Okay, I'm not one to complain, but who ever thought putting 4 values of wool strips in one little thumb print size circle sounded like a fun, needs to take a long look at their definition of fun! I spent my rug hooking time this week doing gradated grapes. In 4 different gradations. In two different purples. Not only is it a lot of work trying to get your loops somewhat smooth in little circles but also it's a lot of, "so where is the light source for this grape? Is that dark enough? Is this one of the 1, 2, 3, 4 light to dark grapes?
Okay, I am one to complain. But I'm the one that chose a project that was specifically meant for a teacher's workshop when I've only been doing this for less than a year. This is as far as I've gotten:
And really, when one isn't working out, you unhook it in a second and put it back it beacause - ya know - it's the size of your thumb. To remind you all - this is what this is supposed to look like...
I do have detailed instructions so there is that....
No worries, I'll get through!
This week I continued on with my "The Rug Hooker's Journey" course with Cindi Gay. It's taken me a while to get into the rhythm of this course, but I think I finally found it. Cindi Gay is an experience rug hooking teacher who has taken her mission to the internet. Her site has so much information, it's hard to decide where to start. I started with the free videos on youtube (which are many), then moved on to the free content on her website (which is a ton), to finally joining the paid of membership of the official Rug Hooker's Journey (which is well worth it). There you can just take your time working your way through courses that start at the very beginning and move into more involved weekly live lessons. Something that Cindi does which is what truly sold it, is that she has a weekly free Hook-In where you can just show up
and hook - chat and ask questions. It's so fun! You get to know her and her style. The lessons on Tuesdays are live so you can ask questions in live time, or they are recorded if you can't make it. After watching a few lessons, I'm officially asking my boss if I can work an earlier shift so I can get home to rug hook (can't wait to see the look on his face! But 15 months in, he knows how I am). I really like Cindi's style - down to earth, just enough content to be interesting but not to be overwhelming - confident but not obnoxious.
The lesson that I tackled this week was on composition, and it was so good...I put it on my "ideas for a blog post" list once I play with some exercises.
That's what's up on my new rug hooking journey....
What Have You Been Up to Creatively?
10 comments:
These grapes are a lot of work but you are going to be so pleased with yourself when they're completed! You are growing as a hooker in a good way!
great job on the grapes - relax and enjoy
I think your grapes are coming along well. I am studying too -- but with Deanne Fitzpatrick of Amherst, Nova Scotia here in Canada. I'm part of her "Inspiration Sessions" which has a monthly Zoom, and have taken a variety of her courses. She appears to have a much looser style than that expressed in your kit -- and uses more wool yarn than fabric now (easier on her hands, as it is on mine!) but no matter -- it's all good, and it's all fun to (as Deanne says) "Create beauty every day." :-)
It can be fun to explore and learn new ways to create. The shading of the grapes is great, and I can understand why such a challenge being so small! Have fun with the lessons.
Hi Nina-Marie, wow, when you dive in, you really go all out! I'm glad that you found a great teacher. With your grapes, I would have done the same thing I did with a paint-by-number of the Last Supper (at age 9) - paint the darn ceiling in one share of brown. Then promptly give up cause it looked like crap! That's why I don't follow instructions! Keep at it - it sounds like you've found your new thing!
Even though those grapes are giving you grief, you are doing a great job!! Keep at it!
You're doing amazing with your new-ish rug hooking!
Yikes! That is a lot of gradations! It does look like it will be beautiful with all the detail work. I’ve been working on an EasyGrid piece, a hand sewn hexie BOM with Liberty’s Tana Lawn, and a few portable sewing cases! 😊
I can't wait to try some wool!
I read your comment and literally laughed out loud! I soooo always dive in don't I? The nice thing about the grapes is you do one or two everyday - they'll get done sooner or later right?
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