Last Lap

Soon it will be time to bind this rug and begin another project.  Have really enjoyed working on this, which is named Radiant Flower.  When the last loop is pulled will dab some areas with black walnut liquid.

The colors aren't as washed out as it appears in the photo.  And, the original antique did have that extra length of a black strip as well as the change of color at the bottom of the light stripe on the side.

Seems my stash of Olde Patina is getting thin so will need to do another batch of dyeing to replenish my supply.

Father's Day is coming up real soon so tomorrow will give you an idea as a gift for those men who like to read manly adventurous novels.

Saundra

Radiant Flower Update

Am quite happy I chose this antique adaptation as my project because I'm still having fun.  My photo doesn't do the rug justice IMHO.  Hmmm maybe I should have searched longer to find a darker brown.  But I'm NOT ripping this out.

If you forget what the original antique looked like, here is a photo of the picture which is in the Kopp book "Art Under Foot".

I started pulling out some small areas and put in darker or dirty wool to make those areas look worn.  Still have more to pull and replace.  But will also use some walnut liquid to age the light areas when the rug is all hooked.

Below are photos I took yesterday morning after yet another day of rain on Monday.  Looking thru my kitchen window noticed the Mallard family back and they were inside the fenced area but soon exited out under the fencing to deeper water beyond the fence.

Here you can see the deeper water and the water continues into the woods for a few more acres.  It will be weeks before this water dissipates.

And water on each side of the house.

If this wasn't enough water to contend with, there will be more rain because of the tropical storm along the east coast.  Maybe I should be building a raft instead of hooking a rug.

Saundra

Pattern has a Name and Newbie Lesson

If you are a follower of my blog you will recall reading the Kopp book described this antique mat as "having a ray-like flower".  Struggling for a name to give the pattern the only flower I could think of which had ray or spike like petals was Bee Balm.

Thanks to Julie the pattern now has a name.  She suggested "Radiant Flower".  How appropriate as it makes reference to a RAY-like flower in the name.  This is what has been accomplished so far.  The color of the flower and hooked arch isn't orange; it is salmon.

I'm so into this rug that all I want to do is sit and hook but cannot be immobile for too long as I get ants in my pants so move about doing something...anything.

Okay newbies, I've a hint for you to tuck away in your cranium for future reference.  When pulling wool to hook this design I only had half yard of Spruce Ridge Teal which I wanted for the border.  It was a wool purchased around 2011 from the Wool Studio .  I wrote Rebecca but she didn't have any left in stock.  

Planning smart decided to cut up what I had in #8.5 and spread it out along the four sides of the design figuring on at least 4 times calculations for my cut.  Then divided the four sides into baggies.

As you can see the 'short side' baggie is almost empty but still has a strip of wool in there so had some left from the planning.  Now I'm working on the 'long side' baggie top right and have little more hooking to finish that side but will have enough.

However, there is inside background to use a teal.  I've some stash which will work and will use, but.... decided to reach out to see if anyone had at least another half yard of Spruce Ridge Teal wool.  AH HA!  Well of course there was someone.... Mrs. Spruce Ridge herself Kris Miller.  Today I received another yard purchased from Kris; thanks Kris for coming to my rescue.  Am so glad to have more because it is a beautiful piece of wool ...here it is below.

So if you are in need of some beautiful teal, or if you would like to hook this design you know where to get teal.  OH, by the way, another secret to newbies who want to make a rug look old..... I used the cut wool with the light edge at the very edge of the four sides.  It gives the edge of the rug appear scuffed and worn.

Saundra