MISC. CHIT CHAT

First subject would be Phase One of finishing Scalloped Flowers which is the hooking part.  It hasn't been steamed yet as I just pulled the last loop around 6 pm this evening.  I started hooking it around May 21st and drew it approx. 23 x 37.5 ~ the finished dimensions change depending on wool strip size, foundation weave chosen and the direction in which the pattern is cut on that foundation.

The rug has not yet been steamed or stained as that will be phase two or three.  Since I'd like to age parts it would need to be sprayed with water on the front and back in a few places then sprayed or painted with walnut dye.  Yes Janice I'll show you a picture of the before and after, lol.

Normally I don't do directional hooking but did so on this one to try give it an aged look.  Yet do regret that small horizontal hooking to the far left middle but am not going to rip it out and do vertical hooking now.

Changing the subject....yesterday morning I did a little weeding, pulled up future unwanted infant trees and other weeds.  I wore gloves and upon coming into the house washed my hands.  This morning when I woke up there was a crusty area under my bottom lip.  WTH?  So I washed it off ~ it didn't itch but the oozing was reminiscent of poison ivy.  OMG!!!!!!  No way!!!  Was something out there poison ivy, oak or whatever?  How did my under lip come in contact with poison leaves???

Doctors have told me I'm so allergic to poison ivy that I could become infected just by leaves floating in the air from burning or grass cutting.  

Today I used alcohol (no not good wine, lol) to rub on it and then applied the anti-itch solution.  But it hasn't itched.  I've changed my pillow cases and will go thru this regimen again before bedtime then cover the chin area with bandages.

BTW, in case anyone ever notices Robin's (Cranky Crow) comments referring to me as "MD" it is because one year I had so much poison ivy all over that I went to bed with long sleeves, wore cotton gloves and tied a small cotton scarf around my neck as it was there too.  I felt wrapped up like a mummy, therefore the name 'Mummy Dearest' was born.

Sadly I have not YET found anything for my next project.  I've checked previous 'wanna be' patterns and am no longer enthused.  Went to my favorite PDF pattern sellers and don't see anything.  Heck, there's already an abundance of pdf patterns here by my favorite designers already but I'm so fickle my mood changes.

But I've still more to do with finishing Scalloped Flowers and will be content with that task and then the binding.  HUH??  Did I really type that??  While binding is not my favorite thing to do I'm looking forward to seeing it finished completely.

Sorry this post was so long.. that is if you made it this far, lol.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Getting Closer on New Years Eve

For my friends who said I'd be done hooking New Years Eve pattern by this weekend....it didn't happen; but it's close.  

For you newbies here is a little lesson to tuck into your grey matter.  First I must say I'm not fond of directional hooking as I personally find it boring.  BUT, if you notice the up and down direction of hooking and color change gives it the appearance of the inside of a tree trunk with bear paw clawing to make it his home.  Uh, my interpretation.

Also notice the slanted directional hooking of the floor to give the appearance of distance from the lantern which would be smaller than the bookcase on the far right.  It's to give the illusion of distance.

I still have to face hooking the Coleman lantern but want to finish the right side of the rug first.  BUT...if you recall, there is a clock on top of the book case, right?  Teehee, wait until you see how I handle that.

Love keeping my readers waiting on the edge of their seats.  Or, maybe there aren't any readers waiting, lol.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

E.S. Frost Sheep

Since I was going thru hooking withdrawal, I just had to pick up my sheep rug and pull some loops...even tho the rabbits aren't quite done.  Well, that plus the fact I took care of my grandson and his cousin a couple days this past week since school is out, and that way I could be closer at hand and fill the needs of the kids.

I am really loving the various colors used in the scroll work around the sheep.  It seems much more interesting with the change of colors than if the scrolls were just a brown red (or other color choice) with a gold vein running thru it.  This adds much more interest to the rug and makes the eye move around.

And, I thought I'd add a little interest and make the shape of paisley in the area and work around it, but also wanted to do a little directional hooking as you will often see in antique pieces.  I've often wondered if that woman just got bored and decided to do the directional hooking, or perhaps she had put the piece down until she came up with more similar in color wool and just began hooking directionally, or maybe she had to do more natural dyeing to achieve a similar color, but I've always found that interesting when looking at antique rugs.

So thru my wool stash I went and found a wool jacket I'd washed and disassembled and it had some similar colors of the other soft blacks I'm using for the background and thought I'd do some directional hooking as well.  Must admit it is a little boring but it is easier hooking in a straight line than it is curving or angle hooking.

I drew out two sizes of this design and chose to hook the larger one, thinking that I'd need the larger size thinking that I'd need the size for the detail.  But now think the smaller size would have worked just fine too and wouldn't have all the excess background and body of the sheep to hook.  But, this will look quite lovely in my home for sure, not certain where it will go yet but someplace where I'll see it every day to enjoy it's beauty.