Long Day of Hooking

Day 1 of class with Maria Barton is done. I'm just getting home. It seemed like I got a lot done, but when I took a picture of my progress it doesn't seem like much. 

They'll need tweaked a little bit. Later 

Maria is so sweet. I've really enjoyed myself today. Here's some pictures of her rugs. 

Great pink and red horse. 

I really like the extra stitching on the binding. 

That's it. I'm headed to bed. 

My Bags Are Packed

 And I'm ready to go. Tomorrow I head to Millersburg for a three day rug hooking retreat with Maria Barton. It took me awhile, but I picked out my pattern and had Saundra of Woodland Junction draw it up for me. She named it Birds in the Garden. I'm so excited to get back to hooking. It's been some time since I've picked up my hook. This picture crossed my Pinterest feed and I fell in love with it, except for the horseshoes. I'm not sure what to put there instead. Saundra suggested a beeskep. If you have any ideas let me know. 

I'm not going to stay at the hotel during the retreat, instead I've chosen to drive back and forth each day. This is Amish country and it's beautiful. Big rolling green hills and fields, big farms, lots of animals. There are various routes to get there from my house. I plan to take a different route each day. The dogs will be going to my son's home. That way I don't  have to rush home each day. I plan to also go to the Mennonite thrift store and local quilt shop. 

The woman that runs the event brings cheesecakes each year. Fabulous, luscious cheesecakes. Yum. I wonder what flavors she'll have this year. I'll let you know. This will be my fifth year attending this event.  We've had some great teachers, Caroline Twigg, Catherine Stephens, Sally Kallin, Jan Cole, and now Maria Barton. Originally Lauren invited me. Last year Lauren dropped out. I was sad, but understood. I hope she can get back in because I really don't know anyone else there. And that makes me a bit uncomfortable. It's usually the only class I schedule for the year. But... And a big but for me. I have a 3 day hook-in in Shipshewana next week and a class with Kris Miller in September. Thank you Lauren for inviting me to both. 

Happy hooking, Sue

Bed Hogs

 I don't feel the best today. So I thought I'd lay down for a bit before we have Sunday dinner.

The cat was already in my bed. The others joined me within two minutes. I sleep in a twin bed and these three are hogging the whole bottom of the bed. My grandson says it's cause they love me. 

It's mid 2024, already

Tomorrow is Independence Day. My, oh my, how the time is flying. When I was younger and so busy with kids, a spouse, a house, a job I thought time would slow down as I got older and had less to do. But it seems life just goes faster. And faster. I do lots less, that takes me more time than ever. I move slower than I used to. I'm having more trouble opening jars. Oh, such it is to get older. but anyways.... I am grateful for each day. 

Still no hooking, still haven't found that darned pattern. But I did ask Saundra of Woodland Junction to draw up two antique reproductions. I have a retreat with Maria Barton coming up in mid July, followed by a hook-in the next week. 

So I've been sewing. I finished up two more donation quilts for snuggled in Hope. And am already working on a new one.

Have a safe and fun holiday, Sue

All is Well

 It's just been a long time since I posted. Mostly it's because I feel like I lead a fairly boring life and don't have much to share. I garden, both flowers and vegetables, I make quilts, I make hooked rugs, I bake, I cook. I spend a lot of time with my grandchildren. I don't travel much, I don't shop much, I am very much a homebody.

I did it again. I misplaced a pattern I bought with intention of making it into a rug. I cleaned my sewing room and put stuff away. I thought it was in my hooking cupboard, but I sure can't find it. It's a Maggie Bonanomi pattern, Old Settlement.

So I've been sewing. This quilt is for a friend's birthday on Monday. I finished sewing down the binding today. Just in time. I hope she likes it. It's too bright for my liking. But not everyone likes dull and primitive.

This one was made all from my stash/scraps. I like it when I can use up things I already have. It is the Pineapple Blossom pattern, a freebie on Bonnie Hunter's blog. 

Lucy, my 15 year old cat, was outside with me as I took photos. She's not a lovely kind of cat, that is unless she wants petted. 

While outside I took a few photos of my flowers in my front yard. I usually trim off all the hosta flowers. I don't care for them. But these look pretty today.

These flowers are in an old copper washtub. I moved that tub from Ohio to Georgia, then back to Ohio. It's got a lovely green patina. 

Lauren gave me this old broken trellis. I love garden junk. I'm training a black eyed Susan vine to grow up it. It's in a planter box I use to hide the garbage can. 

I hope y'all enjoy the weekend and the upcoming Independence Day activities. 

Sue

A New Purple Pillow

Lexi gave me this pillow when she was four years old. It is well loved. It's just the right size for sleeping on. This pillow has gone many places. It has gone on vacations with me, it has gone to the hospital with me, it has gone back and forth from Ohio to Georgia on those many trips I've taken. 

  But this poor pillow has become lumpy and bumpy. It's no longer a comfortable pillow to rest my head upon. It has been relegated to a comfort "hug" pillow. 

  I've been looking for a new pillow without success. Too big, too small, too hard, etc. Kinda sounds like Goldilocks. 

  Yesterday Lexi, who is now 15, gave me a new pillow. She said it's not exact, but the sentiment is the same. 

I love that girl. 

Sue

Project on Hold. Again.

 Have you ever had to put a project on hold because you can't find all the needed items at the same time.??

Like this animal purse. When I was finished hooking I couldn't find the material I was saving to make the liner. Once (a month later) that I found the said material I couldn't find the pattern. I finally have been working on this some. 

Here's my problems:

1. The lining is a little too big, it's loose in there. And it wasn't the fabric I had been saving for this project. I've since found that. 

2. I still need to add pockets to the lining. What's a purse without pockets??

3. I don't have the right shade of brown wool yarn to whip the lining and outside of purse together.

Nope

Nope

Nope

Nope again

This is the closest match, but it's not wool. 

4. It's going to need something in the bottom to spread out and hold the bottom of the purse flat.

This purse has been a three year long project so far, and it's still not done.

And then there's this quilt I'm working on, it's called Postcards from Sweden. I have enough half square triangles ( HST's). But I wanted just a bit more variation. So it got put on hold. I bought some different color solids. Now where, just where, is that blasted  die??

Here's my problem

1. Where's the Accuquilt die that I need? It's here, somewhere is this sewing room. 

Alas, I shall have to do some cleaning. 

I found that die. Want to guess where? It was right where it should have been, on the shelf with the other dies. Who knew I put it away??

Someday I'll get it all together. 

Sue

A Few Finishes

 I haven't been extremely motivated in the sewing and hooking department. Once gardening season starts all else goes on the back burner.

These are quilts for donation to Snuggled in Hope. It's a summer camp for sick kids. 

Sunburst pattern with pinks in it for a girly quilt.

The backing is a sheet with a French theme.

This is sunburst for a boy. No pink, tried not to use flowery prints.

Isn't this frog print adorable?

The backing for this was a polka dotted sheet 

This last one I call a 64 patch. Each block has 64

1" squares. I used a different color solid for each block.

The backing is.... Another sheet. This is the first time my quilter has allowed me to use sheets. I can only use 100% cotton per her request. I mostly can find some flat sheets at the thrift store. This saves me a ton on money. 

I've begun gardening. The candy onions, broccoli, strawberries and potatoes have been planted. The broccoli is a request from Mac, my 6 year old grandson. 

I also have started prettifying the back yard along the fence. All that wood/fence is boring to look at. I'll include photos when I get more planted. 

Stay warm, stay safe. 

Sue 

Two Hearts

 I finished hooking my two hearts rug. I steamed it and I zigzagged the edges. I told myself "I'll finish it later". I went to put it where unfinished rugs are, and there were two other rugs waiting there, plus the purse, and a pillow top. Oh my. So I decided I will work on it some more. 

I trimmed the excess linen and turned/rolled it forward. I usually hand sew it to secure it, but I was already in my sewing room so I thought I'd try to machine stitch it. And it worked out just swell. Using the zipper foot I was able to get very close and it took very little time.

My decision now is how to finish it. Whip it with wool yarn or bind with wool strips. I chose the yarn, for two reasons. One, I didn't have enough of the specific brown I wanted to use and two, I have numerous baskets of wool yarn that needs to be used. 

For years I finished my rugs whipping with wool yarn.  Then Lauren showed me how she finished with wool strips and binds similar to finishing a quilt. I like that method, a lot. So that's the method I usually use.

So whipping it is. I haven't whipped in years. I chose two different shades of brown and am whipping with two strands.  It's just a little wonky, I'm hoping some of that wonkiness will steam out. 

Tonight is a quilt guild meeting. I haven't attended in months. After babysitting all day I find I have very little energy for anything else. Tonight I feel like going. I think the warmer weather and longer days improves my energy level. It may be April but we're expecting 1-3" of snow in the next couple days. Boo!!! I'm so ready for nice weather. 

Granddaughter Lexi is on a school band trip to Disney. She sent me these photos. 

Age 4

And now, at 15. 

Love it. 

Have a great weekend. Monday is the eclipse. I'm so excited.   Sue