Together again...

Dad left us on October 12th, to join Mom...
These almost 3 months since she died was the longest they had been apart in 73 years.

I'm slowly finding my new normal...a day at a time ~L

Wishing you ALL...

Stitching Therapy…

There is something so calming about sitting down with needle and thread…

an old army blanket slowly being transformed into a autumn bed topper…easy to pick up and stitch for a minute here and there…

The summer has flown by. I drove Nick back to ISU last week. I’m so excited for him…all his hard work last year in the core design program paid off…he is now in the architecture program! Living his dream…as anyone who came to the studio years ago would know…browsing for wool amidst Lego towers;) The house is quiet again…and I miss him…but my hours are still filled with caring for Mom & Dad…and keeping up with commissions and orders!

The past few evenings I enjoyed a little needle & thread therapy and stitched this sweet sewing caddy from Rebekah L Smith’s phenomenal book “Wool Applique Folk Art”.

This great, new book flew out of the studio. I’ve had more copies on order for weeks, hoping they arrive soon! There is a Facebook group…Wooly Stitchers… a small group of stitcher’s working our way thru the projects in this wonderful book…

Our first project was “Wooly Windows”… I stitched my runner using naturally dyed wools…most dyed by my sweet friend Kris from her bountiful garden’s harvest! The perfect pairing for my black walnut dyed backgrounds.

I’m not sure what I’ll stitch next…but it is good for me to put aside “my WORK handwork” now and then and just play!

Taking this as a positive sign…

the last 2 times I’ve had Chinese take-out I’ve gotten the same fortune…
I’ve accepted a faculty position at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts
more information to come…
but my classes will start the first week of January 2016!

Enjoy these late summer days…the smell of autumn is already in the air!
~Laurie

Belated Happy New Year...

Dear Friends, Family and Customers...Thanks for your patience during my absence caring for my parents... I'm catching up on orders and enjoying time back in the studio!
Laurie ~ 1-13-15

I started this post a few days ago...but the days still seem to get away from me!
I want to thank everyone for your comments, emails and well wishes for my Dad and Mom and I'm sorry I haven't responded personally.
It has been an incredibly stressful time...but also a blessing in many ways...they are amazing people.
I'm so lucky to still have them and am glad that I can help them now as they have always been "there" for me.
After 63 years of marriage, they are kind of a package deal...and they each do best when they are together.
The angels at Living Life Home Care have really saved me. Dad still has a way to go to get back to normal and I'm still there many days a week...but I'm happy to sleep in my own bed again!

After being away for nearly a month...the dust bunnies here are really scary;)
I'm almost caught up on orders now and my next priority is getting the Part One kits of the 2015 Rug Project finished and in the mail.

I still need to dye the border wool...but hopefully the kits will be in the mail by the end of next week!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, Laurie

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

Wishing you a...

♥ ~ Laurie

In the studio & a little thread therapy...

Hello Friends,
Hope you are all having a good week!
I've been playing with linen and thread...
a little therapy to help me get back on track!
So many family things going on this summer that I feel a little out of sorts in the studio.
I found a stitch I did awhile back and finished into a sweet pocket.
Nudged by requests and have finally gotten the pattern together...
Both PDF Instant Downloadable and Printed Paper versions are available in my Etsy shop...
https://www.etsy.com/shop/woolyredrug?section_id=7569295

New WOOl will be arriving any day...

Lovely Textures!!!

Saturday is Open Hooking & Stitching in the studio...
it will be so fun to see everyone!
♥ ~ L

Beautiful Morning and Thank YOU's

Good Morning,
Thank you all for the congratulations on Nick's graduation and for my birthday wishes! It's been a wild week around here!!!
We just got back from visiting Iowa State University. It's official Nick is registered for Fall term in the College of Design!
Go Cyclones!
It's a beautiful campus...the trees are so lush and beautiful...and the Design building is awesome!
I would so like to spend my days in the textile studio...or painting studio...or pottery...
but I don't think he wants Mom to go to college with him...nor could we afford tuition x's 2;)

So, I'm back to work...sorting thru emails, desk clutter and finally getting caught up on orders! 2nd Saturday Open Hooking and Stitching is tomorrow...it will be great to see everyone!

Hope you have a great weekend...and Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's!
~ Laurie

Graduation

Washburn Class of 2014
Last evening we celebrated...It was a wonderful ceremony!
So many of Nick's classmates have been together since kindergarten...some from pre-school...
It's amazing to see the vibrant young men and women they have become!

Grandpa & Grandma were able to be at the ceremony and I can't tell you how happy that made me...and Nick, too!

Laurie, Nick, Paul, Grandpa Jim and Grandma Evie

Mom and Nick

Dad and Nick...My Guys!

Maddy and Nick

Thanks for letting me share our joy...
I promise to get back to posting about wool~work next week!
The studio will be closed until next Friday while we finish celebrating and then head to Iowa State U for registration! Nick will enter their Design Program this Fall...with his sights on becoming an architect...it's a long road...but something he has been passionate about since he was really young!

Open Studio Hooking ~ Stitching is Saturday the 14th...looking forward to seeing everyone!
Have a great week ~Laurie

The years pass so quickly...

Today is the last day of school!

Nick's journey began here in September of 2001
First Day of Kindergarten

...and today is the last day of his senior year

Tomorrow evening is graduation!

Well done my son...Dad and I are so very proud of you,
♥ Mom

Unpacked and Back on Track...

This past weekend's festival was so fun...
Saturday is always SO busy the time just flies!
I'm thinking of getting a larger space next year...
it was packed and I'm afraid some people couldn't get in:(

Sunday afternoon, Paul, Nick and Maddy came out to help me pack up.
What a treat that was.

I'm all caught up on orders...such a GOOD feeling!
So now it's just weeds in the garden that are calling me...well...that and I should get a jump on patterns and kits for "something" that will be coming out in June;)
...and of course graduation is 2 weeks from today...eeck...
and...then the grad party and off to registration at ISU!

busy times...good times...wishing you well ~L

Catching Up

...and trying to get ahead of things here in the studio!
Heading into a crazy-busy few months...
Seems like a year's worth of events will all be happening at the same time...How does this happen?

This coming weekend is the Annual Tangletown Neighborhood Garage Sale
with the Hopkin's Spring Hook-in being a few weeks early and Shepherd's Harvest Festival being a week later...I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to cull thru all the stuff and lighten our load...if only the men in my life agreed;)
After the garage sale I need to focus on getting ready for Shepherd's Harvest!

The Part Two kits for the 2014 LJFibers Annual Rug Project ~ Primitive Medallions were scheduled to go out in June...
but I've decide to get them out of the as soon as possible.

Last week I began working on them...dyeing...ripping...bundling...

...cutting strips and final packaging over the next few days! I'll be sending out an email notice to all the participants today or tomorrow.
There are 6 spaces remaining in this year's project if you want to jump in!

My article and free pattern in Rug Hooking Magazine got bumped from the March issue to accommodate their 25th Anniversary cover spread...so look for it in the June 2014 issue!

AND...
Most importantly...Nick is graduating in June!!!
We are having a party together with his girlfriend Maddy's family.
Then we are off the next week to Iowa State for orientation and registration.

It's been cool and rainy for days, but the trees are budding...the grass is greening up and little shoots are sprouting in the gardens...
Life is full...and good!
Wishing you all a Happy Day ~ L

Tuesday to-do's...

Good Afternoon...
Hope you are having a good day!

I've gotten a few things knocked off my to-do list...
An adaptation of my Primitive Medallions is finished and on it's way to it's new home...

* ~ * Thanks so much Jackie * ~ *

Everything is pretty much unpacked from last Saturday's Hook-in!
Sorry no pictures...I can't believe I forgot to take pictures:(

I just listed the remaining needle punched pins in my Etsy store
I'll be making a bunch more for Shepherd's Harvest Festival which is coming up in May.

We are finally above the 50 degree mark and the sun feels wonderful!
Spring will fly by with much to do...
Nick graduates in June...
and is preparing to head off to Iowa State in the Fall.

Hope the suns is shining on you ~L

March...

Finally temperatures ABOVE Zero... thinking this MUST be a sign that Spring will come;)

After several requests, I was able to come up with a few more kits for this year's annual rug project
Primitive Medallions
...I'm humbled...and astounded by the overwhelming interest in this project...
THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has joined in...sent kind messages...left comments...I so appreciate your support and encouragement!

I spent yesterday in the dye pots...
today I'm out of the studio...taking Mom & Dad to doctor appointments...
Saturday is 2nd Saturday Hooking & Stitching...11 til 3 if you are in the neighborhood...hope you'll stop in! ~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

Wishing you a...

Many Blessings to You and Yours...
May your holiday be filled with the warmth of family and friends...
Good food and cheer!
♥ ~L

November winds and a small peek...

Hello Dear Friends…
A gray and windy day here today…
Predictions that everything will be glistening white with snow by tonite…
Strangely, at this moment…I am content with the thought of winter.
This year more than ever I feel the need to respect the rhythms of nature…
And it is giving me a sense of peace in an all too chaotic time…

A heartfelt thank you, to all of you have sent well wishes for my Mom. These are bittersweet times.
We’ve been working on getting some home care services set for Mom & Dad…and that eases my mind a bit.
It has truly a been a balancing act for me…all the craziness of my son’s senior year…my parents…my business…and now the holidays?!?!

In the midst...I’ve finally decided on a design for the 2014 LJFibers Rug Project…
Primitive Medallions will be approximately 22" x 34"...it will be a 3 or 4 part project...
linen pattern and 1st wool kit will ship in January 2014!
Inspired by a 19th century rug entitled “Medallions”…
worn and muted tones…flowers and critters…
I’ve come up with a primitive rendition…here is a small peek…

I absolutely love how this is hooking up and will share more with you soon!
My goal is to have all the details for kits worked out and posted on the website in the next few weeks.
I know many of you would like to include the Annual Rug Project on your list to Santa…
♥ ~L

Softly falling...

The leaves are not very colorful this year...perhaps the unusual weather we have had...but they are finally falling...
and a chill is in the air...
Last night I finally got around to the basket of apples that were gifted to us...Fireside from our dear neighbors...and Cortlands from Nick's girlfriend's family...The combination cooks up to a delightful, sweet-tangy applesauce!
And the steam from the canner warmed the house!

Tomorrow is "Second Saturday ~Open Studio"
I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is hooking or stitching!
I need a wool fix...Mom was in the hospital for the first part of the week...
tho' I did knit a bit on some socks while she was napping!
Orders were processed and packed at night when I would return home...It's been a long week...
I think I'll go play in the leaves ~ 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 ~ *