Small Business Saturday

  It's time to count my blessings and give thanks for all the good things and happy memories that I've gathered over this past year. Did you know that this Saturday is Small Business Saturday?  To thank you for your friendship and continued support of Spruce Ridge Studios over the past year, I'd like to offer you a gift ~ a 20% discount on any rug hooking pattern listed on my website.

Saturday November 30, 2013

12 noon to 5 pm ONLY! (Eastern Standard Time)

20% off rug hooking patterns (no limit) listed on the Spruce Ridge Studios website.

Visa, Master Card, and Discover are gladly accepted

Mark Your Calendar For A Lovely Holiday Show!

I shocked my husband the other day by telling him that the older I get, the less I look forward to Christmas shopping.  I've realized that I'm just not a fan of the crowds and long lines in the big-box department stores when it comes to finding gifts for everyone on my list. I am most happy when I can make something or buy something unique from another artisan or small business.  That is why I look forward to the All The Trimmings Holiday Show!  Yes, I do vend there...but I also SHOP there!  It's a great little show.  I'm inviting you to come out and see what I'm talking about.     

           

Seventh Annual All the Trimmings Holiday Show

featuring creative and unique local talent

Saturday December 7, 2013

10 am to 4 pm

Chelsea Fairgrounds 

20501 Old US 12

Chelsea, MI

Free parking, free admission, free refreshments

Woodcarvings, bears, pastels, jewelry, textiles, folk paintings, antiques, collectibles, rug hooking, honey, locally roasted coffee, fresh Holiday greens, and much more!

This is held in conjunction with Chelsea's Hometown Holidays celebration so you can literally "small-town" shop all day!

call Marlene at 734-475-2159 for more information

  Just an FYI: If you have recently attended the Ghoultide Gatherings show, the All The Trimmings show is at the same location, but in the heated Service building.  Shop in a cozy and warm atmosphere!

Have You Seen Tomte?

Have you seen Tomte?  Well, I'll tell you where he is...he has appeared in the current issue (November/December 2013) issue of Rug Hooking Magazine!

Tomte the Elf (c) 2012 Kris Miller/Spruce Ridge Studios

A tomte (Swedish) or a tonttu (Finnish) is a mythical small elf-like man.  He was in charge of protecting a farmer's house and barn and often did his work at night when everyone was asleep.  A tomte traditionally wears a red cap and has a white beard.

I loved hooking my little Tomte!  He's a great little design to keep out all winter long (not just at Christmas). And best of all, you can hook him too...he's a free pattern in Rug Hooking Magazine!  If you don't want to draw out the pattern yourself or if you want to order a wool kit using the same wool like I did,  you can order either one of them through Rug Hooking Magazine for a limited time:

http://www.rughookingmagazine.com/catalog/patterns-kits-0

Alaskan Cruise!

I am so excited to announce:

 A rug hooking/Alaskan cruise with Kris Miller!!!

Dates: September 14 - 21, 2014

Where: Inside passage, Alaska (Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Victoria (British Columbia). Leaving from Seattle Washington.

Princess Cruise lines.

Teacher: Kris Miller. Two days of class while we are at sea. Your cruise package includes a kit (wool, pattern, and ALL the supplies to create it) Also a rug hooker's goodie bag worth at least $50.00 and other great perks!

Please contact Leslie Koehler of Brighton Travel. Phone: 810-229-2935 IMMEDIATELY! If you place a $200 deposit before October 31st, you will receive a savings of approximately $150.00 off the quoted price for an inside or ocean view cabin. Husbands are warmly welcome too! Leslie will have all the details when you call.

PS: If you are not a rug hooker but you want to join in on the fun, you are still welcome to come along ~you don't have to be a rug hooker to join this cruise!

I would be thrilled if you could join me!

Blog Wool Sale!

Happy Shopping!
Click on the photos to see more detailed pictures. 

Here are the conditions of the sale:

1.  All wool will be at the wholesale price of $13.50 per yard.  Shipping is extra.  If you live in Michigan, you must pay 6% sales tax.

2.  All wool is sold as-is.

3.  No wool will be cut smaller than 1/2 yard.

4.  All wool sales are final - no returns.

5.  All sales are first-come, first served.  I will go by the time of your phone call or e-mail.

6.  You may order by e-mail or by phone, however all wool must be paid for in full before shipping.

7.  I accept Visa, Master Card, and Discover.
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SOLD OUT

Wool #2 ~ Yellow/turquoise/blue check ~ 2-3/8 yards available

 SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

Wool # 8 ~ red/orange plaid (not as bright as photo shows) ~ 9 yards available

Wool # 9 ~ Brown/red stripe AKA: Walnut Stripe ~ 6 3/4 yards available

SOLD OUT

 SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

Wool #15 ~ green/orange/gold plaid ~ 7-1/2 yards available

 SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

Wool #18 ~ Green/brown plaid (contains about 2% nylon) ~ 1-1/2 yards available

Wool #19 ~ Gray/brown plaid ~ 1 yards available

 SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

 SOLD OUT

Wool #23 ~ brown/red plaid (looks "flat" unwashed but washes nicely) ~ 12 yards available

 SOLD OUT

Wool #25 ~ Gray/green/rust plaid ~ 7 yards available

SOLD OUT

Wool #27 ~ Navy/rust plaid (looks "flat" unwashed - will shrink - wash in cold water) ~ 7-1/2 yards available

 SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

Wool #30 ~ pink/purple/orange/multi plaid ~ 2 yards available

 SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

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Blog Wool Sale Coming Tomorrow!

Thanks for everyone who came out to the tent sale on June 1st.  We moved the sale to inside but the weather turned out beautiful!  I enjoyed seeing everyone!

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While we did sell a lot of wool, there are many, many yards that are still available.  Today, my assistant Nicole and I measured out the left over wool so I could post it on my blog for all my out of town friends.  Here is your opportunity to stock up or build your stash at discounted prices!  I'm going to post the terms and conditions of the blog sale.  Please read them carefully so you are prepared when the sale is posted tomorrow:

1.  All wool will be at the wholesale price of $13.50 per yard.  Shipping is extra.  If you live in Michigan, you must pay 6% sales tax.

2.  All wool is sold as-is.

3.  No wool will be cut smaller than 1/2 yard.

4.  All wool sales are final - no returns.

5.  All sales are first-come, first served.  I will go by the time of your phone call or e-mail.

6.  You may order by e-mail or by phone, however all wool must be paid for in full before shipping.

7.  I accept Visa, Master Card, and Discover.

8.  All sale wool will be posted tomorrow, June 11, 2013 at 3 pm eastern time/2 pm central time.

Some great hooked projects!

First of all, let me just say that the Spruce Ridge Studios Open House and Tent Sale will be held rain or shine!  I know the weather looks a little "iffy" for this week-end but we will still go ahead with our plans...even if we have to move it inside!  We are praying that the rain holds off until later in the afternoon so that we can put out all the glorious stuff that the shoppers will be looking for.

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This spring, I had a wonderful group of ladies come to my studio for rug hooking classes.  They were eager to learn and quickly applied their new techniques to their hooking projects.  Here are a few of the things they hooked:

This is Pat's project, the Honey Bee Chair Pad from Notforgotten Farm (through Spruce Ridge Studios).  After showing how to sculpt loops, Pat went home and came back to the next week's class with this!  The bee's head and body are sculpted.  You might be able to see this better if you click on the photo.  Truly amazing!  The bee's eyes are quillie circles.  I love the little stinger that Pat added too.

Sue M. hooked and prodded this purse.  The Proddy Sunflowers Mat comes in a kit that I sell (not on my website but if you are interested in purchasing one, please send me an e-mail).  When she finished the mat, she sewed it into a little purse!  I think what makes the whole thing  is that she found those fun and funky leather purse handles!  Another excellent job and oh so creative!

Sue E. hooked my Farmhouse Geometric pattern.  She used a black reversible striped wool, which makes the border look so old and faded.  She also finished the edges with a crochet finish using wool fabric strips.

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Just another FYI about the tent sale....I have more than 32 different textured woolens on bolts (not full bolts but still a substantial amount) that will be clearance-priced.  I know that many of you are a long distance away and cannot attend the sale.  Following the sale and as time allows, I will post the left overs on my blog.  They will be sold "first come, first served" so stay tuned!

Spruce Ridge Studios Annual Open House and Tent Sale

Just two weeks away!  Always a fun day!

Spruce Ridge Studios Annual Open House & Tent Sale

Saturday June 1, 2013

10 am to 2 pm 

(sale starts at 10 am sharp - NO EARLY SALES will be allowed.  We will be organizing and setting up right until 10 am)

The emphasis of this year's sale is beautiful textured wool on the bolt at wholesale prices.  Also a selection of rug hooking patterns at 50% off!

There will be wool, rug hooking patterns, knitting yarns, and craft-related products at reduced prices.  Also vintage, one of a kind, and antique treasures.  

All sale items will be under the tent.

For your regular shopping needs, my studio will be open during the sale.

Visa, Master Card, and Discover accepted.

Please message me for directions.

Texture Inspirations

When I am traveling, I sometimes see the most interesting and inspiring objects that have amazing texture.  I often choose random things that catch my attention at the moment.  I'm glad that I have a camera on my phone because you never know when inspiration is going to hit.  I've decided that I'm going to make a "texture inspiration" file on my computer so when I am in stuck  or have a creative block, I can go back and look at these amazing wonders.

Here are a few of my snapshots that inspire me:

Here is some broccoli that I saw at the Pike Street Market in Seattle.  I love the bright green color and really unusual texture.

A window box of plants in Annapolis.  I love the variety of green shades and the mixture of leaf shapes.

I am sort of a "stone" aficionado.  Here are some stones on a wall in Annapolis. I love the little stones set into the mortar.

More stones from a cobblestone street in Helsinki, Finland.  It is amazing to see all the wonderful colors in stones....blues and pinks in this example.

A cobblestone street in Dent, England.  I love the colors in these stones too...blues, red-oranges and peach.

A stone wall in the North Yorkshire Dales, England.  Lots more yummy colors in these stones...taupe, yellow green, peachy pink!

OK, don't laugh at me...this is the carpeting in my doctor's exam room!  I took one look at it and thought it looked like a hit or miss pattern!  I love the nubbiness of the weave. It reminds me of this:

An old and well-worn hit or miss rug seen in an antique shop in Ohio.  I love the use of bright colors with the black and neutral.

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I hope your week-end is full of color, texture and inspiration!