A Wonderful Return to the U.P.

In 2022 my friend Cathy and I visited a quilt show in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the UP). It was a great trip (click here to read about it). Last week I was invited to present a talk for a church in Iron River ~ so I was able to return to that beautiful area. And what a great trip it was! I arrived on Friday night and members of Lakeland Baptist Church invited me to their home for a delicious, really home made dinner. They raise their own beef, grow their own vegetables and are both wonderful cooks.

If that weren’t enough ~ Jan is a “hooker” (rug hooker that is 🤣). She told me that she’s made a few quilts, but she didn’t really enjoy cutting up larger pieces of fabric and then trying to get all the tiny corners to match. She actually thinks hand-quilting the finished tops is more fun. That’s not something I hear very often. Then she said that a friend introduced her to rug hooking and she found her niche. Her home was covered with hooked rugs ~ like mine is covered with quilts. And John was more than happy to give me a tour of her work! As I began to take photos I discovered I couldn’t choose a favorite. They were all wonderful. I was impressed by the very first one. This long runner that laid atop their shoes was designed by Jan. She and John are on the right, along with all their animals on Sunset Farm.

You read that right ~ she creates her own personal designs! This one is in honor of their two donkeys who have passed.

Another floor rug was made from a traditional quilt pattern.

And this one is based on a Scripture verse.

Aren’t her designs delightful!!!

She also does “penny rugs”, and the way she displays them is charming.

The following are some of the hooked rugs hanging on the walls. Jan made the “partridge in a pear tree” as a Christmas hanging she could leave up year round.

And once again, her artistic flair is evident in the way she displays each one.

She even dabbles in Russian Punch Needle.

Thank you Jan and John for a memorable evening. As it was coming to a close I was able to get a photo of Jan with her wool stash. Even that is displayed in a beautiful way. The wool is in the cupboard, and the “worms” (cut strings of wool) are in the bins on top.

It was a delicious and delightful visit! And the next day I presented my quilting/faith journey talk to some of the church members as well as quilters from around the area whom they’d invited. What a joyful event! But I think I’ll save the details, along with the special quilting group in Iron River, for next week.

PS As I was writing this week’s post it reminded me of another friend who designs her own hooked rugs. Julie is a “hooker” and a “stripper” (quilt maker 😂). Her rugs are quite different from Jan’s, and just as amazing. To read that post click here.

PPS After adding the above PS I reread my post about Julie and realized it was written before her second journey with cancer. I think I should add “the rest of the story”: After a long, hard battle, Julie beat stage 4 uterine cancer. Since then she’s had some additional health issues, as has her husband. The Lord has gotten them through a lot, and she is still active and filled with joy. God bless you Julie!