What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 

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 Due to a long list of "Things to Do"...I'm taking the next three weeks of blogging off.  I'll happily host though - so feel free to link up.  I want to wish everyone the joy of this season and if you are going through trials, I offer a hug.  Thank you for keeping me company on this creative journey!

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'tis the Season right?  The season for decorating, shopping, lights, wrapping and all things color.  Normally, it's the time of year that is sensory overload with all the different colors everywhere. I look forward to it because it's my first line of defense against the cold and the dark days of December.  Lately though it seems to have gotten harder.

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 Yes, I did it.  I gathered enough courage to make the dive into the wool dye pots.  You wouldn't think it would be such a big deal since I've been dyeing my own cotton fabric for the last 15 years.  But dyeing wool and dyeing cotton are two totally different things.  One thing is the same though, there is no set way of doing it.  Just like when I did the research on cotton, everyone seemed to do it a bit different.  There were a lot of YOU HAVE TO'S and NEVER DO'S but what there ...

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 My Thanksgiving got snowed out (#lifeonLakeErie) so I have the mopes...but I read this and it helped...

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Sit & Stitch at Whiskey & Wool!

 I got it done.  Well actually, to be clearer, we got it done.  We got Puzzle Santa transferred to the linen backing.  Let me tell you, I now know why patterns are so expensive.  

Let me back up.  In most needlecraft arts, patterns come on paper and you are expected to use the pattern to make your project.  Not in the rug hooking world.  Rug hookers buy their patterns already transferred onto their backing ready to hook. Now I know the reason why.  It's a LOT of work to
transfer anything but the most ...

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 I was hoping to have more done this week creatively, but alas it is not so.  I'll blame it on the early snow (11" in Meadville, PA where I work) and the shorter days.  It makes you want to get home from work, watch the sun go down at 5 pm and get into bed.  I did start my light therapy and am feeling a bit better...we'll see.  I should have started it in October!

At least, I helped my husband design the pattern for Puzzle Santa....speaking of which...

Here's what you missed on Glee ...

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 One of the biggest learning curves in my rug hooking journey, has been tracking down materials to actually do rug hooking.  I guess I've been spoiled with quilting all these years.  There has never been a problem finding fabric and notions to quilt with.  At one point there were 11 quilt shops within an hour's drive of my house.  That doesn't count the JoAnne's (may it RIP) and other fabric stores.  

But rug hooking and wool is much different.  This is what I've learned so far.  Here in the United States, there are just a ...

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I always say that November through February are the hardest months to create...well if you live on the banks of Lake Erie that is.  All we have is grey, wet/snowy weather for days. This week it looks like we're sliding right into that time with 2 (going on 3) straight days of rain.  

The Box of a UFO Project

With that I've had to dig deep to make sure my hands keep making.  That said, I had to admit my limitations.  Coming to the end of the Autumn Fruit rug, I'll be wanting a new ...

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Rug Hooking Retreat at the Heritage Inn

 When I was in college, I belonged to the Newman Center group on campus.  The priest who was the moderator would take us on a spiritual retreat to a monastery outside of Elmira, NY.  My time there made a big impression on me. I loved the fact that we were getting away from campus.  I would catch up on homework, get up early (5 am!) to hear morning vespers, take long walks on the farm and explore the monastery.  It would center me.

That's why when I heard that Sauder Village offered ...

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Fall, 2013 Cotton dyed by Artist, Rough Edge Applique, machine quilted

 I know it's a bit old fashion, but I love this country.  I'm not sure if it's because I was brought up in a military household (both my dads were veterans) or that I can be a true political history geek (since my teens!), but I never take living in the US for granted.  Even with the current climate of division, I revel in our differences.  What most people don't realize (unless you're a political history geek) is this type of polarization within the ...

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 I've had a week.

 In typical manner, just when I've thought, I've created some boundaries with work, nope...it comes roaring back in.  But honestly, that's how life is.  You try to compartmentalize different aspects but it's not unusual for the boundaries to get crossed and some compartments to get bigger than others.  Luckily for me, I actually like my job so I don't mind giving a bit more energy than normal this week.  As long as it's the exception, not the rule.

I did finally carve out a little creative energy to ...

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Heritage Medallion, 60" by 60 Nina-Marie Sayre, 1996

Well, you can imagine what I thought, when my rug hooking teacher, Cindi Gay announced the next big topic was designing with geometrics.  I mean as a 35-year quilter, geometrics is kinda like our bread and butter, right?  Apparently, some rug hookers shy away from geometrics because the rug police said your lines must be straight, edges perfect (hard to do with fluffy wool!).  That totally reminds me of the quilt police judging if your points match and your seams are press properly.  (huge eye roll)

Her design directions were very loose ...

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The calm before the storm

After going through the Covid plague of 2020, I made myself one promise...I would make sure I wasn't blowing off chances to socialize just because it seemed like "too much bother".  What that awful time made me realize was not to take socializing with my community for granted.  To that end, I took a leap of faith and went to my first Hook-in.

It all started with me seeing a Facebook post on a rug hookers guild page for their Hooktoberfest 2025 Hook-in.  After a guild member said it was open to the ...

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 Is anybody out there just a glutton for cool stationary supplies?  Maybe it's because it's back to school time and the shelves are full of the coolest ones.  Or maybe it's because Cindi Gay has a whole series of lessons about journaling, but it got me in the mood to give journaling another try. 

 I have had several failed attempts.  Once I set one up for quilting.  Barely used it. I mean really, blogging about my quilting journey was plenty,   I did have pretty good success with the The Happy Planner series, mostly because it was a ...

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 Is anybody out there just a glutton for cool stationary supplies?  Maybe it's because it's back to school time and the shelves are full of the coolest ones.  Or maybe it's because Cindi Gay has a whole series of lessons about journaling, but it got me in the mood to give journaling another try. 

 I have had several failed attempts.  Once I set one up for quilting.  Barely used it. I mean really, blogging about my quilting journey was plenty,   I did have pretty good success with the The Happy Planner series, mostly because it was a ...

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Ain't THAT the truth!

It's an odd place to be.. .a 35 year veteran of one craft .... quilting and a rank amateur of another... rug hooking.  After doing something for 30 years, you get to know most of the answers.  Diving in deep on rug hooking, the more I know, the more I realize I don't know.  Luckily, I've found a circle of ladies that are happy to share their opinions on things (and let me tell you, rug hookers are strong in their opinions).  One of my favorite 90 minutes of the week is the ...

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