Hook & Thread

 Our little group meets twice a month at my local library. Small group of 4 today. It's such a fun group and has been a great place to form new friendships. 

These first three are Lauren's. She has been on a red, white, and blue kick. This eagle is gorgeous. 

She changed this America rug up just a bit by inserting the 1776 and 2026. I love her color selections. Nice and dull, just like I like them. 

Lauren said this paper pattern literally fell off a shelf while searching for something else. Boy that sounds like my craft room. Yep, on a R/W/B kick. 

Next up is Barb. No progress was made on her flag girl, but it'll be done before next July 4th. 

And this turkey sitting on a pumpkin will definitely be done before fall. At least I hope it is. 

This is Karyn's. Slowly getting done. I asked her if she liked hooking with such a small cut. NO was her answer, but she inherited her mum's stash and is trying to use it up. 

And me. My dog rug is turned and secured. Now to make the binding.

This is a small piece. I picked up the kit from the thrift store for a couple of bucks. It had red and green wool with the kit, but I decided to use more primitive colors. 

The smoke seems to be gone. I'm so glad. It was messing with my sinuses. Gotta get all my chores and packing done tomorrow. Camp starts Tuesday morning. I've had Jenny once before. I'm excited to have her again. She's an all around delightful person. 

Sue

Time is flying by

 The time just seems to go by so quickly. When I was a young mom I thought time would slow down as I got older, as I had less to do. I do have less to do, but time seems to go by so much quicker. 

I finished hooking my reproduction antique dog. He turned out so cute. I steamed it this morning and now see I have two berries/flowers that need a bit filling in. 

He turned out so cute. Even cuter than I had imagined. I started this rug last month in a class with Katie Hartner. I was unsure I wanted to do this rug in class. It's not as primitive as most the others were hooking. I had to use some #6 cuts in some places. I asked Katie the Friday before class, she said to go with it. I even considered buying a pattern from her booth once I got there. In the end I'm glad I hooked it. 

We've been struggling with the Canadian smoke for several days. It's better today, but not gone. I try to stay inside as it just makes me cough. And cough and cough and then some more. 

Next week I have another class. This will be my annual Millersburg class. The teacher this year is Jenny Smallridge from the Wooly Horse. I had her last year when I learned her scrappy rug technique. This year's theme is how to make a great rug. Or how to make a rug great. Should be another great class. Lauren is rejoining the Millersburg class. It'll be good to have a pal there. 

Sue

New Hooker

 My grandson has been asking me to teach him how to hook. Today was the day. He didn't catch on right away and got frustrated. He is only eight. We'll try again another day. 

I got the snowman all hooked, trimmed, zigzagged, and turned under. I still need to make and sew the binding on. 

It's so hot. 92 and stifling in the shade. Even hotter if out in the sun. Not fun. 

Sue

A gift

 My friend's birthday is coming up next week. Both of us are at that age where we really don't need anything and pretty much just buy for ourselves whatever we want. Well, up to a point.

Anyways I decided to hook something for her. I offered her a pumpkin or a snowman. She chose the snowman.

I have a good start, but I don't know if I'll be done by her birthday. 

 Have you seen the forecast for next week? Extreme heat with extreme humidity. 

Sue

That was a quick two weeks

 Today was another Hook & Thread Society day. Another fun day. Enjoy the show.

First up is Barb hooking a patriotic angel, or lady. She's not going to hook in the wings. She said she was stuck on her face, hands, and feet colors. She'd tried a couple and it didn't look right. I have this great checked wool that hooks up great as skin. So I ran home and got some for her. Bev Conway had me use this wool probably 10 years ago. I found more of it last year at a primitive show and quickly purchased it. I even shared some with Lauren. Looks good.

Michelle is hooking a Notforgotten Farm bee chair pad. I told her the eyes were uneven, she said it's drawn out like that. Hmmm 

 

This is also Barb's. Just finishing with the binding 

Shh. Valerie did not want this posted with his "black eye". She said this piece of black will be replaced with an appropriate color when she's ready to tackle his eye. I really like the gold she used for his coat and hat.

This is Lauren's Indian Eagle Flag, a pattern from Woolley Fox. Lauren and I attended a three day class in Pennsylvania last week. Katie Hartner was our teacher. What a great time. Lauren has a great eye for primitive colors.

And this is mine. Another antique adaptation of a dog. He's so ugly he's cute.

Last week's rug camp was one of the best I've ever attended. Debbie Curtis planned it. It was held at an inn. We filled all the rooms, so it was just hookers there. The rooms were decorated around the months of the year. Lauren and I had #12, Christmas. 

The staff was wonderful, the food delicious. The teacher ever so helpful and so kind. Yep, a great camp. 

Hook & Thread

 First Sunday of the month and we had a Hook & Thread Society meeting. Six of us were here this day. 

Half are working on patriotic pieces. 

This is Barb's. She's going to leave out the wing and make her a blonde.

Michelle is working on a flag from The Tattered Flag. 

Sheila is hooking this antique adaptation and using some of her own hand dyed wool. Such vibrant colors. I borrowed the template so I can hook this one also. 

Jo is working on a patriotic piece. The wool being used is very pretty.

This is mine, an antique adaptation called Kinderhook. It's all hooked and just finishing up with the binding. 

And lastly is Karyn's Wool piece. A friend gave her this kit. I think the strips are a 4 cut. So cute.

And that's it for today. 

Sue

Trouble with blogger

 My posts are not showing on other's reading list. Any suggestions?

Lexi

 Lexi is officially a high school graduate.

The time just went by so fast. They originally lived in Georgia about three hours from me. When her dad got out of the Army they moved back to Ohio. I lasted a year before I too bought a house in Ohio. I loved Georgia. But I love Jeremy and Lexi even more. Then add in a couple of surprise grandsons. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Lexi mainly took college classes throughout high school. In her senior year her only "real" classes were band, jazz band, and ceramics.

She made me two things in her ceramics class. This is a creation made to look like my cat, Lucy. Lucy died in December. Lexi was unhappy with the results as the dark part turned out looking black and not gray. It still looks like her. I miss her. 

The next is wind chimes. She strung the clacker to be lower because she didn't like the sound. She knows I like looking outside at the birds.

A cardinal. By her hands. I love it. 

A gorgeous day here in Ohio. And my favorite girl is here. So is Mac. 

It's Been Raining

 Oh so much rain in the past 30 hours. Three inches. That's a lot of rain. Yesterday I had just a little water in the basement. But I figured out why. My son installed a rain barrel on Friday. However the diverter is above the barrel instead of level with the top of the barrel. Much of that diverted water got dumped onto the ground. And into the basement in that corner. Shucks. But hopefully won't happen again. For now I opened the spigot and hooked up a hose to drain down the hill. No more water today..

My yard is flooding a bit. The creek in back is rushing. But still has about two feet before it overflows and hopefully that will not happen. 

Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow.

Sue

Today's Hook & Thread Society

 I finally remembered to take pictures.

There were only 5 of us today. But it's a good group. The friendships formed mean so much to me. 

Now on with the show. 

Barb brought a few items for show and tell. She does such nice work. Her stitches are so even. 

I like the homespun patchwork in the corner. These were little 1" squares.

This was a Sue Spargo class I think she said. It's a pincushion and filled with sand. 

This is Barb's current project. I love using red, white, and blues. And her colors for this were fabulous. Said they were just something from her stash.

This is Jo's current project. She was busy binding it. 

She was telling us that when she soaked in the walnut dye bath the red bled onto the white and had become quite faded. She used RIT color out to get the red out of the white parts. And the red parts definitely look more pink. I loved the faded look. Jo does not. Said she'll hook another one. No walnut stain next time. 

Sheila's eagle from the Katie Hartner class. Still working on the binding.

Sheila says this was inspired while looking out her window at a woodcock doing a mating dance. How very cool. 

Michelle picked up this purse yesterday at a hook in. She said she just had to have it. Her mom died just last month, and mom loved watching the squirrels. Did you notice the shape of it is an acorn. Beautiful piece.

And this is Michelle's current project. What a cute little bunny.

And me. I'm almost done. Just a few little fill in spots. 

And that's if for today folks. Ohio jumped from cold and rainy to a forecast of 90 tomorrow. I'm not a 90 loving type person. I like it about 75. 

Sue

My Next Project

 Today I drew out my next project. 

I have all Maggie B's books and I've made several projects using them. I made my copies at 85% as I didn't want it as large as the original. Mine will be 18x22. Then I located a piece of linen that would fit. Here's the book it's in. 

I've seen a version that made it look like an American flag draped across the urn. I haven't decided on that part. 

Here is my present project. And once again I packed it and it has a bulge. Hopefully it'll steam out. I love the colors. Nice and dull, just the way I like it.

My Lexi ( 17 year old granddaughter) graduates from high school next week. The years just flew by. Soon she'll be off to college. She chose Akron University, so she'll only be about an hour away. I know I'm going to miss her something fierce. We are so close. 

Have a great day. Still chilly, but funny here in Ohio. 

Sue