Better late than never

I can't believe that I have not posted for about 6 weeks---I have some excuses but I will try to play catch up tonite.

So here goes...

I ran with the cows---

A 5K race in the country---I placed first in my age group---yeah!

I had a wonderful Mother's day and got to be with my youngest daughter Sarah to try on her wedding dress which arrived earlier in the week.

The wedding is now only 4 weeks away which accounts for a lot of my lack of postings---still many details to take care of but getting things done every day.  Last night I was polishing silverplated flatware---more to do!  I purchased a lot of fine china with silver bands and blue, yellow, grey  and white flowers on them at thrift stores and craigslist for very little money---just lots of time and effort but can't wait to see the tables come together.

I drove to Odenville Alabama to teach a workshop for the Wool Sisters---another fun workshop with a great group of women.

 Whatnots, a Woolley Fox pattern hooked by Elaine---love that paisley!

Paisley Primitive a new pattern I designed for Faye---I think it is going to be a great pattern and four of the girls from the workshop ordered the pattern.

This is a redesigned Susan Quicksall  tote pattern turned into a rug hooked by Ruth---she turned the motifs into all cats and one dog and the rug is going into a silent auction for a no kill cat shelter---Ruth loves bright colors and this was fun to work on.

   

Libby was hooking this mermaid for her granddaughter---what fun we had turning  this mermaid into a fun rug using some interesting spots plaids and stripes.  The background of the flag is The wool studios blue plaid with sparkles---great job on the little stars.

Becki's goal with this pattern was to do a primitive pattern and hook the motif to look old and wonky---which was not her normal style---I think she achieved it.

Another mermaid was a Nola Heidbreder pattern---Dana used a mix of materials including sari silks, yarns and a wool challis scarf---it is going to have a proddy edge.  A mermaid in the deep blue sea!

Gail was hooking Alice in Wonderland for her granddaughter---sadly she only got to stay one day so she had to work hard but she got a good start and we color planned a lot of the rest of the patter

Mary was hooking this family rug---not much more to go!  Is it finished Mary?

Dawn was working on some pieces that were already in progress from previous workshops---she finished one and almost finished another one.

Sharon started this Michelle Micarrelli  pattern---what a fun squirrel!  She is off to a great start.

Bobbie started this Early Farm scene---she had a picture of an early rug that she was working this i-one in the style with the back outlining---she also  worked on another piece for awhile but went to this one.  A great old looking primitive.

Linda was working on this large version of Paisley Hex that she started with me a couple of years ago---it was adapted by me with permission from House of Price by Charlotte when she had the business.

this is one of Wendy's pattern---if you haven't gotten her new book about wide cut hooking be sure to order it---mine came from Rug Hooking magazine when I got home from the workshop---it is a great book that you will want to have!!!

Gail was hooking Alice in Wonderland for her granddaughter---sadly she only got to stay one day so she had to work hard but she got a good start and we color planned a lot of the rest of the pattern.

This is pizza smoking and cooking on our Traeger grill---it is great!!!

We have had some awesome meats.

Training for a 10K race on June 7th---hoping it is not real hot that morning---my body does not like the heat!  It is called Hospital Hill and yes it is hilly!

Ok---that is it for now---I'll try to be better about posting.

Anita

Rock the Parkway

Well I ran my first half marathon of 2014 on Saturday morning.  My body was not prepared for the heat---it was in the upper 60's and it felt good for the first three miles and then I got overheated and ended up having to walk parts of the course as I was getting light headed.  I still managed to complete the race in two and a half hours---about 11 minutes longer than last year---so while it was not my best race I did my best on that given day---I gave it all I had...while I was 13th in my age group I was the fastest 64 year old woman---next year I will move up and age group to the 65-69 and I'll be the young one in the group  :)  and will hope for a cooler day.

My next race is in two weeks---The Trolley Run and it is only 4 miles!  Yeah!!!

I decided to treat myself yesterday to a massage after the run at Milagro's Midwestern Spa---they just moved into their new location in old downtown Overland Park...I told them I wanted a sports massage on my legs but wanted to walk away feeling relaxed as well---and that was what I got.  I am sore this morning but think I would have been more sore without it---time will tell.  He did some great stretches with my arms and legs as well.

Next Saturday we are going to Grace Hill Winery where my daughter's wedding will be in June and participating in a Build your own wine day.

Hoping we come up with a special blend to use for the wedding reception.  Here is the link to the label Sarah created for the white wine.

http://labeley.com/label/preview/id/11_no_dis_1397341271.png/dir/s_1

I am teaching home classes this week and also planning on spending Thursday and Friday in the dye pots.  Lots of new wools to play with.

We are planning on opening up our Fifth wheel at Pomme de Terre lake right after Easter---looking forward to spending a few days at the lake.

I took this picture when I was in Maryland---I had to take a picture after I did a double take!

What fun!

Have a great day!

This and that

More catching up on my week...I had home classes this week.  Here is Karen's rug in progress showing the upholstery fabric that we were working with for the rug---decision made yesterday to add a three color braid with a dark black-green, a blue-green, and a sage-green with black dot on it.  This is a Primco pattern---this is the same rug that I started back in January with red flowers.

Saturday is my Rock the Parkway Half Marathon---ready or not it is here!  I have been doing most of my training in cold weather and it is supposed to be 55 degrees Saturday morning so I know that I am going to be hot and sweaty---was hoping it would be cooler----but not going to happen until Monday and Tuesday---cold front back down to the 30's.

We are posting new rug hooking pendants this morning on ETSY---be sure to take a look.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/anitahooks

Wedding plans  for my daughter Sarah are progressing---less than three months to go till the big day.  

June 28th will be here soon!

House remodeling continues in Oakland---the latest project is a new back porch and then the deck is next---the roof of the deck has been removed and the back of the house has been patched and painted.  I think that we will go out in July for a deck building week---My husband has built several so Noah is wanting his help.

My next workshop is in Alabama with the Wool Sisters---I had such a great time there a couple of years ago---really looking forward to going back...here is a picture that sits on my desk.

Well I have work to do---have a great day!

Home from Maryland

I had a wonderful week in Maryland with the Podickery Group in Annapolis.  A beautiful view out our hooking window from the yacht club overlooking the Chesapeake.

 Sorry that I didn't get a good picture so you will just have to imagine it.  :(

The day that arrived I was greeted to a traffic jam when we tried to get from the workshop location to have dinner---had a nice several hour chat with Margaret---finally ended up at Brio's and had a wonderful  dinner and then spent another hour going a few miles to my host house...fortunately the traffic improved the rest of the week.

Here are some of the projects in the class.

No she didn't get all of this hooked this week---Billie started this with me in Buckeystown---we worked out the border this time!

Margaret had started this runner but wanted to make some changes---the eyes and the circles at the ends are black and white quillies---just so darned cute!!!

                         

JoAnn was working on Edyth O'Neill's Ohio Coverlet---she wanted to make it look old and muted rather than like a coverlet and is going to change the border to a simple frame with a striped background wool binding.

Pam chose this whimsical owl pattern---a fun colorful runner.

Cheri chose the large version of Emma Lou's Tulip Cross---not one who is afraid of color---this is going to be an eye popping beauty!

Another Edyth ;Neill pattern is this Tavern sign ---a simple but effective color plan will make this work. 

Doris designed this Family Snow Scene---a great family memorial!

 Janet had started the center part of this rug before the workshop---it was fun working with the border ---she did a great job finding it much easier than she thought it would be...ready for fall???

Pat was working on this pattern with a circle of cats eating out of a bowl--aren't these a fun bunch of cats!  this will be a happy rug!

Kymberly is a new hooker who ambitiously  chose a very large pattern---we spent a bit of time getting her technique down---to where she had the light bulb moment and will continue to make progress.  She spent a lot of time trying out hooks and learning to hook wider cuts---a delightful new student.  We did get the pattern color planned.  go Kymberly---you can do it!

Finally---a post

Okay I am going to try to get caught up with what has been happening.

So here goes!

Going back to March 8th and the Rock Creek Hook-in----what a fun crazy day---it was good to see so many rug hookers at the event---I think it was the biggest one ever!

Here is the link to some pictures from the event.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90976638@N05/sets/72157641421157545/

I was not a good picture taker that day and these were taken by Andrea Allen.  Great job!

Here  are some pictures of my booth:

Thanks to my helpers Jody, Marlene and Mary Ann for their hard work!

I left the hook-in at 2 o'clock to start my drive to Texas for the Yellow Rose Workshop.  I spent the night in Ardmore OK and got on the road early Sunday morning to head to Texas.  I got there and unloaded my car, set up my space and started in getting students started as they filtered in.  After a wonderful dinner and meet and greet I came back and worked some more until I hit the wall around 9:00 and went to bed.  Up early Monday and back to a wonderful group of students who worked really hard---lots of progress.  Monday afternoon there was a boutique sale where the students could sell things.

Tuesday morning I managed to get in a 30 minutes run around the conference grounds.  More class time followed up by a fun evening on a trolley ride down to the campfire.  Here are some sights from the ride.  

Had a wonderful rug show---here are a couple of the rugs from the show.

This was the raffle rug---I didn't win it.

Here is the class picture and some of their projects taken during the Wednesday throw down.

 Hooked by Melody---a Karen Kahle pattern called apothecary rose----looking really good!

 This floral was hooked by Melody---an Adrienne Dykes pattern.  Melody got a lot more of the border hooked---can't wait to see how this all comes together.

 This was hooked and designed by Kathy Clark of Briarwood Folk Art---Kathy will be teaching at Yellow Rose next year---she does a great job with old looking primitive rugs.

 This chicken was hooked by Marilyn---we discussed many ideas about how to change the pattern---we finally decided to add the chicken wire in front of the chicken and although it gets a little lost in the business of the black and white chicken I like the subtleness of it---the background is going to be a dark green and the border is changing to a red and black checkerboard---at least that is the plan right now.

 I designed this William Morris adaptation of Little Flowers and Small Barr for Georgeanne---I really like the pattern and I like what she is doing with it.

Carol was working on this M Shaw design---notice the quillies in the chicken.  Although she bought this as a kit we made several changes which turned out well.

This is the large Paisley Hex pattern designed by Jane Flynn---I have hooked the small piece and Carol is the first student I have had tackle the large version---this is going to be a phenomenal rug---she used lots of paisley in the rug---the background is going to be  a dark tea mix.  Love it!

Vickie, a new hooker was hooking my Pumpkin Cupboard design and was doing a great job!  She was so much fun and her enthusiasm was infectious!

While I would love to post more my time is gone.  

My NCAA brackets are busted---no billion dollars for me!  One guy is still perfect---go Brad whoever you are!

Yesterday I ran my long training run for my Rock the Parkway half marathon on April 12th---ran 10 miles...hard!  At the end of my run I was walking and trying to tell my husband where I was so he could pick me up and was not watching where I was walking and fell forward where there was an uneven sidewalk---catching myself with my hands---right hand fingers were hurt and the left hand holding my cell phone---well lets say the glass was shattered!  Fortunately I was wearing long pants so my knee fared okay.  When I woke up this morning my neck and shoulders are sore---kinda like whiplash!  Gotta be more careful!!!

One more week until I leave for Annapolis to teach for the Podickery Guild---boxes have been  shipped!

Sadly today I am going to a Celebration of Life for the husband of a good friend from high school and college and was in my wedding.  Rest in Peace!

Best wishes to Kate who is having knee replacement surgery on Monday--know that you will do great!!!