Camp Store

How convenient it was to have a class in the Ballroom as that is also the location of the rug camp store.  Loris of The Wool Farm had lots of beautiful wool.

I purchased a couple quarters of as is textures and this yummy roll. 

She had a variety of colors of yarn for whipping or punching rugs.....

Beautiful colors of fancy yarn and sari ribbon to embellish a rug,

There were also hooks, frames, patterns, kits, wool jewelry,  ~ you name it and it was there.

Some great deals on used books too.

A container of brushes to brush away the bits of wool and lint from your rug (I LOVE these and they were only $6).  The container was filled to the brim at the start of the week and almost empty by the last day.

Next post will include some rug pictures....promise.

Saundra

What Happened at Rug Camp Doesn't Stay at Rug Camp 😉

In a previous post I mentioned Eric Sandberg was my teacher again after 12 years.  Must say this class was top notch and would definitely take a class with him again.   Not sure if that will happen as he retired, has no wool (except for his personal stash), and only doing this gig since he is a substitute teacher for Maryland Shores Rug Camp.

Below Eric gathered us together to talk basics about...."light, bright, dark, dull".  For those who had Eric as a teacher before know these words by heart.

We students gathered in a circle and took turns showing our project and wool colors we'd brought to camp.  

Eric is working with us individually and we are learning as each person's rug is being color planned.    

It is impossible to give his 5 day class in just one blog post but there are many easy to remember hooking lessons ~ the Three Bears and Goldilocks, for just one example.  Don't ask, it would take too long to explain.  But OMG I will never forget that!!!

Below is a photo of Eric with just one of the hand-outs provided.  Cannot wait for life to get back to normal so I can read them.  He covered most in class but there is more in the handouts about hit and miss, geometric, dyeing hints and so much more.

Notice Eric also has a piece of wool in his hand.  He brought pieces to toss into the mix of what the student brought just to show how adding another color or value would change the rug.  

Below, this picture shows Eric using me as a 'teaching lesson' for bringing mostly medium value wool.  I brought red, blue, old gold and green ~ plus dirty white or black for background.

You can see students chuckling and I knew it was in good fun, yet a lesson for those who prefer colorful rugs ~ I was, after all, the 'what's different in the picture".   Eric said he took a class with Barb Carroll so he would be better able to work with primitive students.  

On another day we each took one or two rugs we'd brought for the rug show.  Students decided to have him 'critique' or suggest, how he would have chosen different wools.  We had to raise our right hand and pledge....."There is no such thing as an ugly rug, some are just better than others"

In the lesson above Eric used the Johannes Itten color wheel "The Color Star".   I'm sitting on a gold mine and have only looked at it briefly a few times.  Thankfully mine was purchased when the cost was maybe $40.  Because of Eric I unearthed my Star Wheel and will use it with future rugs.   BUT... lol, if I am replicating an antique rug of a woman who didn't know about bright, contrast, value, etc., I will hook it like the woman did but using what is in my stash.  

On that day I noticed a fantastic hooked pin Eric was wearing.  I asked if it was an image of him.  He said it was an image of his grandfather Pierre Keller which was hooked by Tish Murphy.    Was unbelievable to see the detail with wool which seemed to be hooked with floss it was so thin.  

Oh there is so much more to share from rug camp but will be in separate blog posts.  My hope is to have more time to pull more loops on my rug before having to share it.  But reality has given me yard work, laundry, pattern drawing, etc.  I like being on vacation better 😁

Saundra

Maryland Shores Rug Hooking

I haven't attended the April rug camp in many years.  Since I was self-taught this was the venue for my very first rug camp.  I wanted to unlearn bad habits and find out how to hook the right way.  It was convenient as it is only an hour away from my house.  But of course I would stay at the hotel to enjoy the fun and cerebral happiness that is shared among hookers.

Below is a photo taken with Eric Sandberg as my teacher in 2006.  Twelve years later he is my teacher again this year.  Eric is helping me color plan Birds and Pomegranates, a design by Edyth O'Neill which was in a book for me to copy.  I'm on the floor and friend Shari is on the other side of Eric.

Below I'm still soaking up whatever it is Eric is teaching during class.

Since I'm unable to post photos from my iPad, I'm preparing blog posts at home and saving them to publish once at camp.  Yeah, I'm cheating Blogger.  But will take photos while I'm here at camp which you will see once I return home.

Here is how the Birds and Pomegranates turned out.

Saundra

Past and Present

Look how light these ladies are travelling to their rug hooking event.  Frame in one hand and their rug, wool and hook in a bag.  Some ladies have everything in one hand/arm.

The woman below looks like she is quickly making her way to find a place before all the good spots are taken.  She has a sizable rug frame and small bag of wool.

The lady below is travelling pretty compact as well.

And now today's over indulgent and wool obsessed hooker.  Uh, and how I normally travel to rug camp.  

That hoard of supplies includes wool options for the camp rug and current project while waiting my turn with the teacher.  Add two frames ~ one 'sit-upon' for the sleeping room after hours and a floor stand for the classroom.  Oh, let us not forget the Townsend cutter and all the blades in the black and white tote, portable OTT lights, wine and snacks for my room.  Suitcase isn't even in the mix here yet.

In the large duffle bag behind the chair are rugs I'm taking for the show.

Okay, so I'm going away for 5 days.  But, even if I was going to  hook for just one day like the ladies above I'd be carrying a lot more than they were.  So, would you travel as light to a one-day hook-in???

Happy hooking and hope all your loops are perfect.

Saundra

More Rugs Continued....

Drew out another Magdalena rug in a smaller size since the other Magdalena rugs were rather large.  This one is nice to put on an end table or harvest table.  Forget the dimensions and am too lazy go go measure.

I saw this chair pad design in a show photo Lori Brechlin  or someone posted.  Immediately I wrote to ask if she would please make this into a paper pattern.  Turns out I wasn't the only one with that request.

July Cabin is a pattern offered in one of Barb Carroll's books.  I changed the flags on the trees to leaves of different colors and changed the direction of the smoke going more sideways.

The red horse below is half the antique rug design ~ didn't want a long rug but did want the horse and stars.

Drawing for Polly Minick certainly had its benefits as I was permitted to hook any of her designs with permission.  This one spoke to me as it seemed like a perfect quick sale at a show at the beach.  Interestingly enough it didn't sell, I still have it.

However, this design of Polly's did sell.  I'd have thought the swimsuit would go first.

Lions in the Woods is an antique adaptation.  It was obviously a popular printed pattern at the time since there are many variations of the design.  So when drawing it chose my favorite parts of antique rugs I'd viewed.  This one sold as well.  Sheesh, didn't realize I'd sold as many rugs as I did.  But not to worry, I've a crap load of rugs left and plan to list some on ebay when I return from camp.

Anyone familiar with this signage?  I'll bet a lot of you are.  Thought for sure there was a photo of her actual sign assending to her home but could not find it.  

Anyway, maybe that shape was a better prototype for me to hook a small mat gift for Barb when attending camp one May.

The antique adaptation below was a pattern gifted me by Evelyn Lawrence.  It is called Lion and Trees and was offered by Port Primitives.  This was hooked in a class with Barb Carroll.

I must have been a busy girl that year because I drew another antique adaptation which I named Ducks and Eggs Nest.  Sold a couple patterns of this one.

One year while perusing eBay was lucky enough to stumble upon a pattern I'd wanted for a LONG time.  Wee Folk by Vermont Folk Art Rugs.  

Here it is hanging over my bed with one of my well used and pitiful attempts at quilting.  It was made when I had two Rotties, you can see their images in the center.

There you have it for now.  Actually there were a couple small designs I drew but won't bore you with them right now as I've work to do and get ready for camp.

Since the weather is being a PAIN I don't know what to pack.  Plus all things stopped at noon so that mama could help out her 50+ son with a resume.  Hey, your child is your baby no matter the age, right?

But camp with be there when I get there.  Must admit that I'm feeling the need to get away.  Will deal with what is here still to do when I return.

Saundra

1909 Horse Rug Update

This design has been fun to hook trying to replicate the original antique.  Cannot wait to finish this and put it at my front door.  BUT.... won't put it there until after Cape May in September when still somewhat a virgin.

What most fun is replicating those blocks with oddities.  Wish I knew what, if anything, they meant.  Or were those blocks repaired with lighter or darker wool?  I'll never know but will hook those oddities as a reminder of footsteps in the past.

Am leaving for rug camp soon so thought I'd give iPad Blogspot a test to see if photos could be posted on my blog at camp.  A few years ago I purchased an Apple app called Blogpress which worked fine for a while.  Could post photos from my iPad and all was fine.

BUT the last couple years Blogpress app stopped working despite numerous attempts to get an update even with a wifi.  Today I checked APPLE apps to see what would work for Blogger and the three apps listed had negative comments as to posting photos.

Is there ANYONE out there who has knowledge of what software would work for posting photos on an iPad2 on a Blogger web site... Uh this one.

Saundra

More Hooked Rugs

Another Magdalena design I hooked was McCue Eagle.  It is at my front door for now, but when 1909 Horse is finished that might be my new 'greeter' rug.  The photo below was taken on the deck in natural lighting.

In one of the books in my hooking library I saw an antique rug with a stag so decided to adapt it to a chair pad.  The shape was intended for a particular antique rocker.

Then wanted to hook a larger rug using different colors for the stag.

In a class with Barb Carroll I hooked Brave Hunter, an antique adaptation and pattern offered by Woolley Fox.  You may find it interesting to note the original antique had a gun instead of an arrow in his hands.

Getting antsy to hook another Magdalena rug I pulled out linen and Sharpie and drew Magdalena's Dog and Crows.  The background is a mixture of various greens but mostly using my favorite High Meadow Green recipe from the Beautiful Wool dye book by Laurice Heath.

Always admiring E.S. Frost's designs drew up and hooked the Sheep design with Birds and Flowers.  I've sold several patterns of this design and have enjoyed seeing how others hooked it ~ here is my version.

The above rugs were hooked during 2010 but also participated in a challenge or two and hooked some purses.  I won't bother you with the small stuff.

In 2011 I hooked a couple Karen Kahle designs; one was Home Tweet Home which quickly sold at a show.

But before taking it to the show enjoyed it for a while.  Here it is on my harvest table with a homemade bird.

Another Karen Kahle design was Tea Cozy, which I still have.  I've thought about dismantling it and doing something else with it since I don't use it as a cozy and it didn't sell at the show.  But am not sure what I'd do with it in that curved shape.  Can't make a purse out of it because the design would be upside down with the roundness at the bottom.

This was the year of the Sincerely Jane Rug challenge held on Yahoo Rughookers.  Photos of participants' rugs are in an old issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  

The reason the challenge was named "Sincerely" Jane is because there  is a book named "Dear Jane" written by Brenda Manges Papadakis.  Brenda documented her journey replicating the 1863 Jane Stickle quilt by writing letters to Jane as she did each block and joined them together.  It is a wonderful read and if you quilters don't have this book on your shelf, it should be.  Included are all the pattern pieces for the quilt.

It is a wonderful read and if you quilters don't have this book in your library, it should be.

Sincerely Jane was a project that could be put aside for a while to work on other things.  Knew the deadline and worked accordingly.  Was in the mood to hook a design I drew for Polly Minick, which was a small part of a larger design.  This is Boy and Dog Parade which was part of Polly's 4th of July design.

I was now ready to tackle scrolls, which until now I'd totally avoided.  There was only one teacher who I thought could help me do it right....yup, Barb Carroll.  I love how it turned out and it is hanging in the living room over my fireplace mantle.  I've sold a few patterns of this but must admit it is a bear to draw.

In the mood for a small fall fun mat it was time to hook Cat in a Shoe by Lori Brechlin; it is a design in one of her booklets.

It is time for lunch then back to hooking 1909 Horse.  FYI, today the droplets of rain in those two spots are still occurring; strange phenomenon for sure.  

Saundra

Strange Phenomenon

Yesterday while raking up the many bits of fine limbs from the back yard I noticed two wet spots on the edge of my bird feeder area.  Stood there for a few minutes and watched as single droplets of rain fell in the spots.  It was not raining anywhere else and even tho I was positioned close there were no dots of rain on me or on the deck behind me.

Just came from working in the yard again and noticed the phenomenon happening in the very same spots again today ~ a second day.  Don't know how many days this has happened because I never noticed this until yesterday.  

I took a video and have never posted one before so don't know what I'm doing or what app to use to watch it other than Windows Media Player.  And even then the picture is lousy; guess I'll not be making films in Hollywood, eh?

The video above was at a distance so the drops didn't show up.  Will put my first video up now, but I'm not speaking, a filmmaker I am not.  Hope the rain drops show up here.

So I did a Google search for an EXPLANATION, that is IF there was any.  Click on the word to see what I learned.  Happy Easter.

Saundra