The Paisley Studio Rug Hooking

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Saturday

2012-02-11T05:04:00.001-08:00

Snow. Sleepless night. Slow day ahead.

More Hearts

2012-02-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the nice feedback on my heart. Here are a couple more. Fun to do, but, unfortunately, not made of chocolate. i could use a piece of chocolate right now.

Valentine's Day Is Drawing Near

2012-02-08T14:50:00.000-08:00

So. I am a little behind the times . . . but I just finished hooking and putting together a hanging heart and listing it in my etsy shop. I can still manage to get it to someone by Valentine's Day if I ship it by Priority Mail and the Post Office behaves itself . . . .

I am pleased with it -- both because I actually finished something, and because I came up with a new way to finish it. I pinched and stitched strip of wool, then stitched them onto the edge. Hides the raw edge and adds a nice detail and some texture.

I made a couple of other Valentines, but it remains to be seen if I can get photos of them and get them listed.

Happy February

2012-02-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

Its not spring yet, but it certainly feels like it. It was at least 50 degrees yesterday, and it not so far off that this morning and it isn't even 10 am. The birds are singing, the daffodils are poking through the earth . . . it even smells like spring today. I expect we'll get 10 feet of snow by Friday.

What I'm Working On

2012-01-30T10:07:00.000-08:00

This is "Whale of a Tale," designed by Bonnie Smith and Tina Ackerman, from a class our guild sponsored last summer. I am just getting back to hooking on it. It's going incredibly fast. In one week, I hooked the sky, most of the whale and the waves on the right. I rarely (really never, except for this) hook other people's patterns -- I never seem to finish them. And I couldn't resist making some changes -- I moved the moon and created swirls in the sky that were inspired by Van Gogh's Starry Night (although these look nothing like his swirls . . . . ) I felt that since there was such a large expanse of sky it needed a little something to keep it interesting. I'm liking it, except for those two parallel racing stripes, which I will change. There's less of a contrast than the photo indicates . . .

I hooked Jonah last summer, using some old paisley. I am thinking his robe is not flashy enough now and I may change it. I've also thought of giving him a peg leg and calling him Ahab, since the whale is white . . . The whale is hooked with my favorite light background, which is actually a little more yellow than the photographs make it appear.

I should really set this aside again, and get started on hooking samples of new patterns, but I'm on a roll and its going so quickly. I'll post my progress periodically.

Spring is Here . . .

2012-01-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's rain washed all the snow away. When I let Cairo out into the backyard this morning, it was 45 degrees, the birds were singing, and the sun was shining. Because it has been such a mild winter, Pete threw some spinach and lettuce seeds into the raised beds and covered them with clear plastic and the seeds have sprouted! Such weird weather . . .

The Peconic Ruggers New Year party was a great success. We had a smorgasbord -- Louise's fabulous vegetarian lasagna, chili, chicken sate, fresh bread, salad, hummus, blueberry pie, assorted Italian pastries, and Judy's incredible homemade eggnog. We ate a lot and talked a lot and hooked a little. As usual, I forgot my camera, but I did take a few shots with my phone.

Here's the gang hard at work . . . .

This is Sally's Uncle Sam, a free pattern from an old issue of Rug Hooking magazine.

Jennifer worked on her Whale of a Tale rug from our class last summer.

Sue brought her version of my Garden Cat pattern, which she hooked for a neighbor with a white cat.

We had a lovely afternoon -- thank you, Louise, for hosting us!

Snow Day

2012-01-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

We're having our first real snow of the season. Its a good day for sitting on the sofa with an Ann Cleeves mystery -- which is just what I've been doing. That, and playing Word Welder on my iPad. Finally won after two weeks of trying. Today was the day for the Peconic Ruggers New Year's party, but the snow forced us to postpone it until tomorrow. I just finished hooking a brick path hit-or-miss rug yesterday (that's Cairo sitting on it), so I am digging through my UFOs for something to work on tomorrow. I should really be vacuuming up all the snippets. I make quite a mess when I hook, which is why I only hook up here in my garret. It is so nice to leave the mess and shut the door on it.

I have been relying on my smart phone for blogging and taking pictures, which is why my photos have not been great. Seems like I always leave my camera here in the attic and I am too lazy retrieve it when its time for a walk or some other photo op. The Blogger app is quite handy, though, in a pinch. Easy to use, which is making me lazy.

Anyway, I decided to take some picture out the windows of my studio, hoping the bay would be visible. It's not. And the pictures are not so hot. But here you go anyway.

First Snow of the Season

2012-01-19T18:53:00.001-08:00

Not Long Until Valentine's Day!

2012-01-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Need a Valentine treat for your sweetie? zCheck out my sister Barb's newest creations here: thimblefolk

Fairfield-Grace 52nd Annual Rug Show

2012-01-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

****Please note: The date for the Fairfield Show is now April 28!****

I am extremely happy to announce that the Fairfield-Grace Methodist Church will be hosting its 52nd Annual Rug Show this year! Here are the details I just received:

We are pleased to announce

the Fairfield Grace 52^st Annual Rug Exhibit.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church

1089 Fairfield Woods Road

Fairfield, CT 06825

Guest Speaker: Liz Alpert Fay

Spectacular Sunset

2012-01-06T13:51:00.001-08:00

Remembering Helen Connelly

2012-01-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

I tried to teach myself to hook using an unfinished rug of my grandmother's, but the decade-old burlap shredded. Around that time, I saw a sign in Brandi's Shoe Store for the first Long Island Rug School to be held right here in Greenport. I signed up. I learned a lot that week and met some wonderful people. One of them was McGown teacher Helen Connelly, a soft-spoken, gracious woman dressed to the nines who was working on a stunning room-sized floral rug in a #3 cut. The colors in the rug were amazing -- and she had dyed them all herself.

Back then the norm was to chose a teacher and stick with her, but the next year I switched to Helen's class. She was a remarkable teacher, thoughtful and considerate even when confronted by the ugliest hooked flower in history. She never took the hook out of a student's hand, never ripped strips of wool out of an unsuccessful rug. She taught with positive energy and encouragement. After that year's school, she invited me to attend classes in her home and even gave me a couple of private dyeing lessons. What a treat.

She was an active member of the Long Island Guild of Rug Crafting Artists, who honored her at their show in 2007. Sadly, I can't find my photos of her rug display, but you can see a couple in A Rug Hooker's Garden published by Rug Hooking Magazine in 2000.

I will remember Helen fondly, poised and ever-encouraging, dressed in a favorite outfit: denim skirt, cowboy boots, and a fringed vest accented by her beautiful turquoise jewelry -- a color she could -- and often did -- replicate perfectly in her dye pot.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T04:35:00.001-08:00

Cairo and I have been up since before 5. The power is out, maybe due to high winds. We headed out for an early walk to watch the sunrise on Peconic Bay. No one was out and I let Cairo walk off his lead. He kept looking back at me, not believing his good fortune. I thought of Frost's line "My little horse must think it queer . . ." and substituted "dog" for "horse." The light was so beautiful on the bay. Even now the clouds are pink and everything has a rosy glow. Have I told you how much I love where I live? Hmmm, I think so -- maybe once or twice . . .

We have had two weeks of cooking and eating and visiting and eating and celebrating and eating and more visiting and eating. Today it stops. I'm taking the tree down this morning -- mostly because I forgot to water it and the needles are dropping like crazy -- and then it is back to work on new patterns and new plans to help the business grow. And eating a lot less. Here's to a healthy and happy new year for everyone.

Christmas Morning on Peconic Bay

2011-12-25T06:38:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas to All

2011-12-24T15:07:00.001-08:00

Christmas Cookie Craziness

2011-12-21T09:06:00.001-08:00

I've been sick as a dog -- second head cold in less than a month. It's been so bad I've gone through three big boxes of Puffs Plus in a week. Needless to say, I am way behind schedule with my Christmas preparations.

I am on my last batch of cookies to give away -- Linzer Hearts from The Silver Palate Cookbook -- and then I will finish packing them up and mailing them out. My next job: wrapping the presents -- and blowing my nose again!

I Love Where I Live

2011-12-13T08:02:00.001-08:00

I am on the ferry, heading up to Connecticut to pick up Barb. We're going up to Dorr Mill Store in New Hampshire. I am sort of regretting that I have to be in the car all day. We've had a streak of fabulous sunny weather here on the East End and I would like to enjoy it while it lasts.

Anyway, I will come the with a carload of linen and wool and will start work on my new patterns for 2012.

Weekend in Brooklyn -- or -- Cairo Goes to the Big City

2011-12-04T13:06:00.001-08:00

We spent Saturday moving Clara to a new apartment -- on the same floor of the same building, thank goodness. It is a studio, her first apartment just for her -- no roommates!

Cairo came with us and was a nudge the entire time. Clara lives in a fourth floor walk up, so there are a lot of stairs when it is time to go out. He was so distraught about being out of his element that he couldn't manage to do what he was supposed to. He is definitely a country dog. He was not too pleased when the subway roared by over our heads while we walked under the Manhattan Bridge.

I was strolling the streets of Brooklyn late at night and early in the morning, trying to get him to go. It was actually quite beautiful by the East River and our walk at 6:30 this morning lasted well over an hour. We watched the sun come up and stopped for bagels to bring home.

Sorry for the picture quality -- I took them all on my iPhone and posted via Bloggers iPhone app.

The Forum -- and Everything Else We Saw

2011-12-02T12:22:00.001-08:00

A panoramic pasted together by my daughter the photographer.

I wish I could make this bigger, it is truly amazing.

We are home and getting back in the swing of things. I loved Rome, but was happy to walk the beach with my little dog on Wednesday morning, and to sleep in my own bed. I brought home a nasty head cold and I am still waking up before 5 every morning, so I am pretty tired by dinner time. Am thinking about dressing the house and yard up for Christmas.

A few pics of our trip --

How we started each day . . . yummy cappucino

The Vatican

The restoration room

St. Peter's -- I love those Mediterranean pines

Bernini's Colonnade

The Pantheon

Clara Attacking a Roman Soldier (for a price, of course)

Campo de Fiori

The Coliseum

Every square foot of floor in the Vatican is a work of art . . . and inspiration for a rug, perhaps?

The entry of the 5-Star Hotel de Russie, where we had tea

Friends, Romans, Countrymen . . .

2011-11-28T01:42:00.001-08:00

The Coliseum and the Forum!

Remarkable Roma

2011-11-25T12:53:00.003-08:00

We ate pasta for Thanksgiving dinner -- in Rome! We spent the day touring the Vatican -- breathtaking art every step of the way. The Sistine Chapel -- heart stopping. St. Peter's -- so over the top I was stunned into silence. My first sighting of the Coliseum brought tears to my eyes. Too many superlatives? I can't find enough . . . I am incredibly grateful to be here with my family and friends, even though my feet hurt.

See You Next Week

2011-11-22T05:41:00.000-08:00

We are off on another adventure, so I am wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving now. I'll report in when I can . . . .

Don't know where I found this picture, but isn't it a great rug?

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!

My First Teddy Bear

2011-11-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

Here's my first handmade teddy bear -- stitched from a kit called "T" is for Teddy by Indigo Junction, designed by Lori Baker. I have always admired Lori's bears (her last name is now Corelis and you visit her here: The Spotted Hare) and have always wanted to work with mohair. So this kit, which I bought on eBay, was the perfect way for me to experiment.

I think he's pretty cute, although his head my be a tad small for his body. He's a bit floppy, too -- I had a hard time with the cotter pins when working on the joints. I have two more kits to practice on -- a smaller 5 inch bear and a 5 inch bunny. Then I am going to try to design one of my own . . . Stay tuned.

Past Country Parlor Shows

2011-11-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here's some eye candy to entice you to attend the 20th Annual Country Parlor Holiday Home Show, November 25, 26,and 27, 2011 at the historic Naugles barn at Hallockville Museum Farm.

20th Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale

2011-11-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

Wow Wow Wow Wilton!

2011-11-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

Before:

After:

What a successful weekend we had at Wilton! Many to thanks to everyone who came to visit, chat, and buy, and to the volunteers from the Wilton Historical Society who took such good care of us -- even feeding us dinner upon our arrival Friday night. We were cleaned out! The after photo above was actually taken early on Sunday morning, so there was even less at the end of the show. Packing up was a breeze!

Barb and I are now focusing on our next -- and last show -- of the year: The Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale to be held at Hallockville's historic Naugles Barn here on the North Fork. More to come about that, so stay tuned.

Less Than One Week Til Wilton

2011-11-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

I have been working like crazy getting ready for the Wilton Historical Society's Fine American Craftsman Show, which is why I've been neglecting my blog. So sorry! After Thanksgiving I hope to get on a more regular blogging schedule.

If you are within traveling distance, I hope you will visit Barb and me at Wilton. It is a lovely show with beautifully wrought and presented hand work from tavern signs to Windsor chairs -- and, of course, hooked rugs. Click below to go to the site.

Fine American Craftsman Show

November 12, 2011, 10 am to 5 pm

Sunday, November 13, 2011, 10 am to 4 pm

Wilton High School Field House

395 Danbury Road (Route 7)

Wilton, CT 06897

I Fell in Love with This Guy at Rhinebeck

2011-10-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know his name or where he comes from, but we seriously bonded over the weekend.

Every time I neared his pen, he would lean against the rails to get close to me, then set his little chin in my hand. He's an angora goat, and if I had a slightly bigger yard, I would have driven off into the sunset with him.

As always, there were many beautiful animals to pet at the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival: puppies, bunnies, llamas, alpaca, sheep, goats. I made my rounds each morning before the show opened to visit them all, and to see what wild and wonderful items the other vendors had for sale.

The show started slowly on Saturday morning. We had lots of rain while setting up on Friday, and, coupled with the soaking upstate got from Hurricane Irene, it turned the parking fields to mud. The crew had a difficult getting attendees parked in a timely manner. But once they were parked, boy, did they buy! We were so busy Saturday afternoon that my head was spinning and I could hardly wait to get to bed Saturday night. Sunday was busier than usual as well. We were so glad to see our old friends and customers and to meet new ones. They made this year's show a banner year for us. We are already signed up for next year!

My apologies for not posting earlier -- I had orders to fill and kits to make up and it has been a busy week. The last two shows have been wonderful, but we are low on inventory and we have two more shows coming up, so we are working as fast as we can to get things out to customers.

In the meantime, here are some photos to look at. I hope to have more soon -- Clara came up for the day with her fancy camera and took a bunch. When she sends them to me, I will post them.

October Sky

2011-10-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Indian Summer is here -- 80 degrees again today. I feel as though we should be swimming instead of picking pumpkins . . . I just checked the weather report for this weekend in Rhinebeck and it looks like it will be perfect -- upper 60s and mostly sunny. That means all the knitters at the Sheep & Wool Festival can wear their newly knit sweaters while shopping for more yarn . . .

Cairo and I had a lovely walk on the beach this morning, marveling at all the butterflies landing on the Montauk daisies that are in full bloom.

Now it's back to work. My studio is full of hooked pumpkins and Happy Scraps (my newest marketing idea for bits of wool I never seem to use) that need to be inventoried and packed up. Hope we will see you this weekend!

One Week from Today . . .

2011-10-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

I will be on my way to Rhinebeck, for our 5th year as vendors at the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival. I love this festival -- I love the sheep and all the woolly stuff, I love the crisp air and autumn leaves, I love the crowds and the apple cider doughnuts . . . You will love it, too, if you join us!

Dates: 10/15/2011 to 10/16/2011

Description:
More than 200 wool artists, fiber, craft vendor, culinary programs, specialty foods. Unique family festival, Halloween Tunnel, Frisbee & Flyball dog demos, haunted house, petting zoo, kids' activities, petting zoo. Rain or shine.

Location & Contact Info:

6550 Springbrook Ave

Rte 9

Rhinebeck, Hudson Valley, NY, 12572

Phone: 845-876-4001

Email: info@dutchessfair.com

Website: www.sheepandwool.com

So Long, Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Sent from my iPad

Scenes from the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival

2011-10-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend up north. We enjoyed our time at the Festival, and at the home of Barb's friend Martha. Much smaller than Rhinebeck, the SAFF was charming and much easier to manage. We had time to talk to customers and fellow vendors, which is always a treat. I sold one of my biggest rugs and am ever so happy it has a new home.

Here are some unedited photos -- I just don't have the time to pretty them up. The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is less than two weeks away and I need to work on my inventory!

3rd Annual Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival!

2011-09-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Barb and I are traveling north this weekend for the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival. It is the Festival's third year, but our first year as participants. I am so looking forward to this -- to all the fiber frenzy, but also to being in the neighborhood of Saratoga Springs, a city I love. (My daughter went to college there and I miss my visits.) We will be staying with Barb's friend Martha, who has generously opened her home to us for the weekend. And she has sheep! I imagine the leaves are starting to turn upstate and if the weather holds out we should have a great weekend. Please join us if you can! We are in Building 12, Space #5.

Here's the information -- if you go to their main page and scroll down, there's a coupon for $1 off the entry fee.

Saturday and Sunday, September 24 & 25, 2011

10 am to 5 pm

$5 for Adults, Children under 14 are free

Free Parking

Washington Country Fairgrounds

392 Old Schuylerville Road
Greenwich, NY 12834

(518) 692-2464

Harvest Time at Hallockville

2011-09-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

It is time for the Hallockville Fall Festival. Barb and I don't have a booth this year, but my guild has taken a booth so that members can sell their wares as well as demonstrate rug hooking. The Festival will be held for two days again this year, but the Peconic Ruggers will only be there on Saturday. So if you want to see hookers (including me) in action, that's the day you need to come.

Hallockville Museum Farm
Sound Avenue, RIverhead, NY
10 am - 5 pm 9/17/11 and 9/18/11
(631)298-5292

Admission: Adults: $7 Children 5-12: $5

Another Brilliant September Morning

2011-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

What I am wishing for the world

while I watch and remember

Moving On

2011-09-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

It's funny -- most of the rest of the world has moved on from Hurricane Irene -- Katia is now on the horizon -- but Irene is still very much a reality around here. I'm pleased to say my sister Barb, who lives in Connecticut, finally has power again. She's still living with the smell of rotting sea creatures, but at least she can take a hot shower. We still have piles and piles of downed trees all over town, but Greenport is back on its feet. When I paid my utility bill yesterday, I wrote a thank you note to the crew who worked so diligently to get us electrified again.

I didn't take many pictures and what I did take are not the greatest, but here they are.

Before

During

After

Safe and Sound

2011-08-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Our blustery weekend visitor, Irene, has departed, leaving us without power and with a yard full of debris, but everyone is okay. Our utility pole needs to be replaced before we can be hooked up to the electric again, but that should happen pretty soon. Our little village has it's own electric crew, so we are not dependent on the big power companies and repairs happen fairly quickly. We still aren't hooked up to cable, so I am dependent on my trusty iPhone still for posting here.

Jane and John, our next door neighbors, have power and have graciously run a heavy duty cord over to us to keep our fridge and freezer working. We have been using headlamps in the evening to read and rug hook. We even had hot water left to clean up with this morning. So all in all we have faired quite well. My sister Barb had a harrowing day in Connecticut, but I'll let her tell that story once she gets her power and computer back on line. She is okay, too, just exhausted from the pre-storm prep and her emergency evacuation.

We had an ice cream party with the neighbors yesterday. It was melting and we either had to eat it all or throw it away. So that's our new pithy saying around here: When life gives you hurricanes, eat ice cream!

She's Here!

2011-08-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

I woke at 5:30 to strong winds and rain. Turned on the electric kettle for coffee and just as it came to a boil, the power went out. There's a large limb on the power lines two doors down and the utility pole is leaning precariously. The police are here, and the village work crew is on it's way, according to radio reports. The weather report says Irene is moving much more quickly now, so we should be okay by afternoon.

I am posting this on my iPhone -- love you, Steve Jobs, wherever you are!

Waiting for Irene

2011-08-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

I spent most of yesterday putting up awnings, taking down swings, moving lawn furniture and potted plants, filling water bottles, gathering flashlights and batteries, candles and matches. I went to bed at 10, I was so exhausted. This morning Pete and I did a few last minute things -- putting the canoe in the garage, buying some ice cream to go with our hurricane pie which I plan on making this evening. We're as ready as we can be.

The village is abuzz with activity. Stores are boarding up windows and closing early and neighbors stop to chat about their preparations. The atmosphere is, amazingly enough, very festive. There's a real "we're all in this together" attitude, what you expect in a small community like this. I have checked on my older friends to be sure they are set, and I have offered a watchful eye to those who can't be here to monitor their vacation homes.

The air is thick and murky and the first rain drops are starting to fall. I love to watch the weather from the safety my window, but Irene isn't supposed to arrive until midnight -- too late to view. We'll see what daybreak brings on Sunday. Stay safe and dry, wherever you are.

Sweet Summer

2011-08-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been glorious: sunny, blue skies, dry air, cool breeze. We celebrated our neighbor's daughter's engagement under the stars on Saturday. Sunday we canoed across Hallock's Bay and went clamming and swimming. Clara came home for a visit and she and I cooked up a storm. We made clam chowder while Pete shucked the little necks for eating on the half shell, then processed tomatoes for the winter with his new Squeezo, a wonderful machine that separates the seeds and skin from the pulp. Then we made fried chick and a cucumber salad. I picked zinnias and cosmos and put them in a turquoise pitcher. All the colors make me happy.

Today, while talking on the phone with my sister Barb, the flowers started dancing and Barb started yelping. Stuff actually fell off her walls. Another earthquake shook the northeast. There was one in Colorado yesterday, too. Strange stuff.

Are Your Ready for Halloween?

2011-08-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

My sister Barb is up to her old tricks -- making whimsical folk art for Halloween. This year her theme is the circus. She has clowns, dogs, seals, cats, bears -- you name it! You can see -- and buy -- her creations by clicking here: Barb's Wonderful Wooly Folk Art

Hugh Carey

2011-08-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, when Clara was still quite small, our across-the-street neighbors treated us to dinner at what was then called the Island Grill (now Sunset Beach) on Shelter Island. Clara was dressed in a sweet, summery sundress and pigtails and was enchanted with the view from the restaurant. We were all enchanted with the food. I noticed a fellow sitting across the room and said to everyone at our table, "That man looks like Hugh Carey, the former governor of New York." We decided it couldn't be, since we thought he had passed away. We finished our dinner and ordered dessert. Clara was digging into a rather large ice cream sundae when the fellow I had noticed stopped by our table to talk to her. It was indeed Hugh Carey, very much alive and charmed by my daughter. When he discovered that Clara came from a long line of McNamaras (McNamara is her second middle name, as well as my last name), he broke into song. The entire restaurant listened as he serenaded her, from start to finish, with an Irish lullaby. It was a memorable moment, a little gift from a rather important (and maybe a bit tipsy) statesman and the father of eleven children to a cute little girl in pigtails who had made him smile.

I often thought we would run into Governor Carey again -- we spend a lot of time on Shelter Island where he had a summer home -- but we never have. I was sad to hear he had passed away on Sunday. He did many great things for New York while governor, but I will always remember him singing to Clara while the sun set on Crescent Beach.

Rain, Rain, Come and Stay

2011-08-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

I am a devotee of the sun -- I don't tan, but I need a lot of sunny days to keep me from being crabby -- but I was really glad to hear a steady rain as I fell asleep last night. This morning we had a real downpour. My lawn -- new sod last summer -- is the color of a crispy French fry right now. Maybe this is the end of the heat wave . . . I hope so.

Whale Wrap

2011-08-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

I have taken many rug hooking classes since I started hooking 20 years ago -- McGown and ATHA classes; some local, some far way, but I have never taken a class as fun and as full of camaraderie as The Whale of a Tale class the Peconic Ruggers sponsored this past weekend.

Tina Teaching

We were 16 altogether -- 12 students, a teacher and her assistant, and a father and daughter support team. Many of us have hooked together for years, but two were new acquaintances, and one was a complete stranger to all of us, yet we melded together like old friends.

Betty Ann

It was beastly hot outside, and very humid, and the church basement was not air conditioned. I thought that combination spelled disaster, but everyone was enthusiastic and intent on making the most of our time together. We set up four fans around the room and provided plenty of cool drinks to keep everyone hydrated while they worked. Everyone received a name tag hand-made by Tina's mom, Bonnie Smith of the Wool Street Journal, and a great goody bag, put together by our president Jen's daughter, 12-year-old Lizzie, who also unloaded cars, unpacked bags and boxes, and helped set up and break down lunch.

Louise at work

Tina Ackerman of g.woolikers is a great teacher. She is funny and smart and kept things moving with the help of her sweet assistant, Betty Ann Horn. Tina had everyone set up with a color plan before lunch on Friday. I was lucky enough to have Tina and Betty Ann stay with me from Thursday to Sunday, and they were a delight -- even helping me shop for a new dehumidifier on the way home from the airport! And they brought homemade pecan pralines and coconut cookies all the way from Georgia for an afternoon treat!

Rhona with a red-coated Jonah

We continued the fun into Friday evening, at the home of our treasurer, Sue, and her sister Sally. They coordinated a potluck smorgasbord I wouldn't have thought possible: caprese & green salads, bread with olive oil for dipping, sausage and peppers, roast chicken, tuna casserole, potato salad, cole slaw, peach cobbler, chocolate cream pie, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry shortcake. We ate what we could and then packed up the leftovers to add to lunch on Saturday.

Jennifer, our fearless leader

Saturday was hotter than Friday, but everyone buckled down to work on their waves. Ken, our president's husband, made a Starbucks run with a list a mile long and kept us energized with cold, caffeinated drinks. My daughter Clara, in town for the weekend, took lots of photographs for us. Although the class was scheduled to end at 3:30, we started cleaning up at 3 , well, because we were hot and sweaty and many of us had tickets for the Southold/Greenport Rotary Lobsterfest on the beach at Founder's Landing later in the evening! Because we finished early and didn't plan on getting to the beach until 6, I brought a couple of carloads of people home with me to relax in the air conditioning. Clara and I whipped up a batch of mojitos and set out some snacks. By 6:30 or so we were all dining on lobsters and mussels, sweet corn and watermelon, watching the sunset on Peconic Bay. What a weekend!

Phyllis, who always wears a smile

Betty Ann and Tina left on Sunday to watch whales off of Montauk. I have to admit that I took a rather long nap on the couch Sunday afternoon, and just finished unpacking everything this morning. It was an exhausting but exhilarating weekend and I would change only one thing -- I would find a room with air conditioning.

Name tags

Goody bag

Founders Landing, Southold, New York

Tina & Betty Ann in seafood heaven

The fabulous Lizzie on the beach

Steamy, Sultry Summer

2011-07-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

The heat has been unbelievable. The thermometer in my car read 99 degrees at noon on Friday. I have been cocooned in my house most of the time, so very glad we decided to splurge on central air conditioning when we renovated a couple of years ago. It's a miracle to me -- I am so comfortable I can cook and hook and sleep without tossing and turning. And it is quiet, so very quiet. I don't hear the kids next door on their skate boards, or the ice cream truck with that horrible electronic version of Turkey in the Straw playing over and over and over again or the air conditioner when it turns on and off. It is peaceful and it keeps me productive.

I have been getting ready for the Whale of a Tale class that my guild is sponsoring on Friday and Saturday. Along with Jen, the president, and Sue, the treasurer, I have been organizing the class as well as color planning my version of the rug. I have put together spectacular goody bags for the participants, mostly rug hooking related stuff and contributions from the vendors. I will be vending, too, of course, selling my sister Barb's wool as well as my own hooking supplies. On Thursday I pick Tina and her assistant Betty Ann at LaGuardia. They will be staying with me while in New York, squeezing in a whale watching trip out of Montauk and some time in the City before heading back to Georgia on Monday.

When August rolls in next Monday I am going to shift my focus to some home improvement projects (new window treatments in the bedroom, rearranging the living room) and putting up some of the veggies Pete has been growing (lots of pesto in my future and we'll use the Squeezo Pete received for Father's Day to make tomato sauce). In between I will be getting my new designs down on linen for the fall shows, and finishing up some new pieces for display. It will be winter before we know it.

This is for Denise

2011-07-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

and for those of you who want to follow along with our class.

Hurray for the MTA!

2011-07-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

My daughter was out with friends on Saturday in Manhattan and her bag was stolen. Luckily, her wallet was in her pocket, so she didn't lose her id or her debit card. The thief did make away with her cell phone and the keys to her apartment. Smartly, she called her phone -- and the MTA answered! An employee found her bag in a subway station on the Lower East Side and turned it in. Clara had everything except her Metrocard back in less than 24 hours.

So my thanks go out to the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the person who turned in Clara's bag.

I love New York!

Join Us!

2011-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

My guild, the Peconic Ruggers, is sponsoring its first-ever two-day rug hooking class at the end of this month! The class, taught by Tina Ackerman of g. woolikers, will feature an exclusive pattern drawn by Bonnie Smith of The Wool Street Journal available nowhere else. The pattern is called A Whale of a Tale and Tina will emphasize color planning and hooking sky and water. Here's a drawing of the pattern, which measures 28 x 36 inches:

please respect the artist and do not copy her work!

Here are the particulars:

A Whale of Tale

Friday, July 29, 2011 and Saturday, July 30, 2011

9:30 am to 3:30 pm both days

Cutchogue Presbyterian Church

Main Road, Cutchogue, New York

Class fee (paid to guild): $80

~includes snacks, beverages, lunch and a great goody bag~

Pattern fee (paid to teacher): $46

Potluck for class members Friday evening

wool for sale, too!

For more information: peconicruggers@yahoo.com

The North Fork of Long Island is a fabulous place to visit, especially in the summer. We have vineyards and farms galore, beautiful beaches, great shopping and restaurants, and lots of rug hookers! You can get here by train from Manhattan or by ferry from Connecticut. There are inns, bed and breakfasts, and hotels tucked in lots of out of the way places here, too. There are a few spots left, and you won't find a class at this cost anywhere else, so sign up now!

Exciting Times in the Quiet Corner

2011-06-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Barb and I will be at the Quiet Corner Rug Show on Saturday. It is one of our favorite shows with our favorite people -- they are so kind and helpful -- and only happens every other year. We hope y0u will come if you are in the area -- and a beautiful area it is!

Quiet Corner Rug Show

Saturday, June 26, 2011

9 am to 3 pm

Woodstock Fair Grounds

Route 169

Woodstock, Connecticut

Traditional Hand Hooked Rugs

Guest Speaker: Linda Rae Coughlin

Vendors, Door Prizes, Raffles, Food & Beverages

Contact: 860-928-0162

Where Does the Time Go?

2011-06-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

Can it really be June 13? Our anniversary (#26) is in a couple of days, Father's Day is Sunday and Clara's birthday (#23) is next week . . . . I am running as fast as I can, trying to keep up . . . Barb and I have another show a week from this coming Saturday (Quiet Corner in Woodstock, Connecticut) so I should be working, but I am cleaning and weeding and mulching instead. We've got guests coming on Thursday for the weekend, so there is shopping and cooking to do, too, and presents to be wrapped. I've decided not to get stressed and to enjoy what I am doing when I am doing it. Not that I love weeding. Love gardens, hate gardening. I should have been born rich so I could have a full staff of housekeepers and gardeners . . .

Some Information

2011-06-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

Julia commented about the wool in yesterday's photographs. The first couple of pictures feature our booth at the Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair. The hand-dyed wool in the grid boxes on the table is my sister Barb's wool and it is for sale. She also made those cute little creatures displayed on the back table. She has a couple of places you can go to purchase her stuff. Her company name is thimblefolk (lower case t): just click on the following links to get to her stuff. She has an etsy shop under that name: thimblefolk on etsy Barb and I share an eBay store under my company name: thepaisleystudio on eBay, and you can buy her wool there. Lastly, you can view her critters on her PictureTrail album: Barb's Folk Art.

When I talked to her this morning, she said she is starting to think Halloween. Christmas won't be far behind!

Fun at the Fair

2011-05-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair. We had a foggy start to the day, but a lot of fun.

When It Rains, It Pours . . .

2011-05-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

and not just outside!

I am honored to have another one of my rugs featured in another etsy treasury. It's called Orange You Glad Summer Is On Its Way. Thank you BearStitches for including me. Take a look and post a comment! Click here: etsy Treasury.

Don't Be a Day Late and a Dollar Short . . .

2011-05-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

Like me!

Tomorrow is the Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair at Hallockville Museum Farm. Barb and I will be vending. My guild, the Peconic Ruggers, will be there, too, demonstrating and spreading the gospel of rug hooking. Come and join us, pet the animals, and try your hand at a variety of fiber arts. It will be a great day out on the farm. Hope to see you there.

For pictures of last year's fair and more info, click here: Hallockville

In a Treasury

2011-05-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

My rug Fleur the Fox Terrier made it into an etsy Treasury this weekend. How cool is that? Thank you littleredhen44 for taking notice!

The Lovely Month of May

2011-05-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

We have had a fabulous week of spring weather here, lots of clear skies and sun but a little nip in the air. We traveled down to East Hampton on Thursday to celebrate Cinqo de Mayo with Paula and Ann. We had a fabulous array of delicious Mexican specialties from La Fondita and a relaxing ride home on the ferries. Pete and I spent the weekend in the garden and shopping for a few new plants. We cleaned up the grill and cooked out for the first time on Sunday.

Mother's Day was fun. Clara, my reason for celebrating Mother's Day, couldn't be here, but she called. Pete took me out to breakfast and then we went for a ride to buy some freshly picked asparagus for dinner. He showered me with gifts, too: chocolates (yum!), a pretty pale purple verbena for the garden, some seeds, and some lavender soap. The little boy across the street brought me purple lilacs. I only have white ones since the renovation (we had to tear out 2 purple lilacs to make room for the addition.) So I felt pretty special all day long.

I worked for a woman once who insisted Mother's Day was created by Hallmark to sell cards. She obviously never had a child and never spent 6 years driving her child an hour to and an hour from swim practice five times a week (Sometimes I can't believe I did that . . . ). Mother's Day was actually started by suffragette and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, who also wrote one of my all time favorite songs, The Battle Hymn of the Republic (don't ask me why -- I am as un-religious as you can get, but the words always move me). In 1870 she wrote Mothers Day Proclamation, a reaction to the horrors of the Civil War, calling women to become more active members of society and to strive for peace. Frankly, I think women's rights and women's work are as important to celebrate as Labor Day or Memorial Day . . . Who cares if Hallmark makes a buck or two?

I'm doing more gardening than hooking or blogging it seems, but that will change -- Barb and I have another show coming up soon. More about that later. I hope you all are enjoying spring as much as I am.

Blossoms

2011-05-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

The cherry trees and lilacs are blooming here on Fifth Street. I cut a branch from the flowering quince in the front yard to brighten up the kitchen, since tomorrow is supposed to be gloomy again. Pete and I brought the quince to Greenport from the house I grew up in, which was once my great grandmother's house. We moved in after her death when I was 4 years old. I don't know if she or my mother planted the quince. At one point, the original bush actually produced fruit and Mommy made the most wonderful pale pink tart jelly from it. Today would have been her 90th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom.

Be There or Be Square!

2011-04-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

51st Annual Fairfield Rug Show

Saturday, April 30, 2011

9 am to 3 pm

Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church

1089 Fairfield Woods Road

Fairfield, CT 06825

(203)374-6528

$5 admission

Color Planning for Rug Hookers

presentation by Eric Sandberg

1 pm

Door Prizes, Vendors, Hook In

Refreshments

Free admission to registrants who arrive by 9:30 with 5 or more hooked rugs for display

Barb and I will be in the same room as last year on the north side of the building. Please come and see us. And come see the talented Eric Sandberg -- his rugs are amazing and he is a font of rug hooking knowledge -- a nice guy to boot!

Another Opening, Another Show . . . .

2011-04-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Barb and I are pleased to announce that we will be vending at the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival September 24 & 25 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich, New York. It is not far from Saratoga Springs, a town I dearly love and miss visiting since my daughter graduated from Skidmore College last May. So not only do we get to have fun at the festival, but we get to visit with Barb's friend Martha and her sheep, and we get to have dinner at Max London's, one of my all time favorite restaurants!

In its third year, the SAFF, which runs from 10 am to 5 pm both days, is either a great counterpart or counterpoint to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck), depending on your viewpoint. If you love all things fiber and can't get enough of it, this festival is 3 weeks before Rhinebeck, so you can rest up a bit in between. If Rhinebeck is just too crowded and too overwhelming for you (as it is for Martha), the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival is much more intimate -- and I have heard they plan to keep it that way.

Visit their website (Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival) to see a list of this year's events and to get a $1.00 off coupon. The entrance fee without the coupon is $5 (children under 14 free), and there is lots of free parking. Barb and I hope to see you there!

Mary's Runner Yet Again

2011-03-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have to say: It is just too cool to pose a question to the ether and get so many responses back! People are actually listening!

I appreciate each and every comment I received and I am so curious about who some of you are and where you live and how long you've been hooking . . . but I guess that is another post altogether. So here's what I've been doing and thinking in regard to Mary's Runner. I ripped the plain border out and replace it with the colored strips, my original idea, to get a better idea of how it would look. I read everyone's comments and decided to sleep on it, get up and hook some plain border at the other end of the rug and then make my decision.

To save time and effort, I laid strips of background fabric along the border. It's not a bad choice: the plain border would make a perfectly nice rug. But -- the plain border is too predictable for me. Then my friend Carol -- an artist, formerly my across-the-street neighbor -- suggested a red border! A completely different color! Threw me for a loop (excuse the pun)! So I laid some strips of red fabric along the border.

My photograph doesn't do the red justice; it looks much darker and richer in real life. It, too, would make a perfectly nice rug, but it doesn't feel right to me. But Carol's idea then led me to try orange, to match the single row I hooked around the circles, which I really like against the dark green of the background.

The orange isn't bad, either, but it doesn't call to me. But I really like that Carol's idea opened my mind to other possibilities. I have decided that the border that is best is the one that makes me smile: the stripes, my original idea.

The corner isn't right -- I'll rip it out and rehook. I'm also going to take out those few pieces of bright blue in the circles -- they are really bothering me when I look at the photo. Perhaps Mary will choose to do a plain border when she hooks her pattern. I'll keep you posted on her choice, and also on my progress. Thanks again for all the help!

More on Mary's Runner

2011-03-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

I received a phone call from Julie in Maine last week, asking if I would have a pattern available of Mary's Runner. (Julie reads my blog (Hi, Julie!) -- how cool is it that she took the time to call and talk?) I will have one shortly that measures 18 by 36 inches, the size Mary requested, but after talking to Julie, I am going to make a larger version for the floor as well.

Julie also asked me what I was going to do with the border. My original idea was the multicolored border you see above. Julie hoped that I would not take away from the circles in the center of the piece. That got me thinking . . . maybe it should just be a plain and simple border, to anchor the whole design. Now I can't decide what to do. I thought if I hooked a bit of both and took a photograph, I'd be able to see which would work better, but I still can't decide. I am thinking I shouldn't have hooked the two choices so close together . . . So I am going to rip out the plain border and re-hook it on the other end and take a couple more pictures.

I could use some help making this decision -- does anyone have any suggestions? Julie, are you there?

Rug Hooker in New York Magazine

2011-03-11T03:47:00.000-08:00

I'm an avid reader of New York Magazine, having been a New Yorker once upon a time. Last week the Lookbook section caught my eye. Each week they feature a New Yorker who's fashion style appeals to them. I noticed the name -- Janet West -- and thought, "There's a rug hooker named Janet West . . ." I've seen her rugs in several books. Sure enough, this is the Janet West who is a rug hooker -- read the last line of her interview. I can't figure out why she hasn't over-dyed and hooked up those Pendelton trousers yet. Click here: New York Magazine

This Is Where I Am Right Now!

2011-03-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

. . . and why I have been awol again . . . We are on the beautiful island of St. John getting some much needed R & R. Clara was able to join us for a long weekend, which we spent camping on Cinnamon Bay. We've been snorkeling a lot -- saw my first ever Moray eel! -- hiking (even me!), and eating lots of good food. We are off on a jaunt to Tortola today. We'll hit the beach again tomorrow and Friday and head home on Saturday, just in time to spring forward. I am hoping the wild, wet weather there will be a thing of the past by then, and that my daffodils will be well on their way to blooming.

Thanks for all the comments on my runner. Courtney: I'll explain how I do the background when I get back. I am not very scientific about dyeing, so I will have to dye up a batch and write down what I do, then report back.

Wish you all could be here with me. It's the next best thing to heaven.

the ruins at Peace Hill

Pete playing dead at the Danish Graveyard, Cinnamon Bay Trail

sunset from the balcony of Asolare, our favorite restaurant

Browns pelican, Maho Bay

Cruz Bay Harbor at sunset

Mary's Runner

2011-03-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

I know, I know -- I have been gone forever. It's the winter doldrums, plus all sorts of chores like show applications and taxes and planning a vacation, which I cannot wait to go on. But more about that later.

I have actually been hooking -- hooking slowly, but hooking. My friend and good customer Mary wants a hit or miss runner pattern for her table. Maybe circles, maybe a log cabin pattern -- she just wants to use up her scraps. I wanted to do something with a little more umph than a cats paw, so I came up with the design below: circles that are sort of log cabins that turn so that the rug has some movement and excitement.

This is not an original idea -- I do believe I have seen an antique mat that uses the same idea -- but it is a good way to use up leftovers and it is far less monotinous than hooking concentric circles -- at least I think so. I am using my favorite dark background which is really a dark green with hints of red and blue in it. The circles take longer to hook than I imagined. I am a pretty fast hooker in general and this is not progressing as quickly as I would like. My husband thinks it is because I am changing colors all the time and I think he is right. I will use multiple colors in the border as well, so I guess I'd better get used to moving slowly for the foreseeable future.

Happy March to you all. Won't be long before we turn the clocks ahead again. Hooray!

No Rug Hooking Here

2011-02-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

I can't seem to hook. I just don't want to. I've hooked one small piece since Christmas and it is still sitting on the frame, waiting to be steamed and bound. I don't like it. I've been sorting and skeining wool thread for needle punch and I've designed and punched a couple of pieces, but they aren't finished either. I am a procrastinator, but this is bad even for me. I am blaming the weather, which is mercifully much warmer today. March is on its way and I won't have any excuses . . .

My goal for today is to design a runner for a customer who wants the pattern by the Fairfield Rug Show at the end of April. Hhhmmmm . . . two and a half months . . . think I can do it?

A sad note: Kim Nixon, well-known for her amazing hooked footstools, passed away this week. My condolences to her family and friends.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hope your day is filled with love and chocolate!

Medici Thread

2011-02-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

I have been concentrating on needle punch lately. Several years ago I was lucky enough to purchase a large lot of of Medici thread, just before DMC stopped producing it, and just before the rest of the world found out about it. It is a single-ply wool thread, wonderful for needle punch. You can use a single strand for details or multiple strands for background.

I sold the small skeins at shows, and they didn't last long. I tried selling the larger hanks -- at a really great price, I might add -- but no one seemed to want to deal with them. The hanks are rather unwieldy, and if you aren't careful you can end up with a snarly mess. Because I bought an odd lot, the colors were rather limited. So I over-dyed some of them and I'm making them into skeins. Aren't they pretty? They have yummy names like Bing Cherry, Vanilla Bean and Georgia Peach. Look for them in my etsy shop soon.

Jury Duty

2011-02-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

Even though my heart sinks whenever I receive a jury summons, I always tell myself I will do my civic duty and not complain. But an hour into the first day, I want to scream. I bring plenty to do -- magazines, a notebook for sketches and ideas, my iPad so I can play word games and retrieve my email. It just doesn't matter. I feel like a caged animal.

The room is gray and lifeless, with connected seats facing all one direction, like a bus station. The fluorescent lights make everyone look tired and washed out and no one smiles. No one wants to be there. We watch a bad film from the 1980s about what an honor it is to sit in judgment of our peers. And we wait.

When we are called to a courtroom, we are shepherded like cattle to a bank of elevators and through the hallways. The courtroom is small and can barely hold us -- perhaps 40 prospective jurors. The judge, the attorneys, the defendant and the bailiff watch us as we take our seats in the windowless room. The only embellishment: the words In God We Trust in 6 inch brass letters affixed to the wall above the judge's head.

The clerk swears us in and the the judge addresses us. He reads the indictment: 3 counts of vehicular homicide. Everyone in the jury pool moans and tries to think of a reason why he or she should not be picked for this trial. We break for lunch. When we return, the next three hours are spent dismissing people who have medical conditions, who can't speak English, who can't hear . . . and I know I am trapped. There is not a single reason I can't serve on this jury. A third of the pool has already been dismissed. I have a sinking feeling I will be chosen.

Then the judge tells us the trial will probably run into the middle of March -- and does anyone have any planned trips within that time period. Eureka! Pete has just booked a March vacation for us and just like that, I am free.

I would like to be able to say that I feel guilty that I'll be on vacation while 12 of my peers suffer through six weeks of what will surely be disturbing and possibly gruesome testimony, but I don't. I am relieved.

So much for civic duty.

Out of the Habit

2011-02-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Seems like if I skip a few days of blogging, I don't get back to it very quickly. I'm off to Riverhead for jury duty today. Oh, joy. Perhaps I'll write some really great blog posts while I'm waiting . . .

Enough Already!

2011-01-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

Brussels sprouts in the snow

Another ten inches of snow last night! We went to bed listening to the sleet pinging off the bedroom windows like bbs. The phone woke us at 5:15 -- the local school has an automated phone system for school closings and they keep calling us -- even though our daughter hasn't been a student there for ten years! They called again at 6:00 and at 6:30 . . . Needless to say, the school is getting a call from me tomorrow when they reopen.

Hallock's Bay, Narrow River Road in Orient

The sun broke through this morning, but only for a little while. Pete shoveled -- my back is funny today (how convenient, huh?) -- so Cairo could go out and play. Not. He hightailed it right back in the house, the little ninny.

Picnic, anyone?

The one good thing happening right now -- my jasmine is flowering. It fills the whole house with its scent. Just lovely. If I close my eyes, I feel like I'm someplace exotic. Yeah, right. I can't wait for spring.

Tulip Time Again

2011-01-25T06:37:00.000-08:00

I can never resist the colorful bunches of tulips at the grocery store this time of year. I need to see a splash of color against the snow outside the window. Yesterday was bitter -- only 5 degrees for most of the day -- but the sun was brilliant and I could feel its warmth on my face when Cairo and I took our morning walk. Today is dull, and it is snowing again, and Cairo wanted to hurry home as much as I did.

Cathy of Orange Sink wanted to know if that was my snowman rug pictured in yesterday's post. Her question made me realize I should be more vigilant about giving credit where it is due. The snowman rug, seen again below, was hooked by my friend Barbara, the basket maker. It was designed by Kelly of Kankerdoodle, whose whimsical designs often feature an elongated kitty.

The other rug in yesterday's photos is a Searsport pattern and is, I think, being hooked by June. The table of wool belongs to Louise, who is a certified McGown teacher. Even I, with more wool than a sheep farm, couldn't resist buying a few pieces from her on Saturday.

I am off to get some work done . . .

Another Successful Hook In

2011-01-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Despite the frigid temperature and the snow that just won't melt, we had a great hook in on Saturday. I thought I took a lot of pictures, but they were mostly in my head. I guess I was too busy eating to take pictures, or to hook. I started yawning after lunch and didn't get anything much accomplished. I discovered I can't talk and hook at the same time. Every time I opened my mouth to talk, I put my hook down. Barbara kept telling me to keep hooking, but it didn't help.

We had quite a comfort food smorgasbord. I brought shells stuffed with butternut squash and spinach. Jen brought kielbasa and sauerkraut in the crock pot. Loretta brought the best mac and cheese I have had in ages. I had a ten minute debate with myself about what I wanted more -- another helping of mac and cheese or a piece of June's chocolate cake, made from a 1953 McCall's magazine recipe. (The cake won out -- chocolate always wins with me.) Lucille brought a chicken and red cabbage dish, Barbara some guacamole and chips. Susan made vegetarian chili. There were marinated mushrooms and little balls of mozzarella with tomatoes and black olives. New hooker Bea brought shrimp salad. Eleanor made cheesecake. Sally made a cranberry loaf. OMG. We all ate too much. I was glad Pete was away skiing -- I didn't have to make dinner Saturday night.

We're lucky enough to be able to meet in the basement of the Presbyterian Church in Cutchogue during the winter. It is sunny and bright with lots of tables and chairs. Too bad there aren't any hammocks -- I really wanted to take a snooze after lunch.

We're having another hook in on February 19, so if you want to partake of good food and conversation, gain a little weight and not get any hooking done, join us!

Peconic Ruggers Winter Hook In

2011-01-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

More snow this morning . . . . The phone rang at 5:15 -- an automated call from the school district. I no longer have a child in school, but that didn't seem to matter . . . Cairo burrowed under the blankets and refused to budge. I'm hoping the snow doesn't affect attendance at the hook in tomorrow. I haven't been hooking at all. I've been thinking about hooking, and dyeing some wool, but I'm not hooking. So I'm hoping I'll hook tomorrow.

Here are the details if you can join us:

Peconic Ruggers Hook In

Saturday, January 22, 2011

10 am to 3 pm

Cutchogue Presbyterian Church

Main Road

Cutchogue, New York

Bring a finished piece to display and a pot luck dish. The guild will supply beverages.

We'll also have door prizes and vendors!

Any questions? Call Jen: 631-793-3511

Box of Wool From Barb

2011-01-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

I received a package of wool from my sister Barb, aka thimblefolk, on Saturday. What a pleasure to fondle these cheery colors on such a dreary winter day. These are the colors in my Mosaic Mat, which I now sell in a kit, with a pattern, cut wool, and a photograph. I guess I'd better get busy drawing off the patterns and cutting the wool . . . .

Barb has been a busy beaver lately, diving into the dye pots almost daily. Her wool is selling like hotcakes in our ebay store: thepaisleystudio. I think the rest of the rug hooking world is as tired of winter as I am so they are buying up her distinctive colors to cheer themselves up. Stop by to see what she has listed. If I get motivated (ha!), I'll list some patterns as well.

You can also click on over to Barb's page on The Primitive Gathering if you are so inclined. She's some sweet Valentines for sale.

Tune In To Tina!

2011-01-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

I woke up not only to a winter wonderland, but also to a message from my friend Tina of g.woolikers! She actually took responsibility for the snow storm which is still swirling outside my window. She lives in warm and sunny Georgia, which is not so warm and sunny this week. Anyway -- Tina has started a blog, which you can read and follow by clicking here: g.woolikers blog. You can also visit her website and buy one of her fabulous patterns by clicking here: g.woolikers online store.

One of my favorite patterns is Winter is a Blast. Tina hooked the background in a wonderful gold-y mustard-y wool and used that same wool to border the hooked part of the mat and then needle felted swirly snow on to the wool. She's so clever! This picture, taken at the Peconic Ruggers show back in October, really doesn't do the rug justice. The background is actually rich and delicious.

So: Go visit Tina and welcome her to the world of blogging! I know she'll have lots of interesting things to say -- about life as well as rug hooking. And I can tell you from personal experience that she has a marvelous sense of humor and adventure. When you stop by, tell her Sarah sent you and tell her to give my best to Betty Ann.

And here are some more photos of the snowstorm:

Cairo refused to do his business until I shoveled.

My Umbrella Pine is not happy.

Anyone for a picnic? This was shot out the back door at 6 am. It's almost 1 pm here and it is still snowing!

Stay warm and safe everyone.

Blizzard Watch

2011-01-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

It's snowing again . . . The weather guys are predicting up to 15 inches out here . . . Will we wake to a winter wonderland tomorrow?

I Made It To The Centerfold!

2011-01-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

What with all the hectic holiday hubbub, I forgot to post bout the latest issue of the Wool Street Journal. It is chock full of fun stuff, as always, but I am extra-pleased with the addition of three pages about the Peconic Ruggers Rug Show held back in October. I'm happy not only because my guild's hard work is there for all the world to see, but because Clara and I had our very first mother-daughter article published -- my words and Clara's photographs.

I don't know how Bonnie managed to get these three pages to the printer in time, but she did it -- and I am grateful to her for her hard work. I'm hoping this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful friendship. Thanks, Bonnie!

Visit The Wool Street Journal on line to subscribe. Click here: WSJ

New Year, New Work

2011-01-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

I'm here! I was sick for Christmas -- a nasty head cold -- and we were away for New Year's weekend, so I don't have a lot to show for myself. It's time to put the iPhone down (my husband gave me one for Christmas and I have been playing with it) and get back to work!

I designed a couple of heart patterns for Valentine's Day and need to get the prototypes finished. I ran out of blue floss, so there's a trip to the store for that in the very near future. I'm finding the heart a little too bright, even for me, and I may age it with some black walnut tea. I was thinking of an analogous color scheme in cotton floss for the circle, but this morning I am looking at my hand-dyed wool Medici thread -- Bing Cherry, in particular.

Some punch needle designs just lend themselves to wool thread. It is has a warmer, fuzzy look to it and resembles miniature hooked rugs. The cotton floss, however, tends to produce crisper lines and has a beautiful sheen to it. Decisions, decisions . . . . .

Happy New Year One and All!

2010-12-31T07:38:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to wish you all well before we start on another whirlwind weekend of celebration. Cairo and his humans say HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Heading Toward the New Year

2010-12-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

The weeks leading up to Christmas were rather hectic for us. We planned to spend Christmas with old friends in Massachusetts, but Clara called to say she had to work and wouldn't be able to come. So we changed gears and planned to spend a couple of days in Brooklyn at Clara's apartment so she wouldn't be alone. The Sunday before Christmas we got another call -- she didn't have to work after all and wanted to come home. So we changed gears again.

On Tuesday, I woke up with a miserable head cold, but soldiered through it to finish buying and wrapping presents, grocery shop, decorate and pick Clara up at the train station. I called Barb and told her we would be here and would make Christmas dinner and she should join us. She booked the ferry. I called some friends who were home alone for Christmas and asked them to join us, too. I finally made some curtains for the mudroom. Then we started the storm watch: possible blizzard conditions on Christmas. Two days later: no blizzard on Christmas, just snow the day after. On Christmas Eve: the blizzard is on it's way and it is time to batten down the hatches.

We spent most of Christmas Eve prepping for dinner the next day while listening to Christmas carols. We had unexpected visitors stop by with gifts, which was a gift in and of itself. The visits were such an old-fashioned, neighborly gesture. We opened a bottle of wine and set out some cheese and crackers. Barbara (the basket maker) and her husband Ron came by. They were kind enough to give us our beautiful Douglas fir Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago and came loaded with gifts for Clara, who they adopted this summer and taught to horseback ride. We sent them home with a bag of homemade cookies and 50 pounds of horse feed for our favorite four-legged friends.

Dan, our contractor for the renovation (which we started two years ago just before Christmas), stopped by with peanut brittle and fudge, homemade by his wife Tina. While the renovation was in progress, Dan and I had coffee almost every morning. He is a great, family-oriented guy and is always up on the latest Greenport gossip and I miss our morning chats. So I was really glad to see him.

Christmas Eve was low key. We had fancy hor d'ouevres -- seafood wontons, little lobster rolls, stuffed mushrooms -- while watching Despicable Me (a really nice and funny little movie). Our friends canceled for Christmas dinner (they got the same cold I have). so we got up late, ate Pete's pecan sticky buns at 10 am and put off dinner til 7. We played Banagrams and watched more movies and worried about Barby getting home on the ferry before the blizzard started. Dinner (crown roast of pork, Wisconsin wild rice, applesauce, roasted cauliflower and broccoli and a chocolate coconut charlotte for dessert) was delicious.

Barb left here at 8 on Sunday morning and caught one of the last ferries. Snow had already started, but the winds held off until later in the day. By afternoon the winds were blowing so hard it sounded like a freight train was running down 5th Street. We ended up with very little snow, maybe 6 inches, unlike the City, which got close to 12.

Now it looks like the sun is going to break through and I won't have to shovel! I'm cleaning up the studio, organizing my ideas and looking forward to the New Year . . . and getting rid of this cold.

Merry Christmas . . .

2010-12-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

from our house to yours . . .

Celebrating the Season

2010-12-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

My rug hooking guild, the Peconic Ruggers, celebrated the season today at the home of sisters Sally and Sue. Their beautiful house, not far from the shores of Peconic Bay, was a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. We have had torrential rain and lots of wind all day, but who cares about gray skies when there's good company and good food around?

Sue and Sally had decorated for Christmas -- there were handcrafts and antiques throughout the house. I fell in love with this tree in the kitchen.

And how about this rug? The border makes me smile . . .

A sweet tableau on the sideboard.

Feasting.

Decoys in the kitchen.

Thanks to Sally and Sue for a great day, and to my fellow guild members for another year of crafting and companionship!

Happy Monday

2010-12-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

The sky has been alternating sun and spritzing snow all day with a gusty wind that makes us wish we had installed a fireplace or wood stove when we renovated the house. I am investigating pellet stoves for the kitchen, between the two north windows where there is currently a rickety and unattractive little desk that no one ever uses. I'm not keen on a wood stove. I had one out in the garage and there was always a mess around it -- ashes and bark and schmutz -- and I hated cleaning it. Pellets are much neater. So we'll see.

My other plan for warming up the kitchen: oriental rugs. My sister-in-law Fran told me she had great success buying Oriental rugs on ebay. So I bid on one and won it. It came today and I love it. Instant warmth for not a lot of money.

Clara was home for just one night to print out some photos for her portfolio and pack up some more belongings for her new apartment, so I spent the afternoon hemming pants and looking through my stash for fabric to cover a bench for her. It was a brief visit, but it is always fun to have her at home. I've also been doing a little Christmas shopping on line as well as gearing up for creating my own website -- a daunting task, but one I need to address.

The Primitive Gathering Christmas Shop

2010-12-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

Yes, another post within an hour of the last . . . I forgot to mention that The Primitive Gathering opened its Christmas shop this morning. My sister Barb, aka thimblefolk, has some festive and beautifully made woolen creations available for sale there, as well as in her Etsy shop . Please take a look! The Primitive Gathering

The Earth Moved!

2010-12-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

I was sitting at my sewing table yesterday morning and it started . . . . dancing! There's no other word for it . . . I thought the oil delivery guy was in the driveway -- that always makes the house shiver a bit. But then I realized he filled up the tank last week . . . I got up and looked out the window -- nothing was happening -- so I sat down and went back to work. When I turned on the evening news, I discovered there had been an earthquake, just off the south shore of Long Island. Earthquakes aren't unheard of on the east coast, but they aren't common, and I can't remember actually feeling one here before . . .

I woke up this morning thinking about Christmas. The holiday feeling has escaped me until now. I haven't thought about the decorations or the shopping or the wrapping or the cookie baking. But I'm working on it now! I unearthed my Christmas music and am listening to it as I type this. I've started my gift list and I think I am going to do my tree in snow this year: white lights, snowflakes, and glass icicles. I'll post pics when I put it up, which won't be for a week or two -- it is still a little early for me.

And thinking about the upcoming holidays -- today is the first day of Hannukah! I almost missed it, it is so early this year . . . So Happy Hannukah and Shalom to all of you celebrating today.

November Rose

2010-11-28T08:19:00.000-08:00

I picked this rose on Friday . . . it almost doesn't look real. It's nearly December and it has been cold, but obviously not cold enough to kill this beauty. It makes me happy. I'm hoping it will last three more days until the first of December.

Pete and Clara and I had Thanksgiving in the City. We made a stop in Brooklyn at Clara's new apartment in DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). It really is under the overpass. The apartment is a spacious fourth floor walk up which she'll be sharing with one of her roommates from her semester in Florence. I became very nostalgic driving in on the BQE, always our route home when we lived on St. Marks Place. I miss the City, although I am glad not to live there full time anymore.

There's a park at the end of the street -- isn't this bench cool? Something you would expect out in the country . . . .

You can see the Empire Street Building across the East River . . . and the Brooklyn Bridge Park, built after we moved away, starts just around the corner. The neighborhood is filled with great stores and bistros. It's an exciting place to be for a new college graduate.

We had Thanksgiving dinner in Soho, at Pete's cousin's home. They have a great loft, and after dinner we climbed five flights of stairs (burned off all that stuffing) to look at the roof top gardens.in the neighborhood. There's a lot of magic in New York City, as well as all the yucky stuff, and I love being able to partake of that sometimes. I guess that's one of the things I'm thankful for this year . . .

Wilton (AKA Fine American Craftsman Show)

2010-11-19T06:28:00.000-08:00

Here are some photographs from Wilton. We had a moderately successful weekend -- not bad for being first timers. Sadly, the show is a shadow of its former self. When Barb and I attended in past years, it was at least double the size and attendance was much higher. One vendor claimed the reason for this was a "perfect storm" of events: a change in management, the economy, and some prima donna crafters who ended up leaving the show and starting their own. That's our booth pictured above and below.

Friday night set up.

We met the owners of Hidden Treasures, Kathy and Jeff Graybill. Kathy designs and hand paints a vast array of wooden furniture and smalls that her husband Jeff designs. They are prolific and their both was quite a sight to behold.

The most amazing items they had were these large hooked trade signs. My jaw dropped when I saw them. You can get an idea of how large they are in the second picture with the woman off to the left.

Kathy hooks with the widest piece of fabric I have ever seen -- it is at least an inch wide! She thought the 8 cut I use in most of my rugs was tiny.

How Did This Happen?????

2010-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Snow on Long Island in early November. It's crazy. I am still figuring out why I didn't get in the last swim of the season and why the rest of my Brandywine tomatoes won't ripen. We are in the middle of a nor'easter I didn't even know was coming -- not surprising, given the pre-show fog I am enveloped in. The snow is not falling here along the shore, but about 20 miles west. Big, sloppy, wet flakes are coating the traffic and weather cameras and sending me into a panic.

We turned the clocks back before bed on Saturday night, so I woke up in the dark and cooked dinner in the dark. I don't like so much dark. I need lots of hours of sunlight to keep a smile on my face, so the winter months are often difficult for me. I do look forward to Christmas -- I love putting up the Christmas tree and getting out my collection of ornaments again -- it's like meeting old friends. I even look forward to the first snow. But the 21st of December is a holiday for me, because I know that each day will bring a few more minutes of sunlight.

That said, I had a brisk and energizing walk on the beach with Cairo this morning in 30 mile per hour winds. I needed that -- my bottom is actually starting to hurt from sitting so long at my hooking frame and sewing machine.

Next Week: Wilton

2010-11-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

Barb and I always call the shows we do by the name of the town they are in: Rhinebeck, Fairfield, Woodstock . . . and now, Wilton. The real name of the show is the Fine American Craftsman Show, sponsored by the Wilton Connecticut Historical Society. This is its 25th year, and we are very pleased to be a part of it for the first time.

Barb and I have spent many a chilly November morning waiting in line to get into the Wilton show. It's a shoppers delight. Every imaginable craft is available here, from doll making to floor cloths, from furniture to pottery, and jewelry to quilts. We are hoping our woolly folk art will appeal to the customers waiting in line this year.

Please come and see us if you can. We are in booth 5, not far from the entrance. Because we are not selling supplies at Wilton, just finished goods, we are simply going by our names: Barbara and Sarah McNamara.

Here are the details:

Wilton Historical Society
25th Annual Fine American Craftsman Show
Saturday, November 13, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, November 14, 10 am - 4 pm

Wilton High School Field House
Danbury Road, Wilton, CT

Wow! What a Weekend!

2010-11-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

My guild, The Peconic Ruggers, hosted their biennial rug show this weekend, in the beautiful Naugles barn at Hallockville Museum Farm. I have been a member of the Ruggers since its inception almost a decade and a half ago, and I believe this was our most successful show ever. Guild members, led by the young and innovative Jennifer Faulkner, worked magic Thursday and Friday to turn the barn into a hooker's dream. The weather was wonderful, the guests were great, and the rugs were spectacular!

We had lots of vendors, including the delightful and very funny ladies of The Wool Street Journal and G. Woolikers -- all the way from Colorado and Georgia! Our potluck on Friday night helped us get to know each other, and what a lot of laughs we had, as well as good food. Saturday morning brought a full house, drawing people from as far away as Queens. My daughter, Clara Jauquet, kindly brought her fancy camera along and photographed the barn from top to bottom before we opened. (All the photographs seen here were taken by Clara.)

Jennifer issued a challenge to the guild a few months ago to hook a gravestone for our cemetery, an appropriate addition to any Halloween weekend.

On a sad note, I send my condolences to our co-president Judy, whose husband passed away unexpectedly last Wednesday. It was good to see so many Peconic Ruggers at his wake on Monday night. We were all there, as we will always be, to support Judy and her children, who face many difficult days ahead.

The Peconic Ruggers Rug Show and Sale

2010-10-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

Peconic Ruggers

2010 Hooked Rug Show & Sale

meet the ladies from

The Wool Street Journal
and GWoolikers

Saturday, October 30 and

Sunday, October 31

10a-3p

Hallockville Museum Farm

in the Naugles Barn

6038 Sound Avenue, Riverhead

Rug exhibit, International & local vendors, raffles & light refreshments

Admission: $6

For information:

Peconicruggers.blogspot.com

peconicruggers@yahoo.com

JEN 631-793-3511

Rhinebeck Aftermath

2010-10-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

I spent the week unpacking the car, processing checks and credit card orders, filling pattern orders from Rhinebeck (if I don't have a pattern in stock at a show, I will ship it postage free), getting ready for the Peconic Ruggers show next weekend and BAM! I got miserably sick with a stomach flu Thursday afternoon. I caught it at Rhinebeck -- how can you not catch something at fair with 50,000 attendees? I was pretty worn out all weekend from not sleeping well, so I guess it was inevitable.

I slept all day yesterday, surfacing periodically to sip cups of ginger ale delivered to my bedside by Pete and Clara. (That was my Mom's thing -- the ginger soothes your stomach and the sugar gives you a little energy and you stay hydrated -- if you can keep it down.) I finally got out of bed at 5 PM. By then the chills had stopped, but my stomach was still tender. I felt really weak, so I made myself a poached egg and dry toast -- another of my mother's remedies -- and I felt better. I also had to deal with a headache all day yesterday, because I could not bear to drink my beloved morning cup of coffee and was going through caffeine withdrawal.

I am better this morning -- still feeling a little under the weather -- but I had a bracing walk on the beach with Cairo earlier and I am going to get back to work today. I'm hoping no one catches the bug from me -- sorry if I spread it around -- but it does pass in 24 hours and the ginger ale helps.

Today is my sister Barb's birthday. Stop by her blog and wish her a happy day. Click here: thimblefolk

Another Wild Wooly Weekend at Rhinebeck

2010-10-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! This was the warmest Sheep and Wool Festival we've ever attended. We overdressed on Saturday, remembering last year's snow flurries . . . We didn't sleep well Friday night after set up, so we were a little bleary-eyed on Saturday. My exhaustion kept me from my usual tours of the grounds, so I have very few pictures to share today. Despite our sluggishness, we had our best weekend of sales ever. Barb and I want to thank our customers -- both the loyal friends who stop by to see us every year as well as the fresh new faces who appeared for the first time this weekend. You all make the show a delight for us, no matter how little sleep we get!

Autumn Oxford Sheep

2010-10-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

Each year I try to do a new sheep-y (sheepish?) rug for Rhinebeck, aka the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival. The featured breed this year is the American Oxford, and here is my rendition of one.

Barb and I hope to see you this weekend at the Duchess County Fairgrounds!

10-10-10

2010-10-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

Another lovely October day here on the East End. I am diligently working on finishing stuff for the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival next weekend. Let's hope the weather stays like this.

Enjoy your day!

The Next Big Thing:

2010-10-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival!

In less than two weeks, my sister Barb and I will head up to beautiful Rhinebeck, New York (yes-- the town in which Chelsea Clinton held her wedding this summer), enjoying the changing leaves along the Hudson River and visiting with our favorite customers. I've been working hard to get lots of supplies in stock and new rugs and patterns finished in time for the show. Here's a teaser photo to get you interested in what I'm working on.

A couple of finished things, a couple of unfinished things . . . notice the reverse hooking on the sheep rug? Ugh. I am dyeing some new sky this morning. So much to do, so little time . . . I hope you'll mark your calender, get your woolies out and your walking shoes on and join us upstate on October 16 and 17, 2010.

Heading toward Halloween

2010-09-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Fall appeared sometime between Saturday's 80 degree, intensely sunny afternoon and this morning, gray with a cold misty wind. I love autumn weather and color, but miss the long hours of sunshine the summer provides. I'm always a little wistful when I wake up to find summer gone . . .

I have lots to look forward to this fall, though. My rug hooking guild, the Peconic Ruggers, met on Tuesday evening. We are going over last minute plans for our biennial rug show which will take place on Halloween weekend this year. What fun! Our co-president, Jennifer, who is full of energy and ideas, issued a challenge to us -- a graveyard challenge! We are to hook tombstone rugs which will then be presented as a graveyard. How clever is that? I have been working on a design for a larger rug that is tombstone shaped, which will not be ready for the rug show given the number of shows Barb and I are vending at this fall, but I did make a small mat that I started last Saturday at Hallockville. I discovered that it is a challenge to make an interesting tombstone, both because of the lack of color and the difficulty of getting great detail with strips of wool. But here's my first try:

I used a grayed and heathered lavender wool for the background, but it reads as a flat light gray. It's not too interesting, so I am trying to think of a way to make a hooked gravestone sing. Any ideas? I designed a small stone to be needle punched, which is going to feature orange wool thread. We'll see how that works.

The other great news about our rug show: The Wool Street Journal is coming to visit! Even though we are a tiny guild, Bonnie and her daughter, who runs Gwoolikers, are going to join us for the weekend -- all the way from Colorado! They will have two tables to sell their wares and I am sure they will bring along their cameras to take pictures for the magazine. So if you are in the tri-state area, you should join us for Halloween weekend here on the North Fork. We have lots of great stuff to do -- wineries everywhere you look, art galleries and museums, great restaurants, beaches and walking trails, pumpkin picking and corn mazes, shopping -- all in addition to the rug show.

There's more!!!! We will also be hosting a Searsport Rug Hooking Trunk Show that weekend. So there will be wool and patterns and supplies galore! Here are the other vendors:

Barbara Blossey-Chuvalas: Baskets

Bumble Bee Primitives: Hooking and Needle Punch Supplies & Finished Goods

3 Bags Full: Reclaimed Wool

The Paisley Studio: Rug Hooking Patterns and Antique Hooks

thimblefolk: Hand-dyed Wool and Folk Art

Hope to see you in October!

Pipes and Drums

2010-09-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

It is Maritime Festival weekend here in Greenport. Yesterday was as hot as July here, but Pete and I walked downtown to watch the parade. It featured several pipe and drum bands, the first of which was the NYPD Emerald Society. I believe there was a band that came all the way from South Africa as well. I don't know what it is about bagpipes, but they always make me smile. Perhaps it is my Irish blood hearkening back to the homeland. Or maybe it is the rug hooker in me, lusting after all that yardage in those knife-pleated kilts . . .

Harvest Time at Hallockville

2010-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

I shared a booth with Barbara the Basket Maker this weekend at the Hallockville Fall Festival. It wasn't the place to sell expensive hand-hooked rugs and hand-made baskets, but Barbara and I had a good time none the less. The weather was glorious both days. We were able to visit with lots of friends and lots of dogs. It was a canine connoisseur's dream! We saw three weimaraners, miniature schnauzers, Portuguese water dogs, tons of bichons, maltese, and yorkies, a really regal German shepherd, Darla, a petit chocolate colored Doberman pinscher who couldn;t be loved or petted enough, lots of Jack Russells, golden retrievers, a keeshond who was losing its hair, and a 2 month old Pomeranian Yorkie mix named Foxy, who looked like a little fox. Our favorite pettable guest, however, was Fraggle, a 4 month old gray French Angora rabbit, who just snuggled up to whoever was holding him and was as soft as soft can be. Made me want another bunny . . .

It was a lot of work and not much money, but I always have a good time at Hallockville, and I always have a good time with Barbara, so the weekend was worth the effort. Now I am gearing up for the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, my favorite show of the year, on October 16 and 17.

Here are a few more shots of out booth on Saturday. We moved the wagon and Barbara's hanging ghoulie on Saturday to open things up a bit. My sister Barb sent some of her Halloween goodies, as did Barbara's friend Patty from Michigan, who does lovely counted cross stitch.