Two Wins in February!!

My husband keeps telling me to buy a lottery ticket!! Yep, I won twice in February. Both items came in the last two days.

The first win was two fat quarters, compliments of Northcott, from Brandy Maslowski, Quilter on Fire. The Mahone Bay Quilt guild sponsored a zoom workshop, Fibre Art Frenzy, with Brandy in February. It was an enjoyable workshop and everyone had a good time.

Thanks, Brandy

The second win was a hooked rug mounted on a wooden frame from Deanne Fitzpartick Studio, in Amherst, Nova Scotia. This is called Little Cove and is 6" x 6". Deanne sells the kit for this on her web site.

Thanks, Deanne.

Please check out the work of both these artists!

Enjoy and stay safe
 

Nifty Idea

I was roaming the reduced Christmas section of the Superstore a few days ago, and came across a useful item for my studio. Part of my room has a step wall so this mantel stocking hanger is perfect for using on the ledge beside my machines. It's heavy, won't fall off and can hold a fold up travel case that I found at Dollarama a few years ago. I keep scissors, sewers aid, clips and whatever else accumulates next to the machine. The table top is not as cluttered (for now). I hope they aren't all gone as I need to purchase a couple more!

More Finds:

• I'm going to borrow a nifty link from my friend's last post at Magpie's Mumblings, Sew Free Patterns.  
• A retired St. John's surgeon transforms NL scenes and famous paintings into rugs. His wife (also a doctor) is a quilter friend of mine. Check HERE.
• This Half Round Hanging Basket would be perfect for hanging beside my machine too. 

Enjoy!

Chester, NS - Farmer's Market

Yesterday, I drove to Chester, NS, to check out their Farmer's Market. It was the perfect day for a road trip as the weather was sunny and warm. Chester is about 30 minutes from my house in Pine Grove. It isn't a large market but did have a variety of vendors selling baked goods, hot and cold foods, homemade jams, vegetables and fruit, small hooked rugs and wall hangings, wooden boxes and other household items, jewellery, prints / cards from original water colour paintings, ceramics, and flower.
It was an interesting morning.

My one purchase was a small hooked rug mounted on a wide frame which makes it perfect for standing on a table or shelf. Debbie Smith & Donna Fleming are the 'hookers' behind Dsquared Rug Hooking.They were very friendly and offered lots of good advice about local markets and fairs.

After the market, I took a stroll around the picturesque town before heading back home. Here's a view of the bay.

Rug Hooking Studio

One of the crafts I have not tried is rug hooking. Apparently my grandmother hooked lovely rugs but unfortunately I've never seen one. Yesterday, during a visit to Mahone Bay, Novel Scotia, I visited Encompassing Designs Rug Hooking Studio. This studio is owned by Christine Little. Christine also designs her own patterns for hooking.

The shop has all the supplies plus patterns to do hooked rugs. Yarn is dyed on site so if you need a specific shade of yarn, they can supply it. They provide mail order for those out of town and out of province customers.

Greeters at the door!

Stunned Moment

While having breakfast, I realized that I'd had a 'stunned' moment yesterday! For those of you who aren't familiar with some Newfoundland sayings, 'stunned', according to the Newfoundland Dictionary, means 'stupid, naïve, foolish' (click on the letter 'S' on top of page and scroll down to 'stun' - it won't let me zero in on the particular page).

Well, that's how I felt when I realized that I had forgotten to post the photos I took of the Molly Made booth at ACTS. When I was writing the post, something bothered me but I couldn't put my finger on it. Now I know!!!! Sorry, Molly. She had a lovely booth too. Here are the photos, a day late. But better late than never! And double the exposure.
Enjoy!!

Finished samples of larger kits.

Kits and samples

New product

Featuring - Molly Made - Fibre Artist

Molly White is a fibre artist, living in Woody Point, located in beautiful Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland.  Her specialities are rug hooking and knitting. She designs and creates her own patterns and kits for the wholesale market and for her own studio and shop, Molly Made Fibre Art Studio. You can find out more about Molly HERE.

If you visit Gros Morne National Park, please visit her studio. You won't be disappointed!

Friday at the Christmas Craft Fair

When I got home from the Christmas Craft Fair Wednesday afternoon, I realized I had missed the whole bottom floor of booths! So Friday I went back again. Of course, my wallet came away a little lighter too! I also took a few more photos to share here with you. Since I used to have a booth at this venue, I know most of the booth holders. I also introduced myself to the new crafts people, so going there for a quick visit never happens.

I was also lucky to get a quick lesson on rug hooking using hand dyed nylon pantihose from Molly at Molly Made. I like the finer texture using this material instead of the heavier weight yarns and cotton strips used for larger pieces. Both look great, but that is my preference. The mittens on the line are made with the pantihose.

 

I met Jason Holly a number of years ago when he was just starting to make chainmaille jewellery. Since then, he has expanded this technique to include the medium of clay. Jason just got back from SOFA, Chicago, where he had an exhibit of his work. Check out his blog.

The next three photos are from North Eastern Folk Art. They always have a great selection of pieces as well as new products each year.

Silver and Silk, by Rosland Ford, is another jewellery line to check out. She has also added copper pieces to her collection.

Hooked Rugs

Rug hooking, according to Wikipedia, is 'both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug wrap'. My mother told me that my grandmother made all kinds of hooked rugs but I never saw any of them. It is one art form that I have not tried but I do appreciate them. I have seen very elaborate rugs as well as very simple ones. Today, I want to bring your attention to a Newfoundland blog, Anne's Original Hooked Rugs. Anne uses Newfoundland Themes in her rugs. This weekend, Anne announced that one of her rugs was purchased from a museum in Nova Scotia by Anne Murray, a very famous Canadian Singer. Congratulations! Check out her blog for a photo of Anne Murray holding her newly purchased rug. I love the vivid colours used in this piece. While there, have a look at other rugs Anne has created - you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy!