Cyber Monday Sale

To thank my loyal customers for another wonderful year here at Spruce Ridge Studios, I am having a Cyber Monday sale.

Monday November 26, 2012  ~~ 12 noon to 5 pm 
Eastern Standard Time

Just 5 little hours to save BIG!  25 % off all patterns on 
the Spruce Ridge Studios website. 

Just give me a ring and use your Visa, Master Card, or Discover.

It's my biggest sale of the year!

Happy shopping!

Rugs From The Northwest Workshop

Last month I taught a rug hooking class in Bothell, Washington at the Northwest Rug Hooking Workshop, organized by Diane Eaton and Beth Kovich.  All I can say is WOWZA!  Diane and Beth put on a successful camp and a fantastic time was had by all!  Today I thought I'd share with  you some pictures of the rugs that were on display at the rug show, even though I had only taken pictures of just a fraction of what was brought.  I believe there were about 30 students but there were over 75 rugs on display!  Talk about eye candy...the room was literally a visual feast for the eyes. 

First let me show you this mind-blowing piece by Rita Vail:

 She was inspired by an article on quilling and used the concept to create a colorful flower garden.  Rita's technique and color choices are superb. This rug just sings with joy!

 Here is a close-up of her quillie flowers.

 Look at the clouds in the sky...incredible!

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The next three rugs are hooked by Betsy Lanning:

 A Karen Kahle design...

 A Maggie Bonanomi design...

 And a Notforgotten Farm design!  You can find Lori's Flower Basket on my website.  I love the happy colors in this version...maybe because Betsy used some turquoise (my favorite color)!

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I love the next three portrait rugs.  They are full of personality and are simply wonderful.

 These two are hooked by Carol Fegles.

This one is hooked by Pat Rees.

A fun heart rug by Sue Remington.
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I do not know the names of the gals who hooked the next few rugs...

 Love the directional hooking on this one.

 

 Wonderful primitive colors.

 I love the way the background is hooked in this one.  A very antique-looking rug.

A cute chair pad and tree skirts.

Love, love, love the colors in this rug!!!

Another lovely primitive rug...

This is For The Birds, a Rebecca Erb pattern and you can find this one on my website too.

Here is a Pris Buttler design hooked by Lianne Anderson.  What I loved about this rug is that the cotton was hooked with either yarn or roving, giving a great dimension to the design.
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The last two rugs are hooked by Karen Soltys:

This is Hen Party, designed by Bonnie Smith.  You can find this pattern on my website.  Karen eliminated the "corn" around the edge and added some spots.

Karen hooked this Maggie Bonanomi design.  I love how the wiggly lines change colors.

I will have more pictures of the Northwest Rug Workshop in my next post.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcomed Guests

I have finished hooking my Welcomed Guests rug!  This is a design that is adapted from Ann Willey's artwork and sold through Spruce Ridge Studios.  Every time I drew up this pattern, I knew that I wanted to hook it for myself.   I loved the whole process of choosing the colors and I really sped through my actual hooking.

If you remember from a previous post, I decided to let the rug tell me what colors to use.  That can be a bit risky at times because I feel like I am going to "hook myself into a corner" and not be able to figure out how to fix it.  In other words, I worried that without a pre-decided color plan, I might end up choosing colors that didn't work harmoniously in the end.  However, I think I was triumphant this time in making it work!

One thing I learned from this rug:  Even though I thought I was choosing  bright colors outside of my usual color palate, the dark background calmed everything down and made them work.  If I had chosen duller, darker colors, they would have been absorbed by the dark background and not had the same impact.

And believe it or not, the thing I struggled with the most was choosing the right textured wool to hook the hair on both people.

The greatest joy is when you are able to learn something new or different from your hooking! What did you learn from your last rug?

Just A Sweet Little Story

Once upon a time (in May of 2011), I was vending at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  A little blonde haired boy came into my booth with his grandma.  He was looking at all the rug samples that were hanging up on my display.  "Excuse me," he said, "could you tell me how much the cat rug costs?"  He pointed to a hooked sample of Lori Brechlin's design, Binx.  "Oh, honey", I said, "the rug is not for sale.  It's a sample so that people will see it and want to make it."  Before I could barely turn around, I heard him say "Grandma, will you make that rug for me?"  How sweet, I thought, and his grandma did indeed buy the pattern.

Now fast forward to just last week.  I received an e-mail and a picture from Cooper's grandma.  She had finished her hooking and Cooper is proudly holding his new rug.

Cooper's grandma says that he is her biggest fan and loves her rug hooking.  He often watches her hook and suggests where she should put each row of wool.

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I always smile when I think about Cooper coming into my booth and asking about the cat rug.  Isn't it amazing how little things like that leave a big impression in your heart?

Small Treasures

I have recently found 4 out-of-print stitchery booklets authored by Lori Brechlin from Notforgotten Farms.  The booklets contain charming little folk art drawings that are great for punch needle, applique, embroidery or rug hooking.  I have included with each book a half yard of weavers cloth suitable for punch needle so you can trace out your own design and get started right away.

 Each book is $18.00 each (price includes the weavers cloth) and shipping is extra.  Please contact me if you are interested.  First come, first served...I don't think these will last long...they are very charming and much sought-after!!!
 The Harvest Tyme and Spring Tyme booklets have been sold...thank you!

If You Hurry....

I know I am late posting this information but there is still time if you act fast!

 Holland Hook-In  Sponsored by Tomorrow's Heirlooms/Nancy Blair

Saturday November 10, 2012

Haworth Center at Hope College

225 College Ave.

Holland, MI  49423

$25.00 per person includes morning coffee, snack, and lunch

For more information/to register, call Nancy Blair at 616-895-6378 (call right away so she can reserve your lunch!)

Vendors include Spruce Ridge Studios, Heavens To Betsy, Tomorrow's Heirlooms, Visions Of Ewe.

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This is the first annual event and I must say that I am beyond excited!  The city of Holland is a wonderful place to visit, shop and eat.  Lots of unique stores and restaurants.  Haworth Center is a beautiful venue and I will guarantee right now that the food will be excellent!  There are only a few spaces left to attend this hook-in so call Nancy now.  See you there!