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.)

Expect The Unexpected....

.....when you own goats.....

This is what I discovered when I went out to feed the goats this evening!  Bryce had somehow gotten into the hay feeder and he couldn't get out.  Since he is probably my biggest goat, I had to get my son to help me lift the big fella out of there! 

I'm telling you, if I could predict the future, I would say we are in for a rough winter...these guys have had a ravenous appetite!

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!