Long Island Farm Binding

This will be my final posting on the binding of Long Island Farm (design by Lucille Festa) even tho I'm only 1/4 of the way finished....but at least one side is done.  This is what it looks like since the final loops were pulled.  If you recall I'd considered having the fence on the left look as tho it was going down the back of the hill.  Well I tried it and didn't like it so pulled out the loops and made it more symmetrical.

Someone did comment about the mitered corners being done neatly.  One secret is having the pointed corner sheared off as shown here. 

Next you fold down the corner like this.

Then fold the two sides inward until they meet in the center.  After which you pin and stitch.  You would basically do the same thing with the binding tape.

This is what the edge looks like with the variegated colored yarn which covers the very edge of the backing and the colors work well with the colors used in the rug.

I'm doing an update because I had a request to see the back of the rug with the binding.  Since Long Island Farm isn't completely bound I will show a portion of the one side which is at least whipped with the yarn but still isn't stitched down on the inside portion of the binding tape.  Here is that picture.

But here is a picture of the back of a rug "Henny Penny" by Woolley Fox, which is completely bound.  By the way, that design is on sale half off (check specials) until they are sold.  By the way, this little mat was rolled up so that is why you see wrinkles in the binding tape.  Since I have it for sale it doesn't get used and keep them rolled up.  But perhaps they need to come out of hiding and displayed on my chests or harvest table once in a while to get aired out.  I just LOVE Henny Penny!

Glenda has asked if I would write more about different cutters and frames since she doesn't live near other hookers or know of any shop where she might otherwise be informed.  I'll probably do one post on cutters and the next day talk about frames.  Thanks to all who have questions because this is how I know what you have an interest in.

 

Have a great evening everyone; and please be kind to one another.  This is the season which finds people's patience level being tested.  If standing in a long line, take a deep breath and maybe even crack a joke which might get a chuckle from someone and even neutralize situation.

 

Saundra

HONEY'S...... I'M HOOME.....

Oh my but having fun is exhaustive!  As much as I hated leaving all my pals and fun must admit that I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.  And was totally looking forward to greeting my big boy Ben who was waiting for me at the door near the garage. 

Ben saw my van pulling into the driveway and greeted me at the door with a wiggling nub of a tail and lots of kisses.  I knew he'd be there so that he wouldn't have to jump up to my face to give me kisses I sat down; I mean even Ben knows where the kisses go.  We had a great reunion and he followed me everywhere I went and even sniffed out the van as it was being emptied.

There will be lots to share on my blog and so much that it will be in several day segments.  There is sharing stuff about Betsy and her class, the impromptu rug show, rugs being hooked in class, finishing techniques and lots of stuff and too much to show tonight.  Here is a picture with a flash of my class project.  Just remember this isn't natural light so everything seems brighter.

And this is light dulled in my kitchen without a flash and more natural as it would appear in my home.  Sadly, this is all I'd accomplished between Monday and Wednesday afternoon, which seems sparse compared to other hookers.  Guess I was either talking too much or not in my seat enough.  You will be in for a treat on the accomplishments of others as the days go by.

My plans are now to finish Lucille's Long Island Farm rug first, then Shadow, and then this one and make it into a pillow for me in the living room.

Okay kiddies, play nice until I post again.  Have a great evening and hope everyone will enjoy their sleep tonight like I'm looking forward to in my own bed.  Like I said previously, it is exhaustive having fun.

Saundra

I'm Off to See the Wizard.....

.... the wonderful wizard of OZ.  Okay, not really, but I am leaving for a hooking work shop on Sunday and hoping the wonderful wizard will give me my 'play' back.

I've been buying wool from Betsy for years, we've written funny notes to each other during that time, but I've never met her.  This will be a fun few days if only for that.  And I'm looking forward to hooking with hand torn strips, something I've never done before.  That is as long as my hand can endure it.

In choosing a pattern I searched thru the Kopp book, my pictures of antique rugs saved over the years of ones I wished to replicate and was particularly looking for something that could adapt to a very wide cut with simple easy lines.  There were a few options and I chose this one. 

Mine will only  measure about 20 x 20 so am guessing it will go fast.  Therefore plan to take an extra piece of linen just in case I need to keep myself busy or if my hands give out with hand torn. 

Sunday evening at the hotel I'll work a little more on the Long Island Farm.  This is how this fun rug is looking now.  And I've already decided where it will hang.  I'm not opposed to rugs being on the floor but want this one to hang since it makes me smile.  It is a design by Lucille Festa and measures 24 x 26.

Tomorrow will be a busy day for me and while I'm hoping to make a post before I leave, can't promise.  I've soup to make for my house/Ben sitter, house to clean (the quick version), and load up my van so I'm ready to go on Sunday.

This is just a 3 day workshop and there are just 3 teachers usually.  But it is still fun time getting to meet old friends who love the same thing you do.  And hey, what's not to like about having someone fix your meals 3X per day while you get to hook?

Have a great weekend everyone.  Woolley hugs and lotsa luv.

Saundra

Udate on Long Island Farm

I haven't had my Shadow girl on my frame for a few days and while I've only hooked on LI Farm it doesn't appear much has been hooked.  For those just joining, it is a design by Lucille Festa of American Country Rugs and measures 24 x 25......that one's for you Lauren ;~)   And I'll explain the reason not much has been hooked below.

This is what it looks like right now and as soon as I publish this blog post will go back to it.  A picture without a flash which is always a little blurry.  I'm planning to take a little license with the fence too but guess I'll have to wait until the perimeter rows are hooked in for the border first.

And a picture with a flash which tends to make things lighter and brighter than in person.

So, my excuses for not accomplishing more is that I leave Sunday for a hooking workshop.  Yeah, I know that's several days away.  BUT, I've had doctor appointments, picking up my grandson from school, shopping for lumber and supplies for the house/Ben sitter to do work around here for me while I'm gone, etc. 

Worse is that I haven't even started gathering and pack my hooking stuff up yet and my wool room looks a wreck from the rugs I'm presently working on.  But, hey, you know how we hookers are.  When it comes time for a rug camp we make do and will be there on time.  Whether or not the cleaning gets done here before that remains to be seen.  Hopefully my house/Ben sitter will be kept busy and won't notice I haven't cleaned for him.  But I did promise him some chicken rice soup to heat up so that is a 'must do'.

Have a great evening everyone, gonna put LI Farm back on my frame. 

Saundra

Taking Creative License

Well, that is if you really want to call a border change creative license.  Since there wasn't much of a border but a couple rows of hooking in the original design, figured I wanted to make it interesting by adding a flow that is represented in the hill at the bottom of the red house.  The thought of squared off top corners just didn't do it for me.  So this is what I've drawn and hooked so far.

In case you're wondering, I haven't hooked on my girl Shadow for a few days and am enjoying the freedom and frivolous fun of this primitive rug.  But she is displayed on the back of the love seat in the living room so that I can feel guilty every day.  Every day she looks at me with those 'puppy dog' eyes and head twisted in wonderment and know she needs to be completely hooked.  SIGH.  Oh what guilt we put on ourselves.   

Hmm, come to think of it.... isn't that what we were taught as children?  We were taught to finish our projects, take pride in what we do, respect for others, so perhaps guilt is really my conscience.  Now that will give you something to think about tonight while I enjoy hooking my primitive rug.

Have a great evening everyone and enjoy what may soon be the last of the warm fall weather.  Life is Good!  BTW, I love those Life is Good tee shirts.

Saundra

Long Island Farm and Pizza

I've given myself permission to have a little self-indulgence ~ The comfort of hooking a primitive rug and pizza.  It has been very nice hooking on Long Island Farm and I'm liking it a LOT!.  While I really wanted to keep hooking to show you more progress finally decided to pull it off the frame and take a picture of it.

And now to the PIZZA part!!!!  I love anything with red pasta sauce (or as the Italians call it 'gravy'.  I could drink the red sauce straight or over Cheerios I think. 

Anyway, in a quandary on what to have for lunch was craving pizza. And then I remembered there were two Pita Breads left and in the freezer.  There was also some left over pasta sauce and always veggies in my fridge.  So this was my delightful lunch.  Yup, was going to only fix one but decided to make two and I ate them both and proud of it.

The ingredients were, of course, the Pita bread and:

Pasta sauce spread on Pitas
Broccoli (lightly steamed)
Red pepper sliced
Red onion sliced
mushrooms sliced
black olives sliced
Roma tomato sliced
Fat Free Mozzarella cheese

I pre-baked the pita bread for 3 minutes on the rack in the oven then placed the pitas on a baking pan with other ingredients on top.  Baked again until I liked the looks of the melted cheese. You can also sprinkle garlic powder, Italian seasoning, etc.  Oh my but my tummy felt yummy after lunch.

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

Saundra

Misc. Hooking Chit-chat

Have decided to start binding my Magdalena Lollipop rug today while I wait for grandson to get out of school.  It will give me something to while away the boring wait time in the parking lot.  Must get there early or you can't get a parking space.

Am still working on my Shadow Portrait, albeit slowly.  Partly because I find it intimidating since it should be a close likeness and hesitate pulling loops.  Plus the fact I've been busily drawing dozens of designs for someone and this shipment needs to go out tomorrow.

So while those are on my 'to do' list there is also a rug camp coming up in November.  It will be a class with Betsy Reed and will concentrate on hand torn strips, which I'd like to try.  Don't know what design I'll do yet but it won't be too big in case the size of the strips hurts my arthritic hands.  And think the design should be something that is easily adaptable to the width of such a strip.  So I'm thinking geometric, small, vintage but there is still time as it is still over a month away.

But sitting in the wings teasing me as I draw the patterns is this design of Lucille Festa's called Long Island Farm.  I have it draped on the back on the chair at the serger staring at me.

I want to start hooking it so badly you'd think that would be the incentive for me to finish Shadow and real soon.

Will show pictures of updates on Shadow soon and of course a picture of the Lollipop Bouquet once it is done.

Thanks for dropping by.

Saundra