Primitive Hooked Rugs

Blue Birds Primitive Hooked Rug

2009-02-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

I've been working away on my Blue Birds rug and its finally finished. I had a lot of fun with this one--especially the background which was dyed with onion skins. I just took a class with Peg Kauffmann--she introduced us to proddy and I had a lot of fun adding proddy flowers and leaves to the rug. It meaures about 30" by 19" The design is taken from my collection of Blue Bird China.

I finished just in time! The back yard blue birds came and ate today. Its the same pair that we've had for several years. I was on the deck filling the feeders when I saw them on the blue bird house. I called them and they flew right over so I ran in and got them their first mealworms of the season. This morning they were sharing with the titmice-and it didn't seem to bother them. In the summer they have to share with the catbirds and they don't get along too well. They are callling for a winter mix tonight--nice way to start off the month of March. I guess it will be another in like a lion and hopefully out like a lamb year! Anyway-at least its on its way.

It feels like Spring!!

2009-02-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

Check out the website for Primitive hooked rugs.
If you are looking for a great new venue to sell your things, check out This great new Foxberry Folk Art Online Mall

The temp soared to 61 today and what a welcome reprieve it was. I know its not Spring and I know it won't last but it sure beats the single digit and teens stuff we've been having over the last few weeks. It definitely has me thinking spring. Feb. is usually when I start getting in supplies for the backyard Bluebirds. By supplies I mean Meal Worms! Most people don't know (or care)that there has been a nationwide shortage of these since last Summer. Some of the online sources say they have them and I checked with the feed store and they finally have them again. I placed my order for the first 1000 today. I'm sure the Blue Birds will be thrilled. All I have to do is walk out onto the deck with my tin pie pan and a strainer of about 50 mealworms....put the pie pan on the railing and empty the strainer of mealworms into it---call the Bluebirds (yes, thats right--call them!) and tap the strainer on the pan a few times for good measure. They fly down from where I can't even see them and while I stand inches away, stuff themselves with mealworms. Its loads of fun for me to watch---Bandit, my conure watches too--but I think he's a little jealous. I've done this for several years. Its the most fun in the summer when they have nestlings and it is the biggest thrill when they finally bring the babies to the pie pan for the first time.
Anyway--this all got me thinking of blue birds today. I have a small collection of Blue Bird china--sometimes called Grandmothers China and I love the design that is on the china. I've decided to do a hooked rug for my back hallway where I have the Bluebird China displayed along with other things Blue Bird.
Shown above are some of the portions of the design I'm working on. The background for the rug will be light and I'm planning on finally using the yellow onion skins I've been collecting for my dye pot (they must think I'm crazy at Shady Maple).
I'll show you my progress as soon as I can. Happy Hooking! Spring is on the Way!
Dianne

Free Design for you!

2008-12-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hi All and Happy Holidays!
Hopefully everyone is done their last minute preparations and ready to enjoy the season?
The weather here has been like winter for several weeks already --though the official arrival is today. We just got rid of the snow from last week with Friday's rain and this morning we awoke to a layer of snow and 1/2 inch of ice. We finally managed to get it chipped off the driveway.
Its not my favorite season-that's for sure but it can certainly contribute some beautiful imagery.
This image greeted me out of the back kitchen window this morning. The snow on the ground with ice on the trees surrounding the now frozen pond. The tracks of the doe who regularly visits the bird feeder let me know all was well with her as deer season is drawing to a close--hopefully she'll make it through another year.
My gift to you is this free design. You can click on the picture to see the larger image which you can then print and enlarge to whatever size you like. This is called Window on Winter

Feel free to use it in any way-rug hooking, needlepunch--whatever suits your fancy. Please do not sell the design, or mass produce it. Please give credit where credit is due.
Have a wonderful holiday--We'll talk again before the New Year I hope!!
Dianne

Red SaltBox and Willows...Primitive Hooked Rug

2008-12-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

Here is Anita's second rug that she commissioned---finally done and in plenty of time for Christmas. The picture is a little yellower than this really is--I took the pic at night under incandescent light. I enjoyed hooking this one but I especially liked the background color that I dyed for the center background. At first I did a golden color somewhere between golden yellow and autumn gold in two values, but I felt it was still too yellow and bright. I had already cut it when I made the decision--in fact had hooked about 1/6 of the background using the two shades. So I took it all out and overdyed my worms with my own recipe to achieve a wonderful "yellowware bowl" which really set off the details and borders of the rug. I really loved the color and I hope that Anita does too.

This evening I have been learning to card wool. I bought the card on ebay--not bad but not as good condition as they said-but okay to learn with. I've had the fleeces of emmy and Lucy since June when Emanual sheared the girls. I spent quite a while washing the fleeces but have had them stored since then-- till I found cards. I watched the demonstration of wool carding at the Haycreek Festival in September and then I've watched alot of online videos since then so tonight I dug in and have been teaching myself how to card. I also have learned that the locks should be picked before carding. There are special long toothed combs for this but I don't have any and some of the videos show the picking simply done by hand so that's what I've been doing---gently separating each lock and then using the picked wool to load the card. Despite all the washing and drying and fluffing I did in June, I'm amazed at how much debris I still found within the locks. I don't know how long it will take to finish carding the fleece but I certainly enjoyed this evening and made a nice dent in the first fleece. This is Lucy's fleece and she spends alot of her time sleeping under the trees and bushes --which is apparently the debris I am picking out of the wool.

Hooking Away!! Barn Stars and Red Salt Boxes...

2008-12-11T05:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone! The time is just racing by and I have so much to do--but what am I doing? Hooking, of course! I just finished a commission for Anita--it turned out nice! It's the Barn Star shown above. I am finishing up another for Anita of a red salt box and willows for the same room as the star--hopefully by next week.

I missed the monthly hookin yesterday--just too much going on. I think I will make it next month though. Things should calm down by then. I will be adding tons more patterns to the website soon-I've been designing up a storm! An Added plus will be a FREE PATTERN offered on this blog so keep an eye out!

Talk to you soon and Happy Holidays.

Tag-you're it!

2008-11-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

Well -what do you know--I'm tagged! Thank you Ginger . Not sure I'm doing this right-I've never been tagged before but here goes.

~ For the game

the rules are as follows:

Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.

Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.

Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.

Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.

Six random things about myself.....hmmm

1. 5 more months 'til Social Security!! Hooorray!!

2. I can't leave the house without mascara

3. I never wear socks.

4. My favorite travel mode is cruising.

5. Among other things I'm a sea glass fanatic.

6. If I'm anywhere near water, I'll be walking on the beach--even in the rain.

Tag --you're it!!

1. Kim - Thistledew Mercantile

2. Robin- Robin's Rest

3. Jan-The Halloween Herald

4. Tammy- Skip To My Ewe

5. Lisl-Out of the Blue

6. Julie-Plum Run Creek

Primitive Stool with a Star Santa Penny Rug......

2008-11-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

Here we are--just in time for gift giving or decorating! My latest wooly goodie! This began with a cute little green vintage stool with three legs that I found at the Cambridge Auction. The Star Santa Penny Rug is designed to lay on top--it is not attached but of course, you could attach it if you wanted. The stool and the penny rug are 10 inches across. The stool is 8 1/2 inches high. The top of the stool is 1 1/2 inches thick and I have added a band of pennies to the rim--a penny garland which is sewn in a ring but not attached to the stool. I have used all recycled wools in this-so the project is just a "green" as the stool-the penny mat is done on a black background and the mat is lined with dark green. The penny garland alternates black pennies with green backing and green pennies with black backing. All is hand sewn with tiny blanket stitching. His eyes are painted blue. The mat is signed and dated. This stool with penny rug and penny garland is available for 35.00 plus 8.95 shipping ----Check out PrimitivePairs on my website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hooked Rugs R US!!

2008-11-17T05:08:00.000-08:00

Wow--I've been really busy. Trying to get two commissions done in a timely fashion as well as keep up with the rest of our lives.
My commissions are coming along--I'm almost done the smaller one--a barn star on a black background with a red border.
The second is larger and a little more detailed but it should move along quickly.
I've been working on the sea glass jewelry as well and the web site is now up. Stop by and visit me at Sea Glass Jewelry by Spirit of the Sea
On a personal note, I've actually done a little Christmas shopping--thats unusual for me to have started so soon. Sure it won't last and I'll be back to my last minute self in no time.

Primitive Antique Washboard with Hand Rug Hooked Mat

2008-10-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest "Primitive Pair"! This is a wonderful antique washboard. It is marked Empire Glass, Manufactored by Canadian Woodenware, Winipeg, St. Thomas, Montreal. This has a glass face and is in nice original condition. The lettering is worn. It has a hand rubbed wax finish and has been fitted with a custom rug hooking depicting a young girl using a similar washboard in an old wooden wash tub. The mat is hooked on a linen base and is of recycled, hand dyed wool. The girl has her hair up in a wrap and the end loops are dimensional. The soap suds are hooked of my own natural roving from locally raised sheep. The overall dimensions are approximately 22 by 13. The mat is 10 1/2 inches wide and 12 inches high and is tacked to the washboard--and easily removed. It is signed and dated and is a Plum Purdy Primitives original design. This would make a great addition to your primive laundry room decor but could be displayed most anyway--even hung on a wall.

We're back!

2008-10-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

We're back from our visit to beautiful Victorian Cape May. We had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect. We took the Cape May- Lewis Ferry over Delaware Bay to Cape May. We saw tons of Dolphins on the way. As many of you know, we were celebrating our 40th anniversary. We stayed at the Atlas--we usually stay there whenever we are in Cape May. We used to be involved in several of the Antique Co-ops there that were run by Bill Sapanaro--and made frequent trips with frequent stays at the Atlas. Bill has moved on to other interests and the co-ops just aren't the same. We visit and shop--but no longer sell there.
We walked our legs off--Doc would be proud of us! We spent alot of time searching for sea glass. I was on the beach early Monday morning and of course had my head down searching. I realized someone was coming my way and looked up to find Peg Kauffman--my first Rug Hooking instructor. What a small world. She was in Cape May for a Rug Hooking Gathering, which she highly recommended. Maybe next year?
Some of you may already know that I use my sea glass in my jewelry designs.--that's another part of my life. I've recently started an new blog for my sea glass designs--stop by if you get a chance.
http://spiritoftheseaglassjewelry.blogspot.com/

I have alot of hooking to catch up on and hopefully will be hard at "work" this coming weekend.
Right now I have to catch up on the reality of life--the laundry and the cleaning so I will talk again soon.
Dianne

Primitive Hooked Rugs and other goodies...

2008-09-11T04:19:00.000-07:00

Hi all! We're back from the Haycreek Festival. We had a great time with a great crowd--though Saturday was rained out-a total wash! Thanks Hanna..LOL. It didn't seem to slow anyone down on Sunday though. Daughter Jan had a great show and has already been contacted by some who simply picked up her card. One of my favorite parts of the Festival is the Early American Crafts demonstrations up on the hill, where the vendors dress in colonial garb and demonstrate as well as sell. Kim Frey, of Thistle Dew Mercantile was there again this year with her wonderful Scherenschnitte. There were fewer hooked rugs this year but an increase in penny rugs. I learned to card wool and am now actively looking for some hand cards. The food was great as usual and of course I ate too much. Now its time to get back to work. All of the things I put off until after the show are piling up around me. The weather is beautiful and there are no excuses.....but nothing is getting done.
Let me know if you have any tricks to motivate me!
Dianne

Halloween "Scaredy Cat" Rug Hooked Wool Vignette

2008-08-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not real good about seasonal offerings! Probably because I procrastinate and even if I plan ahead I have trouble working ahead. I firmly believe I do my best work under pressure but amazingly I actually have completed this Halloween piece in ample time for the holiday though I didn't manage to get it done in time for PRHG's August launch.

I had an especially good time with the cat--I'm planning a group of them as bowl fillers so if you like them too, you might want to watch for them. I've listed the Halloween Vignette on Ebay.

Indian Summer-my latest rug, from memories of the shop.

2008-08-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

When the summer starts to have that golden glow that leads to fall, it brings us fond memories of the shop, which we closed 5 years ago. Our mail order and internet sales had grown so over the last years of the shop that we decided to close the brick and mortar store and concentrate on the internet. We've always known it was the right decision for us but each year at this time, we remember our favorite time at the shop--decorating the porch with the cornstalks and pumpkins and serving the spiced cider and cookies on the porch each weekend.... Yes--we had alot of fun and our customers seemed to enjoy it as much as we did. Those memories inspired my latest rug- Indian Summer. I am pleased to share it with you here--its currently on ebay here .

Summer is flyin' by!

2008-08-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast the time is going! Two of the Grand Kids go back to school on the 25th! My garden is thriving--we've actually had some great tomatoes this year and the vines are still loaded. My biggest thrill has been my Coneflowers. I've been trying for 7 years but for one reason or another they just wouldn't happen. This year its all changed and there are blooms galore. They have inspired my latest piece which is a hooked rug with a needle punch center. The hooked part is done in my interpretation of the quilt pattern Sunshine and Shadows-a Log Cabin variation. As many of you know, I don't like straight lines in my rugs--they just feel so unnatural!! Geometric designs, of course, require straight lines and I usually avoid the geometrics--with the exception of Log Cabin--just love it and love hooking it. So here it is with a needle punched center of a Coneflower--one of my own posed for the design. Just wanted to share this with you--it's currently listed on ebay .

Have a great day and enjoy the weather while we have it!
Dianne

Primitive Hooked Rugs and Patterns

Sneak Peak at my Primitive Corner Shelf with Penny Rug Inserts.

2008-08-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

This sweet little antique corner shelf will be added to the website soon but I decided to give any one here a sneak peak before I add it. I have taken a really sweet primitive corner shelf that I found at an auction in Parsonsburg, MD. It may have been a school shop project--it is certainly imperfect with the slightly crooked shelves but that's what gives it its charm. It hangs from a single nail through a hole in the top of the shelf back.I have custom made two mini penny rugs to fit perfectly in each shelf back. The penny rugs are attached with doubleface stick on dots and could be easily removed if desired. The shelf is 21 nches long and 6 1/2 inches wide.Each mini penny rug is approx. 4 1/2 inches by 8 inches

Each mini penny rug is hand made using hand dyed by me wool.
The background is a prim lavender with top and bottom lamb's tongue borders in brown with prim yellow pennies. The center designs are penny stacks in doubles and triples in textures and coordinating colors. Each little mat is backed with the same hand dyed prim yellow wool as forms the border pennies.No glue is used--only lots of tiny blanket stitches.

Corner Shelf with Penny Rugs
$35.00
(Insured shipping via UPS to US-lower 48 -$8.95)

Buy Now

2008-07-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

That's Emma and Lucy grazin' in the grass. They belong to Emanuel Beiler , one of tha Amish blacksmiths who make our iron products for our other life as Eagle Emporium, who was kind enough to give me their fleece when he sheared them this Spring-June actually. It was really fun to learn how to wash the fleece and it is now ready for carding. Not sure whether I am going to do that or not myself. It was amazing how different the fleeces were, though the girls are sisters. One-Emma's-was longer and really full of lanolin and a little tanner in color. Lucy's was a shorter length, less lanolin and lots of twigs! She spends alot of time sleeping under the trees and it sure shows in her fleece.

I've finished my braided rug!!!

2008-07-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased--I have finally finished my braided rug for the kitchen. Braiding a rug is something I have wanted to do since I was a child--in fact I used my Braid-Aids that I bought

way back then--I was surprised to be able to still find them, they've been stored away for so long. I collected wool for months--heavier weight wool than for hooking. The rug is 6 ft in diameter and it used 4 blankets (3 Army and one navy which I dyed) plus 3 long coats. I had a little left over and when I find another army blanket I plan to do a small oval for in front of the sink.

Early American Life 2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts Holiday

2008-07-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Wow-I am so excited--just received notice that I have been named to the Early American Life 2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts Holiday!! This is quite an honor! The pieces that were submitted for jurying are shown below:
My Pumpkins and Grapevines Rug--available here:

Pumpkins and Grapevines

Also, My "Remus"

Remus is available here:
Remus
Stop by and have a look and check out the Early American Life website for more information on me as well as lots of really talented folks--including my daughter Jan Pierce of Moonhallow Vintage

2008-07-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally finished my crab rug--its definitely one of my favorites. The actual boat is docked at Riggi's Marina, near Public Landing, Snow Hill, MD. I snapped a picture with my cell phone and made the pattern from that. The antique black background is much more dynamic in person--the water area is hooked in ripples and the sky area is hooked in clouds. I have just posted this one to my website --available here:

Chincoteague Bay Crab Boat Rug

Introducing Plum Purdy Primitives--Primitive Hooked Rugs and other Woolies!

2008-07-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well, after alot of hard work , we finally have the new website
up and running.
Plum Purdy Primitives

is a division of Eagle Emporium.
We are now offering our Primitive (original) hooked rugs, Primitive(original) Rug Hooking Patterns, Rug Hooked figures, Needlefelted originals, and washed Roving.

All are hand made by me, Dianne McLaughlin.

Living in Chester County Pennsylvania, I am surrounded by beautiful scenery that lifts my spirits. My surroundings have brought me closer to nature and the history of the area has enhanced my appreciation of earlier times and customs. It is the inspiration for my love of antiques, folk art and primitive pastimes. In my past 20 years as an antique dealer , I had amassed a large collection of spinning wheels and parts and an amazing array of rug hooks and punch needles but had never managed to spin or make a hooked or punched rug. Just enjoying and handling the pieces gave me a connection with the earlier times that I loved. But, of course, that had to change! When I finally took a class in rug hooking, there was no turning back. I found myself totally engrossed in the process--usually hooking feverishly well into the night. As a self taught artist, the one thing that was difficult for me was to hook other peoples designs--when I had so many of my own swimming around in my head--so I designed my own rugs and then designed patterns for others as well.
I especially like using recycled woolens for my creations--I feel that the early rugs would have been made of cast offs and I try to keep with that tradition. That brought me to dying my own wool. I needed to get just the right colors to perfectly fit my design and also to give the appearance that the rug had been around for generations. Along with all this, I have shared my new interests with anyone who would listen -willing or not--and from that arose a wonderful opportunity with a long time friend who had a few sheep--and there I was with fleeces!! And now instead of just admiring my collection of vintage wool working items, I actually get to use them . It is very rewarding to wash the fleeces and card the wool and spin(a little) just as it was done in earlier times. This website is dedicated to sharing my love of these traditional crafts and all things wool. I live in Eagle, PA with my wonderfully patient husband who really has no interest whatsoever in wool but is extremely tolerant of the wool dust, wool worms, unfinished projects, piles of wool, bags of roving, pictures of sheep, patterns doodled on anything stationary, and everything else wool related that has oozed out of the studio and tries to quietly take over our home. He has learned to use my trusty Rigby and has come to truly believe that snippets on the floor are not really dirt. Soul mates are like that-and I am eternally grateful for his support and encouragement.

We've finally done it!! Our Blog!!

2007-12-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and welcome you to
Eagle Emporium.
For the last 10 years we have welcomed many thousands of shoppers to our online shop offering our wonderful selsction of

Amish Made Wrought Iron

Our website was an extension of our Antique and Collectible Shop in Eagle, PA., which we opened Jan. 02, 1992. Our first sale that morning was a vintage tea towel to a Texas dealer that was passing by and stopped in. Our first $1.00!!! From such humble beginnings, Eagle Emporium began. At the beginning we were just a little over 500 square feet of space. At the time, the economy was slow but with neat stuff and great prices we hung in there and prospered. We carried a general line of Antiques and Collectibles and specialized in Restored Antique and Vintage Lighting.
Check out our Lighting here:
Restored Vintage Lighting

Through the years, we endeavored to add new products that enhanced and accessorized the antiques. One such product we found early on in the wonderful hand made iron products of two Amish brothers in Lancaster County. Simple, functional and timeless in design, the iron quickly became a best seller in our shop.
We have been privileged to offer this wonderful line of Amish made Primitive style Wrought Iron for the home for more that 15 years.
The iron was extremely popular in our area--not far from Lancaster County--and we knew it would be well received further away. So, for a time, we advertized in a number of country magazines and shipped it all over the country.
Then we were introduced to the internet and we were hooked!
Wrought Iron
Meanwhile, the shop had undergone several expansions--even to occupying three of the four building in the center of town.

After a few rough starts with a website, we ended up with just what we needed, designed and written by our daughter, Janice--shopping cart and all and there has been no turning back since then.

When we eventually closed our shop in Eagle in December 2003, it was to concentrate on the online business which had grown exponentially.
We now offer our vintage lighting and Amish made wrought iron exclusively online.
We are a small operation--just the three of us and we handle it all-fulltime.

In addition to selling the wrought iron on a retail basis, we are also wholesale distributors.

At some point we decided to add Warm Glow Candles to our website--they were always great sellers in the shop and we personally found them to be simply greatest!
Warm Glow Candles

Our products are all handmade in the USA
and we are proud to offer them.

Please stop in and visit--we have secure online ordering and we ship quickly and we'd love to hear from you.