Tag Archives: hooked rugs

Summer Bouquet in Wool

This design is finally finished in my eyes. Thanks to several critique sessions this summer.

Summer Bouquet

The composition came together easily, an odd number of large motifs, connected with organic (curved) lines to a small vase placed within the outside border to anchor the design. I used templates from ‘Design in a Box-Frakturs’ and the quirky principles of balance the PA German Fraktur artists had in their repetoire.

Then came bringing the lines to life. I photographed each of the changes and will highlight some lessons. Click on the first image and then you can see all in larger format by using the arrows. During one workshop where I used the images as a lesson plan, a student commented in awe at the multitude of changes I had made. To me that is what makes a project part of my process in learning. Kits and following directions are for a goal… completed item. Working on a design to achieve your knowledge of GOOD is growth.

: Basket using #8.5 cuts, dull yellow and muddy red

: Basket with braiding

: Purple Flower first version

: Purple Flower bright

: Summer Bouquet

: Summer Bouquet

Friends who blog more about art

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It is time to spread your reading base with some much more active bloggers than I am.

I look forward to reviewing the artistic approaches to rughooking, nature, design and life each of these friends share. Hope you visit and enjoy their tidbits. Each are active links in the sidebar to your right under Blogroll.

Lori LaBerge sends out a weekly post. See her site http://www.LoriLaBerge.com

Laura Pierce lives on the West Coast and travels, reporting on her teaching destinations at http://laurawp.wordpress.com

Mary Jane Peabody’s rug graces the cover of my book ‘Design Basics for Rug Hookers’. She has been posting for over a year now at http://www.maryjanesrugs.com/blog

Working on a Commission

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The following series takes you through an exciting design project. I was contacted in August of 2012 and the rug was delivered on April 5, 2013. This design reflects the owner’s creativity in building their home and the natural site they chose. In retrospect I would call the style Arts and Crafts (my mind and creativity are intertwined with the process). The size is 40″ x 84″ and I used #8 cuts (1/4″ wide hand cut strips of wool) hooked through a primitive linen.

Steps involved contact from client based on a label on previous small mat purchased four years earlier. We arranged a visit to the home to see surroundings, meet and discuss site in house, size, color, environment. Three sketches were sent, the selected one was then drawn to scale and brought to the house with wools for color and approval. At this point an estimated time for completion was established and deposit put down. Wool prep including dyeing began and the hooking process is illustrated. On final delivery the owners walked on the rug, and I photographed it at home.

: Inspiration, the view from house

: Inspiration Oak Bark

: Inspiration guest house, textures

: Selected Sketch

: Full scale in site

: Transfer design to linen backing

: Wools for colors

: The beginning

: Trees in two colors of green

: Gold where blue was in design

: Directional hooking creates interest in shapes

: Blue is only solid fabric used except thin gold line

: Progressing

: Signature SLF

: Almost complete

: Installed

: Inspiration and Original

Floral Message of Good Cheer

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Caraway Garden Runner created using motifs from Design in a Box-Frakturs

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

This design completed 2012 with a colorful BANG. I approached the colorplan selecting my favorite analogous combination warm yellows, oranges and reds which also are traditional to the Frakturs (PA German illuminated manuscripts of 1740-1840’s) the motifs were inspired from. With a wonderful pile of textured wools and spotted or solid hand dyes available, each flower is a bundle of contrasting values making the entire rug an exciting project. The full rainbow can be found since blue and yellow greens and a wonderful turquoise just had to creap in along with a plaid with purples and cherry reds.

I hadn’t used the gold recipe which mimics a yellow glaze on redware in awhile and incorporated several different subtle textures and natural wool into the three different dye baths of varying values. Hooking consistently in small puzzle shapes, the background hopefully sets the mood of a fun summer garden. Do you see the flowers all being thrown into a sunny sky?

The border technique of beading, (hooking contrasting strips in an alternating pattern) pays homage to a typical geometric border on Frakturs if the interior designs are all organic. Bordering the rug with a full inch wide red plaid set off the riot of color and seems to settle it onto the table top or floor where we will enjoy the glow.

I extend my wishes you will find beauty in every day and interpret these moods using your talents… in music, words, extending help, or artwork. Look, see and show us your spirit in 2013.

Hooked designs as Note Cards

Early American Life Directory 2012

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It has been a few years since the subject of hooked work I was creating warranted submission to Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts. The requirements include the highest standards of period design, materials, and techniques along with documentation for all these fitting the Colonial period of America. Well this year I was ready and the jurors thought so too. I am honored to be included with several other rughooking artists representing our craft at this highly judged level. A press release published in Hampshire Review details the criteria and jurors. Click here to read Hampshire Review EAL Directory Listing

Friedrich Bandel’s Potted Tree, design Susan L. Feller

The Shenandoah Valley exhibit last winter inspired motifs and compositions by “new” fraktur artists, along with the documentation in a catalog produced by the Rockingham Historical Society of Dayton, VA.

This image is a design, inspired by the pen and watercolors of the artist working between 1800-1820 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Retreat into the Mountains 2012

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Retreat into the Mountains 2012

24 great energetic and creative souls came together this year for the 5th RETREAT INTO THE MOUNTAINS at Peterkin Camp and Conference Center, Romney,WV. We are gathered here on the expansive porch in our colorful array of dress. The new officers of Mountain State Fiber Artists make up the first row.

Great weather for the weekend including the foliage which was gradually coming out after the extreme heat in March, allowed us to keep our minimal schedule including hiking up to the waterfalls and hemlock grove, driving out by caravan to Ruckman Mill Farm for dinner prepared by Jim on Saturday evening and hours of hooking on the porch and in the lounge space into the wee hours of the night.

2012 group at the waterfalls, Peterkin

The theme for this year was to react visually to the phrase: “everybodyneedsfiber” Several participants came with designs in a small format (8 inch or so squares). One was a combination of different sized printer’s blocks creating a composition of the letters. This will be a study in value and depth using materials and techniques to enhance the subtle tones of the wood blocks. A jar of Metamucil was another interpretation: Every BODY needs Fiber.

Another was Betsy Warner’s energetic lady happily lying in a field of color, prodded butterflies hovering above and her hair wildly flying in the green field. The variety of fibers and techniques accented the phrase ” EVERYBODY NEEDS FIBER!”

The trip to Ruckman Mill Farm included showcasing the beef cattle raised here in Hampshire County: Angus, Herefords and even Longhorns. Yes Texas Longhorns are raised here for the lean meat, and seem to enjoy a steady diet of green grasses.

Visit other blogs for their interpretations of the retreat:Lauren Fuqua from Ohio: www.rugsandpugs.blogspot.com

Donna Bennett another Ohioian: http://www.CrowsontheLedge.com

Susan Hoekstra, New Jersey our presenter this year on the topic Color Theory www.Foxview.com and www.Needlefest.com

Studio Tour in new On-Line Magazine

There is a new Rug Hooking media outlet!

A quarterly online magazine published by Rug Hooking Magazine and featuring a tour through our Studio in the premier issue. Subscriptions are $9.95 per year and available at www.RugHookingMagazine.com or click here

Canada Tour

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Feeling abit like the Royal Couple, (Will and Kate), I have been in Canada since June 24th, hosted by Susan Sutherland in the Kitchener/Waterloo area to conduct a fraktur design workshop within the Mennonite region of the design source. The following hostess was Anne Boissinot who lives near the McMichael Collection in Kleinburg. We toured this museum complex for a full day, exchanging our artistic views. What a great way to learn– visit a museum with a friend with similar interests.

I stopped briefly at Rittermere-Hurst-Field to lunch with Jeanne Field, Andrea Shepphard and the family/workers. Will be back for the Circle of Friends on July 9th in Aurora. See www.Letshookrugs.com for information.

Now in Belleville for the two weeks, enjoyed Canada Day by touring Prince Edward County. Art exhibits, farmers markets, and a beautiful day all recorded in my mind or on camera. Took shots of the sun moving across a mowed field highlighting bands at a time. The square bales were stacked in pyramids to be picked up later. Shapes, light and values were on my mind since this is the theme for the Loyalist College class beginning July 11th. www.Loyalistfocus.com see Susan Feller for details, opening in class still.