Progress

A bit of progress to show on my new rug.  Slow going as life keeps getting in the way. But here's what I have so far.

A long way to go!

It's been a VERY busy summer, but not for rug hooking.  I finally have some time to start a new project.  I created a new design, something to ease me back into hooking.  An animal, still life or pictorial was going to require to much thought and concentration.  I don't have it in me right now.  I came up with a "geometric oriental', for lack of a better description.  Straight line hooking is very mindless and relaxing and that is what I need right now.  Here's the design.

I added a watermark on the image so it adds a bit of confusion but you get the idea, I hope.
In a few days I'll have a progress shot.  Check back later.

Alpaca finished.

Except for the matting and framing.  I'm quite pleased with the result.  I always name my animals when they are done.  It is at this point they 'speak' to me.  Her name is Alice.

Start of Alpaca background

I started the background, working my way from bottom to top, from the golden browns into the greens.  I created an angle to repeat the angle of the alpaca's chin. 

Alpaca done, on to the background

I finished up the Alpaca and laid out what I'm going to do for the background.  I wanted to repeat the golden browns of the alpaca's fur in the background.  I also wanted to add in some greens and blue-greens.  My plan is to work these in from bottom to top.

Thanks for stopping by.

Alpaca progress

Alpaca update. 

I sorted my strips into piles; whites, browns and greys.  I have a frame with a large working area that gives me lots of room to layout my strips close to my work.  This is very helpful in quickly picking out the right value. 

 A few tips for those of you hooking animals.

Hook in short strokes, no longer than the actual length of hair that your particular animal has.  For instance, when hooking a Boxer your strokes should be shorter than if you were to hook a Sheepdog.

Always hook in the direction that the fur grows. 

My latest furry endeavor

My time does just fly by.  I could have sworn I posted last only a couple of weeks ago but see that it has been a month!  Way overdue.

On to my latest endeavor.  I visited a local alpaca farm a few years back and took a lot of pictures.  Unfortunately, I am not the best photographer, but I did find one that I could work with. 

The alpacas had just been shaved and they looked SO naked.  This little guy just drew me in. What I found that I  couldn't pass up was how adorable he looked with just a wild tuft of hair on the top of his head!

I cropped the photo to my liking and enlarged it.  The piece will be 12" x 12" .  I went through my stash of cut strips and pulled out what I think will work.  I'm determined to use up some of my cut strips, I have a bin full! 

So, here's my photo and my pile of strips!  Stay tuned to see what happens.