I'll start the show with a floral which has a border with diamond shapes.  Hooked during the 19th century and measures 38 x 50.5. A rug depicting a Clipper Ship named Susanah Capt. Ed Luce.  Dimensions of the rug are 30 x 46.5.  I googled the name of the ship and captain's name and a few links were provided with info but perhaps the link HERE might be the one related to this rug.  If anyone has info on the Captain of this ship please let me know if it isn't the link I provided. There's a lot going on in this hooked rug below ~ rooster, birds, maiden with cows, a bar ..read more

A horse of course.  Animals are my preferred object, particularly a horse.  They are magnificently beautiful creatures and I especially love looking at slow motion videos of the muscle movement when they run.  And when I had my own horse enjoyed lifting the mane and taking in the aroma.  Mind you not so much when cleaning out his stall, lol. I drew this from an antique rug I've never posted on my blog.  Therefore I'm refraining from showing the rest of the drawing until more gets hooked.  Heck, should have cleaned up the loops around the eye so it doesn't look l ..read more

Last loop just pulled on my version of 1922 Fox but still needs steaming and binding. In case you'd like to refresh your memory on what the original antique looked like here it is.  Not sure I do myself any favors by posting the originals but .... Normally I try to hook the main motif like the original but wanted my foxy fox to look like a traditional Delaware Red Fox with the white chest and tip of tail.  But was unsuccessful in getting the wool on the legs to look like them. Friend Robin said she hoped my lake was drying up.  So went outside to take a couple pictures to s ..read more

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, insi ..read more

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 i ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 wo ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more