Binding Mission Accomplished

Thankfully I met my deadline to finish binding two rugs before the new year.  And tho we were not doing a challenge, my blogger friend Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) beat me to the punch.  Now we are ready to move onto new hooking projects going into 2017.

Below is the Red Lion, an antique adaptation purchased from Norma Batastini of Heart and Hand.   Tho a terrible photo flash of a picture below it does have the blotchy background I love so much.  

For comparison of color, the label shows the original color of the red lion.  AND....you can see the difference in color of wool on the back compared to the photo above.  

Out in the Garden is a design by Maggie Bonanomi.  I used the same brown wool as in the lion rug.  This first photo shows up much brighter because of the flash (as in the Red Lion above).  

Here is the label attached to the back ~ and this photo shows a much better true coloring on what was used for hooking.

I'm so looking forward to working on the Stubbs antique and even tho it was started in 2016 will be recorded as a rug from 2017.  

However, I've been thinking about what rugs will be in my future. There will be a camp with my beloved Barb Carroll in May, then Cape May in September and camp in November.  So already am thinking what to work on at each camp.

Have a great evening.... HEY... do you have your black eye peas or your pork and sauerkraut yet???  What is YOUR New Years Day tradition?????

Saundra

Primitive Antique-looking Backgrounds

Today I had the urge to work a little on the Red Lion rug.  It has been pulling at my heart strings since setting it aside to work on the camp rug in Ocean City.  

At camp last week I was number #11 in the list of students for the color planning of the class rug.  The choosing is done fairly with people pulling a number out of a box.  That was okay since there was time Sunday evening and Monday morning to pull a few loops on my lion before starting the camp rug.

Here is Red Lion so far.  It is an adaptation of an antique and this pattern was purchased from Norma Batastini of Heart and Hand. 

Was surprised at the number of people at camp who had positive comments about this rug and word spread so people from other classes came down to see what it looked like.  

The background is a mix of primitive black wool and old yucky worms saved but works great in a background for a 'make do' look.  Below is a picture of the original antique rug.

My sweet teacher Kris gave me such a compliment about my primitie background that I'm still holding those words dear to my heart.  

Tomorrow's weather will be quite mild for the season.  It is a follow-up visit to my eye doctor to check the left eye progression.  He may also dialate my right eye heavily to check it for my next surgery in December.  Honestly I can't wait since my eyes don't sync together nor do my trifocals works any longer either.

Have a great evening everyone and please be kind to one another.  

Red Lion Update

Figured it was time to take the rug off the frame and look at it critically. It is difficult for me to really see if the rug pleases me when it is right under my nose while hooking.  The original antique has blocks of hooked areas in the lion which I'm embracing.  

Wasn't sure which wool to use in the areas so have tried a  certain wool in the forward rib area just above the light rows ~ that section was a light block.  Then later used a darker wool in the hind section and part of the tail.  Not sure what wool will be pulled yet; think I'll just keep hooking and checking it from time to time to see what makes me happy.

To refresh your memory, here is what the original antique rug looked like.

My background won't have the dramatic color changes the original has but will definitely have light and dark areas to give the flavor of faded areas.

Going to have the first frost tonight, according to the weather man.  The temp inside the house now is 64 and am hoping to go to bed without heat and sleep under a cozy comforter.  Then in the morning just might need to turn the thermostat from 'off' to 'heat' in the morning.

Saundra