"Get Me Thru December So I Can Begin Again"

I have been grateful to finally have a few quiet days before the New Year begins.

It has been a very busy time up until the studio tour and since then as well. 

Now that Christmas is past I am looking forward to the New Year. 

To be honest Christmas is sad for me. Family is too far away and spread out, to be able to see everyone, my parents are gone now and so is our old home place. 

Three out of our four children came and went at different times this past week, but it was good to spend at least a little time with them.

We had our annual Chinese Feast on Christmas Eve. Pog is a fantastic Chinese cook! Hot and sour soup, steam buns, fried wontons and curry rolls are just a few of the things we enjoyed. Otherwise, too many sweets and fattening foods have been eaten. 

I am now ready to get back to my healthier vegetarian diet and back to walking 

when weather permits.

I am also ready to get back to work in the studio. I need to clean up a few unfinished projects and start new ones. The studio will be going in a new direction next year. 

The reaction to my birds and moth has been overwhelming. 

It has made me feel encouraged about where my work is heading.

We have no special New Year’s Traditions except we are making special snack foods for tonight and a bottle of Champagne.

 Pog is working tomorrow so I will be taking down all of the Christmas decorations 

and cleaning out the closet they are stored in before packing it away.

The rest of this week will be spent reading, relaxing, watching movies 

and working my new jigsaw puzzles.

Back at the first of December I started singing an Allison Krauss song “Get Me Thru December”. Now that the last day is here I feel sad that we couldn’t just slow down time and savor the moments we had together with our family and each other. 

My daughter posted this on our Pinterest board we share.

 I always set myself up for failure when I make resolutions,

 so I think this fits best for the New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with all that you wish it to be!

Merry Christmas

Pog and I wish everyone a joyful day spent with family and friends.

 Be safe, be kind and be thankful! 

Merry Christmas  from Shuttle Hook and Needle!

We miss you Monica.

The Day After

The tour is over. 

I had a successful weekend with lots of friends, new and repeat customers visiting.

 We missed the worst of the weather in the mountains with little to no ice on Sunday

 but most people came on Saturday.

 I did have a few brave souls who ventured out on Sunday to take home a couple of rugs,

 which was great.

To say that I am now very tired is an understatement. 

I am exhausted! I only have one special bird order to finish up and 

then I can take a break for the rest of the year. 

The house was decorated and the tree put up the weekend after Thanksgiving so I would not have to deal with it now. It was a lot of work to get the house and studio ready for the holidays and the tour at the same time but now I am glad it is done.

 I am so grateful for a patient, helpful and understanding husband 

who supports me in every way possible. 

It is now time for both of us to sit back and enjoy Christmas! 

 I do intend to start some new projects soon because the tour always inspires me. 

Before the tour I become tired and don’t want to make or weave anything else 

but now that it is over I am excited to get started again. 

The difference is now I get to make what I want to and not what I have to,

 at least for a little while, which will be a nice break. 

Pog and I both were so busy that we really didn't take many photos

 but here are a few of the ones we did take of the studio and the work. 

There are a lot of empty spaces now which is great!!

Most of the rugs found new homes.

Star of Bethlehem Dish Towels

Snowmen, ornaments, more dishtowels and mug rugs.

There were lots of wooly ornaments.

I hope everyone was safe, warm and snug at home during 

all the terrible weather in the country these past few days. 

I am looking forward now to snowy days at home stitching, weaving 

and maybe even a jigsaw puzzle or two! 

The Day Before

After months of hard work and the last two weeks of cleaning, tagging, decorating and preparing, the tour begins tomorrow.
The studio will be open to the public, Friday from 12 to 4 and Sat./Sun. from 10 till 5.

Maps can be picked up at The Toe River Arts Council locations in both Burnsville and Spruce Pine. This is a self-guided tour, which includes over 100 artists and galleries.
 Just follow the red and white tour signs for an adventure into beautiful mountain scenery and wonderful unique homes/studios.
You will be greeted with a smile and even some fresh baked goodies!!
So much to see and do on this tour!

I’ve worked really hard the last few months so there are lots of beautiful hand woven rugs, dishtowels, table runners and mug rugs.
There are also lots of stitched ornaments and a few snowmen.

I wish all of you could come and visit but I know some of you are too far away so
I’ll have lots of pictures over the next couple of days for you.