Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Weird Winter and other thoughts

On Monday Kansas City set a record high temperature of 74---today it is cold and snowy...Friday morning it is supposed to be 6 degrees.

There has been a change made on my blog---hubby set up a camps and workshop link at the top of the blog where you can check my teaching and vending schedule.  What a man!!!

It has been awhile since I posted so I am doing a bit of catching up---we had a great weekend at the Barn---19 hooker came to hook and party...there was also a red hat group there celebrating a member's 90th birthday the first night and a family group of 25 having a reunion.

Here is the group.


I have been putting off posting the picture of my Karla G. pattern because there are some things I want to change---but in the interest of learning what I am changing I will post the picture as I hooked it at that weekend and them what I changed.



Three Blooms design by Karla Gerard


It was a beautiful weekend---check out this picture




I am having classes this morning---not sure if people will show up but I'll be ready of they do...time to put the coffee on.

Today I am celebrating my 63rd birthday---was hoping to go for a run but the weather is not cooperating.  Last weekend I did my 6 mile training run for my upcoming half marathon and this weekend is supposed to be 7 miles---hope it warms up soon.  I have also decided to do a sprint triathlon so I am going to go for a swimming lesson tomorrow morning to get a plan for my swim portion---not too worried about the bike and run portions but haven't swam much for a long time.

Have a great day!







Sunday, January 13, 2013

State Line rug hookers hooked journal class

Yesterday I taught a class for our guild on making hooked journal covers.  Here is my sample of a 6 by 8 inch journal cover.  They were able to choose from a variety of heart templates and the covers were hooked into the wool fabric.



Here are some members yard at work.




I finished the framing of my Karla Gerard,  Houses in the Birches---my husband made the frame and I painted it flat black---I like the simplicity of the frame for this piece---it was mounted on acid free foam core with t-pins.



I ordered another pattern from her and plan to work on it at our retreat at the Barn in Valley Falls, KS this coming Friday.  Here it is.  It should be fun to work on---nothing too serious for a fun, relaxing weekend with friends.  Still pondering my colors...hmmmm!



A cold day here in Kansas but the sun is shining.  We had a our wine tasting group at our house last night and had a fun evening trying some new wines---our theme was lesser known varietals---had some interesting wines from some grapes that I had never heard of...Melon de Bourgogne and Negroamaro were two of them.  A fun evening!

I hope everyone has a great week.

Anita




Friday, January 11, 2013

Upcoming rug hooking events

Just a few reminders about some upcoming rug hooking events.

The Barn rug hooking retreat sponsored by the State Line Rug Hookers Guild is Jan-18-20 in Valley Falls KS---such a fun retreat!  E-mail me if you are need information.

The Lenexa Hook-in is February 23 at the Lenexa Community Center---opens at 9:00 AM---I will be vending again this year---stop by my booth and let me know you follow my blog---I will have a registration set up in my booth for a special door prize for blog followers.

In March I will be travelling to French, Camp Mississippi to teach a workshop---looking forward to meeting the Mississippi gals!

April 27th will be the 2nd annual hook-in sponsored by The Wooly Loft---check out their website for detailed information.  I will be vending there again this year.

thewoolyloft.com

June will take me to Green Mountain Rug School in Randolph Center, Vermont---here is the website for information about registering for the class.

http://www.greenmountainhookedrugs.com/school.htm

I am really looking forward to teaching at this school---I will be teaching the 5 day session----so check it out!

August 2-4 takes back to Texas for the Angela Pumphrey workshop in San Antonio on the Riverwalk---one of my favorite places in Texas.   Contact me if you would like information.

September is a busy month with a Workshop at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point WI---sorry class is full with a waiting list.  The end of the month takes me to Long Beach CA to teach at the ATHA biennial---don't forget registration goes live on January 19th.



this is the pattern that  I did as a sample for the biennial---in the class the students will design their own paisley onto an 18 inch square of linen by using different templates that i will bring and then hook it in one of 4 color palates.

Here is my finished piece








October takes me back to Nebraska for a workshop at the farmhouse with Judy and Jan---always a treat!!!

And finishing up the year with South Central Teacher's workshop in Pottsboro TX.  If you are interested in information about becoming a McGown teacher and attending South Central, contact me.

Well that about wraps it up!!!








Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Random thoughts in 2013

I seem to be moving in slow motion this year so far but am ready to start kicking into a higher gear.

Last night I signed up to run a half marathon in April with my friend Kelly---that means I need to start doing a weekly long run---I have kept up with my 3 to 4 mile runs so I should be in good shape to get to my goal without injury.

Yesterday I learned that one of my students who has been dealing with severe osteoarthritis pain passed away---rest in peace Dorothy Parks.

We celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary at a new restaurant on the Plaza and had a great time---Cooper's Hawk is a winery restaurant---a great concept.  They have a wine club which includes free wine tastings---a fun way to start an evening!!!!  there wines are made in countryside IL just outside of Chicago but the grapes are from CA WA and OR.

I ordered another pattern from Karla G called Three Blooms and plan to work on it at The Barn retreat which is Jan. 18-21st---I am looking forward to this weekend.  The paper pattern is 14 by 19 so I will enlarge it to at least 21 by 28.5---maybe  larger????



This coming Saturday I am teaching a workshop for our guild---The State Line Rug Hookers---we will be making journal covers for a 6 by 8 journal with heart themes---I have made templates for the students to choose from---should be a fun class---right now there are 24 signed up for the  workshop.

I am also hosting a wine tasting at our home for a group that we belong to that meets every other month at a member's home---our theme for this month is lesser know wine varietals---should be interesting.  We tried out one of them last night called Veritable Quandry---an unusual white blend from CA.

We watched Downton Abbey on Sunday night---glad that season 3 has started.  


Well that is it for today---ready to go for a run---this afternoon I have my annual  doctor appointment---not looking forward to it---grin and bear it!

We are in for a bit of a warmup today---yeah!


Open Studio is scheduled for tomorrow Wednesday from 9 to 4---hope to see some of you there.

Also classes will resume on Monday the 28th and Wednesday the 30th of January.





Wednesday, January 2, 2013

It's a new year and my anniversary

Well we are in a new year and today is my 42nd wedding anniversary today.  I was in bed on New Year's eve at ten o'clock so wasn't awake to celebrate the new year.

2012 was a great year and am looking forward to making 2013 even better.

I have finished my Houses in the Birches---a Karla G pattern---it is mounted on foam board and ready to be framed.  I am going to put it in a narrow black gallery type frame---maybe 1 1/4 inches wide at the most.  Here it is mounted.  Karla's patterns are available on ebay on paper and you can have them enlarged to the size you want.  This one is 30.5 by 38---mostly #6 cut with some 5's and some 7's in the background.





Today is the day to take down the christmas decorations.  It is COLD here this morning (13 degrees)---ready for the warmup that is coming.