HAPPY HOLIDAYS…

I cannot believe Christmas is 2 days away.  We want to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays – may your day be full of warmth, cheer and family and friends (including the furry ones)…

The minute the red bucket appears the deer come a’runnin’…  Not only are they getting MNR approved healthy grain and corn (with a bit of molasses thrown in for yummy flavour) but also oranges and apples and carrots – hmmmm I may join them for a meal! Any left overs are quickly scooped up by the jays and squirrels!… No waste at our place!…

Years ago my friend Donna designed this pattern and we both hooked it.  I still love how this piece turned out – primitive, wide cut and dirty looking – just my style 🙂 .

A FEW FINISHED PIECES TO SHARE AND INSPIRE…

Judy finished her Queen Bee (one of the Lisa Ferguson patterns available in punch needle or rughooking) – this was her first piece and turned out beautifully…

Jill did an amazing job punching Lisa’s new Christmas Bunny – this is a new pattern/kit for miniature punch needle and for rughooking….

and Alysson finished her Teresa Kogut Santa…I LOVE THE SNOWFLAKES!…

AND MORE BLACK OUTS…

So my life seems to be plagued by power failures! This time it was not just a little flicker but a 19 hour long blackout! Thank goodness we have a generator that runs the important things like furnace, well pump, some appliances (microwave being the most important 🙂 ) and yeahhhh TV and internet. I spent the last 2 days punching while binging on tv series Gord hates to watch! So I actually finished two small punch needle pieces – could not get into my studio except by flashlight so hooking was out of the question but punching was doable because all my supplies are in one bag which I could easily schlepp out of the studio by dim light! It was wonderful – I cannot remember when I last just sat and punched or hooked without feeling guilty about not working! Yeah, so hmmmm should I say bring on the power failures?… NOOOOOOO – a little reprieve from work was nice but not something I want to do continually.

So pix of my projects before they get finished off:

A Winter’s Day – one of the Joni Black patterns I carry in miniature punch needle as well as rughooking – this will be attached to a vintage box I have…

Teresa Kogut design Santa’s Surprise which I changed a bit and which I think I am going to adhere to an old silver tray to be hung for the holidays…

Holiday Sheep which I may either make into a “snow globe” or finish off in a vintage wooden hoop…

Wendy sent me a picture of her sweet finished rabbit…

and Copenhagen got it’s edges rehooked a few days ago. When I went to attach the show binding which was in a darker seafoam green I realized the dark teal and navy borders were not right. I knew something was bothering me about the finished rug but it was only when I decided on the lovely wool for the show binding that I realized it was the borders so out they came and in went a dark seafoam texture and a taupe brown that picked up on all the seafoam and taupe in the water and sky and actually looked wonderful with the show binding. Just goes to show you that unlike so many other art forms rughooking can be changed after it is finished (or almost)….

AND NOW JUST A REMINDER – CABIN FEVER HOOKIN IN FEBRUARY IS FILLING UP QUICKLY – IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY SENT IN YOUR EMAIL TO CAROL TO REGISTER PLEASE DO SO QUICKLY! WE WOULD HATE FOR YOU TO MISS OUT ON THIS FUN DAY IN THE DARK DAYS OF FEBRUARY!

REINDEER RUG…

Well, since posting a picture of Annette’s wonderful Reindeer rug I have had many people asking if this is my pattern and NOPE sadly it is not! The pattern is actually one of Judy Cripps of Rustic Rugs patterns and you can find it on her website Judycripps.com. She has it in a variety of sizes and I know a few people have already ordered it from her as a result of seeing Annette’s version.  It is a fun fun pattern and lends itself to a variety of interpretations. So contact Judy and I am sure she will be happy to fill ALL orders!

International Rughooking day was fun fun fun – until the blackout! Yikes not so easy to vend or hook or punch in the dark. Thankfully it lasted only a few minutes but I did see a lot of cellphones moving around with lights on! Lunch was delicious and everyone had a fabulous time – thanks to the ladies who organized this hookin.

And now a few finished pieces to share…

Lisa Ferguson’s Hudsons Bay Canada goose punch needle (gosh I took the picture at the hookin and hmmm cannot remember who punched this but it is beautifully done).. AHAAAA Carolyn Ells hooked this lovely little masterpiece…

Nancy’s fun finished purses and tea cosies…

Janice finished her stunning Tom Thompson(pattern available from Willow Creek Rugs)…

And I finished Copenhagen (pattern by Sharon Smith) – just have to show bind it now….

SOME RUGS BY TRUDY..

Trudy brought her rugs to show me – these are all Karla Gerard patterns which I carry but Trudy’s interpretation is lovely – softer brighter colours than the original paintings or my dirtier versions 🙂 …

…hmmmm I think that may be my belly in there oveshadowing part of the rug – must be tooooo many pre holiday goodies 🙂 … 

and Annette sent me a picture of her finished reindeer rug – I love this piece – soooooo funky and fun… “The backstory on this rug is these are the girlfriends of Santa’s reindeer. It’s Christmas Eve and with their boyfriends away with Santa delivering gifts, they’ve gotten a little tipsy after breaking into the eggnog!”…

WESTPORT CABIN FEVER HOOKIN – PREREGISTRATION NOTICE…

Please email Carol to register cshewan@kingston.net … but not until December 15…