A Bit of WV Green

Hens and Chicks (our version!)

West Virginia Green begins!

Good Morning!  There is a bit of WV green showing this morning.  Thunder and lightening, occurring through the night, helps the grass turn green! The meadow you are looking at will be hay in June. My husband is out working repairing the fences this morning. Spring work is underway! 

I placed a bit of wool strips and shiny ribbon in a suet feeder and this morning it's moving in the wind so it's a bit of a blur.  The birds are arriving and it's a pleasure to see their colors outside our window.

Shirley's gam

After over dyeing some recycle wool the other day I'm back to working on Shirley.  I needed a visible difference between her front and rear legs so that's my goal for today.  She is made of many many different wools.  The hooking is more interesting due to my instructor's suggestion of S's, circle's, diamond direction of hooking.  I'm looking forward to getting to the greens and force myself to complete Shirley first.....that way I hook faster :O) 

Prayers for those throughout the world who are dealing with tragedies.

Today Pip and I wish you a Happy Spring and Happy Monday and Happy Hooking!

Neglecting Shirley!

What a pleasure the past week has been for me.  The sun has been shining and the earth was warmed a bit and I notice that smiles come so much easier to my face and heart.

Shirley has been feeling a bit neglected.  I'm a member of the West Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution and attended a meeting this weekend.  I love history, heritage and tracing my ancestors.  If you like mysteries and haven't dug in to the past you are missing one of the best mysteries written.  I have a Grandfather who was a Tavern Keeper and Ferry owner, another Grandmother who came to the US when she was 16 to work in the potteries.  The television program concerning tracing your ancestors airing now is truly interesting....but they are leaving a bit of the research being done out!  Most of the time you do not walk right in and find what you are looking for.  When you do it is indeed a wonderful link in the mystery.

My winter house project was pulling up my carpet in my entrance and after all the staples, carpet tack strips are out..getting down to the pine floor.  It had been painted one coat only...amazing since the house is over 100 years old.  I decided to leave it as is, with the wear and tear shown...my way of honoring history once again.

Then there is the hooked rug that will someday be there!  I'm not certain if it's Shirley's home or not.

Now reason #? for rug Shirley's neglect..... Pip's showing you his stress fracture on his front paw.  The splint will be removed this Monday! He's always been a kitty in flight..we think there must have been a rough landing at some point. Please note that he is standing....he and I speak often in that manner.

I went in search of more wool to continue working on Shirley.  I need to over dye some I have to have a bit more of the black/darker material. Tomorrow I'm planning a rug hooking day, perhaps a bit of dyeing....and from looking at this photo there will be some pulling out in Shirley's future (umm, and mine!).  I need to stand back and look at her...whether it's in my living room while I'm reading, or watching tv.  Getting back and away from the work  gives time to view and perhaps even change the direction you are going in.....I don't naturally know.  I have to work to get there.

The Ohio River is flooding and we are to have snow.  Our home is on a hill and away from high water, but to those who may not be, where ever you may live, my thoughts are with you, stay safe.

Whatever you do, do it with heart!  Hook on....

Betty Davis Eyes for Shirley!

"Betty Davis" eyes!

Good sunny afternoon!  I mentioned "oh poo"(aka Shirley) earlier.  Her "Betty Davis" eyes are compliments of a class with Bev Conway that I attended at Cedar Lakes camp.  Even though this will be a walk on rug the most that could happen is that her eyelashes get worn off! I have fewer now that I did when I was younger too.  Once the wool was pulled through the foundation the wool was then fringed.  If her name hadn't already been Shirley I'm certain I'd have called her Betty.


I've started working on her again and am enjoying the wider cut (a 9) and faster hooking. Hand drawn, she'll never be perfect, and that's what I love about her.  I'll hook and look and make changes when the need arises.  I stand back often or even utilize the camera and computer to see things better.  You can do that with a door peep hole that you get at the stores if you cannot get back and away from your work.  

oh poo progress :)

Looking forward to getting further along with this one. I'm using us some recycled coat wool and enjoying the process.

Where the hooking happens!

  As you can see this is Pip's favorite places to rest! Well one of them.  He is like an elephant....he can go where ever he wishes! Do you recognize what he is resting on?  This antique was from my husband's ancestors.  The chickens roosted on it, well probably other critters as well over the years.  We had a Plexiglas top cut to fit and I have a light down inside along with a few antiques. 

And last but certainly not least, here's a photo of my dh with the working dogs, Mick and Mate.  The temperature had gone to 3 or so and he was ready to go feed the cattle.

 So from all the critters large and small..we wish you well!

Hook what you love!

Cat on my Lap kind of Day!

 Good afternoon!  The good thing is that we have no ice happening here right now. I'm still struggling with loosing a sister in law recently to ovarian cancer.  She's ok now and in no pain.  The sad is still with me and my prayers ongoing for her husband and children.

This is one of the larger rugs that I have done.  It first started out as a walk on rug and then morphed in to one only to hang.....I got a bit carried away with the sculpted behind :O) and prodded the rug at her feet, and added a piece of wool hanging down...that was made with two wool strips and a wire glued in between so there could be shape to it.  And here's the story:   One of the very first rug camps that I attended was a smaller one on a mountain in PA.  There were probably only 6 or 7 ladies in my class.  One of the gals had been a rug hooker for longer than I.  This day I remember her in a summer long dress....getting up to walk across the room...so elegant was she...then I noticed the wool hanging from her tush!  Of course after that I noticed that whether it was jeans, skirts, or shorts rug hookers had on we "never leave wool behind". 

Deanne Fitzpatrick design

Nova Scotia Morning

In the Fall of 2009 I had the good fortune to travel to Nova Scotia to take a class from Deanne Fitzpatrick.  Her new store was wonderful, and what a fun class she holds.  The rug that I completed on the left is in the home of a very good friend of mine.  She loves blue and fell in love with this one.  As soon as I saw her face as she looked at it I knew it was hers.  What good is living if you cannot bring joy to those you care about? I also have to tell you that spending the time in a cabin with a group of rug hookers rather took me back to high school and band camp!  After my shower I found 3 underarm deodorants in my kit....all looked like mine too!  Now ask me what I did.......of course I took the new one!

Smile as you hook!