Thursday, June 26, 2014

Sharon Smith Workshop

I sure enjoyed my workshop last weekend with Sharon Smith from Off The Hook Wool Rugs - she drove to Utah from California hauling a trailer FULL of supplies behind her vehicle - LOTS of eye candy and shopping opportunities! A lot of her rugs reflect the places she has traveled - she definitely has her own style. Amazingly, she has only been hooking for five years - and has hooked over 70 rugs - can you believe it?


I was one of just a handful of students who didn't work on one of her designs - but still learned a lot and definitely enjoyed spending three days in the company of good friends. This is the geometric/mosaic that I drew for the class - it's pretty big and will take me awhile to get it finished. It will be totally scrappy, with no two blocks having the same color combinations - I'm still trying to decide what to put in the center of the diamonds...

Each day we received a special treat from the class organizers. First was a kit with all the fixins to make this darling sunflower pincushion on a rusty bed spring.

Then we got birds - with instructions to fly - filled with candy.

And on the last day a fun paper mache box with inspiring words and treats inside.


You can see class projects on the Guild's blog HERE. I sat near the four gals who were hooking the poppy rugs and it was so fun to watch them each develop their own style - with their own slightly different colorway!



Sharon told us how she dyes some of her splotchy wool, so when I got home I pulled out some pastel yellow fat quarters that I won as a door prize years and years ago - b.o.r.i.n.g.!



This is what I ended up with after spending an afternoon in the dye pots - not exactly like hers - but definitely more usable than they were before I started.


I have started another new rug - it will be a table runner. Lots of antique blacks for the backgrounds - and various golds for the stars.

My sister's birthday is next week so I made a postcard quilt with a bouquet of flowers to send to her - lots more fun that a card from the store, huh? (Jeanette - this is some of the crocheted trim that I bought at the yard sale with you)

Heading out for a weekend of camping with hubby - so if you leave a comment and don't hear back from me, I'm not ignoring you - LOL!






16 comments:

Yvonne said...

Looks like fun- I LOVE the postcard you made!!

Janet O. said...

It was a beehive of activity in the Attic when I dropped by. There was some serious hooking going on--it was so fun to see. The rugs were amazing!
I love the two you have going. I'm especially partial to the stars.
I think your dying efforts yielded really cool results.
That is a very cute postcard. Looks like you put a lot of work into it.
Enjoy your camping. We are going in a couple of weeks--another family reunion! : )

Yvonne said...

That was a fun workshop! Love your tablerunner with the stars end I am sure your sister is going to ne so happy with your card!

Yvonne said...

That was a fun workshop! Love your tablerunner with the stars end I am sure your sister is going to ne so happy with your card!

Julia said...

By the look of it, it must have been a busy but fun workshop. You did a wonderful job of dyeing that pastel yellow wool.
Have fun camping. I wish I could go camping too.
Hugs,
JB

Me and My Stitches said...

As always, I really love your projects! I think the stars would like to come to live at my house! Great dye jobs too - much more usable than what you started with - that's awesome. Bet your sis will love the card - so creative! Have a great time camping - will there be hooking as well?

Saundra said...

Good heavens but you were a fountain of knowledge today. I love everything you posted and am green with envy at the little projects each of you received. I'd LOVE to take a class with her and can identify her patterns anywhere as they do have their own style.

Saundra

Lori said...

You are so creative Gayle! The postcard is sure to be a hit.
The class looks fabulous! What fun gifts you got too!!

Sue SA said...

Lovely eye candy, especially like the gold stars on black and the poppies are going to look amazing when finished.

Kyle said...

It looked like an awesome workshop. Love the new projects you're working on. What fun gifts for the participants. Did you come away all inspired? Fun, fun fun!

Three Sheep Studio said...

Oh my, what fun projects.
I love your new rug design. And, the wool you dyed - AMAZING !
Rose

Raymond Homestead said...

What fun things to make!

deerhollow said...

It was so fun to be with you at the workshop :) Glad you took a photo of the pincushion because I'm not sure I did! Hope your camping trip was relaxing. Mark and I sure had a fabulous time on ours. See you soon!

Jeanette Hobbs said...

Gayle, it was so fun to see in person your star table runner. It is so cute. Love the colors. What you did with your great treasure found at the yard sale is fun and amazing. Your sister will adore it.

woolwoman said...

had fun hearing about your hooking workshop Gayle. I love the very creative rug you drew for your class. Always nice when you feel you learned something and the daily favors were really neat. The quilt card you made for your sister is darling. Hope camping was fun ! Mel

The Wool Cupboard said...

Thanks for sharing your workshop pics, Gayle. What great gifts!! LOVE the pin cushion!

Your card is SO creative. Hope you enjoy the camping trip with your husband!

Hugs, Linda