Open House/ Make Something Every day

Traditionally in the month of November I like to ignore it or kick it's ass with some creativity. This is even a class you can take as part of your Welcome Mat subscription fee. It's worth $36 just to get through November or any dark time in your creative life.

Traditionally in the month of December I try to make something every day.
I need to make things.
Like I need to breathe.

This practice helps while away the dismal days of Northern Hemisphere living in early winter.
All the Vitamin D in the world cannot substitute for making.

Last year I was awfully involved in recovery, every move I made was clumsy and The Majic Carpet Dye Company needed constant tending. So I had a pass on Make Something Every Day for 2014.

Brainstorms were apparently drifting elsewhere this fall.
And I had a deep lack of clever precipitation.

On Saturday night the heavens opened up with big fat flakes of snow.
And with it came some big fat ideas. I hope they don't turn out to be flakey.

I plan to hook something every day in December, not something in totality, but parts of things which I may finish by Dec 31 or may not. I welcome your company as you try to hook every day.

Hooking can take a back seat in the flurry of activity that is this three ring circus I conduct.
This Hook Something Every Day will get me back to my frame.
I'm getting excited about my 2016 Exploratorium classes and will turn my hand as well as my mind to these colourful looks at the very close up or far away.

 Bruce Riley Resin Artist

Now down in my splendid studio I'm having an Open House.

Wool, Batts and silk scarves

Why don't you stop by on Saturday, December 12? You can come between 10 until 2, I hope this is the first of many. You can see what I'm up to and get inspired wool for clever hooking, batts and interesting inclusions for spinning, hand dyed gorgeous yarns for the knitting, Majic Carpet Dyes and beautiful Wandawear items and you can also just sit and visit. Write me to subscribe to my newsletter list to be informed on all upcoming WandaWorks opportunities.

Spinning sparkle and Majic Carpet Dyes

I'll see you as I account for my hooking each day here.

With pictures and pithy reports of eureka moments and dismalities.

Yes I made that word up right this minute. 

Seems accurate.

Got Style?

This is our Tuesday Tip from The Welcome Mat today.

Got Style?

Want to have a recognizable style unique to you?

When you throw down your hooked rug we will all know it's yours immediately.

This is easier to achieve than you think.

It takes action:

Sit down at your frame every day, show up.

Hook just as you please. No apologies for your winsome ways.

Do small studies and sketches.

Critique each day. Is it as beautiful as you imagined?

Correct it

Repeat.

After about a month of two of this steady work you will see some important movement towards your style.

You will also have gorgeous studies you can develop into larger works whenever you like.

Avoidance:

Things you probably shouldn't do during this period:

take your work to be gazed upon and commented on by other hookers unless you are thick skinned

ask for a critique

take hooking classes

use somebody else's pattern

look a lot at others rugs, it doesn't matter what they've made.

Nurturing

Things you can do during this period:

Observe closely that which you think about with pleasure and kindles your heart

Take in inspirational things that create vivid spark in your soul

Have plenty of experiences and love flowing in and out

Free yourself from your beliefs that impede what you want, cut ties, burn bridges, stand erect and alone if you must

Go towards the people and places that support you

Have kindness and acceptance for the style in you and how it emerges

Remind yourself of your incredible potential every 1/4 of the day - Morning, Noon, Evening, Night

Have perseverance, even the ugliest of things we make work towards our beautiful

Accept, respond lovingly, continue to work EVERY DAY

What will be possible?

Terrifyingly exciting isn't it?

But oh so welcome.

What do you think? Yay or nay?

Sometimes these Tuesday tips are practical; how to finish a round hooked object say or deep thinking, why do we make the same things or mistakes over and over or quirky but they are just one of our daily informational, inspirational and interesting columns on The Welcome Mat. Join us today right here!