Christmas Gifts

Yes you read that correctly. : )  I didn't celebrate Christmas with my hooking buddy, Kimberlee, until well after Christmas. I was busy, she was busy, I was sick, and our work schedules are completely opposite.

She punched this beautiful crow for me. : )

And I made her a cross-stitch design from Gettysburg Homestead.  Thank you Mary for the freebie pattern. 

~Michelle

Auction Rug

A few ladies in my guild like to go to a local auction and they shared their latest find. This beautiful rug hooked by Virginia Hildebrandt in 1977-78. The label shows that it was a Joan Moshimer design. The colors were so bright that it's hard to believe it's 35 years old. The rug is as old as I am, and it's certainly more vibrant and colorful than I am, lol!!!

 

 

You will not believe the winning bid! Ready for it? $115!!! I can't believe there wasn't a reserve that had to be reached first. They really got a steal of a deal. I don't know the size of it, but you can see that it's almost as long as the tables in the first picture and I think they were 6 feet. Not a small rug!

The colors she used in the background are fabulous. It's neat how from far away you don't notice the different colors, but they work so well together to make a vibrant design.

 

Thanks for stopping by. : )

~Michelle

Rug Hooking Guild Meeting

I *finally* made it to a guild meeting. I've missed the last two due to not feeling well and when they only happen once a month I feel like I really miss out. I was late, but I made it! There was a special guest so I made extra effort to drag myself there. I haven't felt well in months with my chronic issues and of course they were flaring up that day. Just my luck, lol. I was 30 minutes late, but not the last one there. : )



Barb's sample



A close-up of Barb's sample

Barb Gott of Gott Wool was our special guest. I missed the sign-up for the mini workshop she was teaching, but there were extra patterns so I got to participate. Yay!  She was teaching about the bargello style. It's not my style, I'm a prim girl, but I'm up for learning new things so why not. She had gorgeous wool to purchase so I chose three. We could have used our own wool, but it was easier to buy the three value swatches for this project.

The wool I bought from Barb Gott

This was not the style of hooking I'm used to. There was a lot of counting and following of the pattern to do, and it was a lot like counted cross-stitch. It was kind of nerve-wracking as if you make one mistake counting, your whole pattern will be off. No pressure! : )

I got the middle started. Oops, my photo is upside down!

Barb was a great teacher and threw in a joke or two. Thanks Barb for a great mini workshop!

Barb Gott

All of the guild ladies hard at work. I think there were 45 of us there that day.

I have a few more pictures from the guild meeting that I will share with you another day. You will not believe it! : )


~Michelle

More punching and mistakes

This is the reason I shouldn't craft in the middle of the night. I work second shift and am a night owl, and one night after work I decided to do some rug punching with my Oxford. I was up until 2:30am which isn't all that unusual. I thought this was a fun design, but now I'm not so sure. I should have done tongues instead of the, um, quarter rounds? It doesn't have the prim look I was hoping for. Hubs even said, "Wow that's a modern rug." Bummer. I've let this sit for a while and now I need to finish it or rip it out and do tongues. *sigh*

~michelle

Oxford Punch Finish!

Well kinda. Remember the little snowflake mat I posted? I just couldn't sit down and finis the last corner section. I don't know why. I'm famous for not finishing things in my family....except ice cream. :-) Today I decided to try my Oxford punch. In 10 minutes I had that corner section done! I bet it was less than than 10 minutes. It took me longer to get my supplies together and get comfy than the actual punching. So fun! The other yarn partswere hooked with my Hartman. Definitely way easier with the Oxford. Of course I need to work on punching just like hooking because I'm a packer. Can't help it. :-) I'm in love with my Oxford punch. <3




~michelle

New Toy! Oxford Punch Needle!

Who else punches rugs? I've been wanting one for a while, a few years actually, and used some Christmas money to order it, a #10. I haven't had the chance to try it out as I got the mail and then had to leave for work. Bummer! Its the cutest darn thing!  :-)  If you aren't sure what an Oxford punch is, visit Amy Oxford's site for more info.

~Michelle

Wool Parties at Pine Cone Gift Shoppe

Good morning! It's a bit chilly here and we were expecting snow, but nothing when I woke up this morning. That is fine with me! : )  I like the snow as long as I don't have to go out in it.

I wanted to share some pictures from one of the wool parties that Gary puts on. He is the owner of Pine Cone Gift Shoppe in Hartville, Ohio. Marilyn Willmore is there if you need help or are a new hooker wanting to pick up a kit and get started, and then the rest of us just sit around and chat, share tips, and encourage the newbies. Coffee and snacks are always provided too. It's a very casual atmosphere, but we get to sit in the most beautiful chairs and couches at the shoppe! I'm always so worried about spilling something on a $3000 sofa! Eek!

We had a wool party last Saturday and it was also the shoppe's big Christmas sale. The nice thing about hooking in the shoppe is we get to people watch. Sometimes people stop and watch us too. : )

These photos are from the last party we had, not last Saturday's. I don't think I've shared them before. Hmmm.......mind is going. : )

The ladies always bring their rugs to share. This one is designed by Marilyn Willmore and hooked by Nancy. I am in awe of Nancy's technique. Her rugs are so soft because she hooks high and loose. That's what I call it anyway. She uses a hook with a wide shank and uses the shank as her guide for loop height. Genius!




Designed by Marilyn Willmore. Hooked by Nancy.

I also thought it was neat how Nancy signed her rugs. She hand-stitched her name and the date onto the binding tape. 

How Nancy signs her rugs.

 A close-up of a rug she made with her initial.

Nancy's hooking style

Marilyn always sets up a little corner with her supplies. She has baskets of worms for the new gals to pick from. She starts them out with a simple hit and miss mat to practice technique and they pick their worms from the baskets; kind of like designing their own kit.

Marilyn's corner

One of the beautiful sofas in the shop!


One of the beautiful sofas we get to sit on

It's hard to see all of the goodies in the shoppe, but it's packed with beautiful items....and almost all are American made! And Gary does ship so if you see something just give him a call. He is a sweetheart!

People watching at the shoppe

I didn't take any pictures this last time. There was a gal there, Connie I believe, who shared her beautiful rugs! Her color choices were right up my alley and her technique was perfect. Hopefully she will be at the next party and I can get some photos as they are such an inspiration.

There are tentative plans to have another wool party January 26th so if you are near Hartville, Ohio, stop by and hook for a while. Follow the Pine Cone Gift Shoppe on Facebook and Gary will post the info as we get closer to that date. It's always free and loads of fun!

Now back to my own hooking. I'm hooking some ornaments for a giveaway for a Facebook group. Better get to it. : )

~Michelle