The Game Emma Plays

We keep loose minerals available all the time for the goats and sheep to eat. It looks like sand but it contains salt and vitamins and minerals which are essential to keep them healthy. They love to eat it, especially when I bring out a fresh supply. We pour it in a plastic container which is made to hook over a board or fence. We have kept the sheep minerals under their shelter for close to 4 years with nary a screw or nail to hold it. We have simply hooked it over a board and it stayed in its place. Emma has decided to make a game of this.....

Emma has decided that it would be real fun to flip the plastic mineral container out of the shelter. It lands in about the same place every time. Each time she knocks it out, I go out to pick it up and replace it on the board. Pretty soon, she flips it out on the ground again. And then I come outside again....this has happened at least 6 times in the past 3 days....can you see a pattern here? LOL! I wouldn't mind it so much except that the minerals get dumped out and it's becoming a costly game. Looks like Ken is going to have to get out his power drill and some screws this week-end!

Years ago, someone once told me that they thought sheep were dumb and had no intelligence. I'm betting that person never owned sheep before.

Have a great week-end!

Quilt Show

I'll be vending at a quilt show this week-end sponsored by the Berrien Towne & Country Quilt Guild. It takes place Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th from 10 am to 5 pm at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, Upton Hall, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, MI (if you are on I-94, it is at Exit 30). Admission is $5.00, children under 12 are free.

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I've been putting together special wool bundles in yummy colors for wool applique, penny rug making, quilting, or rug hooking. And I'll be bringing lots and lots of other overdyed and as-is wool along with beautiful hand-turned wooden sewing accessories for the discriminating fiber artist. Also a few rug hooking kits and some books.

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It will be a lovely week-end to view the quilts and do some shopping...hope to see you there! I plan on visiting the Lake Michigan shore for a little relaxation in the evening!

A fun time at the Mansfield Hook-In

We had a great time on Saturday at the Kingwood Center in Mansfield Ohio. Many heart-felt thank-you's to Katie Allman for putting on a fun and special day to rug hook, shop, and visit with friends. The rug display was absolutely wonderful. I wish I would have taken more pictures of the rugs. This was one of my favorites:

A gorgeous proddy rug! This was made by Ruth Treen. It reminds me of the proddy rugs I saw in England (Thanks to Katie Allman for identifying the maker of the rug).

Emma has settled down a little bit today and she is not rattling our windows with her baa-ing. She still "talks" but it is more gentle and quiet and sounds like a purr-like baa. She is trying to buddy up with Lumi. She still avoids me at all cost but she is constantly curious about what is going on while I am doing my chores. She walks down to the end of the pen and "talks" to the goats too. They just can't figure her out!

Welcome home, little Emma!

Well, it certainly has been an exciting day for both human and sheep here at Spruce Ridge Studios! This evening we picked up Emma from Neil's farm and brought her home.

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Here's Neil carrying Emma out of his barn to load her in our truck. (Good grief, she's being carried? Just a little spoiled already, wouldn't you say?!?) Kind of hard to believe that this is a 3 month old lamb!

Emma and Lumi meeting for the first time:

And now, nose to nose!

Such a cute face (I think I've said this before)! And look at those curls!

A growing girl needs to eat.....yum, there's some good hay here....

And now for some grass and clover....

But this is what Emma has done the most since she's gotten here....

BAAAA!!! BAAAA!!! BAAAA!!!

She is quite "vocal" and has a loud voice to match. Poor girl, it's so hard for her to be separated from her mom and and the familiar surroundings where she grew up.

(I hope my neighbors are very understanding)

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We had a terrific time at the Mansfield Hook-In at the Kingwood Center on Saturday. I'll post a couple of pictures tomorrow. Time for this "sheep mama" to go to bed!

Hex and Frex is finished!

Hex and Frex, an adaptation of Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios/Kris Miller (c)2007

I finished Hex and Frex last week. I was watching the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup and pulled up the last loop as they were celebrating their win. This rug is hooked in all textures with a #8.5 cut throughout. I love everything about this rug! I love the dark colors and the sparks of turquoise that march around the border. I love the round little eyes of the cat on the left. Simple, yes, but it gives him a personality. I love the "straight-line hooking" on the body of the cat on the right, this gives the rug an "old" feeling.

My favorite color combo is the hex sign...love the combination of the maroon and dirty turquoise textures!

Thanks so much to Jayne Hester for her delicious color planning !

Hooked Rug Show and Hook-In in Mansfield, Ohio

Isn't this a beautiful setting? This is the Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio. I will be vending at the hooked rug show/hook-in that takes place here on Saturday June 21, 2008. The hours of the show are 10 am to 4pm and admission is absolutely free and open to the public! Come enjoy the rugs in the Meeting Hall, and the lush flowers and gardens on the grounds (I have never been here but I'm told it's a wonderful place to visit). Stop by my booth and say hello! If you have any other questions, you may call Katie Allman at 419-685-4490.

Thank You!

Thanks to all of you who attended the Tent Sale and Studio Open House! We had a wonderful turn-out of shoppers. It was very fun to see everyone and share the enthusiasm of rug hooking and fiber arts in general. I got so carried away that I forgot to take pictures! I've decided that it should probably be an annual event so I'll see you next year!

One Week Until Spruce Ridge Studios Open House and Tent Sale!

Here's what part of my studio looked like a couple of weeks ago as I was cleaning out cabinets and closets for the Tent Sale. The dark green cabinet on the right stores my private stash of wool, a "no-share zone" as my friend Wendy Miller calls it! Here's proof to my friends that I do occasionally clean out my stash and offer it for sale. The Tent Sale will have lots of clearance-priced rug hooking wool and a selection of rug hooking patterns that are 25% to 50% off the regular retail price.

I wonder if anyone still sews. I have been away from the sewing world for such a long time. I have cleaned out all of my nice dress-making fabric, literally more than 200 yards of fabric and most of it is priced at $1.00 per yard, nothing over $3.50/yard. There's all sorts of cottons, batik, velvet, broadcloth, georgette, denims, rayons, wool blends, knits, polar fleece, linen, a few pieces of silk, and more. Tell your sewing friends about this!

I'll also be parting with a few vintage/antique pieces of collectible things ... you'll have to come by to see what they are. And I'm still digging around to find a huge box of recycled wool garments. Each piece will be priced at $1.50. There's so many other fiber items that are too numerous to list (roving, buttons, yarn, etc).

I do hope you'll stop by and find a treasure to take home! The sale goes on, rain or shine (but we're praying for sunshine)...and my studio will be open all day for your regular rug hooking needs as well.

See you next Saturday!

Name That Fungus

OK, so I'm sure you were up all night, wondering what type of fungus I have growing on a tree in my backyard (see yesterday's post). I won't keep you in suspense any longer:

The name of the fungus is Dryad's Saddle or also known as Pheasant's Back Mushroom. This type of bracket fungus grows mostly on dead trees but may also be found on trees with injuries, which is probably what is going on with my tree. It is not poisonous.

I'm sure you'll agree that it does look like the back of a pheasant with its feathery pattern and soft brown colors. But what, you ask, is a dryad? In Greek mythology, a dryad is a wood nymph. Could it be that forest faeries have been frolicking in the trees and watching us from afar?

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(Emma and her mom - picture taken at the end of April)

I have been told that Emma will be ready to come home to our farm in about 2 weeks! I have not been out to Neil's farm to see her recently but he tells me that she's getting big and she has lots of curls.

Have a great week-end!

Can you guess what this is?

Take a look at this photo and guess what this is.....

It looks soft...

delicate....

beautiful taupey-brown colors...

feather-like....

Almost looks like a bird's wing....

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Have you guessed what it is?????
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I'll bet you don't know!

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Look at the picture below!

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It's a bracket fungus that is growing on a tree in my backyard! Beautiful!

For a fiber artist, color and texture inspirations are everywhere!

Now, can you guess what kind of bracket fungus this is? Leave me a comment if you know. I'll post the answer tomorrow!

Go Red Wings!

Everyone in this family is a BIG hockey fan so there's lots of excitement over the Stanley Cup finals! We have been big-time "Wing Nuts" for years. My son Kevin went to the Red Wings game on Monday night and took these pictures:

Pittsburgh Penquins and Detroit Red Wings

Wouldn't be a hockey game without a little pushing and shoving!

The end of the game and the players are celebrating win #2.
We are merely two wins away from Lord Stanley's Cup!
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Happy Memorial Day

Home Sweet Home, an adaptation of a design by Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten Farm,

available at Spruce Ridge Studios

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A tribute to all the men and women who have proudly served to make our country "land of the free and home of the brave". Thank you for your sacrifices.

Last week...in photos

It was a busy week...and here are the photos to prove it!

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Saturday May 24, 2008

It was a beautiful, warm sunny day so we finished shearing the last four goats. Ken accidentally broke a big branch off of a tree so it became a feast for all the goats. Here's the feeding frenzy:

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Sunday May 18th - Thursday May 22nd

Another rug camp! I went back to Ligonier, PA for a workshop at the Woolley Fox with Barb Carroll. Lots and lots and lots of hooking was done! Here are some of my friends... such busy little hookers! (L to R: Polly, Connie, Janet)

And here is Janet, proudly displaying her rug in progress, Oh Glorious Day. This rug will automatically make you smile!

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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Congratulations to my brother, Erik Johnson, on his graduation (summa cum laude) and business degree from Northwood University. Way to go, Bro!

The happy graduate and his proud sister

Goat Shearing Day

Mom! We need a haircut!!!

this is Sampson, a very hairy fellow!

Today was goat shearing day. We have learned to shear the goats ourselves. Sheep shearers generally don't like to shear goats because their skin is much more wrinkled and has many more folds than a sheep does. Consequently, goats are easier to nick with the shears. We shear our angora goats twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The fleece from angora goats is called mohair (not angora, which is what you get from rabbits). We have to wait for a nice warm dry day.
Here is Zion before he was sheared. He and Sampson are half-brothers and they both get quite a bit of hair hanging over their eyes.

Ken is the "master goat shearer" here at Spruce Ridge Studios. He has a good method for getting the job done without nicking or cutting anyone. And I'm the "assistant goat shearer" as you can see from the photo below:

My job is to hold the goats and make sure they don't wiggle or jump up....umm....Zion sure looks traumatized, doesn't he??? Tee Hee! If he got any more relaxed, he'd fall asleep! Lots of petting and pampering going on here.

Here's Zion after shearing.

Sequoia, before shearing.....

Sequoia, after shearing! (see those wrinkles?)

The goats usually itch and scratch after they get their hair sheared but they are so happy to lose that heavy winter fleece! We do a lot of itching and scratching too because all those little cut hairs get into your clothing and stick to your skin!

We like to take our time so it takes us about an hour to shear each goat (remember, we didn't nick or cut anyone!). We also trim all of their hooves and give them medicine for parasites. We got three done today...four more to go! Our record is shearing 7 goats in one day but we could barely stand up after that! Not a pretty sight.

New Patterns

American Sheep notecard (c) Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten Farm

If you haven't been to my website lately, you may want to take a stroll over there to see the newest rug hooking patterns adapted from the artwork of Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten Farm. There are three very patriotic patterns that are perfect for your summer hooking projects. American Sheep is adapted from the notecard above. Someone recently told me that this pattern has all the things that rug hookers love....sheep, flowers, and flags....what more could you ask for? My Country is another wonderful pattern that brings a smile to my face...he is the PERFECT companion to Lady Liberty. I can invision this American pair hanging together on the wall in my studio. Where Liberty Dwells rounds out the trio of patriotic patterns and it's a great addition to anyone's collection (the perfect project if you have a loved one in the military service). There is one other new pattern that is the MUST-HAVE for anyone who loves sheep, wool or flowers....and that is Wool Garden! I was going to pick a favorite pattern but I can't! Choosing a favorite pattern is like choosing your favorite kid...you love them all for many different reasons!

Besides finishing up my Hex & Frex pattern, I'm working on Lion and Lamb. I'm having great fun hooking all those leaves in the willow tree (really!~ the leaves hook up quickly~just takes one strip for each leaf)! And I wanted to point out that the original pattern had the word "March" at the bottom, but I changed my pattern to say "Peace" at the bottom. I liked it so much that now the pattern is available with your choice of either word.

If you are a fan of Cindi Gay's "Queen Anne" series, you'll love the three new patterns that coordinate: Field of Queens stair runner, Kentucky Rose Queen stair runner, and Annie's Wandering Scroll.

Also new this spring is Bonnie Smith's collection of patterns that she wrote about and were featured in the April 2008 issue of The Wool Street Journal: Three For The Show, Baby Shoes, Narcissus, and Bunny Lane.

I hope you'll find your favorite summer hooking project at Spruce Ridge Studios!

Oh My, What A Time We Had!

I just got back tonight from the Laurel Mountain Rug Hooking School in Ligonier, PA. My teacher was Jayne Hester. Words simply cannot describe the WONDERFUL time I had there! It was fun to see so many of my dear and favorite friends...and I met lots and lots of new friends too!!! I feel like my "rug hooking spirit" has been super-energized and my feet just haven't touched the ground yet since I've gotten home. (If you're a rug hooker, you know what I mean!) I couldn't wait to post a few pictures.

Jayne Hester and me

Barb Carroll and Jayne Hester

I was hooking Hex & Frex, a Notforgotten Farm adaptation. I wanted to hook a "dirty primitive" which is a rug with dark and grayed out colors...makes this rug look like an antique! This is what I got done at camp. I'll post a picture of the completed rug as soon as I get it done.

(Picture was taken in the hotel hallway so pardon the darkness of the photo)

Here's Barb Carroll giving a little lecture about the wools and colors in one of her newest pattern designs. The rug is being hooked by Elaine Cathcart, on the left.

I LOVED this rug camp!!! Hey everyone, thanks for the memories !!!! And thanks for sharing your knowledge and beautiful color planning, Jayne...you are one of the best!!!

A Visit With Emma

On Friday, I went out to Neil's farm to visit with Emma and see how she's growing. She's three weeks old now.

She was out in the field grazing with her mom. Her brother was there too but somehow he didn't get into this picture.

Such a cute little face! She's getting a lot more fuzzy. Liz says she looks like a teddy bear!

Ooops! Where did Mom go?


I'll try to get some more pictures as the weeks go by...hopefully Neil doesn't mind me intruding on his farm!

Thanks For A Great Day

Thanks to all who came to the hook-in in Saline today! We (me and DH Ken) had a fun and successful day...we are so pleased you stopped by my booth! It was great fun to see old friends again and share the enthusiasm and energy of happy, creative rug hookers! There were smiles all day long. Now I'm going to plop down (literally!) on the sofa and put my feet up.

I went to Neil's farm on Friday to see Emma....I'll post pictures tomorrow!

"2008 Friendship Hook-In" Saline, Michigan

I'll be vending at the Hook-In in Saline, Michigan this Saturday at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. The fun begins at 10 am and lasts until 4 pm. There'll be door prizes, a rug exhibit, raffle for a hooked rug.

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I'm bringing along 3 brand new Notforgotten Farm patterns!

Based on Lori's latest note cards, they were newly adapted this week and will make their debut at the hook-in.

Be sure to LOOK for them!!!

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I'm also bringing lots of wool, patterns, books, hooks, kits, pins, frames, roving, and much, much more.

Stop by my booth and say hello!

Lumi's Big Day

Yesterday was sheep shearing at Liz Cowdery's farm. Liz calls it "an event", and I have to admit that it is quite an amazing process! All of us small fiber people who only have a couple of sheep bring our animals over to Liz's to have them sheared too.

Here is Lumi before shearing. She's quite shaggy and I'm sure it's very hot to be wearing a wool coat when it's 70 degrees and sunny.

Here's Doug starting out. He sits the sheep back on their butt and they can't go anywhere!

He's doing her tummy first. That wool is really dirty and matted and we throw that away.

Now he's working on her legs. That wool isn't good either and we discard it.

He's working up her hips and along her back.

He's shearing along her back and sides. This is the wool we want to keep.

Doug is almost done....only about 5 minutes have elapsed! Look at that gorgeous fleece laying there! When Doug is finished, he rolls it up into one big piece and we put it in a bag. Lumi has a fine wool with a nice crimp (lots of little waves in the fiber). OK, maybe I'm nuts but I love looking at a raw fleece!

Here's Lumi after shearing. She's soaking up the sunshine and I think she's happy that she gave up her wool. She's a good girl!