random bits and pieces...

I don't know what happened to Blogger on Friday, but at some point in the day I realized that my previous post was AWOL. With much relief, I discovered it was magically back again on Saturday....although there are a few missing comments that never seemed to make the trip back from cyberspace. Sorry about that.....I have no idea what happened or why.
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R.U.G. on Saturday was a fun day. Lots of great rugs, good conversation and yummy treats. I even took a few photos to share this week! :-D
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I have had few questions about the finished look of my new finishing method, so here is a quick snap....

Hopefully it makes a little more sense now.
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We battled the black flies and started setting up our family campsite today. Luckily they weren't yet biting, but all the same, the pesky beasts were about enough to drive you insane when the wind was absent. After lots of raking, levelling, hauling, debating, and repeat applications of Off!, we settled on a new layout for this summer and set up our kitchen in a new location.

My new tent arrived last week and I set it up this afternoon. It's quite a bit bigger and taller than it appears in this picture.....


We keep our tents pitched all summer long, and camp most weekends....so we like to have a comfortable set-up. I can stand up with a foot to spare inside, and at 10' square, there is plenty of room inside for my double-high Queen-sized airbed inside. Hopefully I will be able to have my first sleep in it next weekend....but I already know I am going to love it. And as an added bonus....with no holes in the bottom (yet!), I don't need to worry about any baby snakes getting in, like one did (in my old tent) last year!
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I started a new knitting project tonight, and I'm excited about how it's looking so far. I will be sure to post a picture when more is done....since I know many people both hook and knit :-D

fun few days

I'm freshly home from teaching for the last couple of days in Orillia. It was great to reconnect with lots of familiar faces and to meet a few new ones, too, including Elizabeth (who blogs here).

I drove down on Thursday after work and got settled into the old school house....and Friday morning we started playing with colours and did lots of different exercises with paper swatches. The most surprising part for me was when I asked everyone to pick their least favourite colour from 100 possibilities, and at least half of the class chose the same dark orange. (My least favourite colour is yellow BTW -- what is yours?)

In the afternoon, we started sorting and organizing the wools that people brought for their projects. There was so much variety.....it was wonderful. I think that one of the (few) negative things about teaching rug hookers is the wool envy that results. As we all know, there are billions of wools and colours.....and whenever we gather with other hookers, there are always pieces that are new to us -- and they usually are little bits that had a previous life as a skirt or a jacket, and will likely never been seen again.





On Saturday morning, I discovered that Lynda had brought some oatcakes that she had made using the recipe on Deanne's blog. I think it was the next best thing to being in Nova Scotia (.....and since they were smaller than the ones Deanne serves in her classes, I could (and did!) eat more than one free of guilt :-D )


Saturday was spent figuring out everyone's design and getting started on the hooking part. As usual, I didn't take nearly as many pictures....and was scrambling to take a few at the last minute. I even had to rescue a few from bags and baskets, since clean-up was well underway.

(from top to bottom.....Cheri's Aztec, Lynda's Simple, Margaret's Zippers, Pat's Aztec, Isabelle's Aztec)

Now that everyone has mastered the basics, I'm sure that they will be making swift progress at home.....and I can't wait to see their finished mats!

with thanks

I am feeling full of gratitude today. Thankful for everyone who came by my booth this weekend...whether they bought a little or a lot, or came by just to say 'hi'. Wow, it was sure a wonderful weekend. Thank you so much for all of your support....and thank you to the organizers for doing such a good job.

I'm also very grateful that all of those boxes are no longer occupying my bathroom, and I don't have to try to find a more permanent place for most of them to be stored. (Have I mentioned how small my place is...?)

I'm thankful that my mum and my sister could come and help, did it with smiles on their faces and were so great at it. I'm so glad that other family took care of my sister's kids, so that she could be with me. Where would any of us be without a supportive family?

I'm excited about the fact that I have only 2 more rug hooking events over the next two weekends, and then I have nothing really booked until September, when I go to England. At least nothing that really requires much from me in the way of preparation. The prospect of just being able to sit and work on Jumbo day after day is very enticing....

Speaking of England, I am feeling very fortunate to have been able to sit and visit with Heather on the weekend and talk about Reeth and the Yorkshire Dales.....and now I am more excited than ever for September. I'm also thankful that someone took the initiative to pass a shopping bag and collect an impromptu donation for Rug Aid at the banquet on Saturday night -- and I know that Heather was very touched by collection of $1700+

I'm appreciative of living in such an amazing country, and exercising my right to vote.....which I did on my way home today. I wonder who will be leading the country come tomorrow?

I'm also pretty happy about my new iPad. Yes, it finally arrived last week, in the middle of the flurry of work-work and rug hooking-work. It will be wonderful to be able to sit down and really start playing....


...and I'm thankful that the engraving will also remind me that I can't rest for too long!

new label idea

I've mentioned before about my love for using printable fabric to make labels for my rugs and other hooked items....but lately I've been trying to come up with a new way of attaching them. The problem I seem to have is that the cut edges fray -- whether they are straight-cut or pinked....and I find folding them back to be very awkward and they never seem to press easily (or perfectly straight). None of that really much matters now -- since I came up with a new way of attaching them today: ultrasuede.

Basically I used a fabric glue stick to baste them in place on the Ultrasuede.....(next time I think I will try to use some sort of 'wonder under' or other two-sided fuser, for more stability long-term)


Then I sewed around the outside, using a wide stitch, to attach them more permanently. I tried just a regular zig-zag first, but when it was a little puckery, I tried a herringbone-like stitch....and found it worked a lot better. After they were sewn in place, I simply trimmed away the excess fabric, leaving a border of about 1/4" of Ultrasuede on all four sides.


And, they were ready to attach. Since Ultrasuede is durable and doesn't fray, it's easily and neatly sewn by hand to the back of a rug (I use a glover's/leather needle and matching Upholstery thread). I have the distinct feeling that there will be a lot more labels like these in my future....

P.S. The text is a little blurry when you click on the pictures, but if you want to read the care instructions, here's a clipping from my Photoshop file....(you can click on it to enlarge)

Pretending

I'm feeling behind on my work....my e-mail*...my reading....my tidying...and the list just goes on, and on....

But I was able to tune most of it out this afternoon, while I sat and hooked, and forgot about all of the chaos happening around me -- or not happening, as the case may be. Truth be told, I needed to finish up this little sample mat as a part of my display (for next weekend's OHCG Annual)....but compared with several of the other dodged tasks on my list, it was very much at the fun and easy end of the scale.

I started it a couple of weekends ago, at Patti Armstrong's workshop. It was about 1/3 hooked before I started working on it again today. Wanting to play around a bit with adding in some wool strips in addition to the sari ribbon and silk yarn, I mixed things up a little bit on the bottom half....


I can't really decide which half I like better. The top half (all silk) has a very old look to it, with the unusual combination of colours and the feeling of 'anything goes' .....but I think maybe the textures of the bottom (with the wool) is more my style. Perhaps the unusual texture of the silk is better showcased in the bottom? Regardless, it reminds me that a little can go a long way....

* If I owe you an e-mail, I promise to get back to you before I head north tomorrow morning, to visit my family -- and really just do a lot of nothing for two whole days, but cook, eat and hide candy. I can hardly wait! :-D But first, I must get that inbox back down to zero...

Belleville coin purses

Purses in the foreground: Judy's Klimt, Sue's Godseye, Barbara's Tweets

I drove through rain, sleet, slush, snow, and big fluffy flakes.....to finally arrive home yesterday at suppertime. Luckily I got an early start on my trip -- those Belleville girls are speedy -- and had my wits about me for the drive home.

It was a wonderful weekend....and another reminder about how much and why I enjoy teaching. They are a great group of ladies and it felt a little bit like old home week, since I had met many of them before. I had another great visit with Christine, a terrific hostess and cook (and she is a new blogger – if you haven't already checked it out, just click on her name for a link), and a great get together at Glenn's place on Saturday night with yummy pizza from Paulo's and wonderful salads and desserts made by the ladies. Proof again that you never go hungry when hookers are near! :-D

All of this talk of food is making me hungry for supper....but I had better post some pictures first of the rest of the fabulous finished coin purses....

Tina's own creation

Tina's Hoot

Jane's Free

Glenn's Flutterby

back of Cindy's Hoot

Debra's own creation

Gloria's Bloom

Joan's Leave

Carol's Bully

Mary Anne's own creation

Christine's own creation

Liz's Fleurs

sleeping in on a school day

For those of us who are years (and years - or a lottery win!) away from retirement, there is something truly decadent about being able to wake up sans alarm clock during the week. It's still pretty sweet on Saturdays and Sundays....but much more special on, say, a Friday like today...

In spite of my ambitious plans for a productive week, I was sidelined by a cold on Tuesday...stayed home from work on Wednesday, and decided to take the day off today to hopefully 'kick it out the door' before I head to Belleville this afternoon (about 4 hours drive) for a weekend of coin purse making. In between sneezes, I did get my little runner hooked (I will take pictures once it's pressed -- I'm still debating about hooking a single row of something around the outside edge....but I'm torn between just wanting to be finished and having no clue as to what to use, so the quick and dirty approach of just leaving it might win out in the end).

I also managed to label the rest of my crazy 8s that were cut up a couple of weeks ago and have been patiently waiting their turn. Now that they are all boxed up, it is sure nice to no longer be tripping over all of the green shopping totes they were sitting in....

It is hard to believe that the Annual is just TWO WEEKS away. I am almost afraid to create a list of the things I still need to do -- not to mention all of those ideas of things that I would like to do. I have a feeling that I will be very grateful for the 4-day weekend that is Easter.... :-D

In the meantime, I am already starting to dream about all of the things I will be able to work on, once my current roster of commitments runs out in mid-May....getting back to hooking on Jumbo, doing some quilting, maybe designing and hooking a new purse with my iPad in mind (it's ordered, but not yet delivered), playing around with some of my new batiks...


Regardless of what I choose first, I'm looking forward to having more interesting stuff to blog about in the coming weeks...and more time! :-D

P.S. I had no idea, until after I had posted, how similar the colours in this photo are to the ones in the previous post. I guess you just like what you like, and there is no point in fighting it....

slow progress is still progress

I arrived home exhausted last night, after being on the road since early Thursday morning. Sandwiched between 16 interviews in 3 cities for my 'real job' was a quick (and fun) one-day class with Patti Armstrong on hooking with alternative fibres, a PJ party at Elaine's with Wendie.....and all of the fun things that girlfriends do when they get together.

I was happy to get a little bit of hooking done along the way...and I'm happy to have reached the half-way mark on this runner....


I'm having a bit of a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I have so much to do in the coming weeks.....but I just keep telling myself that it's a busy person that gets things done. Right? I sure hope so.....

Campbellford coin purses

Jill so kindly sent me pictures of the coin purses completed by her group....and they've been practically burning a hole in my inbox, waiting to get posted. So without further adieu, here are the beauties.....

Liz's own design

Marg's Heaven

Mina's Bully

Joan's own design

Beth's Bully

Kim's Poppy in progress

Jill's God's Eye

Elaine's Hooters in progress

Patti's Poppy

Tammy's own design

Beth's Klimt

Janis' Weft

Once again, I am amazed at how different each one is from the last. It's so wonderful to see people put their own twist on things. Making it yours is really where it's at! :-D

weekend update

My first goal for the weekend was to triumph over my taxes....and I can say (with much relief) that I am pretty much done. Yippee! I just want to do a double-check of the actual forms to make sure I wrote all of the numbers in the right places and that my math is good....and I will knock that off one night this week and then send for my refund :-D I celebrated with an early suppr of Saturday of banana pancakes, yummy Maple syrup from Campbellford (thanks Harmony!) and wonderful Creamy Earl Grey tea (thanks again Jill!)


This photo pretty much sums up the rest of my weekend. The couch that has been piled up with wool for weeks is now back to normal -- and all of the wool has been cut into Crazy 8s. I was starting to feel a little crazy by the end (about hour 13!).....but the carrot of finally being able to sit down and try out my new hook was sufficient motivation. After the lint was vacuumed up, I sat down and started hooking on a new simple runner to sample all 16 new shades. I love my new hook, and can't wait to get back to working on my runner tonight -- and hopefully make a bit more progress with a shift off the comfy couch....

What are you doing on May 14th?

I received a reminder in my inbox today.....and thought I would pass along the details. Hope to see you there.

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R.U.G.

~ A Social Gathering For All Those Interested in Traditional Rug Hooking ~

Everyone Welcome!

Sat. May 14, 2011

9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Simcoe County Museum

The Simcoe County Museum is located at 1151 Highway 26, Minesing, Ontario, minutes northwest of Barrie. From Barrie, follow Bayfield Street North and exit at Highway 26. The Museum is on the south side of the highway.

Vendors, Auction, Refreshments, Entertainment

Hostesses for the day are from the Gray Highlands and Georgian Bay Branches of O.H.C.G.

If you wish to book a table to sell rug hooking supplies, please contact Linda Wilson at 705-835-7589.

Please bring your hooking projects, a mug, and a brown bag lunch.
Please Remember: The museum is a nut free building.

PROGRAM

Gray Highlands Branch will display rugs using a new spin on a friendship challenge rug • Georgian Bay Branch took a workshop on the pattern by Heartland Creation entitled "Natures Element". they will show how they individualized the pattern.


NEWS FLASH: “Scissor Sharpening Plus Fraser and Bliss Cutting Machine Clinic”
Chris Poole will be in attendance and will sharpen your scissors and service your cutters. Drop them off with Chris first thing in the morning and he will try to have them ready before you leave. If not ready he will make arrangements to ship them back to you

meet my newest hook

I'm home again from a little tour and two great classes. My pictures are few (due to a lack of SD card for one class, and being just too busy having fun in the other), but there were lots of good laughs along the way, and I came home with lots of great memories and few new acquisitions.

My favourite new thing is my new hook. Those clever Campbellford girls have been making their own custom hooks out of Sculpy or Fimo and then shaping the handle to their own hands before baking. I was totally blown away by the idea alone – and even more thrilled when Beth whipped out all of the supplies so that I could craft one of my own....oh, how I love instant gratification.... :-D


My initial attempt was a little stubby, so I added onto the end to extend it a little bit into my palm (hence the mismatched appearance of an afterthought on the end). We baked it in the church's oven, and it was ready in no time. It feels so good in my hand -- and of course, it fits perfectly. I can't wait to give it a try!
(and if I don't procrastinate much and get my taxes done, that opportunity will come this weekend...so I will soon be able to let you know if it's as amazing as I'm predicting).

I may be crazy....

....but I'm not insane! For the last day or two, I've flirted with the idea of buying my iPad 2 when they go on sale today. I was coming to the city anyway, so why not?

Reality came crashing down just now, when I counted more than 150 people in line ahead of me....and no guarantee that they will even have any left when it's my turn.

Some people have been in line since 5am--yikes! I guess it will be a few days or weeks before I get one. I'm going to go and try on clothes instead...

very close

Right this minute, I'm very close to crossing several things off of my list...

• fitting this no-longer-quite-so-big roll of rug warp under my bed (it's sure shrinking at an incredible rate)
  
• being ready for my workshop this weekend -- and another one early next week (it always takes longer than I think it should -- and usually uses up all of the time I have)
  
• making something I can eat for supper (yes - that's the real time....I've been busy!)
• having an overnight bag packed and ready
  
• choosing a colour for the smart cover on my new iPad 2 (fingers crossed I get in line early enough tomorrow....)
• sitting down to relax and watch Grey's Anatomy (the first new episode in a month!)
• finally posting something new on my blog (sorry it's not more exciting...)

Back soon with lots of stories....