Lots of Quilts (and a few rugs)

I've had the hand piecing done on this little hexie star for a couple months. Finally asked my son-in-law to make a frame for it out of lumber that I provided, and he whipped it right out for me. I love the way it turned out and found just the right place to display it in my studio!

Don't know if anyone is interested, but here are the steps I used when painting the frame. I wanted it to look a bit like old, recycled wood, so first I painted dabs of cream colored paint here & there. Then I added the blue - leaving a few places raw wood.

When stained it to make it look more aged, each area turned out a bit differently which is exactly what I wanted. Last step was a coat of clear satin, which I sanded off a bit because it was too shiny.

It isn't practical to display it on my wing back chair but the colors sure are right! LOL

Thursday afternoon I had the delightful experience of attending a backyard quilt show. It's been two years since these gals did a show and I'm so glad they did - I feel like this event is a gift to their circle of friends - a place to gather and enjoy what they love - and eat goodies provided for free. So fun! Here's the front of the house - looks welcoming, huh? Can you imagine driving by and seeing this sight - along with the invitation to stop and look around?

And as you head down the side driveway to the backyard pool area......

The detached garage is decked out with two different barn stars!

Pumpkins painted with quilt blocks.....

.....no doubt inspired by the cover of the new issue of Country Living magazine.

I'll share a bunch of photos with no commentary so you can enjoy the show.....

On Wednesday I was in SLC to meet with my rug group there. Myra's sky is looking so fabulous! She's working from a photograph and is doing a great job of capturing the landscape.

Nancy finished the pictorial she started in class with Anne-Marie Littenberg.......

.....and has begun a floral that she designed to try and use up some of her leftover worms. Great job!

What a fun week I had!

Talented Friends

I have such amazing friends, both in rug hooking and quilting, and I'm so thankful that they allow me to share their beautiful work here on my blog each month. Otherwise, I would be sorely lacking in the show & tell department! (smile) Yesterday the First Tuesday group met and I was able to see Sandy's stained glass rug completed. She had it stretched at mounted at a frame shop and it literally took my breath away when I first saw it on display in her entryway.

This represents The Sacred Grove in Upstate New York that holds a lot of significance for those of us who are members of the LDS Church. You can read about the history HERE.

She had permission from the artist to  recreate his work and she told us about taking the finished rug to show him in his studio as he had requested. His name is Tom Holdman and you can visit his website HERE. Below is a print of his original piece of art.

Sandy was busily working on her newest rug which she is making for her grandson who spent two years as a missionary in Mexico. The lime green background is fabulous - in fact all the bright colors are spectacular. She said there wasn't a single boring part in hooking this design.

Jeanette is hooking a Polly Minick design of a happy bicycle - I love the tassels on the handle bars! You might not be able to tell from the photo, but she used standing wool circles in the center of the wheel and thinks she will use proddy for the flowers in the basket.

Sharon is hooking a Porche insignia for a grandson using quite a narrow size of strip. I'm not sure if he actually owns a Porche, or if he's just a fan. Either way, he's a lucky guy to be getting this from her.

Victoria has knit dozens of pairs of socks and that's what she was working on yesterday. She was using the completed sock to gauge the length of the rib on the new one she's making. That striped yarn is so awesome - like magic!

I recently completed this scrappy rug and it was fun to do. I'm sure I drew squares on my backing, but every single one of them turned out looking more like a rectangle to me! Oh well.

And yes Saundra - it was me who wanted to copy your UFO rug - I got a start on it and I'm hoping to make a dent in my collection of 8.5 cut worms. Funny how I started in the middle and you started on the outside!

A couple weeks ago I tried my hand at solar dyeing after reading Lauren's tutorial a month ago. I was pleased with the outcome and you can see before & after pictures of the wools below. The weather has turned cooler here in Utah and I'm not sure I'll get another batch done before winter. I think these mottled blues will look awesome when they get hooked in to a rug.

Okay - I'm off to do some housework today - I've let things go longer than they should have....