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

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

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

What's Next Ye Ask?

In a previous post I told you that my next rug was going to be yet another rug with lions.  This is one I designed based on a couple different antique rugs where I pulled elements that I liked from each.  Yes, the border has some issues where the squares on their ends aren't quite even but then it is supposed to be representative of a primitive antique rug, right?  And that just adds to the interest. 

The lion on the left will be hooked properly (I think) once I get started.  For sure I didn't want it to look like it had four ears but was trying to determine the area for the mane.  In the original antiques both lions reminded me of Amish men with full beards which were under their chin and all around the head.  Uh, not sure that I want that look in my rug; however, maybe, just maybe I'll change my mind just to stay more closely connected to the antique.  It is MY rug after all so can take some creative license to pick and choose what I want from the antique to make my own.

Okay, you've waited long enough and here is the linen I just drew out before Sandy hit full scale.  AND, those light spots you see on the backing is where I've put some similar colored paint on my linen (just now) so when it dries it will be the same as the backing and I'll know which was my latest change.

Now, remember this is a work in progress so might make changes on it as I go.  This isn't a huge rug as it seems that I like ones which are large enough to use as floor rugs, small enough to hang or put on a chest.  Not to mention the fact that it gets hooked faster when it is smaller.  I'm having to use my Townsend huge floor frame for the Wee Folk because no way I could use my other frames. 

I'm too lazy to take the Wee Folk rug off to take a picture tonight, besides, Ben has been having cabin fever and demanding more time of his mom.  So maybe tomorrow I'll finish off the month with a more current picture of my Wee Folk rug. 

I'm sorry for all the devastation that New York and New Jersey has encountered.  While Delaware and Maryland has encountered some loss also, I feel lucky to have come thru Sandy rather unscathed (tho I still have flood issues, limbs, etc.) but no way could I fathom the destruction issues many others are having right now.  My heart goes out to all of you.

Would like to mention that I've had numerous spams from 'anonymous' bloggers so I have disabled them from posting on my blog. Sorry to do that because there are legitimate hookers out there who for some reason wish to not be identified.  WHY?"  Who the heck knows.  I don't mind putting my face and name out there!  But because of the numerous spams I'm no longer accepting 'anonymous' posts.    SIGH.... but I feel good right now!

Thanks for visiting.

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

Cape May Getaway coming soon

So far I haven't gotten to the frenzied child stage of anticipation of Santa (a/k/a Cape May) so that is still yet to come as it usually does for every rug camp. As old as I am and for as many rug camps I've attended you'd think I'd have outgrown that by now.  Perhaps it is because I haven't attended nearly as many rug camps as some hookers I know, but even if I had truly doubt that frenzy would have dissipated by now.

It is now less than two weeks away until camp and I'm slowly making progress.  The wool pulling for the rug to be hooked has begun but will do another inventory closer to departure date and will probably add more wool rather than remove.

Okay, okay, I know you've been biting your nails wondering what I'm hooking in Bev's class.  It is a design that stopped my heart oh so many years ago when first infatuated with rug hooking.  It is a design by Vermont Folk Art and this is the rug which was posted on their web site at that time.  It was hooked by Rebecca Erb (I'm sure you hookers know who that woman is) but this is the only picture I've ever seen hooked.  SO..... IF any of you have pictures or know of someone who has hooked this design I surely would love to see other people's adaptations of it.  The design name is Wee Folk.

When attending Barb's at Woolley Fox in May I had a new system that I tried out.  Instead of carrying 3 full totes of wool down to the basement I carried wool samples on rings as my 'offering' and had more of each of the wools in totes in the van.  That way, when she viewed my wool to make color planning choices I could retrieve the larger pieces from my van that she had chosen for the rug.  This way there is also less hauling totes from the classroom back to the van when leaving.  So on one ring I have wool of the brighter colors, background and border offerings, on the other I'm trying to limit that to just the critter colors.  But depending on how heavy one ring gets I just might move the background and border colors to the other ring.  And, it appears the one ring will be heaveier so the move seems eminent.

Here is a bunch of wool that I dyed using various textures and with different quantities of the same color in different pots to get a variety of options for background and usage of the same color in other parts of the rug.  Must add here that the colors of the wool is very washed out with the flash.

And this is the second tote I'll take but isn't completely packed.  However, there are some colors on the ring which may only take that which is pinned to the ring since the shirt, pants, etc. of the critters is small.  You can see one of the critters on the pattern to the right of this post.  

My plans were for me to post a current picture of the Duck's Egg Nest here but think I'll make you wait until tomorrow.  

So now not only am I challenged with getting ready for rug camp but also have to clean my house before my house and Ben sitter comes.  My house is full of rug snippets and probably cob webs since they are getting ready for autumn.

Thanks for stopping by and maybe I'll have an update on my Duck's and Egg Nest tomorrow.

Saundra

What to Hook at Cape May?

Although I am presently hooking the Two Chickens rug for someone, so at least have something to do, my mind is spinning about what to hook at Cape May.  My teacher is Bev Conway and she is great with whimsy and color so figured I would take a pattern that has been in my stash for a couple years.  It was love at first sight when I saw  it on the Vermont Folk Art web site and just had to have it.  Part of it was probably the colors in the rug which was shown as hooked by Rebecca Erb.  

This printed picture, now scanned, does not give justice to the piece that was on the web sight that I fell in love with oh so many years ago.  While I still do love the design it measures 24 x 50 and wasn't really wanting to hook another big rug (big for me that is) because I will attend another rug camp in November and will start yet another project.  And, it doesn't really go with my decor because I have mostly antique furniture.  Hmm, now that I think about it maybe I could put it in front of the jacuzzi garden bath and it would be cute to look at each morning when I walk thru.  


Tho I have searched thru magazines, all my patterns on linen and most of my patterns on paper which could be blown up and drawn legally by me, this is still the one most on my mind.  This was one of the designs I'd thought of listing on e-bay the next go around but maybe I'll wait until after Cape May to list this one and see what I decide.


Thanks for visiting and thanks newbie, for following my blog.


Saundra