I planned to write blogs at rug school but between the shop and fun, my evenings were chewed up and swallowed. What a slice! It was a fast and fruitful week, the van was a little less bulging on the way home. The shop was a huge success!
After setting up Sunday afternoon and into the evening which made for a long day, then open for business 11 hours on Monday I was wiped so I went to my room after closing and pretty much passed out. By Tuesday I got a second wind and stayed up to hear Don Tabor sing in the entry way accompanied by two guitarists and I must say, the hair on my arms raised a few times when he sang songs that brought back great memories. He’s been gifted with the art of song and is as comfortable on a stage as breaking bread with friends. Don is from Springhill where my mom was born and he also knows my cousin Joe in this wonderfully large, but small world.
I’ve been adopted by a couple of sisters who promised to visit Mahone Bay for continued fun; I sure hope they were serious! Everyone danced their arses off at Wednesday evening’s pub party. A DJ provided the tunes and we all cut up the dance floor, ripped it to shreds with our hip thrusts, arm swings and boogying down. The next morning my bad knee felt great and the good knee screamed a bit; all that twisting and shimmy, shimmy shaking. Not bad for a middle aged gal. I know I was transported as the tunes peeled back the years. Every Wednesday at school there is a theme night and this year was all about black and white and some of the get ups were hilarious and the dancing, oh the dancing, was the highlight of my week.
I asked the DJ for Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars and was obliged, twice. I love that song, it’s so upbeat and funky, who cares what the words are. The music inspires movement and if you can resist, you should be checked for a pulse. I danced pretty much too every tune, except for those that I traded for rest in my chair and a mouthful of beer. Midnight came too fast and the plug was pulled all too soon. I staggered to the dorm, greased by a couple of micro-brewery beers and without much experience and tolerance for alcohol, the tipsy gauge moved a wee titch to the right. But no worries, my new sisters helped me home and like Vegas, What Happens At Rug School Stays There. I have the rug to prove it.
I designed this pattern years ago and Susan Leslie hooked it. We embellished it with some bling, a pair of glasses, scissors and a hook, the latter disappeared off the magnet a while ago. Note the slip under her dress as she kicks up her heels. Thence the name, “Kicking Up Your Heels”. The rug says it all. Too much sweet indulgence, a bit of social drinking, a lot of shopping and of course, rug hooking.
Thursday evening it all came to an end for the shop although the classes ran till Friday noon. Shane arrived late afternoon to deliver goods that people ordered throughout the week. He and Deborah were like little elves back at the shop dyeing wool and drawing patterns so I didn’t have to disappoint any customers with their wants and needs.
Thursday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, there was a wonderful display of the student’s projects and let me tell you, they were awesome, this wonderful craft we love is reaching higher levels of creativity every year. Some of the projects raised the bar so high we will have to get out a vault pole to top them.
Three busloads and many outside admirers flooded the room until it roared; the collective oohs and aahs were excellent praise for work well done. Plus the student rug hookers and Teacher’s Branch pieces were still on display, wrapping the room in a wonderful artistic, rug hug. What a show it was!
After everyone left at 8:00 we went to work removing the shop. It takes far less time tearing it down then packing it up with a lot less inventory to address, so we slammed it all together in an hour. Shane drove the van and I had my car and thank goodness my Aunt Audrey came up for the drive with him so I had someone to drive home with me or perhaps they would have found me in a ditch. The last few minutes of the hour long drive I fought to resist yawning as the need to close my eyes crept in. I only managed two hours sleep the night before so I was dragging a bit.
When we hit Mahone Bay, we unloaded the van and I got home close to midnight and pretty much staggered into bed with my happy pups. It’s a lot of work and long days, and all the fun can take its toll but it's nothing a good nights sleep won't cure. I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It was a blast.
A big thank-you to Deborah and Shane for all their hard work to get me to school and then to come home and set it all back up. We are a great team! Thanks to Shane for all the heavy lifting.
A big thank-you for all the wonderful compliments for Shane’s dyed wool; he really is the Dye Guy!
A huge thank-you to all our wonderful customers who support us, we would be nothing without you!
And last but not least, a big thank-you to the Rug Hooking Guild of NS for selecting Encompassing Designs Rug Hooking Studio as the vendor for their 2018 rug school.
For all those heading back home, safe travels and hook on!
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