Friday, January 25, 2013

Dear Diary,


I love to create penny rugs in the styles and traditions of long ago. 'Making do and using up' have long been the traditions of my ancestors and our rug makers in rural Nova Scotia.

Scraps of woolens, burlap feed bags, old cottons and the never ending ball of saved strings are my supplies. Antique and vintage woolens are aged using natural dyes to give a pleasing 'old fashioned and worn look' to my rugs.

My rug making ways are my own, and those ways are unique to the design and stitching of my primitive reproduction penny rugs. I hope you will follow along as I share my ways of stitching and creating 'one of a kind' old fashioned rugs. Many years ago I taught an online class in my unique ways of designing and stitching and I hope to share those tutorials with you along with my thoughts on the history of penny rugs and of course the daily ramblings of a sometimes creative, sometimes frustrated penny rug maker.
I love to make a good size rug and absolutely HATE making these 'tiny mats'!


I look forward to renewing friendships with my old Yahoo groups 'Rug Ladies' and meeting many new 'Rug Ladies'.

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9 comments:

Jeanne said...

Your penny rugs are gorgeous!!! I love your blog too. I look forward to seeing many more of your creations.

Cee Rafuse said...

Thank you Jeanne!

I love stitching my rugs, it's like meditation to me.

Thank you for visiting my diary
Cee

Lauralee @ The Eclectic Stitcher said...

Looking forward to seeing more of your gorgeous rugs and posts!!!

Lauralee >^.^<

Cee Rafuse said...

Thank you Lauralee!

I've found an interesting rug to post for next week so stay tuned...

cee

Lisa Diane said...

Cee, I am SO excited to see you blogging again! I spent so much time going over and over the pages of your old website, and it will be such a treat to see your new entries!!

You are right, you don't sew rugs like anyone else I've read about! I also think that's what makes them so authentic and special!! Your rug designs speak to me, and draw me in! You definitely go beyond just being a creator - you are a true artisan, and I can't wait for you to reveal your techniques!! :-D

I'm going to post about you on my blog too, because I'm so excited, although with 25 followers (and YOU are one of them!), that won't affect you much!! LOL

THANK YOU so much for getting back into blogging and designing! You have so much to offer those of us who are searching for true authentic antique rug designs -- this is going to be WONDERFUL!!! :-)

Cee Rafuse said...

Thank you Lisa!

It feels so good to be back stitching again. I'm so excited to start those seven rugs and share on the blog.
cee

Colleen MacKinnon; Penny Rugs and More said...

Yippee! Glad you're back into blog world Cee. Dear friend, I'm you're first follower of many thousands I'm sure! You know I adore your style and lessons. Can't wait to read more of your "diary".

Unknown said...

Hello, I just found your site, an online friend sent it to me, you are next door in N.S. I started a penny rug for the seat & back of my rocking chair, never thought of dying the wool to make it look older, will have to try this.. thank you ... have your site booked marked so I can check back...
maggie in Miramichi

village folk art said...

Thanks Cee, I am now a new follower. Will be watching and waiting for more of those penneys. Better get back to some of my unfinished projects so I can be ready. Love your 'Diary' too.
Keep warm and I'll be back,

Barb