My Christmas

Merry Belated Christmas Everyone!

I know I haven't posted for quite some time.  On Thanksgiving I went to

my sister's in Ohio to house sit and puppy sit for almost

two weeks.  When I got home there was just

too much to get done in addition to some recuperation

time.  I was beat.  Little Mylie (above-mentioned puppy) totally

exhausted me.  She is really sweet, but ..... so terribly active.

Christmas was wonderful.  I spent Christmas Eve with all my children

and grandchildren.  On Christmas day I was at my son's

home and had a very nice day with my daughter-in-law's family.

The next day was our annual ravioli dinner here at my house.  We had

so much fun.  We cooked over 200 ravioli that day.....more than we had

ever cooked in the past which is to be expected with four teenagers

and two of them trying to break family records.  It was great. 

Here are some pictures of ravioli making and Christmas Eve.

The top pix is my kids and me and the bottom one is of all the grandchildren
and me.

To everyone out there in blogland.......HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Beautiful Day in PA

Attention Hannah Pepper Sampler Lovers!!!

I know that there are many sampler lovers out there, and

I have something to offer that I think someone might be looking for.

Below are two Fine Lines magazines that I found.   I was looking

for the four FL that contained the Hannah Pepper reproduction sampler chart.  Well,

I found someone selling all four and also some single issues.

Since I was afraid to lose because they seem to be

a VERY hard to find item, I bid on all of them.  Low and behold,

I won the group of four as well as two single charts.

Of course, I only need the four, so I have two to

offer to anyone who might be looking for them.

Fine Lines Summer 2002 contains part 1 of the chart.  Fine Lines Fall 2002 contains part 2.  I just love this sampler especially since I have a granddaughter whose name is, you guessed it, Hannah. FYI there are 4 parts to this sampler.

I can't wait to get started, but first I want to look for a linen that lookes more like

the original.  Anyway, if anyone is interested, please email me at wethree@zoominternet.net.  They are 5.00 each, which is what I paid, plus 3.00 for media mail shipping.  Also, I found these on an Ebay site that I think is Hartwood Acres.  They had tons of cross stitch and might have the other two parts needed
to complete this amazing reproduction sampler. 

Here is a peak at a new We Three design.  Maybe I'm odd, but when it is a certain
season like autumn, that's what I want to work on.  This seems too spring like to
be hooking right now.  So, I think that is reason enough to start another
hooking project.

That's it, let me know what you think.  I usually second guess all
my designs.  Till next time......

Have a great day and Go Steelers!!!!
Lonna :)

It's Baaaaccck!

That oh so scarry day is back.

I'm sure some or you remember Trick or Treat

in the fifties and sixties when ToT lasted for 2 hours instead

of only one.  When you could go around your

neighborhood WITHOUT your parents, and when

all you wanted to do when you got home

was eat the candy, not inspect it for possible

needle holes or even worse.

Where or where did those great days go!

Even with the passing of time and all the changes, kids still love it.

Just wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween.  I would guess that someone out there in blogland has a scarry story to tell.

Leave a comment and share......

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Where does the time go?  Let me first say that I had a lot of thinking to do

and a hard decision to make.

That decision is to shut down the We Three website.  It is still up and running

and will be til the end of the month.  As you may know my two daughters,

Lisa & Missy, left the business a few

years ago.  Since then I have been running the business

and taking care of the website as well as

working part time and maintaining a home.

As 65 is just around the corner I just wanted to have a more simple life. 

 I plan keep my blog and my Etsy.  If I do any new designs,

I will probably use this blog to offer them for sale.  Actually, I am

currently working on a new design and will post progress pics.

On one hand I feel sad but on the other hand,

I am looking forward toward what the future may have in store.

I have always loved stitching samplers and am now able to

work on some projects started long ago, and I'm really enjoying that

and finding all the sampler blogs out there.

I have three grandsons and two of them are currently playing football, which I love, and

I so enjoy going to watch them.  It sure has been a fun ride.  Thanks to

all who have supported us over the years.  Feel free to contact me at wethree@zoominternet if you have questions.

Be back soon :)

Lonna

What's up with Etsy update

Well, my laptop etsy is still in German, but on my desktop computer Etsy is in English.  Anyone have any ideas?  I even restarted my laptop but still German.....perplexing.  Everything else on the laptop is ok.  Strange, unexplained things make me crazy.........

What's up with Etsy?

Hi Everyone, Happy Friday.  I am curious as to why Etsy is German today with euro prices.  It is really strange, and I can't seem to change because EVERYTHING IS IN GERMAN.........  I can get very frustrated when strange things like this happen with no explanation.  I'm going to go cool down and come back later....

Till then,
Lonna

Lazy Saturday

How's everyone today?  I would imagine that most of  you are feeling the oppressive heat we have been getting.  Today seems slightly cooler, or should I say less hot.  We had some much needed rain last night in the form of thunderstorms, and I think more is to come today.  Reportedly we had a high temp yesterday of 99 degrees, which is the hottest I can remember.  It's almost a little scary.  I worry about the ones who have to work in this heat.  The house is cool, it's Saturday, and I am making spaghetti sauce in the crock pot so the kitchen will stay cooler, washed some clothes.......hmm what do you think I can get into now.......  I could stitch on my sampler, work on a new rug design, hook on my Polly Minick rug, browse some blogs, etc.  So, it seems I have a big decision to make.  I think I will start with some blogs.  Are any of you like me and will get motivated by viewing those wonderful blogs?  So, everyone stay cool and enjoy your weekend.......

Lonna

Weekend Road Trip

On Sunday we took a trip to our friend, Carmen's home.  We had a wonderful time while there.  She served us a delightful lunch and then we hooked and talked out on her screened-in porch for quite a while.  I think there was more talking than hooking.....know what I mean?  The day was hot and dry but that didn't spoil it a bit.  Thanks Carmen for a fun time.

Below are a couple of pics of what I have been working on...a Notforgotten Farm pattern and a Cricket Collection sampler that I started.

Nothing much new since I wrote last.  I haven't been feeling well and have no desire to do much of anything.  I hate summer colds.  I hope it ends soon.  We did have some much needed rain but the humidity is back......Ugh :( 

After getting some transcription done, I have been visiting some of my favorite blogs.  The amount of blogs available is somewhat overwhelming, but oh so much fun.  I enjoy seeing what everyone is doing, and that helps me get motivated, which I definitely need right now. 

Well, back to blog heaven........

Lonna

I can't believe just how long it has been since I since I wrote.  Let me catch you up.  The Colonial Day festival at James Creek Galleries was a great success.  I did very well and am now planning on next year.  I met so many terrific people while there, and the James Creek gals outdid themselves in providing both breakfast (Amish donuts, fruit and coffee) and for lunch pulled pork sandwiches and meatball sandwiches and assorted other goodies, and to top the day off, the weather was perfect....couldn't ask for better. 

Our neighbor under the tent was Joy Tipping and her wonderful theorems which were framed in lovely frames with graining that she and her husband make.  I am already thinking about which one I want to purchase next year.........

After the show I spent a few days in Ohio with my sister relaxing....much needed.  It was lovely with more beautiful weather. 

Now I'm ready for a new design but find that my mind is blank.  I would love to do a floral, maybe even a geometric.  Sometimes the ideas flow easily and at other times......not so much.

Do any of you get the wool sampler from Rebecca at The Wool Studio?  My friend got hers a couple of days ago and it appears that due to costs of producing wool The Wool Studio's wool now contains a bit of nylon.  I don't know about you, but I like being able to say my rugs are 100% wool.  I guess it gives us something to think about......

I hope you are all enjoying the summer doing lots of fun things.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  This heat wave is not so much fun....  Hope it cools down just a bit.  It seems like it is either feast or famine.

Will write again soon....

Lonna

Colonial Festival Info

Here is a copy of the postcard with all the info regarding the Colonial Festival held by James Creek Galleries.........located in Volant, PA...not far from the Ohio border....Hope you can come and check it out...

I'm Back!

There has been a lot going on, but I'm back.  On May .... I had a beginner hooking class with a terrific help from my friend Karen.  We had six lovely ladies with a desire to learn how to hook.  I have posted two pics below.  One of our students turned out to be our friend Carmen, who already knows how to hook but just signed up for fun.  It was really nice seeing her again. 

We had a lovely lunch provided for us by the James Creek Galleries ladies, Jan and Clair.  Thanks so much!  Here is a picture of what our students were working on.  I gave our Lazy Days design a make over.  I added a wing to the crow and rounded the petals on the flower. 

Also on June 25, 2011 we will be participating in James Creek Gallerie's 4th Annual Colonial Festival. We will be under a tent behind the shop.  It would be so nice to meet some fellow hookers.  You can find more info on the James Creek Gallerie website.

Be back soon!

Happy Mother's Day

I was thinking about my mom who passed away several years ago.  She had Alzheimer's -- the most degrading and evil disease there is.  She was an amazing woman.  She was an exquisite needlewoman, embroidery, needlepoint, bargello, bargello, and cross stitch.  My sister and I are blessed to have several examples of her needlework.  She was also an extraordinary seamstress.  She made our prom gowns and our wedding gowns.  She made a beautiful long christening gown for my oldest daughter, and it has been worn by all the female babies in our family.  I didn't always appreciate you talents.  As a teenager I always wanted to just buy my clothes like all the other girls.  As an adult, I still examine clothing to see if the plaids match, a sign of a well made garment.  When I owned Heirloom Stitchery, she finished all pillows, Christmas stockings and anything that needed sewn, and she did it well.  Everything I have learned about the needle arts I learned from her.  She was already gone when I learned rug hooking. 

I'm sure most of you are also remembering your moms at this time, and maybe you are still blessed to still have her.  Let me tell what I did to my mom long ago.  I became engaged on Christmas Eve 1964.  I was 18.  My fiance and I planned on a wedding in May of 1966.  In August of 1965 we decided to move our wedding up and get married that October, which was just two months away.  Come on, let's get real now.  You know how 18-year-old girls can be......  The wedding was for over 350 people.  My mom made my gown, veil, 2 junior bridesmaid dresses, the flower girl dress, the ring bearer's pillow, headpieces for the two junior bridesmaids and the flower girl and nade her own blue velvet suit.  She made me help sew the pearls and crystals on the lace for my gown.  (How dare she?  I just wanted to spend time with "Jimmy."  Two weeks before the wedding she got bursitis (I wonder why), but she pulled it off.  Amazing huh?  I went through my life always thinking that it didn't matter what problem came along, my mom would be able to fix it somehow.  She was only about 69 when she first showed the signs of Alzheimer's.  From that point we started to lose her. She passed when she was 80 years old.  She only got to know one of her great grandchildren and she had 15. 

Forgive me for this long reminiscence.  I've just had her on my mind lately.  I hope you all still have your moms and if not that you have many wonderful memories of her.

Later today I am going to dinner with my two daughters.  Lisa's husband and Missy's finance are working out of town and won't be home until Monday.  We haven't been able to do this in a long time, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden

fall upon us; when adversity take the place of prosperity;

when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us;

when trouble thickens around us, still we she cling to us,

and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels

to dissipate the clouds of darkness and cause peace

to return to our hearts.  - Washington Irving.

Definition of a sweater:  A garment worn by a child when its mother 

is feeling chilly.  - Ambrose Bierce

That would be my definition of a sweater.  How about you?  May all of you have a wonderful day tomorrow whether you are remembering how much you miss your mom and how wonderful she was or just enjoying the day letting your family honor you. 

Next time I write, I will have a new mat to show you.  

  My mom and I on my wedding day........HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!



Good Morning

We were supposed to get some of the bad weather last night, but thank God it missed us.  I just can't believe how many tornadoes touched down yesterday and how many people died.  It must breaks my heart.  It's hard to comprehend losing everything in a matter of minutes.  My prayers go out to them all.  I heard today that May is actually the month for tornadoes especially the third week in May. 

I also wanted to respond to a comment regarding the mat I am currently working on.  It is a We Three design - Lazy Days - which my daughter, Missy designed and hooked.  The one I am hooking is slightly different - the crow has a wing and the flowers have rounded petals.  I plan to offer it on my website as Lazy Days II.  It will be the same price as the Lazy Days that is already on the website.  

My plan is to work on it today and hopefully cut some grass later, but right now I am doing my other job as a medical transcriptionist and get ready for the sleepover.  

I'm posting in royal purple to honor the occasion- ha, ha!  

Everyone be safe, 
Lonna

Well, did everyone have a good Easter?  I sure hope so.  My family got together at my son's home.  My daughter-in-law's family was also there.  Oh and another visitor was also present and has been every day since then.  RAIN - RAIN and more RAIN.  OMG will it every end?  We had to have the egg hunt in the garage.  How much fun is that? The weather we have been having this April is the worst I can remember......Rain, rain go away....

Here is the progress on my latest project.  It doesn't seem to be much further along than it was.  I better get moving. 

My mind has been wandering off lately to what my next project will be.  I love to plan projects, getting the wools out and playing with them. 

Is everyone ready for The Royal Wedding?  Both of my girls were a lot younger when Diana and Charles were married.  I remember the three of us getting up around 4 a.m. so we wouldn't miss anything.  At that time my mom lived behind me.  So see came down too.  The four of us had so much fun watching all the pageantry.  Soooo.......I am going to Missy's home on Thursday night for a "sleepover."  Lisa has to work and won't be there, but Missy is letting her 14-year-old daughter, Hannah, stay home from school to watch it with us.  It will be fun to have a girls day.

I am going to finish for now and check out some of my favorite blogs.  I do so love to read the blogs and see what the many primitive designers are up to........

Till later...

Lonna



Website Update

Wahoo!!!  Folky Rabbit is done, and isn't he awesome?  For me, this one will be hard to part with.  I had so much fun hooking him.  He measures 17 x 25 and is for sale on my Etsy....LonnaRae's Hooked Rugs and More.  I also just finished listing the pattern on my website.  I've always had a fondness for rabbits...as you can tell from the website.  Instead of the date box, I was going to put three Easter-type eggs, but that might have made it too seasonal.  I thought the eggs might be fun to hook...oh well, an idea for another day.

I ordered some lucious wools from Heavens to Betsy this morning.  I love that she shows the wool on her website and still sends out samples.  Mine should be here any day now.  I was also looking at her blog and saw a wonderful blackbird mat with an awesome background and a braided border.  I've never tried that....have any of you....I have thought about it but never got around to trying it.  I'm wondering if it is difficult to do.

Well, I guess it is time to get back to work.  I have patterns to draw and wool to dye.

Till next time......

Lonna

Where or where is spring?

Hey, how has everyone been?  It has been a while since my last blog.  Sorry about that, just busy with everday life issues.  I'm sure you know how that can be.

Recently I added a new item to my website.  It is a wool appliqued rollup to keep your rug hooking or needlework tools.  My friends, Karen and Sharon (the twins) designed it using my three crows.  It is so cool.  They made me a different one for my birthday.  They have several designs that they will be offering for sale.  Except for machine sewing the back and front together, all the stitching is done by hand.  I think you are going to like them....... The first picture is rolled up, the second is the outside and the last photo is the inside.....Aren't they just too cool?

Is anyone working on something for spring?  I am doing a new version of Lazy Days for some upcoming classes at James Creek Galleries, and I also have several ideas for a new rug running rampant through my already crowded brain.

I am also very anxious to get outside, but we have been having the craziest weather in our area. I have hydrangeas coming in a few weeks, and I am hoping for good weather to get them planted. 

Have a great day everyone!

Looks like Spring!

What a beautiful day we are having today.  How refreshing after the blast of winter we had last week.  I so hope the snow is finally gone.....you never know though.

Last Thursday I had a small refresher class with the gals (Jan and Claire) from the James Creek Galleries.  We had so much fun.  I was showing them some different finishing for them to try with their rugs. I had my camera with me, but do you think I remembered to take any pictures?  Anyway, we decided to try and have a monthly get-together.  I can't say that we will get much hooking done, but I'm sure we will have a great time which, I'm sure, will include food,and hopefully then I will remember to get some pictures.

My folky rabbit rug is almost completed.  It should be done within the next couple of days.  Then I will post a picture.  I got my spring issue of The Primitive Gathering magazine a few weeks ago.  I really love seeing the variety of primitive homes that they feature.  I hope they get a lot of subscribers and that it will be around for a long time, don't you? 

Enjoy the day,
Lonna 

Trip to Volant, PA

A few days ago I was looking outside and enjoying the sight of GRASS.  It might have been a dreary but there it was....GRASS....!!!  A few hours later I looked out and...Wham Bang!  We were getting bombarded with snow.... like 5-6 inches...OMG....not again.  Will it never end?  Today it is sunny out but today is also, what I call, the big "M" day.  You know...that dreaded day once a year when you get to look forward to having the much hated MAMMOGRAM.  This morning I went for routine blood work.  This afternoon is the mammogram and bone density.  I know that these are great diagnostic tools and have helped save many lives, but can't they find a less painful way?  Moving on....

Last Saturday I visited the James Creek Gallery in Volant, PA.  Volant is a sweet little village in Amish country not too far from the Ohio border.  Jan and Claire have a wonderful shop filled with beautiful hand-made colonial early American furniture.  I was there for their Cabin Fever day to demonstrate rug hooking.  There were others offering wool applique and even teaching distressed painting.  We had great fun sitting on the beautiful furniture and chatting with several of the customers.  A few of my rugs are now being offered for sale at the gallery as well.  You can find Jan and Claire at www.jamescreekgalleries.com. Here are some pictures of their beautiful shop... 

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Are you as ready for spring as I am, and are any of you as bad as I am about finishing my projects?  Last I got working on that and finished a small hooked pillow for my bed.  It is from an older Need'l Love book.  In the book it is wool applique, but I wanted to hook mine, and now it's done as you can see above.  I also finished a hooked mat that was originally a punch needle design (I can't remember the designer's name right now) that I just fell in love with about two years ago.  Oh, it's been done for quite a while, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it.  At first my plans were to make it into a pillow for my sofa.  Then I decided against that and went for a mat with tongues.  What do you think?  I love it a bunch.  It is the first time I have finished a hooked piece with tongues, so it was a learning experience, and I am quite pleased with it. I  still have two more hooked items that have to be finished, hopefully, in the near future.  Doesn't that bunny just scream SPRING? 

Yesterday I had a brunch for 13.  It was my son's 43rd birthday, so I thought it sounded like a fun idea to have all my children and grandchildren in for a birthday brunch.  We had a great time.  I got his baby book out and let his kids see how cute he was.  It was fun and I was exhausted when it was over.......

P.S.  The design for the mat above is Stone and Thread Needlepunch.

Have a great day everyone 

Lonna 

Those Wonderful Blogs

How's everyone today?  Warm and toasty inside or sunbathing on a beach (I wish).  Maybe you got chores done today or maybe even a little hooking or you visited your favorite blogs.  I don't know about all of you, but I could spend hours visiting blogs.  I am always finding a new and interesting blog to follow.  Sometimes it is overwhelming, so many amazing and talented prim lovers...so many great ideas....beautiful homes...etc.  I sometimes find it more fun than watching TV.  Maybe I'm a blog junkie....could be worse....I guess.  If you are reading this, you probably are a blog junkie too.  What did we do without them......

It's Friday and a BIG weekend for western PA ...grocery stores are packed like it was Christmas...getting ready for Super Bowl parties.  Everywhere you go people are in their black and gold, even store employees.  Restaurants and bars are offering Super Bowl specials.  I'm sure the Green Bay area is going the same.  I'll be at my daughter's for a party which will be loads of fun.  I must not forget to get my Terrible Towel out.....  Whether you are a football fan or not, have a wonderful and safe weekend.  GO STEELERS!!!!!!

It's done!

Here it is, my newest completed rug.  It is titled Watching over Us.  I will be adding it to the website today or tomorrow.  I must say I am very glad to have this one completed.  A lot of changes were made during the hooking, more than in any other rug I have designed.  I changed the poor chicken three times. Have any of you ever designed a rug?  I find it very time consuming.  I like what I design then I don't like it.  Even when it is finished I am still wondering what I could have done differently.  For me the face was the hardest part.  Overall, I am very pleased with it and have already started my next project - the prim rabbit mat.  I should have some pics soon.

Today is dreary and snowy and for me a comfort day.  I'm going to hook and maybe make something special for dinner...maybe homemade pizza.  Stay warm everyone and have a great weekend.

Lonna

PITTSBURGH IS GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!

WooHoo!  We're going to the Super Bowl.  What a great game.  We love our Steelers, and we wish them the best of luck in Dallas.

GO STEELERS!!!!

Visiting in Ohio

Good morning everyone.  I'm spending a few days with my sister (Patty) here in Ohio.  Her hubby is out of town working so I drove over yesterday to spend a few days with her.  I think we are going to be baking bread, hooking, eating, hooking,etc.  You get the picture right?

After I read Blackbird Designs a while back, I was telling Patty about the bread that Alma made.  She loves to cook and bake and of course she bought the book referenced in Blackbird Designs' blog and tried her hand at baking bread.  She said it was great, and I can't wait to taste some of her freshly baked bread.

Are you like me?  I think these January days are the longest and most dreary of the year.  We have had a lot of ice here in our area with a lot of out-of-control cars slipping and sliding all over the roads.  At least the days are slowly getting longer and that helps...just a bit.  Anyone doing something special to get through the dreary days of January?  I'm working on the bunny pattern, and I still have to bind the angel rug.  I have been looking over my new wool swatches from Heavens to Betsy and trying to decide what I can't live without.  They are so beautiful.  I love that she also puts wool pictures on her website.  It makes it so much easier when seeing a larger view of each wool. 

What about spring or Easter hooking?  Anyone working on anything special for Easter.  Please share if you are :)

Well, gotta go.  I think we are about to start our biga...our bread starter....Mmm!  I can smell it now!!!

Lonna

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope your Christmas was great and that you got all those handmade gifts finished, all the cookies baked and all the gifts wrapped. Well, I got the cookies baked and the gifts wrapped, but those handmade gifts that I planned on making--Nope, not a one.  I'll be sure and get them done next year :)  RIGHT!!  Here is a picture of my seven wonderful grandchildren that was taken on Christmas Eve.   What a blessing they are. I will have a picture of the rug I just finished in a few days.  I want to get it steamed first.  Here is a drawing of my next project.  It is a rough drawing and still needs work done like decorating the eggs which will be shaped a little different.  Updates will be coming.  Take care and have a good evening,

 

Lonna