Beehive Rugs

Finished the Azzu Shawl

2012-02-12T13:37:00.000-06:00

My Azzu Shawl is finished and blocked. I knit it from Ella Rae Lace Merino and used US #5 needles. It took one full skein and a bit of the second one. The Ella Rae feels wonderful. After reading everyone's comments on ravelry I added one extra repeat so it would be big enough. I was disappointed that the edge of my shawl did not have three rows of yarn overs that is shown on the pattern. After a lot of reading I discovered that the picture on the pattern has the shawl shown with the top edge down, which I feel is rather misleading. I think they should correct their picture or alter the pattern so that the shawl looks like their pattern. Besides that I am very happy with the finished product.

My daughter just sent me pictures of snow coming down in Lubbock. I guess we will get the rain tomorrow. The birds are certainly hungry today after such a cold night. Maybe they know the rain is coming. I've been dyeing some spot dye wool for the workshop and it is beautiful! Can't wait for the workshop, it is going to be a lot of fun.

Helen Mar's latest rug

2012-02-10T08:20:00.000-06:00

Helen Mar finished her rug and I thought I would share it with you. The turquoise at the bottom makes it so happy. Great job Helen Mar!

Abalone Finished and Color Affection by Veera Valimaki

2012-02-05T14:09:00.000-06:00

When I come to the end of a ball of yarn I always pause. There is something so fascinating about the last of it wound so perfectly. A sense of satisfaction that you have watched it wind round and round until there is this last wee bit.

I finished my Abalone sweater out of Madelinetosh DK, in Mica. My favorite part is the color. It was a work in progress and everything went wrong. I am happy to say that it is done and it is nice and I accomplished all I set out to do. It was a great learning experience. The pattern did not call for sleeves and I learned a lot when I added them that will be very useful next time.

A friend took this picture at Rose Path when I was showing the sweater to everyone. Speaking of sweaters or jumpers, as they call them in the U.K. and Australia I have a podcast that I listen to that is quite good. It is by a fellow in Australia. He likes to knit jumpers and teaches and is a computer software designer. He covers a range of topics; music, books he is reading, Australia and knitting. If you have an I Phone you can down load the app and listen on your phone. His program is called Sticks & String so have a listen and see what you think, as they say down under.

The next decision is what to knit next. Texas winters are short so you have to knit fast. I have almost a month before I go to Florida so if I want something special to take to the beach I need to get knitting. I have been looking at another sweater and a few shawls. I love shawls especially for restaurants and cool evenings at the beach. I found a really neat pattern yesterday and I will definitely knit it in the near future. It is called Color Affection by Veera Valimaki. Click here for the link to ravelry to see the pattern. Here is a photo of the shawl.

There are lots of variations on Ravelry. You need three colors to complete it so the hardest part will be choosing the colors, but don't you love it! I may have to wait a bit because I have been trying to use up my current stash and I can't quite figure out three colors that I have that would work for it.

I did start a shawl that I have the yarn for and I will share it later in the week. It is a coral color and I am really liking it so far.

Have fun watching the super bowl. Hope your team wins!

Rose Path Opens this Friday at 10:00!

2012-02-01T20:01:00.000-06:00

We are still putting all the finishing touches on everything but our doors will open Friday, February 3 at 10:00. Get your fiber project and head our way to check out our new space.

If you need directions click here

Thanks Jean for all your help getting my space ready. It looks wonderful!!! See you all Friday!

Cora's spring scarf

2012-01-31T21:04:00.000-06:00

Cora looked very festive in her spring scarf coming home from the groomer. We both enjoy car rides much more since I found this harness that keeps her buckled in the seat beat. If you don't have one you should get one for your dog, they are wonderful.

Shush! I'm counting.: New at Rose Path...Table Time with Midge Would yo...

2012-01-28T15:34:00.000-06:00

Shush! I'm counting.: New at Rose Path...Table Time with Midge

Would yo...: New at Rose Path...Table Time with Midge Would you like a little extra help with your current knitting project? Or maybe tackle something ...

Changes for Rug Hooking at the New Shop

2012-01-26T20:41:00.000-06:00

Porches are one of my favorite things. Our new shop will have a front porch with a view of a pond and I can't wait to sit there and relax with all my Rose Path friends.

Moving day is Saturday and hopefully we can get everything up and running the week after, we will see.
No pressure Jennifer! The new shop is sunny and bright and is a wonderful space. I will be selling my hand dyed wool and linen but I will not carry the other supplies I had at the other store. The cutter will be on hand if you need to cut wool and I will be there with Jennifer on Thursdays. I won't be teaching beginners but I will be doing quarterly two day workshops for those who already know how to hook. In the workshops I will be able to help you color plan and work on your rug for the two days we are at the shop. The workshop will provide a time for us to work closely, and for you to get all the help you need. It will provide time for us to work on our current projects or start something new.

See my class page for the February workshop.

Thursdays at the shop will be a relaxed time of visiting and hanging out at Rose Path.
Rose Path will be open from 10-5 Wed-Friday. We will focus on weaving on Wednesday, rug hooking on Thursday and knitting on Friday but you can come and do any of those activities on any day.

I know we all can't wait to get back to the shop. Hope to see you on the porch soon!!

Feb. 2012 Workshop!

2012-01-24T20:00:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for a two day workshop? Rose Path will be opening soon so I have tentatively scheduled a two day workshop for us. Mark your calendars and let me know if you would like to come for one or both days. It will be the same type of workshop as last time. Bring whatever rug you want to work on and sign up to bring food. I'm looking forward to working on my unfinished Christmas rug. Let me know what you will be working on and tell me if you need wool for your rug so I can dye colors the week before the workshop.

The dates are Thursday Feb. 16 and Friday Feb 17 from 10-4. email me to sign up at beehiverugs@ yahoo.com

The cost is $65 for both days or $45 for one day.

The Beginning of my Abalone Sweater

2012-01-13T21:27:00.000-06:00

After downloading at least six different sweater patterns I have settled on this one. I am knitting it in Madelinetosh DK, mica. The color goes so well with my jeans and has shades of purple in the light blue. It looks like a bit of summer sky. I plan to add sleeves to the pattern. Madelintosh is such a great yarn and it seems to get better when you wash it. This might be one of my favorite knits.

Rose Path is hoping to open around the first of February. Some of us have decided to start meeting at the coffee shop down from the old Rose Path on Thursday mornings to knit or hook until the shop opens. If you are in the area come by, we are at the Art of Coffee in Lindale from about 10-1. Hope to see you there!

Best Sock Yarn

2012-01-06T14:22:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been disappointed with some of my sock yarn so I have been researching on Ravelry, looking for a yarn that is soft but holds up well. Regia holds up well and is fairly soft. Happy Feet is very soft but doesn't last as long as I would like it to.

After researching the ones I am trying are Sweet Georgia superwash and tough love sock; Skinny Bugga; Squoosh Fiberarts merino cashmere sock and silky sock; and Malabrigo.

All the sock yarn has to be machine washable because I am not going to hand wash my socks. I will hand wash other things but not socks.

When they came in the mail the softest, by far was the Sweet Georgia superwash. It is unbelievable soft. I can't wait to get it on my needles. Hopefully all of these will turn out and last well. It is very tiresome to spend a lot of time knitting and have the socks felt on the first wash. Ya know what I mean.

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T22:31:00.000-06:00

Last year my words for the New Year were symmetry, and serenity. This year I think my words will be dream and dance.

What are your words or word. Have a wonderful New Years! Hope you are surrounded by family and friends.

Words for the New Year

2011-12-29T11:08:00.001-06:00

I am still thinking about words for the New Year. How about "nest"

or maybe

"beach"

"garden". A word that has been sitting in my room for a couple of years is "Tranquility"

What do you think?

Go to the Beach or Take Down the Tree? Hum

2011-12-27T11:35:00.000-06:00

I love this picture from the blog "From Portland to Peonies". I saw it on Pinterest which is a wonderful site if you haven't discovered it. I would love to be laying on the beach like these lucky people under a beach umbrella. I wonder if you can get a doctor's prescription for a beach vacation. Wouldn't that be great!!

I haven't thought of my New Year's word, have you? Yesterday we helped my daughter rekey all her locks in her new condo that she is sharing with two roommates. It took my husband a while, two of the doors didn't shut well and the shower head didn't work etc, etc. If you have kids you understand. I helped her arrange her room so she can have a desk and we decided where to hang all the pictures. My husband actually hangs the pictures, lucky guy. We ate about 8:30 that night and made it home by 11:00.

Today the weather is beautiful and the rest of the week the temperature is going to be nice and warm. I hope to get the tree down before the garbage men stop picking up trees. Maybe I can keep it up a few more days. When the kids were small we had a neighbor that still had their tree up in March. Maybe they had back trouble. I thought it was a bit odd at the time but now I don't know. I hope to beat that record and get mine down a bit sooner. After the Dallas trip just looking at the tree makes me feel a bit tired. Maybe we could get a beach umbrella and head south instead. Beach would be a nice word for the new year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:52:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful day. Don't forget to feed the little birds!

Christmas Planter and Yuletides.

2011-12-23T09:39:00.000-06:00

The planter is filled with winter flowers and it looks so festive.

This yuletide is sporting a striped flower.

We planted a yuletide camilla hedge instead of a holly hedge and I can't wait for it to grow up and fill out. Every Christmas we will have jolly red blooms to celebrate the season. Yuletide was one of the first camellias I bought when the kids were small. It is such a happy plant.

The mark of a good garden is having things that bloom each season. Winter blooms are especially nice.

Baktus

2011-12-18T18:40:00.000-06:00

I hope you enjoyed the last post by my friend Diane Brown who is living in Austin. Diane anytime you have a good yarn feel free to add it to the blog. Diane has helped me out of a lot of knitting dilemmas and she always has a good story for me. We miss her when she is in Austin.

My baktus is made from Madelinetosh DK in Cousteau. I adore the color and can't wait to wear it. Who wouldn't love anything knit out of Cousteau. It is an amazing shade of blue. The last few weeks I have been knitting a lot. When things are slower you enjoy everything more. I love looking at the tree and our lights.
Presents have been a challenge because I haven't been able to shop so I have had to think a bit harder and plan more. It's interesting how often we are too busy and its too bad we don't have more of a balance in life. Being crazy, busy squeezes a lot of fun out of everything. We all need balance. It is a hard thing to find.
I have started thinking about my word for the New Year. Have you thought about what your word for 2012 will be. My friends and I like to pick a word for New Year's instead of making a resolution. What word will you pick for next year?

A Tricky Join

2011-12-16T12:52:00.000-06:00

I'm currently knitting a scarf for a precious woman for Christmas. [no, it isn't me, but thanks for thinking of me first] My best knitting time is at night while Beau and I watch TV. Well, perhaps best isn't the correct word -- let's say it's my favorite knitting time.

So, last night, there I was, knitting away while I watched Jacques Pepin whip together some yummy vegetable stew that he poured over polenta [that would be corn mush here in the South], but I digress. I looked down to check on my knitting and saw that the end of the ball of yarn was only a few inches away. No worries -- since the yarn is alpaca and silk, the old "spit/splice" method works great on both of those protein fibers.

I carefully separated the plies of the old yarn and the new; I feathered them out a bit to help the fibers intermingle to make a nice join. Then I did what any genteel lady would do -- I spat into my hand, put the fibers into the spit, and then rubbed my hands together briskly to create the magic. Moisture + heat + friction = felt.

Sure enough -- I had a nice join -- one continuous thread. No cursing when the yarn runs out in mid-row; no knot; no tails; no hiding the ends later. Done!
I picked up my knitting needles and started knitting once more. Uh-oh -- this feels awkward...

Do you see the new ball of yarn on the left? And do you see where I joined it to the yarn coming off the knitting needles? NO?! Me, either. That's because I had just meticulously felted the end of my working yarn to the cast on tail at the beginning of the scarf!

oh, bother...

Diane

Rikke Hat

2011-12-15T12:03:00.000-06:00

Christmas time is not a good time to be down and out. Knitting is saving my sanity. As you know I am a bit of an organizer so as I lay in bed day after day it began to gnaw on my nerves that I have so much wool and I haven't got a clue what I am going to knit with it. Regina's sales has made even the best of us into candidates for Hoarder's. Right before she told us of the relocation I was successfully getting a grip on my wool addiction and buying wool when I was ready to start a project. Unfortunately that went out the window when all the wool went on sale and I wasn't sure I would be able to buy some of it later. Now my stash is out of control.

So as I lay in bed a plan began to formulate. I would come up with a project for some of the wool. Then I would see the stash shrinking and would feel better.

My other problem is finding a sweater pattern. I won't tell you how many I have downloaded, trying to find the perfect, easy sweater that would match the yarn I bought. So as I perused Ravelry I came across a really cool feature. Type in your yarn and then hit the "suggested projects" buttons. It will bring up zillions of projects that people have made with that yarn! Bingo, no more trying to adjust your yarn to the pattern!! When you do this your gauge is almost always right on and the pattern becomes a piece of cake unless you pick something way over your head. Wow!! Why didn't I think of this before!!

I am particularly mad about Madelinetosh dk and came across this Rikke hat. It takes one skein and I love it!! I made mine in fig. I cast on 86 stitches instead of the suggested 104. The 104 made the hat 4"too big. I used a US 7 for the hat and a US 4 for the brim. The hat is so fun I know I will make it in another color.

I now have four or five patterns ready to knit just by typing in the yarn I wanted to use and looking up pattern suggestions. Try it. Presently I'm knitting a baktus out of Madelinetosh dk in Cousteau! It is the most beautiful blue. Love it!!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-10T20:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Ingrid my house is decorated!!!!!!!!!

Ingrid came today and stayed all day. Now the house is so beautiful. The Christmas village is on the mantel.

The tree is gorgeous, in fact I can't tell that I didn't decorate it!! The presents are nested under the branches.

Owls are peaking out from their snowy perches.

My favorite part of the village is the polar bear castle.

I adore the lights.

A Carl Larson tablecloth adorns the dining room table and the hutch is filled with Christmas cheer.

My mother bought me this and I love it!

This rag angel has been mine for years and she is so sweet.

Every hutch needs a Christmas fairy.

Now my house says a real Merry Christmas, and Ho, Ho, Ho. Thank you Ingrid!!
If you need a helper click here to contact Ingrid at Texas Home Help Services to get your house ready for Christmas!

Knitta Shop, iphone covers, knitta t-shirts - Magda Sayeg

2011-12-09T08:56:00.001-06:00

Magda Sayeg has opened a new shop called Knitta, they have these adorable phone covers. Magda is the one who came up with knitting graffiti and she lives in Austin and has a Facebook page called Knittaplease. Click here to see the shop.

My First Mitten

2011-12-06T21:07:00.000-06:00

The trees are lovely with the last of their fall leaves. Last year we saw lighted globes that hung from the trees so we have decorated our trees in the same way.

My husband found them at Home Depot and I am delighted with the effect. Since my back is giving me trouble for a second week it is the only Christmas cheer that we have at the moment.

We decorated the front door with boxwood wreaths that my youngest daughter insisted I buy. She said they were "classic". I quite agree.

The tree is bare and may have to wait until I feel better. But it is still early.

I am glad to have my knitting. I have knit a pair of socks and too many hats. Finally I had to try something new. When I first began to knit I wanted to knit mittens. Lovely red mittens that would hang above the mantel at Christmas. So after days of knitting hats I decided to look up an easy mitten pattern and give it a whirl. I had a few false starts and now I'm excited to have my very first mitten. It is made of the loveliest soft yarn.

The pattern is called Classic Mittens and is put out by Free Vintage Patterns. The yarn is Ultra Alpaca by Berroco. I need to knit one more and I will be ready for a snowy day!

2011-12-02T08:19:00.000-06:00

After Thanksgiving I went shopping in Dallas with my girls and the lights were beautiful. I was hoping to come home and finish all my decorating but before I left my back went out and this week I have been going to the chiropractor and taking a lot of advil. Janie and I were talking yesterday that just when you get a window of time something usually happens.

So I have been looking at my flocked tree that is bare and thinking about the boxes in the attic. Hopefully we can put out the lights today since the cold weather is on its way.

I have been able to get some knitting done and I finished a hat and a lovely pair of socks. The socks are my first out of Madlinetosh and I really like them. The hat is the first of a few Christmas things.

My youngest daughter just called and said she is moving this weekend and maybe instead of movers her dad and brother and his friend could come. That sounds fun don't you think. I hope I get my lights up. Ho, ho, ho!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:50:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!!!

Finished!- My Own Little World

2011-11-15T09:23:00.000-06:00

Here it is! I finished the rug. It is called "My Own Little World". Deanne Fitzpatrick designed it and I hooked it. I am very pleased with it and it's going to hang in my "studio" which is really an extra bedroom. My youngest daughter says it looks like a women cave. Hmm she probably has a point. I spent all weekend alone with Jane Austin and my rug and my little terrier.

When I saw this rug on Deanne's site I knew it was for me. I have been accused of living in my own little world and I suppose we all go there from time to time. It is a nice place to be. All artists have their own little world. Tasha Tudor certainly did and she had a lovely house and garden. To be an artist you march to your own tune. You have freedom to be a bit odd. Which isn't too bad after you get out of jr. high. Being different can be lots of fun and creating things takes time alone and I love to do that.

So now I have a wonderful rug to hang in my "studio", a term I use loosely, to inspire me to keep hooking. When I walk by the room it makes me smile.

Hook In at the Blue Moon

2011-11-14T11:31:00.001-06:00

Last week we had so much fun at our Hook in at the Blue Moon. Sharon and her staff made the most fabulous pizza you have ever tasted. Now we all want a pizza oven!!!

Kerry's sunflower rug has turned out fabulous, or was it Diane's! Just kidding it's Kerry's. She did a wonderful job, it looks like light is coming from the border and the sunflowers. I think it would look great in my house. Hint, hint!

Sharon shared the pizza recipe with us and I can't wait to try it. It was fascinating to see the pizzas cooking in the oven. We had an incredible day. Blue Moon will be publishing their winter cookbook very soon and the pizza recipe will be in it. I have their spring, summer and fall cookbooks. You might want to pick them up they would make great Christmas presents. Thank you Sharon for an amazing day!!

This week will be our two day workshop! Wednesday and Thursday from 10-5. If you haven't signed up email me asap. I have finished my rug and I will bring it for our inspiration!! Pictures will follow soon on the blog. I'm cleaning up a huge mess (my husband was hunting and I hooked 15 hours Sat and continued Sunday to finish the rug, need I say more) and I'm in the dye pots for the workshop!!

The Rug Continues- A House By the Sea

2011-11-09T21:21:00.002-06:00

I have finished the house and part of the garden and you can see the top of the shed or studio at the bottom of the rug. I will be working on that section next. My favorite part so far is the blue front door. If I had a house by the sea it would have a door like this!

Tinsel Christmas Tree

2011-11-07T10:20:00.000-06:00

This weekend I flew to Lubbock to visit my daughter and we had a wonderful time. We found this tree and couldn't resist buying it for her apartment. It was so happy that we went ahead and put it out. I love all the ornaments, they look so vintage. What could be more cheerier than a little tinsel tree? Put on Christmas music and you have instant happiness. You might try Michael Buble's new Christmas cd it's pretty great.

Henri the Clematis

2011-10-31T15:13:00.000-05:00

Henri is blooming and he is gloriously handsome. Two of my friends gave him to me last spring and now he has found a home at the entrance to my white garden. I am hoping it will be the perfect amount of sun and shade for him. Thank you friends!!

The first camilla has bloomed. It is so lovely to have camillas so you can have flowers when it is dreary.

Finished!

2011-10-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

My socks were finished just in time to watch the Rangers game. The weather this morning is in the low 50's and the wind is out of the north. We didn't have snow like Lubbock but at least we had wind and rain and it will stay cooler for a bit. When Cora and I walk I will be wearing my fleece!

My socks are knit from Asland Trends -Santa Fe- 1322 and it took three skeins. Each skein is 50 grams and 180 yards. They are wonderful squishy and warm. I think they will wear well and I am mad about the color. I love knitting socks they are the yoga of knitting. They do something for your soul.

Sheep in West Texas

2011-10-26T09:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was lovely. I knit socks that have been on hold too long and listened to some knitting podcasts. I have a list to check out that has been sitting on my desk for months. Since this week is slower than last I pulled out my socks and started down the list.

Colorado had their first snow of the season with 6" in Golden and West Texas is 20 degrees cooler than we are. The cold front is suppose to be here tonight and I can't wait. Cora and I are tired of walking and feeling hot and tired.

I can't think of a better way to anticipate the winter than knitting socks. My husband took these photos of sheep in West Texas this weekend. Thank you sheep for your comfy wool, it will keep us warm this winter! Come on snow!!!

Oct 2011 Two Day Workshop

2011-10-22T12:41:00.001-05:00

What a great workshop! Gwynna showed us how to make proddy flowers and use little scraps of wool to make all sorts of cuteness.

This was one of my favorites, a pincushion stuffed with your leftover clippings of wool. Needle felt them together and cover it with felted wool. Adorable!!!

You can use scraps for stuffing small projects or leave them out for the birds to build their nests. Make sure to cut the scraps up into small pieces, a rotary cutter is the best for this.

A proddy flower with larger leaves. Thanks Gwynna!!

The two day workshop gave everyone lots of time to make progress on their projects. Helen Mar's cabbage rose is a lovely combination of red that looks so real you want to put it in a vase!

Gail's quilts on the line bring back happy thoughts of hanging wash on the line at my grandmother's. My sisters and I loved to wear the clothespin bag. I wish I had a clothesline now!

Sharon's pumpkins and crows and Gwynna's scarecrow rug ring out fall!!! I love fall!!!!!

We had a discussion as to what Jean should name her sweet bunny. Any ideas?

Thanks for all the yummy food. The quiche Sharon brought for lunch Thursday, the soup Jennifer made for Wednesday, the scones Diane brought and all the other goodies the pies, banana bread etc. etc. made for such a yummy two days of hooking and laughing.

I think it is safe to say a good time was had by all! Hope to see you at the Nov. workshop!

The Sphinx Moth has Appeared

2011-10-18T21:35:00.001-05:00

The top photo is a close up of the sphinx moth and the bottom picture is the top of the rug. In the border the luna moth is on the left and the sphinx moth is on the right.

In the center of the rug the sky and the mountains are hooked and you can see where I have started to hook the outline of the roof. When the cottage appears the rug will make more sense. As I hook the rug rolls up on the frame. It will be hard to see the whole rug until I am completely finished but I will continue to show you my progress.

Wool, wool everywhere!

2011-10-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

To say I have been in the dye pots is a bit of an understatement but I am finally finished. Our kitchen is freed up to be used for it's original purpose and the wool will be heading to Lindale in the the morning for the 2 day workshop. Just looking at the colors is a fall feast and dyeing the wool skeins was a wonderful adventure.

Today I will be working on my big rug and will finish the sphinx moth. I hope to post a picture of him by tonight. The weather is cool and windy. We had 60 miles an hour winds and rain last night. Lubbock had an amazing dust storm unlike any they had seen since the dust bowl. My daughter said the wind felt more like a hurricane. She sent me this picture. I saw pictures just like hers on the weather channel last night. Weird weather everywhere, but I am so glad for the rain and the cooler temperatures! In fact, it's time to knit a hat. I realized I only have one! I guess I have given the others away. Well I know how to fix that and I have plenty of wool to solve that problem. Now the dilemma is which color do I choose!!!

My New Little Friend

2011-10-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

I have a new little friend that sits in my hall. He makes me smile every time I walk by. He is adorable, thanks Jean, I love him!!!

Wool for the Workshop

2011-10-12T20:05:00.000-05:00

Since I have enjoyed hooking with yarns I thought I would try dyeing some yarn for our upcoming workshop. The blues would look wonderful hooked into a sky. I can't wait to dye a few more colors.

Sphinx Moth

2011-10-10T10:46:00.000-05:00

It won't be long and I will be ready to hook the sphinx moth. I'm working my way towards him, blossom by blossom.

I will be in the dye pots this week for the two day October workshop. Seven girls are signed up. If you are not on the list you need to email me right away so I will know you are coming. The list is on the workshop page.

I am hoping to have a week of quiet hooking and dying beautiful wool!

Sue's Maud Lewis Rug

2011-10-09T18:33:00.000-05:00

Sue is finally back from Nova Scotia and she finished her Maud Lewis hooked rug. It is one of my favorites Sue has done. I thought you would love to see it! Great job Sue!!!

Enchanted Rock

2011-10-06T21:07:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we went to the hill country and climbed Enchanted Rock near Fredericksburg. Our kids were in elementary school last time we climbed the rock and I remembered it was quite a hike. But after our Wyoming treck the girls didn't listen to my excuses and we were off for the climb.

Emily stayed in the back with me to make sure I didn't have a heart attack and Lizzie and my husband raced to the top like goats. He always says he is feeling old till we try something hard and then he is racing the kids. I lagged behind but at least I made it!

When you are this high you can hear voices from far away, much like when you are on the water. We could hear campers far below. We saw one boy scout team running to the bottom. I sure hope one kid didn't lose him balance he was going pretty fast!

At the top the world seems to slow down, it is quiet and peaceful. We had a lovely weekend.

Shush! I'm counting.: New Year's goal for new space and all about the YA...

2011-10-05T17:17:00.000-05:00

Shush! I'm counting.: New Year's goal for new space and all about the YA...: Plans for the new shop are coming along. Bulldozers, building plans and a lot of sale yarn to move out before we close up shop at our curre...

Agony or Bliss

2011-10-05T07:54:00.000-05:00

Midge did a wonderful job teaching the Fair Isle class and I think we would all agree that it stretched our brains and our knitting abilities. At times I would have flashbacks of monkeys at the zoo and wondered if they would have better luck knitting with both hands than we were having.

Struggling and overcoming is knitting. I suppose that is true with any new sport or hobby, if isn't a bit challenging you don't stay engaged. But there is a fine line between staying engaged and loosing it when it becomes too hard. That's when you find out who is determined (hard headed or maybe crazy) because they can't let a project go, they have to conquer it.

Knitting can be frustrating or it can be pure bliss. One minute you can feel like the biggest loser and a day later you are Einstein. It is a mirror that shows you more about yourself than you want to know. Agony or bliss. Why do you keep knitting when stuff turns out like barf? It's lure of next time. Knitting is a sickness and the only cure is one more stitch.

Fall Workshops and New Shop Hours

2011-10-03T09:14:00.000-05:00

Click here to read Rose Path's latest news about our transition. The new hours are 10-5 and currently we are open from Tues- Sat. I am at the shop on Thursdays. When we open in January we have spinning on Wednesday, hooking on Thursday and knitting on Friday. You can come on any of those days at the new shop and buy wool and sit and enjoy yourself and hook but if you need me to help come on Thursdays. At this time I am not sure if I will sell other supplies so if you need something besides linen and wool come by the shop and stock up.

For October we are going to have a 2 day workshop. You can bring any rug to work on and I will help you with it. This is a great time to finish up your old projects or start a new one. I will be in the dye pots so we will have lots of wool to choose from. Let me know what you will be working on.

It will be a fun 2 days to work on your rug and learn anything you have been thinking about trying. I will bring my big rug that I am hooking and show you how I hook.

Let's make it a potluck. When you email me let me know what you want to bring.

The class will be Wed. Oct 19 & Thurs Oct 20 from 10-5. Cost is $65 for one or two days.

I want to do another 2 day class on Nov. 16 &17 You can sign up now for Oct and or November.

Email me to sign up at beehiverugs@yahoo.com

Favorite Fall Flower

2011-09-28T21:56:00.001-05:00

This little yellow flower is one of my favorites right now. When it is blooming it has a beautiful center that is yellow with specks of red but the most appealing thing is the little yellow pom poms it leaves after the flower fades. They almost look artificial, like you would buy them at Hobby Lobby. What fun!

Hooked Luna Moth

2011-09-23T23:34:00.000-05:00

When the children were small we found a giant Luna moth sleeping on the sidewalk, it was very exciting. My son had a wonderful collection of butterflies and moths when he was in second grade. I was his second grade teacher and my class spent the year studying butterflies. He had an amazing collection and whenever I see a Luna moth I think about those days.

My New Comfy Spot!

2011-09-22T21:14:00.000-05:00

My sister gave me her old chaise lounge that I always coveted. It was well loved and I couldn't wait to recover it. It wasn't quite long enough for all us tall Texans so they made an ottoman so our legs wouldn't hang off. Now I have a perfect comfy spot in the living room.

I can't say the men in our family are too excited. There is something about a chaise lounge or a "fainting couch" that makes men a bit crazy. They all react the same way. "Your not keeping that are ya!""You spent how much on that piece of junk." It is the similar reaction you get to the decorative pillows you put on the bed. You know what I mean. Any more pillows than two are way too many. "What are they for and why are they on they bed?" "Why do we put them on when we just have to take them off again. " Do you ever hear that? Oh well. Just when you think your man thinks like you, you are reminded that he definitely doesn't. They think a bit different than us, thank goodness! What would we do without them?

Before and after!

Aww! Can't wait for those nights by the fire.

The Sea, Sky and Mountains are Hooked

2011-09-22T00:19:00.001-05:00

Here is the first part of my rug. I went a little wild with the northern lights but it was fun. I'm not sure if the mountain is too colorful but I'm going to wait till I have more hooked. The moonflower is soft and white just like the ones in my sister's garden. Maybe the grey shingle house will calm the colors down. I'll hook that next.

"My Own Little World"

2011-09-20T21:23:00.000-05:00

I am hooking this rug for my new studio. It is a large one of a kind pattern that I bought from Deanne Fitzpatrick a while ago. It is about 4' x 3'. I will post pictures as I finish different sections. It took a while to decide on the color palette but I think I will hook the border in grey with white moon vine flowers. When my children were small we always had a moon vine growing on the fence and we would watch it unfold in the evenings.
The house will be grey like houses in Nantucket and blue hydrangeas will grown out front. The sky will have Northern Lights and fireflies will be in the garden. The bushes will be rugosa roses like I saw when I was in Alaska with my sisters and my parents. I plan to hang the rug in my studio where I can work "In my own little World".

Sharon's Rug is Evolving and so is Rose Path

2011-09-17T09:55:00.000-05:00

Sharon brought her rug by the shop and you can see the progress she has made and how it is evolving. We all loved the ribbon she added to the sunflowers and the colors she is using. During the pumpkin seminar I noticed that the hand cut strips she added put a lot of texture in her rug. I may cut more of my strips with scissors. It looks wonderful.

Just as Sharon's rug is evolving so is Rose Path. The shop will be moving to a different space in a few months. I have decided not to move with them. I will be taking a break from teaching to give myself a bit of time to work on my rugs. I will still be hanging out at Rose Path with all my friends as we continue to hook and knit. One of my bedrooms at home will serve as a studio space and I hope to hook some rugs to sell. We will see. The plan is still evolving just like Sharon's rug.

Winter Sky

2011-09-11T08:03:00.000-05:00

Driving to Lubbock we ran into rain. Rain what is that, I'm not sure but some fell on the windshield. Enough to make the wipers come on. Dragonflies were everywhere. I had noticed that at home, in the garden, they must be migrating. Do they do that like the butterflies and birds?

The sky looked like a winter sky and I couldn't resist taking this picture. It stayed lovely and cool all Saturday and I wore my new sweater. "Rain and sweater" what magical words after months of drought. Hope we get more rain and cool weather soon. Maybe it's a sign.

Fair Isle Class

2011-09-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

Next Wednesday Midge Jackson is teaching a class on Fair Isle Knitting. We will be making a pair of fingerless gloves, or texting gloves as some people call them.

You can pick from two different color ways so come by Rose Path if you are interested. Since I haven't made fingerless gloves or knitted Fair Isle I am not sure I can do both at the same time but I am looking forward to the class. Fair Isle is a fascinating form of knitting and Midge will tell us about the history of the patterns as well as how to knit them. It is going to be a lot of fun.

I hope some of you will be brave enough to call and sign up for the class. It won't be long and we will be wishing for some gloves to keep our hands warm!! I can't wait!!!

The Last Weekend of the Summer

2011-09-05T17:43:00.000-05:00

The last weekend of the summer was perfect weather, cooler and with the wind blowing through the trees. It was a great way to welcome in September!!! Here is a video of two of my favorite sounds, water and wind, it doesn't get much better than listening to those.

Kerry and Gail's Rugs

2011-09-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

Kerry's rug is so cute it reminds me of reading books to my children when they were small. I know her grandkids are going to love this rug. I adore the colors.

The bunnies tail is made from fluffy wool, isn't it so cute. It might be my favorite part.

Gail's sheep rug is hooked with such happy colors, it just makes you smile.

Great work girls!

Basktus Scarf

2011-09-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

A Baktus is a Norwegian scarf. It is big enough for a perfect scarf or a small shawl. This one is knit from Madelintosh dk and the color is luster. "Luster" what a great name. The drape and the feel of the yarn is perfect. I adore Madlelintosh!!! We have ordered more colors and they are heading toward Rose Path as we speak. Fall and neutral shades, yum!!!

Cast on How To with Jill Krone

2011-08-31T21:42:00.024-05:00

Working at our shop is like finding a barrel of monkeys in your Christmas Stocking. It is so much fun that I hardly know which way to go and what to think about next. A woman who was new to town came in and bought a loom and these wonderful colors to weave with. I couldn't resist taking a picture of the yarn. Natural colors are so yummy.

Jill Krone is our Ravelry Queen for our KAL's (knit a longs) and she came by the shop today with her fabulous projects. It was a feast for the eyes. We were able to sit and ask Jill questions about our projects and I asked her if she could show me a cast on that didn't twist my stitches. I do a long tail cast on but seem to end up with twisted stitches on the first row. She showed me her version and I recorded it so you could see it too. It uses about a third less yarn than the regular cast on.

After watching it I can't believe what accents we have, we definitely sound like we are in the south!

Fall Faires and Mushrooms

2011-08-29T12:37:00.000-05:00

The fairies and mushrooms have come out and are making the dining room look like fall. It's so much fun to see them when I walk by the room. One of my friends says she has velvet pumpkins! Now I can't stop thinking about velvet pumpkins!!! I remember a hooked pumpkin from last year. It was pretty amazing. It was shaped like a pumpkin. That will require a bit of investigating.

Fall Decorating and Shawl Intervention

2011-08-28T09:42:00.000-05:00

This little mushroom that a friend gave me is inspiring me to take out all my fall decorations. Since September is on the horizon I'm thinking why not? I am so ready for a change of seasons.

I am glad the hurricane was not as bad as they predicted and I hope everyone will be able to repair their homes and lives quickly. I wish we could have a two day rain. I was a little jealous of the rain but not of the huge power outages and crazy winds.

My Ginko shawl is in time out and I'm not sure when it will come out. I have ripped it back four times and it is making me crazy. Time out maybe the wrong word, suicide watch could be a more accurate phrase. Tanna said to call her if the shawl needs an intervention. It is possible. What really makes me feel like a knitting loser is the shawl is listed in Ravelry under "easy lace shawls". I think that could be stretching it. But then I have only done one pair of lace socks that were jolly fun before I tried this baby. Hummmm! I'm trying not to take it personal, but it's a bit hard. Maybe I will call Tanna.

Happy Jack and Rose Pillow

2011-08-26T16:31:00.000-05:00

Mary finished her pumpkin and he is so cute. Now she has the mindless part, her background. Go Mary!

Here is Sharon's rose pillow. She did a great job.

Rain, It Finally Rained!

2011-08-25T07:46:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the thunder rumbled, the sky grew dark and the rain came for a long time. It was magical. I had forgotten how soft a storm makes the world feel. Come on fall rains the south needs it!

To Be or Not to Be

2011-08-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

I am working on my ginko shawl and I have ripped out the lace work for the fourth time. Argh!!!! The good news is Jill Krone came by our shop and showed Jean and I how to make a life line. Bless you Jill!!

You take fishing line and a needle and run it through your stitches. It saves your place in case you have to rip back. She had a life line on her Rock Island Shawl she was knitting. (The only caution is don't knit the fishing line into your stitches or it will defeat the purpose of the life line.)

Well little did I know how much I would need this tip. This is my first real lace project and I didn't think to ask if it was easy. The wee problem is the pattern is a chart (which I prefer) but it says on the back to reverse in your mind the stitches when you are knitting the wrong side. So if a stitch is a knit on the pattern you have to remember to purl it and if it is purl you have to think oops I need to knit it. You also have to remember to keep knitting 2 knits stitches on each end which is not on the chart which caused my first two rip outs. I was wondering why the math couldn't work. Not funny!!!

So if you are new to this let me tell you how it feels when you are knitting the wrong or back side. You are having to remember to do the opposite of what is written on the chart. You are knitting right to left and reading left to right over and over as you repeat a small portion of a chart and then you have to remember at the ends to knit two stitches that are not on the chart. It is a recipe for a yarn nightmare. If you get it wrong you won't have lace leaves you will have ugliness.

It reminds me of our first time hiking to Elk's Peak in Wyoming. The locals said there was a marked trail. Well heck the trails all look the same because the "trail" and the deer trails look the same and the "rock" they might throw down here and there doesn't look any different from the millions of rocks littered along the way. The trail is now marked where Texans and all others can find it. We stacked several rocks on top of each other. It helps alot.

So after my fourth rip out I think I understand the pattern but I'm not sure if I want to try again. The lace pattern is 35 rows x 2. If I just knit the rest of the shawl I could whip it out and I'm kinda sick of it by now. What do you think? Should it be lace or should I just knit it and wait till I have more experience to try something mind bending.

The Leaves Are Turning!

2011-08-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

I was very surprised this morning to see the sassafras leaves turning colors. I took off my sunglasses to make sure the tree wasn't dying. Yeah!! It's the first fall colors I have seen. Maybe there is hope for us!!!

Win pumpkin wool and sock yarn today!!!! How to comment!

2011-08-21T09:23:00.000-05:00

For those of you that are still struggling to comment I think the problem is that you have not become a follower of my blog. If you have a Facebook account you will want to join at the Networked Blog button. Every time I post it will update my blog on your Facebook page.

If you don't have a Facebook account you can follow my blog by subscribing though email. When I blog it will email you the next morning about 5 a.m.

You can also make an account with google, for free and join as a follower. Then you can join the others as a member, or follower on the sidebar of my blog.

If you have any questions email me at beehiverugs@yahoo.com

Now for the fun. If you can name these kids (name them in order from left to right) I will send you a beautiful piece of pumpkin wool!!

If you can tell me where this picture was taken (what state) and what year (generally) I will send you a gorgeous skein of Madelinetosh sock yarn in bark. Which is a beautiful golden color!!!

Let the comments begin!!

Who is this Child who isn't afraid of spiders??? How to Make a Comment

2011-08-20T07:46:00.000-05:00

Who is this child who isn't afraid to pick up a granddaddy longlegs??? Guess who???

I have changed my comment moderation. I hope everyone can make comments now. So who is she???

Gwynna's Rug - Sisters in Nova Scotia

2011-08-19T17:11:00.000-05:00

Gwynna's rug is finished and fabulous.

Black and Blue Salvia

2011-08-18T21:25:00.001-05:00

This salvia is the hummingbirds favorite and I adore it too. Blue looks so cool in a hot climate. I can't get enough white or blue in my garden.

Ready for Fall?

2011-08-17T21:03:00.000-05:00

Today I dyed some yummy pumpkin wool and pulled out the pattern for my September class. I am so ready for fall that I can't wait to hook the "Pumpkins and Crows" pattern. If you need to finish your "Happy Jack" or any fall pattern sign up for our August finishing class, and if you want to hook the "Pumpkins and Crows" email me to sign up for the September class. Let's think fall!!!

Shawl Mania

2011-08-16T11:40:00.000-05:00

The shawl mania is spreading. Kim is starting hers with this scrumptious noro yarn that is going to be fabulous. Tanna brought hers to the shop and we all wanted to steal it. The drape and feel of the wool is fabulous. Check out her blog here to see more pictures of it and see her wearing it on her trip to Italy.

Coneflowers in the Garden

2011-08-14T21:37:00.000-05:00

There is something so wonderful about coneflowers. They remind me of daisies.

I especially love this new white variety.

Views from the Garden

2011-08-13T12:28:00.002-05:00

My owl guards my white garden and the hummingbird loves to come and sip on the black and blue salvia.

The Laura Phlox helps set off the white garden as well as my bench. I need to remember to buy some more and order some hellebores for the winter.

Out front the black eyed susans are bravely blooming in the heat. They add a bit of wildness to the garden. I adore them. They are happy on the roadside and in my yard. They bloom when everything else is exhausted.

I know not everyone is a lover of pink loosestrife but gardening in the south is not for sissies and what could be prettier than this combination?

I want to make a few postcards of the garden and maybe some of my rugs. It will be fun to have my own stationary instead of buying others. I need to find out the best way to do this. Any ideas?

We had lovely clouds this morning. It was a wonderful reprieve as I was weeding and working in the yard. My daughters said that they had rain in Dallas, it woke them up at 4 am. The power went out for awhile! Oh how lovely!!! Lots of Texas got rain and I am so glad. I wish we would start getting some storms, anything would do. It's pretty bad when hurricanes start looking good! Ek!!!!

50 Year Dought

2011-08-12T08:02:00.003-05:00

On my way to the shop yesterday I was shocked to see how many trees are dead. It is unbelievable. If you didn't know better you would think fall is here and the trees are turning colors. I could hardly keep my eyes on the road. Most of the trees are huge oaks. The hills are covered with dotted ancient trees that are now dead.

I have lived a lot of places but I have never seen anything like this. I took this picture at a stop light but I could of pulled over on the highway and taken so many pictures of the hills with trees that have not made it through the drought.

We have had a summer with more than 42 days of 103-108 degree days and months without rain. In East Texas we always have rain. Yesterday someone said at the shop if we got any kind of storm it wouldn't rain it would just be a lightening storm. How weird is that?

I feel sorry for all the wild animals, without the oak trees there won't be acorns and the deer really depend on them for forage in the fall. We need rain and I sure hope it comes soon.

I had captured 108 on my car thermometer, my sister in law had 110 on hers and my friend Carol had 111 on her car. That is ridiculous.

Making Progress and Game Shows

2011-08-11T08:17:00.001-05:00

The shawl is coming along and I am glad I started over. I would of noticed the mistakes. Counting every row should help prevent knitting happily along only to discover several inches down that I have to rip out. I really hate that when it happens. It is only funny when it happens to someone else and even then you only think it is funny because of the insanity you have felt when you have done it a zillion times. Knitting is a bit odd like that, no pain, no gain applies to marathons, dieting and knitting. If you think you can be a natural without the pain scenario, good luck. Let me know how that works for you.

But beyond the pain there is such enjoyment with knitting. Stitch after stitch you seem to leave your problems in another place. I love this pink wool. I can't quite decide which wool I like best the raspberry, or the cranberry. I hope I like them equally and don't wish I had done the whole thing out of one of them. At this point I'm favoring the raspberry which it the pink color. When I picked them out I thought I would like the darker color best, isn't that strange.

Picking things is so weird, I always hesitate when I am asked to choose. When I was small there was a game show where they would ask people to pick door #1, 2, or 3 and then they could trade their prize for a different box or door sometimes. So many times the people would get greedy and end up with a terrible prize when they had something wonderful at first.

Since then I always let others pick first. It made me think I will let things come to me instead of trying to grab at the world. If it comes to me in a natural way then it was meant to, if I have to force it to get it then I don't want it.

It's weird what imprints on your when you are little. I don't know if it's a good thing or not but it became something I observed and then something I embraced.

Ginkgo Shoulderette Shawl Started

2011-08-09T07:57:00.002-05:00

My shawl is knitted with Farmhouse Silk Blend and I am using their raspberry and cranberry colors. It maybe a bit harder to rangle two yarns but I think it will be worth it. I dropped a stitch and where I picked it up it doesn't look very good so I may start over. I guess we could consider this a swatch? How do I not notice a dropped stitch till it is wayyyyyyyy down the rows! Ugh! If I only had the grace to pick it up well. Oh dear.

Shoulder Scarf by Fiesta Yarns

2011-08-08T15:52:00.001-05:00

My shawl is made from Fiesta Rayon Boucle and the color is Safari. I love how it turned out. The pattern is free from FiestaYarn. Next time I would CO 40 stitches, which is suggested in the design change and I would be careful to cast on and bind off very loose to prevent the shawl from being too tight when you tie it around your shoulders.

What a perfect color for autumn. Do you think the weather will get the hint if we start knitting for the fall?

New Shawl

2011-08-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

I have started a shawl like Tanna's. With the weather at a steady 108 I need something fun and fast to work on. I finished 11 orphans squares in the last few weeks and needed a change. Tanna made this beautiful shawl and I think it will look wonderful in the fall. It is one of those easy knits. You can finish it in a week or a few days if you have uninterrupted knitting time.

After that I have some pink yarn that I may need to knit like the shawl Diane did at the shop. I have a different pattern that I was planning to use but after seeing Diane's shawl in green and Tanna's in blue I'm leaning towards the one they knit. Click here to see the shawls on our shop blog. They are beautiful in person and light as a feather.

I was going to knit some more orphan squares but we have a box at the shop for donations for African crafts so I donated the rest of my yarn. In the future I want to knit my left over yarn as I go and not wait until I have so much to knit up. I am going to try and not buy yarn for a project until I am ready to knit it. I get ahead of myself and then I find I have way too much yarn and the project I intended to knit has been put on the back burner for a newer one. It is rather freeing to have a smaller stash although I still have enough yarn to last several blizzards, which sounds lovely right now.

We are having several knit alongs (KAL) at the shop and I would like to knit the christmas stocking and the baby jacket to increase my knitting skills. I have been thinking about my fall scarves and I need to knit some fun ones to go with a new white coat I bought for walking with my sister. Last winter I realized that a lot of my scarves didn't have hats to go with them so I want to look and make sure I have a few pairs of hats, scarves and maybe gloves for walking. (I haven't knitted gloves yet, ek!)

It is funny how many times you will knit something and not really think about what colors you need. Sometimes shopping is like that. You are standing at the store trying to remember what you have at home and what you need. Odd isn't it. Maybe it is good every once in a while to take a tally and see what you need so you can knit a few more things in the right colors for your fall and winter wardrobe. Brilliant idea don't you agree!

Babysitting Wyatt

2011-08-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had the joy of babysitting Wyatt. He is soooo much fun and he kept us laughing with all of his expressions.

When he dropped his noisemaker he looked at us like "who me, did I do that". Wyatt is always happy, like a ray of sunshine. Colin is already counting him as his cousin.

He has a funny backhand move where he drops the block behind his back. He thinks it's such a cool trick. I'm glad it is a backward drop instead of a forward throw. Baseball may be in his future.

If he isn't into baseball he will be a charmer for sure! Who can resist his sweet face, not us!

I'm so funny! Don't you agree!

Wyoming Sights

2011-08-02T11:02:00.009-05:00

Wyoming has so many beautiful views. Before we went up into the Big Horns we saw this old barn.

Driving up from Sheridan into the Big Horn Mountains you can see into the valley below. The shadows on the land always looks peaceful and everything is so still. The temperature starts dropping as we climb up into the mountains.

Coming down the road to the cabin you can see Saddle Mountain on the right and Elk's Peak on the left. The next day Bob and Emily climbed to the top of Elk's Peak and Floyd and I went as far as the base of Saddle. It is about three hours to Elk's one way and it is a hard hike. I have done it twice and I'm not sure how many times I want to go again.

Emily and I on the way up.

At the top of the mountain!!!!

This year we had a pretty big moose in camp and one night we were out on the lake and saw him swim across the inlet!!

The only problem is the mosquitoes fly faster than the boat motor goes, so I bring my raincoat and zip it up tight! Ek!!! You feel like you are in an off commercial!!

There is usually a mama duck with her babies and if you get too close they pop under the water and come up somewhere else. They are sooo cute.

The jeep is older than the kids but it is still running!!

We had a wonderful time. It was hard to pick just a few pictures to put on the blog and it was hard to come home to 109 degrees. I don't ever remember Tyler having 109 degree days. We have had over 32 days of triple digit weather with no relief in sight. It's kinda crazy everywhere. Makes me wonder what winter will be like and hurricane season. Oh and by the way Hurricane Emily is churning through the ocean today! I wish we would get some rain, perhaps a small tropical system. But that maybe hoping for too much.

2011-07-24T20:55:00.001-05:00

Going up into the mountains

Photos of Wyoming

2011-07-23T09:26:00.002-05:00

Wyoming is an amazing place. The grass is blowing on the hills like an ocean with waves and the space feels vast. The meadow larks were singing this morning and it was 60 degrees. I took these pictures as we came into Sheridan.

This year it is green everywhere, which is unusual for this time of year, and it has been cool. It has been so nice after the heat of Texas.

2011-07-22T16:54:00.000-05:00

Powder River in Wyoming. The beginning of the mountains.

2011-07-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

We saw the first antelope near this windmill. The dust devils have been huge almost like small tornadoes. I think it is because of the heat. The temperature has been between 102 and 104.

As we got closer to New Mexico we would hit patches of green where you can see it has rained.

The clouds make huge shadows across the plains. I could watch them move all day long. These pictures were taken outside of Amarillo.

As we got into New Mexico it started to rain. When we got to Raton it was raining and cloudy. They said it was the first rain they had had in a long time. This picture was taken of the Capulin Volcano in New Mexico.

2011-07-20T19:39:00.001-05:00

Coming into Clayton New Mexico

2011-07-20T13:31:00.001-05:00

We saw some crazy tall dust devils near Vernon Texas

2011-07-20T09:56:00.001-05:00

Dukes Travel Plaza the best gas station between Tyler and Dallas!!

Laura's Phlox and White Verbena

2011-07-20T07:13:00.003-05:00

These are two of my favorites in the garden right now. I'm not sure the phlox will last but the verbena is something that can take our heat.

The phlox is called Laura's Phlox which is a fun coincidence. We are off to Wyoming and I hope the garden fares well. The sprinklers are set and my sister is close by and I have great neighbors on watch, plus relatives are coming in for the weekend to house sit and look after the pool. So away we go!!!

New Classes for Sept. Oct and November!

2011-07-17T20:03:00.000-05:00

September 16th come and hook this pumpkin runner for your table.

Then on October 21st you can hook this fall rug that would look smashing on your dining room table. It is definitely one of my favorites!

November 11th hook this rug to complete your holiday decorating.

For more information on my fall classes check out the class page. Don't forget to tell your friends that I have a beginners class every month. It's never too late to start a new obsession!

If you look on the class page and you are not signed up to take the class please email me. Sometimes my memory fails me and it's a little hard to keep up with who said what.

Hope you can join us at Rose Path this fall. Don't forget I am there every Thursday and Friday except for the last two weeks in July. See you soon!

2011-07-16T11:04:00.000-05:00

Our new backyard. It is a little oasis for us especially in this heat and I love that my son designed the pool. The garden will be finished when the camilla hedges come in and screen off the view of the truck and the air conditioner. We planted blue hydrangeas behind the pool and white hydrangeas on either end. I can't wait for them to get big.
The bluebirds are nesting for the third time and my husband and daughter saw a squirrel laying spread out under the chaise lounge yesterday. I guess he thinks the remodel is for him. Maybe it is nice for us and all the little creatures!

2011-07-14T21:38:00.000-05:00

Tammy here is your guy. He had his boots on and his bedroll on the back of his motorcycle heading from West Texas to the city. I wonder if his pillow had a lot of dirt and bugs on it when he got there! I guess he doesn't worry about stuff like that!

2011-07-14T14:45:00.002-05:00

Coming back from Lubbock we crossed the yam colored fields and the car thermometer hit 105.

The land changes so much as you drive along. Flat cotton fields turn into rolling farm land. Canyons with wind mills turn into ranch land with live oaks before you get back to the city.

Even though the temperature is the same in Lubbock it never feels as hot. It is cool in the morning and there is always a breeze. We opened Emily's patio door and it felt great and there are no bugs. It is a wonderful break from the humidity and mosquitos.

We saw a guy on a motorcycle with no shirt and cowboy boots, definitely a Texas sight. After a while we rolled into Dallas.

Dallas is nice but it is a contrast to the openness of Lubbock.

We had a great time with my other daughter and I finished orphan squares #20, 21

If you would like more information on knitting squares for orphans you can look on my sidebar or you can click here
When I knit my squares I cast on 3 stitches. Then knit the first row. For the second row knit the first stitch then on the second stitch knit in the front and the back then knit the rest of the row. Continue this untill the square measures 8".
Then start your decrease. Knit the first stitch, k2tog, knit the rest of the row. Continue till you finish the square. Cast off and leave 1 1/4 yard tail.

Here is a fun video of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts knitting. Click here

2011-07-12T12:09:00.001-05:00

Leaving Lubbock and orphan square # 20

Driving to Lubbock

2011-07-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

Driving to Lubbock we came across a fairly big fire. Helicopters were dumping water and planes were spraying orange powder trying to put out the fire. It was on the windmill ridge. One of the windmills was covered with orange spray. I was glad the fire had not got to the road and was still behind the canyon. Everything is so dry that is like a tinder box.

Before we came to the fire we were in farm land that rolls with fields the color of yams. As I was driving and Emily was sleeping (which never happens, I am usually knitting and she is driving) I saw two dust devils whirling in the same field. They were whirling around and around, separate like two mini tornados. It was mesmerizing. The clouds looked like white wisps above all the fields and everything felt so peaceful. I love this land, always do.

2011-07-10T21:56:00.001-05:00

Orphan squares 18 & 19 from Lubbock

Triple Digit Heat and Orphan Square #18

2011-07-09T18:30:00.000-05:00

Since the beginning of June we have had triple digit heat. It is hard to get motivated when the weather forecast is 102 -103 everyday with little chance for rain. My rug hooking, knitting and blogging have all suffered.

I pulled out my extra wool and am going to donate it to a wool camp. They need wool for their store and I have some that I bought and no longer want. I saved a bit of it to knit into squares for orphans in Africa.

It feels good to get things tidy and make orphans squares again. This will be number 18. Tomorrow I leave for Lubbock to move daughter no. 1 again. Daughter no. 2 is looking for an apartment too. Repeat from last summer.

The good news is that after 6 weeks of hand watering the back yard we have a pool, and the sprinklers are working again. We have progressed from baby pools to bigger yard pools to an in-ground pool. Our son is in the pool business so since I can't live at the shore and I live in Texas where triple digits are common we finally built a pool. It is wonderful, we have been in it every night. Maybe after the girls stop moving I will blog more or maybe after it stops being 102. I don't know.

The Cabbage Rose is Finished

2011-07-01T07:11:00.000-05:00

Well here it is the completed cabbage rose. I finished the edge with silk strips that I hand cut from a square that Jean bought at Rose path. It makes a lovely edge. Thanks Jean!

I still have room for two more in the cabbage rose class so email me if you want to sign up!

The Linen Closet Has Returned

2011-06-30T08:50:00.000-05:00

Our linen closet can now be used for storing blankets and household items. I decided to organize my hooking supplies so the linen closet could return to it's original use and my husband would not have his side of the closet filled with blankets and scott towels. It seemed a bit unfair when most of the closets are taken up with wool etc.

I took all the bolts of wool out and cut them into quarter yard pieces. Now the shelves look tidy and I have a bit of empty space.

I am also trying to make one of the bedrooms, that looks out onto the front garden into my workspace.

My husband made me longer bars for my frame and now I can't wait to hook a really big rug!

It is nice to go through everything and organize it and try to make it work better. I definitely feel better about the closets. It took a while to cut up all the wool on the bolts. Next time I order a bolt I'm cutting it up when it comes in the door!

Cabbage Rose Pillow

2011-06-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

I am enjoying hooking the rose in white and grey. The calm colors seem to radiate peace and somehow it seems to make the hot weather seem a bit cooler.

Dyeing Sock Wool

2011-06-20T20:35:00.000-05:00

This weekend my niece and I dyed sock wool. We not only had a blast but we came out with some fab colors.

I also have found a new decrease for socks that I like better than any I have tried. Click here to see the knitting tip from Kathleen at Knitting Daily. It gives your socks a perfect toe.

Garden Collage

2011-06-19T21:35:00.001-05:00

Last Friday's Flag Workshop

2011-06-15T17:57:00.000-05:00

The day before the workshop we decided to add a few phrases from the "Star Spangle Banner" to our flag. One of my favorite moments at a rodeo is when the crowd stands and sings the "Star Spangle Banner"with their hands over their hearts. It reminds me of all the men who have fought for our freedom.

Gwynna had a great plaid for her background!

Mary was smart and labeled her stripes before she started hooking.

Sharon used a lot of different tones for each color.

Now we will see if any of us finish by the 4th!

Brenda B's Hooked Rugs

2011-06-14T12:50:00.001-05:00

Brenda came by with her latest hooked rugs and I think she did a wonderful job! The dog rug is her own design and I love the colors and the polka dots! Great job!!

Pumpkins & Crows Class Coming in September-Sign up Now!

2011-06-13T11:27:00.000-05:00

Pumpkins & Crows

Sept. 16-Friday

Hook a fall pattern for you table. The linen pattern is 22" x 17". Class is Friday from 10-2 and cost $35 and the pattern is $37. Email me to sign up at beehiverugs@yahoo.com

At the Blue Moon

2011-06-12T11:17:00.000-05:00

Being the artist of the month at the Blue Moon was such a thrill. I met so many lovely people. One young mom and her adorable three year old Lucy came to talk about hooked rugs because she is a rug collector. Sharing the love of rug hooking is always fun.

My son and daughter came by, as well as my nephew and my sister (who is taking the picture). My husband helped me set up and take everything down, and I had several friends that came by just to say hi! Thanks to everyone who came by, you made my day!!

It was a little hard to stay inside with all the wonderful plants outside, but I managed to load up a wagon full of perennials before I left. No surprise there!

Thank you Sharon and Mary for such a wonderful day and for asking me, it was a highlight of my year!!

Artist of the Month

2011-06-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

This Saturday I will be at Blue Moon Gardens in Edom Texas as their artist of the month. I am very excited and honored to be asked. I hope you can stop by and say hello. Blue Moon is such a fun place and I know you will find a lot of great things for your garden. Look here for more information.