Lenexa Hook-in

What a great day everyone had at the Lenexa Hook-in.  Marilyn and her crew did a great job once again.  We had great weather and an outstanding attendance.  Although as a vendor the day is quite a blur---it was fun to see old familiar faces and reconnect as well as meet new rug hookers finding us for the first time.

I have to thank my helpers, Jody, Kate and Cheryl----without them I don't know what I would have done---thank you from the bottom of my heart.   You are the best!!!

I didn't get many photos taken---just not enough time---Tammy, from Skip to My Ewe  fame took lots, so be sure to follow her blog---which by the way is what inspired me to start my blog.  Although hers is much better than mine, I'm trying.

Here is Kate showing off the Wild and Woolies.

 Here is Jody---thrilled to be having her picture taken.  Jody's handmade treasures flew out the door.


Now the hard part---getting everything unloaded and back in place.  Time to go to work.

In Memory of Irene

What a wonderful tribute this obituary was to a great lady---I could only hope to be loved by so many and remembered the way Irene will be by her family and friends.

Irene Weger Struby was a perfect wife, mother, mother- in-law, grandma and great grandma. Born on October 4, 1922, in Dodge City, Kan., she was the only child of Dr. Carl and May (Lansing) Weger. She grew up and attended high school in Glasgow, Mo., and then moved to Keytesville, Mo. She was an excellent basketball player who had a perfected hook shot. She attended Kirksville State Teacher's College (Truman State), where she met the love of her life, Harry Struby. They were married on January 14, 1945. Irene and her family moved to Leawood, Kan., in 1962. Sweet Irene was a mother to six children, 18 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. She always made time for each one attending soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey and football games, horseback-riding competitions, swim meets, school plays and choral events. She made each feel very special and each held a special place in her heart. In the late 1960s, she worked at Cambridge House, where she perfected her tole painting and wood-carving skills and made a myriad of friends at work and with Handcrafters. In recent years, she added rug hooking to her craft skills and celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary in January with her husband and hooking friends at a hooking weekend retreat. Her children's homes are adorned with her tole and hooking pieces- her presence will be forever felt. Her love for the holidays and birthdays made every special occasion magical. Irene and Harry's home was the central gathering place for Thanksgiving and Christmas family get-togethers. Everyone looked forward to her homemade noodles and out-of-this world pies. Her love for animals brought many a stray dog home until owners could be found. Her love for her family and friends will truly be missed. She was a loving person who always put others and animals first. She leaves her husband, Harry, of Leawood; her sons Carl, David, Charley, Doug and daughters Diane Winter and Pam Hannifan, and their families. Visitation will be held at McGilley and Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Kan., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. A memorial Mass will be held at Cure' of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, Kan., on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 10 a.m. Private inurnment will be at the mausoleum, Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kan. The family wishes to thank the many doctors, nurses, staff and caregivers at St. Luke's Medical Center and the Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care Center for their excellent care of Irene. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Down Home Ranch, 20250 FM 619, Elgin, TX 78621, or at www.downhomeranch.org, a home for adults with intellectual disabilities where her grandson Mark Struby lives, or the Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. (Arr.: McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 913-642-3565.)

There's no place like home

Here is a picture of a sign that hangs on the wall above my front door.  I purchased it in an antique shop in Nebraska---being a good Kansas girl, I knew I had to buy it.  It is about 20 inches by 24 inches---I have plans to hook something similar someday.

Here is another sign appropriate for a girl from Kansas---it was a gift from my sister Marsha.  Marsha has a wonderful shop in Corpus Christi, TX called Gatherings.  Be sure and go there if you find yourself in the area.  I have another sister Barbara who lives in Santa Paula, CA.  Barbara was my first rug hooking student....she wanted me to hook her something and I said I'll do something better----I'll teach you how to hook---it was the better gift as we started getting together and going to workshops together.  What fun we have had!  I'm very lucky to have two great sisters.  

One more picture building on the "Home" theme is a picture of a rug that I designed and hooked at my first rug camp in Texas at Lazy Hills in 1997.  I was in Betty Laine's class.  I called the rug, "My Country Home Log Cabin".

My youngest daughter Sarah graduated from Kansas State University in December with a degree in Elementary Ed---teaching jobs are not very plentiful in Kansas right now.  She has a second interview this morning for a job on base at Fort Riley.  Send positive thoughts her way---good luck Sarah!!!!

Packing up for the Lenexa Hook-in

Only a few more days until the hook-in.  Today was a busy day as I tried to make room in my garage to stage the stuff going to the hook-in.  Success!  Most of it made it to the garage and is waiting to load up.  My Pathfinder has been at the Dealer for 13 days waiting to finally get my fuel sensor issue solved---they finally had to replace the whole fuel tank---fortunately I had an extended warranty which covered it and the car rental.  I was worried I wasn't going to get in back in time o transport all my stuff to the hook-in but lo and behold the tank came in today and my car is back in the driveway.

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go---just have about three more loads to wash and fold.

Here are some of my favorite coffee mugs.

It's time to celebrate!!!  Cheers everyone!  Bogle Zinfandel is one of our favorite red wines.

The final shot for today is a wall in my Powder room---I collect old punched paper samplers---this photo shows a couple of them with some hooked pieces.

Ice and Sleet in Kansas

Another icy cold day in Kansas---this will be a good day to stay inside.  The sidewalk and driveway are coated with ice.  I almost fell going out to get the paper.  I am not going anywhere unless things improve.

Brrrr!  It is really cold out there---ooops, you can see that I didn't remove my Christmas lights yet.  Where is spring?

Another snowy day in Kansas

It's another cold snowy day in Kansas---so I thought I would post a few more pictures---so here goes.

This is a pattern by Primitive Grace called "Support".  I started this pattern at a yearly retreat that I organize at a Bed and Breakfast in Valley Falls, Ks in mid January every year.  Unfortunately this year I got very sick the second day and didn't get much hooking done at the retreat---I retreated upstairs to my bed and had to have my friend Jody drive me home the next day.  It is good to have friends for SUPPORT!   The pattern is aptly named.

This is an Edyth O'Neill pattern that I started at a camp many years ago in 'texas with Sharon Townsend.  The leaves are blanket stitched and attached around them---they are hiding something underneath.

This is a sign that one of my students, Mimi Hanna, painted for me.  I hangs outside on my door on the days I have classes---so everyone knows to "come on in".  I used to write it on the back of a paper plate---this is so much classier---thanks Mimi!

This is a close-up of a leaf hooked with pantyhose.

  

This is a close-up of a leaf hooked with a man's silk tie.

This is a close-up of  a section of Naomi Hudson's Star---my first post shows the whole rug.  I used paisley in the rose and veins in leaves.

Waiting Room---looking for interesting pictures to kill time

I thought I would use this time to look through my photo album for some interesting rugs to post.

This is a large geometric hooked by Amy McPheeters using her scraps.  Amy  is one of my home students and has hooked many great rugs.

This is "Bradley Primitive" and was hooked by Marie Rufe, one of my home students.  It is also a very large rug, around 40 by 50 if I remember right.

This is a pattern called "All Cooped Up".  It is a pattern by Going Gray and was hooked by Kate LeMasters, another of my home students.

This is a Jane Flynn pattern available from House of Price called "Cachmaeres".  I started hooking this piece at South Central teacher's workshop in 2008---it is about 16 inch square and was hooked with antique paisley and wool fabric, both over-dyed wools and as-is textures.

Cutter carrier

This is a picture of the cutter carrier that my husband makes...he is supposed to be putting some more together for me to take to the Lenexa Hook-in---needs to do it today as he is having hernia surgery tomorrow( Poor Doug!)

I am a big KU Jayhawk basketball fan.  Here is a picture of Fred, my big black dog, and the Jayhawk.

They are playing Colorado on Saturday at 3 o'clock---Go Hawks!

Caraway Rug School

Today I received my student list for the Caraway Rug School which is June 20-25th.  I'm so excited to have this blog up and running so that I can tell the students about it in their welcome letter.

I know June seems a long way away but it will be here before you know it.

ANITA ON THE RUN

Here is a picture of me taken back in December at the Great Santa Run---I am ready for some warmer weather...I ran two miles this afternoon, but I sure would like it to warm up a bit.  I want to run another half marathon sometime this  spring.  I ran my first one last October...not fast but I  did it---2 hours and 43 minutes...and some very sore legs for several days afterwards.

Hooked Braiding

This is the diagram I promised yesterday.

In hooking this I find it helpful to take three strips in the colors you have chosen and make an actual braid so that you have a visual to follow.  On the long side of the chevron it is a tail, four loops, turn and come back three loops and a tail.  Perhaps tomorrow I will make a drawing and take a picture of it so that I can post it---then it might make more sense but I am too brain dead tonite to do it.

Lenexa Hook-In

The Lenexa Hook-in is just around the corner.  It is February 27, from 9 to 3 at the Lenexa Community Center and 92nd and Pflumm in Lenexa, KS.

I have been busy getting ready for the hook-in and look forward to seeing everyone there.  Mention my blog and I'll have a special treat for for stopping by my booth.

These are some of my Paisley Pincushions that I have been making.

I have been enjoying watching the Winter Olympics. especially the speedskating.  When I lived in Alaska, Chelsea, my oldest daughter got to speedskate for Alaska in the Artic Winter Games in the Northwest Territory.  She was really a roller speed skater but they cross trained the kids---she was about 13 at the time---she had a great time.   When she competed in roller speed skating at Nationals in Oregon, Apolo Ohno was competing as well---he was about 9 years old then and was fast on wheels too! 

http://www.apoloantonohno.info/short-track-speed-skating

Cupboard Series

 This is a group of pictures of patterns I have designed and refer to as my cupboard Series.  The first designs were reminiscent of designs in old painted cupboards in the 1800's.  I also started doing seasonal mats which could be switched out in the frames.  These mats are 6" by 18" and are drawn on linen---available for $20 each.  A frame and pattern are $45.  To inquire or purchase e-mail me at anitahooksrugs@yahoo.com.

Hannah------------Hannah---------------Tulip

                            Willow                Poppy                Paisley

            Melon Vine    Blooming Flag   Pumpkin Vine   Holly Jolly Snowman

                            Blooming Bunny              Bzzzzzzz

These are both pictured in the frames---I use velcro to put them in so that the mats can be changed out. 

                           Old Crow                   Flock and Flowers

                   These are a couple of new ones that I haven't hooked yet.

                              St. Nicholas                Christmas Greens

These two were hooked by one of my students Doodles Young.

Valentine's Day---looking for hearts

Today I walked around the house looking for hearts and thought I would share a few of them.



This was my very first hooked piece---it was a kit from Hooked on Rugs called Heart and Hands.  It has a place of honor in my home since it was what began my journey into rug hooking.





A closeup of the heart in Olde Hearts, a pattern from Woolley Fox.

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This is an section of an antique heart quilt I purchased in Texas in 1990---has a special place in my heart.

This is an section of "Candle Mat" and Edyth O'Neill.  It was hooked with leftovers from my Paisley on Paisley rug.

This is a small pattern I designed called "Flaming Heart".  It was inspired by an anitque paper cutting valentine.

Preparation for Ohio Rug Camp

In my Welcome letter to my students for the Ohio Rug Camp I indicated that I would make an attempt at starting a blog so that they would have a place to go on the web to find some of my rugs as well as some of my designs.  This is my first attempt and I hope to get better at it.

Paisley design rug by Anita White measures 20 by 30.  The paisley motif can be personalized during the class with templates and images that I will bring with me.

"Jumbo Star" an Lib Callaway pattern that is 35 by 35.  This is a good example of a Floral Geometric and is one of my favorite rugs.

"Naomi Hudson's Star" by Patsy Becker is 40 by 51 and was another Floral/Geometric rug that I hooked using lots of Textures wools and antique paisley---another of my favorites.

"Paisley on Paisley"  was my first paisley design rug that I did in 2002.  It is 30 by 60 and incorporates antique paisley and lots of textures wools.

This is another of my paisley designs that is 16 by 34 and again it can be personalized in the class.   This was done by a student in Minnesota workshop.

"Caswell Fruit and Flowers"  a Lib Callaway Pattern that is 27 by 67---is a rug I hooked in wide cut using lots of textures, paisley---good example of a fruit/floral/geometric.