The Start of a Design on Off the Wall Friday

 I've had a week.

 In typical manner, just when I've thought, I've created some boundaries with work, nope...it comes roaring back in.  But honestly, that's how life is.  You try to compartmentalize different aspects but it's not unusual for the boundaries to get crossed and some compartments to get bigger than others.  Luckily for me, I actually like my job so I don't mind giving a bit more energy than normal this week.  As long as it's the exception, not the rule.

I did finally carve out a little creative energy to start my next design.  I decided to design a rug pattern, like I do a quilt pattern. 

The Inspiration

I finally am using the greeting card that has now been sitting on my dresser for years.  This is a Forever Card designed by Ge Feng who resides in England.  I love their work.  I could have used many cards for inspiration, but this one really captured my attention. 

The Design

The idea to is to use this as inspiration, not a copy.  But I wanted to get the feel of the proportions.  So, I first made a photocopy of the card. The reason I did this, is because an important design element of the card are the paper cut lines.  Those won't translate to a rug pattern.  

Now I trace over the important elements of the composition, playing attention to the pattern and proportions. In this black and white representation, I'm starting to divorce myself from the original. 

 With that by my side, I start brainstorming my new composition.  Out of my handful of tries, this is the only one that comes close to working.  

Like I said, not a lot of braincells this week left for creating....but still it's a start and there isn't any big rush. 

And speaking of my current project....

On this week's Rug Watch...I chose the background! 

 Cindi Gay mentioned in one of her lessons that it's not a bad idea to choose the background before finishing the whole rug.  Her reasoning is that you make sure the main composition elements worked nicely with the background.  I never really thought of it that way.  Normally, I pick a palette that all works together and make one design decision at a time. The background color is one of the palette colors.  Sometimes the background is first - sometimes last - rarely in the middle.  

This time apparently it was going to be in the middle.  I already had in my mind that I wanted Autumn rusts.  I bought a few quarter yards of wool in them varying the values, cut them up in a size smaller than the fruit cut ...background - 5 - Fruits - 6.  The thought process is that the loop size won't detract from the main subject of the rug.  

I wasn't quite sure when I started hooking, how all those values would look. One thing is for sure, it's not the background you'd see in a traditional hooker.  I'm thinking it's giving more "tell me you're a quilter turn rug hooker" vibes more than anything.  I wasn't quite sure I liked it actually, until I took the picture for this post.  Yep, it's working.

This weekend, I start packing for my Rug Retreat at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio next week.  Can't wait. I sooooo need a few days away!  

What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

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