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This is the day the LORD has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 |
| Logon | Archived Blog Entries |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Sunday, April 07, 2013 |
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Island Dreaming We are finally getting to see some signs of spring so it was pretty exciting to weave a rug for a brand new house on the island of Anquilla. This is a 12x16 (folded in the box and ready to ship) with swatches of the main colors laid on top. The owners wanted to incorporate "island colors" along with the hot coral and turquoise. The house won't be finished for a few months. Can't wait to be able to post photos when everything is in place!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Friday, February 15, 2013 |
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Are you looking at me? I was passing through the kitchen and saw this doe checking me out through the window. She was foraging for whatever she could find before the sun set.
We had about three inches of fluffy snow on Wednesday night, and by the next morning every single branch was coated.
The Japanese Maple looks especially lacey.
Spring will be welcome, but we have had some magical winter scenes! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Saturday, February 09, 2013 |
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Just Enough We were on the western edge of the snow storm yesterday and last night, so we didn't rack up the totals of those who are northeast of us. Tom did need to get out the snowblower, and he made short work of the driveway and paths to the studio and house.
The birds are going through a lot of sunflower seeds.
The winter sun cast a shadow of the crabapple tree on the snow.
We keep the pond from freezing over with a heated disk and a pump which keeps the water moving. The fish are at the bottom where it's 'warmer'.
I think tonight we'll sit by the fire, watch a movie, and have a glass of wine!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Saturday, February 09, 2013 |
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A Little Color in Winter I've had this miniature orchid for at least six years. I bought it from a wonderful place called Hearts-Ease here in Tewksbury Township.
It has dealt with my benign neglect, and has still managed to bloom several times over the years. Its current home is the northwest window in our kitchen. It must like it there, because after some months at that location, it finally sent out another spike.
Each little blossom is about the size of a quarter. A pretty sight in the dead of winter! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Saturday, January 19, 2013 |
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Sunset I've been working overtime getting ready for the gift fair next week. The "overtime" part is necessitated by the intestinal virus I caught from Tom last week, despite him disenfecting everything he came in contact with. I'm pretty close to getting it out of my system (so to speak), but part of my body is willing and other parts are not. Yesterday, when I looked out of the window in the front of the studio, I caught this view of the setting sun, which is a good 45 degrees from where it sets in the summer.
Today, when I began to walk up the hill to the house, the sky was aglow from yet another beautiful sunset. I took this photo from our front yard looking toward our neighbor's house.
Along with this beautiful light, I am seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel" with respect to work that still must be done before New York. Enjoy your weekend! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Saturday, January 12, 2013 |
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Saturday Chores I've un-decorated our two beautiful Christmas trees and placed the ornaments back into their boxes. Today we loaded them and some broken branches (left from Sandy) into the Patti Wagon. Tom brought them to the municipul building where they will be ground into mulch and placed on walking trails through out Tewksbury. You have to look closely, but the two big trees are in there!
When Tom came back, we went out to the wood pile where we are slowly but surely splitting the wood that Tom brought back from our friend's house almost two years ago. Our aim was to split another pallet of wood. Tom has his dad's spliter that cuts the wood "like butter'. My job is to stack the wood on the pallet. For my part, I use the term "job" lightly as I LOVE stacking wood. I truly do. I look at it as another art form and I get a lot of satisfaction out of surveying the finished stack.
After we finished, I looked up to see the sun, hidden behind mist and fog, above our Norway Spruce that got it's head blown off during hurricane Sandy.
Getting ever closer to the the show in NY at the end of the month, I wanted to do some work in the studio. Here is a rug from yet another new collection. This one is "Brindle'.
Today, I also remember my dad, on the day of his birth. |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Tuesday, January 08, 2013 |
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Another Beautiful January Morning I couldn't resist taking another sunrise photo this morning before I went out for my run. At this time of the year the sun rises in a position so that it shines through our sliding glass doors and its rays reflect against the cabinets and walls like glowing candles.
When I got back, I checked on the fish in our pond. I'm always asked 'what do they do in the winter?'. My answer is that they sort of hibernate, more so the two Koi, while the comets and shubunkins do a slow move in a kind of suspended animation. Here are the koi, nestled like two downed submarines at the bottom of the pond. The photo is deceiving as they are three feet down.
This is a vast difference from their feeding frenzy mode in the middle of the summer. Yes, they know that they are going to get fed by me in just a moment.
With less than three weeks before the NY show, there are are many more rugs to weave. Here is one from another of the new collections we will be debuting. This one is 'Opal'.
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Friday, January 04, 2013 |
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A Brand New Day This morning I took this photo of the sun rising over the trees. It's a cold but beautiful start to the day.
I've been busy preparing for the New York International Gift Fair which opens on January 26th. We will be debuting three new collections of rugs woven with indoor/outdoor fabrics. Here's a sneak peek at one of the rugs from one of the collections.
I'm hoping to get all of the rugs up on the website (with any luck!) before the show. Happy Friday! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Tuesday, January 01, 2013 |
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Reno and Resolution Here we are on the first day of the new year and I am finally posting the photos of the partial renovation of our guest bath. This project was started in January of LAST year. I think my new year's resolution is to be more timely about adding posts to this blog! This started out to be only replacing the 1980's vanity top and sink and updating the vanity by changing doors and drawers, hardware, etc.
We soon ditched the idea of 'updating' the truly pitiful vanity and went onto plan B which was to replace the vanity as well as the top. Once we knew the height of the new vanity, which was higher than the old vanity, we realized that we had to raise the big mirror which meant we also had to raise the light bar that was above the mirror. We then started to discuss the fact that we should probably replace the light bar and install all new lighting. Well, the wallpaper now had a hole in it so I decided that I might still have enough wallpaper left to add a new strip. Tom then said that he thought it was time to take the lovely Laura Ashley paper down (can you see where we are heading?).
Of course, this was MUCH easier said then done. When I started to try to take the paper off, the printed layer came off, but the backing stayed tightly attached to the wall.
What I neglected to add was that the decision to take down the wallpaper came AFTER we moved the new vanity and HEAVY marble top with undermount sink into the bathroom. In order for me to get the backing of the wallpaper off the walls, I had to spray it with water and scrape it off while working around the vanity which was in the middle of the bathroom. The walls had to be scrubbed with TSP to remove all the glue before we could prime and paint. That's Tom at the end of the vanity, working on the next (unexpected) part of the project. We had one of those lovely ceramic toilet paper holders in the wall which had to be removed and re-sheet rocked. That wasn't the unexpected part. When we took the baseboard register out so Tom could repaint it, we discovered that the plastic that was over the insulation had been ripped off and not replaced by the workmen hired by the former owner. That allowed the changing cycle of warm air/cold air to cause the lower part of the sheet rock to become moldy. That was the unexpected part, which forced a repair.
Next step, the installation of receptacles for two recessed lights and two pendants.
Finally, after painting walls, ceiling and wood work, the job was done.
I made the valance by cutting from this fabric, which was also woven into the rug.
Tom made a frame for the mirror and we attached it with mirror tape.
I love the pendants!
And so ends the saga of the little project that grew....sound familiar? Stay tuned for this winter's project! Happy New Year |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Thursday, December 27, 2012 |
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Baffled This squirrel has been trying to get to the feeder for a long time. He really thinks this is the correct path to success.
If at first..
You don't succeed....
Just forget about it!
On another note, I forgot to add these two Christmas morning photos to yesterday's post. Walking down our road on the way back to our house.
It was a beautiful, quiet, Christmas morning.
I hope it was at your house too! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Wednesday, December 26, 2012 |
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Scenes of Christmas We bought our trees from the farm around the corner and down the road from our house. They are concolor firs, 7 feet and 91/2 feet tall. We put them both in the Patti Wagon and the owners of the tree farm took a picture. The dog doesn't belong to us, but his coat matches the car!
Here they are decorated. This is the 7 foot livingroom tree.
This is the 91/2 foot family room tree.
The table is set for a small gathering of friends two weeks before Christmas.
Carolers at our front door!
Snow on Christmas Eve as we head to Church!
Our Church, St. Paul in Flemington, after the 9:00 PM service. Our fabulous Director of Music, Dave Perkins is saying "don't take my picture!" Too late!
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Thursday, March 07, 2013 |
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Looms (and some equipment) For Sale No, I'm not selling my four, eight, and twelve foot AVL work horses, nor am I selling my two original looms (see my 'About Us' page), but I am selling two looms that served me well, and have been 'resting' for some time. The first is a lovely old Traub loom, made in Germany. I bought it from my German weaving teacher because I needed something other than a counter- balance loom to weave a set of church paraments. This is a counter -marche loom which gave me more flexibility with designs. Needless to say, the old girl hasn't been used in a long time, so she needs a good home. It is maple and is actually put together with wooden pegs, and is very sturdy. The weaving width is 36' and comes with a twelve dent reed. At some point along the way, Klara must have taken the original harnesses off to use on another loom, and at present, it has the make shift harnesses that it did when I bought it. Because of that I am pricing it at $275.00.
She still has her lamms, they're just not connected
The second loom is a Nilus Leclerc that I also bought used. My original Leclerc has a 45' weaving width, and this one is 55'. This loom is probably from the 1950's and is strong and sturdy. At one point, I cracked the warp advance ratchet which was made of maple, as is the loom. Tom made me one of oak so that is the only non-original part of the loom. It came with a regular beam, but we purchased sections from Leclerc to turn it into a sectional beam. They are included with the loom, and can be detached if desired. It also has a twelve dent reed. I am pricing this loom at $475.00.
Now, on to the equipment. Some years ago I learned how to wind a sectional beam, and never went back to traditional warping using a reel or board. Consequently, I have two reels and one board that also need homes. The first reel is one that I purchased at the same time as the 55' loom. It too is probably from the 50's and is made to stand on the floor. It is about 33' in diameter and stands 64' tall. Believe it or not, I have wound 33 yards of warp on it. I am pricing it at $175.00.
The second reel is one that was made for me by a caprpenter. It is also maple and would be used on a table. It is 36' in diameter and stands 42' high. I am pricing it at $125.00
By the way, it does come with a pole that goes in the center...I forgot to attach it. The last item is a warping board that was made for me when I used my first little 15' table loom. You can put about five yards on it. It's yours for $20.00.
The first person to purchase a reel or the warping board can have the paddle that was also made for me. You actually make the cross by slipping the warp threads onto your index and middle fingers. I found it to be easier and quicker than the typical reed like paddles.
The leclerc loom is disassembled and can easily fit into an SUV or smaller wagon. Same holds true for the Traub and warping reels. Hope to hear from you, otherwise, next step is Craig's List! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Monday, July 09, 2012 |
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Summer Sky
Sun on the Moon
Watercolor Clouds
Fireworks at the Carnival
"To see the summer sky is poetry,though never in a book it lie-true poems flee" Emily Dickinson |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Thursday, July 05, 2012 |
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Back in the (blog) Saddle Again It's been a busy few months, and although I've been building up quite a photo archive, I haven't had a chance to do much blogging. We didn't get to go to High Point for the market in April due to the fact that we had a trip to Germany (more on a later blog) only a week later. I did send some rugs to the Wesley Hall showroom. Below are a couple of them, along with the swatches for matching.
Mary Elizabeth Geitner, the design director for Wesley Hall, was kind enough to take photos of the finished rugs in their room settings. The color was a bit off as the sofa was more of a teal blue as you can see from the swatches. Phones are not always the most reliable cameras!
The colors were more true in this setting.
These two rugs, which were both 8"x10" were purchased by Story and Lee to add to their showroom floor. We've also been having a lot of interest in our rag rug pillows. Here are a couple of them that were ordered to match our #10-4 rug.
In between a busy work schedule, I'm trying to get patches of time to enjoy the great summer weather. Here are some images taken on our property.
A box turtle in our stream. We think it's the same one that hatched in our perennial garden some years ago. They apparently return to the place of their birth!
One of this year's bluebird fledglings with his dad, who had just fed him a juicy bug. The birds hang out on the fence before flying down to the stream to have a bath and a drink.
Here's to a swim and a cool drink! |
| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Wednesday, July 04, 2012 |
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"We Hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with cetain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Sunday, April 15, 2012 |
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BEAR! A couple of Saturdays ago, right after a week of warm temperatures, we awoke to find our bird feeder pole bent to the ground and the bird feeder gone. Apparently the warm weather roused an inquisitive bear.
I was sure that we would find the bird feeder smashed to a pulp and laying in the paddock, since that is the path that a black bear has taken in the past. I was amazed to find it just at the end of the pool fence. The top was off and most of the sunflower seeds were gone, but it was still in one piece.
Tom straightened the pole, we refilled the feeder, and put it back on the pole. How the bear managed get this feeder across the driveway and into the paddock, and twist off the baffle on the top, is a mystery to us. The feeder will soon be put away for the summer, but until it is, we now bring it in at night and take it back out in the morning.
The warm weather has also brought the frogs (four so far) back to our pond. I took this short video while working in the perennial garden. That's Billy Joel's "Captain Jack" playing in the background. At first I thought it was the frog croaking along (they also like the Rolling Stones) but apparently he had other things on his mind. The other inhabitants of the pond are also becoming quite active. Note the new lily pads which are growing at a fast pace after their winter dormancy.
Our bluebirds have taken up residence in the "house that Tom built" and at last count, momma had laid four eggs just in time for Easter. Between the pond and birdhouse, the saying "if you build it, they will come" holds true around here.
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Friday, March 09, 2012 |
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Better Late Than Never
The New York Gift show was at the end of January, and I've been trying to carve out some time to post some photos ever since. Here's the way the booth looked.
Our great friends from Wesley Hall stopped by to see us. On the right is Mary Elizabeth Geitner, the Design Director and Darrell Fulbright is the Visual Merchandiser and showroom coordinator. Liz Morten from Dovecote Decor also stopped by. Liz sells our rugs on her fantastic web store. She also has a really great blog. We were honored to be listed along with some fabulous booths that Liz visited while in NY. Take a look at her entry on February 13th.
I took this photo on our way home on the last day of the show. We were on the NJ turnpike and the contrails from the planes flying in and out of Newark Airport looked pretty neat with the setting sun in the background. Beauty can be found everywhere including this decidedly industrial area!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Saturday, February 11, 2012 |
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The Latest on Loominaries! The Country Living Magazine editors stopped in our booth last August in New York and fell in love with our pillows. Here's the March issue which features a couple of them!
Today we were also featured on the great new website LuxeYard. They are selling four of the rugs that were used as floor samples in the Wesley Hall showroom. They also have a few of our discontinued 21/2"x4" rugs. The rugs are all one-of-a-kind. Get them while they last!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Wednesday, January 18, 2012 |
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Winter Scenes
It seems there is always something going on, nature wise, around our property. I took this photo from our bedroom window, which I opened very carefully so as to not to spook the girls. Among them was this piebald,which comprise less than one percent of the white tailed deer population. It's the first one we've seen in twenty years. The coloring is the result of a genetic anomaly.
This cardinal was enjoying the sunflower seeds that other birds had dropped from the feeder above its head. I took the picture from inside the kitchen window since the cardinals seem to be one of the more skiddish birds.
Being skiddish is a good trait to have when there is a sharp shinned hawk in the neighbor hood. What you can't see is the nut hatch that didn't manage to escape the claws of the hawk which caught the small bird in mid flight. After I took this photo, the hawk flew off to enjoy its breakfast somewhere other than our front yard.
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Monday, January 02, 2012 |
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A Sweet Surprise
A few days before Christmas, I received a package. Enclosed was this lovely box. The card read 'from Wendy Valliere and the girls at Seldom Scene Interiors.'
This was what was inside!!! Two layers!!! The chocolates were purchased from Sweet Inspirations in Nantucket.
This was the card that was enclosed. A beautiful handmade creation from Meri Meri.
I have been weaving rag rugs since 2005 for the beautiful interiors created by the designers of Seldom Scene Interiors, and it has, and continues to be a great pleasure and joy to do so. I have made some photo collages of a group of rugs that were custom orders I filled for them over the last month.
I love their use of fabric and wallpaper to create a really beautiful design statement. When I receive their swatches in the mail, I always stop what I'm doing to check out fabric I have in the studio to create the rugs. Please make sure to go to their website to see the wonderful spaces they have designed. You can also find some of their finished rooms on our portfolio page. Working with this talented group of women brings to mind the phrase 'Life is Good'!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Monday, January 02, 2012 |
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Farewell to the old year and to a dear friend
Today, Tom and I attended the memorial service of a man who has been our neighbor and friend for the last twenty one years. He and his wonderful wife were the first people we met when we moved to New Jersey. It would take a book to list all of the things the four of us shared over the years. They have been more than just friends, they really are more like family. We have often said they are like a third set of parents to us. I am sitting here reflecting on just how BLESSED Tom and I are to have know him. Farewell and thank you, dear Glenn.
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Friday, December 23, 2011 |
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Blessed Merry Christmas!
And wishes for a Happy, Healthy, New Year
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Wednesday, November 23, 2011 |
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Praise GOD
from whom
ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Sunday, August 28, 2011 |
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The Calm before the Storm
Ok, that's a well worn phrase, but it is the best one to describe this morning. I had a great three mile run, and since I was already pretty 'dewy', I thought it best to start moving pool floats into the garage. We live about 45 miles west of NYC, so while we surely (?) won't get the winds that the coast will get, 45 to 50 MPH will be enough to make stuff fly through the air. I'm not sure how pretty the garden, pond and stream plants will look by Monday so I took a few parting shots.
Believe it or not, this is our 4'x12' pond. The plants are loving our great summer weather, and there are only a few areas where you can spot the fish. This is great for the ecology of the pond, as well as the health of the fish and frogs.
A little closer look at the pond. To the right (in the pond) are water hyacinths and the big green saucer like leaves are lily pads! They are also covering three quarters of the pond.
From the deck, looking downstream, pond on other side of brick walkway.
From the pond, looking up stream
They are not worried about a storm coming...at least not yet!
Stay Safe and Dry Everyone!!!
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| Posted By: Patricia Lukas |
| Tuesday, August 23, 2011 |
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New York Gift show: Pumpkin into crystal coach transformation We returned from the New York Gift show on Wednesday. We have been exhibiting there since 1993. We have met some wonderful buyers over the years, many of whom have become customers and a large group of those we consider friends. This time was no exception. It is exhilarating and exciting to be among so many talented and creative folks, both buyers and exhibitors. It is a big job to get ready to get on the road and go. Most exhibitors have their displays and product trucked in and travel includes air, and taxi cab from the airports. For us, it is a matter of loading up the "Patti Wagon" with contractor bags full of rugs and display materials. It still is amazing to see the transformation of Pier 94, our "home" for five days. If you come to the show as a buyer, you've probably not seen the before and after. Here's a peek.
On the turnpike, skyline in view.
Some of our "stuff" that we brought in on our dolly. Note contractor bags containing rugs.
Here's the booth before. Lovely, isn't it?
Our aisle. Note our booth on left. We've laid our booth rug on the floor.
Here's a view from the front, walking up towards our booth.
Saturday Morning. Pier 94 has been transformed!!
Our aisle
Our finished booth. Ready for business! This is the debut of our pillows (on right) which were very well received!
After a great few days, we packed up once again, and the pier turned back into a pumpkin. We will do it all again in January! |
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