What Was I Thinking?

I've been remiss. I mentioned my big a** star rug in my previous post and it didn't occur to me that not all of you would know what I was talking about.  And that, even if you knew, you may want a reminder of how it looks.  Thank you for the gentle reminder, Lauren of Rugs and Pugs.

So, I give you...my big a** star rug aka Stars and Fans by Sally Kallin of Pine Island Primitives.

 
I bought this rug in 2008.  I last worked on it in September of 2010.  This rug measures 30 x 60...the star measures 21 inches across.  BIG.  I did the star in no time, but when it came time to do the background, I got stuck.  I may reverse hook what is done on at least part of the background. Someday.  When I finish this rug.       

Here is Sally's version.  She added a proddy edge...wide wool fringes.

Both of these rugs with their primitive colors are so much more dramatic in real life. 
 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

3 Collies and 1 Lab...

I used to do crewel embroidery.  And, needlepoint.  And, counted cross stitch.  For years and years.  And, years.  Then, I got into rug hooking.  During all of those years, I sewed.  Always.  But, I never sewed quilts.  Until 2009.  And, since that time, I don't do much else.   

Except.  As most of you know, Sharon and I got each other all excited about the Snow Days quilt, which involves a great deal of stitchery/embroidery.  We're 7 months into it and I do not regret one single stitch.  I find it very relaxing - and enjoyable - to work on while watching tv in the evenings.   

One day, while thinking about projects past and present...and about embroidery...and about my big a** star rug...and then about another rug that has been waiting to be started for several years, I had an idea!  

But first, let me fill you in with some background.  Back in February of 2006, I received a rug hooking pattern of my 3 collies and 1 lab that I had commissioned Elizabeth Black to draw for me.  She is an artist/rug hooker well-known for her animal designs.  It's a wonderful design, and it's all drawn out on foundation fabric for me.  3 x 5 feet in size.  At the same time, I commissioned Gail DuFresne to dye wool for it.  Yup, I did.  

And, what have I done with it?  Nothing.  The pattern on foundation fabric and the wool are stored very carefully, but they are stored.  On my closet shelf.  Back then, my first hesitation was the amount of time I would need to commit to hooking a rug of that size...in the small cuts of wool strips that Elizabeth recommends (#3 - #5).  I had intended to begin it as my 2007 project.  But, everything changed that year...I moved, I lost Cruiser...just a really bad time of my life.  

Time went by.  I worked on other rugs.  Then, in 2009, I started making quilts.  Well, that put all of my rug hooking on the back burner.  Heck, more than just on the back burner...more like in the back 40.  It's been 3 years since I picked up a hook (well, except to do the sheeps' eyes on the 2sheep rug I finally finished this past winter).

About a year ago, I gave some thought to doing the collies/lab design with fabric.  In a smaller size as a wall hanging.  That's as far as that went.  Thoughts. 

Then, one day this summer, while I was thinking about the collies/lab design, I came up with an excellent idea.  Truly!  I have the drawing saved on my computer...which means that I am able to make it as large - or SMALL - as I want.  So.  I could make it an easy size to embroider.  Right?  It wouldn't be too difficult at all...just need to follow the lines Elizabeth drew.  I wouldn't really need to add much, if anything, to it.  At all.  I am kind of excited about this.  I will finally be able to use this beautiful design that Elizabeth drew for me.  And my beloved collies and the brown boy will be memorialized.  This project won't be started until after Christmas, of course.  



What do you think of that idea??

Want a peek at the pattern?  Here it is...

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Speaking of stitching.  I finished block 7 of the 'Snow Days' quilt.  It is amazing how much one can accomplish when one has nothing else to do is under doctor's orders to rest.  This block is 9 x 9 inches. 

With a total of 14 blocks to be stitched on, I am now at the halfway point.  Course, I have yet to begin piecing the fabric blocks.  I think that will be best done once all the stitched blocks are completed.

I must get moving...way past time to start my day.  

Hope you have a good one!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday Sundries...

It's Sunday night...back to work tomorrow.

The days of the weekend seem to go by

so much faster than the days of
the week, don't they?

Kaylynn left mid-morning.

I enjoy having her so much.

Oh!  I didn't show you this...

she told her Mom that I like to get stuff.

I've never gotten 'stuff' from her before, 

so I was especially overjoyed to receive this.

I don't know if you can see that 

the 2 middle fingers are bent over.

It is this...

Sign language for 'i love you'.

She treats it as a secret code

that we can share across the room.

I love that little girl!

After the house showing, 

it started raining.

oh.  yeah.
Claire called yesterday morning

to tell me the realtor wanted to 

show the house this morning.

That meant some cleaning needed to be done.

While Kaylynn was here.

oh joy.

Actually, it wasn't so bad.

She helped me.

Truly.

{grin}

Anyway.
It's been raining on and off all
afternoon...making for a damp & dreary day.
But, it's supposed to be in the
high 70's this week!

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I finished reading a great book this afternoon.

The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen.

You can find her here.

The book is a Christian-based romance novel.

A simple read.

A delightful read.

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I sewed 2 more blocks for Paul/Rachel's quilt.

That makes 16 done!

woohoo!

block 15

block 16

Now I am down to deciding

where to go from here with it.

Time will tell!

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Since Kaylynn was the only grandchild

here this weekend, I did not sort any woolens.

I'll get to that this week.

It's my 'from now til the end of September' project.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been thinking quite a bit about my big a** star rug.

I looked at the last photo I took of it...

25 months ago was the last I hooked on it! 

Wow.

Hard to believe!

Here it is.

Though, I think I might have taken all 

of the brown background strips out.

Not going to go and look.

Just sayin'.

Everything that's hooked was done in 12 days.

And, just so ya know...

that star is 22" across.

Hence, BIG a** Star rug!

That's all I have for now.

Have a great week!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10