A anfternoon in the shed

I  am very fortunate to have my own lovely workshop in the old bike shed next to our house. Geoff and I spent most weekends last autumn renovating it and now it is a wonderful place to create things. I painted it green pink and purple, which may sound awful, but it works.

Well, one of the main reasons why I wanted to start this blog is to show anyone who is interested the mats I make. I have been reading craft blogs for ages and have not yet found anyone who makes hooky or proggy mats and blogs about them - if you are out there please contact me!

I was taught by Ali Rhind, a real, professional mat maker. Unlike Ali, I just play at it, but I love the effects I can achieve by combining colours and simple design.

Here are yesterday afternoons efforts.

The hessian is stretched onto the frame and the image drawn on with marker pen.

Then the outline and first colour are hooked in. I LOVE going to jumble sales and I am fortunate to live in the north east of

England

where these are still a fairly regular occurrence. For about a fiver I come home with bags full of fleeces and old jumpers in glorious colours. It is very addictive.

This looks blue, but it is really a deep turquiosey colour. One of the things I love about matting is the chance to put fabulous colours together in a really zingy way. I am not very subtle with colour!

I am not so sure about the yellow now, though Ali always says that once the hessian is turned back and sewn out of sight the whole things looks better. But the beauty of matting is that I can change my mind and easily take it out and try ..... purple? green? what do you think?

for scale it is about 7 inches square.

This is the pink end of my shed with the mat frame and my chair. Mum, you are going to come and sit on that sofa one afternoon in the spring and do some sewing with me. I'm sure you've got a bit of sewing you could bring?

Comments

[tania]

oh thats stunning!! you are right, not many people do these and i just love them! way to go, the blog looks great!
:)

[Hanna]

Yes! Maybe you can help me then? I wrote this post

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=365

some time ago and want to try rug rag making soonish, a Kaffe Fassett design of roses that I fell in love with. But... how? :-) Will come back to see more of your mats I hope!?

[krissy]

i love the fact that you are not shy of colour! i can't wait to see more of your lovely work.

[patricia]

i have a friend down cape who does awesome rugs (no blog tho)... i love it but can't add it to my craft adventures yet...however here's another blogger i recently discovered who also "hooks" http://kindshipincolorandwool.typepad.com/my_weblog/
cheers!

[brenda]

Hi! I'm a rug-hooker, Patricia in the comment above linked to my site, If you look into my archives...(Jan, Feb, March,) you will see more rugs....I love your mats! I have been sidetracked with applique and embroidery, but I love "hooking". I will be checking back regularly. P.S. I love your Studio!

[planeta hilda]

rug-hooking is great, i made some hooked rugs as a crafty teenager. i feel like getting into it again. i will let you know if i do.
your rugs are wonderful and look special. do you use wool yarn or some kind of felt wool stripes? i like the way it looks, it feels thick and soft.
i am glad i found your blog thanks to tania h.

[Elizabeth]

I don't hook rugs but it looks like something I could get into! I love your shelf of pedestalled glasses for your bits and bobs. I love anything on a pedestal.
And I do like the yellow border.

[Zoe]

Just spotted your rugs - excellent. Also noticed your lovely Lloyd Loom chair. I am mad about this furniture and have made trips to their showroom to buy factory rejects.

[Gigi]

Your mats are so colorful! I love your workshop. After looking at your mats, the colors you have chosen for your room are you! I have a studio in an attic room of our home. Does your workshop have heat in the winter or must you discontinue working there during the cold months?