Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Talented Friends

I have such amazing friends, both in rug hooking and quilting, and I'm so thankful that they allow me to share their beautiful work here on my blog each month. Otherwise, I would be sorely lacking in the show & tell department! (smile) Yesterday the First Tuesday group met and I was able to see Sandy's stained glass rug completed. She had it stretched at mounted at a frame shop and it literally took my breath away when I first saw it on display in her entryway.

This represents The Sacred Grove in Upstate New York that holds a lot of significance for those of us who are members of the LDS Church. You can read about the history HERE.



She had permission from the artist to  recreate his work and she told us about taking the finished rug to show him in his studio as he had requested. His name is Tom Holdman and you can visit his website HERE. Below is a print of his original piece of art.

Sandy was busily working on her newest rug which she is making for her grandson who spent two years as a missionary in Mexico. The lime green background is fabulous - in fact all the bright colors are spectacular. She said there wasn't a single boring part in hooking this design.

Jeanette is hooking a Polly Minick design of a happy bicycle - I love the tassels on the handle bars! You might not be able to tell from the photo, but she used standing wool circles in the center of the wheel and thinks she will use proddy for the flowers in the basket.

Sharon is hooking a Porche insignia for a grandson using quite a narrow size of strip. I'm not sure if he actually owns a Porche, or if he's just a fan. Either way, he's a lucky guy to be getting this from her.

Victoria has knit dozens of pairs of socks and that's what she was working on yesterday. She was using the completed sock to gauge the length of the rib on the new one she's making. That striped yarn is so awesome - like magic!

I recently completed this scrappy rug and it was fun to do. I'm sure I drew squares on my backing, but every single one of them turned out looking more like a rectangle to me! Oh well.

And yes Saundra - it was me who wanted to copy your UFO rug - I got a start on it and I'm hoping to make a dent in my collection of 8.5 cut worms. Funny how I started in the middle and you started on the outside!

A couple weeks ago I tried my hand at solar dyeing after reading Lauren's tutorial a month ago. I was pleased with the outcome and you can see before & after pictures of the wools below. The weather has turned cooler here in Utah and I'm not sure I'll get another batch done before winter. I think these mottled blues will look awesome when they get hooked in to a rug.


Okay - I'm off to do some housework today - I've let things go longer than they should have....

19 comments:

Janet O. said...

Sandy's Sacred Grove rug is incredible. She did the original proud. I hope Tom liked her version!
The rug for her nephew is very interesting. Must be a culture thing, but I am not aware of the significance of the skull. Can you enlighten me? Did Sandy explain it to you?
Very fun bicycle rug.
I think your squares DO look like squares, Gayle! That is a great rug!
What is solar dying? The blues look wonderfully mottled--how did you do it?

Saundra said...

OMG, I'm having sensory overload here. So much to see and so much to write about that I probably won't remember. First, Am SO HAPPY you decided to do your own hit and miss square. The stained glass design is awesome.

The proddy of flowers in Polly's bicycle will be great!!! Can't wait for an update. The cousin who the mask is being hooked for will forever be in awe of the work involved for such a gift.

Socks!!! I'm so damn envious I could scream. I used to knit hats, sweaters, pochos, quilts, scarves, etc. No way in hell could I get the socks right. So gave away all my sock wool to friends. So someone enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

Rugs and Pugs said...

So much talent. Thanks for sharing!
I might have to hook one of those hit and miss mats in the future. I know I have an overabundance of worms!
Happy to hear you had good results with the solar dyeing. I didn't get a chance to give it another try...sigh.
Hugs :)
Lauren

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Your hooking friends are amazing--love those hit and miss mats--great way to use up left over worms

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

The sacred grove rug is spectacular and the colorful skull is awesome. All great projects by everyone, including your rug. They look like squares to me!

WoolenSails said...

Beautiful pieces and definitely talented ladies.

Debbie

Yvonne said...

I love the Sacred Grove rug! It looks like a painting! Really amazing work! But the other rugs are too! It is a true art and I love it that you share them with us!
Your dyed blue's are pretty! I can see some pretty skies in them!

acorn hollow said...

Love the stained glass so beautiful. Your dyeing results are wonderful.
I think most hookers could do hit or miss but of course I haven't
cathy

Lori said...

Gorgeous work and so creative! Nice job on the dyeing! It should make a fun rug.

Lesley said...

Wonderful to see such beauties here. Love your scrappy rug!

Karen said...

How pretty the stained glass look rug is. Looks so much like the original design. A friend of mine did a stained glass piece as a gift for me that came from a applique design (a chicken). Hangs in a kitchen window.

Saimi said...

Wowza!! You do have some talented friends, each project is amazing and very impressive!! Good work on the dying, love the color, it's such a peaceful blue and will make a wonderful rug!

Sue SA said...

Stunning rugs, but the interpretation of the stain glass window was really amazing, both the window and the rug!

Kyle said...

You all do such amazing work (or play). When you're part of an active group it's keeps your motivation and creative juices flowing. You're fortunate to have just talented friends. And they're lucky to have you.

Jennie in GA said...

Oh my, that Sacred Grove rug is phenomenal!!!! Like your scrappy squares.

annie said...

All wonderful projects, that grove on is amazing. I have always loved stained glass, the rug is just wonderful as is the original she copied.
Love those fun stripy socks too!

Nancy said...

You have such talented friends, Gayle. The Sacred Grove is so impressive - a perfect rendition of the original. I love your squares rug. The colors are wonderful.
--Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

Karen in Breezy Point said...

So many great projects--your group is so talented! Those beautiful blue wools are making me drool!!

Me and My Stitches said...

I'm glad your friends let you share their projects too - I always love them all! Sacred Grove is really amazing - I can't imagine how she found the perfect wool for all of it. Love your squares, and I think they look like squares! What is solar dying? Sounds interesting, and I love seeing the before and after pictures.