Happy now Robin? I'm giving you more Halloween. 😉
These witches were very popular, sold many and wish I had one of these left too. Out of these two think I'd choose the one on the right. Which one would you choose? The pattern is designed by Veenas Folk Art Primitives. That wonderful rug they are displayed on was an original hooked by Tonya Robey, I have many of her mats and rugs and love each of them. She used to own Mad Hen Prims .
Saundra
It is quite convenient that Lisa asked if I'd post previously hooked rugs. It gives something readily available to post about and allows more hooking time on 1909 Horse. Well, that plus dragging limbs back deep into the woods. There is still a lot of manual labor required of me yet and the trunks of the trees are still here.
Anyhoo.....the second year in a class with talented rug hooking teacher, book author and colorist Barb Carroll, I hooked an antique adaptation called Woodland Deer. It is a pattern offered by Woolley Fox.
Same year I hooked a pattern design by Bev Conway called Speckled Hens. Each of the hens were sitting on a gigantic egg and, like Lisa, something didn't suit me so changed the eggs to straw. This rug has been at my back door in the kitchen for 9 years now. My dogs and I have walked on it over the years coming in and out of the backyard during all kinds of weather. This rug makes me happy and looks like sunshine in my kitchen every day.
Ahhhhhh, the year I really fell in love with a rug. Until seeing a rug hooked by my friend Evelyn Lawrence at a Cape May rug show wasn't aware of who Magdalena Briner Eby was. This was the first Magdalena rug I drew and hooked ~ known as Domestic Zoo.
There has been some controversy as to whether or not this is a Magdalena design. However, there are so many motifs in this rug which (to me) indicate it is hers. Magdalena has leaf motifs in several of her other rugs, birds and other farm animals. Since there are snakes in this I'm wondering if perhaps it was a wedding rug ~ just a primitive and naive take on 'the Garden of Eden'. A mystery which may never be solved.
Fat Dog, designed by Tonya Robey, was a fun smallish piece to hook and he even has a little 'bling' on a tooth. I've seen where Mad Hen has a companion design called Fat Cat which would be a fun pattern to hook me thinks.
Red Salt Box design called Flying Trio was another hooked that year. I did some minor changes to this as well by adding the wavy line and stars in the border and having the flying bird's legs flow backward instead of a standing position.
Looking for patterns to draw myself went looking thru my Barb Carroll books. Found Debbie's Horse pattern to enlarge and draw. Ah...have linen and Sharpie, a duo made in heaven.
Still doing shows then I'd hook a few smalls to sell but won't bore you with those. Here is a rug which was designed in a class with delightful and talented Gail DuFresne. I pleaded with her to pull me out of my 'primitive box' and teach me how to use brighter colors as I felt awkward with them. In class with Sharpie in hand this is what developed. When I got home I had to add fabric to the ends to accommodate the mouth of one and tail of another fish.
I love Gail, her teaching skills and appreciate her wonderful designs. The main thing I learned that day was to enjoy what makes you feel comfortable. If you recall from a previous post, I learned that narrow cuts were NOT for me, even tho I love the achievements on the Rottweiler Memorial wall hanging. My comfort zone is with wide cut primitive rugs.
Enjoy hooking in whatever style and cut is your comfort zone. It is a great therapeutic form of entertainment for me. Happy Monday everyone.
Saundra
...was 2005 when I hooked Stop and Smell the Roses, a design by Karen Kahle. This was hooked on my own using recently acquired good wool from previous classes, as is re-purposed wool and wool I dyed. The border is from the same recipe as that in the background of Pineapples and Flowers in the previous post.
The wool recipe is called High Meadow Green and from BEAUTIFUL WOOL dye book by Laurice Heath. I have used that same recipe numerous times over natural, wheat and textured wool which give different results, but all lovely.
Just Gail....., as you are a NO-REPLY Blogger was not able to email you directly about the dye book. If anyone wishes to get a reply from me who is a NRB you need to use the 'email me' section on the right side bar.
Below is a pattern by Vermont Folk Art called Fall is Here. The background wool I over dyed and probably from the same book. Sadly this sold but would love to hook it again one day. Problem is there are so many other rugs on my 'to do' list that it seems a shame to hook something else again.
The Fluted Basket is a design by Karen Kahle and was a free pattern insert in an old issue of Rug Hooking Magazine. When I saw that pattern my heart went pitter-pat. So of course it went on linen and straight on my frame.
You can see I have finished rug edges using the whipped wool technique. Don't have a favorite way, just depends on what the rug feels it needs.
That same year I hooked Sally Kallin's design "Harry". Sue Hamer was my teacher that year and she wanted me to hook Harry's face in a smaller strip but held tight to my convictions. Sue was an excellent teacher, very prepared and lots of wonderful prep for her students. Was quite impressed with her.
The border wool on Harry was purchased from Sally, the background was a hodge podge of overdyed light wool.
Below is a cat rug I sold. For the life of me cannot recall if this was someone's design or if I drew this myself. The yellow background was over-dyed and ecstatic it turned out exactly as I'd hoped because sometimes dye jobs didn't. Oh, this photo was taken on my deck and is also washed out.
This was a FUN rug to hook ~ a design by Tonya Robey when she had Mad Hen. How fun and funky is this?? Of course I used Tonya's over dyed wool to hook this and give it 'her' look. MISS YOU TONYA.
The rug below was hooked in a class with Liz Morino and an antique adaptation. When telling Liz my plans were to make it look like the original she sat on the floor and helped draw lines in the body for the directional hooking.
That is yet another rug I wish was still in my possession but it too was sold when still doing shows and going thru an unwanted divorce.
So there ya have it albeit all the small purses, small mats and dolls being made during that time.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!!
Stay safe.
Saundra
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
Let's make that WOMAN at WORK.
Had a busy day running my boy to vet; more on that later in the post.
And am in the middle of making more handy hooker pockets to put in the camp store at Cape May when I go September second week. One is done with pennies. The magnet at the top holds the scissors and the pocket at the bottom could hold your various hooks or snippets. In case you are wondering, that beautiful horse hooked piece is something I purchased from talented Tonya Roby of MadHenPrims.
Am going to make 3 more and here is wool being considered for others with different designs and will have different colors.
Now for my boy Ben. I feel privileged to have both vets on duty when taking Ben this morning to Western Sussex Animal Hospital. At his annual visit last week and again this week the speen was enlarged. Plus the sonogram did show something suspicious. They are being cautious because Ben had a 'low grade mast cell tumor' removed in March this year and those often show up again.
Ben is now 8 years 3 months, a large boy and want to keep him as long as possible. Here he is totally wasted by today's doctor's visit. Hey Ben, I feel your pain I'm not fond of doctor appointments and tests either.
Then the bald belly where they wanted clean shots for the sonogram. Am so glad I wasn't there while they inserted the needle to retract fluid. They said he was a good boy. I say he's my almost perfect boy. Were it not for the vehicles with wheels thing...... he would be perfect. But I love him nevertheless.
Have a good evening and I'm hoping to pull a couple loops on Turkey and Tallowberies in a few minutes.
Saundra
My labels don't get printed out until I have a full page to print. One of the rugs was finished in 2015 but didn't want to waste a sheet of printable fabric with just one label. Having printed the labels out figured it was time to start stitching them on my rugs.
First one stitched was the Spring Challenge designed by sweet Kelley Belfast and hosted by the Out of Hand Rug Hookers group. Since the deadline for this challenge is May 1st wanted to be certain all was accomplished. The finished size of the rug measures 19" x 24".
For those wondering..... Most of the rug was hooked with #8.5 strips. But some narrow worms were used and for the proddy daffodils the size varied from #8 to #9.5. Below is the label which shows the original design by sweet Kelley Belfast. Thought the line drawing would be a nice documentation to have on the label attached.
Next to have a label was A Day in the Country, a design by Tonya Robey of Mad Hen. It was a kit purchased a few years ago and finally hooked in November/December 2015.
The label attached has a copy of the sample rug Tonya hooked. Since I took liberties with a couple flowers thought it best to show the original hooked piece by Tonya on the back.
Next in line for a label was Flag Day Sheep. Again I took liberties and changed it to look a little more like a design which Woolley Fox carries called Woolley Sheep.
It was only fitting that the label to the back be how the original Flag Day Sheep design looked like on the web site.
Another rug recently hooked and needing a label is Rainbow Cabin, a design by Carol Endress and offered by Woolley Fox.
This one still needs to be stitched but is just pinned in place. The label shows a photo of the design hooked by Barb Carroll. I've seen her hooked version in person and the photo retrieved from the web site is showing up far brighter than it really is.
Although I've posted how to do these labels on my blog before, if you're new or wish to revisit the how to... click HERE.
For those working folk... TGIF... oh but I remember that well. It is still rainy, dreary and after all this rain the grass will be be in dire need of cutting. But meanwhile I'll keep on going on.
Saundra
I can't believe this myself, but have just finished whipping the edge of A Day in The Country, a design by Tonya Robey.
Again...hallelujah; it is a day I've been waiting for since starting it at a camp in November 2015. It still needs to be steamed from the back to soften, ease and smooth the ripples of the yarn at the edge. This is a pattern/kit I've had for quite some time so it is nice to see it finished.
Must give credit to the yarn wool used for the whipped edge. That wool was a gift given me by a departed hooker and spinner friend Lesley Coveney. I'm not a spinner but those of you who are will understand that the tag attached to the hank of yarn was "Romney fleece, "Princess", and was dyed with Pro-Chem "Brick".
Kris and Lauren, you were right.... there was plenty of yarn to whip the edge of this rug and some left over.
Now waiting in the wings is binding the sheep rug. That one won't jave a yarn whipped edge but will be bound. Stay tuned to see that one and what is next on my frame.
Saundra
That title can be interpreted a couple ways and be right both ways you consider. I do know what my next project will be but don't have it drawn yet. There are still two rugs in progress and want to slow down and enjoy that process.
Anyway, for the un-drawn new project I am planning to dye some wool for it. Although I have loads of primitive black some is new textured wool and would prefer the wool to have the look of some fading, washed out look. So am hoping to end up with some mottled blotchy antique black wool for this next project.
These are a few of the wool pieces I picked out which measures about half a yard in total. In reading Tonya's comments she said she used 1/4 yard for the recipes so I'll be doubling the recipe. But I'll mention all of this again on the next post tomorrow.
It has been a while since I've dyed any wool so it will be fun to have a small pot on the stove for a change. I will be using this booklet by Tonya Robey (Mad Hen Prims) to over dye the wool. Am thinking of using her recipe for a color she calls Evening Shade. But hey, you know I'm capable of taking a hard right hand turn or changing my mind in a flash.
For her darks Tonya said she dyed all on camel wool. But wanting a variation thought I'd throw in some other wool. More than likely that yellow will have a greenish tint to it but that's okay as that is not my favorite piece of wool to hook as is anyway.
Oh, when touching that blue/grey piece it feels there is some polyester in it and cut that piece in half to see if it dyes. So at the last minute threw in two lighter camel pieces of wool. The camel from the above picture is the darker piece at the top. The lighter pieces I introduced are at the bottom.
Stay tuned tomorrow to see how my wool turns out. It is always a surprise because color of starter wool used, whether a drought or rainy season makes a difference, as well as whether it be well water or city water. Oh, and let's not forget the part of the country we are living ~ that also determines the end color.
Have a fantastic evening. There's certainly a chill in the air compared to what we've been used to here in Delaware. Winter is here for sure.
Saundra
Dang if I know! But I'd better make up my mind soon before the sheep is finished. Just hate not having something ready immediately to put on my frame. Soon will begin the binding process on A Day in the Country and will do that in stages since it isn't my favorite part of hooking.
Although I have 28..YES....28 patterns drawn on linen in my stash there's surely something there to interest me. Yet, I'm still thinking about this antique small since there is a spot on the wall just for a small size.
Tis true I have the small primitive cat mat I recently hooked which would fit perfectly in that spot. But for some reason a horse is calling me. I'd even thought about this antique horse below. But like the idea of a dark animal motif and the shape of the one above is more to my liking.
I also have Woolley Fox's Olde Hearts pattern and with Valentines Day coming in February thought it might be fun to hook hearts. Plus, I've the master patterns for the hearts designs Polly Minick did in her last book so could hook those.
However, yesterday I went to my 'show container' where I store the rugs and mats which didn't sell when doing shows. A couple were listed on etsy and found one which needs a little tweaking before I list it. It is a small mat so won't take much work... that may be my next immediate project. You'll have to wait until later to see the before and after.
Meanwhile, this is my sheep and I'm in love with it. Of course it is always the one I'm working on that is my favorite. Okay, okay, thats a lie, lol. There have been hooking projects which were shear torture for me to work on. But most are heavenly.
Have a great evening everyone. Please be kind to one another.
Saundra
Yippee, I accomplished one of my two goals before the end of 2015. One was to finish hooking A Day in the Country, a design by Tonya Robey of Mad Hen Prims. The binding won't be done until after I've accomplished goal two, which is to finish hooking the sheep rug. Hopefully I'll manage to complete that one in 2015 too.
Now I've a question for all you mathematical minded hookers or the ones who know the answer. How much yarn does it take to whip a rug? Below is a picture of the only skein that color which was dyed by my dear departed friend Lesley.
The round skein of yarn measures 26" in length and there are 35 strands. So doubled would be 52" x 35 = 1,820" (approx.). Am I on the right track here? The rug measures 25 1/2" x 33". How much would I need to whip the edge with that yarn?
And if there isn't enough to whip the edge with the yarn would use what I have and attach the binding tape to the outer edge of the rug. The pretty yarn would be hidden on the bottom but would cover the foundation at the outer edge.
Now to put the hook in my hand and work on the sheep.
Hope you are enjoying the calm day after the busy Christmas day. Thanks for dropping by.
Saundra
YAH! The rug A Day in the Country will be finished within the year of 2015. Perhaps it won't be bound right away, but will be all hooked. There's just a little more of the ground at the bottom to hook and then steaming. Then it will 'cure', lol, for a while until it is bound. I hate binding in case you don't remember me saying that before.
Then I'll work my itty bitty buns off to finish the sheep rug which was started before Cape May rug camp. This is how the picture looked like posted on my blog just before leaving for camp this past September.
Heavens, there wasn't much hooked at the posting in September before camp compared to what it looks like now. So I must have accomplished some hooking on the ferry ride to Cape May and the night before starting Nantucket Broom Ride. But still a lot to do to finish the sheep by 2015 end.
And for those of you wondering what I'm doing covering the Flag Day Sheep pattern from Woolley Fox, this is what my goal is.
To set the record straight, I've hooked numerous Americana designs, several patterns which have flags on them so I am definitely pro America. But those sheep images are so close but facing different directions that think I'd prefer a rug similar to the bottom. Besides, that was an adorable rug I recall seeing in the classroom area the first year at Barb's and fell in love.
Today I gave a gift to a friend of mine, Jon, who admires hooked rugs and likes my work. He has a cat named Dax and saw an adaptation of an antique mat I was working on (the bottom one in the picture below). Jon commented that he loved it, reminded him of his cat and if I ever decided to sell please let him know.
Well Jon makes minimum wage and is the caretaker for his mother so decided to hook another just for him. It is the top mat which I gifted Jon today and he was very happy ~ which made me happy.
All my gifts are wrapped and will spend Christmas day with my son, Cathy and grandson Zach. Hope you can enjoy the Christmas eve tomorrow before the hustle bustle of Christmas Day arrives.
Saundra
