Publications to Keep in Touch

There are new hookers developing all the time ~ I was one once as each of us were.  But the choice to continue hooking is dependent on learning how to overcome those obstacles and unhappy loops.  I'm not talking about the 'right way' I'm referring to over coming the bumps we newbies encounter as we start.

Way back when starting the blog mentioned that I was self taught and read the instructions in a pattern book by Kindred Spirits as well as Rug Hooking Magazine.    They gave me the basics but still didn't have a grasp of the process or the direction I wanted to go.  So it was a definite work and, as my dad would say.....'practice makes perfect'. Below is a photo of the current issue or RHM.

Here is the next issue of RugHooking Magazine which hasn't reached my door yet.  But you can click on the link above to subscribe to either or both.  

Another great informative magazine is ATHA Art of Rughooking.  

If anyone is getting ready to attend a rug camp anytime soon there is an article in there which will help.  Here is the magazine contents; as you can see it is well worth the subscription price.

OH!!!!!  Coming in a future publication will be about primitive hooking. I understand there will be numerous articles written by different people, and am looking forward to it as one article and rug will be written by Barb Carroll .

Getting a yearly subscription is far cheaper than buying the magazine at the book store.   And, if you are far away from other hookers and can't afford time away from family to attend a camp this is the best alternative to learn and see what is happening in the rug hooking world. 

Hope tomorrow I'll have more to share on my rug in progress.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

Remembering My First Rug Camp Experience

I was a self-taught rug hooker and learned by reading the instructions in a Rug Hooking Magazine as well as a Kindred Spirits booklet.  Since I was also a doll maker believe it was this booklet which got me started.  However, I do own several of Kindred Spirits booklets.

So for a couple years I hooked smallish things on my own at home until one day decided to bite the bullet and attend a rug camp an hour away from home.  Figured it was time to find out what I was doing wrong , unlearn bad habits and develop proper hooking style ~ which for me was primitive and wide cut.

At that same time a doll maker and hooker friend Shari was also new to the world of rug hooking.  We discussed the camp ad we'd seen mentioned in Rug Hooking Magazine and decided to go. We could have stayed at my house and driven the hour to and fro but ....duh.... why miss all the fun.  So we chose to stay at The Dunes Hotel in Ocean City, MD where the Maryland Shores Rug Camp was being held in April.

At that time it was a McGowan school using only accepted patterns.  Thankfully they changed and now designs by anyone will be accepted at the school.  These McGowan trained teachers have had to hook numerous styles, different cuts, various techniques, different finishing and basically jump through hoops to get their certification.  Some of those teachers, like my friend Lynne, also has an art degree in addition.  So needless to say I was TIMID.  I didn't know Lynne at the time, and frankly didn't know ANY hookers until going to camp, but I was still timid.
    (this is getting long, do you need to go get a glass of water, tee hee)

Okay, so my friend Shari and I decide that once in the class room we will hurry to get a position where our backs are against the wall so other hookers can't see what we've done.  Mind you I'm an adult and am feeling like a scared child in a fetal position.  So we do pick a spot like that and we were happy.

Now, my poor poor teacher, the wonderful Mary Lou Bleakley who will (I'm sure) never forget me didn't know what she was in for.  Even tho I was a grown woman.... senior even.... I was still timid and insecure.  Since I had no stash of wool to speak of, and now know what I did have wasn't good wool, I chose to have my teacher color plan my design.  I told her which pattern I wanted, gave her ideas for colors and she did a great job for me.  I chose "Heritage" which is a Charco design and acceptable in the camp at that time. 

Guess I should have vacuumed my rug before posting the picture.  This is the rug and has been at my front door since 2003, wool is very resilient.

One of the pre-class questions Mary Lou asked was what did I want to learn from class.  Even tho I was going to hook a wide cut (#8) I wanted to learn how to do shading because this was going to be my first and last rug camp.  HA! (but that's another story).

At some point before camp I'm sure poor Mary Lou thought I was the student from hell because I had so many questions; am sure too she thought I'd be the trouble maker in the class and not a happy camper maybe always complaining.  Well I didn't start trouble in the class and she and I have laughed about that class each time we see each other. 

OH, but yes, troublemaker I am.  When I go to camp it is fun to get laughs and play with my pals so do like to stir the pot a little.  But it is all in fun not in malice.  And for the record, all the teachers and seasoned hookers greeted us newbies with open arms and tend to share every bit of information they know. 

Going to camp is a great way to see tools other hookers have and everyone is willing to share usage on a hook or a frame just so other hookers will have the experience and know what product suits them best.  Shari and I (even as newbies) had people lining up to try our 'sit-upon' swivel and tilt frame which was new on the market at the time.

All sorts of other fond memories are going through my cranium as I type this but think I'll sign off for now and take my boy Ben for yet ANOTHER walk since he didn't do his duties before and he didn't want the back yard as a substitute... dang dog.

Mary Lou, I doubt you're reading my blog but want to thank you for being patient with me. 

Please everyone, be kind to one another regardless of their difference. 

Saundra

Rugs on the Floor

Many hookers are afraid to put their rugs on the floor and there are those rugs which shouldn't go on the floor.  Frankly I think it gives the rugs character when they have been weathered. 

Today I had to spend an hour at the dealership while the transmission computer module was installed in my van so decided to 'fix' the whipped edge of one of my floor rugs.

That rug would be Eat Crow designed by Ann Hallet and has been at my kitchen sink since 2003 -  Yup, 10 years.  And really the only side which needed repair was the right side since it is that side walked on more often to the areas in my kitchen used most.   Surely you want to see, huh?  Here is the before (taken without a flash) and the background was never green; notice how the wool whipped edge had separated and thinned on the right side?

And here is the after being repaired today..... and that background is the way it has always looked.  How and why did the color change happen?? Not sure if it is the flash, time of day, lights on or off in the room where photo is taken?  Anyway, I'm very happy this wonderful crow is ready to see more years.  Maybe not in front of my kitchen sink because after the show in Cape May think Oh Deer will replace this guy for a while.

Here are other rugs on my floor.  This one was also hooked in 2003 and has been at the front door since finishing it.  In all honesty this one was hooked before Eat Crow and was my very first ever rug camp rug.  I'd only planned to attend ONE rug camp because of the cost and wanted to learn wide cut shading and have a rug at my front door ~ an all in one class. But then I was HOOKED!!!!!

That first rug camp rug picture taken today which has been there also 10 years.  It is a Charco design #1105 Heritage.   This rug has many a foot walked on it coming from snow, rain, etc.  And this is how it looks today.  Yes I need to vacuum and you can see how I would rather hook than clean.  But you can also see it is OKAY to walk on rugs. 

Well since rug camp was so much fun my attendance at rug camps increased.  Here is yet another rug walked on often and once thru the living room into the kitchen you would walk on this delightful welcoming Flowers and Pineapple design by Bev Conway.

Oh yes and when you didn't think it would get any better (worse?) there is still another rug in my kitchen area.  This is another Bev Conway design which I think is called Chickens on Eggs which I loved;  but envisioned chickens on hay.  So we made creative changes and she guided me thru that process at camp.  

Now you can see rugs really are durable on the floor.  Wool rugs are especially resilient hooked on a proper foundation.  My preference for foundation is LINEN.  Since I hook with a wide cut the natural primitive linen is what suits me best. 

Should you  newbies have a question please feel free to write and ask a question.  Just remember that I was a newbie once and while I may not know all the answers, it is probably a problem I've had a few times myself.  I'm definitely NOT a know-it-all.  I'm here if you need help.

Have a great evening and thanks for visiting. 

Saundra