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| The calm before the storm |
After going through the Covid plague of 2020, I made myself one promise...I would make sure I wasn't blowing off chances to socialize just because it seemed like "too much bother". What that awful time made me realize was not to take socializing with my community for granted. To that end, I took a leap of faith and went to my first Hook-in.
With an invite, Debbie decided to ride along to the Hook-in with me since she's only about 25 minutes from my house. I'm so glad she did! I'm not sure what I was thinking but that day it dawned on me that if I hadn't had Debbie with me, I wouldn't have known a soul there. Everyone was sitting with their friend groups so Debbie generously had me sit with hers. The ladies were all nice and from my neck of the woods. Here is my new friend Marsha and the lovely project she's working on! (I was watching her work and thought - wow she's so pretty - so I bravely asked to take a picture for my blog)
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| Marsha and her lovely Cowboy |
The Hook-in was held at the Strongsville , Ohio Senior/Rec Center which is a huge and amazing building. We filled the Event Hall with about 100 ladies (and a few men) all sitting at roomy round
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| This is another quilter turned hooker - Pretty right? |
tables. The edges of room were taken up with several vendors. I finally found out how most ladies are buying their wool. Apparently, there are several small business owners that sell wool off the bolt, over dyed wool, and hand dyed wool at these social events. Plus there was all sorts of textile notions, wool yarn and Valdani pearl cotton. Truly there was a LOT of wool there. With Debbie at my side, I got a lesson in wool shopping. Once I got my hands on it, I knew exactly what I wanted. You could feel the different weights just by touch and seeing it in person. I love how once you touched it you can tell what was tight weave, loose weave and just right! I bought some hand dyeds for the background of my current project and a few plaids because they are getting harder and harder to find. Still, I'm sticking to my promise of not letting my wool stash get out of hand. I really think project by project is a good idea.
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| the Hook-in Haul - sorry - wool is hard to pick up the right colors |
It really was a fun day. We hook a little, shopped a little, had a nice lunch and did a LOT of talking. All for the reasonable price of $35. Oh and I even won a handful of wool as a door prize! It was such a nice time that I wish we would do that with quilters - bring your hand work and come socialize for 6 hrs,
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| Debbie's Door prize - Cigar boxes with pretty Motif's on them |
On this week's Rug Watch...finished up the red grapes and onto the grape leaves....
I remember when these first came out and they were kinda pricey (about $55) so I forego buying them even though doing a Millefiori English paper piece quilt is on my bucket list. So I thought - oh good buy right?! Well apparently, since then, the books have become more rare and English paper piecing more popular, so their prices have gone through the roof. Millefiori Quilts 2 is selling anywhere between $50-$160 right now. (We'll see if that continues because whenever that has happen in the past, a publish on demand option becomes available and the prices drop - but so will the quality of the book itself). These are gorgeous books, and I'm so blessed to have snagged them. I'm taking it as a sign to not put off one of these quilts.
That's me this week...
What Have YouBeen Up to Creatively?
11 comments:
It's so nice you have found a group of 'hookers' to hang out with. It sounds like you had a wonderful day of new friends, fun hooking and great buys. I get together once a month in the afternoon for 4 hours with several quilting friends to work on handwork. We keep it simple, no snacks, just water to drink. It's a fun happy day, lots of talking and lots of stitching. Blessings!
You are living dangerously , another hobby? It sounds like a wonderful time. The work you've shown is so beautiful! Have a great time with a new and lovely creative outlet!
Hi Nina-Marie, what a wonderful opportunity! It's so difficult to come into a group event where friends have already been made. I'm so happy for you. That's one of the reasons that I've slowed down my socializing - and as you know, a quilt retreat means so much transportation of stuff. I agree that it would be so much fun to participate for a few hours with whatever hand work your working on. Your project is coming along great! Take care!
Hi Andree! You're so right about quilting get togethers. They can be A LOT! They always seemed too high maintenance. This was a really fun day - a little adventure. Now with the connections I made, we're working on putting together just a small local group.
I really would like a handwork quilting group. I don't need a lot of socialization in my life, but being with like minded people is really important.
Fantastic hooking! I've done some narrow cut pieces but primitive wide cut hooking resonates with me and goes with my antique furniture decor. You definitely have the talent. Oh, and good luck keeping your wool stash down. How did that work out with quilting,lol?
Mostly ladies in this area are doing primitive as well. Right now I'm sticking with the middle of the line 6's but I could easily see me doing 3-5's! And concerning a wool stash - RIGHT?! its easier with wool though since it's like 2-3 times more expensive and harder to find . But yeah - I am continually reminding myself that I can't just buy wool to have wool - lol!
Nina, I am so happy for you!! I can totally relate to prioritizing social opportunities post Covid. Actually as I was reading your post today, I was reflecting that the past year and a half or so that we've been living in rural Florida has felt like Covid Part 2 for the isolation and lack of connection to community and friends. My quilt guild back in North Carolina DID do exactly what you wished for -- "Sit and Sew" several times a month in different locations, bring hand work or a portable machine project and the guild provided an iron, ironing board, and cutting mat for everyone to share. Then there's another group in Charlotte that is more specifically hand work focused that I'm dying to try when we get back there. I forget the name of the guild but there are a lot of knitters and crocheters plus hand stitchers and they meet in a BREWERY for "Stitch and Bitch" once a month. Yes, the membership in their Instagram photos looks a little younger than the "Sit and Sew" quilt members.
I'm sure it was harder than it look making that move! I think we are going to get a group of Ruggers from the area and meet here or in a central location. We're just starting to track them all down.
Nina Marie…welcome to the world of hooking!
Saundra of Woodland Junction sent me over.
So happy you came to Hooktoberfest. My guild, Crooked River, put on the event. I am glad Deb encouraged you to come. It was a great hook in. Some of the cigar boxes were amazing, weren’t they?
Your hooking is wonderful. You don’t look like a newbie 😊
It is hard not to build a wool stash. In three lifetimes I will never use all my wool, but that doesn’t stop me from buying more 🤷♀️
Lauren
Hi Lauren, I had a great time at the Hookin and thanks to your guild for hosting. I have totally fallen for this new art form - hook, line and sinker! I'm right now in the middle of designing my next project - it will be my third official project. And yeah - I have to constantly tell myself that I don't NEED a wool stash - grin! Stop by again - I'm sure I'll be documenting this rug hooking journey in the future.
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