My but how time flies and will soon have to remember to write 2015 on checks instead of 2014. Another year older and hard to believe almost 8 years has passed since the divorce.
Something that I like to do now is look back at the rugs I've hooked over the last year. A few years ago I started keeping a list of the rugs completed during the year as it is fun to reflect back on them and memories associated with the time hooking.
The first one finished in 2014 was an adaptation of a Harriet Powers quilt block which I named 500 Mile Betts. I gifted it to my dear friend Evelyn Lawrence since she admired it so much and knew it would have a good home with her.
Next was Magdalena's Lollipop Bouquet and must say this one was on top of the list as one of the most fun. It was fun trying to replicate Magdalena's colors while using up a lot of my left overs and with some cut wool for consistency in the neutral background and base.
Then was the project which wins 'greatest accomplishment' of several years of hooking..... that would be the completion of the damn Granny Geometric which had been started about 10 years earlier. I'd pull it out, hook one block and back in the tote it would go for another year or 5. Happy to say it is done and bound ~ again using up a lot of left over strips.
The Chicken Challenge was offered by Woolwrights Hooking Guild and I jumped on the chance to get a free antique adaptation pattern. This too was fun to make mine different from the original and have blotchy background.
When perusing Pinterest I found a wonderful rug hanging on the wall in a cabin. I knew it appeared to have the age of a copywrite free rug but didn't know who owned it. And some of the images were hard to decipher so guessed they were birds on the sides. Once I learned who owned the rug I wrote for permission to hook it, sell the patterns and received permission. I named the pattern The Cat's Meow because as I had over dyed wool to give an aged look and as the rug came to be it was THE Cat's meow.
Next was Magdalena's Farm; building up quite number of Magdalena's rugs. Soon I'll have as many as Evelyn Lawrence who did all the research and who has hooked all her rugs.
Then I wanted to have another antique adaptation pattern to offer for sale so hooked Pot of Flowers. A picture with a flash and one without. Makes a huge difference in the way they appear on the monitor.
After that I had two commission pieces to do which were rather large. I listed them as something I hooked but they weren't mine to keep and received payment for my work. The names of the patterns and client will remain anonomoyous.
Lucky to win a Duluth Pumpkin kit from generous Maria Barton of Star Rug company I hooked this next; thank you very much Maria. Love those button eyes that came with.
Okay, so then wishing I owned some of those antique Jack-O-Lanterns I knew growing up, decided I needed to design my own Fall/Halloween pattern and came up with "Mache' Jack-O-Lanterns"
Always needing something else to have on my frame chose to hook Magdalena's Folk Art horse next. Yup, those Magdalena rugs are mounting up here Evelyn.
OOPS, while going thru my photos realized I hadn't put Ali Katz on my 2014 list (it's there now tho). Guess that is because still some defining lines need to put in around parts of some of the cats. But it was hooked and bound in this year. I have already sold one pattern and can't wait to see she chose to hook it and hope to get a picture. I understand it won't be worked on until next spring/summer but am still looking forward to it.
Last year just before Christmas I saw what Maria was working on and that little Jolly drove me crazy. Just had to have him so purchased it from Star Rug Company. Yeah, did a change or two to make him my boy Jolly. I love him Maria and he is sitting on my sofa table right now.
And recently last loops were pulled on Magdalena's Olde Ducks. Even tho it hasn't been bound yet still consider it hooked in 2014. Perhaps during the start up of 2015 and during the slow time of this remaining holiday the binding will get done.
EEK, I forgot to mention my 'detour' project of hooking arm chair covers for my computer chair. It wasn't a big project but was hooking nonetheless.
Now all that remains of my hooking in 2014 is Cherries and Candy Stripe which I will show you tomorrow with a bit more of an update.
Have a great evening everyone and may all your loops be perfect.
Saundra
Even tho I've been laboring over binding rugs in preparation for the rug show in Cape May I've only finished one. That would be the antique adaptation of Pot of Flowers which I offer as a pattern on my web site. Here is a picture of it with a flash.
And a picture of it on the back deck without a flash.
I'm halfway done on the second of three rugs which need binding so not having fun pulling loops on anything new right now. I was hoping to start a small project just to have something fun to work on during that hour's ferry ride from Delaware to New Jersey. Plus to have something to work on the night before class and before Ali gets to me.
Hope everyone had a great fun-filled Labor Day with cook outs and games with family and friends.
Saundra
Cannot remember if I posted a picture of the antique adaptation of Pot of Flowers or not but here it is if I didn't. As you can see it still needs binding. Figured since I was going to do an update for the Mache Jack-O-Lantern pattern I'd post a picture of both at the same time.
Here's what my Mache Jack-O-Lantern design looks like now; one picture with a flash and one without.
It is quite helpful for me to see pictures of the rugs on my monitor even if the colors aren't the same as in person. At least it points out areas of concern for me and things which need changing.
And, for you newbies who may have read my previous blog post about "hooking what is on top first" the photo above shows you how to do that. Notice that the Jack in the back still has the hooking going in the direction of what WOULD BE it's normal shape. Therefore the rows of hooking will run INTO the sides of the other Jacks instead of following the shape of the other Jacks.
Have a great evening everyone. I've thoroughly enjoyed this mild July weather today. Tomorrow will be my day to do yard work so not sure how much hooking will get done. Grass needs mowing and thorny vines need pulling, and more rain coming I've got to get control of this acreage before it encroaches on my front and back door step.
Saundra
The last loops on the antique adaptation Pot of Flowers has been pulled but isn't bound yet because I am still working on the commission piece, sure wish I was a faster hooker. But since I was going stir crazy for some blog-luvin' and wanted to put the pattern on my web site decided to have my morning coffee and accomplish both.
Pot of Flowers measures 16 x 23 and I hooked it mostly in #8.5 except for those already cut strips, some of which may have been in #8. If you are interested in the pattern click the link which will take you to my web site.
Now for the selling rugs part. I have sold a few rugs but not many. Since I live in a rural area where it is mostly agriculture or chicken farming and production, there isn't much interest for locals to purchase a hand hooked rug. When I was doing shows at the beach which draws people from DC and elsewhere, that is when I would sell.
Once I decided to sell some of my rugs wasn't sure how to price them. At that time I was told that fine hookers can get $125 per sq. foot and primitive hooking less. But how much less I wondered.
So I decided to watch eBay and saw some great hooked pieces go for around $65 per sq. ft., some less and some more, depending on the name of the hooker and their following. Also there are well-known hookers who easily get huge bucks for their rugs even primitive wide cut hooking ~ again, it is the name.
Some folks sell their rugs at a gallery where they give a percentage of the sale to the owner. Therefore if they get $100 per sq. ft. obviously they walk away with less than that because of the commission. And if a rug sells on eBay then eBay gets a part of the proceeds and again a portion of the sale goes to PayPal if the buyer pays using that paying option.
Friday when at a gathering of friends and acquaintances I took a rug to show since they enjoy seeing what I'm working on or just finished. I was approached by a man to sell it even tho it hadn't been bound yet. I told him I was planning to keep that one. He reminded me that I could always hook another, and yes I could but so far have never re-hooked a rug I'd hooked previously even if I was sorry it was sold.
As it turns out I did decide to sell the rug and asked for $85 per sq. ft. No money goes to pay for a booth, no commission to anyone and it will be paid to me direct.
I've been told that by selling a rug too cheaply devalues the prices other hookers get. Well maybe those hookers have a following or live in a more affluent area than I do.
I would be VERY interested in what other people get for their rugs and if primitive or fine cut, tho I doubt there are many fine cut hookers who regularly read my blog.
Whew, this was a long post and hope you have a good rest of the day. I've got to go out and do yard work now so no hooking on the commission yet today.
Saundra
The last loops were pulled on the Pot of Flowers yesterday afternoon and it was done soon after the box of work arrived by FedEx. It hasn't been steamed yet but at least while I'm working on something for someone else I won't be drawn to finishing up the piece. For those of you who want to know the dimensions, the rug is 16" x 22.5". Sadly the flash messes with the color and it is not washed out in person. Soon you will see it offered on my web site in the pattern section.
If you would like to compare it to the original antique, here it is. And while hooking mine I had an ah ha moment. ......read on.......
I printed out a picture of the antique rug so that I could use that to draw the pattern. Problem is the printed copy wasn't so great and was hard to determine whether it was a leaf or a flower on the right side. It would be the blue, red and light colored one on the bottom of the last flower to the right. When I drew it out it appeared to be a funky looking flower but as I was hooking something didn't seem right. So I pulled up the picture on my computer and could see it was a leaf. Needless to say I had to pull out my hooking and do it right or I'd never been satisfied. Whew, so now I have made that change to my master pattern so future pieces will be drawn properly.
Hope everyone has a happy and SAFE July 4th. I've no plans except to work on my commission and watch movies on the 'telly'.
I've made some progress on the Pot of Flowers pattern sure wish I could get it done before Wednesday afternoon when the commission piece(s) arrive. Yeah, started out as one project and is now 3, but that's okay, it will give me pocket change to feed my hooking addiction. Was so tempted to just keep hooking the strips that were hanging below the pattern but decided to take it off the frame and post a picture anyway. I mean, that could just go on forever with finishing up the strip.
And just had to share a picture of my sweet boy Rottie Ben. I adopted Ben in October 2011 when he was 3 years 7 months old. Hard to believe I've had him almost 3 years. This boy is such a sweetheart, very affectionate, loves people, gets along with other dogs well too. The picture below is Ben to the left and Phantom, his very best neighbor friend who is now departed.
Rotties and Pits might have a bad name but they are not all bad dogs. I previously owned two other Rotties. They were good dogs and raised from puppies. So Ben is proof that you can adopt a good adult dog, even one with a bad rap. Just be sure to inquire how long the dog has been worked with and socialized after having been rescued.
Ben does have a flaw tho, he was a car chaser so if a vehicle drives too fast around the meadow I just might need to 'tone' him with the training collar to divert his attention. Were it not for that he would be perfect.
Below is a picture taken yesterday of my silly boy. Yup, it is in the shape of a pacifier but it is a KONG and a treat is stuffed inside. Here he is trying to crush the treat with those strong jaws so the treat will fall out the hole. He looks funny with the pacifier end in his mouth.
Oh my, look at all those wool ends and threads, dog hair and toys. Guess I need to pull out my vacuum instead of putting a rug back on the frame.
Have a great evening everyone.
Saundra
Thought I'd post a picture of my newest project and realized I'd neglected to provide a size (Lauren, you're slipping). It measures 16 x 22 1/2 and is being hooked with mostly #8.5 cuts. However, there are also a LOT of woolie worms being pulled out of my bags of stash. Just love to use up those pre-cut wool strips.
Also used one of the tricks learned from Barb at the last Woolley Fox rug camp. That is using the somewhat dusty looking strip of wool at the very edge (one row) so it gives the appearance of the edge of the rug being scuffed from use. I say dusty looking compared to the primitive black.... and the piece of wool being used at the very edge is my name sake Woodland Junction and is probably still in stock as it was recently re-milled by Heavens to Betsy.
And guess I'd better hustle and accomplish what I can within the next 3 days because there's a commission piece to hook for someone and it is sizable. I'm guessing it will be here in 3 days.
And a little food for thought...."No one is in charge of your happiness except you". Have a fantastic evening and be nice to yourself.
Saundra
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