Monday, July 5, 2010

My Newest Student.

This past weekend, we had a house full of fun. Our son and daughter came, along with two other relatives, my great nephew Ian, and his dad James.

We filled the days with all the things that you do when the weather is perfect - waterskiing, tubing, swimming, and relaxing with good books and the newspaper. Add to that lots of delicious food and conversation, topped off with fireworks on Saturday night, and it really does make for a magical time for all.

The icing on the cake for me was that Ian was fascinated by the studio and rug hooking  and asked to learn. I was thrilled to teach him and he became my first student in the new studio - and - at 14 - my youngest student full stop.

He decided he would like to hook a name sign -  his name is only three letters - an easy first project for sure. And the way he took to it, like the proverbial duck to water, he will be done quickly. Here are some pictures of him at work, starting inside the studio, but moving down to the deck in the afternoon to be with everyone in the shade by the water.







He pulled his first loops just before lunch and by late afternoon - with a big distance swim and water skiing in between - he had managed to finish all the lettering. He said that he found the second letter "much easier" than the first. I was quite taken with how relaxed and peaceful he seemed, hooking on the deck as everyone else was reading. A total natural, for sure.

He headed home last night with a work sheet to suggest a hooking order, baggies of cut strips, my small gripper frame and a couple of hooks. I bet he will finish this little project in a couple of weeks.  He has promised to send me updates of his progress. The tough part will be trying to explain the finishing process from a distance. Oh well, we'll figure it out when we get there.

How exciting to have started him on this journey. I feel very lucky to have been able to share my love of 'hookery' with him. 

Have fun, Ian. 





4 comments:

moosecraft said...

Very nice! Ian really does look so peaceful and content pulling loops by the lake! Hopefully we can all see his finished piece sometime soon! :-)

Kim said...

He looks very serious about his task. I doubt you could have found a better first student for your studio.
Kim

Jen Manuell said...

Lucky you -- and lucky Ian!
It sounds like a perfect weekend to me.... ;-)

April DeConick said...

Ian, that is great that you are learning rug hooking! My son Alexander is six and he has made a small prodded sunflower, and I imagine when he gets your age he might rug hook too! Have fun with it. Your sign looks great.

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