Cape May Rug Show

I took lots of pictures as there were lots of rugs for the show.  There are so many that it will take a couple posts to get them all in.  If you double-click on the photo it will enlarge and you can see who the hooker and designer is.

This rug below gave me chills it was so beautifully hooked.  It was hooked by Liz Morino and drawn by Lenny Feenan.  When I spoke to Liz I think she said she hooked it in #2.  No dang wonder it looks like a photo.  I've hooked my Rottie Memorial in #3 and that this the smallest cut I will EVER use again.

Here are close ups.

And a colorful rug for those who like color.  Hmmm, mine will be one of those in that category at next Cape May when I get done with my Colorful Cats.

The rug below is called Wild Things by Joan Strausbaugh and I LOVE it.  She does the most unusual and off the wall rugs and they are always an inspiration to me.  Why doesn't my brain work like that? 

Yeah, I know, you are all wondering when I'm going to show the rug I started at rug camp, right?  Actually I'm having fun hooking that colorful rug even tho those aren't the colors of primitive/antique which I love.  I'm trying to get as much hooked and needle felted as I can but meanwhile dangling the carrot of part of a rug show.

So keep tuned as there are much more rugs and stories to tell.

Saundra

More Trunk Show by Ali

Since there are still a number of rug pictures from the show that need reducing in size thought I'd give you more of the trunk show that Ali took to Cape May.

Here are two great fraktur flower pieces which used a couple of her techniques.  I see needle felting, standing wool circles (quillies), embroidery stitches, beading and forget what else that I can't see in the picture.

This bluebird below has several techniques applied to the cute primitive piece also.  As you can see it still needs to be bound as did a few of her pieces but they were done enough to give us lots of eye candy.

 Below is a holiday piece which was done directly onto wool good for hooking, so it can be done.  The tree is needle felted.

Can't remember if Ali said this was a personal challenge or one with a group, but she did two flowers with entirely two different looks. 

I've a thing for log cabins, and also like how Ali has done a patchwork type framing.

Here is a close up of the cabin and tree.

 

Don't you just LOVE this tote?  The entire design has been needlefelted directly onto the wool. 

 A poinsettia pillow hooked on her hand dyed linen.

 I believe the piece below is from one of her booklets.

 Another cute wool tote a hooked sheep face and quillies.  Note the lether feet hanging from under the tote/purse.

 Another sheep and way different which incorporates needle felting (moon, trees, windows and door.

 Another small heart using left overs.

 How sweet is this snowman with his wool jacket?

 A close up of the sewn on jacket.

Well, there ya have it.  Now I've got to knuckle down and reduce the picture size but first need to draw a pattern for someone.

Have a great afternoon.

Saundra

Wonderful Samples by Ali Strebel

Oh but these pictures will not do justice to the pieces you see on my blog.  But up close in person and to touch they are remarkable.  At least it will stimulate your palate.

Ali (Kindred Spirits) brought several pieces, some finished and some works in progress.  But they all had some technique or several techniques in each piece.  Actually, think Ali said this heart had all the techniques she showed us for the sampler we practiced.  OMG, is this heart delicious or what?

Here is a fantastic crow pillow hooked on a loosely woven wool which has a couple techniques not including the hooking on wool. Primitive is my style and still can find Ali's techniques suitable for primitive.

This is a close up of the needle felting spots done to the wing of the black bird.  Cool, eh?  I'm using needle felting in the rug which will go on my floor.

Oh but I just love this Bee Skep.  Again there are a few techniques in this piece beyond just hooking which makes it special.

Even more techniques which still lend themselves to primitive designs but using artsy techniques are in this nice piece below.

Hey, ya know, I was going to post all her samples here tonight but her class is so special and you learn so much from the hands on in class that I'm leaving you with just this teaser.  And NO, she did not ask me to do this and am NOT on her payroll.  Well ......maybe I'll show you one more thing....this are needle felted circles which Ali did on a foam base first, then stitched onto the backing then hooked around. 

If you are interested in having Ali as a teacher at your group or camp you can contact her HERE.

Let me tell you there was so much overload of fun, learning, laughs, etc.  That I am now just beginning to get back to normal since arriving home last Friday.

I've given Ali's name to a rug camp even closer to home and hope some year soon they will have her as a teacher.

Have a great evening everyone.  Tomorrow there will be a rug show from Cape May.  There were so many rugs that it might take two or three blog posts to get them all in since some have stories behind them.

Saundra

A Class with Ali Strebel

If you ever have an opportunity to take a class with Ali Strebel run don't walk to sign up.  I've given her name as a suggestion for a teacher at the Ocean City Workshop for some November and sure hope to see her on the teacher roster.

We all started out the Monday morning class doing a Sampler of all the wool works that could be used for a hooked project.  Naturally it made sense we learn all the potential techniques before we started our own pieces so that we could determine which would work best for us.  Since my rug is going on the floor the only two that I could use were the "Standing Wool Circles" (a/k/a quillies).  However there are many which will be used in a future wall hanging for sure.

You can see the gals busily applying the new techniques to their piece of linen.  That is Sandra in the foreground (sorry for the back of the head shot) and Deb to the left and Sue to the right, those fun gals from Ohio.  Will have more about them in a future post and the pranks they played on me.

Ali is giving a demonstration on yet another technique.  The class on  the other side of the room has already left to hook on the porch.

Here is Sue practicing needle felting on a piece of foam, another technique that can be applied to a hooked piece.

There are lots more pictures to come.  I've pictures of the rug show as well as the class projects done by all as we showed them on the front lawn in their various stages of completion.  So stay tuned and have an enjoyable Sunday.

Saundra

Honey's...... I'm Home!

And must say I feel like I've been run hard and hung up wet.  Every year is a wonderful time at Cape May but this year was even more spectacular and fun. 

First there was no angst with working on the detail of a departed pet, the weather was very accommodating and met three feisty young women from Ohio.  Oh but there are stories I CAN share and some I can't.  The ones that I can share will be in a future post.  They were great gals and my jaws still hurt from laughing.

As promised, here are a few of the hookers in the first day who are sitting on the porch.  There were about 50 women there in 4 classes so not everyone chooses to sit on the porch and this was early in the class session.

This happens to be a combination of a Bev Conway class but the gal to the front left happens to be in our class (Ali Strebel) an is chatting with a friend.  Oh, FYI, for future reference that cottage in the background is where the Ohio gals roomed.

Looking toward the other end of the front of the Chalfonte you can see a few other hookers working away.  At the very far end you can see gals hooking and the rockers extend around the corner to the left.  So LOTS of rocking chairs and choices between sun, shade, or convenience to teacher.

Since I'm still trying to gather my wits, catch up with laundry and 'heal thy self' from all excess food, beverage and late nights, I'll give you more from Cape May tomorrow.

Must say that while it was fun to get away with pals, it was also nice to come home to my boy Ben and get back to my normal diet.

Have a great evening.

Saundra

My Destination

Here is where I'm headed and will be there tomorrow afternoon.  The wonderful historical Victorian Chalfonte Hotel. 

And what was I thinking that I could sit and hook a bit this afternoon.  I haven't sit all day today except for eating breakfast, eating lunch and now.  There's lots more for me to do before leaving in the a.m. to cross the ferry.  But for anyone looking to go to the Rugs by the Sea camp, there are hookers sitting along three sides of the Chalfonte on rocking chairs hooking, chatting and having a grand time. 

Oh, the funny thing is there are horse drawn carriages and the drivers point out there are hookers on the porch.  There are laughs and lots of waving going on.  It really is a fun time.

Gotta do stuff so gotta go.

Saundra

Getting Closer to Cape May Time

All of my rugs to be in the show at Cape May have their labels sewn on....well except for 500 Mile Betts which Evelyn will bring.  I loaned it to her for another hooker's version of an adaptation to the Harriet Powers quilt for the class she taught at Sauder.   Frankly I'm surprised of my endurance to accomplish all those labels instead of having a hook in hand. 

However, I do have something new (and small) on the frame now.  This is the mat size of Magdalena's Folk Art Horse which was purchased from Woolley Fox. 

This will be what I hook on the hour's ride across the Cape May/Lewes Ferry and will also entertain me before class starts on Monday. 

It was Louise's rendition that inspired my color choices and she was so kind to take a picture of the wool she used.  Funny thing is that I had a lot of the same wool (hey, we buy from the same people).    Here is Louise's wonderful full size rug.

Since Louise's design is the larger size it is hard for me to get the detail she achieved and which Magdalena hooked in hers.  Something else I give credit to Louise for is the outline of the blue area to the middle left but the doing the directional hooking which a woman like Magdalena would do.  HA, me.... I just did the echo, choosing the easy way.  But I'm still liking my mat.

As I'm hooking find myself reaching for my worm bag to add to the color palate a little. 

Have a great evening everyone.  Cooler and more fall temperatures are upon us.

Saundra

A Question from A Follower

Thank you Glenda for asking this question:

• Ok a question from a newbie? When I see pillows with designs such as a pumpkin hooked directly on the wool , is a piece of wool the foundation cloth? Didn't know if it is hooked directly or hooked and sewed on.

 

Here is a tote that I made a few years ago, as a relatively newbie hooker.  My foundation was really cheap burlap and now wish I'd used a nicer burlap because there are big gaps here and there in the weaving.  But after the small amount of hooking was done I assembled the tote and lined it with a tea colored muslin.  Side one...

The other side.

Inside.

The pattern and instructions came from this booklet called "Collections", a Kindred Spirits publication.  So if you sew and would like your own tote, you can purchase the book from Ali HERE.

Here is another example of hooking on wool.  This was purchased on e-bay and I was quite the lucky girl as the woman who made this did a nice job.  The wool she hooked on was a suitable wool for hooking so hooking thru regular wool could work if you have a hook with a broad shank like a Harman.  LOVE my Hartman Hooks and wish I got a penny for each time I mentioned their name.  Matter of fact this cute thing will go with me to Cape May and I'll put my wallet and room key inside when I go shopping. The colors are right for fall.

When in the doll making mood I made this doll and hooked the flowers on an unsuitable hooking weight wool from a piece of clothing purchased at my local thrift shop (after the wool was washed and dried).  At that time of buying the wool didn't realize that because there was polyester and other stuff mixed with the wool it wouldn't be suitable for hooking.  So, used it as the foundation.

Well, thought for sure I had a picture of the doll I made but can't find it.  Made one the same as pictured on the Kindred Spirits booklet AND also made one with hooked flowers in the front of the dress instead of penny flowers.  So wool can be used to hook on as foundation cloth.

 

There is also Verel.  This is a piece I received from Jeanette (now departed) from Fraser Rugs.  When anyone ordered something during the holiday months Jeanette made sure something for free was put in the order.  One day I'm going to hook this in remembrance of her.  BTW, Fraser Rugs is still a customer friendly mom and pop company.  If you own a Fraser cutter or Bliss you can be sure to get excellent and speedy professional work.

You can see how loosely it is woven and would be great to hook on and think verel comes in different colors but since I've never ordered any don't know for sure. 

Not sure who in the states sells verel think it is more widely known in Canada. 

 

Oh, and Glenda, you are also right in that people do hook a design on a foundation of their choice and stitch it onto the wool of choice for their pillow or other project.  So experiment and do what inspires you by using what you have and what you have in mind. 

 

Really, there is no right or wrong ~ only results.  When I look at some of the textile works of people I'm in awe because they push the envelope.   

 

Guess it is time to take my boy out and get back to doing what I need to prepare to leave for Cape May on Sunday morning.  Have a great evening and I'll post something tomorrow too.  So for now TA TA!

 

Saundra