Halloweenies

It's been a long while since I've blogged . . .  Don't know if I'll keep up with it or not . . . Life has changed a lot in the last few years, so we'll see how I do.

Here are some rug hooked Halloween characters I designed for my students.  I've listed the pattern in my etsy shop if you're interested.  I'll include my technique for the shirring and quillies of the features when you purchase the pattern.

Happy Halloween!

Hallockville Fall Festival

I'll be demonstrating rug hooking in the Peconic Ruggers' tent at Hallockville tomorrow if you'd like to join me.  This Fall Festival is always fun for everyone.  Hope to see you there.

Some of the Rugs at Sauder

Octopus, Simone Vojvodin, Parkhill, Ontario

The Conspiracy, Marion Sachs, York, Pennsylvania

Merry Christmas, Norma Batastini, Glen Ridge, NJ

Steampunk Michael, Donna Hrkman, Dayton, Ohio

No Greater Love, Donna Hrkman, Dayton, Ohio

Nick at Night, Donna Hrkman, Dayton, Ohio

Speaking Shakespeare, Marian Hall.  Designed by Marion Hall & Ellen Banker

Sushi Deluxe, Wayne Bressler, NYC, NY

Ancient Egypt, Tatiana Knodel, Sudbury, Ontario

Nagari, Denny Seller, designed by Leonard Freeman

Our Booth

Setting Off for Sauder Soon . . .

I've been a whirling dervish the last few weeks, dyeing and pattern-making and pricing and planning. Barb and I leave for Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week at the crack of dawn on Monday.  I'm excited to present our style to a whole new crew of rug hookers, and really excited to be teaching a class, too.

Some of the hand-dyed wool we will have for sale

Some of the patterns we will have for sale

A nice selection of out-of-print books will be available, too

My etsy shop will be closed while I am away and will reopen at the end of August.  Also, classes are suspended until September, and will then be open to only those who are currently enrolled.  sorry, but I have to keep the class size small because of my husband's medical condition.

Speaking of my husband Pete, he hit his 100 day mark (100 days since transplant) on August 5, and he is continuing to do well.  The doctor has started to wean him off the Cyclosporine, which has been holding his immune system in check.  When I get back from Ohio we can go out to dinner to a "reputable" restaurant!  It's been 10 months or so since we've been out to eat.  We are both looking forward to a change of pace . . . 

Please come and see us if you are in or near Ohio next week!  Here is the information for Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week 2017:

Dates & Hours:

Exhibit:  Wednesday – Saturday, August 16 - 19, 2017,
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Admission:

  Tickets into the Rug Hooking Week and entire Historic Village... Adults - $17.00, Students (6-16) - $11.00 (Senior, Military and AAA discounts apply)
  Tickets into just the Rug Hooking Week  - $11.00 (Must be purchased in Founder's Hall where exhibit is located.)
  
  

Did Some Dyeing Last Night

I'm getting ready to head to Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week, August 14 through 19, 2017.  Barb and I will be vending, and I am teach a workshop called Why Whip? Interesting Edges to Enhance Your Hooked Rugs.  The darker blue -- I call it Anthem Blue -- is stock for our booth next month.The lighter blue is the background for the bird rug I started a few years ago while on vacation in Northern Wisconsin.  It's about time to complete it, don't you think?  I'm hoping to have it ready to display in our booth at Sauder.  Keep your fingers crossed!

#21

I was scrolling down my Facebook page a couple of days ago and saw a post entitled "Top 60 Rug Hooking Blogs & Websites for Rug Hookers."  There I was -- number 21.  I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the couch.  I haven't posted since April, before that January.  I have been the least active blogger I know.  Part of the blame goes to Instagram, which I love, and part to Facebook, which I don't love so much, but which can be a great tool for keeping abreast of things.  But most of the blame goes to T-Prolymphocytic Leukemia, a rare and aggressive cancer that my husband Peter has been fighting since late October.

Illness can be all consuming, but when it is rare, and when the only specialist who takes a patient's insurance practices 91 miles away, there is no time left for normal life.  We are lucky to have insurance through the Affordable Care Act, lucky to have found the three amazing women who lead our medical team at North Shore University Hospital, lucky that Pete's brother Bill was a perfect match and donated his stem cells for a transplant -- the only option to keep Pete alive.  And while we sometimes bemoan the fact that we can't travel, can't go out to dinner, can't have houseplants, can't swim or bike ride (the list of don'ts is 12 pages long!), we are so very lucky that Pete is recovering. His hair is even growing back!

We spent our 32nd anniversary last month making a list all the places we will visit when the doctors tell us Pete's immune system is strong enough for travel.  First stop: Wisconsin to see my 97-year-old mother-in-law and spend time at the family cabin on Lake Superior.  Second stop -- maybe the Galapagos or a cooking school in Burgundy or the Retiti Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya.  We're dreaming big, and as soon as we can, we'll be living big, too.

It's taken me a while, but I'm getting used to our new normal.  The first two weeks after Pete's discharge from the hospital were terrifying, knowing I was now responsible for him and an hour and a half drive away from the doctor.  Our little 15-year-old Jack Russell became very ill a few days after Pete returned home and had to be put to sleep.  That was tough, but also a relief.  I was up all night every night taking care of him, and was so exhausted I neared my breaking point.  I have help with the house and the yard now, and Pete has learned to enjoy grocery shopping (wearing a mask and gloves, of course) and cooking.  Since most of his work is computer based, he has been able to work the entire time -- even through two hospital stays totalling more than six weeks. We have wonderful, supportive family and friends who help us in so many ways.   So, all in all, life is limited, but life is good.

I am teaching two rug hooking classes twice a month, and my talented students keep me on my toes and give me some structure, as does my fall schedule of fiber festivals and shows.  Right now I am preparing for vending and teaching at the renowned Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week, August 14 through 19.  I'm hoping this post is the start of more consistant  blogging, since writing is something I love to do . . .  and I need to earn my spot on the list of "Best Rug Hooking Blogs on the Planet."

Hallockville Fall Festival & the Peconic Ruggers Rug Show

Two weeks and counting to our first show of the year.  We love this one -- Hallockville has always embraced folk art and my guild, the Peconic Ruggers, is honored and thrilled to be able to present our biennial rug show in the beautiful Naugles barn during the annual Fall Festival.  

I am busy working away -- getting my hooked pig finished to enter into the guild's "Pulled Pork" Challenge. In addition, I am hooking up some new pumpkins and dreaming up some new Christmas designs.  That's not an easy feat when it is hot and steamy outside . . . 

Here is the information for the Hallockville Fall Festival.  Please join us for this fun-filled weekend.

        

                                                                  Hallockville Museum Farm

               Saturday and Sunday,  September 10 & 11, 2016 10am-5pm both days. RAIN OR SHINE!

                                         6038 Sound Avenue, Riverbed, NY 11901 631-298-5292

My sister Barb of thimblefolk has whipped up another bunch of Halloweenies for the show.  If can't come to the Festival, but are interested in purchasing one of her creations, you can email her at thimblefolk@comcast.net.

HOT HOT HOT

Hot as Hades. Hot as blazes.  Hot as hell. Hot as the devil's kitchen.  Hot as ten thousand suns in one. Hot as pepper. Hot as love's flaming climate. Huh?  Yes, I've been looking up similes for "hot." It seems to be all we talk about, think about, and swear about. I've had it. I want 72 degrees and a cool breeze off the bay.

My guild, the Peconic Ruggers, had their annual August hook in on Saturday. We were to meet in the basement of a church with no air conditioning. Not. Thanks to our very smart member Sue, we moved across the street to the library and hooked in the frigid air of the children's room.

Of course, I am blaming my lack of productivity on the heat -- its an easy scapegoat. I think I need some sunlight and vitamin D after spending a month in the air conditioning. I have made several 3-D sunflowers, a project I taught my class last week. I'm working on a tutorial for my followers on Instagram.  I've also been working on some new needle punch designs and trying to find a new source of wool thread for them.  

Fall is fast approaching, even though it doesn't feel like it.  My rug designing colleagues are all working on Halloween and Christmas designs . . .  I'm not so sure I will catch up! Our first show of the season is the Hallockville Fall Festival, September 10 and 11, 2016.  My guild, the Peconic Ruggers, will host their biennial rug show in the Naugles Barn during the Festival. I think that deadline will help me get in gear at long last . . . 

Please send some sweet condolences to Cathy at Orange Sink/The Red House Wool Studio. Her mother passed away on Saturday.  She could use some wooly hugs.

Sleepless in Southold Town

I'm calling this The Summer of Exhaustion.  I am almost always tired what with Cairo's constant coughing.  He is doing much better on his medication, and we are heading to the vet on Monday to re-evaluate what he is on. He sleeps about 5 hours straight now, but that isn't enough for me.  Lack of sleep coupled with my daughter and her boyfriend being here for 10 days, friends for dinner, more overnight guests,  plumbing problems, and cancelled flights, I'm pretty bleary-eyed.

The hot weather has been relentless.  The central air is running constantly, and my garden is drying up.  We are having our first real rain in weeks today, so that is good.  The fireflies like the hot, dry weather -- there are hundreds of them overnight.  I love them.

I should be looking toward my autumn shows -- the stores are sticked for back-to-school buying -- but I just can't seem to do it. Something to do with my time management skills, or my perception of time and how much I can get finished within a deadline.  I think its hereditary, since my sister and my daughter suffer from the same thing.  I'm hoping that turning the calendar page to August will jump start some creativity . . .  One can always hope.

My rug hooking guild, the Peconic Ruggers, is hosting a hook in on Saturday, August 13, 2016, 10 am to 3 pm.  It is open to all.  Bring something to work on, something to show, and your lunch.  We'll also be talking about our upcoming rug show to be held in the Naugles Barn during the Hallockville Fall Festival, September 10 & 11.  We will transform the barn into a rug wonderland, and several vendors will be selling rug hooking supplies.  It's a wonderful show and you should come see it!

Going to the Fair . . .

The Country Living Fair, that is!

Barb and I are headed up to Rhinebeck today to set up our booth.  The Fair opens bright and early tomorrow morning.  The fairgrounds are a sight to behold once Stella Shows get their hands on it, so come and see for yourself!  I've got 2 new cow mats to show you!

Happy New Year!

I'm back in the saddle again, after weeks of prepping for and celebrating the holidays.  I've been filling out applications, buying insurance and booking hotel rooms for our shows this year, which I've listed in the side bar on the right side of the blog.  I will post them to Facebook as well.  

My resolution this year is to get through the pile of UFOs in my studio.  They include the big bird rug I started in August and put aside, the sheep mat I started in September, the proddy I call the Rug in the Grey Flannel suit that I started several years ago, and the large basket weave hit-or-miss that is also several years old.  There are many smaller things that need finishing, too, but I won't bore you with that list.  I'm thinking if I commit to posting some sort of finish every Friday I'll feel obligated to get to them.  We'll see.

I've been tending to my poor little old Jack Russell Terrier Cairo, who tore a ligament in one of his hind legs last week.  He has to lose a pound, and stay quiet for several weeks.  No surgery -- he is 14 and the anesthesia would probably kill him -- just rest for the inflammation and to let scar tissue form and stabilize the leg.  It is like having a baby again.  My biceps are getting a work out because I carry him everywhere.

We have our first below freezing weather today -- even a few flurries -- but the temps are ring up again in a day or so.  Such a mild winter -- much needed after last year's cold and snowy one.  It's a good time to get hooking.

Etsy-ing

I am working on getting my etsy shop back in order.  I've been posting a listing or two each day, and will try to continue to do so, so my patterns are available to anyone who wants them.  I'm trying to enjoy the summer and get some house projects done at the same time, so things are going slowly.  Pete's father, who turned 98 on the 4th of July, was hospitalized last week, so we have been keeping up with family and planning a our trip out to Wisconsin to visit.  He has rallied and is now in a nursing home.  He was playing cards yesterday, so that is a good sign.  

I bought a rug for my daughter at an estate sale yesterday.  I spotted a couple of copper pots in the kitchen and the fellow running the sale threw them in for free.  That was quite a score!  28 years ago I bought a small Mauviel oval stew pot in Paris which I love dearly.  I always wanted a big one, but when I priced them out at Williams-Sonoma five years ago or so, it was priced at over $1000 and even if I had millions of dollars, I wouldn't pay that much for a pot.  I think copper has come down in price a bit, but these pots are still quite costly, so I am pleased at punch to have these two.  We are going to have them re-tinned and then I will polish them up.

Phew!

I'm back from the whirlwind of the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck.  I've spent the last couple of days cleaning out the car and cleaning up my studio, which looked like a hurricane hit it.  Of course, it was so busy, I didn't take any photographs!  Go to Instagram and use the hashtag #clfair and you will get a good idea of the abundance available this past weekend.  Architectural antiques and collectibles were plentiful.  

Our crowded booth on Saturday

My favorite shops were the ones that sold buttons -- Grandmother's Buttons and The Button Shop.  I also liked the mid-century modern silhouettes of Wendy Schultz Wubbels -- she's completely changed her subject matter from traditional silhouettes to Eames chairs and more.  They were really stunning.  I also loved all the topiaries people were selling -- myrtle and rosemary and something called honeysuckle boxwood -- light green and feathery -- that I had never seen before.  

The best part of the weekend was seeing old friends and customers -- lots of rug hookers came by -- and meeting Instagram and blogger friends. ( Hello to Marilu at 518Frenchgirl!  Marilu just recently started blogging about rug hooking, so you should go visit her.) 

The show is remarkably well-run by Stella Show Management.  They had bag checks in couple of places, lots of food available, and even had a moving and shipping company available for furniture and large items.  There were even vendor stalls in the restrooms so we didn't have to wait in line!  Stella has been doing fairs for a long time and it shows.

I'm already thinking about next year.  Although a very expensive show to do, I think it has a lot of potential.  We'll see how it goes  . . . .

Where Am I?

I am here, just not posting much.  I'm going through one of those lulls.  I'm not writing much, and I'm not reading other peoples' blogs.  Sorry.  It is partly the nice weather and all the yard work and trying to ride my bicycle more often, and it is partly getting ready for classes and shows.  It's all good, but I've been absent.  

I have a couple of new designs ready, which I will have this weekend at the Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair at Hallockville Museum Farm this weekend.  I love this show -- because it is close to home and I get to see all my friends and neighbors and because I love Hallockville.  It is a sweet, small museum run by the tireless Executive Director Herb Strobel and his trusty sidekick, Assistant Director Beth Motschenbacher and lots of volunteers.  I have been a member for years, and I have demonstrated rug hooking there in one manner or another for the last two decades.  It feels like home.

Here's the information for this year's Fleece and Fiber Fair:

THE LONG ISLAND FLEECE AND FIBER FAIR

Hallockville Museum Farm  6038 Sound Avenue  Riverhead, NY 11901 631-298-5292

May 16 & 17, 2015 10am- 4pm both days- Rain or Shine!

The Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair is the first of its kind in the region to bring together the diversity of fiber arts activities! Visitors will see and learn how local artisans craft wool and other animal fiber into beautiful finished pieces of clothing and art. The fair provides two fun-filled days of demonstrations and hands-on learning that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Visit both days for a variety of demonstrations, workshops and local artisans selling their handmade supplies and products in the Naugles Barn Fiber Market! There is something for everyone.

The setting for the Fair is like nowhere else on Long Island- the various activities and demonstrations take place throughout the picturesque Hallockville Museum Farm campus and in the historic buildings that date back to 1765.  Food vendors sell a variety of freshly-prepared lunch items for guests to enjoy while relaxing in the picnic area shaded by apple trees. If you are visiting from New York city, you may purchase tickets to ride on the private charter coach by following the red button at right. Sit back and relax as the bus takes you door-to-door from Manhattan to the Fair!

For the safety of all animals on display at the event, please leave your dogs and pets at home. Thank you for your cooperation.

Admission rate per day:
$6 adults/ $4 ages 5-12, ages 4 & under are free. Family rate of 2 adults+2kids, or 1 adult + 3 kids is $15.
All admission fees directly support the not-for-profit educational mission of Hallockville Museum Farm.

Demonstrations and Activities Include:

Animal Displays- Meet the sheep, llamas, alpacas and angora rabbits that provide the fleece and fiber needed to make fiber goods like yarn!

Basketweaving- Learn how plant fibers are woven into baskets and other functional pieces.

Sheep Herding- Watch expert herders and their trained Border Collies move a flock of sheep across the pasture.

Llama Obstacle Course- The Long Island Livestock Company Youth Showteam will lead the llamas through the paces of various obstacles in a display of fancy footwork!

Sheep & Llama Shearing- Learn how fiber is harvested during informative demonstrations by an expert shearer.

Carding and Spinning- See raw fiber being de-tangled and teased apart to prepare for the next part of the process, spinning. Watch spinners at their wheels turn fiber into spun yarn!

Dyeing- Learn how natural and chemical dyes transform fleece and wool into every color under the rainbow.

Knitting- Watch knitters up close as they work on a variety of wearable pieces. Plus pick up new techniques you can use on your own projects.

Needle Felting- Learn about how you can create sculptures from wool felt with this interesting technique. NEW! this year we are offering a one-hour workshop on May 16 at 11:30 during the Fair. Details and sign up here.

Rug-Hooking- Watch and learn as skilled rug hookers demonstrate this craft.

Weaving- The Hallockville looms will be on display to see how fiber can be woven into cloth, and other pieces such as shawls and tapestries.

Quilting- Quilting artisans will demonstrate this technique and you can even try it out yourself!

On My Way . . .

It's that time of year again -- show time!  I am about to head up to Connecticut for the 106th Annual Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival.  It is a sweet little festival -- only one day -- but really charming. Come and visit us in the green barn.  Information is listed on the Shows & Event page -- click the button in the navigation bar above.

Peconic Ruggers at 2014 North Fork Designer Show House

Photo by Liz Glasgow

Several members of the guild are selling hand-hooked rugs and other decorative items at the North Fork Designer Show House, going on now!  This is a rare opportunity to see and purchase these finely made works of art, so be sure to stop by and see us, and all the other wonderful vendors from the North Fork.

Christmas at the Show House 

and the Best of the North Fork Emporium

Fri - Sun, Nov 28 - Dec 14
27150 Main Road, Cutchogue, LI, NY

Benefiting Wounded Warriors and local families in need
Non-ProfitOrganization

Getting Closer to Christmas . . .

What a busy fall I've had!  Shows and classes and family stuff . . . .  It will go on for another month.  I try not to think about the sheer amount of stuff I've done this fall and have yet to do -- a double baptism, multiple classes, my birthday, Barb's birthday, Pete's birthday, show after show . . . It's all good, though -- fun and profitable for the most part.  I just need a little more sleep.  At least the overnight travel is done with and I can sleep in my own bed.

Scallop season opened last Monday.  It's a good year Peconic Bay scallops -- they are big and plentiful for the first time since 1994.  Pete went out with his scope and net and couldn't believe how easy they were to get.  We ate them almost every night last week (Pete makes a great ceviche), sent some to Clara on the west coast, and brought some up to Barb. We've also packed some away in the freezer, although they are much better eaten the day they are harvested.

Next show up:  I will be at the New Forms Group Annual Fine Art and Craft Show this coming weekend in Remsenburg, New York.  I won't have supplies here -- this show is only for finished work.  Stop by if you are on the South Fork!

Rhinebeck 2014

I have been thinking about writing long posts about the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival held last weekend in Rhinebeck, but I am so busy trying to restock for the Fiber Festival of New England next week, that I haven't had time to post.  We sold out of so much stuff, my head is still spinning!  It was our most profitable show ever, and I am grateful to all the wonderful people who come to visit us each year.  That said, I have to get back to work dyeing wool and making kits and drawing patterns . . . . . .   So here are some photographs for you to enjoy.

Our booth

Another view of our booth

Yet another

My favorite sheep of the show

This guy was a sweetheart

Our neighbor at the show

Love this woman's baskets -- she's a rug hooker, too!

nice packaging

Goats are my favorites

Sunny skies and colorful trees

Garlands

Love the topknot

These trees look great every year

More yarn than you can imagine

Another corner of our booth

The Fruits of Our Labor Day

Sixty-two quarts of plum tomatoes canned!  We spent the holiday coring and peeling and cooking hundreds of tomatoes with our friends the Osinski's.  Fifteen-year-old Susanna was planning on doing about a dozen jars by herself, although her mother really want 40 quarts to get the family through the winter.  So Pete and I said let's just do it -- add a few jars in for us and we'll help.  So while Isabel, Susanna and I cored and peeled, Mike and Pete headed to Agway for more jars and to the farm stand for more tomatoes. Mercator headed to the grocery store for more lemon juice. We had them all canned in a few hours, using all six burners on the stove plus a propane burner outside.  When we finished we sat down to a lunch of fresh caught bluefish, then all jumped into the bay for a swim.  It's amazing how satisfying it is to see sixty-two jars of tomatoes sitting on the counter.

I realized last night that summer is, for all intents and purposes, over.  The sun was nearly down by 7:30, and the garden is overgrown and shriveled.  This summer has been great.  We took advantage of the dry and not-too-hot weather.  We swam almost every day, had a terrific vacation, fun times with neighbors, a wonderful Fourth of July with our wonderful daughter and close friends.  I taught a class and took a class.  I even found a parking place at the Post Office every single time I went, although the village has been full of tourists.  No regrets this year.  I took advantage of every day.

Now it is time for the show season to start.  First up:  The Hallockville Fall Festival and Peconic Ruggers Rug Show.  This is such a fun day!  Be sure to join us.  Barb and I will have a booth in the Naugles barn, where the rug show will be.

The 34th Annual Hallockville Fall Festival & Craft Show

September 13 & 14, 2014 10am-5pm each day!

The Fall Festival is Hallockville's largest fundraiser of the year! Join us for the annual tradition-the North Fork's only true old-fashioned country fair for all ages!

Admission is $8 adults, $5 children ages 5-12 ( 4 & under free) 2 adults & 2 kids $20. Parking is available on-site.  **For the safety of all animals on display, please leave your dogs at home. Dogs are not permitted in the Festival grounds.**

Admission includes:

- access to over 50 artisan craft and folk art vendors- jewelry, baskets, clothing, artwork, soaps, candles, something for all ages & interests...plus Miss Ella's Shop which offers a variety of local gifts and souvenirs which benefit the museum, plus quilting fabric

- handmade rug show in the Naugles Barn by the Peconic Rug Hookers Guild

- folk art demonstrations including decoy carving, wood carving, basketweaving, rug hooking, quilting, and more

- hayrides, tractor pull and antique farm machinery display from LIAPA

- historic house tours including the 1765 Hallock Homestead & Barn,  1931 Cichanowicz Farmhouse

- special exhibit spaces including the 1876 Combs Decoy Carving Shop,  the "Defense of the Eagle" War of 1812, and model trains from the Railroad Museum of LI

- children's activity area and fun games like the popular Egg Toss

- animal and livestock displays including cows, horses, donkeys from the East End Livestock and Horseman's Association

- live music from the Eastbound Freight Bluegrass Band and a traditional dance performance from the Blue Spruce Cloggers

Additional amenities that are available for purchase include:

- children's mini train ride and pony rides

- food vendors including Maple Tree BBQ, Island Empanada, Ice Cream Truck, Rosie's Country Kettle Corn, and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company

Thank you for supporting our not-for-profit mission by attending the Fall Festival!