A FAVORITE RUG

Do you have a favorite rug you've hooked?  Has anyone ever asked you that question?  If so, did you have a clear and direct reply?  Probably not, just like me.  Usually I say, "the one I'm hooking".

Truth is I have many favorite rugs and some I've hooked which weren't.  For me there are favorites in different categories and I'll give you two examples today.  My favorite rug hooked with teacher was Kinderhook Basket which was hooked in my first class with Barb Carroll.  Numerous times I've looked at it for lessons learned with Barb that day and how she used values and color.  Here is that rug hooked in 2008.

While I've hooked numerous rugs with Barb, that one is my favorite.  Must admit there are a couple least favorite rugs hooked with a teacher and perhaps one day will show you those.  One I sold years ago and usually like to keep the teacher taught rugs.

The rug I'm most proud of isn't what you would think.  It happened out of the blue and with a pattern I didn't have a clue how to color plan.  Actually it was to be taken to Barb's and have her do the color planning for me.  But my ex couldn't take care of my big boy Ben and couldn't find anyone or anywhere to board him.  So had to cancel my class with Barb.

However, I decided to work on it anyway, while my friends were having fun attending class in Ligonier with Barb I'd be hooking the rug I'd planned but alone at home.  That happened to be a pattern called Gossip, sold by Woolley Fox and designed by Bill Laraway.  

Part of my problems were the little odd critters.  So decided to take a little creative license and make changes.  Obviously it is still a Bill Laraway design, not mine, but made it more to my liking.  Here is a photo of the pattern and the beginning of my changes.

Okay, made some bird changes.  But was trying to decide if those were leaves on each side and bottom.  Guess that's what they were intended for as someone else thought so too and this is how she hooked hers.  Hooked the leaves Magdalena style.

Me?  I didn't see them as leaves; I envisioned them as feathers, after all there are several birds perched there.  And so here is my adaptation of Gossip hooked 2017.

This is  how the label on the back reads....

Happy weekend, happy hooking.

Saundra

THROWBACK THURSDAY

It has been so long since I've enjoyed a rug camp that I've been doing reruns in my mind.  There's definitely lots of fun memories to draw from.  This time I'm travelling back to my very first visit to Woolley Fox and Barb Carroll workshop.  I was already in awe being in the presence of the rug hooking icon Barb and the opportunity to take a class with her.  The icing on the cake was when she took us on a tour of her home.  I took this photo of my gal pals to record the event.  To the right and over her bed is the E.S. Frost Horse and Scrolls rug I posted in the latest antique rug show.

That first workshop with Barb I hooked Kinderhook Basket, an antique rug she had hanging on her wall.  My intentions were to hook it like the antique she owned (shown below).

Barb had other plans and I liked her color plan MUCH better.  The colors she selected were mostly from the wool I took to class.  The end result is much richer than the original antique and think it is simply 'smashing'!

I've previously told the story about Barb asking me what I thought of the color purple, and I didn't take any purple wool.  Uh, told her it was my least favorite color.  She considered purple as a neutral and so some purple went into the rug.  A fun memory every time I look at the rug which hangs in this room.

Fast forward a few years of workshops with Barb to one in particular, frankly don't remember which rug I was working on at the time of this event yet I do know every rug color planned by her.  

Anyhoo....we gals would often take a small gift to give each other and pal Deb liked to give socks with a message ~ she'd buy one of each design and sometimes she give the sock planned for that person and sometimes she'd let us choose.  This time I had the opportunity to choose the sock statement which spoke to me and it was this pair below.  I covered up 2 letters for fear of being banned.  

I was wearing a pair of cropped pants and comfy slip on shoes and confident the words wouldn't be seen.  It was time for my rug to be color planned and walked to Barb's work table when in her parental voice said, "Saundra ?"  My pals immediately looked our way and when I looked at Barb realized she had seen my socks.  OMG, my face felt red hot and was so embarrassed.   I'm not Catholic but all of a sudden felt like a kid at Catholic school being admonished by a Nun.

Of course I never wore those again at Barb's, was very embarrassed but is a cherished memory nonetheless.  Hope you enjoyed the time travel back to Woolley Fox.

Yesterday there was a thunderstorm and the weatherman said this area received 2" of rain.  Thunderstorm and more rain are predicted for today so will run my errands before that begins.  OH, by the way, guess who has poison ivy again #!%?!.  When I cut the grass this week, despite the hot temperature I wore long pants, long sleeve shirt and removed them after cutting grass.  

Only thing I can think is that with the weeds I've pulled with gloves and didn't identify any poison there must have been some hiding.  Hope it doesn't develop into the case I had last year but guess my name by Robin continues to be md (mummy dearest) since last year I went to be with long sleeve shirt, gloves (poison was between my fingers) and since it was also under my chin and neck wrapped a scarf around my neck.  As of this moment it is only right arm and hope it doesn't spread.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Finally Hanging and a Shock

Was contemplating what to post since my Snowman isn't done, haven't gone back to my Star Geometric from rug camp and binding of the Horses and Hearts rug isn't finished yet.  So decided to show a picture of this room where I finally hung a few more smalls.

Top left you will notice the recently hooked Donkey at the top and previous small horse pieces below.  Next right is the wonderful Kinderhook Basket which was color planned with Barb Carroll. 

To the right top of that is the small version of Magdalena's Goat with the antique adaptation Spike below.  I will talk about other side of the room in a second.

The two green birdhouses sitting on the dough-box came from Cape May and the little mat was hooked by Tonya Robey.   The hooked heart pillow and heart footstool were also purchased on eBay from Tonya.

That primitive Annie doll stuffed with rags is one I made and wearing a pair of my son's shoes from his youth.  Annie is sitting in an antique doll highchair.  The antique school desk I've had as long as the dough-box and it moved a few times between Delaware, Maryland, to California and back again.

 Starting on the left side top rug is Harvey's Magdalena, next an antique ceiling tile, which looks out of place and hooked antique adaptation Chum.  Both the antique tin and Chum need to be replaced with other rugs.  That is an antique grape wine press which has fake grapes in it and also has several thousand miles of travel in its history.

Now for the shock to me.  When I downloaded the photos I saw that orb on the chair which my boy Ben would curl up in.  Immediately upon seeing it I burst into tears.

Here is one of many old photos of Ben, he is laying in that chair.  He sure didn't look comfortable to me but he would come to the room and lay in the chair often when I was on the computer.

Yes, that orb brought me to tears but believe it is an indication his spirit is with me.

Saundra

And More of My Hooked Pieces

Beginning in 2008-2009 the number of hooked projects increased as my desire to make primitive dolls was no longer fun.  Therefore allowed more time for hooking.

Kinderhook Basket was the rug I hooked at the first ever Barb Carroll workshop at her lovely home in Ligonier, PA.  It is a pattern offered by Woolley Fox.  I adore this rug and it is hanging on the wall in the room where I sit at the computer. This first class with dear Barb was 2008.  I will often go to the rug, look at the colors and remember the lessons learned from her that day.

Also 2008 I hooked a Wytch Pulling a Pumpkin which was a design in one of Lori Brechlin's booklets.  Seems I have all of her booklets and should look thru to see what might pique my interest again soon.

The pattern Debbie's Horse was in one of Barb's booklets and was free to enlarge and hook.  The colors are washed out since the photo was taken with a flash.  

But the other photo is really too dark.

In 2009 at Barb's workshop I hooked Woodland Deer; this one now hangs in my living room over the love seat.  Notice that orb to the right on the rug?  Wonder if that was my guardian angel or beloved spirit visiting?

2009 was the year that I hooked Domestic Zoo.  First time I saw this design was during a rug show at Cape May where I saw Evelyn Lawrence's version.  Then went the research to find a photo of the original rug and hooked my own.  If anyone is interested in a pattern contact me but be sure you are not a NO-REPLY blogger or will not be able to reply to your email if you contact me thru the comment section.

This was a fun smallish piece named Fat Dog, designed by Tonya Robey and now offered by Mad Hen Prims. 

He even has a 'grill' as I stitched a sequin on his teeth for the 'bling' factor.  Not sure it will show up for you if you tap the photo to enlarge but worth a try.  He is hanging on the wall in the office along with the Crow Sampler previously shown.

At a Bev Conway class I hooked her pattern Speckled Hens (23 x 48); the design is pictured below.  Well you know me....always making a change to a design here or there.....

Instead of the chickens sitting on a giant egg I thought they should be on straw.... what mama wants, mama does.  Here is how I hooked it. This rug has been on the floor in my kitchen at the back door to the porch since 2009. It shows absolutely no wear or tear except for the flattened wool from being walked on.

Also during 2009 I hooked a design by the Red Saltbox named Flying Trio.  Again I made a change or two ....made the flying crow's legs bent backward as if in flight and added the stars and wave effect on the border.  This was bound using a wool wrapped cord technique.

I designed and hooked small pieces to sell at shows and this little mat was one.

I love Maggie Bonanomi's designs and as I have that Settler's Pride quilt design drew out the Cornucopia to hook.

I'm guessing there weren't other rugs hooked that year but then a lot of small pieces never had a photo taken or they were lost.

Happy Thursday.

Saundra

Hooking With Textures

Textured wool really does make a rug look aged, a prime example is the Kinderhook Basket I hooked with a little help from my friend Barb Carroll in her class.  Just adore the rug, the colors and the fond memories it gives me when I see it every day.  It hangs in this room; it is a design offered by Woolley Fox. 

Textures can also be used in whimsical designs too.  There isn't one piece of flat/plain wool in Nantucket Broom Ride.   Here are some pictures of what I've used.

The picture below shows the background wool (called Pluto by Heavens to Betsy), the first purple was used for the hat, second plaid for the dress and the third piece of texture was the thin outline around the witch's hat and dress.

Originally I'd hooked grey hair on the witch but now she is a beautiful red head and the texture on top of the background wool is what I used. You can see that I also re-hooked the spout as the sparkle didn't show up as I'd hoped it would.

The houses were hooked in the following textures.  I know the red seems bright in the photo but guess the dark spot managed to come forth more often.  To the right of the red is what was used for the ground color....a little of several earth colors which makes for a nice earth and grass color.  The lighter sections of the gold on the right is what was used for the mustard house.  That too came from Betsy.

For some reason I couldn't put my hands on all three of the wools that were used for the whale but could find the tail section I used.  That was part of a jacket that was found at my local thrift shop.  Can't remember if it was a woman's or men's jacket but it worked just fine.  However, mixed strips of that with another wool in the whale so that the tail wouldn't be too light.

So textures can be used successfully even in whimsical pieces.  Must admit I was hesitant at first but Barb helped me see how they can be used and I often reference the rugs hooked in her class as lessons when I need one.

Enjoy your Sunday evening.

Saundra

My Friend's Rugs

Although I have shown some of these previously, perhaps some of the new followers haven't seen them or didn't go back far enough into the archives to view them.  The following rugs were hooked by my friend Char.  When I posted a picture of her Baby Bear rug  and her Moss rug, mentioned about her Full Beaver Moon and think I mentioned about the Wedding Rug she hooked for her daughter and son-in-law.  I'll show you pictures now.

This is Full Beaver Moon and think she did a magnificent job on the moon and that is a show being cast by the moon in front of the beaver ~ quite beautiful I think.  And, if you double-click on it you will see the nails and teeth that Char made out of femo.

This is the Wedding Rug and it is humongous.  You must click on this one to enlarge.  The name of the groom is on the left top part of the tree and Char's daughter's name is on the right.  Likewise, the names of Jacob's family names are down the trunk (his parents) and into the roots are their parent's names.  Ditto for Char's daughter Glynnis' family on the right.  Then between the roots is a heart and the birth dates of the bride and groom on each side.  To say this is breathtaking is an understatement.  

And I mentioned that my dear friend Deb forgot to take another rug she finished last year and it was one she started in Kris Miller's class at Cape May.  It is named Glad Tidings.  She had it hanging in her home by the time Christmas arrived.  She used some of Kris' sheep locks for Santa's beard.

I did show you Deb's hooking of the Kinderhook Antique Basket in the show but will post it here again.  The lighting on the rug does not do it justice at all, it is  not washed out in person like it shows up here.

And since I also hooked that same rug, here is mine.  You will not believe what just happened.  I have a flash drive with all of the pictures in folders aptly named for Cape May and year, individual files with special names a file called "Saundra's Stuff".  I went there to retrieve a picture of this rug and the entire file is GONE.  I saw something flash on the screen when I clicked it and went to the SEARCH box on my computer to see if I could get it back but a message came up saying that file was damaged and beyond repair and not available.  OMG, my favorite dolls, all of my rugs, and things I've sold and wanted to keep a photo of all gone before my very eyes.  I just took a photo of this since it is hanging on the wall and guess I've got to re-photo everyone that I still own so that I can have them on file.  Oh man am I bummed!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by, I'm so ticked that I'm gong to open up a bottle of Merlot.  And do you believe tomorrow is OCTOBER?  Already?  I'm not ready for the holidays whatsoever!!!!!

Saundra