Dye Day

I'm headed up to Connecticut for a dye day with my sister Barb. I need some of her great colors for my Mosaic Mat kits, so I am bring several yards of soaked wool with me. It's also a chance to shake the cabin fever I've been feeling lately.

We'll get some good Wooster Square style pizza for an easy supper and have breakfast on Saturday at my nephew's restaurant, Thimbleberries, in Stony Creek. A quick but fun filled adventure -- 24 hours and I'll head home again.

The birds have started to sing early in the morning -- saw a robin yesterday. Spring is on its way! Happy March!

Wool Work Winds Down

Wool Work, my show of rugs at the Syosset library, has ended.  I drove up yesterday afternoon and, with Jeanette's help, took the rugs down.  It was a pleasure to see them hanging there one more time, and to get such positive feedback.  I brought my stuff so I could show Jeanette and Pam how to hook.  It turns out that Pam, years ago, used to punch rugs with a shuttle.  When she tried her had at hooking, she was a whiz!  Every loop she pulled was nice and high and even.  She has a knack for it.

When I arrived home, I found an email in my box from a woman who saw the show.  Here is  what she said:

I loved your hooked rugs! I went back several times to see the display! It made me want to try to hook a rug. I've done needlepoint, embroidery and quilting over the years, but I've never tried making a rug. I'd love to hook a geometric quilt pattern and hang it on a wall.I've tried to find a place near me that would sell the materials and/or give instruction. I took a book on rug hooking out of the library, but I know I will need someone to show me certain things (rather than just read about them). I can't find an adult educ. course or a library program that would give me the assistance I may need. The knitting stores don't seem to deal with this craft. Now that you have inspired me to give it a try, I'm hoping that you can steer me in the direction of someone or someplace that can give me some hands-on instructions. Can you help?

Thank you so much.

Isn't that nice?  I do believe we have a rug hooker in the making . . . 

Fumbling through February

I've been plodding through the last few weeks.  So much snow, so much cold, so many health issues for people I care about.  My father-in-law was hospitalized last week and is now in a rehab center until they can arrange home health care.  At 96, problems are not unexpected.  Still, we worry.  A friend needs surgery, another was diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma  . . .  bad news is arriving on a regular basis and I don't like it.  

I find myself wishing for a trip to the tropics.  I would love a dose of sultry air and salty sand.  I want to feel the trade winds blow while I float lazily in the waters of Cinnamon Bay . . .  Sadly, I don't see that happening.  My friends Sally and Sue are sailing into the sunset soon with the Searsport Rug Hooking cruise.  When they told me about it months ago I considered joining them, but thought Pete and I might make it back to St. John this year.  I don't think that is going to happen. I'll have to resort to daydreaming . . . 

Cinnamon Bay

I Heart Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Special Valentine wishes to my friend Ann, who has a heart of gold!

The Morning After

Snow was still falling when I woke up this morning.  I did some shoveling -- enough so Cairo could get out and move around a little bit.  The top 12 inches was beautiful, fluffy snow, the bottom 6 inches was hard, nasty ice.  I left the car covered, and didn't bother with the driveway.  The bit near the curb is particularly bad because of the snow plows.   I chopped a pathway out to the street, but after an hour and a half of shoveling, I decided it was time to stop.  The sun is out now, but the temperature is still low, so I don't think it will melt any time soon.  It's a good day to sit and hook on a rug.

Blizzard Watch

It's Friday and a snow day!  That means rug hooking in front of a good movie or snuggling with Cairo and a cup of cocoa on the couch while I finish my book.  I made all my preparations yesterday -- bought milk for my coffee, replenished Cairo's stash of allergy medicine, found my snow boots and the snow shovels.  I am all set for the 12 to 18 inches the weatherman is predicting. 

Syosset Library Show

Wool Work

Hand Hooked Rugs by Sarah McNamara

Syosset Public Library

February 3 through February 25, 2013

Pete and I spent Friday afternoon hanging a dozen of my rugs at the Syosset Library art gallery Friday afternoon.  We were greeted and assisted by the wonderful Jeanette Donohue, the library's Community Activities Coordinator.  Pete doesn't usually help me set up shows, so it was especially fun to have him along and his help made quick work of the job.  (He's 6 feet 3 inches tall, which really comes in handy when things have to be hung up high.)

Jeanette presented me with a copy of a brief article about my rugs that appeared in the Syosset-Jericho Tribune.  I'm so pleased to have it, and to be included in the library's permanent online art gallery.  This is my first solo show and I am thrilled to pieces.  

Many thanks to Pete and Jeanette for all their help.

When I posted this I mistakenly gave Jeanette a title that wasn't hers.  She is the Community Activities Corrdinator for the Syosset Public Library.  Pamela Martin, who I was also lucky enough to meet, is the  Head of Programming.  Sorry for the mistake.