Rug Of The Day - Sunflower Witch

Sunflower Witch - hooked by Pat Cross

Design by Lori Brechlin/Adapted by Spruce Ridge Studios (c)2009

Monks:  $42.00

Linen:  $52.00

Dimensions:  21" x 26"

Here is another great rug from Pat Cross.  She calls this witch Agatha.  Just like yesterday's rug, she used a dark background and kept the rest of the colors brighter so they stand out.  The perfect choice for Agatha's dress is purple with a coordinating hat.  I think green is also the perfect choice for Agatha's skin tone!  The pattern has a skeleton key drawn around the witch's neck, which can be hooked, but attaching a real key adds an extra touch of whimsy to this rug.

Here is another version of Sunflower Witch, hooked by Dawn Walczak.  She used a lighter lavender background and dressed her witch in darker colors.  The original pattern has little pumpkin faces drawn in the center of the sunflowers, which is a clever twist to a plain sunflower.  

One design, two rugs, two variations....both delightful!

Rug Of The Day - A Witch's Walk

A Witch's Walk - Hooked by Pat Cross

Adapted from Lori Brechlin folk art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2012

Monks:  $50.00

Linen:  $66.00

Dimensions:  24" x 32"

I am a big fan of anything that Pat Cross hooks and this rug is no exception.  Because of the dark sky, Pat had to keep everything else lighter so it would show up against the background.  The Witch's green and purple dress are perfect!  I love that the Witch has gray hair (don't we all?) Notice the wonky white houses with the purple doors and the orange roof tops, with the lazy orange moon just hanging in the sky.

There are small stars within circles drawn in the sky on the original pattern  but Pat chose to hook colorful orbs instead.  They add mystery to the night sky and carry the color around the rug.

Rug Of The Day - American Sheep

 American Sheep - Hooked by Jan Hammond

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2008

monks:  $52.00

linen:  $66.00

dimensions:  32.5" x 26"

This is a wonderful Americana design that covers everything a rug hooker loves....red, white and blue....a wooly sheep....flags....flowers.  I especially love the bunting blanket on the sheep.  The stars on the bunting are kind of small, so Jan sewed on star buttons, which worked perfectly.  You could also hook those small stars with my star technique using a #9 cut strip.  If you ever take a class from me, ask me to show you how!  It's fun and simple to do.

Here is another American Sheep hooked by Kathleen Keithley.  

I love to see the variety of how one pattern can be hooked in so many different ways!

I was at the Rock Creek Hook-In in Lenexa, Kansas last week-end and Pam Mayfield hooked this version of American Sheep.  It was part of the lovely rug show that was set up at one end of the gymnasium.  The gray sheep and yellowish background are fabulous!

I will be on the road quite a bit over the next month or so.  I might not be able to post a rug every day but I will certainly keep posting.  I have heard so many kind comments about how you are all enjoying Rug Of The Day and I thank you for your support!

Rug Of The Day - Emma's Garden

Emma's Garden - Designed and hooked by Kris Miller (c)2008

monks:  $40.00

linen:  $50.00

dimensions:  22" x 25.25"

I designed this pattern for a technique class.  The students learned proddy, beading, hooking with paisley, and hooking with roving and sheep curls.  I named this pattern after my Wensleydale sheep, Emma.  I added a whimsical bird because Emma likes to chase birds when they land in her pen.  Emma is not afraid of many things; I have even seen her approach the fence line as Jamie Fox was trotting along in the grass on the other side.

I used some of Emma's curls from her first shearing for the accent area along the face.  I hooked her ear three-dimensionally, using a proddy strip and sewing the two pieces together.  

Here is the real Emma.

And here is Emma's Garden, hooked by Linda Brown.

If you are interested in hooking with roving and sheep curls, click on the tab at the top of the page and you will find a tutorial on how to do this.

Rug Of The Day - Trout

Trout - hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern designed by (c) Keith Kemmer

monks:  $70.00

linen:  $86.00

dimensions:  54" x 20"

I hooked this rug for my husband back in 2001.  He told me that this was a brown trout and gave me some visuals to help with the colors.  This was one of my first attempts at trying to dye wool to match a picture.  I was still very much a newbie and it took many pots of yellow dye to finally get the yellow values that satisfied me.  I used #4-#6 cuts for the entire rug.  If I were to hook this now, I would definitely use much wider cuts for the water since there is a lot of area to cover!  There are a lot of little circles on this fish...I was certainly glad to get all of them hooked so I could move on to filling in the rest of the body.

I was in Baton Rouge last week, teaching at the Red Stick Rug Camp.  The weather was a balmy 72 degrees for most of the week and I enjoyed the sun and seeing the flowers blooming.  My class was so much fun!  Everyone worked very hard and got a lot of hooking done.  Kelly was one of my students and she decided to hook the Trout pattern.  She chose some very non-traditional colors for her fish, which I told her were completely "out of my box" but we were going to make it work.  Kelly is an artist and a lovely hooker so her fish was looking outstanding on the last day of class.  She sent me an email last night with her progress.  I think it is wonderful and I might add that she works quite fast!

Rug Of The Day - Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty - hooked by Kris Miller

Adapted from the folk art of Lori Brechlin by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2006

Monks:  $50.00

Linen:  $ 64.00

Dimensions:  26" x 30.5"

I have always loved Lady Liberty.  I think she is the ultimate symbol in really great patriotic folk art.  I love her blowing, billowy skirt and her tiny little feet.  Her eye is just a tad too big for her head, but I wouldn't change a thing about it.  I tell people that Miss Liberty is "all-knowing" and that is why she needs a big eye. (LOL)

I love the flag blowing on that skinny flag pole with that funny little spear shape at the top.  And the spindly flower stems with the patriotic blossoms just sort of waving in the breeze.  

I hooked the letters and numbers in a medium brown textured wool.  Using a darker color would have made them too noticeable and would have detracted from the overall flow of the design.   

Rug Of The Day - Lucky Stars Chair Pad

Lucky Stars Chair Pad

14" diameter

Designed and hooked by Kris Miller

Lucky Stars Chair Pad is a project/free pattern found in my book Introduction To Rug Hooking.  Each project teaches a different lesson or technique that is useful to both beginners and experienced rug hookers. This particular lesson teaches about hooking nice crisp star points.  You can also use this technique in other objects that have a sharp angle (bird beaks, leaf tips, pointed animal ears, etc).  Besides the tutorial for the chair pad, there are step-by-step instructions for binding/whipping the edges with yarn.  

I have some peeled pine rustic chairs in my studio class room area and I put this charming chair pad on one of the seats.  It's a great primitive look and really dresses up the chair.  You could choose a different color plan for your chair pad.  I think a patriotic theme of red, white, and blue would be fabulous!

Rug Of The Day - Sail, Sail Away

Sail, Sail Away - Hooked by Kris Miller

Designed by Nancee Ariagno/The Cooperage

Available through Spruce Ridge Studios

Monks:  $30.00

Linen:  $  36.00

Dimensions:  16" x 16"

I hooked this sweet little mat as a gift for a friend of mine who has done so much for me over the past few years.  I thought it would be right at home in her summer home on a lake.  The red and inky blue show up a little dark in the photo, but they are great patriotic colors that I use a lot in my rugs.  

 Wide cuts are suitable for this pattern and it's not a complicated color plan.  It hooks up quickly and it's the perfect size for a pillow too.

Rug Of The Day-Oak and Acorns

Oak & Acorns - Hooked by Karen Buchheit

Design (c) Cindi Gay, available through Spruce Ridge Studios

Monks:  $68.00

Linen:  $85.00

Dimensions:  44.5" x 25"

I have always been crazy about anything that has an oak leaf and acorn on it so I am particularly drawn to this pattern of Cindi Gay's.  I took this picture last September at the Rugs By The Sea camp in Cape May.  On Wednesday of rug camp week, the hotel pushes the furniture aside and allows the rug hookers to take over the whole front lobby with their rug show.  There are always many beautiful rugs all laid out on the old wooden floors, but it seems like this past year, there were an abundance  to "ooh and aah" over.  

I have a lengthy bucket list of rugs I want to hook, but this is close to the top of my list.  I love the simplicity of the design.  It can be hooked in many color combinations...the choices are endless!  And this pattern is large enough to be done in a wide cut, #8.5 or #9 for most of the rug, and perfect for those yummy textures you have been saving for something special.  I think I might add some antique paisley to my rug for the oak leaf veins.

I loved my Cape May class last year.  They all worked very hard and I think all their rugs were delightful!

Rug Of The Day - Antique Hearts

Antique Hearts - hooked by Kris Miller

Adapted from an antique rug design by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2011

monks:  $40.00

linen:  $50.00

dimensions:  24" x 24"

My rug was hooked with all #8.5 cut wool.  I tried to stay as true to the colors of the original rug as possible, but I also added a few strips of old paisley here and there.  I like the way the paisley blends right in and becomes a subtle part of the color plan.

I finished my edge with a single crochet stitch.  I used the same wool that was hooked around the outside border, cut into #8 strips.  I used Reversible Black Stripe (a favorite wool texture amongst many of us rug hookers!) and I didn't care which side of  the wool strip came up as I did my crochet.  Therefore, sometimes the edge looked black and sometimes it looked gray, giving it an old and faded feel. 

Rug Of The Day - Mr. MacGregor

Mr. MacGregor - hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2006

monks:  $36.00

linen:  $46.00

dimensions:  20" x 22"

Mr. MacGregor is such a dapper gent and a good companion rug to Ah Tis Spring.  I hooked him from the same Harris Tweet as Miss Bunny.  I wish I still had more of that lovely tweed!  I used a soft turquoise and purple plaid for the background. Hooking purple flowers was the perfect choice to make everything work together.  

I learned a lot about hit and miss when I hooked the tabs on the sides.  I learned about values and which colors stand out and which ones tend to fade into the background.  I discovered that many times, putting complementary colors together was the answer.  For instance, hooking a strip of blue next to a row of orange helped each color keep their identity. Using lots of textured wool adds interest to the tabs as well.

Here is another version of Mr. MacGregor, hooked by Deb Wilson.

Rug Of The Day - Ah Tis Spring

Ah Tis Spring - Hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2010

Monks:  $40.00

Linen:  $51.00

Dimensions:  19" x 26"

This sweet little Miss Rabbit was such a joy to hook!  I had a small piece of Harris tweed that I used to hook her face and hands.  It was the perfect "rabbit" color.  Since her dress is such a large part of the design, I decided to break up some of that space with some quillie buttons.  A great waffle-like textured wool was perfect for her basket.  I drew some swirls and squiggles into the background to give a little more energy to the background....I figured that rabbits are probably pretty giddy when spring finally arrives!

Here are a few more hooked samples of this happy pattern:

Hooked by Pam Cannon

Hooked by Sue Dollhopt

I think it's interesting to see both hooked differently...a light and a dark background....and they are both equally delightful!

Rug Of The Day - Vagabond Rabbit

Vagabond Rabbit - Hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern (c) 2006 Kris Miller/Spruce Ridge Studios

Monks:  $30.00

Linen:  $40.00

Dimensions:  13" x 20"

This rug appeared in the Spring 2006 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine as a free pattern insert.  I have seen many hooked versions of this design and they are all delightful!  It amazes me to see the different techniques and variety in everyone's interpretation.

I hooked my mat with all "as-is" textured wool.  Some people ask me what "as-is" means...it is simply wool that has come off the bolt and has not had its color altered in any way.  There was no dyed woolens used in this mat.  Since Rebecca Erb and I collaborated on the article for RHM, she supplied the wool for this mat.

After I hooked my Vagabond Rabbit, I found an adorable rabbit Christmas ornament and also a redware plate with a rabbit on it so I felt like 2006 was the year of the rabbit!

Rug Of The Day - Federal Pineapple

Federal Pineapple - Hooked by Carol Trumbull

Pattern (c) Keith Kemmer for Spruce Ridge Studios

Small:  27.5" x 37.75"

monks:  $56.00   linen:  $72.00

Large:  34.5" x 47.75"

monks:  $82.00    linen:  $102.00

This stunning rug was hooked by Carol Trumbull who was a student in my class at the Holland Rug Camp in 2014.  It was a gift to her son and daughter-in-law for their new home.  Her colors are soft and inviting.  She used just enough red to give everything a "pop" and the antique black background is perfect to show off the golds and greens.  Beautiful!

Rug Of The Day - Have Ye Any Wool

Have Ye Any Wool-hooked by Kris Miller

(c) 2009 Kris Miller/Spruce Ridge Studios

monks:  $42.00    linen:  $53.00

dimensions:  25.25" x 27"

I hooked this rug and taught this pattern at a workshop where the participants learned several fun techniques.  We made quillie circles, hooked with roving, created a fun bird's eye, talked about hooking letters, and did a little hit and miss in the top corners.

This rug is really near and dear to my heart because my real wooly animals served as models.  My Wensleydale sheep, Emma, was the inspiration for the sheep...she really does pose like a "show sheep" sometimes.  The roving used to hook the sheep was from a dearly beloved pet sheep who died about 7 or 8 years ago.  I couldn't think of a better way to memorialize him than to put his fleece into a rug. I don't have any orange goats but my angora goat, Zack, was the inspiration for the middle critter.  And I don't have any chickens (remember-Jamie Fox lives here!) but I thought that rooster looked very regal perched up on the top. 

Rug Of The Day - Majestic

Majestic - hooked by Gail Soltar

Pattern design adapted from the artwork of PJ Rankin-Hults by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2005

Monks:  $45.00

Linen:  $58.00

dimensions:  30.5" x 24.5"

This bird really is majestic, isn't it?  I love the soft colors that Gail hooked into her rug as well as the gentle variation of shading in the breast feathers.  All the colors were pulled into the side tabs which helps move your eye around the rug. Notice that the outside of the tabs are all hooked in the gray/blue values but the colors vary inside the tabs.  They still look similar without being exactly the same.  The red tulips mimic the colors in an old fraktur.  

Here is another version of Majestic, hooked by Rhonda Thistlethwaite.  I worked with her on this pattern several years ago at the Holland Rug Camp.  We changed the shape of the bird's head just a little bit and eliminated the breast feathers.  It looks more gentle and more like a dove to me.  We added smaller tabs that went all the way around the rug. Rhonda brought the red color of the tulips out to the border.  The gold background is fabulous with the blue gray color of the bird.

Rug Of The Day - Holly & Ewe

Holly & Ewe - hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern (c) 2010 Kris Miller/Spruce Ridge Studios

Monks:  $40.00  

Linen:  $50.00

Dimensions:  20" x 27"

To continue on the theme of Santa, here is another favorite Santa rug that I have hooked.  I designed this for a workshop a few years ago and it had several different techniques for the participants to try.  They learned how to hook the eyes on Santa and the sheep - I call them "realistic primitive eyes."  Also hooking with roving (the sheep), Waldoboro style sculpting with wool strips (the holly berries), sculpting roving (pom-pom on Santa's hat) and crochet edge finish with wool strips.  It was fun to see how everyone hooked variations in their Santa project.  

Judy was one of the participants and hooked this stunning white Santa, using sheep curls for the beard.  It was a challenge to color plan and hook this rug in all pale neutrals but Judy did a great job.

Rug Of The Day - Midnight Clear

Midnight Clear - hooked by Kris Miller

Adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2009

Monks:  $64.00

Linen:  $79.00

Dimensions: 30" x 38"

(also available in a smaller size: 24.5" x 31")

I just told someone the other day that I could hook Santa rugs 365 days of the year.  It's true!  I love the old-timey, belsnickle, old world Santas!

This was one of my all-time favorite rugs to hook.  It even appeared as an honorable mention in one of the past issues of Celebration of Hand Hooked Rugs.  It was a joy to hook and everything seemed to fall into place and work out perfectly.  Here are a few facts about my rug:

1.  I love the snowman in Santa's pocket!  I used a striped wool, cut with the stripe and hooked vertically.  I wanted it to look like Santa had tacked on a patchwork pocket just for that cute little snowman.

2.  I wanted to hook snow on the ground but didn't want it to look too white because, after all, it is supposed to be midnight.  I used a light khaki plaid which makes the best snow.

3.  The background is a dark plaid called Valentino.  It was from Heaven's To Betsy from many years ago and I am trying to get her to make it again because it is soooo fabulous!

4.  I hooked the little tabs on the sides with left over "noodles,"  alternating with red and green.  Unless you get up close, you don't see much variation but it gives the tabs a lovely glow.

5.  I had to do a little "pop-out" line around the boots to make them stand out from the background.  I'll bet you didn't notice until I pointed it out! 

Rug Of The Day - Old Tom

Old Tom - hooked by Kris Miller

Adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2014

Monks:  32.00

Linen:  $40.00

Dimensions: 15" x 19.25"

This is such a simple and delightful turkey pattern!  I decided that when I hooked this design, I was only going to use up scraps of wool I had laying around.  Not "noodles" or left-over strips - I'm talking about the 3" or 4" or 5" pieces that are left over from other projects. It seems like I have a huge bag of those! So my plan was that I would not cut into any new wool, except for the background.  The background is my favorite, Reversible Black Stripe.  Grayish on one side, and antique black on the other, this one wool will give you an aged look instantly.  

We have a group of turkeys who visit us quite regularly so I decided to use the gray-blue wool for Tom's head, just like a real turkey.  I blended it down into a brown plaid for the body and used a pebbly black and beige texture for the feathers.  I used another left-over orange/red plaid for the wing and used thin strips of the same down the center of the tail feathers.  The letters are really a soft burnished yellow, although they show up brighter in the photo.

I love this wonderful little rug.  I hooked nearly all of it in an 8.5 cut and it didn't take long to finish.

Rug Of The Day - Floral Tangle

Floral Tangle - hooked by Karen Sundstrom

Pattern (c) Cindi Gay and offered through Spruce Ridge Studios

Monks: $72.00

Linen:  $90.00

Dimensions: 44.25" x 29.5"

Karen hooked this at a workshop I taught last May in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. 
 I think her color plan is so pretty with the reds, greens, golds, and (my favorite) turquoise.  The dark background is perfect to show off these lovely colors.  And again, she pulled colors from the flowers and leaves and used them in the border.  She added a few other textures too, just to mix it up a bit.  This is such a joyful rug and it makes me happy.  I'm sure it makes Karen happy too.  Good job, Karen!

This pattern is fairly large and is perfect for all you wide-cut rug hookers out there!

Rug Of The Day - All Seasons

All Seasons hooked by Rebecca Erb

Design adapted from the folk art of PJ Rankin-Hults by 

Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2005

Monks:  $54.00

Linen:  $70.00

47 1/2" x 18"

This charming rug design really does cover it all!  I love the way the whimsical characters flow from one season to the next so effortlessly.  Rebecca hooked a great dark background with lots of subtle movement and the colorful triangular border on this rug ties everything all together.  

Rug Of The Day-The Rev

The Reverend Gourdin Squashbotton, hooked by Louise Tietjen

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin folk art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2013

Monks:  $52.00

Linen:  $66.00

32.25" x 26.5"

Such a great rug design with a delightfully funny name!  I like to call it "The Rev" for short.  Every time I see this pattern, it makes me smile.  The Rev is taking a walk with his cane in one hand and his candle in the other, but he looks a little worried.  I wonder what his concern might be.  Maybe the cat has scampered by and startled him, or maybe he's just afraid to walk in the dark.  Since The Rev has a pumpkin head (or squash head-you decide!), this could be displayed at Halloween or just a nice seasonal piece to leave out during the Fall months.

Louise chose some really beautiful primitive colors for her rug.  Lots of neutrals with a few pops of rust and blue. The background suggests nighttime without being too dark.  I love the way she marched the colors around the edge of the rug in the triangles.  It's just enough variation to tie everything all together. 

Rug Of The Day - Charlotte Swine

Charlotte Swine - Hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2015

Monks cloth:  $28.00

Linen:  36.00

The Rug Of The Day is a Notforgotten Farm pattern that I adapted late last year. It didn't appear on my old website but it will certainly be included on the new website.  Charlotte Swine is such an adorable little piggy!  This is a simple pattern that only requires a few color choices and it hooks up quickly too.  I think it took me 1-1/2 days of hooking in the evening but if you are a fast rug hooker, you could probably do it in a day. I decided to make a pillow because I had an 11 x 16 pillow form and it fit nicely.  I sewed the backing fabric around three sides with my sewing machine, leaving a scant 1/4 inch gap of linen between my hooking and the backing fabric (sew with right sides together).  Then I turned the pillow right side out and used a spring proddy tool to pull the proddy fringe around the edge.  I actually used two dark textured wools that were similar in value and went around the entire perimeter of the pillow.  Once the proddy was completed, I stuffed in the pillow form and sewed together the final side.  I love how fun and playful the proddy fringe looks!

Of course, Charlotte Swine would also make a great small mat for your table too.

Rug Of The Day - Boy Scout

Designed and Hooked by Kris Miller/Spruce Ridge Studios (c)2008

Monks cloth:  $42.00

Linen: $ 52.00

A snowy rug for a snowy day.  If you are in the path of the blizzard, I hope you are staying home, keeping warm, and using your home-bound time to get some hooking done!  I embrace those types of snow days...it often feels like an unofficial holiday!

This was a Rug Of The Day a few years ago so you may be familiar with the story.  Years ago, my husband and I were shopping at an antique market in the Adirondacks and we saw this antique rug.  I could not afford to buy the real thing so I asked the dealer if I could take a picture.  I decided I could hook the design to resemble the old rug so I chose my colors as closely to the original rug as I could.  

What do I love about this rug?  I love that the maker used all types of neutral colors to create the feeling of snow.  Calm. Tranquil.  Cozy.  Quiet.  I love that the only color in the whole rug is the red letters.  I love the bare trees.  I love the fence and the road, the cabin and the smoke.  It makes me wish I could be there, or at least I want to know who lives in the cabin.  Sometimes the simplest of designs speaks volumes.  

Rug Of The Day - Little Fox

Little Fox - hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern adapted from Ann Willey Designs by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2011

Monks cloth:  $50.00

Linen:  $64.00

The reason why I wanted to hook this rug was because I was inspired by Jamie Fox.  Well, no, not Jamie Fox, the actor....I mean Jamie Fox, the real fox.

We have a fox that has adopted us and taken up residence here on our farm.  We named it Jamie Fox.  One day, we realized that Jamie Fox was a female when she brought her kits out to play in the grass.  She has done us the favor of reducing our rodent population and she is very respectful of our livestock.  We know she lives under a pile of brush in the back of our property because last summer when my husband was mowing grass, he noticed a small opening in the pile and he could see little glowing eyes looking back at him.

The first year Jamie Fox was here, I would often see her sitting out in my goat pen.  I was alarmed at first, not knowing if she would chase or (heaven forbid) bite my goats.  I called my dad and talked to him about it.  He told me that I had nothing to worry about and then added "you know, Kris, baby foxes make good pets....but I wouldn't try to take one away from its mother."  I could hear the smile in his voice and imagined the twinkle in his eyes when he said it.  It was such a sweet conversation and one of the last lengthy talks I had with him before he passed away.  

So now I feel honored that Jamie Fox has chosen to live with us and even though she drives my dogs to distraction, I am always glad to see her.

I kept the background colors in this rug soft and muted so the fox is the star of the show.  The little owl in the tree would have disappeared if it was hooked with grays or brown so I used muted purple colors. I hooked a light yellow strip for the owl eyes and then hand-stitched a small black dot with thread in the center.  

Deb Nees hooked her version of this rug in my class in Cape May this past September.  She changed the fox to a dog.  It is a tribute to her daughter's dog Camden, and gave it to her as a gift.  I think you'll agree that it is very special!

Rug Of The Day - Daisy

Daisy - hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2012

Monks Cloth:  $48.00

Linen:  $62.00

Daisy is a perfect design for wide cut rug hooking and textures because the design is so simple.  Daisy has a large body area to hook so I decided to "puddle" a few areas.  I chose two textured wools that were "friends" - they shared similar colors and values - and hooked them in random yet distinct areas.  I tried to think about the old antique rugs we all love, how they have random spots that fade in and out, or discolored spots where the fabric wore a little bit.  

The original pattern does not have the word "daisy" on it, but I added it because I wanted to fill the spot beneath the donkey.  The word shows up much more distinct in the photograph.  When I look at it in person, I don't think it shows up as much.  My goal was to have the word become a subtle part of the background. 

I hooked this rug in #8.5 and #9 cuts.  Some of the daisy petals had to be hooked in a #8 cut so they would keep their shapes and not look like blobs.  I finished my rug by using some of the background wool strips to crochet around the edges.

This was another rug that I enjoyed every minute of hooking!  

Rug Of The Day-Welcomed Guests

Welcomed Guests-hooked by Kris Miller

Pattern adapted from Ann Willey artwork by Spruce Ridge Studios (2011)

Monks cloth: $50.00

Linen:  $64.00

Ann Willey is a Michigan artist (and also a rug hooker) and I have been adapting her artwork into rug hooking patterns since 2011. I like her designs because they have a serene and dreamlike quality. Many times while I am drawing up patterns, I start color planning them in my head, so that is why I decided to hook Welcomed Guests. I started to feel like I knew these two characters and they needed to be brought to life!

  It was fun to "dress them up" in some fun textured wools, a few of which I had purchased from Barb Carroll.  A striped off-white wool was cut along the stripe and hooked directionally to give dimension to the table cloth.  The textures for the clothing were also hooked directionally to create shape.  Faces can be intimidating but if you hook them first, you get the hardest part of the rug out of the way and then you have a happy little face looking back at you while you complete the rest of the rug!

Sometimes it is utter joy to hook a rug.  Everything falls into place and your color choices sing in harmony.  There is not much ripping out or starting with a different wool.  It all seems to come together.  I am almost sad sometimes to see the completion because the journey was so satisfying.  And so, for me,  it was that way with this rug.

Rug Of The Day-Nantucket Broom Ride

Nantucket Broom Ride, hooked by Saundra Porter

Pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios (c) 2012

monks cloth:  52.00

linen:  $66.00

My first rug of the day is Nantucket Broom Ride.  What a truly wonderful and whimsical pattern this is!  Saundra signed up for my class in Cape May last fall and wanted to work with me on a color plan.  The whale's body is such a vast area to hook so we did not want to use just one wool to fill him.  We "puddled" the whale by dividing his body into sections and then Saundra used textured wools that were close in value to hook each section.  The look is vintage and charming.

The greatest challenge to color planning this rug was a night sky vs. the dark clothing that a witch would wear.  We solved that problem by dressing the witch in purple.  She still faded into the background a just little, so Saundra added a halo of lighter purple around the witch.  Voila! 

Saundra also wanted a house that looked like it had chippy white boards, so we used a striped wool, cut with the stripes, and hooked it directionally.  The variations of the stripes made the perfect weathered boards.

The icing on the cake was a suggestion that Barb Carroll gave to Saundra:  put a fashionable scarf on the witch!  Genius!  

I've got this pattern put away for myself.  I have the perfect gray and purple textured wool for the whale.  Now just to steal some time to hook it!

Here is another color plan of Nantucket Broom Ride, hooked by Michelle Petit.  A different color plan but just as fun.  I love to see the variations!

Under Construction...

Starting January 19th, my website will be under construction for a rebuild.  You will not be able to access the pattern pages, products, or accessories until the new website is up and running.  I will still be taking orders and running my business as usual but if you would like to view any of the patterns, you may want to take the opportunity to do so now.

I will be bringing you a fresh, updated website with a whole new look!  It should be fast, easy to navigate, and {BONUS!} it will have a shopping cart added for your shopping convenience.  You will be able to shop day or night, in your pajamas, with a cup of tea and a cookie in hand!

I appreciate your patience and understanding during the construction process.  Please know that I will accommodate you in any way I can.  I am toying with the idea of posting "Rug Of The Day" again, so you can see the wonderful patterns I offer and the creative people who hooked them. 

Also, check the tabs at the top of my blog page frequently, where I will add featured patterns and products for sale during the construction period.

Almost gone...

Just a reminder that the Prairie Schooler rug hooking patterns will be discontinued on January 1, 2016.  The creative "Schooler" ladies are retiring and Spruce Ridge will no longer be able to produce their patterns...so order your favorites before Friday (this Thursday will be the absolute last day)!

My favorite (and the favorite of many rug hookers) is the design, All You Can Eat.  I love the fish lined up in a row with their mouths open!  I think it would be a great design for a kitchen or dinette,  or a lovely gift for a fisherman or woman.  Click here to get size and price information for the pattern.

I hate to make New Years resolutions because I have trouble keeping them but I would like to resolve that I will make time to write more consistently on my blog for 2016!  There's so many good things ahead for the New Year!

Only two more sleeps.....

Just two more sleeps until the All The Trimmings show!  I am scurrying around, packing all kinds of holiday goodies to sell, along with lots of great rug hooking supplies.  We have lots of  lovely sewing implements that are perfect for the seamstress or needleworker on your shopping list, along with rug hooks, wool, patterns, books, kits, and felted wool bags.

I always look forward to this wonderful little show because I also do some of my holiday shopping here.  The vendors and selection of quality goods are awesome!  We love to pick out a fresh evergreen wreath (sometimes two!) for our door and my husband stocks up on fresh local honey.  I usually shop the antiques for a special little treasure for myself.  And you can't pass up Marlene Dusbiber's wonderful carvings!  I give my husband a different wild bird carving every year.

What sets this show apart from other Holiday shows is that the admission and parking is free...and free refreshments, including coffee, tea, cookies and snacks.  You really shouldn't miss this show!

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In other news, the creative ladies at The Prairie Schooler have recently announced that they will be retiring and closing their business for good.  I will be carrying their rug hooking patterns until the end of December and then they will be discontinued.  If you have your eye on one of their whimsical patterns, the time to order is NOW!  I will not be able to produce or sell them after January 1, 2016.  Take a peek and order your favorite pattern today!  Click here for a link to their page on my website.