I rode today but didn't get any pictures so I thought I would post a picture of the rug I hooked several years ago of my boy Gilly. He was a yearling in this picture I used for this rug. It was featured in Early American Life magazine's 2005 Directory of Traditional American Crafts. Gilly's rug was sent to the magazine headquarters in Shaker Heights, Ohio to be photographed for the magazine. I was thrilled that my rug and especially one with Gilly on it was going to be in the magazine! Below is the picture from the magazine; photographed at Hancock Shaker Village in a museum setting. My rug earned a ranking of "museum quality" from the judges.
This was the second year that my work had been chosen for the directory but the first and only one in the magazine. In all my work was chosen for the directory all four years that I submitted my work, 2004-2007.
I have also done some horse portrait rugs for clients; here are two of them. This horse's name is "Whoop-Te-Do" and the client picked the colors and helped design the rug.
This one is a hunter/jumper named "Massandro" for a clients daughter; her favorite horse. It was a gift for Christmas, she was thrilled!
I haven't hooked for awhile since I have been working more with Gilly and with the economy the way it is right now, the market is down for buying pricey custom work. Will I go back to hooking, at some point. Right now my mind is on learning to ride and work with Gilly, this is just way too much fun!!!
27 comments:
Oh hon - these are beautiful!! I have a huge passion for hooked rugs!! I used to have a couple - sadly I don't at the moment! Your work is amazing!! I love that magazine!! Congrats!!! If you ever start up again - please let me know!!!!
Jane ~ you know your work is so nice ~ you must come back to hooking!! Those horses have stolen our hooker friend away!! We'll be waiting!!! Alice
Sarah, thank you, I will hook for horse stuff! LOL I will do consignment work if anyone asks. I just haven't hooked anything new for quite awhile. Used to be my frame was never without a work in progress and I used to sell on eBay a lot. But things have changed with the economic slowdown so I changed too.
Alice, thank you! Maybe I'll do a rug of Gilly and Pokey!
Those are amazing! I love the one of Gilly and the Whoop-Te-Do with the horseshoes! You are really talented. How long does it take for you to do one rug? Congrats on getting it featured!
What fun to have your horse on a rug! You do really beautiful work!
Defianately beautiful!!! I would not worry to much about the economy and clients as you are an excellent Hooker!!! LOL
I absolutely LOVE these rugs. I think the one of Gilly was what first drew me to your blog.
WOW!! Nice rugs!! Love the colors with Gilly in it. Hope the economy picks ups o all of you hookers can stay in business! Julie
Your rugs so beautiful! I wish I could do that!
PG, thank you so much! Bet you guys didn't know I was a "hooker" did ya? LOL How long does it take to hook a rug well, it depends on the design and elements in the rug. Gilly's rug took about 2 months to hook but that was when I hadn't been hooking a long time. That rug was number 65, I have hooked over 200 now. It would probably only take me a month now.
Kate, yes Gilly's rug is by far my very favorite because my boy is on it. Thank you.
Desert Rose, thank you. I haven't been pushing my work or trying to advertise of late, had horsing on my mind. But hooked rugs are expensive, I charge $145.00 a square foot. I do all the dyeing and cutting my own wool.
Jennifer, thanks so much, the colors in Gilly's rug are very special and I wanted it to look very old. There is a story that goes along with the colors of it. The purple/blue is because I think of him as royalty, the gold background, he is worth his weight in gold to me, the red circle has two shades of red intertwined, because his heart and mine are intertwined. Sappy I know but I do LOVE that horse!!!
Julie, thank you, me too! It helps to have an income when there are sooooo many horsey things to buy!!!
Cowgirljlynn, thanks, hooking is really quite easy. Much easier than counted cross stitch actually.
Wow! I love them! That would be pretty darn cool to have a rug with your horse on it. You are so talented!
Paint Girl, thanks you, I must say that having Gilly on a rug is pretty neat. It's an heirloom to be passed on to the next generation. These rugs are made of wool and are tough wearing. Mine is hanging on the wall but they can be used on the floor and YES walked on!!!
Those rugs are amazing! I would NEVER allow anyone to walk on them! I've latchhooked a rug but it was nothing like those! Very nice artwork, indeed!!
Oh I do LOOOVE your work and I used to get that mag..loved it.
Yea...riding and learning it does take some time and tons of energy!
I forgo'd my lesson this week for the weekends fun and work just did me in...my mare too...just could not put her in the trailer again after her having to be in it for hours.
Tomorrow is a Christian trailriders fellowship ride...will do that one.
See you soon...hope it clears for you too!
Your work is lovely, Jane, and to be selected for the magazine...how cool! I'd asked Angie at Free Rein about the economy and her art not long ago, wondering if people with money were still spending it. The bread and butter smaller items seem to be the most difficult to move as they're still a luxury for the masses.
Such Beautiful work Jane!!! I'm impressed that you workmenship is ranked 'Museum Quality', such a Thrill...Your clients must be so proud to own one of your creations...I also hook BUT, not as much as I would love to...Rug hooking to me as a painter would be to their canvas, No limit to the imagination...
Always My Best and may you celebrate your Easter with ALL your loved ones...(In human form or your Beloved Animals)
Marilyn
Fantastyk Voyager, thank you, well, some of mine are on the floor and we do walk on them. They still look great too.
Kacy, oh, thank you! What a fun time you will have on your ride! Hope the sun is shining on you and you get lots of pictures and videos!!
Tracy, thank you and yes, it was a great honor to be in that magazine and that Gilly's rug was to be photographed for it! Right now even the smaller less expensive rugs aren't moving. But things may pick up again. In the mean time I will RIDE!!!
Marilyn, thank you so much; I do hope that the hooking bug hits me again but right now I just think I need a break from it and focus on something else. I still have loads of pattern ideas floating around in my head.
You too have a Blessed Easter!!!
Jane, it was through finding Gilly's rug that I found your blog. I think you may have had a picture of it on your ebay site at one time??? Not sure, but somehow through that picture. I am a hooker as well and only give my rugs to family and friends. It is much too hard to get what the rugs are worth these days.
Yes, I was the header of my eBay sales page and my business name was Liberty Homestead Rugs. I quit selling on eBay because I couldn't get what the rug was worth and I am not letting my work go for next to nothing. Maybe someday it will pick up again. Thanks for writing!
Oh Jane your work is beyond gorgeous! One of these days i am gonna buy one of your rugs!!!
Jen
How very beautiful!
Stopped by to wish you a Happy Easter!
Like several others, it was Gilly's rug that drew me to your blog. Your work is so stunning to me, I just love it. You must find time to do your riding and your hooking on the side. That sounds so funny - Do your hooking on the side. Please tell me your husbands first name is not John....HaHaHa!!!
Very impressive!!! Those rugs are beautiful works of art. I love the meaning behind the colors of your Gilly rug. What an honor to be featured in a magazine! Your work definitely warrants the "fame".
Hooking, eh? lol....I won't go there. hehe
Your rugs are stunning and so beautiful. I love that they can be used, too.
I've done some latch hooking and had fun with it, but nothing like what you've done. You've got such talent. You should be proud.
And what a lovely tribute and memento of your special horse, too.
Belated Easter wishes for you,
Lisa
Jen, LaDonna, thank you!
Blackfeatherfarm, I've always done my hooking on the side, LOL...no, my husband's name is Mike.
Five O'Clock Somewhere, thank you, my Gilly is a special boy what's why I did a rug for him.
Lisa, thanks, yes, I'm a hooker! LOL Also a stripper! The machine I use to cut the wool into strips is called a stripper! LOL WAHOO, the things you didn't know about me! :-)
Those are so cool! Very good work on the horses. I am totally impressed. Wish I had an ounce of your talent. Seriously!
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