FINISHED ~ FINI ~ FINALE ~ ~ ~

Yes ~ it is done!! The Gene Shepherd blog hook-in rug is finished! It was started Sunday evening
and completed this morning ~ I hooked till 2 a.m. last night and got up and hooked the last little bit and steamed it this morning! It will go to the lake with me for binding over the weekend ~ whew! I feel like I've been in a marathon!

In January, Gene proposed a blog hook-in and I was the first one to sign up! And about the last one to get it done! Gene was using the free Christmas pattern in December's Rug Hooking Magazine that was designed by Connie Litfin of Mustard Seed Primitives with the notation that it could be tweaked to suit each rug hooker. The holiday pattern didn't speak to me, but when Gene posted Connie, the designer's tweaked versions, I liked them both! Gene put me in touch with Connie to see how she wanted to handle it and she drew them out for me and shipped them to me that week! I pulled wools I thought I wanted to use but it didn't excite me. I got really motivated last week, when a friend brought me some sparkly wool that just opened up the creative gates and the color plan was born ~ almost on it's own! The flowers are all various paisleys that I've gathered and there are other sparkly wools that I think, really set it off! And the combination of blacks and greens really gave the background a lot of movement. I'll be emailing my photo to Gene this morning ~ I hope it measures up to all the other beautiful rugs that he's posted thus far!

Connie is sending me a few of these patterns on monks cloth and one of another similar design but with stars ~ it can be ordered in linen if you like and the size is 18" x 22" - a little info that might be important!! If you would like one, let me know ~ I'll have them available! And ~ by the way ~ this rug is for sale!! If you would like this to come live with you, email or call me ~ it would be a good thing!

This has been fun ~ we're heading for the lake and I think I'll take a book to read and not hook this weekend ~ I'll get the Coxcomb Basket bound and see my lake friends that we haven't seen since February and just relax!! I hope you can do the same and have a Happy Happy Mother's Day!!!
Alice

RUG PROGRESS & FLOWERS ~ ~ ~

This rug is making me very happy!! Color planning is a challenge for me ~ I pulled several wools for this rug when I first decided to take part in Gene's blog hook-in ~ but I haven't used most of them!! The colors were really guided by some sparkly wool that I have and then the idea to use some wonderful paisleys for the flowers really helped move this along! I had hoped to finish it today but I think it will be tomorrow ~ stay tuned!

Just wanted to include some pictures of the garden ~ the forget-me-nots and ajuga are really pretty in this terraced area behind the house. We have been here almost 16 years and Sonny built this garden carrying all the rocks up from along the creek and in the woods ~ what a guy!! No doubt, he used his tractor or a wheelbarrow but you know what I mean!!

This little grouping is comprised of wildflowers that came from our woods ~ wild phlox, trillium and solomon seal mixed in with hostas ~ in the background you can see what looks like a rock ~ it's called 'puddingstone' and is left from when the glacier swept across this area!

Just a shot of some tulips among the iris ~ we don't have many tulips ~ I've planted many thru the years but I think the moles or the voles or varmits of some sort eat them for lunch!! I just love this time of year when things start blooming and everything is turning so green. It truly is a sign of new life and rebirth ~ it's really uplifting after the long, long winter we had here in Ohio! I can't wait to start my little
'greenhousing' trips with my friends!

I'm off to garden or hook ~ wonder which it will be?! Have a good day~
Alice

ALICE'S RUG FINISHED ~ ~ ~ !!!!!

Here it is ~ American Fish ~ finally! For those of you who haven't read about it before ~ the head, tail and outline of the fish are all done in a sparkly wool ~ I love glittery wool!! The fish body is done in a variety of antique paisleys that I've acquired along the way ~ as well as one of the blocks at the top of the rug. Glittery wool was used in various other places in the rug in several different colors ~ it definitely gives a 'spark' to a rug! Since it seemed that I would run out of background wool, I hooked around the rug to leave places to fill in with an alternative, rather than have the substitute wool end up all in one place. There was a teal in my hand-dyeds that worked out really well and I think it gave great movement to the background and also helps the rug to have that look of 'making do' with whatever was available. I'll probably take this rug to our lake place along with Mr. Catfish ~ now to find just the right place to display them ~ it won't be on the floor for sure!! I'll take a picture to post when that happy day happens!!

Another of Sonny's creations!! Now, he's making handmade spoons to go with the spatula's he made a couple of weeks ago! Several years ago, at a craft show, he bought tools to scoop out the bowl area and now he got to use them!! I told him he should sell them ~ he actually said he might!! Wonder what else he's got up his sleeve??!!

My rug hooking friend, Heidi and I just got back from a nice walk on our local bike trail ~ now that Heidi's retired, she's going to walk with me!!! Yippee!!! It's always nicer to have someone to walk along with you ~ this is my third week in a row that I've walked almost every day!! Don't they say 21 days and it becomes a habit? This is a habit I need ~ unlike most of my others!

Yesterday, some friends and I went to Columbus and met a couple of other gals for lunch at The Pub at Polaris ~ we thought we would celebrate St. Patty's day together! They had live Irish music that was soooo loud we couldn't even talk ~ that's bad!! But we did manage to eat ~ and had fun talking about the waiters in their kilts!!! Then last night, Sonny and I went to a restaurant here in town and had a bite and a beverage ~ the entertainment there was perfect ~ a couple playing Irish tunes on a violin and mandolin ~ background music ~ it was great!!! I was Irish for a day and it was pretty fun!!!

Now, I have to start a new hooking project ~ I should get to work on the one for Gene Shepherd's online blog class!! I have two choices of patterns ~ now to decide and pick the wool! I have to have something to post here ~ that in itself will keep me hooking!! And there is a challenge piece for a local hook-in in June that I need to start on ~ it's a stair tread, so it shouldn't take too long ~ again, it's just choosing the colors!! There are three hook-ins coming up and I don't think I can attend any of them ~ but I might slip in for a while to a couple. We have several weddings to attend this year and they are on the same days as some of these important things I want to do ~ poor little me. Oh, well ~ ta ta for now!

I'M BACKKKK ~ ~ ~

You guys are so nice to write or email and wonder what happened to me ~ thanks a bunch!!! What a life, people!! We went to Barb Carroll's Sunday, November 2, right after the From Our Hands show ~ five of us hooking and eating for 3 1/2 days ~ a great time was had by all! Here are a couple of pix ~ this one is Barb checking in on Gloria, who was hooking up a storm and that's the back of my friend, Mary ~ we made great partners in crime at cocktail time!!!!

And Donna was so serious about her hooking ~ right then anyway!! She was so kind to put this motley crew together and then put up with us ~ at least some of us!! We got a lot of hooking done ~ a lot of eating (the food is so good in Ligonier) ~ and lots of laughing!! Of course, it was election night on Tuesday and the Carroll's let us stay later than usual so we could watch the results ~ it made for lively conversation to say the least!!

Judy was into her rug at this point ~ she was our driver for the week ~ and we sure did run her around! Actually, she likes to drive and is ready to go anywhere her little band of travelers suggested! And those girls can sure shop ~ they made some interesting purchases and boosted the economy in Ligonier!
My project for the week ~ AMERICAN FISH ~ one of Barb's patterns. I took that and another one along ~ I couldn't decide ~ also took along a stash of sparkly wools that I had accumulated from Barb over the course of time ~ and a stash of paisleys. All of a sudden, the choice was made ~ almost more by the wool and paisleys then anything else! So Barb and I were off and running ~ and she added a couple more sparklies that she had squirreled away!

The body of the fish is entirely paisley ~ each stripe a different one ~ and outlined in a gold sparkle herringbone. What you see in the picture is what I got done in the three days we were there ~ I haven't hooked a loop since we returned home. It is going to be fabulous ~ when I go to Barb's, I like to take something that is challenging for me ~ color planning doesn't come easily to me and as I get more creative and kind of 'out there', I like to think that Barb and I work on that aspect of it together very well.

The day we left, I started sneezing and carrying on, and by the time we got back, I was really sick ~ and I still kind of have the remnants of what was a nasty cold. Then on Sunday, when we returned from a short weekend at the lake, the computer monitor had croaked ~ and with a little help from my friend (Sonny), the computer itself lost an important part, while he was unhooking all the cords to go to see the Geek Squad at Best Buy. After much consultation with a nice young man at the store, we determined that we shouldn't put money into a four-year old computer, so we bought a new one. That was the easy part ~ getting everything transferred onto it was the nightmare part!! After two trips back to the store and three of their Geek Squad guys working their magic and two long sessions on the phone and online with two nice men in India ~ they got the old girl up and running ~ well, not me, of course ~ the computer!!!! Transferring the accounting programs and data and the virus protection stuff truly was a nightmarish adventure for me. My head still hurts from all the instructions and right-clicking on this and that ~ BUT it's over now ~ and I'm able to email, blog, and account ~ life is good!!

My Seattle son is home this week to bow hunt with his brother ~ tonite they came out of the woods and came home ~ I don't realize how much I miss him until I see him. We talk and email often, so it doesn't seem like he's so far away ~ but when I see his smiling face, it really hits me. I fixed a dinner of white chicken chili, salad and a nice bread and took it to my son's house (my daughter-in-law worked all day so I tried to help her out) ~ then the kids could go to bed and we all had a crazy evening of everybody talking (Sonny's son and wife dropped by, too) ~ it always makes me wonder who's listening if we're all talking!! Tad even went over, too ~ he's always glad to see his brother. The hunters head back to the woods in the early morning and then Chris will head for the airport tomorrow night ~ no deer yet ~ maybe tomorrow!

So, here I am again ~ back to blogging ~ which, by the way, I missed terribly. Even my husband said 'your readers will think you died since you haven't blogged in so long' ~ I was actually surprised that he knew that ~ I didn't know he kept up with it ~ funny, hm? Tomorrow morning, I'm driving to Columbus for an early appointment and then we'll head to the lake late afternoon. Saturday, we're going to Indiana for my friend, Gwen's mom's 80th birthday!! I've known her since I was 13 years old ~ so I don't want to miss that celebration!! Happy trails, everybody!
Alice

PREPARING FOR A SHOW~ ~ ~

Yesterday's dyeing!! Lots of rusts, antique red, golds and greens!! I think because of Fall approaching, the rusts and reds really appeal to me!! Enough already!! I was going to put on a couple more dye pots this morning, but I think I'm done now!! It's rainy and gloomy out (we need the rain and I'm so glad it's today and hopefully, NOT TOMORROW!!) that I just decided that I'll concentrate on getting all my stuff together ~ tables, crates, bags, plastic drop cloths (insurance against the rain!) and fold more of the as-is wool!! I sure hope lots of shoppers come by 'cause this girl is ready!!!

I started this piece last Sunday and have worked on it a bit each day, finally finishing it late last night!! It's a combination of proddy and hooking with lots of texture in the grassy area achieved with wool and a heavy dyed yarn and a bit of a fine velvet ribbon. I used some antique paisley in the stem and the moon, as I did in one of the purses ~ I'm really making an effort to use different fabrics and techniques in an attempt to expand my hooking. It's very easy to do what we know and I'm trying to challenge myself to be more creative! We'll see how it goes!!

Back to the hooking room!!
Alice

HOORAY ~ ~ ~

Well, he's finally done ~ Mr. Catfish is now a rug!!

He's steamed and ready to be bound sometime this weekend ~ if there is time!!

This rug was definitely a labor of love ~ he's one of my favorite rugs, me thinks!! The paisley points worked out great ~ I cut the small piece that I had left from the first point, into 8 strips ~ and blended two other orangey-red paisleys in with it and voila! It turned out just swell!! There was some reverse-hooking that took place ~ as I tried to follow the exact drawing of the circles, some tended to look really loppy ~ so I fixed the worst ones and then left 'well enough' alone ~ Mr. Catfish is primitive folk art ~ and primitive, he is!! Now to find him a proper place to hang at the lake ~ a place where he can be enjoyed by all!!

Tomorrow, I'm meeting a rug hooking friend at Lakeside for a home tour! They have so many cute cottages and homes there ~ it should be a fun day!! I'm staying at the lake to prepare for a wine tasting party that we're hosting on Friday evening ~ cleaning and a little food preparation!

One of my nieces sells wine on the party plan ~ The Traveling Vineyard! Sounds like fun and as is typical for us ~ it's going to be a zoo up there this weekend!! Nieces and husbands staying, my son and his wife and some friends of theirs staying ~ it will be like a dormitory ~ we're just grateful they want to hang out with us!! It will make interesting blog material, I'm sure!!

Here's to a fun weekend wherever you are!

Alice

MR. CATFISH AGAIN ~ ~ ~

Here's one more picture of the Catfish! I had two really good mornings of hooking time this week and it makes a huge difference! Many times, I'm hooking late at night and it's an hour here and an hour there ~ but I really covered some ground this week!

The points of the star are being hooked in antique paisley ~ therefore, I'm leaving them till last. I hooked one point early on and it is so shreddy (if that's a word) from lifting it off and on the frame, that I decided I would wait till the rest of the rug was done ~ put it on the frame one last time ~ and hook all the points at the same time!! Good thinking, hm?

Well, the one thing I did not realize until yesterday, is that I had picked up a piece of paisley from several pieces I am lucky enough to have ~ and it wasn't from the nice big piece that I bought ~ but just a small remnant ~ therefore, I only have enough of that particular burnt orange color to hook one more point!!!!!!!! So ~ my decision now is to cut the remnant and muddle it in with the other paisley that I have lots of ~ or maybe reverse-hook that one point and start over. That will be very hard for me ~ as that paisley will be lost, since it shreds so badly ~ and I am pretty opposed to reverse hooking unless absolutely necessary!! My friend, Heidi, has offered me to look at her paisley stash and see if there is a match there ~ if not, the dilemma begins!! But I'm not going to stress about it until the rest of the hooking is done ~ I'll let you know!! I know ~ it's not brain surgery ~ but a piece of hand-made folk art that doesn't have to be perfect, as long as it's made with love ~ and this piece I do dearly love!!!

If you've never hooked with antique paisleys, they can be very fragile and the wider the cut, the better! But the life and light it gives to a piece is just amazing to me!! When I suggested to Barbara Carroll, as we were color planning this rug, that I use the paisley ~ she agreed ~ that was the PERFECT thing to use in that place on the rug!! Yippee ~ I was a happy camper!! So stick around ~ it will all work out!!

Our builder's association had their annual golf outing today and I drove one of the 'beverage' carts along with two of our daughters-in-law and a variety of other people!! How fun!!! I've done this for years and it's just a great fun day for the old girl!!! It is really heart-warming to me, to be greeted so warmly by all the old guys that we've known for years and all the young guys that are friends of our kids and of us!! We all need all the positive strokes we can get and this was just a great fun day out in the sun with people who work so hard in the building industry and related services!!! This has been a challenging year, not only for our industry but for many ~ so it was just great to see everybody laughing and enjoying the day!! The serious golfers weren't laughing so much ~ they were out to win!! And one of the bonuses is that my son belongs to the country club where they played ~ and he had the wait staff put my 'beverages' on his tab ~ that's a Happy Day for a mother, when the kids pay your bill!!!!!!!

More tomorrow ~ have a good evening!
Alice