In the Dictionary ~

If you looked up the words sweet, talented or fun in the dictionary, you just might find a picture of this hooker.  Katie, of Kid'l de Divey Woolens is a hooker extraordinaire and the fastest hooker you will meet.  McGowan certified, I bet there isn't a style of hooking she hasn't tried.  She has taught many Deanne Fitzpatrick classes, wide cut shading and the list goes on. Her latest hooking venture is these funky fish.  She wouldn't say what she is going to do with them, but she has a whole school.  I think she finished two or three the two days we were at Sauder. They are hooked with wool, roving, yarn and who know what else?

Her hooking partners in crime are Sue on the left and Deb in the middle.  

Deb was hooking this fun goat . . .

. . . while Sue was working on this design in a 3 cut.  (Makes me want to floss my teeth . . .lol!)  Sue normally doesn't hook this fine, (a couple weeks ago she was hooking with hand torn strips) but she is working on her McGowan certification.  It is beautiful but not something I plan to try in this lifetime.

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends.  Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to pay me a visit.

Valentine angel by
Olde Lady Morgan

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Sauder Rug ~

I finally got my little snowman bound at Sauder. I finished him with a crochet edge using an 8 cut wool strip.  It's a sweet little pattern by Star Rug Company.  I just love Maria's patterns.  

I never get as much hooked at a hook in as I think I will and Sauder was no exception.  This is all I got done in two days and the first day I hooked until late in the evening.  Now if you are thinking that's not too bad, consider the fact that I am hooking this in mostly a 9.5 and some 8.5s.  

Here's the progress I've made since coming home Saturday.  At least now I feel as if I've accomplished something.  Of course the reds are more muted in person.

I don't know where my time goes in the evening. I am a master at wasting it.  {This darned machine doesn't help matters any.} I am determined to hook for an hour each evening.  It may not sound like much to you, but for me that's a lot of hooking.  

Guess what?  NO SNOW today.  Woo hoo.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Back to Reality :(

This is the third year I have attended the two day hook in at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio.  This year Bobbie (the Evening Stitcher), Melissa (my hooking partners in crime) and I went up on Thursday evening rather than leaving at the crack of dawn on Friday.  I am so happy we did since it gave me a bit more time to relax and boy did I need that.  This is a fun filled two days of nothing but lots of hooking and lots of eating.

A little throw down was held outside the hooking room.  The light streaming in the windows (I think they call that sunshine) washed out some of the colors.

This gorgeous rug is being hooked in a 3 cut.  I can't even begin to comprehend hooking with something that narrow.  If you enlarge the picture, you will see a red mark on the bottom just left of center.  The current hooker is finishing the rug that someone else started and the mark is where she began.  The transition is seamless.  

This is the same rug that I started and will share with you in my next post.

To say there was much talent in that room is an understatement.  I will share more with you in my next post.

Guess what it did in northern Ohio again last night and today?  If you guessed white crap snow you are absolutely correct.  Enough already.  Even snow/winter lovers are complaining.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Just a Quickie ~

Since Saundra showed you her hearts, I thought I would show mine, too.  The heart on the left is much more subtle in person.  It is just wonderful shades of "dark".  

I did not stuff mine but finished them off with a patchwork back.  I wish I had time to hook a couple more . . . maybe next year.

Oh, what a day at work.  When I got back from lunch I had seven messages and must have had at least 75 more calls after that.  Let me just say that there were no happy campers.  I was told I was snotty, that I didn't give a damn and was hung up on several times.  If the weather is that bad (we must have gotten 10" plus lots of blowing snow) and you don't have a vehicle that can plow through it, do you really need to go to the bank? If you knew a storm was coming, why did you wait until today to pick up your prescription. GGGRRRRR!!!  Can you tell I had a bad day? Tomorrow will be better ~ I am leaving work a little early and heading to Sauder Village to hook for two days.  Just a little bit of heaven :)  Well, I really need to pull the wool for my rug.  Oh, that's just so hard for me.  I'll tell you all about it when I get back.

Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Congrats to ~

Two people with the same name wished to be entered in the give-away, so I named them #1 and #2.  Debra #1, who left a comment on January 30th at 10:33 pm, was chosen.  Debra, please send me your snail mail information :)  Congrats to Debra and many thanks to all.

I haven't posted a pic of grandson Jake in a while. He is getting so grown up.  That boy loves his Legos!

I worked late again tonight.  I am trying so hard to get half-way caught up but it just isn't happening.  I feel like I'm taking one step forward and two steps back.  Some things can be put off ~ others cannot.  It's another two weeks before the new person transfers to the office.  ACK!  

I'm off to Sauder Village this Thursday evening to spend two days hooking.  It will be so good to get away and I so need a break. I have so much to do before leaving.  It should be no big deal to throw a few things in the suitcase, but I still haven't pulled all the wool for my new project and that's the most important thing!  Somehow it will all get done.  It always does :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Damn Groundhog ~

Yesterday it rained all day.  Had it been a few degrees colder, we would have been butt-deep in snow.  Well, the temperature dropped overnight and we woke up to a new winter wonderland.  I must admit it was a beautiful snow, but enough already.  

I have several belated thank yous.  I am embarrassed it has taken me so long to show you these wonderful treasures.  Fellow bloggers are THE BEST.

After showing my small collection of salt glazed Santas over the holidays, Tiff from Folded Gingham sent me these.  She says she no longer displays them and thought I might like them. Like them?  I love them!  They are all from Salmon Falls Stoneware.  Aren't they just wonderful?

Dear Saundra from Woodland Junction gifted me with this Hearts and Swags pattern, an antique adaptation, which I've finally gotten transferred to linen.  I will start it this week at the Sauder Village hook-in.  It's been way too long since a rug has been on my frame.  And speaking of Saundra, if you haven't seen her post today, there is a free pattern that the Woolwrights Hooking Guild has offered for a Chicken Challenge.  Who doesn't love a free pattern?

Last, but certainly not least, is this BEAUTIFUL wall pocket I received from dear friend Melinda of Merry Wind Farm.  Her stitching is perfection along with her sewing skills.  Though the top looks like tapestry fabric, it is also cross stitched. I am truly blessed to call her friend and I have had the good fortune of meeting her twice.  

I currently have it displayed on my favorite hanging cupboard.  

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

More Crack ~

My Betsy wool arrived today.  Gorgeous as always!  I tried to be conservative but it's so hard.

Took a little road trip to the antique mall in Medina.  Got a really good deal on vintage silverplate/flatware.  There are a couple other antique malls nearby, but I decided to get home and get something done.  Well, I came home but really haven't gotten anything done . . . sigh.

Today would have been my mom's 94th birthday. Miss you, mom :(

At age 20

Beautiful at age 87

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren