Pieces of News

I have been pretty busy. It started with needing some time to organize and re-group and it ended as me doing a lot of playing with my wool. Needed time away from my hook which led me to my hook! HaHa!

This design started as something entirely different- not even close. It wasn't going right and I was feeling quite frustrated. My best friend was over one evening and she said that I needed to just do something else. So this design was like no other. Normally, my designs start as a little sketch- tiny- and then I keep making it larger. I always want there to be easy curves and avoid anything tedious. This design I hooked without drawing out elements of the design first- truthfully, I almost ripped out the little Shepherdess a couple times and now I love her to pieces.

Another thing I want to mention is that I found a wonderful spinner from California who is working on wool that I can provide for you for your big sheep like this one- I want to include a little bell like mine and the ticking.

This next little rug is for sale in my Etsy shop. I wasn't planning on selling it as a pattern until I was getting messages for the pattern!! So, this rug is available as well as the pattern. It is not very large at all- perfect for a beginner or a gift for someone dear to you! It measures 16" x 8." I will include some little bells for you!

Another exiting thing I have to tell you about is a purchase I made this last week. I have been seeing on and off for the last couple years a very very old rug that I have wanted so badly. Well, one night, I just did it- I sold the house and all the kids for it! (Just kidding!) I have it and the only things I know about it is that it was made in the 1800's. The woman I bought it from says she purchased it about 15 years ago in an "OLD OLD log cabin in Northern Kentucky." I am going to re-create it and when you see this little piece, you will see why I love it so much. About two hundred years ago, there must have been a woman that hooked this that just had my same 'style.' Oh, how I would love to meet the woman who made this little piece that you will see later. Her and I are definitely kindred spirits! I am guessing, I don't know for sure, but at least I am wondering if there is another like it in the world- was this just a little rug that she made for her cabin- it surely appears so. Here's a teeney-tiny peek!

Celine

“Grandmother! Tell me a story about when you were young and lived in France. Please.”  Marianne pleaded.

Celine Thibault was loved by her children and grandchildren. Every nook and cranny of her home in Massachusetts was filled with photographs and little treasures of the past. Her grandchildren would visit and Celine always was able to transport them to a different place and time. Stories of her girlhood, stories of Papa, stories of relatives faded in black and white photographs- all brought to color with Celine’s stories.

Today, Celine and her little grand-daughter sat at the kitchen table as she poured raspberry tea and set a plate of macaroons down on the freshly pressed blue and white checkered tablecloth.  Marianne loved her grandmother- dancing blue eyes, a pink in her cheeks and that sweet powdery smell that only grandmothers have. She loved Grandmother’s hair- white and soft and always curled so nice.  She loved the way that Grandmother’s wedding band looked as they clasped hands and Celine’s sweet blue eyes looked into hers.

“Marianne. Today I think we will go to France. I will tell you about when I met your Papa!” Marianne leaned in to listen.

“This was so many years ago. Fifty! My family grew fields of flowers, Marianne. Roses, lilies, and lavender- See! Now that’s what makes YOU such a sweet violet, my dear girl! It runs in your blood!” she laughed as she hugged her.

“ I was twenty years old. I would go to the outdoor market in Paris every week with Mother. We grew flowers and brought them every week.  There were many other flower vendors but ours was known for our lavender.  I worked out in those fields harvesting the lavender. We sold it and it was used for so many things- soaps, perfumes, even cooking! I loved going to the market. I loved to hear all the stories the women had to tell each other. It was so fun! And, of course, I was always hoping to spot Papa- he was there often enough with his family selling vegetables. One day, he came over and bought some flowers from me. He told me he wanted a mix as he had someone he admired! I felt envious of the girl that I was creating the bouquet for- but I did my best- that lucky girl!  He paid for it and then handed them back to me and asked if I would like to accompany him to a play. Oh, I was in heaven!”

“ Grandmother, I wonder what Papa would say about that day.”

“Well, I know because he has told me a million times! He would say,  ‘Celine! That day I saw you in that pretty white blouse and your blue skirt and that red apron. You wore a blue bonnet and your blue eyes sparkled and your cheeks were pink like the roses that you sold! I could wait no longer to make you mine!” Marianne was unsure why her grandmother’s eyes became distant and teary and did not dare ask why.

Many years later, Marianne became an avid rug-hooker. She loved the history and the craft itself. One day in her home full of children, she tried her hand at a woman in a field of lavender- a youthful lady, in a white blouse, a blue skirt, a red apron and with the eyes of her heart, Marianne could see those dancing blue eyes and soft cheeks like roses.  With emotion, she could feel Celine’s hands clasp hers and she could see that little wedding band in her mind’s eye. She would always remember what grandmother told her- “ See! That’s what makes YOU such a sweet violet, my dear girl! ”

Sing A Song of Six-Pence

As you may know or not know, I am writing little books to go with my patterns. Today I am working on a book for my 'Crow and Crock.' I need a black berry pie recipe- any one have one? 
Would you like to know what comes to mind as I think about crows?
I learned many little nursery rhymes in my kindergarten class. When Mrs. Roberts would make her way to her piano and open the song-book, my heart would leap as we would begin to sing songs that would liven my imagination- a dog named Bingo, a farmer who had a wife, a red-nosed rain-deer, a popping weasel, but by far, my favorite was, 'Sing-A-Song-of-Sixpence.' So many questions would fill my mind as we sang the song. What was six-pence? Why a pocket full of rye? My father never ate from a dainty dish...my mother was busy with babies...I never saw her eating bread and honey. But all these questions seemed to fade away as we sang in wide-eyed disbelief, 


'The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When along came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!'

Mrs. Roberts seemed so matter-of-fact and unfazed as she shut the song-book and asked us to line up to go outside. I was still wondering if a blackbird truly would peck off someone's nose. Images of that fateful day in the king's garden kept my mind busy as I played hop-scotch and jumped rope always keeping an eye out for a wandering blackbird. Or did those things only happen when hanging out clothes? Whatever the case, more than forty years later, the words to that song are burned into my memory and I have sang it to all my children and my grandson. 'Sing A Song of Sixpence' has been a song that has kept the wide-eyed girl in me alive!
Both this pattern, and the rug itself will be available by the end of this week-end. This rug is a scaled down version of one I did a couple of years ago and sold. It was during that time that I was being messaged with questions wondering if I sold patterns. The thought had never crossed my mind. Ha-Ha! So, I am a bit sentimental about this design as it represents when I started trying my hand at coming up with my own ideas. Below are photographs of the original- it was huge! I loved it anyway!

Will You Be Mine, Valentine?

My friend, Christy Mason, and I chatted last night. She was asking me about what sort of creative ideas were on my mind. As I rambled on, I mentioned that I really want to do a Valentine rug. I had no sooner said that that the wheels in my mind came to a screeching halt. Why it is, what, like 7 weeks away!

What do I love about Valentine's day? For sure, it is the red hearts and the feel of impending spring. It's better than my birthday and I confess, I love it more than Christmas! My very favorite day of them all!

So today, I drew out a design that I really like. I will tell you about it. It is a little girl who is handing a heart, her heart, to the 'apple of her eye.' 

Can you guess who that might be?

Things I Have Been Working On For YOU With Love!

Since designing my 'HandSpun' pattern, I have been asked over and over to provide hand-spun wool for the little distaff and sheep. Searching high and low, I have found a spinner from California who has spun up just what I wanted! So, on my list of things to do, I will be offering hand-spun wool for sheep. Along with that, I am going to put in a couple strips of wool for the legs,ears and muzzle and a couple templates for sheep so you can add your own to any project you have. I will have both white and a gray.

Also, I have been working on a project that I am very, very exited about. Repeatedly, I hear ladies tell me that they enjoy my stories. To be honest, that sort of surprised me! So I have been working on 'books' to go with my patterns- stories, recipes, photographs and full color and measurement list and more. These books are spiral bound on quality card-stock and the ones that I have sent out, I have received more than the response than I expected. I am going to share with you excepts from the book that I have been working on- just so you can get a taste of it. I have been working on 'Joseph, ' a rug dedicated to my son, Joseph and his lovely fiancee, Abigail who I call a 'dove.' Remember my design 'Joseph?' The following is from the story:

“ Joseph! You’re not going out

in that old tattered shirt! It’s cold. That old thing will soon make a rug for the floor!”

“ Tsh! I have syrup buckets to collect. We'll discuss my old shirt
when I get in, Abigail. I have work yet to do,” he laughed.

“Joseph, remember that shawl I wore when we met? Remember? The gold one? I have had it put away. I want to make a rug with a sky full of stars. I want that old blue rag you insist on wearing for my night sky, sir, and I want to use that gold shawl to fill the sky with stars! “

January 1808

My dearest sister, Lydia,

Today I drew out this little picture. Finally I have what I need to make the rug we discussed when I saw you last. I thought you might like to make one of your own. My dear Joseph presented me with a feed sack along with his old blue shirt! That man! I do love him!

The weather here is cold but we are keeping warm. Joseph has been making some extra money with the syrup from our trees. I do confess we have had our fair share of griddlecakes!

I hope to lay my eyes on you this June. I miss you so. Please say hello to Miles and kiss each of those precious children of yours.

May the Lord bless you!

Your sister,

Abigail

In this particular book, I will also include the 'actual' design that sweet Abigail sent to her sister, Lydia- free for you to use as you wish.

There is much more as well to bring out your creative and girlish heart!!

Blessings!
Yvonne

If you give a Rug-Hooker a Scrap of Wool...

I told my husband last week that I just need some down time. I really wanted to concentrate on organizing my unorganization. Visions of neat stacks of wool, a cleaned off desk, pattern storage, neatly lined jars of buttons and bells and threads filled my mind. I had every intention of tackling it. But as the children's story goes, 

"If you give a mouse a cookie,

He's going to ask for a glass of milk.

When you give him the milk, he'll probably ask you for a straw.

When he is finished, he'll ask you for a napkin.

Then he will want to look in the mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache."

So it is with me!

If you give a rug hooker a scrap piece of linen, she might just dig through her patterns to see what would fit. If she finds what will fit, it may force her to organize her wool strips so she can use up what she has on hand!


At least I did get the desk cleared. But then I found a little piece of linen, which sparked an idea. Why not take one of my little figures and just make it? And while I am organizing my strips, I could use some up on this little piece. Well, one little piece turned into three! And you know what? It has been just what I needed- I have enjoyed hooking like this- in a playful, just for fun way. I have been 'doodling' as I clean up. So I have this little piece available in my Etsy store.( 12 1/2" x 6")  She is $40 and shipping. I have two other 'doodles'- larger ones that I will be offering as well in the next week or so.

 Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas Lamont and Lynn!

Guffey, Idaho

Several months ago a woman I know, Brenna, asked me if I would do a rug for her parents. I feel very honored to have done this rug not only as a Christmas gift but as I have learned the history of this property, I have learned that it is very special and a part of Idaho history.

I have always admired homes I have seen in magazines that once used to be a school house or a barn or church. I have always thought that would be wonderful- I envision what was once a place of learning or animals or worship, to be my home- old wood, brick, stone, possibly a steeple- I have always enjoyed that idea.I am sure my imagination would reel with all that once was or stories that had to have unfolded in that place. When Brenna sent me information on Lamont and Lynn's property, I sighed as I wondered what that might be like to live on such a piece of history.

The house you see in the rug belongs to Lamont and Lynn. But on May 27, 1897 another house was built- the first in Guffey and ironically or providentially, also Brenna's birthday.  A year later the town of Guffey had a hundred people and many buildings- a general store, a post office, hotel, saloon, blacksmith shop, stables, and boarding house as well. All of these are gone now. I was amazed to hear that Brenna's husband 'treasure hunts' with the children where the old buildings existed! What wonderful memories for your grandchildren!!

The most challenging part of this rug was the bridge. I admit, for a day or two, I could not see how I could do it. Rug hooking is not like painting. When designing one it takes a lot of problem solving and reworking areas which is very time consuming and no guarantee that be what I want. It was actually my husband that recommended that I only do a partial bridge. I did what he suggested and I love what came of it. 

I have to say that my very favorite part of this rug is the river. I love the way the color came out. I have that color for a while. I get all my wool from a woman in Texas. She is a sixth generation dyer, spinner, rug-hooker and shepardess. (Double M Sheep and Wool, Fort Worth TX) She does just about every piece of my wool. That color is called 'Chambers Creek.' I have decided that that color is THE color for water. Also in the hills in the back -the darker hills- is one of my favorite colors- Vintage Brown- Christy made that color special for me several months ago and I love it!! And I love those hills!!

Lamont and Lynn- Merry Christmas!!! I told Brenna that I want a picture of you and your rug. I am leaving you with more pictures of the rug while it was in progress.