THIS and THAT

The Golden Eagle, AKA Pat's Eagle, is all hooked and I started binding it while waiting for my son's CT scan (or was it an MRI?) of his shoulder.  I'm using cotton binding because I don't want to extend the border by another row or color.  I wanted just a one row border and didn't want either the red or dark brown because that may have pulled the eye away from the central focus ~ the eagle.  So I used a softer and more neutral color.

Yesterday when my son and DIL dropped by to see me for Mother's Day my son noticed this 1776 Eagle I hooked and fell in love.  Well of course what does a mother do but give to her son.  Truth be told, my dear DIL probably told my son to say he loved it to ensure it would go home with them 😄.

I'm considering the 1776 Eagle my design inspired by an antique rug.  Actually, the shape of the eagle was used from the antique rug below but reshaped the tail and hooked it differently.  So believe there are enough differences to call the 1776 eagle my design.  They are going to hang the eagle but haven't decided which room.  Will it go in my son's 'man cave' or somewhere in their house ... an inquiring nosey mind will find out when I visit them again.

Before starting my new project thought I'd pull a few loops on the patiently waiting plus one, Ezra's Farm, just to make a tad more headway.  Previously I'd just hooked the horse and got bored.  So decided to hook around the horse until I decide what color and where I want to attack next.  Now I can see that blob color doesn't look right.  So will reverse hook and replace with another color when returning to the pattern.

That's it for this post.  Blogger is giving me fits because the text style and color keeps changing.  At first it wouldn't allow me to post the pictures.  Happy Monday and happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

TIPS TEACHERS TAUGHT US

The other day I emailed follower/reader Denise and asked if there was something she'd like me to blog about.  As any of you who have a blog know, sometimes we (or at least I) struggle to come up with a topic which might interest readers.  Her question was "wondering what was the best tip learned from a class or teacher".  

A comment from Julia made a perfect and classic example of 'must do' ~  Use a good linen foundation and not cheap brittle burlap for your rug hooking.  Must admit that when I was teaching myself and practicing that is what I used because it was affordable and could be a 'throw away'.  But when I got seriously hooking that was the lesson taught me also and is what I use.

Continuing with Denise's email, she said she was struggling with a random background.  When hooking a large background we all get bored!  I'm speaking for myself here but know someone (UH, that would be my friend Lauren) who finds it a soothing task.

When I first started hooking think I just followed the outline of the main motif's (the ripple effect) until the lines eventually connected and then filled in.  But attending an early rug camp my teacher Bev Conway suggested drawing, then hooking, S's in the background, hooking the S, hooking around the S, moving onto the next and as each S is hooked around they eventually meet up.  

This Rottweiler Memorial wasn't hooked in her class but I used her technique.  You can see the S or C movement throughout the background and I used two values of the same color wool.

Another teacher Lisanne Miller suggests the puzzle piece style.  I tried it on my eagle rug but didn't do her technique justice as I didn't draw the small areas on the background, I just hooked random spots using dark and different wools.  It is a primitive after all. 

Reader Nancy commented on my last blog post that her teacher suggested adding small bits of color or different value here and there for interest.  

Robin mentioned using 'ugly wool because ya just never know when that ugly will look wonderful in a rug'.

Barb Carroll made a similar comment in class.  Barb's was more of a color contrast which she called 'poison' as a random out-of-place hooked piece of wool.  After all, they used what they had back in the day.  An example of Barb's teaching is in this Westmoreland Ponies pattern designed by her and I hooked it in a class with Barb 2012.  Click on the photo below and look closely.  You can see the odd yellow green strips, random plaids and even a lighter color in the background.  All of which provides interest and makes the eye move around the rug.  AND, makes it more fun for the hooker.

Westmoreland Ponies is a free pattern in a previous issue of RHM but can't recall which year but maybe around 2011 or 2012.

Please don't hesitate to email me a question or an idea you'd like to see on my blog.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitive.weebly.com

IT'S RUG LABEL TIME FINALLY

I'm way behind labeling my rugs, as usual, because it takes 6 labels to fill a page so 6 hooked rugs are required.  Two of the rugs were hooked during 2023.  One was started November 2023 (The Reclining Sheep) but wasn't finished until the beginning of 2024 so gave it a label of 2024.

Those three rugs have their labels attached and here the are.  The flash has washed out the color in all of those rugs.

Sorry, I just couldn't let that washed out view of my rugs go so here they are  individually; first up is Reclining Sheep.

My design named 1776 Eagle which was adapted from an antique 1907 rug.

And finally Going in Circles, another adaptation which was a LOT of fun and was my 'plus one'.  If you compare this photo with the first one you'll see how washed out the rugs were in the first photo.

The Lone Stag label will be attached next but the last two labels will sit for a while as one still needs to be bound and the other is presently on my frame being hooked.  But at least the labels are ready to be attached when they are completed.  

I've posted a tutorial on a previous blog post and will copy and paste the link again to not repeat the whole process.  You can read how to do your own labels HERE.  The last printer fabrics I purchased was from TAILOR so perhaps there are other products available under a different name and the price may be higher.

More rain and turbulent weather in the forecast here and probably where you live.  So buckle up buttercup and have something handy to keep you entertained.  I'll be hooking for sure.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

RUGS HOOKED IN 2023

To my followers I wish all of you have a happy and healthy New Year.  For America I pray for a safer way of life for all of us on our streets, towns and cities.  

I will welcome the new year in as usual, behind closed eyes.

As much as I hate for this "forever floral" to be the first rug shown it was the first rug hooked in 2023 so must start with it.  It was given that name because it seemed to take forever to finish the damn thing.

Since I'd always wanted to hook a block from Lucinda Ward's Reconciliation Quilt the one chosen was, of course, the Woman on  Horseback. 

Janice of Prims by the Water joined me in the project and you can see hers develop HERE.

Also on my frame was an antique star rug which was fun and will be something to display during patriotic holidays.  It started as my 'plus one' and something to hook while deciding on what to do next.  Must say it was a LOT of fun.

Oh my, be still my heart.  Around March/April I fell in love with an antique 1911 Horse.  At the moment it is being displayed in front of my fireplace for my enjoyment pleasure.

Scalloped Flowers was next and hooking those repetitive squiggly lines did get rather boring.  What was fun was hooking the directional blotchy background.  It will be a nice rug to display in the spring when I'm looking for buds to develop anywhere in the yard.  

Geometric Garden, an antique adaptation, followed soon after.

Another of my 'plus one' or impromptu quick hook on the side, was an adaptation I dubbed "Going in Circles".  What a great way to pull strips from those baggies of color already cut.  And do love the blotchy background.

At rug camp with Caroline I started Lollipop Flowers, an antique adaptation.  I love it, sure turned out wonderful!

Next was my 1776 Eagle which I'm still in love with.  The original antique took quite a remake to get to this stage.

Sadly my sheep who lost its way won't be finished this year.  She will be the first one finished in 2024 tho.  It was started in November and most all wool in the sheep was removed and rehooked as well as what was hooked of the purple border.  This photo is the first time I've looked at it on my pc in weeks.  

Lauren, I miss quoted the dimensions, it is 26 x 40.  Not sure what I'll do with that snake looking area below but in the original antique it is a very light color and I don't want that.                           

For me and those who can't remember what the antique looked like, here it is for comparison.  The outer border in the antique is light and I made mine dark and added it to the already dark  ~ that's why my black border is so large.

What's next you're wondering?  Not quite sure since I don't have a plus one on the side right now.  But do have an antique in mind for 2024, UH, unless I change my mind.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

                                                                                                                                                                            

PROJECTS REPORT

It is just a couple weeks before year's end so am taking stock of what projects will get left behind going into next year.  As of this second there are 3 rugs in limbo  ~ 1776 Eagle which should be bound by the end of today and will get posted, the Circles rug which is completely hooked but needs binding and the antique sheep rug which is presently in solitary confinement.

The circles rug should be completely bound before January so that leaves the lost sheep.  I really hate the thought of not finishing the sheep because I'm not a quitter.  So before pulling out all the wool strips around the sheep will think about what I can do to save its life, lol.

Fast forward to afternoon....1776 Eagle binding is complete and once again am unable to capture a straight photo after 3 tries.

With no rug ready to hook it is time to start binding Going in Circles.  Ya wanna know how bored with binding I am?????  I've got to rectify that situation pronto before I go bonkers!!!  Meanwhile, gonna go bind 😞.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

THE WOOL YARN ARRIVED

The wool yarn did arrive yesterday and I've begun whipping the edges of the eagle rug.  Won't show you any progress until it is completely bound.  But will show you how well the wool matches the rug.  Check out Ali Strebel designs as she does sell various colors of yarn on her web site HERE.  And it is a wonderful thick wool for whipping with one strand.  If you want a special color combination for your rug contact her and she will overdye what you ask.  The special order cost is a couple dollars more per hank than listed on her web site but oh so worth it.   

Had time while waiting for the arrival of the yarn and not hooking the sheep rug, so did the preliminary work to make whipping with yarn go faster.

The sheep has been folded up with the wool strips and will remain in solitary confinement until such time I'm ready to decide it's fate.  Meanwhile I'm working on Going in Circles, which was my plus one project a couple months ago.

Since the sheep has been put to bed (so to speak) I'll be looking for my next one soon.  So  be prepared to see more antique rug posts.

Saundra

BEFORE I LEAVE FOR CAMP

Thought I'd show Lollipop Flowers all hooked and bound and am happy to have it done in time for camp to show Caroline (Eagles Nest Woolens) who is my teacher next week and who color planned it at Cape May. I LOVE it!!!!

Also love the rounded corners which made whipping the edge so much easier.  Below is a photo of the label attached which has a picture of the original antique.

The picture is hard to see so here is a larger view of the antique rug.

Also, I did try reverse hooking that brown top part of the wing with the grey wool like the body and which is that strip on top of the brown.  You'll have to wait until I return home from camp to see what the results were of that.  BTW, the eagle rug is NOT done, it's still a work in progress.  My focus will be on my new project after my start with Caroline at camp.

Am looking forward to class with Caroline to hook the reclining sheep which has been on my long list of rugs to hook.  Everything else will be on the backburner for a while.

Happy hooking.

Saundra 

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

1776 EAGLE UPDATE

The last post about the Eagle I wasn't sure how I'd hook the wings, other than that outline.  I started on the left wing with softer colors since it would have a primitive black background and wanted to be sure the wings would stand out.  

Then tried darker colors on the other wing.  After hooking some background felt comfortable with the choice of darker wings.  

Here's the rug now but will reverse hook the left wing.  Notice I pulled loops the natural way wing feathers grow.  Maybe next time I hook an eagle rug it will be outline and fill.

Oh my, that's a LOT of background.  Oh well, it's still loops to pull and keeps me entertained.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

IN FULL VIEW

Here is the 1776 Eagle pattern in full view.  I decided to make my stars 5 point stars as in the US Flag.  Changed the date from 1907 on the original antique to 1776.  But had questioned if I wanted the date of Independence from England (1776) or the date the Constitution was written in 1787.  You can see what I chose. 

Also decided to add the leaves at the bottom ~ but had also thought of having a wavy ribbon instead.  I sent Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) both line drawings to see which she preferred, and the leaves won.  

Am not sure how I want to hook the wings yet so will probably try something on one side and my other idea on the other wing to see which I prefer.   Below is the original antique.

Hope your week goes well and happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com