Long Neglected but Not Forgotten...

Greetings
It’s a wee bit embarrassing…it’s been so long since I posted here! 2023 has flown by, lot’s of traveling to teach at some great venues!
Now with that behind me, I’m making the effort to be a little more “social” here. I was having a conversation the other day with a younger artist about the relevancy of “blogs”…with all the other online options, I thought perhaps they were a thing of the past…but she disagreed, and nudged me to “get on with it”…so here I am…
with a quick post to see if I remember how to do this…☺

The web shop has been loaded with this year’s harvest of plant dyed wools. The gardens were pathetic this year. Drought, heat and backyard critters prevailed, I accepted defeat early…but then there were the marigolds…they were glorious!

I’m also adding my available work to the “Handmade” section, with more to come in the next week. I invite you to take a look, perhaps you will find a gift or two to give this holiday season

Many blessings to you and yours, Laurie

Happy New Year ~ * ~

Here I go again with an attempt to resurrect this blog!

2022 is starting off on a weather roller coaster here on the northern edge of the prairie. We are currently in the deep freeze, and oh the winds…but tomorrow’s forecast is for above 30 degrees F.
Looking forward to trying out the new snowshoes my guys gave me!

It’s paperwork season…my least favorite. I’ve made great progress these past few months with culling out STUFF…mine…my families…my parents…but mostly mine. Feels good to let go and to get organized…and the bonus is there are only a FEW things I can’t find…You know, I put them in “that” logical place;)

One project that keeps getting put off is a pictorial journal of last year’s gardens. It was a hard, dry year. And of course last year’s backyard dyepots…I’m MISSING my flip-flops and cooking up some plants for glorious colors in the back yard.

A big shout of thanks to those who shopped “Arts of the Holidays”, at Minnetonka Center for the Arts this season. It was so good to be able to offer my work in a physical space again! I hope everyone who purchased my mats is enjoying them and feeling good when they use or see them:)

Thanks for visiting, leave a comment if you wish.
Be Well, be kind and I’ll be back soon ~ L

Finally some rain and this is growing in my strawberry bed...

Happy New Year…New Hope…New Work…

Hearts are common motifs on early works in textiles, clay, paper, wood, metal and stone.
A frequent element in my work, I pleased to offer some new pieces for sale.

Timely for Valentine’s Day gift giving, to me hearts symbolize so much more than love & friendship.
I see empathy, gratitude, kindness, self-care, sympathy, unity…all good qualities to cultivate in these tumultuous times ♥

I’ve got some larger scale work in progress, but I seem to be favoring smaller pieces these days. Find these and more here Many Thanks for taking time to read my little note!

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2021 ♥

Be Well, Be Kind ~ Laurie

Saturday Greetings...

calendula, lavender, lemon balm, oregano and yarrow...
a little harvest from the gardens this morning.

It seems so very early for the walnuts to fall,
but I'm so excited to be boiling up this year's first black walnut brew...

...naturally dyed wool fabric and yarns will be back in stock soon:)

I'm happy to have contributed a pattern to the ATHA 2021 Biennial ~ Kansas City Fundraiser Pattern Book...

The Pattern Books and Worm Boxes are available to order!!!

Hope you have a lovely day, L

Happy May Day ~

~ Laurie

I’ve joined #artistsupportpledge

...and will happily support other artists!

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, many artists around the world have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work, exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress @matthewburrowsstudio has instigated the #artistsupportpledge The concept is a simple one. You post images of your work to sell for no more than $200 each (not including shipping). Every time you reach $1000 of sales you pledge to buy another artist’s work for $200.

Uniquely One of a Kind...my Mug Mats are hooked with 100% new wool, which I over-dyed with my original recipes. I professionally finish my mats by binding them with my durable, hand-dyed rug yarn or wool strips, sewing on cotton twill tape and a cotton label...signed and dated.

Matched with a hand stitched wool appliqué tea cozy to cover your mug while brewing tea...it will keep your cup HOT! Truly one of a kind...I hand cut wool and stitch these cozies to compliment my hooked mug mats.

Measuring 6" to 7” in diameter these hooked mats are perfect for under a mug of your favorite beverage! Cozies measure 8" w x 6" h and expand to fit a variety or mugs, cups and small teapots. $65.00 set + $5.00 shipping

If you are interested in purchasing any of my work...I'll be posting it here, in the Etsy shop, on Facebook and Instagram.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me
~ Laurie

Good News Arrived Today...

"Congratulations! Because of your creative talents and dedication to historical accuracy, you have been chosen to join the distinguished group of craftspeople listed in the 2020 Directory of Traditional American Crafts in the August 2020 issue."

I’m honored to have been selected each year that I have applied.

Hope you are safe, well and keeping your hands busy ~ Laurie

How are you celebrating?

Happy Hooking ~ Laurie

2019 Directory of Traditional American Craft...

Honored to be selected again for EAL's Directory of Traditional American Crafts!

One of my entries "Swan with Fish" was inspired by a 1810 watercolor and ink drawing from Pennsylvania found at the Free Library of Philadelphia rare book department.

Springtime Hooked Mat Workshop

Join us for a fun day of hooking spring themed mats
Saturday, March 16th, 2019
10am to 4pm
at Minnetonka Center for The Arts
still a few spaces available!

March...ing in like a Lion...

Good Morning,
Hope this Saturday finds you well...

We are headed back to the deep freeze after yet another round of snow!

I hear Paul scraping snow off the roof, so I'm sure this pile has grown.

It's beautiful, but a hassle trying to drive around the city...
a good excuse to stay in...
to make soup...
and putter around the studio.
I've been organizing the wool shelves and discovered some beauties I had forgotten about.
I'll be making new bundles and putting them in the ETSY shop soon:)

but before I do that...

I want to share a few of my students rugs from the MCFTA Student Show...

Lisa hooked this adaptation of 1885 Horses...a Woolley Fox pattern...#8 cut wool on Monk's Cloth

Debi hooked this stunning butterfly...
her own design...and her FIRST rug after her little beginner mat!
mostly #8 wool cut on linen...with a bit of black and white nylon stockings.
There are still openings in my Spring II class...
visit the Minnetonka Center for the Arts website for info... Stay warm...think Spring...and have a great weekend! ~Laurie

More snow...

Record breaking snow here for February
a no guilt day for staying in and hooking...

Working on a rug for an upcoming Fall publication...
glorious leaves hooked with my marigold dyed wools...
and dreaming of the gardens to come...

Hope you have a lovely day ~ Laurie

Waning Summer Days...Autumn Hook-In info...and more...

Our weather is shifting...
I was lucky to escape the city heat this past weekend and spend time with my dear friend at her cabin. The butterflies...and bees loved this sedum plant.
The lake was warmer than it had been when I was there in July and we spent a lot of time in the water!

Yesterday another sweet friend brought me some of the bounty from her fabulous gardens...

Here is some Hops I started simmering this morning. Isn't it a pretty plant? I've never liked the smell or taste of beer ( now wine is another story! ) I'm so glad it smells like green beans cooking.

Looks like it will be a soft apricot color on the wool...but we will see;)

After the storms that blew threw yesterday and overnite, our weather has shifted towards Autumn...time to finish the scrappy quilt I've been hand piecing while sitting and visiting my folks at the nursing home. I have to keep my hands busy...and so, this is kind of my therapy blanket!

Between checking the dyepot and packing orders, I've been pressing the quilt top. I've picked out a soft antique-y cotton flannel for the back. Once I get it basted with a lightweight cotton batting, I will hand quilt it with Valdani #12 Perle Cotton.

If you are near, I hope you'll stop by and visit me at the Autumn Valley Hook-In in Stillwater, Minnesota on Saturday October 6th...

Wishing you all a wonderful last week of Summer, Laurie

How to survive an April BLIZZARD...

Coffee ~ Check
Chocolate ~ Check
Wine ~ Check
Wool ~ Check

...and so it continues...

Today in the studio...

Bolts and bolts of new WOOL have arrived in the studio and will be posted on the Website and Etsy Shop soon!

Today I'm working on getting the wool kits and patterns for Hilda's Flower...
the 2018 edition of my annual LJFibers Rug Projects!

a peek at just a few of the wool piles...

...including my gorgeous plant-dyed wools...saxon blue and glowing greens...a combination of saxon blue and fustic.

Today it may still be cold and snowy outside...but inside it's warm and wooly!
Have a great day ~ Laurie

February...Cabin Fever Confusion...

Yes, it is still Winter...

but, I'm working on a project/article for an upcoming Fall magazine...

and I'm dreaming of this...;)

Have a Happy Weekend ~ L

Switching Seasons...

From Hearts to Pumpkins...

on the frame this week...
working on a project for a Fall 2018 publication
sneak peeks to come... ~ L

Happy Labor Day...

Celebrating Labor Day in the backyard playing with plant dyes

Trying to find my "groove" after nearly 3 years of care-taking...
slowly finding my way back...
Wishing you all a happy day ~ Laurie

Second post of the day...

Crazy, I know! Silent for weeks...months, and here I am again;)

Well, I just got the go ahead to "let the cat out of the bag"... Registration is NOW open for From Our Hands ~ Creative & Spring Mercantile
April 24 thru 27, 2017
Yellow Springs, Ohio

I'm so honored that Rebekah L. Smith and Lori Ann Corelis invited me to Ohio to teach! These days, I rarely teach outside the Twin Cities area...but I'm hitting the road and will teach 2 punch needle classes and a rug hooking class. Lots of goodies planned for the mercantile, too!

I can't wait to meet Rebekah L. Smith, Lori Ann Corelis, Stacy Nash and Donna Bennett in person! I've long admired their work...it will be a delight to spend these days with kindred spirits.

Click this link to see all the fun projects/register
http://www.fromourhands.com/copy-of-2016-registration

Looking forward to seeing some of my long time Ohio customers and many others that will be traveling to this renowned event! ~Laurie