I did it!

My goal was to finish my Antique Hearts adaptation by mid August.  Yesterday, the 15th, it was done!!!  I didn't think it was going to happen.  I reverse hooked about a half dozen of the "tongues" because after seeing them hooked, realized that the color placement was too close to another tongue with the same color(s).  The center of the tongue on the top left was hooked with a very dark teal, but it just read as dark and looked too much like the background.

Here she is hooked, but not yet steamed, a task that ranks right up there with binding 😝

I love the way teacher Jenny had me hook the background around the hearts.  I never would have thought to do that.  Thankfully she drew in all the directions for me.

Can you see that tiny bit of red in the center of the heart?  When I was not at my frame, Sue added that.  Just a little reminder of our class that will remain there.

Can you believe August is half over???  Where on earth is time going?  We have gotten rain every few days for the last couple of weeks.  My grass is green and growing.  I can't remember the last time I didn't have brown crunchy grass in August.  I need to mow more often, but no complaints from me.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Playing catch-up ~

It's so easy falling behind, especially having been gone for 3 days.  I have unpacked, watered and done some deadheading.  Still lots on my list to do.  And of course rather than stay home tomorrow and accomplish more, I am off on a play date with a favorite partner in crime . . . sigh.

Class with Jenny Smallridge of the Wooly Horse was great fun.  Jenny is a true teacher (she actually retired in January from teaching 6th graders) who teaches.  She is not there to just color plan your rug.  She had "lessons" for us each day, offering tips and tricks and showing us examples of what she was talking about.  I had her last year for a scrappy technique class, this year for how to hook a great rug, and I would not hesitate to take her again in the future.

Jenny helping Sue redraw some of her rug to more pleasing/meaningful motifs.

Examples of different colors in her backgrounds to make them more interesting.

A close up from the above rug.

And yet another example.

Lots of fun colors in the corner of the rug she is currently working on.

Her treatment of using what I call reversible black in her background.  I believe she calls this wool Blackjack 2.

Jenny has started a 7' x 7' story rug.  The buildings are all part of her past and all the motifs have meaning to her.

How she is working on the design.

I cannot even begin to imagine hooking something that large.  She is a high hooker and that rug will weigh a ton.  She has the perfect spot for it and it will be amazing.

A fun Santa she has hooked and cut out.

Her scrappy American flag.

Isn't he the sweetest?

Her fun labels.

I will leave you with three antique chicken rugs she owns and in the next post will share the class rugs.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren 

Class projects ~ Updated

 

Here are the rugs being hooked in the Katie Hartner class in no particular order . . . other than I will start with Sue's antique adaptation.  

A small pattern that was started and finished in class.

The same Maggie Bonanomi pattern being hooked in two totally color palates. 

A coverlet inspired design 

Santa 

Antique adaptation known as Tennessee Hearts being hooked with handtorn strips.

This hooker started her rug at last year's Katie class.  It is curling because she packs her loops.  A good steaming will remedy it.

Flower close up.  The true color is probably somewhere in between.

This will hang above the hooker's antique pewter collection.

The hooker is hooking this GINORMOUS maple leaf to coordinate with her hooked stair treads.  

Close up

She says she has been collecting spot dyes for years.

One hooker left a day early so I did not get a picture of her start.  Sue sent me a picture of her rug so that's everyone 😁

Katie's class was absolutely wonderful.  She shared so much useful information and so many helpful hints.  I would take another class with her in a heartbeat!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Indian Peace Flag ~

I am home from rug class.  This is the second time I have had a class with Katie Hartner of A Nimble Thimble/Woolley Fox.  She is just a delight and shares so much knowledge.  I'm sure everyone left class with much useful information.

Today I will quickly share the rug I was working on.  It is titled Indian Peace Flag and if it sounds a bit familiar, check out Saundra's blog.  It is an antique adaptation sold by The Woolley Fox.

Day 1 progress ~

At the end of day 2.  I accomplished much more the first day, but I was still happy with what I got hooked!

And finally day 3 which was only a half day.
The color is most accurate in the first picture, but if I want to get this post done before I head to dinner, this one will have to do . . . sigh.

At 31" x 38" this is a big pattern for me.  There will also be stars & stripes on the rug (but not a full flag).  I will be working on this for a long time!  Sadly I know it won't be done for our nation's 250th birthday.  I also plan to eliminate the bottom right star and replace it with 1776 - 2026.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

FINALLY!

Primitive Chickens, a 12" x 36" pattern by Hooked on the Lake is finally finished.  It was started in a class with Katie Hartner of the Woolley Fox on March 16.  For whatever reason I continually drug my feet and would only spend a short time each day working on it.  It's not like I was hooking something else at the same time!  I am just glad it is done.  Now on to the least favorite part (right Saundra?) prepping for binding, steaming and then binding.  I don't think the binding fairy will show up and do it for me.  I know there are people who finish rugs for a price, but I am too cheap to even consider that.  I'd rather use that $$ to buy more wool 😁  Lousy color as usual . . . but the feet/legs do show up a little better in person.

For you cat lovers . . .

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren