Cottage and Apple Tree Rug

• This is the rug I'm currently working on. It's an antique reproduction that I asked Saundra of Woodland Junction to draw up for me. I'm working off a picture, but want to make some changes. 

I've enjoyed working on this rug for the most part. I didn't plan out the changes very thoughtfully or thoroughly and that has slowed me down. The blue in the background was a skirt and it's been hooking up really nicely. Sometime I find the repurposed wool to be thin or just not the right color. This is perfect. 

I've kept both birds as drawn, but changed the colors adding a bit of pink into each of them.

Apples on the apple tree.

Bird two and a willow tree.

This spot was originally a turkey. I asked my artsy granddaughter to make it a dog instead. But it won't be this sheepdog looking thing. I've also considered putting a chicken here.

And it's Daisy approved. 

As I get towards the end of one project I start planning the next. Next for me is a large one, the 1868 roses rug. I've been buying wools for years to look this one. I bought lots of darker blues. I forgot about the reds. I plan on going to Wool Yankees in Wellington Ohio on Saturday. I hope to meet up with friend Lauren, of Rugs and Pugs. Sounds like a fun day.

Enjoy this great weather.

Sue

I Finished It

 Ta da. It's done. I worked on this silly rug for years. Seriously, years. And it's finally bound.

My camera does not capture the true colors. Rich rusts in various shades, aqua blues, creamy whites, and a grayish brown background. I loved the wool I was working with. The feel was so soft and the colors so pretty. I was stuck on the pattern. After I simplified numerous flowers I was on a roll.

It just took a couple more months to bind it. I bind using strips of wool 2 1/2" wide and use a technique similar to binding a quilt. You end up seeing about  a 1/2" of the binding so usually I use the same wool I used for the background. 

And it's done just in time for fall decorating. Yes, I have started fall decorating. I started with the fall quilts, then fall rugs, and shower curtain. 

We've had 5" of rain in the last couple days. That's a lot of rain. I've had problems with the basement in the past. I had a backflow valve installed. Still got water in, so I had a sump pump installed. So far, so good. I have a creek behind the house and when it overflows I used to get water in the basement. Even with all the rain it does not look like the creek overflowed yesterday. 

The Start of a New School Year

It's back to school for Lexi. She's a sophomore this year. And for Mac it's his first day of school, ever. He was so excited, Lexi not so much. Have a great year kiddos.

 Getting off the bus after his first day of school. He'd been sick earlier in the week and had a long day.