Saturday, June 16, 2007

Quiet Corner Rug Show, Woodstock, CT

Barb and I are off to the Quiet Corner Rug Show at the fairgrounds in Woodstock, CT. We'll have lots of rug hooking patterns, wool, needle punch supples, Barb's woolly whimseys and other stuff, so if you are in the neighborhood, come see us.

I am currently in show overdrive, trying to do in one week what normally takes a month. No matter how much or how soon I start to prepare, I never get everything finished. So wish us luck!

This is one of my new patterns:



Here are the particulars:

Quiet Corner Hooked Rug Show
Woodstock Fairgrounds
Rte 169 & Rte 171
Woodstock, CT 06281

Saturday, June 23, 2007
9 AM to 3 PM

Many hooked rugs will be on exhibit. Vendors, demonstrations, food, and raffles. Linda Repasky, teacher of punch needle, will be lecturing and demonstrating. Parking is on site and free. Entrance fee: $5. For more information, call (508)476-3727.

Hope to see you there!

Sarah

Friday, June 15, 2007

New Updates on the Primitive Gathering

Today is update day on The Primitive Gathering website. Want to see and purchase some fabulous stuff? Go to http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/ and enjoy!

Here are some pictures of our stuff for this month. These are mine:



I love this needle punch box. I saw an antique weathervane and immediately thought of Emma Lazarus' famous poem, The New Colossus with the line, "I lift my lamp beside the golden door."



Here's the inside.



Here are Barb's updates. As always, her attention to detail is amazing!



Percy and Polly Puddleduck are so cute -- even their backsides are adorable! To see those pics, visit http://www.picturetrail.com/hallowedhillprimitives



Barb and I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!

Enjoy these sweet summer days!

Sarah

Monday, June 11, 2007

Wool

I started selling my rug designs a couple of years ago. It is always so satisfying when someone makes a purchase -- and it is really fun to see your design hooked by someone else. Barb has a friend -- well, I guess she's my friend now, too! -- named Kathy Blake Parker who hooks like a speed demon. She recently agreed to help me by hooking up some of my new patterns so I can use them as displays at shows. I give her the pattern, she hooks it anyway she wants, and then I get to borrow it back. It is really nice for me, because I can't possibly hook them all up myself.

So here is our first collaboration. I think she did an absolutely fabulous job on it. I love the dark sheep and the contrast of the dark background and the light foreground. And the word "wool" really sparkles.



And here is my version.



Kathy's rug makes a much more dramatic impact!

Now I'm off to pull weeds! Enjoy the day.

Sarah

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Christmas in June

I was taking some photos for a friend's craft show in November recently. I was using a variety of handmade items, including several of Barb's ornaments. To keep them together, I stuck them all in a little basket and thought they looked awfully cute.



The basket was made by my friend Barbara Blossey-Chuvalas, who also hosts the aforementioned show. Barbara makes all sorts of baskets for quilters and rug hookers and just plain old folks. They are all beautiful, but my personal favorites are her little tiny ones, like the one she gave me for Christmas this year. (Aren't I lucky?)



The body of the basket is only about 2 inches tall!

Here's another I bought awhile ago . . .



I'm trying to convince Barbara to make more tiny baskets -- I think there's a market out there (starting with me!). So we shall see. Barbara also teaches basketmaking and sells basket making supplies. So if you are in the market for a basket, a class, or would like to know more about her Country Parlor Craft sale in Riverhead, New York this November, contact her at RBChuvalas@aol.com and tell her Sarah sent you!

Needless to say, if you are interested in one of my sister Barb's Christmas ornaments, you can contact her here!

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

New Peony Pics

I deleted the pics from my desktop the yesterday and POOF! They are gone in my post, too. So here they are again and I hope they stay put!


Monday, June 4, 2007

Peonies

June is the best month in my garden -- there are lots of showy flowers and not too many weeds. (August is another story . . . ugh!) Here are some pics I took of my peonies. They are my favorite flower -- fancy and so sweet smelling.





Sadly, we're having heavy rain here today on the Atlantic coast, and the peonies are taking a beating. I'm hoping to get another bouquet or two before they're gone for the year.

I love flowers -- I especially love to have them in the house. The problem is, I am a reluctant gardener at best. I want the results without the work! I hate getting dirty and sweaty -- and boy, do I get dirty and sweaty! I don't know how some people can spend hours in the yard and look like they've just stepped out of the shower. My dream is to be a checkbook gardener -- have someone else do the work and I just sign the check! But I don't think that will happen anytime soon . . .

Sarah