Christmas is starting early this year....

....and not just because of the Winter Wonderland that's being created outside, even as I type! My first gift arrived yesterday -- hand delivered by its creator: my Uncle Randy. UR is a pretty creative guy....and he makes some amazing stained glass pieces. I'm thrilled to have this loon join my collection, and already found the perfect place for him (her?) to live.

I've also been busy shopping, and happily have most of that done. I won't rub it and say that I've already gotten it wrapped. Oops, I guess I just did! :-D ....but if it's any consolation, I still have quite a bit of making that needs to be started -- and finished.

I know that some people like the last-minute shopping madness, but I'm not one of them. I do sometimes have to deal with 'last minute making'....but at least that doesn't have to happen in places that are swimming with people who are all madly rushing around (not to mention sharing with the world their least likeable traits).

This year I am making multiples of just one thing. I've got my fabric, thread, and pattern.....and the sewing will begin this weekend, I hope. I don't want it to interfere with my Jumbo schedule (I realized that if I can hooked 1/2 a square foot a night, 6 days a week = 3 square feet per week = I might be able to finish by early March). What are you making for gifts this year?

Week 28: 51.8 square feet

Cruising right along....but regretting taking a few nights off this week -- because I could have gotten MORE done. There are sure a lot of these little squares! It will be nice to get this long end finished off, so that I can feel about 1/4 is done. Right now I'm about 60% across.

I subscribed to Netflix over the weekend, and I'm thinking that there might be some serious TV show watching happening in tandem with my hooking. The rule will just have to be that I can't watch and not hook! :-D

Weeks 26+27: 49 square feet

Progress. Finally.


Not only did I get back hooking again on Jumbo this past week, but I pretty sure that I self-diagnosed the cause of my shoulder problem that resulted in a lost summer of hooking! Phew.

When hooking the centre of Jumbo, I was working from side to side (right to left and back again), but when I started work on the border I decided to start hooking on the long sides first. It made sense - at the time - to put my work on the frame with the least amount of rug/backing in my lap.....which meant that I would be constantly hooking vertically (top to bottom and back again). Not usually a problem for me when I use a lap frame, but with my bigger floor frame combined with my big rug, the result is that my right elbow is up and in mid-air the whole time I'm hooking. No wonder it was sore!

So this week, after the first half-hour of hooking vertically, I turned my work and now I'm back to hooking horizontally again. It's a bit more awkward, since the previously hooked parts of the border essentially end up being in my lap while I hook....but I think I can put up with it for the sake of progress. And, it's a pretty cheap price to pay for no pain.

I'm looking forward to making some great head-way this week. Now that the thermometer has dropped, it's kinda nice to play with wool again and be blanketed by a big rug while I work in the evenings. How about you - are you feeling the urge to hook?

Bayfield Coin Purse Classes

Each class is special. It always amazes me how quickly I seem to fall in love with each rug hooking group that I visit.....and my trip to Bayfield was no exception. The fun started early, with a special invitation to join the group for their annual Christmas dinner (complete with yummy turkey and cranberry sauce!) and a silent auction of items from the groups library of books and magazines (I happily came home with several back issues of the Wool Street Journal).

After the first day of class, Marg (my hostess with the mostess) and I headed over to the open house at Patti Armstrong's in the evening. I already knew that Patti was a very talented rug hooker, but I had no idea that she was so talented in such a variety of other arts and crafts. Here are a few of her creations that I just couldn't resist.....and the more difficult decision - of deciding what will live with me and what will be gifted - remains. For now, I will just enjoy looking at them perched in my living room.....


It was great to see the students putting their own designs on the canvas....and putting their own ideas into a few of my designs. There are definitely some new twists in these CPs....

Diane's Dippers....

Marjorie's own design....

Cathy's Hoot....

Clair's own design....

Nancy's own design...

Linda's Bully....

Carla's God's Eye....

Kim's Klimt....

Teresa's Hooters....

Sherry's Hooters....

Nancy's own design...

Margie's own design...

Unfortunately two people had to leave early and I remembered to take pictures only after they had left....but they, too, had hooked some pretty nice coin purses. Thanks to all of the ladies who participated in the workshop....and a special thanks to Marjorie for organizing everything, and to Marg for taking such good care of me.

The drive home today was perfectly fine -- much better than what ended up being a very snowy start on Thursday. Winter is coming.....even if the snow from last week has already melted.

P.S. Here is a really good tip that I learned this weekend....if you're having trouble grabbing your needle when hand-sewing....take a piece of wide rubber band (like those that come free with your broccoli), and use that to help you grip it. An easy, free, and useful trick from Marg.

it never gets tired....

I realized today, as I sat down to start typing this post, that my trip to Vermont on the weekend marked my 10th visit to see the "Hooked in the Mountains Show" mounted by the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild, at the Shelburne Museum. Beginning with my very first trip, with AJ, my mum, and my cousin's wife Shellie to see Patty Yoder's Alphabet of Sheep in 2001, I haven't missed a single annual show. I also haven't regretted a single minute of the 9+ hour drive each way -- it's totally worth it, to me. Whether I have taken a class, or two, taught, or simply taken in the show itself, it's always time well spent, and I consider it to be an 'annual pilgrimage' of sorts.

For me, it's a rare opportunity to see so many wonderful rugs up close and personal, that are mounted in a professional, attractive and thoughtful way. And, it's a time when I can chat with acquaintances and my fellow rug hooking peeps, most of whom I really only get to see during the show each year. I realized this weekend that I also appear to track and follow individuals' progress over the years -- and am amazed that I can recall so many past rugs and works that the same people have hooked. I really like it when I can identify the artist without looking at the description on the card.....and it makes me want to have a recognizable style, too.

One of the highlights of this year's trip to see the Show was the new program of Guest Speakers. On Sunday, we were able to take in a presentation by Ann Winterling and Peg Irish -- two rug hookers I've only known about for many years. It was wonderful to hear more about their supportive, collaborative relationship, and its influence on each other's rug hooking. Later in the day, Kris McDermet was on hand to share what she knows about hooking and braiding with silk, along with demonstrations of rug braiding in general. It was very informative -- and a lot of information was shared in a very short amount of time. Kris coauthored a recent book on combining rug hooking and braiding....and I'm looking forward to pouring over it come Christmas (thanks Mum! :-) )

It's not too late to plan a little trip to see the show -- it's still on through Sunday November 20th, and you can find out more about the planned speakers and scheduled events here.

Upon seeing the show each year, I always feel so energized and excited to start hooking when I get home. And, this year is no exception -- I will start working on Jumbo again tonight.....and get back to serious hooking for the first time in months.

This year, my mum and I took along two 'virgins': Wendie and Elaine, and it was fun to see it all again for the first time, through their eyes. Along with many of our old haunts, we also squeezed in some new places, too. It was a great girls' getaway weekend, for sure.

wardrobe refashion - part 2

Back in August, I took 3 t-shirts from my closet that I was hardly wearing and overdyed them with some Dylon dye....and I was inspired to do something with some other items. This weekend, I took three things from my closet made from wool and gave them some fresh tints to breathe some new life into them.

Unlike when I dye yardage (and don't care whether or not the colour takes evenly), with the clothing, I start off by putting the garment into a roomy pot with enough hot tap water and some Jet Dry, so that there is lots of room for it to move around in the water After it's good and wet, the pot goes onto the stove and I quickly mix up my dye. I pluck out the garment with my gloves (the water isn't that hot yet), mix the dissolved dye with the water in the pot, and then start stirring almost constantly, as the garment goes back in the water. Once most of the dye has been absorbed and the water starts to clear, I assess whether or not I'm 'finished'. If I'm happy with the colour, then I add some citric acid to the pot and let it simmer.....but if I want to tweak it some more, I add more dye until I'm satisfied, then finish off with the citric acid. As I do with yardage, if I get impatient about the rate of dye absorption, I add some citric acid to the pot -- stirring constantly and making sure that there is free movement of the garment in the water.

After the dyeing process is complete, I rinse the garment(s) and then give it/them a little bath in Eucalan or Soak (don't rinse), spin and block.

Here is the before....


And here is the after.....


On the grey cardigan, I used 1/4 tsp of 729 Forest, 1/4 tsp of Avocado, and 1/4 tsp of MC Turquoise. On the Noro striped vest, I used 1/2 tsp of MC Red Violet. On the ball of silk yarn (that was an ugly scarf), I used 1/4 tsp of 826 Deep Orchid.

Needless to say, I am so taken with the results that I have to stop myself from indulging in the urge to just overdye all of my winter sweaters. I still want to dye a couple more, but I want to be thoughtful about what colours I could add that will make the item more wearable. Now that the grey cardigan has dried more green (not 100% wool....lots of various fibres mixed together and the turquoise didn't seem to hold), I think I will give it another turn in the pots. But, for now, I need to focus on getting organized and packed for Vermont -- girls road trip starts early Thursday morning....

P.S. When I was in Southampton a few weeks ago, I added a new tool to my dye box - these silicone coated tongs. If you have dyed any amount of yarn with any other tongs, I'm sure you've been frustrated a time or ten with the strands getting caught and tangled around the clam-shells. No longer with these smooth blade tongs! IMHO they are worth every penny! :-D

when did you last visit the library?

It's embarrassing to admit it, but I sort of forgot about our local library for a few years. Maybe it's because I virtually stopped reading, or because I was tired of paying late fees (and there were many!).....but whatever the past excuses, I am glad to be back there again.

When I did my big purge a few weeks ago, one of the things I did was to box up many of my books. I realized that I just don't seem to look at some of them much, or found the time reread them....and they were just taking up space (in my already too small place). Of course I kept all of my rug hooking books, art books, idea and inspiration sources....but I pretty much got rid of all of the other books and novels that I had already read once or admitted that I would likely never read. After a some family and friends picked though and chose what they wanted, I hauled the remaining 3 big boxes to the library to donate. (In my town, staff pick through the books and add to their collection where they can/need and the rest goes into a room at the front where people can 'buy' them for a small donation). For me, it was the ideal solution -- I didn't want the books to just go in the green bin, but I didn't really want to hang onto them, either.

In the years that I've been absent from my local library, a lot has changed. Not only do they continue to lend books, but you can quickly and easily renew them online or over the phone. They also have current movies that you can borrow, a selection of books on tape, lots of computers, and much more. For me, the most intriguing new service is e-books. Did you know that you can read e-books for FREE? Most libraries now offer this service, so if you are not already taking advantage of it -- and you like to read books on your iPad, Kobo, Kindle or other device -- you should definitely inquire at your local branch.

The system my library belongs to lets you borrow up to 5 e-books at a time. The lending period is for 7 days, and at the end of the 7 days you no longer have access to the book and need to borrow it again if you are not finished reading. Since many libraries share the same inventory of books, what you want to read might not be immediately available, but you can reserve up to 3 books at a time. When it's your turn, you will receive an e-mail and you have 2-3 days to 'borrow' the book before they offer it to the next person on the waiting list. Needless to say, I've been enjoying this new service quite a bit and it's helping me work towards my goal of reading a new book every 2 weeks this year (even if I am still a long way off!).

I also checked (on-line, from the convenience of my home) whether or not they had a documentary that I had heard about on someone's blog a while back (sorry - I couldn't remember where or when, just the basic premise of the film). To my surprise, they did have "Herb & Dorothy" in their collection....so off I went this weekend to borrow it, along with a couple of other books that were on the shelf nearby. (I will try to report back and let you know how I enjoyed them....sometime before they are due back in three weeks).


With all of the talk lately about libraries in Toronto, I think it's really important to support them if we want to keep them. I'm sure glad that I've rediscovered mine.

the lucky ducks

Since my fish is still thawing out...I thought I would go ahead and do the draw before supper, and put an end to the suspense :-D To save time (and my own ink...LOL!) I printed off all of the comments at work this afternoon, so all I had to do when I got home was to fold them and put them into bowls.....and then fluff them up with my fingers before selecting just one.

So without further adieu, I'm pleased to present the chosen ones....


Sorry about the blurry, dull photo....but it's almost dark out already. In case you can't focus on the names they are....

Gayle ("I honestly can't remember how I found you - just bouncing around in the rug hooking blogging community I guess") will be the new owner of my collection of "The R.U.G. sack"

Michelle/midgeeteacher ("I love your purses and saw you at green mountain when you taught there and heard good things about you.") will be receiving the purse pattern of her choice.

Lauri/Miz T. ("I just returned from the ATHA biennial and has such a wonderful time taking classes and enjoying the show that I would hope to make it a biennial trip. The Green Mountain Guild Vermont show is even more amazing but that's close...not a vacation. I love the outside embroidery best with the beautiful birds.") will be receiving the beautiful "outside" embroidery I purchased from African Threads.

Claire ("I use mostly 6 & 8 cuts with wool, fleece and sometimes specialty yarns for a bit of bling.") will be receiving a copy of my "Amazing Matrix" booklet.

Barbara Kimborough ("Green, green, green and more green, yellow green, sage green, bronze green, lime green, evergreen green, pear green, grasshopper green, mallard green, teal, apple green, lime green, antique black green, grey green, chartreuse.... love, love, love it all.") will be receiving some slub yarn....in green, of course!

Congratulations ladies! Please send an e-mail asap to fisheyerugs AT hotmail DOT com with your snail mail addresses and full names...and I will get those parcels off in the mail to you quickly.

To everyone else who participated, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! It was so wonderful to get a flurry of comments....from newbies and longstanding supporters alike. Everyone who has a blog knows how great it is to get those notification emails -- and to me it never gets tiresome (hint, hint! :-) ) I won't promise to keep blogging for another 5 years, but I will say that if I do, there will definitely be some great prizes when I hit 10!

Happy weekend everyone. Enjoy your extra hour on Sunday.....I hope you use it to do something fun and creative. I'll be back next week with a whole list of things I've been wanting to share with you....

There is still time....

I will be drawing for "5 years = 5 giveaways" tomorrow (Thursday the 3rd) after supper.....so it's not too late to get in on the action. Just scroll down to read all about it in the next 6 entries.

Thanks so much to everyone who's been participating so far -- it's been lots of fun to read your comments. Actually, it's been wonderful :-D

5 years = 5 giveaways

In some ways I can't believe that it's been five years since I started blogging.....but that feeling quickly fades when I start scrolling back through the 675 posts that have been written since then. So many different projects, workshops, books, travels, colours, tools and ideas since that October day – it's almost amazing, in a way, that it's only been 5 years.

I had no idea when I started blogging how much I would love it. Or how motivating it would be. It's helped me to be more productive and encouraged me to take a lot more photographs than I ever did before. It's provided me with a tangible record of my making, doing, and thinking.....even though I don't always share everything here.

I don't really spend a lot of time thinking about who is reading my blog, so it amazes me that people from 108 different countries have visited here in the past 3 years. I am surprised every time I meet someone for the first time and they tell me that they read my blog. Somehow I tend to think that it's only just my family and close friends, and the handful of people who comment....although Google Analytics shares a different picture.

To help me say a great big Thank You to everyone who comes and spends a bit of time here, I will be giving away a few things at the end of next week. There will be 5 giveaways in all– one for each year of blogging – and each giveaway has its own separate post, below. Because I love comments and I want to find out a little more about you, the readers, you need to leave a comment and include your answer to the question(s). Readers are encouraged to leave a comment on any or all (or none :-D) of these giveaway posts....do as you see fit.

On Thursday November 3rd, I will randomly draw names for each of the five giveaways (using only the comments from the applicable post), and announce all the recipients names on Friday November 4th.

All readers are welcome to comment – the only thing that I ask is that you check back here on the 4th to see if you are one of the lucky ones. I want to get the parcels out quickly, so I will need the winners' mailing addresses ASAP (and I'd really like to mail any US parcels when I go to Shelburne the following week....for faster delivery and cheaper postage).

Good luck.....and thanks again!

Giveaway #1

In my first year of blogging, I took a pottery class, knit my nephew a sweater, hooked several checkerboards for Christmas gifts, created new purse patterns, finished a couple of pillows, got a new to me sewing machine, finished another new purse, hand-wove some scarves, hooked another new purse.....along with many other things.

I was also still very much involved with the creation of "the R.U.G. sack" – a twice-yearly newsletter to record the happenings of the Spring and Fall gatherings at the Simcoe County Museum. The newsletter evolved over the 9 issues I edited and wrote between 2004-2008....and I think that the issues contain information and ideas that are still useful today. During the big purge a couple of weeks ago, I happened upon a 2nd full set of these newsletters that I would like to share with one lucky reader.

If you are interested in adding the complete collection of "the R.U.G. sack" to your library, please leave a comment and answer the following question: "How did you first discover this blog?" Did you happen upon it randomly, were you referred by another blog or link (where?), did you hear about it from me or someone else (who?).....I would really like to know how you happened to visit that first time.

• • • • • • • • •

On Thursday November 3rd, I will randomly draw for this giveaway, using only the comments recorded below. The lucky recipient will be announced on Friday November 4th.

All readers are welcome to comment on any or all of the giveaways – the only thing that I ask is that you check back here on the 4th to see if you are one of the lucky ones. I want to get the parcels out quickly, so I will need the winners' mailing addresses ASAP (and I'd really like to mail any US parcels when I go to Shelburne the following week....for faster delivery and cheaper postage).

Giveaway #2

In my second year of blogging, I went on a trip to Nova Scotia with my mum and AB, we attended Deanne's 1st Symposium, I fell in love with the Snapdragon and demonstrated short-lived willpower, I saw lots of wonderful rugs at Hooked in the Mountains, I dyed yarn for whipping for the first time, I started hooking on my Carousel horse, I did a lot of dyeing, designed and hooked a larger purse, finally finished hooking my horse, started hooking on "looking west" and posted daily progress shots, attended my first OHCG Annual.....and I also launched my 3rd limited edition purse pattern.

All of those LE patterns have since reached their maximum number of printings and subsequently been retired....but I still continue to sell my original style of purses (also available in large size) as well as 5 different design options for my newer, Bala bags.


If you are interested in receiving a free purse pattern, please leave a comment and answer the following question: "Which of the available purse patterns do you most covet?" Please choose from any of the Bala bags (Henry's Pomegranate, Everyday Carré, Blank Canvas, Skeleflora or Bullseyes) or any of the designs in the Original (Ode to Kaffe, Hummingbirds and Flowers, Pinky Purple Peonies, Even a Fish) or Large (Birds of a Feather, Leaving Home, Ode to Kaffe, Cornflowers) paper patterns. Make your choice wisely, as your answer will determine your prize, should you be the 'chosen one' :-)

• • • • • • • • •

On Thursday November 3rd, I will randomly draw for this giveaway, using only the comments recorded below and choosing one entry. One lucky recipient will be announced on Friday November 4th.

All readers are welcome to comment on any or all of the giveaways – the only thing that I ask is that you check back here on the 4th to see if you are one of the lucky ones. I want to get the parcels out quickly, so I will need the winners' mailing addresses ASAP (and I'd really like to mail any US parcels when I go to Shelburne the following week....for faster delivery and cheaper postage).

Giveaway #3

In my third year of blogging, there was a lot of stuff happening! Scrolling back through the entries, I can't believe I was so productive! In addition to designing and hooking 4 new Bala bags, I also created my first batch of silk worms, taught my first stocking workshop, met Heather Ritchie for the first time, rode the train all the way to Nova Scotia and home again taking pictures on my iPhone all the way, went to Cheticamp with my mum, cleaned my shelves for the ??teenth time, made my first Snow Folks, finally broke down and got a Snapdragon and stopped looking at frames, said farewell to a favourite uncle, did a lot of dyeing, had my first booth vending at the OHCG Annual, and dyed my first slub. And then I was tired!

Back at the very beginning of my third year of blogging, I was posted about my attendance at Deanne's 2nd Symposium, including a little post about African Threads.

While flicking back through my posts I realized that I still haven't done anything with these lovely embroideries.....and would like to share one of them with you (your choice).

Outside

Inside

If you are interested in one of the African Thread embroideries, please leave a comment and answer the following question: "If you're going on a holiday, which is the best rug hooking event to attend?" If you've been far away to attend rug hooking schools, symposiums or other events, I'd really like to know which one was your favourite. If you've not yet had the opportunity, what is your dream rug hooking holiday? (...and please don't forget to include your embroidery preference :-) )

• • • • • • • • •

On Thursday November 3rd, I will randomly draw for this giveaway, using only the comments recorded below. The lucky recipient will be announced on Friday November 4th.

All readers are welcome to comment on any or all of the giveaways – the only thing that I ask is that you check back here on the 4th to see if you are one of the lucky ones. I want to get the parcels out quickly, so I will need the winners' mailing addresses ASAP (and I'd really like to mail any US parcels when I go to Shelburne the following week....for faster delivery and cheaper postage).

Giveaway #4

In my fourth year of blogging, I taught lots of purse workshops, I went back to Nova Scotia for a 4th time, to take a class with Doris Eaton, I did a treasured swap, I saw the wonderful old rugs in the Brick House at the Shelburne Museum, got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the rugs at the Textile Museum, and wonderful quilts, too, I discovered Uppercase, I went on a wonderfully fun trip with my niece to NYC, I became addicted to straight line hooking during the creation and discovery of my Matrix Mats series, and I started working on Jumbo ( I am still not yet finished with that phase -- and I'm not just saying that because Jumbo still isn't hooked yet!)

I want to share the love of straight row hooking.....


If you are interested in adding a copy of my instruction and pattern booklet, "The Amazing Matrix," to your personal library, please leave a comment and answer the following question: "What is your favourite cut size or material to hook with?" If you have more than one favourite....please list all of them. Or do you prefer to hand-cut your material....or not use fabric at all, but yarn? I'm curious....and I wanna know! :-)

• • • • • • • • •

On Thursday November 3rd, I will randomly draw for this giveaway, using only the comments recorded below. The lucky recipient will be announced on Friday November 4th.

All readers are welcome to comment on any or all of the giveaways – the only thing that I ask is that you check back here on the 4th to see if you are one of the lucky ones. I want to get the parcels out quickly, so I will need the winners' mailing addresses ASAP (and I'd really like to mail any US parcels when I go to Shelburne the following week....for faster delivery and cheaper postage).

Giveaway #5

In my fifth year of blogging, I taught a lot of coin purse workshops, as well as my first week-long class, I splurged and bought Penelope, I worked on Jumbo A LOT, I went on a wonderful adventure to England, I did a lot of knitting, I pretended to be a quilter (oops! still not finished....), I finally started working on Jumbo's borders, I made some 'hooker jewellery', I came up with a new way to finish my rugs, I taught my first Matrix class, created a new label system, made my own rug hook, I hooked a bra, and I dyed a lot of wool and an awful lot of slub (thick and thin wool yarn).


I love dyeing slub, knitting with slub, hooking with slub, and even just looking at slub....and I think just about anyone would (at least anyone who is reading this! LOL!)

If you are interested in adding some of my hand-dyed slub to your stash, please leave a comment and answer the following question: "What is your most favourite colour in the whole wide world?" I know this is a toughie, but just think of in terms of what color of slub you would prefer to receive. Does that make it easier? I hope so..... :-)

• • • • • • • • •

On Thursday November 3rd, I will randomly draw for this giveaway, using only the comments recorded below. The lucky recipient will be announced on Friday November 4th.

All readers are welcome to comment on any or all of the giveaways – the only thing that I ask is that you check back here on the 4th to see if you are one of the lucky ones. I want to get the parcels out quickly, so I will need the winners' mailing addresses ASAP (and I'd really like to mail any US parcels when I go to Shelburne the following week....for faster delivery and cheaper postage).

true confessions.....

I missed my 5 year blogiversary. Ooops!

My very first post was on October 6, 2006....but my first "real" post was on October 25th, 2006. So to save a little face, I'm going to consider tomorrow (October 25th) to be my 5 year anniversary of blogging......and I'll be back then with details of a little giveaway to celebrate. In the meantime, here are 5 things – one in honor of each year of blogging – that you might not know about me or maybe just didn't notice yet....

1. I recently cut off most of my hair (just last Wednesday, as a matter of fact). After 20+ years of dyeing it, I've decided to go au naturel and see what my hair really looks like underneath.

2. In spite of hooking for the past 12 years, I really only have four partly finished hooking projects on the go: Jumbo (of course!), Pets, Grandparents portrait project, and my very first rug (it's all hooked, but the edge has never been finished).

3. I am a little anal. Okay, maybe more than just a bit. I recently went through all of my England posts and replaced all of the photos and added some new ones. I just wasn't happy with the crummy quality of the editing App I used on the road and the newly updated pictures are bigger and oh, so much crisper. Check them out, if you care....

4. I am very behind in meeting my reading goals for the year. I'm also behind in updating my list of reads on the sidebar....but even when I do that, I will still be woefully behind.

5. I sometimes do silly, klutzy things. Such as forgetting my iPad in a bin, following my security clearance in Amsterdam airport (it was returned to me on the plane, TG).....Knocking my glass of water over in the middle of a paper-filled desk.....Tripping on imaginary rocks. You get the picture...

Report from Chantry

I had such a wonderful time teaching at Chantry last year, that I signed up on the spot to return again this year as a student. In short, it didn't disappoint. Now here is the full report.....

It was a nice, relaxing weekend, filled with lots of visiting, a little shopping, some walking, and a small amount of hooking. I found it was especially nice to have the freedom that comes with being a student, and in all honesty, I really wasn't expecting to get a lot of progress made on my pets piece. Not only was the weekend my first continuous hooking stint in many months, I also didn't really want too intrenched in my piece knowing that I was going to be setting it aside when I returned home (and work needs to resume on Jumbo). So I guess you could say that I took it easy.

Here is the latest progress shot.....

Full Disclosure: Go-Go, the sheep was hooked about 8-9 years ago.....as was some of the border on Sammy, the snake :-)

Whenever I return to work on it again (it will be finished one day), the plan is to hook parts of 15 different pets that we've had over the years....drawing attention to any defining features. The spaces in between the black + white frames will be filled with echoing shapes in the hit and miss style, incorporating lots of colours and bringing in some reds, purples, etc. to add to the greens and blues used in the backgrounds. But for now, it will be going back to the bin for a little nap....and who knows when it will make its next appearance?! (hopefully it's not another 8-9 years, LOL!)

My teacher was Gayle Gunby from Orillia, and she treated us to a wonderful, well-planned class. I can't recall the exact title of the class, but it was something along the lines of Family Memories. We spent a lot of time in class sharing stories, and Gail shared several of her rugs with us along with a special behind-the scenes introduction to each rug. I've know Gayle for years, from R.U.G., and it was so lovely to be able to visit with her for a few consecutive days.

Many of these rugs were ones I had not seen before....and it's always wonderful to hear the stories and to see such variety in an individual's work. Thanks to Gayle for bringing them to share....and quickly agreeing to let me share them on the blog. All of the following rugs created by Gayle Gunby (Coldwater, Ontario)

Old family signatures transferred to fabric and sewn onto woolen hearts

The family flock of chickens -- including the one that would bite Gayle, when she was a child.

Gayle and her husband fantasy dancing.

Gayle administering the Spring Tonic to her 5 grandchildren.

Rug hooking as therapy, during Gayle's cancer diagnosis.

Transferring childhood art and stories into hooking.

Fun times in the Maritimes....Gayle and her husband.

Paying tribute to Gayle's Uncle, Mother, Father and Grandfather (?), who all served.

Winter fun with the five grandchildren.

It was wonderful to be able to reconnect with so many people that I had met last year. Being at an event likes this makes me long to belong to a group that gathers often....and really wish that I lived closer to more rug hookers. Thanks so much to Sybil and Vicki for organizing a great weekend, filled with lots of laughs. I hope can join you again next October....