RUG HOOKING CHIT CHAT

The last loops on 1911 Horse were pulled and out of necessity with no new rug to hook (yet) have started the binding process.

The rug will be bound using cotton rug binding tape as I don't want an extra row of any color at the edge.  I want the thin dark areas to show as they are since that is how the antique was.  

Below is a fun rug I found on an auction site in 2022.  The info was that it measures 17 x 19 and said to be hooked between 1920-1949.  Am finally posting it now because of an article in the latest ATHA  June/July issue of ATHA Magazine. 

In that issue there is another cat rug Amy hooked with Nola Heidbreder adapted from a famous St. Louis artist Charles Houska.  So perhaps this rug below is an adaptation of his work as well. 

If you received the latest issue of ATHA check out page 59.

This is a preview of the articles in the issue.

I enjoy this magazine as much if not more than RHM.  If you'd like to subscribe and see what other folks in your area are doing you can subscribe to ATHA HERE.

Nancy asked how I hid my ends.  Actually I've done 3 different ways and intended to do those on a piece of linen to show you.  But decided to take the easy way and provide you with a video by Cindy Gay, enjoy.

Hook on folks.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. CHIT CHAT

Have you received your new issue of ATHA magazine yet?   If so, what did you think of that wonderful free pattern design by Edyth O'Neill and hooked by Cynthia Norwood?   I love Cynthia's colors and plan to hook the pattern also ~ that is after I finish the newly started project.  If you aren't a member of ATHA you should be.  This is the current issue. 

Remember the Textile Challenge I hosted?  There was an article and pictures in a previous issue of ATHA about that too.  You can see the cover of that issue and read a little about it HERE.  The magazine is worth the cost of subscription since you would be reading about what subscribers are doing and contributing to the content.  At the back of the magazine is a schedule of what subjects for photo entries will be forthcoming so you can plan your projects and hook them in time to submit your own photo.  

AND..... by the way, there is also a feature called "First Rug Last Page" where newbies can submit their proud works and I always look forward to that since I was a newbie once too.  Hope to see more of my friends and followers in the magazine.

My new project is another large one (for me that is) which means there is a large area to cover and I've few loops pulled.  Here is a photo of wool I'm working from.  Other colors are in the rug but am not ready to use those yet so those worms or cut wool aren't included in this potpourri of woolie worms.         

My project is my favorite large animal to hook, a horse of course.  When younger and had my own horse, a classmate and I would pack a lunch and ride thru the woods near her family farm.   That was the time when kids respected parents, teachers, police, and there were morals not seen in a lot of kids today; hell, in some adults as well.  Okay, enough of that and moving right along...

I've had watery eyes, sneezing, runny and red nose from rubbing and blowing... yup, must be pollen time again.  My nose is so sore that I've been applying Blistex to help relieve the discomfort, yet it stings when applying the healer.

Happy Friday and happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

Be Prepared

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared".  The next time I host or do a textile challenge my motto is "be more prepared".  In 2021, during the pandemic, I hosted a textile challenge on my blog and you can read a little about it HERE.  The objective was using more of an alternate textile than wool in a rug to get back to our roots, so to speak.  

Not such a wise decision was that I chose to use woven cotton and homespun as my alternate textile.  Not next time baby, it is a bear to pull through the linen.  Finished works by the participants of the challenge were featured in the August/September 2021 issue of ATHA magazine.  Thanks to all the rug hookers who joined in, it was fun.

So in order for  me to be more prepared for the next challenge I've started looking for and collecting silks, cotton knits and nylons.  If you peruse the rug hooking sale sites on FB you've seen Sari silk offered I'm sure.  What makes Sari silk (a silk garment worn in India) any more special than a silk item worn in America?  Go to your local thrift shop and look for silk items.  Yeah, you'll have to dismantle and rip it yourself but much more thrifty and you can use the savings toward gas.

Yesterday I did rip a couple items which you see bundled to the left of the photo below.  I'll bet that colorful blouse will be beautiful and will eventually work on that.  The white nylons will be thrown in a dye pot once I know what the project will be.  You can also see a green and yellow piece of nylon stocking.

And here is my collection of cotton knit, and more yellow and green nylon stockings.  These will have to be cut vs. ripped, but at least I've got my bounty ready.

For those who have followed me regularly, you know my passion for hooking antique adaptations.  Here is a photo of antique star and diamond rug which measures 33 x 70.  Love those blotchy off color patches on antique rugs.  Shows me they used what they had.

Now look at the close up detail of the textiles used AND notice the spacing between the loops.

And yet another closeup of another section of the rug with burlap showing thru.  That may also indicate weakening of the foundation.  Point is, that's not wool.

Here is the back of another antique rug and look at the spacing between loops.

On another rug, the photo below shows this person even used a sweater.

And probably my all time favorite antique rug designer/hooker is Magdalena Briner Eby.  Here are two closeup photos of the front and what is now known as Great Granddaughter's Rug.

Notice that even tho these rugs were well used, walked on (pressed), during Magdalena's time you can still see foundation showing.  And of course they got dirty which adds beauty to the antique and tones down the bright white.  Sometimes I have used walnut juice from walnuts collected in the fall or I've a favorite dye recipe called Olde Patina which I use.  So if you want to make a rug look old, follow in the footsteps of our foremothers, just say'n.

Here's Magdalena's fine rug held by relatives.  That is the great granddaughter in the middle.

In 2019 I hooked that design and tried to follow the color scheme Magdalena used but hooked in my normal rhythm and using what I had on hand.

Guess I've rambled long enough on this post and need to save up something for future posts.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. CHIT CHAT

And it is related to rug hooking.  Was disappointed my ATHA magazine hasn't arrived yet because a friend told me a couple of my rugs are in the latest issue.   Thankfully Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) sent me a couple photos as she has received her magazine.  

Oh Glorious Day was hooked in a class with Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios.  To say it was a fun class is an understatement.  But then all of her classes are fun and I always come away with a rug with great memories and color planning. 

Last March was so windy I needed to purchase W.Cushings Windy Day pattern to display each March and it is on my sofa table now.  As deer roam the woods around my house who wouldn't love to hook Winter Buddies, another pattern offered by Cushing.   Both of those were hooked at home without a teacher.

Finally after too many months of Covid lockdowns, masking, etc.  In a November 2020 class under the guidance of Bev Conway I hooked New Year's Eve, a pattern offered by The Wool Farm.  I needed to welcome in a new year 2021.  Well we know how that year went too don't we.  

Nine more days and a wake up before I leave for rug camp in Ocean City, MD.  This year I'm staying at the Dunes Suites next door instead of the hotel.  And guess this will be the only camp I attend this year as I'm not going to Cape May this September after attending every year since 2003.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

IT'S HERE!!!!!!

The ATHA magazine with our article has arrived!!!!!  Even tho I wrote the article and knew what was said, it is so much more fun holding it in my hand and reading it all over again.  Even more fun is looking at everyone's work and recalling our challenge again.

For those of you who submitted photos who were not members of ATHA at the time, sorry but your names weren't mentioned.  Don't know if it is possible for you to buy just one issue or not, but if you'd like to join ATHA you can check it out HERE.  Perhaps you could contact them to see if they have any extra issues of this one issue before they disappear.  BTW, I'm planning on hosting another "alternative textile challenge" after the new year and have started collecting my goodies to make it easier for me this time.

This is a jampacked issue with several free patterns and I see one I'd like to start for my front door next.  And of course the Tattered Tulip pattern is in there as well.  Thanks to all of you who decided to play with me on this textile challenge.  

Happy hooking, happy reading and enjoy the magazine.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Miscellaneous Rug Hooking Chit Chat

 Someone asked about the wool colors in the Oxen.

Below is the wool I overdyed years ago before hooking the Rottweiler Memorial of Shumba and Panzer and had some left.   Yeah, it really is the same wool used in the darker Ox but the flash makes it appear lighter.  This came from a recipe book I have and think it was in a Jewel Tones booklet.  If anyone was truly interested I could look for the recipe.  And think it is one of the XOXO scrunched wool in baking pan recipes.

The other Ox wool is what was left over from an onion skin dye bath.  As the dye started to take up decided to toss in a little more white wool to absorb what was left for a lighter shade.  Now all my onion skin dyed wool is gone.

I discovered Margaret Shaw is the designer of this rug and she is going to draw a pattern for me.  She did say it won't listed on her FB web site as a regular design but will draw it.  Obviously she is taking the holiday off but I'm excited to get the pattern and is what I'll work on at Cape May in September....hopefully.

Today I saw the ATHA Magazine layout for our Textile Challenge gals!!!!!!!!  It is going to print today and I'm getting really excited.  However did learn that those of you who are not ATHA members will not have your name mentioned but your project will be seen in the article. 

I'm hoping to host another Textile Challenge this winter and plan to start a little earlier than last.  So if you plan to participate you may want to  get credit for your work and be an ATHA member.  The magazine is full of great information, inspiration and sometimes a free pattern.  You can subscribe HERE to join or even just to buy the upcoming issue.

Am drawing two big rug patterns for someone ~ the large Mighty Whale and the large original size of Magdalena's Goat.  So they will be ready to ship tomorrow.

Happy hooking and hope you have a fun-filled and safe weekend.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Flash Back Friday

I've been going thru old ATHA magazines as they have mounted up over the years.  Am saving those which have articles for reference and made notations on the front cover like 'fold dyeing', 'hooking techniques', designing styles, etc.  

Then I came across one I'd totally forgotten about dating back to 2008.  Happened it was one with an article about me and my rug which I named The Ole Gals.

Here is a photo copy of the article as I didn't want to cut it out and scan it; I'd like to keep it intact in the event my family might want it as a memory????

Have started binding New Years Eve and will have a photo for you soon.  Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Saundra

woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ATHA Magazine Arrived Today

YIPPEE!!!!  Have been waiting for it to arrive.  Knew it should be here soon because yesterday a follower alerted me hers had arrived ~ thank you Carolyn.  This is the August/September 2016 issue of ATHA magazine.  If you aren't presently a subscriber, this issue will definitely push you off that ledge if you are a primitive hooker.

I apologize for the unclear photos, it isn't blurry, the camera is fogged up from the humidity outside.  As I didn't want a flash white out decided to take the magazine on the back deck to get the shot.  Even went so far as to wipe the lens before taking each photo but it still fogged up since it is so humid outside compared to inside.

For you primitive hookers, this issue is full of nothing but primitives. Just look at that line up of magnificent hookers and articles in the Contents.  I want so badly to start reading it right now but have so little left of Zach's Favorite Sports Rug to hook that requires my attention first.

When my friend Deb and I were at Barb Carroll's camp in May Barb was working on her article so that is probably what I will read first.

Another head's up from Carolyn is a notice in the magazine of a deadline for 2017 sports related rugs.  Hot damn!  I don't have a professional camera but plan to submit a photo of my son's Man Cave Rug from last year and also my grandson's rug for this year.  There is an announcement in the magazine on deadlines for various themed rugs.  

Had another thunder storm and lots of rain again last night and there is even more water accumulation in my yard.  I called mosquito control and they are to come and spray our development and particularly my property since I'm the low area in the neighborhood and the mosquito breeding ground.  Sadly I don't hear the frogs any longer so maybe the mosquito's ate them, lol.

Have a good evening everyone and stay cool.  No way I can go outside as I'm attacked by vicious mosquito constantly.  So when I walk Ben I carry a big handkerchief and whip it around me and him when I see or hear those blood suckers.  

And YES, I apply K9 Advantix II on my boy to keep him protected even tho he is an inside dog used to A/C and winter heat.  

Saundra

Yeah, What She Said

As Lauren posted on her BLOG yesterday, that her Chicken Challenge rug was in the latest ATHA magazine... so is mine.  Sadly I haven't received my issue  yet but hopefully tomorrow it will arrive in my mailbox.  Here is what my rug looked like.  Since I love the blotchy background often seen in faded and worn antique rugs that is the look I tried to achieve.

The edge binding is done using a technique I learned from taking a class with Betsy Reed November 2013 and it suits this rug perfectly I think.  Gives the rug a worn and repaired look; again leaning toward the antique.

 

This is what the original antique Chicken rug looked like.  That is a photo which was used for the pencil sketch pattern.

Thanks to Deb Burcin, this pattern was offered for the challenge on the Woolrights Hooking Guild Blog.  The free line drawing is on the blog if you wish to participate also.  It may be too late to get into the ATHA magazine but you will have a free design to play with and make it unique.

I have just stolen Lauren's picture of the article which was written by Deb Burcin (thanks Lauren).

And this is the cover (also stolen from Lauren from the e-mail she sent me). 

Sure hope my issue arrives tomorrow.  If you would like to purchase an annual subscription, check out the ATHA web site.

Have a great evening.

Saundra