Material Pleasures

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

2011-07-03 - Clearlake

2011-07-03 - Sharlene, originally uploaded by Sharlene W.

This is what a 59-year old who is fool enough to let her kids talk her into getting pulled around a lake on a tube looks like!

They told me it would be fun....

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

2011-06-30 - My projects from McGown Western Teachers' Workshop

2011-06-30 - My projects from McGown Western Teachers' Workshop, originally uploaded by Sharlene W.

At McGown Teachers' Workshop, you have a lesson from a different teacher every day. The focus is on teaching skills. It is an opportunity to observe experienced teachers firsthand. In five days, I started five new projects!

I also volunteered to be the photographer for the next two years. No one volunteered to be the historian, so at the end of the meeting I volunteered to do that as well. I'm keeper of 20+ years of photos from Workshop for a while--three boxes full.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Crewel - Hooked by Vivily Powers

Crewel - Hooked by Vivily Powers; designed by Jane McGown Flynn

I haven't seen very many of this style of hooked pieces until this week at teachers' workshop. I'm definitely in love!! This pillow was displayed in the rug show and Vivily taught the 2nd year students the second piece. They were both fabulous.

I love the bright, crisp and jewel colors of crewel.

Hampton - Designed by Jane McGown Flynn and Hooked by Vivily Powers

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Happy Hookers - Hooked on Rugs

Me with my Art Deco Peacock Rug

Mary Gottschalk did an article for the paper on our guild (The Peninsula Rugmakers' Guild). She and a photographer (Jacqueline Ramseyer) visited our monthly meeting several weeks ago. The article finally came out and we were all thrilled with the great job they did. There were several photos of members with our rugs.

The article that appeared online in The Mercury News and in print in the Rose Garden Resident explained that we meet the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Rose Garden Library in San Jose. The next meeting we had two visitors that found us from the article! That's what it's all about. We are always happy to share this art form with others.

Shelley's Garden - Designed and Hooked by Shelley Flannery

Shelley's Garden - Designed and Hooked by Shelley Flannery, originally uploaded by Sharlene W.

Just returned from Western McGown Teachers' Workshop held in Eugene, Oregon. It was a fabulous week with a new project each day led by wonderful teachers.

This rug was done by Shelley Flannery, my teacher for Friday's class on wide cuts. You might know Shelley from Rug Art Supply. I think it was my favorite rug from the whole week. I love the colors, the style, etc. I'd love to make this rug myself! The class was so inspiring.

I'm going to finish the project from the class and then I want to try my hand at designing a wide cut rug of my own.