Class Fun ~

 

Crooked River Rug Hooking guild offered classes the day before our hook in, aptly named Hooktoberfest.  I was happy to once again have a class with Cathy Stephan of Red Barn Rugs.  Cathy has such great color sense (I can only wish) and so many wonderful patterns.  Since this was my second class this month, I chose a small pattern of hers.  Tulips is only 12" x 20".  Here is her mat.

 

And the start of mine :)

 

1877 Urn, is an antique adaptation.

 

 

Friend and tablemate Lynn's start.  This pattern is on my hooking bucket list.

 

I don't remember the name of the hooker working on this Tish Murphy Santa.  Cathy was helping her with background choices.  Isn't the face magnificent?

 

 

Friend Linda was off to a good start on Cathy's chicken rug.

 

She was hoping to hook it similar to Cathy's.  Don't you love the background?

 

 

More of Cathy's rugs.  This Santa is also on my bucket list of rugs to hook.

 

 

A recent rug of Cathy's.  Not yet steamed.  WOW!

 

 

Another rug she has been working on.  The sheep's body is hooked with some kind of curly locks and the horn is needle felted.  In person the background is more subdued and so very old looking.  She explained how she achieved it, but I sure can't explain it to you.

 

A class by Jeannine Happe of Two Old crows was also offered.  They worked on hooked and needle felted pouches.  Here are some of Jeannine's samples.  Can you say magnificent? 

 

 

LOVE this giraffe.

 

Some of the students' projects.  It was amazing how quickly they were working up.

 

Hope you all had a great weekend. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Thankful ~

If you haven't already done so today, take a moment to count your blessings.  Money cannot buy health and that is the most important thing we can have.  Billions of dollars could not save Paul Allen, one of the richest men in the world.  I know I am truly thankful.

 

I do have a Rebekah L Smith finish to share with you.  Only 11 1/2" high x 5" wide it took me a lot longer than I thought it would.  I am happy with the colors I chose.  I still have a bit of a problem with the corners but hopefully will get better with practice.  (The color is most accurate in the first picture.)

 

 

I also finished the hooking on the rug I cannot yet share with you.  Just a couple little changes and then on to the steaming and binding.

 

Did I tell you I have another hooking class this Friday with Cathy Stephan of Red Barn Rugs and our guild hook in on Saturday?  Fun, fun, fun!!!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Busy Times ~

My Caroline Twigg class (Eagles Nest Woolens) was wonderful ~ but I knew it would be.  I've had her before for a three day class so I was sure it would be another great experience and I was not disappointed.  Here she is working on color planning a rug.

 

And working on color planning my rug.  It is an antique reproduction, Old Hearts, from the Old Tattered Flag.  Sweet Cathy gave me a gift certificate a while back and I used that to purchase the pattern. 

 

Progress as of last night.  Considering I am hooking it with a 9.5 cut, I should be much further along, me thinks!

 

 

Some of Caroline's rugs.

 

If you ever get the chance to take a class with her, jump at it.

 

After spending the two days in class, the next morning before the crack of dawn I headed to Sauder Village for the hooking retreat weekend.  I am always remiss at taking pictures, but did snap a couple.  This was being hooked for the hooker's father-in-law.  He worked for Detroit Edison.

 

I am in awe of anyone who can hook a photograph.

Friend Bobbie's Santa, a pattern by Karen Kahle.

 

Pat was hooking this rug from a painting she did years ago.  This is going to be spectacular.

 

 

Bobbie gifted me this oh-so-sweet bear that she made.  What a cutie he is! 

From Melissa I got these wonderful salt glaze Santas to add to my collection.

 

I am blessed to have such friends :)

 

Yesterday I headed to a historic homes tour in Wellington, Ohio, where Archibald Willard painted the Spirit of '76 about 1875. 

 

 

I must say I was disappointed in some of the houses, but each to his/her own, right?  At my favorite house, I thought this was a really cute idea for a birdhouse using an old enamelware pan.

 

 

They also had this wonderful fountain in the yard.

 

 

This painted lady on the main street in town was also open for the tour.  Year's ago I took my antique grandfather there to inquire about repairing it.  Still have not done anything about it . . . sigh.  Maybe one day.

 

The owner was dressed for the part.  He greeted us in the foyer and gave us a little history of the house.

 

This sign is a hoot.

 

Out back are his antique autos.

I can now breathe easy for a few days (though lots of catching up to do) before my next hooking class this Friday and our guild's hook in on Saturday.  No rest for the wicked . . . er . . . I mean weary :)

 

Yesterday was the day I dread every fall ~ the day my furnace gets turned on for the first time.  A definite sign that summer has left us :(

 

Today is National Pug Day, so here is a picture of dear Ernestine.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren