BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

My plan was to do a blog post yesterday but didn't have something interesting to write about.  Here it is late evening and still don't have much to post so will just pretend you're my neighbor who dropped by to see what I've been up to the last couple days, lol.

Yesterday I drew a pattern for someone who wanted to hook the antique Santa and Deer pattern below.

As you can see, it is a very faded rug and poor photo from which to draw a pattern.  Oh I could guess and just change motifs to be what I think they are, but that wouldn't be a likeness of the antique.  Before drawing it I asked the buyer if she was sure, and did she want all the squiggles in the background.  The answer was 'yes'.

I wasn't sure if that was a date to the bottom right of the rug or not.  Since there are so many other lines, half circles, and lines it may not have been.  Anyway, I did a preliminary line sketch and sent it to her.  Told her perhaps I could find someone else to draw the pattern for her who may have a better photo of the antique and if she would like to change her mind?  The answer was 'no, I still want it'.

Well bless her heart for believing me and trusting her creativity which she will need.  The pattern was shipped yesterday and thank you Susan for your loyalty.

Before starting this post I went surfing thru some of my old blog posts looking for inspiration.  OMG!  Didn't find inspiration but did learn how neglectful I've been over my wool room.   Cannot believe how wonderful my wool room looked then but sure as heck doesn't look like that now.  Matter of fact I confided in Susan that before I could do her pattern I had to clean off my drawing table as it was piled up with wool.  I won't show you my present wool room as I'd be embarrassed.  If you want to see it on a good day ...years ago, check it out HERE.  

Yeah, years ago.  Just think how much more wool I've purchased since then and as much hooking as I do the wool still continues to mount up.  Perhaps if I were to spend a week organizing it again I'd be okay.  At times I even think of selling some wool on FB Buy and Sell.   OH, wait, I'm still banned for another 9 days for a reason I still don't understand.

That's all I got for tonight.  Listened to the weather and tomorrow's rain forecast just might bring Delaware off the drought list with a predicted couple inches of rain.  Woodland lake just might return before spring.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Am Bored ~ So back to my Hooked Pieces

Still no new project on my frame but at least I've started whipping the edge of Flower Power.  Also started tracing out the sketch of the pattern planned but got bored doing that.  To prove just how bored I was ~  pulled out the vacuum and cleaned up my wool room and organized my master paper patterns.  So you know just how un-motivated I am on what to hook next.

The first rug camp each year was usually in May with wonderful teacher and perfect colorist Barb Carroll.  The 2014 class project was Magdalena's Farm and it has the signature bits of purple.  

Rugs by the Sea rug camp is September and hooked a memorial of my departed Shadow.  That class was with Diane Stoffel and I hooked Shadow in #8.  OOPS, I see that the date on the photo for Shadow was 2013.

Which means the rug hooked at Cape May 2014 was Ali Katz, a design I drew and hooked for a class with Ali Strebel.

November class with Betsy Reed in Ocean City, MD was Olde Ducks, another Magdalena design.

The rest of the rugs hooked that year were on my own at home.  One was another Woolley Fox design hooked was the small version of Folk Art Horse.

The Chicken Challenge offered by Woolrights Guild seemed like fun and this was my version with the blotchy background.  Should probably have kept the hit and miss upper corners but I love the faded background of antique rugs.

Just before Halloween I designed and hooked a piece named Mache' Jacks.  Unfortunately I don't own an antique mache'Jack so made the one on the table and hooked the likeness in this mat.  OMG, I love that mat if I must say so myself.

That year I finally finished hooking an antique adaptation started well over 5 years prior.  The original 1890 antique rug in the style below was sometimes referred to as "Waved and Stepped" pattern, according to the Joel and Kate Kopp book.  I named it Granny Geometric since it reminded me of the crochet afghan squares.  But more recently has come to be known as a Zig Zag rug.  Perhaps that is the name given by the woman who most recently drew and hooked it.  

An adaptation of Pot of Flowers antique was a smallish, easy and fast mat to hook.

Was in the mood for another antique adaptation so drew and hooked what I named The Cat's Meow.  This is the rug hanging on the wall of a log cabin over a bed.  It was difficult to get a good view of the rug even tho the owner sent me personal photos.

An antique design haunting me for some time was this adaptation which I call Hearts and Swags and made into pillow form.

For years on my 'to do' list and finally hooked was the antique Santa and Deer adaptation.  I've seen various border designs and did mine plain so as to not take away from the main focus.

I hooked small pieces like a hit and miss circle mat (not shown) and welcomed people to join me.  And designed an adaptation from the Harriet Powers Bible Quilt piece which I named "500 Mile Betts".  After the Cape May rug camp I gave it to my friend Evelyn.

Hopefully something will SOON motivate me to make a choice of design to hook.  But for now will slowly whip Flower Power.

Saundra

The Eve of Christmas Day

T'was the night before Christmas and all thru the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care......

..in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.  And I'm sure all my readers could recite the book also from years of reading it to their child or family member.

This evening I wrapped my last gift, the Man Cave Rug for my son. Tomorrow I'll spend the day with my son, Cathy and Zach.  Then come home to give Ben his Christmas treats ~ a new toy and Bully Stick.  

So for now am enjoying my hooked vintage adaptation of Santa and reindeer on my harvest table with a glass of pinot noir.  

Wishing everyone a great Christmas eve and hope Santa gets all those presents wrapped and under the tree before the kids wake up and family arrives.

Saundra

The Cat's Meow

Ooh, think I like that name for this rug instead of what I've been using.  I've dubbed it 'Cat, Birds and Blooms' but that is quite a mouthful.  Besides I'm really enjoying hooking the design so think it IS "The Cat's Meow". 

Things are working out well as I get to the count down to Woolley Fox camp.  This rug is the only one on the frame and all but one has been bound.  The Granny Geometric is left and will be bound on the 4 hour road trip to Woolley Fox as my pal Deb drives.  That way it will keep my mind busy as we climb the elevation in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and for you moms out there, hope it was extra special.  Hugs to all and please be kind to one another.

This one isn't on my web site yet but I did post a picture of my Santa and Deer rug there today.  As soon as this one is done I'll post it on my web site too. 

Speaking of web sites... mine really needs a day shifting things around.  Oh well, one day I'll get around to it.  So all I can recommend is you just scroll thru all the old stuff and maybe you'll find a block which has something new in it.  Yup, sounds like a rainy day activity for sure.  But not this week as I'm leaving for Woolley Fox at the end of the week and lots to do before I leave.

OH!!!!!  The rug name......I'd love to hear some suggestions for the name of this rug.  So far I've called it these:  Cat, Birds and Blooms  ~  The Cat's Meow.    But I am open for suggestions and would love to hear them.  Normally I don't sell patterns of a design until after I've hooked it to have a picture for people to see of what I did.   But this time 4 were sold immediately. 

Saundra

Well I'll Be... Bells

As many times as I've looked at the antique Santa and Deer rug picture I never noticed until now there were bells on the Deer's collar. 

So yup, had to hook those babies in.  There are three but the ones on the sides don't show up well, the one in the center does.  Perhaps I'll have to work on that and make a different choice of wool so the other two show up; or better placement of the wool color against the brown body.

For sure I'm happier with the new shape of the face and collar rather than halter across the nose; it defines the shape of the head better and gives the deer a sweeter look.  My deer needs a bit of a bigger nose too I think.  Now need to hook the ears and decide on the antler color.

The glove color was also changed out and went with a different and slightly brighter green.  That was an over dyed piece I did on  Honeycomb wool of which I only had a smidgen. 

And... the border.  I've been pondering the border since drawing out the design.  There was the thought of no border, a plain all around border like the antique or hooking swags randomly here and there. 

When it came time decided to go with a regular framing.  I figured the swags would detract from the focus of the main objects.  But maybe next time I'll do the swags.  That is if I ever hook it again.  

What I'm using here is wool from a man's suit coat (recycled wool, ain't it grand?).  The wool has the green from the trees, brown like the deer and a smidgen of brown/gold. This wool appears more green than brown but I've another I just might try before the final decision is made.

Oh, for background think I'll go with the tan/brown plaid texture (thanks for your input Louise).  It seemed to do well around the moon with the brown part of the plaid hooked closest to the gold. 

Figuring out Santa

I'm still having fun figuring out my vintage Santa and Deer rug but so far haven't decided on my background.  And sure hate having nothing left to hook except background and border.  Usually after I hook a motif will do at least one row of background around it so it frames the motif as well as making less background to hook all at once.   Well duh, I haven't chosen my background yet.

Here is what I've hooked on Santa so far.

Dang..... I think I've got to find yet another mitten color for Santa as the glove still gets lost in his coat.  And Tried a textured plaid for the deer's eye and just might go with flat black so it shows up more.

Now to the ticklish situation of background.  The wool to the top right of Santa's head (near the moon) I have plenty of but it is too light for what I want.  The softer wool to the left is all there is in my stash and that is what I was going to use but there's not enough of it.  NOTE TO SELF.....("find out who sells it and order more"). 

The light textured wool to the right is what I THINK I'll go with because it will give the appearance of sky, soft neutral and think it will work okay around the deer and trees.

Even I don't know which direction I'll go on the eye or background yet (for certain) what I choose might not be what you would have chosen .  There is no right or wrong it is just what our personal color preferences are; I mean we have to live with our rugs so it is ultimately our choice.

Here Comes Santa Claus

There really must be a Santa Claus, because here he is.  Actually, this is a Santa that my talented doll maker and hooker friend Shari Lutz has  created for a customer.  Do you believe the talent that woman has to create such a lifelike face?   The face is NOT from a mold, but is hand sculpted by Shari using sculpy and glass eyes.

If you wish to see other items she creates, click on her name and it will take you to her web site.  She does other folk art, not just Santas.

And speaking of Santa....I've had a marvelous time hooking today when I should have been cleaning.  But hey, it is just me and Ben here and tomorrow I'll be at my son's house with family so just may as well enjoy my Christmas eve the way I wish, right?  That's what I thought you'd say (think).

Once I started hooking Santa realized I'd messed up on my drawing (after comparing it to the antique again) and made a re-deux.  If you compare this photo with the previous post you will see what I mean ~ the deer chest and Santa coat/arm area.

And this is what I accomplished today.

It was fun checking my bags of left over wool strips to see what I could use in this one as it is rewarding to know that the leftovers are being used up little by little.  The eyes were left over blue strips as were the lips, nose and cheeks.  Santa has a wind burn, har har, he does look a little tan and for that used a wonderful wool that makes a nice primitive flesh.  Most of his beard was also left over strips.

Since there are no plans to change the dimensions or border of the piece have sewn my pre-binding line.  So now all I have to do when the hooking is done is steam and trim off the excess backing before the binding.

As you can see from the note at the bottom of the design, it measures 23" x 25 1/2".  I'm sure the antique was larger but this is the size I wanted since there are no plans for it to be a floor rug but rather something to pull out and place on the harvest table at Christmas.

Have a marvelous holiday.  Peace be with us all. 

Saundra

One Down and Two to Go

Yup, finished binding and have hung Long Island Farm (design by Lucille Festa) so tomorrow will begin binding my Shadow girl. 

Meanwhile, I'm going thru withdrawal and need to start pulling loops on something.  Each year I plan to have a Christmas themed rug to put on my harvest table and for years had wanted to hook the vintage Santa and Deer.  About 3 weeks ago decided that this was the year I'd start hooking it and wanted to work on it between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Well, duh..... Christmas is in 2 days.  So this is what I've drawn so far.

Wasn't sure if I wanted a border of two rows, or draw swags here and there, or no border at all.  The only pieces I've hooked with no border were my two memorial rugs of the Rotties and of Shadow, all others had a border of some kind.

The purpose of the picture is to see which white I want to use for Santa's beard and which to use for his clothing trim and to see if it shows up too white.  And in this picture it looks like the red might be too bright, but then guess it depends on whether it is the bright red or the dark which shows at the top of the loop.

 

Drew the stick trees and sliver of moon at the last minute.  Now fix a salad to go with my new pot of homemade soup and pull some loops.

 

Have a great evening everyone; I've only one more gift to wrap and I'm ready for Christmas. 

 

Saundra

 

p.s.  Lauren, next post I'll give dimensions

        I forgot to measure it.