HOOKERS AND GLASS!…

Well a few bandages and 13 hours later we all managed to finish our mosaic glass pieces yesterday. Left here at 7:30 and got home at 8:40 and that would be a.m. to p.m.! But it was SOOOOO worth it. Donna and Karen joined Sandi, Diane and I yesterday. They had both already done the class but were so hooked they decided to do second pieces. And the next workshop is already arranged for September! So here are a few pictures of class in action and finished pieces:

Diane hard at work! Look Up Di!!!!

Sandi and Cindy consultingGlueing down the glass!

Donna gun in hand!

Ahhhh the dirty part – grouting!

Karen’s piece ungrouted.

Diane’s piece ungrouted.

Diane’s piece grouted – WHAT a difference the grouting made – they just popped after they were cleaned up.

Sandi’s piece grouted.

My piece grouted –  now Cindy let Sandi and I polish and polish and polish – half an hour later we were still polishing – arms were getting reallllly sore and Cindy laughed and told us we could have stopped 20 minutes earlier – but hmmm did look reallllly good and shiny!

Donna’s piece – grouted – she started and finished this piece YESTERDAY. As did Karen (well we left Karen with Cindy and hmmm not sure if she slept over!!!) All in all a fun fun day – Cindy you are amazing (well so were the rest of us but we should try to be humble!)

SOOOOO UGLY…

It’s not often that someone would be happy being told their rug is UGLY but when Donna told me on Sunday that my little “Jack” rug was SO UGLY HE WAS CUTE I was thrilled. Not that my goal is to make ugly rugs (although hmmm I do think there are a few that have not turned out wonderful!) but I did not want a cutesy punkin guy – so ugly was better! I needed a small quick project for the show on Saturday – something that would not make me itch in the heat and humidity – and this little guy was perfect. Hooked him up during the day (actually in about 2 hours at which point I started pulling out and rehooking just so I would have something to do) and stuffed him yesterday morning. Found a great stick on the way up from the dock and he is done. This will be part of my Hooking for the Holidays classes along with a few other punkins (as well as a number of other projects). I love the idea of a whole antique bowl or box full of hooked and stuffed punkins (these will not ROT or attract the racoons!).

I am so excited – going back to Arizona in January to take another rughooking class but with Sharon Smith this time (http://www.offthehookwoolrugs.com/designer.htm). Sharon has a brighter eclectic style which is very very different from my own dirty more primitive style and I am really looking forward to learning how she achieves this look.

My new hooking friend, Kathy Clark (of Briarwood Folk Art fame) will be taking the class as well so we are going to push each other to try this LESS primitive hooking style. Kathy is tentatively coming to Canada October of 2013 to teach her amazing old antique inspired style of rughooking. I will be posting more information about this class as soon as dates, location and cost are set. So 2013 promises to be a year of fun rug hooking workshops with 2 amazing hookers. Today it is off to finish the mosaic glass window with Cindy Laneville and the girls – yeahhhhh…

CHAFFEY’S LOCKS SHOW…

First let me mention that I have a primitive dye class scheduled for November  1. You can check the information under events and contact me if you are interested in joining the class. There are 2 openings available at this time.

So Chaffey’s Locks Show – hmmmm very quiet compared with previous years when it was held on our Civic Holiday long weekend. Still had a lot of fun – Wendy and Vince and Patrice were in the booth next to me with their wonderful primitive pieces (enhanced by a couple of great garage sale finds that Wendy lucked into on the way in to setting up for the show – Gord zoooooooomed by the garage sale so fast I did not have a chance to even glance!!! at it!) and Donna, Louse and Karen in the booth next to Wendy’s with Donna’s folkart carvings and Louise’s birds and beachbags. Check out the photos below – click on them and you will be able to see closeups. Hooked up a small piece, talked about rughooking a LOT and had fun with friends and saw people I had not seen in a while at the show. So it was a fun day.

HEAVEN…

Who would have thought that the sound of pitter patter on the roof would make me sooooo excited. Woke up this morning – it was a cool night so I had left doors and windows open – to the sound of rain. Finally after about 2 months – REAL RAIN! That saturated the earth, filled up the depleted pond, watered my dead gardens, filled empty birdbaths and soothed my soul. I had taken to recycling dishwater to water flower pots (in the country even on a lake you do not waste water because when a well runs dry it costs $$$). It came down lightly and then reallllly heavily this afternoon and now seems to be finished (hope it rains again allllll night long). The house is horrifically humid but the windows and doors will stay open and I will soak up the moisture.

On Monday I got my latest copy of Primitive Quilts and Projects and there was the cutest pumpkin and cat hooked pattern in the magazine called Jack and the Cat designed by Melanie Pinney of American Pie Designs. Had to hook it, stitch it together and stuff it right away (I did however change colours a bit). It is a 3 dimensional piece or a pillow (although those spikey whiskers might jab a bit!). Here it is (click on the picture to enlarge it if you want to see it better):

This will be available in limited quantity along with the magazine as a kit at Country Quarter Quilt store in Napanee. So contact Marg at countryquarter@kos.net if you are interested in ordering a kit and magazine or drop by the store AFTER this Friday.

OOOPS FORGOT TO MENTION…

my little snowman (SNOWY is his name – not terribly original I admit but the heat of late has taken its toll on creativity) is available as a kit. Anndddd… Mr. Wiener has been retired as a pattern and a kit. I think there was one final kit at Rosehaven Farm Store so if you are looking for him you may still find him there. Occasionally I will retire a pattern or kit when I feel there are enough in circulation…

FOUND SUE HOSS OF TWO DYE…

or not Two Dye.  So if you think you might like to try some beautiful easy 2 colour formulas using I believe 26 Cushings Dyes that work up really nicely you can contact Sue at mail@folkartfibers.com. I have ordered the dye books that I need so hmmm there may be some left! Unfortunately the swatches are no more but there is a colour chart in the book which is very very close to the actual swatches and a good reference. So thank you! to everyone who emailed me with possible ways of finding Sue and the dye book!

I don’t think I mentioned that I am taking part in a challenge with Kathy (of Briarwood Folk Art) and Theresa. We have a pattern that is based on an antique rug and we are each interpreting it in our own way with the ultimate goal being to make it as old looking as possible – as if it had been hooked in the 1800’s and walked on for 100 years (well that is MY goal anyway). I may put mine on the floor occasionally to get that authentic walked on by dirty boots, lied on by cats, hairball spotted look. So YES Kathy I have started! Flowers are done and on to the beer cans!

My family additions (all 3 of them) have flown the coop. It amazes me how quickly little birds grow up – a week and a half ago they had barely any feathers on their heads and looked like little punkin seeds hanging over the edge of the nest and Monday they were all out of the nest on the window ledge and yesterday they were gone! Well when I went to let the cats out on the porch I checked first and yes one of the babies was on the porch floor so cats stayed indoors (that would have been a tasty little morsel!). I made Gord get  up, don rubber gloves to help me put the little tyke back in the nest and didn’t he fly off (the bird – not Gord). This all happened at 5:30 in the morning – needless to say Gord was a tad unhappy about the early wakeup call. But by afternoon all 3 of them were gone! So now to remove the nest and all the little droppings!

GATHERING OF OLD FRIENDS…

I am always amazed at the wonderful friendships I have developed over the years through rughooking. Yesterday I spent the day with friends I have been getting together and hooking and crafting and antiquing with for many years. Had a few tearful moments when they presented me with A EUROSTEAM IRON!!!! AND NEW SCISSORS THAT ARE NOT DUCT TAPED TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY CUT!!! I guess they were getting tired of the iron with all the gunk stuck to the bottom of it and my REALLLLLLY bad cheap scissors that broke and have been taped together for a year now! What a shock – but a lovely shock! Have a few pictures that actually worked – after fiddling with cheap batteries (hint hint :-)) for a few minutes.

(and a quick note – the hookin at Karen Kaisers this Thursday has been postponed to August 2 – due to rain ! surrrreeeeeee – will believe it when I feel it!)

Barb and her turkey rug which she is hooking from a photo…

Anne (from Chicago!) with her version of an antique rug – it is a perfect replica of the original…

Linda hiding behind her geometric…Donna and Di with one of Donnas new carved folkart pieces she just finished for the Chaffeys Locks Show…

Sheila with Muskox – second time round (long story!)…

Lydia with her Star rug… 

Barb with her new Sharon Smith rug in progress…

Donna with a little geometric for an old stool…

Louise had just finished making screen savers as demoed by Linda…
Sandi with her folkart angels… (NOT AN EAGLE!) 
Wendy with her scrappy geometric…

Karen’s latest beautiful Maud…

Elizabeth’s quilt being held up by Elizabeth (behind the quilt with broken wrist) and Di… (oh and the cat that keeps showing up in all the photos is our schmoozer Lucky who “likes the girls”…

Donna and Barb holding up Anne’s runner…

Laura (all dressed up for work – hmmm was she really here?) and her latest needlefelted shawl…

Liz in the center with a few of her newly created hats – she took a week long course in millinery and made 8 amazing hats – Wendy was IN AWE!…

 And a few additions to the family…

NEW COLOURS AND NEW SHOWS…

Soooo the other day I mentioned I had been doing some dyeing from a book loaned to me by a friend. The book is WONDERFUL but I can find no way of contacting Sue Hoss to see if she is still offering this dye book for sale. Her website seems to be under construction so if anyone knows Sue or how to contact her please let me know as I reallllly like the simplicity of this dye book – each formula consists of only 2 colours making mixing colours soooooo easy and the colours come out exactly as indicated. I picked some of the brighter colours to add to my usual dirty duller more antique colours (not everyone loves dirty!). Here you can see some of the colours in the dye book and some that I did over the last few days (interspersed OF COURSE with my own older colours)…

This week will be busy busy busy. Tomorrow a few of my old hooking friends (not age but years of hooking together) are coming over to play. Gord is escaping to golf! Coward! Usually he hangs around in anticipation of being fed but tomorrow is a brown bag day so I guess there was not much incentive!!! Then on Thursday I will be at Karen Kaisers hookin in Belleville with wool and patterns and Saturday is the Art show at Chaffey’s Locks on the lawns of the Opinicon hotel (all part of the Rideau Canal System). This is a beautiful location and a really nice show but the best thing is that this year I am surrounded by old friends with their art – Wendy and hubby Vince and daughter Patrice with primitive birdhouses and fiber arts; Donna with her folk art carvings and Louise with her beach bags. So if I sell not a thing!!!! I will at least have a fun day with friends – oh oh better leave my wallet at home! So if you get a chance visit this wonderful one day show next Saturday the 28th from 9 – 4. Enjoy the locks and the gardens and the artists.

 

NEW ANTIQUE STORE…

The heat and humidity the last few days have been so awful. I have been spending a lot of time indoors – AC is sooooo wonderful! But the jobs around the property are not getting done as a result so Tuesday I decided to stain steps that Gord had sanded down. The staining is actually something I enjoy – very methodical and quick but oh my I was barely breathing by the time I was done! I think Tuesday with humidity it was supposed to feel like 109 F and hmmm I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT IT DID! But it felt sooo good to finally get a job done. Today another set of stairs is being sanded and I will finish them and then one last set of stairs (whose idea was it anyway to put 3 sets of steps to the front and back yard?).

So to reward myself for a job well (and finally) done yesterday we took off to the states. Had to pick up a parcel and hmmm junk a bit! I found a wonderful shelf for my kitchen at Old Jail Antiques – needs a bit of fixing up and cleaning up but I love the old patina. Then we decided to head to downtown Watertown. It is so sad to see another “city center” that is dieing as a result of the big box stores. There are some beautiful old interesting buildings in Watertown – with an injection of funds and some good planning this could be a wonderful downtown area but many of the stores are closed and there was not a lot of action. Did manage to find a lovely art store where Gord insisted! I buy a necklace (I do not wear a lot of jewellery so spending money on it really frustrates me but this was soooo funky and ridiculously inexpensive!). Saw some wonderful pottery in the shop as well but hmmm NEED TO STOP THAT!

Then we were told about the farmers market and another little antique shop just up the street – farmers market runs every Wednesday till 3 and looked like a lot of fun (for another time) because hmmmm the antique store of course was the real draw! AND OH MY GOD they have wonderful smalls and very very good prices. Saw so many things that would appeal to rughookers as bases or containers for hooked rugs – carriers with original wonderful paint, firkins with original paint, shelves, stools, tables. Pieces that here in Canada would sell for 2 – 3 times the price! and in excellent shape and THEY WILL DICKER! I love to dicker! but unfortunately we had run out of cash and they did not take credit cards so I will just have to go back another day. The store (for those of you up for a little antiquing is Art to Antiques in the little Paddock mall). I was also told they have ANOTHER BIGGER shop called Turn Back Time in 3 Mile Bay. Soooooo will have to plan a trip down soon with lots of cash and an empty car! 🙂

Have been hooking a bit – trying to get pieces ready for my Hooking for the Holidays class in Picton at Rosehaven Farm Store in September (check events if you are interested). Hooked up a little 3 D snowman the other day – I think he is quite cute and hmmm can be hooked and finished in a few hours!

My friend Anne (from Chicago) loaned me a dye book the other day and it is full of wonderful formulas that only use 2 dyes. Sooooo simple compared to some formulas that require 5 and sometimes more dyes and the colours are lovely. I will be dyeing up a few of the colours today (in between staining steps and making kits and cleaning the house and and and) and will post a few pix tomorrow of the colours. Unfortunately I cannot seem to find the dye book on line anymore but will do a bit of research today to see if it is still available and if so will post details. Enjoy this wonderful humidity free day…

MANY MOSAICS…

Yesterday my friends Diane and Sandi and my sister Betty and I took a class with one of my studio tour guest artists – Cindy Laneville – on mosaic glass. Had a wonderful day playing with little bits of glass (only one bloody cut that required a bandage!). Wore regular or safety glasses because Betty kept popping bits of glass all over the studio! Ate an amazing meal (Cindy is a gourmet cook – no boxed meals from Costco at her place!) and hmmm did not finish our pieces. Did we talk too much or was it because we are all overachievers and decided to do either huge or really complex pieces! So that means a second day at Cindy’s (how sad!!!!). Cindy as a super hostess and wonderful teacher and a prolific mosaic glass artist (she will be back for our fall tour Thanksgiving weekend). Here are pix of our unfinished pieces: