My friend Julie mentioned to me at rug hooking last week that she had seen pins using wool spirals. My curiosity about how they would look took over and I decided to make one this week. I used hand dyed wools and LOVE the way the pin turned out. I've been smitten with this idea and want to make more in different colors and petal shapes. I hope you like it. The colors are so much more primitive in person.
HAPPY SPRING!!!!! It seemed as if it would never arrive, but the weather has been beautiful this week with lots of sunshine and warmer temps (50's mostly and a few low 60's.) The grass is already green :0) Jess has been playing outside more and just can't wait to go for her long walk every day. We have stumbled upon the answer to our mystery about Jess' breed mix. We logged onto Petfinder and saw a picture from the same shelter from where we adopted Jess last year. The picture was of another dog who had been happily adopted and she was the "spitting image" of Jess!! We read the information, and they described the dog as a Basenji mix. We googled Basenji and voila there was Jess in every picture! At last we now know that she is a Basenji/terrier combination. She has many of the Basenji traits such as being very affectionate and playful. She doesn't bark much, but "yodels" when she is excited about something outside the window! Hope your day makes you SMILE!!!!
The random drawing was held this evening and the winner is........PATIJANE!!!! Congratulations, Patijane! As soon as I receive the mailing address, I will send your prizes (I am including three pieces of great prim wool, as well) out to you. Thank you all for participating and for all your kind comments. Contests and giveaways are always fun.
The above picture shows one of the ways that I have used my small (6"x8") mats in decorating. I tacked a strip of wool to either side of the back top and tied this mat onto one of my favorite small antiques. Please excuse the dust ;0)
I also want to thank you all for your comments about the health care issue. I know this topic generates much passionate discussion on both sides. If we cannot discuss issues which are important to our country and its future without angry name calling, then we have lost a valuable tool. So I am thankful for the calm and thoughtful way that you all expressed yourselves. It is always so surprising to me to find that people can have such opposing viewpoints on an issue, but I guess that is what makes the world go 'round!
Wendy Miller of the Red Saltbox will be hosting a luncheon and hook-in on April 24, and my friend Julie and I will be going! I'm really excited about this opportunity. Are any of you attending this hook-in? I'm really looking forward to a day of hooking and seeing all the great rugs others will bring. I need to get busy and decide what I will be taking as a project for the trip.
F**I**N**A**L**L**Y!!! I am so thrilled to have finally finished hooking this rug. I don't know why, but I became really bogged down during the work on this project. It seems that life got really hectic, the holidays were in the middle of it, and things just seemed to drag along so slowly...not sure why. It turned out a little different from my "mind's eye" version, but for the most part, I'm happy with it. I don't think it looks quite as primitive as my vision for it. It measures 16 1/2" X 21" and is hooked in #8 cut. I used both hand dyed and as found wools. The only thing left to do is to finish the hemming.
This next picture is something that I saw somewhere (several years ago), and I had one of those "I can make that!" moments. I did come home and draw up my own version and made one for myself. It is a cover for my Puritan frame, and is one of my hooking "necessities." The fabric that I used was a commercially created "quilt-pieced" design. Since I sandwiched some coordinating quilted fabric on the back before binding the edges with bias tape, it is great for protecting my frame as well as my hands and other surfaces that accidentally come into contact with the needle sharp carding strips on my frame.
I made the bias binding ends long enough to wrap once around the legs of the frame and tie securely. It is really one of the most useful accessories that I own! I've decided to make this a free pattern in honor of this, my 100th post!! It also coincides with my one year blogging anniversary. So...
......here is my "really primitive" hand drawn pattern. I've included the measurements that I used on mine, but you can change dimensions, of course, to fit your particular frame. The binding is attached to all the edges with the longer tie-ends fitting in each "c" curve fitting around the legs. I hope that is clear. If you need further information, please don't hesitate to email me. If you do decide to make one, please send me a picture of your creation. I would LOVE to see what you do with it. Thank you!
Now I come to the 100th Post/One Year Anniversary Giveaway!!! Another of the great tools that I have found....
HOOKS!! These were found at a local quilt shop, and I have no idea what the "official" name of these are. They were sold in packages of one dozen and are absolutely wonderful for hanging small to medium rugs. I've never tried to use them to hang a really large rug (only because I have never hooked a really large rug!) You just slide the two sharp prongs under (or into) the hem binding on the back of your rug and hang. They really do work very well for me. ( The most I've used on one rug is four across the top.) I have a package of 12 to give to one person (plus I'm adding another surprise to be included), so please leave a comment saying...in your own words, "I'd really like to have those hooks!!" I will enter your name in my totally random drawing. Good luck, everyone!
On to a serious topic...I'd like to ask everyone to really pray for our country right now. I have a feeling that we are at a crossroad where we will either follow our wonderful Constitution and survive as our wise, wise Founders intended...with our freedoms and liberty intact, or we will take a terrible path that will lead us to a place that none of us want to go. I really feel that we are standing in the shadow of Socialism or worse. The complete lack of consideration of the wishes of the majority of Americans with regard to health care reform by the majority party is stunning and shocking. Even in the face of possible losses in Congress to conservatives, the liberal majority leaders and President Obama seem bent upon forcing this unwanted legislation upon us. I know in my heart that this legislation, if passed, will further destroy our economy and steal our right to make our own very personal decisions about our own health care. This is so very important. We may be witnessing events that will doom our children and grandchildren to decades of crippling debt and a loss of liberties which we have taken for granted our whole lives.
I plan to call again this week to remind my representative and senators to stop the insane runaway spending, and to stop trying to force this terrible legislation upon us against our will. I hope you all will do the same. Our future may depend upon making our wishes known. Please pray for President Obama, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Reid and all those in positions of power that they will act in accordance with our Constitution and the will of the people.
My friend Julie mentioned to me at rug hooking last week that she had seen pins using wool spirals. My curiosity about how they would look took over and I decided to make one this week. I used hand dyed wools and LOVE the way the pin turned out. I've been smitten with this idea and want to make more in different colors and petal shapes. I hope you like it. The colors are so much more primitive in person.
HAPPY SPRING!!!!! It seemed as if it would never arrive, but the weather has been beautiful this week with lots of sunshine and warmer temps (50's mostly and a few low 60's.) The grass is already green :0) Jess has been playing outside more and just can't wait to go for her long walk every day. We have stumbled upon the answer to our mystery about Jess' breed mix. We logged onto Petfinder and saw a picture from the same shelter from where we adopted Jess last year. The picture was of another dog who had been happily adopted and she was the "spitting image" of Jess!! We read the information, and they described the dog as a Basenji mix. We googled Basenji and voila there was Jess in every picture! At last we now know that she is a Basenji/terrier combination. She has many of the Basenji traits such as being very affectionate and playful. She doesn't bark much, but "yodels" when she is excited about something outside the window! 
Hope your day makes you SMILE!!!!
