dyeing wool for Ohio Rug Camp

I've been in the dye pots this week dyeing wool to take to Ohio in April.  Here is a picture of some of the results.



Evidence of spring in Kansas

The sun is shining---yeah!  I took some wool that I dyed outside to photograph it---these pieces are 6-7 inches wide and 72 inches long.

and here is a close-up    

It's time to get out your spring hat---this is one I purchased at the ATHA biennial in Kentucky last fall.

The news is saying that Kansas City will have snow on Saturday, the first day of Spring---boo!

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.