Introducing the 2016 Edition in The Annual LJ Fibers Rug Project Series...

PEACE...28" x 36"
You'll find more info on the website here
This year I'm also offering a smaller version option
Kits will start shipping in January 2016;)

god jul

Punch Needle & Primitive Stitcher Magazine ~ Christmas 2015
The NEWEST issue arrived today at the studio!
You'll find my sweet little sampler...god jul...on pages 23 & 24

I'm working on the last bits of the 2016 edition of the Annual LJFibers Rug Project...
can't believe it, but this is the 11th year...rug;)

I'll be back SOON with pictures and ordering info! ~ Laurie

It's OUR Day!

Pull some loops to celebrate International Rug Hooking Day!

A sneak peek of what is on my frame...
a preview of the L.J. Fibers 2016 Annual Rug Project...

~ Laurie

And so the Season begins...

Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Opening Reception this Thursday evening!
Very happy to part of this wonderful event.

I'll have lots of SnowFolk looking for new homes...
many punch needle brooches...and a few hooked mats!

~ Laurie

A Full Autumn Monday...

Good Day...
Yep, it is a full and busy day in the studio!
In between processing orders and dye pots...
my work on adapting favorite rug patterns to other formats continues.

Loving how my sweet partridge is coming to life in punch needle;)
Hope you have a lovely day ~ Laurie

1st Friday of Autumn

Hello Dear Friends,
A lovely, but gray Autumn day here...
the contrast of the green and golden leaves against the overcast sky is beautiful!

Today is my Momma's 85th birthday! I need to get off the computer and get her cake in the oven...
but thought I would drop in here to say hello for a moment!

I've been busy the past few days updating patterns.
{if you follow me and/or the studio page on Facebook...sorry for all the posts;)}
Many are now available in the Etsy shop as PDF Instant Downloads!

This morning I finished the update on "Hook Good Rugs"...

this old favorite is now available as a PDF!

And soon several of my smaller mat patterns will be available as Paper Patterns or PDF's too.
With my commitment to caring for my folks, I've needed to come up with a way to streamline the business
...and still earn an income;)
Everyone seems to like these formats:)
It will certainly save me time in drawing patterns, so hopefully I'll have more time for new designs and some much need handwork!

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend ~L

Sunny September Sunday...

What a glorious day!
The leaves are starting to turn...and the smell of woodsmoke warms my heart.

I put this bouquet together yesterday...

a sweet treat that makes me smile!

When I got back from taking Dad to church,
I started in on finishing orders to go out in the morning mail.

I'm itching to get the models and patterns finished for my 1st release in the Hilda Thornbroom Series.

There just aren't enough hours in my day...
my mind is so far a head of my hands;)
Hopefully it will all come together in time to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox:)
Wishing all lovely last days of summer ~Laurie

Hilda's progress...

Progress from last night's stitching while watching the 4th episode of the Civil War on PBS...

I love Ken Burn's work...
his words...
images...
and the chosen music touches my soul.

Yesterday was spent tidying up the studio for Saturday's hooking/stitching group...
especially the wool room...

Amazing how out of control this room can get...
but for now it's tidy...ready and waiting for wooly friends;)

It will be good to welcome everyone back to the studio...
~Laurie

Tuesday Eve...

Cool late summer breeze coming thru the windows...
enjoying an evening of stitching...
watching The Civil War on PBS...
life is good;)
~Laurie

A new friend...

Today while walking in the wood,
I heard a voice and there she stood.
A softened face, a kindly soul,
Where she came from I do not know.
She has two braids, I have just one
I magical tale has begun.

...Miss Hilda Thornbroom as been lurking about the studio now for several weeks.
I have a feeling she will be showing up a lot in my work this Autumn;)

~Have a great...and safe holiday weekend ~L

finding TREASURE...

Good Day Dear Ones,
These late summer days are perfect for finding treasure...

these gems are nature's gift...
black walnut is my favorite dyestuff...
and today my squirrel friends have shared with me...
they took their portion...for breakfast or perhaps to hide for a winter's day...
and left some magic for my dyepot!
Enjoy this fine day ~ L

Stitching Therapy…

There is something so calming about sitting down with needle and thread…

an old army blanket slowly being transformed into a autumn bed topper…easy to pick up and stitch for a minute here and there…

The summer has flown by. I drove Nick back to ISU last week. I’m so excited for him…all his hard work last year in the core design program paid off…he is now in the architecture program! Living his dream…as anyone who came to the studio years ago would know…browsing for wool amidst Lego towers;) The house is quiet again…and I miss him…but my hours are still filled with caring for Mom & Dad…and keeping up with commissions and orders!

The past few evenings I enjoyed a little needle & thread therapy and stitched this sweet sewing caddy from Rebekah L Smith’s phenomenal book “Wool Applique Folk Art”.

This great, new book flew out of the studio. I’ve had more copies on order for weeks, hoping they arrive soon! There is a Facebook group…Wooly Stitchers… a small group of stitcher’s working our way thru the projects in this wonderful book…

Our first project was “Wooly Windows”… I stitched my runner using naturally dyed wools…most dyed by my sweet friend Kris from her bountiful garden’s harvest! The perfect pairing for my black walnut dyed backgrounds.

I’m not sure what I’ll stitch next…but it is good for me to put aside “my WORK handwork” now and then and just play!

Taking this as a positive sign…

the last 2 times I’ve had Chinese take-out I’ve gotten the same fortune…
I’ve accepted a faculty position at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts
more information to come…
but my classes will start the first week of January 2016!

Enjoy these late summer days…the smell of autumn is already in the air!
~Laurie

Finding some time...

Yeah printer issues solved...Part Two of On The Hill will be going out the door...this afternoon and over the next few days!!!
Thanks for your patience ~ L

Festival Weekend ~

Sad to say that I won't be there this year:(
I had to back out because I'm caring for my parents...
...and that is why It has been so quite here, too.

I'll miss all my friends in Building C...but plan to be back next year!

I've been still filling orders from the Website and Etsy Shop...
but the studio is not open for visitors at this time.

♥ ~ Laurie

Happy Valentine's Day...

♥ ~Laurie

Finally…the 2015 Studio Calendar is available!

Silly me…I thought that being an empty nester would open up all sorts of time, ha!
The year is not off to the start I had hoped for…and I know that this will disappoint many of the “studio hookers”. I’m sorry, but as they say, “it is what it is”. I’ve come to terms with that and most days am dealing with the chaos quite well.

You will find the studio calendar button on the bottom of the left side bar of the webpage,
or on mid way down on the right side bar of this blog.

Once you get there you'll see this...

Events will also be posted on the Facebook Studio Page. There are links to sign up to reserve a chair for open studio days on the calendar. Using the sign up sheets makes it much easier for me to know how to plan. If you are having trouble email me. ♥ ~ Laurie

Memories in thread...

Good Saturday Evening, I've been distracted this evening...
in a good way;)
Lori Brechlin started a new group on FaceBook for Hand Embroidery
something I've loved from a very early age...
click the link above and ask to join if embroidery is something you enjoy, too.

this is the first piece I stitched when Mom handed me a needle and thread at age 5

In the early 70's I'd embroider on anything and everything!

These days my work most often involves wool...

Okay...back to work...
thanks for visiting and allowing me to share the good ole days with you! ~Laurie

Belated Happy New Year...

Dear Friends, Family and Customers...Thanks for your patience during my absence caring for my parents... I'm catching up on orders and enjoying time back in the studio!
Laurie ~ 1-13-15

I started this post a few days ago...but the days still seem to get away from me!
I want to thank everyone for your comments, emails and well wishes for my Dad and Mom and I'm sorry I haven't responded personally.
It has been an incredibly stressful time...but also a blessing in many ways...they are amazing people.
I'm so lucky to still have them and am glad that I can help them now as they have always been "there" for me.
After 63 years of marriage, they are kind of a package deal...and they each do best when they are together.
The angels at Living Life Home Care have really saved me. Dad still has a way to go to get back to normal and I'm still there many days a week...but I'm happy to sleep in my own bed again!

After being away for nearly a month...the dust bunnies here are really scary;)
I'm almost caught up on orders now and my next priority is getting the Part One kits of the 2015 Rug Project finished and in the mail.

I still need to dye the border wool...but hopefully the kits will be in the mail by the end of next week!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, Laurie