it's a wrap...

Thought I'd share a pic of the finished quilt we gave to my sister and brother-in-law
...the last few stitches were taken inbetween batches of cookies
...and just in time to wrap up for your family gathering on Christmas Day.

We had a great day and I hope you did, too!
My Men-Folk are on vacation until the 2nd...and it is so fun having them home! My "honey-do" list is long...so we will see how much actually gets accomplished...
it's back to the studio for me...
The 2013 LJFibers Rug Project is just about finalized...
This year's rug is called "Pine to Prairie" it will be a wonderful, useable size at 22" x 36"...
most likely done in TWO parts...I still need to get it all figured out...
but will be back soon with all the information...

Until then...
May you have a Safe and Happy New Year's celebration...
and Many Blessings the whole year thru! ~L

Merrie and Bright...

The snow is gently falling...the baking has begun...
the shopping is done and only a few stitches remain to be taken in a special gift...

I feel so far behind...but say that every year...
and it really doesn't matter...does it?

In a year of so much loss...I'm reminded that the stuff is not important...
it's our relationships that matter...our connections to each other...the kindness and love that we share...

So my WISH for you my friends is a Bright and Merry Christmas...
and a Peace~filled New Year! ~L

* ~ the studio is closed until December 27th...
tho' the website is always open ~ *

Merrie * Merrie

Wishing you Peace
and
Many Blessings this Yuletide
and
in the New Year.

Whatever Your Traditions...May They Be Merrie and Bright!

* Tuesday, December 11th is the LAST DAY to place an order for holiday delivery * www.woolyredrug.com

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

Give the gift of wool...

Being Thankful...

and I AM SO THANKFUL for ALL of YOU!!!

Shop Small at woolyredrug.com
Receive FREE SHIPPING on ALL orders placed this weekend
November 24th & 25th

Enter coupon code sbs12 at checkout!

Wishing you all the best this holiday season! ~Laurie

Uncle Tom...

November 24, 1943 ~ November 18, 2012 We are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of my Dad's baby brother...

give extra hugs and tell your loved ones how much they mean to you...
~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!

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

Did you?

Simple Gifts...

Kicking off the Holiday Season...

November 1st...you will find my humble candle keepers on Early Work Mercantile...

If you are in the Minneapolis area...you won't want to miss this annual event...

there you will find a great selection on my needle punched brooches...

and a some of my Hooked Mats...

~Laurie

Happy Halloween...

Quiet Autumn Chill here... Our thoughts and prayers are with ALL on the East Coast... ~L

By the Light of the Harvest Moon...

Hello Dear Friends,
Just popping in to say a quick Hi!

Crazy busy time here in the studio...getting ready for the 15th Annual
Autumn Valley Hook-In
Saturday, October 6th
9:00am to 2:00pm
at Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1616 West Olive Street
Stillwater, Minnesota
If you are in the area...I hope you'll stop by this GREAT event!
and...updates at Early Work Mercantile and the 1800 House are just a few days away!
The wool dust is flying in the moon light ~L

Arriving in the studio/shop soon

...just in time to celebrate our favorite season! Autumn is upon us...glorious NEW wool...Life is Good!

The wool has been added to the website and pre-orders are being taken!

My hook is HOT...I've been hooking non-stop in preparation for the Fall events...
and the final part of Grandma's Garden is almost ready to ship! Where do the years go?
Reminder...3rd Friday open studio hooking and/or stitching is tomorrow from 11 til 3...hope to see you! ~L

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

Midnight tonight...

I might be a little late... but hope you will stop by...~L

Fall is in the air today

...Yay! Just a reminder that there is NO Open Studio Hooking Group tomorrow. Catching up with family stuff in these last few weeks before school starts.
I've also been moving things around in the studio in hopes of making it more comfortable for our gatherings...still cozy...and I'm looking forward to seeing you all in September!
The studio is always open by appointment, so just give a call if you want to come over...the wool room is awesome!
Until then... ~L

New Hooked Mat Patterns...

Working on updating the website with new patterns...
all available now!
Partridge

Prim Heart

Brocade Blossom

Feather Trees Runner

The dewpoint and temperature are on the rise again...tho' I'm sure I felt a hint of Autumn in the air last evening...just too hot for the dyepots today...perfect day for a bit of webkeeping!

Wishing you all a great day ~L

Early Work Mercantile Preview ~

The August 1st update is just a few hours away...Won't you please stop by to see what all the talented artists have been up too? I've been working in the garden and reminiscing about days gone by...
~L

in the beginning...

...of a new project...
don't you just love starting something new???
so many possibilities...
sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming...too many choices?!?

I'm starting a new pillow project
...a gift for a family gathering at the end of the month
...I call these memory pillows...
photos, phrases or such...wool...and stitching
AND...I'm obsessed with them;)

I doubt the recipient of this piece reads my ramblings here...
so I will be back soon with pics of my process
...maybe you would like to stitch along! ~L

Arrived at the Studio Today...

...and NOW on the website...The July Issue of The Wool Street Journal
...I was a wee bit worried...
with all the fires in Colorado Springs...home to WSJ
...but it's here...
just in time for some lazy mid-summer reading!

Enjoy your evening ~L

What's New in the Studio...

Wonderful NEW WOOL has arrived!!!
With temps hoving near 100 degrees, you must think I'm absolutely out of my mind...and you may be right...but these are SO lovely!!!
All pre-orders are being mailed out today!

...and Maggie Bonanomi's NEW book A Day at Sunny Brook should be here any day now...

This looks to be another fabulous book...how does she keep coming up with these treasures?
Pre-orders will be mailed out just as soon as the books arrive!!!
Hope you have a lovely day ~L

* ~ * 76 * ~ *

Hello and Happy 4th of July...
Be Happy and Safe this Holiday...
and Thankful to and for
the Men and Women
that protect our nation...

I'm a bicentennial graduate...Class of 1976...things seemed much simpler back then...
or perhaps it's just the difference between being 18 vs 54 ?!?!

thought I'd share a few "76" pics...

the Talon...my yearbook...our mascot...you guessed it...an eagle
one of my favorite cookie stamps...I've been collecting these since the early 70's...
and here is where my son would joke...the 1870"s Mom?

The bicentennial Mason jar filled with dish soap that we use at the kitchen sink...it's an original from 1976...Wonder what happened to all the others from the case...

dusty old shelf in the kitchen
with an old box of jar rings...I just love how vivid the graphics are...
the mini butter press and biscut cutters were my Mother-in-law's...well used for for 66 years...I treasure them and wonder if she enjoyed them too...or were they just the daily tools to provide for her family?

Til next time ~ Take Care ~L

Incredibly HOT...and a NEW LooK

How HOT is it???

This guage is in the shade
...but with the humidity and dewpoint it acutally feels like the mid 90's
and later this afternoon it should be 103!

Don't know about you...but I get stupid when it gets this hot!

I don't mean to complain...but at least in the winter we can always put on a few more layers...

Really...
there is only so much this 50 something can take off and still be in polite company
and I do need to make a grocery store run...bet the dairy and frozen food isles will be a popular spot!

So...what do you think of the NEW look here?
I've been wanting to freshen things up around here...but not quite sure...prehaps we will live with this for a bit before deciding whether or not to retreat back to the old familiar.

Hope you have a great day...stay cool ~L

Independence Day...

Wishing all our northern neighbors...
Happy Canada Day!
and to all my fellow USA folk...
Happy 4th of July!!!
I hope all your travels and celebrations are safe
...good times shared with family and friends!
While I enjoy the parades, picnics and fireworks...I'm mindful of all my blessings...and my thoughts turn to those I know with heavy burdens...so many friends both near and far that are struggling with health issues...their own and of their loved ones...my thoughts and prayers continue to be with each of them...and also to those who are struggling with Mother Nature's extremes of fire and water.

My newest needle punched treasures just added to Early Work Mercantile...I hope you'll take a minute to click over and see all the artists offerings!
We do so appreciate your support!
~L

Stars and Stripes Fabric Contest...

Good Day Dear Friends,
The heat and humidity of the summer is definitely upon us...can you believe it is almost July?
This week's fabric contest at Spoonflower is "Stars and Stripes"...

My Indigo and Stars fabric is in the running...
You can view all the entries and vote for your favorites here at http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters/new?contest_id=144
Of course if you like my design, I'd appreciate your vote!
I'm just thrilled with all my fabrics and can't wait to start offering them in pillows...sewing rolls and pinkeeps!
My friend, Robin over at Bird In The Hand Primitives has a sweet design in the contest, too. I'm sure she would appreciate your votes! It's her birthday on Sunday and she's also running a contest on her blog, click above on her name to check it out!
Early Work Mercantile Update is coming up this weekend...back to the studio for me! Thanks for visiting and your support...I'm raising a glass of iced tea to you ~L