My Tree Skirt

I am inspired by my friend Tommye at I'd rather be stitching. Tommye blogged about the lovely tree skirt she made and the great process and memories which brought it all together. Stop by Tommye's blog and see her beautiful stitching on her lovely tree skirt.

After putting away my decorations yesterday I got nostalgic and I've decided to share my own tree skit with you. I got the best compliment a couple of weeks ago when my daughter asked me if I would hook one for her one day for when she has her own place or gets married!


(click on the picture for a better view of the entire rug)

Over 10 years ago I decided after running out of wall space and floor space in my small house that I should hook a tree skirt. What an undertaking it was and I have to laugh and say since completing it I went in the totally opposite direction and only hook small things like ornaments and pillows!

My creation and pattern came together easily with thoughts of Christmas and seasonal objects dancing in my head. The year of blood, sweat and tears which followed came with my level of frustration and much wasted time and lots and lots of hooking. I spent a lot of time obsessing over a decision on a background color. Nothing seemed to work and I realized my problem was focusing on using traditional colors. Once I could get beyond that concept something clicked. I chose a shade of red, almost a fuchsia, that I think ended up looking so wonderful.





The background of the rug, quite an arduous task due to the size of the rug, could have been very tedious, however it turned into a little creative magic and I actually had a tremendous amount of fun hooking the background. The background was a combination of 4 different textures of wool. With the help of my children we all drew different designs throughout the background to make it more fun for me to hook. If you look closely at it you can see these designs.
I would hook these drawn-in designs and then go back and hook around them combining the other textures of wool. I also decided to make it “snowing” throughout the rug adding white dots for my snow flakes making the background really come alive. I love the background – it’s my favorite part of the rug!
I completed the rug in 2000, and it is 43 x 46 inches.

Yesterday's Accomplishments

I got a lot done yesterday - I put this jack-o-lantern together (did the hooking last week), and I did two little Sweet Nothing stitchings!
I think they are sweet!




It was nice to do some stitching again after a lot of hooking recently.

Toothy Jack!

Gotta love this guy with his unabashed toothy grin!
I actually hooked him last year but decided to share him and list him in my Etsy shop.
I put him out on my weathered chair where I took those much admired shots of the lovely Sugar Maple leaves. I think he looks quite happy there!

I'm feeling good today! It was a really good day and my confidence is building.
Happy Monday and Happy Fall!

The Pumpkin Bug Has Bitten!

The pumpkin bug has bitten me - I started this guy last night and feel like I just want to hook pumpkins! I thought I'd work on him today but the day has just gotten away from me.
I had an appointment to get my car inspected, oil change and tires rotated this morning - that took a couple of hours (and money I hate to spend however it is necessary). Then I ran a couple of errands, came home and gathered and packed a few things for my son. He and a couple of his friends have rented a house. They just got possession and he is going to take some things over tomorrow since they need to be there in the morning for the cable guy. I had dishes and things in the basement I saved for the kids.
Anyway, the day has gotten away from me!
Maybe tonight.....

The forecast for the weekend sounds perfect - sunny and in the 70s. I think I'll be too distracted to hook!
Hope you all have a nice weekend.
Cheers!

Jack-o-Lanterns and Candy Corn!

Today is a very gray day - a good day to sit in and put together my pumpkins. What do you think?

I used a nice tweed in dark green to make the stems and the backing. It's from a pair of slacks I got at a thrift shop last year for probably $1! I love finding old wool clothes at bargain prices. I'm not crazy about taking the time to take them apart but the bargain factor makes it worth-while.

I also rephotographed my candy corn for my Etsy shop:

It's a little sleeker - maybe it will appeal to those who don't necessarily like primitive.

And, last but not least, I hooked 2 more candy corns last night and put them together! They are a little smaller than the others, and a little brighter (it's all about the wool on hand at the moment).

A busy day! This weather really put me in the mood to get it all done. I'm sure if it were a warm, sunny day the finished hooking would be next to the sewing machine waiting to be sewn and stuffed!

Candy Corn

Opps! I did not find time to make my pumpkin pillows that I hooked this weekend but I added Candy Corn to my Etsy shop!

I had a breakfast meeting with a neighbor who is starting a new division and has a green light to hire 3 individuals. Turned out to be a very positive meeting. Dare I hope?
Now I need to do my prep work for my next interview tomorrow.

Priorities.....those pumpkins will just have to wait.

Good Stuff

Happy Monday!
Lot's of good stuff - my fun weekend, swap prize, hooking completions, and interview news!

I hope you all had a good weekend. I sure did at the annual hook-in at the beach! We had a nor'ester going through Friday and it poured and was very windy and unfortunately there was a lot of beach erosion too. As I arrived on the island (Long Beach Island, NJ) the rain was ending but the island was very flooded any many streets were closed due to the flooding. Thankfully, however we were all able to make it to Annie's house. It never did rain again but it was cloudy and gloomy on Saturday. Some of us went out shopping Saturday morning but the rest of the time was spent indoors hooking, chatting, laughing, eating and drinking!

We have a swap each year and this year's theme was a starfish. I was lucky to "win" a cement starfish (above) for the garden that the only non-hooker in the group made. I think it is awesome and I can't wait to see how it is going to "weather" over the years. We've had some great swaps, but my favorite was the label from Smooking Loon wine. We each hooked our own interpretation of it. Last year I stepped out of my box and did a collage for my swap which was a Santa theme.


I was able to hook 2 jack-o-lanterns and will hopefully get them made into pillows this week. A good accomplishment!

Last but not least, I received a call for a 2nd interview which is scheduled for this Wednesday, and also received a preliminary call about another position I just applied to.
Lot's of good things!

Welcome the New Season, Friendship, and Hook-in

Since I mentioned the other day we are in a new season, I was inspired to welcome autumn with my swirled pumpkin stitching. I think it is sweet and I'm happy with it.

I want to thank you all for your encouraging words and prayers. You all mean so much to me and I do realize my life is good and I'm lucky to be loved!

I was so touched by my special friend Lori Eurto, a very talented jewelry designer - I blogged about seeing her recently at the bead show with Kelley Wenzel, who makes beautiful lamp work beads. We were looking at Kelley's beautiful beads and I picked up a gorgeous green elongated bead and told Kelley I loved it. She told me to take it (wow) and Lori said she would take it and use it in a piece of jewelry for me. Well, lo and behold, Lori being the incredibly generous friend she is, made a necklace for me with Kelley's bead, and made the necklace as a special gift to cheer me and give me encouragement to be strong and press on after my recent defeat!
I received the package today and was totally blow away - in addition to the necklace Lori added a pair of earrings she knew I liked, and it was all beautifully packaged with a lovely note.



I just love the necklace and the originality of it. You can see Kelley's lovely bead and I love that Lori chose the tree pendant - it speaks to me of life and strength.
THANK YOU Lori (and Kelley for that special bead).

I'm leaving for the beach (Long Beach Island, NJ) tomorrow for the "annual hooking at the beach" so I won't have time to blog. The forecast does not look good but who cares. It's the creative togetherness that matters. Chilly rain and wind are predicted for tomorrow, ending Saturday. Maybe Sunday morning we will see the sun before we go.
I hope the sun is shining for you - have a great weekend.

Swimming Along

The lazy days of August - perfect for fishing! I hooked this piece 2 years ago and thought why not share it and offer it in my Etsy shop rather than keeping it hidden away in a box. This was one of my first pieces experimenting with other materials such as ribbons and bright yarns on the tail fin, rather than just wool.


I have never fished or have a love of fishing but for some reason I love to hook fish. I've probably hooked at least a half dozen of them, hooking both primitive and bright colored fish. They are a fun subject matter. I decided to add air bubbles to this rather than hooking a wave effect which I tend to do with my fish.

This fish looks happy to me, like he is just enjoying his swim. I'm beginning to feel that way too - interview #3 is scheduled for Friday. I know it is a good, positive sign!

And, last but not least, check out this sweet give-away by Laurie Lausen on her blog, woolyredrug-prairiesedgeprimitives.

Four Seasons and the Next Steps

I just added this fun hooked piece to my shop today. This is another one of my original designs - a square with 4 squares within a square, each hooked with a "seasonal" item to represent the four seasons, spring, summer, fall and winter. I added some pizzaz to this whimsical piece with a colorful saw-tooth border. The colors in this are really spectacular!
I sewed a casing on the back so it can be hung, however it looks great on a table too.

The next steps are progressing just as I hoped. I got a call scheduling me to go back next Thursday to meet a couple of other members of the team! Best news I could have had - last day of the week, last day of the month, and encouraging news with it.
TGIF!

Watermelon Slice

We're finally getting some "summer" weather - hot and steamy. I think it is supposed to be like this all week.
Nothing is better on a hot, sticky day than a cool slice of watermelon!

Flowers and Circles Rug

I just could not resist listing this rug in my shop (and no, I did not hook it while I was on vacation).
Lollipop flowers are so much fun and I find I do hook them a lot. I decided to carry the circle theme out into the wide border. This type of design is so easy to create and fun to hook. No monotonous border on this rug!

The rug measures 15 x 21 inches and can be used as a rug on the floor, could be hung up or put on a table.
Although wool is not very summery, this piece is!

Gosh we have been so lucky with our weather. After a week of perfect weather at the beach, it is continuing and we have had 5 more days of perfect weather. Bright blue skies, lower temperatures and low humidity. I'm loving this!

More "Gray" Rug Hooking

Here is another of my "gray" pieces. At the moment I just have these two (the gray flower runner and this pillow) however I'm very tempted to do another. A lot of rug hookers won't use gray but I really love the way both of the pieces turned out and don't think the gray takes away or dulls the pieces at all. I tend to be a renegade hooker and don't follow the "rules" but in my opinion, as with any art form, one should be allowed free expression - there are no rules in my hooking!
I actually did not hook both pieces in the last few weeks either. I do work fast but not that fast! I did them last year as inventory for a possible upcoming show or for the local shop but I figured why not open them up to my Etsy audience too.

Gray is rather appropriate at the moment on the east coast. This has been an awful June (and I don't think May was that great either). Last night on the news they said we have had 1 day of full sun in June, and 17 out of 22 days with rain! Yesterday we were lucky - the sun peaked out a few times. The forecast for the week is partly cloudy too so there are peaks of sun predicted each day. The best is yet to come - the forecast for the weekend, extending into next week, looks most sunny and seasonal - yippee - just in time for our week at the beach starting Saturday!

Friendship

If you're ever in a jam, here I am
If you're ever in a mess, S.O.S.
If you ever feel so happy you land in jail, I'm your bail
It's friendship, friendship
Just a perfect blendship
When other friendships have been forgot
Ours will still be hot
A-lottle-dottle-dottle-dig-dig-dig
If you're ever down a well, ring my bell
And if you're ever up a tree just phone to me
A-yes-sir-ee
If you ever lose your teeth and you're out to dine, borrow mine
It's friendship, friendship
Just a perfect blendship
When other friendships have been forgate
Gate?
Ours will still be great
A-lottle-dottle-dottle-chuck-chuck-chuck
If they ever black your eyes, put me wise
If they ever cook your goose, turn me loose
And if they ever put a bullet through your brain, I'll complain
It's friendship, friendship
Just a perfect blendship
When other friendships have been forgit
Ours will still be it
A-lottle-dottle-dottle-hep-hep-hep
If you ever lose your mind, I'll be kind
And if you ever lose your shirt, I'll be hurt
If you're ever in a mill and get sawed in half, I won't laugh
It's friendship, friendship
Just a perfect blendship
When other friendships are up the crick
Ours will still be slick
- Cole Porter

I've always loved this quirky little song, and especially loved watching Lucy and Ethel on I Love Lucy singing it. Anyway, I just want to take this time to say thank you to all of my friends. I appreciate you all, and for many reasons: your love, support, humor, inspiration, talent, dependability and hope.

Button Up Flowers

Here is another of my hooked ornaments/pin keeps!
Total whimsy!

These little hooked ornaments are so much fun!
Why not buttons for flowers, right? We need all we can get in the mid-Atlantic area for a little brightening up. We have had so much gray weather. The sun came out for 2-3 minute intervals today and I was lucky to capture a good photo out by the front walk.
Hope it is sunny and lovely where you are.

Rug Hooking Addition

I made this hooked piece last year and decided I should list it in my Etsy shop. The Gray Flowers (already in the shop) seems to be generating more views/interest than my stitching so I thought perhaps it would make sense to add this one as well. It is a little smaller than the gray piece however it can either be hung on the wall or used on a table top. This piece is hooked on burlap (burlap being the original primitive foundation for hooking many years ago) but the gray piece is hooked on linen. Both contain re-purposed and dyed wools, however this piece was hooked entirely with scraps! It is another of my original designs.

I'm working in the local shop again tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a little diversion. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Cheers!

New Stitching

I had a productive weekend - stitched the "liberty" and pin keep over the weekend and put them together yesterday afternoon. I did not do a thing last night - almost feel guilty. You know, busy hands........

When I took my car for an oil change last week I drove 10 minutes further after to a great cross stitch shop (which I had not been to in ages) and picked up a few new patterns. I so much prefer stitching in the warmer weather because rug hooking is so bulky and hot with all of that wool.
I need to get stitching on a new piece.

Watermelon Slice

This is what I hooked at my hook-in overnight last weekend. I started it Saturday and just finished it last night!
I'm taking it to the local shop to sell since she requested pillows. I apologize for the not-so-great picture - I wanted to get a pic taken on the Adirondack chair in my yard however it is raining and I need to leave soon to take my car for an oil change and drop the pillow off on the way, so the inside picture with bad lighting will have to do. Anyway, you get idea of the finished product.
Hope you all have a great day.

Strawberry Picking

I have a couple of cute hooked ornaments that are summery in nature and I thought now might be a good time to introduce them to my Etsy shop. I decided to start with a strawberry! Just a whimsical little piece of decorative fun which I hope others will enjoy too.

The Bees are in the Shop!

The bees are in the shop! I was able to make 3 bees today and they are all different – I like that I can try to make them all different by using different bases. They are cute!!!


Peg in the “hot-seat” and behind Peg, left to right, me, Norma and Lea.

The overnight rug hooking was so much fun we hated to see it end. Peg and her husband were gracious hosts and provided wonderful food and drink and a very inviting home. Darn, I’m so mad I forgot to get a picture of Peg’s beautiful 200 year old house. I just loved it and the beautiful yard. We were able to sit outside all day yesterday to hook too. It was perfect!

P.S. I was happy to have a chance to wear my lovely new custom made necklace from Lori - stop by her shop for a look at creative jewelry - Lorelei1141