The creation of “Eggbert” requires some explanation.  Friend and fellow rug hooker, Cheryl Hazelton has a particular spot in her home where she hangs seasonal pieces.   It is to her credit that a few of my patterns were created due to her requests…Primitive Snowman and Something Wicked and now Eggbert.  A few weeks ago, Cheryl asked me to draw a bunny pattern for spring with the request that he be whimsical, somewhat primitive and skinny.   I drew a pattern and presented it to her the following week for her approval.  She wasn’t excited, he was too realistic.  Immediately I turned over the linen and jokingly drew out the rabbit you see in this pattern.  We all had a good laugh at the odd drawing but she claimed that she loved it.  I gave it to her and told her she is welcome to it but not to tell anyone that I drew it.  A couple of weeks later she returned with “Eggbert” hooked with her additions of the egg shapes in the sky, the awesome carrot and details to his face.  Needless to say there were a lot of “OMG’s”.   The pattern that I deemed unworthy was made fabulous with Cheryl’s vision of the possibilities and her unique colour plan.  It amazes me how the creative mind works.  We all envision things so differently.  Cheryl graciously allowed me to add Eggbert to the line of seasonal patterns even after I dismissed him so callously.  Lesson learned.  So it is with great honor that I now present to you the studio’s first collaborative design,  “Eggbert” designed by Martina Lesar and Cheryl Hazelton.   Thanks Cheryl for showing me a way out of the “box”.

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As a rug designer, I strive to create patterns that will appeal to a large variety of tastes.  We all have personal preferences when choosing a pattern that will grace our homes.  I have been asked several times what I create for my own home.  Easy answer…geometrics.  Oh and leaves….I have a soft spot for anything natural.   However, as much as I like the clean lines and classic appeal of a geometric, I prefer to create “imperfect” geometrics.  The hand drawn line is much more organic than using a ruler to measure out precise dimensions and razor straight lines.  I love the handcrafted results of a hooked piece when you abandon the ruler and trust your eye and hand.  The imperfections are what endear a hooked piece to me.  Geometric and abstract designs are timeless and beautiful additions in today’s contemporary spaces.  Interior designs are continually changing which can present a problem if you have invested in ‘style specific’ pieces in your home.  Not so with geometric designs.  Whether your geometric is simplistic or complex, it is a design that will transition beautifully into any style you choose to create in your home.

A “Geometrics and Abstracts” category has now been added to my “Martina Lesar Designs” line of patterns.  I will continue to add new designs to this category as I complete the hooked pieces.  The beauty of many of these designs is that each one is unique since it is hand drawn and can be custom sized by increasing or decreasing the repeats.  Your custom requests are welcome.

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Well a geometric, of course.  I started this about a month ago after completing a large rug.  I find that when I finish a large project, I need to hook something uncomplicated.  It sort of “cleanses the palette” before I embark on a new project that will require thought and planning.  A pattern such as this is just pure rug hooking joy….relaxing, forgiving and fun.  Best of all it uses up all the accumulated strips from other projects, regardless of width, colour or texture.   I’ve had requests for this rug as a pattern so it has been added to the pattern pages under the “Geometrics and Abstracts” page of my designs.  I’m calling this the “Stash Buster” because at 36×60 it will definitely make a dent in yours.  It can also be custom sized to suit your needs.

Also a reminder that this Saturday April 1st the studio will be closed for the Oxwood Hook In.  See my earlier post for details of this event.

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Your mat is hooked and now you may be wondering where to put it.  Most people have a space in mind when selecting a hooking project but many are destined to be rolled up and stored away because it was created purely for the joy of hooking.  Too many times have I heard that many beautiful rugs have taken up residence rolled up under the bed!  What a shame!  It’s time to bring out these treasures and enjoy them in our everyday lives.  If you don’t have the space for them all, think about occasionally switching them up with the seasons.  We have all seen many photos of fabulous hooked rugs but seldom do we see them in the space for which they were created.  The “What Do I Do With It” series of posts will feature photos of rugs in use.  The first rug “in its place” is a runner hooked by Jane Fournie.  I custom sized my “Primitive Geometric” pattern to accommodate her very long hallway. She hooked it in every shade of blue and cream to create this stunning piece.  SPEC-TAC-U-LAR!  This is not a difficult design to hook and the result is impressive.  This is a 13 foot plus long hallway and narrow, therefore, adding a mat with a horizontal element visually widens the space.  Since the space is too narrow to accomodate any furniture, the rug adds warmth and decorative interest to an otherwise empty hallway.  With this series of posts I hope you will be inspired to create your own mats to grace your home and enjoy them everyday. 

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My absolute favourite thing to do with a hooked rug?  Use it on the floor.   If you have never experienced the luxurious feeling of walking on a hooked rug in bare feet then it is time you consider creating a rug exactly for this purpose.    This rug was custom created for a client’s newly renovated bathroom.  Wool was custom dyed to co-ordinate with colors that are in the fabric and paint.  If you study the space you can imagine that a small rug in front of the vanity and one in front of the tub would break up the space.  One large rug makes the area appear more spacious because it allows the eye to move uninterrupted across the area.  In many bathrooms we are limited as to where we can add textiles or patterns.  The floor is an outstanding space where you can add a rug which will create warmth as well as a decorative element to complement your design.

Some may balk at the thought of stepping out of a tub, soaking wet, onto their hooked rug but we have to remember that the materials we are using today are incredibly durable.  Wool is naturally water resistant as well as preshrunk and if you are using a linen foundation, you have a rug that will withstand damp conditions.  After all the time you put into creating a hooked rug, you deserve to be the one who relishes the cushy softness beneath your feet.

FYI:  This rug measures 5×7

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My rugs are first and foremost designed to be used on the floor.  In fact I have two at my front entrance which is the main traffic path into the house.  We live in the country and don’t have a paved driveway so all the grit gets tracked into the house and onto the rugs.   I vacuum often and shake them out periodically.   I color planned these rugs in darker colors so that they don’t show stains as opposed to a light colored rug.  For day to day cleaning, vacuuming is perfectly acceptable as long as you don’t use the beater head attachment.  Make sure you don’t forget to do the back as well.  For a more thorough cleaning, the following is only recommended if your rug is hooked on linen foundation cloth.  NOT BURLAP!

If you have experience a spill, you will notice that the liquid will bead on top of the rug.  The lanolin in wool naturally repels water so you have time to soak up the liquid with a paper towel before it soaks into the rug.  If your rug gets soiled then spot cleaning with a damp cloth and a wool soap such as Eucalan is recommended.  Eucalan is gentle and you don’t need to worry about soapy residue.  It isn’t necessary to remove all the Eucalan as it does contain conditioning ingredients for your wool.

Really dirty rugs can be washed.  I fill a tub or sink with warm water and add Eucalan.  Small table runners, mats and trivets can easily fit into a laundry or kitchen sink.   The bathtub is ideal for larger rugs.  Immerse your rug and gently “squish” it to release dirt.  Avoid agitating…treat it as you would a fine woolen sweater.   You may need to soak it for an hour for the water to penetrate the wool fibers.  Remove the stopper and let the dirty water drain out.  Fill with clean water and repeat the process until the water is clear.  Let as much water drain from the rug as possible, then roll the rug, squeezing out the excess water.  Lay out a thick towel and place your rug on top.  Roll up the rug with the towel to further absorb moisture.  When your rug is as dry as you can get it, lay it flat to dry on a clean surface.

When NOT to wash your rug:

If your foundation is burlap

If your wool hasn’t been washed and dried before hooking

If your rug is an antique

If your wool isn’t colorfast.  Some dyed wool is at risk of bleeding into other colors as opposed to commercially milled wools.  Keep this in mind when planning your rugs.  If you expect to wash your rug at some point, do not place ie. red dyed wool next to light colors.  If you have ever put a red sock in with your whites, you already know what to expect.  Color planning for the possibility of washing the rug in the future will considerably ease your mind when and if accidents happen.

This photo is of a mat that Debbie Pirtovsek hooked specifically for in front of the kitchen sink.  As you can see she also has dogs who love to hang out on this mat.  Debbie has told me that this rug needs to be washed regularly.  Believe it or not, she washes it in her washing machine on a delicate cycle with regular laundry detergent then hangs it over her railing to dry!  She says that ‘they come out like new’.   I have not tried this method so I cannot personally recommend it.  Perhaps one day when one of my rugs is beyond hope, I will test this out.  Until then, I’ll stick to hand washing.

Feel free to share your experiences in regards to washing your rugs in the comments below.

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Table mats!  What a wonderful way to display your hooked pieces.  If you are looking for a reason to hook something small then this photo is sure to be an inspiration.  Debbie Pirtovsek hooked our pattern “Tristan”, a design by Sarah Skrlj, to compliment her blue and white décor.   Mats add a softness to a tablescape as well as serve to protect the wood from scratches, heat and water marks.  Visually, a mat will pull together your decorative elements by giving you a base on which to arrange your display.  Sort of a canvas for your table.  When deciding on your table mat, consider the shape of your table as well as placement of your objects.  A runner is perfect for a long table and my preference for a round table is a square mat.   It is wise to have an idea as to where on the mat you will be placing objects.  If you are displaying something in the centre then you would most likely want to avoid a pattern where the main element is in the centre.  Chose instead a design with an all over pattern.  After all, you don’t want to obscure the best part of the mat.

I have hooked and used quite a few table mats over the years and I have found that for the stability of objects that will be placed on it, it is best to avoid very high hooked loops.  If you prefer not to have your candles toppling over then its best not to exceed a 1/4 inch height.  With so many shapes and styles now available it will be hard to resist making just one.  This is a space where your mat can be changed with the seasons, and since it is a small piece it hooks up quickly.  Perfect as a hostess gift too.

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It has been a very busy month here in the studio.  We are in the final week before the OHCG Annual Conference and the dye pots have been simmering not stop.  New textures have arrived and all have been cut, washed, folded and ready to hook.  We are proud to announce the launch of our new studio line of silk products at the Annual.  Silk sari ribbon in an amazing array of intense colours and textures are a feast for the eyes.  Our earlier silks pale in comparison to the vibrant new selection.  Another new addition is Silk Roving.  So incredibly soft and a multitude of colour streaks through each unique skein.  A brand new texture to add to your alternative fiber hooking.  And for the adventurous fiber artist….silk fibers!   Combine different colour silk fibers and twist into a strip to create a one of a kind texture.  We have hooked these new silks into a sampler so that you can see the wonderful effects you can achieve with our new silk product line.  Be sure to stop by the booth and see it in person.  Photos do not do these silks justice.  (Wholesale inquiries are welcome)  These new products will be available on the website after the OHCG Annual.

In honor of Canada’s 150th, we will be celebrating by offering amazing specials.  Don’t miss out on this one time celebration sale.  Visit early for the best selection.

Please note that the studio will be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week for the event.  For all events and studio closures, check the event calendar on the website.

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Another annual has come and gone but definitely not forgotten.  Id like to thank the Northumberland Rug Hooking group for all their hard work and congratulate them on the success of the event.   The event was well organized and the venue was big, bright and spacious.  The rugs on display were incredible!  I tried to photograph as many as possible in the limited time I had before the doors opened.  I apologize for the lack of names of the artists or the rug.  There was a definite preference for hooking pictorials this year.  Beautifully done!  I would also like to thank everyone for  visiting our booth and your patronage.  Its always a pleasure reconnecting.  Enjoy the photos. 

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Many hooked pieces today are incredible, intricate works of art that are not suitable as a floor mat.  These mats are best viewed at eye level to appreciate the detail and fine work of the artist.  Art mats can be framed or unframed.  Hanging your piece on the wall is of course the most common and obvious place to display your artwork.  However, there are other areas in your home where your hooked work can be featured.    This bookshelf is the perfect space for two small pictorials.  Arranging decorative and artistic elements amongst your book collection will be much more visually appealing than just a wall of books.  These two small framed pictorials were hooked by Yvonne Lane and are part of Jane Fournie’s collection.  The simple black frames enhance the pieces without detracting from the artwork.  Jane arranged the books so that the framed mats would fit perfectly in the space.  If your space is larger than your piece, a plate stand is ideal for displaying your art.  When arranging your shelves, it is best to avoid centering your artwork.  Off center placement is visually more appealing.  Bookshelves and tablescapes are the perfect space to feature small artworks.  I hope that these photos will inspire you to “think off the wall” and see the potential of alternative display areas in your own home.

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Many people don’t hook floor rugs because they have wall to wall carpeting.  In the past, it was considered taboo to place a rug on top of carpeting.  Today however, it is all about layering.  Done right, layered floor treatments can transform a room.  This photo shows how to do it right!  Simple but a lot of wow factor.  The beige carpeting is the perfect base for this geometric runner hooked in a neutral palette.   The transition between the two is subtle which allows the eye to move along the room uninterrupted.  It is the geometric design that adds interest to the space rather than color.  As a matter of fact, it is the absence of color in this runner that makes this room exceptional.

There are benefits in layering your rugs.  On the practical side, if your carpeting is showing signs of wear, placing a hooked rug over the carpet is a quick fix until you decide to replace the carpeting.  Layering your floor coverings also allows you to easily change the style of mat to keep up with new design trends.  This rug was designed and hooked by Jane Fournie, who has an incredible flair for design.  Notice the little basket in the doorway…Jane also hooks mats for the tops of these antique baskets.  Perhaps a future article.

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We have all hooked small mats that we use as trivets.   Many of those little gems are stored away in drawers due to the lack of places to display them without overwhelming our homes with too many hooked pieces.  A brilliant use for a small mat is a tray liner.  Jane Fournie’s photo shows how a vintage hooked mat used as a liner in her antique wooden serving tray adds a colorful accent to this wonderful tablescape.  The tray acts as a frame where you can arrange your treasures in a decorative display incorporating your small hooked mats.  Trays come in all sizes and your existing mat may be smaller than your tray, but take a close look at the photo.  The mat in the tray is actually much smaller than the base of the tray.  Jane effectively used this by offsetting the mat and arranging mugs on the unlined area of the tray to create a lovely, well balanced vignette.   These mats can also be changed with the seasons and holidays.  What a wonderful way to enhance your holiday décor!   So get those small mats out of storage and fall in love with them all over again.

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I’m very pleased to announce the arrival of the new “Studio Line” of silk sari ribbon and roving.  As fiber artists we are always searching for new fibers to enhance our rug hooking projects.  Undoubtedly, wool is first and foremost our preferred choice when planning our mats.   However, if you have been longing for something new, I invite you to view the incredible variety of opulent colors now available online and in studio.  These silks add a lustrous and unique texture to your hooking.  The solid colors offer a variety of silk fabrics in each unique skein.  Another fabulous ribbon is our Rainbow dyed silk sari ribbon.  A single skein offers a beautiful combination of colors that transition seamlessly.  These skeins contain approximately 50 yards of ribbon which will go a very long way.

Another new silk fiber is our “Studio Line Silk Roving”.  A plethora of color is carded into each supremely soft skein of roving.  Every loop that you hook will contain a different color combination of silk fibers.  Perfect for fields of wildflowers in landscapes and pictorials.  I am confident that you will be inspired by the incredible variety of colors and textures.  These products can be found on the wool pages under “alternative fibers” or on the new arrivals page.

Take advantage of our launch special by using the coupon code “SILKSARI”  at checkout to receive 10% off your silk purchases.  This special will expire June 30th 2017.  Wholesale inquiries are welcome.

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I am pleased to announce that we are hosting our first annual “A Day in the Country” BBQ and hook in.  This free event is our way of thanking you for your continued support. If you haven’t been out to the studio, we sit on 50 acres of unspoiled rolling hills in Caledon, so there is lots of room for you and your rug hooking friends to enjoy our outdoor summer hook in.   Lunch and refreshments will be provided but we ask that you bring a lawn or camp chair.  The studio will be open for your rug hooking needs.  I will strive to have the studio fully stocked however, if you have any requests, please let me know so that I can ensure that it is available for you.  There is ample parking, no need to worry about finding a spot.   We request that you RSVP before June 30th through email studio@martinalesar.com or by calling the studio (905) 838-3022. You can also confirm your attendance in the comment section below.   I hope that you will be able to attend so that I may personally extend my thanks for your support of my studio.  Please note that should the weather prove to be inclement, a rain date has been set for Friday August 4th.

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Thank you to the many who have already responded.  It is promising to be a very well attended event.  We want you all to have an awesome and comfortable day so we need to know the final numbers before June 30th.  We would love for you to join us.  You can rsvp in the comment section below or email studio@martinalesar.com or call 905 838-3022

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I have never hooked anything in pink and have only dabbled once or twice in a pastel palette. I never decorate with it,  never wear it and never create anything with pink.   Pink does not live in my personal stash.   Until now….I recently received a shipment of silk sari ribbon and was instantly enthralled with this beautiful blush pink.  Every time I walked past the display in the studio, it beckoned me.  I knew that one day I would have to use it in a rug and just like that, my days of snubbing pink were over.   I had recently drawn a pattern of poppies that I had intended to hook in the traditional reds, but the blush pink silk won me over.  The ivory silk sari pairs beautifully with it as does our dyed “Sunkissed” wool and “Pink Pearl” spot.  Soft herb greens for leaves and light background complete my color plan.   This mat will definitely be a challenge for me.  As you can see in the photo, I’m still testing things out, but that’s what makes it interesting.  Whether you are a beginner or seasoned rug hooker, we learn something new with each project.  And my first lesson from this mat?  Never say never.

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When I posted this mat last week, the response surprised me.  The “Poppy” mat has become the most popular item in the studio!  It seems that “pretty” is making a comeback.  Many have requested a kit and I have hooked enough of it to know the amounts of materials needed.  This kit is not a “paint by numbers” kit….it will include the pattern, silk ribbon, the wool and a photo which you will use as a guide.   With these tools, you will be encouraged to experiment and play with color placement and hooking style.  If you have never used silk sari ribbon, this kit is a good introduction.  The photo shows my progress so far.  As you might notice, it does need a bit of tweaking.  It does hook up quickly and I expect to have it completed in a few days.  Any kits that go out now, will include this photo until it is completed.  If you prefer to order items separately, the following is a general list of the materials used in “Poppies”

Studio Line Silk Sari Ribbon:  1 skein blush, 1 skein ivory

Mottled Solid Dyed Wool:   Sunkissed Dark, Sunkissed Medium, Spanish Moss Light,

Spot dye:   Pink pearl

Texture:  grumpy old man, cotton eyed joe, old glory white and dorr natural.

The pattern “Poppies” and kit are now available on the website.

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Soft pastels are becoming a popular choice in the studio these days.  Carla was inspired to create four new colors to add to the “Striated” collection.  Pastel pink, blue, yellow and lavender are all such pretty additions to this line.  In addition to the pastels, the full color selection has been fully stocked and newly displayed.  Love wool on vintage racks!   These are all on the website wool pages under “art wool”.

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Finally the perfect yellow….Buttercup.  I have been experimenting with dye formulations for some time now trying to achieve the perfect yellow and today I have finally created the yellow that has eluded me.  It is available in three values…light, medium and dark.  You can find it on the “New Arrivals” page or under “Mottled dyed solids”  Yellow and Golds category.

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Green Chillies silk sari ribbon just arrived in the studio.  These skeins are a riot of greens and yellow greens.  Only a limited number of skeins are available in this color…so get it while its hot! And before they are gone.  See all the colors on the “wool” pages under “Alternative Fibers”.

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