Preparations

First of all, here where I ended last night. It's a design that I love so much that I think I will speed through it just to know what it will look like when I am finished. If this is your first time hearing about this rug, I will tell you that it is a very special one to me. My son, Joseph, is engaged to a very lovely young woman, Abigail. I am making this rug and when I sell it, whatever I make on it, will be theirs for things they may need for their wedding. The name of this rug is 'Joseph' as I see so much symbolism of their future life together.

If you received this in your email and you are also aware of my blog on my Squarespace website- I would think that you would be confused. I will explain. I am having to 'redo' the website. I have hired some ladies to build  a new website for me. It is all about having a permanent domain address of my own. So, this, Blogspot, will be my permanent blog 'spot' and my new web address is vintageheartprimitives.com. You could go there now and see that it is under construction. I have transferred over the blog-posts I wrote from Squarespace to here. When it is all said and done- this will be my blogging place and I will have a website address of my very own. I hope that clears up some confusion. 

I have few ideas for the coming months- ice skating, spinning wheels, lambs, oh, I have a custom rug to do with a Tuscan theme. So, lots to do and lots for you to see!

Joseph

Next week I will begin a new design. You are seeing a little piece of it- a rough piece. It has been pinned up in my living room for weeks and many nights after the house is quiet, I have worked and re-worked areas to my liking. The most recent are some blue-jays and a shawl, some leaves. I am naming this rug 'Joseph' as this will be a rug intended for my son Joseph and his fiancee, Abigail. When you see the entire picture, I hope that it tells a story of how he loves her. Dedication, loyalty,  assuredness, and goodness are what I want this rug to say of all the qualities I hope my son gives to Abigail all the days of his life- even on the cold days that will surely come their way. I want every detail of this rug to be symbolic of the days ahead for this engaged couple.

 " Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13\

I'm Letting the Cat Out of the Bag!

I went to a friend's house today. I brought her a project that has been waiting impatiently for me- every time I pass it, it pokes me and reminds me that it wants done. This little rug knows that it's season is NOW and it's been pleading to get all dressed up and admired.
This was the second design I ever came up with on my own. I have had the plans rolled up in a basket on top of a shelf, waiting.
I, for years and years, have painted. I have about three hundred paints. I have finishes and glazes and all sorts of brushes. For years, I enjoyed 'thrifting' and finding 'junk with potential.' I would haul it home and it would sit- glum and depressed looking in my living room. Day after day, I would look at it and study it. An idea would start to surface- then I would begin and I would paint. My favorite part was the look on someone's face at a show- overhearing conversation, often a women in a hushed voice bargaining with her husband. Amused, I would answer questions and feel overjoyed as I saw such happiness in her eyes as her husband carried her purchased treasure for her. That item that I poured hours into became complete and often I would hear exactly where it would be in someone's home.
This crow was my second design- the one right before I did 'Lamb and Crocks.' It was much bigger than this and the colors different. I do love it and I want to quickly add it to my Etsy store while ladies are enjoying hooking autumn rugs. Originally, it was a rug I placed on E-bay. The original is in Missouri and a second is in Maine. 

I was told yesterday that it is OK that I share that a rug of mine will be featured in a well known magazine this coming summer. I was challenged by Christy Mason to submit something. I didn't submit. I emailed samples and a rough sketch of a possible submission asking if I should even try. Expecting a form letter of denial in 6-8 weeks, I was shocked when I opened my mail four days later and the publication director said they would take it. So now my rug sits many states over along with hours of measuring and writing and editing. Am I pacing the floor?
YES!!!!!!!!!
So, I have been working, working, working trying to bring all my sketches in my books to life- on canvas and adorned with strips of all colors so that when publication day arrives, I will be ready. This has really caught me by surprise. The only reason why I am not sharing which publication it is is that I am still pinching myself in disbelief. It's too good to be true and I am afraid if I tell- it won't happen. LOL
I have asked my friend, Cindy to help me and I am most grateful for her helping hands. As I write this, she messaged me asking how I wanted this and that on little crow. God bless her!!
Anyway, the cat is out of the bag and the crow is being hooked on the crock! LOL

How to "Paint A Sky" With Wool for the Lavender Lady

Last week my hubby told me that I need to make a brief video on how I put my sky in on my lavender rug. I know nobody that has worse stage-fright as I do. The last video I did was enough to require 're-cooperation.'  I hyperventilated over it. But I am a very visual person and learn easiest if I can see something explained rather than just written out. Videos make sense to me. I am also the mother of many young adults and teenagers therefore I don't have a shred of dignity left, and so why not? 

I told my husband that if I had one single request I would do it. I woke up to a question about it this morning. Here is a link to me explaining how I put my sky in for you.  

How to Paint a Sky with Wool

Color list for 'French Lavender Lady'

 Here is the list of colors and where you can purchase them for the Lavender Lady.  All the colors listed are available through Double M Sheep and Wool except for the sky, so I will start with that.
The sky was purchased from Michele Phillip's Woolley Mammoth Woolens. I found this store on Etsy. Provided below is a link to that shop and the specific color, Italian Marble that was used for the sky.On the large version, I suggest a half yard. That is what I used. There was plenty left over but I used just about every bit of the blue in that half yard. You'll be 'painting' your sky in and so you will want a generous blend of colors. Here is the link to where you can purchase that wool for the sky.

Woolly Mammoth Woolens
That pinstripe that frames the picture- I used a cream and even a few pieces of leftover sky- the part with cream and gold. The rest of the colors are available through the Double M Sheep and Wool, which I will also provide a link to.
Border- Espresso Brown- I recommend a full yard for the large version of this rug. For the smaller version, a half yard-3/4 yard should be enough. Three quarter yard if you are finishing your rug the way I do with the one inch strips. You will have enough to hook the border and enough left over to tear 1" strips lengthwise to finish your edge as I do, if you wish. I will HUMBLY provide a link that I made showing how to do the border with the one inch strips and what it will look like.
Soil in between lavender rows- Moose Brown- For the large pattern, you may need more than just a fat quarter- I think it is safe to say that you may need a bit more than that.
Rows of lavender- Sweet Plum and Gruby Grape
Both houses I used a terra cotta color for the roofs. House on the left is done with 'Clementine' Gray . The tower was done with a plaid tweed blend of rust and brown. House on the right is done with a piece of gray plaid I had on my shelf- probably an old skirt. I love the stony effect both have. Scraps I had of browns were used for the windows.
Trees- Colonial Green
The lady:
Her skirt- Sapphire Blue
Her apron- Red Rum
Her Shirt- Natural White
Her face- Flesh
Her bonnet- Cornflower.
Basket- Textured Cinnamon Toast. I did a row of 'beading' using this color and a cream.

Stems on all lavender- Storm Clouds
Lavender in border- Dried Lavender and a bit of Gruby Grape. Notice that the lavender that the girl is harvesting- I did some 'beading' on those pieces to give dimension and interest.
Bees- black and gold scraps and light tan plaid wings. 

I suggest that when you hook in the flowers in the lavender that the woman is harvesting- that you do it, hook everything around it- pull those flowers out and then re-put them back in so that they are not all crammed and bunched up.
I will post a finished picture in the next day or two as a guide.
 Here is the link to Double M Sheep and Wool. If you do not see all the colors you need, Christy is wonderful to work with and can certainly help you select the right pieces. I, of course would be happy to answer any questions my as well. I suggest that you go to Double M and then simply use the search option and search each color. 
Colors Available Through Double M Sheep & Wool
Yvonne Explaining How to Bind 1" Srips

A Symphony of Color

I have a wooden tri-pod that my husband built me years ago. I hang my work on it so that through the day- as I come in and out, do housework, talk to the teenagers, take calls, in anything I am doing- I am constantly 'sizing up' what is hanging up. Yesterday, as I sat with my coffee and studying, I could not help but think of music. To make a great piece of music, it really takes a symphony of talent. And that is the case with this design- the beauty of it is really in all the colors done by the hands of some very gifted ladies. 

This is my design that have been thinking on for quite some time. It started as a lady and young girl walking past a field. Then I remembered the beautiful French Country scenes I had been admiring in a decorating book I have. As I reacquainted myself with the pages, my eyes fell on a field of lavender. Several days later, I found a french postcard of women harvesting lavender. Digging through my pile of drawing pads and books, I found the original idea- scratch it all! I had it! A woman harvesting lavender with french style structures in the background. Weeks passed as I was busy making rugs for ladies and working on a special project that I have had. I had the Lavender lady drawn out in full size hanging where I could see it and let my mind wonder- rehearsing the colors over and over. 

I will be creating a color list for this rug that will be a permanent part of this website and links to where you can purchase the same colors. For now, I will say that the lavender, the soil, the border, the greenery, the bees, the skirt and basket were all done by Christy Mason at the Double M Sheep and Wool in Fort Worth, Texas. That fabulous sky was done by Michele Phillips of Woolley Mammoth Woolens in Saratoga Springs, New York. 

Thank you ladies!! 

"All wise ladies grow From little girls like me."

As many know, I get a lot of the wool I use from Christy Mason of the Double M Sheep and Wool. I have pieces that are inspirational - visual story starters, you might say. I have a piece of what is called, "Well Water." When I look at it, not only do I see a blue that is crisp and clean but I can feel a spray of water and I can smell a forest of pine surround me. The color transports me to one of my favorite places -the mountains. I have another  rug idea coming- it is a pioneer rug. There is a stream with a cabin and mountains. The whole rug started with that single piece of wool- a need to bring to life the color that traveled across country to me in a mail truck.

Christy Mason is my friend. I often share with her ideas I have. When I started talking about the lavender rug, she told me about a color that she has not dyed since the passing of her grandmother, Helen Frances Gregg ten years ago- 'Dried Lavender.' It is a color that her grandmother taught her when Christy was young. Christy dyed some up and sent it to me. I knew I wanted to share the story. I asked her if I could share it as I create the rug.

One thing I love about this friend of mine is that she is so down to earth- very real. A Texan!! She is one strong woman and as I have got to know her, through our correspondence, I have learned that her strength was passed on to her from Helen.  Fourteen hundred miles between us and I can see it. When it comes to wool- she is the 'genuine article'- a sixth generation dyer, spinner, rug hooker and sheperdess. In the months that I have known her, I have picked up from her what a significant person her grandmother  was in her life. Helen had Christy dyeing when Christy was probably still learning her ABC's. Significant is that lavender was adored by Helen and 'Dried Lavender' was her favorite dye recipe. 

I am honored that I am using 'Dried Lavender' as part of this rug of mine. As I have said earlier, this is a rug about devotion and provision- simplicity and lavish gratitude. The name Helen means 'shining light.' Helen, if I could speak to you, I would thank you for being such a light in Christy's life and teaching her everything you knew so she could bless us all with these generational gifts of hers.