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!