Ticklepie

Magdalena Briner Workshop in Mesa, AZ. OCT. 5,6,7

Mesa Rug Hookers are proud to announce our Fall 2012 Workshop with rug hooking artist Kathy Clark of Briarwood Folkart.

"MAGDALENA BRINER - Creating your own version of her antique classic style"

Kathy will be guiding us through the history of antique rugs with a special emphasis on Magdalena and how you can achieve the look of her exquisite rugs. In this 3 day workshop, we will design individual patterns and choose fabrics to create a rug with the charm of yesteryear. This will be a great workshop to use up those stashes of worms that we all seem to accumulate and students are encouraged to bring any that they may have.

Our class will be held in the conference rooms of the Alta Mesa Golf Club where we have our regular monthly meetings. Class will be limited to 12 students due to the intensive hands on nature of this class.

I will be happy to send an email flyer if you are interested. You may contact me at:

ticklepie@cox.net

 

 

Az Rug Hookers Mourn Anne Jenkins

On Saturday I received a very unexpected phone call informing me of the death of Anne Jenkins. I had been with Anne most recently at the Old Pueblo Rug Hookers annual Hook-In at Tucson on Jan 28th and in March, she had been kind enough to dye a ton of wool for our March Woolfest at  our Mesa Rug Hookers monthly meeting. Here is my previously published photo from that event where Anne is just beginning to  fill our conference room tables with her glorious colors of wool.

Upon hearing the news, I immediately sat down at my computer and typed the following message to our members:

Everyone,

   I am saddened to notify you all of the passing of Anne Jenkins this morning. Anne had been hospitalized recently for treatment of a recurring condition and passed away at 6 am today.

   Anne had been a long standing member in our Arizona rug hooking community and known for her superb dyeing skills for many many years. For myself, I can attest to owning and coveting some of the most beautiful wools she had ever created.

   I am sure that many others will feel the same.

   Anne will live on in our hearts (and in our rugs) forever and she will  be deeply missed.

   Details on services are pending.

 

With deepest sorrow,

Carol Miller

Mesa Rug Hookers

(the photo below is of the glorious wools I had purchased from her at our Woolfest. I had made a special request for a few colors, and as always, Anne brought me the most fabulous wools)

Rowenta First Class Iron is a boon to rug hookers

In my last post I described how to add a show binding to your hooked rug. Below is a photo of the finished edge.

My secret weapon for helping to achieve such a nice finished edge is a tiny travel iron called the "Rowenta First Class". Originally created for applique quilters who were attending seminars, its long pointy nose allows me to get very close to the last row of hooking when I am double folding that small edge of linen backing.

See how straight it can press the edge?

This baby Rowenta is available from many sources on line and lots of  them offer free shipping. It is under $39 most places.

After allowing my Primitive Pears rug to rest on the tile floor several days after I had given it a good steaming, I placed her in her new location so that she could begin serving Beauty Duty. I gave her a spot that had been previously occupied by my Susan Quiksall rug on top of an ottoman in the living room.

My pink and jadeite SQ rug has moved to the top of my Rosewood desk to be a new desk blotter.

Near the end of my desk is a grouping of baskets. My hooked squirrel from California artist Mary Stanley(Art Spirit), has taken up residency there. Everyone seems to feel quite at home now.

 

Adding a Show Binding to your Hooked rug and serving "Beauty Duty"

I have completed my rug "Primitive Pears" from Woolenmemories.net. While there are many ways to finish the edge of your hooked rug, all mine have what is known as a show binding.

A show binding is a 3 inch wide strip of wool that is sewn  up against the last row of hooking, then flipped to the back side and whip stitched to the backing. Here is my method:

I measure 1-1/4 inch from the last row of hooking and draw
 a line around the rug. Then I serge along this edge. (you can zig zag it also if you have no serger.)

Then, I take the serged edge and fold it only halfway and finger press along one side. Then I fold it one more time up along the last row of hooking. I use the point of my iron to press it flat. I do only one side of the rug at a time before moving to the next side, and I usually start in the MIDDLE of each side and fold  to each corner to help it stay nice and flat. Remember  to start in the MIDDLE when you are folding up.When you are done folding out to one corner, then return to the MIDDLE and fold up towards the other corner.

 Once this edge is nice and flat, I then pin it in place. I do this around each side of the rug,

leaving only the corners open. This folded edge will give you the appearance of piping or a corded edge, without having to insert,or sew, any cording.

In the next photo, you can see the points of the corners left unpinned. I stop about 1 inch before the corner.

I have selected and cut  3 inch wide strips for my binding and have joined them by sewing diagonally just as you do for bias trim. I measured the distance around my rug and added about 8-10 inches.

 I press the seam open and then trim to leave about 1/4" inch seam.

I then lay my wool binding right side DOWN on top of the right side of my rug and match up the edge of the wool with the outside edge of my folded backing. Then I take my needle that has been threaded with  TWO lengths of thread that I have knotted at the end and begin to ladder stitch right up against the last row of hooking. Be sure to leave at least a 5 inch tail dangling free so that you can join it to the very end of the binding once you have sewn all the way around.

Sometimes people panic when they get to the corners, but they are not hard. Remember when we left  the points in the corners in this photo?

If you measure about 1/2 inch back from the point of the corner on each side, and then clip straight across , this will give you a blunt edge. You can then fold this straight up (halfway) and then make a tiny fold once again to touch the last row of  hooking, and then continue sewing and binding right around that  corner.

When you have sewn about 85% of the wool binding around the edge, you will need to take a few moments and calculate the joining of the ends. I usually pin the tail around to where it will be joining the beginning, so that I can take it to my machine to make the final seam. You could also make the final seam by hand if you wish. Some prefer that to trying to sew it on their machine. You can now finish the final portion of attaching the binding.

After the sewing is completed, you are ready to flip the binding to the back side and pin in place. I usually am adjusting as I go to be sure the correct amount of binding is showing at the edge all around the rug. Once pinned correctly, I then give it a light pressing to make it lay down a bit before whipstitching the binding to the backing of the rug.I do not turn under the edge of the wool as it does not ravel and will lay flatter.

Once whipstitched, I give the entire rug a good steaming and leave it to rest laying flat for a day or two.

It is now ready to begin serving mandatory "Beauty Duty" in my home. No rolled up rugs allowed in the closets here. Everyone has a job in my house and these gals get to bring me joy every day by being out where I can see them or walk on them.

Yep, "Beauty Duty" is mandatory around this military household !

 

Mesa Rug Hookers have a blast at March Woolfest

At our regular monthly hook-in meeting on St. Patrick's Day, I had invited a special guest. Anne Jenkins, who is a local wool dyer extraordinaire, had agreed to to dye a large batch of wool  so that we could all purchase whatever we might need to add to our stashes. I was able to snap only one picture while Anne was just beginning to remove it  all from their bins before I succumbed. I began gathering those that I needed to fill empty places in my wool closet and held them tightly.

And then a huge hoard of spring wool locusts began arriving and devouring the goods.

Pesky buggars those spring wool locusts. They buzzed around and around the wools trying to decide which to choose and make their prey.

After a while, things calmed down and the locusts took their seats and began work on their  projects they had brought, and would only occasionally get up from their seat to walk to the back room "just to see if there was any wool left".....or to see if " there is just one more of this particular color because they might need it". ( you may have heard some of these rationalization phrases at your hook-ins or rug camps as well).

Lovely projects from our lovely gals:

It was also great to see so many new faces ...several ladies who had contacted me via email earlier in the month were welcomed as newcomers to our group. Our next scheduled meeting is the 3rd Saturday , April  21st. Please join us if you are in the area !

Be Enlightened and reduced to be a terrific rug hooker

For the last 2 weeks a pattern by www.woolenmemories.net titled "Primitive Pears" has been on my frame. I had collected some terrific golden browns, chocolate browns, sunflower yellows and celery/sage greens and was ready to go to work.

I hook almost everyday at my kitchen table window in a comfy chair. The morning sun slowly streams in and illuminates my wool perfectly.

 

I can't begin to tell you how important  natural light is.....the great artists knew this and sought out the best locations where light streamed through the windows (or the outdoors) to create their works. When I used to live in Hawaii, it seemed that light was never a problem....everywhere was a good location. Since re-locating to Arizona, where people are forced to live behind closed drapes and shutters to keep out the scorching sun so much of the year, I am forever talking to people about lighting it seems.

In my last last two classes with Cynthia Norwood and Karen Kahle both talked of another tool of great importance. Cynthia used a front door peephole glass and Karen had a reducing glass, shown in this photo.

A reducing glass (or a peephole) allows you to view your work from a farther perspective without having to walk across the room. It also allows you to "read" the way your colors are blending together, since things can look quite differently from a distance.

Great Light and great perspective are both invaluable tools for every hooker...and I could not live without either.

Tomorrow is our "March Woolfest" at the monthly meeting of my Mesa Rug Hookers group. One of our local wool dyeing celebrities, Anne Jenkins, will be bringing a great supply of her  over-dyed wools and I can't wait  ! Time to re-stock !

Quicksall Crazy Horse Quilt Rug in RED ~ FINISHED along with Kahle Cat and Mouse Rug ~ FINISHED !

At our monthly meeting of the Mesa Rug Hookers I finished binding my current 2 rugs that were in progress.....Susan Quicksall's pattern "Crazy Horse Quilt Rug" along with Karen Kahle's pattern "Cat and Mouse".

Another topic we discussed this month was durability of hooked rugs. Monika Jones, one of our local rug hooking celebrities and teachers, shared that she has put hers in BOTH a regular washing machine, as well as front loaders to wash and they have come out fine. She uses a mild detergent. She did mention that her front loader did leave them bigger and fluffier verses her regular machine where she did need do do some steaming afterwards. The front loader seems to allow them a "roomier" washing experience. (Monika lives in Oregon and winters with us in AZ). Her fabulous website is : www.folkartlanding.com.

My rugs, as are hers, are ALL working rugs and are either on the floor or wall. 95% of mine are on the floor.....none of that rolled up in a closet stuff for me...they have to earn their keep by providing me joy (as I view them) or comfort as I walk on them. And speaking of comfort.....I use a # 9 or 9.5 for my rugs.....and they are like walking on a cushy cloud....talk about comfort !

First up  is my RED Crazy Horse Quilt rug.

My next finish was my rug from the January Karen Kahle  class held in Phoenix and mentioned here in earlier posts.

Like I said, all my rugs are working rugs and I found a great spot for my Cat and Mouse on the back of a big butter yellow chair in my living room.

 The red crazy horse rug now resides in my kitchen along with her other red sisters there.

Old Pueblo Rug Hookers Annual Hook-in ~ Ticklepie travels to Tucson

January 28th I arose bright and early to head out for Tucson.

I had signed up to be a vendor at the annual Hook-in sponsored

by the Old Pueblo Rug Hookers. My friends Joelee and Rita had

encouraged me to come when we had been in an earlier class

together. They are Tucson girls and OPRH members.

All I can say is WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW !

This chapter really knows how to have a hOOk-in !

My 2 hour drive landed me at the church steps right on

time for set-up and everyone was so cordial and friendly.

There were over 75+ attendees and we completely

filled the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church.

Lunch was out of this world with FIVE pots of home made soups

and 3 types of mouth watering sandwiches along with  a  bountiful

garden fresh salad assortment.

Every attendee received a fabulous woolie swag bag and a door prize

ticket. After lunch, instead of callling out door prize numbers, everyone

was instructed to match their number to their prize in the Atrium FILLED

with prizes for everyone ! Oh My Gosh, the OPRH gals are so generous !

I had a wonderful time and was blown away by the diversity of talent in

their group and hope you will enjoy all their rugs in the photos below.

Thank you ladies of OPRH for a fabulous event that I will remember for a

very long time ! And for those of you who visit Arizona in the winter, you

will need to mark your calendars for the last Saturday in January for this

annual Hook-in that you will be sure to want to attend !

Chapter 3 - Karen Kahle class in Phoenix

We had many talented hookers from across the USA and Canada.

We looked, we studied, we listened.....and then Karen allowed us to hook.

Actually, some months ago, I had purchased Karen's instructional DVD

and I  have watched it over and over. If you are unable to attend a class,

you might want to purchase it online.

It is well worth the $$$ and is beautifully done and no, Karen, did not

ask me to mention it. I never recommend items on my blog that I

do not feel are well worth the investment.

Her DVD is titled " Color Inspiration for Primitive Hooked Rugs"

and was shot on location in her studio and town of Eugene, OR.

On our last day of class, we all shared the rugs we had brought

from home in our rug show. So much talent represented here.

I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you and learning with you

from the wonderful Karen Kahle. What a great class !

Chapter 2 - Karen Kahle class in Phoenix - student progress

Of course, a necessary part of any good rug hooking class

are the individual teacher critique sessions.

Can you guess what Karen had just said before

this photo was taken:

A. Oh My dear, you silly goose, please don't quit your day job.

B. I think you might want to consider doing some reverse

     hooking on this one.......IMMMEDIATELY !

C. Wow, really ? these are persimmon cookies?

THe correct answer is "C". Diane and Karen were discussing the

persimmon cookies Diane had provided for our breakfast treat

that morning. Diane is  our hostess and rug camp coordinator

and an excellent rug hooker in her own right...and no, her rug did

not need any reverse hooking that day !

Below  are some more photos of student rug progress :

And below is my progress on my Cat and Mouse rug

 

Tomorrow , I  will post photos of rugs that students brought to share as part of

our rug show.

Here is one more photo of a teacher critique of some Mystery hooking

that appeared in Diane's rug during the night of Kathy's evening

instruction of color and value !