Lion Progress

Lion by Edyth O'Neill
38" x 47"

This is my redraw of the lion's head for the Lion pattern by Edyth O'Neill (2/20/17).  I'm using a six cut for the face, but I used a 4 cut to hook the eyes.  I started the face by hooking the eyes. Elizabeth Black says "the eyes are the 'soul' of the animal and to give them life they must each have a highlight." (Hooked on the Wild Side, p. 16) The eyes are 3 tones of gold, a dark (not black) pupil and outline, and a white highlight. The darkest gold is at the top of the iris to show the shadow from the eyelid.  The 3 golds are easier to see in the drawing below than in the hooking.  The wools I have used to this point have come from "the stash".

Here's the color plan I did with Prismacolor colored pencils on my pattern for the lion's face. 

Complete

The Rockefeller Rug, 2017
Original Pattern

Wool strips on rug warp, 26.5 " x 46.5"

The hooking, quillies, and shirring are done.  This rug was inspired by the Rockefeller Quilt (New Project 10/21/16).  I've enjoyed the bright colors, the animal motifs, and working in an eight cut.  
Now on to The Lion......

Dreamscope

The April/May 2017 edition of ATHA magazine has an article, "Fresh Rug Designs Using Apps", by Sharon Smith. (pages 8 - 10) She uses the filters in a free downloadable app called "Dreamscope" to alter her photos and drawings.   This photo editor lets you "turn your pictures into paintings".  Sharon turns her edited images into new rug hooking patterns.  The article is worth reading as she gets some interesting and beautiful results.
Here's an example using the app with a photo I took on Cape Cod.  Big improvement....

 

I think this would make a great painting or rug. 

The photo editor is a pleasure to use and has a lot of potential as a design tool.

 

First Casserole

 

Casserole Dyed Wool

 After watching Sandra Brown casserole dye some beautiful wool in her video, I wanted to give it a try.  The wool I used was heavy....my intention is to use these in an applique treatment.  The colors are somewhat warmer than they appear in the photos.


The red wool is for flower petals.  I started with pieces of creamy white wool soaked in warm water and Dawn detergent.  After placing one piece of the soaked wool flat in the dyeing pan, I used a spoon to spread the dye.  I dyed about half of the piece and down both sides with Cardinal by Cushing.  I then dyed across the top with Cushing's Blue.  I layered the next piece on top of the first and repeated the dyeing process.  After layering six pieces of wool, I added white vinegar around the edges of the pan (not on the wool), finished processing, and washed and dried the wool. I liked the results, but expected the bottom layers to be much different....much darker.


The six pieces of green are intended for leaves, and I started with a dull gold wool.  These pieces were dyed in the same manner, but I had more difficulty getting a color I liked.  I dyed across the top and down the sides with Cushing Blue, thinking I'd get a blue green.  The result was much too blue.  I took the pieces out of the dye pan and redyed them with Dark Green.....still too blue.  The final dyeing was done with Cushing Bronze Green and I was satisfied with that....they are a more yellow green than they appear.


To help with color, I've just ordered Pearl McGown's book Color in Hooked Rugs (It's Pearl's 1954 explanation of color theory).  A friend showed me her copy and offered to loan it, but after reading a bit I decided this was one of those books that I need to make pencil notes in the margin. On the dust jacket it says, "Here is a book, based on a Correspondence Course on Color, conducted by Pearl K. McGown, that has been long awaited by hook-craftsmen all over the world. It will be of equal interest to anyone who is dealing with color in any phase....Mrs. McGown explains the law and order of color, in accordance with the Munsell system.... Color is very important in this craft....The rugs which are made today will become heirlooms for our children's children. They should, therefore, show progress in color...." I'll let you know what I learn.