How I Spent My Weekend....Hook-in at Bishop Hill Illinois...

 This weekend I got to go to a hook-in at Bishop Hill, Illinois.This was the first year for this Hook-in and we all had a great time.Here is Ella overlooking things as everyone arrived.
 Ella and her hubby Frank own "Prairie Arts Center" in Bishop Hill and what a cute shop it is.They sell all handmade things.Jeffrey Goard is the potter at the shop and I would like to say a big "think you !" to Jeff for the door prizes he gave for the hook-in.I won a fantastic coffee mug and I am drinking coffee from it right now.

 I know Ella's daughter Sherry was a big help to her mom in getting everything ready for the Hook-in.It was great to finally meet Sherry.

 Lots of hooking was getting done.

 Janice from "The Rug Hooking Store at Black Horse Antiques" was the vender for the Hook-in and a lot of shopping and planning of rugs was going on.Thanks to the sales team for all the help you gave everyone.

 I do believe there was more talking done then hooking, but isn't that what a Hook-in all about.

 The store had some great things to look at and beautiful wool too.

 Ella had a new pattern to buy wool for.Here you can see a big group effort in color planning Ella's rug.

 Here is a few rugs that being worked on.

 This hippo was wonderful. I don't think the colors are showing as good here as they looked.

We all had a great day and it even snowed a little.Sherry said it had to snow on the daffodils.


Live Deeply
Vicki

A Great Night with Beautiful Women...

  Adam, Aaron and I had a great night last night.We went to a Celtic Woman concert and it was fantastic.What beautiful women and voices. Everyone there was so talented, even the back-up player.If you ever have a chance to see this group of ladies you just have to go.

Live Deeply and go sing a song,
Vicki

Give-a-way and New Things for Sell...

  I have posted new things for sell on my other blog Hardcastle Folk Art. Now that I am not working a "real" job, it is time for my art to make a living for me.Can a artist make a living from Art? I really want to sent the rest of my life making art and getting it in the hands of people that will love it.I also love teaching others the art forms I love.
  To help with that I am having a Give-a-way!!! I will have a drawing for this sweet little needle felted Owl pin. Please go look at my selling blog and be a follower of this blog, then leave a comment here. I will draw a name on April 20th.

  
Live Deeply and make art.
Vicki

Rugs Coming Along and New Journal.....

  I have been hooking my little heart out.My fine hooking project is coming right along.Here I am looking a pictures of my teachers footstool and am hooking as much like hers as I can.
  I really want to take some pictures of real flowers and start a project from that point. I am going to get outside with my camera and stake out some flower beds.Hopefully people will not think I am too crazy. 

 You fine hookers out there tell me what you think and also tell me what helps you.

 My sheep is coming along too. I have made some changes and I am still not sure about the face.The main problem I am having is I am away from my wool stash.I have very little wool with me so I am having a hard time.I NEED WOOL In Illinois! It is very hard to work from to houses.

Adam and I went to a craft show Sunday and I found the neatest journal from"The Journal Ladies"  .The journals are crafted by a mother-daughter team.Each journal is crafted from salvaged vintage books.

 They use acid-free paper in each journal and also some of the book's original pages.

 When I open this book the first thing I saw was this sheep. I just had to have it.Go look at the link above,I think you will love them.

Live Deeply and Enjoy the Sun Shine....
Vicki

What I am Up To Right Now...

I am in Springfield for a few week and I have been busy with a move we made.Now I am trying to get some hooking and felting done.
One fun thing I just done is set-up my art for sale in a great shop called "Studio on 6th". It is the cutest little shop right down town Springfield.It is a all handmade shop and it has a lot of outstanding artist showing there.
The artist I have meet are so nice and it is a must-see when you are in Springfield.

I have also started a class on fine hooking with teacher Raedean Windish.When I was at camp one of the ladies showed me a ad in Rug Hooking magazine for classes and the address was 6 blocks for our new apartment.Can you believe it, so I had to call and she had classes going so I jumped right in.
This is the morning glories I am working on.

Here is my sheep from camp.I love the way it is coming out.
I am also hoping to get my tree man rug bound.I found some yarn that I think will work.

Ok, back to work.

Live Deeply,
Vicki