tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50797750610816213712024-02-07T03:20:18.014-08:00Winter Cottagewww.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-26587540800139139402024-01-26T12:10:00.000-08:002024-01-26T12:10:20.557-08:00Winter Mitten Love<p> <span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I have a new pattern in my <a href="http://www.wintercottagestudio.etsy.com" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> and its all about winter love! I love winter and warm woolen mittens are my favorite, especially red ones. I added a heart, making it a perfect addition to your Valentine's Day decor. </span></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4mNxXq3YKqvv_OfzcdYNir_6ghKl-dHyEdJf5NNDfSMZEOjycrD1rf7KVMRkmEONcdbxBNKWOrCrSeFhB9pUSgrxgARQPbBpiX1QhPUKRd7cWn6ik4VIfkKG6esfJTdFlB4Cx1v4sOK4bY88x8PhSfdLpt7rqaEBwliJH1KASD9KRtkl7L5cd9ff3I7g" style="font-family: "Special Elite"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="2834" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4mNxXq3YKqvv_OfzcdYNir_6ghKl-dHyEdJf5NNDfSMZEOjycrD1rf7KVMRkmEONcdbxBNKWOrCrSeFhB9pUSgrxgARQPbBpiX1QhPUKRd7cWn6ik4VIfkKG6esfJTdFlB4Cx1v4sOK4bY88x8PhSfdLpt7rqaEBwliJH1KASD9KRtkl7L5cd9ff3I7g" width="196" /></a><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I was in the mood to rug punch and this little mat, all 8 x 10 inches of it, worked up really fast. It would be just as fun to hook. I used hand-dyed yarn and would recommend hand-dyed or plaid wool if you are hooking it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">The pattern is offered on linen ready to hook, or as an instant download PDF pattern that can be printed full size from your printer. Make sure your printer is set at 100% so that the pattern comes out full size. Or make it smaller, that would be fine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I hope your winter gives you moments of rest and creativity. Hook on!</span></p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-31534963153835360242023-03-25T10:33:00.000-07:002023-03-25T10:33:23.115-07:00Miss March Hare<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDFMcqnhWCL2oVo1VskidDFSrGgUQxbfYg763XZK_tBJltJQdGG8vP2T1PE6MdKJx8F6kQ7-l949CpomQGYm1PVdeRwAdB8bq4fp5tuKKzfEx0GTGUTDXFvz41uER68LDbV9iIaEcdsXeW0CFSCuc9TiyH9HrGAWmFfRZOTx1yOzJMmDU6GEGvpem/s2298/MissMarchHare.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2298" data-original-width="2298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDFMcqnhWCL2oVo1VskidDFSrGgUQxbfYg763XZK_tBJltJQdGG8vP2T1PE6MdKJx8F6kQ7-l949CpomQGYm1PVdeRwAdB8bq4fp5tuKKzfEx0GTGUTDXFvz41uER68LDbV9iIaEcdsXeW0CFSCuc9TiyH9HrGAWmFfRZOTx1yOzJMmDU6GEGvpem/s320/MissMarchHare.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Greetings from windy and wet Berks County Pa</span> <span style="font-family: Special Elite;">as March makes herself known</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">with three straight rainy days. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"> This truly was the winter that wasn't as far as snow accumulation goes. I am</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">always wishing and hoping for heaps of snow, and although there were a few</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">days when flurries danced in the air, not once did I need to put on my snow</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">boots! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">Enough of my winter druthers, what about my latest rug pattern? I have struggled </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">with this pattern since the beginning of March and here we are at the end of the </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">month and finally I'm happy with this sweet little rug. She started out with</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">the same two design elements, a rabbit and a flower. They've been bigger, they've </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">been smaller, they've been surrounded by a small border, then a large border </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">until I stripped it all away, reduced the size, and just accented with a single row </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">of one of my favorite "barely there" greens. Miss March Hare is the name of the </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">pattern and is listed in my<a href="https://www.wintercottagestudio.etsy.com" target="_blank"> Etsy</a> shop both as a paper pattern to be mailed or as a </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">PDF digital ready for immediate download.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I have to give credit for my final rug design to a remark made on a Youtube video </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">from Root Design Company. "To me brown and green is the aesthic of March...if we </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">are to take our </span><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">cues from nature, well brown and green it is." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Bingo! I knew right away how I wanted to finish the rug.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">I had the brown in the rabbit and the green of the flower but a single row of</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">green is what was needed to set off the rug without diving into complicated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Thanks Root Design Company!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">If you love gardening and growing your own bouquets and </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">haven't met the two sisters behind Root Design Company I invite you to sit with </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">their inspiring videos. I think you will enjoy the time spent with them. I know I </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">do!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Here's a link to the video mentioned but you will want to go beyond and watch all </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">of their content! Maybe even try one of their classes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L7lkxL3m6EM" width="320" youtube-src-id="L7lkxL3m6EM"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><a href="https://youtu.be/L7lkxL3m6EM" target="_blank">link to Root Design Company </a><br /></span><p></p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-42639797183676786152022-07-31T06:34:00.000-07:002022-07-31T06:34:28.330-07:00Mourning Dove<p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Perched on the roof, welcoming the day, the haunting call of a mourning dove sounds overhead as I type. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">Mourning Doves mate for life and their families have been living on our hill since we built our home 27 years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week has loomed large over my summer as I prep to be a vendor (woo hoo!), and it occurred to me that although I have featured most of our farm animals in a rug design, the mourning dove, our constant companion through all these years, had been left out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">So, here she is in pale gray surrounded by prim pastel flowers and background, fashioned into a pillow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Sharing a bit of her progress and a photo of one of my granddaughters lending a hand to her busy "Marmee" as I rush to prepare for the show! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWUcwCCa-zDeHQrGtUJBt-5R601H3uo_ebuj_N_V3pKwk_Rwp--hsaWrh7rStoxw5rUpZglpecpEJfq-hw7l3uyArW8DWGKAGB3udDaBgtUptlCHiybKGHioRATo3V8uXluiQUPfI4Y-6U1R3X6B0-g13EqJvmdDgugLh7ohipwl98oFNx6PCx6MU/s927/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWUcwCCa-zDeHQrGtUJBt-5R601H3uo_ebuj_N_V3pKwk_Rwp--hsaWrh7rStoxw5rUpZglpecpEJfq-hw7l3uyArW8DWGKAGB3udDaBgtUptlCHiybKGHioRATo3V8uXluiQUPfI4Y-6U1R3X6B0-g13EqJvmdDgugLh7ohipwl98oFNx6PCx6MU/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrZQp0SDsksRbacgRP0QMrVGiJ3A5PejzAyT9OU4nFvE67fsOgb8TI8DLyoS9LVfO6VrbONayk9b2EThG5lf9hLtaAWx2j4JZE3IgtxOgYzNnckIdhxYRG2Uql5C0IZ156a8jt7NzGHMKwE3ypBOg-fbGsgfUuXFMnJ6rN6xTiy4ZIo_shYxAy6N3/s4032/IMG_8877.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrZQp0SDsksRbacgRP0QMrVGiJ3A5PejzAyT9OU4nFvE67fsOgb8TI8DLyoS9LVfO6VrbONayk9b2EThG5lf9hLtaAWx2j4JZE3IgtxOgYzNnckIdhxYRG2Uql5C0IZ156a8jt7NzGHMKwE3ypBOg-fbGsgfUuXFMnJ6rN6xTiy4ZIo_shYxAy6N3/s320/IMG_8877.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNV7ISz98f9xetmjbYSSKYcx8uzhhido-ezgliHchUAblsDLKxxuo-T8nblbj2ESlRi7M1VFvde0yg3QVxWEPbklGc-_yQYvzVwPdjx-xOgrcHA79feAz-cUrEQ06logka8JYycXKU0AWM3WJJqE7wY___vsyH_u9cZZNuzCRxemELM-54hcO-aDU/s2964/IMG_8927.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2707" data-original-width="2964" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNV7ISz98f9xetmjbYSSKYcx8uzhhido-ezgliHchUAblsDLKxxuo-T8nblbj2ESlRi7M1VFvde0yg3QVxWEPbklGc-_yQYvzVwPdjx-xOgrcHA79feAz-cUrEQ06logka8JYycXKU0AWM3WJJqE7wY___vsyH_u9cZZNuzCRxemELM-54hcO-aDU/s320/IMG_8927.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Mourning Doves are said to symbolize many things from remembering a loved one to peace and hope, and in my experience a constant morning companion so much more pleasing to listen to than a morning rooster!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">May you enjoy peace and hope and sweet remembrances this day!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-79583193250498578392022-02-07T10:16:00.002-08:002022-02-07T10:19:12.388-08:00Muddy Woolly Sheep Season<p> <span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Our ground has been frozen for weeks and then dumped on by snow and then the temps warmed and the sun came out and now, we are in mud. How about you? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I don't raise sheep but for many years we kept Jersey dairy cows and mud season was the worst for keeping the cow udders clean. Lots of extra washing till the water ran clean required before the udders could then, and only then, be properly prepped for a good clean milking. The process was the definition of chore! (As a sidenote, my favorite prep for milking was udder-high snow. Our cows had free access to the field and preferred to be out in it. Deep snow was like getting an udder facial and so appreciated by the milker 😉)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Back to muddy sheep...it doesn't take much for me to imagine the nuisance that mud presents for those who manage sheep during winter thaws on into early spring shearing time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">What does all this have to do with my new rug design?</span><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"> A couple of things came together as I was considering ideas for a new rug design. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">In the autumn I planted a lot of bulbs, including Snowdrops and have been anxiously waiting for signs of success, especially after a couple of chickens turned up the planting area with their determined scratching for bugs. Ugh!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">The simple shape of snowdrops across a field was one idea but the sketch looked empty so it seemed like a good idea to put a sheep in the field. Then our mud came and that was what tipped me off to what color the sheep out in a field of snowdrops would be. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I cooked up a dye bath using Karen Kahle's recipes for "Earth" and "Warm Earth" and ended up with what I think is a really good combination for wool to hook my muddy sheep.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6SqMZYs6msScZ7A72JCrgKAdapvgajeLen3uXvx8ecL1PEDZms8ar-GolqOsrs44C9KhDLE4XPa6LmBLIeROeZFg6BTFPZ_izvqV7bIUodRoydl4fTpnDzwLa5uJ6cQw6MqsxnSDuyjL21tQSith-SAK8npsS_DVk7gDAyIii11HwikKoDtqQguU/s4032/C27780F2-0672-4930-BCFC-88585961D30C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6SqMZYs6msScZ7A72JCrgKAdapvgajeLen3uXvx8ecL1PEDZms8ar-GolqOsrs44C9KhDLE4XPa6LmBLIeROeZFg6BTFPZ_izvqV7bIUodRoydl4fTpnDzwLa5uJ6cQw6MqsxnSDuyjL21tQSith-SAK8npsS_DVk7gDAyIii11HwikKoDtqQguU/s320/C27780F2-0672-4930-BCFC-88585961D30C.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">The wools that went into the dye bath were an assortment of off white and tan plaids, checks, and solids.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Next up is to hook a bit of the background wool to see if I like it on the hook as much as I do sitting next to the rug. That doesn't always pan out for me. It's usually a bit of trial and error but maybe not this time! Here's what I'm thinking:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcX0fHZsYjjXnQCFM7tKQ0vPBFOeTgbSVlElBv2W_aEG3VXCtlJfqbvOV42d7YI6IbVNQSrA8UHcmoUfSc2HA2O5IQyl2Ez9p0bk6EAD4tkWp2zX9NG0jdG0crcm-E_BUZl-iuUR6ZIUTEEzLv2hSFnb2HiyjBimvQHh_kZruIGC0OBdOW3EZ5dfK/s4032/D28AFAAA-00BD-4F52-ADD9-7C9CF2CD61A0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcX0fHZsYjjXnQCFM7tKQ0vPBFOeTgbSVlElBv2W_aEG3VXCtlJfqbvOV42d7YI6IbVNQSrA8UHcmoUfSc2HA2O5IQyl2Ez9p0bk6EAD4tkWp2zX9NG0jdG0crcm-E_BUZl-iuUR6ZIUTEEzLv2hSFnb2HiyjBimvQHh_kZruIGC0OBdOW3EZ5dfK/s320/D28AFAAA-00BD-4F52-ADD9-7C9CF2CD61A0.heic" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Most likely I'll be adding some lighter echo hooking around the darker stems of the snowdrops to set them off from the background. Then I have to decide how I want to hook the border. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">In the meantime, may your mud season find you warm and cozy with lots of time to hook awhile!<br /><br /></span></p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-77370608846196235752021-09-03T20:13:00.001-07:002021-09-03T20:13:07.331-07:00The Pink Pumpkin Rug<div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwJ_OakXfSWzSAO-T7aTX_q32BMBkWSN8OiNlZJ1z1HN6kCyjm1TFVlbeip-0UnNZDaRe5r4OEKXNlwuDECXdrvaQlez3F7QR34xiMEWmDR-VctHJf8Aktc1M8it8I-G9S8jvMTl1nO0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwJ_OakXfSWzSAO-T7aTX_q32BMBkWSN8OiNlZJ1z1HN6kCyjm1TFVlbeip-0UnNZDaRe5r4OEKXNlwuDECXdrvaQlez3F7QR34xiMEWmDR-VctHJf8Aktc1M8it8I-G9S8jvMTl1nO0/" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>I am loving all the different shapes and colors of pumpkins that are in the markets and seed catalogs these days. Are you old enough to remember when pumpkins were just plain orange? Today markets and orchards are full of heirloom squash and pumpkins in all shapes and scrumptious earthy shades that are great inspiration for those of us who love a primitive color palette. I especially love the gray blue hue of the Jarrahdale variety and the dusty pink of the Fairytale variety. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Back in July, I created a pattern for rug punching using a blue pumpkin.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistMr77cmajET8QQia1UmPnnSJG74veCuBG0Y-XoU5y5wqjsNG6IWw3gE9B8HmdqCrArGuOv3yr6kYYLzQXjstS6V_LKz0X_eE9pzYRosYvvlATKzAojZZTO4FG4mP2Cdi_QU5H6-pg2o/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1633" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistMr77cmajET8QQia1UmPnnSJG74veCuBG0Y-XoU5y5wqjsNG6IWw3gE9B8HmdqCrArGuOv3yr6kYYLzQXjstS6V_LKz0X_eE9pzYRosYvvlATKzAojZZTO4FG4mP2Cdi_QU5H6-pg2o/" width="301" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">This little <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/wintercottagestudio/" target="_blank">rug</a> punched pattern using yarn and an Oxford punch needle started as a fun way for me to work out my ideas for a larger hooked rug. Soon it took on a life of its own and I decided to offer it as a pattern. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">The little Blue Pumpkin pattern led to The Pink Pumpkin, and both patterns are listed in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/wintercottagestudio/" target="_blank">Etsy</a> shop. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMeYv_oXIpTffUExOawofqddP8DSCwg6TdbpbaQdX2ePTvVYE7setaimD1RcftngwsbxBJgVCEudJpNzZ5EWiczM6Zxyrvogt6sB5G43rWP_S_0Bww2Exk0z4D4onsM39ti2Fu55VIb0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="2048" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMeYv_oXIpTffUExOawofqddP8DSCwg6TdbpbaQdX2ePTvVYE7setaimD1RcftngwsbxBJgVCEudJpNzZ5EWiczM6Zxyrvogt6sB5G43rWP_S_0Bww2Exk0z4D4onsM39ti2Fu55VIb0/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">If you don't mind reading a bit further, I'll share my pumpkin patch story.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">While the winter winds had barely died down, and the seed catalogs were collecting in the corner, I had an idea to plant a special pumpkin patch solely for my grandkids. Part of the planning was sowing a back border of sunflowers to frame what I hoped to be "Instagram-ready" family photos of our pumpkin picking and autumn picnic. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">I worked the soil, hauled loads of compost, planted the seeds, and regularly hauled buckets of water to keep the seedlings growing throughout all the hot days. My efforts were paying off as the patch was growing great!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Deer pressure was going to be a thing to fight. I knew that going in and I was prepared with tricks up my sleeve. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Despite my efforts, the deer found my patch and stripped nearly all the sunflower leaves and blossom tops but left the pumpkin vines untouched. Phew! I was pretty sad about losing the sunflowers (also known as the great Instagram backdrop😊) but held out hope that they would grow back. To my relief the pumpkins had escaped and, to me, that was the important part. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">The sunflowers did grow back and bloomed and all was well. The pumpkins were growing larger with each passing week and I was making plans for an autumn picnic with pumpkin picking as the main event. It was going to be great! I love Autumn! I love pumpkins and picnics! Are you with me?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Through several decades, I have gardened alongside four boys, dogs and cats, dairy cows, chickens, turkeys, deer, rabbits, and even a goat or two in my fields. I am quite experienced with how my best laid gardening plans and ideas can be quickly destroyed by any one of the above. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">I should have known. 😉 </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">But as it goes, farmers and gardeners get energized by the promise of a new season, the prospects of a new field, and the bounty of the next crop so we just keep trying! And I was definitely trying with this pumpkin patch. I could already hear the laughter of grandkids parading through the pumpkin patch!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">You've already guessed what I'm about to tell you. It will be no surprise. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">Phase two of the assault began.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">The first night it was deer. Two thirds of my pumpkin leaves had been a moonlit buffet for them. The varmints stripped the leaves right off the top of the stems, hoof prints left behind as evidence.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">UGH! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">But still, they left me a few vines with plump little pumpkins intact. All was not lost. I had a cautious hope that we just might make it to autumn and have some pumpkins lingering in the patch. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">And yet the assault continued. Did you know groundhogs like to eat pumpkins right off the vine? I was not expecting this at all and </span><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">could not believe my eyes! Those critters ate half a pumpkin before moving on to the next one, and the next, and the next. Wide teeth marks left behind as evidence. Multiple nights of feasting and the patch was stripped bare. I might as well let the chickens in to finish it off!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";">The only thing left of all my plans is a couple of really cute rugs! One, with a blue pumpkin, is a shout out to the flavorful Jarrahdale variety and one vintage pink pumpkin to remind me that life is not a Fairytale 😉</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFJ6UhI3RtRmg2Eu0DECmg0qWEZDLvOhzgTXMaCye9WWaREf0QKaZf25LfZwKUhV_84JTQbroIuIPZ8ym9gxYfR9QlsgUqW2_1USjg-17i_fOtdYK06tVzGC5-0ufgV9RFnnsbzQzakc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1354" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFJ6UhI3RtRmg2Eu0DECmg0qWEZDLvOhzgTXMaCye9WWaREf0QKaZf25LfZwKUhV_84JTQbroIuIPZ8ym9gxYfR9QlsgUqW2_1USjg-17i_fOtdYK06tVzGC5-0ufgV9RFnnsbzQzakc/" width="159" /></a></div><br />I'm still having an autumn picnic and I dare, no, double dare the deer to show up!😜</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Special Elite";"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-78459813621783989012021-08-25T13:21:00.000-07:002021-08-25T13:21:01.647-07:00Are there Wool Flowers Growing In Your Garden?<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItj-iS_1UBBg5yHF4uZtwT7bpdT3k0D7KpaBms8D2sdck2CAh8lT2WueP27fCGGpQ0iJCmynNRWpkgN_q6bawAZWDQBWd4ZBfo46wNJ8k-ez6wqjvXzB2EKSxa_nhXdUkoXhDZ-ZGwr8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1524" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItj-iS_1UBBg5yHF4uZtwT7bpdT3k0D7KpaBms8D2sdck2CAh8lT2WueP27fCGGpQ0iJCmynNRWpkgN_q6bawAZWDQBWd4ZBfo46wNJ8k-ez6wqjvXzB2EKSxa_nhXdUkoXhDZ-ZGwr8/" width="179" /></a></div><p></p><p> I had no idea till this Spring when I was sorting through all things seeds, garden, and soil that there is an actual “wool flower”. Did you know?</p><p>Wool flower is its common name. I enjoy calling my flowers and herbs by their common name, seems more friendly that way. But undoubtedly, if you are a flower-lover, you will recognize it’s botanical name of Celosia. Celosia flowers are part of the Amaranth family. </p><p>I’ve grown celosia in its many varieties many times but had never heard it referred to as a wool flower. I’m taking on the mantle of bringing this sweet common name out of obscurity and suggesting that it needs to be the rug hookers mascot😁 Who is with me? </p><p>There are quite a few flowers known by names that have a link to textiles and handwork. I've listed the ones I know and some of which are growing in my garden this year. I'd love to know if there are more so if you have any additions please leave them in the comments below.</p><p>Wool flower</p><p>Lace flower and Queen Anne’s Lace</p><p>Button bush </p><p>Bachelor’s button</p><p>Thimble flower and Witches Thimble</p><p>Thimbleweed</p><p>Pincushion flower</p><p>Needle flower</p><p>Floss flower</p><p>Knit Bone herb </p><p>Tweedia - took a little liberty here but I couldn't resist a flower with the word "tweed" in it for all of us wool lovers😉😍</p><p>Cottage Pinks - my final addition to the list is not as obvious but I do believe it needs a mention due to the nod towards pinking shears. Did you know that Cottage Pinks do not get their name from the color pink? "Pinks" refers to that elevated cutting tool known as pinking shears. The frilly edges of the cottage pink bloom look like they were cut with a pair of pinking shears. </p><p>It would be fun to plant a garden full of flowers named after what can be found in our work baskets. I currently am growing floss flowers not because I’m overly fond of the flower ( not sure yet) but because I couldn’t resist its name. Now Pincushion flower is a different story. I love them. They truly look like a pincushion stuffed with pins, even down to the little pin head. </p><p>As rug hookers and workers with wool, we’ve hooked our fair share of wool flowers into our designs. Some of you may have taken classes on making flowers out of wool. Next Spring I’m hoping some of you will join me in growing wool flowers too!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGUKR8JDGKpV0OWFEuxiD07ySgN0IQNzWuLSa_PitnmlFMzRtEoLGGc2H4smWVuSV4DS8tp16xQUTrWIY0WZxjGxU-qbzvCuDP4a8UyWQr1mrstu8H2AprBSeYemRPNTo5pk_q9VPFhM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGUKR8JDGKpV0OWFEuxiD07ySgN0IQNzWuLSa_PitnmlFMzRtEoLGGc2H4smWVuSV4DS8tp16xQUTrWIY0WZxjGxU-qbzvCuDP4a8UyWQr1mrstu8H2AprBSeYemRPNTo5pk_q9VPFhM/" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Floss Flower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoQz7sDJ2yDC5cxeqAumdCgHYX6Cshyphenhyphentegz6hxAntKuhTN_utdRYiaw-cYunpB6o5Q1K6i_fTLJEsx8Yqqbt-bkDw3trhRyfQGTE1NptFLwcDuXenmKXfiJhIgTxz4dn5p7eu7KW4Zo8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoQz7sDJ2yDC5cxeqAumdCgHYX6Cshyphenhyphentegz6hxAntKuhTN_utdRYiaw-cYunpB6o5Q1K6i_fTLJEsx8Yqqbt-bkDw3trhRyfQGTE1NptFLwcDuXenmKXfiJhIgTxz4dn5p7eu7KW4Zo8/" width="254" /></a></div>Pincushion Flower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZi1eajIRRHv0i-MWFbD7NEEC7idOlPqPZBXbQgaEf5m0EKlPXOGksYMKCo9yXyVpDlWzS52G6c4ZBDAQa3xJ-luxmquLg4awyHlRWVk7aStSKFMoMUXsjKQJWWWP-v7Sm_CWT6Hz5_s/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZi1eajIRRHv0i-MWFbD7NEEC7idOlPqPZBXbQgaEf5m0EKlPXOGksYMKCo9yXyVpDlWzS52G6c4ZBDAQa3xJ-luxmquLg4awyHlRWVk7aStSKFMoMUXsjKQJWWWP-v7Sm_CWT6Hz5_s/" width="180" /></a></div>Wool Flower<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-13285356441953686342021-02-04T10:30:00.008-08:002021-08-25T15:02:13.899-07:00Sorting...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK07aCy5qlYI3hyphenhyphenawho7CjfjLOP-YKXTWVZpuT-4qIXtW-2jj_h0iDVMoVlfqMp7pcH7Q09nxQeFb_zR3T6hcQ9DZm2l3lsGoWS7ZyqsYth4zeH4rV1eL2LfhLl_zmDr4t-99UA_S66I/s2048/78E780D3-8BB0-4A1F-9CC4-5A9EFB683952.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK07aCy5qlYI3hyphenhyphenawho7CjfjLOP-YKXTWVZpuT-4qIXtW-2jj_h0iDVMoVlfqMp7pcH7Q09nxQeFb_zR3T6hcQ9DZm2l3lsGoWS7ZyqsYth4zeH4rV1eL2LfhLl_zmDr4t-99UA_S66I/s320/78E780D3-8BB0-4A1F-9CC4-5A9EFB683952.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was sorting through an old box that had been sitting far too long, waiting for its turn to be organized, when my fingers felt a familiar soft fuzzy edge. There was no surprise, only a tug at my heart and a smile of remembrance, when I pulled out a well used pattern piece made from a file folder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjr9So3KAep2r1reAhsoQxtrkmdltdzXxYN1JE6y4GgMMeMMyxO62gUE3teA54yhLNkdFxitkBGFbYDke8iVTcIXoBVHQ8VKIokF1fSG-ldt_4rKRDW42tUuQ2CSKVBCvqkU0bTJEd2g0/s2048/3914F2DA-250C-440E-B5F9-6EB2BFDF7FA1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjr9So3KAep2r1reAhsoQxtrkmdltdzXxYN1JE6y4GgMMeMMyxO62gUE3teA54yhLNkdFxitkBGFbYDke8iVTcIXoBVHQ8VKIokF1fSG-ldt_4rKRDW42tUuQ2CSKVBCvqkU0bTJEd2g0/s320/3914F2DA-250C-440E-B5F9-6EB2BFDF7FA1.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Thirty years ago, I started making simple cloth dolls stuffed with rags for a local antique shop. Cereal boxes, gift boxes with graphics that I liked, and basic file folders were my go to materials for my doll body patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">True to myself, my work was always scattered around the table and evidently too much of a temptation for my oldest son, seven years old at the time, to resist helping out his mom with her creativity. While I was tending to his younger brother, he lent a hand with drawing in a perfectly primitive face and my favorite part, the heart. He drew a heart and I loved it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That day I wrote the date of his scribbles on the pattern piece, retired it, tucked it safely away as a keepsake, and promptly made a new one. That old one had been traced around so many times that the sharp edge of the card stock had been worn into a fuzzy soft edge gray with lead pencil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today when I pulled out the doll pattern, and I saw that naively drawn face and heart, all the years caught between now and then disappeared, and my heart welled up with love for my little boy who dared to grow up and have children of his own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As someone who loves simplicity but is sentimental at heart, a battle often brews within of should I keep or should I not. Today, my momma's heart is glad that 28 years ago, there was a day when I decided to keep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How about you? What have you been glad, years later, that you kept?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From time to time, I still make dolls and use the same basic shape as I did thirty years ago. Here are a few from over the years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK1_Y8b6ctZMpPp-MEBhQHgE_jaGhtahlM8FaO0cMbuX9VFZMi6tgmf_v3nwY60wN3k5Ujyy61x81lzObuOtpvsfrhmhU-0ChZqCMRMZE_6L8Nk4Gh8bhtPXh8fB5ap8nVzUUBnqlpzc/s2048/30C676C6-9031-4DAC-B211-328E2952C8E9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK1_Y8b6ctZMpPp-MEBhQHgE_jaGhtahlM8FaO0cMbuX9VFZMi6tgmf_v3nwY60wN3k5Ujyy61x81lzObuOtpvsfrhmhU-0ChZqCMRMZE_6L8Nk4Gh8bhtPXh8fB5ap8nVzUUBnqlpzc/s320/30C676C6-9031-4DAC-B211-328E2952C8E9.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KIvpxvnCHUnNTgRF56ZwFjoq8gW5mj_3S-x5wKE4NZGtBQsdBWx3-LBKnnO3uKb_rZsNwyo_1fR7OeON7n6zs8DGSYWJwd4-H5Pg9n-f5xUUSG0XHXlSDEf0Nia7uzzCQeSIj-pm8ao/s2048/67D1E8CD-EF9F-411F-A5CE-475B090CAFEB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KIvpxvnCHUnNTgRF56ZwFjoq8gW5mj_3S-x5wKE4NZGtBQsdBWx3-LBKnnO3uKb_rZsNwyo_1fR7OeON7n6zs8DGSYWJwd4-H5Pg9n-f5xUUSG0XHXlSDEf0Nia7uzzCQeSIj-pm8ao/s320/67D1E8CD-EF9F-411F-A5CE-475B090CAFEB.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieHMDZtEdLkuv1oYxhh68hvldw6CLgC6Fn4ytv2pWBVLYpfflUmn3gRB_V_QbdSUGTB4Arzra1ee1AY7MxGsLMDXqjm7UAXbAACA2DGkf_DpaRoSAPAhjLXsPf33H66lgo8oX7lAUluU/s2048/69E02EE2-FD98-4C7B-A1CF-0F45E2ABCB52.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieHMDZtEdLkuv1oYxhh68hvldw6CLgC6Fn4ytv2pWBVLYpfflUmn3gRB_V_QbdSUGTB4Arzra1ee1AY7MxGsLMDXqjm7UAXbAACA2DGkf_DpaRoSAPAhjLXsPf33H66lgo8oX7lAUluU/s320/69E02EE2-FD98-4C7B-A1CF-0F45E2ABCB52.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY-ahj4xa_JsQihPNcab3ZUOE8-gzfKh4tnGd-zbiUGvLf6_PNpov80cj2TZkmUjijHJxjsoaDFnV_gN0sr_256pI5SCNisC5r4FEVPq-zVo5oh96I6zxhOLekAPlNkXg-T-6TT4QRNY/s2048/AC1BED78-0C9C-4609-9FA5-5E6E51ABD7CD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY-ahj4xa_JsQihPNcab3ZUOE8-gzfKh4tnGd-zbiUGvLf6_PNpov80cj2TZkmUjijHJxjsoaDFnV_gN0sr_256pI5SCNisC5r4FEVPq-zVo5oh96I6zxhOLekAPlNkXg-T-6TT4QRNY/s320/AC1BED78-0C9C-4609-9FA5-5E6E51ABD7CD.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY3Gw2U4ba9Ga41tmxstdznnIv_JlAzsVSFjSSFtsTVPYr05OK1hBYVvV0slWjXKaSwzmUr4C6IfEMkAr-SDY3hqUKvd3KkatVsgw9mrrLRSJlLhxICUqGxHF-cvBQrBLm_e4EmL16zQ/s2048/D0B68FD5-9AAA-4B66-871B-29E1A5B11A12.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY3Gw2U4ba9Ga41tmxstdznnIv_JlAzsVSFjSSFtsTVPYr05OK1hBYVvV0slWjXKaSwzmUr4C6IfEMkAr-SDY3hqUKvd3KkatVsgw9mrrLRSJlLhxICUqGxHF-cvBQrBLm_e4EmL16zQ/s320/D0B68FD5-9AAA-4B66-871B-29E1A5B11A12.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-88184104857975561312021-01-01T14:05:00.002-08:002021-01-01T14:05:18.607-08:00"We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet..."<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRrtkeGi-3kgHG64VczP9DVueK_o2-t40NGBpMQuJVmGdNQMNRORqi5j3vZAyjO5UACr2Lmf9AjBwgWNY0b0it4BDru6APMy10agnc_ARYiVEWQFjPGNKDHmTswyQFWqqdm3SwHTEneM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRrtkeGi-3kgHG64VczP9DVueK_o2-t40NGBpMQuJVmGdNQMNRORqi5j3vZAyjO5UACr2Lmf9AjBwgWNY0b0it4BDru6APMy10agnc_ARYiVEWQFjPGNKDHmTswyQFWqqdm3SwHTEneM/" width="240" /></a></div><br /> Last NYE that phrase kept rattling around in my head and it stayed with me all the way through 2020; that famed year where so much happened in our world, in our nation, in our communities, in our homes. <p></p><p>So often this year as I observed events small and large covered by journalists and documented on social media those words came back to mind. I kept thinking that so often, a cup of kindness offered would have been everything, and loving all the moments where kindness was offered and it was everything.</p><p>Throughout the year I wanted to hook those profound simple words in a rug. In the end, I sat on NYE and punched rather than hooked the words with a mug that reminds me of a cup of coffee from a diner. Well, I do love coffee and I love old diner cups so I guess it couldn't be avoided. Of course, it's a gray rainy day here in eastern PA so please excuse the poor photo quality. </p><p>If you'd like to use the pattern, please head to the "Free Patterns to Share" page on my blog and create away!</p><p>May you offer many cups of kindness in 2021.</p>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-24457920057993994462020-02-03T20:28:00.012-08:002021-01-01T13:50:09.794-08:00Self-Expression<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPznkw1-DbYF5NXjcd8wK2SRhMwQTbpg1v0e5mIAljiLD122L7OzsnVG0lNnNeIQe-jK80tuZRoTUL_hWFKjc2ZSmWNQwRoDW_JtSHVioNRkFRDZ6MRUoOnQenNXcoCU9fRKJ26LhREY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPznkw1-DbYF5NXjcd8wK2SRhMwQTbpg1v0e5mIAljiLD122L7OzsnVG0lNnNeIQe-jK80tuZRoTUL_hWFKjc2ZSmWNQwRoDW_JtSHVioNRkFRDZ6MRUoOnQenNXcoCU9fRKJ26LhREY/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />
A fond memory from when I was a young girl is the contents of the first divide of my dad's top middle desk drawer. Laying ready for use were mechanical pencils that intrigued me, wooden pencils with unusual eraser holders, a magical slide ruler, and the lingering smell of wood and lead. Maybe the contents of that drawer is what cultivated my absolute love of vintage office ephemera; labels outlined in red, bulldog clips, cloth bound ledgers, and specialty pencils. I can't resist.<br />
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I was thinking about this when I reached for my vintage pencil tin to do some sketching for pattern ideas. Seems I've managed to fill it with a collection of things that remind me of my dad. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjter-VgzmSaoSY5okZNj0tSEhjtD81k1mohlG1WgRGWdFW5mz5y5zJ16wkUeptK_yKlA53sraFsCEXy5P2CafKPx2EUVMZN5N5ztU8ctN4hB28hlRwC30MMTWO4mcCONgfYCU74-1mSRY/s1600/IMG_0614+3.jpg"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjter-VgzmSaoSY5okZNj0tSEhjtD81k1mohlG1WgRGWdFW5mz5y5zJ16wkUeptK_yKlA53sraFsCEXy5P2CafKPx2EUVMZN5N5ztU8ctN4hB28hlRwC30MMTWO4mcCONgfYCU74-1mSRY/s320/IMG_0614+3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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And then my thoughts went to all the rug designs that fill museums, books, and Pinterest. So often you see repeated design items as if the patterns were available commercially, or adopted in regional areas like quilt block patterns from the same era.<br />
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I remembered reading a story about a man who had been watching his wife struggle with drawing designs for her rugs and thought he could help. I got out my copy of The Complete Book of Rug Hooking by Joan Moshimer and sure enough, that is where I had read the story. She tells the story of a husband that solved a need for his crafty wife by creating tin stencils that were used to ink designs on burlap. All her hooking friends became customers and in total Shark Tank style, a viable business was born.<br />
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On the <a href="http://museumcollection.winterthur.org/" target="_blank">Winterthur Museum</a> website, I found a page devoted to E.S. Frost. It states that by 1876 he had made enough money to be able to afford to sell his business and retire to California. The new owners of his stencils added "& Co" to his name. The photo I found is absolutely lovely. You can see that the design was not marked by black marker only but color was used to denote the main designs for hooking. Because the bottom of the pattern is marked with "& Co", this particular piece must be from after the sale of his company in 1876 or later. The photo is from the Winterthur website.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV9nZEK9c77UoDQzCOH91Lz4m2xMslYVn4wGvWWj6KHBw5T-Cvzm9MfwfPfw0ISOeL22_OWM_VWICo299CmGrv1nD72b31s4U5peykbtoPEAcBa9Ssia6Oyf_AthdQDysqeMvUWs3u_4/s1600/IMG_0616+2.jpg"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV9nZEK9c77UoDQzCOH91Lz4m2xMslYVn4wGvWWj6KHBw5T-Cvzm9MfwfPfw0ISOeL22_OWM_VWICo299CmGrv1nD72b31s4U5peykbtoPEAcBa9Ssia6Oyf_AthdQDysqeMvUWs3u_4/w640-h450/IMG_0616+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Like so many of us, the original owner of this pattern, got distracted. 😀 I wonder what part of life took her away from completing this wonderful design. Notice how spread out her loops are. I can't tell if it is all wool or another material. No. 54 is a keeper!<br />
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My rabbit trail led me to finding a rug hooking guild in Maine that honored Mr. Sands by naming their guild the Tin Pedlar of Maine. Tin Pedlar because his stencils were made of tin and he sold them door to door.<br />
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Thanks to Mrs. Sands for inspiring her husband to develop a system that helped many women use their hands for beautiful self-expression!<br />
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I wonder if his wife kept up with hooking or did she switch over to punch needle? 😂<br />
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<br />www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-11192218931670802742020-01-09T07:38:00.001-08:002020-01-09T07:38:42.822-08:00Ordering Flower Seeds <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9f3o9dNpB3Mdlvc03kdeyg8Ih_sBt67f8QcE9F3voKE2fJ3a0qPqpjZ4-GDm2XP5PD7wfGI-seH0Gv0WZW3LvNK79hvaTsrUWASuYxEoqjyPiqQEWAW-bJifJPZo9Os-DoV1YsEGE3aA/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9f3o9dNpB3Mdlvc03kdeyg8Ih_sBt67f8QcE9F3voKE2fJ3a0qPqpjZ4-GDm2XP5PD7wfGI-seH0Gv0WZW3LvNK79hvaTsrUWASuYxEoqjyPiqQEWAW-bJifJPZo9Os-DoV1YsEGE3aA/s320/IMG_0581.JPG" width="240" /></a>I am not one to rush winter, so I am not pining for spring or summer at all, but ordering seeds in winter and dreaming of a bounty of blooms, does have its place. And I'm happy to say that I placed my seed order this morning. Anyone else doing the same?<br />
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Today my harvest basket is surrounded by snow and is filled with wishes in books. Soon enough, it will be filled with the real thing.<br />
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What flowers do you dream about growing this year?<br />
If you need inspiration, any one of the books in my basket is a great choice.<br />
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I've been pouring over Tasha Tudor's Garden since 1995 and I still love it. Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein of Floret Farm is newer to my collection. It's filled with stunning photographs and useful info on growing, harvesting, and arranging flowers. Her Instagram page is beautiful, so I highly recommend following her.<br />
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Have you heard of the Slow Flower movement? The idea is the same as the "grow local" sustainable farming movement only with fresh cut flowers. The 50 Mile Bouquet is a great read featuring small flower farmers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdb49yuO5Uz0v0SSJ7i-SCfmR0etxb9YGxAt3-VNThWXwAZxhhI1UXKI-6de1ed1ZgkDxzIHpqQLa3vTbh7vXLvPRk5E-OFc6-lTlxd5Da4sNj-wCcIW9QtfRp3iBdybUZnxu_GaqXOo/s1600/IMG_6936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdb49yuO5Uz0v0SSJ7i-SCfmR0etxb9YGxAt3-VNThWXwAZxhhI1UXKI-6de1ed1ZgkDxzIHpqQLa3vTbh7vXLvPRk5E-OFc6-lTlxd5Da4sNj-wCcIW9QtfRp3iBdybUZnxu_GaqXOo/s320/IMG_6936.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Lenten Rose from my winter garden 2018 before the plants got trampled by construction workers 😢</td></tr>
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If you're like me and dabble in dyeing fibers with plant material, you will likely drool over Sasha Duerr's book Natural Color. It's an awesome book.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM4JLOtw8WBo_nmEBU8hWcrGub707wCM0ENzU5F2Dp_-DHkguj_IpVxK8lhFBcL4YiRT9RHhgUmMYQHPeVZuFxFCRJS_MgkLObHFPf5vYjva1xMtWyqRyw26RvmjM1iHVQyslkf44low/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM4JLOtw8WBo_nmEBU8hWcrGub707wCM0ENzU5F2Dp_-DHkguj_IpVxK8lhFBcL4YiRT9RHhgUmMYQHPeVZuFxFCRJS_MgkLObHFPf5vYjva1xMtWyqRyw26RvmjM1iHVQyslkf44low/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower heads from my 2019 garden collected for the dye bath.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6LoW_oOnC0B8Lxo6Yj3sTQXF7bi-INE8pTJD16FUSvzIh197yMjM3_0JzxosAByXz7s5wWMHeL_Jv0JzwSQkWP_zaZT0uLfrVd7Cz5Daz4yYqvYYjRhDd1dmG0OJcEDsF1e1OzwpVro/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6LoW_oOnC0B8Lxo6Yj3sTQXF7bi-INE8pTJD16FUSvzIh197yMjM3_0JzxosAByXz7s5wWMHeL_Jv0JzwSQkWP_zaZT0uLfrVd7Cz5Daz4yYqvYYjRhDd1dmG0OJcEDsF1e1OzwpVro/s640/IMG_0316.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Do you prefer to "hook" your garden?😀 Maybe my pattern "Cottage Garden" will interest you. You can find it listed as a paper pattern or hand drawn on primitive linen, in my <a href="http://www.wintercottagestudio.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>.<br />
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I will leave you with some photos of gardens and flowers from April 2019 and my days in Nantes France.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh2U32ebHjMRBf4xK0fqP2qFesr2lEX-rH-faC19QuJ4rKoXd16czhnHZPwMa4FWxgdDzVZOrQmFaa-erAKbMI7lDfnac8HAnigXebaEMcsQN5yOUr6kPJvtFE5Za9M5HqMEWvT2-7HE/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh2U32ebHjMRBf4xK0fqP2qFesr2lEX-rH-faC19QuJ4rKoXd16czhnHZPwMa4FWxgdDzVZOrQmFaa-erAKbMI7lDfnac8HAnigXebaEMcsQN5yOUr6kPJvtFE5Za9M5HqMEWvT2-7HE/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xnxja07IU7NvoYD_JRSFez6gmXtAW3e1j4pp3pdoYfVOfo7u2UVxB2yOja69XkakoNSaWH9v21LOtL6Eq5SmOPcbgGomsLHZCwXE5kFb3RboY8W2E325HDLDAR0K34XIIhAea0kjPIM/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xnxja07IU7NvoYD_JRSFez6gmXtAW3e1j4pp3pdoYfVOfo7u2UVxB2yOja69XkakoNSaWH9v21LOtL6Eq5SmOPcbgGomsLHZCwXE5kFb3RboY8W2E325HDLDAR0K34XIIhAea0kjPIM/s320/IMG_0597.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9PqtVlxrEweNYF8lqFgMspVopbCUK2z3wAYqfO4ALB9BlTvLgzJOBAd3rF04ybzAfiOtMjX8481Ea-Yt3Lt1m6lH93kxW88lMgmmCnmisz3vLHhGDeebUyI50owbWtwKS7TygpcVnAA/s1600/IMG_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9PqtVlxrEweNYF8lqFgMspVopbCUK2z3wAYqfO4ALB9BlTvLgzJOBAd3rF04ybzAfiOtMjX8481Ea-Yt3Lt1m6lH93kxW88lMgmmCnmisz3vLHhGDeebUyI50owbWtwKS7TygpcVnAA/s320/IMG_0591.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTDDeqmMDby0qW9tTael47hSPH-fm6Q9HyNNUGE_mrIDROdotJHNZW3nrPN3yuFmh-XoBB3ty8U5Jpeqzb-iTW8H9pKu-HBHB6PBXZoTT3JKh6A0IuZoul0c2eIVPLZVkhadlDHeHOcM/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTDDeqmMDby0qW9tTael47hSPH-fm6Q9HyNNUGE_mrIDROdotJHNZW3nrPN3yuFmh-XoBB3ty8U5Jpeqzb-iTW8H9pKu-HBHB6PBXZoTT3JKh6A0IuZoul0c2eIVPLZVkhadlDHeHOcM/s320/IMG_0589.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-29837915886219919792019-12-31T09:29:00.000-08:002019-12-31T09:29:15.417-08:00Year's End<br />
Our family has been through so much this year. There have been new jobs, a college graduation, weddings, broken bones, and my husband's ordeal with peritoneal cancer. A chance to stretch, grow, and dig deep. God has been gracious and each one of us has made it to the end of the year with recognition of grace, triumph of the highs, respect for the lows, and thankful for healing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoxZrOLpzF8jnJEYGJEAVcHHeNCLcK-4x2A3pggAvFlzG5fFq6cfqXyO-a0NZ_SVCEkrZ1YEW5M-VitSoRGJBAwr28Hj0vCFShcC3vW3fhQ4uEZICHYEW4PaQ-PvJzLyXb2yuDYnkys4/s1600/Robert+%2526+Calf+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoxZrOLpzF8jnJEYGJEAVcHHeNCLcK-4x2A3pggAvFlzG5fFq6cfqXyO-a0NZ_SVCEkrZ1YEW5M-VitSoRGJBAwr28Hj0vCFShcC3vW3fhQ4uEZICHYEW4PaQ-PvJzLyXb2yuDYnkys4/s320/Robert+%2526+Calf+Christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
As I think of a reference of time, the year's end, coming to a close, my mind has been drifting through the years and all its encompassing seasons. I'm no longer raising four boys as they've all reached independence. That season is over. Now is the season of appreciation for the men they have become. The strength with which they approach the hard times, the care they extend to each other during the struggles, the joy that exhilarates when good things are happening, the band of brothers, loyal. They've been all of that and more to each other and to my husband and I over this past year. I'm so thankful for each one of them.<br />
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The above photo is a long time favorite. First there's my all grown up National Guardsman as a little boy with his beloved cap. I love his adorable expression of surprise when licked by a scratchy tickly calf tongue. And then, most indicative of that season in life, is the classic sweater pulled on inside out with tags under the chin for the photo shoot. And the distracted mom behind the camera who never noticed until the film was developed. (Yes, I was using an old fashioned film Canon AE-1. Remember them? 😀) Should I mention the accomplishment of getting a calf to wear a wreath around its neck 😂 One calf out of two isn't bad. Their names were "Star and Bright". Names lifted by my second son straight out of Laura Ingalls Wilder's book "Farmer Boy". His copy was completely well worn with a tattered cover. For those unfamiliar, Farmer Boy's calves were named Star and Bright.<br />
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So many memories of days gone by wrapped up in a single photo. Fitting for the year's end because it reminds me that through it all, no matter the season, no matter how many shirts are worn inside out, life is crazy and wonderful and sober and given to us. It is given to us! Meant to make the most of.<br />
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Celebrate it with me, in all its quirkiness and beauty.<br />
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br />
<br />www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-64420207835471382662019-10-11T09:08:00.001-07:002019-10-11T09:08:20.484-07:00Country Girl City<div style="text-align: center;">
I grew up on a dirt road that followed the wanderings of a creek (pronounced crik 😉). My dad built our house on a hillside that overlooked more hills and if I walked up the fields behind our house, I could make it to the top of our hill. I climbed trees with my schoolbooks and did my homework there. I collected eggs from our chickens whose house I helped my dad build. I helped set the posts and string the wire for our livestock pasture. Then I grew up and raised four boys in a house that we built on a hillside and the story repeats: collect the eggs, set the posts, string the wire, and milk the cows. I'm country through and through. But, this old country girl went to Paris, the most known city of cities throughout the world, with all the hustle and bustle and noise and absolutely l.o.v.e.d. it!!<br />
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If you are reading this and you read my last post from months ago (geesh!) you might remember that I said I would continue with posts about my trip, and then I disappeared.<br />
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Because I am such a country girl, and do not have a whole lot of experience with city life, I'm not sure if the "cool" things I was noticing in Paris and other cities along the way were french or just city. The experience was the same, new and exciting and so much to see, and of course, I'm just going to call all the new-to-me things I saw, french!<br />
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When our days in Paris were over, we boarded a train out of a beautifully immense train station for the city of Nantes where my brother lives. The story here is that we had lingered too long before heading to the train station. Like a scene from a movie, we were running, suitcases bumping along behind us, to catch the train we had already bought tickets for, only to arrive at the platform, with the train right there in front of us but not allowed to board. As more ticket holders gathered the volume of dissatisfaction and outrage increased but to no avail, we were not allowed to board. What's vacation spending money if you don't get to spend it - wait, what? On new train tickets? How about more croissants instead?<br />
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Oh well. The two hour train ride from Paris to Nantes took us through the countryside with fields yellow in bloom, herds of Jersey cows (the Island of Jersey where the Jersey cow originated is located off the northern french coast), and hamlets surrounded by stonewalls was invigorating to this country girl's heart. In this part of France, stone and cement are the most common building materials, so imagine old stone houses with clay tiled roofs and stone walls, and John Deere tractors!<br />
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I loved every minute in France and can't wait to go back. We traveled down to the southern coast but not inland to the Provence region, so I have to go back so I can smell the lavander! We visited Arcachon, known for oystering, Bordeaux, and yes the wine is wonderful, La Rochelle, a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, the Breton town of Paimpol in the northern region of Brittany, the special little Breton community of Plouha, St Malo, famous for so many things but also the book entitled, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and many places in between. Out of St Malo, we boarded a ferry that took us to Jersey. For years, I kept Jersey cows, here on our hill, so it was a particularly happy day spent chasing down cow sightings on their home turf!<br />
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Because my brother lives in Nantes, she is the city that I had the most time to explore. There's an old part of the city complete with castle and moat, and medieval timber frame structures, and the home of the famous writer, Jules Verne, and the delicious LU shortbread cookie, but it also has a very modern vibe with technological wonders, grand buildings and beautiful public gardens. I walked those gardens, wandered the streets both old and new while eating delicious baguette sandwiches wrapped in paper. Oh, so french.<br />
I didn't carry my coffee (oh so American 😆) but took time to sit outdoors at many cafes leisurely sipping on countless espressos alongside my french counterparts. And I loved every minute of it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaL5WjJeWTTMaRfiaFkQKKrEVz3Awmnl63aep3LexF2VSozDSlFR1nkcKVLKO-xdP7M8rEJ5TSTX8FH_hy8BV0e8KriDUy7tdIXrItAePGRtO26qzaBv7H-PpJfpSmCEcGyeIr7LaYu4/s1600/IMG_8092.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaL5WjJeWTTMaRfiaFkQKKrEVz3Awmnl63aep3LexF2VSozDSlFR1nkcKVLKO-xdP7M8rEJ5TSTX8FH_hy8BV0e8KriDUy7tdIXrItAePGRtO26qzaBv7H-PpJfpSmCEcGyeIr7LaYu4/s320/IMG_8092.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nOPUNdThR9QonX5aLHFu8eNcdE0AqR6RCOmzmESeUC7DFYK8gd2WHQzqNTITAMbL6WaiH2YDdHpXaZpxHCIcQRSFig1yMNskRpUMYgf4PC8P13g5P7gu_wd2-mjFlg13PFIkwNtK3QA/s1600/IMG_8572.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nOPUNdThR9QonX5aLHFu8eNcdE0AqR6RCOmzmESeUC7DFYK8gd2WHQzqNTITAMbL6WaiH2YDdHpXaZpxHCIcQRSFig1yMNskRpUMYgf4PC8P13g5P7gu_wd2-mjFlg13PFIkwNtK3QA/s320/IMG_8572.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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This was my first experience abroad and it stretched me in so many ways. I am so very grateful for all the experiences during my month long stay in France.<br />
And that's a wrap! (Ok, I'll probably sneak in a few mentions from time to time, but I don't want to be obnoxious about it 😉😎)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjeKmNB9X2tZHP_YPR08TBCmvC4f5DzUZPTvc-Y_NfNktC1W7sdBTHkeWpufZg8moimVbj1yJBg-uam4PU03h4yP5Mv5mIPMYjM9h1yAjfjqi4b9Y4-RKYKGVknLYP-lSK4VWAiNt648/s1600/IMG_7997.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjeKmNB9X2tZHP_YPR08TBCmvC4f5DzUZPTvc-Y_NfNktC1W7sdBTHkeWpufZg8moimVbj1yJBg-uam4PU03h4yP5Mv5mIPMYjM9h1yAjfjqi4b9Y4-RKYKGVknLYP-lSK4VWAiNt648/s320/IMG_7997.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
P.S. One of the many treasured memories is when my mom danced with the accordian player!</div>
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www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-27955711289127687982019-06-06T21:27:00.000-07:002019-06-06T21:27:08.176-07:00Meeting a rug hooker in FranceLet me say that I am so happy to be back on my blog after quite a long time of not being able to sign in. Finally, after many seemingly futile efforts 😟 I'm back in with so much to say! I spent nearly a month in France, visiting my brother, and kept wanting to share all I was seeing and experiencing. Keep checking in for a few posts regarding my trip. I wish I could have done it in real time, but that was not to be.<br />
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I found quilt shops and craft shops with lovely beads, buttons, ribbons, fabrics and yarn but I never came across a rug hooking supply shop. So imagine my surprise when I was walking around the International Quilt Show, Pour l'Amour du Fil (translated For the love of Thread) in Nantes, France and saw a group of women hovering around a woman with something on her lap. As I got closer, I could see a punch needle stabbing away. And what to my wondering eyes did appear but a rug hooking frame at her feet! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LN-kHHoPJ-UoJrgXExyokF5uv6Qqgjo1IPwjvYbzQLC44YaBcLy5FPl3Vw3CZ8HQK7bB9nNdz4V1OKrkuwSwYb8kqjRgkfspxQywezmaPFp76A-Zg0wxp-YNtXlsqq1c0wIqVQr67hM/s1600/IMG_0468.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LN-kHHoPJ-UoJrgXExyokF5uv6Qqgjo1IPwjvYbzQLC44YaBcLy5FPl3Vw3CZ8HQK7bB9nNdz4V1OKrkuwSwYb8kqjRgkfspxQywezmaPFp76A-Zg0wxp-YNtXlsqq1c0wIqVQr67hM/s320/IMG_0468.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The language barrier made it difficult to talk shop but we could express our love for the craft and excitement of meeting a fellow rug hooker. I asked if I could take a picture of her pulling loops and she obliged. She was a lovely woman and I so wish that we could have shared more. Nevertheless, I was so happy to see our craft represented at such a large event and hope that the women who stopped by to watch her hook and punch are inspired to try it themselves.<br />
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The love of handwork bridges the language gap. Women create beauty in every country. Women love to gather with one another and learn and share no matter the continent or language spoken. Let's keep gathering, keep sharing, keep creating.<br />
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Pour l'Amour du Fil is a wonderful international quilt show. Vendors from across the world, including Japan, Australia, Belgium, and the states to name a few, gathered. The funny thing to me was that here I was at an international quilt show, so very far from home, and one of the featured displays was Mennonite and Amish quilts from Pennsylvania and New York. I was so far away from home, and yet, not. Here are photos of a few for you to drool over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwA8JKQshB10O4Lvql7YfEdnqPA2bw_rtLdG5ecY8eCvksREL2vkMenzXdgLXbMqVyqKbeIPa1zFE4BWqQ20QOMMo9n5KRsQfnCa0DZzh_rHNsIR_dRw7vWuOSctV9nvrUyf7OhWMlb4/s1600/IMG_9051.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwA8JKQshB10O4Lvql7YfEdnqPA2bw_rtLdG5ecY8eCvksREL2vkMenzXdgLXbMqVyqKbeIPa1zFE4BWqQ20QOMMo9n5KRsQfnCa0DZzh_rHNsIR_dRw7vWuOSctV9nvrUyf7OhWMlb4/s320/IMG_9051.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGIRGPcQZt9RqbFDkwh6sNCyhoMiK0vhKgXcQbOCBFOBVPdMn_iTJMeTGXckvZsLILr96rs5JpSvRwcNShKlMEHo456xHgCOl0aB5ugjhkkCkR7S-fG2PQ2hXuynWIeWdj-P8QKoWdqI/s1600/IMG_9052.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGIRGPcQZt9RqbFDkwh6sNCyhoMiK0vhKgXcQbOCBFOBVPdMn_iTJMeTGXckvZsLILr96rs5JpSvRwcNShKlMEHo456xHgCOl0aB5ugjhkkCkR7S-fG2PQ2hXuynWIeWdj-P8QKoWdqI/s320/IMG_9052.jpg" width="315" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNEDmdEzZJ8EJf5rBe_0gI3F4ylpDQIbX50ikRRykCA7IzUPcIhYl9_9uVm69F46Z3REfSBlw3FTmaYo_9Xb9E5eQiSMAgm-LMn-yiwI1Wbj45Zk6cPG94pN3Jf6XmYQ39gdJbX0QMc8/s1600/IMG_0471.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNEDmdEzZJ8EJf5rBe_0gI3F4ylpDQIbX50ikRRykCA7IzUPcIhYl9_9uVm69F46Z3REfSBlw3FTmaYo_9Xb9E5eQiSMAgm-LMn-yiwI1Wbj45Zk6cPG94pN3Jf6XmYQ39gdJbX0QMc8/s320/IMG_0471.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Vendors galore! With the latest in European punch needle designs, embroidery, tools, notions, goodness everywhere and my favorite spot, you ask? The booth by Labors of Love, New York which was full to overflowing with vintage quilts and patchwork pieces. Old fabrics, old stitching, imagining the lives of the women who had created them a century before; captured my heart and digging instincts. I just can't help it. It was the little patchwork squares that seemed the most practical choice to stuff into an already bulging suticase. I squeezed in six with the hopes of stitching them together to create a little doll quilt as a memory of my trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwG2GfaPKTjqmoU-9F4Dw2RYkAFH3_0Pt5HsjXHQncsfLQhEeLCce1POuvqE2CQUH64uy0xt_Kf0dHDfCSt7Z33JsB7YSLMaJjaKp-9SMxeXE8xdZLpSKPfVL-OKrhPTiNZlp2oYKwig/s1600/IMG_9020.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwG2GfaPKTjqmoU-9F4Dw2RYkAFH3_0Pt5HsjXHQncsfLQhEeLCce1POuvqE2CQUH64uy0xt_Kf0dHDfCSt7Z33JsB7YSLMaJjaKp-9SMxeXE8xdZLpSKPfVL-OKrhPTiNZlp2oYKwig/s320/IMG_9020.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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The next day I was standing outside a shop in Nantes waiting to go in and purchase my lunch when I heard a woman speaking English. In a sea of french, those english words rang out and I pounced upon them. That's how I met two Australian women who had come for the quilt show. We had fun talking and sharing our french experiences and effortlessly speaking to one another and understanding every word! We left, each with our lunches in a sack, and I continued on to the public garden where I planned to eat mine. More on that next time.<br />
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<br />www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-23916230379824849022019-01-22T13:53:00.001-08:002019-01-23T07:30:14.241-08:00<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyVlR9hoGLhAJrN7j5qpxE52V5eeWhFTkSDy_Gyb0e_6ASgo6ezOVZgWsfcDtcuWL1S9MzwfWbjqxLmR-cO8cCc7LkbwlhmfQA6XwLEkdOjx4V7e63pl_6KCkb19nWbBpevQ8snDxjwI/s1600/christian-mertel-birth-baptismal-certificate-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyVlR9hoGLhAJrN7j5qpxE52V5eeWhFTkSDy_Gyb0e_6ASgo6ezOVZgWsfcDtcuWL1S9MzwfWbjqxLmR-cO8cCc7LkbwlhmfQA6XwLEkdOjx4V7e63pl_6KCkb19nWbBpevQ8snDxjwI/s320/christian-mertel-birth-baptismal-certificate-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Have you ever eaten a piece of shoo fly pie? Have you seen a horse with a buggy behind 😁? Is it time to "red up" your room or did you sit down to stitch "awhile"? Do you drink "wooder" from a glass? Answer yes and I suspect you live near me in the land of the ever industrious Pennsylvania Germans (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch). Some of our dialect is a little harder to understand for I'm not sure you will know what I mean by "is the milk all?" But if you guessed that I'd like to know if the milk is gone, you'd be right.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNeNG7mR-LtBWqqpDXfiiM_6aeZKgYsglbURMv4f-h9TA-RJMK7XhCfz-2-rsGTW1e4N7QbLWcoHIB0oymWLMAHdbyluiNnfOKvBgU-VM-1FVmg_8T3lNAkKXiC4OkGSGoNc4yxqxNBc/s1600/IMG_7228+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNeNG7mR-LtBWqqpDXfiiM_6aeZKgYsglbURMv4f-h9TA-RJMK7XhCfz-2-rsGTW1e4N7QbLWcoHIB0oymWLMAHdbyluiNnfOKvBgU-VM-1FVmg_8T3lNAkKXiC4OkGSGoNc4yxqxNBc/s320/IMG_7228+2.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
This is my homeland. I love the rolling hills, stone barns, rows of fencing, "brown eggs for sale" signs, silos dotting the farm fields, quilts for sale, and all kinds of treasures to be found as you venture down the winding roads. Not unlike any other rural spot in America, except for the Pa German part adding a unique flair. I mean, you haven't quite enjoyed a crisp autumn day to its fullest till you've had a bowl of schnitz and knepp (ham and dried apple stew). And what's a barn without a hex sign painted on it?<br />
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There is much to appreciate about the history of the Pa German folks who have been so influential in Pennsylvania, including the art of fraktur. Pa German Fraktur is an old art brought over from Germany. Often itinerant artists would visit families and towns and offer their services of artistically embellishing birth certificates, hymn books, or book plates. Hearts and tulips are a common motif found in fraktur along with distelfinks (just had to throw that funny one out there😉).<br />
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With Valentine's Day approaching, I'd like to share with you my latest rug hooking design, Fraktur Heart, featuring, you guessed it, a heart and tulip.<br />
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You can find it in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/662939404/winter-cottage-studio-fraktur-heart?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=winter+cottage+fraktur+heart&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1" target="_blank">Etsy</a> shop as an instant download.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by and come again, awhile!<br />
<a name='more'></a>www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-24168001032609652162018-10-28T09:27:00.000-07:002018-10-28T09:51:45.785-07:00Crooked River HooktoberfestMy thanks to all the members of the <a href="https://www.crookedriverrughookers.com/" target="_blank">Crooked River Rug Hookers</a> for a wonderful day spent at your first annual hook-in, Hooktoberfest. All your planning and hard work resulted in a great day spent with friends old and new, surrounded by beautiful wools, awesome rugs for inspiration, good food, and lots of fun chatter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDrtVZcWlUA8f7QMU2Jax_F6oieJSWw6vzb2-XFhKqHHV7nk4-xdZLhX-6lBuQI17CTWkOTMSHC1BTLd2Z96irEwqnIlhckp8_9Z_LfWRZpYsuidyG-qMgIzFSHmExRBJF3II18FFiV8/s1600/IMG_6123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDrtVZcWlUA8f7QMU2Jax_F6oieJSWw6vzb2-XFhKqHHV7nk4-xdZLhX-6lBuQI17CTWkOTMSHC1BTLd2Z96irEwqnIlhckp8_9Z_LfWRZpYsuidyG-qMgIzFSHmExRBJF3II18FFiV8/s320/IMG_6123.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooktoberfest Raffle Rug</td></tr>
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The guild offered me an opportunity to do a demonstration of my favorite edging. I love to share and teach so it was a fun experience for me. The vendors had beautiful offerings. I wish I had been able to get around to visit more of them. <a href="http://aults.com/" target="_blank">Larry Ault</a> was right across from my booth and I kept eyeing up his hooks. My hand has been under strain with my current hooks. My thought has been that I needed something thinner, kind of like what is known as a pencil hook. Larry hooked me up! He had a pencil style large primitive hook and it’s so comfy to use. He recommends that we switch up our hooks to avoid a tired strain on the hand so I’m passing that advice along. I had been doing that but all my hooks are thicker than my new Ault hook so now when I switch up, there’s a real difference.<br />
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Have fun looking at my photos. I want to share a few shots of rugs but I don’t have names of the artists. If you recognize anyone’s rug, please let me know and I'll add their name.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0iH-rOs99SJVqK_8XX80gpb5BgMdXS2uoZUdYUXl9UpXBQx6UA-f_TH61TLlomECaH8a9Zj7CvefcCqdZ88Ef9RuPFOktS8hBNqPTwhlmhoGzL7eyVFpOIkjB0w5NLbOIv4Au6X4-Xg/s1600/IMG_6113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0iH-rOs99SJVqK_8XX80gpb5BgMdXS2uoZUdYUXl9UpXBQx6UA-f_TH61TLlomECaH8a9Zj7CvefcCqdZ88Ef9RuPFOktS8hBNqPTwhlmhoGzL7eyVFpOIkjB0w5NLbOIv4Au6X4-Xg/s320/IMG_6113.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline Twigg from Eagles Nest Woolens. Our booths were side by side and enjoyed getting to know Caoline and her assistant, Teresa. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm_eR3oX8qdcjmcc9kVvhvBrMPtVcRinfiowBFaRWni5BGSMKJmhIXN2-xu3fuJ_gNfj9Mb01pKHy9YwEOrjF5s6kh6C6_Do6gOk_1Q3PuPqAaaNDc3O94Hnnt8eJFirr9yIbgmYYUL4/s1600/IMG_6105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm_eR3oX8qdcjmcc9kVvhvBrMPtVcRinfiowBFaRWni5BGSMKJmhIXN2-xu3fuJ_gNfj9Mb01pKHy9YwEOrjF5s6kh6C6_Do6gOk_1Q3PuPqAaaNDc3O94Hnnt8eJFirr9yIbgmYYUL4/s320/IMG_6105.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the rugs from Eagles Nest Woolens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk00BB2Fn2ef-tLDqU4IIO-T5YfHoHjJZdHuOcdPTYHXDCcqW3hvBmd8kRqNR4fyKDSu2wP6acvild8W_hyphenhyphenRM6dR4jbNgV0LCdooUkdQ2DUFy7YGiHzbIM5sOr5mJokcqt2AUrIyv7rX8/s1600/IMG_6109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk00BB2Fn2ef-tLDqU4IIO-T5YfHoHjJZdHuOcdPTYHXDCcqW3hvBmd8kRqNR4fyKDSu2wP6acvild8W_hyphenhyphenRM6dR4jbNgV0LCdooUkdQ2DUFy7YGiHzbIM5sOr5mJokcqt2AUrIyv7rX8/s320/IMG_6109.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful friends, so supportive of my endeavors, stopping by for a visit in my booth. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LQ0R3H3bj2puk68M53CO7-m8Z6CbzagefgFQPgLt2kUsfL-FhKBiJbTFbD2eDpD0vbszgQzKSd7hr9wxj7Qu13u7DM3L5pfGzHJ03Q7EI9kNKrWAorZ4e3k4xW54sqDKilJyYCbB-Eo/s1600/IMG_6110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LQ0R3H3bj2puk68M53CO7-m8Z6CbzagefgFQPgLt2kUsfL-FhKBiJbTFbD2eDpD0vbszgQzKSd7hr9wxj7Qu13u7DM3L5pfGzHJ03Q7EI9kNKrWAorZ4e3k4xW54sqDKilJyYCbB-Eo/s320/IMG_6110.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking shop 😉</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24VFaG4I2f7Tf7t-0G-qKc97jJ3LPXMfkWMRfioszEiE8ixdovp2ORzEMOb8NLDTecAP8kNRyuxVg_frAeBK6EFAXej5FEzXTjMMaeT6MvVtf8wXJSOi8ScsuSnSxnzezCOgp8aOhV9o/s1600/IMG_6102+2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24VFaG4I2f7Tf7t-0G-qKc97jJ3LPXMfkWMRfioszEiE8ixdovp2ORzEMOb8NLDTecAP8kNRyuxVg_frAeBK6EFAXej5FEzXTjMMaeT6MvVtf8wXJSOi8ScsuSnSxnzezCOgp8aOhV9o/s320/IMG_6102+2.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmOGgjV5w7gMOJ4DHLHGb_a4mjn7IWxW2Wd6ezwDBmi4Icxuqv6dOybleX_oEfekMQhT3Qn834stAh2SqKFMhedbABYm2iCN431X0locmucvtCS6ENNZOpW_e17hVQRn7zm0y-QJ9BXQ/s1600/IMG_6100.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmOGgjV5w7gMOJ4DHLHGb_a4mjn7IWxW2Wd6ezwDBmi4Icxuqv6dOybleX_oEfekMQhT3Qn834stAh2SqKFMhedbABYm2iCN431X0locmucvtCS6ENNZOpW_e17hVQRn7zm0y-QJ9BXQ/s320/IMG_6100.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-s-gim3ZbdxarPqG6pFQv8WoxLTobVPm_bZYxnjUEsjyLPsvCz0_kBfWcCZBvPi0tgKtZvQGg8eGb_7MFRvnqxYp5ZiCc7qSa5IcfrIs7hkH_JcbaoWUwQojDY-lEEv4sn1o3hqNi60/s1600/IMG_6118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-s-gim3ZbdxarPqG6pFQv8WoxLTobVPm_bZYxnjUEsjyLPsvCz0_kBfWcCZBvPi0tgKtZvQGg8eGb_7MFRvnqxYp5ZiCc7qSa5IcfrIs7hkH_JcbaoWUwQojDY-lEEv4sn1o3hqNi60/s320/IMG_6118.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this! If anyone knows the name of the maker, please contact me so I can give credit for this beautiful creation. I included the show tag in the photo so I'd have the name but there is too much glare on the tag to read it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi1OX4J78-zFvUVwGWQmrAPkdY9trMzEP6dEpvnlLJdvmGAybkcjoAREq3Ct6KGWrJIMPq01NyeXDYbza20V_7aW0I3Q43CrXGSbx644UIjDSWLGsdamDI-NGJ_2wnWWQ5v6-45TwZ7I/s1600/IMG_6101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi1OX4J78-zFvUVwGWQmrAPkdY9trMzEP6dEpvnlLJdvmGAybkcjoAREq3Ct6KGWrJIMPq01NyeXDYbza20V_7aW0I3Q43CrXGSbx644UIjDSWLGsdamDI-NGJ_2wnWWQ5v6-45TwZ7I/s320/IMG_6101.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My booth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc3_zw74-33WouGVyFll-S0eKXKV27QlWl7o8ogWgvPnz-jfgeWC0FWjmBqdySoxzWSCIcERxitWA9vBGiWAzixmlajNxwFmzQ4Sd8G0m1XDGB1ryqDB1D4faZDp4b9m_-rzRM4_J9GI/s1600/IMG_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc3_zw74-33WouGVyFll-S0eKXKV27QlWl7o8ogWgvPnz-jfgeWC0FWjmBqdySoxzWSCIcERxitWA9vBGiWAzixmlajNxwFmzQ4Sd8G0m1XDGB1ryqDB1D4faZDp4b9m_-rzRM4_J9GI/s320/IMG_6126.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh1MQSQcmvHDi8tnGewgfI4oIcpwpMQpJPvmIphRoOMxefhLT5sDKxlNgLpUdV3qWSWh0bv8d8Vbp5uXy6xA7D1hYv_iVHXwrKsWKmycOr4_c32WABh-4WM4X2wKzRNKKk_r_bqZp7Jo/s1600/IMG_6102+2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh1MQSQcmvHDi8tnGewgfI4oIcpwpMQpJPvmIphRoOMxefhLT5sDKxlNgLpUdV3qWSWh0bv8d8Vbp5uXy6xA7D1hYv_iVHXwrKsWKmycOr4_c32WABh-4WM4X2wKzRNKKk_r_bqZp7Jo/s320/IMG_6102+2.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2liuOxl2e_VC_McHUfjulMQxt423BGpO5VLkDr3vcUWWNY0-xusMc2jonGCsgf6gKA2QcrREw2XecBXysLoYXykrRoQya_O9MEDbNOq3s38yARFZop-N21fBhntdtRyRDyPOqKrf75ho/s1600/IMG_6104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2liuOxl2e_VC_McHUfjulMQxt423BGpO5VLkDr3vcUWWNY0-xusMc2jonGCsgf6gKA2QcrREw2XecBXysLoYXykrRoQya_O9MEDbNOq3s38yARFZop-N21fBhntdtRyRDyPOqKrf75ho/s320/IMG_6104.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren and Melissa's awesome jewelry was a big hit! I have several of their pieces and love them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKgQl5fBSF50YKKoMXvnxzBDcFIH7-NezoQ32lyhFo7HZXzvhFM0Y9QB7-iXvN6Lfyz9H5Ad4UYDfv-lapdkvOHMBGoHcQ1rL1i2XFBF2OJgJ0jW8vAGLK-qCDCc1GW6x-AcSp8x3MgQ/s1600/IMG_6112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKgQl5fBSF50YKKoMXvnxzBDcFIH7-NezoQ32lyhFo7HZXzvhFM0Y9QB7-iXvN6Lfyz9H5Ad4UYDfv-lapdkvOHMBGoHcQ1rL1i2XFBF2OJgJ0jW8vAGLK-qCDCc1GW6x-AcSp8x3MgQ/s320/IMG_6112.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy shoppers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9o-lQQTb4mqu9AyKzineDyeiIExZWqHJGRWAoJo5azCVD1cz9fJBWBE8g4t3GJuogfML3ha6DFXz864XMZErhTm7ZRG6JrhK5vnI2ixCc8Unzkptf3lEGlwhctCvuEOmsKlhwsU7MdA/s1600/IMG_6117.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9o-lQQTb4mqu9AyKzineDyeiIExZWqHJGRWAoJo5azCVD1cz9fJBWBE8g4t3GJuogfML3ha6DFXz864XMZErhTm7ZRG6JrhK5vnI2ixCc8Unzkptf3lEGlwhctCvuEOmsKlhwsU7MdA/s320/IMG_6117.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
This rug was created by Connie Bradley. It won a blue ribbon at the Lorain County Fair. Congrats!<br />
....and yes, I'd love to take a walk down this snowy lane and walk right in for a cup of coffee!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0iH-rOs99SJVqK_8XX80gpb5BgMdXS2uoZUdYUXl9UpXBQx6UA-f_TH61TLlomECaH8a9Zj7CvefcCqdZ88Ef9RuPFOktS8hBNqPTwhlmhoGzL7eyVFpOIkjB0w5NLbOIv4Au6X4-Xg/s1600/IMG_6113.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
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To all of you who sponsor Hook-Ins across the country, <i>thank you so very much, </i>for providing rug hookers and vendors a place to gather and learn from each other!<br />
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<span id="goog_1514833590"></span><span id="goog_1514833591"></span><br />www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079775061081621371.post-11101581066460153092018-10-18T17:38:00.000-07:002018-10-28T09:34:50.505-07:00A New OpportunityThis is the first post at my new blog site. I tried in vain to get the old blog posts linked up with this one. I’m looking at it as a fresh start so please join me as we journey ahead.<br />
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Of course I’m on a road trip headed to the Hooktoberfest put on by the Crooked River Rug Hookers near Cleveland OH when I found out what I thought was up and running had flopped. I’ll give this more attention when I get back home and have access to my computer.<br />
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I want to tell you about my brand new opportunity as one of the primitive artists with Primitive Handmade Mercantile. Once a month handmade items are posted for sale and tonight is my first sale!...like any minute now! I hope you will stop by to see the wonderful talent and offerings by the many artists. <a href="http://www.primitivehandmadesmercantile.com/" target="_blank">Primitive Handmade Mercantile</a> opens for October offerings at 9pm tonight and I’m so happy to part of this lovely group.<br />
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(This is where I would love to post a photo of one of my doll quilts up for sale tonight. 😩 Seems that is above my iPad skills. I need to take a class on this stuff🧐!!)<br />
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Please stop back again because it is going to get better!<br />
I’m real good at Instagram😂 Look for me @terrileamer<br />
And on Monday I’ll get my newsletter button back up....and lots of photos of my day at Hooktoberfest and this awesome road trip through Ohio and Lake Erie.www.wintercottagestudio.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955211123781007704noreply@blogger.com1