These are some of my favourite trees. First up, are Jule Marie Smith’s delightful pine trees, (look at her colours!) followed by my version of Susan Feller’s winter scene. Susan says she saw these trees driving one cold winter night.
I have been saving this cover for years. I think the wooden trees would translate so well into hooking. On the right are my cedars from chair seat two and below the spruce from the new chair seat. I am experimenting to see just what style will work in the new rug.
I am beginning the wedding rug in the dye pots. Thinking about colour on this drab rainy morning.
I took all 23 pounds of Fireworks to my local dry cleaners to have it steamed. And now it is in place in our house. We have to figure how and where to hang this 6.5’x4.5′ plus rug to photograph it properly. The only suitable large plain wall seems to be the back of the garage! So stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I am hoping the tiny bumps along the one side smooth out, now that is in its final resting spot–if not it will be time for a little more steam.
We have had some signs of spring in the garden. The first few stocks of asparagus–soooo good–and a mother cardinal building a nest just outside the kitchen window. We have a perfect view of the goings-on!
And the postman just delivered a nice surprise package! My dear friend, Shelley in Mahone Bay, recently raided a Frenchie’s, (those of you who have visited this east coast hooker’s mecca will know how exciting that is!), and sent along three skirts, two in yummy shades of orange. The fourth leather garment in the photo was brought to me at the hook-in (my reputation is preceding me!) by Nancy–and what a lovely piece of leather it is too. Thanks so much to both of you!
And this is my attempt at a book spine poem defining what rug hooking means to me. Btw, the bottom book is my Grade 12 English textbook!
If wool could talk:
famous lasting words
open secrets
the telling of lies
and poems to remember
Wonderful colour and design were the order of the day at the hook-in hosted by the Moira Mat Makers. Just under 60 people made the trip to Belleville to share ideas, wool and delicious goodies. And what a great day it was!
Four vendors tempted those attending with beautiful wool. Above is one of Loretta Moore’s vintage suitcases full of dyed textures and below Karen Kaiser holds one of her lovely dyed pieces.
I certainly was not immune to the lure of the wool. (Jennifer introduced me to the existence of my inner hooker here, and believe me, she was clamouring today!) Below is the pile I added to my already substantial collection of wool. The Briggs and Little yarn from Gudrun Heiss is what I dye for whipping my rugs and the textures from Loretta Moore will be over-dyed for the upcoming wedding rug. I love to split a yard of texture into four quarters and dye each piece a different, but related colour.
There is so much to learn at a day like this. Look at this rug being hooked by Gudrun Heiss using both yarn and wool yardage. I love the rooster with his bright feathers and long thin feet–but look at the background–it is every bit as interesting!
And look at the colour play in this rug by Pam Duncan and the charming design and use of complemetary colours in the runner below by Linda Hetherington.
I made a start today on chair seat #3 and with all the inspiration I soaked up today, it should soon be well on its way. Thanks to all who came to Belleville and made this such a wonderful day.
The hooking on the first two samples is done and I think I have determined the tone of the wedding rug. The first sample is just too sedate and ordered. This rug is going to be playful and a little off-kilter, more like the second chair seat. I have one more sample to do–this one depicting a version of Owen and Carissa’s home–before I actually begin to plan the rug. Background colour is a big question right now. And type of border. Both things need to be determined before I begin the rug. Meanwhile, I better get design #3 on backing so that I will have something to hook at the Hook-in in Belleville this Saturday!!
I’ve mentioned the book reviews in the blog Pas Grand Chose before. While some of my favourite authors are there–Rose Tremain, Sebastian Faulks, Julian Barnes and Kate Atkinson–there are also some unfamiliar ones. Based on Karen’s recommendations, I have recently read The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell and Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido. I had never heard of either author before–and found both books to be new favourites. I highly recommend Karen’s reviews and in particular these two books. I will be looking for more by these authors!
Brainpickings is my favourite website, bar none. Each day it makes connections to some of the most interesting books and ideas going. Today’s post features the TED lecture given in March by Frank Warren. I encourage you to listen–it will give you a boost on this cloudy day. And I encourage you to make Brainpickings one of your favourites–it will take you to places you never dreamed.
And just so we don’t stray to far away from things hookerly, my absolutely favourite wool is honeycomb from Rebecca Erb. It dyes beautifully in every colour and has multiple uses. You may have noticed I have begun using it in the windows of my houses. But just so we don’t all forget, I included an ‘as-is’ turquoise piece of 100% wool, already cut for the back of one of the chairs seats. And the source of this skirt? My favourite local thrift shop for less than $5.00!
Thank you for the comments about my sprained ankle. Things are improving on that score, and I have enjoyed extended reading and hooking time, and lots of sympathy.
We had our wedding rug consultation and all are in favour of the style of chair seat #2 with cartoon birds dotting around the rug on roof tops and chimneys. We thought if would be fun if the birds were identifiable. OB bird would definitely be in motion! We also plan on a border, so I experimented with the ground in this chairseat to try out a circle border–and I think I like it. It ties in the various colours of the rug–and I love the interplay of dark tweeds and plaids. I’ll be dyeing more of these, so will share the process. One more chair seat to go to work out the last ideas.
And I heard from Elizabeth–her blogiversary prize bag arrived and she took some photos. Check them out here.
And, for a moment, a return to Fireworks. I thought it might be helpful to show the mitred corner before whipping. You can see that I have tucked in the edges and basted the corner. This makes for a neat right angle at each corner of your rug.
And below is my progress on the second chair seat. These sample pieces are definitely informing the planning on the wedding rug. Since the rug will go on the floor, I think the background colour needs to two or three values darker. And I am wondering if blue might not the answer. But the recipients of the rug are coming this afternoon for a consultation, so I will know more later. Border or not? Main colours? Cartoon birds? Squiggly pathways? But at least we have a couple of examples to base choices on, and that after all is the purpose of samples.
I sprained my ankle on Wednesday — yes Mary Anne, the third of three calamities — I hope! So sitting with my foot propped up is the order of the day. I’ve been whipping on Fireworks and working on my second chair seat. Thought I would post my progress on both projects. And make a public promise that I will slow down and pay more attention to where I am going!
I left the four corners of Fireworks until I was finished whipping the four sides. Mitring corners is not easy, and since I don’t do it very often, I find with each rug that I learn the process all over again. It seems the corners are more consistent and neater if I leave them to the end and do one right after the other. Above is the first one complete and below the reverse side. I roll the linen forward when I whip which makes a clean finish on the back and eliminates the need for tape (and all that extra sewing). Since I am required to stay still with foot up, I imagine Fireworks will be all done very soon and ready for steaming. So I guess that is the silver lining on this glorious sunny day!
