Do you know how many day’s are left before the big day ? Well let me inform you not enough if you are a person that leaves everything to the last-minute! I just took out my calendar book and counted out the days and guess what, I scared myself into a frightful frenzy, 38 day’s left before Christmas Day EEK ! Until you sit down and count you really don’t realize how close it is. But do not fear common sense is here Do we really need all those large gifts and all that debt NO, do we need all the hassle and grumpiness that we see in the line ups NO. What we need is spending quality time with family and friends, having great food. Making Traditions that last generations, no amount of  money can buy that?

Well the Graham Family Tradition is Christmas Eve we always have lobsters for our supper served with butter and wine then we will get ready for the Christmas Eve Service @ the Westport Baptist Church I sing in the Choir and looking down at my family at this time give me such Joy and Love because in reality material things can not come close to these feelings that I have at this moment! After Church we have a gathering at our home with close friends, my parents and some of Jesse’s friends they love the spread of food that is there:)  My son is 20 years of age but we still read the book ” Tis The Night Before Christmas” I know what you are thinking come on enough that is a bit much, but it just isn’t Christmas until we read it, we tried going with out one year and it was like something was missing!!!

I think many kids like stability and continuity and to me that is what traditions are about don’t you think? I hope this Christmas you have the chance to build a tradition in your holiday’s , if you have one please comment I would love to hear about yours. I know this is a bit early but as I said 38days people!!! I also thought I would give you a glimpse of the Church I go to is it not beautiful

Well I must say I do not know what all the hupla is all about as when the day was fast approaching I felt more empowered than depressed! I thought well if I started my own business in my late 40’s what was I going to do in my 50’s To me it seemed as though every one should look out and say here she comes what is she going to do next? Well I can tell you in my 50th year you will see some really exciting things take place with me, as the Jefferson’s Theme song used to say “Movin on up” well that is how I am thinking, I believe that if you visualize it and believe it to shall come to pass! I hope that everyone that has a milestone in their life can come to terms with it and look at it as a achievement and not a hindrance you will enjoy life so much more and so will the people around you .

This was early spring at Kedji and I was on a tourism  workshop and it was my second time snow shoeing I love snow shoeing who would of thought the only problem I fall down a lot and it isn’t easy getting up especially when your husband goes ahead a long way!!! Well thank goodness there were spotters lol!!!  I am showing you this picture and telling this story is never think you are ever to old to try something new or try a new experience, there is nothing that can match that high you get when you have done something on your BUCKET LIST! That is what snow shoeing was to me though I was not good at it, I had a great time and I laughed a lot.

Well I also must tell you I have a few classes coming up, here is the listing and you may contact me for your booking a space or the people who are hosting it.

NEEDLE FELTING CLASSES: YARMOUTH NOVEMBER 20th-21st THIS IS A CLASS WERE YOU WILL DO 6 ORNAMENTS AND HAVE EXTRA STUFF LEFT MORE. THE COST IS $55 FOR THE KIT

PLAYING WITH TECHNIQUES    : MAHONE BAY @ ENCOMPASSING DESIGNS IT IS A SANTA TRIVET YOU  WILL LEARN TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT FIBERS AND MATERIAL AND HOW TO PICK THEM WHEN YOU GO TO FRENCHY”S. EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED THE COST IS $55 YOU CAN GO ON THIS WEBSITE TO BOOK YOUR SPACE. NOV 28th IS THE DAY FOR THIS CLASS.

www.encompassingdesigns.com

Also I will be at the Annapolis Royal Fire Hall Christmas Craft Show on Dec 5th time is 10a.m. -3 p.m. I will have many things for you Rug hookers and also I will have Christmas tree ornaments and many other things so come and enjoy all the goodies that will be there

Well how was your Thanks Giving ? Did  you spend it with family or did you choice to spend it with friends? And what are you thankful for ? These are my questions of the day !

Myself I had a really nice Sunday we awoke and prepared for Church Mom and DAD went with me and that was nice then I came home and proceeded to make 2 pumpkin pies which turned out very nicely I might add, as it has been quite some time since I have baked anything lol ! Then the lovely turkey that could not run fast enough was put in the roaster and prepared for cooking yummy, we smelled that cooking all afternoon and Jesse felt he was not going to last until it was done! Then my 2 strong men prepared the vegetables for cooking and that is the meal that we had! So to me it was having my family with me that really matters, also if you have a friend that is alone then invite them over it makes them feel special what is a few more potatoes lol.

Well what am I thankful for : Being able to practice my spirituality and faith in the open.

Friends and family who support me in what ever adventure I choice.

A great Husband , both my parents are still living and that is something to be thankful for as some many of my friends do not have theirs!

I could name so many more but I guess my point is that we live in a Country that we take every thing for granted and we forget how Blessed we are! So my challenge to you is sit down and right in a grateful journal once a day 2 things that you are thankful for and you will begin to see many Blessings fall upon you!

Pond cove sunset

May the sunsets of tonight bring you the dreams that follow!

Always follow the dreams and passions of your heart and every thing else will fall into place. Quote Vicki Graham

Well has the weather ever changed quickly ! I am sitting in my office listening to the winds howling like a lone wolf in the forest trying to find someone to talk to. Well summer sure wasn’t long this year.  I have been for a drive through Kedji and I must tell you it is the most awesome site of colors I have seen in a long time , if you are in need of inspiration for dyeing wool,  just take a leisure drive and see the fall colors on the trees and the reflection on the water WOW is the word that comes to my mind:).

Well I have a busy October on the 15th I will be in Digby down on the water front as Victoria as there is a cruise ship coming in to Digby , now to me that is big news! I will also be sell some of my wares and doing demonstrations. Also in the month of October I am holding beginner class’s @ my home on Monday evenings from 7pm-9 pm if interested please call 839-2607. Then on October 24th I am doing a needle felting workshop on a Witch’s pin and a Pumpkin pin it is  in the afternoon from 1pm-3pm if interested  please call 839-2607.

Keep posted for what is coming up for the month of November as I will be teaching new things.

Here is a really good formula for fall colors : 1/4 orange in 1cup hot water spot dye over 1/2 yd

1/4 yellow, 1/32 seal brown repeat as top one  try not to over lap the colors much

1/8 red, 1/64 moss green mix in 3/4 cup boiled water spot dye try not to over mix to much it  should be nice for fall leaves.

Hope you enjoy, and let me know how it turns out for you, the thing with dyeing wool is relax and have fun DO NOT BE STRESSED ABOUT IT YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THE COLOR SOME WERE

Christmas Needle Felting class

This fiber art form is very old but is becoming very popular once again. All you need is the right kind of wool, proper needles and a good instructor. I have been doing needle felting myself for 4 years and I find it a very creative way to add many dimensions to my rug hooking and also you can make beautiful pins , seasonal ornaments,and 3D animals and the list goes on and on. I have been Teaching how to do it for the last 2 years and have had great success in my students walking away with lovely products that they have created! If you are interested in learning how to do this I can travel to your group and teach you, or I do have kits that are for sale on my web site. I have other designs also these are not the only one available. Well I hope you try something new it stretches the mind which keeps us young. www.hookingbythesearetreats.com

I am in the dye pots again

Well fall is here and I don’t even know where the summer went, oh right it never came! So does that mean we will have an extra long fall and winter will not arrive until December. There is no peace for a hooker I am in the dye pot again , It is that time were I am getting ready for my fall and winter course’s, you know what that means I need all kinds of colors! Oh the pretty red’s,greens,golds,oranges,and so on….. this is my favorite thing to do . I hope you are ready to learn some really neat things and your group would like me to come for a class if so all you have to do is call 839-2607 or 308-0948 and ask for Vicki and I can tell you what is on for this fall and winter for class’s and which bookings are open.

The class’s that I am looking at are a Santa wall-hanging that is my own design and you will learn how to hook with velour and other kinds of material and also learn some really neat stitch’s.

Also there will be a needle felting wine bag that will have a Christmas scene on it. There will also be Christmas tree ornaments to make and you can do 3D ones or there will be the flat ones. You need to call for pricing on all of these as it really depends on how many are taking it and the kit size.

Also I have my mail order page up and running I hope you go on my website and check it out:)www.hookingbythesearetreats.com

I have been watching a Kingfisher diving right here in front of my house, now if that wasn’t awesome I don’t know what ist! I have been working the last few days at the Bramble & Roses spinning my wool and meeting some fun and unique tourist. You would not believe how many people have never seen spinning and want to see it done and how intrigue they are by the workings of my spinning wheel. Oh how I love my job. Well I must go for now and finish up work now you have a great day and happy hooking.

May you find joy in a Monarch Butterfly flying by after he has just come out of his cocoon, may you have peace like a river flowing freely down a mountain, always look for the free things that God has given us to enjoy and if you find them share them with someone you love!

Here Floyd is showing the kids a tide pool and what may be living in it. We think when we come to Brier Island all you do is whale watch well there is more to do, you can explore the shores for what they have hiding in the rocks! You can go looking in the grass’s and find some lovely flowers, or just sit along the shore and enjoy the peacefulness of the silence that can surround you.

Also you may want to take the children to visit Victoria for a lesson on how yarn is made. These are my cousins who have come for a family reunion and wanted to sit and spend time with one of their Elders how rare is that! I  think our children are seeking and trying to find someone to connect  to so why not do this while we are on vacation!

So let Hooking by the Sea Retreats be one of those  experiences that we can give our families, or a girls getaway. Any thing is possible you just have to ask and we will try to fit a package to your needs.

Well my thought for today is “The best and most beautiful thing’s in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller. That is how I feel about my faith you cannot see it you just know it! May you have  agreat week and happy hooking till I come on again Vicki

Needle Felting

Brier Rose

Hi everyone well have I been busy, I now have kits that are available to buy, there is the Brier Rose, Western Lighthouse, and also a Tulip Swirl all of these have the pattern on Scottish burlap,wool,binding, whipping and the rope to finish your piece. They come with a photo and some hooking instructions in the kit, all for the cost of $ 60 plus shipping. The chair pad measures 12in. These are just a few of the patterns that are available, I will be having table runners and Christmas tree skirts…. and many more.

Also we have yarn that is made right here in my home and I also dye it any color that  you would like, it is 100% Cotswold Wool. This is also for sale just washed and ready for needle felting great for Santa beards and textures, we have many colors of that also and that will be on my website this coming week, pricing will be posted ,shipping is extra. There will also be needle felted kits available. So keep your eyes open and keep checking out my site as it has been a busy time for me washing wool,drying it, dyeing,and as they say so on and so on….. here are some pictures at the top of the page for you that might interest you in my kits! Well I must go for now and have a glass of wine and relax as it is the week-end but here is a thought” Always laugh when you can….It is the sunny side of existence”. Lord Byron HOW TRUE

Well I thought I would give you a look at what I see every day! Now this of course is one of our great summer days  and also I had the Fundy hooking group down for a hook-in and boy did we have a great time thanks ladies.

Fundy Hooking Group

Can you believe a new season has started, well it sure has and it off very slow here on Brier Island! Is it the weather, the lack of money, jobs or do people just want to stay home this year that is the question that all tour operators are asking themselves , well my thought is that you have to think outside the box and try something different and try a unique way of  encouraging people to come to your community! I think that by offering a hands on learning experience and getting reconnected with our ancestors and teaching a old art form that is functional is a great way to start.

Rug hooking is one of those art forms, this is a functional art form that keeps your floor warm and also uses up old material that you have in your closets as you can use everything from: jeans,cotton,nylons,wool and so on the sky is the limit! Here is a picture of one of mine that is mainly recycled material, hope you enjoy:)

If you are interested in taking a day workshop call for availability : rug hooking, needle felting , washing wool and spinning… call and I will accommodate whatever class you would like to take.