Let's Drop By Cathy's for Coffee......

Another familiar name is Cathy Greschner of Orange Sink.  Cathy's journey began when she and her friend Irene were both selling antiques.  Irene was a rug hooker and Cathy fell in love with her rugs. Having just moved to Rice Lake Irene announced she was going to teach a beginning hooking class. Cathy took the class and had a couple years hooking together until Irene moved back to Minnesota ~ that was 2006.

On a humorous note, Cathy confided at the first class... she asked Irene, "how in the world is that big piece of wool going to fit through that tiny little hole?"  To which Irene chuckled and said, "it just does".  Cathy said that shows just how very little she understood the concept of rug hooking.

After learning the basics of hooking rugs Cathy knew she wanted to design her own.  Above was her first own designed rug.


Her choice of pattern design depends on a spot in the house and if she plans to keep the rug.  Her favorite colors are reds, golds, mustards, muted blue.  Lately she has been eyeing and appreciating the softer faded colors and neutrals.  She says it is rather tricky hooking with neutrals and feels she needs more practice to perfect that style.

Cathy has admired several rug hookers: Deanne Fitzpatrick, Lori Brechlin, Polly Minick, Barb Carroll, Karen Kahle and Maggie Bonanomi. She admits to have hooked about 4 designs of Maggie already.

When first hooking Cathy said the biggest hurdle was finding wool colors she wanted.  She purchased every piece of wool clothing in thrift stores within a hundred mile radius but they were all the same colors and textures.  That is when she decided to try her hand at dyeing wool. Cathy hopes to have a designated 'dye kitchen' in her future.

The rug above is called "Tree Birds" and is a rework or her original first design previously shown.  If you would like to purchase a "Tree Birds" pattern visit her shop on ETSY.

Cathy hooks in her studio most of the time listening to XM talk radio and will switch to music sometimes. But when she has a deadline will listen to old rock and roll from the 60s' and 70's as well as hard rock. Yup Cathy, that will get the adrenalin and hands moving quicker to meet a deadline. When doing wool applique' she will spend time with hubby and the dogs watching TV rather than in the studio.

Thanks, Cathy, for joining in on the fun of this 'getting to know us'.  It is a warm fuzzy feeling to realize that most of us have traveled the same road to this wooly goodness we love.

Saundra

'Tis Vintage Rug Show Time

There are rug photos on my flash drive which have not been shared yet so figure it is time to show them.  Then maybe next time my blog will have more productivity on my current rug.......Or maybe not since there's an order for standing for 26 patterns which I need to get busy on.

Above is that lovely blotchy antique background.  Two birds, blooms and pot with the circa being 1900s.  

The heart mat above was a pattern request from Lisa, a regular reader) and noticed she has been busy hooking it in time for her Valentine's display at home. Cathy G of Orange Sink was kind enough to show Lisa's as well as the works of others who attended her hook-in.

More hearts above with ends pointed toward the center gives a look of a flower ~ yet they are hearts.

The girl riding a dog auctioned by Pook and Pook was given the date of 1870.

Cute circus elephant was to have been hooked in the early 20th century and original dimensions were 24 x 29.

This spaniel on a harlequin style rug is said to have been hooked in the late 19th or early 20th century.  No size or provenance was provided.

The two cats have been lovingly worn.  A great use of hit and miss as the hooker made a chain design around the cats to change an otherwise boring all hit and miss into her artistic challenge.

Two horses above have a berry design surrounding the top and sides, my very favorite blotchy sections denoting 'making do' and love the scalloped edge tho that isn't something I'd personally do unless it was a smallish table runner. 

Above are two horses in grass.  And this hooker definitely improvised with the light grass and wool, cotton or nylons in various colors. The bubblegum pink inside line certainly catches ones attention.

Okay folks, time for me to pull some loops and then tomorrow I've got to get serious about drawing out numerous rug patterns.    Thankfully the temperatures rose and last night's rain washed away almost all the snow.  YIPPEE, and even tho it was in the low 50's it felt like summer compared to the sub zero temperatures and wind of late.  So it feels like we're having a heatwave.

Saundra