GIVEAWAY AND A SURPRISE

I am terribly remiss in doing a blog post to show photos and thank Lauren from the awesome Rugs and Pugs  blog for the wonderful giveaway gifts she sent to me.  I think everyone knows I LOVE WOOL - hence the name Woolwoman and Wooley thoughts - I knit with wool (well mostly) and I hook with wool and sometimes I stitch with wool too.

When I signed up for Lauren's giveaway - I never dreamed I would win.  NEVER - however I did WIN and WOWWEEEEE did I win.

Lauren send a lovely box of textured wool already washed and dried and ready to hook. Lots of lovely wools - I was in shock - first that I even won and then how lovely the gift was.

Then buried inside the box was this darling scrabble stand and blocks spelling wool - now I just need to find the woman blocks and I'll be happy as a clam.  This is right up on the shelf with my favorite wooden trinkets.

Buried in the box was this awesome silver pendant - I had seen these on Lauren's blog but had no idea that was part of the giveaway - It looks great on one of my favorite silver chains and Lauren did not know this about me but I wear a lot of silver jewelry and am never without a silver pendant around  my neck.  The first rug guild meeting I wore this to - our local teacher and director of Off the Ocean rug camp just had a fit over it.  A crummy photo but you can see the w o o l engraved into the silverware handle.

Many thanks Lauren - you rock !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was in Savannah again recently and took another awesome ornament finishing class from the French Knot

I took this same class from Audrey last year and finished my seahorse into an ornament.  It hangs year round keeping miss mermaid company in our sun room.  Last year - the finishing was very different - everything was done either on a machine or stitched by hand.  This year the glue gun was my new best friend.

I was very apprehensive about gluing - Oh My I thought - GLUE - egads - not sure I can put glue on my beautiful ornament but Audrey assured me that unless it was an heirloom piece that she would not hesitate to finish with glue and that many finishers use glue.  OK - so let's jump into the gooey glue.  I had never in my life handled a glue gun - I guess that is why they call it "hot glue gun"  DUH - it does get very hot.  Anyway - here are just a few sneak peeks of my ornament - it is going to go to a DF of mine and just in case she sees the blog - I don't want to spoil her surprise but I could not resist telling you about my great class and showing a few sneak shots.

Audrey has an extensive collection of trims, baubles, fabrics and treasures.  If you love needlepoint, fibers or accessories and you are in Savannah - do pay her a visit .  She also does lovely and unusual finishing and has a website to purchase from if you can't pay a visit in person.  Her wall of fibers is not to be believed. 

Look at the darling tassle that hangs on one side

I adore the christmas lights that are on the bottom of the ornament.  I did sew all these on by hand.  They were the finishing touch on my ornament and I think they are perfect to set it off and give it some whimsy.

I will show a photo of the finished ornament once it is gifted.

I have been working on nothing but this ornament - I knew I had a deadline and simply had to finish before this class.  So I have no other stitching progress to show and I did not allow myself to do much knitting either.  Nose to the grindstone and I did get it done.

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.  Can't believe today is December 1st - Christmas in 24 days and counting. only 30 days till 2012 -  I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful holiday season - turn on your favorite christmas songs and enjoy the season !