Had a great time in Kinderhook at their March hook-in. The organizer of the show is Barbara MacCormack. She does a great job hosting this event. Wonderful food, giveaways, raffles, lots of vendors, and the perfect location. Their next hook-in is May 16th. Hopefully, I'll be back from Ireland by then.
Saw lots of wonderful rugs. In particular, there was a hooker who brought in a finished cube ottoman. She had purchased the cube from Kim Nixon, but she created the pattern herself. The background was a purple/black mottled mix, with lots of bright colors for the main motifs. One side had a mermaid with fish and sea plants on it. The colors were perfect, and as I love bright shades, it was a sight to behold. If only I had remembered my camera. As soon as I walked in the door, I realized I had left it home. Drat!
As soon as I catalog the leftover wool from the show back into my ecrater listings, I'll be offering a nice week-long sale. Watch for it soon.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Kinderhook Rug Show
I'm off to the Kinderhook Rug Show this coming Saturday. Kinderhook is a small town about twenty minutes below Albany, New York. For me, it's about a 50 minute drive, but the area is so beautiful and the hooking community so active, that it's well worth it. Thankfully, Spring has finally arrived, and there should be no worry about snow! Along with wool, I'll be taking along several patterns that my sister, Marian Ross designed. I don't know where she comes up with her whimsical creations, but I'm always glad to have her arrive at my house with a pile of patterns. Here are the new designs. They are all drawn on linen. If you are interested in any of the patterns, please contact me at mictype@nycap.rr.com to place an order. Shipping/handling is not included in price.
Crow With Flowers (19.5" x 22.5") $40.00
Halloween Symbols (16.75" x 42.75") $50.00
Homespun (10" x 21.5") $32.00
Horses (19.5" x 41") $58.00
Leaves with Pumpkin (17" x 34") $54.00
Puppy Love (17" x 30.5") $42.00
Rhode Island Primitive (25" x 23.25") $38.00
Vase of Flowers (20" x 22") $40.00
Witch's Familiar (17.5" x 30.5") $43.00
Crow With Flowers (19.5" x 22.5") $40.00
Halloween Symbols (16.75" x 42.75") $50.00
Homespun (10" x 21.5") $32.00
Horses (19.5" x 41") $58.00
Leaves with Pumpkin (17" x 34") $54.00
Puppy Love (17" x 30.5") $42.00
Rhode Island Primitive (25" x 23.25") $38.00
Vase of Flowers (20" x 22") $40.00
Witch's Familiar (17.5" x 30.5") $43.00Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Blog Hook-in Update
If you read Gene Shepherd's blog then you know about the blog hook-in. When the hook-in first started I posted a photo of my rug in my newsletter format update. Thought you might want to see the progress I have made on the rug. I have only background left to go!! Overall, I am pleased with the results.
I have discovered one thing while hooking this rug. I hooked the rug using 5- and 6-cut strips and noticed a lot of frayed edges on the strips. I'm sure this means that my cutter blades need to be sharpened. Of course, my first thought was ... get a Townsend cutter!!! That will have to wait, and I think just sharpening my blades will have to do.
Lots of excitement going on in our household. My son recently got engaged and bought a house. Plans for the wedding are in full swing! Luckily, his bride-to-be is totally organized and things are moving along nicely.
The other exciting thing that has happened is that my husband won a trip to Ireland! Because of our son's wedding date and other commitments, it looks like we'll be going sometime in May. Can't wait to check out wool shops and yarn shops. One thing on my list to do while there is visit the Aran Islands. I love Aran knit patterns and yarn. Can't wait to go!!
I have discovered one thing while hooking this rug. I hooked the rug using 5- and 6-cut strips and noticed a lot of frayed edges on the strips. I'm sure this means that my cutter blades need to be sharpened. Of course, my first thought was ... get a Townsend cutter!!! That will have to wait, and I think just sharpening my blades will have to do.
Lots of excitement going on in our household. My son recently got engaged and bought a house. Plans for the wedding are in full swing! Luckily, his bride-to-be is totally organized and things are moving along nicely.
The other exciting thing that has happened is that my husband won a trip to Ireland! Because of our son's wedding date and other commitments, it looks like we'll be going sometime in May. Can't wait to check out wool shops and yarn shops. One thing on my list to do while there is visit the Aran Islands. I love Aran knit patterns and yarn. Can't wait to go!!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Ebay, Ecrater, Etsy
Don't forget to check out my wool listings on Ebay, Ecrater, and Etsy. Click on the links on the right side of the blog!
BEAUTIFUL NEW WOOL COLORS!
I've been using my new ProChem colors and have some wool to offer up for sale. There are four new shades. Each shade comes as an overdyed natural or an overdyed plaid/check. Here are the colors: Montana Skies, Green Hedge, Burgundy, and Antique Red. Each quarter yard sells for $7.50 plus s/h. Always happy to combine sales to save on shipping. Please let me know if you are interested in any of these colors. Please specify if you want the overdyed natural and/or the overdyed textures. These are great colors for a primitive rug. SALE IS OVER APRIL 1ST.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Audio Books and Hooking
I'm an avid reader as many of you probably are. I've got stacks of book waiting to be read on book shelves in every room! I belong to a group of readers on yahoo whose latest thread has been about audio books. I've never gotten into audio books, as I felt that I needed to actually read the book to make it "legitimate" in my mind!
While hooking recently, I was listening to my Ipod and thought about audio books and decided to give it a try. I went to our local library (which has a large selection of audio books), found a book on my list that I wanted to read, and signed it out. I loaded it on my Ipod and found that I loved it! I not only listen while hooking, but also while cleaning up, doing dishes, ironing, etc. I was a little concerned I wouldn't be able to concentrate, but I've had no problem at all.
Audio books can be expensive to purchase, so I'm lucky the library has such a great selection.
So, I guess I'm highly recommending this idea of "killing two birds with one stone." I will say that sometimes in the early morning, I find that just sitting in the quiet and hooking has a meditative quality to it, and I wouldn't want to give that up. But the books-on-CD have turned out to be a nice alternative to the TV.
Give it a try!
While hooking recently, I was listening to my Ipod and thought about audio books and decided to give it a try. I went to our local library (which has a large selection of audio books), found a book on my list that I wanted to read, and signed it out. I loaded it on my Ipod and found that I loved it! I not only listen while hooking, but also while cleaning up, doing dishes, ironing, etc. I was a little concerned I wouldn't be able to concentrate, but I've had no problem at all.
Audio books can be expensive to purchase, so I'm lucky the library has such a great selection.
So, I guess I'm highly recommending this idea of "killing two birds with one stone." I will say that sometimes in the early morning, I find that just sitting in the quiet and hooking has a meditative quality to it, and I wouldn't want to give that up. But the books-on-CD have turned out to be a nice alternative to the TV.
Give it a try!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
New ProChem colors!
Yippee!! ProChem has some new colors. Here's a list:
- 231 Tiger Lily
- 371 Burgandy
- 372 Chili Pepper
- 374 Deep Pink
- 403 Twilight
- 415 Nautical Blue
- 416 Wedgewood
- 417 Flag Blue
- 419 Island Blue
- 421 Cornflower
- 826 Deep Orchid
Lenexa, Kansas hook-in
Andrea Allen was nice enough to share a link to a photo album of rugs from this year's Lenexa Hook-In and Rug Show. A real feast for the eyes! Approximately 300 attend this event each year with lots of vendors participating. Perhaps someday I'll make the trek from Upstate New York to Kansas! Anyway ... enjoy the photos.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/570317019HgkGUO
Here are Andrea's two rugs -- Noah's Ark and Scarecrows. I particularly like the two skunks in Noah's Ark! Thanks so much, Andrea!
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/570317019HgkGUO
Here are Andrea's two rugs -- Noah's Ark and Scarecrows. I particularly like the two skunks in Noah's Ark! Thanks so much, Andrea!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Marbelizing Wool
Had some fun on Sunday with a few yards of wool that I marbelized. Started out with quarter yard pieces. 1st set included eggplant, yellow, and blue. 2nd set included eggplant, pine green, and light green. Here are the results.
The first photo is the set that includes eggplant, yellow, and blue. I also included a photo of the wool folded against each other to show what the loops would look like. This wool is for sale on Ebay right now. If you would like to order a set directly, cost is $7.50 plus s/h.
The second photo shows the eggplant, pine green, and light green marbleized wool. This set reminds of shades found in a vineyard. I have not yet listed this wool, but again, you may purchase a set directly from me. I have four sets of this color combo.
Marbelizing wool is such a fun process. You need wool, a wetting agent, and vinegar (to set the color). Layer the wool (with the likely bleeder) in between the other two. Then fold, roll it, twist, etc. and simmer until the water runs clear.
The first photo is the set that includes eggplant, yellow, and blue. I also included a photo of the wool folded against each other to show what the loops would look like. This wool is for sale on Ebay right now. If you would like to order a set directly, cost is $7.50 plus s/h.
The second photo shows the eggplant, pine green, and light green marbleized wool. This set reminds of shades found in a vineyard. I have not yet listed this wool, but again, you may purchase a set directly from me. I have four sets of this color combo.
Marbelizing wool is such a fun process. You need wool, a wetting agent, and vinegar (to set the color). Layer the wool (with the likely bleeder) in between the other two. Then fold, roll it, twist, etc. and simmer until the water runs clear.
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