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

THROWBACK THURSDAY

It has been so long since I've enjoyed a rug camp that I've been doing reruns in my mind.  There's definitely lots of fun memories to draw from.  This time I'm travelling back to my very first visit to Woolley Fox and Barb Carroll workshop.  I was already in awe being in the presence of the rug hooking icon Barb and the opportunity to take a class with her.  The icing on the cake was when she took us on a tour of her home.  I took this photo of my gal pals to record the event.  To the right and over her bed is the E.S. Frost Horse and Scrolls rug I posted in the latest antique rug show.

That first workshop with Barb I hooked Kinderhook Basket, an antique rug she had hanging on her wall.  My intentions were to hook it like the antique she owned (shown below).

Barb had other plans and I liked her color plan MUCH better.  The colors she selected were mostly from the wool I took to class.  The end result is much richer than the original antique and think it is simply 'smashing'!

I've previously told the story about Barb asking me what I thought of the color purple, and I didn't take any purple wool.  Uh, told her it was my least favorite color.  She considered purple as a neutral and so some purple went into the rug.  A fun memory every time I look at the rug which hangs in this room.

Fast forward a few years of workshops with Barb to one in particular, frankly don't remember which rug I was working on at the time of this event yet I do know every rug color planned by her.  

Anyhoo....we gals would often take a small gift to give each other and pal Deb liked to give socks with a message ~ she'd buy one of each design and sometimes she give the sock planned for that person and sometimes she'd let us choose.  This time I had the opportunity to choose the sock statement which spoke to me and it was this pair below.  I covered up 2 letters for fear of being banned.  

I was wearing a pair of cropped pants and comfy slip on shoes and confident the words wouldn't be seen.  It was time for my rug to be color planned and walked to Barb's work table when in her parental voice said, "Saundra ?"  My pals immediately looked our way and when I looked at Barb realized she had seen my socks.  OMG, my face felt red hot and was so embarrassed.   I'm not Catholic but all of a sudden felt like a kid at Catholic school being admonished by a Nun.

Of course I never wore those again at Barb's, was very embarrassed but is a cherished memory nonetheless.  Hope you enjoyed the time travel back to Woolley Fox.

Yesterday there was a thunderstorm and the weatherman said this area received 2" of rain.  Thunderstorm and more rain are predicted for today so will run my errands before that begins.  OH, by the way, guess who has poison ivy again #!%?!.  When I cut the grass this week, despite the hot temperature I wore long pants, long sleeve shirt and removed them after cutting grass.  

Only thing I can think is that with the weeds I've pulled with gloves and didn't identify any poison there must have been some hiding.  Hope it doesn't develop into the case I had last year but guess my name by Robin continues to be md (mummy dearest) since last year I went to be with long sleeve shirt, gloves (poison was between my fingers) and since it was also under my chin and neck wrapped a scarf around my neck.  As of this moment it is only right arm and hope it doesn't spread.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Happy Haunting and Scarecrow

A few years ago when I was into yet another craft...quilt applique I made this adorable hanging piece.  It was a pattern in some craft magazine and a design by Patrick Lose.  I love primitive and have antiques so wanted the branch as a hanger.  This still lives here because I've brought it out at Halloween some years.    

The Scarecrow quilt applique was also from some craft booklet (I think) and not sure if the piece still exists here, was sold or given as a gift previously.

 

Some of you have inquired on my poison ivy healing.  It continued to spread and get more intense and won't tell you where the areas are, suffice it to say the only place which isn't infected is my right leg.  I called my doctor Wednesday and since she is only working part time after giving birth wasn't sure when I'd hear back.  

Today I received a call from the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.  She doubled the dose of prednisone from 20 mg per day to 40 mg per day for 10 days.  The last few days with 20 mg I've had a sour stomach and not sleeping well (reactions to the drug) so now the increase will affect (effect?) those reactions as well.  But I want this poison ivy thing OVER. 

My previous doctor (retired) prescribed Cortisone pills and was the only thing which would get rid of this allergy.  Yes it is a steroid and there is, or was, a blister package of punch out pills with dosage which dwindled and weaned me off during a period of time I can't recall.  It has been years since I've had poison ivy this badly.  Maybe Cortisone isn't the wise choice today?  Don't know but if I ever get it this bad again I will suggest it to my current doctor if this double dose of Prednisone doesn't do the job either. 

Have been washing my hands well after everything (as if with covid I wasn't doing that anyway), in the morning after the shower I rub the affected areas with alcohol to dry the poison oils then apply Caladryl.  I do that same routine before bed.  Then wait until the Caladryl has dried before putting on long sleeves and long pants, then tie a kerchief around my neck because the poison ivy is still rampant there.  Each day I remove and  replace the pillow cases I use, put the clothing and towels of the day in the laundry.  

Sorry to belabor the spiel on my the poison ivy subject but think I just needed to VENT!  Thanks for being my sounding board.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com