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Green Man by Guest Blogger Carol Butcher

I have been hooking a little over 3 years. I hook with the Kinder-Hookers (Kinderhook, New York) In fact, three of our group took a road trip up to your shop last spring and you were so gracious to them. You had a hook-in in their honor and even invited them back to your house for cocktails. They had such a great visit. The "How Much Is That Doggie...?" rug that you just posted from Laney Young is another of our group. Several of the ladies are ardent fans of your patterns. We all have on our wish list a trip to Nova Scotia and a visit to Encompassing Designs.

I have learned so much from this group both in hooking and just in a simple sister-hood of sharing. We meet twice a week and once a month for a Saturday hook-In. Laughter is our main production...after that is hooking, eating and learning from each other. What a JOY

About my Green Man

First of all, I fell in love with the pattern the first time I laid eyes on it. I knew at once that I wanted to hook it in blue-greens and I always saw it as a mask. Viewing the pattern on the Encompassing Designs website, I never saw the feathers, wings or the snake so when I received the pattern I was flummoxed. Whatever was I to do? After much soul searching I decided to just hook it as I had imagined it in my mind’s eye (with apologies to the creator and hope that it was a modification that would not offend).

The pattern was a joy to hook. The face opens a world of possibilities...I'm even tempted to try it again in another color way.

After I finished all of the "tendrils", I spread white glue on the back and cut the mask out...no binding or other finishing. I have hung it on the wall just as one might hang a real mask...my Green Man smiles down on me every day and I smile back.

Thank-you so very much for sharing Carol. Your Green Man is definitely watching over you! I was so excited to see it hooked! Below is an added bit of history of the Green Man for interest.

For our ancient ancestors, many spirits and deities were associated with nature, wildlife, and plant growth. After all, if you had just spent the winter starving and freezing, when spring arrived it was certainly time to give thanks to whatever spirits watched over your tribe. The spring season, is typically tied to a number of pre-Christian nature spirits. Many of these are similar in origin and characteristics, but tend to vary based on region and language.

Strongly connected to Jack in the Green and the May King, during the fall harvest, the figure known as the Green Man is a god of vegetation and plant life. He symbolizes the life that is found in the natural plant world, and in the earth itself. Consider, for a moment, the forest. In the British Isles, the forests a thousand years ago were vast, spreading for miles and miles, farther than the eye could see. Because of the sheer size, the forest could be a dark and scary place.

However, it was also a place you had to enter, whether you wanted to or not, because it provided meat for hunting, plants for eating, and wood for burning and building. In the winter, the forest must have seemed quite dead and desolate... but in the spring, it returned to life. It would be logical for early peoples to have applied some sort of spiritual aspect to the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

The Green Man is typically portrayed as a human face surrounded by dense foliage. Such images appear as far back as the eleventh century, in church carvings. As Christianity spread, the Green Man went into hiding, with stonemasons leaving secret images of his face around cathedrals and churches. He enjoyed a revival during the Victorian era, when he became popular with architects, who used his visage as a decorative aspect in buildings.

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A Horse of a Different Colour

7/21/2014

Guest blogger: Heather Gordon

PHOTO #1

When my father saw or learned something unexpected that changed his mind, he used to say “Now that is a horse of a different colour.” When I saw Christine’s first 2014 calendar rug design, I knew that I had to hook it but, it would be hooked a little differently. I, too, prefer a horse of a different colour. Perhaps this is because I like to break rules and put my own touch on things, sometimes jut to be different. Doing things in the prescribed or expected manner is a little too boring.

This is the year of the horse and this is my year. For that reason, I knew immediately that I wanted my horse to be permanent and not tied to the year 2014 alone. I was born in 1942 in the year of the horse. This Chinese zodiac sign honours the bravery and loyalty of the ancient Chinese war horse. It is reliable, intelligent, friendly, and – wait for this – independent. I think they got it right.

My first impulse was to hook the horse like the ancient bronze statue on which the design is based so I gathered some rich bronzy golds that looked marvelous with the deep blues that are scattered through my house. Photo 1 represents the plan. Then, I decided to use Dorr hookable wool as a backing and chose the one with a little gold speck to pick up the tones of the horse. Then I found a small skein of hand-spun yarn that had a soft blend of grey-blues and golds. I think I picked it up in Newfoundland a couple of years ago, based on the theory that if you love something, you will eventually find a project where you can use it.

Photo 1 – original fabrics and colour palette

I started with the dark blue mane and found that it needed an outline to accentuate the flowing lines. Rather than using a solid colour of Briggs & Little yarn, I tried the hand-spun. Then, I wondered whether it would work as an outline for the body. It looked so beautiful alone against the wool background that I decided not to hook the horse at all. The piece needed more blue so that went into the Chinese characters in the corners. Since I only had about ten inches of the hand-spun yarn left, I turned to other aged bronzy tones from Briggs & Little used them in the hooves, the cloud under the horse’s hooves and to outline the corner characters. Then, I made it into a pillow cover, using the same hookable wool for the back.

Photo 2 – the finished project.

Time and time again, my projects evolve and take on a life of their own. I did end up with a horse of a different colour. This time it has no colour at all, but it works and I can enjoy it through all the seasons of all the years ahead.

PHOTO #2

4 Comments

Children's art makes fabulous rugs!

6/23/2014

By Guest Blogger Nancy Hare

I am fortunate to have inherited my creative abilities from my mother and grandmother. Over the years they were always doing something crafty - from quilting, sewing, painting and the list goes on. Fifteen years ago some friends were taking a rug hooking course, so I thought that would be fun to try and I’ve been hooked ever since.

My husband and I have three boys and over the years I’ve accumulated many of their artistic drawings. I decided that it would be nice to save some of their work by making it into wall hangings. The two older boys, Jacob and Jesse had one large sheet of paper to draw their picture and Lucas had regular 8 ½ x 11 sheets which I then arranged into a 28” x 36” mat. I hooked the mats using wool fabric on a #4 cut.

I’ve also use my sons’ drawings for other things such as purses. I wear one that my youngest son, Lucas who was five at the time, drew with bees and flowers. Even still after several years of using my purse, I receive many compliments.

We had a pet house rabbit named Bugs and she was the inspiration for the bunny checkerboard. Since I also do some wood burning I thought it would be nice to make wood burned rabbit checkers. Someday I envision an antique pine chest in my living room with the checkerboard and pieces as a tribute to Bugs.

Between children, animals and being surrounded by beautiful countryside I’m sure I’ll never run short of new ideas for the next rug hooking project.

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Pam's perfectly prodded pillows....

5/28/2014

By Guest Blogger Pam Haughn

I love to give handmade gifts and since I started rug hooking 10 years ago, it is often a hooked piece. One of my favorite gifts to give are pillows...and if I can make them so I don't have to hook the background...that is even better. I had a wedding reception to go to last weekend, so I decided to hook and proddy some sunflower pillows.

To start my project I picked Verel as my background fabric. This is a very dense, even weave backing sometimes referred to as divider cloth. Some people don't like to use it as it is very hard to hook in, but I discovered if you use a very big shafted hook, and poke down to make a big hole, it hooks very well. An alternative to using verel would be to use the lovely colored burlap and linen at Encompassing Designs. The “pattern” I use for the sunflowers is simply 3 circles. One bigger slightly above the other two smaller ones on either side. These are the centers of the sunflowers. Remember with hooked pieces where there is no background hooked, you need to start with smaller images as you hook on the lines instead of inside them. I used a black and white check for my centers, but a rich dark brown would be nice too.

Once the centers are hooked, I started cutting out petals. I use a template that I found in “Prodded Hooking for a Three-Dimensional Effect” by Gene Shephard, which has excellent instructions and wonderful pictures. I use the template for Black Eyed Susans. For these pillows I used wool dyed by Shane of ED, call Dijon. It was the perfect colour. For 2 pillows I used ¼ yd of wool. My petals don't all turn out the same, I cut two at a time and after several they start to look a little odd..but what flower in nature has perfect petals??

When I have enough petals cut, I use a smooth edged mini pliers to “proddy” the flower petals. I poke the pliers through a hole to pull one side of the petal through. When it has been pulled through to the middle of the petal piece, I move up a few holes and poke the pliers down and pull up the other side of the petal. There is a “proddy tool” which I have borrowed and used once, but I am cheap and I have this tool which works for me! I keep adding petals until the flower looks full. From the back, you can see a small piece of wool that joins the petals. I made a mistake and put my circles too close, which always makes a challenge when I proddy the smaller flowers, but I like the layered affect it creates when they are all prodded.

When all three flowers are hooked and prodded, I use a chain stitch for the stems. This could easily be hooked instead. I then made leaves using the petal template and used the same method as the flower petals to add a leaf to each stem.

I steam the back and front a little (no deep pressing as you want the petals to stick off).

Last step is sewing. I used 14” pillow forms so I cut the fabric down to 18' square. I used verel as the backing as well, and I used two pieces with finished edges that overlapped to make the 18”. I sewed around 5/8”, turned the pillow right side out, pressed the edges, then sewed around again a generous 1” which brings the inside to 14” and creates an edge around the pillow.

Pam used our Dijon spot dyed wool for the flower petals.
http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/dyed-spots.html

We have a special on right now for the verel in both a light blue and a light beige. http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/backings.html

4 Comments

French Country

5/6/2014

9 Comments

French country rug or “the $7,000 rug” as my loving husband refers to it!!!!!

Guest Blogger Francine Birket

First of all I am so flattered that Christine has asked for some comments to add to my in-progress 8’ by 12’ area rug. I am a new rug hooker, I bought my first kit in Cape Breton in 2009, we just retired and started our North American road trip. I was introduced to the craft and art of rug hooking from my dearly departed girlfriend Audrey who made me a gorgeous “old Santa” rug and her final gift was a frog design purse. I was intimidated by the beautiful rugs being made by Audrey’s group in Sarnia. So I thought maybe later on when I retire I could try it, my husband looked at me with sheer panic as he noticed the huge plastic boxes full of wool and patterns, the cutters, the frames. For him this would be a big cash drain!!!!

But once we toured P.E.I, Newfoundland and ended up in Mahone Bay I was in love!!!! So, five kits later, the last one being Cock a Doodle Two from Christine, this naïve, ignorant one, decides that I need to make an area rug for our living room that will complement our artwork and décor. The area has wall to wall carpeting (builder’s grade, only the best!!!) which we planned on replacing with wood flooring down the road anyway as I remind my husband!!!! Thus, he had named this effort the $7,000 rug!!!!! My husband hopes this rug will take 2-3 years, gee, is he ever wrong.

Some of the bridge players in our little town of Cobourg are rug hookers and introduced me to the guild. So, before I know it, a very generous lady, Elaine unloads four bags of materials, all parts of blankets!!! Motivated by the memory of my husband’s panic, I made a critical decision to hook the rug using mostly blankets to try to keep the costs down. I would guess that at least 50% of it will be made from blankets. Thrifts stores between Burlington and Cobourg have been and will be checked out as I try to complete the project.

None of this would be happening without the wonderful, generous ladies I have met in Cobourg, Fort Myers who contribute ideas, encouragement, techniques, wool and feedback. The design is my own, I wanted to convey Provence thus sunflowers, the poppies and the roosters. I will frame the roosters and flowers with stripes depicting French linens. The colours are reflective of the region as well. I must acknowledge Carol Feeney from Florida who designs and sells her exotic patterns, kits and wools. She provided input on colour choices and tweaked my design. So, I started working on this just before Christmas. The most challenging part for the next three months was not collapsing while hooking with all this linen around me in more than 25 Celsius weather. I can just imagine your concern and empathy now!!!! “Poor Francine is hooking in the heat and sun of Florida”.

9 Comments

Liking your project.....goes a long way to finishing it!

5/5/2014

15 Comments

By Guest Blogger Dick Barr

DICK HOLDING UP HIS HEIRLOOM GIFT TO HIS SON

Hi Christine,

I've hooked a lot of rugs and I believe in something I was told or read years ago…"you have to love your rug". Well, our first born and only son, asked for a rug for his bathroom and he described a "bear reaching for honey". I asked for more input, but all I got was, "I know what it looks like…in my head". Not much help.

So I took the measurements and checked some colors in the bathroom, cut some linen and started drawing. I was underwhelmed. Beginning to hook it didn't help much. I was using a lot of scrap, so no tactile "boost" from any hand dyed strips. With a dozen hours or so under my belt I was just about to the point that I was dreading the next 50 or so more. I just didn't care for this rug. I don't hook cartoon rugs. I like primitives; cats, horses, chickens, the odd village or farm scene. This rug was going to be a real bummer.

Then something really neat happened. I showed the design to my son. Ben is usually pretty calm. He doesn't show a lot of emotion. So it was particularly uplifting when he was really tickled with the design and said, "it's just what I was thinking of".

Funny, you can have a little guy around for 33 years and even though he is out on his own and quite independent, when you see that old glimmer of excitement in his eyes you are powerless to ignore it. From that point forward I "loved my rug".

Thanks for your blog. I always enjoy it!
Best regards,
Dick Barr

Dick Barr sent this touching story that's steeped in a lesson learned. It reminded me of the time, many years back when I hooked commissions. I found them to be trying, usually the patterns didn't inspire me personally and I was using colours that aren't normally a part of my repertoire so I was unenthused about the project. Not being motivated by the money and hooking for a stranger also made the effort lack luster.

Suddenly every loop is fingernails along a blackboard. To take the time and effort needed to hook a rug there needs to be a whole lot of inspiration, excitement, a thrill to see the finished project; the necessary fuel to take you to the end. Hooking a rug should never make you feel like your being escorted to the gallows. It's all about fun... sharing....a journey. It should be stimulation for the artist within, a connection to the finished product formed in your mind's eye, not a pin stuck in it. Any time there is drag, the project ends up in a closet, neglected and forgotten. I stopped doing commissions for these reasons and now only hook for my own pleasure. Once hooking becomes work, a chore, the fun fades away. Dick certainly summed up the emotional trail that is traversed when not inspired by a rug, but luckily he found the connection needed to make it to the finish line in the glint of his son's eye.

Thanks so much for sharing Dick and like your son, I was sentimental when I saw the heirloom you are leaving to your most precious creation, Ben.

15 Comments

Della Ackles show and tell....

2/10/2014

By Guest Blogger Della Ackles

GINGERBREAD MAN STOCKING

Denver’s Ginger Bread Man

When I first saw this pattern by Christine Little, I knew my grandson Denver would LOVE IT! I got to work on this stocking for him in January 2014 and finished it the same month. It is mostly #4 and #5 cut 100% Dorr wool hand dyed by me.

Denver spends a lot of time with Grammy and Grampy so he sees Grammy working on rugs all the time. Denver had been asking me to make him a Christmas stocking ever since he saw the Christmas stocking I made last year for myself which was also a Christine Little pattern.

Denver’s favourite colours are pink and purple so I knew those colours would need to be incorporated into his stocking. Denver is usually with us each weekend and he saw the progress I was making and loved it. I was struggling with the trees and how I was going to do them so I got out a bunch of green wool and had Denver help me pick out colours. He says to me ‘Grammy, I think the trees need to be purple!’ "You know" I said "Denver, you are right" the trees will look fabulous purple. The back of the stocking I used a big piece of recycled purple, 100% wool I had laying around and I lined his stocking. Denver loves it and it was so much fun to do. I love Christine’s patterns and wish I could hook on them every day.
To view other Christmas Stocking Patterns click the link: http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/seasonal-designs.html

WILLIAM MORRIS STRAWBERRY THIEF

What can I say; I’ve wanted to do a William Morris for some time now. Several ladies in our hooking group have done William Morris patterns and I’ve always admired them. I’ve been learning to hand dye wool and last Christmas I decided to gift to myself a couple of Christine’s patterns; one was the William Morris, Strawberry Thief. I began this rug May of 2013. I wanted to dye all of my own wool for this project as I’ve been slowly learning how to dye wool using Lucy Richard’s, Wooly Mason Jar Method of dyeing. I had a plan now I needed to execute. I had borrowed some William Morris books from a few of the ladies from rug hooking. I had a few versions of the Strawberry Thief that other ladies had hooked to give me inspiration and to figure out how I wanted mine to look. I researched online and felt I was ready! Figuring out the colours I wanted to do was the hardest for me, decisions decisions.

The birds were the most challenging for me, as I didn’t want them to ‘pop out’ at the viewer. I wanted the birds to blend in and be a pleasant surprise to see. I tried many different colours and mediums and decided to go with some silk type of fabric very stringy and was silver/grey in colour, a light and a darker shade of each. I thought this would simulate feathers nicely. The silky type of fabric was about 1” in width if I were to ‘uncurl’ it and very difficult to work with but once I had some hooked, I knew right away, it wasn’t right. I was very disappointed as I was so sure that would make the wings look lovely. I tried some various other colours and mediums and nothing looked right so back to my silky fabric I went and got the bright idea, ‘what if’ I were cut the fabric in half? I ended up cutting the fabric into fourths by hand, ask me how much of a pain that was! Lol

I used recycled black for the background and the border I tried various methods for that as well before settling on the light/dark green in the center and black on the outer edge. It is funny how we know what looks right and what does not. I always say ‘if it talks to me’ I’m good to go. Always trust your gut, it knows!

I mainly used #4 cut in the rug and #5 for the background. I enjoyed this rug and I am very proud of how it turned out and can’t believe I DID THAT! Might be once in a life time kind of thing as it was a lot of work and I finished the rug January 2014. Hope you all enjoy!

To view other William Morris designs click the link: http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/william-morris.html

LOTUS

This is Della's current project....one of my designs called "Lotus". All I can say is that Della can hook my designs any time! I love this piece and her colours are fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Comments

Mary Schlech show and tell.....

2/6/2014

A treat by Guest Blogger Mary Schlech

Mary said it was fun raiding my shop of wool during our special on plaids!
I think the smile says it all!

Remember this? You helped me try and figure out how to make the feet look dusty. This was from a photo taken in Uganda and I gave it to a friend who had joined with us to reach out to people in this tiny rural community. Webale nnyo nnyo means thank you very much in Lungandan. The website for what we are doing there is www.ugandaventure.com

Hi Christine, I promised you pictures, sorry it’s taken me so long! This was the first one I did for our cottage. I wanted to do some of the birds we see regularly pass by. I liked the image of flying Canada geese and thought a square geometric background would be a nice contrast and fun to hook, using up extra blue wool. I find by Googling my subject and then checking out the images I find plenty of subjects to choose and draw.

Next I drew a blue heron. I wanted the background to be colourful because the heron is such a tall goofy grey bird! I added the frame with the fish to draw the colours out and maybe because I was feeling silly.
The cormorant was another goofy black bird that needed some back up! I ran out of the background wool so decided to add colourful balloons. This is my favourite rug of all. I feel like it says “welcome to the party!”.

Thanks for all the help and advice you’ve given me over the years. Your store is always a treat to visit… so many beautiful rugs and supplies. Hope to see you soon, Mary

Here is my first original design. You helped me with the colours showing me how to get the stained glass effect with light to dark dyed wool and told me to make it big enough to have plenty of colour between black outlines . It was so much fun I gave it to a dear friend.

This is the first piece I've hung on a wall. I wanted to represent the sound of a loon at night, haunting and beautiful. I used, along with wool, sari silk, yarn, and even a silver sweatshirt string discarded as being tacky by my son. I bound the edges with a strip of sari material. It was fun to hook.

My son married a beautiful girl form Dublin. When we went to the wedding we visited Trinity College where the Book of Kells was on display, the ancient biblical manuscript with fantastic, colourful images drawn and painted around the year 800. So for Christmas I made this rug, using some of the images from the book. It was challenging! Celtic designs are crazy! I had to colour the design at first to make sense of it. Again thanks so much for your help with colour choices and design thoughts. I Think the newly weds liked their rug.

1 Comment

Laurie Cassie's show and tell...

1/6/2014

2 Comments

By Guest Blogger Laurie Cassie

Bonnie's Posies

You will likely not remember, but in 2006 we were back east on a cross Canada tour. We stopped into your shop and … wham! I was hooked - no pun intended. You let me try a few stitches on a project you had set up in the back of the shop,

I bought the pattern to Bonnie's Posies, a hoop and a hook and away I went. I design my own now and really love it. Thank you for the introduction. Hours and hours of pleasure. Thank you for being my inspiration!

Bonnie's Posies - My first rug project! I couldn't afford the rug I really wanted hanging on the wall in Encompassing Designs and then Christine said, "You can hook your own." Hmmm…. Christine's 20 min. intro lesson in the back of the shop, bought a pattern, a hook and a hoop and away I went - back to Vancouver, BC. Got home and didn't have a clue how to start. Signed up for a Tues. night course here at home and got the basics down. Dorr wool hand-dyed with Majic carpet dyes. Hooked in a 6. Bonnie's Posie's - a lot of tearing out and re-hooking, but I do love the colours. Thank you Christine, for taking the time with me that day. Your generosity has led to hours and hours of enjoyment since that summer day in 2006.

Hallway Runner - This was my first 'design my own' project. I was terrified of hooking open space. I had no idea of what to do if there wasn't a patterned line to follow so I knew I needed something with a clear pattern throughout. I also wanted to visually elongate my hallway. So I decided on 7 flowers, each got repeated 3 times with a grid of 21. The higgly-piggly border gave me a chance to use up some spare wool. The walls in the hallway are pale blue so the rug just brightens up the whole space. Dorr wool hand-dyed with Majic carpet dyes. Hooked in a 6.

Dining Room Chairs - If you had seen my old fabric on the dining room chairs you would know in a heartbeat that this was a necessary project! A set of paper napkins bought at Costco was the inspiration for the design. The dining room walls are a deep red so I wanted the yellow to help liven up the space. A 'hooker' friend, Michelle, guided me to realizing I had to hook the seat much smaller than the actual chair so that the hooking doesn't have to bend around the edge of the chair. The loops would open up and the backing would show. So then came my problem of what to do about fabric around the border. I used an old, OLD wool blanket and over dyed it with 'Dijon' dye recipe. It was another 'hooker' friend, Mae, who helped me figure out the sewing together. Dorr wool hand-dyed with Majic carpet dyes. Hooked in a 6. You know the expression "It takes a village to raise a child"? Well, apparently it applies to my hooking as well! Thank you Michelle and Mae!

Rachel's Purple Rug - My daughter loves all things purple. This was my time to try and conquer open space - well, a little open space. Threw the burlap on the floor, got out the Sharpie and just started drawing kooky florals. Wanted a traditional border to balance the wackiness inside so I went with egg & dart for the border. Dorr wool hand-dyed with Majic carpet dyes. Hooked in a 6.

Rachel's Purple Rug

Hallway Runner

Dining Room Chairs

Scroll down for two more posts of show and tell rugs!

2 Comments

The Tree of Life, a healing rug........

11/14/2013

By Guest Blogger Beverley Sheppard

I just finished my mat today, your pattern Tree Of Life, and decided to share photos of my finished project with you. I enjoyed Doris Norman’s course last fall and enjoyed hooking the Jacobean pattern, dyeing all the wool myself.

It’s been a difficult year for me because before my Dad passed away in April I spent a lot of time with him in hospital, Palliative Care and eventually the Hospice where I stayed with him 24/7 and had to put my hooking aside. Hooking this mat has been a means of comfort as I heal from my loss and it turns out that the Tree of Life is my best effort in hooking and dyeing so far.

Thank-you

Beverley Sheppard
(a member of the Sussex Tea Room Hookers, Sussex, N.B.)

3 Comments

Dyeing and hooking Aurora Borealis

11/13/2013

6 Comments

By Guest Blogger Charlene Scott

Note the constellation Orion on the right hand side just above the water.

My rug is called in short "Aurora Borealis" but under my breath it is called " The view from the deck of the CSS BAFFIN in late September, north of the Arctic Circle".

I have wanted to hook a rug for a long time to bring back that scene one cold night when I stood on the helicopter deck of the BAFFIN and watched the lights play for at least half an hour.   They rippled and shimmered and never stopped moving.   All the while I swore I could hear piano music playing in time with the pulsing of the lights.

I started with the aurora first. I took a large chunk of raw Dorr wool and painted on the dye.   I needed something to merge the green and purple/pink and dip dyeing was not going to work for me so I painted on the dye and then took blue and gently put some faint streaks over top. I went over the bottom edge of the green with extra dye to make it slightly darker that the rest.

For the ocean I used one of the shop's spot dyed wool called "The Abyss" interlaced with a "Spruce" Sari Silk. For the sky I used the formula for "The Abyss" and added extra bottle green to make it a little darker and a little more into the green zone.   I dyed it using the crush method which gave me lighter and darker splotches on the wool. When I cut the wool I took the lighter pieces and used them below the aurora and used the darker pieces above.   To finish, I hand sewed many small opalescent seed beads throughout the sky for stars and through the aurora itself to give the impression of transparency.

For the reflection, I took the cut off strips of green from hooking the aurora, placed them into an onion bag and just before all the dye was sucked up in the pot while dyeing the sky I plopped the strips in.   I wanted the green a little darker but not too much.   Then when hooking the reflection strip I twisted the strips. I didn't want the reflection to be too flat when the rest of the water was not.

I hooked the whole rug in #5 cut on linen backing (my first linen rug). I consider this rug an art piece to be hung on the wall. My husband will make a frame and it will be the first rug I won't be walking on. I tried hooking a border around the rug and started five different styles before I realized that it didn't need one, in fact a border diminished it.

I really enjoyed the challenge of translating my memories into a piece of art through the medium of wool.

Charlene transferring the design to the linen using red dot.

The beginning dye technique.

Using her hands to create lines.

Finger painting with dye.

The dried piece of wool waiting to be cut into strips.

The beginning hooking, all done in vertical lines. The boat deck was in the initial design but Charlene decided not to include it.

6 Comments

Lighthouses of Newfoundland and Labrador

11/8/2013

By Guest Blogger Heather Gordon

RHGNL Lighthouse Show

Last Saturday, while teaching a Tessellations workshop at Encompassing Designs, I spotted the November issue of Rug Hooking magazine. I have been anxiously awaiting this edition because the Canadian Connection section featured the wonderful lighthouse show created by members of the Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador.

As a member and teacher of the RHGNL, I head for “The Rock” every August for rug camp. Our show was first assembled at the August 2012 rug camp at Twin Ponds near Gander and has traveled across the region from St. John’s to Labrador City for a full year. Joan Foster, who spearheaded the project for the RHGNL, kept us informed about receptions and media coverage at each new venue. Finally, in August 2013, after the last showing on Fogo Island, the projects were brought back to Twin Ponds, displayed for one last time and returned to the 44 participating artists. Somewhere along the line, the show caught the attention of Rug Hooking magazine and we could hardly wait to see what the article would look like. My subscription still hasn’t arrived so I stole a peek at Christine’s and discovered that a photo of my Lobster Cove Lighthouse was included in the article. It brought back many pleasant memories.

After the 2010 rug camp in Gros Morne, a friend and I visited the Grenfell Mission at St. Anthony on the Northern Peninsula. Our trip was also motivated by one of the items on my “bucket” list. For many years, I had wanted to see the thousand year old Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows.

For most of the trip, the skies were overcast with dark, ominous clouds and gusty winds. The mood, suitable for such a bleak landscape, only enhanced the experience. However, on the last day, as we made our way south to the Port Aux Basques ferry, the sun broke through and the skies cleared. We took advantage of this and examined every point of interest all along the west coast of Newfoundland.

It was not my first visit to Lobster Cove Head, but it was the first time I walked the trail around the lighthouse. Seeing the structure from the cliff below, silhouetted against the brilliant blue sky, I knew that the scene had to be hooked one day. It was a glorious sight on a perfectly glorious day. When I look at my photos, I can almost feel the sun on my back and the wind in my hair. When the show was being planned, there was no doubt in my mind about which lighthouse I would choose. I hope that all who have seen this hooked version have shared the joy of that moment.

After traveling “overseas” for a year, The Lobster Cove Lighthouse went on display for the month of September in the Square Zebras show, Out Of The Box, in Petite Riviere, Nova Scotia, and is finally hanging in my home overlooking Lunenburg Bay.

Materials Used: New Dorr wool, recycled wool fabric, velour and a variety of specialty yarns on linen. The lighthouse is sculpted and the piece is backed and quilted to enhance the three-dimensional style of hooking. All of the fibers used in the piece are included in the fringe.

Measurements: 9” x 45” I used several of my own photos for some initial sketches and decided to crop the view to emphasize the height of the lighthouse structure and the steepness of the cliff face. Below the point where I stood, separated by a light rail fence, there was a sheer weathered cliff and another 50’ drop to the ocean.

Lobster Cove Lighthouse hanging in the first display at Twin Ponds, August 2012
Designed and hooked by Heather Gordon, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

1 Comment

Fish.....a small name for a big catch!

10/24/2013

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By Guest Blogger Carol Allen

I took rug hooking lessons in Halifax and discovered Christine and Encompassing Designs two years ago. With her many designs it was so easy to get ‘hooked on hooking’.....Christine is always available for questions and hints.....I have done two Christmas socks for my grand-kids, a flower piece for my friend and chose this fish design for my own dining room table...I love the ocean and all that it offers so this pattern was a great choice. I sit and watch TV, avoid snacking and two weeks later its done...already plans for another before I walk out her door......Carol

Sorry, the pictures came in so small that they're blurry when enlarged. But the overall appeal shines through and the colour choices are very fluid. The pattern certainly makes for a lovely table runner with the repeat pattern showing well from either side. This design is actually a Tessellation which means a repeat motif and we are holding a workshop on this on November 2nd. Click on the Workshops link on the website for details.

I'm adding a couple of versions of the pattern below to show more detail. This is a Susan Leslie design and can be viewed by clicking the link and I am making it the new pattern of the week:
http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/susan-leslie.html

Fish....12" x 32"

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Jacobean Jewel

10/16/2013

By Guest Blogger Gretchen Bolar

I started hooking January 2013. This rug was indeed the largest I have tackled. I had made 4 rugs prior to this one. I started this at the Cambria Pines Rug Retreat in June 2013….while suffering a huge case of jet lag as I had arrived back from Bali the same day I went to Cambria.

My teacher was Eric Sandberg. He and I had great color debates.....in the end I think I won….which I understand is quite a feat with Eric. Being from California I like lots of color. I am a student of Gene Shepherd in Anaheim, CA who also likes a lot of color. I used wool (dyed and from the bolt) as well as wool and silk ribbon. I had great fun making it…..but it was probably a bit large for a beginner. I will be attending Cambria Pines Rug Retreat again this year to study with Michele Micarelli.

I am saving the Morris patterns I have from you until I am a better hooker. I have completed ten rugs so far….working hard to become a better hooker. Would love to come to visit you sometime as I love your designs.

Gretchen Bolar

Great job Gretchen! Bold and beautiful! A fun Jacobean design of large proportions for wide cut splashes of bright colour. I asked Gretchen for the story behind the upper right hand corner being a different colour plan than the rest of the border, and this was her response.

"Real story is I did not want to dye more of the purple…..but no one who knows me thought that…they just thought it was my strange touch…which I am becoming famous for. Gene wanted me to put more aqua on the other side for balance….but I guess I did not mind if it did not balance."

This pattern can be viewed on my site: http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/signature-designs.html

3 Comments

Lunenburg Compass revamped......

10/11/2013

By Guest Blogger Sue Cunningham

I loved the idea of placing the village around the compass rose. And the shape was different from any of the rugs I'd hooked in the past. It is also my favourite of Susan Leslie's designs.

I used 5 cut for the compass point outlines, 7 cut for the dark teal segments surrounding the buildings & a 6 cut for everything else. All the wool I used was new off-the-bolt.

Excluding the cream center, I limited my wool choices to 5 colours. I didn't want the buildings to compete with the compass. And I was concerned that if I didn't limit the number of colours, it would become too 'busy'. As a general rule I try to limit my rug colour schemes to no more than 6 choices because I find simple is better in most cases. If too many are used sometimes it's hard to appreciate the design. I call this 'too much noise'.

And to tie it all together, as with most of my rugs, I used most of the colours in the border. This way, everything is nicely tied together

Sue

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The great appeal of this rug is that it's filled with texture. Plaids are key to breathing life into a piece and manipulating them with both horizontal and vertical lines, added even more interest to the overall design.   Sue's balanced colour plan ensures that no particular item steals the show.

Starting with the center compass lightness and gradually darkening to the outer background certainly pleases the eye and the one row of each colour in the outer border, wraps the design with the ultimate frame.

The darker plaid used for the building background and center of the compass feels like dark water or a night sky, pushing the colours out so the rug pops even though the tones are more subdued than vibrant.   Susan Leslie designed and hooked the original version and generally I like the artist's vision, but for this piece, I have to say that Sue has created maximum personality with her colour selections and positioning, and I predict that it will rejuvenate interest in the pattern.   A great job!!!

Pattern can be viewed by clicking the link and scrolling down: http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/susan-leslie.html

Susan Leslie used the colours of the actually Lunenburg buildings and thence the name. But this piece is striking with any colour palette as proved in Sue's rug above.

3 Comments

Cock-A-Doodle-Two

10/10/2013

By Guest Blogger Francine Birket

I made this for my very generous sister-in-law who loves French country. She has beautiful porcelain roosters from France and complimentary fabrics. It was such a joy to work on such a cheerful and beautiful print. thank you Christine.

I finished the rug, What a joy to work on it. Your design and our colour choices were really liked by other hookers.

Francine Birket
Cobourg, Ontario

When Francine first contacted me to make a kit of this pattern I thought, oh my! So much colour and no picture for her to follow. Up to this point I hadn't seen it hooked and any kit I make has to have a picture to follow and I had no time to hook it myself.   The photo is always a guide to where each colour goes so you don't get confused and put wool in a place it wasn't meant to be and then fall short on that colour when you hook its right position.

So Francine told me the basic palette she wanted to work with, no blue, just rich country golds, reds and greens. So I got in the dye pot, labeled the wools, made a colour chart and sent the kit off. I'm having a senior moment, I think I cut the wool because I usually insist on it, but if my life depended on it I wouldn't wager. Francine is obviously a very intuitive hooker and had no trouble following the instructions as she aced the colour placements.

The sunflowers and leaves were tightly gathered and she was able to make them stand out from one another beautifully. I send a full range of colours to choose from so each flower would stand individually and although I did fall short on one tone of the gold she emailed and I rectified that asap so she could keep working at a steady pace.

Francine hooked the background in a very distinct pattern of wavy vertical lines, using the abrashed Ecru over natural.   A very interesting technique that adds to the overall appeal for sure. The background was the only choice I struggled with. I had several light plaids that looked okay but they just weren't the wow factor and competed with the focal points of the rug. I then tried an abrashed light green that worked really well pulling out the leaf colour but it touched the rooster and gold flowers so it wasn't a good flow. Then I tried the Ecru and knew immediately it was the one.   The dominant hue to this rug is gold so the background married it perfectly.

The outside borders show very dark in the photo she provided, but in life it is a medium to dark red plaid outlined with a grid of Antique Red. This finished piece is definitely ready to fit into a French Country kitchen. What eye candy for the season.

4 Comments

Nautical Runner gets a new look...

10/2/2013

By Guest Blogger Adena Clark

Nautical Runner, a delightful mix of a compass with two directional fleur de lis's and stylized sea serpents entwined on a border of rope.

This rug called Nautical Runner is a Christmas gift for my daughter Kendra and Ray.  It was designed by Christine Little of Encompassing Designs and I am thrilled with it. My daughter picked it out and at first I was reluctant to do it, it measures 22" x 62 1/2", but this was the one she liked and now I'm glad I did it. It took a little over 6 weeks to do. It's done in all new wool in a #6 cut and the edge is whipped in dyed yarn. She's thrilled with it and so am I.

Adena

This particular pattern has been dear to my heart. First designed for my hubby’s study, Jean Morse hooked the rug for us as an act of kindness from one friend to another. Every time I look at the rug I think of her. In its many loops are woven memories of a dear friend who shared her passion and her talent with those who knew her.

I dyed the colours to match the décor of the room or I would have gone more with a nautical flavour, so I love to see the blues in Adena’s version. I also like that she mixed up the sea serpent colours with opposites in each corner, adding more interest to the overall curb appeal of the rug.

Adena is a bit of speed hooker as six weeks for a project of this size is quite the feat. She never ceases to amaze me and maybe I feel a bit envious of the fun she has working on a piece. One day when I retire I’ll start filling my house full of rug dreams, but right now I will be happy assisting others in their bliss.

Don’t know what is going on with me but I’ve felt like crap since Monday.   Crap isn't exactly the best word considering in my case it's meant as a verb as well as a noun. Spending a lot of time in the loo...some sort of bug I guess.   It's three days in and there's still rumbling. Throw on that heap of trouble, a bit of insomnia and I'm a bit worse for wear. The sandman has eluded me and after only two hours Sunday night, it was hard getting up Monday to be in Gold River for my pup grooming appointment before the crack of dawn.   Surprisingly I was full of energy all day and worked like a buzz saw until I crashed on the sofa for the evening and didn’t hear a thing until eight this morning. Working on the polar opposite of tired, you would think that after ten or so hours of uninterrupted sleep it would have filled my empty tank, but no, I couldn’t get out of my own way today and the settee upstairs in my classroom kept putting bad thoughts into my head, coaxing me up there for a nap. Hopefully tonight it balances out so I can be perky tomorrow, well...as perky as I could ever be....perky wouldn't be a word my friends would use to describe me.   I'm arrogant, hardly ever get sick and brag about it, but I have a sneaky feeling I've got some sort of bug and working hard at denying it.

I really have no time to be sick....we have a festival to prepare for and kit production is underway.    I hope the weather cooperates for the weekend so all the visitors have an enjoyable stay.   Having to keep the shop open on Sunday means the one of the two days off I normally get a month won't be happening so I won't get a sleep in day. I'll be Dopey, Grumpy and Sleepy and if I'm getting sick, a bit Sneezy....all but Happy that's for sure. I haven't been bashful for years.

1 Comment

Women of Abundance strikes a memory!

9/25/2013

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By Guest Blogger Patricia Truesdale

I had so much fun hooking this pattern. The original design was a half moon and I asked you to square up the pattern.

I had three sisters, family friends from Wisc., in mind when I hooked The Girls by Sue Cunningham. They visit their cottage every summer together.  I had fun choosing/hooking their hair & bathing suits.

I was hush hush when hooking the pattern and on their most recent visit was thrilled to show them the completed rug. It was great! They looked at the rug, at me, the rug again, and then a rush of questions as to just how I captured them so well without even so much as a photograph!  I told them about your website and Sue Cunningham's Abundant Women designs.

I'm currently working on one of your fun snowman designs.  I'll be certain to chose another Abundant Women pattern to work on over the winter.

-Patricia Truesdale

Note: This design is currently the pattern of the week.

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Mergoldendoodle with Mercats...hilarious!

9/7/2013

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A guest show and tell by Sandra Gardiner (Nickname Joe)

Sea Sirens hooked by Joe Michaels

As agreed, here is a picture of the altered Sea Sirens. The Mergoldendoodle with Mercats. Thanks so much for allowing me to make changes to your pattern. I'm sure my daughter-in-law will love it ... it is a gift for her as requested by my son. Just the binding remains! Sandra (Joe)

I had a great chuckle when I opened Sandra's email. The pup has a mug full of personality and seems unaware there are cats sneaking by under the radar. Turn around big guy and start the chase! Truly this rug is a gift from the heart and hand. Great job...it's a ruff life you lead! I love the vibrancy of the colours that tonally balance the rug and the way the blues cast an oceany glow. The clever swirls give the water a little extra zing and imply moment. I adore everything about this rug; the fun, the colours, the hooking and the sentiment behind it! Thanks for sharing!

Sea Sirens 35" x 25" Hooked by Susan Leslie

Here is the original design that was modified, called Sea Sirens. Full of whimsy, this design features a Mercat with Mermice. Joe substituted the cat for a dog and the mice for cats in his rendition.

This piece was originally hooked by my friend Susan Leslie. She used yarn for the mouse whiskers and plaids for the rocks. The tail is a mixture of solids and plaids from her extensive wool stash. The cat, a real poser, seems more interested in reclining in Garfield fashion rather than chasing down dinner. Who needs to go looking for food when you're a ham!

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Coastal Quilts reflecting a memory from the past.....

8/17/2013

2 Comments

By guest blogger Patricia Truesdale

Coastal Quilts 36 1/2" x 20 1/2"

I've enjoyed hooking Sue Cunningham's, Coastal Quilts rug design.

I used to accompany my uncle as he checked lighthouses along Lake St. Clair in south western Ontario.   As we traveled from house to house he would tell me stories of his days on ships, the importance of lighthouses, and how someday they might all be gone.

He was my favourite uncle. He is buried by the water and not far from the one remaining (non functioning) lighthouse in the area.  I often sit by the lighthouse and think of our times together. The Coastal Quilts rug reminds me of those days.

The design was printed on a linen foundation (my favourite backing), hooked with #8 cut, in a 'primitive' manner (no shading). I used all new wool, mostly from a wonderful and reliable shop I found online, Encompassing Designs! I used the one blue for the sky but turned the strips of wool over for a slight difference in the upper clouds.

I had fun hooking the rugs which I changed from quilts to rugs, on the line.  I liked the boats on the distant horizon with their colourful sails. I wanted the water to look 'cold'. I think it does with the rich darker blue.

Thanks for the design!

Patricia Truesdale

Patty, thanks so much for sharing such a sentimental story! With so many lighthouses being decommissioned we are loosing an important part of our past.  I appreciate you taking the time to write these lovely words about your uncle and I am sure Sue will be as touched as I am that a memory from your past was captured in her design. A story painted with wool!

Coincidentally, this pattern is listed as pattern of the week and will be featured until August 19th.

2 Comments

"A Bit Of Egypt" in Scotland.....

8/2/2013

2 Comments

By Guest Blogger Brigitte Webb

I saw this pattern when Christine sent me a picture taken of her shop while attending Rug School in 2008. "A Bit Of Egypt" was hung on the wall behind her cashier table and I fell in love with it and asked to purchase it.  Christine told me it would be a one off, that she would not be reproducing this pattern again. She does sell a smaller version of the same design but this was the biggy and a one-of-a-kind.

Hearing the size and then actually seeing it was two different things.  When I received the parcel in the post I laughed as I really had no idea how large it would be.  Until then I had only hooked about three or four small rugs and all of them combined didn't come close to the size of this Goliath.

I only had a small non gripper rug frame that I had been given as a gift and I just looked at the wonderful pattern thinking I am never going to be able to hook this, but of course I did. It took me a long time to decide what colours I would use but when I finally made up my mind I started sending for them from The Dorr Mill Store as I could see the colours on their site and choose the ones I thought might look good together. If memory serves me correctly the background wool alone took about eight yards in total. It turned out to cost a great deal of money to make this rug, to the tune of £2000 but I was still working at the time so did not feel too guilty. It was an absolute joy for me to make.

I hooked it in 4, 5 and 6 cuts using the Bliss machine, a small cutter that had suction with a short arm for cranking so there were a lot of turns of the handle, not a great favourite of mine. I now have two Bolivars which I love. Anyway I started hooking the center of the design from the middle outwards as the book tell you too and really just tried to place and balance the colours in a way that spoke to me of Egypt. I had to hook it across my knees.

It took me about three months from start to finish, which probably does not sound long considering the size of the project but I was absolutely keen and still am doing something so enjoyable. I guess one would say I'm hooked! One of the first things I loved about rug hooking was that you see results of your efforts immediately. I love this design and the finished rug was definitely the wow factor in the exhibition I held in our town. At present it is safely rolled up and protected from light and moths, waiting to go down on the floor in our home extension some day/year!!

I forgot to say, apart from recycled heather wools, most of the materials used were new "as is" wool straight off the bolts.   Someone asked if I would sell the rug and I had to say I could not, I would never recoup the time and money it took to complete and I love it too much to part with it.

This is the picture I sent to Brigitte of Rug School 2008 where she spied the floor to ceiling "A Bit Of Egypt" hanging on the wall. It took days to draw, a ton of straight lines and large motifs and the reason why it's a one off. Occasionally I do a monster design just for the heck of it but never do the pattern twice. Of course if someone sweet talked me, I might do another one....maybe.

2 Comments

How to paint colour on wool clothing.....

7/23/2013

By Guest Blogger Charlene Scott

Breathe new life into a favorite garment with a bit of painted on colour!

Last Fall, I bought this sweater at Frenchys. It was 100% felted wool with a stamped pattern on  the topside and plain on the back.   Grey is not my best colour but I wore it almost every day until it got too warm this summer.   I had it on while I attended rug school and it garnered many compliments and comments because as we all know, hookers love wool.

At rug school I took the dye course and one of our projects was painting on wool. Prior to that I had promised myself that I would just dye the sweater another colour but the painting on wool peeked my interest.   So finally, the other day, I decided I'd give it a go and see how it would turn out.

Shane was busy dyeing wool on the stoves and we shared the dye kitchen. I used three formula colours, Lime, Pink Orchid, and Royal Blue, all from Christine's dye books as well as straight yellow, used very little water so the colours would be darker and added the vinegar directly to the dye before applying. The sweater was dripping wet, lying flat on a garbage bag on the dye kitchen counter while I applied the colour with a foam brush. I had a rubber glove on as I was also pressing in and smoothing the dye with my fingers.

When finished I placed the sweater carefully in a casserole pan, added a bit of water so it wouldn't scorch to the bottom, covered the pan with foil and put it in the oven at 225* for half an hour.   I checked it then, rearranged it in the pan to make sure it all heated through and left it for another 1/2 hour to make sure all was set.   After one hour I rinsed it in very warm water adding cold slowly till I could squeeze the water out and no dye ran out.   I finished up with a gentle spin of my washer to get the rest of the water out. To dry, I placed it on a towel, blocked it, set it outside on the deck in the shade and it dried quickly. I am pleased with the results. The sweater shrunk slightly, however I am thinking if I get it slightly damp I may be able to stretch it a tiny bit. Either way I will still wear it, just maybe not buttoned up.....

3 Comments

Shopping flea markets with a lucky horseshoe....

7/18/2013