4th Cape May Rug show

There were a LOT of rugs in the show this year but I do recall a couple years back when there were so many rugs some were placed on the front porch rather than eliminating them from the show.  This is the last of the finished rugs but there is still the 'throw down' photos coming later.

You should see this rug in person...awesome!  Named Adamstown Filly it is designed and hooked by Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios.  The border is unlike anything I've seen before.  Kris said she used the lattice work on her porch as the pattern for the border.

Dorset Flowers was hooked by Ingrid Hieronimus.

Fraktur Angel needlepunched by Pat Osborne.

Below is a design called Tropical Leopard by Kris Miller.  A gal in our class was hooking this and hope she attends same week next year so I can see her rendition.

Tiger and Leopard hooked by Elise Roberts.

A pattern named Vintage below and hooked by Kim McWilliams.

Kim also hooked the "Tumbling Blocks" rug below.

She also hooked Manchu Dragon Below.

Diane Stoffel designed and hooked a display of color in the Apple.

Cape May St. Francis hooked by Roberta Olah.

Partridge in a Pear tree was hooked by Margaret Woody.

An antique adaptation below was hooked by Lois Hilliard.  Lois had several rugs in the show this year.

Kathy Spellacy hooked this design "Hometown" below.

Cyndi Stinson hooked this rug named Shall We Gather by the River.

Sweet sweet design by P J Rankin named "Over the Moon".  Must say I was over the moon in love with this cute design offered by Spruce Ridge and purchased the pattern at camp.   

Margaret Woody hooked this wonderful piece called Comstock.  Love her color choices and I've a small version of his design in my pattern stash.

Hmmm, didn't see a tag on this rug so if anyone knows who hooked it,  please let me know. 

The following pieces were all hooked by Ingrid Hieronimus and while those are definitely not my color choices or wool strip size of choice, these were magnificent pieces.  Such great workmanship and detail.  

There are still the 'throw down' photos but am done for the night.

Saundra

Country Cottage

Country Cottage is the name I gave this antique adaptation which was beautifully hooked by Linda Scheffler.  The pattern measures 30 x 38 and Linda used various size wool strips to achieve the look.  She hooked the border in #10, the background in #9.5, the flowers and leaves in #5 and #7 cuts.

Linda said she started it in a class with Diane Stoffel at Sioux Falls rug camp.  

This wonderful hooked Country Cottage was hooked by Pam Gunn.

Below is the original antique and think both ladies did the antique justice.

Thanks for sharing.

Saundra

Plain Wool, Over dyed Wool, Textured Wool

Before I start writing about different types of wool I'll give you an example of how a textured wool can and will work in even the most precise hooking project.  I'd never have believed it if it hadn't happened to me.

Here is my dearly departed Shadow girl which was hooked last September at Cape May with Diane Stoffel.

The wool taken for Shadow was some dip dyed (flat) wool dyed for my Rottweiler Memorial some years prior so the colors were appropriate.  Also took some textured blacks/darks.  But sadly my stash for the over dyed wool was running out and there was way more to hook on Shadow than I had taken to camp.

So Diane took me shopping (at camp) to find a suitable wool to use for Shadow's unfinished face since I'd used up all my over dyed wool.  OMG, her face.  You have no idea how frustrated I was having to make the switch.....well, if you go back that far in my blog you will see my ongoing struggle. So this is the wool Diane chose (the plaid), and I used the light section for some parts and the darker for the darker parts of Shadow.

Interestingly enough, it worked just fine.  And if you look with a critical eye you will see the variance in the photo below. 

So, would I have preferred having enough of my over dyed wool?  YES!  While it is only a hooked piece it was a special girl of mine and I wanted her to be hooked as I'd planned.  But I'm pleased with how she turned out and Diane made a dang good choice!  I'd take another class with Diane Stoffel in a heart beat!!!!  She's funny, good at what she does and her color wheel lesson is off the charts fun.

To continue....when first starting my journey with rug hooking and having absolutely no stash I, as most of us, resorted to the thrift shop.  I mean, why would I spend good money to buy wool yardage when it can be purchased for much less at the thrift shop and just for the washing, drying and dismantling of the fabric?

My first mistakes were:

~ buying clothing with any percentage of wool no matter how little
~ buying flat colors and no textured (check, plaids, herringbone, etc.)

Some of that wool did serve me well during my practice (struggle) but as my rug hooking experience matured realized that a significant amount of wool in my stash was not usable.  You see, I'd never been to a rug camp before, didn't know any other hookers in my area so was self-taught.  And now there is the Internet where other hookers communicate on groups and blogs if you aren't lucky enough to be able to go to a rug camp.

The preferred wool is 100% wool but even then you need to be careful to NOT buy WORSTED wool.  Worsted wool is a process which makes the wool thread, will not full even when washed with tennis balls.  It is worthless.

Don't buy wool with Polyester but it is okay to buy wool with 10% nylon as it will accept acid dyes and won't harm your cutter.  It is also a luxury if you find clothing which has cashmere mixed in.  Ooh la la... it makes it very soft.  I've purchased some clothing with which was 85% wool, with cashmere and nylon making up the other 15%.  It has a feel which I can identify if my fingers ever touch it in my wool basket.

Then once you take it home do not take it into your home until it is ready to be washed and dried.  That way you don't bring in unwanted moth eggs.  I would usually dismantle the clothing out on my back deck or in the garage if too cold outside.  Then take it in and wash it on warm and dry on low with a couple fluffy towels. 

Have a great evening folks and if any of you newbies reading my blog want to ask questions please feel free to write me at saundra125@comcast.net.  If you post your question on my blog and you happen to be a "NO-REPLY" blogger I'll not be able to respond.  If you want find out if you are a NO REPLY click HERE.

Saundra

Dying Shadow's Background

Yesterday I mentioned dying Shadow's background a periwinkle blue at the recommendation of my teacher Diane Stoffel.  This picture was taken at Cape May using a piece of wool the color she suggested.  Then I came home to replicate the color (hopefully).

It wasn't the choice I'd planned to use and while I love wearing that color (it looks good on an old broad like me <grin>) it isn't a color which I normally hook with.  And had planned to hook the background with the same soft green as was my Rottweiler Memorial.  Since I respected the advice of my teacher decided to change my plan.

You saw the results in yesterday's post and must say that it does make Shadow really stand out and be noticed.  This is the result of my trying to duplicate the color.  Wish mine had turned out a bit more mottled tho.  Interesting the change in color between the lighting at Cape May and here. 

The recipe was called "Soldier Blue" in the book Beautiful Wool by Laurice Heath.  The book has recipes for both Cushing as well as ProChem dyes so you can't go wrong.  Soldier Blue called for ProChem so that is what I used.  Here is the book:

Inside it says it is a Cabin Ridge Press publication in Fredericksburg, TX.  Not sure it is out of publication, but perhaps you could check e-bay or Amazon by either using the title name, author or ISBN 0-9714757-0-9.

I must say that every recipe ever tried from this book has turned out well for me.  And the COOL thing is that some of the recipes you make a 'formula' using the dyes and in 1 CBW.  Of that cup it will give suggestions and picture of various colors using a certain number of the FORMULA.  So you can start out with just 2 TBS of the formula and if it is too light you add more according to your plan.

Hopefully you have good luck and good results when using it too.    Something I do is cut a corner off, staple the results to a piece of paper and write down the recipe name, how many tablespoons of the dye it took and over what wool.  Oh, that is something else the book provides for you...... it will show a color picture of results with various tablespoons of dye for the job as well as whether it was over natural wool, grey, tan, etc.  A very good book to own if you dye, in my estimation.

Have a fantastic weekend and enjoy what may be the last of summer-like weather before fall.

Saundra

I Know,I Know, ......

...... you love me so much you wonder where the heck I've been...right?  Just kidding. 

But to fill you in, one day my conscience held me hostage until I finally started my fall cleaning in my living room where all the wool dust is, took the curtains down, washed and ironed them, washed the windows ~ well you know the story.

So the next day decided to dye some wool for Shadow's background. As I was stressing about hooking her to achieve a likeness I needed a break and concentrate on background as a release.  This is how my girl looks now.

So here's the story about background color ~ I told Diane Stoffel (my teacher) that I'd intended to hook the background with the same soft green used for my Rottie Memorial.  She suggested a periwinkle color for Shadow and pulled off a piece of wool from the teacher's shelf.  I took a picture of that wool sampling, gave it back and upon coming home tried to replicate that color from the picture.  BTW, that is yet another blog post coming soon.

And, this is a picture of the wool originally planned for the background.  Yes, it would have been okay and soft, would have been a nice duo with the other wonderful companions who passed.  But that periwinkle (which looks tame by itself) really makes Shadow POP.  And, in looking at her face many thoughts have come to mind that I'd like to share in a future post.  Things about my girl I miss.

In all honesty I'm still stressed over hooking her chest since the hair moves in different directions with the flesh foldovers and natural change of hair direction.  But I'm sure my girl will help guide me with color even tho my mentor and teacher Diane isn't here.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Saundra

Home from Cape May

Friday afternoon I arrived home and didn't bring anything in the house until after greeting my big boy Ben who went bonkers to see his mommy.  He rubbed against me and washed my face and neck really well to ensure I had his smell and welcomed me with open paws.

As usual Rugs by the Sea rug camp was a success and fun.  It is organized by Norma Batastini (Heart in Hand) and co-director Linda Woodbury.  They also welcome people bring their wares to put in the rug store and they keep track of sales and take a 15% cut, which is way fair.  Here is a part of the camp store.  You can see Michelle Micarelli's wool hanging on the lattice work and below.  That is Norma taking her turn behind the booth and apparently offering someone directions.

 

The first day I was walking thru the Chalfonte and a woman looked at me and said, "You don't know me but I know you."  She went on to say she reads my blog, lives in California where primitive hookers are hard to find.  If you are reading this Sharon, thank you so much for approaching me as it was fun to chat with you.  Hope you enjoyed Lucille's class; I've had numerous classes with her and think she is a hoot.  Am nuts about her 'dirty muddy' colors as they really make a primitive rug.

 

This photo was taken the day we departed but is the only front view of my teacher Diane Stoffel.  She wasn't aware of my taking the picture and didn't want to disturb her.  Diane is a wee bit of a woman but a firecracker for sure.  I definitely want to take another class with her.  For those of you who have taken a class with Diane you will know about her color wheel lesson.  For those of you who plan to take a class with her I can tell you it will be a memorable class, but since I don't want to ruin the fun for you I won't go into detail.

 

The weather was fantastic albeit chilly in the mornings and warm in the afternoon.  The Chalfonte has a porch which encompasses 3 sides of the building and many hookers like to head out there to hook.  Although I have hooked on the porch previously, this time I just stayed inside.  My pal Deb would come in if it was too cool, then go back out until it got too warm then come back in.  That was too much wasted time in my estimation so I stayed put. 

 

Here is my long-time pal and roomie, Deb in the foreground, Sarah Province to the left and the back of my friend Evelyn Lawrence.  Eric Sandberg is partially in view and is chatting with someone.

Here is a view from the other direction with Evelyn in the foreground.

This is the front of the building and you can see hookers settled in with hook and frame.  Some of the empty rockers are probably someone went to get more wool, shop, etc.  In close view of back would be Rebecca Erb and in front of her but somewhat hidden is Janet Reid.  They seem to be deep in thought about what to do with their rug and color.  In the background are hookers lined up busily hooking away.  As you might guess, it is a very relaxed and wonderful place to attend rug camp.

Again, that is Eric Sandberg chatting with Diane Stoffel and Jan hooking away on the right side.

I know, I know, you're wondering where the heck the rug show is.  I've dozens of pictures to share and will end this particular blog with a teaser.  The rest of the rug show extends to the room in the back and right as you're looking at this picture.

Come back again as I'll start posting rug photos tomorrow. 

 

Saundra