Enjoying time at the lake with family! Getting lots of hooking done too. The weather has been beautiful and pretty warm. Homemade donuts each morning, lots of ice cream flavors to choose from and wonderful pizza at Sloopys. Took nieces to th ae "Brave" movie at the theatre and lost my hand at putt putt as well. But, nothing beats time spent with my family!

Kingwood 2012 has come and gone. It was a great success. We earned $370.00 fom our silent auction for the Kingwood Center. Since it was a fall theme this year the money was allocated for fall plantings, bulbs and such. God blessed us with such a beautiful day last Saturday. I hope all that attended had a fun time. The vendors were great and we had many rugs for the show. Thank you to Joyce Stokes, Rhonda Thomas, and Deb Tomsheck who were showcased in the Hooker Hall of Fame. And to our guest of honor, Shirley Bloom. Shirley put on this rug show for many years. She has taught many students the art of rug hooking. She is currently retired from teaching but joined us with her family for the day. Special thanks to Rhonda Thomas, Stacie Sidle, Karen Neiderhauser, Teri Hedrick, Deb Tomsheck, Rita Franz, Julie Butler, Laura Fitch,son David, Hubby Jim, Mr Kramer, Mr Fraizer for helping load and unload supplies for vendors, hang rugs and help with silent auction. For all of you who brought goodies to share. Thank you, Thank you!!!!! I could not do it without you. Life has been full. Back to work this past week, kids off to camp and vacations. College with our eldest to begin in just a little over a month's time. We already attended an orientation day. As I look toward the next couple of months, I will be talking to the Malabar Farm Guild in August. I will present a rug show and talk of my hooking experiences. August at the Fort Laurens Rug Guild I will be teaching their group about welcome rugs. This project is in preparation for our hook in in the fall of 2013 On September 27, 2012 I will be teaching about Deanne Fitzpatrick patterns and my trips to Nova Scotia at That'll do Farm in Grafton, OH. October I will be teaching the like to the Guild in Pittsburgh, PA (October 8 and 9, 2012) November brings Sampler Class to the group in Defiance, OH. Our pattern by "Let Nola Do It". A busy fall planned. If anyone is interested in these classes please contact me. We will meet monthly in Wadsworth OH at the library as well as classes here in my home in the the fall. Thank you again for everyone making Kingwood such a success. Fondly, Katie

Teaching Schedule

August 2012- Malabar Farm, Belleville, OH Trunk Show/Talk
September 2012- That'll do Farm Class
October 2012- Pittsbugh, PA Guild teaching Deanne Fitzpatrick patterns
November 2012- Defiance, OH Samplers by Nola

What's New you say? New Knees, WOO HOO

That's right two brand new knees. No more pain! Four weeks ago I had bilateral kneed replacement. The first couple of weeks were a bear but everyday gets better. I am not able to stand for long periods of time yet-get achy and muscle cramping but I can go up and down the steps and get out of a chair like normal people do. Yipee. Dr Bernhard here in Ashland did a marvelous job fixing me all up.That and the great care of the nursing staff at Samaritan Hospital I will be back to work in no time.
I have finished three rugs in the past four weeks, this is good.
Class at the Wadsworth Library last night went well with 17 in attendance. Many have already started their samplers. We worked on letter techniques last night so everyone making them is well on their way.

KINGWOOD 2012
is fast approaching. June 23, 2012 at the Kingwood Center, Mansfield, OH
10am-4pm. This is a free hook in and rug show. Our challenge theme this year is Autumn. Those that picked up a wool goody bag last year at the show to incorporate into their fall themed rug will vie for the gift basket valued over $100. Attendees place their votes.
Please bring all your rugs you have completed this year for the rug show whatever the content (does not need to be fall theme-any theme will be great).
Silent Auction- this is a great way to get rid of those half started or unstarted patterns you will never finish, wool you don't need, abundance of noodle bags, old frames, anything hooking related that you don't want anymore. By donating it to the silent auction proceeds will go to Kingwood Center this year to help maintain their beautiful gardens. They allow us to have our show here at their facility at no charge except for the parking ($5/carload-so pile in).
It is also a good idea to bring a cart to haul your rug hooking supplies in to to building from the parking lot. Don't forget their plant sale in the greenhouse in the courtyard. They love it when the hookers come and buy lots of their flowers!
Great vendors too... Tomorrow's Heirlooms from Michigan, Wool Nuts, Lauren Fugua Stamped Jewelery, Lana Omlor,Larry Ault, Roche River,and Alice Fraizer.

LKSD.....that's Lakeside, OH
Our third annual retreat will be in October 12-14, 2012
There are only 6 openings left so if you are interested please contact me and I will send you a brochure. This year we are staying in a larger cottage and Jacquie has so kindly offered her home as well. So there are enough spots for 18 total.
Our class pattern is from Loop de loo called "Nightingale". Laurie and I will be teaching you how to incorporate some wide cut shading along with textures and outline/fill to spruce up a typical primitive piece in an antique color palate.
This is also the weekend for the Lighthouse Festival which adds some fun. Cost for this weekend retreat is minimal and Way fun so email me for a brochure or call. kallman@zoominternet.net 419-685-4490

In celebration fo Valentines Day

Lorain County HookRug Crafters will be meeting the 7th of February in LaGrange for our bimonthly meeting. Our projecct is a wide cut shaded heart that has been transformed into a small pillow. I incorporated some paisley wool in the border to add a touch of color.

Happy New Year

Life in 2011 has been full. As the eve of a new year is upon us the sauerkraut and pigs in the blanket are baking in the oven, the potatoes pared, homemade applesauce and rolls. The Italian Wedding cake I make every year is cooling, ready to be frosted soon. The kids take turns every year doing the backward toss of a silver dollar into the batter before baking. After dinner we all get to choose which piece we would like, no worries about making the cake look messy, just pick your piece. If you get the coin it is to bring good fortune in the coming year. I made this tradition up.  Our father always made sure we were holding a piece of silver when the clock struck midnight on new years, this meant good fortune for us. Now I am asleep way before midnight so we do the cake thing. As my daughter put it, "this is not the party house on new years mom!" That was the response when I told her she was more than welcome to have her friends here to welcome in the new year.
Western Reserve Guild in Cleveland is welcoming me to teach the first week of January. We are hooking one of two patterns of Deanne Fitzpatricks. I am presenting on thursday highlights from my trips to Nova Scotia to Deanne's shop. What a treat it is to go there.
The following week we start up here in Ashland for a new year of open classes. It will be good to highlight everyone's holiday highlights.
Beginning in March I will offer a two Saturday class on Hooking Samplers.  March24  and April 28. from 11am-4pm each SaturdayWe will use a pattern from Nola. I have a brochure printed up if anyone is interested in joining us in Vermilion, Oh at the Chairmaker and Friends Shop on Liberty St. 216-905-2300. Call to sign up by February 15 and order a pattern.
Norwalk, OH in January we will hook a snowman mat at the Senior Center (130 Shady Lane)
Date Saturday, January 21 at 10am. Contact the center if you would like to join us. 419-668-6245.

THANK YOU

...for all your cards and words of encouragement during this difficult time. This past month has been a whirlwind. I am so grateful for the support from the rug hooking community. You have blessed me greatly. The past few weeks caring for my mother was an incredible honor. Laura and I loved her so and will miss her terribly. But nothing can compare with the glory she is now surrounded with. Being in the presence of Christ her Savior cannot come close to any goodness here on earth. So we look forward to the day we are together again.
As our brother would say," I have failed miserably" when it comes to having class. I am looking forward to our retreat in Zoar this coming weekend as well as teaching class in Ashland next week.
Life has been full but God certainly gives us the grace to muddle through. Hope you are all having fun hooking great works and have not run out of wool. Our leaves are almost all down now with all the wind we have been having. if you are not hooking it is probably because you have a rake in hand.
Laura is coming along nicely with her left arm/hand recovery. She even hooked a bit at the Lakeside retreat. She drew a picture of mom holding a pie and began hooking away. Mom was an exellent pie baker. She even talked about baking a few nights before she died. She talked as if she was virtually making them. Claire tried to get her to make a cherry one for her but Grandma informed her she was just too tired to make anymore and would need help finishing up. We had many warm moments those last few days as her speech became weaker with each new day.  Enclosed is the piece i started when Mom was admitted to hospice. I have to admit I did not have the energy to hook many of those days but almost had to force myself. Mom always thought the only way to get the floor clean was to scrub it on your hands and knees so this Deanne Fitzpatrick pattern was a good reflection piece.
I am going to brighten it up with oranges and red brick like floor as that is the color of linoleum we had in our kitchen growing up. I have come to find that this is good therapy, this hooking. Katie