My New One on the Frame

In a previous post I told you what my next project would be but understand that you may have doubted me since I'm so fickle.  Nope, it didn't change.  On my frame is a Magdalena adaptation named Bird Dog,  drew it myself measuring 20 x 27 whereas Magdalena's original measured 37.5 x 50.  Am guessing that would have been the dimensions of a burlap grain or feed sack opened up and she would utilize that size ~ waste not want not.

It took several sketches and reviewing the poor photo in the Magdalena booklet before deciding on my drawing.  If you have the booklet by Evelyn Lawrence please look there first.

If you don't own the booklet here is an even worse photo which is a copy of the photo in the booklet.  A well known rug hooking business offers the pattern with an elongated snout.  Perhaps thinking the white spot to the lower right of the dog's face was its nose.  I didn't think so.  To me it was a white spot at the tip of the ear and was confusing.  BUT, if you look closer to the left of that spot you will see a darker speck which I believe to be the nose Magdalena captured.

However since there is no good photo of the original Magdalena I chose to make my own speculation of what Magdalena intended and did not hook the white spot on the end of the ear.  While that would be feasible since there are white tips on the toes and the end of the tail it is visually confusing.

It feels good to work on another Magdalena rug and somehow comforting.  Not sure if I'm channeling her or she's leading me at this point.  

Once my piece is hooked and have a photo I'll offer it on my web site.  But I have a master copy of my size if anyone is interested.  It would be drawn on Dorr Natural Linen with serged edges.  If you desire a larger size I can do that too.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

My Next Plus One

The Ox Farm isn't done yet but as the Thin Blue Line is all hooked (not bound yet tho) I'll need a 'plus one' to work on or at least have ready to go in a nanosecond.  I've decided what that one is ~ Magdalena Briner Eby's Rooster, Duck and Horse is what I'm going to work on in tandem.    

This is an old photo of the original rug and the dimensions were written on the back of the photo.  I've enlarged my rug to 25 x 30 and that will be plenty large for me ~ the original rug measured 30 x 36.

At the time of the printing of Magdalena's story that rug was the newest find.  

Since then Magdalena's Goat was located on an auction site and Lititz Hens was also discovered.  Wonder how many more of her rugs are out there decorating someone's walls we don't know about?

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

LITITZ HENS

Am calling this design by Magdalena Briner Eby "Lititz Hens".  Sorry more hasn't been accomplished on it since the last posting, but such is life.

In case you are a new visitor, the dimensions of this pattern is 19 1/2 x 40.  Neither this rug nor Magdalena's Goat, previously hooked by me, appear in this book.  But if this isn't on your rug hooking book shelves it should be.  If you wish to order a copy you can contact Kathy Wright HERE.

If you missed Magdalena's Goat I hooked this the original size (29 x 35) which was close to colors Magdalena used to hook hers.  

And this smaller size of 22 x 26 was hooked in different colors  just to give prospective hookers color ideas.

Okay, with the 'such is life' comment above, I was without heat for 24 hours.  Being a 'glass half full' type of person, am thankful the temps weren't those of the previous week.  Last week with soaring winds and temperature in the teens it could have been much worse.

Thankfully it is warm now and getting ready to have a bowl of chili to warm my insides as well.  Happy Saturday.

Saundra

Hooking Magdalena Style

The other day I read some one's question on Facebook on how others achieve a Magdalena scrappy look.  I don't profess to be an expert but will try to explain how I do mine.

First I study Magdalena's original rugs, particularly the design I'm ready to hook.  Although I've never seen one in person there are photos one could find on line or from books.  Take for example, these two Olde Ducks rugs hooked by Magdalena.

That is a photo from Evelyn Lawrence's dedicated research on Magdalena Briner Eby and her work which is in this BOOK.

And here is a hooked version I did.  

Left over wool worms (a/k/a noodles) are the best way to achieve that scrappy look.  What helps also is to use short pieces of a similar color and close value to finish a line or fill in.  I have also dropped an odd piece of wool on the floor only to pick it up and hook it somewhere in the rug ~ after all, Magdalena used what she had.  Tap on the photo to enlarge and see what I'm talking about.

Another example is Magdalena's Eagle which also appears in the book.

Below is my version trying to accomplish the look of Magdalena using the wool in my possession.  The light/white is showing up brighter in the photo as it was taken outside in natural light.  But I use what I call 'dirty whites' to hook.  And if you have the book it shows odd colors Magdalena used ~ like at the eagle's neck just under the eye is an odd  purple which blends nicely with the brown.  

Here is a closeup photo I took of my rug where you can see the different wool at neck.  It is little details like that you can see with the assistance of the booklet and studying Magdalena's rugs.

Another Magdalena is this trio.

And my version below.

Since I love crows decided to design my own Magdalena Style Crow.  Magdalena used red for legs, noses and eyes on animals ~ kind of her signature.  She also would hook a berry at a crow's mouth and or beak.

I could show more of my Magdalena hooked rugs but will save you boredom.  As soon as the Star Geometric is done next on my frame is going to be yet another Magdalena rug.  

Click on the BOOK link above to purchase the booklet as it is a great reference for Magdalena rugs.  It isn't a 'tutorial' book as that part is left to the rug hooker's discretion to get his/her own rhythm.  But the photos of the original Magdalena's and photos of Evelyn's replications and information makes for a perfect reference book.  Good luck and hope I've been able to help.  

Saundra

Careful What You Ask For

A few months ago one or more of my followers asked me to post photos of the rugs I'd hooked.  Don't think you knew what you were getting yourself into and wonder how many of you are now bored.

You know that I love Magdalena Briner Eby and have hooked a few of her designs.  One such was Lollipop Bouquet and was dreading the 66 circles.  Or at least that is the number that is embedded in my head as I'd counted them out back in 2013.  Feel free to count those circles and correct me.

Strange thing is this was a most enjoyable rug to hook, loved every minute of it as my pre-cut wool strips in whatever size was used and just pulled from the proper color baggie.

In 2014 I drew and have sold a few patterns of what I call "The Cat's Meow" which is an antique adaptation.  The photo was taken with a flash but in real life the wool was overdyed for a dirty look.

This is the inspiration for the design and I received permission from the owner.

In a class with Betsy Reed I hooked an antique adaptation  of what I've called hearts and swags.  It was made into a big cushy pillow.  Naturally the photo was taken with a flash and is more bright than in person.

Hey..... I didn't get all the pictures posted as I'd planned for this blogpost but will do more tomorrow.  Have a good evening.

Saundra

Finally Finished!!!!!

Hallelujah!!!!!  Today I pulled the last loops on Magdalena's Goat.  It was started February 15th so it took me 2 months 2 days to complete. My friend Evelyn Lawrence hooked her version in less than 1 month, but she is passionate about Magdalena.

Here is what mine looks like before steam pressing.  This picture was taken with a flash inside and NOT as bright as this is in person.  

Soooo, took the rug outside and here is another version which is closer to what it looks like in person.  If any of you are attending Cape May rug camp second week you will have an opportunity to see mine as well as Evelyn's.

When I first alerted Evelyn I'd found a new Magdalena rug and sent her pictures from the auction site, she asked that I let her hook hers first even before showing the 'find' on my blog.  Well of course I would do that.  

Evelyn drew the design and like a work horse finished hers in record time under 1 month for this 29 x 35 design.  So here is the first reveal of my friend Evelyn's work.

For those of you who may not know, Evelyn is the person who researched the history of Magdalena Briner Eby who is presently known as the most prolific rug hooker of the 1800s.  

So you don't have to scroll down thru old messages, I've provided a photo of the original Magdalena Goat rug which was on the web auction site.

Now the other work begins..... now to clean and separate that rats nest of worms and clean up the place.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

My Magdalena Rugs

As you regular readers know, In early January I discovered a new Magdalena rug which I've aptly named Magdalena's Goat.  

Immediately notified my friend Evelyn who has done the research and hooked all of Magdalena's rugs.  We contacted the auction house where the item was sold just to verify it was a Magdalena and Evelyn asked if she could please hook it first before sharing information on my blog.  Out of respect for that sweet woman I did just that and she hooked and bound the 29 x 35 design in less than a month.  Wow, what a hooking machine she is.

Above is the original and will share Evelyn's rug after mine is all hooked.

The first Magdalena rug I hooked was in 2009 when I decided to tackle Domestic Zoo, the runner.  Since Barb Carroll didn't offer the design (she had Bills Buddies instead) Evelyn suggested I offer it and have sold dozens of the patterns since then.

In 2010 I hooked two Magdalena rugs, Dog and Crows above and McCue Eagle below.  

Since I switch out my rugs the McCue Eagle is at my front door at the moment.  It is nice to enjoy the designs of Magdalena and my efforts.

The following year, 2011 decided to hook a small version of Magdalena's Dog.  This is used to decorate my sofa table or harvest table when I want something different to display but not for the floor.

Then there was a Magdalena dry spell until 2014 when I went bonkers hooking Magdalena designs.

Above is Lollipop Bouquet which was a LOT of fun.  Frankly I was dreading all those circles and seems to me there were 66 of them (going to memory) because I counted every dang one of them wondered what the hell I was thinking.  It was a fun fun rug to hook.

Next hooked was Magdalena's Folk Art Horse;

Then Magdalena's Farm;

And Old Ducks above;  

And Harvey's Magdalena was hooked 2015, above.  So guess it was about time for me to hook another one of Magdalena Briner Eby's rugs.  There are a couple other designs of hers I'd like to hook one day and should make that an annual event for me.

If you would like to read about Magdalena and the research done by my friend Evelyn, you can purchase the booklet HERE.

Should you want either Domestic Zoo or Magdalena's Goat pattern drawn on Dorr natural primitive linen please contact me HERE and I'll give you what information you wish.

Have a great Sunday.

Saundra

Goat, Deer or Lamb

The auction site listed the rug as "a portrait of a lamb..." and no mention of Magdalena Briner Eby as the hooker.  So the local auction house was not familiar with history of hooked rugs.  As soon as I saw it knew immediately it was a Magdalena rug, sent a photo to my friend Evelyn.  Obviously at least two other people recognized it as a Magdalena also.  If you click that link and scroll to the bottom you can see the bidding war between someone on the Internet and perhaps someone at the location of the rug.  

Okay, so is it a lamb as the auction indicated, a deer as a follower indicates or a Goat?  

So what is a lamb?  A lamb is a young sheep and would not be born with horns.  A young sheep is considered a "lamb" until the age of 1 year then considered adult.  Lamb's tails naturally hang downward.  So the listing auctioneer was wrong in calling it a lamb.

Below is a photo of a mother adult sheep who needs shearing and her baby lamb.

Notice the tails are longer and are in a natural relaxed downward position.  

The sheep (adult lamb) above is adult with horns.

Above is a white tail deer with it's antlers, not horns, and a slimmer muzzle.  White tail deer inhabit that part of Pennsylvania where Magdalena grew up.  In a natural position the tail hangs downward, unless they sense danger then lead deer will put its tail upward with the white showing to alert the group and to flee.

Okay, so neither of the above looks like the primitive shape Magdalena hooked, so what about the goat?    

Ah, the goat has hair, not wool and the tail naturally curls upward. Look at the curvature of the horns, the stockiness of the legs vs. the slimmer legs of the deer and sheep.  Sure looks like a goat rug to me.

Below is a Magdalena hooked rug named "Farm" which appears in the booklet.  Notice the similarity in the shape of the horns, the 'bouncy' goat behavior of the legs.  Yup, a goat.  Plus Magdalena lived on a farm and tended to the farm animals.  Thus she was familiar with the shapes of the animals she tended.

In the Magdalena booklet it was mentioned that the photo found was not known to be the front or the back of the rug.  The original rug above was purchased by an antique dealer from the family and as of the writing of the book was the only goat rug found to have been hooked by Magdalena at that time. However, the dealer Thomas Thomas said he had seen other rugs with goats on them.  So now there are two and I'm elated to be a part of the finding.  

Below is my hooked version of Magdalena's "Farm".  

Notice the goat shape in this rug is the same shape as the Goat I am hooking.   Also note that Magdalena got artsy, for lack of a better word, on the horns.  Actually, I find that more note worthy than whether it is a lamb, deer or goat.  Why did she choose to show the detail of the ridges on the horns?  

Have a great evening folks and eventually this evening I'll be able to pull a few loops on my Magdalena.  

OMG, I just looked at my 'stats' on my blog posts.  Since posting this story about this Magdalena rug I've received the most visits EVER.  In the last three posts I've had over 1,000 visits.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

Magdalena's Goat

Oh where to begin?  There's so much to tell about this so don't think it will all happen in this post.  

First, the measurements are 29 x 36; the Magdalena was framed so the original colors on the back were not visible.  Only the front was seen so colors would have been faded most likely.

Yet, as you can see bright red still shows up.  This must have been kept well to avoid wear and fading.  Yes, the rug IS hooked on burlap and in close-up photos various textiles can be seen which indicate it is OLD. And WAS determined to be an original Magdalena Briner Eby hooked rug.  What a prolific hooker that woman was.

Some of you may have caught the rug photo on Pinterest or same auction site as me.  The auction site said it was a lamb, but sending a photo of the rug to friend Evelyn (Magdalena researcher), she said Magdalena didn't hook any lambs ~ it would have been a Goat.

My friend Evelyn is the person who has diligently researched and hooked every rug found thus far by Magdalena.  That is why, I promised to not post this on my blog until after she hooked the rug. After all, I consider her the "Guardian of Magdalena rugs". OMG, she will hate me for mentioning her name.  

Inside this book it shows a rug which, until now, has a photo of the only rug hooked by Magdalena with a goat.  If you would like to purchase this book or other great hooking books click HERE.

Oh my, there's so much more that I could write and more that I want to hook tonight before showing my poor accomplishments.   

Good evening everyone.  Hope my friends in California as well as Canada are doing okay.  I shutter when watching the weather in California since living there for 3 years.  So earth quakes, mud slides, and flooding remind me of those years and glad to be home with hurricanes, humidity and medium snow.

Happy Friday everyone.

Saundra

Magdalena Rugs I've Hooked

In yesterday's post I mentioned hooking a lot of Magdalena rugs; but not nearly as many as Evelyn Lawrence has.  Evelyn has hooked all rugs attributed to Magdalena Briner Eby that are known to be her design from the 1800's.

The first of Magdalena's designs I hooked was 2008 when I foolishly drew out only one half of the design of 1885 Horses.  What the hell was I thinking?  Well actually do know... I didn't want to hook such a big rug and it appeared long.

So the following year, 2009, what do I hook?  Uh, Domestic Zoo, the largest of Magdalena's rugs or any other rug I hooked so far.  After having seen Evelyn's in a rug show at Cape May I was smitten. 

In 2010 hooked Dog and Crows.

Also in 2010 I hooked McCue Eagle.

In 2011 decided to draw a smallish size of Magdalena's Dog and hook that.

Don't know what happened between then and 2014 when I decided to hook Lollipop Bouquet.  Must say it was with a little hesitation I decided to hook it.  Why the hesitation??  Because there were 66 circles which I was dreading.  But of all the Magdalena rugs I've hooked think that one was the most fun.

Then was on a roll during 2014 because I hooked Magdalena's Folk art horse mat size....

...Magdalena's Farm......

.....Magdalena's Olde Ducks.

In 2015 I decided to hook Harvey's Magdalena.  Goodness, what am I going to hook next?  There are so many cool Magdalena rugs left to hook.

Guess I've got to pull out Evelyn's book to see what should be next on my list.  For those of you who may not know, and may have an interest in replicating Magdalena Briner's rugs here is a great book.

 

Evelyn Lawrence had been researching (and continues to do so) Magdalena's legacy as the most prolific rug hooker of her time.  This is a book well worth the read and the knowledge.

 I apologize for not giving you a link to buy this book but blogger is being a huge pain in the arse tonight.  So due to my frustration level will leave it up to you to figure out how to purchase it.

 

Have a great evening.

 

Saundra