Season Celebration on Saturday

This is a design by Kelley Belfast which I named "A Little Birdie Told Me" because Kelley drew the stem curved toward the bird and it appeared the bird was whispering to the pumpkin.  

For Halloween I placed it on my schoolmasters desk.  To the far left is the scoop salvaged from my grandfather's barn after he passed.  Pop-pop lived a walking distance from us when I was growing up and kept my horse Richie there.  The scoop was used daily to feed Richie and is a fond memory of my gelding horse.

I took two photos with different settings, the one above was the first shot, below is the second.  Do you notice anything different.  If you don't see it I'll explain under the next photo.

Many of you probably won't notice, but there is a faint orb just above the rug on the right side.  It wasn't a piece of dust on my camera lens or it would have shown up in the first photo also since the photos were taken seconds apart.  

I've taken photos in the house before (as well as Cape May) and sometimes the orbs show up and sometimes not; occasionally the orbs are more prominent.  Each time my camera captures an orb in my house I wonder who it is...could it be my spirit guide (I understand everyone has one), an angel, my mother or another loved one, or the spirit of one of my departed pets?

Okay, I'm sure some of you think I've gone off the deep end, but the orbs have a special meaning for me.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Welcome October

October is my very favorite month of the year ~ warm days with cooler evenings and no need for heat or A/C.  Well, except weatherman has said tomorrow will be in the 90s* but can deal with that for the last hurrah of the year.  After tomorrow it will become FALL.

Am excited to change the blog photo from that gaudy neon fuchsia wool to a couple nice pumpkin rug photos.

This one is a Kelley Belfast design I named "A Little Birdie Told Me".  Drew mine out 15 x 24.

One year I was a lucky winner of a kit by Star Rug Company.  Thanks Maria Barton!!!!!  I love it.

Another Kelley Belfast design I recently hooked is one I called Patriotic Pumpkins.  

Am still trying to finish Glazer Antique Hearts and hope that is the next blog post.  Happy October 1st everyone.

Saundra

Cape May Rug Camp is my Motivator

Can't say I've been hooking much unless you call it Un-hooking and Re-hooking.  Was motivated to change my boy Ben in the rug before taking it to Cape May for rug show.  And as I'm gathering the other pieces hooked in 2018 realized there was yet another item not show worthy.

It was certainly good enough to display on my kitchen pantry door last winter but in critiquing it this week realized it needed a face-lift before going to camp.  I love the design by Kelley Belfast called "Welcome Snowman" but made mine into a real stocking and stuffed it with fiberfill.  Thought it looked too fat and unstable to display at camp.  Here is last winter in my kitchen.

The stuffing was removed.

Located the pellon, positioned the dowels inside, glued and stitched them in place.

Then inserted the doubled stiff pellon inside the hooked stocking.

Forgot to take a photo of it, but I also secured the perimeter of the stocking with thread to keep it flat.  There is still a hanger  in the back but isn't visible.  Hmmm, now wish the 'Snow' sign was a little higher but not going to undo what is already done AGAIN.  

Think I'm finished redoing projects and I'm exhausted.  In addition to finishing up Welcome Snowman (2 day project) I was busy in the yard.  

Today I trimmed a forsythia bush, cut back overgrown limbs hanging over said forsythia bush and pulled unruly honeysuckle vines over and around both of those.  

THEN, staying true to THE LIST getting ready for camp ~  my vehicle was vacuumed inside, windows washed inside.  But didn't wash the exterior yet as it is to rain this week so will pick a good day to do that.

Okay kids, it's only 6 days and a wake-up before leaving for wonderful Cape May and Rugs by the Sea.  See ya soon Norma and Linda!!!!

Saundra

Stymied, But What's New?

Yeah, seems I've painted myself in a corner again.   Figured the challenge with the big pumpkin would be an easy fix after the rest was hooked.  All I had to do is just leave it alone or change it to an all dirty white pumpkin ~ easy peasy.

This afternoon I pulled myself away from the Use it Up rug to do the 'quick' finish hooking the tongues on Patriotic Pumpkins.  HA!  Started hooking the two tongues on the right side.  They looked way too busy for the rest of the rug.

Then thought to do a larger inside color, the blue but was distracted by the other 'busy' tongues.  Decided to pull the pattern off my frame and go back to the other rug tonight for comfort.  

With so little of the design to hook I'm frustrated with myself for not finishing it tonight.  Am thinking that saying 'less is more' is definitely true in this case.  Earlier in the week friend Jennie commented to me something like..."why is it something so easy seems so difficult?"  Perhaps because I've made it hard and over thinking.

For damn sure I don't like those two tongues on the right side.  They will go.  But tonight I'm back to my Use it Up.

Hot as Hades today.  When looking at the outside temps on my thermostat, at 2 p.m. the reading was 100 degrees Fahrenheit  (37.78 Celsius) at 2 p.m. and usually it gets higher around 3 but didn't check.  

Grass needs to be cut and Ben's backyard needs it the worse.  Not pushing that mower in that kind of temp so will check the temps tomorrow after breakfast.  If not then perhaps the sun and heat will just kill the grass.  Okay by me ~ no grass to cut.

Stay cool and hydrate.

Saundra

Patriotic Pumpkins

Nope, it's not done yet.  But had to keep hooking until I could see if the pumpkins in the flag design might work. This is what Kelley Belfast's design looks like now.

Appears the white pumpkins just might work in keeping with her original design.

Still undetermined is the large pumpkin ~ keep it as is, make it all orange or make it all white?  That decision will wait for a couple days.

Must admit I like having two rugs in progress because now I'm looking forward to finishing up my delicious Magdalena's Great Granddaughter's Rug.  Don't think I could handle 3 rugs at one time but there is another linen in the wings waiting to be the next 2nd project.

Sorry to hear the news for Louisiana again with rain.  And next week all that moisture will be heading east.  So you guys and gals in the middle will be hit before me.

Have a wonderful evening.

Saundra

Various Topics & New Project

After breakfast and with a decent day ahead (no rain!) it was grass cutting time.  With the push mower I cut Ben's back yard.  Yes, I still call it that since my ex put up the fence for sweet boy Ben.  Unlike the other dogs who lived here, Ben liked to wander and look for cars to chase.  

By the time the back yard was cut it was time for lunch.  I made this very delicious salad ~ has a scoop of tuna salad, romaine lettuce, radicchio, strawberries, gourmet medley tomatoes and sliced avocado.  Didn't have any raspberry vinaigrette dressing so used balsamic vinaigrette.  It was as delicious as it looks.

After lunch I started the riding mower and cut the remainder of the lawn AFTER walking around a couple acres picking up pine cones and limbs from yesterday's wind frenzy.  Finally just after 2 p.m. the yard was done, I got cleaned up and could sit to pull a few loops.

You seasoned rug hookers already know this information, so am trying to help the newbies.  Yet it is always fun to read a blog about rug hooking no matter how long one has been hooking.... I get it.

I'm a primitive hooker and one of the basics is to "outline and fill".  That process can be done two ways.  The purpose of that is to keep the motif within the drawn lines.  If you color (hook) outside the lines of the motif it gets bigger and will ruin the intended shape.

Here is the new pattern on my frame.  It is a design by Kelley Belfast called Cat Nap.  I drew mine smaller than the recent order; mine measures 13 x 20.

I outlined the cat inside the drawn lines and will fill.  Later I will put a row of background around the cat to contain those loops.

But there is yet another way of outlining a motif and that is to hook the background around the motif first.  That is exactly what hooker friend Pam Gunn did when she hooked Antique Floral Theorem.  She wanted to be sure there was a good edge to hook the urns against.  Also she would hide her ends rather than having them butt up against the background outline.  

That might be a lesson for another day on how to hide the ends as there are also a couple ways to do that.

In case you are thinking the vases aren't equal in size or shape....you would be right.  The original antique wasn't either.  So when Pam ordered the pattern from me I brought this to her attention as well as the scallops at the top of the urn being wonky.  Pam said to draw it like the antique with all its quirkiness as that is what makes an antique adaptation.

Pam, thanks for your permission to use your rug as an example, and thank you Kelley for allowing me to draw patterns on your behalf.

Oh but my back is killing me ~ with the combination of age, arthritis, degenerative disc disease and scoliosis I'm feeling a little rough.  Think this glass of Cab will help that a little.  Since I don't take pain meds the wine IS my medication 😄.  Now back to pulling a few loops and sipping.

Enjoy your Sunday.  Can't believe it is May 1st in just a couple days.  

Saundra

Early Farm Scene

Yesterday I'd planned to post an update of this rug but told  myself..."just another few loops", or 'finish the other flower first".  Always an excuse to hook a little more so the post never got made.  Well, here it is.

Already I've started pondering what to hook next.  Running thru my cranium is an antique adaptation I'd fallen in love with a few months ago and also a Kelley Belfast design.  I've proven to be a very fickle hooker so who knows what will go on my frame next.

My friend Deb is enjoying the class with Cindy Irwin and hooking one of her purses in the evening and a rug in class during the day.  I'm sure Deb will provide great photos of what I'm missing and when she does I'll share them with you.

Saundra

Throw Back Thursday

Let's go back to 2016 when the Out of Hand Rughookers Group hosted a "Spring Challenge".  The great design was by Kelley Belfast  who was inspired by the spring daffodils in bloom at the time.  There were limited rules and a deadline in order to be included for a prize.  Each of the registered challenge entrants were allowed to vote.

Although I didn't capture photos of all entries here are the ones saved on my flash drive.  There was a bounty of nice prizes provided by Lori Brechlin who is the hostess of the Group.

First rug was hooked by Joanne Miller.  That Honeycomb wool is a great one to have in your stash because it is so versatile.

 The colorful rug below hooked by Louise Budde.

Peggy Skulski hooked the black sheep version.

Below is Gladys LaForge's version of the design and looks like her daffodils were done in proddy. 

 Jean Bartel chose a more neutral color palate.

 Karin Manuel decided her sheep was a grey one.

Below was my entry and I also chose to do proddy daffodils

Anne Donaldson also chose a more colorful wool palate with her sheep standing in a field of daffodils.

Linda Mageske decided to make hers round and have the American flag fly proudly.

This rug below was hooked by Shari VanArt with her sheep standing on a spot where two vine-like flowers are growing.

Thanks to Lori for hosting the challenge and to Kelley for her design.

Saundra

Rug Show Time

Think these are rugs I've not shown before; but even if we do see them more than once think it is okay.  Can't get enough of looking at vintage hooked rugs or any rugs really.

The rug below was named Thistle Floral on the auction site.  I like the colors and the design isn't bad either.  One would have a sense of accomplishment when one of the motifs were done, making it seem like an easy task to accomplish.

The words "MAMMA" appear at the center of the rug so it must have been a loving gift hooked by a daughter for her mother.  I can see a heart in the center top and on the left it appears to be a horse head but not sure about the rest of the colored areas as they appear as puzzle pieces.

For Kelley here is a rug with 2 black cats and hit & miss border.

A geometric lattice work design around a single flower and leaves with my kinda dulled colors.

Two dogs named Bob and Rose hooked in the 1900s.  I think Kelley posted this a while back on her blog but I never tire of old rugs.

An antique floral with nice colors and that great blotchy background I like using dirty cream colors.

Hooked Hearts in Circles would be an easy mindless project to do when you don't really know what to put on your frame next.  And a mat to use up some wool worms.

Think this next one is so sweet ....House with apple tree and ladder.  It obviously had a significant meaning to the hooker and limited colors to work with.

Storm is a brewing along the eastern shore AGAIN.  I already have a pond back with more and heavier rainfall to come during the night.  What's worse is that wind gusts of 50 mph or higher is expected after midnight.  With the ground already saturated with water makes the tree's integrity to withstand wind bad.  The March winds which blew down two trees in my back yard has me scared now with trees standing  close to my house.

Will be sequestered inside for sure so plan to continue binding the Horses and Hearts rug ~ if it isn't bound before January 1 cannot claim it as hooked in 2018.  Which means guess there's no way Star Geometric will be listed in the rugs hooked 2018.

Saundra

STAR GEOMETRIC

Normally a rug this size (29x32) would have been completely hooked by now since it was started the beginning of November.  But, since taking a detour to hook and assemble Snowman Stocking designed by Kelley Belfast and listing items on ebay it has slowed me down.

Another slow down was the misshapen blocks at the top and the bottom border.  Trying to get them to look anything similar to the original antique was agonizing.

Below is the original which was hooked 1900 using wool, rags and hooked on burlap.

Am hoping smoother sailing for the rest of the rug.  Honestly....as long as I'm hooking I'm happy.  Yet sitting in the wings is another antique adaptation drawn and waiting for me.  I'm itching to get to it since that one is a Magdalena Briner Eby design.

Guess everyone is busily wrapping presents, baking cookies (not me), or doing last minute shopping for Christmas.  

Saundra

WELCOME Snowman

Reason I named it Welcome Snowman is because I DO NOT welcome snow but thought this design by Kelley Belfast was too cute to pass up.  As mentioned in my previous post, the snowman image was in Kelley's Merrie Wynter booklet and Rebecca Lindquist used the image with accessories in form of a stocking.  I wrote to Rebecca asking permission to use her idea and she graciously gave it ~ Thanks Rebecca!

Was determined to get this project hooked and assembled before December 5 (my birthday), tenacity won out and finished it just now.  Must admit the assembly needs a little tweaking but was trying to 'beat the clock' and at least all parts are done and hanging.  OH... do any of you remember the old TV game show "Beat the Clock"?  Hmm, maybe not,😄 since I'm older than dirt.

Decided to enjoy the snowman stocking on the pantry door rather than front door.  So will put a big Primitive Angel made a few years ago on the front door instead.  The angel didn't sell at my last show and has been hanging dormant in the storage room so will put it to good use this holiday.

Good grief, tomorrow is the last day of November and my life is flying by too fast.  As kids we all couldn't wait until school was out, our birthday or for Christmas.  At that time it seemed like an eternity until the next exciting event.  

Then becomes a 'now' all too soon, so breathe and do what you enjoy and makes your day happy.

Saundra

More than the Eye Can See

Since Rug Camp in Ocean City, MD I veered off from the Star Geometric to finish Horses and Hearts rug shown in the previous post.  THEN changed directions to work on a design by Kelley Belfast which was in her "Merrie Wynter" booklet.

There's more to that story and more enjoyment for your eye to see so stay tuned.  Doubt many are reading blogs since everyone is busily getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday.  OMG, cannot believe how fast this year has flown by.  

Saundra

Horses and Hearts

Upon coming home from Ocean City rug camp thought it best to finish the rug started before attending camp ~ Horses and Hearts.  It is a design by Marion Hamm and understand it was in a crafts magazine free to use.  I purchased mine drawn on linen at Cape May rug camp 2017.  It measures 20 x 36.

You'd think I'd be back hooking my Star Geometric right now, but that would be wrong.  Someone ordered a design by Kelley Belfast and I'm so enamored with it that I've drawn one out for me to hook as well.  

Guess you'll just have to come back for a visit to see what that cute design is.

Yet another nor'easter headed this way and because of the March 2018 storm which brought down two healthy trees I'm fearful of wind and rain combinations.  Guess I should be thankful it isn't snow......yet.

Saundra

Another To Bind

Just finished hooking one of Kelley's designs from her new pattern booklet of sketches.  As the cotton fabric was sewn on before hooking this won't take me long to bind.  But it is second in line as the sheep rug binding isn't quite finished.

The border, background and bird were all hooked pulling worms from my baggies.  A lot of the pumpkin was done the same but did have to cut a few strips.  

The ground wool is a piece purchased from Kris Miller at camp one year. Don't know the name of the wool but think it picks up the blue, orange and of course some green so goes well.

So now to figure out what is on my frame next.  Meanwhile I'll pull a few loops on my grandson's hooked Christmas gift.

NOTICE... PRAIRIEGIRL, if you are re-reading my blog in trying to contact Kelley to get a pattern book, please write me in the EMAIL ME form on the right top side of my blog.  You are a NO-REPLY blogger and neither Kelley nor I am able to send you a message when you write us in the 'comment' section of our blog.

Saundra

A Little Birdie Told Me

I drew this pattern using a designs from Kelley Belfast's New/Old Pattern booklet ~ you can have yours too by contacting Kelley to purchase one.  

I named this design A Little Birdie Told Me , it measures 21 x 31 so should be a quick easy piece for me to hook.  I'm using blues in various cuts from my worm bag and attempting to make it look like a fall evening sky.

Happy Labor Day everyone.

Saundra

Have I Any Yarn?

Actually the name of this pattern is called Have You Any Wool but said 'yarn' since I hooked the sheep to appear like a skein of yarn.  The pattern offered by Woolley Fox is a design by Carol Endres.  

For new visitors, if you scroll down to a previous post you will see the wool used for the border and background.

This was a lot of fun to hook, particularly since challenging myself with the shape of the sheep.  A plus was successfully reducing my pattern stash by one more.   Now must get back to working on a Kelley Belfast design I'm calling "A Little Birdie Told Me".

Happy Labor Day Weekend.

Saundra

Rug Show Anyone?

I'm oh so close to being finished hooking the sheep rug but not ready yet to post another photo.  Instead decided to entertain you will some
old rugs.

I love this eagle rug with lions and stars below.  Only information available was that it was from Douglassville, PA.  

 

The deer rug below with the chewed up edges is attractive to me but wish I could view the back of the rug to see true colors and if those are trees on the sides or trees and part of house.  Or, maybe she just used what she had to highlight her subject....the mighty buck.

Below is a rug dated 1920 from an estate in Connecticut entitled "Gathering Eggs".

Especially for Kelley, who already knows the primitive shape of cats, here is a framed 1887 piece offered by Garth.

OMG, does this rug below speak Hallow's Eve?  All that is missing is a moon and maybe a pumpkin or two.  Me thinks thinks Me will hook it but October is coming so fast.  But I plan to do a pattern and name it Scardy Cat when the designing is done.

Cannot believe it is Labor Day Weekend coming up.  Where did this year go??  My heart goes out to the people in Texas and Louisiana and this weekend we in Delaware will feel the residual effects of the rain from Harvey as it moves out of their area.

Plus, there is another storm brewing in the Atlantic Ocean named Irma and she is heading this way in perhaps 2 weeks.  Yup, sad to say it might hit the east coast.  Hope it changes it mind.  

Hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend.

Saundra

Have You Any Wool?

Thought I'd give you an update on progress of the rug on my frame.  It took a while for me to find leaf colors for the border which were to my liking but am now happy.  That green had to go.

For those new to my blog, this is a rug design offered by Woolley Fox called Have you Any Wool....the title of my post.  I reshaped the body of the sheep to give an appearance of a skein of yarn and am quite pleased how it turned out.  

I've been asked what the background and border wool is ~ here is a photo.  For the life of me cannot remember the name of either wool or where it was purchased.  But was either  purchased from Betsy or Rebecca.

The background is the lightest section of the plaid wool mixed with some of the lighter textured wool of the same color.  The border was hooked using the darkest section of the plaid.  And thank goodness I have enough to finish the border.

I'm looking forward to finishing this rug, getting it bound then finishing up an adorable design by Kelley.  If you haven't purchased her New-Old Designs pattern book please contact her.  You can check out her blog on the previous link to view some of her designs.

My heart goes out to all those folks living in Texas.

Saundra

Some Old Rugs

Below is a nice welcome mat with hearts in all the corners and nice neutral hit and miss border.

Two dogs reclining with a light neutral geometric style background to make it more interesting in appearance and probably more interesting for the person to hook.

Below is a Barbara Merry snow scene and while it may not be real old Barbara is well known.

The auction house said the Welcome rug with cat and dog was hooked in the 1800's.  It is mounted but you can see loose loops at the edge along the black framing.

Below is an early 20th century hooked rug of horses, flowers and pennies.

And here is the backside view for the actual colors before fading or soiling.

Now, on a more folky style of rug but still worthy of viewing IMHO are these next two rugs.  I recently saw this cottage hooked piece on an auction web site and it was immediately endearing to me.

Reason it was so endearing is because it reminded me of a rug at Barb Carroll's former Guest House for rug hookers.  In May 2016 Barb asked me if I'd noticed the newly purchased piece handing on the wall in the bathroom.  Well of course I had and took a picture of it.  Here is that rug.

 

Barb's rug reminds me of a Gnome's cottage and when seeing the one above Barb's was immediately reminded.  Now....... okay you creative folks.  Look at Barb's Gnome cottage rug and let me know if you see a hidden image.

On another note, I do believe I've found my way with the "Have you any Wool" rug.  Will try to hook more so that I can attempt to catch up with Kelley's loops.  

S