Back to Ezras Farm

This is it, Ezra's Farm again.  Nothing new on the frame, and right now I'm content as I want this one finished before moving onto something else.  You may recall I drew and hooked a flag instead of the blocks.  Also drew stars instead of the circles next to the house.

When putting Ezra's Farm back on the frame the first place I looked for wool was in the appropriate color wool worm baggies.  I'd rather use up precut wool before cutting more.  So the complete house was hooked using wool from the brown  and white bags.  And the wool used at the very bottom was from the brown wool bag.  Not that you'd notice anything missing.

Now to the flower stem, it was also from the green wool worm bag, uh, and the white flower from the same white wool baggie.  The blue background, however, will be a combination of the piece you see placed to the left plus similar wool strips from the light blue wool worm bag.  

Just hope I've enough to fill in that space.  And if not I'll just grab some worms and use those to fill in toward the bottom of the flower.  I'll worry about the other blocks when I get to them.

There has been rain every day since Monday and storm caused a 5 hour power outage last night.  Thunderstorm will come thru again this evening and rain predicted thru Saturday.  The only reason there isn't a lake out back is because it was so dry.  Seems it's either feast or famine.  My heart still aches for those families in Texas. 

Saundra

One Down, One to Go

Thankfully the scrappy Shaker horse is all hooked.  At least I attempted to make it look scrappy.  Must admit when first starting the piece, it was quite fun to leave tails up, not worry about how close or far away the loops were pulled or how high.  It was the background which did me in.  

Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) finished hers early and I drew mine the same size as hers.  And Sue (Vernon Junction) is really close to finishing hers.  So after folding the foundation over and binding this one, it will just be me vs. Ezra's Farm left to settle up.  

Plans are to throw Ezra back on the frame to finish next.  For maybe a day and half had something new in mind to hook as my next project.  But haven't done the sketch yet and interest is becoming less and less.  I will still do the drawing just in case I change my mind and interest charged up once again.

My heart and prayers go to those who died or still missing in the Texas floods.  And for those children who were swept away from camp and who didn't have their parents to console them even for a second as the flood washed them away.  And to the parents of those children enduring unimageable thoughts.  God bless them all.

Saundra

PATRIOTIC RUG SHOW

To celebrate Independence Day thought it fitting to post many of the patriotic antique rugs I've saved.  First is an antique rug which has been on my list to hook for years.  These words I think and post often "God Bless America"  And this weekend we all wish it a happy birthday.

Other than the American flag, nothing expresses the beauty, strength and freedom more than the Eagle.  This 13 star Eagle rug dated 1800's (36 x 69).

Given a date of 1800 is another Eagle with 13 stars.

An 11 star old wavy flag measuring 21 x 35.  

Also save a photo of the back.  Hope whoever purchased it was able to do repairs so it lives longer into the future.

This is yet another gorgeous hooked eagle rug and thought I had it dated but couldn't find the right photo ~ I've so many flash drives with old rugs.

Patriotic Chickens, tho the 6 point stars and chickens have been given more space than the American flag.

Another antique 11 star flag in geometric style.

A triptych patriotic hooked rug with dimensions of 30 x 88.  I have hooked two individual sections of this and my son wants me to do the heart with two crossed flags next. 

Stars and stripes dated 1900.  Notice Uncle Sam at the bottom.

Another triptych patriotic shirred rug circa 1830 measuring 32.5 x 71.5 and sold for....are you ready?  Sold for $3,690.  I tried replicating this one too.

This Eagle on flag might still be for sale as I found it two days ago on an auction site.

A 46 Star flag hooked in 1902 by Laura Etta Clarke of Barrington, NH (29 x 37)

 An Eagle holding a Union Shield 28 x 40.

 An ornate rug with crossed flags and Oak Leaf border 34 x 61.

A Centennial rug hooked late 19th century measuring 24 x 37.

Next year, July 4, 2026, the celebratory event could be called a  Semiquincentennial, Bisequencentennial or Sestercentennial.    Or we could just call it "The Big 250".

Hope you have an enjoyable and safe July 4th celebration.  The humidity is supposed to be at comfortable levels this weekend, so I hear.

God Bless America!!!

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Remember When...

...I was excited to join Lauren and Sue on their 'scrappy hooking' adventure long distance?  Well that adventure has waned now turned into a task to finish.  Certainly got that personal challenge of scrappy out of my system.  Here is what my version of scrappy Shaker horse looks like at the moment.

I only wanted random half pennies around the edge and not sure how I'll finish the edge around even now.  If you want to see the original antique and my first posting you can see it HERE.

Although I really wanted to finish the horse first, was afraid I'd weasel my way out and toss the piece in a drawer if only the background was left.  So rather than giving in to that temptation decided to work on more background and work myself around the linen.

Looking at the pattern I drew (16.5 x 22.5) for a second thought a solid dark row around the perimeter would look good.  However, doing that would destroy the scrappy look where strips started lower or ended higher.  Since 'scrappy' was the purpose I'm planning on just folding under the linen and hand stitching ~ not even cotton binding, just au natural. 

Rugs in queue are still this horse and Ezra's Farm with no idea what the next new shiny bauble will be.  But hooking on this is far better than being outside in this heat and humidity.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

RUG SHOW

Just another post showing rugs recently found listed for sale.  Will have to keep this one in mind before next Valentine's Day rolls around.  No date or dimensions were listed.

Found "My Home" interesting to look at because there's more to it than the eyes can see at a quick glance.  Notice the stars and moon/sun above the house.  It is quite soiled so they may be difficult to see at first.  The rug measures 46 x 54 and dated 1920.

A colorful geometric which hasn't lost its color.

This next rug with brown chickens and red scrolls is certainly different than the norm.  No date provided. 

Thought these doves were pretty and would make a great wedding rug.  It measures 25 x 46 but no date was provided.

Advertised as a rag rug dated between 1920-29.  

When looking for rugs I often see a lot of Scotty dogs.  But this is the only one which I find interesting and guess it is because of the background.  I love it and no date but said to measure 20 x 31.

And finally for you cat lovers, from the collection of Martha Hamilton, this rug measures 39 x 46 and hooked sometime in 20th century.  So don't know if it is early or late 20th.

Happy weekend and happy hooking.  Time for me to work on my scrappy project.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ON THE FLOOR

Finally hooked, bound and on the kitchen floor.  Feels good to have this one finished since it was started in early May.  Still in progress are two pieces which were, at one time, a plus one ~ Ezra's Farm and Scrappy Shaker Horse.  So no new rug will be put on my frame until one of those are finished also.

As The Five wasn't quite over after completing the hand stitching the binding, decided to replace the elastic in a pair of summer pj's.  The elastic had lost it's stretch and rather than toss them and buy new decided to repair them.  Besides, these pj bottoms were purchased in memory of my departed mother who loved those gaudy pink flamingo lawn ornaments ~ sorry to those who also have them.

  

My previous post showed you a thermostat reading but take a look at today's reading which is even higher.  

The meteorologist said we'd have downpours and severe thunderstorms today which would bring cooler temperatures tomorrow.  No storm or rain yet today in this part of Sussex county, but perhaps during O'dark:30 it will arrive.  Am happy my A/C is working and hoping you are keeping cool as well.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

A PLUS ONE?

Once upon a time this was a plus one.  However, I got bored working on the scrappy Shaker Horse so picked up Ezra's Farm which I previous was bored with.  Will try to explain my boredom with Ezra.  

First of all it was an impulse buy since Lauren was hooking EZRA'S FARM and thought it was adorable so of course I wanted one too.  You know, 'keeping up with the Jones' I guess.  Or 'Lauren has one so I want one', 😏.  But I wanted to make a couple changes with mine, which wasn't spoken about on the initial posting which you can see HERE. 

After hooking the horse part of the design questioned my changes from the sweet original design.  I wanted a flag and wanted stars in that section in the sky.  I was stuck in my head as to design changes.  Guess there's nothing better on forcing one to 'get off the pot' than being bored with the other project.  This is what my version of Ezra's Farm looks like at the moment.

I'll work on the 'farm' until boredom sets in again then go back to the scrappy horse because I refuse to start a pile of UFOs

Hard to believe that early last week I had to put a blanket on the bed because it was chilly in the house.  And now??????  When walking by the thermostat it read 107 outside.  By the time I grabbed the camera and went back to take this photo it had dropped to 105.  Hey, 105 is still hot as hades kids!  It's too hot for man or beast outside.  

Worked on binding again today and rounded the 4th corner.  So now it is just hand stitching the inside edge of the chicken pair which will continue tomorrow at 5 p.m.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

SQUARE OR ROUND CORNERS?

Do you hook round or square corners?  Of course there are other shape styles of rugs like half circle and oval.  So if it is a square or rectangular rug how do you hook your corners?  A few years ago I hooked a smallish antique adaptation I named Spike since the antique seemed to show him wearing a spiked collar.  The antique was oval and so I hooked it in an oval shape.  I think he's a cutie.

While most of my rugs have square corners, I've also hooked rugs with a rounded edge.  One such rug is below as well as the chicken pair which I'm in the process of binding.

I find a rounded corner rug to be effortless to bind with wool yarn, wool and cotton binding than a squared corner.  The instructions I've seen and I've experienced requires whipping a sharp corner well by whipping the yarn in each corner several times to completely cover the edge.  I've often wondered if it weakens the foundation by doing that. If the corner is rounded it makes a smooth transition all around making it much easier, me thinks.

I noticed Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) hooked rounded corners on the sheep she attached to the basket top.  Drop by to check it out.

Here's how I do my corners when I want a rounded edge.  You can do this on purchased patterns as well and you only need a quarter and a Sharpie.  Place the quarter at each corner.

Take a sharpie and draw around the quarter conjoining lines.  It appears to be a very subtle change from the square, doesn't it?

Yet when you hook inside the line it will definitely make a smoother look and easier to bind.

Not all my rugs have rounded corners but have been on a rounded corner kick lately.  Whichever way you like your rugs here's wishing you happy hooking.  Stay cool during this summer heatwave.  So glad I got the grass weeds cut this week.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MY SHAKER HORSE

This week has been busy so not many loops were pulled.  But here is the scrappy Shaker Horse adaptation so far.  I wanted to do a few half pennies and will probably decide size and location as I hook.  You can see the original antique from which this is adapted HERE.

Usually I would have hooked all of the horse first.  However, I was afraid once it was done I'd not be interested in hooking the rest.  So chose to work around the left side before continuing with the horse.

Forgot to mention that my textiles being used are cotton knits, dyed cheese cloth, a woven fabric of unknown content and wool.  Some of that wool is quite loosely woven and would never use it in anything other than for scrappy.  That wool happens to be what was used for the mane and what I'll use for the tail.  Other thin wool is being used in the body and happy to have a place to use it vs. throwing it away.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

IT'S TIME FOR ...

It's time for a rug show me thinks, as it's been a minute or two since the last one.  All or most all of these rugs are still listed on the auction site as they were recently found.

A robin surrounded by a circle of leaves and 8 point stars in the corners.  Dated 19th century and dimensions of 18 x 31.

A ram with checkered background early 20th century, 24.5 x 39.

Another bird but this time with hearts.  Said to be hooked late 19th to early 20th century.  It measures 18 x 33 .

Lovely floral with scrolls dated March 1871.  It measures 33.5 x 46.

Described as "Felix the cat" it has directional hooking.  Said to be hooked early 20th century (16 x 20) and possibly suitable as a friendly Halloween rug me thinks.  Maybe even draw a mouse in there for Felix to play with.

Three tulips with dimensions of 17 x19m was hooked late 19th to early 20th century.

Tobe has been sold previously as I'm sure I posted the rug before.  But is up for auction again.  Measures 25 x 39.5 and hooked late 19th century.

Finally, a fearless male lion hooked early 20th century (29 x 47.5).  And yes, Robin, I saw it.

With that, think it's time for the mike drop.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

IT'S NOW OR NEVER

Tomorrow binding the chicken rug will begin during The Five news program.  So thought if I didn't tweak it now it may never get done.  This is yesterday's post photo with camera #1.

And with camera #2 this is what you see.  I usually use camera #2 but since the red didn't show up well with the combs and wattles went with #1.

Since I didn't care for the spout looking thing, yet wanted to add that feature since it is in the antique decided to tweak it a tad before binding.  So this is the way it looks after the changes and photo taken with camera #2.

Perhaps I'd never have given the rug a second thought once it was put on the floor and walked on.  Perhaps I'd never have wondered what it was Robin saw that I didn't.  Not wanting to take that chance I made a couple changes today.  Now there is no hesitation on binding tomorrow during The Five TV show.  If you hate binding too, join me with your choice of beverage and we pals can suffer along together.

Happy hooking and binding.

Saundra