THROWBACK THURSDAY

It has been so long since I've enjoyed a rug camp that I've been doing reruns in my mind.  There's definitely lots of fun memories to draw from.  This time I'm travelling back to my very first visit to Woolley Fox and Barb Carroll workshop.  I was already in awe being in the presence of the rug hooking icon Barb and the opportunity to take a class with her.  The icing on the cake was when she took us on a tour of her home.  I took this photo of my gal pals to record the event.  To the right and over her bed is the E.S. Frost Horse and Scrolls rug I posted in the latest antique rug show.

That first workshop with Barb I hooked Kinderhook Basket, an antique rug she had hanging on her wall.  My intentions were to hook it like the antique she owned (shown below).

Barb had other plans and I liked her color plan MUCH better.  The colors she selected were mostly from the wool I took to class.  The end result is much richer than the original antique and think it is simply 'smashing'!

I've previously told the story about Barb asking me what I thought of the color purple, and I didn't take any purple wool.  Uh, told her it was my least favorite color.  She considered purple as a neutral and so some purple went into the rug.  A fun memory every time I look at the rug which hangs in this room.

Fast forward a few years of workshops with Barb to one in particular, frankly don't remember which rug I was working on at the time of this event yet I do know every rug color planned by her.  

Anyhoo....we gals would often take a small gift to give each other and pal Deb liked to give socks with a message ~ she'd buy one of each design and sometimes she give the sock planned for that person and sometimes she'd let us choose.  This time I had the opportunity to choose the sock statement which spoke to me and it was this pair below.  I covered up 2 letters for fear of being banned.  

I was wearing a pair of cropped pants and comfy slip on shoes and confident the words wouldn't be seen.  It was time for my rug to be color planned and walked to Barb's work table when in her parental voice said, "Saundra ?"  My pals immediately looked our way and when I looked at Barb realized she had seen my socks.  OMG, my face felt red hot and was so embarrassed.   I'm not Catholic but all of a sudden felt like a kid at Catholic school being admonished by a Nun.

Of course I never wore those again at Barb's, was very embarrassed but is a cherished memory nonetheless.  Hope you enjoyed the time travel back to Woolley Fox.

Yesterday there was a thunderstorm and the weatherman said this area received 2" of rain.  Thunderstorm and more rain are predicted for today so will run my errands before that begins.  OH, by the way, guess who has poison ivy again #!%?!.  When I cut the grass this week, despite the hot temperature I wore long pants, long sleeve shirt and removed them after cutting grass.  

Only thing I can think is that with the weeds I've pulled with gloves and didn't identify any poison there must have been some hiding.  Hope it doesn't develop into the case I had last year but guess my name by Robin continues to be md (mummy dearest) since last year I went to be with long sleeve shirt, gloves (poison was between my fingers) and since it was also under my chin and neck wrapped a scarf around my neck.  As of this moment it is only right arm and hope it doesn't spread.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Like Putting a Puzzle Together

I love antique rugs because of their seasoned wear and stories they could tell.  Replicating them, to me, is like putting the pieces of a puzzle together.  Presently I'm working on the antique adaptation named Potted Plant and no, it's still not finished.  Here is what it looks like now.

And these are the puzzle pieces I'm selecting from.  Yeah, I know, it looks like a pile of mess but using the worms makes it look more aged.

This morning while making coffee I noticed something big on my shed roof.  It was bigger than a bird and bigger than a squirrel.  So went to look out my bedroom window and noticed it was a pair of Bald Eagles.  WOW!!!  I've seen lone eagles fly above the meadow area while walking but never in my yard.  Since there were two I'm wondering if they have a  nest nearby.  

Sorry the photo is so poor but it was being taken with a digital camera thru a window and a couple screens and of course as life would have it, with the wrong setting.  Was afraid to go outside to get a better photo because I just knew they would fly away.

It is hot hot hot and humid for the 4th day in a row.  Supposedly there may be a thunderstorm later this afternoon so perhaps that will cool things down.  Sure hope lightening doesn't strike twice in the same place again.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Antique Rug Eye Candy

Not ready to show you my itty bitty update on Potted Plant just yet so Plan B is always a rug show.  I can hear cheers from the peanut gallery, 😉.  This is an attractive floral and bet Tanya will like it as well.  Sorry, no date or dimensions were provided.

Below is Frost pattern #39, Cat and kittens circa 1900 and measures 29 x 52.

Guess this Hunting Dog is testing his skills on the chickens; he has the pointing down right.  Said to be hooked 1920 and measures 18 x 35.

Horse with Scrolls measures 37 x 52, no date was provided. 

I like it when the auction house shows a little of the back but love it when they show the entire back. The red faded over time but appears to be in good condition.

And also nice when they give a close up because at first glance I thought that black spot was a hole.

What is interesting about that Frost horse design is that Barb Carroll had one hanging in her bedroom at the large estate.

Mother Cat and although almost camouflaged, also her kittens.  Circa 1890 from PA.

Lion 1875-1900 wool and cotton on burlap Joseph and Linda Caputo collection

A Spray of Flowers Floral with that blotchy background I so like on antique rugs.  Measures 28 x 47.

And a view of the back showing it past repair and some needed again.

A hooked House with tongues hooked in the 1900's from a Massachusetts collection.  It measures 23 x 27 and if you tap on the photo it will enlarge and you can see various types of textiles are in it.  Also she didn't hook straight lines in the border as they seem to be higgly piggly in fashion some places.

I'm  not quite sure what to make of the symbolism of this rug ~ note the red axes at the two corners and the red hooked strip down the center.  Measures 27 x 41 and hooked 19th century.

And lastly, Stars and Circles with leafy vine border measures 32 x 56 hooked  19th century.

Happy Sunday and happy hooking.  Which I'm getting ready to do....hook.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly. com

Misc. Chit Chat

The first few paragraphs might be boring but if you get thru those there is fun at the end.

I've been rather lucky to have an 18 year old vehicle (2003 Chrysler Towne & Country van) which has been very good to me over the years ~ until recently.  Last September I heard a strange noise in the van and asked a male neighbor what it sounded like.  He also previously owned the same year and model van and said it sounded like the water pump was going bad.  Sure enough the auto repair shop confirmed it.   Had a new serpentine belt, drained and put in new antifreeze $386.78

In March  I needed an oil change and mentioned a leak.  I had a gasket leak and the engine was completely covered in an oily mess.  Replacing the manifold gasket set, valve cover gasket, dye to follow a future leak, fluids and labor ended up costing $924.39. 

Last week when it got really hot I turned on the van's A/C... well, you guessed it, no A/C.  So today's cost for repair of the "high side fitting", evac of old Freon, new charged system plus A/C leak detection dye cost plus labor was $267.63.

I asked them to look over the entire maintenance schedule and tell me what needed to be done to extend the life of my transportation.   Upon inspection the spark plugs and wires appeared to be original parts so to take care of that will be $262.79.   But a new transmission fluid and filter was recommend also to the tune of $198.75.  That is far less than a new transmission would cost so both of those will be done the end of this month.  Frankly it has been years since putting the van in the shop other than an occasional new battery and new tires.  And it sure beats the cost of a new car.

Yesterday I finally printed out 6 rug labels which included some rugs hooked in 2020.  Yup, I'm way behind on that front.  Here is one I have attached so far but have more to stitch on.

What are you plans for those face masks we were wearing ~ or maybe you're still wearing them.  I'm not wearing them in the stores or anywhere.  I've been vaccinated and love the feeling of normalcy.  On a whim one day I purchased a pair of knit masks at Walmart; I made some but also purchased some better ones with a vent.  Today I had a funny idea on how to use those old masks.  So here comes a selfie, sans face.  What about a bikini top 😂😂😂 ?  Sorry but haven't an idea on what to do for the bottom yet.

Happy Friday, happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Where Has Time Gone??

Cannot believe it is June 2nd already and have very little hooking accomplished to show for my time.  I've truly not been a couch potato but life has gotten in the way as most of you can relate to.  

OH!!!!!  I know what took up a lot of my time!!!  My serger.  I had an order for a pattern and the serger thread broke.  It was a bitch of a time over 3 days to get it to work.  I'd rethread it, try to sew and it wouldn't work.  This went on for 3 days and each day after I'd had enough I'd stop, cool down and decide to try again the next day before tossing the serger in the trash.  Finally got it working until the next time.

Since there were a few quite chilly days I made a big pot of vegetable soup which I'm still enjoying and even froze some.  I've been trimming limbs, pulling weeds, and sadly the yard doesn't look like it has been touched.   Oh well, there's always after the next two days of rain to get back to it.

Now on to fun stuff ~  I did draw out a small pattern to put on the wall next to me and it is an antique adaptation I've named Potted Plant.  And this is the little bit I've  managed to hook.  What makes it seem even worse, the pattern I drew for the spot only measures 10 x 20.   Okay, I heard someone snicker out there 😊.  But since it is going to rain tomorrow am hoping to get more hooked on this small piece.

In case you're wondering, I'm still working on the Canton part of the Thin Blue Line Flag to and will post it when the last loop has been pulled.

It feels so good to get back to a new normal, or what I remember as being normal over a year ago.  I can go to the store without a mask, I'm chatting with friends, HUGGING my family and even anticipating the Cape May Rugs by the Sea rug camp.  Sure hope that happens this year.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MEMORIAL DAY

Today we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Country as well as those who served and are serving.

A tribute to my first husband who served in the Air Force, National Guard and then Regular Army where he attended Signal Corps School in New Jersey.

Edward C. Patterson, my wonderful step-father but more like a father, was in the Navy Seabees doing tours of duty in active zones like Viet Nam, Korea, and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base for a while.    

If you look closely at the photo below you will notice a Presidential Seal and Patch as Pat also served at Camp David during the years of President Eisenhower, President Kennedy and Pres. Lyndon Johnson.  Oh but I enjoyed the stories Pat would tell me when I stayed the weekend with them.

A Shield I recently hooked, an adaptation of a triptych design.

Hope the angle of the photo of my door wreath doesn't make you dizzy, but I'm too lazy to take another.

And a Patriotic Bear and Hat I made which is always on duty in my office.

Hope you have a safe and fun Memorial Day today.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

All Hooked ~ Now to Bind

Nope, not the flag.  I'm finished hooking Jewel Basket and going to start binding it very soon.  But not until I draw out the 'next thing' for my frame.  Here it is and am so happy I chose to buy the pattern and hook it a second time after learning a little about rug hooking.

This is how I hooked the same design in 2004.   If you look above you'll  notice some of the leaves were removed , flowers enlarged or moved them.  None of the blue trumpet flowers were hooked that way either.  Subtle changes but I'm much  happier with the new rendition than the old.

The old version looks too sterile with all the same wool for background color.  It's also too matchy matchy.  Maybe because I love antique rugs the imperfect and irregular hooking of the blotchy background is much more interesting and think the new one is warmer and more inviting.

Previously I showed the background wool used but for anyone just tuning in to my blog here they are again.

Blogger must be having inconsistent issues as it doesn't seem to be playing nice for either Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) or Cathy (Acorn Hollow).  But I didn't seem to have a problem posting pictures in the normal way. 

However... Beginning July the 'Follow by Email' widget (feedburner) is going away.  Which means the posts won't automatically go to  you, instead you will need to find me.  That will affect all Blogger people so hope you family of bloggers will inform me if you find an alternative.

I have received spam ads from people offering the service at a cost but I'm not going to pay extra.  I figure if you (the readers) are interested in my blog and what I post, you (the readers) will take the time to look for me.  If I notice a drop in visits then my blog will go away as well.

Guess I'll mosey to my wool room and draw the new small design now since I need a break from the flag and something to generate a new enthusiasm.   

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

FIRST is MAIN COURSE then comes DESSERT, right?

Well not in this case.  I'm taking care of the main course and leaving the Canton until last, definitely not what I'd call a sweet dessert or piece of cake (referring to HOOKING that is).  Yet the stripes needed to be hooked too and gives me something to do while I decide what to hook next.

Since there was nothing new to put on my frame thought I'd get as many loops pulled on the flag as possible and straight hooking goes faster than stars and filling in random space.  Until I decide what to hook next I can finish this rug, bind the now finished Jewel Basket (which I'll post about next time), and print out/sew on rug labels (am way behind doing that).

Today the temperature was 93 degrees and the pond dismantling has begun.  The fish have been removed and in a new home with two fish-loving owners.  So two guys came today to get the fish, will come back another day to get the rocks.  Someone else wants the sandbags and the big framing.  

After 10 years of taking care of the pond by myself ~ cleaning the filtering system daily, making sure water level was okay, skimming leaves and limbs from the top it had become too much for me.  I was concerned what it would cost to have a company come in to demolish the pond or another option was to fill it in with dirt and grow something????

WTH, I don't want more stuff to take care of.  I wanted the pond gone.  

Thankfully my son has an American Legion 'good ol boy' network who are the great guys helping.  

It used to be a pretty pond and one day soon after the pond was built and I was still married, I saw a Blue Heron having a fresh fish lunch  on the side of the pond.  I sobbed and my ex built that framing you see with sections which could be removed for skimming off leaves, etc.  But somehow that destroyed the beauty of the pond and it was never the same after.  Well that and mostly the divorce of over 10 years ago 😑.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ISO the Right One

Once again I'm looking for the one antique which makes my heart skip a beat to put on my frame next; and what better way than to do a rug show.  The first one is 8 point Stars which was hooked 19th century and measures 38 x 48.  This doesn't make my heart skip a beat but it is a nice looking rug.

The primitive Rooster and Hearts measures 28 x 30 and comes from the estate of Alva Hood Angle.  However she wasn't the hooker as the initials MR are hidden top right just under the heart.  That is unless the Rooster's name was Mr. 😄.  Sorry, but he doesn't do it for me either.

Look at this old shirred antique mat below.  It is beautiful, old but still isn't "the one".  Click on the photo to enlarge and see more of its beauty.

Happy is the Sailors Bride measures 34.5 x 48 and owned by a private collector.  I've considered hooking a Hutchinson sailor type rug since I had a relationship with an Icelandic sea Captain.  But I wasn't a bride so  this wouldn't work.  Maybe one where the sailor has a girl at every port which may well have been the case with my fine Icelandic Captain, lol.

Believe it or not this Potted Plant hooked rug caught my attention for a certain spot on the wall near where I hook.  I recently gave my son a vintage Johnnie Walker liquor store display which had been electrified and made into a lamp.  I've had it for decades but knew it would look great in his 'man cave' .

Since I have an OTT light behind me for hooking I didn't a light on the end table using up valuable space.  So it seems bare and feel the need to have something on the wall to fill that void.  Called to asked my son to take a photo of the lamp so you could see what I gave him.  (his room is still a work in progress, notice the insulation).

This rug below might do it for the spot.  The original measures 18 x 36 and was hooked 19th Century.  I wouldn't make mine that big just want it on the wall near me and beside the window.  

Normally I choose horizontal rectangular designs for the floor and wall, but this vertical design would be great in THAT spot.  Yet I'm looking for something that reaches out and grabs me.  So let's continue with the rug show, shall we?

Recently found on an auction site is the Deer with Pond and Scrolls.  It measures 30 x 48 and this is the faded front.

This shows the repairs on the back a well as the bold colors of the scrolls.  I suspect the rug was in an area where it received a lot of sunlight to fade the colors that much.  Would have liked to see the true colors of the deer.

I  like this Running Horse said to be  hooked in the1800's, it measures 15.5 x 24.  Might make the cut the next time.

Red Floral rug with zigzag oval band and triangle corners.  It measures 16 x 34.

Another vertical design I like is Flower with Birds hooked 1879.  Presently Kimm of Sheep Underfeet (blog) is doing an adaptation of the design.

Guess I can give you one more rug for a round number of 10 and make it a black cat.  The rug measures 23 x 37.

What a difference a day makes.  Yesterday it was 92 degrees and today it is 63.  Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

JEWEL BASKET

Not finished but close to being done, thought I'd give you an update anyway.  Oh, by the way, Wool and Goods is handling Patsy Becker's designs now.

This is the conglomerate of wool used including a couple random pieces in the mix.  Sure doesn't look like the rug does it?  Except you can pick out the areas where that dark striped part of the second piece is hooked.

Since I don't have anything ready for my frame once this is done (yet) guess I'll work on the flag.

What a great day it was to walk into Walmart without a mask!!!!!!  I finally feel free being captive of the government.   The only thing now is that I'm needing to wear makeup, lol.

Happy Saturday, Happy Hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

Throwback Thursday - Flashback Friday

During my walk today was thinking about the old Woolley Fox times and had a couple chuckles.  Thankfully I was walking alone or others would have thought me going batty.  But before that is explained let me tell you more......

During the many years travelling to Barb's classes at Woolley Fox I was fortunate enough to stay in both the Guest House (closest to Barb's home) as well as the more spacious Woolley Cabin.  Each building was equipped with a fridge, microwave, electric tea pot, flatware and dishes.  Barb also provided each building with some eggs, muffins, coffee, tea, condiments, sodas and snacks.  There were also luxurious white robes for each of the guests to use during their stay.  Oh it was a class act.  But the cherry on top was being in a class taught by Barb.

This is the fireplace scene at the Cabin and I always wanted to hook that sheep with scarf which you see on the right of the fireplace wall.  Perhaps one day I will.

Below, do you see the door at the top of the stairs, which would be behind and to the right of the previous photo?  That is where the bolts and bolts of wool was stored for Barb.  It was a locked door and we were instructed to not go upstairs.

Well of course we wouldn't even try as we respected Barb, her rules and knew it was locked.  One night, probably my first night staying in the cottage I started a conversation after at least one glass of wine 😎.  

I wondered if there were security camera's watching us, like you'd see where kids were being tempted with cookies in a school room saying not to eat them and they would get a reward at the end.  Only to see which kid caves first, that gave me a chuckle.

Then I asked the girls if they thought there was the security camera in the eyes of that seemingly friendly 'security bear' on the steps behind the chain.  

I saved the photo in my file as "attack bear".  And no, I don't think there were any cameras in the place watching us.  Isn't he a handsome fella?

Oh but we did have some good times in both the cabin and Guest House and mostly with our classes with Barb Carroll.  I know it doesn't seem like much but revisiting my trips brought back a smile and chuckle.  Which is a good place to be with all the other crap we see around us.
  
Hope you can find something fun to think about or dream about to put your mind in a kinder place.  Today's chuckle was that for me as I revisited a fun time.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com