2017 Vendor Schedule!

So this year, I have decided to up my game on the vendor shows I am participating in.  It's quite exciting as well as a little intimidating because the dyeing, hooking, creating is going into overdrive on my end!  Here's my list so far, with one I am waiting for the jurying process to be completed.

http://www.ctsheep.org/sheep_and_wool_festival

The 2017 CT Sheep and Wool Festival - one day of some great vendors, sheepdog trials, and hanging with other fiber people!

 Made in Connecticut Expo 2017 - May 13 and 14 at the Farmington Polo Grounds, 152 Town Farm Rd, Farmington, CT.  I don't have a webpage for this one, but the pictures and reviews from last year looked great!

Second Annual ATHA Quiet Corner Hook-In - I was a vendor here last year, and let me tell you, you can't ask for a more welcoming and happy group of hookers!  Set up was a breeze with helpers everywhere, and man can these ladies cook!  



I will keep the last show a secret until I hear back from the jury process.  It's a biggie, and right now I'm behaving as if I've been accepted, ie. dyeing wool like a fool and creating kits and patterns like a crazy woman!  

Last Weekend

This past weekend was a busy with hooking related stuff!  One of my goals is to dye at least two times each month, and to choose one color to concentrate on for each day.  This past Saturday was blue's day!  I got started a bit late, so it was kind of a rush session to be done by a decent hour.  That being said, I was able to run all of the blue dye recipes from Karen Kahle's dye book, Vintage Colors Dye Book, and they turned out beautifully!  Here's a few pics of the progress throughout the day.

 Here's my Cushing Dyes.  Now I know you all are more familiar with the little brown envelopes, but those drove me crazy!  So found these plastic jars (with lids) at a pretty good price and spent about an hour filling 'em up and labeling them.  Best decision ever!





These are the only dyes I used, and really dyes up some beautiful blues!

 Here's my first batch of wool soaking in my new farm sink!  Needless to say, I drained the wools in my bathtub after the dyeing process.  Don't want to take the chance of staining my sink.  But let me tell you, that deep and large sink was a dream!  I will never have a two-sided sink again!

 Here's my pots on the stove, heating up and ready for the first batch of wool!  Along with the new sink, we also installed mahogany counter tops.  The blue tarp is my new best friend! 

 So this is the end result of my day.  Can I tell you that I just love looking at a stack of new dyed wool?!  A feeling of accomplishment along with these beautiful colors is a great end to a day! 

Next weekend, I think red will be on the color menu!

Lastly, this is currently on my frame.  It's a small wall hanging for a charity raffle at a coworker's kid's school.  I'll post more pictures tomorrow.






Have a great Tuesday, and remember......


 

My Studio

My studio was a hot mess after all my shows last year, so I decided to do some organizing/cleaning out.  Afterwards, I took a quick video and quickly realized that it didn't look much different! lol  I've really got to get my Etsy shop stocked up even more and start sharing the wealth, so to speak.

Here's a peek of where I create, hook, needlepunch, and generally hang out.

I hope you enjoy, and check back tomorrow for some pics of works in progress and some yummy hand-dyed wool!

Last Rug of 2016

As you can see, it still needs binding, which I'm going to do in a week or so.  Gotta give the fingers a break!  This pattern was adapted from a freebie embroidery pattern, and I think it turned out pretty great. 

I'm now planning some Valentine's Day projects for my Etsy shop which will include punchneedle as well as rug hooking, and maybe even a little knitting.  While 2016 has thrown everybody some hard knocks, it hasn't been so bad, but I'm looking forward to 2017.  It's going to be a great year!

Busy weekend and last show of the year!

Good Monday morning!  So my weekend was full of a little destruction and a lot of creating! 

The destruction part is the beginning of a partially new kitchen thanks to a very slow leak that had been drip, drip, dripping for quite a while.  Once discovered, up came 2/3 of the floor, out came all of the floor cabinets, and even some sheet rock in the ceiling of the mancave!  Once we were over the shock, it has been decided to do a bit of upgrading in the way of new counter tops (out to door went the original dusty rose laminate), a new sink (good-bye stainless-steel, divided original), and a new faucet with a sprayer built in!  Of course Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, so we're in speed up mode!  Pics to come once it's all finished.

The creation part was hours spent in my studio hooking small projects, trying some different wool applique and planning more smalls for my last show of the year.  On December 3 & 4 I will be vending at Whiting Mills in Winsted, CT.  This is a beautiful old mill that now houses multiple artists studios, and the talent in that one building is pretty mind blowing!  They are having an Open Studios weekend then, and have invited some outside artists to set up tables to sell their wares.  I really am over the moon excited about this opportunity because I love spreading the rug hooking bug wherever I can!  😁  I've also been creating some genuine feather trees to display some small Christmas ornaments, and I've got a feeling these trees are my new obsession! 

Here's three, currently without bases.  Once I've got them sorted, I'll post another picture.  My goal this year is to make one that's four feet high.  I just love feather trees, but the vintage ones are just out of my budget!

Hope your week is great, and I'll be posting more pics as the creative juices flow!

The New England Fiber Festival!

It is Tuesday morning and I have officially recovered from one of the best weekends I've had in a while!  This past Saturday and Sunday I was one of many great vendors at the New England Fiber Festival in West Springfield, MA.  While I was only able to get pictures of my booth (and my booth mate's English Angora rabbit Frankie), there are pictures all over the internet of the beautiful fiber-y goodness to be had!

My boothmate, Dawn Sotir from Coon Hollow Farm was kind of enough to share her booth with me, and we had a blast!  Next year we might even wear matching outfits! lol!  If you are looking for spinning advice, knitting advice, etc, she's your gal! 

This is Frankie.  He was absolutely the star of our booth!  

 

The rest of the pictures are of my booth from different angles as well as a couple of my larger rugs.   

This show was just wonderful!  Every person I met was so gracious and kind, and of course could chat about anything fibery  at the drop of a hat! lol  If you ever want to find a group of people that will always get along, look for the fiber people! 

I am sending a wave out to everybody that came by the booth and stopped to chat.  Talking to other rug hookers, from beginners to experts, is really wonderful and brought home that we all need more meet-ups!  In the next few weeks I am going to start looking at some dates and places in my area for next year to schedule some hook ins.  I will be sending out an email to let everybody know what is up and take any suggestions!

My First Penny Rug!

Here she is! This was great fun to do!  Keep in mind,  this is my first,  so all you experts will see my newbie mistakes. I choose to ignore them...lol! Of course any feedback is much appreciated.

Now,  off to start a small hooked pillow. My hook and wool is calling,  pictures to follow.