Best Laid Plans of Mice and Rug Hookers

Seems I started out the gate as an over achiever with grandiose ideas for the border of this rug.  And it probably would have ended up as a HOT MESS even if I hadn't gotten frustrated by my math.  This is the undecipherable border with all the dashes for measurements and lines drawn thinking it would be the right one.

Yet, in retrospect decided that would have been too busy a border for the central pattern which are the cats.  So now I want to look at what I've hooked and decide if I want to do two rows of blue or a row beside the blue of the cat color above him.  For sure the bright blue needs to be at the border to bring it all together.  And since those are the two center cats perhaps they should be side by side....OR divided by a row of dark background?  Guess there will be more playing with wool tomorrow.

One thing I know for sure.....the pattern of this I offer will NOT include a border.  It will be for those beauties in the middle.  Besides, the silk painting I did of this in 1998 was only the cats in the middle; I only wanted the extra end borders to fit into a certain part of my garden bath.

 

Must say that I do like Ali's suggestion with the beading at the edges.  This rug will be on the floor but will be with VERY LIMITED walking so that double wool in places around the edge will not pose a problem.

 

Have a great evening and get ready for the temperatures to become fall like.  I'm not ready to turn the heat on so will put on sweat shirts, turtlenecks and sweat pants to keep warm until the dreaded heat.

 

Remember to be kind to one another.  Tis the season coming up with longer lines and frustration.  But just a smile and a fun comment could turn the atmosphere from dark to light.  Life is just too short so let's enjoy it's potential.

 

Saundra

October Antique Rug Show

Can't believe it is October 1st already, just where does the time go?  In celebration I thought it was time for another antique rug show, my favorites things to look at. 

And what could be more appropriate for the month of October than this scaredy cat rug.  So is the cat afraid of the mouse?  OMG, this is definitely going on my 'to do' list.

There is something about the worn and faded blotch look of antique rug backgrounds.

Below is a busy montage of motifs which I find very interesting.  Oh but to know what the hooker had in her mind when doing this.  Obviously family, farm, hunting for food maybe and for sure a human connection.

Always a chicken rug and guess that was the staple of the farm life.

Wish I could have gotten the whole phot of this rug.  It looks like hit and miss snow shoes.

Again my favorite type background.

This chicken rug below I've seen in another antique design as a rooster without cats.  I'm wondering if perhaps this was originally a burlap sack of chicken feed which people used as a motif for the rug.

And below is the example I was thinking about.  Same fowl shape and different rug.

Another nice hit and miss border with a soft and simple design in the middle with my favorite blotchy primitive background.

This scalloped edge antique rug is great but can you imagine having to bind that edge?  No thanks.  I'll admire this beauty from afar.

Thankfully my HORRIBLE day ended up okay.  I went to start my car to run errands in the morning and I heard this clicking sound.  I was hoping it was only a battery and not an alternator or starter.  BUT.... was still stuck here at the mercy of a neighbor until they came home.  Finally just minutes ago the problem was solved and my post finished as it was just a battery.  WHEW!!!!!

Have a great evening everyone and please be nice to one another.

Saundra

Antique Hearts and Swags

It's been a few days since I've given you an update on my progress on this piece.... uh, because there hasn't been much progress lately.  I've been busy helping my grandson with a project at school, which I promise to bore you with later.

This is the pillow 'wanna be' and measures 20x20.  I'm looking forward to leaning back on it where I sit to hook.  I'm using a variety of hand torn from 1" to 1/2" and some previously cut strips from my stash in smaller widths for certain areas.

And this is what the original antique rug looked like.   Provenance is New York 1875 and original dimensions were 34 x 41 according to the auction house.  Oh my but what I wouldn't give to make mine look like this beauty!!!!!!

The antique rug was much larger but I reduced it to two different sizes and chose to hook the 20 x 20 as a pillow. 

 

I'm still slowly working on binding two other rugs but other projects have intervened so will just take one day at a time.  But once they are done will have a celebration and show-n-tell.

 

Have a great evening everyone.  Life is Good!!  And oh my do I love those tee shirts to wear and spread the word.  For some this is a tough time so a <smile> just might make a difference.

 

Saundra