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Armenia Corkum picks a "Bushel of Love"

4/17/2013

2 Comments

 
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Armenia Corkum isn't just another rughooker.  She is special beyond words...with infectious good humour and sweetness of character. She is my little rug hooking pet and considering how much I love my puppies, that's a pretty strong term of endearment.  

She's been coming to my shop almost from day one.  I remember the first time she walked through my door  to check out the new kid in town.  We clicked immediately and that's never changed.


She's been a regular at our hook-ins but now finds driving at night difficult so if she can't catch a ride with another hooker, she drops by for the Saturday gathering to  catch up, hook and chat.  We always end our time together with a hug and I love you. 

This is Armenia's lasted completed project. She's quite a prolific rug hooker although she wouldn't describe herself as such.   She can be a bit down on herself because a few of her friends said she wasn't a very good hooker and I tell her I'll spank her if she says anything negative in my presence, but maybe I should just spank her friends!  We laugh, but I'm serious!  Armenia is a beautiful rug hooker!  All her pieces are  immaculate and special.  She's sold a few of her finished rugs but mainly hooks for the joy and socialization it provides.  She gets around that girl...hooking with several groups;  the Riverport group, the Hebbville group and  my Main Street Hooker gang. 

This pattern was first designed for Jean Morse many years ago. She hooked it for a family member and it was lovely, but I think Armenia's is just a bit more colourful and vibrant, just what this pattern needed.   Armenia was waiting for me to custom design a lily pattern but decided to do this one first, to welcome in the feeling of spring and sunny skies after such a dreary winter.  It was in my closest for some time, folded and forgotten along with a few other, not up to par, patterns so I offered them to my group as freebies.  This Bushel of Love pattern had been stained pretty badly when I accidentally spilled black dye over it so and I couldn't hang it on the rack. Although it didn't impact on the design it was messy looking and I have my pride!  Armenia liked this pattern and I said "it's yours" and we started talking colour! 

There is a lot of whimsy going on here.  The girl is picking hearts from the tree to fill up the bushel basket on the ground, thence the name Bushel of Love.  There are some fallen hearts on the ground and the border is a swirling heart garland, all connected by a line from heart bottom to bottom and are  hooked in several different tones and textures of red for depth.  The hearts on the tree and in the basket were hooked with a spot dyed formula called Geranium.


The outside border is a dark navy plaid that tied in beautifully with the blue sky and lush green grass.   The tree trunk is a mixed blend of leftover brown spots, solids and textures hooked vertically to enhance the length.   The stylized curled branch gives the tree a bit of whimsy and holds three, nested, little baby birds crying for a worm.  The sky was done beautifully with a swirled effect and a custom dyed abrashed wool.  The hat of golden yellow adds the perfect hit of sunlight.

The girl is on tiptoes reaching the branches and the wind has caught her dress and hat ribbon for a bit of movement.  Armenia did a grand job hooking this piece and I loved watching it come to life through her skill and colour choices.  A simple design that tells a story and creates a smile all at once.   One wonders who the girl will give these symbols of love to, maybe it's Valentine's day and many men await her heart.    This pattern and its celebration of love was the perfect fit for Armenia as she loves everyone, especially a good looking man.  She thinks Shane is the cat's meow and we love to joke with her at the hook-ins when she speaks of a some male in her family or community.  We all ask in unison "was he good looking Armenia?" and she says, "Oh yes, he was handsome", in that devilish way of hers. 


After all these years Armenia is still effervescent and bubbly. She loves life and treats every day as a gift to be enjoyed.  I challenge anyone to spend time with her without having it rub off.  Too bad the pharmaceutical companies could bottle what she has!  To me Armenia is tops and it's just too bad the world couldn't take a page out of her book, it would be a friendlier and safer place to be...... 

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Reaching for love in all the right places! Standing on a bed of Meadow spot it is a perfect compliment to the abrashed sky.
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Three little birdies with mouths open waiting for momma bird to bring home the bacon!
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A gorgeous spot called Silver Brown gives this wooden basket a sense of realism. The hearts on the tree and in the bushel basket were hooked with a spot dyed formula called Geranium.
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A bundle of Heart Red dyed over Hound's Tooth, Herringbone, Glen Plaid and solid made up the hearts on the border. Geranium was used for the small hearts on the tree and in the bushel basket. The Meadow spot was perfect for the grass mixed with a bit of this and that leftovers. The sky was a new abrashed created just for her.
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A close-up of some of the heart garland border. Textures and solids all over-dyed with Heart Red to add interest. From left to right, the first is a herringbone, the second is Glen Plaid and the third is a solid red.
This pattern is available on the website for purchase under Christine Little Signature Designs
The Size: 24 1/2" x 32"     Burlap - $41.95   Linen - $56.63
2 Comments
Glenna
4/18/2013 11:46:52 pm

WOW...Armenia it turned out GREAT...you are a very talented lady....I look forward to seeing your next project!!

Reply
Mary Doig
4/27/2013 11:13:31 am

I am a huge fan of Armenia's, too. Even though she flirts shamelessly with our handsome husbands! Or may especially because of that. Either way, she is a tremendously talented hooker and I am so pleased to be part of her circle of friends.

Reply



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