Still Celebrating

Yesterday was a 'winner winner turkey dinner' day for a few reasons.  As my wonderful DIL wasn’t feeling well a couple days ago and had no taste I decided to not visit my son yesterday.  Plus her family from PA came to visit and didn’t want to expose myself to a group of people in close quarters.  My grandson delivered my turkey and all the sides to me and I sent him on his way taking a pumpkin pie I'd cooked for them.    There was plenty and even enough for my lunch today.

I have absolutely no idea why my print is so erratic.

The best thing is both pallets of rocks were sold!!!!!!!!!!  Word got around the neighborhood that I had rocks that I was going to sell and a neighbor wanted to put in a rock walkway.  The driver of the 4-wheeler is Justin (buyer) and the one in the back is Chris, another neighbor helping.

One pallet leaving.

And the second one almost out of sight ~ good riddance and my work was profitable.  Was told a pallet of those rocks would be approximately $350 per pallet.  I asked the neighbor (the other neighbor not the buyer) if $150 per pallet would be a fair price.  He said it was very fair so I've $300 extra in my pocket.

The cherry on top is that Chris wants the landscaping wood for his back yard near the stream which runs around our development.  Naturally he can have those for free for the takeaway.  He may even want those sandbags which are sandwiched between the heavy liner and wood framing.  This is a picture taken before digging out all the plants.

So yes, I'm still celebrating.  This afternoon my son is bringing me all the turkey leftovers (dark meat and bones) and I'll make some turkey stew one day soon and freeze some goodies for soup for another time.  A winner winner turkey dinner indeed.

This morning I hung another rug on the wall.  It is the rug to the far right and in order to hang it had to  move that TV gently to get back there with the stool.

If you can't see it, here it is again.  Brave Hunter an antique adaptation I purchased from Woolley Fox when Barb owned it and hooked it in her class in 2010.

My belly is telling me it's hungry so getting ready to heat up more leftover turkey.  TaTa.

Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Cape May Rug Show #3

There were so many wonderful rugs in the show and can't wait to share more in this post.  The one below is named Rusty Twigs and Posies hooked by Susan Foley.

My friend and roomie Deb Nees hooked Gettysburg, below, a Woolley Fox design.

An original design named "Buffalo Bill" is a collaboration between Rebecca Erb and her son-in-law as a gift to Rebecca's husband.  It is huge and wonderful!!!!!  Great job guys!!

Fun Flowers below was hooked by Nancy Weaver.

Diane Stoffel hooked this mat named "Halloween".

Brave Hunter is a design by Tonya Robey and was hooked by Sandy Bennington.  This is also on my 'to do' list.

Old Faithful was hooked by Susan Foley.

Oh my but the rug below brings back fond memories of Barb's Guest House when attending rug camps with her.  "Pigs at the Trough" is a Woolley Fox design and hooked by Cindy Harpring.

Look familiar?  It should as you've seen it before.  At camp there was at least one admirer who wanted to know where I got the design.  Shared it came from the Kopp book so look for her rendition next year somewhere.  Hope I'm  lucky enough to see how she hooked hers.  It is always fun to see the same designs hooked by others.

Blue Horse for Polly is a mat hooked by Evelyn Lawrence.  She seems to be going for the smaller pieces lately.

Brody Bunny hooked by Vickie Valenia.

Cats and Flowers below is hooked by Martha Buhler.  Think I'm losing track of what rugs have been posted and which haven't.  I apologize if you see the same rug more than once but hey....that's a good thing.

Darby is a design hooked by Martha Buhler.

My gal pal Deb hooked "Two Black Cats" pattern sold by Spruce Ridge Studios except she didn't hook them both black.  It was hooked in Cammie's class last year.  

Below is a beautiful rug hooked...I think ...by Weslee.  I've written to her asking for a better picture and confirmation on name of design.

Big Bird was hooked by Winnie Kinkelle.

Yeah, the small Magdalena Goat hooked by me.  Can't remember if I posted it previously or not but want to get this #3 camp show sent.

Nancy Weaver hooked Pennsylvania Dutch below.

This guy was so much fun to hook.  Last year in Cammie's class she said she planned to buy the original antique but didn't get home from running errands in time for the on-line antique purchase.  Evelyn Lawrence hooked it as did I.  But Evelyn couldn't find her rug to bring for the show.

Woodland Acorn below hooked by Carol McKey.

Still remaining are the Sheep at the Beach mats and the "throw Down".

Saundra

More Hooked Projects

In 2010 I was still doing shows selling primitive dolls and hooked pieces and once again sold a rug really liked.  One day I'd like to replicate this antique again.

Saw the stag antique in one of my books so just had to make a chair pad.

 Shortly thereafter decided to hook a larger rug for the floor.  Think I prefer the gold colors.  

Also that year I hooked Magdalena's Dog and Crows.  I have a more correct color version of this without a flash but it is blurry.  So just know the colors appear more bright and washed out than they are.

At a class with Barb Carroll I hooked Brave Hunter which is offered by Woolley Fox.

Magdalena's McCue Eagle was another hooked that year and is presently at my front door.  Ditto what I said about a 'flash'.

Hooked purses were very popular at my shows and here is one that I hooked.  Cannot remember whose design it is and don't have time to research.

The scallop top was attractive so hooked another but with a crow.

Also 2010 I joined a challenge and didn't know the motif or rules until after signing up.  It ended up being an elf and the only thing I could think to do was make a jack-in-the-box style and made as a wall hanging.  But boy there were some VERY creative women who made magnificent pieces.  I'd hoped to sell it for a child's room at one of my shows...nope, still here, lol.

Hard to believe it is July 4th tomorrow.  Hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday.

Saundra

Honies....I'm Home

Could be that I'll just fall asleep at the computer posting this update on my travels.  Actually, this one will be a quickie just to give you a teaser. Besides, my #!&# iPad, even using the proper app for a blog wouldn't allow me to post a picture while I was gone.  

Anyway, in an attempt to send a blog from Barb's I'd  mentioned she recently finished hooking her design "Brave Hunter".  Barb had previously hooked it and offered it as a donation, raffle or some such and she loved it so decided to hook it again.  

In person this rug looks OLD.  These are NOT the colors you would see if holding the rug in your hands.  Don't know if it is my camera, computer or what; but trust me when I say that everything is darker and old looking.

Anyone who had gone to a Barbara Carroll rug camp at her home knows how special it is.  There is the individual attention, the personal connection and of course spending the nights in the wonderfully decorated cottages.  As delightful as it was it sure is exhausting having fun.

Saundra

Brave Hunter finished

Brave Hunter is all bound and giving it's hooker and owner pleasure.  As much as I dread the task of binding, there is something very satisfying when that task is finished and you can see the fruits of your labor of love. 

For the present time the rug is gracing the table in my kitchen where I will see it each time I walk thru there to the rest of the house.  I think it looks rather nice on my harvest table.

Now I have to bind the Magdalena Eagle but think I'll hook another lighthouse purse so I can get those assembled and lined.  Yes, putting off the inevitable and I know that the rug can't truly be enjoyed until it is completely finished.... which means being bound. 

The process of binding a rug

As with most hookers, I enjoy the hooking process but not particularly fond of the binding process ~ yet it needs to be done to give your rug the longest possible life.  There are many ways to bind a rug and I have tried several ways.  With this particular rug "Brave Hunter" by Woolley Fox, I have decided to whip the edges with the same wool strips as in the border.  I will use up some of the strips I've already cut and they may be in either #8 or #8.5. 

This is the rug Brave Hunter which I hooked with Barb Carroll this past November.  The rug has been completely hooked for several weeks now but as I mentioned I love hooking and binding is not my fav thing to do, so I immediately started working on my Magdalena Eagle again.  But, I really do want to enjoy this rug and I can't until it is bound.  In case any of you wonder..... those flecks of white in the middle hills (not the trees) is the white section of the textured wool I used for that area.

It is very important to do a row of straight stitching about 1/4" away from the last row of hooking.  This helps prevent stress on the weave of the foundation during movement, thus keeping the loops firmly planted.  Then I drew a line about 2" away from the rug and did a row of straight stitching.  Then I usually do two rows of zig zag on top of that to keep the ends from fraying, but this time I did the straight stitch, one row of zig zag and since I have a serger thought I'd serge the edges also.

I will roll this 2" margin forward and whip it with wool strips without a cording.  Some people use cording wrapped with the backing, and I have also done that, but I've also had great success whipping a rug without the cording to fuss with. 

As I progress in this task I'll be sure to post pictures of the next stage.

Again I'd like to say how very important it is to take the time to properly bind your rugs; and that isn't just cutting it and covering it up with binding tape or whipping it.  The raw edges of the backing should also be well protected from raveling because even covered up, with the rug hanging, being walked on and moved, the weave will undoubtedly unravel with time.  And what a shame it would be to spend all those hours hooking and money spent on wool for a beautiful project just to have the wool loops pull out or shift.