A LEGEND LOST

Sadness overwhelmed me when being informed Barb Carroll had passed away.  Barb was a rug hooking icon, a legend, master of primitives and color ~ she was my mentor.    I had her books and savored them not imagining I'd ever have the luck to attend one of her classes.  Here she is behind the color planning desk at the old Woolley Fox Lane and wearing her bold and wonderful necklaces.

My first rug camp with Barb 2008 I was in such awe of her that I even took a photo of her talented hands showing us the next rug ready for hooking.

A photo of Barb color planning Lion and Trees taken back in 2012 and so happy to have a photo of her with me.  

While I had a photo of those talented hands her creative mind couldn't be captured in a photograph, but the results of her creativity lives on in the rugs she color planned.   Barb would eye the design then say I've just the right wool for 'this', what ever this was.  She walked across the room and came back with a piece of wool.  

That was something else about Barb.  She never ever measured a piece of wool for a specific motif or border, it was instinctive and always was exact.  There was either just a short strip of that wool left over or it took exactly what she'd torn for that item.

Kinderhook Basket was the first rug first class with Barb 2008.  It hangs in this room and I often walk up to review the lessons I learned from her that day.

Barb was a devout Catholic, generous in sharing her knowledge as well as giving in other ways.  She would read my blog to see what I was working on.  One particular time when working on Nantucket Broom Ride and I had cellulitis she sent me a 'get well card' with various pieces of wool to assist with my problem.

That problem was what shade purple to use for the goode witch riding the whale because I didn't have a good one and was determined to make her clothing purple.  Barb also suggested that such an adventurous gal should have a scarf flowing behind her.  Oh, and red hair.  It was quite a surprising 'get well' package indeed.  Just one instance of her friendship and generosity.

She would also send cards for no reason, I kept one (wish I'd kept them all) which has a cut out primitive flower shape that I'd like to trace out one day and make into a pattern.  Her cards were always up-lifting and with inspirational words.

Nantucket Broom Ride is a design by Lori Brechlin and pattern sold by Spruce Ridge Studios.  The pattern won't have the scarf but I'll bet if you ask Kris nicely she'd draw one on for you since she has this picture on her web site.

I could write volumes about that LADY, and she was indeed a Lady in all manners of speaking.  She also had a great sense of humor.  You will be missed Barb, rest in peace and happy hooking in heaven with your friends Bobbi, Emma Lou and Jayne Hester. 💜💜

Saundra

More of the ER Saga (purging)

So guess you are wondering ~ was the wrist/hand fractured???  First, lets back up to Saturday when I spent 5 hours in the ER and dependent on further developments and follow up with my primary care doctor.  It was 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening when I returned home with the mild swelling and seemingly controlled pain with Tylenol. 

NOTE:  you might get bored so I won't be upset if you don't finish the read.

Sunday I vacillated between heat (for arthritis pain) and cold for swelling while taking another Tylenol.  Went to bed and had a painful night.

Monday morning I called my primary physician for an appointment as instructed by the ER.  The facility she works is at the Mears Center which is part of the Tidal Health Care hospital system I visited at the ER.  Actually, Mears center also has an X-ray unit where I get mammograms and other x-rays.  

My appointment was at 1:30 and she arrived in the room about 2 p.m.  She didn't sit but asked what my problem was.  I explained the results of the previous Saturday x-rays, doctor's statement about fracture might not show for a few days and told her I now thought at the very least I had CELLULITIS.  I'd had cellulitis BEFORE so knew the signs.  

Actually I was hooking Nantucket Broom Ride when I had it before.  You can read about the cellulitis story and how Barb Carroll played a part of my dilemma at the link above.

My primary DR. told me she didn't think it looked like cellulitis (it was red, swollen and warm to the touch), that I should go back to the ER and have another X-ray to see if it was a fracture.  I asked if I needed a referral and she said there was nothing she could do for me.  This was 2 p.m. in the afternoon, the Mears facility HAS X-ray capabilities which would be cheaper than the wait and expense of a hospital ER.  But, I was sent on my way so checked into the ER yesterday, Monday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. and left at 7:30 p.m 6 hours later. GOD only knows what my bills will look like.

Results after a CT scan was no fracture, but did have CELLULITIS!!!!  Bingo!!!!    I was given a script for Cephalgin and have had 3 pills so far with 9 more days to go.  Already the pain has started to subside, fingers are moving better (not not perfect) and swelling down only a little.  After this post and dinner I'll put ice back on my hand.  

A little side story....... My primary care doctor gave birth to a child over a year ago and has been working 3 days per week so I got lucky with Monday.  I believe those are also half days.  Which means my appointment was at the end of her Monday shift and she wanted to go home ~ that's why "she couldn't do anything for me"..... because she didn't WANT to do anything for me; she wanted to be home.  

Me thinks me needs to find another primary care physician who wants to work.  

Sorry for the boring post and because I wanted to get at least a blog post done today since I'm lagging and check for inconsistencies later.  I just want a sorta normal evening home tonight and see IF,....IF I can pull a loop?????

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

After Yesterday's Blog Post

Shortly after yesterday's post was sent I received an email asking if I would be interested in selling my Nantucket Broom Ride rug (below).  

First, let me say I was quite honored (thanks Ranae).  But explained the rug had too many fond memories to sell it.  The pattern is a design by Lori Brechlin and sold by Spruce Ridge Studios.  

It was hooked in a class with Kris Miller at Cape May where I have attended camp since 2003.  A class with Kris is always fun and interesting.  By the last day we thought we'd figured out how I could get the purple dress I wanted.  We chose wool to outline the witch and to show arms even tho the colors were close in value with the background.   

Came home and worked our plan but it just wasn't working.  As always I took you followers on my hooking journey via the BLOG.  Hey, you guys know I always do that with all my rugs ~ show what I've pulled out, replaced.  It's like standard operating procedure to share my torture, 😀.

Then while walking my handsome boy Ben (miss you sweet boy) ended up with cellulitis in my arm by his thrashing about wanting to chase a vehicle.  Went to doctor, got meds and Barb Carroll was worried about me.  Sweet Barb reads my blog and we keep in touch.  

Shortly after I received a package in the mail with several pieces of wool for dress outline, dress and hat wool...you name it and I got it.  Could not believe her generosity, but she said...."I considered it a get well card".  
They weren't huge pieces because Barb knows how much wool a certain motif will take.  That was something I noticed taking classes with her.  If I purchased a piece of wool from her for my rug, she would rip off a strip and there was usually a couple strips left after the rug was done.  No waste and she doesn't sell you anything you don't need or want.  Quite an honorable and humble woman.  

Barb even suggested the green scarf flowing behind the witch as well as the red hair.  Great suggestions which I adapted in the pattern.  Love you Barb Carroll!

Saundra

Three Years Ago

That was a very productive year hooking 14 pieces; but then several were small mats.  Hannah's Hen is the first on the list.  It is a design by Woolley Fox.  Shown below on my antique school master's desk.

Antique adaptation of a Magdalena design is known as Harvey's Magdalena which hangs on a wall in this room.

A crow design by Heavens to Betsy I made into a pillow. 

Right after finishing the pillow decided it might be fun to have another crow pillow so designed a Magdalena inspired crow which ended up hanging in my kitchen instead.

An antique cat rug inspired this small piece ~ the edge is finished with the Betsy Reed technique.

The rug below is an antique adaptation and was color planned by Barb Carroll.  And yes, the antique rug showed the dog having claw like toes.  I didn't know whether to hook the dog with regular paws or toes.  Barb suggested I hook it like the antique.

Another antique adaptation which I LOVE is one I named Cherries and Candy Stripes.  It has my favorite blotchy background.

Mr. Cotton Tail is a design by Brenda Gervais.

The rug below was an Out of Hand Rug Hookers challenge which I named Puppy Love.

That year I finally decided to hook a pattern from my stash ~ actually it was a kit purchased years prior from Tonya Robey who once owned Mad Hen.  The first photo is with a flash.

What a difference.... the photo below is without a flash now taken on my back porch.  One shows an orangy red and the one below a blue red.  Neither red is how it actually looks in person.

That year I did 3 fall/Halloween themed pieces.  First was Hester, a design by Lori Brechlin which was a pattern offered in Primitive Quilts and Projects.

Also Hobo Joe, a design by Lucille Festa.  She showed her sample as a cut out but I chose to hook a mat for the table.  You can see I used the same green over-dyed wool for both.

And at a Cape May rug camp with Kris Miller, I hooked this wonderful pattern by Lori Brechlin called Nantucket Broom Ride.  We three gals did a good collective job, didn't we Kris and Lori?  

Actually, there was one more contributor to the success of this beauty.  That was my dear friend Barb Carroll who came to my rescue when I had a cellulitis bacterial infection.   Sweet Barb sent a few purple choices, red for hair and green for the flowing scarf.  Yup, that did it!  Thanks for the 'get well' package dear friend.

And last but not least, this was the year I designed a rug for my son's addition to his home.....his "Man Cave" rug.

Happy humid Sunday folks.  But at least it isn't raining.  

Yesterday I mentioned to someone I was going to cut grass before the humidity set in today.  She wrote back asking if the water had subsided enough to cut the grass.  The first photo inside the fenced yard shows still a puddle of water but surrounding that is mucky mud.

It is hard to see, but just beyond the fence the water has receded but beyond those trees and my clothes line is full of water and tons of mosquitoes. 

In the picture below you can more easily see the water and the shine into the woods of the sunlight's reflection on the water.

Was able to walk in this area just beyond my garage side without getting my feet wet, but to show the water level I opened up the in-ground propane tank and you can see water.  There are leaves floating around in there but was afraid to stick my hand in to remove them for fear of damaging a wire, gear, etc.

So yeah, still have lots of water here unfortunately.

Saundra

Another Update on Nantucket Broom Ride

As I'm participating in the Out of Hand Rug Hookers Challenge finishing this rug is critical. Besides, I'd like to have it on my harvest table in time for Halloween.

Working from the bottom up toward the goode witch, all of my motifs at the bottom have been hooked.  Must say it does look better with the mustard tree to the far left so the eyes will circle the rug (thanks Lynne).  Since the original tree was shaped like a stick pine tree I had to change the design a smidgen to make it look like a regular tree without leaves.

So later this week I should be ready to tweak the goode witch who is having such fun riding the whale all over Nantucket.  If you would like to purchase this pattern it is based on the art work of Lori Brechlin and offered by Spruce Ridge Studios.

Arm still healing and will be done with antibiotics on Friday.  Earlier today I had a chill thinking about how I'd put myself in a real medical crisis by not seeing a doctor when the horrible bruise first happened.  I didn't go until I was in excruciating pain 10 days later.  More than likely the cellulitis had developed early and I waited and put my life in jeopardy.  Cellulitis doesn't sound so critical, but it is; it is a potentially deadly illness and was very foolish to not have gone to a doctor with the red swollen bruise right away.

Have a good evening everyone.

Saundra

Travels of the Witch on A Whale and other stuff

Since today I'm feelling more normal will do more of a post, sorry that I've been in outer space for a while.  Mama ain't happy with the numerous lines of color around the small witch with the outline to define the arm and the halo effect to separate the so close in value colors of dress and background.

Personally I feel witches wear either purple, black or grey dresses those are my choices.  Well can't be black, can't be grey because the whale is that color and so is the witch's hair.

In the picture below you can see the background wool under the 3 purple choices I pulled from my stash.  The first two seem too light to me and the wool on the far right is the same wool as is in the roof of the first house which can be seen with the background without a halo.  It may look brownish in the picture but is a purple.  If I use that then I intend to give my witch pointy green shoes like her scarf color. Otherwise the black shoes would need to be haloed  or would have to give her flesh colored feet.

Oh, I put a couple of those far right purple strips on the witch's hat so you can see what it will look like.

Now the 'other stuff'.  Many have asked how I am feeling and thank you for your concerns.  This was way different that the two day flu like illness had previously but was afraid to say I had a bacterial infection (aka Cellulitis).  

Was asked if I got the infection at Cape May and the answer is an emphatic NO.  This was an injury caused by my beloved dog Ben who wants to kill cars.

On 9/25 he thrashed about with his metal collar or head hitting my arm numerous times attempting to pull away and chase a moving vehicle. Ben has no fear and heads straight toward the front tires.  

I had a huge contusion, bruising and redness but applied ice numerous times during the next few days so most of the swelling and redness disappeared.  That is until 10/5 (10 days later) at night when I was in excruciating pain, swelling and redness reappeared and was sure I must have had a break or at least a fracture.

Went to walk-in urgent care, the x-ray showed no broken bones.  But, I had cellulitis (aka bacterial infection) in my arm.  The arm was feverish, really red and painful.  That night my fever (at one point) reach 102.5 and think it was higher than that previously because I blacked out, in a standing position holding onto the fireplace for 4 hours until I reached a certain level of consciousness.  So I am on heavy antibiotics, called the urgent care about my comatose like symptoms the next day and they said it was due to high temperature.  My temperature has stabilized and take the temperature often so I don't black out again.

So, I’ve put new batteries in the shock collar and while I thought it inhumane to use before have now changed my mind.  I’d rather he get the hell shocked out him for a second than me with a potentially deadly infection once again.

Have a good evening everyone.  Am getting ready to hook on the rug for the first time today.

Saundra