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

Delicious New Wools...

busy day in the studio..but just had to let you all know that these lovelies will be arriving soon! Pre-order if you would like to reserve...some will have limited quantities...you can click the picture to go over to the website.

Thanks for visiting...and looking!
Hope you have a great week!
~L

Anna in the garden

it is too wet for me to be in the garden...
going thru old family photos...
here is a picture of my maternal Great-Grandmother Anna...
in her garden...I'm guessing sometime in the early 1920's
...she and my Great-Grandfather Joe
came to the USA in 1900
...she passed in 1924 at age 67
...six years before my mother was born
I was married with her gold wedding band...

looking for sunshine...
wish we could share the rain
with all those who really need it!
~L

Simple Goodness...

Rhubarb Oatmeal Banana Muffins...
...one of Summer's delights!

I've used this basic recipe for years...and no matter how I tweek it the muffins are always yummy! I like to measure and store all the dry ingredients in canning jars.
Then...it's quick and easy to add the wet ingredients and any fruit, nuts...or whatever is on hand.

Basic Oatmeal Muffin Mix
♥ Mix:
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Rolled Oats
½ cup sugar
½ tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Baking Powder

♥ 2 Eggs
♥ 1/4 cup Oil
♥ 1/4 cup Milk
Beat eggs til frothy, mix in oil, milk & 1 CUP MASHED BANANA.
Fold into dry mix til moistened.
Fill muffin cups ¾ full, bake at 400°
For 20-25 minutes

For the Rhubarb muffins...I add about 1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon to the dry ingredients.
To the mashed banana I add 2 handfuls...about 1 and 1/2 cups...of diced rhubarb, sprinkle with a teaspoon of sugar to cut the tartness, mix to coat fruit well. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, fold in fruit...
Fill muffin cups...
I like to dust with fresh ground cinnamon and a sprinkle of pearl sugar!
Bake...Cool...YUM!!!
~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

Merrie Solstice...

~L

Digging in the dirt...

...it's good for the soul!
Last Saturday I cleaned up the herb garden...
The gardens were so neglected...with the relocation plans...the gardens were the last thing on my mind...but...
All that has changed! We have come to the FINAL decision that Nick and I will stay in Minneapolis. It's a looonnnggg story. Too many issues started coming up with the house in Wisconsin. And the seller's market here in Minneapolis has hit rock bottom. I didn't want the responsiblity of two places! Needless to say, Nick is happy to finish high school here at Washburn! I'm happy to stay near my aging parents.
It's not an ideal family situation...Paul will make the trip home as often as he can...we will make it work.

So now I can start working on all the ideas for the studio and website that have been put on hold...the shop will remain here at home on Wentworth...and I'm happy to be in my garden!
~L

Another off the frame...

Apologies for not posting more frequently...this is a snippet of what I've been up to! I can't show the whole rug just yet...but will soon.

Tomorrow is our last 2nd Saturday hooking group...if you are in the Minneapolis area...give a holler and we'll make room for you! Would love to have you join us!

We should be closing on a house in a few weeks...can you sense my hesitation?!?!
There have been so many bumps in the road on this relocation journey...that I hate to give too many details for fear of jinxing it!

So...I keep pulling loops...or taking tiny stitches...to keep my sanity! After our 103 degree record breaking start to the week, the weather has turned more Spring or Autumn like...60's and 70's...suit me just fine!

Hope you have a delightful weekend! ~L