Presented with a Challenge

I've been presented with a challenge by Gail.  She made a comment on the previous blog post and asked me a question for which I had no answer.  Didn't know the answer because I've never done it before.  Here is her question:   

"Looking at the photos, I got to wondering (eek!)... Is it possible to somehow fasten small rugs  together and make a larger rug? Similar to what people do making a sampler quilt with blocks  of various sizes and add filler strips and blocks to make them all fit and work together. Or would  the places where the rugs are joined not stand up to the wear and tear of being on the floor?"

So got to thinking about the small 8" square seasonal mat exchange I participated in with a group of Yahoo rug hookers in 2012.  Actually it started in the Winter season of 2011 with the other seasons running into 2012.  

That might well be my upcoming personal challenge.  Here is the group of four mats I received in the exchange.  And when putting things in seasonal order always fallback to my childhood show Howdy Doody and Princess Summerfall Winterspring.  Thus  the order of these mats.

We were instructed to just fold back the foundation so the recipient could attach them if they desired.  I didn't consider doing that until Gail posed the question yesterday some 9 years later.

Summer mat was designed and hooked by Debra Hinkle

Fall Maple Leaf designed and hooked by Gail Becker

Winter was hooked and designed by Marci Braun

Spring designed and hooked by Barbara with no last name

Or I could arrange them in the same order but one on top of the other like so, but haven't decided that far ahead.

Am still working on the Stacked Birds rug instead of tackling the challenge but am putting the question to my readers....Have YOU attached mats together and if so do you have a photo you'd like to share with me and post them on my blog?  You can send your picture and tell me how you attached yours together at:  saundra125@comcast.net.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

First New Project

In a previous post I mentioned the projects that were needed to be worked next: the Sensational Seasonal Swap for spring, finish up the Sincerely Jane Challenge rug and then finish the log cabin rug.  Those were listed in order of priority.  So, got out a small piece of linen and drew out my 8" square pattern.

I took a picture of it because sometimes it is good to see mistakes or things you want to change if you look at the work in reverse in front of a mirror, look thru one of those peep hole thing-a-ma-jigs that I don't have, or take a picture of it and look at it on the monitor screen.  So, thought I'd do the latter and share a picture with you.  Sure hope my swap partner doesn't read my blog so she doesn't get a sneak preview.

When first drawing out the robin and seeing all that empty space to the top left, had an idea to hook the words SPRING.  But rethought that since it seemed so lame because we would know it was a spring swap and robins are known for being the first sign of spring.  So then decided that if I were to put light showings of clouds it would make the eye think something interesting was going on in that area.

I initially thought to make primitive padula like flowers but didn't want to take away from the main focus of the robin.   But decided to go for the crocus type flowers instead.  And, the reason for the bright green grass is that with the spring rains it seems to make the grass greener and richer. 

Sensational Seasonal Swap

I am participating in the fun and rewarding Sensational Seasonal Swap on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rughookers/ .  The rules were that the pieces had to be exactly 8" x 8".  The purpose of that was so if anyone wished to participate in all four seasons they could choose to display just one season at a time, attach all four in a row, or two seasons at the top and two seasons on the bottom. 

In addition to being a quick mat to hook because of it's size, we were also asked to just trim the excess backing off (finish the edges so it wouldn't fray)  and gently tack it to the back so that the recipient could decide later how they wished to display their mats.  So for those who don't like the binding aspect, this was a relatively fun and simple project with great rewards at the end.

Today I received my swap mat from my partner Marci Braun.  Oh wow, am I ever happy happy with my mat.  I know women like her who hook so evenly that the project looks steamed when it is still in the process of being hooked.  I've a friend Bonnie who goes to Woolley Fox who is just like that.  Well, I think Marci's hooking is just the same way.

I know, I know you all want to see the mat and I'll get to that.  But, in addition to the mat she sent some delicious over dyed wool, some Ghiradelli dark chocolate and a very nice hard cover journal which I will take to write special things in when I go to rug camps.  But, my first entry will be for the first of the four seasonal swaps and friends I make along the way.  It will be nice to journal my hooker friendships and special moments.  Okay, here is the mat.

Isn't this cute as the dickens?  There are so many things it says to me.... first, I live in the woods and there are trees in the foreground and background.  There is the comfort of a home where someone is probably hooking in the lighted room, and the Snowman is decorated in Christmas lights and hat to keep him warm in the chill of winter.

I plan to do all 4 seasonal swaps and Marci has set the standard for me to try and achieve for the next 3.  In the event you are considering joining I want to mention it was not a requirement to sign up for all 4 seasons.  And, the swap partners will change so that I won't get Marci for any of the other 3 seasons.  But I definitely plan to participate in the others as this was fun.  So, if you would like to join check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rughookers/ , join and inquire about the seasonal swap because our next one will be due sometime in March I think.

Back to Sincerely Jane

It's that time to post an updated picture of our Sincerely Jane Challenge rugs on Rughookers Yahoo group so yanked my out to work on a couple trials in the border.  One of the gals has completed her huge rug already.  I drew mine with fewer squares and I'm glad because this size suits me much better, plus I can work on other hooking projects  also.  Here is what mine looks like now.

My plans were to just have one row of the light hooked around the border but might try another row to see if it pulls the rug together better.  The challenge ends in April 2012 so there is plenty of time for me to work on other projects and still get this one done in time. 

For those of you who did not read my previous post a few months ago, the Sincerely Jane challenge was a result of someone posting a picture of a quilt made based on the one made by Jane Stickle in 1863.  Brenda Papadakis kept a record of her journey making a quilt and developing the patterns for the quilt.  The book was aptly named   "Dear Jane" and since the book is copyrighted we could not name our challenge the same so call it Sincerely Jane. 

Also on Yahoo Rughookers group I've joined the Sensational Seasonal Swap and have started working on that one since we have to ship to our swap mate no later than the middle of November.  It is not necessary to commit to hooking all four seasons but think that I'd like to do that since the size is only 8" x 8" square.  We are to work on the winter season for this first swap and the next would be a spring theme.  The designs can be anything we choose and we know our swap mate's names so have an opportunity to get to know them during the process as we e-mail back and forth.

The dimensions are required to be an exact 8x8 in case a recipient of all 4 mats would like to attach them four in a row or two on top and two on the bottom.  So we don't have to bind but rather have an 1" excess which we turn under and base.  That way the recipient can decide if they want to bind them individually or as I described earlier.  And our swap mates will change with each season just in case someone decides to not continue with the next seasonal swap.  But I'm in for all 4 seasons.