Gotta Pick Up the Pace

Good grief, I've another rug camp and leaving here one month from today and will start a new rug.  Right now my plans are to do Olde Ducks which is a design by Magdalena Briner.  It is all drawn but no wool pulled yet.  Mama's gonna get back to her roots.

However..... as you know I've got the Katz in progress and really WANT that one done and out of the way before I leave.  I'm hoping I can accomplish that feat AND have it bound would be incredible.

Meanwhile, this cutie is unfinished ~ it is Folk Art Horse, a design by Magdalena Briner and the small size pattern offered by Woolley Fox.  So if the Katz are done this will go with me to work on the night before class starts and while I wait for Betsy to get to me.  This picture is taken with a flash inside.

This photo is taken in evening light on the back deck without a flash.

Well guys and gals, time for me to finally do some hooking on that pink/orange cat.  Today I did start with the quilled eyes but that is as much as was accomplished. 

Have a great evening and hope you enjoyed the same mild temps today as I did in Delaware.

Saundra

Another Decision to Make

The border decision was made after I pulled up my big girl panties and went for it.  For those of you just joining, I wanted a companion rug for a silk painting I did in 1998 inspired by Laurel Burch~esque cats to fit in a certain area. 

For the border my initial thoughts were to have diamond shapes, as in the two cats in the middle.  Or perhaps different sized blocks of color used in all the cats.  Yet that would distract from the already busy cats which are the main focus of the rug.  Finally decided what might bring the rug together was use of colors in the two cats in the middle.  I'd use the zig zag shape in the cat to the left and the colors would make the eye circle around the entire rug and pull it all toether.  Hope it works.

But NOW...... need to choose colors for the cat on the top right (see copy of my painting below). OH, I eliminated that yellow cat as seen in the picture below.  It would add to my angst of an already 'out of the box' hooking project for me.  And ....yes..... I'm still having fun.  But to add that small cat in the equasion or those tiny cats at the bottom of this painting would have been a deal breaker.

Here are my choices at hand.  The orange look close in color and value but they really are different wools.  The pink has a lighter side and darker side but the oranges are different wools.

Another choice is the same pink but a different and lighter orange added for selection choice.  Once I look at all this on the computer perhaps it will make it easier for me to choose.  Plus the flash sure does change things doesn't it; seems to make everything brighter.

And yet another option.  This is a brighter pink and eliminated it immediately after seeing this on the monitor ~ just TOO bright!!!  But thought I'd let you see what was pulled for ideas to choose from.

NOW...... Just need to choose.  Meanwhile I'll hook a little more on the border since that is a more boring task.

Have a wonderful evening everyone!!!!!

Saundra

Rugs to Inspire

Most of the time when I have a rug show on my blog it is either from a rug camp or vintage rugs, which are my all time favorites.  But also enjoy looking at modern day rugs and some give me pause to hopefully soak up some talent through osmosis.  Here are just a few that I've seen and admired lately. Many times when I see them on Pinterest or elsewhere there is no name identified as the hooker, so if anyone knows who hooked it I will happily change the name on the picture to give the person credit.

This one I do know is called "Victory Garden" by Heather Richie ~ talk about getting the 'birds eye view', you even see the birds flying.  What a wonderfully creative piece.

Look at the 3-D mane, eye lashes and tail hair on the Zebra!  Awesome.

This piece is a double paisley design with cut outs by Sharon Townsend.  Oh bet that gave her fits to finish but it sure is effective and beautiful.

A cool locker hooked purse.  I've got the locker needle/hook, the instructions but still after about 7 years haven't done any locker hooking.  Just can't seem to remove the Hartman hook from my hand.

As long as I'm on this here contraption, my Ali Katzs aren't making much progress.  So ta ta for now.

Saundra

Best Laid Plans of Mice and Rug Hookers

Seems I started out the gate as an over achiever with grandiose ideas for the border of this rug.  And it probably would have ended up as a HOT MESS even if I hadn't gotten frustrated by my math.  This is the undecipherable border with all the dashes for measurements and lines drawn thinking it would be the right one.

Yet, in retrospect decided that would have been too busy a border for the central pattern which are the cats.  So now I want to look at what I've hooked and decide if I want to do two rows of blue or a row beside the blue of the cat color above him.  For sure the bright blue needs to be at the border to bring it all together.  And since those are the two center cats perhaps they should be side by side....OR divided by a row of dark background?  Guess there will be more playing with wool tomorrow.

One thing I know for sure.....the pattern of this I offer will NOT include a border.  It will be for those beauties in the middle.  Besides, the silk painting I did of this in 1998 was only the cats in the middle; I only wanted the extra end borders to fit into a certain part of my garden bath.

 

Must say that I do like Ali's suggestion with the beading at the edges.  This rug will be on the floor but will be with VERY LIMITED walking so that double wool in places around the edge will not pose a problem.

 

Have a great evening and get ready for the temperatures to become fall like.  I'm not ready to turn the heat on so will put on sweat shirts, turtlenecks and sweat pants to keep warm until the dreaded heat.

 

Remember to be kind to one another.  Tis the season coming up with longer lines and frustration.  But just a smile and a fun comment could turn the atmosphere from dark to light.  Life is just too short so let's enjoy it's potential.

 

Saundra

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda....

Haven't we all been there before where we second guessed ourselves? UH, yeah!!  Well that is what I'm feeling on my rug right now.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy, but wondering how I could make it better and what I should have done.  This is what the rug looks like now. 

In looking at the photo above I wonder why I didn't put a mouse under the belly of the blue cat... or a yellow dot?   Or maybe I'll end up pulling loops and hooking a circle of a color in a few extra places.

So now it is time to figure out a border treatment.  The area this rug is meant for needed a width larger than the silk painting I did in 1998 so now have to figure out the border for the ends.  OY!

I thought of blocks of color and the beading all around the border.  But am afraid those blocks of color will take away from the beautiful cats inside since they would be so structured.   

So, I've other thoughts rambling inside my grey matter and will practice here and see what I come up with. 

In all honesty it is hard to believe that I'm still hooking a rug so far out of my box.  I believe a lot of that has to do with the inspiration from my teacher at Cape May (first week) Ali Strebel.  Ali, if you're reading this I had a blast and would take a class with you again.  OH!! And I'd want to do the Sampler again the first day too!

Check back to see what damage or progress I've made in my next post.  AND, PLEASE be kind to one another.  Kindness really does go a long way and multiplies. 

Saundra

October Antique Rug Show

Can't believe it is October 1st already, just where does the time go?  In celebration I thought it was time for another antique rug show, my favorites things to look at. 

And what could be more appropriate for the month of October than this scaredy cat rug.  So is the cat afraid of the mouse?  OMG, this is definitely going on my 'to do' list.

There is something about the worn and faded blotch look of antique rug backgrounds.

Below is a busy montage of motifs which I find very interesting.  Oh but to know what the hooker had in her mind when doing this.  Obviously family, farm, hunting for food maybe and for sure a human connection.

Always a chicken rug and guess that was the staple of the farm life.

Wish I could have gotten the whole phot of this rug.  It looks like hit and miss snow shoes.

Again my favorite type background.

This chicken rug below I've seen in another antique design as a rooster without cats.  I'm wondering if perhaps this was originally a burlap sack of chicken feed which people used as a motif for the rug.

And below is the example I was thinking about.  Same fowl shape and different rug.

Another nice hit and miss border with a soft and simple design in the middle with my favorite blotchy primitive background.

This scalloped edge antique rug is great but can you imagine having to bind that edge?  No thanks.  I'll admire this beauty from afar.

Thankfully my HORRIBLE day ended up okay.  I went to start my car to run errands in the morning and I heard this clicking sound.  I was hoping it was only a battery and not an alternator or starter.  BUT.... was still stuck here at the mercy of a neighbor until they came home.  Finally just minutes ago the problem was solved and my post finished as it was just a battery.  WHEW!!!!!

Have a great evening everyone and please be nice to one another.

Saundra

My Cape May Rug

I so much thought of waiting to post an updated picture of my rug which is still in progress.  I've given it several names; before Cape May it was called "Ali Katz" since my teacher was going to be Ali Strebel.  Then it was called a couple different names and not sure what the final name will be when I make it into a pattern....... 

But, since it is so much fun hooking thought I'd show an update now.  In all honesty, as this is way out of my normal hooking style I'm surprised it is still so much fun.  The border has been figured out in my mind but not executed yet.

Ben is needing to visit the meadow and sniff who has been there before him so will see ya later gator.

Saundra

This and That from Cape May

Thought I'd show you a few photos of the in progress rugs from the four classes.  On Thursday we have a 'throw down' in the front yard so all students and teachers can see what each of us has been working on.  It is also a great time to see designs which may go on our "must have and hook" list.  This rug below is being hooked by Ohio gal Deb and think she is using every technique Ali taught us.  The green leaves to the left side were Deb's favorite things on her rug.

 Another rug from the Ali class.

I thought the birthday cake and banner were cute.  Sandra did needle felted the letters. 

 

Below is roomie Deb's piece which is an adaptation of a Gustav Klimt art.

I have also hooked Rufus the lion.

 

 This is Sue, from Ohio,  wearing a nifty sweat shirt that her pal Deb did embroidery on.  Ya just gotta love the wording!

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Saundra