Rug Hooking Camp Part Two

At our annual Hooking Retreat this year we put on a show of the Grain Elevator Rugs that will be touring Saskatchewan for the next three years...the first Gallery show will take place at the Regina Legislature Building. 

As we know our Grain Elevators are becoming a scarce fixture on the prairies because of neglect, fire or just being torn down to make room for the new concrete grain silos of the future. It is so heartbreaking to see such an important part of our farming history turn to dust...so it was decided that in memory of these landmarks we would put out a call to folks across Canada to hook a Grain Elevator Rug. Below you will find a small sampling of the rugs created for this show...I apologize for not listing the creator's name...I was madly dashing about trying to take pics before the hoards of hookers came to view them. If you would like to find out more about this traveling exhibit please go to our blog where you will be able to find a link to our group & any information you may need.

Heritage Rug Hookers of Saskatoon

I hope you enjoyed looking at the rugs...so much attention to detail...the amount of work put into each rug, the color planning, dying, cutting etc. it just overwhelms me when I think about it...& if you aren't a hooker...while...just enjoy them for what they are...incredible rugs that will serve as reminders of days gone by.

Cheerio, Susan

TDIPT October Halloween Offerings

Twas the night before Halloween, & all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for a mouse...
Adopted - Thank-you

"Lil Squeaky"

There was a Black Cat...Slim Jim was his name...he liked to eat mice...even on Halloween...
Adopted - Thank-you

Thank-goodness for "Sammy"...a well behaved bat...he saved "Lil Squeaky" & gave heck to the cat...the end.
Adopted - Thank-you

Bub-Boo...Sammy's Pumpkin...

All three of these Halloween pieces will be available for adoption the evening of September 30th on my TDIPT Mercantile page. You will find more details about them that night...hope to see you there & have a ghoulish day! Susan

2010 Rug Hooking Camp Part One

I went to the Chiropractor yesterday to get the kinks worked out of my achy body from rug hooking all week...told him I had spent a lot of hours hookin & a strippin...strippin & a hookin...he replied, "Is the leader of your group a pimp?" I laughed a good belly laugh & said no, we are traditional rug hookers who strip wool fabric which is then hooked into a linen or burlap fabric base which is stretched over a frame...we create rugs much like the ones our pioneer ancestors made years ago. He surprised me by saying that he remembered hooking a sailboat rug as a child...his eyes grew distant & he recounted that it was his grandmother who taught him to hook. I was flabbergasted...as it is so rare to hear these stories from men. I promptly asked him is he would like to join our rug hooking group....he said he would think about it...

Heritage Rug Hookers of Saskatoon

Our Rug Camp celebrated it's 10th anniversary this year...it was so heart warming to see women who had been to every camp during the last decade...& such a pleasure to hear them reminisce about the classes they took, teachers they've had....memories made. Some instructors have come & gone now, but I am happy to say that five student teachers graduated this year...teachers who will follow in the footsteps of the ones who have gone before them...

This year rug camp was held at Cedar Lodge which sits on the edge of Blackstrap Lake about 40 minutes from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I have to say that the staff at Cedar Lodge spoiled us rotton...I am sure we all gained 5 lbs from all the home-cooked meals...never mind the scrumptious deserts that we ate after almost every meal. Truly a place that warmed your heart...as well as your tummy!!!

 Fall was in the air & I did manage to get outside to take a few photos of all the autumn splendor...frost was in evidence on the surface of tiny leaves & lichens...

Canada Geese making their annual migration across our skies...their honking & bleating could be heard miles away...flying in formation...the flap of their wings brushed the air as they drifted past me.

 Harvest fields, hay bales & autumn leaves surrounded the lake...

A Saskatchewan Sunrise

Tangled Thicket

A  U  T  U  M  N   C  O  L  O  R

Cabin in the woods

Chopped wood for the old stove

W A T E R C O L O R

S O F T

In a couple of days I will post part two...I will tell you all about our Touring Grain Elevator Project; show you photos of our Rug Show as well as some class pics.

I do apologize...I was so busy snapping photos at the rug show that I forgot to write down the names of the rug's creators. This is just one of the many Grain Elevator rug photos that I will post later on...till then...Susan.

Back from rug camp

Hello my friends...just got home from Rug camp with some great photos to share with you...will post them sometime in the next couple of days...for now it is a chiropractor appointment for me...rug hooking for hours on end has done me in...I loved every minute of it!!! Cheerio Susan

Hey Strangers

I have been busy getting ready for Rug Hooking Camp....color planning, picking out wool...I have chosen a small Halloween rug to hook & hope to have it completed by the end of the week. Camp this year is being held at a Lodge located at Blackstrap Lake...a large prairie lake in a beautiful valley surrounded by Trembling Aspen & Birch trees...I can't wait to take some fall photos as the colors should be spectacular...hoping we have sunny weather & that our prairie wind stays asleep for a while.

Just a note...on the evening of September 30th I will be listing a few pieces on my TDIPT Mecantile page...hoping you can come by & peruse all the wickedly good Fall & Halloween goodies created by our TDIPT Artisans. At the end of the month I will post a preview of the items I will be listing...for now...Happy Fall....Happy Harvest....Susan.

Feeling Blue TDIPT Mercantile Offerings

These three wee mice will be available for purchase on my TDIPT Mercantile page tonight between 9 & 10 pm EDT. Hope you can pop by to peruse all the wonderful pieces created by our TDIPT Artisans...There is sure to be lots of Fall splendor with a dash Halloween spookiness & perhaps a bit of Christmas too.

 PFATT is having there annual September Giveaway...sure to excite your senses...head on over to the PFATT blog to add your name to the draw...fabulous one of a kind pieces to be won! Starts September first...see you there!

Orange Crush Pumpkins & Stuff

Paper-clay pumpkins & other Halloween delights are slowly coming to life, black gesso, primer, wire spider legs, clay candy corn, black beady eyes, frightful fun furry things coming your way.

Halloween Blog Show & Sale date to be announced

In the meantime make sure you pop by the TDIPT Mercantile on September 1st...since I had so many comments on my "Feeling Blue" Mouse Giveaway I decided to have a "Feeling Blue" Theme this month on my TDIPT page. There will be three pieces for you to choose from including another blue mouse on a white spool. My TDIPT listings start the evening of August 31st between 7:30 & 8:30pm Mountain Time ...come on by for a visit as there is sure to be a wonderful selection of Folk Art for you to peruse...

Susan

Creativity Happened...

Flying furballs Batman...

scissors cutting...brushes painting...fabric shaping...broom sweeping...

ideas churning...character creating...pencil sketching...

deadlines looming...

Studio Chaos...

Happy....Happy...Happy...

Susan

Drumrole Please...& the winner is...

I want to thank everyone for taking part in my first ever blog give-away...it was a blast. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from all of you, your kind words & comments sent me over the moon, reading them each day as they came in reminded me of why I love to create...

I gave my husband the job of picking the winning ticket out of a big old peanut jar...all hand written on little pieces of paper.

Sorry gals...your time will come...figures a guy would pick a guy. No offense Wayne but out of 200 or more entries (I lost count after a while) I think I had only five guys enter & the rest all girlies.

Wayne you are the lucky ducky! 

Wayne is the creative dude behind Wayneston Bears of Sengkang, Singapore.

I have never shipped internationally before so this should be a little interesting. Looks like my wee mouse is in for a bit of trip...Bon Voyage...I don't know if they have cheese & crackers over there...say hi to Wayne for me when you get there little buddy.

Well I am off to email Wayne the good news.

Thank you everyone for making this a memorable 1st blog-giveaway!

Susan

Feeling Blue Mouse -Blog Give-away

Blog giveaway starts this morning August 7th & will end the morning of Saturday August 14th with the Winner being announced that evening.

My first ever blog giveaway...bout time me thinks! I have had a lot of requests for blue mice so I thought I would create one just for this occasion.

Hope you all come on by & enter for a chance to win.

Me thinks this wee guy is a bit pudgy around the middle...sort of like his thread spool...to much cheese & crackers...

This Piece will arrive signed & dated on the bottom of the spool...as well there will be a few secret goodies sent along with it. This contest is open to everyone.

I want to thank you for taking an interest in myself & my work...my quirky posts...my rants & raves...blogging has given me many new friends, inspired me, encouraged me & given me a chance to meet others from all over the world...this is a place with no borders, no boundaries...a place to learn & reflect...

Susan

Three ways to enter & increase your odds of winning my Feeling Blue Mouse...do just one or do them all...its up to you. You do not have to have a blog to enter...just email me your entry with your email address/name - click the email me button on the top right of my blog.

1. Leave a comment here...leave an email address & name so I can contact you if you win.
2. Become a follower if you aren't one already.

3. On your blog or website write a small Post about my giveaway with a link to my blog.(leave your blog address & your username)

Good-Luck my friends.

NOTE - I WILL BE LISTING AVAILABLE PIECES ON THE TDIPT MERCANTILE SITE SEPT. 1ST.

Saturday Aug 7th - My first blog giveaway

Just a heads up that I will be hosting my first ever Blog Giveaway...make sure you pop by to read all about it.

Starts Saturday August 7th & your invited!

On the Road Again

 Only been home for a couple weeks it seems & now I am packing my bags again. Hubs & I are going house hunting in Gibson's which is located on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. 

Gibson's is a stunning coastal area that you can only get to by ferry from Vancouver...you may have heard of the place as it is where that old TV series the "Beach Combers" was filmed for many years. Back then it was just a fishing & logging village...but now it is a hot spot for tourists & locals alike who seek quaint vistas, peace & quiet...time away from hub-bub of big city life.

See you back here in a couple of weeks...

Susan