Music all the time.... acoustic guitar to electric... folk music to the blues!
Dixie Elmes was in my rug hooking class working on her first rug.
Adorned in all the Shibori scarves and shawls preparing for the fashion show of wearable art.
Preparing the silk for the dye pot.
I just returned from a great week at Common Ground On the Hill.This 2 week event is held at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. This was my first year as a instructor and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves music and art. There are classes in every musical instrument you can think of and the visual arts are diverse. I taught rug hooking half a day and took Shibori dying the other half. Every evening was filled with musical performances and dancing. The internet address is
It was a gorgeous week--this is Little Baker Chapel. Westminster is an adorable town.
To the right is Jennifer Gloss. This is her first rug and I think she is hooked!!!!! If there is anyone in Westminster interested in starting a rug hooking group, e-mail Jen at jennifer.gloss@gmail.com
This is Mimi Hay demonstrating the way to tie a Shibori scarf. Mimi is a wonderful teacher and expert dyer. I learned some new tricks I can apply to my wool. Mimi's web site is http:www.Mimihaydesigns.com
This is me on the right winding the string around the silk before applying the actual dye. I am laughing because everyone was having a good time. I was also thinking how much easier it is to dye wool in a turkey roaster!!!!!
This is Frielin and Regina. Frielen kept all of us laughing ALL week. Notice the shawl tied around his head! Every class needs a guy to keep things interesting.
Frielen and Mimi hamming it up on the right. Joyce Schaum is to the left. Joyce is a nationally known basket maker and instructor at Common Ground, She was trying out the rug hooking. I think she is also hooked! I am holding the parasol with my scarf and shawl. We had a fashion show and we all dressed up.
This is a new painting with an unusual color in the insert-- Can you guess it? The color is Opera and can be purchased from Holbein paints.
The background is painted in the negative. I'll be teaching negative painting in the fall at Anne Arundel Community College. It is a class for advanced painters and will be challenging. My newsletter will be out next week describing this class. If you are not on my mailing list go to my web page under classes for all the details www.paintpencil.com . Send me an e-mail and I'll add you to my mailing list --jane@janehalliwell.com
On the right is a new rug design based on my recent trip to Ireland. It is very small ( 18 X 12) but detailed. It is a challenge because a tiny design is embedded in a larger one. The painting above has an insert also -- that is where you can see the lilies. This rug design also has an insert where the cottage is located. I have two skies to consider and the number one question? what is the most important element here? Will I play up the cottage or the flowers? Stand by for more updates as I begin to add the wool. I will do a class next year on breaking borders and insert type designs.
I really enjoyed teaching in Smithfield, Virginia this last weekend. There were some great rug hookers creating gorgeous rugs. Here are a few of them.
This is Linda Stewart. She designed her own wide cut floral wall hanging of a single peony and it was absolutely gorgeous. If you click on the picture you'll see the center is prodded with yellow and hot orange colors. I can't wait to see the finished work of art!
On the right is Jean Knowlton. Jean organized the weekend and did a fabulous job. She is hooking a design by Claire Murray but in a traditional manner with woolen fabric strips.
This final picture is a rug hooked by Judy Williams. If you look very closely you will see water lilies floating under the bridge. The lily is pixelated and the leaves are done as baby proddy shapes. If you don't understand this, buy my new book, Hooked Pictorial Rugs available in October. Amazon has it up as a pre-order right now!
I received so many pictures yesterday taken at my solo show. Thank you for coming. I was overwhelmed! I am sorry I didn't have more time to talk to each of you for at least an hour! Click on the pictures and they will get larger.
I couldn't have done it without the support of my husband Don! He knows now how much fun it can be to be married to a hooker!!!!..... rug hooker that is!!!!
To the right is my best friend, Susan McDonald standing beside her painting. Susan was my neighbor when I lived in Severna Park and I miss her. She is from Boston like me and paaks her caaa. I miss her dialect every day!!!!!
Here I am with Kim and Gordon... they are angels on earth!
I don't know what was happening on the stair case. Lorraine is one of my favorite students and will be a great rug maker. Maybe I was telling her to pull her loops up a little higher!!!!!
David Herron caught me in about 20 different poses as I gave my talk. I had a touch of a cold sent back with me from Ireland so had to wave wildly to make a point!!!! My biggest point---- art is a need not a want. I'm a crazy addicted artist who paints every day and makes rugs at night!
This is Kim, Gordon, Irene, and me. Irene is a wonderful painter and fine ceramic artist. I wish we could share a studio! I love being around her.
Finally--- Our great friend Carol and Don must have been listening to me talk. Love you all!
Thank you to all of you attending the opening of my show on Sunday! I was overwhelmed by the number of friends who came. I am sorry I couldn't spend an hour with each of you! I loved bringing both sides of my art together-- rug hooking and watercolors! Here are a few pictures and more to come!
If you live in the greater Washington area please stop by Quiet Waters Galleries in Annapolis to see my show of watercolors and hooked rugs/ wall hangings. The hours are 9 am- 4pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 am - 4 pm on Saturday and Sundays.
This is an unusual combination of art mediums. I started as a rug hooker but fell in love with watercolor along the way. I paint early in the day-- sometimes at 5 am. I teach and write and dye wool during the middle part of the day, and hook rugs in the evening. I find both mediums relaxing and challenging. Painting has made me a better fiber artist, and my earlier experience designing rugs contributed greatly to my ability to learn to paint.
In these pictures-- The painting of Hibiscus on the left side inspired the large rug hanging on the right. Below-- The Morning Glory rug inspired the painting to the left. When they hang side by side they look like they belong together.
I didn't go far without my sketchbook. Here I am chasing some very big ducks!
I may have taken 200 pictures of windows. Isn't' t this wonderful?
I made friends in the local pub in Bally Shannon. The Guinness was lovely!!!
I bought a new hat to add to my collection. Yes, the Irish coffee was brilliant!
We traveled with a great group of people from all over the world. It was a wonderful vacation. In two years I return with a group of painters. Let me know if you want to come!!!!!
I adore Ireland. I am a citizen of the country through my mother and grandmother. I have visited many times but this visit was to introduce the country to my husband who is also descended from Irish ancestor's who lived in Dublin. Here are a few pictures. This beautiful landscape is in County Mayo in a region called Connemara.
Most people think of Ireland as a poor country but it is now the richest European nation. They have suffered from the recent recession but still are referred to as the "Celtic Tiger."
This is a traditional cottage with a thatched roof on the Aran Islands. Unfortunately they are disappearing fast. I Love this photo. Even in the few years since I have been back big changes have taken place in the country.
The villages are colorful. This is Kenmare on the outer edgee of the Ring Of Kerry. You can be sure I will be painting or hooking this village this year!
There is no rug hooking in Ireland and believe me I have searched for it! There is lots of felting. This is a basket of felted pins. I wanted to buy the entire basket but I settled for one!
This is me and my husband Don on a boat in Killary Harbor. This is ireland's only fjord. It was a beautiful afternoon.
This picture was taken at a pub in Clifton. Can you see the musician in the background. We had a ball listening to traditional music everywhere we went.
You all know I love sheep. I was born in the wrong century!!! was able to get up close and personal with these guys!
Can you believe this traffic jam!!!!! I love it.
Hi Everybody,..... This will probably be my last post until I return from Ireland. I'll be painting and hooking sheep when I return!!! Just a few reminders-- Anne Arundel Community College starts registration June 1 and I am offering a new class in Negative Painting. This is a class for those of you with some experience. It starts October 1 and will be in the afternoon up at the college in Arnold. It looks like it will fill fast ,so sign up as early as you can. This painting that I have posted will be one of the exercises in the class. I will also be teaching an evening class in basic watercolor techniques.
Rug Hooking classes begin in September. I have a beginner class scheduled on September 13 and then, Color and Design to follow.
I'll be at Maryland Hall for the first time October 17 teaching a one day workshop.
My solo Show at Quiet Waters Park Galleries opens to the public on July 18. I will be looking forward to seeing all of you that responded to my invitation to come to the opening on Sunday, June 21 from 2-4.
