MP by OP in progress

Last week when I was visiting with Elaine, I had the privilege of sitting in on two of her regular classes. Lovely ladies at both – a nice mix of familiar faces and new ones, too. I must admit that I did have a little twinge of green, though....since it made me really wish that I had a similar group that I could meet with on a regular basis. We could sit, chat, exchange ideas, brainstorm new ones hook, sip tea....and just enjoy the feeling of togetherness. I think that would be great.

In the Wednesday evening class, two of the ladies are working on their own versions of one of my Amazing Matrix Mats....and I was so happy that they brought them to share. I love to see the different colour combinations people choose. And when there is already so much done it's really easy to imagine them both complete.

First up is Becky's autumn tones....so very yummy....


And now there is Kathy's wider range of values - I so admire anyone who can use both light and dark and inbetween in the same piece. It took me about 10 years to accomplish this. Yes, it's true.

(sorry about the blurry photo...all my fault, not the rugs....)

Can't wait to see them both finished. Maybe at the Annual.....?

MP by OP • Sunny's Henry's Pomegranate

Two finished purses in one week.... it's like an early birthday! :-D

Sunny sent me these pictures this afternoon and made my day. Her purse is beautiful - inside and out. She did a wonderful job on the finishing, and the wool used to line the flap is lovely.


Sunny writes...

Your directions were great. The only difficulty I had was where to put the fusible interfacing. I consulted a lot of other hookers in my group and finally decided to fuse it to the back side of my lining. It made sense to me to make the lining stronger so any weight in the purse wouldn't distort the hooking.I changed the interior pocket a bit. I made it a little shorter so that it is rectangular in shape and put a pleat in each side that's sewn down across the bottom. It gives the pocket more room.

Great job Sunny! Better brace yourself for the compliments -- they are sure to coming whenever you venture out and about.... :-D

Edited to add this note I received from Sunny.....

I just thought of another addition I made to the structure of the purse. I wasn't keen about the magnet to hold the flap down. One of our group suggested buying a strip of weights from the fabric store. I guess you use them to add weight to the bottom of drapes. I just whipped them into the edge of the flap when I was doing the finishing and it seems to have worked really well.

....another great idea!

MP by OP • Marcia's Bar-Jello

I never seem to tired of seeing pictures of finished purses. I was especially happy to get this picture from Marcia on the weekend -- since she really changed up the pattern and made it her own. I think making it your own is really where it's at.....

It's always great to see something different and I find that the more I hook (and the more hooking examples I see), the more I am drawn to work that is very different from my own. When people use and combine markedly different colours, or hook in a unique or different style than I would (or) do...I want to just sit and stare, and cross my fingers that I will learn a little something.

MP by OP • Therese's Cornflowers

Is it just me, or does it seem like December has half of the number of days of the rest of the months? Whoosh, it is all speeding by in a blur, and despite my best intentions, posts have been sporadic at best. Sorry for that.....but I will try to make a concerted effort to post more regularly over the next couple of weeks - starting today! ;-)

I was thrilled to get this picture in my inbox....Therese made the most gorgeous purse this spring in New Jersey, and now she has done it again....


This beauty is a Christmas present for her sister -- what a lovely gift made with lots of love.

MP by OP • Matrix Mats

Remember Jill's first AMM? She's back with another one -- and I think it's even better!


In her own words....

I found it was a very real challenge to choose each colour. I had no idea that would be so difficult, but it was a valuable exercise. I used some of your Crazy 8s that I had left from my Zippers mat and then used wools from my own stash, as well. It surprised me that I made such a bright, happy rug. I'm naming it "Happy" in memory of a friend who had that name.

Something else I learned to do when I finished this rug was to make and print a label which includes a photo of the mat itself. I'm attaching a photo so you can see how cool this is. I don't know if you know of this product but here's the info on it, in case you're ever interested in trying this: It's called "InkJet Printing for use with Inkjet Printers & Injet Copiers by Jacquard". It's cotton on backing paper. I got it at Michael's. The package contains ten (10) 8-l/2" x 11" cotton sheets. It is not adhesive backed, but once you print the label, you peel off the cotton and affix it to your rug. As you can see, I used a very amateurish blanket stitch. This produce is not cheap--the package costs about $25 or so--but I figured the rug was worth it. I had heard of taking a photo to attach to one's label so that there will never be any mistaking what rug the label belongs to so I decided to try that and I'm quite pleased with the result.

MP by OP • Karin's Bullseyes

I am outta here for a week or so.....I will try to post from the road, if I can. In the meantime, I want to share a pretty picture I received this week. Karin recently completed her Bullseyes purse -- and I think it looks gorgeous! Good job Karin! ;-)

P.S. MP by OP = My Patterns hooked by Other People ;-)

MP by OP – Jill's Zippers

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love to see pictures of other people's work -- especially when it's inspired by mine. Wendie posted about her adventures earlier this week....and Jill sent me these pictures over the weekend.

Jill picked out some bags of Crazy Eights at the Annual a month or so ago and has really gone to town to get her runner hooked and finished so quickly. It's approximately 52" by 13"

As usual, I think it looks even better in person than in a photo, but I'm sure you know that, too. The colours are so rich and beautiful. I really am thrilled with how this runner has turned out and it has been a very good exercise in trying to keep my loops at a (relatively) even height!

As you can see, Jill's cat is loving it, too! And why wouldn't he? I think it's beautiful!

MP by OP -- Deborah's Bala Bag

Talk about perfect timing -- just when I'm at a standstill with no work of my own to talk about...pictures of a completed project arrive! ;-)

This lovely bag was hooked by west coast artist Deborah Groom. She took my Bala Blank Canvas pattern and designed her own motifs to decorate the surface. I love it....and the colours are screaming Spring to me -- in a very good way.


She writes, "The design is a contemporary take on the evil eye amulets that you see throughout the Mediterranean. In a couple of weeks I'm heading to Istanbul so this will make a nice conversation piece."


Oh, to be able to travel inside Deborah's purse....
• • • • • •
You should check out her site, where you can see some of the very cool pine needle baskets and other things that she creates....and her blog, where she writes sporadically about interesting things.

pretty purses in progress

When I was away last week, I had a chance to hook up with a group of rug hookers working on purses. Some were just starting the hooking, others were working on their assembly....and as always, all were beautiful. You can see for yourself - here is a sampling....










I always get a little thrill when I see my designs hooked by others -- you can really see their individual style. Even though it's a pattern, they are all different. And, it goes without saying, all lovely. Well done ladies! ;-)

Martina's finished...

....and she did a lovely job.
I just love it when people use different colours - it's so fun for me! ;-)

M.P. by O.P. - Bala Bag Finishing Class (Part II)

I must have been sleepy last night when I wrote my post - I forgot to add Kim's picture. Kim is a new hooker, and she's chosen a purse as her first project. She didn't get her hooking done in time for the class (life happened), but she was happy to come out and spend the day hooking with us. She got quite a bit done. Yay Kim!

Jan send me a couple of snaps today, and you can see her and her purse in this photo (first on the right). I love the effect of the black/cream plaid used in the background. I cannot get enough of those black and white tweedies. Mmmmmm.

(I'm holding Martina's purse - she was downstairs with a customer)

M.P. by O.P. - Bala Bag Finishing Class

I've been really blessed the last couple of classes - they have been filled with some amazing ladies. And some pretty great rug hookers, too! ;-) The only reason I haven't yet posted about my class in the Lower Diamond Barn (even though it's vying for the spot of favourite class ever!) is that I forgot to take pictures. Not a single one. I guess I was just too busy having a wonderful time, that I plum forgot....and I apologize ladies. I will be happy to post any pictures that you send and it would be great to see your finished bags (hint, hint!)

I did remember to take some pictures yesterday at Martina's though (even though it was great day, with nice people)...but I am missing one of the bags -- and almost all of the others had to be unpacked for their photo op.

Sewing a purse together involves several steps and completely finishing a purse in one day is pretty ambitious -- not because it's hard, but because your fingers get tired and maybe a little sore (from all of the fine hand sewing) and you need to take a break. The participants all made some good progress on their bags....and will hopefully be sporting them around town very soon.

Sylvia's Pomegranates

Clare's Bullseyes

Martina's Pomegranates

Jacki's Pomegranates

Pat's Skeleflora

M.P. by O.P. (progress report from Manistee)

The last few days have brought a flurry of mail -- lots of e-mails and quite a few parcels, too. I was so happy when Joanne sent me some pictures of the girls' purses in progress. The group's first one is completely finished....and a couple look like they will soon follow. Since Joanne didn't provide an accompanying list of names, I am doing my best to remember back six weeks or so....fingers crossed my memory serves me well.

Jewelee's Cornflowers

Bee's BarJello

Jeanie's Skeleflora

Alaina's Pomegranates

Mary's Birds

Donna's Peonies

Joanne's finished purse - with the most perfect lining ever!

Don't they all look great? So many different colours, styles, interpretations....the possibilities are endless. I can't wait to see more of the finished products. ;-)

M.P. by O.P. (Pam's Peony Purse)

Have I said how fun it is to see people's finished purses? Whether in person or my inbox....I LOVE to see them. Naturally I was thrilled when Pam Langdon from Ottawa sent me a picture of her finished purse earlier this week....


I love all of the bright colours, set off by the dark background....and all of the many, many different colours and wools Pam used in hooking the flowers. Another favourite part is the orange around the top of the purse. Pam said that she wore the purse a couple of times knowing that a zing was still needed and then added the orange yarn that weaves through the top whipping. It unifies the purse - orange is in every flower and throughout the background.

Well done Pam - it's beautiful!

P.S. I am waaaay behind in posting about recent happenings....and trying to get all caught up soon. First I need to upload a whack of photos I took here last night.

P.P.S. It snowed today. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Yet.

A beautiful day in Belfountain

Jen and Jan

On Saturday a lovely group of ladies got together and invited me to come down and help them complete their purses. They had finished the hooking part beforehand....so we spent the day doing all of the hardest steps in the assembly. By mid-afternoon, we were all starting to feel a little maxed out and decided to call it a day. Although no one left with their purse entirely finished, most everyone is very close to being done and they should all be easily able to finish the last couple of steps at home.

This is the first time I've taught a purse class that is focused on the hands-on finishing of the purses.....and I wasn't quite sure how it was all going to unfold. We had plenty of sewing machines and irons and more sewing supplies than we really needed. The only thing we could have used was a second zipper foot.....but it all worked out in the end. It always does, doesn't it?

Jen & Bonnie (with Lynn working hard n the background)

As per usual, I forgot to take pictures throughout the day (thank you Jan for sending the above pictures!), but I did manage to snap a few towards the end of the afternoon. Here are some the purses people were working on (a couple of ladies had left before I could capture their purse).....

Sue's Cornflowers

Jan's Birds of a Feather

Lynn's Cornflowers

Jean's Birds of a Feather

Bonnie's Leaving Home

The workshop was held at Martina Lesar's log cabin studio in Caledon....and it's a wonderful place, filled with lots of beautiful wools and materials and many hooked rugs and some cute footstools. I couldn't resist so much temptation.... and came home with a couple of skeins of yarn and some dyed fleece.

no longer blank

Before I started calling this option Blank Canvas, I had a couple of people inquire about adding their own designs and motifs to the Bala purse shape. One of these people was my friend Fiona (remember, I raved about her stuff here?)

I was excited to get an e-mail from Fiona earlier this week containing pictures of her finished purse. I think it looks fabulous. I'm including all of the pictures she sent, since the colours look a little different in the different light. I'm not sure which is more right - but regardless, they all look great. This is just another example of how everyone has their own style (thank goodness!) and that there are so many possibilities for decorating the outside of a hooked purse....


Fiona referred to herself as being "purse challenged"....but when I quizzed her for more details, she admitted that she may have rushed a the finish line a little bit. After really enjoying the hooking part, she was anxious to see her finished purse. But you can't really rush the assembly - it does take time and there are a lot of little steps... (but IMHO it' totally worth it :-) )

I know that Fiona is not the first person to get swept up in the final moments, eager to just have it be finished -- and I doubt that she will be the last. I'm equally guilty of the same....remember?