By Guest Blogger Carole St. Amand
I am so thankful to have found enjoyment in rug hooking and it continues to occupy my mind on my way to a long recovery. My friend Odette is the one that introduced me to it.
I used carded natural wool fleece (for the sheep) and wool yarn, wool strips and dyed fleece for the grass at the bottom. For the rest of the rug I used wool off the bolt or dyed (all new). I would like to say I used number 8 cuts but without a cutter or access to one, I had to cut all the wool by hand - either with a rotary cutter (not very successfully) or just hand-cut with scissors (trying to cut 1/4" strips but sometimes wider). Most of the wool fabric had to be ordered on-line as I was not very mobile at the time. I would say it took me about 4 or 5 days at most to hook it entirely.
As I think I told you before, my friend bought me the pattern as a get well gift. She knew I love sheep because we have a sheep herding dog (a Schapendoes). I guess she thought it would be something to help get my mind off things. Her idea was that we would work on it together and select wool and she would show me how. But I was impatient and started doing research on the internet. I ordered a beginner's kit and a video and was able to go to a local studio for a beginner's workshop just so I could learn how to complete this pattern.
I have been recovering since October 27th (the date of the accident) and am now walking with a cane. It has been a very emotional journey for both my husband and I as we were both struck by a vehicle as pedestrians. Before rug hooking, I felt a little depressed and my life as I knew it before did not exist - no hiking, or walking and running with my dog, no cross-country skiing, no shopping in malls etc.... This new found love of wool has re-energized me and I have been sketching my own designs non-stop and just can't stop buying wool to make more rugs!!!!!
Carole
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I call stories such as these "Sweet & Sour". The sour is how some people suffer in life, from things beyond their control, but then I am inspired how they come out the other side of this trying tunnel through hard work and fortitude. Accidents and all manner of mishaps happen and can change life as we know it but it doesn't have to be in a bad way. Some things may go but other things are waiting to fill the void. Joy can be found in many places, you only have to look to find it. This is the sweet.
So to hear that rug hooking moved in and helped the healing process, taking her mind temporarily away from her troubles to fill her life with beauty and renewed hope made me smile. Carole's story is a tradegty but in this time of struggle emerged a Phoenix out of the dust for a new lease on life and obviously the start of something fantastically wonderful.
This sweet little pattern called "Dances With Wool" was designed for a teacher who wanted to incorporate flowers with a sheep. I designed two of them. One critter was kicking up water in a mud puddle wearing rubber boots, and the other was sporting high heels such as the sweet little lamb above. I've seen this pattern hooked many times and each time it makes me chuckle. This is one of those designs that's pure fun...maybe for Carole it represented one day soon, being able to kick up her heels once again. I love everything about this piece, she did a great job with colour planning and I am so excited to see what she'll come up with next.
I used carded natural wool fleece (for the sheep) and wool yarn, wool strips and dyed fleece for the grass at the bottom. For the rest of the rug I used wool off the bolt or dyed (all new). I would like to say I used number 8 cuts but without a cutter or access to one, I had to cut all the wool by hand - either with a rotary cutter (not very successfully) or just hand-cut with scissors (trying to cut 1/4" strips but sometimes wider). Most of the wool fabric had to be ordered on-line as I was not very mobile at the time. I would say it took me about 4 or 5 days at most to hook it entirely.
As I think I told you before, my friend bought me the pattern as a get well gift. She knew I love sheep because we have a sheep herding dog (a Schapendoes). I guess she thought it would be something to help get my mind off things. Her idea was that we would work on it together and select wool and she would show me how. But I was impatient and started doing research on the internet. I ordered a beginner's kit and a video and was able to go to a local studio for a beginner's workshop just so I could learn how to complete this pattern.
I have been recovering since October 27th (the date of the accident) and am now walking with a cane. It has been a very emotional journey for both my husband and I as we were both struck by a vehicle as pedestrians. Before rug hooking, I felt a little depressed and my life as I knew it before did not exist - no hiking, or walking and running with my dog, no cross-country skiing, no shopping in malls etc.... This new found love of wool has re-energized me and I have been sketching my own designs non-stop and just can't stop buying wool to make more rugs!!!!!
Carole
*************************************************************************************************************************
I call stories such as these "Sweet & Sour". The sour is how some people suffer in life, from things beyond their control, but then I am inspired how they come out the other side of this trying tunnel through hard work and fortitude. Accidents and all manner of mishaps happen and can change life as we know it but it doesn't have to be in a bad way. Some things may go but other things are waiting to fill the void. Joy can be found in many places, you only have to look to find it. This is the sweet.
So to hear that rug hooking moved in and helped the healing process, taking her mind temporarily away from her troubles to fill her life with beauty and renewed hope made me smile. Carole's story is a tradegty but in this time of struggle emerged a Phoenix out of the dust for a new lease on life and obviously the start of something fantastically wonderful.
This sweet little pattern called "Dances With Wool" was designed for a teacher who wanted to incorporate flowers with a sheep. I designed two of them. One critter was kicking up water in a mud puddle wearing rubber boots, and the other was sporting high heels such as the sweet little lamb above. I've seen this pattern hooked many times and each time it makes me chuckle. This is one of those designs that's pure fun...maybe for Carole it represented one day soon, being able to kick up her heels once again. I love everything about this piece, she did a great job with colour planning and I am so excited to see what she'll come up with next.
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