Bloglovin'

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the last day to follow blogs with Google Reader. I have changed all the blogs that I read to Bloglovin and love it. So easy to use - much more user friendly. So if you would like to continue following my blog, you can find the button on the right hand side of my blog page near the top, after what is for sale in my etsy shop. If you have already made the change.. thank you!

Blooming Flowers and LIam

Just pictures today.... from a beautiful sunny day last week in between all the clouds and rain we have been getting. My clematis - probably one of my top favourite flowers..some cosmos...and of course the baby of the family, Liam...now almost 18 months old.

New Basket New on the Frame

Have to show you this wonderful basket that I purchased from Kay Kjeldgaard, which I use for current hooking projects. I just love it. She is a real master at basket weaving and thinks of all the little touches. Well worth the price.

The little clay snippet holder I got at Camp Wool in Maine. They have changed location and their store is a treasure trove... a wool lover's delight! If in the area of Kennebunk, do drop by. You will not be disappointed. I could have spent hours there. 

On my frame is a pattern by Deanne Fitzpatrick... poppies, which I love. I needed something quick and easy to hook while I was mulling a design in my head and on paper. I like doing other people's designs. It contributes to their livelihood of making these wonderful patterns and sometimes you just need something where you don't have to think about it being your design but just an exercise in colour.. I call it playing with colours like when you got a new pack of crayons when you were a kid...

I have been coming to terms with my wool stash..I am a collector of darks and mediums. I am woefully lacking in brights and pales. So my goal is to start gathering, dyeing this colour palette. What I love to hook is changing or rather what I am designing is changing and it calls for a broader spectrum of hues. I am trying to jump out of my comfortable box and start exploring more colours...

Just another little item I picked up at Dorr Mills. I could not resist! It sort of found its way into my basket along with my wools....Beautiful Sheep  - Postcard book of all kinds of sheep by Ivy Press. I think if you are going to use a product you should know more about it. So I am reading up on wool - what with my rug hooking, knitting, dyeing and spinning...it would make sense. 

Isn't this guy wonderful...look at the coat!

Bloglovin

Since Google Reader will no longer be, I have since subscribed to BLOGLOVIN in order to read my favourite blogs. It is very easy to do.. and only takes a few minutes... So if you want to  Follow my blog with Bloglovin... here is the link. have a great day - Joni

At the Beach

We are in Maine for a week. Brother, sister and family...my the water is cold but having a blast at Ocean Park and York Beach - eating lots of fresh fish! Just pictures.....

Spinning with a Spindle

Yesterday - Sis and I had a 3 hour lesson spinning with a spindle. We had a blast! Lots of laughs and a lot of fun. A lovely lady by the name of Colette took us on and gave us a private workshop for 3 hours. I sure learnt a lot and I think this is something I may love. Another extension of my passion for wool. 

We started off with some Tasmanian Corriedale (undyed) that I bought on Etsy as a starter spinning kit. I found out right away that my spindle was for light spinning (lace and fine fingering). So used one of the student spindles and my first attempt resulted in some nice lumpy bumpy wool (which I love) that I two plied. At least now I understand the terms and how yarn is made! I will probably dye the rest of the corriedale and use it for some other project. Maybe ply it with some novelty yarn or fleece to add to my rug hooking.

So this morning I was so anxious to practice my new found talent (HAHAHA) that I decided to use my spindle and spin some tussah green silk I had bought.  Practice! Practice! that is the only way. So it is a little bumpy lumpy but that is ok ' cause I like it like that. I immediately saw the difference in spinning lace weight as it can get real thin and lots of spin is needed.

It will eventually be 3 plied with another silk and a merino/ silk blend, once I get the right spindle for a worsted weight. Hopefully it will be nice enough to knit into a cowl....my first spun and knit project. I love new adventures! Maybe I will have a wonderful spinning wheel to call my own next year - better save my toonies! Have a great afternoon....Joni

Socks on the Needles

I have not knit a pair of socks in a couple of years. Now that I am into this knitting frenzy thought it was time to put some on the needles. I found this wonderul yarn called Lucky Penny from my favourite indie yarn dyer  - Tanis Fiber Arts - who lives a hop, skip and a jump from me. It was a perfect match for my summer shoes that I wear (lime green) my new favourite colour. The sock pattern is called Business Casual which can be found on Ravelry. It's a free download!

In today's mail were some wool purchases.  All from Turtlepurl Yarn, an indie dyer from Gatineau, Quebec. The roving came just in time for my spinning class tomorrow with Sis..should be a laugh or two! More on that in the next few days.

Nope I have not given up rug hooking - just taking a break and still buying wool. Waiting for the light bulb to come on and the creative juices to start flowing. Ideas flitting away here and there in my brain but nothing has settled in yet LOL.. have a great evening...

Bouquet of Wool Bundles

Was busy today putting together some packages of hand dyed wools. It was time for some spring cleaning. They are all available on my website at various prices.  New Wool Bundles

Hi Moosecraft - a most recent picture of my boy. He was fast asleep on my bed when I took this one - his head on my pillow of course! Looks like he is smiling, must be chasing squirrels.

This one of him frolicking in the last snow fall. He does love the snow! One year old......

Have a wonderful evening...Joni

Rayure Cowl - on my needles

What is on my needles these days......
I seem to be in a knitting frenzy lately. That is the place where I am right now. Easy to pick up - requires no planning ( at least the projects I choose) and simple patterns that once you get the hang of them are easy to do. Nothing that is complicated. 

Right now I am knitting a Rayures cowl - the pattern is from Quince & Co. It is knit on circulars and is doubled. A wonderful Maine company that was recommended by a friend. I have fallen in love with their colour palette and their yarns. For this cowl I am using "finch".

If you are a knitter please check out Ravelry - it is the place to be. Such a huge community of knitters and crocheters. My name is fullywoolyprims. Have yourself a great day....Joni

Happy Birthday Sis!

I was madly hooking this rug all last week to give to my sister yesterday for her birthday. We had a great time going out to lunch and did some shopping. I wanted to make her something special as it was her 50th and bittersweet as we lost our sweet mother a month ago.

I had Deanne Fitzpatrick draw up a design for me based on one of her original pieces. I love this design. Since my sister loves brighter colours than I do this was going to be a bit of a challenge to hook. I hemmed and hawed over the colours for weeks and kept changing my mind. Finally settled on a palette last Saturday. The countdown was on to finish it by the 22nd.

I used some hand dyed wool, as is wool, sari silk, hand dyed fleece, and hand dyed yarn. This is also the first time I had hooked a person. I had so much fun hooking this rug and I think brighter colours our in my future!

Sorry...

Due to unforeseen circumstances I will not be blogging for awhile..thank you for your support and understanding.. I am still on FB and my website is still very active. Due to time committments elsewhere that are very important to me I will have to put a hold on my blog. All the best for 2013.. Joni

It's Fall and It's Baking Time

It's been almost a month that we have been away from home and loving every minute of it, but all good things must come to an end. Until next year - we'll be Island bound again. Yesterday I took a wonderful baking class at Annie's Table. On the menu was pie making - yummy. Now I can make cookies and squares but my pie crust has a lot to be desired. Well after this class - pies will now be baking in my oven. The most important thing I learnt was everything must be COLD. We made an apple pear rustic tart (pictured here) and a mock cherry pie. The latter is a pie made by Lucy Maud Montgomery using cranberries and raisins because cherries at that time were not available on the island and by the time they got here they were rotten so islanders made do. 

To be honest I am not fond of cherry pie but this one with the cranberries is delicious! The crust was so flaky - I had never tasted any pie like that. Along with that we made lemon lavender scones - delicious little three bite scones perfect with a cup of tea. Another use for my lavender growing in my garden. If you are on PEI , take the time to check out Annie's Table - Culinary Studio, well worth the visit and a class!!

Just a couple of pics from my deck... you can see the Cabot Provincial Park - I think that may be a rug in the works. When I am here I often just go down back roads and explore bits of the island I have not seen. I love old barns and this was one I saw just perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. A beautiful spot! Off to do some more exploring - have a great day! Joni

Sunday Drive

Studio Door....

I am a country girl at heart. I love the rolling hills dotted with sheep and cows, the ocean views and the vast blue sky. Last Sunday we went to the eastern side of the Island by-passing Charlottetowne.  I am perfectly happy to just stay in the countryside.


We visited Pastimes PEI Rug Hooking Studio in Millview. I visit these ladies every year and we have some lovely chats about rug hooking and this and that. We agreed simple is beautiful. They have some wonderful original designs which speak of Island life.

 If you get a chance drop by - they are always welcoming and Jack will greet you with his own friendly bark. Peter stayed outside with Liam and they had their own little visit with the resident ducks. Liam behaved very well for his first encounter with his feathered friends!

Beautiful sunny day on the North Shore of the Island - wind from the ocean a little brisk with white caps on the water just over the dunes. Have a great day - off to do some rug hooking!..Joni

Half Gone Half To Go

Half the holiday gone - two weeks to go....
I put away my Shore Birds rug as I ran out of wool. I did not intend it to be that big, so not enough wool was available to continue working on it. I did buy this kit from Deanne.. shhhh it is supposed to be a gift for my Mom. I wanted a kit as I wanted all the wool cut and at hand. I also wanted to work outside my usual box which is muddy muted colours and this rug calls for BRIGHTS! So I was hemming and hawing to sub some colours but decided no I would go with the colour of these houses as they are the colour of the houses you see along the country roads in the Maritimes. I just love the windows. One thing I've learned is instead of hooking a solid colour for the windows - hook a tweed. This is a white and black one and gives you the illusion of the play of light on the window or maybe someone peeking out the window. Don't be afraid to use textures. While hooking this I was making supper....

Supper tonight - fresh Island haddock (coated in Panko)from French River, local PEI potatoes and fresh island broccoli... yummmm my favourite supper fresh fish. Made enough for lunch tomorrow. Off to do more hooking. Enjoy your evening! Joni

Workshop on Colour

Today I thought I would talk a little about the class I took with Deanne Fitzpatrick of Amherst NS. I had never been to any class related to rug hooking so I was ready for anything. I had no preconceived notions so I was coming in with a clean slate. I loved the whole process- the venue and the class itself. It was so nice to be among fellow hookers as it is a rare opportunity for me. I tend to work in a vacuum and rely on my on line friends for inspiration and encouragement.The following pictures are from Deanne's blog which is a great read. I was so busy hooking and listening I forgot to take pictures!

picture by Lorna from Deanne's blog

picture by Lorna from Deanne's blog

Deanne's studio is beautiful so inspiring - lots of colour and textures. I could have bought so much more! Where we created was lovely. Bright and clean with books and pictures surrounding us - lots of great working surfaces and comfy chairs to embrace us. I should have taken pics of the before but you get the idea. A bunch of hookers and the wool is everywhere! The class was on the theory of colour given by Phyllis Cameron (fiber artist), who was a fountain of knowledge and opened up a whole new way of looking at colour.

Colour work boards by Phyllis from Deanne's blog

Colour work boards by Phyllis from Deanne's blog

I have this instinct about how to put together colour in a rug, but sometimes there is something very jarring about it. Something is not working. You don't know quite what it is but you play around with the fabric and the design and you get that AHA moment. This course was on the theory of how colour works together. the terms to describe their relationship and how you can make colour work. One thing I learned was that NO COLOUR is wrong - it's just how you put it together. You can make any design sing. You just need to know what your goal is and work towards that. There are so many great books and tools available at your fingertips and that discussion is for another day...