Painting to rug hooking

My experience with oil painting was enlightening.  Being able to blend the paints and immediately apply them, and not have to go to the dye pot and all the time it involves, was refreshing.  I encourage all you rug hookers out there to try your hand at painting.  Mixing the colors gives you a feel for how they interact in a more timely fashion.  The knowledge you gain here than can be applied to your dyeing.

I want to show you one of the paintings I did. Considering I have never oil painted before and only dabbled with acrylics, in another lifetime, I was quite pleased with myself.

She had us use very loose brush strokes, which were a challenge to me as I kept wanting to blend.  I do think the strokes add character and I do like the effect.

I'm so intrigued that I think I'm going to attempt to rug hook the piece.  Stay tuned...

All mediums of art follow the same rules

I was very fortunate to be able to attend a workshop this week given by an artist whose work I admire.  Her name is Carol Marine.  I was introduced to her blog last fall by a good friend of mine.  As soon as I saw her work I was inspired and created a piece which I posted back on  November 7th  of last year.  She's a great teacher and I am very fortunate to have gotten into this workshop.  Though I probably won't become a painter, the fundamentals to good art are universal across mediums and I have a new perspective from which to approach my fiber art.  Have a look at her paintings and I'm sure she'll be an inspiration to you as well.

New Applique pattern

Today I finished up putting together a new applique pattern, Fanciful Birds.  It is always an interesting venture doing this as I first create the finished product then go back and have to write down the steps of what I actually did. 

I don't know if I mentioned this before but I have an engineering degree, so for me logical steps come to me quite easily.  If I were asked to embellish my writing with lots of adjectives, I just couldn't do it.  My husband and I, both engineers, are still trying to figure out how we ended up with a daughter that is an English major and a phenomenal writer.

So for your viewing, here is FANCIFUL BIRDS.

The pattern will be available soon at Whistle Stop Quilt Shop in Cary, NC. 

Catching up...

I was away last weekend at the Piedmont Rug Hookers annual workshop.  A very tiring weekend, early mornings and late nights working our fingers to the bone.  However, it is also a very productive time as there are no distractions. 

I had taken a picture of a billy goat about 8 years ago and it's been in my pile of must dos. SO...I finally got to work on him.  Still a ways to go but a very big start.

I hope to get him done in the next week or two.  Keep checking back.
I also am designing a new applique pattern and working on a geometric rug as well. So many things to do. I really need a clone or two.