Oldies But Goodies

As many of you may have read my blog already, the reason my journey with rug hooking started was looking at the antique rugs, and antique adaptions which were in Country Living magazine. 

Here are a few more rugs to whet your appetite.  This is clean and simple with elements that I'm attracted to..... birds, flowers, star, circle.  It has everything shouting primitive. 

Animals are a great rug to hook because everyone loves them.  So whether a gift or for your own house it is a winner.

For beginners the very basic flower rugs may be the easiest.  We hookers call these Padula flowers.

 

This must be a memorial for Arthur with what appears to be young deer and large padula flowers and vase.

Then there is the delightful Grenfel antique rug which I've never had the opportunity to see in person.  One day perhaps I'll have that experience.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll have something more to show you other than my Santa update....maybe.  But still stay tuned because you just never know what will happen here.  THANKS for you new followers!!!  You ROCK!!!!!

Saundra

It isn't Christmas but here's Santa

Guess it is about time for me to find another rug to hook since Christmas is long gone.  However, the last several years I've wanted to have this antique adaptation on my harvest table during the Christmas holiday but never had one hooked.  Well by golly I'll have one next year and this is what I've accomplished so far.  Now it's pretty much the boring background and narrow border to hook.

And I've been designing something else but haven't started hooking it yet.  It will be a very primitive and naive adaption of something from the 1800's and that is all I'll say for now since I've nothing to show.

Thank you new follower's for joining me.  It puts a huge smile on my face every time I see an additional follower to the fold.   And for those who take precious time from their daily life to post a comment I want to thank you ~ Comments are always appreciated. 

AND, questions are welcome too.  Sometimes when I'm explaining a technique, there might be something small that I've left out. 

Hard to believe that earlier in the week it was in single digit temperatures and today it reached 65.  Now, it did rain, but it was warm and I'll take that over snow and frigid temps any day.

Have a great rest of weekend everyone.

Saundra

New Vintage Rug Finds

When I have a little time I like searching auction houses for hooked rug designs.  So guys and gals, I've some naive and primitive vintage rugs to show you.  I absolutely LOVE this design and one day would like to do an adaptation of it. 

This rug also appealed to me.  Perhaps it was the hit and miss border, the great way this hooker worked with neutral colors, main color red in center and random red in the hit and miss border makes the eye visit and pull everything together. 

And who doesn't like Sunbonnet Sue?........

Or doggies?

I don't save copies of all the rugs as some just don't appeal to me.  Am sure that there are many more rug pictures that I haven't posted on my blog and perhaps one day you'll get to see them all.  If you're like me, you never tire of looking at old rugs.

Have a great evening and for those of you who will experience a warm up for the weekend, enjoy.  It may be raining here but the temperatures are a far cry better than what we had a few days ago.

Saundra

Pillow Final Installment

Yippee, my pillow is beckoning me to sit, lean back and enjoy the fruits of my labor.  This furniture is really old and embarrassed to say I've had it since 1997.  Would be a different story with age if it were an antique that was made to last, but it isn't.  Anyway, it's what I have.  To the left is a vintage Jack Daniels advertisement that my departed first husband electrified into a lamp.  And that hooked piece to the left was the sample that Tonya of MadHenPrims hooked for her book and I'm so proud to own a few of her original pieces. 

Betsy suggested purchasing a regular bed pillow.  The stuffing for the pillow was purchased in the linen department of my local Walmart and only cost $2.50.  I'm sure it was cheaper than buying a bag of stuffing at a fabric store.  Plus the fact the stuffing is contained in a cotton casing.

These next steps are what Betsy said she did with her pillows to make them hefty, which was my goal.  The pillows I've been using (one a big sofa pillow) always ends up dropping down between the bottom cushion and the back of the sofa.  This pillow is thick and am sure there won't be an issue with it.

Next I cut an open the purchased pillow and pull out some of the stuffing.  #1 it makes it easier to insert into the hooked pillow with reduced stuffing.

#2 you will fill the center with more substantial stuffing for the heft after being inserted.   Betsy said nothing goes to waste in her house, not the trimmed off linen foundation, snippets, etc.  Well that makes sense to me and we've all used snippets I'm sure.  And you wouldn't believe how much extra stuffing went into that pillow in addition to the stuffing that I pulled out in the beginning.

Next, stuff the half full purchased pillow into the hooked pillow.  I started filling it up then realized I'd better stuff the purchased pillow in the hooked piece before it got too big.  Was anxious to get it done and forgot to stuff first but was still able to get the pillow inside.

Once the purchased pillow is placed inside the hooked pillow you can manipulate the insides around to place in corners, in the center more, etc.  Then I whip stitched the pillow cover closed so pieces wouldn't work themselves outside the case.

So now it was time to close the opening to my hooked pillow. I used heavy duty cotton button hole thread and stitched it with single thread one way, turned around and stitched it again the other way so it is double hand stitched all the way around.

The final step was doing the edge.  You can see the edge better from the back side of the pillow than from the hooked front.

Getting ready to make a pot of homemade soup then lean back on my new hooked pillow and hook on Santa for a while.

If you ever have an opportunity to take a class with Betsy Reed you won't be disappointed.  She shares and gives all of what she knows.  Have a great evening everyone and enjoy the nicer winter temperatures tomorrow than we had the last few days.

If you have questions about the pillow installments, please e-mail me and I'll try and explain better.

Saundra

Betsy Class and Hearts and Swags Pillow Update

I'd hoped to have my pillow completed by tonight but sadly it isn't.  Yet I did manage to get my trim attached.  This was a technique that Betsy Reed showed us in her class this past November and it was instant love at first sight. 

Below is a pattern Betsy offers.  Notice how she made it look so old with the primitive stitched trim around the perimeter of the rug?  And the unevenness of the sides?  Yeah, I'm sure some of you don't care for it but to me it was wonderfully primitive as if the rug (or pillow) was in need of repair and....'she used what she had and did the best she could'.  This is the first piece that caught my eye, mostly because of the trim.

Below is a photo of the left bottom side for a close up.  Betsy went to the trouble of make the wobbly uneven sides just for that antique look.

Yeah, I'm sure some of you don't care for the look but to me it was very primitive and something I wanted to do.  Okay, for my pillow didn't want the uneven sides but did like the trim vs. a fancy wool covered cord edge. 

 

Betsy said to cut (rip) black (or whatever color you want) cotton fabric in 2 - 2 1/2" wide strips.  First she said wash to remove sizing, bleeding and shrinking.  Then it is put into a bath of brown dye to tone it down and give it age.  Next the strips are tossed into the dryer , once dry then rolled into a ball.  Yup, you read it here.....remove the knotted cotton strips and they achieve their natural wrinkles all wrapped into the cotton ball to be used later as a binding edge.

 

I started at the bottom of the pillow and left a tail at the opening. It doesn't show it well but the bottom left corner is just above the 5th whipped stitch.  All four corners need to be stitched nicely to have a well shaped pillow.  OH, forgot to mention that thread I'm using is crochet cotton which I've coffee/black walnut dyed to give it age. 

Here is what the side of the pillow looks like and the flash is making the thread look lighter than it is.

I've still the pillow stuffing part to do, hopefully tomorrow.  So there is more to this pillow project.  If anyone has questions that I haven't addressed to this point, please write me at saundra125@comcast.net and I'll post next time. 

 

Have a great evening, try to stay warm and toasty!

 

Saundra

 

 





Pillow in Progress

This is the second installment of the making of Hearts and Swags into a pillow.  It is hard to see in this picture but with right sides together I did one row of hand stitching close to the last hooked row (using heavy cotton button hole thread) followed by one row of machine stitching all the way around.  Well, except for the opening at the bottom of the pillow.  But I did go around those two corners at the bottom so that the pillow could be contained and controlled better when hand stitching it closed.  The hand stitching is closer but at least the machine stitch is the more secure back up that will prevent my pillow from teasing open.

Then at the bottom corner I turned in and stitched down the corner.  Followed by a running stitch all the way around securing down the excess linen backing.  This is done so the inside of the hooked pillow cover is smoother when inserting the pillow stuffing.

Each of the corners are turned in and mitered; again, to make a smoother inside when it comes time to insert pillow stuffing. 

Turned inside out (below) is front of the pillow, and you can see the opening at the bottom.  Also notice how the bottom corners have been stitched to contain the dimensions.

Flipped over you can see the back of the pillow. 

 

Tomorrow I have a doctor appointment so plan to take the un-stuffed pillow cover with me and do a little more work on it as I sit impatiently in the waiting room.  They are NEVER on time at this doctor's office and need something to occupy my time...which is also valuable.  I mean at my age I've less time to waste than they do.

So stay tuned for the installment 3 of the making of a pillow tomorrow afternoon.  What you are looking at below is the space between the back and hooked front of the pillow cover.  When I bring it home tomorrow it will have a primitive trim all the way around.  It is a delightfully primitive technique that Betsy taught us in her class.  Ah, I think I've got your attention.

Try to stay warm folks.  These are some very frigid temperatures and with wind chill it is even colder.  I pray that homeless people and stray animals can find shelter. 

Saundra

Santa and Deer Update

Not a whole lot more was hooked since you last saw it but here is what the 'guys' look like now and picture taken with a flash.

Today I did manage to get some hand stitching done around the Hearts and Swags pillow while waiting to pick up my grandson from school.  You've heard the story before...... I hate the finishing part; yet I'm anxious to be able to use the pillow so I'm torn between working on the pillow and hooking.  Don't you wish all issues were this level of difficulty?

Strange weather we're having in Delaware.  Three days ago it was 7 degrees when I walked Ben with 5-6" of snow outside.  This morning when I awoke and walked him the snow was gone of course, and the temperature was 61 degrees.  But then temps dropped and it will be 9 degrees tonight.  But hey..... it's Monday and the weather man said it is going to be 60 again by Saturday......  Strange.

Stay warm everyone.

Saundra

Let the Pillow Begin

First I want to show you the front hooked part of the pillow.  This was a FUN and FAST project which was started in Betsy Reed's class this past November.  For those just joining me the design measures 20 x 20 (I also offer a 25 x 25 version for those who like larger).  I call it Hearts and Swags and it is an antique adaptation.

This was a hand torn project and the strip widths were between 1/2" to 1" and on occasion I used a leftover in #8.5 or whatever was available if the color was right.  I LOVE how the really wide strips curl.  A photo without a flash.

And photo with a flash.

Those who have been reading my blog for a while know I'm avid about securing the raw edges of backing to prevent any chance of raveling.  So I did the normal two rows of straight stitching, one row of zig zag, trimmed and THEN did a serged edge.  Even tho this will be made into a pillow and the edge tucked inside it still needs to be properly finished, IMHO.

I wanted to have the pillow back done in the 'patchwork' style that Betsy showed us in class.  Here are two hooked Hearts she did which shows that style.

And here is Betsy demonstrating how to do a pillow.  She has turned under her hooked linen backing down and has stay stitched it in place.  She didn't have a sewing machine in class so there are raw edges.  Betsy is using a quilting product known as Warm and Natural to baste her wool patches onto, pinning them along the way.  Notice that the Warm and Natural is cut smaller than the size of the pillow, which I also did (as you will see).

 Betsy then shows how she turns under the edges of the wool and that part will be hand stitched down using a sturdy button hole thread or other sturdy thread and securing close to the last row of hooked loops.

But I wanted to take it a step further.  While I did have some Warm and Natural instead I used a piece of fabric (not wool) and cut it just inside the dimensions of the design (as did Betsy). I wanted my pillow to slide in a little easier than perhaps the Warm and Natural would have allowed.

Next I started choosing wool.  Hey, I've kept wool that ended up being too thick to hook with but is perfect for purse backs and now this pillow back.  So those were the wools I sought out.  Don't throw anything away as it will be used for something one day.  I am pinning the wool to the plaid fabric and plan to completely make the pillow back before attaching.

There were a couple different designs I had in mind.  One had a donut shape in the center of the back similar to the one on the front.  And thought of doing a wool swag on a corner but it all seemed to 'fussy' so just went simple.

Oh yuck!  This picture is a flash and the colors are NOT like the one above; notice the plaid to the top right (above)?  That is really what the plaid to the top left looks like ~ but not in this picture below with the flash.  Anyway, I stitched all the pieces of wool directly onto the plaid piece of fabric.  THEN, did the primitive stitch over that.  Oops, guess you can see that I steamed the pillow back after stitching because I can still see the impression of the iron.  Oh well, this is a pillow for me and doesn't show up except in this flash photo.

 

What I've done now is put right sides together and pinned all the way around the hooked front.  I've straight pins where I will be hand stitching and THEN machine stitching over that.  Unlike Betsy's demonstration I wanted to do the two series of stitching all the way around; one by hand and one by machine.  Not that my way is better, I'm sure her way does the very same thing and works as well.  And.... in case you are wondering, yes, guess you could call me anal? 

At the bottom you will see safety pins.  That is to remind me to NOT stitch there because that is where I will turn the pillow inside out.  And that portion will be the only part which is just hand stitched down.

Since I've not pulled a loop on Santa and Deer all day think I'll do that this evening.  But stay tuned to see how this project turns out.

Saundra

Santa and Deer Reappear

Today a few more loops were pulled on the background and do like the tan/brown texture background.  And I love the choice of wool chosen for the antlers.  It is a nubby textured wool that Barb totally loved and said she hadn't seen that wool in years.  Lucky me stumbled upon a woman's blazer at the thrift store and since it was mostly wool purchased it.  Can't remember what the other ingredient was but it was a natural fiber.  Each time I take some to Barb's camp she uses it in part of my rug so thought I'd use it for the antlers here.

But, are you getting as bored watching my updates of progress as I am?  The fun part of hooking this design is over and all that's left to hook are a couple more stick trees, background and border. 

I think I need to make my antique adaptation of Hearts and Swags into a pillow and give myself something different and interesting to do.  It will require me doing some outside the box thinking for the pillow back as I want to do it sorta different than Betsy taught us in class....BUT, using her technique.  Ah, have I piqued your interest?  Perhaps that will be my challenge for tomorrow. 

Stay tuned, stay warm and take this winter time to relax and do what makes you happy. 

Saundra

Snow Day Hook'in

Well actually I had to do a little snow physical labor as you could see from my previous post.  Also managed to fill an order for someone for a little pin money.  So it was a good day with a little work and a little play.  But I still don't like snow ~ Loved it as a kid but I'm older now.

This is my adaptation of the antique Santa and Deer rug I've been hooking.  Have made more headway and already I'm thinking about what design to put on another frame.  When it gets down to the background I get bored and like to have more than one hooking project going on at the same time.

Here is another shot of the Santa rug while Ben (paw to the right) was looking on to give his input. He seems to think I need a little spark in Santa's eyes like the deer has.  He is right IF the white will show up in the blue.  For sure I didn't want dark eyes for Santa. 

Was giving some thought on changing the deer lead (leash) using a dark.  And like Lori I sometimes over think things.  So what I'll do is keep it like this until more is hooked and then decide.

Hope everyone is warm and enjoying being inside with their 'fun' things to do.

Saundra

Snow

Yup, unfortunately I got snow too.  Thank God it wasn't what Canada endured but I'm not in favor of this either.  The weather station yesterday said we would get around 2" - 4" for the Seaford area and learned we received between 5" - 6".  From the looks of my photos was sure it would be over 4" in height by what was on top of the table, bird bath and the deck railings.  Hope my pond netting doesn't collapse and trap my fish.  It is totally covered so will have to go out and see if I can brush it off.  I did brush it off before going to bed last night but it continued to snow all thru the night.



I hate snow.  Yes it is pretty but it is bothersome for me since I'm the one who must shovel it and deal with the build up on the pond net, walking Ben in it, and beating the trees so the weight doesn't make them snap off.   

The heavy snow is weighing down the pines and when the wind picks up wouldn't doubt if trees come down over some power lines in the area to cut off electricity.  Thankfully I've a propane gas log fireplace if that happens so Ben and I will sleep in the living room for warmth.

I tried walking Ben after his breakfast but all he wanted to do was run in the snow and kept pulling me along.  He never did take care of 'business' so if he has to go, he will just have to endure the back yard as momma is staying in the house and going to hook.

Hope you are staying warm.

Saundra

1 January 2014

Holy Moly.... how can this be?  Yet another year passed already?  Oh well, it is a new month and time for the January quilt applique and stitchery.  Guess starting out the new year you need 'new mittens', right?

And yes, I did the applique with raw edges.  However, I have done fold over type stitchery before and used the double sided light adhesive ~ so I AM informed.  I just wanted primitive raw edges for these.

And the January stitchery also shows mittens.

I'm still enjoying hooking on the Santa and Deer and have made a little progress which I'll show you tomorrow. 

Happy New Year to all.  My wish for each of you is good health.  I read on Rughookers from someone (and it is true) if you have your health, can get out and about to meet with friends to share special time with .... you have it all.

Thanks to everyone who visits my blog and those who take that special time to post.  Oh, and you "Followers", you ROCK!

Saundra