~*~ Went Shopping ~*~

I decided to head out and do some shopping today. Not the regular grocery/errands shopping, but shopping at the Country Folk Art Festival in St. Charles, IL. I haven't been to this show in many years (too many kids, not enough $ to spend). It's a small show, about 40 vendors. But, it's all good, high quality folk art.

I did try to snap a few photos. (I feel funny taking photos, as it's their booths/items. I don't want to make them think I'm stealing their ideas/patterns. I would rather give a link to their website/blog and hopefully get them some more customers. I just enjoy browsing!) The above photo was from http://www.carolecollinsquilts.com/ . There were some hooked rugs that I was admiring. He did wonderful work, and I was amazed at how low his loops were, but very even. Gives me something to strive for.


I also admired a booth by The Cooperage http://www.cooperagedesigns.com/ (blog at http://www.flew-the-coop.blogspot.com/ )She had tons of punch needle items, plus patterns.
Here's some more of her items. She also had a couple wool hooked items. My kind of stuff! =)
While I didn't buy any finished items, I did find some hand dyed wool pieces. (in my opinion, it's even better!) A couple pieces of gold and reds for the rug I really need to start. Now that I have the starting colors, I can start cutting and hooking.
~*~ Laura ~*~

Re-working

Though I haven't posted this week, I've at least thought about it and took a few photos! I ended up re-working the wing on my bird rug. I switched the color scheme by using red for the wing and grey for the inside. I did a little outlining of the wing and the squiggly inside wing area. I think the contrast in the colors is a bit better now. I've blocked it, and now just need to bind it.



I won a giveaway on Ann's blog http://aholeinthebasketprimitives.blogspot.com/ !! It's a rug hooking pattern designed by Buttermilk Basin. I can't wait to get to do this project, especially now that I know how to transfer patterns onto monks cloth. Thanks so very much, Ann!

This week I transferred a pattern onto monks cloth for the first time. When I ordered my wool cutter, I asked for some red dot transfer paper. They didn't carry the red dot, but suggested a product called crack stop. I decided to give it a try since I haven't used either product before. When I got it, it reminded me of the drywall repair tape that I've used, but it a large roll. That's exactly what it is! One side has a slight adhesive on it, so that it sticks to the backing and doesn't move. I first put it over the paper pattern that I had and traced using a Sharpie marker.


I lifted the crack stop off the paper, then placed it on the monks cloth. It held with no movement, even when I was tracing.

When finished tracing, I peeled the crack stop off the monks cloth, and viola ~ the pattern was on the backing!



I now have the next pattern ready to go. (don't look at the line on the right side of the backing. The directions said to draw a rectangle a certain size, and once I did, the floral design didn't fit inside of the rectangle. So, I ended up enlarging the rectangle.) Now to zig zag the edges, cut my wool, and start hooking!



Yesterday was Andrew, Matt and Rachel's 16th birthday! Hard to believe it's been 16 years since they were born. There was a home football game, so we went to see Matt in the marching band. He's one of the trumpet players up front.

Today was a family birthday party for my trio. They now have money to spend, so we'll see how quickly they spend it!

~*~ Laura ~*~

~*~ HooKeD ~*~

The bird rug is hooked! After finishing the background, I ended up hooking the wing in a mill dyed black. (cut on my new Rigby wool cutter) I'm not sure if I'm crazy about the solid black, but it will do for now. I wanted a really primitive, folk art piece, so the black fits into that color scheme. Now to block it, then do the binding. I'm thinking of binding it with the same wool as the edging and bird, the spot dyed grey/black wool. There's not enough of this wool left over, so I'll have to dye up some more. As I look at the photo of the background beiges, it's not as defined as this photo ~ it's more subtle. I outlined the bird and borders, then worked my way into smaller sections, slowly going inward until all the area is covered. (just what I do for punch needle) I think on the next rug I will hook it with more rows on the bird outline (or whatever picture I'm trying to outline). Just so much to learn on rug hooking.

I won a giveway on Ann's blog http://aholeinthebasketprimitives.blogspot.com/. I can't wait to get the adorable rug pattern, especially now that I have a wool cutter. Thank you SO much, Ann!

This week was the first full week of school. I haven't worked this many hours (or should I say, worked outside the house) in 16 years. Needless to say, I was tired, and my feet were tired. With 27 kindergarteners in the class there's just not a lot of time to sit. I'll have to search around for some comfortable shoes with good support. Glad I didn't go and buy any cute, even if they hurt my feet shoes. But, it gives me an excuse to sit on the couch with my feet up, and do some rug hooking in the evening.

The weather has been hot here the past couple days ~ way too hot and humid. I'll be glad for the cool down when it's only going to be 60 degrees on Monday. That will feel down right frigid!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

~*~ Laura ~*~