JANUARY - SEASON OF WOOL

Every January for 19 years now (yes hard to believe) I have been attending first On the Ocean and then Off the Ocean (same camp- different locations)  This camp was started by mother daughter team Judy Colley and Katie Puckett.  When I attended the first camp 19 years ago - I was a greenpea - A rank novice - I knew nothing about rug hooking except I had seen it in a North Ga. mountain artisan co-op and was enchanted.  I set out on my journey to learn more about this wonderful fiber art form.

My search after many phone calls (yes no email back in those days) led me to order a copy of Rug Hooking Magazine.  In perusing the mag - I found a tiny block ad in the back advertising Off the Ocean rug camp in Atlantic Beach Fl in January - it was already November and OMG- could this be true.  I called this woman Judy and while she did have some difficulty understanding my southern accent - it was determined that YES she did have room in a class for me and YES - that teacher could teach a beginner to hook and would bring everything I needed.  OK - I won't bore you with all the details but let's just say my first experience was not a great one.  The teacher I had I don't believe wanted to teach a beginner or either she had more people in her class than she could handle - I left after day 2 of a 5 day camp and never returned.  If not for my friend Katie calling me about 6 months later to see how I was doing and ask if I wanted to get together with a small group and hook - I would probably not be here today 19 years later - still rug hooking and still loving this awesome fiber art.

Sadly - Judy has had ill health and Katie had to take on someone else to help her with the camp but the camp is still going and next year will be a grand 20th anniversary celebration.  Of course I am going - god willing and the creek don't rise no more than it has this past year with trees falling on our house and sustaining flooding in the historic home where I work, hurricanes and all the other trials and tribulations life throws at us.

I have some great photos to show you from the Off the Ocean rug camp but first a photo of my knitting project getting the most attention lately.  A beautiful poncho called Rodeo Dr Poncho in lovely new to me Malabrigo Dos Tierras yarn.  I have a lot more done on this poncho now - there is a cable down the center.  It is a pretty bluish gray called Polar Morn - how appropriate since it's even been quite cold in the deep south the past few weeks.  I LOVE IT !!!!  gives me a chance to wear hand knits every single day. 

This Santa needlepoint ornament got about a week of attention before the mood passed and now it's put away probably till next fall.  I did get the reindeer done and Santa's beard and I have ordered the silk for Santa's suit as I needed another color for contrast.  It's a fun design by Mile High Princess.  Stitch guide came with it.  Some suggestions I am using and some not.

On to the rugs - YES - of course I started a new rug this year.  My teacher Diane Stoffel did a fantastic color plan on the William Morris Strawberry Thief.  Here is 1/2 of the mirror image - the rug is 30 x 50 approx.  Yes it was bigger than it sounded on the website LOL - I am hooking this weekend so I hope to finish the bird soon.  The birds are English Thrushes so said by William Morris who used them as inspiration in his art work so many centuries ago. 

 The color is pretty accurate but the shadows do disrupt things.  I only put in one strawberry but they will all be the same rich muted red color.  This rug has tons of green and blue/green and the background is a typical Wm Morris type color - a dark teal blue with lots of black.  The very edge of the rug will be black.  I couldn't be happier or more excited with what Diane planned for the rug and I made very little changes in what she dyed for me.

 There is only 1 other woman who has attended all 19 OTO rug camps - my friend Annie T - she has been in my class a lot over the years.  Here is her WIP from this year.  A barn scene.

DF Donna P was my table mate again this year.  She was doing a quite large sailing ship rug by Pine Island Primitives.  She made great progress.  Donna has attended a good many OTO rug camps and I first met her when she was living in Miami and was in my 2nd OTO class when they were held in Atlantic Beach.  Donna has since moved up to our area and I see her almost every month at EGA meeting. 

 Sisters Nancy S and Sara Beth B also have attended many OTO camps and have an interesting connection to us.  Their mom was in the first inception of the rug guild we formed in Jacksonville back in the late 90's.  They both live in NC I believe but we always have a chat about their mom and things back in those days.  This is Nancy's awesome rug - mostly hooked in a 3 cut.  Diane did the color plan.  and NO - she didn't get all that done at this camp - she started it in the summer I believe.

 Dawn was in my class again this year - this is her celtic bird - she made great progress.  Dawn is another local gal who was a charter member of the rug guild.

 Two ladies in my class were both hooking the same blueberry pattern - the artwork by Mary Fibbich who was also at one time a member of our local rug guild before moving to Maine

 This is friend and fellow blogger Lauren (Rugs and Pugs blog fame) rug.  She was in Kris Miller's class of Spruce Ridge Rug Studio.  It was so great meeting Lauren in person - she and I have similar interests in samplers, antiques and rug hooking.  She also loves dogs particularly pugs and does great work fostering and finding homes for these little sweeties.  Amazing what Lauren got done but then she hooks with an 8 or higher cut. 

 

I have run out of time to show the winners at the rug exhibit and some other WIP rugs.  I will come back again soon (hopefully) and show you more photos.  In the meantime - I hope you are all starting off your new year right with wool and linen in yours hands!