TIPS TEACHERS TAUGHT US

The other day I emailed follower/reader Denise and asked if there was something she'd like me to blog about.  As any of you who have a blog know, sometimes we (or at least I) struggle to come up with a topic which might interest readers.  Her question was "wondering what was the best tip learned from a class or teacher".  

A comment from Julia made a perfect and classic example of 'must do' ~  Use a good linen foundation and not cheap brittle burlap for your rug hooking.  Must admit that when I was teaching myself and practicing that is what I used because it was affordable and could be a 'throw away'.  But when I got seriously hooking that was the lesson taught me also and is what I use.

Continuing with Denise's email, she said she was struggling with a random background.  When hooking a large background we all get bored!  I'm speaking for myself here but know someone (UH, that would be my friend Lauren) who finds it a soothing task.

When I first started hooking think I just followed the outline of the main motif's (the ripple effect) until the lines eventually connected and then filled in.  But attending an early rug camp my teacher Bev Conway suggested drawing, then hooking, S's in the background, hooking the S, hooking around the S, moving onto the next and as each S is hooked around they eventually meet up.  

This Rottweiler Memorial wasn't hooked in her class but I used her technique.  You can see the S or C movement throughout the background and I used two values of the same color wool.

Another teacher Lisanne Miller suggests the puzzle piece style.  I tried it on my eagle rug but didn't do her technique justice as I didn't draw the small areas on the background, I just hooked random spots using dark and different wools.  It is a primitive after all. 

Reader Nancy commented on my last blog post that her teacher suggested adding small bits of color or different value here and there for interest.  

Robin mentioned using 'ugly wool because ya just never know when that ugly will look wonderful in a rug'.

Barb Carroll made a similar comment in class.  Barb's was more of a color contrast which she called 'poison' as a random out-of-place hooked piece of wool.  After all, they used what they had back in the day.  An example of Barb's teaching is in this Westmoreland Ponies pattern designed by her and I hooked it in a class with Barb 2012.  Click on the photo below and look closely.  You can see the odd yellow green strips, random plaids and even a lighter color in the background.  All of which provides interest and makes the eye move around the rug.  AND, makes it more fun for the hooker.

Westmoreland Ponies is a free pattern in a previous issue of RHM but can't recall which year but maybe around 2011 or 2012.

Please don't hesitate to email me a question or an idea you'd like to see on my blog.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitive.weebly.com

CHANGING of the RUGS

You're familiar with the term 'changing of the guards' but at my house it is changing of the rugs.  This morning I changed out the rug on the harvest table and placed this on.  This one has a bit of a story behind it.  

I first fell in love with Westmoreland Ponies, a Barb Carroll design,  while at her rug camp in Ligonier.  And so I had to buy the pattern and buy wool for it while I was there.  Below if the one I saw in the Woolley Fox Cabin.

Brought the new next project home and posted about progress on my blog.  One of my followers/readers informed me they hooked it and did I know it was a free pattern insert in a 2010 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine?  HUH???  I paid for a pattern I could easily  have drawn out  myself 😀😄😂 ~ well the laugh was on me.  But at least hooking could start sooner at home by having the pattern already drawn.

Another rug change in the kitchen to the right of the table is Henny Penny, another Barb Carroll design.  BTW, the Queen tin cup was a gift from my sweet DIL.  Shortly after she and my son started dating I knew she would be a keeper, she had a great sense of humor so told her..."you may be a Princess but I will always be Queen".  We have joked with one another over the years about that.  One birthday I gave her a plastic tiara and Princesses are born in May tee shirt.

Guess I'd better run my errands before it rains AGAIN this afternoon and tomorrow.  When oh when will this water dry up which continues to stay as a moat around my property?

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com  

Back to My Rugs

'Twas the year 2013 and another delightful rug camp with Barb Carroll on the now sold Ligonier estate.  The rug I hooked in her class was a Woolly Fox design named Oh Deer.

While at Barb's I fell in love with a newly hooked rug by Barb named Westmoreland Ponies.  Well of course I had to buy some of the wool she used in hers and then later hooked it at home.  The pattern is offered by Woolley Fox but it is also a free pattern in an older issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.

While perusing active blogs noticed Karen Kahle providing a tutorial on hooking a spiral chair pad.  Thought it a way to use up some worms so drew one up and hooked it.

Another rug hooked that year was Big Dog Hollow by Briarwood Folk Art.  Kathy wanted to hook my E.S. Frost sheep so we traded patterns.

Below is Long Island Farmhouse, a design by Lucille Festa.  Still  in my stash is another of her designs named Moon Over Vermont that I need/want to hook. 

Drawing for Polly Minick I was given permission to hook any of her designs at will.  Since I was drawing Two Chickens patterns for her upcoming class decided to hook one for myself.

With chickens still on my  mind and in the mood to design a small mat drew up this "Mother Hen" original, and sold it.

From my pattern stash it was time for me to hook Henny Penny, a Woolley Fox design... ya see a theme here, lol.  

Since I save pictures of antique rugs decided to replicate a design the auction house called Red Bird and the rug was found in Pennsylvania ~ thus the name Red Bird of PA.  Naturally that red bird had faded.

And a year can't go by with hooking a Magdalena rug....Lollipop Bouquet is among one of my most fun to hook even tho I was somewhat skeptical since it had 66 circles.  Yup, I counted them before starting to hook.  But was fun because those colors came out of my worm baggies.

Before Halloween I wanted to hook a sweet mat designed by Barb Carroll called Jack.  It is in an old issue of Rug Hooking magazine.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing more of my old hooked pieces as it has been fun for me to reminisce on the enjoyable hours of hooking.

Saundra

Hooked Projects since Last September

Cape May rug camp is less than two weeks away and wanted to start gathering the rugs hooked during the last 12 months for their rug show.  And was quite surprised at the number I'm taking for the show this year.  Yes, some are mats, some small rugs and others a little bigger. 

If it was a contest of 'most hooked rugs' it would be easy enough to figure out the total square footage of my accomplishments and compare to another person, but I'm not concerned since I don't think size matters.  Frankly I feel guilty that I've not been dusting and vacuuming enough but rather am having fun hooking.

So first rug finished since last September is Ducks and Egg Nest which was the rug I was working on at Cape May last year until my teacher (Bev Conway) could get to  me.  This is an adaptation of an antique hooked in the late 19th century or very early 20th century in Canada.

And it was the Wee Folk (by Vermont Folk Art) as the rug chosen to hook in class, which is also done and will be in the show.

Now I'm not sure of the order here, but do know that the Karen Kahle inspired Spiral Chair Pad came soon after....

...as well as my design of Mother Hen which I wanted to offer as a pattern on my web site. 

Since I was on a roll for designing seems to me that since the holidays were soon coming up, the next on the frame was to hook and offer Holiday Ornaments.

Okay, if memory serves me think that Kathy of Briarwood Folk Art and I made a trade of patterns and I chose her Big Dog Hollow pattern to hook and it was loads of fun to hook.  A number of woollie worms were used up on this one as well.

Still being in the mood to offer more patterns to my offerings designed and hooked Red Bird of Pennsylvania which is an adaptation of an early rug located in ... you got it.....Pennsylvania.

Then in May went to Woolley Fox and hooked Barb's Oh Deer under the tutelage of that magnificent woman.

Somewhere in this mix of rug hooking wonderland I also hooked Barb's Henny Penny rug which I adore since it looks like an early work. 

Once returning from Woolley Fox and falling in love with Barb's Westmoreland Ponies, just knew it was on my list of very next rug to hook.  It's done and I love it. 

And let us not forget Jack which was a free pattern insert in an issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  Funny story here is that someone saw me post a picture of my progress of this design on my blog.  He/she then wrote Barb asking if she'd see this and was concerned someone was stealing her design.  However, that was further from the truth as it was a free pattern insert in a Sept/Oct issue in a 1997 issue of RHM.    Must say I adore how this fellow came out.  I changed the nose from the pattern in the magazine to make it more to my liking.

Presently I'm working on Magdalena's Lollipop Bouquet and not sure if it will be finished in time for the show in Cape May or not...... time will tell.  Sorry there isn't an updated picture of it but will show you tomorrow.

Just listened to the local weather and seems like fall is coming soon.  Hopefully those hurricanes which happen this time of year will stay at bay until after Cape May rug camp.

Have a fantastic evening.

Binding Jack and a Label

With Westmoreland Ponies hooked and bound and Jack all hooked, it was time to bind him as well.  It feels so good to have no rugs waiting for the final finish.  I used the same yarn to whip at the edge of cotton binding as I did with Westmoreland Ponies, so you can check back on that blog post to check out the whipping and colors.

Here is Jack.  As previously mentioned, this is a pattern designed by Barb Carroll and was free pattern insert in the Sept/Oct 1997 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  I think Jack is quite handsome and torn between keeping him myself or sharing with someone by putting him on e-bay to provide revenue to help keep me in my hooking habit.  This picture without a flash is more what he looks like in person.

This is with a flash which makes the colors appear more bright than they really are but you can see the colors in the textures.

Someone asked to see the label for the Westmoreland Ponies so here it is.  It is smaller than I'd like as it would be nice to have fabric to turn under when stitching, that is why I used my pinking shears in order to retard raveling.  So until a larger label is designed this will do and I'll just cover this one over one day with a larger and better label.

Since there is no pattern ready for my Snapdragon as of yet I've resigned myself to sewing on a few more labels to the rugs.  Seems to me there were 8 labels on the 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of fabric that I printed out.  Should have had only maybe 4 labels per sheet but now I know better.  Next up for labeling will be Oh Deer and Mother Hen.

Still don't know what I want to hook next so that is why this is a no muss no fuss, easy peasy task.  Oh, no matter how many pins I put on a label it still  moves and is never on straight.  BUT, it is labeled with all the information.

Have a great evening and catch'ya on the flip flop.

Saundra

Westmoreland Ponies

Can't remember if I posted a final picture of Westmoreland Ponies after pulling the last loop or not, but it has just been bound and am about to sew the label on. 

Try tho I may, my picture taking of rugs is the pits.  So there is no way that even if I had a Celebrations worthy rug would I be able to get a proper picture.  I even pinned it to a foam board, took it outside in natural light and still no good pictures.  Either my camera was leaning more to one side, or tiled in some way so that it was off kilter when trying to crop the photo.  And even tried different settings.  On this setting, the flash went off anyway so it appears brighter than normal.

And this setting made the picture a little darker.  And in both pictures it is hard to see the one row border around the rug, but it is there and has all the same colors in a textured wool with the same colors as throughout the rug.

Westmoreland Ponies was designed by Barb Carroll and was a free pattern insert in a 2010 issue of RHM.  Now to get ready for the binding of Jack.

Enjoy your Saturday evening.

Saundra

A Little This, Little That 'n That

In other words some on the binding of a rug, some on the hooking of a Jack and going forward on the Jack. 

As you can see in this picture the very same wonderful variegated yarn which was used to whip the edges of the Oh Deer (a previous blog post) is the same yarn being used to bind Westmoreland Ponies.  Look how great the colors blend with the last row hooked.  You can see the skein of yarn above my hand.

And here is what has been hooked on the Jack design so far.  This was the free pattern insert in an older issue of Rug Hooking magazine written about in a previous post and was a design by Barb Carroll.

In FULL DISCLOSURE..... the lines are drawn on the straight of grain. The design looks a little funky in the picture at the bottom right side but believe me it is straight.

Naturally since I'm a color plan by the seat of my pants sorta girl decided to pull out some wool to see what I want to go where.  Hey, I figure  it is fall/Halloween so there has to be some green in there somewhere.  Since there is a bright to the top right corner figure there needs to be some balance to the bottom left so pulled out some wool to take a picture and evaluate my options.  

There are three stars in the design, not that I need all three or that I can't add more but am working within the confines of the design.  Well, except for the nose shape which I changed to the more traditional. 

Now I'll sleep on it, look at the pictures again and meanwhile will use this time to continue whipping the edge of the cotton binding to my rug.

Today's lower temps and lower humidity in Delaware was a blessed relief.  I managed to get the grass cut in Ben's playground done today with the push mower (riding mower can't go thru the gate).

Enjoy the evening for you working folks (I used to be one), just remember that TGTIF (thank GOD tomorrow is Friday).

Thanks for dropping by.

Saundra

Rug Update and Tooting my Horn

I'm get closer to being done despite the yard work for this almost 8 acres.  No it is not a pristine, coiffed yard, it is all I can do to just keep the grass cut after all the rain, so not a lot of weed pulling, pruning and fluffing up. 

I think Westmoreland Ponies is coming along well and nearing the end.  In person the crown/crest appears darker, which is nice.  It will be ready to show in Cape May this September along with the other rugs completed since last year's show.

Okay, so tooting my horn.......  A week or so ago I received a nice inquiry from Mary Jane asking if I'd give permission for her to post a picture of my Domestic Zoo on her blog.  Well hey, of course she had my permission.  Mary Jane mentioned wanting to do some research on Magdalena Briner and wanted to show my rug and the availability of patterns. 

Then I mentioned research on Magdalena had already been done by Evelyn Lawrence and was in a book co-authored with Kathy Wright.  But believe me I was humbled and honored just being asked to be on the same blog by and with these women who I respect.

So for those of you who are new to hooking and love primitive, .....enjoy MaryJane's bog.  http://www.maryjanesrugs.com/blog/1950172-magdalina/

Thanks Mary Jane for thinking my adaptation of Domestic Zoo worthy of being mentioned on your blog.  And thanks to everyone who drops by.  Have a great evening and stay cool.

Saundra

Some Headway on the Ponies

Even tho yard work and sitting at the dealership has taken a bite out of my hooking time, this is where I am on Westmoreland Ponies.

Today's yard work only involved using the push mower in Ben's backyard playground and around the base of some hard to get areas with the riding mower; so there is still the majority of grass to be cut left yet.  But not today as the heat just got to be too much.

Tomorrow I'll sit another hour at the dealership, (oh, add 35 minutes driving time each way), there will be hooking time lost there too.  While I don't have a rug to bind, my plans are to re-whip the worn edges of Eat Crow, I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.

Will have my grandson in the afternoon after picking him up from soccer camp at the local school.  I'll have that sweet young man in the afternoons all week so his parents can put food on the table.  It is a joy to have that 9 year old in my company.  When I was 9 am sure that I wasn't the conversationalist my grandson is. 

Have a great evening and stay cool....and as always, thanks for dropping by.

Saundra

A Few Loops Hooked and a Few Loops Re-Hooked

Back again with an update on Westmoreland Ponies.  In a previous post upon beginning the rug mentioned it was designed by Barb Carroll of Woolley Fox.  So I wrote to Barb asking about it's name.  Barb said she chose some of her favorite elements from antique rugs (scrolls, leaves and hearts), she likes the horse form and lives in Westmoreland County.  So there you have it.

You will see some new fresh loops pulled but also some RE-hooking.  I temporarily changed the outline color on the bottom right leaf (previous post) to see if I liked the darker outline.  But it seemed to be a bit much to the eye with the light/dark contrast.  Also changed the right saddle color from the other light green (from an over dyed brown/orange) to the same wool as the saddle on the left, EXCEPT I chose the textured part which had more blue than red.  So now both saddles have the same intensity (thank you Lynne, yes using your name in vain again).

So now just have to 'keep on going on' until this rug is finished.  Thursday I will be spending at least an hour or longer at the car dealership to have a transmission problem dealt with on my van, so I'll use that time to finish binding Henny Penny.  Next task will be to bind Westmoreland Ponies when it is done.

Have a great week folks.  Seems that just after having two weeks of rain and a couple days of good weather, this area is about to have the rest of the week in rain again.  At least I was able to cut my grass on Saturday during the break.  Meanwhile the mosquito population is rising again.

Saundra

Reverse Hooking and More Changes?

Ever wonder how many times you can reverse hook an area before the primitive linen weakens?  I have wondered but so far haven't re-hooked an area more than twice so hopefully I'll  not find out on this rug either.  I have re-hooked the bridle and saddle on the right and not sure that color wool is suitable since it blends too well with the background.  Perhaps I should just use the same wool as the saddle on the left as there may be enough to do so.  Hmm, in this picture it doesn't look too bad.... maybe?

You will also noticed that one leaf at the bottom was re-hooked using the same brown/red as in the crown.  I think I like it vs. the blue and particularly since the crown/crest is hooked using that wool, so the other one will probably be re-hooked as well.

And, am also thinking about ripping out the last hooked row of the bottom and larger heart and outlining it with the same brown/red and replace that herringbone which is presently outlining the heart.   Since Henny Penny isn't quite bound think I'll take a break from Westmoreland Ponies while I ponder how to go forward.  That way I can get more done on Henny Penny's completion.

Would like feedback, and Lynne, if you're reading I'd particularly be interested in your thoughts.  Have a great weekend everyone and stay cool.

Saundra

Color Planning by the Seat of my Pants

Color planning a rug has never been my strong suit; there are colors which I like and definitely know it when certain colors just don't jive together.  But as for pulling colors together to make a great rug and not just an 'okay' rug, my skills are lacking in that area.

Today I chose some wool for the crown/crest and am thinking about mixing these two textures you see together.  I didn't want a bright red so have chosen a red/brown texture and a dark texture which has brown, red and orange.  But before I start hooking it might see what else could work and might take another picture just so I can see it on the monitor.

In Barb's hooked version of the rug she had chosen two different colors for the saddles so figured I'd do the same but didn't want one of mine to be a pink/purple wool.  So thinking the saddles should be different in my rug too, chose a more orange texture that you see in the photo above. 

A hooker friend suggested that perhaps both saddles and bridles should be a green.  So pulled out a couple different greens to see if I want to pull out the saddle and bridle on the right and replace with one of these wools.  And now I see it does provide a triangle for the eye to follow so that idea does have merit.  There is this green texture which is similar but different wool than the leaves on the bottom and different than the saddle on the left.  Louise, must admit it is softer on the eye, thanks.

There is also this over dyed texture below but feel this is too bright compared to the other saddle and leaves.  And frankly believe the green on both saddles is better and makes the eye glide around the rug but my choice would be the wool above. 

Would welcome everyone's thoughts on the saddle colors and frankly would enjoy your ideas on the crown/crest color ideas.  Thanks for dropping by. 

Saundra

Background Wool on Westmoreland Ponies

I've had a request from a blogger/hooker friend to see the wool I'm using for the background of Westmoreland Ponies.  But first, an update on the rug ~ not a whole lot more hooked but will bore you with another picture anyway.

Here is the background wool ~ First one is from a dye job I did on a texture using my favorite High Meadow Green recipe.  Second column on top is a grey/green I purchased from Kris Miller bottom wool is something I had from somewhere.  Third column are two wools purchased from Barb for the project but not enough to do the whole background because I figured I had additional here close enough to do the rest of the job....just wanted that as a 'go to' color.  And the fourth column is a wool that I purchased in 2010 from Rebecca Erb called either Tea Green or Green Tea. 

All of these wools are close enough in the grey/green color to work well together, yet give a little variance and indicate movement in the background.  I think I've got a wool for the crown or dome over the horses.  However, my Oh Deer must get out of my face and my living space so plan to finish binding it tonight.  That would leave one more rug to be bound which hasn't even been steamed..... Henny Penny.

Can you believe it is July?  Already?  And I'm so SICK of rain I could spit.  There is a pond behind my yard and into the woods and the mosquito's are multiplying faster than rabbits but Mosquito Control can't come spray because it has rained every day for the last week and will continue thru this week. 

Have a great evening everyone.  Now to make a salad to go with my homemade lima bean soup and finish binding Oh Deer.

Saundra

Westmoreland Ponies Again

Since hooking this rug I've begun to wonder if it is an antique adaptation, a take on a carousel, maybe a horse training academy somewhere...... I'm going to write Barb and ask.  Many of Barb's designs have an attachment name relating to a provenance or special meaning to her.  She even has a pattern called Birthday Bunny which has significant memories attached to it. 

Heck I should have asked Barb that question while at Woolley Fox camp when purchasing the design.  You've already read about my love affair with this design at Woolley Camp in a previous post, so it makes no sense about my not inquiring while there.  Anyway, here is where I am in the hooking process at the moment.

I'm freaking out about what to do with the scroll/scallop above the horses.  I don't know what color to do there because the same reds I don't think are an option.  Now I'm wondering..... "how the heck would Barb hook it?"  

Thanks for dropping by everyone.  And remember to please be kind to one another.  Courtesy and kindness IS CONTAGIOUS!!!!!

Saundra






 

Another Westmoreland Ponies Hooked Rug

Yesterday after posting a picture of the beginning hooking on Westmoreland Ponies Melinda Cole sent me a wonderful comment and a picture of the same design she also hooked.  

Oh my, so now the pressure is on since I love her hooked version and light background color.  The movement in the background has always been one of my favorite things to look at when first starting to hook.  Sometimes I move away from that a bit and do the 'S' technique, depending on what I'm hooking.  But still favor the ripple or echo effect.  However, it seems some hooking teachers don't care much for that style. 

I plan to do the ripple/echo on Westmoreland Ponies so am anxious to get further along on it.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll give you an update on mine. 

If any of you readers have hooked this rug and wish to send me a picture I'd be delighted to post it here and brag about you as well.  Thank you Melinda for sharing and giving me permission to post your rug proudly on my blog.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

Westmoreland Ponies

Long time no write.  Unfortunately summer is here with a vengeance with lots of rain so needed to take time to cut grass and pull a few (with the emphasis on 'few') weeds.  I'm glad that task was done on Saturday before this heat and humidity happened.  The feel like temperatures were in the 90's this afternoon, according to the weather man.  And could verify that when I walked 25 minutes to get my mail and return.  The A/C certainly felt good when I opened the door.

And believe it or not, I've been drawing out more patterns.  Today I drew 3 and have about 8 more to go so will work on those tomorrow.  That just after shipping the pile last week.  Oh well, keeps this girl with pin money for more wool and rug camps.

Yard work and drawing patterns means there haven't been as many loops pulled on my newest project Westmoreland Ponies. 

This is a design by Barb Carroll and measures 20 x 29, so it isn't a really big rug and shouldn't take me too long to hook it.  Uh, but still haven't finished binding the Oh Deer and haven't even started the binding process on the Henny Penny yet.  But eventually it will be done because I want to put Oh Deer in front of my kitchen sink; time to give the Crow and Corn rug a rest.

Stay cool and be kind to one another.

Saundra

Finally a Few Loops Pulled

About 2 p.m. this afternoon I finally pulled a few loops on the new pattern.  It took some restraint, some personal fortitude and plain old German stubbornness to get all the yarn whipping on Oh Deer done first. 

Perhaps part of that was drilled into me as a child growing up in a middle class family who worked hard for what they had.  There was no room for instant gratification back then and understood you must work an honest day's work and save for what you wanted.  Heck, there was no such thing as plastic money, it was cash and carry.  And if you were lucky enough to have local people give you a product on 'account' you were bound by your integrity or that of your family had established which you would not tarnish.  I believe those were very good values taught back then.  Anyway........ moving right along.

Guess I've teased you long enough and are wondering what design I'm working on now.  It is a design called Westmoreland Ponies which I fell in love with in our cabin at Woolley Fox. 

You can see Oh Deer on the sofa which still needs the remainder of the stitching down on the binding; but at least the yarn whipping part is done so I'm halfway there.

For those of you who have not taken a class at Woolley Fox and stayed in her cabins, you don't know what you're missing.  Last month is where I saw her recently hooked design Westmoreland Ponies.  The first night's arrival I noticed it was a new rug in the cabin and that other rugs had been shifted around.  But then I picked up that rug and looked at every row of hooking, the colors, the texture and by Wednesday knew that I MUST come home with the Westmoreland Ponies pattern to hook for myself.   While there I also purchased a little wool which was in Barb's version but some wool I already had or something close enough. 

Must say it feels good to be working on a pattern again.  And (sigh), yes, guess you can look forward to the boring updates on it's progress.  I'm a happy woman hooking again.... ah, now that's the life.

Thanks for dropping by.

Saundra