The PRHG Gazette

New Launch~"Under the Harvest Moon"

2009-08-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

PRHG started a new launch on Ebay today, "Under the Harvest Moon" Lots of fall themed needle punch, hand hooked rugs, penny rugs and much more. Autumn is coming soon so, check out all the PRHG auctions on Ebay.

~A New Banner For PRHGW~

2009-03-28T16:16:00.001-07:00

Here is our new banner for PRHGW that will be used in our Ebay auctions. Please type PRHGW in your search on Ebay to see all the wool offerings from the PRHGW members.

~ Announcing PRHGW~

2009-03-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Primitive Rug Hooking Group on Ebay is announcing PRHGW. Our members will use these acronyms in their Ebay wool listings.

We are separating our handmade items and the wools. If you need wool to hook with or use for all kinds of various projects~please check out the beautiful "as is" and hand dyed wools on Ebay. Type PRHGW in your search on Ebay to find our member's wool offerings.

~PRHG Article By Maria in Rug Hooking Magazine~

2009-03-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

How exciting!!! Maria Barton~Star Rug Company wrote a 6 page article about Primitive Rug Hooking Group Cyber Rug Challenge in the March/April/May Rug Hooking Magazine. Maria graciously headed up a rug challenge on PRHG. She provided 2 rug hooking patterns that she designed to choose from, a sheep or snowman. 40 members in PRHG signed up for the challenge. Each member sent 200 strips of wool in bundles of
5 to Maria. She in turn sent back 200 strips bundles of 5 to each person. It was very challenging because of all the different colors, lots of different sizes no.4 to no.9 and some wool yarn thrown in the mix. Each hooker had to use all the colors. No cheating and dyeing the strips.
As everyone finished their rugs they would send their pictures of their rugs to Betty~primitivebettys and she set up albums for the 2 categories in Photobucket. The pictures of the rugs were numbered with no names attached. Everyone in PRHG voted and prizes were awarded to the top 3 in each category. THANK YOU Betty for posting all the pictures in the albums.
The magazine article has the pictures of the top 3 winners in each category.
A big "THANK YOU" to Maria Barton~Star Rug Company for all your hard work putting this together.
Also, in this issue of RHG there is an article by Wendy Miller. She is a PRHG member and has a very nice pattern in the magazine.

HAPPY 2009 TO EVERYONE!!!!!!

2009-01-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

I wanted to tell you about a year long rug challenge that just came to an end 12/31/08.
It was started by Kelley aka:kanknchester & some of the PRHG members participated in it. I was going to,got my linen,2 yds. worth & when I went to take it out of the box,I found that it was too heavy for me & it didn't even have any wool hooked into it yet. This was to be a REALLY BIG rug,so I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it. My intentions were good though!!!!!!
Many dropped out along the way,but the ones who kept at it hooked the most AMAZING ORIGINAL rugs!!!!!

I'm putting a link here so that you can all see them!!!! It's worth the trip!!!!

Sherry

http://2008challenge.blogspot.com/

~The Snowman Ball~

2008-11-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

The Primitive Rug Hooking Group (PRHG) is having a Snowman Ball. Here is a collage of some of the rugs that are for sale on Ebay. So go to Ebay and search PRHG for lots of great handmade items, rug hooking and wool related items. New items are being offered for sale every day on Ebay~so check PRHG out!!!

~Snowman Ball Coming Soon~

2008-10-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Coming soon... PRHG is having our 3rd Annual Snowman Ball. Starting November 1~30. Keep watching for PRHG handmade items.

ANOTHER PRHG VIP

2008-08-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

Maria Barton of Star Rug Co. & a PRHG member is running for District Court Judge.
Well she came in 1st in the Primary on August 5th YEAH!!!!!! She told us that she knocked on 3000 doors campaining. Now after a very brief break she's back at campaining for the November elections.
All of us in PRHG are so proud of her & wish her the very best in November!!!!!!!
Maria Barton For Judge!!!!!! YES!!!!!!

2008-08-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

We have a VIP member of The Primitive Rug Hooking Group (PRHG)!!!!!!!
Member Kaye Swor's House is Featured in the new issue of CELEBRATION magazine!!!!!
Be sure to check it out!!!!! KUDOS to you Kaye!!!!!!

Our New PRHG Banner

2008-07-30T19:25:00.001-07:00

Kelley Belfast created our new banner. Isn't it great!! Thanks Kelley! The theme is "Under A Harvest Moon" that will run through the whole month of August!!! Keep watching for our FALL & HALLOWEEN PRHG Ebay auction listings.

~* The Odd Rug Challenge Winner*~

2008-07-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Chris aka MysticalPrimitives for winning the ODD Challenge

~With 59 out of 147 votes she was a runaway favorite~

Thanks to everyone who participated...I really enjoyed seeing all the rugs.

I liked opening the voting up to the general public too...

Don't forget to check out my latest PRHG Challenge...it's sure to be full of amazing rugs...and we'd love to have everyone get on UFO finished by this fall.

Kelley

***Photo and article submitted by Kelley~kanknchester***

THREADING A CAMEO NEEDLE BY: GINGER

2008-07-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

~*Threading A Cameo Punchneedle*~
One step threading for your cameo punch needle. Begin by gently pulling off the white tab at the end of the threader.
Once the tab is removed it will have one closed end and one end will be the open end of the two wires.
Begin by placing the closed end of the threader into the needle end of the punch needle. Run the threader completely to the top open end of the punch needle.
You will then place your floss into the threader leaving about a 1 1/2 to 2 inch tail of floss.
If you are using 6 strands of floss be gentle so not to break your threader. Now begin gently pulling your threader down through the punch needle.

Here we have the thread almost out....Continue pulling until the double thickness is all the way through...but make sure you don't pull hard you don't want to break your needle.

Once the double thickness of the floss is through the punch needle pull about 4 inches more through for the next step. Next you will place the two open ends of the threader through the bevel side of the needle eye.
I gently bend the needle threader...just make sure you don't bend it too much. It straightens out just fine unless you get it into a bind. If you do just pull out a little more floss and bend the threader again and place in the eye of the needle.
Now pull the floss through the eye of the needle. Don't force the thread just gently pull until the double thickness is completely through the eye.
Once you are to this point remove your needle threader.
Shorten the tail on your floss and your ready to begin punching!
So now you have removed that little white tag...the only problem is you might have a little bit of trouble finding your needle threader. You can keep it attached to a magnet...or like me you have to look for it every once in awhile.
Hope this has helped you save a little time in your needle punching projects.
Happy Trails....Ginger

THANK YOU GINGER!!!!!!! Sherry

This Month's Feature Rug Hooker is Anne~Annetiques

2008-07-19T04:46:00.000-07:00

Where were you born? Plymouth, MA; America's home town!

Where do you live now? Pembroke, MA

When did you start? I started drawing at a very young age, I can remember drawing in the sand as a kid. I loved art and continued on to Art School after High School. I fell in love with primitive art through antiques. Right from the start of our marriage my husband and I wanted to fill our home with primitive antiques but we were on a very small budget. I could not afford the old hooked rugs so I started making my own. That was over 35 years ago and I haven't stopped yet.

Who was your biggest influence? My Mom, she always told me that I could do anything I put my mind to. She was my biggest fan, she was always in my corner and in her eyes I could do no wrong.

Where do you turn for inspiration? Primitive antique art, trips to places like Colonial Williamsburg and my husband. He is the love of my life, always has been, he inspires me and always encourages me to try. He has been a Graphic Designer for more than 40 years.... you can only imagine the 'debates' on some of my designs and colors!

What blocks your creativity? I guess I would have to say deadlines. I do not do well with pressure. From freedom comes creativity.

When do you get your ideas? I'm continually designing in my head. At any time, anything I might happen to see can inspire a design.... At my age I just have to remember it when I sit down to draw!

What are you most proud of? My two wonderful sons, they make me very proud.

What stumps you to this day? Why people judge you on your looks and not for the person you are.

What do you still want to learn? I would love to learn how do much more on the computer. I hate having to ask for help all the time.

What are you best at? Well, I know it's not cooking!... I guess I am a good grandma. I love my grandkids to pieces!

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger? That life is too short, enjoy it while you can.

Who was your biggest champion? My Dad, he was my hero... I am very lucky to have had such loving, giving parents. I miss them very much.

When people tried to discourage you what did you do? Cry, I am very shy and do not do well when someone hurts my feelings.

What do you do to help others? I listen and try to help in any way I can.

What can others do to change our world? If everyone helped just one person and spread a little kindness the world would be a much better place.

What makes you CRAZY? Greedy people! There are so many children that need help, so many kids go to bed hungry while others spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on none essential things, it drives me nuts!

What makes your heart glad? My three grandsons, each one is special, they make my heart sing.

What do you listen to when creating? I love to listen to 'Rock-n-Roll' oldies, songs from the 50's and 60's. I also listen to books on tape while I hook.

What is your most treasured memory? I am lucky to have many, my wedding day, the births of my sons, the first time I held my grandsons, all are precious to me.

What is your most treasured belonging? It's always been my house but my new wedding ring, designed by my husband for a surprise on my 60th birthday, is pretty special.

Who would you like to spend a weekend with ? where? why? I would love to meet all the gals in this group and have a huge hook-in! Maybe at Colonial Williamsburg.

The Queen Makes The Cover.....

2008-07-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Queen has JUST made the cover of our PRHG Gazette cover. Thanks Kelley!!!

THE ODD RUG CHALLENGE

2008-07-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

Kelley Belfast of our group came up with this ODD Rug Challenge that she added LOTS of rules to that made us all say,HUH?????? Anything you wanted to do in any size,BUT it had to be an ODD number of motifs. You could do 3 motifs,but they ALL had to be the same. If you did 5 motifs, 1 could be different. Are you saying HUH yet?????

Anyhoo,Kelley did a GREAT job of setting up the rug enrtries on a blog!!!!! So just click on the link to take a look at these "ODD" rugs & vote for your favorite!!!!!!!

http://oddrugs.blogspot.com/

Thank You!!!!
Sherry.... From Sherry's Heart

June's Feature Rug Hooker is Lori Brechlin~ Not Forgotten Farms

2008-07-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Where were you born? Bridgeport, CT

Where do you live now? Amherst, VA

When did you start....? I started my 'career' in Folk Art about 20 years ago...beginning with mohair bears...

Who was your biggest influence? My sister Jo....she is an unbelievable Folk Artist in her own right.

Where do you turn for inspiration? I have a deep connection with nature & love the more whimsical side of life...I like to interpret both in my designs...

What blocks you creativity? having to recuperate from being with Negative People.

When do you get your ideas?...all times of the day, although usually as I'm sitting quietly working on something else, I'll begin to dream up stories for the project or design I'm working on, & that will eventually lead me somewhere else!...how can someone ever be found if they don't occasionally get lost?

What are you most proud of? Having 3 of my designs on the cover of the Wool Street Journal!!

What stumps you to this day?...Why women, as a whole, can be so giving to each other, yet be so catty in competition....we should always lift each other up!

What do you still want to learn?...how to play the Fiddle!...no really...i can play almost any musical instrument, from flute to guitar to piano...but I make a violin or fiddle sound like i'm torturing it ! hehe!!

What are you best at?...I think that I'm a good wife, mother, sister & daughter...also a devoted Friend.

Where are you best at? Home.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger? I know that being popular doesn't always mean that you're nice. It's more popular to BE nice.

Who was your biggest champion?...I have two.
My husband, for putting up with me, and my sister Jo, for continuing to battle cancer.

When people tried to discourage you, what did you do?
I tried harder.

What do you do to help others? anything I possibly can.

What can others do to change our world? Realize that our Mother Earth is only going to treat us as well as we treat Her.

What makes your Heart Glad? knowing that I've made very special Friendships on my life's path....especially on-line.

What do you listen to while you're creating? Classical Music....it's intelligent.

What is your most treasured memory? Holding my newborn daughter in my arms & watching my husband fall in love with her.

What is your most treasured belonging? my Home.

Who would you like to spend a weekend with? where? why? Johnny Depp. Anywhere. Do I really need to answer that?

May's Feature Rug Hooker is From The Magpies Nest~Nutmeg

2008-07-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is Nutmeg's very first rug that she hooked. Congratulations!! Nutmeg it's beautiful!!!

Where were you born?
Pinckneyville, Illinois

Where do you live now?
Greeley, Colorado

When did you start creating?
My mom has drawings from when I was 2 years old...I can't remember a time when I didn't create something...

Who was your biggest influence?
My influence(s) are always changing...when I discover a "new" (to me!) artist I dig through the internet & read anything and everything I can find--from Chagall to Magdalena Briner...it's always changing. My latest interest is Janet Bolton who wrote Folk Art Applique.

Where do you turn for inspiration?
My two girls are always inspiring to me...when you look at the world through younger eyes, there's so much more wonder--and at the same time, a simple wisdom grown-ups sadly "grow out of"...

What blocks your creativity?
Dishes. And shipping.

When do you get your ideas?
All the time...but mostly it's never a convenient time! I keep scraps of paper and pens handy to jot thoughts down and doodle new designs.

What are you most proud of?
I suppose, that I have somehow--through it all!--kept creating...changing and adapting to different mediums as I've needed to.

What stumps you to this day?
Calligraphy.

What do you still want to learn?
I've just begun rug hooking...I want to learn as much as I can, to get "good"! And I really would like to learn more about dyeing wool.

What are you best at?
hmmmm...I can talk on a phone like nobody's business!!

Who is your biggest champion?
Sherry Kristoff

When people tried to discourage you what did you do?
Quit my day job.

What do you do to help others?
Never enough--I would like to establish, or just "sow a seed" to establish, some sort of foundation for folks with Multiple Sclerosis who end up being "disabled". Art therapy, garden therapy...whatever a person's interested in. I want to change disablity from being an "ending", to being a new beginning...

What can others do to change our world?
Don't throw tomatoes...but...GROW some! I am becoming very passionate about the way we treat our world--my favorite parable is that of "the good steward"....we've been given a tremendous, awesome, gift...we need to take care. It is totally inexcusable to not do everything we can to give our children, grand-children, and beyond, a safe place to live.

What makes you CRAZY?
People who think all that's silly (above). :)

What makes your heart glad?
When my husband comes home after a long day--or any day. His "homecoming" is a very happy time in our nest...

What do you listen to when creating?
I don't really specifically listen to music when I work, but I like "Masterpiece Theatre"...any Jane Austen movies, etc. And National Public Radio--"This American Life" is a favorite!

What is your most treasured memory?
There are two--the births of my little girls.

What is your most treasured belonging?
My doggie, "Homer"....he's part cairn terrier, part Japanese chin (maybe)--he looks like an ewok!

Who would you like to spend a weekend with ? where? why?
I would love to get to meet--in person--the wonderful friends I have made online...it would be wonderful to get together, chat, and hook, stitch, punch...what have you!!

April's feature Rug Hooker is Lori and Zoe~Homespun Primitives

2008-07-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Where were you born? Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Where do you live now? Iron River, Michigan

When did you start rug hooking-1999, quilt making-early 1980's, doll making- 1980's

Who was your biggest influence? In Rug hooking, Maria Barton, In quiltmaking, Jan Patek& Linda Brannock

Where do you turn for inspiration? Things of old, whether it be rugs, quilts or dolls

What blocks your creativity? Having a deadline!

When do you get your ideas? At odd times, sometimes when I'm exercising and I'm trying to zone out so the time will go by faster! Sometimes in the middle of the night when I can't sleep.

What are you most proud of? My family. Being able to make things with my hands that make our home seem more homespun and cozy and being able to share my love of handwork with others.

What stumps you to this day? How I got so lucky to have the life I'm blessed to live with my husband Brian.

What do you still want to learn? I always wanted to learn to play an instrument, but I don't think I'm musicly enclined enough.

What are you best at? I couldn't say what I'm best at but I love the rug hooking process

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger? Patience really is a virtue and don't sweat the small stuff, life is too short and it really doesn't matter in the grand sceme of things.

Who was your biggest champion? My mother and my husband

What do you do to help others? Pray and lend a helping hand when I can. I donate quilts to causes from time to time.

What can others do to change our world? We've forgotten how to love our neighbor as ourselves. It's a ME world today and I think we have to get back to putting others first.

What makes you CRAZY? Not being able to lose weight!

What makes your heart glad? My puppy Zoe