If at First You Don't Succeed Try, Try Again

Remember my last unsuccessful try at avocado dying?  This is what the before and after looked like then

So  I pulled out all the avocado pits and the skins and put them in a pot to try again.  This is before the water was heated numerous times during about 3 days.  There are about 10 pits and fewer skins.

This is the result.  Frankly it doesn't look much darker.

Someone commented previously that..."it looked like more trouble than it's worth".  That person was certainly right but thought using ALL the avocados would give me better results.  

Okay, truth be told I did have an intended use for the wool.  I was hoping to get it close to skin color.

There is a little pink in the skin but need for it to be beige too.  

Perhaps I should try putting the wool back in the pot with the remaining avocado juice but this time with a tooth pick of light pink in the pot. I'm thinking about hooking the 3 Cousins design in April with Cindy Irwin.  But that is about 5 months away and who knows how many times I'll change my mind about project by that time.

Saundra

Hmm, One Row or Two??

The rug is hooked but not steamed or bound yet.  Before it is steamed I need to decide if it needs just one row of brown border or two.  I don't want to overpower the delicateness of the design.

But also don't want to make it seem incomplete.  For sure I wouldn't want a two inch border as that would be too bold.  Instead of hooking a row I just placed a strip of brown wool around the perimeter take a look on my screen.  

Well dang, you can see the foundation between the hooked strip and just the wool strip.  So what do you think?  One or two rows?

Saundra
woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

RETIRED after 16 YEARS

This rug has been a work horse for 16 years at my kitchen sink.  The wool whipped edge has been done twice and is showing worn signs again.  So think it is time for Eat Crow to retire.  This is a design by Anne Hallet, I love and it will miss it at my sink after all these years.

That photo was taken tonight so you can see it is safe to use rugs on the floor.  There have been times when I've spilled something on it but since wool is very resilient have taken it immediately to the laundry room and cleaned it up.  

First thing I do is use a towel to step on and absorb whatever was spilled.  Then using warm water and a bit of mild soap wash the spot.  Then turn it upside down and let the wool dry.

This is the replacement rug ~ Lititz Hens which is a Magdalena Briner Eby antique adaptation.  It measures 20 x 40 so is a bit larger than Eat Crow.  

Lititz Hens will mellow even more with its use and only hope I'll be around another 16 years for this one to retire.  Meanwhile I'll enjoy these two 'new kids' in my kitchen.  Happy hooking.

Saundra
www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

Antique Rug show

Center flowering tree with deer in center, horses at corner and puzzle piece background.

Faded hooked family and pets from 1860.

The auction site said this was a dog and puppy from the 19th century but I cannot see the puppy very well.  The pup appears to be behind the dog.  Perhaps the underside of the rug shows the dog more prominently.  Dimensions are 25 x 37.

Home, bees and bee hive measuring 19 x 37.

It isn't considered an antique since it was hooked in 1950 but the design is an old Frost Sheep with scrolls design on burlap.  It is considered vintage and it IS lovely with that blotchy background I like.

I hooked the Frost Sheep with Scrolls in a class with delightful and talented lady Barb Carroll.

Landscape with Hen and Chicks with little use of color but does the job.  No date or dimensions were given.

Home with 4 hearts in corners; hooked between 1880 and 1890.

Don't know the actual hooked date but this commemorates The Last Dog Train to leave Lower Fort Garry 1909.

Kittens in a Basket located at the Bloomsburg Antique Show (thanks Kathleen). 

And here is a close up of the back with more true colors.

Seaside Cottages at the Beach was the description on the auction site.  It measures 18 x 35 and was hooked mid 20th century.

Happy Hooking.

Saundra
www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

My Camp Project Still In Progress

Was very lucky to find a pattern by Folk Art Landing on eBay for a song so purchased it even before seeing a finished sample.  Monica Jones has designed numerous wonderful patterns and while it was not something I'd normally hook, was inspired by the design.  And it was kinda small..ish.

After receiving the pattern I went in search for a photo of how Monica hooked it; here's the photo from her web site.

Hmm, I like purple but that purple hurt my eyes and the colors threw my focus off so had no clue how to hook it at camp.  

Most definitely I needed my trusty teacher Kris to help me at rug camp with MY colors.  So took my 'go to' colors and we worked with them plus some of her wool.

This is what my rug looks like now.  Still not sure if I'll make it into a BIG pillow or wall hanging in my living room.  

If you look closely you will see some creative liberties on design and color to suit my home.

Thanks Kris for your guidance and it is always fun to be in your class. 

Saundra

Honey...... I'm Home

 Another fun class with Kris Miller.  I took a pattern for which I had no idea on colors.  So took my 'go to' colors of dark red, some greens, gold and light green mix for background.  Of course I purchased a few fat quarters of wool to add in the rug too, plus some for upcoming projects.  Kris did a wonderful job color planning it and am quite pleased with the results.  It isn't done yet but will be soon.

Here is Kris color planning a huge rug named Lucinda's Quilt.

Below in the foreground is my roomie and pal Deb.  In the background is Kris color planning a future rug named Knitting Sheep for Patty .  

This whale design is what Patty was working on in class.

On the other side of the room is a class being taught by Loris of The Wool Farm.

A must have (I have two) are those brushes ~ one stays by my side at home and one permanently with my rug camp gear to ensure I have it.  They are wonderful for brushing off wool dust and bits from the rug  you're working.  She also has great wool, so check out her etsy web site.

The empty seat is mine with project on the frame.  In the background is Renia on the left and Deb on the right.

Renia was hooking The Eyes Have It by Spruce Ridge.  She will finish this soon as there is only background to do.

Deb was working on Over the Moon also by Spruce Ridge but with changes to represent her daughter's dog.  I also have that pattern and bought some wool for it. 

Not sure when it will be on my frame as I may do Old Tom first as I purchased wool for the turkey from Kris too.  Uh, grabbed it right out of her hands.  Here is the hooked sample of Old Tom Kris brought.  The wool is in the body and wing section from just one piece of wool.

Cathy was working on a Sally Kallin design which I have long admired.

Was told the name of the rug below and designer but have forgotten.  It's coming along nicely.

My neighbor was hooking a Gail DuFresne sheep.  Kris showed us a technique to achieve that poofy top on the sheep.  She uses two different pieces of wool (similar value), pulls two loops at a time then separates the wool to make it appear curly.

Joanne's project, The Reverend ~ don't you adore that cat?  The Rev is hooked awesomely too.

Be still my heart!!  Tonya was hooking an antique adaptation of a sheep by Jan Cole but it was huge.  Makes me want to hook one too.

I previously showed this antique rug on my blog ~ described as Reclining Lamb made late 19th or early 20th century, original measured 23 x 41.

Pam brought a previously started rug on which she lost her rhythm.  Kris certainly went above and beyond the call of duty as a teacher to get Pam back on track.  

On the other side of the room in Loris' class was a gorgeous rooster being hooked by Peg.  Look at that wonderful border which when hooked looks like chicken wire.  WOW!

In addition to wonderful rugs in progress, one gets exposed to helpful tools when attending a rug camp or hook-in.  A few of the ladies had these wonderful carts.

And they collapse.

Tonya and Joanne were using cushions which both ladies claim makes a huge difference in their back and spine comfort.  So I will be making a purchase of one before next rug camp.

Now back to my regular diet as I've two new pounds to lose.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

The Night Before WAKE-UP

Once again I'm excited about rug camp and emailed my roomie Deb to remind her of something.  She texted me back saying she hadn't replied to me because of being with a group of OUR friends.  We all started out as a 'doll club', the group leader Frannie eventually moved away as did I.  But these creative women have continued to expand their creativity beyond dolls.  

From left to right is Pat, Naomi, Cindy, Joy, Donna, Cappy, and Toni.  It is my gal pal and roomie Deb taking the photo.  Sure do miss those creative afternoon classes.  

Am sure Deb will be packed and ready for camp tomorrow afternoon and transition from whatever they were working on into hooking a rug.

Saundra

NOVEMBER ALREADY

It's November 1st and count down to rug camp in just one day and a wake-up.  It will be another fun class with Kris Miller and seeing all my rug hooking friends in Ocean City, MD.  I missed the April class in O.C. as I was having health issues but am my normal healthy feisty self and ready to play with my pals.  

While slowly binding Oh Glorious Day I started a small pattern design by Tonya Robey called Winter Bloom.  Wanted something small to satisfy my hooking habit before rug camp.

Don't think I'll take this little project with me as finishing the whipped edge of Oh Glorious Day will take up my time to have it ready for the rug show.

Saundra

Happy Halloween

Two fun rugs designed by Lori Brechlin and both hooked with Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios.  Below is Nantucket Broomride.

And Do Goode Be Nice below.  Instead of hooking in the skeleton key I attached one to the rug.

Saundra

HALLOWED EVE

'Tis the eve before ghosts, goblins, witches and other gremlins appear at our door steps.  This a Happy Haunting Applique Quilt piece I made over 20 years ago and have forgotten who the designer was.

It is hanging on my front door to great the super heroes, angels, devils and all who wish a 'trick or treat' tomorrow night.  Actually it has been years since youngsters came to the house as the kids in this small community have grown and gone to college or gotten married.  My grandson used to come dress up and he is now 16 so am sure he won't be here with his bucket to fill either.

Am slowly getting ready for the rug camp with sweet and talented Kris Miller.  Have my wool pulled but know for sure she will have better choices to add with mine to make it a better rug.

Saundra