Weaving and Cross Stitching

I love a trip to a used bookstore. Earlier this week, I came across a copy of Weaving a Legacy: The Don and Jean Stuck Coverlet Collection by Clarita S. Anderson (1995).
The book details 356 nineteenth-century handwoven coverlets in the Don and Jean Stuck Coverlet Collection at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio. This collection is the largest public collection in the U.S. Have I mentioned, yet, that books like this one make me drool? The photos are fantastic, and the historical details provide background information that bring the weaver and the work alive.

I've been fascinated with textiles for as long as I can remember. And I recall seeing my first loom at the Smithsonian while in grade school and on a family trip to D.C. My response is still the same. How can single strands of thread create such a beautiful work of art?

The only weaving I have done, besides the requisite potholders (which I loved to make!), was a small tapestry piece of a landscape. Believe it or not, I can recall buying the kit at our local JC Penney's when I was in high school. I wonder if Mom and Dad still have that around? I'm fortunate enough to currently live in an area with an active weaving studio, so one of these days . . . !

For now, the "fix" is cross stitch.
I bought the pattern for Blue Ribbon Designs' Red Velvet Building Blocks prior to Christmas last year. The coverlet look and feel is what attracted me to it. I loved the overall design, as one of my cross-stitch fantasies (do you have those too???) is to have a collection of alphabet samplers. Yes, I have samplers with alphabets, but I've always imagined an area in my home with just cross-stitched alphabets. But I also loved the design because I envisioned small alphabet blocks either framed or made into hanging sachets.

So . . . last Christmas season I began with a couple of small blocks.
These are worked on 28-ct linen, and the small motif is worked over one. The coverlet design is actually comprised of at least four hidden alphabet letters. Pretty cool. I've enjoyed the design so much, that this is one chart that may very well become the chart that brings my alphabet fantasy to life!
Here's to fiber fantasies and a week of happy stitching, hooking, weaving . . . !

Tagged

I have little progress to report on the stitching or hooking fronts. I'm still working on both projects, but nothing big to show this week. We enjoyed a lot of snow yesterday, so I was able to stay in and catch up on some of your blogs. Lots of great projects out there and some wonderful new charts! I love the new Prairie Schooler designs.

Michele tagged me, so instead of progress pics here are the rules and a few weird or random facts about me.

The Rules:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

The Facts:

1. Like many of you, I'm an avid reader. When I was in grade school I was determined to read every book ever written starting with every book in our school's library. By the time I was in 7th grade, I realized I wasn't going to be able to read every book in our library, so my new goal was to read all the "important" books in our library. I made it through all the Nancy Drews, the "secret" books (not in our library) like Go Ask Alice that we pushed to the back of our desks, anything else that looked interesting, plus what I thought was the most "important" book in our library: Homer's the Iliad and the Odyssey. My grade school pick? The Nancy Drews.

2. My first needlework project was a piece of crewel embroidery with colorful wildflowers. I practiced all my stitches on one of my dad's white hankies.

3. I taught myself to knit when I was 10, thanks to a neighbor's garage sale, an old Columbia "Teach Yourself to Knit" book, size 10 needles, and a skein of white acrylic yarn.

4. My middle name is "go." My parents never had any trouble getting me to put my coat and shoes on when I was little; I was always ready for the next adventure. Still am.

5. I have one husband, one step-son, one sister, one niece, and two cats. Speaking of which . . .

6. I love cats. If I could have a litter of kittens, I would.

7. Even though my sister and I live hundreds of miles apart, we buy identical items even when we are not shopping together: clothes, shoes, purses, and even eyeglasses. Go figure. Gift shopping for my sister is a breeze: one for you . . . one for me.

The Tags:

Since I'm new to blogging, but many of you are not, I'm going to tag/recognize some of the sites that I enjoy visiting. So, if you've been tagged before, I understand. I'm also interested in learning more about those of you who do have new sites. Thanks, again, Michele!

1. Rachel. Rachel's site was the first cross stitch blog I visited a little over a year ago. What a great starting point!

2. Lelia. I've enjoyed all the info on Lelia's site about needlework and needlework exhibits.

3. Carol. What great finishing!

4. Yuko. I love Yuko's photos and finishes.

5. Edgar. I know very little about the Quaker-inspired pieces many of you are working on, but I'm certainly inspired by what I'm seeing. Plus, I'm not a movie buff, but I enjoy reading about everything Edgar is watching!

6. Kim. New blogger and cross stitcher who already has a list of finished projects. Way to go!

7. Staci. New blogger but not a new stitcher. Already a beautiful site!

Thanks, again, for all the inspiration out there!

Quick Progress Pic

I didn't complete my project on time for our last class on finishing. Sigh. No one else did either. I furiously took notes, but knew I'd be back to the shop when I have everything hooked and ready to go. The others in my class have so many beautiful projects near completion. I hope we all show up on the same day for our next "lesson." Until then, I'm still hooking!

Stash Happens

I had no intention of acquiring rug hooking stash. But as we all know . . . stash happens.

My rug hooking class has been moving right along. The first week, we started our projects. The second week, we learned about color theory. And this past week, we learned how to dye. We learned how to over dye. We learned how to spot dye. And we learned how to dip dye. Much to my surprise, we all got to keep the pieces we dip dyed. So now we all have stash! Smart instructor. Very smart instructor.

Of course, I've been thinking about my "next" rug hooking project, but I'm not planning on starting anything until this current project is complete.

We have one more class on finishing. We all started out with the goal of having our various projects (all the same size) complete for the last class. I don't see that happening for me.

I'm pleased with the progress I'm making, but hooking certainly takes more time than I would have expected. Plus, I'm fighting to keep my blocks square, so that has been a bit of a challenge. Still, I'm enjoying the process; loved the dye class, and I will start another project. Speaking of which . . .

This one found its way to me yesterday. Honestly! We spent several hours yesterday morning photographing the old state capitol in Frankfort. After lunch, we walked down to the Kentucky History Museum, and I made my first stop the gift shop. I picked up a few things and paid for my purchase. I asked the clerk about several cross stitch samplers that were on display, and we started talking about traditional crafts. She told me they had one rug hooking kit and asked if I had seen it. I had not, so she took me to a back corner of the shop, and there, underneath a table, in the darkest corner of the store was a bag. And the last kit. On sale. Say no more. Please meet my next project.

Inspiration from Gee's Bend

The Speed Art Museum has a special exhibit of quilts from Gee's Bend, Alabama and has been fortunate enough to have many of the Gee's Bend quilters in town for the weekend. I spent the afternoon at the museum speaking with them, watching them work, and admiring the quilts on display.


For such an isolated community of quilters, I found the variety and non-traditional nature of their work inspiring. I've said before that I like precision, but there is freedom in the non-precise nature of these pieces.


And there is life still in the quilts made from the worn clothes of loved ones.


So here's to the quilters of Gee's Bend and to all of us seeking life in our art.

May we experience and share life and love . . . one stitch at a time.

It's a Start!

I'm happy to share with you the labors of my first two hours of rug hooking class.

Impressive, isn't it? I didn't think so either! At this point, I'm not so sure about the "happy hooking" part. Instead, I spent two hours with my shoulders up to my ears and my toes curled tight. Yes, I was tense. Just a wee bit tense. While learning how to hold the hook, pull the wool to the top , and set the loop, my strips of wool began disintegrating before my very eyes. Time after time I was left with single strands of fiber. Floss! Now there's something I could relate to!! I have to admit that about that time I began counting all the advantages of cross stitch: the single strands of fiber, the pattern, the evenweave, the clearly identifiable places to start and stop my stitch, the precision. Yes. That was it. The precision!

So far, there has been no precision in my rug hooking. I like precision. I like the exactness of cross stitch.

My homework assignment was to complete one of the blocks before my next class. I looked at my instructor with alarm. "But the symmetry! What about the symmetry??? How can I complete one block at a time and keep my colors and work symmetrical?"

Fortunately, I now have an alternate and additional assignment: a glass of wine before the next class. Here's to more relaxed hooking!

Something New . . .

What gets in the way of completing an old project? A new project, of course!


Meet my newest blank canvas and the wool colors I've selected for my first attempt at traditional rug hooking.

Classes begin in a few days. I'm looking forward to learning something new. This is only the third time I've taken a craft/fiber-related class. I'm sure I will be able to benefit from learning how to do something "right" from the start! My instructor assures me that I will be able to see the difference between the first areas I work and the last. Just what I wanted to hear! Here's to happy hooking!!