BEST LAID PLANS....

Yesterday I hoped to do an update on my horse rug but wanted to get the right side scroll hooked first.  Today I just wanted to keep hooking and finish the background and top border.  But.... as the saying goes "the best laid plans of mice and women".

The bottom portion of the rug will be more fun and interesting since I'll hook the original date on it which will fill in some of the background.  As previously mentioned I drew this measuring 32 x 35.5 and hooking mostly in #8.5, some #9 and those darker lines in the background were either thin worms or #8.5 cut in half.

I'm quite happy with the rug so far and when it is done will be glad it is a size suitable for the front of the fireplace on the rotation schedule.  So if anyone is interested in the pattern I'll be happy to draw it whatever size you want.  So take a look at the imperfect lines since I was drawing from the antique.  There wouldn't be perfect lines INSIDE the pattern as the antique wasn't  hooked that way.  But you can be sure the outside lines will be perfectly down the straight of grain (the ditch).

Gal pal Lauren is away having fun playing in the wool with Kris Miller and I'm jealous.  I haven't seen Kris since 2019 when I was in her class and she pulled a few unexpected fun loops on the rug I was working on.  If you haven't seen that post or if you want to revisit it you can see it HERE.

It was summer here today!  My thermostat shows the temps inside as well as outside and at one point when I looked the temp outside was 91*.  Tomorrow will be slightly cooler but still above average.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Choosing Rugs for the Cape May Show

I'm having a problem deciding which rugs to take for the Cape May Rug show.  I hooked a total of 11 rugs and mats during 2019 so those which were hooked previous to the class with Kris September 2019 were in the rug show that year.

Therefore, from September 2019 I hooked 28 rugs/mats not including the two I'm presently working on.  I know there will be a limit on how many each person can have in the show so will need to cull the number down.

This evening I'll show you rugs hooked in 2019 beginning with the one hooked September with Kris Miller.  That delightful rug is a design by Lori Brechlin named Oh Glorious Day.  You can read all about that fun class HERE.  Meanwhile, below is the said rug.

Next one hooked was a design by Folk Art Landing which was modified to suit me.  Name of the design is Friendship Bells.

While deciding what to do next pick a small design from the stash by Tonya Robey called Winter Bloom.  It would go fast and give me something to do while thinking about the next one.

Dead winter I decided to finally hook an antique which had been haunting me for years.  A whale design which I named "Mighty Whale".  You can see my patterns by clicking on the link at the end below my name.  I offer the pattern in two sizes ~ 19.5 x 32 and 24 x 39.

In my next post I'll show rugs hooked during 2020 during more of the 'shut down'.  And as you might expect that was when I was more prolific using up some of my linen and wool.

Today was a delightful day and tomorrow will be a bit windy but still comfortable.  Heard on the local (eastern shore) weather that next week will have abnormal high temperatures for this time of year.  Which means Cape May will be hot and probably humid.  Hopefully the following week (my week) it will be more mild and low humidity.  And please GOD, no hurricane!!!!

Happy hooking and wishing everyone in Cape May a fantastic time.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Oh Glorious Day Binding Begins

One week before rug camp and I'm hoping to complete binding this and Glazer Antique Hearts before then.  And if not I will work on it while waiting my turn with Kris in class.

I'm using a variegated yarn for whipping and you can see how well it blends with the wool used at the edge. 

Here's a picture of the whole rug.

Should be doing other things but think I'll pull a few loops on a small project ~ just have to pull loops everyday or I'm lost.

Saundra

OH GLORIOUS DAY

It is a glorious day after pulling the last loop ~ my next rug camp is just eleven days away.  It was steamed yesterday afternoon and later today will start the binding process.  

It is a design by Lori Brechlin and sold by Spruce Ridge Studios.   
I bind my rugs differently depending on what I think it needs; this one will have a whipped edge using yarn.  Eventually it will hang on the wall in my kitchen over the harvest table but will wait until after next September's Cape May rug camp so it can be in the show.

I have whipped the edge of rugs before which were placed on the floor and didn't like it.  No matter how many strands of yarn you whip with the yarn eventually separated and foundation showed through.  So I don't whip the edge if the rug is to be on the floor.  One rug I've whipped the edge a second time over the first whipping so that makes double work.

Saundra

Oh Glorious Day Update

Am still slowly working on binding the previous rug but enjoying working on the camp rug too.  Hope to have this all hooked and bound before the November class with Kris.

As I'm looking at the rug in this photo I'm thinking about removing that dark brown in the sun's face and replacing it with something less bold.  Think I'd like that a little better.  BUT, onward to finish those tedious little leaves first.

I'm at a loss for my next post so if anyone has questions or ideas, please feel free to email suggestions.  Happy weekend. 

Saundra

Why Camp Rugs are so Special & Hints for Newbies

I love all the rugs I've hook but often said camp rugs hold a special meaning in my heart.  Since I'm presently hooking Oh Glorious Day will share some of the reasons why this one is special.   

On the last day of camp, which is always a bitter sweet day, Lois Filingeri spoke to those of us still packing up in the hooking room.  She said Deb Burcin had given her a piece of wool to put in her rug so it had a fond memory from someone else in the room.  Lois put the idea in the room to the rest of us.  I happened to be working with a piece of green wool which I offered her and it was also a green strip she offered in return ~ great!  

If you look on the picture below you will see Lois' wool hooked into my rug.  There is an arrow showing the one.  Thank you Lois, you were such a great addition to the room and lots of fun.  Hope to be in a class with you again when we will share stories and lots of laughs again.  

As I was pondering what color to hook the windows on the house I had a light bulb moment.....literally.  Decided that room was my  hooking room  ~ therefore a light would be on!  It's subtle but will make me think of my happy hooking place.

Okay, newbie hints.... the yellow and grey tones are the same value so while there is no contrast there is still that hint of light in the room.

Also, Kris says when she hooks leaves she uses 3 values of green.  This is a primitive rug vs. realistic, but that makes sense since the top leaves would be closer to the sun and newer growth.  The leaves would be older and get darker near the root.  So I used 3 different values of green.  Great lesson Kris.

She also shared the information about how "color gets all the credit while value does all the work".  It was a reminder of what my third ever teacher Bev Conway said in her color lesson.  Am hoping to get Bev next year at Cape May, it's been a long time since I've had a class with her and miss her contagious laugh.

Below you will see close values in the bulbs growing in the grass below the chicken.  But I didn't want bright colors distracting from the other wonderful colors going on in the rug.  Purple is what was needed as there is purple elsewhere in the rug.  There was a dark grey purple and an over-dyed texture alternating, which I like.  

But what adds to the memories of camp are incidents which happen and which one remembers when they look at the rug once it is done.  

You see those two slightly darker value dots below the chicken?  Hmm, while I was away from my frame someone pulled a prank on me.  Am not quite sure who did it but loved it so much decided to keep it in the rug.  Each time I look at the rug it will make me smile and remind me of a delightful camp.   Kris, you wouldn't happen to know who did that.... would you?

Newbie hookers, just remember I was a newbie too.  Heck ALL of us were, none of us were born hookers.  So save your pennies and plan to attend a rug camp or find a quilting shop who also offers rug hooking nights or a guild near you.

Oh, and while I'm not a newbie I'm still learning things from all my teachers.  The green wool leaf was a lesson from Kris I'll remember along with all the other things she has taught.... uh, and done, 😂😂

Saundra

What Was MY Throw Down Rug you ask ??

Here is what my rug Oh Glorious Day looked like on the lawn at Cape May Thursday the 12th.

And now 11 days later this is all the change that has been made.  Oops, see some loops were pulled out at the top of the rug when removing the rug from the frame.  But that will be easy to repair.

Guess I'd better get my hooking groove revved up as I've rug camp in November AND STILL have the Glazer Antique Hearts rug to finish.  

Grass cutting is drawing to the close so that will reduce some un-fun work.  Yet already had to start trimming forsythia bushes which are WAY out of control.  But I'm sure I'll find time for the FUN time.

Happy Hooking.

Saundra

Glazer Antique Hearts

Making slow progress but at least some progress.  Have been busy getting yard and other work done, getting estimates for home repairs, and tomorrow a regular dental appointment.  Also gathering supplies and 'necessaries' for camp.

When first attending a camp I made a list so not to forget anything.  For a couple years I'd send that list to my gal pals as a reminder too.  Now that list is so ingrained into my cranium there's no need for the list.  OH.... except for that one year I forgot the 'collar' for the ball swivel floor frame.  Thankfully it was discovered by the time I got to Deb's house and she loaned me hers.

Because this rug uses a LOT of worms from various bags of colors, I've a plan when taking it on my trip.  The ferry ride is over an hour from Lewes, DE to the New Jersey terminal so will hook on it during the trip.  BUT, don't want or need to take all those bags of wool worm colors with me.

So, I'll use various colors while home and pack a bag of only a mix of dark brown to fill in the large space just above the center circle.  I could work on that at Cape May while waiting my turn with Kris but think I'll start hooking the letters on my camp project Oh Glorious Day rug to make good use of wait time.  This is a borrowed copy of the design from Kris' web site.  

It is a design by Lori Brechlin and sold by Spruce Ridge Studio.  Not sure just where this design will rest when done but want to make it close after waking up to set the tone for the rest of the day.

The devil Dorian is nearing the north eastern part of the U.S. coast but think (hope) it will be out of here by Sunday morning for the ferry ride to New Jersey terminal.

Prayers go out to all those who were in the wake of that DEVIL hurricane and those to get hit soon.  So  much loss.

Saundra

MISC. Rug Hooking Chit Chat

A few posts ago I told you of my losing a few rug labels I'd printed out.  I know they were printed and cut out but have no idea what happened to them.  And, nope, they never surfaced.  So with enough labels to fill a page I printed out more.

The three labels on the left are for rugs already hooked or in the progress.  Oh Glorious Day design will be hooked at Cape May, the bottom design Friendship Bells will be hooked November.  Because I needed another planned piece for a label I chose the small Tonya Robey pattern I've had for eons.  I figure that could easily be finished in 2019 too.

When hooking an antique adaptation I like to put the original picture on the label as with the hearts and Great Granddaughter's rug.  Otherwise  usually print a picture of the design by the maker of the pattern to show another version other than what I've hooked.

A tutorial of making rug labels can be seen on my blog by clicking HERE.  If you wanted to know my thoughts on cutters, rug frames, etc. all you need to do is type those key words in the space at the top left side of my blog.

On my grocery list today is Glad Press and Seal.  For what you ask?  I've heard that if you press that on the bottom of the rug you're working on, when pulling the rug off the frame it helps prevent loops from being pulled out.  Also, I'm such a slob at meal time there's always salad dressing which doesn't make it to my mouth but makes it to my top.  Now I'll be prepared by pressing some of that on the front of my linen top.

Happy Saturday everyone.

Saundra