Coming Up Roses Is Up And Done!

Finished this little fall/winter bag. I have enjoyed working with the color combination so much. I'm considering making the same bag in a smaller clutch......or.......using this same design with the red and brown color combo in a rug. Of course if I do all of this, I'll probably get really sick of the whole thing! Maybe best to just leave well enough alone.

Coming Up Roses

The hooking is done, and now on to lining and assembly. I'm using the plaid wool that I've already attached to bag and have started to sew in. The red plaid to the side is for the strap. If you look carefully at the shadow to the right, you can see a kitty head (that would be Iris).

A Wonderful Afternoon!

My neighbor, Emma, came over for a day of crafting. We spread supplies all over the floor, dove in, and cut and glued away the afternoon!

Emma made several pages for her scrapebook. She's quite the talented little girl!

I made this page in my visual journal for the words "play list". The visual journal is an ongoing project that's part of The Welcome Mat....site for creative rug hooking. I used some sweet vintage circus images given to me by my friend Katie (Ragamuffin Gal). I had to stretch the meaning on this one. I'm really thinking play bill of circus acts, but it works for me.

Coming Up Roses Coming Along Nicely

Here's a view of the front and back of my new bag. I'm loving these red roses with the brown background! As with my last bag, I'm planning on using a complimentary plaid wool for the lining and strap.

Fabulous Prize $$$

I received an unexpected windfall in the mail yesterday. I did not realize there would be actual cash prizes for winning fair entries. Gee.....what to do with all this money! Any ideas? Actually, I'm quite tickled. The last ribbon I won was in the 6th grade science fair for my miniature rock garden (done mostly by my talented mom), but no cash prizes offered at elementary school sciences fairs.

Coming Up Roses

Beginning of new handbag. The other side of the bag will be very similar, and the background will be in browns. I just can't seem to get enough of bag hook'n!

Finished Hydrangea Bag!

It's done. I'm pleased. Starting the next one today!
Also, thanks so much for all the lovely comments on the previous post (Jan, you wouldn't want my old bag. Lots of beet stains from last grandchildren visit!) Have a fabulous weekend!

Building A Bag!

Here are three stages of my soon to be finished hydrangea tote bag. First, you see both sides of the hooked bag. I had a full day of hooking at the fair with Tammy yesterday, so was happily able to get the hooking done. The next shot is the bag showing the contrasting plaid I'm using for lining. I just hand whipped it to the edge of the hooking. I love working with wool because it holds together nicely while stitching. I added a couple of inside pockets for keys, cell phone, whatever. The last picture above is the lining shown with the straps. I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to finish it off, but I believe I will whip the sides with wool, and attach straps to inside using large buttons. My goal is to end up with an attractive, but very sturdy bag. If all goes well, I'll post the finished bag tomorrow. Thanks for checking in, and have a wonderful day!

Fair Prizes!

This was my first attempt to enter anything into the Ozark Empire Fair (well, actually, it never occurred to me to enter at all). This year I decided to give it a whirl, and low and behold, I won some ribbons! My three entries are pieces that I designed, and each has some personal significance. The "Nighttime Garden Fox" was created as the result of a family of fox pups being raised in a den right outside our home. We were just enamored with this little family of three adults and five pups. We watched as they played around the woodpile, learned to hunt squirrels, and finally left. The small mat "My Backyard" is sort of a little impressionistic piece loosely based on looking from the bedroom window over our backyard. I started it one snowy day attempting to use only scraps of wool, ribbon, and yarn. It's actually one of my favorite hooking projects so far. The girl under the arch I've called by two different names; "Connected" and "Reside". In either case, I am referring to my deep feelings of being connected with all living things equally (notice, I added the fox). I'm tickled to have won these ribbons, and am on to other hooking projects. Hooking like mad at the moment trying to get my hydrangea bag finished. Just about done with the hooking, then on to assembly. Watch for a post soon! Thanks for letting me brag a bit about my little fair ribbons.....

My Goodies Have Arrived!

Wow! What a generous blog giveaway.....not only did I win the cute felted bracelet and three flower pins, I also received one of Rick Beerhorst's cards and the "I Just Wanna Hook" card and felted piece. Thank you Brenda!