BACK in the BAG

Mother with Fishbowl is going back in the bag and sit on the sidelines again.  This time probably longer than before.  At least I mustered up courage to re-hook the bulbous nose which bothered me.  And think I know what that issue was.  Here is the AFTER photo.

When starting the pattern in class I was determined to hook in #6 cut.  But with Cindy Irwin's guidance realized that was too large and reduced to #5 and lower where needed.  Some of the #6 was replaced but not all ~ not that section of the nose.  

Here is the BEFORE.  If you look carefully you may notice the difference.  Also I'd also tweaked the nostril which looked unnatural.

Now I'm out of steam, out of confidence on what to do with the fishbowl and curtain/background colors.   Hooking on this right now isn't fun so unless and until I feel a wool will work for those areas this will sit on the sidelines.   It's time to move on and put this aside until a future rug camp where Cindy or another teacher might be able to help me. 

Meanwhile I'm binding this beauty.  This is a one-of-a-kind design hooked by me on the fly (re-designing as I hooked) inspired by the beautiful over-dyed wool purchased from Cindy at rug camp.  Am so glad that wool tantalized me those days at camp because it is a beautiful color.

Tomorrow will be a new day for sure.  OH!!!!!  Unless it rains Monday the tree man will be here.  I've already sent them the photo of the last remaining logs and said I'd like to have that added to the job.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Going For Broke

It's sink or swim since I'm solo on this project.  Thought I'd try a little more of the background (curtain) wool and see what the other piece of wool would like hooked as the fishbowl.

A couple things bothered me so made changes on my own with no one to consult with.  As mentioned in a previous post the shoulder had to be lowered and softened.  Was afraid to lower it another row of hooking because when the arm is extended it does raise the shoulder a tad but what I'd hooked previously was too high and too pointy.

The most important thing was the nostril, it showed up too dark so changed it to a lighter color.  The before is below.  And actually  my mother's nose wasn't that bulbous so might need to re-hook it to make mother the beautiful nose she had.

When the class with Cindy Irwin ended she told the class that if we needed her after class that we could email her.  As much as I'm tempted I don't want to impose on her so will just have to put on my big girl panties and go for broke on my own.

On a side note, a few years ago I was hesitant to take a class with Cindy because she's so well known for her very detailed, can I say anal?, (sorry Cindy, am sure you're laughing now) rug hooking projects.  But she also does wide cut and primitive quite well.  So don't hesitate taking a class with her, I've taken more than one class and loved them.

Will put the Monochromatic Floral back on the frame and finish it since it is so close to being done.  And then, and then, I'll be on  hunt for the next project.  I've a few patterns in my stash but not in the mood today to work on them.  One of those great patterns is a small size Mary Comstock which would be a lovely rug to hook if I can get in the mood for it.

Happy Saturday, happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

THIS, THAT and the OTHER THING

THIS Blue Bowl of Flowers antique adaptation is finally bound.  The last loop was pulled April 3rd while at rug camp and now finally finished. Well, still needs it's label.

THAT rug on my frame now with the gorgeous overdyed wool purchased from Cindy Irwin isn't nearly done Lauren (Rugs and Pugs), but this is what is looks like this evening.  So desperately wanted to get that small section hooked before posting it but time was running out since I'm overdue for a blog post.

The reason I've been so unproductive is because.... THE OTHER THING has thwarted my progress.  Remember this part of my yard after the double snow storms?  This is how it started out.  For reference focus your eyes on the snow covered leaning log.

Fast forward thru several months.  That leaning tree long is still attached to its trunk and is visible behind the small tree in the foreground.  A little at a time I would lop off pine limbs as many as possible and haul to the back woods.  So today it looks like this, which in the photo looks small ~ UH, it's NOT small. 

Unbeknownst to me, sweet brother dropped by while I was at a doctor appointment and cut up the tree trunks in that ever-so-slowly reducing puzzle arrangement.  This is the other side of the previous view.

I will continue to drag the smaller limbs to the back woods but when the company comes to cut down a few threatening trees in my yard I'll pay them to take away the rest of the bulk.  I just can't carry those heavy long trunks to the back woods.

Keep on going on with whatever floats your boat.  Guess if it wasn't for HAVING to do yard work I'd not get much exercise except for walking to the mailbox.  Today I attempted to cut grass in the back yard since the pond water draining tubes have been removed.  But now am having trouble with my riding mower.  One damn thing after another ~ aint' homeownership grand? 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Okay, Here's Your Update

Many have asked to see my rug since mentioning the change of design mid-hooking.  Here is a photo of the before when sketching a 'thought'.  You can see the hooking thru the leaves on the left side.

As I continued hooking it appeared to me there were too many leaves between the flower groups and had an idea.

This is what my rug looks like now as I push thru my newer design with a softer look.  Funny thing is I could never decide on a great looking flower shape  That is why they all seem so different.  But me thinks once this bad girl is on the floor (or sold, if lucky) no-one will ever notice.

FYI, the outside border will be wider and grow as I continue to hook,  Plus I'm enjoying this monochromatic floral as a challenge to myself.  And it was all inspired by Cindy Irwin with her beautiful overdyed roll of wool at rug camp.  Thanks for that Cindy.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

On My Frame

Okay Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) you've been asking where the next project was....or some such wording.  My reply ...'I knew exactly what I was going to do' when temporarily putting Mother with Fishbowl away. 

It all started when eyeing the 2-yard overdyed wool rolls among Cindy's wool ~ you can read about that blog post HERE.  After drawing out my design the next thing I did was pull out my bag of grey and B&W wool worms.

Instead of using the rug design Cindy showed me with this color plan I decided to do my own MONOCHROMATIC PRIMTIVE FLORAL.  But am not  happy with the results so far.  Perhaps I need to remind myself it is a PRIMITIVE.

I'm constantly changing the flower drawings from my original design.  But then maybe I'm trying too hard to make the rug look artistic when it is supposed to be primitive using wool worms and present wool stash.   

Yet I'll continue pulling loops on this until I'm ready to retrieve my Mother and the Fishbowl out of the bag.  See, it is good to have another rug on the side to work on, me thinks, lol. 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Mother with Fishbowl and a Chuckle

This first photo shows what had been accomplished at camp.  The popular hair style back then was pin curls and that is how mother was wearing her hair.

After returning home there was very little more hooked but did manage to finish the collar around her neck, finished the hair tho I did wonder if the back of the head needed to be rounded at the corner; tweaked the eye a little and finished hooking the hand.

The plan was to hook mother's jacket with what had been determined to be value #7 with shadows and outline with #8 value.  Hooked and reverse hooked part of the jacket and getting frustrated.  Then decided to hook background  (curtain) with what Cindy and and I liked for the colors.  However what I did hook near the face looks mighty close in value with the hair color and will be too with the jacket, or at least in person.

And even if the background color does work out after all, what the heck about the fishbowl???  Wouldn't the transparency of the bowl of water need a similar color but lighter in value?  Mentally questioning the future plan for the pattern my frustration level rose.  So I have put all the wool, wool strips, pictures, notes and pattern in this bag awaiting a future camp to to finish.  Cindy won't be back at that camp next year and I'm not driving to PA so it is officially a UFO.

Okay, now to the fun part and reflecting back to my schooldays.  Am sure you also had to give oral book reports or publicly speak in front of your class.   For me it was a nightmare and hated doing that.  You studious folks probably had no problem at all.  Nor did I volunteer answering teachers' questions as I was too insecure.  So instead of looking stupid I voluntarily became the class clown and look like an ass😩

Fast forward to current day ~ On Thursday of rug camp I asked the gals in class if they had seen a 'gratitude card' for Cindy making rounds as I hadn't.  Hoping it had been started, once again wanting to follow not lead.  But we started out with only 5 students and one was departing that day early leaving only 4 of us to thank Cindy monetarily.  

At lunch time I got a card, put money in it and sent it to my tablemates to be passed around to the few of us left.  Such a shame her class number dropped to only 5 just days before camp and that reduces her income from participation, sales, as well as tip.  

I stepped away from hooking and visited Loris and Pam at the camp store.  Grimacing as I tell them I've got to give Cindy her card and say..."but I'm NOT going to propose this time".  They both laughed and said "oh yes you do".

By now you are probably confused as all get out so let me explain.  During a November class with Kris Miller Loris started the card and that #%&! woman slipped the card in front of me as she walked back to her hooking area.  That was Loris' way of recruiting me to present Kris with the card.  I grabbed it and walked it right back to Loris.  But she insisted I present it to Kris since I've had her as a teacher so many times.

What did I do?  You guessed it, easier to make an ass out of myself than speak seriously in public so I got down on one knee after saying something....don't even know what I said, and then asked, "will you marry me?"  I felt so stupid afterwards but had automatically reverted to the insecure kid mode.

Both Loris and Pam insisted I do that again because... they'd been teasing her all week and this would be the cherry on top ~ so they said.  Well I caved and you can see Cindy's reaction.  None of the girls in class knew what I was going to do and was to alert Pam when I was ready so she could have her camera ready.  I know my face was beet red but the girls in class enjoyed it as did Cindy.  

Can't imagine what Cindy's husband had to say when she went home and said..."honey, I had a woman propose to me today."

Sorry if the post was laborious and long to read, but if you managed to get thru to the end hope you had a good laugh.

Happy hooking, Happy Easter and Happy Passover to my Jewish friends.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Maryland Shores Rug Show

For those of you who may not know the April rug camp teachers are all McGowan Certified, therefore the majority of the rugs you're about to see would be McGowan designs.  Also most would be fine cut.  After I started attending this camp they did change the rules so that now anyone's pattern may be taken to this camp.

The first two rugs appear to be a wide cut and wonderfully hooked by Cheri Reid. Cheri usually hooks huge rugs. 

Am unable to see the name of the hooker in the photo which is the case with several pictures.

A geometric.

And even an applique.

Below is a pattern named "A bag full of Goodies" and hooked by Linda Panella.

The Notre Dame Gargoyle design hooked by teacher Anna Knap which I'm sure many of you have seen in RHM.

Another by Anna below.

This Circles in Circles rug appeals to me.

Was surprised to see a design called Daleview Farm designed by Polly Minick and I drew a number of these patterns for Polly before she sold the business.

Betty Burbage hooked this sweet dog below.

Notice that hooked key and key hole in the geometric?  Cool isn't it?

Pam Brune hooked the Heart designed rug.

A beautiful fox hooked by Peg Dutton,  the photo appeared in the latest ATHA magazine but her name wasn't mentioned.  The pattern is offered by The Wool Farm.

Oh my, what a beauty and I forgot the name of the hooker.  LOVE IT!

Another huge rug with wonderful colors and sadly the info is too blurry for me to tell who hooked it.

Loris hooked this Cindy Irwin pattern then the hooking is given back to Cindy and she has her contact put it in the purse design chosen by the hooker.  This is very nice....

..but this one is wonderful !!!!!!

 

It's been a long time since I've seen the name Potted Pear or a finished rug by that name; wish she would bring back her web site.

The sheep's head and horns were done Waldoboro style and flowers proddy.

The geometric is done with nice soft colors.

Last, but definitely not least, is the wedding dress designed and hooked by Cindy Irwin.  Notice those delicate flowers and buds cascading down the front of the skirt?   Click on the photo for it to enlarge so you can see the detail.  That is the technique Cindy taught us in the event we wanted to make some to display in our home in a vase.

Yeah, I know you want to see what I've accomplished on my mother's profile.  But have been occupied with doctor appointment,  laundry, well, you know just life moving on and little time hooking.  

Happy hooking, maybe some of you are doing some of that 😒

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com