Lisa's First Rug!

( Lisa and her first rug)

I don't know who's more excited about Lisa finishing hooking her first rug.... Lisa or me?  When she came to me back in April of this year she had no experience hooking whatsoever!  Lisa loves primitive's and fell in love with this rug she spotted online and was bound and determined to learn how to hook one for herself!   Somehow she stumbled across my blog and learned that I gave rug hooking lessons here in my studio.  

After getting a good start on her rug Lisa had to put it on the back burner for awhile.  Her daughter was married this summer and the wedding was held among the beautiful gardens of her home.  Farming,  raising and showing horses,  two young sons and driving the US Mail truck daily kept this energetic gal busier than usual!

Then a few days ago she called to say she was done hooking and needed help with binding!  

We decided to go with a nice wool binding in black. 

I am really loving this rug!  

Every loop has determination, learning to overcome obstacles, love for the craft of rug hooking and the desire to have something made by ones own hand hooked right into it!

Lisa will tell you how much reverse hooking she did..... a perfectionist at heart!  Then she realized how wool is a tender loving material to work with and that in the final product those loops that weren't perfect in her eyes became the character so sought after in primitive rugs!

So Lisa when you read this...... know that it was a pleasure to help you on your way to learning how to hook rugs!  I am so very proud of you that you kept on going and finished your very first rug!

It's a beauty and I can't wait to see what's going on your frame next!!

Cathy G

An Overnight Sensation......in Bayfield, Wisconsin!

It was a whirlwind trip to Bayfield, WI on the shore of beautiful Lake Superior.  A quick overnighter for Dave and I and of course the two pooches.  The weather was spectacular and the leaves even more spectacular!  

We found a garage sale out in the country and parked the car to walk down their drive-way.

We passed a pile of logs and this stand of white birch trees reaching towards the autumn blue sky.

Then, right at the end of their drive, almost covered by a tangle of brush I spotted this little pyramid of stones on a tree stump. Balanced so artistically, the stones are typical of what you'd see along the shores of the lake worn smooth by water lapping over them for countless years.

I didn't place that red leaf there.... I swear to you on a stack of rocks!  That is just the way everything looked so perfectly posed in nature.  I am so glad I took this photo. 

It speaks to me of the magic and the people of this beautiful area in Northern WI.  There is an energy here.  You see and feel it everywhere you look..... and in places you might not think to look.

  

Most of the  rest of the day was spent lounging at the Seagull Motel and taking the dogs for walks along the  bike trails next to the lake.  

We ended the day on the little deck outside our motel room  watching the sunset and drinking "Fat Squirrel Ale" brewed in New Glarus, WI. 

Oh...... and the icing on the cake...... Dave spotted a beautiful 100% wool brown tweed with little red flecks in it Pendleton SKIRT at that garage sale.   He noticed it in a box of clothing that was ...... are you ready?......... 10 cents each!  

MMmmmmm..... 

I love autumn!

Cathy G

                                                                
                                  

Jumpin' Jack Cats!!!

It's that time again!  Time for Primitive Handmades Mercantile September update!  Remember to click in tonight and tomorrow to be first in line for all the wonderful hand mades!  It promises to be the best update we've had so far as our artisans have a bit of a fondness for all things Fall and Halloween! There will be a chance to win a lovely handmade prize or two if you sign up for the newsletter and a "Spooktacular" freebie design from Robin at Bird in the Hand Primitives!  Her designs are always fabulous!   Come join the fun!!  

                                                     Cathy G

The Candy Man!

I've decided to try my hand at making a pumpkin head doll for Fall-O-Ween.  I tend to not use patterns on the things like this that I create......  I guess because of the nature of the wool.   Wool is so easy to manipulate and when sewing and stuffing kind of takes on a life of it's own.  When this guy materialized out of some plaid wool I knew he needed a wool scarf to keep the Autumn chill away. His prized wool "Candy Corn" just made sense since his head is a pumpkin and I didn't want him holding another pumpkin.  So here he is in all his candy corn glory.  He told me he wanted to check out Ebay for awhile and join the Jol Halloween Rug that I have on right now too.  It looks like the rug will soon be going to  a new home!  So how about  it "Mr. Candy Corn Lover"!  Maybe you can charm  your way into a new home too!  Your smile certainly charmed MY socks off!!

Head on over to Ebay by clicking on "Mr. Candy Corn Lover's" mug shot in the upper left corner!

Cathy G

Halloween Rug Now on EBAY!

Ebay......  I'm giving it a try again!   I've decided to try and sell my latest hooked rug  which is hooked from a pattern designed by Ginger over at "Primitive's by the Light of the Moon".

  

I loved the pattern the moment I laid eyes on it!!  She calls it "All in the Family.  Well..... talk about fun!  Color planning was easy!  I  just picked all my favorite Halloween colors!  

It turned out cute as 'pumpkin' pie!   

Click Here to go see the auction.  

.....back to the studio I go..... time to get something new on the frame....

Cathy G