Happy New Year

Wishing each and everyone of You a Very Happy New Year...

This is a Custom Order Mat I hooked for a relative of Mine who has moved to Saskatchewan from Newfoundland.  She, Tanya, is from Fortune, while her husband was born and raised in Grand Bank.  Tanya's Mom and Dad thought this was a nice gift for them as it is taken from a photograph of the Lighthouse in G. B.  Of course, it is not exactly the same as they already have the Photo....This is my depiction....

Two/ Three More to follow that I did for Customers to use as Christmas gifts...

Have a Great New Years' Eve........

Merry Christmas

I want to wish each and everyone of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year.  I appreciate each of you who have been following me and for those of you who just drop by, that is just fine, too...As you know, I am not a faithful blogger because I do too much hooking plus other chores to be able to be here very much; however, another New Years' Resolution:  To Blog More...:)

I have a number of Mats that I have done and have not shown because Santa was to do the deliveries last night.  As soon as I know the gifts have been opened, I will share with you.

For Now, I wish you all the best...Cherish your Family Members and think of those less fortunate than we are....

Good Morning, All, from Lord's Cove, Newfoundland.  Cool outside today but no snow, which is wonderful.

I decided a while ago that I would like to try my "Hooking" hand at Christmas Ornaments.  The two I chose this year are "Snowmen" and "Mummers".  Mummering is an age old Tradition in different parts of NL., not as much now as was years gone by.  I guess at the time it began there were no televisions or any of the other gadgets and past times that are available today.  At Christmas it was a fun time to "dress up" and go from house to house with musical instruments, accordian/guitar/mouth organ...whatever one was talented with.  It sure made for fun times.

This is what emerged from my desire to try my hand at these "small" items.  Hope you like them.

A Profile of Me in My Business Group

cember 5, 2012 · 9:59 am

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A Business from the Land

Anne Kirby in sunny Lord’s Cove showing off her lovely vegetable garden.

Anne was born and continues to live in the out-port fishing community of Lord’s Cove on the Burin Peninsula. For 26 years, she operated a family grocery business with her husband Tom.  Today you’ll find Anne busy at work on their farm and her duties include helping in the vegetable garden, making hay, bottling food, birthing lambs, tending sheep and her favorite thing designing and hooking rugs.  Anne can even be found running down the highway in her slippers with her apron on herding some of the stray sheep! Anne’s business, Anne’s Original Hooked Rugs, started with her love of rug hooking. Her designs come from stories told to her by her mother, from photographs, and from her observation of everyday life around her. Anne incorporates Newfoundland themes into her work and is determined to preserve the traditional way of rug hooking that was passed down to her from her mother-in-law.

Anne busy at work on their farm.

Operating a business on the Burin Peninsula in a rural community has its challenges!  Marketing and selling her products being the biggest challenge of all.  During the first years, Anne sold her rugs locally and by word of mouth.  Being industrious and adventurous Anne signed up for a Rug Camp on Woody Island and through her contact with an NLOWE Growth Advisor has now expanded  her market to trade shows, an online presence on Facebook, and she even ships her work around the country and beyond.  Even Facebook is a challenge when you are on dial-up! Anne joined a Women in Business Network and finds the mentoring she receives fantastic and is continuing to realize business growth.   The group meets once a month.

Anne can even be found running down the highway in her slippers with her apron on herding some of the stray sheep!

Setting goals has been very beneficial for Anne, and in 2012 she had her work juried resulting in Anne’s Original Hooked Rugs being recognized as a Crafts of Character producer.  Anne will now be able to consider wholesale. Her work will now be included in the Provincial Craft Wholesale Show and she will be able to participate in the Craft Council Christmas Craft Fair.  Anne’s work is also displayed and sold at the Regional Women in Business Trade show in Grand Bank.
Sheep are a big part of Anne’s life, and though she uses a lot of recycled materials, she also uses 100% sheep wool in her craft.  In 2012, Anne sent all her sheared wool to a mill on the mainland and now has her own label of “Salt Water Sheep’s Wool” which is available for purchase on her Facebook page and at trade shows.  Postage and shipping have an impact on this part of her business being so remotely located.

Anne with her 100% “Salt Water Sheep’s Wool”

Anne also displays her work in exhibits both locally and nationally and supports her craft with her membership in the Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia.
Working on a farm in Lord’s Cove, nearly self sufficient, operating a green business, a Crafts of Character Producer with National and International customers, and preserving a traditional Newfoundland craft is quite an accomplishment and truly a business from the land!
Paula Flood is an NLOWE Growth Advisor for the Eastern region and anyone that knows Paula knows she goes above and beyond for her clients.  Anne Kirby is one of her clients.

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St. Pierre

As I said before "I am not a faithful blogger" only because I am really busy with household duties, etc., and with my hooking.  I committed to do too many mats/wall hangings before the Christmas Holidays.

St. Pierre is a small French Island, population of approximately 6000 people, off the Coast of Newfoundland and I am fortunate enough that after a thirty five minute drive, I can get there is fifty five minutes by Ferry.  Two weeks ago, Our " Regional Women In Business" Group were invited to take part in their Christmas Craft Show.  Such an honor!!  To say the least, we were very excited about this and of course, packed our crafts, art work together and off we go.

What a reception!!!  We were treated as royalty...After all, all four (this was as many as could attend at this time) of us were  ascending on a group of artisans that were selling their product for years..."Now how are we going to be received?" was the question in each of our minds....They were All so friendly, no animosity, jealousy, zilch.....

The cameras  from the TV stations were quite busy  with us as were people from the Radio Station, not to forget the interviewers from the Local Newspaper...  Amazing!!

Everyone that we met were very helpful including the Taxis, Bed & Breakfast Owner, Restaurants, etc.,

If ever any of you are interested in visiting another Country and are in Newfoundland, check it out.  There are day excursions as well.  Besides the Ferry, the Capistan, you can catch a plane from the  St. John's Airport.  You won't be sorry. 

Of course, I had to include a picture of a very few of the scrumptuous pastries that are available there.  Yummy!!!

The Group Picture includes, from left to righ: Our Interpretor, Cecilia, Artisan, Melaine( aka Wooly Hooker), Our Co-ordinator, Judy, The gentlemen is the  French  President of the Craft Council in St. Pierre, Sherry of the Thimblebox, Fabric Store, another French Gent who is connected with the Show, Myself and Artisan, Acrylic Painter, Kathy.

Our Weekend Trade Show & Holiday Fair on Friday and Saturday

Hi to all of you.  I have not posted for such a long time because my "Dashboard" disappeared and I couldn't blog...grrr!!!  However, to let you in on  a few things beginning with "The Trade Show & Holiday Fair" that is held each year in our Area...It was well attended, met many old friends and found new ones.  Lots of wonderful comments on my work and of course, Sales....I added a new hooked item this year "Tree Ornaments" and they were a Hit...Sold All of my snowmen and half of the "Newfoundland Salt Box Houses" that I had made....Very impressive which  items people like... 

I have been very busy with our duties, such as reaping the benefits of our gardening, etc....a post later on that one and still trying to Hook in between...Have to "get crackin' " on the hooking for orders that I have.  Another great event I will be attending is the "St. Pierre Trade Show", a first for a group of us...Hopefully the weather will co-operate and we can get there by Ferry.  That should be an exciting three days....will surely fill you in on that activity.

Have a Good Day!!!!

Pleased with my Sale

As some of you may know, I have sold one of my hooked rugs to our Wonderful Canadian Music Icon, Anne Murray.  She did not buy it directly from me but from a Museum in Nova Scotia where I had four of my pieces of work displayed for sale.

When she purchased it, I debated whether I would  email her and ask if she would send me a photo of her holding it.  Honestly, I didn't think I would even get a reply, let alone a picture.  Alas, within a very short time, a note arrived that she would indeed do it.  How "down to earth" and considerate is that woman?  I will be forever grateful to her for her purchase.

Here is the treasured photograph, which I will have enlarged and proudly displayed in my Home.

Thank You, Anne Murray...You have always been a favorite of mine...

My Weekend Work

Yes, some of my Weekend Work and so it continues today with Bread Baking in the Oven; hopefully, the weather will improve tomorrow so that we can get some more Hay-Making done...Not that I am anxious to do that type of work but I am hoping to have it done before our wonderful "Rug Hooker's Weekend" on Woody Island the last three days of September.  Fingers crossed, please...:)

Here are some of my photos:

The Beginning of my pickles









Then comes the back-breaking job of cutting all the veggies

 The Final Result...32 jars of "Million Dollar Pickles".

 Those are some great broccoli that we grew...All Organically Grown, of course.

 Cauliflower was plentiful this year, as well..Some of our Green Peas in the Background...More to come yet.

 One Morning's Grab....cherry tomatoes and cucumber....Green house was very co-operative this year...

Sharing just a couple of pics. of my beautiful Lilies....
Hope you enjoy looking at those....Have a Great Day!!!

My Latest Project

I know a few of you have seen this post on my Facebook Page, but others have not and I would like to share.

My niece asked me to hook a mat for her with Newfoundland style houses and a Yellow Boat because her Dad fished for a great part of his life and that was the color he used.  Her Dad passed away about three years ago so the wheels began to turn in my head and I decided to ADD her Dad.  I searched her facebook page and found this picture of Him and thought this would be a good idea if I could hook it.

Anyways, this is the result.  What do you think???

Gardening....

Sharing some pictures of our Great Garden and some of the Benefits....

Something Exciting...

Well, I have just landed from being on the wings of a Snowbird....yes, in Summer :)  You all know that I have some of my art displayed and for sale at a Museum in N.S....well, yesterday one of those sold, don't know which one yet,  and to no other than our great Singing Artist, ANNE MURRAY.  She has been one of my favorites since I was a teenager and still is, of course.  I am so very pleased and have been swamped with compliments, etc., since then.....Am I lucky, or what????

Good Morning To You All.  First of all I want to thank my newest follower, Farm Girl, for joining me; Second, to Thank All of You for the comments on my last post.  We prayed for rain, which began the next day that I posted, and it hasn't stopped since.  Thanks, Kim, for sending it across the Gulf to us.  I forgot to say we didn't want a lot...LOL!!!

 I was fortunate enough to have been asked by Suzanne Conrod of "Hooked Rug Museum of North America Society" In  Hubbards, Nova Scotia  to display some of my Mats there.  Of course I jumped at the chance .  I am posting a picture of some of those on display there.  Can you pick mine from All those Beauties?  Who Knows, I may sell one or two....
Have a wonderful day and I will be back soon....BTW: Gardens are growing beautifully.

Gardening

Hello to Everyone...I was disappointed to see I had Lost a follower...I am not a faithful blogger, as you know, so I suppose that is the reason.

Well, I didn't think I would ever live long enough to wish for RAIN.  We have had about three weeks of exceptionally dry weather, temperatures soaring for this area and the gardens are suffering for it.  The lawn is brown rather than green and because we use Well water, there is none to spare for it, just nursing the vegetable gardens along.

Thankfully, potatoes don't need much extra water and they are doing ok.

The onions are doing wonderful; however, the carrots are not thriving at this point.

Newly potted broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard, etc.

Last, but not least, the beautiful heap of COMPOST that is a huge part of our Organic Gardens.  And just look at that beautiful view we have from our homestead.

We will have to keep our fingers crossed that nature will soon take pity on us.  A look at some of my flowers next post.
Happy Gardening and Hooking, All.

Newest Project

Good COLD morning to all my blogger friends.  We have been spoiled in our area because May was such a beautifully warm month, we thought we would see more of it in June....Not thus far....The main thing is if we have our health we shouldn't complain.

Sharing my newest mat.  "Spreading Fish" has been a huge success for me and I thought I would change this one and include Men. 

Hope you like it.

Checking In

Good Morning from Newfoundland, Canada.  Times are busy but enjoyable here. 

Last week, I canned Chili and Herring and am quite pleased that they both were very tasty.  Just getting ready for Hay Making time to have some quick foods available...

Of course I am busy at my rug hooking...I don't mind the wet days because then I can hook away and not feel guilty about NOT going outside. 

I have sent off four  pieces of my  work to a Museum in Nova Scotia, Canada, for display and on consignment.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I will receive a few nice comments.  :) 

This is a picture of one I am working on at the present time.  Please ignore those scribbles and scratches...that is the way I work...I make changes as I hook.  Sometimes it is difficult to see a certain part of my work and I have to go by guess...:0) However, persistence is my second name and I like challenges.  

Enjoy your day, everyone, and thanks for dropping by...

Spring Time is "Busy Time"

Spring has arrived early here in Newfoundland, Canada, at least where I live on the Burin Peninsula.  Vegetable Planting time and Lamb time... Sharing a few pictures of such..

Those containers, 20 each, contain  Onions and Carrots...the other some of the 40 drills of Potatoes that we have planted so far...Hopefully, I will be able to post some pictures later of the progress....

THE Winner

The Winner of my precious "Salt Box House"...my Easter Give Away is:
LOUISA HODGE FITZPATRICK.
Thanks to those of you who participated. Keep looking on my Facebook Page.....there will be more interesting things to come.

Custom Order

It is a very busy time of year for us being the Lambing Season but it is such a refreshing time to suck that nice Spring air into the lungs on nice days.

A customer of mine whose Dad was a very talented Singer/Entertainer and who, unfortunately, passed away in December month, asked me to hook a mat for her of a "Kitchen Sing Along". We, Newfoundlanders, have a habit of entertaining our families in our own houses and more especially, years gone by, in our Kitchens. I guess because it was the warmest place as there was just a wood stove and the doors were normally closed to the other areas of the house; thus, very, very cold bedrooms. BUT, there were plenty of warm and heavy quilts on each bed, so that made up for any discomfort before crawling into them.

This is the result. Hope you enjoy looking at it... This is Kim, the daughter and her Mom, Madeline, displaying the mat when they came to pick it up.

Spring Has Sprung

Yes, People, Spring has Sprung in Lord's Cove and this is the proof....such a wonderful sight this time of year...Aren't they just little beauties? Two sets of twins so far....will keep you posted on their arrival...

Valentine Give Away

The winner of my Valentine Give Away was:

Jo-Anne Rossiter from New Brunswick, Canada.

Thanks to all of you who participated and keep looking for more....

Have a wonderful day....

Pet News....

I haven't posted anything about my beautiful pets lately so today I decided I would....for those animal lovers out there, and I am sure there are plenty..
When the weather is "nasty" outside, this is how our pets enjoy it. I hook away and they snooze away the day. Hope you enjoy....Thanks for my new followers and DON'T FORGET MY VALENTINE GIVEAWAY TOMORROW....
Goldie likes to sleep atop the chair while Mocha sleeps below....cute!!


Mocha & Spedo rests on one bed at times;
however, Mocha becomes curious when a picture is being taken, sometimes, as he is very photogenic......:)



Spedo likes to rest his arm on the window sill and look outside and is happy he doesn't have to go out.

On Line Course

Well, I have myself committed to something now that I have no idea about....with regards to the wool, that is. As a lot of you may know, I use all types of recycled materials in my rugs. Deanne Fitzpatrick, of http://www.hookingrugs.com, has offered this On line course to the public. I delved right in there because she is my inspiration, besides being a fellow Newfoundlander..:) Ever since I discovered her online when searching for tips of rug hooking, I have followed her and bought each book that she has written plus a little of her materials. She hooks in a style that I like and do. When this beautiful package of different types of wool arrived, I drooled but just want to keep it "to look at"....it is just so wonderful looking. I do hope that I can learn to incorporate this type of wool into my rug hooking in the future. I will keep you posted on my progress, if there is, indeed, any...OMENERVES!!!