I think I may have changed my mind for my first rug

I know I said I was going to do my original koi artwork for my first rug...but I THINK...I have decided to do something a bit less hard in terms of color changes for my first rug.
I really love Van Gogh's almond blossom painting...and since he is dead and it no longer under copyright laws for me to copy as a rug design...(even though as an artist I cringe at the thought of doing any one else's design!!) I am going to try this! I have always loved this painting...and it is a way for me to have it my home in some way...and as a hooked rug...it really will take on a life of its own anyway...
I just really was intimidated when looking at getting all the hand dyed wool colors I would need for my koi rug. This being my first rug...I dont want to totally intimidate myself with color changes as I am hooking either...and this may also cost me a bit less...with less 'wastage" of wool with less colors needed. I'll try to put my own spin on it a bit...but its hard to improve on this beauty! So, now I am awaiting my new wool...which I am asking for for Chirstmas. I know that sounds funny ...but after just spending almost 1,000 on supplies to make rugs...I had to stretch the cost out a bit! So, I get my wool for Christmas! I am happy with that! Patience is a good virtue.
I am going to be selling hand dyed wool here at my art gallery (The Bradley Art Gallery-www.thebradleyartgallery.com) from Susan from The Ram In The Thicket. I just couldnt find anyone local to purchase hand dyed wool from. I dont like to buy online..cant tell the colors good enough...like to feel it and smell it..etc!!! We will also start selling frames my husband will be making ( he is a home builder) and tools, hooks...and possibly linen and other backings...might as well have it all! Below is Susan's logo...a picture of her beautifully dyed wool...and another logo for the Ram in the Thicket. You can find her online....or if you happen to live in Southern Wisconsin...come to my gallery to buy the wool! It is gorgeous and well priced. She uses Door Wool...very very nice colors..and she has just added Modern and Vibrant colors to the usual primitive colors as well. She is working on creating a nice color swatch set that one can buy to use for color selection and ordering....very nice tool to have!

My new Wood and Wool frame station

Ive got it all set up and put together...my new frame station from Wood and wool...Minus my chair to sit on and my lamp that fits on with a special attachment that came with it! Ive attached my cutter...see? Ok...now I just need my wool! I haven't even used all my new equipment...but its sure been a journey getting it all set up...fun though!!...I did a lot of research...and had a lot of patience! This all was for my birthday! I think the wool is going to have to wait for Christmas!!...I am hoping that my children and grandchildren will someday enjoy using this equipment...that would be nice! I am a little worried about how this frame was made in that a lot of the strain...seems to be on the wooden ball and wood dowel coming down from the ball (that makes it swivel). I would have made it metal I think...my husband says its solid oak- the dowel...but I know I am going to "hanging, leaning, and moving that frame around quite a bit. Plus the rugs epecially larger ones can really get heavy... It seems to me after time ...this is going to snap! The company has been making these the same way for quite some time...so hopefully this is not the case... As usual...maybe I am worrying for nothing...but this was just my first impression..before I even start using it. Does anyone else have one of these and how do you like it...and do you think this is a problem? I am going to call the company and have a conversation about this... I guess, I'll let you know what transpires after awhile.. That said...it is a beautiful thing isnt it! I love the way it looks and I am really looking forward to using it! I love that it has everything you need right in one spot... a "station"...My gallery customers are already asking what in the heck is that??!! I cant wait to start hooking and see peoples reaction and tell them all about rug hooking!

More beauty

Look at this pretty wood work too! See posts below for more!

Why doesnt anyone make beautiful machinery anymore!

I just got this beauty at a thrift store for 35.00!
Look at how fantastic this old Singer was made!!...isnt it a piece of artwork??!!...Silver engraving and beautiful painting...and the woodwork and the ironwork at the bottom! I am just in awe at the workmanship of this...that Singer cared to make it so beautiful for the "woman" typically who would sew with it....It just makes me so happy...and sad that this not the case anymore...plastic ugly digital machines we use these days...Think about the machines and electrical and digital things we use these days...so ugly...plastic ...and metal...too bad...It is cool what some of these new machines can do for us...but why did they take away the beauty and craftsmanship?!

My NEW "OLD" Rug frame YEAAAA!!!!

Yesterday...my lovely old rug frame came in the mail! I am so excited! I found it online...It is very old...which is one of the reasons I love it even more...good karma...good creative energy here...in the wood! The woman who sold it said her mother made many a beautiful rug on this...I feel like I was meant to have this...and I am envisioning many wonderful hours sitting at this frame! I really wanted a larger frame like this...and was thinking of buying a Cheticamp frame like the one Deanne Fitzpatrick uses....however, it bothered me that you couldnt tilt Deanne's frame.. This one tilts anyway you want it...and you can change the height as well...so its completely wonderful!! Its labeled as a Fraser Bliss Frame. I really do not know how old it is. I can tell that her mother used to tack the backing or tie it to tighten...but I think I am going to add gripper strips to it. Peace to your heart!

Too Yummy for words!

Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Turtle Bread

(makes 1 loaf)
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon golden syrup
2 tablespoon caramel sauce
1 large egg
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup caramel sauce
1/2 cup chocolate sauce
1 cup pecans (toasted and chopped)

Directions:
1. Mix the flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
2. Mix the pumpkin, vanilla, oil, eggs and sugars in another bowl.
3. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
4. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, syrup, caramel, egg and flour in a bowl.
5. Pour half of the pumpkin bread mixture into a loaf pan followed by the caramel cheesecake mixture and the remaining pumpkin bread mixture.
6. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes.
7. Let cool and then pour on the caramel sauce, chocolate sauce and pecans.

My new cutter arrived!! And some other fun stuff- I splurged...it was my birthday what can I say?

My new cutter arrived! Yea! and sizes 5-9 cutter heads...good to start! Although I took a look at the directions with this baby and they were a tad confusing...hmmmm...I can see why you all like the Townsend ...put it in and go...but I am sure I am bright enough figure this out....geeez!
Also, ordered some manuals/books...The Rug Hooking Bible and The Secrets of Planning and designing by Deanne Fitzpatrick and of course...I had to have the new Celebration XIX ! I also ordered one of Gene's DVDs for beginners...which I am waiting for. Reminds me all of the song..."inch by inch ..row by row...I'm going make this (garden) rug hooking go!" If I win lots of money in the lottery or for some reason find myself able to be generous someday over the rainbow... I am starting a scholarship for poor people to get what they need to rug hook...I really will!!!! That will make me feel so good...cause its hard to get started! Maybe when we get this new rug hooking guild going here...we can work together on that endeavor.

I also ordered my rug hooking journal!

Cant wait for this to come in the mail also! I want to have a good journal of my rug hooking journey...I am a huge journalist anyway...I have several that I use at home...depending on my mood...I grab different ones...I literally have them all over my house...and so I grab what is closest to me when I feel like letting loose with my feelings....but this one...is going to be just for my rug hooking and other creative artistic entries... I'll keep it by my frame...I dont have it yet...but I am curious if I can incorporate some photos in it...what the heck..I am sure I'll be able to figure that out..regardless. If you dont journal...I highly recommend it! It really helps me to keep my creative juices flowing and the spirit in me healthy...Try it!

I ordered my new frame and cutter!

Yea!!! I finally was able to order my first rug hooking supplies! I chose a Wood and Wool frame/station and a fraser 500-1 cutter. Of course, I wanted what every hooker wants...a Townsend or a Bolivar...but for me, to start the Fraser was the best choice...I know that I want to use wider cuts ....so I chose this over the other affordable cutter ...the Bliss...because it can handle wider cuts...I know it will be just fine...especially to start...and then...one day...perhaps..but only if I need to...I will upgrade to a Cadillac. I am really excited about the Wood and Wool station....it seems to have it all....and since I am going to plop it right in the middle of my art gallery....I wanted it to be beautiful and handy...this has a place for the lamp to be attached and the cutter to be attached (not shown on my picture). So.....now I await my precious packages! And just in time for my birthday! Next...I need to buy my wool!

My first rug design....

Ok...I designed what will be my very first rug...Its just a quick sketch...but once I decide on its size...and go get paint chip cards to show what I am thinking with color....it should work??!!!! I have to figure out how to make the fish look more under water...I am thinking of making the water ripples white and with a textured silky type of yarn...maybe even something with a tiny bit of metallic in it and then I will make the ripples go onto the fish...I am hoping that will make them seem underwater...also some more shadowing under the fish...and under the lily pads...this was really such a quick sketch...but I ended up really liking it! I have always loved koi....I want it to be really bright and vibrant colors...I was limited with colors by my colored pencils... I am thinking in part for the water using very mottled and varient wool...tye dyed almost...like 4 different kinds of tye dyed wool...a tealy tye dyed...a more royal blue tye dyed and more yellowy green and a purpley tye dye... and I will just jumble them around...sort of as pictured. What do you think?