Turkey Tracks: Tales of Braided Rugs

Turkey Tracks: November 3, 2015

Tales of Braided Rugs

Some years back I bought some green cotton sheets and some used men’s shirts in order to make a braided rug of recycled materials.

I finally got to this project this fall.

Can I say that the resulting rug is without a doubt one of the ugliest things I’ve ever made.

It’s one of those projects the maker looks at and thinks “what was I thinking?”

I had the yellow sheet strips already on the loom–and I should have taken them off. Or done a different color rug. I had one men’s shirt with yellow in it, and I think that’s where the trouble began.

Worse, I should never have put more of the yellow into the rug.

The two dark strips sort of in the middle are some of the men’s shirts, and these should have been gradually worked into the rug alongside the green sheets. More like what is going on along the right side, before the yellow. Also, the men’s shirts provide great material for quilting, but one can’t get long strips out of a shirt–and that means a lot of knots in a rug.

Whatever–these rugs wash and wear like iron, and it will be fine at the kitchen door. Right now it’s living in front of the sink while I work on a new green rug that is more like what I imagined. AND, I must remember that I have recycled materials that might have been trashed otherwise.

Meanwhile, I visited a friend who is making the most gorgeous braided rugs. Here’s one that sits in her kitchen.

How yummy is this rug?

Gorgeous, gorgeous.

Her husband made her a bigger loom than I have been using, and its size is great in her kitchen. She’s now working on a very soft rug, with lots of mellow and warm colors. I can’t wait to see it finished.

Meanwhile, here’s the rug I should have made in the first place–it’s coming along nicely. I will finish it tonight.

And into the kitchen it will go.

The rug on the floor was made a few years back from old sheets and bits of fabric. It and its sisters are washing and wearing like iron.

Turkey Tracks: A Very Fun Purse

Turkey Tracks: May 17, 2015

A Very Fun Purse

Some years ago, I bought one of Rebecca Hokkanen’s purses at one of our quilting auctions.

And I have truly enjoyed using it, yes, but just looking at the art work in it too.

Essentially, Rebecca has “made” fabric with this little purse–by layering different fabrics and embellishing it all.

There is so much creativity in this little purse. It’s a joy to see.

Turkey Tracks: NEW BAG

Turkey Tracks: May 6, 2015

New Bag

Those of you who have read this blog very long know that I LOVE the “Bow Tucks Tote” designed by Penny Sturges.

Can I tell you that my old one was in frays and tatters.

So this fabric–some of which was bought at Houston LAST OCTOBER (which tells you how long I’ve been putting off making a new bag)…

…became THIS new bag yesterday:

Part of what I love about this bag are the pockets–which I can design to hold the things I carry daily. There are pockets that fit my wallet, my phone, my glasses case, lipsticks, pens, and so on.

Yep, I’ll enjoy this one!

Turkey Tracks: Bonnie Sinatro’s Crocheted Ear Warmers

Turkey Tracks: January 31, 2015

Bonnie Sinatro’s Crocheted Ear Warmers

Look what came in the mail this week!

Ear warmers crocheted by Bonnie Sinatro–and embellished with an antique button from the buttons saved by her mother!

I put it right on–of course I did–fly-away hat hair popping with static and all:

Of course I love, LOVE it–and her, too.

Thanks, Bonnie!

Turkey Tracks: Deborah’s Braided Rug

Turkey Tracks: January 28, 2015

Deborah’s Braided Rug

Friend Deborah Oliver has been trying out different methods to make rugs.

She thought of knitting one–and mixing fabric with heavy cotton yarn. And then, friend Gail Nicholson said, “you know, I have this loom you might want to try.”

Gail was referring to the Appalachian type loom that I’ve shown here several times. It’s a simple arrangement of four pieces of wood and nails that hold the background fiber.

So, here’s the rug Deborah made.

She has to tie off her ends in the middle yet. But isn’t the aqua a perfect match with her walls?

And, now, she’s hooked on making rugs…

Turkey Tracks: Look Who Came To Live With Me!

Turkey Tracks: January 19, 2014

Look Who Came To Live With Me!

Isn’t she beautiful?

I’ve thought about her since October.

She’s the sister of the doll I sent my granddaughter for her birthday. And this sister comes with her own baby!

I called Becky Morse of Gallery on the Lake in Greenville, Maine, and she had not sold her yet. Becky packed her up and mailed her to me this past week.

I am in awe of whomever it is who is making these dolls.

This one will stay with me until my granddaughter’s baby sister is old enough for her. Three years, I think. Which means I can have her until then.

Turkey Tracks: Margaret’s Birthday Lantern

Turkey Tracks: March 27, 2013

Margaret’s Birthday Lantern

Margaret made me a hanging lantern for my birthday.

Here’s a picture of the light itself:

Here’s a video that’s way too dark, but gives some idea of how the colors change with the addition of a little battery tea light that changes colors.

Margaret makes these lights with three primary ingredients: a balloon blown up, wood glue diluted by half with water, and tissue paper. She also used a pipe stem at the top to stabilize the opening. Her friend Mary makes more tissue paper at the top and folds it inside to stabalize the opening. Some ribbon makes the hanger. And a small battery-driven light that changes color makes the colors change. If hung outside, one could also use a tea light.

She said she paints the balloon with the wood glue mixture, layers on the tissue paper, and…lets it all dry. She deflates the balloon when the light is dry.

Anyway, I can’t wait to make these lights with the grandchildren this summer.

Or, to show them this one.

Margaret and Mary are making the lights for the wedding this summer of Mary’s son. They are going to hang the lights in all the trees around the house.

Turkey Tracks: RUGS FROM RAGS

Turkey Tracks: March 27, 2013

RUGS FROM RAGS

For those of you who might like to make the rag rugs shown in earlier posts, you can get directions for the VERY easy looms, clear instructions, and so forth from the book RAGS FROM RUGS, by Country Threads. It sells for about $10.

Turkey Tracks: I Finished The Rugs!

Turkey Tracks: March 21, 2013

I Finished The Rugs!

The old sheets I cut into strips with my pinking rotary cutter blade made three rugs.

Here are all three rugs at the front door:

You can begin to see the possibility of sewing the rug sections together to make a larger rug…

And here’s a video so you can see them close-up:

I like the first one I show the best, which is a surprise. It’s the one without any strips or blocks of color, but with the sheets and the fabrics always just alternated. It looks so sweet at my back door in the kitchen. It looks very French country, actually.

I put leftover strips on the loom to hold the side rods in place, so it’s all set up for another project. I noticed this week in changing sheets that the elastic in one bottom blue sheet is getting very stretched out. Probably by next winter, I’ll be cutting up more sheet strips. Blue ones. These rugs would make nice gifts, especially here in Maine where people take off their boots when they come in your house.

Turkey Tracks: Braided Rug Using Sheets

Turkey Tracks: March 2, 2013

Braided Rug Using Sheets

Not long ago I replaced old sheets.

But I couldn’t bear to throw away the old sheets.

What about a braided rug for the front door? The rug I have there to catch wet, muddy boots is getting very thin and worn.

I cut the sheets into 2 1/2 to 3-inch strips using the pinking blade on a rotary cutter.

They made A LOT of strips. Two packed grocery bags full.

Weeks ago, I dragged out the hand loom and set up the woof strips using the sheet strips. That sat around for a bit before about 10 days ago.

Here’s the work of one night. You can see the FULL brown bags.

Here’s a close-up of the braiding. The sheets are packing in tightly, which is nice.

I got bored with the plain colors and rummaged around and found some pre-cut strips left over from using them in one of the crocheted rugs. Aha! The addition of color made me smile. These rugs, or placemats, get worked from both ends until you meet in the middle. Note that the strips in the bags are not diminishing very fast…

A little more progress. Here it is a few nights later.

Here’s the rug finished:

It looks so nice at the front door. And, it’s sturdy and will wash well. The sheet strips are not going to fray much.

But, I still have A LOT of strips:

So, here I go again…

If I have strips after this second rug, I’ll make some placemats on the smaller loom…

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