Tootin my Horn

I want to share my excitement with you...I have an article in the Spring 2011 issue of Prims. It will be on news-stands April 1st, I do believe some folks have already received their copies if they ordered them by mail.

Thank-you Stampington!
Prim`s Magazine Link

Inside it you will find two new designs and a couple of oldies...all beautifully photographed, plus my article. I also want to congratulate all the others who were featured as well...more wonderful art by the talented folks of PFATT & TDIPT. I have yet to get my copy so I am sitting here patiently waiting for a phone call so I can go & pick up my copy.

I am looking forward to getting away for a couple of weeks...My hubby Dino, my brother Mike & I have rented a cabin in Sedona Arizona for a week, then we are off to Tucson for an addtional week...oh heavenly bliss...I love that area!!! Time to recharge our batteries, get away from this cold. When I come back I will have to give you a (what I did on my vacation report). I won't be able to answer emails or comments for the next while because when I am on vacation it also means a vacation from the computer.

We have been hosting an open house every weekend for some time now in hopes that we would get a few bites on our house which is up for sale...no luck yet...but it is early in the season & we remain hopeful that a move will happen this year. 

My apologies for not having listed any new pieces for you...life in my studio has been limited due to having so many open houses etc etc. My hope is to have new work available for your perusal when I return...till then.

Cheerio my friends

Susan

Vintage Tapestry Couture

Ya know...we Canadians...in the depths of winter...when we are hunkered down wondering what to do with ourselves while the wind howls outside & we are freezing are...off.

We devise new & wonderful ways to stay warm...

I present to you...the Canadian Couture Vintage Tapestry Jacket

This latest in fashionable winter-ware is brought to you by Heather, a dear friend of mine who happens to be a collector of these Vintage rugs. She has about 30 of these things. Since space was running low in her house she decided to thin out her collection by using a few of them to create a jacket...and if I say so myself...I think it is stunning, fun, whimsical & a great way to recycle these tapestry's. She has made lovely box pleated book bags & plans on sewing up Moroccan style beanbags for the floor as well as doggy beds...with dog images on them of course. So next time you go to the thrift store don't overlook these rugs when you see one...put your thinking cap on...think outside the box & find ways to create your own Vintage tapestry project.

Note - I have washed these rugs in the washing machine on the gentle/hand-wash cycle with a little detergent...take out of washing machine & brush the nap in the direction the nap is going...use your fingers or a small brush to do this...hang to dry.

Cheerio

Susan

Week-end wool dyeing workshop

A couple of week-ends ago our Rug Hooking group got together to have a wool dyeing workshop. More experienced members were kind enough to teach us newbies how to create beautiful colored wool to hook into our rugs. Fun was had by all, mistakes were made & learned from...especially by me. Having about 14 hookers running madly around a kitchen with hot water & dye tends to create a bit of confusion...my mishap turned into a beautiful piece of rich reddish wool...perfect for fall leaves.

Above a dye solution is mixed to create a wandering pattern. Precise measurements, timing & a prepared work surface are important.

One color dye bath...

Second color dye solution...

Adding the second color dye solution...

Adding the third color dye solution...the wool must simmer for a certain time between each added color.

Above is a photo of dip dyeing...a process where you create multicolored swatches.

First you dye the wool one color(the gold)...then you create another dye bath with a contrasting color(the green)...then slowly dip your wool in & out of the dye bath. Practice is definably recommended.

Practice makes perfect.

Explaining various ways to achieve a mottled look in wool. Fabric swatches can be ordered from various dye companies to help you in your color planning.

Equipment is set out, techniques, rules & recipes are discussed.

A good example of what can be achieved when using the recipe for a spotted/mottled look in your wool.

Below is a set of three dye solutions used to create a spotted mottled look.

Wool must be laid out flat in the pan, crinkled, scrunched with even valleys & peaks.

Dye is then spooned on evenly.

A second color

A third color.

Finished adding the dyes.

Then you have to gently squish the wool to blend the colors a bit & to make sure there will be no white spots left in the wool.

Off to the oven to cook for a while. After heating the wool is ready to be rinsed & dried...ready to use in a new project.

 

A few gals try their hand at dyeing.

 

Recipes are looked up & swatches examined.

The results of our dyeing workshop.

Thanks so much to all for an enjoyable day...great food & great company!

Cheerio, Susan

Show & Tell Treasures & Projects

I hit the mother-lode...a rug hooker's dream!!!

Feeling down & out yesterday I decided to do what cheers me up most...SHOP! 

But not any kind of shopping...treasure hunting. Decided to pay a visit to Mr. McGowan's antique shop...it's a teeny tiny place where you have to look carefully, scrounge, get dusty, peek behind things & generally be nosy...I happened upon his glass cabinet of curiosities & started digging around...saw an intriguing looking basket & pulled it out. I near fainted from excitement...inside was a hoard of antique to vintage rug hooks of every size & description...from fairly recent to my favorite...the truly primitive ones wrought by hand & nature.

Some examples were carved from wood, one from bone, another from forged metal. Initials can be seen on a couple of them...the stories they could tell.

It was an older woman who brought them in to Mr. McGowan. I wish I could have met her, heard her memories of how she came by each one. Whoever you are,thank-you! You have made this rug hooker very happy! Usually I would be lucky to find a couple of oldish hooks a year...to find a whole basket full of highly unusual ones is a gift. I am pleased that I found them & could give them a home where they will be appreciated.

Lets not forget the basket...it's rich color & patina...the fabric worn soft from years of use. I am not sure what type of basket it is, but it is beautiful in it's imperfections...a cozy nesting place for a truly one of a kind collection.

 After I went to the antique shop I went rummaging in the local thrift store...I found four wool coats in four delicious shades...chartreuse, raspberry red, taupe & a wonderful chocolate brown...I want to use them to create a penny rug.  

 

I spent the morning stripping the coats...us rug hookers...always busy hooking & a stripping...

  I'm a work while you wear your flannel PJ's kinda gal...

All the coats are have been stripped, now I want to marry them in a big old pot on the stove...get the colors to bleed a bit so that each piece of wool will have a little of every color in it...makes for a cohesive look in your project. I saved the lining from the chartreuse jacket...just to pretty to throw out...

I have almost completed another rug...an antique reproduction of a French Canadian rug...very primitive & rustic with loads of character...can't wait to show it to you...soon!

I haven't made much in the critter department...just not in the mood...& I definitely have to be in the mood to create them, becuase if I don't they end up looking like crapola...& nobody like crapola...right? I am hoping to be back in the studio soon. 

Please join us for our Birthday Giveaway!
Feb 28th - March 20th
Fabulous handmade prizes

donated by our members.

TDIPT Mercantile

Tdipt is celebrating their Birthday during the month of March with lots of chances for you to win one of many prizes that are to be donated by some of TDIPT's artists. Hope you can all come by for a visit.

Till next time...have a mice day!

Susan

Happy Valentines Day

Hello my friends...I am sure alot of you are by now eating that box of decadent chocolates, smelling sweet scented roses or getting love notes from that special someone...

Happy Valentines Day to you all!

Notes & News

On the creative front...I have decided to take a break from my studio...again...due to our house being on the market. Spring is nearly here and with spring comes a deluge of folks looking for a new home. Hopefully during this time we will find that special couple or person who will love our home and want to make it their own. We have had our apartment on the market for more then a year and a half and we hope that this year will bring a much anticipated move to the West Coast of Canada not far from Vancouver. We plan on madly marketing our home by having an Open House once a week for a few weeks & this is why I am taking a break...to much mess to clean up. I will satisfy my creative energy for the time being with my rug hooking which is far easier to manage.

I will keep posting of course & instead will bring you news of other things.

Cheerio & have a marvelous day!

Susan

My TDIPT Mercantile Offering for Tonight

I have been adopted...thank-you!

"L is for Love" Pin-Keep

Above is my last Valentines Day design of 2011. 

This teeny tiny mouse perched on his tattered & torn hearts will be available for adoption at 9 pm Eastern time on my TDIPT Mercantile page.

 

Apologies

Also...apologies to anyone I may have offended regarding my Guinea Pig post below...I should know better. My weird sense of humor can get the best of me sometimes.

Sorry...Susan

TDIPT Mercantile Offering...News & Views

Its a grumpy day here in the Pilotto home...at least it is for me...sorry...I seem to be suffering from the dreaded seasonal whatever ya wanna call it disorder. I've had enough of winter...really...honestly! Can you believe it, it was -40 here this morning with the windchill. Absolutely ridiculously cold!!! Sorry for griping...I had to get that outta my system.

In other news my hubby was wayyy down in Peru on business & just arrived home yesterday feeling tired & need I say...a little on the off side. While down there he was offered one of the local delicacies called "Cuy" Cuy Ravioli...& in English that would be Guinea Pig Ravioli. Seems the Guinea Pig is taking revenge, Montezuma's Revenge that is...Rule of the day...DON'T EAT CUTE SMALL FURRY THINGS! I am pleased my hubby is home safe & sound...although a little green around the gills...hopefully he will have more respect for the local wildlife next time he goes down there. 
Up above is a Sneaky Peaky Pic of my last Valentines Day creation for this year...it will be up for adoption tomorrow night on the TDIPT Mercantile Website. I hope you can come by to check out all the wonderful artwork that will be available for your perusal. Listings start at 9 pm Eastern time. 
I hope you have a better day then I am...being grumpy & all.
Not so cheery,
Susan