Monday, March 25, 2024

I'm Seeing Red

 


I'm seeing red.... In my rug. It's exactly what was needed. I'll probably finish hooking it later this week. I'm almost done, just the brown heart to fill in, and the little open places in the red shapes. The background turned out a bit lighter than I'd prefer. I've been making hooked rugs for 24 years. Wowzer, that's a long time. And a lot of rugs. 

I knew I wanted hooked rugs in my home. But I was a single mom and couldn't afford to just buy them. So I learned to hook them. My first classes were in the basement of Shirley Bloom. Gloria Ault was also there. Shirley liked to teach "fine" hooking. I started out hooking with a 6 cut. Shirley would pick out these bright colors, I'd look up and Glo would be shaking her head "no".  When Shirley would walk away Gloria would help me pick out more primitive colors. 


This is my first rug. It's a pattern by DiFranza called Garden Cat. It's hooked with a 6 and very low loop height. This was before the Internet so I never saw another version of the rug until much later. It's not my favorite, but my first, so I've hung onto it. 



I finished binding the Sun Burst Girl. That makes three ready to go to camp.  Summer camp. I'm getting impatient for nice weather to arrive, and stay. I've a few flowers blooming in my garden. But my hands are itching to get busy digging and planting and dividing perennials. I had a 6' foot fence installed around part of the backyard last year. Its great for keeping Daisy enclosed. She's my little runner. I did see an area where she has tried to dig a hole under the fence. That Daisy. She's sweet, but she's a handful. She  makes Henry look like the absolute dream dog. Henry is calm and well behaved. 





Anyways, the fence is big and boring. My plan for this year is to spruce up the back yard. I salvaged some limestone stones. I plan on making a curved walk way to the shed, then plant some trees and lots of flowers. Lots. My neighbor boy wants to help. He's developmentally delayed with ADHD. He's my friend. Years ago he started coming to the house because he loves Henry. And Henry loves him. Daisy dislikes him intensely. She will not even allow him to pet her. That Daisy. Again. 



Saturday, March 23, 2024

A Rug of Two Hearts

This was my inspiration. I just really like the simplicity of the pattern. 


Then Lauren of Rugs and Pugs blog sent me this picture from a rug showing at her local guild. I fell even more in love with this pattern. 




Oh yeah, love it. Love those primitive colors and wonky shapes. When I drew my pattern out I made the diamond shapes near perfect. But I really like the irregularity of the ones in the above picture. 

So here's where I'm at .  



So far I've been able to use up my worms, except for that blue. And I'm not sure that blue will get to stay. I'm just not sure I like it. I still have a few brown worms and neutral worms. The browns won't be enough to fill the heart, but the neutrals looks like enough to finish the background. I'm not sure how I'll fill the remaining diamond shapes. After posting my inspiration pictures I kinda like that red heart. 



I think that's why I've stalled out on the hooking. I am not like Saundra, I do not have a second project going when I stall out on the first one. But I do have an idea for my next rug. 


I've also been quilting. I put the binding on the two green quilts and I'm working on the binding for the Sun Burst girl version. It's girly because its got some bright pinks in it. On the back I used a white and pink Parisian print. These are all for donation. I have two more that are quilted and just need binding, a boy version of Sun Burst and a multicolored 64 patch. I've got one more top pieced,  it's a purple version of the June pattern.  This one still needs a backing and to be quilted.


My sweet, sweet Henry. 


I've also been working at cleaning my sewing room. The trouble with that is I keep finding unfinished projects and go down that rabbit hole. There's so many patterns I want to make. There's so much fabric I need to use up. There's so many rugs to be hooked. 

I also attended this year's final regional Academic Challenge tournament. This is Lexi's second year to be on the team. They placed third. She is so intelligent. I'm so proud of her. She's already taking college classes. 



And that's all for this week. Have a safe and jolly weekend. Sue


A New Purple Pillow

Lexi gave me this pillow when she was four years old. It is well loved. It's just the right size for sleeping on. This pillow has gone m...