Interesting find

Today as I was boxing up all my stuff and realizing that I have way too much stuff I came across a picture of my mother when she was a young woman---the picture is very dark but quite visible as the backdrop was a wonderful old paisley shawl---my mother died when when was only 38---she was the youngest of 11 children---I was only 9 and I still miss her.  I wonder if she knows how much I love paisleys?  Maybe she did too---:)

So much to catch up on and so little time to do it...but here goes.

I left Kansas a week ago last Friday for Texas---what a great week!

The drive to Dallas was grueling---can you say I hate traffic!!!

I got to visit my friend Lily, go shopping, eat at Pappadeaux's, see the bluebonnets---some of my favorite things!

Sunday morning I heard towards Salado for the Yellow Rose Rug Hooking Workshop---it is a beautiful facility with great accommodations, food, directors, and most importantly great students!

The conference center where my class was was top notch with great lighting and lots of space.  I wish that I had taken more pictures but I didn't---you will have to take my word for it or just come check it out for yourself.  I got the room set up in the afternoon and after dinner managed to get some students off to an early start and then finished up  the first round by lunch time on Monday morning.

We spent three long but fun filled days and nights of hooking.  There were lots of fun things thrown into the mix as well---a Monday night boutique, a rug show, the Rancharita's exhibit and sale, a masseuse and many great meals.  I did manage to get my runs in but since it was dark when I went I just ran on the grounds of the facility rather than on the trail.

Here are some pictures of my student's work---

Diane's Early Frost Adaptation sold by House of Price---Diane had to leave early to get back to work but she was able to get her color plan set---it is going to be a great rug!

 Gwynna's Bird's and Pomegrantes---an Edyth O'Neill design---this is the big one!!!  She really got a lot of hooking done

 this is Max's project---Santa's Helpers---designed "the lady"---this is one big project---fortunately we get to work on it again in September at Green Lake---but the cow and goat are coming to life!

 Carol was working on a Bea Brock pattern called Tallavera---she had worked with Bea to develop the color plan for her home---it is going to be a lovely rug!

Sheila worked on two of my Cupboard designs---the first is Pumpkin Vine---she did a great job on the Bittersweet---and then she decided to use the same technique to do The next one---Texas Hill Country.

 And it worked great for the Bluebonnets----can't wait to see this one finished!!!

Barbara worked on this stocking for her granddaughter---be sure and do a close-up to see the subtle sparkles---beautiful.

 Jean was working on a doorstop of her rat terrier "Robert"---we tweaked the pattern some to reflect her dog---sorry but I can't remember the name of the designer---maybe it will come to me.

 Nancy worked on this large sunflower to be made into a pillow---mostly done in a #6 cut.  A painterly approach to flower---great texture in the center of the flower.

 Brenda hooked this "Penny Rug Sunflower" a Primitive Grace pattern, a fun pattern to work out a color plan---she is well on her way to a great version.

 Margaret 's pattern was Emma Lou's Antique Floral---this is going to have a dark background which will really make these flowers pop---lovely teals. golds and roses.

 Melody adapted  this paisley pattern from a fabric---this is going to be a wonderful paisley rug---she is a beautiful hooker and is really bringing this to life.

Audrey was doing a great job on this design by Susan Quicksall---a colorful bunting bird and sculpted berries.

 Charlotte worked on a Paisley design that I did for her---She was using some fun colors---check out the cross cut strip outline on the boteh on the right!

This is Noreen's cat---we were working from pictures of her siamese cats to come up with the colorations ---a fun memory rug of her cats!

Thanks for a great workshop!

I got home early afternoon on Friday---and had to jump into a new mess at the house.  we are having some new wood flooring laid on the main level and the wood that is there refinished so we spent Saturday getting the garage cleaned up so that we can store some of the furniture in there and moving the rest upstairs---which means that  everything on the first floor has to be packed up and moved out.  I got a lot packed up inside on Sunday before going to some friends house to watch KU beat North Carolina---yeah Jayhawks!  

More packing to do today and then tomorrow I hope to get down to the studio---have not put anything away yet!

Spring Fever

Yesterday was a beautiful warm day here in Kansas...it is chilly this morning and expecting rain/snow mix with sun returning in the afternoon but  not warm until next week---in the 70's on Monday!  My husband is getting itchy to put our trailer back on our spot at Lake Pomme de Terre.  Sounds pretty good to me to but I don't think we are past getting below freezing.

I have spent the past two days in the dye pots---lots of yards of wool.   Today I hope to start pulling some things together for the Camp in Yellow Rose to see if I still need to get into the dye pots again.

I will be heading to Texas in two weeks---looking forward to some of that Texas hospitality!  I am excited to stop in Duncanville to see my old next door neighbor Lily---what a great friend and I  miss her.  It is strange to stay with her and see the house that we built in the 70's---I was 27 years old and working for Joske's.  I was living in Mesquite and would drive I-20 to Arlington.  I kept seeing this hilly wooded area from the interstate and one day after work I took the exit and fell in love with the area---I found a lot with a builder's name and went home and pronounced that I had found where I wanted to live---so we did in 1977 (I think)--- We moved from Texas to Alaska in 1991.  That is another story!



I wanted to post this information about this upcoming hook-in---I will be vending at this event---it sounds like a great event---put in on your calendar!

When you come to this Hook-in and mention that you saw this on my blog I will have a special little gift for you---looking forward to seeing you there!

Pre-registration - $15.00 includes a box lunch $ 6.00 without box lunch
Day of event - $ 7.00 at the door

*seating for lunch is limited, register early* (Lunch provided by The Art of Entertaining)
(Lunch not available for purchase day of event)

THE WOOLY LOFT and FRIENDS invite you to attend the 1st Annual
HOOK-IN and RUG SHOW
Saturday, April 28, 2012 10am - 4:30pm
Location: Kirkwood Community Center 111 S. Geyer Road Kirkwood, MO. 63122

Come join us for a FUN-filled day of HOOKING, SHOPPING, DOOR PRIZES & A RUG SHOW ** The Wooly Loft ** Nolahooks ** Kathy Meentemeyer ** Anita White ** Handbehg Felts **
** The Red Saltbox ** Wooly Woolen ** Hollyhock Hill Design ** Hill Country Rug Works **
** Woolgathering Baskets ** Saltbox Primitive Woolens ** Vicki Hardcastle ** Hall's Hooks ** ** Kay Kjeldgaard Crafts ** Prairie Road Designs ** Edwina Prinster ** M&N Creations **
**The Naomi Miller St. Louis Guild of Rug Hookrafters will be demonstrating throughout the day** ** engraving by The Woolhooker's Helper **
Contact: Donna McHargue - donna@thewoolyloft.com (314) 422-7771 Nina Dempsey - n.dempsey@sbcglobal.net (314) 965-5752 Maria Masurat - mreemaz@gmail.com (314) 560-9244
or visit - thewoolyloft.com for more information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This form, with payment, must be postmarked by March 31, 2012
Name _________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Phone _____________________Email ______________________________________ _____I would love a box lunch - $15 _____I do NOT care for a box lunch - $6 Please check one ____ Chicken salad sandwich
____ Turkey sandwich *Seating for lunch is limited, register early*
____ Veggie sandwich. **No outside sales**
Make check payable to: Hook-In St. Louis, LLC 101 W. Argonne Dr. Kirkwood, MO. 63122 






While I am on a roll, let me also mention that I will be in Alabama in May and received my class list yesterday so I will be contacting the students soon.


I also received the class list for Caraway in North Carolina in June and will be getting those e-mails out as well.


I am looking forward to both of these workshops---I was asked an interesting question yesterday---what part of rug hooking do I like the best---is it "hooking" or "dyeing"---or for me is in "teaching"---I think the thing I love most is the diversity that rug hooking allows me---never time to get bored---it allows me the freedom to put my effort in where I am at that point in time.  There are days that are frustrating and there are days that are relaxing---but I get to wake up and do something that I love to do---well, most of the time---I don't like the loading and unloading and I really don't like the paperwork part of it!


I will be teaching in Green Lake Wisconsin in September and have some openings in my class.  If you or anyone you hook with is looking for a great camp---check this one out!  It is a great camp.




mfwoolens.com

I feel compelled to have at least one picture on this post.

So here it is:

This picture was taken in Green Lake, Wisconsin---so beautiful!

Well it is time to go get busy!

Have a great weekend!

Monday Make-Do workshop

The State Line Rug Hooking Guild sponsored a workshop on Monday with Aileen Anderson of Hot Springs Village.  Here are some pictures from the workshop.

It was a great workshop---I did mine with paisley of course on oil cans---the bird is not quite finished but you can get the idea.  the little thread holder was missing it pincushion so I was able to replace it with paisley.

Off to the dye pots!!!

Lenexa Hook-in---a great success!

Last Saturday was the Lenexa Hook-in---with perfect weather the attendance was huge!  It was so fun to see everyone come and enjoy the day shopping, hooking, eating, and renewing friendships!  There was a great Rug Show---I did take some very fast pictures but I am not posting pictures---if you want some great eye candy you can visit a couple of great site.  Here are the links:

Amy's Dusty Trail

heartandharerugs.com

I am very pleased to announce that our raffle rug raised $1505 to be donated to the Spiva Art Center in Joplin.  The lucky winner was Karen Roberts---one of my Monday afternoon students.  Yeah Karen!  She was in Florida at the time of the drawing.  She came by today to pick up the rug.  Here she is:

At the hook-in I introduced a new Cupboard design---"Give a Hoot"---I did a rush job to get him hooked before the Hook-in.  He was a great success!

Here is a picture of my booth---other cupboard patterns are pictured on the right.

I have more to say but have no more time.  aileen Anderson of Hot Springs village taught a Make do class yesterday and is coming over for dinner and I have to get things ready.  I will post pictures tomorrow of our work.

I can't believe a week has gone by

This has been a busy week recouping from my last workshop and preparing for the Lenexa hook-in and Yellow Rose.

This morning we went to a coffee roasting tour at The Roasterie---a local Kansas City company, with a group of friends---I volunteered to be one of the "tasters" and slurped coffee out of a silverplated spoon---I was a good slurper---the other girl who volunteered was slurp challenged.  Afterwards we had a great lunch at The Westport Local.

Tomorrow I am going to see The Artist---has anyone see it?

I am looking forward to a dinner of some oysters that I brought home from Baton Rouge---yum!

Here are some more photos from the workshop.

Here is a paisley pattern that I designed that was hooked and finished by Cindy at the workshop.  I really like the beading on the paisley on the lefy---she is going to do a proddy edge finish for the pillow ---sorta like I did on this pillow...

or this mat

This pattern is called Dos Gallos y Sol and was designed by Bonifacio Tovar---one of the Rancheritas of Gonzales Mexico---patterns sold by Rug Art Supply.

This is another paisley that I designed from inspiration from an antique button---Charlene got close to finishing this one too!

Sondra hooked this Guilford runner and Edyth O'Neill design sold by Woolley Fox---be sure and click on the photo to make it larger so that you can see that she made little pillows of the antique paisley and stitched it on to the canvas---a great way to really see the design in the paisley.  LOVE IT!

Okay that is it for tonight!!!  

Happy Saturday night!

Home from Baton Rouge

I got home from Baton Rouge on Friday night after a long drive home.  I left Baton Rouge and spent Thursday night in Vicksburg Mississippi.  I stayed at the Diamond Jack casino hotel---after checking in I made a short visit to the casino---way too smoky for my liking---so I lost my $15 and bought a muffeletta and went back to my room and watched some TV before crashing.  I got on the road by 6:45 AM and started home.  I killed a couple of hours having lunch with my nephew in Little rock and hit an antique mall where I bought an old rug hook for 50 cents on a half price rack---good find!  I was pooped when I got home about 8:30 PM.  I didn't unpack until Saturday and it is still not put away.

What a great workshop!  Here is a picture taken at the end of camp---a few students had already left.

Here are a few pictures from the workshop.

Sorry this rug is sideways---Gail hooked this rug when she was in my class several years ago---so nice to see it finished,  It is Lib Callaway's "Comstock".  Note the braided edge.  Great job!

I had three people in my class hooking Paisley Hex, A house of Price pattern designed by jane Flynn---they all wanted to hook it similar to mine---they all did a great job!  Suzy's is upper right and she is going to add more borders to hers, an Karen is top left---she was fast, and Barbara's loops were perfect!

Here  is the finished version of mine.

On Tuesday night I did a lecture about paisleys---here is Capri modeling one of my shawls.

I am watching the grammy's tonight---so I'd better sign off and pay attention---as well as clean up the dinner dishes!