SOME BEAUTIFUL RUGS AND PUNCH NEEDLE…

Ahhhhhh I got my junkin fix yesterday. Diane is here with hubby for a few days and of COURSE we had to go ajunkin’ and wow what a haul Diane got. Right now we are in the process of designing 2 smaller rugs for her vintage snowshoes! She also got vintage frames, a carrier, a mini ironing board, vintage marbles for her grandkids (not the 225.00 one we saw at the antique store but the bag for 7.00 ones we got at the junk store!). What did I get – a 5.00 butter paddle 🙂 but I got my hunting fix! And today hooking and hmmm turkey soup and tomorrow hooking and hmmm whatever is leftover that we don’t have to cook!

So I have some stunning rugs to share…

Penny finished these two stockings – one is an adaptation of Karla Gerard’s Crescent Moon pattern and the other is an adaptation of Shelly Atkinson’s Winter Skate pattern…

Jill’s stunning version of Lisa Ferguson’s Snowy Owl…

Louise punched this pattern from Olde Tattered Flag…

and hooked this table mat…

and made this lovely piece for her granddaughter…

and I am finally making progress on my rug for Ruby’s family…

this is what was done when I got it…

and this is where it is now…

I realize that it is not easy to pick up someone else’s rug and continue it – Ruby and I hooked similarly but still there are differences but as I hook I imagine her looking over my shoulder and saying yes, Loretta, that is what I would have done 🙂 .

OHCG ANNUAL COMING SOON…

Our Annual OHCG rug show is being held this coming year in London Ontario April 12 – 14. A wonderful weekend of classes, rug show and special evening events (go to the website to register or check your latest OHCG newsletter). Each year the organizers announce a theme and the theme for 2019 is “Birds of a Feather“! Sooooo, if you are looking for a fabulous project to hook for this year’s annual check out these Lisa Ferguson patterns (you can find these patterns listed on my online store). Wool can also be specially dyed for each of these(most of these patterns are also available as miniature punch needle patterns or kits)…

and a few pieces to share by Sherri:

CABIN FEVER HOOKIN…

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated with family and friends both 2- and 4-legged. Maybe more 4-legged than 2! We seem to have adopted the runt of the litter of raccoons – she lives in our bird feeder and even sleeps there overnight! And the dear deer hang around at the bottom of the stairs waiting anxiously for their fair share of goodies! Along with that we have our usual contingent of squirrels including little red who LOVES getting stoned on  peanut butter! Everyone ate well over Christmas – maybe toooooo well! So today, ahhhh American Pickers and hooking, and leftovers – no cookin’!!!

And now the long dark days start – questionable and scary weather (we are expecting freezing rain and then snow on Friday), grey skies, heavy boots and coats.  Sooooo, since winter can be soooooo long and we all need a little pick-me-upper Carol and I have decided to hold a CABIN FEVER hookin in Westport (different location from our usual summer hookin) in February. A great way to spend some time with like-minded folks hooking, punching, appliquéing or felting. We will be holding a few demonstrations during the day to get you excited about trying something new!  Please email Carol to confirm your attendance.  We hope to see some of you there…

 

FOR SALE!…

Mac is not in the shop yet – he has the recurring black screen of death but then functions for a while if I treat him reaaaaaallly well and don’t ask tooooooo much of him (haha) so until Sunday when he heads to the Mac-hospital  I am hoping to get some work done 🙂 .

My friend Diane has a few punch needle pieces – well lets say she has a LOT of pieces! and she has decided she needs to divest herself of a few in order to make room for MORE! Here is one that is for sale – the frame is a beautiful piece made out of up cycled illllld trim and the punch needle is mounted to wool and then framed. This piece is available for a mere $100.00 (and since she bought the frame from me I know how much just the frame was and that this is an amazing price). So give her a shout at dhrennie@hotmail.com if you need to add this piece to your home.

and now some pieces to share…

Chris finished her funky cat foot stool…

Nancy’s lovely tea cosies heading to new homes on Christmas Day… another piece finished by Diane (attached to one of Vince’s fabulous sheep paddles)..

Susan finished this fun fun piece as a gift… (please adopt me Susan!)…

MAC IS ILL…

so sad.  AFter nine years of faithful service I believe my MAC has bit the dust. MAC happens to be my wonderful desktop IMAC.  I lovvvvve MAC but yesterday I fell into the big black hole.  YUP the black screen of death appeared and reappeared and now MAC is heading to the shop where hopefully he will be fixed or if not, replaced.  In the meantime that means my posts will be somewhat curtailed as i have no idea what I am doing on the iPad so I am taking this opportunity to wish everyone happy happy holidays – may your days be filled with family, friends, good food, good cheer and maybe some creativity.  If you need to reach me just send me an email and I will be back when MAC is well again.

SHADES OF CHRISTMAS TO COME…

We have had visitors – many visitors! – thank goodness not the ones that chew on the porch either – they have been visiting a friend and eating her porch instead! And so a few little treats must be dispensed many times every day –  peanut butter for the little red squirrel (smooth cause the crunchy is for me!), seeds for the birds who then toss them on the floor for the squirrels, grain and carrots and hmmm a few mandarins for the deer and oh my – anything that is edible for the raccoons – stale cookies and crackers, deer food, sunflower seeds, cat kibble – these critters will eat ANYTHING and I figure if I keep them fat and happy they will not destroy my house! So 5 little babies are now 5 chunky teenagers!..

A few rugs to share… 

Susan’s lovely rug from her fine shading class with Sue Perry…

Sherri finished her sweet stockings in time! yeahhhh. These were custom designed by Shelly Atkinson for Sherri’s granddaughters who are skiers…  A bit of decorating finished, my favourite Christmas CD’s loaded…and now cookies to be baked…(and hidden from Gord who would eat them all before the holidays!) and yes, I know those of you who know me think I do not cook which is true but occasionally I do bake! The shortbread is cooling on the porch and the ginger cookie dough is resting in the fridge!…

My little feather tree decorated with tiny ornies…

PICTURES TO SHARE…

Wow, it seems everyone is working hard finishing up pieces as gifts or just for the sake of finishing.  Is it the cold that spurs us on? Less outdoor work so a bit more time to play?  I know I actually got to hook the other day! While watching multiple episodes of American Pickers – ahhhhhh junkin! and hookin! – what a day!

So a few pictures to share:

Anne sent me a picture of her completed Waldeboro (pattern from Honey Bee Hive)…

and her lovely miniature punch needle of my Lisa Ferguson Winter Fox pattern…

 

 

Wendy finished hooking her funky chicken chairpaid…
Elaine bought this new pattern from me (designed by Marjorie Swift) and had it finished within days…

And also send me pictures of her Karla Gerard Folkart Sheep punch needle…Brenda finished hooking her Shelly Atkinson Hockey game rug… 

Louise sent me a picture of her lovely completed Martina Lesar rug… the other Louise is working on these amazing Christmas stockings… at our guild pot luck Marjorie’s place mat… and her lovely Grenfell rug which she recently acquired at auction…

Jennifer ‘s Canoe rug…
Shelagh with her sweet sheep rug… a few boxes from our class – Pen did a proddy topper… Bev used her box to frame a piece of lovely bobbin lace she had made…and finally – my order of Irish hooks finally arrived from Ireland. They had a hard emigration process – got lost in the many truck loads of parcels sitting in Mississauga due to our postal strike but they are here now so if you are looking to treat yourself to a beautiful hook for the holidays give me a shout…

INTERNATIONAL RUGHOOKING DAY…

What a wonderful hookin hosted by the ladies from the Martintown and Beaconsfield guilds! Mother Nature must have been happy to have a bunch of hookers gathering as we had perfect weather (a tad nippy but clear and sunny) so there was a fabulous turnout. Lunch provided by the ladies consisted of about 8 different delicious soups and breads followed up by an assortment of treats so no-one went hungry. The vendors were wonderful – from beautiful hand made wooden items, rughooking supplies, Oxford punch needle supplies, hand spun yarns, luscious precut velvet strips, hand made fimo hooks, miniature punch needle supplies – we had it all! AND!!! Gord won a door prize – well he THINKS HE WON IT – in actual fact hmmmmm, it may become mine 🙂 . Anddddd – since I have done such a marvellous job of decluttering I added a new piece to my stash. A wonderful little bench that came from a nunnery (gosh that sounds rather Shakespearean) in Quebec. This will be added to my collection – hmmm how many benches do I have now? Each is so beautiful with wonderful patina – I love vintage and antique benches and boxes – the grungier the better. This one is wonderful because there are 2 layers to the top – one screws off and can be covered with a hooked mat and screwed back on… Ahhhhh, another winter project!

I was only able to get a couple of pictures – we were a tad busy (in fact Gord kept telling me to stop schmoozing and get working!) so here they are…

Jacques is doing this beautiful rug…
and his wife Isabelle did this lovely rug…
Gill did a punch needle version of Karla Gerard 2 Raccoons (I carry this pattern as a punch needle kit or rughooking pattern)… I love this piece especially as we seem to have adopted 3 baby raccoons who hoover the sunflower seeds the chickadees toss off the bird feeder onto the porch for them… and Christine sent me a picture of her wool feather wreath – years ago I made a feather tree out of wool – hmmm mine was not as beautiful as Christine’s wreath – in fact!!!! it ended up in the garbage.  There are instructions on youtube on how to make these wreaths – I may have to try again!!!!… Today is our Guild potluck and ornie exchange. Should be a fun fun day… hope yours is as well….

A FEW PICTURES TO SHARE…

Brenda send me a picture of her Floral Runner – this is a pattern I designed many many years ago and have hooked twice – once in very provencal colours and once in very primitive, old colours. Brenda used her bits and pieces and hers is so warm and inviting and SO VERY different from either of mine – love the look of this one…

Beth ordered my Snowy Owl kit (Lisa Ferguson design that I carry) as soon as I posted these new patterns. She is now done the hooking and this looks so beautiful…

Shelagh gave this lovely Celtic piece that she hooked to her Grandmother to put beside her bed – Grandma decided it was too beautiful to put on the floor! I agree!!!!… Plus a picture of her finished piece from our box making class – tiny quilted piece served as the artwork for the top…

INTERNATIONAL RUGHOOKING DAY..

My last event of the year will be this coming Tuesday in Williamstown – International Rughooking Day hosted by the Wild and Woolly Rughookers from Martintown and the Beaconsfield Hooking Guild. Last year’s event was such fun. Here’s hoping we have a sunny day and dry roads for travelling. Today is NOT a day I would want to be on the road – freezing rain, snow. So a good day to start decorating for the holidays – wonky Charlie Brown tree is going up as are some of my favourite decorations.

In the meantime, I am starting to hook a primitive Santa that will then be attached to one of the many wooden stocking stretchers I bought at an antique store hmmmm a year or maybe!!!! two ago. He will have to be tall and skinny to fit on the stocking stretcher – maybe he is suffering from my cooking or lack thereof! As part of the cleaning, reorganizing and decluttering I have decided I need to DO SOMETHING WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL ANTIQUES AND JUNK PIECES I HAVE COLLECTED – or rather, that is what Gord says! I am happy to just gaze at them fondly as I dust them off but Gord says – no more junkin’ till the junk is gone!… So I used up one of my beautiful old victorian picture frames and now only have 2 left to fill; I have a beautiful old grungy painted yellow and red box that will hold a punch needle piece, I stacked some of my footstools in the now redecorated basement plus my antique grain sifter! So maybe by the time Diane comes for a visit in a few weeks there will be space for new junk 🙂 . Ahhhh the heart has just started pitter-pattering in anticipation!!!!!!!

A few pictures to share of work done by others:

Len’s beautiful rug of Emma… and his version of a Tom Thompson (done in a class with Carol Shewan)… My friend, Odette, knit these gloves – look closely – at first I saw just black and white and then tree branches and THEN all of a sudden the birds! and they are reversible! These are way tooo beautiful to wear!…

Louise hooked this lovely tea cosy for a customer in Alberta using Briggs and Little yarn…and Jane has been working hard on Christmas gifts including these fun crocheted trees…