"Little Flowers" and a Book

I inherited my dad's love of writing.The last few months, I have had this little idea brewing that I would create 'books' for my patterns- stories, recipes, hints, photographs, a color list- everything all spiral bound. Currently, I have two of these books complete- "Little Flowers In the Kitchen" and "Hand-Spun." This pattern is ready and listed in my Etsy store. I am leaving you with a bit of my story that will be included in my "Little Flower" book.

"Out to the kitchen at Nana’s house I would come and find myself at my place at the table. My grandfather sitting across from me in dress pants and tie enjoying his fruit and coffee. He would wink and make a playful ‘shh’ sound my way. Nana bustling at the stove almost in cadence to the polka music that brought such cheer to that red brick bungalow style corner house in Denver. She would serve cantaloupe and tea, bacon and blueberry muffins. She would stand over me and want to know if there anything else my heart desired. To this day, these smells bring me right back to that kitchen and the care I felt while there. Do you like Polka music? May I serve you some muffins? I am quite sure that Nana would make enough to serve at your next Hook-In!"

Hit N Miss

'Little Flowers In the Kitchen'
Designed by Yvonne Buus
2013

When I started this rug, my hope was that this could be a simple enough design that even a beginner could feel confident to start and with eagerness work through and with pride display. The border of this design is done in my favorite, ‘Hit N Miss.’ Great practice for a beginner and a great way to incorporate ‘leftovers’ from past projects- wasting nothing!

Although you could certainly use the colors I have used, this is a rug that I hope that you will personalize. I would love to see you make it your own using ‘memories’ of other rugs that you have collected- those leftover strips- other hooking journeys to bring to these’ little flowers in the kitchen.’ Maybe those strips could bring more meaning to your rug. In mine, I put a strip in from a tree that I did in my ‘Joseph’ rug - a very memorable rug to me as it is a rug dedicated to my son, Joseph.  I have strips of the textured Cinnamon Toast that I often use for baskets. Stormy Blue is a color that I used for my ‘Sweet Annie.’ When you hook with your friends, maybe these strips will bring memories back for for you to share or that all of you will remember!

I am now debating on whether to finish my rug with the method I enjoy using- whip-stitching using one inch strips or to finish the back using 'aged' blue ticking, allowing it to peek out in front a bit. Oh my goodness! I do love this little rug!!

Little Blue Flowers in the Kitchen- A Design for Beginners

" Why don't you let me know when something needs fixed?! You never complain when something is not working right."  My husband had to use the shower I use. Months earlier, the faucet stopped working right. Irritating- yes, but by the time I hit the hallway each morning, I had forgotten all about it. When my husband said these words to me, it caused me the think on why half working things seldom phase me.

I am the oldest of fourteen children. Four daughters and ten sons. I grew up on 'learning to share', 'stretching dollars' and making it around the house 'one more time' with a vacuum held together with masking tape. Twenty six years into my marriage and I do think it is true that I continue to be a very 'low maintenance' sort of woman. Could this be a contributing factor in my love for the history and roots of rug hooking? As I think on days in the past when women would create rugs of necessity out of old garments, I see charm and whimsy. That also happens when my brothers and I muse of those days of  mom's sack lunches (Dad's payday always meant pickle loaf), hand-me-downs, and the old station-wagon that got the whole bunch of us around town.

I have had this little design in my drawing book for quite a long while. It has always grabbed my attention while flipping through pages- I've really liked it. So when I traced it onto my linen the other night, I decided I wanted the challenge of using exactly what I have. I have to laugh at myself as I admit that much of what I am using, those "leftovers" are those very precious woolens I have gotten from my friend, Christy, who does just about every stitch of wool I use. As I contemplated using a black background out of Pendleton wool skirts, my eyes fell on a fresh piece of 'Espresso' that I just received. Nix the black. What is that I spot- a bit of 'Moose' - not much, just a scrap - just enough for a dress. Sapphire- well, that's not very 'scrap' like but well...I'll use it. Then as I went looking around I found a piece of 'Stormy.' I draped it over the top of of my frame, and I loved the contrast. Little flowers. Blue little flowers.

I like this design because I think it is a design that I would have felt comfortable with as a beginner. What's more- I would have been eager to work through this as I could visualize it hanging on a wall to call my first rug. There will be rows of 'hit n miss' as well as a simple straightforward design that could be hooked with what you have. Of course, you could also find any of these colors in my friends on-line wool shop, doublemsheepandwool.com.

I do need to mention that Sunday the 15th is the day that Christy and I will do our drawing- one of us will be getting hold of the winner Sunday evening.

Little Flowers in the Kitchen

'Little Flowers in the Kitchen' is a little idea that I have had tucked away in my sketchbook for a long time. Every time I need a creativity boost, I look in my numerous books at all my ideas. It's always fun as I run across little drawings that did indeed become a pattern. The other night, I ran across my 'Lamb and Pumpkins' and 'Miss Pumpkin' and the little spark that my husband pointed out as the sketch he thought would be perfect to submit to Primitive Quilts that actually got in.  I would have never guessed as I was scribbling it out. 

Between it being a holiday month and needing something simple and fun, I have decided to work on this one for right now. As I do that, I will be choosing colors and working and reworking my berry picker pattern. 

On a different note, I have been working on a special pattern 'upgrade.' It's been on my mind for quite some time and I am very much enjoying making it for you. I have shared the idea with three women who all love the idea and think it will be very loved. I think it will be treasured- I know I would love it!

Keep watching as I will post pictures as these little flowers are hooked. Frankly, I can already tell this is one that will be hard for me to part with!! One of my favorite elements in a rug is the use of 'Hit nMiss'- this one has that which I am eager to do.

Happy Holidays!

The Dance

This was done by my son, Justin- same son who used to tote crayons with him everywhere he went- that with his floppy blonde hair.

I was up till 1:30 a.m. last light. My son, Justin, and I talked for two hours about the creative process. This kid of mine helps me with a lot with things- I can't tell you how many times I have hit a wall on a project and he comes to my rescue- shedding light on a problem area that has caused me nothing but frustration. 

So last night we talked about how before the pencil hits the paper, most often an idea is carried around in your heart and mind for weeks- going through ideas and colors over and over as though rehearsing dance steps. For me , a rug design starts with a little spark in my heart brought on by a color sometimes, something I see, something I remember and it just stirs around in my mind and heart until it is then something you can touch and see. Over and over you practice- as you work, as you shop, as you try to sleep- until the day comes when all those hours of rehearsing, you are able to put on your dancing shoes!!

I have a sketch hanging in my living room- a woman walking toward the shore of a river during berry picking season. She has a little girl next to her. I also have pinned to my board pictures that are helping me form what I want- a basket of ripe berries, a river, a bridge, scenery, a mountain- to me some are colors, some are items I want to work in. But more than anything, the more I 'rehearse', the more I can feel the cool day, I can hear hear a little girl playing, I can see and hear the water rushing by- I am there. Right now, I just keep rehearsing the dance steps- raspberry, maple, indigo, indigo- 1, 2, 3- pause. Start again- this time trying it with a white mountain top. Yep, in my mind I go through this for weeks until I cannot wait one more minute to DANCE!!

And there is nothing more rewarding than finishing the dance all out of breath and looking out in the audience and seeing that I touched someone, or that I stirred a memory or that someone else would like me to teach them those dance steps I have labored over for months. To me, that is happiness.

'Hand-Spun' How Do I Create the Distaff? Color List

My friend, Cindy, promised this would be a well liked pattern. And, indeed, it has been. And from the ladies that have purchased patterns, I have been asked about the colors I am using in the large pattern and also how to create distaff wool. I want to answer both questions.

To show you how to create the wool on the distaff, I made this quick video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uToFKXFEBZ4&feature=youtu.be

Every color I am using I  purchased from Double M Sheep and Wool.   I recommend Double M over and over. Then I hear lots of, "Thank you! You were right! Her wool is fabulous!" Colors are great, she dyes to order and shipping time is fast. VERY competitive prices as well! Feel free to contact her with any questions- she is a delight and very, very happy to help. She is 'old-school' in customer service and satisfaction. The address is doublemsheepandwool.com



Background-  Pecan

Basket- Cinnamon Toast

Mother's Bonnet- Slate Blue

Mother's Dress- Sapphire

Mother's Apron- Creme Brule

Girl's Bonnet, Skirt and Apron- Sapphire and Slate

Floor- Vintage Brown (may have to ask Christy at Double M about that one-I LOVE IT!!) I did mix it in with some Gravestone Grey to cover the floor area.

Spinning Wheel and seat- Old Wood

Faces- Flesh

Border- Espresso

My little sheep are done with some local hand-sun wool. Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing some. I am working at getting some in my Etsy shop.

One other thing I may mention, I am happy to create a 'kit' for you if desired. Just contact me at yvonne@vintageheartprimitives.com.

Win A Holiday Gift Basket for a Rug Hooker!!

Christy Mason of the Double M Sheep and Wool and I have decided to do a drawing. We are creating a gift basket that will include fat quarters of hand-dyed wool from Double M Sheep and Wool, a pattern on Linen, soap, coffee and chocolate. All someone has to do is buy any piece of wool from Double M between or any pattern from Vintage Heart between November 1 and December 15. Winners will be announced the evening of December 15. A link to Double M is in the side bar if you are interested in wool. Patterns may be purchased out of my Etsy store or contact me directly. Thank you and Happy Holidays!!!!