I was cleaning up my picture files and found this custom Azeri design I created for a customer. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, Azeri is a type of Oriental rug that usually tells a story; a chronicle of a person’s life which can begin with birth and feature all developments and highlights along the way. I looked up the word Azeri but couldn’t find any reference to rug hooking so my only knowledge is second hand and unverifiable so I asked for my friend Mary's help who is smarter than a set of encyclopedias, although better in the sense that she's upgradable, so I'll see what she comes up with before I post this. If anyone has more insight, please leave a comment.
This rug was designed for a young boy named Jordan, born August 6th, 1996. His grandmother approached me to create a story rug of her grandson’s life, and if memory serves me correctly it was to be presented as a gift for his birthday but don't quote me on that. I designed the pattern in 2006 so he would have been ten at the time. My, how time flies, that was seven years ago! The client presented a list of Jordan’s hobbies and a bit of family history and I hit the drawing table.
Jordan and his sister, Emma, were taking violin lessons so they are playing a duet at the bottom of the design. I made a mistake and had them holding the violins in the wrong hand so that had to be fixed. I was confused about the right hand...didn't know if it was holding the instrument or the bow. Jordan can obviously read sheet music so the reason behind the Treble Clef for a piece of attractive filler.
The building in the lower right hand corner is their family home; the standard poodle a family pet, as well as the curled sleeping cat in the center of the rug. Cats being the center of the universe and all, I thought it a fitting place.
His parents are lounging on Adirondack chairs, holding hands with a heart that says S&J, initials for Sherry and Jake. The top building is the school he attended, Mahone Bay Elementary. The Three Churches are iconic to our town so they had to have a mention. He played hockey so thence the skates, stick and puck. He was an avid swimmer so I drew him diving into the water and I tied the treble clef and water together for an interesting artsy approach. He played basketball at the Parish Church Hall so I placed a hoop on the roof and he's taking a 3 point, free throw jump shot .
The outside border is boyish and nautical as they live along the waterfront and what lad doesn’t like a sailboat? The inner border commemorates all the people he loves. His grandparents names, his parents wedding date, his birthday in the most prominent position, after all he is the star, and his sister’s birthday as well.
The six people that look like they're doing the Can-can are all grandparents. Somewhere along the line, Jordon picked up an extra set. In this day and age, we no longer fit the meaning of the nuclear family and any number of extensions can apply, added siblings, extra parents as well as grandparents.
I added a few paths and trees to set the stage for different levels and areas around the buildings. I didn’t want all the characters and buildings to be floating on a sea of a one coloured background so this approach grounded all the motifs and separated all the various areas into clusters that will allow them to stand out more as individual parts of the story.
The client brought the finished rug to the shop for a show and tell and for some reason I didn’t get a picture or if I did, it got deleted. Unfortunately, mental pictures don't download without a cable to hook in my ear, but I remember noting that it was hooked beautifully and colour planned with a well thought out palette. The rug was in perfect balance for the eye, with nothing jumping out or getting lost. Even though Jordan was still young, I’m sure this gift of his grandmother's heart was appreciated and an heirloom to accompany him on his life's journey. What a wonderful sentiment for the both of them.
Mary found this site and if you wish to read more about traditional Azeri woven rugs click the link for an education on the subject. Thanks Mary, now back to your blueberry pie! (the recipe will follow) Mary and Peter have recently become grandparents for the second time and the pie is is a delicious barter to exchange for snuggles with the new addition...and let me tell you, Mary's pie is worth getting pregnant for! Bettina....what a beautiful name for a beautiful new baby girl!
http://www.abrashgallerie.com/2010/12/folklife-carpets/
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