Aspen and Seth

Stevie loved my "wedding" tapestry and asked me to try one of her pictures... then she left to shoot a wedding. I looked on her blog and found this picture. It is Seth holding his neice Aspen. Isn't that a cool name!!! So again I made a pattern, this time on "hookable" wool. A nice grayish tint that reminded me of a needlepoint piece my grandmother had done many many moons ago. also I wanted to try to duplicate it with a style I'd seen somewhere before where to picture isn't completed on the edges. Maybe I just didn't want to hook the whole thing... but I came pretty close to the whole picture... just Seth's hair mostly.... usually it is a shaved head with stubble... but now it is longer and wavy. So what do you think?

A new hooker... my daughter Sara. Yeah SARA!!

My finished project taught by Jane Halliwell Green... made into a tote bag... I love it, but I have a plan for it... he he he

Finished the hooking of "the wedding"

I'm so excited about this piece that I've hooked the whole thing in 2 days... and I mean I didn't even eat, sleep or you know!!! My shoulder hurts and my hand is stiff but my heart is so full of love for this craft and my two daughters that the time just flew... I was totally addicted!!! Thanks mom... so you know... I was absorbing everything for the 6 years I've been idle and it just comes back to me as I hook. My technique might not be perfect, but then either am I, so we are such a good fit. Years of sewing, applique, stained glass (failures) and a wish for artistic talent to draw has combined into this craft. Thanks to all the hookers, teachers and wool dyers that answered my questions, showed me their technique, and told me I'd be a "hooker" one day! Thank you MOM! I love you!!! xoxoxox Butchie

work in progress

But this is the best... I've been wanting to do this for a long time and have the photocopy pattern on this blog... now I've transferred it to linen... just wait...

This is a stained glass pattern free on Chatals free pattern site... cool huh?
I love how she has the finished product and the pattern... you just print...assemble and hook

I'm a "hookin" fool

I finally cleaned my house today, having company!! But inbetween cleaning I took some pictures of new projects.

This sunflower is finished and will be made into a tote bag. Jane Halliwell Green is my teacher... I am only half way thru the class and I'm finished... so I get to start another piece... two for 1 price... love a bargin...

I can sit in my chair and pretend I'm in Monterey California... A McGown pattern taught by momma, Janice Russell

EBAY--Exciting new projects in my life

click here to see the recycled sweater backpack on EBAY

Okay... I've gone crazy sitting at home for 2 months. Sewing my little heart out and now I'm trying EBAY along with ETSY. The difference is that EBAY sells everything and is very popular. ETSY only sells handmade items and is a bit tricky to get the item posted.. several more steps but about the same price. So I'm trying out EBAY to sell all those cluttering items around the house as well as crafts I've made. I'm trying to avoid having CLEAN HOUSE come from the LA area to do a show on the "cluttered homes of the east coast". So check out my posts on EBAY. I'm under BBUTCHIE and this is a link to one of my "treasures" ... don't know why it doesn't show... course I've done something wrong in placing the URL... but you can also search on recycled wool sweater backpack or rug hooking frame cover.

My treasures

A Bev Conway pattern called "He who laughs" was adapted to portray my two girls, Stevie and Sara, and myself... the "matron"... ugh... but I love it and renamed it "A Mothers Treasures" I'm sure you know why. Below are a couple of t-shirts of made of pictures taken from the rug. Enjoy!! Franie

Rug Hooking Covers

My design... I love these fabrics more than the tapestry, I think. For the Puritan frame all the way up to a 19 x 19 Townsend and as small as the little Frazier lap frame... elastic in the edges hold it tight to your frame. MEOW!!! I have several cat prints, but love love love Laurel Burch prints. The flap folds over to the back when you want to hook, stays down to protect your hooking, and the pocket holds anything from your scissors and hook to your wool you are using at the moment!!! Enjoy the ease that the elastic edged cover comes off to reposition your hooking AND saves your hands and arms both while hooking and/or transporting your frame. don't want cats??? Just tell me what you would like and I can email you pics of fabric I have. Want tapestry? I have that too! All it takes to get the cover of your DREAMS is an email(and a realistic price)!!

Just a few things I've been re-creating with re-purposing in mind!!

Backpacks... old and young, man and woman find uses for backpacks. Some of these are from men's sweaters, have crocheted straps, or straps cut from the sweater. None are lined which allows for a stretchy, roomy pack that will hold lots of necessities!!
The two at left are for a young girl... the two on the right are up for anything and anyone!!



These 4 are bright and each one different. Far left is a yellow sweater backpack with purple pom poms for straps. Next is a tan with red and blue spots and a blue pocket. It has a double button closure. Yellow with a cat print pocket and rainbow crocheted straps is a fun little bag. Last is a blue sweater pack with a multi-blue crocheted straps and button decorated wide mouth.

Checked red, black and gray, or grey with white and red accents, another light blue wool, lots of browns, greys, pretty peaches, and grey and light blue... I've got so many and will post more here later and check out www.franiefran.etsy.com

New Job

I've always thought I'd love to open a craft store... not one like Michaels or JoAnns... but one that you can go into and learn to do what you have always thought you might want to do... stained glass, rug hooking, t-shirt recycling, t-shirt decals, tote bags, sewing, crochet, desk top publishing or just painting a flower pot. Since I'm into just about all crafts and have a craft room bigger than my living room, I thought I might try my hand in a little home business. I'd like to give others like me, but not silly enough to purchase all the paraphelia, a chance to try out a dream craft or project.
Recycle those old kids shirts into a quilt, take those photos and make a collage and then print it onto a tote, shirt, or cover for a stool or bedspread. Take that old ceramic teacup you just broke and make a mosiac coaster or into a necklace. In other words I want everyone to be the pack rat I am... or at least help me use up all the goodies I've been hoarding through out the years!! Stay tuned for more information... I'm not a master at anything, but sure do have the determination to tackle about everything you can make yourself.

Sweater, Sweater, felted sweater!!

I've been collecting sweaters for a while now. Mens, womens, kids... they are all an inspiration to me to shrink, felt, cut and sew something new with them... even hook them. I've made them into backpacks, purses, change purses, fancy purses, vintage purses and baby diaper bags. I've cut them up and hooked with them as strips, cut out shapes and used them to proddy flowers, and cut them to trapunto (sp?) into a hooked piece. My shelves are full of them and still I look for more. So if you have a wool or mostly wool sweater, scarf, hat or anything of wool, let me know... cause I want it!! Or I want to tell you what you can do with it!! Recycle Recycle Recycle... Remake it!! take care... Franie

My family

My family from the left, Stevie (son in law), Sara (new hooker), Robin (husband), Stevie (photographer)

drop us a line sometime!! Take care, Franie

ETSY store

I'm so excited that I have my own store now. http://www.franiefran.etsy.com/ is the web address and I have rug hooking frame covers designed for a hooker by a hooker. Yes, it is true... I am a hooking machine. I'm working on my 3 large (24x36 is very large for me) piece and have finished at least 5 medium pieces (18 x 24) and have lost count of the smaller pieces. I even have my daughter, Sara, hooking with me. Stay tuned for a picture of her first piece, though actually it is her second because about 10 years ago my mom, Janice Russell, showed her the basics and she completed a rainbow. Maybe I'll post that too because she still has it.
So if you want the perfect rug hooking frame cover... one that is solid and opened at the same time... one that has a pouch to hold your tools and wool... just go to my new store... Franiefran.etsy.com
Look forward to seeing you there... take care and remember to recycle!!