Good Saturday Eve...

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a Great Thanksgiving Holiday!

It's been a very busy and happy week here.
Our son heads back to campus tomorrow:(
but will be back in a few weeks for winter break:)
hard to believe his 1st semester of college is almost behind him.

Tonight I'm finishing Holly~Tree
My newest wooly cupboard hanger
Stitched of my hand-dyed wool with wool threads and black walnut aged ticking.
This is my December offering for Early Work Mercantile tomorrow night.

This week I'll be pulling the last loops in On The Hill
The 2015 Annual Rug project

when the sample is complete...I can move on to prepping the kits that will begins shipping in January.

Have a good week ~ L

Autumn is in the air...

Hello My Wooly Friends,
Happy Labor Day...the 1st of September...
and a glorious morning here on the Northern Prairie!

Summer has flown by and I'm settling into Empty-Nest-Hood
A strange territory...but I'm muttling along...

I've been absent here...ticking things off my insanely long to-do list...
with hopes of finishing a clients rug this week...
Shelley has been oh so patient with me!
I'll be at the frame today, pulling the last loops...the binding will come this week...in between days spent helping my folks.

I'm so blessed to still have my parents!
And happy to be able to help them stay in their home...
for months now, I've been there at least 4 days a week...hopefully we are close to getting some help for a couple days a week!
I need to get back in the studio...prep for the Autumn Valley Hook-In...schedule some classes...and just spend some time soothing my soul by creating!

My newest stitch design...Magic Spells...is now available on Early Work Mercantile
I've had fun stitching some small, portable projects...but have the itch to get going on some big rug designs...stay tuned!

Wishing you all a wonderful day
♥ ~L

No fooling...

Happy April...
Prepping for the Hopkins Hook-in this Saturday and trying to keep up...
Just updated my page at Early Work Mercantile with a collection have my needle punched pins!
The sun is shining....
last night's snow is melting...
Have a GREAT day!
~L

Tonight on...

Early Work Mercantile...

Looking for Spring...
♥ ~L

F is for February and…

Freezing ~ need I say more…
I know most of you can relate, no matter where you live…but here on the Northern Prairie it is beyond ridiculous…

Frantic, Frenzy or Freak Out ~ pretty much describes my state of mind the past few weeks…because of…

Forms, Fees, FAFSA & Filing ~ along with the usual mounds paperwork this time of year for the business…I’ve ventured into new territory. Our son is heading of to college in the fall. For now my mixed emotions of letting go are clouded by all the deadlines for endless forms. Does anyone ever neatly fit into their check boxes?

Finishing Up...

another Early Work Mercantile update is tomorrow night...
stitching does help to soothe me...
as does hooking

I'm close to finishing a rug for a client who loves labs and rabbits!

Family & Friends ~ are my saving grace ♥
Thanks for visiting...Think Spring! ~L

Early Work Mercantile...

...February update is TONIGHT!

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

...oh so sweet
♥ ~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

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

Sneak Peek...

Hello Dear Friends...
Where do the days go?

I'm back to blogland with a quick peek of goodies being offered tonight at
Early Work Mercantile
A few little Cottage Garden treasures...

It's been a full month with many demands...not much time for handwork.
A new furnace...soon a new roof...
caring for my parents as Dad recovers from surgery...
A month of ups and downs...introspection and gratitude...
the loss of a dear friend...brings a richer closeness to my old gal pals...most of us have been friends since grade school
...I truly LOVE these women!

This photo is from our "50th Birthday" weekend...vintage prom dresses
...and lots of laughter!
True blessings in my life ~ L

a little Americana...

being offered at Early Work Mercantile tonight close to Midnight EST

Hope you are enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon ~ L

June...Already?

Hello Friends...
How can it be that another month is coming to an end?
Springtime is busy around here with shows...so I'm glad that Summer is upon us and we can settle back into visiting at the monthly in studio Hooking~Stitching Groups!

Summer often brings travelers through the area...it is always a treat for me to welcome cyber-wooly friends to the studio...ANY day!

Today, I'm finishing up goods for tonight's Early Work Mercantile update...

A variety of Needle Punched Pins and a Hearts and Tulips Hooked Pillow
A few stitches left...hoping to make the MidNight deadline!

Then it's back to working on a few commissioned peices
...with breaks to pull a few weeds!

A BIG Thank You for your comments and generous bids on the We Unite For Oklahoma Auctions. I'm happy my Spring Quilt hooked mat and Wooly Ornament raised a good amount and 100% of it was forwarded to the Red Cross to help those in need in Oklahoma!!!


Hope the sun is shining on YOU ~L

Who comes with Summer to this earth
And owes to June her day of birth,
With ring of Agate on her hand,
Can health, wealth, and long life command

May Day Update...

...at Early Work Mercantile Tonight!!!


Spring is slow to arrive this year...rain and yes, snow are in the forecast...

I've been hunkered down in the studio
playing with wool and threads
creating my own Springtime blooms


Needle punched pins for Shepherd's Harvest Festival


And here is a peek at one of the commission mats I've been working on...


Hope the sun is shining in your backyard! ~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

Icy...

the wind, ice, sub-zero temps linger and more snow is on the way

I AM READY FOR SPRING
Tho' inside the studio today it was warm and cozy...a couple hooker friends
who always bring a smile...
one close to finishing a BIG rug...one starting something new

...shoppers gathering wool for a variety of projects...some Springy...some to while away the snowy days ahead!

In between orders and finishing goods for the March 1st Early Work Mercantile update...
I've been working on the 2nd part of Pines to Prairie

the Part One kits are almost ready to ship out...just waiting for a wool order to arrive so I can finish dyeing up some of the background! It's one of my favorite colors...I call it Garden Shed...kind of a dingy greyish green...wonderful over all sorts of light textures!

I'm loving how the random border...which is Part Two of this year's annual project...is working out...
very old looking...just as I wanted it to be!

I'm glad to have a cozy rug to work on these cold and icy days...
Be safe and warm ~ 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

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

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

Midnight tonight...

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