Making by Hand

I came across this blog post recently, and even tho it comes from the knitting world, it applies equally well to rug hooking. 

The authors asked a number of well known knitting designers why making by hand is important to them, and the answers are quite interesting.  Here are a few snippets:

• Amy Routman: Making by hand is always an adventure which is a source of endless discovery, surprise, challenge, joy, self-discovery, and accomplishment
• Carol Feller: Life is busy and frantic, making something by hand slows me down. It forces me to work slowly and do it to the best of my abilities in a thoughtful way. The deep satisfaction that this creates can’t really be matched by anything else!
• Jillian Moreno: Making simultaneously grounds me and sets me free, it’s pause and puzzle. The flow of threads and fiber brings peace, solace, and the best of company. There’s a quote I love from Kenneth Rexroth:  “Against the ruin of the world, there is only one defense: the creative act.”

This article was driven by a book written by Melanie Falick called Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live. She has collected responses from her readers as well, and they make for some good reading, especially on a dreary winter day!  To read them all go to her website here.  

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In other news, we have an update to the mulligatawny soup recipe posted....with notes from our own Laurie! Go here to get the update....another antidote to yucky weather!

The collage of photos above is from our Instagram feed....and they represent the posts from 2019 with the most likes!

Trees, trees, trees!

As we do most years, the Thursday folks from our group gathered today for potluck and a mug rug exchange.....but this year there were 2 tree “works” that featured prominently. Our own Martina made teensy trees for each of us, above.  Aren’t they lovely?

And then Rosemary (aka Toth Jewels) brought in this lovely tree made with up-cycled jewellery.  Here it is with our wrapped mug rugs:

And here are a few more closeups:

Rosemary said it took a LOT of work to put together, but she’s hoping to make more in the future.

The mug rugs themselves were truly works of art.

I didn’t get really good photos of all of them, but the collage below gives you an idea of the artistry at hand! There was a beaded rug, as well as a quilted one!

As always, the food was plentiful and yummy.  Laurie D’s soup was a big hit. Here’s a link to the recipe

....and some folks even got some hooking done!

Francine is working on a few tweaks to her project started in Susan Clarke’s class:  The Heat Is ON

Dianne completed her project from Carol Shewan’s Thom Thomson class. 

More Finished Projects From Nancy

These photos just in from Nancy C.:

PHOTO SHOOT & BAKE SALE FOR K9 CRUSADERS

                               We all love our pets and we ALL LOVE FOOD!!!!!!

                             Here is your chance to do a little pre-Christmas shopping !!!

Turquoise a local clothing business in Port Hope is having a  Photo Shoot & BAKE SALE!!!!!!! not just your average stuff but really yummy yummy goodies, perfect for the Christmas season.
 This is a fundraiser for K9 Crusaders, so your pooch can take part in a photo shoot and you can support this worthy cause.  The above photo was taken by me, not very professional but , hey, I'm just learning so............................PHOTO SHOOT/Bake Sale  Turquoise Clothing Boutique
WHEN????????????????  This Saturday & Sunday from 12-5 both days Dec.7 & 8th
WHERE????????????????  Turquoise Clothing Boutique  54 Walton St. Port Hope, ON

                                                      See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS POTLUCK

Here are some photos of our recent Christmas Potluck, it really is "all about the food" and so many delicious choices of healthy homemade options, so yummy!

Here is also a sampling of what we have been working on...........................plans are in the works for mats for the Port Hope Fair Family Ties and Homemade pies for 2020, ideas will be popping up all over the place!

        From our frames to your cozy homes, Merry Christmas and a Healthy & Happy New Year

ADVENTURE TO THE MCMICHAEL GALLERY

With warm parkas and snow tires we headed out to the McMichael Gallery in the town of Kleinberg to see the Maud Lewis Exhibition and we were not disappointed. Such a lovely location but some of our group had been years ago and noted that a huge neighborhood has grown up around it and has changed the atmosphere some.
Due to extreme temperatures of -15 we decided not to walk around the small centre but to do a drive-by with hopes to return again in warmer weather.
A delicious lunch was served up at the Gallery and reccommended by our own Lynda, it was yummy!! a must try is the Roasted Squash, beet and goat cheese sandwich on sour dough bread with roasted potatoes, I'm hungry just thinking about it!!!!!!!!!

I guess what I have taken away from the experience if that to Maud Lewis, painting was like breathing, she just "had to do it"
See photos below

                                                                piece of metal

                                                                A metal baking pan

                                                                         Shutters

We also saw different artists paintings there

G'DAY...........HOOKING LIKE AN AUSSIE

Well it may be spring/early summer in Australia but today we had our first taste of winter!!!!!!!!!


We were sixteen people full of wonder and AWE as we saw a slide show of the textile art and rug hooking that Karen Kaiser brought to our group today.  Hooking like an Aussie involves, some wool fabric but also alot of recycled materials.
After this inspirational talk of Karen's experiences we played with Aboriginal symbols from Australia and put our own stamp on it and IT WAS AMAZING!!!!

The scope of colours were extreme and Karen brought us some of her beautiful dyed wool to buy and oogle.  We also used t-shirts, bathing suits, cording , roving and fabric.There was also a course upstairs of sewing and different textiles and they came down to do a little shopping as well.

Of course no day goes without alot of good food. We had a potluck lunch and Karen provided us with some yummy cheese scones, YUM!!!!

We had such a great day and learned alot.  See some photos below!!!!