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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Just a few of my rugs....

I sure wish I had taken pictures of every rug I have ever made. Unfortunately I made many of them as gifts and never dreamed of taking pictures. I figure I should tell you all how I started hooking rugs... I was one of those lucky folks in northern Colorado to have gotten West Nile Virus back in 2003 when the whole state experienced an outbreak of the nasty virus. Who knew a simple misquito bite could change your whole life ??? I wont bore you with all the details, but lets just say my life has never been the same. I spent almost a month in the hospital and had severe neurotransmitter damage which left me with lots of pain, memory problems, insomnia and a myriad of other "autoimmune disorders". I spent the better part of the last 7 + years trapsing off to one doctor or another while they tried to figure out what treatment to try next. I spent loads of time in bed and you can only read so many books, right ??? So, I decided what better time to learn some new "sedentary" activities then when I am stuck laying around for hours on end. I am a type A personality by nature, so having to retrain myself to slow down had its difficulties, but on the bright side, I have learned lots of cool stuff, like how to hook rugs. I got a book from the library, ordered a kit from the internet which included a hook, dug out my quilting hoop (no, I dont quilt, but I thought I might at one point), raided our closets for any wool fabric and got busy . Here's a picture of that very first project...
 It was a fun project and I was "hooked" from that moment on. I have gotten much better and learned so much since that first project and have made over 25 rugs and pillows since then...from candle mats to a large  4 ft runner (which I didnt take a picture of because I was in a rush to finish for a gift...GRRRR). I have had a few rugs on consignment in some shops  Ligonier, PA which is a darling little colonial town in the Laurel mountains of PA just a short drive east of where I live now.

This is a rug of I have made in several different colors as gifts...some with a family name and year hooked into the border. I just love sheep, so I do lots of crafts with them incorporated.

Well, I guess thats all the rugs I have to show you for today. I have several more that need "finishing"...I dont really enjoy that part of the rug making process, so I have to really motivate myself to get them done. I do love dying my own wool though. I just did my very first batch last week and it turned out so lovely that I cant believe I hadn't tried it earlier.

Oh and I just have to tell you this...Hubby got me the sweetest gift for Christmas...he went to the GW and other local thrift stores and looked through racks and racks of clothing looking for 100% wool items and filled a GIANT box with wool skirts and pants all ready for me to "upcycle" into beautiful rugs...Now wasn't that just too sweet ???

Hey, maybe if I get enough followers I can do my own giveaway ??? What do you all think ??? Maybe my small sheep rug ??? IF someone would be kind enough to tell me the "giveaway basics" I would love to do one...
-Blessings,
  Margie

12 comments:

  1. Hi Margie: Your hooked rugs are truly spectacular!!...I have never learned this art yet....I would love to learn though. Margie: I will do a posting of your new blog on my blog for new followers. I can't wait to see more of what you create!!
    Blessings,
    patti :)

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  2. I love love love your rugs..I am so in love with them..(something I haven't tried yet)..I would love to win one..or if you would love to do a swap sometime..just let me know..basically on a giveaway..they have to be a follower, leave a comment, post it on their blog, have a date for it to end and the day you will pick a winner..you can give them all just one entry or if they post them all you give them each an entry for what they do..;) I am becoming your latest follower.;) you will love blog land..we are a fun bunch and we love swaps, giveaways etc.;) have a good one and keep hooking..(I mean that in the nicest sense too.;)

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  3. Hi Margie, Welcome to the world of blogging. I am new myself ( since Jan. ) and I am not really good with computers. I have so much to learn but am having fun in the process. I just became a follower and would love for you to visit Thru Nanas Window and follow me back. I love your rugs. That is one thing I would love to do. It looks so hard to me. I look forward to visiting you often and getting to know you as well.

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  4. Welcome to blogland!! Wow! You do beautiful work! I wish I could rug hook, maybe someday :) I am following you now and look forward to seeing more of your creations!
    Hugs, Trish

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  5. Hi Margie, I found you though Raspberry Lane Primitives blog and I am so glad I did. I love your rugs. You do beautiful work. I am following you now and will watch for your giveaway.
    Colleen

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  6. Hi Margie,
    Patti said we should come check out your amazing Hook work. Well she was right you do great work.
    Welcome to blogging. I am pretty new at this as well but I am totally addicted. Love everyone, they are such a great group of people.
    Kat

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  7. Hi Margie, so glad to have you as a follower!! Welcome to blogland, you will love it!!
    Rug hooking is something I keep saying I am going to try. Yours are beautiful!!
    I look forward to following and seeing all your treasures.
    Blessings,
    Lorna

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  8. Hi Margie, Patti at Raspberry Lane sent me over to check out your new blog and I must say WOW! I love your rugs. I have never tried rug hooking and want to some day try it.

    You'll have to stop by my blog and check it out. I'd love to have a new follower. I dabble in all kinds of crafts.

    I look forward to seeing more of your rug creations and if at any time you see something on my blog you'd love to have- I do swaps =)

    Prim Blessings,
    Jean

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  9. Hi! Welcome to blogland.Stop for a visit if you get a chance look under my older post at giveaways and it'll explain it for you.Not to hard.Warm Blessings!~Amy

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  10. Hi Margie. Welcome! I am new myself. If you get a chance please stop by. Your rugs are so great. Tina

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  11. Oh my...beautiful hooked rugs.
    I'm just getting into them and have 4 of them in the 'just started' phase. Need time to get back to work on them.
    Love the Penny one.
    Karen

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  12. Reading from your beginning post forward, I came across dyeing your wools. Margie, I would love to see your step by step processes with your dyeing. Lots of pictures would greatly help us wannabees. Your rug creations are beautiful; the ones which missed a picture I'd love to have seen. I too failed to take pictures of my creations over the many years. Regrettable, isn't it? A 4 ft. runner! Wow. Give us a dyeing lesson, okay?

    And what would it cost for you cutting strips for me? I'd love to have a strip cutting machine, yet.....

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