Today is our day! Pat asked us to join in on her Ruler Blog hop and maybe talk a little about our first quilt (or rug), a recipe, and some chat about her fab new rulers. Okey Dokey, here goes. Since I blogged about my first quilt here, Polly will tell you about her first rug!
" I made it much later in life than Laurie did her quilt, but then she was an exceptional baby
and I think made her first quilt when she was three or something like
that. I made my first rug in the late 70's when the three Minick Boys
were in high school or maybe it was almost 80's as that is when they
graduated and headed off to college. Anyway, either junior high, high
school or college - I was in need of hand work as we spent the better
part of our life at sporting events. They played baseball, football
and wrestled and in college we had two football players and one
baseball player. So you get the picture. Many months spent on
bleachers watching events. I was an avid antique collector and was
seeing hooked rugs at shows and I thought I would try that. It was a
very dismal start. As you remember I am the non-sewing half of Minick
and Simpson, but this was not sewing, and I thought I could do it.
I did teach myself to do the procedures to hook a rug. However,
now we needed design and color - that was a major problem. I was
buying my wool at the Thrift Shop in Ann Arbor and if I needed red, I
bought a red skirt. So the first rugs were not good at all as the
"as-is" color of clothing does not usually work. Now on to what
should I hook..... An antique friend from New England sent me a catalog
from Marion Hamm and I purchased a linen from her, went to a thrift shop
for wool and hooked the first rug. The rug is at one of our son's
house now (the son who is not so crazy about my rugs) . That is why he
has that rug. He seems to think it is OK but, it is not. The other boys
really like my rugs and the Marine wants them all. The first rug was
not my design, had terrible color - but it was completed, as bad
as it was. It must have somehow inspired me to try another. It took me
many years and more than 400 rugs, but I must say I am liking my rugs
now, but it sure took some time. My theory when I started was to hook
two rugs for our home and be done with it. It took me so long to make
a decent rug - that in the process I actually got "hooked" on hooking.
Thankfully as I love all aspects of the art now."
Note..... We can't find a photo of Polly's first rug, but this one was made that first year.
We Think she is being kind of hard on herself. It's pretty good. Here is one of her more recent rugs. It's even better.
I had a "first" of my own today. IS EVERYONE SITTING DOWN?.... I machine quilted for the first time today. Yes, that walking foot that has been staring at me for 2 years now, finally got the best of me. I don't really know if I did it right. Actually, I'm pretty sure I didn't do it right. I don't even know if the walking foot was attached correctly, but I persevered. Here are my little flags.....
Yeah, they're quilted in the ditch. Big deal. Here is a close-up of my machine quilting that isn't in the ditch.
I was going to rip it out, but it's my "first machine quilting experience." Also, there are about 300 stitches to the inch. It's staying.
We were going going to blog a recipe too, but this is getting kind of long, so we'll save the recipe for next time.
Finally.... Pat's Rulers! Yes, they are everything everyone has said about them. You need them. What do I like about them? Well, I like that satisfying sound they make as the diamond edge sharpens your rotary blade as it passes by. Oh, it's a lovely, solid crunching sound that you know is working for you. I felt so efficient sharpening my blade as I worked. You all know how I LOVE multi-tasking.
Make sure to stop by today's other bloggers, Carrie and Cheryl.
Don't forget to comment on all the blogs and maybe these rulers will be coming to your house!
Laurie
