I'm officially a hooker!

It's true. 

I have been gathering supplies, reading books, studying websites trying to learn everything possible to become a good hooker. I finally felt ready so I purchased a frame on line a few weeks ago. I even started stripping some of the plethora of Pendelton wool I bought on our road trip. I have drawn out an original design, but I really don't want to hook anything until I know I am doing it the right way.

So today was the big day! The big Southern California meeting for rug hookers was today. Haley and I have been waiting for this day since May 17th when we 1st learned about and tried rug hooking at Art in the Park.

I registered Haley and I for the beginning class and got a babysitter for Ruby & Lucy (Eric's on call this week). Haley and my conversation was hilarious on the way there, I wish I could remember it all but Haley was cracking me up talking about how all rug hookers are soooo old. She asked if this class was held at an old folks home.

It was held at a large old Episcopal church. The big room was full of women and rug displays. Haley and I walked around salivating at some of the most beautiful rugs I have ever seen in my life.

(Sorry all my photos have blurry edges, that's what happens when you drop your camera)

This flag quilt by Polly Minick was AMAZING. I want to make it so bad I can taste it. They had a complete kit there with the book and all the supplies and I just picked it up thinking "I don't even care how much this is- I want it", then I noticed the $350.00 written on the top and slowly set it back down. Ouch!


The beginner class was held in a small classroom with only 4 of us in the class. Our room had beautiful stained glass windows that cast colored light on my canvas. I just loved being surrounded by such talent and beauty. Haley LOVED the entire day. All the old ladies doted over her and told her that they wished they started as young as she is.

During our class our teacher would be telling a story and say "Oh Betty is an EXCELLENT hooker."... I could not stop cracking a smile about how often they refer to themselves as hookers, and they are so serious.

This was the sample of the pattern we were learning on.

We both learned a lot and got a lot done on our little rugs. We were invited by four local women that meet every Thursday night to hook with them. We can't wait to go.

Here is my 1st attempt at hooking.  I'm not really in love with the pattern but it's good to learn on.

I did see a bumper sticker that said "Hookers do it on the rug" I would love to know what people think when they read that and see a sweet old lady driving.

In the begining...

Today was our local Historical home tour/ quilt show / art in the park. I really wanted to go and knew that the girls would rather die then go walk around looking at quilts. So when we got up and the girls were watching cartoons, I said:

"Ok it's Saturday morning, time to do your cleaning chores"

Of course this was met with a chorus of "Oh man, do we have to?" to which I replied:

"I guess we can skip our chores if you would like to go to the quilt show downtown" they all suddenly became very excited about going to see quilts!

I think they actually enjoyed it. Haley loved learning how to do traditional rug hooking, she has informed me that she wants to be a hooker. When we got home she went right to the computer to Google information about rug hooking. I told her that she has to finish one of her 2 crochet projects before she can start hooking. I on the other hand love hooked rugs and now that I have seen how easy they are to make I plan to start rug hooking... even though I have several unfinished quilts at home.