MISC. CHIT CHAT

It's December already?  How is it possible for time to pass us by so fast?  The clock is ticking too fast for my liking.  Tonight's post will highlight some rugs hooked by other folks. 

Most recently Margaret shared her finished rug of an antique adaptation I named Maine Garden, since she lives in Maine.  She chose the dimensions of approx. 24 x 36 and while the design is too dainty for me to hook it was her favorite.  She said it was hooked using #5 and #7 strips.  Ya done good Margaret and it is a beauty!

Her friend Diane (who happens to be McGowan teacher) decided to hook a primitive design I drew for her.  It is also an antique adaptation which I named Rainbow Petals and measures 24 x 36.  

But take a look at this magnificent Frost Eagle Diane recently finished.  It is gorgeous ~ the feathers are wonderful and just look at the eye and you can even see the detail of the tongue.  Diane said she hooked the eagle in #5 but the stripes were hooked in #8 ~ all textures were used in this rug.

And that's not all Diane hooked...take a look at this Yankee Peddler design hooked in #3 and #5 cuts.

Last but definitely not least is Nancy's recently finished work on my Mache' Jack-O-lantern design.  WOW, looks perfect!!!  Nancy you did a great job replicating my colors, we must have the same wool in our stash.

Maine Garden, Rainbow Petals, Double Eagles, Mache' Jacks and other patterns are available on my web site by clicking on the link under  my name.   Just hover over the picture to see size and price and if you tap on the picture it will enlarge so you can see a full view of the design. 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. CHIT CHAT

Since it is October, thought I'd start sharing some of my autumn hooked pieces.  This first one was a free pattern insert in the Sept/Oct 1997 issue of RHM and a design by Barb Carroll.  Look how all those textures work well in the border.  Hope Barb is smiling down on my color choices and likes the purple.

Mache Jacks is my design and I offer the pattern, the crow was a purchase from JoAnne's fabrics many years ago and the papier mache' jack-o-Lantern I made with a group of dollmaker/crafter friends when I lived in Columbia, MD. 

Remember a few days ago I told you Priority mail, and I suppose all USPS mail, increased by $1.  On 10/3 I shipped a pattern from Delaware to  Georgia and as yesterday 10/10 it still hadn't arrived.  Tracking had it in Jacksonville, Florida yesterday and was finally delivered to it's destination in GA at noon today 10/11..  

Huh, how did it miss Georgia?  Last time I looked at the US map from DE it would have gone thru VA, NC, SC, then GA before getting to Florida.  WTH?????  That was supposed to be a 3 day delivery but since the price went up $1 they should have made it a 2 day.  Anyway it finally reached its destination after 8 days.

So far I've not given in to turning on the heat despite waking up to inside temps of 62* in the morning.  I manage by wearing a turtleneck with sweats and lately it has been warmer outside than inside.  So open the windows where a little heat trickles in and increases the inside by just a couple degrees.  Soon it will be too cold for me to handle the cold and will give in to turning on the heat.  Am trying to delay the electric and fuel bills by as many days as possible.

Hope people are looking for their choice of pattern and plan to join me in the challenge.  If anyone has questions please feel free to email me.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

The Games We Play

 In case you hadn't notice Lauren (Rugs and Pugs), Robin (that Cranky Crow) and I are a trio who play off one another.  Appears we take cues from each others blog posts or personal emails ~ sorta like a 'tag, you're it'.  If you follow/read our blogs you'll get it.

So in response to Robin's latest blog post wanting to see my homemade Jack-O-Lantern, here it is along side the hooked Jack and his Crow ~ which was previous tag team effort with a follow-up to something Robin said.

The Jack-O-Lantern was made starting with a big foam ball from the craft store, covered with purchased papier mache', painted, then cutting out the foam.  Can't recall if the hole for the wire handle was poked while the mache' was damp and pliable or later.  I'm thinking it would have been much easier to cover a balloon and when dried burst the balloon.  But perhaps the balloon may have burst while making it and having a failed Jack.

Obviously my Jack needs a little something inside to hide that bright white.  Even painting the inside would be better but will have to decide something soon.  

Here is the inside paper on which I drew the eyes , tongue and glued to the front.

Since the vintage Jacks are hard to get or very expensive if you find them, I've got my homemade one.  Well, make that four.  I designed and hooked these "Mache' Jacks" which also make me happy.  Again this was an attempt to fulfill my desire for the real thing.

So Robin.... is that one of Poe's relatives who just flew in and sitting on my harvest table?

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Mache' Jack-O-Laterns Update

At least that is what I'm naming them now because it was the vintage paper mache Jacks which are at a premium price if they can be found, that I was trying to capture.  There are two down and one to go.

Funny thing is that I was happy as a clam with the first one I hooked (on the far right) but then when I hooked the one on the left thought he looked more like a real vintage paper mache Jack the other.  Still haven't pulled any loops on him yet so will wait to see what the middle Jack looks like after he is hooked.

Many designers have versions of Jacks and I've admired and hooked a few of them.  Although I didn't want to do a fine hooked realistic piece my intentions were to still get the look of a vintage paper mache Jack using a primitive style; I'm using #8.5 strip hooking everything and the dimensions are 14.5 x 25.5 for the piece. 

For you newbies just joining my blog you may wonder why I didn't hook the middle Jack first.  My learned hooking teachers taught me to hook "what's on TOP first". 

Have a great evening and you on the east coast enjoy this low humidity and cooler than July temps.

Saundra

Mache' Jack-O-Lanterns Update

Sure wish I  had an almost finished project to show you but don't...sorry.  Am still working it out and finally decided to stop, take a picture and post it here so I can get a bird's eye view on what I've done and determine what to do next.

My 'plan' was to make these Jacks look like the vintage ones I remember seeing as a kid and wish I had in my collection now.  Hmm, frankly don't think we ever owned one as a kid so maybe they were too expensive for our family even back then.  Come to think of it my brother and I used pillow cases to collect our small amount of Halloween treats and had to turn the cases upside down to get to our reward.

This is what I've accomplished thus far.  I'm trying to make the Jacks look they have wear.  The one on the left is supposed to show some wear and rubbing on the lips, cheeks, top and bottom.  At a distance it looks better than when it is just under my chin while working on it. 

I would like to make all three pumpkins a little different in design and color because there were different manufacturers of the Jacks and each would have different wear.  Plus, some had the green at the bottom or top or perhaps on both.

All I can say is this is more fun than doing a commission, although the commission does...."show me the money".

Have a great evening everyone and enjoy the weekend.

Saundra

Mache' Jacks ~ One Down Two To Go

Today I managed to get  a few more loops pulled, the one jack is finished and just barely started another.  Before posting this picture I wanted to have some background hooked and pull a few loops along  the curved beauty line inside.

Not sure which texture I'll use for the beauty line or perhaps a mixture of both.  It will probably take a lot more hooking on that line before I'll know.  Heck, it's only one row so it could be easily switched out with a little reverse hooking.

As you can see on the linen, the dimensions are 14.5 x 25.5.  This will be a nice size to put on my harvest table this FallOween.  If anyone is wondering, it is my design and eventually will be a pattern I offer for sale.

The past several days have been unusually pleasant for a July in Delaware but the party is just about over.  Heat, humidity and storms are to arrive tomorrow.

Hope your evening is good and tomorrow even better.  Please be kind to one another...let's all play nice.

Saundra

Here's What's Next

With the commission rug done it was time for me to execute those  couple ideas rolling around in the grey matter as I hooked on someone else's piece.  So pencil to paper I did 3 drawings and finally narrowed my choice down to one.

Normally I'm not a bright wool kinda person ~ I gravitate to a more subdued color palate suitable for a primitive old look.  But October will be here soon so decided it was about time for me to get the vintage paper mache' jack-O-lanterns out of my head and put on linen.

I'm still trying to work out the kinks and his mouth looks like it needs attention.  I wanted a red orange for the inside of the mouth but maybe I need to go with a darker burnt red to give more value contrast to the orange pumpkin. 

So when you see it again there might be some changes as stumble thru my hooking process.  But must admit it is much more fun hooking for me, yet the time away made me appreciate this process even more.

Have a good evening.

Saundra