RUG HOOKING CHIT CHAT

Am finally labeling rugs and a couple were hooked during 2021.  Per Lauren's (Rugs and Pugs) suggestion I used a light weight iron on fusible interfacing/stabilizer to the back of the labels.  Don't know why I hadn't thought of that previously because I had some from my clothing and craft project days.  Sure does make the labels easier to stitch ~ thanks Lauren.  Also Lauren suggested I put photos of the original antiques on the labels again, which I did.

After pulling thorny vines I felt like getting out the dye pots but without the mess of mixing up dye.  Thought I'd look in the tray to see what was already mixed and use it up.  

There was a bright plaid I've never used and don't know why I purchased it.  Knowing I already had a small jar of dye previously used to 'tone down' wool plucked it from the tray.  The subjects and results below were lackluster.  Since the dye was old it may have lost its potency.  The left side was the wool in the pot and very little change.

However, after the wool was soaking in a pot of soapy water and even after simmering on the stove with dye, the water had pink color from bleeding out of the bright wool.  I didn't want to pour in white vinegar and the wool re-absorb some of it's pink color back.  So decided to pour that water into another pot on a piece of lavender repurposed skirt.  I do like these results on the right and at least the entire day wasn't a bust.

In another pot I used some of that same original old dye on the large blocks of pastel.  Again there's very little difference but you can see the left side is what was overdyed with the spots of mottled color.  

Appears in order to get better results I'll need to mix up fresh dye.  I'm still unhappy with bright plaid but will try another 'tone down' dye challenge in the future.  But today I'm so over it.

Still undecided what my next project.  Will trace out a couple antique adaptations posted previously.  Maybe by the time I've traced them out I'll have come to a conclusion on what my next project will be.  Meanwhile am still plugging along pulling loops on Mother's background (curtain) while avoiding the fishbowl.  Perhaps when the background is done the fishbowl will appear to be less an issue with me.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Misc. Chit Chat

The first few paragraphs might be boring but if you get thru those there is fun at the end.

I've been rather lucky to have an 18 year old vehicle (2003 Chrysler Towne & Country van) which has been very good to me over the years ~ until recently.  Last September I heard a strange noise in the van and asked a male neighbor what it sounded like.  He also previously owned the same year and model van and said it sounded like the water pump was going bad.  Sure enough the auto repair shop confirmed it.   Had a new serpentine belt, drained and put in new antifreeze $386.78

In March  I needed an oil change and mentioned a leak.  I had a gasket leak and the engine was completely covered in an oily mess.  Replacing the manifold gasket set, valve cover gasket, dye to follow a future leak, fluids and labor ended up costing $924.39. 

Last week when it got really hot I turned on the van's A/C... well, you guessed it, no A/C.  So today's cost for repair of the "high side fitting", evac of old Freon, new charged system plus A/C leak detection dye cost plus labor was $267.63.

I asked them to look over the entire maintenance schedule and tell me what needed to be done to extend the life of my transportation.   Upon inspection the spark plugs and wires appeared to be original parts so to take care of that will be $262.79.   But a new transmission fluid and filter was recommend also to the tune of $198.75.  That is far less than a new transmission would cost so both of those will be done the end of this month.  Frankly it has been years since putting the van in the shop other than an occasional new battery and new tires.  And it sure beats the cost of a new car.

Yesterday I finally printed out 6 rug labels which included some rugs hooked in 2020.  Yup, I'm way behind on that front.  Here is one I have attached so far but have more to stitch on.

What are you plans for those face masks we were wearing ~ or maybe you're still wearing them.  I'm not wearing them in the stores or anywhere.  I've been vaccinated and love the feeling of normalcy.  On a whim one day I purchased a pair of knit masks at Walmart; I made some but also purchased some better ones with a vent.  Today I had a funny idea on how to use those old masks.  So here comes a selfie, sans face.  What about a bikini top 😂😂😂 ?  Sorry but haven't an idea on what to do for the bottom yet.

Happy Friday, happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Rug Label Time

I feel there are three stages of rug hooking... the fun, the not so fun and the labels.  Fun part is the hooking, the middle part is the dang binding  then comes time for a label.

My grandson's Christmas gift will have two labels.  One of him in his soccer uniform and the other of family when they went to see the Barcelona soccer team this July.  Those should give him fond memories as he gets older. 

You can see how I made these labels by clicking a previous BLOG post.  I've still more labels to stitch on the last few rugs and they will be done in time. 

Saundra

Binding Mission Accomplished

Thankfully I met my deadline to finish binding two rugs before the new year.  And tho we were not doing a challenge, my blogger friend Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) beat me to the punch.  Now we are ready to move onto new hooking projects going into 2017.

Below is the Red Lion, an antique adaptation purchased from Norma Batastini of Heart and Hand.   Tho a terrible photo flash of a picture below it does have the blotchy background I love so much.  

For comparison of color, the label shows the original color of the red lion.  AND....you can see the difference in color of wool on the back compared to the photo above.  

Out in the Garden is a design by Maggie Bonanomi.  I used the same brown wool as in the lion rug.  This first photo shows up much brighter because of the flash (as in the Red Lion above).  

Here is the label attached to the back ~ and this photo shows a much better true coloring on what was used for hooking.

I'm so looking forward to working on the Stubbs antique and even tho it was started in 2016 will be recorded as a rug from 2017.  

However, I've been thinking about what rugs will be in my future. There will be a camp with my beloved Barb Carroll in May, then Cape May in September and camp in November.  So already am thinking what to work on at each camp.

Have a great evening.... HEY... do you have your black eye peas or your pork and sauerkraut yet???  What is YOUR New Years Day tradition?????

Saundra

Oh Happy Days!!

Finally finished and in plenty of time before Christmas.  But think my son's rug was finished in July so finished his in record time.  Here is my grandson's Favorite Sports rug from the front.  It will still need steaming again in MHO.

And a photo of the back which shows the cotton binding and even the sleeve has been stitched on.  It is hard to tell where the sleeve is but there is a blue pen slid between the sleeve at the top to show where the yard stick or dowel will go if they choose to hang it.

Also notice the label stitched to the back.  That was a Facebook photo I stole the day this rug was being developed in my mind.  I wanted Zach to have a record of what he looked like when his grandma decided to hook this rug for him.

I have lots of HAPPY's..... am happy to have designed and hooked this for my grandson and VERY HAPPY it is done!!!!!  OH!!!!!!   And HAPPY it is done WAY before Christmas.

Hope you have a great evening.  Temps here going to rise again tomorrow to over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity.  So the 'fells like' will be over 100.  Hey Kim, would you want to come visit??? 

Am so looking forward to fall but am NOT looking forward to shoveling snow.  

Have a great evening.

Saundra

Making a Rug Label

Yesterday on my blog mentioned making labels for the last few of my rugs ~ a girl has to start somewhere, right?  Well I did it for the Magdalena rugs but nothing else. 

This time I just used Microsoft Word program instead of Photo Shop which was used to make the Magdalena rug labels.  Now I wish I'd downloaded the Photo Shop program on this computer and used that instead (had the program downloaded on my old computer).  It came out okay but a tad small and with Photo Shop I could add a fancy border.  Here's what I made.

And here they are trimmed.  A little small and not much to turn over the edges and stitch so I used pinking shears to cut to retard raveling. 

Here is what the Magdalena labels looked like using the Photo Shop Program and you can see it has a border and more room for trimming; that plus the fact I only did 4 labels per sheet.  Initially I thought it would be a smart idea to make a template and just fill in the information which would be different for each of the Magdalena rugs.....like size, name, date, etc. 

 In retrospect I should have just saved the printing of the labels until all four had been hooked and the appropriate information typed on the label document before printing out.  It would have given a nicer aesthetic to the label than you can see here.  Perhaps one day I'll have a do-over and replace them with better labels.

Now, you're wondering....'so tell me how you made them?"   There are many ways to make labels I'm sure.  I do know you can purchase sheets at fabric stores and they may even be better than what I do because I'm always afraid of jamming up my printer. 

I used muslin which had been soaked in Bubble Jet purchased at Dharma Trading but may be sold elsewhere.  Then let the fabric dry and iron out the wrinkles in the fabric.  Next I cut a piece of waxed freezer paper the same as regular paper 8 1/2" x 11" and trimmed the treated muslin on the straight of grain then ironed the fabric onto the waxed side of the freezer paper with a DRY iron.

Then it is breath holding time as you press the PRINT button on your printer and hope it doesn't jam.  Of course you will need to learn which side up it requires for the fabric to go on your particular printer.  On mine the fabric side was down.

So, I know there are people out there who have made labels which look much more professional than mine.  If there is anyone out there who would like to share or blog about it, please let me know so I can do a better job on the next go around.  Or, heck, if you have a blog put the info there and give me your link.

Thanks for dropping by and reading my dribble.  Stay cool and remember for you working folks (I'm retired ya know), enjoy hump day.

Saundra