"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve....but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

Friday, March 30, 2012

Introduction

I believe the time has come for a proper introduction. Forgive me for having started a bit ahead of myself...


 My name is Mindy. I am the 'hook' and the author of this blog. Currently, I am living in the beautiful (small) city of Rome, Georgia, but I grew up in the lesser known Amish country of western Pennsylvania. The woods and fields were my brother's and my constant playmates and I draw much of my inspiration from them. If I wasn't sitting somewhere with my nose buried in a book, I was out exploring and finding all manner of wildflowers to drag home to my mother. To this day, I have to examine all of the flora that I come across; looking to find a seed head to bring home in hopes that I will be able to have the same plants in my gardens. I'm sure that I am quite a hopeless case. Thankfully, my children are my co-conspirators and don't mind my idiosyncrasies. 

 
Spring time has always been one of my most favorite times of the year. With the first warm days of the season, I would go out with my Grandfather to tap the Maple trees in preparation for the sugar run. Oh, how I loved spending the days in the sugar building watching the sap boil down, while outside the trees and flowers were preparing to burst into bloom; heralding the end of the cold once again. The warmer air meant that berry picking time was around the corner and the kitchen would be humming with the making of pies and jams. The sight and smell of freshly tilled fields signaled the start of a gardening season that would end in long summer evenings snapping beans and shucking corn in preparation for canning. Now my spring days are spent making my own flower beds and preparing to plant my own orchard for future enjoyment, while listening to my children squeal with delight as they find another new bug or flower of their own.


 Homemaking and the needle arts are in my blood. I had several amazing 'crafty' examples to follow while growing up. My grandfather was from Lisbon, Portugal, and, out of a desire to connect with my heritage, I was fascinated with the art of making Madeira Lace. (Unfortunately, I've yet to learn the process.) I grew up hearing stories from my grandmothers of how things had been when they were young girls, all while watching them with their knitting needles and crochet hooks constantly in motion. My memories of a great-aunt are filled with her sitting; tatting shuttles weaving in and out. My mother taught me how to sew and cross-stitch by the age of 12, and I've been in love with it ever since. I have never been content with knowing just 'the basics'. To keep me occupied while homeschooling our older children and to keep from going crazy while cooped up in the house on winter days, I taught myself how to knit and crochet. The patterns that I love are always the more difficult and I'm never satisfied until I can use them somewhere. I think that I get more joy out of the execution than I do out of the actual finished product. I am currently perfecting my tatting skills, which had to be put on hold while preparing for the Artist Expo. I am already in love with the art and have so many ideas for how to put it to use.

I've always loved the prints of historic fashion plates. The way that those women would combine basic skills to create such elaborate and beautiful dresses has been another source of inspiration to me. I hate that so many of those skills have been all but lost over time as they fell out of vogue. It is my hope to bring many of them back into use with a more modern twist; whether it be for personal fashion or around the home, in my soon to open Etsy store. They are just too beautiful to lose completely.

Monday, March 26, 2012

A Sigh of Relief!

We were privileged to be a part of the first annual Roman Starving Artist Expo this past Saturday and I have to say that it was a wonderful experience. Twelve local artists combined their talents in painting, pottery, photography, ironwork, woodwork and jewelry, to provide a fun-filled Saturday afternoon filled with inspirational art for the community. Over 300 people came to support us and to donate food for one of Rome's soup kitchens. The amount of time and love that was poured out to make this event possible was obvious as the day progressed. Some people came to support their favorite artists and others turned out to discover new talent while enjoying refreshments and live music or demonstrations.

Here are just a few photos of the event...


Jewelry by Stephanie Kipfer and myself, with paintings by Alexandra Egorova
variety......
The Hook and Hammer

Sunflowers by Alexandra Egorova
Bowl and plate turned from one piece of wood by The Hammer
Tall Treenware goblets by The Hammer
Oil on canvas
Pottery by Lisa Ingram and Tobias Layman
Chippendale Mirror by The Hammer
Copper and Australian Jasper necklace by The Hook
Turquoise disk necklace by The Hook
Selection of crochet earrings by The Hook
Rose necklace by The Hook

If you weren't able to make it out to see us, please take a look at some of the other artists' websites and our Facebook page for more photos,  https://www.facebook.com/TheHookandHammer , so that you can see what you've missed! And don't forget to mark your calendar for next year's expo on March 23rd, 2013.

The complete list of artists:

Nadia Brown............. Oil on Canvas Paintings
Nate Chambers.........  Wood Work
Sasha Egorova..........  Oil on Canvas Paintings
Gorg Hubenthal........  Wood Turning and Wood Furniture
and 
Mindy Hubenthal......   Crocheted Jewelry
(of The Hook and Hammer)

April Ingram.............  Photography (of April Ingram Photography)

Lisa Ingram..............   Pottery (of Pottery by Lisa)

Stephanie Kipfer.......  Jewelry and Handbags
Toby Layman............  Pottery (of TAL Ceramics)

James Schroeder......   Pop Art
Ryan Smith............... Photography (of Ryan Smith Studios)

Rex Treadaway.........  Iron Work

In the mean time, while it was a wonderful time and I don't regret a second of it, I now have a 'to do' list about a mile long to get myself caught up with the household chores. Oh, and that minor plant obsession that I've mentioned in my profile...*sigh*...I can finally get to work in my flowerbeds and yard without having even the slightest twinge of guilt over neglecting the Expo!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

And so it begins...

I have resisted as long as possible, but the time has come for me to give up the fight and start a blog :) So, without further delay....

Welcome to The Hook and Hammer blog! Please bear with me as I get things up and running, because while I may have some skill with a hook and thread, my computer skills are a bit less developed :) Until I can unravel the process to uploading photos here, feel free to 'like' us on Facebook where I'm uploading photos daily. 

  
Don't forget to stop back here from time to time and, if you are in the Rome, GA area, come see us at the Roman Starving Artist Expo this Saturday, the 24th! It can be found at 7 Coral Avenue and we'll be there from 12-7pm. While we aren't actually starving ourselves, we are collecting canned goods for a local charity for those in the area who do struggle with hunger. Come see some of the freshest talent in Rome and be prepared to treat yourself to something special!


Thanks for stopping by!