WandaWorks

The Colour Lab Book

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:17:00 -0500

My book is being delivered to you as we speak. It is very exciting for me.
I thought you might be interested to learn a bit more about me and why I wrote this book on colour use.

I’ve had a life long interest in color especially when it involves fashion and textiles. I’ve handcrafted since I was 7 or so, my mother was incredibly generous with her tools and textiles. When she got a sewing machine she taught me to use it and kept me steadily supplied with fabrics. We had a sample case of yarns. I don’t know where it came from or what it was for but it was covered in delicious purple chevrons and when unzipped it was an Alladins Cave of Wool. There were all colors and thicknesses of yarns in what seemed like an endless variety. I was delighted by it. I had deep yen for the button can and would look at and sort those buttons endlessly. All of this was what I call color play and was very enriching.

Thirty years later when I started rug hooking I was enchanted because of all the colors that could be incorporated. Unfortunately I found my love of color did not parlay into effective color use. I didn’t understand how to make color work for me, how to use the right component of a color to create the effects I wanted to represent in my rugs. I have always considered my wool color work to be equal to paintings. When I wanted to recreate what I saw in my mind’s eye or make something look realistic I was missing some important tools. I had a strong desire to be able to hook whatever I saw or wanted to competency and verve.

Slowly and diligently I worked at becoming a better colorist. I observed the work of other types of artists and nature for color cues and began to discover what was going on with color in my work. I saw how colour shapes become representations of objects if placed carefully. I began to look at color and the things I wanted to represent in new ways. I got out of my own way and expanded my love of color into a real marriage of passion and practice with a smattering of discipline.

I realized this knowledge I was accruing was useful to anyone who uses color and began teaching what I discovered in easily graspable units. I built a very successful online class about color and how to use it more expansively and expressively.

This was an incredibly freeing class that informed you so you might hook whatever you like effectively and masterfully. My teaching is always about color. My aim is to help you know more about color so you can do more with it. It took a long time for me to discover how to use colour in a more effective way and my book opens the door wide and lets you revel in this knowledge in a simple, straight forward way.

The Color Lab, will take the mystery out of color and replace it with mastery. It is a fresh way to look at colour and holds the building blocks of creating great rugs no matter their design. This book is useful to someone who is a beginner to a very experienced colour worker. The suggested exercises in my book that are included at the end of every chapter, are revelatory and enriching as well as being easily completed. Even if you only did one or two of them you will notice a remarkable difference in your color competency.

I’ll be offering a lifetime online class beginning April 1, 2018 to support the practitioners of the Color Lab Book as they work through each chapter. You will need to buy the book to participate. I’ll answer questions and support students as they discover color in a new and richer way. There will be additional gems revealed as we progress. Go to www.thewelcomemat.ning.com or wandaworks.ca for more info.

I love the idea of rug hookers diving deeper into the use of color and swimming swiftly and with strength to the far shore. If you are like me that shore is a place we didn’t imagine possible to reach. I’m excited to imagine the possibilities you might realize with this useful collection of colour ideas.

You're Invited to a Journal Study - With These Threads 2018

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 17:20:00 -0500

Ever January a faithful and unfaithful group of rug hookers join together on the Welcome Mat to create a January Journal.
We've been doing this for MANY years.

Each year I listen carefully and wait for our subject, theme or focus to appear.
This year it is a beauty: With these threads we create the cloth of ourselves.

It is a bit long so I've shortened it to "With These Threads"

Here is the backstory.

In October and early November my good great friend Alicia Kay and I were driving around North Carolina and we were discussing important character developing tidbits and interchanges we gather up from others and their view of us as humans through our lives. These moments both "see the whole you" and recognize your special qualities. They touch your soul. You hang onto them for a lifetime.

I said to her, with these little shreds I think we weave the cloth of ourselves.

This sentence struck us as very important, we thought right away this will be the construct for our January Journal project in 2018.

Each day important threads spin out towards us. They twirl their way around and encircle us with inspiration. Can we catch them? Can we notice small coincidences and soul filling shreds and record them in our journal rugs?

Every day is filled with meaning that soothes and strengthens us. Today I saw two majestic swans preening, so incredible and graceful, so big!

I saw a small boy clasp the hand of his doctor in a palm to palm, heart filled moment for them both. It was beautiful in so many ways, black hand to white was gorgeous, the trust, the joy for the Dr. The wonder of the boy to meet such an evolved person who was simply available for him in any way he presented, who took the time to wait and be fully there. What a joy.

We will seek, wait for and capture these threads in our journal rug. They might come from events, thoughts or memories, people things or places.

You might think of your first textile memories or who first spoke to you in a way you felt noticed... our lives are rich with content if we would just take the time to be present and wait for inspiration and claim it by taking note. What threads have you gathered from others, are they thick or thin, long or short? Do they create chaos or order? Think on the cloth of yourself, what is it created from? How could you represent this?

To fashion your journal rug you can work any way you wish.

I like to create a premise I will follow. I might concentrate on the colour of my "threads." I might concentrate on how they come together. I might suggest to myself I use only 5 values or only have curvy lines or repeated shapes I create/journal in the middle of. This is part is completely open to your interpretation.

You will create an interpretation of "threads" that make up you whether through time or during the 31 days of January 2018. You should have developed 31 "areas" to represent each day's insight into this theme.

I also like to apply myself daily and try to complete the day's hooking the next day. On Day 1 I seek out my soulful "thread". I develop the idea and draw it on the backing and begin to hook it. I might finish or not that day. Day 2 I seek my thread notion for the day and while this comes I finish up my Day 1 thread idea. Once I find my Day 2 thread, I develop the brainchild and draw it on the backing and begin to hook it. I might finish or not that day.

And so on.

This rug can be made in any way, with anything, with any style, in any size you like.

To join for free (The Welcome Mat is free and you need to join it first here) Then to join the free journal group go here.

This free group is unsupported by me, Wanda Kerr. Though I looks forward to seeing what you might create, i cannot help you by inspiring you, answering questions or giving advice.

If you seek such input I would be glad to work with you in the concurrent Journal Rug Class for With These Threads in her subscription classroom - Teach, this costs $40 US for a whole year of her monthly lessons and contains many great lessons already about enriching our rug hooking through better color use for instance. Teach also is part of The Welcome Mat and you need to subscribe to The Mat first before joining Teach.

Please join us now as we prepare to start hooking our rugs on January 1, 2018.

Take time for yourself and start the new year out on the right foot by hooking!

Fall Online Classes with Wanda; how they work

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 10:25:00 -0400

Hi,

If you are interested in how my online classes work it would be great to read this letter!

Many of you are desiring deeper understanding of your craft.

I'm here to help you do this.

One of the ways I encourage this is through online classes inside my Welcome Mat now free.

I have two going this fall and I've had a number of questions about how they work so I'd like to explain further.

Spark is a year long collective, more than a class Spark is meant to gently push you over the edge to new territory in your hooking.

Each week I'll present one of the following thrusts for you to think about, act upon, watch or ignore as you wish: Process, Colour, Teaching, Inspiration. I'll also be providing around 5 inspiring thoughts, suggestions, links and eye candy during each week to expand our horizons.

There is nothing you need to hand in or do in this class, it is meant to spark your understanding, depth of meaning and execution of your ideas through any medium. This is a class like no other offered. It is about you, your artistry. I'll be there to help you, make suggestions and inform you about the hooking work you choose to do in class to help you grow as you wish.

As with everything though, what you put in grows 10 fold into what you take from any group dynamic.

We have already started hooking on a pattern called Intersection, participation, size and cut are determined by you, great stretching is taking place as we explore our stashes and colour planning and intersections. Pattern is provided.

Wanda Kerr

Jean Schoderus

I'm only accepting students until October 15. We would be happy to have you join us. Go here to read more about it and press the paypal button if you are a Canadian.

If you are an American or other nationality just go here to join up and pay.

Only $150 for a whole year of creative thriving or 41¢ a day. You are not too late rather, just in time! We want you to join us.

The Exploratorium

This class is one month long.

It has a kit, including 2 sets of transitionally dye wool, some yarny splendid goodness, hand dyed nylons, and two textures +. Each kit is unique. Shipping is included in the price of the class.

Class will start Monday, October 24. I'll send you a notification of where to go to see it the night before.

There are 4 lessons in this class and they will be set up in the first week so you might work at your own speed, fast, slow or somewhere between. When you complete a lesson or you need a boost or question answered you send in homework and I respond to your questions on the lessons, questions as you work, your homework and any other dang thing.

In this class we will look at how colour can transition to make your rug hooking more artful. There are many ways to work this pattern and we will explore them all. Colour choices cannot be made for your kit by you but all are gorgeous and I'll use my finely honed instinct when shipping, I promise.

Each roll is part of one kit

I only have room for 5 students. Will you be one of them? I hope so. Cost is $380 in the denomination of your residency country. This includes class, pattern you trace, bountiful kit and shipping.

Here are some of the results of this class.

Jamestown Class

Asheville Class

If you have already contacted me about joining this class I'll be sending you your invoice today to be paid asap and shipping your kit on Monday.

If you want to be in my group of students in this elite class, please write wlm@bmts.com pronto as I'm taking students on a first come first serve, first paid basis. You will be sent a paypal invoice.

I hope that has answered some of your questions about my classes and how they work and you are inspired to join us!

Thank you, Wanda

Spark Up

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 10:40:00 -0400

Wanda is starting a brand new year long class on The Welcome Mat.

It is called Spark.

IT IS INTERACTIVE.

Wanda relates and responds to you.

Inside Spark there are 4 sections

Inspiration

Process

Teaching

Colour

Each month we will touch on all four.

There will be patterns, challenges, learning and musings to ponder over.

Find out more about colour use in rug hooking, find out more about Wanda's process and your own. She will teach you all her tricks about creativity, spirit and art.

You will see more of Wanda via videos and teachings.

Best of all she will inspire you to ignite your spark as she fans hers.

Your desires in hooking are your tinder, all we need to do is flash a spark to get you fired up.

Spark Starts on September 22, 2016

Cost: $150 as per your country of residence.

If you are a US citizen just join us here.

If you are a Canadian citizen and need or wish to pay in CAD please press this button and add a note of your Welcome Mat name and email so I might send you your invitation.

“I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out

in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in

magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.”

Jack London

Our French Colours Series

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 12:32:00 -0500

On The Welcome Mat I've been exploring France as a source for dye formulas.
This week we've been to a French Cafe

Here's our Parisian Apartment Formulas

And those from a French Farmhouse

We have hundreds of formulas I've created just for my Welcome Mat dyeing column, Dye Matters, join us, you'll be glad you did.

" This is a lot different than when I belonged before" exclaimed an excited recent returnee.

Happy Birthday Present From The Welcome Mat

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 4 Jan 2016 09:42:00 -0500

New Skills Monday - How to Enlarge And Print Your Own Pattern

This article contains the steps for creating a pattern from digital content, like a photo. It both enlarges and prints. I'll be sharing this all in my blog too just to show people our riches on The Mat.

I have with great success in the past turned something I drew freehand into digital content by taking a photo of it ( you have to be directly over it to take the photo) or scanning it.

Create a PDF of your artwork or photo.

Do this by clicking print and looking for the words PDF in the window.

Click this drop down PDF menu open.

Select Save as PDF.

This window will pop open.

Name it and make sure it goes where you want, have it end in .pdf

Open up this PDF

Click Print

You will see this window or something very similar

Now it is time to rejig the settings to enlarge our photo into pattern size.

Click on Poster in Page Sizing

Then increase the size of your pattern until the contents reach your desired size, I choose 350 %

Click on the photo to change the tiling to represent what percentage you've chose.

Click Print.

Tape the pattern together, removing any excess paper.

Go over all important lines with a black sharpie.

Look at it from a distance

Good?

OK.
Create half cross hairs in the corners for lining up if you need it later.

I sometimes do this tracing step on a window in the day time.

Tape your paper pattern onto a tabletop or counter, be aware sharpie might go through so take precautions such as a plastic sheet below the paper.

Tape your tracing medium over the paper.

Trace your lines and be sure to write a word in the margin of the photo so you will know which side is up when it comes time to transfer it.

Remove tracing medium from paper pattern and lay down your backing in it's place, make sure you have about 4 inches of backing outside the actual pattern.

Tape your backing to the plastic covered counter so it won't move.

Tape your tracing medium down on your backing right side up ( this is where that word you wrote comes into play)

Trace over the lines slowly with a new black sharpie, the slower you go the better it will be.

Check to make sure you have done all the lines by lifting up the bottom of the tracing medium only.

All done?

Ok now go over all these lines again so they are clear and sharp.

What a pain in the hoochie but my darlings it will be yours.... all yours! The rewards are great!

Sharing From The Welcome Mat

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 09:04:00 -0500

This is our Thursday Welcome Mat column; Thinking About.

Thinking About: Class Confusion and Mistakes

Have you ever been in rug school and there is someone who speaks whispers with authority on what should be done or what we are accomplishing as a class? Not the teacher mind you but a fellow student.

Before you know it we all think we should be doing what they suggested and we are off on a tangent instead of the straight path the teacher set down.

The person next to you can help you a great deal in rug school. They can also impede you or completely distract you. When you need to know what to do ask your teacher.

I like to be interrupted during students "turns" if your progress is being impeded. If I think you are taking advantage I'll tell you you'll have to wait or if the question will take more than 30 seconds to answer you will have to wait for the window when I move onto the next person.

Mostly our fear of doing something wrong causes us to question ourselves or feel we didn't hear correctly, makes us feel unsure.

Take a look at our weekly main page section, I'll place it in here for posterity:

Thing I'm telling you this week

First a bit about Jack London:

And now his attitude:

“I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out

in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in

magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.”

Jack London

++++++++++++++++++

What I like LOVE today

Light and dark, calms and excites colours

Can you see it?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What I read and heard:

This is so important to remember!

There is something else I want you to remember please.

Your divinity is pure and true.

You have it in you to be what you glimmer from time to time all of the time.

Let it go, let loose.

Is there way you think you could listen more carefully to your own whispers in class and in life?

And now a bit about my online class confusion if you don't mind.

It has come to my attention 3 times this week people think my classes run like other online classes.

My classes don't disappear nor are not attended by me after a certain date.

It's like I run magical school where every time you open up a classroom door there I am!

I'm just waiting for you to join me instead of you all being there waiting for me to come as with other online teaching.

I want to reiterate that any and all classes I hold for a fee online are always available. You can join them any time.

They are not subject to a start date.

I'll join you when you comment or hand in your homework to encourage you and uplift, to refine and reinforce.

It's that simple.

Here is my complete online class list with a brief description, cost included, they have various extremely generous times to complete them.

On The Welcome Mat: you must be a member to participate, cost for this is $36.

join by going here

Colour Counselor pay $10 for colour help in your rug when things are not going right

Painterly Poppies Class -$75 learn how to use colour in new way to create dimension and vivacity, includes dyeing lessons and two patterns.

This is Wandering - $30 - learn how to go beyond with expanded wandering dyeing methods

The Colour Lab - $180 - learning useful tools about colour and rug hooking to help you be a colour master. Does not contain pedantic colour theory.

The Dyeing Colour Lab - $150 - learn how to dye like a master, free of formula books, see a colour - dye that colour.

Landscape Lab - $100 - create landscapes with depth and colour vivacity, pattern included

If you don't like paying to learn our free online classroom on The Mat has many classes with pattern included for you to take.

On The WandaWay Studio: this membership is free, join by going here.

Individual Consultation - $100 - I work with you on a project for one month to help you over trouble spots.

Eco Dye - $50 - learn how to create dye effects with things from nature and your home, it is fun and lends a unique quality to your wool which will only enhance your rug works uniqueness.

Dyeing With Ice and Snow - $25 - use that nasty winter stuff for great dyeing effects!

Thanks!

Welcome Mat Daily Bread - Dyeing Effects

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:20:00 -0500

We are in a sharing mood. This is our topic of the day today on The Welcome Mat.
We are continuing this conversation from yesterday about how to create these effects in wool. Due to some questions I've continued with more info on how to do this.

Please enjoy.

Here is what I wrote yesterday:

Today Juliana asked me:

"How would you hook/ dye this under painted look?"

Bunny Secrets - Rita Kirkman

I'm thinking she meant the background, but I see the rabbits have the same quality to their coats. Note: Juliana meant the rabbits it turns out

I can frequently get these effects through using my wandering dye technique.You can read about how to do it here along with doing the Point and some formulas for that. Or take a master class in Wandering here for $30. It lets me have warm and cool colours in the same piece of wool. Marbelized wool will also do the same thing.

BUT the finer you cut these wools the less they can perform for you in this way.

We diminish the dyed effect with smaller cuts.

How would you hook or dye this effect? Note: we had several great suggestions

And Julianna if I've got hold of the wrong straw or am hareing off in the wrong direction please redirect me and this conversation to rights. I'll be away until tomorrow night and I look forward to your brilliant ideas!

And now today:

I thought I would try to explain an interesting event between wool we dye and how it looks hooked.

You've probably had the most perfect looking wool for what you wanted to hook, bricks, trees, grass, eyes, you name it!

Then when you hooked it up it lost the effect you wanted.

In the case of our rabbits from yesterday, here they are again:

Bunny Secrets

Rita Kirkman is the painter and here is her site.

I would need to prepare a least three, maybe 4 pieces of wool in the wandering pot or with marbelizing to get 4 values.

Each value would contain variants of the colours present, the yellow in the lightest value, the dull orange, bright blue, dull green and in some as they darken value - violet.

Once this dyeing is done it would be simple to just hook this up.

I agree a challenge would be a good idea.

But I want to tell you it needs to include hooking because that is the real way to prove the wool is viable.

Often wool for these effects is quite ugly on it's own.

In this rug:

I used marbelized wool for my flesh with a few other pieces of colours thrown in.

I had made partners of (sage green, tan, violet) ( orange , tan, sage green) to dye. This gave me 6 pieces of two sided wool that had one or the other colours more present. I used the warmest colours in the lighter areas and let the greenish ones be the middle areas and let violet shade.

It allowed me some big leeway for shading.

This was just stuff I had on the shelf. But I do have a very wide range of goods to hook with because I need a wide range of values, temperatures, saturations in each colour.

To do an image search just go to Google images and click on search.

Here is a hot link.

Plug into what you see, take a good long look.

Don't try to make or buy one piece of wool that "does the job", it rarely functions well.

Make smooth transitions in your colour work, let one colour bridge all sections, it might darken or lighten, brighten or dull but it will hold all what you see together.

Can you find that colour in the rabbits?

One of the fun things we can do to get this "pastel effect" is let core show in our wool, you do this by having you water super hot with dye and wool present with an acidy dye bath, it will give a great effect on already colour wool of light to medium values. You can add two or more colours by waiting for the water to clear each time.

Note: This is the stuff that you can learn on the Mat on a daily basis, it is all archived and RICH with what you want to know to hook and grow as an artist. You can also ask me most anything and I'll do the best I can to aid you. $36 a year? How could you pass this up?

Use this link to join: http://thewelcomemat.ning.com/?xgi=3qUIA30wlWdnX

We would love to have you with us!

Well, well,well.

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 9 Dec 2015 14:35:00 -0500

Well, well, well, well, well.
This should be said with some tsking and slanted head wagging, negatively, to and fro, voice raising and lowering as needed.

Two good things on my hook something every day promise, I'm doing it, the hooking I mean.
And I'm being quite dutiful about it too.

But as you might notice I'm not posting about it.
Not once.
Until today.
You might wonder why.
Well, wonder away.
Wonder till your heart's content. Your guess is as good as mine.

All I can say is I'm walking about 5 miles a day and at the end of the day I just can't roll downstairs to the studio so easily to photo my project nor can I sit long at the computer, there is danger I'll seize up.
Here is the photos I've nabbed, some days I just pull a few loops others I hook quite a bit.

The leaf

the outline

The ground

Come on by to the WandaWorks Open House to check on my progress on Saturday December 12, 10 til 2

write me for the street address inquiry@wandaworks.ca

It's a free session all are welcome.

Open House/ Make Something Every day

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:37:00 -0500

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?

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 08:52:00 -0500

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!

I'm making!

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:29:00 -0400

I'm making things, how about you?

Since we last talked we've refurbished and rejigged the studio

The during

The after

This area's still a little untamed!

I need wildlife to work.

It just all seems lighter airier and all about one thing, a focus on wool!

I moved my clothier stuff up to the spare room. The first time I've sewn upstairs for 25 years. Out of the dungeon, I'm free at last!

I finished a big rug hooking project I've mulled up down sideways and in and out for two years.
It's a tarot card.

I've dyed two articles for Rug Hooking

Taught an online landscape class on The Welcome Mat about getting depth in your scenes and my students made incredible projects, I was so happy and proud of their individuality shining through.

Here is a kit I sent to one of my students.

Here is our diorama to help break down the components to create good depth.

I've been teaching our yearly free class on The Mat, The Spirit Hare too.

This cute pattern was designed for The Mat by Caryn Devlin of The Wool Garden

I also spun 1850 yds of wool for Spinzilla, I am on the Koigu Team!

I used some Koigu roving and Koigu yarn ends from the factory to spin into yarn.

Top right yarn ends, middle skein yarn ends and bottom row third from the left is my Koigu Roving.

The rest were spun from my own Wild Wanda Big Batts.

Here is my latest Dyeing to Know Column on The Welcome Mat where I'm focusing on French colours.

I've completed the French Farmhouse and the Parisian Apt. Next month we will be looking at

Le Cafe for colours to dye from using Majic Carpet Dyes.

I'm looking forward to November when I can hunker down and have a November /December Romance with some of my unfinished projects and start the new hooking year fresh!

Until next time,

Wanda

Are you game for a toothsome online class?

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:23:00 -0400

Hi!

Here I am at the shore of Lake Huron near the Fishing Islands. I love the wonderful, beautiful place I live and consequently I've hooked many landscapes. I've learned so much over time and now I'd like to share this with you.

I hope you are eager to dive into a new topic in this summer's lab study. We will dive into landscapes and how to make them more artistic. What do we need to consider and how can we get some "feeling" into our pieces? And this lab is everything you are looking for to develop your skills doing ANY hooking where you require depth including portraits!

I'll be providing a new beautiful pattern, great visuals, help with fabrics and maybe even dyeing aid if needed, I will be interacting with you as though we were together. You can use your own fabrics or order some of mine. Just let me know what you'd like. I encourage the use of many "kinds of stuff" to hook with in this lab.

The project will not be large, about 9 X13" but it can be enlarged if you wish. The concepts are easy and so fruitful!

At $100, this lab is a fraction of going to rug school and you can work in your pyjamas and anytime during the day or night.

Our Lab will commence August 5th! You will have 3 months access to class with the bulk of information being presented in the first month but I will attend to you during all three months.

go here to join

Everyone is welcome to join even if they just finished studying on this in person.

I'm so looking forward to working with you on my favourite topic!

FAQ

How do these classes work?

I present you with any digital materials, pattern, notes on transferring etc I think you need or you ask for.

I start presenting lessons in the lab once a week or every 10 days or so.

You ask any and all questions you need to. I answer your questions tailored to suit your needs and experience.

You do the required work, send in homework for help or commentary. Ask more questions if you need to.

You move on to the next lesson.

You have 3 months to complete the lab.

We all have a ball.

When can I join?

You can join this class anytime and your 3 months will start ticking away.

It is more lively to join the class when it is first introduced because you can interact with all the participants as well as myself.

Can anyone take this class?

Yes even if you are a beginner and have never taken a class online or just learned to hook.

This class is meant for Mat members only, to take this class you must be a member.

Please send any other questions about this lab to wlm@bmts.com. Join our landscape lab right here.

See you there!

A Warm Dark Wandering

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 13 May 2015 15:39:00 -0400

Contrary to the title this is not a dyeing formula inspired by a nighttime search for the water closet.

It is for this amazing wool:
Over 1/2 yd natural wool using my Majic Carpet Dyes and my wandering dye method.

Toasty Warm Dark Wandering
1/4 tsp. Yellow
1/8th tsp. Orange
1/8th tsp. Blue
1/8th tsp. Blue Violet
3/8th tsp. Black

Join the free Majic Carpet Dye Club for more a cool dark wandering formula - go here and look on the comment wall.
Happy Dyeing

The Manistee Ten - Making Rugs of Distinction

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 4 May 2015 10:21:00 -0400

Here is a list I made in 2008 of important key things to think about when you want to hook rugs of distinction.

Know yourself and what you want and like, then do it.

Use a full range of values, that means white and black and every value step between.

Create glow

Create iridescent events

Let the rug tell a story, something happened, something is happening, something is about to happen

Let your rug be meaningful for you

Go beyond expected outcomes

Have new experiences

Don't look to rug hookers to see how or what to hook - this is key!

Try anything you may think of, if you can think it, you can do it.

You CAN do anything you wish, just make a start, you have to put something in to know what to take out.

Time to blossom

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 09:16:00 -0400

I'm not sure you know what you are capable of.

I think you extend yourself only so long as it feels comfortable.

Sometimes you even put on the appearance of others to sop in their "significance"

Where are you? Are you in there?

It's time to come out and play.

Who cares if you fail or incur some criticism?

Isn't that just part of being authentic?

Even the most boring and goofed up display or version of yourself is leagues greater than a copy of someone else.

Be your own magician,hero or idol.

Don't look up to others, look up to yourself.

You are right there waiting to blossom.

Dyeing in a Wanderful Way

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 14:16:00 -0400

Today on The Welcome Mat we are trying something brand spanking new in Dyeing Matters.
Look at my results:

We are doing it two ways.... two videos full of great, fun instructions and lots of photos and I answer all your questions.
I can't wait to hook this up!
(You know Vim is a great product, just saying....)

Wanna get you some of that?
Join us here.

Rug Show TODAY In Owen Sound, Ontario

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 07:49:00 -0400

some of my gorgeous co-ordin8s

I'm sitting here writing to you when I should be getting my presentable on. I'm vending at the Lee Manor Rug Show. You should see the amazing beauties I'm bringing and that is just my wonderful ~~assistant~~ (what a stupid word to describe her) saviour.
We've got wool, wool, lovely piles of wool and more and even more!

Tons of Majic Carpet dyes, Wandawear, nylons, handspun, hand dyed yarn, my rugs to see and even some great deals.

Yes I'm bringing my famous Flesh Pot

Ok here the blurb, the who, what whenfor and where, no one needs to ask why do they? It's all for the love of hooking!!!!

You are invited to attend The Lee Manor Rug Show March 29th, 2015.

It will be held from 12:00 until 4 pm at the Lee Manor Nursing Home Auditorium, look for the signs.

There is a tea room, rugs to see and vendors Cozy Nook, WandaWorks, Freda McDonnell, and Holly McLay to date. There will be cutter and scissor sharpening available.

Admisson $3

875 6th St. E Owen Sound Ontario.

See you there!

Wanda

PS am I the only person you know who takes a dressmaker's dummy with her everywhere she goes?

Dyeing For Simple Formulas?

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 15:52:00 -0400

Today is dyeing day on The Welcome Mat.

We are focusing on simple ways to increase our number of dye formulas, a safe way to depart from dye books!

These beauties are the contents of my article, products of the three main dye companies hookers use.

I'd like to share a Majic Carpet formula with you.

I think this colour would make an interesting background.

Soft Gill Algae

note: it is a little lighter in real life

1/8th yd of natural wool in a microwave dye bath method ( you can use any dye bath method)

Soft Gill Algae

1/128th tsp. Chocolate Brown

1/128th tsp. Moss Green

Happy dyeing!

March! Already

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 2 Mar 2015 09:52:00 -0500

March is a month unlike any other as it has a directive for action built right in!
March requires movement.

Yesterday I compiled my plans for the month, will I be able to do it all?
Who cares? So what if I don't?
At least I have written down what needs to be done, all in one place and can stop juggling them in my mind. When I drop a ball in that dark chasm, it is often lost for several woolly days.

Every other week on The Welcome Mat I produce formulas just like I do for Rug Hooking Magazine, using all three main dye companies.
On opposing weeks I post my past articles which are now free from contractual agreement.

There are new fresh things and great stand bys too. The best thing?
I'm right there to answer your questions when you ask them.

Last week I published some terrific formulas there that just happened to be among the first I wrote.
I was dyeing for this rug, My English Garden.

Here are a couple for you to try. You will see at the bottom the original swatch samples, If you'd like to make a swatch of this formula use 1 cup of water total.
If you would like to make a swatch that will actually shade something well use twice as much dye in each jar. This is what will make a perfect value gradation according to the gray scale. Why settle for something less?
I learned this the hard way. Double every jar! It doesn't matter which measure you start at 1/32 to 1/4 or even 1/2 tsp ( you will need more dye) the next one should be double- 1/6th , 1/2 or 1 if we are considering our examples.

Method

All samples are dyed over 1/8th yd of natural or white wool.

I dye all my samples in the microwave, I start with boiling water from the stove kettle. I pour 6 cups of water into an 8 cup receptacle.

I add the dye, the wet wool, stir well by pushing the wool back and forth through the water.

Cook for two one minute intervals on full power then half power, stir well and do it again.

Stir again add a small amount of acid. If fine grained use about 1/32 tsp. If coarse grained use about 1/4 tsp. Stir wool some more .

Process for one more interval.

The water should be clear, if not leave dye receptacle standing with a news paper lid for 10 minutes or so.

Rinse well, dry the way you like!

Thorn Shine - Majic Carpet I love this colour

1/32 tsp. Reddish Brown

1/32 tsp. Blue

Here it is in light to dark samples

Rosdelion Majic Carpet

1/32 tsp Chocolate Brown

1/32 tsp. Yellow

1/2 inch damp round toothpick of Orange

1/2 tsp. damp round toothpick of Moss Green

Samples:

I've already used Rosedelion up in my Journal rug!

That is on it's way to being done hooray!

For another beautiful formula from this collection go to The Majic Carpet Club

A Wiarton Valentine

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 13:18:00 -0500

Gather love, give it.

Be happy

Hey You!

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Fri, 6 Feb 2015 10:56:00 -0500

How are you doing?
I've been quite busy here, our online class about Snow and Ice Dyeing is going well, we are at the "what more can be done stage" That's always such an expansive part of online classes!
You can join this class or any one, anytime over at WandaWay Studio, we stress low cost interactive online teaching of terrific quality.

I'm on Day 25 or my January Journal.

Our wonderful new grandson arrived last week too.

I bet you are looking for some new recipes for Majic Carpet Dyes. Here are a few lovelies, for the rest of the article, join The Welcome Mat, there are dozens of unseen made for The Mat only recipes for our dyes and more built every week. What are you waiting for?

Here are some lovely formulas inspired by Home Decor:

Method:

All samples have been dyed over 1/8 yd. wool, Dorr natural in the dye bath method. Directions below.

I used Majic Carpet dyes.

Wet wool with wetting agent.

Dissolve dye in boiling water.

Place both in a dye bath in pot on stove.

Heat

Wait until almost all the dye is absorbed, add 1/32 tsp. Citric Acid

Wait 5 minutes

Do not stir

Wait until all colour is gone from dye bath, rinse, dry.

Hook happily

Dirty Unsexed Baby Yellow

1, 1/2 inch of damp toothpick Yellow

1/2 inch of damp toothpick Seal Brown.

Melted Creamsicle

1/32 tsp Orange

1/256th tsp.Chocolate Brown

1/256th tsp Seal Brown

Brown Back

3/32 tsp. Chocolate Brown

1/32 tsp. Seal Brown

1/64 tsp. Blue Violet

Online Dye Class Starts Soon!

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:34:00 -0500

My online classes include interaction from me from start to finish and speaking of starting we are commencing to proceed in two days but you can start any time during your two months access.

Dyeing With Ice Cubes and Snow

It's time to make use of this:

And this:

in a beautiful way to create this.

I used Cushing Dyes to create this sample.

Bring my Jan / Feb 2015 article in Rug Hooking Magazine to life by participating in our online class.

It's fun, fascinating and you'll have fantastic, unique wool to hook!

Join now right here.

Only $25

Golden Goose and Dyeing with Ice and Snow Online Class

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:12:00 -0500

Yellow really can be like a ray of sunshine to lift our spirits. Do you use or wear yellow much? Does it appear in your spinning or hooking?

I love to have a big stack about 2 ft tall or more of 1/2 yds of different yellows to choose from.
We like to look through and audition them for just the right one to play the required role and not steal the show!

Perhaps you don't dye? Then you can still benefit from a splendid array of yellows, take a look at my collection - The Lemon Grove... good enough to eat!

Over 1 yard of assorted yellows!

Go straight here to buy it!

Here's a golden goose from The Welcome Mat's Dyeing Matters column for you to try.
I've just posted over 12 recipes for other beautiful yellow there today, Wednesday is our dyeing day!

Our sample below is dyed over 1/8th yd of natural wool. I wet the wool. I dissolved the Majic Carpet dyes together in boiling water, poured them into the barely heated dye bath, added the wool raised the heat, pushed the wool through the water vigorously and waited until the water almost cleared to add 1/32 tsp citric acid or 1 tbsp vinegar. Wait until water clears or as long as you see fit.

Rinse well.

Please use my Yellow dye in a no acid dye bath for the best result, adding too much acid or any until the water is almost clear can retard the dye take up. Not all acid dyes require the same level of acidity.

Golden Goose

1/32 tsp Yellow

1/128th tsp. Seal Brown

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Online class starting in 8 days!!!!

From The Land of Ice and Snow!

Did you read my article in RHM lately?

You too could make this beautiful wool.

Are you interested in trying something new and fun in an online class, join The WandaWay Studio , it's free and sign up for a great lesson on Dyeing with Ice and Snow, there is plenty to discover! Wool turns out beautiful and unique each time. Class costs only $25 for 2 months access.

Loving The Purple

inquiry@wandaworks.ca (Wanda Kerr) — Mon, 5 Jan 2015 17:53:00 -0500

I can't wear it but I still love it. With the right colours it can be an amazing neutral!!!!

I used it in my September Vogue Rug as binding.

Deep Dark Lavender

½ tsp Blue Violet

1/16^th tsp. Blue

Method:

Wet wool with an additive such as shampoo, Jet Dry or Synthrapol to prepare it to dye. Heat a receptacle of water to dye in, for the smooth dyeing of ¼ yd use approx. 1 gallon of water. Add dye formula into the dye bath, making sure it is dissolved.

Add wool. Heat at simmer for several minutes stirring for smooth application of dye. Add in 1/32 to 1/4tsp citric acid depending how dark the colour, about 10 minutes into the process or until most of the dye is taken up. The latter is what I do. Continue heating until the water is perfectly clear or per your own directives. Rinse well, use dryer or hang to dry.

Make your own divine purple velvetness with Majic Carpet Dyes.
Join us in The Majic Carpet Club for more on Purple.
Join The Welcome Mat to read this week's Dyeing Matters column published on Wednesday's and all the previous columns published - a treasure trove!