By Guest Blogger Mary Doig
I recently had the great privilege of participating in an inspirational and creative project, “Exploring the Tarot - 23 artists hook the Major Arcana.” Christine asked me to blog about how this hooking adventure unfolded.
Several years ago, at the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia’s annual rug hooking school, I took a class from Michele Micarelli, a vibrant, talented, and creative rug hooking teacher and artist. I expect that many of you already know her and/or her stunning work: http://www.michelemicarelli.com
Michele and I became friends. Last year she invited me to participate in a project that she and her friend Loretta Scena were organizing. It involved hooking one’s own version of a tarot card. The rug was to be a specified size, with a black border and rounded corners. It would have the name and number of the card in the bottom border. Other than those “rules,” intended to ensure that the rugs in the display were consistent in size and shape, the design of the card was wide open.
I knew very little about tarot, so when given my choice of design, I chose The Sun. Sunflowers have always been a favourite; I thought that whatever the card turned out to be, my design would feature sunflowers.
Researching The Sun tarot card was the first order of business. The Rider Waite series is the most popular tarot deck and I was pleased to see that sunflowers were a key element in The Sun card. Its meaning struck me as well. The Sun is a powerfully positive card, and that positivity remains even if it is presented upside down, showing that bad fortune is only temporary.
I decided to use the sun, rock wall and sunflowers as the components of my design, and translated the shawl into a red inner border. I imagined a rock wall with a field of sunflowers behind it, and beyond that, a radiating sunrise. I searched the internet for images such as these, printed off some for inspiration, and went to work on the design.
Christine was kind enough to give me the use of her design table one Saturday, and I was grateful not only for that, but for her listening ear and guidance with design challenges.
I also knew that if I buckled down in her studio, I would actually get the design done!
Several years ago, at the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia’s annual rug hooking school, I took a class from Michele Micarelli, a vibrant, talented, and creative rug hooking teacher and artist. I expect that many of you already know her and/or her stunning work: http://www.michelemicarelli.com
Michele and I became friends. Last year she invited me to participate in a project that she and her friend Loretta Scena were organizing. It involved hooking one’s own version of a tarot card. The rug was to be a specified size, with a black border and rounded corners. It would have the name and number of the card in the bottom border. Other than those “rules,” intended to ensure that the rugs in the display were consistent in size and shape, the design of the card was wide open.
I knew very little about tarot, so when given my choice of design, I chose The Sun. Sunflowers have always been a favourite; I thought that whatever the card turned out to be, my design would feature sunflowers.
Researching The Sun tarot card was the first order of business. The Rider Waite series is the most popular tarot deck and I was pleased to see that sunflowers were a key element in The Sun card. Its meaning struck me as well. The Sun is a powerfully positive card, and that positivity remains even if it is presented upside down, showing that bad fortune is only temporary.
I decided to use the sun, rock wall and sunflowers as the components of my design, and translated the shawl into a red inner border. I imagined a rock wall with a field of sunflowers behind it, and beyond that, a radiating sunrise. I searched the internet for images such as these, printed off some for inspiration, and went to work on the design.
Christine was kind enough to give me the use of her design table one Saturday, and I was grateful not only for that, but for her listening ear and guidance with design challenges.
I also knew that if I buckled down in her studio, I would actually get the design done!
Voila: Design drawn! It was transferred to linen, and then….colour planning….
I wanted bright colours, but not too bright, so I used a touch of chocolate brown and seal brown in each formula to tie everything. Majic Carpet are my dyes of choice.
A combination of new and recycled wool was used, for transitional swatches and overdyeing.
On a beautiful day, the dyeing was done. How much fun is it to hang up this wash?
I wanted bright colours, but not too bright, so I used a touch of chocolate brown and seal brown in each formula to tie everything. Majic Carpet are my dyes of choice.
A combination of new and recycled wool was used, for transitional swatches and overdyeing.
On a beautiful day, the dyeing was done. How much fun is it to hang up this wash?
Next for the hooking. As you can see, I received some very valuable help from our little dog, Ruby. She normally doesn’t wear jammies, but she was recovering from an operation and these helped her stop scratching. Hooking made her extra, extra sleepy too!
Many cuts were used – everything from a 3 to an 8.
I was aiming for some, but not a lot of shading…primitive but not too primitive, if you know what I mean. I am a big fan of outline and fill. Is primitive shading a hooking term? If so, that’s what I was aiming for.
The finished rug was delivered to Michele. The next step along the way was to go to Shelburne, Vermont for the rug show opening.
In early December 2016, my husband Peter Redden and I set off on a road trip. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and the travelling was easy.
I was aiming for some, but not a lot of shading…primitive but not too primitive, if you know what I mean. I am a big fan of outline and fill. Is primitive shading a hooking term? If so, that’s what I was aiming for.
The finished rug was delivered to Michele. The next step along the way was to go to Shelburne, Vermont for the rug show opening.
In early December 2016, my husband Peter Redden and I set off on a road trip. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and the travelling was easy.
The show was mounted at an absolutely gorgeous venue, All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Shelburne, Vermont. http://www.allsoulsinterfaith.org. Here is the view:
The venue itself was as spectacular as the view.
A very happy hooker!
The opening was a great success, with inspirational pieces to view, the opportunity to meet people I had only ever read about in Rug Hooking magazine, delicious food, and even tarot card readings. The next day we had a hook-in in the sanctuary. This photo was taken before we brought in tables and rearranged chairs. The view was so gorgeous that it was hard to concentrate on our hooking!
I was so honoured to be in the company of these talented artists: Diane Philips, Mariah Krauss, Wanda Kerr, Loretta Scena, Elissa Crouch, Stephanie Allen-Krauss, Liz Marino, Lynne Fowler, Jennifer O’Rourke Lavoie, Liz Alpert Fay, Rae Harrell, Lisa Chaloner, Kathleen Herbert, Doug Rankin, Jule Marie Smith, Emily K. Robertson, Michele Micarelli, Cyndy Duade, Celeste Bessette, Linda Rae Coughlin, Devin Ryder, Pris Butler.
“Exploring the Tarot” will travel around the US and Canada and is expected here in Nova Scotia at the Rug Hooking Museum of North America in 2017. Please come to see it – you will love it!
If you would like to see and learn more about the rugs in the show, Devin Ryder, one of the artists, has blogged about each one. She is an exceptionally engaging and articulate writer. And a tarot reader as well! Here is the link to her blog:
http://www.drawingfromtheday.com/a-blog-on-art-creativity-and-mindfulness/tarot-rug-project-news-and-index-to-the-rugs
“Exploring the Tarot” will travel around the US and Canada and is expected here in Nova Scotia at the Rug Hooking Museum of North America in 2017. Please come to see it – you will love it!
If you would like to see and learn more about the rugs in the show, Devin Ryder, one of the artists, has blogged about each one. She is an exceptionally engaging and articulate writer. And a tarot reader as well! Here is the link to her blog:
http://www.drawingfromtheday.com/a-blog-on-art-creativity-and-mindfulness/tarot-rug-project-news-and-index-to-the-rugs
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