Be Prepared

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared".  The next time I host or do a textile challenge my motto is "be more prepared".  In 2021, during the pandemic, I hosted a textile challenge on my blog and you can read a little about it HERE.  The objective was using more of an alternate textile than wool in a rug to get back to our roots, so to speak.  

Not such a wise decision was that I chose to use woven cotton and homespun as my alternate textile.  Not next time baby, it is a bear to pull through the linen.  Finished works by the participants of the challenge were featured in the August/September 2021 issue of ATHA magazine.  Thanks to all the rug hookers who joined in, it was fun.

So in order for  me to be more prepared for the next challenge I've started looking for and collecting silks, cotton knits and nylons.  If you peruse the rug hooking sale sites on FB you've seen Sari silk offered I'm sure.  What makes Sari silk (a silk garment worn in India) any more special than a silk item worn in America?  Go to your local thrift shop and look for silk items.  Yeah, you'll have to dismantle and rip it yourself but much more thrifty and you can use the savings toward gas.

Yesterday I did rip a couple items which you see bundled to the left of the photo below.  I'll bet that colorful blouse will be beautiful and will eventually work on that.  The white nylons will be thrown in a dye pot once I know what the project will be.  You can also see a green and yellow piece of nylon stocking.

And here is my collection of cotton knit, and more yellow and green nylon stockings.  These will have to be cut vs. ripped, but at least I've got my bounty ready.

For those who have followed me regularly, you know my passion for hooking antique adaptations.  Here is a photo of antique star and diamond rug which measures 33 x 70.  Love those blotchy off color patches on antique rugs.  Shows me they used what they had.

Now look at the close up detail of the textiles used AND notice the spacing between the loops.

And yet another closeup of another section of the rug with burlap showing thru.  That may also indicate weakening of the foundation.  Point is, that's not wool.

Here is the back of another antique rug and look at the spacing between loops.

On another rug, the photo below shows this person even used a sweater.

And probably my all time favorite antique rug designer/hooker is Magdalena Briner Eby.  Here are two closeup photos of the front and what is now known as Great Granddaughter's Rug.

Notice that even tho these rugs were well used, walked on (pressed), during Magdalena's time you can still see foundation showing.  And of course they got dirty which adds beauty to the antique and tones down the bright white.  Sometimes I have used walnut juice from walnuts collected in the fall or I've a favorite dye recipe called Olde Patina which I use.  So if you want to make a rug look old, follow in the footsteps of our foremothers, just say'n.

Here's Magdalena's fine rug held by relatives.  That is the great granddaughter in the middle.

In 2019 I hooked that design and tried to follow the color scheme Magdalena used but hooked in my normal rhythm and using what I had on hand.

Guess I've rambled long enough on this post and need to save up something for future posts.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

2021 in REVIEW

Don't worry, I won't write about the occupant of the White House, Covid restrictions for us while the open southern border allowed over 2  million unvaccinated illegals to enter the US, nor will I talk about other things political.  Instead I will show you a review of the hooked pieces I accomplished during 2021.  Would you believe there are 14 of them?  Some are small, some medium and none are huge as Jo, Jeanne or Tanya hook.  So here goes my review....

First rug finished in January 2021 was the antique adaptation White Horse and Scrolls.

Next was Tattered Tulip, an antique adaptation, the design I chose when a group of us participated in a Textile Challenge.   Tattered Tulip seemed to be the most popular design.  You can read more about that challenge HERE.

Plus, our group venture even made the August/September 2021 issue of ATHA; thanks to all of you who joined in. 

Patriotic Shield was the next project to go on my frame and is part of an antique triptych rug.

Continuing on my roll with small designs the next project was Black Tailed Jackrabbits, another antique adaptation.

Another small piece (now you see how I accomplished 14 pieces, lol) was Potted Plant, another adaptation.

Honoring the memory of fallen Police Officer Cpl. Keith Heacook of Delmar, DE I hooked the Thin Blue Line.  The Thin Blue Line flag is representative of the thin line police officers traverse daily between life and death as they go about their duty.  Thanks to all of you for your service to keep us and our communities safe.

Since my other departed pets had their memorial rug it was time for me to hook one of beloved Ben.  He was hooked with mostly #8 and #8.5 but slivers of wool were hooked in some places for detail.

I'd previously hooked a Patsy Becker design named Jewel Basket but that was early in my hooking experience so decided to buy another pattern from Wool and Goods and hook it again.  

Next I designed and hooked a pattern named Ox Farm and am quite pleased with it.  You can find this pattern and the antique adaptations HERE.

It was time for me to hook another Magdalena design as I still haven't hooked all her designs.  On the frame next was Rooster, Duck and Horse.

My design and another small one, I named Sunflower Duo.

For Cape May rug camp last September I purchased Stacked Birds, a design by Margaret Shaw.  You can contact her to request the design HERE.

The next rug on my frame was this Antique Horse Adaptation.

Another Magdalena design was calling my name so drew and hooked Bird Dog.  It is presently being whipped with wonderful variegated wool from Kindred Spirits.  This is a different dyed wool than was used to bind the horse rug above.

The yarn is nice and thick so doesn't need to be doubled.  You will have to request her variegated wool yarn as she only has photos of the solid colors on her web site.  If you send her a photo of your rug she will dye special for you the colors in your rug.

Since Winter Buddies won't be done by the end of tonight it will be listed among the 2022 rugs.  But don't fret as when it is completed there will be a photo finish on my blog.

I'll be sound asleep when 2022 rolls around and pray that 2022 will be a better year and if not I'll have my sights set on 2024.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

BACK to the BEGINNING

Well maybe not way back to the beginning.  In a previous post about the background of The Shield antique adaptation I questioned my original idea of doing a hit and miss background trying to keep the integrity of the antique.  So did some reverse hooking; then after several of you confirmed you liked the hit and miss I reverse hooked that other choice.  Here is what the 'other choice' looked like.

Why did I question my original plan, insecurity at my age????  Perhaps I should have waited to reverse hook until I'd heard the jury's decision because as soon as the jury was in, those background loops were reverse hooked immediately and went back to plan #1.  This is what it looks like now.

There's no going back now baby!  The hit and miss background is it and am happy.

On another note about the recent Challenge, several of you participants  suggested I do an article for ATHA, Rug Hooking Magazine, or even contact the organizer of Sauder to display the pieces.  A couple days ago I wrote to the organizer of Sauder with a link to the blog on the challenge but have not heard back.  Today I emailed the Editor of ATHA but haven't yet heard back.

Here's what you should know if the pieces go to Sauder each participant would need to ship them (am guessing at their expense) and would be gone for a duration of time.  I've never sent anything to Sauder so don't know anything else.

IF an article is approved for ATHA a very good straight photo would need to be taken with high pixels (best setting on your camera).

Would you believe temps were in the low 60's today!  Did a little yard pickup of limbs and pinecones, washed sheets and hung them out (still love the old fashion way of air dried sheets.  Still many more tiny limbs to clean up before grass weeds begin to grow.  I don't hire lawn people ~ since I live in the woods I figure why spend money to fertilize, seed and water the lawn so grass will grow which needs to be cut???  If my weeds grow green and need cutting I'll cut it.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Winding Down

Soon we will all be doing yard work and cutting grass, our time will be limited so lets get these challenge pieces finished so I can share them on my blog.  

The Textile Challenge was opened February 13th.  While not everyone may have joined that day the challenge has been underway for just over 3 weeks.  Monday I will do a blog post of participants' projects.

The majority of people chose the Tattered Tulip since it was an smallish piece, 3 people chose Magdalena's Pup, 3 decided on Scrappy Cat and one person chose Hearts in Circles.  There were those people who finished their piece early and wanted to do another challenge so chose something else.  Out of that whole group there were only 2 people who haven't responded.  Yet the rest of us had a great time with comradery and sharing.  

Elizabeth drew her Tulip pattern measuring 15 x 17 so is a little larger than mine was.  She is using light weight cotton, sari silk and tie silk.  And you can definitely see where wool was used; and oh what a difference wool makes, eh Lauren, lol.  We sure do cherish our wool now don't we?

Maria just sent me her update on Magdalena's Pup and this makes me want to hook one now too and even with alternative textiles (did I honestly just say that???)  

She also sent a photo of what she's hooking in her piece ~ yarn, t-shirts and hose.

Jane also sent me her finished Scrappy Cat she named "Walter's Cat" since that cat would always greet her when cutting the grass and it had bowed front legs.

Jane sent a photo of some of the textiles used at the bottom and elsewhere loosely in the rug.  She said she used these on the wrong side to make the colors muted and also pretended she was a 13 year old hooking in the dark with whatever was available.   Oh if only we could revert back to that unharnessed innocence whenever we wanted ~ where the sky could be green or pink and animals blue?  Hmmm, is that an idea for a future challenge anyone?

Happy Saturday and happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

 

The Beat Goes On

Am truly surprised and honored by the response of people wanting to participate in this Textile Challenge.  Some even enjoyed it so much they wanted a second serving, but me thinks my friend Lauren won't be one of them 😁.  You did a fantastic job on this beauty despite what you think Lauren.

The finished dimensions of her piece is 12 3/4 X 15 1/2; she  used Sari ribbon, woven cotton, paisley, 1 strip of velvet, 2 different wool yarns and an old t-shirt.  So you can see the great wool yarn edge better, here is a close up.  Also note a random color hooked in at the bottom left.  That is exactly what our foremothers would have done when they ran out of the textile they were using for the background.  That gives it character and I love it!

Denise finished her Scrappy Cat and asked to do Magdalena's Pup next.  Some of the cottons she used in this piece she previouslyl cut to do a quilt; but said she's enjoying it much more in this piece than the quilt that almost was.  Sweet looking feline you have there Denise.

Kimm also finished her Hearts in Circles antique adaptation.  She stained hers with coffee and said coffee stains darker and faster than tea.  But Kimm I think it looks lovely.  Maybe you'll try it again in different colors or using tea. 

Rhonda completed her challenge piece and while she complained about not being a good photographer it seems none of us ever get the true colors when photographing our work ~ that's a constant complaint of mine.  Looks good and primitive just how I like it.

Donna started hers yesterday and is making good headway.  She is using quilting cotton, sari ribbon, some yarn and stretch jersey, which, she says Deanne calls 'sexy jersey'.

Pamm finished her velvety tulip today and it is a stunner.  She said the pink and green (which is showing up as a gold/green on my monitor) is hand dyed but the purple velvet has white on the backside and that is what is causing those little threads.   She also said doing this challenge makes her appreciate how easy it is to hook with wool.    Pamm, couldn't agree with you more about the wool ~ and, FYI, all of us who participated had those dang threads with the cotton we used too, not to worry.    

I've been asked how people are finishing their pieces.  I just folded back the linen and tacked down, then did the Betsy Reed style of primitive edge.  

To do that I cut 3" strips of like cotton background and twisted it into a ball to wrinkle it until ready to do the edge.  I had a ball of vintage pink and ecru thread to do the whipped edge.  Not fancy but adds to the primitive nature of the challenge.

This morning I began my normal ritual of searching for Covid vaccine in my area then shocked finding availability at my local Walgreens.   Was able to secure an appointment for tomorrow with the 2nd dose in 28 days.  A couple hours later received a phone call from Walgreens saying they had 3 pharmacists on duty and did I want to go in today.  Heck yeah!  So I had my first Pfizer shot today around 1:44 p.m. and will have the second on March 31st.

Happy Hooking and stay safe.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com