What's on My Frame

What's on My Frame....and NO I didn't fall off the edge....

I have been working away on a mat called MORE from Jennifer Manuell's Amazing Matrix. It is an adventure in TEXTURES and VALUES. I am trying to hook a little each day as this rug is a good size......Not so easy as I have caught the knitting bug again.

I was totally inspired by Jen Manuell's overdye of her September Circle Cowl, so I knit one for a Christmas gift....in Black Crazy Zauberball - a sock weight yarn... 

Well, this really got me started on knitting again....I used to knit alot years ago... and let it go when I started to hook. When shopping for the Zauberball yarn...I found some great yarn at a reduced price at my local knitting supply store Mouliné...

This yarn was being liquidated as it is a discontinued line of ROWAN yarn. It is a 50/50 blend of Silk and Merino wool DK weight....so soft and luxurious to knit with. The available colors were NOT to my liking so, I overdyed them in various rich colors and knit NOT 1 BUT 9 Infinity (one Loop) scarves for holiday gifts. Shown here is the scarf designed by Stephen West - Purl Ridge Scarf - find the pattern free here on Ravelry

As one thing led to another... I continued to knit....another free design called Boneyard Shawl from Stephen West on Ravelry.

 Well, I am still knitting and trying to hook a little each day. Most of my textured wool comes from Heavens To Betsy. Check out their Remnant Bags and their line of lovely textures...

I also get some lovely textures from Searsport Rug Hooking. Check out their Wool of The Month for great samples.

Until next time.....happy hooking!

Dyeing Darks

I have been dyeing lots and lots of darks lately for a geometric I have been hooking away madly on. These above colors Licorice and Republic Red are dyed over textures with formulas from Susan Quicksall's book Dyeing For Color. Check out her website Hollyhilldesigns.
These darks do a wonderful job of showing off the lights and mediums....contrast of value is what it is all about in geometrics. I will post a photo soon of my progress. 

'Tis The Season to Be Dyeing...

Lots of yummy colors.....all over textures. Ready to be hooked. Tried to keep my steamy dye kitchen under wraps today as we had SO much humidity (read RAIN) from the tropical storm already...didn't need more to make the house extra humid. It seemed to work, most of the humidity was contained and sucked outside with my venting system. Here are the fruits of my labor....today. What fun it is to play in the dye pots again. Some of these are dye by eye, but most are reproducible colors....a necessity when customers want the same color...right? These lovelies are headed off in the mail tomorrow...

I hope this post finds everyone safe!

OUCH!!!!

I am back at work after being off for awhile on vacation AND being back ....feels kind of....

...nice..... but really is very PRICKLY...lol

Cactus from New York Botanical Gardens

Give Away Over at ...THE WOOLY RED RUG

Help Laurie CELEBRATE over at The Wooly Red Rug ....A Give Away

Congrats Laurie! The NEW website looks great! 

Wishing you much success!

Find Laurie's New Website ....here....The Wooly Red Rug Website. 

 Find Laurie's blog...here....The Wooly Red Rug.

A Portrait Study

Here is what I have been working on lately. This past spring/summer I participated in an online class with an amazing instructor - Wanda Kerr. For more info about Wanda and her online classes visit her blog at WandaWorks . The learning experience was exciting and wonderful as I acquired many new skills that will translate into my future work.

 Each student benefited greatly from tons of individual
attention  and assistance to build the skills necessary to hook a portrait independently. The study that we completed incorporated many exercises to build not only our skills, but also our confidence in working with values and shapes to successfully (re)create a portrait in wool.
If you are looking for an enriching learning experience to enhance your hooking and looking skills  - then I suggest checking out what Wanda has to offer.

A Folk Crow

If you have followed my blog you will remember that my Mom and I both like Crows. Well, here is yet another one. Enjoy!

 Folk Crow

Hooked by Lois Latham

Design by Judith Dallegret