Travelling!

This picture was sent to me and it is of the Canso Causeway during Friday's storm. I have travelled back and forth to the island in all kinds of weather and that picture does bring back some memories and not all of them, good.

I am heading to St. John's next week and it is about this time, I started watching the Weather network for hours at a time. Gauging the weather in Newfoundland can be very difficult at times, especially during the winter.

It reminds me to take your time and be prepared. Somewhat like life's lessons.

New Project!

Well, after quite the day of mini celebrity status, I am back down to earth and working on the new project; Hearts and Flowers.

Everyone at work commenting on the article in the Western Star. You have to remember how small Corner Brook is, and that everyone reads the newspaper daily. Lots of comments about my beautiful Icons of NL and its destiny as a fundraiser.

Hearts and Flowers is a 22 x 38 mat which I adapted from one of my rug hooking books. I like the simpleness of it and am completing it in primarily wool yarns.

Article in the Western Star!

Crafting for a cause; Rug hooking donated to SPCA for fundraiser


CORNER BROOK
JAYMIE WHITE
The Western Star

This rug hooking created by Julie M. has been donated to the SPCA for its fundraising drive.



Julie M. has found a way to turn one of her hobbies into a charitable act for the SPCA.

Julie M, an occupational health nurse at the Corner Brook mill who loves animals, took up the craft of rug hooking about a year ago, and is donating a large wall hanging to be raffled by the SPCA.

The funds raised from the raffle, which will include various pieces from other individuals, will go toward the new SPCA building and will also help to keep the business going strong in the meantime.

Julie M. is self-taught and, after completing numerous smaller projects, decided to tackle the large 32-by-39-inch wall hanging, which took her about six months to finish.

The pattern, “Icons of Newfoundland,” is an original design by Anne Kirby, a resident of Lord’s Cove. It depicts many symbols that represent the province, including the Newfoundland dog, a lighthouse, a seal, a Canadian goose, a moose and the Newfoundland flag.

“The rug is actually 12 little rugs within one large rug,” said Julie M. “All the little icons come together in one piece to represent us as Newfoundlanders.”

Julie M. said it was an article printed in The Western Star that got her interested in rug hooking.

“I thought it seemed like an interesting new craft so I decided to give it a try,” she said.

Despite begin a beginner, Julie M. said that it didn’t take her long to master the craft because, once she started, it felt completely natural to her.

“The minute I put the hook in my hand it felt like I have been doing this all of my life,” said Julie M. “I just thought it was going to be an awesome hobby and that I would continue to pursue it.”

Because she is self-taught, Julie M. is not sure she is doing it the same way as everyone else. All that matters to her though, is that the crafts she completes look good when they are finished.

“I have a lot of friends who have become interested in it and would like me to help them,” said Julie M. “I am not sure if I am doing it the right way or not but either way I am achieving it.”

Julie M. has her own blog where she discusses rug hooking with other people all over the world who are interested in the craft.

Donating the wall hanging to the SPCA was an easy decision to make, said Julie M, because the organization is always doing positive things for animals that need help.

“I really believe that we all need to be the keepers of our pets,” said Julie M, “Certainly in this community we can see that the SPCA does need a new building and that they have been looking around for sources of funding. I thought that, with my keen interest in animals, it would just be a natural progression for me to donate the wall hanging to Evelyn Hancock and the SPCA.”

Evelyn Hancock of the SPCA said the money from this raffle will be combined with money from other fundraisers for the organization.

“We are trying to do all of these fundraisers in order to start this new shelter fund, and we need to keep the shelter doors open,” said Hancock.

Hancock said she is grateful for Julie M’s generous donation and anticipates it will be a great help.

“I think it is excellent,” said Hancock. “I always knew she was an animal lover, both her and her partner. She has been in touch wanting to do something for a while. When she took up this project, it really turned out beautiful.”

Julie M, who has already gotten started on her next project, hopes that the wall hanging she donated will help to bring a good amount of money to the SPCA.

“I certainly hope that I can help raise money,” said Julie M. “I wanted to give them a hand with their fundraising and I hope to see them very soon in their new home.”

Beautiful Morning

One morning last week on the way to the shower, I took this quick picture as the morning was unfolding in the most beautiful way. Like a flower tempting us with promises and things to come.

I have found that digital cameras are just wonderful for the way you can take pictures and post them on your blog or to send to family. It is absolutely amazing how wonderful technology has brought us along in the past few years.

Nice calm weekend with about 10 cm. of snow, just enough to produce beautiful pictures but not enough for a snow day.

Life Goes On!

Well, our eight unions have accepted the first of five concessions; a 10% pay cut and life goes on in Corner Brook.

I am currently working on my new rug project called Hearts and Flowers which is rather appropriate for Valentine's Day and the welcoming back of spring. I will post a picture on the weekend.

Arrangements are being made finally for the fate of the Icons Of Newfoundland's and by now, you know that it is going to be donated for a fund raiser. I am going to be interviewed by the Western Star tomorrow and all will be revealed.

I wonder if the head line will be, Nurse by day, hooker by night?

Finished!

The Icons of Newfoundland all completed into a wall hanging. I sewed on the tabs and had to steam it one more time but I think it is beautiful.

I am on to the next project which is a small rug 22 x 38 and should have it all drawn onto the burlap by this evening, so I will post a picture. It is a simple pattern but still haven't decided on the colour scheme.

As a fibre artist who is quite challenged in the drawing department, I have learned how to make the most of a variety of software and computer programs. So with my scanner, tracing paper and a trial version of Rapid Resizer, it is nearing completion.

Walking on Water!

On the way into the Day Job this morning, I thought I was seeing things. The birds were walking on water. Well, at least, it looked that way.

Most of the ice has disappeared with the milder temperatures but overnight, it got abit cold. Cold enough to create a skim of pure clear ice and the birds looked like
they were walking on water.

I am always amazed at the survival of the birds during the hardship of Canadian winters. How do they survive with only a few feathers and bare feet? And to top it it all off, they don't even complain or ask for media time to expose their plight?

Is this January?

This little Newfoundland Pony in Summerside can't believe the little snow we had is now gone again. How funny the weather is this year? All my pictures of snow and ice in the Bay are now only a distant memory. Gone with the warm wind and rain.

The bay is now wide open.

More Pictures

These pictures were taken by friends who were skidooing on a trail near Marble Mountain and the ski hills.

To give you some perspective of the proximity of the city to the country, you can see the steam coming from the mill in Corner Brook in the last picture.

It's Finished!

I started the Icons of NL on June 28, 2009 and completed the last stitch on the top border this weekend.

Now, I am working on the finishing. Thanks to April's blog and her tips, I used Cindy Gay's technique and zigzagged the edges several times before cutting off the excess burlap. I am using cording and whipping it with a contrast colour and I must say, it is spectacular.

I worked on this mat which is approximately 32 inches by 28 inches for at least ten minutes per day; afterall, I am a member of the ten minute challenge group! The materials are wool yarn and some wool strips. It isn't perfect but I certainly learned alot about rug hooking and considering I am self taught, it is amazing.

Now, this week it will be finished to be a wall hanging and the Icons of NL's fate will become clear!

Bay view Pictures

These pictures are looking out from Corner Brook into the Humber Arm. The steam is rising from the Corner Brook papermill where I work. The bay just started to "catch" as they say here this week with the very cold temperatures.

The ice is abit late this year as we have had a mild winter with only small amounts of snow. Corner Brook has a population of approximately 25,000 in and around the surrounding areas. It is a beautiful place with mountains older than the rockies, clear lakes and brooks and wonderous forests; all within 10 minutes.




The seals have moved into the harbour and here is one basking on the ice outside of the fish plant in Curling and only a few feet from Marine Drive.

Prorogue?

Now, there is a word that only a few Canadians knew the meaning of, a year ago.

To prorogue means to delay, to suspend or to defer, to extend or to protract.

Personally, I would like to prorogue my weekends and shorten my weekdays. Unfortunately, that is not to be and by the posts in my fellow bloggers, I am not the only one with this preference.

Maddy is having one of her naps with her head on a pillow by the fire and a binkie close by. It has been so cold that she doesn't stay outside for long and the bay is starting to "catch over".

But the days are getting longer, perhaps, proroguing a little more every day!

Almost!

Almost finished the Icons of NL on the weekend.

It was another whirlwind weekend of tidying up after some renovations, regular housework, shopping, snow removal and a nursing assessment for Veteran's Affairs.

Needlessly to say, the weekend as usual flew by and I am back here at the Day Job wondering where it went. I am teasing out the last bit of hooking as I prepare for the finishing. I am going to make this lovely rug a wall hanging and I am using some of my fellow bloggers as resource people. Afterall, I have never completed a rug of this size, so it is a bit of a learn-as-you-go project.

Ahhh, now, the mystery will be revealed later on its destiny. Stayed tuned.

The Answers to Yesterday's Quiz

I think that I am being selfish as I get such a great laugh at some of the answers to the NL Quiz. Great job Kim and Cathy!!

It has been such a hard week at work with the economic downturn in the industry that it was wonderful to have a good laugh.

Here we go:

1) Jackabaun:A mischievous, untrustworthy person or a nickname for a politician. I guess you could say we have quite a few jackabauns around in Ottawa!

2)Mollyfodge: This is the soft green brown lichen that forms on rocks. In the old days and probably still today, NL rug hookers would use the mollyfodge to create a yellow-green dye for their hooked rugs and mats.

3)Ursena: I like Kim's definition but it is really a sea-urchin. I guess it was a slang word used in the old days.

4)Ragmoll: Almost just like it sounds, this one means a tattered, unkempt person.

5)Bangbelly: This is a type of pudding or cake made in the woods with flour, fat pork or suet and can be boiled, baked or steamed.

Almost finished the last icon and will start the border and hopefully, finish it on the weekend. Then, more to come on what will become of my beautiful mat.

Yes, Virgina, another NL Quiz!

This is beautiful NL art by thegrumpygoatgallery, Cara and Pam. Isn't this lovely?


And now, another NL Quiz for you Mainlanders. What does this mean?



1)Jackabaun

2)Mollyfodge

3)Ursena

4)Ragmoll

5)Bangbelly

I can't wait for the answers to this one.

Unsubscribing the Welcome Mat!

I read something odd the other day on the Welcome Mat. Something about getting an invoice. Then, more mentioned on the blogs of other members about the upcoming "charge" to belong to the Welcome Mat.

I don't want to get into a mudslinging diatribe but I have always suspected that the Welcome Mat (or the Unwelcome Mat?) was becoming more of a business venture and not that of a free discussion group.

Many of the wonderful bloggers I have met on the web have either etsy shops, or eBay accounts, or small home business but absolutely none of them, force you to purchase their information or their products.

I will be supporting Rug Hooking Daily and opting out of the Welcome Mat. That's just my two cents worth for what its worth in the scheme of things.

Gone in a Blur!

The weekend went by in a blur! Alittle shop therapy on Saturday and abit of housework on Sunday but I did work on the Icons of NL. In fact, I am in the preliminary of arranging my first monthly Pay It Forward and it involves the Icons. If it goes the way I am hoping, I may be able to do two Pay it Forwards in one.

The weather turned colder and abit of a dusting of snow on the ground. But would you believe that we were able to hose down the two trucks on Saturday to get off the two inches of sand/salt before it turned cold.

I didn't get a chance to take any pictures but will once the final icon is done this week. I will be making the Icons into a wall hanging and now, have to start preparing this part. I have finished small projects using cording and whipping but not quite certain about this and will have to consult my books and my hooking friends for this part.

Busy, busy busy!

I have been so busy with meetings etc at the Day Job, that it hasn't left time to do much else.

Do more, with less people is the name of the current situation and the future doesn't hold much change. On a lighter side, the weather of the West Coast of NL has been downright balmy. Plus temperatures and absolutely no snow. But truthfully, we are all holding our collective breath and hoping we don't get it all back in February!

Working on the final icon in my rughooking project and should be able to start the top border this weekend. I will post some pictures over the weekend!

My Resolve to Pay it Forward

I don't make resolutions but this is a special year for me and I wanted to do something to highlight my appreciation of life itself.

I am going to take on a "Pay It Forward" Challenge with a twist. Pay It Forward is a kind of a pyramid scheme in which a favour given to one recipent is paid forward to any third party rather than paying the favour back directly to the original donor.

My Pay It Forward Challenge is going to have a twist. My tree of good deeds is going to have a monthly "branch" deed and be highlighted right here on hOOkwOrM.

I am going to do something nice and meaningful and expect nothing in return at least once per month.

Welcome 2010!

This is my first work day of the new decade and I am still wondering where the time went.

My hope for this year in fibre-arts to refine my skill at rughooking and of course, to complete any projects once started. I am currently working on the final icon for the NL rug; it is a Newfoundland dog and then, the top banner.

I am looking ahead at the type of finishes for this rug and am leaning towards a wall mount. Once completed, the NL mat will find a home and I am thinking in terms of donating it to an appropriate cause.

Any suggestions?

Blue Moon and the End of a Decade

Tonight, there will be a second full month in the same month and this phenomena is known as a "blue moon". This doesn't happen very often and of course, it is the end of the first decade in the 21st Century.

I am very happy to be celebrating both these events. Ten years ago, it was a different story for me as I was starting my battle against a health monster. It was hard, it was frightening and it was the most intense time of my life.

Looking back is always easier than looking ahead as you know the outcome. Since that time, I have lost friends and family to the same monster; Mary Ellen, Mike, Kim, Donna and Martha. And I think of fellow bloggers Jane and Sherri who are now taking on the same battle.

I am grateful every day of my life and I will be celebrating and remembering all my dear friends and family this New Year's Eve and always.

Christmas Over for Another Year

Well, I stayed home and enjoyed myself on my days off. Having finished the Santa's, it was back to the Icons of NL project.

Here is the second to last of the icons, an Orca whale and her baby. Living in the middle of the North Atlantic, whales, porpoises are certainly all around us. I can remember two autumns ago, watching the porpoises put on a little show in the bay. Jumping, twisting and playing. Better than any show with animals in captivity.

One more icon to go and then, the top border to complete this project. And already, thinking of the next one.

Merry Christmas to All

With everyone so busy and no time for blogging, we wanted to wish all my friends and family a special and warm Merry Christmas.

I have enjoyed meeting so many new and wonderful people, connecting through our mutual love of all things fibre.

Anne Kirby, Cathy G, Kim, Phyliss, Lynne from Jersey, Shawn, Jennifer, Wendi, April, Gene, Cindy, Deanne, Jane, Mary from BC, Corinne, Dulcey, Heidi, Sherri, Tammi,Cara and Pam, Urve and all the people who drop by to have a look.

You have all made my rughooking life special and I think of all of you as friends.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Love and Blessings,

Julie,P, Maddy the Jack and of course, the birds, Henry and Lily!

Reflections

This is the scene on Sunday morning from my deck overlooking the beautiful Humber Arm of the Bay of Islands.

Gorgeous reflections which always remind me that we should reflect on the past year and give thanks to the Creator for all the gifts and challenges we have had. Sometimes, I marvel at how fast time passes and wonder if I am on the right path to the place where I am supposed to be headed.

Everyone, sensing their own mortality, dreaming of Christmases past and future. Reflections of lives lived.

Newfoundland Christmas

This is a lovely presentation of NL Christmas and there are certainly some ideas for rugs here!

Don't shop, Adopt!

I always believed that hOOkwOrM would maintain its overall interest in rug hooking and stay clear from any political or personal opinions. But it is at this time of year, that I strongly urge people to consideration adoption of pets and not purchasing.

I have had six beautiful dogs in the past 25 years and I used to obtain my pets through breeders and/or pet stores. There were my two Doberman, Babe and Bonnie, my two mini schnauzers, Heidi and Pepper, my first Jack Russell, Weezie and now, my second Jack, Maddy.

Weezie was my first rescue dog and her life, a tragedy of abandonment and starvation. We only had this darling dog for five years and lost her to kidney disease likely as a result of her earlier malnutrition.

Maddy has never been mistreated but she was just "too much" of a Jack Russell for a senior in Lewisporte. She is almost three and has turned out to be a beautiful and intelligent little darling and we love her very much.

With so many abandoned animals in our communities, consider not shopping, but adopting a suitable pet. These are two lovely pets available at our local shelter.

The Answers!

First, before the answers to the latest NL Quiz, here is the view from my deck looking out to the Bay of Islands.

Can't you see the bay? No, neither could I and only this morning, were the lights across the bay visible. We have had continual snowsqualls since Wednesday.

Now, the answers.

1) Jig house: A boarding house for mariners which usually sells illegal alcohol.

2) Pampooty: Kim's answer was the best ever but pampotties are soft shoes for children, usually made of hide.

3) Gut Foundered: One right answer from anonymous...so very, very hungry.

4) Lassy Bug: This is a Ladybug and when you catch a ladybug, a child says the poem...lassy bug, lassy bug, give me some lassy (which is molasses). And when the ladybug leaves a brown spot on your hand, you got your molasses. (Or at least, a dirty hand!)

5) Toutin: Another right answer from anonymous, fried bread dough from the French word, toutin which is pancake.

I think I enjoy these quizes a lot especially the answers!!

Another Newfoundland Quiz

Here it is as per the many requests, another Newfoundland Quiz to test your ability to define NL language.

1) Jig House

2) Pampooty

3) Gut foundered

4) Lassy Bug

5) Toutin

Good Luck with this one and everyone, enjoy the weekend and take time for yourselves!

It's Here!

Well, the snow has arrived this morning with such ferociousness! And I suppose that it had to happen some time.

Here is the first of the small gifts, a table mat. I put on a black felt backing and will make the tag tonight. It is a good thing as it will be given to a co-worker tomorrow in our gift exchange. I have a day or so hooking and the other 3 will be finished and ready for whipping etc.

Oh me nerves, the days are flying by!

Christmas Scenes

This Christmas scene embodies the Christmas Spirit of days gone by.

Most of us are busy this time of year with ideas of gifts, shopping and baking. I finished the first of the Christmas mats and steamed it last night. Tonight, I will finish it off with a felt backing and a tag.

Hopefully, I will complete the hooking on the final one and start the whipping of the other 3. I am guessing that by tomorrow, we will be buried under by a snowstorm coming from the East.

What's Going On?

Well, the time flies at this time of year and I don't really seem to be getting much done. I did zigzag around the Santa in preparation for their completion. As I am giving one away this Friday, I am working on the whipping of the edge.

Hopefully, I will have a picture to post of the completed mat. Christmas hosts a whole lot of opinions and feelings, doesn't it? The stores are so busy with shoppers and screaming children, I try to keep away.

I don't know if Christmas will ever hold the charm and sweetness of days gone by.

From rain to snow!

Ignore the date stamp on this picture as it was borrowed from a technically challenged person who doesn't know how to change it to 2009.

It rained all day and on the way home from the dayjob, it started to snow and the temperature dropped.

I said good morning to almost 15 cm of snow this morning and drove to work in 4 wheel drive. Newfoundland! How quick the weather changes.

Put it this way, poor little blogger Maddy was chest deep in snow for her morning outing.

My Favourite things to do!

Hello all you peeps! My mommy has left for the day and I have decided to try out this machine thingy.

My name is Maddy Petunia Brown and I am two years old and they call me a Jack Rascal , whatever that means.

I would like to share my top five things to do.

1) Squeek my squeeky things especially when the tv monster is on.

2) Sleeping and getting enough rest for my evening of running around with my squeeky things.

3) Sitting beside mommy when she is doing that hOOking thing and then, quietly, grabbing one of the little wooly balls and making mommy run after me. Loads of fun!

4) Being very picky about foods and turning on my heel when any food is presented with my nose held high...this one drives them nuts! You expect me to eat that! Just like a cat!

5) Going in the big truck and sitting up high and watching the road for mooseys. I used to hate this but now, I love it and want to go everywhere.

Well, I better go have a nap to rest up for this evening's fun.

licks, snuffs and hugs

from

Maddy

Coming Along!

Well, I am coming along with the small table pads for Christmas gifts but I definitely overestimated my completion of 10 by Christmas. Anyway, I will have to improvise for sure!

Weather has been unusually warm but we went from 15 C to about 5 today and with some snow activity. I guess it won't be long now before IT comes to stay.

Answers to the NL Quiz

I am still laughing at some of yesterday's answers to the latest NL Quiz. Here is a picture from the Grumpy Goat with Mummers in the design. Here are the definitions.

1) Mummers: A person who dresses up like a fool and participates in Christmas activities. Although, this isn't done very often anymore, people used to disguise themselves and go from house to house during Christmas, putting on a little dance and expecting a drink of something, in return.

2)Ugly Stick: This is a homemade musical instrument usually topped with a mop head and has lots of bottle caps and bells to jingle. It is usually made out of a skinned tree branch and is 4-5 feet height. It is then tapped with a small baton and bounced up and down to the beat of a song.

3) Mamateek: A Beothuk winter wigwam. Beothuks have been extinct for many years in NL.

4) Sod: A cap or a flat hat.

5) Quat: Just like it sounds, to crouch or squat down.

More to come in the future as NLers have their own unique vocabulary, thats for sure, b'y

Newfoundland Quiz

Here is the next NL Quiz for all you Mainlanders. Let's see what interesting definitions we get this time.

1) Mummer
2) Ugly Stick
3) Mamateek
4) Sod
5) Quat


Stay tuned for the definitions later in the week.

Whirlwind Weekend!

Not the weather fortunately, just the business of the weekend. Cleaning, vaccuming, dusting, playing cards with friends, making sausage and blueberry jam and grinding up the last of the moose. Oh yes, and a little rug hooking for good measure.

Taking a rest this Monday on the day job!

Seed Catalogue Therapy

What should be in the mail box last night on the way home. The Stokes Seed Catalogue. The garden gods must have heard my whining and tears about the weather and the darkness.

So I had a good read and circled some potential choices for next year's garden. I will be making some changes as any good gardener does; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but at least, the gardener hopes for the best!

Garden Withdrawal!

I am having serious garden withdrawal. Last night, on the way home from the day job, it was almost dark by 4:45. Between the H1N1 pandemic, lack of sunlight and too busy a schedule, I think I am starting to look forward to seeing some seed catalogues in the post.

I still hook at least for a half hour or so everyday and almost finished the second Santa this morning. I saw this beautiful quilt on someone's blog, and thought it was a great idea for a rug. Interesting the way the four seasons are presented.

In the Distance

These are the Blow Me Down moutains which are in the distance. They are beginning to be covered in the horrible white stuff that falls this time of year.

It was a beautiful day yesterday and unlike my dear rug pal, Anne, only got my ten minutes in rug hooking or so. Still a few jobs to do outside and we weren't going to pass up a day with warm sunshine and calm winds.

By the way, anyone wonder why they call these mountains, Blow Me Down?

Ho Ho Ho!

I finished the first of the little mats on the weekend and I think he turned out pretty good. I added the "2009" as a last thought as I feel it personalizes the gift even more. I started the second one, but didn't get to far as the continuing saga of NL winter preparations took priority.

The snow that fell is all gone and only a grim reminder of things to come.

Quietly, it came

And quietly, it left again.

Nothing changes faster in NL than the weather. If you don't like the weather out the front door, go on out the back door. Here is a picture of my inukshuk, Gabby, on Saturday morning. By Sunday, morning, it was gone.

It was a busy weekend with final preparations for the winter. Solar lights are put away, plastic sheeting around the front deck to keep the weather out. Only one or two more jobs.

Seems like there is always a job or two left, does there?

Cleaning Hand Hooked Rugs

I asked Mary from Victora BC, a question about cleaning our rug hooking projects and as she is heavily involved in the "business", she posted these tips which I would like to highlight in today's post.

The cleaning concerns about hand hooked area rugs are as follows:

-the colours could bleed

-the backing could shrink, making the rug bumpy and mis-shapened

-stitches could unhook

-the stitches could shrink, causing the design to look funny

These are possible things that can go wrong if hand hooked rugs are improperly cleaned.

Since hand hooked rugs are mostly used as wall hangings they don't need to be cleaned very often, about once a year or so. Vacuuming them about once a month with the little brush attachment on your vacuum will remove the dust that the rug collects on a daily basis.
Ask your local rug cleaner if they clean hand hooked rugs and how they clean them. It may be best to use a rug that you don't like or make a sample rug with lots of bright colours and get them to clean it.
A reminder if you don't feel comfortable with the way the cleaner is answering your questions, then follow your gut. You put a lot of effort into making your works of art don't leave it to chance that it will be cleaned properly.

When we get in a hand hooked rug for cleaning I explain the following:

We test the colours to make sure they won't run
We do try to do a wet clean, but most of the time hand hooked may get dry cleaned depending on the types of fibers used and the delicacy of the rug
If our cleaning guy has an hesitation about the cleaning results of a rug he simply will not chance it.When it comes to your hand hooked rugs find a cleaner you feel comfortable with.

Again let them clean a sample rug and see if you are happy with the results. Not cleaning hand hooks rugs can make a rug look dull and make you fall out of love with it. That is not good.

I also learned from Mary's blog which is listed here in hOOkwOrM, is that vaccuming the underside or backing of carpets and mats is almost as important as vaccuming the topside.

Thanks Mary!

Many of the rug hookers I have contact are all over the world and quite often have no idea where Newfoundland is in Canada. I thought that in this dull, grey month, it would be nice to show off my adopted province. It is easy to see where our inspirations come for our rugs in this beautiful land.

Sounds and Sights of Newfoundland

thoughts of Christmas

As I was saying last week, I always like to make small Christmas gifts for a few people in the office. So this year, I decided to use my new skills of rug hooking to design a small keepsake.

I liked this Santa and went ahead started with the first four. This will be small trivets or mats with the year, 2009 on it. I found a great tip from Cindi Gaye and used it to make sure the border was straight by using a pencil and drawing it along the "ditch" of the fabric.

I mounted this little Santas on my lap frame and will work on them. I need a total of 10 or so small gifts, so I better get busy!

Puffin all Finished

Well, another of the icons of NL completed and only two more to do. The weather was very wet and this was a great weekend at home with lots of rug hooking too.

With all the threats of picking up H1N1 virus, it is better if most people stay out of public venues and nested at home.

I am going to stop working on the icons for now and turn my thoughts to Christmas. I have some ideas and I will post tomorrow, the results.

Tails and Feathers

Kim of Millie's Mats got me thinking about what common ground most of the rug hooklings have together. The love of our little fur/feathered friends!

It was almost one year ago that Lily, seen in the foreground, took up residence at chez Julie. I shouldn't do this but I always look into various local animal rescues as part of my usual routine. There is one animal rescue in Central NL which looks after critters such as ferrets and rabbits and also birds.

There she was! Lily, a very old cockatiel who was once again being given up. As she was around 15 years old, there was little hope of adoption. We have had cockatiels before and in fact, the last of the bunch, Henry T. Byrd, seen behind Lily is about the same age.

Lily had a bit of mysterious and checkered past. She was found at large on her own in the wilds of NL, rescued and adopted but then, only to be given up again and again. I made arrangements to adopt her knowing that she was a senior with her clock ticking.

Lily is a very quiet, well behaved bird with a penchant for millet and sunflower seeds. She is also very independent and has not succumbed to Henry's whistles, songs and flirting.

Henry and Lily make the trip to the Mainland several times per year in their travelling cage and in fact, Henry has made the crossing more than most people in the province. Never once do they ask "aren't we there yet??"

Simple Pleasures

I was able between naps, coughs and sneezes to work on the puffin icon over the weekend. With all the bad news of pandemics, bombings etc etc, it is wonderful to have a simple pleasure of hooking for distraction.

Down with a Cold

I have been down with an old fashion head cold for the past couple of days. I have always wondered why dogs never seem to catch colds. Maybe scientists should study that fact and we may come up with a cure.

Feeling much, much better now and working on Mr. Puffin and taking my time on the last couple of icons. Starting to think, ponder and plan the next project. Of course, with Christmas two months from today, I may switch gears and hook something for Christmas presents.

I try every year to do something crafty for the people I work with; one year, I knitted those old fashion cotton dishcloths, putting three in a nice basket with Christmas candies. Last year, I tried to make marmalade so I could give a jar of it with some other sundry items. The marmalade didn't set and was a total failure. So I wrote a poem about it and gave chickens instead.

Chickens, you ask?? I donated money in every one's name to a Canadian charity that gives a variety of animals to people in various countries. I bought two lots of chickens to be given to a single mother in Africa. A couple of my coworkers were very responsive and liked the whole idea of giving something worthwhile, instead of things that are nice, but unnecessary, in our land of plenty.

Buying Rug Supplies

I posed a question yesterday about choices in rug backing and got some good advice from Debra, Kim and Corrine. As such, I started to search the internet for rug warp and it made me think about buying rug supplies in general.

As a Canadian, I always try to source out any rug supplies through Canadian companies first. Not just for the exchange but for other reasons such as duty, shipping costs etc. Over the past few months, I have found a great Canadian supply company out in Alberta called Shuttleworks. Cal Harvey is the owner and very knowledgeable in all things fibre. This includes spinning wheels, yarns, fabric, gripper strips etc etc etc.

If you get a chance, have a look at www.shuttleworks.com.

Pictures of Corner Brook

Nine down, three to go!

Well, nine icons now complete and three more to go. I am now working on the puffins and will take a picture in the next day or so. I tried something different on one of the rocks; combined two different colours of wool and hooked them together. By taking a picture, I will get an idea of how it looks.

I am wondering from my fellow hOOkerS, if you have ever used other types of rug backing other than burlap? I see that some hOOKerS use Monk's Cloth, with its 2 x 2 squares and lines. It might be a nice alternative for something say, geometerical and when you have to stay square and all in line.

I am mulling around the next project and have some ideas.

Rug Progress

My dear mother flew back home very, very early yesterday morning. What a nice visit we all had and shared much good food and chats.

I was able to finish some of the garden chores yesterday and wash the trucks. They are gleaming this morning and of course, as "murphy's law" would dictate, it is going to snow/rain.

Here is the map of NL and I added a couple of cities/towns. The left one is my neck of the woods, Corner Brook. The middle lower is the little town of Lord's Cove, where Anne Kirby, the designer of the project, lives. And the final right one, St. John's.

So Busy!

I have been so busy that I haven't even had the time to post on hOOkwOrM. Well, the Mill is down for two weeks in a effort to reduce inventory but let's face it, the newprint industry is in big trouble. As I am not in production, and as I have no vacation left, I am working.

It is a myriad of problems; from the high Canadian dollar, the economy, the internet, etc etc. I enjoy my dayjob but I do have a Plan B as I am sure all people have or at least, should have.

I have had a really nice visit with my mother who is flying back home on Sunday. I am afraid the weather has been cool and wet but it is warm and toasty by the fire at chez Julie.

I am almost finished the 9th icon...the map of NL and it is simple, straightforward and plain. I am not sure how I am going to "tweak" it up abit; afterall, a map is a map. Having said that, have you ever noticed how many NLers put the map of the province on the back of their vehicle? It is very recognizable to NLers, that's for certain.

When did you last see anyone from B.C. or Ontario, put a provincial map on their vehicle to proudly state their origins!

What's in a Name?

In NL, your last name seems to be an important thing. For years, I have heard people talking at kitchen tables and the one question that always comes up is, "who was she before....?."

At first, I wasn't even sure what this meant. Before what? Maybe like native people, once we are at certain age, we could choose our adult name; usually befitting some great accomplished feat. But no, who was she meant before she was married. Ah, the great feat of marriage!

My surname is not of the island and in fact, I know that I am the only one of my kind here. This tends to un-nerve some people; after all, it proves that I am a CFA (come from away) and have no island history to determine just who I am and where did I come from?

And don't get me started on the term of "maid". Another NL term which seems well entrenched into colloquial days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to start out by wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States.



In today's fast-paced, high-stress world, I think it is important to stop and give some thought as to what we are thankful for this year.

I will go first:

I would like to pause from my busy schedule to give thanks for the love and support of my family. It has been a good year as we are all healthy and happy, and we are celebrating this day together.

I am thankful for my dayjob which allows me to have financial security when so many do not.

I am thankful for each and every day I wake up and greet the day, whatever, it holds for me. Sometimes the pigeon, sometimes the statue!

I am thankful for my interests in rug hooking and all the wonderful people I have met through this interest.

I am thankful for choosing to live in the most beautiful place in the world and making living more important than sitting in traffic for hours.

Now it's your turn. Let's hear what you are thankful for this year. Leave your comments and lets all take some time out to give some thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Coming Along!

My rug hooking project, We Love Thee Newfoundland, is coming along. Many of my hooklings asked if this is my design. It is from Anne Kirby, a wonderful artist from Lord's Cove, NL. If you get a chance, have a look at her site which is listed on my blog roll. She really epitomizes the NL culture in her artwork.

I will finish the bottom border in the next day or so, and then, I will start on the top four icons and the border with the words, We Love Thee. For those who are not aware, the phrase is from our anthem. The only province in Canada that has its own anthem!

Sad News

When I was in Toronto, I had an opportunity to visit with some dear friends that I miss. There were two couples that we socialized with, travelled with, played with and worked with for more than 25 years.

Over the years, we have all had serious illnesses, myself included and we lost dear Mike, a NLer from Stephenville last year. Yesterday, we got a call telling us that quite suddenly, Donna (56) passed away at home. I was shocked to say the least, only seeing her two weeks ago. I thought at first, heart attack but Donna was quite ill and didn't let anyone know, choosing to suffer in silence.

Rest well, dear Donna, you will be missed by all.

When Cod was King!

It felt so good to have my hook in hand over the weekend. This reminds of a time when cod was king in NL. My codfish is hiding in the seaweed and taking a rest. He has an accidental smile which was supposed to be his jawline. I will tweak this later but for now, the cod is smiling.

I have 4 more icons to complete and started the lower border with the word "Newfoundland". I am enjoying hooking so much, I have forgotten that I am back to the dayjob and busy.

I finished me moose!

Well, actually, I had finished the moose icon just before leaving on my holiday. I like the way the mottled yarn turned out as it looks just like the bog where our moose roam.

I was able to continue on with the icons and also, got outside for a couple of hours to work on the garden. This time of year is the dump the pots, clean up and load up the composter for next year's rich soil.

Well, it's back on the dayjob treadmill tomorrow, but will be glad to get back. While I was away, I found out that the mill will shut production for two weeks due to economic problems within the newsprint industry. I will most likely be working during this time but won't know for certain until tomorrow.

Back Again!

Well, we arrived safely back to the Island 4:30 am Thursday morning. It wasn't supposed to be that late, but let me explain. We left Montreal Tuesday morning with the plan to drive at least 12 hours and stay over in Antigonish. Anyway, there was alot of rain and that slowed us down abit but we did pull over in New Glasgow just at dark.

That would leave about 3 hours to make the boat deadline of 10:00 am. Just as we left the motel, I finally remembered to telephone Marine Atlantic to see if the ferries were still on time. With no bad weather, I was sure we would be on schedule to leave at 11:30.

Nope, the ferry was delayed and would leave until 2pm which wasn't too bad but would put us on the island well after dark. To make a long story short, we didn't get out of North Sydney until 3:30 pm. Around 9pm, rumours started circulating around the passengers that the Vision which had left North Sydney around 6:30 am, still hadn't docked and as such, we wouldn't be able to dock until the Vision did. P went to the Purser's office to find out but they wouldn't explain anything at all or even gives us an arrival time.

By 9:30 pm, we were stopped in a fog bank, going nowhere and still no announcement, nothing. By that time, Mom was very tired to say the least, as we all were. We did finally dock at 12:00 midnight but with unloading delays, we didn't exit the Smallwood until 12:45. We decided to head to Corner Brook as it was clear and calm. But as chance would have it, low lying fog made the treacherous drive even longer. You have to watch carefully for moose on the roads too!

We arrived back in one piece. I am very sure it has taken Mom two days to rest up and still looks abit tired today. I did up 8 bottles of beets harvested from our garden and worked on the icons and will post a picture tomorrow.