NEW YEAR'S EVE

That is not only the name of this rug pattern designed by Lindsay Bowles and sold by The Wool Farm but also my happy New Year wishes to all my followers for 2023.

There was a time when I was a party girl and would have my outfit waiting for me on the bed to go out dancing and welcoming in the new year to the music of Auld lang syne.  But for the past several years I've welcomed the new year in behind closed eyes.

Thanks to all for your friendship over the years; lets hope 2023 will be better than the last couple years.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Last Minute Changes before Cape May

I changed the clock on New Year's Eve from a clock button to a wool applique, stuffed and stitched to the foundation.  Isn't this pattern the cutest?  It is a design by Lindsay Bowles and pattern by The Wool Farm.  

I think the change I made is an improvement over how it was before.

Didn't quite get the Sunflower Duo finished and it won't get done until later.  Hmmm, maybe that is what I should take to Cape May to work on while waiting for Bev, that way it could be all finished to hang upon coming home from camp.

Did a lot of prep for the trip ~ checked the car's oil, filled it with gas, charged the cell phone and camera.  Tomorrow I'll charge up the iPad, vacuum the van, pack my suitcase and load everything into the van.  Even tho I think all the boxes have been checked off I'll probably have a sleepless night Saturday night worrying if I've missed anything.

Happy Friday.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Getting Closer on New Years Eve

For my friends who said I'd be done hooking New Years Eve pattern by this weekend....it didn't happen; but it's close.  

For you newbies here is a little lesson to tuck into your grey matter.  First I must say I'm not fond of directional hooking as I personally find it boring.  BUT, if you notice the up and down direction of hooking and color change gives it the appearance of the inside of a tree trunk with bear paw clawing to make it his home.  Uh, my interpretation.

Also notice the slanted directional hooking of the floor to give the appearance of distance from the lantern which would be smaller than the bookcase on the far right.  It's to give the illusion of distance.

I still have to face hooking the Coleman lantern but want to finish the right side of the rug first.  BUT...if you recall, there is a clock on top of the book case, right?  Teehee, wait until you see how I handle that.

Love keeping my readers waiting on the edge of their seats.  Or, maybe there aren't any readers waiting, lol.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Reverse Hooking

Seems I do a lot of reverse hooking as you (my regular readers) already know.  Truth be told I've reverse hooked and a couple times put back the wool I'd pulled out.  This is what New Years Eve looks like now.

And this is the previous photo.  It will be fun for me to compare them too and who knows, maybe I'll put back some of the wool I pulled out.

You probably already noticed the reverse hooking was mostly in the window/port hole and the book case to the far right.  For sure I like the darker colors of the bookcase much better as it looks like a companion piece to the bed and even stands out rather than sinking into the background.  

And of course I hooked more of the wall background.  But Buster's eye needs a little tweaking, still need to decide how to hook the Coleman lantern and undecided about the wine glass and if that sparkle line needs to be pulled out.  Yeah Mz Robin I know you want it gone, lol.  But how did I do with the other tweaks?

Still having fun with this fella, have Over the Moon on the side lines, Woolly Santa needs the binding finished and then will need to choose something else to  hook.  I want to hook an antique adaptation again!!!!!!  I miss my antique rug adaptations.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

New Years Eve

No, I haven't time travelled to the future, it is the name of the rug on my frame which was my camp project with Bev Conway.  It was love at first sight because it gave me hope for 'the new year'.  

The pattern reminded me of me in my cave for over 9 months and this bear has been in his tree cave for probably as long.  This design would be a happy covid rug as a reminder of good things going forward because I did not want to hook a mask or a colorful covid germ.  To me those are not happy motifs to hook.  But this one, oh man, does it speak volumes to me on the future.  Plus, my 'Buster the Bear' has a glass of cab in his hands to celebrate'.  Yep, that's my boy's name....Buster.  If you would like to purchase this pattern in either pdf or drawn on foundation you can find it HERE.

Am thinking that window is a big chipped out hole from woodpeckers, large retired Owl nest or a huge rotted out knot hole but it still serves as a window for Buster.  There's snow on the ground there but hopefully not here any time soon.

A story about the wine glass ~ which, by the way I think the glass shine should be removed between the thumb and the rest of the paw behind the glass, think the lighter color provides the idea of glass distortion.  What say you Lynne?  

To be continued on the glass... I know I've seen wonderful hooked pieces in narrow cut with a fishbowl and other reflective items and what 'to do' was running thru my mind one day while shopping at Walmart.  All of a sudden I see a palate of boxes shrink-wrapped and when I saw that glistening shrink-wrap immediately though "wine glass".  So pulled off a section of it and put it in my handbag.  

Those snowflakes are salvaged white linen threads ~ you pull up a loop in a hole, pull up two ends in the next hole and pull into the loop to make a knot and snip off the top.  Voila, easy peasy snowflakes.

I've still the Coleman lantern to figure out but have lots of background to hook as I ponder that part.  Lindsay, Loris and Bev....if you read this, I'm having a BLAST hooking this fun design.  Thank you.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Just 8 days away from rug camp and I'm not thoroughly convinced it really will occur.  Am thinking more students will drop out or the two remaining teachers of four original teachers drop out as well.  Guess I've been used to disappointments or cancellations most of this year.  But if it really does happen I'll enjoy getting away from my cave for a couple days.   

I've drawn the New Years Eve pattern on linen and have started pulling wool.  As mentioned before it is from the art work of Lindsay Bowles and sold on etsy by The Wool Farm.

At my own snail pace am binding Old Tom without any more reverse hooking and almost done with hooking Woolly Santa but haven't tackled the eyes of him yet.  Friend Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) asked what I'd put on my frame next since that one would be done before camp.  

Hmmmm, I've got to work that out real soon.  I have several patterns on linen in my stash including Over the Moon with wool ready. 

I would like to hook a profile of my boy Ben as my other departed fur babies have been hooked.  Just haven't drawn up a pattern of Ben yet.  Let  me explain the tether....I was working outside and he was a runner/car chaser.  This was photo was taken before the back yard was fenced in for him to be loose.

And, it has been a long time since I've hooked an antique adaptation so that's also a possibility.  OH, just thought that I could take bag of selvages and start my hit and miss geometric.  Heck, that would be something quick to gather and easy to draw.  

When I return from rug camp will put rugs and patterns on ebay or etsy and thought I'd post something here first.  At one time I was heavily into stitchery and quilting.  One thing I know for sure....never again will I do stitcheries and/or quilts using stitcheries.  

There are 12 unused like new designs, one for each month which originally cost $5 each.  I will sell them for $4 = $48 plus shipping to the lower 48 states only.  Am selling them together, not individually.  Even if you don't make a quilt with them, they are individually cute small rug hooking designs.  

First one gets it, if you are a No-Reply blogger I'll not be able to contact you so would go the the first person I can reach.

I can see a Thanksgiving and Santa design on someone's frame soon and there would be other designs for the remainder of the year.

Happy Saturday and so glad the rain has stopped.  The remnants of Zeta left me with a lake over the entire back and sides of my house.  Not sure the total rainfall for my area but it was predicted to have up to 5".

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com