Merry Ho Ho...My November 1st TDIPT Offerings

Adopted Thank-you
Santa's making a list & checking it twice...

gonna find out who wants some mice...

But don't forget rabbits...cause rabbits is nice.

Rabbits & Mice...so huggably nice...

Lil pot belly's...Lil wee feet.

To have one to hold is always a treat.

Cause I like rabbits & mice!

Cause I like rabbits & mice!

Hello my fellow friends...just wanted to introduce you to three little Christmas characters that will be made available for adoption starting the evening of October 31st on my TDIPT Mercantile page...

Adopted Thank-You

Adopted Thank-You
Don't forget...TDIPT is having their annual open house in November with chances to win some wonderful pieces created by our TDIPT'S artists. 

You can go to the TDIPT Blog for more information on this Open House celebration.

Have a Mice Day!

Warmly, Susan

Almost Finished my Halloween Hooked Rug

Hello my Ghoulish Fiends...I mean friends...thought I would show you what I do when I am not busy making wee fuzzies. One of my favorite activities is sit quietly in the morning...coffee by my side, hook in hand, my rug set up in front of me. This is my magic hour, especially on those cold days when the wind & snow go howling past my window & I can sit cozy & warm and hook for an hour.

Spring, summer, sunshine & warm days have come & gone...once the weather changes & the leaves have fallen to the ground...this is my time to hunker down & begin my winter projects.

I started this piece at rug camp this year and am now in the process of figuring out how I want to finish the edges. I would like to do a braided border...probably about three rows...I think this would be a really nice look for this rug. I haven't attempted to do any rug braiding yet but am sure I can learn from my girlfriends book & DVD on this subject. The strips for this rug were all cut by hand with a rotary cutter on a mat...I used all sorts of different widths of cuts...never measuring but just incorporating what I thought would look best.  I love the look of strips cut this way...to my eyes it gives the rug instant age and a bit of character. Primitive Folk Art style rugs are my passion & I don't think I would be happy hooking anything else. This rug was designed by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm...I adore her patterns & am actually in the process of completing one of her Christmas rugs. You can purchase this Bittersweet Pumpkin pattern from Spruce Ridge Studios.

Almost forgot...you are welcome to visit the TDIPT Blog...there is a new posting about our November Open House & the special Give-Away we are hosting.
Thanks for stopping by.

Susan

Tdipt's Annual Christmas Open House

Just spreading the news...TDIPT Mercantile is having their annual Open House during the month of November.

In celebration numerous TDIPT Artists have donated works of art which will be placed in a draw.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN

1. Sign up on the TDIPT Mailing List..if you are already on the mailing list you are automatically entered into the drawing.

2. Make a purchase from the Marketplace this November. Each purchase classifies as an entry.

Drawing ends November 21st...winners will be notified that day.

GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

TDIPT has chosen "A COLONIAL CHRISTMAS" for the theme in November...so be sure to stop by & peruse all the old fashioned Colonial inspired art. 

Currently I am busy in my studio & hope to have three or more pieces for your perusal on November 1st. I will post photos & details shortly before the 1st.

TDIPT MERCANTILE

To Dwell in Primitive Times - TDIPT BLOG

Have a warm wonderful day!

Susan

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.