MAKING A LITTLE HEADWAY

You'd think the hit and miss background would be a piece of cake, right?  All you need to do is pick a color from the worm bag.  Nope, I don't find it easier as you need to be sure of keeping (or trying to keep) light, medium and dark values apart from one another.  Frankly replicating a Magdalena hit and miss background I find far easier.  And yeah, for a few seconds I contemplated doing that background in something other than the hit and miss but would be straying from the antique.

I didn't use the same colors as the antique, nor did I do the higgly piggly hooking in the eagle.  But did try to stay close to the values.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

Here is a photo of the original antique Patriotic Triptych rug from which a section was adapted.  

Mild temps and rain on the way in a couple days.  At least I don't require heat or A/C yet!!!  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

A 19th CENTURY TECHNIQUE

Recently I found a beautiful rug which was advertised as "folded wool" a rug from early 19th century and hails from Canada.

At first glance I thought it was a braided rug until I enlarged the photo.  Below is a closeup of the center.

I mentioned it was advertised as a folded wool technique.  However, in a hardback book (below) on antique rug styles that technique is called "fabric-bundle shirring".  It went on to describe how to perform the technique ~ it uses small pieces of fabric which have been folded and sewn together at the center.  Then the pieces are sewn to a foundation for support.  In  looking at the above photos, it seems to me the maker cut circles and sewed at the tiny point and stitched to the foundation.

So decided to cut a couple examples ~ depending on thickness of fabric it could have been a full round piece of fabric or perhaps even half round if it was a nice fulled piece of wool.  See the samples below and how many folds are in them.

From the top, the rug almost gives the appearance of being proddy, until you see the back of the foundation.

While the rug is wonderful I don't think I'll give up my hook and do that technique.

In other boring personal news ~ my dentist called to ask if I could go in today instead of next Monday as my permanent crown had arrived.  And I did.  So that reduces the anxiety of my next appointment a week away ...yay!  All done and $1,695 less in my checking account.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

OLDIES RUG SHOW

Some of these rugs still have a day left on the auction site, some have bids on them.  Other rugs may  have been found weeks before and have sold already.  This first rug was said to be 'bear paws' by the listing agent.  But they didn't provided date or dimensions.

A seemingly quite faded reclining dog with corner scrolls.  Wish they had shown the backside to see the true colors.  But do like the primitive design.

A little early for Halloween is this rug hooked by Nancy Gertrude Scott, daughter of Barbara E. Merry.  It has bids on it and will sell soon.

Another a little too early for the season is this Christmas rug for sale, also hooked by NGS.  They happen to be on the auction site now.  You can see them HERE.

Below is a rug with birds in flight with scrolls (23 x 36) no date provided. 

The auction house advertised this as a 1920's deco folk art rug.  This doesn't seem to fit in that category of 'deco art' to me.  Measures 29 x 51 and I like those earthy colors.

A sizeable Barbara E. Merry rug she named "Billings Hill" measures 31 x 48 and sold for $425.

A geometric found somewhere in my searches and have no date or dimensions.  Again, nice earthy colors.

I've had this next double stag rug in my photos since January this year and want to finally post it.  Hooked between 1890-1920 with dimensions of 84 x 96.  I like the deer but that's about it.

A black and white cat hooked early 20th century (25.5 x 40.5).  Cat's expression seems to be saying, "I love you too".  Except the cat's I've had were far too independent to emit that emotion. 

That's an even 10 so am wishing you all a great weekend and happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ALL I WANTED WAS A ONE ROW BORDER LINE

I mean really, how hard can that be to decide a one-row exterior border line?  My first thought was to use a gold texture since the Eagle had those colors.  Nope, the wool texture was too dark and didn't look good with the eagle or that used in the hit and miss background.  You might need to click on each photo for it to enlarge so you can see the color as all these photos are so dark.

Okay, so how about that dark brown color close to the Eagle?  Didn't care for that either as it seemed too bold.

Then thought maybe a more red textured wool which had some gold in it might do well.  This didn't suit me either.

So maybe, just maybe that texture I'm using just inside the red outlined shape and just above the Eagle's head might work.

Unfortunately I wasn't pleased with that either, it seemed too blah.  So what is it with me?  How dang important could one row of hooking be to pass up so many options and take so long to choose?  Especially since I cut numerous strips of the gold which was sure I'd like ~ uh talk about more wool worms!!!!!  Below is what has just been added to the wool worm stash.  I love gold and was sure it would work, but it just didn't look right to me.

So it was time to get down and dirty and search the wool room.  Wool was pulled from the bottom shelves making more mess to clean up.  But had to find the one wool that worked for me.  Although am sure I'd never have noticed any of those early choices once the rug was hung on the wall ... maybe.

Chosen for the border is on the left, wool on the right is the wool used inside the red outlined shape which was previously rejected as a border row.

Finally a look at the rug as it appears now.  I cut the wool crosswise so some of the other colors in the stripe show up here and there.  While a subtle difference, I'm happier now and putting my stamp of approval on it.

Happy hooking everyone.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

SB's HOOKED RUGS

Normally I post pictures of rugs which I believe are antique but this time am showing rugs which may be antique adaptations but all are hooked in the 21st century.

I'm wondering if any of you know a rug hooker with initials SB.  I hoping it would be a case of a rug hooker with too many rugs and was selling them vs. the loss of a fellow rug hooker.   Either way, thought it would be nice to share her work and perhaps if anyone knows who hooked these you would provide a name.  

This first one is an antique adaptation, a pattern by Woolley Fox named Brave Hunter which I also hooked.  Interesting she used colorful hit and miss to hook the body.

Unfortunately this lion rug photo was cropped by the auction house, not me.

Am unfamiliar with the name or designer of the rug below.  But is has a horse so I like it, lol.

When first seeing the horse in the rug below, my mind went directly to the shape of the "I want my oats" hooked horse. Yeah, I know the rest of the rug isn't the same tho.

A sheep rug with colorful hit and miss background.

Animals on the march; love the donkey.

Liberty 1876.

I've always admired the design below.  Love it!!!!

I love log cabins and there are even some wagon wheels in the barn section.

I don't see initials on the flag and sheep rug so can only guess sb hooked it too.

Below is another antique adaptation (1922 Fox) which I hooked too but this is Barb Carroll's version as it is hooked like Barb did hers.

Again if you know who SB is please let me know so I can give her proper credit.  Also, these rugs still have 4 days to sell and if you wish to bid you can find them HERE.  

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Finally Bound

Once again I'm caught up on binding; that is until the Eagle is completely hooked then it will need binding.  Need to do a little cleaning before it can be put on the floor in the kitchen tho.

Weather was warm today so grabbed a small saw and cut enough thick Wisteria vines to fill up my dumpster with a little room on top to camouflage the yard waste with real trash.  Have lost count on how many trash containers this is that has been filled.  It has been a slow process but am making headway.  Still more to go. Oh, did notice on the thicker vines some growth of leaves or new limbs were developing ~ good riddance.  But sadly it will certainly not be the last of it.

Happy Easter.

Saundra

RUG SHOW TYME

A colorful rug of a cottage with 2 chimneys, no date or dimensions provided.  Think I know someone who will like this, right Elaine?

This next one takes time to decipher ~ it's a deer and rabbit.  Too much going on for me with the elaborate border and elements inside.  It measures a whopping 68 x 94.  

 

It definitely was hooked and not manufactured as here is a close up of deer face.

A more calming rug is bowl of flowers.

A chair pad hooked on burlap, 15.5 x 15.5.

Another Eagle rug but this one with a rattlesnake.  The rattlesnake has been used in the "don't tread on me" or Gadsden flag.  You can read about the Gadsden flag HERE.

Another big rug of a cat which could be given a name of Whiskers, measures 42 x 52.  The border is rather busy.  It was hooked early 20th century.

Here's another busy background with kittens.  It was hooked early 20th century and measures 29 x 42.

With limited colors this rooster and hen rug looks great.  Size is 33 x 38.

Think this post needs a dog and a horse to make it complete.  Here's a prancing red horse hooked early 20th century.    

A hooked and shirred rug, no date provided but measures 26 x 49.5.

Am going to venture outside this chilly day, pick up pinecones and cut the weeds in the very front yard.  Not sure how it will go in the backyard as the overgrown lake still resides back there with this low elevation property.  But in the afternoon I'll be hooking and binding.  Oh, and doing some sketching for a future pattern or two.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

One Winged Eagle

Nowhere near finished but at least the eagle has one full wing.

Not much hooking going on today as I had a pattern to draw and a dental appointment for the drilling and temporary crown work.  It is now after 8 p.m. and the left side of my mouth is finally feeling normal vs. numb.  I had the novocain at 1:30 this afternoon.  Was under the impression the nerve was dead but nope; and the doctor numbed me up good. 

Received an order for two more patterns but THEN crap happened.  The HP 8022e printer is holding me hostage and will have to buy ink from Walmart tomorrow.  It's a long convoluted story so won't give the details or I'll probably bust a blood vessel.  Let me say this is the last HP printer I will ever own.  A few years ago I stopped buying HP desk top computers.

Think I need to go chill a little before going to bed so hope there is something interesting to watch on TV.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Old Fashioned Rug Show

Yeah, time for another one; rug show that is.  This landscape measures 22.5 x 34.5 and said to be hooked between 1910-1919.

An oval floral in a rectangle shaped rug for those who like to hook flowers.

A horse named lucky but have no other information.

I really like this farmyard scene.  Was hooked by Florence Williams from drawing by grandson Jovan Nicholson according to the documentation.

An 8 point star rug (20 x 46) with no date provided.

For the feline folks here are 2 cats by a fire given a date of 1923.  

A deer rug dated between 1920-30,measuring 19 x 33.

Mother and colt hooked early 19th century.

Wish the photo below had been taken at a better angle.  Has lots of critters, cats dog, butterflies, birds and measures 24 x 48.  No date.

One more rug for good measure.  I love this runner with diamond shapes with flowers.  Dimensions are 24 x 65 and given a date of early 1900's.

It has been raining non-stop since Thursday afternoon so have no idea how much water will be in the yard when it stops.  And, cannot imagine how high the weeds will be afterwards.  And it will probably be too soggy to cut the grass.  Oh gee, isn't that too bad, guess I'll just have to hook a bit longer.😊

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com