Betwixt and Between

Yesterday my plans were to take the challenge rug off the frame and get back to my girl riding the whale on Nantucket Broom Ride. However, it didn't seem right to stop right in the middle of hooking the house.  So today I finished hooking the house and here is a picture.  I figure the windows are a reflection of the daytime sky.

Ignore that inside border line as I changed my mind after drawing it. I'll have some sort of border but not sure what it will be; certainly not this one.

The Out of Hand Rug Hooking Challenge has been extended until October 10th.  So if you are interested in participating, please go to Out of Hand Rug Hooking Group and ask to join.  The instructions are there to inform you how to join.

I'm so looking forward to hooking on Nantucket Broom Ride again; it's a lot bigger than the challenge piece but was so excited after coming home from camp to work on it that I just didn't want to stop.  Yet, wanted to participate in Lori's challenge.  Hey, I'm a big girl and can multi task, right?  To hell with house cleaning, lol.

Have a great evening every one.

Saundra

I'm up for the Challenge

That would be the Out of Hand Rug Hooking  Challenge on Facebook. My friend Lauren has informed the challenge has been extended until October 10th.  So if you are still interested in joining, click on the link above to enter.  Although I tried twice to download the group's icon, just couldn't get it to work.  Well never was the most computer savvy person.

We were provided several vintage motif templates by Lori Brechlin and we could chose any and all of them to design our rug.  Would you believe I really wanted simple easy design?  I love the Nantucket Broom Ride and am still excited to continue on that.  

However, since the challenge started yesterday wanted to do my good faith effort and post at least something on the group's site to show that I really am in the challenge. This is what I've done so far and will continue working tonight on it.  But baby, tomorrow the witch and the whale goes back on my frame so I can finish it.  I know that my challenge rug will still be done by the deadline but so in love with the what I started at Cape May.

Okay....forget the premature inside frame line.  I was going to make my piece simple with one LARGE dog and a border to keep it simple.  Then the other challengers came up with such elaborate and creative designs that mine felt lame.    

Am pretty sure I'll change the door color and know for sure my challenge piece WILL be done by the deadline.

Happy October everyone.

Saundra  

Nantucket Broom Ride

Figured it was about time to post an updated picture of Nantucket Broom Ride, which is what I started at Cape May rug camp.  It is a pattern offered by Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios based on the art work of Lori Brechlin, NotForgottenFarm.  

Although I did tweak a little on the witches' arms, well really around the arms, it still looks confusing to me and know what I did.  Since the purple dress was so very close to the background in value  was concerned so Kris suggested putting a halo effect around the witch and give her a radiance.  That would include the arms near the background between the two arms.

Here's the situation 1) I wanted my witch to wear purple but didn't want an in your face purple; 2) it is a night sky so unless the dress was really a light or bright color it would blend in with the dark background.

Yet, since it is nighttime guess the witch would be almost not noticed anyway, right ....right?, lol.

Just now looking at the brown purple roof on the white chipped house am wondering if I shouldn't just pull out the halo and let the witch ride her whale in the glory of her purple dress.  So just now laid out some wool background strips on top of the hat.  It just might work, maybe. At this point I'm afraid to jump in with both feet and be hasty to pull loops. BTW, if you want to see the pictures better just click on the photos.

Just LOVE my whale with the blotchy colors (thanks Kris).  And I love antique rugs with blotchy backgrounds so of course I'd love a blotchy whale.  When I started the tail I over did it with the textured wool and had to pull out several strips because there was too much white in the wool showing up and made the tail heavy.  It is much  nicer now.  Love the houses too.

I'm going to tell a sweet story about Kris.... if Kris is reading this now she is probably gasping but it's okay Kris.  When she/we were collaborating about colors Kris had a had full of wool and was rolling it.  And she said, "so what would Barb do?"  OMG, that was the highest compliment any teacher can give another teacher.  But truth is, I've asked myself that same question when I'm in a pickle and mentioned that to Barb one year at camp.  Obviously the Barb I'm talking about is Barb Carroll of Woolley Fox Rug Camp.    

Right now I've this design in-progress and a sheep design in-progress. So now guess they need to be put aside as I've signed up for the Out Of Hand Rug Hookers Hook-a-Long.  It is a closed group now and today is the first day so should get my pen to linen and begin.

Hope everyone reading this is surviving Joaquin.  Have had lots of rain here but no damage as of yet and no power outages.  I was prepared tho.

Please be kind to one another; if only there was more of that because I believe it IS contagious.

Saundra

Behind The Scenes at Cape May

Sounds a little 'insider', exciting and mysterious doesn't it?  There's a little of all that in this post.  This is the camp store, well part of it, as there was Norma's wool on the left side of the room and some of Linda's wool to the right in this photo below. 

• NOTE:  if you touch or click on a photo it will enlarge to see the images better.  

You can see a witch along the lattice screening.  The witch has a hooked face and was among a few of the Halloween items remaining  from my last show so took them to sell in the store.  There are also a few Applique Jacks, Candy Corn Cats, and pumpkin angel.  Most everything sold and several people requested my making them a witch but declined ~ am totally done with making dolls to sell.

Morning mess below in hooker's heaven at Cape May.  Hookers are beginning to arrive day two and in the center is Linda Woodbury welcoming us all back to begin another day.  Norma and Linda, the organizers, do a magnificent job of hosting this two week event.  It is two weeks with 4 different teachers each week.  Some hookers even stay for two weeks and take classes both weeks with different teachers.   

Below is a section of the "Secret Garden" just outside the dining area where our class was being held.  Matter of fact, my seat was just inside that window so I could see and hear the water falling from sink to sink in the garden.  Do you know mesmerizing and sleepy that sounds makes you feel?  It was a delightful and calming sound; think I had the best spot in the house, a breeze, wonderful sounds and smells of wet soil and flora.

The other hooking room is affectionately dubbed 'The Dungeon' by the hookers as the lighting isn't as good as in the dining hall.  That is depending on where you sit too.  I've had classes there and use an Ott light when my teacher is assigned that room.  One never knows which room you'd be in until arriving at camp. This year it was Cammie's and Michelle's turn to be in the dungeon.  

Actually after the initial greeting and planning by the teachers, most students head out to hook on the porch in great light and rocking chairs anyway.

This is my pal Deb hooking on the porch days before the 'throw down'. Wanted you to see how she changed the design from a fox to a family dog, you can see the curled tail Deb drew and the original tail of the fox. I know the dog and Deb nailed it!  Great job Deb!

Now for the mysterious part.  You who have been to The Chalfonte understand the history of this Victorian hotel and frankly all of Cape May.   In 2011 I took pictures of Joan and Annie.  Double click on the photos and look for the orbs which appear visible to me.  Am not sure if the orbs are angels hovering the girls or if they are spirits who dwell in the room.  Some of you may not believe in angels and spirits but I do and am very receptive to this sort of thing.

Last year as I was going thru photos and reducing them in size using the Paint program saw some more interesting things.  In the dungeon again, there is an orb near Deb, the gal in a jeans jacket.

Later in the evening I heard a band playing in the bar so went down to listen, look and get a couple photos to find lots of surprises. In the next two photos there is an orb to the right against the screen near the push wooden middle part of the screen.

The orb below is in the center of the wooden push area on the screen, I can see it clearly in this small photo as I'm typing.

I have drawn a black box around the area on the screen where the orb below can be seen as it seems to move around.

And now for the creme de la creme.  My very favorite visible sign of a ghost that makes me happy.  Now I'm standing inside back portion of the bar to get a frontal picture of the band.  Mind you I've no idea of capturing anything except band photos.  Okay, double click on the photo below and look at the right side of the curtain.  You will see what looks like a streak of light but it goes beyond the curtain and into the molding.  I believe that is an image of a woman who is wearing a long dress with a V in the front or perhaps a dress and coat with a V.  If I'd known she was there I'd have panned the camera upward.

In past years I wasn't looking for anything and was surprised when I opened up the photos.  This year I went in search of orbs and activity but only found one orb in the dungeon.  

Okay, kiddies, that was a little of the behind the scenes.  Hope you were able to see the orbs and the woman in the curtain.  If you're a non-believe hope you were entertained anyway.  Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra

Cape May Throw Down

Must admit that I love the throw down of camp in-progress rugs on Thursdays as much as the finished rug show on Wednesday.  It is then you can see what people are working on, the name of the rug, designer and colors chosen.  These are some incredible pieces and the work is awesome.

Love the colors chosen for this foot stool cover, colors are so rich!

This pattern Turkey and Tallowberris is also new in my stash so now there are 'only' 28 patterns in my stash, not counting the two that I'm working on, and not including the Out of Hand Rug Hooking Challenge rug which is being drawn up tomorrow.

Lori Brechlin's design above as well as this one below.

 Nice neutral colors, one day I want to take a class with Jayne Hester do something similar with a design.

 Handsome and regal lion.

 Ya know how you buy a pattern because you're in love with the design and then later you no longer have an interest in the motif?  Happens to all of us when our theme or interests change.  So this gal is using the border but changed the chickens to a floral design and love how she has transformed the design.  BTW, I hooked the Speckled Hens and love where it sits in my kitchen but also know how we change our minds.

You may see some duplicate pictures as the crowd along the street with us students checking out and taking pictures, we move to let others take a picture and then come back.

 

Was watching the gal throw this "Mouser" down and commented that I too had hooked the Mouser.  She winked and said, "Oh no, this one is a "Rater".  Got a big chuckle out of that one.

Bea Brock has a couple wonderful designs accounted for in this throw down and these colors are lovely.  Love how she has gotten such detail in the stems and leaves.....but,uh, she pulled that off with a narrow cut. 

Love this design by Lucille Festa and the colors the hooker is using. Mine is hanging in my living room, love it.

Obviously the gal who is hooking this rug brought it already started.  No way she could have accomplished this much (unless it was Cheri Reid) in just 4 days. 

This is my pal Deb's piece.  It is a design by Spruce Ridge and was a fox. Deb changed the shape of the tail and face to look more like her daughter's dog.

Like this Polly Minick's Sam's Hat and Flag design and the hooker is using great colors in the hat.

Like this design below.

Another patriotic design a design by Lori Brechlin offered by Spruce Ridge Studios.

This work of art below is being hooked and was designed by Eric Sandburg.  It is the foot of Christ with the nail hole and blood from being nailed to the cross.  Such talent!!!!!!!!!

 Obviously grandma's love in progress for her granddaughter.

 Some primitives coming below.

And then there was mine and thought I'd keep a record of what it looked like last Thursday a week ago.

 

Well kiddies, time for me to walk Ben before the monsoon starts again. This rain is going to get very annoying even before the more strong winds and even stronger rain begins.  Have loaded up with batteries, have candles, water, food and liquid refreshment...if'n ya know what I mean.

Have a good evening everyone and hope everyone stays safe from Joaquin.

Saundra