Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Jacquard Dice Dyes
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

Head Lamp saves the evening!

11/25/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture
The power going out in Mahone Bay happens as frequently as winning the lottery.  Actually, maybe there are better odds on winning than being left in the dark.  How is that for praise of our town?  We have a fantastic history of few power outages and if they do occur it’s doesn’t last long as the team hits the road to fix the problem immediately.  So I must say I was very surprised to find myself sitting in the dark last evening, especially when I was trying to hook, had just pulled about a dozen loops and then couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.   When one wants to hook, one wants to hook and I will admit I was thoroughly annoyed.   

Usually if the power bombs it’s due to a storm but although the wind was blowing it wasn’t anything to worry about as far as securing the composter or checking the BBQ on the back deck. I don't think it was an accident, I didn't hear any sirens or ambulance whip by the house. Maybe it was scheduled,  I don’t read the flyers but usually those planned outages occur in the middle of the night when most folks are fast asleep.  I phoned Shane who lives in the center of town and he had power so the trouble was on the grid on my end.  Thoughts of hopping in the car and going to the shop were considered but it was raining pretty heavily and with my luck, I’d arrive at the shop as the power came back on, which I wouldn’t know about because I wouldn't be home.       

There isn’t much to do in the dark, especially when there is no one to snuggle with.  I lit a few candles and wondered if there would be enough light to hook by but the amber glow didn’t cut it unless it was very close and who wants flickering flames close to my wool or my hair....it’s hard enough to keep it on my head without singeing the crap out of it!   And that’s when I thought of the Lee Valley gadget I'd given hubby a few Christmases back.  A neat head lamp which hubby uses out in the yard to pile firewood when the light gives way to darkness.  As I dug around in the drawer, I prayed the batteries were good as it hadn’t been used for some time.  They weren’t at one hundred percent power but cast enough light so I could resume hooking.  The electricity was out close to two hours and that was all the time needed to hook my little cone Santa.  Generally, I’m a fast hooker, but really, except for the face in a #5 cut, everything else was a #8 so it almost hooked itself.  I’m making a bunch of kits for the Father Christmas Festival and the samples all sold last year save for the one I gave to Mrs. Claus when she and Santa visited this summer.  Kits always sell better when there’s a visual aid so I thought I would whip up three, a red, a green and a blue one.  I finished the last loop about five minutes before the power came back on so I was able to steam press it to take to the shop tomorrow to cut out.   Tonight I hope to do the other two and then hand sew them into cones at tomorrow at the hook-in.

So note to self.  Buy batteries for the next emergency.  All you hooking gals, ask Santa to stuff one of these fabulous lights in your Christmas stocking.  It’s a must have and should be part of your survival kit.  RayVac makes the head lamp that comes with a stretchy headband to hold it in place. I highly recommend one for power outages; it’s perfect for crafts or reading.  It is much safer than burning candles and is hands free so you can move around the house without bumping into things and find your way up and downstairs easily without dragging the candelabra with you like something out of a Frankenstein movie.   It sure was a gem and beats twiddling your thumbs.    

Picture
Plaids are scrumptious to work with.  I over dyed this green plaid slightly to dull down the white lines running through it.  They still show but don't drag your eye to them. 
3 Comments
Elaine
11/25/2014 01:55:27 am

Too true!! When you want to hook,,, you want to hook!, love the Santas,, hope you post all the colors when you finish them, would love to see them.

Reply
Pam
11/25/2014 05:12:18 am

Costco sells a 3 pack set...I used one last power outage in Lunenburg. I love that you light up where you are looking. :)

Reply
Brenda
11/25/2014 10:59:24 am

Love the Santa, that wool, and the headlight idea! That will be on my next shopping trip...

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Picture

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local: 1-902-624-0370​
encompassingdesigns@gmail.com

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL