Who is Orange Sink?

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Rice Lake, WI, United States
My home town is Rice Lake, a small town in northern Wisconsin. I own Red House Wool Studio~ an in-home wool and rug hooking business. I enjoy collecting and decorating with antiques and primitives. Orange Sink Blog is a journal of my interests and ramblings about life. Cathy Greschner

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Friends Near and Far~ Encourage One Another!



Yesterday was our second Tuesday of the Month Hook-in here at Red House Wool Studio! Our merry band of hookers and stitchers numbered seven of us! The flu and other ailments kept a few home and we wish them full recovery in time for next month's gathering.
A big WELCOME to our newest rug hooker!  Kathy is being taught by Cindy to hook and appliqué! Now can you believe this is her very first rug?!!  Oh my goodness!  She says she LOVES it so far and is already talking about designing her own rug!  That is when you know someone is hooked for ever!
Cindy had the pattern she gave to Kathy and purchased it from Carrie Martin www.onerugtworug.com  
Kathy has finished several wool applique' projects as well! We are excited to see what she will bring for show and tell next month! 




Our most prolific hooker Lisa has finished the hooking on her doves rug ( antique adaptation by Sally Kalin Pine Island Primitives). Don't you just love the colors she chose! She is doing a fabulous job on the antique rugs she loves so much! 


Everyone gathered around to admire and offer advice on another antique adaption of a sheep rug that Lisa is working on!  Oh the colors in this rug are wonderful! She's so close to finishing this one too!  Now the binding Lisa!  We all know you love to bind ( not) LOL!  But they are not really rugs until they are bound as I like to remind ( myself included)! 


Working together and enjoying each other's company!


Cindy helps Kathy with the binding on her rug! It's so encouraging to see the help and encouragement  amongst our group. I believe it is a trait of rug hookers and wool enthusiasts the world over! How we delight in helping our "sisterhood" learn to work with their hands and create. A gift beyond measure as it has a healing quality.  Who wouldn't love to give and recieve such a precious gift! 


Cindy shares a cute wool pincushion she made using wool applique pennies!  We all loved the vintage look and the way it is lightly stuffed with crushed walnut shells to give it weight and that old feel! 


Nancy had her wool applique piece machine quilted and it is really beautiful! She can't wait for Fall to display it in her home!

I received this beautiful Valentines Cyclamen plant from Cindy!  It is just gorgeous!  I have never had a Cylamen plant before.. so I hope it's easy to grow!  Thank you Cindy dear friend!  
As I mentioned in my title that friends near and FAR encourage one another, I recieved this photo of a Santa rug that my online fellow rug hooker and friend Marolyn from Sierra Madre, California designed and hooked!  
We have been emailing and keeping in touch now for a couple of years and she is so encouraging to me and a wonderful lady!   I have this plan to someday travel to all the places that I have online friends to visit them in person!  In the meantime we need to keep sharing our rugs and happenings through emails etc. 
Isn't this rug just as awesome as they come! The design, color planning and that blue bird ( oh how I love it)!  The beard is really great!  
Thank you so much Marolyn for letting me share it! 
It makes me want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! 
But Easter and Spring shall take place first..
and I for one WELCOME them both!

Cathy G

Sunday, February 5, 2017

I Heart My Scarf!


Well.... here it is!  My results from sewing a few pieces of wool together, cutting out some heart shapes from different textures and appliqueing them on with the blanket stitch. Pretty simple and something fun to do with wool besides just hooking rugs or making table mats!
Wish I had more time in a day... I'd try making more wearable items.
I used to sew all my clothes when I was in high school.
More out of necessity than for the sake of sewing.
But it did teach me some basic sewing skills.

So are you watching the Super Bowl tonight?
I may be keeping an eye on it as hubby is glued to the screen.
The half-time show is what keeps me watching... at least until half-time.

Then it will be bed-time for this old gal.

Enjoy the game if you watch!

Cathy G



Friday, February 3, 2017

She Plays with Wool....


Recovering from the flu or something... I was awake all night throwing up with stomach pains.  With all I've had going on lately with my health wasn't sure it was the flu.   I had a Dr.'s appointment this morning which of course I missed.   I'm feeling much better tonight and will have to reschedule that appointment.

I've been playing in some neutral shades of wool.
Not at all sure what I intend to make... there is a vague idea in my head.
It's fun and relaxing to play with scraps not having a definite plan.

It surely is a good thing to give our creative minds that space.

Space to play and dream.

Perhaps something useful will come of it.
Perhaps something beautiful or just something that isn't much of anything.

It's all part of the process of creating.

I'm reveling in that process!

Cathy G