HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Today has been cloudy and rainy.  It is to rain all thru the night and prediction for this eastern shore area is between 1"-3" of rain.  At least it isn't snow, yet.

Wishing all of you a happy Thanksgiving.  Here are a few turkey rugs I've hooked.  The 1847 turkey was from a Need'l Love booklet and color planned in my first Lucille Festa class.  There is no last initial hooked in the rug as I was being divorced from and planning to take the last name Porter back and relinquishing the name Slagle.  He didn't want me so I didn't want his last name.  Yeah, I know, more information than you needed, lol.

Turkey and Tallowberries designed by Lori Brechlin and sold by Spruce Ridge Studios.  This one I hooked at home around 2016.

Old Tom is another pattern with the Lori and Kris collaboration.  I hooked this one at home too but not as happy with my color selection even the second time around.  If you want to look at poor Old Tom's before life you can see it HERE.

Again, Happy Thanksgiving.

Saundra

What a Difference a Year Makes

This time last year I was planning to bake two pies to take to my son's house for Thanksgiving.  After passing the Thanksgiving cooking torch to my wanna be chef son now I only take pumpkin pie for him and apple pie for the Princess, my wonderful daughter-in-love.  Not this year.

First are the restrictions put on families due to Covid but in all honesty had Greg called saying he was cooking for Thanksgiving again I was ready to decline since they are more socially active.  Me, being of risk factor age I'd feel more safe in my own cocoon since other family members would be invited also.  However, Greg called to say his wife Cathy (sweet DIL) had Covid as did her sister who works in the ER.   So my decision was made in that call.  

This will be one of my turkey's to enjoy the rest of the week and a tad beyond Thanksgiving Day.

(Turkey and Tallowberries hooked 2016)

Have no fear, I will eat healthy as always.  Tonight I'm just finishing up left over chicken, broccoli and carrots so not sure more foul will be on my plate in two days.  Maybe some homemade soup?  Or maybe some stir fry veggies and rice?? Not sure yet but I'll contemplate that tomorrow when I make my weekly run to the grocery store.

Here is another turkey which will be on my  harvest table beginning tomorrow.

(1847 Turkey by Needl'love hooked 2007)

Reason the rug has just the initial "S" is because I was going thru a divorce and didn't want the current last initial to show up on the rug.  In the final decree I'd requested to return to my former and departed husband's name which is also the last name of my son ~ Porter.

Oh, almost forgot I've another Turkey for Thanksgiving....Old Tom, which I just recently completed.  Will have to take a better picture of it for future postings but this happened to be handy on my flash drive.

(Old Tom hooked 2020)

Hope all my readers and followers have a Happy Thanksgiving no matter how small it may be.  Mine will surely be small but let's all be thankful for the small blessings and beauty around us.  

Saundra

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Wishing all of you a very happy THANKSGIVING.   I will spend Thanksgiving at my son's house as he grabbed the torch in holiday cooking which used to be mine.  My dear Daughter-in-Love is quite pleased with that arrangement and she doesn't object the clean up afterwards.  

I've hooked only two rugs with a turkey.  The one below was in a Needle'love publication a few years ago.  I think this was hooked in 2007.

Turkey and Tallowberries by Lori Brechlin and sold by Kris Miller was hooked in 2016.

In my pattern stash is Old Tom so perhaps it will be hooked in time for Thanksgiving next year.

Saundra

Cape May Week One Throw Down

Below are the photos I captured on the front lawn at The Chalfonte hotel on Thursday after class.  Gives all of us a chance to see what everyone is working on.  Some folks put their name tags on their work so it was easy to see whose work it was.

That time of day the sun is behind us so makes it difficult to capture a good photo.  And some would ask to move out of the way so as to not get the shadow.  

Below is a design and wonderful memory to Char of the trip to Scotland she and her husband took this year.  Char snapped photos of rocks at Brig 'O Doon which held a special meaning to her and hubby who is of Scottish descent.  Char hooked the Loons in a previous post and many other wonderful pieces.

Undoubtedly this face below is being hooked by Cheri Reid ~ think it is called Goldilocks.  Cheri has hooked so many large realistic faces it has become second nature to her.

Christi Teasley did the collage at the bottom left and decided to do a hooked version.  She said the orange yarn will eventually be replaced by another textile after it is all hooked. 

Deb Burcin is working on Dennis.

Friend and roomie Deb drew and is hooking this Fraktur Angel.

  A narrow cut piece of an infant and mother.

 

Jan Finger's Solar Power design below. 

 A lion and don't know who is hooking it...sorry.  And it might be a design by Bev Conway????

 New friend Lois Filingeri was making very good time hooking Turkey and Tallowberries, a design by Lori Brechlin and sold by Spruce Ridge Studios.

O're the moon Neath the Sea piece I believe was started before camp.

Pat Kasold was hooking a foot stool to match the colors in a certain room.

Pat McDonald's piece below I believe was started before attending camp also.

I've always been intrigued with this Spinning Witch design that Phyllis Sheetz is working on.

 Lois Hilliard also accomplished a lot on her rug named Sue's Catch.

 An antique adaptation being hooked by Susan Foley.

 Tropical Leopard  colors are being distorted due to the shadow. 

Luckily I'd taken a photo of the rug when it was just started so you can see the colors better.

I didn't spend much time looking for orbs this trip.  Evelyn emailed me just before leaving for camp and her instructions were, "just hook, don't look for orbs".  Try tho I might to fight the urge, finally Thursday evening I grabbed my digital camera.  

There was a music jam in the bar that night and the place was crawling with people.  Some hallways were closed off near the cupola  to access the rest of the hotel.  So my travel was limited.  Going down the steps to venture other hallways I had to ask people to move off the steps.  Likewise, upon returning I had to ask people to move so I could go back to my room.  So that ended my orb search as I didn't feel free to move about.

BUT, that brief search did find one orb.  And no, it isn't a piece of dust on the lens as there were photos before and after and no dust in that spot in those other pictures.  Do you see the orb in the top right side of the photo?  It is along the wall close to the back door exit.

My flash did catch someone off guard as they were entering their room.  And for that I apologized.  

Saundra

November... REALLY?

Cannot believe it is November already.  Am sure most of you agree with my sentiments.  Today the Halloween rugs and decorations were removed and replaced with Turkey and Tallowberries on the harvest table.

Okay admit I was too lazy to take a photo of the harvest table but am trying to get ready for rug camp and still have stuff to do here.

Turkey and Tallowberries is a design by Lori Brechlin and pattern sold by Spruce Ridge Studios.

Enjoy this mild temperature on the east coast while it lasts.  Haven't packed my suitcase as the weather is going to change.  It was in the 70's and going to change..... to what?

Happy Friday.

Saundra

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Would also like to thank all the newbies who ask questions because without you my blog wouldn't have much of a mission.  Also, thanks to all the teachers and other seasoned hookers who helped me along my journey and to whom I still depend.

Saundra

Yabba Dabba Do

Today the binding of Turkey and Tallowberries was completed.  So with Ned also bound I'm free to get ready for Cape May.   Yet that entails lots to do around the house before leaving ~ cleaning, grass cutting not to mention waiting until the last minute to pack clothes.  I mean, tomorrow it will 90 degrees.  But by the time to leave for Cape May it could be in the 60s.  Crazy weather here on the eastern shore.

If you want a peak again at Turkey and Tallowberries, here it is.

The pattern is offered by Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios and from the artwork of Lori Brechlin.   In a previous post a reader asked me what I used for my background wool.  I posted a picture of the various wool which to her I'm sure looked incompatible.  But it really does work.

Here is a close up of the top left quadrant of the rug.  Oh but I LOVE that bold orange/gold eye.  If you tap on the photo you will see the blue textured wool, some red and some other wool which has some teal in it. All those dark wools hooked and blended make a wonderful background.  Hey, ya'll I didn't discover this but was introduced it by none other than Barb Carroll.  

Don't get me wrong here.... I'm not saying Barb INVENTED this idea. I'm only saying that she is the person who introduced to this idea to me.  Prior to Barb it was Dorr #44 as the preferred primitive dark background.  And, uh, I've still some left.

In case you'd like to see what I did with the tail feathers, here is a close up of that.  I used the black and white honeycomb wool for a section of the tail as well as the outside hooked edge.  

I think this is one handsome turkey who plans to strut it's tail feathers.

Hope everyone has a great evening.

Saundra  

Labor Day Idle Chit Chat

Thankfully Hermine has been rather kind to us inland on lower Delaware with only variable high winds and some rain one day.  The beaches, however, took a beating with the waves, high tides and beach erosion. But it could have been much worse and has been much worse before.  

If my ferry ride to Cape May had been this weekend my trip would have been cancelled I'm sure.  That's the one thing I worry about when visiting Cape May in September during hurricane season.

Today was rather mild but humid yet wasn't so bad I couldn't push the mower to cut Ben's backyard.  Hey, the boy needs a clean yard in which to play, rest and..er...you know.

With Ned all bound now I'm presently binding Turkey and Tallowberries.  I'm whipping the black cotton binding along the outer edge and will then stitch down the inside.  So it will also go to Cape May for the show.  For those of you just now visiting, Turkey and Tallowberries is a design offered by Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios from the artwork of Lori Brechlin.  If you scroll down to previous posts you can see both rugs.

Speaking of Cape May, where I'll be attending Rugs by the Sea rug camp, I finished a few more Hookers Pockets to sell.   Had a special request for a pocket with blue texture wool and dark burgundy hearts which has been sent.  So thought for the last one I'd make another just like it in case someone has that same color palate.  Am hoping there is something for everyone.... light, bright, dark and dull.  

Those are all Pockets I'm taking but will have a few other items in the store to appeal to those who celebrate upcoming fall and winter holidays.  Will be nice to empty my containers of items since no longer doing shows.  So am selling them a little at a time.

Hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday weekend.  Soon, a friend of mine will retire and every day will be a holiday for her.  That would be my friend whom I've never met in person yet...... Lauren of Rugs and Pugs.

Wishing everyone well.

Saundra

Turkey and Tallowberries Update

Wow, I really am getting close to finishing.  So maybe it is possible to have it hooked and bound before Cape May.

Just a little on the right side to hook then to steam, do pre-binding stitching and trimming then bind.  

Meanwhile, today I had my EKG which was required by my eye surgeon as my other EKG was over a year ago.  So many various doctor appointments coming up which is really interfering with my rug camp anticipation and preparedness.  

So later today after the EKG (which the doctor said was fine) told myself not to think of the huge plate of doctors before me..... just one week at a time.

Now, almost dinner time, Ben has been walked and have poured myself a glass of Pinot Noir to chill and work more on binding NED.  Remember Ned?  Will soon show you a finished picture of him soon.

Meanwhile, do you believe tomorrow is September 1st?????  I can't. What is worse is that I must now travel toward the beach area on the Thursday before Labor Day when folks are taking an extra day to have a long weekend at the beach.  That is where my eye doctor is.  

A day or so ago noticed more floaters and flashes in the other (right) eye.  Concerning me was that it was in the form of a hair or thread which had dot floaters attached.  Wasn't sure if I should call the eye surgeon or not since there is a pre-op visit coming up in September before the October surgery. But decided to call and they can tell me no problem.  Or at least that is what I was hoping.

So I must show up tomorrow for them to check it out to see how serious and what changes must be made for my lenses for the surgery. OMG, this getting older is REALLY getting OLD and not for the faint of heart.  Think I'm becoming more faint of heart.

Happy hooking, happy quilting, stitching or whatever lowers your BP.

Saundra

Turkey Anyone?

Definitely felt good to pull loops on my Turkey and Tallowberries rug again.  It is getting close to being done but not so certain it will be bound in time for Cape May rug show.  

After all, Cape May is in just 3 weeks, I have 3 various appointments to make during that time and don't know about Ben's test results yet. Besides there is a major overhaul to clean up after the tornado which went thru my wool room.

The other day Colleen wrote asking what I used for the background. Since she is a No-Reply Blogger was unable to write her personally.  So here is a photo of numerous wool which has been hooked in this brug.  The colors show up much more vivid due to the flash. 

As you can see there are some off the bolt textures purchased from both Heavens to Betsy and The Wool Studio as well as some which I've overdyed myself. 

Cut Ben's backyard today and made one more hookers pocket.  Would like to make a couple more pockets to sell at Cape May but me thinks my wool room needs some attention first.

Happy Sunday.

Saundra

Turkey and Tallowberries Progress

Am excited to show you my update today after looking at it on the floor in person before taking this photo.

There were a couple decisions made as the initial color planning was forming in my mind.  One was it seemed to need a balance to the light tallowberries and thought a one line border to outline the rug might do the job. So I chose a black and white honeycomb wool which was purchased from The Wool Studio.

The other first try and happy color choice was that bright orange for the eye. I'm sure many of you questioned my decision when first writitng about it but when looking a the rug on the floor just now my attention went straight to the eye.  And hey, aren't we supposed to look our subjects in the eye?  Plus, the white of the tallowberries doesn't overpower the rug because 'the eye has it' under control.

There is still more to hook, which is fine and I'll take my time.  Also still have the rest of Ned to bind but have a couple eye doctor appointments coming up so will do that while sitting in the waiting room.

My big Ben had his annual physical and senior blood panel last week. Today I was called and the kidney test was slightly elevated and the vet wants to do a sonogram to investigate about something she felt on his spleen.  Since Ben had a low grade mast tumor removed in April I need to be diligent on his health follow-ups.  Love my boy and want him to stay in my life as long as possible so he goes for the sonogram this Wednesday.

Happy Monday to you all.

Saundra

Handy Dandy Hooking Helpers

Here are just a few of the wonderful tools I use to make hooking so much better.  One I love are my Hartman Hooks and have a back up for a back up since my girl Shadow thought mine was a chew toy when she was a pup.  Thankfully she had tiny teeth so didn't do too much damage so sanded it down with fine sandpaper and oiled it again.

From left to right is my hook and scissor pocket, brush for cleaning wool  threads and dust off rugs, hand held OTT light, and gripper cleaner.

Above is the pocket being used on my frame.  A magnet holds my scissors and the pocket is where I place my various hooks so they don't get lost between the sofa cushions or dropped and then roll under the chair or sofa.  Guess I need to make a couple to take to Cape May as I only have one left.

The nifty brush I purchased at the Maryland Shores rug camp store one year.  Can't remember the cost but it was nominal and well worth the cost.

Another view of the brush.

Then is an unlikely great tool which is a dog brush to clean those gripper strips which seem to gather loads of threads and dust while holding our patterns down.  This one was purchased at Roses, the cost only $2.99 and got 10% for senior discount.  And boy does it do the trick.

Oh, the OTT light was purchased from Michaels and was priced at $19.99 but had a 40% off coupon.  It is really handy to see the true color of your wool as you hook.

Happy Sunday to you all.  Will spend the rest of the day hooking on Turkey and Tallowberries since yesterday was spent cutting grass and two showers.  Even tho I knew there would be a shower after cutting the grass I just MUST shower every morning.  To me, going without a shower in the morning would be like not brushing my teeth.

Maybe, just maybe I'll make some progress on that rug today and have something to crow about tomorrow.

Saundra

Now and Then

Okay, I've done some tweaking (duh, my middle name) and this is Turkey and Tallowberries now.

Am happier than what it looked like before.  I switched out the top and bottom tail feathers.  But hey, who knows if it might not be tweaked again before the rug is done.

Blogger friend Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) commented she saw the pattern at Sauder in Spruce Ridge Studio's booth and didn't realize how big it was.  Yet Lauren likes smaller pieces.  So for those of you wondering, the pattern measures 18 x 28 which doesn't seem so big to me.

Happy Friday to you all and hope you have a safe and great weekend.

Saundra

Another Serving of Turkey

That would be Turkey and Tallowberries, a design from the artwork of Lori Brechlin and offered as a pattern by Spruce Ridge Studios.  Also, this is another way for me to see if my color choices and direction is okay with me viewing it on my PC monitor.  Uh, not that it is the PERFECT teacher choice, but one I can live with.

Okey Dokey then..... here is what I've done.  So far lucky that for the stems and leaves were leftover noodles found in a piece of wool being considered for the stems and leaves.  How lucky was that????? However, they were #8 strips and my 'go to' strip size is now 8.5. But that works out to use them up. 

As you can tell I used the brown and white texture as the tallowberries. So got to thinking that with the white dots throughout the rug, perhaps a black and white honeycomb wool might bring it all together.  

So, I decided to try one row of border outline and put it in a turkey tail-feather as well.  Hmmm, I haven't even looked at an enlarged picture on my blog but am wondering about that yellow top tail feather. Perhaps that should be a more subdued brown or blue as is in the turkey.  Or maybe I should swap locations with the bottom feather color.

Am sure my loyal readers and followers will let me know their thoughts. I always appreciate everyone's input.

OMG, less than a month before Cape May rug camp and am still in slow-mo mode.

Wishing everyone well with whatever weather condition they are having to deal with.....dry, wet, flooding, fires.  My heart goes out to all of you. 

Saundra

Tallowberries

But before talking tallowberries ....want to show you what my thermostat indicated the outside temperature was before 7 a.m. yesterday. The windows were so fogged up due to humidity and heat that vision thru the windows was not possible.  Obviously it got hotter as the day progressed.  

And here it was this morning.

And Ben's backyard needs cutting and has to be done with a push mower.  Hope this heat ends soon.

Okay, so now to the topic.....Wonder what  tallowberries look like? I didn't know for sure so decided to check out the internet to make a proper choice for wool.  They are mostly white with a speck of brown. These are dried tallowberries.

Now I've a decision to make as to which wool or more than one I'll use for my tallowberries.  In a previous post I showed you a dye project learned from teacher Eric Sandberg called Birch Bark.  That wold be the second piece of wool and the second downward tallowberry hooked.

The top tallowberry is an 'as is' piece of wool but can't remember where it was purchased.  The bottom tallowberry is hooked using the textured piece of wool at the bottom and not sure from whom that was purchased either, sorry.  Have had both pieces of wool for a while.

In a way was hoping the overdye Birch Bark would work but am now thinking the top textured wool is the winner.  It is softer, not so bright and has that brown speck.  If you tap on the photo you can see them better.

Yeah I know....didn't finish hooking the turkey tail either even after showing my thoughts as to what to use.  Since there is so much background (boring) figured there should be something interesting left to hook later and keep my audience (if there is still any this summer) coming back to visit.

Stay cool if you can.  Ben's backyard definitely needs to be cut today and will do that after breakfast.  

My boy Ben is no dummy.  Actually he may be smarter than me (DUH). Yesterday around 4:30 p.m. took him out for his normal afternoon walk and he stood on the porch like a statue ~ thought to himself 'nope, too damn hot'  ~ and then turned around and wanted back in the A/C.  

Happy scorching Sunday to you all.

Saundra