Not a Rug in Sight

I haven't touch my rug hooking project since the weekend as I have been busy doing other things. The border still in process. But I have excuses as getting ready for a drive to the Mainland and loads of last minute preparations.

More Pictures

What you can't tell from this first picture of my inukshuk, Gabby, is just how tall she is. The red picket fence to the left of the inukshuk is 6 feet tall, and that makes Gabby just over five feet. The inukshuk stands at the top of the rock terrace announcing her presence as a formidable anchor in the garden.

The inukshuk was quite the chore from getting it home on the trailer to carrying each part up the steps and reassembling each piece. The higher we went, the heavier the rocks. The inukshuk is made out of rock from this island, not thousands of years old, but billions, I am told.

I want to welcome my new blogger friend, Kathleen, from Like Minds Gather. Please have a look at her wonderful and interesting weblog.

Dull and Cool

The weather has turned on us and it is both dull and cool. Almost, cold again. The woodstove takes the chill off in the mornings and the evenings, keeping us warm.

I didn't do much last evening as I always found Mondays my do nothing day. I didn't even do any rug hooking last evening but I did scan through some of my rug hooking books for inspiration.

The garden looked so beautiful after dark with all my solar lights twinkling in the cool night air.

Lovely

My second passion is gardening and I certainly was able to putter in the garden this weekend. The weather on Saturday just stunning and for half the day on Sunday.

The first picture is looking towards the north and still doesn't encompass the magnitude of this garden. The second picture provides a close up of the three tiers. What you can't pick out in these pictures is the small pond, the lily garden and the 20 feet still to be developed towards the gate.

Every rock was gathered in a variety of areas on the West Coast and placed into a small trailer. Needlessly to say, these rocks were handled several times before finding their final resting place. And yes, all done by Pauline and I.

Believe it or not, gardening doesn't have to be alot of work. I cleaned up all the old plants, trimmed the shrubs and trees, set out the solar lights. The pond won't be started up until after the threat of frost. And still had time to sit on the front deck and admire the handy work.

Tres Chic!

Isn't this a new twist on your everyday grocery bag? What a great idea for an easy tote bag. Of course, no way would I be putting any canned goods in this bag. It would be saved for special items like rug hooking group meetings and the like!

Have a great weekend!

Future Plans

What I have learned from experienced rug hookers is that mid way through the project you are working on, your thoughts mysteriously, go to the next project.

This is an example of a Navajo Storm Rug and as I have a deep respect for all things Aboriginal, I may design something in this area. I would change the colours up and make it around 35 by 23 inches; something in that range.

Any suggestions for the next project?

Earth Day 2009

Why do we have to highlight Earth Day? Why can't it be part of our everyday celebration of this wonderful planet that is ours?

There are many people who try to tread lightly on Mother Earth. Like rug hookers and other crafters, we see the beauty in things made by recycling,reusing or adapting. Let's celebrate Earth Day, everyday!

Musings

As you can see, I am working on my chickens and making the border in a solid black. My thinking is that as there is so much activity in the picture, the border should be solid. I will do a corded whipped finish in the main body colour of green.

I will have to go back to the beginning of the border as after a couple of rows, I decided to widen it abit as it seemed abit narrow. I didn't work on it last night, but stared at it while watching the hockey game. My poor Habs are on the ropes. Now, in the old days, the Habs could pull off a come back.

But just like all of us, that was then, and this is now!

Beautiful and Useful

Here is an earlier picture of my new octagon sit/on hooking frame. Since this picture was taken, the carding strips were added and some minor adjustments and shaping to the seat. It is such a nice frame to use and last evening, I removed the chickens and put them on the new frame as I am working on the final border.

The hoop frame was okay but for the larger projects, I really didn't like crushing the rug with the hoops and of course, the carding strips eliminates this problem. I really admire people who have the ability to make things like this.

Pauline, thank you for being so handy and making this incredible frame!!

First Impressions

I got the love of beautiful music from my mother; where she got it, I am not sure and neither is she. The other night, CTV featured the story on Susan Boyle and while listening to this lady sing her first few notes, I was moved to tears.

Not just because of the voice, but I think because of the unexpected difference in what I thought she would do based on of course, first impressions. Here is a simple person who is able to move millions of people if given the opportunity. If you get a chance, listen to her performance on Youtube!

Almost finished the chickens and will probably(hopefully) finish the border this weekend. Gosh, the weekends go soOOooo fast!

Sharing Community

Here is a picture of Jennifer's launch of her Everyday Carre bags and if you get a chance, please visit her blog site at fisheyerugs and request a brochure. I really believe in the sharing spirit of the rug hooking community and have learned so much because of it.

Still winter here for the next few days while the rest of Canada is in springtime temperatures. I managed abit of hooking last evening and will do some again while watching Les Habs vs Boston this evening.

Winter's Back

Well, winter is back here on the west coast of Newfoundland. Having been here during the winter for the past 8-9 years, this has come as no surprise. April can tempt you into thinking it's finally over, only to wake up and see that it isn't.

One time, my mother was here in late May and that time, we too awoke to some snow overnight. I remember her looking at me and saying "Merry Christmas?".

Anyway, here is a picture of my chickens. Coming along and finishing up the two outer edges and then, to work on the border this weekend. I haven't decided yet, if I am going to emblish the border or just have a plain one to highlight the picture itself. Decisions, decisions!

Pauline is moving ahead with my new lapframe with gripper strips. She is very handy and is coming up with some nice workable frames. I should have a picture soon to show here on my hOOkwOrM site. It will be nice to move the rug around without hoops as these tend to crush the rug.

Stunning Work!

This stunning hooked piece was done by my internet hooking friend, Wendi. She just finished this piece and if you get a chance, have a look at her website, The Rugged Moose. She tripled whipped the border making it look like a framed picture. Not only is the piece a terrific example of hooking ability but to take a special moment in her life and turn it into a hooked picture. Isn't that what's it all about?

Robins have Arrived.

We had two wonderful days for the long weekend, Friday and Saturday. Sunday, we awoke to 5 cms of the white stuff before it changed to heavy rain for the rest of the day.

I could hear the robins as I puttered in the garden but didn't see one until this morning. I looked out the bathroom window and there it was, perched in a spruce tree, looking puzzled and cold. Wondering if it had made a wrong turn somewhere on its long voyage.

We watched a couple of movies over the weekend, The Bucket List and Flawless, both older ones but quite good; and The Reader which was strangely seductive in its content.

Of course, the beauty of rug hooking is that you can do it while watching television or listening to podcasts from the CBC which I highly recommend.

Happy Passover/Easter!

My mother doesn't take any chances. Christian, by birth, she worked in the Jewish community for more than 30 years, and has a deep respect for the Jewish faith. So, she takes no chances and celebrates both holidays.

I am happy that finally after good old fashioned winter, a long weekend. I received one of those funny emails this morning and it made me laugh.

Life is short. Enjoy it!
Dust if you must ........

but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter?
bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed?
ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must,

but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes,
the wind in your hair,
a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around, again.

Dust if you must,
but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. . .

Happy Holiday whichever one you celebrate!

Cluck, cluck!

My chickens are coming along and if you notice, I pushed out the eggs in the basket so they look better. Thanks for the tip on that Susan.

It is a very soggy day today but April showers and all that. We still haven't had any sightings of the first robin but I am sure they are here somewhere.

I didn't any hooking last evening but am starting to plan the next project in my brain's planning centres. I have a couple of ideas but nothing definite yet.

Stay Inspired!

Deanne's website is always one of the places I check frequently to see if there are any new entries. Deanne is an inspiration and more than just in her ability as a rug hooker. She also has a deepness of character and this is truly something out of her Newfoundland background.

She tells us to stay inspired, to love what you are doing and that being happy is having what you already have. Too many people right now aren't happy and it shows in the chaos in the world.

Relaxing Weekend

Well, Friday's post on the picture of the bay ice disappearing is already redundant. Over the weekend, there was abit of rain on Saturday and temperatures got up to 12 on Sunday. This morning, all ice in the bay directly across from my view is gone, gone, gone.

Of course, a good "in the bay" breeze could blow it back in. Now, the big date will be when the winter pilot boat goes into dry dock and the smaller summer pilot boat goes into the water.

We put the barbeque out on the deck, but did not take the plastic sheeting down off the front deck and just as well as a skiff of snow overnight. Looking forward to nice long weekend for the Easter break.

I worked on the chickens and got quite abit done and will take a picture tonight. Also, spent some time looking through Shawn's books. They are very good.

Bay Ice Melting

It doesn't look like much, but it is the start and with the rain coming for the weekend, you can bet that the bay will be ice free soon.

This is from the bayside deck looking towards Corner Brook. That is the marina in Curling in the distance.

Actually, I have most of the lower picket fence done on this rug but I thought a posting of its progress was due. A couple of the pickets were rehooked as they looked abit skewed but coming along nicely.

I already have thoughts on the next project and am currently looking into doing a hooked vest with native overtones. I am not certain how to go about this as not much information on making a vest with rug hooking patterns on it. It has been done many times but I am not sure if there is a correct way of doing it. Fabric backing etc, as you don't want it to weigh a ton.

Beautiful Books

I got a very nice surprise when I picked up the mail last evening on the way home. My books from Susan in Nova Scotia arrived. So with a nice hot cup of tea, I opened the package to find not only two lovely rug hooking books, but also, several surprises. Nice pictures of rug hooking projects for inspiration and a Cheticamp hook. Tiny but powerful.

You meet some very nice people in the rug hooking circle and they are more than willing to share their knowledge and assistance to the newbies. I have been in some groups that hold their skills like treasure chests and do not share with anyone in fear of losing their power, I suppose.

Sunny Days

This morning, it is still a bit on the cool side but the sun is shining and the birds are twittering, so everything is right with the world.

I don't like April Fool's Day nor any of the jokes or pranks that people do to each other. On one news website, they asked if you participated in April Fool's Day antics and over 80 per cent, answered never. Me, included.

I am a very pragmatic person and I have never been one to make jokes or pull pranks as I don't see the humour in it. Why do people take joy in pranking people? I don't get it anyway.

I did some hooking last evening while watching television. It is odd to see that most of the programs I watch are having their finales this week. Isn't it abit earlier than usual?