AH! MORNING SHOWER and COFFEE

Oh boy this morning shower was wonderful after not getting one yesterday with no electricity.  And a treat to have coffee this morning while doing my thing on the computer.  Already looks like it's going to be a delightful day.

Now to my accomplishments ... make that lack of, or at least a snail's pace when it comes to binding Animals Great and Small.  Hooking this rug was a joy with every loop pulled.  Binding is another matter and in order to completely finish the rug am only willing to allot an hour a day (during The Five TV news show) to work on that task.  So basically only two sides are done ~ one long side and a short side.  Will bind again today during The Five with a glass of wine to ease the drudgery. 

The new rug on my frame might endure set-back but will wait and see.  This first photo shows the flowers too dark and not how it looks in person.  

Another photo taken from a different camera, again not what the dang rug looks like in person.  But at least you can see there are flowers and buds.

This is the wool used and a piece I'd considered ugly before, but thought it might do the job for the big flowers and the buds.  Once again not depicting the true colors.  Will hook a little more and finally decide the fate of the flowers.

Yesterday the wind was still howling and local news said the sustained winds were 45mph.  While I did get most of the mess cleaned up around my deck, it was scary being outside with strong winds with me under and around trees.  Couldn't wait to get back safely inside.

Saundra
www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

RUG REVIEW OF 2024

This post is to share pics of rugs hooked in 2024.  The first finished rug last January was an antique adaptation of Reclining Lamb which was started early November 2023 in a class with Caroline Twigg.  After returning home I reverse hooked most of the wool in the body of the sheep so the rug wasn't completely hooked until January 14th 2024.  And later bound.

The next adaptation was Lone Stag and Star.  

For some reason I became enamored with a hit and miss antique rug displayed at Sauder ~ Star and Hearts which I had to hook.

Fox frequent my yard often and see them sometimes drinking from the water bucket I keep outside for deer.  Fox are beautiful creatures so when seeing the 1922 antique version it was the next pattern on my frame. 

By now you know what makes my heart skip a beat ... a horse of course.  So Running Horse was next.  And for those of you wondering, the red in the horse's neck and mane was in the original antique.

You wouldn't know which antique rug this next adaptation was taken from unless I showed it to you, as it looks nothing like the original.  Coming up with a name for it was difficult as I thought the original was as ugly as a junk yard dog.  Yeah, part of a phrase taken from Jim Croce's song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".  Must admit it's not my favorite rug.

This next one I did enjoy hooking and am pleased with the finish.  It's another antique adaptation named Bird on Tree Stump.

Dog with Basket was the project taken to Cape May and color planned by Lucille Festa.  Lucille used every piece of my wool taken to camp.  I kept telling her to make suggestions from her wonderful selection but she continued to use mine.  Of course I still did buy some of her wonderful overdyed 'dirty muddy' wool.   The wool used in the dog I'd never have thought to use but Lucille did and think it looks great.  All the wool were odd pieces taken just in case they could be used for something.  

Well this next one seemed like a good idea at the time.  It, too, is an antique adaptation, not one of my favorites either, but it did turn out quite like the antique.

Although hooking on the sunflower started around March 2024, I didn't finish it until November so it would be ready as a Christmas gift to my DIL.  Unfortunately I neglected to take a photo after it was stitched closed.  Cathy, my DIL, was over the moon happy with this as one of her gifts and reminded me that she LOVES sunflowers.  Guess that was a hint for future gift giving.

Guess you are surprised not to see Magdalena's Animal Parade as another finished in 2024.  Me too.  But it will be finished soon and will be among those shown next year in the 2025 rug review.

Happy New Year.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MY CAMP RUG

Lucille Festa was my teacher and don't know how she managed to have it 'all together' when she arrived.  She had just attended ATHA, then 400 miles away from home her vehicle broke down with transmission problems.  Yet she managed to eventually get home, restock her supply of wool, turn around and drive from Vermont to our class in Cape May, NJ.  Heck, I was feeling like a zombie after just 5 days of fun so she must be a superwoman.

What surprised me was the various wool Lucille chose for the dog from my stash ~ colors I'd never be brave enough to mix together, but she did and I like it.    Here's what the rug looks like and I'm quite happy. 

For those of you who read my blog, you saw this photo of odd and narrow pieces of wool pinned to a ring.  For the basket she picked that stripe piece which I think was a part of a poncho or some clothing I'd picked up somewhere.

The bottom plaid was another appearing in the dog which was surprising also since it has specks of shiny threads, also a piece of clothing which appears in the underbelly and part of a leg.  Below is another shot of the dog wool, basket and the ugly.  The other wool  missing in the photo is Rebecca Erb's Black Jack (Reversible Black).

And you will see a block of that 'ugly' wool (as I call it) with the green in it which I used in a tree HERE.  So when you attend a rug class don't be afraid to take those unusual pieces of wool, ya never know how it will look in your rug.  Lucille didn't recommend any of her wool for my project.  I had to just look and buy what appealed to me in order to bring home some of her lovely overdyed pieces.

As you can see from this photo below (the original antique), Lucille drew her own sections for me to hook since my chat with her was that I wanted to hook the rug how she envisioned it.  They aren't too far from the original lines tho.

I'd hoped to get this post published earlier in the day but I did a bit of reverse hooking on and around the basket.  Plus did a bit of yard work since that was neglected last week.  And now it's almost bed time.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ANTIQUE RUG SHOW

Perhaps there will be a rug here to inspire something new for your frame.  And if I'm lucky it will get my juices going to put one on my frame when Running Horse is completed.

Recently Lauren showed us her new project which is an adaptation of a Victorian wallet which you can see HERE.  So it seems apropos that I show you an 18th century purse stitched with silk and metal thread.  This design would also make a great hooked rug.  Again Blogger won't let me make the pictures below any larger for your viewing comfort.

A bowl of flowers dated 1863.

A geometric with an easy to draw and hook design.  With it's simplicity this would be great to use up some of those wool colors we consider ugly but which would add interest to an otherwise boring rug.  Try it using those plaids you don't know what to do with or perhaps dye jobs that didn't go as planned.  

Rug with a sailing ship and waterfall rug hooked 19th century measures 22 x 40.  Sure wish I could enlarge this one so try clicking on the photo to get it to enlarge.  Hopefully Blogger will work for you.

Profile images of 2 horses hooked late 19th early 20th century. 

I wonder if Babe is an antique because of the artistic background but felt it worthy to share and maybe someone knows as the auction house did not give a date.

And for my Canadian friend is a landscape displaying sugar shacking which is, of course, a Canadian hooked rug.

Cooler temps now that the storms have moved to the east from the left and middle of the US.  Have heard it is also going to be a higher than normal year for hurricanes.  Hope all will be calm when I plan to take the ferry to rug camp in Cape May, NJ.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

TIPS TEACHERS TAUGHT US

The other day I emailed follower/reader Denise and asked if there was something she'd like me to blog about.  As any of you who have a blog know, sometimes we (or at least I) struggle to come up with a topic which might interest readers.  Her question was "wondering what was the best tip learned from a class or teacher".  

A comment from Julia made a perfect and classic example of 'must do' ~  Use a good linen foundation and not cheap brittle burlap for your rug hooking.  Must admit that when I was teaching myself and practicing that is what I used because it was affordable and could be a 'throw away'.  But when I got seriously hooking that was the lesson taught me also and is what I use.

Continuing with Denise's email, she said she was struggling with a random background.  When hooking a large background we all get bored!  I'm speaking for myself here but know someone (UH, that would be my friend Lauren) who finds it a soothing task.

When I first started hooking think I just followed the outline of the main motif's (the ripple effect) until the lines eventually connected and then filled in.  But attending an early rug camp my teacher Bev Conway suggested drawing, then hooking, S's in the background, hooking the S, hooking around the S, moving onto the next and as each S is hooked around they eventually meet up.  

This Rottweiler Memorial wasn't hooked in her class but I used her technique.  You can see the S or C movement throughout the background and I used two values of the same color wool.

Another teacher Lisanne Miller suggests the puzzle piece style.  I tried it on my eagle rug but didn't do her technique justice as I didn't draw the small areas on the background, I just hooked random spots using dark and different wools.  It is a primitive after all. 

Reader Nancy commented on my last blog post that her teacher suggested adding small bits of color or different value here and there for interest.  

Robin mentioned using 'ugly wool because ya just never know when that ugly will look wonderful in a rug'.

Barb Carroll made a similar comment in class.  Barb's was more of a color contrast which she called 'poison' as a random out-of-place hooked piece of wool.  After all, they used what they had back in the day.  An example of Barb's teaching is in this Westmoreland Ponies pattern designed by her and I hooked it in a class with Barb 2012.  Click on the photo below and look closely.  You can see the odd yellow green strips, random plaids and even a lighter color in the background.  All of which provides interest and makes the eye move around the rug.  AND, makes it more fun for the hooker.

Westmoreland Ponies is a free pattern in a previous issue of RHM but can't recall which year but maybe around 2011 or 2012.

Please don't hesitate to email me a question or an idea you'd like to see on my blog.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitive.weebly.com

SATURDAY SUNFLOWER

Am getting bored with the sunflower and made some changes but more changes might be coming.  Decided to not put my initials in, won't hook the date, decided to not make it into a pillow and will probably make the lower larger leaf smaller too.

The petals in the flower have all been from the wool worms/noodles.  The stem and leaves started with leftovers but found they worked.  Looked around and found more of that ugly (but suitable) wool and cut additional for the leaves.  Here is that wool.  Ya just never know when the uglies will work.

As I was drafting this post a response came in from a reader to whom I'd asked a question.  But this post was on its way.  

SO... my question to her was "what would you like for me to blog about".  Her answer was:  "what is the best tip I learned from a rug camp or teacher".  I do have a couple worth mentioning but would love it if some of you might send me an email and mention your best learned tips and I'll add them to my blog when that happens.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctinprimitives.weebly.com

Back to the Dye Pots

Decided to do a little more dyeing before putting all the supplies away.  Since there was more liquid left of Old Patina recipe thought I'd do more of the uglies.  Actually that white and tan plaid is not ugly, but wanted it toned down to look aged.  So did two pots with different amounts of dye in the pots for different results.

These 4 pieces are the before wool shown on the left (below).

The other 3 pieces on the right you've seen in other photos and is the after dyeing.  Sheesh, I could have put them in the same order, duh,  lol.

Also decided to use up some left over Soldier Blue from the Beautiful Wool dye book, which really looks like a periwinkle.  Wasn't sure what I'd end up with but as it turns out I like it.   On the left is the wool I started with and the right side are the results.  I particularly like the bottom wool results and don't know what I was thinking when buying that one either.

Thankfully there's more of the Soldier Blue dye left so will plan for another dye day.  Probably this weekend since there is going to be MORE RAIN.   Speaking of rain ... the local news said there was already 4-5" of rain this week and yet we'll get more this weekend.

Next time I decide to get the pots out I should plan for the event rather than grabbing wool at the last second and not letting the wool soak long enough.  But won't bore you with this weekend's results.  Am hoping to do an update of Star and Hearts rug.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

BROUGHT OUT THE DYE POTS

It has been quite a long time since the dye pots were pulled out.  Not that I didn't want to dye wool but it is such a pain to pull all that crap out, locate the wool you want to change the color of, choose what recipe to use and see if you have those dyes.  I'm always in need/want of primitive black and have lots of unappreciated (ugly) wool which would be suitable for dyeing primitive black.

Sorry I didn't take a photo of the wool before, but this is the after.  Will tell you the plaid on the left was a grey plaid which turned out nicely.  The middle plaid was mostly green & light plaid, on the right was a putrid pink purple plaid which may have been part of a bargain bag purchase.  I love the bargain bags but am not a fan of pinks and certain shades of purple (sorry Barb).

The dye recipe used called for 1/2 yard wool but am sure I was over that since I didn't measure ~ sometimes I just wing it and hope for the best.  Despite that I'm pleased with the results and never expected them to be total flat black anyway.  Plus it is good to have some variation in a primitive black background unless you are a purist.  Here is the recipe used:

Primitive Black  (using Cushing Dye)

1/16 t plumb

1/4 t Khaki Drab

1/4 t Peacock

1/8 t black  over 1 cup boiling water

Since the pots, spoons and measuring cups are out decided to do more primitive black dyeing and will use the wool below.  The wool in the middle is very similar in color to the over dyed piece on the far right in the photo above.  This time I will measure the wool.

Here are the results of the next two pots of primitive black.  I did use up some of the red & blue plaid on the right  and will save the remainder of it for another dye session.  

I've put away all the dye paraphernalia and for now am over the dyeing bug.  Besides I didn't want to root thru my organized shelves of wool so only chose those which were easily retrievable.

Weather still seems to be rather mild for June and no rain here in a while although weatherman said "maybe" will have a little thunder and rain this evening.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. CHIT CHAT

This is the third sighting of turtles returning to my property this year and the smallest so far.  Turtles usually return to their place of birth.  This time I didn't lift the turtle to check if it was male or female.  And didn't notice color of eyes before it retreated inside it's house.  You can watch this YouTube video to learn more about the Eastern Box Turtle.

Also, after my last blog post noticing Santa looking at me (us) immediately rotated the wire basket to face Santa toward the brick wall.  Just not ready for him yet.

Am still plugging along on the Scalloped Flowers adaptation and once hooked will give it a spray or wash of walnut dye to tone down the white and dirty up other areas.  Was too lazy to take it off the frame.

There is still lots of the pattern to hook.  Believe it or not that white is not the brightest white in my stash.  There needed to be a value difference so this was my choice.

I've got some ugly wool on soak and hoping tomorrow (maybe) I'll do a pot of primitive black dying.  I am always in need of primitive black wool!!!!

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

LOOKING BACK

Decided to take a stroll back in time and show you what I hooked in 2022.  The first piece finished that year was the delightful pattern Winter Buddies designed by Cindy Lundgren and sold by Cushing.

Was getting antsy for another challenge/hook-along so a few of us hooked our favorite Granny Donaldson cow blanket designs and this is the one I chose (18.5 x 22).

After admiring an antique rug for many months it had to go on my frame and make it mine.  I named it Blue Bowl of Flowers and drew it 30 x 41.  During the hooking process I considered extending the flower stems.  But this is how the antique rug was so that is the way I hooked it.

Then there was that Dancing Rabbit hook-along.  Perhaps one day I'll hook the really old version in my files and enjoy it more.

In a class with Cindy Irwin at Ocean City, MD I was finally able to hook Mother and Fishbowl.  Because of Covid one year the class was cancelled and I just held out hope she'd get hooked.  I'm still not happy with mother's eye, her ski nose or lips ~ that was not the fault of Cindy, it is my loops.  Perhaps one day I'll work on it again before a next camp.

Cottage and Apple Tree is also an antique Adaptation drawn 22 x 30.  And it made for a great blog post on using UGLY WOOL.                      

Just like Blue Bowl of Flowers some antique rugs just haunt me until I hook them.  That was the case with Deer and Blue House, another antique adaptation which I drew measuring 21 x 30.

And who could forget what I personally refer to as the bastardized drawing of an otherwise wonderful antique Mary Comstock bed rug.  While I had to redraw many of the elements was not ready to toss in the towel.  It finally did get hooked and bound.  I should  have drawn it myself.

Then yet another challenge piece with Li'l Lamb chair pad, an antique adaptation using various textiles.  This time I didn't use woven cotton and it was much more fun.  I used nylon hose, tea stained cheese cloth, cotton knit, seam binding and wool.

And the last loops pulled on a rug last year was Double Eagles, another antique adaptation I drew.

Hope you had a fun trip back in time with me and hope you enjoy hooking forward with me in 2023.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

HUNTING TIME

I'm still working on another flower but it is hunting time once again for the next rug for my frame.  The idea of hooking a block from Lucinda Ward's Reconciliation Quilt is still on the table but that won't occur until after the new year when Christmas has been put away and folks have time, right Lauren 😁.

And I did draw out a pattern today but it wasn't for me. 😞  Someone ordered Cottage and Apple Tree pattern and always try to get them in the mail asap.

The rug below was recently found and before I did the screenshot thought for sure I'd noted the date and dimensions.  Well, can't identify any scribbled notes so guess I forgot.  Eventually I'll see it on pinterest again and follow the trail to hopefully take notes and document.

This great rug was found today, a Horse named Mabel dated 1917.  It measures 41 x 45 and  sold for $9,400 Oct. 2000.  If I hadn't hooked one very similar this would definitely be on my frame right now.

Here is the rug hooked several years ago which is very similar to the one above.

The Folk art horse rug below has been posted on my blog before.  It measures 36.5 x 52 and sold for $1,690.  At one time I was interested in hooking it but that interested fizzled out before drawing it.  Will think about this as a choice again.

I've posted this star rug previously also and now that I'm looking this one seems interesting.  Don't let that pattern maker's name on the bottom of the picture confuse you; she doesn't have a copyright to this design as it is in public domain circa 1900.  She just imprinted her web site link at the bottom of the picture.

This beauty is also being auditioned for the role of my next rug and I've been interested in this design for a while.  Cogswell's 4-petal flower is hooked with cotton and wool on burlap.  The original measures 31 x 45 and said to be hooked between 1890-1925.  I have some ugly wool that would be perfect.  If you recall, I've posted before how ugly wool makes a great rug.

Finally found it....Abe Lincoln, his horse and cabin.  AL1809 represents the date he was born.  US 1861-1865 for is years in office.

The search for my next project will continue but it is getting late in the day and want to make a post so will sign off for now...TA TA.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com