Okay guys and gals, I lived with the dog rug for a few days and did end up making a change in that top right corner. I knew if I didn't do it now I'd wish I had because it would be difficult to make the change once the rug is bound. , Yeah, I'm getting ready to bind it now but just had to take a picture with the edges turned under.
I'm quite happy with the way it turned out And, my girlfriend Shari said this is her favorite of all the rugs I've hooked and even complimented me on my color planning. Must admit tho, this is not what I had intended it just sorta happened and the dog barked the colors it wanted in the rug.
And for those of you who like seeing the close up colors with a bright flash here is what it looks like up close and personal in the bright 'hollywood' lights. The rug does not look this light and bright in person. it looks more like the picture above. But I know you like to look at the colors to see what wools you have in your stash which might be similar to what I've used in this rug.
And, if you look at the rug my intentions were to have the blue line trailing under the penny circle at the top left and lead to what would eventually be a blue/green bottom. Likewise I ran a row of blue up the right side and used it on the outside curve on the right corner so it would provide the same introduction of color. And, perhaps I didn't make a wise decision but in the bottom right corner I put some brown in an attempt to balance a brown at the bottom portion of the rug. If you double click the picture you can see that the brown doesn't show as dark as it appears.
This was a fun rug to hook and it could easily have been done before now but I spent 2 or 3 days cleaning up my wool room so lost valuable hooking time. I've been asked by several people if I sell this pattern and I don't. You can purchase it from Barb Carroll at http://www.woolleyfox.com/. However, since the design is in public domain and is of the age from the 1800's, it was acceptable for me to draw it out on my own. However I'd never sell this pattern since Barb offers it on her web site.
Here is how my rug is looking right now. I didn't get much hooking in yesterday as I was busy finishing up the assembly of two eye glass cases, making some repairs to a party dress, and generally didn't accomplish much because my friends were picking me up at 6. Why does it take me so long to do things now days? Sheesh.
So yes, I went to an Oscar Party..... not THE Oscar party, but one in town hosted by a good friend of mine.
This is Jon, the host (notice the red carpet??) This dress is ancient. I purchased it for a trip when I went to Iceland to see a friend around 1995. The dress had been in my attic since then and the elasticity had stretched due to the summer heat all those years since having been in the attic since 1997 when I moved here. I was amazed that I could still fit in that thang. And NO, I did not have a wardrobe malfunction, everything was snug as a bug in a rug.
Jon's jacket is a Top Chef jacket and he really is an accomplished great cook and bartender. Snacks and drinks were wonderful. Actually I met Jon and my gal pals (below) at wine tasting Friday night a few years ago. Anyway, I had never had a Buttered Martini until last night and while I don't usually drink hard liquor had to try it. My drink of choice is vino.
Jon goes all out for this party and gives all his guests a CD with music from movies up for an Oscar. Jon has an extensive collection of autographed pictures of movie stars in his home on display all the time. But for party night he pulls out all kinds of Oscar memorabilia. It is also buys Oscar posters and has all his guests sign them the year of the party, then he has it framed. Oh, Jon also does an all out Halloween party and everyone must go costumed.
These are my friends Karla and Paula who live a few miles from me so picked me up along the way. As mentioned, I met them at wine tasting as well.... and me who had to be coerced in attending even the first wine tasting; now it is my weekly social event.
This is my second year going to Jon's Oscar Party; missed last year so it was 2010 when I went and was so excited about it decided to dress outrageously. My plans were to be the aging actress who was making a comeback movie. I had this gaudy gold lame' dress, wore rhinestone jewelery. That year my gal pals followed suit and one dressed as a French Director of my movie, complete with beret while the other slicked her hair back dressed in a suit and tie and was to be my escort to the Oscars. Again, it was a lot of fun so felt as tho I had to get dressed up again this year.
Here is a picture of the Oscar on display which is like a pinata but serves the purpose as a an Oscar for this special annual event.
Notice some of the wine and the name. The one with the white label is Frances Ford Coppola's Director's Cut and was a good Cab. I brought him the other bottle of Frances Ford Coppola Cab as a house gift.
And, sorry the picture is on it's side. For some reason when I tilt my camera to take a picture, even tho I do the rotation thing thru the Paint program and save it, the dang thing reverts back to the way the shot was taken.
Not sure how long the party lasted but the gals had to go to work today so we left at 9 p.m. and I came home and walked my boy Ben then hit the sack. But here are some who were no way ready to leave yet. These are just the ones in the kitchen area and there was a room full of people watching the Oscars on the big TV in the living room but it was too dark to take a picture. I was so glad to see a husband and wife came dressed to the Oscars so that I didn't feel like a dope. But I'll bet all those other folks were a little more comfortable that I was.
So now I'm thinking about what I should do for next year..... dress up again or go comfortable?
I've hooked a little more on the Magdalena Dog rug and think I'll set it aside for a bit and work on something else ~ actually want to finish binding the candle mat I just finished. So it will give me a chance to get away from the rug and decide if I will keep the colors I have used thus far. Actually, for the background in the upper left I'd chosen a lighter brown blend of wools but they were much too close in value to the light dull red in the corner curve.
I have taken two pictures with two different settings; one shows too much the color mixtures throughout and the other shows too dark so thought I'd let you choose which picture you prefer.
Quite a difference in photos, eh?
My plans are to change color for the bottom part of the background but once I start hooking who knows what I'll end up with. Frankly, this isn't how I'd intended to hook the rug as I'd planned on a softer appearance. However, seems like it has chosen it's own destination some how. Sorta like taking Ben out..... he walks me, not the other way around. But then I figure it is his walk, not mine and he can follow his nose is he wants.
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