WHAT WOULD SHE THINK NOW?

Over a century after her death, what would Harriet Powers think of her quilt block images appearing on US postage stamps?  By now you may have already read Lauren's (Rugs and Pugs) post to see the stamps.  I plan to purchase some next time I'm out and about.

In 2014 hooker friend Evelyn Lawrence was scheduled to teach a class at Sauder and the subject was to hook an adaptation of one of Harriet Powers quilt blocks or Granny Donaldson's cow Blankets.  I didn't attend Sauder but decided to challenge myself and hooked a small mat from one of Harriet Powers quilts at home.  Below is the finished piece.

So you  don't have revert back to Lauren's blog post to see the stamps, here it is for your convenience.

There are a few booklets out about both Harriet Powers and Granny Donaldson.  If you would like to read a brief synopsis about Harriet and follow along on my hooking journey click HERE.  

The hooked piece was given to Evelyn and she took it to Sauder for her class as someone's modern adaptation of a Harriet Powers quilt block.  It was fun to hook and understand the Betts 500 mile travel is true.  

Happy hooking everyone.

Saundra

www.facebook.com/woodlandjunctionhookedrugs 

My New One on the Frame

In a previous post I told you what my next project would be but understand that you may have doubted me since I'm so fickle.  Nope, it didn't change.  On my frame is a Magdalena adaptation named Bird Dog,  drew it myself measuring 20 x 27 whereas Magdalena's original measured 37.5 x 50.  Am guessing that would have been the dimensions of a burlap grain or feed sack opened up and she would utilize that size ~ waste not want not.

It took several sketches and reviewing the poor photo in the Magdalena booklet before deciding on my drawing.  If you have the booklet by Evelyn Lawrence please look there first.

If you don't own the booklet here is an even worse photo which is a copy of the photo in the booklet.  A well known rug hooking business offers the pattern with an elongated snout.  Perhaps thinking the white spot to the lower right of the dog's face was its nose.  I didn't think so.  To me it was a white spot at the tip of the ear and was confusing.  BUT, if you look closer to the left of that spot you will see a darker speck which I believe to be the nose Magdalena captured.

However since there is no good photo of the original Magdalena I chose to make my own speculation of what Magdalena intended and did not hook the white spot on the end of the ear.  While that would be feasible since there are white tips on the toes and the end of the tail it is visually confusing.

It feels good to work on another Magdalena rug and somehow comforting.  Not sure if I'm channeling her or she's leading me at this point.  

Once my piece is hooked and have a photo I'll offer it on my web site.  But I have a master copy of my size if anyone is interested.  It would be drawn on Dorr Natural Linen with serged edges.  If you desire a larger size I can do that too.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Hooking Magdalena Style

The other day I read some one's question on Facebook on how others achieve a Magdalena scrappy look.  I don't profess to be an expert but will try to explain how I do mine.

First I study Magdalena's original rugs, particularly the design I'm ready to hook.  Although I've never seen one in person there are photos one could find on line or from books.  Take for example, these two Olde Ducks rugs hooked by Magdalena.

That is a photo from Evelyn Lawrence's dedicated research on Magdalena Briner Eby and her work which is in this BOOK.

And here is a hooked version I did.  

Left over wool worms (a/k/a noodles) are the best way to achieve that scrappy look.  What helps also is to use short pieces of a similar color and close value to finish a line or fill in.  I have also dropped an odd piece of wool on the floor only to pick it up and hook it somewhere in the rug ~ after all, Magdalena used what she had.  Tap on the photo to enlarge and see what I'm talking about.

Another example is Magdalena's Eagle which also appears in the book.

Below is my version trying to accomplish the look of Magdalena using the wool in my possession.  The light/white is showing up brighter in the photo as it was taken outside in natural light.  But I use what I call 'dirty whites' to hook.  And if you have the book it shows odd colors Magdalena used ~ like at the eagle's neck just under the eye is an odd  purple which blends nicely with the brown.  

Here is a closeup photo I took of my rug where you can see the different wool at neck.  It is little details like that you can see with the assistance of the booklet and studying Magdalena's rugs.

Another Magdalena is this trio.

And my version below.

Since I love crows decided to design my own Magdalena Style Crow.  Magdalena used red for legs, noses and eyes on animals ~ kind of her signature.  She also would hook a berry at a crow's mouth and or beak.

I could show more of my Magdalena hooked rugs but will save you boredom.  As soon as the Star Geometric is done next on my frame is going to be yet another Magdalena rug.  

Click on the BOOK link above to purchase the booklet as it is a great reference for Magdalena rugs.  It isn't a 'tutorial' book as that part is left to the rug hooker's discretion to get his/her own rhythm.  But the photos of the original Magdalena's and photos of Evelyn's replications and information makes for a perfect reference book.  Good luck and hope I've been able to help.  

Saundra

Magdalena's Goat

Oh where to begin?  There's so much to tell about this so don't think it will all happen in this post.  

First, the measurements are 29 x 36; the Magdalena was framed so the original colors on the back were not visible.  Only the front was seen so colors would have been faded most likely.

Yet, as you can see bright red still shows up.  This must have been kept well to avoid wear and fading.  Yes, the rug IS hooked on burlap and in close-up photos various textiles can be seen which indicate it is OLD. And WAS determined to be an original Magdalena Briner Eby hooked rug.  What a prolific hooker that woman was.

Some of you may have caught the rug photo on Pinterest or same auction site as me.  The auction site said it was a lamb, but sending a photo of the rug to friend Evelyn (Magdalena researcher), she said Magdalena didn't hook any lambs ~ it would have been a Goat.

My friend Evelyn is the person who has diligently researched and hooked every rug found thus far by Magdalena.  That is why, I promised to not post this on my blog until after she hooked the rug. After all, I consider her the "Guardian of Magdalena rugs". OMG, she will hate me for mentioning her name.  

Inside this book it shows a rug which, until now, has a photo of the only rug hooked by Magdalena with a goat.  If you would like to purchase this book or other great hooking books click HERE.

Oh my, there's so much more that I could write and more that I want to hook tonight before showing my poor accomplishments.   

Good evening everyone.  Hope my friends in California as well as Canada are doing okay.  I shutter when watching the weather in California since living there for 3 years.  So earth quakes, mud slides, and flooding remind me of those years and glad to be home with hurricanes, humidity and medium snow.

Happy Friday everyone.

Saundra

Rugs Hooked by a Friend

Yesterday afternoon I attempted to do a blog post but was still down in the dumps about Ellie so aborted the blog.  I hate going days without a blog post as I'm afraid my readers or followers will leave.   

Since there's not much more hooked on the challenge rug am taking the easy way out by giving you another rug show.  This one has loads of rugs my friend Evelyn Lawrence has hooked.  Many of them you will recognize as Magdalena designs.  

This rug below is an adaptation of an antique that Evelyn designed.

The geometric below is an adaptation of a sculpture; the pattern was designed for Evelyn by Bev Conway. 

Single dog design attributed to Magdalena Briner Eby.

The pot of flowers is a design offered by Lucille Festa. 

The rug below is named Lucky Racer and is a design by the late Patsy Becker.

Rooster with Dogs and Cats .

This Two Cats and Dog rug were in an antique booth in Maine Antique Digest and not sure that it is a Magdalena rug.

There is something interesting about this abstract which Evelyn designed from an antique.  Perhaps it was hooked originally to use up whatever leftover wool, nylons or whatever.

Ship at Sea.

Another Magdalena rug.

Another antique adaptation drawn and hooked by Evelyn.

This Large Flower Box is a design by Karen Kahle.  I recall when Evelyn was hooking this at Cape May and was surprised at her bright comors since she hooks mostly dark primitive rugs like me.

A few more Magdalena rugs follow.

Unfortunately the photo below with the two roosters is really really small....dang it.

Below is a design called Big and Little which is a design by Barbara Brown of Port Primitives.

Ahhhhh, a side view of hooking on the Chalfonte porch, a pattern offered by Bev Conway.

Below is Whatnots and is a design offered by Woolley Fox.

An antique adaptation.

Farmyard is another antique adaptation.

As you can see, Evelyn is quite a prolific hooker.  And believe it or not I've loads more of Evelyn's hooked rug photos but my arm is getting tired.  But sadly there have been camps at Cape May where Evelyn and I were attending different weeks so there are many more which I don't have photos of.

If you tap on the photos they will enlarge so you can see who the designer is.  All of the Magdalena style rugs were researched and drawn by Evelyn Lawrence.  

Evelyn started hooking about 1989 and started researching Magdalena Briner Eby over 12 years ago.  That information she had learned of Magdalena's life and rugs was in this publication below.

Hope you have a pleasant evening.

Saundra

A Domestic Zoo Review

Recently a follower who also purchased a Domestic Zoo pattern sent me a photo of her finished rug.  Oh my what a delightful specimen it is. Marketa changed some of the motifs to a raccoon, deer, rabbit, cone flower, sheep, butterfly, dogwood flower and more.  It is wonderful!   

I applaud her for making this Magdalena Briner design known as Domestic Zoo to her own liking by changing some motifs.  She did a great job.  Marketa did say that a smidgen of help by Jayne Hester's husband was needed to tweak the raccoon.  I sure do love that raccoon and is one of the critters she is familiar with in her area.

The one below was hooked by Susan Wrynn.  It is great to see a Domestic Zoo hooked in a dark background.  A dark backrgound is usually my 'go to' color and makes the colors pop.

Here is a Domestic Zoo hooked by Debbe Whalen with the traditional light background.

The rug below was hooked by my friend Evelyn Lawrence.  As you know, it is Evelyn Lawrence who researched the history of and studied the rugs hooked by Magdalena Briner Eby.

My friend Shari hooked the Domestic Zoo below.  I believe she sold it and bet she regrets that decision now.

Another friend, Mary, hooked this adaptation of Domestic Zoo, pictured below and won a ribbon, I believe at the MD Sheep and Wool Festival.

The photo below was taken in progress at Sauder last year and I copied from someones blog.  So if any of my followers know who hooked this I'd LOVE to have a finished photo.

Here is another Domestic Zoo picture I acquired somehow.  Sadly I don't know the name of the person who hooked this and as you can see the hooker made this rug their own as well.  It must have been in a rug show as there is a label but can't make out any name.

This is a picture of a chair which was upholstered with a hooked version of Domestic Zoo.  Awesome isn't it?

Below is the Domestic Zoo and tried to replicate best I could like the one Magdalena hooked.  The background wool was all the same color but does look darker on the left side.  That's because I'm standing on a stool on my back porch and that side of the porch was in the shade but bright enough that the flash didn't go off.  Oh well, you get the idea. 

I had a request from a hooker who wanted me to draw the cats vertically because she wanted to hang it lengthwise along a special wall. For the life of me I cannot remember who it was and sadly have not received a photo of it.  If the hooker happens to read this blog please send me a picture.

And, for those of you who may be interested in learning more about Magdalena Briner Eby, would like to see a collection of her hooked rugs, and the rugs replicated by Evelyn Lawrence here is her book.

So far Jonas has dumped about 8" of snow on me, has turned to rain but we are in for more snow on top of this.  Thankfully I've heat (unlike last January) and the power is still on....for now. Hopefully it will stay on.

Please bring in your pets.  Although they may be made of hearty stock and big dogs like my boy Ben, it is too cold for any domestic animal to be out in these elements.  Just ask my boy who is yawning right now.

 And he takes another peek outside to be sure no human or animal invades his domain.

Stay warm and stay off the roads unless it is an emergency.  Thanks for visiting.

Saundra