ENJOY THE SHOW

Thankfully yesterday evening for a few hours we were graced with rain showers.  Not just 10 drops but a lovely few hours of steady rain, yet there's no lake out back as the earth soaked up what was given to it.  Now onto the show.

A rug hooked by Nancy Gertrude Scott, daughter of Barbara E. Merry.   It measures 31 x 37 and from the estate of Laura Fisher, NY.

A handsome tall ship and rowboat with dimensions of 22 x 37.  I've seen several great ship patterns and have been tempted to hook a few of those designs but not sure I could pull off the detail albeit primitive.  The sails and rigging look too complicated.  This rug below also gives great detail of the small boat, ocean and sky, which means with its size probably required a narrow cut ~ not my thing.  But a beauty of a rug.

I've had this rug below in my file since June 2022 and have passed it by numerous times, but not tonight.  The auction house named it Starry Night hearth rug.  Hooked circa 1830 and sold for $7,500.  It was said to be an indigo blue background.  I understand indigo blue is a difficult color to achieve when dying, and if done the original way has a putrid smell.  Has anyone out there dyed indigo blue?

Below is a shield shaped floral from the collection of Jean-Marc and Danielle Belzile.  Perhaps this and a couple other rugs I've recently found will be familiar to my Canadian friends.

Given credit to the Lancaster Mennonite community is this Rabbits rug.  It measures 22 x 32.5  and said to be hooked 1900.   

I know people used what textile resources they had available and wanted to put some creativity into their work.  But that background does not speak to me.  A reclining Dog measuring 32 x 46.5 dated 1902.  Now, the shape of the dog with a different background would work for me.

Sheep and 2 Rams 19 x 31 hooked by Mme Jeanne d'arc Gaudette which may also be familiar to you Canadian rug hookers.

A landscape measuring 30 x 54 dated around 1920 and is hooked in a Waldoboro style.  

In the photo below you can see the sculpted areas known as the Waldoboro style.  Loops are pulled up higher and then trimmed to give it the shape you desire.  There are books on Amazon which can teach you to do this technique.

Who doesn't want good luck?  Here's a good luck hooked rug measuring 41 x 44 dated late 19th century.  There are several un-scientific theories on why horseshoes are considered good luck ~ google it.

Dog and Cat in Basket measures 50.5 x 61.5 and hooked 1920's.   

A view of the back of the rug and the foundation looks rather flimsy to me yet it is not showing signs of wear.

Hmmm, now for a horse.  Bet I can find one or more somewhere.  This is a Hutchinson design ~  First in the Hearts of his Countrymen General George Washington.  A patriotic rug with a horse.

There is a Star rug beckoning me to bind it.  Me thinks tomorrow I'll start working an hour a day to work on that task.  Happy hooking, knitting, stitching, or whatever floats your boat ~ the day is yours to enjoy the happiest way you choose.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

  

UPDATE on 1911 HORSE RUG

Now I'm happily working on the bottom half of the rug so I can see the end of the tunnel.  Must admit I've not been bored despite its size and as Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) pointed out I didn't need to look for the next one on my frame.

Ya know how we are always complaining about the color of the rugs we photo.  Perhaps it is the camera we are using.  This is usually the best camera I use and it is a Pentax Optio.

The photo below is taken with a Sony cyber-shot and colors are too bright not what I see in person.  Or perhaps the camera's photo pixels are too intense? 

Anyway, I'm quite content plugging along on this rug as long as it takes.  Besides I find myself intensely watching the History Channel's Skin Walker Ranch.  Is anyone else watching this?  Am constantly stopping to hook so my eyes can be glued to the show.  I was surprised the Geophysicist had been working with the government on research UAPs and is now back at Skin Walker Ranch to share with them what he couldn't before.  

Happy Hooking.  Gonna get cooler tomorrow and on Monday I'll be making my hearty soup.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

IN THE YARD

It's probably still a bit early but I put one hummingbird feeder out with a little nectar.  Once I see activity I'll put a second feeder out and constantly maintain a good level of nectar in them.  Looks like the metal  support needs straightening.  The right of the deck is where my pond used to be.  

At 5 p.m. yesterday in the kitchen fixing a salad I noticed a recumbent deer watching another deer graze on fresh tender leaves of trees.  I briefly thought of taking a photo from the window but screens interfere with the quality plus I was enjoying looking at them.  The deer were visible for over half an hour and are always welcome.

Last year don't believe I saw even one deer in my yard any time of the day.  The neighbor, who has since moved, had 3 dogs which constantly barked when they were outside.  Am sure they were responsible for no visiting deer.  This is the area where the one deer reclined and you can see hoof prints from when it stood back up ~ the dark divots in the ground.

After they left, since it is so dry I put a bucket of water out for the deer near the opening in the woods and near where the deer was resting.

Expecting another rollercoaster weather pattern for Delaware.  Today is supposed to reach the low 80's, tomorrow warmer.  But from the weekend thru all next week it will be much cooler and the weatherman said a potential chance for turbulent weather when the cold front comes thru.  The folks in Bridgeville and Greenwood are still cleaning up from the last tornado which touched down.  He also said next Monday or Tuesday we could have a frost warning.  I'll be sure to have the ingredients for that delicious hearty soup with pearl couscous, I've more of that couscous left.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

UH HUH, ANOTHER RUG SHOW

I could show you photos of my freshly cut yard and yellow tree pollen the wind attached to my black jacket but will spare you the sight and subsequent sneeze attack.  Numerous times I had to stop the mower, remove my mask, blow my nose or wipe the runny eyes.  The earth is dry, pollen thick and wind is vicious.   That and we are under a red flag fire alert due to those facts.  Moving right along...

A farm landscape with hit and miss border.

Another Barbara E. Merry rug which appears to be a bear looking for honey ~ a guess as I think those are bee skeps hooked in the foreground.

A bowl of fruit and or flowers hooked late 19th century.  It measures 21.5 x 38.5.

Black Chickens dated 1900, dimensions of 28 x 44.  The background makes me dizzy, lol.

Remember Carol who hooked Domestic Zoo?  She is presently hooking an antique adaption like this cat.  This antique one was hooked 1901 and measures 26 x 40.

An eagle measuring 17 x 29 but no date.  Maybe it isn't old as it appears to have a yarn whipped edge.

Corner of the back of the eagle.

A floral dated 1863. 

This 1910 Kissing Birds would be a great wedding rug.  It measures 19 x 34.

This is a strange dog rug with stylized hearts,  stork, moon, and two other strange critters.  Dimensions are 23 x 41.

Well there ya have it and now I'm going back to work on my big horsey.  House needs vacuuming but I'm all worked out from cutting grass, lol.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com      

MISC. RUG HOOKING CHAT

Carol Orlove just sent me a photo of her finished Domestic Zoo, even the bound edge was done.  This was completed in record time as the delivery date of her pattern wasn't to be until March 1st and Carol sent me the photo on April 13th. 

Well done Carol and thanks for sending me the photo; what's on your frame next?  

Below is a horse rug I recently found on an auction site.  I don't think it is an antique in spite of and because of the dramatic color changes.  Yeah I know antique rugs do have odd colors hooked in animals and I have hooked some.  But think this may have been someone's personal challenge of using values.

Let me show you other examples of using value because it was the 'new thing' as a challenge for some hookers.  Here is a horse rug being hooked using values in 2009 by Pat M.  It is representative of her  granddaughter's Appaloosa.  Wish I had a completed photo of it.

This is a face purse hooked in values by friend Deb.  She hooked many of these over the years and colors may change according to the values in her stash.

I wouldn't be able to pull off hooking a project using the values theory.  My wool would have to be more close to a natural color of the subject matter.  Yet I've heard rug teachers say, "color gets all the credit but value does all the work".  Think about that for a minute and it is true.

Happy hooking and think I'll go back to working on my horse.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

BEST LAID PLANS....

Yesterday I hoped to do an update on my horse rug but wanted to get the right side scroll hooked first.  Today I just wanted to keep hooking and finish the background and top border.  But.... as the saying goes "the best laid plans of mice and women".

The bottom portion of the rug will be more fun and interesting since I'll hook the original date on it which will fill in some of the background.  As previously mentioned I drew this measuring 32 x 35.5 and hooking mostly in #8.5, some #9 and those darker lines in the background were either thin worms or #8.5 cut in half.

I'm quite happy with the rug so far and when it is done will be glad it is a size suitable for the front of the fireplace on the rotation schedule.  So if anyone is interested in the pattern I'll be happy to draw it whatever size you want.  So take a look at the imperfect lines since I was drawing from the antique.  There wouldn't be perfect lines INSIDE the pattern as the antique wasn't  hooked that way.  But you can be sure the outside lines will be perfectly down the straight of grain (the ditch).

Gal pal Lauren is away having fun playing in the wool with Kris Miller and I'm jealous.  I haven't seen Kris since 2019 when I was in her class and she pulled a few unexpected fun loops on the rug I was working on.  If you haven't seen that post or if you want to revisit it you can see it HERE.

It was summer here today!  My thermostat shows the temps inside as well as outside and at one point when I looked the temp outside was 91*.  Tomorrow will be slightly cooler but still above average.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ANOTHER RUG SHOW

This title and 'what's new on my frame' are the two topics which receive the most visits.  Sorry, but nothing new on the frame just yet as there is a lot more to be hooked on 1911 Horse.  But sit back and enjoy some rugs for inspiration and hopefully some entertainment.

Dog with scrolls measuring 24 x 75 hooked late 19th to early 20th century.  Has the blotchy background I like.

Rabbits, Birds and 8 point stars hooked 19th century with dimensions of 37 x 38.

Three bulls eyes measuring 20 x 30 and said to be hooked around 1920.

The rug below and the bulls eye rug would make great companion pieces.  This rug was from the estate of Jonathan Rickard circa 1900 measuring 21 x 29.

Little Peeps hooked early-mid 20th century, 22 x 35.

With a closeup of the peeps.

Cats and birds, or is it cats, dog and birds?  No information on date hooked or size.

Animals and stars rug measuring 30 x 40 and hooked early 20th century.

It's hard for to to tell if this is a charging bull or buffalo.  It measures 28 x 38.

I found this rug of farmers praying interesting.  Perhaps they are praying for a good growing season.  No date of hooking but measures 18  x 35. 

NOTE:  Have been informed by Julia this is an adaptation of a painting by French painter Jean-Francois Millet who also painted The Gleaners which is another rug I've seen hooked.  Thanks Julia!!!

That's it for tonight folks.  Happy hooking.        

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

HAPPY EASTER

The other day I thought back to my childhood and remembered our Easter traditions.  One such tradition was going to Church in the morning, a normal Sunday event, not just holidays.   Mother and I would be in our new Easter outfit which included gloves worn in the early 50's and a new Easter bonnet.   

After church we made our way to Rehoboth Beach, DE to watch the Easter Parade on the boardwalk.  There many other people there enjoying the holiday tradition who were also wearing their Easter finery.  Wish I had a photo to share but sadly it is just a fond memory.

May you enjoy Easter with your family, enjoy the chocolate and please remember the true reason for this holiday.

Saundra

MISC. CHIT CHAT

Will chat about various topics, first of which is about the last tornado which came thru Delaware last week about 10 miles from where I live.  Below is a  map of Delaware and I've circled my town of Seaford and the area the tornado caused damage to over 60 homes and other buildings plus took one life.

There was an article about last week's tornado in the Washington Post which you can read HERE.  There is even a video which you can watch.  

According to a local meteorologist the conditions are the same as last week which has the potential to give this area turbulent weather this evening.  Am sure you are aware this storm system has already gone thru the mid-west.  So I will be on high alert and doubt I'll get much sleep if the wind is strong when in bed.

Another topic on my mind is the annual Medicare physical.  For those of us of  'a certain age' we are subjected to what I consider cruel and unusual punishment.  Let me explain ... just knowing it is the annual physical my blood pressure increases even as I drive to the doctor's office.

Then while waiting for the doctor the nurse takes my bp which is, of course, elevated.  The doctor looks at the bp number and says she wants  me to have a follow-up in 3  months and if my bp is high then will increase my medication.  So for that follow-up she would have used the hypertension code.  

Continuing with the exam the doctor gives me three words which I'll recall upon command a little later.  Meanwhile I'm asked a verbal math problem to solve in my head, after which I'm given a piece of paper to draw a circle, and mark a designated time.....say 5 minutes after 10.  These tests are to determine whether or not I have dementia?  Or is it a way go put a label or code for my medical records?  After all they charge based on codes, each illness has a code so more codes the more a doctor can charge.

Okay, so lets say for arguments sake it really is for my (our) own good and health.  Would they ask a 20 year old person these questions?  Hell they can't do math because a calculator is part of their supplies when attending school.  I can do it because at the age of 13 I had to do the math and make change with the old style cash registers.

Not sure how many teens can even read a clock since everything is digital and all they have to do is look at their iPhone.  Okay, so those 3 words after all that?  Sometimes I manage to name all three if I can concentrate and repeat those words during the rest of the interrogation, lol.  But most times I can remember two of the three words.

Sooo, the million dollar question is ~ did Joe Biden pass or fail those tests?  To quote Joe, "Come on man".

Don't know about you but I much preferred the Budweiser Clydesdale ads than the ad currently being circulated.  I am NOT woke, I will never become woke, I'll continue to use the terms 'manhole cover' will still refer to my remaining male family members as 'son' and 'brother'.  And will use the words man and woman not they, them, etc.  Okay, got that off  my chest, lol.

Now to the good stuff in case you haven't moved to another blog by now I'll treat you to a beautiful design by Theresa Rapstein.  The pattern name is Old Blue Flowers and is hooked by Theresa.  What an awesome design.

Theresa has a wonderful way with wool.  This is either hand torn or very wide cut.  Love it!  She has a way to make her projects look OLD.

Oh, in case you're wondering I had that follow-up visit with the doctor after 3 months.  I was to keep a record of my bp with the cuff and take it to the appointment.  The doctor also took my vitals while in the office and blood pressure levels were in the acceptable range.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

UPDATE on 1911 HORSE

Here's the update to 1911 Horse and couldn't wait to work on the tail and hip.  Perhaps I could have gone for a more brassy gold but not going to reverse hook this as it does look more brassy in person.                       

Sorry this update is so close to the last one but there's nothing else you'd be interested in I don't think.  Unless it is the level 1.3 tornado (up to 140 mph winds) which went thru this area on Saturday evening but thankfully about 10 miles from me.  But I did not sleep well since the winds were so bad and I've had trees in my yard blow over at 80 mph winds.

My dear neighbor Lamar came thru just when I needed him.  He started my push mower for me and while he was checking out my riding mower I cut Ben's back yard. 

I'd love input on subjects, photos or anything you readers would find interesting.  Just comment or send me a message thru "E MAIL" me.  Happy hooking.    

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

RUG EYE CANDY

April already????  My how time goes by so quickly.  Today there is still the leftover wind from March but April showers came on stage as scheduled.

During my morning caffeine fix I search for vintage rugs so thought I'd entertain you with some of them.   This antique rug is another of my favorites, of course, since it has a horse on it.  Have had this photo for a while and would love to hook it but it is so big.  Horse and Roosters hooked 1902 and measures 24 x 66.

Below is a landscape from the estate of Penny Marshall (yes, THAT Penny Marshall) and it measures 23 x 38.  

A view of the back so you can see the true color and repairs on the sides.

Another rug from the estate of Penny Marshall is this lovely Stag rug.  Dimensions are 26 x 44.

For you exotic animal lovers is a leopard rug dated 1920 and measures 18 x 28.5.

The back shows the hooker used a fabric to bind the edges of her rug vs. just turning over the foundation or using binding tape.

An oval rug of pansies with no dimensions or date but think it is very eye appealing.

I was quite intrigued with this pieced textile rug.  Did the person have no  hook or hookable foundation?  Or again wanted to make use of what was available?  The textiles (silk, cotton and wool) were stitched on a denim backing.  It measures 21 x 32.  Sadly when I did a screen shot this is all I could capture.

The only thing the auction house provided on this next rug were the words "good dog"; no dimensions or date.

And for the feline lovers, this rug is adorable. A mama cat with kittens measuring 21 x 41.5 circa 1900. 

Here's a closeup of mama cat's face.

Happy rainy dreary windy day.   But a wonderful day to do the hand work we enjoy.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com