THAT PUZZLE PIECE BACKGROUND

Lauren asked that I demonstrate what I referred to as puzzle piece hooked background.  I first learned about it from Lisanne Miller and guess it could be a relative of higgly-piggly except I changed colors with each puzzle piece.  You could use the same wool for each puzzle piece if you wanted.  But I find a background hooked in all the same off the bolt wool boring.

FYI this isn't my next project, this is a pattern I started for someone and didn't go as expected so have had the linen tucked aside for a future geometric to use up some of selvage edges.  

Anyway, inside that circle are small puzzle pieces I drew and a handful of #8.5 cut strips I grabbed, think there is at least one #8 in there.  I chose a brown plaid, various values of dark, a black and white texture and at the last minute grabbed a short blue texture to fill in a little gap to the left.

Below is what I hooked using most of the strips.  You can see that black and white texture looks fine in the mix and adds interest so don't hesitate to use those odd pieces.

The puzzle piece background was attempted with the 1776 Eagle design but laziness ended up with larger pieces.

I designed a rug for my son's game room but there wasn't enough of blue and had no interest in dyeing any.  So pulled several pieces of different wool and just made do.  I did the S and C on that background and it might not be the prettiest I've hooked but am sure all he sees are the pool balls and beer mugs 🍺.

Now back to my fox rug, it's getting close to the end.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

TIPS TEACHERS TAUGHT US

The other day I emailed follower/reader Denise and asked if there was something she'd like me to blog about.  As any of you who have a blog know, sometimes we (or at least I) struggle to come up with a topic which might interest readers.  Her question was "wondering what was the best tip learned from a class or teacher".  

A comment from Julia made a perfect and classic example of 'must do' ~  Use a good linen foundation and not cheap brittle burlap for your rug hooking.  Must admit that when I was teaching myself and practicing that is what I used because it was affordable and could be a 'throw away'.  But when I got seriously hooking that was the lesson taught me also and is what I use.

Continuing with Denise's email, she said she was struggling with a random background.  When hooking a large background we all get bored!  I'm speaking for myself here but know someone (UH, that would be my friend Lauren) who finds it a soothing task.

When I first started hooking think I just followed the outline of the main motif's (the ripple effect) until the lines eventually connected and then filled in.  But attending an early rug camp my teacher Bev Conway suggested drawing, then hooking, S's in the background, hooking the S, hooking around the S, moving onto the next and as each S is hooked around they eventually meet up.  

This Rottweiler Memorial wasn't hooked in her class but I used her technique.  You can see the S or C movement throughout the background and I used two values of the same color wool.

Another teacher Lisanne Miller suggests the puzzle piece style.  I tried it on my eagle rug but didn't do her technique justice as I didn't draw the small areas on the background, I just hooked random spots using dark and different wools.  It is a primitive after all. 

Reader Nancy commented on my last blog post that her teacher suggested adding small bits of color or different value here and there for interest.  

Robin mentioned using 'ugly wool because ya just never know when that ugly will look wonderful in a rug'.

Barb Carroll made a similar comment in class.  Barb's was more of a color contrast which she called 'poison' as a random out-of-place hooked piece of wool.  After all, they used what they had back in the day.  An example of Barb's teaching is in this Westmoreland Ponies pattern designed by her and I hooked it in a class with Barb 2012.  Click on the photo below and look closely.  You can see the odd yellow green strips, random plaids and even a lighter color in the background.  All of which provides interest and makes the eye move around the rug.  AND, makes it more fun for the hooker.

Westmoreland Ponies is a free pattern in a previous issue of RHM but can't recall which year but maybe around 2011 or 2012.

Please don't hesitate to email me a question or an idea you'd like to see on my blog.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitive.weebly.com

SATURDAY SUNFLOWER

Am getting bored with the sunflower and made some changes but more changes might be coming.  Decided to not put my initials in, won't hook the date, decided to not make it into a pillow and will probably make the lower larger leaf smaller too.

The petals in the flower have all been from the wool worms/noodles.  The stem and leaves started with leftovers but found they worked.  Looked around and found more of that ugly (but suitable) wool and cut additional for the leaves.  Here is that wool.  Ya just never know when the uglies will work.

As I was drafting this post a response came in from a reader to whom I'd asked a question.  But this post was on its way.  

SO... my question to her was "what would you like for me to blog about".  Her answer was:  "what is the best tip I learned from a rug camp or teacher".  I do have a couple worth mentioning but would love it if some of you might send me an email and mention your best learned tips and I'll add them to my blog when that happens.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctinprimitives.weebly.com

RUG SHOW OF OLDIES

I love this rug of fishermen and wish I knew more about it.  All I know is that it's Canadian.

The next photo provided on the site was the back of the rug with this name.  If anyone knows something about this please let me know.

An attractive geometric was listed for $5,400 on Charish.  It measures 24 x 48 and dated between 1920-30.

Here is a closer view of the textiles.

Saw this wonderful Canadian hooked rug of a full moon and fox somewhere during my searches but don't have date or dimensions.  This would be an awesome rug to hook if I'd not already started the 1922 Fox adaptation.

A red house and yellow bird; also appears to have two sliver moons in the background.  Seems to have the appearance of a split screen of night/day and perhaps that's why the two moons.

This bird on branch and 2 baby birds is rather understated with the colors.  I think someone with more color imagination than me could make this into a beauty.   

Found this cat rug this morning and said to be hooked between 1880-1920.  Colors are still vivid and of course it has been well preserved since it's on a frame and not walked on.

This airplane themed rug was hooked early 20th century and I wonder if it was done for a child's room or an adult who had an affinity for flying?  

The wood horse carved box (1840-1900) could be an inspiration for a hooked rug or applique piece.

I love this antique hooked rug below.  Don't know the exact age or dimensions but do know it is old.  Whoever hooked it did a fantastic job on the eye of the horse as if it was running away in fear.

Some ideas for you to use up your leftover strips.  A sweet 15" round pad and how it was covered in the back.

A geometric in block form .

Probably from the same hooker here is a hit and miss idea for using up strips and measures 17 x 28.

As you are aware, Maud Lewis' paintings have been adapted to hooked designs.  Here are three of her paintings which were recently sold and I've got the sale prices.  The deer scene 12 x 14 on masonite sold for $22,240.

The covered bridge painting sold for $25,960 and measures 12 x 16.

Maud Lewis cow 12 x 14 sold for $30,680.

Still haven't decided on what to hook next but each time I post about geometric hit and miss a brief thought of doing that floats in my mind.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ANOTHER DETOUR

Otherwise known as 'bored again'.  While the sunflower was a fun and short-lived diversion it was time for me to reconnect with the fox.  You will see more of the sunflower in a couple days.  Meanwhile I did fill in the date and spot above the fox.

Friend Lauren has asked what is next and told her there are a couple I'm interested in but no decisions yet as I'm so fickle.  That plus a few doctor appointments coming up ~ will get my permanent crown tomorrow then two other days will have leg vein work done.  

Our bodies, just like other machinery requires work done to improve performance.  If only that was true to "improve" performance; I'll be happy if it 'continues' performance.

Wind was horrific today but did manage to push the mower in Ben's back yard in areas where the ground wasn't so difficult to push it.  The soil is still quite a mess back there.  The further back in the yard toward the woods is worse.  Oh well, that's how it is here.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

A LITTLE DIVERSION

As I'm so close to finishing the Fox rug it was time for me to choose my next project.  So that little diversion ended up being a gift for someone who likes sunflowers.  Truth be told I love sunflowers too but this one won't be mine.  

I've pulled several yellow and green strips from the 'worm farm' but cut the blue for the background which might work or not, will find out later.  The brown and gold texture is a wool purchased years ago which seemed perfect for the center seeds of the sunflower.  The darker thin green strips in the container will be for the veins in the leaves, or at least that's the plan.

I've started hooking the small project and already have taken creative liberties changing petal shapes.  The leaves might be next.

The linen was a very small piece which required stitching cotton on two ends to fit on my smaller sit-upon grippers.  I always save those pieces of linen left over from other projects as you never know when you can use them for something such as this.  

Have a lovely weekend.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

BINDING STAR and HEARTS

A few weeks ago I showed you some red striped fabric being auditioned for binding the antique adaptation.  The bright reds and white just didn't suit me so went for the darker red and cream stripe on the shelf.

I ripped 4 1/2 inch strips, sewed them together folded in half, ironed them then did a 1/4 inch stitch down the length.

Next task was to hand stitch it close to the last row of hooking.  If I'd planned in advance I would have machine stitched along the edge before hooking to make life easier.  Guess I was in a hurry to start hooking the rug and lost focus.

Below you can see what the edge will look like when on the floor, table or chest.  I didn't want a whipped edge as I wanted the authenticity of the antique to show and the rows were hooked to the edge.

This is what the back will look like.  But it will need the other edge attached, a final pressing before it is completed...oh, and have the label attached.

In case you'd like to see the original antique here it is below.  Star hearts, an Amish hooked rug and collection of Penny Young dated 1920-30.

Weather was quite mild today but since I live under a rain cloud there will be more rain tomorrow.  Am sure I'll find something to entertain myself tho.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

1922 FOX UPDATE

Here's an update on my vision of the antique fox rug.  Decided to hook my fox with a white tail tip and chest like the Delaware Red Fox instead of following the directional hooking of the antique.  Delaware also has a grey fox but didn't want those colors.

There's a strong possibility I'll reverse hook some of the brown in the background since it is too close to the color of the fox.  Yet the antique rug has brown in the background so will figure it out.  Also might change the cream colored elements....maybe.  This evening I'll start on the date and background surrounding that.

Weather today was lovely and with a new mower battery installed was able to cut some grass weeds in the front yard and front parts of the side yards.  Did not cut the backyard as the ground is saturated and I'd have made huge tire ruts or worse gotten the mower stuck.  So the back yard will have to wait until the water dries up.  Don't know when that will be or where the water will go since the water table is so high and more rain later next week.

Hope you have an enjoyable weekend and please protect your eyes if you plan to look at the total eclipse tomorrow.  I saw glasses at Walmart for approximately $1.87 but didn't buy one as I've no plans to look since I'm not in the path of it's journey.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

VINTAGE RUG SHOW

The post was to be either an update on 1922 Fox or another old rug show.  So an old rug show it is.   A pair of horses circa 1800-1900 from the Winterthur Museum.

A rug named Hard Times and dated 1874 measures 37 x 73.

A naïve floral.

And now a bold floral.

I love the colors and design of the geometric.  Sorry, no other information.

One day I'd like to find a ship with sails that I'd be driven to hook.  A Bluenose 1921 Schooner with dimensions of 30 x 42.

Cat with a ball early 20th century.

A whimsical landscape, no date but measures 15 x 33.5.

And my favorite in this post is the Hagley runaway horse hooked between 1860-1900.  Dimensions are 27.5 x 43.5.

Scotty dogs measuring 20 x 31 but no date.

Perhaps with warmer weather there will be more rugs listed on the auction houses for me to locate and share with you.  Actually I've even considered listing some of my hooked adaptations on the auction sites but seeing the very low price some get think I'd rather take my chances selling on Facebook.  

No way I'll stop hooking and recently gave a few away to family.  Of course my very favorite rugs will stay.  But the number of rolled up hooked rugs here need a new place to live.

Back to hooking the fox.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

IT'S RUG LABEL TIME FINALLY

I'm way behind labeling my rugs, as usual, because it takes 6 labels to fill a page so 6 hooked rugs are required.  Two of the rugs were hooked during 2023.  One was started November 2023 (The Reclining Sheep) but wasn't finished until the beginning of 2024 so gave it a label of 2024.

Those three rugs have their labels attached and here the are.  The flash has washed out the color in all of those rugs.

Sorry, I just couldn't let that washed out view of my rugs go so here they are  individually; first up is Reclining Sheep.

My design named 1776 Eagle which was adapted from an antique 1907 rug.

And finally Going in Circles, another adaptation which was a LOT of fun and was my 'plus one'.  If you compare this photo with the first one you'll see how washed out the rugs were in the first photo.

The Lone Stag label will be attached next but the last two labels will sit for a while as one still needs to be bound and the other is presently on my frame being hooked.  But at least the labels are ready to be attached when they are completed.  

I've posted a tutorial on a previous blog post and will copy and paste the link again to not repeat the whole process.  You can read how to do your own labels HERE.  The last printer fabrics I purchased was from TAILOR so perhaps there are other products available under a different name and the price may be higher.

More rain and turbulent weather in the forecast here and probably where you live.  So buckle up buttercup and have something handy to keep you entertained.  I'll be hooking for sure.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com