HOME but TIRED to the BONE

Having fun is exhausting, or at least it is this time for me.  Everything is unloaded from the van and moved to the appropriate rooms and most important items first... like my cutter upstairs in the wool room with the wool being used for this project.  Other things like emptying out suitcase can wait, as well as the laundry I brought home.

This year camp was at a different venue for me since I didn't go last year.  With Caroline Twigg (Eagles Nest Woolens) as the teacher it was a no brainer to send in my registration in right away this time.  So had her at Cape May in September and this one ~ great teacher and loads of fun.

This is my hooking spot in the room after 5 p.m. arrival on Sunday still working on the eagle rug and of course you can see my glass of wine.

I chose the 'city view' since it was $100 cheaper than ocean front (hey, I'm from here y'all).  But heck, the ocean is in full view from my balcony anyway.

Sadly I didn't get many photos this time but did want to get a photo of Caroline with this beautiful floral she hooked which wasn't taken to Cape May.

Below is a close up of a spot in the rug for me to study the colors she used to outline that large leaf and the wool color choices for the vein in the other leaves.  Intersting.

There was no rug show or throw down at this camp so photos were impossible to capture.  I'd hoped to take photos of everyone's rug this morning before departure since that is when most loops would have been pulled on each of our rugs.  But since we had to be out of our room by noon today many had left last evening or early this morning.  But did get a photo of my tablemate Vickie's rug this morning.  She was hooking in #9 cut I believe and got quite a lot done.

Vickie told me she had just been to another camp two weeks ago (think that is what she said) and it's a good thing she is a young thing because I couldn't do back-to-back camps.  I'd like to but my body just couldn't recover that fast.  Like I said, having fun is exhausting.

I will show you my work in the next bog post because I'd really like to have the sheep completed.  Caroline wanted me to hook just spots (she calls it "go mark your rug" which translates to hook just those colors in those spots so I can see how the colors play together.  And then if the colors play nice she color plans another section.   So hopefully will have a completed sheep to show next post.      

Tomorrow I've two service people coming, HVAC guy in the afternoon to service my furnace and outside unit and HOPEFULLY the septic guy comes in the morning so there will not be issues preventing me from flushing and doing laundry.  'Oh the joys of homeowner ship', as Lauren would say.  

OH, Lauren, Vickie, my tablemate said she reads my blog (and yours) and loved the segments where we bicker ~ she especially liked 'when the fat lady sings' but didn't ask her who she thought which of us won, LOL.                               

Little hooking will be done tonight since I've got to clean up my kitchen first.

Saundra

LOLLIPOP FLOWERS HOOKED

Actually hooking was completed yesterday, exactly one month after starting it at Cape May.  But don't give me a celebratory ovation because on FB there was a gal (forgot her name) who finished her rug from Cape May in less time and it was larger than mine.  

Loved having Caroline (Eagles Nest Woolens) as my teacher and can't wait to hook with her again November.  

Robin dear, did you notice I did not do a preliminary whipping stitch to roll the edge of this first?  I put on my old big girl panties and am whipping it as I go. I'll do a little whipping each night, no need to rush it since I hate whipping.

Watching and listening to the news was bad enough for the last two plus years but as of last weekend the news has been sickening to watch.  I've turned the TV off and tried to remove the images and sounds I'd witnessed.  My heart goes out to the Jewish community in America because I'm sure they're emotionally suffering.  And I pray for those in Israel who are experiencing this horror now.  May God Bless you and your families.  

Saundra

RUG PATTERNS THIS WEEK

This week I drew two patterns, one for Lisa and one for my rug camp in November with Caroline Twigg.  Below is the horse/geometric which Lisa ordered.  The antique rug was said to be hooked between 1890-1900.  Lisa should receive her pattern tomorrow.  I asked if she'd send me a photo once it is  hooked, she plans to hook it close to the colors in the original.

The rug below is what I finally decided to hook with Caroline (Eagles Nest Woolens).  This design was top of the list to hook at one time but for some reason another rug kept knocking it out of top slot.  Will be nice to finally get'r on the frame.  

Now back to the rug on the frame as it is getting closer to being finished.  Happy hooking. 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Progress, Plans and Plus One

This is the progress on Lollipop Flowers which was drawn 22 x 31 and started at Cape May this month.  In case you're wondering, no that green color along the right side isn't the color to be hooked in.

I love how Caroline (Eagles Nest Woolens) color planned it for me.  She used my wool and since I liked gold also purchased some of hers to enhance the beauty of the rug.  If you'd like to see the original antique it is on a previous post HERE.

Plans on the pattern for her class in November have been made but will save the unveiling until a later date just in case I change my mind.  Yet I've enlarged the master pattern the size of 26 x 40 but haven't drawn it out on linen yet just in case of, you know, changing my mind.  

Think I've embraced the idea of hooking a larger pattern so I don't have so many small ones but rather a larger significant statement and time well enjoyed.

One thing for sure is I have my plus one all line up and sitting on the side line this time.  Remember that Going in Circles rug?  It will be fun to get back to it whenever.  It's like a good old friend always there when you need one.

Happy hooking everyone.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

CLASS WITH CAROLINE

Thought you'd enjoy reading a few things I learned from Caroline in her class.  They really weren't 'secrets' and we weren't told to not share with anyone.   Just simple things anyone could have discovered on their own or maybe even know already.  But first, here is an update on Lollipop Flowers.

Since that photo I've pulled a few more loops.  Then thought I'd boxed  myself in a corner as I continued to hook gold wool toward the top left side flower.  What threw me off was referring to the photo of the original antique which you can see below.  I see that gold color on the original so continued hooking gold across the top.

But, if you look at my hooked version and look carefully, which I didn't do until I was stumped, that area on my rug is hooked in black on MY rug.  DUH.  So there was reverse hooking and now am back on track. 

Now to things I learned or came to understand ~ Caroline said if you hook in one direction on a motif, border, etc. will lean one way.  But if you hook one direction, change direction with the next row, etc., the motif will stand up straight as one row supports the other.  I drew out what I meant below using a penny circle as the example.

I probably did that anyway since I am right handed and prefer to hook to the right of the previous row.  But wasn't aware it was helping to make the area stand up and support each row.  Now I'm cognizant of the theory so will be more aware and vigilant.  Not saying that will be protocol all the time, will just be more aware.

When Caroline was showing us her rugs and using them as lessons I noticed all of her corners were nicely and gently rounded so asked her how she controls the corners.

She places a quarter in the corner and hooks around that slight curve instead of making a sharp corner.  You can see the drawn area in red above the quarter.  Just that little bit of difference does the trick.  So it will not only make hooking a simple task but particularly make the binding less stressful ~ if that's possible for me.

Caroline also showed us wool we shouldn't pass up as they have multiple possibilities and shared with us how.  Interesting as I've passed up many of those wools in either Betsy's or Rebecca's offerings and wish I could get them now that I know their versatility. 

A little over a month from now I'll see Caroline again and need to decide what to hook at camp.  Which means another antique rug search will be taking place and I'll bore you eventually.  Am also hoping to have Lollipop bound by then...maybe.

Looks like Ophelia might turn into a hurricane force to deal with.  At least Lee stayed his distance during Cape May camp but high winds and wind forced rain is coming tonight and into tomorrow along the east coast.  Prediction is anywhere from 2" to 4" of rain so most likely the lake out back will return.  But at least I'm home and happily hooking with light unless the power goes out.

Happy hooking everyone..

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

CAPE MAY CLASS RUG THROW DOWN

This first group of rugs are from Caroline Twigg's class (Eagles Nest Woolens).

Two Old Cats is being hooked by Deborah. 

Here is the original antique of that rug.

The Comstock Bed Rug is Mary Lou's project and a photo of the original antique is below it.

Night & Day pattern is being hooked by Leslie. 

I'm wondering if the rug below was the inspiration for Caroline's design of Night and Day.

Sally designed the piece below.  Hope she sends me a picture when it is finished.  Think it is sea related and those might be shells.  Not sure what those white strips are but looks like sand dollars at the bottom.

Meredith's project is the Two Sheep pattern offered by Star Rug Company.

Lollipop Flowers is what I named this antique adaptation I am working on.

 And the original antique is shown here.

Below is Stella's rug and at least one of the cow's was kindly drawn for her by Deborah.

Shari chose to hook a black sheep, it is an adaptation offered by Eagles Nest Woolen.  

The original antique reclining sheep rug is below.

The next rugs are from Lucille Festa's class (American Country Rugs) but don't know who was hooking which ones.

This first rug is an antique adaptation.

Below is the original antique rug.

I believe this antique is Lucille's version being hooked shown above.

Below is a photo of the back of Caroline talking to one of the members of the Howard Street Ramblers band setting up for their afternoon concert.

Well there ya have it, the fun of Cape May in a capsule, lol.  Thankfully the two-way ferry ride was without high sea incident.  I don't get sea sick, I was afraid of hurricane Lee cancelling the ferry and we got lucky.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. CHIT CHAT

Plan for today is to finalize my wool selection for this pattern.   Last time I walked by the wool temporarily selected thought there should be more options.

The original antique is a shirred rug which sold for $10,073. I named the pattern Lollipop Flowers and drew my pattern 22 x 31 not the original larger size of 31 x 44.  

Here is the wool I've selected and hope if Caroline (Eagles Nest Woolens) thinks she has something which will make the project special that she will suggest it.  As usual just before leaving for camp I'll probably put a few other pieces of wool in with this bunch.

I figured the black wools would be used for the background around the flowers ~ I prefer to have a mix vs just one piece of wool for a background.  Don't know what Caroline sees as flowers, leaves or stems but think I've given her options.  Plus there are several rows surrounding the floral center which I wouldn't know how to hook.  So excited to have a class with her.

I'm registered for a November class with Caroline Twigg  again but haven't decided what the project will be yet.  There's lots of time for me to change my mind between now and then so will wait.

This morning at 7:15 the temp outside was 79 degrees.  The A/C setting in the house is 76, which is by no means cold.  Yet look at the steamy kitchen window this morning with the high humidity.

If it wasn't for an eye appointment today at 2:40 I wouldn't go outside the house.  Only regret is that I don't have a rug to bind while waiting 😏, guess that is what I get for being up-to-date with binding.  And once I come home everything will be foggy just like that door you see above.

Happy hooking.

 
Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com