Happy New Year ~ * ~

Here I go again with an attempt to resurrect this blog!

2022 is starting off on a weather roller coaster here on the northern edge of the prairie. We are currently in the deep freeze, and oh the winds…but tomorrow’s forecast is for above 30 degrees F.
Looking forward to trying out the new snowshoes my guys gave me!

It’s paperwork season…my least favorite. I’ve made great progress these past few months with culling out STUFF…mine…my families…my parents…but mostly mine. Feels good to let go and to get organized…and the bonus is there are only a FEW things I can’t find…You know, I put them in “that” logical place;)

One project that keeps getting put off is a pictorial journal of last year’s gardens. It was a hard, dry year. And of course last year’s backyard dyepots…I’m MISSING my flip-flops and cooking up some plants for glorious colors in the back yard.

A big shout of thanks to those who shopped “Arts of the Holidays”, at Minnetonka Center for the Arts this season. It was so good to be able to offer my work in a physical space again! I hope everyone who purchased my mats is enjoying them and feeling good when they use or see them:)

Thanks for visiting, leave a comment if you wish.
Be Well, be kind and I’ll be back soon ~ L

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

March...

Finally temperatures ABOVE Zero... thinking this MUST be a sign that Spring will come;)

After several requests, I was able to come up with a few more kits for this year's annual rug project
Primitive Medallions
...I'm humbled...and astounded by the overwhelming interest in this project...
THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has joined in...sent kind messages...left comments...I so appreciate your support and encouragement!

I spent yesterday in the dye pots...
today I'm out of the studio...taking Mom & Dad to doctor appointments...
Saturday is 2nd Saturday Hooking & Stitching...11 til 3 if you are in the neighborhood...hope you'll stop in! ~L

Early Work Mercantile...

...February update is TONIGHT!

Here is a little sneak peek of what I'll have available...

...oh so sweet
♥ ~L

Happy New Year...

* ~ * 2014 * ~ *
How can that be???
I hope you all had a lovely holiday... and that your New Year's celebrations will be joyful and safe

It is beyond freezing here on the Northern Prairie...
and I'm happy to stay in were it is cozy and warm!

It is time for my Early Work Mercantile Update...
Meet my friends...Flopsie's the Snow People...
just listed...
Now time for a glass of the bubbly...
Be Well ~ L

December...

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
It's update time at Early Work Mercantile...and I just finished stitching up some holiday goodies!

Hope you will consider giving the gift of handmade this holiday season ♥ ~L

November 1st...

Hope you all had a BOO-filled Halloween!
In between the trick-or-treaters I was busy finishing up on this month's offerings at Early Work Mercantile
It's the start of our Log Cabin Christmas...

I hope you will take a look at all the handmade goodies...
and consider giving the gift of handmade this holiday season!

..."and would you know how oak trees grow,
the secret may be told,
you do but need to plant the seed,
one acorn in the mould"

...The Story of Mistletoe The story goes that Mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun. Balder had a dream of death, which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all life on earth would end. Balder could not be hurt by anything on earth or under the earth. But Balder had one enemy, Loki, god of evil and he knew of one plant that grew neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and oak trees. It was lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip of the mistletoe, gave to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it, striking Balder dead. For three days each element of universe tried to bring Balder back to life. Frigga, the goddess and his mother finally restored him. It is said the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew. The story ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love...
~L

Blog Hop Winners...

...and a HUGE THANKS for everyone who stopped for a visit and to those who left comments!

It is always nice to hear from followers...and so great to meet so many NEW wool lovers.
I'm totally humbled by your kind words...
and hope you will visit often.

Today...I'm nearing the end of the rug I need to have ready for a deadline this week.
Then it is on to getting ready for the Autumn Valley Hook-in in Stillwater, MN next Saturday...

I promise once things settle down here...wink...I will post more about my process in rug hooking!
I was surprised to read all the comments of those who aren't familiar with it...or are just starting their rug hooking journey.

Now...for what you all have been waiting for...
Drum Roll...
Congratulations to
Patti at Winding Vine Wanderings
and Kathy in Ozarks at Kathyinozarks Pages
I've sent you both private emails and once I receive your mailing addresses your wooly bundle will be on the way!

Have a great day ~ L

Harvesting Pumpkins...

...I'm stitching pumpkins...
lots and lots of wooly pumpkins

Early Work Mercantile's
Harvest Celebration is almost here...

Hope you will stop by our bountiful harvest ~L

Bunnies and A Bird...

Blues and Browns
Things I love in Spring!

NOW available on Early Work Mercantile
Wishing You All a Merrie March ~ L

Merrie December...

How can it be December already?!?
I'm so behind...I finally got these funky, folky wooly ornaments listed on Early Work Mercantile just after midnight and more will be offered over at the 1800 House, the update there is this Wednesday at NooN!

Have you started your holiday decorating?
Well...I'm behind there too. I'm blaming it on the weather...ya that's it!
Not complaining, mind you...tomorrow is supposed to be near 50 degrees...hopefully I'll get a bit of greenery in the pots out front...
then it's back to my needle and thread...stitching up a wooly quilt for a Christmas present...

Are you on Facebook?
Is so...be sure to "LIKE" The Wooly Red Rug page...
L. J. Fibers at The Wooly Red Rug

Promote Your Page Too
and tell your friends too!
We are so close to a Milestone Giveaway...for each 100 likes...there is a drawing for wooly goodies! Increase your chances of winning by "following" this blog, too. That link is below on the right side bar!

And speaking of giveaways...I was thrilled to win the monthly drawing that Ronda Simple Thyme Prims had in October!

Birds, flowers and wonky houses...it couldn't be more perfect for me! Ronda does the most outstanding work. This sweet needle punched bird is a perfect rendition of Country Stitches pattern...and she included another sweet little wool pin keep too!
Thank you, Thank you Ronda...I hope you are settling into your new home!!!
Well...that's about it for now...I hope to be back more often...inbetween all the holiday prep...
Wishing you a wonderful week ~L

Inbetween Dye Pots...

Steaming up the studio with lots of wool to dye...but all I really want to do is make a cup of tea and curl up with the Holiday issue of FOLK!
They arrived in the studio a few days ago, but I've only had time for a glance or two.
This biggest issue yet...filled with holiday delights!

Cool format...reminds me of our old children's books...two in one! Click on the cover image over on the top of the sidebar to visit their new FOLKlifestyle blog!

Wishing you a Wonderful Wednesday ~L

PS...the 1800 House Christmas update is at NOON today...ho, ho, ho!

A Focused Day...

...finishing up on the second half of this year's LJF Rug Project...Grandma's Garden. The year has flown by...again! Just a bit more hooking and then the calculating...the dyeing and the kitting can begin. The kits are due out in October...and I'd really like them off my plate...
as there is much to do before mid-October.... I'll be vending again at The Autumn Valley Hook-In in Stillwater, MN on Saturday October 6th...
this year I will also have finished work available at the Textile Center in the annual Holiday Show and Sale beginning November 1st!
...so planning and focus are my mantras of late...
and today...9-11...of all days is a good one to quitely hook and remember... ~L

Workin' Wednesday...

It feels SO good to be getting down to business...I've had to put so many ideas on hold for far too long...
...today I'm playing with...um...working on...my new hand-dyed wool samples...I've been out of the old color cards for a while, not wanting to make new when our water source would be changing...no excuse now girls!!! I have had this idea to do it in a little booklet format...got a good start on it this morning!
...No...this isn't going to be a recipe book...I mean...I think there are enough of those floating around...and I don't dye my wool in the conventional rug hooker's way. Most of my colors I formulated back in my old spinning and weaving days...am I really this old???

Anyway it's a fun day here even if it's cool and cloudy for our first full day of summer. The greens are rich after all the rain...and the herb garden is so fragrant! Hope you have lovely day! ~L