Heart to Heart

Sorta miss not hooking something heart related this month but still have Lititz Hens and an anxiously awaiting rug to be bound.  So maybe next year.

Meanwhile, I do have a Valentine theme on the harvest table.  The rug is Olde Hearts, a design sold by Woolley Fox, and I did the border differently than drawn.  Fell in love with the way Barb Carroll hooked hers so wanted to follow in my mentor's footsteps.  When at Barb's she color planned the border with wool she used.

In the basket to the far right is a hand torn heart hooked by Lauren (Rugs and Pugs).  She also hooked the smaller blue heart, both of which I was a lucky recipient during a giveaway.  Lauren's hooking is wonderful and the person who won this year's giveaway is very lucky indeed.  The other hearts were hooked by moi.

Finally after almost a full week of intestinal disturbance am feeling almost human again.  I was beginning to worry because despite my hydrating, eating bland and boring meals the trouble persisted several times during each day.  So even tho the sun isn't shining outside my attitude is feeling brighter and sunny.

Try and stay warm.

Saundra

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing all my followers, readers and freinds a happy Valentine's Day.  
The oval mat is one which I recently tweaked the colors on in a previous post.  It is a design in one of Kindred Spirits craft books.  The hooked heart tucked in the front was hooked and generously given to me by Lauren of Rugs and Pugs.  The others I hooked.

An Annie with a hooked face I made wants to give you her heart "Be Mine".

A velvet and wool applique heart which was a pattern in (I believe) a Needl'love publication.

Another more primitive Annie wears her heart which also says "Be Mine".  Might still have this one left and in the container since she didn't sell at my last show.  Here she is hanging on the door but will sit as well.  Wings are made of warm and natural, jumper is vintage quilt.

Hope you have a very happy Valentines Day.  I'll be spending the day with the only man in my life.......Ben, my Rottie.

Saundra

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Done just in time for Valentine's Day I managed to get the other two hearts backed and stuffed with lavender buds. In the basket to the far right is the Heart my dear friend Lauren of Rugs and Pugs gifted me, along with a silver pendant/scissor fob with the letter "S".   Thanks again Lauren, you're very thoughtful and generous.

The little black dollie was made by my friend Frannie Meshorer, as were the dolls hanging on the wall in the background.  I put a little heart pin on her that was also a gift from Frannie.  And, if you let your eyes roam past the basket of hearts you will see a heart cut out on the back of my bench seat. 

I'm really enjoying the Lollipop Bouquet rug I hooked, you can see part of it on my harvest table.  It might be there for a while, unless it sells on e-bay which I doubt.  But if it were to sell I would hook this one up again in a heartbeat.  Even tho there were 66 circles (yup, I counted them) it was fun to go thru my woolie strips to find suitable colors to hook all of them.

Now that the hearts are hooked and 500 Mile Betts is off the frame think I'll try to endure hooking at least two blocks in that UFO geometric.  And then my plans are to start the Chicken Challenge Rug.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone and thank you for visiting.

Saundra

A Valentine in the Mail

It is always great to receive a package you've ordered, or a giveaway win, but what a wonderful surprise it is to receive an unexpected package.  Yes, dear sweet Lauren, I'll be your Valentine.

Lauren sent this great hooked heart stuffed with lavender and a silver "S" which I could use as either a scissor fob or a pendant.  Well hey, Lauren provided everything I need to use them as either whenever I wish... and so I will.

That was my surprise package.  Lauren's hooking is impeccable, her loops are shoulder to shoulder like little soldiers.  I'll bet that she is that person in a class everyone is envious of and whose hooking is so even it doesn't even need to be steamed.

I've acquired lots of friends thru blogging, many of whom I've never met and hoping one day to meet my friend Lauren of Rugs and Pugs. 

Thank you Lauren and am very glad you are having fun at Sauder and away from the desk job during snow season.  Time to play and have fun.

Saundra

Hooked Hearts

I've hooked three hearts; two in red and one in brassy gold.  Despite the majority who prefer the heart shape hooking I boldly went for the horizontal hooking of the gold one.  Now that they are hooked and steamed it is time to make them into hearts.  First thing I did was trace around the heart 1" beyond the last row of hooking and trimmed.

 Next I serged the edges.  Yeah, I know it is going to be just a heart and stuffed inside but feel that there shouldn't be raw edges.... my idiosyncrasy.  Should have done better planning as I would have made a 'stay stitch' at the heart's plunge at the top.  Since it wasn't well planned then resorted to applying Fray Check there after making the snip (you can see the darkened area).

Decided to not do the patchwork back like Betsy did and just went for a plain wool back.  Everything was tucked inside and hand stitched all around while leaving an opening in the side for stuffing snippets and lavender buds.

This is how one heart looks; it is completely stitched and stuffed with some wool snippets and over half cup of lavender buds.  This picture was taken in my kitchen but the heart is now at my bedside table so the calming aroma of lavender will take me to restful sleep tonight.

 

OH!  See those decorative birdhouses on my harvest table?  They are made from vintage wood and hardware from the Victorian Chalefonte Hotel in Cape May.  I love these and they remind me of the years of friendship and attending that wonderful camp.

Have a great evening everyone.  For those of you suffering more snow, I have empathy.  Thank goodness it was just an annoying rain today and not snow or sleet.  I'm definitely ready for spring.

Hey, don't forget that I've a needlepoint giveaway and a name will be drawn tomorrow.  Unless someone else signs up before tomorrow's drawing it looks like there's a winner. 

Saundra