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I am down the home stretch for my Cleveland rug. The left is the top of the rug and the right is the bottom of the rug and is already hooked. I hooked the year I started the rug and my initials in odd places as a way of marking time.

I am joining in with the 2019 finish along at She can quilt. I have several goals for the quarter. Some I have already mentioned in my one monthly goal post, But this is for the quarter, and should include what I want to completely finish in the next 3 months.
I have it in my mind to get my Cleveland rug done. I think background goes quicker than the design, And I am making good progress.

I have not done an "In the Studio" post for a long time! For this year, I would like to do a post every month to show you what's going on behind the scenes in both my business and my life.... so that is one of my goals for 2019!! This is January's post- hopefully this "resolution" won't flop come February!! Another 2019 goal- more "me" time! I was talking with designer friend Pat Sloan the other day, and we were talking about how we work too much- we made a pact for 2019 to do at ...

It's time to work on the background for my Cleveland rug. I wanted to use several different dark blues. Some of the wool , I "married" together to keep the variety. Marrying is the rug hooking term for put it into a pot and boil it together. I like a scrappy look even in my rug hooking. If it looks intentional, it can cover any mistakes. I used an accuquilt die that is a size 8 to cut my strips. An 8 will work quickly and give a more even background.

Moving along with the painter's palette for my Cleveland rug. I am very close to finishing. well in rug time, not real time.

Apparently, Cleveland is proud of it's night life. For me, I made sparkling grape juice for my Cleveland rug.

I have been hearing about the use of dryer balls more and more lately and decided to try making a few to see how well they actually work.
If for some unknown reason you have not heard of these, they are suppose to replace the use of dryer sheets, reduce static cling, provide more airflow around your garments in the dryer which should result in less drying time.  Clearly lots of benefits
Of course, a quick Google or You Tube search will yield many tutorials on how to make them. I tried a couple of things, this is what worked ...

Just a little music for my cleveland rug

The bottom right of my Cleveland rug is done and I am finishing up the little bits on the bottom left.

Next up on my Cleveland rug is the Westside market near downtown and in a great building. I am often fascinated by old buildings, and I worry that we aren't keeping them by tearing them down and building something new. They are part of our history, so I am thrilled they renewed this one for another purpose.

I had success at finishing the water and lower right side of my Cleveland rug. I have just a few attractions to do in the upper part and I can start on the night sky. I  hooked more water here and I hooked more water here. This is a big rug....