Gene’s Rug Hooking Blog

Here is another finished piece from a camp member -

Dear Gene - I normally hook in fine cuts but between projects, decided to hook your pattern.  I really struggled with the leaves, doing them over several times.  You don’t have to show this on the IRgC but I thought you might like to see how another hooker used your pattern.  Elaine Saxton

PS:  I will be 82 in March.

Dear Elaine – I know what you mean.  I also think the leaves are the hardest part on this project.   You are also correct in assuming that I would like to see it.  I can tell that you have a very fine technique and the piece looks very well hooked.  Thank you so much for sharing it and Happy Early Birthday. GRS

Today on the Internet Rug Camp:

Gene shows a new project he is in the process of finishing.  He also discusses the ATHA eBay fundraiser and answers some questions from readers. www.internetrugcamp.com/ will take you to the informational page.

When you see a rug of mine with lettering -

Whether it contains big long lines of lettering …

Or short lines …

There is a 99% chance that I did the lettering as described in the new video that was just posted on the IRgC:  Lettering Without Lines.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene adds new instructional video on Lettering Without Lines.  Subscribers to the IRgC can access this lesson or any of the other 50 permanently located there 24/7.  Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ to subscribe.

While I could have shown these photos yesterday, I opted to hold them back for a post all their own because it gave me the opportunity to write about my friend Jackye Hansen.  Jackye is one of those prolific Maine fiber artists we have been talking about for the past few days. I had her as my teacher in June of 1999 when I attended my first rug hooking class at Cambria Pines Rug Camp.  Actually, it was the first real class I ever attended except for a couple of hours at one workshop with Jane Olson.   It is always a pleasure to make contact with Jackye IF you can get her to stop long enough to talk!  Even though MizT sent me the photos, I could not pass up an opportunity to call Jackye on the phone and get a personal report about the projects she brought to the Eliot event.

This particular design was based on an old painting Jackye saw at an auction.  She loved everything about it and would have been happy to just buy it.  Although she did leave a bid, it was not high enough to win the auction.  Happily, the owner did give her permission to take a photo and use that as the basis of this hooked house-scape.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene shows some other pieces from Jackye Hansen and shares a letter from her about a special Waldoboro piece that will be featured in RHM.  Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ to learn more about Gene’s subscription site.

FYI:

Several more items went on the ATHA Biennial eBay fundraiser today.  Here are just a few.  If you are interested in bidding go to eBay and type in  ATHA Biennial 2013

4 Tie-Backs – Hand made by Jane Olson.

Jane Olson pin dish.

Beyer’s Choice Caroler.

Byer’s Choice Again.

Third time’s a charm – buy all three and have them shipped in one box.

Jane Olson’s match holder.

Jane Olson enamel pan – small size and suitable for a snippet’s dish and hook holder.  Go to eBay so you can bid on your favorite item.

Those Maine people just don’t give up.  Every time I think it is safe to go back into the hooking waters I get more Maine rugs – Frost Rugs, Tin Pedlar Rugs, the Rug Hooking in Maine book which is full of wonderful rugs … and now, even more wonderful Maine rugs. I am starting to feel a little inferior living in California! Even so, I am happy to share this report from MizT because, like me, you will probably also find it very inspirational.

Gene,

I wanted to tell you about another reason one might want to be in Maine. Each year on the last Saturday in January there is a hook-in in Eliot that warms up our winter. Last weekend’s gathering was a nice social event with about 100 attendees on a crisp and sunny day. Many ruggers bring a completed rug for others to enjoy. I will attach some pictures for you. If you choose to post, please credit the maker noted in the photo title. Thank you!

Lauri (MizT)

Here are just two of the great rugs that were on display.

Hooked by Betsy Burton (Adaptation from artwork by Ted Tomaselli, Angela Foote teacher)

“Fryeberg Fair”, hooked and designed by Jo Osgood.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene shows several more wonderful rugs from the Eliot Show.  Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ if you would like to learn more about the IRgC.

It has been a busy weekend.  As reported on Friday, Steve and I did get together to shoot a couple of new videos over the weekend.

I did not think to snap a photo until he started tearing down but then, I was rather busy during the taping.

Inviting you in for a video shoot does take a certain amount of prep.  Thankfully … he never uses a wide angel lens, so I only have to get one section of my space suitable for viewing.

One of the visuals I used in the Crocheting a Hooked Rug was the beginnings of this chair seat – just the first round, not this completed project.  It is made out of wool selvedges, torn at approximately 1/2 an inch.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene discusses this alternate way to hook a rug using leftover wool and a rug hook.  Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ to learn more about the IRgC.

The other day I posted a painted rug pattern with an appeal to help identify the maker.

Carrie M. wrote in with this comment about it:

I have had this, or one real similar, in class.   It looks like Aunt Lydia –   the color of the burlap, thickness of the line and simplistic design.  Carrie M.

Until we hear something more definitive, I feel comfortable going with Carrie’s answer.  If a reader has other information, please let me know.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene shares a lengthy report from MizT on how to obtain a Frost pattern.  Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ if you would like to join Gene’s on line camp.

Take me at my word:

If you are going to dye a batch of wool – even a small one

You have to make sure there is water in the pot.  It just does not work well to try and “fry” wool.

Any body interested in buying a slightly used dye pot … cheap?

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene discusses Beeline cutters and blended wool, dyeing blended wool and proper ways to store burlap patterns.  Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ to learn more about the IRgC.

Non-hookers just don’t get it.   There are few things more fun than sitting around  talking about hooked rugs … unless, of course, it would be actually hooking on hooked rugs.

These people are talking about hooked rugs.  Don’t they look happy?  Giddy would actually be a better word to describe them.  Please get used to them as you will see more of them in the next several months.  Why so happy?  They are the members of the 2013 ATHA Biennial Committee who get to make all the preparations for the ATHA Long Beach Biennial, September 25-28, 2013.  While no actual pulling of loops was done at this meeting, we were concentrating on rugs the whole time – making rugs, learning about rugs, buying materials to make rugs, showing rugs, resting up from hooking rugs, eating food to have enough energy to hook rugs – you get the picture.  We did have one Biennial rug to look at and I thought I would give you a scoop on seeing it as well.

Carla, one of our members and a very fine rug hooker, brought this rug as a donation to our fund raising efforts.  I do not know yet how we are going to make this rug available … just know that the butterscotch color of this piece sure looks good in my studio.  I am going to have to think about this rug some more as we want to get the full value out of it for the Biennial.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene shows some other vintage painted patterns – one Frost, one not – and puts up a vintage pattern for a screensaver for IRgC users.   Go to www.internetrugcamp.com/ if you would like to subscribe.

Much to my surprise, I got an email over the weekend from Jessica Skwire Routhier, Museum Director at the Dyer Library and Saco Museum in Saco, Maine.  She has gone above and beyond to provide us with visuals of the current show that is taking place there.

While I have been able to show you great examples of antique hooked rugs and patterns, all from the Frost designs (not to forget great modern rugs by the “Tin Pedlar ATHA Chapter”), I had not been able to show you any of those wonderful Frost metal stencils that he used to “mass” produce his patterns.  Coming from one who draws patterns the old fashioned way, I can see how wonderful it would be to be able to do double duty with a set of stencils that not only “drew” the pattern, but colored everything in so that the purchaser would have an idea how to hook it.  Even if the artist did not want to follow the color suggestion of Mr. Frost, they would get a real sense of light/dark and complimentary colors, etc.  It truly was a “high tech” idea for its time.  Finally, due to Jessica’s hard work to sort out the permission I needed from two institutions, I get to share these wonderful, historic artifacts.  They are, of course, works of art themselves.  I just wish “they could talk.”  What stories they could tell!  I will print the information provided, in italics, with a few comments of my own [in brackets.]

Hi Gene,

Here are some snaps of the Frost stencils.  These images are a combination of Saco Museum and Maine State Museum objects and you have permission to use them all on your blog.  Here are the captions.

Stencils (seven total) for E. S. Frost & Co. Pattern 59

[It took all 7 stencils to make patten 59.]

Printed Pattern for E. S. Frost Pattern 7, Saco Museum; and Stencil for E. S. Frost Pattern 7, Maine State Museum.  *Note, it is “E. S. Frost” rather than “E. S. Frost & Co.”: that means they date to before 1876 when he sold his business.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET RUG CAMP

Gene shows several more of the metal Frost stencils.  Go to www.internetrugcamap.com/ if you would like to join.

Who doesn’t like a wonderful concert that is followed up by an equally wonderful encore?  Fortunately, for us, that is just what the Saco Museum has provided – a great encore to their current rug exhibit featuring the designs, stencils and hooked examples of Edward Sands Frost rugs, as well as a grouping of current rugs from the Tin Pedlar ATHA Chapter.

(Hooked Rug, wool, Edward S. Frost pattern #6, hooked by Ambella Stiles before 1878, Saco Museum purchase, 2011)

My response today is the same as yesterday – does this fit your coloration idea of an antique rug?  IRgC member and Frost Fairy, Linda, who asked about hooking a Frost chain ought to take note of this example.  It is not her exact pattern  but do think it is the same chain design.  (Frost often uses one motif in more than one rug pattern.)  Although my shot is not really good enough to tell all the particulars, it appears this artist alternated her links with dark (black?) and medium red.  Even so, some of the red links look to have some different values in them.  This may have been intentional or sections could have faded a bit.  Either way, it ought to be a good illustration for her.

(Frost pattern, burlap #93 from the Maine State Museum.)

Remember, when seeing all these painted patterns, that the museum also has several of the metal stencils that were used by Frost to reproduce his designs.  They have those on loan and can not share the photos … all the more reason to make that trip to Saco, Maine.  (I wonder how many frequent flier miles it takes to get there and what airport is closest?)

(Pattern for Hooked Rug, ink on burlap, Edward S. Frost pattern #57, 1870s, Saco Museum purchase, 2011.)

There are a lot more Frost stencils than there are Frost patterns because each pattern took several stencils to make.  Different colors were stenciled on with each different application, putting in different layers of color until all the details were in place.  These patterns are, of course, works of art in their own right.

SO, YOU DON’T THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT TO MAINE?

You do have some options -

In response to a question I asked Museum Director Jessica Skwire Routhier, she wrote:

I’m sorry that we don’t have a catalogue for the show.  The best source about Frost is the book produced by Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum in 1970: “Edward Sands Frost’s Hooke Rug Patterns.”  It is out of print, but copies can be tracked down via amazon.com or other online booksellers. We do not have that in our shop.

However, we DO have some great things in our shop related to the exhibition:

*  A facsimile of one of Frost’s circulars from the Maine State Museum collection

* Notecard sets featuring the four advertising card images I sent you

*Posters also featuring those advertising cards.

*We also have the Schiffer publication “Hooked Rugs in Maine,” the book on Waldoboro rugs by Jackye Hansen, intermediate and advanced rug hooking kits also by Jackye Hansen and starter kits by J. Conner.  We can’t do online sales but we can take credit card info over the phone.  We must charge for sales tax (5%) and shipping, for which we charge a flat rate of $5.95 (Priority Mail postage).

FYI: For those of you who decide that you’ll just pick up a copy of that Greefield Village Frost Book cheap, I think you will find it very expensive IF you do find it.  While doing an internet search, I also found another pattern book on Frost Rugs by Charlotte Stratton, the lady who saved the Frost stencils.  There were a few of them available via Amazon last night, but they were going fast.  I can’t comment on the breadth of that book but did note (because of the write up) that some the plates in the book are in color.  Of course, I bought a copy to have as a resource.  Additionally, the  ”Hooked Rugs in Maine” book, as I hear from a source in Lubbock, has a pretty good section on Frost rugs.

ONE MORE GOOD OPTION

Here’s the link to the Maine State Museum: http://mainestatemuseum.org/

They have the rug shows featured on their landing page, which is nice!

Once again,  Thank You to the Saco Museum, Jessica Skwire Routhier, The Tin Pedlar ATHA Chapter and MizT for getting the ball rolling on this great exhibit.  The only thing we missed out on was the lobster rolls … or some of that great lobster bisque that Jackie Hansen is so famous for … I could have also done with some of those wild blueberries … it takes effort to keep up one’s strength for a great exhibition like this.