Ah, Spring...fresh wools...

just add to the Etsy Shop...
my naturally ~ plant hand-dyed wool...
marigold...goldenrod...fustic...saxon blue...brazilwood...lac...madder...

...and looking forward to a new gardening season...
this past weekend I planted seeds for this year's dye garden, still to early here for getting in the beds... but soon little sprouts will appear under the grown lights:)

Until next time, Laurie

This year's PUMPKIN Harvest

...has landed in the ETSY shop!

A few remain after my Autumn shows and I just finished listing them in the ETSY shop...all with FREE shipping;)

Feels more like Winter here than Autumn,
and most of my leaves are still green,
it is the weirdest of weather...
Wishing you wonderful Fall ~ Laurie

Exciting news for Wool Lovers

…a new magazine Wool Works will premier in January 2017!
Created by Melanie Pinney of American Pie Designs, each issue will be filled with great projects for rug hooking, wool applique, punch needle and so much more.

I’m delighted that Melanie has invited me to join a great group of designers to contribute to the first issue!
For subscription info visit the website at http://www.woolworksmagazine.com or
the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/woolworks.magazine/?fref=ts

Have a great day ~ Laurie

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

Happy 4th...

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday ~ L

Tonight on...

Early Work Mercantile...

Looking for Spring...
♥ ~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

Just arrived in the studio~shop...

Warm...cozy...scrumptious WOOL!
Perfect for all your holiday projects!
You'll find it here on the website at woolyredrug.com

These chilly nights got me thinking about the old Army blankets I found a while back at my favorite local haunt
Hunt and Gather

I think it is time to starting stitching on them...
just need to settle on a design...
stay tuned...I'll post on my progress!
May your day be filled with delight ~L

September 25th...My Day...Crazy About WOOL

Good day and a Wooly Welcome
to my stop on the Crazy About Wool blog hop
hosted by Denise of Pieced Brain

If you are a new visitor to The Wooly Red Rug…
I hope you will spend some time poking around here on the blog
to learn more about my wool work…studio and website

Before we jump into the wooly craziness…

I want to wish my Mom a Happy 83rd Birthday!!!
She taught me the love of handwork…
…Mommie, I love you more than words can say!

When Denise asked me to be part of the blog hop I wasn’t sure what I was getting into…
But…Crazy About Wool pretty much describes the typical day in my studio!

On the “to-do” list this week is to kit up the second half of of the 2013 Rug Project…Pines to Prairie…
This is Part One…

participants have been working on this since March…
the Part Two kits will go out in the mail in early October
This is the finished 2013 rug…

if you’d like more information about the Annual Rug Projects
Click here or on the link above…below the header

I’m also finishing up on a rug for an article in an upcoming 2014 issue of
Rug Hooking Magazine
…just a peek…

So…now on to a wooly treat for you…
Like many of you Autumn is my favorite time of year…

living here on the Northern Prairie
Apple~Tyme is my absolute favorite season!

So…today I would like to share my Apple Pin Keep pattern with you!

Click this link to download or print the pattern

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today…
Before you hop on…
please leave a comment…
I’ll be drawing 2 Winners on Saturday September 29th
each will receive one of my hand-dyed wooly bundles!

if you are a follower or sign up to follow along here on the blog
please note that in your comment and you’ll receive an extra chance at winning!
Best of luck…and Thank YOU so much for taking the time to visit
♥ Laurie

Hop on and visit these blogs today…
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Chic n Fish
Maria do Carmo (Pieced Brain will be hosting!)
Selina Quilts
Sunshine Quilting
See my previous post for the full week's list of blogs participating in the hop!!!

Spring Wool Collection...

is arriving in the studio!
some is already here...some will be here very soon...
wish I could say the same for warmer weather!

It's a cool and drizzly day...perfect for being inside...working on getting the new wools listed on the website and washing some up for the upcoming Hopkins Spring Hook-In on April 20th.

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 * 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

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

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

New Arrivals...and Studio Cleaning!

Maggie Bonanomi's newest book arrived a few days ago! Almost 20 years ago I was fascinated with making books...and I love making journal covers...Maggie's techniques combine...basic bookmaking...wool applique and a whimsy of design!!! A fun project on a cold winter's day!

I'm a bit behind in getting the website updated...like many...we've been down with the flu...or some nasty bug. Nick was home from school most of last week...and I was down for the count most of the weekend. Lucky for him, Paul was working...in a much warmer climate.

But...there is nothing like bolts and bolts of lovely new wool to brighten this gal's spirit!!!

While lying around with not even enough energy to pick up my hook...my mind on over load...I'm a multi-tasker...definitely not a time waster. I know that when you are sick...it's your body's way of saying..."Take care of me"...but all I could think was..."What a waste of time...and there is so much that needs doing!"
So now that I'm back to the land of living...I want to throw open the windows and start the Spring cleaning. It's been in the mid-20's the last few days...might hit 32 tomorrow...ha...heat wave...still not quite window washing weather...so hey...How 'bout a SALE instead?!?!?!

Now, Paul will tell me...not to fret...the movers will pack it all...but...well I guess I'm in the mood to lighten the Pattern load...Select wool applique, punch needle, and cross stitch patterns are being marked down! I should have the website totally updated by the weekend...I hope you'll hop over for a look...there just might be a deal on something you've been looking for!

Be Warm and Safe Dear Friends ~L

Loot From Market...

The International Quilt Market Trade Show is here in Minneapolis...like a kid in a candy store, I had a fun day shopping for new goodies for the studio/shop and website.

I'm hoping to get some of these up on the website tonite...that is if I can stop myself from stitching up a few of these treasures right NOW! ~L