Trish Johnson's Australia visit

Some Thoughts On Proddy Rugs

Within the group, we have made a few Proddy or Proggy or Clippy or Peggy rugs. I’ve made two myself, with another on the frame. 

Whilst you can’t get the finesse or detail of hooked rugs, the ‘impressionist’ look you will achieve is lovely, let alone the beautiful softness. But I have some opinions on the matter, and for my own future reference and to share I'll stick them together and have a blether (something for the new Facebook page). 

Back

Anne Schafer's Liquorice Allsorts proddy rug. The colurs are well defined against each other. Each line is at least three rows of prods.

Next is Anne's Poppy rug. Again, even with the mottled background, the poppies pop. 

Inspired to try my hand and use up a substantial amount of stash, I worked out a design and began my own. The silky nature of the fabric gives it a lovely sheen.

I followed Anne's advice, making my sections each a good contrast and the lines three rows thick. The green lines separating the sectons and a dark brown behind it works quite well. I'm really happy with this one! So...

I started another... It looks brighter here I have to say. I’ll often start with a couple of fabrics (from my stash) that I want to design around. In this case it was the yellow and some pinks and lilacs (as per the centre of the first). I thought I’d cut my bits longer than the last but this was a mistake, I feel. It’s too shaggy! Mind you it feels lovely underfoot... Plus, the value or shade of the lilac is too similar to the yellow, so it’s not well defined. One of the pinks is a muted dusty colour (pretty in itself), but it looks a little muddy. While the back shows reasonable definition, the front doesn't. Still... it'll do...

To be honest, I started this one (below) second, but it's been rolled up for Quite Some Time. I do love using silks and exotic fabrics, old clothes etc., so get sidetracked, and whilst I like the colours, they're not really going to suit the house. I do that all of the time though, so what's new? It's all blanketing.

I thought that would make it tough and hard to step on, but it isn't. It's cosy.

  

OK so just get on and finish it! But, my point is (in writing this) the colour definition is nice. Note to self, take your own advice!
Chris Noorbergen is making this gorgeous tropical leafy rug. 'll get a better picture. Chris lives at lovely Loch, in West Gippsland (I'd say it's Gippy). Her strength of colour is beautiful and the dyed blackish background makes the design very strong.

Obviously there is a lot to be said for any type of design and we only have to follow our own taste. My hubby is always telling me to do a scketch first but the only one I have done is for the only one I'm not in love with. It's hard to know what fabric I'll find. If you are dyeing your cloth, then  you can colour in your drawing. But when it's all scraps and stash it's a bit more difficult.
I want to start another proggy now though. Now I know what I need to think of. Maybe I'll think through Where I want it, What is needs to go with and begin from there.
Or maybe I won't.

Happy New Year to all our fellow rugmakers

Happy New Year everyone. Wishing all our followers a healthy, wealthy and wise 2020

Despite the fire tragedies there is always hope for better days ahead. 
It's hard to concentrate on our rugging at the moment, with so much happening in our state of Victoria and our neighbouring states. The fires in East Gippsland are a constant concern for many residents and holiday makers. Houses destroyed and people's lives lost. Thousands of people have vacuated from Mallacoota and elsewhere, and fire fighting crews are working hard to contain multiple fires.
Our hearts also go out to the people of NSW and S.A.
If you are a praying person, please pray for the fire fighters, organisers and residents of the fire affected areas. Thankfully lots of generous people have come to their, by donating food, clothing and temporary shelters.

However our meetings continue on as do peoples lives. 

Our next meeting will be held at Chris' home in Loch on 18th January.
All welcome.

Do something for someone today. Give a smile of encouragement, a kind word or make a donation.

It’s Nearly Christmas Again!

Here are a few close ups of what’s being worked on at Rug Group. Personally, I don’t always get a lot done, but love the group and the inspiration anyway. Other eyes are often a great help.
Our little group is growing and we had another newby on Saturday. Welcome to Nina! Nina brought a few boxes of coloured yarns she had prepared for free style crochet. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the colours, below. She had a play with Hooking the yarn.
Pity Chris wasn’t a able to make it (Happy Birthday Chris’s grandchild), with her freestyle crochet too.

My Footy rug is further away from the finish line than before, because I didn’t like the purpley blues in the sky. With all of my Christmas making at home, I only seem to get to it at group day, but it is nearly done. Hopefully soon....

Lynne’s granddaughter Talia had a bash at prodding too.

Katherine is just about ready to go on to the next in her Australian Birds triptych, a Rosella .

Like lollies.

Anne made this deliciously yummy dip and we all want to make it, so here it is. I bought some pomegranate syrup on the way home and will do it for Christmas Day.

Lee’s car seat cover is growing but I can’t remember why that happened. It’s a lovely texture, using knitted selvedges.

Anne Will Finish This Rug! She Will!

Joy makes a Nativity scene every year, along with friends. It’s a little hard to see here but the beards in particular are gorgeous.
We’ve decided to get together in January and I’ll let you all know when. It seems that Warrandyte is the central place, with a couple of city regulars, but we do hope to get to Loch at some point! Promise! Such a lovely drive.

End of year meeting

Hi all

On Saturday 7th December we will be holding our last meeting for the year. A change of plans has us meeting in Warrandyte as per usual. All welcome- young or old, beginner or old hand.

We'd love to see you there.

Cheers

Last meeting and next meeting

 I can't believe where we are in the year. Is it possible that we only have 6 1/2 weeks until Christmas? And that means only 2 more meetings. 
The photos below are from our last meeting in October and our next meeting is sneaking up on us- 16th NOVEMBER girls, so  mark your calendars. It will be at Warrandyte, at our lovely friend Anne's place, who makes us so incredibly welcome every month again. Thank you Anne, you're a gem. Your's truly has been spending some time in Tassie, so my apologies that this information was not available until now. If you have not attended any of our meetings, please let this be your invitation to the wonderful world of rug hooking.