Wishing you ALL...

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

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

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

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

Happy Holidays...

~Laurie
PS...Happy Anniversary Sweetheart...so good to have you home for the holidays!

Just a dusting...

That's what we got overnite...

...such a contrast to last year...when the snow was up to the windowsills.
I can't remember having such a BROWN Christmas here in the north country! ...No wonder I'm behind in my preparations...it doesn't look like Christmas.
Just a few more customer orders to finish up and then I can get busy on baking...wrapping and a bit of decorating. Since moving the studio back home...We've cut back on all the decorating...there isn't much room for it with all the wool.

I'll leave you today with another treasure from the old 1890's autograph album I found awhile back...Rosey's sentiment is perfect for how I feel about not posting here as often as I would like...

Dear Friend,
For weeks may pass,
And years may end,
Yet you will find,
In me a friend...
Your friend, Laurie

December Offerings on Early Work Mercantile

Merrie December Dear Friends...
The studio has been looking more like Santa's workshop...and oh how I could use a few little elves around here!!!
Here is a peek at the Woven Heart Ornaments I just posted over at EWM...

Hope you will hop over to see all the treasures from a great group of artists!
~L

Tootin” My Own Horn...and hoping I don’t blow it...

First, I must admit I’ve always been a bit “different”. When all my girl friends were reading the fashion mags and those with the news of the latest teen idol...(see I don’t even remember the titles)...I was reading Early American Life. When everyone in the neighborhood was out playing softball or kickball...(does anyone play that anymore?)...I preferred to be stitching or hooking!

For many years I’ve wanted to enter my work into EAL's Directory of Traditional Crafts competition. But, between running the business and keeping the home fires burning, well, I’ve just never had what I thought were appropriate pieces at the time of the deadlines.

In May a customer came in to the studio and wanted a kit for my Twinkle Tree pattern. We chose a color plan a bit more primitive than the original I had hooked in 2001. While I was cutting the wool for her kit...I decided to hook this design again, with a scrappy background and bits of vintage paisley. This was one of those projects that was meant to be...you know the kind that just seem to come together effortlessly...and quickly!

Early in June I was poking around on the net...browsing on EAL’s website I saw the “call for entry” for the Holiday Directory was still open...the deadline was June 15th. I could DO this! I needed another mat...holiday theme....hmmm. I called my friend Bernadette. She’s an amazing photographer, and just happened to owe me for mending a beautiful kimono years ago when our kids were in grade school. If I got the rugs hooked...would she do her magic with the photos???

Well...today the call came...

”Your work was selected as being of the highest quality. We would be pleased to feature a photo of your work, Christmas Goose Rug, in the Christmas 2009 issue of the magazine.”

So off to the PO I ran! I still don’t have all the info...and I’m floating with excitement...but I’m sure to have updates on this...

For now I’m not going to post a full pic of Goosey...this was an in progress pic I posted early in June.

Thanks for letting me toot! ~L