More Farm Mischief!

While I was eating my lunch and looking out the back window, I noticed the goats acting a bit odd and out of sorts.  The little voice in my head told me to get out there and see what was going on....

Yes, I had another "jumper!"  This time, Willow had gotten into the hay feeder and was waiting  patiently for someone to help her out.  The last goat to do this, Bryce, is actually her twin brother.  And like a good brother, Bryce was standing close by.  I'm sure he would have helped her if he could.

Some of the other little boy goats are acting strangely, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that...little Miss Ruby has come into season and she is driving the boys crazy!  Even though my boys are neutered, the call of the wild is loud and clear and they like to think they are Big Men On Campus!

I know....too much information.....welcome to my world!

Forgot something!

Just an addendum to my blog challenge items...I found 5 little red beads in the bottom of the envelope.  They look a lot like Red Hots candy and will be a perfect addition to the rest of the Valentine theme.  Here's a corrected view of everything:

 

The Newest Blog Challenge

I received a package yesterday from Ali Strebel for the newest project of our blog challenge.  There is a length of vintage crochet cotton lace, a small pink needle felted heart, a couple of yards of silk sari ribbon, and a curious little piece of material which reminds me of a nylon stocking with runs in it (also pink). It's time for me to put my thinking cap on and get creative!  This definitely has a Valentine's Day theme to it!  I do have somewhat of an idea of what my project will be.....but again it could be a mystery as to how I will get it to all come together!  January 20th will be the next unveiling....

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Here is the aftermath of Christmas Day....Jack was totally exhausted after opening gifts and all Riley wanted to do was play with the paper!  The goats and sheep got apple slices in the morning so it was a wonderful day for everyone!

The Wait Is Over!

Sorry for the delay...Blogger was posting my pictures SIDEWAYS - Errrr!

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Well,  you've waited long enough...so here is my blog challenge project!

 This is Santa's Little Elf!  He has a hooked face, a wool cloth body, and woolen clothes.  The beard is hooked with Angora goat locks, and the back of his head is hooked with wool roving.

I'll point out the challenge items used:  red pompom on top of the hat, star button adorns the middle of his jacket, white pipe cleaner was used in the candy canes, ribbon is tied around the present in his sack, the green pipe cleaner holds the green glittery tree with jingle bell.  I also received a length of wire, which I sewed inside his right arm, thus that is why his arm can bend and hold the sack of gifts.

Here's another view:

A close up of his face:

A close up of the back of his head:

A close up of the sack of gifts:

And finally, a close up of his hand holding the tree:

I only took one picture of my work in progress.  This was when I was hooking his face:

 Not only was I challenged to use all the little implements, but I also hooked on monks cloth (I ALWAYS use linen!) and I hooked the face mostly in #4 cuts.  A proud accomplishment for this primitive wide cut hooker!!!

Be sure to check out my other blog challenge partners' blogs for their wonderful creations!

Maria Barton

Alice Fraizer

Alice Strebel

Thanks to Maria Barton for organizing and coordinating this challenge.  It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next one!

So what do you think???

Just a tease........

Don't forget about the unveiling of our blog challenge tomorrow...at 5 pm!

Maria Barton

Alice Fraizer

Kris Miller

Ali Strebel

Just one more little tease before tomorrow.....

Ruby has another secret.......

Ruby here, and I've got some secrets to share again!  Any pattern order that you call in to my mom Saturday (today) or Sunday (tomorrow) will receive free shipping!  This offer is good for all patterns on the Spruce Ridges Studios website at the regular retail price for anyone living in the contiguous United States only (expires at midnight on Sunday-but don't call my mom at midnight!  She might be too busy hooking).  She gonna want to ship those packages out on Monday!

tee hee hee....

my other secret is that I've gotten a sneak peek at the Blog Challenge project and I'm going to share it with you right now...

Shhh...don't tell!  It looks like roving to me.....

What's On My Frame Right Now?

Now that I have all the traveling and shows and camps over with for 2010, I have had some time to sit at my frame and hook.  It's a great feeling to get back to my creativity and rug hooking!  And nothing is more festive than to hook a Santa during the Holiday season!  I know I won't get it done in time for Christmas but hey, it doesn't matter.  It's just plain old fun to do.

I'm working on Midnight Clear, an adaptation from Lori Brechlin's folk art. I have wanted to work on this pattern for sooo long!  The colors were swirling around in my head, so it seems like the design is practically hooking itself!

 Santa's face was fun to do...once I got his eyes worked in there, his personality just popped!  I think outlining his mustache in the gray wool helped give a little more character to his face too.

 And what could be more delightful than this little pocket snowman?  I hooked the pocket in red striped wool to make it look like it was patched and added on later.  Lori has such a wonderful, whimsical way of creating these charming characters!

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Five more days until the unveiling of the blog challenge project.....tick tock tick tock....what could it be?

One of the reasons I love Michigan!

Snow, of course!  Here is what my back yard looked like this morning...

and then about 4 0'clock this afternoon....

I'm so excited about our first major snowfall of the season!

Emma

 

Ruby.  

The only way you can make her stand still for a picture is to feed her a little hay.  

By the way, come a little closer....Ruby wants to share a secret with you.....

 "My mom finished her Blog Challenge project on Friday before she came out to feed me my evening hay!"

Oh Ruby, I told you not to tell!!!!!!!!

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Yes, it's true!  I started my project on Tuesday evening and finished it on Friday afternoon!  I wonder how my other blog sisters are doing on their challenge?!?!  (Tee Hee! Sorry girls, there's no stopping me when inspiration hits!)

It's killing me not to show you all!  I hope Ruby doesn't give out any more secrets until December 20th.

A Sneak Peek......

Wow!  All of a sudden, inspiration has kicked in...and motivation...and  creativity... 

I have begun my Blog Challenge piece and I couldn't be more jazzed about it!  I can hardly stay away from my rug hooking frame and my work table.  No matter what I do, I keep drifting back to my project...just pull up one more loop, just one more stitch, just one more minute to figure out one more piece to the puzzle.... 

If I even took the blurriest picture of what I'm working on, you'd be able to figure out what my project is, so I'll tease you with this:

There are many facets to the way I've challenged myself.  Can't wait for December 20th!

Creative Rug Hooking Blog Challenge

In an effort to expand our rug hooking creativity,

Maria Barton

Alice Fraizer

Kris Miller

Alice Strebel

have joined together to challenge one another to come up with fresh new ideas for rug hooking projects.  How the challenge works is simple.  Over the next few months, one of us will take the lead and will send items to the others to use in our rug hooking project.  The requirements are that the project involve some aspect of rug hooking and all items received will be used in the challenge.  The leader of the challenge can designate a theme if she wishes.

We will have deadlines for the projects and will post the deadline along with the items received for the challenge on our blogs hopefully on the 20th of the month.  On the day of the deadline, we will post on our blogs the finished project along with links to the other participants' finished projects.  Our hope in this challenge is to inspire you to think outside the box, use new materials in your rug hooking projects and to be creative.  If you would like to participate in the challenge with us, you can contact the leader of the challenge to purchase the items.  

Thanks for allowing us to share the works of our hands with you.

The date for the first completed challenge project is December 20, 2010.  Maria Barton is creator of this  blog challenge and the first project leader.  Here is what she sent to us:

 As soon as I opened my box, a little vision with an idea leapt into my head so I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to do with these.  Let's hope that I can translate what I see in my head into a material project!  I can't wait to get going!!!  What would you do with these???

A Very Sweet Holiday Show

Come one!  Come all!  To the All The Trimmings Show

Saturday December 4, 2010

10 am to 4 pm

Chelsea Fairgrounds Service Building

20501 Old US 12

Chelsea, MI  48118

 Free parking, free admission, free refreshments!

This sweet little cozy show is very special to me because it showcases all local artists...all made in Michigan and the USA!

There are plenty of beautiful offerings for gift-giving or for treating yourself! 

Wood carvings by Marlene Dusbiber, jewelry, tiles, folk art, stitching, painting, honey, Holiday greens to deck the halls, hand made soaps and creams, hand made bears....and of course, rug hooking!  I'll have lots of treasures for gift-giving...more of my wool applique scarves, Holiday cones (hang them like Christmas stockings and fill them with treats!) lavender sachets, and cute little acorn ornaments (perfect for gift embellishments or for hanging on your feather tree)!

Get to the show early for the best selection because the good stuff goes quickly!

See you next Saturday!

It Was Very, Very Merry!

I am still  basking in the glow from last week-end's Merry Maker Folk Art and Fine Craft show!  If you were there, you'll know what I mean...and if you weren't there, then seriously consider making plans to attend next year!  The artists and their offerings were simply amazing!

These pictures represent just a small portion of the talent:

Entrance to the show

Ali Strebel's booth

 Redware by Ginger Cazan

 Beaumont Pottery

 Humble Crow Creations

 Pieces of Olde

 Lori Bosi from Pine Hollow Primitives

 

Wonderful creatures from Lori Ann Corelis

 The work of Scott Smith from Rucus Studio 

 Small Stories Studio

 Spruce Ridge Studios!

Here's Your Invitation......

Please join me and attend the Merry Makers Folk Art Show in Springfield, Ohio this coming week-end!  The roster of artisans is amazing!  Promoter Ginger Cazan says that if you print this out, write your name, address, and e-mail information on the paper and bring it to the show, you will be in the running for a chance to win $100 in Merry Makers Money...plus you will get an e-mail reminder for next year (click on the picture for a larger view of the flyer).  If you need any more temptation, the Springfield Antique Show will be going on at the same time, in the buildings just across from the Merry Makers building, so you can combine your shopping passions....what's not to love about antiques and folk art???!!!

Want more information?  Click here for the Merry Makers website.

As a special thank you to my blog readers, if you print this out and attend the show, I will give you 20% off any one rug hooking pattern of your choice!!!

Besides my rug hooking wares, I will have some wonderful holiday wool applique items for sale.  They make great gifts or a lovely treat for yourself!  You gotta come see them and get the best selection!

See you at Merry Makers!

Puckihuddlers!

This coming week, the Indianapolis rug hooking guild, Puckihuddlers, will celebrate their 30th year anniversary of becoming an ATHA group. (ATHA stands for Association of Traditional Rug Hooking Artists).  ATHA has only been around for 35 years so the Puckies were one of the earliest groups to form a chapter.

I was fortunate enough to teach back-to-back workshops for them at the end of September!  I had a great time and would like to share some pictures of the terrific rug hookers and their work:

Debbie Abshier's rug with wonderful proddy sunflowers and added bead enhancements.

 Donna Abshier's Red Horse rug...love the soft primitive colors.

 Linda was working on Herb Angel. A beautiful lady!

Natasha was working on a Maria Barton pattern.  She went all out with embellishing and using multi-media.  Need I say that her rug was a favorite with the other workshop gals?

 A delightful snowman....

 a sleepy kitty.....

 Bird of Paradise hooked by Joann Rifkin.  A beautiful blue bird!

 Beth is a happy hooker and she's working on Give Ye Thanks.

Becky is hooking Emma's Garden.  As you can see, she prodded her sunflowers and used foo-foo yarn for the bird.

 Another Maria Barton pattern in progress by Gerlinde.  I love how she hooked the tree.

Jan Hammond did this lovely version of American Sheep.  Very clever...she used star buttons instead of trying to hook tiny stars!

 Norma is using nice soft heavenly colors in Lori's Fraktur Angel.


There were many more rugs that I did not get a picture of, for one reason or another, but all the workshop gals were doing a FABULOUS job!
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Please join me in congratulating the Puckihuddlers on their special milestone of
30 years!
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(PS:  If you are interested in joining ATHA, please contact me and I'll give you the information.)