A Handy Dandy Tool

Rug camps not only provide camaraderie with like minds who are wool/hooking crazy but a great time to see what tools people are using and selling.  Also a time to try out those frames, hooks, etc. as all rug hookers are willing to let a fellow hooker try something before they jump to buy.

As you know I've been working on Lititz Hens and using as many woolie worms (noodles) as possible.  But sometimes need to cut strips of a certain color or size.  This is a great tool to see what size you have in your stash or what size you need to cut.  

This was is a metal Wool Strip Gauge purchased from Cammie Bruce one year at Cape May.  It is far more reliable than the plastic coated paper or other products which will bend or tear.  This baby won't give.  

Most times I just grab whatever random strip size is available in the color I want.  But sometimes I wonder if one #8.5 would work in a space or if two #8 strips fit better.  

The wool strip gauge costs $15 and can be purchased HERE .  While there check out Cammie's other items.

Meanwhile..... that rug in the photo is one hooked in Cammie's class.  It is a design by Bev Conway called "On the Loose"

Have a great evening and when I hear anything back from Cammie I'll let ya'll know. 

Saundra

Arrival Day at Cape May

Parking at the Chalfonte is catch as catch can so drove around the block several times hoping a spot would open up.  Parked my car two blocks away and walked to the hotel to see who was there.  Having just arrived was my gal pal Char who was attending camp after a 5 year hiatus.  She told me her hubby was in front of the hotel unloading her equipment and would be leaving to make an open space.

OH BOY!!!!!   So ran (uh, fast walk) to get my van and 'double-parked' slightly behind Derek until he left the spot.  I shouted out my window to Char asking if my van would fit in that spot.  She and a passer by said 'yes'. The passer by (Doug Williams) said "I'm a very good parallel parker if you'd like me to park it for you".  

I got out of the van and said, "offer accepted".  Do you know anyone who would turn over the vehicle filled with expensive rug hooking equipment to a complete stranger?  Har har...me either; but I did.

Here is Doug and me.  I thanked him, gave him a hug and told him he just helped a HOOKER.  He grinned and said, "Just don't tell my wife".  Doug is a very nice guy and told us he plays piano at one of the local restaurants.  We considered going there for dinner Wednesday evening but time passed too quickly as we were snacking, having wine and chatting so didn't make it.

Our rooms weren't ready so we three gals decided to walk the couple blocks to town and shop for bargains.  At one gorgeous Victorian house was a little yard art in preparation for Halloween.  

Gee, wonder how long that couple was sitting waiting for the breakfast? I see they got their coffee but where are the eggs and bacon?

Talk about a dead-icated cyclist...he rode himself right down to the bone, as did his dog.

Have lots more to share so stay tuned for rug and 'throw down' shows as well as information about my teacher Cammie.  Won't give away all the secrets as some things are best learned from her in a class and don't want to spoil your fun.

Happy Saturday everyone.  Now it is time for me pay the piper for a week of fun.  Time to cut grass, do laundry, grocery shop, etc.

Saundra

Impeccable Purchase

Boy am I one lucky woman.  Two eBay purchases from the same person arrived in my mailbox today.  The Two Crows below measures 12 1/2" x 25 1/2" and is impeccably hooked.  Tap the photo so you can see how she used the wool colors.

Here is a picture of how perfect the whipping and binding was done. 

I could barely see the stitches... reason is she is really a quilter and everyone knows quilters have precise detail and tiny but perfectly even stitches.

And then......the other great purchase was Flag Day Sheep.  Yes, I recently hooked that Woolley Fox design but changed it up.  So when seeing this one on eBay was hoping it would be affordable for me to have as the design was intended.

Here is the back of the sheep rug.  Again perfect.  This one measures 20" x 23 1/2". 

Yes, I must be crazy because as Cammie once posted on her blog "how many rugs does a hooker need before they have enough?"  Obviously there must not be enough in this house even with the floors, walls and floor containers holding them.  Perhaps it is time for me to put some of mine on eBay.

Not going to share the price I paid for each of these because it is a sin to get them for such a low price and I'd be embarrassed.  Frankly it isn't fair to the gal who did such a great job ~ doesn't even pay for the wool used, not to mention the hours it took to produce them.  And yes, I feel guilty.  Damn.... gotta run to the trash container and pull off her address from the box.  Maybe I can make it up to her in some way.  

Have a great evening, and it is yet another rainy day.  It will be soon two weeks where there has been rain every day.  Guess the farmers have been busy doing the rain dance to prepare their fields for harvest.

Saundra

Out of Hiding

Today I did a little nesting, thanks to sweet Cammie.  When I saw her blog post on Primitive Junky it made me think that my delightful hooked rugs needed to be brought out of hiding and displayed for me to enjoy every day.

Heck, I had the perfect container, an antique copper boiler which belonged to my dear departed grandfather.  Matter of fact as a child it was filled with water and used to sit in it during the summer.  My mother used that as bath time and to me it was play time.

Now some of my rugs are in clear view and can rotate them more easily and frequently. There are MANY more rugs rolled and in wire mesh baskets.  Some are ones I'd like to sell, some are small mats which are brought out for table top decorations during certain seasons and some are meant to be put on my walls.  There's more wall space along the wall below as well as other rooms.

In the same room and to the right side of th above couch along the adjacent wall is the fireplace and an E.S. Frost Sheep rug with scrolls I hooked a few years ago with Barb Carroll.   On the antique dry sink are a few dolls which were made by me and some of my friends.  The oil painted Columbian doll in the antique rocker is one I made.  Two were made, I sold one and kept this one.  She is wearing an antique baby dress but in her lap is the Challenge rug which I've started to bind.

I've got it easy tonight and tomorrow.  My son, however will be cooking and always turns out a great meal for the family.  My only task is to take an apple pie for the Princess (aka the daughter-in-love) and pumpkin pie for my son.  In return I'll bring home all the dark meat and bones on the turkey since they only like white meat.  So you know what my meals will consist of on Friday and into the future.  

Friday will be dark turkey with sweet potatoes and veggies.  But there's the makin's of turkey soup too and the broth can be frozen for later.

Happy eve of Thanksgiving everyone.

Saundra

Cape May Rug Show #3

To continue where I left off and hopefully Blogger will play nice with me tonight, here is the next rug to show you.  The flash is making it hard for me to see the name but with the letters familiar to me can see it is a design by Norma Batastini and hooked by Vickie Lavigna.

Ah, a more complete photo of the rugs previously posted, guess I wouldn't make a great magazine or photo editor would I?  Anyway, still can't make out the name of the first rug but appears it was designed as well as hooked by Kay Leisey.  The Patriotic Sampler was designed By Cammie Bruce and hooked by Marion Wilson.

So glad I remembered to go back and get a photo of this again when trying to be courteous to other people looking at rugs.  This one i called Sheep Over the Moon, designed by Joanne Gerwig and hooked by Nancy Tiffany.

I'd know who this rug was hooked by without even reading the label.  It is obviously hooked by Cheri Reid.   Could make out that it was designed by Cheri and Sarah Giuliani.

Oh but I love not only the naive hooked rug but also the primitive framing.  Bet most of you already surmised it was designed and hooked by Cammie Bruce.

The name of this design is called "The Tower" and hooked by Michelle Micarelli .  There is no name as to designer so assumed she wished to remain anonymous.  While I never asked Michelle my suspicion is that it was based on the terror of 9/11 and channeling that angst into art.  

Below are two designs by Lori Brechlin and offered by Spruce Ridge Studios called "Trick or Treat" and "Smell my Feet".  They were hooked by my pal Deb Nees.

Below are two designs hooked and designed by Cammie Bruce named Tulips and Corner Flowers.

Below is an adaptation of an antique called "Washday" and hooked by Kay Leisey.

Welcome Guests is the name of the rug below, it is designed and hooked by Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studio

 Below is Willow Bank hooked by Cindy Painter.

 Below and left if a rug my friend Deb Nees hooked using many or all of Ali Strebel's designs from last year's rug camp in Cape May.  She entitled it "With Apologies to Gustav" and is an adaptation of Gustav Klimpt's Tree of Life.

Bet you can guess who hooked and designed "You had Me at Woof". Ding ding ding, if you guessed Cammie Bruce you'd be right on the money.  Sorry, you didn't win a prize tho, sorry.

Okey dokey kiddies.  Tomorrow is October 1st and still have more Cape May pictures so share.  There are the the 'throw down' pictures of rugs hooked in classes until Thursday afternoon and....... AND...... if anyone is interested in seeing orbs captured in pictures I have some of those from years past.  Remember, this IS a Victorian hotel and sure there are lots of spirits inhabiting the premises.  In the 12 years I've attended I've never been accosted but always find it interesting and look for signs.

Have a great evening everyone.  Tomorrow I must run out and pick up batteries and pray the hurricane doesn't barricade our development for no release as happened before.  And even more praying that our mother's house (ours being my brother and me) doesn't succumb to the tidal waves and flood since it is across from the Indian River and near the Inlet.  

Have a good evening everyone.