No we didn't go on vacation and fall off the edge of the earth!

 

We did have a great time on the coast of Maine.  Lauri and Dick were great hosts. (That's their house and the little cabin we stayed

in)

 

I still can't get over how we got there from being blog buddies.  It is so true that there are really Nice people in the world.  Everyone is always talking about how bad everything and everyone is, but I'm afraid they're just looking past all of the good that is right in front of us.

Lauri took me to Cushing's and on a wonderful

historical tour around Kennebunk.  I bought some beautiful wool there.  She also took me to Stonewall Kitchen.  Yummy!  I have never heard of them.

And the day Mickey and I went "up north" we went to Searsport Rug Hooking.  WOW is not enough to explain that place!  I got to meet Chris.  Unfortunately Julie was out of town for the day.

I'm sure you heard the story about meeting JoJo.  she's from Kansas and I'm from Missouri.  Anyway, when I went in the door at Searsport I introduced myself to Chris and told her we were from Missouri.  She said there's a girl in the back from Kansas.  I went back there and it was no one other than JoJo!  (me on left, JoJo, and Chris on the right)

We have been blog buddies for years and have kept each other on our prayer lists for a long time too.  Crazy you have to go to Maine to meet someone from Kansas.  (One state over from us)  I guess it really is a small world.

After the trip I was TOTALLY worn out.  For weeks.  We think that maybe all the new meds are making me feel so tired and just not right. 

Today I finally got off my butt and went to Kinko's to have this photo blown up. I had it made to measure 30" by 20".

Remember I showed you this picture about a year ago?

It is a painting that was at Watercolor USA.  I was totally enamored with it and wrote the artist and asked her permission to hook it in to a rug.  She was thrilled and flattered!

The name of the painting is Peter's cat.  And the artist is Robin Avery from Texas.

I will have to dye ALL of the wool for this one.  I think I might have enough bright orange on hand, but that's it.

I made an order with ProChem tonight.  Their dyes are soooo vivid and bright.  Perfect for this project!!

I simply can't wait to get started!!!  I think all I needed to get back in the groove of life was a great pattern to hook!

This is the black and white blown up on paper.

And here it is drawn up on the linen.

It looks like a paint by numbers to me.  Does it you?  I only wish it would be that easy.  I have a feeling this will be my most challenging rug to date!

I'll keep you up to date with pictures.

Have a great week!

Peace,

Sheri

 

A great place to study

Study color, shading, composition, value.

That’s what I’ve been doing with this website. Please take a look at it and see if you don’t agree with me. It’s http://dailypainters.com

Take this black dog, for instance. Notice there isn’t really that much black involved in his body. That’s what I’ve been studying! Look at all the blues, lavenders and purples.

And can’t you just see a rug designed with this image in mind? Look at the color!!!

I’ve always wanted to hook a self portrait. Studying these paintings would sure help with the color selection. And the general understanding of where to place the values on your face.

Again, look at all the colors in her face. Not flesh toned at all.

How about backgrounds? This could be hooked with a great spot dye!

And there are quite a few basic mandala shapes we could incorporate into rugs! And each one is a great lesson in color planning.

I hope everyone enjoys the site as much as I do. If you sign up, it will be delivered every day in an email.

Is it just me or do all of you see rugs in everything you look at? It gets kind of weird, actually. LOL

I finished the little heart hooking this afternoon. Haven’t taken a picture yet though. And I forgot to sew around it before I hooked it so I haven’t cut it out yet either!

Have a great evening…

Peace,

Sheri