Pre-order Magpie Times June Issue- Midsummer Magic!

We’re already hard at work putting together our June issue of Magpie Times: Midsummer Magic!

Once again, we have dozens of new articles and gallery projects to share in this issue. There’s still time to submit an article or a finished project, but the deadline for new submissions is May 17, 2024. You can send your ideas and articles to me at littlehouserugs@hotmail.com.

And if you’d like to pre-order Magpie Times: Midsummer Magic, you can save 20% off the print cover price, and 40% off the print price for the digital version. The digital version is just like the print version, except no postage!

Here’s a sneak peek to whet your appetite! https://www.flipsnack.com/C5ACFC66AED/midsummer-magic-introduction/full-view.html (you don’t need a password, just click)

The discount on ordering the print version ends on May 27, so don’t delay. The June issue will be released on June 17, 2024.

And if you missed out on ordering our first issue, Magpie Times: Historic Gardens That Inspire Us, you can still order both the print version and the digital version. We’re almost out of the print version of the March issue, when they’re gone, they’re gone (but of course, the digital version won’t go away!).

I have to say what a pleasure it’s been to work on this magazine project. At times, it has seemed too big to get my arms around, but what fun to see what everyone is working on. All the variety is truly inspiring. We’re chugging along with the new issue, and I can’t wait for you all to see it. The release date for Magpie Times: Midsummer Magic is June 17, 2024

I’ll have a booth at this year’s Fiber Fusion, June 1-2, 2024 in Monroe, WA. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi!

Thanks everybody!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com

Pre-order your copy of Magpie Times

Just a quick note: 

The pre-order price ($16.80) for Magpie Times: Historic Gardens That Inspire Us will end on Sunday, 3-17-24.

After that, the regular price for the print version will be $21.00.

The price for the digital magazine will remain at 40% off ($12.60) as people get used to the new technology. The digital magazine is just as beautiful as the print version. Considering the savings of postage charges, the price for the digital magazine is 58% off the print version for orders in the United States, and 72% off for our international customers!

Both versions come with 21 free patterns!

Here’s a link to a sneak peek of the digital version: https://www.flipsnack.com/C5ACFC66AED/historic-gardens-introduction/full-view.html

To pre-order your print copy until 3-17-24 click here. https://www.littlehouserugs.com/products/magpie-times-march-2024-print-version-sale-20-off

To order the digital magazine, click here:https://www.littlehouserugs.com/products/magpie-times-digital-version-sale-40-off

We’re so excited to release our first issue of Magpie Times. Thanks everybody!

Judy Taylor
http://www.littlehouserugs.com

Extra, Extra! Get Your Magpie Times!

MARCH 3, 2024

Pre-order your copy of Magpie Times: Historic Gardens That Inspire Us, ready to ship on March 17, 2024. You can choose between a beautiful print version (20% off cover price) or a slick digital version (40% off cover price).

This picture doesn’t do it justice, but click this link for a sneak peek at the digital magazine: https://www.flipsnack.com/C5ACFC66AED/historic-gardens-introduction/full-view.html

The digital magazine is perfect for anyone who lives outside the US, wants to save some money (or maybe a tree?). Both versions come complete with a free pattern insert.

The idea for creating a new magazine for fiber artists started when Deana David of Ribbon Candy Hooking and YouTube fame called me on the phone last fall. She asked if I wanted to work on a new project with her. Well, I didn’t need to hear any more than that. My response, in a word, was YES.

Deana David is one of my very favorite people. Every time I see her talk, I want to stop what I’m doing and hook a rug. Her deep experience and knowledge of art history is always enlightening, highlighting many details I never would have noticed about style and creativity. If you’ve never tuned in to her Coffee Time shows, or read her books (Design Like An Artist and Easy Beautiful Handmade Rag Rugs) you must check them out.

Our first issue of Magpie Times features the work of 33 artists and 21 free patterns that you can use to welcome in Spring. We are so grateful to all the contributors who shared their work and ideas. Maybe you’ll be encouraged to share your own work in the next issue?

The theme of our June issue will be Midsummer Magic. We welcome your photos, projects, and stories that make us think of Summer; country fairs, lazy vacations, games, hot air balloons, farmer’s markets, birds, bees, flowers, trees… We can’t wait to see what you come up with. 

Beginning Rug Hooking Class project: Learn to hook with yarn, T-shirt strips, wool fabric strips, and cotton strips!

I’ll be teaching a Beginning Rug Hooking class and having my booth at the Shepherds Extravaganza at the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw, WA, April 5th and 6th. We’ll have fleece judging and sale, a fiber arts competition, used equipment sale, and lots of vendors. Click here to find out more. Maybe you’ll enter something you’ve made! Entry forms must be received by March 20, so if you want to take my class (or any of the others), or enter the fiber arts competition, show a fleece, or just hang out with a bunch of crafty people, download the entry form and get it in soon.

Well, I guess that’s it for now. I can’t wait till you see the Magpie Times!

Happy Hooking Everyone!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com

News from Little House Rugs

I’m always so excited to see that someone has hooked one of my designs! Everyone has their own unique approach, like David Gervais did with my Flag Rug pattern.

He mentioned that the blue line around the flag is the thin blue line and the number 16 in the corner is in memory of an officer friend who was lost in the line of duty. What a great job David did, and the personal touch is so meaningful.

If you are someone who has hooked one of my designs or kits, let me know! I like to share those pictures on my product pages because it shows how much you can interpret your design and make it your own.

Another rug hooker, Emily Simpson, sent me pictures of a repair project she did. She did a fantastic job restoring a lovely Sun design rug. Thanks, Emily for sharing that!

When Deanna David and I announced we were starting a magazine for fiber artists called Magpie Times, we asked if anyone had any gardening/floral projects or stories they’d like to share. We were amazed at the response! We will be able to feature the work of 25 artists and crafters in our first issue, Historic Gardens That Inspire Us, coming out on March 17.

Keep in mind the topic for our next issue in June will be Country Faire/Vacations/Midsummer Fun. We welcome photos, articles or recipes you’d like to share, with a focus on SUMMER, rug hooking, plus all the other fiber arts we like to dabble in (quilting, embroidery, braiding, twining, felting, crochet, hand spinning, dyeing, etc. We love them all!).

We’re still hard at work putting our first issue together, but starting around March 1, we’ll be able to begin taking orders. Stay tuned! If you would like to be sure you get the release announcement, you can subscribe to my blog at the top of this page.

But while you’re waiting for the magazine to come out, check out Deanna David’s newest book, Design Like An Artist. This book is based on her popular “Design Like…” class series on YouTube, where she teaches how to identify the style and motifs of your favorite artists to create your hooked rug designs. She covers 14 different artists in this book. Some you already know, like Vincent Van Gogh and Gustav Klimt, plus some you may not have seen before (but will soon become your favorites). It’s a beautiful book full of history and inspiration.

The New Joy of Hooking With Yarn is on the shortlist for the Chanticleer Instruction & Insight Book Awards! Woo hoo!

I’ll be at the Shepherd’s Extravaganza at our new location on the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw, WA, April 6-7. I’ll have my booth, and I’ll also be teaching my All-In-One Beginning Rug Hooking class on Saturday, April 6, 1-4 PM. In this class, students will get a chance to practice hooking with yarn, T-shirt strips, wool fabric strips, and cotton fabric strips, such that they’ll be able to go home, look at their stash, and say, “Yup, I can hook a rug with that!” Click here to sign up and see all the other classes we’re offering at this year’s Shepherds Extravaganza!

And to find out where I’ll be doing shows and classes this year, click here.

Happy Hooking everyone!

from Judy and Mabelline!

www.littlehouserugs.com

New Magazine Coming!

Big Announcement!

Deanna David (Ribbon Candy Rug Hooking) and I are partnering to create a new magazine for crafters, called Magpie Times. We’ll have rug hooking and punch articles of course, but lots of other fiber arts as well. As you know, magpies are known to be collectors of pretty things We find that crafty people are like magpies, in that we tend to dabble in other crafts, to recharge, or to flex new creative muscles. Trying new things helps jumpstart our inspiration.

The theme of our first issue is Historic Gardens. We’re looking for contributions of all things floral (hooked, knitted, embroidered, quilted, felted, etc.), photos of projects you’ve made, free patterns you’d like to share, recipes including flowers, stories about herbal medicine, any historic gardens you’ve photographed (in your hometown or on vacation). But most of all, we want to share your stories.

Send us all you can, and we’ll use as much as possible, even if it doesn’t have a floral angle. Your project might just suggest a theme for a whole future issue. And if you’re someone who is interested in writing a whole article, we’d love to hear from you, too.

Our first issue is scheduled for March, so the deadline to send in your contributions will be February 17. We’ll have a print option, as well as a beautiful online magazine for our international crafters (or folks who just want to save on the postage!). Next month, we’ll have more information on how to subscribe.

In other news:

Folk Basket, 9″x7,” hooked with yarn, T-shirt strips, wool fabric strips and cotton fabric strips.

Here’s the kit I’ll be using this year for my beginner rug hooking classes. In this sampler, students will be able to try their hand at hooking yarn, T-shirts, wool and cotton fabric strips, so they can go home to their stash and say, “Yup, I can hook rugs with that!”

You can view the 2024 show and class schedule here.

And check out the kits and patterns on sale this month at Little House Rugs.

Happy Hooking Everyone!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com

Save That Rug has gone Digital, Baby!

I’ve been repairing hooked rugs for the past 30 years. I find that the skills involved are not too different from hooking rugs from scratch. There are different strategies you can employ, based on your experience and materials, but repairing old rugs can be straightforward. Let’s face it, when you put a rug on the floor for several decades, stuff will happen to it! The great thing about hooked rugs is that they can almost always be fixed, and enjoyed for many decades to come.

The demand for rug repair is growing, as rugs made in the 20th century have been passed down and are showing signs of wear. I get a few requests every month, but my waiting list for repairs is over two years at this point! I’ve often heard rug hookers say that they could never sell their rugs, but how about making some cash and using your skills to save some of those old treasured rugs from previous generations?

Rose, 44″x72.” Hooked by Jean Volland Sullivan, 1953. Wool strips on burlap, restored.

Having a book to share my repair techniques has been very helpful, but it’s always bothered me how much it costs to ship paperback books, especially outside the US. Books like mine don’t translate well to e-readers. The files are far too large to download to Kindle, and the devices are so small you could never make out the details in the pictures. So instead, I created PDF files of my repair book, so the layout and photos look exactly like they do in the print book, but you can read them on your computer.

Here’s a sneak peek at the introduction.

So if you’re someone who is looking for information on repairing old rugs and you don’t need to have a book on your bookshelf, or if you live outside the US and want to avoid the crazy shipping fees, or you’re just a person who wants to save money (and a tree!), the digital version might be perfect for you. It’s $12.50 (half the cost of the print book) and no shipping! 

If this digital version is successful, I’ll convert my other rug hooking books as well, to give people a choice. I also started a Facebook group Repairing Hooked Rugs, where you can share your repair projects, ask questions of the group, and meet rug owners looking for repair help.

Check out our Monthly Specials to save 20% off gifts, gift cards, kits, and hand-hooked rugs!

Have a safe and happy holiday season everyone!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com

Home Designs from Little House Rugs

November always makes me think of home.

Telephone Chairpad, 12″x12.5″ Designed and hooked by Judy Taylor

This month you’ll save 20% off a whole bunch of “home themed” kits, patterns on linen, and hand-hooked rugs!

See all the November specials here!

HAPPY HOOKING EVERYONE!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com

Check out our YouTube videos!

Welcome to Little House Rugs

Hooking Rugs with Yarn

Rug Hooking With T-shirts!

For more information on all things rug hooking, visit our Learn More page!

Mist, Fog and Falling Leaves on Edeldal Farm

I recently got this message from Kathleen Talkington of Greely, CO:

“Finally, finally, finally, I have finished the cover for my little re-purposed footstool. I appreciated your book for reference (note: she means T-Shirt Treasures!). Using the flower pattern I attempted to create a Pansy footstool cover.”  

“A backstory on my t-shirt yarn. My original plan was to hook a Sunflower using the yellow t-shirt from my favorite uncle who passed away last year.  Unfortunately, I was only able to salvage a small amount of the yellow fabric you see in the design. Thus, a Sunflower became a Pansy. The light purple is from a tie-dye t-shirt I made with my Mom for an Alzheimer’s Walk a couple of years ago.  My uncle was her brother. This was my first foray into Rug Hooking. Thanks for your online encouragement and assistance. Now onto other projects!   ~Kathleen”

I can’t tell you how much pleasure it gives me when people send me pictures of their projects! Send me yours and I’ll share it with my corner of the world!

I had a great time at my rug hooking class last weekend in Port Angeles, WA. I have only one more class this year, this one is at Oregon Flock & Fiber in Albany, OR, Sunday, October 15, 1:30-4:30. The online registration for this class is closed, but people can still show up on the day to sign up!

Odds & Sods, 10.5″x10.5″

This is an action-packed class, where students will try their hand at hooking with yarn, T-shirt strips, and wool fabric strips. Basically, they’ll be able to go home and look at their stash and say, “Yup, I can hook with that!”

I’m continuing my 20% off sale from last month. Click here to see what’s on sale!

And hey, did you know I also write fiction? Haven’t been published yet, but hope springs eternal! I started a new blog about creative writing, check it out if you’re interested! The new blog is called Dreaming in Colors. My first post is about how much writing a screenplay helped me improve my novel-in-progress.

Happy Hooking Everyone!

/subscribe

Judy
www.littlehouserugs.com

We Love Animals!

This month at Little House Rugs, get 20% off kits, patterns and hooked rugs featuring our furry friends!

I have two more classes scheduled for this year. One at the Pacific Northwest Fiber Expo in Port Angeles, WA, on October 1 at 1:30 PM. (class kit shown below)

In this action-packed class, students will learn to hook with yarn, T-shirt strips and wool fabric strips, while hooking this primitive pillow top design! If you can’t make it to Port Angeles, you can still catch this class at the Oregon Flock & Fiber in Albany, Oregon on October 15 at 1:30 PM.

And here’s some good news from Rug Hooking Magazine:

Congratulations! You’ve qualified for a $10.00 credit that you can apply to your Rug Hooking Magazine subscription—a special limited-time deal! You’ll get tons of benefits that are reserved for subscribers only… when you join now and claim your credit!

Here’s what you get when you subscribe to Rug Hooking Magazine and join our community of rug hookers:

  • A full year of Rug Hooking Magazine, which includes 5 keepsake issues annually
  • An exclusive pattern in every issue to add to your library and hook all year long
  • Expert techniques, dyeing tips, and rug hooking tutorials
  • Advice and ideas from trusted voices in the rug hooking world, ranging from designing and planning your rug, to selecting colors, hooking with alternative fibers, translating shapes, textures, or ideas in wool, techniques for finishing your rug, and so much more.
  • Gorgeous inspiration and projects for primitive, fine cut, and punch needle rug hooking
  • And much more!

Click here to subscribe to Rug Hooking Magazine and apply your $10 credit to your one-year subscription. That’s 25% off the regular price!

Inside every keepsake issue of Rug Hooking Magazine, you’ll discover something new to inspire your creativity, whether it’s a new skill or technique, a beautiful pattern, or an intriguing journey behind a hooked rug. 

Take a peek at some of the features in our September/October 2023 issue that our readers will enjoy:

  • Hooking Realistic Still Lifes: My Adventures in Looking Closely at Arrangement, Color, and Light
  • Child’s Play: Adapting Children’s Art for a Hooked Rug
  • Find Your Crazy: A Wonderfully Imperfect Project
  • Image Awareness: Artful Mat Making and Rug Hooking as Therapy
  • Take It Outside: The Joys of Rug Hooking En Plein Air
  • Get Hooked: Setting Sail for New Horizons
  • Designer Showcase: Where Buffalo Roam
  • Canadian Connection: A Nova Scotia Treasure
  • Artful Color: Wool Revival
  • Blast from the Past: East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast
  • Dear Beginning Rug Hooker: Quillie Eyes
  • And much more!

Want to see our patterns, tips, and inspiration for yourself? Save 25% off a one-year subscription to Rug Hooking Magazine by clicking here!

This email is a special offer from our friends at Rug Hooking Magazine.

Commonly asked questions:

I’m already a subscriber to Rug Hooking Magazine. Can I claim this offer? Yes! You can apply this special offer to the next annual renewal of your subscription. Please email us at amprypublishing@emailpsa.com. You may also call (877) 297 – 0965 (U.S.) or (866) 375 – 8626 (Canada). Don’t forget to mention this promo code: RTLHRF

I have questions about my current subscription, or want to cancel my current subscription. No problem! Please email us at amprypublishing@emailpsa.com. You may also call (877) 297 – 0965 (U.S.) or (866) 375 – 8626 (Canada).

Happy Hooking everyone!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com

Bayeux Tapestry designs and more on sale!

Bayeux Tapestry, designed by Judy Taylor, hooked by Barbara Kyle, Port Hope, Ontario

Haloo Hookers!

This month all of our Bayeux Tapestry designs, plus our books and linen are on sale for 20% off!

Edward Kit, 20% off

What can I say about Deanna David’s new book Rag Rugs (a #1 New Release on Amazon)? If you’ve never visited her Youtube channel (Ribbon Candy Hooking), you should. Deanna is one of the most inspirational crafters around. She has a deep background in art history, and an understanding of design, color, balance, etc. that makes design understandable and relatable to everyone. But it’s her honest enthusiasm and boundless creativity that sticks with you and makes you want to stop what you’re doing and hook a rug.

But in this book, she doesn’t stop there. With color photos and artful illustrations, Deanna will teach you to use up your scraps of yarn and fabric to make 12 different types of rugs; hooked, punched, locker hooked, Amish Toothbrush rug, braided rugs (both laced and fancy multi-strand), Quillie rugs, Penny rugs and so much more.

I only have one problem with the book… Which one to try first!

Have a wonderful August everyone!

Judy Taylor
www.littlehouserugs.com