Hooked Items #4

Obviously my records of what was hooked when has been discombobulated...at best.  So what I'll do is show rugs I've hooked beginning from 2007 forward but not commit myself to an accurate year.  

There are so many... I mean we are talking another 10 years worth here folks.  So after today will take a break then give an update on the Gossip rug. Then, if you aren't too bored for me to continue showing rugs I've hooked will resume at a later date.

Below was a Semper Fi design kit Polly Minick offered with proceeds to help wounded military.

That year I also hooked 1847 Turkey which was offered in a Needl'le Love booklet.

I was spellbound by a Kindred Spirits pattern named Crow Sampler so purchased the pattern.

Then when I began to hook it decided to make a change and put the border all the way around.  Here is the way I hooked it. 

During 2007 going thru a devastating divorce, rug hooking wasn't as much a pleasure as perhaps a way to make ends meet at shows.  So started hooking smalls, try to sell them and kits at shows.  I'd demonstrate hooking and try to sell my dolls. 

Here is one such small design I developed.  There were others but this is one I found easily.

Another Polly Minick design I hooked was Patriotic Sandpails.

I think Small Flowerbox, a design by Karen Kahle,  was my salvation to work on after my divorce.  There were small motifs to hook and finish, flowers to start and finish.  This helped keep me focused and take one step at a time.

Okay chickadees, I think you've probably had enough of my boring rug show for a while.  There are several years yet to go so will save them and come back to 'real time'.

Happy Friday.

Saundra

Meet My Friend Shari

Shari always loved putting color together either with scrappy quilts she made in her 20's to her Santa and primitive doll business from her 40's to her 60's.  Her love of anything antique led her to discover hooked rugs. 

Shari continues....."I met Saundra at this time and coincidentally she was intrigued with hooking as well."  Like me, she struggled on her own at home teaching herself to hook.  Finally in 2003 we decided we could use the help and expertise of a teacher, to take just ONE class to get us on our way. Years later we are STILL taking classes and enjoying every moment." 

The above rug was Shari's first camp rug where we attended together. It is a pattern purchased from House of Price, neither she nor I can remember the name of the pattern but was either a Charco or a Primco design.  

Shari has been influenced by such people as Barb Carroll, Lucille Festa and Karen Kahle's rugs.  Shari likes the way Karen is able to pull soft colors together and her goal is to one day take a class with Karen. Meanwhile she will strive to perfect her color choices of soft old colors on her own.

Above is a design by Karen Kahle called Small Flowerbox which Shari hooked.  She likes to hook florals most of all so will choose soft old colors for them.  Shari likes old teal, mustards, yellow green, and soft purples can be found in many of her rugs.

Shari will often change the design to suit herself; an example of that is her rug below where she is using teal in the triangle border.

It is an adaptation of a rug (Old Chatham) she purchased from Hook Nook who carried Lib Callaway designs.

Now Lib Callaway designs are offered by New Earth Designs.  Above is the original pattern and the banana shapped basket Shari changed.

Shari said her biggest hurdle was trying to keep her business going, responsibilites of husband/home life and finding time to hook. Then since retiring from her business she can enjoy her great love of rughooking freely! 

Sadly, while keeping the business going Shari had to sell some of her precious rugs but is thankful to have had a venue to sell them to make ends meet at the time.  The General George Washington is a rug which was commissioned.

Another cherished rug she sold was an adaptation of an E.S. Frost rug. That design is offered by Woodland Junction.

Now Shari can spend her day playing in the wool to her heart's content.

Above is a foot stool she hooked last year in a Barb Carroll class.  

Last September at Cape May Shari designed and hooked the design above.  You can see the inspiration she is channeling from Karen Kahle in it's design.  

Shari's light bulb moment came when she realized an 8 and 8.5 cut enabled her to keep to the primitive style yet small enough to give the slight detail she likes her rugs to have. 

Want to thank Shari for the idea of this segment and for sharing.  If any of you wish to participate and share your rug hooking journey, you can get the questions on a previous post HERE.

Saundra

Karen Kahle Designs I've Hooked

There are many rug hookers' designs and style I admire and Karen Kahle is among them.  So far I have only hooked three of her designs but admit to having others stacked up awaiting their turn on my frame.


In a Rug Hooking Magazine a few years ago I went absolutely nuts over this free pattern so generously provided by Karen.  Within a flash the design was enlarged, drawn on linen,  and on my frame in a flash.  Oh but isn't it a delicious piece?

The Small Flowerbox I also adored and like it better than her larger flowerbox design but that is just my personal taste.

And then the Stop and Smell the Roses was special to me as well.  It was a reminder to me that I must take time to stop and smell the roses, plus I liked the antique post card appeal to the colors she chose.  


I know what project I must start next is my Sensational Summer Swap piece which will be due to send late May (uh, think that is when.... I'll have to go thru my old messages).  But that will go fast because it is only an 8" square mat, already have it drawn on linen and will start pulling loops on that soon.  But right now I'm trying to finish stuffing some dolls which I have an order for.  But then what do I want to put on my frame next?  Decisions Decisions.


Now I've a question to my readers.  I do try to keep an interest going on rug hooking and wonder if there is a topic you would like to see me write about.  You can feel free to post your wishes on my blog or you can e-mail me direct at saundra125@comcast.net.