Shirley's Vacation!

Shirley took a vacation to Myrtle Beach.  However the week's weather was soooo nice she spent most of her time resting on the bed.....the sun, and yes, food called us away often.

 .....so many jelly fish beached.

A photo of a shy friend.









We got to visit with our daughter and the lovely Lucy.  There are dog people, but in this case Lucy is a dog-person!  Don't you love the way she sits on the couch?

It's Spring on the WV ranch. There is some catching up to do following our get away.  There is a deck to paint, some landscaping to do.  I'm working on genealogy to assist members in to our DAR Chapter and looking forward to DAR Conference.  Also there is a High School Class reunion ....our small town doubles in size for the long weekend...
And soon, very soon, joining my sister for her first Rug Hooking Camp.  OK, I admit, I'm behind .....and am truly looking forward to the catching up!

Photo taken by "my husband" :)

 Blessings to all ..... I'll be back....sometime....Happy Spring!

Ahhhh Spring!

The Spring Hook In of the Buckeye Rug Hookers Guild ....held in Ohio at the Loveland Artists Studio...it was a wonderful beginning to the rug hooking year!

 Carol, my sister, and I traveled 4 hours and 20 minutes to join the fun and meet and visit with the BRHG members and friends.  The view out of our window at the hotel was indeed in full bloom. 

Carol and a few chairs :)

On the way back to West Virginia...across the state of Ohio....we stop for antiques.  The photo above is one of two hand made rugs that we spotted.  I do not know the pattern.  If you do please write in and tell us.

 

We loved the unique colors on our friend above.  I have seen many peacocks hooked in rugs, now I see the colors up close and personal I understand the force behind the patterns.  Carol took this photo.

On the home front, here are the blooms that have graced our yard for as long as our home has been here.  They bloomed earlier this year than I can ever remember.

This sentinel of our home was weary and we said good bye to him before a strong wind or storm could fell him and damage our home.  This tree will truly be missed by the family.

Zoom through the window....hanging bird feeder.

 May you have a wonderful Spring and all the time you need to work outside and enjoy the blooms!   Ahhh, but don't forget to pick up your hook.

Hearts Abound

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours on the 14th!

Keep in mind the many rugs we have seen with the "heart" theme.  A background of muted swirling hearts, heart in hand, all different colored hearts.
So my wish to you is a very wonderful magnitude of hooked hearts day!


The weather today is white...and with the wind and 20 degree temp it is a swirling white.  We've had such a mild winter for 2012 here.  The walks have been cleared, the wood carried in, the electric is still on and we have satellite tv, and internet.  It's been a good Saturday for February :)

The prodded chair pad that I have made using recycled wool felted sweaters is finished.  The design was no intentional design, rather just swirl lines.  Working carefully due to running out of sweater material....I didn't utilize a hit and miss method.  I worked directly across one side to the other @ 180 degree angle to use a small bit of control. Some of the wool is recycled cashmere . Once released from the frame it is done.  No finishing work with this method :)

So from cashmere loving Pip and I....hook on (or proddy, or crochet, or...... :)

Got It Whipped!

The table to the left is an antique table that belonged to a long time neighbor.  So as not to harm it's charm we added a hand rail ball to the legs to make it more comfortable for our long legged friends to sit.  The casters can be replaced at any time. 

When I finish a rug by whipping with wool I lay it flat so I can see that it remains so.

 Machine hem of three rounds at 1 1/4 inches...one of straight stitching, and two of ziz zag.

 Small cording is used, and rolled tight towards the rug, then I baste it with upholstery thread.  I do use cording...it aids me in keeping my whipping even.  My preference is keeping the whipped edge even with the rug. This is a low hooked rug; normally my 6 to 8 cut works well with the cording I utilized.  I have to admit that in this case I used what I had.

Placing the needle as near my loops as possible and lifting the rug edge a bit to see where the needle will come out on the other side is the method that seems the neatest for me.
My preference would be for 100% wool 3 ply yarn because of the 4 cut wool rug height, but in this case I found a perfect match with a 4 ply and decided that since this will be an on the wall only rug I would go with it.

The corner should be done completely with the same length of yarn, and not end there and begin another.  I work to an 90 degree angle and then work my wool yarn backwards to do the corner...using the same hole to round the corner.  I have done square corners but I enjoy doing the rounded.






Jump right in with a discussion, your preferences, suggestions, your way!

Now to bid you good day....happy rug hooking...and woo hoo, I'm off to work on another rug.

The Ohio Buck