Woolen Tales Rug Art

Finished! (except for the framing)

2012-02-23T13:53:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday PBS aired the Downton Abbey series 2 marathon. I had never heard of this series. I'm often in the dark about goings on. Anyway... my husband and I are addicted. So addicted that I went to Target and bought Downton Abbey series 1. We started watching one episode a night on Tuesday. Tonight we see episode 3. We're trying to savor it bit by bit. I can't wait.

So the point of all this is, you ask? Well, the beauty of rug hooking is that you can sit on the sofa and hook while watching the TV. That is as long as what you are working on isn't too complicated, you can get a lot done. Hence, I was able to get the background hooked in behind my sheep! Yeah! I did end up going with a blue-violet and I really like it. I shaded it from light to dark from the bottom to the top. I think it adds a bit of drama. After all art is about the drama, isn't it? All that's left now is the lacing, matting and framing.

After a bit of being sidetracked...

2012-02-22T07:33:00.000-05:00

This past week I got sidetracked by a large dye order. Needless to say no work was done on my sheep piece. I did however take some time the past two days to get some more accomplished. I was able to get the entire sheep done, except for the tweaks here and there that I will make before I finally call it finished. I still need to do the background and am leaning towards a blue-violet. Because the sheep's fur is mainly gold I thought going across the color wheel and using the complement, blue-violet, would be a good choice. Hopefully I'll get some time in the next day or two to try this out. For now...

Sheep Profile Days 4 and 5

2012-02-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

I 'finished' the face in the past two days and moved on to the top of the head. I always say finished with reservations as I know I will certainly go back and do some tweaks here and there. I find it best to leave things alone until I can get the big picture and then make my adjustments. So for now...

Continuing progress...day 3

2012-02-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

I took some time today, in between dye batches, to do some more work on the sheep portrait. There are some things I want to tweak, now that I see the photo. This often happens. Looking at a photo of your work gives a different prospective. For now this is what I have...

Continuing progress...

2012-02-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

I got the nose and mouth hooked in and am working up the face towards the eye. I also tweaked the eye a bit. I continually hook some in and then take some out and adjust. I want to get it just right. I'll continue on the face before starting on the neck and body. I think he's off to a good start!

Getting back to my roots

2012-02-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

I've had a lot of distractions lately and have not had time to participate in my first passion, rug hooking. Well yesterday I dug out some photos I took last fall while in Virginia. My husband and I took a long weekend and went exploring some of the historic sites there. We took in The D-Day memorial in Bedford, Appomatox Courthouse, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and James Monroe's Ashlawn Highland. We really had a great time. Of course all the while I was on the lookout for animals that are willing to be put into a hooking. James Monroe came through for me. They have Romney sheep at Ashlawn Highland! I took more sheep pictures than anything else. It usually takes about 50 pictures to get one or two that I can work from. Just when you think you've got a good pose, and your ready to snap the picture, the animal flings his head away from you and all you're left with is a blur. So yesterday after sorting through my pictures I found one I could work from. I cropped it, played with it a bit in photoshop to enhance the values and set to work drawing up my pattern and digging around for some wools I could use.

The eye of the animal is where I always start as it is the focal point of the piece. Next, I'll move to the nose and then I'll place in highlights and shadows and then fill in with the middle values. This method always works the best for me.

A very busy January comes to a close

2012-01-31T09:21:00.000-05:00

Wow, time flies. I've been so busy I don't know where the time went.

First, there was the quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace in Sanford. All went well. I introduced some new applique patterns. Spring Bunny and Easter Chick.

Spring Bunny


Easter Chick

After the show I had some wool orders to fill. Some lovely fresh, bright colors. Here's a sampling...

Some pretties!

In amongst all this I'm getting patterns and wool prepared for a workshop I'm doing in Hendersonville in March for the Tarheel Ruggers. A lot of great animals are going to be hooked there! Sheep, goats, dogs..and zebras too! It's going to be great.

Then there are classes... I taught an applique class at Whistle Stop quilt Shop this past week. While I'm on that subject... I have set up a BEGINNING RUG HOOKING CLASS for March 3rd and March 24th. Connie doesn't have the info for it published yet but keep an eye out on her website. You can get there by following the link above. The piece is a simple geometric mat just 6" x 6". Enough to give a beginner a taste of the craft but not overwhelm them. Here it is...

Beginning Geometric Hooked Trivet

AND then... the wool applique quilt I designed "Mon Jardin" finally got quilted and bound. Realizing I was just TOO busy I had the Quilting Cowgirl quilt and finish this up for me. She does great work! This quilt is going to be done as a BOM (Block of the Month) starting in April at Whistle Stop . This means that for the past two weeks now I've been writing up/drawing up all the instructions. I think I finally have it finished. It is more work than I realized it would be. Here's a picture of the finished quilt...

So as January comes to a close I now realize where the time went. I hope February is as productive.

Thanks for following along...

Pure Craziness!

2011-12-31T13:09:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted lately due to the fact that my life has been a whirlwind the past several weeks. After getting done with the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show I had shopping, cleaning, decorating etc. to do. Company arrived and that meant cooking and entertaining. Christmas came and our daughter and her fiance decided they'd get married. Not in a few months or weeks but on Wednesday! They did not want anything fancy. So a small family group gathered at the courthouse for a 5 minute wedding followed by a small dinner party/reception afterward. Short, simple and sweet.

Our company has now departed and my husband and I have no plans for New Years Eve or day. I'd like to just sit back and do absolutely nothing for the next couple of days but QFAM (The Quilt and Fiber Arts marketplace) in Sanford is next week! I spent the morning printing patterns and making kits. I have some new ones that will be making their debut at the show. The next two days I'll be dyeing wool (probably from dawn till I collapse).

Be sure to stop by the show and see what's new. For directions and hours of the show click here.

Busy, busy, busy time of year

2011-12-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

Since the CDC show I've been busy. I've been packing all my booth paraphernalia away,cleaning and reorganizing my studio, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, decorating...whew I need a nap.

I did take some time yesterday though and went out to visit a clay artist on the Chatham County studio tour.
Tracey Broome creates these terrific barns incorporating found objects and/or sayings and photos. I think they're so cool. As her sales have been so good this year she didn't have exactly the barn I wanted but was more than willing to take my order. I can't wait.

My next show is the Quilt and Fiberarts Marketplace in Sanford, NC. I've got some new patterns, kits and lots and lots of wool.

Here's a coupon to print out for $1.00 off admission.

The show is over ... for this year

2011-11-29T08:49:00.000-05:00

The Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show is over for this year. It was a great show. Beautiful things by talented, creative people. It was a busy time for me and I was able to send several of my pieces to new homes. "Shadow", my white horse, has a new home as well as "Billy", my handsome goat. I know they are in good hands. I also parted with several still life pieces.

Shadow 11" x 14" SOLD!


Billy 11"x 14" SOLD

At the show I also met up with a good friend I haven't seen in quite a while. Lori was my very first student when I started teaching rug hooking 15 years ago. She was and is a natural. She uses traditional rug hooking to create abstractions of what she sees in nature whereas I focus on realism with an impressionistic approach.
This is what I love about this art form. It is SO versatile.

So now it is time to pack away my booth for the year and get ready for the holidays!

It's here!

2011-11-26T08:34:00.000-05:00

The 42nd Annual Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show is now in progress. Today's hours are: 10:00 - 6:00, tomorrow 11:00 - 5:00. Avoid all the madness at the malls and by a one of a kind, hand crafted in America original piece of art. Hope to see you there!

The Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show is just TWO days away...

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's almost here! I've been busy, busy, busy! I hope you can join me at this year's 42nd annual Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show. Setup is Friday morning with the show opening Friday evening. I've got a lot of new work I'm really excited about. See you there!

A Landscape Vignette

2011-11-16T07:27:00.001-05:00

I love digging into my leftovers and doing small vignettes and this week I did just that.

This piece was inspired on a walk in my neighborhood. We have a walking trail that circles around a pond where there are several flowering cherry trees. The trees now are barren as the cold winds have blown all the dead leaves off. What I find interesting is the stockiness of these trees and the wide spread of the branches.
The wind was so cold the day I was out it made me think the snow will be here soon hence, I made this a wintery scene.

One of the things I love doing with a landscape is the gradation in the sky. Skies start lighter on the horizon and darken as they go up. This simple, gradual shift in value can make a big impact on a piece. Imagine if I had simply hooked one value in the background. Rather boring.

Playing with tesselations

2011-11-10T13:48:00.000-05:00

I bought some design software a while back and haven't really had time to experiment with it. I have always done my designs the old fashioned way with pencil and paper. For my geometrics I have employed graph paper. After drawing up the designs I would get out my colored pencils and work out a color plan. Recently my husband was looking for something to do so I pulled out some tesselation designs I had done on graph paper and gave them to him to translated into this software program. He succeeded in learn the nuances of this finicky software (so maybe now I won't have to) and was able to translate a lot of my designs.

I needed a break from the small pieces I'd been working on and decided to put one of the simple tesselation designs on my frame and have at it. Though this is not really an original tesselation, it has been seen in Roman ruins and then quilts and probably elsewhere as well, it is a simple but interesting one.

This is what I have gotten done so far...

Tesselation 1

To see some really cool tesselations go to the M. C. Escher website and click on Picture Gallery at the bottom of the left sidebar and then click on Symmetry.

Getting show ready

2011-11-06T11:43:00.000-05:00

I have been SO busy trying to get things ready for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Craft and Design Show on Thanksgiving Weekend I just haven't had time to post anything. Please come by and see me at the show.

A bit of new news ...I was recently featured in an article in the News and Observer about my journey into rug hooking. I've heard from people I haven't seen in 25+ years. Thanks to all of you who have sent good wishes my way!

Pear with Apple

2011-10-16T11:44:00.000-04:00

Another in my still life series. The pear was lonely, so along came the apple.

To Kentucky and back...

2011-10-09T15:08:00.001-04:00

I spent the last week and a half in Kentucky with a group of my fiber art friends. We talked, laughed, relaxed, took in the beautiful quilts at the National Quilt Museum and even got a bit of work done ourselves.

As far as what I got done, I did yet another still life.

I am quite pleased with this pear. The pretty light yellows, yellow-green, and salmon pinks show up nicely against the blue-green ground and blue violet background. Even better, I was able to do this completely out of leftover strips I had. I also had some beautiful dark colored blacks for the shadows. :)

Life is just a bowl of eggs?

2011-09-20T14:14:00.000-04:00

Oh maybe that's life is just a bowl of cherries? Well I didn't have any cherries. So after several days of working I "finished" the eggs. I say finished in quotation as I will probably go back and make little tweaks here and there before I frame it, I always do. But for now...

Working the eggs in "whites" against the really dark "blacks" really kept my interest in this piece. And then to have the pop of color, the beautiful blue-green well it was the icing on the cake. No, strike that, the hollandaise sauce on the eggs.

The eggs are progressing

2011-09-19T08:48:00.000-04:00

I was able to get a bit more done on the bowl of eggs. The bowl itself is quite interesting. The bottom of the bowl is very dark due to the shadows cast by the eggs, but they are not black. There is a lot of color in there. I used various very very dark colors, you might call them colored blacks. The rim of the bowl has some lighter color in bands. Just below the rim there are drips of glaze in some beautiful blue-greens. I still have a ways to go... I must say this has been a very interesting piece to work on.

Let's get Crackin'...

2011-09-15T17:02:00.000-04:00

So, this morning I sketched up my bowl of eggs, transferred the pattern to linen, got my palette "organized" and hooked some eggs. Whew.

Here's the pictures of my progression.


Sketch

"Organized" palette

AND...

Eggs!

It's been a while....still playing with still life

2011-09-14T18:16:00.000-04:00

Life sometimes just gets in the way with this and that. I've been busy but I can't really say that anything tangible has come from my efforts. Today, however, I was able to work on a new design idea. After I completed "Coffee, Black with Sugar Please" I was really happy and intrigued with shaded whites. So I thought, I would try setting up a still life with eggs. Today I tried arranging eggs in a bowl and viewing it from above and close in.
After adjusting lighting and arranging the eggs and taking many photos I decided upon this photo.

I then imported the photo into photoshop. I love this software. By use of it I can boost color, saturation, contrast etc. I also love the posterization feature which helps to exaggerate the values. This is very useful when I am doing the actual hooking of the piece.

This is the photo after I have manipulated it and is what I will work from.

Now, on to sketching the design, transferring it to the linen backing and actually get it hooked.

A real still life challenge

2011-08-24T18:11:00.001-04:00

In the past week I've struggled with my latest still life composition. It wasn't the apple, but the "simple" spoon I put alongside the apple that became my nemesis. I've decided silverware is NOT simple to translate into hooking. I'm glad I didn't try a fork, thinking about getting the tines right makes me shiver. I'm still not completely happy with the spoon, so it will get tweeked a bit more. I actually already have tweeked it 5 times! This truly was a challenge.

Holiday runner applique pattern

2011-08-19T12:49:00.000-04:00

I started this runner a few weeks ago but have had company this past week so I just got it finished. Before you know it the cool weather will be here and then Christmas. Time just seems to fly anymore. I did want to get this pattern out in plenty of time before the Christmas season is upon us. Patterns and kits should be showing up at Whistle stop in the next couple of weeks. Happy stitching!

Backyard visitor

2011-08-10T14:57:00.000-04:00

So today, while sitting in my kitchen with my cup of coffee, a little visitor appears. It's been really hot and by the looks he thought so too. He took a few minutes to rest and then went on his way. I'm thinking I may just have to make a hooking of him. The diagonal of the railing will make for a good composition, I'm thinking. Hmm.

finished, almost...

2011-08-09T19:13:00.000-04:00

Today I was able to finish the hooking portion of "Coffee, black with sugar, please". I'm very pleased with the result. Now, on to the lacing and framing.

Black coffee with sugar please

2011-08-08T14:57:00.000-04:00

Saturday was a raining day here, 4" of rain, not just a sprinkle. As I sat and had my morning coffee I was thinking about what still life designs I could come up with. I originally was thinking about fruits and vegetables. But then I realized that we had little in the refrigerator. I was not about to go grocery shopping in the pouring rain. We'll just make do with what is in the pantry. As I sat with my cup of coffee and my bowl of cereal, there's always cereal and milk in our house, I thought why not what is right in front of me. That is how "Black coffee with sugar please" came about. I sketched up a design but then had to put it aside for some other things that needed getting done. Sunday came and I pulled out my design, fiddled with it a bit, and then got it transferred to my linen backing. I did a bit of the hooking but then had to go do other things. I got back to it this morning and made good progress. I'm not done yet but got a really good amount done. Progress for now...

A new applique pattern... Pumpkin Runner

2011-08-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

I just finished up a new applique runner. It is 10" x 25". I'll have the pattern and kits available in a week or two at Whistle Stop .

framing complete

2011-07-30T10:26:00.000-04:00

I finished matting and framing my pear piece. I was so happy with the square format that I had the frame shop make me up a bunch of square frames. I'm going to work on a still life grouping. Here's the pear all framed up....

New Page Added

2011-07-26T11:09:00.000-04:00

I just added a new page to my blog listing my current wool applique patterns. They are available through Whistle Stop Quilt Shop as a kit or just the pattern. Look under "Let's Shop" or call them for more info.

Solo Pear Completed

2011-07-24T12:10:00.000-04:00

We took some time and went to the beach this past week. It was a nice relaxing break. I took my pear with me and had the best of intentions to get it finished but I just couldn't do it. I got involved in a couple of mystery novels and couldn't put them down. I only ever get to read while at the beach. I think it is the only place I don't get distracted by other things.

We got back early yesterday and I once again had inspiration to get back to the pear piece. I was able to finish it up this morning. I do most of my work in the morning as I am fresher, and the morning light in my studio is the best.

So, here it is...

A bit of still life

2011-07-12T16:32:00.000-04:00

I got back to some rug hooking today. Just a bit, but it reminded me how much I truly love this craft. A while back I took a painting class to sharpen my color skills and to have some fun. In that class I had done a small still life of an apple wedge. From that painting I hooked this piece.

It is one of my favorite pieces. Ever since I had finished this apple piece I've been wanting to do some more small still life pieces. Today I sketched and hooked a small pear piece. I hooked it entirely from my bin of leftover strips which is so much fun! Looking for the right value and color. A true treasure hunt. I love the challenge of it!

Here's today's pear. Obviously I still have the background to do but the pear is done!

I started a bit on the shadowing of the pear and the ground. I'm thinking of using my favorite color scheme which is a split complement of Yellow-green (the pear) with blue-green (the ground) and then red for the upper background. More later...

A bit of dyeing

2011-07-11T16:34:00.000-04:00

Today I did a bit of dyeing. I got a special order for some banana leaf greens. Not all of these are for the banana leaves but while I was at it I did some others. I wanted to do the whole green thing so I did a yellow-green, a green, a green-blue and a blue green. Green-blue being more green than blue and blue-green being more blue than green. Here's the results...

I wish the camera could catch the true richness of these colors. They're really pretty.

the quilt top is done

2011-06-29T07:17:00.000-04:00

The appliqueing is done and the quilt top is off to be quilted. Yeah!

Here's a pic...

Now I just need to write it all up.

The appliqueing is almost complete

2011-06-25T20:54:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to work a bit every day on the applique blocks. I'm now finishing up the applique stitching on the last block. After that I'll be sewing the blocks together and looking to get the piece quilted. Here's a few more pics of some of the motifs.

a sneak peek

2011-06-16T13:22:00.000-04:00

A few posts ago I said I was working on a new applique design. I thought today I would go ahead and post a little peek at what I've been up to. I'm a ways from being done. This small quilt will be 38" x 38" when completed and consists of eight blocks. I figured if I posted some pics it would motivate me to dig in and get it done.

Once this is done I have to get back to some serious rug hooking. There are some things out there calling me.
More later...

Our rug guild goes on tour

2011-06-12T08:55:00.000-04:00

This past Friday I had arranged a tour at the NC State College of Textiles . It was very interesting. They work on everything from Space suits to parachutes to carpeting. We saw machines for knitting sweaters, dyeing fibers, cutting out cloth for patterns and even your old fashion hand weaving looms. Here's a few pictures from our tour.


This machine cuts out pattern pieces with a reciprocating saw in a flash.

This is the HUGE jaquard loom. It weaves so fast it makes your head spin!

This machine 'picks' the fabric to make a nap. Think of fleece on the inside of your sweatshirt or the nubbies on your towels.

In recovery mode

2011-06-11T08:09:00.000-04:00

I was so... busy getting ready for symposium and then doing it I was just wiped out this past week. It also took me a few days to get everything back in order, well, sort of. Here's my booth at symposium for those who missed it.

It was a great show with some extraordinary quilts. Friday and Saturday were exceptionally busy for me. A lot of quilters are now doing wool applique on their quilts. I got so inspired I decided to try it as well. More on that in a future post.

Quilt symposium is fast approaching

2011-05-24T14:32:00.000-04:00

Next week I'll be setting up for the NC Quilt Symposium at Peace College . I've been really busy dyeing wool and putting together some great new applique patterns and kits. Here's a new pattern that will debut at the show...


Primitve Floral Runner 10" x 25"

Kits will be available as well as just the pattern.

The latest hooked rug design

2011-05-11T16:35:00.000-04:00

Here's my latest hooked rug design. I still need to do the binding. I'm thinking of kitting a few for NCQSI in a couple of weeks.

Primitive Floral Half Round

Spring Class finishing up...

2011-05-10T13:32:00.000-04:00

I just finished my Spring class session yesterday. I took these pics of some of my students amazing work. They didn't want to pose so you'll just see and ear here and a hand there and their amazing work! I'm so proud of them.

Barabara's primitive flower!

Lisa's pretty iris, partly done.


Annmarie's terrific lion and little lamb.

Aren't they great?!

A new applique pattern

2011-04-27T17:13:00.000-04:00

Over the past few days I've been working on a new applique pattern. It is always easier for me to design and create the prototype then for me to write up and publish the pattern and directions. I'm always questioning whether I have included all the information needed and not assuming some aspect of the process. It takes me more hours to write up the instructions then it did for me to design and create the piece. The good news is once it's done, it's done. So here it is...LIBERTY BANNER.


Liberty Banner 6" x 14"

I am vending at the NC Quilt Symposium at Peace College in Raleigh the first weekend in June at which time I will have this pattern, and others available as pattern alone or with the wool kit.

Hot off the frame

2011-04-12T21:13:00.000-04:00

I've been working behind the scenes on an abstracted geometric. Today I finished the hooking. My inspiration came from two sources, Nancy Crow and the Gee's Bend quilts. The wools I used were leftovers from other projects that I separated into similar value piles and then overdyed them in bright colors.
Here it is...

Colorwave

Our dyeing results

2011-04-10T21:19:00.000-04:00

After a full day of dyeing yesterday here are our results.


pretty colors!

Dyeing with my best buddies

2011-04-09T17:35:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be included into a very talented group of rug artists. Our mission: To stretch the borders of our craft, free ourselves from preconceived rules, and inspire each other to venture out and explore the possibilities of our craft. We meet twice a year and this week we are in the Georgia mountains. Today we were dyeing a color wheel using prochem dyes. We used 2 yellows, 2 reds and 2 blues. Here are my good friends hard at work. I'm behind the camera.

A bit more on the guild exhibit

2011-03-31T22:37:00.000-04:00

We had our opening reception for our guild show at the Halle Cultural Arts Center last Friday. Pictures have been posted to the guild website. Check them out at www.piedmontrughookers.com . Click on Opening Reception...

Apple wedge completed

2011-03-22T12:31:00.000-04:00

After some final tweeking I completed the apple wedge that I translated from my painting class.

I found the process to be a great study in value, trying get the highlights and shadows that were produced by the light shining from right side. I find that I as well as my students tend to underestimate the darkness of shadows and the lightness of highlights. " Middle-valueitis" plagues us. I think I still could have gone further. But as my first teacher once said, "acknowledge and move on". It's always a learning process. I've learned for the next piece.

Guild Exhibit at the Halle

2011-03-21T15:03:00.000-04:00

Come one, come all. Our local guild, the Piedmont Rug Hookers , is having an exhibit beginning with an opening reception from 5:00 - 8:00pm this Friday!

Come see the wonderful work of our talented artists!

More progress on the apple

2011-03-15T17:35:00.000-04:00

I did a bit more on the apple piece. Next, I need to put in the shadow and the rest of the background. For now here is my progress...

Guild workshop at the beach

2011-03-11T10:04:00.000-05:00

I'm down at the beach for our rug guild's annual retreat. We had rain yesterday but today the sun is out with a beautiful Carolina blue sky. It's early in the morning and still a bit chill so we're inside busy working. Here's some pics...

Apple hooking in progress

2011-03-09T10:39:00.000-05:00

I started a new class this week so I didn't get to start this piece as soon as I had hoped. I have eight students this session all who are very talented and take on projects that are very challenging. I'll post some pictures of their efforts soon.

So, here's the beginnings of my apple.

I ended up pulling strips from my leftovers rather than cutting up new swatches for such as small piece. Hopefully, I'll be able to find all the values and colors I need. It's more of a challenge this way.

I often have students who want to do more artistic small pieces and have to tell them that in order to do the piece justice they need to have acquired a stash of leftovers from several pieces in order to do this. It is very hard to dye for a painterly piece because you need to use a large array of colors and values. A lot of bits of this and that. I really got spoiled taking the painting workshop and being able to immediately mix up my color as I needed it. Hunting down the right value and color out of my bin of strips or having to go and dyeing something is a lot more time consuming. Ya gotta love this craft.

Billy Goat portrait gets finished

2011-03-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

I completed the Billy Goat piece today. I started him at the beginning of February but he got put aside for other things. Glad he's finally done. Now all that's left is the framing. Here he is...

Such a sweet guy, don't you think?

My next adventure is to get back to transforming my painted apple wedge into a wool apple wedge.
I've picked out some wools to use and sketched my apple onto my backing. I changed my format to a square rather than the rectangular format in which it was painted. I somehow like the square better.
Now it's just a matter of cutting some strips and doing some "painting".

Painting to rug hooking

2011-02-19T16:19:00.000-05:00

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

2011-02-16T18:42:00.000-05:00

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

2011-02-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-02-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

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.

Beginning rug hooking class and new Easter pastel wools

2011-01-28T16:43:00.000-05:00

I hooked up a small mat this week which I will be teaching at Whistle Stop Quilt Shop in March. A very simple primitive piece geared for beginners but fun for all.

My other adventure this week was to dye up some spring pastel Eastery colors. Here's the bundle I came up with:

There's eggshell, rose pink, peach, chick yellow, mint green, robin's egg blue, sky blue and violet. Yummy!

I also have a new rug on the frame. But... it's too early for pictures just yet. Stay tuned.

New year, new venture

2011-01-21T19:51:00.000-05:00

It's been another busy week. With much happiness and excitement I am happy to report that whistlestopquiltshop.com is now carrying my hand-dyed woolens. Connie was SO excited too!
Check out Whistle Stop on facebook .

ALSO, I will be teaching a wool applique sewing case which I designed, hot off the press, on February 23rd. Here's the info....

Contact the shop to sign up!

And one other item of note. I will also be teaching a rug hooking class in March for beginners (and beyond). More info on this to come. Please check back later. I hope to see some familiar faces and look forward to meeting some new ones. Woolly wishes!

A clearer mind and Studio

2011-01-14T18:03:00.000-05:00

It feels good to clean out. I have a renewed freshness to pursue new projects. A few pics of my more organized studio...

A new pic of my granddog Lola. I just have to post it! She just sat there for several minutes lookin good!

I did get started on a new project today, but it's too early to have anything worth showing you. Give me a few days.

Clearing my mind and studio

2011-01-12T08:08:00.000-05:00

It's been a VERY busy past 3 months, three shows and and the holidays in there too. It goes without saying I'm tired. BUT, now that my calendar is free for a while, I also have a renewed sense of freshness. I am busy cleaning out my studio and looking forward to new projects. My mind is more at easy and it is only then I can let new ideas come out into new art.

Since I haven't any new art to show at this point. I thought I would include a shot of my booth at last week's QFAM (Quilt and fiber art marketplace) show in Sanford, NC. Thank you to all of you who stopped by.

Still dyeing...and a bit of applique

2010-12-29T12:59:00.000-05:00

The holidays sure do get me off schedule. Hopefully, things are winding down and I can get back to doing some regular posting to my blog. With all the snow, we had about 7 inches here, I was hunkered down and did a little applique. It's a really cute piece by Karyn Lord called Bluebirds and Hearts.

I'm a vendor next week at QFAM (Quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace) in Sanford, NC. More info available at quilters gallery.net I will have this pattern and more along with lots of wool.

I've also been dyeing, a lot! Here's some textured bundles I will have available.

Back to the dye pot

2010-12-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

After taking a needed breather, the back to back shows really wore me down, I was back to the dye pot this week.

I have a show in early January to prepare for. I'll be in Sanford, NC selling dyed wools and silks as well as applique patterns, rug patterns and other supplies. Here's a photo of some of the wools I got dyed this past week...

One down, one to go...

2010-11-24T14:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back and busier than ever. I had a good show and sold out on my pins and was left with only a few ornaments. I also sold some of my bigger pieces. So now I'm going crazy trying to restock my pins and ornaments. Who needs sleep? Thank goodness my sister-in-law is taking care of Thanksgiving dinner.
Friday, bright and early I'm off to Raleigh for my next show. I'll sleep next week.

Here's a shot of my booth from last week's show...

Oh my...

2010-11-18T14:28:00.000-05:00

I've been busy. The sudden realization that I have two shows to do this month got me moving. One of my big gotta have favorite purchases are my ornaments. When I went to take an inventory of how many I had on hand I got nervous I wasn't going to have enough. So...frantically I've been working to make more. I also thought since wearable art is in right now why not do some pins. So I made a bunch of flower pins in an array of colors just right for wearing on the lapel of your fall jacket.

Here's a sampling...

Tomorrow I'm off to Winston-Salem for the Piedmont Craftsmen Fair. More info at:

www.piedmontcraftsmen.org

Thanksgiving weekend I'm at the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fair in Raleigh. Get more info at:

www.carolinadesignercraftsmen.com

Oh Deer!

2010-11-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

So, I took a break from still life, due to my camera's batteries dying. Instead, I pulled out a sketch I had done a few years ago as a commissioned piece. The original was 16"x 20" , this one is just a 5"x 7" vignette.

Apples and Vase

2010-11-07T12:26:00.000-05:00

A few days to get through this one...

I decided to try some apples. I set it them up with a blue green pottery vase I have and placed them all atop an orange cloth napkin. I liked the blue orange complementary color combination. I took several photos, and selected one I liked. I then created a black and white version to show value and then broke it down further using a posterize function in some photo editing software.


Original photo Black and white B/W posterization

I then transferred the sketch to linen.

After searching through my wool for the right colors and values I came up with...

Apples and Vase

Today was another fruitful day

2010-11-03T18:42:00.000-04:00

A"pear"antly pears are in. In less than 24 hours my pears were sold! I spent the day working on some more and setting up some other still lifes. Check back in a day or two and see what's new.

Hi! New to the Blog world...

2010-11-02T19:54:00.000-04:00

This is it. My attempt at throwing myself into the blog world. Be patient as an amateur attempts to come into the 21st century.

I welcome you all to my blog and hope that I can inform and inspire. My recent artistic works...
A bit of wool and a cooperative bovine becomes...

OR......an in your face sheep.

Today's work was most Fruitful!