A Few Challenge Pieces in Progress

Here are a few photos to share of a few participants' progress.

Elaine was the first to check in with a photo and what textiles she is using.  Her challenge piece included cotton, wool sweater, sari silk, nylons and yarn.  And what seems to be the complaint from all of us who photo our mats, she says the colors are not as bright as the photo shows.  Great work Elaine, you sent me this a day or two ago so guess you are already done with this one and maybe starting another, 😉.

Nancy drew her pattern freehand.  She confirmed my sentiments by saying, "this is not as easy to hook with (as wool).   She started with old seam binding at the top, then cut calico strips about 3/4" wide to do the rest which she says was easier to pull through.  The dark blue is a piece of homespun.  Her hand is tired but is happy with how it is turning out.  Nancy, I totally agree with you, it looks really neat!!!

Elizabeth is also doing the Tulip and sent a photo of the textiles she plans to use, but things could change, she said.  Elizabeth, I know that all too well as I've gone back to my fabric shelf a few times since starting mine.

Elizabeth drew her pattern 18 x 20 1/4 and using what fabrics she has on  hand which includes light weight curtain samples, cotton, green jersey and/or green wool yarn.  She plans a mauve and lighter pink as is wool yardage strips.

Denise chose Scrappy Cat as her challenge piece and these are the fabrics she is planning to use.  Not sure what size pattern she has decided on but we will hear and see more from her in the future.

Jo Wick has provided us with lots of photos with her accomplishments so far and close up shots of the textiles.  Looking great as is everything you hook or punch.  A full shot of her Tulip.

Photos of textiles she's using.

And close up views of some areas; here on the tulip.

And close up of the leaf.

Jo, that  mix of wool and other fibers really works well together, I might do some reverse hooking and adapt some wool too 😁 .

Tammy wanted to work on the Magdalena Pup; oh but those x's are so familiar to me as I do the same thing when I want to change something on a pattern.  Guess we rug hookers have a lot in common.

She also send a couple photos of the textiles she will use. 

If I've missed anyone and their photos, send an update to the group and I'll be sure to put them in a future blog post so others can see them who are not part of this challenge.   

Happy Hooking everyone.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Tattered Tulip, my Beginning

This is a more realistic challenge for me in terms of size and detail than the wonderful Patriotic Shield.  Hooking the Shield I looked critically at the stars and wondered how they would appear with wide flannel and changed my plan.  Will definitely hook the Shield later with wool.  Now to my new challenge, Tattered Tulip.  

I pulled a mix of woven cottons and cotton flannel but that mint green looks too light.  

This is the original photo of Tattered Tulip and the mint flannel IS to light.  Yeah, I tried to stay within the colors of the original ~ so silly of me and when you see the other gals you'll know why.

So decided to change up my fabric up a bit.  Mint flannel on the left and the back of a vintage cutter quilt on the right.

As planned I tried to walk in the shoes of our foremothers using this antique hook.  You can see it has a carved wooden handle and guessing the hook was a chiseled down nail with a hook on the end.  Don't know how our foremothers hooked with that, but they did and quite successfully. I tried at least half dozen times to pull each strip up but grabbed my trusty Hartman to continue.

FYI, I cut the cotton and flannel about 1/2" but might have been able to achieve more with 3/4 or 1" strips.  Below is all I've accomplished today.

I've received photos and updates from a couple gals and you wouldn't believe what some have accomplished.  Will do another post tomorrow with an idea on how we can share our messages with each other instead of me posting all the photos on my blog.  

Briefly here's the idea....

I could do a 'Challenge Rug Hooking Group' email where everyone's email address in a BCC (blind carbon copy) each can read the email without divulging each of our email addresses.  This way we can share at will our ideas, photos, etc. 

Of course it would mean when you want to share your photos you'd need to choose "REPLY ALL" and not just "REPLY".  The Reply would just come to me instead of the whole participating group.

Will probably dream a sleepless night while figuring this out in my head.  Have a good night, happy hooking and will connect with you all tomorrow.

NOTE:  Evening Stitcher you are a NO-REPLY blogger and am unable to send you an email.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Checking In and a Confession

Oh boy, I know that word "Confession" got your attention, didn't it?  But first, the group has expanded with some gals figuring out how to fix or circumvent the No-Reply Blogger issue.  But Linda wants to join and is a No-Reply.  I've decided this Friday will be the deadline to join. 

Wow, 15 17 people have joined and I'm honored that you've selected this as a challenge.  It will be quite a challenge for me too and I love antique rugs.  But I've never hooked an entire piece using textiles our foremothers used.  Also will use one of my antique hooks (for as long as I can) which seems so small to pull those hefty pieces of homespun cotton, but they used to do just that.  Am sure I'll be grabbing my Hartman tout de suite.

Okay, now you ready for this....the CONFESSION?   This is the design I chose to hook for the challenge.  But....you all know I'm a fickle hooker, I've told you that numerous times.

Have decided to hook a smaller piece, lol.  I'm going with the majority and have decided to hook the Tulip!  There, you heard it here first.  Think I bit off more than I could chew with the larger Shield, the Tulip is cute and achievable in a shorter time ~ particularly since I'm the administrator of this challenge.  

Now for those ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES:   As people have signed up several have inquired if folks would be sending updates on their accomplishments.  And I would hope so and I could do a blog post with pictures/comments from participants on what they have done every couple days.  I'm sure many would like to know what fabrics you're using for which design and maybe even see a photo of your progress.

I plan to do a post tomorrow showing what I'll be using to hook the Tattered Tulip.  But since there are new participants lets give them and you a chance to gather your stuff and plan to give me an email, pictures, and info on what you're doing on Friday, 2/19.  

Gotta get myself busy switching color plan from patriotic to flower.  Have a great evening and happy hooking.  Hope everyone is warm and so sorry for those freezing in Texas and the tornado victims.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Let's Get this Party Started!

Am pleased there are 10 15 participants so far, me being 16th.  Just added one more as Denise B figured out what her problem was with the No-Reply Blogger.  But Linda, unfortunately you are a NO-Reply Blogger so I cannot send you an email or photos.

Someone with forethought asked me what the RULES were for this challenge.... time limit, colors, size, etc.

RULES ~  there aren't any rules except this "challenge" was intended to try and walk in the shoes of Magdalena and other 1800s rug hookers who used what they had.  Heck, if you look at the priceless rugs they produced, survived against all odds and brought big bucks at auction, I'd say they did a great job using what they had.

RULES ~ there is no time limit, just hook at your leisure and send me a photo when you have something to show and share.  Heck, you know me, I might put mine aside and start something else in between.  But bet readers will be interested in seeing how this is going.

RULES ~ You don't have to use the same colors as the original antique.  Use the colors you prefer.  

OH, and there isn't a prize, lol.  This is to be a personal challenge.

In the past, they used red long johns, cotton stockings, calicos, denim, silk if they had it and whatever was left over and not quite worn out.  Probably the only wool used back then would have been from civil war uniforms.

As soon as I chose my design thought these would be what was needed for the mat.

These are cottons....where are those rotary cutters I used to have??  😞  Did have them but guess when I got all fancy and purchased an expensive cutter those were put in a box for the thrift shop.  Well hell, so out came the scissors.  That reddish stripe was a thready piece which would have been nothing but threads had I ripped it.  Thankfully there were lines which I could follow to hand cut.  Those were cut in 1" strips and hooked just fine.  But...

..it seemed too pink to my eye.  The theady stuff is hooked and the brighter red is cotton flannel which rips perfectly.  At first I ripped the flannel at 3/4" and hooked fine but thick.  So eventually ripped in 1/2" strips.   So depending on the textile you're using it will be experiment as you go.

Looking at the photo above that thready porous fabric doesn't look all that pink to me now.  Oh well, I'll still use it in the hit and miss border so it will be used.

Guess by now you know what I've chosen to hook.  I enlarged the Patriotic Shield 250% to the dimensions of 19.5 x 21.  After the piece is hooked plans are to do a black walnut spray to tone it down and age it.

And you will notice the stripes are wonky.  Yup, that is the way the antique looked  after it was well worn and that is the way I'm going to hook it.  

For a recount of our group here is the list I have.  Let me know if I've left anyone out or have your design wrong.

Hearts in Circles

Sheep Under Feet

Tattered Tulip

Lauren

Elaine

Cathy of Acorn Hollow

NMK

Jo Wick

Joan Montgomery

Elizabeth Rice

Pamala Gunn

Patricia Cramer

Magdalena's Pup

Margaret Zenk

Tammy (Babypelk)

4Hearts and Flowers

Sue Swank 

Scrappy Cat

KMKosmider

Denise B

Patriotic Shield

Saundra

Okay gals, if you have any other questions or suggestions please let me know.  Hope we all have fun and experience a little of the people who inspired our love of hooking rugs.

Love to all.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

 

A Finish and Challenge Update

NOTE:  

Tammy P, Denise B, Rhonda, and Unknown, I cannot email you because you are a NO-REPLY blogger so I can't communicate with you or send you the line drawing.  You need to go into 'blogger' and put in your email address OR as I'd indicated in the other post, use the EMAIL ME form.

That which was finished last actually finished first.  Yes, it's true, Over the Moon is still being bound but not finished, White Horse and Scrolls was finished just before this Wonky  Heart by Maggie Bonanomi but this one gets bound first.  Well partly because it was smaller.  And because I wanted to try the cross stitch border Lauren seems to enjoy so much.  Must admit it does make an interesting border but I don't have the hours of experience doing cross stitch as she does, so my stitches are off kilter and unequal in distance.  But ya know, I don't care....it's done.

Now to the challenge ~ I've  made the decision to send the Pattern line drawings of the designs to the individuals who are interested in participating.  I won't post all the line drawings on my blog....think I heard a huge sigh of disappointment, lol.  But this is for those folks who want to play along with me and NOT use the line drawings and draw patterns for profit.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for free enterprise and these are antique rugs which anyone can make a pattern from.  Therefore those who wish to sell patterns can do their own work for the basic drawing.

Now, for those of you who wish to hook the patterns I don't care if you sell the finished piece afterwards or even if you wish to hook the design a second time because you didn't like your first color choices.  During this time of sheltering in thought it would be fun to have a hook-in, albeit at a distance and share pictures, questions, share ideas, etc.

So now you know the rules, who else would like to join in?  For those of you who have already told me what you want to hook, I'll send you the line drawings and original antique photo either later tonight or tomorrow after my morning appointment.  

Lauren ~ Hearts in Circles

Sheep Under Feet ~ Hearts in Circles 

Elaine ~ Tattered Tulip

Cathy, Acorn Hollow ~ Tattered Tulip

NMK ~ Tattered Tulip

Jo Wick ~ Tattered Tulip

Joan Montgomery ~ Tattered Tulip

Margaret Zenk ~ Magdalena's Pup

Sue Swank ~ 4 Hearts and Flowers

KMKosmider ~ Scrappy Cat

If I missed anyone or someone else would like to join in, Please let me know which pattern you want.  You can see the choices in my previous blog HERE.  If you aren't sure if you are a NO REPLY BLOGGER, then use the 'EMAIL ME' format or I'll not be able to respond.

Have a great evening.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

A New Challenge for Me (Us?) UPDATED

Looking thru my antique rug pictures here are a few ideas to throw out for those who may want to take the plunge and delve back in time to the way our foremothers hooked ~ using what they had.  Sorta like 'pot luck hooking', not pot luck cooking, lol.

I've probably given away hundreds of yards of fabric to a church group who makes quilts for the needy.  Recently gave a lot to the local thrift shop along with some patterns but had this idea to challenge myself with cottons, worn flannel, also have some silk clothing I'd previously dismantled for hooking, but never went there.  Add to that a bunch of vintage seam binding I used for dolls and crafts and an idea was born.

This Tattered Tulip has lived a good life and would be easy and let you off the hook quickly.....pun intended 😁.

In keeping with Valentines Day here are Four Hearts and Flowers.

And yet another heart themed mat from the 19th century which would be easy.

One of a few Magdalena Briner Eby rugs I've not yet hooked is this simple Pup design.  It might make a good subject for cottons and other textiles.

For those who prefer felines to canines, here is a scrappy cat rug which is a rather basic design.

There is a rather large American Patriotic design which I could crop and make the subject of a challenge just the Shield part as shown below.

I've provided 6 ideas and that would be way plenty for me to do line drawings for if any of these ideas interest you.  If anyone has an idea they'd like to introduce please send me a picture.  OR, if anyone wants to take on this challenge and work on something entirely different that's great too.  We aren't challenging each other, it is a personal challenge for me to finally hook using alternative textiles.

UPDATE:

So far I've done line drawings of Tattered Tulip, Hearts in Circles and one  unnamed for me which I'll disclose later.  Would love to have more join in on the fun and will do line drawings for those other designs if anyone would be interested.  

I've seen and have posted pictures (when available) of close up views of textiles used, here are just a few.....

Cannot identify which pattern this close up is from as I only identified it as Magdalena's close up.  You can see there is cotton, maybe rayon or silk, and what appears to be cotton knit.  

This is the underside edge of Cora and Bentley, the antique rug previously shown HERE.

And this is the edge of an antique rug which I haven't shown before so its identity will remain anonymous for now.  But you can see the textiles used to hook it quite clearly.   

Okay, this will give you food for thought and think I know which I'll choose already.  Let me know your thoughts of what you'd like to play with.  If there is a design which no one is interested in then I won't do a line drawing of that or those.

Also, feel free to welcome your friends to join in and you'd have a buddy to hook with but then you've got this buddy at a distance when you want me.

'Tis a dreary Saturday here and the rain is freezing on the tree limbs.  The pond has risen once again and will get higher as there will be another week of it to come.

Right now gonna pull the last loops on the Wonky Heart and anticipate my next project.  Hope I didn't get rid of some of the fabric I'm thinking about putting in the mat.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Last Loop Pulled

Pulled the last loop on Horse and Scrolls this afternoon and now the dreaded binding process needs to be done.  Heck, I'm still not finished whipping the edge of Over the Moon which has been hooked for some time.  But at least there's only one other in the 'un-bound' pile.

The photo which follows was taken with a flash inside the house and the background looks brown but it isn't that brown but more of a heathery black.  Sure wish my digital camera took better photos but am not going to invest in another. 

This photo is taken on my back porch in natural light without a flash and it shows more of the primitive black color although the rug isn't quite THAT black.  Suffice it to say the real color is somewhere in-between.

Okay, soon I'll be in a frenzy with nothing new to put on my frame.  Despite my friend Lauren's claims I don't always plan ahead.  BUT!!!!!!  I have been thinking. 

Since I've been donating a lot of fabric to the thrift shop got looking at some of the cottons thinking..."that would look great as a flower", or that would be a great...whatever.  

In all the antique rugs posted on my blog, whenever there has been a close up of the textiles I've posted on the rugs, those photos show many were hooked with cottons, knits nylon stockings and whatever they used to MAKE DO.  

So was considering providing a free small project for anyone who wished to join in and use whatever you have ~ homespun, silk, flannel shirts, socks, red long johns, tee shirts, etc.  It would have to be small for me to keep my interest but you could make yours whatever size you desire.  

My thoughts would be SMALL, maybe an animal, a single flower, log cabin, etc.  But SMALL.  Did I mention small, lol.  Because you all know I get bored easily.  Give me your thoughts and maybe I'll do a couple line drawings and we can decide which one to challenge ourselves with.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Diagnosis and Rx

The diagnosis for the day in a funk was due to monotony of hooking on  horse and scrolls.  Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE that design but it became monotonous with it as my only design to work on.   

In the past (on occasion) intermittently I had two projects going at the same time.  Yeah recently spoke about knitting a wool cap or pulling out my punch needles but those didn't interest me.  The medicine I needed to cure that funk was to draw a small pattern to hook.  And voila!!!  I was healed 😁.  

That LITTLE SOMETHING  drawn for me is this pattern by Maggie Bonanomi from her booklet "Another Place and Time" which she refers to as 'her little wonky heart pillow'.

Tonight I'll set the wonky heart aside and am excited to get back to  White Horse and Scrolls.  

On the propane front..... yesterday 209.6 gallons of propane was delivered to the tune of $575.70.  Yep, in just two months I've used up all those other 204 gallons of propane delivered December 10th.      And the price increased 20 cents per gallon in just two months.  With this so called 'new green deal' (where several thousand jobs were cut) the price of gas, oil and propane will rapidly increase.  Oh, also electric bills will increase because there will be a solar tax included in your bill...watch for it. 

Another wintery storm mix is headed this way; tonight it will be rain and snow and another will roll thru tomorrow.  I'm thinking luck will soon run out on the low snow levels and before long we'll get dumped on.  But hey, it is winter.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Yesterday vs. Today

Yesterday the temperature was in the low 50's and sunny.  When I woke up this morning it was dreary and raining with temps at 41.  The rain stopped, the temperature dropped and it is now snowing like crazy and 36* outside. 

That's not the only difference between yesterday and today.  Yesterday I was in a funk all day despite the nice weather.  The only things productive were dropping off fabric, patterns, books and magazines to the thrift shop on the way to the grocery store.  

Had plans to list some items on ebay but just seemed like too much energy involved for not having the items sell.  Wanted to draw a pattern to hook for my wonderful DIL but wasn't in the mood.   Also wanted to do a blog post but wasn't in the mood to do that either.  

So thought I'd plop my butt on the sofa and watch TV while pulling a few loops but ended up surfing more than hooking and got bored with that.  Seemed nothing suited me.

Today I cleaned off my drawing table and drew out this pattern for my sweet daughter-in-law love which will be a Christmas gift or maybe birthday but doubt I'll have it done by then as it will be a part-time project.  Found the Tonya Robey pattern in a Primitive Quilts and Projects Winter 2014 issue and as soon as I saw it knew my DIL would love it.

Also drew a little something for me to work on as a break from the horse and scrolls rug.  Perhaps if I'd had a pattern on the side to play with it would have been enough to pull me out of that funk.  Won't show you what it is just yet, want it to be a surprise and it will give me something to blog about on another day.

CARRIE ~ thank you for your comment but I cannot respond to you personally as you are a no reply blogger.  What that essentially means is that when you signed up in blog land you did not give your email address in your profile.  Thus no one can contact you unless they know it.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

THROWBACK THURSDAY

I've been weeding thru magazines to throw out those which I've no interest in.  While doing so have made a list of which Primitive Quilts and Projects magazines have a design I want to hook ~ didn't catalog all patterns, just those which interest me.  So no needlework or quilt designs, only those patterns which could be converted to a hooked project.  I list the title of pattern, designer's name, issue and page so when I'm looking for something new to put on the frame will be able to find it easily.  Have also been weeding out Early American Life magazines.

By now you're wondering what perusing magazines has to do with 'throwback Thursday'.  Well it really has a lot to do with rug hooking icon Barb Carroll,

this Early American Life magazine and an antique rug.

While thumbing thru the above magazine I was reunited with this article.   Then a fond memory of a class with Barb emerged.  Barb called us over to her work station to look at an antique rug she'd recently purchased and said there was an upcoming article about it in EAL magazine and we could see the rug in person.

As Barb is talking about the rug I lifted one corner of  it to peek at the underside to find how it was bound or if it was completely covered.  Like a true faithful Catholic who was taught by Nun's, she smacked my hand.  I actually laughed out loud yesterday with that memory.  She didn't smack my hand hard, but didn't skip a beat in her dialogue as she did so.  She wasn't ready to explain that part yet and didn't want me snooping too early.  OMG, gotta love that woman!

This is the underside of that antique rug I tried to take a peek at.

If you would like to have a copy of this old issue you can find it HERE as I'm keeping mine.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Mitten, Punxsutawney and Propane

Since it is now February I have hung the hooked mitten with greenery and hearts.  Those cotton hearts were made years ago and aren't the same color but as I get no visitors there won't be any issue with that off color discrepancy being noticed.

By now everyone has heard about Punxsutawney Phil's prediction for 6 more weeks of winter.   I'm not the slightest bit surprised since it is cold, windy and snowy.  With a little over 3" of snow on Sunday, then rain and last night more snow I've already had my fill of the white stuff.  Rain melted the first snow yesterday but there is a little new snow covering the ground right now.  Here are a couple pictures of the first snow; standing on the front porch is a view toward the meadow outside my property....

...unshoveled walkway and drive way.  

and the view from my back porch.  

Remember the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray"?  I feel like I'm stuck in my own groundhog movie because the April rug camp from 2020 was rescheduled for this April 2021.  And that one has been cancelled and is scheduled now for the 3rd year to 2022.  Wonder what will happen to Cape May camp this year?  Will it be cancelled again due to Covid too?

Sunday I made a delicious pot of chili and will have some for tonight's dinner; love having leftovers.

This morning I checked the propane level and am at 30% fill.  The tank was filled December 10, 2020 with 201.4 gallons for $513.29.  Am sure the cost will be at least that much and with fracking ending and subsequently price of gas and oil increasing the cost just might be more than that when they deliver.  Sure have gone thru a lot of propane and the highest I keep my heat is 64 degrees as I wear turtlenecks and sweat shirts to keep warm.  But at least I have heat so that's something.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com