A Fish Out of Water (For the Hookers)

In the middle of my furnace woes (which continued and intensified following my last post), I did my annual "stepping-out-of-my-house-box" undertaking and ventured down the lane to Red Barn Rugs for one of Cathy's hooking workshops.

(No, we do NOT hook in the barn, but I love how it looks against the moody sky.)

I don't tend to post a lot about hooking (because, if you haven't figured it out already, I'm a very "part-time" and distracted hooker), but thought I'd share photos of some of the rugs for those who might have an interest.

We neglected to do a "throw-down" (which, at Cathy's, I call a "throw-up" because we usually actually tack the rugs to show on the hanger on the wall) and, even though there are only 10 of us (excluding Cathy), it is a bit crowded with everyone's frames, rugs, supplies, etc.

So, I don't have a lot of photos of the works in progress - just of few of the rugs my immediate tablemates were doing - and several of Cathy's completed pieces.

I'll start with Cathy's and apologize if I've posted some of these previously.  She has so many dang rugs it's hard for me to keep track.  

If I happen to remember the name Cathy gave the rug, I'll include it under the photo.  Otherwise, if there is one you would like to know the name of, I certainly can find out for you.

{I think she calls this "Quilted Stars"}

The rug below is based on the painting The Angelus by the French master, Jean-Francois Millet:

{"The Angelus"}

This next rug was an adaptation Cathy did of a painting found on the front of an old folk-art reusable shopping list. (The photo following the rug is of the original piece from which Cathy worked.)

{"The Washer Woman"}

This rug is also based on a famous Millet painting I'm sure most of you are familiar with:  The Gleaners.

It is Cathy's pattern but this particular one was hooked by my tablemate, Marilyn Denning.  (It was also being worked on at the workshop by my other tablemate, Kim Zwiers.)

{"The Gleaners"}

As for works-in-progress, this was the rug Marilyn D. was currently working on:

I believe she was hooking this in a 3 and 4 cut.

The hookers may remember this piece of hers from Celebrations a few years back:

Another Marilyn, Marilyn Annin, was working on an original design she entitled "Good Trouble" based on the book of the same title by the civil rights activist, John Lewis.

Marilyn is an artist from Madison who does not only fiber arts but sculptures and paintings. (You can see some of her works by clicking here.)

She was celebrating her 87th birthday.

And Kim, who was working on "The Gleaners," had just finished this fun rug:

 For obvious reasons, I absolutely loved it.

As for the furnace....After nearly 2 weeks, 4 different service technicians, and 6 (give or take one or two??) service calls, I officially have working heat again. 

Oh...and that fish out of water?? 

That would be me amongst that group of hookers.