A few things I just finished making, and one oldie (4 pics)

13 years ago

For a "rug hooker," I sure haven't made many rugs! I seem to gravitate toward small things. I made these three after Christmas. First, a coaster (mug rug) for my friend Lindsay. We always address our emails to GF, for "girlfriend."

I used old quilt block patterns for these two Christmas ornaments. They were intended for my tree.....we'll see if that's where they end up. I made a mistake in laying out the design of the first one, but I doubt anyone is going to peer at it as it hangs on the tree and correct me. :-)

This pattern is called "Pale Star."

And finally, the old ornament. I'm guessing I made this one--embroidery on felt--in the early 1980s. I used a purchased Vogue pattern and made several different designs. I don't know where I found the time. I wouldn't be tempted to undertake a project like this today, and back then I had three young children. I'm surprised the ornament looks so clean after all these years. Of course, it resides in its own zip-loc sandwich bag 11 months of the year. :-)

BTW, I've noticed that felt has changed over the years. Today's craft felt isn't nearly as substantial as the stuff we used years ago.

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Comments (18)

taigen_gw
13 years ago
Alisande...they are just beautiful!! I especially like the last felt ornament...it is just wonderful! I agree the felt now is no where near the quality of years ago.
I love when decorating our tree/house we see so many ornaments that we have made and I too wonder how when I had four little ones.
Your embroidery is just wonderful...have you ever tried ribbon embroidery?
What wonderful gifts you have made :)
User
13 years ago
I'm enjoying this post too. Beautiful work. Yep, felt is not the same. Neither is velvet. I have a velvet square quilt my Mom made around 1971. She saved scraps from sewing projects. Good quality cotton velvet. After all these years I now have this quilt - if today's cotton velvet were used I doubt it would still be strong enough to look so good given the same amount of wear and tear.

Thank you for sharing your work - always a delight!

Cheers,
Peggy
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Olychick - Thanks for the link - I think I will just put the wingbacks there with the table minus the rug for now. My DH thinks every chair needs a rug! I do need at least a 10X14 for the LR. Grapefruit - thanks :) the gray really seems less IRL with the amount of white on the panels and trim. The wall to the left will be completely covered in bookcases stained oak. I know that's such a bleh color on that PB sofa. I really want a white sofa but that's not my lifestyle. This roll arm style gives me the option of a slipcover... So do I do brown leather, or gray velvet? The red is good in the room but I think not for the sofa. I haven't seen a red leather yet that doesn't look like it needs years of breaking in! We like the look of the chesterfield sofas, just not the high arms and have sat in several and have yet to find real comfort. Lyban I know... we could just move in with the old stuff but I have been looking at this room for I hate to admit how long now; I have got to make some decisions! Maybe I should get both sofas. That way I could put off the "occasional chair" quandary... for awhile.
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kacram
13 years ago
I like these! I can't believe you had time to
embroider a few of those either! lol
bee0hio
13 years ago
Lovely. Especially like the oldie!
nodakgal
13 years ago
Love them!
What a fantastic job you do!!!
minnie_tx
13 years ago
Beautiful work love them !!
tami_ohio
13 years ago
Nice work!
lydia1959
13 years ago
You are so crafty! Very nice!
donna37
13 years ago
Lovely works of art. The old ornament is gorgeous with the embroidery.
donna37
13 years ago
Lovely works of art. The old ornament is gorgeous with the embroidery.
juellie1962
13 years ago
I LOVE handmade things! Especially love the last ornament; very nice embroidery!
maire_cate
13 years ago
Isn't it amazing how much we were able to accomplish in those days? I look back at all the cross stitch and crewel work that I finished when my kids were little and wonder why I've been working on the same piece now for nearly a year.

The hooked ornaments are clever but I really like the embroidered ornament. It's help up well.

Have you designed a project for a larger hooked rug yet? With your new frame how large of a rug can you create?
alisande
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, everyone! I love sharing this stuff with you.

Have you designed a project for a larger hooked rug yet? With your new frame how large of a rug can you create?

One of my first hooked projects 20+ years ago was a small rug I designed. Then later I bought a pattern that appealed to me and hooked that. I think both still need to be bound and finished (procrastinating about this step is a problem common to many rug hookers).

Currently, the two projects I have lined up are a chair seat (I have five but need one more) and a new cover for my footstool. My new frame (which should arrive in less than two weeks) is the same size as my old one, but both can accommodate any size project, as you just lift the rug up and move it to work on different sections.

Here's a story for you: Last night I was trying to come up with a design idea for the hooked chair seat. I looked through one of my books on rug hooking, and got nowhere with that. Then I reached for a book on folk art, thinking as I did so that it had been years since I'd opened it. Inside the front cover I found cut-out patterns my daughter Jill and I had drawn for a quilted table runner I made years ago. I didn't use the horse she drew at the time, but there it was, a perfect size for the chair seat. I feel that I was guided to open that book.

Here's a picture of the pattern I drew on the linen burlap last night. I'll do some sort of design in the outer border. Now all I have to do is pick which wools I'm going to use. It's like coloring. :-)
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
13 years ago
Those are so beautiful. I especially like the last one too. Your embroidery is exquisite!! I've never had any talent in this area and really appreciate anyone that can produce such beautiful pieces. Thanks for sharing them.
sleeperblues
13 years ago
Nice work! I wish I was more crafty, but just don't seem to have the time. When I was a teenager we got some craft kits to make ornaments with beads and such at our local Frank's and we all sat around and made them during the holidays. I still hang them on the tree today. My kids think it's funny that I made them, since I am so uncrafty.
ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
Beautiful........It will mean so much to you since every time you look at it, you will think of Jill.
maire_cate
13 years ago
What a lovely discovery. Yes Jill is certainly looking over your shoulder. I know you had quite a few horses - was there one special one that Jill rode? I remember some of the Morgans and one where she was jumping.
alisande
Original Author
13 years ago
The horse Jill rode the most on the Morgan show circuit was Aurora. They were quite a team. I have to start digitizing some of the pictures I have of the two of them.

This horse is Apollo, Aurora's grandson. He is identical to her. Of course, in this picture he was very young. Apollo lives in CT now, and Aurora is in the county where I live. She is still doing well.

I think in this photo she's riding Kahlua, another of the Whippoorwill Morgans we had. He's still in PA, too.

And finally, I love this picture of little Lizzie (who will be 20 this month!) following Jill down to the riding ring.

A few things I just finished making, and one oldie (4 pics)

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A few things I just finished making, and one oldie (4 pics)

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