Brief Break & Rain Issues

Enjoyed a brief break from the horse and scrolls rug to work on  something small.  Plans are to use this on the front door for Valentines day.  It will be in pocket form with a wool back and filled with something to be revealed later.  As you can see I utilize every left over piece of foundation I have ~ a make-do mentality.

It could also be used at Christmas with greens, holly, hooked stars, etc.  I made these to sell at craft shows and for years wished there was one left for me.  Finally decided to make that happen.  The one below is an example of what I used to make and sell.  Those I made with applique sections but this time decided to hook those spots instead.

Am sure my sweet DIL will want one so before Christmas next year will need to make another.  Maybe for hers I'll hook a star????  This is a pattern from a Kindred Spirits booklet as seen below.

The water will just not dry up.  In my research learned there was 11.4" of rain during December for this area.   Don't know how much rainfall for November but I did post photos of flooding in my yard in November.  The photo you're looking at is my neighbor's yard.  See that black circle?  There is water flowing from a yard sump pump which is overflowing and backing down MY driveway.

Here it is flowing backward down my driveway and up close you can see the ripples of water.

Then there was yet ANOTHER all night rainfall and this is the water in my neighbor's backyard.  Which soon will be pumped to the end of the road and back in my yard.  Could be the drain hole has filled in so it has  no place else to go but my driveway.  But since the guy isn't one to encounter I've notified the development management to let them talk to him.

I now have a couple mallards swimming in the back woods, they are pretty but would prefer to not have a pond back there.  Oh the joys of home ownership.  Thank goodness I've my hooking ~ but I should be spending time to organize my wool room which is in full blown chaos.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

Welcome 2021

Happy New Year, at least I hope it is a happier year than 2020 was. This rug is called New Years Eve but wanted to save it for the post today since I'm showing the projects hooked during 2020.  Believe it or not I hooked 15 projects during the hibernation ~ quarantine ~ shut-down ~ or whatever name you wish to give it.

The first rug hooked in the beginning of 2020 Was Winter Sled, a Cushing design which was kindly given away to me by Cathy of Acorn Hollow.

In preparation for February's Valentines Day my next project was Heart Butter Mold by Primitive Heartstrings. 

I had Lori Brechlin's Lancaster Barnyard pattern for a couple years and finally it moved to the top of my list.

Posies and Stars is an antique adaptation I hooked and offer in pattern form and still love it.  Was attracted to this antique because of the blotchy background as well as the neutral hit and miss border.  It still makes my heart skip a beat.

After a few days of harsh winds the rug on my frame next was  a pattern I saw on Cushing's web site and purchased it immediately.  It is aptly called Windy Day and will be my March display again this year.

By this time I wanted something which didn't need much concentration and decided to use up some neutral but various value wool and drew Cat's Paw.  

With spring near it was time to hook Lori Brechlin's Early bird, a pattern offered by Spruce Ridge Studios.  Confession is that I did do a little change by making the border all the way around instead of the top and bottom.

Was time for me to get back to my love of antique adaptations so chose one I named Bespectacled Lion.  Again it is the blotchy background but also the quirky naïve appearance of the lion.  Would love to know about the person who drew and hooked this many years ago.

Was comfortable to be working on antique adaptations again and what luck to find an antique patriotic themed rug, right up my alley.  The original was hooked around 1830 and I named it Pride, Honor, Freedom.

Saw Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) hooking this adorable pattern called Jack's Crow and had to have one for myself. It's a design by Terri Leamer of Winter Cottage Studio.  I couldn't wait to hook those pants with the left over wool strips from a Polly Minick pattern and think one day I'll hook it again with different colors since it was a PDF pattern.

The months are moving right along with me in the cocoon and time to finally hook Old Tom, a Lori Brechlin design.

Good heavens, my fingers are getting tired and getting vertigo from flipping from PC to flash drive, finding the pictures, yada yada.  But am almost..uh, almost done.  

Then on Facebook Lori posts a photo of a design called Merrie October 31st and a couple of us went nuts.  Kris accommodated us with a smaller version to our liking and this is what mine looks like.

Another PDF pattern I'd had for years was a Karen Kahle pattern named Woolly Santa.  Each year I'd tell myself to hook it but years flew by and decided it was time!!!!!  Again I made a change to the design to suit me and didn't hook the top sheep sticking out of Santa's sack.  Instead chose to hook Santa's mittens black to fool the eyes to see the sheep's legs.  I'm happy with my decision.

In chronological order New Years Eve would have been next but I placed it first since it is New Years Day.  But after that was Over the Moon, a pattern offered by Spruce Ridge Studio.  As you can see it still isn't' completely bound.  If I were one to make 'new years resolutions' it would be to be faster at binding my rugs; but then I DON'T make new years resolutions.

If you are interested in purchasing a pattern offered by me, you can look for them in the link below.  Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year.   My black eyed peas and salad are waiting for me as cooking them and doing this blog has taken longer than planned.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

'Tis New Years Eve

This is the rug on my frame at the moment, tho I do have two small projects sitting in the wings when I get too bored.  It is an antique adaptation of which I have two size patterns ~ some months ago I sold a pattern with dimensions of  23 x 37.5 I'm hooking a smaller version of 20.5 x 33.5.  Yeah it's only a few inches different but makes a difference to me, despite that saying 'size doesn't matter' 😄.

Later this afternoon I'll put my black eyed peas in soak through the night and cook them tomorrow.  Bet if I went to the grocery store today all the bags would be cleared off the shelf.

Tomorrow I'll have a pictorial review of all the projects I hooked during 2020.  This horse will go into the projects hooked in 2021 since it is nowhere near done.

Happy hooking and have a happy and safe new years eve.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

Last Antique Rug Show of 2020

It has been a while since posting vintage rugs so thought I'd do just one more before the end of the year.  First is a geometric with 4 horses which measures 28 x 41 and located in Pennsylvania. 

This Floral with scrolls is dated between 1890-1920.  No dimensions were provided but the auction house attributed it to the Amish Community using salvaged fabrics and yarn.

A Cat hooked early 20th century measures 28 x 50.

Definitely a primitive naïve 'make-do' hooked Brown Dog from Downingtown, PA.  Documented as being hooked in the1900s measures 20 x 30.

An elaborate landscape measuring 33 x 80 from estate in Boise, Idaho.  Said to be hooked 1880.

For those who like to see the back for true colors, here is the back with its couple repairs.  Appears it hasn't faded all that much over the years.

Below is a hooked terrier with a realistic looking brick border. The rug was hooked early 20th century and measures 20 x 35. 

Two Roosters with scrolls dated 1900 is from the collection of Virginia Ramsey,  it measures 27.5 x 44.5.

Recently I acquired photos of two more Barbara E. Merry rugs I hadn't posted on my blog before.  This one was provided to me by Barbara's great grandson Ryan.  Barbara married William Boulter (Ryan's great grandfather) and the house they lived in until until Mr. Boulter died.

And within the last couple days I discovered another lovely hooked rug by Barbara E. Merry.  Yesterday I sent a FB message to Ryan (the great grandson) and Phil (the grandson) with the photo and a link to where it is for sale.  I wanted to give the family an opportunity to purchase an heirloom before posting it on my blog.  

This is a close up of the center which makes her initials more noticeable.  If you would like to purchase this rug you can find it HERE for a very reasonable price.

Today I'll pull a few loops on my Horse and Scrolls rug and  maybe, just maybe there will also be small project going as well.  Hope you have some happy hooking going on in your home too.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

The New Year Fast Approaching

Last year I was the lucky winner of a pattern giveaway from Acorn Hollow.  Cathy already had the Cushing pattern and was the recipient of a second one as a gift exchange from her guild.   Since I put my Woolly Santa away thought it worthy of displaying the hooked piece today.  Thanks Cathy, I loved hooking it.

Can't believe a new calendar will be in effect just 5 days from now.  It will probably take me a week to remember to print 2021 when writing a check. 

Made sure to purchase a bag of black-eyed peas last week because one year I was too late and couldn't find black-eyed peas at Walmart anywhere, not in the freezer section or canned goods.  Same bad luck at another grocery store.  Decided to take a chance at Roses discount store and saw someone re-stocking canned black eyed peas so grabbed a can.  Not as good as fresh cooked but if it gave me just a 'little' good luck for the new year that would be good enough.  A little luck is better than no luck 😄 .

Although I do have some Germanic DNA I never grew up eating sauerkraut and pork on New Years eve (Sylvester).  My mother always had the traditional southern meal of black-eyed peas and I carried on that tradition albeit just for me.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

Wishing You All the Merriest of Christmases'

As I've been rather nostalgic lately and thinking back to my maternal grandmother's dinners, my thoughts wandered to the mesmerizing snow globe she had on her coffee table.   Mom-moms wasn't as ornate as this one with the fancy base, but I'd shake it and watch the floating flecks drop and then shake it again.  

My departed Rottweiler Ben was a good sport and sat still while I adorned him with an elf cap even tho it was slipping and covering one of his eyes.  Oh but he was a wonderful boy and miss him.

Merry Christmas to you all.  

Saundra

Merry Christmas Eve

Perhaps it is time to show you what is on my frame.  This was on my to do list for a while but antique designs have a way of playing 'hooking frames' (a rug hookers version of musical chairs 😁) but now it is a reality.  Wanted to see how my scrolls were turning out and if I need to put more grey in there.

I drew this design for someone else a few months back and she wanted it larger ~ I drew mine out measuring 20 x 33 which is plenty large for me and able to hook the horse in mostly #8 or #8.5.  But as usual will reduce the size as needed just as long as the whole thing didn't require a #6 or smaller.

This is the original antique and I've decided to hook the border antique black like the background.  Which required my making minor adjustments to the outside parts of the scrolls which also affects the entire scroll.

Now wish I'd checked out my hooking and colors on the computer monitor sooner as the color chosen for the horse doesn't look the same in the antique.  Yet, when I took a printed copy of the rug and my iPad to pull wool, it was that piece which looked more like the picture.  Well not in these pictures it doesn't.  Well dang.  Guess I've got a decision to make before I pull any more loops.

I placed a few leftover wool strips, which had been one of the options for the horse, on the horse and frankly I don't see much difference.  And, what I've hooked looks very similar to the antique border in the photo above.  So think I'll leave the loops in because in person the color looks just fine to me.

Merry Christmas Eve to all my readers and followers.  Hope Santa gives you everything you want.  If it is up to the USPS you just might not get it.  

A birthday card from a friend took 2 weeks to arrive.  I ordered a pattern on December 6th from Cushing with just first class postage since there was already a pattern on my frame.  So unless it arrives in the mail today I won't receive it before Christmas.  

Okay, those two experiences were with first class shipping.  Worse is that on 12/16 I sent a rug a RUG, someone purchased using Priority shipping and it was to arrive 12/19.  Tracked the package just now and it still hadn't arrived ~ that is 5 days beyond the expected delivery date.  What the heck is going on with USPS  

Yet they were successful in delivering millions of ballots out and then to voting locations on time.  Unbelievable!!!!!!!  What's wrong with this picture??

Merry Christmas Eve.

Saundra

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

In the picture below is a goose feather tree I made several years back.  The round white base is from one of the columns from my paternal grandfather's front porch.   It was salvaged by my father when the front porch was removed and then recovered by me.  The fencing was a found piece in a thrift shop.

Decades ago I was an avid baker; from scratch I made my own donuts, yeast breads, pies, cakes and even Maryland Beaten Biscuits.  When I turned past the 60 year old mark my baking was reduced to only holiday banana nut or zucchini bread, a more healthy option.  But the last few years I've not even baked those; until this week when I decided to make a banana nut bread.  

Retrieved my stained recipe and it had too much sugar and too much fat.  So went on line and found a Skinny Banana Bread recipe.

Now I'm NOT skinny by any means but do want to reduce my fat and sugar intake and this recipe fit the bill.  To say this was a 'make do' baking event is an understatement.  

First of all I used Egg Beaters instead of a real egg.  Next I had 3 bananas which I'd frozen in March.  I'd learned bananas can be frozen and used in baking but won't look pretty when thawed.  And they weren't pretty!

Well, I was one-third cup short...but I had some fresh blueberries so washed enough to make the 1 1/3 cup and made do.  Plus I wanted to add some walnut pieces in mine.  If that weren't enough 'making do'  I didn't add my ingredients in the proper order, which sometimes ruins some recipes.  Thankfully the bread tastes great and to ensure I don't eat it all in one sitting I cut it in thirds and froze two of them.  There's one more slice left in the first third ~ already had a slice today but I'm feeling indulgent so might fail and eat that last piece.

Yesterday when walking to pick up my mail I carried two bully sticks with me to give to a neighbor's dogs ~ that kind neighbor who sent me the video of Santa visiting our neighborhood.  By the time I got home and checked my email I'd received a photo of Captain and Morgan enjoying their Christmas gift.  Both dogs are recues and are well behaved and affectionate dogs.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com  for rug patterns

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs  for finished rugs

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Christmas Surprises

While in the attic looking for something I lifted up a container lid and saw a bunch of Christmas items.  What the heck??  So emailed friend Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) about my surprise.  She suggested I at least look closer to see what is inside.  So I grabbed am arm full and brought them downstairs to photograph.

It isn't the quantity she has and I didn't bring down everything.  Here are a few I grabbed.  Wrapped in my hooked rugs is a vintage Santa with a turn key in the back to play a tune which still works but not well enough to determine the song it is playing.

On the mantel are just a couple items, the Santa on the left was made in the USA.  Wow I think that is a keeper.  I'm not as well informed as Lauren so don't know if that is blow mold or celluloid. 

I live in a development off the main highway and off a country road just outside the city line.  Yesterday afternoon on my walk around the meadow I could hear fire trucks blasting away.  The sound seemed to get closer....and closer.  Then the trucks were entering the development ~ I turned around to see if any of my neighbors houses were on fire; nope.

Then I realized it was the local volunteer fire department and SANTA wishing us a Merry Christmas since the parade had been cancelled.  Sure made our Sunday a very merry day indeed.  I happened to see a neighbor capturing a video of the event.  She had a longer video but couldn't get that one to send.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com  for rug patterns

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs  for finished rugs

Nostalgic

Am feeling nostalgic lately.  Perhaps a combination of missing what life was like when I was much younger with no adult worries; could also be do to 9 months of this covid situation, top that with restrictions imposed on us by government for holiday gatherings.  

Last night as I'm readying for bed I turned on my radio, which is set to WGMD (92.7 on the dial) and listened to the Old Classic Radio show.  That station plays classic radio shows on Saturday nights.  Last night was The Jack Benny show.

Boy did I have a few laughs.  Rochester and the woman who plays Jack's wife were there too.  What stood out were the funny innuendoes which today would be considered politically incorrect.  The jokes were funny and I did laugh out loud.  I think the cancel culture and politically correctness has way too far.  

While listening to Jack Benny I could even envision my paternal grandfather leaning over to listen to his radio when my brother and I stayed overnight.  It was a large floor radio similar to this and his sofa would have been to the right of the radio.

Pop-pop smoked a pipe which had a nice familiar aroma whenever we entered his house.  He liked Prince Albert tobacco; my Uncle (Pop-pops youngest son Dallas) put a new can in his casket so he would have some in Heaven.

Getting back to nostalgia, some of the other radio shows I've listened to on Saturday nights while getting ready for bed is The Shadow, Johnny Dollar, Fibber McGee and Molly, and even The Lone Ranger.  Only listen long enough to complete my nightly ritual but the nostalgia remains and reminds me of the kinder past.

Those were the years when my parents, brother and I would have Sunday chicken and dumpling dinners at my maternal grandparent's home.  We were joined by mother's brothers and their families and it was an organized house full of chaos fun.  The boys would bounce down the steps on their butts or slide down the banister while someone would yell to stop that.  At the dinner table, the adult males would make a comment to another one saying something like...."miss a stroke and pass me the mashed potatoes".  

The good times, strong family times.  Then mom-mom passed in her 50's, young for sure and the family dinners stopped.  My parents both worked, I grew up, got married and moved away.  Everyone was too busy to have Sunday family dinners.  

When I moved back to Delaware I continued the tradition of having family dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  But then my step-father and mother each had elder problems so we would gather at their house and have snacks and enjoy each other's company.  Then they passed too. 

My son is now carrying on the tradition for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner but I didn't go this year as my DIL had Covid and while I will visit them Christmas Day and exchange gifts I won't be staying long enough for a dinner.  You know, that Covid thing.  

Guess you now know why I'm feeling nostalgic.  Thankfully I've a rug on my frame to keep me occupied and another to finish binding.  

Happy Sunday.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com   patterns

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs  finished rugs

A Vintage Santa

Several years ago I hooked my first Christmas holiday rug.  It was this vintage Santa and Deer which is on my harvest table.  It is brought out every year during Christmas and I enjoy it still.

I've seen this design hooked with tongues on the border and other finishes but I wanted mine to be a basic edge so the central figures would catch the eye and not the border.  Yes Santa has short legs and the deer a long torso.  But this was an early primitive rug and that's what makes it so dear.  Just checked my log and this was hooked 2014 so not as long ago as I'd thought.

Currently......wool whipping has begun on Over the Moon ~ HA!  maybe 3" so far 😄 in other words, not too far along on the whipping.  Have also been pulling loops on my new project and I can see a bit of a challenge with this one ~ sorta like a puzzle me thinks.  Again I'm not far enough along to show what little I've accomplished.

Saundra

for rug patterns:  www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

for finished rugs: www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs

Rug Hooking Chit Chat

I've started the binding process on Over the Moon.  This time I'll whip the edge with black wool yarn.  I do it in a two-step process ~ wellll, maybe you'd call it a three-step process.  I roll the foundation forward, clip then whip with a heavy cotton thread and then do the final whipping with wool yarn.  Although it might  seem double/triple work it makes it easier for me and have a more consistent edge after the whipping.  

Don't you just love those little clips??  Those were purchased a few years ago from a fabric store along the quilting wall.  But am sure you could find them on-line too.

Good news for me.... I sold a sizeable Magdalena Goat hooked rug listed on a Facebook page.  Didn't get the price it should be valued at but a price I'm happy with.  

After I first discovered the Magdalena Goat on an auction site I saved a photo and kept track of the auction prices.  Magdalena's family said there was a Goat rug but it had never been discovered until 2017.  It was fun to watch the incremental increase in price slowly until someone knew it WAS a Magdalena Briner Eby rug.  Then the price sky rocketed immediately.  This is the rug which I hooked and just sold; hooked it Magdalena's original size of 29 x 35, with the wool whipped edge it was a tad bigger.

Also hooked it in a smaller size and different colors to give folks a choice of colors to think about when buying a pattern, this one I kept and have on my wall.

And, just so you know, there is a new pattern on my frame.  

OOPS, you can't tell what I'm working on?  Oh dear...guess you'll have to wait until I have more hooked for you to see what it is 😁 .

Another rainy day in Delaware.  Please Santa, bring me a boat.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/WoodlandJunctionHookedRugs