Why Do We Hook What We Do?

My desire to learn to hook was my love of the antique rugs in issues of Country Living magazine.  Knowing I'd probably never be able to afford an antique one nor a newly hooked one, decided to teach myself.  So it was the naïve, primitive, wide cut rugs that I was enamoured with.  Therefore that is what is usually on my frame.

I have friends who hook a variety of styles with the intent on challenging themselves and broaden their hooking experience.  My friend Lynne Fowler is working on a piece called Steamy Windows, which I have not seen yet but hope to see in November.  Knowing her I can only imagine it will be awesome.  Laura Pierce's Girl Blowing a Bubble blows me away with how she got the translucent rainbow colored effect in that bubble amazes me. 

Another would be Joan Strausbaugh who hooked her Thumbprint using lights and darks, wish I could remember the other 'out of the box' pieces she has hooked which I've seen in person.

My friend Char hooked an incredible wedding rug with the names of the family members of both sides hooked into the roots of the tree and would love to see a rug she started which is the ends of tree trunks from the back of a log truck. 

There are many more hookers I could name as there are many who challenge themselves, work outside their comfort zone in the name of creativity .  These type people are who I consider artists.

Me?  I don't bother challenging myself as I hook what I enjoy and designs which grabbed my attention at that time.  Okay, I take that back.... once I did try working outside my comfort zone and learned a very valuable lesson.  My class was with a teacher who I respect, love her work and had high hopes that she could pull me outside my box.  She tried but I felt like a fish out of water floundering around. 

That is NOT a statement about her teaching ability but rather the narrowness of my creativity.  I just felt awkward stretching and using bright colors.  The rug did get finished, I didn't like it for my house and sold it.  A woman at a show was gravitated to it and didn't question the price, bought it on the spot.  The customer was very excited to go home and hang it on her wall that afternoon.  Sadly I didn't even take a picture of it.  I'd like to see again, tho I know my taste hasn't changed, just want a record of it.

Speaking of antique rugs, thought I'd post a few here for your enjoyment.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh I've lots more antique rug photos as I'm looking thru them now to see what may strike my fancy to hook at a workshop in November.  I think I've made my selection but that will be for another day's post.  Have a great afternoon and hook on.

Saundra