I've taken a picture, I see that I will need to hook a darker strip around the left eye so it doesn't look like he's got "ring around the eye".  

I'd never needle felted before and I wasn't very good at it.  Ali had to rescue my hat and cardinal from being a blob of roving.

Unfortunately, I need to put my snowman aside and work on a few Christmas presents.  I just realized that Thanksgiving is only two weeks from tomorrow.  Ack!  How did that happen?  At least it is early this year!

A BIG thank you to Melinda of Merry Wind Farm!!!  She graciously offered me a place to stay while in Tipp City.  Please stop by her blog if you haven't already done so.  This woman is an amazing hooker and stitcher of reproduction samplers.  I am talking HUGE samplers.  She puts me to shame.  She needs to share more of her work on her blog.  I can't say enough good things about her work and she is just so darned sweet.  It was a real pleasure getting to know her :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Creative Workshop ~

As I mentioned yesterday, I attended a two day workshop hosted by Ali Strebel and Maria Barton.  We were given this . . .

. . . and shown some examples that they created from these simple designs.  (Somehow I did not get pictures of all the samples.)  The rest was up to us to plan what we wanted to create ~ with lots of help and encouragement from the two of them ~ and others in the workshop.

A wallhanging . . .

Look at the sweet felted cardinal in Mr. Snowman's pocket.

. . . purse

. . . pillow 

. . . mat with tongues

. . . mat with a braided edge

. . . a woolly hooking bag

Some examples of Maria's work . . .

I've had this Santa pattern for months and haven't even started it.  Maybe I'll get it done for next Christmas . . . sigh.

. . . and Ali's.

Isn't this turkey FUN?

In my next post I will share what the hookers were working on.

If you haven't already done so, PLEASE get out and vote tomorrow!  

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

MIA

Because of Hurricane Sandy, most Trick-or-Treating in the area was postponed until this weekend.  It was quite chilly but without wind so it wasn't bad.  In the first 45 minutes I had close to 100 kids. What fun to see all the costumes! 

Here is the sweetest trick-or-treater of them all.  Loocie wears the same witch costume every year because it is just so darned cute!

I feel as if I have been MIA, but with a great excuse.  I attended a creative workshop with these two talented ladies.  I have so much to blog about and so many pictures to share, but the day has slipped away so it will have to wait to wait for another day . . . hopefully tomorrow.

Ali Strebel and Maria Barton

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

Happy Halloween ~

My heart goes out to all those who have suffered through Hurricane Sandy.  I cannot even begin to imagine the effect it has had on so many lives.  I lives 500+ miles from the Atlantic coast and the wind and rain we received was impressive.  Last evening about 6pm I ventured down to Lake Erie to try get a few pictures of the waves crashing on the breakwalls.  It was still so windy I could barely stand and could not hold the camera steady.  On Monday they were predicting waves up to 30' and sustaining winds of 50-55 mph gusting to 70-80 mph, and this was 500 miles to the west!!!  Many trees and power lines came down.  I was fortunate that my power was restored in less than a day.  I must say it was mighty chilly sleeping Monday night and for once I was happy to have Annie as a pug blanket and the hot flashes were most welcome!

Have you ever seen sea gulls sitting in a strong wind?  They all point in to the wind.

When I tried to get closer for a better picture, most of them decided to take to the air and I decided to quickly return to the car and not have any fly overhead :)

I will leave you with a few of my Halloween decorations.  I can't believe it's already time to take them down and bring out the turkeys.

A gourd I painted years ago.  Please excuse the shadow but the one taken with the flash was much too bright.

Gifts from dear friend Wink.

Happy Halloween!
Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren