Looking at the same old stuff ?- Not here

When I first started hooking I was starved, yes, literally starving for the sight of other rugs.

Now I can see hundreds of them a day if I want to through the miracle of the internet. This create the problem of seeing the same old things or a variation on it.

What I seldom see is something different.

While spinning my wheels today I found this artist represented by KATHARINE MULHERIN CONTEMPORARY ART PROJECTS Click her name below to see her whole body of work at the gallery.

Heather Goodchild’s work strives to uncover and explore stories and symbols with universal resonance. Focusing on textiles as a medium, she creates felt portraits, rugs, quilts, silk screened prints, soft sculpture, and dioramas.

Much of the inspiration for her techniques and approach comes from folk music and art. The naive and anonymous quality of these deceptively simple works provides a window into shared human experiences. The stories and symbols of organized religions and societies also strongly influence her work; the rituals and literature of Freemasonry and Christianity and their codified expressions of human experiences and ideals fascinate her especially.

Through the installations and objects that she creates, Goodchild engages the viewer in stories that are at once mysterious and hauntingly familiar.

Goodchild’s work has been shown at various Toronto venues including the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, the Gladstone Hotel, and sis boom bah gallery. She has also exhibited at the Douglas Udell gallery in Edmonton.

Heather Goodchild lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

Her work can be purchased at Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects in Toronto.

What's Up January Journal?

I was so busy last week I was unable to hook on my Journal, so I drew on the motifs I needed including a big pile of steaming ----. What a week!

I'm finding spinning and hooking a happy mix.

Needing snow for my Journal I spun up flax ,wool and casserole dyed silk for one batch of snow and I also wanted some sparkly snow so I combined flax ( mine is ULTRA white) , wool and a multicoloured sparkly thread which I used chopped up and drafted in as a run along thread as well. The other wools are waiting to become ---- and lovely violet sky with a moon.

I also found a use for most of my beginner spinning from the first week of learning.

Somebody's gonna get teased I think.

It is both fascinating to look and at and revolting at the same time, the hat I mean, not the model!

After a very busy week I'm glad to see this

January Journal Update

Erin takes great photos!

Last week when Erin was here I was dyeing fluff for spinning... look how she recorded it! Wow!

Update on January Journal

Day 8 and 9 involved skiing.

I'm skiing today with my big scarf and yesterday was the first day I made tracks.

Oh what fun it is!

Here is my new toy, it just arrived tonight and I think I'm already in love.

Patrick Green Big Batt Drum Carder

The strange and ugly First Batt

The surprisingly beautiful yarn it made.

Something Special for dinner tonight

January Journal Project on The Mat

Here is day one and two of the Journal project, bird on the grass, and snow filled windy skies.

If you are interested here is the scoop, may a not be a snow scoop! ( a very little winter humour)

I've made many a daily journal rug but never at this time of year. Would you like to join me?

I'm starting a new group on the Mat and inviting you to take part. We will start Jan.1, 2011

Here are the parameters for our challenge: The January Journal. We will try to hook some event or idea or even shape to represent that day. Let this be what you wish, organized, random, geometric, abstract, what ever way you want to represent your day!

If you are challenged right now to hook this you can work wool in any way you desire to do it. Don't buy any new wool for it. Some exceptions can be made if you are a beginner hooker.

This is an opportunity for great exploration, to try out ideas and have them done with in one day!

You can divide your space into 31 any way you wish

OR not divide at all and be random and let motifs slid into each other.

Maybe you will enjoy reflecting on yesterday and hooking it today... maybe you will enjoy an in the moment hook.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DECIDE:

Try to hook a rug in a size you can deal with each day. Maybe you can deal with 5 inches, maybe a 2 inch space is more reasonable. Maybe one line? You decide.

What you don't need to do this challenge:
to be a designer

to be a certified pencil holding sketching artist

the whole design in mind at once

direction or a purpose other than to seize and record your day.

The belief that you can't do it.

I hope you will join me!

For inspiration about more traditional journaling go here

“I am enamoured of my journal”
Sir Walter Scott