HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !

My July 4th celebration will be the same as it has been for years now, non-eventful.  But back in the day I (we) couldn't wait to get to Assateague Island and celebrate with our friends, watch fireworks, eat and drink until we were stuffed.  Hard shell blue crabs were always my favorite and didn't leave a morsel of meat in the membranes.  

Independence means a lot more to me today than ever as it seems we Americans are losing some of it and our freedoms little by little.  

Moving on, I won't bore you with all my patriotic items, just a few.  Below is a design by Polly Minick she named Sam's Hat which I hooked in 2007.  I gave it to my son to raise money for the local American Legion.

An Uncle Sam doll I design and made tons of when vending.  Don't have any left for myself and no desire to make another as I've lost my dollmaking mojo.

And I love this We Folk design by Vermont Folk Art Rugs.  

Yesterday I worked outside for over an hour and noticed blooms on a bush I've had for years.  It has never had such beautiful blooms as this before.  Anyone (Lauren?) know the  name of this bush?

Another view; there are two of those bushes in there.

I  then moved over to another area of the front yard as some scraggly limbs needed to be cut off, unwanted climbing vine on said tree needed to be removed and bent over to pull a couple weeds on my way there.  Unfortunately I disturbed a yellow jacket nest underground, the bees followed and swarmed around me so I dropped everything.  

One bee landed on my hand but thank goodness I was gloved, had on long sleeves, long pants and had sprayed myself before going outside.  My glove hadn't been sprayed and the sucker didn't sting.  I left everything and later carefully went back and removed the trash container first.  After half an hour went again to pick up the tools.  The yellow jackets were still buzzing about so got hornet spray and deluged the hole in the ground.  Hated the idea of killing something but I don't want to get stung either.

Happy 4th to all of you and hope it is a safe one.  It will be happy hooking for me today.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

And, The Following Year > > >

...was 2005 when I hooked Stop and Smell the Roses, a design by Karen Kahle.  This was hooked on my own using recently acquired good wool from previous classes, as is re-purposed wool and wool I dyed.  The border is from the same recipe as that in the background of Pineapples and Flowers in the previous post.

The wool recipe is called High Meadow Green and from BEAUTIFUL WOOL dye book by Laurice Heath.  I have used that same recipe numerous times over natural, wheat and textured wool which give different results, but all lovely.  

Just Gail....., as you are a NO-REPLY Blogger was not able to email you directly about the dye book.  If anyone wishes to get a reply from me who is a NRB you need to use the 'email me' section on the right side bar.

Below is a pattern by Vermont Folk Art called Fall is Here.  The background wool I over dyed and probably from the same book.  Sadly this sold but would love to hook it again one day.  Problem is there are so many other rugs on my 'to do' list that it seems a shame to hook something else again.

The Fluted Basket is a design by Karen Kahle and was a free pattern insert in an old issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  When I saw that pattern my heart went pitter-pat.  So of course it went on linen and straight on my frame.

You can see I have finished rug edges using the whipped wool technique.  Don't have a favorite way, just depends on what the rug feels it needs.

That same year I hooked Sally Kallin's design "Harry".  Sue Hamer was my teacher that year and she wanted me to hook Harry's face in a smaller strip but held tight to my convictions.  Sue was an excellent teacher, very prepared and lots of wonderful prep for her students.  Was quite impressed with her.

The border wool on Harry was purchased from Sally, the background was a hodge podge of overdyed light wool.

Below is a cat rug I sold.  For the life of me cannot recall if this was someone's design or if I drew this myself.  The yellow background was over-dyed and ecstatic it turned out exactly as I'd hoped because sometimes dye jobs didn't.  Oh, this photo was taken on my deck and is also washed out.  

This was a FUN rug to hook ~ a design by Tonya Robey when she had Mad Hen.  How fun and funky is this??  Of course I used Tonya's over dyed wool to hook this and give it 'her' look.  MISS YOU TONYA.

The rug below was hooked in a class with Liz Morino and an antique adaptation.  When telling Liz my plans were to make it look like the original she sat on the floor and helped draw lines in the body for the directional hooking.

That is yet another rug I wish was still in my possession but it too was sold when still doing shows and going thru an unwanted divorce.

So there ya have it albeit all the small purses, small mats and dolls being made during that time.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!!

Stay safe.

Saundra

My Hooked Items #2

And so it continues.......  In my previous post was able to get 3 years worth of rugs in the one post.  But eventually found my rhythm and production of hooked rugs and items increased per year.  All newbies learn not to twist the wool, how to control the loop to prevent it from falling down when the next loop is pulled and finding that rhythmic feel.     
In 2005 I hooked Fall is Here, a design by Vermont Folk Rugs.  I was beginning to establish more of a wool stash and had a better sense of putting colors together.  I even over dyed that blue wool for the background....talk about getting BRAVE!  The first time I dyed it was if I was about to perform brain surgery and kept reading the instructions over and over from the beginning before doing each next step.

Then in an issue of Rug Hooking Magazine there was a delicious article by Karen Kahle with loads of pictures and a free pattern insert.  AH HA! Gotta hook that baby (I thought), and so I did. 

In one of Karen's catalogs I saw a pattern called Stop and Smell the Roses so that was the next to be hooked.  It remains on the floor since 2005 and still in great shape.  It is in an area where it is walked on several times a day but not in front of the kitchen sink or front door.  If I were to hook it now the white rabbit wouldn't be so white and would have picked a better choice of wool for the bunny on the left....Oh, and the basket would be different, lol.

Can't say anything bad about Harry, a design by Sally Kallin (Pine Island Primitives), since I purchased the kit.  I loved the rug when it was featured in an issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  So contacted Sally and ordered the pattern and kit with like wool. 

Although I'd always been creative...oil painted, made dolls and used to draw, I was very insecure about designing my own rug/mat.  And I wanted something for fall so designed a small very humble Pumpkin Runner and a side pocket for me to use to keep pen and money in at my shows.  The pumpkin runner sold so not all was lost.

A few years later I would design a small runner called Mache' Jacks which is a far cry better attempt at designing pumpkins.  But, in 2005 was still feeling my way around.

Soon after decided the side pocket didn't work so made some zippered pursettes.  I made a couple ~ sold one and kept one.  Since I made both black and white dolls thought I'd put one on each side.  At camps people have taken notice and taken photos of it.

Then came my first adaptation and cannot remember where the idea came from.  But was determined to hook a larger rug and experiment. Again came the 'brain surgery' of dyeing wool for the background color (hey, what did I know?, lol)

SO you see that I used a lot of what I had on hand...greys, black, white and overdyed white with YELLOW, lol.

FYI, yesterday's blogpost has been updated with more photos I've found.  It made sense to me to add the photos from 2001 in that post than add them here.  ....So, take a trip back in time and see what is there.

Happy Friday to you all.

Saundra

Rug Camp ~ Patterns, Wool and Other Supplies

My first rug camp was a McGowan camp mentioned in my first rug camp post.  In the beginning only a Pearl McGowan pattern could be taken and no other.  Then they became somewhat less strict and allowed patterns from the Primco/Charco designs.  Now they allow anyone's design in the class.  I believe they realized a loss of revenue since new hookers craved and developed a new style where primitive and wide cut was more popular.

PATTERNS ~ Was asked what size pattern one should take to class.  If you are a newbie I'd suggest something small so you aren't overwhelmed and will have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the camp.  Don't take a 24 x 36 or larger unless you have been home practicing and have established a rhythm pulling loops.

Choose a design which makes you happy and will have fun hooking. You can purchase it on your own or if a pattern your teacher offers you can have her bring it to class for you.  Frankly I'd rather pay postage and ponder it at home before camp.

If you have the supplies and can draw  your own that is okay too ~ BUT, be sure you are not stealing someone else's design by seeing something on Pinterest or someone's blog.  You could always email that person to ask who sells the pattern or if it is an antique and in public domain.  I won't get into the detail of what determins public domain as it is complicated. Okay, you have your pattern and what about the wool?

WOOL ~  Teachers will color plan from the wool selection you take. Sometimes when using your colors she/he might have a suggestion which would make the rug better (in their eyes).  You are not required to buy from the teacher but they have a huge selection and better than ours.  It has been my experience that the wool purchased was a great choice and did make my rug better.

My favorite colors are barn red, old gold, earthy greens and browns, blue.  My background choices usually are either primitive black or a dirty cream/white.   Depending on the pattern and the room it will go in determines my colors and background.  Sometimes I don't care about the color of background and let my teacher (particularly Barb) have free rein.  

Above is part of how I take my wool to camp.  I pin colors onto a ring of wool choices for the rug about to hook but have larger pieces in a tote which I would keep in my car until I needed it or by my side in a tote on the floor.  You can choose your own way of transporting your wool.  In the patriotic bag are rolled up rugs for the rug show at Cape May back whenever.

And below is the result of those colors on the ring and my background. The design is called Wee Folk and was offered by Vermont Folk Art Rugs.

Take your own wool you like and something for the background.  I don't take more than a half yard of any unless it might be my background color choices.  No need to take your whole wool room as there will be plenty for sale from your teacher or other teacher's classrooms.

OH, that is something else... protocol....there is an unwritten law that you can't visit the other teachers' classrooms to buy wool until the second day after lunch.  This way it allows that teacher's students to get first dibs on the wool she has taken.

OTHER SUPPLIES ~  Here is a list of what you should take:
  frame
  rug hook
  scissors
  cutter and blades
  Ott or other light (just in case)
  Sharpie (just in case) but the teacher always has one

If you do not have a cutter please let your teacher know before arriving so she/he can take one for you to use or unless you are traveling with a companion who has offered you to use it during class.

Rug camps are a perfect time to try someones hook, another style frame or cutter so you know if you'd like to own one.  Please ask and most hookers will happily comply.  While I often volunteer to let admiring hookers test drive my equipment I wouldn't want them depending on my cutter the entire camp.

Here are optional supplies to which I and my gal pals indulge:
  wine
  snacks for the room

Have a great Sunday evening and sorry for the rambling.  Seems this subject can't be reduced to one or two paragraphs.  If I'm forgetting something please feel free to let me know so that it can be covered in a future post.

Saundra

Independence Day

Happy July 4th to you.

This is a design by Polly Minick which I hooked.  The paper cap was hooked using cotton fabric with lettering on it, which added to the cuteness.

Celebration Guy doll I made which may still be in one of my containers. I haven't peeked in those containers in a long time.

The same with Miss Liberty, don't remember whether she sold or not. Could be in the container too.

Another design by Polly Minick I hooked called Patriotic Sandpails.  Also made the mohair jointed bear and hat.

You guessed it, another Polly design called Sam's Hat which was hooked 2007.  I only put the single initial 'S' because I was going thru a divorce and instead of SS figured the single S could also stand for my first name.  But I know why there is only the single letter.

Hey, can't have a July 4th celebration without an appearance by Uncle Sam, right?  I designed the pattern and made this Uncle Sam numerous times and can't tell you how many dolls I've made like that.

Even the Wee Folk critters are riding in the July 4th parade.  This is a design by Vermont Folk Art rugs which I hooked a few years ago.

Hope you have a safe and fun filled holiday today.

Saundra

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Hope everyone has a happy and safe July 4th.  It's raining here in Delaware as I suspect all the east is getting it because of the tropical storm.

Here are a couple designs by Polly Minick which were hooked by me, Boy Pulling Dog.

Sam's Hat and Stars, design by Polly Minick and hooked by me.

This is a Vermont Folk Art design called Wee Folk and hooked by me.

A mohair bear and decorative hat I made.  Well, dang; I took the picture with my camera tilted and even tho I rotated it with the Paint program it still came out sideways.  Sorry.

And lastly, an Uncle Sam doll, my design and made by me.

Saundra

About Ready To Bind

I've been teeter tottering on the fence about how to bind Wee Folk by Vermont Folk Art.  My thoughts were either wool covered cord or binding with wool strips. Frankly, I find it faster to do the wool covered  cord because when I bind with wool strips or yarn it is like whipping twice.  I roll the backing forward and whip with thread first and then go back over it with wool or strips.  I've tried in the past to roll forward and whip in one process but I really don't care for the results because my backing starts getting slanted and then when I try to ease it back straight, there seems to be mild hills and valleys.  So with the whipping the roll first with thread the whipping with yarn goes easier.

This morning I measured out how much cording I'd need for this BIG rug (24 x 47) when all of a sudden I noticed some blue wool yarn in my stash.  Realizing that doing another rug with a blue border was unlikely decided to use up the wool on this project.  So now my decision has been made for me and the color is right.

And I'm dragging my feet about starting because I really would rather be hooking and have this new project started.  But, since my rug swap partner hasn't started hers yet (she's travelling) should take advantage of this time to bind the rug and finally put it to rest.

Well, Ben doesn't want to go walking in the rain so perhaps I'll trim the excess backing now and start the undesirable task of binding yet another rug.

Thanks for visiting.

Saundra

Back to a UFO

With my Holiday Ornaments piece all hooked and listed on my web site I can now put the UFO Wee Folk back on my frame.  Still have the Lions to finish also but want to get this big one out of the way since it was started in September while the lions was started in November ~ plus the lions is smaller.

Thank goodness I have the Townsend Orbiter for this one as it is heavy on the one end and plan to hook on the bottom right and then move back in toward the center again.  Must say my least favorite parts to hook on this are the wheel and half wheel sections and try tho I might to make them look equal in size and shape they still don't but not going to fret about it.  Can't believe I just wrote that so guess you know I'm wanting this rug done. 

Normally it only takes me about 3 months to hook a rug and I'm going on 4 now.  Partly because of the size but also took detours drawing patterns and hooking Holiday Ornaments.

My boy Ben is whining and notice that I'm 16 minutes late on making his din-din.  Can't keep my boy waiting any longer. 

Thanks for dropping by. 

Saundra

Wee Folk Update

Wee Folk is a wee big fuller than you saw before my leaving for the workshop ~ not done, but closer. 

The bicycle handles and bars still look too washed out and close in value to the background, so it appears that I'll have no choice but to change out the color but don't know yet what color to make them.  Guess I could use the bright green that is used in the chicken and the flags in the banner.  Or could go with a somewhat darker blue but not as dark as in the border blue.  For sure red it out of the question since there is already so much of that.  And sometimes wish I'd done a plain colored shirt on the bunny instead of the stripe which was suggested ~ there's just too much red and white stripe and the flags would have been plenty.

But for now, I'll hook what I know (to quote Eric Sandberg from an earlier class) and keep pulling loops then decide what to do.

Hope everyone has a nice and Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Saundra

Hooker's Smorgasborg

Just 10 days and I'll be leaving for another delightful rug camp with Lucille Festa in Ocean City, MD. For those of you who are going to Sauder, oops, meant Shelbourne, there will be a booth there manned by her husband so you can still get her patterns, wool, etc. so have no fear.  You won't see Lucille herself but can purchase what you wish or order from her hubby at her booth.  You could also click on Lucille's name above which will take you to her web site if you'd like to order something and have it at the booth in Sauder.

Okay, I've been busy with pulling wool for Lucille's class and planned to take a picture of my bounty but I'm not done and the room is a mess.  UH, the room is going to get even more messy I'm afraid so decided to not take a picture of that yet.

Any who, here is what my Wee Folk is looking like right now.  And this is what I will work on until Lucille gets to me for color planning my rug.  As you can see there is still lots to work on so it won't be an issue for me to hook on this baby for a while.

And, I've got friends in high places...well high places for a 'hooker'.  A friend who I have relied on for advice both personal and rug related, she is always there to help and willing to share is my friend Lynne Fowler of Artist in Residence.  She and others will join in to share the teaching and offering of hooking related items.  So check it out.

And Sauder Village for 2013 is available already.  So click the link to see what is planned and get an early start to your scheduling that special time away.  Unfortunately I've never been there but sure do want to share in the fun and rug shows I hear and read about.  

Happy November 1 and soon it will be time to turn the clocks back.  OMG, my big boy Rottie Ben wants to get me out of bed now at 5:30 a.m. when it is still dark outside.  And that will soon be a 4:30 a.m. time and not sure he will transition well.    But one thing I know is that I will NOT go out in 'dark O'clock' to walk a dog not knowing if there are potentially harmful critters.  Mama dog is gonna get control of the boy real quick and bark out a "NO" when he comes whining and pawing the bed.  Problem is that once he's awakened me I cannot switch back to sleep mode.  Then I just normally get up after maybe 15 minutes or so.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Saundra

Much Better on Wee Folk

Oh man am I a happy hooker now!  Or at least more happy than I was a few days ago so won't tuck this rug and wool away to be another UFO just quite yet.  I'll work on this baby until I go to my next rug camp.  

I've been so busy with appointments and responsibilities that my hooking time on it has taken a slump, that is why you aren't seeing much progress until now, and even then it is minimal.  This is how my rug looks now and must admit that I'm much happier with it ~ OH SO MUCH happier with it.  Now, could be that I might run another dark blue border around the perimeter once it is hooked but will decide once the rug is done otherwise.

This is what it looked like before.  So you tell me which is better.

Obviously this rug won't be done before I go to my next camp in 3 weeks but at least I feel better knowing that it has potential.  But now I have to decide what the heck I'm going to hook with Lucille Festa .  I sure do enjoy her class because she is the salt of the earth, has a sense of humor much like me and  like her primitive style and wool.

However, before I go I must clean this pig sty so that the house and Ben sitter won't think I live in dirt.  So that too will take away from my hooking time on the Wee Folk rug.

Thanks for putting up with my thoughts, ranting and raving about the boring recaps of rugs that I work on.  Yet I did say that I'd mostly keep my blog about rug hooking related posts.

Have a great day tomorrow; stop and look at the colorful falling leaves, smile and say 'hello' to someone and change their day.  I'm sure by doing all that you will have a nicer day yourself.  Smiling at someone gives them a boost as well as yourself.

Sigh.......I just gave everyone a smile and woolley hugs.  Thanks for stopping by.

Saundra

Small Fix not Enough

My small fix was not enough and now I know what to do.  Since I was afraid of a radical change from the direction given me on color planning the rug didn't want to just rip out everything at the border line.  So thought about keeping the red there and adding spokes and blue.  But now, with this picture I know exactly what I need to do.... well, almost.  Here is a picture I just took with the minor change.  But sometimes it really is best to start with a minimal change and see if it works.  However, my quick fix did not fix the problem.

For sure that red is coming out at the top and will be filled in with the background color (I can always dye more wool).  After hooking the background color in I'll have a better idea as to whether it should be the blue for the banner line or maybe switch it to red since there will be blue along the rest of the perimeter.  Even tho this is primitive nice linen I'm not sure about pulling out and re-hooking numerous times because it will eventually weaken even linen I'm sure.  So I'll hold off replacing the blue yet again (was red before if you check back in my blog) so already it has been re hooked twice.  But with that going to be the background color will try red for the banner line in a new spot along the way to make a comparison.

Must say I was almost tempted to just put this whole rug and wool aside as I was quite frustrated ~ didn't like what I saw, thought that I had a color plan all ready in place and it wasn't working out.  But since I'll start another rug in 3 weeks thought that I'd see it thru because what isn't needed in my house is yet another UFO collecting dust and having negative vibes.

And, in all honesty, while I love love love whimsical and colorful rugs that I see hooked by others, I just don't have that in me to do it justice.  I love Gail DuFresne rugs, love her color sense but just cannot pull it off.  Even took a class with her asking her to please force me out of my comfort zone.  Bless her heart she tried, I finished the rug and sold it at a show, so someone appreciated my piece.  Yet, it wasn't me and so desperately wanted to be able to go there.  Which means there is no way that I could ever be a McGowan certified teacher because I cannot do bright color.  

Okay, for McGowan certification you'd have to do narrow cut and wide cut primitive,  I've done narrow cut and know for sure that I CAN do it.  But do I like it?  Heck no!  Here is a picture of my Rotties hooked in #3 and background in #5 and if I could have pulled off a background in #8 to make it look right I'd have done just that.

Yes, I love the cute Wee Folk design and have wanted to hook it for years.  But each year I'd choose something else to hook instead.  Well now is the time to get this baby done and out of the way.  For in November I'll be back to my wide cut, naive, dark primitive old looking rugs!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my thoughts.

Saundra

Two Updates

Ducks and Egg Nest pattern.......Yup, all hooked.  Actually the hooking was completed before Bev got to me for the color planning of my Wee Folk rug because there was so little left of the background to do.  However, it still  needs to be bound.  But have no fear!  I have already started the prep for that and it will be a tutorial of sorts in my next blog.  It will be bound with a wool covered cord like you see on the edge of a pillow or upholstery.  Until then I will give you the latest pictures of that rug as well as the Wee Folk design.  

This is the Ducks and Egg Nest and I adore it.  Lots of people at Cape May admired it since they had an opportunity to see it as that is what I was hooking the first day of class and students come in and out of rooms seeing what others are doing and to buy wool from teachers.  

Yes,  there are a few new changes to the We Folk.  I hooked a little more of the background and did change out some of the lighter blue wool of the bike handles but still have more wool to replace.  When cutting the blue plaid wool for the bike I just reached in and pulled out a strip not giving notice if it was the darker part of the plaid or  not.  So hopefully there will be enough of that darker stripe in the fat quarter do what I need for the bike body change out.

I'm really anxious to finish binding the Duck rug so I can put it on my harvest table for a couple days before offering it for sale.  Actually I haven't done the math on pricing for this yet as it isn't finished and have been busy.  Plus I really want to work more on my Wee Folk rug because I have a class with Lucille Festa early November and have to decide what to hook there as well as prepare for yet another rug to hook.  So it is important that I get the Duck rug done and more of this one hooked because I'll then have two UFOs tugging at my heart.

HA!  Two UFOs..... I have more than that but am mentioning only two because the others kinda like, 'out of sight out of mind'.

Thanks for stopping by and check back to see if I've started binding my Ducks rug.

Saundra