 Start of new punchneedle embroidery project that I'm not sure I can actually handle. It reads (if it were printed the usual way), "A beautiful thing is never perfect." Yes, that photo is intentional. Whenever you use a punchneedle to embroider words, the back side of the writing is what gets punched. You work on the wrong side and flip it to view the right side.
But can I actually punch this? It's ready to begin, but the calligraphy is so tiny in places--and I don't think I'm willing to use my 1-strand needle at this point in my life, not with my eyesight--that I don't know if I can actually pull it off. It's a major experiment. Much like life, eh? And much like meditation. Most of us tend to tell ourselves what we cannot do, rather than what we can. I'll need to keep reminding myself of the meaning of this quote ("A beautiful thing is never perfect.") constantly while I'm working. I'll be ok with a few imperfections...I think. Won't I? Hmmm. I'm doing this more for the challenge than for a result. But mostly because the partly-completed rug I had to set aside 2 years ago has gone missing. I have found all the wool, and found the paper pattern, and I remember storing them with the rug itself all together in the same spot. But the rug is not there. It's just gone. I've searched and searched with no luck. I'm almost ready to re-draw it on new linen and start it all over again. But isn't that when the "lost rug" is most likely to jump out and present itself? I'm in a dither over what to do. A short (?) punchneedle project is a way of buying time until I decide. "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." --Mark Twain  Idoz, a new tangle, my first attempts. On the left is the simplified version (which was taught by Rick) and on the right is the fancier version we were taught by Maria, with much encouragement from both of them to find our own versions. Micron 01 in black, graphite. I was tempted to title this, "This is what happens when you haven't picked up a pen in FOUR-plus months." It's true, it's been that long for me. I did some work with knots back in March (not much) but basically I haven't had any time for tangling since 2023 and wow am I rusty. Combine that with poor lighting and you have a relatively hot mess but I know it will improve.
This is a new tangle introduced today for the International Day of Zentangle® (so the name of the tangle is "Idoz" Pronounced eye'-dozz). Rick and Maria, the founders of Zentangle, introduced it this morning in a webinar attended by several hundred tanglers from around the world. Today is the day they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Zentangle's start. It was the perfect tangle for me to begin with after such a long layoff. Can't wait to experiment and get back to all this. Three group members have worked on the group rug so far. It's great fun to watch it come to life. I look forward to a second round of working on it at some point. Can't wait to see how it develops over the summer and fall.     "Cat Nap," completed June 2024. 18.5 x 32.5". Textured and hand-dyed wools; hooked in a #6 cut on a mystery background (maybe linen, but donated to me and very hard to hook through). Heavily adapted from a Kelley Belfast design; hers was one cat on a bench with a bee skep and a house or tree in the background. With Kelley's permission, I adapted the pattern by doubling the cats, removing the other background features and adding the two floral arches and a sun. There is a smidgen of punchneedle embroidery outlining the sun (using an Ultra Punch needle on 8 with lace-weight merino wool yarn). I love this rug because it makes everyone smile. Kelley Belfast's original pattern was so adorable (one cat lazing on a bench with the words "Cat Nap" up above--see more details of the rest of her pattern in the caption above).
I knew I had to hook it but wanted to make changes. After managing to contact Ms Belfast early in 2023, I got her gracious permission to adapt her pattern and draw a different version; you see the result above. Thank you Kelley! I hope it's different enough to not be a clone, but similar enough that you can say you're glad you gave me permission to do my own version. There were times I despaired of getting this rug finished. Between preparing to teach at Sauder Village last summer and then shortly after that, diving into 6 months of meditation teacher training, I was so busy I was cross-eyed. Pretty much everything else fell by the wayside--not much drawing, Zentangle®, and certainly almost no hooking. I am so relieved to have finished this. And now on to creating a label and sewing it on. Don't you just love Kelley's cats? |
ABOUT ME I'm a textile artist (traditional rug hooking, punch needle rug hooking, and other textile arts), a long-time meditator, a certified meditation teacher and coach, and focused on learning about the interplay of art, creativity, and mindfulness every day. 
Certified, 2021
Certified Unified Mindfulness Coach Level I, 2024
Certified Zentangle® Teacher, 2013
Certified by AmyOxford.com at The Oxford Rug Hooking School, 2016
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Insight Meditation Society Oxford Rug Hooking School Zentangle: The Official Site Green Mountain Rug Hooking Massachusetts Tarot Society 
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