Inside and Out...

Yesterday was a flurry of activity around here... lots of out of town shoppers stopping by the studio to buy wool for their
Fall & Winter hooking and stitching projects
...Wool Nesting inside...
Outside...a major...different kind of nesting project was underway...
the new roof was finally happening!

I love the color and texture of the new shingles...

the new gutters will be installed this week...red of course!
We couldn't be happier with the company and crew!
THANK YOU to all the lovely ladies who braved the construction zone to stock up on wool!

Once things quieted down around here I had a chance to lay out my plan for one of the army blankets I wrote about in the last post.
I've been sorting thru things here in the studio and came across some leftovers from and old make-and-take class we had at the old shop years ago...

On Scrapbasket Saturdays we made pin keeps...

these left over sunflower parts will somehow find their way onto my army blanket!

It's a bright, but chilly Saturday...after packing up some orders and a bit of cleaning
I'm looking forward to some stitching with wool!
Wishing you a bright and cheery Saturday ~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

Inside Blooms...

Spring MAYBE on it's way...somewhere...someday?!?!
We've had lots of sun...but still a lot of dirty white remains. I've been hooking wee little flower mats

Getting ready for Shepherd's Harvest Festival and other Spring-time events.

It's hard to be patient for warm breezes, the sweet smell of lilacs and time to dig in the dirt. It seems like winter is dragging on...but I remember other years so much worse than this...1985...I was moving in a blizzard on April 1st...NO Fooling!

The signs are all around...tho' they may not be tiny sprouts peeking out yet...they are there. The angle of the sun...and the lingering evening light. The other night I stood in the yard mesmerized by the TWILIGHT...it was way past 8 o'clock...it was above freezing...and the beauty and stillness were beyond belief.

Back in the studio...full of treasures...

To embellish my signature heart pins...
and dream of blossoms to come...
Have a Happy Day ~L

Morning stillness...

Several inches of snow fell throughout the day yesterday

and all was quiet when I turned out the lights last night

this is what we woke to...

Beautiful...even in March

A cozy day inside the studio...
dye pots on the stove...the last of the background wool for "Pines to Prairie"
my hope is to get the Part One kits shipped out by the end of the week!
There are still a few available if you want to join in and hook the 2013 LJF Annual Rug!

I've been working on Part Two...and am quite pleased!

Hope you are warm and cozy today...

Mid November Days...

Christmas Update at the 1800 House...Wednesday, November 14th at Noon EST! and...this Friday, November 16th is 3rd Friday Open Studio...can't wait to see what everyone is hooking or stitching! If you're in the neighborhood...please stop in ~L

Working...Balance and the Nature of Things...

Finding the right balance between the computer and all the other things that need to be done is a challenge...this is always a busy time of year for me...many deadlines...yet the natural rhythm of the seasons tells me to slow down...to rest and nest...no wonder at times I feel like don't know which way to move.
Yet..I'm happy...I'm right where I need to be!
I joke that I've needed to work like a "well oiled machine"...but actually it has been good for me. My parents are needing more help these days and I'm so glad to still live close and be there for them...

Today is a hooking day...I'm working on a commission for a client in North Carolina. It's Edyth O'Neill's "Old Chalk Deer"...I love Edyth's designs (now available from Barbara Carroll at Woolley Fox). I don't often get the chance to hook another designer's pattern...so this is fun! I'll post updates when time permits...

Wishing You Much Happiness on this Mid-Winter Day ~L

It's a giant mess...

...but good for the soul!

...that is a favorite quote of mine...I clipped it out of newspaper when I was in grade school...too bad I didn't have the presence of mind to save the whole article...or a best the artist's name!

...it SO describes my studio...especially today as I finsih up goodies for my July 1st release on Early Work Mercantile...
I hope you'll visit after midnite tonite to see all the treasures offered by so many talented artists!

Hot & humid today...but beautiful sunshine! Wishing you a sunny day, too!
~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