Monday, March 18, 2024

PAUSING and PLANNING

Binding Lone Stag rug was put on pause for several weeks and finally completed the task this afternoon.  I do hate binding no matter which technique.
As I'm close to pulling the last loops on Star and Hearts thought I'd better get busy planning my next rug.  Sure don't want to be a frustrated hooker with no rug ready to throw on the frame.  I've even drawn it out but you'll have to wait to see what it is once hooking is done on the present project.

Spring equinox is tomorrow and this is the view from my front door.  The forsythia is beautiful now and will soon those yellow flowers will turn to green leaves.  And when leaves on the other trees grow the meadow will be hidden from view.
There are numerous daffodils around the yard but didn't take a stroll around the yard this evening to take photos.  You can see some at a distance in the photo below.
Happy Spring Equinox and happy hooking.

Saundra



Saturday, March 16, 2024

PRINTERS, SCANNERS and PATTERNS, OH MY!


Thought for sure I'd found a way to circumvent the inability to print out patterns from the computer using the Paint program and the HP 6600 scanner/printer.  But that didn't turn out as expected.  It was if the devil himself had corrupted it and was useless.  Since I had an order for this lovely pattern (1922 Fox) I went out and purchased a new Epson printer/scanner.
I spend over 2 hours trying to get it to communicate with my wifi with no success.  Finally gave up at 5 p.m.  Took the damn thing back the next morning and ordered another HP which was delivered just before noon today (Saturday).  

It's not as nice as the HP 6600 (when it worked) but at least this one does the job.  Got it hooked up easily, was able to print out the paper pattern and just finished drawing it on linen. It's ready to ship on Monday.
Quite a drop in temperature from earlier in the week, got spoiled so these normal temps feel uncomfortable.  Thanks for the leftover vegetable soup taken out of the freezer this morning, my dinner is already planned.  It's just about 5 O'clock and I'm almost ready for my celebratory glass of cab while pulling a few loops on Star and Hearts.

Saundra


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

ANTIQUE HOOKED RUGS

My recent searches have uncovered some wonderful rugs and am excited to share them with you.  First up is the Cat with flowers dated 1889.   The rug has a pleasanr neutral hit and miss background which I like.
Dog and her pup and don't have a date on this one but dimensions are 26 x 39.5.  I know, I'd rather have the date than dimensions too but can only provide what the auction house provides.
Double starburst said to be hooked late 19th century with dimensions of 25 x 36.
A block border and inside very primitive hooked flowers dated between 1900-1910.  Love this.
Hmm, think I've posted this before like around Christmas because at first glance all I could see were Christmas tree lights laying on the floor.  It is from the Hagley Museum, dated between 1850-1900 and measures 34 x 40.  Don't think I had the info before.
Love this fox rug and I've seen some beautiful healthy red fox around this neighborhood.  So maybe one day if I live long enough this will be on my frame.  So many oldies I want to hook and I'm just not hooking fast enough, lol.
Twin horses and harder to see are the four birds on the inside corners.  Dated 1800-1900 and dimensions of 40.5 x 48.
A Nova Scotia runner (53 x 58) and the creative use of the hit and miss hooking gives the appearance of the colors melting.  Very creative.  Oops don't have a date on this so if anyone knows please inform me.
Would you believe the temps got up to 68 today (Wednesday), or at least the last time I checked, so could be higher.  And it will be around 74 tomorrow, which the weatherman says is about 20 degrees higher than normal.  Would love it if the lake would disappear but word is there will be rain again on Friday.

Happy hooking.

Saundra


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

SERENDIPITY

While scrolling thru old antique rug photos I saw this 8 point star geometric.  Immediately my mind went to the wool photo I shared a couple posts ago, some of which I overdyed.  Here is an 8 point star, hooked late 19th century and measures 37 x 37.5.  IF I decide to hook it mine won't be that big. 
And how serendipitous that I still have some of this bottom wool not yet overdyed.  The bottom wool would be perfect to use with a little blue, tan and other colored worms thrown in the mix to hook.   
When I get ready for my plus one or next one perhaps the 8 point star will be IT.  Feel free to save the rug photo to draw your own and join me when I hook it.

Happy hooking.

Saundra



Sunday, March 10, 2024

STAR and HEARTS UPDATE

There's still more to hook so haven't even begun looking for 'the next one'.  Plus have more binding to do on the Stag rug.  But you know binding is never a priority of mine.
Was quite pleased to use some black and white wool which I'd previously considered tossing.  It had been hooked and pulled out so was kinda thready and figured unusable.  Certainly did the job in this rug tho.  Below is the original antique which 
is an Amish rug said to be hooked between 1920-30 and was on display at Sauder 2023.  
After this weeks rain the tide has risen even higher.  This is the back yard and the water goes inside the fenced yard and along both sides of the  yard.  I might not live in a castle but do have a moat.
Winds are horrific and fear with the wet ground there could be trees blown over in the yard.  Hope not again.

Back to the rug, tata.

Saundra


Friday, March 8, 2024

Back to the Dye Pots

Decided to do a little more dyeing before putting all the supplies away.  Since there was more liquid left of Old Patina recipe thought I'd do more of the uglies.  Actually that white and tan plaid is not ugly, but wanted it toned down to look aged.  So did two pots with different amounts of dye in the pots for different results.

These 4 pieces are the before wool shown on the left (below).
The other 3 pieces on the right you've seen in other photos and is the after dyeing.  Sheesh, I could have put them in the same order, duh,  lol.
Also decided to use up some left over Soldier Blue from the Beautiful Wool dye book, which really looks like a periwinkle.  Wasn't sure what I'd end up with but as it turns out I like it.   On the left is the wool I started with and the right side are the results.  I particularly like the bottom wool results and don't know what I was thinking when buying that one either.
Thankfully there's more of the Soldier Blue dye left so will plan for another dye day.  Probably this weekend since there is going to be MORE RAIN.   Speaking of rain ... the local news said there was already 4-5" of rain this week and yet we'll get more this weekend.

Next time I decide to get the pots out I should plan for the event rather than grabbing wool at the last second and not letting the wool soak long enough.  But won't bore you with this weekend's results.  Am hoping to do an update of Star and Hearts rug.

Saundra


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

HOOK'N STUFF

Last year I attended 3 rug camps ~ Maryland Shores in April, Delmarva Workshop in November, both of which are held at same venue in Ocean City, MD and organized by the same people.  Difference is the April classes started out as McGowan patterns only camp and since primitive and wide cut became popular the Delmarva Workshop was born.  Then September I attended Rugs by the Sea camp in Cape May, NJ.

This year, the only camp I signed up for was Cape May.  But would attend only if I got my one teacher choice... Lucille Festa.  Since the camp has been reduced to only one week was certain I wouldn't get her, thus no stress on choosing a pattern, selecting wool, packing suitcases, loading, yada yada.  

Well guess what; I got her.  So appears that, God willing, I'll be headed to Cape May again this September.  So I've started picking antique rug ideas and right now have two to choose from.  Nope, not gonna show you yet because I'm fickle and just might change my mind.  After all Cape May is still 6 months away.

This morning I put half yard of mixed wool pieces to soak and decided to use a new recipe.  
Was looking for a dirty brown color and what I ended up with was nothing like that.  Thankfully it is pleasing to my eye but not what was expected.  This first photo was taken rather close up and is lighter than it appears in person.
I stepped away and took another photo and this appears darker than in person.  
I have another half yard of wool soaking and tomorrow will use my faithful Old Patina recipe to get more of what I was looking for.  So much for my trying a different dye recipe for something new.

Whatever was I thinking when purchasing that top wool???  However, the other 3 pieces of wool were also in the pot dyed today, those would be the top 3 in the photo above.  
Had planned to also post a photo of my accomplishments on Star and Hearts rug but have been fighting with my computer's USB ports, my printer all of a sudden doesn't want to play nice and still haven't figured out that problem.  Will fight with that issue again tomorrow.

Not even checking my spelling as it is past my bedtime already but wanted to get this post done. 

Saundra




Sunday, March 3, 2024

AGELESS BEAUTIES

A few recent finds, and sometimes I find them a second time when up for auction again.  Dated 1890 with 6 primitive flowers and triangle border.
You've probably heard of the "Blue Dog" book and painting by George Rodrigue, here is a rug with blue deer said to be hooked 1900.  It measures 37 x 52  and sold for $1,011 in 2006.
A goat with scrolls dated 1894.
Lovely rug with 3 flowers, 23 x 40, dated late 19th century.  The only full shot of the rug happened to be of what appears to be the back side.
Below the rug is shown folded and believe the front is to the left side on top.
Dogs, 
moose and other critters, said to be hooked 1915. 
A somewhat tattered broken glass designed rug measuring 19 x 30.  There was a tutorial on how to design and hook this type rug in the Jan/Feb issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  But you wouldn't really need a tutorial I don't think.
A 19th century hooked floral.
Sitting rabbits, not dancing rabbits this time.  No date or other information was provided.
That's it folks.  Lovely day today and will go outside and rake up some of those damn gum balls, AGAIN.  It is high tide in my backyard again after the monsoon all day yesterday.  Soon the mosquitos will be multiplying back there.

Saundra

Thursday, February 29, 2024

LEAP DAY

Temperatures were in the upper 60's the last few days so it felt and looked like spring had already sprung.  Today it is back to feeling like winter.  Just a few of my daffodils which showed their pretty heads.
The Dancing Rabbits pattern has been a hot commodity lately, guess because Easter will be here soon.  I've another to draw today and yesterday received an email from two people who must want one but since they are a NO-REPLY blogger (anonymous) was unable to correspond with them.  So if they are reading this post and who replied to the "Hop on a Hop-Along" or the "I Found it" post, please reach me thru the EMAIL ME location on the right side bar. 

As my schedule has been busy with appointments and life in general, there has been little accomplished on the Star and Hearts rug.  However, here is a preview of it. 
Again, below is the antique so you can see that I try to replicate my antique adaptations as closely as possible while using what I have on hand.
I'd better get to work drawing up some rabbits and since I've the rest of the day free to be me....will use that time for happily hooking.  Happy Leap Day.

Saundra


Sunday, February 25, 2024

TWO FAMILIAR SETS OF INITIALS

Those initials would be NGS (Nancy Gertrude Scott) and BEM (Barbara E. Merry).  I have posted their work here before but I've acquired a few new followers and found a few new rugs since that time.  Nancy is the daughter of Barbara who followed in her mother's footsteps into hooking rugs and painting.  Nancy's work is mostly folk-art hooking and some painting whereas Barbara's was mostly landscapes.  You can read a little more on Barbara HERE.

These are a few recent finds of Nancy's.  Was surprised by the train rug and wonder what the story is behind this memory.  Most of Nancy's work was around the farm she lived on and around.  
I found this Santa listing very interesting.  It indicated this early hooked piece was when she used an acorn to identify her work before being talked into using her initials.  The acorn is bottom right of Santa and the only piece with an acorn I've found.
The rug below measures 17 x 24 and she signed her last name instead of initials.  Perhaps this too was before she started using her initials.
A Welcome rug where Nancy signed her name at the top.  
A boy with dogs also signed N Scott.  I don't have chronological dates when these rugs were hooked.  This one measures 31 x 37 and from the estate of Laura Fisher.
Kids eating watermelon.  Her mother Barbara used to hook rainbows in some of her rugs which, according to Barbara, represented hope.  Are those rainbows hooked in this border or watermelon rinds?   
Kids with a cat on the girl's lap.
Home Sweet Home, am wondering what those images are in the border of the rug.
Dimensions  of the rug below are 33 x 53 and her initials hidden behind the auction house name.
Statue of Liberty measures 27.5 x 34.5.  
Hard to see what some of those animals are, except the chicken.
Found the rug below in January but just now posting it too.  
Even more chickens hooked in the rug below.
This row of houses/buildings was a familiar scene hooked by Barbara too so must have been a happy memory.
Quite a detailed whaling scene hooked by Nancy.
And like her mother, she was good with a paint brush.  July 4th below.
And this painted plantation scene measures 33 x 58.
In other news ... while eating my soft oatmeal this morning, all of a sudden I felt a chunk of tooth/silver filling mixed with the oatmeal.  As luck would have it I've an appointment on Wednesday for a cleaning where they can check it out.  Am sure I will need a crown as the area is large and part of the shell of enamel gone.  So $$$ plus try to find a spot in my schedule that isn't filled in with the vein procedures.

Guess I'll go hook while there's time at home and not at a doctor's office.

Saundra