Thursday, February 25, 2010

Today I was a Hooker

Okay, don't be shocked.  Two posts in a week - unheard of from me.  But I'm so excited!  Today was a great day.  I finally made it to my long awaited rug hooking class with Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios.  It was so much fun, but I have so much to learn!   And I have to send a huge thank you to Melody for telling me about Kris!

I was the newby in the class, or I should say the newest.  A couple of the other women were new, but had a couple of weeks on me.  One woman (and forgive me that I don't remember her name) just started, had designed her own rug and was almost finished with it.  I hope that she brings it next week so that I can show a picture of it!  It was so cool!!  I don't have a lot of pictures because I didn't want to run around startling people and being aggravating.  Next week, I'll take a few more.  Kris' wool collection is to die for!  And the finished rugs she had were seriously drool-worthy!!!


In this picture, Kris is demonstrating how to do different types of eyes.  In the background, you will see a face (actually a face of an angel on a rug that I just have to do - yep, already I have the fever - LOL).  Kris had such wonderfully different methods of doing eyes depending if it's an animal's eye, a person's, etc.

These are some of the different eyes that she demonstrated.

There was just so much to see and drool over - honestly.  By the time that I watched everything, looked through kits and admired everyone's work, and Kris taught me the ropes of beginning hooking, it was almost time to leave.  This is what I ended up getting accomplished:

Not a whole heck of a lot!  Just about nothing!  I do need to trim that one piece of wool sticking up! Kris suggested that I start with something small for my first time.  The larger pieces were pulling me like a magnet.   This is a pattern that Kris adapted from Lori Brecklin's (Notforgotten Farms) Folk Art and she has a number of Lori's patterns, so you know that there is going to be huge hole in my wallet now.  I just can't wait until next week!  Kris is such a great teacher and a really nice lady, that I know that this is going to be a great learning experience.   I know that Kris was right about starting small even though I wanted to start bigger.  With any luck, I'll have this finished by next week and can move on to bigger things!

And not to have anyone think that I've abandoned everything else, I have been quilting:


On Round Two of the Bullseye Quilt.  Each row of circles takes a little bit of time because you have to cut the back out of the circles as you layer them so you don't have this thick mess underneath, so that takes a little bit of time.  One more row of circles and then I'll be ready to slice and dice them into quarters.  That's the part that scares me!  These fabrics seem kind of wonky to me, but they're what came with the kit.  I'm sure that once I do the slicing and dicing, and piece them back together,  I'm going to be happy with it.  Especially once it's been quilted and thrown in the wash so that the edges of the circles fray.  I don't think this will be the last one of these that I make.  I have some great homespuns in the stash pile and I can see them being used for one of these quilts.  And I have been stitching too - but at this point, it's just a bunch of birds on the fabric.  I should have more soon!!!  Although tonight I just want to be a hooker!

Thanks to everyone who sent me such lovely compliments on my quilt and Mary Corey!  I appreciated all the great things that you had to say about them.

Hope that everyone has a great weekend!!

55 comments:

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

someday, I'm going to do this too. :)
I can't wait to see you and your rugs and quilts and samplers all around you...that's gonna be awesome!

Margaret said...

Oh I'm so envious!!!!!!!!!!!! :( I wanna go too! Can I? lol! You picked a good beginning piece -- I like, I like! And your quilt is looking good too! Can't wait to see more of both! Glad the snow didn't come to prevent your going to rug hooking again! Yay!

Andrea said...

Very awesome! I'm so excited for you :-) Rug hooking is definitely contagious, so many beautiful things to hook! I have several kits in my stash closet, really need to get back to that someday...meantime, I'll be drooling over your finishes :-)

xoxo

Berit said...

As much as I like prim style cross stitch, I have a dirty secret: I don't *get* rug hooking; can't hear the siren's call. (Or is that 'Hooker's Call'? ;)

It's really going around the x-stitch blogs lately, and I'm like, "Well, whatever blows yer dress up!" They say that your tastes become more sophisticated with time and experience...So I guess I should just be glad that I eat foods other than pizza, mac & Cheese, and Chicken nuggets. :D

Your Bullseye is looking so tantalizing!! I think I feel an itch called "quilting". :D One of these days I'll get some fabric shopping done. You mentioned a kit--did it come with the pattern? And is it for the same colorway as the cover pic?

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

I so wish I could have done this with you! It looks like it's going to be so much fun! You're going to have beautiful rugs and quilts and stitchings and I"m going to be so jealous!

I love the circles you've got together for your quilt - it'll be darling!

Gayle said...

WooHoo! Good for you taking your first rug hooking class! That's usually all it takes to be 'hooked' forever! LOL Kris is well known, and well thought of in the rug hooking community - you're lucky to have her for a teacher!

Marion said...

Congratulations on becoming a hooker!! LOL
Can't wait to see your rugs added to the rest of your finishes!!
Take care
Marion

Lana said...

Yay!! A new obsession!!! Woo-hoo!! =) The class and craft itself looks like so much fun....I wonder if I oculd get away with one more crafty obsession? Hmmm...I think Hubby would kill me, so I'll just sit here and enjoy all your rugs! Can't wait to see more!

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

I want to be a Hooker too!!! LOL I do punchneedle, But am wanting to learn Hooking. I don't know of anyone in Alabama that teachs. I would go there is a second !!!

LiahonaGirl said...

How fun! Rug hooking is on my list of things to learn. The quilt is going to be terrific. Am looking forward to seeing both projects as they progress and get finished!
Nncy

Siobhán said...

I am insanely envious of your being a hooker, and insanely happy for you, too. YGG! I love your first piece--and the angel piece you want to do--to DIE for. Love love love the quilt!!

The Eveningstitcher said...

Hey Deb...you are going to enjoy hooking soooo much!! It's easier on the eyes and picking wool and textures are so much fun! Kris is the best!! It's great that she is showing different methods..I need to take a refresher course!

Kim said...

Your bullseye is going to be awesome Deb!!! Have fun hooking! So nice that you got to take a class!!!

Kaaren said...

I want to be a hooker too!

Did you have to supply and cut your own wool or are you making yours from a kit? It's going to be sooo cool and I can't wait to see it finished.

Unknown said...

I wonder what my husband would say if I told him one of my friends had succombed to the world of hookers, lol. So glad the snow did not prevent you from FINALLY going to class. It sounds like you had a wonderful time and I love the piece you chose and look forward to seeing more of your progress.

Love your new quilt start, too!

I owe you an email (with less questions)

Enjoy your weekend!

Laurie in Iowa said...

Oh Yeah... I'm so glad you got to your rug hooking class. Wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on the sheepie. I'm also looking forward to seeing your qult top completed.

Roberta said...

Love the 'hooking' - it is on the list to learn!!! So much to do so little time!! so not fair.

Roberta

Anonymous said...
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Sherry said...

I can't wait to see more! I will have to live through your hooking (lol) because if I take on another hobby, DH will leave me and take the wallet with him!

Your quilt blocks are lovely! I am anxious to see them all put together!

Jackie's Stitches said...

I'm so happy to see this post! I think I was just as excited for you as you were! I loved seeing the different eyes. One looks like an alligator/crocodile eye to me. I laughed when you mentioned the angel - I can see a big hooking stash for you. I'm looking forward to seeing your quilt. I'm not familiar with this pattern. Isn't fiber of all kinds just wonderful?

Nancy said...

It sounds like you had a lot of fun hooking. I look forward to hearing and seeing more.

Your quilt pieces are gorgeous - such pretty colors. This will be stunning when you finish.

Catherine said...

Love the pattern your doing for your first attempt at hookin'! Can't wait to see what it looks like all finished up!

Love the new quilt pieces!

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Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Can't wait to see your projects!
You crack me up (and I needed that today) about being a hooker.
LOL
Quilting looks great! You are really very very talented, girl!

Jennifer

MyLifesAStitch said...

Yay! So glad you were able to make the class! It looks like you are well on your way to becoming a dedicated (and skilled, I'm sure!) hooker. :)

Can't wait to see the Bulls Eye quilt all together!

You are a seriously craftily gifted lady, my friend!

Meadows08 said...

So far I've stayed faithful to my cross stitch! I almost took a quilting course then thought of all the stitching stash I wanted and snapped out of it!

Can't wait to see your sheep done!

Lois said...

You did have a lot of fun and I guess it's safe to say you've found the hooking bug and can indeed call yourself a hooker! Can't wait to see your progress on your piece! The quilt blocks are looking good too!

Isabelle said...

Your post, Deb , makes me believe that you had a lot of fun taking this class :you are a lucky woman !!
I wish you a great week-end,
Take care,
Isa

Cari said...

Oh I am so envious of your rug hooking...you are learning so much. Love it!! And your quilt will be so much fun. I have this pattern and guess I should just do it! Hooking or stripping...decisions, decisions, decisions.... Have a great weekend Deb.

Carol said...

Fascinating--who would have thought there would be so many different types of eyes! I love hooked rugs, but just can't fit another hobby into my life so I'll have to be happy watching your progress, Deb!

Alice said...

And what a part time hooker you are going to make once you have the hang of it! So many crafty ladies in America. Tsk tsk, I must be in the wrong country as I know nobody in our whole region that crafts.
Alice

woolwoman said...

Deb I was thrilled to see you made it to Spruce Ridge - How fun to see the photos - Kris is going to be a wonderful teacher for you - what a great thing you have her so close - she is an awesome resource and reputable too. Love the NFF canvas you picked out - smart to start small but our motto is "go big or go home" and everyone down here pretty much sticks to that one LOL ! I bet you will love hooking and all the fun you will have picking wools and watching them grow in your rug - I simply love it and feel sad for all the people who don't feel like they can experience it because of no resources - if there is a will there is a way. Enjoy! Mel

Rugs and Pugs said...

Deb ~
Don't you just love saying you're a hooker?
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Annemarie said...

Oh, you are one happy hooker, anyone can tell from this post. Although the lone eyes in that picture looked a little creepy to me :o) What a fabulous start with the lovely sheep!

I saw one of these quilts at Heidi's and I wished very, very fervently that I was a quilter then. It's going to look so wonderful!

Patricia Lessell said...

I did this once and didn't like doing it. I wish you luck and hope you enjoy doing it. Glad you didn't get anymore snow too - we did in rainy old England but thank goodness it didn't last or stick to anything
Love
Patti xxx

Mylene said...

Good start on the rug and looking forward to see more.
The quilt blocks looks wonderful.

Have a happy weekend.

Nancy M said...

Now I can say I know a hooker! Have fun with your new found love.

Michelle said...

Ditto what Margaret said...I am so envious!!!!! I want to rug hook so badly! And your circles are looking wonderful as well. What fun you are having!

Cynimin said...

I love hooking too! LOL Everytime I go into my LNS I drool over all the great designs. Thank you for visiting my blog too and commenting on my beach pictures. You mentioned that your sister lives in Palos Verdes, I grew up in Palos Verdes. Small world!

Dona said...

Sounds like you had a lot of fun hooking, Deb. I can't wait to see your finished sheep - very cool!

Your Bulls Eye squares are pretty, too.

Kellie said...

I want to learn to do this too, eventually. Your start is looking great!!

Karen said...

When I was hooking my rug, I called myself the happy hooker!

Tanya said...

I knew you would love hooking! lol
Kris is such a nice lady with a great wool selection.

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Valerie said...

Deb, your class sounds amazing! I am pea green with envy! What a wonderful skill to learn and think of all of the neat projects! I can't wait to see your first finished rug. And you better believe that you will be "hooking" those big projects in no time!

The bulls-eye quilt is coming along nicely! I look forward seeing how you lay it out!

Till next time...Happy Stitching!

WoolenSails said...

That is a good rug to start with. I don't know about monks cloth though, I prefer primitive linen, easier to pull through with larger cuts. I have used it and I usually do 6 cuts with monks.

Debbie

Von said...

Wow! I'm really enjoying your adventures in hooking! :D A friend of mine, who has now moved away, became an addict and turned out some beautiful work! Looks like a lot of fun!

Possibilities, Etc. said...

Don't forget about "laying and stripping" while you're hooking. But one doesn't use a laying tool while hooking, I don't think. (I don't use one for needlepoint either) I love this - and envy the class.

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primitivebettys said...

What fun it must have been taking a class with Kris! I'm looking forward to seeing more rug progress from you.

Smiles,

Betty

Heidi said...

The slicing and dicing is the fun part! I remember oh so well how scared my group was when I did this with them but they loved it in the end. It is one of the most fun quilts I have made and also fun to hand quilt as I did it with freehand spirals.

Love your hooked rug.

Hugs ~
Heidi

Primitives By The Light of The Moon said...

Lucky you taking a class from Kris. You've got a great start keep posting I'd love to see your progress!

Bre said...

Oh no!!! You must refrain from posting anymore pictures involving rug hooking...for the sake of my cross-stitch, punch-needle, and quilt that are all on my project to-do list! I get addicted to new hobbies veeeeeery easily, your blog isn't helping :) LOL

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Cyn said...

Hi Deb,

I keep toying with the idea of a rug hooking class but I want to work on improving my quilting skills and enlarging my quilting stash first. :-)

Enjoyed seeing all of the pictures from the rug hooking class and the new pictures of your Bulls Eye blocks.

Cynthia
Windy Meadow