If you love Sunflowers here is a way to keep them all year round. I cannot grow them as the squirrels constantly gnaw off the heads, take a bite and then leave them on the ground. But I lovvvve SUNFLOWERS!. So I decided years ago to make wool ones. Inedible! If you are interested in making some, I now have proddy tools back in stock and yeah, rusty bedsprings. Give me a shout if you would like more information. I also make up pattern/kit/instructions on how to make these wonderful fun flowers…
Well, I feel like Dr. Doolittle – surrounded by my critters. I call Alvin and yup he comes…sits in my hand and fills his cheeks…
Coony comes every night for a feed of kibble and some fibre cereal – we now put out a bowl of water so that she can have a drink and wash her paws… 
Ann Hallett pattern Magnolia – two versions and SOOOOO very different…This is Ann’s more primitive version…
and Helen’s more realistic version…
Michelle finished her sweet Nova Scotia pillow…
Wendy finished her poppies…
Edie finished her Primitive Punkin – Pumpkin was hooked in stretchy orange fabric and yarn…
and Sherri finished her geometric punch needle and framed in an antique photographic glass plate holder…
So a few lovely pieces to share…
Wendy and Joni took Deannes Landscape class last fall and here are their amazing pieces:
Wendy’s…
Joni’s…
Linda finished two cute little punch needle pieces…
Brenda finished her sheep chair pad…
Leslie’s lovely turtle rug (design based on artwork by NUNAMAR with permission)…
And Sherri finished her Floral Runner (pattern available on my website 20% off) in glorious colours…
First, my new little friend(s). We must have at least 10 chipmunks around the house – they have made huge tunnels – amazes me how they can lift river stone that is bigger than they are out of the way to dig their tunnels. And also, how my house continues to stand! They now come up on the porch and beg for peanuts – too sweet but the cats are going nuts as they see them through the glass doors or screens and hmmmm figure they are a new treat! or toy! …
Edie finished her Seagull kit – first time hooking with number 8 cut and alternative fibres!!!… Welcome to the dark side Edie!!!…
Elizabeth finished her beautiful Lisa Ferguson Snowshoe Hare… and is now starting her Kingfisher…
Linda hooked a Canada goose which she will embellish with feathers she discovered on her walk – background is POLAR FLEECE! I think it may have been a pair of pants she had – I kind of remember that pattern 🙂 – brilliant!…
And Beth finished her Karla Gerard punch needle and oh is that an up cycled box or drawer???…
JUST A QUICK REMINDER THAT THE NEW PATTERNS DO QUALIFY FOR THE 20% DISCOUNT THAT I AM CURRENTLY OFFERING ON ALL PATTERNS AND RUGHOOKING KITS.
Ann and I have added a few more patterns to the website – you can find them on the Rughooking Patterns page…
Magnolia (hooked by Helen Brown)
Precious 
Who called this Meeting
Deer Deer Deer
A few finished pieces to share…
Joan finished this funkyJessica Steponaitis fish welcome mat…
Andrea finished her Christine Gibson pattern entitled Christine’s Leaves, designed by her husband Billy Gibson and hooked in Lopi Yarn…
Helen punched her lovely Red winged Blackbird by Timeless Traditions…
Ann Hallett pattern Eat Crow hooked by Saundra…
Another Ann Hallett pattern – Magnolia – (which soon will be available as well) hooked by Helen…
Susan finished show binding her rug designed by Leah Karo from Wooley Mountain…
I am so excited and honoured to announce the return of Ann Hallett’s wonderful rughooking designs. When I started rughooking Ann’s patterns were available through Rittermere Hurst Field. When RHF closed their doors (a sad day for all of us!), the designs were in limbo for a while. Now, with Ann’s help, I will gradually be reintroducing them a few at a time. Ann was to be the feature artist at the OHCG annual in April – sadly of course, this did not happen. However, you can look for an amazing article featuring Ann and her designs and her story in the June newsletter. If you are not an OHCG member consider joining – go to the OHCG.org website for more information.
To start with, Ann and I are reintroducing the following patterns:
– Northern Sign of Spring 27 x 39
…hooked by Gail Mueller…
If anyone reading this has hooked a design by Ann, I would sooooo love it if you could send me a picture and I will post it for all to see.
Nancy finished her tessellating sheep now residing on a wonderful old trunk…
Kim finished her African mud cloth rug…
A Deanne Fitzpatrick hooked by – oh my gosh!!!! I don’t remember! is that isolation forgetfulness setting in. I already am finding that conversing is getting hard – Gord and I are at the point of grunting at each other and understanding the grunts… Please let me know who hooked this – you are out there I know 🙂 … 
Marie’s lovely rug – started by someone else and finished by Marie – we dont know who SMM is?…
Susie finished hooking her textured Sunflower kit and just needs to make it into a pillow…
If you are looking for a cutter, Carol has a Rigby Model D for sale – recently serviced. Contact Carol directly please…cshewan@kingston.net…
The next step is to insert the flap into the body of the purse and hand stitch it in place – yes had stitch 🙂 . A lot of people ask if the flap can be stitched in by machine. Probably! but I actually enjoy hand stitching and I find I can pull my flap right up against the body of the purse better by hand than machine stitching.
The first step is to pin the flap lining out of the way – you don’t want to accidentally stitch into the lining as you are attaching your flap…
Next, pin one side of the flap flush up against the strap on the BACK of the purse (remember the front has been top stitched but the back has not).
Then move across to the other end of the flap and pin it right up against the strap on the other side of the body of the bag.
Next, stretch the flap across the back of the purse and pin it in place. It should fit perfectly in the remaining space and sit nice and flat.
Using good quality doubled thread, from the inside of the purse stitch the linen to the edge of the strap – do a few stitches to secure the strap to the linen so that it does not move around.
Now, turn your purse so that it is facing right side up and bring your needle up through the edge of the purse body…
Bring your needle straight across and down between two loops and right up into the edge of the body of the purse about 1/4 inch away and tug. Continue this stitch all the way across the flap until you reach the end of the flap and the other strap end. Stitch down through the linen, turn to the inside and again anchor your linen to the edge of your strap a few times and then knot off and cut your thread. Your flap is now attached – all that is left to do is sew in the lining of the body of the purse.
The first step is to turn under about 1 inch at the top so that the lining is the same depth as the purse body – press with steam.
Remove the pins from the lining of the purse flap and flatten the lining down inside the purse body and pin.
Line up the seam on the lining with the side seam on the purse body. Then do the same with the other side seam.
Pin the lining to the front of the purse body about 1/8 inch below the edge.
Finally pin across the back with the flap lining tucked inside(remember to remove the pins 🙂 holding the flap lining down).
You are now all pinned and ready to stitch. I use a thread that matches the lining of the purse body so stitches are not visible. Start stitching at the spot where the flap and strap edge meet. Bring your needle up through the back of the lining about an 8th of an inch in to bury the knot.
Next bring your needle through the body of the purse straight through into the lining edge 2 times – this anchors the strap so that it does not wiggle when you are using your purse. (please ignore the dirty fingers – too much time in the gardens 🙂 ).
Next slip stitch the lining to the back of the strap.
Once you reach the other side you will once again bring your needle through from the edge of the body of the purse to the lining 2 times again to anchor the strap in place.
Then continue to slip stitch the lining to the body of the purse making sure you do not stitch through to the front of your purse i.e. just catch the back of the folded over edge. Once you reach the strap on the other side repeat the anchoring stitch at either edge and continue across the flap catching the lining ONLY – not the hooked part of the flap and knot off when you are finished. You can add a snap to fasten the flap to the body of the purse – I have always found that the flap is heavy enough that it does not require a snap.
And yeahhhhhh IT IS DONE! Now that wasn’t so bad was it? 🙂
I have added this purse to my kits page either as a full or partial kit or as pattern and instructions only.
Louise sent me a picture of her Ann Hallett rug Who let the Cows Out (available on my website now 20% off) but done in fun colours…
