Antique Patchwork Background Study

In a previous post I commented about how antique rugs often had the blocks of color or 'patchwork' style.  That is what I'm trying to replicate in my Chicken Challenge Rug.

People used what they had and made do using what was available.  They were not a 'throw away' society as we are today.  Frankly I'm guilty of that by selling a frame I don't like until one just seems right.  The folk then would have made their own hooking frame and made do.  They would have taken a nail and chiseled it or bent it, inserted it into a piece of wood and called it their hook.  I'm guilty of not only have those precious antique hooks purchased in an antique shop (which I of course used as soon as I got home), but also have my wonderful Hartman and a back up Hartman in case one gets suddenly missing.  (oh dear, but this is going to be a long blog post I'm afraid as I'm going off in a tangent....sorry)

First antique rug will be the inspiration for my adaptation of the Chicken Challenge Rug where I used the patchwork as my background.

While some womenfolk clearly used what they had to hook in their rug and mixed homespun cottons, denim, red union suits, stockings, etc., all in the same rug I still wonder about their history.  Did some of the rugs have natural dyes over the various textiles so they started out close to the same color..... But then faded differently because of their textile origin?  Or did they use obvious different colors in the background?

This dog rugs seems to be very similar in color choices except for the block in the right corner.  Yet you can see variation in color throughout, but close.

Another dog rug shows not only the patchwork background but a patchwork dog.

Here are two more perfect examples of patchwork and also wonder if the person hooking said to themselves..."okay, I've this much of this color and I'll hook a block or in this direction until I run out." 

Even the floral below, while a more formal type of rug for the time I think, also has discoloration in the background. 

 Oh but I do love this whole picture and wish I could spend the night in there.  I truly love this rug and it, like many others, are on my 'to do' list.  Definitely should have started hooking earlier because there are too many on the list and too many in my stash.

Below, this antique Red Bird I've shown you before, I've hooked it and have sold some patterns of it.  T'was another of my loved antique pieces I wanted to hook.  Again, as I look at it my mind travels to the wool and wondering where it came from.  What was faded and what was worn to change the color?  But look at the flat black which is still vivid.  OR, was that a repair?   AND, the original color and back of the rug might have indicated it was indeed a red bird but age and wear changed it's color.

 

 Sometimes it is more the patchwork and discoloration which attracts me than the subject matter. The first thing my eyes go to in the rug below is the color rather than the flowers and doves.  The motifs come in second to my attraction.  Not sure what that says about me.

Oh my but there are more photos that I could share and perhaps that will be another background study show as this is getting to be a long post. 

For you hookers who don't do primitive I'm sure this has been a boring read; for those of you who would like to replicate antiques this is a great study.

NOW...... for the record!!!!!!  I do not try to replicate the antiques to pass them off as antiques!!!!!  The main reason I taught myself to hook was because I wanted an antique rug and could not afford to buy one or travel in search of one.  Instead decided to teach myself how to hook and make one myself.  Oh but that wasn't very smart of me because it became an obsession with hooking rugs.  I'm sure many of you are in the same boat... a long list of rugs to do. 

OH!!!!! There was some more hooking done on the Chicken Challenge rug but also a lot of stuff to deal with the snow but no new photo.  This was the reading first thing this morning before 7 a.m.  But then it continued to snow.

Where the heck is spring?

Have a good evening, wrap up and stay warm.  Please don't over do the snow shoveling.  Work a little.......rest and go back.  Hugs to all.

Saundra



 

Chicken Challenge Update

No, sadly it still isn't done.... and I'm beginning to believe that my friend Lauren's Chicken Challenge rug must have been more like a 9" x 12" since she finished it in record time (love picking on your Lauren). 

I've taken a couple different pictures, some with flash some without ~ some before changes and some after. There's sure to be mixed feelings on the background but I'm keeping on going on.  I'll show you what it looks like right now and is a picture taken without a flash which is really more true to what the rug looks like in person albeit a little blurry.

Here is a picture with a flash which shows my patchwork background color in much brighter colors than in person and this is a situation we all have when taking pictures of our rugs.

And then....... a picture before I tried something different in the right flower.  You know me, I'm not opposed to pulling out wool and trying something else to see if it will enhance the rug.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on the flower.....make the left one yellow in the center too?  Or hook back the center like it was before and make it like the one on the left?

For those of you just checking out my blog for the first time tonight, if you scroll thru previous posts you can read how to participate in the free Chicken Challenge pattern as well as seeing another antique rug which inspired me to make this crazy background.  Speaking of which, I'm sure my flash drive is full of antique rugs with a patchwork background and plan to designate a post showing what I've collected so far.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening.

Saundra

And the Winner of the Giveaway is.......

Just before writing all the names down I checked on the two people who WERE a "No-Reply" blogger and who obviously didn't read my follow up blog to see if they were and how to fix it.  So they were not included. This is the Polly Minick Pattern giveaway.

And the winner is........

Gayle of MiddleSister has won the pattern.  Congratulations Gayle and hope you will share a picture with us when you finish your other projects and get to hook it. 

I'd planned to share a picture of my Chicken Challenge rug but really hoped to have more done by now.  Miz Lauren out beat, out hooked and gave her results much faster than I've been able to do.  And with today's weather working in the yard there's even less to show.  As happy as I'll be to see winter gone that means yard work. 

Have a great weekend folks because in Delaware I hear rumblings that the honeymoon might be over soon for this wonderful 70 degree weather.

Saundra

NO-REPLY Blogger Fix

Are you a NO-REPLY Blogger? 

But first, some eye candy.  This is a rug hooked by Polly Minick and is an antique adaptation.

Back to the No-Reply blogger issue.  You may think your e-mail address is listed and all is fine but during my last giveaway someone learned they really were a No-REPLY.  Here is what you can do to ensure that people can contact you via e-mail so you don't miss out on any giveaways.

I would like to thank Diana for allowing me to copy and paste from her blog http://anyonecandecorate.blogspot.com.  Diane did all the work for me, thank you Diana.

So here is an easy 5 step tutorial on how to fix it so people can reply to you and you don't miss out on future giveaways... 

And that's it.  But be sure you click the "Save Profile".  Two of you gals who commented that you wanted to be part of the Polly Minick giveaway really ARE No-Reply even tho you think you aren't. 

 

So if you want to be part of the giveaway double check and correct because a lucky winner will be picked sometime tomorrow.  Again, the rules are:

     1~ be a follower

     2~ must NOT be a No-Reply blogger.

 

Good luck and for those just now reading, this is the giveaway:

Saundra

Polly Minick Pattern Giveaway

Yup, you read right.... I happen to have an extra so am giving away the Patriotic Checkers Pattern.  It is a full size paper pattern that measures 22 x 22. 

If you are a newbie hooker and think the Shields and crossed Flags would be too much of a challenge for you, how about drawing the stars all the way around instead.  Or just plain border.

These are the requirements:

The winner must be a FOLLOWER, shipping to US only (sorry guys in Canada and elsewhere), and most importantly I must be able to reply to your comment.  In other words, if you are a 'no-reply' blogger you will not be eligible.

Leave me a comment saying you want to enter the giveaway for Polly's pattern and I'll draw a name Saturday.  This way it will give working folks a chance to enter if they only relax and read blogs on Friday evening or Saturday mornings.

Alrighty then.....now how to FIX or FIND OUT if you are one of those unfortunate "No-Reply Bloggers".  Thanks to a blogger friend, I was informed there was a way how to find out IF someone is a no reply and if so, how to fix it. 

If you were reading my blog during the last giveaway debacle, a sweet person who was hoping to win the giveaway, was sure she wasn't the ill-fated no reply blogger, but found out later she was.  So if you want to find out if you are or how to fix the "no-reply blogger" situation click HERE. 

I hope lots of you will check it out even if you are fairly sure there's no problem.  I'd really like for everyone to have a chance to win as this won't be my last giveaway.  Just maximize your chance to win by my being able to reply to you.

Have a great evening everyone, I'm hoping to accomplish a little more hooking on my Chicken Challenge and maybe even hook a block on the geometric next time I post.

Ta Ta.

Saundra

Chicken Challenge Changes...

...say that real fast 3 times.  I just love it when people give me their opinion.  Lots of times I asked for it but even if I don't, your thoughts are truly appreciated even unsolicited.  Sometimes another eye sees something that mine don't.  While the advice may not always be used, it is always welcome.

Goodness there were a lot of comments on the feet and did read them all.  Yet when I saw the picture on the computer monitor my eyes were happier with the light feet as well.....so today I made that change.

Plus, I pulled up my big girl panties and made another change.  While I was enamored with the rooster antique and had wanted to put the flowers in the upper corner using my wool closest to what the original hooker had....uh... just didn't do it for me.  So today the leaves on the flower on the top left were pulled out and hooked using the green wool as in the trees at the bottom.   

Wish there was more accomplished on the Chicken Challenge rug to show you but I had a Domestic Zoo pattern to draw out today as I'd recently sold the last one.  Hey, gotta keep those hook'n hands busy.  I know that when I want a pattern "I want it now".  So I aim to please.  Plus, these sales help subsidize my hooking habit....so thank you Rhea.

Now I want to discuss GUILTY PLEASURES.  And this is my confession time so hope there's input from my readers about theirs.  I have a food guilty pleasure but this isn't about that.  When I'm hooking there is usually something I'm watching on TV that has been pre-recorded.  Today I just watched the final episodes of The Bachelor.  OMG!!!!!!  I cannot believe that Nikki accepted his 'final rose'.  And the one I was most worried about ended up being the one I was most proud of  ~ Claire!  Good going woman (Claire)! 

Yes I DO understand that what the show is about is a short-time fantasy which doesn't last beyond the show.  So then it becomes reality.  But I (maybe we) have seen real love and marriage develop from the show.

All us females want our prince charming...the man on the white horse.  I do believe it does exist as my step-father was one to my mother (God Bless you ECP).  But what a piece of crap Juan Pablo is.  Okay, I could rant all night in my frustration but Nikki will eventually have to learn on her own as did I.

Can't wait to read messages about the changes I made on the CC rug, guilty pleasures or The Bachelor.

BTW, my food guilty pleasure is pasta.  OH but I could eat pasta and red sauce (known as gravy by Italians) 7 days a week.  I don't, but could.  Now I want some but it is soup and salad for tonight.

Have a great night everyone.

Saundra

Chicken Challenge Update

One would think that since I don't have a day job since retirement that I'd have more time to hook and this Chicken Challenge rug would be done.  HA!  Not so.  Seems that it takes longer or I'm slower.  And, for some reason this year's time change has affected me. 

However, this is where I am right now and would really love your input on the feet of the chicken.

So, guys, do I go with the light colored foot on the right or the pale red of the flower foot on the left?  There's a reason to even consider the red feet being a more informed hooker.  That would make the eye travel from corner to bottom and capture everything in the rug.  BUT, since I'm adapting two designs into one it could be that the trees below carry the eye down and red feet are not needed.

 

Have a great evening everyone.

 

Saundra

My Chicken Challenge Debut

Now don't go get that excited because it isn't done.  But I've come along well since the sneak preview a few weeks ago. 

For those of you just now reading my blog, this is the chicken challenge line drawing from an original antique which three friends of mine saw in an antique store.

This is what the original looked like.  By the way, those dark lines are some planned to get a line drawing and some were when the pen went wacko.

Okay now ~ I definitely wanted to participate in the challenge but wasn't happy to do yet ANOTHER hit and miss.  I'm presently working on a geometric which is basically a hit and miss with each and every block.  But since I wanted to participate in the challenge and.......

.....there was another 'fowl' pattern that had my attention for many months so decided to incorporate them into one that I'd hook.  I mean... it is MY challenge rug, right?  I've been panting and wanting to hook this divine fowl for some time.  OMG, isn't he a beauty??????

So this is what I've accomplished so far.  Notice that I took the flowers from the antique above and put them where the hit and miss was.  I'm still deciding what to do about the feet of the chicken.  The Rooster above had all light colored feet as the body, but I'm wondering if I need the color from the flowers so the eye travels from corner to bottom to corner so the whole rug is noticed.    

 

AND, for you newbies the change in background color could be a few things.  Either the original rug was all the same color but over time some wool faded.  Or, the woman who hooked it "USED WHAT SHE HAD AND MADE DO". 

OMG, those are the words I plant in my head when I'm hooking a rug and don't know what color to use next to make it look old.

If you would like to learn more about the Chicken Challenge click on this link:  www.woolwrights.com. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Saundra

The Geometric Progress

It seems that I've really made some progress, albeit slow, on the geometric.  Never thought I'd embrace hooking this since it was started about 10 years ago, but it really has been enjoyable watching it grow using ONLY my worms.  Yet must admit that the boring time is twisting and knotting a bunch of a certain color wool to find similar values or same wool.  Such a time waster. 

But can now see the end getting closer and looking at it gives me comfort.  The rug reminds me of a Granny Square Afghan that has given me comfort in years past as I was warmed by the weight when covered and had a cold.  Here is my progress now just after pulling it off the frame. 

Now I'm moving onto the Chicken Challenge Rug as I need diversity.  The geometric will be on 'stand by' and within eyesight so it is not forgotten.  So perhaps tomorrow I'll have a little something to show on the Chicken Challenge Rug.  It does feel so good to hook on something of my choosing.

Have a great evening everyone.  And Lauren sweetie, I hope you are feeling better.

Saundra

Sigh of Relief and Fun Hooking

Oh my but I feel a huge sigh of relief that the commission rug is out the door and making it's way to its final destination.  So believe it or not it was fun to hook on the geometric again.  This is the same rug that I started at least 10 years ago, pulled out and put back numerous times and stated that I hated working on.  Yet today it was a sight for sore eyes.

Have a great evening everyone, it is din-din time for me.

Saundra

Hit and Miss Rug Show

Since my two in-progress rugs haven't made any progress there's nothing new to show you there.  Actually I'm still being held hostage by the commission rug but it should finally be done today ~ that is IF I ever get off'n this contraption.  I've been searching Pinterest looking for anything hit and miss so that I can join in a new group recently started on Rug Hooking Daily  called the Great Stash Deworming Marathon.  So enjoy the show.

These two you saw in the other post. 

 





 

Trust me, there are more I saved but lunch is calling me and then to  hook.  OH! something I found on Pinterest that I thought very  interesting is this photo of the young John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy at Martha's Vineyard.  Look below their feet.....what looks to be a hand hooked rug.

At least I don't feel like I've abandoned my pals who follow my blog and this will buy me more hooking time on the 'you know what'. 

Saundra

Enjoy the Rug Show

Other than hooking a rug and getting kisses from my Rottie Ben, there's nothing that gives me more pleasure than looking at pictures of rugs.  So I'm posting some antique rugs I've recently found on the web.  And what better rug to start with than a Magdalena Briner Eby rug.  You can purchase all known Magdalena rugs from Woolley Fox.  With exception of Domestic Zoo, which she doesn't sell but I do.  Barb is presently having a sale on some Magdalena designs now at 50% off while they last.

 Interesting that even tho it is a busy rug with hit and miss the critters and post don't get lost.

 Don't think I'd ever seen these three cats before.

 The simplicity of the circles are soothing to the eye but think I'd probably get bored.  Well heck, if I didn't get bored hooking the 66 circles in the Magdalena Lollipop rug guess this would be okay.

 Hmmm, maybe I like this rug with circles better (below).

 Soft and nicely faded colors.

 

What's a rug show without a chicken.

 Found this on Pinterest and must be someone's adaptation of the antique.  I love the soft and gently used hit and miss in it.  It keeps the antique look yet adds a little color and interest to the rug.

After posting about this beauty I learned the adaptation was hooked by Kathy of BriarwoodFolkArt.  She sure did nail the antique look for sure.

 Tonya (Mad Hen) sells an adaptation of this rug below.



Enjoy your weekend and hope you enjoyed the show.

Saundra

Apology and No-Reply Blogger

I apologize to those of you who had hopes of winning the giveaway but didn't. When I first retracted Debbie's win (per her request) I did a poor job of properly explaining why she wasn't getting the booklet.  Then went back to update the blog to try and explain better but those who had already read it probably wouldn't go back to see the correction so the damage had already be done...so to speak.  

Some of you are scratching their heads wondering what the deal is with a no reply blogger I'll show you what I get when I tried to contact who I now know as Leta and not just pudgypooh.  (See below which is copied and pasted here).

From: "pudgypooh" <noreply-comment@blogger.com>To: saundra125@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 11:24:31 AM
Subject: [Saundra of Woodland Junction] New comment on Winner of the Giveaway is........

pudgypooh has left a new comment on your post "Winner of the Giveaway is.......":

Hi Saundra,
I am so disappointed that my entry was not accepted. I have clicked on my profile and it shows my email. I just don't know what I am doing wrong here. :O(
Anyway it is nice to know I almost won your great give away. I will continue to follow your blog but I guess I will no longer bother to enter any of your giveaways.
Thank you for trying.
Leta

 

Since I couldn't reply to Leta I double-clicked on the word 'pudgypooh' and it took me to what I know as her profile page (click on it to see what I saw).  There is no e-mail address so thought the Blog name of Woolensails must be her so contacted Debbie St. Germain.  Debbie said she hadn't entered and had so many projects already started and wouldn't use it so best to give it to someone who had entered.  So I drew another name.

 

At this point I'm not sure what you must do in order for you to NOT have a no reply.  All I can say is there are numerous people to whom I can reply yet several will come up as no-reply.  I also tried to respond to Rina to explain this debacle since she was surely thinking I was being unfair, but she is also a no-reply so she wouldn't have received the message.  Rina, hopefully you'll read this and understand.

 

Apology to all and to all a good night.  Have a good weekend everyone.

 

Saundra

Winner of the Giveaway is.......

CORRECTION.....Debbie of Woolnsails isn't the winner after all. Let me explain....Debbie wrote me saying she hadn't entered the giveaway and suggested that since she had so many other projects going that I choose a name of someone who entered.

 Here I was trying to be a good soul and I couldn't reply to Pudgypooh since she is a no-reply blogger, clicked on that name.  It directed me to her profile and the only blog listed was Woolnsails.  So thinking it must the right place notified Debbie she was the winner.  Then Debbie wrote saying she didn't enter.  Well there you have it, no more will I enter a no-reply blogger or attempt to find them.  Ps.  Pudgypooh, Once again I tried to respond to you last message but it is a no-reply that comes up and the message doesn't make it back to yo.

So, now the winner is...... Kellie of Indiana. 

Congratulations Kellie, and can't wait to see which project you decide to do first.  Hope you'll post it on your blog whenever you do finish one.  Please e-mail me at saundra125@comcast.net and give me your snail mail address.

I'm still dragging my feet on the commission so don't have anything to show you today.  Am hoping to have something productive to show you on something .... anything....tomorrow.

TGIF to you working folks, and enjoy your weekend.

Saundra

It's not too late for the Giveaway

IT'S NOT TOO LATE to sign up for the Giveaway.....Remember this applique piece from my previous blog post?  After the post I went in search of the pattern and found it.  And because I'm not into quilting or applique much any more have decided to do a Giveway to a lucky someone who still enjoys it. 

Here is a picture of the front of the booklet.  But of course it is yet another Indygo Junction pattern as I love all things designed by Sarah Sporer and Jan Patek.

 

Here is inside the book and the design made for my mother.

All the templates are intact in the book.  Before making the one for my mother I copied all the templates on THAT particular design so that the book wouldn't be ruined.  Plus, all those templates I used will be included so that you won't have to ruin the book if you do this same design.

 

Okay.... so here are the rules:

 

The winner must be a FOLLOWER (so I suspect my Followers will increase from 215 upwards).  Only shipping to US only (sorry guys in Canada and elsewhere), and most importantly I must be able to reply to your comment.  In other words, check your 'profile settings' and see if your e-mail address is listed there.  If not, you will come up as a "no-reply" so you cannot receive my e-mail.  Therefore your name will be deleted.

Leave me a comment saying you want to enter the giveaway and I'd really like to see it go to someone who plans to use the booklet to make something.  The name will be drawn Friday February 28th.

 

Have a great evening everyone and good luck for you guys who want this delicious booklet by a great designer.

 

Saundra

More Applique Stitcheries I've done

I've shown you the monthly stitcheries but forgot all about others I've done.  Actually this design was at the top of the pamphlets for those 12 month series put out by Indygo Junction previously shown.  Since I was returning HOME after 8 years living the city life this HAD to be on the wall in the house under construction.  And so it was.

Once upon a time (and I hope I get my juju back one day) I used to make dolls.  Primitive fabric, clay, Edward Tulane Rabbits and even way far out elinor peace bailey type dolls.  But my very favorite were the primitives.  So this wall hanging was to go in my sewing room using a branch from the property on which the house was built.

Another I did for my mother, who has passed.  My mother loved her coffee.  It is hard to see but there is a coffee cup, candles and pictures of family on a table.  Those are pictures of her parents, me and her together much younger, my brother and her brothers.

Sorry that I don't remember the designers of all these designs.  They each and all are enjoyed by me.

Since I'm busy working on the commission I've no hooking to show on either the chicken challenge nor the UFO geo....sorry.  Hope you won't forget about me. and will come back to visit. 

Saundra