Ticklepie

Stumbling upon some unique wool colors and special effects

I have been busy working on many many things since the end of our Bea Brock workshop in March. First, I did a lot of dyeing and formula development for my own series of colors. One of the neatest things that I did hit on was what I have decided to call  "dust storm colors". Here in Arizona, especially in  July -September we have a monsoon season where we can have blowing dust storms.

In doing my tons of dye experiments, not unlike what I used to do for my textile printing business, I hit upon some formulas that yielded not only the colors of the storms, but also the swirling highs and lows that they create. When hooked together, these colors create a low level  "glow" in a rug. In the photo below, you can see the result. The border was hooked with 6 pieces (1/8 yd each) of various dust storm wools that I dyed.

It is my original pattern called "Four Amigos" that  I had drawn for the workshop we had with Kathy Clark of Briarwood Folkart. I had completed it all except the border and was waiting for the right wool to complete the project. (hooked in #9 cut)

In addition I've been working on a very unique needlebook along with a roll-up storage pouch for hookers that I am very pleased with. I will have photos of those for next week and will make patterns available.

Here's hoping that you all have a wonderful Mothers Day along with a beautiful Month of May !

Questions on this post or on any of my previous ones? I am happy to help...just email me at   ticklepie@cox.net.

Last row of hooking ~ a welcome feeling for every hooker !

I was down to my last row of hooking on my Sharon Smith rug pattern called "Readers".

You all know the feeling of that last row....

I had decided to change the background to a striped wallpaper in a muted teal instead of using the dark background that appeared in the original version.

And here is my finished rug with the change....

And most of yesterday my kitchen looked like this....

Because I was dyeing (not eggs) wool.

In Arizona, wool dyeing can be quite maddening with our exceptionally hard water. You can often never get the same result twice. I have a tremendous admiration for anyone who is an expert at wool dyeing....and contrary to what is written......yes, wool dyeing is easy.....the process itself is straight forward...... but manipulating all the players ......that is quite another thing.

Do you have any questions on this post or any of my others? Please feel free to email me at ticklepie@cox.net.

Hooking an antique style Rug

This past Saturday at our monthly meeting of the Mesa Rug Hookers, Elaine pulled the last loop on the lovely antique style rug she had been working on for a year and a half.

Here is the rug as I had photographed it on 3-18-12.

And here it is after she pulled the last loop on Saturday.

Check out that hit n' miss border

We told her that she needs to bind it right away so that we could see it completely finished. Way to go Elaine !

Do you have questions on this post or on one of my others? Please feel free to email me at ticklepie @cox.net as I am always happy to help.

 

Bea Brock Workshop - Day Three in Mesa

Our third and final day with Bea culminated with a throw down of partially completed student rugs. Everyone made such wonderful progress, especially with stepping outside their comfort box (some more than others !) and embracing the moment of art and wool and friendship coming together so magically .

 

Do you have questions on  this post or  on any of my other posts? Please feel free to email me at ticklepie@cox.net as I am always happy to help.

Bea Brock Workshop - Day Two in Mesa

On Day two, Bea showed us some of her signature techniques.One of them is shown here in her rug "Spring has Sprung". Can you spot it?

Here...take a little closer look........it involves quite a bit of extra work....

Each section of the edge is bound with matching yarn  !!! YOWZA  ! Bea explained that she likes to see a rug completely flow all the way to the edge and not be cut off by a different color yarn or wool.

She also demonstrated several unique hooking techniques to create various textures in your rugs.

Check out that chain stitch or crochet edge on the green leaf and the high -low texture of the inside section of the leaf. There are also various beading techniques in single loop and multiple loop styles.

Bea has a new book that features the Stash Busters Pattern section on her website that will be published by Stackpole in Spring 2014. Can you see the worms in "Wonky Diamonds" above that could have come from her previous series of rugs?

More with Bea on Day Three of her fabulous rug workshop with us here in Mesa.

Questions on this post or on any of my previous ones? You may email me at  ticklepie@cox.net.

Bea Brock Workshop in Mesa - March Rug Madness- Day One

Sigh... Gasp... Faint... call 911..... What a privilege it was to see Bea Brock's rugs up close and personal. I had always been awestruck by photographs of them in magazines or on the web, but to view them in person was such an awesome experience.

Bea spent March 1, 2, and 3 with us here in Mesa teaching a workshop to a lucky 15 of us whose eyes popped out of our heads each and everyday as she guided us through her inspirations, techniques and use of color. Below are some photos from Day One in the classroom where you will see that it is a beehive of activity amongst piles of wool as Bea spoke about each of her rugs.

Bea is standing next to her rug pattern "Rebecca".

Bea talks about her "Birds and Berries" pattern that appeared in "Celebrations".

The luscious eggplant background in Bea's " Jessica's Garden"  is just to die for !

This rug pattern( "Color Pies") is from the newest section of Bea's website that are all Stash Buster patterns.

This fabulous 8 ft. runner is also from Bea's newest Stash Buster patterns and is called "Wonky Diamonds".

Bea talks about all the color interaction in "Spring has Sprung".

Be still my heart with all the fabulous teals and turquoise in "Summer Winds".

You may order any of Bea's patterns from her website at www.hillcountry-rugworks.com OR if you have any questions about this or any of my other posts you may email me at ticklepie@cox.net.

More of Bea Brock  over the next several days.

 

Magda's Lollipop Bouquet Rug ~ adapted for my home

Magdalena Briner was one of America's most prolific rug hookers. She lived from 1832 to 1915 and her work is considered to be some of the finest examples of American Folk Art.

I was inspired by the book " Rug Hooking Traditions with Magdalena Briner Eby" by Evelyn Lawrence and Kathy Wright to do an adaptation of Magda's Lollipop Bouquet that is shown on page 42.

Magda's work is pre-copyright, so I freehanded my adaption with a few modifications.

I chose colors for my family room and really loved the way it turned out. Magda hooked very large rugs and so do I, in many instances. Mine is 35" x 41" and is hooked in a 9 cut. It is very thick and plush and heavy and a dream to walk on, but I had decided it was going on the wall in the just the right size spot . My husband hung it for me this weekend.

 

Warm yellows, tans, neutrals with the pop of red...very different from Magda's original... but is just right for me. My adaptation pattern may be purchased on linen. Questions on any of my posts? You can email me at ticklepie@cox.net.

Tucson Rug Show at Old Pueblo Rug Hookers Annual Hook-In, Jan. 26, 2013

On  Saturday, Jan. 26 I traveled the 2 hours to Tucson in a pouring rain storm. It was raining so bad, that one could barely see to drive. This was unusual January weather for Arizona, but even though I did have to drive very slowly and carefully, I continued on, determined to make the Hook-In and have a great day.

The Old Pueblo Rug Hookers did not disappoint and we had a wonderful day with lots of great rugs and wool and fun. At a new location this year, we enjoyed great lighting, great food, and lots of accessible parking. This event is held the last Saturday of January, and if you are visiting the Grand Canyon State during this time, it is a wonderful event to visit.

Please enjoy the photos from some very talented ladies !

I look forward to this event every year.....be sure to add it to your calendar for 2014 ! Great job ladies !

Sharon Smith Class in Mesa ~ Day Three

One of the great things about our class with Sharon was that she brought so many of her rugs for us to see and touch. It was so wonderful in class when she was speaking of a particular hooking technique or color use and she would reach over and show you the rug where everything was brought together in that manner. Your eye and mind could immediately connect to what she was saying and how it looked in real life , instead of being lost in discussion of random color theory. She also brought along a great selection of her wonderful carpet bags....

On our third and final day, many class members brought their rugs for our rug show....so much talent from so many wonderful gals !

 

And then it seemed that we had only just begun when it was time to pack up and head home with wool ....and memories.... and good times still dancing in our heads. Each of us headed in a different direction but forever joined by some strands of wool and a fun time with a gal who had arrived in her own colorful Van-Gogh-mobile Prius chocked full of wonderful hooking inspiration for us all.

Sharon Smith Class in Mesa ~ Day Two

I wanted to begin this post by showing a series of photos of two of Sharon's rugs. When I had mentioned before that when you see her rugs in person they are far more amazing than on the the internet or in a magazine, I wasn't kidding. Here is Czech Lady in close-up:

And I am also including this Bunny  that appears as almost a block print titled "Bunny in the Cabbage Patch:

Aren't they both just stunning in the way that they are hooked to create such wonderful effects?

Class students worked on both Sharon's designs and some of their own choice and their progress was wonderful!

Francis and her angel cherub weathervane. Love those colors ~!

Roberta and Sharon's pattern "Laundry Day". Great dresses Roberta !

Carolyn had chosen Sharon's "Poppies" and did some great flowers.

Rose and Noreen had both selected Sharon's " Audubon's Dream". It is always interesting to see 2 hookers' interpretations of a rug pattern side by side.

And Kathy Clark, our queen of hit n' miss, did Sharon's " Cat Trick". Just love these colors Kathy ! Kathy usually hooks in an antique palette , so this was a shift for her. She is such a fast hooker ! I love this rug the way she has hooked it.

Beth has selected Sharon's "Czech Lady"...way to go Beth ! I think this is a #4 and #6 cut ! Yikes !

And here is Loretta Moore, our student who traveled the farthest (Canada) to be with us, showing her " Russian Village". Loretta is totally working outside her box with these much brighter colors than her normal palette.

And Brenda was hooking an adorable version of Sharon's " Boating Bunnies". Even more pictures will be coming with my final installation on Day Three of our Sharon Smith class here in Mesa.