Scary Weather and a Spooky Rug

We've had some wild weather here in Michigan over the past two days...yesterday the winds started to blow and the tornado sirens were sounding...then a deluge of rain...this all added up to a recipe for a bad, bad day...water began seeping into our basement and I spent the whole afternoon mopping up my studio floor.  Part of the carpeting got wet, so until I can get things dried out, my studio will be closed for shoppers until next week (I can still fill your mail orders, though!).

I haven't  had a lot of time to hook, but here is what is on my frame right now!  This is Olde Hallow's Eve, one of the newest Spruce Ridge patterns and an adaptation of one of Lori Brechlin's designs.  I LOVE it!  So, so simple! I'm using orange and black textures, along with a pebbly texture for the wings...really fun to hook!  I couldn't resist using quilling for the googly eyes and the little dots between the letters.  It adds such a whimsical touch to an otherwise simple project!

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I love this rug so much that I have put together a few wool kits, in case anyone is interested.  The kit includes a linen pattern and all the uncut wool needed to hook Olde Hallow's Eve.  All for $70.00 (shipping is extra) and I'll even throw in a little tutorial about how to do quilling!  Just call or send me an e-mail...
(P.S. the size of the pattern is 16" x 16")

Before and After

We've been shearing goats all week-end!  Some people have asked me if October is too late in the year to shear but actually, it is not.  In two weeks, the goats should have about 1/2 inch of fleece grown out and that's usually enough to start keeping them warm in the fall.  Here's Ruby before shearing:

 Isn't she adorable?  She has fit in well with the rest of our herd.  We kept her separated for about 2 weeks but the bigger goats were starting to butt at the fencing and it was getting rather bent up!  So we moved Ruby in with all the other goats and they have been getting along just fine ever since.  She is quite savvy and stays out of the way when she needs to.

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Now here is Ruby, after shearing:

 Quite a dramatic difference, wouldn't you say???    I have to admit that I think she is much cuter with all that fleece!  So you know the old saying:  it's just hair and it will grow back!!!  How many times have we said that ourselves...LOL!

I do have plans for that gorgeous curly mohair fleece...back in August when I was at the Michigan Fiber Festival, I bought an Alpaca fleece that was a lovely fawn brown color and I think it will be the perfect thing to blend with Ruby's mohair!  Once processed, it will be a dream to spin!

Cape May Rugs!

I hope you enjoy these exceptional rugs created by the students in my class at Cape May.....

This wonderful primitive design is being created by Saundra Porter.  She used antique paisley for the antlers.

 

 Patty Mahaffey is working on Conquest of Queen Anne (designed by Cindi Cay).  Her colors are delightful and perfect for this design

This gorgeous rug is being hooked by Therese Schick.  Her hooking is so even and beautiful!

 Debbie Walsh is working on this large rug...her pineapple and her flowers are perfection!

 Deb Nees is working on Peace & Plenty (a Notforgotten Farm design)...I love her beautiful soft fall colors.

Char Lough designed this rug...inspired by the beavers she saw in the waters behind her house.  She added a big full moon.  Much time was spent hooking detail in the beaver's face.  I can't wait to see the finished product!

Jeri Livingston was working on a Polly Minick design.  It's not easy to work with monochromatic hues but Jeri has done a good job.  She will be hooking over Santa's beard with mohair curls.

 This is an original design that Joan Skicism's husband had drawn up for her.  Another wonderful piece!

 This is the Never Never rug, being hooked by Joan Whiteford.  Joan is a prolific rug hooker....this is a REALLY big rug and Joan got a lot accomplished at camp.

 Katie Simonson was hooking soft light colors in her Antique Runner.

Susan Walsdorf was working on this wonderful bird design.  She wanted to use different shades of primitive blues and the trick was to mix it all up so that there was enough contrast for each bird.

An original design by Nancy Weaver...she was hooking this for her granddaughter.  A lovely selection of colors!

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I am extremely proud of my Cape May students for their rug hooking abilities!  Thank you all for such a wonderful class!