Grandma's bench

My next project is to hook a new cover for our computer bench. It was a bench that belonged to my Grandma Larson so I figured it should have something that reminded me of her. 

Three things came to mind right away, chocolate chip cookies, geraniums and lady bugs. A stool that you sit on did not seem like the best place to hook large brown circles with black spots (cookies). I drew a blank about a design with a geranium so I knew it had to be lady bugs. This rug below is one of my all time favorite hooked rugs made by one of the women in my California Chapter- I LOVE IT! 


I wanted to use this idea but taylor it to a stool. I took a sketch book to karate and sketched out several rugs... but this was my favorite.

I drew it on poster board and played with different color options for the background.

Traced the pattern on to red dot and then onto monks cloth.

I did not have any greens that I liked for this project so Maralou invited me up to her house yesterday to look through her wool (I was in heaven... she has GREAT wool). I came home with everything I needed to get started. 

Although I had tons to do today I did manage to get a little hooked and I'm loving it! I think my background may be a little light so I tea stained some of it to make it more interesting. After the kids go to bed I am hoping to make some serious progress.

Just what I needed

I have been so busy with my kids social life living here in suburbia that hooking has unfortunately taken a back seat.

On Tuesday I pulled into my driveway to find a local hooker on my doorstep with a basket of peaches for me (from her yard).  I had never met her before but had found her through a rug hooking online forum. Within 2 minutes I felt like I had known Mara Lou forever. 

Yesterday she called and invited me to go Monika Jones's house to see her rugs and wool. I was so excited I couldn't wait. After hearing Mara Lou say so many wonderful things about Monika and looking at her web site here... I couldn't wait to go.  

So today we drove about 45 min out to Monika's home.... deep breath.... she had the most beautiful rugs all over her floors! Please forgive me for not taking photos, I was too busy absorbing every second. I learned SOO much in 2 hours.  Here are a few of the big ah ha moments for me:

She hooks with a 10 cut and it looks amazing! I never dreamed of going over a 8!

She makes HUGE rugs. I had not even considered making a rug that large, but in a 10 cut (I have been using a 6) it seems less threatening. 

She and Mara Lou both use linen backings exclusively and swear by them. I have only used monks cloth, but bought some linen from Monika today. They may have converted me.  

She hangs her rugs on the wall with those wood carpet strips. - brilliant! I used like 7 nails to hang my rug. 

She uses her rugs on the floor! Kitchen, bathroom... they were everywhere and looked great. I know this sounds ridiculous to even mention, but most rugs I have seen hooked are not used on the floor. When you consider the time and money it takes to make one, I had to put it on the wall... but my next one (after the stool) is going on the floor!

I came home from her house so inspired and ready to hook, it was seriously just what I needed. 

Somebody loves me

Hawley and John (My Mother and Father in law) not only helped us move up to Oregon, but they went out of their way while up in Washington to go the the Pendelton outlet for me.

Check out this stash of beautiful wool they mailed to me... true love.

Thank you again Hawley & John!!!

We have arrived (at least thats what the GPS told me)

It has been a long crazy move, but we are finally in Oregon and mostly unpacked. FYI-My huge hooking bag with our frames and current projects came in the car with me.

The movers that helped us unload the truck were giving me a hard time at the number of boxes marked "craft room".  I am so excited about the craft room, Eric put shelves in for me and it is going to be the perfect place for my creative therapy... as soon as I get it all unpacked.

This house is perfect for a hooker. There are huge lavender plants all around the front and back yard. It's like a fortress of lavender to protect my wool!

Although I really can't start hooking now, I have to start a new unplanned project soon. Our computer is in a hallway (again) so to have more room we are going to use my Grandma's stool for the chair.  The padding is shot and it needs to be recovered... so of course I need to hook something cool for the seat right away. Any suggestions?

Gene's house blessing

Isn't this the greatest door mat!!!  Today was the blessing of Gene's house that is 120 years old.  It was a big party and had great food.

 
It was also the 1st time I was able to experience Gene's hooking room in person. I have heard about it from everyone but it was even better in person.

My girls were going "look at this... look at that" I just stood there with my mouth open in awe.  Finally after I was able to move again, I started taking pictures of everything so I could study them more later.

These shelves on the top had several large partially finished rugs that look amazing.  I refrained from opening them, but I need to go back and ask Gene if she will show them to me. 

Finished projects...
Wool, wool and more wool it was heaven.

One thing that was upsetting to me was her Mother's unfinished quilt tops stacked upstairs... They are beautiful and screaming "finish me".  I wish I had the time to help her get these backed and quilted, but I don't. So I need to convince her of the importance of getting these finished. Maybe be she can talk one of the local ladies in the quilt guild to help her complete these beauties. 

A few frustrations

I started a small version of Norma's flower to make a tote bag for myself.  I just didn't like how it looked...

So after a lot of unpicking and rehooking I still don't like how it looks, so I am going to take a break from this and try to finish packing (28 days until we move).  Hopefully after not looking at this for a while I will be able to see what needs to be changed, or I may decide to scrap it and start over with more natural colors.

One of the ladies in our chapter hooked a hedgehog.  Haley told her that she has always wanted to have a real hedgehog.  The lady gave her a copy of her hedgehog pattern and said "If you can't have a real one you can at least hook one".  Haley was really excited about this pattern, but she currently has 3 unfinished hooking projects.  So after I found out that Hedgehogs are legal in Oregon, I told her if she hooks this hog and completes it, I will buy her a real hedgehog.  She was so excited and asked me to cut the wool and get everything ready for her.  I did, including outlining the face and body to make it easier for her.  Look how much she has hooked. I am curious to see if she gets this done...

Hooking in the park

Exactly a year ago I learned about traditional rug hooking from women demonstrating it at the park. Today it all came full circle as I got to be one of those women sitting in the park teaching others how to hook.

It was so much fun!

Ruby was excited to come and hook on her bunny. She was so good about letting other children learn and practice hooking on her frame.

Ruby with Sandy, the hooker that I met in the park a year ago that taught me about hooking.

Haley hung out and hooked with our friend Laurie. Haley has decided that hooking is boring and she wants to stick with crochet instead... but she loves attending for the social interactions with all the "sweet grandma's". Eventhough she had a frame on her lap, I,m not sure that she actually pulled any loops.

My friend Stephanie came by

There were so many beautiful rugs, I am ashamed to say that I did not take that many pictures of the rugs displayed, not even my own. It was so fun to sit there hooking and see someone go over to my rug and say "Ohh, I like this one". The proud hooker in my wanted to stand up and say "That's mine!", but I sat quietly and smiled.

Here are the few photos I did take of rugs.

This is a detail shot of one of my favorite rugs ever. She gave me the pattern to make it so I wanted a close up of how she did her background. She may be 92, but she is a master hooker!

I had so much fun and really love these ladies, I am going to miss them terrabley when we move.