Its hard to believe that January is over already. Time seems to be flying by and I wonder if I am standing still. It amazes me that some days seem so short and others never end. Perhaps it has something to do with the weather. Days that I can't get out of the house seem forever

Barb came again on Friday for her lesson and I took these pictures of her sampler. I am pleased with the progress she has made on this. It is almost finished and we are talking about her next project. She likes the strawberries best so I took a closeup of them for all to see.

I have had some very positive feedback on the dyeing workshop which makes me feel very good about doing the workshops. The ladies all seem to have had a good time. The dyeing turned out beautifully. I have the kits all packed and and will mail the out of town ones on Monday. Here are some of the pictures. Here are Brenda, Thelma and Jill at the stove putting dye in the jars.



At the table chatting with each other -


Here you see Beth, Brenda and Traci - taking notes smiling about something. The next picture is of Judith, Jill and Naomi = Sorry I did'nt get a good picture of Thelma - I apoligize to you Thelma.

I have finished making the sampler for my "stitches" class on the 14th of February and my project for next week is to get all of the materials together. I am asking the class enrollees to bring their own materials but of course, I will also have some things that they can use. The sampler that we are going to do has a tree (greens) several sheep (white and black) a sun (yellow) sky (blue) grass (green) and a brick fence (reds). We also will need some miscellaneous colors for flowers. It is impossible to get this whole piece done is just 2 to 2-1/2 hours but we will do some of each stitch so we will be working all over the piece.

I have transferred the design for my sculpting workshop in March and will begin to work on that sampler tomorrow. Always so much to do and so little time.

I manage to keep busy and somewhat warm but how ready I am for spring. The yad is still frozen with ice everywhere. I feel so sorry for Eloise. She misses getting her exercise. She doesn't like to be cold and has been spending most of her days under the covers on my bed. There is a slight slope to our backyard which has proved to be a slippery slope for her - up two steps and back three. Just like a sliding board.

Time to fix dinner and get a few more things done today. I am looking forward to the super bowl - I have $1.00 bet with my neighbor - I won last year but know my good luck won't hold out since I have the underdog this year. Oh well, it's all in the game!

Drive carefully, love a lot, and hook, hook, hook.

Since my computer was "down" for so long, I have a lot of catching up to do. Think that I will just do some today and try to update blob more often than I have been doing. I tried to up date yesterday, as you will see if you look at the fact that I got two dates listed as blogs! Just kept getting interupted - so I'm trying again this morning.

Since I last posted, Barb has resumed her lessons. We are still working on the fruit sampler. For this lesson she decided that she would like to sculpt her bunch of cherries. Here she is hard at work!

I wish that I had gotten a picture of the sampler - she is doing great job of it. Maybe I can get a picture at her next lesson.

My next item has nothing to do with hooking and is posted for Kathy! I hope you like it. I love it.

My hutch is in my family room. It was built from plans that appeared in the old Popular Mechanix Magazine some 60 or so years ago. I finished it with hot linseed oil and wax and I am so pleased with the way the wood and finished have mellowed during the years. Several years later Bob built a sideboard to match. I have both pieces in the family room.

I had a visit last week from Linda who owns the Grant Street Woolery in Chambersburg, Pa. We spent the afternoon in my kitchen discussing what kinds of things could be done to help new hookers and doing some dying.

I held my dyeing workshop on Saturday as scheduled - it was well attended. I have much to do today so will report on that in the next blog. I hope that everyone is planning to stay in out of this icy mess. My storm door was frozen shut this morning. Poor Eloise had to wait until I figured out how to get it open. She sure made a quick trip out side. Stay warm, read, hook, laugh, love and be happy.

It's SNOWING! A good day to hook. This is the time of year that I get the most hooking accomplished. I need to go to the grocery but it will have to wait!

I was so glad to see Kathy's hutch on her blog. It is somewhat like the one that my husband built for me many years ago. It is from a pattern that appeared in the Popular Mechanics magazine some 60 plus years ago.

Today is proving to be a busy, busy day. I realized yesterday what a total mess my hooking room was. It qualified as a disaster area. Fortunately, my grandson came by and I put him to work moving my reference books from two long shelves, to the downstairs bookcases. Now two more shelves for wool! I have spent this morning moving wool, trying to get the piles of wool neater (lol) - I just have to much. It is better, but I still have a long to go to make it a neat room.


I went to Gettysburg on Monday. I have some misgivings about this because of the ice storm the day before - but I must say that Pennsylvania did a great job on their roads. I had no trouble at all getting there. It is such a nice group of people that I hate to miss a month hooking with them. It was good to see Judith and Brenda there also. It was their first time with the group. We were all glad to see them and hope that they will enjoy hooking with us. I managed to take a few pictures.


I am teaching a dyeing workshop on Wednesday, January 21st from 1 till proximately 3 - 3:30. This workshop consists of four types of dyeing - Open Kettle, Stocking and two types of Jar dyeing. I have 2 openings in my Wednesday workshop. I am repeating the workshop on Saturday January 24, same time, same agenda. I have 3 openings in the Saturday class Price of the class is $18.00 to cover the cost of supplies. If you are interested please e-mail me at daymar@myactv.net -


Mother nature is doing her thing again. She is making up for lost time on the "cold" deal. Hope you all keep warm and have a great week.

Last week was a joy for me. I was home almost everyday. Time to think and reflect on what has been happening. I prepared my workshop agenda and distributed it at the last meeting of the "With Hand and Heart Antitem Rug Artisans" guild meeting. Since I have done that, my mind has been full of ideas all rolling around - one on top of the other - trying to decide which samples I would work on first, and also wanting to work on several personal projects at the same time. I realized that I have only two hands and just 24 hours in my day. In the meantime, I have acquired a lot of new wool and my hooking room is overflowing. I wish I had a wall stretcher!!!!

I also had a birthday last week. Another milestone in my life's path. Because of my daughters working hours we were unable to get together to celebrate until yesterday. We had a great day of shopping (I got a wonderful pair of earrings) and then we went to lunch at our favorite "all you can eat" Chinese resturant. We lucked out and got home just as the sleet started. I also got a card for my camera that will allow me to take many pictures of rugs and I am looking forward to documenting my own rugs as well as those of my friends.

On Friday my grandson made a survey of the property to inspect the damage done by the ice storm. I had hoped that our pine trees would be spared - but no such luck. We have lost many branches, really big ones - but perhaps this is mother natures way of pruning large trees. I just have to hope for the best. I would hate to lose these trees as they are a great wind shield for the house. Last fall we planted 7 southern magnolia trees in a line up the road side of the property. We lost one of those to the ice. It will be my first priority for replacement this spring. THINK SPRING!

Weather prmitting. I am planning to go to Gettysburg on Monday. I do enjoy that group of hookers so much. I always look forward to seeing Kathy, Nancy, Joan and my old friends Margaret, Vi, and Peggy. I am planning to take the rug I just finished (My House Sampler) and a finely hooked pictorial so that I can see them side by side. It should be interesting to see the different techniques together.

It is now 6:30 am and time to get my second cup of coffee - my days start early - I need the time. Hope all of you have a great Sunday and a good next week.

I'm ashamed that I have so neglected my blog. Christmas has come and gone and I just have been in a lull period about everything. Guess the let down got to me.

I attended the local ATHA guild meeting last Saturday. It was great to see so many turn out. Everyone was so busy working on their rug and talking, that even tho we have extended the time by 1 hour, our time to meet was up before we all realized it. All seem to be working on big projects - many are working on the rug that they started with Cynthia Norwood.

Speaking of the workshop, I have finished my workshop project, My House Sampler Rug, and I am very pleased with the results. I especially like the background and the fact that I was able to modify it to make it look like the house was sitting on slightly darker ground. All in all a very satisfying project. I spent time yesterday working on the overcast edge and hope to finish that part today. My goal is to have the binding and another steaming done by Sunday so that I can take it to Gettysburg on Monday for "show and tell."

As you can tell I am a novice with the camera. My Santa brought it to me for Christmas - I was sure lucky or very good, I don't know which. I am just learning how to put pictures on this blog - that is why they are at the top instead of in the text. Hope to have them in the text by the next blog entry.


Mother nature has outdone herself with this ice storm. As I sit to the computer I can look out my front window. My yard is ringed with pine trees all of which are laden with ice. Looks like fairy land - but - I'm sure it is hard on the trees. We have lost many limbs in the past but so far all looks good this time.

It's time to get started on my day so I will stop for now. I hope all keep dry and warm and have a wonderful day.