MODERN TAKE on an ANTIQUE RUG

Serendipity inspired this particular blog post ~ but more about that later in the post.

As mentioned previously I enjoy sharing information I've gleaned thru the years since teaching myself to hook.  I sometimes struggled and  had questions not knowing anyone to ask and know there are others who are more remote than I was at that time.   So sharing my frustrations and failures lets you know it's okay, we've all been there and am here now for you to ask.  And maybe, just maybe I've posted something or a way to do something rug hooking related you hadn't thought of before.

You regular readers know I've introduced various types of antiques as ideas to inspire rugs ~ wood carvings, stitcheries, antique tapestries, etc.  Have also made you aware of talented rug hookers whom you may not be aware.  This post is about those things.  

For example, let's take this 1890 hooked Pennsylvania rug of Birds in Tree which I posted on my blog eons ago.  Definitely an antique but what if it inspired someone to modernize it, to make it more indigenous to their region?

Perhaps the Birds in Tree rug might look like this Alligator in Small Pond.  The pond might be small but the rug isn't, it measures 66 x 66.

Below is a closeup of the textiles used in the border.  Notice they are a mixture woven cotton, yarn, embroidery, rope, fringe and other found objects.  Just like they did back in 'the olden days'.  If walked on it would eventually become a mellowed out well worn antique with the same look as the antique one.  Except I sincerely doubt this will ever see the floor.   

Did I mention "serendipity"?  Yes, Alligator in Small Pond is the work of artist and teacher Troy Dugas.  He is the person who purchased the Early Farm Scene rug.  He shared this rug and other artistic work with me after the rug was in the mail to him.  I'm honored by his desire for a piece of my work and in learning he has followed my blog for years.  He most enjoys the antique rug shows, you can see why.

 

Check out Troy's web site to see his other works HERE.  He presently has a showing at the Galveston Art Center until November 17th.  When you click on the "here" you can navigate to several photos which may direct you to more of his art.

Thank you Troy and wishing you lots of commissions from your show.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

Leaf raking and other life's daily duties has slowed down my progress on the Giant Flower (Grande Fleur).  As you can see from the photo below I'm just one flower and a little background away from a finish.

Today I sold one of my hooked rugs and have so many that I'm hoping Christmas shoppers will find me to purchase others.  The antique adaptation of Early Farm Scene is on its way to its new owner.

Remember making cabbage rolls?  Tonight's dinner is going to be "Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls" which is a lot simpler than the way I used to do it.  Mine is still simmering on low since I wanted to do this blog post first.  But if interested in seeing the recipe you can find it HERE.  I used ground turkey instead of beef.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Two Celebrations

Yesterday was the 249th birthday of the Marine Corps.  Semper Fi Marines.

Today is Veterans Day and would like to thank all men and women in all branches of the military for your service and sacrifice.  It takes a special person to put their life in harms way to protect America's freedom and its people.

God Bless America.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

CHANNELING MAGDALENA

As of this moment I'm still thinking of hooking Magdalena's Animal Parade rug.  The first picture is the original antique hooked by Magdalena.

Evelyn Lawrence was the first person to hook an adaptation of the design and she sent me this photo of it as soon as she finished hooking it in 2012.  Evelyn gave the 33 x 79 pattern line drawing to Barb Carroll.

Another adaptation of Magdalena's design was hooked by Cindy Jeffcoat.  Sure wish it was a full frontal photo but you can still see how well it was color planned and hooked to replicate the original.  

And just recently Alice Fraizer finished hooking her version of the design and posted it on FB. I'll be looking forward to seeing what Alice will have on her hooking frame next.

No way I'll hook a rug 33 x 79 and even the Domestic Zoo pattern I hooked was huge for me at 22 x 66 (below).

I've enlarged the design and printed out a pattern line drawing measuring 19 x 48.  While that seems like a descent size for me (compared to 33 x 79) it will still be an issue tilting the frame and rotating the pattern.  Yet I've briefly considered enlarging it to 21 x 57.  BUT, since I'm still not done hooking Giant Flower have more time to decide which size to do oh, and the plus one ~ OR will the new Magdalena end up being the plus one which gets set aside while I work on a more comfortable size rug???.

Well kids, it's November and you know what holiday next month is... I can't say that word or Laure will call me out on it.  If you need or want to hook some small gifts for friends or family how about a 'mug rug'?  You could hook some small ones with dog bones or paw prints for the friends with pets; or small size rugs for children with dollhouses (or is that a thing from 'the olden days')?  Seems like Edyth O'Neill was also channeling Magdalena in this old blog post which you can check out HERE.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

JUST ANOTHER RUG SHOW

But first, my today ... the temperature reached 81 degrees and I got hot working on the leaves which still aren't cleaned up.  We are in a drastic drought situation with burn bans throughout the state of Delaware and Maryland.  Yet I hear of a sliver of a chance of rain in some areas in the news.  As much complaining as I did with the rainwater in my back woods and yard a/k/a the Lake, sure could use some rain now.  Anyway, on with the show ~ ~

A central rose with scrolls dated early 1900's and measures 30 x 57.  Too fancy and elegant for me tho.

Listed as Canadian Love Birds and dated the 1900's, this is more my style although I'd probably hook a border and eliminate the tongues.

A dog and rabbit rug no date was provided but it is cute.

An old gray mare hooked early 20th century dimensions of 27.5 x 39.  Guess that pretty much describes me too, perhaps this should be my next project since I'm also an old grey mare.

Tho not a hooked rug, I found this England 1540 heraldic pouch and story very interesting.  The pouch was used during the marriage ceremony as perfumed herbs were stored inside and both men and women wore it on their hips during their wedding ceremony.

A very tattered geometric rug below, no date was provided by the auction house.  But it reminded me of a rug I hooked in 2011 for a Yahoo Rughookers challenge.  

You quilters might enjoy this part of my post.  The challenge was to hook a rug based on blocks from an antique quilt made by Jane Stickle in 1863.  The quilt, story and quilt blocks are in a booklet called Dear Jane.  If you want to know about the antique quilt and book you can read about it HERE.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another warm day outside so will try to accomplish more yard work.  The leaves aren't gone but there is so much work still to be done everywhere.  After the winds of the last couple days I see limbs have fallen which need to be cleaned up.  OY VEY, or as Lauren would say, "the joys of homeownership". 

Thankfully I've a hobby/passion/entertainment to keep my mind and hands busy inside.  Cannot wait until this floral is finished and think I'm sick of flowers after this is done.  Hope you have a hobby you enjoy as well.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

OLDE PATINA DYEING

I have dyed with walnuts, onion skins but this is my favorite recipe to dirty up some bright, white or other colors for that antique look.  I did three pots with different amounts of dye in each pot and didn't stir much as I wanted a mottled look.  Some dye colors absorb faster than others that is why you will see the variance in colors in the wool results.

On the far left 1/2 yard was dyed in a pot using 2 tablespoons of dye, the before at the top, which is obvious.  Will provide the recipe further down in the post.  Seemed a little too dark but will be used in a future rug.

Next pot I only used 1 Tbls. for the 1/2 yard in the middle ~ the top wool is the before, the one just under that is the result from that pot.  The 3rd piece of wool just under was in the third pot along with that wool to the right.  Not sure of amount of wool as I didn't measure it but was less than 1/2 yard so I used a tad less than 1 Tbls. dye.

If you search "Olde Patina dye Recipe" in the box at the top left of  my blog you will see previous dye jobs using this recipe which is in the Beautiful Wool dye book by Laurice Heath.  Here is the recipe:

OLDE PATINA

1/2 t. Khaki Drab (Cushing)

1/8 t. Cushing Old Gold

1/8 + 1/16 Golden Brown Cushing

1/16 t. Dark Gray Cushing

1/64 t. Wood Rose Cushing

pour in 1 cup boiling water and stir.  From that cup I used tablespoons for the dyeing.  FYI, I have dye spoons which includes a 1/64 t. measure.

If you want to see another topic covered in a blog post like antique rugs, Cape May rug camp, etc.  just type the specific word in the box and you will see some old posts regarding the subject.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Designed and hooked by Polly Minick

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

RUG HOOKING CHIT CHAT

I've found new to me old rugs to share and will start off with the recently found Barbara E. Merry rug someone just listed.  I've never seen this one before so wonder how many more of her rugs are out there with private owners.

Looks Barbara captured a fun time for the folks who tended their farm who are playing music and enjoying the night off.

A Hutchinson style rug.

A Grenfell 1930's horse and sleigh measuring 17.5 x 29.   He started a cottage industry and taught women to hook with nylons to help them make money due to the poverty level.  For those of you new to rug hooking you can read more about him and the hooked mats HERE.

Perhaps this next one could be considered a Hutchinson style hooked rug but the background is a little more busy than seen in those rugs.  Said to be 19th century and measures 34 x 50.

A Native American on horseback dated 1930.

Cute rug of two dogs hooked mid 20th century so maybe not quite considered an antique yet.  

A small 14 x 14 hooked mat with 4 leaf clusters, possibly a chair pad although not round.

The auction house listed the rug below as an eagle and dated 1910.  It is definitely not my favorite depiction of an eagle, to me it looks more like a Condor.

Horse running free so will consider it a mustang.  No date but there are obvious damaged areas on it and such a shame as it would be a lovely rug otherwise.

A couple cats, no other information provided.  I love the quirkiness of antique rugs.  Perhaps the hooker had no extra light value to hook in that bottom scroll so "used what she had" to finish it.

There ya have it for today folks.  Yesterday I finally made my chicken rice soup and it was delicious.  Guess you know what my lunch and dinner will be today and then will freeze some.

Also pulled out the dye pots again yesterday and just may do so again today; will show you the results in a future post.  And no, it isn't primitive black again.  It will be my favorite Olde Patina.

Did you remember to turn your clocks back?  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

NOVEMBER ALREADY?

You wouldn't know it was November if you were outside here today as it is still in the 70's.  This weekend it will be in the normal mid 60's, not bad for November.

As promised, I'll share my few recent accomplishments:

    ~ yesterday I removed more invasive periwinkle and decorative grass which both multiply faster than wool worms.

    ~ enlarged two rug designs but haven't drawn either on linen yet.  Am thinking the antique below will be my next project when the Grande Fleur is finished.  

Not sure what the plus one, sidekick, will be yet.  But when I know will draw each out and color plan both at the same time.  The plus one will be kept in a basket nearby so the switch will be easier.

And my fails:

     ~ overdyed (again) some lackluster primitive black wool dyed previously with hopefully better results.  Here it is on the line.

However, that photo is misleading so took a photo once inside and folded which gives a much different point of view.  It is a tad darker and I'm a tad happier.  Yet will call it a fail.  Not going to over dye these AGAIN as in the past they will be good to use somewhere.

Yesterday I'd had my heart set on making chicken rice soup but it was too hot and no longer was in the mood.  Temps will be a little lower tomorrow in the 60's so tomorrow is the day for my homemade chicken rice soup.

Just had a thought, there is a rug camp every November just an hour away but I chose to not sign up this year.  It is comforting to think I'll be home hooking at my leisure without the additional cost and regimented mealtimes.  Seems like I've become a comfortable old recluse 😌. 

Hope you all have a great evening and enjoy your quilting, stitching, hooking or punching ~ whatever makes you happy and be creative.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Merrie October 31st!  The pattern below is a design by Lori Brechlin that I hooked a few years ago.

It is a very warm Hallows Eve.  I rescued the vintage decoration below from a thrift shop years ago.  I had to tape the feet as they were bent so badly.  I've often thought about hooking an image of it or at least the face but so far that hasn't happened.

Today the temperature rose to record high for this time of year.  I even took a photo, poor that it be, to show the outside temps on my smart thermostat at 3:21 p.m.

While I can't imagine the inside temps will drop below 62 tonight, I've set the temperature just in case it does 👻.

The folks in my neighborhood who have dogs decided to take them on a Halloween stroll thru the neighborhood, anyone who wanted to participate could.  What a cool thing to do. Although I don't have a dog now wish I'd purchased some treats and turned on my house light so they would have stopped by to give each of them a treat.  Hope I remember next year to buy doggie treats for the neighborhood pups.  

There's one guy in the neighborhood who has a Great Dane and 3 rescued dogs.  Actually he and his wife are the ones who organized tonight's event.  His dogs are very well behaved and everyone here considers him a 'dog whisperer'.  That isn't or wasn't his job, it is just that he loves dogs.  Several folks in the development have taken their dogs to him to for an afternoon play time when he takes his dogs out for a walk hoping some training will rub off.  

Will share about my day today, my accomplishments, my failures and my to do's tomorrow or Saturday.  Gonna be another very warm day tomorrow again.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

OCTOBER LIKES AND DISLIKES

Today was a chilly opening of the day but warmed up nicely.  That's one thing I love about October.  Love the fall colors, tho with the drought not all the leaves had their natural slow change.  Seems they just dropped off as green leaves without water and turned yellow or brown once on the ground.  

Also enjoy the fall colors of plants I don't know.  This is a dainty sorta tree, if you really consider it a tree with its flimsy limbs.  Does anyone know what this volunteer tree is?  Love the colors of the seeds.

Closer view.

There's also a comfort of sleeping in a cool room with covers up to my chin which reminds me of when as a kid my younger brother and I would spend the night with our paternal grandfather.     

My dislikes of October.  Today, especially today, since I worked outside for almost 4 hours can say I HATE LEAVES.  I love living in the woods but hate leaves that I've had to deal with for 27 years.  Before lunch these were the leaves raked up just from the driveway behind the garage.  The pile facing us would be the first to be moved to the back of the yard toward the wooded area and fill in the low spots.  After all, they do decompose and become dirt. 

But first... the flat tire had to be inflated since it sat for a year in the shed.  

You can see the air pump near by.

It took 11 wheelbarrow loads to dispose of that first long pile in front and the smaller pile further back still remains.  But I'd had enough for today and will deal with the other pile another day.  Besides, there are more leaves on trees which will fall as well as the leaves on the roof above the garage!@#?&!@  BTW, the photo below was taken before that pile you see was taken to the back of the property.

So this is the result of my work today and the other pile still to deal with another day.  But am sure I'll sleep well tonight with the covers pulled up to my chin.

Wool has been gathered for another primitive black dye project.  This time I'll be heavier with the black dye.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

DYE POT DAY

But it was a mini dye pot day.  I saw a couple pieces of wool that I decided should go in a pot for primitive darks/black.   Here is the before....

And the results.

Not quite as dark as I'd have liked but at least they are better and can always dye them again when I'm in need of something to blog about 😁.  

Now back to the project on my frame.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

THE SEARCH GOES ON

Am always looking for lovely old rugs to share with readers who, like me, enjoy looking at them or maybe looking for their next project.  However this nice beaver rug won't be the one on my frame next although it is a lovely rug.  This is a Canadian rug hooked early 20th century and is cotton on burlap.   

A great weathervane horse rug but don't know date hooked so am scared to draw this not knowing if it is an actual antique.

A floral and scrolls hooked early 20th century.  

Another floral with scrolls plus hit and miss background, no date but think it is a legit antique.  Yet I've no desire to hook either of those beauties.

A kitten on oval mat measuring 19.5 x 36 and hooked early 20th century.

Here's a huge rug I've shown before but which I may adapt for my next project ... maybe, lol.  Listed as a Magdalena rug dated 1890 and a huge 45 x 115.  If I do hook it I'll eliminate the left side panel of the square, turtle and bird which will make it a tad shorter.

A yarn sewn runner circa 19th century 33.5" long.  Doing those type rugs must have been tedious sewing the yarn on vs. hooking with loops.  But guess it would require less yarn since the yarn would remain on top.

Sweet rug of two rabbits sharing (?) one carrot.  No date was provided but it does have the appearance of an oldie.

The colorful rug below I saved on my flash drive back in 2016 but never posted it because of the colors.  Am wondering if this is the back because those look like repair patches on the right side. No date was provided yet think it is an antique.  If it isn't an antique someone sure did a great job making it look so. 

This owl rug I found in a July 1992 issue of Country Living magazine.  Description was it is an early 20th century rug.  Often I've thought of hooking it, but haven't done so yet.

A dog with a leaf in all corners, no other info provided in the auction.

Well kiddo's that's the show for today.  I wanted to get this posted yesterday but was too busy with washing curtains, washing windows and washing my latest purchases of wool (I must be crazy as I don't need more).  So didn't get a lot of hooking in either.  Today I plan to change that when I should be outside doing yard work while temps are still mild ~ oh well, oh hell, lol.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com