Needle Felting Class.....and Some Big News.

 Last Thursday night I taught  a needle felting class at LLCC here in Springfield.There was four ladies and one youth in the class.The class was two hours long and we filled it full.

Miss Gina took right to felting.We started with a flat piece for wool fabric so they could get the hang of the needles.Then each lady made a pin. 

Darcey made four things but this is the only picture that turned out.You can see the little blue hair-bow she made.

 My memory for names is so bad,I think this is Julie and she made the butterfly below.

 Mary Ann made the heart below.She also made a ball with layers of colors that we cut in half.

 Cynthia made this heart.

I think everyone had a fun time,I know I did.I don't think an blood was lost.

Now for the BIG NEWS......the Hogscald Holler will soon be coming to you from back at the Holler.Yes, we are moving back to Arkansas full time.I can't tell you how happy this makes me.Now I can get my studio done there and I can really get my art going.


Live Deeply and come is me at the Holler,
Vicki

Two More Bite the Dust .....

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I told you I was in a hooking mood. I just finished two more rugs. The one above is the bunny rug that I did for the needle felting class I taught at the NWA Hook-in.The whole bunny is needle felted and there is a little felting on the butterfly.

This little beauty is something I started to use up some of my worms.If you are a hooker you know what I mean about worm piling up.
I guess the next thing I have to do is finish the edges to the 6 rugs I have done now.As you may be able to tell, I like to hook but finishing is not my favorite thing to do.So I tend to stack up rugs till it looks bad, then I get the finishing done. 


Live Deeply,
Vicki

What Keeps Me Running in May....

 I have been very busy in the month of May.I was back to Arkansas  for War Eagle Craft Fair and to teach two sweet ladies how to rug hook.We had a great day of hooking.Above you see Brenda trying out my frame is she learns to hook.

 Barbara tries out a lap hoop as she learns to hook.Thanks ladies for a fun day and a great lunch. Call me when you get your hooking done and I will help you get the edge done.

 May brings the Spring War Eagle Craft Fair. It was a beautiful weekend weather wise.

 But, as you can see there were not a lot of people.It is so sad when all this artist and crafters spend so much time and money to come to a show and people do not come out to see it. A few years age the people that run the War Eagle Farm Show chose not  to do the Spring show anymore.But they got on TV and told everyone that there would be "NO" Spring War Eagle, not that just  their part of the show was not going to be there.They are only 1/3 of the whole event that goes on beside the War Eagle River that weekend.The other 2/3's of the event was still going. But they killed it for all of us. Then the next year we had to pack-up and leave fast on Saturday morning when the river started to flood. Last year we could not even have the show because of all the rain and flooding.So this year there was not many people at all.Then many of the people that did come walked down the middle of the rows and did not even go in the booths. I know that the things I make do not fit everyone's style, but if you do not walk in a booth and at lest look a little how do you know there is not something that you might love.
 Sorry if I sound like I am pouting, but I would really like to keep making art for a living and it is hard to do if there are no one to buy your work. Ok, I am done with that.

 My daughter Amber Herrera (Framed by Amber) had a display of her work sit-up to show people. I am so proud of her and all the beauty she is making.You really need to have your picture taken by her.I need to do a post just to show you some of her new work.

 Of course I had all my work there too.

 I have been hooking a lot. I finished the hooking on my Wendy Miller rug and I love how it looks.

 I also did these two little mats that I will sell at one of my shows. People keeps asking why I don't have rugs for sell so I am trying to get some done.

 Adam and I also when back to the tractor show with Frank and Ella. Here is Ella and I, we were quit the pair, we were both hacking our head off with bad colds.

 They had some fun things to see and ride.

I also made a trip to Rolla, Mo. for my nephew's Darwin Potter's graduation. Great job Darwin, I love you and hope the best for you.


Now I am getting everything ready for the NWA Hook-in and Rug Show that will be June 9,2012. I have spent the last four days get the souvenirs made.I will be heading back to Arkansas Tuesday to get everything done for the big weekend.


Live Deeply and make some are.
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

5 Annual NWA Hook-in & Rug Show...

June 12,2010 is the date for the" 5 Annual NWA Hook-in and Rug Show".Cost is $ 20.00 includes lunch.It is held at the "Inn of the Ozarks" in Eureka Springs,Arkansas.We will have many vendors for all you Rug Hooking needs.
These pictures are from last years Hook-in.As you can is everyone had a great time.On a sad note,pictured in the top picture holding the rug is Sue Gilbert.We lost Sue this past winter to cancer,we will miss you Sue!
NEW THIS YEAR!!!!!!!

June 11,2010, the day before the hook-in we are having 4 all day Workshops.The cost of the workshops are $50.00 and includes your lunch.Classes will have a kit fee that you pay to the teacher the day of class.

Judy Cripps will be teaching "Borders"and this is the pattern they will be working on.She will show many kinds of borders and talk about which one is best for what rugs,
Aileen Anderson will be teaching "Finish Edges". This is a great class if you love to hook,but just don't know the best way to edge your rugs.You will need two 6in. by 6in.hooked squares for this class.

Victoria Hart Ingalls will be teaching a fine hooked "Scissor Keep". If you the beautiful look of fine hooking this is the class and you will have something useful when you are done.
And lastly is little old me Vicki Hardcastle teaching "Needle Felting". In this class you will learn the basics of needle felting and how it can be added to you rugs.You do not need to be a rug hooker to take this class.



All classes are for 10:00 to 4:00 on Friday June 11,2010.


If you would like more info please e-mail me at rughooking(at)hughes.net


Live Deeply,
Vicki

New Blog...Pics....

I just posted pics of some fun needle felted pins on my new selling blog.Hop on over and is what keeps me out of trouble.Just click the box that says Hardcastle Folk Art.------------>


Live Deeply,
Vicki

"A Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs"

For the last 15 years "Rug Hooking Magazine"has published the finest 30 rugs in a book called "A Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs". Every year I say "this is the year I will enter something in this contest".Well, looks like it may happen this year. I think I have everything I need ready to put my entry in the mail. Entry's must be postmarked by Nov. 30.

I call this rug"Here Comes the Sun". The face has been needle felted with wool roving and the rest of it is hooked.My daughter Amber took these pictures for me.

This is a closeup of some of the hooking.

Here is one eye,everyone that sees this rug up close are surprised by the eyes.

This is a neat view of the face.The rug is 21 1/2" by 18". It will make a great wall hanging.

So now you have seen my entry for the contest.I will seen it off with a kiss tomorrow.Then we will see what the rug hooking world thinks of it.It is so far off anything I have ever seen in the book, but we will see.

To all you hookers at there,"Happy Hooking" and to everyone else "Live Deeply".

God Bless,

Vicki

Saturday at War Eagle Craft Fair

Well,once again we had a beautiful day at War Eagle Craft Fair.I meet so many nice people at the show this year.

Two of the sweetest girls I have had the pleasure to get to know is Candace and Elisabeth Larson the Mother and daughter I told you about yesterday.They make the cutest dolls from sawdust clay and fabric dolls stuffed with sawdust.Hence, their name "The Sawdust Cabin"This is them above with Candace's hubby and Elisabeth's dad,but I I hate to say that I forgot his name.Sorry Mr.Larson.

As I am talking to people at the show I am demoing needle felting and rug hooking and the piece I am working on will be in the Art auction next Friday night at the Mad Hatter Ball in Eureka Springs Arkansas.All proceeds go to ESSA,Eureka Springs School of the Arts.
This pic looks a little weird,looks like big flowers in the background.Dana don't panic it is stars and I think it is going to look good when I am done and that will be on time.

Past Needle Felting

Here are a few pictures of some of the needle felting I have done in the past.Someone I know (no names given)keeps telling me I need to talk more about my art.I have a hard time talking about myself when it comes to something close to my heart.And my art is at the top of that list just behind my God and my family.So I am going to try harder.
Not a good picture of this little dog, but I get more laughs over this piece.I made him as practise for the dog below.Every picture I got of that dog she had her tongue out and her teeth were showing.

Here is the "Fairy Godmother" that I felted for a swap on Wild Art Dolls.She was very sassy.

This is "Rock and Roll", I was commissioned to felt these two sweeties for a lady that I now think of as a friend.Just above is the dog of her daughter that she ask me the felt after I had done her two.She sent me pictures of the dogs for me to work from.

Live Deeper,Vicki

Great Day at Ozark Folkway

Today, my nephew and I spent the day demoing needle felting at Ozark Folkway.We had a beautiful day talking to people and eating yummy chicken-and-dumplings.This is Freda and as you can see she makes baskets.I love the big round one at the bottom of this pic.

This is my nephew,Patrick holding a needle felted piece he made.And to the left of him is some of the things I have made.

Here is the front of Ozark Folkways.It is this great old rock building with ivy growing all over it.They are trying to keep the old arts alive.Many local artist sell their work here.

This sweet lady is Connie.She is the heart of Ozark Folkways.She is standing at the new rug she is working on.

This is a piece that was in the art show they were having.It is a locker hooked rug made with roving.I loved this rug.I forgot to get the lady's name that hooked it.

We did not have a big crowd,but this was the first year for this and I know with Connie it will just get bigger and bigger.

Live Deeply,Vicki