My CAPE MAY HOOKED RUGS

Since I'm not attending Cape May this week or next week thought I'd show you rugs hooked in classes with various teachers at that venue.  Actually my very first rug camp was April 2003 in Ocean City, MD but this blog post is about rugs hooked at Rugs By The Sea.

In 2003 and my first year at Cape May was with teacher Patsy Becker when I hooked Eat Crow, a design by Anne Hallett.  My last name was different then thus the SS initials.

While at that camp and soaking up anything rug related noticed the class being taught by Bev Conway beside me.  In 2004 she was my teacher and hooked her design Pineapples and Flowers.

I'm drawing a blank on what rug was hooked 2005 at Cape May or which teacher I had.   So will show you rugs which bring no memory of teacher, only hooking at home.  Yet I know for a fact I was there.   Fluted Basket is a design by Karen Kahle and was a free pattern insert in a RHM.

Another Karen Kahle pattern hooked that year was Stop and Smell the Roses.

Tonya Robey was the designer of this whimsical lion hooked that year also.  It was a kit and came with Tonya's overdyed wool.

Anyway..... 2006 in a class with Bev Conway I hooked her Rufus the Lion.

In a Lucille Festa class 2007 my project was 1847 Turkey from the Needl'love booklet.  Notice just the initial "S" appears as the signage.  That is because I was in limbo, going thru a divorce and hadn't received court documents to take back the last name of my deceased husband.  OH, perhaps that is why I don't recall which rug or which teacher I had in 2005 ~ that was the year with lots of turmoil, health scare due to stress and life decisions to make.  So there was no room in my brain to store happy memories.

Cape May 2008  I asked permission from Brenda Gervais to hook her Herb Angel needle punch design.  She granted it so printed her email permission and took it with me to camp.

The following year (2009) it was yet another class with Bev Conway and  hooked her pattern Speckled Hens.  The original design had the chickens sitting on one huge egg but I wanted them sitting on straw.

Although a poor copy, below is what the original design was supposed to look like.  Naturally I had to change it.

2010 was my first class with Kris Miller and I drew this antique adaptation of a Stag.  If I were to do it over again (which I won't)  there would be less background and would draw the motifs a little closer together.

The following year in another class with Kris at Cape May I hooked Barb Carroll's July Cabin.  The pattern is in one of Barb's books and I drew leaves where the original design had small flags.  Also changed the direction of the smoke so the design wouldn't be as tall.

There are still a few years' rugs from Cape May to show but will save them for next time when there is the second week of classes at Rugs By the Sea camp.

In other news......see that black slithery thing on my front porch?  It was time to ride the bike and get the mail but I wanted to watch the black snake.   Sadly the camera was on the wrong setting and didn't realize it until just now so it doesn't show up well.

Anyway it slithered down to the ground at that point then went to the garage to get the bike.  The garage door went up so far and stopped so figured a leaf had blown in from outside.  Nope, it was the snake who was slithering in.  It saw me and quickly hid under the shelving.  When I returned with mail it wasn't where I'd seen it last and who knows where it is now.

Thunderstorms came thru last night but is nice and sunny today.  Hot but not as humid.  And it's mail time again.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlanjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

DEER and BLUE HOUSE Update

Okay Janice, since you said you never get tired seeing the same ol rugs over and over,  here go with another post of Deer and Blue House.  Guess I'll soon need to decide what goes on my frame next ~ besides the dreaded Mary quite Contrary. 

This morning it started drizzling outside and stopped long enough for me to remove two big pokeberry weeds from a section of the yard and unwanted seedling trees growing in the same area.  Came in the house and it has been pouring since.  Just might end up with that annual lake in the back woods and yard after all.

Today was arrival day at Cape May rug camp for week one.  I'm not attending this year (either week) and I've been attending since 2003.  Am hoping the new organizers get more organized for next year's event and maybe I'll attend again.  There were no primitive teachers lined up, only narrow cut teachers.  So each of the two weeks there was one class where you could work on a UFO and without a teacher.  WTH?  I can stay home and do that with no cost for hotel and my food is good, so why go?

But will await reports back from attendees on the food which was horrible at best last year and sometimes unpalatable.  I'm no food critic so you know it had to be bad when you can't even eat a salad because you pull out half rotted greens and bloated cherry tomatoes.  Sure miss Linda and Norma for the fantastic job they did.  

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

  GOD BLESS AMERICA

Rug Hooker Names to Remember

I've acknowledged several prominent rug hookers on my blog in the past and I've another.  It's one thing to admire a rug but when you can identify the artist's name it is meaningful.  Like knowing the difference between a painting by Picasso or Van Gogh.  Or the difference between a Magdalena hooked rug and the rugs you will see below.                    

You've seen her rugs and her daughter's rugs before, no it's not Barbara Merry and her daughter Nancy Gertrude Scott, but someone else.  Will show you a couple rugs first then tell you their names.  

Below is a rug I saw over a year ago and the photo was poor but kept the image until finding out more info and a better photo.  It is a Black Cat hooked between 1918-1923 wool on burlap and measures 25.5 x 29.   I just love it.  Hmm wonder if that could be my next one???

Bet many if not all of you have seen the crisp and colorful Pig hooked with wool on linen measuring 37 x 54.5.  This one was  hooked 1950 so not in public domain.

Okay, so the signature at the bottom of that rug gives her name away.  It is hooked by Marguerite Zorach, her husband William was a famous painter and sculptor.

This hooked Nude and Flowers rug by Marguerite measures 29 x 49 and has been adapted by many rug hookers.  Can't recall the issue but remember seeing a version published in a RHM with a Nude Theme segment. 

Marguerite also hooked the Cat surrounded by birds shown below.  

While I love horses Marguerite's Wild Horses rug doesn't do it for me.  Think there were 3 horses I could identify as horses??  How many did you see?

Named Eden and hooked by Marguerite, this was hooked 1917 and measures 34 x 77.

Marguerite's talent didn't end with rug hooking.  She did this fabulous wool embroidery on silk titled Family, which measures 72 x 86.  Isn't this phenomenal?  I believe her husband did a painting with the same emotion portrayed thru his art form.

OKAY, now this one will hit a nerve with all of you and why you should try to remember these names.  This design below was named Tiger and  Leopard by the hooker.  However it is most known by today's rug hookers as Tumbling Cats.  It is the most replicated design outside of public domain and without permission and was hooked by Dahlov Ipcar who is the daughter of Marguerite and William Zorach.

So there you have what I hope is considered an entertaining and enlightening post.  At least you weren't bored with the replay of my two rugs back and forth.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

  GOD BLESS AMERICA

GRITTING MY TEETH

 It's baack...the Comstock rug was put on my frame for a brief period of time as that was all I could take.  Despite my previous statement of having a 'new attitude' I've been gritting my teeth the whole time working on it.  

For you new followers/readers, I have loved this antique design and wanted to hook it for years.  The issue is that the pattern wasn't drawn by me but someone else and when I purchased it off eBay for a very low price, I  neglected to compare the drawing to the antique.  Only after I started hooking it did the disparities become evident.    Thus that quote "you get what you pay for".    

This is the most recent look and notice there's a lot more red ink where shape was changed and future changes to make it look closer to the antique.    After this post it will go back in the bag with wool and be out of eye sight until I can brave another torturous couple days.

The original antique had 8 leaves on the left side (counting from the top brown one) and the purchased pattern only had 7 as the pattern was drawn with more bulbous shaped leaves taking up space.  On the right side the leaves needed to be dropped down and also the flower lowered.  Here is the original antique.

Trash was hauled off so will need to see how much more of the pond  liner can be cut up and disposed of for next week's trash pickup.  Meanwhile and with a smile on my face will fetch the Deer pattern and put it back on my frame.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

                 

RAIN and WOODS LIFE

Finally the predicted rain actually happened and this time it was more than 50 drops. It is definitely beginning to look (not feel) like fall with the leaves falling and changing color.  Perhaps that is due to the drought.  Here are two photos from the front porch.

I know the farmers and gardens are soaking up the much needed rain, tho it is too late for some plants at this point.  But is rain an aphrodesiac for critters?   In the backyard I discovered a turtle in destress....or was it?  

I bent over to see if the upside down turtle was alive, and he was.   Not wanting to disturb a situation nature may not appreciate, I left them there.

Here is a view from the other side of the pole.  BTW, that is not a snake, it is a root and I check it out each time I'm back there at the clothesline pole.  Turtles can right themselves up but wasn't sure if he/they were in an awkward position preventing him from doing that.  So came back every 15 minutes to check on my inhabitants.

Just steps away was that little female turtle mentioned in a previous post.  So guess they are all heading back into the woods in preparation of the fall that is upon us.

After several visits later I noticed the female had left the party so I turned over the male and left  him alone to come back later and see if he had safely gone.  From the divot in the earth I'd say they had quite the tryst. 

Plans are to have a rug hooking related post next time as I always feel like I'm cheating you by posting off topic.  Just remember I'm still hooking the same old same ol, lol.  Yet I'm still loving the Deer and Blue House, it just isn't moving as fast as I'd like.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

  GOD BLESS AMERICA

Antique Rug Show

It's  time for another antique rug show rather than bore you will another update of the two rugs in progress or photos of my work outside.  However I will tell you about my wasted time outside this morning.   Had high hopes for the product I purchased to wash my back deck since I didn't need any special equipment other than my hose and the product (Mold Armor) with its own hand held sprayer system.   I donned my face shield, rubber gloves, old clothing and went to work.

The instructions said to spray an area, wait 10 minutes and rinse.  No instructions on brushing but that if the staining was still there to re-spray.  Well, I did that and the wood didn't look 'like new' as indicated.  Yes the deck is in a shaded area so does get the mold stains.  Guess I might have to bite the bullet and hire it done but gawd knows what the cost will be with everything else going up in price.

Okay, now to the fun stuff....antique rugs.  Up first is Tree with Birds which sold for $9,375 and measures 34 x 48.

A Cat rug said to be hooked around 1910 is cotton on burlap measuring 26.5 x 41.  Considering she had limited colors she did a great job with the striped background and striped cat.

This is the back of the rug and the flowers don't appear to be too faded

A corner and close up of the textiles use.

Just love this Flower Basket, an Ontario rug dated 1920-30.  The front...

...and the back.  It has nice colors, not too bright or gaudy. 

This is one block of an embroidered carpet by Zeruah Higley Gurensey dated 1832-35.

Another block of the same embroidered carpet but with dogs as the subjects.

And the entirety of this work of art which measured 12' x 12' 6".

Starry Night hearth rug circa 1830 sold for $7,500 indigo blue background.

Well there you have today's post.  And now it is time for me to cut and serge linen so I can draw another rug pattern.  Will save the drawing for tomorrow as it is just about wine O'clock. 🍷

Happy hooking.  Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

 GOD BLESS AMERICA

        

When You Get a Rug Pattern Order......

...but your drawing/cutting table looks like this.  So decided to clean up the table and if she changed her mind at least the work table would be clean again.  And I found a piece of wool I'd been looking for.

The young woman wanted the pattern Deer and Blue House so thought I'd give you and her an update on my progress.  A question to her was if she wanted me to draw the dots and dashes for the color change in the background or if she planned to hook a solid color background.  The dashes might be intimidating or confusing so thought I'd ask.  She chose the dots and dashes.  You can see those remaining in my rug below.

While I referred to the antique during the hooking process I did make some subtle changes and am totally in love with this antique rug design.  There's still a way to go on hooking this and NO am NOT ready to put Mary on my frame again just yet ~ she and I have certain issues, lol.

FYI, a few people have contacted me requesting I put them back on the email list since they aren't automatically receiving the posts any longer.  That is because Blogger discontinued that feature and I'm not computer savvy enough to know a go-around.  So you will need to look for me or copy and paste the link in you "Favorites" list so you can just click to find me instantly.  Sorry if it is just one more irritant in your daily life.

Saundra  www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com     GOD BLESS AMERICA

SEPTEMBER 1st ALREADY?

Good grief, time goes by too quickly.  Plans were to post an update on Deer and Blue House...BUT...I didn't accomplish as much on it as planned since I worked outside this morning and halfway filled up the dumpster with more pond liner.  Didn't bother taking a photo of the progress but figure it will be two more weeks before the carcass will be gone.

After lunch I hooked and planned to post a photo this evening.  However, getting up from my hooking spot across the room I saw the view of a fantastic dry sink and vignette and decided that would be my post.

The wonderful black doll to the far left and the chair were made by my friend and former dollmaker Shari, the primitive black doll to the right of her was made by another friend Frannie. 

Below is a pic of the right side which shows a toy iron, tin cup and utensils which were found in the dirt outside my childhood home by my father well after I was an adult.   

Those two small dolls you see were made by me.  That style sold very well when vending but am so happy to have saved these for me to enjoy and remind me of the past.  That used to be my happy past until it became work.

Now my happy place is hooking on HAPPY rugs, lol.  Well you know which rugs I'm talking about.      

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com       

        

Age Old Question

You know that age old trick question..."if a tree falls in the woods and you didn't hear it, did it make a sound?"  So I've got a real true to life question ~  If you can no longer see your pond is it really gone?

The answer is no.  Doesn't mean the entire pond is gone because it was a large pond using large pieces.  I woke up in the middle of last night thinking about all that needed to be done here.  So despite the nearly 90* temps this morning decided I'd better start disposing of the pond's  carcass.

After I removed the rocks (remember those posts?), and transplanted flowers from inside the corners to the yard.  And even after the men removed wood framing this very heavy liner remained.  The backhoe pulled it and debris remaining inside to the back of the shed.  

There were 3 sandbags left, several bricks, a few rocks which had fallen inside during the pond's life and decomposed leaves.  The wooden T shape is the result of a fight the backhoe had with the end of my clothesline pole and the backhoe won.  A neighbor has since put in a new one for me.

A sideview look. 

Below are 3 sections which when put into my dumpster filled it up more than halfway.   After the trash is picked up tomorrow I'll cut more for pick up next week.

Wonder what work guilt will keep me awake tonight?   Needless to say a whole lot of loops weren't pulled today.  And my back hurts from the work because.....I got sidetracked and had to lift and toss tree limbs into the woods.  You know, that attention deficit syndrome thing?

Also the back deck needs to be power washed and sealed.  I have the stuff to wash it and plan to do that myself.  If I can borrow a sprayer I'll also seal the deck but hope to get my grandson to do that for me and bribe him with pay.

Am going to enjoy a glass or two of vino and hook this evening and not do yard work tomorrow.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com