Will Summer Ever Come?
We're still trudging through mud on our farm these days. Although I have noticed the first "spring blossom smell" in the mornings when I do the barn chore, so the earth is trying to wake up, but has a whole bunch more raining to do!
Meanwhile, we have begun our work on our summer issue of Magpie Times: Wish You Were Here. We are still accepting contributions to the summer issue: think travel, vacations, BBQ’s, summer sports, etc. in a whole variety of fiber arts… rug hooking and beyond! If you would like to send an article or gallery project, the deadline is May 1, 2025. All contributors get a free digital copy of the magazine. You can email your project to magpietimesmagazine@gmail.com. Please remember to include the name of the project and who designed it, also your city and state/province!
You can now pre-order Magpie Times: Wish You Were Here in print and digital (like an eBook) versions, to be released on June 17, 2025. And don’t forget the digital subscription deal—4 issues for the price of 3 (no postage and save a tree)!
And you’ll find back issues available for Magpie Times: Busy Bees and most of the issues from 2024 at Little House Rugs in both print and digital versions! Here’s a sneak peek from Busy Bees:
I will have a booth at the Shepherd’s Extravaganza this weekend, April 12 & 13 at the King County Fairgrounds, Enumclaw, Washington. Click here for more info!
DeLovely Rug Hooking Frame Update
There’s been a slight change in the DeLovely Rug Hooking Frame design due to the major hardware stores (Lowes and Home Depot) changing their suppliers. If you purchased the frame design instructions, or Joy of Hooking With Yarn or T-Shirt Treasures, here are the details:
The change involves the tee piece. The new one is longer and taller, so it doesn’t fit the design right. There’s a workaround, though. Instead of cutting 4-20” crossbars, you’ll cut 2-20” pipes and 2-19.5” pipes. That should do it.
Above, you can see the new tee on the left, the old tee in the middle, next to the 3-way corner piece. You can see the old tee was the same height as the corner piece.
I was able to find the old tees at a local hardware chain called McLendons, so it’s possible you can still get the old one. If not, you can adjust for the new one by cutting 2-20” and 2-19.5” and everything will work fine.
I am really liking this new design, mainly because it lifts up the work so I don’t have to bend my neck. It’s definitely worth making, I just wanted to let you know about the difference in the connector pieces. You can purchase the design for making the frame here. The design is also included in Joy of Hooking With Yarn and T-Shirt Treasures. You can use it as a lap frame (above), as well as a standing frame.
I’ll be teaching “Beginning Rug Hooking: Yup, I can Hook a Rug With That” at Fiber Fusion in Monroe, WA in June. I’ll also have my booth, as usual!
Looking forward to sunnier days. Happy Hooking Everyone!
Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com