Sol Invictus

To say the least, I did not finish Sol Invictus for the Kirby Hook In's Celestial Challenge. So I continue to work on the piece. It is inspired by the angel face mosaic that was recently uncovered in Istanbul, in the famous mosque Hagia Sophia.

I am working the piece from several colors in my Goodfellow color family, the family that is based on the yellow dye formula Goodfellow Yellow 105.

Goodfellow Yellow 105
Sunkissed Gold 157
Ellendale Orange 126
Russet Red Jack 143
Moorland Moss 106
Will 'O Wisp 158
Fincastle Brown 141

I also used some strips of Moorland Moss 106 dapple dyed wool around the eyes to get a variegated effect. I'm out to lunch on the background, although I think it will be dark and some overdyed textures. I'm thinking Fincastle Brown 141 at the moment (the dark color tipping the rays).

I am at the point of tweeking the face, so I just converted my color photograph to black and white so I can see the values better to make sure that they are what I want them to be. If I see something too light or too dark I will pull out the strip and replace it with another value. I hook by thinking about values, where the light and shadow is on the object I'm hooking. I try to cluster my colors at the same time I mix them so I'm using the same value of different colors here an there (like in the forehead). Immediately I see that there are two strips under the right eye that are too dark and one over the right eye that is too dark. So I will replace those with lighter strips.

Eye of the Celestial Challenge

While sick, I have been doing a little bit of rug hooking, although not too much more dyeing. I want to keep the piece a surprise because I'm hooking it for the Kirby Hooking Circle's Celestial Challenge at the Midsummer's Hook In. But here is a peek.

KIRBY HOOKING CIRCLE'S MID-SUMMER'S HOOK-IN, Saturday, June 26, 9:00-4:00, at Bethany Christian Church, 3223 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77098. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER! Registration has been extended to June 15. This new Houston hooking group is hosting their first regional hook-in, with great vendors, including: Lacey Jane Primitives, CheapSheep.com, Cal Creations and Antiques, Donna Holt Footstools, My Little House Rug Hooking Studio, and Red Jack Rugs. Rug show 1:00-3:00. Registration is $25, and includes choice of boxed lunch. For more information and registration form, contact Lurie McAdow, luriemcadow@aol.com.