2010 Abstract Rug Challenge begins

I received enough positive feedback about this challenge that we have created a group forum on Rug Hooking Daily HERE. Please pass word around.

Joining is as easy as clicking the button "Join this group" on RHD page.

This challenge has two goals: to learn about abstract art and to hook an original abstract rug.

1. Each month, challengers will read and discuss published information about abstract art.
2. Challengers are encouraged to go to an art museum at least once during the year to view abstract art and share their experiences of it by writing about it on the group's comment wall.
3. Challengers will complete at least one hooked abstract project, no less than 400 square inches, in any shape, using any materials that will hook.
4. Challenge will be completed on December 31, 2010.
5. Challengers are encouraged to discuss their progress, ask questions, upload pictures, share information and support via the group's comment wall.
6. In order to organize things, we will reserve the Discussion Forums for our discussion of the published materials we are reading and the art museums we are touring.
7. Challengers may decide to jointly publish an article in ATHA Newsletter or Rug Hooking Magazine about the challenge and its results.

Is anyone interested in a 2010 Abstract Rug Challenge?

I have been thinking about hooking an abstract, something that isn't concentrated on pictorial form, but texture or color or value - something free form and less planned than I am usually comfortable with.

I haven't seen too many abstracts hooked, and then only in photos or magazines. I'm not studied in terms of abstract art either. So I'm a bit apprehensive. But 2010 seems to be as good a year as any to try something new and push the boundaries of what I normally choose to hook.

I'm wondering if anyone else would be interested in a 2010 Abstract Rug Challenge? We might find and read together a modern art book once a month as we each work on hooking our own abstract piece. This might help inspire us and we can learn about modern art along the way. I'm thinking something doable but challenging: at least 400 square inches (for instance: 20 by 20 square; or 15 by 27/17 by 24/10 by 40 rectangle; or an irregular or round)? Materials: anything goes? Finish deadline: December 31? What ideas do you have? Are you interested?

PHOTOS: all are inspirations I found through google

The Ten-Minute Rug Hooking Challenge and Pocket Pack Drawing

I am always up for a good challenge, especially when it comes to rug hooking. Over the years, I have found myself struggling to find time to rug hook, and even found myself setting aside my hook for five years after giving birth at forty to a beautiful baby boy, Alexander. As a full-time professor and older mom, I was too tired to care whether I hooked rugs or not. Then the three of us moved to Texas, and I found myself alone, removed from the large Midwest rug hooking community I had enjoyed. It took me a few years to adjust to my new home and job and find a new rug hooking community in Houston which has reinvigorated me and my love of rug hooking.

So I have decided to house a few rug hooking challenges here on Red Jack Rugs, in the hope that together we might support and inspire each other to "make rugs" even though we live far apart. I have put a menu bar at the top of my blog now (hope you like it) and will be placing permanent information (Rug Challenges button) there on each challenge as they develop.

This first challenge is called the Ten-Minute Rug Hooking Challenge and its inspiration is from my teaching. My graduate students are always asking me how I write so many articles and publish so many books. I tell them, "Between classes. Every ten minutes adds up."

So my thought is, let's apply that to rug hooking and make it even more fun by including a prize give-away, one of my 10 by 10 pocket packs which I will hook and sew and give to one of the formal challenge participants every January 31st for as many years as this challenge goes on.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Work on your rug at least 10-minutes a day, six days out of the week, except holidays, for at least six months. "Work" includes anything rug-related: designing, drawing, laying out, dyeing, hooking, binding, even shopping for materials and attending guild. NOTE that the 10-minutes is not accumulative, so if you hook for 30-minutes one day, this does not count as three 10-minute days. The challenge is to work on your rugs at least 10 minutes every day. You are your own log-keeper.

2. Send me your name and e-mail address (click my menu button "Contact" and send me this information via email with the flag: Ten-Minute Challenge) so that I can include your name in the formal participant list and drawing. There will be a drawing every January 31st for everyone who is participating formally in this challenge. I will create one of my 10 by 10 pocket packs and give it away to one of the formal participants through a blind drawing.

3. Copy the challenge badge in my sidebar and upload it on your own blog, webpage, or network page like you might have on The Welcome Mat or Rug Hooking Daily. This badge is meant to serve as a visual cue to inspire you and others who visit your website or blog to rug hook every day. If you don't have an internet "home", then you might print out the badge and make a pin for yourself to wear or post it near your rug hooking station.

4. Leave comments on your progress, struggles, questions, encouragements and accomplishments in the Ten-Minute Rug Hooking Challenge Forum (a box located in my sidebar).

5. Have fun making rugs!

Don't forget the Flower Pin Day challenge

Please pass around the Flower Pin Day challenge with information about it HERE. And please send me pictures of your beautiful pins. Make a flower for someone and let's celebrate the first day of summer on Sunday as hookers (along with Father's Day)!

Flower Pin Day challenge to mark the first day of summer

Brenda Beerhorst over on Kinship in Color and Wool put up a colorful post about the flower pins that she and her family have been making. Love the sock monsters pictured!

I always love flower pins and try to make a flower pin following each camp, hook-in or class I attend, using the discarded bits and scraps from all who hooked in my class. I should have marked the back of the pins to remember which classes, because now I have forgotten the details! But alas, I still have the pins and where them everyday on my hooking apron.

Anyway Brenda has inspired me to make the first day of summer Flower Pin Day. If you hook a flower pin this week and send me a picture (adeconick@rice.edu) by June 21st, the first day of summer, I will try to post them here to celebrate the day!